#i live in texas. i eat so much tex mex.

[terrasu]

Why am I only finding Mexican/South American recipes for corn. Did it not migrate like potatoes

[moohnshinescorner]

💙✩ NEW RELEASE ✩💙✩

Shockproof

A Friends to Lovers Forced Proximity Bodyguard Romance: The Shatter & Shock Duet #2: Haworth Enterprises

By Xavier Neal

Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/197465450/

Hosted by DS Book Promotions

AMAZON

US https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CG6NS3FH/

UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0CG6NS3FH/

CA https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0CG6NS3FH/

AU https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B0CG6NS3FH/

Read on Kindle Unlimited

Start the Duet here:

Shatterproof #1

US https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C1CNS58X/

UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0C1CNS58X/

CA https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0C1CNS58X/

AU https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B0C1CNS58X/

Blurb: From USA TODAY Bestselling author Xavier Neal comes the jaw-dropping, heart pounding conclusion to this best friends-to-lovers, forced proximity, romantic suspense duet!

The assignment is simple.

Don't let the client get kidnapped.

Don't let someone kill her.

Don't screw up our now very real relationship.

It's the last part that complicates what would otherwise be a fairly run of the mill operation.

If we weren't dating, the only thing I would have to worry about would be following standard procedures such as making sure her locations are secure.

That we aren't being followed.

That those in her inner circle haven't been compromised.

But because we are, I now have to deal with her sabotaging ex boyfriend.

And an unexpected female guest showing up on our double date.

And a meddling team member who thinks he's helping instead of simply giving me more headaches.

All of these things make my mission significantly harder.

As does trying to decide if we're moving too fast.

As does having to come in second to her career.

As does my best friend herself when she finally has to decide what our future together looks like.

To the company I work for, my main objective is to find and eliminate the unidentified threat that's been stalking one of their most valuable assets.

But to me?

My only job is to protect the love of my life - or die trying.

About Xavier Neal

Xavier Neal is a best-selling romance author who enjoys hopping from sub-genre to sub-genre like a game of Hopscotch she can't resist.

In between writing, she loves to read (everything from romance to self-improvement books), watch movies (old and new), eat too much Tex-Mex (her Chuy's t-shirt collection is out of control), and watch AHL hockey games LIVE (preferably against the glass whenever possible).

She currently resides happily in Texas with her bearded husband "Lumberjack”.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2KAOA4z Facebook: http://bit.ly/2K2UfBe Instagram: http://bit.ly/2L3ePAz BookBub: http://bit.ly/2KA7tEW Pinterest: https://bit.ly/3fkYPss Spotify : http://bit.ly/XNSpotifyProfile Merch : https://bit.ly/3C3bdqV Store https://bit.ly/3ijVlZ3

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4990135/

MY REVIEW ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ In this highly anticipated continuation into the Haworth Enterprises Series the kidnapper is finally revealed and you will never guess who it is. This continuation picks up right where the last one leaves off and if filled with suspense, laughs and danger around every corner. Ms. Neal has an amazing way of blending the danger, mystery and fun. It is blended to perfection to draw in readers and keep them entertained for hours.

The main characters have a chemistry unlock any other and it is very entertaining. One minute they are talking and cracking on each other and the next they are tearing clothes off and getting steamy. It is wonderful to read about them since the banter is so great and laugh worthy.

I highly recommend this book to all those suspense romance readers out there. But be sure to read all the books in order or you will be lost. As each book follows into the next flawlessly and seamlessly. Excellent job to the author.

@Xavier Neal

@DS Book Promotions

[norahsloveforlaconiaandthelake]

A Closer Look At Laconia

Growing up in Laconia, New Hampshire has shaped me into the person that I am today. The people that live there and the locations within the town are all major parts of my life and have contributed in numerous ways to helping me grow. At first glance, one may find that the area’s physical characteristics would have the most significant effect on its residents’ lifestyle, encouraging everyone to take advantage of the outdoors as much as they can. This is true to some extent, but it’s not the only thing that Laconia has to offer. When you take a deeper dive into town, there are so many restaurants, businesses, and people that form our community, that add to what makes our town so special. 

Most activities are centralized in certain spots in town, mainly in the Weirs, downtown Laconia, and Union Avenue. Each location has a different feel to it, and they all come together to help form a community with a lot to offer. The Weirs is home to more recreational activities, such as arcades (including Funspot, “the largest arcade in the world”), and a drive-in theater. As a kid growing up in Laconia, there was so much to do here, and I have so many memories with my long-time friends of going to these places for special occasions. 

Downtown Laconia wasn't always the most vibrant spot in town, but thanks to recent renovations, it is much less vacant and has become a center for many new businesses. My friends and I gather at a local coffee shop downtown, called Wayfarer, and there’s the Colonial Theatre right across the street that is now showing a variety of productions and has become a staple of pride for the community. 

Union Avenue is a long stretch of road that is home to many restaurants and businesses as well, including a local favorite restaurant “Cactus Jack’s''. Cactus Jack’s is a “Tex-Mex” restaurant, meaning its theme is based on the border of Texas and Mexico, and it serves the type of cuisine that can be found in this spot. It's located on the bottom floor of a two-story building, with another restaurant being located up top. T-bones occupies the top floor, but is a little more upscale than Cactus Jacks. Walking into the lower entrance, you are met with fake cacti, sombreros on the wall, and a color scheme of reds, oranges, and browns that aid the Tex-Mex feel. Cactus Jack’s is a very significant place to me personally. Starting in high school, it was kind of a ritual that after Friday night games or after any special event, teams and friends would gather there in the large booths. They are open pretty late, so my friends and I would stay there for a while and visit, and the restaurant would be filled with groups of my classmates from school and everyone would be mingling.  It was fun to start eating there as a freshman with all the seniors, and then as time went on we passed on the tradition to the grades that followed. Throughout the years, I remember celebrating many playoffs wins there, being there to celebrate for other teams, and having one last final dinner before we all went off to college.

Although there are many places to enjoy throughout the busy epicenters of town, there are a wide variety of places that are away from the hustle and bustle. Laconia has countless parks and beaches, both public and private. There are more than 20 parks and beaches scattered within the town limits, ranging in size from 1 acre to 34. In the summertime, there are endless beaches along the lake to choose from, and they all have something to offer. Bond Beach, for example, is more off the beaten path and is a quiet place to relax and enjoy the beach. On the other hand, Opechee Cove, and Opechee Point which are just around the corner from the cove, are right in the middle of the busiest park in town, where there are always recreational sports games and summer camps frequenting the area. I attended summer camp, with the Parkhouse being right in between these two beaches, which is where I met some of my best friends to this day, and I even learned to swim here. 

The beauty of Laconia goes much deeper than what meets the eye. The natural views and friendly restaurants are part of what makes the town so great, but when you look closer the people that fill the community are really what makes it so special. My family has lived in Laconia for 5 generations, and many other families have been here for an extensive amount of time as well, making it so that everyone in town seems to be connected somehow. Some of the friends that I have now are the grandchildren of people that were friends with my own grandparents, and we all come together to form an extended family, in a way. In a community like this, everyone always looks out for each other, sometimes simply because they recognize your name from a childhood acquaintance. 

A great example of this is a man by the name of Paul Phelps, who knew my paternal grandparents very well through the local football program, as he coached for decades. My dad and his brothers were good friends with Mr. Phelps’ kids, and they often went on many camping trips together, and did football-related activities together. Mr. Phelps’ wife, MaryLou, became great friends with my grandmother as well, and the connection they made lasted the rest of their lives. 

Fast forwarding to today, as my dad remains best friends with Mr. Phelps’ son, we all still maintain that relationship. My dad’s best friend lives out of state coaching football and isn’t home very often. Mr. Phelps and his wife are older now and need someone to look after them, so my dad has stepped in to fill that role, looking after them and bringing them to community events, including high school sports games (which I used to play in). This example reflects the importance of the connection that members of this community have, and how family extends beyond just who you are blood-related to. The support that they, and many others, continue to show everybody in the community, and the relationships that have developed with new generations, depict how closely-knit Laconia is.

Growing up in Laconia, there was never a shortage of things to do, whether it was outdoor recreation or hanging out at a restaurant or drive-in. It was the perfect place to raise a family, and that’s why so many generations of people come back to do so. People like my parents, who grew up here and chose to come back to raise their family, exposed their own kids to what it truly means to be a part of a community. The residents of Laconia (especially the long-time ones) recognize how special of a place it is, and they want to do everything they can to put their best foot forward and welcome new visitors to the area. Through various community organizations and events, they are able to dedicate their time, and sometimes their entire lives, to making the city a better place. 

In turn, it not only makes it a great place to visit but also a great place to grow up, where you feel loved by everyone who lives within the city limits. Being able to take advantage of the many beautiful beaches, well-maintained parks, and nostalgic restaurants are just some of the reasons that I love calling Laconia my hometown, but overall, it's the people who give me so much pride in where I come from. 

[freehismindatnite]

Star Wars Modern AU headcannons ft. Single Dad Anakin pt 2

I managed to get brain rot from my own au lmao

Anyways this focuses more on the adults bc I've been thinking

Asajj was on Beat Bobby Flay once

She lost but people are coming to her restaurant more because they think it was rigged

So btw thranto is canon in this universe because I said so tee hee

Anyways Eli eventually leaves his accountant job and starts a restaurant called Cantina Tex-Mex because this is Texas, Eli Vanto is not portrayed as white so I made him Chilean and Mexican. ALSO tex mex is very good if done right.

He has an unreasonable amount of teenagers there on Fridays

He gave them a discount bc Asajj told (read: threatened) him to

Anyways Thrawn also makes specifically 2 gallons of Puerto Rican Chocolate Caliente (hot chocolate) every friday because he wants to watch the world burn

Literally every teen and tween loves that hot chocolate but he just makes 2 gallons then watches the mad scramble

Asajj makes a diner food and Romanian food mix

It's really good for date nights and the Skywalkers (plus Rex, Ahsoka,Barriss, and Obi-wan) to eat at for family dinners if something special happens

It's cool as hell she makes like Sarmale burgers so she has the patty be 2 actual Sarmale. Which is minced pork, spices, onions, and rice rolled in sour cabbage leaves and served with her hashbrowns potatos.

She serves Pepsi because she is a sadist

Ahsoka is a comedian as I have said before

Her content is all written by herself no ghost writers

She has had 2 Netflix specials so far

One of her jokes is about how her and Thrawn became enemies

Dr. Barriss and Eli are good friends so haha rivalry but your spouse will smack your dumbass for it.

They don't hit their spouses btw they just roll their eyes and pack up their crochet stuff.

Barriss and Eli met in middle school when other kids were being assholes to Barriss. Anyways they were friends ever since.

Maul, Savage, and Mother Talzin come visit one day

It's hilarious

No one really likes Maul

People think Savage is v nice

Mother Talzin is this 6 foot lady she terrifies the town minus the Skywalker twins and Los tres caballeros (Ahsoka, Anakin, and Obi-wan)

Anakin is a force of nature

He's an idiot with a clone of him

No like Leia is literally very much like him

Luke looks like him but other than that he's just Padme

Leia has done several things her father did

Everyone found it hilarious

Till she tried to jump off the roof to fly when she was 10

Poor baby had a big scar

Luke is also a fucking idiot I'd like to remind you, he has a insufferable martyr complex

Seriously Ahsoka, Barriss, Obi-Wan, Anakin, and Luke were playing Bedwars once and Anakin and Luke kept throwing themselves onto the fray

Annoying as hell sometimes

Anakin literally just told Ahsoka that doing drugs was cringe once so she just didn't

Anakin did though Obi-wan lectured him on why drugs are bad and it went in one ear and out the other

And by drugs I mean weed

Because it's my fake USA so I will make it how I want it

Weed is legal now fuck you

Anakin just calls things cringe then leaves

Like he told Palpatine he was cringe once

I dont think Palpatine ever recovered

Also Palpatine is homophobic

Lol he lives in gay people texas

Shaak Ti my beloved

Aayla and Bly are the peak of cool aunt and uncle

They are the aunt and uncle who take you to rated r movies when your 13

Anyways that's it I just needed to get that out of my system

[pandemicperipatetics]

Texas Cities: Austin

We spent 1 week in Austin, working from home at an Airbnb with 2 desks(!) in North Austin near a yuppie food/shopping area called The Domain. Most of our exploring was limited to a Friday that we took off work, and we were grateful to have our car to explore different parts of the city. Austin seems like a good place to live, and a fun place to visit anytime besides the extremely hot summer, when we were here. Below are our recommendations!

Veggie Food

Tex Mex We really liked all of these places, but there are plenty of other options in Austin as well!

The Vegan Yacht (south of downtown): Has an especially delicious tempeh burrito called the “freeto” ($9) with fritos! They are a bit salty but add a great crunch. It’s combined with a vegan store that had a really fun selection of vegan items that aren’t always found in grocery stores. Parking: free.

Velvet Taco (multiple locations): We love their korean taco (with tofu) and the cauliflower taco (surprisingly tasty). We tried their other 3 vegetarian tacos and didn’t love them. They have meat options as well. This is a chain that we also enjoyed in Houston. Both locations we visited had outdoor seating and had somewhat of a Chipotle vibe (in a good way). Parking: Varies. It was free and easily available at both locations we tried.

Torchy’s (multiple locations): We really enjoyed their migas taco ($3) for breakfast, friendly service, and outdoor seating. If Velvet Taco : Chipotle then Torchy’s : Taco Bell. We would eat here again. Parking: Free and plentiful at the location we visited south of the river.

Other

1886 Cafe & Bakery (Sixth St): This has turned into much more of a tourist attraction than it was when I was in Austin for SXSW 2012; it is listed as a top 10 Austin attraction on several lists online. While it used to have a slightly upscale vibe and involved full table service, now you line up to order at the counter, it’s more crowded, and the cafe feels slightly dirty. However, the Texas-shaped waffle with pecans, fruit, & whipped cream ($14) is still as delicious as I remembered, and eating in the lobby of the Driskill Hotel is pretty nice. Parking: Difficult. We lucked out and found street parking about a 5-minute walk away. You can pay for street parking using the ATX app or a payment kiosk.

The Driskill Lobby - you can eat your food from 1886 Cafe here.

Flower Child (The Domain): This is a great little vegan chain with True Food Kitchen vibes. We tried it in Dallas and really liked the Glow Bowl and a thai wrap. Parking: The Domain has free parking garages with plenty of space.

Pro Tip: Maybe avoid Indian food in Austin. We heard this from a friend, and tried a pretty highly rated South Indian restaurant in North Austin that was very mediocre.

To Do (Stuff We Liked)

Zilker Park Botanical Garden ($8 non-Austin residents, free with American Horticultural Society membership): This is a very pretty place to visit and walk around. In particular, the Japanese Garden has some stunning ponds and the Prehistoric Garden has a very nice waterfall. It opens at 9am - if you’re here in the summer, go as early as possible to beat the heat! The walking path throughout the garden is somewhat shaded but it is still very hot. And wear comfortable shoes - it can be a bit wet and muddy so sandals are not ideal. Parking: Free and plentiful.

Texas State Capitol (free): We really enjoyed our visit. The building is beautiful and allows visitors to roam freely through the lobby and halls. There are free informational tours every ~30 mins, or you can take a self-guided tour using your mobile phone (you call a phone number and enter a code for each item you want to hear about). We enjoyed visiting the Senate and House chambers - there are even staff there to answer questions. It’s also neat to see the portraits of Texas governors lining the rotunda walls on every floor. The air conditioning makes this a great break from the summer heat, and the restrooms were very clean. 

Parking: You can park at the Capitol Parking Garage for free for up to 2 hours, and rates after that are quite cheap. It’s also just a ~10 min walk from there to Sixth Street, so it could make sense to leave your car here rather than trying to find street parking or paying $30+ to use a downtown parking garage.

St. Elmo Brewing Company (or other breweries): There are lots of breweries in and around Austin! We happened to visit this one and thought the outdoor, shaded picnic table seating was very nice. Half pints were reasonably priced at $3.50-$5 and we really liked the “Since, Like, Forever” (a double IPA). There is also a food truck in the beer garden - we didn’t eat, but it was nice to have as an option. Indoor seating is also good if you need to cool off. Parking: Free and plentiful.

Walnut Creek Metro Park (North Austin): We somewhat randomly visited here on a Thursday evening for a scenic walk. The trail we walked was very pretty and right by a stream. This seems like a great place to visit if you live in Austin. Parking: Free and plentiful.

Sixth Street (downtown Austin): If you’re staying downtown + aren’t as much of a grandma as I am, I can attest from my college days that this can be a fun place to bar hop in the evening and listen to live music. There is also a Velvet Taco on Sixth Street, which is an automatic win.

To Stay:

Our Airbnb was in North Austin, right on the North Star Greenbelt (which was very pleasant for evening walks). The neighborhood was a bit run down and the house seemed very old and run down, so while we didn’t feel unsafe, we don’t necessarily recommend this area. 

Downtown Austin is probably a fun place to stay, but parking is very expensive. We looked at a handful of Marriott Hotels, all of which charged $50 per night for parking. Given this, we were happy to stay away from downtown; the 20-minute drive wasn’t a problem.

[alicedoessurveys]

States Tag

Alabama: Do you like the movie Forrest Gump? never seen it

Alaska: Would you rather deal with 30 days of day or 30 days of night?

Arizona: Can you handle heat well? no, I get headaches and very grumpy

Arkansas: What are your opinions on Bill Clinton? I have none, Im British so I don't really follow US politics 

California: Who is your favorite actor? Favorite actress? Actors: James McAvoy, David Tennant, Martin Freeman, all the Marvel guys, a list that goes on and on but my brain has gone blank. Actresses: my brain has gone to mush I cant think of a single actress ughhhhhh

Colorado: Do you smoke weed? What are your opinions on its legalization? I don't smoke it. I think it should be legalised for medical use only but not for anyone like cigarettes are. My neighbours smoke it so our garden stinks of the stuff constantly 

Connecticut: Have you ever had a school shooting at your school? its not a thing we have to worry about it England

Delaware: Are you usually the first to do something, or are you more of a follower? neither really, I just do my own thing 

Florida: Have you ever been to Disney World? not in america, I’ve been to Paris

Georgia: Would you consider yourself a southern belle? no

Hawaii: What would be paradise for you? right now, to just be alone. I hate living with my parents and the foster kids, especially today they have tested my patience all fucking day im at breaking point

Idaho: What is your favorite way to eat a potato? jacket, or roasted

Illinois: Did you vote for President Obama (or would you have)? I would have, yes

Indiana: Do you like corn? no 

Iowa: Are roses your favorite flower? sunflowers are 

Kansas: Do you like the Tin Man, Scarecrow or Cowardly Lion better? cowardly lion just cause I think thats the one I relate to most 

Kentucky: Have you ever been to a horse race? no, and I don't want to

Louisiana: Have you ever celebrated Mardi Gras? nope

Maine: Do you like lobster? nope. I think its disgusting the way they are cooked too

Maryland: Have you ever been to Washington DC? never been to America 

Massachusetts: Are you smart enough to go to Harvard? I barely passed English and maths gsce so doubt it

Michigan: Have you ever swam in a lake? when I was a kid 

Minnesota: Have you seen Drop Dead Gorgeous? never heard of it 

Mississippi: Do you follow college football? nah

Missouri: Have you ever convinced someone to show you their private parts? what the...? nope why would I do that and what has this to do with Missouri?!

Montana: What is the greatest treasure you have ever found?

Nebraska: Do you eat beef? nope, I don't eat red meat

Nevada: Are you good at card games? No, and not very interested in them either.

New Hampshire: What are your views on gay marriage? it should be legal. Im a Christian I have no issue with it. you love who you love. the only thing I don't agree with is gay marriages happening in a church but any other venue go for it. 

New Jersey: Do you watch The Jersey Shore? no, ive seen some of the English version Geordie Shore

New Mexico: Would you consider yourself a hippie? nope

New York: Have you ever been to New York City? Would you like to? omg please I desperate to visit New York but im too poor 

North Carolina: Are the Panthers your favorite football team? don't like football 

North Dakota: Have you seen Fargo? eh I saw like one episode of the remake series a few years ago but I don't remember much about it 

Ohio: Did you watch The Drew Carey Show? nope

Oklahoma: What is your favorite musical? oh man now you're asking the hard questions... Hamilton, Waitress, Dear Evan Hansen, Grinning Man, Six, Beetlejuice, Heathers, Into The Woods... im a massive theatre nerd

Oregon: Did you ever play the Oregon Trail game? never heard of it

Pennsylvania: Do you watch It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia? never seen it 

Rhode Island: Who is the smallest person you know? our foster kid

South Carolina: Do you think Aziz Ansari is funny? I don't know who that is 

South Dakota: Who is more interesting: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt or Abraham Lincoln? everything I know about Washington and Jefferson is from Hamilton 

Tennessee: Who is your favorite country singer? dont know any... Is Dolly Parton country?

Texas: Do you like barbecue or Tex-Mex better? barbecue 

Utah: Do you know anyone who is Mormon? nope, I don't think its much of a think in UK

Vermont: Do you get the full autumnal colors in the fall where you live? yes

Virginia: Are you a virgin? yes

Washington: Do you like grunge? nope

West Virginia: Do you like the mountains? I guess yeah

Wisconsin: What’s your favorite kind of cheese? mozzarella or red leicester 

Wyoming: Do you love westerns? nah

[eldritchsurveys]

903.

Alabama: Do you like the movie Forrest Gump? >> It’s not a favourite of mine, but I can tolerate it, I suppose. ...Actually, come to think of it, I probably couldn’t tolerate it now. I find Forrest’s accent grating and I don’t want to hear it anymore.

Alaska: Would you rather deal with 30 days of day or 30 days of night? >> I don’t think either would be preferable. I like the night/day balance best.

Arizona: Can you handle heat well? >> Moderately well, I suppose. I feel like I complain about the heat far less frequently than most of the people I run into. At the same time, I also know my limits and I don’t just run around in direct sunlight for hours at a time or anything foolish like that.

Arkansas: What are your opinions on Bill Clinton? >> I don’t have any opinions on him.

California: Who is your favorite actor? Favorite actress? >> I have multiple favourites. Here are five: Matthew McConaughey, Gillian Anderson, Joaquin Phoenix, Adrien Brody, Gina Torres.

Colorado: Do you smoke weed? What are your opinions on its legalization? >> I don’t, it causes adverse reactions for me. I think decriminalisation would be wonderful, and applying it retroactively to the people who were imprisoned for marijuana possession would be even more wonderful. The unfortunate downside to legalisation is that now there are marijuana monopolies, because capitalism is a nightmare. So... you know.

Connecticut: Have you ever had a school shooting at your school? >> No.

Delaware: Are you usually the first to do something, or are you more of a follower? >> I don’t pay attention to this. I just do whatever I feel like doing whenever I feel like doing it.

Florida: Have you ever been to Disney World? >> No.

Georgia: Would you consider yourself a southern belle? >> No. I’m not Southern and I’m not a woman.

Hawaii: What would be paradise for you? >> ---

Idaho: What is your favorite way to eat a potato? >> Roasted, I guess. Skin-on.

Illinois: Did you vote for President Obama (or would you have)? >> I didn’t vote in that election. 

Indiana: Do you like corn? >> Sure.

Iowa: Are roses your favorite flower? >> No.

Kansas: Do you like the Tin Man, Scarecrow or Cowardly Lion better? >> I never much cared for that story, period.

Kentucky: Have you ever been to a horse race? >> No.

Louisiana: Have you ever celebrated Mardi Gras? >> I haven’t. Sometimes I think I’d like to go, but then I remember how I feel about crowds and noise. Kind of a bad idea.

Maine: Do you like lobster? >> Sure.

Maryland: Have you ever been to Washington DC? >> No.

Massachusetts: Are you smart enough to go to Harvard? >> I do not have the kind of brain that functions in a way that would be acceptable for Harvard, no.

Michigan: Have you ever swam in a lake? >> I’ve been in a lake, but I can’t swim, so it wasn’t swimming. Just wading around.

Minnesota: Have you seen Drop Dead Gorgeous? >> No.

Mississippi: Do you follow college football? >> No.

Missouri: Have you ever convinced someone to show you their private parts? >> No.

Montana: What is the greatest treasure you have ever found? >> ---

Nebraska: Do you eat beef? >> Occasionally.

Nevada: Are you good at card games? >> I don’t know any card games (aside from UNO and solitaire... and Magic The Gathering, lol).

New Hampshire: What are your views on gay marriage? >> It should be legal, and fortunately, it is.

New Jersey: Do you watch The Jersey Shore? >> Geez, couldn’t Jersey have gotten a better question than this? I guess there’s really nothing anyone from other parts of the country would know about NJ except racist stereotypes on MTV. Anyway, no, I’ve never watched Jersey Shore. The actual Jersey shore is pretty nice, though.

New Mexico: Would you consider yourself a hippie? >> No.

New York: Have you ever been to New York City? Would you like to? >> I used to live in New York City.

North Carolina: Are the Panthers your favorite football team? >> No.

North Dakota: Have you seen Fargo? >> Not yet. I’d watch it if I came across it on a streaming service.

Ohio: Did you watch The Drew Carey Show? >> No.

Oklahoma: What is your favorite musical? >> Phantom of the Opera.

Oregon: Did you ever play the Oregon Trail game? >> Yeah.

Pennsylvania: Do you watch It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia? >> I do. When I first saw it like 8 years ago or some shit, I didn’t really get it. But I tried it again a couple of years ago and got fuckin hooked. It’s hilarious! I might rewatch it at some point (starting with season 2, though, because Frank joining the crew is when it really gets into its stride).

Rhode Island: Who is the smallest person you know? >> I know a toddler?

South Carolina: Do you think Aziz Ansari is funny? >> Eh. I don’t find him memorable. I feel like I’m getting him confused with someone else, in fact... *googles* Okay, no, I had it right. Yeah, like, he was okay on Parks and Rec but honestly he had a great cast to bounce off of. Otherwise I just don’t find him remarkable.

South Dakota: Who is more interesting: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt or Abraham Lincoln? >> None of them.

Tennessee: Who is your favorite country singer? >> Orville Peck. Also Johnny Cash. And Jace Everett.

Texas: Do you like barbecue or Tex-Mex better? >> I like both.

Utah: Do you know anyone who is Mormon? >> No.

Vermont: Do you get the full autumnal colors in the fall where you live? >> Yeah, usually.

Virginia: Are you a virgin? >> No.

Washington: Do you like grunge? >> Sure do.

West Virginia: Do you like the mountains? >> Yep.

Wisconsin: What's your favorite kind of cheese? >> Pepper jack. It’s the one I eat most often. I like other cheeses but then you have to match flavours and all this other shit and I don’t have the energy. 

Wyoming: Do you love westerns? >> I like western fusions and adaptations. Like how Firefly is a space western. I probably like some classics too (Shane was good), but I just don’t go out of my way to watch them.

[lovemesomesurveys]

Alabama: Do you like the movie Forrest Gump?  Yeah.

Alaska: Would you rather deal with 30 days of day or 30 days of night?  I think 30 days of night would be kinda interesting, but I’m sure Alaskans wouldn’t agree ha. Maybe I should go there and experience it.

Arizona: Can you handle heat well?  Nooooo. Not at all.

Arkansas: What are your opinions on Bill Clinton?

California: Who is your favorite actor? Favorite actress? Alexander Skarsgard is definitely one of ‘em!

Colorado: Do you smoke weed? What are your opinions on its legalization? I don’t, but I agree that it should be legal.

Connecticut: Have you ever had a school shooting at your school?  I’m not in school, but no none of my schools have ever had one.

Delaware: Are you usually the first to do something, or are you more of a follower? I do what I like and feel comfortable with.

Florida: Have you ever been to Disney World?  No, but I’d love to go. I’ve been to Disneyland a few times, though.

Georgia: Would you consider yourself a southern belle?  No.

Hawaii: What would be paradise for you?  A nice private beach where I could have a nice bed to lie out on, ha. One that has curtains or something all around that I could zip up.

Idaho: What is your favorite way to eat a potato? Just about every way. I really love baked potatoes.  

Illinois: Did you vote for President Obama (or would you have)?

Indiana: Do you like corn?  Yeah. 

Iowa: Are roses your favorite flower?  I always just say they are. 

Kansas: Do you like the Tin Man, Scarecrow or Cowardly Lion better? I’m more like the Cowardly Lion, so him.

Kentucky: Have you ever been to a horse race?  No.

Louisiana: Have you ever celebrated Mardi Gras?  No.

Maine: Do you like lobster?  No. I don’t like any seafood.

Maryland: Have you ever been to Washington DC?  Nope.

Massachusetts: Are you smart enough to go to Harvard?  Ha, no.

Michigan: Have you ever swam in a lake?  Nooo.

Minnesota: Have you seen Drop Dead Gorgeous?  No.

Mississippi: Do you follow college football?  Nope, or any football. Or any sport in general.

Missouri: Have you ever convinced someone to show you their private parts?  I never tried to convince someone to.

Montana: What is the greatest treasure you have ever found?  My doggo. We fell in love with her when we first met her at the adoption center.

Nebraska: Do you eat beef?  Not much, but yeah.

Nevada: Are you good at card games?  I like playing card games like Uno, Apples to Apples, Cards Against Humanity...

New Hampshire: What are your views on gay marriage?  I support it.

New Jersey: Do you watch The Jersey Shore? Nah, I never got into that.

New Mexico: Would you consider yourself a hippie? No.

New York: Have you ever been to New York City? Would you like to?  No, but I’d love to go.

North Carolina: Are the Panthers your favorite football team?  I don’t have a favorite team, I don’t like sports.

North Dakota: Have you seen Fargo?  No.

Ohio: Did you watch The Drew Carey Show?  I did sometimes cause my parents watched it.

Oklahoma: What is your favorite musical?  Sweeney Todd.

Oregon: Did you ever play the Oregon Trail game?  Yeah, in like the 3rd or 4th grade.

Pennsylvania: Do you watch It’s Always Sunny In Philadelphia?  Nope, never got into that.

Rhode Island: Who is the smallest person you know?  Uhh my cousins who are little kids.

South Carolina: Do you think Aziz Ansari is funny?  I did on Parks and Rec.

South Dakota: Who is more interesting: George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt or Abraham Lincoln? I read and learned more about Abraham Lincoln.

Tennessee: Who is your favorite country singer?  I don’t have a particular favorite.

Texas: Do you like barbecue or Tex-Mex better?  Tex-Mex.

Utah: Do you know anyone who is Mormon?  I don’t think so.

Vermont: Do you get the full autumnal colors in the fall where you live?  Yessss. 

Virginia: Are you a virgin? Yes. lol Virginia makes you think of that.

Washington: Do you like grunge?  Some.

West Virginia: Do you like the mountains?  Yeah.

Wisconsin: What’s your favorite kind of cheese?  So many different kinds. I love cheese.

Wyoming: Do you love westerns?  Nah.

[gingerwerk]

kelly, i would love to get some tattoos & flowers headcanons! Maybe about everyone's favorite take-out, or maybe how they were as teenagers? I dont want the story to end, but Im so proud of you and glad you've shared it with us

aww you’re so sweet 💛 im sad that the main story is ending too but there are still other stories and ficlets of them and from this universe floating around my brain so if i have it my way this wont be the end 💛

but! love the idea of takeout because its something i havent really thought of before but now that you mention it... 

both eugene and bill really do just like their greasy diner food. specifically, eugene really likes to order more like, homestyle/southern staples that remind him of home (thats why he instantly takes to that diner cus even if there might be cheeper take out options around, they have a lot of southern food options so its very comforting to him) he’s a huge fan of ordering breakfast foods at any time of the day and his ideal breakfast order probably involves biscuits and gravy (me too bitch) 

bill really is just into gross greasy street food; its cheep as fuck and gets the job done. loves pizza and Absolutely thinks that Chicago deep dish pizza is an abomination to world 

jay loves chinese food. he’s moved around a fair bit in his life but no matter where he is, one of his first tasks in new city is to scope out his new fav chinese place. after he moved to boston he spent a solid month trying out a dozen different places until one stuck 

obvi burgie is a Huge tex mex fan and, similar to jay, puts just a little too much effort into finding a suitable tex mex place but he still can’t find a place that comes close to the one he had back in texas 

growing up in australia, flo had access to Tons of different asian cuisine so she really loves that. i think she’d be into thai and indian food specifically but anything that had a good kick of spice (can totally picture her offering a bit of her food to eugene, who accepted it without thinking, and then almost fucking died because he can’t eat spicy food) i also feel like between living in texas for a while and because its burgie’s fav, she also is down for mexican a Lot 

snafu is a raccoon who will eat anything so if someone suggests getting food he wont make the decision. he does have a Huge soft spot for creole food of course but he very rarely will try any restaurant claiming to serve creole because he knows it wont taste right and he’d rather just not have it than be disappointed 

[mexiveganchick-blog]

Happy Veganuary Y’all!

Yes, I am a Mexican female who just turned vegan... I also live in Texas home of the BBQ, pecan pies and would you like to add cheese and bacon with that? what about making it a Texas size?. Not to mention the many taco food trucks on every corner, Tex-Mex restaurants on every block and a mother who cooks nothing but delicious Mexican dishes.

So based on my fist sentence you probably already figured out  that I am a rare species or just a freak of nature because being Mexican eating tacos her whole life living in Texas surrounded by good ole’ southern comfort food just makes no sense on why I would even think about changing some good barbacoa, or baby back ribs smothered in BBQ sauce for celery sticks with out the ranch dressing. 

After some research and multiple docu-series and movies, I decided to make a drastic change in my diet and be more conscious about not only what I am putting in to my body, but also on how that affects the ecosystem. 

I have been Vegan for about a month now and I have to say that in my personal opinion and based on my results I can notice all of the good changes in my body physically and even emotionally. I am however very new at this and I am still researching and collecting information about everything that has to do with food, how it is processed and how to gain all of the nutrients from an all plant based diet. 

Since I just started doing this not to long ago I am still learning as I go and I am taking it step by step. My ultimate goal is not only to benefit myself from this wonderful life changing diet, once I am more informed and confident to share it with my family and friends, because as of right now it almost feels like a terrible secret. In a culture where having a feast where an animal is being killed for food and pretty much 90% of our cultural food is animal based, I personally feel like an outcast in which I will be looked like a strange specie  maybe even disowned and damned by the Aztec gods (Just Kidding, please don’t strike me with lighting!). 

In all seriousness so far I am loving everything about being Vegan despite the judgments and the learning process. I am aware that there is a lot of information about food processing and nutrition and I am willing to learn because like I said I am loving it, but also because I want to make a change for the planet. I know that my change alone would not have an impact, but this community is rapidly growing and hopefully in the near future more of us would be more aware and more conscious of how and why eating plant based foods is beneficial to our health and to the ecosystem.

-MexiVeganchick

[calebswitching]

Scene Week - Bailey/Caleb

When: Thursday after classes, May 16

Summary: Bailey gives a few orders and Caleb performs various domestic tasks for him.

Warnings: none

@bwaybailey

Caleb was slightly nervous showing up at Bailey's suite, just because he was always nervous before scening with someone new, but he was pretty sure this would be no big deal.  Just a domestic scene, which he was good at.  Still, he made sure to present himself perfectly when he knelt next to the door and knocked.

Bailey was definitely throwing himself into this whole scene week. He wanted the points, okay? And doing domestic scenes seemed like the best way to do that. When he hears the knock at the door and makes his way over to it and opens it, smiling at the switch on his knees. “Good boy,” he praises instantly. “You can stand up and come in, make your way to the living room,” he orders.

Caleb smiled as the praise immediately settled him.  There was nothing he liked more than being a good boy in a scene, and he liked showing a dom just how good he could be.  "Yes, Sir," he answered easily as he stood and followed Bailey inside

Bailey shuts his dorm room door behind him and makes his way into the living room. “You can kneel by the couch,” he says before he sits down on the couch himself so he’s facing the other switch. “First things first, can you tell me your safe-word and limits and then we’ll go from there.”

Caleb went to kneel by the couch and took a second to sink into the position and let out a breath.  It was the way he let himself sink into a more submissive mindset.  He looked up at Bailey when he sat and sent him a small smile.  "My safeword is red, Sir.  Limits are blood, bathroom kinks, age play, some types of public play... I'm really not concerned that we'll get anywhere near any of my limits today, Sir.  You mentioned doing a domestic scene, and that's something I enjoy a lot.  I don't think it's possible you'd give me an order I wouldn't be comfortable with, during a scene like that."

Bailey smiles as he listens to Caleb speak. “Thank you,” he responds before he lets out a single hum. “That is very true, I won’t be doing anything outside of a domestic scene today. Do you not have anything regarding a domestic scene you don’t wish to do?” He didn’t know if someone people had limits when it came to domestic scenes - he himself didn’t but everyone was different.

"Not that I can think of," Caleb said with a shrug.  "It's fine if it's humiliating or difficult.  I just like to serve, Sir." The real trick would be making sure he got into a submissive enough headspace with a fellow switch, but he didn't think it would be much if a problem.

Bailey couldn't help but smile at the switches words. He himself did like to serve so he did understand that. "Good to know," he responds. "I have a list of chores for you to carry out, after every two you complete you will tell me they have been done so I can check they are to my satisfaction."

"Yes, Sir," Caleb agreed easily.  Those were simple enough instructions.  "Is there anything else before I get to work, Sir?"

Bailey shakes is head. "Nope, you can just start," he says as he gets the list of chores from off the table and hands it to Caleb. The list consists of fluffing the couch cushions and pillows, folding the three throw blankets that he has, dusting around the tv and bookshelf in the living room and to do the dishes and put them away, to wipe down the counter tops and then the last one on the list is to cook dinner and serve it.

"Yes, Sir," Caleb said as he took the list and stood.  He read through the list - pretty standard house keeping followed by cooking dinner and then serving.  He wondered if Bailey meant he'd actually get to wait on him, the way they'd learned in class.  First things first, though, so Caleb got to work in the living room.  He started at the top of the list and went in order.  The first couple of tasks barely took any time, so within a few minutes he reported to Bailey.  "The first two are done, Sir, may I move on to the dusting?"

Bailey goes to examine the two tasks Caleb had done, he knows they’re simple tasks that would be extremely hard to get wrong. “Yes, you may move into the dusting,” he tell him with a smile on his face.

"Thank you, Sir," Caleb said with a nod and a small smile, and he went to get the proper supplies.  The dusting took a while longer of course, and so did the dishes and cleaning the kitchen counter.  It was a good half hour before he returned to Bailey again.  Doing chores for someone was always weirdly calming, and Caleb felt quite relaxed.  "I finished the kitchen, Sir.  Is there something specific you'd like me to make for dinner?"

Bailey never really knew what to do with himself when someone who cleaning for him so he mostly just hung around just in case he was needed,  a book in hand. When Caleb came to him to advise he was finished, Bailey smiles. "Good boy, thank you."  He wasn't a picky eater at all, he liked everything expect kale and cheese but he never wanted to say 'make anything' to someone. "I'd like you to make enchiladas," he tells him. He would tell him to make them without cheese but he doesn't actually have cheese in his dorm room so that wouldn't be an issue.

"Yes, Sir," Caleb answered with a nod, and headed into the kitchen.  Enchiladas were easy, he was from Texas, he knew how to make proper Tex-mex food.  There was no cheese in the fridge, which threw him for a loop for a minute, but he figured he should just make do with what was there.  It took him a good half an hour to get them in the oven, and then while they baked he cleaned the kitchen again, washing up all the dishes and wiping down all the surfaces.  When the oven beeped, Caleb took them out and set them to cool while he went to tell Bailey they were done.  "Sir?  Dinner is ready.  I set the table already, and I'll be serving the food in just a minute."

Bailey looks up at Caleb from his couch when he hears the other switch speak. He sits forward and then stands up. "Thank you for letting me know," he replies. He could smell the food while it was cooking and he hadn't realised he'd been hungry until he smelt food flowing through his dorm. He makes his way into the kitchen and washes his hand before he goes to sit at the table.

Caleb busied himself plating the food while Bailey washed his hands, and then waited for Bailey to sit to bring out the plate.  He'd only set one place at the table, assuming that he was meant to serve, not to eat as well, since he wasn't here as a guest.  "May I get you something to drink, Sir?"

Bailey thanks the switch as the plate of food is placed in front of him. It looks as good as it smells and he’s happy to finally be eating. “Yes, please. I will just have a glass of water.” He never drinks anything else with his meals, unless it’s at a fancy restaurant and then he may decide on a glass of wine.

Caleb nodded and brought out a glass of water, then stepped back. After a second of hesitation, Caleb knelt smoothly, just to the right and slightly behind Bailey's chair, where he would be out of the way.

“Thank you,” Bailey responds before he takes a sip of the water. He begins to eat the food served for him but he can’t stand the silence, he’s never really been good at silence. “So,” he says into the silence and he turns to look at Caleb kneeling just behind him. “What classes do you take?”

Caleb looked up, surprised to be addressed, but recovered quickly.  "Switch 102, beginner impact play, intermediate domestic service, and mental wellness, Sir."

Bailey can’t help but smirk with the switch being taken by surprise. He nods his head approvingly. “Good choices,” he responds with a smile. “Are you enjoying them?” he asks as he turns back to his plate just so he can eat without the food getting cold.

Caleb nodded and looked down again. "Yes, Sir. Very much." It would be hard to pick a favorite because they were all so different, but he felt like he was learning interesting and/or important things in each one.

Bailey nods and hums. “That’s good.” He doesn’t even really know what he wants from the school, or what he likes, he’s here to learn, though, so he’d pick classes he thought would be helpful for that. “It would suck if you weren’t enjoying the classes you were taking.”

Caleb wasn't used to someone wanting to talk to him so much while he was meant to be serving, but he gathered that Bailey wanted a conversation, so Caleb would try. "May I ask what you're taking, Sir?"

“You may!” Bailey says as he turns to look at Caleb again. “I’m taking switch 101, the, um, the health, sex education and toy care class, the aftercare one and domestic scenes class,” he lists ticking each one off with his finger.” He goes back to eating again. “Can you get me another glass of water?” he asks.

Caleb nodded, and of course couldn't help but think about what Bailey's choices said about him. Was he uncomfortable with sex? He didn't seem to be taking anything particularly kinky. But Caleb pushed those thoughts away. He needed to focus on the moment so he didn't miss anything. "Yes, Sir, of course." He stood and went to refill the glass, then returned it to it's spot next to Bailey's plate and knelt again.

As Caleb went to go get Bailey another drink, he continued eating in silence. It was strange to be here, without people he knew, without his normal routine but he figured he could get used to it soon enough. “Thank you, darling,” he says as he picks up the glass and takes a drink, lost in thought for a moment. “What’s your favourite thing about this?” he asks. “About domestic scenes?”

Caleb looked up, less surprised this time when Bailey spoke to him. He shrugged at the question, looking down again as he spoke. "I like to serve, Sir. I like to be useful. And... I relax.  When I'm told what to do. Specific instructions, so I don't have to think. It's... Soothing."

Bailey does get that, being  useful is always a good feeling. A sense of achievement sets in when you know you’ve been useful to someone. “That makes sense. I suppose it’s easier to be told what to do, to just follow orders and let it take over you.” Bailey can’t help but think him speaking may be putting the switch off. He finishes up eating. “You can clear the table and wash the pots now,” he says announcing he’s finished.

"Exactly, Sir," Caleb agreed, happy that Bailey understood. When the switch fell silent, Caleb went back to looking down at the floor and focusing on listening to Bailey's movements in order to sense when he'd be needed. When Bailey finished, Caleb was already getting to his feet when the switch spoke. "Yes, Sir." He set to work cleaning up, and within another ten minutes he'd put the leftovers in the fridge and cleaned, dried, and put away all the dishes.  He walked back out to the living room to check with Bailey again.  "Sir? I've finished the dishes."

“Thank you,” Bailey says as Caleb begins to take the dishes away from the table. He’s glad he decided to reach out to the switch because he seems like a good guy. When Caleb is finished,  Bailey flashes him a smile. “Good boy, thank you for doing that for me.” He picks his phone up and puts it in his back pocket. “I have one more task for you, I want you to run me my bath.”

"Yes, Sir," Caleb agrees with a nod, and heads to the bathroom.  He has a quick look around, making sure he's found any products that Bailey might want to add to the bath water, and then started to run the tap.  He \p"Yes, Sir," Caleb agrees with a nod, and heads to the bathroom.  He has a quick look around, making sure he's found any products that Bailey might want to add to the bath water, and then started to run the tap.  He was careful to get the temperature just right, just a little bit hotter than he'd want for a shower, because the water would always lose some heat as he filled the tub.  He laid out a towel for after the bath, made sure everything was right, and when it was full enough, he went to find Bailey again.  "It's ready, Sir.  Would you like me to wait or do other chores while you bathe?"

“Thank you,” Bailey responds. He usually hates running his own baths, he’s not really a fan of waiting around for things especially when he has nothing to do while waiting and showers are just more convenient. “You’ve done everything I required, so you don’t have to wait around. My dorm is spotless,” he says with a grin.

Caleb smiled softly and nodded.  "Thank you.  I'm dismissed then, Sir?"  He wanted to clarify, just to be sure.

He laughs and nods his head. “Yes, you are dismissed,” Bailey confirmed with a grin. “Thank you for all of this.”

Caleb smiled again and ducked his head.  "Yes, Sir, thank you.  And, um, you're welcome, Sir."

[moohnshinescorner]

Shatterproof

A Friends to Lovers Forced Proximity Bodyguard Romance: (The Shatter & Shock Duet #1) (Haworth Enterprises)

By Xavier Neal

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/125188554/

Hosted by DS Book Promotions

Review 5 sTARS

Man I was into this book. Like page after lovely page and bam!!!! The ending just left me hanging. Agghhhh..... Like why did it have to end that way.

So this book is a friends to lovers troop with rescue missions and lots of danger. It is a nonstop adventure with quirky fun and steamy love. The character line up is spot on and I think I fell in love with Slater immediately.

When reading this book I picture the movie Spy with Melissa Mccarthy. Not the actual movie, but the interactions between Melissa and Jude Law. The banter between them is like Arley and Slater. Crush and Hot Spy man. *wink wink*

Now let's talk about the slow burn in this book. I tell you, there were times when I yelled out for them to just get it on already. I mean these two tip toe around the entire book. Agh!! Anyone can see these two belong together so I wish they would just get to it already.

I truly enjoyed this book and cannot wait to see what happens next, because again that ending was epic and I am starving to find out what happens next.

AMAZON

US https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C1CNS58X/

UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0C1CNS58X/

CA https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0C1CNS58X/

AU https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B0C1CNS58X/

Read on Kindle Unlimited

Also available

Bulletproof – 99c!

US https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B097LNYH1B/

UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B097LNYH1B/

CA https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B097LNYH1B/

AU https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B097LNYH1B/

Blurb: From USA TODAY Bestselling author Xavier Neal comes an all-new, best friend to lovers, forced proximity, bodyguard romance...

The assignment is simple.

Don't let the client get kidnapped.

Don't let someone kill her.

Don't confess that I've secretly been in love with her since we first met.

It's the last part that complicates what would otherwise be a fairly routine operation.

Well, that along with having to move said client aka my best friend into my penthouse because pretending to be a couple is now part of our cover.

All of these things make my mission significantly harder.

As does her ex-boyfriend who just so happens to be our boss.

As does my partner who gets a kick out of making things uncomfortable for me.

As does my best friend herself when she has us crossing a line we can't uncross.

To the company I work for, my main objective is to stop an unidentified threat from eliminating one of their most valuable assets.

But to me?

My only job is to protect the love of my life - or die trying.

(This is book 1 of a duet. The story will conclude in book 2, Shockproof)

About Xavier Neal

Xavier Neal is a best-selling romance author who enjoys hopping from sub-genre to sub-genre like a game of Hopscotch she can't resist.

In between writing, she loves to read (everything from romance to self-improvement books), watch movies (old and new), eat too much Tex-Mex (her Chuy's t-shirt collection is out of control), and watch AHL hockey games LIVE (preferably against the glass whenever possible).

She currently resides happily in Texas with her bearded husband "Lumberjack”.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2KAOA4z Facebook: http://bit.ly/2K2UfBe Instagram: http://bit.ly/2L3ePAz BookBub: http://bit.ly/2KA7tEW Pinterest: https://bit.ly/3fkYPss Spotify : http://bit.ly/XNSpotifyProfile Merch : https://bit.ly/3C3bdqV Store https://bit.ly/3ijVlZ3

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4990135/

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#bookish #xavierneal #dsbookpromotions

[mcu-incorrect-quotes]

So I saw you said something about being from Northern Mexico and I think it’s really cool that you run an English blog. Also have you tried what we’d call Tex Mex. And is it actually similar to northern Mexican food or is that just superstition?

Hello there! And thank you very much for your words! The reason I wanted to run an english blog was to improve my english as well, since I’m a little rustry.And know, answering your question: yes I have tried, I have family living in Texas and Missouri (Laredo, San Antonio, Austin, Houston and Kansas city), so of course I’ve tasted what you all call Tex Mex.It’s similar, yes, but doesn’t taste the same. I’m not saying it’s bad, actually it’s good! the only thing that bugs me it’s that the chile it’s not… hot, spicy? (thats how you said it, right???). We eat a lot of chile, so we are used to eat it until our mouth burns like hell. But Tex Mex is really good, and it doens’t have to be compared to any mexican food, because even if it comes from a mix of said culture, it’s an unique taste as well.  And Taco Bell it’s not Tex Mex, stop

If you come to Mexico though, eat a lot of our traditional food (like chillaquiles, tacos al pastor, mole, guacamole, menudo, pozole, elote, buñuelos, frijoles charros, barbacoa, carne and pollo asado, and an  authentic tequila from Guadalajara), you won’t regret it!!

[ballerina-terminator]

Listen up, bitches. My boy Will is Texan, so I’m about to tell you how Will’s food world works:

1) Mexican food and Tex-Mex - There is no way on Gaea’s green earth that Will Solace will eat a bite of anything called “Mexican food” anywhere North of the Red River unless he has actually met the abuela in the kitchen and assured himself that it’s not some white guy that went to a Taco Bell once. His family absolutely has a favorite Mexican restaurant, and it is, without a doubt, a local hole-in-the-wall establishment that had a second or third location due to popularity.

2) BBQ - this boy grew up in Austin with constant access to Franklin’s BBQ. At this point, you refer to anything outside of Texas as “good barbecue” he will give you a look of pity and disdain and walk away without a word.

3) Ice Cream - To Will Solace, and almost certainly any other Texan demigod, ambrosia tastes like Bluebell’s Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream (TM). Other Texans will absolutely back me up on this. It is one of the first things Texans share with visitors from outside Texas for two reasons, the first being that we are a generous people who wish to share one of the greatest joys in life to those who have been this far deprived and the second being that it establishes us in a position of superiority early on - a culinary mic drop, if you will. I once read a fanfic where Will’s mother regularly made homemade vanilla ice cream, and for me, it was a dead giveaway that the author was not Texan. The act of offering up the last of the carton would we a display of undying love and devotion for Will.

4) Fast Food- Will absolutely stans Whataburger. It’s kind of a matter of local (if you can refer to an area that spans a third of a continent “local”) pride.

5) Grocery Store- After you’ve been to an HEB, all other grocery stores are a severe letdown. In HEB, “store brand” is not a derogatory term, and Will absolutely stocks up on non-perishables whenever he visits.

6) Soul Food- Often what is referred to as “Southern Food” or “Comfort food.” Traditional southern African-American food, less specific to Texas and more to “The South” as a whole, one should either get it from your own grandparents (my grandmother, God rest her, made lovely peach cobbler with the peaches from her own tree and my granddad, God rest him, made killer chicken and dumplings) or from a local black family’s restaurant.

7) Asian food- Texas has a very large number of immigrants from a lot of Asian countries, especially for cities with universities, and, blessings be upon them, they bring their food with them. While this is obviously way less specific to Texas, it gets a little more special when you get enterprising college students from all over the globe who try the BBQ ribs and think, “Dam, that’s good! I’m going to stick it in the sushi/masala/bibimbop and see if it works!” (Good news- it totally does) As a kid from a major metropolitan area that prides itself on being weird, Will has seen the fusion food promised land.

My biggest headcanon with Will Solace and food doesnt actually involve Nico so much as LEO after he got to CHB in “The Lost Hero,” and Will, upon discovering Leo was also from Texas, immediately identifying one who would understand his pain of having lived in a land of plenty just to be exiled to a land where people pronounce “pico de gallo” like “pick-o de gallow” and no PROPER Enchiladas Con Carne or Brisket (let alone Brisket Enchiladas) are to be found. (“And Bluebell, man! I don’t remember the last time I had Bluebell Ice Cream. I mean, I know we’re relatively safe at camp, but AT WHAT COST!”)

The most Texan person in the world is any Texan who has stepped outside the borders of Texas, regardless of how the feel about Texas while they’re actually THERE, and two Texans outside of Texas are always able to bond over food if nothing else. If Leo offered to make fajitas or fresh tortillas, I have every confidence Will would fall on Leo’s shoulder weeping. Their entire friendship could rest on the commonality of being hungry displaced Texans.

Obsessed with the idea of Nico being absolutely appalled by southern food and regularly yelling about it whenever he tags along with Will to visit Austin.

- They go to the state fair and the whole time he's just losing his mind because everything there is fried. Will reminds him that he would eat McDonald's for every meal if he let him but that doesn't exactly excuse the fried butter that they saw a few stalls back.

- Every once in a while he'll forget about sweet tea and go to steal a sip from Will's drink and spit it out because there's so much sugar

- Peanuts and coke??? William are you on crack????

- What do you mean there's no chicken in chicken fried steak? This can't possibly be steak it's flat and covered in gravy

- Will tries to explain giblets to him but it's a lost cause. He still can't get over pork rinds and he keeps yelling about how much he hates Americans

- Banana pudding is actually good but I swear William if you bring that "tomato sandwich" abomination near me while I'm eating it I will raise the dead on you

Please feel free to add more

[kensingtonbooks]

Guilty Pleasures by Stacey Keith

The following is a guest post by DREAM ON author Stacey Keith, in which she shares what would happen if her protagonist, Mason Hannigan, had a dating profile:

Back when I was single, I did a fair amount of online dating. Can’t say all the guys I went out with were the Prince Charmings they described themselves to be (with straight faces) on their online dating profiles. But to be fair, I have what folks call a “strong personality”.  What that boils down to is a mouth like a trucker, the restless curiosity of a toddler, and the mind of someone who stays up too late, drinks entirely too much coffee, and used to own a full-sized Bob’s Big Boy—you remember, the pudgy, grinning boy with soft-serve ice cream hair who held a hamburger aloft in perpetual invitation.

Oh, and I write books with sex in them, so I guess there’s that, too.

Since then, I’ve taken a keen interest in other people’s business online dating profiles. Why? Because they perfectly reflect how we want to be seen, which is often in direct opposition to who we really are.

In a small Texas town like Cuervo, which happens to be the location for my contemporary romance, DREAM ON, dating apps aren’t necessary because folks there know everything there is to know about you, including the people you hook up with. Also, my hometown hero, NFL quarterback Mason Hannigan, never lacked for dates. Especially not on prom night, which was when all the trouble started.

But I couldn’t help but wonder … if Mason had dipped a toe in the waters of online dating, what would his dating profile look like? So I took it upon myself to track him down and ask.

Here’s what he wrote.

Name: Mason Hannigan.

Age: 28.

Astrological Sign: Libra.

Favorite Movie: Friday Night Lights. Also Carrie (Spacek version)

Favorite Food: Tex-Mex or any good local chili cook-off, the hotter, the better.

Best Quality: The ability to laugh at myself. But I also give myself plenty to laugh at.

Best Feature: I haven’t broken my nose yet, which is kind of cool since I’m a quarterback and get beaten senseless every day out on the field.

One Thing I’m Passionate About: I live, eat, and breathe football. Before every home game in high school, I used to camp out the night before on the football field. I slept better that way, with the smell of the turf and the crickets sawing away in the dark. I would lay there imagining what might happen the next day, the roar of the crowd, the thrill of a touchdown—and the look on my dad’s face when somebody gave him a congratulatory slap on the back.

My Friends Describe Me As: Lame. Dorky. Awkward around women. All you have to do is ask them and they’ll tell you.

Three Things I Can’t Live Without:

Football. Obviously. I mean, come on. If I’m not playing it, I’m watching it.

I love cars, and might have about a dozen or so. You know the old saying about boys and their toys. Mine are a lot more expensive than they used to be.

I would never admit this to their faces, but I couldn’t live without my friends. They can be real jerks sometimes, but they keep me grounded. Some of them play the offensive line pretty well. But if you tell them I said that, I’ll just deny it.

The Most Important Thing I’m Looking for in a Woman: Real. She’s got to be 100% who she is, not one of these girls where you give her a salad and she pushes away the croutons. Some of the qualities I’m attracted to are: kindness, compassion, loyalty, gentleness. I’m a sucker for hometown girls. Do you think I could find somebody who will teach me how to roller-skate?

Buy DREAM ON → http://bit.ly/2gjGHQJ

[marbletoppeony-blog]

A friend and I recently took a long weekend trip to Austin, TX. This city is amazing & I cannot wait to go back! Below is the list of where we stayed, what we did and the places we ate and drank.

Skyline

“Let me tell you a secret”

Sunset

Capital

STAY

We stayed at the Club Wyndham Austin and our little studio was perfect. The hospitality at this place had was beyond expectations. From the moment we checked in, everyone was super friendly and very attentive. I would highly recommend staying here if you find yourself planning a trip to Austin, Texas. The club is equipped with a 24-hour gym, a pool and BBQ grills in case you want to stay in for the night and cook. This resort is also a 5-minute walk to 6th Street where you’ll find so many great bars and lounges.

EAT

We ate and drank our way through Austin. There were a few spots that we didn’t get a chance to try but there’s always next time. Here are a few of our favorites:

Walton’s Fancy and Staple

Cafe no se

Elizabeth Street Cafe

Elizabeth Street Cafe – this cute little cafe is located on the corner of South 1st Street and Elizabeth Street. We had brunch here and the food was absolutely delicious and the drinks were equally as tasty! Some things to try are the ginger sausage & poached eggs, the breakfast Báhn mì – it is HUUUGE, and the green mango & cucumber salad.

Magnolia Cafe – if you’re looking for some late-night Tex-Mex or some savory breakfast sandwiches or omelets before calling it a night, then this is your spot. They’re open 24 hours and they have quick service.

Café No Sé – This Café is located inside the South Congress Hotel. They serve seasonal dishes and offer weekend brunch. We stopped here for some brunch and we had the blueberry violet kouign amann, the quinoa bowl, and the avocado toast.

Walton’s Fancy & Staple – what started off 50 years ago as a flower shop and nursery is now a chic deli co-owned by Sandra Bullock. Of course, they still sell fresh flowers and succulents but the food is why we came here. It was located right by our hotel and the food was so good. Compared to our other breakfast spots, this place was cheap and quick. Definitely give it a try! You cannot go wrong with their avocado toast or their “Staple Breakfast” and of course they have some really good coffee.

Sway – we came here for dinner since as it was a highly recommended Thai restaurant by a friend of mine.  This is such a cute, romantic place with family-style seating. The service was a bit slow but other than that the food was very tasty. They recommended we shared plates but because I don’t eat meat, my friend and I got our own meals. We did share a the banana split and it was to die for!

Italic – this cute little Italian restaurant had some of the best pizza I’ve tried. It is a short walk from the Capital so we came here after our visit there. We ordered a bottle of wine that we later took with us on the boat ride to watch the bats. (In case you didn’t notice, I wrote everything in italic since that’s the name of the restaurant haha.. you see what I did there!)

Terry Blacks – this is the place to go if you want to have some BBQ! We thought about going to the famous Franklin Barbecue however since we were pressed on time, we didn’t want to wait in line for nearly three hours BUT if you have time to wait, then you should definitely give Franklin Barbecue a try.

DRINK

We bar hopped on Saturday night and we also stopped at a few coffee shops throughout our trip to grab a quick cup of coffee, so here’s a list of a few places you should try:

Holding my cup of Jo

Italic

June’s, Jo’s Coffee – make sure you take a picture with the “I love you so much” mural, Juan Pelota Café, Green Light Social, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Icehouse, Pop, Bufford’s, and basically every bar on Rainey Street.

THINGS TO DO

Bats

UMLAUF

The Capital

Barton Springs Pool

“Greetings from Austin”

UMLAUF – this is an outdoor sculpture garden exhibiting Charles Umlauf’s works. They’re open Tuesday through Sunday but they close at 4pm so I would suggest this making it an afternoon activity.

Barton Spring Municipal Pool – this outdoor natural spring stays at 68º Fahrenheit all year round so it is a perfect place to take a dip and cool down. Admission was only $9 per person.

Lady Bird Lake – we rented a kayak from Rowing Dock and we explored Lady Bird Lake. It was such a beautiful and peaceful thing to do. We also did a sunset cruise Bat tour. We booked our tour through Lone Star – they were so amazing! If you book a tour through them, I highly recommend getting there at least 45 minutes before the boat leaves so that you can get a nice seat. Also, make sure to BYOB!!

The Continental Club– I don’t think our visit to Austin would have been complete if we didn’t watch a live band. After much research, we finally settled on the legendary Continental Club. They have a band performing every day so be sure to check out their events page to see who’s playing.

I hope you enjoyed this post. If you’ve been to Austin or if you live there, let me know what places to visit next time…

Xo,

Ing♥

  When in..Austin, TX A friend and I recently took a long weekend trip to Austin, TX. This city is amazing & I cannot wait to go back!