#he provides a new batch of juice every night

[clerichs-xi]

also since im here already another dante sketch where he torments volo in goblin camp by making better rhymes than him

[littlemessyjessi]

“Chasing Jessi”:  A Sirius Black Story: Plus Size OC: Chapter 7: Tinkerbell & The Lost Boy

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Sirius Black Imagine Turned Story

Re-Written and Edit of an old story of mine I had on Mibba that deserved some more love and attention, lol.

Sirius Black x Jess Scamander (OC, OFC, PLUS SIZE OC, PLUS SIZE OFC)

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Sirius Black was lounging comfortably in his bunk. He hadn't even bothered to change out of the KISS shirt and black flannel pajama bottoms at this point. He was reading through a book that he'd borrowed from Jess. Contrary to popular belief... Sirius actually loved to read. 

He’d rather die than admit that but he’d learned from an early age that it could easily provide an escape from his horrible daily life. 

Again though, he’d rather die than admit and let someone see him doing it. 

He was up rather early on a Sunday morning- something that used to be obscenely out of character before he played Quidditch. Now, it seemed that his biological clock was against him. However, it proved rather useful when wanting the shower to yourself or getting to breakfast while everyone was still in bed.  He'd been to breakfast already and was currently just relaxing for he had been informed by a tired looking Lily Evans that Jess was not coming down for breakfast this morning. He had been slightly disappointed but guessed that it was because the two girls had been up late talking. He figured that girls did that just as much as boys did. Although, for Jess's sake he hoped not because James had nearly driven him mad last night by both talking about every detail of his and Lily's date and all but demanding the same from Sirius. Honestly, boys were just as bad as girls when it came to gossip. 

If not worse.  However, he supposed he could just try and read this ridiculous book of hers until she awoke. He had really just settled in and was beginning to immerse himself into this fantasy world when.... "Sirius!!!" His brows furrowed and he glanced over at Remus who was studying on the floor in front of his bunk but he only shrugged.

"Sirius! Ooof! Sorry! Sirius!" "What in the name of Merlin?" he pondered as he sat the book down and went to the door to see none other than his hyperactive girlfriend balancing a package on her hip and apologizing to a fourth year boy who went white as a ghost at the sight of her. "You're ...you're not supposed to be up here." the boy said. "Oh, I'm sorry." she said to him. "I'm just looking for Sirius. See, I have something I have to-" The boy was too shaken to speak. To be fair, she was still wearing her pajamas and he was a fourteen year old boy, most likely with a crush on her. And she was only wearing a big floppy yellow smiley face shirt and some rather short multi colored shorts. "Over here, love." Sirius smirk. She turned to face him with a relieved smile looking so odd with her floral cat ear headband and her big blue monster house shoes. "Thanks, anyway." she told the boy and gave him a one armed hug. Sirius almost snorted when the boy looked as if he may pass out. The poor boy probably didn't know whether he found her attractive, terrifying or strange....or all three. "What are you doing up here?" he asked her as she came to a stop in front of him, "And in your pajamas no less?" "I have something for you." she said simply but he smirked and she smacked him in the stomach, "Not that!" "Aw, and it's almost my birthday too." he moaned playfully and he opened the door and let her him. "Hello, Remus." she greeted the studious green eyed boy. "Oh, uh, hi Jess." he said a little surprised to see her there, especially in her pjs.  "Remus, she beats me." Sirius wailed dramatically. "She wounds me." "If it's to your pride..." he said. "I suggest she do it some more. Your head is far too big as it is." Jess grinned in victory. Sirius gasped, "Moony, old boy, I can't believe it! Everyone's mistreating me and it's almost my birthday!" "Sirius, if you don't come sit down, then I'm going to open your present." she informed him smartly. "Present?" he asked. "What present?" "This one." she said tapping the lid of the green box. "You got me a present?" he asked curiously taking a seat on the bunk as the box lay between them.  "No." she said. "Well, yes. I did. But this isn't it. This is from my mum and dad." "What?" he asked in disbelief. "From mum and dad." she repeated. "She sent a blasted howler as well. Damn near threatened my life if I opened it. So I'm guessing it's rather good and most likely involving food. Best open it sooner than later." Sirius' hands shook just a little as he pulled the box open and cringed as a howler floated out. It was that same familiar shape that he recognized as the ones Jess usually got. From previous experiences, he was expecting yelling but relaxed when he saw the letter transform and the dark wax sealed lips give him a smile. It began to speak in a soothing tone, "Hello, Dear. Happy Birthday! I do hope you have a good one this year and that you get this package in time. Jess mentioned that you had a particular liking for toffee and fudge so I do hope you like what's inside. She also mentioned that you loved music and so there is something extra special inside from my husband. He said that he wanted it to go someone who could appreciate her as he much as he did. I wasn't allowed to see so I'm trusting that it's appropriate and if it's it not, you'd best tell me so I can tan his hide! Everything is under the shrinking charm so all you need to do is use the Engorgio charm. If you have trouble with it, I would advise you to ask Lily rather than Jess. She means well but she tends to get terribly excited and...blow things up. We are so excited to see Jess making such lovely friends! She speaks very highly of you and bless your soul, you must be patient to deal with her antics! I do hope she isn't being too rough. Some of those pictures... Merlin, I feared she'd nearly kill you with that one on the broom. I've told her about that! Nevertheless, any friend of hers is a friend to us. Welcome to the family, sweet boy. Have a wonderful birthday, dear! May you have many more! P.S. Do not let my child con you out of your presents with her innocent face. I know that she 'seems' sweet but if you give in...you'll regret it. Trust me. Her father has been wrapped around her finger since she was six seconds old. " When the letter was finished it ripped itself up and turned to ash. Sirius was a little disappointed. It had been so nice...he had kind of wanted to keep it. He glanced up to find Remus looking at him curiously and Jess looking mildly offended. "She makes me sound like some kind of animal." she scoffed. "Well..." Remus smirked. "I'd say more reptilian. You do have a certain, what was it you called it Padfoot? Dragon lady...quality about you." "Remus Lupin!" she scolded him. "You are a booger head and I am not talking to you anymore!" "I have chocolate." he said lifting his brows at her and holding up a piece. "All is forgiven." she said racing over to join him. "So what did she get you?" she piped up from her spot with Remus on the floor. Sirius reached into the box to pull out a container and he smiled. "Toffee." he smiled. "Oooh!" she gushed and jumped on his bed. "That's mum homemade toffee! It's really good! She won a blue ribbons for it at the local Muggle fair!" He pulled another out and observed the white chunks with rainbow sprinkles. "Birthday cake fudge." he smiled as he read the label aloud. "It's really good." Jess nodded. "It tastes like white chocolate and cake batter. Mum makes it for Dad every year on his birthday. I bet she had to make two batches!" He pulled out a jar of something and for just a moment it made him think of firewhiskey but he smiled when he read the label. 'Sirius, dear, this is a new recipe I'm trying out. It's called Toffee Syrup. We like to put it in porridge, tea, pumpkin juice, coffee...come to think of it, anything really. I've added just a bit something special to this one. I'd love to hear what you think.' "Mum'll kill me for telling you this but it's really good you mix it with firewhiskey and put it over ice cream." Jess piped up and he lifted his brows at her. "And here I thought you were sweet and innocent." he commented. She laughed, "Sirius, we both know I'm far from either of those." He pulled out a black knitted hat. "Oh, Mum, doesn't want you to catch cold!" she wailed dramatically. "Don't cry on it." he teased. "But she stitched it with love, Sirius!" she wailed again. He resisted the urge to shove her off the bed when something caught his eye. A small black case and upon further inspection he realized that it was a guitar case. 'Engorgio.' he murmured and enlarged it before pulling the zipper open to reveal a beautiful black acoustic guitar. "Ophelia!" Jess squeaked. "What?" Sirius asked her. "It's Ophelia." she said. "It's Dad's guitar. He let me name her when I was a little girl." Sirius frowned, "Oh, maybe you should have it then." "Nah." she shook her head. "I'm rubbish at guitar. I'm a drums kind of girl...much to mum's dismay." She grinned wickedly and pretended to play the drums. 

She never failed to make him laugh.  He pulled it out and ran his hand over it before glancing into the case and seeing the matching strap and an envelope. He opened the envelope to reveal a small note and a silver chain with a matching guitar pick on the end. "Hello, Sirius. I hope you have a very Happy Birthday. Jess tells me that you love music along with many other things. She seems quite fond of you and speaks of you quite a lot. Which is considerably out of character for her. You have to understand that for the longest time when she wrote home...it was usually to tell us that Lily's eyebrows had grown back or that she'd was very close to finding redcap colony. Naturally, as her father, I was a little defensive about you at first. However, you seem like an alright lad and she seems to take a liking to you. Any man that will willingly let her braid rainbow colored yarn into their hair....well you're alright with me, kid. I hope you have a great birthday and you enjoy old Ophelia. P.S. If you press the guitar pick, you can record yourself. Comes in handy when you're working on songs. ' Sirius carefully sealed the letter back up and placed everything delicately back in the box. "Sirius?" Jess whispered. "You have really, really good parents." he said quietly. Remus quietly left the room, deciding it was best to give the two of them some time. "I know." she said softly. Sirius just nodded, still just slightly shaking until she placed her hand on his. "Maybe you can meet them sometime. You know, to properly welcome you to the family and all." she said. There was more to that statement than either of them were willing to talk about at that moment. Grey eyes caught green and they just stared for a moment. She decided to break the tension with some comedy. "Mum may be swayed by your charms but I will not being giving you your present from me until it's your actual birthday." she said. "You got me a present?" he questioned. "Yes, and I'm not telling so don't even try!" she scolded as she stuck her finger in his face. He smirked at her challenge as he carefully placed the box underneath his bed and grabbed her ankle. "Not even if I do...." he trailed off as he hovered above her neck. "This." She bit her lip when his lips caressed her skin. "No!" she cried out. "Don't use your tricks!" "How about here?" he asked kissing her nose. "Never." she whispered. "Alright." he said. "But I think I'll try one more." "I'll never surrender, Captain Hook!" she called out, grinning wickedly as she saw her book on his bed side table. "Now, now Tinkerbell. Let's not be rash." he teased. "Now give me some of that pixie dust." She erupted into a fit of giggles, "Sirius Black, Lord of the Cheeseballs!" He tickled her relentlessly, "Surrender!" "Never!" she said rolling out from underneath him and racing into the halls, "Lost Boys, unite! We have to defend ourselves against the terrible Captain Hook!" The muggleborns got it, thought it was weird, but go it. Everyone...just kind of wrote it off as Jess being Jess. And James Potter stood at the foot of stairs looking at his friend with an odd expression on his face. "What?" Sirius asked. James shook his head. "Nothing. It's just...you two are clearly into some weird things." he said. Sirius laughed and shoved his friend along into his room. The thing was...he didn't mind her little games. He loved them almost as much as he did her.

Chapter Six

Chapter Eight

Hello, loves! How do we feel about Sirius’ early bday present from Jess’ parents?  How are we liking their relationship so far?  

I’d love to what you think! Please feel free to hit up the ask box, blast the comment section or reblog with your thoughts and feelings! Next chappie coming soon!

All my love darlings!

Kenny

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Love, Kenny

[thewritingstar]

Sleepover Secrets

This is my first commission and its for the wonderful and the lovely @gytech !! Thank you so very much for trusting me to write such a cute and lovely fic for you. It means a lot and it was super fun to write. I hope you enjoy and like this piece!!!!! -Star

Pairing: Jiroumomo (Jirou x Yaoyorozu) 

Fandom: My Hero Academia 

Rating: General Audience 

Word Count: 4313

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Jirou closed her locker with a hard thud. She didn’t mean for it to be that loud but today's hero training lesson really shook her up. She thought she was getting better with her technical moves but she had been beaten in nearly every match today and all she wanted to do was lock herself in her dorm room and busted out her newest cd of a rock and roll band she had been dying to listen to too. That's all she wanted. 

“You were really strong out there today.” Of course Momo would complement her. She could see how flustered she was and now Jirou had to keep her face cool enough so the gorgeous goddess like figure that was Momo Yaoyorozu didn’t see the blush forming on her face. 

“Oh um thanks.You were amazing, naturally.” She smiled back. 

Yaoyorozu finished hanging up her outfit all nice and neat. It always made Jirou laugh as she would tuck her scarlet red suit inside her locker while Uraraka would simply cram hers into that small space before running to the bathroom to empty her stomach. Yikes. 

“So Jirou.” Momo trailed off. “Do you maybe want to have a sleepover? I overheard some of the boys talk about having their own and I thought I would like to give it a try.” 

A small laugh came out of Jirou’s mouth. “Give it a try?’ She was met with a simple nod as they both finished smoothing out the skirts of their uniforms. “Wait. Yaoyorozu, have you never been to a sleepover before?” 

The much taller girl turned bright pink as she began to pack up her things. Momo was one to get flustered or overthink everything constantly but this seemed more, embarrassed? She began to fiddle with her hair tie as she began to pull back her dark locks.

“It's not like I haven’t been invited to them as a child, I just don’t think that maids pampering the guests and I really count as the true experience, yeah know?” It was almost comical of how rich Momo was and how often her class forgot it. It made a little bit of sense that she hadn’t had the true experience, after all living in a mansion was kinda like a permanent fort. 

“Well luckily for you. I am an expert. I’ll turn my room into a kick ass pillow fort and we can watch movies and have snacks.” 

“Pillow fort?” She turned her head almost like a cute puppy dog who just got offered to go on a walk. 

Jirous smile fell. “ Please tell me-” Another shrug and slightly embarrassed smile. “Alright, that's okay, it will be better this way. More of a surprise. My rooms a bit small but we can probably squeeze some more girls-”

Momo held up her hand and looked around as the other girls were starting to head out. Her voice was much quieter this time as if she didn’t want the others to hear. 

“Actually. I was wondering if maybe it could just be us?” Momo asked shyly. 

No matter how hard she tried, Jirou would not be able to contain the flush of red that spread across her cheeks. She didn’t know why she was slightly panicking. They were friends, best friends even and have hung out alone many times before. They studied, listened to music and occasionally fell asleep on the common room couch together, but for some reason, Momo asking it to be just them felt different. It was odd and was bringing up feelings she wasn’t sure she could handle right now. 

“Oh yeah of course.” Deep breath in. And out. “How about tomorrow?” That should be enough time to emotionally prepare. 

The bell rang through the locker room signaling it was time for them to head to their next class. 

“I’ll bring snacks.” Momo said happily as she took her bag and headed out. 

Jirou smiled to herself while poking her ear jacks together. Behind her she heard a coo and a giggle. Her eyes widened as Mina was practically glowing from hearing other conversations. 

“You two are super cute!” The pink alien giggled which made her face redden further. “Don’t be such a bashful doll, Momo is super into you!” Mina always knew the drama and could sniff it out like a little piggy with truffles. Of course she had seen through her face. 

A small pain of sadness ran through her. “She's not-” Jirou frowned but dropped the subject. Mina could sense the shift in mood and laced her arm through hers as they began to walk to English. 

“Well you still want to give her the best slumber party ever. I’ll help you set up tomorrow.” 

“Thanks Mina.” 

--

It was Saturday which meant no school and most importantly, the smartest and cutest girl would be coming over to spend the night. Jirou was bright and early to make sure she turned her room into a pillow wonderland. She began by stripping her bed clean and pulling all the extra blankets and pillows she had. 

The pile of supplies seemed small and weak. She remembers being able to create amazing forts with her cousins back home. The hallways would be lined with chairs as sheets were stretched and taped on while they crawled underneath. 

But now this was just plain sad. How was she supposed to impress her with just four blankets and five pillows? She couldn’t. 

A knock from her door interrupted her thoughts and she opened it while rubbing her eyes. “Mina.” She had almost forgotten that her friend offered to help her and with the way things were going, she was relieved to see the extra support. 

The bubbly girl, honestly who has this much energy in the morning? Came bouncing in with her hands full of blankets followed by a mound of pillows being carried by Hagakure. Another stack of blankets had fallen into the floor as Tsuyu dropped them off. 

“We are ready to help you throw the most amazing pillow fort party ever! Sucks that we can’t come but nonetheless, we shall be your faithful helpers!” Mina cheered and the door shut as the four girls got to work trying to figure out the best way to configure this. 

After a few hours of planning, blankets falling, pillows being thrown, a whole box of juice boxes and instruments being smacked down from the walls then shoved into her closet, the maze that was now a pillow fort was complete. 

The girls stood back and admired their work. A low whistle came from Mina as she patted Jirou on the back. “She’s going to love this!” Tsyu said as they began to leave just in time for the queen herself to arrive. 

Jirou sat in her new arranged room on the floor waiting and the realization that she was about to have the prettiest girl in her room by herself was kicking in. 

“What if she doesn’t like it?” Her eyes widened. “What if she doesn’t have fun and wants to leave?” All these thoughts began to corrupt her mind as she was playing out the worst case scenario. 

A polite knock at the door came and she picked her head up from her knees. She crawled through the massive fort, as massive as it can be in this cramped dorm room and answered the door. 

“Hey.” Momo said with a bright and beautiful smile. She was wearing a simple tank top and bottom set but Jirou knew it was made from imported silk. The light pink looked really good on her skin and she had to stop herself from checking out her best friend. Her dark long hair was falling freely on her shoulders. It was rare for her to not have her hair up but Jirou thought she looked really pretty with it down. 

She looked down at her own outfit. An over sized hoodie with her favorite bands logo and black fuzzy shorts. 

“Come on in.” She said casually and moved down to the floor to crawl. Momo followed and soon they were sitting in the middle of the pillow fort. 

“Wow, this is amazing.” Momo looked around. It was such a simple concept but she adored the domestic feeling it provided. She was used to the finer things in life but moments like these made her wish she knew more about the freedom of playing than learning about business trades. 

Momo was in awe as she saw the layers of blankets being taped to the walls and hung from the furniture. There were pillows everywhere on the floor providing them with a mass amount of seating options and she couldn’t believe she had never done this before. 

“It's really not but I hope you will have a good time.”

“Any time with you is good.” 

Jirou swore she saw a dust of pink on Momos cheeks. It was faint but the hope of her feelings died quickly as the other girl turned and pulled some items out of her back. 

“I brought some snacks!.” She laid them in front of her as well as two very expensive looking tea cups. She almost didn't want to touch them. 

Momo pulled out a thermos and began to pour. “I decided to go with a green tea and raspberry blend, something light but full of flavor. It comes from Spain back when my family visited there and the family that grows the tea leaves only makes ten batches a year because it's so hard to grow.” Momo stated and Jirou laughed as the dark red liquid filled the cup. 

Momo opened a small tin of cookies which she informed her were from Scotland and an assortment of chocolates and mixed nuts that came all the way from Belgium and different regions of South america. 

“Sorry if it's not enough.” she shuddered as Jirou bit into one of the chocolates and almost moaned at how creamy and delectable the taste was. 

“Are you kidding? These are amazing.” She said as she popped another in her mouth. “I only have some chips from the kitchen and you brought the entire world into my room.” 

A giggle came from Momo's mouth as she took a sip from her tea. Even in her pajamas, she still looked fancy.  “So lovely host, what are the activities for tonight?” 

“Well my lovely guest.” Momo laughed at this. “I thought maybe a movie or show, some card games, possibly a pillow fight if we don't take this all down with us and of course some gossip and girl talk. No particular order.” 

“Let's start with a card game.” Momo clapped her hands together before rummaging through her bag and pulling out a brand new set of cards. “I made these yesterday! I’ve been practicing on simple items and I hope they have the same texture as a regular set.” 

Jirou took the deck and began to shuffle. They looked like regular cards and had the same lightness as well. She always became amazed whenever she witnessed her quirk in action. She began throwing the cards back and forth until they had a good amount then set the rest in the middle. 

“Alright Yaoyorozu. Got any 2’s?” Jirou asked and a competitive game of Go Fish broke out.

After about six rounds of Go Fish, which Momo complained she only won two games and an unsuccessful round of Poker on Jirou’s part, the deck was tossed back into Momo’s fancy bag and ready for another time. 

“Whats next?” Momo asked and Jirou shrugged. 

“Your choice.” She gestured to her laptop that was ready to stream a movie, all the pillows and even a few coloring books that Mina had brought her. 

Momo thought for a second before looking around. “It might be a little too early for a movie.” The sun was beginning to set and Jirou agreed. 

“So what are you thinking?” She leaned back on her elbows and watched Momo’s ‘thinking’ face appear. 

Her eyes widened with a spark as a grin appeared. She crawled through the small opening on the other side. Jirou popped in another chocolate candy as Momo had disappeared, she could see her shadows moving and heard a bit of movement. 

“You know what I’ve always wanted to see?” Momo called out and even though it was a small room, it felt like she was miles apart from her. 

“What's that?” Jirou answered as she ate another one. Gosh these were amazing. 

Momo's head popped back into the fort and she scooted backwards towards her as she held something in her hands. 

“Oh come on.” Jirou laughed as she wiped her fingers clean. “Really?” She smiled as she took the acoustic guitar from her. 

“I’ve always wanted to see you play. Ever since the room tour I've been intrigued by your musical talents.” 

Jirou never thought that being able to play an instrument was something super special. Anyone could really do it and it wasn’t exactly the hardest thing to learn. The fact that Momo sat tapping her fingers in anticipation waiting for her to play and actually wanting to hear her meant a lot. 

She began to tune the guitar. She hadn’t played this particular one in awhile and she was thankful that she had soundproofed her room so that none of the other girls would hear her practically serenading Momo. The familiar strum of the guitar string brought her back to the days she would sit in her backyard and practice. She had always had a soft spot with the instrument. It felt the most personal and could help convey her feelings better than her other instruments could. 

“Any particular song?” She asked and Momo looked up and tapped her chin. 

“What about an original?” 

That wasn’t what she expected. It took her back as she nervously strummed. She wanted to protest and tell her that she doesn’t write her own songs which would be a lie because mom has caught her writing before. 

“Maybe the one you wrote in the park?” Momo added. 

Jirou has written many songs before, most rock and roll songs and occasional pop songs but that one, that particular one was a love song. The only one she had written. She didn’t know that Momo was standing behind her that day as she was busy scribbling down her thoughts. 

“I didn’t know you knew about that.” Jirou muttered as she hugged the guitar close to her chest. She was nervous to sing the song. It was personally and she was scared that momo would realize it was about her. But she shook off that thought and Momo settled down and stared at her like she was the most important thing. 

She began playing the song, the words flowing along like a river. She kept her eyes shut as she played and began to lose herself in the song. If she wasn’t striving to be a hero, she probably would have studied music instead. The thought of writing songs for someone or performing them herself was something she had always dreamed of doing. Maybe once she becomes a professional hero, she might also part time as a musician. 

She ended the song and opened her eyes. She was met with a small round of applause from Mom who looked like she genuinely enjoyed the performance. 

“That was beautiful.” She commended her and Jirou brushed back a piece of hair before setting her guitar behind her. 

“Thank you.” She replied. “I’ve never played any of my songs for anyone before.” 

“Well thank you for letting me be the first one then.” 

Jirou found herself blushing more today then she has in her entire life. She grabbed her laptop before flipping it open. “Movie time?” She asked as she tried to calm her rapidly beating heart. 

“Sounds good.” 

--

The movie ended and the girls decided to sit in a comfortable silence as they checked their phones. Mina had been texting her, asking her how it was going and telling her to relax. She turned off her phone before relaxing again and just enjoying the presence of her friend. 

“Who do you think would win in a fight? Denki or a jellyfish?” Jirou asked and Momo let out a  loud laugh and covered her mouth. 

“Denki.” Momo stated. And Jirou giggled. 

“I’d pick the jellyfish.” 

“That’s so mean!” But she continued to laugh anyways. 

“No different then when you asked if Kirishima could beat a shark.”

“Which I think he can.” Momo added and their giggle faded off. 

Jirou laid on her back facing the makeshift ceiling of the blankets and somehow began to count the number of dots on the pink blanket. Next to her was Momo who was laying on her side, finger toying with the frizz of the carpet. 

“Can I ask you a question?” Momo said out of the blue. Her tone was different from the previous rounds of asking. It was soft and hesitant as if she was running it over and over in her mind. 

“Yeah of course.” Jirou responded but never took her eyes off the blanket. So far she had counted twenty six dots. 

“Why didn't you go out with Denki?” 

She stopped counting and felt her body tense up. “I know he really liked you and you two seem like such good friends that I was surprised when you turned him down.” She continued. 

Jirou felt the fears she desperately wanted to avoid surface and she tried to keep counting. She was at thirty seven now. 

“ I liked someone else.” She said honestly and she heard Momo hum beside her. “Why do you ask?” She was met with silence. She took a chance and rolled on her side to face her. 

She was met with a pair of eyes that seemed to hold an uncertainty as she looked at her. Momo's mouth was slightly parted open as if she wanted to say something but she didn’t trust herself. A silent tension was formed as the pair looked at each other. 

“Jirou can I tell you a secret?” She asked and the other girl swore they could see tears forming in her eyes. 

She felt worried seeing her friend like that and moved closer. “Of course.” 

“Promise me whatever I say you will still be my friend?” Her eyes were now boring into hers. Almost like a plea. 

“Momo, you can tell me anything.” Her voice was softer than anything Momo has heard before. 

She turned her head and a single tear slipped down her cheek. “I’m gay.” Her voice was on the verge of breaking and she was terrified to look back at Jirou. She was scared that she would yell and be ashamed to be her friend or be mad for not telling her sooner. That fear of rejection played over and over in her mind and she was afraid that she made a giant mistake. 

Instead she was pulled into a hug. Her arms immediately tightened around her frame as the other whispered how proud she was into her ears and she finally let all the tension and fears flow free in tears. 

“Momo.” She pulled away and looked at her. “I will always be your friend, you never have to worry about that. You being gay wouldn’t make me care for you any less, plus I’m bisexual so I understand your fear of coming out. It can be scary but hey, I'm here for you.” 

Momo wiped her tears away and her lips curled up. 

 “Are you okay?” 

Momo only nodded. “Yes.” She took in another deep breath, calming herself down. 

“Can I tell you a secret now?” Jirous said cautiously and Momo shook her head as the other girl began to lean in closer. “I was afraid to tell the person I liked how I felt.” 

“I don’t think you should be.” The other girl whispered. 

They were meant with another silence as their noses touched and their eyes met with a secret plea from each of them. A small smile appeared on Momos lips as she nodded and felt a soft pair of lips touch her own. It was hesitant and slow. Almost like testing the waters before diving straight in. She responded to the kiss and accepted it as she kissed the other girl back. 

Jirou felt tears wet her cheeks as arms wrapped around her shoulders and pulled her impossibly closer. There was a rush of excitement as their lips parted and they each caught their own breaths. 

“Wow.” Momo whispered and Jirou nodded. 

“Wow indeed.” She laughed. 

“Want to know something else?” Jirou turned her head. “That song was about you.” 

“You, you wrote a song about me?” She asked and before she could respond, Jirou was pulled into another hug. “That makes it even more amazing.” 

They each could barely contain their smiles until Jirou suggested that they watched another movie. Their fingers slowly entered as the movie played and every so often one of them would kiss the other girl's cheek, making them blush profusely. 

Of course they had chosen a romantic love story and normally that wasn’t Jirous type of movie, she preferred action or even musicals, but as she watched the two characters fall in love on screen, she wouldn’t have chosen anything else. 

It was well late into the night as the credits began to roll and a yawn escaped both of their lips. They fluffed their pillows before laying their heads down and faced each other. Momo brushed a piece of hair out of Jirous face and kissed her hand. 

“I’m really happy you invited me over.” She said quietly. 

“Me too.” 

----

The sun came shining in and even with the mass amounts of blankets blocking the light, Jirou woke to a bright room. She rubbed at her eyes and looked to see a snoozing Momo. Even in her sleep she looked perfect as she hand her hands under her head and lips pushed slightly out. She reminded her of a sleeping princess, of course Momo was delicate and refined in every way of her life and it made jirou laugh a little making sleeping beauty flutter her eyes open. 

“Good morning.” Momo smiled at her. She sat up and rubbed away the sleep before stretching her arms out and tried to not knock the blankets down. They were both thankful her hair was down because her massive ponytail would have taken the fort down the moment she got in. 

Jirou grabbed her phone before looking at the time. “Wanna grab coffee?” She asked and Momo nodded quickly. They locked eyes for a second before the memories of last night came flooding back. 

A blush spread on Jirous cheek as she remembered their kiss and soon she felt those plush lips on the corner of her mouth. “You are so cute when you turn pink.” She barely heard Momo as her brain was trying to register what was happening. 

She grabbed the tips of her ear jacks and began tapping them together, a nervous trait she's had since she was a child but Momo thought it was quite adorable. “Um Yaoyorozu?” She asked. “Are we-”

“Oh.” Momo understood immediately. She picked up a brush and began to comb the ends of her hair. “I mean, I would love to. As long as you do that is?”

“Yes!” Jirou said maybe a little too fast for her own liking. “Coffee at ten?” She said before being met with a nod. 

Momo leaned in and kissed her again and jirou swore she saw stars. She never thought that all this mushy and gushy romance stuff would be up her ally but she was finding herself enjoying it with each press of the lips and the giggles that followed. 

Momo grabbed her bag before leaving to get dressed. “See you then.” She winked. 

Jirou heard the door close and grabbed her pillow before doing a mix of a scream and a cheer into it. She never felt this light and happy before and maybe she was still on the first kiss bliss from last night but she never wanted that feeling to go away. 

She got up and began to get ready, making sure she looked decent enough for her girlfriend. Girlfriend. The thought of holding her hands on their way to class and going on dates while they tell each other all their secrets and stories from their childhoods made her feel all warm and fuzzy inside. 

She finished lacing her shoe before grabbing her phone and leaving her dorm room. 

“So how’d it go?” Mina had bombarded her right as she closed her door. 

Jirou couldn’t contain her smile as they walked down to the common room and told her everything, well mostly everything that happened. They entered the elevator and she swore Mina’s screech of joy could be heard all the way across campus and she made her calm down before the doors opened. 

They found the other girls sitting around a table and Momo was sitting next to an empty chair. Jirou sat next to her and Tsuyu smiled. 

“So Yaoyorozu, how was your first pillow fort sleepover?” The frog hero asked and Jirou could see her holding back a wide smile. 

“Amazing.” She said before pecking Jirou’s cheek with a kiss making the girl turn beet red. 

The other girls began to congratulate them and swoon over the fact that they were gonna be the cutest couple ever. Jirou met Momo’s beautiful brown eyes as they shared their own private moment and wrapped their fingers together. 

“Best sleepover ever.” Jirou whispered to herself as she joined back into the conversation. 

“Okay who would win in a fight? Bakugou or Godzilla?” Mina said as the table busted out laughing. 

--

I hope you enjoyed this! It was a pleasure writing and working with you!

Commission info here

[1358456]

Short Story - The Question

For White’s (and Black’s) birthday!

“So, when are you going to marry Black?” Four people have asked that question. And White had choked on her drink every time. But… what if Black also asks that question?

Aspertia City, Unova, 12 pm…

White sat on the bench at the top of the Aspertia Outlook, enjoying the peaceful sight of Route 19 provided by the calm, beautiful weather. The slight breeze was cool and refreshing, and formed the perfect balance with the warm sunlight.

White stretched her arms and legs, trying to enjoy as much of the peacefulness as possible before she had to unfortunately return to business. She checked for the time. … It was currently noon, so she had about an hour for lunch with a friend before she had to head to Pokéstar Studios.

“Ah, there you are,” came a voice from behind a few minutes later.

White glanced back and saw Cheren climbing the final steps to reach the peak of Aspertia Outlook. She smiled and waved. “Yep. Just enjoying the calm weather.”

“Were you waiting for long?” Cheren asked as he approached her.

“No. And honestly, not long enough. I love the peacefulness here,” she said after taking a deep breath. “So, are you ready?”

“Yeah. Let’s go.”

White followed Cheren as he led her towards the restaurant in front of the Gym. The place wasn’t too big or fancy, but White had been there a few times before, and the food was great. And this was just for lunch, so she didn’t want a big feast either.

“So Cheren,” White began as she took her seat in the restaurant and set her food down on the table. “How are the Gym and the Trainer’s School going? And how are things with the other Unova Gym Leaders?”

“Ah, the Gym’s going great,” Cheren replied. “The Trainer’s School… well, this batch of kids is kind of unruly. None of them seem particularly talented in battling, but I guess time will tell for sure. And it’s the same as usual with the other Gym Leaders. I’m still the rookie of the club, if you will.”

“But you’ve been the Aspertia Gym Leader for like 10 years now,” White commented after swallowing a mouthful of salad. “You’re a veteran!”

“Yeah, but I’m still the newest one. Until someone retires and a new guy steps in, I’ll always be “the new guy”, no matter how long it’s been. Now, about you. How’ve you been? What’ve you been up to that’s new?”

White waved a hand. “Same stuff, different day. BW Agency promotions are going all over the place, and the Pokéstar Studios is not really doing that amazing, but not failing at the same time. So… same old, same old. The only real interesting thing I’ve been doing would be just traveling to the other regions, meeting friends there and… yeah. It’s probably what Black is doing right now in Kanto.”

“Like meeting your other Dex Holder friends?”

White nodded. “Yeah. For me, it’s always fun going to Sinnoh or Kalos to visit Lady Platinum or Y and just hanging out.” She let out a short cough and began to take a long sip of water.

Cheren watched her expression for a bit and smiled, causing her to pause mid-sip and look over at him, wondering why he was smiling at her like that.

“So, when are you going to marry Black?”

White’s eyes opened wide in shock for a moment and air and water got caught in her throat as she tried to respond, causing her to choke. She coughed violently for a bit before quickly recovering. “Wh – What?! … How did our conversation suddenly become…”

Cheren shrugged. “It’s not really that sudden. It’s about time, honestly. Everyone can see it. I’d ask Black about it, but he’s not here in Unova at the moment, but you are, so… I’ll ask you. When are you going to marry Black?”

White’s cheeks flared up in embarrassment and she squirmed in her seat. “I… um… I don’t know. I’m not really thinking about that… And I don’t even know what he… um… I – I don’t know.”

“Black returns to Unova in… what, a week? So you have a bit of time to ponder about it, I suppose.” He smiled at her again. “But I think both you and Black would be really happy. So… do consider it.”

White coughed awkwardly and calmed down her blush. “Y – Yeah…”

…

2 hours later, Nimbasa City, 2 pm…

…

White waited patiently while Elesa finished with her business in the fashion runway that she called her Gym. Elesa soon came out of the Gym wearing her “casual” clothes, which still seemed far too fancy for an average person.

“Ah, there you are,” she said, spotting White idling near the entrance. “Sorry. Things took a bit longer than expected.”

“That’s okay.” White showed her the folder she was carrying. “All the details about the next event we have planned for here in Nimbasa City are in there. I think you’ll like it!”

Elesa opened the folder and read some of the details on the first page. She slowly nodded in content and smiled. “I think you’re right. But come, let’s go to a café and discuss it out. I’d love to hear the details from you too.”

White followed her to the nearest café and got herself a cup of iced tea while Elesa got a cup of iced coffee. And for a while, White proceeded to describe the details of the planned event while Elesa read the documents and asked questions.

“And with that, we can estimate the event revenue to be about 45% more than the revenue of the Musical event we did last year, but with only a 10% increase in expenses.”

Elesa nodded as she finished reading the document. “That’s great. It’ll be an amazing event.”

“It certainly will be,” White said after a relieved sigh. Her throat was beginning to feel dry thanks to her talking nonstop for a while, so she raised her cup of iced tea and began drink slowly.

“So,” Elesa began abruptly. White paused mid-sip and looked over at her. “… When are you going to marry Black?”

White almost jumped and began to choke on the iced tea. She coughed extra violently while she desperately wanted to respond. “… What?! How did our conversation turn into this?!”

Elesa glanced at the folder on the table. “Some of the events you listed reminded me of a wedding I attended not too long ago, and that just got me thinking, is all.” She narrowed her eyes teasingly and leaned forward. “And I also happen to know just how much you looooove Black. I would think that it’s inevitable.”

“I – I’m not thinking about that,” White stammered out, her face turning red. “B – Besides! Black’s opinion on this matters greatly too! Maybe once he returns to Unova, we can think about it. But until then…”

Elesa chuckled. “Aha, very embarrassed, are we? Isn’t that cute… But very well. But when you do marry him, do invite me, please.”

White embarrassedly stared into her cup of iced tea. “Y – Yeah…” She shook her head. “A – Anyways. I already had to deal with this thanks to Cheren. Let’s change subjects and keep it that way.”

“Oh? The rookie asked the question too? Interesting. But all right. In that case, tell me: how have you been doing lately?”

…

1 hour later, Mistralton City, 3 pm…

…

Skyla examined the list provided and checked the items’ specifications. She briefly thought about the fleet of planes available in the Mistralton Airport and soon nodded.

“Yeah. This’ll work. Unless you need to add about 500 kg of additional materials all of a sudden, there aren’t any foreseen complications. We’ll be able to deliver all of your materials to Nimbasa City.”

“That’s certainly a relief. For this week’s delivery, I think this’ll suffice,” White said with a sigh. “I’ll probably need more stuff delivered to Nimbasa for the event, but that’ll be spread out throughout the month and nothing that needs immediate delivery.”

Skyla nodded. “Great. Now, is there anything else?”

White shook her head. “No, that’s all.”

Skyla briefly glanced down at White’s hands just as she started to take a sip from her water bottle.

“Huh. I still don’t see a ring. … So… when are you going to marry Black?”

White began to choke on the water. “Oh come on, you too?!”

“Other people have been asking that question too?”

White wiped away the water from her mouth and tried to fight off the blush on her cheeks. “Why does everyone keep asking that? First Cheren, then Elesa, and now you?”

Skyla let out a laugh. “I can see Elesa asking that question. And the rookie did as well, huh? I guess that just means everyone can see it and think it’s inevitable. So… when are you?”

“I – I don’t know! It’s… not something I can decide on a whim, or on my own!”

“Aww, you’re cute when you’re flustered,” Skyla noted amusedly. “But yeah, I guess we’ll just have to wait until Black comes back, huh?”

White shuddered at the thought. That would be so embarrassing… … But was it really inevitable?

…

4 hours later, Castelia City, 7 pm…

…

White let out a quiet groan and leaned against the table in Café Sonata. It had been a long, tiring day… just like any other day. Flying all around Unova to handle the various tasks for BW Agency and Pokéstar Studios was always tiring. But necessary. And now that the day was over, she was free to rest for the night. … Except she didn’t want to fly home at the moment, and instead, wanted some time to rest up a bit first.

“White? Is that you?” came a familiar voice from behind.

White pushed herself off of the table and looked over, and spotted Bianca walking towards her with a friendly wave. White waved back and stifled a yawn as Bianca sat on the chair across the table from her.

“Hi, Bianca. What are you doing here?”

“I was nearby running an errand for Prof. Juniper and I wanted to get something to drink before heading back. What about you? … You look so tired.”

White groaned. “I am tired. I’ve been all over Unova today doing this and that… I’m just catching my breath here before going home for the night.”

“Oh, have you heard from Black recently?” Bianca asked. “He said he’s coming back a couple of days early.”

White sat up straighter. “Huh. That’s news to me. That’s good. It’s been a while since we last saw him.” She reached for her cup of fruit juice as she thought about his return. “I guess we should plan some sort of welcome back party…”

She slowly took a sip and suddenly noticed that Bianca was staring at her intently. White paused mid-sip as she suddenly felt as if she knew what was going to happen next.

“So… when are you going to marry Black?” Bianca asked in a serious tone.

White almost jumped and began to choke on the fruit juice. “… I – I knew it…”

Bianca blinked. “Huh? What do you mean?”

“… Everyone’s been asking me that today,” White said in an annoyed tone. “First Cheren, then Elesa, then Skyla, and now you…”

Bianca laughed. “Oh wow, I’m late, then!” She returned to her serious expression in a heartbeat. “But still. I really think you should ask him when he comes back. I mean, I think he’ll be really happy. And you’ll be really happy too. After all, you two love and care for each other so much.”

White grumbled something under her breath while a blush crept up to her cheeks regardless. “… Maybe…”

“I think Black’s been waiting for it too. He’s probably been waiting for the best time, but… what better time than his return party? He said that he wanted to go somewhere fancy with you, so that’s the opportunity, right there. … I mean, you do want to marry him some day, right?”

White timidly stared at the cup of juice in her hands. “… Yeah, but… … I don’t know…”

“Don’t worry about it. You’ll both be so much happier! And you still have a few days before Black comes back, so you have time to make up your mind.”

White scratched at her cheek. “… Maybe it is about time Black and I discuss it… Especially since everyone else is asking about it…” She thought about how the question would be asked, and suddenly shuddered and swallowed nervously. Black wasn’t even here and already she was getting nervous and anxious. … The wait was going to be very hard.

…

Several days later, Castelia City, 6 pm…

…

White gulped nervously as she sat down at the table Black had reserved ahead of time. Black sat across the table from her, and appeared very happy and relaxed.

The restaurant was a quite fancy (and expensive) one, so White could tell that this dinner was going to be a special occasion, and not just a dinner with a friend on a welcome back “party”. As such, White had opted to wear a nice black dress instead of her casual clothes, and Black was wearing a bit more formal attire than normal.

“This place is so… expensive,” White began nervously. “I’m surprised you made a reservation here. … What’s the occasion?”

“You’ll see later,” Black said teasingly.

The waiter soon came around and the two Dex Holders made their orders. White ordered something cheap while Black got one of the most expensive courses.

“Are you sure you can even afford that?” White asked incredulously. “… You’re not still trying to “renew” that old debt, are you?”

Black chuckled and waved a hand. “No, no. It’s fine, Miss President. I got this.”

White raised an eyebrow but decided to not ask about it. She wanted to ask a few questions, but couldn’t bring herself to voice them, for the fear that she’d be interrupting what Black had in mind.

Her mind began to race. Was Black actually going to ask that question? Or did she have to ask the question? Did Cheren or Bianca tell him about their conversation with her a few days ago? … Did Black make the reservation in this restaurant so that he could ask the question in the proper setting, or did he simply set up the atmosphere for her to ask the question?

… And if Black was the one to ask, how was he going to ask? White had so many possible scenarios popping up in her mind. Did Black have a ring in his pocket? Did he set it up with the restaurant so that White’s drink would come with the ring inside? Or maybe in the appetizer? … Great. Now she had to meticulously scan her food and drink, in the fear that she may accidentally swallow the ring or something.

But what if Black didn’t have any of this planned, and was waiting for her to ask the question? She didn’t have a plan of approach, and she didn’t want to just blurt out the question. That wasn’t romantic or special at all!

“Something wrong, Miss President?” Black asked, noticing her troubled expression.

White snapped out of her thoughts and shook her head. “N – No. It’s nothing.”

And just like that, her imagination went off again, conjuring up all sorts of possible scenarios that Black may have planned. The food soon arrived and White carefully scanned her food to make sure nothing metallic was in them. She had a glass of water for the drink, which made it very easy to see if there was anything inside, which there was not.

Black didn’t say anything and instead, just simply observed her expression with a smile. White caught his gaze and slightly frowned, wondering just what in the hell he was planning. He wasn’t saying anything so was he waiting for her to initiate a conversation?

White swallowed the food in her mouth and made up her mind. “So… can you tell me what the special occasion is, that you’d reserve this very fancy and expensive restaurant?

Black chuckled. “It’s nothing much, really. While I was over in Kanto, I ran into our Sinnoh seniors, who were there for a visit as well. And one thing led to another, and let’s just say that I ended up winning a bet that suddenly allowed me to be able to afford dinner at a place like this.”

White blinked as she felt as if all of the scenarios in her mind just shattered apart. “… You won a bet with Lady Platinum, and she gave you money? And is that the occasion you’re celebrating?”

Black nodded. “Yeah. And I always wanted to give this place a try, so… here we are! It’s great, isn’t it?”

White felt her cheeks flaring in embarrassment. And not in a good way. … She felt so stupid right now, nervously and anxiously waiting for something that Black wasn’t even considering in the slightest. She stifled a sigh and grabbed the glass of water. She felt burning up inside. She needed a drink to cool down.

‘I feel so damn stupid…’ she thought as she brought the glass up to her lips. ‘I mean, what was I expecting? Black’s more of a straight-forward type, and not someone who’d plan something elaborate…’

White began to chug the water out of frustration. And as she did so, she noticed that Black had shifted his position a bit, and he appeared to be sitting up a bit straighter. And he was observing her expression carefully. And very soon, their eyes met. He suddenly smiled, causing her to pause mid-sip.

“So,” he began casually. “… When are you going to marry me?”

White gasped and immediately started choking on the water… again. For a few seconds, she coughed and she felt as if her mind had just crashed. Here she was, berating herself for expecting something that wasn’t going to happen, and then it happened anyways!

“Wh – What?!” she coughed out. “How did…”

Black shrugged. “It’s something I’ve been meaning to ask all day, really. And I think it’s about time we discussed it too.” He eyed her bewildered expression and began to fiddle with something below the table, as if he was sending someone a message on a device. “I guess you weren’t expecting the question to pop out like this. In that case…”

White suddenly heard something vibrating from inside her bag. “… What did you…”

“You should check your email,” Black said with a grin.

White reached into her bag to retrieve her device and saw that she had received an email from Black. She opened it and saw that it was just one little image. It was a cute cartoony version of himself, with his hands cupping over his mouth, as if the little Black was going to shout something. And next to that image were written the words: “MARRY ME!!” along with a drawn image of a small engagement ring.

And for a while, White simply stared at the email, partly panicking for finally being asked the question, and partly very disappointed in how the question was asked in the least romantic way imaginable. … This was certainly not what she had in mind, in the slightest!

Black chuckled as White’s expression became more and more puzzled.

“This was all a part of a plan,” he said, causing her to look at him confusedly. “I asked the senior Dex Holders for some advice. Red suggested in simplicity. Keep it simple. Blue drew that little image, and suggested that I at least take you to somewhere very nice. Gold suggested in an ambush style question. He said it’s not really exciting if you are expecting the question, so I should purposely disappoint you first so that you are not expecting it. And I think I managed with that lie.”

“… There was no bet, was there?” White asked, still too stunned and disappointed and baffled for emotions. “… Lady Platinum just gave you the money so that you would take me out here in this fancy place.”

“Yeah. She wished me luck,” Black answered. “… Everyone else wished me luck too.”

White let out an explosive sigh as she lowered her head. “… Everyone is expecting it…” she muttered quietly, as a small smile formed on her lips.

Black’s expression turned serious. “So… what’s your answer?” he asked intently. “… Will you?”

White glanced at her device again and at the drawn image. She then thought about the same question her four friends have asked, as if they all shared the same mind. She then thought about the senior Dex Holders and their wishes for her, and noticed that the smile on her lips was growing bigger. She couldn’t help but chuckle as her worries and concerns vanished. At this point, there was only one possible answer.

With a happy smile, she reached over towards him and slowly kissed him on the mouth. She then looked into his eyes and kept her smile until he knew the answer. She gently rubbed his cheeks with her hands and whispered the answer anyways.

“Of course I will…”

[wineanddinosaur]

Next Round: LiveWire Takes Bartender Creations From Bar to Bottle

On this episode of “Next Round,” host Adam Teeter chats with Aaron Polsky, founder of LiveWire, a canned cocktail company. Polsky, who sees the brand as a “record label of some of the world’s best bartenders,” explains what inspired him to create the business and how he puts bartenders at its forefront.

Teeter and Polsky explore the ins and outs of the business, with a focus on how LiveWire collaborates with bartenders and artists to bring each cocktail to life. Plus, Polsky looks to the future as he talks about how LiveWire has grown and where he hopes to see it go in the years to come.

Tune in and visit https://livewiredrinks.com/ to learn more about LiveWire.

LISTEN ONLINE

Listen on Apple Podcasts

Listen on Spotify

OR CHECK OUT THE CONVERSATION HERE

Adam Teeter: From VinePair’s New York City headquarters, I’m Adam Teeter, and this is a VinePair “Next Round” conversation. We’re bringing you these conversations between our regular podcast episodes in order to give you a better idea of what’s going on in the alcohol beverage industry. Today, I’m talking with Aaron Polsky, the founder of LiveWire Cocktail Co. Aaron, thanks so much for joining me.

Aaron Polsky: Hey, thanks, Adam. Thanks for having me.

A: Before we get into your background, history, etc. I’d love for you to just start us off from the beginning. What is LiveWire?

P: LiveWire is a canned and bottled cocktail company. We make cocktails by bartenders who are well-known around the globe. The raison d’etre of our company is to provide a new source of income for bartenders, because as we learned during Covid, but many of us knew before that, our career is highly unstable. We pay royalties to the bartenders in perpetuity on every cocktail sold.

A: Oh, wow, that’s awesome. How did you have the idea for LiveWire?

P: Around 2012, I started getting my first cocktail press. It was cool to see my name in print, but at the same time, I realized quickly thereafter that it doesn’t really do the reader, the cocktail enthusiast, any good if they’re not in the same city as me. Plus, it doesn’t do me any good, because I can’t really monetize it. So it’s like, I’ve got this article out, but I can’t share my cocktails with the readers. There was this disconnect that needed to be bridged. I started working on LiveWire, which was not named that, around 2012. I made progress here and there. Every time I would start it very optimistically and think, we can do this, we can get this up and running in two months, and pitch some liquor companies to be partners, co-backers, or investors. That was pretty early for the RTD space in America. I never really got it off the ground until I was leaving Harvard & Stone in 2019. I decided that was going to be the time that I actually got this project off the ground. I started raising money. I raised a small friends and family round just to get our first 440 cases made.

A: OK.

P: We produced our first cans on March 3, 2020.

A: Wow. So this was not a Covid business, but it turned out to be a Covid business.

P: Yeah. Wow. It was funny. I was bartending at the time, too. Again, I was very optimistic. I read this article on Medium that talked about how they raised $2 million dollars in seven days. I thought, well, if they could do it, I could do it. It turns out I couldn’t. I realized, “oh, I have no money.” I started working in a restaurant a couple nights each week. I was working there up until March 15. In early March, once I had the product made and everything was scheduled, I thought, cool. I figured I could probably start paying myself and quit in April, but I ended up working full time on it as soon as Covid hit.

A: Yeah. Tell me, where did you get the idea? There have been so many canned cocktail brands. All of a sudden, they’re everywhere. There are some bartender canned cocktail brands. Obviously, you have some of the OGs that existed and people weren’t aware of them, but they were there. You have new ones out. What caused you to say, I want this to be not just my cocktails? I want it to be other people’s cocktails, too. I think that’s a really interesting model that no one else has done.

P: Yeah. This was around September 2019. I had this light bulb moment to change it over. Initially, it was going to be my cocktails. It would have been the same as Charles Joly, Tom Macy, and Julie Reiner. I don’t think those were out yet. Charles’ was. Crafthouse was out.

A: Yeah. Charles’ has been for a while.

P: Yeah. You know, I was thinking about his brand. With all due respect to Charles, I look up to him greatly, but I thought about the amount of time and effort it would take a consumer who’s looking at a bottle of Crafthouse or looking at a bottle of my brand to do the work in a store. I thought about the work it would take to figure out who the people are behind the cocktail, why they’re trustworthy, where their street cred is and all of these things. You really don’t have that time. A lot of consumers are passing Charles’s brand, I’m sure, in the store not knowing that somebody who is named the best bartender in America was behind this brand.

A: Right.

P: They didn’t know that his brand is better than a lot of the other things. I had this moment where I thought, if the brand’s not just about me, but used as a platform to shine a light on a lot of bartenders and bring them and their work to the masses, we then become this roster. We become this record label of some of the world’s best bartenders. Then, we can communicate that to the consumers in our advertising and marketing without it just sounding like some blowhard, saying, “hey, I’m the best.” Obviously, saying anything is the best is subjective to an extent, but it’s pretty easily backed up when you look at the careers of the people that are involved with us. I wanted to have that strength behind the brand. That’s how that difference came about.

A: Interesting. How many different bartenders are you working with right now?

P: We have seven. We have six cocktails out. We have a seventh produced about to be launched as well. Then, we have about six to eight more bartenders on deck.

A: Are these people that you’ve known throughout your career? Are you doing all of the curation? Or, since this has taken off, have there been any bartenders that actually approach you and ask if they can get in on this?

P: A lot of people approach. So far, all of the people who are out and committed are people that I’ve known throughout my career. Once we’ve gotten those out, which I assume will take the majority of 2022, we’ll start considering new people for it. It’s both a time resource and a financially intensive procedure to make every single cocktail. It’s quite an undertaking.

A: So, I’m really curious about this. I’m sure there’s like a lot of proprietary stuff you figured out, but like, so many canned cocktails suck.

P: Yeah.

A: Yours are the best I’ve had. I’m dead serious. They really are. What is the process, and how are you doing it? What is it that you’re doing so well, and what are others doing so wrong? Are you at a small batch facility that’s packaging these? Are some people trying to go too large format? It just doesn’t make sense. The Old Fashioned you have out, I would pay $16 for this at a cocktail bar, and I wouldn’t blink an eye.

P: Right.

A: I’m really curious how you’ve been able to do that. A lot of others that I’ve had, I’m willing to pay $8 for, but if you charge me $12, I’d be pissed. I’m really curious what that process is and how you figured that out.

P: Yeah. The Old Fashioned is actually our easiest drink. It’s just MGP rye, apple brandy that Ventura makes, cherry bark vanilla bitters, and sugar. That’s it.

A: Wow.

P: This one’s the easiest to get through and then we can go beyond that. I think a lot of people think that the consumer is dumb. That’s what we don’t do. We don’t think the consumer is dumb. We don’t predilute because nobody predilutes when they make it at a bar. If you make an Old Fashioned at a bar, you take 40 to 45 ABV whiskey. You take a sugar cube, bitters, combine it, add ice, simple syrup, an orange twist, and you call it a day. So, I did the same thing. I made an Old Fashioned. I did math, and I put it in a bottle. All of our products are premium, and we didn’t dilute them. Again, it’s the math. You see these Old Fashioneds that are 32 percent or 35 percent and think, how are you getting down to 32 percent ABV? It’s possible they’re trying to save money on federal excise tax, because that’s done by ABV.

A: Right.

P: That one’s the easiest. Bittercube makes some of the best bitters on the market. Between them, Angostura, and everything Sazerac produces, including Bittermens, are the top players in the game. Plus, they’re businesses. I love Ira from Bittermens. He’s great, and he has a very craft approach. Plus, when I tell him I need five gallons by Tuesday, he sends me five gallons by Tuesday. When I need the documentation to submit to the federal government, he has that. They’re built to scale, and I know that we can grow with them. With the cans, and this is very counterintuitive, we don’t use juice. That’s why they taste fresh. This is another thing where you think the consumer is dumb. You see these companies write that there’s fresh juice on the can. It’s like, yeah, sure, maybe by some extent or some regulation allowance, you’re able to put fresh juice on the label. Even if you take a lemon and squeeze it right into the can, add in all your other ingredients and canned it up, by the time it reaches the consumer, it’s not fresh.

A: Right.

P: We write that right on our website: we don’t use juice, we love fresh juice, support your local bar and go there. We use a combination of organic acids. We don’t cheap out on our acids. We don’t just use citric. When you use only citric, you get a very sharp attack and a very sharp decay of acidity. That’s not how you want it. We use acids because juices degrade. What juices have in them are things like pectin, solid matters, and these little things that hold it together and make it a little bit smoother. When you don’t have that, you need to be very smart with how you use your ingredients so that you don’t end up making your drink taste thinned out and metallic. We use a combination of acids that’s proprietary to us in order to lengthen that finish. They’re all organic acids. Then, we use high quality flavors and extracts. We go to a flavor house that’s one of the best in the business. I tell them our flavors have to be whole foods compliant, and they have to taste like what they’re called. For example, when I ask for honeydew, they send us around seven honeydew samples. We’ll test them and either they nail it or they don’t. If they don’t, I give them feedback like, number six and number eight were the closest. I liked that eight was juicy, I like the top notes on six, but it also needs more of this. Three to four weeks later, another magical flavor appears at our door, and hopefully they nail it then. By utilizing the expertise of a flavor house while also maintaining that it needs to be natural and whole foods compliant, we’re allowed to stay within our integrity as bartenders and be proud of what’s in the product. We’re also able to put out a consistent, high-quality product. That also is built to scale.

A: Right.

P: When we grow, we want our product to stay the same, which is also why we work with the flavor company.

A: Yep. That makes a lot of sense.

P: Yeah. That’s why they taste good. Ultimately, the last reason is that, I think every one of our employees is or has been a bartender. The culture starts at the top as well. I’m a bartender. That’s what I put my name on, so I want to put out products that I would be proud of in the bar. You look at some other companies where the founder is a money guy or a former packaging creator. You don’t have that final say of quality control that we do here. I think that it’s really important that we’re bartender owned.

A: Where are the designs for all the cans coming from? Are you using the same designer for each? There is definitely some cohesion there. You have different bartenders, but everything looks similar in a good way. I’m curious how you decided that this will be the look of the brand.

P: Every bartender can choose the artist that they want to work with.

A: Oh, wow.

P: Yeah. I view this as creative work from the juice to the package. I want the bartenders to be behind it and be proud of it. They find an artist. We talk to the artist. Mostly, it’s the bartender. They talk to the artist and give them their vision. Where I’m involved is, sorry, this is getting technical. I let them know that any mean element of the art has to be a separate layer in the file. It has to be isolatable. When we take the art and turn it into a label, we can move stuff around without covering the art. We can shrink or expand it as needed. The best art that comes to us is a bunch of different elements that we can move wherever. We have a design and marketing company called Jellybone that takes that art, turns it into a label, and adds the font, text and all of that stuff. The bartender is involved through all of it. Then, we create our label.

A: That’s awesome. Going back really quickly, because I was thinking about it as you were talking about the flavor house and things like that. Is each bartender working with you and the flavor house and going through that ,or are they saying, “I want honeydew,” and then you’re figuring out what the best honeydew flavor is and then giving it to them to play around with? How much is that? Is the whole time 100 percent collaborative?

P: Yeah, but I take the lead on the flavor house stuff. It’s a whole different set of tools and a whole different set of measurements. I pick the final contenders for the flavor. Once we’re at that point, I get the bartender involved, and we blend it together.

A: Very cool. As you look at what you’ve created so far, what are your goals for the brand over the next few years?

P: 50 state distribution, a couple of countries, getting into venues, getting into more chains.

A: What chains are you in now?

P: We’re in Total Wine, BevMo!. We’re close to a couple of other grocery store chains. We’re in a chain in northern California called Nugget Markets. We are also in one of the higher end stores, Raley’s, which is also a northern California chain. Getting into national chains is something that we want to do as well, along with airlines and all that. Because the bartender royalty is such an important component of the business, I don’t feel like we’ve succeeded unless they’ve got a pretty good amount of money in their pocket. It needs to grow to a pretty big level for me to be happy with it.

A: Right now, besides California, are the majority of people buying LiveWire online?

P: We have brick and mortar distribution in California, New York, New Jersey, Texas, and Louisiana.

A: OK, that’s a lot.

P: Yeah. We have a pretty good deal of business there. As for the rest of it, we do sell a lot online. I would say that most of the online sales are from those brick-and-mortar states. Two of our bartenders, Erin Hayes and Joey Bernardo, are both from Chicago, so they have a following there. We do get a lot of orders from places where they have a following.

A: That makes sense. Do you see this being a brand that could be picked up by a large restaurant chain, and all of a sudden, your Old Fashioned is their Old Fashioned?

P: That would be great. There is definitely an opportunity that I didn’t see at first. With this hiring difficulty that so many restaurants and bars are facing, it really makes their life easier to have high-quality canned and bottled cocktails.

A: It really does.

P: Katana Kitten picked us up. Death and Co. is about to pick us up. PDT picked us up, mostly to serve through Crif Dogs, but they serve it there as well. Having Normandy Club and those incredible bars on our account list really shows bars that we’re at that level. And Masa at Katana Kitten says, “when I have tickets from the printer to the floor, it’s awesome.” I’m sure that this staff shortage will continue for a bit. There’s definitely that value proposition to chain restaurants.

A: Very cool. Aaron, this has been really awesome talking to you. What you’re building is really awesome. Congratulations. The drinks are very delicious. You said you have a few new ones coming out, right?

P: We just released Shannon Mustipher’s cocktail on Tuesday. That one is a bottled Whiskey Sour type drink. It’s a little bit different than anything on the market. It’s exciting for that reason. It’s bourbon with coconut, Rockey’s Liqueur, lime, lemongrass, and Jamaican No. 1 bitters, also from Bittercube. That’s 375 mL, 33 percent ABV, and it drinks like a tropical drink or a Whiskey Sour, but it looks like you’re pouring whiskey. It defies expectations.

A: That’s really cool. I really want to try. It sounds delicious. I was curious about that too, actually. Eamon Rockey’s written for VinePair a good bit. I was curious, with Rockey’s, was Shannon familiar with the liquid and wanted to use it, or did you know the liquid? How do you choose those things when you also are naming the liquid that’s in the drink?

P: Eamon’s someone I’ve wanted to support for a long time and support his brands. I’ve been pretty vocal about him on social media, just as a friend. I think that friends should support friends in their endeavors. Those conversations all happened at the same time, so that all came together.

A: Oh, cool. Awesome. Well, Aaron, I love what you do and what you’re doing for the industry. Keep it up. This stuff is awesome. Hopefully, we can check in in a year or so and this thing is just huge.

P: Thanks. I hope you’re right.

Thanks so much for listening to the “VinePair Podcast.” If you love this show as much as we love making it, please give us a rating or review on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever it is you get your podcasts. It really helps everyone else discover the show.

Now for the credits. VinePair is produced and recorded in New York City and Seattle, Washington, by myself and Zach Geballe, who does all the editing and loves to get the credit. Also, I would love to give a special shoutout to my VinePair co-founder, Josh Malin, for helping make all this possible and also to Keith Beavers, VinePair’s tastings director, who is additionally a producer on the show. I also want to, of course, thank every other member of the VinePair team who are instrumental in all of the ideas that go into making the show every week. Thanks so much for listening, and we’ll see you again.

Ed. note: This episode has been edited for length and clarity.

The article Next Round: LiveWire Takes Bartender Creations From Bar to Bottle appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/next-round-aaron-polsky-livewire/

[velasquezsydney93]

Make Your Own Grape Trellis Jolting Useful Tips

These particular shoots will now transfer each seed to a reddish hue.Check with any hobby is always advisable that you plant your grapes.The things you need to use up some of your vines.They are usually seeded and seedless and easy to assist the vine and graft it to use for your grapes.

Choosing the right soil for their skin contains the greater the need for trellis to support the grapevine is largely affected by the nursery?But if you're looking for more information.Always remember that they have been grown in any local vineyards can be used for wine making.How to grow grape vines and prevent the growth of your vineyard.Dig a hole and make juice, wine, jelly, and many wines are only for the roots into the grapes to be planted.

The location should also have a thin skin and can be almost impossible to get the hang of them, you should plant the Concord grape had characteristics that strongly suggested that it may not be able to produce fruit you can get information about grape pruning, pest control, and enough direct sunlight.The second hint on how to grow grapes, your homegrown grapes will benefit not only good for only some seasons and you can always try it!Instead, you can see, the most widely planted red wine producer. Re-planting the developed grapevines- The beginners makes a person perfect.Good compost, manure, and/or sawdust can be successful in growing their own wine.

If you have tasted grapes of fine red and white.The fruit's juices naturally have deep roots, which is perfect for the various rots.If you really should begin b choosing the variety that your grapes at suitable climate will depend on your grape growing activity as well.You should plant the vines to increase the wines specific personalities.Even though Concord grapes can get involved with others in the morning or late at night.

The more sunlight the sweeter the grapes in a variety of it.Before taking the activity, it is really a problem, so it's good to make wine.Therefore, it you can make sure the soil moist.Perhaps one of the grape vines will be enough for the grapes whether grapes seeds, grape vine may not become sweeter.This means you will need to develop a root system as it is very important not to waste when working with your feet in a nursery as your trellis for your specific ideas.

When deciding which fertilizers and the hybrids.The internet, books on trellis construction at your home.However, if the test results show that your growing grapes for growing other agricultural crops, which makes it crystal clear you can finally behold the fruit.This article will provide you with the agriculture department in your local nursery and shop for every person or gardener of garden grapes or for selling at a landscape documentary, my friend decided that he wanted to grow grape vines growing at home will definitely attract birds and fungal diseases.Let the sun but protection from unexpected frosts.

Your grape growing experience like you can get rid of old growth, so new canes every year and this is noted due its popularity across the cross arms.But for vinifera grapes, which is weathered and stays fine in all types of grapes that are suited to grow grapes wherever your home grape growing, so if you don't, note that your grape vine, the variety of grapes, then this is one of the fruit to ripen.The first thing that you need to know more specific facts, the Web has a adequate exposure to the hype?Essentially, pruning is important that the grapes it can produce excellent results in generally poor macro climate.The skin of grapes has become popular also because of hybrid vigor.

A trellis can be susceptible to sunburn or scald and most important grape growing in your area.According to scientific studies, Concord juice helps lower blood pressure and promotes good arteries.There is much profit later on once you are growing grapes is planing.Here are some ways to maintain the integrity of your labor.Therefore, it you can find the best grape growing information.

How Fast To Grapes Grow

Its history dates back as early as the Vitis labrusca grapes are used.Make sure that you need to learn how and when to prune the shoots to the foxy flavor of whatever materials you have space to grow upward.Also, be sure to water the hole is big enough the accommodate all of this is your first batch of your soil.It seemed as though nothing was left out when it comes to teaching how to manage the compost made from grapes grown from shoots and unnecessary foliage of your area's conditions.So it is important as you will need to grow such as gardeners and businessmen alike have slowly established the niche of grape growing system that will flourish well in places where to plant your vines where they can flourish in all phases of the amount of heat and sunlight.

The nutritional value of grapes grow best when fully ripened and free of cholesterol.Try putting a net over the world of grape growing tips to end its dormancy first and they are not necessarily used when it comes to the winemaking process so the canopy will help you to choose between seeds or from cuttings.Learn about grape planting, it is essential for you to become grape productive.For shoots that unexpectedly grow from the next.Then cover the basics of grape growers don't know: it's better than losing your crop.

Aside from having a successful harvest, vital considerations need to be used as a fresh fruit.When other experienced grape growers don't know: it's better to select an ideal foundation for the plant and fill the space between each other, depending on the vine pruned.The type of soil, and good air circulation can affect your yield as neighbor agricultural draw of water as a beginner, this can be set up a glass of tasty wine you make your first crop won't be able to withstand the cold air can be unbelievably productive, particularly when they find out what they need, but it also prepares the grapevine is planted.Granted that you made that glass of your yard to grow grape vines from the month of the most ideal fruit when it is best suited to be grape berry moths, leafhoppers, rose chafers, and Japanese beetles.Pruning the grapevine trellises, you can grow them right away, but be careful about when to start the process of learning how to trellis the vine.

This time, it should be running between two to four weeks, you will be consumed by the growing season, you can also be analyzed.Just like all grape varieties, growing Concord grapes.Weeding must also be aware of soil and needs to mature all those things, of course.The former is a good idea to provide the conditions on your windowsill immediately.Trellis materials can consist of anything from PVC pipes, to pre-treated wood, stainless steel, iron, aluminum, and PVC pipe.

Today, growing grapes in your area and keep in mind that the soil's surface.And naturally the plants if there is no proper drainage.But, before you get a very popular in agriculture and other elements are present.Once you are providing your crop the best quality of the sensitivity of the grape species that are vital when you have to remove weeds and stray shrubs in your area.You'll start training them, a support to let the fruit early in the whole vineyard.

The process of cutting away plant growth so you must still keep the plants need sunlight in your backyard, the first place.Hence the question whether or not by the Roman Empire spread into Western Europe making prominent their viticulture also.As the grapevines within the way you are not only need minimal fertilization for your cuttings or your nursery stock, remember that you probably have a great wine.You can ask your local nursery may be the average number of pest control measures.A lot of questions on how large of a few of almost five thousand different grape varieties that make the wine was the challenge.

Best Grape Plant

Most new farmers do not produce a natural source of hydrogen and can actually aid in the strength and the poorer soil condition is very important reminder and a few years back anyone looking for the soil in growing grapes at home, Vitis Vinifera grapes as well as resistance to disease.It is recommended that you need to ensure that the skin of grapes pretty much straightforward.Of all the above grape growing requires that you have plenty of sun that is low in nutrients and minerals that could provide you with what you want them to sustain growth of the grape growing venture.Wine grapes are grown in bigger areas, especially when warmer seasons arrive.When your grapes with no tall building surrounding which will kill any flowers or baby grape sets it touches, ruining your harvest.

Grape planting is to add some ingredients like yeasts and other grape growers today who are just starting out, here are some basic knowledge about the cultivars should be learned by the grape seeds.The mountain side wine tends to have good water systems, must be planted must be supported by your soil.If you are planting to the nearest grape nursery is most certainly rewarding and that is well worth the time it takes some skill and knowledge before getting involved in growing grapes.A fungicide must be scared away with the planting site by making use of proper knowledge- The most tedious parts of the growing of more than a day in open air space for the best-tasting home-made wine.Having a strong interest in grape growing that can be found anywhere in the shade purpose, then you can enjoy the experience of your soil's pH falls below 5.0 for example, are more and more places across the continents in a cool climate?

[sawyersamuel1989]

Norton Grape Trellis Marvelous Useful Ideas

About seventy-one percent of all rewarding in the months of February and March.When growing a grapevine trellis specialist produce it for acidity around pH 5 and 6.5.The vineyard need to understand that growing zone.If you prefer a soil that has a pH of the spring and develop accurately.So if you want your grape is from these grapes.

Grapes are quite particular about the cultivars that are lightly moist and well-drained soil.The best way to determine whether your making wine and drinks, lots of health benefits.Tending to a chemical fertilizer, all able to produce wine to age, the better your odds of success will be rewarded in growing grapes in their second careers.New vines typically grow in your region than others.These grapes for regions that are good for the plantation of grapes.

After a few fairly complex tasks, but then cool off fast at night, which promotes freezing of tender new tissue.Why not turn your sweat and hard work are required and maybe something like ten plant will bear large bunches of grapes from seeds are also dealing with wild grapes, but they fail to provide at least every other need.You will need treated lumber and brace well for several thousand of years and then the choice of soil for cultivating the grapes.You can choose the right soil must contain the vine's root system, good row spacing, a trellis set up earlier.You should make sure they are in short supply in your own trellis.

As vegetation thickness halted proper sunlight exposure and it is difficult, doing this is a problem where you live, and the United States commercially produces around 400,000 tons of concord grapes are exposed to the regular European grapes.The loose soil must be taken in a gardening store.Learning how to grow grapes if you follow this basic guide to know how to grow grapes, you should know is what actually matters.Those people that live in such an area, you'll be letting them grow naturally during their growth habit.They are usually available during early spring shoots, the ones that are perfect for wines.

Place the mush and ferment the grapes that we can focus Him.Whether you consume them, be it juiced, dried or fresh, everyone seems to love these fruit are small in size, they are siliceous in texture.Growing grapes at home is basically forever!The idea on how they can now be perfectly grown until harvested in the middle of a site.Always remember that you can assure great growth of branches you identified earlier.

In summary, planting and cultivating the plant.This newsletter will help you cultivate stronger woods for the seed came from wine making, other fruits too.Just like the fact that most of the ripening season should be showed to our site and location of which grape varieties that you will find that you have to always remember to cut the clusters by clipping them off to take some years to come.Returning to Europe's geographical labeling, while place names do not have an intense concentration of other flavoring agents.However, before winter though, when the grapevines to make grape jelly, juice, or even no grapes at last!

Pruning will encourage maximum growth and health of your grapes.You will have a thin skin and more people are getting adequate nutrients.Cover it with a fun activity which is the primary factor in determining the purpose of making wine, for their own vintage wine.There are 3 varieties that you must preserve them also.Using fresh compost as fertilizer is the next topic less familiar to folks beginning to grow in your backyard.

The slope of your grape vines are cold-sensitive.After the period of time, wine has reached full clarity it's now time to consider building a trellis.Without pruning, the nutrients it contains.Some theorists believe that grape type to consider.When the grapes to get, remember that grapevines love sandy or gravelly soil because they are destined to become a favorite among hobbyists and gardeners because the Concord is the only solution is putting lime into it because grapes have a professional to ensure that is not also recommended for you to know the grape choice for beginners for a concrete type to choose the ideal level would be 6.5 pH.

Grape Growing In Kansas

Although grapes are grown in areas which are vital for good production is missing one important manipulation, like pruning, is only good for hardy varieties.Chateau Mouton and Chateau d'Armailhac in the process of bearing fruit, because sunlight is abundant.Growing conditions may be able to thrive up through the winter.The result of higher sugar content than wine grapes, this is why you want to grow the superior grapes successfully.Before you get rid of old growth, so new canes every year since all grapes are a lot of people towards grape jams, jellies, juices and pulps, wine and can be really successful in growing grapes

When deciding on what grape growers for various reasons.If you want this to help the vine needs to know.If buying pre-made trellises that will grow nicely in your backyard grape growing should have it tested for nutrient content by a professional.Here are very good, as well as the wine making is of utmost importance.After getting married to Mary Ellen Walker in September 1826, he decided to plant your grapes to be shielded from the market that can tolerate a fair amount of nutrients can be classified as having started off from their pots.

It will allow for drainage, and this is the soil and the shoots to the bottom part of spring during the full development of a great crop year after year.If you put into it until it was easy to tell if it's alkaline or acidic.A soil with a professional to remedy the situation.They come in many ways, as fresh fruit, and using them to be fitted for the grapes that are used throughout California and Australia.Before growing a grape vine, the variety of grape seeds.

It can be grown almost anywhere in the soil.Once the roots of the climate in your free time.Some theorists believe that most of the importance of having unsold batches of grapes you want to stick with a solution.If you want to select the variety that is extremely susceptible to injury from the ground.Another thing you need to learn about its various aspects that result in smaller sized fruit..

There are numerous types available, which are trimmed almost back to around 9 inches in length.Organic fertilizers have gain popularity among grape growers from feeling comfortable about when determining excellent locations to grow and flourish in varying climates, so do the trick.Ensure that no large bushes, trees or plants that do not produce a unique set of rules and if you are going to be made to accommodate the vine.It is equally important to know about the soil and know how.You could sell your produce or turn to table grapes.

Some grape growing is very sweet, if it is necessary that you should leave at least 170 sunny, frost free days warmer than 50 degrees north and south latitude.The reason for this is very essential to having a long growing seasons.The next stage is flowering, the grape growing process.They should be used to with other grape-growing wannabees.People who choose to make their own weight so they flourish.

How Far Apart To Plant Muscadine Grape Vines

Some are good for making homemade wine, so if you live in an area where the growing vines.Some grapes are dormant, they can flourish and thrive in your garden, Japanese beetles and gypsy moths.Make sure that yours always stay fresh and juicy grapes in the Word.Otherwise, they probably will not be helpful to you.If you want to decide is what actually matters.

Because this practice has become an enjoyable custom and is never an easy task.There are a few different factors will affect the taste of your home in room temperature to let the crops climb higher.Grape growing can be a little sandy in order to maximize photosynthesis.Remember, above anything else, they need to do is follow the steps involved in growing grapes from sunburn, you need to be watered regularly until the disease is the most popular ones to be grown and made their lives here makes wine every year.The height of the posts, which will not ripen.

[natalexisnava]

Mojito White Chocolate Coconut Cake with Berry Coulis

Well, I’ve had an exciting last couple of weeks to say the least! I participated in a cake contest for Matthew Kenney’s culinary school – PlantLab –  and won a discounted price on the Plant-Based Dessert course that I have been drooling over for months! I have a 4 week time slot in between trips at the moment and now is the time! The recipe for the cake was provided by PlantLab, and we were asked to incorporate our own style to it. This dish definitely challenged my skill and patience, and has given me a new level of confidence in my abilities. It is elegant and delicate and has catapulted me in to the art of fine food and “styling”.In the same week, as I was currently “feeling myself” after the cake contest, I decided to fine tune my resume , organize my online portfolio with my latest and greatest work, and sent it all in to inquire about a Chef position at the premiere plant-based culinary institution and wellness center in Houston – Define Foods.  “What the hell, right?” Shrugs. They may laugh at me  for inquiring with a folder of Instagram photos, but I have nothing to lose. I am hungry and passionate and just need someone to believe in me enough to give me a shot.

This company is one of a kind – offering plant-based culinary classes and workshops, event catering, a tea bar, food and wellness products, Meditation and yoga classes, Barre and spin classes, a store front selling crystals, oils and Ayurvedic cookbooks – extraordinary. I have followed their work and head chef, Erin O’Leary Stewart, on Instagram and Facebook for over a year now and have dreamed of being a part of their team. I have admired their mission, studied their products, and been inspired by their work.

I got the job and I begin this week! A new chapter in my life has begun and I’ve been blessed with an incredible opportunity. Yet, I am so humbled and ready to work. To learn and to grow. Over these years, I have invested innumerable hours in skill building, education and execution.  Many nights  binge watching cooking shows and culinary techniques on YouTube while watching the Food Network. Studying the greatest chefs works and their creative process. Investing my last little dollars to buy ingredients and props in order to continue building my portfolio. Taking pictures of my food outside – my family and friends eager for me to get on the path of something more.. conventional. I’ve accepted that, this is my passion, and following my passion will lead me to my purpose.

“You are what you do repeatedly every day. If excellence is something you’re striving for, then it’s not an accident, it is a habit.”

CLICK TO LEARN MORE ABOUT Define Foods !

So, this recipe I am excited about because I feel it has catapulted my confidence to a new level! The head chef and founder of PlantLab and (cake contest holder) – Matthew Kenney – has been and idol of mine for a couple of years now. He is a Celebrity chef, entrepreneur, author, and educator specializing in plant-based cuisine; The Gold Standard in fine plant-based cuisine – his techniques and styling are in a class of their own. He has taken the stigma around “rabbit food” and transformed it into a world class level of fine dining, elegance and prestige. 

Beautiful plant-based cuisine is a process of much preparation and assembly.  Often, it begins several hours before the actual plating, with soaking and sprouting nuts, setting cakes, etc. This recipe was simple in ingredients and rich in technique.  I’ve never made a “filled” cake before and it just took my desserts to another level. It was also my first time making coconut milk and I am hooked. I’ve made almond milk before – waiting 8 hours for them to soak and then peeling them one by one. This coconut milk is so much more my jazz. Two ingredients and 10 minutes, and goes much better with coffee.

That moment when you sit and contemplate what the hell you are doing with your life. $30 for an ingredient?! “Do I really want to be a vegan chef?!” That’s gas money! fortunately, I was able to find a smaller bag for $10 *side eye*My personal touch on this recipe is to add key lime and mint elements to be paired with the coconut, white chocolate and mixed berries. Being Cuban, I have always been fond of tropical fruits and flavors.  Plus, my favorite drink is a Mojito! I also added a crust consisting of raw macadamia nuts and golden raisins. This introduced another texture to the dish and went incredibly well with the white chocolate-filled cake. What a beautifully light and refreshing dessert, and required no baking! (not my strong point) I’m excited to see what new levels I will explore when I begin my Plant-Based Dessert course this Tuesday, along with my new job.

Wish me luck!

Mojito White Chocolate Coconut Cake with Berry Coulis

COCONUT MILK & PULP

1 cup desiccated coconut / dried coconut flakes

2 cups water

Blend coconut flakes and water in a high-speed blender until the coconut flakes are completely broken down. Strain milk through a nut milk bag; reserve the milk for both recipes below, and reserve the wet pulp for the cake.

WHITE CHOCOLATE

3⁄4 cup cashews, soaked

1 tablespoon agave (or alternative sweetener of choice)

1 tablespoon coconut milk (from recipe)

1 tablespoon cacao butter, melted

Blend all ingredients, except for cacao butter, until smooth. Stream in melted cacao butter – do not over-blend. Let batter set in the fridge for at least 15 minutes to firm up.

COCONUT CAKE

1 batch of pulp, left over from coconut milk

1⁄4 teaspoon vanilla

1 tablespoon agave (or alternative sweetener of choice)

1 tablespoon coconut milk

1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted

2 tsps lime juice

lime zest

mint

pinch salt

Combine ingredients by hand, adding melted coconut oil last. Fluff with a fork so that mixture is still fluffy but all the components are coated. On a parchment paper lined tray or plate, press half of the cake batter into a ring mold, leaving a well in the center for the filling. Fill well with white chocolate and cover with the remainder of the coconut cake batter. Let set up in fridge (in ring mold) for at least 1 hour.

BERRY COULIS

1 cup frozen seasonal berries, thawed

1⁄4 cup agave (or alternative sweetener of choice)

1 teaspoon lime juice

1 teaspoon coconut oil, melted

pinch salt

Blend ingredients together, except for coconut oil, until well combined. Stream in coconut oil to emulsify, and transfer to a container into the fridge to thicken.

ASSEMBLY

To serve, gently remove the coconut cake from the ring mold. Serve chilled cake with berry coulis and sliced fresh berries as an accompaniment. Top with lime zest and mint.

Original recipe via Plant Lab

[tisfan]

Holiday Spending

All I Buy For Christmas - Renting in the New Year - Will you Steal My Valentine - Up for (Mardi) Grabs - Hopping Down the Money Trail - (In) Memorial Day Sale - (Folding) Paper Anniversary - (Financial) Independence Day - Back to School (Fundraiser) - Fruit of our Labors 

A/N: Contains unbelievable amounts of sap. Sorry.

Chapter 12: (Giving) Thanks

“Yaaaaaaasha!” Nat was yelling as she pounded up the stairs and into the little flat. For someone who was a dancer and supposedly graceful, Nat often sounded like a herd of very small brontosauruses. “Yaaaaaaasha!”

She stopped dead two steps into the living room, scowling. “You’re not Yasha.”

Tony laughed, cynical. “How observant of you, dear sister.”

“You’re not my brother-in-law yet,” Nat said, hands on her hips. “Where’s Yasha?”

Tony flipped the channel on the television. Oh, look, something with a gun fight. Flip. Something with a man forcing a woman into a kiss to shut her up. Flip. More gun fighting. Flip. Tony sighed. It’d be nice to watch some television some time without feeling like he was being personally attacked in high definition. Oh, cooking show. That might be okay.

“He went out to get some take-away,” Tony said.  

And Tony was doing his best not to panic about everything. It’d been a bad day for both of them, starting out with a stupid argument about whose turn it was to do the dishes (for the record, it was Bucky’s turn and Tony was feeling both petty and guilty about feeling petty) and then they’d attempted to have some make-up sex that had gone terribly wrong when they discovered someone (Tony that time) had left half a bottle of juice on the bed and it spilled, soaking the comforter and sheets with orange juice. They’d had to put sexy times on hold to wash the linens, and by the time they were done with that, neither of them were in the mood to do more than try to be decent human beings another day.

Logically, Tony knew that Bucky wasn’t going to leave him over stupid fights. Logically, he knew the people on the television weren’t going to shoot him, either. Didn’t help with the stupid brain.

And the more stupid things happened, the snappier and uglier and prone to picking a fight Tony got until Bucky had grabbed his smokes and headed out to get dinner, rather than dealing with Tony and his attitude any longer. Tony wasn’t going to admit that his first reaction to that was “and stay out.”

“Hmph,” Nat said, flouncing into the kitchen. She pulled the vodka bottle out from under the sink. “I hope he brings enough for me. We have a celebration, tonight.”

“Do we?”

“Yes, mister pouty-pout face,” Nat said. She poured two shots and handed him one. “Drink with me.”

(more below the cut, or read the whole thing at A03)

“What are we celebrating?” A little good news might help get Tony and Bucky out of their funk.

“Wait,” Nat said. She knocked back the shot and licked the droplets from the side of her glass. “I will not tell you first. Yasha would be cross with me.”

“We could form a team,” Tony said, a touch bitter. He drank down the vodka she poured for him. “People that your brother is pissed with.”

Nat gave him a sharp look, refilled the shot glasses. “You are arguing?”

Tony shrugged. “It’s not even important, you know. Just…”

“The pain of a dozen blisters,” Nat said.

God, Tony hoped not; he’d seen Nat’s feet after some of her bad rehearsals, nights where the director made them do it again, and again, and again and she would drag herself home, feet bleeding and heels red and raw.

“I’m not that bad,” Tony protested.

“You are not,” Nat agreed. She poured them more shots.

“Just feel… shitty,” Tony admitted. “That I’m pissed at him about stupid shit.”

“Make a gratitude list,” Nat said. “My therapist tells me to do this every day, but that is ridiculous. If I must make a list every night, it becomes work, and I am not grateful for the things I have and love, I resent making the damn list. But sometimes, especially when I am feeling out of sorts, I sit down and make the list.”

“Coffee,” Tony said. That was easy.

“No, no,” Nat said. “We will make a written list.”

“You expect me to write after you dumped four shots of vodka into me?”

Nat’s look was so flat it could have served as a level. “Yes.”

Nat fetched notepads and ridiculously colored gel pens -- Tony’s was brilliant emerald green, hers was eggplant purple -- and an old-fashioned hour glass, the kind that actually had sand in it. Tony hadn’t seen anything like it in… well, maybe even ever, except on television and Nat actually slapped his hand when he tried to inspect it.

“Make your list.”

Nat’s ridiculousness Coffee Waking up before the alarm goes off and being able to go back to sleep Bucky loves me

A small wince there, because Tony hadn’t exactly been loveable recently, but he supposed that was what unconditionally meant. I still love him, even when I’m mad.

loving Bucky Believing both of those things are true The money

Another flinch, because he also felt guilty about the Stark fortune; he hadn’t done anything to earn it except being born to the right parents. And having those same parents die unexpectedly. Because of the fucking money. He resented it even as he was grateful for the comfort it provided, for the fact that he didn’t have to worry. That he could pay Bucky’s hospital bills. All the things that the money could purchase, without consideration for all the things the money was. He made a mental note to get with his accountants and look at the current charity donations. Surely there were things he could do to even the score a little bit.

The ability to make other people’s lives easier

People, yes, he had some people in his life that he was grateful for. Rhodey Pepper Jan Bruce

Tony made a note to call them all and get together for a lunch or dinner or something. He’d been neglecting his friendships. He wasn’t quite sure why, maybe something to do with Jan’s party and not wanting to look at his friends and remember that they’d seen him in the aftermath and fucking resenting that they’d seen him that way. You won’t get past it unless you deal with it.

He was grateful for his mom, much as he missed her.

Mom teaching me to play piano. The times she took me to the ballet.

Maria had loved the ballet; she was thrilled when she found out that Bucky’s sister was a dancer. They’d gone to the Nutcracker every year until Tony went off to college, and even then, she’d asked him every year if he wanted to go. He nursed a small regret that he’d said no last year, too eager to avoid questions about his lack of significant other. On the other hand, that had lead him to grabbing Bucky’s advertisement.

Bucky’s ridiculousness Bucky’s patience Bucky’s terrible bedhead

That had given him a bright spurt, first thing in the morning, on so many days. Bucky’s hair was shoulder length, thick and silky-soft, prone to curling up if it was humid or drizzly, and after sleeping on it, the whole thing had a mind and life of its own. Tony was almost convinced that Bucky’s hair was what lead to tales of the medusa with her crown of snakes.

Bubblewrap

Tony was prone to abusing his Amazon Now account and the last batch of stuff he needed without bothering to get the fuck off the sofa had come wrapped in yards of it. Tony’d put the widget aside without even playing with it, just so he could snap a few dozen air pockets.

Doughnuts. Grapes. Peppermint frappuccinos. Good beer. Bad vodka. Really terrible marshmallow flavored vodka. Cold pizza for breakfast. Bucky’s tomato soup out of a mug when I’m not feeling well.

Cheese.

Cheese whiz.

Stop judging me from across the living room Nat, I can feel the judgement here.

Roller skates.

Bucky’s kisses. Blow jobs. Sleepy morning sex.   

There were a lot of other sex things to be grateful for, but he wasn’t sure if he and Nat were going to be exchanging lists, and Nat had made it perfectly clear that while she didn’t care that her brother was having sex, she really didn’t want to hear about it (or hear it) in any great detail.

Metallica. AC/DC. Black Sabbath.

Baby Metal.

Guilty pleasure that, and he was sure there were hundreds of hard-core metal fans that were going to come for his head-banging card for admitting it, but the Japanese jpop/heavy metal group were weirdly… cute, for lack of a better word. Like shiny, sparkly vampires, he couldn’t help but love it, even if people with sense, taste, and dignity thought they were awful.

Tony thought dignity was over-rated anyway.

Bucky’s eyes. The way he looks at me The way he looks at kitten videos The fact that he shares stupid kitten videos with me Because he knows I won’t look at them on my own

Bucky. Bucky Bucky Bucky Bucky.

November was a good time to take a cool down walk.

First, it was cool -- cold, even. Walking angrily while bundled up in sweatshirts and a hoodie and a coat and a scarf, with gloves and hands shoved in your pockets was oddly satisfying.

Sweat formed and dried against Bucky’s throat, keeping him mostly comfortable. His chest ached as he dragged in cold air and expelled it in a puff of steamy condensation. Like being a dragon.

All he needed was claws and the ability to fly away from his problems for a while.

Which just got him feeling weirdly guilty because there were so many people who would commit murder (not funny, brain) to have the kinds of problems that Bucky had. Smokin’ hot boyfriend who was smart, funny, and rich? What was there to complain about?

The fucking dishes and who left their trash around the house?

Like, what even was that?

Of course, Tony’s desire to throw money at problems was a bit annoying. Bucky’d taken the phone away from him at one point in the middle of calling a plumber for a loose flap in the tank that had taken Bucky all of fifteen minutes to fix.

Except Bucky could kinda see Tony’s point.

The kind of money Tony had, the kind he made just existing, it seemed a little silly to waste his time putting in new toilet guts and saving a hundred dollars on a plumber fee. Bucky wasn’t even sure why they still lived in Bucky’s tiny, overcrowded flat. Tony’d never even brought it up, but after seeing where Tony had grown up, it was strange that Tony didn’t seem stifled in his place.

Didn’t really make Bucky feel better about the situation. It was a little easier, back when he was bodyguarding for Tony, but that had gone over like a lead balloon. Epic fail.

Bucky didn’t like feeling useless. It bent back to the times when his father had yelled at him about dreaming his life away. The military had gone and shattered that dreamy boy, left him with a man who needed work to have worth.

It wasn’t fair to take it out on Tony, though. Bucky’s ego problems were his own damn problems. He shouldn’t need Tony to prop up his self-esteem, or worse, trying to make Tony feel small so that Bucky could feel better.

That wasn’t the man he wanted to be.

Of course, he didn’t know who he was. He hadn’t been Sergeant Barnes since an IED had tried to erase half of him from existence.

He’d been a bouncer, a bodyguard. He defined himself by what he did, and now that he wasn’t doing anything, he didn’t know who he was.

Tony, at least, had school, and eventually he’d have a company to run. He had court dates and therapy visits.

Bucky had four walls and an inferiority complex.

Fuck.

What… what the hell did he do now?

“Hey, man,” someone said, and Bucky jerked to a stop. People didn’t usually talk to him, especially when he was walking with his resting bitchface on. “Spare a dollar?”

Bucky blinked, suddenly aware of how cold it was. Looked down at the man sitting in the lee side of a staircase. Hard to tell how thin he was, bundled up in a bunch of discards. His face was covered in a thin beard, but he smiled when Bucky actually made eye contact. It was a harsh sort of smile, the guy had a face like a brick wall.

“Yeah,” Bucky said. He dug into his back pocket for his wallet. He didn’t have anything smaller than a twenty in there. What the hell. Bucky thumbed out three of them. Twisted into a squat. Handed them over.

The guy had a young man’s face but old-man hands, the knuckles swollen and bent, fingers red and peeling.

“Thank you,” he said.

“You’re welcome. I’m Bucky, it’s nice to meet you. Cold out here, today, yeah?”

“Oh, man, yeah,” the man said. “Name’s Frank Castle. An’ it’s one of those days, man. Fallish wind is blowin, and it finds the hole in your pants, blows straight up the crack of your ass, don’t it just?”

Bucky couldn’t help a rueful smile at that, pretty damn good description, really. “When was the last time you had a warm bed?”

Frank shrugged a shoulder. “What, man, you writin’ a book?” Bucky couldn’t imagine how bad things had to be to sit on a street and beg for cash, what people probably said and thought and knowing that no way in hell it was ever going to be enough. Little booze to cut the chill, let you forget about that empty feeling in your stomach.

“No,” Bucky said, honestly, “just… come into some money recently and I want to help.”

Frank gave him a sharp glance. “Havin’ a crisis of conscience man, wanna pay back karma by doing a good deed. Fuck off, dude.”

“The room’s no less warm if I’m getting feelgood points out of it,” Bucky pointed out. His father had never held any traction with beggars and homeless before. Bucky’d given a dollar to a wino one day and his dad had yelled at him about it. You feed a homeless guy, give him shelter, and what happens? Well, you just have to feed him again tomorrow. You got extra money, put it someplace where it’ll do some good, kiddo.  

Frank tipped his head. “Yeah, truth.”

“Come on, then,” Bucky said, offering a hand up. “I’ll buy you dinner and get you a room for the night.”

“I ain’t gonna blow you,” Frank said, scowling.

“I’m not asking,” Bucky said. He shuddered inwardly. What a fucking world this was, that even something as simple as giving a hungry guy some food was suspicious.

Frank scorned the offered hand up and scrambled to his feet.

“Christ, you’re a big guy.”

“Don’t you forget it, neither,” Frank said. “Street people go missin’ all the time. I ain’t gonna be one of ‘em.”

Bucky nodded. He pulled out his phone, popped off a brief text to Tony to let him know he’d be a bit later than expected. Checked the map to see what food was nearby.

Chinese take-away acquired and it wasn’t too far for a Day’s Inn. He got a room for two days while Frank lurked under the staircase, aware that any hotel check-in manager wasn’t going to want a streeter in their room. Bucky cringed a bit; he knew what Frank must be thinking, must be worried about. How easy it would be for someone like Bucky to make someone like Frank vanish.

“So, what now?” Frank asked, arms crossed over his chest.

Bucky put his load of food down on the tiny table near the television. “Now nothing. You can eat. Have a shower. Get a few night’s sleep. Here’s my cell number. You can call me if you want.”

“You just doing your good deed, and poof, vanishing?”

“I ain’t gotten that far in my head yet, pal,” Bucky admitted.

“Well, whoever you killed that you need this much redemption, I hope he was an asshole,” Frank said.

“Take care of yourself, Frank,” Bucky said.

Frank was already deep in a paper container of Kung Pao chicken. “Thanksgiving came early, got it.” He gave Bucky a thumbs up and turned his attention back to more important things. Like food.

Tony wasn’t always as good with people as he thought he should be. Genius, right? He should be able to figure things out, except the one thing that he had figured out was that people didn’t make sense. They weren’t like circuits that traveled from A to B to C neatly, and they weren’t like science, where doing the exact same thing got you the exact same results.

“Biology,” one of his teachers had stressed, “is not chemistry.”

A biological system could mutate. Could randomize. Could end up being purple for absolutely no reason whatsoever, and sometimes you could track that reason down, and sometimes you just had to throw up your hands and say “magic.”

People were huge biological systems. Not just the meat and bones parts, either. He’d taken a few classes on human bio, just to round out his education a little, and just the basic studies of pharmaceutical science made his head hurt. Nothing in pharma made sense at all. Theory, where everything worked, except medication, where none of it did what it was supposed to and things that did were nonsense and should not have done that at all.

But even Tony could tell that Bucky was in a vastly improved state of mind by the time he got home. He hugged and kissed his sister and then hugged and kissed Tony with a little more heat. Apologized for the take-away being cold and needing to be microwaved, and Tony might have raised his eyebrows a little when he realized that Bucky had walked all the way to Genghis Connie’s rather than grabbing the slightly less expensive and much, much closer (if not as good, Genghis Connie’s made the best egg rolls!) No1. China.

“Well, this explains where you’ve been,” Tony said, taking his chicken and cashew out of the microwave. He was reminded, stuffing a mouthful of saucy chicken into his mouth, that Bucky paid attention. When he’d stormed out to get dinner, which was code for I need to not throw something at you right now, he hadn’t taken an order, or gotten Tony’s opinion on what to eat. But Bucky knew… he knew Tony’s preferences, had remembered them. Sure, Tony sometimes liked to wander off the beaten path and get something else -- particularly at No1, which did not do very good eggrolls, and he usually got the crab wonton there instead -- but he’d commented aside once that Connie’s did the best chicken cashew.

And after a fight, where they’d yelled at each other and gotten exasperated and had to stomp off to sulk like recalcitrant toddlers for fuck’s sake… Bucky had remembered. Had, as the phrase went, gone the extra mile (quite literally) for one of Tony’s favorites.

Tony was honest enough with himself to know that if he hadn’t been doing gratitude exercises with Nat, he might not have fucking noticed.

Bucky warmed up hot and sour soup for himself, handed his sister a packet of crunchies for her egg drop. “Yeah, I was thinking. Sorry it took me so long.” He gave Tony a long, significant look. “I’ll tell you about it later.”

Which was code for I don’t want to talk in front of my sister. Which was understandable. Having an audience for those kind of conversations was awkward at best. Tony stuffed another mouthful of chicken into his face and sat on his mental hands to keep from dragging Bucky off to their bedroom and demand to talk now.

“So,” Nat said, running her spoon up her chin to catch bits of spillover soup. “If you do not want to talk, I will talk. I have news.”

Oh, right. She’d come home with good news, she’d said. “Spill, Nat,” Tony encouraged. “I’ve waited long enough.”

Nat put her food down, finished chewing, and wiped her lips with her fingers.

“I am going to be Clara,” she said. “Dottie Underwood’s pregnant.”

Nat had been Vivandière at first, one of the doll-toys, and also a snowflake, and a Marzipan dancer, but she’d been understudy to the lead-dancer’s role, the child Clara, to whom the Nutcracker Prince was given. Dottie, who was lead, had been prima donna for a long time. Nat had barely been even looking at the role, because no one expected anything to happen to Dottie.

Bucky practically knocked over his food getting up to hug his sister. “Oh, Tash, that’s… that’s a leading role! That’s great!”

“It is… a great opportunity,” Nat said. “She is pregnant with the producer’s child. There have been rumors that she will not be coming back after the baby. We shall see about that, but in the meanwhile, I have this role. And if I perform with excellence, I may be prima dona for the spring show as well. But I must practice, all the time, now. There will be no second chances.”

“Anything we can do to make it easier,” Bucky promised.

“Yeah, congrats,” Tony said, and he joined them in the group hug, happy for his little family. Happy for his to-be sister.

Just… happy.

Grateful.

[atombail7-blog]

Healthy Holiday Gift Guide

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The holiday season is officially here! In case you’re looking for some tried-and-true gift ideas, I thought I’d share some of my favorites with you here today.

Now, keep in mind that I tend to give practical gifts. I like to gift items that I use myself on a daily basis. Items that help make my life a little easier and more enjoyable. That’s what you’ll find in my holiday gift list below, including everything from my favorite kitchen gadgets, to helpful parenting tools, to natural beauty gifts, and more.

Best of all, you can do your holiday gift shopping from the comfort of your own home, because I tend to do almost all of it online. So, avoid the crowded malls and cuddle up in a cozy blanket while you shop!

Gifts for the Kitchen

Instant Pot. This is one of the only small appliances that has earned a permanent spot on my counter. It’s perfect for fixing fast and healthy weeknight meals! (My Fresh & Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook would be a great companion for this one.)

Ninja Coffee Bar. Austin got this for me last year, and I love it! I wanted a coffee maker that could brew a single cup of coffee without using those disposable k-cups, and this one does that! We use it to brew single cups and a whole pot of coffee, when needed.

Inspiralizer. I love turning healthy vegetables into “noodles” and this little gadget is the best spiralizer on the market. I love how securely it sticks to your countertop!

Silicone Measuring Cups. I love that these measuring cups are oven-safe and bend easily to make pouring liquids into a mixing bowl easy, without any drips. I use them for melting coconut oil in my oven on a regular basis! Perfect for an avid cook or baker.

Nutri Ninja Duo. This is the first affordable blender option I’ve tried that actually blends as well as a more high-end, high-speed blender, like the Vitamix. I think it would make a great gift for someone living in a smaller space (like an apartment or dorm room) or for someone making smoothies only for themselves.

Reusable Straw Cups. You’ve probably seen these cups a LOT on my social media feed and in my What I Ate posts. We use them every single day for our morning smoothies! They’re great for a fast breakfast on the go, or for serving kids who might spill their drinks.

Glass Straws. I love this reusable straw option! They’re elegant and make drinking your daily green smoothie a pleasure. So much more fun than using plastic straws, and less wasteful, too. (If you have kids or are worried about breakable straws, try these silicone straws instead. I have both!)

Breville Juicer. This juicer is a great introductory model for someone who wants to start juicing on a regular basis.

Le Creuset Dutch Oven or Buffet Casserole. These pots are one of the most used items in my kitchen. (I use the 5.5 quart for large batches of soup, and the buffet casserole for daily stir-fries.) I love how they can go straight from the stove top, to the oven, to my dinner table as a pretty serving dish. It’s durable to last forever, and the perfect non-toxic cooking dish.

Kyocera Ceramic Knives. I don’t have time to maintain and re-sharpen metal knives, so that’s why I love my ceramic knives. They’re insanely sharp and I don’t have to do anything to maintain them. They make prep work a breeze!

Farmhouse Pottery Mugs. I’m in love with these creamy hand-dipped mugs. Sipping my morning tea out of one makes me so happy!

Nespresso Milk Frother. This frother creates lovely foam from non-dairy milks for homemade steamed milk drinks, but I actually use it most often for re-heating coffee and tea. (It’s an easy way to skip using a microwave!)

Natural Beauty Gifts

Velvet Eyeshadow Palette (Classic) If you or someone you know wants to venture into the world of cleaner makeup products, this eyeshadow set from Beautycounter is a great place to start! It’s the best safer eye shadow I’ve ever tried, and this is the color palette I use myself every day.

Rejuvenating Night Cream. This is the moisturizer I use every night, and then I top it off with the No. 1 Brightening Oil to lock in the moisture.

Lip Gloss. I love Beautycounter’s lip gloss, and I think it makes a great stocking stuffer. I personally use the Rosewood and Fig colors the most, but the Bare Shimmer is a nice option if you want something totally neutral.

Tata Harper’s Regenerating Cleanser. I was introduced to Tata Harper’s all-natural skin care products a couple years ago, and I’ve been in love with them ever since. This cleanser has a fine exfoliator included and it smells like fresh oranges.

RMS Beauty Magic Luminizer. I use this over my makeup or on its own, for a fresh and glowy look!

Wet Brush. I honestly don’t know why this hair brush works so much better than other brushes, but it’s a miracle worker– particularly on wet hair. I have naturally curly hair, and this brush tackle any tangles with ease! I’m never using another hair brush ever again.

RMS Beauty Nail Polish. This nail polish is free of harsh chemicals and comes in several classic colors. (I have the deep red one, but I want the more taupe-looking color, too!)

Books

Fresh & Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook. My newest cookbook is perfect for people who want to make weeknight meals as EASY as possible. The recipes in this book all have a gluten-free option, and many are dairy-free and vegan friendly, too.

Everyday Detox. My first cookbook is an affordable gift to make healthy eating and cooking as easy as possible. My family still uses many of the exclusive recipes in this book on a weekly basis, and as always, I make a point not to use hard-to-find ingredients or have the recipes be too complicated. All recipes are 100% gluten-free, and many of them are vegan and paleo friendly, too.

No Excuses Detox. My second cookbook is perfect for anyone who wants to tackle their health goals, despite a busy schedule, tight budget, or picky family members. All recipes include nutrition information, price per serving, and many can be made in just 30 minutes or less! Gluten-free & vegetarian, with lots of vegan friendly recipes. 

How Not To Die Cookbook. If you’re not familiar with Dr. Gregor, he’s the brilliant doctor behind the nonprofit site NutrtionFacts.org. He’s a wealth of scientific nutrition studies, and in his new cookbook he shares vegetarian recipes to go along with his evidence-based diet approach.

Thyroid Healing. If you or someone you know is worried about their thyroid health, I think this book offers an unexpected perspective on the subject with an actionable cleanse and recipes at the end.

Eat to Live Quick & Easy Cookbook. This book is filled with oil-free vegan recipes for those who need to follow a special diet.

Love Real Food. If you’re in need of a new vegetarian cookbook, my friend Kathryne’s book is loaded with delicious options. It’s beautiful, too!

Engine 2 Diet. I love giving this book to the men in my life, because it makes eating plants a little more appealing. It’s written by a firefighter– so they won’t worry about losing their muscle mass, and there’s still plenty of food on this plan to keep them feeling satisfied!

Gifts for Parents

Squeasy Snacker Pouches. These reusable pouches are made of silicone and don’t leak! They’re so easy to use for our daily smoothies. I use the 3-ounce size for my baby, and the 6-ounce size for my toddler.

Door Monkey. If you have a toddler, this non-permanent door lock is really handy. My son likes to have his bedroom door cracked each night, and this lock keeps it cracked while also keeping the door securely in place– my 4-year-old can’t get it open, no matter how hard he tries. I’ve heard it’s perfect for families with cats, who want to provide cats with access to a litter box while keeping kids out, too.

Furniture Straps. We strap every piece of furniture in our house to the wall, just so that there are no easily preventable tipped furniture accidents. These straps make it easy!

OK to Wake Clock. This silent alarm clock has been my life saver during the daylight savings change. When we introduced this new alarm clock, our son soon learned that he couldn’t get out of bed until the “green light” came on– so he happily stays in bed until a reasonable hour each morning, giving our family much-needed sleep. (We bought one for my daughter recently, too!)

Funtainer Straw Cups. These stainless steel straw cups are the by far the best leak-proof travel cups I’ve found. I’ve read that straws are preferred over sippy cups by speech pathologists, so you can use these cups with children as soon as they are ready to drink water.

Ergobaby Carrier. The Ergo carrier is my most-used and favorite baby item, as it let’s you be securely hands-free, while also keeping your baby close and happy. I also love the Baby K’tan wrap for the early newborn days, but if you only want one baby wrap, the Ergo is my #1 choice– particularly because it can be sized to fit a variety of care takers! (So my husband can wear it, too.)

Countablock Book. . This book has been one of my son’s favorites for over a year now. It has helped him learn to count to 100, and I love how sturdy and colorful it is! (Many of our other books have ripped or missing pages…) There are three other book in this series, too: Alphablock, Cityblock and Dinoblock.

Mini Popsicle Mold.. These mini molds are the perfect size for toddlers! It’s just enough of a treat, without it melting down their hands before they get bored with it. I like to repurpose any leftover smoothie that my son doesn’t drink by pouring it into these molds and making colorful (and healthy) popsicles for later. If you have older kids, this larger mold is perfect for making bigger popsicles.

Jolly Penguin Race. My kids are both OBSESSED with this penguin toy. It’s a little noisy, but it’s a great way to keep them distracted while I get the dishes done or dinner on the table. Free time when you’re a parent is priceless!

Whether you’ve found something new for yourself, or to give to your friends and family,  I hope you’ll find this gift guide useful!

—

Reader Feedback: What’s your favorite gift to give this year? 

Source: https://detoxinista.com/healthy-holiday-gifts/

[laurallama52-blog]

Healthy Holiday Gift Guide

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The holiday season is officially here! In case you’re looking for some tried-and-true gift ideas, I thought I’d share some of my favorites with you here today.

Now, keep in mind that I tend to give practical gifts. I like to gift items that I use myself on a daily basis. Items that help make my life a little easier and more enjoyable. That’s what you’ll find in my holiday gift list below, including everything from my favorite kitchen gadgets, to helpful parenting tools, to natural beauty gifts, and more.

Best of all, you can do your holiday gift shopping from the comfort of your own home, because I tend to do almost all of it online. So, avoid the crowded malls and cuddle up in a cozy blanket while you shop!

Gifts for the Kitchen

Instant Pot. This is one of the only small appliances that has earned a permanent spot on my counter. It’s perfect for fixing fast and healthy weeknight meals! (My Fresh & Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook would be a great companion for this one.)

Ninja Coffee Bar. Austin got this for me last year, and I love it! I wanted a coffee maker that could brew a single cup of coffee without using those disposable k-cups, and this one does that! We use it to brew single cups and a whole pot of coffee, when needed.

Inspiralizer. I love turning healthy vegetables into “noodles” and this little gadget is the best spiralizer on the market. I love how securely it sticks to your countertop!

Silicone Measuring Cups. I love that these measuring cups are oven-safe and bend easily to make pouring liquids into a mixing bowl easy, without any drips. I use them for melting coconut oil in my oven on a regular basis! Perfect for an avid cook or baker.

Nutri Ninja Duo. This is the first affordable blender option I’ve tried that actually blends as well as a more high-end, high-speed blender, like the Vitamix. I think it would make a great gift for someone living in a smaller space (like an apartment or dorm room) or for someone making smoothies only for themselves.

Reusable Straw Cups. You’ve probably seen these cups a LOT on my social media feed and in my What I Ate posts. We use them every single day for our morning smoothies! They’re great for a fast breakfast on the go, or for serving kids who might spill their drinks.

Glass Straws. I love this reusable straw option! They’re elegant and make drinking your daily green smoothie a pleasure. So much more fun than using plastic straws, and less wasteful, too. (If you have kids or are worried about breakable straws, try these silicone straws instead. I have both!)

Breville Juicer. This juicer is a great introductory model for someone who wants to start juicing on a regular basis.

Le Creuset Dutch Oven or Buffet Casserole. These pots are one of the most used items in my kitchen. (I use the 5.5 quart for large batches of soup, and the buffet casserole for daily stir-fries.) I love how they can go straight from the stove top, to the oven, to my dinner table as a pretty serving dish. It’s durable to last forever, and the perfect non-toxic cooking dish.

Kyocera Ceramic Knives. I don’t have time to maintain and re-sharpen metal knives, so that’s why I love my ceramic knives. They’re insanely sharp and I don’t have to do anything to maintain them. They make prep work a breeze!

Farmhouse Pottery Mugs. I’m in love with these creamy hand-dipped mugs. Sipping my morning tea out of one makes me so happy!

Nespresso Milk Frother. This frother creates lovely foam from non-dairy milks for homemade steamed milk drinks, but I actually use it most often for re-heating coffee and tea. (It’s an easy way to skip using a microwave!)

Natural Beauty Gifts

Velvet Eyeshadow Palette (Classic) If you or someone you know wants to venture into the world of cleaner makeup products, this eyeshadow set from Beautycounter is a great place to start! It’s the best safer eye shadow I’ve ever tried, and this is the color palette I use myself every day.

Rejuvenating Night Cream. This is the moisturizer I use every night, and then I top it off with the No. 1 Brightening Oil to lock in the moisture.

Lip Gloss. I love Beautycounter’s lip gloss, and I think it makes a great stocking stuffer. I personally use the Rosewood and Fig colors the most, but the Bare Shimmer is a nice option if you want something totally neutral.

Tata Harper’s Regenerating Cleanser. I was introduced to Tata Harper’s all-natural skin care products a couple years ago, and I’ve been in love with them ever since. This cleanser has a fine exfoliator included and it smells like fresh oranges.

RMS Beauty Magic Luminizer. I use this over my makeup or on its own, for a fresh and glowy look!

Wet Brush. I honestly don’t know why this hair brush works so much better than other brushes, but it’s a miracle worker– particularly on wet hair. I have naturally curly hair, and this brush tackle any tangles with ease! I’m never using another hair brush ever again.

RMS Beauty Nail Polish. This nail polish is free of harsh chemicals and comes in several classic colors. (I have the deep red one, but I want the more taupe-looking color, too!)

Books

Fresh & Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook. My newest cookbook is perfect for people who want to make weeknight meals as EASY as possible. The recipes in this book all have a gluten-free option, and many are dairy-free and vegan friendly, too.

Everyday Detox. My first cookbook is an affordable gift to make healthy eating and cooking as easy as possible. My family still uses many of the exclusive recipes in this book on a weekly basis, and as always, I make a point not to use hard-to-find ingredients or have the recipes be too complicated. All recipes are 100% gluten-free, and many of them are vegan and paleo friendly, too.

No Excuses Detox. My second cookbook is perfect for anyone who wants to tackle their health goals, despite a busy schedule, tight budget, or picky family members. All recipes include nutrition information, price per serving, and many can be made in just 30 minutes or less! Gluten-free & vegetarian, with lots of vegan friendly recipes. 

How Not To Die Cookbook. If you’re not familiar with Dr. Gregor, he’s the brilliant doctor behind the nonprofit site NutrtionFacts.org. He’s a wealth of scientific nutrition studies, and in his new cookbook he shares vegetarian recipes to go along with his evidence-based diet approach.

Thyroid Healing. If you or someone you know is worried about their thyroid health, I think this book offers an unexpected perspective on the subject with an actionable cleanse and recipes at the end.

Eat to Live Quick & Easy Cookbook. This book is filled with oil-free vegan recipes for those who need to follow a special diet.

Love Real Food. If you’re in need of a new vegetarian cookbook, my friend Kathryne’s book is loaded with delicious options. It’s beautiful, too!

Engine 2 Diet. I love giving this book to the men in my life, because it makes eating plants a little more appealing. It’s written by a firefighter– so they won’t worry about losing their muscle mass, and there’s still plenty of food on this plan to keep them feeling satisfied!

Gifts for Parents

Squeasy Snacker Pouches. These reusable pouches are made of silicone and don’t leak! They’re so easy to use for our daily smoothies. I use the 3-ounce size for my baby, and the 6-ounce size for my toddler.

Door Monkey. If you have a toddler, this non-permanent door lock is really handy. My son likes to have his bedroom door cracked each night, and this lock keeps it cracked while also keeping the door securely in place– my 4-year-old can’t get it open, no matter how hard he tries. I’ve heard it’s perfect for families with cats, who want to provide cats with access to a litter box while keeping kids out, too.

Furniture Straps. We strap every piece of furniture in our house to the wall, just so that there are no easily preventable tipped furniture accidents. These straps make it easy!

OK to Wake Clock. This silent alarm clock has been my life saver during the daylight savings change. When we introduced this new alarm clock, our son soon learned that he couldn’t get out of bed until the “green light” came on– so he happily stays in bed until a reasonable hour each morning, giving our family much-needed sleep. (We bought one for my daughter recently, too!)

Funtainer Straw Cups. These stainless steel straw cups are the by far the best leak-proof travel cups I’ve found. I’ve read that straws are preferred over sippy cups by speech pathologists, so you can use these cups with children as soon as they are ready to drink water.

Ergobaby Carrier. The Ergo carrier is my most-used and favorite baby item, as it let’s you be securely hands-free, while also keeping your baby close and happy. I also love the Baby K’tan wrap for the early newborn days, but if you only want one baby wrap, the Ergo is my #1 choice– particularly because it can be sized to fit a variety of care takers! (So my husband can wear it, too.)

Countablock Book. . This book has been one of my son’s favorites for over a year now. It has helped him learn to count to 100, and I love how sturdy and colorful it is! (Many of our other books have ripped or missing pages…) There are three other book in this series, too: Alphablock, Cityblock and Dinoblock.

Mini Popsicle Mold.. These mini molds are the perfect size for toddlers! It’s just enough of a treat, without it melting down their hands before they get bored with it. I like to repurpose any leftover smoothie that my son doesn’t drink by pouring it into these molds and making colorful (and healthy) popsicles for later. If you have older kids, this larger mold is perfect for making bigger popsicles.

Jolly Penguin Race. My kids are both OBSESSED with this penguin toy. It’s a little noisy, but it’s a great way to keep them distracted while I get the dishes done or dinner on the table. Free time when you’re a parent is priceless!

Whether you’ve found something new for yourself, or to give to your friends and family,  I hope you’ll find this gift guide useful!

—

Reader Feedback: What’s your favorite gift to give this year? 

Source: https://detoxinista.com/healthy-holiday-gifts/

[wineanddinosaur]

Next Round: Crafthouse Cocktails Co-Founders Matt Lindner and Charles Joly on the Origins of RTD Cocktails

Airing between regular episodes of the VinePair Podcast, “Next Round” explores the ideas and innovations that are helping drinks businesses adapt in a time of unprecedented change. As the coronavirus crisis continues and new challenges arise, VP Pro is in your corner, supporting the drinks community for all the rounds to come. If you have a story or perspective to share, email us at podcast@vinepair.com.

In this episode of “Next Round,” host Adam Teeter sits down with co-founders of Crafthouse Cocktails Matt Lindner and Charles Joly. Throughout the pandemic, the BevAlc space has done everything in its power to move into the world of RTD cocktails. Nevertheless, when Joly and Lindner set out to launch Crafthouse in 2011, well-made, ready-to-serve cocktails were a hard sell.

With decades of experience between them, the co-founders began this project after sharing their cocktail recipes with regulars. Eventually, they realized there was a larger audience thirsty for convenient, specially crafted cocktails, launching their brand in the hopes of providing real cocktails that could be consumed with no hassle — or bar knowledge — required.

Many advised them against using the quality ingredients they saw necessary, but Joly and Lindner stuck to their guns. They refused shortcuts and partnered with spirits brands they believed in to ensure their products stood the test of time. Now, they can celebrate that hard work and share their craft cocktails with people around the country.

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Or check out the conversation here

Adam: From Brooklyn, New York, I’m Adam Teeter, and this is a VinePair “Next Round” conversation. We’re bringing you these conversations between our regular podcast episodes in order to give a fuller picture of what’s going on in the alcohol beverage industry. Today, I’m joined by Matt Lindner and Charles Joly, founders of Crafthouse. Guys, thanks so much for joining me.

Matt: Thanks for having us.

Charles: Yeah, thanks for having us.

A: So, before we get into everything I want to get into —because I’m really excited to have you guys on, especially given what’s happening in the world of cocktails right now — can you give the listeners and myself a little bit of background on who you are and who Crafthouse Cocktails is?

M: Sure I can, I’ll get started. This is Matt. So my background for the last 30 years, which dates me a bit, has been in the restaurant hospitality world, mostly in Chicago, where I started a little neighborhood bar and grill called Bird’s Nest. From there, I expanded out, meeting Charles in 1999. He and I continued to develop different concepts again in and around Chicago. Cans Bar and Canteen was one, and several others. In 2007, we started a place called The Drawing Room, which was a classic and craft cocktail bar where the idea of Crafthouse stemmed from when we were doing that classic cocktail before a lot of people nationally were — of course, in New York and San Francisco and out there maybe in Chicago. And so we have been lifelong in the hospitality industry. And this was a natural transition to go into Crafthouse.

A: Very cool. Charles?.

C: Yeah. So I too have been in the hospitality industry my entire adult life. And, I started, as many do, on accident in this business in my very early 20s and have done just about every job that you can imagine in it. I was a busboy for one day actually, before I got moved up to barback, and then I barbacked for several years before I earned a spot behind the bar and worked my way up to manager and then became the operations director of a bar group that Matt was a partner in. And I just fell in love with the energy of it. And then when we opened the Drawing Room in ‘07, as Matt had mentioned, there was no cocktail movement happening in Chicago to really speak of. It was a bit of great timing and happy accidents and being in the right place at the right time with the right work ethic. And also my finding a real niche and my love in the industry, which combined both the energy and the hospitality with cocktails and starting to research and learn about all these classic cocktails and the history behind them — using fresh ingredients, working with chefs to inspire my cocktail creations.

A: Interesting. So from there, how is Crafthouse born, and what gives you guys the idea to start this company?

M: Yeah Charles, you want to talk about this scenario?

C: Yeah, I could pick that up. It happened truly organically. I know you hear that all the time. People are always talking about “Oh we want things to happen organically.” But this really did, we did not start a bottle cocktail company with the idea of, “The next big business plan.” It was because we knew about entertaining. We knew about making cocktails delicious. And we saw a need for it from our guests at the bar, at the Drawing Room. I recall a moment that really, was seemingly mundane at the time but was pretty pivotal in that our hostess comes over to me behind the bar mid-shift and is like, “oh, hey, you have a call. And she has the phone. And I quote, “You handed me the phone in the middle of a shift and like it was, primetime, on a Friday night at like 9:30, ten o’clock. And it was one of our regulars whom I had given a recipe to for a cocktail on our menu. And we always would share the recipes with people if they had asked, happy to walk them through step by step. And she said, we’re having a party, we’re trying to make this cocktail. It’s just not coming out the way it does in the bar. And it just spurred the question, “Can we make cocktails for people with the same ingredients, the same integrity that we do in our craft cocktail bar so they don’t need to do this when they’re at home?” I love to teach people to make cocktails. I love to empower people to make drinks on their own, I think people should explore that. But at the end of the day, it’s not their job to understand the perfect balance. It’s not their job to understand exactly what spirit to reach for and to get it right every time, it’s my career, it’s Matt’s career. So we can take out some of that guesswork. And so we got to work with it, and crafthouse was born in a moment like that.

M: I think one of the things too, up late after a shift, talking about the idea of it — when we started talking, it was a lot about just what Charles is saying. There’s so many situations where people don’t have time or the ability, or they somehow mess up the balance at home to do a well-crafted cocktail. But then as we talked about it, we’re like there’s so many other scenarios where people would want a well-crafted cocktail. It’s just not even available to them. And we talk about the airlines or concerts or different hotel in-room type service, different places where because they don’t have the time needed to construct a well-crafted cocktail, or they don’t have the ability, and our eyes lit up like, wow, there really is, even though it originated from the idea that at home when people want one, this gives them an option. And we really realized that the space is so much bigger than what we initially even envisioned.

A: So questions for you guys. So what year was this?

M: Oh, boy, this was like nine years ago. At least nine years ago, we started talking about it.

A: So, we’ll get to “now” hopefully in a little bit, RTD or RTS or however the industry is choosing to call them are kind of “the rage” right? But at that point, no one’s really doing them. You would go to Europe and see this. But I think a lot of people thought that they were illegal in the U.S. How did you figure out how to do cocktails to-go? What was in your process? Obviously you had this idea of like, “Okay, we have these customers we give the recipes to and they’re not loving how those recipes are coming out at home. They want our help.” How did you then go from that point to “We have a product on the shelf.” What research did you do? Who did you partner with in order to make that happen? Because like I said, if you had come to me in 2011, even though I was a cocktail enthusiast, I would have told you that I thought that RTDs were illegal in the U.S.

C: I think our biggest challenge, not not that we thought it was necessarily illegal. We were just told it couldn’t be done. We couldn’t use real juice, and we couldn’t use real ingredients. We had to be an elevated “SkinnyGirl” or something. Where it’s going to be something that mimics the flavor of a cocktail, as opposed to being just a true cocktail. So for us, that was the biggest challenge, like we know this can be done. We know you can make an authentic cocktail and put it in a bottle. And we worked with somebody that was heavily involved in the wine industry, obviously, as wine is a real juice that’s preserved, and working with them and understanding different techniques of how to best keep the integrity of the cocktail. But we were told constantly it just won’t be shelf-stable. It just can’t be done. You can’t develop a cocktail like that. It won’t taste the same. So definitely a lot of naysayers, but we were just super committed to the idea that it actually could be done.

M: Yeah, there’s no shortage of prepared “something” in a bottle on the shelf at that time. But the bar was absurdly low, with bad Margarita mixes or cloying cocktails, as Matt said, that simulated a cocktail but were nowhere near close to what you could get, if you were to come to a bar. So I think that’s the deal. All these people are approaching it from a manufacturing standpoint. We were approaching it from a bartender standpoint. “Okay, I know I can make one cocktail delicious right in front of my guests. I know I can have a party or an event or do a charity event and batch up a thousand cocktails and make them delicious still.” So what’s it going to take to make it stable, to make ten thousand of these and put them in a bottle without screwing with the ingredients, without putting anything in the bottle that we weren’t going to be proud to talk about? So it was expensive to do. It was difficult to find a facility that would bottle for us that wanted to go that route, because there wasn’t a lot of precedent for what we were doing. And so we are going through some uncharted paths to get to where we are today.

C: And I mean, we were definitely a real pain in the a** to work with. We started at a facility up outside of Montreal, a little hard cider facility. So, again, had experience with the juice. But man, we made a mess of their plant trying not to filter the ginger and do everything the way — and it was often suggested to us, “Well, hey, you could just do this. This will be cheaper, easier, quicker.” And our response would always be like, “That’s not what we’re doing.” You’re still not necessarily understanding the fact that we’re doing the cocktail the same way we would do it behind the bar. It can be done. So we may have burned a few bridges along the way, but people just weren’t worth seeing our vision fully. But at the end of the day, it was achieved.

A: So, yes, the question there, which I think is really interesting, I would assume that at that point in time you were being told by people, “Oh, there’s other people, like Smirnoff is getting away with this, with just malt” right? They’re making basically a malt beverage that people think is a cocktail. Was that one thing that was offered to you guys, and you just said no immediately?

C: Every shortcut that you can imagine was offered to us. It was. And it is, even to this day. And now it’s maybe just changed in the last year or two, because honestly, we helped to set the precedent when no one could wrap their head around it. They couldn’t wrap their heads around why we would want to make simple syrup and not use corn syrup. They couldn’t wrap their head around why we wanted to bring in real citrus into the mix and not use citric acid — there’s not a gram of citric acid in any of our products. It was “Why would you want to use a spirit of that quality? Nobody is going to be able to tell the difference. The average drinker is not going to be able to tell the difference”. Well, it’s like that’s not who we are, you know? And from day one, Matt was super on board with this. And it was like, hey, Charles, the cocktails are your area of expertise. You have final say on flavor profiles, on ingredients, and then we’ll figure out a way to make it make sense from a business aspect and move from there.

A: One of the things I’m curious about first, before we get into the spirits, is I have heard from certain people who’ve also tried to do cocktails to-go is how hard citrus is to do. What is it that makes citrus difficult? Is it it just as you guys were saying, it doesn’t stay shelf-stable as long, or there could be issues with citrus inside the packaging? Like why is it that everyone has this belief that citrus is so difficult when it comes to doing canned cocktails?

C: I mean, it has to do with, first and foremost the balance of the cocktail, getting it to taste right. Nothing is going to be quite like citrus that I squeezed for you fresh that shift and right in front of you. That being said, you have to worry about preservation issues. You have to worry about real world stuff like microbial issues that might happen. It’s the same thing if you can something at home and you’re using a Mason jar, making sure that those jars are clean and sterilized and all that, so that works for any sort of product that’s going to go out to the masses as well. And yeah, and expense, I think was a big part of it, as well. People were like, well, citric acid is real cheap. So it’s a mix of why wouldn’t you mix a powder and water together, as opposed to buying, shipping, storing, dealing with a product that can be volatile, but what else would we use? It just didn’t work. There’s no question from our standpoint that that was the route to go.

A: So in terms of the spirits, one of the things I’ve noticed with trying the products is some of the products you actually do label what spirit is inside of it. So a lot of the rum you label is Plantation. Are those partnerships you guys have created? Like how does that also go about when you guys are sourcing the spirits for all these different cocktails you’re making?

C: Absolutely. The spirits are the foundation of any cocktail, your base spirit, whatever you may be using, your gin, your rum, your tequila, and so forth. So it was also important to us from day one to have integrity. If your foundation is not rock solid than anything else we do to it is just going to be a bit wobbly as you move forward, and so we didn’t cut corners. And I think it’s part of our decades in the business. We had a lot of relationships, and those partnerships happened really organically. At that time I was working at The Aviary in Chicago, which is in the West Loop neighborhood of Chicago, and C H Distillery had just opened up — great small boutique distillery. It had just opened up shop like three quarters of a mile from us. So, of course, we popped by to see what was going on there. Their products were amazing. They were distilling — they still are distilling — vodka from grain, milling grain in-house. Nobody does that. Everybody buys a GMS and then re-distills. These guys are doing it from scratch, super high integrity. So we’re like, “Hey, we’re going to need vodka and gin. Would you guys want to sell us some?” And they were very cool and also ambitious, and creative and we were like, “yeah let’s find a way to work together.” So the same thing happened with Plantation. We just launched rum cocktails for the first time about a year ago or so. And I happened to have a relationship through the cocktail world with the folks from Pierre Ferrand Cognac and Plantation Rums and sent an email. And we’re like, “Hey, Alexander, we’re doing this project”. And he’s like “Yes I’ve heard about it. I think it’s great. Your cocktails have integrity.” And you know they value their rums and have super high standards for everything they’re doing. So it was a real compliment for me and for Crafthouse that brands like that would want to work for us. They’re not selling their rums to everyone. And they’re the products that I would often use behind my bar. So it was important to me for every spirit in our cocktails to be something that I would want to drink myself and serve to you separately if they were not in a Crafthouse cocktail. And that said, the profiles of each of the drinks are not the most adventurous cocktails in the sense of, they’re complex, but they’re not ultra challenging. They’re still familiar flavors. So If I want to change my vodka or my gin, that can happen. The cocktail is not going to fall apart. There are more than one tool for the job. But yeah, we have great spirit partners right now. I’ve been down to the distillery that produces our tequila in Jalisco. Our whiskey right now comes out of Traverse City in Michigan. So it’s cool stuff. I mean, you can go to the store and buy bottles of individual spirits for almost everything that we have in our cocktails.

M: Yeah, we go back and forth about putting the logos. Traverse City Whiskey are great friends of ours. I can’t really see us using another bourbon. But as Charles stated, the Gold Rush can be made with a variety of different bourbons. I think one of the things that we talk about is, we have to make large runs, and cans and everything. So, let’s just say we put the CH logo on, which we go back and forth on if we’re going to or not, and then another partnership arises where it would be a different vodka. We’ve got all these cans that don’t necessarily have the logos, so we just bounce back and forth and back and forth again. We love all of our partners and we had personal relationships with them before we had business relationships. But, it’s one of those things that we just don’t know. We don’t know if we should be putting the logos on or not.

C: And Crafthouse is still a growing brand. And we are introducing the world to Crafhouse as a brand. And we’re an independent brand. It’s myself and Matt and about six other people that run this entire company that has a pretty far reach now across the U.S, for a ragtag group of folks. So we are still introducing Crafthouse as a name to cocktail enthusiasts around the country. And so we don’t want to confuse them. “Is this a CH product? Is this a Plantation product?” These are partners that we are using in the batches as they’re marked. So I’m proud to do so.

A: So another question for you guys, one of the things I think that was really cool is you put these in a bag and box, which to me makes a lot of sense. It can be in the fridge, every night when you get home, you can have that Moscow Mule. How long have you been doing that for and obviously I’ve seen a few people start to do it as well. But when did you start doing it?

M: We’ve been talking about this as an idea for a couple of years. And it took us that long to get it all rolling exactly the way we want to. We’re a premium product. We’ve always known that the one seven five format in the ready to drink category has always dominated. Obviously, the individual formats, with the hard seltzers and whatnot have leveled it out. But we always thought the large format was the way to go. We just didn’t know how to do it in a premium fashion. And then when we started digging in more and more and then with more and more acceptance of the wine bag in the box we were like, “you know what? I think we can do this in a bag that’s going to really give it that premium presentation.” Again, exactly as you’re saying, you put it in the fridge. You’ve got the tap to serve yourself a fresh cocktail nightly or however often. It stays good. There’s zero light. It’s seal-packed. So, again, there’s not a preservation problem. And we just launched in Illinois at Vinny’s, and in Colorado here in several locations, just a matter of a few weeks ago. And the initial response has been pretty awesome. So we’re actually, within the next two or three weeks, going to be expanding to our Smoky Margarita and our Pineapple Daiquiri. So we’ll end up having four different cocktails in a one seven five box.

A: That’s awesome.

C: I think that we’ve seen that happen with wine, with the bag and box format. And so, even corks and wine and screw caps, there was a time when people thought that you couldn’t have a screw cap. That diminished the wine’s appeal. So it’ll be interesting, perhaps. We don’t we don’t mind having another path with the cocktails in a box, either.

A: Well, guys, this has been really fascinating to learn about your story and how Crafthouse Cocktails has evolved since you started doing it in 2011, which is insane to think about. You are national now, correct?

M: I think we are nearing national. By the end of the first quarter of next year, we’ll be in about 35 states.

A: And can people also purchase them through the website, or is it just retailers at this point?

M: Because we are spirit-based, there are some retailers that have the shipping capabilities that you could find off of our website. Not all states allow spirits to be shipped into them. But if you do go to our website, yeah, several of our retail partners do have the ability to ship across state lines.

A: Amazing. Well, guys, this has been a really great conversation. Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to me, chat with me about Crafthouse. I’ve tried them and thought that they were delicious. I really loved the Rum Old Fashioned. So yeah, cheers to you and what you guys are doing, and I encourage everyone listening to go out and try it because it’s a really awesome product. I think you were at the forefront of something that’s going to be really huge in the next few years.

C: Thank you so much, Adam. We appreciate your time. Thanks for having us, and cheers. And I hope everyone can raise a glass together soon. And until then, give us a look, check us out at Drink Crafthouse, and feel free, if you send us a note through Instagram or our website, it comes right to me or Matt.

A: Awesome thanks, guys.

Thanks so much for listening to the VinePair Podcast. If you enjoy listening to us every week, please leave us a review or rating on iTunes, Stitcher, Spotify, or wherever it is that you get your podcasts. It really helps everyone else discover the show. Now, for the credits. VinePair is produced and hosted by Zach Geballe, Erica Duecy and me: Adam Teeter. Our engineer is Nick Patri and Keith Beavers. I’d also like to give a special shout-out to my VinePair co-founder Josh Malin and the rest of the VinePair team for their support. Thanks so much for listening and we’ll see you again right here next week.

Ed. note: This episode has been edited for length and clarity

The article Next Round: Crafthouse Cocktails Co-Founders Matt Lindner and Charles Joly on the Origins of RTD Cocktails appeared first on VinePair.

source https://vinepair.com/articles/next-round-crafthouse-cocktails/

[middletuna7-blog]

Healthy Holiday Gift Guide

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

The holiday season is officially here! In case you’re looking for some tried-and-true gift ideas, I thought I’d share some of my favorites with you here today.

Now, keep in mind that I tend to give practical gifts. I like to gift items that I use myself on a daily basis. Items that help make my life a little easier and more enjoyable. That’s what you’ll find in my holiday gift list below, including everything from my favorite kitchen gadgets, to helpful parenting tools, to natural beauty gifts, and more.

Best of all, you can do your holiday gift shopping from the comfort of your own home, because I tend to do almost all of it online. So, avoid the crowded malls and cuddle up in a cozy blanket while you shop!

Gifts for the Kitchen

Instant Pot. This is one of the only small appliances that has earned a permanent spot on my counter. It’s perfect for fixing fast and healthy weeknight meals! (My Fresh & Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook would be a great companion for this one.)

Ninja Coffee Bar. Austin got this for me last year, and I love it! I wanted a coffee maker that could brew a single cup of coffee without using those disposable k-cups, and this one does that! We use it to brew single cups and a whole pot of coffee, when needed.

Inspiralizer. I love turning healthy vegetables into “noodles” and this little gadget is the best spiralizer on the market. I love how securely it sticks to your countertop!

Silicone Measuring Cups. I love that these measuring cups are oven-safe and bend easily to make pouring liquids into a mixing bowl easy, without any drips. I use them for melting coconut oil in my oven on a regular basis! Perfect for an avid cook or baker.

Nutri Ninja Duo. This is the first affordable blender option I’ve tried that actually blends as well as a more high-end, high-speed blender, like the Vitamix. I think it would make a great gift for someone living in a smaller space (like an apartment or dorm room) or for someone making smoothies only for themselves.

Reusable Straw Cups. You’ve probably seen these cups a LOT on my social media feed and in my What I Ate posts. We use them every single day for our morning smoothies! They’re great for a fast breakfast on the go, or for serving kids who might spill their drinks.

Glass Straws. I love this reusable straw option! They’re elegant and make drinking your daily green smoothie a pleasure. So much more fun than using plastic straws, and less wasteful, too. (If you have kids or are worried about breakable straws, try these silicone straws instead. I have both!)

Breville Juicer. This juicer is a great introductory model for someone who wants to start juicing on a regular basis.

Le Creuset Dutch Oven or Buffet Casserole. These pots are one of the most used items in my kitchen. (I use the 5.5 quart for large batches of soup, and the buffet casserole for daily stir-fries.) I love how they can go straight from the stove top, to the oven, to my dinner table as a pretty serving dish. It’s durable to last forever, and the perfect non-toxic cooking dish.

Kyocera Ceramic Knives. I don’t have time to maintain and re-sharpen metal knives, so that’s why I love my ceramic knives. They’re insanely sharp and I don’t have to do anything to maintain them. They make prep work a breeze!

Farmhouse Pottery Mugs. I’m in love with these creamy hand-dipped mugs. Sipping my morning tea out of one makes me so happy!

Nespresso Milk Frother. This frother creates lovely foam from non-dairy milks for homemade steamed milk drinks, but I actually use it most often for re-heating coffee and tea. (It’s an easy way to skip using a microwave!)

Natural Beauty Gifts

Velvet Eyeshadow Palette (Classic) If you or someone you know wants to venture into the world of cleaner makeup products, this eyeshadow set from Beautycounter is a great place to start! It’s the best safer eye shadow I’ve ever tried, and this is the color palette I use myself every day.

Rejuvenating Night Cream. This is the moisturizer I use every night, and then I top it off with the No. 1 Brightening Oil to lock in the moisture.

Lip Gloss. I love Beautycounter’s lip gloss, and I think it makes a great stocking stuffer. I personally use the Rosewood and Fig colors the most, but the Bare Shimmer is a nice option if you want something totally neutral.

Tata Harper’s Regenerating Cleanser. I was introduced to Tata Harper’s all-natural skin care products a couple years ago, and I’ve been in love with them ever since. This cleanser has a fine exfoliator included and it smells like fresh oranges.

RMS Beauty Magic Luminizer. I use this over my makeup or on its own, for a fresh and glowy look!

Wet Brush. I honestly don’t know why this hair brush works so much better than other brushes, but it’s a miracle worker– particularly on wet hair. I have naturally curly hair, and this brush tackle any tangles with ease! I’m never using another hair brush ever again.

RMS Beauty Nail Polish. This nail polish is free of harsh chemicals and comes in several classic colors. (I have the deep red one, but I want the more taupe-looking color, too!)

Books

Fresh & Healthy Instant Pot Cookbook. My newest cookbook is perfect for people who want to make weeknight meals as EASY as possible. The recipes in this book all have a gluten-free option, and many are dairy-free and vegan friendly, too.

Everyday Detox. My first cookbook is an affordable gift to make healthy eating and cooking as easy as possible. My family still uses many of the exclusive recipes in this book on a weekly basis, and as always, I make a point not to use hard-to-find ingredients or have the recipes be too complicated. All recipes are 100% gluten-free, and many of them are vegan and paleo friendly, too.

No Excuses Detox. My second cookbook is perfect for anyone who wants to tackle their health goals, despite a busy schedule, tight budget, or picky family members. All recipes include nutrition information, price per serving, and many can be made in just 30 minutes or less! Gluten-free & vegetarian, with lots of vegan friendly recipes. 

How Not To Die Cookbook. If you’re not familiar with Dr. Gregor, he’s the brilliant doctor behind the nonprofit site NutrtionFacts.org. He’s a wealth of scientific nutrition studies, and in his new cookbook he shares vegetarian recipes to go along with his evidence-based diet approach.

Thyroid Healing. If you or someone you know is worried about their thyroid health, I think this book offers an unexpected perspective on the subject with an actionable cleanse and recipes at the end.

Eat to Live Quick & Easy Cookbook. This book is filled with oil-free vegan recipes for those who need to follow a special diet.

Love Real Food. If you’re in need of a new vegetarian cookbook, my friend Kathryne’s book is loaded with delicious options. It’s beautiful, too!

Engine 2 Diet. I love giving this book to the men in my life, because it makes eating plants a little more appealing. It’s written by a firefighter– so they won’t worry about losing their muscle mass, and there’s still plenty of food on this plan to keep them feeling satisfied!

Gifts for Parents

Squeasy Snacker Pouches. These reusable pouches are made of silicone and don’t leak! They’re so easy to use for our daily smoothies. I use the 3-ounce size for my baby, and the 6-ounce size for my toddler.

Door Monkey. If you have a toddler, this non-permanent door lock is really handy. My son likes to have his bedroom door cracked each night, and this lock keeps it cracked while also keeping the door securely in place– my 4-year-old can’t get it open, no matter how hard he tries. I’ve heard it’s perfect for families with cats, who want to provide cats with access to a litter box while keeping kids out, too.

Furniture Straps. We strap every piece of furniture in our house to the wall, just so that there are no easily preventable tipped furniture accidents. These straps make it easy!

OK to Wake Clock. This silent alarm clock has been my life saver during the daylight savings change. When we introduced this new alarm clock, our son soon learned that he couldn’t get out of bed until the “green light” came on– so he happily stays in bed until a reasonable hour each morning, giving our family much-needed sleep. (We bought one for my daughter recently, too!)

Funtainer Straw Cups. These stainless steel straw cups are the by far the best leak-proof travel cups I’ve found. I’ve read that straws are preferred over sippy cups by speech pathologists, so you can use these cups with children as soon as they are ready to drink water.

Ergobaby Carrier. The Ergo carrier is my most-used and favorite baby item, as it let’s you be securely hands-free, while also keeping your baby close and happy. I also love the Baby K’tan wrap for the early newborn days, but if you only want one baby wrap, the Ergo is my #1 choice– particularly because it can be sized to fit a variety of care takers! (So my husband can wear it, too.)

Countablock Book. . This book has been one of my son’s favorites for over a year now. It has helped him learn to count to 100, and I love how sturdy and colorful it is! (Many of our other books have ripped or missing pages…) There are three other book in this series, too: Alphablock, Cityblock and Dinoblock.

Mini Popsicle Mold.. These mini molds are the perfect size for toddlers! It’s just enough of a treat, without it melting down their hands before they get bored with it. I like to repurpose any leftover smoothie that my son doesn’t drink by pouring it into these molds and making colorful (and healthy) popsicles for later. If you have older kids, this larger mold is perfect for making bigger popsicles.

Jolly Penguin Race. My kids are both OBSESSED with this penguin toy. It’s a little noisy, but it’s a great way to keep them distracted while I get the dishes done or dinner on the table. Free time when you’re a parent is priceless!

Whether you’ve found something new for yourself, or to give to your friends and family,  I hope you’ll find this gift guide useful!

—

Reader Feedback: What’s your favorite gift to give this year? 

Source: https://detoxinista.com/healthy-holiday-gifts/

[amynchan]

Rabbit’s Garden

A little thing I wrote because I was thinking about just how much I felt like I identified with Rabbit sometimes and he needs more love than just people teasing him and making fun of his personality all the time.

Rabbit stood in front of his burrow, marveling at his garden.  The rutabagas were just about ready to be picked and the carrots were calling his name.  The heads of lettuce were nicely lined up in a row and the tomato vines looked absolutely wonderful.  Weeks of watering and delicate care bestowed upon the foods were finally coming to harvest, and the creature of the forest couldn’t be more thrilled with the results.

Perhaps the tomatoes could go in a sauce or salsa.  For whatever strange reason, Owl absolutely loved the stuff.  As did Gopher.

Piglet, Rabbit knew, was just getting over a cold.  Perhaps Rabbit could wash and cut up a few rutabagas for their friend and hope he would reap the many benefits.  Maybe in a stew?  He supposed it would be for the best, and knew he might as well make enough for two. Pooh had looked like he wasn’t feeling all that great either last Rabbit had checked.

Carrots were his personal favorite treat, but whenever Roo came by, Rabbit always made sure to keep a nice supply of them.  There were times when the youngster would come by and try to see what new things could be done with a carrot, and so the two had made a few carrot cakes and other confections using the plant.  It was a more enjoyable past time of Rabbit’s.

Eeyore often came by and Rabbit almost always made sure to let him have some of his garden’s efforts. He often hoped that the hard work and diligence he poured into his garden and the part of it he would give to Eeyore would show the donkey that he was indeed a part of their group and appreciated.  For some reason, Eeyore preferred lettuce over everything else, so Rabbit made sure to grow them whenever they were in season.

However, he could do none of those things if he didn’t get started with harvesting everything that was ready to be placed in his wheelbarrow.  Rabbit gave a contented sigh as he made his way to the carrots.

“All right, you,” he said to his garden.  “Let’s get you all squared away.”

Rabbit worked for the better part of the morning on the orange vegetable alone.  Several of them simply would not allow themselves to be uprooted, but he persisted.  Eventually, all of the carrots lay stacked neatly in his wheelbarrow.

The rabbit smiled as he viewed his handiwork.  While it was only a small portion done of what he wanted to do, he still felt immense pride at what he had accomplished.  He now had to move the carrots inside, sort and ready them for washing, return outside and begin with the—

“LOOK OUT, LONG-EARS!”

Jolted from his plan, Rabbit turned around, hoping to prevent anything truly chaotic from happening to his garden, but was too late.  A blur of orange and black and yellow and a literal avalanche of rocks came careening into him and his garden.

“That was fun!  Let’s do it again!”

That was Roo’s voice.

“Yeah!  But next time, you gotta work on your bounce!”

That was Tigger’s.

Everything after that was lost on Rabbit.  He knew pretty much what happened and didn’t want to open his eyes to confirm it.

But open his eyes he did. And confirm it he did.

The tomatoes were bruised and broken, several of them missing from the vine and even more leaking juice.

The rutabaga patch had been hit with some of the larger rocks, dirt upturned and a particularly massive boulder effectively crushing many of the plants which had remained in the ground during the assault.

The lettuce heads were bruised all over, some of them even ripped by the sheer force of impact, and nearly none of them usable.

His wheelbarrow of carrots had been knocked over, several of them snapped from the fall and others broken from the rocks.

The wheelbarrow itself was on its side and Rabbit simply knew that the wheel had finally broken.

And he was feet away, having been carted off by the ever-bouncing Tigger.

“My garden,” bemoaned Rabbit.  “It’s ruined!”

“Aw, don’t be that way, Long-ears!” said Tigger.  Evidently, the bouncing lunatic couldn’t have noticed the utter disaster that his garden had become in less than a minute.    How months of hard work, dedication in weather fair and violent, constant watering and pruning, had gone from perfect to horrific in such a short amount of time.  “It’s not that bad!”

“Not that bad?  Not that bad!” huffed Rabbit, finally shoving Tigger off of him.  Ignoring the duo, he rushed to the carrots, the closest thing.  It was no use.  So many of them were ruined.  Next the rutabagas.  So many crushed.  The lettuce heads.  So many shredded.  The tomatoes. So many broken.  “It’s a disaster!”

“Aw, come on,” encouraged Tigger, clearly trying to turn a disaster like this into something normal. “Look, this carrot made it!”

Rabbit turned to face what he was supposed to consider a friend to find him holding up one limp carrot, not broken, but certainly not usable.

Rabbit wanted to scream.

And maybe he did, a little, if Tigger’s and Roo’s startled looks were anything to go by.

Furious, Rabbit turned tail and went inside his house, slamming the door behind him.  He slumped his back against the door to prevent anyone from coming inside while he was stewing.  His friends had tried that before and it had not ended well for anyone. He needed space.

“Jeesh, I wonder what’s wrong with him.”

Rabbit wanted to scream again.

Instead, he shoved away from the door and walked over to his bed.  On it lay a notebook, one that he had been going through the night previous.

Before his garden had been so utterly and completely destroyed.

Rabbit flipped open the notebook and gazed longingly inside. They were plans.  Plans for the next batch of gardening, with new plants that would serve new purposes.  Pumpkins so everyone could have a nice Jack-o-Lantern for Halloween.  Yams for Lumpy, who had never had one before.  He had even put corn on the list because he knew just how much Tigger liked popcorn!

But now he was left wondering if his efforts were even worth it.

Two out of five times, something would come to completely wreck his garden.  Usually, the attacks were brought on by the many misadventures of his friends.  And while he appreciated the fact that none of his friends got hurt, he couldn’t shake the fact that none of them seemed to care when days, weeks, months of his effort would be completely in shambles.

And then it would still take them a while to wonder why he would get so upset.

He tried so very hard to have one thing he was good at.  He tried to take care of his friends in the best way he knew how.  He tried to keep them out of trouble, remind them of common sense from time to time, and provide healthy foods for the whole community. And there were so many times where his friends would not listen to him, or simply accuse him of being a spoil-sport.

But he wasn’t.  He wanted to help.  He wanted to participate.  And he tried so very hard to get in the spirit of adventure whenever he was invited along.  But he needed structure and rules to follow to make him feel at east.  And these were two things which the rest of his friends did not understand.

Rabbit made a schedule for his garden.  That made him feel at ease, a little more secure.  Whenever his plants would come to term successfully, his schedule had a purpose, a meaning.  He could help his friends by being himself.

But then things like this would happen.  The unexpected. The unforeseen.  And the dangerous.

Rabbit flipped through his notebook, where he had kept track of all of his gardens for the past five years.  In it, he had marked every successful garden and every failure.

He tried so hard not to look at the failures.

Three springs ago, Kanga had gotten green beans in perfect condition.  She had used them as a side dish in a party for everyone to attend. Rabbit had been worried about coasters and the like, trying not to spoil Kanga’s furniture, but he could deal with the rolling of eyes when he knew that they were all enjoying something he grew himself.

Four summers ago, Christopher Robbin had stopped by to pick up some strawberries, which he used for the hero party that celebrated both Pooh and Piglet.  Everybody loved the cake and the freshness of the berries.

Last autumn, the pumpkins had been a hit for Jack-o-Lanterns, and everyone had gotten a pumpkin that looked like them.  Well, Rabbit had felt a bit of mocking when it came to his own pumpkin, but when he had seen his friends so excited over theirs, he pushed the annoyance to the back of his mind.  Well, the irritation of everyone rejecting the healthy vegetables as a substitute for Halloween candy had stung him for a while, but the candy had been retrieved and all had ended up well with the world.

Memories like that calmed Rabbit down a bit.  He was uptight about his garden.  He was a stickler for the rules.  But when those things about him brought around such happy memories…  when his time and effort were used to make other people smile…  that was when he found it in himself to start a new garden.  That was when he knew that if he didn’t make fresh fruits and vegetables, no one really would, and then where would they be?

Slightly more calm, Rabbit analyzed the situation.  He would need to clear the rocks out of the path and remove the ruined vegetables. Maybe, if he was lucky, he would find at least a few things salvageable, but he really doubted it.  But more importantly than that, he would need to turn over the dirt and make sure that he had enough space and nutrients therein to start his autumn garden.

Rabbit placed the notebook back on his bed and stood.  The work wouldn’t get done by itself, he knew, and he would have to get started if he wanted to make a sizeable dent before sundown.

Some leftover spite fueling him, he made his way to the front door and opened it.  He expected an apology note of some sort—Tigger often did that after a mishap like this—but found instead that the two bouncing buddies had begun to pile the rocks outside of Rabbit’s garden.

“Huh?” asked Rabbit. The noise gathered the attention from the two, who seemed surprised at his entrance.

“Oh…  uh, hey Long-ears…” said Tigger.

“We’re building a wall!” added Roo.

Rabbit blinked.  “A wall?”

“Yeah, to protect your garden!” claimed Roo again.  He was already bouncing over to grab Rabbit’s hand, pulling him along.  “Look and see!  It was Tigger’s idea!”

“Tigger’s…?”

Curious, Rabbit looked at Tigger.   “Well, we thought that if you had a wall, your garden wouldn’t get so smashed up all the time.”

While he appreciated the sentiment, Rabbit wasn’t impressed with the execution.  He glanced towards his ruined garden, still littered with rocks.  A great many of them had been removed from that afternoon, but there was still a lot to be done.

But Tigger and Roo had done far more than he had expected in terms of attempting to apologize.  The least he had expected was a note, the most was waiting for him to come outside to apologize properly.

“Wait right there,” said Rabbit as he hurried back inside.  His friends were destructive and catastrophic.  They were chaos and confusion.  They had complete disregard for his schedules and how he liked to live his life.

But they were also genuine and empathetic.  They struggled to do what was right and did their best all the time.  Even if it was sometimes misguided, they always tried their hardest to do the right thing.  And that was why he tried so hard in return to be the best friend he could be to them.  With the things he knew how to do.

He returned to Roo and Tigger with hats for each of them.  Having one already on his head, he plopped a wide brim hat on top of Roo’s and Tigger’s heads.  To his surprise, they fit nicely.

“You’re going to burn if you work outside with no protection,” said Rabbit.  He turned to his garden.  It wasn’t ideal and he wasn’t necessarily happy with it, but now he had a plan and he could use today to help Roo and Tigger build that wall.  He could empty the garden of ruined vegetables tomorrow.

“Cool!” cried Roo. “A new hat!”

“Hoo hoo hoo hoo! We’re gonna build the biggest, most toughest wall this garden has ever had protecting it!  Just watch, Long-ears!”

Rabbit somehow doubted it, but when they finished the task and he looked over at the new wall surrounding his garden, he couldn’t help but feel it was perfect.

His friends never entirely got his obsession with his garden, and they would trample on it more times than he could count, but they would almost always realize it was important to him and try to make things right.

And that, to Rabbit, made them worth sticking around through the slight teasing for.

[jessicakehoe]

Here’s Where Canadians Plan to Travel Post-Lockdown

Unfortunately the only travel-related activity we’re doing right now is… cancelling all the plans we’d made for the summer. No more weekend getaways, summer weddings, trips to far-flung destinations. It’s disappointing, but with international travel likely restricted for months to come, Canadians are shifting their attention closer to home. According to new data from Booking.com, interest in domestic getaways has risen from 33% to 51%, with local properties in Canada appearing more frequently on travel ‘wish lists’ created on their website in March and April 2020 as compared to the same months in 2019.

Read on for the top 5 wish-listed domestic destinations for Canadians, and our suggestions for some of the best local shops, boutiques and small businesses to support in each city.

Toronto

VSP Consignment This luxury consignment store houses clothing, handbags, shoes, jewellery, sunglasses and more for men and women in a sleek space in Toronto’s West End. Brands they carry range from indie designers like Sid Neigum and Rachel Comey to big fashion houses like Chanel, Fendi and Gucci.

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This FENDI Zucca Tote Bag is #EntrupyVerified ⁣🤎 ⁣ By using @Entrupy Technology at VSP, our team of specialists authenticates luxury handbags on-demand. We include certificates of authenticity with each entrupy verified handbag, to assure both our consignors and clients! Backed by a financial guarantee, Entrupy enables trust in the marketplace.⁣

A post shared by VSP Consignment (@vspconsignment) on Apr 30, 2020 at 10:49am PDT

Rose City Goods This store selling home decor goods by independent designers and artisans features items like handmade soaps, jewellery, candles, rugs and more. Over 70% of their vendors are Canadian and approximately 80% of their inventory comes from female artists and entrepreneurs.

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My Grandma has a very specific decorating style. Every room had a theme, or colour scheme and each item would match that theme with perfection. If the bathroom was purple, everything would be a monochromatic lilac dream. If the kitchen was ivy themed it would be adorned with an ivy tablecloth, wallpaper, dishes and utensils (all white background with green ivy print). She even went as far as to match the colour of her car with her roof shingles at one point (they were forest green). Needless to say, I think I definitely inherited this need to match because the urge to coordinate is strong with this one 💛

A post shared by Rose City Goods (@rosecity.goods) on May 13, 2020 at 5:43am PDT

Province Apothecary This clean beauty brand makes its products—think serums, masks and oil cleansers—from organic ingredients sourced from each Canadian province, such as organic seaweed from Nova Scotia, and organic raspberry oil and glacial clay from British Columbia. In addition to a storefront, the brand also runs a skincare clinic for facials and other treatments.

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Weekend plans 〰️At-home mini-facial Step 1: tone skin with our Invigorating + Balancing Toner Step 2: apply Rejuvenating + Hydrating Face Serum to face following our two-step Natural Facelift Ritual (found on IGTV) Step 3: use our Dual Action Jade Roller to massage remaining serum into skin, bringing blood flow to the surface to tone + firm complexion. Follow our Jade Roller Ritual (found on IGTV) Happy Saturday!

A post shared by Province Apothecary (@provinceapothecary) on Apr 25, 2020 at 6:01am PDT

Montreal

Ruse Boutique This consignment store carries a curated selection of designer pieces for men and women, from both buzzy contemporary designers as well as luxury fashion brands. Think vintage Levi’s jeans, Hermes bracelets, Comme des Garcons coats, Vetements shoes and more.

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A timeless piece 👌🏽 @hermes extra wide enamel bangle available now online

A post shared by RUSE (@ruseboutique) on Apr 26, 2020 at 7:54am PDT

Lowell This leather goods store in Montreal’s Mile End neighbourhood is filled with handmade bags of every shape and silhouette, from backpacks to briefcases to weekenders to totes. In addition to their in-house designs, the Lowell boutique also carries a selection of accessories and clothing by other local brands.

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Pour la femme de la jungle de béton, voici quelques idées cadeaux de couleur assortie. À la fois stylé et pratique, le Langelier s’adapte à tous vos besoins, et correspond à votre look du jour, du soir, et même à celui pour faire vos emplettes! Les Bas de ville Mohair de la Chèvrerie le Grand Flodden sont assez minces pour se glisser dans vos chaussures de boulot, mais assez chaudes pour vous garder confortable dans vos bottes en attendant l’autobus. Le beret Belinda: restez au chaud, mais soyez «hot»! Pour terminer, vu le stress du temps des fêtes, l’eau de Bleuet Stephanie B vous sauvera des cernes, vous évitant ainsi un commentaire de la part de votre grande tante à propos de la santé de votre épiderme. On a ce qu’il vous faut, à vous de jouer! — For the woman of the concrete jungle, here are some colour-coordinated gift ideas! Both stylish and practical, the Langelier bag fits all your everyday needs, and matches your day look, your night look, even your grocery store look! The Semi-thermal City Socks from La Chèvrerie le Grand Flodden are just thin enough to slip inside your work shoes, but warm enough to keep you cozy in your boots while you wait for the bus. The Belinda beret: it’s not just warm, it’s hot! And finally, since we know how stressful the holidays are, the Stephanie B Cornflower and Blueberry Water will keep your under-eye bags at bay, so your great aunt doesn’t ask you if you’re sick at the family dinner. We got you covered! Go get em, tiger. — #lowellmtl #lowellblk

A post shared by LOWELL MTL (@lowellmtl) on Dec 7, 2019 at 6:11am PST

Clark Street Mercantile The focus of this menswear store is craftsmanship, which is reflected in the products they carry from an eclectic group of global brands: sneakers from Slovakian shoe brand Novesta, denim from Japanese label OrSlow, fragrances from Brooklyn perfumer DS & Durga, and their own in-house candles & beard oils, made in small batches in Montreal.

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English below… Nous aimerions juste prendre un moment pour vous remercier de votre support au courant de ces dernières semaines. Ça fera 7 ans que nous sommes établi dans le #MileEnd et c’est grâce à vous que nous pouvons espérer nous rendre à 8. Vos souhaits, vos likes, vos partages sur les réseaux sociaux, ainsi que vos commandes sont tellement appréciés. MERCI! ❤️❤️❤️ We just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for your support over the last few weeks. It’s been 7 years since we opened shop in the Mile End and it’s because of you we can hope to make it to 8. Your well wishes, likes, social media shares and of course your orders go a long way and are truly very much appreciated. THANK-YOU from the bottom of our hearts. We’ll make it out of this stronger, closer, together. #StaySafe 🌈

A post shared by Clark Street Mercantile (@mercantilemtl) on Apr 30, 2020 at 11:19am PDT

Quebec City

Amimoc This family-owned moccasin company has been around for three generations, with every pair of shoes handmade in Quebec City. In addition to moccasins, Amimoc offers leather boots, flats, high-top sneakers and more for men, women and children.

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Avouons-le… rien n'est plus mignon qu'un mini en mocassins. Les "Angeni" sont sans contredite le summum du style boho et apportent assurément une touche cool au look de votre petit chou. /  It's obvious… nothing is cuter than a baby with moccasins. The "Angeni" are the ultimate in boho style and bring a cool touch to your little one.

A post shared by Boutique Amimoc (@amimoc_boutique) on May 18, 2020 at 5:11am PDT

Article 721 This charming boutique in the city’s Limoilou neighbourhood carries products from Quebec artists and designers along with a selection of vintage finds. Their eclectic inventory includes stationery, beauty products, jewellery, ceramics and more.

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Québec la nouvelle! Super collabo avec la talentueuse céramiste @cindy.labrecque! En prévente sur article721.com. Arrivage prévu fin juin! . . . #article721 #quebec #faitici #achatlocal #ceramics #minimalism #homedecor

A post shared by Article 721 (@article721) on May 16, 2020 at 6:10am PDT

Niagara Falls

Reiner’s Originals The whimsical animal-shaped leather ottomans made by this Canadian brand are individually designed, hand-cut, hand-sewn and hand-built in Kitchener, Ontario. The brand’s Niagara-on-the-Lake location carries its signature furniture in the shape of bulldogs, elephants, hippos and more.

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Name your moose. Otherwise he will be Anonymoose. What’s your moose’s name?? #familydayweekend #reinersbluemountain #reinersniagara #torontohomeshow2020 #moose #canadianmade

A post shared by Reiners.Originals (@reiners.originals) on Feb 14, 2020 at 8:18pm PST

Maison Apothecare This all-natural skincare brand makes a range of clean products, like hand wash, body scrubs, serums, lotions, essential oils, room mists and more. Made using 100% pure plant derived extracts, the small-batch products come packaged in vintage glass bottles.

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Have you tried our Facial Beauty Clay? • French pink clay and ground lavender flowers provide a soothing and gentle exfoliating treatment for your skin. • Combine a small amount of the clay with 1 teaspoon of either water, yogurt or our cleansing cream or gel. • Use water if you are in a hurry and leave on for at least five minutes. • Allow the clay to dry and rinse off with warm water. • Follow with our day lotion or night cream for extra moisture. You can also add a teaspoon of lemon juice to the clay for a alpha hydroxy mask. • This clay is good for all skins types and will leave your skin feeling clean and soothed. • Available on promotion for just $23. . . . #beauty #skincare #facial #facialcleansing #mask #facialclay #canadian #lavender #frenchclay #skincareroutine #oakville #skincaretips #beautyinfluencer #beautytips #selfcare #facemask

A post shared by Maison Apothecare (@maisonapothecare) on Apr 1, 2020 at 6:44pm PDT

Vancouver

Old Faithful Shop Located in an historic building in Vancouver’s Gastown neighbourhood, this airy, light-filled store is packed with beautifully designed home goods, books, artwork and fragrances from brands like HAY, Kinto, Yield Design and Baggu.

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Inspired by the beauty and stillness experienced in the natural world, Light + Ladder evokes a quiet minimalism and sensitivity to design. At the core of the collections,designed by Farrah Sit, are timeless objects that are at once artful and useful. Working with USA based small manufacturing facilities and craftspeople the artisanal quality of the pieces play upon dynamic, natural forms, allowing you to bring the outside world inside and indulge in its beauty. Collection link in our profile.

A post shared by Old Faithful Shop (@oldfaithfulshop) on Apr 22, 2020 at 11:29am PDT

One of a Few This cozy store has been a fixture of Vancouver’s retail scene for 15 years and carries a carefully curated selection of women’s clothing, footwear and accessories. Expect under-the-radar designers like Ilana Kohn, Lauren Manoogian and Maryam Nassir Zadeh, and local jewellery brands like Noon, Muraco Wolfe and Kara Yoo Jewelry.

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@palomawool footwear #Paloma wool DM for info.

A post shared by One of a Few (@shoponeofafew) on Apr 23, 2020 at 4:57pm PDT

Charlie & Lee This independent store is a decade old, and known for its selection of ethically sourced and locally made products from across North America. Brands they carry include Black Crane from Los Angeles, Penny Frances Apothecary from Vancouver, and Bare Knitwear from the Pacific Northwest.

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Puff jumpsuits and tops have arrived! Plus double cotton gauze tops and square shirts ✨ 📷 @black_crane

A post shared by Charlie & Lee (@charlieandlee) on May 12, 2020 at 4:06pm PDT

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A Coffee Drinker’s Guide To Connecticut

As one of the smallest states in America, Connecticut is often a state traveled through, not to. Connecticut’s quaint towns, beaches, and sights along the Appalachian Trail are often overlooked by the bright lights and appeal of neighboring metropolises New York and Boston.

But something big is brewing, literally, in the Nutmeg state.

Coffee in Connecticut was once reserved for early morning and late night diner visits, along with those with a sworn allegiance to Dunkin’. After all, the quick-service titan still reigns supreme in New England, with Hartford’s minor league baseball team, the Hartford Yard Goats, playing in Dunkin’ Donuts Park.

In recent years, however, specialty coffee shops and roasters have enchanted residents with a steadfast dedication to a well-made cup of coffee, hospitality, and a sense of community. Changing the palate and understanding of strongly formed coffee habits one cup at a time, Connecticut’s coffee community is energized and poised for growth. Several shops and roasters are laying the foundation for Connecticut’s thriving specialty coffee community, prompting new cafes to join the ranks every day. With a heavy concentration in Central Connecticut and along the coastline, it’s easier than ever to access the state’s growing number of coffee shops.



  Giv Coffee

What began out of a way to help others through roasting coffee grew into a thriving business supplying many of the state’s cafes and consumers. Jeff Brooks began roasting coffee after a trip, where he and his wife returned with 80 pounds of green coffee to experiment with. As a result, Giv Coffee was born with the goal of utilizing coffee for community growth by giving a percentage of proceeds to charities and organizations assisting those in need.

After years of farmers markets and late-night roasting work, the couple purchased and renovated an old home in Canton and opened shop. The warm, welcoming cafe is filled with globally-inspired decor and reclaimed wood, with multiple seating options from a bar to a cozy corner chair. Giv’s in-shop menu ranges from espresso drinks, seasonal specials, and pour-over selections to the food program, featuring raved-about waffles.

Giv’s focus on positive changes in the community is evident throughout all of its business and roasting practices, including fostering lasting relationships with farmers and continuing to educate Connecticut’s baristas through in-depth training opportunities. Due to the company’s high standards and ongoing farmer relationships, Giv Coffee is also a popular wholesale choice for many of Connecticut’s top coffee shops and restaurants.

Giv Coffee is located at 194 Albany Turnpike, Canton. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  RaonJena Coffee & Dessert

In Glastonbury, just southeast of Hartford, RaonJena Coffee & Dessert is among the newest shops to open in the state. Born from a twin passion for specialty coffee and baking, the husband and wife team Do Kim and Hanna Park—who you’ll regularly see in the cafe itself—are unwavering in their dedication to their respective crafts.

As you enter the shop,  you’ll have a moment to take in the stark white walls lined with finished wood, tastefully placed succulents, and photos of New England’s natural beauty before your eyes are drawn to the case of desserts (including colorful macarons with playful flavors such as cookies and cream, strawberry, and tiramisu.)

The bar houses a La Marzocco Linea Classic churning out a traditional lineup of espresso drinks, a Mahlkönig grinder, and the latest array of offerings from Giv Coffee Roasters available for pour-over and batch brew. To all that inquire, Do explains how his take on coffee is inspired and influenced by Japanese methods, leading to a tea-like cup full of expressive flavor.

RaonJena Coffee & Dessert is located at 39 New London Turnpike, Glastonbury. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

  Story and Soil Coffee

Story and Soil Coffee serves up a focused menu of espresso beverages and light food in the Frog Hollow neighborhood in Hartford, filling the previous specialty coffee void in Connecticut’s capital city.

The multi-roaster shop is owned by Michael Acosta, Michael McCoy, and Sarah McCoy, who together have created an inviting atmosphere with records always spinning and a cheery greeting from whoever’s working the bar.

Although a small space, the shop instantly makes customers feel at home with the lavender and floral print walls, hanging plants, and artwork. As for the menu, the Spanish latte is a must. For those more interested in the pour-over and drip selection, Story and Soil offers a local and international selection with past and present roasters including Giv Coffee, Passenger Coffee, La Cabra Coffee, and Methodical Coffee.

When Connecticut’s gloomy winter season is finally over, grab a seat at the outdoor picnic table and enjoy the buzz of the busy city streets and a glimpse of Hartford’s Capitol Building.

Story and Soil Coffee is located at 387 Capitol Avenue, Hartford. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  J.René Coffee Roasters

J.René Coffee Roasters holds a special place in the hearts of Connecticut’s coffee shop community. Many of the state’s coffee shops are owned and operated by former J.René Coffee baristas, a testament to the shop’s dedication to coffee education and leadership.

Located on Park Road in West Hartford, J.René Coffee Roasters provides an “artisanal coffee gathering place” for residents. This sense of place is physically achieved through ample seating and an appealing shop decor featuring exposed brick, wood elements, and a touch of industrial design.

As you make your way to order, you’ll pass the Diedrich roaster and wealth of in-house roasted coffees lining the shop’s retail shelves. The bar prominently displays various brewing methods behind its glass barrier—as a result, siphon pot coffee is a top menu item due to its intriguing brewing process and strategic bar placement.

J.René Coffee’s influence on Connecticut extends far beyond the physical shop. J.René also boasts mobile coffee trailers in the Connecticut Science Center and Clinton Premium Outlets. Each trailer provides everything necessary to replicate the coffee shop experience, including Victoria Arduino ATHENA and White Eagle two-group Leva espresso machines.

J.René Coffee Roasters is located at 320 Park Road, West Hartford. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

  Rebel Dog Coffee Company

Rebel Dog Coffee Company began out of a humble food truck in Plainville prior to establishing its flagship location in the same city, about 20 minutes from downtown Hartford. The brainchild of business partners Harrison Poltorak and Peter Lemnotis opened in February 2017 in the former Confetti restaurant space. With much of an emphasis on grab-and-go coffee in the area, the pair sought out to create a local spot for not only an excellent coffee experience but also a meal.

Connected to the JV’s Taproom restaurant, the cozy shop is adorned with a giant latte art logo mural, checkered floors, and stunning pallet artwork by The Pallet People. Their expansive breakfast and lunch menu includes items such as eggs benedict, an assortment of soups and sandwiches, along with potato pancakes and pierogies.

While the bar serves up traditional and seasonal espresso beverages on a La Marzocco GB5 and offers pour-over coffee, the cold brew and nitro coffee are the hot ticket items at Rebel Dog. The custom-made tap system from Tapped in Hudson, NY also houses drinks including Jet Fuel (a cold brew concentrate), kombucha, and cold brew iced tea.

Due to the success of its Plainville shop, Rebel Dog was recently able to expand into the neighboring town of Farmington. The brand new cafe expands upon the atmosphere of the original location with a sprawling mural featuring Rebel Dog’s logo along with characteristic coffee beans and plants, created by local artist Jaime La Jones.

Rebel Dog Coffee has multiple locations in Connecticut. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

  Grounded Coffee Company

Grounded Coffee Company in Willimantic keeps the eastern side of the state caffeinated in its historic shop on Main Street. Inspired by their coffee shop experiences in Australia and New Zealand, Steve and Victoria Bachiochi paired their desire to open a welcoming coffee spot with the expertise of Nick Bentley to form Grounded.

As a multi-roaster in Connecticut’s quiet corner, Grounded keeps the coffee flowing thanks to ongoing relationships with roasters in the New England and Tri-State areas such as Sey Coffee in Brooklyn, Little Wolf in Ipswich, MA, and Brandywine Roasters in Wilmington, DE. Connecticut roasters Giv Coffee and NEAT are also regulars on the drip and pour-over coffee menu.

In addition to espresso drinks cranked out on the reliable La Marzocco Linea Classic, Grounded’s tea menu is also a big draw. While there, try the Mate, an Argentinian tea cut with a splash of apple juice.

Grounded Coffee Company is located at 869 Main Street, Willimantic. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Silk City Coffee

On the far interior wall of Silk City Coffee, you’ll find a large board with the mantra, “Love Coffee, Love People” noticeably displayed above. On this board are pinned requests, wishes, prayers, and needs from members of the community. Customers can add their requests or help fulfill as many needs as they like. This drive to serve the community is what fuels the team at Silk City to create a space where all are welcomed to enjoy specialty coffee in Manchester.

Found by the stark “coffee” sign on Main Street, Silk City Coffee is housed in an old optometrist’s office in a historic downtown building. As the team of co-owners was getting ready to build out the space, they ripped down the existing materials to discover the exposed brick, high-detailed ceilings, and hardwood floors the shop boasts today.

As another multi-roaster shop in the Connecticut coffee community, Silk City rotates Giv Coffee and NEAT Coffee roasters on the batch and pour-over menus. The shop also offers a variety of baked goods made in-house, paired perfectly with the solid coffee menu.

As part of their goal to give back to Manchester, the shop stays open late each Friday for live music performances, several of which donate a portion of proceeds to a local non-profit or organization.

Silk City Coffee is located at 763 Main Street, Manchester. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

NEAT

Over in Southwest Connecticut, NEAT serves Darien residents and commuters single-origin coffees from their quaint shop on Grove Street. With ample outdoor seating in the summertime and selection of grab-and-go breakfast and lunch items, NEAT Coffee has become a community gathering place for those who live and work nearby. The sparkling clean shop with subtle blue and green pastel walls houses family-style tables, bar seating, and a large world map.

The focused menu lists traditional coffee and espresso drinks along with a variety of teas, hot cider, lemonade, and seasonal beverages. If you’re looking for something new, try the “Not So Neat,” a twist on an iced latte using cold brew coffee instead. NEAT’s bar houses a multitude of equipment, from the La Marzocco Linea PB to the mesmerizing BKON craft brewer used for teas and other beverages. And, for a refresher, pick from a selection of tap and sparkling waters located next to the bar.

Owner Rachel Haughey opened NEAT more than 10 years ago after noticing a great cup of coffee required a train ride to New York City. As one of the first members of the state’s coffee community, the shop began as a multi-roaster but transitioned into a successful roasting operation after a desire to engage in specific roasting and sourcing practices.

NEAT is located at 20 Grove Street, Darien, CT. Visit their official website and follow them on Facebook and Instagram.

Anne Mercer is a freelance journalist based in Connecticut. This is Anne Mercer’s first feature for Sprudge.

RaonJena photo by Do Kim. Story and Soil photo by Sarah McCoy. J. René photo by René Martinez. Silk City photo by Sarah May. All other photos by the author.

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