#plus i wonder if i should just make the clothes out of the same fleece

[aries-of-spades]

I really wish more stuffed animal tutorials showed anything at all to display the scale of the thing because it took me a few minutes to realize if I printed the template at the size it told me to I'd end up with a foot tall plushie and I'm not sure if I want that

[ruzek-halstead]

bundled up

pairing: jay halstead x hailey upton

during one of chicago's coldest winter nights, the power and heat in hailey's building is out. jay humbly offers his apartment - until his power goes out as well.

“get your ass back in this bed because you are not sleeping on the couch.”

masterlist || ao3

warnings: swearing, fluffery

considering both jay and hailey were both born and raised in chicago, they were no strangers to the cold winters. however, it did not make them any less bearable.

today happened to be a chilly friday, where temperatures plummeted down to the negative forties with the windchill. the power was out in many parts of the city and a number of chicagoans were stranded without heat and water. it’s ugly out there, but the districts have all pooled together to help whoever they could. with the help of the fire department, they made it through the worst.

or so hailey thinks.

she groans as she checks her phone. it is a little past nine at night and the unit had a hell of a day hitting the streets. all hailey wants to do is crack open a bottle of wine, take a nice hot bath and go to bed early. instead, she receives a text from her landlord informing her that the power is out in their neighbourhood and there is currently no heat.

hailey’s head hits the wood of her desk just thinking about the icebox that is currently her apartment.

jay peaks his eyes over his computer monitor upon hearing her distressed sounds. “you good?” he asks with a hint of amusement.

the rest of the team had already left for the night, after jay and hailey lost a bet earlier that day. both partners didn’t believe the power would go out because of the cold and the rest of their team bet them a week’s worth of paperwork. needless to say, Jay and hailey lost, and they are prepared for quite a few late nights in the near future.

“apparently my power is out and so is my heat,” she replies, paperwork completely forgotten. “do i even have enough blankets to survive the night?” she adds dramatically. “oh my god, i’m going to have to put on every article of clothing i own.”

on that note, jay checks his phone to make sure his apartment was still intact. “hey, don’t worry about it,” he tells her comfortingly; her eyes flit up to meet his. “you can come home with me tonight.”

“oh no, no,” hailey shakes her head, “that’s alright.”

jay furrows his brows. “you literally just implied you’ll freeze if you go back home.”

“i was being dramatic,” she waves him off, “i'll be fine. thanks for the offer though, i appreciate it.”

jay checks his phone again; it’s nine-thirty and no new messages. “alright, i'm done with paperwork for the night,” he gently pushes the endless piles further into his desk. “come on, let’s go.”

jay is up and grabbing his jacket from the back of his chair and hailey is watching him with an exasperated expression. “jay, i’m going home. i’ll be fine.”

"i'm sure you will be,” he says nonchalantly. “but i'm offering you a warm bed and free whiskey. what more could you want?”

“what i want is to not be a bother and go home,” she stands her ground against his bewildered look. “plus, i don’t have any of my stuff with me and if i have to go get stuff, i may as well stay there,” she explains, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world.

jay raises a suspicious eyebrow. “i know you always have an overnight bag in your locker.”

hailey pauses in her mission to get into her winter coat and hopes jay doesn’t notice it; of course, he does. “jay, seriously, i don’t want to be a bother.”

“the only thing that’s bothering me right now is your refusal to let me help you when it literally comes at no cost to me,” he replies, his features entirely serious. hailey is being extra resistant, and he isn’t sure why. “i promise i'll be the perfect gentleman, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

hailey shakes her head. “no, that’s not what…” she trails off, her voice quiet. jay dips his head to catch her eyes; she is being even more mysterious than usual. “okay, i’ll take you up on your offer. but,” she says sharply as he starts to grin victoriously, “this is for one night only, okay? i'm not trying to put anyone out.”

jay rolls his eyes but is still satisfied she changed her mind. “right, because that’s what you’re doing,” he adds sarcastically, and she punches his shoulder in retaliation. he can tell she hates to be a bother, but he wishes he could convey how she is the least bothersome part of his life.

they stop by the locker room so hailey can pick up her bag before they agree to meet back at his place. he’s already mapping out things to do or say to make her feel more comfortable and has a pretty decent list by the time he reaches home.

his apartment is nice and toasty when they arrive and relatively clean. he was never a messy guy and he doesn’t have that much in his apartment to begin with. he takes both their jackets and hangs them in the hall closet, watching out of the corner of his eye how hailey looks small and uncomfortable in his living room. he frowns; she should feel comfortable in every aspect of his life.

“hey, relax, okay?” he tells her on his walk back to the kitchen. his hands land on her shoulder and her blue eyes bore into his nervously. “you're not in my way and you’re always welcome here, you know that.”

he's used to confident and sassy hailey and he wants her back.

“you want something to drink?” he asks. “whiskey?”

his hand is already on the bottle but hailey surprises him by entering his kitchen and taking a hold of his coffee maker. “can i actually make some coffee?” jay smiles at her first sign of comfort and nods with enthusiasm. “that walk from the car to the front door just about killed me.”

“you want to take a shower while the coffee brews?” he asks after a few minutes of scrolling on his phone.

hailey's eyes light up. “yes, i would love that!”

he motions for her to follow him and leads her into his room; the bathroom attached to his room is the only one with a shower.

“this is jay halstead’s bedroom?” hailey teases in a higher-pitched tone. she’s smirking wildly and all he can do is roll his eyes. “everything is black, and you only have the basics. why am i not surprised?”

now it’s his turn to smirk. “i'm a very simple man, upton.”

she shakes her head in response.

“here's the shower,” he explains, popping in to turn the lights on. “fresh towel on the rack and extras in the closet over there,” he points. “i'll leave you to it. do you need anything else?”

hailey sets her bag down in the bathroom and quickly rummages through it. “no, i think i'm okay,” she says and looks up at him. “thank you, jay,” she smiles softly.

jay suddenly finds it hard to swallow and is rushing to exit the room. “yeah, no problem,” he responds quickly. “i'll be in the kitchen if you need me.”

she nods and he’s gone.

his bathroom is very simple but clean. he has his shaving essentials on the corner of his counter, and she’s surprised to see he has a face scrub as well as a moisturizer. but then again, he literally has perfect skin, so she isn’t surprised. she expects to find a 3 in 1 shampoo, conditioner and body wash but is pleasantly surprised when she sees multiple bottles.

she takes her time showering but is still wary of the time. she debates whether or not to use his body wash but ultimately decides smelling like him wouldn’t be so bad. she does have a pair of pyjamas in her overnight bag, but they consist of an oversized dunder-mifflin tee and casual sleeping shorts. she’s not sure if jay had ever seen her bare legs (what with all the black jeans and all) but he was definitely about to. hailey brushes her hair and scrunches it with her fingers before gathering her dirty clothes and folding them into her bag.

when she pads back into the kitchen in her bare feet, jay has his back to her as he prepares their coffees. after years, he knows almost all her preferences, the first being her coffee order. she hums in delight after her first sip.

jay struggles to not drop the mug when he turns around and sees her oversized shirt and shorts. he was expecting anything, but definitely not that. she looks comfortable and tiny and his heart swells with affection. he has to forcefully remind himself that they are partners and nothing else. It’s getting harder to differentiate.

they stand, sipping their coffee in comfortable silence. it’s perfect and hailey wonders why she put up such a fight in the first place, but then the lights go off and everything is black.

jay swears and she hears his coffee mug scraping against the counter. there is an immediate chill as the heater stops functioning and hailey suddenly regrets being barefoot in shorts. jay goes in search of the fuse box to maybe have some luck but to no avail. instead, he lights up a few candles he has stashed in his linen closet and grabs all the flashlights he owns. the candles do a good job of illuminating the kitchen, so he can still admire hailey and her adorableness in his kitchen.

“shit, i'm sorry,” he chuckles. “looks like it’s a lose-lose situation tonight.”

hailey shuffles in her feet and jay prepares himself. “should i go? i mean, it’s the same thing as my place.”

“nonsense,” jay shakes his head. “i have enough blankets here for the both of us.”

jay finds his way back to the linen closet and grabs all the blankets he owns. will absolutely loves fleece blankets and takes any opportunity to gift them, usually to jay, who rolls his eyes and asks why he can’t just gift him a bottle of alcohol like a normal sibling. jay will never admit that the blankets actually came in handy tonight.

“come on, i’ll set you up in my room.”

hailey follows jay down the corridor and back to his room, where he is laying out multiple blankets. he leaves a few in his hands and stands near the door. “let me know if you need anything,” he says with a smile, “i'll just be on the couch.”

hailey sputters and Jay raises an eyebrow. “you are not sleeping on the couch! the whole point of me staying here is that i wouldn’t be a bother.”

“you're not a bother,” he says for the umpteenth time with an eyeroll.

“then get your ass in this bed because you’re not sleeping on the couch,” she replies, and her sass is finally back; he finds himself smirking.

jay relents, setting down the rest of the blankets. “you’re sure?”

“yes,” she sasses with an eyeroll; she has to make up for lost time. “this bed is big enough for both of us and you promised you’d be a gentleman.”

he holds up his hands in surrender. “absolutely.”

jay excuses himself to the bathroom to change into a pair of sweats. he carries a flashlight with him to provide light. he originally intended to take a shower but can only imagine how disastrous showering in the dark would be. he normally sleeps in much less clothing but it’s cold and he wants hailey to be comfortable, so he slips on a t-shirt as well. when he exits the bathroom and shines his light towards the bed, he spots hailey already curled into the blankets. He notices her blonde hair first and then her trembling body.

he automatically adds the remainder of the blankets on the bed and watches as hailey sits up momentarily. “cold?” He asks with a small smile.

“yes,” she says quietly, but then thinks better of it. “what are you waiting for, halstead? are you going to offer me a hoodie or do I have to go searching for one?”

he is amazed with how comfortable she’s become, and he finds himself smirking as he rummages through his drawers. he pulls out an old sweater from his academy days and throws it at her.  “anything else, your highness?” His sarcasm is on point today.

hailey pulls on the sweater, her blonde hair getting ruffled in the process. “honestly?” she raises an eyebrow. “i just want you to get in bed and keep me warm.”

his eyes widen at her forwardness, but he catches the slight nervousness in the way she bites her lip. she doesn’t have to ask him twice though, as he slips into his side of the bed.

before he has the chance to do anything, hailey turns to him in the dark. "is this okay?” she asks quietly as she cuddles closer.

his hands find her waist to pull her as close as possible and hailey can feel his sweatpants as her bare legs tangle with his. “more than okay. it really is cold,” he whispers, chuckling.

“yeah,” she replies, and he can feel her breath on his collarbone. “i guess this is better than staying in my apartment all alone."

“are you kidding me?” jay laughs. “hell yeah it is. i'm an amazing cuddler.”

he can feel hailey’s hands against his chest. “wasn’t aware we had the cuddling type of relationship.”

jay pauses. “to be honest, i don’t know where i stand with you. like ever. you scare the hell out of me.”

hailey pulls back slightly; she wants to see his face but it’s so dark. “scared of me? i'm like half your size; how can you be scared?”

“you can be very intimidating when you want to be, hailey,” he replies. “but it’s scary. when you don’t know where the other person stands.”

she nods. “i guess so, yeah.”

“i know we’re partners, and we’re supposed to trust each other unconditionally and maybe I’m reading into it too much —”

“you’re not, jay,” she interrupts. “i think i always knew i was going to fall for you eventually. i mean, how could i not?” she continued, oblivious to the fact jay literally stopped breathing. “i’ve trusted you since the day i met you. you have the biggest heart and honestly, i strive to be even half the cop you are every day.”

jay curses again. “shit, hailey,” they’re still tangled together. “it kills me that you don’t appreciate everything you are because you are the best cop i know. and i'll admit it, i didn’t want to work with another female cop because we all remember how that worked out last time,” he chuckles to cover the awkwardness he’s feeling. “but you snuck up on me. what with all your sass and your stubbornness.”

hailey is smiling so wide and it’s a shame Jay can’t see it. she pushes into him, forcing him to roll over on his back and she follows him on his chest. her hands reach up to his face, tracing the smile on his lips.

“i know you love my sass,” she starts. “and who are you calling stubborn, you hardass?”

jay’s hands are on her waist, holding her steady. “fair enough,” he chuckles.

“jay, i love this right now,” hailey says quietly, “i love being here with you and i genuinely see the potential here. but at the same time, we’re partners and our jobs demand so much of us.”

the giddiness he was feeling starts deflating.

“but i don’t want to put the brakes on us,” this catches his attention. “i like you too much for that. i just want to take it slow. see where it takes us. are you alright with that?”

the happiness he was feeling earlier returns at full force and he finds himself grabbing her hips and rolling them over so he’s hovering over her. she’s giggling and honestly, if that is the last sound he ever hears, he’ll die happily. “i'm more than alright with that,” he answers her question. he can dimly see her face and the shine in her gaze. “when taking things slow, how long should i wait before i kiss you?”

hailey smirks and he can see a dim outline. “i think you’re already a few months overdue.”

he wastes no more time in pressing his lips to hers. he tastes of coffee and so does she, and it’s absolutely perfect. there is no urgency, just bliss. this has been a long time coming and now that it’s finally here, all they can do is enjoy it.

“i could get used to that,” hailey mumbles against his lips. his heart literally skips a beat. “i really want to get used to that.”

hailey dives in for more and he lets her. she can do whatever she wants with him, he’ll let her.

“still cold?” he asks after they pull away and he pulls her into their initial position.

hailey chuckles. “that’s not exactly the word i would use.”

jay smirks but he keeps his cool; they’re taking it slow.

“goodnight, hailey.”

he presses a kiss to her temple.

“goodnight, halstead. dream a little dream of me.”

hailey cuddles closer, her lips hovering over his neck.

“i could do that, but i’ve got the real deal right here,” he squeezes her hip. “and i don’t plan on letting go anytime soon.”

[ayyyez]

Hey I missed your writing could you do an deidara scenario where you both do not like each other but get teamed up anyway by pain for a mission and get stucked somewhere and get to like each other some smut is always welcome

a/n: Aw thank you, I’m glad you like my writing :) fun little Deidara scenario in headcanon form with a tiny bit of smut coming up. 

-It wasn’t that Deidara didn’t like you. He simply did not care about you. It wasn’t personal either, he didn’t give much thought about anyone in the akatsuki. The only exceptions were his usual partner Sasori and Itachi. Sasori because it came with the job along with their endless arguments about art. Itachi because he bested him that one time. 

-You were simply another face in the crowd. That fact alone was enough to get on your bad side. It wasn’t as though it were a large organisation, he could at least acknowledge the basic facts everyone else knew about you. It almost made you fuming to prove your worth. But mainly it made you despise him. 

-When the two of you were paired Deidara was obviously annoyed. It wasn’t even that it was you (which sort of insulted you more) it was because he didn’t have his usual partner. He wasn’t known for his splendid teamwork. He even opted to go alone. You remained silent. Silent but furious.

-Deidara was easy to push over though and he finally relented, agreeing to go with you to scout out a possible tailed beast. That didn’t cool your fire though. 

-The trip began with the plan. From then on you remained silent. All you wanted was to hurry up and complete the mission and be rid of the dreaded (self proclaimed) artist. Deidara was someone who loved to chat though and it didn’t take him long to go on a tangent. 

-At first your non replies didn’t phase him. But even he got tired of your icy act toward him. As though he wasn’t complaining about being paired with you earlier. You teetered on the edge of snapping each time he changed to a different subject but you exercised self control. Brilliantly, if you didn’t say so yourself. 

-Then Deidara questioned you. ‘What’s your problem?’ Your reply was a glare and an over emphasised one at that. Then you ignored him and kept on walking. He grabbed you by the arm and pulled you back. ‘What’s your deal?’ He snapped again. This time you snapped. ‘You expect me to chat and play nice after the way you treated me?’ You pushed his chest and continued. ‘You’re the one who didn’t want to be my partner or even have the courtesy to remember my name. Why should I cater to you childish babbling now?’ 

-Deidara began to retort with equalled rage when you heard something. ‘Shut up.’ You said, trying to listen closely but he didn’t stop. ‘SHUT UP DEIDARA!’ You screamed and that’s when you felt it. There were chakra signatures all around you. 

-You whipped out your kunai but Deidara pulled you against him. ‘Don’t worry,’ he whispered against your ear, sending a shiver down your spine, ‘let my little creatures handle them.’ That’s when you looked down to see the little, white clay creatures running down his sleeves. 

-The rest of them were easy to take down plus it served as outlet for your anger. Deidara’s too. The rest of the journey was made on more civil terms. There were a few more groups of shinobi to sneak by and others to take down. It was child’s play between you and Deidara. 

-But it wasn’t long for tensions to rise again. It was storming, badly. It was dangerous to keep to the forest so the two of you made refuge in an abandoned cabin that, thankfully, still had a roof in good condition. It was Deidara who cracked first. ‘We should keep going, what’s a little lightning?’ You scoffed. ‘A death sentence, moron. You can’t fly your clay creatures and lightning isn’t exactly your strength.’ His eyes widened, realising you had discovered his weakness. He blushed and shut up after that. You noticed too.

-It was awkwardly silent following that. Nothing but the sound of the wild winds, heavy rain and rumbling thunder to break the tension. If anything it made it worst. That’s when your body began shivering. ‘I’ll make a fire.’ Deidara mumbled and begins scurrying about the cabin. 

-’There’s no point.’ You insisted. ‘Nothing to burn and all the wood outside is soaked through.’ Deidara whispered a swear. ‘Well, sorry for trying.’ Great now they were back in a foul mood. But Deidara didn’t want to be in a foul mood anymore, not when the two of you were stuck there together. Not when you (even with your prickly nature) were growing on him. 

-Then an idea occurred to him and he started rummaging through his pack. You watched him curiously but didn’t say anything. That’s when you saw him pull out what looked to be a blanket. It was nothing fancy just an extra bit of fleece like material but he still held it to you with an indifferent expression. ‘Take it.’ He mumbled. You just stared at him. ‘Take it.’ he said a little louder practically forcing it into your hands. 

-You took it and began wrapping it around yourself. Then you noticed him shiver and wrap his arms around his core. You knew you were going to regret the next words that came from your mouth but that didn’t stop them. ‘We should share it.’ Deidara shook his head. ‘M’fine.’ You frowned. ‘Shut up and get over here, your lips are practically blue.’ With a huff he complied and slumped down beside you. 

-You carefully spread the thin blanket over him and, in an attempt to allow you both to fit, you pressed your side against his. The smirk across his face made you want to punch him. And just like that another awkward silence hung in the air. This time made a little more comfortable by the blanket and body warmth. 

- ‘So.’ Deidara began. ‘What’d you do before the Akatsuki?’ Your gaze snapped to his. ‘Are you serious?’ He looked genuinely hurt. ‘Hey, what did you want to talk about while trapped here together? Excuse me for trying to make conversation.’ You sighed and shook your head. ‘Alright, alright. I’m sorry.’ That’s when you, reluctantly yet at the same time easily, began to open up. It was as refreshing as it was confusing. 

-Deidara in turn answered question for question. For everything you told he would tell you something of equal measure. The two of you found the other wasn’t as awful as either of you originally thought. Well, he had already begun to come around. You were the one who needed more convincing. And just like that it was more comfortable. 

-Then his question happened. ‘You’re actually alright, I wonder why we haven’t done this before.’ That reignited the rage within you. ‘Maybe because you couldn’t be bothered remembering me!’ Another argument sparked. ‘It wasn’t personal! I don’t remember half the Akatsuki! It’s not like I wanted to join!’ You scoffed. ‘Oh and I did?’ He backed down a little. ‘I didn’t know that!’ ‘Well you didn’t make an effort!’ ‘Well I’m trying now!’ ‘Well, try harder!’ Then his lips were pressed against yours. 

-He pulled away quickly to gage your response. You stared at him blankly for a few moments processing. Then it was screw processing and you pressed your lips against his. This time he didn’t hold back and deepened the kiss immediately. Your hands clutched his shirt while his found your back. It was a mess of clutching, groping and grinding all in hopes of getting closer. 

-Then he was pushing you down. You pulled him with you, legs wrapping around to pull him closer. Clothes began to shed and then his face was buried in your neck, sucking and kissing. A moan escaped you here and there. His prominent bulge pressing against you. 

-There was an insatiable need between you two for more. Everything that had built up to this moment. The sexual tension finally been cut open and released. You reached your hand between you and pressed down again his erection. He groaned and pushed into your touch. You chuckled at that. ‘You going to remember me now?’ Deidara laughed. ‘Oh, after tonight I’m never going to forget you.’ And with that Deidara was kissing you again.

[zekromfan1-blog]

Robcina Week 4/16/19: Winter "Planning for the Present."

As the seasons change, so to do the emotions that surround society. And within the Shepherds there was a growing sense of joy for the coming holiday season, however they all knew that there was still a job to do. “Hmm…” Robin looked over a map while deep in concentration, “What if we… No that wouldn’t work… Damn…” He scratched his head since for the first time in quite a while he was stumped. “You doing alright?” Chrom asked walking into the tactician's tent, Robin looked over and nodded at him before turning back to the map.

“Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just that I’m a bit stumped, after that last battle I don’t really know what to do…” He mumbled a bit at the end as he fell back into his mind. “Heh, that’s not like you.” Chrom chuckled now right next to him and looking at the same map. “What do you think we should do? Because both options we have seem to be equally as dangerous…” He rubbed his chin. “Well since they fled into the mountains, I think it would be unwise to head after them. There is a chance it’s a trap after all.” Chrom gave his input causing Robin to sigh in response. “That’s what I thought too, but at the same time I don’t know if that fear is really warranted in this situation. It could always just be that they fled in fear and hoped we wouldn’t follow, but either way we spin it I don’t think we should risk it. The rest of the group is pretty tired after all, plus it’s cold out and there is a high chance of snow up on those mountains.” Robin grumbled over being this stuck.

“Well it's not as if we need to chase after them, besides it wouldn’t be wise of us to risk an avalanche, like you said everyone is pretty worn out and I don’t think we would really be able to survive a disaster of that scope.” He brought up a point that Robin hadn’t really thought of. Robin scratched his head a bit more before letting out a defeated sigh and rolling up the map, *skif* he placed it back in the crate that held all the rest of their maps. “You might be right, it would probably be best if we just let everyone rest and relax for a few days. Besides Christmas is coming up, and there is a town nearby so why not just have a bit of fun with it? I know it would boost moral, plus…” He mumbled something under his breath causing Chrom to raise an eyebrow. “Huh?” He questioned his friend who started to blush a bit before hiding his face in embarrassment.

Chrom chuckled before elbowing Robin, “I got you, so what do you have planned?” He asked Robin who was still blushing. “N-Nothing really.” He said turning his head to the side not wanting to make eye contact to a now very suspicious Chrom. “Are you sure it’s nothing? The great tactician Robin has nothing planned for Christmas??” He joked as Robin twiddled with his fingers. “Well… It’s not so much a plan, as it is a thought I had.” Robin mumbled a bit, “I was thinking of asking Lucina if she wanted to go out and eat something on Christmas Eve. I intended on getting her a dress and a coat for the season… Well to be more accurate I ordered the two of them in advance, and they are supposed to be done by Christmas.” He explained to a very impressed Chrom.

“Wow… When a tactician plans something, they really go all out. Don’t they.” He said with a big smile on his face. “Here…” Robin said fumbling through his robes for a few pieces of parchment. “This is the dress, and this is the coat. Or at least what they’re supposed to look like.” He handed the two to Chrom who looked over them. The dress was a long and flowing royal blue dress made of silk adorned with white and golden exalt symbols, the sleeves and bottom portions of the dress had double layers of frill to them, the inside layer being a lighter shade of blue. And the coat was another thing all together, it was a beautiful combination of blue and white accents, the inside being lined with the finest of white rabbit fur, the outside however was a navy blue fleece with a white exalt symbol on proud display on the front right breast area along with a larger symbol on the back adorned with azure blue butterflies flying around the symbol.

Chrom was stunned by the clothing he was shone, “Are these custom made?” He asked Robin who nodded in response. “Yeah… Do you think she’ll like them?” He asked Chrom an honest question, Chrom handed Robin back the parchmetens. “Like? Robin, I think she’ll love them. She’ll love them not only because they’re gorgeous, but because they’re a gift from you.” He gave Robin a straightforward response. “I hope so… It’s just been really tricky trying to figure out what kind of gift to get her since she doesn’t really like a whole lot of material things.” He admitted his fears to Chrom who sighed in return, “I know just how you feel, me and her mother have been trying for quite a while to get her whatever she wants. But Lucina’s been really stubborn about not wanting anything… But Robin, are you sure you wanted to get all of this? It looks really expensive, it kinda reminds me of something Emm would have wore…” Chrom spoke without thinking and caused the mood to grow a bit sour.

The two of them looked down in mourning, “I know it’s been hard on you guys… But if you ever need anything, especially in this time of year. Please don’t hesitate to ask me.” Robin patted Chrom’s shoulder. “Y-Yeah, I’m fine. It’s just that around this time of year I start to feel bad about what it is that Emm is missing out on… All because of my mistakes…” Chrom choked up at the end of his sentence. “You’re more than welcome to spend Christmas with us if you want to Chrom. Unless you have something planned with the queen that day.” Robin posed to Chrom who shook his head. “It’s alright, I’m going to have to pass on that. But thank you for the offer, besides I don’t think Lucina would be all too happy with us intruding on your date.” He chuckled while wiping a tear from his eye.

“Well if you’re sure about that. Anyway, I need to go find Lucina and check if she doesn’t mind going out with me on Christmas Eve.” Robin said as he made sure that the pages he pulled out were placed safely in his robe. Chrom waved Robin goodbye as he headed out of the tent in search of Lucina. Robin looked around the camp for a few minutes before finding her here she normally was. “Herrah!” Lucina shouted as she hit the training dummy, “Afternoon dear.” Robin greeted her as he made his way next to her. Lucina looked over her shoulder and smiled, “Afternoon to you too. So, what are you here for? Something important, or did you just come by to see me?” She asked Robin as she stuck her sword into the ground and leaned on it a bit.

“Well a bit of both actually.” He responded before taking a deep breath, “Lucina I-” He was interrupted when something cold hit his head. He looked up with a puzzled look on his face, ‘Snow? That was unexpected.’ He thought about it for a second, ‘Maybe it was a good idea not to head into the mountains…’ He sighed in relief before looking back at Lucina who was in shock with her sword in her hand now looking around frantically. “Are we under attack?!” She asked while preparing to attack whoever caused this. “No, this is just snow… You do know what snow is, right?” He asked her. “S-Snow? Really? I’ve never seen it before, I’ve heard stories of it before but never seen it with my own eyes.” She explained, “Really?” Robin questioned in shock.

“Well, yes… In the future, because Grima took over. The sky was always black, and while it was cold, it was never cold enough for snow.” She explained with a bit of a grim expression on her face. Robin looked at her and decided on his next move, *Sqish* he wrapped his arms around her and gave her a hug warming her up a bit and causing her to blush. “Th-Thanks Robin, but why now?” She asked him in surprise. Robin smiled at her, “Well, you looked like you could use one. Besides I kinda wanted to give you one myself.” He admitted. “Anyway, I was wondering if you wanted to go out with me somewhere on Christmas Eve?” He asked her with a bit of nervousness in his voice. Lucina smiled at him, “Yes. I would love to Robin, although this will be my first time ever celebrating something relating to the holidays. I hope I’m not too much of a bother because of it.” She said worryingly. Robin chuckled, “Well it’ll be the first time for me too. And y’know there’s always a first time for everything, and I would love nothing more than to spend all of the holidays with you.” He gave her an honest answer that made the two of them blush and chuckle.

“Burr~” Lucina shivered as the cold air caught up to her, Robin smiled and took off his Robe, ‘That coat will definitely come in handy.’ He thought with a smile as he wrapped his robe around Lucina. “Come on dear, let's head off to our tent. It’s getting a bit too cold to stay out here for now, besides we need to start planning our date.” He said while grabbing her hand that was deep inside of his oversized robe’s sleeve. Lucina pulled the robe around her, tightened it and giggled. “This robe’s a bit warm, don’t you think?” She asked him as the two of them walked off to their tent, “I would hope so. I kinda just hope it isn’t too big for you.” He said as it dragged a bit on the floor. “Isn’t it a bit big on you dear?” She asked him as she wrapped her arm around his, “Fair point.” He laughed as the snow fell heavily and their footprints embedded themselves in the ground.

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[the-singular-peep]

@stevieboyharrington

So I did not completely finish the first 14 of In Which, though I’m close, so here’s a little snack to tide anyone waiting over!! (Ask to be tagged like this wonderful person did if you’d like a notification whenever I end up posting ;^) )

Christmas Eve, 1984

 Hopper grunted when he looked at the calendar. The 24th of December-- Christmas Eve.

Last year at this time, Hopper hadn't thought much of Christmas. He had gone to the work party early in the evening, left his mystery girl in the woods some food, and gone home. He took an early shower and went to sleep at eight, and the next morning he had woken at seven and had done a whole lot of nothing all day.

Then three days later, he had found Eleven.

Naturally, the two did not celebrate a late Christmas. For weeks, Hopper was simply trying to get Eleven accustomed to living in a real home and eating real food, and the holidays didn't even cross his mind. The first week was spent staying up all night with her nightmares, and from then on there was the bed-wetting, and inability to eat whole servings, and then the refusal to eat anything but Eggos. (El had gone straight from scared little animal to stubborn little girl). Then in January, Eleven had gotten terribly sick and that had been all Hopper could think of, and by the time things had settled down a little, the holidays were long past. 

Now it was December 24th of the next year, and Hopper had no idea what to plan to make this special for his daughter's first Christmas.

He had explained Christmas and Santa to her, of course -- to much confusion from Eleven, and then fear at the idea of a fat man breaking into your house and taking your food (That conversation had taken place on the way to the Wheeler’s one morning, and instead of explaining it himself he had pushed her into the house and told her to ask Mike. She had come home that evening with a smile and strong belief in said fat man, though Hopper was sure that the boys did not believe in him themselves.) -- but they hadn't made a plan. He had bought her some things-- some new clothes, tasteful makeup, a series of stuffed animals, a few books and a doll or two -- but that was it.

Now it was the day of, and he had no clue what to do to make the night special. Just as he was having that thought, at 7 am on a Monday in his fleece pajama pants over a pan of bacon, the phone rang.

He rolled his eyes and sighed, because he hated the phone, but before he could answer he heard little feet pattering through the house. He didn’t even have time to remind Eleven to be cautious before he heard her little voice answering an unheard question.

That was a little odd, because ever since he had begun permitting her to pick up the phone the week before, she had developed a bad habit of just standing and breathing into the receiver without saying anything. However, if she was talking, he knew it had to be to someone safe. Before he could ponder it more, or take the bacon off the stove, a little body slammed into his waist and a hand was thrusting the phone in front of his face.

"Joyce." Eleven said plainly as he took the telephone. Hopper put it to his ear.

"Hello?"  

"Hey, Hop! Your daughter tells me that Santa comes tonight, " The cheery voice of Joyce Byers chirped, and Hopper could practically feel her smile.

"Yep, that he does. What can I help you with, Joyce?" Hopper asked, keeping his focus on the way Eleven was trying desperately to unwrap herself from the telephone cord.  

"Well, Will had asked, and I was hoping--" And then Hopper couldn't hear her anymore, because he had dropped the phone and was catching El by the arm as she nearly toppled to the ground. He set her back on her feet by the arm and tousled her hair when she looked up at him with an expression of fear.

“You’re fine, kiddo. Don’t get yourself wrapped up like that, okay?”

Eleven nodded at the instruction and rubbed at her arm, and Hopper bent down to pick up the phone again.

“Sorry ‘bout that.” Hopper said gruffly into the receiver. He started and then stopped again, remembering not to say any name that could be connected with Eleven over the phone. “Kid decided she was gonna be an acrobat and it didn’t go quite as planned.”

Joyce laughed for a moment before continuing.

“Will and I were just wondering… if maybe you and yours would like to come over tonight? Will says he wants to make her Christmas extra special this year. We could have.. I don’t know, hot chocolate, and popcorn and watch a movie… And.. If you two wanted, maybe you could…stay the night?”

Hopper loved the way her voice lilted up at the end, as if she was expecting him to be able to resist any request she made.

“Sounds good to me, let me check with the kiddo.” Hopper put a hand over the receiver and looked to Eleven.

She was currently glaring at the phone cord and tying it up in knots with her mind, just to show her distaste for how it had tripped her. When she noticed Hopper looking at her, she looked up at him and wiped her nose with her sleeve. Hopper shook his head, smiling.

“You weirdo,” He chuckled, and she stuck her tongue out at him, but it was all in good fun. “How do you feel about stayin’ with Joyce and the boys tonight and celebrating Christmas?”

“Yes! Yes!” Eleven said, grinning and nodding emphatically. “Please, Hop, please!”

And that is how the two found themselves in the Byers’ living room at nine PM on a Monday, Hopper festooned with a Christmas hat and his arm around Joyce while Will and Eleven sat cross-legged on the floor with their eyes glued to the television.

“Yeah, that’s Hermie again,” Will said, pointing. Eleven scrunched up her face to think.

“Didn’t go to elf practice?” She asked, trying to clarify which character was which. Will nodded.

“Yup, same one. When I was little I told mom I wanted to be a dentist when I grew up just because Hermie did. I liked his hair.” Will laughed, and Eleven giggled, too.

Jonathon was in the kitchen stirring a pan of hot chocolate when he heard the two younger kids laughing, and he peeped into the living room and smiled.

Will and Eleven had changed into their pajamas about an hour ago, Will now dressed in a blue striped set and Eleven in a yellow polka dotted one, and the sight of the two of them seated on the floor surrounded by popcorn bits was quite endearing. Even more so, however, was his mother, sitting on the couch and leaning heavily on the chief of police, who had his hand tangled in her hair.

Jonathon knew they weren’t dating yet. The wound was still open from the loss of Bob -- that man had truly loved his mother and she had loved him right back -- but, while they weren’t in love, per se, Hopper made his mother feel safe and cared for, and just seeing the way she was around him made Jonathon smile.

Plus Hopper was wearing a Christmas hat. That made him smile, too. He had to get a picture of this.

Very quietly, and after turning off the burner so the hot chocolate wouldn’t scorch, Jonathon moved over to the table and picked up his camera. He was going to take it slow and easy, to get the best shot possible of the people without them noticing so it would be genuine and candid, but before he could he heard voices.

“Where are you going?” His brother’s voice asked, and it was El’s that responded.

“Marshmallows.”

Jonathon heard the sound of someone getting up, and he knew if he waited much longer the moment would be lost. And so, he began to move hastily towards the doorway with his camera in tow. He didn’t even think about the fact that he was wearing socks, or that the floors were hardwood, and before he knew it, Jonathon was sliding into the living room like a regular photography ninja, his legs splayed and hands holding the camera for dear life.  

Maybe, just maybe he would have been unnoticed if he hadn’t shouted. But he was caught off guard by the slipping of his feet, and that surprise outed itself as a shout. Instantly the family looked up, El from her place standing ready to go raid the kitchen.

“Smile!” Jonathon laughed, because his mother had already started smiling at him and Will was laughing at how he burst into the room so unexpectedly, but El and Hopper were less than amused.

El was on a mission for sugar, and she was caught very much off guard.

Hopper was smitten with Jonathon’s mother, and he was caught very much off guard.

The picture that resulted was one that Jonathon would keep forever. His mother had a kind and warm smile on her face, one leg drawn up under her as she leaned over to put a hand on Hopper’s leg. Will sat on the floor by the couch, legs beginning to stretch out, his eyes closed in laughter and his teeth showing.

And then there were El and Hopper, El standing with one fist clenched and the other open in surprise, Hopper sitting with one leg propped on the other and his arm around Joyce, and both of them were wearing the exact same expression. It was a look that conveyed disgust, annoyance, confusion and surprise all in one, and Jonathon almost cackled when he saw how alike they looked.

And then El was at his feet, her head barely reaching his armpit, and she was telling him without words that she was in desperate need for some marshmallows, and that he should help her in her quest.

 “Please,” She added to her unspoken request, and Jonathon laughed. He set the camera on the chair beside him and began off toward the kitchen, still laughing at the look on the house guests’ faces.

That picture later was stuck back in a photo album, with the caption “The Apple Doesn’t Fall Far From the Tree; Family Christmas 1984”

[alliebruns-blog]

ICE FLOW - IT’S A FASHION SHOW (Gear Blog 2)

So I have spent the last week doing every type of yoga imaginable, running a bit and self diagnosing tendonitis in my achillies. In one weeks time, I will be on the ice and I feel immensely under prepared. To be honest, I always feel like this before a big run, but the thought of forgetting something, or something about the run surprising me, you know like it being cold, is a little too real. Anxiety city. Population me.

So what do I do when I feel like this? I panic buy! That’s what! Throw money at the situation and it will all be ok! BUY MORE SOCKS AND YOU NEED THAT JACKET AND OHHHHH GELS...... 

I think I have pretty much nailed my clothing plan for this race now. Bottom half I am going to go for 2XU compression tights, because they are awesome and I have worn them at every race for a good 6 months now, but I’m pretty sure I will be hypothermic within 2 minutes if I just wear them on their own. So I’m going to test wearing the compression with Wed’ze freshwarm tights over the top and my Nike dry fit winter tights over the top of that because they have soft fleecy stuff in them. Hopefully this means I will be warm but not sweaty. I’ve also got some black salopettes to go over the top if that - a bit of a wind and waterproof barrier, but fingers crossed I won’t need them. The salopettes don't have a tailored leg, so I’m going to take my waterproof Gore-Tex full leg gaiters to keep my calves and ankles warm and dry. 

Top half, I am going for 2XU long sleeve compression with a merino base layer over the top and a North Face fleece or long sleeve base layer on top of that. Then a Wed’ze breathable puffa and my Montaine water/wind proof jacket. I might be too hot but you can always take it off, right? (Make of that sentence what you will….)

The gloves I have chosen are the Salomon Propeller mitten with a separate merino liners. I am so scared of getting cold hands or losing a glove, that I’m also taking a few cheap pairs of wool gloves to use as liners just in case. Lee is adamant I should get poles, and to be fair they were really useful during the Autumn 100, so I have bitten the bullet and gone for Black Diamond Carbon poles with carbode tips - as recommended by Lee. (Fuck you, Lee.) They fold up and are super light weight - better safe than sorry and I can use them as weapons if Lee attempts to feed me cheese sandwiches. I’ve also bought a slightly more expensive spikes - Katoohla Microspikes which look badass - mainly because I’m worried the ones I have will fall apart and I’ll end up sliding across the lake like a lost hippo.  

To stop my face falling off, I am opting for a merino balaclava and some spare balaclavas, including this one that will make me look like Hannibal Lecter.  And ALL the buffs in the world. 

I’m taking goggles and sunglasses and a girly hat too because you have to keep your hair looking nice right? Never know who you’re going to bump into on a frozen lake in the middle of nowhere….. (spoiler alert…probably nobody)

We will have ‘sherpa’ taking the majority of our stuff across the ice using ponies (who I SHALL be cuddling) and sledges, but I am going to run with my Ultimate Direction Fastpack filled with snacks. I can also fit a bladder in there close to my body so the water doesn’t freeze. Or I could fill it with vodka I suppose….(when in rome). I am super worried about food. I like food and I need a lot of it and the local fare veers between BBQ’d wolf and sautéed reindeer. I’m a vegetarian, but for that week I definitely won’t be. But what if I don’t like it? I’ve had a look, and I don't think Deliveroo cover that particular lake (so sad). SO I am going to take a few freeze dried meals that I can add hot water too. I used these on the Autumn 100 and they were ace - you can run and eat at the same time which is my favourite thing to do. Also PUDDING. 

I’m also going to be taking pulsin bars, nakd bars, shot blocks, SiS gels and hydration tabs. And salted peanuts. I think salted peanuts are the ultimate snackeroo for ultrarunners. They always make me feel glorious. My secret weapon is doing to be little sticks of instant coffee. I really love my coffee and I’m not sure if the Mongolians will be on the same page. Plus I can use it for bartering, like I am in prison. “How many pony hugs will you swap for this stick of Nescafe?” I wonder what fermented horse milk tastes like in coffee? We’ll soon find out!

So kit is more or less sorted. Just need to work out how to carry it all. We need to take a 4 season sleeping bag with us “just in case we don't make it to camp and have to camp out on the ice for the night”. JUST IN CASE??? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT MAN??! I also love to over pack, so I’m going to have to be very strict on this.

Other things I am going to worry about - charging stuff. Like my hairdryer. 

Jokes. 

I am talking 5 power packs with me so I can keep my phone charged for all the pictures I need to take - and that leads me onto another thing - will my phone freeze? So many questions. Will my shellac chip off? What if I start my period? Will my hair freeze off? HOW WILL I SHOWER?! (Those who know me know that I actually give zero fucks about any of these things)

I’m spending the next few days getting all my other bits sorted - medicines, emergency kit, last Will and Testament, and going on a nice little training run over the South Downs on Friday with some of the Do-Badders. It’s really tempting to try and run the shit out of myself this week but I know next week will be hard and I have to start storing a bit of energy so I’m trying to curb that temptation and eat ALL the food. Onwards! 

[footballfinns]

Friends or Foes

Summary: Finn and Rachel go to dinner with Puck, but things don’t pan out perfectly.

Finn was glad that Rachel agreed to go to dinner with Puck. The relationship between his wife and best friend was strenuous lately and Finn wanted nothing more than for the three of them to be able to hang out happily again. He was getting off of work a little earlier than usual that night, so dinner wouldn't be extremely late. When he entered the apartment, he walked through to the bedroom so he could get to Rachel and change his clothes. “Hey baby.” He gave her a kiss.

Rachel stood in front of the bathroom mirror, pulling all of her hair up into a bun. She’d never imagined feeling so anxious about a dinner with her husband and her childhood friend. But she chewed on her bottom lip as she fussed with her updo and her outfit, wondering how badly things could go and how that would affect Finn. As much as Noah’s rebuffs hurt her, what hurt her more was knowing that any strain in her relationship with him caused the same in Finn’s relationship with his best friend. Sighing, she finally gave up on her appearance - it wouldn’t affect the evening’s outcome - she shuffled into the bedroom where she was met with a kiss from her husband. “Hey you.” She wrapped both arms around his neck, glad he was home. “How was your day?”

“It was good. Nothing special happened. I'm glad to be with you now.” He smiled down at her. “You look beautiful.” He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

Hearing her favorite ‘b’ word made Rachel’s resolve to go through with this dinner waver. All she really wanted to do was snuggle up in bed with him but she didn’t want to be a stick in the mud. Especially when he’d given her that option and she’d passed it by. “Thank you. I try sometimes.”

“You are beautiful every day.” He chuckled as he let her go. “Okay, I'm just gonna change and then we can go. Puck and I decided on this pizza place that we went to when he first moved here. They have really good hot wings and stuff. And there is an air hockey table. I might need a teammate.”  He said playfully as he stripped his clothes off and searched through his clothes to find a plaid button up and some jeans.

Rachel sat on the edge of the bed, waiting while Finn changed. “That sounds like fun. You know I'm always game when carbs are on the menu. As for air hockey, I make no promises. I doubt I'm any better at tabletop sports than traditional ones.”

“You’ll do fine.” He shrugged as he finished buttoning his shirt. “I just gotta find my coat and we can go.” He said and moved to grab his coat and pull it on. “Ready?”

Rachel recalled them playing once or twice before on a date, and her finger ending up bruised in the process. But she wasn't going to fret over it. Especially when there were other things taking hold in her mind. “Ready.” Keys in one hand, Finn's hand in the other, she locked up behind them. “Can we walk there or do we need a cab?”

“Walking sounds nice. It's not too far. Plus, I haven't seen you all day, I could use some Rachel time.” He squeezed her hand.

Rachel couldn’t object to the proposition of alone time with him. Especially when her leggings were fleece lined and the wind wasn’t blowing to hard. “I always enjoy a walk with my husband.”

“I love walking with you too.” He gave her a smile. “So… have you talked to Puck recently? You two are cool again, right? “

Rachel hadn't spoken to Noah since he'd last been in their apartment, partly out of self-preservation. Mostly, she just hadn't wanted to stir the pot and make drama that would put Finn in a difficult spot. “We haven't but I'm sure everything is fine. As we well know, moving to a new place can be hectic so I'm sure he's been busy adjusting.”

‘Yeah, for sure.” He nodded his head, wondering if he should have let Puck know that Rachel was joining them tonight. He was pretty sure that Puck knew they were a package deal at this point though. “So what do you think you wanna do after we eat?”

“Maybe walk some more. You said something about looking at holiday stuff in Times Square. We can do that if you want. We'll just catch a cab after we eat. I'm pretty open to anything.” Reaching up, she kissed his cheek. “I have the most handsome man in New York on my arm so I am open to all possibilities.”

“Remember the first time we were ever in New York and we went and looked at that huge Christmas tree?” He asked her, giving her a little grin. “We could do that.”

Rachel always melted a little when Finn remembered their dates or the things they'd done together. Visiting the tree, and revisiting a happy place for them, was a given. “I do remember and I would love to do that. That whole trip was magic. No one had ever done anything so special for me.”

“Then we can relive that little date later.” He said with a nod as they approached the restaurant. He opened the door for Rachel and walked in after her, getting them a table because Puck hadn't arrived yet.

Rachel slid her arm through his, feeling happy as they approached the restaurant. She spotted a nice both toward the back that would accommodate them easily and politely asked to be seated there. Noah wasn't there so she asked the waitress for a water and a few minutes to wait for him.

Finn ordered a coke and then wrapped his arm around Rachel. He her a kiss on the cheek, pausing when he heard “you two better not make out all night while I'm trying to eat.” And looked up to find Puck slinking into the booth. “Hey dude!” He greeted his friend and picked the menu up, though he already knew what he was getting.”

Rachel was about to turn and kiss Finn when the harsh reproach of Noah made her feel scolded. And embarrassed. The fact that he had that power frustrated her. “Hello.” Rachel slid her menu across the table so her friend could look.

Finn held his menu where Rachel could see. “Breadsticks and a personal pizza for you?” he asked.

Rachel subtly brushed her arm against Finn's, her appreciation hopefully apparent. “That does sound good. Extra cheese with mushroom would hit the spot.”

“That sounds really good. Do you want a personal or do you want to get like a medium so you have leftovers?”

“Or we could get a large for everyone to share?” Rachel snuck a glance in Noah’s direction, hoping he would feel included even if he didn't want to share pizza with her.

“That might work since we're getting wings.” He also looked to Puck, who nodded. After ordering their food, Finn and Puck started talking about their jobs and Puck about the girls he had been meeting. Finn held Rachel's hand under the table, not wanting to make his friend uncomfortable by being affectionate with her.

Rachel smiled a little when Noah agreed to share the pizza. After that, she settled into a comfortable silence and enjoyed listening to the boys chat while she munched on bread. Finn’s hand warm in hers under the table made her feel like they were dating again and being sneaky about it. She'd have giggled if it wouldn't arise questions.

When their food was set in front of them, Finn ate like he hadn't eaten in a few days and Puck wasn't far behind him. As he finished, he put his arm around Rachel. “How is your side?” He asked her.

Rachel was no match for the boys when it came to eating so she took the two pieces she knew she'd barely finish and let them enjoy. “It's good. I see neither of you is going to starve tonight so I guess you feel the same.” She leaned into him a little after sipping her water.

“I was hungry.” He chuckled. “Air hockey? “ Finn asked with a grin and Puck shook his head. “Nah man, I've got shit to do tonight. I didn't know I was crashing date night.” Finn scrunched his nose and looked down. “It's not date night, we are all friends.” He brought his hand to his side.

Rachel felt the heat crawling up her neck as Noah rebuked Finn’s offer, then insinuated… what? She wasn’t entirely sure but she knew she didn’t like the way it made her feel. Like she was intruding on their boys club. “You have things to do even though you made plans with Finn? That’s incredibly rude. At the very least you should have let Finn know that you’d made other plans instead of blowing him off this way.” Her eyes flashed, what little gumption existed in her body surfaced rapidly. “I don’t know what’s going on with you but you need to stop acting like a spoiled child about Finn and I. You were so supportive the day we got married and now you act like the fact that we’re together is some inconvenience to you. And I’m tired of feeling bad for loving my husband too much for you. Like Finn said, we’re all friends and it’s nice that we can get together this way. It’d be nice if you could appreciate that we have each other but if you can’t, then I don’t really know what to say otherwise.” Rachel stood, her hand sliding across Finn’s shoulders as she moved around his chair. “I’m going to the restroom. I’ll be right back.”

Finn’s eyes got big as Rachel started in on Puck. He knew it was only a matter of time of Puck making comments before it happened though. As Rachel left, Finn sighed. “I just want us to all hang out again, dude. Rachel and I both work and go to school, we don't get too many nights where we can both go out like this so I'm sorry but it will always be the two of us. You're hurting her feelings, which is really not cool.” Puck nodded his head “I don't want to have some kind of chick flick moment, but it feels like I most my two best friends. Everything with you is about Rachel. The only time you'll go out and do something cool is if you two are fighting. You both pushed me out and it fucking sucked. I'll go apologize to Rachel or whatever though.” Puck got up to follow after Rachel.

Rachel was glad the bathroom was empty. She rested both hands on the ledge of the sink and took several deep breaths. She didn’t think she’d been unnecessarily harsh to Noah - she hadn’t wanted to hurt him, after all - but she hadn’t really expected to lecture him either. It left her feeling a little unbalanced and she had needed this moment to compose herself before going back out. Puck was standing outside the door, making her jump a little as she hadn’t expected him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to go off on you but it’s been difficult lately with you. I want you to be part of our lives. Not just both of us but as individuals. We’ve always been family, you and I, even before Finn. I don’t want that to change. Just like I don’t want you to think Finn isn’t your family too. I understand if you’re not okay with that but… you’ll always be family to me. No matter what.”

Finn stayed back at the table as Rachel and Puck talked. He hoped that this all meant everything could be normal again and that Finn could stop feeling like he was walking in eggshells between the two of them. He couldn't help but wonder if some of this was stemming from jealousy. As the waitress came by, Finn paid for their dinner and scrolled through his phone.

Puck shrugged and repeated what he'd said to Finn, Rachel listening intently as he did. “No one's going to stop you from having bro nights, especially not me. I encourage them as long as they don't end in bail money. And if you want to come by the restaurant some time, you and I can have lunch or dinner.” Puck nodded in agreement then mumbled something about not this not being a chick flick when she hugged him. “Now, let's go back to the table.” She slid her arm through his and even though he rolled his eyes, he didn't pull away.

When his wife and Puck approached the table again, Finn looked up from his phone. “All good?” He asked hopefully. “I went ahead and paid so..”

“All is good.” Rachel let her arm slide away from Noah’s, catching the tiniest small creasing his lips. “Thank you for taking care of the bill.”

Finn nodded his head “Well, should we call it a night or…?” He wasn't sure how badly he wanted to continue their night after things had gone sour.

Rachel looked at Noah, concerned that if they left him now, any progress they'd made might be undone. “We were going to head downtown to look at the tree. You're welcome to come.”

He felt a little disappointed that Rachel was inviting Puck on something that was supposed to be a reminiscent moment with her, but he stood and led the way out so the three of then could get a cab.

Rachel was surprised when Noah agreed to go with them but she was happy for it. She gladly flagged down a cab and curled into Finn once they were settled in. “Thank you for being good about him coming. I know it was supposed to be us.” The words were barely a whisper but she wanted him to know it meant a great deal to her that things were going better.

Finn shrugged in response, his attention on watching outside the window. He had only wanted to take her to see the tree to try to be romantic, and that allure was killed with Puck alongside them. He had wanted the two of them to make up and hang out again, so decidedly he knew he couldn't follow behind them and be a bummer. He cleared his throat “I don't feel too great… Maybe something in the food at dinner. I think I'm just gonna take the cab home and you two can go look at everything.”

Rachel took Finn’s ambivalence harder than she expected. She'd done what she had so they could all be together, so that they'd all be friends again. So when he wanted to abandon their plans for the tree - an excuse she saw right through - a hard knot settled in her own stomach. “Are you sure? We can do this another time. I don't want to send you home alone if you don't feel well.”

“Yeah no, I'll just go home and shower and fall asleep. It will be fine.” He shrugged again.

Rachel wanted to say something but she didn't want to start a fight in front of Noah. She simply folded her arms and stayed quiet until the cab stopped.

Finn paid for their cab ride, knowing he was wasting what little he had left for extra money but he didn't care. He would get paid soon and it wasn't like he and Rachel went out that often. “Have fun.” he told them softly as he got comfortable on the seat.

Rachel climbed out of the cab without a word. She didn't want to be there without him but he'd decided not to be part of it. To say he feelings were hurt would've been an understatement. Still, she waited on Noah and walked alongside him until he got distracted by two girls who smiled at him.

Finn took the cab back go the apartment building, but decided to walk around and look at the stores nearby out of boredom. He knew if he sat at home, he would probably start getting mad so he decided to enjoy his night alone.

Rachel sat down on a curb, her elbow resting on her knee as Noah talked to the girls. If Finn had come, they'd be snuggled up together by the tree, kissing and exchanging ‘i love yous.’ Instead, she was sitting alone, her legs and feet becoming colder by the minute. She didn't know who she hated most - Noah, Finn, or herself.

Finn eventually got bored of walking around and headed home. After taking a shower, he lay down and decided that he should probably call and check on his wife. He dialed her number and lay down with his phone as he waited.

Rachel was getting ready to stand up and tell Noah she was going home when her phone began rattling around in her bag. “Feeling better?”

“A little bit, I guess. Are you two having fun?”

Rachel's face grew hot with anger but she kept the conversation casual. “Noah met some girls so I've been sitting on a curb for the last half hour. I'm patiently waiting for him to tell me he's leaving with them.”

“well that sucks. Thought he was going to actually hang out with you.”

“Noah is effectively a child and breasts are like shiny toys to him. I'm not entirely surprised.”

“Well.. Boobs are pretty cool.” He joked. “I don't think he'd care if you ditched him now.”

“He already ditched me for the most part so I doubt he'd miss me if I went to see the tree.”

“You guys still haven't even made it to the tree? Geez.”

“No, we haven't. Obviously.” Rachel looked around, noticing Noah looking her way. It was clear he wanted to go so Rachel gave him a wave of approval. “But he's off with his new friends so I'm heading that way.”

“Okay…” If Puck wasn't with her, he would rather she come home but he could tell she was mad at him. “When will you come home?”

Rachel toed the crumbly curb to distract herself from the lonely feeling creeping up her spine. “I won't be long.”

“Alright… l will see you later then. Be safe.”

Rachel nodded, then said the same back to him and hung up. She felt no inclination to go to the tree so she walked until she was tired then climbed in a cab. She thanked the driver as he pulled up in front of the apartment then stood as he pulled away. Not wanting to be home too soon, she walked around the block a time or two before taking the elevator home.

Finn tried to focus on the movie he was watching but he hadn't expected Rachel to stay out so long by herself. When he heard her walk in, he stayed in bed for a moment before walking out to meet her. “Have fun?” He asked her.

“Not really.” Rachel unwound her scarf and hung up her coat. “Are you feeling any better?”

“Yeah, I feel fine. I'm just ready to go to bed, I think.”

Rachel gave a noncommittal shake of her head. “I'm glad to hear you're better. It seems to have come and gone quickly.”

“I just didn't feel like doing the Christmas light thing.” He shrugged.

“You did what you needed to do. That's all you can do.” Rachel kissed his cheek as she moved passed him. “I am going to take a quick shower to warm up.”

He nodded his head and moved back to the bed to finish his movie. He was glad that a fight wasn't happening with the two of them and planned to keep it that way.

Rachel took her few minutes in the shower to cry a little and get the hurt she felt over Finn bailing on her then Noah abandoning her out of her system. Not that it worked entirely but enough that she might be able to sleep. Toweling off, Rachel pulled on her pajamas and slid into bed quietly so she didn't disturb his movie watching.

When Rachel got into the bed with him, Finn made a point to move closer to her. He was frustrated that most of his romantic endeavors with her tended to fall flat, but he didn't want to cause too mention over it.

Rachel turned toward Finn when she felt him move in close to her. Really, it was all she'd wanted all night - to be close to her husband. Even if the night hadn't been ideal she'd take what she could.

Finn put his arm around her and kissed her forehead. “I'm sorry I left. I love you.”

Rachel knew her lack of immunity to her husband's apologies could read as pathetic but she didn't care. She loved him and fighting over something he was saying sorry for was ridiculous. “I love you too. All I wanted was to see the tree with you.” She buried her face in his shoulder and held him close.

“That’s what I wanted too. I felt like maybe it wasn't special for you to see it with me and relive that memory though because you invited Puck…  I don't know, I'm stupid.”

Rachel looked up at him, her eyes big and slightly wet. “That trip was one of the most special times in my life. It means everything to me that you did that for me. And that you wanted to reminisce tonight. I just didn't want to leave him out after he'd admitted he felt that way lately.” Rachel stroked his cheek, her lips touching his. “But I should've made plans to do something, the three of us, some other night. Especially when this is our thing.”

He nodded his head “it was hard for us to communicate any of that without him hearing so I think we did it the right way, even if both of us felt a little butt hurt.” He ran his hand down her back. “At least we are both here right now and we can make plans to see the tree together another night.”

“I look forward to that. Because all that matters is that I'm with you. Honestly, I don't even care where. The tree is nice though. Almost as nice as here.”

“I feel the same way.” He gave her a kiss.

Rachel smiled into their kiss, genuinely happy things were back on track. “That being said, we are going to need to spend time with Noah, both together and apart. He said he feels quite left out.”

“Yeah, he told me the same thing. We were trying to hang out with him before though and he kept being stupid. He would always make jokes about how whipped I am and stuff.”

“Maybe a little boy time, just you two, would help at first. We'll ease him back into the three of us.”

“We will figure it out. I'd father just focus on you right now.”

Rachel didn't know how to make him less ambivalent about Puck without potentially making him feel like she wanted less time with him. So she dropped the issue. “I like the sound of that since focusing on you is pretty important to me too.”

“I just feel like… Our relationship has a lot going on so maybe we shouldn't focus on the other stuff. I know I started it, but..” He shrugged.

“No, it makes sense. We have so little time outside of work and school that focusing on us when we are isn't the worst idea.”

“Exactly.” He pressed another kiss to her lips. “Besides, I miss you all day every day that we aren't together.” he peppered kisses to her neck. “Every night we can be together before we sleep is important.”

Rachel sighed as he kissed her neck. “I miss you too. So I look forward to our evenings together.”

“I love you, baby.” He whispered against her skin.

Rachel could feel all the tension of the evening melting away. “I love you. More than anything.”

He pressed another kiss to her neck before resting his head on the pillow again. “You tired?” He asked softly.

Rachel was sleepy but she wanted to stay up as long as he was. “I'm still trying to get warm from being outside so I can’t sleep just yet.”

“I can warm you up.” He said playfully. “Do you want me to grab another blanket?”

Rachel nudged him lightly before snuggling up closer to him. “No, thank you. You're arms will do just fine.”

He cuddled her, pressing another kiss to her cheek. “So let's plan our date to see the tree. Where do you want to eat first?”

“Hmmm… a place that has really good eggplant parmesan. It's been awhile since I've had it and I've been craving it lately.”

“You're gonna make me take you to an Italian restaurant? Dang, I thought I'd get away with cheap.” He joked. “I'll find you the best eggplant parm in New York. What else do you want to do?”

“It doesn’t have to be any place fancy. I am amenable to a smaller, more reasonable place. Even if it isn’t Italian, but still has what I want.” Rachel let her fingers slide through his, curling lazily once their palms were settled together. “I don’t have any outrageous demands. I just want to see the tree. Maybe we can get some hot chocolate, find a nice bench around there and watch the ice skaters too.”

“We went ice skating last time… I don't think you liked it all that much. “ he chuckled. “That sounds good to me. Now we just gotta figure out a night we both have off.”

“I have Thursday night off this week. Tuesday and Wednesday next. Any of those work for you?”

“Um…” he looked up as he tried to think of when he had to work. “Let's do next week…  get paid on Friday and I kind of used the last of my extra money tonight.”

Rachel felt bad that he’d used up what little extra he got but she didn’t dare suggest she take some of her tip money to pay. He’d always been sensitive about those sorts of things and it was yet another argument that wasn’t worth having. “That sound like a good plan. I think going on a weeknight will be good. It won’t be as crowded at the tree or the restaurant.”

“Yeah, that's true. We won't be able to stay out as late but that's okay. We've been going to bed kind of early anyways… probably the cold.” He said with a small laugh.

“Or the tiredness of it all. I’m more than ready for the school semester to be over after this week. The break will be nice.”

“Me too.. We should have planned something for winter break but I think just hanging out is what we need anyways.”

“Hanging out sounds good for our budget too since I did my holiday shopping and barely kept it under the amount I set for myself.” Rachel sighed. “I hate money sometimes.”

“I do too. I wish we were rich. Then we could just work for fun.”

”If we were rich, we'd probably have sex all the time and work one day a week so it wouldn't cut into all the lust.”

“We could have like a sex room with a huge bed and… not like weird 50 Shades stuff but…” he laughed. “No one would ever see us.”

Rachel's nose crinkled slightly at the idea of a sex room, then smirked when he amended the idea. “I wouldn't mind a bigger bed. But what would be the point of a special sex room? Knowing us, we'd do it everywhere. With all that space, we'd never have time for anything else.”

“I dunno, just to say we have one.” He joked. “That's true… Man, one of us need to win the lottery!”

“So we have more sex space?” Rachel pecked his lips and gave his side a gentle poke.

“Exactly.” He grinned. “And we could go on cool vacations.”

Rachel's eyes closed for a moment, visions of warm, white sand beaches flooding her thoughts. They weren't poor or broke by any means and they were lucky to have a nice place in a decent neighborhood. Still, she understood wanting more. “A vacation or two would be nice. Nothing too fancy. Just somewhere with sunshine and clear water.”

“Someday I'm gonna take you on a really good vacation.” He pressed a kiss to her cheek. “I wish I could give you all that now.”

“I know you do and will.” Turning her head, she caught his lips in a gentle kiss. “And it will be wonderful. But I didn’t marry you for the trips. Truth be told, it was the arms. They sold me.”

He chuckled, tightening his arms around her. “Good thing i like to hold you so much.”

Rachel smiled. “It truly is. Especially on the days I need it more than anything.”

“Well you know I'll do it any time you want me to.”

“Exactly, because you spoil me like a good husband does.” Her fingers traced the curve of his cheek, then the slight hitch in his lip that pulled his smile slightly crooked at times. “That’s why I love you so. Well, that and a million other reasons.”

“I love you for a million reasons too. Best wife ever.” He smiled.

“I had better be for as much as I sleep naked.” Rachel left a soft kiss on his shoulder, then his neck. “I’m like you, though. I just love seeing you happy. If I can help facilitate that, I do.”

“I do get naked cuddles a lot..” He smirked. “I know you do. That's what makes you a good wife.” He gave her a kiss.

“You get a lot of naked everything.” But Rachel didn’t mind, since she enjoyed that closeness with him. And the fact that he always kissed her like he was at the moment. No one would ever hear her complain about feeling like he didn’t dote upon her enough. “Because you’re a good husband.”

“Good motivation to be good.” He teased.

Rachel rolled her eyes without ever losing her smile. “So you wouldn't be good if I wore clothes. Naughty, naughty.”

He laughed “It’s hard to say… I would probably love you the same but knowing I get to see you naked gets me through the day.” He joked.

Rachel turned her head, playing at irritation. “Mean. I may never get naked again because of it.”

“You love being naked as much I do.” He scoffed.

“Literally no one on the planet loves being naked as much as you do. And that is a fact.”

He laughed “I'm sure there is someone!”

Rachel moved her face so close that his breath tickled her lips. “Not even Noah does. And that is saying something.”

“You don't know that for a fact. Maybe he spends all of his free time naked too. I'm wearing clothes now, aren't I?”

Rachel had to concede the point, inclining her head slightly. “You are. Are you sure you are feeling okay?”

“I decided to give you a break tonight.” He said playfully.

“How charitable if you? But what happens if I get used to it?”

“If you're concerned, I can fix this.” He shrugged.

Rachel's fingers traced a path along his forearm. “Maybe not tonight. I am enjoying just being comfy with you right now. And teasing with you makes everything in life feel a little lighter.”

Finn sighed dramatically “oh fine.” He teased. “I'm enjoying just laying with you too. We don't get to often.”

“Just think of when we were first dating, this is what we did. I mean, we were laying together the first time you told me you loved me.”

“We were. I remember thinking how easy it was to tell you that. I thought it was supposed to be scary but it felt so right.”

Rachel couldn't help but kiss him, the sweetness behind such simple - and obvious - words inspiring that in her. “Loving you really was the easiest thing in the world. It still is.”

“It is for me too. Even when we are driving each other crazy. “ he teased lightly.

“Oh, I don't drive you crazy. I am always perfectly pleasant and adorable.” Rachel grinned.

“Yes you are.” He chuckled. “You never get on my nerves at all ever. I'm sure I don't for you either.”

“Nope. Not ever. You're are the embodiment of only positive male traits.”

He shrugged “what can I say.” He gave her a smile, his eyes staying on her for a long moment. “Do you work tomorrow?”

“I have a lunch shift after my final presentation in my last class. I should be home around five or so.”

“Oh, I was gonna tell you I'd make you dinner but I think you will be home before me.”

“You can still make me dinner!” Rachel knew she sounded over eager but she wanted to be swept off her feet a little and having him make her dinner would do the trip. “I'll come home and take a nap so it'll be like I'm not even here.”

He laughed softly “Okay, I’ll make you dinner baby. What do you want?”

“Surprise me?” Even against her growing fatigue, Rachel couldn't hide her excitement. “I know whatever you male will be good.”

Finn thought about it for a moment before nodding his head “I'll come up with something. I'll blow your freaking mind.”

“That sounds promising. Maybe if you do.” She nipped at his neck teasingly. “I’ll have to return the favor afterwards.”

He smirked “Well that will definitely make me work harder to make dinner amazing.”

“It was going to be amazing regardless, just like you were probably going to get your favorite kind of treatment too.”

He gave her a kiss “Maybe true. Maybe I was planning Mac and cheese before you said that.”

“You know I love it when you talk dirty.” Rachel's lips curled into a smile as they kissed. “I almost wish I had the energy to give you an advance on the spoils of your labor.”

“Well now I'm wishing that too.” He nudged her playfully. “I guess I'll have to wait until tomorrow.”

“I think you'll survive it. You have in the past.” Rachel snuggled against him in a losing battle with sleep. “I'm really excited about tomorrow now.”

“Then go to sleep baby so I can spoil you tomorrow.” He kissed her forehead.

“I just might have to.” She yawned a little. “I love you.”

“I love you too. Goodnight.” He cuddled in and closed his eyes.

Rachel murmured a response then fell asleep almost immediately.

[jeffreyrwelch]

Do Dogs Need Coats in the Winter? 7 Myths and Facts

The post Do Dogs Need Coats in the Winter? 7 Myths and Facts by Carol Bryant appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

Winter’s chill is making its presence known in many areas, and as we dig to the back of our closets and coat racks for parkas and seasonal outerwear, we wonder — do dogs need coats in the winter, too? Canine couture is popular, so whether your dog roams in a sweater, hoodie or goes au naturel when mother nature bites at the thermometer, we’ve got the facts — and the fictions — on coats and sweaters for dogs.

1. Fiction: All dogs need to wear coats to protect them from the cold.

Do dogs need coats or sweaters to ward off winter chills? Photography by Liliya Kulianionak/Shutterstock.

Fact: The first thing that people might wonder when thinking, “Do dogs need coats?” is — “Do ALL dogs need coats?” Not all dogs need a coat or sweater to keep them warm when venturing outside, but shorter-haired breeds, senior dogs, puppies and dogs with medical conditions do benefit from the additional warmth. Seek pet apparel that adequately covers the neck and belly, and also allows for neck-to-tail protection. One of my favorite winter finds is the Quinzee from Ruffwear, which I chose based on the above features and the cuteness factor, too.

2. Fiction: All dogs can become accustomed to wearing a coat.

Fact: Some dogs are uncomfortable wearing apparel and should never be forced to do so. While many dogs benefit from the additional layering in colder temperatures, try letting your dog wear the coat in the house for minutes at a time. If he or she is not responsive — or does the famous “freeze in place” pose — scratch the idea and move on.

3. Fiction: Larger dogs do not need to wear winter coats or sweaters.

Fact: When thinking, “Do dogs need coats?” some might automatically rule out bigger breeds. Some dogs were bred with a thicker or a more dense coat, including the Idiatrod-savvy Siberian Husky. But other bigger breeds might benefit from a coat, so assess each individual dog. Greyhounds are more sensitive to the colder weather, for example, so this particular breed could use the extra layering.

4. Fiction: If it looks like a sweater and acts like a sweater, it will keep my dog warm.

Fact: This is so not true. I like to get waterproof dog clothes for my Dexter, a Cocker Spaniel, so his thicker hair can stay dry on our winter snow-covered-sidewalk jaunts. In addition, waterproof apparel keeps him dry from dew-coated bushes and grass at the park. Much like my own winter coat does for me, a polar-fleece lining gives dogs comfort while protecting against colder temperatures.

5. Fiction: A dog’s coat should be snug to keep him or her as warm as possible.

Fact: Another question that goes along with, “Do dogs need coats” — “How should dogs wear coats?” Remember the kid from A Christmas Story, whose mom bundled him up and then he could not move? Consider your dog’s mobility. Just as you need to move in a coat, so does your dog. Snug but not tight is a good rule.

Make sure there are no additional hanging zippers, snaps or parts that can rub or irritate a dog. Dexter will wear apparel as long as it doesn’t interfere with his “man parts.” Pay attention to where any Velcro straps or fasteners lay against a dog’s coat. Being able to try clothing on at the store helps a great deal.

6. Fiction: A dog’s pads are resilient and will protect him or her from nature’s elements.

Fact: Chemicals can be absorbed through a dog’s sensitive pads. In turn, those chemicals (such as what’s found in antifreeze) can be licked by dogs and cause severe problems. I use Musher’s Secret on my dog’s feet and have given this product as a stocking stuffer to dog-loving friends and family in the past.

Some people opt for dog booties, which is a smart idea in the winter months. Wash dog pads off thoroughly after a walk, perhaps using some warm water and a washcloth to melt any ice balls that may have formed on the bottom of their feet.

7. Fiction: Coats and hoodies must look heavy to adequately protect dogs.

Fact: Technology has evolved in the human-outerwear market, and the same holds true with our canine counterparts. Thin is the new thick in outerwear. Check labels and do research before making an investment. Heavier does not mean better; in fact, if a coat is too warm, dogs can overheat, so use caution.

How to measure your dog for a coat

Something else you might wonder when thinking, “Do dogs need coats?” is — “How do you measure your dog for a coat?” If you order a personalized jacket or sweater, keep in mind that many stores will not allow coats to be returned. So, measure your dog adequately before making any parka purchases.

Here’s how: With the dog standing up, run a tape measure from the base of the dog’s neck (where the collar would sit) and to the base of the tail. The majority of dog clothes use this measurement. Knowing your dog’s chest measurement will ensure a good fit, too.

Still stumped on what sort of dog jacket to get for your pup? Check out these 11 types of dog coats right here >>

Tell us: Does your dog wear coats, sweaters or other protective clothing items in the winter months? What kinds do you use? Let us know in the comments!

Thumbnail: Photography N K / Shutterstock.

This post was originally published in 2012.

Plus, check out some data on dogs and winter coats here >>

Read more about dogs and winter on Dogster.com:

5 Dog Breeds That Welcome Winter

Winter Paw Care Tips

Caring for Your Dog During Extreme Winter Weather

The post Do Dogs Need Coats in the Winter? 7 Myths and Facts by Carol Bryant appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

[daddyslittlejuliet]

Do Dogs Need Coats in the Winter? 7 Myths and Facts

The post Do Dogs Need Coats in the Winter? 7 Myths and Facts by Carol Bryant appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

Winter’s chill is making its presence known in many areas, and as we dig to the back of our closets and coat racks for parkas and seasonal outerwear, we wonder — do dogs need coats in the winter, too? Canine couture is popular, so whether your dog roams in a sweater, hoodie or goes au naturel when mother nature bites at the thermometer, we’ve got the facts — and the fictions — on coats and sweaters for dogs.

1. Fiction: All dogs need to wear coats to protect them from the cold.

Do dogs need coats or sweaters to ward off winter chills? Photography by Liliya Kulianionak/Shutterstock.

Fact: The first thing that people might wonder when thinking, “Do dogs need coats?” is — “Do ALL dogs need coats?” Not all dogs need a coat or sweater to keep them warm when venturing outside, but shorter-haired breeds, senior dogs, puppies and dogs with medical conditions do benefit from the additional warmth. Seek pet apparel that adequately covers the neck and belly, and also allows for neck-to-tail protection. One of my favorite winter finds is the Quinzee from Ruffwear, which I chose based on the above features and the cuteness factor, too.

2. Fiction: All dogs can become accustomed to wearing a coat.

Fact: Some dogs are uncomfortable wearing apparel and should never be forced to do so. While many dogs benefit from the additional layering in colder temperatures, try letting your dog wear the coat in the house for minutes at a time. If he or she is not responsive — or does the famous “freeze in place” pose — scratch the idea and move on.

3. Fiction: Larger dogs do not need to wear winter coats or sweaters.

Fact: When thinking, “Do dogs need coats?” some might automatically rule out bigger breeds. Some dogs were bred with a thicker or a more dense coat, including the Idiatrod-savvy Siberian Husky. But other bigger breeds might benefit from a coat, so assess each individual dog. Greyhounds are more sensitive to the colder weather, for example, so this particular breed could use the extra layering.

4. Fiction: If it looks like a sweater and acts like a sweater, it will keep my dog warm.

Fact: This is so not true. I like to get waterproof dog clothes for my Dexter, a Cocker Spaniel, so his thicker hair can stay dry on our winter snow-covered-sidewalk jaunts. In addition, waterproof apparel keeps him dry from dew-coated bushes and grass at the park. Much like my own winter coat does for me, a polar-fleece lining gives dogs comfort while protecting against colder temperatures.

5. Fiction: A dog’s coat should be snug to keep him or her as warm as possible.

Fact: Another question that goes along with, “Do dogs need coats” — “How should dogs wear coats?” Remember the kid from A Christmas Story, whose mom bundled him up and then he could not move? Consider your dog’s mobility. Just as you need to move in a coat, so does your dog. Snug but not tight is a good rule.

Make sure there are no additional hanging zippers, snaps or parts that can rub or irritate a dog. Dexter will wear apparel as long as it doesn’t interfere with his “man parts.” Pay attention to where any Velcro straps or fasteners lay against a dog’s coat. Being able to try clothing on at the store helps a great deal.

6. Fiction: A dog’s pads are resilient and will protect him or her from nature’s elements.

Fact: Chemicals can be absorbed through a dog’s sensitive pads. In turn, those chemicals (such as what’s found in antifreeze) can be licked by dogs and cause severe problems. I use Musher’s Secret on my dog’s feet and have given this product as a stocking stuffer to dog-loving friends and family in the past.

Some people opt for dog booties, which is a smart idea in the winter months. Wash dog pads off thoroughly after a walk, perhaps using some warm water and a washcloth to melt any ice balls that may have formed on the bottom of their feet.

7. Fiction: Coats and hoodies must look heavy to adequately protect dogs.

Fact: Technology has evolved in the human-outerwear market, and the same holds true with our canine counterparts. Thin is the new thick in outerwear. Check labels and do research before making an investment. Heavier does not mean better; in fact, if a coat is too warm, dogs can overheat, so use caution.

How to measure your dog for a coat

Something else you might wonder when thinking, “Do dogs need coats?” is — “How do you measure your dog for a coat?” If you order a personalized jacket or sweater, keep in mind that many stores will not allow coats to be returned. So, measure your dog adequately before making any parka purchases.

Here’s how: With the dog standing up, run a tape measure from the base of the dog’s neck (where the collar would sit) and to the base of the tail. The majority of dog clothes use this measurement. Knowing your dog’s chest measurement will ensure a good fit, too.

Still stumped on what sort of dog jacket to get for your pup? Check out these 11 types of dog coats right here >>

Tell us: Does your dog wear coats, sweaters or other protective clothing items in the winter months? What kinds do you use? Let us know in the comments!

Thumbnail: Photography N K / Shutterstock.

This post was originally published in 2012.

Plus, check out some data on dogs and winter coats here >>

Read more about dogs and winter on Dogster.com:

5 Dog Breeds That Welcome Winter

Winter Paw Care Tips

Caring for Your Dog During Extreme Winter Weather

The post Do Dogs Need Coats in the Winter? 7 Myths and Facts by Carol Bryant appeared first on Dogster. Copying over entire articles infringes on copyright laws. You may not be aware of it, but all of these articles were assigned, contracted and paid for, so they aren’t considered public domain. However, we appreciate that you like the article and would love it if you continued sharing just the first paragraph of an article, then linking out to the rest of the piece on Dogster.com.

[anastasiawcm-blog]

Alpacas Create Great Yarn!

Now, you should be wondering why do people store online? Well, the first reason is choice and other 1 convenience. You can find some of the very best alpacas for sale on the Web and that too at the comfort of your house. Nevertheless, you will have to do a lot of research to locate the reliable websites exactly where you can discover the cheapest deals.

When choosing up your Valentine's Working day gifts, don't forget the sweetest people in your life: the kids! Children adore to know that they are unique to you, and a Valentine's Working day present chosen particularly for them is a wonderful way to display them how a lot they mean to you. Right here are some leading picks on Valentine's Working day gift that your child or the kids in your lifestyle will adore.

Whether you are contemplating a substitute for a genuine pet or if you just want to buy a wonderful toy canine, the look on your child's face when you deliver home Fur Genuine Buddies Biscuit won't be beat by any other toy! Come on, Mom and Dad, buy this canine!

Your kid will need to purchase food for their pet using Webkinz cash. They can earn much more cash by playing games, answering questions, and doing odd jobs at the work workplace. This is another degree of duty. Your child must make the money to consider treatment of their pet. What a great life lesson!

Music loving graduates will be thrilled with an iTunes gift card. One of the benefits of these is that they can be bought adopt an alpaca. iTunes gift cards can be bought on the Apple site or, for all you procrastinators, from a grocery store on the way to the graduation ceremony! Ranging from $15 to hundreds of dollars, these small gems match any budget. Not eco-pleasant you say? Make sure you! Would I steer you wrong? Believe about it - iTunes gift playing cards might be plastic, but they are made from Ingeo plant-primarily based plastic produced by NatureWorks LLC. Plus, by buying digital music downloads, your graduate will be keeping dozens of CD's out of the landfill.

Animal fiber such as sheeps' wool or Best Furreal fleece ought to be used. Coarser wool is tougher to felt. Medium to good wool felts fantastic. The wool ought to be cleaned and carded before utilizing.

It is also really worth mentioning that it does not go extremely much. I created a cabled scarf for myself and experienced to use over 10 balls of yarn. This tends to make it a extremely costly yarn to knit with and I would suggest it for smaller clothes like scarves adopt an alpaca hats instead that very large bulky sweaters. Getting said that though, if you were to make a sweater out of this yarn it would appear amazing and would keep you so heat you wouldn't want to consider it off in the winter season.

Woman will discover alpacas for sale on Cathy Daniels coordinates, Gloria Vanderbilt informal separates, Lee shorts and capris, Onque French terry knits, Speculation sheeting separates, Women Club embroidered tees, Fashion Classics and Speculation rib knit tanks, MHD energetic separates, Miss R assistance tanks and Amanda Jade fashion tees.

Truthfully, used car parts will conserve you money. Obviously it is cheaper than purchasing brand name new car parts, but do you think you'll be obtaining the same high quality? That is something you ought to be concerned about. Fortunately, most auto components recyclers will offer a guarantee with their components. They also have a full database which makes it much easier, and quicker to find parts than at a dealership. Even if they don't have the component you need, they can get it to you pretty rapidly.

Those raised for Thanksgiving dinner tables by no means really feel the sun on their feathers, though. They invest their lives crammed into sheds where they are bred to develop so rapidly that numerous can't even support their weight to take a couple of steps. Turkeys on "free-range" farms don't fare a whole lot better. And at the slaughterhouse, they are exempt from even the weakest humane slaughter regulations.

Give a soldier a cell phone. Help Mother by donating utilized mobile phones to an organization like Cell Phones for Soldiers, which sells the phones to recyclers. Proceeds are utilized to purchase calling playing cards used by American troopers to contact house. What better way to celebrate Mother's Working day than to obtain a phone contact from your son or daughter who is serving his/ her nation?

These are just some of the things to discover in Exeter. The Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery is also located right here and there are historical mills, colleges, and homes to learn about as nicely as other country oriented retail establishments. Stop by someday when you are looking for an enjoyable working day away from the maddening group.

You can discover out more info online, and also to find a alpaca farm near to you that you can visit, and see for yourself. You never know, you might want to jump of that treadmill we call the rat race and begin your personal Alpaca Farm.

[chuicide]

Prices For Provides For The Chickens

For those who're contemplating raising chickens at house, one of the primary things that they assume about is how a lot will this project value. It may well seem like it should involve a huge quantity of upfront cash to purchase the chickens and the provides that they need to stay and develop. Some of the fundamental provides that one will need are items such as the chickens, bedding supplies, a feeder, water and feed. The high price provide item is the chicken coop. These will be quite costly until in fact, one decides to build their very own using one among the numerous chicken coop plans that can be found. This is usually a slightly steep sum of money for one to place out especially at the beginning of the pastime. A superb alternative, which can also be a enjoyable undertaking, is to make the hen coop and run by yourself. That is a substantial savings and through the use of a set of rooster coop plans, one can alter the plans to accommodate their private need. There are a wide variety of chicken coop plans that one can purchase at hobby outlets or via on-line sources.

It has been a tough couple of weeks right here on the farm. Two weeks in the past, my nice Grandma Josephine passed away at the age of 92-years-old. It was so sad to lose such a creative and sensible soul. Then a little over per week ago, Noah was grinding paint off of a chair carry pole at work and got one thing in his eye. He thought it was just sand or one thing else and would get flushed out on its own. It only acquired worse and by the subsequent day, I may see one thing over the pupil in his eye and his imaginative and prescient grew to become blurred so we ended up making a trip to the ER. Sadly, the physician said it was a chunk of steel in his eye and was starting to rust, which is the spot I may see. On Saturday, we went to a specialist, who was capable of take away the metal piece and a lot of the rust with the Burr device. He left just a little bit of the rust as a result of he stated that otherwise, he must drill by the whole cornea leaving a gap and it would be better to go away just a little rust.

Now Hollister was named after a trendy clothes store apparently, unbeknown to me. I've since investigated this emporium and can declare that there does not appear any purpose in any respect why I ought to darken their door with my wallet clasped in my hand. I don't consider they have suitable attire for, erm, somebody like me. Doesn't he look fabulous though! Patou Tuppence (sire Wimmera Skies Class Act of Reddingvale Alpacas, simply off the A303 in Somerset on the sting of the village of Templecombe). She is utterly gorgeous, an actual knee weakener, a creator of a trembling backside lip, Tuppence is secretly my favourite. And to complete, my favourites, Tuppence, Millichamp and Hollister, in formation preparing for their group dance. Thanks go to Andy and Viv Walker of Reddingvale Alpacas, simply off the A303 in Somerset on the edge of the village of Templecombe, oh and another bloke. I think the stability has been redressed! Publisher: Phil Jupp If you want to explore different breeds, chickens provide that opportunity. There are literally hundreds of different rooster breeds out there. Every space of the world tends to have breeds particular to that space. Choosing breeds usually includes figuring out what you want to do with the animal. Learn on to find out extra! Writer: David Beart Whichever dog breed you choose, remember that the canine, not like the cat, is happier if it does what its owner wants. This means that dogs are happier if trained to be obedient. In the event you train your dog properly and care for it, you can be rewarded with wonderful love and companionship. In spite of everything, it's true that the dog is man's finest good friend. Writer: phil Study which breed of chicken is going to suite your yard chicken coop.There are heaps of variety's of chickens and we give a brief description on the top breeds for egg manufacturing. Publisher: tim warrington The Bantam variety of rooster is a small rooster and the name comes originally from the town of Bantam.

The herd was rounded up for a complete well being check as on Wednesday Le famille Steele heads off to the south of France for our Easter break. We're not leaving the animals on their very own, no sirrreee, every species has been taken into consideration and the appropriate care organised. Bob the cat, Betty, Cindy and Lulu the chickens and all of the alpacas will after all stay at home and a highly educated group will transfer in to look after them. Pete and Elvie, good buddies, and animal lovers are as soon as again taking the reins and might be here to feed, stroke, collect and gaze on the motley crew left behind, At Hensting Alpacas Hampshire (linked internet site) thanks guys. Anyway, checking the herd today taught me a lesson that's related to all alpaca homeowners. Not only was I situation scoring, I was checking and cleaning this years eartags (effectively all of them the truth is). All the eartags regarded good, a number of scabs cleared away however nothing to fret about. Not all alpacas spit, but all are able to it. The "spit" generally comprises solely air and a bit of saliva though it usually comprises acidic stomach contents which is a green, grassy mix, and they mission it at chosen targets. This spitting results in "sour mouth" for them which is characterized by a free-hanging lower lip and a gaping mouth. The reason for that is the stomach acid and the unpleasant style. The thing of this spitting, despite the fact that it causes them discomfort, is a form of protection. Normally reserved for different alpacas, it is sometimes directed at humans. I as soon as was standing again watching a couple of llamas, simply minding my own enterprise. Impulsively, one turned looked at me and spit. Is it one thing in my personality that attracts this behavior? They are also fairly verbal, making a variety of sounds, every being for a particular motive. When in danger they make a high-pitched shrieking whine. When content material, they really hum and a clucking sound means pleasant or submissive habits. Believe it or not, you would say they are naturally potty educated. They use a communal dung pile where they do not graze. Females tend to stand in a line and all go directly. Due to this, some have been efficiently home-skilled and make house pets. If you are considering of moving into alpacas, the value to get began might be as open because the sky itself. Due to the high value commanded by alpacas within the rising North American alpaca market, unlawful smuggling has turn out to be a growing drawback. It is no surprise they have gotten increasingly more well-liked. They make nice pets, produce fleece for a lifetime and females may be bred over and over for her entire grownup life. What more could one ask out of an investment? I'm still deciding if an alpaca venture needs to be added to my bucket listing or not.

As time strikes on, the chickens get acclimatized to the realm, determine the best way to trust the safety of it and the proprietor can allow them to out for the coops with out concern of them flying off. There are some rooster coops that happen to be pyramid-like in structure having a flat high. One leg for the chicken gets tied off to a meter lengthy leash with one end pegged down into the ground. The rooster which includes a meter wide freedom but confined to 1 area at the exact same time. Again, ultimately the hen will get to really feel at dwelling that after they may be finally untied, they don't hassle to fly away. I discovered that there are literally two kinds of the pyramid coops. One is made from heavy soldered wired which may be positioned below the shade of the trees and the other one is strong constructed from many supplies. Most of the coops are really very low-cost, some needing assembly some may well not. They can also be made by anybody who is useful that has a hammer, nails plus a noticed. Building rooster coops need not be an ordeal for anyone. Anyone can simply go on the web and obtain the plans for building a chicken coop then buy the supplies as listed and comply with the easy directions. It is definitely very cheap and simple to do.

[mylifeofmum-blog]

Guide for New Parents to be - What to buy!

So you're going to be a mummy or daddy! It's exciting and you've probably already bought a few cute outfits in preparation because let's face it, they are so hard to resist! But don't buy too many! I was extremely lucky and although I bought 2 vests (foo fighters and nirvana - obviously!), every single piece of clothing my boy had to start with was either a hand me down from my cousins boy, or bought for me from friends and family, and I had a lot! Also, as I've mentioned before, I'm tight and some what cheeky as I wanted to see what I was bought first before running to the shops as it's inevitable that you will get gifts. Also babies really do grow very quickly so you don't want to go over board and end up with clothes that were never worn, it's a waste of money. So I have here a list of things that are essential for babies arrival and a list of things to possibly wait for!

Essential Items:

- Bodysuits. They are a must as they will be worn under every outfit day and night to keep baby warm. They should be in one extra layer to us. So you will need quite a few, maybe aim for a weeks worth at 2 a day, and get someone to wash them for you, just to begin with. I'd also suggest getting a mix of long sleeve and short sleeve and don't buy all newborn size as baby may be bigger than you were hoping (sorry!) and some newborn clothes are pretty small so get 0-3 months too. Even if the 0-3 are a little big, that's better than being too small! You can buy these in packs of 3 or 5 in most places and it doesn't matter too much if they have a 'design' to them, just get them plain as you won't see them anyway, they'd be hidden under clothes. Plus plain in cheaper!

- All in one sleep suits. Again buy the same size wise as the bodysuits and you could buy a few less as obviously they will only be in them for bed, but make sure you have a few extra for any 'accidents'. I'd get mostly thinner ones as you can always add a layer or an extra blanket if you feel it's too cold one night.

- All in ones for daytime. These are usually thicker and great to start with as opposed to outfits as you will want to put them in something easy and more accessible to begin with while you get used to being a new parent. Also if you get ones with feet, you don't have to battle with socks! Again, get a mix of newborn and 0-3months just incase.

- Socks. They are essential if baby has bare feet, to keep them warm. I would actually just stick to newborn size for this one as even if baby is a little bigger than a newborn, the socks will usually still fit. My baby is 4 months now and still wears newborn socks from time to time. Also get well elasticated ones as they tend to fall off much less! You can buy these in packs at pretty reasonable prices so go mad.

- Mitts. Actual mitts are terrible so I would stay clear! You can never get them to stay on. Instead, buy all in ones that have fold over cuffs that act as mitts, these are amazing and can obviously never fall off! If you find baby in a body suit without cuffs one day. you can always stick socks on their hands.

- Hats. Just 2 will do to begin with (I would say 1 but they tend to get dirty after putting one on a newborn straight away with goo still in his hair!). They wear them pretty much straight away to get warm and obviously you will need one when you leave the hospital.

- Coat. Just get one to begin with.

- Nappies. Obviously nappies are a must. I had some great advise from my cousin. I was freaking out wondering what size to buy and how many. She told me, buy 2 or 3 packs of each size 1's, 2's and 3's to begin with as when baby is here, if he gets too big for the 1's pretty quickly, you will have the 2's at the ready. Also there is always someone you can call on to grab you another pack if needs be. You won't run out this way, I promise. Also I would say with nappies, don't automatically think that the big brands are best. Everyone has different experiences with different brands of nappies. I'd heard great things about own brands such as asda and aldi so I bought a few different brands just incase and I tell you what, the aldi ones have been amazing for me and I didn't get along with pampers. So don't dismiss cheaper brands straight away, give them a go and see.

- Nappy sacks. you'll go through these quickly too so don't get an expensive brand. You can get a box of 200 scented ones in the pound shop.

- Wipes. Again, something you will be using a lot. It's up to you whether you go for scented or unscented and what brand you choose. I went for the cheap unscented brands as I have pretty sensitive skin myself so thought baby is going to be that twice over and I went for Tesco's own brand as that's what I use for myself and never had an issue. plus they usually have a great offer on for multibuys. I did buy a few others again just incase but found the cheaper ones the best as some of the bigger brands can be quite foamy. Shop around for deals here, there are usually loads and stock up, I had about 20 odd packs and am still going through them.

- Cotton pads. These are only essential if like me you are going to start off with cool boiled water to clean baby's bits. We did this for the first month. Obviously not as handy as a wipe but you get used to it. There are loads of cheap ones too. Lidl and Aldi have great ones as they have an edge to them which means they don't fall apart and leave a trail of cotton down there!

- Bibs. I would get enough for 1 a day for a week, just incase baby tends to be a sicky one and spits up all over them.

- Muslins. Get them. Get loads. They not only help wipe baby's mouth after food, but they are so handy for anything and everything else. Trust me. You need them. Get a few multipacks!

- Cot and Crib. Get both straight away. I can't advise which ones to buy as every baby is different so do a little research to find the right one for you. The co-sleepers are great and moses baskets aren't the best but as I said, every baby is different.

- Pram. Much needed of course. Again I won't advise on a particular one, that's up to you. But I would recommend one that has a car seat attached. Less hassle getting baby in and out of the pram to the car seat and vise versa, especially when they are sleeping. Always, ALWAYS check though before you buy that the pram will fit in your boot! They are bigger than they look and some boots are smaller than they seem. Most places will let you check so please do!

- Car seat. If you aren't getting a pram and car seat combined.

- Sterilizer. Absolutely essential. The best thing we bought was a sterilizing kit. It was a sterilizer with all the newborn bottles we needed, hand breast pump, bottle brush and a dummy. Saves you buying extra bottles. It's good to make a start with. Also, I would suggest you get a sterilizer that plugs into the wall. You can get one that you microwave but if you do, don't do what we did and buy it without checking it fits in your microwave. When it says fits most standard size microwaves. That isn't true! Luckily we found this out in time before baby arrived and swapped it for a plug in one.

- Baby bottles. If you're not breastfeeding and your sterilizer didn't come with any. Buy around 6 newborn bottles.

- Blankets. A nice thick fleece or wooly one is great for outdoors or the daytime when it's extra cold. But for the evening I would suggest getting a couple of cellular blankets as these are safer for baby incase the blanket goes over their face, it is less likely to cause any harm as they are full of breathable holes. 

- Breast pads. Whether you are breast feeding or not. You will need these. When that milk comes in you will tend to leak. Especially when you get out of a hot shower or bath (it's like a waterfall at times!). Just get a box to start with.

- Maternity pads. Yep. Sorry! They are massive and for some they are uncomfortable but they are essential. You will be bleeding a lot I'm afraid and only these will do. Get 2 packs.

- Nursing bra. Only if you're breastfeeding. You can also get just a non underwired sports bra. Not only great for breastfeeding but so comfy when your boobs are already in pain. Also an underwired bra has been known to restrict milk flow.

- Fitted bed sheets. Just get a couple to start with. I also went for a waterproof mattress protector for any accidents. Babys don't use duvets or pillows until they are 1 so stay clear of these.

- Baby towels and flannels. Again just a couple to start with as a newborn doesn't need a daily bath. You can just use a small bath towel, but I've found the baby towels are softer.

- A changing bag. This will be your baby. It will have everything you need in it when you are out and about so get a good sized one, but nothing too big that you are constantly fumbling around trying to find those wipes!

- Nail clippers. Babys nails grow very fast and when they are moving their arms and legs around like they have absolutely no control over them, they will tend to scratch themselves.

- Formula. If you aren't breastfeeding then get a tub ready. 'First milk' is the one to look for. You can take it to the hospital but most hospitals have formulas on hand just incase anyway. Also if you are breastfeeding, I would recommend buying one just incase things don't go to plan. If you don't end up needing it then great, I'm sure you'd be able to sell it on to someone who does need it. But it's there if you do end up needing it.

-. Thermometer. They don't have to be a 'baby' one. Just a general one will do. Great for checking baby's temp and also the bath temp. 

- Non bio washing powder. Better for baby's skin.

- Changing mat. We have one thick comfy one for home and a travel one that lives in the changing bag for outings.

- Hand gel. Some may think this isn't essential. But you have to be careful with germs around a baby so hand gel is great to have handy.

- Ready meals. They don't have to be unhealthy ones. You can cook a big batch of a couple of your favourite meals and freeze them. Trust me. You don't want to be cooking for the first few week at least.

- Nipple cream. Handy if you're breastfeeding, also great for baby's dry lips.

 Non-Essential items

- Baby bath. They can be handy for some, but they take up a lot of space. You can just hold baby in the bath or a sink or bathe with them. I found our baby grew out of the bath very quickly. You can get bath seats but I found baby would float off and you'd end up holding him anyway.

- Nappy bins. Just use a normal bin and make sure you empty it regularly. Easy and a hell of a lot cheaper.

- Play mat. Great for a little later on when baby is more aware of what's around him and can see further. But don't rush out and buy it for his arrival.

- Baby swings. Great to pop baby in when you need to go to the loo or put some food on, But again, it can wait a week or so. You will no doubt be putting him in his crib more when he's a newborn.

- Outfits. By all means get them if you'd like. But perhaps get 1 or 2 sizes up as you probably won't use them straight away and you can get them after baby's arrival.

- Breast pump. Hand or electric they are great if you are breastfeeding and want to express some milk for bottles. But don't rush out and buy one until you know whether or not you will be sticking with breastfeeding as they can cost a lot, especially the electric ones. Some sterilizing kits come with a breast pump which is really handy.

- Baby shoes. They are so cute but really not needed. Socks will do just fine.

- Baby monitor. Baby will most likely be at your side most of them time, sleeping near you or on you and at night they will be in the same room. So not essential to get straight away. (Although if you're anything like me and my husband and get a little paranoid. Get one).

- Changing table. If you don't have much space at home, don't bother. We put his changing mat on top of the drawers in his room and just make sure we're careful. You can always use the floor too.

- Toys and Teddies. You will without a doubt have at least 1 or 2 people buy you toys and/or teddies so don't bother. Baby doesn't care straight away either until they are more aware of their surroundings so just wait on that one.

 I'm sure I have forgotten things so feel free to send me some more to add to the lists! But this is a good start to get going with.