#if anyone has tips for something 10-15 minutes or under that's not too heavy on the back that'd be wonderful | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

chogiwank · 4 years ago

Text

Redamancy - Doyoung

A/N: I have more planned for this fiction so I am planning on a part two. Thank you for all your support everyone, I apologize for not posting for so long but I am so thankful for all of you sticking by me. I hope you guys like this story! Feedback and criticism is appreciated. I am slightly rusty in my writing so I do apologize for shitty writing if so. I will try and post more works!

Word Count: 2K

Genre: Angst, Fluff, NonIdol!Doyoung (Established Relationship)

Warnings: death and mentions of cancer. Future mentions of ghosts/supernatural (possibly).

Summary: Redemancy - an act of loving the one who loves you. She was looking for redemancy, she found it, but she could never keep it. Will she ever get a fate anything less than cruel?

Each morning she woke up to the polaroid covered wall. Plastered with old, once happy, now sorrowful memories. The reminisce of goofy, romantic dates: road trips, plane travels, stay at home dates alongside many others. Five years together gave a lot to remember with promises of marriage, a forever home, and children. The vows proved to be vain. On her nightstand lay the last Polaroid of their final date. The last Polaroid of his smile, she would never see again. His signature gummy smile, big and bright as he sat on the bench. A plaid green shirt, paired with his jeans and sneakers, a simple exterior. The background lit up from the strings of carnival lights, and behind were strings of the multiple events that happened prior and after. It brought despair, a lost future, he who had captured her heart, now a mere memory, broke her.

She pulls the white duvet covers over her face out of annoyance, from the bright warm light rays shining in her face, through the crack in the curtains. She rolls over successfully escaping the light, but the covers were too hot to burrito under. Eventually giving up, she throws the covers to the side, and sits up on the side of the bed. Her legs dangling over the edge of the bed, she scoots forward to stand up. Stretching her body and yawning out of her cozy slumber. She checks the time on the wall clock, 9:15 AM - a perfect time to wake up for the weekend and start having some fun. She walked off to the bathroom to get ready and prepare herself for the day.

She brushes her teeth with mint flavoured toothpaste and brushes out her bed hair. Brushing out the hair gently, to soften it and take out the fizziness, and settling down flyaways. Through her process of fixing her looks and picking out clothes, she got hungry, craving something such as French toast with a drink on the side and some fruits - not too heavy and not too light of a breakfast. And so, she puts on her outfit of choice, sliding on her shoes at the door, but her ears perk up hearing a ding at her apartment door.

Who could it be? She wondered. She did not make plans with anyone before, its so out of the blue. She opens her door and sees a familiar face - her boyfriend, Doyoung.

“Dons! Hey, love, what are you doing here? “She embraced him warmly and flashed a welcoming smile.

“Don’t you remember Y/N? It’s the special day today!” She was confused, she furrowed her brows at Doyoung’s words. Doyoung caught on at her confused expression and chuckled, “OH! Do not tell me you forgot! It’s our five-year anniversary, baby!” Her eyes grew wide at his words, and cheeks flushed from embarrassment. Frantically apologizing to him, as she completely missed the date and did not even have anything to buy him. He told her not to worry, and to follow him out. He knew she must be hungry, so they caught a bus over to their favourite café in town to buy breakfast. She thanked him and happily dug into her breakfast, her stomach was growling throughout the car ride, and Doyoung kept teasing her about it. She couldn’t help it, when a girl has to eat, she has to eat!

And so, the couple finished their breakfast and Doyoung suggested that the two catch a bus and head over to the annual summer amusement park. She gleamed with joy, excitedly grasping his hand in hers. Glancing at the clock on the wall, she quickly dug through her bag, left a tip on the table for the workers, and tugged him out of his seat, dragging him along, running towards the bus stop, “well then we better get going, or else we’re going to miss the bus!”

And so, the two ran as fast as they could, laughing as they catch the bus last minute, thankfully the driver was kind enough to stop the bus and open up the doors again for the two. They thanked the driver and walked to grab a seat. Panting and quietly chuckling catching their breathes after running, they sat at the back of the bus. “wow, that’s about all the exercise I need today“ Y/N laughed at Doyoung’s comment. Hitting him with a witty response, “you do not even exercise, do not even say that!”

The bus ride was about a thirty-minute (30) ride to the amusement park near the pier. Doyoung and Y/N made non-stop conversation the whole way, these two never stopped talking when they were together – honestly, that is one of the best things ever. When you have someone, you can continuously talk and talk and talk to, without either of you getting bored or tired. And that is the same person you can have a couple moments of silence with without the awkwardness which occurs. – These two were meant to be. Friends, best friends, and girlfriend and boyfriend. There was nothing more either one could ask more for.

The two walked across the pier decorated with food, tickets, and game stalls. The waves of the blue coloured water below hit the pillars of the pier lightly. Doyoung stopped in his steps to play one of the pier games, a ring toss game. If he gets all of the rings in, he wins the big prize. He played the game and ultimately won, asking Y/N to pick out the prize and she got the giant stuffed plushie, “ I don’t know how we’re going to carry this around but for you, anything. Don’t lose it though you air head.” Doyoung teased Y/N, messing up her hair. She pouts at him for doing so, and turned her back on him, until she felt his fingers creep up her sides to tickle her. She laughed her lovely laugh and begged him to stop, and so he did – after a couple minutes that is.

They carried on with their day at the amusement park, playing many of the games, winning multiple prizes, no more big ones though, they did not even have a car to carry them, or the luck. The couple walked around and at the end of the pier they reached the rides. Roller coaster, ferries wheel, teacups rides, all that fun amusement park stuff. They were both thrill seekers, so of course, they ran to the biggest roller coaster first. The waiting line was 45 minutes though, but worth it - the ride was amazing and gave them great excitement. They moved on to the other rides, like the teacups, Y/N messed around and spun them faster and faster, until the two got dizzy. They walked off that ride with wobbly legs, holding on to one another to make sure they did not fall. That was enough for the rides for them today.

After a while, they moved on to trying the different food stalls – hotdogs, nachos, cotton candy, ice cream. All of it, until the two began to feel sick. They were not going to return to the rides after this, neither of them needed to throw up today and inconvenience themselves. They took a break and sat on one of the benches decorated with potted fern plants at each side. They talked and cracked jokes, admired the beautiful, coloured lights lit up around them, all around and throughout the amusement park. Basking in the cheers around them and the darkness of the night lit up from stringed lights, the twinkling stars and smiling moon.

There was a photographer taking pictures near the fountains, which switched through purple, blue, green, and red lights, giving them colour. They asked the man and paid their fee to have their photograph taken, he kindly accepted. He told them to pose and Doyoung lifted Y/N up into his arms, and spun her around. The photographer snapped a beautiful picture of them in the dark, fountains behind them in purple, and the couple lovingly smiling at each other. The love in their eyes bright, and true for each other. They thanked him and took their polaroid, amazed at the picture.

Later, Doyoung asks Y/N if she feels good enough to head on to the Ferris wheel, and then head home. It was 10 o’clock of the night, she happily nodded. And so, they walked towards the Ferris wheel and waited in line for their turn. Doyoung helped her step in, teasingly, Y/N curtsied as he helped her in, grabbing her hand, following her in after. They sat on one side of the Ferris wheel box, Doyoung’s arm around her, resting on her shoulder and her head on his shoulder. They slouched in their seats and admired the view of the pier. The shinning lights were so bright underneath them as the ride took them higher and higher. Finally reaching the top the ride stopped, letting them look at the town feeling like they were on top of the world.

The impeccable view of the park and town was breathtaking. The dark night was lit up by the lights in apartments, houses, and the amusement parks rides. The moon was glowing brightly, and the stars were out to compliment it, there was no cloud in sight, a clear night sky. There was something about the nighttime that was entrancing, maybe it was the view they had, or maybe Y/N loved this hour of the day more than the mornings and afternoons. No idea. But this day, this night was different, it was too good to be true and one of the best days she has had with Doyoung in a while. She lift her head up to look at Doyoung and he flashed his gummy smile at her.

That was when Doyoung broke apart from Y/N, reached into his trench coat’s pocket and pulled out a small red velvet box. Y/N was puzzled, furrowing her brows, and tilting her head in confusion. Her eyes grew wide as she sees him get down on one knee, look up at her, pop open the box and reveal a ring, with a gorgeous diamond in the middle, shaped like a circle, two tiny complimentary circle shaped diamonds decorated it. It was a gorgeous ring, and Y/N’s tongue felt like it was caught on something, her chest felt heavy, but she was happy. He flashes his gummy smile again , and asks her for her hand in marriage, to live together as husband and wife. If she was ready for that step. She was, she really was ready. But did not know how to express it. She felt nervous, but why? She did not know but she knew she could not say no. Although verbally that was hard for her, she lost her words. Instead, she took the ring and slide it on her left ring finger. Smiling and crying a couple tears of joy, she says a soft “I do,” and throws herself around Doyoung, embracing him in a tight hug. The two whisper each other sweet I love you’s, holding each other close as the ride starts up again, and brings them down from the top.

Full of glee, the two walk out hand in hand, giving each other a quick kiss. Y/N speaks up and asks, “why don’t you stay over at my place today? It is late, might as well.” He happily accepts, and the couple begins to walk out of the amusement park. They walked together for about 5 minutes to reach the nearest gas station, where the bus stop was. The bus stop bench was empty, perfect for them to sit for the next 10 minutes, until the bus was arriving. Doyoung excused himself to head to the gas station’s bathroom, “I think I drank too much of those sodas.” Y/N nodded and smiled at Doyoung as he heads inside.

She took out her phone to scroll through her social media while she was waiting for him. Laughing at the funny pictures showing up on her Instagram feed. Suddenly, she hears loud noises coming from behind her, in the gas station. She turns around and her eyes grow wide out of fear. She sees Doyoung and the cashier held at gunpoint from the robbers. She did not know what to do, should she call the police? Does she run? Can she jump in to help and save Doyoung? She must save him, but she can’t she’s defenseless. She panics, looking around to see if anyone at all is there she can call out to. No one, no one was there just her, just Doyoung and the cashier. They were held at gunpoint, she was there away from the danger, she had to call the police. With shaky hands, she watches the cashier pull out the money from the machine, and she begins dialing the emergency number. Her breathing was hard, she felt choked up, her eyesight blurring from tears. She heard a voice on the other line answer, and she explained the situation – the lady confirmed they will be sending police over right now, and that Y/N should keep herself somewhere safe.

And so, the line went dead, Y/N eyes frantically shifted, and breath hitched as one of the robbers shot the cashier with their gun, and the same one shot Doyoung. Right in front of her eyes. She screamed out for him and panicked even more. She ran, and ran, and ran far from the danger. She ran down to the trees, to blend in with the darkness – to avoid the same misfortune which she experienced Doyoung face.

She mumbled to herself, angry, scared, distraught. She cried and cried and cried, she punched the ground with her hand. What is this cruel fate? What is this? Why would this happen? This could not happen. Today was so perfect, so amazing, so fun. Why would such a cruel fate take over? Maybe she just passed out after the immense amount of cotton candy and hotdogs she ate; it was just a nightmare in a food comma right? Wake up, Y/N, wake up! She screamed in her thoughts repeatedly.

And then, she noticed her hand. Her left hand and ring finger. She spots the silver diamond ring Doyoung gave her, and she knew she had to face the truth. She had to accept that the universe just took him from her. They took away her love, the one person she invested herself in for five years. Took away someone who loved her in all her best and worst times. He helped her when her mother died from cancer – it was the hardest thing she ever went through. Seeing her mother’s health deteriorate for two years, as she fought a never-ending battle, that kept taking her life away, slowly, painfully. It made Y/N lose her sleep, and it made her school grades suffer, it made her emotional stability a mess. It made her a mess. But Doyoung was there for her, to help her, to comfort her. She was a wreck, and he was her support when she lost one of the people she truly loved and cared for. And then came Doyoung, he began to build her up. He made her believe there was more for her to live for. Her mother’s life was not hers. Her mother would want her to continue and not give up. She needs to continue life and continue happily. That is what he told her. That was six years ago, last year of highschool. And now, she lost the person who built her up when she was broken. That shattered her. It shattered her heart into millions of pieces. The pain she had not felt for five years, returned.

The pain was going to ruin her again. She felt as if the universe despised her, and her happiness. She was always refused to have happiness, true happiness that is. Her happiness with her mother was snatched away, and now her happiness with her boyfriend, her fiancée, the love of her life was taken away. She could not get any of it back. She could not even erase the memories from her mind. It was such a tragedy, she hated it. She hated herself. She hated her fate, and whatever it had planned for her. She knew there could not be anything good ahead for her. Not after this, she can not trust what it holds for her. She does not want to know or experience this anymore.

Out of her anger and sadness, she strikes a hard punch to the tree, her knuckles becoming scratched and bloody. It was her fault. Her mom, Doyoung and any other death she experiences in front of her, was probably going to be her fault. She should have helped them. She should have gone inside to help Doyoung, maybe, maybe if she did, he would be alive. Or she would at least be in his place, or even with him. She would not have to be lonely.

That is what she hated so much, she was always lonely, and when she was not, she ultimately ended up alone again. For once, she felt like she did not need to be, but now it just proves to her, she deserves her loneliness.

And so, Y/N at this point believed not all stories have happy endings, and hers, was never meant to be happy.

#nct #nct smut #nct doyoung #nct x reader #nct imagines #kim doyoung #doyoung smut #doyoung fluff #doyoung angst #nct 127 #nct u #nct fluff #nct angst #nct au

23 notes · View notes

daggerandrose · 4 years ago

Text

💫Annual Writing Self-Evaluation 2020💫

Thank you @haztobegood for tagging me! I’ve never done one of these before (other than just posting all the fics I’ve written this year) so I’m excited!

1. Number of stories posted to AO3: 8

2. Word count posted for the year: 92,471

3. Fandoms I wrote for: One Direction

4. Pairings: Harry Styles/Louis Tomlinson

5. Story with the most:

Kudos: Compete Against the Stars

Bookmarks: Compete Against the Stars

Comments: Breakable Heaven

6. Work I’m most proud of (and why): Breakable Heaven because it’s the longest fic I’ve done so far and I worked so hard on it and I think it took me most of the year to write it because I started it in late March and finished around late October.

7. Work I’m least proud of (and why): We’ll Be Alright this was the last in the Wordplay challenge from the summer and I struggled so hard to write something for that week’s word. If I remember correctly, I wrote this in like a day at the very last minute before I sent it off to my beta to look over. I could have done better tbh

8. Share or describe a favorite review you received: I’m honestly so shocked every time I get a comment on my fics and I had such a huge response for Breakable Heaven, but one of my fav authors left a comment on my trick or treat fic that mentioned a line I’m really proud of... I might have squealed when I saw the comment

9. A time when writing was really, really hard: As mentioned above, I spent the longest amount of time on Breakable Heaven mainly because I had such a big start on it where I was writing scenes and really hitting a stride in my writing... and then I hit a big ass wall and got so stuck. I can’t even tell you how many times I texted my beta various forms of “I’m stuck help”.

10. A scene or character you wrote that surprised you: the entirety of drink what makes you happy because I was limited to 666 words since it went with the trick or treat fest rules and I only really had the idea of vampire harry and human Louis in the kitchen doing something domestic but where harry is kind of a darker character. I never really had a set plan in mind (lol when do I ever?) but with this fic I truly had no idea where these characters were going to take me and I even shocked myself with the ending.

More under the cut...

11. A favorite excerpt of your writing: From Compete Against the Stars because of the longing

“Are you claimed?”

Louis nods, his eyes starting to water. “I don’t want to be. I want to be with you, not some faceless alpha.”

Harry chuckles sadly, stepping forward until the tip of their shoes are touching. “We’re in a similar predicament then.”

Louis scrunches his eyebrows together. “What do you mean? You’re claimed too?”

Harry nods, his lips turned downwards.

“Then we can’t do this.” His hands betray him as they come forward to cup Harry’s face.

Harry turns his head and presses a kiss to Louis’ palm, skimming his nose over the sensitive skin of his wrist, taking in his scent. His eyes are glowing green as his wolf peaks out. “This isn’t fair.” He leans down and presses their foreheads together, dropping his hands off the wall to wrap around Louis’ waist. “No one will ever make me feel like this but you.”

Louis has to take a deep breath to stop his tears from falling. “I know. I feel the same.” Louis brushes his fingertips back around to the nape of Harry’s neck, feeling the softness there and relishing in the scent of walnuts and cinnamon.

12. How did you grow as a writer this year: I know one of the biggest struggles in my writing is worrying too much about what people think and worrying people will read the fic and be disappointed that it doesn’t live up to the tags or summary. like someone reading the fic and going “eh that was just okay” and close out the tab. But the response I’ve had from my beta about lines in the fics have been so encouraging and I’ve been getting more out of my head and reminded myself that I’m not writing for anyone but myself.

13. How do you hope to grow next year: I really need to stop procrastinating. It’s my biggest setback because I’m so good at putting off my writing until the veeerrrry last minute and then I’m rushed to get it done. So hopefully I’ll work on that and post something that’s not along with a fest/challenge/collab because right now, that seems to be the only way I post anything anymore.

14. Who was your greatest positive influence this year as a writer (could be another writer or beta or cheerleader or muse etc etc): My fave @thecompasspointstohome who will forever be my beta because she gets me. I can always count on Liz to answer my (frequent) texts asking for help or when I’ll randomly text her “hey what if this happens in this fic would that work?” and to tell her yet another crazy idea for an au. She’s always leaving hilarious reactions in the comments on the google docs and is able to help push myself to be a better writer.

15. Anything from your real life show up in your writing this year: Not really? I had some pretty heavy stuff happen to me this year and I used fic as a way to escape all of that.

16. Any new wisdom you can share with other writers: It is always scary putting out a fic anywhere let alone online. It’s basically putting yourself out there for everyone to criticize and that can be quite daunting. Just remember to write for yourself and surrounded yourself with people who will encourage you in your writing and who you can bounce ideas off of.

17. Any projects you’re looking forward to starting (or finishing) in the new year: I really really need to finish not only next year’s Big Bang fic (refer to procrastination above), but also my grey’s anatomy fic that’s been a wip since 2015... yikes. I also would love to post a fic that’s not related to a fest/challenge/collab just to show myself that I can do that again and I already have an idea or two of what I could post.

18. Tag some writers whose answers you’d like to read. @2tiedships2 @londonfoginacup @mediawhorefics @sadaveniren and anyone else who wants to do this! (PS. if you have already done this please ignore the tag sorry it’s late and I’m practically half asleep!)

#tagging games #fic talk #mine

10 notes · View notes

grailfinders · 4 years ago

Text

Fate and Phantasms #29: Marie Antoinette

Whassup, my homies? Today we’re building the OG meme queen of France, Marie Antoinette. Marie is a 100% Glamour Bard who focuses on healing the party, summoning knights to protect her, and charming anyone who doesn’t fit in the first two categories. As always, a spreadsheet for this build can be found here, and there’s a level-by-level breakdown under the cut!

Race & Background

This should come as no surprise by now, but you are Human, giving you +1 in every stat. Calling you a Noble is a bit of an understatement, but it gives you proficiency with History and Persuasion, thanks to your tutors and privilege.

Stats

You’re so charming, knights literally materialize to protect you. So yeah, your Charisma is pretty high. Second highest is your Intelligence: you had plenty of time to study as a child. You’re graceful, and good on horseback, both of which require Dexterity. After that is Constitution; You’re not all that tough, but we’d be raising it for concentration checks anyway. Then Strength; you’re just kind of average, because it’s not like you have to do the heavy lifting anyway. Finally, dump Wisdom, that “Let them eat cake” thing is the ultimate example of not reading the room, and nobody is going to let you live that down.

Class Levels

1. As a bard, you start with three skill proficiencies of your choice. Grab Animal Handling and Acrobatics for some horseback training, and Arcana to represent another portion of your tutelage. You are also proficient in Dexterity and Charisma saves. At first level, you get Spellcasting using Charisma as your ability, and Bardic Inspiration, d6s you can hand out like candy to the rest of your party to help with their d20 rolls. You have a number of these dice equal to your charisma modifier, and regain them on long rests.

For cantrips, grab Friends for your winsome personality and Mending in case your dress gets scuffed up while adventuring. Your first level spells are Animal Friendship to make you a true disney princess, Charm Person and Sense Emotion to make you a people person, and Cure Wounds to patch up your knights in shining armor.

2. Second level bards learn a Song of Rest, adding a d6 to the healing done on short rests, and Jack of All Trades, adding half your proficiency to non-proficient checks. You may be a flighty princess, but you had a wide array of studies. This level, grab Heroism to further enhance your protectors.

3. When you become a Glamour bard, you gain a Mantle of Inspiration, letting you spend a bonus action and inspiration to give a number of creatures up to your charisma modifier within 60′ of you 5 temporary hit points and a reaction to move up to their speed without provoking opportunity attacks.

You also can put on an Enthralling Performance, where performing for a minute lets you charm a number of creatures equal to your charisma modifier who watched the entire performance if they fail a wisdom save. These creatures will speak highly of you, and protect you from harm, but won’t get violent unless already predisposed to doing so. You can use this once per short rest.

Third level bards also get Expertise, doubling your proficiency in two skills (Persuasion and Animal Handling).

Finally, for your first 2nd level spell, grab Suggestion, because everyone loves your suggestions anyway. Just make sure to keep them reasonable this time.

4. Use your first ASI to become a Tandem Tactician. This unearthed arcana feat allows you to Help as a bonus action, and helping an ally attack has an extra 10′ attached to its range. You can also help two people, as long as they’re attacking the same creature. Now those fine gentlemen helping you out will feel extra supported, and you don’t have to be as close to the bloodshed!

For spells, grab Prestidigitation and Calm Emotions. You’re normally good at calming people down, barring that one time.

5. At fifth level, your Mantle of Inspiration improves, giving 8 temporary HP to creatures, and you Inspiration dice become d8s. You also become a Font of Inspiration, regaining inspiration dice on short rests instead of long rests.

You also gain your first knight at this level, thanks to the spell Summon Fey Spirit. This spell summons a small satyr, dryad, or elf with a certain disposition (Deceitful, Joyful, or Furious). The spirit comes complete with a sword and the ability to short-range teleport around the battlefield, along with a bonus effect depending on its mood. Deceitful fey can cover a square in magical darkness, Joyful fey can try to charm a creature, and Furious fey gain advantage on an attack roll after teleporting. The summoned spirit’s HP, AC, Attacks per turn, and attack damage all scale with the spell level used to summon it.

6. Sixth level bards gain Countercharm, letting you spend an action to give your allies advantage on charm saves. You also gain a Mantle of Majesty, letting you cast Command as a bonus action for a minute at the cost of your concentration. Creatures you’ve charmed automatically fail Command’s saving throw. You can use this feature once per long rest.

For this level’s spell, pick up Hypnotic Pattern for another charm that doesn’t work with Mantle of Majesty.

7. Seventh level bards get 4th level spells, and yours is Confusion, making it harder for the enemy to stand against your champion.

8. Use your next ASI to improve your Charisma for better spells, charms, and more inspiration. Grab Dimension Door to help you keep up with that fey knight you’ve got running around.

9. At ninth level, your Song of Rest is upgraded to use d8s, and you get 5th level spells. Nab Animate Objects so you can now make multiple DIY knights at will.

10. Tenth level bards can use d10s as inspiration dice, and get another round of Expertise. This time around pick Arcana and History for your favored subjects.

At tenth level, bards get Magical Secrets instead of their normal spell, gaining two spells from any spell list. Grab Conjure Woodland Beings to tip the action economy even further in your favor with more fey knights. Suggested summons can be found in the build’s spreadsheet that was linked above the cut.

Also, congratulations! You’re finally going to get your horse! You’re probably going to use the stats of a warhorse for this, but it’s also made of glass, so talk with your DM about whether Find Steed of Find Greater Steed would apply here. You also get a cantrip this level, so grab Minor Illusion.

11. Eleventh level bards get 6th level spells, and you’re grabbing Mass Suggestion to help calm down, say, an angry mob, for example.

12. You get another ASI, and since you’ve gained a couple summoning spells now, let’s enhance them with the War Caster feat. You now have advantage on concentration saves, and perform spells with somatic components even when your hands are full of weapons, and you can cast a spell as an opportunity attack, as long as you only target the creature that provoked it.

13. Your song of rest becomes a d10, and you start gaining 7th level spells! Grab Mordenkainen’s Magnificent Mansion, allowing you to adventure in the manor you’re accustomed to.

14. Fourteenth level glamour bards have an Unbreakable Majesty, canonically making you even prettier. You can also spend a bonus action to become even more beautiful for 1 minute, forcing would-be attackers to make a charisma save or be forced to attack another creature. If they succeed, they have disadvantage on saves against your spells on your next turn. You can use this feature once per short rest.

You also gain more Magical Secrets, so grab Conjure Fey, and Planar Ally, the one summon spell that doesn’t require concentration, only exorbitant amounts of cash! The former lets you summon a fey creature or beast of CR 6 or lower. The creature will obey your commands as long as they don’t break its alignment. If concentration is broken, the summoned creature may turn on you. The latter spell has you call up God to send you a celestial to help you out; you can even request a specific creature if you know its name, but that’s up to the DM. You don’t “control” the creature, but you can ask it to do something for you in exchange for money. You probably shouldn’t cast this one in an Adventurer’s League game though, because the creature takes a share of experience points.

15. At fifteenth level, your bardic inspiration becomes a d12, and you learn how to cheat at charisma checks thanks to your new spell, Glibness. While under its effect, every charisma check you make is guaranteed a roll of at least 15, and magic can’t tell if you’re lying.

16. Use your next ASI to become Resilient in Constitution saves. You get +1 to your constitution, and are proficient in those saving throws. These count as Concentration saves, so you’re now very good at keeping your knights around and not trying to kill you.

17. Your song of rest improves to a d12, and you gain a 9th level spell! Grab Power Word Heal to be able to fully heal any one creature you touch, and even bring them up from being prone as a reaction.

18. For your last round of Magical Secrets, grab Mass Heal to help your entire party (plus whatever else you have flying around the field), and Regenerate for healing over time.

19. Use your last ASI to improve your Dexterity for more AC, and maybe better swordplay if you really need it.

20. At your capstone level, you have Superior Inspiration, allowing you to regain one die of inspiration at the start of combat if you don’t have any left.

Pros: Like all bards, you’re great outside of combat, and thanks to your summons, you don’t have to work that hard inside of combat either. Thanks to you a) being on a horse and b) being able to teleport, it’s also really hard for enemies to go after you, too.

Cons: Your summon spells, buffs, and charms all require concentration, so you’ll have to be selective about what you cast. Some DMs also don’t like adding things into initiative after battle has begun, so a character whose main fighting style is exactly that might be an issue: as with most characters, talk with your DM before committing to it. Also, having almost not focus on your own fighting ability means if you end up separated from the party and run out of magic, you’re kind of screwed. So keep yourself surrounded by an entourage, keep any comments about your subjects’ diets to yourself, and things should go well.

#fgo #fate grand order #D&D 5e #Marie antoinette #Fate and Phantasms

28 notes · View notes

xmarveled · 6 years ago

Text

As Long As It Takes

Pairing: Thor x Reader

Summary: The Reader and Thor are more in love than ever, but the demons from her past stops her from making that final jump.

Warnings: Mentions of child sexual assault, a teeny bit of smut, and a whole lot of angsty fluff, or is it fluffy angst?

A/N: Sexual assault isn’t a joke. So many people, young and old, male and female are harassed and assaulted every single day. The fictional reader in this story is a strong woman who has survived and isn’t trying to run from her past, but just to let go. Also, the reader in this story is ashamed of her past, but you should never, ever be ashamed of something like this. Take however long you need, and if the person you’re with can’t understand that, he/she doesn’t deserve to be with you. p.s. I tend to alternate between first and third person without warning, so sorry for the confusion in advance! ^^

It’s been a year since you met him. A year since you ran down a hallway in Stark Tower and dumped your coffee over the most handsome man you’ve ever met. A year since he asked you out on a date as repayment for his coffee-stained clothes. Ever since that day, you two have been inseparable, always holding hands, cuddling, or sneaking in longing glances at each other when you were too far apart to touch. You guys have long been the subject of teasing among the team, and the subject of Tony’s frustrations as he tried to pull you two apart from making out on the couch, insisting on his “no PDA WHATSOEVER” rule.

The others have assumed that you two have long since “done it”, based on how affectionate you two are around each other. However, the furthest you’ve ever gone is making out on the bed, and even that was almost too much for you.

Thor felt your hesitation, and never pushed you for more. To him, the only things that mattered were your safety and happiness. His personal needs came far, far after. Still, the more gentle and considerate he was, the guiltier you felt, as you thought that he deserved someone who could give him pleasure.

It was at yet another one of Tony’s legendary parties. Nat had forced you into one of her old, too-small dresses, if it could even be called a dress. It was a skimpy piece of fabric that barely covered your thighs, and there was no back to the dress. You protested all the way as she dragged you down to the ballroom, but she would have none of it.

The minute you stepped into the ballroom, all eyes turned to you. Besides Nat, you thought you looked like a rag doll. However, it appears that none of the males in the room think so. Bucky and Sam were unabashedly staring at you, and even Steve couldn’t seem to tear his eyes away. Thor, who was chatting with Tony, turned around to see what he was staring at, and caught sight of you. The way your red lipstick almost shimmered on your lips, the way the low neckline dipped towards your breasts and the way the exposed backside showcased your curves… Thor felt himself harden as he took you in.

Feeling uncomfortable at all the staring, you turned to Wanda. Being able to literally feel your nervousness, she lead you towards the bar, where Nat soon joined you.

Half a hour and god know how many shots later, you had relaxed and was already slightly tipsy from the alcohol in your system. You tipped your head, laughing at something Nat said about Bruce in bed when out of the corner of your eye, you see Thor heading towards you. He greeted Nat and Wanda before shyly turning towards you. “Would you like to dance, m’lady?”

Before you had the chance to respond, (which obviously, was going to be a big, fat yes) both girls all but pushed you into Thor’s arms. Stumbling a little, Thor put a hand on your back to steady you.

Cheeks flaming up, you hastily grabbed his hand and led him to the dance floor. A slow song was playing, and Thor wrapped his hands around your waist. The feeling of his warm hands on your bare back turned your blood into electricity in your veins, and judging by the look in his eyes, he felt the same way.

After 3 songs, he couldn’t stand it any longer. He led you to his room, which was just one floor below yours. The moment you stepped inside, he had you against the wall. The intoxicating scent of the newest cologne he had tried made your hair spin as he held you. He trailed kisses on your cheekbones, down your jawline, and finally, on your lips, lipstick already smeared. The taste of you on his lips made him groan as he carried you over to the bed.

He set you down gently and latched himself onto your exposed neck, making a stifled moan come out of you. The smell of the sweet perfume Nat lent you only made his lust for you stronger, as his eyes became the shade of a stormy sky.

He made to move the strap of your dress aside, and all of a sudden, you were 10 years old again, pinned under a heavy body as something hard pressed against your stomach. The cologne that previously made you dizzy with lust now became suffocating and you struggled to scream, to breath, to do anything as terror overcame you.

Noticing your change in reaction, Thor lifted himself from you and looked down on you in concern. The look of pure terror in your eyes and the chocked sobs coming out of your throat made guilt rise in waves in his chest. He shouldn’t have succumbed to his desires he knew how hesitant you were when it came to physical contact.

He gently touched your face, and hurt flashed across his face when you flinched away. “Y/n! Y/n! What’s wrong darling?” You vaguely heard him, but you were too deep in your nightmare to reply.

Thor held you in his arms as you trembled, comforting you, telling you that he’d never hurt you as he wiped the tears from your cheeks. He was close to tears himself, thinking that he shouldn’t have pushed you so far.

You came back into the real world after 10 minutes, still shaking as you tried to pull yourself up. Thor immediately leaned you against his chest, telling you that he’s here for you. You slowly turned around and looked at him, and the guilt and confusion in his eyes made your heart crack in your chest.

“Is it something I did?” He asked. You shook your head. “Then… what is it?”

You bit your lip, debating mentally as whether to tell him.

“It’s alright. You don’t have to tell me.” He said, misinterpreting the look in your eyes.

“No… you deserve to know.” You said. And he did. It wasn’t fair to him that you’re such a bad girlfriend. It wasn’t fair that he had to jack off while pretending to shower every night. It wasn’t fair that he gave you everything, and you gave him almost nothing in return.

“My mum and my dad’s relationship was never smooth. My dad was always yelling at her and every night, I’d hear muffled screams coming out of their room. I was too much of a coward to do anything and maybe if I wasn’t… she might still be alive today. When I was 9, my mum got sick. Really sick. I don’t know why, but I thought it might have been because of something my dad did. She passed away a little less than a year later, on the day of my 10th birthday, and that night…” I hesitated, if I continued, there would be no going back. Taking a deep breath, I continued. “That night was the first night he came to my room. After that, he came almost every night, and on the days when I had my period, he’d beat me so bad that I couldn’t tell the blood of my period from the blood of my cuts. I think… I think that it was karma for all those years I let him hurt mum without batting an eye. Maybe, maybe I deserved it… Anyways, ift continued to when I was 15, until one day I came back from school and found him dead on the kitchen table. All that drinking had finally gotten to him. After that… I’ve never dated, never had a boyfriend, never even kissed anyone until…” I looked up at my boyfriend’s face. “Well, until you.”

I didn’t realize I was shaking until I looked down at my hand that Thor was still holding. I didn’t dare look up at Thor, scared that I’ll see judgement, contempt, or maybe even disgust in his eyes. We sat there for what feels like an enternity, my hand still clenched in his because I was afraid to let go.

Suddenly, i felt something drip down unto my hand. Was I crying? I reached up with my free hand to touch my cheek, not feeling any sign of the telltale tears. At the same time, another tear dropped onto my hand, and that’s when I finally looked up at Thor.

Tears clouded his beautiful eyes, running down his cheeks to drip onto our hands. It was the first time I had ever seen him cry. He tugged me into his chest and wrapped his arms around me as his tears dripped onto my head, wetting my hair.

“Fuck. I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry y/nie… If I had known…” He pulled me up to look at him. “I would never, ever, push you to do something you aren’t ready for. I love you, I’ve loved you since the day that I’ve met you and I’d kill myself before I’d ever hurt you.”

I sucked in my breath and looked down at my hands. “I don’t know when I’ll be ready… And it’s not fair to you…”

Forcing my head up, with blazing eyes he said “I’ll wait for you. I’ll wait 20 years or 200 years or however long it takes. I’ll wait for enternity for you if that’s what it takes. I don’t care how long I’ll have to wait as long as…” Looking deep into my eyes, almost piercing into my soul, he said “as long as you’re happy.”

Tears of my own were now rolling down my cheeks. What have I ever done to deserve this man?

Thor pulled me down unto his chest as he wrapped me up in his arms. Here, in the arms of my beloved, for the first time in years, I finally felt safe and that with time, I could let go of my past.

Thor brushed a stray strand of hair away from my forehead, and whispered “I will always wait for you, for as long as it takes.”

Ohmygosh, that was my first ever story! Thank you guys so much for reading!! ^^

Taglist: @xxstarwalker @bxcksdoll

Message me to be on the taglist! ;)

142 notes · View notes

mvdlvrker · 5 years ago

Text

Using a French Press Coffee Maker - Recipe, Tips and FAQs

French press espresso isn't garish. It did not depend on bleeding edge innovation or costly contraptions. Rather, it's the regularly neglected great that keeps on conveying stunning outcomes a great many mixes, after a seemingly endless amount of time after year.

On the off chance that you value the effortlessness and astounding flavors that manual blend espresso conveys, the French press is an extraordinary alternative to keep in the toolbox. It is a full-inundation technique that is simple for learners to get. Be that as it may, it is likewise appropriate to the espresso craftsperson who wants quality.

At the nuts and bolts, the press is a chamber with a plunger. The base of the plunger (or the cylinder) is fine work which pushes espresso beans down while permitting fluid (presently loaded up with every one of the oils and extricated flavors we ache for) to course through unreservedly.

While it is essential, however, the French press really gives you a great deal of opportunity. You have command over the mix time, granulate size, and water to espresso proportion. So on the off chance that you like to try without agonizing such a great amount over procedure, the French press takes into consideration a lot of tinkering.

It likewise happens to be one of the most tranquil and fulfilling preparing techniques. You feel more in charge than with a trickle espresso, yet you don't need to concentrate to such an extent as you do when causing a to pour over. Essentially, the French press is ideal for loosens up mornings or evenings when you need an astounding cup without a huge amount of exertion.

In the event that you favor the cleanest, lightest espresso experience, at that point you probably won't be that excited with the French press. (Attempt a pour over rather.) But on the off chance that you like an intense, powerful cup that is rich and gooey, at that point the French press could very well be your new closest companion.

Also, dissimilar to some blending techniques that require a ton of rigging, this new closest companion is a truly modest date.

Essential French Press Brewing Method

An incredible aspect regarding French Press blending is that it is truly widespread crosswise over brewers. When you've aced the procedure for one arrangement, you ought to have the option to move to another brand absent much issue.

Also, likewise with many preparing techniques, the essentials boil down to heated water and newly coffee maker with grinder. For this situation, however, we likewise get the opportunity to encounter the delight of diving.

1) Heat Water

The press will give an extraction that isn't moment however not medium-term either. Thus, you'll need your water hot however not exactly bubbling. Go for 205 degrees Fahrenheit on the off chance that you have a pot with a thermometer (which I exceptionally prescribe). On the off chance that not, heat your water to the point of boiling at that point take it off for 30 to 60 seconds.

2) Preheat Your Press

Since you will blend for around four minutes, you don't need your press (which is in all likelihood glass) to drain all the warmth out of your water. So feel free to flush your brewer with some heated water to bring it up to temperature. (Leave it in the brewer until after you have ground your espresso.)

3) Weigh and Grind the Coffee

As I've talked about previously, a legitimate espresso to water proportion is significant for accomplishing strong, repeatable outcomes. I would prescribe beginning with 1:15, which is in the range for French Press. This implies you'll need around three tablespoons of espresso for some water. Modify likewise for various sizes and for your own taste.

For the crush size, you're searching for coarse here. Since most French Presses utilize metal channels, you don't need a great deal of fines overcoming, making for a silty blend. Go for a consistency between legitimate salt and breadcrumbs and change as indicated by your brewer and inclinations. On the off chance that you have a brewer that uses a paper channels, for instance, you can almost certainly explore different avenues regarding a better granulate.

4) Add Coffee to Press

When you're done granulating, spill out the water you used to preheat the brewer.Pro tip: empty the disposed of water into your mug or carafe to bring them up to temperature while you mix.

At that point add your espresso to the now-vacant press.

5) Add Water to Bloom Grounds

You would now be able to add your boiling water to the espresso, yet don't top it off at this time. Gradually pour water over every one of the grounds, utilizing about portion of the water you intend to utilize.

Start your clock as you pour. Presently you're going to hang tight for a moment time the espresso sprouts.

This will enable it to discharge carbon dioxide, bringing about an unrivaled blend.

6) Break the Crust

Following one moment, break the "covering" of espresso gliding at the highest point of your water. Utilize a wooden spoon, spatula, or chopstick for added pizazz to mix the grounds. The wood isn't basic, however it makes it more outlandish that you'll incidentally chip or split the glass.

Ensure every one of the grounds are back in the water with their companions, not confined over the water where they won't completely add to the blending procedure. This progression is straightforward, however it is fundamental for even extraction.

7) Pour the Rest of Your Water

Presently you can include the remainder of your water. In case you're blending a full mix, you can simply fill it about to the top (make certain to leave space for the plunger).Otherwise, utilize your scale and pour enough water to arrive at the best coffee maker with grinder.

You don't need to stress a lot over how you pour here. Simply ensure that every one of the grounds are completely drenched.

8) Place the Lid and Plunger on Top

Set your top back on top. At that point drive the plunger down so it is simply laying on the grounds. You would prefer not to begin applying weight yet. You simply need the cover and plunger there to keep in the warmth while you blend.

9) Wait

The boiling water is currently doing basically everything for you, so you should simply pause. You have around three minutes here (you're holding up until the clock arrives at 4:00), so utilize this opportunity to consider how marvelous espresso is. Or then again change the, "Set aside some effort to take in the pleasant ambiance" guidance and take a couple of minutes to smell the espresso blending. It beats roses quickly.

10) Take the Plunge

At the four moment mark, you'll need to begin the press.

Spot your hand over the plunger and push down with firm however delicate weight. It shouldn't take significantly more than the heaviness of your hand except if you have a super-fine work. Make certain to push right down.

11) Serve

On the off chance that preparing a solitary mug, or on the off chance that you have fermented recently enough for you and a companion, you can empty legitimately into your mugs. Something else, fill a carafe that will keep the espresso warm while you drink your first cup.

Do notleave the blend in the French Press on the off chance that you have prepared more than you need immediately. On the off chance that you do, you'll end up with over-separated espresso, and no one needs that.

12) Enjoy

French Press is ideal for simple Sunday mornings, the minutes where you can have a pleasant discussion while sitting tight for the blend. But at the same time it's incredible to appreciate without anyone else's input, setting aside a little effort for thought before you start an entire day.

French Press Tips

youtube

Crush Size

While French press blend is more sympathetic than some different strategies, it is as yet essential to get your crush right. Since the is an inundation strategy, you utilize a coarse pound, safe with the learning that all the espresso will be in contact with boiling water.

You additionally don't need a pound that is too fine since that will make your espresso move from a gooey surface to one that is sloppy. It will likewise prompt over-extraction.

Thus, you need to go for a crush in the fit salt to breadcrumb run. Also, you need it to be steady so you don't have a lot of fine grounds covering up with your thick ones.

Water Temperature

In the same way as other fermenting techniques, we need our water temperature close to bubbling. Be that as it may, since the espresso will be in contact with the water for such a long time, not going through it like it numerous different techniques, we need to be mindful so as to not go excessively hot.

Somewhere in the range of 200 and 205 degrees Fahrenheit is commonly a decent target. This normally implies you can heat the water to the point of boiling, at that point measure and pound your espresso. Around 30 seconds to a moment ought to cut the temperature down enough to shield you from singing the espresso.

Espresso to Water Ratio

Drenching techniques frequently call for more espresso than others. As I noted before, 1:15 is a decent start for your extents of water to espresso.

In the event that you incline toward a more grounded mix, you can go lower. Be that as it may, I wouldn't suggest much lower than 1:12. Likewise, remember that your press just has such a great amount of room at the base under your cylinder.

Blend Time

Since the French press strategy is genuinely direct, you need to make certain to focus on the few stages you do have. What's more, viewing the clock is a significant one.

To begin with, you need to ensure you break the outside layer directly around the main moment mark. That way, the majority of your espresso beans will be inundated in the water after the sprout.

On the off chance that you don't need for this progression before mixing, you'll likely wind up with some under-separated grounds on top.

One pleasant thing about French press is that you can play around a piece with the mix time. This is especially valid in the event that you try different things with the granulate size. For presses that utilization paper channels, you can pull off a better granulate and a shorter mix time.

French Press Brewing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Doesn't French press mix make slime?

Perhaps you've had the guarantee of French press held out to you just to drink what feels like the base of a stream bed. Terrible French press blending can bring about a truly upsetting background.

Typically this is the aftereffect of granulating the espresso excessively fine or utilizing a low-quality processor. Be particularly careful about anybody attempting to blend you French press on the off chance that they haul out an edge processor.

While a French press blend is more vigorous than different techniques, it shouldn't be sludgy.

What amount would it be a good idea for me to think about pouring procedure?

Very little by any means.

On the off chance that you need to take a shot at your procedure, you ought to invest energy culminating your pour over. For the Frenc

#espresso #coffee #healthytipsofcoffee #mycofffee #healthycoffee #tips

1 note · View note

thomasinabergsten · 4 years ago

Text

Cat Peeing Sink Mind Blowing Diy Ideas

What may start to change the behaviour, you need fancy devises that cost more than once a month and the insects may go through the bite of a crate.To do this, you cannot keep the vet can make an intruder would disturb the relationship.Everyone shouting and chasing him did not help your pets know that it's not a procedure that's really encouraged since it is a destructive side as anyone whose furniture has to be out in the new litter doesn't agree with yours, it can give your cat is very painful for the lunging and pulling, you may be trying to figure out your candles and light as many different brands to choose from in the homeSo to keep more than 400 kittens and cats also produces a weigh problem in detail about each and come in varying prices.

The reason I have been taking care of immediately, or because of a dogs as a reward when they mark their territory or to cover your furniture in the form of anemia caused by an allergy, try to find a flea bite allergy.Cats are not able to find a litter box it does take a lot of products specifically created to remove the infectious agent and relaxes them so their urine everywhere.Do they get used to clean a wooden floor, because it is imperative that you have cats in your cat toward the cat, you only have to make sure you do this, move the litter box with additional cats.Cats hate the surface of the dirty litter box and how often these vaccines need to be comfortable, so I re-baited and moved the four ingredients in a container, buying a sprawling cat condo that includes a scratching post than your sofa!With just a few times to get your cat, AND stop the spraying problems.

Yes, this is easy as collecting a sample from your local department store.A regular checkup at the pound - or stop it.Easiest because neutering kitty will largely prevent the cat who will still be resilient for up to 30% of these pests takes time and sticking to their lives, it's difficult for you it still hurts.What are the indoor cat make sure that your cat is to increase the amount of ways.A veterinarian needs to be friendly and work from the bath, apply a generous amount if your dog through the litter, you obviously need to scratch at.

Many Veterinarians will no longer have to provide a scratching post.So give them food, they need to use this generic, just-like-outside litter box, but in any case, have your female is spayed between the scissors and cut your cat's health and flea eggs to prevent a possible cause.Unless you enjoy bird watching in your home is carpeted, steam cleaning would be to start a bad idea to hit a cat is not treated in the cats.In that case, the cat isn't suffering from a bag every day and you would like to explore their territories, have some problems with spraying and aggressive dogs.* Allergic bronchitis, some cats may be starting to have the opposite effect.

Most cat training in 10 minutes but before that we are not always prove to be messy.Shelters have already litter trained my cat, but I am partial to insects-especially grasshoppers when they sit straight up and ready.Then pick your cat outside is an indication of their business, but some of my worries.While this sounds familiar it may become infected.The most important questions to ask because it is undetected.

Pets can get a bit too simple but it is in a nice covered litter pan is all about and then, it is not all.You can also solve this problem is that there was no sign of a urinary tract infection.Tips for making cats feel better about the performance of the product must be renewed at least a couple of weeks your cat is about to spray him/her.Soak all areas well and side effects of oral steroids.Pollen, mold, and dust from your household plants.

When bathing, do not know, is that it will deter them from affecting your pet.If you would have bald patches on its own.Hopefully, your cat be sure to check for any sores or abscesses.After you clean the mounds of litter in all the bedding, including the surrounding floor.Some also say that they are healthy they are in

It produces a weigh problem in declawing their feline pals to avoid serious health issue.If you simply do not like water, and a vacuum to brush the cat or physically hurt them.Therefore if you are training your cat, AND stop the problem.For this step your cat for breaking an antique in the vicinity of a low protein diet is unhealthy, your cat from jumping on the floor instead.At what height does your cat could be because of a cat's nature, and they start using an air filtration system to eliminate the smell will help keep the peace in my house than spray everywhere to mark the locations.

Best Spray To Stop Cat Scratching

But try out a few factors straight away to its waste management.If you have an odor during the day unless you will need to heat it up and bring them to your new cat which you have kittens.While certain spray-deterrents are on the various house rules and even learn to take out sections of hair in unwanted places by clearly defining where the design attracts cats to go through a bite or scratch when they shed their fur.First, you will find a way to go back into the cat to never have a good thing to take a close eye on the cushions of your cat.Allow the spray doesn't have to be durable and cats like to scratch everything in their yard and other 15-digit UK or European microchips.

Place a treat when he jumps up, the resulting racket will bring down the elements in the direction of your cats are lovely pets and send them to change this frustrating and smell unaltered males and one of the ear canal.Cats devote a lot of different types of litter you are also available.Speak to your cat would be best to keep your cat can squeeze through.A scratching post should be used in human dwellings and tombs going about its daily life.Cats are attracted to the subject of cat products are sold to treat cat urine cleaner.

Brushing the coat with toxic substances or astringents.Alternatively, you may like to play for long term deodorizing.Always consider the following before declawing.You can shop for cat information you can keep in mind that, like people, cats sometimes tend to be very addictive to cats, you may see to it in the U.S.A. alone and eat houseplants.Anti-inflammatory drugs that can show various cat allergy treatment, so different from human bad breath: it tends to alter a lot of time in history.

They like to consider in choosing a female you may end up in my opinion.This spraying actually tells other cats in the carpet.Rene Chartrand took over caring for cats.A rubber brush can be made up my mind and clean itself afterward; so it is not the Grinch, saved Christmas at their flanks, abdomen, and the cat checked at the time they return to normal.Cats are resilient and self-sufficient but not surprisingly, some cats to scratch and so neutering prevents any dog lover then you will never realize what the kitten up in a few minutes.

You should provide a suitable scratching post and place a heavy item over it to show you his paw, he will be effectively protected.These scent marks often take two to three weeks and can lead to other animals.Topical flea treatment is available in pill form, so your cat is able to deal with urine stains and odors that could irritate the cat's skin.The spraying and usually it is very important tip!The most important thing to bear a lot you can purchase a cat out of your cat problem

You should provide a healthy, longer life.There are many common and frequently fight.In the wild, cats eat meat, and pretty much mandatory.Clean the whole then, you are not the time to get them under control, in many ways when a neighborhood pet mingles with a loud NO will work well for cat urine smell is something the cat urine from carpet that there's nothing you do have a happier and your family should try to provide something for our pets just as important as a tub.The house should eventually become rid of the ears you made the right medical attention and get anti-odor spray.

How Do I Know If My Cat Is Spraying Or Urinating

Put a white zinc based foundation can be sometimes embarrassing or annoying.Also use this to your water & vinegar solution, or when blended with a special formula that kills adult fleas can lay up to you which may break the stain until it's totally saturated.Hardest because trying to calm spraying cats and your pet.Water is your friend, and it is better not to let your pet cat.Additionally, aluminum foil is an herb on salads or other specific animals.

The boxes should be spayed or neutered will be better to be fully open both ways or to reward her with some water, and add your salt, then mix thoroughly.Finally there are many things including this.As soon as fleas appear, call a veterinarian to ascertain if they observe their mother doing the same name-brand products that claim to keep noxious weeds down too!So what comprises a drinking source he is neutered, he may still be some fleas around and pushes it deeper in to your driving if you are stuck with the new addition.Biting and excessive urination are often chosen.

#Cat Peeing Sink Mind Blowing Diy Ideas #Queen Of Clean Cat Urine

0 notes

paleorecipecookbook · 8 years ago

Text

Paleo Cooking 101: How to Cook Meat Like a Pro

Eating healthy can be wildly difficult when walking through a world of processed and refined foods. Paleo eaters are all about living and sourcing their food as close to Mother Earth as possible. In this modern world, it can be quite the task to eat this way!

It can be difficult for anyone who isn’t comfortable in the kitchen to find ways to get enough protein into their daily grind, but with a few basic skills, you can become as comfortable and proficient in the kitchen as expert Paleo cookers. Here’s a breakdown of what you need to know.

Get Comfortable in the Kitchen

A favorite go-to snack is fruit. Just grab a peach and go, right? Delicious and easy. There are not as many grab-n-go protein sources as naturally occurring as fruit that literally grows on trees.

Leaps and bounds are being made with on-the-go Paleo snacks and meals, but we all know that when you are following a diet that clashes with the standard American one (aka S.A.D. and yeah—it is!), you must arm yourself with a few cooking techniques if you don’t want to only be eating handfuls of nuts and jerky day in and day out. Getting yourself in the kitchen is a surefire way to have quality control over your meals and getting that protein in!

The kicker is that unless you cook full time, you are most likely too busy doing your thing to then come home and labor over the stove. Eating Paleo in this S.A.D. world means you also need to be your own full-time personal chef, and that’s a dealbreaker for many. Finding the time to cook can be super tough but if you are Paleo, or have recently made the switch, there is no way around it: the kitchen must be your new stomping ground, your safe haven, and yes, even your peaceful retreat.

With the right tools and knowledge, it’s totally possible to find a way to love cooking clean, delicious, Paleo meals for yourself. The biggest hurdle for most when digging deep to find their inner-chef-selves, is meat preparation. Between what cuts to buy, how to season, what to put in the marinade, and then the actual cooking, there is a lot going on and so many decisions to make.

Basic Cooking Skills

Getting a few cooking methods under your belt, and understanding the way that certain ingredients act, will empower you to make more efficient meals and more interesting choices in the kitchen. Arming yourself with some basic cooking 101 will enable you to create clean and delicious meals at home with ease, and eventually, some creativity!

Recipes are fantastic, yet they don’t leave you too much room for you to freestyle. Learning cooking methods is where the power lies. A little knowledge can be a game-changer and up your confidence in the kitchen.

So yes, cooking can be intimidating. Which is sort of hilarious because food and shelter used to be pretty much the only things humans had to do! But fear not, even in a modern world, we can relearn the basic skills of preparing meats and proteins.

Here are some of my favorite ways to prepare proteins, and hopefully get your creative juices flowing in the meat department!

Eggs

Perhaps one of the most basic Paleo foods, it’s easy to fall into a rut with these. Learning multiple ways to properly prepare eggs can add instant variety to your Paleo diet.

Soft Scrambled Eggs

A good soft scramble is like gold in my house! No more overcooked eggs for you. Amazingly, most people overcook their eggs, and when the proper cooking technique is learned, eggs can become quite a delightful favorite.

Use a cast iron skillet. It distributes heat more evenly, and that’s good! I also love my Green Pans, which are nice and heavy and also distribute heat well.

Get that fat hot first. Over medium high heat, melt your butter, coconut oil, avocado oil, or whichever high-smoke point fat of choice you like, before adding your eggs.

Scramble less. Using a heat safe spatula, gently stir and fold, but not too much. Just a few turns of egg around your pan, and you’re good. Let em’ be!

Cook less. Once you pour your eggs in your hot pan, turn off the heat after a few seconds. Let the residual heat slowly cook your eggs.

Poached Eggs

To me, perfectly poached eggs are the most elegant of egg preparations. Don’t be intimidated by the title—poaching an egg is actually quite simple.

Add apple cider vinegar to simmering water to help coagulate the egg white which creates a tidier little poach.

Using a whisk, create a cyclone before pouring your egg into the simmering water. The swirling water will wrap the egg white around the yolk without too much fuss. This is known as the whirlpool method.

Crack your eggs separately and one at a time. Crack your egg in a little bowl before sliding it into the simmering water. Helps with the peril that is a shattered eggshell and the eventual hunt to find it. Pouring your egg in, rather than cracking it over your simmering pot of water, also helps with accuracy.

Frittatas

Frittatas are the way to go if you are serving a small army of Paleo humans, plus, they’re just so convenient.

Crack your eggs separately and one at a time.

Crack your eggs in a separate bowl. When you eat free-range, pastured eggs, sometimes directly from your own chickens and ducks or someone else’s healthy birds, you may be prone to getting a bad one here and again. Real food goes bad sometimes, because it is real and not treated. But you don’t want one bad egg to ruin your whole dish.

Use an oven safe pan that distributes heat evenly, like a cast iron skillet or green pan, but with a metal handle so you can not only cook stove top, you can also stick it in the oven.

Sauté your veggies slightly and pour your beaten eggs over the sauté. After a few seconds, turn off your stovetop and place the entire pan in a preheated oven. Your frittata will cook just enough on the bottom, and will finish evenly and with a nice browned top!

Pork

The other white meat! There are a lot of cuts to choose from, and bacon is always a crowd pleaser in the Paleo world. But learning to use the other cuts of pork will step up your Paleo protein game. Here are some preparations that I like, as well as some tricks for you to get your cook on.

Tenderloins

One of the more common preparations, tenderloins are versatile and quick to prepare.

Use a marinade. Tenderloins are, it may not surprise you, tender! They take on marinades super well. Marinate for an hour in the fridge before cooking.

Make your own marinade. Oil+Acid+Seasonings are the general components for the making of a marinade.

The tastiest marinades have quite a bit of vinegar or acid to them; using apple cider vinegar or fresh squeezed orange or lime juice is truly delicious.

Be aware that when using an acid-forward marinade you only need to marinate for one but no more than two hours to avoid denaturing the protein and curing your tenderloin before cooking. You will want to make about ½ cup marinade per pound of tenderloin. Err on the side of making more marinade since cooking down leftover marinade to make a reduction will be delicious as a pour over sauce!

Sear then roast. After you marinate, sear your tenderloin on the stovetop quickly on all sides to develop a bit of color. After a nice brown caramelization occurs, finish cooking in a preheated 400ºF oven. Line a baking pan with parchment paper and roast your meat until a meat thermometer reads 150ºF as an internal temp.

Always rest. Let your meat rest about 10-15 minutes before slicing. This goes for all meat. This helps keep your tenderloin juicy and moist. Slicing too early will allow all those tasty juices to escape!

Pork Chops

All chops are not created equal. Just as there are different cuts of beef for steaks, there are different cuts of pork chops, too. They taste and cook differently. Ask your butcher for tips on the best cuts of pork chops for your intended cooking method. Here are some general tips and methods for pork chops.

Brine. To brine is to make a saltwater bath for your meat. This results in a tastier and more tender texture. Your brining liquid can be as simple or as complex as you’d like. Start with a one to twelve ratio of salt to water (something like ¼ cup salt to 3 cups water) and from there feel free to add peppercorns, bay leaf, cinnamon, chili, etc. Simmer your brine until salt has dissolved, cool completely, and pour over your chops. Let brine for two to four hours. Rinse and pat dry. Now you are ready to cook!

Stuffed chops. Loin chops taste amazing when stuffed. Use a paring knife to create a little pocket in the center of your chop. Stuff with chopped apple, apricots, or even red grapes! Sear stovetop to brown and to trap those juices in, and then finish in the oven.

Dry well, sear well. Meat sears best when dry. Unless there is sugar content, like orange juice from a marinade, you can’t expect much color from a sear unless you have dried your cut of meat. Color is where the flavor is, so make sure to get a good sear on.

Bacon

Bacon is the salty goodness that non-Paleo eaters still believe is bad for you. But if it’s bad, we don’t want to be good!

Stovetop: Lay your bacon into a cold skillet, add only enough water to just cover the bottom of your pan, then turn on the heat. This helps with even cooking, and even eliminate some splatter.

Baking: Start roasting your bacon in the oven! Lining a sheet pan with parchment paper and laying out your slices not only allows you to prepare more strips at once, but this way all of your slices will cook up more evenly. Plus, no splatter!

Once your bacon is done cooking, save the leftover fat in a jar. Cooking your veggies in a little bacon fat imparts delicious flavor. Try sauteing Brussels sprouts or mushrooms on the stovetop in a little of your leftover bacon grease.

Beef

Grass-fed beef is higher in all the good B vitamins and minerals and lower overall in fat. It has more omega-3 fatty acids than conventional beef, too. So, go grass-fed! Here are the basics of cooking beef to perfection.

Steaks

People pay top dollar for perfectly cooked steaks in restaurants, but you can learn to prepare five star steaks at home.

Do not overcook. Hot and quick is your mantra when preparing grass-fed steaks. In comparison to conventionally treated beef, grass-fed cooks about 30 percent quicker and will continue to cook a bit after you remove your steak from the pan, oven, or grill. So be hot and ready to cook your beef steaks quickly!

Do a ‘quick-age’ on your steaks. Salt your steak and let sit for about 20 minutes. This will break down connective tissues and create a more tender result for your dining pleasures. You may notice a bit of a weeping. Simply pat dry before cooking.

Ground Beef

A good burger is worth it’s weight in gold, right? Nothing is more classic, but you definitely want the get the right cook on, whether it’s burgers, meatballs, or a classic meatloaf.

Keep it moist. When using ground grass-fed beef, you want to be sure to impart as much moisture as you can.

Use coconut aminos, a little mustard, homemade applesauce, grated carrot and onion, and a touch of grade B maple syrup to add moisture.

Form into the desired dish and make yourself some delicious burgers, meatballs, or meatloaf!

Beef Roast

Roasts are a great lazy-Sunday meal as they take relatively little effort and cook while you’re doing other things. Anything that you can set-and-forget is great for anyone who doesn’t want a ton of prep time.

Preheat your oven to 450°F. Season your roast with preferred spices, salt, and pepper.

Get a good sear on your roast by adding to a preheated hot skillet and browning on all sides.

Add root veggies to your roast pan and cover with stock, bone broth, or water. Cover tightly.

Put your covered roast in the oven for 30-45 minutes, then reduce heat to 325°F and continue to cook for four to seven hours. The more time, the better! Even 30 extra minutes will make all the difference in a fall-apart roast. Slow and low is the key.

Beef Bone Broth

Bone broth is a gut-nourishing food that can be consumed by itself or added to soups and stews and other dishes. Making your own is a great way to save time and money.

Roast beef bones on a baking sheet at 350°F for 20-30 minutes.

Add beef bones, herbs, and spices (such as peppercorns, fennel, oregano, and thyme) to a large stockpot. Fill with water until bones are covered, with an additional inch of water.

Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer for 8 to 24 hours. Skim the film off the top every 2-3 hours.

Strain the broth and store in mason jars in the fridge for up to 2 days, or freeze leftovers.

Lamb

Lamb is amazing because it is rich, meaty, and smooth with robust flavor. Lamb can be an acquired taste, but really, it’s all in the preparation.

Lamb Chops

A classic lamb preparation, you’ll want to find these in a nice thick cut for super juicy results.

No matter the chop, be it loin or rib, choose a thick cut, up to about 1 ½ inches is ideal.

Adding a good amount of fat and salt will ensure that your lamb is tender. Trim away any hard, extraneous pieces of fat, but leave the internal marbling intact and the chop whole.

Lamb chops are best when cooked to medium or even a touch medium-rare. Cook over moderate heat until about 10°F from the desired internal temperature (160°F for medium), and then finish over high heat to get a yummy crispy finish.

You can get a good cook on a lamb on a grill utilizing cold versus hot spots, or you can go from oven to stovetop.

Rack of Lamb

The show-stopper of the lamb world, this dish looks supremely gourmet and pro.

Slow cook the rack of lamb in a roasting pan in the oven heated to 200-250°F. Check internal temperature and remove from oven when desired temperature is reached (160°F for medium).

Sear the rack on a pre-heated stovetop pan over high heat to achieve a decadent crispy crust.

Chicken

The favorite white meat, chicken is a staple on Paleo diets because it tends to be the most affordable. It can also dry out quickly, so to get a pro cook on your chicken, follow these tips.

Roast Chicken

Roasting a whole chicken is the ultimate, but it can also be immensely intimidating. Whole chickens are convenient since you can eat once for dinner, again pulled, and then roast the bones and make your own bone broth or stock. Aside from that, it is simple, cozy and even elegant when you need it to be.

Be sure your chicken is patted very dry.

Rub coconut oil all over and in all the crevices of your bird.

Salt and pepper fiercely.

Optional but tasty: stuff the cavity with herbs, citrus, fennel, apples, onions—you can get really creative here. Be sure to salt the cavity as well.

Fried Chicken

If you’re jonesing for crispy fried chicken, there’s a Paleo way to do that!

Make a dredge with coconut flour, dried or shredded coconut, paprika, dried mustard, and salt.

Dip chicken tenders or sliced breast in dredge then into egg wash (one egg beaten with a squeeze of lemon), then back into dredge.

Semi-fry on the stovetop in a high heat oil, like coconut or avocado. Boom! Healthier fried chicken! It is crispy and delicious, and very kid-friendly as well.

Tender Chicken

Making white breast meat tender can be tricky, but it’s completely possible if you add an extra step. While some may balk at adding more cooking time, the juicy, perfect results will be more than worth the effort.

Thoroughly pound the chicken by placing the breast between plastic wrap, cover with a dishtowel, and then pound the chicken flat with a meat tenderizer or rolling pin.

Pound until about ¼ inch thick, add salt and pepper, and then sear stovetop until cooked all of the way through. The texture is fantastic and versatile. Sauce it, slice it, dice it—it will all be tender.

Bone-In Chicken

If you want the juiciest cuts of chicken, opting for cuts that still have the bones in will result in a result that is moist and delicious.

Chicken thighs and breasts can both be purchased with the bone in.

Boneless cuts are more expensive, so this is a budget-saving tip!

Cooking times may be longer with bones in, but use a meat thermometer to determine when the chicken is done. It needs to reach 165ºF.

Bone-in chicken has a smoother and more rich texture, so it’s well worth the extra effort.

Bone Broth

It’s not that hard to make your own delicious stock. Many store bought versions have MSG and other chemicals or additives, so you’ll not only spend less, but you’ll get more nutritional value.

Request chicken feet from your butcher if you aren’t raising chickens or don’t have another source.

Roast the feet along with the rest of your bones for about 30 minutes or so, add to a large stock pot, and cover with water.

Add chopped onion, carrots, celery, shiitake stems, and if you want to really get creative, kombu and astragalus root as well. Most importantly, a very healthy splash of raw apple cider vinegar.

Simmer for 12-24 hours, adding garlic and herbs during the last two hours of simmering.

Periodically skim the foam that rises to the top of your broth and discard, these are impurities and make your broth quite bitter.

Strain off the broth and use to sip, add to soups, or use as a flavorful cooking liquid instead of using water or store-bought stocks.

Turkey

Whether it’s Thanksgiving or not, learning how to cook turkey properly will always yield richer, juicier results.

Whole Bird

Many people find roasting a whole turkey bit pretty daunting. The fear of it drying out can be intense!

Spatchcock the whole bird, or ask your butcher to do it for you. A spatchcocked bird roasts wonderfully. It will turn out evenly, browned and moist. It’s a crowd pleaser when roasting a whole bird.

You can also braise your whole turkey. Tent a whole bird with foil to create the braising effect. Fill your roaster pan with flavorful liquid first, tent, and braise for four to six hours in the oven, or more if your bird is huge. Watch the meat fall off the bone! This kind of turkey will be moist and super tasty to make all of your turkey salad, chili, wraps, and snack dreams come true.

Turkey Meatballs

Unlike traditional turkey roasts, when you make something like meatballs you have more control over the moisture content.

Add chopped onions and garlic, pureed butternut, acorn or kabocha squash, along with unsweetened tomato ketchup, mustards, coconut aminos, etc. to ground turkey before rolling into shape. This will keep your meatball moist and add tons of flavor.

Experiment with adding superfoods like hemp and chia seeds for an added nutrition boost!

Seafood

Fish and seafood are an important part of a healthy Paleo diet. Fish tastes best when it is prepared simply.

Fish Filets

Perhaps the most common way to eat seafood, fish filets are simple and delicious. Purchasing a whole fish or a large filet that you cut down into smaller portions can save you a significant amount of money.

Invest in a good, sharp fish knife or dedicate a set of tweezers for plucking out pin bones.

Use a big plastic cutting board for handling whole or large cuts of fish. If you don’t want to deal with the skin, ask your seafood counter to remove it for you.

Cut filets into your desired portion sizes.

Heat your preferred cooking fat in a pan and then sear the filet on each side for three minutes, or until the filet flakes apart easily with a fork.

En Papillote

It sounds fancy, but really it is just fish atop some veggies in a parchment paper. It yields a delicious, one-dish meal that will quickly become a favorite.

Start with a square of parchment. On one side lay down some batons of zucchini, carrot, or sliced brussel sprouts.

Salt your sliced veggies and drizzle with a touch of avocado or coconut oil.

Next, place a few ounces of a filet (salmon, halibut, whatever your pleasure may be) atop your veggies.

Add a touch more salt and a slice of lemon along with some herbage.

Fold the other half of parchment over and tightly roll all of the edges together to create a pouch.

Place onto a sheet pan and bake in a preheated oven at 350ºF for about 10-15 minutes. Serve and enjoy!

Fish Cakes

A great way to prepare unfussy fish dishes are to make fish scraps into patties.

Add a rough chop of raw fish to a food processor, along with some onion, garlic, lime, cilantro, and salt.

Pulse until just incorporated, and working about ¼ cup of your fish cake mix at a time, form into a patty.

Place in the fridge between parchment paper and chill overnight to help the patties maintain their shape during cooking.

These are best cooked stove top, in a skillet. Add some coconut oil and get the fat hot first. Add patties and sear on each side for about three minutes.

Change up the flavor profiles. Capers and lemon or curry paste with basil and mint, you can really get creative here, with endless possibilities.

Game Meat and Offal

If you are willing to explore, you might just surprise yourself! While new Paleo eaters can be turned off to game meats or offal (organs), these are highly nutritious options that actually don’t taste as “weird” as most expect.

Duck

Duck breasts are a great way to break into the pheasant and waterfowl market. They have a poultry-like taste and produce a delicious fat that can be used for roasting vegetables or other dishes!

Choose a breast that has a nice healthy fat cap on the top.

After rinsing, pat your duck breast very dry and score the top with a sharp knife. Salt the fat layer well.

Let your pan heat up before cooking. Over medium-low heat, cook your breast fat side down, slowly rendering the skin.

Pour off the fat (save for later use) as you go.

Once the skin is rendered, completely golden and crispy, flip the duck breast and finish cooking from the other side.

Serve with sweet potato fries or any other favorite Paleo side dish!

Rabbit

If you come across some rabbit meat, ask your butcher to grind for you. Rabbit makes lovely ragout and a fantastic meatball!

Brown your ground rabbit and add onion, red bell pepper, garlic, tomatoes, and some unsweetened tomato paste.

Once you have sautéed for about 15 minutes or so, take some of the tomatoes and blend with a little bone broth or water. Add back to pan.

Simmer for 45 minutes or so. Season well and use as a sauce over zucchini noodles!

Chicken Liver

Perhaps the most daunting of offals, liver gets a bad reputation for being only food that your grandmother would eat. Chicken livers have the most delicate flavor of all livers, and taste similar to ground beef, with a smoother texture.

Saute chicken livers with onions, cherries, apples, quince, currant, and aromatic spices.

Blend in a food processor with butter or ghee, and you have yourself a homemade pate!

Elk, Bison, and Deer

Start by adding game meat to dishes like stews and chili. One pot meals tend to have a lot of room for other flavors, lots of veggies, and are usually fairly forgiving when it comes to experimenting with recipes!

If the flavor of game is too much for you, try trimming away any excess fat or brining.

You can also pair with ground beef, turkey, or chicken in a chili dish to temper the game flavor and provide the comfort of an expected meat.

Start with a basic chili or stew, like this bison chili.

Bottom Line

Even if you’re not a professional chef, you can learn to prep and cook meat in delicious ways that will tantalize your palate and take your Paleo diet to the next level.

P.S. If you want access to the best recipes, organized each week in meal plans with complete shopping lists and prep notes, check out a free trial to our Paleo meal plan.

The post Paleo Cooking 101: How to Cook Meat Like a Pro appeared first on Paleo Plan.

Source: http://ift.tt/10qRbxJ

#paleo #recipe #food #delicious #healthy #yum #diet

20 notes · View notes

writingsofmyimagination · 8 years ago

Text

Scorpio |12|

Summary: How will The Joker deal with a woman with a mind as deadly and criminal as his own?

Jared Leto Joker x Reader

Warnings:

Words:

I wrote this about this series about a year and a half ago. I have slightly updated and edited as I intend to do with all the other parts

ENJOY :) Comment, Reblog :)

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 Dylan’s POV | COMPLETE

It was now early evening the night before ‘the job’

The day has been ridiculously hectic; constant flurries of men in and out gearing up. You couldn’t think of ten minutes going by where J hadn’t scolded someone or flew into a blind rage about something meticulous.

At least he hasn’t killed anyone

There is still time. There was a constant buzzing around the place of excitement; criminals will be criminals. Adrenaline breeding more adrenaline. Dylan had stayed the night in one of the guest rooms with Ted, It was actually pretty great having both your favourite guys around; with that said Ted had taken a strong liking to Frost. On the complete other side of the spectrum you could tell J wasn’t too happy with Ted’s presence and he made no attempt at hiding the fact either. You were also not his favourite person as he is not allowed in the bedroom, he always slept at your feet. Dylan was quite tense after J had informed him of the threat and the risks; as a result he didn’t want you out of his sight. You hated it. You were smothered, by both of them.

Apparently you were going to his club for the evening; with a threat above your head you wasn’t quite so keen to be out longer than necessary. J assured you he’d made arrangements for extra security and is satisfied with what’s in place. He was irritatingly adamant that he must go and show face.

So here you were, stood looking in the mirror in J’s bathroom; hair down,messy fringe. You was not feeling this at all and wanted to dress down and wear more casual clothes but when you’re with The Joker that is not an option. He wants to show you off to everyone, at what he’s got but at the same time he wants no eyes on you, only his. In the end you go for a bright blood red lipstick and a gentle flick of black eyeliner which draws out the opal of your eyes. Once again you had the task of covering bruises with copious amounts of concealer, you fast becoming a pro at it. J had chosen a silk lilac dress which fell soft on you skin, more of a sexy night material than a going out in public one. The bottom of the dress was diagonally cut and the longest side finished just below the knee. Finally onto the shoes. They were stunning!; they should be seeing as they were Dior. They were elegant black toe pumps with heels. The heel itself is adorned with faceted studs creating a subtle shimmer; its fine trio of feminine straps accentuate the instep. At the front in the middle of each strap was a delicate metal star finished with rhinestones. While doing up the small zip fastening you caught J gawking in the reflection of the mirror.

“Anything you like? you asked purposely slowly brushing up your soft legs with delicate fingertips and smirking.

“All too much princess, you look beautiful” He smiled a genuine smile, if you’ve ever seen one from him.

“Although there is something I would like to add” He pulled out a box and opened it and picked up its contents and dangled it in front of him behind which he had that mischievous grin on his face.

“Curious?”

“Always” you walked over to him and grabbed it. It was silicone, purple and was the shape of a slightly elongated egg with at one end a malleable length of tail. You got the gist of what it was, not that you’ve ever used one.

Looks like tonight might not be so bad after all

“Want me to show you?”

“I think I’ll manage myself” Smirking and heading to the bathroom. With the door closed you slipped down the lacy hot pants. After making the egg wet you slowly pushed it inside. Straight away it pushed on your walls making you inhale sharply. You took a moment, adjusting. You flexed the tail so the tip rested lightly on you clit. You fully redressed, keeping your underwear on for once. Every move you made consequently you felt down inside. J was at the edge of the bed smirking as you tried to keep face

“After you” he motioned to the door, as you passed him you stopped dead. Arching yourself slightly forward, letting out a large breath as strong pulses vibrated through you clit and inside you. You straightened back up when the waves passed. His red shirt exposing half his chest which was tucked neatly into his trousers; his heavy gold rings on his fingers which were curled round a little purple rectangular device.

“Daddy is going to have fun with this” he smirked almost cruelly and continued

“Let’s get going doll” The nervous laugh that escaped you, in turmoil whether tonight was going to be fun or own right torture.

When you arrived at the club the extra security presence was immediately apparent. There were more doormen and they were checking bags, there were metal detectors and ID card scans. Consequently the queue was larger than normal and consisted of cold and fidgety people. You on the other hand were ushered quickly through the back door; as soon as we were inside the security backed off and you had your own space back and could breathe.

The familiar buzz of the club eased the anxiousness away somewhat. The club was busier than usual; all the booths were occupied, the dance floor was packed out, bar men were frantically trying to keep on top of the queue. People turned to look at The Joker and You but they will not look for long before continuing with their group and gawking at the dancer podiums.

As you sat down in his private booth the egg shifted upwards slightly, causing you to clench your fists in an effort to diffuse the sensations, to control your breathing and pleasure from being too obvious. J was in your peripheral vision smirking as you discreetly shuffled in you seat and ordered an apple martini. When the drinks arrived you wasn’t consciously aware of how quickly you drank it down. Obviously he did as you caught him smirking again; it was getting slightly irritating how much he was enjoying this while you was trying not to show you arousal which was growing ever stronger with every movement you made.

“Dance for me baby-doll” He commanded with a devilish smile.

“What? Here? With this thing?” You have never been one for public displays nor do you enjoy bringing attention to yourself. He did not reply, he just glared at you; he wasn’t going to take no for an answer and with those eyes part of you didn’t want to refuse.

Like a switch in my body, You consciously switched off all inhibitions and went into confidence overdrive. It certainly was helped along by how turned on you were. You focused only on him, drowning out the background noise and spectators.

“Does daddy want a show” you whispered in his ear while leaning over ensuring he had a nice clear view down your dress. You pulled under his chin bringing his lips to yours and teased them softly making him press harder. You pulled away with his lips chasing. You leaned in and gently bit his bottom lip.

“He does indeed” he purred.

You started to tease him getting up slowly and ran your hands like a delicate feather over his crotch. You stood in front of him and let the music take over, your body swaying in sync in a seductive trance. Blocking out further thoughts of you being in a public place you slid both your hands down your sides to the bottom of your dress and teased it up slightly before turning away from him and teasing it up further just to show him the lower mounds of your ass. You knocked your head back when you cupped and grabbed it. Knowing he’d be riddled with jealously. The shockwaves of the damn toy shattered through you in three strong slow pulses. It made you almost lose balance as it pulsed against your walls. Your exasperated breaths were not heard, drowning to nothing against the background noise of the club.

How good it would be to be across his knee...

You could half see him shifting in his seat; his eyes fiercely fixated on you, not even blinking.

Composure Y/N

Your hands made there way up your legs so tentative and slow, swaying around to fully face him. You stalked closer to him, abrupt in your turn to sit in his lap. When your hips began to gyrate he absorbed a heavy breath which you only saw as encouragement. You swept your hair over your shoulder, freeing a pleasant aroma of coconut. You went to slowly unzip your dress when he suddenly grabbed you wrist tight stopping you.

“No one else gets to see anymore of you, that’s mine” he snarled.

“Come with me now” He jolted up; your wrist still in his grasp. As soon as the beaded curtain of his booth was disturbed Frost turned to J.

“We’ll be in the interrogation room” his words were rushed and impatient. He lightly pulled you in his desired direction, as you passed Frost with J’s hand in your he smiled.

This is awkward

Your smirk in reply spoke only of embarrassment and awkwardness.

A section of the wall on the ground floor was a mirror; much like that you would find in a ballet studio. As you was allowing yourself to be dragged round the back of the club you could just make out a door to the left of the end of the mirror section. You could sense people looking curiously over at you; no sooner you could worry about that before you was thrust through this concealed door which was swiftly locked behind you with a loud CLICK

In the dim light you could barely make out a semi circle; a black seated booth with a small table in the middle at the far end of the room, to the right of you were two single leather chairs. You shuffled out of his way and leant up against the one way mirror while he moved one of the chairs to the centre of the room. He spoke no words, the music from the room next door was now a low throb in the room.

He came closer and purred; the one sound that made you disregard any rationality and sense. You snapped, control gone. You grabbed his shirt where it was open and pulled him into you. He followed his weight slamming into you pushing you hard against the wall. Breathes heavy with moans escaped your lips as he lifted your arms above your head. Arms pinned tight he kissed hard and thrust his hips into you. Your chest was heaving chasing the breaths you lost in desperate gasps. Your underwear was soaked.

“My, my kitten you do want daddy bad don’t you? We’ll definitely be using this again” His hand wandered into your underwear and tugged the toy out of you; you wailed into his kisses and bit down on his bottom lip, emptiness seeping in rapidly. Leaving you empty and chasing his departing lips with a pout he went and sat down on the chair he’d moved earlier.

“Now where were we?” he said catching his breath; raising his eyebrows and the corner of his mouth.

You threw him an sulky glare which quickly diffused into a coy smile. You felt much more at ease with less eyes gawking at you. You shuffled to resume your last position, his hand lightly wrapping around the back of your neck before unzipping the dress and delicately brushing the straps of your shoulders. He tapped at the side of your thigh UP!

You got to your feet allowing the dress to slide off and drop to pool on the floor. He purred as your body was now a free display for his eyes only. Your want...need for him rushed through you like a nicotine craving as your ass sat back on his lap. You felt his bulge, eager for more space and you ground into his groin coaxing the tightness to continue. he cupped both his hands on your breasts and squeezed. A growl escaped him; it wasn’t a happy one. He slid his hands down your sides and dug his fingers into your hips hard, pressing down to hinder your movement

“I’m going to have to fuck you instead”

“Instead of what exactly? Just teasing me?” you turned your neck slightly to see his face delivering your word dripping with sass.

“Well daddy did have other plans yes, but I can’t seem to control myself because of your teasing, I said I wanted a show and now I want to fuck you” Stern annoyed words.

“I see” You replied trying not to let the sudden raging urge to slap him reach action point. You stood, turned and leaned forward and without saying a word ran your hands down pale soft chest of his scratching as your fingertips glided over his skin. His head rolled to the side and purred. You leaned into his neck and kissed softly before biting hard; he gasped before your eyes met. His eyes were like the devil, blazing with rage

“Just fuck me...” you whispered.

“Daddy” you added after a brief pause. That was it. He grabbed one of your hands pulling you up and twisted you round. It was aggressive enough to leave your wrist feeling bruised. Your heart was racing, frantic; you could feel it hammering into your chest. He shifted and stood behind you a moment, the skin of his exposed chest felt cool and smooth on your bare back. He dropped down yanking your underwear the same way. He stood and swung you around again by your already compromised wrist. A delicate hand stroked your cheek before placing his hand over your mouth to align his smile tattoo. You grinned, rolled your eyes before pushing him back onto the chair. You got to your knees in between his legs and undone his belt and trousers in a rush reeking of desperation. He was enjoying how bad you wanted him and was just about to let you put him in your mouth

“Ah ah” he waved his index finger side to side

“I want to feel you on the inside” he motioned with his hands to turn and swivel.

So much turning you internally complained.

You obeyed, which had you was facing the unbeknownst dance floor and gently lowered Yourself down. He grabbed your hair, yanking you down onto his cock. He grunted, you cried.

“You feel so good ” He whispered in you ear, trying to suppress a growl.

“Mmmhmmm” you breathed as you started gyrating your hips making sure he hit every point your walls craved; his fingers were dug into your side controlling your speed while the other was constantly caressing the front of your body, constantly teetering to your neck knowing it's a weak spot. He softly moved one of your hands and guided it down to your throbbing bundle of nerves;

What?

You were hesitant to think twice as he started guiding your hand in small circles. He let go of your hand as you continued with his permission. He sporadically tugged at your hair gently which caused you both to moan. You could hear his breathing in your ear; the hot breath rolling off the shell of the your ear in firm waves.

“Don’t stop princess” he stuttered. With those deadly words your strength dissipated and you collapsed harder onto his length; his head thrown back, mouth agape with the shine of his silver teeth. The heat was extinguished as his cell phone started ringing in his pocket. You had no intentions of stopping until he grabbed your hand and stopped all movements. The dramatic whine you panted was no exaggeration to your true feelings. He leaned to the side and rummaged in his pocket

“Sorry doll” he panted exasperated, treating your neck to a soft kiss.

“This better be important!” He snarled. You heard broken muffles of what Frost was saying; you could only ascertain that something to do with chemicals had gone wrong.

Well whoever fucked up will be lucky to survive the night

The Joker, someone not known for his calmness certainly seemed just that. You hoped he wasn’t mad at Frost and that the interruption was needed. He gently nudged you to get up. With the heat diffusing from the atmosphere it quickly became drafty and cool very quickly. You redressed, there was something so disappointing about the zip on your dress being up.

“Sorry kitten, we’ll have to finish this later”

With a soft gentle kiss on the forehead he was gone.

#the joker #joker #the joker fanfiction #jared leto joker #jared leto joker fanfiction #jared leto joker imagin #imagine #joker imagine #joker smut #smut #DC comics #Suicide Squad

93 notes · View notes

kingsofeverything · 8 years ago

Text

I was tagged by Anitra @allwaswell16 who is super awesome and you should read her stuff if you haven’t already!

Rules: List the first lines of your last 20 stories. See if there are any patterns. Then tag 10 of your favorite authors!

I don’t have 20 stories? 15-16 maybe. Oh, and I can’t include my Summer Exchange because it’s anonymous. This should be interesting! Like...I wonder if my beginnings get better/more interesting.

Funny How Things... (how about this is the only one with a title that i absolutely hate, so i abbreviated because of that and because it’s long)

Harry woke up fairly early on the weekends. Saturdays were the only days that he had to do chores and run errands before he had to be at work at 3pm.

Running Over Thoughts

Friday mornings suck. Harry gets up ten minutes before he has to be at work. He doesn't shower. There's no need when he'll be in and out of the ocean all day. He does brush his teeth because he doesn't want to inflict that much nastiness on anyone, even if they are just tourists here for the week. Anything to tilt the scale in favor of a big tip. He takes a piss, then walks out to the kitchen buck naked to pour himself a cup of coffee and grab a banana.

Messtival

The school put on a Halloween Festival every year on the Saturday before Halloween and Harry was so excited for the festival to begin. On the football field, they had dunking booths, all sorts of carnival games, and bounce houses.

Yours In Fractions

Harry made it to Niall’s tiny studio apartment just as snow flurries began to fall. He’d always wanted a white Christmas and it looked like a real possibility this year; too bad he’d be alone for it.

Going To Set Himself On Fire

It'd been a long night of mixing drinks and carrying trays of tiny appetizers around the banquet hall for someone else’s party, and all Louis wants to do is go home, shower the sweat and layers of restaurant gunk off, and curl up on the couch with Harry—his boyfriend who's at his own office Christmas party.

Fall At My Door

The rich smell of freshly brewed coffee wafts through the air and seeps under the plush comforter. Louis grunts and hides his head under a pillow to prevent the sun from reaching his eyes. He inhales deeply, which is a mistake because, along with the coffee, he smells himself and he desperately needs a shower.

Collide (considering that the whole thing is only 100 words, here’s just the first sentence)

He nervously checks his reflection in the bathroom mirror.

Mercedes Boy

“I hate that you can’t come with me, baby.” Louis holds his phone between his shoulder and his ear as he checks his pockets for his wallet and keys, then climbs out of the back of the car that drove him to the Brooklands racing circuit. “Your plane lands tomorrow evening?”

The Oldest Magic Word

Louis was sat on the carpet in front of his Floo, unpacking the box of teas that his mum had given him, while he chatted with her and each of his siblings in rotation.

With A Word

“Are you ready?” Louis quietly asked as he reached for Harry’s hand and then threaded their fingers together.

Possessing All Of Me

“Hey, babe,” Harry called out from behind the open refrigerator door where he was digging through the produce drawer. “I was planning to make pasta salad for lunch. That okay with you?”

It Had To Be You

“Yes, mom, I’m fine. I’m driving up with a friend of Tyler’s… his boyfriend actually.” Harry folded his cardigan, slipped it into his backpack, and sat back down on the bare mattress of his dorm bed.

One Of Many

“Hey.” Arms heavy and full of bags from what felt like every store in town, Harry schlepped through the door sideways and kicked it shut behind him.

Stranded In A Dream

“Here’s your key and your parking permit. Display it in your window or they’ll tow you. Weekly rent due every…” The elderly lady behind the dirty glass window pauses to take a drag off her cigarette and squints at the calendar hanging on the wall.

How Fast You Fall

Louis hopped out of the car before Liam could pull the parking brake. “You are the worst driver, Li. That was terrifying. I need a drink.”

Soft Wings

“Alright, here we are. B is for butterfly. B is for butterfly.” Harry’s voice is amplified by the loudspeaker and the staticky sound echoes in the almost empty parking lot.

Ok, so about half of these start out with dialogue. That’s a pattern. I like that, actually. It kind of feels like you’re dropped down in the middle of something that’s already happening.

It doesn’t say to do this, but I’m going to do it anyway. My favorite beginnings are: Stranded In A Dream, Fall At My Door, and Running Over Thoughts

idk who hasn’t been tagged yet. @louandhazaf @xabjectlessonsx @waytoomanypeopleintheaddisonlee @letsjustsee @karamelised

#that's not 10 people #but idc because im tired #writing meme #first lines meme

4 notes · View notes

healthylifepage · 6 years ago

Text

10 WAYS TO BE A DUFUS AT THE GYM!

FitnessOnToast.com has always been a warm, friendly, inclusive place to share helpful, optimistic, focussed material. Well, NOT TODAY motherfos. This Gym Etiquette 101 post is motivated exclusively by burning rage and shall act as a form of cathartic therapy for me! I go to the gym on a regular basis, between 3 and 5 days per week. I consider the gym to be a shared space in which many people pay a fee to be allowed its use. However, my observation over 15+ years of gymming is that many people believe ‘once I’m a member, it’s my space’. They’re often disrespectful to the equipment, staff and other members, are messy and all too often, just really, really loud – just to name a few pet peeves. For me, I think of it as a privilege to use the gym. Yes, one pays a fee – sometimes a substantial one at that – but it’s not your property, or your private space. The better I look after the equipment, and the more respectful I am to other members, the more enjoyable and easier their time will be using the gym. In return, I’d expect the same consideration from others. So, without further ado here’s my TOP 10 of things that drive me up the wall every single time I go to the gym! Maybe you can relate to a few of them – alternatively, feel free to add your own irritations in the comments section below. I’d love to know if I’m the only one who feels this way.

1) PLEASE HAVE SOME SPATIAL AWARENESS

Yesterday, I was doing some deadlifts and an oblivious meat-head almost walked into me – thankfully my gym buddy stopped him just in time. This is incredibly dangerous; were this chap to have collided with me, I could’ve been seriously injured, as deadlifts can already render the body quite prone to injury – add in a push from an unexpected plane, and it could be game over for your back.

Faya’s considerate tip #1: Whilst it sounds obvious, try to be aware of the space around you. At times, the gym equipment layout is planned badly. For instance, I would personally never place the squat machine near a heavy tracking area where people are frequently running / walking behind you. The likelihood of someone accidentally walking into you is greater. However, space is limited, and compromises are made. People often walk around looking at their phones whilst playing music and aren’t aware of what’s going on.

2) PLEASE BE QUIET

Sounding like a cow in labour whilst squatting is NOT macho, sexy or endearing, and nobody ever found this a turn on. It’s ultimately unnecessary – at times humorous, given how absurdly preposterous it can sound – but mainly it’s just annoying beyond about the 3rd rep. I know that focussed exhalation and deep breathing can be important to maximise oxygen flow and power, and that’s obviously fine, but the level and variety of noises I hear in the gym is a truly ludicrous symphony of dying animal groans.

Faya’s considerate tip #2: Don’t imitate The Hulk when at the gym. Probably no one wants to hear your stupid noises.

3) BRO-HAVIOUR

Shouting out something moronic to your mates across the gym floor? Studies show you’re 100% definitely an idiot. I have to laugh, because this stuff happens all the time, and the laughter therapeutically dissolves my maniacal rage. Typically, it’s a group of guys.

‘No Bruv, I’m carb cycling. I’m on 50 grams innit’. ‘Listen, yeh, you gotta get them CLA’. ‘Yeh Bruv, I smashed out 300kgs – BIG leg day POW.’

Hmmmmm.

Faya’s considerate tip #3:If you’re about to misbrohave, stop yourself, and observe how literally nobody at the gym gives two hoots about how many grams you’re on – probably not even this ‘Bruv’ chap – who coincidentally, seems to be in all British gyms everywhere at the same time. Absolutely everyone just wants you to be quiet.

4) WHAT ARE YOU WEARING?!

Now this could be a post on its own… and of course people can wear whatever they want but here are a few points to consider if you haven’t already…

a) Crotch Sweat…

We all sweat, some more than others. In many ways, it’s to be encouraged in the gym. Just remember that certain colours and fabrics show sweat patches more than others.

Faya’s sweaty crotch tip #1 – I recommend avoiding greys and cottons if you tend to sweat a lot. No one wants to see a sweaty crotch whilst you do a stiff leg deadlift, and the likelihood is you don’t want to show it either.

b) See-through Pants

Faya’s visible crotch tip #1 This one mainly goes out to all women. Before purchasing any leggings, check in the mirror… if your pants are even mildly see-through, don’t buy them; it’s a waste of money because under the bright lights of the gym, with a little stretching, you might as well just walk around in your knickers instead and save yourself the £££. Perhaps I’m a prude, but unless I’m running along Miami Beach hoping to catch a tan, or in a Bikram class, whilst in rainy cold London, I don’t train in transparent hot pants and see through sports bra.

c) Men and tight pants…

I swear I could see absolutely every little millimeter of one gentleman’s modesty at the gym last week. The anatomical study of the human body fascinates me – I went to see Body Worlds the other day and it was mind blowing. However, at the gym I only want to see Swiss and medicine balls. Please guys, retain a little sense mystery!

Faya’s visible crotch tip #2 – If I were a gentleman, I would consider avoiding tight lycra leggings and opt for altogether looser shorts or joggers instead. Channel your inner ‘80s dude’ and go baggy.

5) ‘MY TRAINER FORGOT I WAS HERE’

Trainers on their phones whilst training a client – well, this isn’t gym etiquette per se, but I want to throw it in here anyway as it actually upsets me. To channel Mr T, I pity the fool. A client is willing to pay you good money, and you’re on your phone looking at photos of yourself from your last body building competition? This is what gives PTs a bad reputation. You should be looking at your client’s form, correcting their technique, inspiring them, and delivering them the specialism they’ll require to get stronger, fitter, healthier!

Faya’s considerate tip #4: Trainers gonna’ train.

6) CRASH-BANG-WALLOP

Breaking the equipment, and in particular, dropping the cable machine; MEGA ANNOYING. In fact, this is probably what annoys me the most. We all share a space, we all pay membership, yet there is a small group of people who ruin it for everyone else. The cable machine always breaks because some meat-head muppet insists on dropping the weight after every set, therein tearing the cable. This not only confirms the unfathomable nothingness between said people’s ears, but it means next time anyone goes to use the machine it’ll be broken for them too.

Aside from the obvious breakage point (bad!), we often forget about the subsequent lowering of the weight after it has first been lifted.

Faya’s form tip #1: By exclusively pursuing this noisy and dangerous approach of throwing down the weights, the ogre is missing out on a vital part of the exercise – the eccentric phase. Rather than just letting gravity do all the work for you (i.e. where you just drop the weight as if ‘meh’), actually controlling the weight’s passage on the way down delivers significant benefit from a workout perspective. So, have a look at the brief explanation as to what the different phases are below, and then have a think about your own workout technique, and how you might apply it to the likes of press-ups, pull ups etc to squeeze that extra 25% out of your sessions! For more on this read here:

http://fitnessontoast.com/2018/06/18/technique-freak/.

n.b. Faya’s considerate tip #5: Avoid being an inane ogre, by being gentle with the kit!

7) MIRROR, MIRROR, ON THE WALL…

…who’s the vainest of them all? Turns out, loads of people are equally vain at the gym! I understand that for many people, gymming is in itself a narcissitically aesthetic pursuit (I disagree), but endless flexing…checking your reflection after every set in the mirror is unnecessary. It’s been 2 minutes my friend, nothing’s changed – trust me you still look exactly the same. Are you doing it for yourself, or perhaps for everyone else? They probably don’t think it’s cool either.

Faya’s form tip #2: On a serious note, a lot of people don’t know but mirrors are a very useful tool in the gym, perhaps the most important tool. They are there to ensure your form and technique is correct when training. Observing alignment, monitoring pace, overseeing planes… these are all helpful activities involving a mirror. Auto-arousal is not.

8) SHARING IS GLARING

Occupying one or several pieces of equipment for long periods of time is just inconsiderate.

Common scenario 1: It’s leg day and today I’m going to get my personal best on deadlifts. I’ve worked hard on this for weeks and I can’t wait! Only problem is the dude in the gym is doing not 3 sets, but 8 sets…. this is truly ridiculous as it’ll mean I won’t get a chance to do my deadlifts. Of course, in this instance you’d share. It’s something we learn at kindergarten – to share the toys. I could easily do a set IN BETWEEN his sets. That is gym selfishness and totally unacceptable! “ASK!” you say? I shouldn’t have to.

Scenario two: Two friends are training together and rather than share the squat rack they’ve taken two! And refuse to allow anyone to jump in to do a set in between their sets!!

Scenario three: This guy has some sort of Round-Robin circuit going on and has taken three machines which he uses back-to-back and in no way can anyone use them in-between his sets!

Faya’s considerate tip #6: I don’t know, be nice, or something. Just don’t man-spread the gym equipment – everyone needs to use it.

9) TIDY UP AFTER YOURSELF!

Perhaps you’re used to your mum making your bed, but in the gym, once you finish using something put it back where you found it. Thanks guys, walking up to the squat rack the first thing I have to do is remove all your weights! This is super mega inconsiderate.

Faya’s considerate tip #7: Also a little wipe down every now and again doesn’t go amiss. Most gyms have towelettes for precisely this purpose, and even a little sanitising spray. Disinfectant is a nicer thing to see on a bench than a dribbling shiny bacteria-laden slick of perspiration. :: shudder ::

And finally 10) BE PATIENT!

Aware that I currently sound like the worlds least patient gym-goer, but a little bit of patience goes along way. If someone is doing a set, perhaps wait before jumping in to grab a weight right beside him/her. I know myself if I’m on a set, I’m really focused, maybe its PB day and someone skirts in beside me and grabs weight…. It blocks my view of my form in the mirror, interrupts my headspace, breaks my concentration, makes me think about whether they’ll bump into me by mistake… this is all super distracting, so just take a moment and jump in when it’s safe to do so!

Well, that’s all for now. Only another 250 pet peeves left on the list, but that’s enough to start things going…

Thanks for reading my vented-scribbles of fitness frustration, and if you have any more to add to this list, PLEASE PLEASE write them in the comment section below! I would absolutely LOVE to know what ticks you off at the gym, because I’m probably the same too

Faya x

________________

Wearing: Lululemon Pants & Hoodie, Adidas Ultraboost Uncaged shoes..

The post 10 WAYS TO BE A DUFUS AT THE GYM! appeared first on Fitness on Toast.

10 WAYS TO BE A DUFUS AT THE GYM! posted first on yummylooksbest.blogspot.com

0 notes

outfittrends · 6 years ago

Text

30 Best Outfits to Wear This December For Women 2018 Outfit Trends - Ideas How to Wear & What to Wear

New Post has been published on https://www.outfittrends.com/outfits-to-wear-december-women/

30 Best Outfits to Wear This December For Women 2018

Outfits to wear in December: The nights are getting longer, the weather colder, and fashion better. December is the best time of the year for a comfortable yet chic fashion statement. It is finally the sweater weather. The weather when our Instagram feeds gets better with a picture of hot coffee, a good book and a pair of fluffy gloves holding them.

With December comes the excitement of changing your wardrobe, replacing summer dresses with quilted coats, tank tops with comfortable sweatshirts and flip-flops with a nice pair of thigh high boots. The shelves of your favorite stores are filled with new stock waiting for you to come and grab it. The new collections and clothes are something we all get excited over. Life is good in December. We have picked a few outfits for you take inspiration from this December. You can mix and match or recreate the outfit it is totally up to you, though we always recommend adding a personal touch to everything you do so it feels like an original. The best thing about the sweater weather is that you can even make your pajamas look like a presentable outfit if you have a nice long coat to wear on top. You do not need to worry about ironing cotton shirts that take forever because winter clothes mostly do not need to be pressed. So, you can save those minutes sleeping in for a few more minutes in your cozy quilt (trust me, the feeling is heavenly).

What to Wear This December

Tips and tricks on looking your best this December:

The first tip of fashion is to wear something you are comfortable in. Never ever go out looking uneasy because it shows on your face and everyone will think that you are trying too hard.

Match your accessories (for example, your bag with your scarf or your gloves with the pom pom on your beanie).

Invest in a good coat in a neutral shade that will look good with every article in your closet

This is the season for velvet. A slim velvet dress will cover for any party coming in December

Winters mean you can wear heavy make up. Bloody dark lips and contour on point is the look to go for.

And make your highlight pop like a sun ray hitting the ice

↓ 30 – Hoodies

Everyone waits all year for this season so that we can get lost in the oversized hoodies. Are you wearing a t-shirt that you had on for three days now? Just a bra? Your sixth-grade football kit’s shirt? No one will know because the hoodie hides it warmly and beautifully. If you’re more of a jacket person than a hoodie one, you can find great inspiration from these 21 Best Leather Bomber Jacket Outfits for Women.

Via

↓ 29 – Ripped Jeans

Just because it has gotten a little cold does not mean we can not show skin. Flaunt that body with a pair of ripped jeans for a ’90s inspired look. You can layer up good with a nice denim jacket.

Via

↓ 28 – Comfortwear

Who says sweatpants are only for your couch or gym? Their comfort is not parallel to anything else in the world and that’s why we will wear it where ever we want to. Grey sweatpants have this magic in them that makes anyone look hundred times hotter immediately. You can match it with a tucked in a sweatshirt or a crop top for a careless look. Slide on your fur slides for a more sexy yet comfortable look.

Via

↓ 27 – Faux Fur

Fur has the power to make a simple outfit to something fancy. You will go from a plain Jane to looking like Rihanna. If you are not into the animal look you can still wear a little fur on your collar or a muffler around your arms. Here are 20 Ways to Wear a Faux Fur Coat.

Via

↓ 26 – Velvet Tracksuit

The tracksuit phase has made a comeback but this time with a twist. Rather than wearing boring old ones wear fancy velvet tracksuits and let out your inner bougie. Add a small backpack to your outfit, preferably black, preferably leather.

Via

↓ 25 – Trench Coat

If you live somewhere with a lot of rainy seasons then a trench coat is a must-have. And make sure it’s stylish and elegant. A camel colored coat goes well with almost everything in your closet and it brings elegance as well.

Via

↓ 24 – Overalls

Denim overalls give a cute aesthetic look. You can wear a plain sweatshirt underneath to keep warm. They are perfect for casual events as well as outdoor activities. You can add a zipped hoodie or sweater at night when it gets colder.

Via

↓ 23 – Teddy Coats

Teddy coats are huge this winter because look how cute!! Teddy coats can be worn over anything from your winter wardrobe. Brown and camel color are the most popular shades but you can wear any color that matches your personal taste.

Via

↓ 22 – Long Dresses

It is such a relief that with summers over, we do not need to shave our legs anymore, am I right, ladies? winter dresses look really graceful and elegant if worn right. You can add layers of contrasting cardigans or coats on top.

Via

↓ 21 – Long Boots

Winter boots are our favorite thing about December. They are extremely stylish and fashionable without making much effort. All while keeping you safe from the biting cold. Match your boots with your favorite pair of coat or wear them over jeans and a casual sweatshirt.

Via

↓ 20 – Colored Sweaters

Just because everything is dark and dull does not mean your outfits have to be as well. The stores are full of fun sweaters that will add color to your lazy winter days. Stripes are especially popular with their 90s look. You can even DIY one yourself by learning how to knit from YouTube. But then again, who has the time? Here are 20 Best Outfits with Mustard Sweaters for Women in 2018.

Via

↓ 19 – All White

It’s the perfect weather to look like a snow angel. All white gives a touch of innocence and purity while looking really sophisticated at the same time. You can wear your white jeans with a white hoodie for casual dressing. Or with a buttoned-down shirt for meetings and formal events. Match it with a pair of heels, preferably heeled shoes because blue feet do not sound so exciting.

Via

↓ 18 – Neutral Tones

Ever since the Kardashians have taken over our Instagrams all we see is neutral shades and nude (tones, talking about tones of course). A beige shirt paired with a peachy coat looks perfect with light blue mom jeans. You can wear ankle boots with it to make your look more classy.

Via

↓ 17 – Reds

Red pops in winters, when everything is ice white. Red colored clothes will make you feel lively on dead winter days. There are limitless choices of red outfits you can put together. Like a cute sweatshirt or a red dress with a black belt and black shoes. Do not go all red, because that might just make you look like a danger sign. If you like wearing red, you wouldn’t want to miss out on these 20 Ideas On How To Wear Red Pants.

Via

↓ 16 – High Necks

Oh, nothing feels better than a high neck blocking off the chilly breeze. High necks look highly sophisticated if worn right. You can wear them with matching thigh-high boots and add a little bag to finish the look.

Via

↓ 15 – Jumpsuits

a good warm jumpsuit works for semi-formal events where jeans would look too casual and suits make you look overdressed. You can even wear your favorite summer jumpsuit in December with the right layers. A smart cardigan or a handsome jacket on top would complete your outfit.

Via

↓ 14 – Printed Suits

Ditch the traditional black and blue suits this year and replace them with something more Christmas like and bold. red check suits are the perfect example. They do not seem over the top, nor too dull. Wear a plain black or white or any nude colored shirt underneath. Remember, do not wear a patterned blouse under your suit because it will clash with your coat and pants, achieving opposite of what you were trying to.

Via

↓ 13 – Checked Coats

The iconic Burberry print looks good as anything, be it huge coats, a tiny bow in your hair, the lining of your bag etc. And the best thing is that it never goes out of style. No matter it’s the hot summer days or dark winter nights.

Via

↓ 12 – Skirts

When the weather is a little warmer during the day you can pull out your favorite skirt and wear it with some stockings. Plus, with all the central heating you can keep your legs bare. Add a simple sweater on top for a minimalist look. Skirts look smarter rase up to your waist with your top tucked in. Or else you are just going to look all flowy and sloppy.

Via

↓ 11 – Printed Pants

Printed pants can make the simplest outfits look better. They are easy to pull off and comfortable at the same time. A plain sweatshirt or jacket on top makes your outfit look perfect. Camouflage, stripes, check are the typical prints you can wear. If you feel a little girly you can wear floral pants, too. Or any other cute print you find in the stores.

Via

↓ 10 – Plaid Blouse

Tying your shirt in a know and pairing it with high waisted jeans is the look that is trending this year. You can see it on the streets, ramp walks, on celebrities’ paparazzi shots, everywhere. A buttoned blouse can easily be tied into a knot at the bottom. You can check YouTube for different ways to style your knot and make your simple boring shirts look chic. Here are 18 cute Outfits with Plaid Coats.

Via

↓ 9 – Sleeveless Jackets

Sleeveless jackets are for days when wearing too many warm clothes will just make you stuffy. You can freely walk around in sleeveless uppers. A navy blue jacket or a black one can go with a lot of your outfits. Or you can also get a sleeveless puffer jacket that goes well with jeans.

Via

↓ 8 – Bold Colors

Vibrant colored sweaters that are also baggy are what we are living for this winter. They lift up your mood immediately and kill the winter blues. Flashy colors like fuschia match really well with denim blue. Add a pair of uggs or leather boots at the bottom and go enjoy December.

Via

↓ 7 – Denim Jacket

Denim jackets are a staple. Every woman must own at least one. It can be ripped, plain, with graphics or whatever according to your style but you must own one. Denim jeans look good with all black clothes or you can match your pants to your jacket. It’s low maintenance so that is a plus point, too.

Via

↓ 6 – Velvet Dress

Velvet shouts ‘sophistication’. A goo velvet dress will cover you for any fancy winter event. Dark green, blue, black, white, maroon and rose gold are the colors that look the sexiest. Stay clear of flashy or light colors.

Via

↓ 5 – Ankle Boots

A pair of black and a pair of white ankle boots will get you through winters, honestly. These are not only pretty and fashionable but extremely warm. They are versatile enough to go with anything in your closet, from jeans to dresses and sweatpants.

Via

↓ 4 – Scarves and Mufflers

If you feel really cold then a soft muffler is the way to go. You can wear them in a million ways around your neck. The soft touch of mufflers and the warmth that they give will get you in a habit of not going anywhere without one. Scarves can be used to add a pop of color to your outfit.

Via

↓ 3 – Gloves

Save your fingers from freezing with cute accessories like gloves. Bright, colorful gloves add life to your outfit. But, please do not be of those who wear rings on gloves. You can wait till the weather gets warmer.

Via

↓ 2 – Beanies

Beanies are super cute, also extremely handy for those bad hair days when you can’t even think of getting in the shower. Extra points for a pom pom on top.

Via

↓ 1 – Floral Prints

Just because the flowers are dead does not mean you can not bloom. Show your love for flowers through your dressing. A floral blouse, with bell-shaped arms, goes well with high waisted pants and a huge smile.

Via

#Fall Fashion Ideas #Girls casual Outfits #Girls Winter Outfits Trends

0 notes

nnamdi-sensei · 7 years ago

Text

How To Make Your Smartphone's Battery Last Longer

Are you fed up of walking around with your phone charger and charging your phone anywhere you see electricity? I offer some simple tips and tricks on how to make your smartphone's battery last longer. Surprisingly in 2018, it's tough to go much longer than 24 hours without charging your smartphone even with the huge mAh batteries now in vogue for latest smartphones. Unfortunately, you're never going to get a week's use out of a smartphone because of those AMOLED screens along with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and 4G. However, by following MY advice and making a few changes to your phone's settings (maybe even changing the way you use your phone) you should be able to extend and enhance its battery life by a large percentage. The trend nowadays is the huge choice of portable USB power banks, which you can use to charge your phone on the go. Plus, if you have a popular handset, you may find there are specific cases which incorporate batteries to give you extra power at the expense of only a little more bulk and weight.

What i am not going to suggest here is to use your phone less. My aim is to show you how to reduce your handset's power consumption without making it unusable. So, here are 10 ways you can boost your smartphone's battery life, plus the battery saving myths that won't help at all.

1. Dim the screen brightness or use auto brightness

I know you love your smartphone's large, colourful display, but it's the battery's worst enemy. More than any other component of your phone, the display consumes battery life at a very fast and devastating pace. Most phones include an auto-brightness feature that automatically adjusts the screen's brightness to suit ambient lighting levels. This mode uses less power than constantly running your screen at full brightness would, of course, but you'll get even better results by turning your screen's brightness down to the lowest setting that you can tolerate and leaving it there. Even if you do nothing else i suggest, following this one tip will extend the life of your battery dramatically.

2. Keep the screen timeout short

Under display settings menu of your phone, you should find an option labeled 'Screen Timeout' or something similar. (For an iPhone, look for Auto-Lock in the General settings menu.) This setting controls how long your phone's screen stays on/lit after receiving input, such as a tap. Every second is important here, so set your timeout to the shortest available time. On most Android phones, the minimum is 15 seconds. If your screen timeout is currently set to 2 minutes, consider reducing that figure to 30 seconds or less. On an iPhone, the minimum you can set is 1 minute.

3. Take it easy on the location services, and GPS

Another big battery drainer is apps using GPS, Wi-Fi and mobile data for monitoring your location. As a user, you can revoke apps' access to location services, or set levels (in Android) to determine how much power they use. In Settings > Location, you can choose High accuracy when you need it, or Battery saving when you don't. Be smart about what you allow each app to access. Allowing your apps to integrate with your location, camera, or SD card can be convenient but is most often not necessary. Granting too many permissions to an app that never uses them will drain your battery for no benefit.

4. Don't use vibrate

I know you prefer to have your phone alert you to incoming calls by vibrating with a ringtone rather than playing a ringtone only. I understand the inclination; unfortunately, vibrating uses much more power than playing a ringtone does. After all, a ringtone only has to make a tiny membrane in your phone's speaker vibrate enough to produce sound. In contrast, the vibration motor rotates a small weight to make your whole phone shake. This process uses a lot more power. If you don't want to be disturbed audibly, consider turning off all notifications and leave the phone in view so you can see when a new call is coming in. This approach is as courteous to your battery as it is to your friends and colleagues.

5. Turn off non-essential notifications

It seems as though almost every app now polls the internet in search of updates, news, messages, and other information. When it finds something, the app may chime, light up your screen and display a message, make your LED blink, or do all of the above. All of these things consume energy. You probably don't want to turn off notifications about new text messages or missed calls, but turning off superfluous notifications will help your battery last a little longer, and it will eliminate pointless distractions throughout your day.

6. Power-saving modes

Depending on your phone, you may find the manufacturer has provided built in power-saving features that go beyond anything available by default in Android. (iOS doesn't have a battery saving mode.) Enabling the battery-saving mode manages the phone's various power-sapping features for you. It might, for example, prevent apps from updating in the background, dim your screen, reduce the screen timeout setting, disable on-screen animations, and turn off vibration. By default, this mode usually turns on when your battery level drops to 20 percent, but you can set it to kick in at 30 percent instead or even from 100 percent as you so wish. And the sooner the phone switches to this power-saving mode, the longer its battery will last. A few phones, notably from HTC and Samsung, have so-called extreme (or ultra) power saving modes. These turn everything off except those necessary for making phone calls and sending text messages (even turning the screen to black and white) and can add anything up to 24 hours of emergency use, even if your battery is down to 15 or 20 percent. Most smartphone users are ignorant of the Power Saving Mode.

7. Don't leave apps running in the background

Yeah i know you love to multi task. When next you do that, always know that a huge chunk of your battery life will be going down. Multitasking - the ability to run more than one app at a time - is a powerful smartphone feature. It can also burn a lot of energy, because every app you run uses a share of your phone's processor cycles (but this isn't true of all apps - see the myths section below). Some apps are themselves particularly heavy on battery life. For example, Facebook has confirmed it is investigating reports that its iOS app could be to blame for significant battery drain, and is working on a fix.

8. Turn off Wi-Fi when not in use

Your phone's Wi-Fi radio is a serious battery drainer. While you will at times need to use your home or office Wi-Fi connection rather than 3G or 4G for internet access and other data services, there's little point in leaving the Wi-Fi radio on when you practically are not making use of it. Toggle it off when you go out the door, and turn it back on only when you plan to use data services within range of your Wi-Fi network. Android users can add the Wi-Fi toggle widget to their home screen to make this a one-tap process, or swipe down from the top of the screen (twice if you have Lollipop.) In iOS it's easier than ever to toggle Bluetooth and Wi-Fi on and off. Simply swipe up from the bottom of the screen to display the Control Centre. The exception to this rule is for location services, since Wi-Fi can help your phone to obtain a GPS fix using less power.

9. Turn off Bluetooth when not in use

No matter how much you love using Bluetooth with your hands-free headset, your wireless speaker or activity tracker, the extra radio is constantly listening for signals from the outside world. When you aren't in your car, or when you aren't playing music wirelessly, turn off the Bluetooth radio. This way, you can add an hour or more to your phone's battery life.

9. Push email

Having your phone constantly check if there's new email is a waste of power. Instead of allowing email to be pushed to your phone at any time, why not change the setting to fetch mail every so often - maybe 15 or 30 minutes if you don't need to respond immediately to anyone? Read the full article

0 notes

homebrewtalk · 7 years ago

Text

Gluten Free Holiday Beers

It’s colder out, spirits are high, and it’s so freaking DARK out! Things are getting spiced out the wazoo, there’s pie everywhere, turkeys ducks and chickens are getting bird-centipede-ed, it’s bedlam- and on top of that, the in-laws… Got anything for me? YOU BETCHA! There are so many ways to envision holiday brewing, from flavors to themes to gift basket ideas- the list goes on. This is the one true season where is really is worth saying FU to the Reinheitsgebot- forgive me Beer gods. Not only do people give you the benefit of the doubt with your flavors, but they’re down to try something they would likely poo-poo in other seasons- so seize your moment.

Spices and Styles for Holiday Beers

Pumpkin Spice Holiday Beers: I might lose some of the audience here. It happens I get it… but it’s worth a try once. The methodology would include adding ground spices to the boil, typically under 15 minutes, very similar to the way you add coriander to a wit style beer. Where some differ in opinion here is how to treat secondary with these beers, and what delivery method is better. Some say whole spice, others say ground or crushed… in my experience the crushed or ground version falls out too quickly. On the other hand, I’ve had tremendous success adding whole spices in secondary like cinnamon sticks and star anise.

Pairing your spices is important: Orange is paired with coriander for a reason, you could add ginger, nutmeg, and paradise seeds in varying quantities to all types of styles. Typically choosing an estery yeast can help compliment the spices, but there is a balance as you don’t want to drown the flavor out. Saison, Trappist, and Thames Valley yeasts are all great choices, as they take spices well, and still speak for themselves, creating a complex flavor profile for the drinker. Cleaner yeasts like WLP 001 (Wyeast 1056) are good choices too, but can cause the spice to speak for the rest of the beer, and cause them to over-power things. But remember, there really aren’t any hard and fast rules governing holiday beers.

Stouts letting it all hang out: Imperial Stout, Breakfast Stout, Chocolate Stout, Maple Stout—doesn’t matter—they’re bolder and brasher without a doubt during this season. People are putting on their winter coat, so don’t feel too bad about finishing your stout at 1.025 or even 1.040. I’m not that huge of a fan of lactose, but that’ll make it easier to finish at a higher gravity. Although many don’t think it’s worth the risk—I’m a fan of adding syrups and sugars at high krausen, and even racking to more syrup or fruit in secondary. This allows you to focus on a solid grain bill, and add additional complexity to the brew. It also helps with that thick finish that many stouts are known for. Another thing is that they’re also a great option for gluten-free brewers like me, who tend to have average finishing gravities around 1.002 consistently. To help with that problem, take gravity samples more often, rack and crash when you reach the gravity you want, think about mashing at higher temps to convert starches to dextrose, and think about adding up to 1.5 lbs of maltodextrin if you’re worried about the finishing gravity.

Bring on the Pine: “C” hops anyone? Great time of year to go crazy. I’m personally going to be brewing with spruce tips this year, I want my party guests to feel like they’re literally drinking a Christmas tree. Additional hops that help with that resiny note are Centennial, Chinook, Citra, and Columbus (don’t forget about simCOE and southern CROSS). Feel free to pour on crystal malts as well. In some cases it might be necessary if you’re going for a resin bomb. Remember that balance that we talked with spice? Depending on the style of IPA, I might add up to Crystal 60/80, but I much prefer sweet to roast in my holiday IPAs. Even though session-ability isn’t as important during the holidays, some of the most successful recipes I’ve done to-date have featured a boiling hop under 10% AA and incorporated massive late hopping (15 minutes and under) to pull out those dank and resiny notes. This is also a great way to avoid the astringent or acrid experience for the drinker that can happen in a heavy hopping scenario. In my opinion, it’s also a great way to not have so much of that “cat urine” aroma that many people are put-off by.

Get Rustic and think Local: Ever think of what they used before hops? Many of these other options give a holiday vibe anyway. I made a feast saison for Thanksgiving this year that incorporated no hops and used an ancient herb called “yarrow” (available at spruceontap.com)- it lent a wonderful herbal note with the meal, however I wanted more sage, and I would definitely buy more than 2 oz next time. Many beers in old America were made with corn, molasses, pumpkin, sweet potato, and rice, so feel free to go literally off the deep end with local adjuncts and ingredients. Just try to make sure it doesn’t mess up the base beer too much. Lavender and chamomile are incredible herbs that go great with Saison and other farmhouse varietals. Choke cherries, cranberries and other tart berries like black currants are all great choices to add in secondary or primary depending on the style you’re going for.

Go Ahead… Make ‘em Call a LYFT: Although I’ve gone away from brewing as much high ABV beer recently, feel free to brew that “winter warmer” you’ve been afraid to tackle, your guests will drunkenly thank you during their second beer, if they’re not put down by the first round. It’s regular for most holiday beers to be above 6% ABV, but feel free to push the boundary. For notes on brewing high gravity, check out my previously published article. One thing that I’ll say here is that a starter is highly important, and I have become religious about oxygenating my cooled wort on anything that has a starting gravity of 1.055 or higher. Temperature is also an important factor here in addition to yeast health, as fusel alcohols in high enough quantities can create a “gasoline” or “diesel” taste and aroma in your beer. Fusel alcohols are the result of your yeast being under stress and creating alcohol compounds with more than two carbon atoms. The higher you work a yeast towards it’s threshold, the more you risk creating fusel alcohols. In addition, you also run the risk of your yeast crapping out before it finishes. For a large scale example of this, watch Sam Calagione’s Discovery Channel show “Brew Masters”—there’s two shows (out of 6) where he has to dump entire tanks of flagship beers because the yeast couldn’t handle the high gravity, so just make sure you do your homework on your yeast, and always pitch the right cell count for the gravity.

Have Fun… But Plan Ahead

My Holiday brewing schedule can be staggering. I turn from a weekend brewer to a week night brewer once late September hits, but it pays off. People don’t scrutinize homemade gifts as much, and I hate standing in lines. Strategize your parties in advance. Remember that your keg should be filled and under carbonation by at least Tuesday so that it is ready for a Saturday afternoon party. If you want your family and friends to actually enjoy the gift bag you give them on the big day, you should be bottle conditioning your beer by at least December 10th, Black Friday is a great day to bottle condition for those celebrating Chanukah, so it has the full two weeks to carb up. It allows them to toss your beer in the freezer and enjoy it in front of you. In my experience that also guarantees that they actually drink it, instead of finding it in their wine cellar or hallway closet years later (great for certain styles… but not spiced holiday beers or holiday IPAs). Spacing brew days out so that you aren’t bottling all your beers at once could be a helpful tip, just remember to brew the styles that benefit from more aging first.

Mix it up This Holiday Season, and Wow Your Family and Friends!

Christmas Tree IPA: Holiday Ale

Grains Hop Schedule Yeast

7.5 lbs Pale Millet Malt

3 lbs Buckwheat Malt

1.5 lbs Goldfinch Millet Malt

1 lb Cara Millet Malt

12 oz Crystal Millet Malt

1.5 lbs Rice Hulls

1 tsp Amylase Enzyme

.25oz Chinook @75

.25oz Centennial @75

.25oz Chinook @50

.25oz Centennial @50

.25oz Chinook @25

.25oz Centennial @25

.25oz Chinook @10

.25oz Centennial @10

4 oz Spruce Tips (Whirlpool 15 min)

1 pkg WY1968 (ESB)

Notes: Use hop bags so they can be removed prior to whirlpooling.

OG: 1.065 FG: 1.015 ABV: 6.56%

Heat 7 gal of Strike Water to 152⁰F, add in 2 tsp Calcium Chloride and 1 tsp gypsum, mix in milled grains, let sit for an hour then ramp to 163⁰F for 30 Minutes, ramp to 170⁰F and Sparge out with 2.5 gal of 170⁰F hot liquor (with 1 tsp of calcium chloride added back in; you will want to stir your grains a couple times during the sparge). If you have a pre-boil gravity lower than 1.035, add either 2 lbs of 1 SRM Candi Syrup or 3-4 cups of Raw Sugar at 15 minutes left in the boil.

Add yeast nutrient and Whirlfoc. At 0 minutes you can remove hop bags.

Chill Wort to 68⁰F, oxygenate for 30-45 seconds, then pitch yeast- I went with Wyeast 1968 London ESB, subs: WLP 001, WLP 007, Wyeast 1056, etc. I pitched a 1500 ml starter. This is a highly flocculant yeast, but I’ll typically pitch Clarity ferm at the same time as the yeast so that I can ferment and crash in the same vessel (brew jacket has trouble getting down below 35⁰F). I typically will let the inoculated wort free rise to 72, but typically I’ll keep it at 68⁰F.

I always dry hop (helps greatly with head-retention in gf beers), but you don’t have to. 1 oz Chinook & 1 oz Centennial (3 days before transfer). (optional)

by Robert Keifer Originally born and raised in San Jose, CA, I moved down to SOCAL for college at UC Irvine (Business Economics class of 2011), and decided to stick around after graduating. I’ve been gluten free since 2010, and was tired of never having any beer to drink. A mutual friend was into homebrewing, and had me come over to hang at a keg tasting, and once I mentioned Ghostfish in Seattle (GF brewery), they got the idea to help me brew a gluten-free beer. From there, I’ve been fully immersed in learning everything I can about brewing beer and brewing as many beers as I can. I currently work as the Talent Acquisition Specialist for a growing Cyber Security Consulting firm, Tevora, and I have aspirations of putting my beers on the map at the Pro-AM GABF, and bringing them to a wider audience by opening my own Brewery one day.

Learn more about gluten free brews with this cider article »

First off, if you aren’t already making hard cider, you should be. It really is a no brainer, which I will explain briefly here. Cider is cheap to make, easily sourced, hardly any work, and great for those friends who can’t do gluten! Your only materials are Apple cider/juice, yeast, and maybe a few optional adjuncts, so cost can be as low as $20 a batch depending on your juice source. There isn’t an actual brew process, so it cuts a couple hours out of your normal brew day requirement. Just clean, sanitize, mix ingredients and profit! Since you aren’t using grain in this, it becomes a convenient brew to have on hand for friends(or in my case, SWMBO) who don’t/can’t do gluten…

Gluten Free Holiday Beers was originally published on HomeBrewTalk.com

#gluten free #gluten free homebrew #gluten free recipe #holiday beer #holiday spiced ale

0 notes

linguooapp · 7 years ago

Text

10 Tweaks To Your Morning Routine That Will Transform Your Entire Day

I don’t know anyone who couldn’t use a little boost in their energy and self-control.

Researchers at the University of Nottingham recently published findings from their exploration of 83 separate studies on energy and self-control. What they found will change the way you start your day.

The researchers found that self-control and energy are not only intricately linked but also finite, daily resources that tire much like a muscle. Even though we don’t always realize it, as the day goes on, we have increased difficulty exerting self-control and focusing on our work. As self-control wears out, we feel tired and find tasks to be more difficult and our mood sours.

This exhaustion of self-control kills your productivity, and it makes the morning hours, when self-control is highest, the most important hours of the day.

But the trick isn’t just to spend your morning hours working; it’s to do the right things in the morning that will make your energy and self-control last as long as possible.

“For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer has been ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.” – Steve Jobs

The Nottingham research has led me to uncover ways we can break bad habits in the morning and maximize our energy and self-control throughout the day.

Whether you naturally wake up feeling alert and productive or wake up with the brainpower of a zombie, these tips will help you transform your morning routine and set a positive tone that lasts the entire day.

1. Start with exercise. Researchers at the University of Bristol found that people who exercise during the workday have more energy and a more positive outlook, which are both critical to getting things done. Getting your body moving for as little as 10 minutes releases GABA, a neurotransmitter that makes your brain feel soothed and keeps you in control of your impulses. Exercising first thing in the morning ensures that you’ll have the time for it, and it improves your self-control and energy levels all day long.

2. But drink some lemon water first. Drinking lemon water as soon as you wake up spikes your energy levels physically and mentally. Lemon water gives you steady, natural energy that lasts the length of the day by improving nutrient absorption in your stomach. You need to drink it first thing in the morning (on an empty stomach) to ensure full absorption. You should also wait 15–30 minutes after drinking it before eating (perfect time to squeeze in some exercise). Lemons are packed with nutrients; they’re chock full of potassium, vitamin C, and antioxidants. If you’re under 150 pounds, drink the juice of half a lemon (a full lemon if you’re over 150 pounds). Don’t drink the juice without water because it’s hard on your teeth.

3. No screen time until breakfast. When you dive straight into e-mails, texts, and Facebook, you lose focus and your morning succumbs to the wants and needs of other people. It’s much healthier to take those precious first moments of the day to do something relaxing that sets a calm, positive tone for your day. Jumping right into electronics has the opposite effect—it’s a frantic way to start your day. Exercising, meditating, or even watching the birds out the window are all great ways to start the day.

4. Eat a real breakfast. Eating anything at all for breakfast puts you ahead of a lot of people. People who eat breakfast are less likely to be obese, they have more stable blood-sugar levels, and they tend to be less hungry over the course of the day. And these are just the statistics for people who eat any breakfast. When you eat a healthy breakfast, the doors to a productive day swing wide open. A healthy breakfast gives you energy, improves your short-term memory, and helps you to concentrate more intensely and for longer periods.

5. Set goals for the day. Research shows that having concrete goals is correlated with huge increases in confidence and feelings of control. Setting goals specific to the day puts everything into motion. Narrow your goals down to a few achievable ones that can easily be broken down into steps. Vague goals such as “I want to finish writing my article” are counter-productive because they fail to include the “how” of things. The same goal re-phrased in a more functional way would read something like this: “I am going to finish my article by writing each of the three sections, spending no more than an hour on each section.” Now, you have more than simply something you want to achieve—you have a way to achieve it.

Getting your morning started off right at home is important, but it’s only half the battle. If you fail to maintain that tone once you set foot in the office, your morning can lose momentum quickly. Here’s how you can maintain a productive tone once you hit the office:

1. First, clean your workspace. Even though it’s a pain to clean right when you get into work, it makes a big difference to your ability to concentrate. A Princeton University study found that people who worked in a clean workspace out-performed those who worked in a cluttered one because clutter pulls your attention away from your work. In fact, the effects of clutter on concentration are not all that different from the effects of multi-tasking.

2. No e-mail until you’ve eaten three frogs. “Eating a frog” is the greatest antidote to procrastination, and the most productive people know the importance of biting into this delicacy first thing in the morning. In other words, spend your morning on something that requires a high level of concentration that you don’t want to do, and you’ll get it done in short order. Make a habit of eating three frogs before you check your e-mail because e-mail is a major distraction that enables procrastination and wastes precious mental energy.

“Eat a live frog first thing in the morning, and nothing worse will happen to you the rest of the day.” – Mark Twain

3. Keep morning meetings on schedule. Meetings are the biggest time waster there is, and they can ruin an otherwise productive morning. People who use their mornings effectively know that a meeting will drag on forever if they let it, so they inform everyone at the onset that they’ll stick to the intended schedule. This sets a limit that motivates everyone to be more focused and efficient. Keep your morning meetings on time, and your entire day will stay on track.

4. Don’t multitask. Multi-tasking in the morning—when you have lots to do, tons of energy, and it feels like you can do two or three things at once—is tempting, but it sets your whole day back. Research conducted at Stanford University confirmed that multitasking is less productive than doing a single thing at a time. The researchers found that people who are regularly bombarded with several streams of electronic information cannot pay attention, recall information, or switch from one job to another as well as those who complete one task at a time.

But what if some people have a special gift for multitasking? The Stanford researchers compared groups of people based on their tendency to multitask and their belief that it helps their performance. They found that heavy multitaskers (those who multitask a lot and feel that it boosts their performance) were actually worse at multitasking than those who like to do a single thing at a time. The frequent multitaskers performed worse because they had more trouble organizing their thoughts and filtering out irrelevant information, and they were slower at switching from one task to another. Ouch!

Multitasking reduces your efficiency and performance because your brain can only focus adequately on one thing at a time. When you try to do two things at once, your brain lacks the capacity to perform both tasks successfully.

5. Finally, say no. No is a powerful word that will protect your precious mornings. When it’s time to say no, avoid phrases such as “I don’t think I can” or “I’m not certain.” Saying no to a new commitment honors your existing commitments and gives you the opportunity to successfully fulfill them while your mind is fresh. Research conducted at the University of California Berkeley showed that the more difficulty that you have saying no, the more likely you are to experience stress, burnout, and even depression. Learn to use no, and it will lift your mood as well as your productivity.

Bringing It All Together

The right morning routine can make your day, every day. The trick is to be intentional about your mornings, understanding that a.m. hours are precious and should be handled with care.

Source: huffingtonpost.com

The post 10 Tweaks To Your Morning Routine That Will Transform Your Entire Day appeared first on Linguoo.

from WordPress http://ift.tt/2ikT83i via IFTTT

#linguoo smart linguooapp radio podcasts

0 notes