#i just love the idea that they have endless options for real italian food and they go to times square for breadsticks at olive garden | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

surveys-at-your-service · 3 years ago

Text

Survey #440

from a day or two ago.

Do you drink a lot of soda? I definitely do. :/ I'd lose weight so much easier if I could drop the habit. Are tomatoes the best food in the world? I don't like tomatoes unless they're very fresh and on a mayo and bacon sandwich. Have you seen The Blindside? I actually haven't. Do you have a favorite local pizza place? Not really. There's a place I like that isn't huge, but I don't have like, a serious passion for or loyalty to it. Would you date someone 10+ years older than you? Meh, I think ten years is my cut-off. Are you due for a haircut? For sure. >_< Are you dealing with any health-related problems right now? Yeah. Even with my APAP mask, because I apparently move it too much in my sleep, I'm struggling with my sleep apnea nightmares/terrors. Do your parents like the music you listen to? Most of it. Do your parents approve of your beliefs? Not all of them, no. How many different digital cameras have you owned in your life? How about cell phones? Cell phones, idk. I've had two "pro" cameras. Do you typically do your make up the same each time? Or do you like to change it up often? It's pretty much always the same. Who is the last person you were in a room with just the two of you? What were you doing? Mom. We worked together on my room. What do you usually order at Subway? Turkey, bacon, American cheese, pickles, banana peppers, and chipotle on I want to say Italian bread. How long is your mother’s hair? It's hard to say, because it's all poofy now versus wavy like before it had to be shaved off. Don't repeat it to her ever, but she has, uh... "old lady hair" now, ha ha. What is your favourite car brand? I don’t care. Whose chore is it to clean the bathrooms in your house? My mom does it. Pick your three favourite fruits. Strawberries, kiwi, and uhhh... apples. Or pineapple. Have you ever played Cards Against Humanity? Yeah. We used to play that a lot at Colleen's house on nights we had some drinks. Who were the last friends you went to hang out with? Oh jeez, idk. I haven't hung out with a friend in a long time. How many chairs are in the room you’re currently in? Zero. I'm in my bedroom. Are you bored right now? I'm bored almost every waking hour of my days. Have you ever seen a pelican in real life? I'm actually not sure. What’s important about April? My younger sister's birthday is in April. Is there anyone who hates you? Jason probably does. Would you consider adoption? Not for me personally. What’s the largest animal you’ve ever had as a pet? Our late boxer mix. Do you own any kind of helmet? No. Do you ever put fruit on your cereal? Noooo. How do you usually celebrate your favorite holiday? My younger sister comes over here and we open our presents with Mom, who also cooks a nice breakfast. We then go to my older sister's house for the day to watch the kids open presents from their extended family. I say "extended" because the kids obviously aren't going to wait for us to get there to open the majority of their gifts from their parents, ha ha. What’s a few facts about the last person that talked to you? She's from New York, has five kids, has survived cancer (one almost advanced to a fatal level) twice, she loves owls, and recently graduated with her bachelor's in social work (it's never too late, people). What would happen if you had a baby with the last person you kissed? We're both cisgender females. Where is the biggest scar on your body? It's probably where I had a cyst removal, which is in a spot I can't see. Would you date someone who was addicted to drugs? Absolutely not. I am NOT getting involved in that. If you could go back and change something in the past 5 months, would you? I'd go to the gym sooner. Have you ever kissed anyone with a tattoo? Hmmm... I think Tyler actually may have had a The Legend of Zelda tattoo? I can't really remember. If not him, then no. Have you ever kissed someone you weren’t dating? No, but I've been kissed by someone I wasn't dating. Do you know anyone who drinks a lot? Yes. What were you afraid of the most when you were a kid? Being separated from/losing my mom. Do you like to make the first move? No. When was the last time you completely broke down? A few weeks ago when I was having a PTSD episode. Are you listening to any music? No; I'm watching Gab play Final Fantasy X. Is your hair long enough to put in a ponytail? No. Has someone ever told you they want to spend the rest of their life with you? Hm, it's funny, I don't see him anymore. Have you ever peed in the woods? No. Have you ever played Twister? Yeah, I liked playing it as a kid. Are you looking for a boyfriend//girlfriend? Not actively, no. I really don't need one right now. Out of all of your friends who have you gotten in the worst fight with? Of all friends I've EVER had, probably Colleen. Of the friends I still have, maybe Sara. What is the last microwaveable meal you had? I've been on a SERIOUS grilled chicken pesto kick lately. Mom buys these small Healthy Choice (or some brand like that) bowls that you put in the microwave and then pour the noodles and chicken into the sauce after and mix, and oh my GOOOOOOOOOOOD it is so good. What would you consider a talent of yours? Assuming the worst out of every imaginable situation. If Hogwarts was a real place and you were able to attend, what class do you think you’d excel at? According to those little quizzes I've taken, I lean mostly towards Hufflepuff, but with Gryffindor traits as well. Would you rather learn more about space or more about the ocean? Well, ideally, space, but I think learning much more about our ocean would be more beneficial to our planet and our prosperity on Earth. Do you have a mental illness? If yes, how have you learned to cope with it? If no, do you ever suspect you may have one? I have a lot. My bipolarity, OCD, and PTSD are *mostly* under control, but I most certainly still have trouble sometimes. My anxiety and AvPD are still rabid fucking hounds. My depression was well-managed not even that long ago, but life circumstances have it so it's been more aggressive than what was usual. Do you have a favorite character from The Avengers? I dunno, I like Loki ig. Thor is cool, too. It's been WAY too long since I've seen that movie. What type of cake would you like right now? Double chocolate cake sounds great rn. @_@ What was your dream job when you were a child? Are you going after that dream or not? Why? Paleontologist, and no, because I don't want to travel for work, and I could also never handle the heat during site excavations. Even though it may not work all the time, what usually helps make you feel better when you’re upset or down? Watching one of my comfort series on YouTube from channels I enjoy. Why do you personally take surveys? It's a method to just get all these thoughts out of my head and to vent when I need to without actually directly burdening someone with my problems. No one has to read 'em. It's purely for my benefit, and also to pass the time, which I have too much of. Are there any words that you can’t stand? Derogatory terms for certain groups of people. What are words that you love? Words like "serendipity," "bliss," joyous, bubbly words. I'm blanking on actual terms. If you had an endless supply of money for clothing only, what would you load your closet with? Ohhhh, lots of shit with studs and spikes. :') I've wanted a studded leather jacket since I was in middle school. Have never gotten one because of how pricey they are. :( I'd also get some KILLER boots and just obtain a more gothic wardrobe. I'd love corsets too if my body ever shrinks back to a point I'd be comfortable wearing well-made ones. What is your favorite type of cookie? Chocolate chip. What is your favorite type of candy? Strawberry Sour Punch Straws. What color would you like to paint your nails next? I don't paint my nails. Realistically, they probably won't be 'til my entirely hypothetical wedding, in which case they'll probably be black. What do you think is creepy that society accepts as normal? Urinals, alsdkfja;klwejr. Like I get men's bathrooms give the option of using a stall, but still... side-by-side urinals are so weird and a breach of privacy to me. What is the silliest secret about yourself that you sometimes feel the need to hide? That I enjoy forum RP. I tell NOBODY because I fear being judged and found as weird. Like seriously, in my "real" life, maybe two people know. What do you think is a good date other than dinner and a movie? I want a picnic date really bad kalj;dkl;jwe. Do you dread certain days of the week? If yes, what day/s and why? No. They're all very similar. Do you ever give money to homeless people? No, admittedly. Mom instead likes to sometimes offer them bottles of water or if she's really feeling generous, a cheap meal at like McDonald's or something. She doesn't like to hand out money because, well, we know what a vast majority of homeless people spend it on. Do you like to brag or are you modest? I get really uncomfortable bragging, so I try to be as modest as I can be. What your favourite thing to have on toast? I love giving it a light toast, then adding a thin layer of butter, cinnamon, and sugar. It's bomb. Do you know how to surf? Would you ever like to learn? No to either. If you eat oatmeal, do you have it plain or do you have certain toppings that you like to add to it? I love sprinkling some sugar in there. Would you prefer to spend time with your whole family all at once, or would you rather quality time with one family member at a time? Depends on what I feel up to, but I tend to enjoy family time as a group more. That way, I don't have TOO much pressure to be constantly social. I can just listen sometimes. What is the funniest or strangest thing you’ve ever heard somebody say in their sleep? I have no idea. I worry what people have heard ME say/scream in my sleep. Do you own a pair of slippers? Yeah, they're meerkat ones! :') Choose one: Butterfinger, Milky Way, Snickers: Absolutely a Milky Way. Who was the last person to comment you? My mom. I'm cool, I swear. How many arguments have you had with the last person you kissed? A lot over all these years, but I'd say that's normal when you've been friends since you were 8 and 10. Do you know anyone who has been arrested? Yes. What are you planning on doing after this? When I'm done taking this survey, I'll probably either go to bed or play a bit of WoW. Idk. Will you be up before 7 am tomorrow? I have my alarm set for 7, actually. Ever been the only one trying to fix a relationship? Mhmmmm. -_- What was the last bad thing that happened to your phone? The case that came with the phone got a big crack in it. Have you ever been with someone while they were throwing up? Absolutely not. I would start vomiting. I can't handle the sound or the act in general. Have you been to the beach this year? No; I haven't been in a long time, and I am noooot complaining. Have you ever skipped school just because you were tired? Yes. Are you tan? God no. Do you own any leather? No real leather, no. I never would. Have you ever bought a shot glass? No. Do you have a therapist? Yes. We actually just talked today. Well, technically yesterday. What’s the worst name your mom has ever called you? I don't know. She doesn't really call me bad names. Have you ever listened to Christian music? Not of my own volition, but I've heard it because of other people controlling the radio. Are you the ‘creative child’? Yes, I'm considered that one. Did you like your life when you were in middle school? God no. That's when everything started going downhill. Have you ever been 'popular’? No. Has someone ever tried to convert you? Yes. Are you a fan of muffins? I LOVE muffins. What’s your most recent obsession? It's kinda chilled out now, but when Resident Evil 8: Village released, I was CRAZY over it. I watched SO many different let's plays of it. I think it's safe to say it beats out RE4 as my favorite installment.

#survey #surveys #random questions

2 notes · View notes

evangelineartemiasamos · 6 years ago

Text

Red Queen Secret Santa 2018 for Rhia @redqueenfandom <3

A/N: A modern AU, a sequel to the ones I wrote before. I wanted to place this in Paris at first, but then I thought I should rather write about a place where I’ve been to – although my memories aren’t that perfect^^° I’m sorry for eventual inaccuracies.

A New Place

Growing Up

The Dinner

Roman Holiday

The Wedding

FInd this on Wattpad and on AO3

Roman Holiday

Mare POV

It’s eleven in the evening when I can call it a day on christmas eve. I put away my apron and slip into my coat and scarf and step outside of the café and onto the streets of Rome, bright with lights, filled with people, bells sounding over me.

Astounding that I hardly need the coat, despite the time and season. But this is a warm place, making it even more of a magnet for tourists coming to flee the winter or to experience christmas surrounded by supposedly more holiness than at home, wherever it is.

I’m not sure whether I should call myself one of them. I’m still a foreigner like them, frequently overwhelmed by Rome’s grandeur and age and visiting its endless sights. But then again, I make my living by serving tourists currently.

Four months into my gap year, I’m spending the winter in Italy, working as a help or assistant in various institutions, first in the cheaper countryside, now in the capital. I was tempted to see the festive spectacle, to be honest, that I’m putting up the higher costs of coming here. Fortunately, my room is affordable enough, but nothing I’d like to stay in for longer than a few days for that price. I knew what I was getting into, I guess, so I’m here to make an experience of it.

Truly, it is one. The ancientness of the city, the marks of history and art everywhere, often pull at my suspension of disbelief until I can take it for real. The more I stay, I’m starting to wonder if I’ll normalize the marvels one moment, no longer able to take it all in as much as it deserves. But I don’t intend to stay that long. I’m here to travel and see the world, and my next stations are waiting. Because for all its greatness, Rome’s also tiring, exhausting me.

There’s a price for a year of travelling, and that is hard, ever-shifting, and often boring work. It isn’t difficult to find jobs when you’re a native English and Spanish speaker in places full of tourists. Interpreters are good to have and I’ve a talent for languages, so my Italian improves by the day. The café I currently work at seems to have mostly foreign customers talking English, but to encounter the barriers of languages, from one foreigner to another, leaves a strange impression. Words get jumbled and guesses have to be made all the time and I try to smile away the stress. I hope that eases the work as well as raise my tips.

Although I’ve understood the processes of applying and have some reserves at hand by now, a consequence of the gap year is a constant worry of having nothing when I wake up next. It can eat at you no matter what, having to rely on yourself alone this much, but then again, it’s also the freedom I’ve craved. Whatever I do, I achieve it by myself. I can be proud of that. Doesn’t that mean I can manage everything?

Yet, it also means that often, I’m terribly alone. To be here, I’ve left behind my home, my friends, and my family. Now I’m meeting strangers every day, of whom each might become a new friend if I gave them the chance. It’s hard, the enduring newness of people and everything else. I can’t open myself up to them all the time, re-introduce myself and every part of me, can’t bring up the energy to translate all of their conversations in my head to take part in them. Thus, I frequently fall into myself and rest alone at the end of a long day full of work.

Tonight is such a time, or could be. It’s still christmas, but the loud and lively shift has destroyed pretty much of my festive mood. This is nothing like my little girl christmases and their inherent childhood magic. This is noise and exhaustion and unfamiliarity. It’s a feeling pulling me off the ground and I’m not willing to give in to it.

The streets around me roar as I scout for a quieter spot where I can sit down. Not easy to find here, as many are already taken, or dirty, or prohibited so traffic isn’t disturbed. But finally, I find a free building block close to the Pantheon. I get down on it and take a deep breath of the night air, letting my body relax as good as possible.

It’s not far from St. Peter where the greatest crowd will celebrate and if I weren’t so tired, I might go there to watch them, to get my own image of it. Shade would be offended to hear about this, as he’s always keen on calling out the catholic church and the pope especially. But I’d welcome his rant if I saw him in person again, like the rest of my family. I miss them so much, and curse once more my decision to stay abroad during christmas. The loneliness is cruel on this day, and the only thing I can do is getting my phone out and looking over their pictures and messages again. I do so every day and send replies back, but I delayed this today, hoped not thinking about them and being unaware about what I’m missing would make my shift more tolerable. That didn’t really work out. I just had a bad day that went to waste while everyone else around me is having fun.

So now I can be lonely while watching my family celebrating christmas. Tramy sells christmas trees and presents the fairy tale-like winter wonderland of the garden center he works at. Bree is with his girlfriend, both grinning and likely slightly inebriated, when Kilorn crashes their photos. Shade, despite his atheist statements, put outfits on his baby daughter Clara that make her look like an elf of Santa Claus and he stands arms in arm with Clara and Diana under a mistletoe that hangs over their door. In another, Diana, seriously studying an important-looking book, wears a silly blinking cap on her head, and in a second photo she hugs Clara besottedly as if in ignorance of a photo being taken.

Mom and Dad are similarly in love with their first grandchild and have tons of pictures with her, of Dad keeping her from crawling into the Christmas tree, or of Bree holding her up to pull on a pinata.

Gisa shines in these photos, too. Even on casual days, her outfits leave me so awed and envious of her style full of details and perfection achieved by her own ideas and efforts. One time, she’s wearing a black dress, a ball dress I almost think, and she looks so gorgeous in it that I don’t know whether to adore her or to be scared of her.

I sniff and swipe tears from my eyes. When I look back to the screen, my contacts are shown. My fingers must’ve slipped and I scroll back to find my family again, as I still have to send greetings and wishes. It’s christmas after all, and since it’s still afternoon over there, it must the perfect time for messages. Maybe even a call. Yes, I should make a call. Yet I stop searching when I see another name on the list.

Cal.

His profile photo seems to smile at me, and I feel myself smiling back at him automatically. At the boy I dated a few times back in the States. The silly, rich, hot and kind Cal who’d muttered something about christmas in Italy back then. How decadent, I thought. And now I’m actually here. I can’t resist the temptation and text “hey” to him.

“Merry christmas!” he texts back. “My parents wanted to visit the holy night in Rome and now we’re watching from our hotel balcony. Can you believe?” Added is a photo of the crowd on St. Peter.

I can’t help grinning like an utter fool.

“Guess what …” I write to him.

I drop hints for him about where to find me, not really expecting him to show up. Why should he, when he’s with his family on christmas eve? And yet, between messaging my family and joking with Kilorn about food, I glance over my appearance in more than one mirror or window to make sure I have nothing in my face.

I’m right at replying to Kilorn’s snarks when I almost bounce into someone. I’m fast enough to get out of reach, but make myself ready to rant back if necessary.

Light falls on his face, and I, silly me, recognize him as Cal, who’s really come to meet with me in the middle of the holy night.

“Merry christmas again, Mare,” he says.

I hesitate. I tuck my hair behind my ears nervously and chew on my lip as I look for words and my composure. But when I see his face, beaming with excitement, I laugh out loud and he laughs along with me. I go to him and in a blink, I stand before him and give him a hug. A friendly one, like I’d hug everyone, yet I don’t let go, and neither does he. I pull him closer, my hands pressing into his back as I step on my toes to kiss his – stubby – cheek and whisper “merry christmas,” into his ear.

He returns the kiss on the cheek.

And then he kisses me on the mouth.

It’s a surprise for both of us, but we don’t stop. Does it mean anything? Or is it just fun? He might be drunk although I’m not, only tired and in need of warmth and a familiar human body close to me.

We pull apart to draw breaths and don’t know what to do afterwards. We grin and laugh again. “We can ... walk a little?” he prompts and I agree and take his hand. With him at my side, I don’t feel so tired and lost. We’re two people enjoying christmas together in a beautiful city, and that changes everything.

“I can’t believe you’re actually here,” I say.

“Same here,” he replies. “Well, you said something about being in Italy during winter, and when my parents talked about travelling on Christmas, I put in an option or two …” He shrugs.

I elbow him softly. “Stalker,” I jest.

“Hey! It was still a surprise,” he objects and smirks. “And you called me.”

That’s true, but I’m unsure whether to tell him how needy I felt an hour before. It’s good as it is, should I dive deeper? We’re strolling through this ancient quarter, two people who might be in love during a lush night, like millions of other people must’ve done before. It doesn’t make me feel small, but incredibly connected and right where I belong tonight. Cal especially seems to fit in here perfectly. With his handsome face, the contrast of light skin and dark hair illuminated by the moonlight, he could be a mystical apparition rising from the ruins.

Oh god, I can never tell him that. He’d never shut up about it, and the idea is way to pagan for this night. Shade would be proud.

“What?” Cal nudges me and I shake my head a little too long just to win time. He frowns.

“You’re her with your family?” I ask eventually. “Aren’t you a little old for that?”

“I …” Bingo. “Ugh, right, that must sound ridiculous to you.” He’s completely flustered and it’s very endearing. “You’re here on your own,” he continues, “and I came here on a family trip like a big baby.”

I incline my head, the corner of my mouth twitching. He doesn’t offer me a chance to reply though.

“However, it does mean something to me.” His hand squeezes mine, possibly inadvertently, as his voice gains a serious edge. “My parents often went on trips with me, of course. But this is the first my half-brother is with us.”

I stand still.

“Mare?” Cal asks. I don’t react. “Mare, your mouth’s open till the Alps,” he says.

A shiver washes over me and I look up to him. His confused face likely mirrors mine. “Mare, didn’t I tell you about my brother? Who’s lived with his mother?”

I nod gravely.

“You see, as I’ve told you, we met at the same college. And somehow, we got along surprisingly well. I was so glad, you know? I think Maven is, too.”

“That’s great.” I smile faintly.

“Indeed, so after a few months, we decided to go on vacation together, as a family. And Maven loves Rome.”

I can easily imagine him, standing in a museum or on the capitol hill among paintings and statues and looking like a mischievous fallen angel himself. “Oh, absolutely,” I say aloud. Only that that deeply puzzles Cal, because he doesn’t know that I know Maven personally, that we were friends and a couple for years. I’ve only learned by accident that he’s Cal’s half-brother.

Now I have no idea how to tell Cal this so late. Seems like Maven didn’t tell him either. I wonder if he figured out who Cal is meeting tonight.

Cal still isn’t enlightened and I take both of his hands and know I have to confess. I look into his beautiful eyes, golden like fire, like light. “I’ve been friends with Maven for a long time,” I say. More than friends. “Until last year.”

If I leave it at this, I’ll never be able to finish. So I go on. “We were together for a while,” I say quietly, and speaking feels like lifting a ton. “As a couple.”

Cal gasps for words. I Iay a finger on his lips. “But that’s over. I’m just glad, really happy, that he is doing well and getting along with you.”

Relief washes over Cal and I’m sure he’ll have to digest this for some time. His hands wriggle in mine, loosen, and wander over my arms to my shoulders. He rubs them and I don’t want him to stop and he doesn’t, as he’s still at loss for words.

I stretch to give him a light kiss. He chuckles. “And I thought about asking you to come with me tonight …”

“Oh, how scandalous.” I tease back, hands on my hips.

“Yes, it’d be awkward for several reasons.”

I shake my head. “Not tonight, “I say with a sigh, a promise ringing in my voice.

He catches the note and smiles. His palms remain a caressing, welcome presence on my back, and I take the final step to embrace him. He pulls me even closer, bending down to my ear. “I’d say I’m looking forward for another time, Mare,” he mumbles, turning my name into a tender touch. “But whenever I let go of you and say ‘goodbye for now’, you vanish in a flash, fast as lightning.”

“I – ”

He kisses the top of my head. “I want to meet you again. I want to get to know you – for real.”

His eyes burn with intensity, his arms feel like a home. So under an infinite black sky, bells tolling around us in a city of legends, I whisper a time and place into his ear. “I’ll be there, I promise.” My hand rests on his cheek. “It’s my christmas present to you.”

@merrymareshmallow @clarafarleybarrow @inopinion @lilyharvord @elliemarchetti (gosh I just hope I did get Italy mostly right) @eurydicel @sarcasm-and-procrastination @marecalrandomstuff @calmareforever @choosemarecal

#red queen secret santa 2018 #red queen #marecal #cal calore #maven calore #mare barrow #red queen fan fiction #victoria aveyard #rq ss 2018 #red queen secret santa #roman holiday #rq modern au #christmas fic

52 notes · View notes

frostedpetticoat · 5 years ago

Text

Rustic Italian Entertaining… at it’s finest!

Guest Contributor: Jewels Gray

Jewels is the talented eye behind Jewels Photography in Denver, Colorado. Follow along as she show's us a proper Italian feast.

There’s a venue here in Denver that reminds me of the home my grand-parents built in Northern California… tan stucco arches and dark brown tiled floors, it’s not something you typically see here in Colorado. The lighting is always so beautiful here and as a Photographer, that’s something I notice while shooting weddings. If this venue were around back when I got married, I definitely would have had my own wedding there, without a doubt. It’s called the Villa Parker, and I’ve always dreamed of what my wedding would have looked like here. This past September, I finally got to see my vision in real life!

I’m in love with Italy…in fact, it’s my favorite country to visit. The Mediterranean climate and landscape, reminds me of home back in Northern California. I wanted this shoot to be as authentic as Colorado could do it. Of course, the aesthetic of the Villa Parker was the perfect setting. “Villa Parker is a stunning Colorado wedding and special event venue. Located just south of Denver, this Mediterranean estate with its grand entrance and vibrant gardens warmly welcomes friends and family to share in your special occasion.

Wallflower Décor brought the rustic table we used for the “antipasti” and “dolce” set up, and the wine barrels & boxes for the bar (which were borrowed from the wine aficionado from Elway’s in Cherry Creek - fancy! They went above and beyond to get everything I wanted for the shoot.

Antipasti – this was a challenge getting together! Italians love their food and it just wouldn’t be an Italian shoot without it! Being that it’s September, and the busiest month for Colorado weddings, I couldn’t find one catering company that would commit to helping with this project, even with begging and pleading. I completely get it. With time running out, I decided to just do it myself and picked up a few key ingredients at Tony’s Meat Market, a high-end gourmet deli and market.

How beautiful the table-scape came out! It was so much fun picking out the details at the Event Rents showroom. They were extremely helpful on this shoot and I just loved how everything looked together! The classic flatware and stunning glassware filled the table and it made me swoon the way the lighting came through the cut crystal goblets!

For the florals, I could really only see that soft greyish green of olive leaves, mixed with lots of texture and maybe a subtle pop of citrus. Pam from Petals ‘N Grapes nailed it. She saw I was looking for a florist and was all over it!

I made a batch of Italian wedding soup, a charcuterie board with Italian meats & cheeses, bruschetta & tapenade, meatballs & marinara, caprese skewers, and an “olive bar” with Italian olive oils and balsamic vinegars.

Speaking of Italian olive oils and balsamic vinegars, I just had to have little bottles as “favors”. There was only one choice in my mind, and that’s Lucero. American Olive Farmers since 1947 in Corning, a rural Far Northern California community known for producing delicious olive oil for over a century, Lucero is the “standard”, period. One of my friends from high school got married a few years back and had sample bottles of Lucero for her guests, and I brought home as many as I could (and coveted them till they ran out). I loved that idea and wanted it for this shoot. Due to my fan-girl status, they agreed to work with me and sent a case of the most perfect product for us to use! We had the Taggiasca extra virgin olive oil, accompanied with the Bianco white balsamic vinegar and adorable little bottles.

Italians are revered for their wine, Prosecco, Lemoncello, and even sangria (I know it’s more Spanish, but that still counts for Mediterranean). Peak Beverage, Colorado’s premier beverage catering service was the most perfect choice.

Wine Featured: Santa Christina Toscana

Arcanum 2005 Toscana

Santa Margarita Brut Rose

Mia Dolcea Moscato D'Asti

Marchesi Incisa Della Rocchetta "Felice" Moscato D'Asti

Adam, the owner, brought plenty of beautiful bottles to fill the bar with, and made us some authentic Italian cocktails! They photographed beautifully and he included the recipes and featured wines below:

Summer Thyme Spritz

1 1/2 oz gin, 1/2 oz Thyme Simple Syrup, and 1/2 oz Lemon Juice. Top with soda water and garnish with lemon wedges and fresh Thyme in Collins glass.

Classic Negroni

1 oz London Dry Gin, 1 oz Campari, and 1 oz Contratto Rosso Vermouth. Stir and serve in coupe. Garnish with orange peel

Rosemary Sangria

4 oz Italian Red Wine (We used Santa Christina Toscana), 1/2 oz Blood Orange Liqueur (Solerno), 1/2 oz Rosemary Simple Syrup, and 1/2 oz Leopold's Blackberry Whiskey. Top with lemon-lime soda and serve in wine glass over ice. Garnish with blackberry, rosemary sprig, and orange (blood orange if available).

Dolce… the best part! Of course, there were the must-haves… cannolis, tiramisu, and gelato! Rene with Little Bites Bakery did a beautiful job with little tiramisu cups (YUM), some shortbread cookies, biscotti, and cake pops! We also had some super yummy tiramisu macaroons from Honeycomb that were the bomb-diggity (I ate most of them myself after the shoot) :O I was not able to find anyone to do actual gelato (ice cream yes, but not gelato), so we did it ourselves anyway. Bringing all of these things together are the hand-lettered signage done by my pal Krista with Always Rooted.

You can’t have a wedding without cake! This was masterfully made for us by the amazing Kelley Kakes! Even though this particular cake is actually Styrofoam filled, we imagine the insides to be lemon buttermilk pound cake with fresh berries, or perhaps a banana cake with Nutella mousse filling (reminding us of those crepes we had on the street in Venice that one time…). She also offers Italian rum cake or white chocolate cappuccino cake with a variety of decadent fillings. With Kelley the options are endless, even when it comes to the design – she is pretty freakin’ amazing!

One of the coolest things we’ve seen in our many years of shooting weddings is The Espresso Affair, a coffee bar catering company. Say what? Yes, you can actually have a catered coffee bar for your event, and Bill’s team knows how to do it right! Their set up is not only impressive, but they actually know how to make everything on the menu to perfection.

Special thanks to my Assistant Missy for helping out so much on this shoot!! The girls from the Villa were wonderful and set up was perfection. Thanks to my Dad for knowing a guy who knows a guy…

Favors and Gifts: Bridesmaid Gift Boutique//Specialty Foods:Espresso Affair//Cake Designer: Kelley Kakes//Beauty:Glam Team Colorado//Favors and Gifts: Lucero Olive Oil//Calligrapher: Always Rooted//Paper Props: Whimsy Design Studio//Bakery: Honeycombe Denver//Bakery: Little Bites Bakery//Other:Peak Beverage//Equipment Rentals:Event Rents//Design and Decor: Wallflower Rentals//Groomsman Attire:Jos A Bank//Ring Designer:John Atencio//Dress Designer:Martina Liana Bridal Gown//Dress Store: the bridal collection//Floral Designer: Petals N Grapes//Event Venue:Villa Parker//Photographer: Photography by Jewels//

Submitted via Two Bright Lights

from https://ift.tt/2yujX9Y via IFTTT

#Sam Temsah-Deniskin

0 notes

moonstew16-blog · 5 years ago

Text

Workshops 2019

Good ideas – Moveable feasts

When we first found and fell in love with the big house at 1 rue de Loudenne, a building rich with history and many past lives, we wanted to turn parts of it into a restaurant. It was a good idea but we soon came up with something better, more intimate and more enjoyable. How about, a few times a year, having groups of people come to our house, not for one meal but several. Cook with them, get to know them, share our lives, our knowledge of food, photography, wine and France. My blog, that I had started a few years earlier, was keeping me occupied and happy, communicating with readers, sharing recipes and glimpses of my life a very satisfying experience but I always felt the need for an increased reality, talking about a place is one thing, actually being there is another. A chef in a restaurant rarely meets his diners, a waiter does but usually only on a superficial level. Having many meals together in a row, many wines in a row, cooking together, sharing a bountiful table seemed like a good idea, and it turns out it was. We are in our 4th year of hosting workshops and I’m quite frankly loving it. I always had a feeling my readers were wonderful people and now I’ve found out they really are. You’ve come here in great numbers, some of you every year (which must be a compliment) and instead of things getting jaded or ordinary they are getting better. The basic idea remains the same, people come here in the morning, we cook, eat, drink and when we’re done we do it all over again. Of course there are all sorts of distractions, differently emphasized depending on the theme of the workshop, the time of year. Wine always plays a huge part, sometimes photography does too. Exploring the region, foraging, meeting our friends, sometimes cooking at their place, especially if they live on winemaking châteaux.

But this good idea has evolved, taken on a life of its own – it’s almost a concept by now, 1 rue de Loudenne is a real house, a house where you can visit, have champagne, make soufflés, have wine tastings, lunches under the olive trees or drink wonderful Bordeaux wines in front of the fire as the duck breast snarls on the sarment wine branches in the fireplace. But it’s also a virtual place, an idea of how life can be lived, something you can bring back home with you like ( a much better writer than me once called it ) a moveable feast. In a broader context this is what we are working on creating with our new website that’s very delayed but still very much happening. www.rueloudenne.com will be the projection of our house online, a mirror of the ideas that come from here, and not just projecting online what’s happening in this house but in other places where food and quality takes a central stage. Places you can visit for real … or in spirit, places of the heart … and stomach.

I have also found that good ideas can travel, they are not bound to a house, no matter how good the house may be. And good ideas must evolve to stay young and fresh. This year I’m working on a new cookbook once again with Clarkson Potter (the Crown Publishing Group), on a subject that’s very close to our hearts – Italian cooking. We’ve taken most of our holidays, forever, in Italy. We’ve traveled there extensively, spent much time and discovered places, sometimes through our work for Condé Nast Traveler, that we could never have imagined but always knew were there (if that makes sense). The idea is to bring to the reader, not only my take on Italian cooking but that of my Italian friends who have helped me discover the originality and specialness of their respective regions. To do this well (and why would I bother if that wasn’t the plan) we have decided to take up a secondary residence in Torino (Turin), a city we have all fallen in love with. Rue Loudenne will remain our home but this is a new chapter in our lives and as I once said, why not? – while we’re still young. As I said, I believe that good ideas can travel and the idea is to bring the moveable feast that is Rue Loudenne to Italy for some special workshops throughout the year as we’ll be partially based there.

A guest attending once asked me, in the early days, “Is there anything special I need to bring to the workshop?” My answer then was “Just bring an open mind and an empty stomach”. That is still the answer.

I hope you like what we have planned for next year, I know it seems quite far away now but as always I have received so many requests from people who are more organised than myself to give the dates and I’m glad they do – it’s wonderful to have something to look forward to.

Workshops of 2019

2019 being our fifth year I believe we’ve come up with a good “formula” for the classic workshops, something that works for most people and is enjoyable. 3 days seem to be the magic number of days, we usually start at 10.30 in the morning, cook a lunch together and then take a 2 hour break in the afternoon before reconvening, with a glass or two of champagne in one hand, some kitchen utensil in the other (and sometimes that kitchen utensil is just a cork screw), cook dinner.

The price for a standard workshop is 2.000 euros per person with everything included except accommodation which guests choose themselves – but don’t worry we have plenty of good options for you, wonderful B&B’s, beautiful houses rented out by friends …

Some workshops have additional supplements in terms of cost, often due to the fact we’re traveling, with some or all accommodation included, some restaurant meals or transportation. How much depends on which workshop. The two road trips are also longer workshops and therefore more costly.

Please note that all deposits are non-refundable. I find that to be a necessary step to avoid confusion and frivolous bookings. Should, however, something prevent you from attending the workshop you booked (and I know from experience that this can happen) I would be very happy to find other dates that work for you.

Looking forward to hearing from you all, Mimi xx

For all bookings and further information please contact: [email protected]

Workshops at my house in Médoc, France

May 15 – 18, 2019 “The French wine Master class”, a roadtrip

Having lived and breathed Bordeaux wines for almost a decade now, having always loved wine, having wine makers as some of our closest friends, having even made our own wine – it’s safe to say that we’ve learnt a thing or two along the way. Wine has truly become a passion for us on so many levels, a nectar full of history, flavor, terroir and tradition. While most of the workshops touch to a larger or lesser degree on the subject of wine we thought, 4 years later, it was time to devote a whole workshop, not just to our beloved Bordeaux but also to the wines of other French wine regions we love. We’ll start in Champagne, meet some of our favorite producers, do tastings and end the day in Paris with a feast at one of our best-loved restaurants. The following day we’ll head down to Burgundy where we’ll continue our education/indulging and spend a night in the region after a typical Lyonnaise bistrot meal. On the third day we’ll head down to Bordeaux (it’s a bit of a drive so be warned), starting in St Émilion and spending the night in Bordeaux city. On the last day we’ll drive up to Médoc, meet our friends who make wine and finally cooking a last feast together at our house, 1 rue de Loudenne in St Yzans.

This is a 4-day workshop which is unusual but we just don’t feel we can do this properly and enjoyably in 3 day. This workshop carries a supplement due to accommodation included, restaurant meals etc.

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

June 12-14, 2019 “The Playing restaurant workshop”

This is a workshop I’m particularly excited about. As I mentioned earlier in this post we had an idea, briefly, to turn parts of our house into a restaurant. We did a pop-up the first year we lived here and we’re still in love with the idea of creating the “perfect bistrot”. So while this will partially be a classic workshop it will also be built around the idea of conceiving a restaurant. Before the last day we’ll split the group in two with each party taking care of one meal, one lunch, one dinner. Each group will come up with a menu, wine pairings, table settings, flower arrangements. Which little treats to serve the guests when they arrive, the music, the coffee. And cook of course – with each person playing on his or her strengths. For fun we’ll invite a professional restaurant critic who will declare one team the winner. Sounds like fun, right?

• Cost of participation: 2000 euros per person

June 19 – 21, 2019 “The annual Summer abundance workshop”

Probably the most popular workshop of the last 2 years, so popular in fact that we added a second one in 2018. This is a celebration of summer and seasonal produce, when the season is still young and full of the freshest fruits and vegetables. A traditional workshop in summer clothes, with al fresco lunches and dinners, long communal tables, picnics and barbecues on the beaches and in the vineyards – the color of this workshop is rosé …

• Cost of participation: 2000 euros per person

September 25 – 27, 2019 “The first Fall harvest & wine workshop”

Médoc is a wine region above anything else and while the talk most of the year is of nothing but wine (and perhaps meat, mushrooms and oysters) the harvest is September is the culmination of it all – the region really comes alive, migrant workers flock to Médoc to pick in the day, party in the evenings – there are endless feasts and events, a time for celebration and sometimes also worry. The most Médoc of all periods. This will be a classic workshop, with much cooking and eating at our house but the thread of intrigue will be the wine picking (which we will participate in) the wine partying (which we will also participate in), some early foraging, some late summer celebrating. One of my favorite times of the year when we can still enjoy tomatoes and are already having mushrooms and pumpkins.

• Cost of participation: 2000 euros per person

October 2 – 4, 2019 “The second Fall harvest workshop”

Another classic workshop that’s proven incredibly popular. A similar take on the season as the Summer abundance but with slightly warmer clothes and different colors and flavors. Foraging for mushrooms, a feast in the forest, hanging out with local hunters (for those who dare), serious wine tastings, recipes rich with autumn produce and local game.

• Cost of participation: 2000 euros per person

Workshops in Italy

April 17 – 19, 2019 “Spring in Piemonte”

By then my Italian cookbook will be done and I’ll be full of knowledge, new tricks and inspiration. Piemontese cooking has really taken me by storm and I can’t wait to share all my newfound secrets. We’ll stay in the Langhe – Roero winemaking region (where they make Barolos) and spend our days cooking together, eating together, visiting one or two restaurants to sample the best of the region. We have decided, for the sake of variety and to make everyone happy, that I’ll stay put in the kitchen while others, like my husband Oddur who is a photographer and who loves wine intimately – will take those who want on wine tours and offer photography classes – a sort of cooking relief for those who need it, or spouses and friends who come along for the ride but would rather taste wine than actually cook too much. It’s a something for everyone formula 

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

July 4-6, 2019 “The Mysteries of Turin”

The most unusual workshop of the year … and the most mysterious. Turin is a legendary city, the only one in the world that lies on both the so-called Black and White triangles. For three days we’ll indulge in good food and wine, while diving into these mysteries, like in a good detective novel (where the detective likes to eat and drink), fascinate ourselves with the legends, the shroud of Turin, the origins of Italian cinema, the legend of Carlo Mollino. Where Julia Child meets Agatha Christie. I’ve got goosebumps writing this …

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

October 15-19, 2019 “The Great Italian roadtrip” … a cookbook revisited

Over the years we’ve been fortunate enough to visit some special places in Italy and the coming year will see us do even more travel as we put the finishing touches on my Italian cookbook. Come October 2019 we’ll be, not only celebrating the realisation of all that cooking and travel in the form of a book, but also inspired to revisit the settings of our food discoveries and photographing, sharing our favorite destinations with a few good and interested people who love Italy and want to know her better. We’ll start in Rome and work our way up through 5 regions until we’ll end up in Piemonte (of course) where we’ll have a farewell dinner (that we’ll cook together ) in our Turin apartment.

This is a 5-day “extravaganza” workshop

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

December 5-7, 2019 “Festive in Piemonte”

The white truffles of Alba are one of the most sought after foods in the world. And for good reason, come October/November and Piemontese chefs & waiters will grate or slice truffles on just about everything they serve you – and it will all be delicious. We’ll escape the crowds but catch the truffles in local restaurants, set up a kitchen where we’ll cook away and explore the early winter country and festive cooking of Piemonte. This will be a workshop comparable to the “Spring in Piemonte” workshop but with vastly different ingredients and weather and some early Christmas influences for a festive atmosphere.

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

Source: http://mimithorisson.com/2018/05/09/workshops-2019/

0 notes

shortsrifle7-blog · 6 years ago

Text

Workshops 2019

Good ideas – Moveable feasts

Workshops of 2019

Looking forward to hearing from you all, Mimi xx

For all bookings and further information please contact: [email protected]

Workshops at my house in Médoc, France

May 15 – 18, 2019 “The French wine Master class”, a roadtrip

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

June 12-14, 2019 “The Playing restaurant workshop”

• Cost of participation: 2000 euros per person

June 19 – 21, 2019 “The annual Summer abundance workshop”

• Cost of participation: 2000 euros per person

September 25 – 27, 2019 “The first Fall harvest & wine workshop”

• Cost of participation: 2000 euros per person

October 2 – 4, 2019 “The second Fall harvest workshop”

• Cost of participation: 2000 euros per person

Workshops in Italy

April 17 – 19, 2019 “Spring in Piemonte”

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

July 4-6, 2019 “The Mysteries of Turin”

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

October 15-19, 2019 “The Great Italian roadtrip” … a cookbook revisited

This is a 5-day “extravaganza” workshop

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

December 5-7, 2019 “Festive in Piemonte”

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

Source: http://mimithorisson.com/2018/05/09/workshops-2019/

0 notes

carrotlunch07-blog · 6 years ago

Text

Workshops 2019

Good ideas – Moveable feasts

Workshops of 2019

Looking forward to hearing from you all, Mimi xx

For all bookings and further information please contact: [email protected]

Workshops at my house in Médoc, France

May 15 – 18, 2019 “The French wine Master class”, a roadtrip

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

June 12-14, 2019 “The Playing restaurant workshop”

• Cost of participation: 2000 euros per person

June 19 – 21, 2019 “The annual Summer abundance workshop”

• Cost of participation: 2000 euros per person

September 25 – 27, 2019 “The first Fall harvest & wine workshop”

• Cost of participation: 2000 euros per person

October 2 – 4, 2019 “The second Fall harvest workshop”

• Cost of participation: 2000 euros per person

Workshops in Italy

April 17 – 19, 2019 “Spring in Piemonte”

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

July 4-6, 2019 “The Mysteries of Turin”

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

October 15-19, 2019 “The Great Italian roadtrip” … a cookbook revisited

This is a 5-day “extravaganza” workshop

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

December 5-7, 2019 “Festive in Piemonte”

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

Source: http://mimithorisson.com/2018/05/09/workshops-2019/

0 notes

withlovefromlina-blog · 6 years ago

Text

Budget and Boujee

Unless you’re my mom or dad reading this you’re most likely familiar with the 2016 hit by Migos called Bad and Boujee, and have probably heard the basic definition of the expression Bad and Boujee from Urban Dictionary. If not, take a quick pause, pull up a new browser and get acquainted.

I started today, February 5th, being back on my own again after having spent a fun filled week in Tulum with two of my Canadian friends. I also started being back on my budget! The joke of the week with my friends was when I shared with them my ambitious goal of a 100 MXN a day budget I had been working towards up until their arrival. We thought we were on the same page over our first lunch when they also said 100, but we quickly burst into laughter when we realized I was talking Mexican pesos and they were talking Canadian dollars!

Rewind to before this last year, I’d been blessed with a career that provided me with a healthy flow of dispensable income, and never really thought twice about the small luxuries I afforded myself. Needless to say my friends and I shared this same blessing/trait/bad habit.

But things have changed, and I’ve been out of the employment world for about one year now, and I’ve had to make adjustments in my lifestyle and habits. People often ask me how I am able to afford to do what I’m doing. Now as much as I didn’t worry about money, I never got myself into debt, and was still able to save along the way.

In addition I sold a property and many of my belongings, so I have some relative wiggle room while I gallivant the world. But I have become frugal and do my very best to get by with a lot less than I used to. I like a challenge and it’s almost become a bit of a game each day to see how well I can do. Mind you, I tend to be very good at finding great deals and yummy meals so I don’t always feel like I’m missing out!

That is until…..friends who are still in the world of employment pop into town!

Then I have a hard time keeping the boujee side under wraps.

But here’s what I’ve learnt, it’s possible to bad, boujee AND on a budget!

No doubt, money can be spent easily in Tulum. From the hippie chic boutiques, to the beach front hotels, to the endless 5 star restaurants and cocktail hideaways in the jungle, you can eat, drink and shop your way through any budget without even leaving the beach strip. We definitely tried to have a balance, and stay within our pre-determined budgets, but…you can’t win ‘em all, can ya!

That being said, I found that if I kept my fridge stocked with a few basics, and didn’t over-eat the way I so frequently did back in North Amercia..budget Mexico Lina is very achievable. My Air Bnb’s come with filtered water and coffee which get me through the morning. A salad made at home for either lunch or dinner makes sure I have a good 100 MXN a day for a meal out!

And so far in downtown Tulum these are my fav spots that are in line with the “budget” give or take a peso or two.

Burritos from the street corner down the block from the main park..yup that’s all I got for you direction wise. He’s the only one who advertises Vegan and Vegetarian! 75 MXN

Gluten free Vegan option from Burrito Amore - 120 MXN

Pizza from Il Bacaro - 200 MXN

Thai food from Thai Tulum - great pad thai - 90 MXN, Massive veggie filled spring rolls - 80 MXN

Vegan Tacos from La Hoja Verde, huge potion with a very very generous topping of guacamole - 90 MXN

Stir Fry Veggies, Tofu and Rice Noodles from Uno Japanese Noodle - 100 MXN

From the local street vendors I got mango, avocado, cucumber, lettuce, onion, zucchini, bananas, carrots, apples, limes and hibiscus flowers for about 250 MXN and this lasted me all week!

Because I did tacos so much within the first few weeks, I actually seemed to avoid most tacos here in Tulum, but there are plenty of options near the main park on Tulum Avenida and down most side streets if you are adventurous to wander a bit.

Splurgy Eats on the beach - A bit more Boujee

Rosanegra, this place was amazing from the moment we walked in. The detail in the decor, the lighting, the artwork, the bathroom experience which ended in free champagne! And the music all created a very cool vibe. We shared appy’s of salmon coconut ceviche, spicy street corn, chargrilled calamari and burrata plate with arugula, but anything here looks amazing!

Mezzanine for Thai food, only for the money bags! Pun intended, it’s the name of an appetizer. We also shared pad thai which was delicious and served in a beautiful banana leaf.

ARCA and Hartwood are other must try’s for which we had many recommendations for but unfortunately missed out on these.

We didn’t drink much alcohol in Tulum, but there are a number of places that do happy hour and two for ones so you can try and find those if you’re feeling like having a drink!

A few of my other practices when I’m on my own that tend to keep expenses down are:

Filtered water versus still or sparkling bottled

Shared colectivo, bike or walk versus taxi

Sand versus beach chair

Re-usable water bottle

Staying away from the shops! (I have zero space for anything extra so this one hasn’t proven to be too difficult yet)

Getting out and in with the sun, for safety reasons but also I find this regulates my eating habits

Making something with the local produce that feels like a treat so you’re not tempted to grab a cold beer, I am working with hibiscus flower fresh brew tea these days!

Sticking to local shops and street food (I must admit I seem to be able to stomach almost anything on my travels and some aren’t so lucky, so be easy on this one and feel it out for you!) versus restaurants. That is until I found the pizza that dreams are made of….so I had it one last time today before I move on from Tulum tomorrow!

Doing my own laundry, as long as the weather cooperates for drying!

Self taught yoga and workouts

Food and budgets aside, we rocked our colourful beach wear, bandanas, braids and bold lips! We adventured, we biked, we swam with the fish in the cenote (after a long mental battle on the part of some as the steps into the water were swarming with the fish, and these fish were the nibble your feet and body kind of fish!), and we ate fish (not the same fish although that would have made the fear factor very ironic!).

We called the Cenote “chay-notay” because it so easily slipped off the tongue as we longed for cold Italian sodas. We got pooped on by pigeons as the crowds around us yelled reassuringly that it was good luck! We spoiled ourselves yet kept finances top of mind, and boy oh boy did we laugh. We took turns at being the voice of sanity, reason, adventure and motivation.

What I love so much about the dynamic the three of us have together is that it’s 100% real. Wacky and fun and real. We say how we feel and what we think, even if it’s not pretty, politically correct or what the other might want to hear. It’s real and it comes from a place of love. You always know where you stand, and this creates trust. We talked business ideas, furthering education and general future plans. It made me think of how lucky we are to have the space and freedom to draft the blueprints of our futures.

We nursed sun burns and all too anxious minds. We took time out’s as needed: walks on the beach, Oprah/Eckhart Tolle podcasts, and some good old Tibetan singing bowl meditation music. Of course we took selfies, and took turns getting just the right portrait shot. Which I must admit I am grateful for as I mostly have scenery shots when I travel alone! I will miss their company to say the least. But, as the sign in the magical jungle read, KEEP GOING, and this is what I’ll do. Feeling grateful and feeling the love for my Canadian friends.

For me right now financially, it’s really a mind set. As much as I want to keep a safety net ready and waiting for the next downpayment on a home, or for whatever else might lay ahead, I know money comes and money goes but time cannot be recovered. I also know (and am kindly reminded by the cheerleaders around me), I worked very hard for the past decade, and I now have the means and time to live out a dream and to truly be alive in such beautiful places. Work, and therefore more money, is definitely in the near future but for now I know I can balance between budget and and a little boujee just fine.

So if you’re looking to do Tulum on a budget, splurge a little, or do a combination of the two, just give me a holler, I’ll give you the scoop.

Just for giggles:

Rain drop, Drop top

We did Tulum in flip flops

Rain drop, Drop top

You aint nothin without your crop top

With All the Love From Lina #badandboujee

0 notes

ynsespoir · 5 years ago

Text

Rainbow Veggie Rolls with Ginger Avocado Dressing

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sargento®. The opinions and text are all mine.

These colorful Rainbow Veggie Rolls are healthy, crunchy and loaded with tons of fresh veggies along with a delicious Ginger Avocado Dressing for dipping or drizzling!

I don’t know about you, but one of the things I love about summer is the large abundance of colorful produce everywhere I go which makes me want to eat ALL the healthy things, and these rainbow veggie rolls just scream summer! They’re so bright and vibrant with fresh crunchy veggies in every bite and this ginger avocado dressing is seriously to die for! Trust me on this.

The great thing about these rolls is that you can either make them bite size to serve as a fun appetizer or you can make an entire wrap out of them for a delicious, filling lunch. Either way, they are quick and easy to throw together and packed with tons of flavor thanks to a creamy hummus spread and Sargento® Sliced Sharp Cheddar Cheese!

As a self-proclaimed cheese lover, I always make sure to include slices of delicious cheese on my sandwiches and wraps and Sargento Sharp Cheddar Cheese slices give these veggie rolls some added zing and a pop of bold flavor! Sargento Slices are 100% Real, Natural Cheese so you know you’re getting the GOOD stuff. Lucky for us, sharp cheddar isn’t the only delicious flavor Sargento has to offer. I was also able to snag some Sargento Ultra Thin Provolone Cheese Slices and Sargento Blends 4 Cheese Southwest Slices at Harris Teeter for even more lunch ideas!

For instance, you could make a delicious Italian turkey wrap using Sargento Ultra Thin Provolone Cheese Slices along with some spicy salami, juicy tomatoes, and freshly made pesto. These cheese slices are sliced super thin and have a mild, smoky flavor that adds the perfect taste to sandwiches, burgers or pitas. Another lunch idea could be a spicy Mexican chicken wrap using Sargento Blends 4 Cheese Southwest Slices which are creamy in texture and have the perfect blend of Chipotle Cheddar, Colby and Pepper Jack cheeses. I mean…YUM. These are just a few delicious meal ideas using these cheese slices, but the possibilities are endless! Feel free to check out even more delicious recipe ideas here!

You can find all these Sargento cheese varieties in the dairy/cheese section of your local Harris Teeter and make sure to use THIS coupon offer to save even more! This coupon will be valid from 8/28/19 through 9/24/19 so take advantage now!

You guys, these rainbow veggie rolls are super easy to make too! No cooking required and the only time-consuming thing is the chopping and slicing required for the veggies, but hey, I just throw on my favorite playlist and enjoy my time in the kitchen. Meal prepping has become such an important part of my life, so I like to make it fun! These veggie-packed rainbow rolls make a really great lunch option that you can prep at home too, especially for those of you that don’t have access to a microwave.

To assemble these, you first start with a whole grain tortilla and some leafy green lettuce. Then spread as much (or as little) of your favorite hummus on top of the lettuce leaves. I used roasted red pepper hummus on my rolls, but you could of course use whatever kind you like! Then top the hummus with Sargento Sliced Sharp Cheddar Cheese slices, then finish it off with all of your veggies. That’s it! Easy right?? The ginger avocado dressing makes the perfect dipping sauce for these rolls or you could simply drizzle the dressing over the top.

Here’s a rundown of all the colorful veggies I used in this wrap, but remember this is obviously for YOU to enjoy so feel free to change things up a bit and add any additional veggies that you would prefer!

Red bell pepper slices

English cucumber slices

Shredded red cabbage

Matchstick carrots

Broccoli sprouts

Other veggie options include asparagus, red, white or green onions, tomatoes, other types of lettuce such as spinach or arugula, and you could even add some fresh fruit or a protein to this such as chicken or shrimp! Rice or quinoa would taste great as well. You really can’t go wrong when making this and once everything is chopped, you can easily assemble this in about one minute!

You can also easily make these low carb by simply using lettuce as your base for a wrap!

These Rainbow Veggie Rolls can be prepped the night before by chopping all of your veggies ahead of time, then just assembling them the next day. You can also make the ginger avocado dressing the night before too and it will last up to 3 or 4 days if kept in a sealed, airtight container in the fridge. I must admit these rolls do taste best immediately after making, but they can also be chilled for a few hours just fine in the fridge if you’re packing them for lunch.

Hope you all enjoy these bright and crunchy Rainbow Veggie Rolls as much as we did and please let me know if you make this recipe! Don’t forget to leave your comments below or tag me on Instagram using the hashtag #eatyourselfskinnyrecipe so I can see all your delicious food!

Rainbow Veggie Rolls with Ginger Avocado Dressing

Serves: 4 Servings

Ingredients

4 (8 inch) multigrain tortillas

8 large leafy green lettuce leaves

1 cup of your favorite hummus

4 slices sharp cheddar cheese

1 cup each thinly sliced red bell pepper, thinly sliced cucumber, shredded purple cabbage, matchstick carrots and sprouts

For the Dressing:

1 avocado

1 Tbsp fresh grated ginger

1 garlic clove

½ cup cilantro leaves

2 Tbsp lime juice

3 Tbsp olive oil

¼ to ½ cup water (depending on consistency)

Pinch of salt

Instructions

To assemble the rolls, top each tortilla with 2 lettuce leaves, ¼ cup hummus, 1 slice of cheddar cheese and divide the veggies evenly among the wraps. Tightly roll up the tortilla, securing with a toothpick if desired, and slice into 4 rolls or in half to enjoy as a wrap.

To make the dressing: Combine the avocado, ginger, garlic, cilantro, lime juice, and salt in a blender or food processor and pulse until combined. With the motor running, slowly add the olive oil and water until smooth and you have your desired consistency.

Drizzle your rolls with the ginger avocado dressing or store in a sealed airtight container until ready to eat. Enjoy!

Nutritional Information

Serving Size: 1 wrap • Calories: 295 • Fat: 9.6 g • Saturated Fat: 2 g • Carbs: 28.2 g • Fiber: 5.9 g • Protein: 18.2 g • Sugar: 4 g • WW Freestyle Points: 7

3.5.3218

The post Rainbow Veggie Rolls with Ginger Avocado Dressing appeared first on Eat Yourself Skinny.

from Eat Yourself Skinny https://ift.tt/2Lb7P3G via IFTTT Rainbow Veggie Rolls with Ginger Avocado Dressing Eat Yourself Skinny, IFTTT from topofbestone https://ift.tt/2NBUrbF via IFTTT

#IFTTT #Blogger

0 notes

stockbeaver96-blog · 6 years ago

Text

Workshops 2019

Good ideas – Moveable feasts

Workshops of 2019

Looking forward to hearing from you all, Mimi xx

For all bookings and further information please contact: [email protected]

Workshops at my house in Médoc, France

May 15 – 18, 2019 “The French wine Master class”, a roadtrip

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

June 12-14, 2019 “The Playing restaurant workshop”

• Cost of participation: 2000 euros per person

June 19 – 21, 2019 “The annual Summer abundance workshop”

• Cost of participation: 2000 euros per person

September 25 – 27, 2019 “The first Fall harvest & wine workshop”

• Cost of participation: 2000 euros per person

October 2 – 4, 2019 “The second Fall harvest workshop”

• Cost of participation: 2000 euros per person

Workshops in Italy

April 17 – 19, 2019 “Spring in Piemonte”

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

July 4-6, 2019 “The Mysteries of Turin”

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

October 15-19, 2019 “The Great Italian roadtrip” … a cookbook revisited

This is a 5-day “extravaganza” workshop

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

December 5-7, 2019 “Festive in Piemonte”

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

Source: http://mimithorisson.com/2018/05/09/workshops-2019/

0 notes

butaneplate02-blog · 6 years ago

Text

Workshops 2019

Good ideas – Moveable feasts

Workshops of 2019

Looking forward to hearing from you all, Mimi xx

For all bookings and further information please contact: [email protected]

Workshops at my house in Médoc, France

May 15 – 18, 2019 “The French wine Master class”, a roadtrip

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

June 12-14, 2019 “The Playing restaurant workshop”

• Cost of participation: 2000 euros per person

June 19 – 21, 2019 “The annual Summer abundance workshop”

• Cost of participation: 2000 euros per person

September 25 – 27, 2019 “The first Fall harvest & wine workshop”

• Cost of participation: 2000 euros per person

October 2 – 4, 2019 “The second Fall harvest workshop”

• Cost of participation: 2000 euros per person

Workshops in Italy

April 17 – 19, 2019 “Spring in Piemonte”

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

July 4-6, 2019 “The Mysteries of Turin”

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

October 15-19, 2019 “The Great Italian roadtrip” … a cookbook revisited

This is a 5-day “extravaganza” workshop

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

December 5-7, 2019 “Festive in Piemonte”

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

Source: http://mimithorisson.com/2018/05/09/workshops-2019/

0 notes

weederfall18-blog · 6 years ago

Text

Workshops 2019

Good ideas – Moveable feasts

Workshops of 2019

Looking forward to hearing from you all, Mimi xx

For all bookings and further information please contact: [email protected]

Workshops at my house in Médoc, France

May 15 – 18, 2019 “The French wine Master class”, a roadtrip

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

June 12-14, 2019 “The Playing restaurant workshop”

• Cost of participation: 2000 euros per person

June 19 – 21, 2019 “The annual Summer abundance workshop”

• Cost of participation: 2000 euros per person

September 25 – 27, 2019 “The first Fall harvest & wine workshop”

• Cost of participation: 2000 euros per person

October 2 – 4, 2019 “The second Fall harvest workshop”

• Cost of participation: 2000 euros per person

Workshops in Italy

April 17 – 19, 2019 “Spring in Piemonte”

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

July 4-6, 2019 “The Mysteries of Turin”

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

October 15-19, 2019 “The Great Italian roadtrip” … a cookbook revisited

This is a 5-day “extravaganza” workshop

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

December 5-7, 2019 “Festive in Piemonte”

• for furthers details and cost of participation, please send me an email on [email protected]

Source: http://mimithorisson.com/2018/05/09/workshops-2019/

0 notes

thegloober · 6 years ago

Text

6 fantastically fun things to do in Orlando without kids. Hey, it’s your vacation too!

With winter breaks coming up, I know lots of our readers will be planning Orlando vacations. Because, family! And…Orlando!

Let me just say, our family is good at vacation. We trained on our first trip to Disney back when I was pregnant, and our sons were four and seven (perfect Disney ages, for the record). It taught us when to go, go, go and when to chill; when to split up for alone time with each kid and when to hang as a group. Thanks to hotel childcare, we even had a date night. (Also a great reason to travel with grandparents or a loving aunt or uncle, by the way.)

Our night out helped us refuel and enjoy the rest of our mostly kid-centered trip making the entire adventure that much more wonderful.

A night in Orlando without the kids is totally worth it

When you have young kids, it really does feel indulgent and wonderful to have great meal, see a show, or just wait in line for a few rides free from snack requests, strollers, and endless rounds of “how much longer?” And having recently spent a little kid-free time in Orlando myself, thanks to the folks from Visit Orlando, it gave me so many idea!

So if you can indulge — and I highly recommend it — here are 6 super cool ideas for kid-free things to do if you’re able to work in a little adult time on an Orlando vacation.

Pro tip: Don’t stay out too late, because you know the kids will want to hit the pool first thing or take advantage of those early-access park hours. Then you’ll be the one who’s tired and grumpy the next day, and we can’t be having that.

Related: 7 smart tips and hotel tricks that make travel with toddlers so much safer and easier

1. When you’re craving some theme park action followed by a bar crawl…

After a day at Universal Orlando with the whole family, grab a sitter through the hotel — they’re vetted and in the experience of our writers here who have used them, pretty terrific. Then head back to the park at night for the attractions you missed, because your kids were too young or too short.

At Disney, Epcot’s Future World and World Showcase stay open until 10 p.m. (9 p.m. on weeknights), while Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom close at 8 p.m. — those hours may be even later during peak vacation days.

At Universal Orlando, both Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure close as late as 9 or 10 p.m. on peak weekends, with IoA generally open later than Studios — until 8 p.m., even on a random Tuesday night in October.

So what to ride?

Confession: I love a good movie car chase, and Universal’s new Fast & Furious – Supercharged (above), which puts you on a party bus that suddenly becomes part of a high-speed car chase, is pretty much made for me.

And we know adults love Harry Potter as much as the kids, if not more! So while you’re there, be sure to revisit The Wizarding World of Harry Potter and Hogsmeade, which have a decidedly different vibe at night. Plus, you can take your time to explore all the tiny details you missed with the kids — and even grab a little something stronger than non-alcoholic butterbeer. Plus the Nighttime Lights at Hogswarts are terrific, if you have little ones who can’t make it up for that.

Roller coaster fan? Ride The Incredible Hulk Coaster or Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit at night because, wow.

Then, after the parks close, make your way to Universal CityWalk, where lots of places stay open until 2 a.m. Enjoy hot spots like Pat O’Brien’s, pretty much an exact replica of the bar by the same name in New Orleans. There’s also Bob Marley’s, A Tribute to Freedom which is perfect for grabbing a Red Stripe and hearing some live reggae. If a night of dancing is more up your alley, the multi-room The Groove is such an Orlando hot spot, you’re likely to find more locals than tourists.

(However for the record, I do NOT recommend staying out until 2 a.m. because the kids won’t care how tired you are in the next morning.)

Oh, and if you’re staying at one of the Universal hotels? The water taxi runs until 2:15 a.m. I love a water taxi!

Related: Parents share their most helpful family travel tips and they’re brilliant

2. When you want to catch a show or concert…

No, not every Orlando show features a Disney Princess. Blue Man Group Orlando on Universal CityWalk is as good as the original New York show, or check the concert listings at the Hard Rock Live, a 3000-seat arena featuring major acts.

For something more intimate, the Velvet Sessions at the Hard Rock Hotel hosts groups from The Wallflowers to Joan Jett to Foreigner. You may even be able to nab VIP tickets for a private bar area, or get a meet-and-greet with the band. And bonus for an Orlando night without kids: it’s 21+ meaning no little ones in sight — a nice break from the parks, for sure.

At Disney Springs, House of Blues is always good fun, or spend a night at the gothic-style Edison Live which has tons of cool cabaret style entertainment (more on that below). Either way, it’s unlikely that anyone will be dancing in a mermaid costume.

If you’re a Cirque de Soleil fan, you’ll want to look into Luzia, which is coming to Orlando spring of 2019. So cool!

And there are of course tons of movie screens at both parks, seeing as how they’re both owned by movie studios. Even a night spent holding hands, sharing popcorn, watching something R-rated and not at all animated, can be a delicious break you need to help refuel for the next day.

3. When you want a delicious meal at the parks without having to cut someone else’s food…

If you’re a little nervous about sitters and want to stay close to “home” at night I get it. Fortunately, you have lots of great dining options right at the parks.

Strong Water Tavern at Loews Sapphire Falls has a ceviche bar and can also hook you up with your very own rum specialist for a tasting. Awesome, right?

Compare different rums and learn something — even if it’s just that you really like rum. Or have dinner outside by the lagoon and pretend you’re on a Caribbean vacation.

After you eat, I suggest you take a stroll along the walking paths that lead to the Universal theme parks. Even if you don’t want to visit again, a walk along the water is a great way to relax, especially if you aren’t pushing a stroller or waiting for everyone to catch up.

There are some other top-rated restaurants at both theme parks, including The Palm (Hard Rock Hotel), Bice (Portofino Bay Hotel), California Grill (Disney’s Contemporary Resort), Citrico’s (Grand Floridian Resort), Todd English’s Bluezoo (WDW Dolphin Hotel), and Jiko (Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge), which our editor Liz swears is one of the best meals she’s had anywhere.

And she lives in New York City!

Related: 14 sexy at-home date-night ideas for parents…after the kids have gone to bed

4. When you want to shop a little, sip a little, walk a little, eat a little…

For a leisurely night of shopping and strolling and eating, Disney Springs is the place to be. While CityWalk offers similar activities, the shops at Disney Springs may be more your speed, ranging from the souvenir-type shops you’d expect, to shops like Coach, Free People, Havaianas, Kiel’s, and Kate Spade NY.

As for me, I picked up a few souvenirs then took a break at The Boathouse with oysters and an aperitif. Then I did some more walking and popped into Zara (because it wasn’t crowded and I love kid-free shopping!) before enjoying a multi-course Italian feast at Maria & Enzo’s Ristorante.

Tip: If you’re having a kid-free night, you can skip the carefully crafted Disney backstory about the restaurant and just savor the linguini and clams which are darned authentic, not too expensive, and totally worth getting a sitter and making a reservation.

If you aren’t ready to call it a night, head to The Edison for a fancy cocktail. They also offer a late-night menu with fun dishes like a “Bacon Clothesline.” After 10 p.m. the Edison is just for the 21 and up crowd, and you might find live musicians, flapper-style dancers, aerialists or a DJ for dancing. Maybe all of the above.

Pro tip: Schedule a Disney character breakfast for the morning after, so you can bury your face in coffee while the kids are entertained by Goofy and Donald Duck.

Related: Pro tips for saving a ton of money on family travel

5. When you want to nerd out on nature, theme park style…

Okay, so it’s not quite the Audobon Center in Maitland or the Harry P. Leu Botanical Gardens (and those are cool too), but we are talking a theme park vacation here.

So.

Have you even been to Disney’s Animal Kingdom since they opened Pandora – The World of Avatar? I don’t care if you aren’t a fan of the cult favorite movie. Pandora is just soooo very cool!

(Besides, the next four installments of Avatar will be released starting in 2020, so start getting pumped.)

Stay until sunset and you’ll get to see bioluminescent plants and walkways powered by daytime sunlight. Bonus activity: Guess which plants are real and which were created by Disney. In many cases, if a particular plant won’t grow in the region, they find a lookalike that does grow there to take its place. If you’re a plant lover and you have time for a VIP tour, ask lots of questions. You’ll definitely learn some new trivia.

As far as rides, take a spin on Avatar Flight of Passage – trust me, you’ll want to talk yourself into it even if you’re scared, like I was. (You’re not technically moving very far, and it’s all special effects and 3-D glasses, but still.) I sure was glad I went for it.

Flying over this moon on the back of a mountain banshee – even if you really aren’t – is exhilarating. I even cried a little. Not because I was scared, just because it was so beautiful.

For a peaceful boat excursion through a bioluminescent rainforest and a little hand-holding with your sweetheart, try the Na’vi River Journey.

6. When you just want to get out of the parks for a night…

When you need a break from movies, characters, and branded everything, if you can swing the ride off the property and you have a trusted caregiver with the kiddos, it’s so worth it to explore the rest of Orlando. It’s easy to forget there’s a whole city out there! And there are tons of fabulous Orlando restaurants in every price range, featuring every cuisine, for a fun, adults-only Orlando date night.

There’s steak, there’s Mexican, there’s Italian, there’s seafood, there’s barbecue.

As for me, my pick is Dragonfly Robata, a short drive from Universal Orlando and a slightly longer drive from Disney World. Might I recommend the Smokey Dragon Roll? Salmon, snow crab, tempura flakes, cucumber, avocado, torched tuna, lemon zest, kobachi, and eel sauce. Enough said.

I also know they make an excellent French 75, if that’s your thing. (It’s definitely mine.)

Thanks to the team from Visit Orlando for hosting me on a press trip, and covering my flight and some of my expenses. I was so happy to see how much more there is to do in Orlando since I was last there with my kids!

Source: https://bloghyped.com/6-fantastically-fun-things-to-do-in-orlando-without-kids-hey-its-your-vacation-too/

0 notes

mdhsnews · 7 years ago

Text

Student Voice Box Special: Some Tasty Advice

To whomever submitted the question, “I love chocolate, what type should I try next?” to the student voice box.

Chocolate. Wonderous, delicious chocolate. As a treat, guilty pleasure, or comfort food, people have been enjoying chocolate for many years, all the way back to the mesoamerican period where it was a very common drink. Nowadays, there are so many different flavours of chocolate that choosing the next one to try might be a bit of a challenge. But never fear, dear anonymous person who left this comment, we’ve got your back!

Chocolate can be made with two components of the cacao bean: the cocoa solids, and the cocoa butter. These two are products of fermenting, roasting, and grinding the outside shell of a cacao bean. White chocolate has only cocoa butter from the cacao bean, but has the added enhancements of sugar and milk, whereas brown chocolates have varying amounts of cocoa butter and cocoa solids, along with milk, sugar, and any other added flavours.

Sweet Fact! White chocolate has no caffeine because caffeine, as well as theobromine, phenethylamine which are chemicals that make us feel (without going into super nerdy details here) happy, are present in cocoa solids and not cocoa butter.

Vegan chocolate exists! Yes, contrary to popular belief, vegans can eat chocolate and enjoy it, especially since there are more and more options for vegans to choose dairy free sweets. As mentioned above, cocoa butter is plant based, so when looking to buy chocolate, read the ingredients and make sure you find things without “Allergy warning: may contain milk”. Also, oreos, aka the best cookies ever that would be gone in 0.02 seconds after entering my hands, are vegan.

Aside from vegan but still on the path to being healthy, reading the ingredients is a great idea for anyone to do! Making sure your chocolate has the least amount of ingredients as possible is healthier, and probably a good rule of thumb.

The News Team has come together to share their favourite chocolate flavours and brands to hopefully answer the anonymous question.

I (Thea Richinson) love dark chocolates. Anything from 65% to around 90% cocoa is probably the best kind of chocolate out there. Lindt is one of my favourites because of how many different flavours you can get with almonds, lime, orange, raspberry, and so on. My absolute favourite would have to be any kind of dark chocolate with caramel inside. By the way, I pronounce it “care-a-mel”, how do you pronounce it?

I’m Zainab Fatima, and I love ALL sorts of chocolate!! But white chocolate has got to be my favourite since I have such a sweet tooth (for which I’ve been to the dentist endless times). I’ve tried all sorts of brands of chocolate: Nestle, Cadbury, Lindt, Ferrero Rocher… However, recently I’ve been trying to eat more Fair Trade chocolate, since we’ve discussed it in my english class and I want to support the cocoa farmers. As it turns out, this isn’t very difficult, either, because Canada has many Fair Trade chocolate companies in its grocery stores. Some include: President’s Choice, Cadbury, Green & Black’s, and many more can be found on the Fair Trade Canada website. One particular brand that I’ve been really into lately is Endangered Species Chocolate. I love animals and Fair Trade, and I can support both by purchasing chocolate from this brand! Another awesome fact is that most of the chocolates they make are VEGAN, gluten-free and Kosher! Not only that, but they have many interesting flavours like, ‘Caramel & Spiced Apple’ and ‘Cranberries, Orange and Cinnamon,’ just to name a couple. I found their chocolate bars at Sobey’s (in the gluten-free and vegan section), but you can also purchase them at Amazon. So, I wish you all the best in whichever chocolate you decide to try next, though I bet it'll be delicious, because what chocolate isn’t?

Maija here, and honestly, I’m satisfied with the less expensive or fancy chocolates. Just simple Nestlé® milk chocolate bars such as, Kitkat®, Coffee Crisp®, and especially Aero® are simple and sweet treats. Other than candy bars, chocolate covered anything are my favourites. Chocolate strawberries, cranberries, blueberries, pretzels, and raisins are the superstars of the chocolate-covered universe. Try Glosette® chocolate covered raisins and you won’t regret it (available at most dollar stores). My last bit of advice? Mini M&Ms® are better than regular M&Ms® hands down.

I'm Jasmine, and while I simply adore every single chocolate, my favourite chocolate is a Dairy Milk bar of milk chocolate. I find that white chocolate is wonderful, but anything more than a chocolate chip sized portion can be overwhelming and give me a headache. As for dark chocolate, that too tastes lovely in a small amount (and makes me feel very sophisticated), but having too much can make the bitterness difficult. Milk chocolate is the perfect balance between the two different chocolates, and I can never grow tired of it. Dairy Milk in particular has an irresistible flavour and the texture of the chocolate is so smooth, it melts in your mouth once you have it. As for chocolate candies, Aeros and Maltesers have always been dear to me; although Maltesers are rather expensive, they can be a fantastic treat for birthdays or times spent with loved ones and friends. Overall, my advice would be to try as much chocolate as possible to find your favourites and to be open to experimenting with new flavours!

Iman, reporting for duty, and wow do I have a lot to say about this topic. I’m well-educated in all things chocolate, one of my favourite foods. My favourites include mint chocolate, white chocolate, super dark chocolate, and salted caramel chocolate. My favourite brand chocolates are Lindor (DARK SEA SALT CARAMEL FTW) and this amazing brand called 4Fun. It’s like a super thick Kit-Kat, and you can find them near the cash registers in Milton Dollar Stores/Dollar Trees.

I’m Tithi Mayani, and my personal favourite type of chocolate is Ferrero Rocher, by Italian chocolatier Ferrero SpA. With a hazelnut core surrounded by creamy chocolate, put inside a wafer shell, sprinkled in chopped hazelnuts, all topped off with a coat of chocolate, it is pure perfection. I love how it’s decorated in golden foil, and put inside a brown paper cup with a rim. It looks as good as it tastes. I know how some people love dark chocolate, but I just can’t seem to find a taste for it. I know how it’s supposed to be real chocolate, with milk chocolate being very diluted and all, but I just find it too bitter. I suppose it’s an acquired taste, like coffee and tea. One of the types of chocolate I do like, however, is caramel chocolate. I know how sticky it is, and how it can get everywhere, but I think that the taste is worth the hassle. Chocolate is the best!

I’m Nicole Rottgen and chocolate is actually one of my many loves, especially dark chocolate. That sadly seems to be a bit of an unpopular opinion here, but let me remind you that not only is dark chocolate healthy for you (...in moderation), it is a more pure form of chocolate compared to milk which only needs to be 10% actual chocolate. White chocolate isn’t even technically chocolate at all! My pretentious rant aside, I’ll have to agree with Thea that the best kind of chocolate is dark Lindt chocolate. I usually go for 70-90% chocolate, plain but sometimes with mint or sea salt added for something different.

I’m Prema Kapoor and honestly, chocolate is probably one of the best creations. I absolutely adore milk chocolate and Ferrero Rocher, just not dark chocolate. I love when chocolate is sweet and when it melts in my mouth. I love nutty chocolate and chocolate with caramel. Dark chocolate isn’t my cup of tea because of its bitter taste and weird aftertaste it leaves me with. If we’re on the topic of chocolate bars, the reigning chocolate has to be Snickers, because honestly, I’m not me without it. Chocolate is definitely delicious and appeals to everyone.

I am Hillary Ford and I love almost all kinds of chocolate, except dark chocolate. My all time favourite type of chocolate are Kit Kat chocolate bars. I love how there is not too much chocolate but just enough. The crunchy wafer in the middle just ties the whole thing together. The way the chocolate is mashed between the wafers just makes them so good. I highly recommend Kitkat chocolate bars!

#chocolate #askmdhs #student voice

0 notes

ralphmorgan-blog1 · 7 years ago

Text

10 Wedding Pics Of Prosecco Vans That Will Give You FOMO If You Don’t Have One

Just when you thought everything had been conveniently invented, you couldn't be more wrong. The Prosecco van is literally everything wine lovers could ask for to make their wedding extra bubbly and chic. Say goodbye to your amusement for food trucks and book a Prosecco van for your special day.

There's something beautiful about getting your sparkling wine out of an adorable van. Also, it beats getting stuck at the bar for who knows how long at a wedding, right? Park the Prosecco van outdoors and enjoy your winewhile getting some fresh air. If you aren't already convinced you need to jump on the Prosecco bandwagon, a few pics of these vans all dolled up and in action may change your mind.

1. Don'tMiss Out On The Cuteness Overload

Summer Market this weekend @THEhaddonhall @vpdd lots of goodies to buy and a Prosecco van, what's not to love @_proseccoOclock #Derbyshire http://pic.twitter.com/JarudGHiIX

Janice Dyson (@JaniceMDyson) July 8, 2017

Add some flowery flair to one of these babies, and you're even sold. This bar on wheels stands out and can be an unforgettable item for your special day. Not to mention, it's super Instagram-worthy.

2. Is It Too Late To Ask For One For Christmas?

Our little and large #proseccovan have been all over the country this weekend. #nonstop #prosecco #barhire #piaggioape #campervan #vwcamper http://pic.twitter.com/MgIEcbAoD2

Prosecco Van Hire (@proseccovanhire) June 19, 2017

You don't even have to be a wine lover to appreciate the innovation this van boasts. And if you're a passionate wine enthusiast, you're thanking the sip gods for this creation. Several cheers are in order.

3. It'sThe Ultimate Prop For Wedding Pics

The beautiful bride and groom enjoying the prosecco bar at their wedding on Saturday! #weddinghour #proseccobar http://pic.twitter.com/Qz0q5IXUYC

The Vino Van (@TheVinoVan1) July 26, 2017

Neither the bride or groom will be mad at this van for third wheeling their special day. It's the perfect addition to a time to celebrate. Also, could you ask for a better prop for photos?

4. Seriously, This Wine Comes With A Chic Set Of Wheels

brides: #Brides This Prosecco Van Is the Cutest Way to Serve Bubbly On Your Wedding Day https://t.co/3OgKGtIOywhttp://pic.twitter.com/VEjKL3PKQD

#Bridal Worldwide (@BridalWorldwide) July 25, 2017

The van won't necessarily be moving, but we'd be crazy not to try and wrap our heads around the idea that it does. It's almost as epic as when you discovered the beauty of the ice cream truck. Now #adulting has its own variation.

5. The Decor Options Are Endless

Today's fabulous #hitchedSupplieroftheDay is @lovelybubblyco, a Prosecco van you can have at your wedding! https://t.co/SWy0RzK3A0http://pic.twitter.com/Q9K1oAyZAs

hitched.co.uk (@hitchedcouk) July 22, 2017

Maybe everyone will sip the same way, but that doesn't mean your color scheme has to be the same as the last person's. As simple as this wine innovation may seem, you can get creative with how you decide to decorate it. Nothing can take away from this van'sawesomeness.

6. Even The Pup Approves Of The Epic-ness

Everyone looks good with our Little Italian Prosecco Van' even the dog! Live music, great food vans & fizz on tap til 8pm @archwallgarden http://pic.twitter.com/ehm2UjEqOj

Poco Prosecco (@PocoProsecco) June 24, 2017

You know what they say;If your dog doesn't approve of something, chances are, it's evil and you need to stay far away. Now, notice the extremely welcoming pup in this shot? The defense rests.

7. Some Things Really Are Prettier In Pink

Friday. Half term. Prosecco. Bring it on.#prosecco#savewaterdrinkprosecco#pinkvans#proseccovan#mamapreneurr https://t.co/thL39Urhkthttp://pic.twitter.com/iqbWMdyx7g

Aly Hodge (@BugBirdBee) May 26, 2017

Regardless of what color it comes in, you'd be wrong to miss out on a Prosecco van. Forget about it matching the table napkins. Does it pair well with those wine enthusiast taste buds of yours? Then you're good.

8.LetThe Good Times, Literally, Roll

I just love this cute little prosecco van, do you do home delivery?! @fizz.76 https://t.co/EfpKROY9Swhttp://pic.twitter.com/qSmILKsdfg

Something Blue (@SomethingBlueEM) May 26, 2017

Again, the only things that should be moving are your feet toward the direction of this boozy brilliance. It's on . The van has no other choice but to roll you into some good times.

9. Why Wasn't This Invented Sooner?

The Prosecco Van #marketing#apecar#italianstyle#wine#vinohttp://pic.twitter.com/gvkAnuuodn

Paolo Stecca (@Winedetector) May 29, 2017

Yes, our prayers have been answered. But no matter how overly content we are with this creation, the impatient person in us all is asking why it took so long. Great things come to those who wait, I guess.

10. By Now, You're Exhausted From Swooning

Planning a party for summer? Why not use our camper van mobile bar or our Prosecco van to add some real sparkle to your event. #mobilebarhttp://pic.twitter.com/mH03vDuZyX

Fancy Flutes Events (@FancyFlutes) May 31, 2017

So you came, you saw, and now it's time to conquer. Whether you're a guest, or actually planning a wedding, it's time to reserve your date with this beauty. Hurry, because everyone else's thoughts are in the same place.

Sometimes,people refrain from jumping on the bandwagon. No one mentioned there would be wine on this wagon, though. So, hop, skip, jump, or whatever you need to do to experience one of these Prosecco vans.