#so I will probably just be buying a couple of Christmas gifts for my bestie and maybe some Star Wars stuff

[youareheaven]

this is what I feel like rn because I wanna buy clothes and accessories soooo bad but I don’t get paid until Friday

[repulsivepangolin7]

Fic: 31 days of whump (9/31)

A/N: Alright, this is actually one of the few chapters which is connected to another chapter. So, this one and the next one goes hand in hand.

Word count: 1 435

Jingle bells was playing from a store somewhere along the street. People were dressed up for cold weather, even though they were in the city of Angels. Luca smirked to himself as he watched the weird mix of people walk down the street. Some in t-shirts and shorts, some with scarves, beanies and mittens. Didn’t folks realize that it was sunny and like 65 degrees out?

People were walking around with the big and REALLY BIG paper cups of Starbucks seasonal beverages, and he could see a street vendor further down the street selling sugar and cinnamon burnt almonds. He would have to buy some of those.

“How are you doing?” Tuana, Kelly’s mom, asked as she cast a worried glance over at him.

Luca realized he was starting to break a sweat, and paused in order to adjust his crutches. “Good, good. I’m doing good.”

“Are you sure?” she asked, looking up at him, “We could step inside that bakery and grab a bite and some coffee…”

He knew she was bailing him out from admitting that his leg hurt. A broken ankle usually hurts the first couple of weeks after it’s broken.

“Coffee sounds good…” he nodded. He would have admitted that his ankle was throbbing like crazy, if it hadn’t been for her giving him the perfect out. Besides, he could always go for some coffee.

They went inside the small bakery a couple of stores down.

Their first mission was to find a table to sit down by, then Tuana would go order for them.

They found a table standing against the rear wall, with four chairs. Luca sat down with his back against the wall and propped his recently injured leg up on the neighbor chair. He missed a pillow to place his leg on, but beggars can’t be choosers.

“What do you want to have?”

“Coffee, black.” He started, and readjusted his leg, “And something that looks tasty.”

“Like a sandwich? Croissant? Cupcake? Cake?”

“I’ll have whatever you’re having…” Luca chuckled.

“Alright.” she smiled, “Carrot cake then?”

He nodded, “Sure, sounds awesome.”

“How does your ankle look now?”

Luca scrounged up his nose. The surgeon who had operated on him had fixed his fractures with plates and screws. He wasn’t wearing a cast.  “Prolly swollen… Feels like it.”

“We can take a cab back to where we parked later…”

“Nah…” he shook his head, “Feels good to be walking around again. And it’s not that far. I just need a sit-down break.”

She nodded.

 SWATSWATSWAT

 A minute or two later the owner came by, with a slightly annoyed expression. “Hey, you can’t have your feet up on our furniture.”

Luca looked up from his phone. Tuana was still in line to place their order.

“Man, I need to have it elevated for a spell…” his shoulders slumped.

“What?” the owner answered dumb folded.

“I broke my leg at work about two weeks ago…”

“You ain’t got a cast.”

Luca nibbled on his lower lip for a short second, “I know…”

The owner was about to cross his arms to make it more obvious that he was getting annoyed, when Luca leaned forward and pulled the hem of his pants up towards his knee, revealing thick bandages going up both sides of his ankle.

“They secured it with metal plates and screws.” he explained, “My girlfriend over there and I have been Christmas gift shopping for her kid for two hours. My leg feels like it’s about to burst.”

The owner glanced over towards the line, then back at Luca with an entirely different expression, then he looked down at the floor and saw the crutches Luca had hid under the table. “I’m sorry. Never mind… Just have your leg up…”

“Thanks.” Luca nodded.

“Do you want a pillow or some ice to put on it?”

“You have those things here?”

“Sure thing.” the owner nodded, “We’ve got ice in the ice machine, we’ve got plastic bags to put it in. And we’ve got some pillows in the couch area.”

“That’d be great…” Luca smiled.

The owner gave a short nod and headed towards where the couch area probably was, before he a few seconds later returned with two pillows. “Here. You probably want to arrange them by yourself.”

Luca nodded, “Thank you.”

Then the owner went to find some ice for him.

 SWATSWATSWAT

 “What did that guy want?”

“Wanted to know if I had a good reason to have my leg up on one of his chairs.” Luca flashed a quick smile, “He found some pillows for me, and now he’s fetching some ice for me.”

“Oh, okay…” she nodded as she placed their coffees in front of them, “That’s good.”

Luca nodded.

“The guy behind the counter said he’d come over with the cakes in a couple of minutes.”

Luca nodded and leaned forward to adjust his leg and the pillows.

“Can I take a look?” she asked as she nodded towards his leg.

“Sure.” Luca nodded and pulled the hem of his pantleg back up.

“Sure is swollen…” Tuana noted as she placed a couple of fingers against the front of his lower shin, “At least it has a normal temperature. How does it feel?”

She helped him pull the hem back down again.

“Better now that I have it up.” Luca smirked, “It’s fine.”

Tuana nodded and sat down opposite him.

“So…” Luca sat back and looked over at her, “Given any thoughts to what you want for Christmas?”

She shrugged, “Haven’t really thought about it. But you don’t need to get me anything. I don’t think it was the best of ideas for you to tag along today, judging by how swollen your leg and ankle has gotten.”

Luca shrugged, “Hey, I could always get one of my teammates to drive me, or I could get one of them to go buy whatever I decide to get you for me. Stuff like that is easy now with video calls you know…”

“True…” Tuana rolled her eyes a little, “What if I say that I just want your company for Christmas?”

Luca grinned wide, “Well, you just stole my Christmas wish…”

“I’m just assuming you’re going to celebrate with us.” she tilted her head, hoping he’d nod or say yes, or something along those lines.

He nodded, just as the owner came back with a few freezer bags with ice. “Here, I struggled with finding the bags. One of my college kids practically rearranged the back kitchen the last time he cleaned it.”

“Thanks man…” Luca smiled, and let out a sigh of relief when he finally was able to drape two improvised icepacks over his lower left leg. “Thank you.”

“Gotta support our boys in blue, right?” the owner shrugged.

“How… How did you know?”

“Saw Tuana standing in line, without her bestie.” The owner answered, “Figured she finally worked up the nerve to bring her cop boyfriend here. Just had to see her sit down next to you before I was sure.”

Luca chuckled.

“So you got hurt at work?”

“Yeah.” Luca nodded, “Landed bad after jumping a fence. Didn’t help that I landed on top of a skateboard.”

The owner cringed, “Well, I hope you heal up quickly.”

“Thanks,” Luca smirked, “I’ll probably be back on my feet in no time.”

The owner nodded, “Where are my manners, I totally forgot to introduce myself… I’m Ben Neagley.”

“Dominique Luca.” he replied, “Just call me Luca, most people do.”

Ben nodded, “Yeah, kinda picked up on that from Tuana and Macy chatting about you.”

Luca chuckled and glanced over at Tuana, then back at Ben, “Not all bad I hope.”

“Oh, no…” Ben shook his head, “I wish my wife was as impressed with me, and proud of me as Tuana is of you. I’ve been hoping to meet this fantastic Mr. Luca.”

Luca glanced over at Tuana again, sending a flirtatious wink her way.

“Well, I’m just attempting to be the man she deserves.” Luca answered before turning back to Ben, “She’s by far the most amazing woman I’ve met.”

Ben smiled, “Yeah, you have to take good care of her.”

Luca nodded, “Trying to.”

“Oh, stop it… You’re doing a great job.” Tuana smiled.

 SWATSWATSWAT

 The waiter came by with the cakes, and Luca grabbed a spoonful of the frosting on top. “Damn, this is good.”

Tuana nodded before she had even tested it, “Macy and I have this as our coffee spot. The carrot cake here is my favorite. The frosting is a dream.”

Luca nodded energetically and smiled at her.

[nancypullen]

Humpity Hump Day

I love Wednesdays.  Mostly because it’s garbage day and our can gets emptied, but also because it starts the downhill slide toward the weekend.  Not that our weekends are all that exciting these days, but it’s ingrained in us to long for weekends.   My gardens are going crazy and I’m picking juicy tomatoes daily.  I may have to buy a machete to get through all of the dill.  It might be time to cut a large amount of it down and dry it.  I’ve been picking a little at a time and using it as I cook, but it’s taking over.  Those pudgy caterpillars I kept bumping into while I weeded are making their debut in their ball gowns now and dancing across the zinnias.

Bet those two are sisters.  All butterflies are female, right?  Because they’re so pretty?  Sure, you know I’m joking, but I know I’m going to get messages scolding me for my lack of knowledge concerning butterfly genders.  That’s the world we’re living in. *sigh*  Poodles are girls, frogs are boys.  There, I made it even worse. Ha! Anywho, there’s not a whole lot going on around here.  We’ve had storms every stinkin’ day since we returned from our jaunt up north.  Not just rain, rain would be fine, but big, booming, lightning-filled, gullywasher storms.  Yesterday our neighbor’s trash can blew down the street.  It wasn’t even empty!  Right now we’re having another big boomer.  I actually love a good storm, but I don’t think our yard and gardens can soak up much more.  There’s standing water everywhere and plants are bent over to the point of breaking.  That’s mostly my sunflowers and the humongous tomato plant, but even the salvia and speedwell are leaning.  I hope that this doesn’t lead to fungus and mildew in the gardens. Ugh.  There never seems to be any middle ground around here. The weather has prompted me to spend a little extra time at my desk and I’ve made a couple cards to send off -a birthday and a get well wish.  I love it when they turn out just right.  They don’t always.  I still don’t throw them away, maybe I’ll figure out a use for the irregulars.   I found this lady...

and she looked so pleased with her purchases that I slapped a quote on her.

But as you can see, EVERYTHING is wrong here.  Even though she’s centered, the pattern on the card is not - I could have turned her vertically and probably made better use of that scrap of paper.  The burlap is unraveling on one corner, and quite frankly none of the colors are working. FAIL!  I’ll probably pick those buttons off and trash the rest.

I found this gal and decided to make a card for an old pal from my airline days.

I actually liked the way she turned out. I spent a good ten minutes pawing through my stash of buttons looking for just the right silver, sparkly number.

Then I realized I’d left off the period.  Would the recipient care? Probably not - but it’s all I can see now. Arrgh!

I came across this woman who did not look amused.

But by the time she was printed and placed, her face looked a tad washed out - I should have tried lowering the exposure on the original picture before I started.

Warning, PG-13 card ahead.

Still, she may work.  I can still see her displeased expression. The additions are a bit wonky, but that’s the charm of being homemade, right?  That’s what I keep telling myself anyway. Here’s another that is in limbo.  I found a lovely young woman who appeared to be imparting wisdom to a gaggle of girls.

Or maybe they were waiting for Santa to slide down that chimney.  Either way, I gave her a chalkboard and chalk and turned it into a lesson for  little women.

Except I’m not convinced that hoes is the plural of ho.  There’s no definitive answer on the internet and it doesn’t sit well with me.  Would my besties care? Nope, they’d laugh.  But I can’t send it out into the world like that. And while we’re browsing the PG-13 variety, this one is actually a favorite -

From this...

to this.

I was having so much fun with her that I didn’t know when to stop.  I think that I went overboard on the embellishments.  Then again, it’s gaudy which sort of fits the theme, right? No matter how they turn out, I have a ball deciding what my dead friends have to say and dressing them up.  My favorite thing is to make a sweet, frilly card and give it a snarky message.  Sugar and spice, friends, sugar and spice. Sorry that you had to sit through the card review, but it’s what keeps me busy these days.  I figured you wouldn’t be interested in photos of me folding laundry or loading the dishwasher.  I guess I could have shared the fascinating process of meal planning and building a grocery list.  Honestly, if not for dead people my days would be a drag.  Did that sound ungrateful?  I’m not.  I’m thankful every day for this life, even during these crazy times.  I guess that since we locked down in March my days just feel like shampoo, rinse, repeat over and over.  Bet that’s true for everyone.  Thank goodness for the technology that keeps us all connected. I hope you’re staying busy with something that makes you happy - whether it’s crafty stuff, gardening, cooking, reading, exercise (oh, how I wish that one applied to me),  I even have a friend who is busy knitting Christmas gifts for family and friends.  A lovely distraction that occupies our hands and minds is a good thing.   It’s not quite time to start banging pots around for dinner, so I think I’ll stare at these girls awhile and figure out what they have to say.

Stay busy, stay happy, stay well.   XOXO - Nancy

[jonathanssweatercollection]

jancy :)

* who hogs the duvet

well we know from season 1 that nancy like to bunch up her blankets against her face and chest, which I do too bc it feels like hugging, even tho there was a perfectly huggable softboy right THERE, as well as the fact that in jonathan’s first shirtless in bed scene – which i still go haha go crazy go stupid over – that he spreads his leggies all over the place and hugs his pillows plus in s3 he did the precise same thing; by taking advantage of the amount of room in his bed and was on nancy’s side bc he was bein angsty and sad and the pillow probably smelled like her :( so I might have to give this one over to jonny lad

* who texts/rings to check how their day is going

nancy, idk why she just seems Like That and always wants to make sure that everything is a-ok. jon would too but he’s way more anxious to use the wall-phone, 1. bc he takes after joyce SO MUCH and clearly has some hereditary anxiety bc he’s so empathetic and i hc that all the byers are autistic which makes perfect sense for them to be a bit more introverted and less likely to interact with others in a social sense and wow i’m talking a lot but anyways my answer is nancy

* who’s the most creative when it comes to gifts

i’ve said it before but nancy clearly put a lot of thought in getting that camera for jonathan in s1 (steve too but that’s more of a fandom-agreed-upon headcanon) so yeah nancy

* who gets up first in the morning

in s3 when we first see nancy and jonathan (and my heart exploded) nancy DID get up first bc she’s so anxious about her new job but if u disregard their season three jobs and if u mean on an average day jonathan is waking up at the crack of dawn (that is, if he slept at all) and you KNOW that jonathan is gonna make her coffee and pancakes in bed 🥺💏🥰

* who suggests new things in bed

nancy. i refuse to elaborate.

* who cries at movies

modern nancy will ONLY cry at three films and those are: star wars: revenge of the sith, titanic, and the fault in our stars. jonathan on the other hand cries all the time at movies, sometimes at ones that he doesn’t even like.

* who gives unprompted massages

nancy, but jon is somehow more skilled at them. in the s3 finale she comes up behind him and cuddles him and squeezes her face int his back. that’s the closest thing we’re gonna get in canon.

* who fusses over the other when they’re sick

jonathan is the FUSSIEST boy when it comes to taking care of other people. EVERYTHING simply must be perfect for thems.

* who gets jealous easiest

they’re both very assured and stable in their relationship but i can see nancy being Worried sometimes when she’s too deep in her self-deprecation bc she’s had a shit week and nothing seems to be making her feel happy anymore and yeah she gets like that sometimes but jonathan would NEVER do anything to hurt her and he’d never even entertain the idea of abandoning her like that

* who has the most embarrassing taste in music

jonathan. yeah. he ain’t embarrassed tho. he loves himself he says emo rights he’s amazing.

* who collects something unusual

both!!! nancy likes to pick up spare screws, jonathan likes to pick up pretty pebble. they’ve done these things since they were kids.

* who takes the longest to get ready

not to be a cliché but nancy. look jon can be a bit slobby at times aight so he just finds the closest soft (ideally clean) clothes he can find and shoves them on. nancy prefers to take her time with her make-up and hair bc a bitch HAS to slay

* who is the most tidy and organised

nancy. we see her room is organised and clean and all Perfect and shit. jonathan on the other hand has books and clothes on the floor.

* who gets most excited about the holidays

oof it’s a tie tbh. in canon nancy LOVES halloween, inviting jonathan to the party and saying ‘you can’t spend halloween night all alone!!!’ or something along those lines AND she dressed up as a character from risky business. Jonathan adores xmas, i mean look at his face in s1 when will talks about one of his presents being an atari and he’s taking pictures of joyce and her “so runny!!!” potatoes and the byers have their adorable lil christmas tree all decked out and—i’m a mess

* who is the big spoon/little spoon

jonathan is the big spoon. nancy is the lil spoon.

* who gets most competitive when playing games and/or sports

don’t play monopoly with nancy. she can get Mean when she wants to. jonathan gets super into boardgames but he’s not gonna be a sore winner unlike SOME 👀

* who starts the most arguments

honestly like in s3, I feel like they start and end mutually

* who suggests that they buy a pet

surprisingly (or maybe not) jonathan!!!! we know that he LOVES small animals i.e the rat and the rabbit that l*nnie made him shoot plus there’s the “i’m a fan of thumper!!!” line so yeah that leads to him saying once nancy got home one day “i have good news and bad news. bad news is we’re gonna have to go to the pet store bc we’re out of carrots. good news is we have a new son!!” it’s a bunny he found by the side of the road and they name him thumper OBVIOUSLY

* what couple traditions they have

everyone has agreed upon movie nights, sorted by genre (like i said nancy is Very Organised) bc they decided to follow up w/ the byers family night traditions – so maybe it’s not technically a “couple’s” tradition but they’re a couple and its a tradition soooooo

* what tv shows they watch together

nancy is a golden girls stan. need i day more?

* what other couple they hang out with

this shouldn’t be as tough of a question as it is but idk i just like everyone bein all happy and in love plus i am a sucker for makin all my faves bi so i would say stali for the staloncy rights but i also would love for steve and robin and to be besties with jancy is s4!!!!!

* how they spend time together as a couple

like. all the time. i mean that’s quite literally canon

* who made the first move

i still can’t believe that jonathan kissed her first but he DID and i stan him

* who brings flowers home

jonathan would hand-pick them from the park bc fuck capitalism he is NOT gonna spend 8 bucks for a few flowers that won’t even look right he wants to make sure that those flowers are the Right colour and look Rights together

* who is the best cook

jonathan bc the bitch NEVER stops cooking!!!!! he makes breakfast every day!!!!!! he doesn’t critique joyce’s cooking bc he knows that it’s gonna be delicious he knows!!!!!!!! u better believe that bitch makes muffins every saturday like clockwork and they taste DELICIOUS!!!!!!!!!!

[harryimaginedstories]

A lucky Man

Hi friends! Hope you enjoy this blogmas story.  Summary: Y/N is frustrated because what on earth is there she could get the man who seemingly already has everything?

Request: Yes.

The picture is truly the loveliest sight I’ve seen in a while.

 Annoyance was a heavy weight in my chest and I slapped my laptop shut, without pausing first to close the dozen taps I’d browsed in vain. Absolutely and frustratingly in vain.

Plenty of magazines lay on the table before me, some of the printed items were circled and others crossed out, but even the few I’d marked weren’t ones I really believed could make a good present for him. And besides, shopping off of magazines seemed very old school and who knew how long it would take to arrive anyway? But there was nothing I liked online either. I sighed, let my head fall back and my eyes shut. For fuck’s sake. Christmas shouldn’t be so difficult. There was a dull ache at the back of my brain, clearly due to staring at a screen for hours with no end as the certainty that this year’s winner of the ‘worst girlfriend ever’ prize would be me, pulled me under a wave of disappointment. I knew I was mostly at fault for my stress, since Harry didn’t worry too much about presents and what he would receive. As a child he’d stayed up all through the night before Christmas with the excitement making his tummy sick, and once he’d been allowed he’d opened the biggest of his presents first and with a wide smile on his chubby cheeks.  But with growing older and becoming an adult that excitement lessened and transformed into another kind: He became a giver himself. He loved to buy and then decorate thoughtful gifts for his friends and family members, spent hours to write and draw little cards for each of them, and cared hardly at all about what he’d get in return. Since late November Harry was busy getting presents (several for each of the people he loved) and he had most of them wrapped and ready by now. Me on the other hand? Not quite. I had a couple small presents for my family, and even those still needed to be wrapped, but none for his mom and sister or my friends yet. And most importantly: I didn’t have Harry’s gift yet either. And that was the one that was seemingly the hardest to find. Just as I was about to bang my head against the wooden table the door to my flat opened and shut with a heavy thud. Footsteps were heard, somebody’s shoes were kicked off and soon Harry’s playful voice called for me. “Honey, I’m home!” He snickered at the joke and my heart warmed. I turned to see him walk towards me and reached out my arms as an invitation for a hug. “Oh, darling,” he chuckled and I sighed happily when my face pressed to his stomach while his arms secured themselves around my shoulders. He smelled really nice and the fabric of his warm jumper was comfortable against my cheek. I’d missed him more than I’d realized, and it hadn’t been more than three hours since we’d spoken on the phone. “You okay?” I shrugged and shook my head against his tummy. “Christmas is annoying.” Harry squeezed my back to him before releasing me gently and pulling out a chair to sit down by my side. His eyes drifted to the magazines on the table before he turned to look at me, bearing a confused expression.  The back of his hand caressed my cheek. “What’s all this about, love?” “Can’t tell you,” I groaned. My head leaned into his palm and I reached out to hold his free hand in mine, finding comfort in the simplicity to have my boyfriend near, especially since he was gone so often. Our fingers intertwined and he smiled when I turned to look at the rings decorating most of them, the metal warm against my skin after he’d been wearing them all day. “Why can’t you tell me?” He wasn’t worried, we were talking about a couple magazines laying around after all, but he didn’t quite like me not telling him what was going on. Normally I always did and often Harry would pride himself for knowing absolutely everything about his girlfriend. I raised his hand to my lips and gave it a soft kiss. “Because you’re my boyfriend,” I hummed against his knuckles, “And that’s kind of a problem.” Taken out of context the words would’ve hurt him, but the smile I wore soothed and chased away and doubt. “But m’not only your boyfriend,” Harry argued with a small frown on his lovely face. I knew what he meant and I wanted to tell him though when I turned to stare at the useless magazines and my shut laptop, all the disappointed in myself rushed back. It wasn’t the smartest move on my part to wait until now with looking for a present, but to be fair I was pretty busy. That and... well, I’d known that looking for something would take forever and be difficult, something I tried to both avoid and eventually forget. My eyes found his again and I giggled when he made a big deal to turn his body and face mine, giving me his undivided attention. The white shirt he wore suited him almost ridiculously well and my heart fluttered at how cuddly and hot at the same time he somehow managed to look. Bastard. “Tell me,” he insisted and I batted away the hand that reached out to pinch my nose. I giggled at him whining and squeezed the fingers I was still holding on to tightly.  “Okay, fine,” I gave in, ”But only because you’re right and you’re not just my boyfriend but also my best friend and it may sound silly but if you want me to spill you’ll have to be just my best friend for a minute.” The pink lips I loved so much, parted with feigned shock. “Are you saying you’re breaking up with me? Over magazines?” “Shut up.” “I mean,” he continued and I grinned when he visibly swallowed the chuckle fighting to leave his throat, “how insane is it that magazines can now even come between relationships as serious as ours?” I shook my head and let go of his hand so I could cross my arms over my chest. “You’re not funny.” The wide grin decorating Harry’s face forced me to smile as well. “Fine,” Harry agreed, sitting up straighter, “M’just your friend then.” “Good.” Oddly enough the moment he agreed to be friends, if only for the moment and mainly as a joke, the urge to kiss him, an urge I had to deal with at all times anyway, grew stronger. I pulled up my knees and brought them to my chest. How I survived months being just a friend of this gorgeous man I will never understand. “Tell me, bestie,” he giggled and I regretted my proposition the moment I noticed the cheeky sparkle in his eyes, the sparkle of a new joke he’d just come up with, “Would you say your current boyfriend is the best you’ve ever had?” “Fuck’s sake Harry!” He laughed. “What? We always used to have chats like this!” “And I recall you hating it and ending most of them with advising me to break off whatever I had going on with a guy.” “’Course and now you know why,” he grinned, “‘cause I knew I’d give it to you far better than any of those wankers you were wasting your time with.” “Fine, you know what? Now I’m not telling you shit.” I got up to move the magazines and my laptop out of the way and walked towards the kitchen. Harry’s loud huff made me smile. “Fine, fine!” his socked feet followed me to where I stood by the counter, preparing two cups of tea for us, “Promise I’ll stop messing around and listen to what you have to say. M’curious. What are you holding those at me for?” “They’re two different kinds of tea. Pick one.” His finger tapped the right box I’d held in front of his face. “Okay,” I began with a sigh and moved to prepare water, “Listen. You’re going to find it ridiculous and probably stupid, too, but I’m really struggling, Harry.”  “With what?” he wondered, brows knotted. The faint desperation in my tone had apparently gotten his attention after all. My kitchen felt awfully small as I moved under his watchful gaze. “I can’t find a present that would be prefect and thoughtful enough to be something my beloved boyfriend deserves.” His expression was priceless. First the cheekiness drained from his orbs, then the smile fell. “You’re shitting me.” I knew the next joke or cheeky comment practically begged to roll of his tongue, but it seemed that Harry noticed the tension in my shoulders and how I nervously played with the tips of my fingers. He reached out and touched my arm over the counter between us. “Y/N, that’s the silliest thing you could possibly worry about,” he insisted calmly. “It’s not,” I complained, “You have everything, don’t you? And if you don’t then you can easily just go and get it yourself... there’s like- nothing that I could get you that’s half as special or perfect as what I know you have ready to give to me.” Without saying anything, Harry got to his feet and walked over to stand by my side. He filled half his cup with cold tap water before holding it out for me to pour some of the freshly cooked in it as well. “I see where you’re coming from” he began, leaning his body against the counter, “I don’t agree, but I get it.” “I browsed the internet for ages,” I went on, relieved to finally spill my frustration to someone, “spent all of yesterday in shopping malls and found absolutely nothing! Not even the magazines have something I think you would like and I... I’m embarrassed. Because the few things I did find that you might enjoy are in those expensive stores you always go to and I couldn’t possibly afford any of them, even if I were to sell a kidney for it.” “Wouldn’t want you to go that far,” Harry chuckled, though I could tell by his tone that my worry didn’t leave him unmoved. Silence fell over us again and I waited with an uncomfortable weight at the bottom of my stomach for what he had to say next.  After a few minutes of us staring at each other, Harry nudged my hip with his playfully. “I love you a lot.” A cooing noise left my mouth and this time it was him who batted my hand away as I reached out to pinch his cheek. “Shut up,” he laughed, “What I mean is that it truly doesn’t matter if you get me something small or nothing at all. I know you think m’just saying that to be humble, and to be honest sometimes I am, but with you I mean it. Genuinely. And that’s not ‘cause I agree that I already have everything I want because of my money, or that I could go get whatever whenever, but because I have had everything I want every since you agreed to let me be with you everyday. You’re my girlfriend, at least usually you are, and that’s the greatest gift of all.” And there went the waterworks. A muffled “Oh, Harry!” left my mouth before I shakily set the cup in my hand down and instead wrapped both arms around his shoulders. My sudden affection came as a surprise to him and he tried to stop the tears from wetting my cheeks by kissing the skin of my neck and embracing my hips tightly. “I love you so much,” I murmured, the lump in my throat making it difficult to speak properly. “Good,” he breathed, “S’that mean we can stop playing ‘just friends’ so I can kiss my girlfriend again.” “Yes,” I whined and hot lips found his jaw, “Of course. You’re the sweetest guy in the world, you really are.” His mouth ghosted over my mouth before he let his nose nudge mine. My hand reached to the back of his head and he moaned lowly, before finally leaning in to kiss me. Our lips moved quickly and with an urgency that made it feel as if we had been parted for more than either of us could bear. I held on to his curls and pressed my body against his, the familiar smell of his skin making me dizzy. The affirmation of his love for me made every inch of my body tingle with warmth and by the way he deepened the kiss and moaned my name I knew he felt it, too. A small giggle filled the room when his hands first tickled my sides and then moved to grab my bum.  I blushed bright red and broke away laughing. “Harry! Stop!” His chuckle followed and I moved my neck to make room for his face to nuzzle into the warmth. “You really don’t have to worry, baby. M’happy with a card or something. S’long as I got you to hold like this, m’a lucky man.” Even though I still didn’t have a clue what I would eventually place under the tree for him, the honesty in his voice soothed my worries. He deserved something good, something special and more than just a ‘you’re my girlfriend and now I’m happy forever’ kind of thing. I tightened my hold around his neck. “You’re the only guy I know who changes from a pain in the arse to the best boyfriend there is, inner seconds.” “Well, m’special, aren’t I?” “I still want to get you something, though.” And luckily I did find something in the end. I took Harry’s promise that he was grateful to be with me everyday, that he loved me and that he was happy ever since I agreed to be his, and got him the one thing that would ensure we’d be together for most of next year. I wrapped the airplane ticket that would allow me to fly out and then accompany him for most of his upcoming tour in golden paper, while he watched with a soft smile. It was when I lay it next to his neatly wrapped gifts that for the first time in years the same sense of excitement cursed through his veins and made his tummy flutter as it had when he was a kid.  He couldn’t wait to open that present, even though it wasn’t the biggest one under the tree.

Hope you enjoyed this!  I have a similar story about his the same problem but it’s his birthday right here: You’re My Favorite ( it’s not my favorite though and not very well written) 

Also: Masterlist 

And: Christmas Harry

[pebble-xo]

if you could ship your favourite mutuals with any exo member, who would it be and why??? xxx

i think i've done this before but since i don't tag my asks, we'll never know :D this is tricky because the majority of my friends on here are chanyeol bias and although he is tall, there is only one chanyeol so i might break a few hearts with my suggestions firstly i'm pairing myself with sehun, we are husband and wife so it's only right. end of story. next question.next i'm going to pair baekhyun with becky @hentaibbh because if i don't, she might come for me in my sleep (but truthfully behind her hoe exterior, i know she has a big heart and it's all for baek so it's a good match)and for jongin, i have to pair him with anastasia, @whosexo i mean this would just be the best looking couple in the world and they'd be so soft together and i know jongin would shower her with love which is what my bestie deserves.ok for chanyeol, i'm pairing him with kat @bread-jinie maybe because i've been writing a little chanyeol oneshot for her because they really do share a lot in common and i truly believe that if the pair met in real life, they would fall in love easily because their personalities are so compatible.for jongdae, i have to gift him my creativity master, @kollectionn because c really deserves all the love and i know jongdae can give it to her. i know with him she'll be able to come home after a long day at work and he would be there to make all her stress go away. and sure he'd whine and tease her but he would also be so kind and caring in the smallest but most meaningful ways, like buying her warm socks in the winter and giving her a glass of water when she's working hard so she doesn't forget to stay hydrated (jesus, this just made me so soft)next is kyungsoo but i can't decide whether to pair him with @yeolology or @nunchiwrites because both would love him with all of their big hearts. and kyungsoo would love them both back, like he'd make them a little packed lunch and leave a small love note with all the words he struggles to say.for our leader, junmyeon i think i'd pair him with kim @changseobbing because i think she could definitely show him a good time. and he'd try to impress her with all of his best jokes (which are obviously terrible and probably from the inside of a christmas cracker) and by the end of the night kim would just be laughing out of embarrassment.i'd like to pair minseok with courtney @yeollieollie because i think she deserves a lot of love and minseok would most certainly give it. he'd try and get her attention by acting all cute and when she told him she was busy, he'd stomp off and go and clean something. oh and for some reason i think there would be a lot of kissing with minseok, not like making out kissing (although there would be that too) but little dotting kisses, on the nose or the back of the hand or on the top of the head (ugh this is too cute)and finally for yixing, i'd pair him with kae @pikayeollie because he'd bring pure sunshine to kae's life and it's only what she deserves. and he'd always ask to adopt cute little pets and send her pictures of himself with random animals like 'can we get a rabbit?' or 'can we get a sheep?'disclaimer: i'm writing this on my tablet so excuse any spelling mistakes or any weird formatting xo

[uberniftacular]

ODDS

1: when you have cereal, do you have more milk than cereal or more cereal than milk?

About equal? I think it probably works out to being more cereal than milk volume-wise, but it’s not like I measure it?

3: what random objects do you use to bookmark your books?

I mostly don’t use random things as bookmarks, actually. I’m very rarely reading more than one book at a time, and I’ve got a leather bookmark I’ve had for probably 20 years by now that’s what I always use. If I’m reading something else and that bookmark is in use already, then generally whatever envelope or receipt is closest.

5: are you self-conscious of your smile?

Not particularly, unless I’ve been eating spinach recently.

7: do you name your plants?

I don’t have plants (but I don’t think I’d name them if I did have them).

9: do you like singing/humming to yourself?

All the damn time.

11: what's an inner joke you have with your friends?

“Neurons in party hats!”

13: what's something that made you smile today?

My cat dozing off next to me.

15: go google a weird space fact and tell us what it is!

Honestly I got bored before I found one weird enough to be worth telling, so instead I present to you: DUDE, NO EDGE.

17: what color do you really want to dye your hair?

Purple! And conveniently, I’m a grown-ass adult, so I have actually been doing exactly that for well over a year now.

19: do you keep a journal? what do you write/draw/ in it?

Nope. I’ve tried on and off over the years, but mostly I get a few days/pages in and then get either super bored or super distracted, so I give up.

21: talk about your favorite bag, the one that's been to hell and back with you and that you love to pieces.

I don’t honestly think I have a favorite bag. *shrugs*

23: what's your favorite thing to do on lazy days where you have 0 obligations?

INTERNET. FOREVER.

25: what's the weirdest place you've ever broken into?

That’s making the assumption that I’ve ever broken into a place, which as a matter of fact, I have not.

27: what's your favorite bubblegum flavor?

I don’t actually chew gum.

29: what's something really cute that one of your friends does and is totally endearing?

A couple of my friends have basically their own accent that they speak in, but mostly only to each other, and it’s really super cute.

31: what is your opinion of socks? do you like wearing weird socks? do you sleep with socks? do you confine yourself to white sock hell? really, just talk about socks.

TALL SOCK LIFE IS BEST LIFE. Y’all, I recently acquired a pair of rainbow thigh-high socks and they’re fucking awesome. I love patterns on socks in general, though I confine myself to white-cotton-sock hell when I’m working out.

33: what's your fave pastry?

ALL OF THEM. OMG, pastry is the goddamn best.

35: do you like stationary and pretty pens and so on? do you use them often?

I love pretty pens and office supplies in general, but I very rarely actually use them.

37: do you like keeping your room messy or clean?

Clean, mostly so that I can actually find things and also not trip over anything (well, besides the cats) when I have to get up in the middle of the night to pee.

39: what color do you wear the most?

Purple or red, probably. I also wear a ton of black, but just because it goes with everything.

41: what's the last book you remember really, really loving?

Basically everything Tamora Pierce has ever written, really.

43: who was the last person you gazed at the stars with?

Hmm. Probably my bestie, E, if I had to guess. I don’t spend a lot of time stargazing.

45: do you trust your instincts a lot?

Sure.

47: what food do you think should be banned from the universe?

Jalapenos. I JUST WANT TO EAT GUACAMOLE WITHOUT BURNING MY FACE OFF GODFUCKINGDAMNIT.

49: do you like buying CDs and records? what was the last one you bought?

I haven’t bought a physical CD in YEARS. The most recent one was...probably one of Hank Green’s albums, and that would’ve been like 4 years ago. (Well, that’s the most recent on purpose one anyway. My ticket to Kesha’s tour this fall came with a copy of the album, so that’s the most recent CD I’ve *acquired*.)

51: think of a person. what song do you associate with them?

Within Temptation’s “Aquarius” for my husband.

53: have you ever watched the rocky horror picture show? heathers? beetlejuice? pulp fiction? what do you think of them?

I think Heathers is the only one of those I haven’t seen, but I’ve only seen each of the others once, and I don’t think I was particularly impressed by any of them.

55: what's the most dramatic thing you've ever done to prove a point?

I have absolutely no idea, tbh.

57: go listen to bohemian rhapsody. how did it make you feel? did you dramatically reenact the lyrics?

I genuinely don’t have the energy for Bohemian Rhapsody right now. Because it *requires* a full sing-along, and I’m just not capable of that today.

59: what's your favorite myth?

Hades and Persephone, probably.

61: what's the stupidest gift you've ever given? the stupidest one you've ever received?

I honestly can’t remember the stupidest gift I’ve given (unless you count the cringe-worthy ones I gave to crushes in high school, but we’re not talking about those). And as for stupidest I’ve received, it wasn’t *intended* to be a stupid gift, but a year or two ago I was given a Loki dress for Christmas or something and LIKE SERIOUSLY, YOU HAVE MERCH FOR LITERALLY ALL THE AVENGERS AND YOU GIVE ME FUCKING LOKI?

63: are you fussy about your books and music? do you keep them meticulously organized or kinda leave them be?

I’m pretty organized about them.

65: is there anyone you haven't seen in a long time who you'd love to hang out with?

@the-wordbutler!

67: how do gloomy days where the sky is dark and the world is misty make you feel?

Tired

69: what are your favorite board games?

Mysterium, Dixit, Castle Panic, Discworld: Ankh-Morpork. And, while not technically a board game, CodeNames.

71: what's your favorite kind of tea?

I don’t drink tea

73: what are some of your worst habits?

Avoiding shit that makes me sad or uncomfortable even if I need to deal with it

75: tell us about your pets!

I have 2 cats! Girlcat is a calico who’s a little over 8 years old; we basically got her as a wedding present (a bridesmaid’s cat had kittens the day before our wedding, and she was like “hey you want one?” and we were like YES KITTY). She’s mostly antisocial except when I’m sitting at my desk and she’ll tap me on the arm to ask me for pettings. Boycat is an orange tabby who was a rescue, so we don’t know exactly old he is, but we’ve had him for 3 years and at the time they estimated he was about 10. He has exactly 0 teeth and is the most talkative cat I’ve ever met.

77: pink or yellow lemonade?

Both!

79: what's one of the cutest things someone has ever done for you?

Back when we were dating, in high school, hubby gave me a rose at school. There was another one on my car’s windshield at the end of the day, and he was waiting with the rest of the dozen on my porch when I got home. I think that was Valentine’s Day? But it may have been asking-me-to-prom, I don’t actually remember.

81: describe one of your friend's eyes using the most abstract imagery you can think of.

Hey, here’s a thing I really don’t have the brainpower for right now.

83: what's some of your favorite album art?

I honestly can’t think of any off the top of my head. Album art isn’t something I pay a lot of attention to most of the time.

85: do you read comics? what are your faves?

I wish I did, but I have a lot of trouble parsing them a lot of the time.

87: what are some movies you think everyone should watch at least once in their lives?

Wonder Woman! The first Harry Potter film. Um. I honestly don’t know.

89: are you close to your parents?

Reasonably, though less so now than I used to be.

91: where do you plan on traveling this year?

Gonna go visit my little sister in Ireland!

93: what's the hairstyle you wear the most?

It’s in a bob so honestly I don’t do anything with it ever, just try to make sure it’s clean and combed.

95: what are your plans for this weekend?

This weekend is almost over already, so let’s talk about the upcoming weekend! I’m finally going to see Last Jedi on Saturday with a group of friends, and then Sunday and Monday, @snarkasaurus and @vagabondsandconventgirls are coming over and we’re going to spend like 48 hours watching movies and eating gallons of spaghetti.

97: myer briggs type, zodiac sign, and hogwarts house?

IDGAF, Pisces, and Hufflepuff!

99: list some songs that resonate to your soul whenever you hear them.

I answered this one already!

[xxmudcakexx]

#Living with MONSTA X# Part 10

Plot: When your mother decided for you to move to your father in South Korea, you got the most dangerous job. It wasn’t planned for it all to be like this, but when your father had to leave for 5 months, you had to take his job together with a substitute. Your chores was to live together with a boyband which you didn’t know about until the day came. All you knew was that he worked in the KPOP industry. And with the top of that, you had to live with your ultimate favourite group. But a girl in the dorm? Alone? Alone with 7 guys? That was the day it all started. The day you came to hell

Genre: FLUFF/ANGST

Words: 3660

Pairing: Minhyuk | Reader

Authors Note: Merry Christmas!  I hope you like this Chapter ~ / Author ”Anonymous”

We wish you a Merry Christmas We wish you a Merry Christmas We wish you a Merry Christmas And a happy New Year.

You was walking down the street with the classical Christmas music in the background. They even had a Christmas choir who sang in English and not in Korean. You were surprised, but still not as surprised as you thought you would be. With the foreigners working at Lotte World, Everland and other places, you were kind of used to it by now. But with the traditional Korean culture.. It was a moment of astonishing.

”Mother, I want a pony for Christmas” a young girl said to her mother. Her mother looked at her while laughing warmly, something you missed a lot. Your mother was a warm person when you were younger, but after divorcing your father she became this working lady with high place in the company.

”Father, I want to be a K-pop idol” a young boy said to his dad. You smiled for yourself as you thought of how you were as young, when you and your father walked down the street in Seoul. You were always pointing at the young girls who showed up on the screen where you told him that you wanted to be like Spice Girls.

You walked to the store and got what you wanted. As you moved towards the cashier, something or someone caught your attention. You looked closely and saw your best friend Hoseok looking at a chocolate sculpture of the Frozen character ”Olaf”. You saw him shaking his head before leaving the store. You smiled for yourself as you picked it up. You bought everything and walked out off the store to find him. He turned towards a coffee shop and you followed him.

”Hoseok” you said. He turned around and looked at you with a tired expression before lighting up. You smiled as you walked closer. He laughed and pulled his arms around you, giving you a warm Christmas hug.

”What are you doing?” he asked. You showed up your plastic bag full of food and stuff. He nodded as he smiled at you, making you blush by the eyes he had. You looked up at him not saying anything before you came back to the present.

”Oh eh what I was going to ask you was if you wanted to have coffee? Or are you going back to the others directly?” you asked.

”I have 15 min on me before I have to be back in that house over there” he said pointing a house nearby. Your smile grew as you took his arm.

”Let’s go to the coffee shop nearby, just for some minutes! I want to ask you something” you said.

He smiled and walked with you to the coffee shop. You ordered hot chocolate for both of you and while waiting you looked at him. He looked back at you making you look away quickly.

”What’s wrong?” he asked.

”Nothing” you mumbled. You took the chocolate and gave him his. You walked out of the shop together and the snow was finally falling down. You looked at it with a smile.

”Can you stop being so beautiful?” he suddenly asked. You looked up at him and laughed at him.

”I could ask you the same thing. You’re way too handsome today”

You met his gaze and he smiled with his whole heart. You laughed and pulled him closer so you could get warmer. You walked slowly towards the house where the others were probably sleeping.

”So you wanted me something?” he asked.

”Mh do you know what Minhyuk wants for Christmas?”

”Shouldn’t you know that with you being his girlfriend and all?” he asked laughing. You sighed and looked at the snowflakes who gathered in a beautiful dance with the wind. He stopped laughing.

”You don’t really know him do you?”

”Hoseok.. I know him, he’s a really social guy as you know. But he’s not that opened that everyone believes he is. He never tells me what he loved as a kid, how he was before the fame. He just talks about what he wants to do now” you said looking at the snow.

”Ask him”

”It’s too late for that”

”He loves cucumbers” Hoseok said with a big smile. You looked at him in a ”u serious?” look. He laughed and pointed at an old store filled with snow globes and other stuff. You looked at it and then at him.

”He told me when we walked here earlier today that he wanted one of these, with your picture in it beside an angel. And they make snow globes with pictures in it” he said. You smiled and looked at him.

”Thank you Hoseok.. ”

”No problem bestie”

”I love you, you know that right?”

”I love you too” he said and gave you a hug before leaving you alone outside of the glasses to the old store.

You looked at the snow globes and other stuff in the window before an old man caught you looking. He waved his hand at you and you smiled and walked into the store.

”Welcome” he greeted.

”Thank you, I have a question.. Can you help me with making a snow globe?” you asked. He laughed a cute old laugh and walked to the a table. He told with his hand for you to sit down and you did while he sat down infront of you.

”What do you want me to make for you Miss?”

”I just came back to Korea yesterday, so I hadn’t have time to buy something for my boyfriend.. But a friend of mine told me that he wished for…” you started, but he cut you off.

”A snow globe with your picture and an angel beside?” he asked. You looked at him quite surprised and nodded slowly.

”How did you know?”

”I heard him this morning” he said. You smiled and looked at the glass window with the snow globes.

”Is it possible?”

”Yes it is. He was standing there for ten minutes with his eyes locked on them, like he was a kid. His friends had to drag him away. And with this beautiful lady walking in here, I can’t say no” he said. You laughed a little and looked down at the table.

”Do you have a picture of you?”

”I would actually like it to be a picture of me and him, because it’s a memory that I want him to remember” you said as you showed him a picture from the roof the night you became a couple. He smiled looking at it before connecting it to the machine that fixed the picture. You looked at him doing everything piece by piece. He opened a snow globe and fixed some snow, with an guardian angel beside the picture. You looked at everything with eyes bigger than anything else.

”Wow.. You’re so good at this..”

”My mother did the same thing when she was in your age, so I became like her.. ”

”Do you have kids?” you asked. He smiled and showed you a picture of his four kids. You smiled looking at it.

”Do you want kids?” he asked. You nodded and smiled for yourself.

”Someday, especially with him. He’s great with kids and wow.. Why am I dreaming about this?” you asked while laughing a little. He laughed with you and fixed the last part.

”It’s not something weird. You’re getting older, and he’s getting older. It’s time for you to become a family” he said as he gave you the snow globe. You looked at it with blessed eyes before turning your eyes to him.

”He’s an idol.. So it’s not possible for now. But wow.. Thank you so much. How much?” you asked.

”No, I’ll give you it for free. You held me company in this lonely place. Just promise me that you will try your best with making a family together with that boy. He seems to be wanting it too. Those eyes of his looked like a man who longed for a family with a house and kids” he said with his eyes on you. You looked at him and smiled. He packed everything into a Christmas gift with you writing the card.

”Merry Christmas Mr…?”

”Mr Claus” he said and did the usual ’ho ho ho’. You laughed and smiled at him once again.

”Thank you Santa Claus and a great Merry Christmas to you and your family” you said. You left the shop and waved your hand at him before walking to the subway. You went to shop the rest of the Christmas gifts for the boys. With the heavy stuff you called your father and asked him to drive you home and to buy a Christmas Tree to decorate.

”This day was way too exhausting than it was supposed to be” Kihyun whined as he entered the hall. You lit up the Christmas tree and other decorations in the dark as you sat lit the candles on the table filled with food. You sat down infront of the Christmas tree with the red dress. You at how everyone entered the apartment with their eyes getting bigger by the decorations everywhere. They walked into the living room and saw the table filled with food and at last you infront of the Christmas tree. You pushed the play button on your phone as Christmas songs started to play.

”Wow.. You made all of this?” Kihyun asked shocked. You nodded and looked at everyone who stared at it. You stood up and showed them the Christmas gifts under the tree. Their eyes went banana big.

”Y..You bought us gifts?” Hyunwoo asked. You laughed and nodded.

”Sit down please! It’s time to eat dinner, and father.. Please join us today!” you said to your father. Everyone laughed and sat down infront of the food. You looked at their hungry eyes and smiled for yourself. You didn’t know how long it had been since they celebrated a Christmas like this or if they ever did it.

”Angelina.. You’re amazing” jooheon said getting all sensitive. You smiled and looked at him and then at everyone else who tried to hide their tears.

”Guys, eat before it gets cold” you demanded. Everyone started to eat and you looked at them. You  stood up and fixed some coke to everyone. You walked to each one and gave them a glass, and the moment you came to Minhyuk you felt his hand on yours. You looked down on him and could clearly see a light in his eyes that you’d never seen before. You smiled at him and kissed him on the head.  

”Does it taste good?” you asked them. They didn’t answer as they were eating quietly with their minds on the food only. You smiled and walked over to your father who had a light in his eyes too, a light you hadn’t seen since you were young.

”Thank you for making this for them” he whispered. You looked at him.

”It’s been a while right?”

”You made 7 exhausted boys get glimpse in their eyes tonight. Can’t you stay with them forever? This is exactly what they need” he said. You smiled and sat down on your seat again.

”I want to make a toast for welcoming you this beautiful Christmas Eve. I just want you guys to know how much you mean to me. Both as a Monbebe and friend, I want you to know that you’re amazing guys who I never want to leave. Guys who lights up my darkest day turning them into a day filled with colours. So thank you” you said. Everyone looked at you before making a toast filled with laughter and smiles.

”The time has come where Santa Claus is joining us” you said pointing at the door where your father walked in with the costume. Everyone clapped their hands. He sat down and started to give out the gifts. The smiles on their faces were a blessed thing for you.

”Thank you and Merry Christmas” he said before walking out again. You walked to the door and gave your father the biggest hug you could ask for.

”What’s that for?” he asked.

”Thank you for acting as Santa, and also for bringing me to these beautiful people. I just want you to know that. I love you father” you said. He smiled at you and kissed your forehead before giving you a Christmas gift. You looked at him concerned, but a secret smile fell on your lips.

”What’s this for?”

”Your my daughter.. It’s time for a gift without a letter with money in it, don’t you think?” he asked. You hugged him once again and whispered.

”Look in the back of the van, a gift is there hiding just for you”

He said his goodbyes and you locked the door before walking back to the boys. They looked at you and one by one was starting to open their gifts. Everyone got an outfit from you, but also a different gift with personal stuff.

”You seriously gave me a plushie with music in it?” Hyunwoo asked laughing. You nodded and laughed.

”It looked like you, like the eyes” you said. He smiled big and you thought about how he had been speaking more often lately.

”THE NEWEST FIFA” Hoseok screamed and stood up from his seat attacking you with hugs. You laughed and hugged him.

”Eyy that’s what friends do” you said. You looked at Kihyun who was next up. He looked at the gift with shocked eyes before opening it.  You had your eyes on him the whole time, and suddenly a big smile appeared.

”Lego.. Plushie.. Wow a neck massager” he said with a smile that made your eyes getting watery. You tried to not show it and turned your eyes to the others. You noticed how someone was touching you from behind making you jump.

”Sorry” Minhyuk whispered. He sat down behind you hugging you while his head was resting on your shoulder. You looked up at him and then at the younger guys who opened their gifts.

”I GOT TV GAMES! YES FINALLY” Jooheon screamed. You laughed at his reaction together with Minhyuk who had the urge to comment it.

”Ey chill down kid. Santa might take it back with all your screaming” he said trying to act like a father. You thought about it once again put his hand on your stomach. He looked down at you clapped it lightly kissing you softly on the head.

”Little baby, how are you doing?” he asked making you giggle. You smiled and turned your eyes to Hyungwon.

”Wah clothes.. Really nice clothes” he said. You smiled and turned your eyes to your other best friend Changkyun who already had his eyes on you quite mysteriously.

”What’s this?” he asked.

”That’s what we call a Christmas gift” Minhyuk said with a funny voice. You laughed and Changkyun rolled his eyes at him before opening it. It was books and a cup to his coffee. The books was science, fiction and facts. He looked at you and had a shocked expression.

”Really? You got me science books.. and this fiction book that I’ve been wishing for since forever.. and seriously facts about MONSTA X?” he asked making everyone laugh. You laughed and hid your face in Minhyuks bosom. Everyone laughed and started to deal with their Christmas gift while Minhyuk hadn’t opened his.

”What about you?” you asked. He smiled and looked down at your hands.

”I’m doing it when we’re alone. I have something to ask you” he whispered. You looked at him and stood up from your seat.

”We’re going up to the roof” he said. You held his hand and followed him up to the roof with the gift in your hand. The decorations were welcoming you as you walked out. You looked at it and smiled for yourself. You noticed how red roses were making a a way towards something. You looked at him quite confused.

”What’s this?” you asked.

”Oh wait, I forgot something! Walk to the end and wait there, okay?” he said. You nodded and watched him leave before you walked towards the end. The instrumental version of ’White Love’ was playing and you looked around. You found the end and waited there while looking at the stars. You heard a sound and looked around, but didn’t see anything. You looked up again while drawing the big dipper on the sky.

”Is it beautiful?” a voice asked. You looked back and saw Minhyuk, but with a different outfit. The outfit that you were weak of seeing. A black suit was seen and you stared his looks and gulped by how handsome he was. You blushed and looked at him getting closer. Suddenly he gave you red roses. You stared at them and then at him. He laughed a little while seeing your face.

”What’s this?” you asked.

”Hmm.. you’ll never know” he said.

Suddenly the music to ’White Love’ got higher and the other boys showed up from nowhere with microphones and started to sing. You stared and looked back at Minhyuk who smirked.

”What have you done?” you asked him. He smiled put the flowers away before walked even closer and taking your hands.

”I’ve decided to do something extremely weird and probably stupid, at least for you. But we’ve been a couple for about one year and some weeks, and I don’t see a life without you. So..” he started and got down on one knee as he opened the box in his hand. You stared at him shocked and put your hands over your mouth.

”Do you want to marry me?” he asked. You stared at him and then at the other boys and including your father who stood some meters away. He nodded his head and you looked back at Minhyuk with tears streaming down.

”Yes… Yes” you exclaimed. He stood up and you hugged him while crying. He laughed and put the ring on your finger. You could tears on his cheeks too and you smiled before he got a microphone, him too. The end was coming in the song and your favourite was coming. He started to sing the Chorus and you cried while watching him and the others.

”Merry Christmas” everyone said. You looked at them still in shock.

”How are you going to tell your fans?” you asked. You looked at Minhyuk who stared at the view. He looked at you before he looked back at the view.

”I will call them for a personal meeting, where I could tell them eye to eye before rumours are starting to spread. I know that the hate and everything will be there, but it’s better if I do it in the same room with them without them paying for a ticket where I could tell them the truth” he said. You smiled and leaned against his shoulder.

”You’ve been thinking about this..”

”Mhm.. for a quite a while”

”Oh you forgot your gift” you said and gave him it. He laughed and opened it as you walked down to the apartment. He stared at the snow globe and tears were slowly fall down his face.

”Y..You bought me a snow globe? I’ve been dreaming of getting one with you…” he started before he stared at it. You smiled with a proud smile.

”Exactly as your dream?”

”It’s better..” he said while crying. You gave him a kiss and looked at the snow globe.

”I heard that you were looking at the snow globes in the glass window”

”Which window?” he asked confused. You looked at him.

”The old shop near the shop some blocks away from here. It was right beside your photoshoot place” you said. He looked at you confused.

”I didn’t see a shop there..”

You laughed a little and looked out at the view.

”Hoseok clearly told me that you had been outside telling him how you wanted one, even the old man in the store said that..”

”What are you talking about?” he asked. You looked at him confused and walked into the apartment. The guys were in the living room and you walked into the room and showed Hoseok the snow globe.

”Look” you said.

”Beautiful” he said with a smile.

”She said something about me standing outside a shop wishing for it, but I haven’t been infront of one” Minhyuk said confused.

”I met Hoseok today after I bought the Christmas gifts.. We walked towards the photoshoot when I asked him what Minhyuk wished for and he told me…” you started.

”I haven’t met you today” Hoseok said confused. You looked at him confused.

”Stop playing around”

”I’m sure, we’ve been in Ansan all day” he said. You shook your head confused.

”No, we will walk there and I’ll show you” you said. Everyone walked to the place where the shop was supposed to be. There were no shops with snow globes and you stared it.

”I’m sure at it was in this street. You had your photoshoot in there and there was the shop” you said.

”Are you okay? There’s no shop and we haven’t been here today. We met first when I got home” Hoseok said. You looked at them all confused.

”Btw.. Hoseok.. you were almost buying this in the store” you said and gave him the Olaf chocolate.

”I’VE BEEN WANTING THIS FOR WEEKS! THANK YOU! HOW DID YOU KNOW?!” he screamed all excited.

”You were in there earlier today before I met you and looked at it”

”Angelina, I haven’t been there today. I promise.. No one of us has been here today”

You looked at everyone confused.

”But the shop was there” you whispered.

[24hourchampagnediet-blog1]

What to see and do at The Big E when you only have a day - News - The Bulletin

New Post has been published on https://bestrawfoodrecipes.com/what-to-see-and-do-at-the-big-e-when-you-only-have-a-day-news-the-bulletin/

What to see and do at The Big E when you only have a day - News - The Bulletin

Most people in New England start thinking about pumpkin spice and apple picking as soon as the calendar flips to September. For me, Labor Day weekend and back to school means one thing: the Big E is almost here.

As a Western Mass. native, I grew up going to the Big E, otherwise known as The Eastern States Exposition, a huge 2-and-a-half week fair featuring everything from carnival rides and games to the latest and greatest gizmos, with a smattering of agricultural presentations, giant pumpkins, musical performances, a Mardi Gras parade and lots and lots of food. Like, a lot.

The Big E runs daily, Friday through Sept. 29. One day usually isn’t enough to take it all in, so if you aren’t making a weekend of it, let me tell you how I — a professional Big E attendee who has gone just about every year for the past 25 years or so – make my way through the fairgrounds so you can get the best Big E experience possible.

GETTING THERE

Be prepared. You will walk all day, so wear comfortable shoes. It’s often chilly in the morning and again when the sun goes down but is often blazing hot in between, so wear layers and bring sunblock. Leave your heavy purse at home. Instead, carry a light crossbody bag or a backpack. You’ll want something to carry your stuff in but you’ll want your hands free to juggle a drink in one hand, a cheese sample in the other. Or, you might get a free tote along the way in which to carry your sweater and purchases.

Leave early. Really early. Seriously. Traffic getting in as the morning progresses and after lunch is awful. I try to get there by 9 a.m. Gates open at 8 a.m. but most things don’t open until 10 a.m. Don’t worry, I’ll tell you how to spend that time in a bit.

Parking. I get there early and just park in the official main lot, at Gate 9. Cash only, $10. You’ll see unofficial parking leading up to, past and in the neighborhoods around Gate 9. Don’t park far away in the cheaper lots – you’ll regret it after you have to walk all the way back after being on your feet all day. Also, don’t get lured into a closer, pricier lot. If you get there as early as I suggest, you’ll get a spot close enough to the fairgrounds entrance in the main lot that paying double elsewhere isn’t worth it.

Tickets. Buy tickets online or at a Big Y supermarket for a couple dollars cheaper than at the gate, plus you skip what is sometimes a long ticket line at the gate. You can buy a pass if you plan on going a few times. At the gate, tickets cost $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 6-12, free for children 5 and younger.

YOU MADE IT! NOW WHAT?

Eat breakfast. If you entered through Gate 9, you’ll walk into a section with swimming pool sales and a wine barn that feeds into an intersection where every which way, all you see is food. Resist the urge; besides, these stands probably aren’t open yet. Head straight, past the food, past a music stage and coliseum, bear right onto Hampden Avenue and head to the fire station on the right. If you entered elsewhere, ask where to find the West Springfield Fire House. Here you will find a delicious breakfast platter, offering eggs the way you like them, bacon, toast, breakfast potatoes, coffee and juice. There are other options. The line will look long but moves pretty quickly. Plus, you get to sit while you eat. This may be the last time you sit all day. One of my goddaughters doesn’t like anything there and always runs over to The Donut Family stand to get mini doughnuts. She really likes their new cinn-a-roll mini doughnuts, covered in cinnamon cream cheese icing and topped with whipped cream. Yup, it’s going to be that kind of day. Check your Keto diet at the gate.

Get thee to the state buildings. The Avenue of States, as it is officially known, features buildings representing each of the six New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. To this day, I know if a state is in New England by remembering if it has a state building here. The Big E may happen in Mass., but the fair is very good about representing all of New England. Take a look at the calendar to find out which day your state will be celebrated. Anyway, the state buildings feature goods, services and tourist information from each state. And you’ll want to get there early because starting around lunchtime, it can feel like a cattle herd walking around there. I think technically you’re supposed to start in Rhode Island and make your way down, but I do it the opposite direction because New Hampshire is the first state building you hit after the fire station. Everyone has their favorite must-have food in each building. For me, it’s maple cream in a tiny ice cream cone from Vermont, a cup of perfect raspberries from Massachusetts (a friend can’t leave there without a piece of eggy Finnish pancake with syrup), kettle corn from either New Hampshire or Connecticut, depends on when I’m in the mood, and a potato from Danny’s Little Taste of Texas’ Smoke House Grill, between the Connecticut and New Hampshire buildings. Take it from me, this potato is superior to the one people wait hours in line for in the Maine building. I think Maine’s is smaller and the toppings aren’t as good as Danny’s. Only problem is, others have caught on and the lines have grown the past two years to the point where it probably needs to relocate. Worth it though.

Time to get your craft on. I like homemade, crafty, unique things. So after touring the state buildings, I head across the street to Storrowtown Village, which features some historical buildings and often has family-friendly performances on the common which draw a big crowd. Behind that area, I check out the Craft Common. I don’t often buy the crafty things I see at the Big E because sometimes they’re a bit overpriced, but I like to look. You can find all sorts of great gifts and things you won’t find anywhere else, so if you like to get your Christmas shopping out of the way, bring some cash or a credit card. Lots of vendors will hold your items, especially heavy, bigger ones, for you to pick up before you go. Otherwise, plan wisely. You don’t want to carry a big candle or an awkward lawn ornament around for 10 hours. The Craft Common also features an item I used to get every year but stopped a while back – a giant pickle out of a barrel. Try one if you need something salty by now.

Get your puff on. It’s hard to know if you’ll be hungry at this point; it depends on how much you ate through the state buildings. But if there’s room in your stomach, now is the time to try the Big E’s famous cream puff, found in the New England Center, just beyond the Craft Common. This year, they’ll even dip it in ganache. How this wasn’t a thing before is beyond me. You can find a whole list of new food offered this year here: https://www.thebige.com/p/food/newfoods.

THE REST OF THE FAIR

If you’re with kids. You’ll probably want to head to the back of the fairgrounds where the midway is, featuring tons of rides and games. There is a separate section for rides for small kids. At night, the midway looks like a Friday night at the mall, full of teens, so best to bring little kids earlier. You’ll also find a stand featuring all things battered and deep fried back here. I like the fried Oreos and Fluffernutter. Be sure you have a couple of people willing to share it with you though. You’ve been warned. After you’ve had your fill of rides or run out of ride tickets, there are lots of animals to check out. Head to the Mallary Complex in the corner of the fairgrounds to check out farm animals, a milking parlor and a big ol’ sculpture of something different every year made entirely out of – ready for this? – butter. Or across from the fried food stand you’ll find the Stroh Building, featuring Farm-A-Rama. People love to gather around a big closed-in area where baby chicks are hatching to see which one might pop out next. There’s a table in here that often offers apples for free. Sometimes I grab one to feel healthy. Marvel at the ginormous Clydesdale horses. If you don’t see them in their stall, you might catch them in the Mardi Gras parade that goes around the entire fairgrounds every day at 5 p.m. Be ready for that thing, because it closes down the streets for a little while. And watch out for strands of beads getting thrown from the floats.

If you’re not with kids. There are some years I don’t even walk through the midway because I’m not with children. Instead, I head over to the Better Living Center and the Young Building. Both feature booth after booth of random things, lots of them of the “As Seen on TV” persuasion. You’ll find the latest mop, vegetable peeler, Vitamix, you name it. There’s seasoning to make dips, powders to make frozen drinks, beef jerky and hot sauces. There’s clothes and stuff for the house. Bring your patience with you, because by now it will likely be busy in there. And hot.

Be a kid again. The Giant Slide is out the back of the Better Living Center, if you came in from the entrance facing the coliseum building (by the way, if you’re into horses or just want to get off your feet and out of the sun, then check out the shows inside the coliseum throughout the day). If you can walk up all the stairs, then go down the slide. It’s only a few bucks, the line moves pretty quickly and it’s the funnest 10 seconds of your life, especially if you’re holding hands with your bestie or your child. Take a selfie as you go.

TIME FOR DINNER

Get something meaty. Chances are, you’ve been nibbling all day, but by now, you’re probably hungry for something a little more substantial. There are lots of options around you, including a place in front of the Better Living Center that offers huge steak sandwiches that a friend of mine can’t leave the Big E without eating. In case you think you haven’t consumed enough calories yet, around the corner, at the Big E-Z Cafe, you can get a bacon cheeseburger between two halves of a glazed doughnut. I’ve had a bite; it’s better than you think. A family friend works at the corn dog stand – last year it was closer to the Mallary Complex – if you want one. Can you go to a fair without getting a corn dog? There’s also a beer garden over there. And if you didn’t get deep-fried-fill-in-the-blank before, now’s your chance.

WRAP IT UP

You’re exhausted. There’s still lots of things you can check out, and if you have the energy, by all means, explore. But chances are, it’s getting dark, it’s a little chilly, your feet are throbbing and your wallet is empty. Time to circle back and collect anything you bought and had held or to buy the things you weren’t sure about earlier but want to pull the trigger on now. Then you have to take that long walk back to your car. But you’ll remember that deep-fried pineapple upside down cake on a stick you just ate and will be grateful to get a few more steps in. You’ll have a mental list of all the things you’ll want to see and do again next year and what things you missed that you want to make sure you see next time. Then, start marking the calendar until next September.

Source link Keto Diet Drinks

[fuckyeahtattoogirls-blog1]

What to see and do at The Big E when you only have a day - News - The Bulletin

New Post has been published on https://bestrawfoodrecipes.com/what-to-see-and-do-at-the-big-e-when-you-only-have-a-day-news-the-bulletin/

What to see and do at The Big E when you only have a day - News - The Bulletin

Most people in New England start thinking about pumpkin spice and apple picking as soon as the calendar flips to September. For me, Labor Day weekend and back to school means one thing: the Big E is almost here.

As a Western Mass. native, I grew up going to the Big E, otherwise known as The Eastern States Exposition, a huge 2-and-a-half week fair featuring everything from carnival rides and games to the latest and greatest gizmos, with a smattering of agricultural presentations, giant pumpkins, musical performances, a Mardi Gras parade and lots and lots of food. Like, a lot.

The Big E runs daily, Friday through Sept. 29. One day usually isn’t enough to take it all in, so if you aren’t making a weekend of it, let me tell you how I — a professional Big E attendee who has gone just about every year for the past 25 years or so – make my way through the fairgrounds so you can get the best Big E experience possible.

GETTING THERE

Be prepared. You will walk all day, so wear comfortable shoes. It’s often chilly in the morning and again when the sun goes down but is often blazing hot in between, so wear layers and bring sunblock. Leave your heavy purse at home. Instead, carry a light crossbody bag or a backpack. You’ll want something to carry your stuff in but you’ll want your hands free to juggle a drink in one hand, a cheese sample in the other. Or, you might get a free tote along the way in which to carry your sweater and purchases.

Leave early. Really early. Seriously. Traffic getting in as the morning progresses and after lunch is awful. I try to get there by 9 a.m. Gates open at 8 a.m. but most things don’t open until 10 a.m. Don’t worry, I’ll tell you how to spend that time in a bit.

Parking. I get there early and just park in the official main lot, at Gate 9. Cash only, $10. You’ll see unofficial parking leading up to, past and in the neighborhoods around Gate 9. Don’t park far away in the cheaper lots – you’ll regret it after you have to walk all the way back after being on your feet all day. Also, don’t get lured into a closer, pricier lot. If you get there as early as I suggest, you’ll get a spot close enough to the fairgrounds entrance in the main lot that paying double elsewhere isn’t worth it.

Tickets. Buy tickets online or at a Big Y supermarket for a couple dollars cheaper than at the gate, plus you skip what is sometimes a long ticket line at the gate. You can buy a pass if you plan on going a few times. At the gate, tickets cost $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 6-12, free for children 5 and younger.

YOU MADE IT! NOW WHAT?

Eat breakfast. If you entered through Gate 9, you’ll walk into a section with swimming pool sales and a wine barn that feeds into an intersection where every which way, all you see is food. Resist the urge; besides, these stands probably aren’t open yet. Head straight, past the food, past a music stage and coliseum, bear right onto Hampden Avenue and head to the fire station on the right. If you entered elsewhere, ask where to find the West Springfield Fire House. Here you will find a delicious breakfast platter, offering eggs the way you like them, bacon, toast, breakfast potatoes, coffee and juice. There are other options. The line will look long but moves pretty quickly. Plus, you get to sit while you eat. This may be the last time you sit all day. One of my goddaughters doesn’t like anything there and always runs over to The Donut Family stand to get mini doughnuts. She really likes their new cinn-a-roll mini doughnuts, covered in cinnamon cream cheese icing and topped with whipped cream. Yup, it’s going to be that kind of day. Check your Keto diet at the gate.

Get thee to the state buildings. The Avenue of States, as it is officially known, features buildings representing each of the six New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. To this day, I know if a state is in New England by remembering if it has a state building here. The Big E may happen in Mass., but the fair is very good about representing all of New England. Take a look at the calendar to find out which day your state will be celebrated. Anyway, the state buildings feature goods, services and tourist information from each state. And you’ll want to get there early because starting around lunchtime, it can feel like a cattle herd walking around there. I think technically you’re supposed to start in Rhode Island and make your way down, but I do it the opposite direction because New Hampshire is the first state building you hit after the fire station. Everyone has their favorite must-have food in each building. For me, it’s maple cream in a tiny ice cream cone from Vermont, a cup of perfect raspberries from Massachusetts (a friend can’t leave there without a piece of eggy Finnish pancake with syrup), kettle corn from either New Hampshire or Connecticut, depends on when I’m in the mood, and a potato from Danny’s Little Taste of Texas’ Smoke House Grill, between the Connecticut and New Hampshire buildings. Take it from me, this potato is superior to the one people wait hours in line for in the Maine building. I think Maine’s is smaller and the toppings aren’t as good as Danny’s. Only problem is, others have caught on and the lines have grown the past two years to the point where it probably needs to relocate. Worth it though.

Time to get your craft on. I like homemade, crafty, unique things. So after touring the state buildings, I head across the street to Storrowtown Village, which features some historical buildings and often has family-friendly performances on the common which draw a big crowd. Behind that area, I check out the Craft Common. I don’t often buy the crafty things I see at the Big E because sometimes they’re a bit overpriced, but I like to look. You can find all sorts of great gifts and things you won’t find anywhere else, so if you like to get your Christmas shopping out of the way, bring some cash or a credit card. Lots of vendors will hold your items, especially heavy, bigger ones, for you to pick up before you go. Otherwise, plan wisely. You don’t want to carry a big candle or an awkward lawn ornament around for 10 hours. The Craft Common also features an item I used to get every year but stopped a while back – a giant pickle out of a barrel. Try one if you need something salty by now.

Get your puff on. It’s hard to know if you’ll be hungry at this point; it depends on how much you ate through the state buildings. But if there’s room in your stomach, now is the time to try the Big E’s famous cream puff, found in the New England Center, just beyond the Craft Common. This year, they’ll even dip it in ganache. How this wasn’t a thing before is beyond me. You can find a whole list of new food offered this year here: https://www.thebige.com/p/food/newfoods.

THE REST OF THE FAIR

If you’re with kids. You’ll probably want to head to the back of the fairgrounds where the midway is, featuring tons of rides and games. There is a separate section for rides for small kids. At night, the midway looks like a Friday night at the mall, full of teens, so best to bring little kids earlier. You’ll also find a stand featuring all things battered and deep fried back here. I like the fried Oreos and Fluffernutter. Be sure you have a couple of people willing to share it with you though. You’ve been warned. After you’ve had your fill of rides or run out of ride tickets, there are lots of animals to check out. Head to the Mallary Complex in the corner of the fairgrounds to check out farm animals, a milking parlor and a big ol’ sculpture of something different every year made entirely out of – ready for this? – butter. Or across from the fried food stand you’ll find the Stroh Building, featuring Farm-A-Rama. People love to gather around a big closed-in area where baby chicks are hatching to see which one might pop out next. There’s a table in here that often offers apples for free. Sometimes I grab one to feel healthy. Marvel at the ginormous Clydesdale horses. If you don’t see them in their stall, you might catch them in the Mardi Gras parade that goes around the entire fairgrounds every day at 5 p.m. Be ready for that thing, because it closes down the streets for a little while. And watch out for strands of beads getting thrown from the floats.

If you’re not with kids. There are some years I don’t even walk through the midway because I’m not with children. Instead, I head over to the Better Living Center and the Young Building. Both feature booth after booth of random things, lots of them of the “As Seen on TV” persuasion. You’ll find the latest mop, vegetable peeler, Vitamix, you name it. There’s seasoning to make dips, powders to make frozen drinks, beef jerky and hot sauces. There’s clothes and stuff for the house. Bring your patience with you, because by now it will likely be busy in there. And hot.

Be a kid again. The Giant Slide is out the back of the Better Living Center, if you came in from the entrance facing the coliseum building (by the way, if you’re into horses or just want to get off your feet and out of the sun, then check out the shows inside the coliseum throughout the day). If you can walk up all the stairs, then go down the slide. It’s only a few bucks, the line moves pretty quickly and it’s the funnest 10 seconds of your life, especially if you’re holding hands with your bestie or your child. Take a selfie as you go.

TIME FOR DINNER

Get something meaty. Chances are, you’ve been nibbling all day, but by now, you’re probably hungry for something a little more substantial. There are lots of options around you, including a place in front of the Better Living Center that offers huge steak sandwiches that a friend of mine can’t leave the Big E without eating. In case you think you haven’t consumed enough calories yet, around the corner, at the Big E-Z Cafe, you can get a bacon cheeseburger between two halves of a glazed doughnut. I’ve had a bite; it’s better than you think. A family friend works at the corn dog stand – last year it was closer to the Mallary Complex – if you want one. Can you go to a fair without getting a corn dog? There’s also a beer garden over there. And if you didn’t get deep-fried-fill-in-the-blank before, now’s your chance.

WRAP IT UP

You’re exhausted. There’s still lots of things you can check out, and if you have the energy, by all means, explore. But chances are, it’s getting dark, it’s a little chilly, your feet are throbbing and your wallet is empty. Time to circle back and collect anything you bought and had held or to buy the things you weren’t sure about earlier but want to pull the trigger on now. Then you have to take that long walk back to your car. But you’ll remember that deep-fried pineapple upside down cake on a stick you just ate and will be grateful to get a few more steps in. You’ll have a mental list of all the things you’ll want to see and do again next year and what things you missed that you want to make sure you see next time. Then, start marking the calendar until next September.

Source link Keto Diet Drinks

[trendingnewsb]

11 Gifts For People Who’d Definitely Rather Be Sleeping Than Exchanging Presents

Have you ever noticed that finding the perfect gifts for people who love to sleep is almost too easy? You know the friend we’re referring to here, don’t you? She’s easily the sleeping beauty of your squad who just #CantEven with Monday through Friday mornings. She’s the BFF who you wouldn’t blink twice at if you saw her shooting coffee through an IV to get her through 8 a.m. seminars and late nights at the office. Any gift that has to do with her bedroom, nighttime wardrobe, or a wind-down routine is one she’s going to be grateful for because, for her, sleep is life, and she can’t get enough of it (who can?).

Plus, if you think about it, a better night’s sleep is just one of those things everyone appreciates, but rarely gets enough of. Just because your giftee might be lazing in bed late into the morning doesn’t necessarily mean they’re getting the quality sleep the average human needs to function. In fact, if your friend is clocking in over six to eight hours of sleep every night, their bodies might be trying to overcompensate for a lack of a good rest. Therefore, as far as I see it, the most generous gift you can give them is an accessory or two to either a) better their space or b) prepare their body properly for sleep. Here are a few ideas to help you get the job done.

1A Sleek Sleep-Tracking Watch

wesoo

Wesoo K1 Fitness Watch and Sleep Monitor, $29.99, Amazon

Fitness trackers are still a thriving trend in wearable tech, but have you noticed this one major upgrade recent models have installed in their machinery?

According to a new report issued by the sleep experts at Sleep Cycle, Americans’ sleep quality has decreased by 10 percent from 2016 to 2017 (ouch). I have a hunch that this might be why technology brands are issuing trackers that not only count your steps and calories burned, but that also monitor your sleep quality metrics.

Wesoo’s band is a bestseller on Amazon with a 4.5 star rating and unique sleep design that truly does it all.

2Their New Nightcap

Lipton

Lipton Herbal Supplement Bedtime Bliss, $4.38, Walmart

Obviously, your girl has to switch to decaf eventually if she ever wants to fall asleep.

Remind her by gifting this doze-inducing sip from Lipton that combines chamomile leaves, mint, and orange peels to ease you into a comfortable sleep state “like a lullaby in a cup.” Slip a Barnes & Noble gift card in her holiday card, and you’ve just set her up for the sweetest of dreams.

3A Comfy Pair Of PJs

Adore Me

Sleepwear Set in Christyna, $19.95, Adore Me

I cannot be the only person obsessed with cozy, holiday-themed pajamas. This season, Adore Me has expanded their merchandise with a ton of his-and-her styles to choose from, but the Christyna style is hands down my favorite of them all.

For some reason, black, white, and red plaid just looks like pure Christmas to me. Plus, the set is made stretchy for optimal comfort and with cotton for all the snuggly feels.

4An Aromatic Bath Bomb

Lush USA

The Big Sleep Jelly Bomb, $8.95, LUSH USA

If your giftee religiously takes baths before slipping into something comfy and hopping into bed, Lush’s newest sleep-inducing bomb is about to be her new favorite bathroom accessory. It’s the perfect formula to relax her body and mind, as notes of lavender, neroli, and chamomile fragrances transform her tub into an aromatic soak.

5A Soft Blanket To Snuggle Under

Bed Bath & Beyond

Madison Park Ruched Faux-Fur Throw, $39.99, Bed Bath & Beyond

Who couldn’t use a gigantic throw blanket to hibernate in throughout the winter months?

Madison Park’s blanket is made from 100 percent faux-fur, features micro-fur for extra warmth on those freezing nights, and it’s also huge enough to share, so maybe she can finally stop hogging the covers when you sleep over.

6An Overnight Mask To Enhance Their Beauty Sleep

Too Cool For School

Too Cool For School Pumpkin Sleeping Pack, $20, Sephora

Beauty sleep isn’t a myth, ladies. When you sleep better, you feel better, and when you good, you good. See how that works?

Chances are, your sleepy friend likely clocks in the recommended six to eight hours of sleep every night, which means her skin is probably glowing, but there’s always room for improvement, right?

Too Cool For School’s overnight mask will enhance her skin’s recovery cycle with superfood ingredients and natural enzymes. Plus, it smells like pumpkin, and I can’t imagine a better way to fall asleep than with the scent of pie all around you.

7An Artistic Diffuser

Saje Natural Wellness

Aromaart High Tide Ultrasonic Diffuser, $84.95, Saje

Essential oils for sleep are super trendy right now, but it doesn’t look like the fad is fading anytime soon. Trust me, I’m not the type to talk up the trends if I haven’t done the research myself, and diffusers are a must for bedroom.

TBH, diffusers can be super ugly and cheap-looking, but this Saje model is the prettiest piece of functional decor I’ve ever seen. The beautiful pattern was designed by San Francisco artist Heather Day, and was inspired by the healing powers of the deep, blue sea. So much zen, so many aromas to lull your giftee to sleep.

8A Soothing Candle

Primal Elements

Primal Elements Tahitian Vanilla Two Wick Color Bowl Candle, $19.90, Amazon

Doesn’t this candle look good enough to eat? I can guarantee my 9-year-old niece had no idea just how lovely this candle was going to make my apartment smell when she gifted it to my husband and me last Christmas, but this decadent display is still burning bright, and veiling our home with the scent of sweet vanilla 12 months later.

You don’t necessarily need essential oils to practice aromatherapy, and if your bestie has a sweet tooth, this yummy-scented candle from Primal Elements will have her dreaming of sugar plum fairies year round (not kidding, it’s good for 60 hours of burn time).

9Go Old School With This Digital Alarm Clock

Peakeep

Peakeep Battery Digital Alarm Clock, $12.99, Amazon

I don’t have to tell you that smartphones are low-key ruining our lives, especially in the bedroom (and no, I’m not referring to your libido). No matter how much a person sleeps, the blue light that shines from your cell phone is messing with your sleep cycle, but what’s a girl to do when her only means of an alarm is via smartphone?

Be the best friend you are and buy your sleeping beauty a digital alarm clock. This old school model from Peakeep has a snooze option, so she can squeeze in a few extra minutes of shut-eye if and when she wants. It’s also a “smart nighttime clock,” which means it has sensory lights that turn a subtle blue at night.

10A Sleepy Supplement

Sun Potion

Sun Potion Organic Ashwagandha Powder, $36.99, iHerb

Adaptogens like ashwagandha are another social media trend that’s actually making a difference in how people are sleeping. This is definitely the perfect gift for anyone who you know has wanted to try adaptogens for themselves, but couldn’t commit to the pricy purchase.  

Trust me, I recently put Alaina Sullivan’s moon milk recipe for Bon Appétit to the test when I was tossing and turning through an awful couple of nights, and I was genuinely impressed by just how relaxed I felt by adding ashwagandha to my nightcap. Your giftee will love the combination of the powder’s sleep and overall health benefits.

11Slippers They Can Sleep In

Out From Under

Out From Under Scruffy Slipper Sock, $16, Urban Outfitters

If your BFF takes a lot of heat for wearing slippers to bed, offering a pair of Out From Under’s scruffy slipper socks tells them you’re on their side (or, at the very least, won’t judge them for it).

I’m a fan of this creamy-colored pair, specifically because they’re subtle enough to wear with roomy Uggs on really cold days.

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[ralphmorgan-blog1]

11 Gifts For People Who’d Definitely Rather Be Sleeping Than Exchanging Presents

Have you ever noticed that finding the perfect gifts for people who love to sleep is almost too easy? You know the friend we’re referring to here, don't you? She’s easily the sleeping beauty of your squad who just #CantEven with Monday through Friday mornings. She's the BFF who you wouldn't blink twice at if you saw her shooting coffee through an IV to get her through 8 a.m. seminars and late nights at the office. Any gift that has to do with her bedroom, nighttime wardrobe, or a wind-down routine is one she's going to be grateful for because, for her, sleep is life, and she can’t get enough of it (who can?).

Plus, if you think about it, a better night's sleep is just one of those things everyone appreciates, but rarely gets enough of. Just because your giftee might be lazing in bed late into the morning doesn't necessarily mean they're getting the quality sleep the average human needs to function. In fact, if your friend is clocking in over six to eight hours of sleep every night, their bodies might be trying to overcompensate for a lack of a good rest. Therefore, as far as I see it, the most generous gift you can give them is an accessory or two to either a) better their space or b) prepare their body properly for sleep. Here are a few ideas to help you get the job done.

1A Sleek Sleep-Tracking Watch

wesoo

Wesoo K1 Fitness Watch and Sleep Monitor, $29.99, Amazon

Fitness trackers are still a thriving trend in wearable tech, but have you noticed this one major upgrade recent models have installed in their machinery?

According to a new report issued by the sleep experts at Sleep Cycle, Americans' sleep quality has decreased by 10 percent from 2016 to 2017 (ouch). I have a hunch that this might be why technology brands are issuing trackers that not only count your steps and calories burned, but that also monitor your sleep quality metrics.

Wesoo's band is a bestseller on Amazon with a 4.5 star rating and unique sleep design that truly does it all.

2Their New Nightcap

Lipton

Lipton Herbal Supplement Bedtime Bliss, $4.38, Walmart

Obviously, your girl has to switch to decaf eventually if she ever wants to fall asleep.

Remind her by gifting this doze-inducing sip from Lipton that combines chamomile leaves, mint, and orange peels to ease you into a comfortable sleep state "like a lullaby in a cup." Slip a Barnes & Noble gift card in her holiday card, and you've just set her up for the sweetest of dreams.

3A Comfy Pair Of PJs

Adore Me

Sleepwear Set in Christyna, $19.95, Adore Me

I cannot be the only person obsessed with cozy, holiday-themed pajamas. This season, Adore Me has expanded their merchandise with a ton of his-and-her styles to choose from, but the Christyna style is hands down my favorite of them all.

For some reason, black, white, and red plaid just looks like pure Christmas to me. Plus, the set is made stretchy for optimal comfort and with cotton for all the snuggly feels.

4An Aromatic Bath Bomb

Lush USA

The Big Sleep Jelly Bomb, $8.95, LUSH USA

If your giftee religiously takes baths before slipping into something comfy and hopping into bed, Lush's newest sleep-inducing bomb is about to be her new favorite bathroom accessory. It's the perfect formula to relax her body and mind, as notes of lavender, neroli, and chamomile fragrances transform her tub into an aromatic soak.

5A Soft Blanket To Snuggle Under

Bed Bath & Beyond

Madison Park Ruched Faux-Fur Throw, $39.99, Bed Bath & Beyond

Who couldn't use a gigantic throw blanket to hibernate in throughout the winter months?

Madison Park's blanket is made from 100 percent faux-fur, features micro-fur for extra warmth on those freezing nights, and it's also huge enough to share, so maybe she can finally stop hogging the covers when you sleep over.

6An Overnight Mask To Enhance Their Beauty Sleep

Too Cool For School

Too Cool For School Pumpkin Sleeping Pack, $20, Sephora

Beauty sleep isn't a myth, ladies. When you sleep better, you feel better, and when you good, you good. See how that works?

Chances are, your sleepy friend likely clocks in the recommended six to eight hours of sleep every night, which means her skin is probably glowing, but there's always room for improvement, right?

Too Cool For School's overnight mask will enhance her skin's recovery cycle with superfood ingredients and natural enzymes. Plus, it smells like pumpkin, and I can't imagine a better way to fall asleep than with the scent of pie all around you.

7An Artistic Diffuser

Saje Natural Wellness

Aromaart High Tide Ultrasonic Diffuser, $84.95, Saje

Essential oils for sleep are super trendy right now, but it doesn't look like the fad is fading anytime soon. Trust me, I'm not the type to talk up the trends if I haven't done the research myself, and diffusers are a must for bedroom.

TBH, diffusers can be super ugly and cheap-looking, but this Saje model is the prettiest piece of functional decor I've ever seen. The beautiful pattern was designed by San Francisco artist Heather Day, and was inspired by the healing powers of the deep, blue sea. So much zen, so many aromas to lull your giftee to sleep.

8A Soothing Candle

Primal Elements

Primal Elements Tahitian Vanilla Two Wick Color Bowl Candle, $19.90, Amazon

Doesn't this candle look good enough to eat? I can guarantee my 9-year-old niece had no idea just how lovely this candle was going to make my apartment smell when she gifted it to my husband and me last Christmas, but this decadent display is still burning bright, and veiling our home with the scent of sweet vanilla 12 months later.

You don't necessarily need essential oils to practice aromatherapy, and if your bestie has a sweet tooth, this yummy-scented candle from Primal Elements will have her dreaming of sugar plum fairies year round (not kidding, it's good for 60 hours of burn time).

9Go Old School With This Digital Alarm Clock

Peakeep

Peakeep Battery Digital Alarm Clock, $12.99, Amazon

I don't have to tell you that smartphones are low-key ruining our lives, especially in the bedroom (and no, I'm not referring to your libido). No matter how much a person sleeps, the blue light that shines from your cell phone is messing with your sleep cycle, but what's a girl to do when her only means of an alarm is via smartphone?

Be the best friend you are and buy your sleeping beauty a digital alarm clock. This old school model from Peakeep has a snooze option, so she can squeeze in a few extra minutes of shut-eye if and when she wants. It's also a "smart nighttime clock," which means it has sensory lights that turn a subtle blue at night.

10A Sleepy Supplement

Sun Potion

Sun Potion Organic Ashwagandha Powder, $36.99, iHerb

Adaptogens like ashwagandha are another social media trend that's actually making a difference in how people are sleeping. This is definitely the perfect gift for anyone who you know has wanted to try adaptogens for themselves, but couldn't commit to the pricy purchase.  

Trust me, I recently put Alaina Sullivan’s moon milk recipe for Bon Appétit to the test when I was tossing and turning through an awful couple of nights, and I was genuinely impressed by just how relaxed I felt by adding ashwagandha to my nightcap. Your giftee will love the combination of the powder's sleep and overall health benefits.

11Slippers They Can Sleep In

Out From Under

Out From Under Scruffy Slipper Sock, $16, Urban Outfitters

If your BFF takes a lot of heat for wearing slippers to bed, offering a pair of Out From Under's scruffy slipper socks tells them you're on their side (or, at the very least, won't judge them for it).

I'm a fan of this creamy-colored pair, specifically because they're subtle enough to wear with roomy Uggs on really cold days.

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[michelleresi82]

Man oh man, holiday is around the corner baby! I can not believe in a little over a week 2018 is here, and in just a few more days Santa comes for a visit. For those of you who don’t celebrate the same holidays that I do, I want to wish you warm winter wishes, and I hope that you and your family have a wonderful holiday season in your beautiful celebration.

On that note, I’m excited to tell you about some beauty stocking stuffers that I recommend to everyone for the holidays. These are bound to be winners in your beauty lovers stocking.  My stocking was my FAVORITE part of christmas, it was usually the first thing I opened and the best part sometimes. I loved seeing those decorative stockings hanging from the fireplace mantle, the giant needle-pointed “michelle” busting with goodies for me! So, I’ll have to admit, I might be a little more excited than you about this article.

Commodity Travel Spray

Commodity Via Sephora

Tobi Tobin Gift

Perfume is always the best gift, in my opinion. I can usually find scents that are good for everyone too, so I have the best advice for you. I like the travel sprays from Commodity, and Tobi Tobin. I find that they have chic, new age scents that work out really well on everyone. I don’t know if they have stuff in them, (because they are uni-sex) that helps mix better with everyone’s body chemistry… but they are awesome. I also really love how Tobi sends their perfumes already packed like a little present, in its amazing burlap sack.

The large Commodity scents are awesome stocking stuffers as well, especially if you already know the person you’re buying for really well. You can spend the little extra cash and get the full size. It also will take up more room in the stocking, which is a plus when filling that bad boy up!

Makeup by Clarins

Metallic and Glitter Liners by Wunder2

Dose of Colors Holibae set

Zoya Nail polish sets

Beauty lovers usually are OBSESSED with Make-up! I’m currently loving some items from Clarins, Wunder2, Dose of colors, and Zoya. Shall I tell you about them? I was a huge fan of Clarins from their skin care line, so, I was already really excited when they sent me this eyeshadow palette to try. I am OVER THE MOON for this 4 color quad, in the color Forest. The shades are buttery, pigmented, and easy to use. I think they would be good for someone who is just getting into make-up, and having a little trouble getting things to blend on the eye. I also was also really impressed with the Lip Liner, and the Red #6 is AWESOME for the holidays!

Wunder2 has a ton of amazing make-up on their site, I ordered a couple of the metallic liners, and glitter liners for the winter trends article I have coming up next week. OH MY GOD, these things are really really nice. They are super pigmented, have some serious staying power, and are really creamy. I have no use for any other liners in my drawer, these babies are it.

Dose of colors released this adorable Holibae set of liquid lipsticks that anyone is bound to love. These reds are awesome on every skin tone, and I don’t know what kind of magical stuff they put in them, but I’ve been able to wear all 3 colors with no issues.

Zoya has always been a favorite of mine when it comes to nail polish, but I just tried some of their lipsticks and I was BLOWN away. Their lipsticks are super creamy and VERY pigmented, AND they have some “So bomb” gift-sets that have the lipsticks in them as well. I bet your buddy will be pleasantly surprised when they see zoya in their stocking.

I have some last-minute odds and ends items if your beauty lover already has everything. 

Nest made some candles that are to die for! They are HUGE, and have a great burn time. These luxurious candles are festive and fun, AND bound to please anyone. I’m a huge fan of sugar cookie, probably because they are also my favorite holiday cookies!

Codeword is an amazing gift for anyone, because it’s the gift that gives back. If you have time to check that link and read up about them, definitely do that. If not, I’ll tell you anyway! So, they made baseball caps to give back to the local community. This was a way for people to invest back into the communities they call home, by getting this awesome hat you’re helping! They give 30% of profit back to the children’s hospitals that serve each area code! Isn’t that awesome?

It’s a 10 is one of the best hair brands out there. I’ve really been enjoying this anti-frizz line, and I bet you would too! I think the extra moisture is really needed in the winter time. My hair gets really bad from the house being so dry, so, getting that moisture back into my hair is really important over the colder months. I also think this really helps with the static!

Strivectin is the BOMB when it comes to skin care. I got a couple of things for my winter articles coming up “All About Acid”, and my skin has never looked better. I love the gentle acids that they have, and the hyaluronic acid treatment that they have is unreal! They really are the authority of skin care over there, and I believe they know what they are doing. I think the gift of good skin is something you cannot put a price tag on, and I bet your bestie would love it.

I hope this helps you on your last-minute stocking ideas. What are you guys gonna get? Whatever you do, I hope you have a wonderful Holiday. Happy holidays from my family to yours.

Beauty Stocking Stuffers: The Swoons Edition Man oh man, holiday is around the corner baby! I can not believe in a little over a week 2018 is here, and in just a few more days Santa comes for a visit.

[consulting-celiac-in-the-tardis]

13 Experience-Based Christmas Gifts for Loved Ones with a Chronic Illness

New blog post! Have friends or family who are living with chronic illness? Want to give them a Christmas gift that they’ll actually use and enjoy? Then this 2017 Holiday Gift Guide is exactly what you need!

In recent years, my family has shifted from giving material goods to experience gifts. Not only do experience gifts mean we often end up enjoying the present together (like with a family vacation), but giving experience gifts can be especially smart when you have loved ones with chronic illness. After all, whether your loved ones have fibromyalgia, celiac disease or another chronic disease, your biggest wish is probably to make coping with chronic illness a little easier. That's where these 13 Christmas gifts come in.

Keep reading to discover what experience gifts may not fit under the tree but definitely belong on this year's Christmas shopping list!

1. A gift card to their favorite massage therapist. 

We all know that stress isn't healthy; in fact, research shows that 43 percent of adults experience health issues related to stress. When you have a chronic illness like fibromyalgia, though, stress can be even more harmful, triggering everything from bad headaches to muscle knots to full-on fibromyalgia flare ups. Keeping all of this in mind, a gift card to your loved one's favorite massage therapist (or a local massage buisness with the highest ratings) is almost guaranteed to trigger a smile on Christmas morning. Who knows? Maybe they'll enjoy their massage so much, you'll be invited to join sometime!

2. “A Get Out of Jail Free” Card

Looking for a cheap DIY Christmas gift that any chronic illness warrior will appreciate? Make them a cute card saying that they can give you (or reference) this card at any time, and you’ll help with whatever they need, no questions asked. If your friend has fibromyalgia, maybe they'll use this card to cancel your epic plans without going into the details of their fibromyalgia flare up. Or, if your loved one has celiac disease like me, maybe this card will be their way of asking you to pick up some safe, gluten free comfort food after they’ve been glutened.

Hopefully, you’re willing to offer this kind of help and support even without a “Get Out of Jail” free card in play. However, giving someone a little reminder that you care and are always willing to help can make Christmas a little more magical. 

3. Cooking classes! 

If you have a friend or family member who recently needed to change their diet for medical reasons, why not give them a helping hand (correction: spatula) with a few cooking classes? Finding cooking classes for some diets can be harder than others. (I’ve only stumbled on a few celiac-safe gluten free cooking classes near me). If you're able to surprise your loved one with a culinary adventure, though, it can be a practical and fun gift. Not to mention that your giftee might thank you by cooking some of the new dishes in his or her repertoire!

4. A Netflix, Hulu or Amazon Prime subscription. 

Okay, okay. This Christmas gift is a material good, but you can’t deny that watching your favorite series (or awesome food-related documentaries like these) from the comfort of your couch is definitely an enjoyable experience. When I’m having a fibromyalgia flare up, being able to rest and distract myself with a good TV show makes the pain a lot easier to deal with. Plus, when I need to cancel epic plans with friends (like hiking to Potato Chip Rock or exploring my favorite gluten free restaurants in San Diego), bingeing my latest TV addiction with my bestie is a decent alternative!

5. A trip to their favorite allergy-friendly bakery, restaurant...or even a distant grocery store!

I’ll admit it. Sometimes my dietary limitations give me a slightly weird definition of fun. For instance, walking through Whole Foods and drooling over their new gluten free options, even if I only buy a couple? Fun! Same with eating out at my favorite gluten free restaurants (see my list here) or stopping by a delicious allergy friendly bakery. 

If your friend or family member living with chronic illness is a similarly dietarily restricted foodie, offering to join them on an edible quest across town might make their day! Heck, I’ve even heard of celiacs driving two hours out of their way to visit Aldi’s and buy some of their gluten free products...and having a blast doing it. So if that’s your loved one’s definition of fun, why not go along for the ride?

Like this post? Then tweet me some love by clicking here: "This #glutenfree #college #celiac shares her top 13 #Christmas experience gifts for loved ones with a #chronicillness. What's your fave experience gift to give or get? http://bit.ly/2AfnkAV"

6. A yoga studio membership. 

Keep in mind that yoga is not everyone’s cup of tea (or, more accurately, kind of stretch), and people living with fibromyalgia or another chronic disease are no exception. If you know that your loved one enjoys and benefits from a regular yoga practice, though, a yoga studio membership or gift card will definitely show that you care.

But what can you do if yoga isn't your loved one's thang? Find out what kind of movement (from Zumba to Pilates to riding the stationary bike at a nearby gym) works for them, and give an experience gift based on their favorite workout routine!

7. A vacation to somewhere that makes their joints happy! 

Does your loved one live somewhere that gets super cold in the winter (hellooooo from Minnesota@) and struggle with even worse joint pain as the temperature drops? Then the ultimate experience gift might be a vacation! Obviously, you can, and should, tailor your gift to your loved one’s taste and your own budget. After all, in some cases, a plane ticket to visit you or other friends/relatives in Hawaii or Arizona during the winter may be just as (or even more) appreciated than a one-way ticket to Cancun for two weeks. Depending on your relationship with the giftee, you could even make this a group vacation that lets a bunch of family members or friends relax, spend extra quality time with one another and warm up. 

8. A loaded self care kit. 

If you want to make sure your loved one is taking proper care of themselves even on bad days, why not give them a gift with all the self care tools they could ever need? Simply fill a box with whatever self care props - from their favorite chocolates and books to a playlist with relaxing music to a card saying “Call me and I’ll bring Chipotle!” - you think your loved one would enjoy. Then, when they do have a fibromyalgia flare up or a no-good-awful-very-bad day, all the comfort and TLC they need is in one place.

9. A donation to a foundation that your loved one holds especially dear.

I can't speak for everyone with a chronic illness, but I can't help but smile whenever I hear of progress being made in celiac disease or fibromyalgia research and I try to do my part to support foundations related to both of those chronic diseases. If there's a foundation that's especially close to your loved one's heart, why not give them a helping hand in supporting it? As a bonus, research has also found that there are numerous health and emotional benefits of giving. In fact, studies report that giving is associated with lower blood pressure, less depression, lower stress, longer lifespans and greater happiness overall. Talk about a win/win/win scenario!

10. A snack or meal prep subscription box. 

Another material present that doubles as an experience gift! Whether your loved one needs to follow a certain diet for their chronic illness (like I eat gluten free for my celiac disease and fibromyalgia pain) or they struggle with having enough time and energy to cook or grocery shop, food subscription boxes can make healthy (and delicious) eating a lot easier. 

Of course, I’d be remiss to not mention my favorite gluten free monthly snack box from Love with Food, and the fact that they’re hosting an awesome holiday sale: LOVE WITH FOOD HOLIDAY SALE: Get a FREE Holiday Box ($25 value) with any 6-month (or longer) plan and SAVE an EXTRA $10 on selected plans. Ends 1/1 (<-- affiliate link). However, there are plenty of amazing monthly food subscription boxes for you to choose from, no matter how or what your loved one enjoys eating. 

11. A part-time maid. 

I don’t know about other fibromyalgia warriors, but when I’m hurting, super tired and dealing with fibro fog (aka, major forgetfulness and brain fatigue), cleaning is the last thing I want to do. If you know your loved one hates cleaning (or that their joints won’t let them do deep cleaning in the bathrooms, kitchen, etc), paying for a part-time maid to visit every so often might be the most epic practical Christmas gift ever! 

12. A “remember to smile” box or binder! 

Similar to a homemade self care box, you can also throw together a memory box or binder full of photos and notes that are guaranteed to make your loved one smile. Research shows that depression is one of the most common complications in people coping with chronic illness. Turn your chronic illness warrior’s smile upside down by reminding them of all the awesome things they’ve already done and accomplished, and how loved they really are. 

How can you make a “Remember to Smile” box or binder? It’s really up to you! If you’re a scrapbooking kind of person, print and paste pictures of your epic friend/family adventures - from past vacations to important accomplishments in your loved one’s life - in a binder, along with little notes of encouragement, reflection and inspiring quotes. Not feeling that artsy? Then just throw a bunch of photos, notes, and trinkets with special memories attached (like the runner's bib from the 5K you ran together or a map of France where you vacationed) in a cute box. Any time your loved one is feeling a little down, they’ll have a box or binder full of smiles to explore!

Like this post? Then tweet me some love by clicking here: "This #glutenfree #college #celiac shares her top 13 #Christmas experience gifts for loved ones with a #chronicillness. What's your fave experience gift to give or get? http://bit.ly/2AfnkAV"

13. Judgement free time with you. 

The biggest (and perhaps even the best) experience gift you can give anyone - not just people with chronic illness - is your time. Write a note saying you’re planning on clearing your schedule every Tuesday night for a long phone call or a visit. Remind your chronic illness warrior that you don’t care if they’re having a good day or a bad one, if they need vent or celebrate small victories. You have their back no matter what, even if you sometimes don’t know what to say or can’t understand what they’re going through. 

Because when you have a chronic illness, knowing that you have friends and family who love you and your chronic disease is better than any present under the tree. 

What's your favorite experience gift that you've received or given? Tell me in the comments!

via Blogger http://ift.tt/2C0GmLT

[24hourchampagnediet-blog1]

What to see and do at The Big E when you only have a day - Entertainment & Life - MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA

New Post has been published on https://bestrawfoodrecipes.com/what-to-see-and-do-at-the-big-e-when-you-only-have-a-day-entertainment-life-metrowest-daily-news-framingham-ma/

What to see and do at The Big E when you only have a day - Entertainment & Life - MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA

Most people in New England start thinking about pumpkin spice and apple picking as soon as the calendar flips to September. For me, Labor Day weekend and back to school means one thing: the Big E is almost here.

As a Western Mass. native, I grew up going to the Big E, otherwise known as The Eastern States Exposition, a huge 2½-week fair featuring everything from carnival rides and games to the latest and greatest gizmos, with a smattering of agricultural presentations, giant pumpkins, musical performances, a Mardi Gras parade and lots and lots of food. Like, a lot.

The Big E runs daily Friday, Sept. 13 through Sunday, Sept. 29. One day usually isn’t enough to take it all in, so if you aren’t making a weekend of it, let me tell you how I — a professional Big E attendee who has gone just about every year for the past 25 years or so – make my way through the fairgrounds so you can get the best Big E experience possible!

GETTING THERE

Be prepared. You will walk all day long, so wear comfortable shoes. It’s often chilly in the morning and again when the sun goes down but is often blazing hot in between, so wear layers and bring sunblock. Leave your heavy purse at home. Instead, carry a light crossbody bag or a backpack. You’ll want something to carry your stuff in but you’ll want your hands to be free to juggle a drink in one hand, a cheese sample in the other. Or, you might get a free tote along the way in which to carry your sweater and purchases.

Leave early. Really early. Seriously. Traffic getting in as the morning progresses and after lunch is awful. I try to get there by 9 a.m. Gates open at 8 a.m. but most things don’t open until 10 a.m. Don’t worry, I’ll tell you how to spend that time in a bit.

Parking. I get there early and just park in the official main lot, at Gate 9. Cash only, $10. You’ll see unofficial parking leading up to, past and in the neighborhoods around Gate 9. Don’t park far away in the cheaper lots – you’ll regret it after you have to walk all the way back after being on your feet all day. Also, don’t get lured into a closer, pricier lot. If you get there as early as I suggest, you’ll get a spot close enough to the fairgrounds entrance in the main lot that paying double elsewhere isn’t worth it.

Tickets. Buy tickets online or at a Big Y supermarket for a couple dollars cheaper than at the gate, plus you skip what is sometimes a long ticket line at the gate. You can buy a pass if you plan on going a few times. At the gate, tickets cost $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 6-12, free for children 5 and younger.

YOU MADE IT! NOW WHAT?

Eat breakfast. If you entered through Gate 9, you’ll walk into a section with swimming pool sales and a wine barn that feeds into an intersection where every which way, all you see is food. YUM! Resist the urge, plus these stands probably aren’t open yet. Head straight, past the food, past a music stage and coliseum, bear right onto Hampden Avenue and head to the fire station on the right. If you entered elsewhere, ask where to find the West Springfield Fire House. Here you will find a delicious breakfast platter, offering eggs the way you like them, bacon, toast, breakfast potatoes, coffee and juice. There are other options. The line will look long but moves pretty quickly. Plus, you get to sit while you eat! This may be the last time you sit all day. One of my goddaughters doesn’t like anything there and always runs over to The Donut Family stand to get mini doughnuts. She really likes their new cinn-a-roll mini doughnuts, covered in cinnamon cream cheese icing and topped with whipped cream. Yup, it’s going to be one of those kind of days. Check your Keto diet at the gate.

Get thee to the state buildings. The Avenue of States, as it is officially known, features buildings representing each of the six New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. To this day, I know if a state is in New England by remembering if it has a state building here. The Big E may happen in Mass., but the fair is very good about representing all of New England. Take a look at the calendar to find out which day your state will be celebrated. Anyway, the state buildings feature goods, services and tourist information from each state. And you’ll want to get there early because starting around lunchtime, it can feel like a cattle herd walking around there. I think technically you’re supposed to start in Rhode Island and make your way down, but I do it the opposite direction because New Hampshire is the first state building you hit after the fire station. Everyone has their favorite must-have food in each building. For me, it’s maple cream in a tiny ice cream cone from Vermont, a cup of perfect raspberries from Massachusetts (a friend can’t leave there without a piece of eggy Finnish pancake with syrup), kettle corn from either New Hampshire or Connecticut, depends on when I’m in the mood, and a potato from Danny’s Little Taste of Texas’ Smoke House Grill, between the Connecticut and New Hampshire buildings. Take it from me, this potato is superior to the one people wait HOURS in line for in the Maine building. I think Maine’s is smaller and the toppings aren’t as good as Danny’s. Only problem is, others have caught on and the lines have grown the past two years to the point where it probably needs to relocate. Worth it though!

Time to get your craft on. I like homemade, crafty, unique things. So after touring the state buildings, I head across the street to Storrowtown Village, which features some historical buildings and often has family-friendly performances on the common which draw a big crowd. Behind that area, I check out the Craft Common. I don’t often buy the crafty things I see at the Big E because sometimes they’re a bit overpriced, but I like to look. You can find all sorts of great gifts and things you won’t find anywhere else, so if you like to get your Christmas shopping out of the way, bring some cash or a credit card. Lots of vendors will hold your items, especially heavy, bigger ones, for you to pick up before you go. Otherwise, plan wisely. You don’t want to carry a big candle or an awkward lawn ornament around for 10 hours. The Craft Common also features an item I used to get every year but stopped a while back – a giant pickle out of a barrel! Try one if you need something salty by now.

Get your puff on. It’s hard to know if you’ll be hungry at this point; it depends on how much you ate through the state buildings. But if there’s room in your stomach, now is the time to try the Big E’s famous cream puff, found in the New England Center, just beyond the Craft Common. This year, they’ll even dip it in ganache. How this wasn’t a thing before is beyond me! You can find a whole list of new food offered this year here: https://www.thebige.com/p/food/newfoods.

THE REST OF THE FAIR

If you’re with kids. You’ll probably want to head to the back of the fairgrounds where the midway is, featuring tons of rides and games. There is a separate section for rides for small kids. At night, the midway looks like a Friday night at the mall, full of teens, so best to bring little kids earlier. You’ll also find a stand featuring all things battered and deep fried back here. I like the fried Oreos and Fluffernutter. Be sure you have a couple of people willing to share it with you though. You’ve been warned. After you’ve had your fill of rides or run out of ride tickets, there are lots of animals to check out. Head to the Mallary Complex in the corner of the fairgrounds to check out farm animals, a milking parlor and a big ol’ sculpture of something different every year made entirely out of – ready for this? – butter! Or across from the fried food stand you’ll find the Stroh Building, featuring Farm-A-Rama. People love to gather around a big closed-in area where baby chicks are hatching to see which one might pop out next. There’s a table in here that often offers apples for free. Sometimes I grab one to feel healthy. Marvel at the ginormous Clydesdale horses. If you don’t see them in their stall, you might catch them in the Mardi Gras parade that goes around the entire fairgrounds every day at 5 p.m. Be ready for that thing, because it closes down the streets for a little while. And watch out for strands of beads getting thrown from the floats.

If you’re not with kids. There are some years I don’t even walk through the midway because I’m not with children. Instead, I head over to the Better Living Center and the Young Building. Both feature booth after booth of random things, lots of them of the “As Seen on TV” persuasion. You’ll find the latest mop, vegetable peeler, Vitamix, you name it. There’s seasoning to make dips, powders to make frozen drinks, beef jerky and hot sauces. There’s clothes and stuff for the house. Bring your patience with you, because by now it will likely be busy in there. And hot.

Be a kid again. The Giant Slide is out the back of the Better Living Center, if you came in from the entrance facing the coliseum building (by the way, if you’re into horses or just want to get off your feet and out of the sun, then check out the shows inside the coliseum throughout the day). If you can walk up all the stairs, then go down the slide. It’s only a few bucks, the line moves pretty quickly and it’s the funnest 10 seconds of your life, especially if you’re holding hands with your bestie or your child. Take a selfie as you go!

TIME FOR DINNER!

Get something meaty. Chances are, you’ve been nibbling all day, but by now, you’re probably hungry for something a little more substantial. There are lots of options around you, including a place in front of the Better Living Center that offers huge steak sandwiches that a friend of mine can’t leave the Big E without eating. In case you think you haven’t consumed enough calories yet, around the corner, at the Big E-Z Cafe, you can get a bacon cheeseburger between two halves of a glazed doughnut. I’ve had a bite; it’s better than you think. A family friend works at the corn dog stand – last year it was closer to the Mallary Complex – if you want one. Can you go to a fair without getting a corn dog? There’s also a beer garden over there. And if you didn’t get deep-fried-fill-in-the-blank before, now’s your chance.

WRAP IT UP

You’re exhausted. There’s still lots of things you can check out, and if you have the energy, by all means, explore. But chances are, it’s getting dark, it’s a little chilly, your feet are throbbing and your wallet is empty. Time to circle back and collect anything you bought and had held or to buy the things you weren’t sure about earlier but want to pull the trigger on now. Then you have to take that long walk back to your car. You swore it was closer! But you’ll remember that deep-fried pineapple upside down cake on a stick you just ate and will be grateful to get a few more steps in. You’ll have a mental list of all the things you’ll want to see and do again next year and what things you missed that you want to make sure you see next time. Then, start marking the calendar until next September!

Source link Keto Diet Drinks

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What to see and do at The Big E when you only have a day - Entertainment & Life - MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA

New Post has been published on https://bestrawfoodrecipes.com/what-to-see-and-do-at-the-big-e-when-you-only-have-a-day-entertainment-life-metrowest-daily-news-framingham-ma/

What to see and do at The Big E when you only have a day - Entertainment & Life - MetroWest Daily News, Framingham, MA

Most people in New England start thinking about pumpkin spice and apple picking as soon as the calendar flips to September. For me, Labor Day weekend and back to school means one thing: the Big E is almost here.

As a Western Mass. native, I grew up going to the Big E, otherwise known as The Eastern States Exposition, a huge 2½-week fair featuring everything from carnival rides and games to the latest and greatest gizmos, with a smattering of agricultural presentations, giant pumpkins, musical performances, a Mardi Gras parade and lots and lots of food. Like, a lot.

The Big E runs daily Friday, Sept. 13 through Sunday, Sept. 29. One day usually isn’t enough to take it all in, so if you aren’t making a weekend of it, let me tell you how I — a professional Big E attendee who has gone just about every year for the past 25 years or so – make my way through the fairgrounds so you can get the best Big E experience possible!

GETTING THERE

Be prepared. You will walk all day long, so wear comfortable shoes. It’s often chilly in the morning and again when the sun goes down but is often blazing hot in between, so wear layers and bring sunblock. Leave your heavy purse at home. Instead, carry a light crossbody bag or a backpack. You’ll want something to carry your stuff in but you’ll want your hands to be free to juggle a drink in one hand, a cheese sample in the other. Or, you might get a free tote along the way in which to carry your sweater and purchases.

Leave early. Really early. Seriously. Traffic getting in as the morning progresses and after lunch is awful. I try to get there by 9 a.m. Gates open at 8 a.m. but most things don’t open until 10 a.m. Don’t worry, I’ll tell you how to spend that time in a bit.

Parking. I get there early and just park in the official main lot, at Gate 9. Cash only, $10. You’ll see unofficial parking leading up to, past and in the neighborhoods around Gate 9. Don’t park far away in the cheaper lots – you’ll regret it after you have to walk all the way back after being on your feet all day. Also, don’t get lured into a closer, pricier lot. If you get there as early as I suggest, you’ll get a spot close enough to the fairgrounds entrance in the main lot that paying double elsewhere isn’t worth it.

Tickets. Buy tickets online or at a Big Y supermarket for a couple dollars cheaper than at the gate, plus you skip what is sometimes a long ticket line at the gate. You can buy a pass if you plan on going a few times. At the gate, tickets cost $15 for adults, $10 for children ages 6-12, free for children 5 and younger.

YOU MADE IT! NOW WHAT?

Eat breakfast. If you entered through Gate 9, you’ll walk into a section with swimming pool sales and a wine barn that feeds into an intersection where every which way, all you see is food. YUM! Resist the urge, plus these stands probably aren’t open yet. Head straight, past the food, past a music stage and coliseum, bear right onto Hampden Avenue and head to the fire station on the right. If you entered elsewhere, ask where to find the West Springfield Fire House. Here you will find a delicious breakfast platter, offering eggs the way you like them, bacon, toast, breakfast potatoes, coffee and juice. There are other options. The line will look long but moves pretty quickly. Plus, you get to sit while you eat! This may be the last time you sit all day. One of my goddaughters doesn’t like anything there and always runs over to The Donut Family stand to get mini doughnuts. She really likes their new cinn-a-roll mini doughnuts, covered in cinnamon cream cheese icing and topped with whipped cream. Yup, it’s going to be one of those kind of days. Check your Keto diet at the gate.

Get thee to the state buildings. The Avenue of States, as it is officially known, features buildings representing each of the six New England states: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. To this day, I know if a state is in New England by remembering if it has a state building here. The Big E may happen in Mass., but the fair is very good about representing all of New England. Take a look at the calendar to find out which day your state will be celebrated. Anyway, the state buildings feature goods, services and tourist information from each state. And you’ll want to get there early because starting around lunchtime, it can feel like a cattle herd walking around there. I think technically you’re supposed to start in Rhode Island and make your way down, but I do it the opposite direction because New Hampshire is the first state building you hit after the fire station. Everyone has their favorite must-have food in each building. For me, it’s maple cream in a tiny ice cream cone from Vermont, a cup of perfect raspberries from Massachusetts (a friend can’t leave there without a piece of eggy Finnish pancake with syrup), kettle corn from either New Hampshire or Connecticut, depends on when I’m in the mood, and a potato from Danny’s Little Taste of Texas’ Smoke House Grill, between the Connecticut and New Hampshire buildings. Take it from me, this potato is superior to the one people wait HOURS in line for in the Maine building. I think Maine’s is smaller and the toppings aren’t as good as Danny’s. Only problem is, others have caught on and the lines have grown the past two years to the point where it probably needs to relocate. Worth it though!

Time to get your craft on. I like homemade, crafty, unique things. So after touring the state buildings, I head across the street to Storrowtown Village, which features some historical buildings and often has family-friendly performances on the common which draw a big crowd. Behind that area, I check out the Craft Common. I don’t often buy the crafty things I see at the Big E because sometimes they’re a bit overpriced, but I like to look. You can find all sorts of great gifts and things you won’t find anywhere else, so if you like to get your Christmas shopping out of the way, bring some cash or a credit card. Lots of vendors will hold your items, especially heavy, bigger ones, for you to pick up before you go. Otherwise, plan wisely. You don’t want to carry a big candle or an awkward lawn ornament around for 10 hours. The Craft Common also features an item I used to get every year but stopped a while back – a giant pickle out of a barrel! Try one if you need something salty by now.

Get your puff on. It’s hard to know if you’ll be hungry at this point; it depends on how much you ate through the state buildings. But if there’s room in your stomach, now is the time to try the Big E’s famous cream puff, found in the New England Center, just beyond the Craft Common. This year, they’ll even dip it in ganache. How this wasn’t a thing before is beyond me! You can find a whole list of new food offered this year here: https://www.thebige.com/p/food/newfoods.

THE REST OF THE FAIR

If you’re with kids. You’ll probably want to head to the back of the fairgrounds where the midway is, featuring tons of rides and games. There is a separate section for rides for small kids. At night, the midway looks like a Friday night at the mall, full of teens, so best to bring little kids earlier. You’ll also find a stand featuring all things battered and deep fried back here. I like the fried Oreos and Fluffernutter. Be sure you have a couple of people willing to share it with you though. You’ve been warned. After you’ve had your fill of rides or run out of ride tickets, there are lots of animals to check out. Head to the Mallary Complex in the corner of the fairgrounds to check out farm animals, a milking parlor and a big ol’ sculpture of something different every year made entirely out of – ready for this? – butter! Or across from the fried food stand you’ll find the Stroh Building, featuring Farm-A-Rama. People love to gather around a big closed-in area where baby chicks are hatching to see which one might pop out next. There’s a table in here that often offers apples for free. Sometimes I grab one to feel healthy. Marvel at the ginormous Clydesdale horses. If you don’t see them in their stall, you might catch them in the Mardi Gras parade that goes around the entire fairgrounds every day at 5 p.m. Be ready for that thing, because it closes down the streets for a little while. And watch out for strands of beads getting thrown from the floats.

If you’re not with kids. There are some years I don’t even walk through the midway because I’m not with children. Instead, I head over to the Better Living Center and the Young Building. Both feature booth after booth of random things, lots of them of the “As Seen on TV” persuasion. You’ll find the latest mop, vegetable peeler, Vitamix, you name it. There’s seasoning to make dips, powders to make frozen drinks, beef jerky and hot sauces. There’s clothes and stuff for the house. Bring your patience with you, because by now it will likely be busy in there. And hot.

Be a kid again. The Giant Slide is out the back of the Better Living Center, if you came in from the entrance facing the coliseum building (by the way, if you’re into horses or just want to get off your feet and out of the sun, then check out the shows inside the coliseum throughout the day). If you can walk up all the stairs, then go down the slide. It’s only a few bucks, the line moves pretty quickly and it’s the funnest 10 seconds of your life, especially if you’re holding hands with your bestie or your child. Take a selfie as you go!

TIME FOR DINNER!

Get something meaty. Chances are, you’ve been nibbling all day, but by now, you’re probably hungry for something a little more substantial. There are lots of options around you, including a place in front of the Better Living Center that offers huge steak sandwiches that a friend of mine can’t leave the Big E without eating. In case you think you haven’t consumed enough calories yet, around the corner, at the Big E-Z Cafe, you can get a bacon cheeseburger between two halves of a glazed doughnut. I’ve had a bite; it’s better than you think. A family friend works at the corn dog stand – last year it was closer to the Mallary Complex – if you want one. Can you go to a fair without getting a corn dog? There’s also a beer garden over there. And if you didn’t get deep-fried-fill-in-the-blank before, now’s your chance.

WRAP IT UP

You’re exhausted. There’s still lots of things you can check out, and if you have the energy, by all means, explore. But chances are, it’s getting dark, it’s a little chilly, your feet are throbbing and your wallet is empty. Time to circle back and collect anything you bought and had held or to buy the things you weren’t sure about earlier but want to pull the trigger on now. Then you have to take that long walk back to your car. You swore it was closer! But you’ll remember that deep-fried pineapple upside down cake on a stick you just ate and will be grateful to get a few more steps in. You’ll have a mental list of all the things you’ll want to see and do again next year and what things you missed that you want to make sure you see next time. Then, start marking the calendar until next September!

Source link Keto Diet Drinks