#honestly Disney salads are delicious

[disneyfoodislove]

Heirloom Apple Salad. Grand Floridian Cafe, Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa.

[organic-guacamole]

showtime

episode 211 let's go

ok first of all, this is the second to last episode guys... I don't even wanna think about how much pain I'll be in after next week's episode

mr mazzara doing the recap-

this is so weird to me and I don't know why

WHY DIDN'T YALL JUST ASK BENJAMIN FOR HELP, THATS LITERALLY HIS THING

is Nini giving out the cards a callback to season 1 when Natalie Bagley said that Nini gave her a card or something on opening night of another musical?

STEPHY AS THE ENCHANTRESS OMG YES

Ricky in the crown gives me Harry styles in that photoshoot vibes

he's so pretty.

ok but why did we never see Ricky and Ashlyn interact before? it's been like 5 seconds and I already love how they bounce off each other and it's just so natural

OH THEY REALLY DON'T HAVE ANY UNDERSTUDIES-

well that explains a lot...

so Ricky fell on top of Ashlyn and all that broke for both of them was their wrist-

insert Jake Peralta *coolcoolcoolcoolcoolcool no doubt no doubt no doubt*

of course howie was amazing as the beast, were we expecting anything less??

Ricky is so beautiful and I will not shut up about it....

let me enjoy this before the makeup crew slaps mud on his face.

Nini and Ricky talking to eachother? in a civil manner? wasn't she avoiding him just in the last episode? hm ok

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH THEY CANT EXPRESS THEIR FEELINGS JUST LIKE ME HAHAHAHAHA THIS IS HILARIOUS, WHATS NEXT? THEY CUT EVERYONE OFF CUZ THEY CANT HANDLE EMOTIONS? ...ha

yes Kaden and Rico, my favourite east high boys 🥰

I mean....where's EJ?

THERE HE IS

EJ AND GINA IN THE BACKGROUND... doing something idek

KOURTNEY'S MOM IS BACK YAY

Howie is a shining star, ofc ofc

the smallest fOrk

can't wait to see the fork burst into song about how she deserves more than to be used to eat salad😌

the duster and the bluster.... ok😃

hi Gina!

hi- oh wow I didn't know Robbie Rotten was in this show!!!!!

the portwell look.

that my friends, is a married couple's look✋

GOSH EJ WHAT DID THEY DO TO YOU

aww Gina's so excited for this

D word?

Die?

Delicious?

Dom Toretto?

"good, clean fun all alone with someone I dig...a lot"

sir that does not sound very clean to me

SEBLOS

Seb looks so cute standing there next to pope Carlos

DID THEYEY REALLY LIGHT ANTOINE ON FIRE-

I NEED TO SEE THAT

Seb's reading Carlos better than big red read the script in episode 102, this is great development after the "fight"

Kourtney really just made the best outfit for herself and let the rest of them suffer

the way Gina immediately goes to hold on to EJ after the announcement

"tonight we're going to put the U in UTAH"

...

"hey where are you from?"

"TAH"

SEB'S SINGULAR CLAP KILLED ME-

he's officially salt lake city's resident thanos

just wity clapping because for some reason I have a feeling he doesn't know how to snap his fingers...don't ask why

Ms Jenn do you mind encouraging your leads before the show? idk just an idea

pepto bismol product placement smhsmh

those flowers are bigger that big red himself-

*bops along to the opening theme*

that whistle at the end slaps everytime

WHY IS THE AUDIENCE SO MASSIVE

I guess they're all here to see Ms Jenn go on as a fork after Nini decides to *go her own way*

wow i am so funny

so they couldn't do many group scenes cuz of covid, but this 300 person crowd is cool? nice

OO THE VIOLIN GIRL FROM EPISODE 6 IS IN THE ORCHESTRA

HOWIEEEEEE

"Mr Caswell", he said, in the loudest voice possible while backstage at a show that's about to start.

Mazzara what are you trying to pull-

I usually like Benjamin but I don't like his tone

"iS yOuR wHoLe FaMiLy HeRe?" LIKE YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW THATS A SOFT SPOT FOR EJ

"we've had some good conversations these past few weeks"

right so what's going to happen after you graduate?

what does he think of you not going to Duke?

what did he say about you giving the sweatshirt that's been in the family for 3 generations to a girl you're not even dating?

good old Mr. M

therapist Mr. Mazzara, they all need it.

start with Ricky though.

"Michael Bowen"

dude why did you shave, now you look less like "hot lumberjack" and more "creep at the gas station"

OH-

does she not like Mike anymore?

why does it sound like jennzzara started dating and now they just sit back and talk smack about everyone in their freetime

break the fourth wall-

uhhhh im scared

why am I scared

he's scary

hehe flowers for Ricky, obviously for Ricky, ObViOuSLY

oh boy poor Michael

this man is in love, rip

why does Ms Jenn always look at people with her eyes open so wide

LILYYYY

I'm only excited because I really like the idea of lily and Ricky being friends, nothing more.

ha this guy's got jokes

a MOAT AROUND THE SCHOOL

wheeze

also he's very pretty.

"the wolves and very talented humans"

how dare he forget to mention the very talented wolves and normal humans, smh erasure

"being nice, what a concept" ted talk by Lily who still doesn't have a last name

did she just say lol out loud

same with the hug emoji last episode-

go touch some grass babes

the way he didn't say no, but said he didn't know how the east high kids would react-

not saying he does want to date her but that's an interesting thing to think about, also another thing to write an essay analysis on just to leave it in my drafts for a few months

awww lily genuinely trying to help him

sorry guys, I've been taken by the Lily charm (didn't know it existed until now but oh well)

REMEMBER WHEN I SAID I'LL NEVER SHIP PORTWELL?

just look at me now

the Lily wink I can't she's so cute-

HELP ME I'M BEING HELD HOSTAGE BY LIL-

David Attenborough?

oh nvm it's Benjamin narrating the show in a really weird British accent for some reason.

STEPHY GOT MORE LINES YAY GOOD FOR HER

also is this to show that Nini doesn't care about being the star of the show anymore? the way she's supporting everyone else even though she's a fork?

I would pay for a special of the full musical ngl

OOO THE TRANSFORMATION WAS SMOOTH

shockingly

yo where did the makeup come from

man I wish I was a theatre kid

THIS IS STEPHY'S EPISODE NOW IDC✋

my girl is starring

"needs an X-factor"

Simon Cowbell creeps in

"it's a yes from me"

and them boom, he takes Nini and mistreats her horribly and then she comes back to theatre after deciding music isn't for her👍

"I thought she just hog-tied him?"

don't ask sebby, it's better if you don't know.

imagine they spotlight the wrong person and this dude is just some random person that likes writing down stuff during shows.

Ms Jenn just let them do what they rehearsed (at some point we never saw) or else this is gonna end horribly wrong

"help"

same Carlos, same

I love how seb is just his translator rn

I thought he said "great displeasure" instead of "greatest pleasure"....help?

big red coming out from throwing up to see his girlfriend star is the cutest thing in this show.

Ash and Gina dancing is so fun

I'm imagining them practicing at night at their home, watching the movie for the 100th time and making sure their one dance together is perfect

KOURTNEY YES

HOWIE IS IN LOVE AHHHH

I LOVE HOWIE SO MUCH

SEBBY

THIS SCENE HAS SO MUCH GOING ON I CAN'T KEEP UP

THIS IS SO GOOD

HOW???

no because I'm actually crying

I'm dead serious.

we need this musical released as a special

big red is so proud and I love to see it

Natalie: "if you do not by at least 20 dollars in concessions, you do not support art"

rando in the audience: "but I pay for ad free Spotify"

Mr Mazzara clapping in the distance

Gigi, the guy you like is talking to you, complimenting you and hyping you up

YOU LUCKY LITTLE FEATHER DUSTER

aw EJ teasing her about the chocolates in a way that doesn't make her feel bad? take notes Richard

JORDAN FISHER

there is no rest of the show idc Jordan is it for me

THE WIG CAP ON RICKY OMG

they look like they're high and having "deep" conversations on the floor

THE MEAN GIRL WITH THE EYES-

@sunshine-julie-molina YOU HEAR THAT

Natalie really just be coming for them all

Howie what is happening rn

I'm scared

"did you enjoy it"

"very much"

dude wants a kiss so bad

ASHLYN OMG

NO DON'T DO IT BECAUSE OF LILY, PUT YOUR OWN TWIST ON IT

I want a Jordan autograph please

just keep swim- oh pushing...

Gina is literally a giant next to him and I live for it

am I about to cry for the 3rd time in this episode?

yes.

Ricky's leg kicks under the table makes me so happy aw

the portwell glances will kill me.

ah yes, mashed potato snow

Mr. M.... I'm not a theatre kid but even I know you can't have your phone on backstage.

Howie please just do it

CHIP'S BIG LINE I CANT

I LITERALLY HAD TO PAUSE IT AMD SCREAM INTO MY MASK FOR A SOLID 2 MINUTES (I'm not at home rn) HES SO CUTE

oh ok bye Jordan

oo tea

NOT HIM BEING STARSTRUCK BECAUSE HE'S MEETING HIS FUTURE BROTHER IN LAW-

"we're all just glad Gigi has a big brother figure in her life"

excuse me for a few thousand hours while I laugh hysterically

THE CAMERA ZOOM ON EJS FACE AND EVERYTHING-

STOP EJ LOOKS LIKE HE'S GONNA CRY BUT I CAN'T TAKE HIM SERIOUSLY WITH THE STAGE MAKE-UP

someone else said this already but I think it's hilarious that they had to bring in 2 guest characters to create some portwell angst

omg this really is Cici's episode, found family is their thing

elevator music lol

I'm gonna bet that big red took the harness for his surprise for Ashlyn without realising what it was

did Ms. Jenn just....tell her most mentally unstable student....to commit suicide....on a disney show...was that....I'm very....well....what the actual-

oh and there she goes running off instead of trying to make it right

oh wow Nini's the hero, she's gonna save the show 🤩

😐

the judge is doing a sudoku

honestly if I went to the hsm show as well, I'd come prepared for this one too

Lily why are you looking like that-

I WAS JUST STARTING TO LIKE YOU DON'T MESS THIS UP

wow ok, there goes that.

omg

what if Howie was acting weird because he knew what Lily did and wanted to tell Kourtbut Lily threatened him so he was scared to-

anyways see y'all clowns next week when we all simultaneously lose all motivation for the week without Fridays to look forward to.

[punkcupcakestyles]

Love Song

Part 15

Catch Up!

Sofia Welsh-De La Rosa and Timothée Chalamet will star in new Amazon series and, honestly, I won’t talk about anything else ever again

Amazon Prime has just announced the release of its new original series set in 1970’s New York. According to Hollywood Reporter, the new series will be lead by Sofia Welsh - De La Rosa, Timothée Chalamet, and Logan Lerman, and will be produced by Jordan Peele (Get Out and Us) and directed by Christina Hodson (Birds of Prey). The ambitious project is in talks with some other big names in Hollywood, such as Meryl Streep and even Robert de Niro, to join the series.

Honestly, I’m gagging. 

This might come as a surprise as both Sofia, who has been enjoying lots of Oscar’s buzz for the third year in a row, and Timothèe are on the prime of their movie careers, as two of the most prominent young actors in Hollywood, but according to many sources, Sofia has been looking for a way to work with Peele for a long time, while Timothèe is excited to add some action to his resume, after his role in Hostiles and The King. Also, rumor has it, Amazon is willing to pay a hefty (and I mean hefty) amount of money to sign the young stars. 

As for Logan Lerman, this is his the actor’s first TV role since 2005 and is set to be his comeback after his career faded a bit to the background. With the star-studded cast, Amazon is hoping this to be the platform’s next big hit. 

There is no doubt that Sofia, Timothèe, and Logan are three of THE most talented young actors today, with Sofia being the reigning queen of the pack. Recently, the actress has played a pirate, a thief, a devious courtesan and a feminist writer trying to bring down love, and she’s been rumored to have just signed a deal with Disney to play her very own princess, as well as an undisclosed character in MCU’s highly anticipated Black Widow. She truly has the range, Darling!

Sofia was seen having coffee with Timothèe early in the week, before the show’s announcement, which sparked rumors that the actress had ended things with Harry Styles after he had dinner with his ex in London. She was also seen leaving the James Corden Late Late Night’s studio with Logan...

@BobbyC I’m sorry but all of them are gay...

@Peanutbuttah Eh, she can’t act anyway

@Loveisloud @peanutbuttah She can act, she has been in commercial and art-house movies and has received rave reviews every time. You just don’t like her because she’s dating your fave. 

@Arewethereyet she’s an sl*t. So glad Harry’s done with her…

@Soph Are you drunk Buzzfeed? One does not leave Harry Styles for anyone!

****

Harry was cooking. 

The air smelled like garlic and butter and I breathed in deeply, just realizing how fucking hungry I was, as I followed him to the kitchen. It just occurred to me that I hadn’t eaten anything that day, other than a cup of coffee that Harry had made me in the morning. It was a little strong for my taste, I liked mine with sugar, even when my mom kept telling me I was being violently disrespectful to coffee. I didn’t care, not one bit. 

I never really ate on interviews or auditions days, it made my tummy feel funny and I was usually afraid that my clothes wouldn’t fit like they were supposed to after, so, no food for me, thank you. Usually, D would force-feed me as soon as we were done, practically shoving fruits, nuts, and salads down my throat (sometimes even a burger!), but today I was way too anxious and excited to even pay attention to her efforts. I was going on a date with Harry, I couldn’t care less about anything else!!!

And now, I was fucking hungry and it smelled even better in the kitchen.

“I didn’t know you cooked,” I smiled, looking at the pasta that was boiling on the stove and the bubbling alfredo sauce. Grilled prawns and a green salad were carefully plated in rustic blue and gold plates.

My eyes traveled to him, and I saw him hesitate for a second before he gifted me with a shy smile. He was so lovely, it was no surprise that my head became fuzzy every time I was around him. Even the most superficial thought struggled to grab a hold to my brain. I wondered if anyone could keep their wits around him, but somehow, I doubted it.

“It takes my mind off of things,” he finally said. “And I kinda wanted to impress you, I guess.” 

The admission made my heart soar in my chest and I beamed at him as he stood in front of me. I admired his beauty for a second, his skin was slightly tanned and it looked almost delicious against the white fabric of his shirt, and his smile was warm, making me feel giddy as he trapped me against the counter with his arms on each side of my body. 

I wanted to kiss him, so so badly, but instead, I let my fingers brush over his neck until they reached the tips of his hair. It tickled and he laughed softly with the most wonderful smile.

“Really?” I asked him softly, cause I didn’t want to break the intimate moment we were sharing. 

“Yeah. A bit silly, innit?”

“No, it’s not silly. But, if you wanted to impress me, then you should’ve made a chocolate lava cake,” I teased. “You would’ve gotten me, then.”

“Chocolate, uh?” The right corner of his lip shot upwards, and an adoring feeling hit me right in the chest like a tidal wave. 

“Yeap.”

“I’ll keep it in mind for next time,” Harry muttered, his words getting lost in the air as he leaned down to kiss me.

I realized that it was all I wanted: To kiss him slowly, maybe even for hours. But I knew I had to stop him. I was under his spell and there was nothing I could do about it, nothing I wanted to do, anyway. But even I could admit that this was just a dream, one that I wanted to remember every second of. So when he was gone, I would still have those memories. 

So before his lips could brush mine, before he could melt my brain with his kisses, I pressed my forehead to his and dropped my hands to his chest, right where his heart was beating rapidly. 

“Sorry,” I said shyly, casting my eyes down so I wouldn’t have to look at him, not a few more seconds, not until I had gathered the will to stand strong by my decision. 

“Is there something wrong?” His voice was full of sincere concern, a little bit rougher as well, which made his accent more noticeable. 

“No,” I shook my head, finally looking into his green eyes. “Everything’s perfect.”

“You just don’t want me to kiss you?”

“It’s just...I want to remember every bit of tonight,” I said, as I tried to ease the utter embarrassment that was crawling over my chest. Who said stuff like that? Writers in cheesy movies or bad teen shows. Fuck. 

“Except for my kisses?” He insisted, almost like a little boy fishing for reassurance. I brought my fingers to his cheek and grazed them it until he smiled at me. 

The answer was “fuck, no”. His kisses were a memory I wanted to carry with me forever. But I also wanted to have that night, so I could carry it with me, and compare it to every other date, every other person that would come my way. 

“I want to remember the little details,” I said, shrugging my shoulders. “The dinner you made, which is really close to burning, the grandpa pants…”

“Hey! These look cool! And the sauce, I have it under control!”

“If you say so,” I sneered mischievously, twisting my lips into a mocking smile as he pretended to be offended. “And I want to remember everything you did to make me feel special”

Harry’s arms looped around my waist as he pulled me to his chest and I hugged him back and looked at him, battling the need to just lean in and kiss him. His lips were so pink. 

We both sucked at the whole “no kissing allowed” thing, and somehow that made me feel a lot better. For once, I wasn’t the needy, dreamy one. 

“What do you think?” I asked in a whisper, smiling against the brush of his lips as he bumped our noses together.

“I want to kiss you, Sof, all fucking night long,” he pouted. “Been thinking ‘bout it all day.”

“I’ll make it up to you. Just...lemme have this, yeah?”

“Why?”

“Cause…” I laughed embarrassedly. “I already have your kisses in a little folder in my brain. Now I wanna have this.”

“Is it just me in that folder?” Harry asked, suddenly interested in some other thing that frowning. Curiosity and amusement were burning in his stare and I rolled my eyes at him, almost scoffing at the fact that was the only thing that had managed to catch his attention. 

“Mostly you…” I conceded, even though the petty part of me was all for rolling out with a long list of names before I got to his name. “And Sebastian Stan…” I said, not being able to resist it. 

“Bucky Barnes?” His eyebrows twisted in confusion and he looked at me as I licked my lips, considering just how weird I wanted my answer to be.  

“And the cartoon, too...” I replied, a little bit too casually for it to go unnoticed, but Harry didn’t seem to notice, cause as he was nodding thoughtfully, his hands traveled to my neck again, making me look at him as he dipped his head down to reach the curve of my neck. 

“That’s a bit greedy, baby,” He whispered against my skin, pressing soft kisses down to my pulse point. I wasn’t sure if that was technically a kiss, and I didn’t care, it felt so good. “Someone else?” He was cheating, and we both knew it. I could feel his smile growing bigger, and I sighed as he grazed his teeth over the curve of my neck and let his tongue soothe my skin. “Babe?” He insisted, just to tease me. It was hard to think, and he knew it, but I wasn’t going to admit it just yet. 

“Uh.” I licked my lips and struggled for a second, as I struggled to remember what was it that I was going to say. “Chris Evans, “ I began. “and uh, Michael B. Jordan. Mmm… and Logan Lerman.”

“Isn’t that the guy you’re gonna work with?” He asked, stopping suddenly to look at me. I fluttered my eyes open and smiled when they could finally focus on him. 

“Yeah, him and Timothée Chalamet.”

“Mmmm...I don’t know if I want to share my folder with them,” Harry pouted, which made me laugh. I realized it was no laughing matter, but still, a warm, almost giddy, laughter kept bubbling out of my tummy. 

“Why? Does it make you jealous, H?” I teased.

“Should I be?”

“Mmmm...I don’t know. I honestly think I would let Logan fuck me...those eyes, man.”

“So funny, S…” Harry rolled his eyes. He was not as amused as I had expected him to be. 

“You shouldn’t be,” I said softly, looking him in the eyes, serious and sincere.  

“You sure?” He asked and I was sure he wasn’t talking about Logan Lerman anymore. 

“I’m sure, baby.” I wasn’t even lying. “So, who’s in yours?” I asked, cause maybe that’d take attention away from myself. I didn’t think things through though, cause he had a whole bunch of options for his answer. Who could it be? One of his supermodel exes? His singer ex? This wasn’t a fun game at all. 

“You.”

“Oh, so THAT’S how you answer that kind of question!!” I exclaimed, which made him laugh, and, as he did so, his dimples showed on his face, making him look a little boyish. He was fucking pretty, Jesus. 

“I’m not even trying to be a good boyfriend here,” Harry chuckled, and I relished on the way the word `boyfriend” sounded out of his lips. So pretty, so fucking pretty. “My folder is called “When Sof’s not around”, and I think we need to fill it up, so I don’t run out of thoughts.”

“Oh, we don’t want that,” I scrunched up my nose and shook my head at him as a smile played on my lips. I was so fucking happy and I couldn’t even figure out why. 

“No, we don’t.” The tip of his tongue lapped across his pink lips, and I followed it with my eyes, taking a second or two before I peered up to him again. “I was hoping we could kiss all night,” he said softly. “and maybe I could eat you out by the pool.”

“I didn’t bring a swimsuit…”

“You wouldn’t need one, baby,” Harry laughed, a mix of mischief and endearment lacing with it. I couldn’t stop staring at him, and my knees wobbled a bit as he leaned down, bumping our noses together one more time, as the soft brush of his lips against my skin made me shiver. 

“Don’t cheat,” I whispered and his soft laugh echoed down in every inch of my body. His lips grazed over my forehead, as he pressed a soft kiss to my skin. 

“Ok, baby. We’ll do it your way.”

“Thank you.”

“I think it’s silly, y’know?” He started, pushing me back so he could look at me with his bright green eyes. “We’re just starting, Sof.”

****

I wanted to kiss him. 

I looked at him, licking a spoonful of dessert with my head propped on my hand as I listened to him talk, but all I could think of was how much I wanted to lick the trace of chocolate out of his lips. 

“Is there something wrong, S?” I noticed there wasn’t much concern in his voice, not like there usually was when he asked me if I was ok. This time, there was a hint of mockery, almost as if he knew exactly what I was thinking and that all I wanted to do was to sit on his lap and press soft kisses from his jaw to his lips. 

Fuck.

“No,” I smiled sweetly, cause I wasn’t one to go down without a fight, and I took his hand in mine and pressed it to my lips before I looked at him again. 

“Were you distracted?” His smile was turning more devilish as the seconds went by and I felt myself get warm as he leaned closer, his hands dropping to my thigh and pressing softly to it.

He wasn’t gonna win. I was not going to let him. 

“Nope,” I said, letting the ‘p’ pop between my lips. “Tell me about your album, I promise I’ll be a grown-up about it.” 

“Nice save…” Harry chuckled. “I think you’re gonna like it.”

“I have recently discovered that I’m a very jealous person. I don’t think I’ll like it, but I’ll be happy for you.”

“You shouldn’t be jealous.” A smile tugged on his lips and I felt warm, so warm inside, I couldn’t help but smile as well. “And I think you’re like it, especially since I made a few last-minute changes, against Jeff’s will.”

“Really?”

“Yeah, he kept saying I had the guts, the audacity to change the album when we’re about to drop the first single.”

“What changes?” I insisted, because Jeff’s feelings were the least of my concern at the moment. 

I wished I could have played it cool. Maybe that would’ve made me look more interesting, aloof, unapproachable, and all those things a girl should be in front of her crush. But my heart was racing and the world was turning chaotic as my head ticked, like a tiny little bomb. 

I needed to know. 

Tick, tick. 

“You’re already sure you’re not gonna like it,” Harry smirked, surely unaware of the mess inside my head. “You might as well wait for it.”

No!!! TIck tick. 

“Oh, please, please, pretty please?? What’s the advantage of this if I can’t get a tiny sneak peek?”

“Well, for instance, you get me to cook for you…”

“It was delicious, thank you.”

“And you get me to eat you out at night when you’re not being stubborn and imposing kiss-bans.”

“I like that very much, too,” I giggled, looking at his green eyes as he got just a bit closer, just an inch away from me. 

“So it’s not such a bad deal, is it?”

“I guess not.”

“Good.” His bottom lip rolled into his lips and he bit it thoughtfully for a couple of seconds as his eyes kept burning little holes into my soul. That’s how it felt. “Let’s watch a movie, baby. Are there any bans on cuddling?”

“No, not yet.”

His fingers squeezed mine and he got up swiftly from the table, smiling brightly as we covered the few steps to a different room near the pool, where a giant screen awaited for us. There were a bunch of individuals blue chair, blue and velvety, and a larger one, that was meant to comfortably fit two. The room was dark, only lit by the lights coming from the screen, and I followed him blindly until we were sitting side by side. Slowly, we found each other, and as Harry sat against the armchair, I settled between his legs, cuddling up to his chest while his large hand rested on the curve of my waist. 

He smelled like a lazy Sunday morning when the rain is lightly tapping on your windows and all you can hear are the chirping birds when still early, so the world hasn’t woken up just yet and you get to focus on that feeling, on the promise of what’s coming. 

He also smelled like pasta and chocolate, and I didn’t mind that at all. 

He felt soft, comforting, and sweet, but above all, he felt safe. I was safe with him. 

And, I struggled for a bit, trying to understand what came next, what was the warmth and giddiness that settled in my tummy every time I looked at him. 

“You ok, baby?” Harry asked and I nodded absentmindedly, not ready to let my thoughts go just yet. What was it? “Wanna watch Set It Up?”

“Yeah, whatever you want. your choice.”

“Are you sure you’re ok? You don’t say that often.”

“Oh, shhh, Harry I always do whatever you want.”

“We definitely have different definitions of ‘Whatever Harry wants’” He mused and I propped myself up to look at him, almost suspiciously, almost angry.

“Do we? What do you want?” I asked. 

“To kiss you. And for you to stay the night.”

“I have a bed, y’know?” I quirked my eyebrow, looking at him as I had already won the argument. 

“Yeah, unfortunately…”

“And we promised we would behave tonight.”

“You can stay in a different room,” he offered. “Or I will.”

“What’s the point then?”

“You won’t have to miss me in the morning…” he shrugged. I laughed out loud, despite my best efforts to look offended. “And I won’t have to miss you.”

“I’ll think about it.”

Love. 

He looked a lot like love. 

And love looked a lot like him. 

***

Harry Styles and Sofia Welsh were out grabbing Fro-yo and I’ll never be as cool as either of them

Yes, I know what you’re gonna say: Are they paying you to write this sh*t? And the answer is yes! someone’s paying me to write this sh*t! Alas, neither Harry nor Sofia is. I wish. 

The usually private couple, and bear in mind I am using the word couple loosely here as they haven’t confirmed to be dating, gave the world a glimpse of their relationship as they stepped out in Los Angeles to grab ice-creams and bubble teas, along with friends.

Ever since the rumors of their relationship spread around, the couple has been mostly keeping a low profile - which is not very surprising as Harry Styles is not very open about his personal life since he was a member of One Direction and a large part of his fans believed him to be romantically involved with one of his bandmates (that was a mouthful! And also very true, there has been a lot of conspiracy theories about it)

Sofia, who’s in the middle of an Oscar campaign (and has been showing us just how much designers adore her), sported a pair of leggings, a crop top, and a large blazer, a perfect outfit for the ever-changing LA weather, and looked happy and relaxed as she waited for Harry to get their orders. Both stars took photos with fans and left together in Styles’ classic car…

****

We were made out of good intentions. 

We slept together that night and every night after that for an entire week. We didn’t do much, we kissed and cuddled, and spent our mornings lazily together until one of us had to go out to the real world. We even went out and we kept stealing looks and smiles at each other, like two little kids that were too shy in front of their crushes. 

Photos were taken. Articles were published. Midge was elated. 

Harry’s new single was coming out that night, and there was going to be a party to celebrate it. If it was a hit, they were going to celebrate their success and all the hard work that went into it. It was a flop, and it was not going to flop, they were going to drink for better times ahead. 

“Fuck!!!” 

I stared at the ceiling, willing my body to move and failing miserably at it as every little muscle in my body contracted painfully. My arms hurt, and my legs felt like they were on fire. 

I just needed 5 more minutes before I got up and got ready to leave. 

It was day 4 of “my new life” as my trainer liked to call it, and after another lunch of grilled chicken and steamed broccoli, I was ready to quit. I had trained and dieted before for different roles, but this time, I had a feeling she wanted to suck the life out of me. It even made me reconsider if I needed to be in a Marvel Movie. Would Midge kill me if I quit?

“Sof…” The male voice scared me just a little, as I thought I was alone in my house. I turn around just slightly, as much as my tired poor body could handle and smiled as I saw Sam standing by my door. “Can I come in?”

He was holding a tray, with something that looked like a sandwich, coffee, and a glass of water, along with a white bottle of medicine. I nodded, grunting even at the soft movement, and he walked quickly to my bed, setting the tray down before me as he stood awkwardly. 

“Shouldn’t you be at work?” I struggled to ask while I propped myself up and sat criss-cross on my bed. I sounded angry, and maybe I was, why would he bring me a sandwich? It was all I wanted to eat and all I couldn’t eat at the same time. 

“I’m off work today, and I wanted to check on you. Cat told me you’ve been feeling under the weather. I called your mom and she told me you should “just eat a sandwich and take an aspirin”, so here they are,” he said, offering me a childish smile as he pointed the tray with a little too much joy. 

“I can’t eat a sandwich,” I sulked. “And I need to get ready, I have to go to Harry’s.”

“You can eat a sandwich. And he can wait 5 minutes, you’re always there.”

I realized we hadn’t talked about the kiss, not really. I avoided being alone with him, and whenever the occasion presented itself, Sam would go out of the room, giving me space and maybe waiting for me to be the first one to reach out. I had never done that. Honestly, I didn’t think I would.

“You’re right, Sammy,” I said, picking the sandwich in my hands and noticing that he had already cut the crust off. “Thank you.”

It was weird between us, tense and quiet, and I didn’t like it. I bit into the bread looking at an empty spot on the wall as I waited for him to say something. Anything, I would take it. But Sam remained silent, pressing his palms on his thighs as he went to get up. 

“Sam,” I called for him and I smiled shyly when he finally turned around. He took his time, though, and for a moment there, I was scared he was going to leave. “I’m sorry.”

“That’s not what you want to hear when someone you like kisses you.”

“I shouldn’t have…”

“Did you want to?”

“Yes,” I breathed and I realized I wasn't lying. I did want to kiss him, there was no use in denying that. 

I put the sandwich down on the plate and moved closer to Sam until I could see the golden freckles that were hidden in his light brown eyes.

“Do you remember that night when you came through my window and stayed the night with me?”

“Yeah, I heard your dad scream, and I wanted to be there in case…”

“I know, Sam. I’ve wanted to kiss you ever since then,” I admitted and he kept staring at me as if he was considering what his next move would be. Would he kiss me? Did I want him to kiss me?

“You’re not being fair to me, Sof.”

“I know. You haven’t been fair to me either, but here we are.”

There was a moment of panic, cause for a second, I thought he was going to kiss me. He leaned over me and I held my breath as I looked at him, not able to stop him just yet. But as his lips brushed over my forehead, I closed my eyes, smiling as he pulled away from me. 

“Eat the fucking sandwich, Sof,” he replied and it wasn’t enough. I took his hand before he could leave and I licked my lips, peering up to him with something more than just fear pressing up to my chest. 

“Are we good?”

“Yeah.”

“I guess we’ll talk about it again when he gets back with his ex.”

That was a low blow, and we both knew it, but I just stayed quiet as he left the room, wondering if I deserved it. 

****

It took me a while to get ready, so I was late for Harry’s party. I went straight to the pool, where a large screen had been set up and the new video seemed to be on a loop. I couldn’t find Harry anywhere, but at the same, he was all I could see. I stared at the screen, looking at his golden skin as he was surrounded by the adoring crowd, at the way they kept touching and the expression on his face as he leaned into them. The song didn’t even matter, cause all I could focus on was his stupidly beautiful green eyes. 

I mean, I had watched his videos before. I had seen him fly through the sky and be surrounded by kids, but this was different. Those were entertaining and beautiful, and I felt the emotion in my tummy simply because it was him, and somehow, just seeing him made me happy. But in this one he meant to capture your attention and a little bit of your soul. He wanted to be desired and to be free along the way. And it was such a fucking sexy video.  

I lost count of how many times I allowed myself to watch the video, but it was probably too many times. After a while, I decided it was time to look for the real Harry, who was still nowhere to be seen, so I left the pool, smiling and greeting everyone as I passed by. 

I hoped he was alone, cause I wanted to fucking kiss him like no one else was looking. I wanted to tell him how lovely, talented, and amazing he was. I was going to kiss him a lot and praise him, it couldn’t get better than that. 

I looked for him in the living room, where a small crowd was throwing back cocktails and beers and went out to the front door, where people were lounging about, a bit drunkenly. But he wasn’t anywhere, and I was starting to feel uneasy. 

It took me more than a few minutes to make my way to his room because people kept getting in my way. I did my best to smile and engage in silly conversations about nothing, but my heart was growing heavy and my brain was too anxious to even remember if I had succeeded. 

I heard him talk even before I stood by his door. I couldn’t quite tell what he was saying or who he was talking to, but I noticed that his words were a little bit slurred, and his accent dripped thick in his low voice. The door was slightly ajar and I pushed it open and stood by the frame as I saw him talking on the phone. He had his back to me, so he didn’t notice that I had arrived, not that it mattered. 

“C, you’re drunk,” I heard him say and I wished he had just said a different name. “No...I know I told you it was just a PR relationship...Cause I need time to figure out...Really, C? Wanna know if I still love you? You’re not being fair...” The last part came out as a dry laugh, and I knew I had to leave, it was rude and inappropriate, but, most importantly, it was breaking my fucking heart. But my feet seemed like they were made out of cement, and my legs had chosen that moment to numb out of pain. So, I was still standing there when he turned around, and probably saw the tears that were threatening to spill down my eyes. 

I wanted to know the answer too. Could I know it? It’d save us a lot of pain. 

“Bye, C.”

He dropped his phone to the bed and I looked at him as he walked quickly to me. He looked flustered and worried, but it all seemed so distant, that it didn’t matter. 

“Baby,” Harry said, but that wasn’t my name. Did her call her baby too? He probably did, he was a ‘baby’ kind of guy. “Are you ok?”

“Yes, I was looking for you cause I wanted to check if you wanted me to post something on Instagram,” I lied. “D already drafted a tweet, it’s really simple.”

“Sof, how much did you hear?”

“Nothing. I’m gonna get a couple of photos and uh, I’m gonna go home, I think I need a rest day.”

His hand went to grab mine, but before he could do it, I turned and walked away rushing down the stairs until I could get lost in the crowd. 

Fair? None of us was being fair. 

[uwua3]

hi! i really like your work, your sakuya oneshot made me emotional ;w; may i request headcanons for sakuya with an s/o who likes to make things for him? stuff like... knitting sweaters, making friendship bracelets, etc? i think he deserves to get spoiled !

aaaAAAAAAA thank you so much!!! i hope you’re feeling calm n collected now~ hopefully, it didn’t overwhelm you too much! but THANK YOU FOR REQUESTING THIS !!!!! sakuma sakuya is my favorite boy ever so writing for him makes me soft 🥺 best boy deserves to get spoiled ugh your galaxy brain i love it!!! ♡

summary: sakuya had everything planned and figured out, but everything still went wrong...

author’s note: today is the LOVE TRAIN!!! choo choo!! i love ~ love ~ so this was super fun even if it’s outside of my comfort zone for so much fluff! this definitely got off the rails at the beginning, but i swear your prompt is fulfilled half way through! i just love LOVE!!! i love sakuya!!!!! i love ♡ LOVE ♡ that’s it

word count: 2,716

music: some – soyou & junggigo, say so – doja cat (to me, sakuya is the embodiment of the jpn 80s city pop vibe)

spoiled!

🌸🌷 sakuma sakuya

sakuya started from nothing and worked hard for everything that was his, never giving up and always persevered against all odds

so it wasn’t a big surprise when the moment sakuya realized you were the person he thought of when reciting his romantic lines, he made it clear he liked you

(luckily, masumi had quick reflexes and caught the script before it fell into the river. sakuya was too busy having the most lovestruck, dreamy smile as he started off into the horizon, saying, “i like them. i really like them.”)

(“about time, you big sap.” masumi handed the packet back, but he looked just as content to see his best friend come to the realization. if only director felt the same way... sigh)

sakuya started being more direct in the most sakuya way possible, initiating planned dates that he just called “hang–outs”

(yeah, they were all definitely dates)

it wasn’t until sakuya asked you to come over at a very specific time to the dorms that you felt like something was going

you wouldn’t find out why until it was operation: ask you out, you got this sakuya! (abbreviated to go sakuya!!! on the labelled binder he had)

he finally asked you out when his heart told him the timing was perfect! sakuya had every tiny detail planned and laid out, presenting it at the very urgent scheduled meeting to his spring troupe members

sakuya was a true leader, he had prevented anything from going wrong and took extreme measures to make sure tonight was perfect

so when you confirmed you would come over soon, sakuya felt his nerves kick in as he launched himself into the living room, ordering everyone to get out (but very politely)

“hi, um. guys? could you leave? for the night?” sakuya shyly requested (he was so impatient though, he wanted to tell you he liked you already! it had to be the best for you!)

confused, everyone halted their afternoon activities as tsuzuru’s big brother instincts made him take over and explain the dilemma at hand, although, not well

(everyone got even more confused, what the hell was tsuzuru talking about? something about the perfect violin music? the 90s disney movie ambience? taking every comforter in the residence for a fort?)

itaru sighed, stepping up to the plate. he wasn’t taking time out of his video game time for nothing

“in other words, sakuya needs to ask someone out before he explodes from his lovey–dovey feelings. he needs the room for his date.”

(citron burst into tears, dramatically sinking to the floor as sakuya hurried over with hugs, genuinely worried for his friend. “sakuya~ you are growing up so fast! you are such a good boy!!!”)

even though he didn’t want to ask for help, the whole company automatically ignored him and went to go assist him in decorating

with a couple of funny comments here and there about why he was going out more and his literal heart eyes

(“oh look at sakusaku in love~” azuma pulled on sakuya’s cheek, everyone gushing over sakuya’s blush and his bright eyes as he thought about you. he was so passionate about you, just like acting!)

but the jokes were reserved for another time because their leader needed their help. it was time to repay back the favors sakuya always did for them, he did deserve a night of just romance!

he deserved the world for being such a good person

the main lights were turned off. twinkling fairy lights were pinned up to the top of the walls. red tablecloth was put over the main table. food was placed on a silver platter sakyo only reserved for very special occassions. proper plating was set up with every type of utensil possible (even a salad fork, there was no salad). the projector was set up behind the sofa. a comfy, elaborate pillow and blanket fort took over the whole sitting area. rose petals decorated the entryway and aromatic candles filled the room with love. tonight was going to be perfect

spring troupe raided the costumes department to quickly make waiter–styled outfits for the night (banri wasn’t allowed to help the moment he held something animal print up). sakuya let taichi clip on his bowtie and yuki check the measurements of his new formal wear. running by, homare dropped a fresh rose into a vase in the middle of the dining table before going into a verse about young love. omi finished up the delicious spaghetti, due to muku giggling about lady & the tramp and sharing a noodle. everyone put in the effort to get the volunteers ready for the biggest act of sakuya’s life

“everyone, three cheers for sakuya and his potential partner tonight!” tsuzuru led the group chant as sakuya stared at himself in the mirror, grinning as he willed himself to take a deep breath. he had this in the bag, tonight was going to be perfect

as sakuya stood in the corridor after the preparations, it felt like he was backstage before a major performance. the butterflies in his stomach were going crazy, he was so excited to see you

food? check! music? check! decorations? check! perfect outfit? check! everyone ready for their cues? check! flowers? che—wait...

before sakuya could have a minor, tiny meltdown over forgetting a very essential part of his plan, tsumugi ran back inside covered in dirt as he gracefully passed a sweet boquet with a light pink ribbon tied around the stems. it was so thoughtful, sakuya almost teared up right then and there

“this one means confessing a crush,” tsumugi said, pointing to the abundance of daisies before taking his leave, whispering good luck on the way out. tasuku waved, sporting a thumbs up

juza held hisoka up with a serious, but supportive nod. tenma winked, enough said

sakuya smiled, he had such good friends!

the common room in the dorms was evacuated as the other spring troupe members were hiding in the kitchen, acting as servers to the very exclusive mankai restaraunt. the clock struck 8pm as kamekichi flew by, closing the curtains in the process just like they discussed

sakuya heard a knock on the front door. that was his cue; sakuya moved to stand by the classy table as he heard itaru’s business voice greet you professionaly. he almost giggled at the confusion in your voice before itaru led you to the kitchen, a shocked look on your face as sakuya pulled your chair out

“you look beautiful.” sakuya honestly admitted, feeling his cheeks flush when you looked away with a smile. sakuya pushed your chair in as he went back to the other side, gently taking your hand as he tapped on the table three times. at the sign, he heard masumi start playing his classical violin in the background

phase 1: get you to sit down (check!)

“thank you, i don’t know what to say!” you stammered, looking around at the transformed scenery as tsuzuru walked in, bowing at you two before placing two menus down. there was really only one thing on the menu, but it was in some fancy cursive font so it was acceptable

“would you like to get started? or should i give you a few minutes?” tsuzuru questioned, having his notepad at ready with a black pen as he followed the script without problems. sakuya watched as you stared at the menu, unaware of what to do next

improv time! sakuya immediately ordered two servings of spaghetti, knowing it was the only thing he had planned with two cups of water (tsuzuru almost broke character when he almost reached a hand out to ruffle sakuya’s hair, pretending to stretch instead)

“certainly, sir. enjoy your time at mankai!” tsuzuru took his leave, going to wait his specific allocated time of 5 minutes before coming back. you looked at sakuya, his face starng back into yours with a fond smile

“thank you for coming—” sakuya started but was cut off by a very loud scream. a very citron–sounding scream. following the shriek, the sound effect of glass smashing on the floor and the wet slap of noodles was very clear. the violin cut off with an awful note, making you wince as you pulled your hand back

phase 2: eat spaghetti (oh, crap)

silence. then—

“OH MY GOD, CITRON!” tsuzuru yelled, shuffling open the script sakuya handed out. citron began apologizing profusely, not realizing you and sakuya were sitting in disbelief and uncertain about what was going to happen next

“ah, this was not GJ... press f in the chat.” itaru commented monotonously, offering a very sarcastic clap. “shut up!” masumi tried to salvage the situation, but the damage was already done

it wasn’t until you heard a muffled sigh that the boys stopped fighting. sakuya tried hiding his face as he sunk lower in his seat, holding his head in his hands

“i’m... i’m so sorry!” sakuya apologized, trying to form a coherent sentence without his voice cracking from embarrassment. the spring boys felt awful, quickly trying to clean up the mess and turn this date around the right way

but you smiled, standing up to put your hand on his shoulder as he tensed. were you going to leave? this had to be the worst date ever! you were too nice, you were trying to spare his feelings—how embarrassing!

“saku, it’s okay.” you comforted, bending down to look him in the eye. sakuya nodded, wiping his nose as he blinked away his frustrated tears. i must look so immature, sakuya pouted, trying to appear as calm as possible. but inside, he was screaming. how could have this happened so early on? he did everything!

“no, i wanted tonight to be perfect because i wanted to ask—” sakuya felt your hand guide his face to look at yours, your fingers gently holding onto his chin. you smiled

“will you be my boyfriend, saku?” you asked, seeing his face go blank before shooting out of his seat, almost knocking you down as he started jumping up and down

“yes, oh my god, of course!” sakuya composed himself, rubbing the back of his neck as he settled down from your laughter. sakuya instead picked you up, spinning around as he couldn’t help but laugh along with you

“oh my god, do you really like me?!” sakuya couldn’t believe his ears, you liked him even after this whole disaster of a date!

(this would be the start of the best dates ever as long as sakuya was there)

“no one has put so much effort into something for me like this before, you’re one of a kind.” you truthfully said, putting your hands on his face as he lowered you to the ground after losing the adrenaline rush

before you could connect your lips to his, you smelt a floral scent in your face and leaned back to see him panicking with a boquet of daisies

(you would soon learn sakuya was planning something very, very special for the first kiss. it didn’t go wrong, that time)

“uh... this is for you! please accept them!!!” sakuya thrusted the boquet into your hands and the rest of the night was yours to share

(sakuya kicked the spring members out, pushing them out of the door and promising to give them a huge rant later on. it wasn’t much, though, just a “i’m not angry, i’m just disappointed” speech that had no merit since he couldn’t stop smiling)

after that, you accepted sakuya and all of life’s mishaps, disasters, and unfortunate events that seemed to follow him despite his best efforts to do everything right

even though he loved just as much to spoil you rotten by spending quality time together, you always looked forward to getting the upper hand and surprising him thoughtful gifts!

sakuya hated it when you spent money on him, always taking the gift but trailing after you like a lost puppy trying to pay you back

(the kid even tried sneaking in cash when you weren’t looking. sakuya’s acting skills were useful when he pretended like he had no idea where a random $20 came from!)

(he later got excited seeing the same lucky bill on the sidewalk during a park walk, not noticing it was the same exact one he tried giving to you)

once you realized pricey, store–bought presents weren’t the way to go and only made sakuya feel guilty, you resorted to hand–made items that had your name all over it

you loved sewing! you even stole sakuya’s worn white hoodie with “SPRING” on it, embroidering lovely cherry blossoms around the words and at the end of the sleeves

you hid your initials + S.S. on the inside of the spot right over his heart (sakuya wouldn’t find it until one day, he was about to flip it inside out for laundry and was found cradling the fabric with happy tears sitting at the base of the washer)

(he wouldn’t move and masumi had to send you a picture of what a wreck your boyfriend was — “come get him already, he doesn’t have clean clothes”)

when you gave it back to him after he accepted it was gone forever, sakuya nearly passed out from how overwhelmed he was with your kindness! he wears it even more now, running his fingers over the texture of the flowers and feeling your love in every stitch every time he thought of you

(he started doing it subconciously, it became a comforting habit for him to do now)

acting like his professional stylist, you even knitted this super cute puff–ball beanie that was pink, silver, and white

the word “BLOSSOM” across the top became your new pet name the moment he received it (your contact was now blossom *insert every pink heart emoji ever*)

(unrelated but yes you two cosplayed as blossom and brick from the powerpuff girls for halloween)

your largest gift ever was a quilt blanket of patches you sewed of memories you shared!

(even the spaghetti disaster you now laughed about later on! sakuya realized wearing all white eating tomato sauce was a very bad idea)

countless movie nights, walks in the park, picnics by his favorite river, playing cute 3ds games together, decorating for school–wide events, and visiting the aquarium for the adorable clownfish were all apart of a blanket he would definitely save first in a hypothetical fire

yet, sakuya’s favorite gift ever was always on his person: a beaded promise bracelet you made

(you even got one back, although he definitely needed your help so it wasn’t much of a surprise)

it was during a community service event where sakuya signed up to take care of the little kids running around at the library center. it was art day, so he was happily painting a blank sculpture in the colorful room surrounded by a bunch of children who were concetrated on painting the best pokémon ever

you loved sakuya’s big heart and how he always dedicated time to helping others, so you made an effort to join him in his altrustic hobbies

(couples who care for the community stay together, obviously)

it had been a week after you noticed how sakuya’s famous pink watch was off his wrist. he downplayed it, just saying it wasn’t his favorite anymore even though he wore it for years

(but citron blabbed and confessed it was broken and he had never seen sakuya so upset except on spaghetti night)

(citron shuddered. no one speaks of spaghetti night around sakuya)

so when you slipped the pink beaded bracelet with his name and a small heart around the pikachu’s ears as a crown, sakuya looked up to see what would be his favorite piece of jewelery of all time

sakuya’s work ethic never went away and he worked twice as hard to have you happy to be with him, but it was nice to take a break and be spoiled every once in a while

(more like, spoiled every day as you always had something new to give. they would all become his lucky charms and it seemed like his accident–prone fortune went away)

sakuya was glad you worked just as hard to be with him; he loves you very, very much!

[monkeymeghan]

With a half hour left in the day, this is where I’m at. The only thing wrong is I did three, not eight, flights of stairs. So let me tell you about today. It was awesome!!! I went to Great Adventure with my sis and two nephews. We were there for about 7 hours. I took more steps today than I have in the last two weeks combined. Well, maybe week and a half combined. But still, the most I’ve done in one day for longer than I can remember, so many many months. We did the carousel, I skipped the teacups, then we had lunch. We rode the skyline/gondola across the park. One roller coaster, the crazy mine train. Then we waited about an hour and a half for the safari ride. We were in the front row, so it almost felt like a personal tour. I had no idea how many different species they had, it was amazing and I think I smiled for the entire thing! Then I went on another roller coaster with my older nephew while my sis took my younger nephew to do some of the smaller rides. Skull Mountain is similar to Space Mountain at Disney, it’s inside a dark building and you can’t see a thing. Oh, at some point earlier we did the Ferris wheel. There is some strange “Ferris wheel math,” we decided, that goes into how they decide how many cars they fill and which ones. We know they have to balance out, but we couldn’t figure it out with so many empty cars. 🤷🏻‍♀️ We did the skyline back to the other side of the park. And I think that’s about it as far as rides go. It was so much fun. I hardly got any sleep last night, and was tossing and turning all night, because I was so nervous about today. I had no idea how I would do with the rides, if the would make me dizzy or nauseous or anything. I didn’t do any of the hard core coasters, I did easier things today to see how I did. And I did great! After strapping in the first coaster, I said to my nephew, “ah, I just thought about it and now I’m nervous! We’ll see how I do, I might be wobbling off the ride!” and we laughed. After it was over, he was so sweet and asked If I needed help getting down the flight of stairs!! It was a true “awww” moment where I was once again reminded that I have the best nephews in the world. I thanked him and said I was actually ok. :) I’ve been home for about five hours and my body is more than exhausted, but my mind is awake, so I’m laying in bed now. I’m so glad I went today; fun and quality time with family are two things you can never get enough of!

On Saturday evening, my mom took all seven of us to Olive Garden to celebrate Dad’s birthday. Talk about food coma. It was worth it, though. Salad, breadsticks, calamari, shrimp scampi, mozzarella stick (singular for me lol), and then salmon with broccoli. Delicious. Then, of course, the obligatory birthday song and dessert.

I honestly can’t think of what I did from then until today, since it mostly consisted of doing a whole lotta nothin.

[ljones41]

Other Food at Walt Disney World Resort

Along with the food I had sampled at EPCOT’s Food & Wine Festival, held at Walt Disney World Resort, I had enjoy dishes at the resort that included those listed below:

OTHER FOOD AT WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT

Beef Empanadas Platter:  Fairfax Fare (Hollywood Studios) - I had purchased this dish, served with rice and some corn salad (don’t ask) at the Hollywood Studios because I had forgotten to sample the empanadas served at the Food & Wine Festival.  It was . . . mediocre and not very substantial.

Land and Sea Platter:  ABC Commissary (Hollywood Studios) - My sister and I shared this surprisingly delicious and filling platter that featured chicken strips, pieces of fried fish, shrimp and french fries.

Chicken Pot Pie:  Columbia Harbor House (Magic Kingdom) - Despite the lack of a crust, this chicken pot pie proved to be surprisingly delicious.  Unlike the image, I had homemade potato chips served with my pie.

Hawaiian Tamarind Flavored Chicken Wings: Captain Cook's (Polynesian Resort) - One could never call me a big fan of chicken wings, but I must admit that these in particular were excellent thanks to the sweet and sour flavor of the sauce.

St. Louis Pork Ribs:  Flame Tree BBQ (Animal Kingdom) - These ribs have always been a mixed bag for me.  When I first had them years ago, I found them disappointing.  The last time I had them (seven years ago), they were delicious.  This year?  They were okay.  The cole slaw and baked beans sides were more than delicious.

Sweet and Spice Chicken Waffles:  Sleepy Hollow Refreshment (Magic Kingdom) - Served with homemade potato chips, this chicken waffle sandwich was absolutely delicious.  However, the chicken may have been a tad too hot at times.

Fish and Chips:  Yorkshire County Fish Shop (EPCOT) - What can I say?  Well, my sister had said it best . . . they were perfect.  Perfect!

Pork Fried Rice: Captain Cook's (Polynesian Resort) - A delicious fried rice dish topped with slow-roasted pork. Although not a big fan of fried rice, I thought it was pretty good. And the amount of roast pork nearly overwhelms the fried rice.

Beef Nachos:  Pecos Bill Tall Tales Cafe & Inn (Magic Kingdom) - Well, this dish really blew my mind.  This was the best version of nachos; served with ground beef, corn salad, salsa and sour cream; I have ever tasted.  And I did not have to deal with any faux cheese sauce (which I loathe) ruining it.  Two thumbs up!

Plantation Key Pork Chop:  Olivia’s Cafe (Old Key West Resort) - Olivia’s Cafe is known for its fried chicken breast.  But honestly, I think this grilled bone-in pork chop, brined and glazed with an apple-white balsamic gastriqu, beats it.  Along with the pork chop was an excellent salad made with sweet potatoes, apples, onions, arugula, cranberries, candied nuts, mixed an apple vinaigrette.

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

Have any of you can recall any memorable dishes you had experienced at Walt Disney World Resort?

[lovemesomesurveys]

1. Do you like Ferrero Rocher chocolate?: No, honestly I don't get the hype. <<< Same, honestly. 2. What’s the most expensive thing your car needed to get done?: I don’t drive, so I’ve never had a car. 3. If you had a thousand dollars to spend on a pricey brand you like but can’t really afford (until now of course), which ONE brand would you chose?: Honestly I just want the new Beats earbuds. I wouldn’t need $1000 for them, but I’d take it! haha. 4. Do you still own any clothes you had in middle school? Like what?: No. 5. Do you like candy canes?: Yeah.

6. What genre was the last movie you saw? And was it any good?: I watched Greta the other night, which is a drama/thriller. Eh, I expected more and was a bit disappointed.

7. Do you think George Clooney was hot when he was younger?: I mean, he’s an attractive man, sure, but I was never into him.  8. …what about now?: Sure. 9. How many pairs of flip flops do you own?: None. I never wear flip flops or any sandals.  10. How old were you when you got your first Tumblr/LJ?: I got Tumblr back in 2009 when I was 20. 11. Remember Teen Ink? Did you ever submit anything to them?: Nope, never even heard of it. 12. Do you still talk to any of your old teachers?: No, but I do have 3 of them on Facebook. 3. Do you have Twitter? What do you mostly use it for?: I do. I tweet random stuff, I retweet relatable stuff, and follow celebrities and other relatable/interesting accounts.  14. What color is your cell phone?: Coral. 15. How many cell phones have you had in your lifetime?: I think like 6 or 7. 16. Does your family still use the home phone or are you all on cell phones now?: We all have cell phones, but we do have a landline still. We just it for doctors and things like that. 17. How old were you when you got your first cell phone?: 16. 18. Enough with the phones. When is/was your 21st birthday?: 2010. 19. What color was the dress you wore to your senior prom?: It was white with gold specks.  20. Ever go to another school’s prom?: Nope. 21. Ever take melatonin supplements to help you go to sleep?: I have. 22. Do you like burning candles or incense?: I like the smell of them, but I never burn any candles or incense myself. 23. Do you like doing laundry?: My mom helps me with that. 24. Ever throw a pair of your shoes in the washing machine? How did they come out?: No. 25. Do you own a real pair of Uggs?: I don’t own any Ugg boots.  26. Do you ever venture into the woods? What do you normally do in there?: No. 27. Favorite pizza toppings?: Ricotta cheese, spinach, and crumbled meatballs with pesto and olive oil. 28. Favorite salad dressing?: Ranch. 29. What’s the most you’d spend on a new pair of jeans?: Like $20 something bucks. 30. Do you like to wear shorts or capris in the summer?: Neither. I wear leggings all year round. 31. What do you think of Bermuda shorts?: Not my thing. I don’t wear shorts. 32. What does your bathing suit look like this year?: I don’t wear bathing suits.  33. Are you ready for summer 2018?: It’s 2019 now, but no. Not at all. I despise summer. 34. Did you ever use iconator.com? Are you upset that it’s gone now?: I think I have before. 35. Speaking of AIM icons… do you still use AIM?: I haven’t used AIM since like 2009, but it’s dead now anyway. 36. Do you still buy CDs?: Nope. It’s been yearsss. 37. Be honest…how much of the music in your iTunes library did you actually pay for?: I use Spotify, so I didn’t pay for any of it. Not even the membership because I’m on a family plan thing with my mom. 38. Does your significant other ever make you mix CDs?: 39. How often do you have to empty your text inbox because it got full?: It doesn't get full. 40. Does your phone have a keyboard, touch screen, or neither?: Touch screen. 41. How did you dress your freshman year of high school?: I was in a girly/preppy phase.  42. What religion are you?: Christian.  43. What color are the pajama pants you wore last?: Black leggings and a black Toy Story 4 shirt.  44. Were you obsessed with the Spice Girls back in the day?: Not obsessed, but I liked their songs. 45. What does your wallet look like?: It’s this brand Loungefly and they make really cute Disney purses, backpacks, and wallets. I have a cream colored one with the map of Neverland from Peter Pan on it. 46. Is your middle name embarrassing?: No. 47. How many Facebook friends do you have? Do you add people you don’t know sometimes?: 100 and something, and no.  48. Do you like pumpkin pie?: EW, nooo. 49. What’s your favorite kind of yogurt?: None. It’s a texture thing. It’s goop that just sits in my mouth and blech. 50. Do you like frozen yogurt?: I do like froyo, but that’s different. It’s soft and smooth and delicious. 

[thepatricktreestump]

I Love Her Anyway: Chapter 7

A/N: happy friday my beautiful readers! the long awaited chapter is finally here and the neverending tag list just keeps growing... have at it!

tag list: @cupcakesweetness @un-amoosed-padalecki @mtb04308 @dragonqueendany @kitykatnumber @svintsandghosts @greatheromuffinpalace @echoloki @geekybeauty8793 @jigglypuff1999 @timisnotmontydlc @galaxy-moon @lugialagia @pageoftheclouds @moveondontholdon @myaestheticsareshit @brendonuriehimself

               Walking into his mansion felt like an absolute dream. It was like entering Hogwarts or Disney, a gorgeous castle-like building with a stunning estate full of refined foliage and stone statues. As you enter, two puppies race up to you and eagerly hop up on your legs and begin to lick at your hands. You laugh and squint your eyes to make out a small Jack Russel and a Boston terrier. Brendon introduces you to them as Bogart and Pennylane before he ushers you farther into the house, walking you past the brilliant paintings, tapestries, and decorations. Sure enough, there’s chandeliers that dangle from the ceiling, marble floor and pillars, golden trimming, as well as a gigantic aquarium filled with a variety of multicolored fish. Brendon interlocks his fingers with you as he takes your hand, guiding you farther into his home, your mind spinning at your surroundings. He lays you down onto a Victorian fainting couch and sets down the box and bags before embracing you, pressing a soft kiss to your lips.

               “So what do you think?” he smiles.

               “I’m absolutely amazed,” you admit. “This is insane.”

               “I thought you might like it,” he chuckles. “Now come on, I want to see your reaction to these gifts.”

               You can’t help but blush as he places the box into your hands and you unwrap the ball gown from the packaging, your eyes sparkling. “It’s gorgeous!” you gush, standing up and lifting it towards your frame, doing a small spin and giggling. “Oh my god, I love it! And it’s just my size!”

               “Come on, you have more goodies too,” he reminds.

               You set down the dress carefully and then reach for the bags, pulling out the lingerie one at a time. The look on your face makes him smirk, and you can’t help but become breathless at the thought of being sprawled out on his mattress wearing nothing but these small pieces of lace. “Thank you,” you whisper as you pull out the last one. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

               “Thank you, darling,” he beams. “I expect you to start wearing them to work from now on when you get a chance.”

               “Of course,” you nod happily. “I would love to.”

               “Now come on,” he takes you by the hand and guides you towards the kitchen. “Let’s have a drink.”

               Both of you curl up on a loveseat on the porch outside admiring the view of a lake, a tennis court, a golf course, and a fire pit. He has plenty of hammocks and armchairs, along with a bar counter and stools, as well as a small gathering space adorned with fairy lights and lanterns. “Are you the only one who lives here?” you dare to ask, leaning your head on his chest as he takes a swig of beer. He’s poured you a glass of virgin sangria, but you’ve only taken a couple sips.

               “I have several butlers and maids, as well as a handful of chefs,” he replies. “Other than visitors though, it is just me.”

               “Wow,” you murmur to yourself. You can’t imagine only one person living on such a huge property. You’re starting to wonder if maybe he’s not even a millionaire, but a billionaire. You make a mental note to look up his net worth when you get home. This all feels surreal.

               “But I worked hard to get here, don’t get me wrong,” he says. “My father helped me, but I put in plenty of hard work and effort myself. School was hard trying to work and educate myself at the same time, but it paid off beyond what I could ever imagine.”

               ���I’m proud of you,” you mumble, unable to hide your smile. “I can’t believe I’m lucky enough to be here with you.”

               Both of you lay down and cuddle, just holding each other and staying there, taking sips of your drinks and watching the sunset together. It’s something you had only ever dreamed of, and you would’ve never thought it to go down like this. Perhaps maybe on a grassy hill after a picnic with one of the boys in your neighborhood or while eating cotton candy at a carnival with a guy from your high school or in the back of a truck blaring music with a best friend turned lover. Not at all like this. Not in the backyard of a mansion with your newest boss, laying down on a satin loveseat drinking fancy concoctions and taking in the view. You wished you could freeze this moment and keep it forever, revisit it when you needed it, years from now when he would have forgotten about you and you felt lonely.

               “I’m kind of getting hungry,” he sighs when the sky begins to get dark. “Ready to make dinner?”

               “I’d love to,” you grin. “What were you thinking?”

               “Filet mignon,” he offers. “Medium rare.”

               “I’m still stuffed from the luncheon,” you joke. “But that sounds absolutely delicious, I think I won’t be able to resist.”

               “Perfect,” he decides, scooping you up from the loveseat and carrying you inside.

               After a lengthy argument with the chef trying to insist that he wants to cook the meal tonight, he picks out two slices of meat and seasons them before placing them on the pan with a drizzle of olive oil. He then picks out veggies and a knife and begins to chop them, your arms around his waist and your lips peppering kisses on his back. He pours the mix of broccoli, onions, carrots, and peas into another pan and sets it on low, sprinkling it with salt and pepper. He turns around and kisses you on the forehead before picking you up and setting you on the counter, your legs dangling off the side and your head nodding back and forth as he goes to place a record on the vinyl player. It’s Frank Sinatra, and you hum at the beginning of the song, one of your grandfather’s favorites.

               You watch intently as Brendon flips the meat over, pan sizzling slightly before he goes to stir the vegetables. You’ve seen plenty of people cook before, but the way he does it is like someone create art. He’s so graceful and meticulous, dancing around the kitchen and adding ingredients as if splattering a new color on the canvas with his brush, concentration and precision at a high priority. It has you absolutely mesmerized. He softly sings along to the Sinatra vinyl as he begins to plate your food, and you feel like you could melt upon his granite countertop and drip all the way down to his marble floor. His voice is smooth and soft and sultry and savory. You close your eyes and tilt your head back, begging to hear more. Everything about this man absolutely entranced you.

               His dining room is lavish, and it almost seems silly to sit at such a large table with so many chairs when it’s only you two, but you do anyways. It reminds you of the scene in The Little Mermaid where Ariel and Prince Eric ate at the fancy table all alone, her slamming the plate cover over Sebastian once she spots him in the salad. You giggle at the thought. “What?” Brendon raises an eyebrow, smiling.

               “Nothing,” you chuckle to yourself. “This all just feels straight out of a fairy tale.”

               “As it should,” he presses a kiss to your cheek. “You’re my princess, remember?”

               He slowly cuts into your choice of meat, revealing the rosy pink inside. Just the smell makes your stomach grumble, and as soon as he lifts the bite up to your lips with the prongs of his fork, it’s gone. It tastes delicious, tender and succulent and flavorful. You’re dying to get another taste. You wouldn’t have expected him to be such a refined chef, but then again, there’s a lot of unexpected things you’ve found out about him. His singing voice, for one. You were still dreaming about it as you munched on your veggies.

               “So, what’s after this?” you inquire as you take another sip of your sangria.

               “It’s honestly up to you,” he shrugs. “We can watch a movie in the theatre, spend some time in the library, play a game of ping pong or tennis, go to the jacuzzi, take a ride on the helicopter, maybe play some music and dance in the ballroom, it’s whatever you want baby.”

               “That’s- a lot,” you swallow down the information, overwhelmed. “Damn.”

               “Don’t worry about getting it all in,” he reassures. “I do plan on taking you back here again.”

               “Can we dance in the ballroom?” you ask shyly, blush on your cheeks. “And can I wear my new dress? The one you just bought for me?”

               “Sure sweetheart,” he smiles at the request. “Would you like me to dress up, too?”

               “You’re already wearing a suit and tie,” you argue.

               “Perhaps a tuxedo for my lovely lady though?” he wonders. “We can play dress up, just have fun. Even if it is just for an hour or two.”

               “Alright,” you can’t help but giggle more at what he says. You feel like a small child. You love the feeling. You absolutely adore it. “Sounds like fun.”

               He makes you feel so young, so invincible, so powerful and exhilarated. Being with him was the best feeling in the entire world. Now, being here, dancing in the ballroom in your heels and brand-new dress, staring into his eyes, his hands on your hips and yours on his shoulders, you were sure that this had to be the best night of your entire life. Never had you ever been in love with someone like this, felt comfortable and safe yet thrilling and daring at the same time. “You are so gorgeous,” he whispers, caressing your face after twirling you in his arms.

               “You’re beyond handsome,” you mumble, eyes still sparkling.

               “I think-” he stops himself, closing his eyes, looking down.

               “What?” you soften your features, concerned.

               “I think I might love you,” he admits, looking up at you, eyes radiating genuine emotion.

               “Brendon,” you breathe his name, shocked. “I- I don’t- I can’t-”

               “It’s okay if you don’t feel the same way,” he quickly covers up. “I just um, I wanted you to know. How I felt about you.”

               “I think I might love you too,” you blurt out before you can stop yourself. “I’m sorry it took me so long to tell you, I know it’s only been a couple days but-”

               “No,” he shakes his head, smiling softly. “I get it. I understand.”

               “Really?” you feel your heart skip a beat.

               “Yeah,” he nods. “You’re my whole world, y/n.”

               You kiss him as you sway back and forth in his arms, your feet grounded to the beat, your tongues moving with the melody, your fingers tangled in each other’s hair. You loved him so much and yet you only knew him for such little time. It killed you on the inside knowing that this moment wouldn’t last forever, that someday you’ll be far away from each other, that you’ll find a new job and a new person to love and a new life. Even though you were young, you weren’t stupid. You knew you wouldn’t last forever, you knew this was simply just a spur of the moment thing, two lovers caught it a spark soon to fade away. You had heard of it a thousand times before and you were intelligent enough to spot it out yourself. That was far in the future though. All that mattered was now, because he was here now, and you loved him right now. As the next song began to start, you pulled away from each other, sharing smiles and holding hands.

               “I think I’m ready for a little late-night swim,” you tell him.

               “We can make that happen,” he nods. “Let’s go.”

               Splashing each other with water in the jacuzzi like little kids, him hilariously letting you win at ping pong even though you were literally miserable and couldn’t hit the ball to save your life, and allowing you to peruse his collection of books in the library only made your decision on calling this the best night of your life even more secure. You had never been this overwhelmed before, but you thoroughly enjoyed it. You walked around his mansion with him, wrapped in a towel embroidered with his name, hair dripping wet, holding his hand. He led you up the flight of stairs to a room and swung the doors open, your face turning pink as you realized where he had taken you.

               “Leading me to your bedroom, Mr. Urie? Tsk, tsk,” you smirk. “Naughty boy.”

               “Says the one who was sucking me off at my desk yesterday at work,” he backfires. You giggle, embarrassed at his comment.

               “What are we doing in here?” you tilt your head to the side, curious.

               “Taking a shower,” he replies, carefully unwrapping you from your towel. “Come on baby, we got to get all of that salt water out of your hair and skin before you dry up.”

               “Alright,” you comply, letting him untie the back of your bathing suit. You’re a bit nervous though. You’ve never been completely naked in front of him. Your insecurities start to cloud your mind, making you chew on your lower lip, self-conscious and hesitant. However, as he slides the damp fabric off of your body, all of that changes when you turn around to face him, swimsuit pooling at your feet before you step out of it and into his arms.

               “Y-you’re so fucking gorgeous,” he stumbles over his words, staring at you with complete awe. “Holy fuck, y/n.”

               “Thanks,” you feel yourself blushing even harder.

               “Jesus,” he scans your body from head to toe, hands on your hips, still in complete awe. He gives you a kiss before shedding his own bathing suit and then scooping you up and carrying you to the bathroom, turning on the water and letting it heat up.

               You had never taken a shower with anyone else in your entire life before. You had watched it in movies and tv shows, steamy scenes of people making out or having sex, but this is nothing like that. This is purely romantic. He lathers soap onto your body and carefully washes your hair with shampoo, massaging your back and pressing kisses to your shoulders. He hums sweet songs in the shower, mostly Frank Sinatra, which you eventually hum along to yourself if you recognize the tune. When you get out of the shower, he dries you off carefully with a towel, working from your hair down to your neck, then your breasts and waist, then your legs and feet. He treats you like a goddess. You don’t know how you were ever so lucky to deserve him. After quickly drying himself off in about a fourth of the time he’s spent on you, he picks up a bottle of lotion and works it through his hands and fingers before touching your skin. He smooths out the cream onto your arms and legs, your face, and your body. You close your eyes and let out a deep sigh at the sensation. It’s soothing and comforting and absolutely divine.

               “Thank you,” you murmur as he closes the bottle and sets it back on the counter.

               “I just want you to feel like the beautiful girl you are,” he insists. “I want to treat you right. I want to make you feel loved. I want to show you that I’m not just saying these words because I want to, I’m loving you because I need to. Alright, y/n?”

               “Yeah,” you can’t help but smile, giving him a kiss. “But still. Thank you.”

               “You’ve been such a good little girl for me all day, especially at the meeting,” he hums, closing the space between you and tugging your naked body towards his. “I can’t help but think that after a long, exhausting, grueling day of work you’d like to lay down with me and continue what we started back in the taxi this morning, hmm?”

               “Sir,” you breathe, knees weak.

               “Is that what you’d like, babygirl?” he mumbles into your neck, starting to suck at your skin, grazing it with his teeth, sliding his tongue down and breathing warm breaths, making you start to get wet for him.

               “Mmm please,” you beg, wrapping your arms around him, raking your fingernails down his back as he sucks on your shoulder.

               “It’s so hard not to leave marks,” he confesses, pulling away and letting out ragged breaths, staring at you. “Fuck baby, come here.” He kisses you harshly, pushing his tongue into your mouth and pressing it up against yours, your breasts against his chest.

               “Please,” you whimper, and he picks you up, allowing you to hook your legs around his waist.

               He carries you to the bed, your face buried in the crook of his neck, and slowly lays you down. You let out a sigh as you feel your back press up against the soft mink faux fur on his mattress and your head resting upon the memory foam pillows. Everything here is so luxurious, you yourself feel like a treasure just being surrounded by such rich possessions. He lays down on top of you, kissing you softly, sure not to crush you. It makes you moan, the feeling of his chest up against yours, his lips traveling down your neck to your breasts, his hands kneading both of them gently, causing you to whine even more. “God, those sounds you’re making sound so angelic,” he croons. He begins to flick your nipple back and forth with his tongue, then nips at it, making you roughly grip his shoulders, letting another moan fall from your mouth.

               “Brendon, fuck please more,” you implore as he traces his tongue around your other nipple before biting it softly. “Shit, shit, shit oh my god fuck-”

               “Such naughty words coming from such an innocent, pure, sweet little girl,” he teases, squeezing your tits one last time. He then kisses his way down your stomach, spreading your legs apart with his hands to make room for him to slide down in between them, your fingers finding their way to tangle themselves in his hair. He lets out a warm breath onto your clit, making you squirm, and he then presses his lips to it, giving a soft kiss. “So beautiful.” His voice is so soft and gentle. He removes one of his hands from your thighs and uses two of his fingers to run through your folds, collecting your wetness, and he hums at the sensation. You whimper, bucking your hips up to meet his fingers, and he complies, pushing them in slowly.

               “Oh my god, fuck, fuck, fuck,” you curse at the feeling, absolutely adoring it but yet terrified of it all at the same time. This was so new, so intimate, so different. Being in a taxi cab trying to sneak around and be dirty for a few seconds was one thing, but now, here, laying in his bed with him in between you, his fingers inside of you, it was something completely off the charts from what you had previously accomplished. “More, more, more Brendon, fuck please more.”

               “Whatever you say, princess,” he smirks, pushing in and out of you, your fingers tugging at his hair, back arched, erotic sounds spilling from your mouth. You can’t get enough. “God you have such a tight, wet, pretty little cunt for me, don’t you? Look at this pussy, fuck, I could just finger you all day if I could. Especially with those sounds you’re making for me, damn baby…”

               He slides his fingers in and out of you, even adding a third at one point, only increasing the volume of your noises as he decides to roll his thumb in circles over your clit, driving you absolutely wild. Before you know it, you’re screaming his name, begging for him to go faster and faster, your walls clenching around his fingers, knuckles turned white at how hard you were tugging at his hair, and a flash of hot white, his fingers slowly sliding out of you, your head tilted back in attempts to catch labored breaths. You focus on your heavy breathing, vision still hazy coming down from your high as you watch Brendon lick his fingers carefully, sucking on each one. You feel like you might pass out. You had never had such an intense orgasm before.

               “Jesus Christ,” you sigh, collapsing into the mattress.

               “We’re not done yet, kitten,” he crawls back on top of you and kisses you, pressing his hips to yours, and you feel his hard on.

               “Fuck Brendon,” you whine, bucking your hips up against his. You begin to grind against him, his cock sliding against your wet folds, his head teasing you, barely sliding in. It makes you whimper. “I want you inside me, please.”

               “We need to be careful,” he whispers. “Listen to me baby, if I say I’m going to cum, I’m going to need you to promise you will lay your legs flat on this mattress and let me pull out, understand?”

               “Yes sir,” you nod your head. “I promise.”

               “No matter how good it feels, I can’t get you pregnant, alright?” he looks into your eyes, making sure you know how serious he’s being. “I need to make sure we’re both safe.”

               “C-can’t you get a condom?” you murmur, looking up at him.

               “If you would like me to, I can,” he offers. “But I want you to feel it for your first time baby. I want you to feel all of me. Okay?”

               “Okay,” you decide. The idea of fucking with a condom hadn’t always sounded the best idea to you, you never really cared for latex, and assumed it was a safety precaution more than anything, something you just had to do whether you liked it or not. But the idea of having him inside you raw, the possibility and danger of something going wrong, the anticipation of reaching the climax and acting quick, it only made the adrenaline rush through your veins more. “I promise sir, I want this. I want it please. I want it now.”

               “As you say, sweetheart,” he gives a soft smile. He reaches his hand down towards his dick, stroking himself before lining up with your entrance, slowly pushing into you.

               “Fuck,” you whimper, tears surfacing in your eyes as he begins to move into you inch by inch. “Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck-”

               “You’re doing so good, babygirl,” he insists. “Just a little more, I promise I’ll go slow.” He pushes even more into you, the uncomfortable feeling in the pit of your stomach growing even more, the pain spiking upwards.

               “Mmpft, please, please, please,” you whine, closing your eyes tight, clinging onto him. He stops, resting at a comfortable position, letting you adjust to his size.

               “Just tell me when you’re ready,” he soothes, running a hand through your hair. “I can wait.”

               “Go,” you choke out the word. “Please, just go.”

               “I want to make sure you’re comfortable,” he insists, concerned look spread across his face. “Take your time baby. If it’s too much, I can pull out-”

               “I said fucking go,” you argue, pushing your hips up to meet his and making him let out a low moan, surprised by your actions.

               “Shit baby,” he whines, slowly moving in and out of you. Your pain is slowly replaced with pleasure as he works his way back and forth, his hands behind your head, your hands on his shoulders.

               “You feel so fucking good,” you mumble, pressing your hips up to meet his thrusts. He begins to go quicker, making you whine, fingernails digging into his skin. “Brendon, shit, fuck- oh god.”

               “Come on sweetheart,” he huffs through his heavy breaths. “I want to make you feel good. I want to make you cum for me.”

               “More, more,” you beg, the rolls of your hips beginning to get sloppy and uncoordinated as you feel your climax coming on. “Fuck, don’t stop sir, please don’t stop.”

               “I don’t plan on it,” he chuckles darkly, thrusting into you over and over and over again.

               “Shit I feel it- I feel it- oh my god, oh my god,” you moan as you feel your second wave of orgasm wash over you, your entire body shaking and trembling.

               “Princess you feel so fucking good when you cum around my cock like that,” he hums, working in and out of you still, only overstimulating you even more. “Just a little while longer.” He moves back and forth, your body now exhausted and tired, barely able to keep up at his pace.

               “Want to- make you- feel- good,” you manage to get out between your gasps for air, still in a haze of pleasure.

               “Jesus,” he thrusts one last time before pulling out and cumming across your stomach, the warm sticky substance dripping down your breasts and torso. “Oh god baby, fuck…”

               “Mmm,” you tilt your head back and revel in the feeling of his semen coating your body. It felt so good to know you made him feel just amazing as he had made you feel.

               “You are so fucking gorgeous,” he moans, taking a moment to recover and catch his breath before leaning down to kiss your lips. “So beautiful for me.” He kisses you again and then gets up, fumbling with his drawer before getting out a towel. Once again, as always, prepared for the situation. He also ends up getting a warm wash cloth to clean you off even better, then dries you with a towel, wiping himself off as well as your pussy before dropping it to the floor and wrapping both of you up with blankets, cuddling you gently, both of your bodies tangled together.

               “Thank you so much,” you whisper into his ear, peppering kisses all over his face. “That meant so much to me, that felt so good, thank you. Thank you.” You take a deep breath. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget how that felt for the rest of my entire life.”

               “I am so madly in love with you, Miss Jackson,” he replies, kissing you passionately. “I don’t think I’ll ever want to let you go.”

“Fine by me,” you laugh against his lips, and he does as well, both of you smiling and joyful. When you pull away, he looks at you, grinning, then going to kiss you again. And again. And again. And again. You never want this stop. If you could, you would make this night last forever. In fact, kissing him here in his bed, pleasure still buzzing in your mind, the sweet smell of sex in the sheets, you feel like you just might be able to. In fact, you feel like you could do anything in the world.

[sending-the-message]

Someone Sent Me A Video Of My Best Friend's Girlfriend by thegeneralg

Hey guys, I am not really sure who to talk to about this, but I am really worried about my best friend. I normally wouldn't be posting anything like this online, but I guess that means I am really scared for him. I just hope I can sort this thing out. So here is what happened.

My friend Kris has been dating this girl for about 8 months. He and I have known each other since we were both kids in grade school and have been best friends ever since. The dude is the kindest, smartest, and most generous person you would ever want to meet. He is devoted to family and would do anything for you if he needed it. He's the kind of guy you would call in an emergency just as easily as you would just to hang out. We all have that one person like Kris in our lives.

But sadly as you all probably know, these people also tend to attract the wrong sort of people. It is the craziest thing isn't it? I guess it is just one of those things, because ruthless people and just flat out psychos flock to him like a moth to a flame. When you think about it, its no so different from what a mouse is to a snake. Predators tend to look for what they consider to be an easy target. If I had a nickel for every lowlife who tried to take advantage of Kris, I'd be a millionaire.

Fortunately, Kris has an excellent support system and I bust my ass to make sure he doesn't get hurt too badly. Let me tell you, it hasn't been easy. He's been cheated on, had one girl attempt to steal his credit card, and even proposed to a girlfriend who took the ring, pawned it, and tried to run for it. Probably used the money to buy drugs for her and some loser she was fucking or something. It was a gorgeous ring too, gold with a sapphire stone. Kris told me he spent months trying to pick out just the right one. That shit broke my heart to hear, and Kris was devastated for months after. He told me how much he loved Jenna, the ring stealer. I felt so powerless as he just sobbed on his bed. I mean come on? What exactly do you say when your best friend gets scammed for a ring?

Nothing, that's what you say. Because your presence is what is required more than anything else at that moment. Quiet, reassuring, steady. They don't need you to talk, they need you to listen and care. When it comes to close friends, sometimes words just aren't needed. But Kris got over it and life went on. Or at least it did until recently.

Kris, bless him, never stops looking for the good in others and always bounces right back. No matter what has happened, he keeps opening his heart to whomever he dates. I gotta give him credit for that. Most of us aren't that open to dating prospects under the best of circumstances, much less after four horrifying relationships. To make matters more complicated, he is one of those who falls in love quickly and deeply. I used to tease him that he believes in love, Disney style.

His parents are still married after 38 years, and not only are they still married, but happily married at that. No matter how much time passes, anyone who knows them can see how much his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Burton, deeply love each other. While he has never once said it, I can tell Kris wants a love like his parents. Deep down, who doesn't?

Kris most recent girlfriends have been; the cheater, the wanna be con artist, the drug dealer, and the ring thief. Each of them was attractive enough, and while I didn't hate them, I certainly didn't like them either. I made sure to keep an eye on Kris to make sure nothing too terrible happened, and I am proud to say I kept him physically healthy and mentally sane. But this time, I just don't know.

Kris met his most recent girlfriend Natalie at a Lana Del Ray concert. Kris loves her music, and I dig it too. Since I had to be out of town that week, I couldn't have gone. I can't help but wonder if things might have been different had I gone with him. Right after he left the concert, Kris called me all excited, saying he had met this beautiful woman and he got her number. I just smiled to myself as he told me.

"Good for you man, that's great," was all I said. I thought it was good that he met someone new because maybe this one would be good for him. Or maybe that was all just wishful thinking on my part, I don't know. Either way I knew Kris. If he wanted to date someone, he was gonna date someone.

They texted steadily after meeting and went on their first date soon after, I believe it was Starbucks. The movies and then dinner dates followed suit. After virtually every date, Kris either called or texted me to say how amazing Natalie was and how he couldn't wait to see her again. He sent me her picture and I agreed that she was gorgeous; long brown hair and stunning green eyes. I was happy for him. I also had a faint shred of hope, because Kris seemed happier than he had been in a long time. It didn't last long.

Kris's parents were having a Memorial Day cookout and as usual, I was invited. His parents always threw the best parties, there was always delicious food and plenty of it. I don't think I will ever forget that moment. I was standing there eating a hamburger, cheesy potato casserole, and macaroni salad. It is always fascinating to see what people put on a burger. It's kind of like the dining equivalent to seeing what people have on their playlist. My usual combination is cheddar cheese, pickles, mayo, and lettuce.

"There he is!" I heard Kris call out to me. Turning around I saw him, and right by his side was Natalie. "Natalie, this is Toby," he said as she extended her hand to shake. It was a firm handshake. I couldn't help but notice that her nails were immaculately done.

"Nice to meet you," she greeted me with a smile.

"Likewise." I responded. She was just as attractive in person. We chatted briefly and I got to know her a little bit. She was originally from Florida before moving up to Chicago for college. She stayed up here after graduation and works in Investment Banking. Kris looked so smitten with her as she spoke. I couldn't help but feel happy as I saw it. Quite frankly, I didn't care if she was a stripper so long as Kris was happy, safe, and she made him proud.

When I got home later that evening, I couldn't help but feel relieved. I texted Kris saying how happy I was for him and that she seemed lovely. He was thrilled I thought that and I thought that was the end of it. That was until Kris' mom called me a few days later.

Mrs. Burton is the sweetest woman you'd ever want to meet, but you don't want to mess with her. Despite being 5'2, she knows how to lay down the law. Being a former prosecutor, she has a keen eye for people and can spot a troublemaker a mile away. Being as she treats me like her own son and I regard her as an honorary mom, I immediately went to her house when she asked me to visit. My heart sank when she did, because I knew exactly what it was about. Mrs. Burton had always been the first one of us to spot the troublemakers her son was dating and what was wrong with them. I had agreed with her every time.

Sitting down with her in the kitchen with a glass of iced tea, she looked troubled. No, not troubled. Afraid. I immediately felt my heart sink. I have literally NEVER seen her look afraid. I braced myself for what she had to say.

"What do you think of Natalie?" she asked. She was clutching her own glass of tea in front of her. I paused, taking great care in choosing my words.

"She's," I began. "Very different from the others. She actually has a career."

"Yes," she answered, being equally cautious when speaking. "She certainly is different from the others." Ok, now I was really starting to get nervous. Usually when Mrs. Burton had something to say, she would come right out and said it, particularly when it was related to Kris' welfare. "Do you like her?" I had been waiting for that question.

"Honestly, I don't know her well enough to say. I like that she seems different from the others. Plus Kris seems very happy."

"That's what makes me uneasy," she said quietly while fidgeting with her wedding ring.

"What's wrong?" I practically whispered. She took a deep breath before answering.

"Natalie. Something isn't right with her."

"What is it?"

"The others before her. I knew the instant I met them all they were no good. Not only that, I knew immediately what was wrong with them and what to do about it. Do you know why?"

"No,"

"Because they were amateurs. Almost amusingly bad liars. Like the one little witch, the credit card scammer. I knew the moment she kept asking about our stuff and how much it cost she was a thief." I had to laugh at that. Diana was a loudmouth alright.

"You got that right,"

"I learned something many years ago. Dumb criminals and bad liars, they are not the ones who keep you up at night. They are so incompetent they might as well arrest themselves. It's the ones who know what they are doing you should be afraid of. Natalie isn't an amateur." Suddenly, my body felt colder than the tea I was drinking.

"Go on," was all I was able to say.

"This one, she is trouble. Big trouble. You haven't spent much time with her have you?"

"No,"

"I am not surprised. That is no coincidence. You are a good man Toby. Always have been. All of Kris' previous girlfriends didn't like you and you knew it. Because you were always onto them like I was. But they were too stupid to know it themselves. All they knew was they didn't like you. Deep down they could sense why, but didn't have the mental ability to understand it. This one is different. She knows." She took a deep gulp of tea before continuing.

"Natalie is always perfect. I do not mean in her appearance, but she is perfect in that way as well. It's her manner. It's like watching a career politician trying to work a room. Always making sure to be chummy, friendly, but at the same time not offend anyone. Like they are always on. I feel the exact same way about interacting with her. It feels like less a human interaction than a prescripted routine. The conversation doesn't feel natural, open, and flowing. Instead I always get the sense that she's rehearsed it or done it before." She paused again for another sip of tea.

"Not to mention when anyone is coming to meet the parents of their significant other for the first time, they are always nervous. A small bit a nerves, perhaps, but nervous all the same. Even Kris' poor tastes in girlfriends had the decency to be nervous. Not this one. She was as calm as could be." I sat there in silence. I had been having my quiet doubts about Natalie for some time, but had no idea what to think. I had been seeing my best friend choose the wrong women for so long I wasn't sure whether to trust Natalie or not. Seeing Mrs. Burton tense like this drove the point home that I was not alone.

"What do I need to do?"

"The thing we should all do in a moment of difficulty. Keep your eyes and ears open and your mouth shut. First we need to assess what is going on. Quietly observe. A snake needs to be comfortable to stick its head out. The more comfortable it feels, the farther it will stick it's head out. But whatever you do, do not try to keep him away from her or anything like that, unless she physically harms him or something of course. You know how Kris can be."

"Ok," and with that the conversation was over. What more could there really be said? I drove back home with my mind racing. There is nothing worse than the feeling of wanting to do everything when there is really nothing you can do. Especially when it involves the well being of someone you care about. Every time something happens or they say something, you find yourself biting your tongue. No matter what happens you must keep it to yourself. It sucks. For a while, I was constantly waiting for something to happen. But there is one benefit to silence; it gives you a terrific vantage point. Being quiet allows you to focus on the events and people around you. Since you aren't focusing on yourself, it frees up your attention for other things.

I had suddenly noticed that Kris seemed way more subdued than I had ever seen him. He never complained or gave the slightest hint that anything was up, but he was definitely quieter than I had seen him in a long time. It wasn't just what he said that was quiet. It was his entire demeanor, his body language and attitude. Kris just seemed so subdued. Which was most definitely not a good sign. I called Mrs. Burton up and told her what I noticed. She agreed and in a somber tone she said something that haunts me even now.

"You know those relationships where someone complains about their significant other all day? Saying what a horrible person they are and all that? You never have to worry about those. Sure, keep an eye on them, but they are not the ones in relationships you have to worry about. The most serious cases of an abusive relationship are just like depression, drug abuse, or any other personal crisis. The most serious cases where the person desperately needs help are when the person involved never says a word to anyone about it." I felt my skin crawl as she spoke. It was one of the most insightful things I can ever remember anyone saying.

I don't know how I managed to keep calm and not say a word to Kris, but I did. When we spent time together, I noticed he began to talk about Natalie less and less. I took this as a good omen. Maybe she would be gone sooner rather than later.

That hope promptly vanished three days ago. I had just woken up from a nap when I got a frantic call from Mrs. Burton.

"Toby, its me. Kris is in the hospital." I felt my entire body tense up as soon as she finished saying the last word.

"What happened?" I heard myself say.

"According to Natalie, she and him were just leaving a basketball game when a guy started following them. Kris could tell the guy was bad news, so they tried to get out of there ASAP. But he caught up to them and there was a fight. A quick, but nasty one. Kris managed to fight the guy off, but got a nasty concussion and other injuries in the fight. He's unconscious now, but according to the Doctor, Kris will be just fine."

"That's good to hear," I stood there for a full minute before I asked the question that my mind had practically been screaming me. "Do you believe what she says?" Mrs. Burton's silence was deafening. It was only a minute or so before she answered me, but it felt like an eternity.

"Something happened to my son, we know that. I just don't believe it happened like she says. She is the only witness and if this guy was some piece of shit like she says, why the hell didn't he do anything to her? When I got to the hospital she looked fine. A little disheveled and all that, but she was in fine shape." My hand balled itself into a fist at this.

"What do you need me to do?"

"Just keep being there for your friend. He leans on you more than you will ever know. Go see him when you can and keep your eye on the ball." I could do that.

"Sure,"

"And be careful," she added in a whisper. I had never heard her speak in a voice like that. She seemed genuinely afraid. "I don't know what happened, but I sure know something isn't right and that girl is up to something. Something bad."

"I will, you be careful too," I added and I hung up the phone. Sitting at my kitchen table, I didn't know what to think. All of this was insane. Remembering that I needed to send an email, I opened my laptop and logged in. Scanning my inbox, I saw a few notifications regarding work and a new Facebook friend request. I typed up the email and hit send. It felt good to be able to do something as routine as writing an email after getting bad news. I was just about to log out when I saw it. The email was from a user I didn't recognize. But it was the title that got my attention.

"Kris and Natalie's Real Night," in said in big bold letters. I felt my spine freeze up as I read it. According to the time, it had been sent at 3:42 am this morning. This had to be some obnoxious troll. An obnoxious troll who had sent an attachment. Probably spamware or something. I ran a quick security check and it came up safe to open. After staring at it and debating with myself for a full five minutes, I clicked on it.

It was one of those gritty security camera feeds. I could see the time and on the lower right hand side of the screen. 11:13 pm on May 17. Meaning it was from just last night. On the far left of the screen, I saw Kris and Natalie walking to their car. There was no sound, but I could see everything.

Out of nowhere, I saw some guy sneak up behind Kris when he was opening the door to the driver side of the car. His hoodie concealed his face but I saw him take Kris by surprise. In an instant, there was a flurry of movement. Kris tried to protect himself, but the guy had him cornered. I saw whoever was in the hoodie take a knife out of his pocket and lunge at Kris. Kris managed to dodge it, but what I saw next made me sick.

Natalie came from behind and held something up to Kris' mouth. It looked like a scarf or something. He thrashed around for a few moments before going limp. Seeing my best friend lie there helpless on the parking garage floor was the single most horrific thing I have ever seen. Natalie and the assailant looked at Kris for a moment before exchanging a nod. The assailant then turned around and walked away like it was the most routine thing imaginable. I felt my heart thud in my chest. That's when I saw the most terrifying part of the whole thing.

Natalie's expression. She was faintly smiling, not manically like some mental patient. Like someone who had just been faintly amused and was in a pleasant mood. I immediately grabbed the phone and called Kris' mom and told her what happened. She was stunned, but I forwarded her the email so she could see for herself. Even after she saw it, Mrs. Burton was speechless. I couldn't blame her. It's not everyday you see something like that. I immediately called the police and told them what happened and gave them the email too. They immediately looked for the guy in the hoodie and went after Natalie.

Well, it turns out that when the police went to Natalie's office, they found out pretty quick that there is no Natalie who works there. They are currently still looking for her, but I hope that the security footage is the last I ever see of her. There is one question none of us have been able to answer yet. What exactly happened between Kris and Natalie before the attack that made Kris so quiet?

[surveysonfleek]

101.

What do you think about girls 16 and under on birth control? honestly good for them. better to be responsible than have an unplanned pregnancy you aren’t ready for. What are you listening to? nothing. my heater. When did you last eat corn on the cob? hmmm, awhile ago. i think at a mexican restaurant. Where’s your biggest scar? on my left hand. it’s not that big but definitely the most visible. How’d you get it? when i was two my grandparents’ dog bit me.

Ever broken a bone? nope. What does your 39th text say? no idea, not checking. Do you want die? not yet. Screamo or country? omg idk. i’ve probably listened to more sceamo back in the day than country though. Does anyone intentionally try to make you jealous? if they are it’s not working. Closest silver object? my bracelets. Last beverage you drank? water. Do you get your eyebrows waxed or do you tweeze them? both. What was the last movie you watched called? man i have no idea. all i’ve been watching are shows. Favorite song is called? i have too many. What color eyeliner do you use? black. What are you listening to now? nothing. Do you wear hair ties on your wrist? sometimes. Do you like boys, girls, or both? men. What do you think of Barack Obama? not american but i liked him. What are your plans for summer? no idea. Does hand sanitizer smell good? yes. Which is heavier; Pound of feathers or pound of lead? they’re the same.

Eat 20 spiders or lose sense of smell? omgggg. i think i’d eat 20 spiders. but not at the same time. Be 100 or 1 again? no idea. Be bit by a tiger or shark? haha neither. Are you wearing any bracelets? yes. Which face is better: (= or =) ? :) Sea food is delicious, right? i love it. Is music pointless? no. Do you have self respect? yes. Are you/Have you ever been a stripper? no. What’s your fourth hour class? none. How do you want to die? probably in my sleep. What are you listening to now? nothing. Is your phone usually on vibrate? only for calls. i turned it off for text. Do you own a Ripstick/Waveboard or Skateboard? no. What do you want to be when you grow up? a celebrity hahaha. Do you tend to scare people? no. Do you get mad easily? hmmm i get pissed off easily but not full mad. Who do you blame for your mood right now? no one. Ever fingered a girl? no.

Do your parents still hide eggs around the house for Easter? no lol. When did you last take a nap? yesterday. What do you currently hear? nothing. Drake’s better than Lil Wayne, right? i prefer drake. When was the last time you smoked a cigarette? a couple hours ago. How do you dot your i’s? with a dot. Know anyone who has had an abortion? yes. How many times have you cried this month? twice maybe. Is there a pop can in reach of you? no. Do you wear choker necklaces? i did but i have no idea where it is now. When was the last you ran a mile? omg maybe at the start of the year. Crazy things happen when drunk, correct? duh. How many belts do you own? none. What’s the closest blue thing to you? water bottle. Do you say nigga or nigger? neither. What are you currently wearing? pyjamas. Do you have a hangover? no. When was the last time you used hand sanitizer? yesterday. When was the last time a stranger talked to you? today. Did you know boys get boners a few times a day? yep. Does the room you’re in have tile? no. Do you own an iHome? no. someday! You know what sex bracelets are, right? yes. If so, do you wear them? no. Who’s the most slutty girl you know? haha idk. Are you friends with her? - Have you ever called a guy a manwhore and meant it? nope. When was the last time you saw a yellow car? probably today without realizing it. When did you last punch someone? never. Ever kissed a redhead? no.

What is your favorite thing to order at Taco Bell? i haven’t had taco bell in literally 15 years maybe. What is your favorite thing to order at Subway? meatball sub with all salad. When do you feel trapped? yes. Where do you have cutting scars (if you have any)? no. What song are you listening to now? nothing. What is your favorite thing to order at Arby’s? idk. don’t think i’ve been. What is your favorite coffee shop? starbucks. What is your favorite thing to order at McDonald’s? their truffle burger. and the new salted caramel pie, so good. What is your favorite ride at Disney World? tower of terror, always. What is your favorite ride at Cedar Point? never been. Do you often wear your favorite color? not really. What is your favorite color? pink and turquoise. What is your favorite type of chicken? skewers or fried. What is your favorite tea flavor? peach or mango. What is your favorite pizza topping? meat lovers or hawaiian. What guy/girl do you wish would notice you? he already notices me. What is your favorite slushie flavor? any.

Do you like cotton candy? not really. would never buy one for myself. Do you like snow cones? they’re okay. Did you watch Nick Jr. with Face? no. Does your heart ache for something? not right now.

[galaxylion]

Goin’ on a bit of a rant here because I’m a Disney freak but as someone who visits the Disney Parks often (Disney World FL) I couldn’t agree more to this!!! Yes Disney has plenty of restaurants to chose from and yes there are plenty of nice or well crafted themed places, especially within Epcot, but there’s not really any restaurants similar to the style and charm of “Tiana’s Place” besides the Beauty and the Beast themed restaurant “Be Our Guest” (Magic Kingdom) which takes place within Beasts Castle, and I frickin’ love that place!

It has so much charm, pays incredible attention to detail, and they have different areas to eat which correspond to the different rooms within the movie! The West Wing, The Ballroom, it’s so breath taking in there! They even have the grey stuff!

And damn right it’s delicious!!

I’d honestly love to see Disney step up their game and put more creative time into their restaurants like they did with “Be Our Guest”. It’s not that they don’t already do it but it just feels like they could be doing SO much better! Their restaurants are mostly casual for the convienence of ordering something simple (mostly burgers, chicken nuggets, salad, etc.) and eating quick so you can enjoy the rest of your day out and about. However it’s also such a treat to see your favorite childhood experiences be brought to life, Disney already does such a phenomenal job with bringing out the wonder in their projects but man imagine how amazing it’d be to see more restaurants more intricately in theme with their movies?? All the decor, the specific dishes, it’d be amazing! Now I’m sure there are plenty of other characterized restaurants in other Disney’s across the world but as a Florida gal who grew up with good ole’ Disney World I’d really like to see more of a wonderment boost when it comes to restaurants.

Okay, Disney, I’ve had a bone to pick with you for a while

Where the hell is “Tiana’s Place”? Don’t get smart and say New Orleans, I mean for real. Why have you not made a Tiana’s Place at one of your parks?

I see no possible reason why you wouldn’t have built a restaurant like this yet. It’s cute, classy, and would be totally fun. You could serve creole food (as well as just plain american fair for the less adventurous.)

It would be pretty as hell inside

It would be fun for kids and adults, you could have dancing and a band playing. You could have a magician (bonus points if he’s dressed liked Facilier. Or train your Faciler face person to do short tarot card readings! Or get a mama Odi!)

The face characters could come in and out, but there’s always a set time Tiana and Naveen would be there (and if they aren’t you can say their in the kitchen cooking up a storm!) Jazz music! Lots of Jazz and swing. You could have workshops with Tiana for kids to learn stuff like the charleston, or cooking!

And then night or during the day a couple times a week you could have a second line (small New Orleans style jazz parade) with a brass band and Tiana and Naveen leading it, all the way to the restaurant.

And Oh my god, do you consider how many people would love a place like that to get married at the park! Having a wedding second line too? How fun that would be?

Disney, you are really missing out by not playing up the fact you have a character that opened their own restaurant (outside of Remi from Ratatouille but that’s another rant) and I’m really sick of The Princess and the Frog being among your more ignored movies. Put it at Epcot near the river or just anywhere! Heck, I know I stayed at a New Orleans style resort area of yours when I was like six! (Is that still around? I don’t remember what it was called, but there were Gator statues with instruments that would tie in really well…)

In conclusion

[laraimaustria]

Cabin Fever: The Story of No Internet for Three Days

I live!! The wifi in Dorfgastein was pretty spotty but for the past three days it was absolutely kaputt. (fun fact, kaputt is actually German for broken). This was fine for the first two days since the weather was still good, but the last day it rained the whole time so let’s just say we ended up in a blanket fort.  On Thursday we had the whole day free except for German classes in the morning and afternoon, so Justine, Courtney, and I went to a spa in Bad Hofgastein. It was a much needed relaxation break from all the hiking we did the days before. There were indoor and outdoor pools, and one “therme pool” which was water that hadn’t been filtered as much and still had all the healing minerals from the mountain water. The indoor pool was pretty cool too. It had a bunch of water jets, and even a platform for lounging on just under the surface of the water that had vents for bubbles to come up through. We also went into the sauna, which I had never done before. We had been warned beforehand that since this was Europe the only coverings allowed in the sauna were a towel, and that most people ditched the towel and just went for it. It was interesting to be in a place where nudity is treated so casually, especially coming from America where people see one boob and basically flip out. We didn’t ditch our towels completely, but we were a little brave and went bare-chested for a little bit. The sauna itself was very relaxing, but way hotter inside than I expected it to be. As in Courtney and I could literally see the sweat beads forming and coming up through our skin. Also, to quote Courtney “It smelled like the penguin exhibit at the zoo”. But it was still fun. We were also on our own for dinner, so we went to an Italian place and got some quality pasta that I promptly burned my entire tongue on. Worth it though.  The next day it was still sunny, so we went to the local pool in Dorfgastein and swam around for awhile, which was still fun but it was very crowded since it was a warm day. Then for dinner we went back to the same hotel we had eaten at earlier in the week and had something kind of like beef stroganoff with rice, and chocolate mousse for dessert. Then came Saturday.

Saturday it rained. And rained. All day. Trapped inside the hotel room. No internet. We watched four hours of German Disney Channel. Still bored. We built a blanket fort. Bored in the blanket fort. Considered drinking the terrible dollar wine we had bought the day before. Weren’t t that desperate. Eventually we remembered that Jesus, one of the guys in our group, brought Uno and playing cards so we killed the last two hours before our orientation meeting that way. So we survived, but there was definitely a moment or two where I think we all started to feel the walls closing in. The meeting itself was long but good because we got a rundown of the rest of the semester and got to learn more about our host families! Apparently my host mother was one of the few Viennese who opened up her home when there was the big wave of Syrian refugees, and she even helped them go to the necessary offices and complete their paperwork, which I think is amazing. It just made me 10x more excited to meet her. 

After the meeting we had our last dinner in Dorfgastein at a very fancy hotel. The dinner was all you can eat, buffet style, with barbecued meats, a salad and appetizer bar, and dessert. Now I’m sure everyone has had moments where the term “food coma” has been applicable, but all I can say is I reached peak food consumption last night. First there was a soup and delicious, fresh, fluffy rolls. Then the salad bar which ended up having pasta salad, potatoes, goat cheese, and other delicious non-salady foods. Then there were the meats. So many meats. My personal favorite was a cheese filled sausage wrapped in bacon. I was full after round one, but still, I persisted. There was just so much. And then dessert, which was Kaiserschmarnn, the pancake dessert I mentioned before. By the end I was at a level of fullness I don’t think I’ll ever be able to achieve again. I’m honestly kind of both impressed and horrified at my own eating abilities. Do I regret it? Not really. But would I do it again? No. (probably, who are we kidding here.) The night was spent digesting and watching more German TV.  Now I’m on a train to Salzburg where we’ll spend the day touring the city before returning to Vienna. I’ve returned to the land of Internet connection. I had an amazing time in Dorfgastein but I’m excited to get back to Vienna and see everything the city has to offer. Hopefully, more food. 

[anachef]

Review and Photos! Lunch at Fairfax Fare in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

Hey there from Sunset Ranch Market in Disney’s Hollywood Studios! Today we are bringing you an all-new review from Fairfax Fare!

Sunset Ranch Market

In the past, Fairfax Fare focused on Barbecue classics like smoked ribs and chicken; but now, their menu consists of “Tex-mex” choices like tamales, rice bowls, and fajitas.

But don’t worry — if you want barbecue during your day in Hollywood, you can grab a huge plate of tasty ribs at the ABC Commissary.

Ribs at ABC Commissary

We also love the BBQ Brisket Melt from Woody’s Lunchbox in Toy Story Land!

BBQ Brisket Melt at Woody;’s Lunchbox

But back to the restaurant at hand!

Atmosphere

Fairfax Fare

Fairfax Fare is located at the end of Sunset Boulevard, near the Tower of Terror and across from the entrance to the Hollywood Hills Amphitheater, where you can catch Fantasmic!

As mentioned before, it is part of the Sunset Ranch Market — which is comprised of other walk-up locations such as Rosie’s All American Cafe and Catalina Eddie’s. These locations all share a common outdoor seating area and condiment stations.

Seating at Sunset Ranch Market

There isn’t anything fancy about the theming, or most of the food honestly, at Sunset Ranch Market, however it’s a good spot to go if you’ve got a large group who all want different things for lunch or dinner!

Eats

As we said, the menu at Fairfax Fare features a variety of “Tex-mex” style entrees. Most of them are made up of the same key ingredients, but served in different fashions.

Fairfax Fare Menu — Click to Enlarge

Today we decided to try the Pork Tamales and the 7-Layer Rice Bowl with Chicken. Though in the past we have LOVED the Fairfax Salad!

7-Layer Rice Bowl and Pork Tamales

Up first, the 7-Layer Rice Bowl. You can choose from pork or chicken — or a combo of both — for this entree. You can also add guacamole for $1, which I did because guacamole is delicious.

7-Layer Rice Bowl and Guacamole

The bowl is a hearty serving of cilantro rice and black beans, and topped with your choice of meat, a fire-roasted corn medley, pico de gallo, and sour cream and cheddar cheese.

Rice Bowl Close Up

This is incredibly tasty! It may not look like a huge serving initially, but there is plenty of chicken and beans which prove to be very filling. The toppings are plentiful as well, and the pico de gallo is nice and fresh. I also really loved the fire-roasted corn salsa which has a distinct grill flavor.

Rice Bowl

The side of guacamole is generous as well! You get a very substantial portion for $1, which honestly, could probably be shared between two people. Unless you’re a guacamole monster like I am, in which case it’s very worth the dollar to eat it all by yourself.

Next, we tried the Pork Tamales.

Pork Tamales with Beans

These are Pork Tamales topped with Ranchero sauce, fresh Mexican cheese, cilantro, and sour cream, and are served with cilantro rice and black beans on the side.

If you’re a tamale enthusiast, you know they are typically served where you have to open the corn husks yourself. However, here Disney has taken the work out of the dish, and the tamales are served where no peeling is required.

Pork Tamales Close Up

These were FANTASTIC. The tamale itself is a nice consistency, and a good balance between the pork and the cornmeal. But the real star here is the Ranchero sauce! It’s got a lot of good flavor and heat — actual heat not just “Disney heat”! The spice is nicely balanced with the sour cream and generous serving of queso fresco as well. I could’ve eaten at least two servings of these — and wish I would’ve asked for extra sauce for the rice bowl.

Overall

Typically the spots at Sunset Ranch Market don’t top our list in Hollywood Studios. They are solid choices with a convenient location, but they don’t normally blow us away flavor wise. Plus, all outdoor seating is kind of THE PITS in central Florida most of the time. But, we were pleasantly surprised by Fairfax Fare!

Both dishes we tried were full of flavor and very filling! They were also a tad bit lighter than the fried options at Rosie’s — so if you’re looking for something healthy-ish this is a great option.

Plus, I am already excited to go back and put that Ranchero Sauce on everything.

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What do you enjoy on the Fairfax Fare menu? Please let us know with a comment!

Related posts:

Review! NEW Apple Cobbler at Disney’s Hollywood Studios!

Review: New Cocktails at Fairfax Fare in Disney’s Hollywood Studios

DFB Video: Hollywood Studios Restaurants RANKED (Including BaseLine Tap House!)

from the disney food blog http://bit.ly/2GdWNcp via http://bit.ly/LNvO3e

[making-a-supperer]

2. The 615 Club

615 Broad St, Beloit, WI 53511 Saturday, Feb. 2, 2019  5pm

Stop #2 on our Making-A-Supperer 19 Wisconsin Supper Clubs in 2019 tour took us to the border town of Beloit, WI, just 40 miles north of wonderful Rockford, Il.  Rockford was where I was raised as a little FIP around a hundred years ago.   Many of my siblings (5) spent a fair amount of their high school years in Beloit enjoying the spoils of a younger WI drinking age.  Tonight I would be playing a little catch up - 2 old fashioneds at a time.  

Our Making-A-Supperer victims tonight were my sister Katie and her husband Adrian.  They live in Rockford, close to my mother and two other siblings.  Katie has been an absolute angel with taking the lead in caring for my 87-year-old mother while my mom battles a relapse of lymphoma and general aging issues.  Katie and Adrian are HUGE Disney fans and certainly enjoy dining in fine places around the world, most of which are Disney owned.  I love golfing with Adrian and shooting the breeze about baseball, even though he’s a big Yankees AND Cubs fan.  Which is just so doubly wrong.  But he loves golf, so…

Lauren chose The 615 Club over Benedetti’s as our Beloit area target based on some very positive online reviews and input from a friend of Katie’s.  None of us have been here before so we were very anxious to check it out.  Per the 615’s website, “The 615 Club is owned by Gregg and Rayann Hatley, continuing the long time Wisconsin Supper Club tradition of offering patrons the highest quality food in a comfortable and inviting atmosphere.”  As we entered the 615 “home” at our now standard 5pm supper time, it certainly looked like it was going to be a fine experience.

As we were seated at a table near the front door, I was worried that it might be a little loud during supper.  But this turned out to be a positive, by getting a little exposure to the friendly atmosphere of the classic hostess, bar, and welcoming patrons playing field.  Danna, our doll-of-a –server, warmly welcomed us and quickly served us a nice mix of wine and cocktails, including my classic whiskey old fashioned with a cherry.  Add an excellent appetizer round of stuffed mushrooms, a classic relish tray, and a naughty pickled herring dish and we were on our way.  I really should have tried the pickled herring but I’m still suffering from a sugar bread diet from my early Rockford days.   Oh my, I didn’t get a pic of the awesome stuffed mushrooms.  “Failure” as Lauren would say.

Katie’s Walleye, Au Gratins, and classic little relish tray

After I bored sweet Danna with the story of our supperer 19 tour, she pulled over owner/hostess Rayann to meet us.  Rayann apologized that her husband, owner Greg, was helping out in the kitchen, but would be out later to say hello.  Who doesn’t love a hands-on owner?  I really have to get making-a-supperer business cards to hand out to these club owners so they can follow our tour via the blog.  Greg did pop out before the evening was over AND he gave us a free round of drinks!  So playing up the reviewer tour thing in the future could be very rewarding.  Everyone eats this supper club tour stuff up.  T-shirts maybe?

Supper Time!  Katie had previewed the menu online and targeted the Walleye a few days back.    Lauren selected the “615” 12 oz. Ribeye, Adrian went with the 12 oz. Filet Mignon, and I covered our bets with the night’s special Pork Shank offering.   And we were allowed to have soup AND salad with our entrees.  Man, now we’re just playing with house money.  All of us were simply giddy about the cinnamon rolls that appeared (and quickly disappeared) before our entrees were served.  They reminded us of the classic rolls served at Pandl’s in Bayside, of which my dear old dad just adored.  And Lauren just loves dessert before entree in the supper rotation.  Finally, three of us also ordered the old school Au Gratin potatoes that turned out to be old school delicious as well.  

Matt’s Pork Shank, Au Gratins, Adrian’s sautéed mushrooms and Filet

Katie was a little underwhelmed by her Walleye that suffered from under-seasoning (3 of 5 rating).   Adrian found his Filet to be cooked to perfection but not quite knocking his socks off per flavor (4 rating).  Lauren found her Ribeye to be very flavorful (4.5 rating) while I found my special Pork Shank to be super tender and delicious (4.5 rating).  The pork just melted slowly off the bone.  While our earlier Schwarz’s supper was quite memorable, the dining at The 615 Club was much more of a fine dining experience relative to presentation and taste.  It was really enjoyable and relaxing to share this dining experience with my sister and her husband.

After a FULL supper experience (again, both soup and salad AND cinnamon rolls) we were confronted with dessert options of cheesecake or chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream.  We obviously had to go with both just for the take-one-for-the-team reviewer thing.  As good as they were, it honestly was a struggle to polish them off in our over-stuffed state. Fortunately, owner Greg’s free round offer during dessert eased our “struggle”.  If only all of our struggles in life were so painfully delicious.

Our just desserts - cheesecake and chocolate lava cake

So the ambience of The 516 Club was awesome.  A cozy, fine dining experience in classic Supper Club fashion.  The food was very good and the service was great!  And the price was very reasonable.  We averaged around $55 per person, which was the same as what we paid at Schwarz’s.  All around we’d rate this experience as 4.5 out of 5 stars.  It’s hard to give the 615 a higher rating this early in the game as we need to leave some room for improvement for the next clubs.  The club that provides the same ambience and service as the 615 and knocks our socks off with 4 excellent entrees will garner the perfect 5 Holy Grail score.  Will we see that in the remaining 17 clubs on our 2019 tour?  YES!!!  And hopefully more than once.

So on to the dreaded Making-A-Murderer discussion.   Katie and Adrian confessed that they hadn’t researched the Netflix show and didn’t have much to offer.  No worries.  We really can’t expect these fine folks from Illinois to really care about the craziness that goes on in cheesehead land – even though Making-A-Murderer was the second most watched Netflix series in 2018.   I’m sure Katie and Adrian have been continually watching instead the video of the Cubs winning the World Series in 2016 - for the first time in over 100 freaking years.   I did share the background of the Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey story with them so that they could make a limited guilt assessment for this post.  They both agreed to a 60% guilt factor.  Wow, I thought I did a good job of selling a higher %.  Must be the Mickey in them – they are way too happy and kind to go higher on the guilty scale.  ☺    

Thanks Katie and Adrian for sharing a wonderful supper experience with us!  

[asmirandaseesit]

Vamos a la Playa

Hello again,

It’s been a while since we’ve last seen each other. As an update on my life, I’m a senior now, and after returning from Turkey I’ve spent the past calendar year basically doing nothing. I’ve been to a few new cities in the U.S., most notably Chicago, which I’ve been considering posting about solely to talk about the food. I’ll keep you posted as to what I decide to do.

Anyways, this time I decided to brush the dust off this blog to talk about my recent spring break trip to Puerto Rico. I apologize in advance for the low-quality photos, in a lapse of judgement I forgot to pack my camera... :(

So- to the fun stuff. Puerto Rico. Otherwise known as one of the random islands in the Caribbean that the U.S. for some unclear reason still has ownership over (we got Puerto Rico, Guam, the Philippines, and temporarily Cuba as part of the end of the Spanish-American War). If I were to summarize Puerto Rico in a few words, it would probably be: fun, and lawless. I can’t really think of anything else that would capture it as well as those two words. Popular would work too, since there were a lot of other tourists while we were there. It was like any Caribbean island I would have expected: an endless bounty of rum, fresh fruits, and sunshine, all topped with a Latin flair and failing economy (thanks for the tip, Disney). The people were all so kind and so interesting too! Basically all of our Uber drivers engaged us in a fully-fledged conversation and usually gave us recommendations on places to go/eat. The food was exactly what I would have wanted-- dishes emphasized seafood, plantains (served in any method possible), Spanish spices, and I never found myself in a shortage of avocados. What more could a girl ask for?

Needless to say, I’d give Puerto Rico a 9/10. I’m deducting a point off because this week cost me an arm and a leg. Restaurants were priced the same as places in Manhattan or LA, (understanding that I ate seafood practically every day) which was a rude awakening considering people had told me that Puerto Rico was relatively cheap. However, I don’t regret a single dollar I spent, I had a blast and that’s what matters... right?

To walk you through my experiences, I’ll go through the pictures first. We left Syracuse Thursday night for NYC, crashed at friends’ for the night to catch our 11 am flight Friday morning to San Juan. Shoutout to Kai for letting me sleep on his futon, again (you’re the best, and you always will be).

Funny enough, the day we left the entire Northeast was getting slammed with a snow storm-- I think there were a couple of inches in NYC. Man, never had I ever been more glad to be waiting in an airport, jetting off somewhere (literally anywhere) else. Cackling to ourselves at the blizzard outside, the squad and I boarded and took off on time for San Juan. Unscathed by the winter storm, we landed in San Juan around 4 pm that day-- I love when you fly somewhere and the second you walk out of the airport, your body is shocked by the temperature difference. Ahh, the sweet sensation of perspiration.

We quickly went back to our Airbnb, changed, and went out to dinner. Now maybe it was the travel- or the sangria- but this was one of the more euphoric meals I’ve ever had. We went to Casita Miramar, and all ordered the aguacates rellenos (stuffed avocados).

Yes, it was just as good as it looks. Better, actually. *drools* The shrimp was charred perfectly, served with a creamy red pepper sauce that was sweet, garlicky, buttery and just classically good. On the side were tostones (smashed fried plantains). UggGGHHHhh. We then split a guava panetela (divine buttery almost amaretto-y cake layered with guava jam) and were served complimentary shots at the end- called “chichaitos,” they’re traditional Puerto Rican rum shots with anise liquer and a few coffee beans added (usually three for money, love, and health). After slamming those down and being painfully reminded of my relationship with rakı, we went home to catch some z’s for the rest of our trip.

The next day, we rented a car to go to a beach about an hour out of San Juan. My roommate has a friend from San Juan, so we shaped a lot of our itinerary around his suggestions (turns out, the locals know what they’re talking about). So, we ventured out to Manatí, and visited the playa la Poza de las Mujeres.

The water was crystal blue, warm, and the beach wasn’t crowded at all. I had to stop for two iguanas to cross the road though, which was weird.

We then went out to dinner at a little place called Mere Pescao (where I got mahi mahi and plantain skewers) and then went out to drinks at La Coctelera on Calle Loiza. There, I got a rosemary and beet Tom Collins, which was OK but not my favorite. We also went to a Basque bakery and I got a guava pastelito (divine).

The next day, we went to probably the worst brunch we’ve ever had (DON’T go to Caficultura) in Old San Juan. The food was subpar and the service was horrendous. I would say the one saving grace was being able to try a Cortadito, a local favorite similar to a macchiato (the real kind, not the over-dressed crap you get at Starbucks). However, if you do want the real deal-artisanal Puerto Rican coffee, DO go to Cuatro Sombras. They roast all their beans in house (which are locally harvested from Yauco) and even offer special cupping demonstrations and tastings. We then walked around Old San Juan, which is absolutely adorable and reminiscent of Macau (or any other old Portuguese/Spanish town with cobblestone streets, brightly colored buildings and ornate white reliefs).

This is one of the castles in Old San Juan- nicknamed “El Morro” it served as a fort dating back to the 16th century and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The next day, we were on the road by 7 am to go horseback riding on the beach in Isabela (2.5 hours west of San Juan). We went with a small company called Tropical Trail Rides, which was a 2 hour trail ride on 3 different beaches/through coastal brush. Coincidentally, our horses all embodied us in their own ways; Taína was the dark, ethnically ambiguous one (me), Cristal was the crotchety standoffish one (Audrey), Canela didn’t give a flying f*** about the trail ride or her job (Bella), and Whiskey was fully erect the entire time (Lily). Classic.

The four horsemen of the apocalypse

It was a really nice ride, and honestly I could’ve done it all day. We even got to walk over old U.S. missile launchpads in the forest dating back to the Cuban Missile Crisis! Love me some history.

After getting back from horses, we got smoothies and lunch/dinner at La Casita Blanca, a small local place in Santurce. I got the pastelón, which is essentially a take on lasagna but instead of pasta its sweet plantains. I didn’t snag a picture because frankly it wasn’t pretty enough, but trust me- it was DELICIOUS. Like a Puerto Rican moussaka- all the things good in this world, really.

The next day, we left our house at 5:30 am to catch the 9 am ferry to the island of Culebra. (Yes, you did the math right, Fajardo ferry terminal is an hour away from San Juan, and the ferry was scheduled for 9) - It’s an island about equidistant from Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, approximately an hour east of PR. I was nervous about this ferry since I had read online it could be rough seas, and with my seasickness, I knew it could get ugly. Luckily, I could recline my head back so I felt fine- but man, the seas were unkind to us that morning. At least 10 people in my immediate proximity were stumbling over to the trash can/bathroom. People were dropping like flies! Bags were being passed left and right, people were toppling over pale and drenched with sweat... it was atrocious. Like a cafeteria food fight, but not fun. After an hour or so of that torture, we landed on the island and decided to rent a golf cart to navigate to/from the beaches around the coastline.

Drinking a piña colada on the 2nd most beautiful beach in the world. My white privilege is checking in right about now.

Flamenco Beach was gorgeous. The sand was fine and white, the water was bright turquoise, and the coastline was curved perfectly like a horseshoe. It was well worth waking up at 5 am to see.

After our time at the beach, we decided to go snorkeling for a bit at Melones Point and try to find some turtles. No turtles unfortunately, but we saw some cool fish and got a lot of hilarious snorkel photos in the water.

After a full day without food, I decided to get some sustenance at Zaco’s Tacos while waiting for our 5 pm ferry back to the main island- would recommend if you’re on Culebra, it’s reasonably priced and the tortillas are definitely made in house (as a Southern Californian, you can tell).

The next day, we had our zip lining adventure in El Yunque National Rainforest. Fun fact, PR is home to the only tropical rainforest in the U.S. National Parks system. So, when in Rome.

The rainforest was beautiful. The park was a combination of 8 zip lines, mostly short, but the longest was about 2000 feet long over unobstructed tree tops with a view to the ocean. Simply incredible.

Jacked mushrooms go zip lining

After our boost of adrenaline, we ventured into the rainforest to check out a suggested trail to a swimming hole in the river. The “hike” was about 10-15 minutes, really a casual stroll, but the swimming hole was beautiful, and well worth the confusing drive/30 potholes I ruined our rental car with.

Like basically any other body of water in/near Puerto Rico, the river was clear and there were these cute fish swimming around us the whole time. They kept bumping into me though, which I didn’t know to find endearing or creepy.

After another long day, we got food at this restaurant on the beach called El Alambique, where we got buzzed off more piña coladas (an ongoing trend over spring break) and I ate a seafood salad the size of my torso. The Syracuse game was also on at the bar the whole time, funny enough.

The next few days were slightly uneventful, as we had to return our rental car (the crappy Hyundai Accent we became so attached to, listening to Puerto Rican radio and counting iguana roadkill on the highways... final number of 26 FYI) and we had already hit everything on our itinerary. We ended up spending a day the the Renaissance Hotel on the beach in Condado, which was great because we got all the perks of staying there without actually dishing out the $400 a night!

Sipping on prosecco like I’m actually worth something

For lunch, we walked to a nearby food truck called Kabanas for the best fish tacos I’ve had in my life.

You really can’t go wrong with fresh red snapper though, can you?

Afterwards, we went home to get ready for dinner and happy hour. We went to a rooftop restaurant called El Punto de Vista in Old San Juan, where they have 2 for 1 mojitos EVERY DAY until 5 pm. Need I say more?

This place is known for their mofongo, which is another Puerto Rican specialty. Take plantains, fry them, mash them, then top them with meat/seafood and a sauce. This is mofongo with shrimp and garlic sauce. Come on, forget about it.

The next day, I went on a run around Condado to get some exercise. After realizing I hadn’t been that warm in about 5-6 months, it made sense why about 2 miles in I was dripping sweat. I ran around the lagoon and back and managed to snap this photo:

Ah, what it would be like to run this every morning

The next day or so we pretty much screwed around San Juan and ate a lot more. Our last night, we went out to La Placita de Santurce and it would have been like 150% more fun if any of us were in the mood to binge drink. If you’ve been to Hong Kong, I would compare this to a Puerto Rican LKF: a concentrated network of bars and clubs and drunk pedestrians crowding the streets looking for the next place to go. Good vibes, readily available alcohol, and a crowd with people young and old... it was the place to be on a Friday night.

Unfortunately, the next day I woke up with a sore throat, and what viral infection I thought I fended off right before break finally caught up with me. I took it easy my last day there, and we finished off with dinner at one of the most renowned restaurants in San Juan- Jose Enrique. To preface, it’s got 680 reviews on yelp and 4.5 stars, and at opening at 6:30 pm there was a line to get in about 30 people long. Was it worth all that hype? Maybe- the food was incredible, I got the snapper which was fried and served with a sweet potato puree and a papaya avocado pico de gallo. It was, in all worlds, a very good meal. If you can swing the wait, I recommend going here.

I’m not going to talk about the 15.5 hour horror story that was our trip back to Syracuse, but to give you an idea, it lasted from 12 am to 3:30 pm the next day. So, I’ll leave you with my favorite song right now, that we heard about 3 times a day in PR. It’s a bop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJQP7kiw5Fk

Thanks for reading, and I’ll see you next time!

Hasta luego~

Miranda

[ljones41]

DISNEY’S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE:  Food & Wine Festival 2022

Recently, my family and I had enjoyed a day at the Disneyland Resort, where we attended the 2022 Food & Wine Festival at the Disney’s California Adventure theme park.  The festival ended on April 26.  Below is a selection of the food and drinks I had enjoyed at the festival:

DISNEY’S CALIFORNIA ADVENTURE:  FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL 2022

Carbonara-Garlic Mac & Cheese - This was a delicious macaroni and cheese dish with peppered bacon and garlic.  My only complaint was there seemed to be a bit too many bacon bits, making the dish a little too salty.

Gyro-inspired Flatbread with Impossible Ground Beef - I found this gyro-inspired sandwich with ground Impossible beef, chipotle hummus, tzatziki and spiced crispy chickpeas spicy and surprisingly delicious.  I believe many vegans and vegetarians may have found it a welcoming addition to the festival.

Honey-Orange-Glazed Verlasso Salmon Salad - This was the only dish at the festival that I did not care for.  I had no problems with the salad, the vinaigrette or the pickled chopped black olives and peppers that topped the salad.  I did not even mind that the salmon was served cold.  However, I thought the latter lacked flavor and could have been marinated before being cooked.

Snickers Caramel-Peanut Milk Chocolate Mickey Macaron - This macaron was probably the largest I have ever eaten.  It was also very rich, very sweet and very delicious.  Many YouTube influencers claimed that it actually tasted like a Snickers Bar.  I cannot say that I would agree.  But I did enjoy it very much.

Glazed BBQ Pork Belly - I will say this about the Disneyland Resort.  Its cooks seemed to be better at preparing pork belly than their counterparts in Central Florida.  I thought the pork belly was cooked perfectly - not undercooked or overcooked.  The BBQ sauce proved to be a great addition to the dish.  However, the macaroni salad that accompanied it struck me as incredibly bland.  I barely touched it.

Aji de Gallina - This Peruvian dish consisted of stewed chicken with spicy yellow chile , along with jasmine rice and olive tapenade.  And it was delicious.  I honestly believed this would be something of a miss, but I have always been a chicken and rice fan.  Although a bit salty at first bite, this dish proved to be my second favorite at the festival.

Black & Tan Beef Potato Puffs - This is it, ladies and gentlemen!  This beef and potatoes dish proved to be my favorite dish at the festival.   The dish consisted of pot roast with chives, lager micro sponge and tater tots, topped with a Karl Strauss Wreck Alley stout gravy.  O-M-G!  The flavor of this dish took my breath away.  What can I say?  Two thumbs up!

If you had attended the 2022 Disney’s California Adventure Food & Wine Festival, what were your favorite dishes?