#it was super charged and when I got home I added more coffee and chocolate to it bc I like it and it was almost gin

[corals-corner]

I have never had this much caffeine in my system before, I’m going insane and I’m supposed to be doing work

[justafewsmallsteps]

A look into LadyNoir for my Reversal AU, The Other Way Around. You don’t really need to read the other parts to get this one :)

Title: The Other Way Around, Part 3 Pairing: Lovesquare (LadyNoir)   Rating: G+ Word Count: 2.5K

The first time Marinette really interacted with a cat was at a friend’s house. She was six years old at her very first sleepover. Nervous and shy, she’d spent the majority of the evening worrying about what would happen once the lights were out. She’d never had to sleep through a night without her parents or family with her. No amount of cartoons or pillow fights could fully ease the fear of impending darkness.

The other three girls seemed totally adjusted and excited, but Marinette could hardly eat dinner even though it was pizza from their favorite spot. Then she nearly burst into tears at the table when they served the cookies her parents had sent with her, overwhelmed with missing them so badly. With her eyes stinging and her voice ready to cry out that they should call home to pick her up, Button the cat suddenly sprung onto her lap. She was a fluffy tan thing with two black dots going down the center of her back, hence her name. In that moment she looked just like a chocolate chip cookie, albeit one that blinked up at Marinette’s face with huge, adorable brown eyes. The cat smooshed her head against the girl’s stomach, sat down, and began to purr. In her surprise and fascination, young Marinette forgot what she was so upset over.

She never had pets growing up—the hair was too much to maintain when her family also lived in a bakery—so she hadn’t any courage to approach Button before, even when the other girls had spent time petting her. She knew cats had claws and their yawns revealed sharp, pointy teeth. The last thing she wanted was to get scratched or bitten when she was already terrified. Cats had been a scary mystery. Button was small and fluffy and warm. The moment she cuddled up to her, Marinette fell in love.

After that day, cats became her favorite animal, and while she still wasn’t allowed to have one (despite the begging and puppy eyes that her mother valiantly fought against with gentle reasoning), Marinette surrounded herself with them as a good luck charm. She had kitty keychains, plush toys, cat-covered folders to take to class, and cat-print bedsheets. The obsessive phase lasted for three years, but the fondness stayed even when her room took on a pink and floral theme to match her changing design aesthetic. Obviously when she found the giant body pillow shaped like a cat, she knew she had to have it anyway. After long days of dealing with Chloe’s yapping and her own special trademark combination of back luck and clumsiness, hugging that massive squishy cat became her ultimate comfort.

That was, until another cat fell into her lap. Well, crashed into her entire body was more what happened.

When she was gifted her miraculous, Marinette thought herself a poor fit for a superhero. She liked leadership positions and really didn’t have a big problem taking charge when needed, but saving lives was a ton of pressure. She’d thrown her yoyo randomly, not sure of a single move she made, and in doing so managed to tangle her partner and herself up despite the superpowers. Chat Noir seemed more natural, and surely he deserved a partner that had the confidence to match his skills instead of her. Marinette was stuck in her head with apprehension. She’d totally screwed up her very first mission by letting the akuma multiply instead of purifying it. She wasn’t excited to be a hero. She was terrified.

Maybe it was the cat bias that made her instantly trust Chat Noir, but it was the way he put his warm hands so squarely on her shoulders and assured her that she could do this, that made her fall in love. It was the second time a cat had saved her from giving in to her fears.

He gave her the courage to stand up to Hawkmoth, and the moment she vowed to take him down was a triumph of bravery. She wouldn’t have been able to do that without him.

Of course she fell for him.

He didn’t make it any easier for her as they got closer. He was just so endearingly sweet, throwing compliments at her all the time for encouragement.

If only she didn’t turn into an absolute pile of goo whenever he did. At least she was always able to pull herself together to get the job done, but it was his fault. What could anyone expect from her when her partner was talented, smart, super handsome, and somehow humble about all of it?

She’d witnessed how he avoided the spotlight in favor of checking up with akuma victims. She’d seen him time after time go out of his way to protect others, especially her, from harm’s way. And after he did all those things he’d throw her the credit as if she was the one saving the day.

They worked together well, reading each other’s moves and adapting to each other’s pace. But he never needed the attention, happy to just get the mission done. It was a side of him that she got to see when the crowds weren’t looking, proud at what they’d accomplished while holding his fist out to hers in solidarity to say, “We did it!” Together. Always together.

But then their miraculouses would beep, and they’d have to go their separate ways with her casting lingering glances towards whichever horizon he’d disappear off to.

At least during some of their mutual patrols they had time to talk. She looked forward to each one, no matter what other responsibilities she had waiting for her once it was over. Getting to know her partner was such a highlight to her identity as Ladybug. There was the triumph of victory, the thrill of the physics defying feats she could accomplish, the heartwarming gratitude of the citizens… and then there was this: sitting at the top of the Eiffel with their feeting dangling in the cool Parisian air, aimlessly talking above a safe city set aglow with evening lights; the warm sense of security yet tingling excitement of hanging out with her one and only crush.

“Favorite hot drink?” she wondered.

Asking non-identifying questions was their way of bonding without compromising themselves.

Chat Noir hummed thoughtfully over a cookie—raspberry macarons, a favorite she had learned fairly early on. “The hot chocolate you brought in the winter was great. Probably the best I’ve ever had, actually.”

She blushed and kicked her feet nervously. She swore that she would’ve tripped if they’d been walking. Somehow his compliments did that to her. “T-thanks.”

He grabbed another macaron and turned it over, studying the ruffled feet as he added, “Otherwise I’m really fond of tea. My mother liked English high tea; always insisted we have a tea break at some point in the day. When I was a kid I was only in it for the cookies and sandwiches, but at this point I like the drink too. It's nostalgic.”

He always got wistful when he spoke about his mother, but Marinette knew that train of thought would lead them to somewhere too personal. It wasn’t that she didn’t yearn to know more about him. Quite the opposite, but they both knew that it wasn’t safe yet. There had been too many close calls. She followed up with another question. “Any tea in particular?”

“Earl grey, usually. I’m a fan of London Fogs over coffee.”

She smiled down, looking at her home’s direction. They had a lovely macaron with that flavor as well, she thought. She could bring him a variety box next time. Maybe one day they could do tea together in some fashion. A picnic, perhaps? High tea during an evening patrol seemed a bit strange, but she could always brew him a decaf in a thermos so he wouldn’t be hopped up on caffeine. Or maybe that was too much if she was already bringing the same flavor in a cookie. Did hot chocolate go well with earl grey? What about the raspberry? Plenty of people ordered a variety of flavors all the time. Maybe she should throw in a few others for balance, like the rose ones. Wait, were rose flavored macarons too romantic? Would it seem like a date if she brought him flower-flavored food? Not that she didn’t want to date him because of course she did but—

“Deep in thought, Ladybug?”

Chat Noir’s twinkling green eyes greeted her, just a few centimeters from her face. He must have been trying to get her attention for a while.

Surprised, she suddenly scooted back and flailed. “Oh!” Thankfully she was securely seated on the beam enough to not begin a sad plummet to the ground. Desserts were well and good, but she’d prefer to avoid becoming a polka dotted pancake. “Yes, sorry! Did you say something?”

He laughed his magical laugh, accustomed to her tendency to get lost in her own head. “No need to apologize. I was just saying that it was my turn to ask a question before we turn in for the night.”

Ah, was it already time to go back? Sheepishly, the heroine smiled. “Did you already ask it?”

A flash of teeth showed off his mirthful grin. “I did.”

“Sorry.” He had already told her not to apologize, but it was embarrassing that she was fantasizing about dating him when he was literally sitting besides her. “What was it again?”

“I asked if you’ve been on a date lately, Little Lady.”

Oh.

Her mind short-circuited. Had she been babbling out loud? How desperate had she sounded? “What? Me! Doing to date you? I mean, going on a date with someyou? Someone!”

If her slip up meant anything, he didn’t acknowledge it. He never did. Did she want him to?

“Yep. Like a romantic one-on-one date. I, uh,” he bashfully scratched the back of his neck, “I’ve been thinking about it lately.”

A rush of blood warmed her cheeks. “Y-you were?” Thinking about dating someone? Her? Them? Romantically!

He avoided her eyes, choosing to look up instead as he laughed nervously. “For a while now. I don’t even think I could, but there’s a girl…”

I’m a girl, her brain supplied with excitement.

“You can’t ask her?”

He clicked his tongue. “There’s a few conflicts. First of all, I don’t know how she really feels about me, and… I don’t know how to say the other part without really giving anything away.”

Ladybug pursed her lips and gave him time, either out of courtesy or because she was freaking out and incapable of speech.

“Um, it’s like… an occupational issue, I guess. I don’t know if I’d be allowed, in a sense. Then there’s the issue that I know nearly nothing about dating,” he explained.

For all his vagueness, she fit his description enough. She’d never outright confessed to being in love with him, so he didn’t know her feelings. Also they weren’t really supposed to date with all their responsibilities, and wasn’t that just part of their job as heroes? So for all intents and purposes, Chat Noir really could have been talking about her. The possibility made her head spin.

Her hope was strung on a tightrope; a precarious position that could go either way. She could ask him directly if he meant someone in his civilian life or if by some miracle he was talking about her—or she could stay on the precipice between disappointment and bliss. But for all her clumsiness, Marinette preferred balance whenever she could manage it. So she stayed her course, eyes far from looking down at the possibilities and instead on the objective: answer him.

“I haven’t been on a real date recently, no.”

She looked for any hint about his feelings in his response, any indication that he was relieved or just pitied her. He simply nodded, leaving her clueless as she continued to walk the tightrope.

“Same,” he let out a whiny sigh. “I guess I can’t really ask for advice then. I’m terrible when it comes to romance.”

She traced one of her spots with a gloved finger, trying to keep a clear mind despite the slight relief that her crush wasn’t out on dates all the time. “I doubt it. You’re so amazing, you’d make any girl really happy and lucky to be with you.” Saying those words aloud had her face feeling as red as her suit.

“Luck is your department, LB,” he grinned. “I imagine admirers are chasing you left and right.”

“Not in any serious manner,” Adrien’s corny and outlandish attempts to get her attention came to mind. He was just a flirt by nature, hardly what someone would consider a real admirer. “I… I’d be happy to go on a date with somebody who really liked me though.”

He gave her a thoughtful look that made her pause.

She stood up suddenly. “I mean, not just anybody! Like… if I knew they actually liked me, then I might give it a chance? Depending on the person.”

Chat Noir smiled again, patiently letting her ramble as usual.

She took a deep breath to collect herself. “It doesn’t matter how experienced you are with dating, at least that’s what I think. If she’s a nice person then she’ll also understand and you’ll both get through it together. You just have to be yourself.”

“You’re right as always, Little Lady,” he sighed. Her stomach did a flip at the soft sound of his voice. “You know, you do give the best advice.”

Balance, she reminded herself. Tightrope.

But he spoke again, “I can always count on you to cheer me up if things go wrong, can’t I?”

The words were kind—like a soft breeze—which was just enough to throw off her careful, barely established balance; just enough information to tip her over to the fact that he must have been talking about some other girl if at the end of the day he could still find comfort in her, his partner.

And so she fell. Or, well, she’d fallen for him a long time ago. What did she expect? Something happier, she’d hoped. Something more similar to catching herself with her yo-yo, lifting back up to soar instead of her hopes tumbling down.

“Ladybug?”

She took a second to glance down at the ground where her heart felt like it had dropped. From their high position on the Eiffel, it was a long way down. For how much she loved him, she wasn’t sure just how her heart would break. Shatter like glass? Crumble to pieces? Or would it plummet and dent the floor because it certainly felt as heavy as lead when she turned to face Chat Noir, an achingly sweet melancholy painted on face as he smiled at her.

“Of course you can count on me. You and me against it all,” she assured, holding out her hand to help him up. It was time to go, after all.

He grinned as he stood, “Everything from akumas to heartbreak.”

She gave a weak laugh in reply. “Good night, Chat.”

“Good night, Little Lady.”

[jobean12-blog]

Top Shelf: Chapter 11- The Pages in Between

Pairing: Bucky x reader (Bookshop/bartender AU)

Word Count: 1,637

Summary: You tell Bucky your idea on how to save the bookshop 

Author’s Note: Hey everyone, Happy Monday! I know I say it every time but I’m so thankful for those of you that have stuck with me through this story. It makes me so happy. I’m sure you all saw this coming and that’s ok. As I’ve said before this really is just a love story that hopefully makes you feel good and happy. Thank you again! Thank you all for reading! All my love always! ❤❤❤

Warnings: SUPER FLUFFY LOVE FLUFF, implied sexy times :)

Previous Chapters (* indicates smut)

Chapter 1: Enchantment

Chapter 2: Cookie Crumble

Chapter 3: Sweet Anticipation

Chapter 4: Read Between the Limes

Chapter 5: Secrets on the Shelf

Chapter 6: Love Between the Covers *

Chapter 7: Love Lines & Soul Finds

Chapter 8: Drunk in Love *

Chapter 9: Pour in onto the Page

Chapter 10: Recipe for Love *

His response is almost immediate, your phone lighting up as his message comes through. ‘Really baby?? I can’t wait to hear all about it! I’m not going to lie I’m pretty excited.’ You smile at your phone as your fingers fly over the keyboard. ‘I know, me too. I mean it’s just the beginning of an idea and of course we have to talk about a bunch of things but I’m eager to hear what you think.’

You sink further into the tub, a sigh of contentedness leaving your lips. Just as your eyes begin to close your phone buzzes again. You grab it and read the message. ‘Send me one more pic. I have another two hours before I can get home to you.’ Stifling a giggle, you snap a photo of your legs resting atop the edge of the tub and send it his way. ‘Longest two hours of my life,’ is his reply, followed by, ‘you better be awake when I get home…’

Deciding to leave him hanging you enjoy the rest of the warm water, allowing the bubble bath to do its magic. By the time you get out you’re softer than a baby’s bottom and very relaxed. You put on Bucky’s tee shirt and get into his bed, cuddling into his pillow so you’re enveloped in his smell.

He gets home around 2 am, quietly shuffling into his room to find you peacefully asleep in his bed. The blinds are still open, and the light of the moon reflects off your glowing skin. Bucky sits at the edge of the bed, delicately tracing his fingers over your bare shoulder. Brushing some hair from your face he leans down to kiss the corner of your mouth just as it curls up into a smile.

You roll onto your back and blink open your eyes, tugging on his arm so he lays down. “Hi beautiful,” he whispers as his hands smooth over your silky skin. “I’m sorry if I woke you. I was just…” You silence him with a kiss, any excitement over your idea momentarily forgotten.

For once Bucky sleeps later than you, his bare feet slapping against the floor and jolting you from your thoughts. “How long have you been up doll?” You run over to him and throw yourself into his arms. He easily catches you, peppering your face with kisses. “I made coffee. BUT IT’S SO BAD. So now you have to make coffee.” You give him a sorry look, pushing yourself up and onto the counter while he starts a new pot.

Minutes later he hands you a cup, the delicious, hot liquid warming you from head to toe. “Ok, now that we’ve both had a sip of edible coffee and I can concentrate on what you’re saying rather than trying to get you naked, let’s hear it!” You almost spit out your coffee at this last comment, shaking your head in amusement. “Ok, so. Eeeeeeeee, ok, this coffee isn’t helping, I’m practically buzzing!” you say before you jump down from the counter.

Pacing the floor, you chew your bottom lip as you try to get your thoughts in order. To Bucky’s credit he waits patiently, sipping his coffee quietly and letting you do your thing. “Alright. So, I hate to sound all about myself, but everyone really liked the pie last night, right?” Bucky agrees with no hesitation. “And grandma, you and Nat went nuts over my chocolate chip peanut butter cookies, yes?” Again, Bucky nods enthusiastically, smiling big. “And you and grandma really loved my chocolate pie and chocolate chip cookies?”

Bucky gently grabs your shoulders, bringing you into his chest and looking you straight in the eyes. “Yes, yes and more yes. Your baking is amazing and there is no doubt that everyone agrees.” You can feel the blush creep up your cheeks, your head dropping to hide in Bucky’s chest. Feeling the rumble of his laugh makes you smile, his finger hooking under your chin to bring your eyes to his. “I mean it.”

With a kiss you continue. “Thank you. So, if you guys like it there is no reason that other people wouldn’t like it. What if we added a café or bakery to the bookshop? Or both! I realize that it will cost money and right now that’s the problem. But I haven’t really thought all that through yet. However, I think if we add the baked goods and maybe even coffee and hot chocolate and stuff like that it could draw in more of a crowd. Also, you have a bartending license. Maybe we can do poetry slams and/or trivia nights. We can serve drinks and treats and charge at the door.”

Your hands are flying every which way and you’re talking a mile a minute, your enthusiasm warming Bucky’s heart and making him fall even more in love with you. It isn’t until you’re out of breath and he’s finished his coffee that you finally slow down. “Well?” He stares at you for what feels like forever before he puts down his cup and takes you in his arms.

“I love you. And I love your idea. I definitely think we have some things to figure out and a lot to go over but together I think we can make anything work.” You shake your head yes, too many emotions welling up inside you to speak. You simply press your lips to his and tell him everything he needs to know.

Later that morning you head home to do laundry and clean up, missing Bucky the moment you walk through your door. Luckily, he had the idea to stay over at the bookshop tonight and sleep up in the secret attic space. To say you were excited was an understatement.

You pack a light bag and head over to meet him, but not before grabbing the tin of chocolate chip peanut butter cookies you baked earlier as a surprise for him. The bookshop is closing just as you arrive, and you smile at the customer who is leaving. Bucky runs around the cashier counter and plants a firm kiss on your lips.

“Hi. Missed you.” You shove the tin into his hands and say, “I was just about to say the same thing. I made you something.” Bucky’s eyes widen as he starts to open the tin, bringing it up to his nose and inhaling the delicious peanut butter and chocolate smell. “You made me more?” he asks, face still half inside. “Yes, and you can eat as many as you want, as long as you share with me.”

Popping one into his mouth he gives you a thumbs up, placing the tin down and turning the sign to closed and locking the door. “The pizza just got here 5 minutes ago, and they gave us paper plates and everything.” Your mouth waters at the mention of food. “Ok, great. I’m starving. I have water and more snacks too. Are we eating upstairs?”

Bucky nods, taking the cookies and pizza and walking toward the back. When you get up the stairs and open the door you’re surprised to see that Bucky has hung a small string of star lights over the love seat and made a pile of blankets and pillows in the middle of the floor.

“Aw Buck, it looks so beautiful and cozy! This is going to be so fun.” The two of you settle on the floor surrounded by the pizza box and snacks, your feet touching while you dig into your first slice.  “You have some sauce right there,” Bucky says, leaning in to brush his thumb over your bottom lip. You take his thumb into your mouth and suck off the sauce, closing your eyes and letting out a moan.

When you open them again his lips are only inches from yours.  He carefully takes the pizza slice from your hands. “I was eating that,” you whisper, your eyes dropping to his mouth. “I have something better,” he teases, before pressing his lips to yours.

Laying on the floor amidst the soft blankets and pillows, cradled against Bucky’s chest you watch the rain drops pitter patter against the sky light above you, the lights from the city dancing along the dark walls. The low rumble of distant thunder echoes through the quiet space as you trace small patterns along his bare skin.

“I love summer thunderstorms.” Bucky hums in agreement, his eyes closed and his head resting against one arm while the other holds you close. “Do you think we should tell my grandma our idea?” Bucky’s question catches you off guard and for a second, you’re unsure of what to say. “Well. I think your idea of doing our research and talking to some friends, like Sam, is a good way to start. Maybe after we have a more solid plan we can sit down and show her everything.”

He’s quiet for a few moments, the sound of his breathing and the city below all you hear now that the rain has stopped. “That seems smart. Sam will probably be a big help since he opened the bar at the beginning of the year. And I know he has some other friends in the restaurant business too.” You prop your head up on your elbow and he turns to face you. “Good idea! I like it,” you say, tracing over the stubble on his jaw.

Grabbing your waist, he rolls over and sits you on top of him, the blanket falling from your shoulders. “You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” You gently roll your hips against him, smiling softly. “Oh Bucky.” The words fall from your lips with a quiet tenderness and the world falls away with every brush of his fingertips.

@aesthetical-bucky @auro-ora @azurika-writes @bugsbucky @buckys-broody-muffin @bucky-on-my-mind @book-dragon-13 @devynsdiary @eurynome827 @hiddles-rose @hailmary-yramliah @emilylyoness @hawksmagnolia @ikaris-whore @itsunclebucky @imgaril-lindru @jhangelface0523 @jewels2876 @loricameback @littledarlinhavefaithinme @littleredstarfish @mushyjellybeans @marvelandotherfandomimagines @marvelgirl7 @nano--raptor @randomfandompenguin @sallycanwait68 @softpeachbarnes @scarletsoldierrr @the-wayward-robot @when-the-hell-is-bucky @throwmyheartawayagain @flyawaybay @amandatar-06 @nd1998sc @captainchrisstan @vherriepie @godofplumsandthunder​ @fire-flv @jamesbarnesappreciationclub @irishflutiegirl​ @rinthehufflepuff​ @moonybarnes​ @nordlysinthewoods​ @inflxmes @lauratang​ @my-favorite-fics-and-imagines​ @buchanansebba​ @addikted-2-dopamine​

[antpernas]

6/21/21

First full day back in Florida B))

7:00 AM - Somehow managed to wake up and force myself out of bed! I made some breakfast and ate before my class started, ended up making more food during class and stuff too to start my bulk again.

8:00 AM - Started my new class since the B semester started that day, annoyed that I have to take an Intro Physics class but it's an easy A so I can't be too mad. He also doesn't make us turn on our CAMERAS bless the fucking LORD!!!

10:00 AM - Get out of class, make more food and wash all the dishes, shower and all that good stuff, then finally get ready to go run some errands I'd promised myself I'd get done as part of my resolution to improve my quality of life, just a little. I also ordered some skincare products I'm running low on before I left.

1:00 PM - Finally get everything ready and get out of the house, had plans to 1) go to Target to get new weightlifting gloves (since I'd lost a pair in Chicago) and a padlock since I shower at the gym now, 2) go to Best Buy to get a new charging dock/stand to replace the charger I'd lost, and 3) go to the Home Depot to finally get a bidet and a showerhead filter. I also wanted to go to the gym after! I ended up adding a trip to Walgreens for some new retinol (since I'd run out of that too), and got some extra stuff, like an adapter at target and some new shoes since the sneakers I have don't seem to support my foot as well anymore. I ended up not having enough time for the gym :(( I stopped at Starbucks to bring my mom some coffee on the way home.

5:00 PM - I get home, I start unloading everything from my car and getting ready for this four hour Biology lab, which turns out to be more of a lecture than anything else? He makes us turn the camera on which is VERY annoying, but eventually I just decide I don't care enough and started doing all manners of bullshit on camera, and I guess he didn't care either because he didn't say anything. I installed my new showerhead, cooked dinner, tried to install my new bidet (it's not the right size for my toilet :( ), had some friends over and got called out for laughing on camera (???), and eventually class was over! This is probably going to be the most dreadful class to get through this semester.

10:00 PM - Class ends, can't really remember what I did until 1:00 AM? Maybe cleared out my messages, probably washed the dishes... IDK! I do know, though, that I didn't end up going to bed until 1:00 AM.

Overall, pretty good day! Was a little disappointed that my path to sexiness was put off a little bit. I didn't have time to practice at all and I didn't go to the gym like I wanted to, but I guess that's what happens when you have to run errands while taking multiple express courses. Was even MORE annoyed that I still had more errands to run tomorrow, since I'd have to replace the bidet and return something to Best Buy, and I still had to get a haircut. Ugh!!

BUT! That's ok! There are plenty of bright sides too! I sat and mapped out my total calorie/proten intake and I'm definitely on track for bulking B) As long as I keep up the eating I should be good! I also started using my chocolate whey protein again; adding some peanut butter makes it DELICIOUS! I'm also excited to go to the keys on Sunday! It'll be a little complicated because of my classes, but hopefully it'll still be a good time. Just need to make sure to keep my intake up B)

And also, Libra is still really sweet! I'm super looking forward to our date on Friday, jeje B))

[lailaliquorice]

your string of lights is still bright to me

the sixcord decided i needed to write something soft after the angst fest i’ve been supplying over the last few days, so here we have a part 2 to ‘but instead I am here'. it’s super super super soft bc I love these two so much and they need more interactions in fanfic.

tagging @gayboleynz because this was her specific request, hope you enjoy love c:

The summer sky was streaked with pink and orange as the sun began to set over London. The garden was quiet as Jane stepped out the back door, closing it softly behind her and padding over the grass in her bare feet to sit down on the bench. She’d been very firmly chased out of the kitchen after dinner so that she couldn’t try and help with cleaning up after the dinner, and if she listened closely she could hear the chatter of the other Queens as they cleared the table and did the washing up.

It was a nice kind of peace and quiet after the day she’d had. Her mind was quiet at last, no trace of the guilt that had dragged her into a breakdown, and the burns on her leg weren’t bothering her so much anymore. She still felt absolutely drained but she felt ok.

“Hey,” called the voice that had been her saviour all afternoon, and she turned her head to see Anne approaching her with a mug in each hand. “Just wanted to see how you were doing?”

Jane smiled, patting the bench next to her for Anne to sit down. “I’m alright, thank you love. I feel exhausted but certainly a lot happier than I did earlier. Aren’t you meant to be helping in the kitchen?”

Anne laughed at that as she sat down, handing Jane one of the mugs that turned out to contain hot chocolate. “Aragon sent me out here to make sure you’re alright, so I’m still kinda helping. She made the hot chocolate too, obvs.”

“Of course,” Jane agreed with a chuckle, taking a sip. Catherine was the official hot chocolate maker in the household and had been ever since their earliest movie nights, since she could somehow make it taste better than anyone else despite them all following the same recipe on the tin.

After a couple of minutes where they just sat quietly drinking their hot chocolate, Jane turned towards Anne again. “I meant what I said earlier,” she started, catching Anne’s attention, “thank you so much for how you helped me this afternoon. You really were wonderful.”

Anne gave a modest shrug, the exact same response she’d had when Jane initially thanked her. “Honestly, y’don’t have to thank me for that. Or anyone. You’ve done so much for Kat and for all of us, it’s only fair we get to help you too sometimes. And we don’t think any less of you for getting sad sometimes either, y’don’t have to go pretending you’re alright all the time.”

“Thank you love.”

Returning Jane’s fond smile, Anne took another sip of her drink before she seemed to sober up a little. After studying the contents of her mug with an indecisive look for a moment, she tensed her shoulders as if readying herself for something before asking such a hurried question that Jane took a moment to understand her words. “How on earth are you able to talk about him so much without it just making it more and more painful?”

After several seconds where Jane’s brain fought for the right words and Anne just squirmed uncomfortably under her gaze, Jane sighed softly as she shuffled a little closer to put an arm around Anne’s shoulders. “I don’t know,” she murmured truthfully, “I suppose I’ve become accustomed to it through the show. But you know how Heart of Stone made me cry during our first rehearsals, it hasn’t always been easy.”

Anne nodded. Both Kat and Jane had found their songs hard to sing at the very start, the subject matter coming too close to home for comfort. It was one of the factors that had made the two of them so close so quickly.

“Perhaps it’s helped in some aspects that I never got to knew Edward like you got to know Bess. Sometimes that hurts more, thinking of everything I missed out on. But you had enough time with Bess that you knew who she was as a person, perhaps that gives you more to miss than me.” Jane spoke quietly as she just voiced her thoughts aloud, hoping that something she said was of some help to Anne since her question simply wasn’t something she knew an answer for.

“P’rhaps,” Anne echoed, a faraway look on her face as she turned her gaze to the horizon. “Cathy tells me about her when I ask her to, sometimes it helps and sometimes it hurts.”

Jane tilted her head slightly in understanding. “And it will, love. Grieving is never easy, and I daresay ours is a little more complicated than most. But eventually you’ll find it easier to talk about her. And when you get to that point we’ll all be listening.”

“I just don’t want you all to think that I suddenly care about her if I start to talk about her one day.”

“Oh sweetheart, of course we won’t,” Jane shook her head, squeezing Anne’s shoulder. “We know you care about her, you don’t have to show it in the same way as the rest of us do.” Anne’s experience of being a mother had been obvious to Jane earlier when she’d taken charge easily to get Jane’s burns treated, and she couldn’t imagine ever holding it against her friend that she mourned her daughter in a different way to how Jane did.

Anne nodded in thanks, and when Jane met her gaze she was sure she could see tears beginning to pool in her shadowed eyes. They were illuminated clearly when the fairy solar powered fairy lights hung around the garden flickered on, and Anne met Jane’s gaze for a split second before she curled into Jane’s side and buried her face in the shoulder of Jane’s cardigan to hide her tearful eyes.

Jane chucked quietly, rubbing Anne’s back as she looked upwards at reddening sky. “You’re right though,” she said after a while, and Anne gave a questioning hum before Jane continued “Here is pretty great.”

“Yeah,” Anne said, lifting her head from Jane’s shoulder and rubbing her eyes with the sleeve of her hoodie. “It’s definitely great. We’re like crazy lucky we get this second chance, getting to do all the stuff we couldn’t do back then.” She trailed off with a smile, draining the last of her hot chocolate and putting the mug down beside her.

It was nice to see the light return to Anne’s eyes, and Jane readjusted her arm slightly to hold her closer before prompting her with “Like what?”

Anne’s face scrunched with thought for a moment before she said “I dunno, everything. And not just the show, the little things. Coming downstairs in the morning to smell someone making coffee. Staying up late reading. Going down to the pub and maybe drinking a bit much but I don’t have to be a certain way so no-one cares.” She paused for a moment, the ghost of a smile on her face, then added “And hugs,” as she wrapped her arms around Jane’s middle.

Laughing softly at her, Jane started to gently play with Anne’s hair as the younger girl let out a contented hum. “Hugs are certainly a good thing,” she agreed, knowing that there was nothing that could ground Anne better after her nightmares than being in someone’s arms. After another moment’s thought, she continued Anne’s list with “Being able to watch out for you all. Feeling part of a family. Cathy falling asleep on my lap, Kat letting me do her hair, watching documentaries with Anna, early morning conversations with Catherine.”

“You missed me out,” Anne interrupted when Jane paused for a split second.

“I’m not finished yet,” she scolded lightly, drawing Anne’s hair away from her eyes as she looked up at her through wide eyes. “I was going to say how we’ve been able to get to know each other as friends without anyone pitting us against each other this time.”

Anne was silent for a few seconds after Jane spoke, and for a moment she wondered if she’d made a mistake in bringing up their past rift. It had made building a friendship difficult in the first while after reincarnation, and while they were far beyond it now it was still something that plagued Jane whenever she had a sleepless night.

But then Anne met Jane’s eyes with a truly genuine smile and nodded. “Yeah. Yeah, that’s definitely a good one,” she said, resting her head on Jane’s chest and relaxing into her into her embrace.

They both fell into a comfortable silence then, Jane continuing to run her fingers through Anne’s hair as the sky darkened above them. She was starting to wonder if Anne was falling asleep in her arms when she suddenly shivered against the late evening chill, and Jane chuckled as she said “I thought you were falling asleep there.”

“I’m allowed to, you’re comfy,” Anne’s muffled voice sounded, and Jane could practically feel Anne’s laughter as she added “You’re mum shaped.”

Jane laughed softly at that. It was far from the first time Anne had made that joke; it had first appeared back when Kat’s maternal relationship with Jane was strengthening and then again when she’d first comforted Anne through her trauma-related anxiety and nightmares. It was Anne’s way of telling Jane how she thought of her as Kat did while keeping it light-hearted since talking about emotions was sometimes too overwhelming for her.

Anne was quiet again after that, settling back down against Jane’s chest. Even though it was starting to get cold Jane didn’t have the heart to rouse her yet, content with letting her stay in her arms as she glanced upwards at the sky. The first stars were beginning to appear above them, leading Jane to wonder if perhaps Edward and Elizabeth were looking down on them from high above.

She could only hope. And maybe, just maybe, that was enough.

[dreamingformuses]

my iron dad bingo! i requested it before i saw endgame, so the original one was really whumpy, so i changed some of the prompts myself ;) @irondadbingo i hope thats alright!
my first prompt is ‘nightmares’ 
read on ao3
@penis-parkerrr @ur-a-lizard-hairy @agib-2002
let me know if you like to be added to the tag list! (if i forgot you, i’m very sorry)

to set the stage: this is set post-endgame, but when tony did his thanos-killing snap, carol came in to help him because she is Super Powerful, and they kinda had a moment like in gotg 1. neither of them died, and all the dusted characters are back. “Hey, Peter?” Tony called. He could see him hunched over whatever he was working on across the table. 
“Hmm?” Peter answered, not even bothering to lift his head. 
“It’s getting late. And it’s a Friday, so if you want, you’re welcome to stay here for the night. As long as Aunt Hottie’s okay with it, of course.” 
“I thought we promised never to use Aunt Hottie again.” Peter put down his pencil and raised his eyebrow. “And where are Pepper and Morgan?” 
“Whatever. But text her, will you?” Tony said, and mimed typing on a phone. “There’s no rush to get to bed, of course. You know I’ll be here until at least two or three. And the lovely ladies are out of town, visiting Pep’s parents. So you don’t have to worry about wrangling Morgan to bed again.” Peter laughed ruefully. That was an experience he’d not soon forget. He then whipped out his phone and sent a quick message to May. She replied not long after. 
“She said yeah!” Peter shouted over the whirr of Tony’s drill. Tony flashed the okay sign, and they both continued on their projects. The webshooters’ release mechanism had gotten clogged up, so Peter was hard at work on a new formula that hopefully wouldn’t harden while it was still sitting in the holding chamber. Tony was busy banging out sheets of titanium alloy for his new and improved rocket boots. 
They stayed in the lab until well past the sun had set. FRIDAY had spoken up at around eleven, reminding Peter that it might be in his best interests to get to bed sooner rather than later. Peter just laughed, and said that he was too far into his equations to back out now. Nobody argued with him. It wasn’t until half past twelve that Peter had actually fallen asleep with his cheek on the lab table. Tony made the executive decision to carry him to bed, rather than have to listen to Peter complaining about how sore his neck was tomorrow. When they got into the elevator, Peter went from completely dead to the world, to consciousness enough to stumble the rest of the way to his room. 
Tony helped Peter maneuver his way onto his bed, and pulled the covers over him as he fell asleep again. “Buona notte, Peter.” he whispered, and shut the door behind him. Now that Peter was in bed, he didn’t particularly feel like going back down to the lab again. Maybe he’d actually read the thousands of emails forwarded to him. Might as well make Pepper proud. He grabbed a StarkPad and flopped onto the couch. He turned on the fireplace, and propped a pillow under his feet. There would be no reason to leave, and if it came to it, it would be a pretty okay place to sleep. 
There were emails from the Board of Directors. There were emails from the President. There were emails from Pepper. A lot of emails from Pepper, actually. He trashed the unimportant ones, responded to pressing matters, and arranged meetings, all in the wee hours of the morning. It was the first time he’d felt like an actual business owner in a while. Take that, Pepper. You see, I can be productive on things that actually matter. Tony asked FRIDAY to put on some music. Something quiet, though, so he could relax and Peter could sleep. It ended up being Erik Satie, which surprised Tony. He never thought he’d like ambient piano music, but, there he was. 
On the same point, however, he never thought he would be putting a teenager to bed, either. Guess it was a night of firsts all around. He glanced at the clock in the upper right hand corner of the tablet. 2:23. It was probably time to pack it up and hit the hay. He put the tablet on the coffee table, and moved the pillow from under his feet to under his head. He closed his eyes, and tried to let himself drift off. It was hard. Whenever one of his waking moments wasn’t being occupied by some sort of task, his thoughts would always circle around to the same horrible thoughts. 
The first Snap. 
The Snap that brought everyone back. 
Seeing Peter again for the first time in five years. 
His Snap. 
Almost dying in front of the son he just got back. 
Almost dying in front of his wife. 
Almost not being able to make it home to his daughter. 
 Tony was able to push those thoughts aside, though. Unfortunately, Peter wasn’t as lucky. Tony woke up to the sound of FRIDAY’s voice, not even an hour later. It was at a much higher volume than normal, almost like FRIDAY was trying to shout at him. 
“Boss! Boss! Please, wake up. Peter needs help.” FRIDAY said. 
“Wha-” Tony rubbed his bleary eyes open. 
“Peter needs help.” FRIDAY repeated. Tony shot up from the couch, and activated his watch gauntlet. It was definitely paranoid that he wore it all the time, but damn if it didn’t come in handy sometimes. He sprinted barefoot down the hallway, and fumbled to get the door handle open. He stormed in, gauntlet extended, and repulsor fully charged. There was nobody else in the room. Just Peter, curled up in a ball on the bed, and… was he shaking? Upon closer inspection, he definitely was. He was sweaty, and his fists were balled tightly around the sheets. It was a nightmare. Tony was sure of it. He’d done the exact same thing just one too many times before. 
Tony pulled the gauntlet back into his watch face, and rushed over to the side of Peter’s bed. He placed a tentative hand on Peter’s shoulder, and squatted down so they were at the same eye level. Peter was breathing hard, and Tony could see the faint glisten of drying tear tracks on his cheeks. “Hey, Pete?” Tony asked softly, his voice thick with emotion. “You’ve gotta wake up. You’re safe, here, in the tower, not… wherever you are.” He brushed the damp curls out of Peter’s face. “Come on, buddy. You gotta get up.” 
Peter was trembling even harder. He was whimpering. They were little keening sounds like an animal in pain. Tony tried to shake Peter gently. “Peter, come on. Get up, kid. You’ve gotta-” Tony shook him a little bit harder, trying to coax him out of his fitful sleep. He moved his hand in soothing circles on Peter’s back. “Get up. Come on, Peter get up-” 
Peter woke up. He flew into a sitting position, and started to sob. He looked around blindly, and reached out, not expecting to touch anything. He groped for Tony’s arm, and as soon as he found it, held onto it like it was a lifeline. Peter’s eyes were wide open, but judging by the glassiness of them, Tony was sure he wasn’t really registering anything. 
“Mister- Mr. Stark… Mr. Stark-” Peter panted, and tried to scoot closer. Tony pulled him the rest of the way and into a tight hug. 
‘Hey… I’ve got you. You’re here, with me, and you’re safe. You’re not hurt- nobody’s gonna hurt you. You’re okay, I’m okay, we’re safe. You’re in the Tower, it’s nighttime, and it’s 2023.” 
Peter looked up at Tony, his eyes wide and wet. “I- I’m okay?” he asked carefully. “You’re not dead?” he flinched. 
“It was just a dream.” Tony said soothingly. 
“It didn’t feel like just a dream. It- it was so real.” 
“You promise? You were…” Peter’s breathing got faster, harder. “No, no… no. You can’t- you can’t be here. You were dead, and just… you can’t.” Peter ran a hand through his hair and used it to pull his chin closer to his chest. Tony reached out for Peter’s other hand. 
“I know, bambino. I know it feels real, but I promise, it’s not. Another promise? I’m here. I’m warm and alive and breathing.” Peter shifted himself to be able to look more at Tony’s face. He tentatively reached up and brushed the side of Tony’s cheek with his fingertips. 
“You’re here?” 
“I’m here.” Tony reassured. 
“We- were on Titan.” Peter managed to get out between sobs. “I was gone- and then I came back… just in time…” he took a deep, shuddering breath. “Just in time to watch you die. You were gone, and I- nobody knew what to do. I didn’t know what to do.” 
“It’s okay. I’m here, I’m safe, I’m alive. I’m here with you. Pepper and Morgan are safe. You’re safe. Thanos is gone. It’s- It’s all okay.” Tony pressed a small kiss into the crown of Peter’s head. 
Tony shifted a bit, so he was fully sitting on the bed. Peter’s head shot up, his eyes wide and pleading. ‘No! Please- please don’t leave me. Not again.” 
“I’m not leaving. Just getting a bit more comfortable. My old man body wouldn’t last much longer with only one cheek on the mattress.” Tony shushed, and managed to get a small laugh from Peter. 
“You are kinda old.” Peter mumbled. 
“So you must be feeling a bit better.” 
“Better now that you’re here.” Peter said sheepishly, and untangled himself from his position against Tony’s chest. “FRIDAY? Lights to thirty percent.” The room was filled with a dim light. Tony could see the dark bags under Peter’s eyes. 
“Have you been sleeping? I mean- is this a common occurrence? The whole nightmare thing?” Tony asked. 
“Uh… kinda. Kinda sleeping, but it’s hard. After… everything. I get these dreams a lot, but there not usually this bad.” 
“Me too.” They sat in a comfortable silence for a minute. “Do you want to…” Tony continued. “I don’t know, come sit with me? Before you woke me up, I was just answering emails. You can come sit on the couch with me, and I’ll get you some hot chocolate or something, and you can watch your dumb show.” 
“Catching up on five years of Brooklyn Nine-Nine that I’ve missed is not dumb.” 
“If you insist. Are you coming?” Tony got up, and offered a hand to Peter to help him off the bed. Peter took it gratefully, and followed Tony down to the kitchen.

[passionate-baker]

Italian Adventures Part II: Bologna

Finally, the time has come - welcome to Italian Adventures Part II: Bologna!

Boyfriend introduced me to the gorgeous city of Bologna not long after we got together, and I can’t help but wonder if that’s why it holds such a special place in my heart. On our first trip there, I fell head-over-heels for the city & ever more smitten with Boyfriend. We’ve been back a handful of times since that first visit, & every time - without fail - we dream of uprooting everything we have here in Dublin & running off to the Emilia-Romagna capital. It’s romantic, it’s quaint & peaceful, it miraculously remains somewhat untainted by tourism, and it’s the birthplace of one of our favourite meals: the mighty ragu. 

Bologna is known as ‘La Grassa’ in Italian - which translates to ‘the fat’ in English - & it isn’t hard to see why: you will be extremely hard pressed to have a bad meal in the city. Although I’ve included a list of our favourite restaurants below, use that more as a guideline to get out & find the places that work for you; we’ve eaten at a hell of a lot more restaurants than are listed here, but these are our old faves. Wherever you find yourself, please don’t miss the opportunity to enjoy two dishes - tagliatelle al ragu & gramigna alla salsiccia - both of which are specialties of the city. You can thank us when you get home. 

As with our Italian Adventures Part I: Florence guide, there is a huge amount of recommendations in this post. To make life easier, I’ve streamlined everything into six sections: Stay / Coffee / Eat / Drink / Museums + Attractions / Places to See + Things to Do. The difference between the last two sections is an entry fee; Museums + Attractions are all paid entrance, while the Places to See + Things to Do are free. 

Happy travelling, friends!

S T A Y

Airbnb  //  we stayed in the most fantastic apartment on our last visit. The flat - Silent Bright Apartment -  is located a stone’s throw from Strada Maggiore & was honestly the best Airbnb experience we’ve ever had. It was spacious and clean, it had a balcony, it overlooked the blazing rooftops of the city, the kitchen was extremely well equipped for cooking, the bed was amazing, and there was a bathtub in the bedroom. The location was about an eight minute walk to the main square in the city. Basically: it. was. perfection. Added bonus: there was a totally adorable turtle roaming free in the courtyard below! We named him Sporo and had a really hard time leaving him behind. 

Albergo delle Drapperie  //  if you’re looking for something more central, you can’t really find anything better than this boutique hotel. It’s quite small, and it literally overlooks the bustling market stalls of the old town. If I remember correctly: the hotel is across the road from a beautiful flower shop (feast for your eyes), around the corner from Tamborini (feast for your belly), and a further few minutes walk from Osteria del Sole (feast for your Italian soul), which is kind of exactly where you want to be.

C O F F E E

Caffe Zanarini  //  for us, this is the Gilli of Bologna. The coffee is fantastic, the pastries are even better, and the space has that super Italian feel to it that just warms my heart. We normally nab a spot along the bar & enjoy our breakfast the true Italian way, but once in a while we treat ourselves to the somewhat extortionate prices for a table outside on the square. Let me tell you, it is always worth it, if even just for the people watching. (And pigeons.) A must-visit.  

E A T

Trattoria Serghei  //  three words: gramigna alla salsiccia. After ragu (duh), this is the dish of Bologna, and Serghei do it extremely well. It’s a small, traditionally run family joint that we find ourselves returning to time and time again. The food is always exceptional. We normally go for the ragu & the salsiccia pasta dishes to start, and then share a big hunk of meat as a main - the last time, it was an insanely tender pork shank that was about the same size as Boyfriend’s head. Amen to that! A must-visit. 

Osteria de Coltelli Da Biagio  //  a tiny bit further than some might be willing to venture, but the food is worth it. The dishes are on the larger, heartier side of things, and the meal as a whole was outstanding value for money! ... that said, we did notice the staff favoring the locals over tourists like us, but the quality of the food was high enough for us to let this slide. 

La Capriata  //  wandering along a covered archway off Strada Maggiore one day, we stumbled across LC & decided to stop in for a lazy lunch. We ate in the most beautiful sun-drenched courtyard, surrounded by lemon trees. The food was outstanding. It was super fresh - we had an amazing caprese salad that was beyond delicious - and perfectly traditional; I had an unforgettable ragu with homemade pasta served in a Parmesan bowl. A bowl made of Parmesan = the stuff of dreams! 

Pizza Regina  //  sometimes, you just need a pizza and you need it to be reliable. We opted for the less traditional take-out option and brought our meal with us to Osteria del Sole so we could have it with a beer. We ordered a custom made pizza - n’duja + mozzarella -  & devoured it within five minutes of sitting down. It was amazing! 

Lindt  //  I’m kind of a bit sorry/not sorry for including this in my list. Listen, just hear me out: we had delicious chocolate gelato in the most amazing chocolate hazelnut dipped cones and it was worth every single penny. I regret nothing. 

La Sorbetteria Castiglione  //  for a more authentic gelato experience, we always trek a little bit out of our way and it never disappoints. Our faves are the pistacchio and nocciola!

D R I N K

Osteria del Sole  //  definitely one of our favourite places in all of Bologna. According to my notes, it’s the oldest osteria in the region - 1465 apparently! - and it is so bloody brilliant in it’s simplicity. You make your way through the market streets, buy some antipasti goods in the nearby market, bring it into Osteria del Sole, buy a drink to go with it, and have your lunch picnic style alongside locals at one of the long communal tables. It is fantastic. An experience not to be missed: a must-visit. 

Osteria I’Infedele  //  a recent find. Similar in style to Osteria del Sole in that it was small, filled with locals, cheap & relaxed, but it had a more youthful vibe to it and a wider drinks selection of cocktails etc. 

RosaRose  //  located on Via Clavature, this is a fantastic spot for people watching. Boyfriend & I sat outside for hours one evening, listening to a nearby street musician, soaking up the atmosphere, enjoying the free platter of food that came with our spritzs, watching the sky change from blue to pink to dusk. Perfection. To experience the true Bologna vibe, this is a must-visit. 

Enoteca Italiana  //  a beautiful wine shop that has a small amount of barrels & stools for dining on. We enjoyed some wine with a delicious meat & cheese platter on one of our first visits, and have since returned for breakfast & coffee. 

Bar Senza Nome  //  a fantastically vibrant bar, located on a buzzy street lined with heaps of similar places. However! This one, apparently, is the only bar in Italy that is run & managed by deaf people. It’s amazing! You go in & the walls are lined with how-to sign language photos for ordering your drink! If you aren’t brave enough, the barmaids read your lips and that’s equally as amazing. Such a fantastic experience. Added bonus: you can eat your weight in free monkey nuts while drinking extremely cheap spritzs! Probably our favourite bar in the world. A must-visit. 

Birreria Popolare  //  a hipster craft beer place that was located conveniently near to our apartment. We were drawn in by the beer emoji sign out front, and we sampled some nice Italian beer. Added bonus: if you’re lucky enough to visit at the right time (we were), you get a free platter of food with your drinks!

Le Stanze  //  I kind of liked the thought of this bar more than I actually enjoyed our experience there. It’s located inside an old chapel from the 16th century, and there are original frescoes still lining the walls & the ceilings. It was cool to see the artwork, but there was nothing distinctly Italian about the place. It was overpriced, and too touristy for our tastes.

M U S E U M S  +  A T T R A C T I O N S

Palazzo dell’Archiginnasio  //  one of the most magical, dreamlike buildings I’ve ever visited - somewhat reminiscent of Hogwarts. Boyfriend & I spent ages wandering back and forth along the arched passageways, but the real draw (and the part you have to pay into) is the wooden Teatro Anatomico from the 17th century, where they used to hold anatomy lessons. Worth the €3!

Santa Maria della Vita  //  the lure of this church, although pretty beautiful in its own right, is actually a fantastic group of wooden sculptures hidden in the back. They charge a measly €4 to see the group, but it’s certainly worth it: the scene depicted is the moment that Jesus dies, and honestly they are some of the most expressive pieces of art we’ve seen.

La Due Torri  //  yes, it’s very steep, and yes, it’s claustrophobic.. but it’s worth it for the breathtaking views over the terracotta rooftops of Bologna. Added bonus: it’s super cheap! A must-visit. 

Palazzo Fava  //  a renaissance palace & art gallery space. The very first time we went to Bologna together, we saw an amazing Edward Hopper exhibition here, so it’s definitely worth checking upcoming shows just in case!

Museo Civico Archeologico  //  fantastic archaeology museum to wander around if you find yourself looking for something to do. Particular highlights for us were the beautiful building itself, and the Egyptian exhibition.

P L A C E S   T O   S E E   +   T H I N G S   T O   D O

Market shopping  //  wandering along the tiny streets around Via Drapperie and Via Pescherie Vecchie, you get a real feel for the Bologna lifestyle. The flower shops, the fish stalls, the butchers, the cheese-mongers, we love it all. Our favourite places to stop into for some goodies are Tamburini & Simoni, both of which are reliably great. Definitely a must-visit.

Basilica di San Petronio  //  the central basilica in the middle of Piazza Maggiore. A beautiful internal space, much bigger than it looks from the outside. Note: if you want to take photographs inside the church, you have to pay a small fee. 

R E L A T E D   P O S T S :

Bremen, Germany  //  Paris, France  //  Amsterdam, Holland   //  Copenhagen, Denmark  //  Cork, Ireland  //  Edinburgh, Scotland  //  Westport, Ireland  //  Barcelona, Spain  //  Munich, Germany  //  Vienna, Austria  //  London, UK i - ii - iii  //  Florence, Italy

[fairyshuuu]

A star like her (M)

Genre: Pure angst Length: 3.8k Warning: mature topics, mentions of scary stuff (I don’t want to spoil it)

Mon 12 Sep

Erika Montgomery is not available at the moment. Please leave a message after the beep. Hey Erika! I just wanted to ask how far out you were, since I’m waiting for you at the bridge. Bring your math assignment.

Tue 26 Sep

Erika Montgomery is not available at the moment. Please leave a message after the beep. Hey Erika. Uhm, you should really stop putting your phone on airplane mode. Anyway, I ran into the new kid at school today. I literally ran straight into him. Before you say anything, that is not funny. I’m just glad we both didn’t get hurt. I’ll tell you the details when you arrive. So hurry your late ass up.

Fri 30 Sep

To Eripoo << Bring my straightener. (16:15)

Thursday 6 Oct

Erika Montgomery is not available at the moment. Please leave a message after the beep. Erika, hey. I need to tell you something. I ran into the new kid again. Well, not actually into him this time. I just saw him at the grocery store. His name is Kyungsoo. Either way, are you coming tonight or not? Because if you are, we can drive with Max.

Sat 29 Oct

New contact added: Do Kyungsoo

Erika Montgomery is not available at the moment. Please leave a message after the beep. Hey Erika. I just got home. I’m too drunk to be mad at you right now, so I’ll just let you know that I’m fine. Kyungsoo walked me home. He’s nice. Anyway, I hope you and Max had a great time, because you ruined mine.

2 new voice-mails Do you want to listen to your new voice-mail? Yes.

New voice-mail from 754-3010 left at 03:43 Hey. I- I’m sorry. I’m glad you got home safe. I guess you already went to sleep since you didn’t pick up. I’ll make it up to you, I promise. Coffee on me tomorrow. And I’ll pay the game’s tickets. Deal?

New voice-mail from 754-3010 left at 03:48 I forgot to say that you left your laptop at my house again. I’ll bring it around tomorrow.

Sun 30 Oct

To Eripoo << I’ll forgive you (09:56) << I have a horrible headache. (09:57) >> Meet at five? (10:02) << Yup. (10:15)

Erika Montgomery is not available at the moment. Please leave a message after the beep. I swear to God, Erika! You told me you would meet me at David’s, and then you let me wait there for more than an hour before telling me you can’t make it. I honestly don’t care about your excuse this time.

1 new voice-mail Do you want to listen to your new voice-mail? Yes.

New voice-mail from 754-3010 left at 19:12 I’m really sorry. Please forgive me. I’m your best friend, you know you love me. Max and I were hanging out and I fell asleep. That’s not an excuse, it’s the truth. I’m sorry, Bambi, really.

To Do Kyungsoo << Just wanted to say thank you (20:02) << You saved my ass (20:03) << Again (20:05) >> It’s fine. (20:17) >> Just treat me to coffee some time (20:18) >> I just read that back, I didn’t mean like that (20:39) << I’ll treat you to coffee any day (20:41)

Mon 31 Oct

To Erika

>> Are we still meeting after school? (12:09)

Do Kyungsoo is not available at the moment. Please leave a message after the beep. Hey, Kyungsoo. I was wondering if you are still in the city, because I missed my bus, and I have to wait two and a half hours before my next one comes. If you hear this, let me know.

To Kyungsoo << Now that we’re even (19:56) << I want to hear the rest of the story with Baekhyun (19:57)

1 new voice-mail Do you want to listen to your new voice-mail? Yes.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 20:19 Hey. Where did I leave off? Oh, right- So, after he asked the waitress for extra cinnamon, extra ginger, extra chocolate, he decides he’s suddenly full, and wants to ask her to take it back. She was really not impressed, and I’m pretty sure she charged him three times what the coffee costed. Now, you go. How did the nickname Bambi come around?

To Kyungsoo << I’ll call you (20:31)

Wed 2 Nov

1 new voice-mail Do you want to listen to your new voice-mail? Yes.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 16:26 I’ll pick you up around six, okay? I just- this place is really nice, I think you would like it.

Erika Montgomery is not available at the moment. Please leave a message after the beep. I just got back from a date with Kyungsoo. I don’t know if you knew I was going on a date or not. Either way, he told me that I should try to talk things out, because you are my best friend and this silent treatment isn’t making me less mad, so… I guess he’s right. You can come over if you want, the back door is open, like always. My mom is making meatloaf.

Tue 8 Nov

To Soo >> Hey (13:54) << why are you texting me? (13:54) << i’m right next to you (13:55) >> i want to pretend that I’m busy (13:56) << why? (13:57) >> so that bacon leaves us alone (13:59) << the poor thing (14:00) << he just wants your attention soo (14:00) >> i’m not dealing with his shit (14:02) >> where are you going? (14:02) >> bambi (14:05) >> come back (14:06)

Sat 19 Nov

To Soo << I saw Erika and Max in the city today (15:28) >> and? (15:45) >> what she say? (15:46) << she gave me a head nod (15:52) >> that’s it? (15:55) << yup (15:59) >> i’m sorry (16:08) << don’t be (16:11) << i don’t want to disturb the lovebirds (16:12) >> are you talking about us? (16:14) << shut up (16:15) >> wanna go on another date? (16:19) << ask me properly and we’ll see, loverboy (16:22)

1 new voice-mail Do you want to listen to your new voice-mail? Yes.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 21:49 I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have kissed you in front of the guys. It was stupid. I’m sorry for making you feel uncomfortable. But they weren’t laughing at you at all, if that is what you are worried about. They were laughing at me. Please pick up. I want to talk to you.

Sun 4 Dec

To Soo💜 << come over I miss you (21:37) >> be there in five (21:41)

Fri 23 Dec

1 new voice-mail Do you want to listen to your new voice-mail? Yes.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 16:23 I forgot to tell you to be careful. Have fun. Don’t break any bones, because I won’t carry you everywhere. And next time, I’m coming with you. I can snowboard too. Call me when you get at the hotel.

Fri 30 Dec

To Soo💜 >> welcome home, dork (18:25) >> i missed you (18:25) << dinner is ready (18:29) << hurry your cute ass in here (18:30) >> 2 min away (18:31)

Thu 5 Jan

Do Kyungsoo is not available at the moment. Please leave a message after the beep. My mom keeps asking for you. I think she kinda likes the idea of me with a boyfriend. Or maybe she just likes you. Anyway, I’m gonna go study at David’s. I’ll be there the entire afternoon, so if you want to drop by.

Sun 15 Jan

Erika Montgomery is not available at the moment. Please leave a message after the beep. Hey. We haven’t talked in a while… I just wanted to ask some advice. I would ask Soo but it’s about him so I don’t think he can help much. Uhm… I- We went to the other side of the river yesterday. You know, that place where the fence is broken? We were lying on his car, looking at the lights and stuff. And then he kissed my hair and I just said it. It was barely above a whisper, but I think he heard it anyway. He didn’t say anything back. Do I just pretend like I didn’t say anything? Or- ...Because I mean it, you know. I really love him.

Fri 24 Feb

Do Kyungsoo is not available at the moment. Please leave a message after the beep. Hey, babe. I called to say that I have a new phone, I forgot you’re at practice right now. Anyhow, after your piano, let’s hang out, alright?

Sat 25 Feb

1 new voice-mail Do you want to listen to your new voice-mail? Yes.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 22:14 We learned this new song on the piano yesterday, and it made me think of you. I’ll record it and send it to you, or maybe I can let you hear it when I come over. Study well, don’t forget to take a break. I know you.

Wed 3 May

To Soo💜 << my new phone fell (15:48) << it’s totally broken (15:48) << back to using my old one (15:48) >> okay (16:25) >> wanna go grab a coffee (16:25) >> i’ll call you (16:27)

Fri 5 May

6 new voice-mails Do you want to listen to your new voice-mail? Yes.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 22:14 Your mom called me. Are you alright? I- I don’t really know what to do… I’m gonna call you again, bye.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 22:27 Bambi, can you pick up your phone if you hear this. Your mom is super worried, and I am too.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 22:43 Bam, baby? I- uhm- I called your mom again, but she doesn’t know where you are either. I don’t know if these are reaching you.

New voice-mail from 754-3777 left at 22:48 Honey? This is mom. Where are you? You should have been home by now. I’m calling your dad. If you hear this, call me.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 23:26 Just trying again. Call me, please.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 23:49 Your mom called the police. I’m fucking worried about you, Bam. Where are you?

Sat 6 May

15 new voice-mails Do you want to listen to your new voice-mail? Yes.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 04:05 I can’t sleep, so I’m just calling to see if you would pick up.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 04:54 Your mom came around last night… or this morning, I guess. She was crying. My mom started calling around too. We’re all worried about you.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 06:53 I didn’t sleep much, I was too worried. I’m going to walk the road you walked last night, to see if I can find something… Bye.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 07:36 I didn’t find anything. I don’t really know why I called you to tell you that…

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 16:02 The police can only start looking for you when 24 hours have passed. It’s been 21 hours so far, so… I- I don’t know why I keep calling you. I just keep thinking that you might pick up any second. Your mom has been crying all day. I feel so bad for her.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 18:56 Police just came around my house, to ask questions. I asked what I could do and they said that there wasn’t much I could do except keep calling, so I will.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 21:45 I drank and now I’m kinda driving myself crazy. What if you got kidnapped? What if some guy pulled you in an alley and hurt you? W- What do I do then? I- I- I’ve been thinking Bambi. We both know me, ever the pessimist. I looked it up, you know. How many people get found alive. Guess how much. Four percent. Four percent get’s found alive after 72 hours.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 22:03 Bambi? Did you get hurt walking home from mine? You did, right? You were walking back home from my house. I- What am I supposed to do, Bam? I don’t-

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 22:05 I hung up by accident. I just wanted to say that I miss you. And I love you. Come back home please.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 22:53 Sorry. I just wanted to hear your stupid voice-mail message again.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 22:58 ‘Hey, it’s Bambi. I’m not at home right now, I’m busy being awesome. Call back later.’ That’s what you sound like.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 23:05 It’s already been a day. An entire day.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 23:18 I thought about it again. What if you just decided to take a spontaneous trip to Paris like you always said you would. I could see it happening. You just getting home and throwing some clothes into a bag, grabbing some money and setting off. Sounds like you, right? You always do stupid shit like that. I asked. Your mom checked but there were no clothes missing. I think I’ll still believe that for the time being, though.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 23:46 My mom asked me how I was doing when I came out of my room earlier, and I broke down. Do you know that I can’t remember the last time I cried. But when she asked, I just started crying like that. I think it’s because I miss you. But maybe because I’m already assuming the worst. I just want you to come home now.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 23:56 I’m gonna go to sleep now, but I put my sound on the loudest it can go, so if you call, I’ll be here to pick up.

Sun 7 May

4 new voice-mails Do you want to listen to your new voice-mail? Yes.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 12:24 I had a nightmare. It was stupid, really. You wanna know? You always wanna know about my dreams. We were driving down the road at night in my car and suddenly, you kiss me and get out of the car. I don’t know why that terrified me so much. I think the image of you walking away from me was too much to think about right now.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 19:58 The police called your mom. They found your wallet hidden behind a dumpster in the alley opposite the music shop. I don’t know why I’m telling you this, because you’d know where your wallet would be, but I felt like telling you. I asked what that meant, you know, that they found a wallet but not you, but your mom started crying so I shut up. I’ll ask later. Maybe tomorrow.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 20:22 My mom told me I don’t have to go to school if I don’t want to, but I think I’m gonna go. I can’t get in the way of the police, they said. I can’t just sit around all day. If I go to class, maybe that’ll take my mind off of you.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 22:01 I love you.

Mon 8 May

3 new voice-mails 56 missed calls from unknown Do you want to listen to your new voice-mail? Yes.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 14:09 The teacher announced your disappearance in class today. I wanted to punch him in the face because he did, but he had to. Police told him to tell the class, so that everyone would look out for you. Erika cried when she heard. I think Erika might be the only person who understands what I’m going through right now, but even she doesn’t understand like I do. I thought about you the entire day, but that was because people kept asking me questions about you. They’ll be calling when they get the chance, I’m sure. I’m going to go to David’s after school. Meet me there if you hear this, okay?

New voice-mail from 754-3010 left at 16:12 Bambi! Hello, Bambi?! Oh my God, what the fuck?! Bambi? Hello, Bam? What the fucking shi-

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 22:34 I love you. Goodnight, Bam.

Tue 9 May

1 new voice-mail Do you want to listen to your new voice-mail? Yes.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 17:35 I broke my hand. I punched the shit out of this kid that was walking by and laughing at the situation. I had to go to the principal's office and he said I should be grateful that he didn’t send me to the police since I’m over eighteen. Doesn’t that make you mad? Because it made me so mad that I punched a brick wall. I don’t want to see anyone anymore. No one understands.

Wed 10 May

2 new voice-mails Do you want to listen to your new voice-mail? Yes.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 19:16 I’m sorry. I was feeling all sorry for myself, but this isn’t about me. It’s about you.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 23:21 Do you remember that night where I ran over to your house and woke you up, and you went out of the window? And we got in my car and we just drove all the way down the empty highway to find some pizza? Do you remember that? I remember that night, because when you fell asleep on the way back, I looked at you. I looked at you, and I saw that I loved you. That was the first time I realized it. I love you… I’m sorry. I’m sorry for not telling you that I did… Just give me a chance to tell you. That’s all I want.

Fri 12 May

2 new voice-mails Do you want to listen to your new voice-mail? Yes.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 04:01 My phone died yesterday, and I didn’t charge it. I’m sorry. But you didn’t call, so…

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 22:56 You’re one of four percent by now. I just always thought that if someone could be found, it would be you. Because you’re one out of a million. So one out of four percent should be easy.

Tue 16 May

1 new voice-mail Do you want to listen to your new voice-mail? Yes.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 10:52 I know your phone is dead by now, but hearing your voice-mail is the only thing keeping me sane at the moment. I miss you so much, I can’t explain how much I miss you. Do you know that ever since I paid your coffee the day Erika stood you up, we’ve never gone longer than three days without seeing each other? Except from when you went snowboarding. It’s been eleven days now. That’s the longest I’ve ever gone without you, and my chest hurts. I think it might be the coffee. But it might as well be you because I miss you that much.

Fri 19 May

1 new voice-mail Do you want to listen to your new voice-mail? Yes.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 22:13 The police have stopped actively looking for you, since it’s been two weeks. Seems that they think it’s over right now. Your mom called my mom to tell me and my mom started crying. My mom is a happy person all the time, you know that, so seeing her cry really made me think. I- I love you, Bambi, but you’re not coming home, are you?

Thu 25 May

3 new voice-mails Do you want to listen to your new voice-mail? Yes.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 03:48 The night where you and I were making pancakes at four in the morning. That’s my third favorite night with you. When you stuffed your face with those pancakes, moaning like you hadn’t tasted food in 3 months and I told you to be quiet because you would wake my parents up. That night. I had never laughed so hard in my entire life. I wished I had kissed you like that more. You tasted like maple syrup. I probably did too, but you didn’t care. You kissed me like there was no tomorrow, and in that moment, there really wasn’t. You have gold in your eyes, you know that? You always say your eyes are just brown, but there’s gold in there. And green around the edges. I don’t know why I thought about that, but I want to tell you. Every part of you is so beautifully complex, and you don’t even see it.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 03:59 I had to think about this one, but I got it. My second favorite night was the day we made love for the first time. It was your first time, but you weren’t shy or scared. You just told me that you wanted all of me. I don’t think I’ve ever been more turned on then at that moment. When your skin touched mine, I felt like I was burning up. Like your touch sent me up in flames. You were so beautiful. I remember every touch like it happened yesterday, that’s how much I loved you in that moment. I was glad it was in my bed, and not yours, because you looked too perfect surrounded by me. Everything in that room was mine, until you touched it. From the moment you touched it, it was yours, and you knew it. You just stole one of my shirts that night and I never wanted to see you in anything else anymore. I wish I had told you that day, how much I love you.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 04:05 My favorite night was one where you told me you loved me. You just blurted it out like it was no big deal. You chained my heart to yours that night. I froze, because it doesn’t come that easy for me. I didn’t know what to say, so I just pushed my face to your neck. I knew I loved you back then, I had for a long time. But I didn’t tell you, and I think I might regret that for the rest of my life.

Sun 4 Jun

1 new voice-mail Do you want to listen to your new voice-mail? Yes.

New voice-mail from 754-6589 left at 22:13 I think I have to stop calling you, Bambi. I think I have to stop calling you. Your mom is going to deactivate your number, since they found you in the river this morning.

Thank you so much for reading!!!

© gif source

[captainswanluver]

CS FF: Donut I Know You?

Summary:  Officer Rogers knows the stereotypes about cops and donuts all too well.  The fact that he detests the sweet treat is a constant source of teasing by his fellow officers.  But when a beautiful blonde woman who seems so familiar opens a donut shop across the street from the station, he finds himself visiting it everyday.

 Rating: G

 Note: So if Jen had stayed for season 7, I assume she would have ended up in Hyperion Heights with a cursed persona too.  As much as I wouldn’t have liked that she and Killian wouldn’t remember each other, I would have loved to see them meet and fall in love all over again.  So this is my take on that.  Oh and I know the title is super cheesy, but it fits and I think Colin would approve.  So if it’s good enough for Colin, then it’s good enough for me!  I hope you enjoy it!  ~Steph

...Donut I Know You? - Part 1/1...

Officer James Rogers stared out the window of the police station as the lights on the sign of the brand new donut shop flickered on for the first time.  

Truth be told, he hated donuts.  He loathed the artery clogging sweet treat.  They were either too greasy or too dry.  He also knew the stereotype about cops and donuts very well.  His fellow officers never missed an opportunity to tease him about his dislike for the confection.  He usually smiled and patted their little bellies, telling them the last thing they needed was to feed into the stereotype.  Now, with a donut shop right across the street, he was sure no work would get done and the entire force would soon have trouble fitting into their uniforms.

His partner, Officer Lou Johnson, came to stand beside him.  He had about 20 years and 30 pounds on him.  

“Today’s the day,” he said staring at the shop like it was a long lost lover.  

Rogers tapped his protruding belly.  “Mate, the last thing you need is more donuts.”

Johnson swatted him away.  “Hey, just because you’re the one cop, probably person, on the planet who doesn't like donuts, doesn't mean you need to ruin it for the rest of us.”

“Apologies if I’m more fond of my clear arteries and low cholesterol.”

Johnson slapped him on the back.  “Well, it doesn't change the fact that it’s your turn to get the donuts today.”

Rogers sighed.  Every Monday morning, the officers took turns buying two dozen donuts.  Normally, they went to a shop a few blocks away, but this was certainly more convenient.

“Better hurry up before a line starts forming.”

Rogers nodded and headed out the door.

…

He had to admit that the shop was nicely done.  The storefront was painted a rainbow of colors and a huge donut sat above a sign that read:  Heavenly Donuts

He pulled the door open and stepped inside, smiling at the decor.  The walls were painted a cheery yellow and the tables were done in bright pastels.  A huge glass case filled with every variety of donut you could imagine sat at the front.  Rogers approached the case, bending his head and perusing the flavors.

“How can I help you?” he heard come from in front of him.

Rogers lifted his head and met the gaze of the most stunning woman he had ever laid eyes on.  His breath caught in his chest for a moment and his heart began to pound as his eyes swept across her face.  And then his brow furrowed for a moment as he felt this overwhelming sense of familiarity.  Had they met before?

Her blonde hair cascaded around her shoulders as she leaned forward.  “Hey, are you okay?”

He nodded, their gazes locking and holding. “Aye.”

It was her turn to be rendered speechless as she got lost in his blue eyes and the same sweeping sense of familiarity.  

Her eyes narrowed at him.  “Have we met before?” she asked.  “You seem really familiar.”

In spite of himself, Rogers found himself shaking his head. “No, love, there's no chance I’d ever forget you.”

The woman blushed, a shy smile lighting up her face.  She extended her hand.  

“Well, in that case, let me introduce myself.  Elle Cygnus.  I’m the owner.”

Rogers slipped his hand into hers, his eyes widening as a spark seemed to ignite his entire arm.  Elle felt the same thing, but neither pulled away.

“James Rogers.” He hooked a thumb behind him.  “Seems we’re neighbors.”

Elle nodded with a smile at the police station.  “Ah, yes.  Well, it isn't a coincidence I chose to open up my shop right across the street from a police station.”

Rogers chuckled.  “Aye, I am well aware of the stereotype.”

Elle’s eyes flickered down his toned body appreciatively, his uniform accentuating it in all the right places.

“From the looks of it, you certainly don’t seem to indulge very often.”

Rogers opened his mouth to tell her he detested the sweet treats, but then thought better of it.  

“Well, as with anything, moderation is the key.”

Elle nodded.  “Words to live by.  So what can I get you?”

“Two dozen donuts.”

“Any kinds in particular?”

“A variety.  Surprise me.”

Elle smiled as she grabbed a box and began filling it.  She then moved to the register to ring him up.

“Lucky for you, we have a special police officer discount of 20% off.”

“That's very kind of you.”

“And smart,” she said with a laugh.

She gave him the total and he paid her as he picked up the box.  It was then that Elle noticed his gloved left hand and how stiff it seemed to be as he placed it beneath the box.  She assumed it must be a prosthetic and wondered how he had lost his hand.  It wasn’t everyday you met a one-handed police officer.

“It was nice meeting you, Officer Rogers,” she said.

He gave her a grin.  “The pleasure was all mine.”

Elle watched him leave and kept watching until he disappeared from view into the station.

…

The next day, Rogers found himself gravitating towards the donut shop before his shift.  It wasn't as if they sold any other pastry or even coffee.  It was only donuts.  And since he hated them and it wasn't his turn to buy them again for quite some time, he had no reason to go anywhere near it.  

He stopped in his tracks outside the shop's window, his eyes gravitating towards Elle.  She was smiling as she helped a customer and it made his heart race.  

Well, there was one reason to go into the shop and he was staring at her.  He’d had Elle on his mind all last night.  He couldn't shake the feeling that they had met before.  And he certainly couldn't deny the spark and instant connection he’d felt towards her.  

He found himself heading to the door and walking inside.  Elle’s head snapped up as soon as he entered, her smile widening at the sight of him.  She’d had a similar experience last night.  The handsome officer had occupied her every thought and she was hoping she'd see him again soon.

“Officer, so nice to see you again.”

“Well, I can't let that generous discount go to waste, now can I?”

Elle chuckled as he came to stand in front of the case.  As donuts go, he had to admit hers looked and smelled better than most.  They didn't look greasy or dry.

“One chocolate coconut,” he said.

Elle nodded, pulled the donut out of the case, and placed it in a bag. She rung him up and handed him the treat.

“Have a good day.  I hope to see you again soon.”

Rogers nodded, wanting to prolong their time together, but unable to think of how and he also knew he needed to get to the station to start his shift.

“Count on it, love,” he said with a grin and then exited the shop.

He walked across the street and into the station.  He found Johnson standing at the window, staring at the shop.

“Are you going to stand there for the rest of your life?” Rogers asked him.

He shook his head. “No, I was just wondering why a man who claims to detest donuts just visited a donut shop again.”

He handed the bag to Johnson.

“Here you go, mate.”

His brow furrowed. “You bought me a donut?  Why?”

Rogers shrugged. “Can’t an officer buy his partner a donut for no reason?”

“Not in my experience,” he replied.  Johnson looked back out the window, a smile slipping across his lips in realization.  “Ah, I get it now.  You wanted to see that beautiful blonde owner again.”

Rogers dropped his eyes and replied weakly. “That's bloody ridiculous.”

Rogers opened the bag, pulled the donut out, and took a huge bite.  “Whatever you say.”  He paused for a moment and then added with his mouth full. “Tomorrow, I’d like a jelly-filled one.”

Rogers opened his mouth to reply, but then snapped it shut.

…

Elle tapped her fingernails on the glass counter as she stared out the window, hoping to catch sight of him at any moment.  She glanced down at her watch and just as she did, she heard the door open.  She lifted her head and smiled at him, desperately trying to ignore the way her heart raced every time she saw him and how she seemed to feel a connection to him deep inside that she couldn't explain.

“I think you are quickly becoming my best customer,” she said.

He offered her a bright smile.  “Well, I do like to support small business owners.”

This time, Rogers was determined to prolong his visit.  He just needed a reason to stay a little longer.  He looked in the case and pointed.  

“One chocolate strawberry to go and one for here.”

Elle bagged one and placed another on a plate.  Rogers paid and then sat down at a table.  

“So how long have you been baking?” he asked.

Elle rounded the corner and, as there were no other customers at the moment, sat down across from him.  

“I’ve loved baking since I was kid, but I just kind of fell into the donut business.”

“And how did that happen?”

Elle shrugged. “I’m a single mother.  I have a seven year old daughter.  I would bake donuts for her birthday parties and school bake sales.”

Daughter, he thought.  Why did that word evoke such a feeling in him?

“And the other moms always said they were so good.  They started asking me to bake for their parties.  I worked in retail, so baking was always my escape when I came home after a long day.  I started charging a small fee and I did so well that I decided to start selling to local coffee shops.  They loved the donuts so much that I started to think that maybe I could have my own business.  So I saved for a long time and finally opened this place.”

Rogers nodded, smiling at her.  “Well, that is certainly a success story.”

She shrugged.  “We’ll see.  Most small businesses fail within the first year.  We’ve had a bit of a slow start.”  

“I have nothing but the utmost confidence in you, love,” he said.

Elle smiled and shook her head, feeling as if he'd said very similar words to her countless times before.  

His brow furrowed at her strange expression.  “Are you okay?”

Elle nodded. “Yeah, I just got this strange deja vu, like you’ve said something like that to me before.  Weird.”

Rogers bobbed his head, but, truth be told, he felt like he’d said similar encouraging words to her a thousand times before.  

Elle gestured to his untouched donut. “Aren't you going to eat your donut?”

Rogers glanced down at the forgotten treat. “Oh, I'm...uh...afraid it will have to wait until later.  I really must be going or I will be late for my shift.”

Elle nodded as they both stood.  “See you tomorrow?” she asked hopefully.

He flashed her a grin, but didn't reply as he exited the shop.  He walked across the street and again found Johnson standing at the window.  He held out his hand expectantly and Rogers placed the bag in it.

“Jelly-filled as requested.”

He peered in the bag, his eyes lighting up at the sight of two donuts. “Wow, what did I do to deserve not one, but two donuts?”

Rogers didn't reply.

“Or maybe the second donut was just a ruse so you had an excuse to sit down and talk to the beautiful blonde owner.”

“Her name’s Elle,” he replied.  

But even as he said the name he couldn't shake the feeling that it didn't fit her.  He’d often had the same strange feeling about his own name.

“Elle,” Johnson said.  “And I’m guessing she doesn't realize you detest the very thing she is trying to make a living on.”

Rogers shook his head, as Johnson grinned.

“Of course she doesn't.  Then you'd have no excuse to visit her shop everyday, now would you?”

Rogers dropped his eyes to the ground, but again didn't reply.

…

Elle adjusted her hair in the glass of the display case, just as Rogers walked in.  

“Good morning, love,” he said.

She felt her heart to do a little flip in her chest at the way he said ‘love’ and she was certain she had experienced that feeling many times before.

“Good morning.  What can I get you today?”

Johnson had requested cream filled today.  He pointed.

“One Boston Creme please.”

As Elle bagged the donut, a blonde little girl of about seven came running out from behind the counter.

“Mommy, I’m hungry,” she announced.  

Rogers found himself staring at the little girl and her sparkling blue eyes that seemed to match his.  He felt a wave of familiarly wash over him just as it had when he had met her mother.  

“Okay, you can have a donut for breakfast just this once.”

“Yay!” she cheered, as she stuck her head in the case and plucked a chocolate frosted donut with sprinkles out.  

Rogers couldn't take his eyes off of her.  Elle noticed him watching her.

“Oh, I’m so sorry.  This is my daughter, Avery.  Avery, this is Officer Rogers.”

The little girl looked at him, her nose wrinkling.  “Do I know you?  You look familiar.”

Rogers forced himself to shake his head. “No, just like your mother, I don't think I could ever forget you.”

Her eyes scanned him as she took a huge bite out of the donut.  “You’re a real cop?”

He nodded and flicked his badge.  “That I am.”

“Cool!”

“Have you ever shot anyone?” she asked through a mouthful of donut.

“Avery!” her mother scolded.  

Rogers laughed. “It's okay.  I get it all the time.  No, I’ve never shot anyone.”

Avery’s gaze moved to his prosthetic hand.  It was covered with a glove, but there was no mistaking it for a real hand.

Her eyebrows darted upward and she pointed to his left hand. “What’s wrong with your hand?”

Elle sighed.  “Avery, don’t be rude.”  She turned to Rogers.  “I’m sorry, she’s usually really shy around strangers, but she seems to be completely comfortable around you for some reason.  Too comfortable.”

Rogers shook his head. “Not to worry, love.  It’s a natural question.”  

He pulled his glove off and showed Avery his prosthetic hand.

“I lost my hand, so I have a fake one now.”

He could tell she wanted to ask what had happened to his hand, but resisted.

“Sorry about your hand,” she said softly.

“Thank you, love,” he replied with a smile.

She seemed to get distracted then and went back to eating her donut.

Elle shook her head.  “I’m sorry about that.  She has off from school today because of teacher professional development. I have an elderly neighbor who usually watches her for me, but she was sick today.  I feel bad making her spend her day off here.”

Rogers eyes sparkled with an idea.  “What if I said I could liven up her day a bit?”

“How?”

“A tour of the police station if it's okay with you.”

Avery jumped up and down.  “Yes, please, Mommy!”

Elle nodded. “Okay, but be good and be polite.”

“Can I ride in your police car and run the siren and lights?”

Rogers laughed and shook his head. “I’m afraid it's against department regulations to allow children on ride-alongs.  But I can allow you to sit in it and run the siren and lights.”

“Yay!”

Avery slipped her hand in his and Rogers felt that same spark sweep through his arm as when her mother had done the same.  It seemed so natural and familiar to hold her hand.  Elle smiled at the sight, feeling that same wave of familiarity, like she had seen them together like that a thousand times before.

…

They walked across the street and Rogers opened the passenger side door.

“Get in, love,” he said.

Avery climbed in, her eyes widening in awe.  “Wow!”

Rogers smiled as he climbed in the other side.  He started the car, but left it in park.  He pointed to a switch.

“This runs the siren.  Go ahead.”

She flicked it up and then grinned as the sound filled her ears.  He pointed to another switch.  “And this is for the lights.”

She pushed it up and the lights turned on.  Avery put the window down and stuck her head through it so she could see the lights.  “Wow!  So cool!”

Rogers grinned at her delight.  After a few moments, he turned the the lights, siren, and car off.  He helped her out of the car, smiling as she slipped her hand back in his.

From her shop, Elle watched them, a smile upon her face.  Avery was usually shy around strangers, but once she got to know you, there was no stopping her.  But it had been different with him.  It was like she had known him her whole life.  She had never seen her take to a stranger like that before.

…

They entered the station and came to stand in front of Officer Johnson.  

“Avery, this is my partner, Officer Johnson.”

“Nice to meet you, Avery,” he said shaking her hand.

She tilted her head and then stuck her finger out, poking him in his ample belly. “I bet you like my Mommy’s donuts.”

Johnson’s eyes widened, as Rogers stifled a laugh.  

“Out of the mouths of babes,” Rogers said.

Avery dropped her eyes. “Sorry, that was mean.  Mommy said be polite.”

Rogers nodded. “It’s okay, he happens to adore your mother’s donuts.  Come on, let's go.”

He then led her throughout the station.  “This is where you report a crime.   That over there is called the holding cell.”

“That’s where the bad guys go,” she said.

“That’s right.”

He showed her the briefing room and the interrogation room.  He then brought her to the booking room.  

“This is where we take the prisoner’s fingerprints and mugshot.”

Avery jumped up and down. “Can you take my fingerprints and mugshot?”

Rogers laughed.  “Of course.”

He took her fingerprints and let her keep the card.  Then he took her mugshot, complete with a gap toothed smile.  He handed her a Polaroid of her mugshot.

“I do believe you're the cutest prisoner we've ever had,” he said.

Avery laughed and placed her hand in his again.

…

“Mommy! Mommy!” Avery yelled, as she ran in the door, waving her picture and card.  “Look what I got!”

Elle came out from behind the counter.  “Wow, fingerprints and a mugshot.  So I’m guessing you had fun then?”

She nodded.  “Yes!”  She turned to Rogers. “Thank you, Officer Rogers!”

“It was my pleasure.”

“Okay, go in my office and work on your homework,” Elle said.

Avery ran off and Elle turned back to him. “Thank you.  I haven't seen her that excited in a long time.”

Rogers smiled and nodded. “She's a wonderful little girl.  You’ve done a great job with her.  I’m sure it hasn't been easy doing it alone.”

Elle shrugged. “No, but I’m used to it.  Her father has been out of the picture since before she was born.”

Even as Elle said the words they didn't feel true.  She often experienced moments like that when sharing parts of her life with someone.  It was as if she was telling a story.

Rogers shook his head, as he met her eyes and said softly. “Well, that is certainly his loss.”

As he said the word loss, he felt a pit grow in his stomach.  It’s the feeling that comes with missing something.  He’d had that feeling many times before, but could never explain it.  

Elle found herself getting lost in his eyes.  She swallowed hard and hooked a thumb behind her.  “I better get back to work.”

“As should I,” he said backpedaling toward the door.

“See you tomorrow,” she said, but this time it was a statement, not a question.

He grinned.  “See you tomorrow, love.”

…

Rogers paused for a moment outside the door, just watching her.  She was wiping the counter, her head bent, as her blonde hair swayed around her shoulders.  He could look at her all day and never tire of it.  He finally entered the shop and her head whipped up, a bright smile appearing on her face.

“Good morning,” she said.

“Morning, love,” he replied as he approached the counter.  “French cruller, please,” he said.

Elle pulled it out, bagged it, and then rung him up.

“Thank you again for yesterday,” she said, handing him the bag,  “Avery could talk of nothing else for the rest of the day.”

He smiled. “I’m glad I could brighten her day a bit.”

“You were so good with her and I can't get over how quickly she took to you.  Trust me, that never happens.”

“Well, she certainly made it easy.”

Elle paused for a moment and then looked at his hand.  “She asked me later what happened to your hand, but…”  Her voice trailed off.

“You haven't wanted to ask,” he finished for her.

“Yeah.”

He shrugged.  “I don't mind telling the story.”

And that is exactly what it had always felt like to him. A story.  Not a memory of a life event.  

Rogers sat down and Elle took a spot across from him.

“I was a rookie.  I was only on the job a month when my partner and I responded to a robbery in progress at a convenience store.  There was a man in a ski mask holding up the store.  Inside, there was a cashier and two customers.  An older male and a young woman in her early twenties.  My partner and I entered through the back door and we slowly came up behind him.  But he spotted us in a mirror above the register. He turned and shot at us before either of us could do anything.  The bullet hit my left hand and I dropped my gun.  Luckily, that was the distraction my partner needed to get a shot off and take him down.”

Elle’s eyes widened. “I’m sorry. That must have been awful.”

“That it was.  It was from a shotgun and because it was close range, the bullet tore my hand to shreds.  There was no saving it.”

Elle reached out and covered his remaining hand with hers.  The spark swept through them again and Rogers felt like she had comforted him in that way many times before.

“Well, you certainly seem to have adjusted well and I’m glad you can still do your job.”

“Aye, there are certain accommodations that must be made, but I have adapted accordingly.”

“Thank you for sharing it with me.”  Elle smiled and stood.  “I better get back to work.”

He nodded and stood up. “I’ll see you tomorrow, love.”

“See you tomorrow, James,” she said.  

It was the first time she'd called him by his first name and as it slipped through her lips she just couldn't shake the feeling that it just wasn’t right.

…

Rogers handed Johnson the donut as he stood at his usual post.

“So when are you going to ask her out?”

“What?”

He nodded at the window. “The donut lady.  When are you going to ask her out?”

“Who says I want to ask her out?”

He patted his belly. “My stomach says so.  You’ve visited her everyday since she opened.”

“We’re just friends.”

“But you want more.”

“She has a lot on her plate with a new business and being a single mother.  I’m not sure the timing is right.”

“I’ve seen the way she looks at you.”

“Through two windows and across a street.”

“I’m a great eyewitness.” He sighed and patted his belly. “Look, you need to ask her out and tell her the truth soon.  As much as I love a donut a day, pretty soon I won't be able to fit through the door.”

Rogers laughed, but didn't reply.  He wasn't sure how she would react to his little lie and ruse.  Would it make him seem like a creepy stalker?  He was afraid to find out.

…

Things continued on like that for weeks.  He would visit her shop everyday and they learned more and more about each other.  They couldn't shake that familiar feeling or the connection they felt.  

Rogers finally got up the nerve to come clean and then ask her out.  Today was the day.  But as he approached her shop, he could see something was wrong.  There was police tape across the door and several of his fellow officers inside.  His eyes widened in alarm as he ducked under the tape and frantically searched the shop for Elle.  He found her standing by a table speaking to an officer.

He practically sprinted over to her.  “Are you okay?  What the devil happened?”

She surprised him by throwing her arms around his neck and burying her face in his shoulder.  

“I’m so glad you’re here,” she mumbled.

Rogers wrapped his arms around her and rubbed her back soothingly.  She felt like she fit in his arms perfectly and again he was struck by how familiar and natural it felt between them.

She pulled back and he hesitantly lifted his hand to her cheek.  “What happened?” he repeated.

Elle swallowed hard.  “I didn't get a chance to make a deposit last night, so I was going to make one this morning before we opened.  Just as I was leaving the store, a man in a mask appeared.  He pulled a gun and demanded the money I was going to deposit. Then he made me empty the register and forced me to open the safe.”

“Are you okay?  Did he hurt you?” he asked, concern etched across his features.

Elle shook her head.  “I’m fine. When he made a move to put the money in a bag, I was able to grab my pepper spray out of my purse and sprayed him in the face.  I kneed him in the groin, he fell to the ground, and I tied his wrists with some bakery box string.  Then I ran across the street and reported it.”

Rogers smiled.  “Well, love, that's bloody impressive.”

Elle shrugged and grinned.  “I’ve taken self-defense classes before.  They sure came in handy today.”

Rogers eyes met hers and he stroked her cheek.  Elle sucked in a breath, feeling as if they’d experienced many moments just like this one.

“I’m glad you're okay,” he said softly.

“I’m glad the police are right across street. Quick response time.”

“This guy is either very brazen or very stupid to commit a crime with the police right across the street.”

“Let’s go with stupid.”

Rogers nodded.  His arms were still around her waist and he noticed she made no move to pull away.

“I’d say you should consider getting security cameras and an alarm system to hopefully deter any future thieves,” he advised.

“Okay, I’ll look into it.”

It was then that he remembered what he planned on doing that day.  He was going to come clean about his little lie and ask her out.  But as he stared into her eyes, he worried that she might take his harmless lie the wrong way.  Maybe she would think he was a creepy stalker.  But he wouldn't allow himself to be deterred from asking her out.  Things could have ended very differently today.  He could have lost her and he would have been filled with regrets.  He was done wasting time.

He licked at his lips nervously. “Will you go out with me?” he asked suddenly.

“What?” she asked, taken by surprise.

“I am well aware I have the worst bloody timing in the world, but that's what I came here to ask you today.  I’ve wanted to ask you out since the first day we met, Elle.  And I realized just now that life is too short and unpredictable to waste time.  So I-...”

“Yes,” she said, cutting him off with a smile

He cocked an eyebrow.  “Yes?”

She nodded.  “Yes, I will go out with you, Officer Rogers.”

He couldn't help the huge smile that swept across his face.

…

Rogers took a deep breath as he stood outside Elle’s apartment door.  He raised his hand to knock.  A moment later, the door swung open, revealing Avery.  She offered him a huge smile.

“Hi, Officer Rogers.  My mommy is almost ready.  She’s making herself extra pretty for you.”

Rogers smiled as he entered the apartment.  It was small, but comfortable.  It was simply decorated, yet still felt cozy.

An elderly woman sat on the couch.  “I’m Louise, Elle’s neighbor.”

“Pleasure to meet you,” he said, shaking her hand.

Louise’s gaze washed over him from head to toe.  “I’ve heard a lot about you, Officer Rogers.  But I don’t think Elle did you justice.  She didn’t tell me she was dating a Greek god!”

Avery laughed and Rogers felt his face grow red, just as Elle walked in.

“Louise!” she scolded, her face turning its own shade of red.   

“Well, it’s true, hun.  He’s one fine looking specimen.”

Elle turned to Rogers.  “I’m sorry.  She has no filter.”

Rogers laughed.  “It’s okay.  I’m flattered.  Thank you, Louise.”  

He paused for a moment, his gaze sweeping across Elle’s figure.  Her hair fell around her shoulders in waves and she was wearing a skin tight red dress.

She nearly rendered him speechless.  “You look...stunning,” he finally managed.  

There was a long moment where they both felt as if they were experiencing deja vu.  She smiled and gestured at him.  

“Thank you.  You clean up pretty good yourself,” she said, gesturing at his black leather jacket, navy button down shirt, and dark dress pants.

He had never owned a leather jacket before, but this one had caught his eye on the way home from work yesterday.  He just had to stop and get it.  

“I’m glad you approve, love.”

Elle walked over to Avery and placed a kiss on her head.  “Be good,” she said.

“Have fun, Mommy!  You too, Officer Rogers!”

They smiled at the little girl as they exited the apartment.

…

Rogers had made reservations at a restaurant by the water.  They made their way to the patio and sat down at a table overlooking the water.  The sun was just about to set and the view was breathtaking.

“It’s beautiful,” Elle said.

“Aye.  I’ve always felt very at peace on the water,” he replied.

She nodded with a smile.  “Me too.  There’s something calming about it.”

“I actually have a small motorboat.  Perhaps you and Avery could join me on the water one day.”

Elle’s eyes lit up. “She would love that.  So would I.”

They lapsed into a comfortable silence then as they perused their menus.  Truth be told, they both hated dating.  It was always awkward and uncomfortable.  But somehow it was different with each other.  They ordered and the conversation flowed easily and naturally.

As they ate, Elle found herself staring at him.  He squirmed under her gaze.  “What is it, love?”

She shook her head and dropped her eyes to her plate. “Nothing.  It’s silly.”

Rogers reached out and touched her hand.  “I highly doubt that,” he said softly.  

Elle lifted her eyes and met his.  “It’s just...I’ve never felt so comfortable around someone before.  We’ve only known each other a few weeks, but I felt connected to you from the start.  I felt like you already knew me and I knew you.”  She paused, shaking her head and laughing nervously.  “I told you it was silly.”

Rogers shook his head.  “Not at all.  I feel the exact same way.  I have since the moment I laid eyes on you.”

Elle smiled.  “You have?”

“Aye, love.”

“I guess it’s not so silly then,” she replied softly, as his gaze pierced hers.

Rogers swallowed roughly, as his hand remained over hers.  “Since we’re being honest, I have a confession to make.”

Elle’s eyes widened and she shook her head. She pulled her hand from beneath his and covered her face with it.  

“I knew it.  I knew you were too good to be true.  You help people for a living.  You’re kind, smart, funny, and gorgeous.  You’re great with my kid.  And I feel so connected to you.  You’re too perfect.  I just knew there had to be something wrong with you.  So what is it?  You’re married?  You’re a serial killer?  What?”

Rogers was taken aback by her reaction for a moment.  He finally chuckled and shook his head.  “Not to worry.  Nothing that scandalous, love,” he said.

“Well, what is it then?” she asked, breathing a sigh of relief.

He leaned toward her and whispered,  “I detest donuts.”

Elle’s mouth dropped open for a moment and then she burst out laughing.  “That’s your confession?”

“Aye,” he said with a nod and a grin.

“Oh, thank God!”  She paused and then eyed him.  “But if you hate donuts then why have you been coming into my shop everyday for weeks?”

Rogers cocked an eyebrow.  “Why do you think, love?”

Elle’s cheeks filled with red.  “Oh,” she said softly.

Rogers felt his heart drop into his stomach.  Maybe she did think he was some creepy stalker.

“I’m sorry I lied to you.  I hope you don’t believe me to be some creep who was stalking you.  I just wanted-...”

Elle reached out and covered his faux hand with hers.  “I don’t think that all.  I think it’s actually very sweet.”

He blew out a relieved breath.  “I’m glad to hear that.”

She tilted her head to the side.  “So where have all of these donuts been going then?”

He grinned.  “To my partner.  So when he has a bloody heart attack, you’ll be the one at fault.”

Elle laughed.  “Well, now that your little ruse has been revealed you can stop buying the donuts everyday.  You don’t need an excuse to come see me anymore.”

“That will certainly save me a great deal of money,” he replied with a chuckle.  

“Unfortunately for me, I just lost my best customer,” she said.  She paused and then added with a smile.  “But I think I gained something much better.”

Rogers smiled as he placed his hand over hers.

…

“I had a great time tonight,” Elle said as they stood outside her apartment door.  

“As did I,” he replied.

“Do you want to come in for some coffee?” she asked.  “And a donut.”

He laughed, trying to shake off the feeling that they’d done this little dance before.  “But I detest them, remember?”

“And why is that exactly?”

“Too greasy or dry,” he replied.  

“Ah, but you’ve never tried mine before.  Come on, I always bring a few home with me.”

Elle and Rogers entered the apartment.  Elle thanked Louise before she left and then checked on a sleeping Avery.   Rogers sat down at the kitchen counter, as Elle put on a pot of coffee.  She placed a chocolate donut down in front of him.

“Moment of truth,” she said, as she leaned on the counter towards him, her chin cradled in her hands.

He hesitantly picked up the donut and took a bite.  He chewed slowly as Elle watched him.  He finally swallowed and grinned at her.

“That’s bloody delicious!” he said.

Elle smiled brightly.  “See, you just had to have the right donut.”

“Made by the right person,” he added.

Elle came around the counter with the mugs of coffee and walked into the living room, as he followed her.  She placed them down on the coffee table and sat down on the couch.  Rogers took his place beside her.  

He turned to her, their eyes meeting.  He’d wanted to kiss her from the moment they first met.  And the look in her eyes told her she wanted the exact same thing.  He lifted his hand and caressed her cheek, as his lips slowly neared hers.  

“Hey, no fair!  I want a donut too!” Avery whined.

He and Elle pulled apart abruptly, their heads whipping in the direction of the little girl, who stood at the entrance to the living room.

“Avery, what are you doing up?” her mother asked.

“I smelled donuts,” she said.  

“It’s too late for donuts, sweetheart.”

“It’s not too late for you guys,” she countered.  

“You need to go back to sleep,” Elle said.

Avery walked over to the couch and squeezed herself in between them.   “I’m not tired.”

Elle sighed, as she sat back on the couch.  She looked at Rogers and mouthed, “I’m sorry.”

But Rogers found he didn’t mind as the little girl snuggled in between them.  It wasn’t long before her lids grew heavy and she rested her head against his chest.  Elle smiled at the sweet sight they presented together.  Something inside of her said she’d seen this sight many times before.  Rogers lifted his arm and put it around both of them.  And as he did he had the feeling that he’d held these two beautiful ladies in his arms more times than he could count.  

He turned and met Elle’s eyes again.  She leaned towards him, over Avery, and this time she cupped his face, stroking his jaw with her thumb.  Slowly, he leaned closer to her, until he could smell her sweet perfume.  He searched her eyes for any sign of hesitation, but found none.  And then their lips met.  Her hand moved to cup the back of his head, pulling him in closer.

But as they kissed something unexpected happened.  A bright light exploded around them and images filled their minds.  Visions of them together with the little girl nestled between them.  Shocked, they abruptly pulled apart.  

They searched each other’s eyes for a long moment, before realization washed over them and tears suddenly filled them.

“Emma,” he whispered.

“Killian,” she breathed.  

“It’s you,” they said in unison.

Emma shook her head.  “I can’t believe this.  It explains so much.  Why I felt so connected to you.”

“Everything felt so familiar, love.  And so much of my life felt wrong.”

“Mine too.”

Emma cupped his face and kissed him again.  Then she leaned her forehead against his.  “I’m just so glad to have you back.”

He grinned. “Aye, as am I.  True love’s kiss must have broken the curse.”

Emma looked down at their sleeping daughter.  “Ava,” she called, brushing her hand against her cheek.

The little girl stirred, rubbing the sleep from her eyes with her fists.  Then she looked up at her father and grinned.  “Daddy!”

Killian felt his heart soar, as he wrapped his arms around their little girl.  

Emma smiled.  “That’s why she was comfortable with you from the start.”

Killian placed a kiss on their daughter’s head and then slipped his hand in his wife’s.  “Now that we’re back together, nothing can stop us now.”

“Nothing is ever going to tear us apart again,” Emma said, as she squeezed her husband’s hand.

Ava looked up at both her parents.  “Now can I have a donut?”

They both burst out laughing, but nodded their heads.

...THE END...

Thanks for reading!  I hope you enjoyed it.  I’d love to know what you thought. ~Steph

[ridingthatbike]

Baja Gear Shakedown: Enter October

Why do we ride bikes? Why do we sleep outside when the moon is so bright that we can’t fall asleep for hours and hours, and then when we wake up, there’s so much fog that it’s darker and more opaque than it was at night? Why do we use our money on equipment and travel? Why do we love the things we love? Why do we find joy in seeing the biggest praying mantis we’ve ever seen, as it’s almost finished crossing the trail?

I would have drowned in the 1936 flood in McKeesport. I’ve ridden through this spot dozens of times and never noticed this. 

We rode our bikes to camp and when we woke up, it was October. We’re going to Mexico next month and we will need to be able to carry more water on our bikes than we’ve ever needed before, which has prompted some new gear purchases. We did the usual shakedown ride -- out the GAP to the Dravo cemetery, which was surprisingly bustling for a day that was about to become a near-freezing night. As dusk settled and the sky dimmed, hot spots of orange became prominent all around us. A good night for a big campfire, and an easy one too -- it hasn’t rained in ages, and it was the easiest fire I’ve made in a long, long time. 

These are generic vanilla cookies with (recently) expired chocolate peanut butter, eaten while standing around a very hot fire on a chilly evening with two people I love very much and with whom I witnessed some turkeys jumping their BMX bikes over a line of fire they built in the woods. 

The three main new things about this setup are all about our sleeping arrangements. I tried out just using my accordion sleeping pad rather than an inflatable one, because I seem to have some anxiety about cactus interactions with my gear, and you can’t pop closed cell foam. The big tradeoff is that it takes up lots of space. I don’t know yet what I want to do on that front. It’s so nice to be able to use it as an extra seat. Strapping it up front is comfortable but keeps me from being able to see my front wheel, which I don’t like. To be fair, the only time I even noticed that I couldn’t see it was when I was carrying my bike up our stairs and back into the house, so maybe it doesn’t matter at all.  In the meantime, we’ve also upped our cockpit game with the larger feedbags that fit 1L Nalgene bottles, and with a top tube bag that fits snacks and my dynamo-charging phone so nicely that it was a seamless addition to the setup. I’m pleased with these changes.

They’ve added some new statuary near the river.

We’ve entered the quilt-versus-sleeping bag conversation and I am immediately converted to Team Quilt. I love being able to move my legs freely! I thought I would be freaked out by snapping the quilt around my neck, but it wasn’t stressful, and the tradeoff of being able to actually make physical contact with Q like at home was super comforting. I am on board. No regrets. This thing was fucking expensive as hell, and I feel uneasy about owning this much down. But also, it weighs less than (and packs down smaller than) ONE of our sleeping bags, which gives us so much more space for hauling water. Wow. 

The other big thing is switching to a single-wall tent, which we have not mastered. This was our second night in it, and condensation management is gonna be the name of the game. I love how packable it is, especially the poles (an eternal struggle for biking with our beloved awesome Big Agnes tent), and it also saves us a good bit of space, but ... can we afford to wake up to condensation dripping onto our down quilt each morning? I guess we have to get up earlier, or ventilate better (hard to want to, when it’s close to freezing!). We are definitely doing a better job of pitching it as we practice more, but I sure miss having separate entrances on the sides. I’m not set on the tarptent yet. I want to love it but I don’t love it, and it was expensive, and I am not quite feeling buyer’s remorse, but I am feeling like it’s an expert’s tent and maybe I am not actually an expert.

Within a matter of minutes, the sun burned through the fog and revealed a clear blue day.

For the first time in my life, I heard an eastern screech owl make its whinny call. It called for nearly an hour in the darkness and sounded shockingly, incredibly, unbelievably like a horse. I didn’t know what it was at the time, and got lost for a while looking up owl calls at home. Remarkable.

Kelli also tried out a bunch of new gear, some borrowed, and some of her own on its maiden voyage. She’s recently experienced a loss, and you know the thing about losses -- they are never only about the individual thing that’s gone, but also the possibilities that are gone, and reminders of all the other things that are also gone and they become so much bigger than just the thing itself. We joked the whole way about what would be a helpful kind of processing: Hey, you wanna play king of the hill and push those kids off that sandpile? Hey, you wanna go ride that dirt jump over the fire? Hey, you wanna swing an ax and split some firewood? But maybe the best we have is a bike ride and a big fire and some instant coffee in the morning with our adventure buddies. 

[jasonwhorl73-blog]

Vegan Des Moines: Options in Iowa’s capital

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my Privacy Policy for more details.

Vegan Des Moines round-up including Brightside Kitchen, Zombie Burger, Ice Cream El Michoacano, Open Sesame, and vegan donuts at Whole Foods.

In recent years Des Moines has really stepped up its game where vegans are concerned!

It used to be that when I was visiting my hometown, it was a strain finding exciting vegan-friendly options. But nowadays, the choices are plentiful and growing.

Today I’m highlighting some of the vegan Des Moines options at restaurants, food trucks, and grocery stores.

Brightside Kitchen

Brightside Kitchen is a vegan establishment owned by Deanne & Steve Bryce. It’s tucked away inside of Mercy’s Health & Fitness Center in Clive, Iowa.

They serve plant-based fare for breakfasts & lunches throughout the week. You can check them out Monday through Friday between the hours of 7 am and 2 pm. They also serve brunch on Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm.

The eatery focuses on whole foods, plant-based cuisine. Order at the counter and then you can eat it at one of the handful of tables or take it to go.

They offer smoothies, soup, salads, wraps, sandwiches, and a bowl of the day that changes throughout the week.

On one visit, I ordered the special – a Mexican-inspired bowl. It was made with seasoned lentils, roasted vegetables, and a fresh green salad.

It was popping with flavor and incredibly fresh. There was enough left over for lunch the next day.

(I enjoyed it so much, I made my own vegan burrito bowl inspired by it when I got home!)

I also had one of their signature BBQ sporc sandwiches at an Iowa Farm Sanctuary event. It’s pictured at the top of this post.

In addition to making some delicious lunches & brunches, Brightside Kitchen offers vegan cooking classes & catering.

Zombie Burger

Zombie Burger is a Des Moines favorite amongst vegans & non-vegans alike.

They have locations in the East Village of downtown Des Moines, as well as locations in Jordan Creek, and the Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville.

(You can read about the Coralville location in my vegan Iowa City post.)

One note about the East Village location – it does get busy. So if you’re going during a popular mealtime, prepare for a wait.

My favorite thing to order is the Undead Glenn, which is the Beyond Burger topped with shredded lettuce, pickles, and vegan zombie sauce. (My husband orders this one with a double patty, like a vegan Big Mac.)

The zombie sauce is similar to a spicy Thousand Island dressing with sriracha instead of ketchup.

I’ve also heard high marks for the Lucile, which is the Beyond Burger topped with caramelized onions, lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, guacamole, and vegan chipotle mayo.

Zombie Burger really gets the Beyond Burger preparation right – crispy around the edges and meaty on the inside. Plus, the bun is nice and fresh. The downtown location also offers vegan cheese for an extra charge.

Order the burgers with a side of regular or sweet potato fries. Just make sure to get them without any non-vegan dressing.

Ice Cream El Michoacano

Ice Cream El Michoacano is a casual, order-at-the-counter restaurant on Merle Hay Road. There are tables for dining in at the restaurant. Or food can be made to go.

It’s a non-vegan restaurant. However, everything at Ice Cream El Michoacano can be made vegan. That includes flautas, sopes, empanadas, burritos, tacos, and velvety refried beans.

They have soy-based vegan meat, as well as vegan cheese that I’ve heard is Follow Your Heart.

You can ask at the counter for a vegan menu, or look on their website. 

Vegan sopes are made with a layer of masa dough that’s been fried into a cup. It’s crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. They are topped with a soy-based meat, beans, lettuce, and vegan cheese.

A super delicious & decadent option!

Vegan flautas are filled with mild potatoes. The fried tortillas are topped with non-dairy cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and avocado. They are served with a fried jalapeño on the side. 

Vegan refried beans are topped with non-dairy cheese and guacamole.

They said that typically they serve a thin avocado sauce as their guacamole. But if you want a chunky guacamole, just ask for the thick style.

The guacamole has lots of bright lime flavors and tastes very fresh. The refried beans are beautifully smooth.

Of course, you can also get tacos. They offer a variety of sauces & styles. My husband is especially a fan of their pineapple salsa. 

Since “ice cream” is in the name, you may be wondering if they have vegan ice cream as well. It’s my understanding that they offer mango chile & lime non-dairy flavors. Although, I haven’t spent a lot of time exploring the ice cream case.

Vegan donuts at West Des Moines Whole Foods

Vegan donuts are a unicorn in Iowa – nearly impossible to come by. While other nearby states like Nebraska, Illinois, and Minnesota have vegan donuts fairly readily available, Iowa isn’t so lucky.

(Although, there is a donut shop in Cedar Falls & Waterloo that has rotating vegan options. I haven’t made it there yet to try them!)

But before you get in the car and start driving for hours to cure your donut cravings, visit Whole Foods in West Des Moines instead.

They are now selling vegan donuts in their bakery. You can buy them individually. Or they sell them in packages of six for $10.99.

FYI: These are not yeast-raised donuts. You won’t find a puffy glazed donut or cream filled vegan long john here. They are cake donuts. I’m typically not a cake donut fan. But for cake donuts, these are quite good & very fresh.

While you are at Whole Foods, pick up desserts from Chicago Diner in their bakery case, Beyond Meat sausages, and Miyoko’s cheese.

Open Sesame

Open Sesame Lebanese café is a located in the Des Moines East Village. It’s a small space, but decorated in such a way that feels like a special, hidden gem.

The vegan options are not marked on the menu. However, when we were there, the staff had no problem pointing us to vegan dishes and/or telling us how to modify non-vegan offerings.

I had the vegetarian sampler plate with hummus, baba ganoush, falafel, tabouli, and dolmas. It is vegan by default.

Everything was excellent, even the tabouli, which I don’t typically like. (I’m not a big parsley fan.) However, the tabouli had a perfect hit of lemon to balance the bitterness of the parsley.

They’re open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday from 11-2, and for dinner from 5:30-9. They are closed Sunday & Monday.

Gusto Pizza Company

Gusto Pizza Company is a non-vegan pizza shop with lots of vegan topping options.

They have four locations – one on Ingersoll Avenue, two in West Des Moines, and one in Johnston. But I’ve only personally visited the Ingersoll location.

Gusto is a great place to go with a group, because there are plenty of long tables. And the menu is huge – meaning everyone can get exactly what they want.

Gusto uses Daiya cutting board shreds for their vegan pizzas. Regular Daiya isn’t my favorite. So I was really impressed by the big improvement of the mozzarella cutting board shreds on their dairy-free pies.

Their vegan topping options include: roma tomatoes, cremini mushrooms, kalamata olives, a variety of peppers, onions (red, green & yellow), Giardiniera relish, green olive relish, diced apples, capers, pineapple, black bean corn salsa, butternut squash, and artichokes.

5 Borough Bagels

One of my favorite low cost things to do whenever I’m visiting New York City is to walk into almost any random bagel shop and get a vegan bagel.

In places like Iowa, vegan bagel toppings are usually limited to peanut butter or hummus. But in New York City, non-dairy bagel spreads abound with fillings like olives and mixed vegetables in their vegan cream cheese.

When I’m in the city, I’ll pick up a toasted bagel, filled to the max, and walk to Central Park to sit on a rock and tuck into breakfast.

Now that experience can be repeated at 5 Borough Bagels in Clive. (Sorry. Central Park not included.)

When owners, Sarah & Toney Chem, moved to Iowa from NYC, they decided to take a doughy piece of the Big Apple with them.

They have two vegan filling offerings – spinach artichoke and cinnamon walnut. Both fillings are tofu-based and taste homemade.

The spinach artichoke spread reminds me of Kristy’s tofu chèvre with a definite taste of tofu and highlights of spinach and artichoke. The cinnamon walnut has big chunks of walnuts and some sweetness to make it more of a dessert-style filling.

They don’t skimp on the spread, which I appreciate. It pushes the bagel into meal category. They can be topped with additional vegetable slices as well.

Toney suggested adding cucumber, tomato, and spinach to my spinach & artichoke spread on an everything bagel. You know how I love a good bagel sandwich. This was perfection.

David opted for the cinnamon walnut spread on a sesame seed bagel, which he also enjoyed. The bagels were fresh and chewy, just like you want.

With the exception of the chocolate chip bagels and cheese bagels, the rest of the bagel options are vegan.

Toney checked with their bagel baker, and she confirmed that the seeded bagels do not include an egg wash. The seeds are applied right after the bagels are boiled.

They also have three types of non-dairy milk available for coffee drinks. Soy, almond, and coconut milk are on the menu. My husband ordered a black coffee, and I went with a soy latte. Both were full-bodied and delicious.

Des Moines Farmers Market

The downtown farmers market runs from the first Saturday in May through the last Saturday in October.

It has a festive, fair-like atmosphere with food vendors, locally grown produce, live music, arts and crafts. It’s a great place to meet up with friends and enjoy the summer vibes.

Grab a smoothie, juice, or raw tacos at the Fresh Café & Market tent at the corner of 3rd & Court Avenue.

Malo

Malo is a Latin restaurant in downtown Des Moines with a nice outdoor patio and a few menu items that are vegan upon request – including a portobello taco & crispy onion and avocado taco. 

The onion & avocado taco is vegan by default. It comes with fresh avocado, chipotle crema made with cashews, pico de gallo, and crispy onions like you might find on green beans at Thanksgiving.

The Portobello taco is vegan by request. (Just ask them to leave off the queso fresco.) It’s topped with guacamole and salsa roja. The Portobello mushrooms are marinated in a spicy chili sauce.

All of the tacos can be served on corn or flour tortillas.

I was prepared to have the avocado tacos be my far and away favorite, but the Portobello mushroom tacos came in for a surprising win. They had a good spicy kick to them and a well-rounded flavor.

Cool Basil

For more of a sit-down restaurant vibe, Cool Basil in Clive is a great option.

While this Thai restaurant isn’t entirely vegan, they’re happy to prepare dishes without fish sauce, oyster sauce, and eggs when possible. You just have to ask.

Plus, when you get your receipt at the end of the meal, the words “no fish sauce, no oyster sauce” are printed right on it.  That gives some assurance that the message got through to the back of the house.

They don’t offer seitan.  However, tofu is available or they can replace meat with extra vegetables.

I like to get something different every time I go, as there are plenty of vegan-izable options to go around to vary your order.

Fong’s Pizza

Fong’s Pizza has a few locations – downtown Des Moines, Drake area, Ankeny, and Cedar Rapids. It is a quirky, divey restaurant, specializing in unusual pizzas.

They have one listed vegan pizza on the menu, or you have the option of building your own.  The white crust is vegan, but the whole wheat isn’t since it contains honey.

They offer Daiya for vegan cheese. Or you can go cheeseless, as is my preference. For the base, you can go with marinara or olive oil.

When we were there, we ordered one half and half pizza. Mushrooms, tomatoes, bell pepper, and onions on one side. On the other, sauerkraut and potatoes.

The potatoes taste like they are simply blanched and sliced, as opposed to being browned on the stove or seasoned in any way. The pizza was pretty bland.

But if you happen to be in Des Moines, the atmosphere is fun. And they have late hours, which is nice.

Another pizza option in downtown Des Moines is Blaze Pizza. They also have vegan cheese on the menu, and they cook them in a brick oven. Although it is a fast food-style pizza experience, I actually prefer the flavor of Blaze Pizza over Fong’s. Read all about Blaze Pizza in this post on vegan fast food.

Centro

For a sit-down option, Centro in downtown Des Moines has some vegan options.

Tofu gnocchi is on both the dinner and weekend brunch menus. The dish includes lots of vegetables in a coating of garlicky olive oil.

When I had this dish, I found it to be inoffensive but dull. It reminded me of something you might get a hotel restaurant, where they’re feeding a lot of guests from around the globe and don’t want to be too daring with flavor.

Although I almost never use one in a restaurant, I was glad there was a salt shaker on the table to add something. I’ve heard that asking for marinara sauce instead makes for a more tempting dish.

Centro has pizzas on offer, which can be ordered without cheese. David went that route and ordered a tomato, basil, and mushroom pizza. He also got a small salad on the side.

He liked the wood-fired flavor of the crust, but didn’t think it would be a pizza he’d go out of his way to get again.

Centro offers brunch on the weekend. And it’s one of the few places in town that has a tofu scramble. It’s served with potatoes & fruit.

Des Fresh Foods

Des Fresh Foods is a vegan food truck in Des Moines.

The menu & location changes, of course, but has included things like a chick sandwich, mac and cheese bites, summer squash tacos, street corn, and lotus cookie.

I recommend going early, as when I went it was near the end of the night. And they were running out of food.

Check out their Instagram or Facebook page to see where they are and what’s on offer.

Other vegan Des Moines resources & news:

Veg Life Des Moines

VegLife Des Moines is an awesome non-profit that hosts vegan meet-ups & potlucks, restaurant tours, and a yearly Vegan Fest.

Connect with them on their website or Facebook page to keep up with the events they are organizing throughout the year.

Dirt Burger

A new vegetarian restaurant, Dirt Burger, is slated to open on June 14, 2019 in the East Village. I’ll add details once I’ve had a chance to visit!

Originally posted June 2014. Content updated June 2019.

Source: https://cadryskitchen.com/vegan-des-moines-iowa/

[turkeyfeet8-blog]

Vegan Des Moines: Options in Iowa’s capital

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Please see my Privacy Policy for more details.

Vegan Des Moines round-up including Brightside Kitchen, Zombie Burger, Ice Cream El Michoacano, Open Sesame, and vegan donuts at Whole Foods.

In recent years Des Moines has really stepped up its game where vegans are concerned!

It used to be that when I was visiting my hometown, it was a strain finding exciting vegan-friendly options. But nowadays, the choices are plentiful and growing.

Today I’m highlighting some of the vegan Des Moines options at restaurants, food trucks, and grocery stores.

Brightside Kitchen

Brightside Kitchen is a vegan establishment owned by Deanne & Steve Bryce. It’s tucked away inside of Mercy’s Health & Fitness Center in Clive, Iowa.

They serve plant-based fare for breakfasts & lunches throughout the week. You can check them out Monday through Friday between the hours of 7 am and 2 pm. They also serve brunch on Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm.

The eatery focuses on whole foods, plant-based cuisine. Order at the counter and then you can eat it at one of the handful of tables or take it to go.

They offer smoothies, soup, salads, wraps, sandwiches, and a bowl of the day that changes throughout the week.

On one visit, I ordered the special – a Mexican-inspired bowl. It was made with seasoned lentils, roasted vegetables, and a fresh green salad.

It was popping with flavor and incredibly fresh. There was enough left over for lunch the next day.

(I enjoyed it so much, I made my own vegan burrito bowl inspired by it when I got home!)

I also had one of their signature BBQ sporc sandwiches at an Iowa Farm Sanctuary event. It’s pictured at the top of this post.

In addition to making some delicious lunches & brunches, Brightside Kitchen offers vegan cooking classes & catering.

Zombie Burger

Zombie Burger is a Des Moines favorite amongst vegans & non-vegans alike.

They have locations in the East Village of downtown Des Moines, as well as locations in Jordan Creek, and the Coral Ridge Mall in Coralville.

(You can read about the Coralville location in my vegan Iowa City post.)

One note about the East Village location – it does get busy. So if you’re going during a popular mealtime, prepare for a wait.

My favorite thing to order is the Undead Glenn, which is the Beyond Burger topped with shredded lettuce, pickles, and vegan zombie sauce. (My husband orders this one with a double patty, like a vegan Big Mac.)

The zombie sauce is similar to a spicy Thousand Island dressing with sriracha instead of ketchup.

I’ve also heard high marks for the Lucile, which is the Beyond Burger topped with caramelized onions, lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, guacamole, and vegan chipotle mayo.

Zombie Burger really gets the Beyond Burger preparation right – crispy around the edges and meaty on the inside. Plus, the bun is nice and fresh. The downtown location also offers vegan cheese for an extra charge.

Order the burgers with a side of regular or sweet potato fries. Just make sure to get them without any non-vegan dressing.

Ice Cream El Michoacano

Ice Cream El Michoacano is a casual, order-at-the-counter restaurant on Merle Hay Road. There are tables for dining in at the restaurant. Or food can be made to go.

It’s a non-vegan restaurant. However, everything at Ice Cream El Michoacano can be made vegan. That includes flautas, sopes, empanadas, burritos, tacos, and velvety refried beans.

They have soy-based vegan meat, as well as vegan cheese that I’ve heard is Follow Your Heart.

You can ask at the counter for a vegan menu, or look on their website. 

Vegan sopes are made with a layer of masa dough that’s been fried into a cup. It’s crisp on the outside and soft on the inside. They are topped with a soy-based meat, beans, lettuce, and vegan cheese.

A super delicious & decadent option!

Vegan flautas are filled with mild potatoes. The fried tortillas are topped with non-dairy cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and avocado. They are served with a fried jalapeño on the side. 

Vegan refried beans are topped with non-dairy cheese and guacamole.

They said that typically they serve a thin avocado sauce as their guacamole. But if you want a chunky guacamole, just ask for the thick style.

The guacamole has lots of bright lime flavors and tastes very fresh. The refried beans are beautifully smooth.

Of course, you can also get tacos. They offer a variety of sauces & styles. My husband is especially a fan of their pineapple salsa. 

Since “ice cream” is in the name, you may be wondering if they have vegan ice cream as well. It’s my understanding that they offer mango chile & lime non-dairy flavors. Although, I haven’t spent a lot of time exploring the ice cream case.

Vegan donuts at West Des Moines Whole Foods

Vegan donuts are a unicorn in Iowa – nearly impossible to come by. While other nearby states like Nebraska, Illinois, and Minnesota have vegan donuts fairly readily available, Iowa isn’t so lucky.

(Although, there is a donut shop in Cedar Falls & Waterloo that has rotating vegan options. I haven’t made it there yet to try them!)

But before you get in the car and start driving for hours to cure your donut cravings, visit Whole Foods in West Des Moines instead.

They are now selling vegan donuts in their bakery. You can buy them individually. Or they sell them in packages of six for $10.99.

FYI: These are not yeast-raised donuts. You won’t find a puffy glazed donut or cream filled vegan long john here. They are cake donuts. I’m typically not a cake donut fan. But for cake donuts, these are quite good & very fresh.

While you are at Whole Foods, pick up desserts from Chicago Diner in their bakery case, Beyond Meat sausages, and Miyoko’s cheese.

Open Sesame

Open Sesame Lebanese café is a located in the Des Moines East Village. It’s a small space, but decorated in such a way that feels like a special, hidden gem.

The vegan options are not marked on the menu. However, when we were there, the staff had no problem pointing us to vegan dishes and/or telling us how to modify non-vegan offerings.

I had the vegetarian sampler plate with hummus, baba ganoush, falafel, tabouli, and dolmas. It is vegan by default.

Everything was excellent, even the tabouli, which I don’t typically like. (I’m not a big parsley fan.) However, the tabouli had a perfect hit of lemon to balance the bitterness of the parsley.

They’re open for lunch Tuesday through Saturday from 11-2, and for dinner from 5:30-9. They are closed Sunday & Monday.

Gusto Pizza Company

Gusto Pizza Company is a non-vegan pizza shop with lots of vegan topping options.

They have four locations – one on Ingersoll Avenue, two in West Des Moines, and one in Johnston. But I’ve only personally visited the Ingersoll location.

Gusto is a great place to go with a group, because there are plenty of long tables. And the menu is huge – meaning everyone can get exactly what they want.

Gusto uses Daiya cutting board shreds for their vegan pizzas. Regular Daiya isn’t my favorite. So I was really impressed by the big improvement of the mozzarella cutting board shreds on their dairy-free pies.

Their vegan topping options include: roma tomatoes, cremini mushrooms, kalamata olives, a variety of peppers, onions (red, green & yellow), Giardiniera relish, green olive relish, diced apples, capers, pineapple, black bean corn salsa, butternut squash, and artichokes.

5 Borough Bagels

One of my favorite low cost things to do whenever I’m visiting New York City is to walk into almost any random bagel shop and get a vegan bagel.

In places like Iowa, vegan bagel toppings are usually limited to peanut butter or hummus. But in New York City, non-dairy bagel spreads abound with fillings like olives and mixed vegetables in their vegan cream cheese.

When I’m in the city, I’ll pick up a toasted bagel, filled to the max, and walk to Central Park to sit on a rock and tuck into breakfast.

Now that experience can be repeated at 5 Borough Bagels in Clive. (Sorry. Central Park not included.)

When owners, Sarah & Toney Chem, moved to Iowa from NYC, they decided to take a doughy piece of the Big Apple with them.

They have two vegan filling offerings – spinach artichoke and cinnamon walnut. Both fillings are tofu-based and taste homemade.

The spinach artichoke spread reminds me of Kristy’s tofu chèvre with a definite taste of tofu and highlights of spinach and artichoke. The cinnamon walnut has big chunks of walnuts and some sweetness to make it more of a dessert-style filling.

They don’t skimp on the spread, which I appreciate. It pushes the bagel into meal category. They can be topped with additional vegetable slices as well.

Toney suggested adding cucumber, tomato, and spinach to my spinach & artichoke spread on an everything bagel. You know how I love a good bagel sandwich. This was perfection.

David opted for the cinnamon walnut spread on a sesame seed bagel, which he also enjoyed. The bagels were fresh and chewy, just like you want.

With the exception of the chocolate chip bagels and cheese bagels, the rest of the bagel options are vegan.

Toney checked with their bagel baker, and she confirmed that the seeded bagels do not include an egg wash. The seeds are applied right after the bagels are boiled.

They also have three types of non-dairy milk available for coffee drinks. Soy, almond, and coconut milk are on the menu. My husband ordered a black coffee, and I went with a soy latte. Both were full-bodied and delicious.

Des Moines Farmers Market

The downtown farmers market runs from the first Saturday in May through the last Saturday in October.

It has a festive, fair-like atmosphere with food vendors, locally grown produce, live music, arts and crafts. It’s a great place to meet up with friends and enjoy the summer vibes.

Grab a smoothie, juice, or raw tacos at the Fresh Café & Market tent at the corner of 3rd & Court Avenue.

Malo

Malo is a Latin restaurant in downtown Des Moines with a nice outdoor patio and a few menu items that are vegan upon request – including a portobello taco & crispy onion and avocado taco. 

The onion & avocado taco is vegan by default. It comes with fresh avocado, chipotle crema made with cashews, pico de gallo, and crispy onions like you might find on green beans at Thanksgiving.

The Portobello taco is vegan by request. (Just ask them to leave off the queso fresco.) It’s topped with guacamole and salsa roja. The Portobello mushrooms are marinated in a spicy chili sauce.

All of the tacos can be served on corn or flour tortillas.

I was prepared to have the avocado tacos be my far and away favorite, but the Portobello mushroom tacos came in for a surprising win. They had a good spicy kick to them and a well-rounded flavor.

Cool Basil

For more of a sit-down restaurant vibe, Cool Basil in Clive is a great option.

While this Thai restaurant isn’t entirely vegan, they’re happy to prepare dishes without fish sauce, oyster sauce, and eggs when possible. You just have to ask.

Plus, when you get your receipt at the end of the meal, the words “no fish sauce, no oyster sauce” are printed right on it.  That gives some assurance that the message got through to the back of the house.

They don’t offer seitan.  However, tofu is available or they can replace meat with extra vegetables.

I like to get something different every time I go, as there are plenty of vegan-izable options to go around to vary your order.

Fong’s Pizza

Fong’s Pizza has a few locations – downtown Des Moines, Drake area, Ankeny, and Cedar Rapids. It is a quirky, divey restaurant, specializing in unusual pizzas.

They have one listed vegan pizza on the menu, or you have the option of building your own.  The white crust is vegan, but the whole wheat isn’t since it contains honey.

They offer Daiya for vegan cheese. Or you can go cheeseless, as is my preference. For the base, you can go with marinara or olive oil.

When we were there, we ordered one half and half pizza. Mushrooms, tomatoes, bell pepper, and onions on one side. On the other, sauerkraut and potatoes.

The potatoes taste like they are simply blanched and sliced, as opposed to being browned on the stove or seasoned in any way. The pizza was pretty bland.

But if you happen to be in Des Moines, the atmosphere is fun. And they have late hours, which is nice.

Another pizza option in downtown Des Moines is Blaze Pizza. They also have vegan cheese on the menu, and they cook them in a brick oven. Although it is a fast food-style pizza experience, I actually prefer the flavor of Blaze Pizza over Fong’s. Read all about Blaze Pizza in this post on vegan fast food.

Centro

For a sit-down option, Centro in downtown Des Moines has some vegan options.

Tofu gnocchi is on both the dinner and weekend brunch menus. The dish includes lots of vegetables in a coating of garlicky olive oil.

When I had this dish, I found it to be inoffensive but dull. It reminded me of something you might get a hotel restaurant, where they’re feeding a lot of guests from around the globe and don’t want to be too daring with flavor.

Although I almost never use one in a restaurant, I was glad there was a salt shaker on the table to add something. I’ve heard that asking for marinara sauce instead makes for a more tempting dish.

Centro has pizzas on offer, which can be ordered without cheese. David went that route and ordered a tomato, basil, and mushroom pizza. He also got a small salad on the side.

He liked the wood-fired flavor of the crust, but didn’t think it would be a pizza he’d go out of his way to get again.

Centro offers brunch on the weekend. And it’s one of the few places in town that has a tofu scramble. It’s served with potatoes & fruit.

Des Fresh Foods

Des Fresh Foods is a vegan food truck in Des Moines.

The menu & location changes, of course, but has included things like a chick sandwich, mac and cheese bites, summer squash tacos, street corn, and lotus cookie.

I recommend going early, as when I went it was near the end of the night. And they were running out of food.

Check out their Instagram or Facebook page to see where they are and what’s on offer.

Other vegan Des Moines resources & news:

Veg Life Des Moines

VegLife Des Moines is an awesome non-profit that hosts vegan meet-ups & potlucks, restaurant tours, and a yearly Vegan Fest.

Connect with them on their website or Facebook page to keep up with the events they are organizing throughout the year.

Dirt Burger

A new vegetarian restaurant, Dirt Burger, is slated to open on June 14, 2019 in the East Village. I’ll add details once I’ve had a chance to visit!

Originally posted June 2014. Content updated June 2019.

Source: https://cadryskitchen.com/vegan-des-moines-iowa/

[bikingb1tches]

DAY 29

San Luis Obispo, CA to Santa Barbara, CA

Hours: 9hrs

Miles: 95 mi

Elevation gain: 3,018 ft

Elevation loss: 3,176 ft

Clip-in falls: 3

Flat tires: 1

Well, it happened. I had the first (and hopefully only) flat of this entire trip.

I knew if I was going to get a flat on this trip, it would be today, because today is my longest and hardest day, and so naturally that is what would happen.

Ethan woke up and made me coffee and a breakfast burrito to fuel me up for my long journey; I thought I would eat half of it and then save the other half, but nope, I definitely ate the whole thing. On top of that, he had already looked at my bike before I got up to see if everything looked good. Truly truly truly, the most thoughtful and knowing host.

He rode out with me to Edna--about 6.5 miles--and then I was on my way to yet another night of friends from school, Collin and Alexis Barrett. Honestly, if they weren’t the end goal of such a long day, I probably wouldn’t have bothered or been motivated enough to attempt it.

Just south of Pismo Beach, I stopped at a thrift store/art spot called THE PLACE, because Ethan actually has a photography show up there right now!

I loved the photos Ethan had up—he works for a news station, but he took a series of photos ‘behind the scenes’ at the event he had to be at. His photos really told stories about the real people behind the events, not just the smiling and posed ‘news’ part of it—a girl whose sheep won in 4-H, but she’s sad because it means it is going to slaughter; a day at the pool when dogs are allowed; a really cool shot of this guy’s cowboy boots as he walks, and the centerpiece of the photo is shot between his legs. I liked them so much that I bought one of this super rad girl skateboarding (it was between that and the dog day at the pool, but that was already taken).

I spoke with the owner of THE PLACE for a bit, standing next to the coy pond and turtles in the center of this high-ceiling shack/barn, and he had such interesting stories to tell. He used to work in Hollywood as a prop/set guy and from what he said, he was at the top of his class, working on things like Super Bowl ads and such. He told me a story of how he snuck wine in a bag into a restaurant and Julia Child called him her so he would share it, and they were friends for many years. I would love to just sit and listen to all his stories, but I had to get back on the road; I had already dilly-dawdled loo long, part of which was procrastination of the many miles I had ahead of me.

I don’t have many pictures from the middle of the day because a lot of it was biking through yellowed hills and farmland with some headwinds, though it was mostly flat. The first big challenge of the day was a big hill right before Lompac. Not only was it relatively steep, the approach to the main part of the hill had strong headwinds, so I was screwed from the start. The hill was one of those put-your-head-down-and-grind-it-out moments for me; I’ve done harder hills but I was already pretty worn out from my last two big days and it was getting pretty warm. There are some days where I feel like I can just bust out a hill, maybe only stop once to take a break, but this was not that type of day for me. I made mini-goals during the hill so it didn’t feel like such a big, impossible task—peddle to that shade and you can take a break, round this blind switchback and if there is a shoulder on the next turn, take a break; if not, keep going until there is a shoulder.

Really, this whole day was made up of mini-goals—Guadalupe was a goal and a small break; Lompac was lunch and a longer break; Ragged Point was 3/4 of the way and a big snack break;  and then Santa Barbara would be the final push. It’s these little tricks--looking down while you climb the hill, rewarding yourself with breaks, splitting up a long day into mini-goals—that have made this trip  and harder days possible. Because, at the end of the day, either you get there or you quit, and quitting for me meant going home and back to normal life. When it is hard and I don’t want to be on the bike anymore and I want to be done, I ask myself what I would be doing if I wasn’t biking? I would be sitting at work, driving home, lounging on my couch, sleeping, and doing the same thing the next day. And I would choose biking, each day an adventure and the opportunity to see new things and see people I care about, over going home. So I bike on.

At the top of the hill I took a water break before the big descent into Lompac, which I was very much looking forward to, and while I was stopped there, one of the three boys from Idaho rode up! I haven’t seen them for over a week and had assumed they were far ahead of me, since the last time we talked, they were pushing a lot of miles each day. Looks like they caught up with me.

The long downhill into Lompac was so refreshing after all the work I put into going up it. The road wound down and around, and there really is no feeling like lowering to your drop bars and cruising down some downhill curves at 35-40mph. It’s both terrifying and exhilarating.

I was originally heading to a coffee shop to charge and have a long lunch, but on the way there, I was distracted by a red, glorious sign—Wendy’s. I probably passed a Wendy’s at some point on this trip, but this is the first Wendy’s I can recall actually seeing, and I have been craving a chocolate frosty basically this entire trip. I met another bike tourist there, who had started in Vancouver and was headed to the Mexico border. It seems the further south I go, the more cycling tourists I meet.

I did end up at the coffee shop for a bit because all I crave is iced lattes and sandwiches for lunch lately, but then pushed on to Ragged Point. The sun was getting less intense at this point, and the terrain was getting a little hillier. I had a new wave of energy, though, because of lunch and Sour Patch Kids, so I only stopped for a bit at Ragged Point to have one last snack before the final 25 miles into Santa Barbara.

I hopped back in the 101 for about five miles until I heard the saddest noise I have heard on this trip—my back tube quickly deflating. I made it 1,300 miles, over 1,000 of those with Kate, and 20 miles from my destination on my longest day, I get a flat. And it’s my back tire. And I have to change it alone. I’ve only put tubes on a bike once, and that was when Kate and I assembled my bike the day before we left for this trip.

I always surprise myself in these types of situations, though. I usually end up in a pickle of some kind that I have to problem solve quickly when I do big trips—my rental car from South Bend to Chicago is in a different location so I’m running really late for my flight while I drive through a snowstorm with my cat in a carrier; missing my train in Europe and then having to research a vast schedule of connecting trains that will help get me to where I want to go at about the same time; running out of money in Australia before boarding my flight back to the US and so I can’t pay for my bag. Most of the times that happens, though, it’s within the confines of modern society—I’m able to drop off the car, pay for my cat, and get through security with 10 minutes to spare because I checked in on the flight and already had my bags tagged; I figure out the complicated route and connections for the trains using wifi and a train schedule; my mom transfers money to me but then a wonderful Australian woman hands me a $50 to pay for my bag. There’s usually technology or money involved that can help fix my problem.

There’s only a couple of instances in my life where the pickle I’m in requires physical or hands-on problem-solving, and so this is added to that list. I let myself curse for a second to get our my frustrations, took a deep breath, and then got all the tools out I would need. There’s something extremely satisfying about working with your hands, getting a little greasy and bloody, figuring out the way things are put together. I remembered all of the trouble points Kate and I experienced the first time and was able to pretty easily get an edge of the tire out of the rim, get the old tube out, put in the new one, pump it up a bit, and then start wrestling the tire back under the rim. This, and pumping it up, would be the two hardest parts of the tube change.

Praise Her, though, because just as I was finishing up the tire, a truck pulled up and a wonderful man named Alberto helped me get the tire back in the rim, pump up the tube enough so it wouldn’t pinch between the rim and the tire, and then he offered me a ride into Santa Barbara. For a second, I almost declined; I had my mind set on doing a century, finishing what I started, not ‘taking the easy way out.’ It was a lot of pride, really. But then I snapped out of that—the reason I was pushing to get to Santa Barbara was to have more time with Collin and Alexis, and what was I trying to prove? It would be another two hours on the bike, or a 20-minute ride in a truck. I finally came to my senses and took the ride, and dear god how happy I am that I did. Alberto helped me put everything in his truck, was a lovely conversationalist, and let me eat his cashews. And it only took 20 minutes. Cars still blow me away.

I arrived at the Barretts’ but wasn’t sure which unit was their’s and they were still out to dinner, so I started snooping around. I was super over it all at this point and just wanted to be inside, off my bike, eating. I finally decided the porch with all the cute succulents and plants must be theirs, so I started sleuthing for a hidden key, which I found. I unlocked the door, said ‘please be their place,’ turned on the light, and saw a wedding photo of Collin and his groomsman. Oh, thank god.

I grabbed a beer, made a tortilla wrap with cheese and pepperoni because I was that desperate just to eat, and then Alexis and Collin were home! Alexis made me a frozen pizza, which I ate all of, I took a shower, we chatted, and I knocked out hard on their couch. Seeing both of them again and chatting in their living room really made the whole day worth it—they are both friends that I have not seen for three years (!!!!!!), but when I do, it’s back to normal in a few minutes. Collin is one of my first friends from college, and he and Alexis were dating even then, so I basically feel like I went to college with her, too. In some ways, it was like a mini-homecoming.

Tomorrow is my last night camping! It’s a push tomorrow as well but not nearly as much as today. Today may be the longest I’ll ride on this trip.

[angryschnauzer]

Its Your Birthday Not Mine

A/N: Sorry, this is a day late but i hope you still like it. I decided to make a change from the usual Smutty fics i write and attempt to write something fluffy and sweet. You guys know this isn’t my forte so i hope its not as crap as i feel it is. And apologies for my crappy photo edit. EDIT: I’m sorry but i’ve taken the ‘read more’ cut out of this as due to the recent tumblr update it makes it unreadable on the mobile app. Just curse me as you have to scroll a little further to skip past it. Summary: Steve leaves you in charge of planning Bucky’s birthday party when they head off on a mission, leaving you to figure out how to show the one man in your life he means the world to you, even if you haven’t actually told him as such yet. Written as a sequel to ‘Something Beautiful’. 

Warnings: None. A little bit of Angst and Fluff.

Masterlist

It’s Your Birthday Not Mine

Since that wintery day when you and Bucky had spent that relaxing afternoon together drawing - and the subsequent discovery by you that when he’d been told to draw something beautiful he’d drawn you – you had grown much closer to him. But apart from snuggling close on the couch during movie night and a few playful hugs in the kitchen whilst you were cooking you had yet to see his affections develop any further.

You made the conscious decision not to push him, to wait until he was ready as you would rather enjoy what you had than spoil it by moving too fast.

~*~

“But Steve!” you whined, doing your best to ignore the stern gaze he was giving you; “I’ll be fine, I can help... please...”

“No. You’re not coming. You broke your foot in four different places on the last mission and you’re still healing!”

You glanced down at the support boot you were still wearing on your right foot, two months after getting caught in a Hydra vehicle and being thrown out onto the side of the road when they discovered you. You’d been healing well – well enough to be able to hobble around on your foot and not rely on crutches all the time – but you still had another two months of enforced desk duties. And by desk duties you had taken that as doing anything and everything at the compound you possibly could, from cataloguing the weapons store to redecorating the living quarters to something a little less ‘Tony’ and a little more ‘home’.

It didn’t stop you however limping along after Steve as he readied himself for the team’s latest mission;

“Steve, please. I just want to make sure you all come back safe, it’s getting really close...”

Steve paused and let out a sigh before turning;

“That’s why I need you here. To plan things”

Suddenly you realised you’d been rumbled. You cared deeply for Bucky and with his 100th birthday rapidly approaching you were nervous that he’d go on one last dangerous mission and not return, not come back to celebrate his birthday. Not come back to you. You’d never admitted your feelings to him – or to anyone for that matter – but it just went to show how astute Steve was at picking up on the small signs.

“Can we hurry along a little; I’ve got the details in my office”

He set off at a quick pace with you hurriedly shuffling along behind him best you could before he stopped and turned, and before you knew it you were being hoisted over his shoulder in a fireman’s lift;

“Sorry Doll, but I do mean hurry...”

~*~

You waved the Quinjet off, the wind wiping your hair around your face as you leant on your crutch. You’d promised Steve you’d use them a little more, agreeing that by following the doctor’s orders you’d actually heal quicker. After all, you weren’t a super soldier.

Clutching the small folio of notes Steve had complied you hurried back into the building, eager to see what ideas he’d had. He’d tasked you with arranging a party for Bucky. No pressure there then...

Needless to say when you opened said folio and found just two small scraps of paper you were less than pleased. The first one said ‘needs to celebrate happy times’. The other had a number of diners and eateries in Brooklyn named, and when you’d googled them you found the majority had closed by the time WWII had ended, or simply couldn’t be found anymore. Sitting back in your chair you chewed on the end of your pen, trying to figure out what to do for the one man in your life that was the most important to you, even if he didn’t know that fact.

Hours later you had scribbled notes over the paper in front of you, decoration ideas, menu suggestions, even music choices with three playlists downloading as you sat back and admired your work;

“Ha! That’ll show you!”

“Show me what?”

Startled at another voice in the room than your own you leapt up, letting out a deep breath when you saw Scott un-shrink until he was standing in front of you;

“Oh, it’s you... umm nothing...”

He was never one to let something drop, so before you could hide your notes he was standing over you, reading aloud the list of things you needed to get;

“Hey, is this for Barnes’ 100th? You need any help?”

You went to refuse but realised it would actually be good to have someone around;

“Actually, yeah sure. There’s a load of things I need to get and I can’t order them online, can you drive me into the city?”

“Sure thing kiddo”

You cocked your eyebrow at him;

“Hey... there’s not THAT much of an age difference between us”

“No, you’re right Old Lady” he picked up your notes as you both made for the door; “But there is between you and Barnes’....” he saw your reaction; “Oh come on, your secret is safe with me”

~*~

Scott had been a godsend; he’d brainstormed ideas with you as you sat in the front of his old van during the slow drive into Brooklyn. He’d come up with new ideas, helped you work the kinks – metaphorically speaking – of the other ideas you hadn’t quite figured out. He’d even done all the runs back and forth from the van to the kitchen whilst you slowly moved around putting things away.

Just as you’d sat down with a fresh pot of coffee and had started to go through working out timings for all the things you wanted to cook for the meal your phone vibrated on the marble kitchen countertop making you jump. Checking the screen you smiled as you saw Steve’s brief text message informing you that they would be back in the early hours of the morning. They’d be given a good 8 hours mandatory down time to rest and sleep, but if you needed him to help he would skip the sleep and give you a hand. Quickly hitting reply you told him you had everything under control.

That night it took you a long time to finally fall asleep, your mind wandering between thoughts and desires, before switching to ‘what ifs’. What if the Quinjet crashed? What if they didn’t make it out of the rendezvous point? What if Bucky hated the birthday you had planned for him?

~*~

You were awake as dawn broke, showered and dressed in time to see the sunrise over the tree line that surrounded the compound. As you sipped your coffee you could see the silhouette of the Quinjet as it silently flew in, landing softly and the same amount of figures stepping out that had left. Letting out a deep sigh of relief you felt the lump well in your throat as your fears from the night before ebbed away. Knowing it would take the boys a couple of minute to store their weapons you moved around the kitchen making them cocoa, something you knew they liked to help them relax after missions.

When three weary faces appeared just as you were adding the marshmallows to the top of the chocolate drinks they all picked up when they saw you;

“Hey guys... good to see you back”

Each gave you a quick hug, none of them wanting to hang around too long, instead a shower and a soft bed was calling each of them. Sam’s gaze landed on the steaming mugs, leaning forwards to grab one until you stopped him;

“No, that one’s Bucky’s”

“Why’s it his?”

“Because it’s got three marshmallows”

“Why does he get an extra one?”

“Because it’s his birthday”

You replied with a grin, watching as Bucky leant around both Sam and Steve to take the drink, sipping at the hot liquid. They soon made their exit, exhaustion taking over any other need, but you were surprised that as Bucky passed you he quickly pressed his lips to your cheek;

“Thank you”

He murmured against your skin before he was gone, the heat from his body absent as fast as it had appeared. Instinctively you brought your hand to your cheek, touching the spot his lips had been, looking up just in time to see him smile at you from the doorway before he disappeared.

~*~

“Come on, it’s time to get ready”

Wanda’s thick accent made you smile; you’d worked all day on the meal for that evening, helping supervise Scott and Clint as they put the yellow, orange, and green paper streamers up. They hung from the centre of the ceiling before spreading out in a circle to the walls, making the place look like it was some sort of circus tent. Wanda had scoured the compound for the bright yellow daffodils that grew; vases of the scented blooms covered every windowsill and bookcase. You’d been doubtful about having flowers but after she had done a little research online she had proven to you that they would have been traditional early springtime flowers back in the 30’s and 40’s.

However she was now pulling you away from the stove, insisting that she and the others could help with the finishing touches, giving you the chance to shower and dress for the party.

Half an hour later you were clean and refreshed, drying your hair and thankful for the gentle natural curl that made it fall into soft waves. As you applied your makeup you glanced at the dress hanging on your closet door, nervous about wearing it. You had found it in a revival store after that time you and Bucky had grown close, a store that took vintage designs and remade them, and had deep down hoped you would wear it when he asked you on a date. But all these weeks later it hadn’t happened. It was however your only suitable thing to wear so as you finished the last of your eyeliner and waited for it to dry; you finally built up the courage to pull the floaty dress on. Checking your reflection in the mirror and satisfied with the result you slipped the soft flat ballet shoes on, relieved to be without your support boot for a while.

As you come out of your room you suddenly feel the air being sucked from your lungs when you see him. Bucky is standing in the centre of the room laughing with the others, holding the gift Sam had given him and genuinely thanking him for it;

“No no no, I love it! I used to have one just like it!”

He pulled the peaked hat onto his head just and he saw you, a huge grin on his face as he came over;

“What do you think?”

Bucky looked stunning, he wore a white button down shirt on under a dark gray vest, a lighter gray tie finished the look. With his sleeves rolled up you could see the smooth plates of his metal arm and the soft skin of his real one as he held his hands out as if presenting himself to you;

“You... you look amazing Bucky...”

You swallowed nervously, not sure whether he wanted a hug or if you were reading too much into it, instead you cleared your throat and hooked your thumb over your shoulder;

“I should really finish getting dinner ready”

“I’ll give you a hand!”

“Oh no, really, it’s your birthday...”

“Please?”

Rather than steaming ahead of you like Steve had Bucky walked at your side as you slowly made your way over to the kitchen, aware that you didn’t have your support boot on your foot.

Soon he was helping to pull the dishes out of the oven where they had been left to keep warm, and with each one he got more and more exited;

“...and are these Lima Beans? You’ve done them in a tomato sauce!”

“Yeah... I did some research about stuff you might have liked before... you know before you joined the army”

“Is there crispy bacon to go on top?” he asked excitedly, his question answered when he saw you pull a tray of it from under the broiler.

He watched as you got the rest of the things out; Pot Roast Brisket, Sausage Links, Rolled Toast with Mushrooms, an array of vegetables and a basket of freshly baked dinner rolls that Clint had brought up that day from the bakery near his farm. When everything was set onto the table you looked around the room, amazed at how things had come together so quickly. Scott had had the idea to pull in a round table from the conference room rather than the long narrow one that was usually there, saying that although it was Bucky’s party he probably wouldn’t want to be sat at the head of the table, he’d want everyone to be equal.

You stood back as everyone started to take a seat, not sure where to sit at first. You saw Steve take a seat one side of Bucky, giving his oldest friend a slap on the back as he handed him a small wrapped gift. As Bucky set it down he turned to you and patted the chair on his other side;

“Come on, take a seat Darlin’.”

~*~

The meal was a huge success, everyone eating way beyond their full point, and even when there was a clap of thunder outside and a few seconds later Thor walked in with a smile on his face there was still more than enough for him to join the party. You watched as the blond giant handed Bucky a small silver hip flask and told him to drink it in moderation.

“Hey Buck...” Steve piped up next to him; “Thor’s right, that stuff will give you the worst hangover”

“Even with the serum?”

“Uh-huh”

“Cool”

He took a sip and let out a low whistle;

“Jesus, it’s like O’Riley’s whiskey he used to make in that cellar beneath the Gelato parlour on 82nd Street, you remember that Stevie?”

“When it’s one of the few places where you’ve got Italians and Irish working together... yeah, I remember it Buck”

You sat back and watched as Steve and Bucky reminisced about the old times, pre-war, pre-worries, pre-Hydra. Finally as the dishes had long gone cold you quietly got up and started to clear the table, Wanda soon joining you in the kitchen as you covered the left over’s with cling wrap for any drunk or hung-over people to snack on the next morning. Between the two of you the dishwasher was soon running and you were pulling the desserts out of their storage containers.

“What’s this?”

Wanda pulled her nose up and poked a delicate finger at one bowl;

“Jellied Fruit. Basically mixed fruits set in Jell-O. It was a thing back then”

“It looks weird”

You looked into the bowl and had to agree with her, the sound of the pair of you laughing covering the soft footsteps that approached;

“What’s so funny ladies?”

At the sound of Bucky’s voice you spun around and immediately regretted it;

“Shit!”

He was catching you as you began to tumble, the movement had put too much pressure onto your foot and the pain that had shot up your leg caught you by surprise.

“Come on Darlin’, you take the weight off that foot, let me and Wanda do the rest”

“But... but it’s your party!”

As much as you protested as he swooped you up into his arms to carry you bridal style back to the table, you had to admit the feeling of being so close to him was something you’d dreamt of. The ‘I told you to rest it’ look you got from Steve however soon ruined the moment as he set you down, quickly heading back to the kitchen before returning with the huge tub of Gelato you had managed to get from just the place he and Steve had been talking about earlier. As he was excitedly telling you about how great the ice cream was the lights in the room went down and Wanda appeared at the doorway with the cake you’d baked, the candles lit as she walked into the room and everyone burst into a round – if out of tune – of Happy Birthday.

When everyone had their fill of sweet treats and Tony reappeared from his office with two bottles of Scotch that were so old that their labels had practically peeled off, the appropriate toasts were made and heckling that followed before he pulled his phone from his pocket;

“Right girls and boys, the Limo is here and the club is waiting for us”

People started to excitedly get ready, pull on jackets and coats as they made for the door, not noticing you remaining where you sat. You watched with a sad smile as Bucky and Steve left, laughing and joking about old times and new. As the room grew quiet you slowly made your way to your room, changing into an old oversized t-shirt that had ended up in your laundry somehow. You weren’t sure who the previous owner of it was but it hung loosely over your body and came down to your thighs so it must have been one of the bigger guys, Steve Sam or Bucky perhaps, before strapping your support boot into your aching foot.

Just as you glanced out of the window you saw the taillights of the Limo as it pulled out of the compound, heading towards the clubs in the city. Before you could dwell on the thoughts of missing out you heard a quiet cough at your doorway, turning slowly to see Bucky standing there watching you;

“Bucky! Why aren’t you going with them? It’s your birthday...”

He slowly walked across the room until he was standing in front of you;

“Yeah, it’s my birthday... and I never got my gift from you...”

“Oh, it’s over here...”

You went to move past him but he softly caught your wrist, pulling you flush with his chest;

“All I could ever want is a kiss...”

Your lips met and everything else was forgotten, your body softening in his arms as you sank into his embrace. After a few moments you wrapped your arms around his broad shoulders, the kiss deepening as he clung to you, before you finally had to break away for air, your chest heaving and a grin that mirrored his on your face;

“Wow...”

“Yeah...”

You chuckled; “If I knew that’s all you wanted I wouldn’t have bought you a gift”

His warm belly laugh filled the room, his eyes sparkling in the low light as he looked down at you;

“How about I fix us some cocoa, then perhaps I can get another kiss from you”

“Deal”

“Oh hey, can we have marshmallows on top?”

You laughed at him;

“Of course we can... it’s your birthday Bucky, not mine!”

[new-rituals]

Money Diaries - End of March

Day One: 3/25

9 a.m. — I “wake up” - in reality it means I stare at my phone with one eye shut and lay in bed for another hour browsing Reddit and FB

10 a.m. — Finally decide to get out of bed, brush my teeth, and go to the kitchen. My mom bought me cheesecake from an Asian bakery! She’s leaving for China today, so I make myself 2 cups of espresso with soy milk and sit in the kitchen at chat with her until she leaves for her flight at noon.

11 a.m. — My friends and I were planning a trip to Seattle for my friend’s going away trip, and we finally booked the flight back (even though we haven’t bought our flight there yet)!!! My dad tells me to use his card cause he gets points. It was $118, but I give him $100 in cash cause I don’t have loose bills. He says its fine. $100

12 p.m. — My dad brings my mom to the airport, and I decide to try to get some interview prep done. I start by reading an article about Dropbox from the NYT since I’m trying to get into the habit of reading the news every day.

2:30 p.m. — I have work at 3:30, and it takes me a while to do my make-up and hair, so I retreat to my room to get ready.

3:45 p.m. — Finally head out for work! Another exciting day in retail.

6 p.m. — The store was crazy with terrible customers. I finally go on my 15 minute break and stop by Smashburger for a Neapolitan shake and rosemary fries. I manage to finish all the fries within 10 minutes, and I’m proud but disgusted with myself. $7.96

7:45 p.m. — I get off work 15 min late because the store was trashed. I’m exhausted and finally head home.

8 p.m. — My dad was waiting at home for me to eat dinner. We head out to a noodle place nearby our house. He pays.

9:50 p.m. — I notice a similarly priced flight that flies a little earlier than the flight we booked previously, and its to a better/more convenient airport. We all cancel our previous flight and book this one instead. It’s still charged on my dad’s card, thanks dad! 

Daily Total: $107.96

Day Two: 3/26

9 a.m. — I wake up early so I can go to the library and prep for my 2 interviews. But first, I roll around in bed for a little bit.

10 a.m. — Got to the library right when it opened. I check for flights again to see if they’ve dropped - they haven’t. I start replying to emails that I received this morning, and commit to studying until at least 1.

11 a.m. — The girl sitting across from me is disgusting, so I switch seats to across the aisle.

1:30 p.m. — I didn’t get that much work done (ended up replying to a bunch of emails), but I decide to roll out so I can make lunch and take a quick nap before I Skype the BF.

1:45 p.m. — There’s not really any food at home, so I make a bowl of cereal and call it a day. I fall asleep on the couch while watching B99.

3 p.m. — I Skype the BF before work so I can get some interview prep in.

4:45 p.m. — I head out to work!! Yay.

9:30 p.m. —  Work ends and I rush home. I take a quick shower and eat left over noodles for dinner. My friends and I saw that flights to Seattle from SFO have dropped by about 50 bucks, so we buy! They buy the direct flight and I buy the only indirect flight at the same time because it’s $15 bucks cheaper. I put it on my dad’s card and give him $150 in cash, but he only takes $100. $100

10:30 p.m. — I’m feeling really tired, so I decide not to do anymore interview prep and to just call it a night so I can be well rested. I lay in bed on my phone for an hour before I finally go to sleep.

Daily Total: $100

Day Three: 3/27

6:15 a.m. — My first alarm rings - I hate myself. I hit snooze on the next few alarms.

6:30 a.m. — I finally drag myself out of bed and head to the bathroom to brush my teeth, wash my face, and put in my contacts. Then I head to my room and play some B99 as I put on my make-up and do my hair.

7:30 a.m. — I was going to get coffee on the way to the Caltrain but decided not to. My dad drops me off at the Mountain View stop right as a train is approaching. I quickly buy a ticket and get on the train and manage to snag a seat. I’ll be expensing this ticket.

9 a.m. — Finally get to SF a few minutes later than expected. I call an Uber to the office I’m interviewing at. I’ll be expensing this ride.

9:30 a.m. — There’s way more traffic than expected. I tried to prep a little more on the Uber, but I was so stressed I can’t concentrate. I finally get to the office and use the lobby bathroom so I can change into my skirt and heels, then head up.

12 p.m. — So far, I’ve said some things I probably shouldn’t have said - but I hope for the best. 3 analysts take me and another interviewee to lunch at a really fancy restaurant downstairs. There are literally no vegetarian options so I order a chicken Caesar salad without the chicken. They order 4 apps that I cant eat, and then 2 desserts that we all split.

2 p.m. — We all head back up to the office so the interviewee and I can finish up our last 2 rounds of interviews.

3 p.m. — My interviews are finally over. I don’t think I did great, but I’m trying not to dwell. I change back into my pants and flats, chat with my friend in the lobby for a little bit, and decide to walk to Boba Guys for a treat.

3:30 p.m.  — Boba Guys has a crazy long line, so I decide just to go home. I call an Uber to the Caltrain and tell my dad when I expect to be at the Mountain View station. I’ll be expensing this ride.

5 p.m.  — I get to the Mountain View station and my dad picks me up. We head home, and he cooks up a few veg dishes for us.

9 p.m.  — After napping, eating, and de-stressing on the sofa for a little bit, I decide to get to work. I review my notes about the company and a few frameworks for case studies.

10:30 p.m. — I’m tired and unmotivated. I brush my teeth and head to bed. I lay in bed on my phone for a little bit before finally falling asleep.

Daily Total: $0

Day Four: 3/28

8:15 a.m. — My alarm wakes me up and I get up to get ready for another day of interviewing.

9:15 a.m. — After finishing my hair and make-up, I head out to buy myself a cup of matcha so I can be caffeinated (but not jittery) for my interview. $4.90

9:45 a.m. — After getting back home, I eat a bowl of cereal while watching B99. Then I get to work and try to squeeze in a little more studying before I have to head out.

11 a.m. — My dad comes home to pick me up for my interview. We drive to the Caltrain and I buy a ticket (not re-imburse-able). $16.50

1 p.m. — We should’ve been in the city by now, but the train breaks down because of a problem with the power. I wait for 10 minutes before getting off the train with the bulk of everyone else, and call an Uber to the city. All the Ubers and Lyfts are super far away so it takes a while for them to reach me. $12.87

1:30 p.m. — I finally get to Blue Bottle! I go inside and snag a seat. I sit and study for about 30 minutes before I head into the bathroom to change into my skirt.

2 p.m. — I head over to the office site. I get there a little early so I sit and study for a little bit more. When the clock hits 15, I head upstairs to wait for my interview.

3:30 p.m. — The interview went terribly, and I come out of the office on the verge of tears. I call my friend to vent and cry a little bit, and she reassures me that everything will be okay and that it isn’t my fault. I’m constantly on edge with recruiting, and I’m just ready for the whole thing to be over.

4 p.m. — My friend who works in the city is able to take a quick (not-so-quick) break, so we head to Boba Guys and wait in the long line. We chat about my interview yesterday and today, and our future trip to Seattle. After we grab our drinks , we head back to her office. $4.50

5:30 p.m. — I try to call an Uber from her office, but there’s so much traffic that all the Uber’s take too long to get to me. I decide to walk to the Caltrain since it would take about the same amount of time.

6 p.m. — I finally get to the Caltrain and snag a seat. I text my dad to let him know when I would reach Mountain View.

7:30 p.m. — I finally get home! I feel disgusting and exhausted. I take a quick shower, and call the nearby pizza place for take out. I offer to share with my dad but he wants to eat left overs. $17.50

9 p.m. — Dinner and snacking time is over. I am trying to destress by watching B99 and Youtube, but it isn’t working.

Daily Total: $56.27

Day Five: 3/29

7:25 a.m. — My alarm goes off. At first, I wake up thinking that it’s so early, I can definitely go back to sleep! And then I remember I have work at 8 AM, so I get up and get ready for the day.

9 a.m. — My manager and I had to make a run to the bank, and I literally spend the entire time on my phone trying to stake out Fenway Park tickets for senior week. I feel bad, but I finally get them! $14

12:30 p.m. — Today was a crazy day at work. I swear at one point there were literally 10 strollers in the store, with babies crying left and right and the store getting trashed. I thank my lucky stars that I don’t have to clean up tonight, and head out of work for the day.

1 p.m. — After having a mental breakdown about my abilities and job searching, I heat up my left over pizza and eat it for lunch as I watch B99. I snack on some sunflower seeds, and then pass out on the couch for a few hours.

4 p.m. — I finally wake up and feel disgusting. I wash my face and put in some eye drops (since my contacts dried up in my eyes). I go to my computer and update my budget and cringe in pain as I see how much money I spent on food this month. I vow to myself to really rein it in so I can actually save some money for Europe.

7 p.m. — My dad comes home and brings Chipotle for dinner! I’m only able to finish half of mine, so I save the other half for lunch tomorrow. 

Daily Total: $14

Day Six: 3/30

9:30 a.m. — I wake up, roll around in bed for a little bit, and then get up to head to the gym.

11:30 a.m. — My workout is finally done! I head home so I can shower.

12 p.m. — I heat up my left over Chipotle for lunch, and respond to a few emails. I got invited back by one of the companies I interviewed at for lunch, and I am super confused as to why because I was 100% sure that I bombed the interview and that the director did not like me. I respond saying that I am interested anyways and we schedule a time.

1 p.m. — I eat my Chipotle on the couch while watching B99. I pass out for like 3 hours.

3:30 p.m. — I finally get up off the couch. I remix my slime to make it less sticky and accidentally get some on the kitchen rug. I can’t get it off so I leave it, hoping that it’ll get less sticky with time. 

4 p.m. — I retreat into my room to get ready for work. I only do my make-up since I’m feeling lazy.

4:45 p.m. — I head out to work. 

9:30 p.m. — I love closing with one manager in particular cause she’s always in a rush to get out early, just like me. We leave about 15 minutes early and I get home. My dad’s not home, so I make myself a bowl of cereal and eat it in a rush since I have to head out soon. My dad gets home just as I start eating and I let him know what my plans for the night are.

10 p.m. — My friend calls me telling me that she and her boyfriend just broke up. She is not upset about it at all, which is good, and we use the time to catch up on each other’s lives. I chat with her as I drive to my other friends house. One of my friends recently got into her first choice med school, so we are celebrating! They were planning on going clubbing, but we decided to stay in and have a chill night instead.

2 a.m. — We ended up spending the night just chatting and watching tv/movies. We finally head home at 2 am, and I take off my make-up, wash my face, change, and get into bed. 

Daily Total: $0

Day Seven: 3/31

10 a.m. — I wake up suuper late today because of how late I slept last night. I muster what little motivation I have to get up and get changed for the gym.

12 p.m. — I finally finish at the gym! I take a shower and heat up two Asian buns and eat two hard boiled eggs for lunch. Then I snack on some sunflower seeds before passing out on the couch for another 3 hours.

4 p.m. — I finally wake up and hate myself for sleeping for so long. This is one of the few weekends I have off and I wasted one by napping! I am still stressed out about job search, but I decide not to do anything about it today since I still need more me time.

6 p.m. — My dad gets home from biking, and after he showers and changes, we head out to a shabu shabu place for dinner. He pays - thanks dad!

9:30 p.m.  — I do a little bit of job search since I’m bored and it’ll take some of the tension I’m feeling off. 

10 p.m.  — I finish up totaling my money diaries!

Daily Total: $0

The Breakdown:

Weekly Total $$ Spent: $278.23

Food & Drink: $34.86 Entertainment: $14 Home & Health: $0 Clothes & Beauty: $0 Transport: $229.37 Other: $0

[additionallysad]

Holiday Gift Guides for Everyone On Your List (With Stuff under $20 – And Even $5!) https://ift.tt/2PrVYOI

As is the tradition, I’m a little late with this. Ha! But here it is! (I’m also late with my actual gift buying, so I better get cracking). We like to put all of our gift guides in one place, so below you’ll find the one we made for grown-ups, another one for kids, and (my personal favorite) one full of stuff that’s under $15. 

Gifts For Grown-Ups

Here’s what we’re loving, either firsthand stuff we bought for ourselves and have really enjoyed – or things we’re getting for friends & family (or hoping to find under the tree). 

1 / Adulting Award Ribbons (4/$25): It would be so much fun to have an “award ceremony” at a family gathering, complete with victory laps & acceptance speeches.

2 / Black Robe with Pockets ($78-98): I bought this robe to wear around the house & I’m OBSESSED. So soft, there’s a tie inside so it doesn’t flap open, and IT HAS POCKETS! I’m living my best life. 

3 / Personalized Address Stamper ($28): Always love a personalized gift that makes things easier for people. No more writing out return addresses & they’ll think of you every time they use it. 

4 / Customized Road Trip Ornament ($25): Another sweet personalized ornament that you can give to someone who went on an epic trip (also works for someone who moved). 

5 / Zodiac Sign Constellation Necklace ($28+): I can’t get over how dainty and pretty these are. All you need to know is someone’s birthday and it feels totally unusual and sweet. 

6 / Ugg Slippers ($63-104): I bought these & can’t get over how much I love them. Incredibly soft & well made – plus you can buy $15 inserts to keep them fluffy forever (I’ve heard from people who’ve had ’em 8 years!). 

7 / Cheeky Mug ($18): A hilarious mug filled with candy, hot cocoa mix, or an adult beverage is always fun. Plus pants are super overrated.  

8 / Cozy Plaid Pillow Covers ($20 w/ code CHEER): Love that these are colorful & interesting enough not to feel basic, but they’d work with practically any sofa, armchair, or bed. 

9 / Faux Leather Tote with Matching Pouch ($49): I’m so into this cool metallic finish & that it’s two bags in one. Also comes in black, cognac, and a cool blue-gray. 

10 / Men’s Puffer Vest ($30): John loves this vest he got for himself this year and we even found a matching long-sleeve jacket ($14 today!) for our son. Fun fact: when they wear ’em together my heart explodes. 

11 / Wood Apple Watch Charging Stand ($42): When I asked John what he thought I should add to this gift guide, this is the first thing he sent me. Think it’s a hint? 

12 / Dainty Name Ring ($22 – 30% off today): Yet another totally personalized gift idea, and it comes in rose gold, white gold, sterling silver, etc. 

13 / Personalized Leather Keychain ($19): These stamped leather keychains come in tons of colors, and you can put someone’s nickname or even a place on it (like “Pink House” or “Smith Manor”)

14 / Bucket Tool Organizer ($29): Such a great gift for anyone with a home, pretty much. Suddenly you can carry 20 tools that would take 10 trips. 

15 / Wubby Fleece Pullover ($50 – 35% off today): I don’t think I need to explain why this cozy fleece pullover would be everyone’s favorite, but I’ll just say this: it’s like wearing a cloud (with pockets!). 

16 / Faux Leather Circle Clutch ($28): This is one of those items in your closet that pulls together tons of outfits and looks pricier than it is. That wood ring! Real leather! I’m smitten.

17 / Pocket Bluetooth Speaker ($20): I’d love a bluetooth speaker like this on the bathroom sink for blasting hiphop while I shower (comes in blue & gray). 

18 / Coffee Table Dominoes Game ($21 – 40% off w/ code CHEER): These are so beautiful and actually functional! I’d put ’em in a pretty wood bowl on the coffee table for impromptu games. 

Gifts For Kids

Once again we put things we actually own and love in here, along with stuff we’re buying our kids this year, or considering for other little cousins & friends. 

1 / Sailing Ship Kit ($42): Words can’t express how much fun this would be to hang in kid’s room – and it’s an actual kite, so it can come down and fly.

2 / Personalized Crayon Set ($13): It’s so much fun to open a box and see your name in crayons – especially if you have a name that isn’t always found on those premade signs and keychains! 

3 / Coloring Book Dress ($38): Who doesn’t want to color all over a coloring book dress and make it completely your own?! LOVE this!

4 / Instant Camera ($56): Such a fun way to get kids into photography, and see the world through their eyes! 

5 / DIY Ukelele Kit ($39): Our daughter’s actually learning the ukelele in school (no more recorder concerts! They switched!!!). She’d LOVE THIS. 

6 / Classic Lego Set ($28): Our kids have only ever had John’s hand-me-down Lego blocks from his childhood, so we love that they now sell these huge basic block sets (without the price markup for licensed characters!) 

7 / Ada Twist, Scientist ($15): We’ve already got Iggy Peck, Architect in our library and it’s GREAT. Next I want this one. 

8 / My Crazy Inventions Sketchbook ($14): We bought this book and our daughter filled it up with the coolest sketches & inventions – so great for imaginations & I’m keeping it forever. 

9 / Wreck This Journal ($12): We recently found a YouTuber who documented her entries in this interactive (and destructive!) journal. It’s full of fun prompts and such a cool concept. 

10 / Wooden Cash Register ($31): Pretend play is big at our house, so a cash register is one of those things that would get so much use. Love that it’s wood and has a scanner & a credit card you can slide. 

11 / Unicorn Robe ($30): My robe lovin’ self has rubbed off on our daughter and she’s asked for a robe for herself! I LOVE IT. 

12 / Dragon Slippers ($21): Not to be outdone in coziness, our son has dinosaur slippers that he wears nonstop. So as weird as it sounds, fun plush slippers can make a great gift! 

13 / Felt Donut Play Food ($9): So cute and under $10! Everyone loves a donut… and you’d be amazed how many of these their stuffed animals will “eat” ;)

14 / Bear Body Pillow ($15): A big cuddly pillow that doubles as an animal friend is always a good idea. 

15 / Unstable Unicorns Game ($20): This game says 14+ on box, but reviewers say 8 year olds enjoy it, so we think it’s a great option for our Exploding Kittens-loving 3rd grader.

16 / Metro Wooden Blocks ($90 now – it used to be $150!): Ok, this is just about the coolest block set I’ve ever seen! And I love that it’s 40% off right now. 

17 / Custom Kid’s Letter Jacket ($26): How cute is this custom kids letter jacket?! Ours love anything with their names on them – and a jacket is so useful along with being fun. 

18 / Girls’ Charm Bracelet Set ($5):  Nostalgia forever!!! Our daughter has and loves her charm bracelet. And at $5 this one isn’t too precious.

Gifts Under $15

Here’s my favorite list to make each year, just because I’m always amazed at how many budget-friendly things are out there that’ll make so many people smile BIG. 

1 / Hex Tile Monogram Mug ($10): These are basically the beach house master bathroom in mug form! Fill ’em with candy or cocoa mix & marshmallows and they’re great gifts!

2 / Lumps of Coal Dog Treats ($5.50): Can’t forget our favorite four-leggers and these dog treats shaped like lumps of coal made me snicker. 

3 / Gold Palm Picture Frame ($10.49): Giving someone you love a personal photo (of their kids, you guys together, etc) in a lovely frame is always a hit. I’m also loving this scalloped bone frame ($10.49). 

4 / Plaid Frame Ornaments ($3.99!!!): Such a great grandparent gift with a photo of you or your kids or even some art they’ve drawn. We give them to both of our parents every year. 

5 / Mini Kitchen Tool Ornaments ($12.99): So cute for the chef or the baker in your life! The little wisk kills me. 

6 / Triple Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix ($9): These make such great neighbor gifts. Just wrap a ribbon around the lid and you’re done!

7 / Beard Oil ($14.99): John’s a die-hard beard oil enthusiast. So if you know and love someone with a beard, give ’em some and watch their face light up with joy. 

8 / Pink Resin Hoop Earrings ($12.99): I love the cool shape of these & they come in other colors (also love the white & the tortoise ones!)

9 / Question-A-Day Five Year Journal ($11.55): If you wish you journaled more, this makes it easy and shows you how much can change over 5 years. It’s lots of fun to go back and read it. 

10 / Faux Leather Crossbody Bag ($12 – down from $25): I have a camel colored crossbody bag this size and it’s still going strong! Goes with everything and I love the little latch hardware on this one. 

11 / Faux Fur Pom Pom Beanie ($9 down from $22): I love a little knitted winter hat with a pompom (surprise I have one just like this in black). 

12 / Sprinkle Ice Cream Cups (4 for $4.97!!!!): I love gifts that you pair with something fun – so these cups all nested with a little container of sprinkles inside would be so sweet. And you can’t beat the price!

13 / Rainbow Catnip Seed Bombs ($14.95): I love the idea of planting these outside (or inside in a pot) to show your cat a good time. They also sell sets to grow wildflowers or herbs which also make good gifts.

14 / Nesting Heart Tray Trio (3 for $4.99!!!): Such a sweet gift for someone to put near the kitchen or bathroom sink for their rings. They also work for tea bags if you serve tea a lot.

15 / What Do You Meme? Expansion Packs ($12.99): We have and love the original game ($29.99), so we’ve been considering adding packs like this Housewives themed one ($12.99) or this Mean Girls version ($12.99).

16 / Plaid Pet Leash ($10.49): Another gift for a four legged friend in your life, and I love the design of this one. Fancy pup. 

17 / Slim Wallet ($12.99): John bought this a few months ago and LOVES it. Keeps his pockets from getting too bulky, and it’s incredibly well reviewed. 

18 / Ugg Sheepskin Shoe Inserts ($14.95): I mentioned these when I linked to my Ugg slippers, but even if you don’t have them… YOU CAN PUT THESE IN ANY SHOES TO MAKE ‘EM COZY! Rain boots. Flat old slippers. Winter boots. Etc. It’s a lifehack for real. 

19 / Pocket Notebook (2 for $10): I love pretty little notebooks! Always useful for keeping in your purse or the car or by the bed. 

20 / Gold Turtle Paperclip Holder ($14.99): So I have this thing with animal desk accessories…

21 / Tortoise Hoop Earrings ($12.99): I ADORE these so much I’m about to put them in my cart so they don’t sell out. Treat yo self!

And since there are some pretty great sales going on right now, here’s what I’ve found so far:

Pottery Barn – 25% off sitewide & free shipping – use the code JINGLE here

Crate & Barrel – Up to 70% off here

West Elm – 20% off furniture, 25% off rugs, and 20-50% off bedding, see it all here

CB2 – Up to 40% off furniture and holiday decor here

Target – Today only, 30% off home here

Urban Outfitters – Up to 50% off gift items here

Anthropologie – Up to 50% off ready-to-ship furniture here

Overstock – Up to 70% off & free shipping here

Rejuvenation – 20% off your order & free shipping here

World Market – Save an extra 30% with code REWARDFORYOU  here

Serena & Lily – Up to 30% off here

Old Navy – Gifts from $4 and up to 60% the entire store here

Banana Republic – 40% off your purchase here

Gap – 40% off your purchase with the code WINTERFUN here

J Crew – 50% off your entire purchase with code MONDAY here

Psst – To see last year’s lists, a lot of which is still linked and for sale, click here

*This post contains affiliate links*

The post Holiday Gift Guides for Everyone On Your List (With Stuff under $20 – And Even $5!) appeared first on Young House Love.