#i go through so much ice i have a rotation of 6 trays in my freezer to keep up with demand

[naomiknight-17]

I told the doctor about some negative Ozempic side effects I've been experiencing and she recommended an OTC medication to help, and also said I needed to drink more water

I drink SO much water

I don't know how to tell you how much water I drink

I go through at LEAST 10 cups of water a day, not counting my daily coffee or ginger ale, not counting milk or the occasional Premium Special Treat Beverage™

I drink so so so much water

If I drink more water I will die of desalination. Please stop telling me to drink more water

[babygirlofwakanda]

Not Gon Cry | Chapter 6

Previous Chapters— Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five

Characters— Black Reader X T’Challa

Content— Trials Of Black Love, Adultery, Broken Vows and Marriage, Humiliation and Manipulation

Plot— Based off of the song, “Not Gon Cry” by Mary J. Blige on her Share My World album. This is strictly based off of the lyrics, but a little twist. In addition, I STRONGLY suggest listening to this song on REPLAY while reading to get further feels, but hey..

Narrative— Dropping your head in attempt to hide the flushed look apparent on your face you heard the soft footsteps of T’Challa as he approached you.

Feeling the gentle touch of his fingers on your chin, he slowly lifted up your face. “You are to beautiful to be dropping your head especially at my expense.” He spoke, as a faint smile tugged at his plump lips. With his fingers still attached to your mentum, he hoisted up your chin before pressing his lips against yours.

Sensing the abrupt creamy surface of the vaseline on his lips you returned the action with equal force against his lips as you kissed him back.

Embracing the chills traveling through your body, you closed your eyes and sneakily slid your tongue out to tease T’Challa’s lips. However, you instantly pulled away as you heard the birds chirping in the surrounding trees causing you to stumble back.

However, T’Challa remained in his spot with a blissful look on his face as he quickly regrouped by running a hand over his face before dampening his lips with the swipe of the tongue. Clearing his throat, “—well, that was a warm welcome.” He joked, once he caught a glimpse of your high cheekbones and bashful eyes.

“Shall we continue with our scheduled dinner?” He questioned, as he recognized your silent presence and safe distance away from him. Snapping out of your apprehensive thoughts you flicked your head up before flashing him a glance of your teeth.

Closing in the safe distance you looped your right arm around his sturdy forearm before y’all continued down the stony path. Within five minutes you heard the soft echo of your heels against the dense floor.

You walked through the lengthy hall decorated with portraits corresponding with the sleek colors of penny brown and emerald green with a hint of porcelain white accenting the tribal scheme.

Walking hand in hand with the King he lead you for a turn down another hall before briefly turning into the kitchen. The aroma of spice and fresh vegetables hit your nose as the olfaction cradled your fragile soul.

Watching the chef and the members work in a frantic manner to prepare the dish you felt T’Challa release your hand as he approached the chef. Talking to him in a hush tone you watch the chef nod at his King’s words before sharing a mutual laugh. Strolling back to you, you watched the rise and fall of his shoulders alternating height like a seesaw as he dipped his way back into your presence.

“Let me show you where we’ll be dining at, mnandi.” His rich accent spoke, before he unexpectedly took your hand in his possession leading you out. Closing your dropped jaw you washed away your beckoning look as he took charge and practically made you stumble from lack of comprehension.

Trailing behind him you watched him take you to a pair of intricate designed doors before pushing on them revealing to you fields of canary yellow arctotis, ivory white dimorphotheca pluvialis, orange gazania rigens, magenta and peach colored african daisies.

You had never seen something so breathtaking seeing as though there were no flowers present in the Jabariland. Hearing the clearing of a throat you turned your head to catch T’Challa revealing a goofy grin in your direction. “—it’s beautiful isn’t it?”

Nodding your head, “Yes, it is. We didn’t get much scenery up in the mountains besides piles of snow and ice sickles dangling above.” You answered, while he walked you out into a grand patio with maximum shade and african printed outside furniture.

Letting go of your hand you watched him pull out a chair to the nearby table which was located by the edge of the cement giving you a great balance of terrain and shade.

Full on beaming you replied with a soft “Thank you.” before taking your seat. Pushing your chair up with ease you watched T’Challa round the corner of the table with a slight bounce in his step before sitting down across from you.

Watching his movements you were distracted from the opening of the door as a crew member brought out two tall glasses with an unknown shamrock green bottle resting in a pale of ice.

Feeling your breath hitch in your throat you watched the worker pop open the bottle with a slight fizz by now you were hearing the rapid beating of your heart become audible to the public.

Your eyes still glued on the member pouring a decent amount of alcohol in the glasses you felt the comforting pressure of another hand resting ontop of yours before grabbing at your fingers.

Allowing your eyes to drop you looked at your hand joined together with a deeper melanated one before timidly trailing your eyes up to meet the deep brown orbs of T’Challa’s. Giving you a sympathetic smile he caressed the back of your hand with his thumb in attempt to calm your internal battle.

Since the day you found out M’Baku stepped out of your marriage you allowed yourself to sprawl into a negative habit of drinking obsessively. Which once started off with a small sip of red wine turned into bottles of empty alcohol scattered around.

You would go as far as keeping your unhealthy habit to yourself by only drinking in the midnight hour in order to be alert and have enough energy to put on the charade of being the happy mom infront of your children; you were a functioning alcoholic.

However, that all came to a halt when the King came to your house one morning and found you laid out on your kitchen floor with a half empty bottle of Merlot resting beside your body.

Using his strength to his advantage he scooped you up in his arms and trailed off to your bathroom.

Placing your body in the tube he allowed to water to spray down on your oversized shirt and frame before gently shaking you back into reality.

Warning you about the dangers of your habit he left you with a wandering mind. It wasn’t until a few days later since the incident did you pour out the remaining bottles in your sacred pantry into the sink.

After the service member left with the tray you yanked your hand away from T’Challa’s in order to place it over your heart. “What is this some type of test T’Challa?” You exclaimed, as you pulled out of your chair in order to stand up and pace.

“Is this a joke to you? I thought you were here to help me, I thought you were my friend!” You shouted, as you disregarded his explanation.

Continuing with your rant you blocked him out until he yelled out “—It is sparkling water! Bast, woman!”

Snapping your head back you viewed his standing position and aggravated expression as his forehead creased. Walking back up to the table you quickly covered up the egg on your face, “Why didn’t you tell me this?” You asked, with a high amplitude.

“If you would have given me a chance to then you would have known.” He stated, in a calmer tone of voice. Sighing you sat back in the chair with your mouth purged to the side before reaching out your hand to take the cool glass in your palm.

Silence filled the space between you two before the King spoke up, “For the record, you should already know that I’m trying to be more than friends.”

“I don’t just go around curling up the toes of my female friends and by the way, I love the shoes.” He said, as he glanced underneath the table as a bright smile appeared across his face.

Failing to suppress the grin on your face you nodded before turning your gaze to the auburn and plum colored sky as the sun began to set.

“It’s so beautiful.” You spoke, in a faint tone. “It’s not the only beautiful thing I see.” T’Challa said, as his gaze was fixated on you.

His eyes absorbed every small detail of your face from your small beauty marks, freckles scattered across your face to the thickness of your eyebrows and inherited fullness of your lips.

Hearing the lost tone in his voice you caught him staring at you through your peripheral vision and decided to mess with him. “—the colors are just captivating almost makes me want to take a picture of it so I can look at it and see it everyday..”

The King of Wakanda humming out in agreement you continued speaking in a poet’s tone, “That way when I look at it I will always remember the warmth against my skin, the alluring colors across the sky reflecting on my skin and the gentle wind blowing against my skin.” finishing your tease you rotated your head to the side only to catch his eyes gawking at you.

You saw his eyes dance around the exposed skin of your body from the small v-cut of your dress to your propped leg revealing your greased calf muscles. All bringing memories into his head of the small blonde hairs he caressed as he played with your clitoris.

That man was stuck in a trance until the startling noises of the clinking of metal broke his gaze. The chef and two service members each holding a plate came out of the palace to serve the dishes.

The food consisted of grilled chicken on a steaming pile of jollof rice and a side plate of fufu and sauces.

The food was fresh out of the kitchen and with your mouth slightly drooling just like T’Challa’s moments ago you both dug in. The only sound coming from you two were the clinging of metal and small talk.

“—I can’t believe he brought that women into the meeting, so disrespectful. Only a man satisfied with trash and low standards would step out on someone as beautiful with you.” T’Challa said, before chewing on his rice. Nodding your head you took a sip of water before the King continued with his mini-rant.

“You know I never thought he deserved you..”

Placing your glass down on the table you reached for the cloth across your lap before wiping your mouth. “I agree, but what makes you say that?” You asked.

Shrugging, “I could just tell that you both had strong personalities and motives that would clash one day, I just know his arrogance would upset you. Besides, you are very secure in your position. For Bast sake, you were just going off about what you thought I was giving you to drink.” He laughed, making you giggle.

“Well, how do I know that if I were to date you that you would be able to handle my fierce position.” You asked, flashing him an enticing look before taking a sip of your drink. Briefly running a thumb underneath his bottom lip he flicked his eyes up revealing to you the same tempting look. “Easy answer, I’ll be able to handle your personality and more. For starters, I have the authority that M’Baku and your past flings don’t. Ask yourself who got him to agree with spousal support. I have power in my voice that you can’t even compare yourself without raising my voice.” He admitted.

“—Your’s is cute though, it gets my blood pumping when I hear you get mad or wear that unsettled look on your face like the one now. Forgive me if I haven’t made myself clear enough already, but you are mine. You’ve been mine ever since I gave my print to you that night on your couch, sithandwa sa.”

Your pelvis unintentionally shifting down around on the cushion below. You felt the rapid beating of your heart earlier replace itself in your throbbing clitoris.

“Ah! I can smell you, usana. You can’t hide from me after you gave me your orgasm you should have known that I would be chasing after you like a starving lion to a sweet sweet gazelle.”

His confession was cut short by the chef coming out alone this time before he went over to T’Challa and whispered to him. Reading his gestures you saw his bushy eyebrows rise up before mumbling back with a few waves of his hand. Abruptly scooting up out of his chair he gave a pat to the back of the chef before approaching your chair. “Mnandi, please come with me I’d like to show you something you could get real acquainted with.” He said, with a hint of urgency.

Not giving you a chance to respond he rounded around the back of your chair before pulling it out with ease. Taking ahold of your smooth hand he leads you back into the house. Navigating his way back in the hallway he gave you a rush tour of the kingdom.

Furrowing your eyebrows at his manic movements you spoke up, “Stop T’Challa. What are you doing?” You questioned, with your arms folded. You didn’t get all dressed up to have a flirtatious dinner and given a rushed tour of the inside of the palace.

His shoulders viciously moving up and down from his sudden burst of energy he put his hands on his hips in attempt to calm his hormones. Gathering himself he spoke up, “I’m just showing you all the places where I hope to blow your back out, now can we continue with the tour or no?” He asked.

Your mouth instantly dropping at his conceited answer you momentarily closed your eyes before inhaling a much need breath. Were you really ready to give T’Challa your most sacred gift? Opening your eyes back up you saw T’Challa standing there with a little to no hold on his enhanced testosterone. “You know instead of dragging me around I would have preferred for you to just surprise me instead. We could have ended this facade minutes ago.”

Not giving you a chance to finish your monologue T’Challa rushed up to you pulling his arms around you before mushing his moisturized lips onto yours.

Inherently closing your eyes you moaned at the aggressive contact before pushing your lips against his in a similar fashion. The King losing control of his body he surprised you by plunging his tongue in your mouth. Feeling the soft muscle explore around your tonsils you whimpered as you desperately tried to let your own tongue search his mouth. Him rejecting the entry you both created a game of tongue of war to see who would overpower eachother’s mouth.

An idea popping into T’Challa’s head he allowed a hand around your waist to drop down and grope your ass. A whine traveling from your diaphragm he won as your mouth involuntarily expanded allowing him to continue to examine your digestive tract.

Not gaining enough pleasure the King pulled away allowing the salvia you two created to drip down on both his and yours chin before he swiftly picked you up. Carrying you like a newborn baby he made quick work of the walk to his room as he basically sprinted to his bedroom chambers. Kicking the door open with his foot he created a dent in the wall from the handle he closed it back with the front of his foot.

Sitting you on your wobbly feet he leads you to the edge of his bed before he took a seat allowing you to sit up on his lap. Throwing your legs over his thighs one by one you rested your manicured nails on the delicate fabric of his dashiki before you rushed to remove the shirt and reveal his muscular chest.

Easing your way down to sit on his lap you let out an audible gasp as you felt the prominent muscle of his dick twitching in his pants. Licking your lips at the contact of your thong covered vagina touching his fragile manhood you threw your head back.

Hissing like a frighten snake T’Challa placed his lips on the tender skin of your clavicle. Trailing kisses on your skin you felt your toes curl up and scratch the surface of your Louboutins. Feeining for increased contact the King lifted his hands from the comforter and automatically resting his large hands on your exposed ass cheeks.

Feeling T’Challa nipping at the revealing skin your push-up bra displayed you felt a shiver run down your spine. “Oh, fuck!” You whimpered, as you felt the wet muscle leave a trail of saliva over your skin.

Frustrated with the lack of skin he was conquering T’Challa’s fingers fumbled with the zipper before he pulled the small metal down. Jolting at the cool air on your back you abruptly pushed forward causing your lower half to brush up against the King’s dick.

“Damn, usana.” The baritone voice from above you croaked out. Continuing to remove the fabric of your dress and colored bra T’Challa briefly pulled his lips off of your skin he gazed at your heavy breasts and truffle colored nipples. Rolling his bottom lip under his teeth you watched his eyes glaze over with lust almost mimicking a similar look of a kid in a candy store. Giving you no time to comprehend he dived his head towards your right nipple while the other hand sneakily rolled your left nipple between his thumb and index finger.

Tugging at your nipple with his teeth causing you to squeal out, “Fuck T’Challa!” you felt the liquid from your pussy escape from within and onto your thong.

Showing his undivided attention to your other nipple for a few more minutes you felt your colored panties dampen with liquid as it became heavier and soppy over time. Eventually, T’Challa removed his lips from your sore nipples and you watched him prop up on his arms and admire the bruised artwork.

Attempting to control your heavy intake of oxygen you felt your breathing subside to a safe rate. Licking your dry lips you rose up off of his lap and started to undress. Slipping the dress past your child-bearing hips you removed your panties in the process.

Stepping out of the dress you bent down to undo the small buckles around your ankles when the King’s voice became present. “Leave the shoes on.” He demanded, once he caught a glimpse of your hunched over position.

Nodding your head you stood back up revealing your completely nude body to T’Challa. You watched him rake his eyes over your body with zero shame. A grin spreading across your face you swiftly got down on your knees causing him to scatter quickly to sit up in great anticipation. Gradually crawling on your hands and knees at a snail’s pace you reached T’Challa’s pelvis. Sitting up on your knees you put your palms on his knees before you massaging his thigh higher and higher before reaching the sensitive muscle underneath his expensive pants.

Tugging his zipper down you spotted the noticeable bulge throbbing under his underwear. Caressing the delicate muscle you dugged your hand through the soft fabric and pulled out the heated dick.

In an instant you felt your eyes pop out of your damn head as you attempted to take in his size. You were right this man stood at a tall nine inches. Throbbing in your hand you inspected his cocoa colored penis as you peeped the multiple veins covering his dick like lights on a Christmas tree. Following the veins, you spotted his mushroom tip packed with nerves and pressure as the very head was a deep shade crimson red. “Shit, do something with it or I will.”

Giggling to yourself you roughly gripped the base of his dick and started flicking your wrist. Pumping him in your palm you watched the muscle in your hand start to expand with a light twitch.

“Fuck Y/N..” He croaked out, before you heard him inhaling quickly. Seeing his body tremor underneath your command empowered you. Peeping the small droplets of precum escape from his tip you leaned down to the base flattening your tongue before leaving a dripping trail of saliva up towards his tip.

Dancing your tongue around his tip you mushed his cum around on your lips as it coated your plump lips like lipgloss. Flicking your eyes up you saw T’Challa peering down at you with sluggish eyes before you temptingly stuck your tongue out to pushing around the remaining cum before you stuck it back into your mouth. Licking his children down your larynx you went back to playing with his pulsating dick.

Taking the mushroom head in your mouth you heard T’Challa hiss at the saturated feeling. Swiveling your tongue around his tip you started lapping at the head like a school girl on a lollipop. “Mmm.. shit!” T’Challa groaned out. Peeping the quivering of his lower abs you internally cheered yourself on.

Releasing his tip with an audible pop you pulled back spotting the translucent strands of cum attached to the inside of your mouth. Gasping for oxygen before refilling your mouth back with his dick. “Fuck!” You heard the King hiss in pure bliss.

Giving extra attention to his shaft you held his thick length in your hand before licking the surface area of his dick. Nose down in his dick you felt the kinky curl of pubic hair tickle the tip of your nose as you moved lower and lower. “—shit Y/N your about to make me cum.” He cried, as he climbed higher to his peak.

Flicking his veins one more time you felt your roots roughly being pulled away from his tip as he shuffled to kick off his pants and shoes. Digging his fingers in your hair you allowed him to control your movements as you opened up your mouth to accommodate his girth. T’Challa stuffing his dick in your mouth like a pacifier you counted your breath as your supply of oxygen was cut off.

Letting him do this to you a few more times you watched T’Challa roll his hips up off of the bed higher and higher each time; he was close.

Peeping movement on the floor you allowed your eyes to drop to the ground instead of closing them.

Looking down you spotted the curling of T’Challa’s toes against the soft carpet. Not having the luxury of bragging to him at the moment you instead settled for a faint smile.

Feeling the tug of your hair back on his penis you felt the involuntary tears leak from your tear ducts as he held your face for an extended period of time.

Hearing the bass of his extensive moan you felt the tremble of his tip spasm before T’Challa released his strings of cum down your trachea and settle in your stomach. Thrusting his pelvis deeper in your mouth you felt the waterworks pour down as he continued to discharge stray ropes cum down your larynx until his hips settled down. Losing his grip on your hair you watched his body relax against the soft sheets before you pulled your mouth away from him.

Watching the translucent strings attached to your mouth once again you licked them away before you teasingly licked his exhausted tip. Abruptly twitching at the fragile contact you watched T’Challa’s hand dive down to protect his dick. “—stop playing.”

Giggling at his weak state you leaned down to meet eye level with his sack before placing a gentle kiss on both pair before standing up on your feet.

Looking over T’Challa’s feeble body you gazed over every detail of his body. From the heavy rise and fall of his athletic chest, the gradual trail of pubic hairs on his lower abdomen traveling to his stagnant dick.

Crawling ontop of him moist skin to damp skin, soft dick to wet pussy you put your palms on his chest before breaking the silence, “—you know I saw that I made your toes curl?” You asked rhetorically, before erupting into fits of laughter.

A smile toying against his lips he spoke, “Is that right?” He questioned, with a raised eyebrow.

Nodding you licked your lips before you saw his gaze wash over with lust. “Well let’s see if I can return the favor, usana.” He spoke, before abruptly rolling over leaving you pressed against the bed.

Translations—

“Mnandi.” means sweetheart “Usana.” means baby “Sithandwa sa.” means my love

Author’s Note— I haven’t wrote a blowjob scene since two cats how did y’all like it? It’s been a while since I wrote smut I guess it’s time to get back to it..

Anyways, reader is gonna get her back blown out in the next chapter 👅💦 ask to be apart of the taglist!

Taglist— @blackpanthersmut @leahnicole1219 @minyara-kun @lalapalooza718 @mysticbrownie @siriuslycollins @therevolution-willbelive @hutchj @xbreakingmidnightx @texasbama @thiccdaddy-mbaku @muse-of-mbaku @blue-ishx @destinio1 @ursapharoh05 @purplemuse @cmonkillmonger @drsunshine97 @royallyprincesslilly @ashanti-notthesinger @barely-emily @halfrican-heat @theshadesofbrown @lildashofmelanin @sisterwifeudaku @mbakuwifey @autumn242 @inlovewithmakeupcomicsanimelove @hold-me-like-a-heart-beat @airis-paris14 @s0eul @taehyungsmelanin @soulmates8 @inlovewith3 @dakotapaigelove @blowmymbackout @504queen @sweetpeachjones @niggarachi15 @madamslayyy @everybodylovesmormon @ambthegamer @jecourt @lewatigress @randomassfandomwho @inlovewith3 @pananegra @brittyevans @savageiz @stressedgyal @mermaidchansons @almostpurelysmut @idilly @slimmiyagi @yaachtynoboat711 @brahvosunshine @profilia @ashleychristina73 @cateracombs

[nekoabi]

Library (2/7)

Welcome to Wholesome Town, as today we are exploring Moxiety! 

This is part 2 of 7: It’ll be rotating through all the pairings in the fandom, ending with LAMP. I am also English, so various things might be slightly different <3

This took way too long, let me tell you, but I was squealing at the simple thought of some of the stuff I was gonna put in here. So, here we go!

Pairings: Moxiety Words: 2506 Warnings: None, as far as I can think of! Tell me if there is anything <3

Summary: Virgil is trying to avoid the new volunteer and decides to take refuge in the kids section. He didn’t expect to find Patton here...

Why did they even need anymore volunteers? That was the question Virgil asked himself every time he walked into the library for his shift and heard the confident and far-too-loud voice of the new guy. It had only been a week since he’d started there, but the new guy was already getting on Virgil’s last nerve.

What did Patton say his name was again…? Virgil shook his head to clear the thoughts. He blew the newly dyed hair that fell directly into his eyes up and back into place.

Virgil signed in and grabbed a lanyard, throwing it over his head. He went to find out where he was needed for the day, but as he searched around for someone, he found Logan talking to the new guy, definitely telling him off yet again about the volume. Instead of interrupting and also facing the wrath of the head librarian – and to avoid talking to the guy due to his obvious crush that Patton just loved to always hint towards every time they were even close to each other – he decided to just take one of the trolleys of returns and thankfully found that all the books were for the kids’ section.

He made his way over to the left side of the building, slowing once he stepped through the archway into what felt like a completely different building.

The walls were bright red, tall windows looking out onto the street outside. A large clock wall decoration hung on the wall opposite where Virgil had entered, surrounded by drawings and art work. The room went deeper as Virgil glanced to his left, seeing a few children and their carers sat down with the brightly coloured soft chairs and beanbags. All the shelves were short, yet again coloured red with the shelves being yellow and drawings adorning the ends.

He moved deeper into the room, avoiding the growing voices that came behind him of the two he’d seen earlier. Instead, he focused on avoiding their line of sight by getting closer to the bottom of the room. Virgil put the trolley up against the wall, taking an armful of books and beginning to place them back on the shelves, until a familiar voice caught his attention.

The student glanced to the side and saw the familiar sight of Patton, sitting and talking with a couple of kids. A book was open across his legs as he sat cross-legged. Virgil scrunched his face as he took in the scene, talking to himself quietly, “It’s not a Tuesday… so it’s not time for that reading with kids thing… Or is it? Did they change it…?”

He was lost in his thoughts, moving between the shelves. The voices of the occupants of the room became muffled as he worked. As he returned to grab his third armful of books, a hand rested on his shoulder and he spun around, startled.

“Woah! Sorry, didn’t mean to scare you there, kiddo.”

Virgil let out a heavy breath, hand pressed to his chest, “You practically gave me a heart attack…”

“I’m sorry! You were just looking a little lost and confused. I just wanted to check on you is all.” Patton smiled his usual large smile, yet his eyes showed clear concern.

Virgil felt his cheeks starting to burn a little at the scrutiny and turned away, “I’m fine… I was just thinking…” He paused, unsure if he wanted to tell Patton what was on his mind.

The shortest of all the library staff had always been a beacon of light around the building, always bubbly and willing to help people out with whatever they needed. He frequently spent too much time with just a single patron, but he explained to Virgil that he just wanted everyone to feel welcome and listened to. All of the older crowd that came to the library were on first name terms with Patton, and he welcomed them with open arms. He worked almost every event that the library put on, but what he was most known for was on every Tuesday morning.

The event was referred to as “Story Time” and involved young kids and their carers – be they parents, grandparents, babysitters or anyone else – came to listen to one of the library staff or volunteers read a few kids stories to them before completing some kind of craft activity. Patton was the best they had for this. Anyone who came to any of his sessions immediately warmed to him, and he loved every moment of the sessions.

For Virgil, he’d sat in to ‘help’ with the event a few times and had always found himself enraptured by the man’s energy and presence during the sessions. Patton had also always been around for him, helping him learn his way around and never chastising him if he accidentally did something wrong – he instead taught him easily and always with a smile. Patton was such a comfort, which lead to Virgil opening up to him.

Purple hair fell across his eyes as he attempted to avoid Patton’s eyes, “I just… I wasn’t sure why you were here. It’s not Tuesday, so I was just… I dunno, thinking about, maybe it had changed or something… It’s stupid, don’t worry.”

A light giggling had Virgil peeking out from under his hair to see Patton covering his mouth with a hand, attempting to quiet himself. His stomach plummeted, and Virgil began to retreat inside his patched hoodie. Patton suddenly stopped, concerned.

“No, no, no! I’m not laughing at you, Virgil, I promise. It’s just kinda adorable that you even thought about that.” Patton looked at him with something that could only be described as fondness, before he looked back towards where he was sat previously. “I was just taking a moment to help out with those two. Their parents help out around sometimes, so I like to sit with their kids, keep them busy.”

Virgil swept some of the hair out of his eyes, looking over to the two kids Patton was talking about. He couldn’t help a small smile at the softness in Patton’s voice, “Don’t let me keep you from them. Go on, get back to it.” He went to pick up the last few books from the trolley.

“Come with me!”

Virgil almost dropped the books in his hands, “What?!”

“Come on, Virgil! Come over with me, it’ll be fine, they’re no trouble. They’re sweethearts!” Patton made to grab Virgil’s arm, but stopped himself short to clasp his own hands together and practically beg.

Virgil couldn’t say no to that. He agreed to join as soon as he was done with the last of the books, which he took a little extra time with – now hoping that Logan would catch him in here and give him something else to do, but no such luck. Begrudgingly, the student made his way to the back where Patton sat on the floor. As he approached, all three of them looked up at him.

Patton smiled wide, “Virgil! This is Alex and Jessie.” He gestured towards the two children that sat either side of him, both who were looking up at the taller man with what seemed to be fascination. There was no way they’ve be any older than 6 and that was if Virgil was being generous, “Come join us, we’re reading through this book, 17 Things I’m Not Allowed To Do Anymore.” Patton held up the bright yellow cover, “We just found out that this little girl tried walking home from school backwards, and she’s not allowed to do that anymore!”

Virgil let out a soft huff of a laugh as he pulled one of the beanbags close and sat behind the three.

Patton continued to read the book with the two kids, but both of them were easily getting distracted by Virgil behind them – especially when he couldn’t hold back a laugh when they read about how the main character froze a fly in the ice tray.

Suddenly, one of them piped up, “Hey mister, why do you have purple hair?”

Patton stopped reading and looked behind to Virgil. He was ready to jump in and save the volunteer, so he opened his mouth to say something, but he was stopped short as Virgil began to speak.

“Well, you see, I had a run in with a witch.” Virgil leant forward, pushing himself onto his knees so he could almost whisper to the kids, as if it were a secret. He shared a quick glance with Patton, who looked shocked that Virgil was even started his own story like this, but soon got the gist of it all and took over for a moment.

“I remember you mentioned this to me!” Patton spun his body around to face Virgil, lowering his voice as well. He shifted his head between all three of them, giving the kids each their own amount of attention, “You said it was one of those witches that give you a curse after you don’t listen to your parents, right?”

“Exactly.” A glint in come to Virgil’s eyes as he mussed up his hair a little in order to show the colour brightening as the light reflected off the individual strands. As he continued speaking of the witch, he used vaguely creepy hand gestures, “The witch found me in my room, after I ignored my parents telling me to eat everything on my plate.” He rolled his eyes with a slight grimace as he pretended to remember, “I mean, does anyone really like vegetables?”

Virgil cut Patton off as he went to follow on after him which caused the two kids to giggle, “Of course you do, Pat. But I didn’t. So, the witch came and cursed me. Telling me that the only way I could ever have coloured hair would be to eat certain foods.”

Patton gasped exaggeratedly, helping along the story. He asked Virgil about the details of the story, finding ways to keep the message of eating healthy. They worked like they’d always done this, creating worlds and telling these stories. They followed on from each other’s new sentence or question almost immediately and it felt like it could have been planned well in advance. The two kids were listening so intently, just wanting to hear about the hair colour curse.

“So, because I’ve been eating all sorts of purple foods to make my hair this purple. Its taken a lot of grapes and blackberries to get this colour-“

“-and eggplants, and all sorts of other purple coloured vegetables.” Patton turned to Alex, “Did you know that there are purple potatoes?”

Both children were enamoured with the older man, now asking all sorts of questions about what other vegetables could be purple. Virgil took a moment for himself, just watching the trio. He noticed a couple enter the room, following what looked like a confused Logan. Virgil felt himself tense as the head librarian’s eyes landed in their small corner and began stalking over.

“Patton, Virgil, what are you both doing over here?” Logan’s voice caused Patton to jump and turn to look up at him.

“Oh, hi Logan! We were helping keep these two busy!” Patton gestured to the two kids with a smile, “Virgil was putting books away and then helped me over here!” As he was talking, the couple that were following Logan stepped forward and the two kids ran up to their parents, chatting excitedly about the story they were told.

All of them couldn’t hold back a smile at the children. The parents said their goodbyes and led the children out of the library, still listening to their babbling. Logan followed them out to the main area of the library, but not after letting both Patton and Virgil know that they’d have to explain what they were doing later.

Virgil raised to his feet, stretching his arms above his head.

“Don’t worry about Lo, kiddo. I’ll handle him.” Patton took a bit longer, grunting slightly as he reached his full height. As he glanced up at the volunteer, he gave a playful wink, “That was really fun, Virgil. You surprised me…” He spoke as he went to tidy up the corner they’d been sat in, “I never thought you’d been so good with kids.”

Virgil rubbed the back of his neck, “I mean, I just… I dunno, went with it…” He could feel himself blushing a little as he mumbled a little, “Wouldn’t have been as good without your help…”

“Whatever you say, kiddo. I’m sure you could have done it yourself perfectly!” Patton smiled at him genuinely, and Virgil felt something warm inside him at the sight.

They’d both made their way over to the main desk, “Well, I shouldn’t keep Lo waiting, and I think your shift is over. See you soon, Virgil!” The shorter of the pair walked away towards the office, and Virgil watched as he left. Someone cleared their throat behind him. Virgil span around, eyes wide in shock as he was face-to-face with the new guy.

The new guy watched with a smug smile as Virgil turned away to busy himself with signing out. As he placed the borrowed lanyard back in the basket, the new guy finally spoke up. “So, you and Padre, huh? Wouldn’t have expected that…”

Virgil just looked at the other, confused but didn’t respond. He instead made his way to the cloakroom to grab his things in order to leave. What Virgil didn’t expect was the new guy to follow him.

“Hey! Wait for me!” The new volunteer quickly signed out himself before jogging to catch up to Virgil, “Excuse me, I was talking! It’s rude to ignore someone, y’know!”

“Strangely, I don’t care.” Virgil threw back as he grabbed his bag, hanging it off his shoulder and fishing out his headphones.

“Yes, well, if we’re to be working together, then I think you should at least be civil.” The new guy shut his locker and then stood in the doorway, blocking the exit, “I don’t believe we’ve been actually introduced.” He pushed his hand out towards Virgil, “Roman. Roman Wonder.”

Virgil snorted softly, but humoured the other by shaking his hand, “Virgil. You don’t need to know my last name.” With that, he pushed past the other and went to walk out of the library. As he passed the front desk, he waved at Patton who smiled and returned it. The burst of warmth returned to his chest, and he ducked his head as he pushed his headphones into place.

There was no way. No, he couldn’t. Virgil couldn’t be finding himself falling for both of the librarians, could he? His face was burning as he considered the thought. But what would be even do about it? It wasn’t like he’d ever dream of coming to either of them and telling them. Virgil just hoped he could act as though everything was normal, and with that new guy – Roman, right? – that might be easier said than done.

Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Epilogue

Other Work

General: @not-so-innocent-bi-sander @didsomeonesayprince @llamaly @justanotherpurplebutterfly @iaminmultiplefandoms @ultimate-queen-of-fandoms @lowkeyvirgilobsessed @louisthewarlock

Library: @the-better-bard @hissesssss @rptheturk @ab-artist @misty-the-mysterious

Fanders Tag List (Moxiety): @randomslasher @sanders-sides-thuri @strangerthings-and-phan @watch-me-introvert @sarcastic-anxious @emokittenlikesgore @confinesofpersonalknowledge @tree4life25 @urtrashhq @fandergecko @too-random-for-me @kentato-kenart @deathbyvenusftw @ill-interested @just-another-transblog @the-prince-and-the-emo @inkyroo @staticsanders @depressed-alone @rileyfirstname @icbatocomeupwithausername @walking-encyclopedia @magicmapleleaf @pieces-of-annedrew @saphirestrike @asalwayss @virgils-anxiety @redundant-statements-for-400 @skylagamingfea @clueingforblogs @rainbow-beaniegirl @all-these-trees-stealing-mah-o2 @migraine-marathon @alextheodd @sandersfander1820 @pansexual-cat @hanramz-the-fander @royallyanxious @thestoryofme13 @a-blog-just-for-sanders @trashfireiplier @sanderssides-deathangel @the-optimism-of-the-ostriches @kurna-kovite @lacandra @starry-eyed-haiku-dreamer @digitally-analog @shygirl4991 @sides-of-a-sunset @sugarblob0  @virgils-hoodie @deep-ocean-blues @rose-gold-roman @musicsavedmefromdeath @devastate-my-space @heythereprincey @yourhappypappypatton @on-lock-like-attica @spoonfullofcrofters @siriuswhiskers @thenerdycube @pinkeasteregg @kirsten-the-freak @thepusheenqueen @artistictaurean @funsizedgremlin @logan-exe @thecrimsoncodex @robanilla @dementeddracon @ive-given-up-on-it @blazeimagines101 @sanders-fam-ily @trashypansexual @toujours-fidele @jaybingu @paxtonlovestea @sehtah @septifanderplier @hottopicvirge  @candiukas @idiotauthor @shadow-walker-1201 @wingless-siren @milomeepit @grey-lysander @fricksonsticks @baileystarsketches @fluffishappening @voices-and-stardust @deadinsidebutliving @ocotopushugs​ @logically-sided​ @aikogumi​ @kiwibite​ @microsoft-nerd​ @theworldismysupernova​ @jughead-is-canonically-aroace​ @purplesatankittycat​ @mercythemermaid​ @etherealweekes​ @pearls-of-patton​ @ahoardofsides​ @memesanddreamsinc​ @jade-dragon226-fan​ @anthoscopus​ @mollycassmith​ @ace-v-p-d​ @pandagirl0730​ @dreamerhowelll​ @nyxwordsmith​ @reba-andthesides​ @thesilentbluesparrow​ @angered-turtle​ @fanatic564​ @applesaturn​ @emovirgil​ @my-dark-anxious-son​ @captain-loki-xavier​ @save-dirk​ @evilmuffin​ @k9cat​  @asterias-confused-writings​ @bekkyboo2003​ @ffsas-side-account @allierox15 @aph-roma @logically-alone @theworldismysupernova @notveryglittery @thats-so-crash @space-d0ubt

(If you see this and you aren’t tagged from the fanders tag list, please check your blog settings - I took out the names that wouldn’t let me tag just for my own sanity <3)

[arplis]

Arplis - News: 15 decor items to spruce up your home for spring

— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission. Spring is all about blossoming, new beginnings, and opening up the windows to let fresh air in. I look forward to a deep clean with a fresh playlist around this time every year, and things feel a bit more hopeful when the sun seems to be shining more—at least here in the Midwest. But, even if spring hasn’t quite gotten to your home yet, there are plenty of ways to spruce up your space with spring home decor. From fresh-smelling candles to a new doormat, these home decor items are a surefire way to make your space anew. So toss your blankets in the wash, grab an extra bag of soil, pour some tea, and get ready to freshen up your home for the upcoming season. 1. A candle to set the mood for the season Credit: Boy Smells Start by making your home smell like fresh fruits and veggies. Boy Smells candles have a cult following, and with good reason—they smell so good. I gifted one to my roommate and it brings a smile to my face every time she lights it. It’s still burning now several months later. To get your bedroom or living area ready for spring, I recommend pickup the Gardener scent. This candle is made of coconut wax and beeswax and combines notes of orange tree bark, tomato juice, honeysuckle nectar, petitgrain, and white tea to make the perfect aroma for those early spring days. Get the Boy Smells Gardner Candle from Nordstrom for $32 2. A doormat that matches your personality Credit: Olive Creative Co. Show your guests what to expect with a sassy or sweet doormat. With vaccines becoming readily available, we might be able to flex our hosting and entertaining muscles soon. So, now is the time to make sure your doormat is ready to welcome people into your home or make anyone passing by crack a smile. I’m a big fan of the “You Better Have Pizza” mat from Olive Creative Co. It’s humorous and lighthearted, and it’s perfect for a sleepover or getting pizza delivered. If that one isn’t your speed, check out other options like doormats that say “Homebody” or “Hey Sunshine.” Get the Olive Creative Co. “You Better Have Pizza” doormat from Esty for $45 3. Fresh foliage in the shower Credit: CAFlowerGrowers Make your shower feel like a spa. Whether you like to shower in the morning or take a late-night bath, a fresh bunch of eucalyptus in the bathroom will make your home feel like a spa. I love seeing the burst of green hanging in the shower, and the steam from hot water helps release the calming eucalyptus scent. Adding a bunch of the plant to your shower will help you start the day refreshed and unwind after a long day. Get the CA Flower Growers Large Fresh Shower Eucalyptus Bunch from Etsy for $23.49 4. Adventure-inspired candles Credit: Paddywax Match your itinerary with a new scent. While you’re planning your upcoming road trips, camping outings, and travel plans, consider getting inspired with a candle formulated after National Parks. The candle collection from Paddywax is earthy, textured, naturally fragrant, and a perfect aesthetic fit for your next visit. You can even strike anywhere-matches right on the vessel to make the candle feel like a blazing campfire. Pick your favorite park from some of the best sights and smells our nation has to offer: Glacier, Acadia, Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, Olympic, and the Great Smoky Mountains. Get the Parks Candles from Paddywax for $34 5. Fresh towels Credit: Nordstrom Few things are as refreshing as plush, new towels. Springtime means spring cleaning, and for some people that includes getting rid of their old, crusty bathroom towels and replacing them with fresh ones. The Hydrocotton towels from Nordstrom are the perfect replacement or can be added to your current rotation. The 100-percent cotton material is ultra-soft and ultra-absorbent providing gentle and thorough drying. Get both the bath towel and the hand towel to give your body and your hands the VIP drying experience. Get the Nordstrom Hydrocotton Bath Sheet from Nordstrom for $55 Get the Nordstrom Hydrocotton Hand Towel from Nordstrom for $19 6. Wicker baskets Credit: QVC Store your blankets, toys, or plants in these gorgeous baskets. With spring comes warmer weather, meaning it's time to put away all the excess pillows and blankets you brought out for the colder months. These wicker baskets are the perfect combination of stylish and functional, allowing you to store those blankets close by when you do get chilly instead of searching for the plastic bin in your basement stuffed them in. There’s also something about the wicker material that's reminiscent of spending time outside. Get the Wicker Basket Set from QVC for $48 7. A countertop compost bin Credit: Bamboozle Keep your scraps out of sight with this bamboo bin. I recently tested a range of compost bins on the market for both indoor collection and outdoor spaces. This indoor bin from Bamboozle was one of my favorites, and it was runner-up for the indoor bins. I loved that the materials (mostly bamboo) and shipping materials were plastic-free and recyclable. I now keep this bin on my countertop or hang it on a hook in my kitchen when the counter is a bit crowded. If you’re looking to reduce food waste and ready to start composting, this sleek bin is wonderful. I do recommend getting it in the darker color though since the cream color stains easily from fruit and veggies. Get the Bamboozle Compost Bin from Amazon for $39.99 8. Plants for a pop of green Credit: FloridaPlantsGardens These ferns are light, airy, and quick to take up space! A new plant is the perfect thing to welcome in the spring for obvious reasons. This asparagus fern is a great addition to your indoor plant collection or a good one to start with for beginners, especially since it is relatively easy to take care of. Despite its name, it is not related to vegetable and is more pleasing to the eye than the stomach. Based on my experience these little guys grow pretty rapidly, adding plenty of green to your home. Get the Florida Plants Gardens Asparagus Sprengeri Fern from Etsy for $12.97 9. A textured throw Credit: Urban Outfitters Doesn't this texture make you want to stay on the couch? Spring is a bit of an in-between season. My roommate and I have been debating whether 40-degree weather is winter or spring—but we do agree that blankets, especially cute and cozy ones, will keep us at the right temperature until we can open the windows and let fresh air in. This tufted-throw blanket from Urban Outfitter is the perfect size for wrapping yourself up on the couch or adding on top of your duvet for another layer of warmth. The throw comes in natural colors that will complement midcentury, bohemian, industrial, and minimalist decor. Get the Aden Tufted Throw Blanket from Urban Outfitters for $69 10. A hammock chair Credit: Highwild Add this comfy chair to your porch or backyard. Warmer weather means more opportunities to sit outside on your front porch or in your backyard. When the time comes, you’ll want to be prepared with a comfortable place to sit like this personal hammock chair swing. This is the perfect spot to bask in the sun and let time pass you buy as you read and sip on an iced tea or write in your journal. If you don’t have any porch or yard space, don't worry. You can still enjoy this hammock. It’s easy to move and can be hung from a tree in a park or indoors to turn your room into a zen oasis. Get the Hanging Rope Hammock Chair from Amazon for $42.99 11. Bright, versatile dishcloths Credit: Anthropologie Add some color to your picnic basket. I love kitchen items, especially multi-purpose ones. I don’t use paper towels in order to reduce waste and be more sustainable, so I have a large collection of tea towels and dishcloths for cleaning, eating, and cooking. This six-pack of dishcloths is bright and charming. You can use them to dry dishes, wipe down counters, dust surfaces, and keep your hands clean during picnics. I can’t recommend these enough, and reviewers agree that they are of great quality and just as vibrant as the photos show. Get the Woven Geo Dishcloths, 6 Pack from Anthropologie for $24 12. A whimsical recipe card tin Credit: Rifle Paper Co. Keep your recipes in one place. Though I have an extensive Pinterest board of recipes, nothing compares to a handwritten recipe card. I have a few from my grandma and mom’s collection, and I’ve started to write my go-to recipes out on large index cards as well. The cards are easier to keep on the counter than my laptop or a cookbook, and you can laminate them to make them last. But you’ll need a place to store your recipes, and no tin is better than the floral ones from Rifle Paper Co. The tins are practical and whimsical, and if you’re a fan of the pattern you can match it with other accessories like your apron, phone case, and more. Get the Recipe Tin from Rifle Paper Co. for $34 13. Air plants Credit: The Sill You can display air plants any way you like. Air plants are little pops of life that you can display in a variety of ways. You can place them in glass globes on the wall, in a basket or tray on your coffee table, or add them as accents to your bookshelves. They don’t take much work, just a weekly soak to keep them perky. They’re a great alternative to potted plants if you don’t have much space or have pets who dig in the soil. This pack of six air plants is only $30, and the plants range in size so you can mix and match them as you decorate. Get the Air Plant Assortment from The Sill for $30 14. A bag for pretty much everything Credit: Urban Outfitters Keep this bag right by the door. Market bags are pretty popular and you’ve probably seen your favorite influencers carrying one as a purse or grocery bag. They’re common in zero-waste bundles as well, and for good reason. A good market bag can be used to carry fresh produce, flowers, or your daily essentials like your water bottle, purse, and phone. In addition to being transporting your goods, you can use it to store produce once you get home by hanging it a nail or hook or store it in the fridge. This bag can also be folded up to fit into a tiny purse so you’re prepared for any shopping emergency. Get the To-Go Market Bag from Urban Outfitters for $9 15. A tray to improve your baths Credit: Royal Craft Wood Take longer baths with a tray for your wine and books. I love taking a bath to wind down, especially since Daylight Saving Time has me a bit off my routine. Though I love relaxing, I tend to get bored and prop up my laptop to watch a TV show or awkwardly hunch to read a book. If you’re in the same boat, upgrade your baths with a tray that’s made to hold all your things. A mug of tea or glass of wine can sit in the coaster area. You can place a candle, lotions, face masks, essential oils, a vase of flowers, or bath salts to keep everything you use within reach. And the tray has several ridges to keep your phone, book, or tablet in place (and dry). Get the Bathtub Caddy Tray from Amazon for $49.97 The product experts at Reviewed have all your shopping needs covered. Follow Reviewed on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for the latest deals, product reviews, and more. Prices were accurate at the time this article was published but may change over time.

Arplis - News source https://arplis.com/blogs/news/15-decor-items-to-spruce-up-your-home-for-spring

[collegewriting2]

Alyssa's French Macroons

Macaroons

When I went to Spain I tried Macaroons for the very first time and I fell in love with them. When I came back to America I gave them to my family to try and they fell in love with them too. We looked for bakeries near us that make them but there are none, the closest one is an hour away. So my sister and I decided that we are going to make macarons. First I had to find a recipe that I liked and I found on popsugar.

Here is the link https://www.popsugar.com/food/Basic-French-Macaron-Recipe-21651110

Ingredients:  French Macaron

2/3 cup almond meal or ground almonds

1 ½ cups powdered sugar

3 large egg whites, room temperature and preferably aged up to 3 days

5 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Butter Cream Filling

7 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

2 egg yolks

¼ cup granulated sugar

3 ½ tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

 Recipe:

1.Preheat the oven to 280ºF, and position 2 racks in the lower section of the oven. Line 2 rimmed baking sheets with parchment paper. If you have time, draw 1-inch circles on the back of each sheet, spacing the circles at least ½-inch apart.

2.Sift the almond meal-powdered sugar mixture twice through a mesh sieve.

3.Place egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer (or use a hand mixer), and begin to beat on medium-high. When the eggs are frothy, gradually add granulated sugar 1 tablespoon at a time until fully incorporated. Continue to beat the egg white mixture until glossy and stiff peaks form when you lift the beaters. Gently stir in the vanilla extract. Be careful to not overbeat the meringue (e.g., the meringue takes on a clumpy texture)

4.Add half of the sifted almond mixture, and gently fold it into the meringue using a flexible silicone spatula. Lift from the bottom, up around the sides, and toward the middle, being careful to not overagitate the meringue and lose too much air. Once the almond mixture is predominantly incorporated, add the second half and repeat the folding motion.

5.When the almond mixture is just incorporated, you will need to transform the batter into the appropriate texture. Using the flat of the spatula, “punch” down into the center of the batter, then scrape more batter from the sides to the center, and punch again. You will need to repeat this 10-15 times (or more, depending on your arm strength and the beginning texture of your batter) until the batter slowly and continuously drips back into the bowl when you scoop it up with the spatula. Think of the consistency of molten lava. For the best results, punch the batter a few times, check the consistency, then punch a few more times, etc. Do not make the batter too runny or the macarons won’t rise as they should, and you could end up with oil stains on the surface.

6.Pour batter into a pastry bag fitted with a 0.4-inch tip. In a pinch, you can also use a gallon-size Ziploc bag: just snip a teeny bit from one of the bottom corners. Twist and clip the top of the bag to avoid overflow. On your prepared baking sheets, pipe out 1-inch rounds in the circles you drew (remember to draw the circles on the back side of your parchment to avoid ink or pencil stains on your macarons!).

7.Holding the baking sheet in both hands, rap each baking sheet firmly on the counter two or three times. This smooths out the tops and helps form the “pied” or frilly foot on the bottoms of the macarons. Allow the piped macarons to dry, uncovered, for at least 15 minutes. The macarons should form a very thin, smooth crust where, if you tap it lightly with your finger, the batter will not stick to your finger. If after 15 minutes, the batter is still sticky, let it dry longer. This may take up to an hour on humid days.

8.Place both baking sheets in the oven and bake for 15-18 minutes. After the first 2 minutes, open the oven to allow any excess humidity to escape. Halfway through, swap oven racks and rotate the sheets for even baking. The macarons are done when they are baked all the way through and the shells are just hard. Take care to not underbake (insides will still be mushy) or overbake (tops will begin to brown). Remove them from the oven, and cool on baking sheet placed on a wire rack.

9.When fully cooled, assemble the macarons with your choice of filling. The assembled macarons can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to one week.

Butter cream filling

1.Cut butter into pieces, and mash with a spatula until the consistency resembles mayonnaise.

2.In a small bowl, whisk the egg yolks, then add the granulated sugar, and whisk until the mixture lightens to an off-white and you can no longer see the granules of sugar. Add the milk, and whisk to combine.

3.Pour the egg mixture into a small saucepan, and heat over low heat, whisking frequently to ensure that the mixture does not curdle or scorch. Cook until the mixture becomes thick and custardy, like pudding.

4.Pour the egg mixture back into its bowl, and whisk constantly until it returns to room temperature. Whisk in the butter in three batches, add the vanilla, and stir until smooth and all ingredients are fully combined. Pipe or spread onto one macaron half and sandwich between the other.

You will need almond meal, powdered sugar, 3 large egg whites, sugar, and vanilla extract to make the macaron. To make the filling you need 7 tablespoons of softened butter, 2 egg yolks, ¼ cup of granulated sugar, and 1 teaspoon of vanilla extract.

To start with you preheat the oven to 280ºF, you will need two trays. I recommend having the silicone trays made especially made for macaroons or using parchment paper. To actually start the process you will place the egg whites in a bowl and use a hand mixer and begin to beat it on medium-high.When the eggs are frothy, add the granulated sugar, 1 tablespoon at a time. Continue to beat it until you get glossy, stiff peaks. You will then add the vanilla extract, then you will add half of the almond meal mixture. Which is mixing the almond meal and powdered sugar, mi until they are not seperated.You will gently fold it. Folding it is lift from the bottom, up from the sides, toward the middle, once it is incorporated you will add in the other half and continue the process until it is all mixed together. I recommended folding the batter althoughter about 20 times to get the right consistency for the macarons to rise.  

(Collage image, Left to right, then bottom, Egg whites seperated, egg mixture being mixed, egg mixture being heated, folding the batter, icing being scooped out into pastry bag.)

You will now need to pour it into a pastry bag, this was difficult so i recommend getting a tall cup, putting the pastry bag into the cup, and folding the edges over the cup, then it won’t fall, and won’t make a mess.You don’t need to use a tip for this we didn’t,we just cut the tip off of the bag.You will then pipe out to your proffered size macaroons, we did 1 inch ones as that was the size on our silicone macaron sheet. Fill to the amount you want for each sheet. Then tap you tray on a solid surface, i recommend tapping about 10-15 times to make sure it is even. We didn’t tap enough. You then allow the macarons to dry for about 15 minutes, touch to check to see if it is dry, you should not have anything on your finger. Then put it in for 15-18 minutes. Do not undercook it, it will be soft on the underneath, or overcook it where it begins to brown. Then let it cool. We made the icing while it cooled. Cut the butter into pieces and put into mier and smush it until it looks like mustard. In a small bowl whisk the egg yolks, then add the granulated sugar and whisk into mixture until you can’t see the granulated sugar and is an off colored white. Add milk to mixture and whisk. Pour into small saucepan and heat over low heat, whisk frequently to ensure it doesn’t burn. Cook until it becomes thick and pudding like consistency , pour back into a bowl, whisk until it becomes room temperatures, whisk it into butter. We added it all together because we used a kitchenaid mixer and didn't’ need multiple times to mi.Stir until smooth. Put into a piping bag and pipe onto one side of macaroon, then put another one on it. Your macaron is done. Over all I feel it was an okay attempt. My sister and I likes the macaroon but didn’t not like the filling, so next time we make macaroon we are going to using a different filling. It was not sweet enough for us.

[edgewaterfarmcsa]

CSA WEEK 8

p i c k l i s t

Tomatoes - Carmen Sweet Pepper (big) - Shishito Peppers (little) - Summer Squash - 

Golden Zucchini -  Mint - Basil - Corn - Cabbage - Blueberries - Eggplant 

Great news! No deaths today while picking mint during the supposed tornado.  That said, there was a lot of talk around death while picking herbs and how our tombstones might read.  Here lies Jenny and Roy* (yup, you read it right, not Ray), who just needed 8 more bunches for CSA.  Once we picked those last 8 bunches we put the truck in 4 wheel drive and headed to the pack-shed to seek salvation from the storm.  There we were met by the entire field crew.  When thunder or lightning, tornado or hurricane make their way to Edgewater Farm we (field crew) consistently pray for movie day and almost always are met with so many tasks around the packshed.  Luckily it was CSA eve, and everyone was there to pitch in on the final squash count, box stack, and pinting of shishitos.

But the big news today is your basil bunch.  Each basil bunch was picked from a greenhouse that by the time you are reading this, the greenhouse will be stripped of any remaining basil.  The beds will be tilled, and the soil amended as we get ready for the Fall CSA planting.  More News on Fall CSA later, but get stoked.  That said, these basil bunches could potentially be the ugliest basil bunches you’ve ever seen- as a grower, it is too hard to waste a whole house of basil because stalks are too woody and it's already been harvested through twice.  However, like last week’s hakurai turnips (was that last week?) the flavor of the basil is perfect and will take your tomatoes to a whole new level of SummerTime eating.  

And lastly, two weeks of cabbage in a row? You betcha!  Now you have 0 excuse to not sauerkraut, ferment and get that good gut microbiome.

ROY* an Edgewater 19 year field crew veteran and one of my best friends.  He comes up from Jamaica in May and stays through the end of  harvest season. Leaves before all of our fingers frost in November.  He is always down for a good joke, a helping hand, coffee, and donuts.  Lately we’ve shared the mantra, if you go, I go.  (This is clearly a joke as both he and I have practically signed on to Edgewater Farm forever and ever, Amen).   

 TIPS - TRICKS - RECIPES:

Tomato and Corn Pie (smittenkitchen)

JENNY’S NOTE:  PLEASE know that i cursed this recipe the WHOLE time.  Especially when i came to the part about blanching tomatoes in which i declared, “this is too much work i will never ever make this again.” But then it was served to my picky 4 yearold eater who said, “yum mama, did you make this?  Can we have it again tomorrow night?”  WHAT THE HELL.  So now, it will be in heavy rotation as our Sunday night go to while the tomatoes are at their peak, the basil abundant,  and the corn sweet as sugar.      

Now back to the recipe:  A few notes: First, butter-brushed biscuit-crusted savory pie, where have you been my whole life? I’ve been living on the wrong side of the Mason-Dixon line, clearly. Second, this recipe works exactly as-is, save one irksome issue: our pie was a puddle when we cut into it. I simply poured off the crust-sogging liquid, but I’d advise you to instead seed and juice your tomatoes if you bear it (I hate tossing the most flavorful parts, personally) or risk a mushy base. Third, this pie includes the curious instruction to peeling your tomatoes, which I first dismissed as an annoying extra step but in the end felt that it was absolutely brilliant. No chewy separating tomato skins! Just pure, instense peak-season tomato goodness. Consider me converted.

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

1 3/4 teaspoons salt, divided

3/4 stick (6 tablespoons or 3 ounces) cold unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch cubes, plus 2 teaspoons melted

3/4 cup whole milk

1/3 cup mayonnaise

2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice

1 3/4 pounds beefsteak tomatoes

1 1/2 cups corn (from about 3 ears), coarsely chopped by hand (my preference) or lightly puréed in a food processor, divided

2 tablespoons finely chopped basil, divided (skipped this, no harm was done)

1 tablespoon finely chopped chives, divided

1/4 teaspoon black pepper, divided

7ounces coarsely grated sharp Cheddar (1 3/4 cups), divided

Whisk together flour, baking powder, and 3/4 tsp salt in a bowl, then blend in cold butter (3/4 stick) with your fingertips or a pastry blender until it resembles coarse meal. Add milk, stirring until mixture just forms a dough, then gather into a ball.

Divide dough in half and roll out one piece on a well-floured counter (my choice) or between two sheets of plastic wrap (the recipe’s suggestion, but I imagined it would annoyingly stick to the plastic) into a 12-inch round (1/8 inch thick). Either fold the round gently in quarters, lift it into a 9-inch pie plate and gently unfold and center it or, if you’re using the plastic warp method, remove top sheet of plastic wrap, then lift dough using bottom sheet of plastic wrap and invert into pie plate. Pat the dough in with your fingers trim any overhang.

Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle. If your kitchen is excessively warm, as ours is, go ahead and put the second half of the dough in the fridge until you’re ready to use it. Whisk together mayonnaise and lemon juice.

Cut an X in bottom of each tomato and blanch in a large pot of boiling water 10 seconds. Immediately transfer with a slotted spoon to an ice bath to cool. Peel tomatoes, then slice crosswise 1/4 inch thick and, if desired (see Notes above recipe), gently remove seeds and extra juices. Arrange half of tomatoes in crust, overlapping, and sprinkle with half of corn, one tablespoon basil, 1/2 tablespoon chives, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon pepper and one cup of grated cheese. Repeat layering with remaining tomatoes, corn, basil, chives, salt, and pepper. Pour lemon mayonnaise over filling and sprinkle with remaining cheese.

Roll out remaining piece of dough into a 12-inch round in same manner, then fit over filling, folding overhang under edge of bottom crust and pinching edge to seal. Cut 4 steam vents in top crust and brush crust with melted butter (2 teaspoons). Bake pie until crust is golden and filling is bubbling, 30 to 35 minutes, then cool on a rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Do ahead: Pie can be baked 1 day ahead and chilled. Reheat in a 350°F oven until warm, about 30 minutes

SHISHITO PEPPERS: These peppers are soooo good when pan fried/grilled with a little olive oil and salt.  Pull from the pan once blistered, consume immediately- never look back, your life is forever changed, this is your new favorite pepper, you’re welcome.  

This eggplant is magical. Not greasy (even though you fry in oil) crunchy, crispy and insanely addictive.

The trick is to slice it thick-ish and salt it generously. Let it sit out releasing puddles of water. Pat dry aggressively, cover in corn starch aggressively and then fry in hot oil until it comes out golden and dark brown in some places (you want to make sure the eggplant meat inside is cooked, custardy and sweet). I have topped the eggplant with garlicky tahini, amba (mango pickle sauce), fresh parsley and sea salt but you can really do whatever you want here.

1 large eggplant or 2 medium eggplants

kosher salt

1 cup cornstarch

4 cups canola oil or any oil with no flavor 

sea salt to finish

serve with garlicky tahini (recipe below), amba, fresh parsley, fresh lemon, parsley, honey

Directions- Slice the eggplant in 1/2 inch thick pieces. You have the option of keeping the skin on or removing the skin. I keep it on, because I don’t like to waste it but if you remove the skin, it will get even crispier. Place the eggplant slices on a sheet tray and generously salt the eggplant. Let it sit out at room temp for at least 1 hour. Puddles of liquid will come out of the eggplant. Before frying, take a kitchen towel and pat down the eggplant well, drying them off as much as possible. Slice in half on a diagonal (I think they are too big to fit in a sandwich or a pita this way so I like to slice them in half) Place the cornstarch in a bowl and toss each piece in the cornstarch well. Shake off excess and place on a dry sheet tray. Heat up the oil in a deep pot. If you don’t have a thermometer (which I don’t) heat on high and sprinkle a little cornstarch in the oil. If it sizzles it should be ready. Turn the heat to medium high it should be around 350 degrees f and add in the first piece. I like to fry one at a time so that the oil temp stays up (if you overcrowd the oil the temp will come down and the eggplant wont fry they will soak) 

Flip the eggplant over once the bottom is golden and brown in some places around 1-2 minutes. When the other side is golden another 1-2 minutes remove from the oil and place on a paper towel to let dry. Immediately season well with sea salt.

Serve this eggplant on its own, on sandwiches, in pitas…you can do a lot with it. 

For my crispy eggplant fries, I peeled the eggplant and sliced them into 1/2 inch thick pieces. Salted them and let them sit out for an hour, pat dry and then sliced them into strips (keep them thicker so that there is enough eggplant inside to get creamy, while it’s frying). Toss the strips in the cornstarch and 1 handful at a time fry in the oil until golden. Let it fry for 3 minutes until they are golden and lightly browned (make sure they get to that golden light brown color, you want the meat inside to cook). Remove from the oil and place on paper towel. Season well with salt and serve with yummy condiments like garlicky tahini, amba, silan, honey….etc.

Garlicky tahini–

1/2 cup tahini paste

2 tsp fresh lemon juice

1 small garlic clove, finely grated

large pinch kosher salt- or to taste

3 tablespoons cup ice water

Directions- Place everything in a bowl and mix. The tahini will get thick and pasty but keep mixing. Add more water to loosen, if needed.

[vincentpennington]

Easy Cinnamon Rolls in a Muffin Pan (Paleo, Gluten-free)

These easy paleo cinnamon rolls can be made in a muffin pan! Even better: they’re gluten-free and oh-so delicious! You can freeze the extras and reheat them when you’re craving a healthy grain-free treat!

As longtime Nomsters know, I don’t normally post recipes for paleo treats or desserts because I’m not much of a baker. That’s why I was so delighted to get a copy of Michele Rosen’s new cookbook, Paleo Baking At Home. Michele’s the genius recipe developer behind the popular blog Paleo Running Momma, and although she has a ton of fantastic savory recipes, I turn to her simple yet decadent paleo dessert recipes when I need a sweet fix. Case in point? These easy cinnamon rolls in a muffin pan from her new cookbook!

Muffin pan = genius hack!

Michele’s idea to bake individual cinnamon rolls in a greased muffin pan is pure genius ’cause the rolls don’t spread as they bake and the edges get evenly browned. Plus, the muffin tin forces you to make each roll a reasonable portion size and not the size of your head. The resulting perfectly-sized rolls are slightly crunchy on the outside with a tender crumb on the inside—just how I like them!

Ingredient Substitutions?

Don’t even ask me, because I honestly have no idea if you can use a flax egg in this recipe or coconut flour in place of the almond flour. Part of the reason I don’t like making paleo sweets is because you can’t easily swap ingredients depending on your mood or what’s in your pantry. After all, baking is a science that requires precise measurements. I’m so grateful that Michele Rosen did all the testing and graciously allowed me to share her recipe with you!

Per Michele Rosen, you can substitute the tapioca flour with arrowroot flour in most of her recipes as long as the volume is up to one cup. Although she warns that the texture may be altered if you go above that amount, I tried arrowroot powder in this recipe and my rolls tasted just fine. If you substitute one of the ingredients in this recipe and have success, please share them in the comments section!

Can you freeze them?

Yes! The best way to store any leftover unfrosted cinnamon rolls is in the freezer for up to two months in a sealed container. You can reheat the frozen baked rolls in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes or until warmed through. Spread the icing on top while the rolls are still warm and you’ll be thanking your former self for saving some for later!

Time to make Michele Rosen’s easy cinnamon rolls in a muffin pan!

Serves 12

Ingredients:

Rolls:

1¾ cups (168 g) blanched almond flour

1½ cups (168 g) tapioca flour, plus more for sprinkling

¾ teaspoon baking soda

¾ teaspoon fine sea salt

⅓ cup (79 mL) light coconut milk, blended

3 tablespoons (45 mL) melted ghee

2 tablespoons (30 mL) raw honey, melted

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 large egg, at room temperature

Avocado or coconut oil spray

Filling:

1 tablespoon (12 g) ghee, at room temperature

1 tablespoon (21 g) raw honey, at room temperature

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Topping:

¾ cup (117 g) powdered maple sugar or Swerve confectioners sweetener

1 tablespoon (11 g) palm oil shortening or ghee, at room temperature

½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 tablespoon (15 mL) coconut or unsweetened almond milk

Equipment:

All of my recommended kitchen tools are listed here.

Method:

Time to prepare the rolls! In a large bowl, whisk together the almond and tapioca flours, baking soda, and salt.

Add the coconut milk, ghee, honey, and vanilla, and mix well.

Lastly, add the egg.

Continue to mix until a sticky dough forms.

Cover and chill the dough in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes. At this point, it should be firm enough to handle with some help from extra tapioca flour.

Meanwhile, heat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and spray 12 wells of a muffin pan with avocado or coconut oil spray. (Pro tip: spray the muffin pan on your open dishwasher door! Any mess you make will be gone once you run the dishwasher!)

Draw a 14 x 6 inch rectangle on a large piece of parchment paper.

Flip over the parchment paper so the tracing is still visible and place the paper on a large cutting board.

Sprinkle about 1 tablespoon (7 g) of tapioca flour on top of the parchment paper on top of the rectangle tracing.

Place the chilled dough in the center of paper and using tapioca flour dusted hands, press the dough into the long rectangle traced on the paper with the heels of your hands until the dough is of even thickness.

Now, let’s make the filling! In a small bowl, mix together the ghee, honey, and cinnamon until it is a thick paste with no lumps.

Carefully spread the filling in a thin layer over the surface of the dough.

Using the parchment paper to help you, roll the dough tightly on the long side. Once rolled, place the dough in the freezer for 5 to 10 minutes for easier slicing.

Slice the chilled roll into 12 even pieces with a sharp knife.

Place each piece, flat side down, in a greased muffin tin well.

Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, rotating the tray at the halfway point.

The rolls are finished cooking when the tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of a roll comes out clean.

While the rolls bake, prepare the icing! In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered maple sugar or Swerve confectioners sweetener, palm oil shortening, and vanilla.

Slowly add the coconut milk and stir until the desired consistency is achieved.

Transfer the rolls from the muffin pan to a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet.

Drizzle on the icing while the rolls are still warm and dig in!

Freeze the unfrosted leftover cinnamon rolls for up to 2 months. Reheat in a 300°F oven for 5-7 minutes or until warmed through. Spread the icing on top while still warm and savor your treat!

Want more amazing paleo baking recipes? Buy Michele Rosen’s cookbook, Paleo Baking At Home, and get this cinnamon roll recipe and a bunch more just like it!

Looking for more recipe ideas? Head on over to my Recipe Index. You’ll also find exclusive recipes on my iPhone and iPad app, and in my cookbooks, Nom Nom Paleo: Food for Humans (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2013) and Ready or Not! (Andrews McMeel Publishing 2017)!

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Easy Cinnamon Rolls in a Muffin Pan (Paleo, Gluten-free)

These easy paleo cinnamon rolls can be made in a muffin pan! Even better: they’re gluten-free and oh-so delicious!

Course Dessert

Cuisine American

Keyword gluten-free, grain-free, nom nom paleo, paleo, paleo dessert

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 1 hour

Servings 12

Calories 279kcal

Ingredients

For The Rolls

1¾ cups finely ground almond flour

1½ cups tapioca starch plus more for sprinkling

¾ teaspoon baking soda

¾ teaspoon fine sea salt

⅓ cup light coconut milk blended

3 tablespoons melted ghee

2 tablespoons raw honey melted

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 large egg at room temperature

Avocado oil spray or coconut oil spray

For The Filling

1 tablespoon ghee at room temperature

1 tablespoon raw honey at room temperature

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

For The Topping

¾ cup powdered maple sugar or Swerve confectioners sweetener

1 tablespoon palm oil shortening or ghee, at room temperature

1 tablespoon full-fat coconut milk or unsweetened almond milk

US Customary - Metric

Instructions

Make the rolls!

In a large bowl, whisk together the almond and tapioca flours, baking soda, and salt.

Add the coconut milk, ghee, honey, and vanilla, and mix well.

Lastly, add the egg. Continue to mix until a sticky dough forms.

Cover and chill the dough in the refrigerator for 10 to 15 minutes. At this point, it should be firm enough to handle with some help from extra tapioca flour.

Meanwhile, heat your oven to 350°F (177°C) and spray 12 wells of a muffin pan with avocado or coconut oil spray. (Pro tip: spray the muffin pan on your open dishwasher door! Any mess you make will be gone once you run the dishwasher!)

Draw a 14 x 6 inch rectangle on a large piece of parchment paper. Flip over the parchment paper so the tracing is still visible and place the paper on a large cutting board.

Flip over the parchment paper so the tracing is still visible and place the paper on a large cutting board.

Place the chilled dough in the center of paper and using tapioca flour dusted hands, press the dough into the long rectangle traced on the paper with the heels of your hands until the dough is of even thickness.

Make The Filling!

In a small bowl, mix together the ghee, honey, and cinnamon until it is a thick paste with no lumps.

Form and Bake The Rolls!

Carefully spread the filling in a thin layer over the surface of the dough.

Using the parchment paper to help you, roll the dough tightly on the long side. Once rolled, place the dough in the freezer for 5 to 10 minutes for easier slicing.

Slice the chilled roll into 12 even pieces with a sharp knife. Place each piece, flat side down, in a greased muffin tin well.

Bake for 16 to 18 minutes, rotating the tray at the halfway point. The rolls are finished cooking when the tops are golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center of a roll comes out clean.

Make The Topping & Frost The Rolls!

While the rolls bake, prepare the icing! In a medium bowl, whisk together the powdered maple sugar or Swerve confectioners sweetener, palm oil shortening, and vanilla.

Slowly add the coconut milk and stir until the desired consistency is achieved.

Transfer the rolls from the muffin pan to a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet.

Drizzle on the icing while the rolls are still warm and dig in!

Notes

Easy Cinnamon Rolls in a Muffin Pan is excerpted with minor adaptations from Paleo Baking At Home: The Ultimate Resource for Delicious Grain-Free Cookies, Cakes, Bars, Breads and More © 2020 by Michele Rosen. Reproduced by permission of Page Street Publishing. All rights reserved.

Nutrition

Calories: 279kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 15g | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 17g

The post Easy Cinnamon Rolls in a Muffin Pan (Paleo, Gluten-free) appeared first on Nom Nom Paleo®.

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Six Summer Ideas to Stay Cool

By Gail Allen

Summer is almost upon us and for most of us, that means sun and warmth. At least, I am hoping for lots of sun. But that also means that we'll all need some ways of cooling down and maybe dealing with the odd sunburn if we're not careful enough with the sunscreen.

So, without further ado, here are a few icy tips and tricks on how to stay cool this coming summer.

1.) Aloe Vera Ice Cubes It's happened to me more often than I care to think about: I've been out all day and I thought I'd put on enough sunscreen, but it turns out I manage to get burned anyway. So what to do? I like to have some aloe vera ice cubes on hand. They both soothe the skin, but also cool it down which feels wonderful. It's extremely simple to make these. You simply cut the aloe vera open if the one you have is fresh and scrape out the inside into an ice cube tray and put it in the freezer. If your aloe vera is not fresh all you have to do is squeeze some from a bottle into the tray and freeze that instead.

2.) Iced Bottle Another thing I often struggle with is warm water. I cannot stand to drink warm water and even lukewarm water bothers me. I've tried putting ice cubes into my bottle, but they're too big to go past the opening. So how do I keep water cold all day when I'm out in the sun? I freeze water in a bottle, but not a full bottle. If you fill it completely, you will probably crack the bottle because water expands when it freezes. But if you fill the bottle half way with water and then freeze it, then when you're ready to go, you get your bottle out of the freezer and top it off with water. Now you have lovely cold water. And when you've drunk what's already in it, you can just top it off again. I like to have two bottles on rotation, so when I go and get one in the freezer in the morning, I place a new one in. That way, there's always a fresh frozen bottle waiting for me.

3.) Tasty Ice Cubes For years I've kept my drinks cold with ice cubes in the summer. Unfortunately, they always watered down my drinks and made them less tasty. Then, I started making ice cubes from liquids other than water. If you use ice cubes made with the same drink you are drinking, it won't water down the taste. But sometimes it's also interesting to use ice cubes made with different flavours than what you are drinking. I especially enjoy ice cubes made with orange juice for coke, but I use other combinations, also. I highly encourage you to try this. Just be aware that if you freeze fizzy drinks they will no longer be fizzy, so juices and lemonades tend to work better. Freezing things with a sharper taste in mixes with water is also great. Particularly lemon juice ice cubes can get overwhelming if they're not watered down. Try around with different mixes until you find the one you like.

4.) Frozen Grapes Another way to avoid watering down your drinks is by freezing grapes or other fruits instead. These will cool down your drink without changing the original flavour. And you have the added bonus of being able to eat the cold fruit once you've finished your drink. There are a couple of different ways to accomplish this. Either in an ice cube tray, potentially with juice of lemonade around it, or simply on a plate that you put into the fridge with the fruits on it. With grapes or other things not likely to stick together, a plastic bag will even work. Just make sure there is no moisture in it or the grapes will stick together.

5.) Icy Fan If you're stuck one day and it's just too hot to be inside and even a fan cannot manage to cool you down because you just feel like it's blowing hot air at you and you might as well be standing in front of a blow drier, there is a trick you might want to try. It requires you to prepare a little bit in advance though, for you will need bottles of frozen water. Remember not to fill them entirely or they will break. Once you have them, place the frozen bottles in front of the fan and turn it up. The ice will cool the air down as it passes and cool you down much more effectively. Remember to place a towel under the bottles or place them on something that will hold the water: these things will create condensation as they melt, and surprisingly much of it.

6.) Gummi Bear Popsicles On hot days, popsicles are the perfect way to cool down. And why not make it a little more interesting by adding some gummi bears?

First you need to soak some gummi bears in sprite or some other form of lemonade for about half an hour. The bears should have soaked up some of the liquid, but they shouldn't be soggy. If they need more time, leave them in until they feel right. Then put them into popsicle molds and add liquid until the mold is filled. Freeze the treats and enjoy. If you don't have any popsicle molds, you can use an ice cube tray and make ice bonbons. Just put a bear or two in each and fill half way with your liquid of choice to give it a good size for a single bite.

I hope some of these suggestions will help you stay cool all through summer.