#i’ve had a 16 oz iced coffee

[joanofexys]

i think i might have an caffeine addiction

[bluebellhairpin]

50  Questions Tag

I was tagged by the lovely @rae-rae-patcha! I’ll tag (with no pressure, obviously!) @demigod-dragonrider-schoolidol @fizzyxcustard and @writefightandflightclub. 

Let’s get to know me, and have some fun too! - Nemo __________

1. What color is your hairbrush?

It’s a grey colour, but also a lavender/purple type of grey. 

2. Name a food you never eat.

I don’t do anything with blood in it. Also Oysters. I had one of those once and I’ve sworn off them ever since. 

3. Are you usually too warm or too cold?

Too cold. My hands and feet are notorious for being cold, but my core temperature has been described as warm. It’s weird. 

4. What were you doing 45 minutes ago?

Playing Hide and Seek on Minecraft LMAO

5. What’s your favorite candy bar?

Snickers, or Flake. I like my chocolates, so I can’t really pick one. 

6. Have you ever been to a professional sports game?

Nope. Never in my life. 

7. What’s the last thing you said out loud?

“Dad, stop!”

8. What’s your favorite ice cream?

RUM AND RAISIN! 

9. What was the last thing you had to drink?

W a t e r. Hail Hydration. 

10. Do you like your wallet?

I barely use my wallet. It was a gift from my dad literal years ago, and since I got a card I don’t really use it anymore... 

11. What’s the last thing you ate?

I wanna say something healthy, but it was actually a Flake Chocolate. 

12. Did you buy any new clothes last weekend?

I did not. 

13. What’s the last sporting event you watched?

I caught clips of the last Rugby game, I guess that counts? 

14. What is your favorite flavor of popcorn?

Salted Caramel. 

15. Who’s the last person you sent a text to?

My cousin. I sent her a picture of a castle. 

16. Ever go camping?

Not in forever. I really want to go again though. We have some great spots along the coast, and that’s real close. (I live about an hour and a half drive from the start of the Great Ocean Road so I could go. I could even do a day-trip to the Twelve Apostles lol). 

17. Do you take vitamins?

I should. But I don’t. 

18. Do you go to church every Sunday?

I do. Every sunday. 

19. Do you have a tan?

You’d think I would since I live in Australia. But I don’t. 

20. Do you prefer Chinese or pizza?

Chinese. Every time. 

21. Do you drink soda through a straw?

Yes. I am a child. BUT I do have metal straws now, so I don’t feel guilty about it anymore. 

22. What color socks do you usually wear?

Black socks. 

23. Do you ever drive above the speed limit?

Sometimes. No. 

24. What terrifies you?

Heights. Needles. Wasps. Thunder. In that order. 

25. Look to your left, what to you see?

My dining room table. 

26. What chore do you hate the most?

Vacuuming. I’d rather wash all the dishes by hand than vacuum a single room in my house. 

27. What do you think when you hear an Australian accent?

Uhmm, nothing? Australian accents are just normal accents to Australians. But sometimes you come across a real thick accent, and when I do, I think of my Uncle. 

28. What’s your favorite soda?

I like Frozen Cokes. The once you get from Maccas. 

29. Do you go in fast food or in the drive through?

Drive Through! COVID-19! We do Drive Throughs! 

30. What’s your favorite number?

28. I think that’s a nice number. 

31. Who’s the last person you talked to?

My Mumma. 

32. Favorite cut of beef?

Idk man. Meat is meat. I’ll eat it all. 

33. Last song you listened to?

'Woke the F*ck Up’ by Jon Bellion. 

34. Last book you read?

And finished? I can’t remember. I think it was ‘DOGS’ by M.A. Bennett. 

35. Can you say the alphabet backwards?

Hell nah. I’m boring like that. 

36. Favorite day of the week?

Fridays. There’s some nice relief to Fridays. 

37. How do you like your coffee?

 Latte with two sugars.  

38. Favorite pair of shoes?

I have a pair of black heels with gold studs all over them. They make me feel powerful. I love them. 

39. Time you normally wake up?

Eight-thirty-ish. 

40. Sunrise or sunsets?

Sunsets. I don’t like getting up early. 

41. How many blankets on your bed?

Two. My doona and a throw rug at the foot. 

42. Describe your kitchen plates?

My mothers plates. Very cottagecore. 

43. Describe your kitchen at the moment?

Neat. but rather empty except for where I am standing now. 

44. Do you have a favorite alcoholic drink?

It’s called a ‘Captain Jack Sparrow’. 1 oz Captain Morgan Rum, 1 oz Jack Daniels Whisky, and then fill the glass up with however much Coke you like. 

45. Do you play cards?

I do. Last I played I broke my glasses. Cards with my peeps can get pretty wild. 

46. What color is your car?

A steel silver colour. 

47. Can you change a tire?

I have assisted in changing tires, but never on my own. 

48. Your favorite state, province, country, etc.?

I live in Victoria, bu the Northern Territory is so pretty. If you ever go to Alice Springs I highly recommend the Sunset Camel Rides. Its so nice! 

49. Favorite job you’ve had?

I was a kitchen hand, and there I get free food from one of the most expensive restaurants in my town.

I also worked with Scaffolding for a while, and I got to help out with getting rid of a beehive. Very cool stuff. 

50. How did you get your biggest scar?

My longest scar is on my wrist, it came from a measurement ruler - I scratched myself on it. My biggest one is on my other wrist, an oil burn from when I was cooking once. Hurt like hell. 

[periilune]

Answer all 200

damn okay you asked for it:

(this was asked a long time ago and its just being posted now bc its 200 fuckin questions f u kars jk love you)

1. What is your middle name?

Elizabeth

2. Do you have any nicknames?

Liz, Laur, Lau, Squid, Koala, Rhyne, Babe

3. Do you have any allergies?

Not to my knowledge

4. What is the longest your hair has ever been?

Too long,, like I could sit on it

5. Apple or PC?

PC

6. Favorite flavor?

In general probably some kinda cheese but for sweet stuff is cookie dough

7. Have you ever been on a blind date?

Bold of you to assume I’ve even been on a date (no I haven’t)

8. Are you friends with any of your exes?

2 of them actually!

9. What kind of car do you drive?

I can’t even drive,, but I have a Toyota Avalon waiting for me when I can

10. How grammatically correct are you when you text?

It really depends, I’m very correct when texting adults, decent when texting acquaintances, absolute disaster with good friends

11. What foreign country would you most like to visit and why?

Probs the UK or Italy, the UK bc I have several friends there and its very nice, and Italy for good food and good views

12. Creamy or chunky peanut butter?

Creamy all the way

13. Favorite food to pig out on?

Pizza

14. DC or Marvel?

Marvel!

15. Disney or Nickelodeon?

God idk,, probably Nickelodeon

16. Do you have any stickers on your laptop computer?

Yes, one from Kiawah Island (very nice place) and a couple random ones

17. Name/author of the last book you read cover to cover. Do you recommend it?

The Lost Hero by Rick Riordan, considering that was like my 3rd time reading it yeah I do

18. Do you read any magazines?

Nah

19. Coffee or tea?

Not a fan of either, I guess I’d pick coffee

20. What is your go-to Starbucks drink?

Red Velvet Frappucino

21. How many things can do with your weaker hand?

Oh You Know ;) in all honestly not much, I can catch because I used to play softball

22. Last show you binge watched?

Currently binge watching My Hero Academia!

23. Dogs or cats?

Cats

24. Favorite Disney princess?

Mulan or Moana I think

25. Do you like fast food?

Generally yeah

26. Favorite thing to cook for yourself?

Pasta and some type of garlic or cheesy or toasted bread

27. Favorite song to sing in the shower?

Currently Morning in America by John Bellion

28. Have you ever butt dialed anyone?

I don’t think so

29. iPhone/iPad or Android?

Android

30. Any styles of music you do not like?

Most country tbh, excluding John Denver n Carrie Underwood they’re both great

31. Have you ever kissed anyone of the same gender? If so, did you like it?

Not quite, but pretty close. We were dating so I’d say I liked it

32. Have you ever gotten a ticket while driving?

I can’t drive so no!

33. Favorite emoji?

💖 or 🍒 I think

34. Showers or baths?

Showers for convenience, but the occasional bath is nice to relax

35. Is there anything you regret buying?

Some clothes I have I don’t like, my fake airpods that don’t work

36. Are you fluent in more than one language?

Not yet, but I’m learning Spanish!

37. Any movie(s) you can watch over and over again and enjoy just as much every time?

Black Panther, The Last Unicorn, any of The Lord of the Rings trilogy

38. What is the heaviest you have ever weighed?

Around 155-160 pounds

39. Do you have any tattoos? If so, how many and where?

Not yet

40. Have you ever uttered a spoken hashtag?

Yep.

41. Favorite school subject?

I used to love English but not so much anymore, right now in in Psychology and its really cool tbh

42. Favorite non-chocolate candy?

Fuckin uh,, airheads are pretty good

43. Name one celebrity you dislike.

Johnny Depp is a shitty abuser.

44. If you could have one superpower, which one would you most like to have?

Telekinesis I think

45. From 1-10, rate your singing ability.

7

46. From 1-10, rate your dancing ability.

3

47. From 1-10, rate your cooking ability.

7

48. From 1-10, rate your driving ability.

1

49. Are you religious?

I’m really not sure, I was raised religious but I’m questioning a lot atm

50. Do you drink soda? If so, which one is your favorite?

Yep, I like Cherry Coke

51. Have you ever locked your keys in your car?

No, but I’ve been with someone who has

52. Spring or autumn?

Autumn

53. Do you play any sports?

Not now, but I’ve played soccer, softball, and basketball in the past

54. Can you play any musical instruments?

Nope

55. Are you more introverted or extroverted?

Introverted

56. How easily do you cry?

My dude,, so easily

57. Last musical artist you saw live?

My Lord and Savior Avi Kaplan

58. Favorite YouTube channel?

Not 2 be That person but I genuinely like Markiplier tbh

59. Star Wars or Star Trek?

Star Wars

60. How long have you known your best friend?

Well 1 of them funnily enough our moms knew each other when he was a baby and I was unborn, but we really met in 6th grade. My other best friend I met  about 3 years ago :)

61. Have you ever voted for a reality show?

I think so

62. Last CD you bought? uhhhhh maybe a pentatonix cd dunno which one 

63. Have you ever ended a romantic relationship?

Nope I’m the one who gets dumped 

64. Have you ever been broken up with? See above (3 times) 

65. Have you ever been in the audience for the taping of a TV show? Nah 

66. How long was your longest relationship? Are you still with that person?

A year and 3 months currently, and yes

67. Have you seen any Broadway plays or musicals?

Nope 

68. Have you ever acted in a play or a musical?

Yes! I’ve been in The Wizard of Oz (twice!), Little Shop of Horrors, Seussical the Musical, and the Little Mermaid 

69. How flexible are you?

Not very 

70. Have you ever sexted? Yes…  

71. Do you own any clothes from garage sales or thrift stores?

Yep 

72. Real or fake Christmas trees?

We’ve had a fake one my whole life, but I’d like to have a real one some day

73. How many pillows do you sleep with? 2-3 

74. How well can you write in cursive?

Not great, but I can get the job done 

75. What is your political affiliation?

Not officially affiliated, but rather left 

76. Do you like any boy bands?

The Backstreet Boys duh

77. Have you ever broken any bones?

Just a couple small ones in my toe 

78. Have you ever gotten any stitches?

Nah 

79. Do you have any piercings in places other than your ears?

Not yet

80. What is the oldest piece of clothing you still wear and how old is it? One of my favorite pairs of shorts is pretty old 

81.Do you like wearing hats?

Depends on the hat, I have a handful of baseball caps I like 

82. Have you ever dyed your hair?

At one point I had the tips dyed purple, but now I regularly dye it to make it slightly lighter and redder 

83. From 1-10, how competitive are you?

Like 8 probably, I’m not very athletic but I’m competitive about other things   

84. How long have you been at your current job?

Since November 2017   

85. Have you ever studied abroad?

Nope 

86. Phrase you say the most?

“Oof” 

87. Have you ever quit a job?

Nah 

88. Have you ever gotten fired from a job?

Nah 

89. Have you ever won a trophy? If so, what for?

Yes! For cheerleading competitions, 3rd place in making a video for a club, in a soccer tournament, and probably some others idk 

90. Have you ever been a Boy/Girl Scout?

I was a girl scout but that was a while ago 

91. Last thing that made you laugh?

Uhh last night some dumb meme my boyfriend showed me

92. Do you eat meat?

Yes

93. Are you more of a morning or a night person?

Night person, but I’m also old so it’s hard to stay up late

94. Worst habit?

Chewing fingernails, isolating myself from people when I’m sad

95. Deepest fear?

Uhhh that everyone who says they care about me is actually lying and talking about me behind my back

96. Do you believe in ghosts?

Yeah pretty much

97. If you could take home any animal from the zoo, what animal would you take?

An otter! I love them

98. Do you consider rapping singing?

I wouldn’t say it’s singing bc its different, but it’s certainly an art form and it has every place in the music industry

99. Favorite costume you wore for Halloween? How old were you?

When i was a ninja that was sick, i was probably 12-13

100. Favorite store to shop at?

For clothes? Maybe Plato’s Closet (nice secondhand place) but I also do a lot of online shopping

101. Have you ever given anyone CPR?

No

102. Favorite Pokémon?

Cresselia is dope but also Eevee

103. Do you own any homemade clothing?

Probably

104. Do you drink alcohol at all? If so, what is your drink of choice?

I’ve drunk once, vodka mixed with Hawaiian punch and it was p good

105. Have you ever skinny dipped?

No i’m fat

106. Favorite type of cookie?

Warm chocolate chunk

107. Favorite flavor of ice cream?

Oreo or chocolate chip cookie dough. The best thing i’ve ever had was a red velvet oreo milkshake tho

108. Biggest pet peeve?

When people interrupt or ignore me

109. Are you still friends with anyone from high school?

I mean I just graduated so yes

110. Favorite literary character?

Oohhhh, maybe Sam from LoTR? He was the realest friend ever

111. Are your birth parents still together?

Yeah

112. Do you wear or have your ever worn glasses?

Nope, 20/20 babeyyyy

113. How many of your Facebook friends do you actually hang out with?

Like 6, one of those being my mom lol

114. Have you ever been the victim of a prank?

Not that I can remember

115. Do you belong to a fraternity or a sorority?

No

116. Have you ever taken a nude selfie?

perhaps..

117. Are you adopted?

No

118. Favorite fandom?

Ugh fandoms r gross, maybe the rwby fandom? 

119. Oldest memory?

Trying to strangle myself at pre-school aged 4 lmaoooo

120. Have you ever snorted when you laughed?

A couple times

121. Can you drive stick?

Can’t drive at all!

122. Favorite Disney song?

How Far I’ll Go, or maybe Go The Distance

123. Random boy’s name.

Leo

124. Random girls’ name.

Natalie

125. How often do you eat out at a nice restaurant?

Once a month? Not often, I’ve done it twice in 3 days recently tho bc it was my birthday

126. How many people are in your nuclear family?

3, me and my parents

127. What accent do you consider the most attractive?

Gosh, not to be basic but probably British, although I don’t really know many others

128. What is your Myers-Briggs personality type?

INFP i think? Maybe INFJ

129. What is your astrological sign?

Leo! (capricorn moon and cancer rising)

130. Biggest regret?

Trying to make someone care again who had no intention of doing so

131. What type of shoes do you wear the most?

My checkered vans, I swear I wore them every day of senior year

132. Do you like any soap operas?

No

133. Do you listen to talk radio?

Not often

134. What sports team(s) do you root for?

SF Giants, Carolina Panthers, Charlotte Hornets, Duke, Kentucky

135. Describe your sense of humor.

Ridiculously stupid, inside jokes

136. Have you ever been hit on by someone of the same gender?

Yeah, my ex-girlfriend lmao

137. Favorite video game?

Overwatch

138. Name a moment in your life when you were pleasantly surprised.

When i got a mf perfect score on my ACT

139. Do you believe in serendipity?

I had to look that up but I guess so

140. Have you ever left a movie theater before the movie was done?

I don’t think so, one time the movie malfunctioned and cut off like an hour in and we had to leave

141. Have you ever felt you were born in the wrong period of history?

Nah, everything has always sucked, but now is somewhat less sucky than before bc we have the internet

142. Is sex before marriage wrong?

No

143. Have you ever gotten a song you dislike stuck in your head?

Yes omg, fuckin Girls Like You, fuck you Adam Levine

144. Can you handle spicy food?

Only slightly spicy

145. Have you ever called a non-lover a term such as darling, honey, babe, or dear?

I call my friend Ryker babe all the time, and call most of my friends “love”

146. Do you like MTV?

Nah not really

147. Where on your body are you the most ticklish?

Probably ribs area

148. TV show or movie you quote/reference the most?

The Princess Bride is so quotable, so maybe that idk, I quote memes more than anything

149. Have you ever lived with a roommate you didn’t get along with?

Can I say my parents? I’ve never lived not in my house, but I’m about to go to college and I hope I like my roommate

150. Where do you think is the best place to meet a new lover?

Either school or through mutual friends?

151. Have you ever successfully been on a diet?

I mean I’ve lost weight but it wasn’t a diet, just not eating lol

152. Favorite thing to do outside?

Have a photoshoot, jk I love looking at flowers, also swimming is good

153. Where did you go on your last vacation?

Kiawah Island, for grad week

154. Do you say “y'all” at all?

Yes, I live in the south and started using it ironically but now I can’t stop

155. Have you ever lived on a farm?

No

156. Do you believe in evolution?

There’s scientific evidence for it, so yes

157. What TV channel do you watch the most?

Honestly HGTV those houses are awesome

158. Favorite Beatles song?

Hmmmm, Maybe A Day In The Life or Eleanor Rigby, I Am The Walrus is always good too ngl

159. Have you ever been on TV?

On like the local channels for school awards and such

160. Have you ever been to Disney World or Disneyland?

I went to Disneyland last summer!

161. Do you like horror movies?

Not really, I’m a pussy

162. Do you like to go fishing?

No

163. Have you ever been hunting?

No

164. Do you take medication for anything?

Yes, for ye olde depression

165. Name one item from your bucket list.

Get a novel published

166. From 1-10, how much do you like children?

3 maybe, they’re kinda annoying

167. Have you ever thought about your wedding?

Yes, but my ideas have changed over time

168. Have you ever been bungee jumping or skydiving?

No, but I’d like to

169. Favorite flower?

Hmmm Sunflowers? or Snapdragons, or the pink magnolias

170. Do you collect anything?

Enamel pins, and rwby blind box figurines (it’s not an addiction I swear)

171. Who was the last person you told a lie to?

My mom probably

172. Have you ever been a bridesmaid or a groomsman?

Nope

173. Have you ever had a fortune cookie fortune come true?

Not that I know of

174. What was your favorite toy to play with when you were a child?

Hmmmm I had this little Narnia figurine set that I loved, also a bunch of littlest pet shop toys

175. How good are you at math?

Pretty good, I took AP Calculus in high school and got an A, doesn’t mean I liked it

176. Have you ever learned anything from a how-to YouTube video?

Not that I can think of right now

177. Have you ever participated in a science fair?

Yes, it was required in 6th grade

178. Have you ever wished you were born the opposite gender?

Womanhood is difficult and I often wish I did not have to bear it, but I’ve made peace with it

179. Have you ever participated in a public protest?

No, I’m scared

180. Do you have a pool at your house?

No

181. Have you ever hosted a wild party?

No lol, the wildest was probably my birthday party when we all got high and then had a 1 am McDonalds run because munchies

182. Do you like karaoke?

Not really

183. Have you ever written a love letter?

Kind of yes, I’m rather sappy

184. Have you ever ran a marathon?

God no, I’ve done a lot of 5Ks though

185. How often do you get mad at yourself?

So much, I suck

186. Any guilty pleasures?

Probably shitty old Warrior Cats AMVs, those are great when you’re bored and need to remember your roots

187. Fruits or vegetables?

Vegetables solely because potatoes fuckin slap

188. Do you live in a house or an apartment?

In a house, but I’m about to move into a dorm

189. The countryside or the suburbs?

Suburbs, I’ve lived in them my whole life, also listen to Subdivisions by Rush it’s great

190. Worst job you’ve ever had?

I’ve only had 1 job so I guess working at Chick-fil-A

191. Do you hang out with any of your co-workers?

Yes, one of them was my friend from school as well so I hang out with her regularly

192. Were you ever voted homecoming/prom king or queen?

Nope, but my good friends were prom king and queen!

193. Were you voted a “best” or “most likely to” in high school?

No, but I was “Most Likely To Be President - Girl” in elementary school so take that

194. Have you ever gotten detention?

No I’m a good kid

195. Have you ever babysat?

Yes, we watched disney movies and played dress-up

196. Have you ever taken a road trip just for the fun of it?

Nah, but I’d like to

197. How many drinks get you tipsy?

Idk, I was a little funny after 2 vodka spiked punches so

198. Were you a part of any academic clubs in high school or college?

Certainly yes, Technology Student Association, Beta club, Book club

199. Have you ever given a public speech, aside from your schooling?

I did the sermon one Sunday at church, but I’m not a big fan of public speaking

200. How long have you been on tumblr?

5 years in november! (God thats awful)

@officieel i did it bastard

[spookykidindakitchen]

We loved New Orleans, so I brought a little home.

Hi, my name is Alan. Some people know me as Spooky, while, hopefully some of you know me from various food columns and recipes published in the Cadiz Record, the Kentucky New Era and the Paducah Sun.

I love to cook, especially for my friends and family. For the longest time, my sidekick was my colleague and buddy Hawkins Teague. We’ve both moved away and met and married beautiful wives, but that’t not what this is all about. 

My wife Holly and I live in Paducah, where I’ve been working for myself as a freelance writer for the past six years. My specialty is role-playing games, though an old college friend from Tampa, Fla., Kali Robinson requested I should blog with my recipes again. That’s what iSabroso! is all about. Food, fun and friends!

Why iSabroso!? I grew up in both Texas and Florida surrounded by some of the best Latino cooks in the world. When something is really good we said iSabroso! I used that my name for my column in Hopkinsville.

So what’s for dinner? I am glad you asked. Holly and I vacationed in New Orleans last year and loved every moment. Some of the best meals I ate there consisted of shrimp and grits. The natives even eat it for breakfast, and it’s great in the morning with a Bloody Mary, just in case the party ran too long the day before. Our first night there, we tried it in a fine dining restaurant called Luke, while on another occasion, I got a bowl at the famous Ruby Slipper Cafe.

Ruby Slipper was especially fun, with a helpful and friendly bartender/server we nicknamed “Sarah Silverman,” who kept our boozy iced coffees full. Another waitress told us about grits when she brought out our food. Her boyfriend worked at another restaurant, and she shared some of the grits he made earlier. New Orleans is one of those places with no shortage of great places to eat.

To get to the point, both types of spicy, cheesy and creamy grits tasted amazing, and the barbecue shrimp I had with it was amazing. Luke’s grits and shrimp were great too, with some extra crabmeat. And when I came home, Holly and I talked all about how to cook it for ourselves.

I went selected the barbecue shrimp, because I could not get enough of it, and it contained one of my very favorite ingredients, beer! And if you have a little leftover after you cook, it’s quite refreshing on a hot summer day.

The Method to the Madness:

So this is also a fairly simple, two part recipe. Shrimp and grits, which around here, I refer to simply as “Shrimpandgrits” all one word. You have to say the whole thing, like “A Tribe Called Quest.”

Entonces.. (So?) we start with the grits. And do NOT used instant grits. That’s a hard no because they just don’t work for this recipe. We’re not discussing just some mush with a bit of cheese tossed on top. Other grits work, though I could only find quick grits, which work for the recipe. That just means they’re milled a little finer.

For the Grits:

Take two tablespoons of butter and saute about two roasted red peppers, a quarter cup of onions and about a third cup of diced jalapenos, just until the onions soften a bit. 

Add three cups of water and one cup of milk, then bring it to a boil. Add a cup of dry grits, return to a boil, reduce the heat and cover, cooking for about 5 minutes at a low simmer. After this, remove the lid and add a cup of grated sharp Cheddar cheese, and another cup of Monterrey Jack? Why two kinds of cheese? The Cheddar gives it a full flavor, but is a bit dry, so the Jack adds just a bit of moisture and creaminess. Season with about a teaspoon of pepper and a like amount of salt. Stir it all up and keep it on low heat on the back burner while we go to work on the shrimp.

Para los Moriscos... (Guess what that means?):

We’re not starting with shrimp here just yet, but instead some bacon. I prefer a brand cured right here in west Kentucky. Chop up about two slices of bacon and put it in the skillet while cold, turning the heat to medium to render some fat. 

When the bacon is done to your preferred level of crispness, add it to the grits, and stir them into the grits, while reserving the fat. 

Into the bacon grease, fry about a pound of sliced green onion sausage to doneness. Green onion sausage is a popular New Orleans product adding a bit of spice and a lot of flavor. If you can’t find it, you can use Andouille, Kielbassa or other smoked sausages.

Then, add a good half-bag (16 oz). of frozen “Trinity” seasoning blend vegetables. What’s Trinity you ask? Brilliant question. The “Holy Trinity” of Cajun cuisine is onion, bell pepper and celery. Season with just a bit of salt (a pinch really) and a fair amount of pepper and cook til the onions soften, then add about three tablespoons of garlic cooking just a minute longer. Burnt garlic can be bitter.

I’m not quite sure why it’s called barbecue shrimp. It’s neither grilled nor smoked, but it sure comes with a sauce. For the sauce, add about a quarter cup Worcestershire sauce. We’ll season it up with 1/2 teaspoon of Cayenne, and about a tablespoon of Cajun seasoning. With the encouragement of Holly’s friend Michelle Divito, a longtime New Orleans transplant and a fellow Heathen with my wife, I tried some Slap Yo Mama. It adds both salt and spice, and tasted great. I added more black pepper to taste and a teaspoon of dried rosemary. A couple of bay leaves would have been good, but I ran out. I added the juice of one lemon, though my favorite is two limes.

Now take a half cup of the beer, I prefer Abita, but could not find any yesterday. Yuengling (with a satellite brewery in Tampa!) came to my rescue. Add it into the vegetables, sausage and sauce for about 10 minutes to reduce. Then in goes a pound of shrimp!

A note on shrimp: Get the freshest you can find. A little seafood shop here in town had it and the sausage. They take a truck down to the Gulf of Mexico, buy fresh seafood straight off the dock, and throw it on ice, driving it back to Paducah. Wild caught, and not farmed, frozen and shipped from abroad, it tastes great. They’ll even peel and de-vein for a modest charge.

So shrimp in the sauce, cook for only 2-4 minutes until your shrimp turns pink. Any longer than that, and your shrimp can get tough, rubbery and not a lot of fun to eat.

But Wait, Alan! There’s No Veggies:

Well, we have to make it a balanced meal. Chop and fry about three strips of bacon, rendering as above in another skillet, then toss in about 3/4 a head of chopped green cabbage. You can season it with about a half teaspoon of salt and pepper, though again, I replaced the salt with Slap Yo Mama. Stir fry until the cabbage is wilted.

When it all comes out, get a bowl of the grits, top it off with shrimp, sausage and sauce, with a generous side of fried cabbage. Hint: When you get the beer, get a six pack, and enjoy a few with dinner. ;) We didn’t have a bread, with plenty of starch with the grits. If you prefer, the shrimp works with French bread, steamed white rice, buttermilk biscuits or hush puppies. Be sure to get some sauce, though and garnish with sliced green onions.

We love hot sauce. Any Louisiana brand works great, though I went with Zaterain’s while Holly selected Chrystal’s. And yes, we have multiple types of hot sauce for different types of food. Tabasco, Louisiana, Slap Yo Mama and others are perfect for Cajun food.

Evening’s Entertainment:

So as I cooked, I put on Silence of the Lambs on TV, followed by the series Hannibal, teasing My Better Half, “This might not be appropriate with supper!” And true to form, when I sat down, she asked me to change the channel without my Jame Gumb impersonation that Holly despises.

As we ate, I switched to the Hulu series, “A Handmaid’s Tale.’ It’s one of Holly’s favorites, though, as they’ve now moved beyond the source material, I am looking for direction in the story. This week’s episode seemed t provide it, and it provided good viewing as we scuzzled generous plates of shrimpandgrits.

Well, I’m back to work, cooking for all the friends and family I love, and last night, a good time was had by all, with authentic New Orleans food, and an entertaining show. Good eating. 

[fuck-customers]

Fuck everyone here except like three people

Okay disclaimer: this is gonna be long. I'm so mad I need to vent. So! I work at a 24 hour breakfast place. Except we close on weekdays and 24 weekends. Anyways. I've worked here about two years, I use to work in a different one that was amazing for two years but upon moving I transferred. For the past two years I've given this place my all! I work the shifts no one wants, graveyard or late night depending on the days. I get the most compliments from my guests and get high praise from the owner. It was really great! But recently things have stared to fuck up. So to start, Every weekend before morning shift comes in I make sure to stock cups! I fill our cup area to the max because I know that weekends are super busy (plus it looks nice and organized.) I don't want my co-workers to run out of To-go cups while they're in a rush and I want to make sure they won't have to worry about restocking them at the end of the day. I've been doing that since I got here and no one has ever complained. Until today! I was informed upon coming to work that if I stock the cups up I'd be written up! I was shocked! The cups are used A LOT and if I don't stock them they'll run out. (Togo cups are used by college students more often than anyone and we live in a town with a big collage) Fine. Whatever. I won't stock the cups. I was trying to help but for whatever reason I'm making it "harder" on everyone??? How??? Legit my coworker agreed.it was bullshit! I'm the only person who stocks the to-go cups! He's even admitted that! Another thing I do is I make sure everything is prepped for the next server for morning! I get Oj, apple juice and refill all the condiments and sauces. I fill all the ice bins as well, clean off tables, milkshake machine and wash the iced coffee pitcher/make new iced coffee (I refuse to serve my guests old iced coffee!! Gross!! ), I roll all the silverware and fill our hot cocoa machine. I do a lot more too, just whatever needs to get done! Every weekend morning I have the same lady come in to take over my shift. I always make sure her area is prepped and ready to go! I do it the same way every week since she's never ever complained to me about it. That way she doesn't have to stress and can just take care of the guest! Ialways would get excited for her to come in so I could show her pictures of my animals too before leaving for the night. I found out tonight that she talks major shit about me. She apparently never has anything good to say she just finds whatever to bitch about. She tells people I'll out "too much ice" in her bins or I don't "leave enough mugs" for her. Then she'll pick apart how I look or sound. Like!!!? Why?! I've never done anything too you??? Okay! Not doing that shit for you anymore, bitch. Another fun thing! We sell hot cocoa and sell it a lot. For about 3 dollars usd you're suppose to get a 16 oz mug of cocoa. It says so in the handbook and on the 'how to make' wall we have. But my coworkers all give people hot cocoa in these dinky little 8 oz mug that's for kids hot chocolate. They charge them the 3 dollars too! The kids hot cocoa is 1.50!! They charge them double for a kids hot cocoa!! Well today I got informed if I don't start giving my guests the small mugs of cocoa I was being written up! And when i said we were scamming our guests I got told that the owner makes the rules and not corporate or w/e So fucking great! Now I have to swindle money out of my guests because this place is cheap! That's not all either. Guess what mother fucking else I found out TONIGHT! So like-- 9 months ago I got top surgery. I was so happy! But my work doesn't pay you for medical stuff if they don't have proof that you're not just ditching which I totally understand! Now I pass 100% of the time give or take people who hear my voice in the phone. I've never had to tell anyone I work with that I'm transgender. It's never been talked about to ANYONE! But when I had my surgery I had to out myself to my manager, owner and comanager and show them my doctor and therapist note. My manager at the time was a God sent and she and the owner we're so so sweet about it (she quit sadly) but the comanager-- not so much. She wasn't mean (to my face) but the second she found out apparently she took it upon herself to tell EVERYONE that I was "once female". And you know what? I normally work alone so I had no idea. But tonight my coworker informed me that it was often the talk of the morning crew and everyone knows and they fucking gossip about it. Whenever a new person gets hired and ask about night shift they're told without hesitation. So now everyone is fully aware I'm trans even these people I've never even met. My hesrt is so broken. Being trans isn't bad and I'm very opened about it but work is some place I don't discuss it. Idk who anyone is or how they're gonna react. The sad part is I can't even tell coorporate because I don't have "solid" proof. Rip. So tonight's been awful. I've legit done nothing I normally due tonight after all this! My guests and my job mean the world to me. Yes some of them do suck but in the end making people happy is what's important too me, and this job is just until my career kicks off but I still want to make sure people have the best time when they walk through the doors. That's what I would want so I give them my all when I can. I also love working for this company. It's just this fucked up place!! Im just at my wit's end right now. Nothing is clean, I didn't stock anything, and if my co-workers late (like she always is) I'm going to leave ON TIME and not give a shit if I get in trouble because I'm so done! I go above and beyond what I'm suppose to do, I work alone, I don't get breaks, I even buy things for my guests! (Party hats/candles for when they have birthdays, stickers for kids, etc) I just don't understand why these people are doing this. I hardly talk to anyone but my new manager who's probably one of the few good people in this place. Idk man, I leave here in half an hour and I'm calling out tomorrow. I can't be my best after this and my guests deserve the best but these people don't. Fuck them. Tltr: I'm being threatened with write ups for bullshit reasons because people are petty, I've been outted as trans and it's always the talk of the morning crew, people talk shit about me, all I do is try to make work easier for morning and afternoon shift and they hate me for zero actual reason and I'm calling out tomorrow because fuck them! I love my guests! I hate my coworkers.

[safely-crazy]

All right, story time mother fuckers

So buckle up and get ready because this is a load of shit.

First things first, y’all need to know how my job is laid out (I work with ice cream and coffee) and where I’d be standing and shit. that’s in the following diagram.

Now, when I work, I’m mostly behind the counter, which is labeled with ice cream, register, coffee, bakery, and fridge. And as you can tell, I don’t got a shit ton of room.

Anyway, I’m workin Tuesday, and it’s usually hella quiet. Like, I could sit in the back writing a novel for a good portion kinda dead. However, this particular Tuesday, a group had called ahead that they were coming in with a group of like 20. Now I’m workin alone, but I’ve done shit like that before. And it was easier bc it was all on one tab. So, fine whatever. I gotta start preparing for that shit. Restock and clean and all that fun stuff.

Of course, that’s when it seems to pick up, again I don’t mind. It’s nothing crazy so far. Just easy orders of a scoop in a cup or a 16 oz coffee. But it’s busy enough where people gotta wait a lil bit.

So I’m goin thru the orders and I get to this family of 5 or whatever. Their kids want a couple shakes and a cookie cone. Still relatively easy, just extends the waiting period. They end the bill with two single scoops of nuttin better ice cream in waffle cones. Nuttin better is a type of dark chocolate with nuts in it. Not too complex.

Now, the thing about some ice creams is that they can be friggin soft. Like they melt a bit quicker than the others. Nuttin better is one of those ice creams.

Anyway, that family pays and walks outside to sit at the tables. The kids are happy and shit and I’m dealing with the rest of the line. That’s when the group of 20 comes in. They all had simpler orders. I think the most complex one outta that was two scoops on a tiny little wobbly sugar cone. So I get thru them, no problem. But now I got another bit of a backup. Again, don’t mind. They’re being nice about. And as I’m helping the next few, I see those nuttin better people outta the corner of my eye. And I’m thinking, okay maybe they want a spoon bc people do that. And they’re waiting patiently so I’ll just keep helping these people.

Anyway, I get thru another 4 people until it’s ‘their turn’ so to say (they actually were in line again). And the husband is all like, ‘hey so there’s something a little weird with our ice cream’ and he kinda clarifies that it ‘feels weird’ or some shit saying it has a weird texture. So I tell him, in my customer service voice, some ice cream is softer and sometimes it kinda depends on where they’re situated in the freezer. Like, if they’re next to the vent or whatever, it’ll harden a bit quicker, but if it’s toward the middle it’ll get a bit soft.

And he goes ‘is there something you can do?’ And I told him again, ‘like I can’t control it, some ice cream is softer’ and his faces just starts to look disgusted and he kinda puffs out his chest (I may be exaggerating, but that was his attitude) and says ‘well, this is not what we were expecting. We’ve been here before’ and my stupid self decided to say ‘I know’ but i don’t think he heard me considering he kept talking. ‘And it’s never been like this.’ 

I LITERALLY CANNOT CONTROL ICE CREAM and they’ve already taken a bite out of their cones so I can’t exactly dump that scoop and put in a new one. And because they’ve taken a bite, I can’t comp them anything or make them a new cone without them paying for it, like if they dropped it or something (new boss, new rules). And the guy just keeps lookin more and more disgusted. Like I’ve just barfed all over him and his ancestors. And you don’t just walk away from a situation like that, gotta avenge your ancestors, at least that’s what he seems to be thinking.

And at that point I’m just shrugging my shoulders bc I literally can’t do anything about it. But this guy apparently thinks I’m Elsa or some shit. And at this point his wife kinda speaks up, but she kinda only says, a bit softly, ‘really?’ And again I’m like, ‘I’m sorry, that’s just how the ice cream is.’ Of course the husband ain’t takin any of that. But instead of yelling (lemme remind y’all, people are still waiting to order their shit, which is now reaching a little before the door) this fucker and his wife START to walk toward the door, but the dude decides ‘let’s show how i was betrayed and incredibly offended and how indignant I am BY THROWING HIS CONE ONTO YHE FUCKING REGISTER’!!!

And then he leaves. And I’m just stunned for a moment. Then I kinda sigh, bc customers are still around, and I throw the cone out.  But this dude who was in line waiting, bless this boy, was jaw dropped wide eyed and turns to me and said ‘That sucked!’ And again, all I can do it shrug before trying to take the people’s orders again.

But the thing that really pissed me off was the fact that this place was filled with KIDS! And this own dude’s KIDS were outside. And his fuckin wife didn’t stop and think ‘oh ya know this is just an ice cream cone. Do we really need to be upset?’ (And I say wife bc she was mostly calm thru the whole thing.) And even then the dude thought it was MY FAULT the ice cream was a tad softer. Like get off your damn high horse and eat your ‘horribly textured’ ice cream. I feel sorry for you kids at this point.

I will say there is some irony in the fact that the ice cream was called Nuttin Better. But that’s just me.

TL;DR A major douche thought I was Elsa and could magically made his ice cream better. When I couldn’t, he decided to throw ice cream.

UGH food business

[lifeafterten]

RtN 02: Sept 02 -Sept 12; Get Me the FUCK Outta Here

I’ve been here for days. Who the fuck stays in the hospital for days?... Fucked up people. And I’m in Fucked-Upville-- Population (points to self) this mother fucker. 

Okay. Okay. I’m turning the drama down.  Honestly though... I’ve been here a fucking while. I have an I.V. tube in each arm, one for fluids, because I’m perpetually dehydrated, the other is for the antibiotics that don’t seem to be working, because I still feel like death. I have to often lay in awkward positions so I don’t tangle myself and make the machines go off. So. Much. Beeping. And I swear to Christ, if they come at you with a little blue bag and claim it’s potassium... RUN--Fucking run, because once they hook your ass up to that shit you’ll feel like they’re injecting fire into your veins and you can’t scream because let’s face it: you’re too damn tired, so you settle for some weird case of facial Tourettes in the form of wincing and hissing. And they turn the drip down enough for the fire to feel like a sting... and you feel that effervescent sting until it’s done. It’s “supposed” to take 30 minutes-- they say. But my pansy ass can’t take the heat so the slowed down version makes it last at least an hour and some change. I pray I’m not stubborn enough today to take the morphine.  Why won’t you take the morphine, Ashley? I’ll fucking tell you why-- I have control issues.  And the morphine feels too fucking good that I need the pain to remind me that I’m still alive and to gauge between dream and reality.

At this point I’m agitated (by pain and impatience). I’ve been stuck by damned needled so many times, because of all the bloodletting I’ve been doing.  These assholes have been taking my life source (no, not coffee, you freak) twice a day. Oh, I’m sorry, they’ve been taking my “blood cultures” twice a day.

Why? They don’t say. They tell me to ask my doctor. My doctor is a pussy.  Soft spoken; pussy footing fucking pussy, who can’t give me a straight answer.

I dismiss my doctor more than a person dismisses alcoholism. Day drinking is not a bad thing. Who cares if it’s barely noon and you’ve been drinking since 9. ... Not speaking from experience-- Anyway!

I dismissed my doctor a lot. I couldn’t help it. I’ve been laying up in this bitch for weeks and you can’t give me some indication of what’s going on; let alone a time frame of when I’ll be able to go home-- on top of a mother fucking reason why I’m being kept in here for so damn long? Yeah. Fuck that shit. Dismissed, mother fucker. I have no fucks to give for useless asshats. Come talk to me when you can tell me what the fuck’s up. 

I’ve been moved to three or four rooms. From the ER bed to Surgery... Then to another room in Surgery... to the Telemetry ward, because my heart rate was too high-- which honestly I’m not surprised... I’ve been on permanent pissed the hell off for quite some time now.  They take my vitals every 30 minutes.  I’ve been counting because I literally have nothing else to do, besides... I only feel that it’s fair that I monitor them while they monitor me. But mostly it’s because I’m bored and there’s nothing on TV.  By now I’ve refused visitors.  I’ve dodged death a couple times.

Homicide via Mio overdose: Backstory: I asked for Mio, because they kept saying I was dehydrated and I thought I needed electrolytes like a muh’fug, so when my friend Kris came by (note she had no idea what Mio was let alone how to use it) and had dumped an entire bottle of Mio (24 servings) into my water jug (16 - 24 oz tops). I take one sip of it and I thought I was gonna die. Chest was on fire. My machines were going crazy, because I was coughing my lungs out and poor Kris is panicked and distraught. Its hard to convey you’re okay if you’re croaking like you’ve been smoking for about 300 years and your vision is obscured by tears. Sidenote: The incident still brings her to tears to this day, she feels so bad. Personally, I think it’s adorable and funny... Now, at the time...? Owie.

Suicide via Mother doth Love too much: I love my mother. I do. I love my entire family. But they like to hover and it was stifling. They’re looking at me with worried eyes when they think I’m asleep and I get it.  It doesn’t look good, kid.  My sister? God love her, she tries to keep the worry and her tears in check because she knows I don’t know how to handle them.  My Dad? Shit, my dad knows what’s up. He knows I’m gonna handle my shit the only way I know how. On my own terms. This is why I’m a daddy’s girl. My brother and sister in law on the other hand? My bother spilled water down the front of my gown (had to change that shit. not fun) and his wife, in her efforts to break my fever, stuffed my fresh new gown with ice packs.. And when I say ice packs, I mean latex gloves filled with ice stuffed in my gown. Stuffed. In. My. Fucking. Gown. That’s it-- I’ve had it! Everyone’s banned.

And it’s also hard to put on a tough front when all I wanna do is cry, but I end up just being angry instead.

The only human interaction I had is when the nurses are taking my blood, or my vitals, or switching my IV bags, or helping me to the bathroom to do bathroom things, or giving me sponge baths because I’m too weak to get out of bed, or shooting morphine into my body to ease my torment; or shoving pills down my fucking throat because nothing is fucking working. I’m still getting fevers out of nowhere.  People are coming in and out every morning to lift my gown up (they do it so much they don’t even ask anymore. A brief thought of charging them crosses my mind, and I allow a small giggle. Because it’s silly, because I’m glad I still had somewhat of a sense of humor.) Still, I think my cooter deserves some ounce of respect. Women’s lib and all that crap. I’ve turned this part of the day into a game (I’m SO fucking bored). I like to spot the face tightening moment when they assess whatever the fuck is going on with my leg (I don’t know. I haven’t seen... I don’t want to see yet). 

It’s fun for me, because they’re medical professionals-- they’re supposed to be used to this kind of thing. But the face tightening? To me that’s a victory. That just means they have to school their expressions to indifference so as to not alarm me. Ah, bed side manner.  They’re so sweet. But I know just by their non-expressions that it looks fucked up. I have to look at the small details; read between the lines of what they’re not telling me.  I’d be in the dark otherwise. What are they not telling me? I know they’re testing for something... But I don’t know what they’re testing for. I stamp down fear, because I don’t have enough data to panic.

My dreams are getting scarier, because of the morphine. No more morphine, I promise myself. Vicodin only.  Yeah, that seems safer. The nurses, I’ve learned, just need someone to listen to them. Since I can’t get a decent night’s sleep because they’re fucking coming in every 15 to 30 minutes all day, every day, all the fucking time... Why the fuck not? I got nowhere else to be. I seem to have opened Pandora’s Box, because it’s 3am and I’m giving life advice to Agnes who has a very rebellious son, whom I point out is 16 years old and he’s going through a phase, it doesn’t mean she’s a bad mother.  Which I reminds me that I need to tell Doris who’s part of the Day crew that Agnes is off on Wednesdays too and that they should hangout together, because I think they would get along. I make a mental note to pass Agnes’ number to Doris later. I really should start charging... This pro bono shit aint working out. 

During my hospital stay I’ve managed the following:

Make only 4 nurse assistants cry

Befriend most if not all the Filipino nurses (they gave me all the apple sauce I wanted)

Make that one stern Indian Night Nurse smile (she gave me yogurt and bananas every time she was on shift)

Counsel only 5 to 6 nurses, mostly 5.. the 6th one kinda got weird. Didn’t take whatever she gave me.

Snob my doctor almost every day. 

Made my main nurse laugh because she thinks I’m a riot. 

Days later it was time for me to go home. I knew this for damned sure.  I saw so many specialists from an infectious disease doctor to a surgeon. I was so fucking bloated from all the fluids they were trying to fill me with that they could barely find veins to stab to get their precious blood cultures from. 

I also decided that with my body like this the Mitchelin tire man was my cousin.

Sidenote: To hell with the Infectious Disease doctor. That heifer made me lay on my side for two fucking days straight. Fat load that shit did for me. With all the extra fluids in my body, it just shifted to one side. All it gave me was a backache and lopsided boobs... and some fucking fluid in my lungs. Fucking devil woman. I got a fucked up leg, I’m the size of a float during the Macy’s Day Parade, and now I got lopsided tits. It’s funny... now. At the time? Not so much. It was September 12.  I had broken out in a rash due to an allergic reaction to one of the antibiotics. (Let’s just add that to the list of whatever the fuck else is wrong with my body, shall we?) My “doctor” (doesn’t deserve the title nor respect. Sorry not sorry) was trying to get me to stay a few more days. I’ve had quite enough. I told him to get the discharge papers ready. I’m leaving. My fevers were gone. My leg wasn’t draining so badly anymore (ew, gross. sorry) I felt fine. Despite me constantly checking my hands so they don’t try to scrape my skin off. Fucking hell I was so itchy. I didn’t need to be in here. That’s when the good doctor decided to divulge that I hurt his feelings and that I was his least favorite patient. (Boo freakity hoo.) But I was a good girl and let him talk, said all the appropriate things. ... He’s still a pussy.  He was glad to be rid of me and the feeling was more than fucking mutual. I did not tell him to get fucked. I did not tell him to suck my dick. I did not flick him off. I did not throw shit at him. I was rather proud of myself. I showed great restraint.  But I did point out that just because he had the “MD” attached to his name, does not mean automatic respect. Respect is earned Dr. Pussy foot.  I signed the paperwork with relish. Jessie came to pick me up and I was whisked off to spend my mandatory (couldn’t argue my way outta that one) bed rest at the Joseph’s.  I’m so tired of laying down. TBC...

[formeryelpers]

Yogurtland, 304 Santa Monica Blvd, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Fro-yo girl here. Yogurtland Santa Monica is near Third Street Promenade. This location first opened in 2013. I’ve walked by several times over the years but just visited recently (I know, it took a long time). It’s a smaller location with 12 self-serve flavors a day and toppings for 99 cents an ounce. Yogurtland locations usually have 16 flavors. The price is super high – haven’t seen a more expensive Yogurtland. But at least the price is clearly posted several places.

I don’t think they allow samples. They didn’t have the regular 16 oz cups. They only had the huge cups. Strange. For 99 cents an ounce, I was hoping for excellent froyo and toppings. They had the usual YL toppings: cereal, nuts, sprinkles, cookies, coconut, fruit, popping boba, syrups, sauces, fruit purees, pretzels, brownies, cheesecake, mochi, candy, chocolate chips, yogurt chips, jjellies, etc.

Froyo flavors of the day:

This location also sold bottled beverages and offered free wi-fi. There were a few tables outside.

Froyo flavors of the day

Vanilla light ice cream

Rich chocolate ice cream

Cheesecake

Yo Frappe NSA

White chocolate pistachio

Sumatra coffee blend: One of my favorite flavors. I pulled the handle and it came out icy, dark, and melted. Gross. I had to throw away what I dispensed.

Fresh strawberry

Citrus C sorbet

Honey roasted peanut soft serve

Milk ‘n fruity cereal

Maple donut

Plain tart: The color and texture seemed weird. It looked almost slightly blue in color. The texture was denser than usual.

Based on the issues that I encountered, the shop doesn’t seem to be maintaining their soft serve machines. Even worse, they’re charging more than other YL locations – by a lot! Unfortunately, this location should be avoided.

Service was okay. She didn’t ask me about Real Rewards. It looked like a typical Yogurtland with the green square tile wall. Sign up for Real Rewards to collect points and earn free froyo.

You know you love me. X0 X0, fro-yo girl.

2 out of 5 stars.

By Lolia S.

[sweetescape01748]

Mimi’s Home Bakery

Kate O’Connor| Review | April 1, 2021

Whether it's cookies, pies, cakes, cupcakes, muffins, brownies...you name it- Mimi can make it. While in the kitchen with Mary Daniels Nahley Jones, or “Mimi”, you would never guess that this lean, energetic, eighty-four year old home baker, has zero professional culinary training. Mimi’s kitchen is not large by any measure, but it has a warm and cozy feel, with its own unique scent of freshly baked cookies whisked from the oven. Whenever we baked with Mimi there seemed to be flour, and mixing bowls all over the counter. However, the ingredients always seemed to be organized in perfect order. Her pantry is also stocked with at least three packages of King Arthur's flour, two large cans of Crisco, several canisters of White Granulated Sugar, and bags of Ghirardelli Chocolate Chips. Also, her refrigerator always holds a jug of homemade, Sweet Tea. However, no visit to Mimi’s kitchen is complete without squirting some of her homemade Simple Syrup in a glass of her Sweet Tea while indulging in her famous brownies. Mimi currently lives in Southport, North Carolina, which has been home to her for more than twenty years. 

Mimi raised three children in Danbury, Connecticut (in order of birth); Sue, Jeffrey, and Ann who now have children of their own. While her children were growing up, Mimi carried on her mother’s tradition of always having freshly baked desserts in the kitchen for the house to munch on. From a young age, Mimi was inspired by her own mother’s baking, and wanted to “follow in her footsteps''. She is now an active grandmother, and according to her grandchildren, the best baker they know. When she’s not baking, Mimi is either golfing, playing tennis, swimming, selling handcrafted baby knick-knacks to a local store, doing yoga, volunteering at church, or simply watching Netflix. However, Mimi’s passion for baking didn’t evolve until she started a family, and needed recipes to make for her household.

(Mimi on Thanksgiving Eve in  2011, holding one of her daughter’s favorites, Banana Cream Pie)

Tell me a little bit about yourself and how you got into baking? 

I grew up in Pawling, New York which is about 65 miles north of New York City.  I lived with my mom, dad, brother, and grandparents. We went to live with my grandparents, because my grandfather was very ill at one point and needed people to take care of him. So I always lived at my grandmother’s house. My mother always had something freshly baked, practically everyday. She was the one who inspired me. She was a wonderful pie maker, a wonderful cake maker, cookies, muffins...You name it. She could do it. My mother’s name was Helen Green Daniels and she was a teacher. She taught elementary school, got married, and of course women back then didn’t work after they got married because nobody would hire them and therefore she always had something whipped up in the evening. My grandmother was such a wonderful baker, and she inspired me as a grown-up to follow in her footsteps. I didn’t grow up with a culinary background, and I didn’t do a lot of baking when I was little, but I certainly watched my mother bake a lot of stuff. When I got married the first time, I certainly wanted recipes, so I got into it more after I got married. And now I try to bake at least once a week. I try to switch up what I make...Every night, I need to have a cupcake, a brownie, a cookie, or something around 8 o’clock at night, which is probably the worst time in the world to eat. 

What was a household favorite dessert that you can recall baking, that your kids loved?

I think my brownies, Chocolate Chip Cookies, and Christmas Cookies were a house favorite. I still make chocolate chip cookies, and I still make brownies, but now, since I’m retired, don’t tell anyone..I use a box. But sometimes I’ll make them from scratch. But I think every one of my kids loved my brownies...The kids also used to like my Whopper cookies. Remember the Whoppers? They’re the cookies where you have to smash the Whopper milk balls.

What is one of YOUR favorite go-to treats to whip up at home? Or for the holidays?

Well, I think for the holidays, Banana Cream pie, Pumpkin pie, pecan pie, cookies, and dessert sauces. I have to keep them [dessert sauces] in the refrigerator at all times. Those include a hot fudge sauce, and a butterscotch sauce. Isn’t that awful?

 What are some skills or tricks that you have learned throughout your at-home baking career?

Definitely get all ingredients together before you start the baking process...Then you always have what you need. I think my favorite part about baking is actually putting all the ingredients together and then of course, the results. I love getting everything together, getting it all measured out, and enjoying the finished product. 

 Out of the wide variety of baked goods, what would you classify as being the most fun to make? And why?

Well I’ll tell you, this is the complete opposite. It’s the Frosty Toffee Bits Pie. It is so fast and easy to make, and people love it. You buy a 9 inch graham cracker crust, then you take a package of cream cheese, sugar, half & half, frozen whipped topping like Cool Whip, and then a package of Toffee bits. I’m telling you Kate, it is absolutely delicious..bad for you, but delicious! I bumped into a couple whom I haven’t seen in awhile, and they go “oh we have that pie under your name in our recipe file. We just got it out and just made it”. 

What has been one of the hardest things you have ever had to bake and why?

I would not have been able to tell you a month ago, but a month ago, I found a recipe for a German Chocolate Cake. A three layered, German Chocolate Cake. Well I’ll tell you, it probably took over three hours to put the damn thing together. Pardon my french. And then the frosting contains coconut..and it’s absolutely delicious! It takes forever to put it together...and it just takes forever because you have to melt the chocolate bar, you have to make half a cup of strong brewed hot coffee, and then aside from the flour, the baking powder, and the sugar, you have to separate the eggs, and then bake it for about twenty eight minutes. But then you have to make the frosting, which requires six egg yolks, two cups of coconut, and then the two cups of pecans are optional. It’s a delicious cake but I think it must have taken almost three hours to put together. It wasn’t even made for a special occasion, just because I wanted to. I found the recipe in Southern Living Magazine and thought, “ooo I gotta make that”. Of course it took forever but when it was done, boy was it spectacular!

Every baker has a weakness, in your opinion, what would you say is your greatest weakness?

I don’t make pies quite as often as I used to, but my one weakness is making a pie crust. It drives me crazy because you have to roll it out, and make sure it’s round..they’re just so much work. Anyways, I don’t make a whole lot of pies anymore. However, per request, I do them for the holidays. 

What are some of your secret go-to ingredients to use as a substitute in a particular recipe?

I don't have any. Usually, if I get a recipe out, I’ve saved it because I like everything in it. If I’m going to use a recipe, you want to follow it pretty closely. Especially when baking, you need to comply with what the recipe tells you. I figure, they know what they’re doing.

Being such a talented baker, have you ever been tempted to open up a bakery or cafe of your own? (why or why not)

No it’s too much work!! I enjoy other things in addition to baking!!

How would you describe a typical day in your life today?

Three days a week, I start my day with Yoga for an hour, I love it.We all wear masks and it’s a great social event.  Then, I do a lot of sewing and knitting because there’s a little shop downtown in Southport where we live, and I sell my stuff there. So I sell my puppets, sweaters for children, blankets, bibs, and mainly things for babies. I have to work inside the shop at least once a month for a whole day. And then I eat out a lot, I attend church a few days a week because I’m on a few committees, so that’s pretty much my life now….*chuckling* 

Which would you say you prefer more, cooking or baking? 

Baking- I think. People love homemade desserts and breads, usually more than their meal. It ends the course the way you want it to end. I think people love desserts. Well-I think everyone loves certain meals but they remember the dessert...it came last, it’s sweet...And I think that’s important. 

I’m dying to know, have you ever made a “boxed” dessert?

Yes, almost always, I don’t make brownies from scratch anymore. I just get the box...Ghirardelli and Betty Crocker are the best, in my opinion...Although baking is much more rewarding when you do it from scratch and oftentimes it even tastes better! 

What sweet treat did you whip up this week?

The other day, I got a recipe for Chocolate, Chocolate Chip Muffins. They are loaded with chocolate, and then you add a bunch of chocolate chips in them. And you got to have a scoop of ice cream with them. So those have been recent creations of mine. 

Mimi’s Famous Brownie recipe:

2 sq . Unsweetened Ghirardelli chocolate (2 oz.) 

1/3 cup shortening

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

3/4 cup flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 cup broken nuts (optional) 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Melt together chocolate and shortening in the microwave;  beat in sugar & eggs.  Add flour, baking powder & salt.  Mix in nuts.  Spread in well greased 8” square pan & bake until top has dull crust, about 30-35 minutes.  A slight imprint will be left when the top is touched lightly with a finger.  Cool slightly; then cut into squares (16 2” squares).  Enjoy!!

[cyndelee]

Day 1 - Intermittent Fasting

I’ve tried healthy eating, dieting, working out and nothing seemed to get this extra 20 pounds off I’m carrying.  In 1996 I weighed 280lbs and with the help of the Richard Simmons diet I lost over 110lbs and I have kept it off since.  The problem is that was 22 years ago and I’m no longer in my 30s.  It just doesn’t work for me anymore.  I’ve been doing a lot of reading and a lot of people are talking about Intermittent fasting, so I’m game to try to kickstart my body back into thinking it’s 30 again.  I think what I liked most was finding out that fasting helps the body in so may ways with ageing and weight loss, i’m totally in for giving it a shot.  I’m going to do the 16/8, which means you fast for 16 hours and only eat within an 8 hour period.  I’ve decided to not change my eating habits completely other than the fasting. I am going to lay low from too much bread and sugar but other than that, I will eat my fruits and have some chocolate if I want it.  I know some people do the Keto (Low carb) while they are doing the fasting but for now, I’m going to see how this works for me.

Last night I had the sacred last meal of rotisserie chicken, salad with some blue cheese crumbles on it.  I also had some passion fruit juice sweetened with stevia.  I completely stopped eating at 6:30/7 last night. WAIT WHAT??  I totally realized that I eat a LOT at night.  So while I am convinced I’m eating healthy, I’m having fresh pineapple, popsicles,  popcorn, ice cream, frozen acai or whatever else I can find.  So, while I think I’m eating healthy, I do believe this is the culprit.   So this morning I woke up a little later at 6:00am. It’s winter here in Brazil, so my walk was out because of the rain.  I’m going to start back my walking in a few days because what WHATTTT.. I was starving when I woke up and felt a bit hungry and weak (another indication I am snacking WAY too much at night). So, once I got up and convinced my Brazilian husband I wasn’t going to eat my breakfast, brushed my teeth I was ok.  So as many of you know, I’m an avid coffee drinker and sometimes all-day----LONG!  On some of the research it was OK to drink coffee and on on some, not ok. I’m going with the OK for now because I think I’ll just be one of those that gives up pretty fast if I cut out too much.  Some of the research said that during the fast don’t eat/drink more that 50 calories TOTAL.  So I did a splash of milk, some stevia with 1 cup of coffee at 7:30.  I did ok, I drank 64 oz of water and tried not to look at the clock, I totally failed at this.  I made it to 11:00am and filled my plate with happiness. I didn’t over eat, I had some brown rice, beans a pork chop and a salad.  A friend had a cinnamon roll and I even took a bite from that.  I’m determined not to change what I eat, just see how it goes for now.  I will have my fruit snack this afternoon and probably the normal dinner of chicken and salad.  I’ll post tomorrow how it’s going! 

[rafaelthompson]

Sobriety & Harm Reduction Behind the Bar: Part One

Coffee pro Molly Flynn reflects on her journey to sobriety, and shares an original alcohol-free cocktail recipe with us.

BY MARK VAN STREEFKERK BARISTA MAGAZINE ONLINE

Cover photo courtesy of Nastogadka via Unsplash

From the editor: While the February + March 2021 issue of Barista Magazine celebrates the camaraderie and craft of coffee cocktails, there are also many folks in the industry who choose to abstain from alcohol or limit their use. Through this three-part series, we’ll be exploring the topics of sobriety and harm reduction for baristas and industry workers. Talking to folks behind the bar, we’ll learn how they feel best supported in their choices around consumption, and what they wish the industry at large knew about sobriety.

The food and beverage industry is notorious for promoting a culture of drinking and substance use. Long shifts and low wages, not to mention the seemingly endless demand of emotional labor, creates an industry that is most at-risk for substance use and disorders, and the third most at-risk for heavy alcohol use. After working a busy, line-out-the-door weekend shift, the idea of grabbing drinks with friends and co-workers and swapping battle stories from the day sounds ideal. But what if an occasional drinking and/or substance-use session becomes the routine, or the only means of decompression?

In a mini-series on sobriety and harm reduction behind the bar, I’m talking with several folks in the coffee world about their journey with sobriety, harm reduction, and what they want the greater coffee world to know. As we’ll see, sobriety or modified use is a series of choices that can look different from person to person for many reasons. Some folks commit to abstaining from all alcohol and substances for all time. Others choose to do this for a period of time, and some adopt safer practices around consumption. For today’s first part, I had the honor of chatting with Molly Flynn (she/her) about her journey to sobriety, how she’s taken her passion for craft beverages to the world of non-alcoholic cocktails, and connecting with a growing community of young, proudly sober individuals on Instagram. 

Molly Flynn has been working in specialty coffee since she was 16. Approaching her fifth year of sobriety, her life is a lot different now than it was when she was drinking. Photo provided by Molly Flynn.

These days, Molly Flynn has an impressive array of roles for the Seattle-based Broadcast Coffee—project coordinator, social media manager, and service repair technician. As a musician, Molly also writes and records her own songs. Her life now is a lot different from when she first started in coffee at 16. 

“I found my way into drinking through coffee,” Molly says, noting that her co-workers were just as passionate about craft cocktails and craft beer as they were about the specialty-coffee drinks they slung during the day. She would often hang out with her co-workers and friends at bars after shifts. What started out as a fun and occasional pastime eventually turned into an unhealthy dependency. After a divorce and cross-country solo move, Molly’s drinking had escalated to the point where she was “drunk most of the time. I was drinking 10 drinks a day. There were a lot of consequences that came along with that,” she says. 

Molly was working at a company in the Bay Area when her work performance suffered, as she volleyed back and forth between intoxication and suffering from withdrawals. During this time, she kept her drinking a secret, terrified someone at work would call her out. Eventually her struggle became obvious, and her employers told her to see a doctor.  “When it became apparent that I was going through withdrawal, (the doctor) sent me to the ER and said basically, ‘If you don’t stop drinking, you’re going to die at an early age.’ That was the second time I had been to the ER for withdrawals from alcohol.”  

Through her Instagram account @mollymakesdrinks, Molly shares craft cocktail recipes with zero-proof spirits, including this non-alcoholic version of The Revolver coffee cocktail. Photo provided by Molly Flynn.

Through her work insurance, Molly was able to go to a three-month voluntary outpatient rehab program, and “it was the best thing I’ve ever done for myself,” she said, ending about a decade of heavy drinking. Last year, Molly funneled her passion for craft beverages into @mollymakesdrinks, an Instagram account where she shares recipes for cocktails featuring non-alcoholic spirits, including brands like Lyre’s and Dhos. “A year ago, the sober beverage industry started booming … all of a sudden I was able to make cocktails again, and I just started doing it all the time. I was taking pictures of them and wanted to share with everyone how they could make drinks.” Molly made connections with a growing Instagram community of young people who are “reclaiming the identity of a sober person to be something that’s beautiful, and healthy and joyful.”

Molly predicts that demands for specialty coffee to be more inclusive will eventually lead to more sober-inclusivity at coffee events, competitions, and throwdowns. When asked if she thinks there will ever be a Coffee In Good Spirits competition that includes non-alcoholic spirits, she says, “100% … one example that’s similar is the push to allow alternative milks in barista competitions … it’s important that we be accommodating to people who want to engage with coffee and the cocktail world, but why does ethanol make it special? Why is that the ingredient that makes it magical and acceptable when there are all of these other flavors out there in this world?”

The Revolver coffee cocktail uses the Black Lives Matter blend by Broadcast Coffee together with Lyre’s American Malt. Photo provided by Molly Flynn.

Now approaching five years of sobriety, Molly’s advice for others in the industry who are struggling with alcohol or other substances is that “they’re not alone … there are options, there are communities, there are resources.” If the idea of sobriety seems intimidating or unapproachable, Molly shares something that has taken the pressure off of her: “You don’t have to commit to be sober forever … all I have to focus on is being sober this month, this day, this minute, and the more I do that the happier I am.”

Stay tuned for part two of our miniseries of sobriety and harm reduction behind the bar.

The Revolver

2 oz. Lyre’s American Malt 1 oz. chilled coffee (brewed normal strength) 1/3 oz. Demerara 2:1 syrup 2 dashes orange bitters Garnish with orange peel

Add all the ingredients to a mixing glass filled with ice, and stir just until cold. Strain into a chilled coupe or glass of your choice and garnish. Enjoy!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR Mark Van Streefkerk is Barista Magazine’s social media content developer and a frequent contributor. He is also a freelance writer, social media manager, and novelist based out of Seattle. If Mark isn’t writing, he’s probably biking to his favorite vegan restaurant. Find out more on his website.

The post Sobriety & Harm Reduction Behind the Bar: Part One appeared first on Barista Magazine Online.

Sobriety & Harm Reduction Behind the Bar: Part One published first on https://espressoexpertsite.tumblr.com/

[mwsait]

The most effective method to Start a Mobile Coffee Truck with Different Start up Budgets...

Hello there Internet,

So as of late I was chatting with a lady who needed to begin an espresso truck yet had worries about beginning up spending plan. In this way, I needed to put out a blog on how I would begin my Coffee Shop truck on the off chance that I had diverse spending alternatives. I trust this helps any individual who is considering beginning however not secure with the financing. Keep in mind, you can generally re-contribute your benefits as you develop. I know a ton of us have "Flawlessness Paralysis" where we need something to be immaculate to such an extent that we don't act. You need to recall that in enterprenaurship, nothing will be great. There is no ideal planning. You simply need to bounce. In this way, immediately, here's some information to support your bounce.

Start Up Items

(things you should purchase to kick yourself off, recall that I have a blog for every one of these indicating the amount I spent)

Machines

Supplies

Licenses

Truck/Trailer

Protection

Publicizing

Floor materials, Counters, Walls

Paint work

Insignificant Start Up Budget ($5,000-$10,000)

Machines: I would begin with simply dribble espresso or cold mix. You won't need to burn through cash on the coffee machine, cooler, processor or generator. This would spare you about $3k. Likewise, on the grounds that you are not utilizing a lot of power for these, you can pull off controlling them off of marine batteries and inverters. This would likewise be an interesting point sunlight based with. Cold mix without anyone else is significantly less expensive, however I can disclose to you at this moment, it won't sell in the winter. So relying upon your area, consider including trickle espresso.

Supplies: I would have a 16 oz cup and top as it were. That will keep your cup flexibly low. As you develop, you can grow. Additionally, you can utilize single serving flavors for the present. When you have enough additional salary, you could reinvest into a refrigerator.

Trailer: Trailer is the less expensive course to go on the grounds that you're not accepting a motor alongside it. Be that as it may, you'll have to tow it with something. With a little enough trailer, you can pull it with a 4 chamber. Tow hitches are entirely simple to put on. I've seen modest trailers on Craigslist for $1K. They need repairing, however they would carry out the responsibility.

Ground surface: Linoleum for the floor or vinyl tiles. PVC boards for the dividers. Quest your nearby Craigslist for counters and racking. Attempt to get free stuff. Put a "Needed" advertisement up. Consider doing likewise for the neighborhood paper.

Paint: Outside paint work is discretionary. I've seen some Coffee Shop trucks enhance with Photoshop painted by nearby craftsman, so's consistently a modest choice. Reach some spray painting craftsman around town. You'll need to pay for the paint, yet a considerable lot of times these folks and ladies are happy to paint for nothing or extremely ease.

Publicizing: When you pursue Google Business they give you a free $100 for promoting. Same with Yelp. Web-based Media is free. Flyers are modest to make and simple to give out.

Normal Start Up Budget ($10,000-$20,000)

Apparatuses: I would get the coffee machine. Likewise, a decent blender will increment mixed beverage deals throughout the late spring. I get a ton of mixed beverage demand throughout the late spring. At any rate half of my pay originates from mixed beverages throughout the mid year. With these, you'll need an approach to refrigerate your milk.

Supplies: With these assets you can open up your menu to any measure drinks you might want. A couple of recommendations, I initially purchased half and half compartments that were truly enormous. They ended up being a misstep. Difficult to clean and too large. I presently utilize littler half and half holder. Additionally, when I originally purchased my cups, I obviously misunderstood the estimated tops. They were both Solo. However, when they came in, they didn't fit. I needed to resend for them.

Trailer: You'll need to pick between a truck and trailer. Kindly observe my blog on trailer versus truck…

Paint: With these accounts I would find a decent paint line of work. This is what will you from the various Roach Coaches out there. My paint work cost me $1,200. I could have chosen for a less expensive work. The least expensive I discovered was $800, anyway they're online surveys smelled and I didn't need a horrible paint work. Along these lines, I chose for the more pleasant paint work. I don't think twice about it.

Publicizing: If you have additional assets after, consider running a pre-opening promoting effort. Contingent upon where you will be, you can run a Facebook Grand Opening Ad. Maybe you can flyer the course you plan on beginning. Announcements would be another incredible method to mark your name in the event that you have the additional money.

Hot shot Start Up Budget ($20,000-Above)

Apparatuses: If I had additional money when firing up, recognizing what I know now, I would purchase an inline water channel to my new water tank. Each morning I need to stop at a water channel station and top off 5 gallon containers to fill my new water tank. It's a significant genuine annoyance. Having an inline water channel implies I can connect any consumable water hose to my unit and have astonishing water. Keep in mind, great espresso is in the water.

Ice creator: This would be another extra apparatus that would shake. Ice is essential for my day by day get task and having a programmed ice producer would quit it. Besides, in the mid year, I'm restricted to the measure of ice I bought that morning. In this way, except if I head out to the store and get more ice, I'm left with what I bought. A programmed ice machine would smash that issue.

Bigger Fridge: I presently can hold 4 gallons of milk. It restricts my deals to around 100 exchanges before I need to run out and buy more milk. Bigger ice chest would permit me to have more milk. Recall that half of your deals are from milk.

Trailer: If I could return, I would have a truck rather than a trailer. It's much more simpler to set up each morning. The decent thing about the trailer is its eye bid, however I think there are approaches to produce eye offer with a truck. Obviously, having a coffee shop truck implies that if there are any motor issues, you are bankrupt until it's fixed.

Paint: Get a decent paint work. Something that sticks out. I went modest on the shade of paint, yet costly on the coatings. Which means, I spent more on the reasonable coat then I did on the paint itself. Likewise, I bought decals and thinking back I would have had my decals expertly done.

As usual, if there is any inquiries, you can remark here or email me straightforwardly. I'm generally glad to help!!!

[givemyselfthecreeps]

I got tagged by @follow-me-into-wonderland to do this thing. I’m bored and like filling in things so I’m gonna do it.

@hyper-blackout you should do this too. As well as anyone else who wants to do it (tag me and I’ll read it!)

1. last drink: water

2. last phone call: my dad cause he was too lazy to go from the loungeroom to my bedroom

3. last text message: “parking lot”

4. last song you listened to: uptight by Green Day

5. last time you cried: probably in the last couple of weeks

6. dated someone twice? kinda

7. kissed someone and regretted it? no

8. been cheated on? no

9. lost someone special? yes

10. been depressed? yes

11. gotten drunk and thrown up? nope

fave colours
12. pink
13. purple
14. blue

in the last year have you…
15. made new friends? you could say so

16. fallen out of love? a few times

17. laughed until you cried? maybe not crying but I have literally rofl’d

18. found out someone was talking about you? probably

19. met someone who changed you? sure, I guess

20. found out who your friends are? kinda

21. kissed someone on your facebook friends list? oh yeaaahhh

general
22. how many of your facebook friends do you know irl? Ehhh. Half I’ve spent considerable time with, and then of what is left, half I’ve met maybe once or twice and half I’ve never met.

23. do you have any pets? a budgie called Hedwig

24. do you want to change your name? I’ve debated changing my surname by one letter but it’s a big hassle for little gain.

25. what did you do for your last birthday? my birthday was a little scattered. I ended up eating like 3 different cakes? Just lots of food in general. It was great.

26. what time did you wake up today? 10ish?

27. what were you doing at midnight last night? getting high and having fun ;)

28. what is something you can’t wait for? for my life to be somewhat on track

30. what are you listening to right now? A fan plus the breathing of the person next to me. It’s quite soothing actually.

31. have you ever talked to a person named tom? HAHAHAHAHAHAHA yes

32. something thats getting on your nerves? life

33. most visited website: Tumblr tbh

34. hair color: A weird shade of purple

35. long or short hair: short

36. do you have a crush on someone: always

37. what do you like about yourself: my eyes, my style and my ability to stand up for what I want

38. want any piercings? I’m pretty happy with the ones I have but adding some double nostril piercings could be cute. :3

39. blood type: one of them

40. nicknames: Nat, Ollie, natollie, miscommunication (that one’s mainly for bell tbh :P)

41. relationship status: single (but it’s complicated 💁🏻)

42. zodiac: Libra

43. pronouns: they/them

44. fave tv shows: Scrubs, Futurama, Parks and Recreation, Daria, The Office (US), Please Like Me.

45. tattoos: uhhh, let me count... 16 (if you don’t include the tiny heart on my finger). Not planning on stopping any time soon.

46. right or left handed: right

47. ever had surgery: nope

48. piercings: ears, snakebite, nip nops and septum

49. sport: Roller derby!

50. vacation: I’ve been to Europe for times before. Itching to go again. I’ve been all over oz and skiing in New Zealand. Would also love to see North America.

52. eating: hot chips, pizza, ice cream, sushi, pasta aaaand anything Jamie Oliver.

53. drinking: water, tea, coffee, juice, fireball and coke, red wine, raspberry and coke. I honestly love most drinks.

54. I’m about to watch: potentially Buzzfeed Unsolved? But otherwise it looks like maybe Jumanji??? Hopefully I can convince Tom to put something else on.

55. waiting for: Tom to wake up so I can eat. I AM SO HUNGRY.

56. want: food, an ok job that allows me to move out, love and affection

57. get married: Potentially. I’m happy to be or not be married. That being said, I’ve already decided on a few things that I would want at my potential wedding. 😂

58. career: honestly this changes all the time. I mainly just want to better the lives of others.

59. hugs or kisses: both please????

60. lips or eyes: eyes.

61. shorter or taller: both are fun for their own reasons :3

62. older or younger: generally older but I don’t really give a shit either way

63. nice arms or stomach: everything is nice. I appreciate all.

64. hookup or relationship: both

65. troublemaker or hesitant: a hesitant troublemaker? :P

have you ever
66. kissed a stranger: yes

67. drank hard liquor: yes

68. lost glasses: nah

69. turned someone down: yes

70. sex on first date: yep

71. broken someone’s heart: probably

72. had your heart broken: yes

73. been arrested: nope

74. cried when someone died: no (but I would now as an adult if someone close to me died).

75. fallen for a friend: too often

do you believe in
76. yourself: sometimes

77. miracles: nope

78. love at first sight: not really

79. santa claus: no

80. kiss on a first date: how. how is this something to “believe” in? Kisses are good. I highly endorse them.

81. angels: nope

other
82. best friends name: Jen, Andrew, Drew, Clare, Blitz.

83. eye color: blue

84. fave movie: Holding The Man

85. fave actor: this honestly changes all the time so I can’t even tell you

[kentonramsey]

Trust Me, Try it: The Best Travel Mug on the Market, No Contest

Picture this: You make a big pot of coffee in the morning. You grind the beans just so. The grounds-to-coffee ratio verges on persnickety. After one cup of black coffee taken with some requisite disturbing morning news, you pour the remains of your coffee pot into a thermos. A tumbler. A reusable mug. Whatever.

And then that coffee vehicle proceeds to fail you more severely than I failed Intro to Computer Science in college. The mouthpiece isn’t leak-proof so it drips ugly poo-brown drops onto your white sneakers. The lid isn’t secure enough so it dribbles coffee onto your neighbor’s coat on the train and they glare at you as though you’re indeed the devil while you offer to pay their dry cleaning bill. The cup itself is unwieldy, so every morning is a circus act featuring you, your work bag, your gym bag, Tupperware, etc. And the worst of all: after all that travel, you take a sip of coffee at your desk and do a dramatic spit take, spraying it everywhere, because it has become the worst coffee temperature–tepid.

Okay so maybe the spit take doesn’t happen (I haven’t done a proper spit take since seeing this tweet), but I know the anguish of all the above, all too well. And then I encountered the Zojirushi.

As a quick explainer: My ex-partner is the kind of person who would live and die by the things that he loved (except for me, lol) (it’s okay we’re on good terms). So when he first showed me his reusable mug, I said, “Sure, Jan” and moved on with my life. At the time I had a cute one with a flower on it, and so what if it burned my hand every morning?

Then one weekend we went on a hike upstate where he brought both iced coffee and hot tea in two different Zojirushi mugs. The tea stayed, not just hot, but scalding, for six hours, then bearably hot for the next eight. No sign of tepidness. The iced coffee? I could still rattle the ice cubes in the mug the NEXT MORNING. If it sounds like I’m being dramatic, then call me Adam Driver because I was slamming my fists into the metaphorical wall. Not only were the temperatures of the drinks maintained beyond what I believed technologically possible, but the secure lid made it so that the mugs didn’t spill even once while turning over in our backpacks. It was astonishing. I bought two Zojirushis the next day

Before you say this is some sort of infomercial instead of a genuine endorsement of an (insanely) good product, allow me to say that I’ve owned my 12 oz and 16 oz mugs for over a year and they are some of my best purchases to date. I’ve even given them as gifts and converted people into fellow Zojirushi disciples.

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It’s odd because I was–and am–somewhat the opposite of my former partner. I can be flighty and mercurial, my tastes reliant on how I want to self-identify during a given period of time. But this reusable mug has become one of the most consistent things about me, and I really like that. I’m not perfect when it comes to being responsible to this planet, but it makes me genuinely happy to fill my (dishwasher-safe, btw!) mug to the brim every morning, or hand it over to a barista. So if you’re looking for a similar feeling: Jump in, the water’s cold/hot, depending on your mood.

Photos by Beth Sacca.

The post Trust Me, Try it: The Best Travel Mug on the Market, No Contest appeared first on Man Repeller.

Trust Me, Try it: The Best Travel Mug on the Market, No Contest published first on https://normaltimepiecesshop.tumblr.com/ Trust Me, Try it: The Best Travel Mug on the Market, No Contest published first on https://mariakistler.tumblr.com/

[vanesco-blog]

i'm back

i had this url before and ended up deleting a little while ago bc i thought i was doing well enough without it but then i stopped losing and i’m not ok with that… wish i would have kept going bc i could have lost another 25 lbs in that time if i kept looking at thinspo and staying on my exercise routine but i’ve been slacking

so! i’m back and i’m not stopping until i’m perfect. here we go

day one (3/18/17): 64 oz water (0 cal) 16 oz black iced coffee (0 cal) small helping of mac n cheese (~300?) couple glasses of wine (~300)

was planning to fast all day today but net of ~600 isn’t TERRIBLE… but i’m definitely restricting more tomorrow. was caught in a bad situation today bc i spent all day with a couple of my friends and we all skipped lunch (they don’t have eds, it wasn’t on purpose) but since i was with them all day i didn’t have my usual excuse of “oh i already ate earlier” when they asked about dinner plans.

but tomorrow will be better! i am excited to start losing again. CW: 176 lbs

(29 total lbs lost, 26 to go until GW1)

[sherlocks-east-wind]

I was tagged by @piascleavage :)))

I’m tagging: 3 book lovers @vocallife @iwriteficnottragedy @catsandcoffee7

1. Do you remember how you developed a love for reading?

I guess during our long car rides when we were kids - back then I hated road trips because they were kinda boring so my mom always got us a book to read for the journey and now I’m hooked

2. Where do you usually read?

in the car :D (when I’m not driving obviously), in bed - in very awkward positions, on my sofa, and I read A LOT when on vacation and there’s a beach bc crashing waves are the best background noise to a good story

3. Do you prefer to read one book at a time or several at once?

I usually start multiple ones until I find one I really like and then continue reading only that and revert back to the others once I’m done and start the whole process over :)

4. What is/are your favourite book(s)? 

OHHHH that list is long, here some of my recent favs: Besuch der alten Dame (duh - everyone who got to know me just a bit knows how obsessed I am with that book and musical) Wild - it doesn’t get more inspiration as this book, I guess you could call this one my absolute favorite bc THIS BOOK SPEAKS TO ME ON A WHOLE NEW LEVEL, this is one of the rare ones I actually read multiple times The Martian - good shit. funny shit. scientific shit. witty shit. what more to love? Decision Points - that one biography that dragged me down biography lane :) and made me more open to different opinions as I read it during my exchange year An astronauts guide to life on earth - bc Chris Hadfield is AMAZING and if there’s someone that I will listen to when they talk about life, then it’s an astronaut who played Major Tom in SPACE - good stuff

5. Do you have a least favourite book?

THAT ONE BOOK. OH DON’T EVEN GET ME STARTED. Book of Numbers by Joshua Cohen is the worst thing I’ve ever laid my eyes on. Completely un-readable. Such a chaos, full of offensive opinions and written by an author who hates everything and everyone on this earth and probably most himself. 

6. What is your favourite genre?

My love for biographies is HUGE but I also really like books with a life lesson in it, and sometimes a good light hearted romantic novel is key to a perfect vacation day when sitting in front of the Eiffel Tower on a fountain, eating crepe and reading while the sun sets (did I mention that I love reading while on vacation bc YESSSSS)

7. Is there a genre you won’t read?

Fantasy - YES, I love Harry Potter, but everything else is just not really appealing to me, give me real life please

8. What is the longest book you ever read?

Page wise: Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix (I think some 1050 pages?) Time wise: any book we ever had to read for class, some of them I have yet to finish

9. What book are you currently reading?

The Book of Mormon

10. What was the last book you finished?

Promises to keep - Joe Biden 

11. What was the last book you bought?

Hidden Figures - and I can’t wait to start reading it!!!!

12. Do you have a favourite book quote?

Alright, that might be the most tumblr-basic response ever but:

“Always” - Snape

THAT QUOTE DRAGGED ME THROUGH HELL OF FEELS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN AT AN AGE THAT I DIDN’T KNOW I WAS CAPABLE OF HAVING THEM

Also there are other quotes that just leave me completely stunned for a second (where I have to put the book down and drink some tea) and I usually highlight them in the book to come back to them later :)

13. Do you prefer library books or buying books?

BUYING BOOKS. Give me something where I can scribble in, highlight important stuff, drag it to the beach, on the plane, in the bathtub, … a book of mine in the end tells to stories: its own and the story of me reading it :) there are still some books with crumbs of sand in between pages

14. Where do you buy your books?

Austrian book stores, Shakespeare & Company book store in Vienna (ENGLISH BOOKSTORE FOR THE WIN), Amazon, and tiny book stores in Vienna - especially for biographies

15. How many books do you buy a month?

Sometimes 500, sometimes 0, depending on the time I have to read and how many unread books I’m still hoarding

16. How many books do you own?

Quite a number :) some fav ones double (one in Vienna and one in my home in Lower Austria), some on my phone when the original one is too heavy to carry around, …. but not enough. 

17. How do you feel about second hand books?

GIVE ME ALL OF THEM. SECOND HAND BOOKS ON THE INTERNET ARE CHEAP AND AMAZING.

18. Do you prefer E-books or physical books?

PHYSICAL BOOKS - sometimes I buy the ebook as well when I don’t want to carry around the physical one (like Alexander Hamilton, that thing is   h e a v y)

19. Do you prefer paperback or hardback?

Paperback!

20. Do you prefer to read trilogies/series or standalones?

Standalones :) if I need a bit more I google for fanfictions ;)

21. What is the weirdest thing you’ve used as a bookmark?

I will use absolutely anything for a bookmark. Heck, I even put my Hamster in between pages ones when I quickly went out of the room (no hamster was harmed in that process).

22. What is more important to you: characters or plot?

C H A R A C T E R S - if there are good characters, there is no bad plot

23. Do you ever judge a book by its cover?

sooooometimes, so I usually try not to pay too much attention to it

24. What’s the most beautiful book you own?

I have this version of Wizard of Oz, that I got from the Shakespeare and Company bookstore in Paris. The cover looks like threats woven to a picture, the pages look charmingly old and have slightly different sizes so the end is not that clean and the illustrations are to DIE FOR. Never read it though bc I’m not really a fan of the story, I just really liked to look of the book.

25. What is your favorite book to movie/tv adaptation?

The Devil wears Prada - bc Meryl Streep is a goddess Harry Potter saga - bc reasons Hamlet - the BBC version with David Tennant *heart eyes*

26. What is the best beverage to drink while reading a book?

The ultimate drink (goes along with vacation feeling and lying on the beach reading): coke with ice and a slice of lemon  others: tea, iced tea, Starbucks Coffee (I’m a basic white girl yall) and Orange Juice

27. Are you looking forward to any book release? If so, which one?

Not really :) the last one I was looking forward to was “Hidden Figures”

28. Recommend me a book :3

WILD - by Sheryl Strayed … READ IT, LOVE IT! & for a good laugh: The Martian, bc that’s a masterpiece!