#vegan candle making experience near me

[theecandlelab]

Website : https://www.theecandlelab.com

Address 1 : Freeway Business Center, 1950 Compton Ave, Suite 112, Corona, California, USA

Address 2 : The District @ Tustin Legacy, 2425 Park Ave, Tustin, California, USA

Thee Candle Lab offers a unique experience in candle making, specializing in custom, vegan wax candles. Guests can enjoy workshops, events, and a variety of candle-making services. The candles are crafted in decorative glass or recycled alcohol bottles, adding to their uniqueness. The business caters to various events, including team bonding, birthdays, and weddings, with a focus on creating personalized candles with a blend of 30 fragrances.

Instagram : https://www.instagram.com/drunknlit/

Yelp : https://www.yelp.com/biz/thee-candle-lab-tustin

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[atlafan]

Take it Slow - Part Four

a/n: okay this is my first shot at a harry:y/n fic, and it will be multiple parts. y/n had a bad experience with an ex over a year ago, and finally accepts her coworker and good friend Niall’s invitation to go on a blind date with his friend Harry. 

(Fluffy part....and I will give a bit of a trigger warning here, y/n mentions abuse from an ex. This is sort of a short part, I part five is long and I promise it delivers on the smut. )

Part One Part Two Part Three

You left work a little early Wednesday. You had been marinating your cauliflower since the morning. But you wanted to make everything perfect for Harry. You put a table cloth over your small table, and added a single candle. You plated up your buffalo cauliflower. You spooned some blue cheese into a small bowl. You knew he wouldn’t eat it, but you needed it for yourself. You also put out some celery and carrots. You put a bottle of voka and some tonic out. Drinking on a work night wasn’t something you did often, but you knew vodka wouldn’t leave you with a hangover. He texts you letting you know he’s downstairs. You buzz him in and open your door.

“Love?” You hear him say.

“In the kitchen!” You yelp. He walks in. He’s wearing those black ripped jeans again. You can slightly see his thigh tattoo. The black t-shirt he’s wearing is slightly tattered too. You notice he took his boots off at the door.

He comes right up to you, and takes you in for a hug, he simply hold you for a few moments, and sighs happily.

“Y’alright?”

“Yeah, just a long day. Sorry for my appearance, I didn’t want to be late, and stupid me forgot to pack extra clothes.”

“You look fine. Sit, dinner’s ready.” You smile. He sits down at the table, and you hand him a serving utensil so he can take as much as he wants.

“This smells great, (y/n).”

“Thanks, it’s my own sauce recipe. It’s vegan, but the blue cheese isn’t.” You laugh.

“No worries, I don’t need it anyways.” He pops a smaller piece of cauliflower into his mouth, and nearly chokes. “Holy shit, this is spicy. Well done.” He takes a sip of the glass of water you left for him. You both decide you don’t need the alcohol tonight. You’re secretly thankful.

“I had some extra strawberries, no chocolate though.” You say after finishing dinner, bringing a bowl of strawberries to the table.

“Oh, thanks. Another thing I forgot about, bringing dessert.”

“Harry, it’s okay.” You look over at your couch. “Come on, let’s go sit down and get comfy, and you can tell me about your day.”

He grabs the bowl of strawberries and places it on your coffee table. Before you sit he grabs your wrist.

“Would it be alright if we, like, cuddled?” He looks at you with tired eyes.

“Of course.” Your heart flutters.

He lays on the couch, resting up against the pillow on the end near the armrest. You place your body on his, and he runs his hand across your back. He lets out another happy sigh.

“So how was your day?”

“Stressful.”

“I gathered. What happened?”

“Just these people I was working with, they didn’t understand my vision, and we kept fighting. It took nearly three hours to get two decent shots. Finally, they understood where I was going with it and let me do my thing. It was exhausting.”

“I’m sorry.” You nuzzled into his chest. You felt like you could fall asleep. Before you knew it, you heard light snores. You looked up and saw Harry’s eyes closed, and lips parted. You smiled at the beautiful site. You soon drifted off as well.

“Oh shit.” You awake to him rustling underneath you.

“Mm, what time is it?” You press into his chest.

“Only around eight-thirty. We slept for like two hours.”

“Must’ve needed it.”

“Love, I hate to move you, but I desperately need a wee.”

“Oh!” You immediately get off him. He goes down the hall to the half bath. You go use your bathroom as well.

He gets back to the couch first. Confused that you’re not there, but realized you probably needed a wee as well. He smiles at you as you come sauntering back in. You sit down next to him, and you both put your feet on the coffee table, his hanging over the other side. He really is tall. You grab the remote and turn the TV on. He puts an arm around you, and snuggle into him.

“Right, what are we watching?”

“How do you feel about Chopped?”

“Love it.” You smile, beaming up at him. You stretched your neck out and winced. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, just think there’s a little kink in my neck from how we fell asleep is all.”

“Damn, that’s my fault. Want me t’rub it?”

“That would be great.”

You two adjust yourselves so he has his back against the arm rest, and you sitting between his long legs. His soft touch feels amazing on your neck and shoulders. You lean back further into him, and let out a small moan as he massages out a particular knot in the back of neck.

“Ugh, that feels so good Harry.” He adjusts himself a little, and continue to rubs your neck. His legs tighten around yours a little. You realize now what you’re doing to him, and you feel bad, honestly. You think of what you and Niall talked about the other night, but you still feel like you’re not ready. Harry lightly taps your shoulders and presses a kiss to the back of your head.

You move your arm to hook around him so you can give his hair a gentle squeeze. He presses his hips to your back side and feel him twitch against you. His hands slide down your arms and wrap around your waist. He kisses you on the cheek, down your jaw, and then down to your neck. He doesn’t waste any time to get your skin between his teeth. You lean back as far as you can into him. His hands move up your stomach a little, and stop just below your breasts. You want to give him the go ahead to touch you, but you don’t speak up.

You’re too busy practically panting from the way he’s sinking into your skin. He’s trying to show what he can do with his mouth, he has to be. You find yourself suddenly on your feet.

“Sorry, did I…did I do something wrong?” He puts his hands up. “Did I leave too big of a mark last time?”

“No, no. It’s not you, Harry. I just think, you know, it’s a work night, and I have to be up early. So I think we should stop that for tonight.”

“I barely even got to kiss you.” He says looking at you with big eyes, and his bottom lip jutting out in the cutest pout you’ve ever seen. It breaks your heart. “Can I see ya Friday night?” You sigh in relief that he’s not mad.

“Yes, of course.” He stands up and takes you in his arms. You look up at him and kiss him. He kisses you back, but only for a minute. He presses his forehead to yours.

“I know it’s only been a couple of weeks, but you’re doing something to me. I can’t quite explain it, but I like the way I feel when I’m with you.” You could keel over. A man had never been so honest with you.

“I like the way I feel when I’m with you too, Harry.”

With that he gives you one more squeeze and he’s out the door. You groan to yourself. You know you’re doing what’s best, but you just want to let him ravage you.

Harry speeds quickly to Niall’s, and lets himself in. Niall is sat on his couch in his boxers with a pint of ice cream.

“Uh, hey man?”

“Sorry for just barging in so late.”

“Did you see (y/n)?”

“Yeah.” He paces across the room and runs his hands through his hair. “We had a really nice and relaxing night, and then I did what I always do, I took it too far. But I couldn’t help it!”

“What happened?”

“I was giving her a neck rub, and it was strictly to help her out, nothing sexual. Then she moaned out ‘oh Harry that feels so good’, and I, well you know how it is when a girl says something like that.”

“So, what happened?”

“Well, she let me kiss on her, and I thought she was into it, and then all of a sudden she was telling me it was getting late. I feel terrible. I wish she felt like she could talk me through whatever happened to make her feel so uncomfortable.”

“Harry,” Niall starts, putting his ice cream down. “Listen, I can’t tell ya everything, but she has a valid reason for wanting to take it slow. If it makes you feel better, she’s really battlin’ with herself over it. She wants to give you more, but she’s scared.”

“Of me?”

“No, she’s actually amazed by you. She said it was refreshing that you’re being so cool about everything.”

“Then what is she scared of?”

“Giving it to another guy who will just leave her the next day.”

“Is that what happened with her ex?”

“Sort of, there’s a lot more to it. But that’s a story she should really tell you, not me.”

“Alright. I’m seeing her Friday, maybe she’ll feel comfortable opening up to me then. This’ll be our third week seeing each other. She makes me feel so happy, I can’t explain it.”

“Have you told her that?”

“Tonight actually.”

“Good, she’s definitely someone that needs that reassurance.”

“Good to know.”

“No offense, but did you go over there lookin’ like that?”

“It was either this or be late.” Harry raises his middle finger to his friend.

The next day you wake up like you have a hangover. You can barely get yourself out of bed. You were up all night thinking about Harry, and not in a fun way. You felt like you were lying to him or something. Today all you can put together for an outfit are some black dress pants, black flats, a white shirt, and a blush pink blazer. Today was Niall’s day to bring coffee, thank god. By the time you left the house you surely would’ve been late if you had to stop. Your coffee was waiting for you on your desk when you got there. You took it and walked down to his office. You tap on the outside of his door frame.

“Hey.” You say.

“Mornin’, come in.” He waves you in with a smile. You close his door most of the way. “Oh boy. What’s wrong?”

“Do you think I should tell him what happened? I feel like I keep sending mixed signals. I mean, when I think about it, it’s not that big of a deal.”

“(y/n), it was a big deal. You almost wasted away to nothing, and you had to see a therapist.”

“Okay, okay, so how do I explain that to him?”

“Just be honest, he’s a really understanding guy. I’m sure some clarity on his end would be good.”

“Has he mentioned anything to you?” You ask, looking down at your shoes. “Sorry, I don’t want you to be in the middle of this.”

“A little…he just wanted to make sure he wasn’t doing anything wrong.”

“He does everything right. But I thought my ex was too, and I know he’s not him, it’s just hard.”

“Maybe you should go in for a session.” You roll your eyes with disgust. “Just an idea.”

“I know you’re right, and I shouldn’t treat you like my therapist.”

“That’s not what I was sayin’. I’m just sayin’ that clearly this is still something that bothers ya.”

“I think it’ll get better once I talk to Harry. What’s on the agenda today?”

“Here, got this flash drive for ya, and a memo saying how they want these clips edited together. Work ya magic.” You take the flash drive from him and smile.

You head back down the hall to your office, and you stop short when you see someone standing in your office. He turns around, it’s Harry. He smiles warmly at you, and you smile back, a little confused.

“Mornin’.” He says to you.

“Morning.” You say, kissing him on the cheek. You put the flash drive on your desk. “What are you doing here?”

“I was in the area, and I just wanted to check in and see how you were. I was worried about you last night.”

“Oh, that’s so sweet. I’m fine. I was actually wondering if we could meet after work tonight. There’s something I want to tell you, and I don’t want it to ruin our date tomorrow.”

“Sure, but dontcha usually go to the gym after work?”

“I’m too tired for that today. I barely slept last night.” His face falls at your admission.

“Wanna meet at the coffee shop down the street from here?”

“That would be perfect.”

You get your work done, somehow. You tell Harry to just meet you by your car in the parking lot. Your knuckles are white while gripping the steering wheel. He gets in a few minutes later.

“Hi, sorry, I just wanted to talk more privately.” You say looking for at him.

“Of course, love.” You take a deep breath.

“Okay, and it may be way too soon to be talking about this since we’ve only known each other a few weeks, but I feel like you need some explanation for my behavior.” He just looks at you and gives you an encouraging smile. “So, over a year ago, I started seeing someone. We had gone on about four dates, I think. I really liked him, and I thought he liked me. I brought him back to my place on our fourth date. My hope was just to maybe make out.” You swallow. “Maybe a little more, but not go all the way.” Harry nods, his eyebrows furrowed, all his concentration on you. “But he had…other plans.” You feel your eyes start to tear up, but you swallow it back. “It started off fine, and it was like all of a sudden I was naked, and so was he. Everything happened so fast, he took out the condom faster than I could say anything. He was rough with me, and in the moment I didn’t feel safe enough to speak up to tell him to stop.” You take another deep breath. “After it was over, he kissed me goodbye and told me he’d call the next day. He didn’t call for like three days, and he broke every date we had planned.” You look away from Harry. “I basically shut down. I had never felt so used in my life. I missed a week of work. I told them I had the flu. I didn’t eat or bathe. I basically stayed in bed for an entire week. I had never felt that low in my life. It wasn’t until Niall basically broke into my apartment that I got my act together. I didn’t feel great, but I went back to work. I eventually went to therapy, it helped a lot. I learned to stop blaming myself for what happened. That guy was an asshole, and doesn’t deserve to ruin my life. But I guess ever since him I’ve been so guarded about having sex so quickly with someone, I guess out of fear of like just being used and hurt. I know there are people out there that have had worse than me, but for whatever reason this really affected me.”

You look over at Harry, and he is full on sobbing, tears staining his cheeks. He wipes his eyes with his shirt. You wipe your eyes as well. You hadn’t realized you had even started crying. He takes your hand in his, and kisses it.

“I am so sorry that happened to you. You’re so brave. And don’t compare yourself to others, what happened sounds horrible. I don’t understand how people can do things like that. I don’t understand how men can get pleasure by forcing themselves onto someone. I’m sorry if I pushed you into telling me.”

“Oh, Harry, you didn’t push me. I wanted to tell you. I feel much better now that it’s out in the open. You’ve made me feel so comfortable every time we’re together. I didn’t want you to feel like I was rejecting you.”

“I didn’t, don’t worry. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t doing something wrong.”

“I appreciate that, so much.” You smile at him. He puts a hand on your cheek, and you lean into it. “Thank you for listening.”

“Thank you for sharing your story with me.” Harry’s phone starts to ring, but he ignores it.

“You can get that, Harry.” He reaches into his pocket.

“Shit, it’s work, one sec.” He answers it. “Yeah? Oi, I left it on my desk for ya. Ya I did. Didja check again? Okay, go inta my office, yup, it’s on the left hand side. Got it? Okay good. See ya tomorrow.” He hangs up. You can’t help but notice how thick his accent got on the phone. “Sorry bout that. I swear I work with some real wankahs.” You giggle at the word. “What?”

“Nothing, I just thought that was a word only used in movies.”

“Nope, we really say it. We also say bullocks in case you were wonderin’.”

“I’ll remember that.” You laugh.

“Well, I’m sure you’re drained. You should get home and relax. What would you like to do tomorrow?”

“I’d love to come to your place again. I really liked it there.”

“Alright, whatdya say I pick ya up, and we get some food, and then go to my place.”

“I’d like that.”

“Do me a favor, let me know what you get home.”

“Alright.” You lean in and kiss him on the cheek. You linger for a moment, and then he exits out of the car.

[tophatsftw]

I read this auto straddle post, and it spoke to me. let’s go lesbians.

what people are fighting about on Twitter

falconer

sensitive, white girl Ikea decor

being in the Midwest (cheese)

which craft stores are ethically sourcing their wool

why pie charts suck

Having multiple conflicting feelings at the same time

Mitski’s right hand in the Geyser music video

Nora Ephron

trying not to be a U-Haul Lesbian and also being a U-Haul Lesbian

Bottle-feeding kittens

my dog & her various doggy woes

being Very Online™

homophobic 80s-90s action/horror movies

Cate Blanchett

large appliances

screaming and crying in socially inappropriate spheres

Sandra Bullock’s entire filmography

Vermicomposting

unlikely instances of near death experiences

the neopets stock market

animals that look like people

Kristen Stewart’s facial expressions

Apocalypse prepping

Satanic philosophy and history

why queers love My Chemical Romance so dang much

casseroles

cultivating hobbies in your 20’s to feel alive again

a fascination with straight people’s behavior

I also am extremely into bees. Like, my dudes, you have — I swear to you, on my mom, that this is an absolute fact — never, ever met someone who knows or cares about bees as much as I do. Everybody says, “Oh, I love bees; hell yeah, save the bees!”… but they’re only ever talking about the European honeybee, apis mellifera, a species transplanted from its original endemic territory to support large-scale agriculture, a practice that has had a purely negative impact on the earth and upon ourselves ever since humanity’s shift to agrarian society from hunter-gatherer culture circa 3000 BCE. Have any of these people who “love bees” even HEARD of solitary species? Do they know about thyreus nitidulus, the neon cuckoo bee? It’s blue! It’s beautiful!

intersectional Satanic feminism

boobs??!

eating a 1lb bag of Sour Patch Kids in under an hour

MILFs

Cringey mid-2000s teen dramas that had too few lesbians

Paul Giamatti’s film and music career

baseball caps worn backwards

Amish romance novels

everything about donuts

wholesome thirst trapping

the Venn diagram of Janelle Monae and Carly Rae Jepsen fandom

insulting men who say gross stuff to me in my DMs

…cooking pasta?

saying embarrassing things that make me want to die in a hole

going on 100 first dates without ever getting a second

Committing to a bit that was never that funny to start with, but now that I’ve started you can pry it from my cold dead hands

knitting penis-shaped pillows

identifying what episode of The Nanny it is based on C.C. Babcock’s hair

running long distances very slowly

puppets, just all types of puppets

communications cables and antennas

girl groups of the ’60s

moss

The Devil Wears Prada Cerulean Monologue

telling people to quit things they should quit

power tools one can rent from Home Depot

Hayley Kiyoko (I’m a three-time award winner of the “Most Likely to Mention Hayley Kiyoko in a Piece Not About Hayley Kiyoko” award at [redacted publication])

Irish country singer Daniel O’Donnell

golden retrievers

geology, specifically volcanoes

Fyre Festival

The Boys Are Back In Town

Film bros and how to shut them down

ruining vegan cakes by accident

having two straight women as best friends

loud eyeshadow

horses, Jodie Foster

Which Lana Del Rey Song to Make Out To

Mid 2000’s MySpace/Emo Culture

lesbian weddings (not my own)

Charcuterie Boards

the perils of being Very Tall Indeed

media to watch while stoned

escape rooms

18th century satire

basket-weaving, I am not kidding do you want to see a picture of my basket

Hannibal Lecter

History of the ball-point pen

swords

old dyke stuff

I’m not a sex toy expert, but I’m sure I could learn

drawing ugly stick figures

70’s soft rock

A-Camp

Big Little Lies, the audiobook of Big Little Lies

middle aged actresses

Bath and Body Works candles

consuming popular media years after everyone else and letting people enjoy it again vicariously through you

how to take care of a backyard above-ground pool impulsively purchased at Target in Denver, a place with no water and weird weather (an ongoing investigation)

spending money I don’t have to support women on Kickstarter

a deep knowledge of 1800s British literature that I did not ask for

treating your plants as your children

HORSES

Should a Duggar ever come out, I am READY to write that article yesterday

aggressive inline skating

Barbra Streisand; circus history

identifying British birds

being an Appalachian in New York during the Year of Our Dumpster Lord 2019 when the New York Times seems determined to profile everyone I’ve ever been to Walmart with

being friends with theater people

how to make couples fall in love with you even when they totally thought they were just going to “try” a threesome “once” lol

Linoleum

[igotopigfarts]

Which side of the proposal debate do you fall on? Are you team proposal or strongly against it? Can you do a headcanon of Waverly properly proposing with a proper ring and all?

you know, i’m trying to play both sides of the field here, but i really can’t.  i’m definitely against the proposal, but hear me out: they have not been communicating, it was very spur of the moment, and Nicole deserved so much better than that.  i get that Waverly was scared but shit Waves.  not like that.  not after you just said i love you for the first goddamn time. 

but yes i can (hopefully) and here we go

so at this point they’ve been together a lot longer than they had been in the show and they’re actually living together in the homestead and stuff

Waverly has said to Nicole that she loves her more than once

demons are on the dl at this point, death is not imminent

Waverly wants to make sure that Nicole knows she’s doing this because she wants to, not because she thinks someone’s going to die (*cough cough* cue Nicole and the montage of near death experiences)

so Waverly gets a ring (a simple band that Nicole would like)

she makes her famous vegan chili and dresses up and makes sure that Wynonna has cleared out of the homestead (she knows and approves)

she gets candles.  so many candles 

Nicole comes home and sees everything and is shocked

also worried

“did i forget an anniversary?  shit, waves, im so sorry-”

“no, no, babe.  i just wanted to do something special for you”

“really?” Nicole looks like an excited puppy when doesn’t she? and its adorable

“of course, babe.  i love you.  and i made my chili that you love and i really, really love you Nicole Rayleigh Haught.  you’re my life and you’re my everything and i can’t imagine my life without you and-”

Nicole cuts her off with a kiss

“baby, you’re rambling again.  you know i love you too and im here, whatever it is”

“okay” she takes a deep breath she was totally planning on doing this after dinner but she’s not going to last that long and now is as good a time as any

Nicole’s just waiting because she knows somethings coming and doesn’t want to push 

“Nicole Rayleigh Haught-”

“you really like my middle name huh?” she knows to stop talking with a warning glare

“Nicole Rayleigh Haught, you have been the kindest, most patient, and wonderful person i’ve ever known.  you have been there for me when i need you, understanding when i inevitably do something stupid, and you’re the one person i can count on to make me do the things i don’t even know i need to do myself.  you know me better than i know myself, and trust me, i know i am a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma.  i love you, Nicole, and i want to spend the rest of my life with you.  will you marry me?”

somehow in the middle of that speech Waverly managed to remember to pull the box out of her pocket and get down on one knee

Nicole is actually crying.  just crying.  her hands are shaking and she holds one out so Waverly can put the ring on her finger

“is that a yes?”

“yes” she chokes out the word, smiling like an idiot, and then suddenly she’s running up the stairs

she knows she said yes but Waverly is freaking out and wondering where she could possibly be going

Nicole comes back down with a box of her own and shows Waverly a beautiful princess cut diamond engagement ring

“Waverly Earp, you are my life.  you are everything to me and i knew from the moment i met you that you were it for me.  and i will love you forever”

now Waverly’s crying and Nicole puts the ring on her shaking finger and they’re both crying and Nicole kisses her and suddenly the kiss becomes a lot more and Waverly is sitting on the table with her legs wrapped around Nicole’s waist-

“wait, babe, what about my chili?”

“later, baby.  later.  your Winston Churchill reference in the middle of your proposal was too hot”

and waverly cannot argue with that

[surveys-at-your-service]

Survey #178

“for such a little thing, you sure are in your own way.”

What’s your favorite type of bird? Barn owls are actual deities. What was on the last sandwich you ate? Pb & j. What sort of music did you listen to when you were in high school? Same stuff I listen to now, although I had a mild screamo-ish phase. Have you ever gotten back together with an ex? No. How far away is the closest store to your house and what is it? Some cheap dollar store in the town, dunno names. What is your favorite Thai dish? Haven't tried any. When was the last time you made out with somebody? Over a month back. What month of the year was your mother born? August. Are there any candles in your bedroom, and what scent are they? No. What TV show(s) have you been watching currently? None. How many apps do you have on your phone? Six. My phone has so, so little storage ugh. Have you ever dated a smoker? If not, would you? No to both. Are there any movies you’ve seen so many times? Yeah, sure. Of course a lot as a kid, Finding Nemo and The Lion King 1 & 2 especially, then I've watched both Blair Witch Project movies a lot, Jim Carrey's How the Grinch Stole Christmas... How would you describe your sense of humor? Sarcastic. What’s your favorite type of bread? Pumpernickel. Do you share a middle name with any of your siblings? Yeah. Have there ever been any brushfires/wildfires in your area? Yeah. What did you have to eat for dinner last night? Nothing (Thanksgiving was lunch). Do you have separate emails for personal and business? No. Have you ever missed a flight? Yes. Do you know your significant other’s passwords? No, I have no reason to. Would you like to study abroad one day? No. Does someone have a crush on you but you don’t feel the same way? Idk. Who do you feel most beautiful around? Sara. /v\ What’s one makeup item you cannot live without? I could easily live without any. Is there one thing all of your ex’s had in common? All guys. Did you french kiss before you were 16? No. Imagine your spouse just died; would you get re-married? I don't know if I would. Like... I'd never stop loving her, so "moving on" to someone else just because she's no longer physically here would feel disloyal. What’s your favorite thing about life? New, fun experiences and creating strong bonds with people like you. Who pays for the first date? Idrc, but probably whoever proposed the date? Or split the bill? Have you ever had a friend that got a bf/gf, and then completely ignored you? Yeah. Do you play any computer games, if so, what ones? Not currently 'cuz my gaming laptop has to be fixed. :| When it is and I have my own income, I might return to WoW, but I'm not sure. I think the subscription is kinda high, and I have more important things to handle. What is the funniest movie you’ve ever seen? Idk why I find White Chicks so goddamn funny. What lyric means the most to you? Off the very top of my head, "A bloody war behind my eyes; I'll come all right on the other side" from "Free" by Mother Mother. Really makes me think of all I've been through but how I keep coming out stronger. Who is the smartest person you know? Girt. What’s the next movie you will see in theaters? Idk. Are you adopted? No. What band do you like that most people hate? You canNOT look me in the face and say you don't like at least one Nickelback song. I don't get the hate. Any new bands that you actually enjoy? Oh idk. What is your escape from reality? RPing. Do you have any self-inflicted scars on your arms? You can only just barely see them. Do you like “scene” hair? YEAH AND I ALWAYS FUCKING WANTED IT BUT I COULD NEVER POSE IT CORRECTLY 'CUZ MY HAIR WAS TOO THICK AND HEAVY. Have your parents ever been to jail? No. If your friend asked you to hold their drugs, would you? Definitely not. Does it scare you when a relationship moves too fast? Y E A H Would you ever consider hitchhiking? I don't know if I would even in a desperate situation... I don't trust people. Have you ever hitchhiked? No. Have you ever been to a music festival? No. What color car do you want to have? Burnt orange. Would you rather hike a mountain or explore a cave? Explore a cave!!! Would you rather wear a flower crown or veil? Probably a veil? Do you believe peace on earth is attainable? I honestly don't believe so. What type of tattoo do you want? s o  m a n y What is your favorite insect? Butterflies. Would you ever live in the desert? Nooooo. Fuck the heat. Is your town beautiful? I don't really live in one, but the closest town isn't. Which season do you want to get married in? Autumn. Are totem poles cool? YEAH! Favorite art forms? Conceptual photography. What kind of music do you enjoy? Plenty sorts of metal, rock, and alternative. Do you have any gay friends? Yeah. Where is your favorite place to go? The zoo, even though I have mixed feelings about them... Do you know your dad? Yeah. How often do you get on Facebook? At least once a day. Are you related to anyone who’s in prison? Don't think so?? What concerts are you attending in the near future? Y'ALL I MIGHT FUCKING SEE OZZY IN JANUARY. He and Megadeth are coming to Charlotte and the tickets aren't too bad. :') It's a loooong drive but Mom was like "hell yeah" when I told her and wants to buy tickets after she gets her tax return AH. Metallica is a possibility too, but Mom doesn't think she can afford it. If you were kicked out of your house, where would you go first? Dad's. What are you currently looking forward to? Sara's b-day, Christmas, hopefully getting my laptop fixed, aforementioned concerts, and school. What was the reason you got grounded for last? Idk, that was a long time ago. But most likely for "talking back" to Mom. The last two people you kissed, are they virgins? Yes; probably not. Is there a guy that knows everything or mostly everything about you? Yeah. Do you sleep on a certain side of the bed? A bit to the left. If you could have anything delivered to your doorstep each morning, what would it be? Um,,, money?????? What is one vacation destination that many people think is just fabulous but which you personally have no desire to visit (or revisit)? New York City. Heard from my sister it's a shithole with the craziest and rudest people known to Planet Earth. I'm not big on cities, anyway. Which animated character is your all-time favorite? Uhhhhhh... Dory, maybe? If you could own a home on the shore of any body of water in the world, which waterfront would you choose? I WANT THE PINK BEACHES OF THE BAHAMAS. But I'm scared of the Bermuda Triangle so will probably never see them. :'''''') What serves as the greatest motivation for you in your daily life? MY RECOVERY. If I got through what I have, I can't ever give up and roll back down that hill. I'm focusing to always improve. If you could have any round object in the world, what spherical item would you want? t h e  g a m e s p h e r e ,  l a d s If you were left alone for one hour with nothing more than a pen and a notepad, what would you be inclined to draw or write during those 60 minutes? Practice eyes or start a poem. If you could witness anything at all in super-slow motion, what would you want to see? Hmmm... OH, maybe a big cat's tongue licking meat. See how it actually shears tiny bits off. Cats' tongues are cool. What do you forget to do more often than anything else? Take my anxiety med at the right time. If you could teach everyone in the world one skill, what would it be? Compassion. You’ve been offered the chance to paint a billboard along a highway with any message you choose, as long as it’s only 10 words long. What is your message? Oh jeez, I'd have to think too hard on this. Who’s the last guy to give you roses? Tyler. Did your parents do drugs when they were younger? Not to my knowledge, and I doubt they would've. Do you have any relatives who live on a different continent than you? I don't believe so. What are your religious beliefs? Were you raised with those beliefs, or did you develop them on your own? I'm a theist, entailing I believe in a creator, but I know nothing about him/her/it. I personally picture them as a peaceful and sage deity that allows life to go on without it intervening anywhere, letting the world evolve on its own and see how we adapt to our unique settings and handle life. In the end, I believe we are either given some form of paradise or a type of damnation depending on how you wrote your story. I like to imagine the good go to their personal vision of "Heaven," and I wonder if the paranormal activity some experience in life are the acts of the damned, apparently confined to remain on Earth or something. Anyway, I wasn't raised with such beliefs; they were developed. I was brought up Catholic, then I turned to just simple Christianity as I didn't agree with a lot of Catholic ideas, and most recently I abruptly turned away from that in favor of theism. How did you and your significant other celebrate your last anniversary? We went out for breakfast. What has been your favorite house/apartment/etc you’ve ever lived in? My last house for location, as a house itself, my childhood one. What’s something in your house that currently needs to be cleaned? I need to vacuum my room. Do you still remember any of the dreams or nightmares you had as a child? Yup. What’s the most bizarre conspiracy theory you’ve ever heard of? The world is donut-shaped. Yeah. Do you have a good sense of direction? Not. At. All. Who was your first crush? Did you ever actually date them? Dylan, and no. What’s the weirdest, rudest, or most ridiculous thing a guest has ever done in your home? Who knows. Has anyone ever told you you’re manipulative? I don't think so. Do you know anyone who owns their own business? No. When was the last time you weren’t 100% sober? Uhhh maybe that movie night with Colleen and Chelsea. Is obtaining a college degree something that is important to you? Well, for my possible career future. Have you ever eaten at a vegan restaurant? No. Do you view substance abuse as a disease or a choice? I have... mixed feelings here. Starting something, that is indisputably a choice. Becoming addicted though, I'm not sure. Some people have addictive personalities so have a bigger inclination to become addicted, but isn't that just a personal trait/weakness you can fight?? I dunno. I know it's labelled as a disease by people way more informed than me though, so. What does the last text you sent say? Don't feel like checking. Does it bother you when people call you ‘ma'am’ or ‘sir?’ No. I live in the South, that's polite. Have you ever been obsessed with a television character? Does Dory count for movies? ha ha Do you ever wish you had powers of invisibility? Not really. What was the last thing that changed your life completely? Recovery. Do you have any step siblings? One. Have you ever been questioned by the police? No. In which state/country were you born? NC, U.S.A. Have you ever been to an amusement park out of state? Disney World. What do you normally drink when eating at a fast food restaurant? Coke or Mountain Dew. Have the police ever been looking for you? Not because I did something wrong; I've told the beach story a few times. If you chew gum, which kind is your favorite? I love the watermelon Hubba Bubba one asjfawoeu Have you ever kissed someone of the same sex? Yeah. What was the last liquid that you choked on? Water, just this morning when I was taking my meds ah. How many times did you wake up today before actually getting up? Well, I woke up once in the middle of the night like usual, then I woke up at like, 6-something and went back to sleep. Who did you celebrate your last birthday with? Mom, sises, Ash's husband and kids, and Dad stopped by. Was your last kiss initiated by you or the other person? I think it was kinda a simultaneous thing. We were saying bye. Do you buy a ton of things at the store at once or just for that day? Mom does the shopping, but it depends on how much time she has and what's at the house. When getting dressed do you put your pants or shirt on first? Pants. When you kiss a person where do your hands usually go? I actually don't know if it's a consistent thing for me??? I don't kiss anyone regularly so I don't recognize a pattern. What is one song you listen to that you’re sure not many people do? "False Flags," probs. Massive Attack is so neglected of the attention they deserve. Do you use a handrail on stairs if there is one? Yes, I'm scared of tripping. What was the last thing you saw that made you smile? Teddy came right up into my face wanting attention. What is your favorite drinking game? Never played any. Do you have any tattoos that you don’t like anymore? I think I've mentioned why I don't love my "ohana" one now. I'm getting it covered at some point. My "perfectly flawed" one is probably getting covered by a much bigger piece; I picked a bad location for it to want a sleeve. I'd just maybe redesign it, put if somewhere else. Do you have a shower curtain or door? Curtain. Who was the last person from your high school graduating class you saw? Probs Colleen? Who was the last non-relative you hung out with? Sara. Are you listening to anything right now? I'm way too obsessed with "Black Wedding" by In This Moment (feat. Rob Halford). Rob makes it, and the chorus is awesome. How many keys are on your keychain? One. Who was the last person you took a photograph with? Ryder, my nephew. Are you left handed? No. What were you most scared of when you were little? Losing my mom/being separated from her. Are you biracial? No. When was the last time you painted your nails? What color(s)? I couldn't even guess. Has a stranger ever offered to buy you a drink? Thank fuck no. Have you ever overflown a bathtub? Don't think so. What’s at the top of your to-do list in life? Stay positive, never stop aiming to improve. What was the last thing you shared? Well, Thanksgiving food. Where are you most ticklish? Feet. Do not- Which cartoon character do you want to keep as a pet? Uhhhh how 'bout an Espeon. I imagine them to be calm and silently affectionate like cats and very intelligent. Have you ever considered a career in music/acting? No. When was the last time you felt seriously embarrassed? Getting food yesterday. Per usual, let things die down, but I still ended up crammed in a corner, unable to go in any direction while someone was trying to get past me. I was headed for an anxiety attack and felt like a total nuisance. I'm pretty sure it showed in how I was whipping my head around, shuffling in various directions, clearly wanting the fuck out. Have you ever liked a song, looked up the lyrics to it, then hated it? No, lyrics can't ruin a song I like the sound of. What would be the icing on the cake for you this Christmas? A PS4, omg. I have to get my laptop fixed and a new camera, so I highly doubt I'm getting that or a tablet considering cost. I want to play the Spyro Reignited trilogy beyond words, like I refuse to even watch a let's play because I want to experience it all first-hand, but. Yeah, unlikely anytime soon. If you had the opportunity to live forever, would you take it? Noooooo. Do you like quesadillas? Only chicken and/or cheese ones. Did you like the show Invader Zim? I surprisingly never saw it. What’s the greatest/most influential song you’ve ever heard? "Life Won't Wait" by Ozzy always makes me wanna get off my ass and do something. What’s the weirdest thing you’ve ever seen in a grocery store? A HUGE BOX OF ANIMAL HEADS IN THE MIDDLE OF WAL-MART, BECKONING THE FURRIES INTO ITS DEPTHS. Have you ever bought yourself a present on Christmas? No. Well, I've used money I've been given on Christmas, if that counts. Have you ever been on a mechanical bull? No. Do you need a key card to get into the building you live in? No. Have you ever stepped in chewing gum? Yes. Name all the people you know that you’ve seen today. Just Mom.

[heartbreakandhormones-blog]

THE LIST

The day after my boyfriend broke up with me, I sat down on my friend’s lounge and wrote a list: 100 Things I Can Do, Now That I’m Single. This is the list

Lots more yoga

See friends

Go to parties

Garden

Volunteer somewhere

Pretend I’m my own boyfriend

Buy flowers

Cook different things

Go swimming

^ in a pool and in the ocean

Journal more

Have better sleep

Feel better all round

Take myself on a date

Go on dates

Go to “singles” events with my friend

Read a lot

Start painting again

Not feel obliged to be a housewife

Have coven dinners

Feel wanted

Less anxiety

More purpose

Really good weekends

Make a goals poster

Reassess my needs

Make pottery

Go to bookclub

Have dinner parties

Have more market stalls

Paint my nails

Finally go bushwalking

Make new friends

Travel

Rebuild security

Not have a messy room

Buy myself gifts

Put myself first

Listen to sad music and cry

Listen to empowering music and get angry

Listen to anything and feel at peace

Cut my hair however I like

Have picnics

Be with my family

Vipassana

Find a new hobby

Bake things and make things

Embrace relief

Dance to Tori Amos

Create a spotify playlist for Getting Over You songs

Take piano or guitar lessons

Make bread with my friend

Rock climb

Go to dance class on my own

Make artwork for friends

Got to the movies with myself

Get another plant

Make more candles

Not having to deal with my interpellated as being a child

Go camping

Start personal challenges

Take LSD with cats

Read books at Gordon’s Bay

Get a massage

Wear a face mask in lingerie

Commit to zero waste

Create a mental health first aid kit

Crush on someone

Feel the “feeling better” feeling

Go for a run through the bush near mum and dad’s house

Spend a whole day packing and organising my belongings

Get really strong

Plan days entirely for me

Take myself on adventures

Be creative

Help someone decorate

Learn how to dom

Get dressed up really fancy

Not giving a fuck

Stop staring at screens mindlessly

Walk Bondi to Coogee with my sister

Let go of shit I don’t want

Say no

SELF ESTEEM

SELF RESPECT

Basically hold myself to the highest standard

Go out dancing with girlfriends

Go to Japan

Visit my best friend in Europe

Travel with my sister

Have FUCK YES moments

Face painting

Obsess over Betty Grumble

Read Break Up Boss

Boat party

Create rituals without ridicule

Feel heartbreak

And then let go of it

Walk like I’m on top of the world every day

100. Be a fucking bad ass, burlesque dancing, colour wearing, fringe cutting, confident, secure, LOVED, VALUED, WANTED WOMAN.

So yes, I have been broken up with. Welcome to my publicly personal coping mechanism to help me deal with my heartbreak, among other things. 

I must confess, this is the second time this has happened with my person (who is wonderful and I have absolutely no resentments toward him), but this time I actually feel quite good. The very first feeling I felt after the words “we’ve broken up” came out of his mouth, was relief. Maybe it is because I knew for a long time that it wasn’t working, and that I was kidding myself every time I though maybe tomorrow will be different… maybe next month… maybe when we get married… maybe maybe maybe… m a y b e not. And all these maybes, all the hopes and wonderings, get tiring after a while. I was tired. 

“We’ve broke up” felt like an unclasping and ungrasping. I no longer needed to tire myself with my fantasies of a perfect relationship that would develop into my five-year-old self’s dream of marriage and lots of babies. I no longer needed to feel the disappointment of my rationality creeping in and telling me it’s not going to happen. I no longer needed to suppress that voice with creating more fantasies and my domestic wet dreams. I no longer needed to do his washing.

I need to preface all this with the statement that regardless of being together or apart, I understand I didn’t have to do all this emotional labour to myself in the first place. But, when I really want something to work, I convince myself that it is going to, and that convincing must contain a lot of hopes and dreams and laundry-doing. And because I really, really did want it to work, I knew that it would be impossible for me to end the relationship myself.

So here we are: sitting in a little cafe around the corner from where I live, listening to a family next to me talking about how their new house will be their clean slate. My new, weird, exciting, journal-blog-thing will be my clean slate. 

In order to heal my heart (and hormones, but I might talk about that later), I plan to complete everything on the list I have written above. Maybe it will take me a month, maybe 100 days, maybe a year. I want to have something to hold onto the way I held onto all those fantasies about my ideal life with my ex. That thing, I have decided over my third cup of chai, will be my ideal life with myself.

Every day, until I have decided to stop, I will post an update as to how my day, my mood, my thoughts and my desires are developing, in the hope to have an interesting account of how I got over my break up (or glue-up, because this is really a cool opportunity to glue all my loose-ends together), and also perhaps help someone else deal with a shitty situation that actually might be a really good situation — if you wish it to be. I wish my glue-up to be the best thing that has happened to me since discovering vegan croissants and my vibrator.

Please enjoy my little experiment!

[justmeinbigd]

40+ Places to Shop Local (Online) for Christmas Gifts on Small Business Saturday and Beyond

All photos by me - Kristina Rowe (and most are pre-pandemic. Apparently I’m not much of a shopper.)

I hope your Thanksgiving was great and I hope you’ve been able to support some small businesses today. Here’s a list I originally posted on Reddit of some Dallas small businesses where you can shop for Christmas gifts or for yourself. 

Online shopping options are linked or described here to give you the safest possible shopping experience. 

I’ll be sharing some more holiday shopping lists featuring local Dallas businesses soon. (Some of us aren’t into Black Friday shopping, even in non-COVID-19 years.) 

Happy Shopping, you’ll feel great when you shop local! 

Toys

Froggie's 5 &10 - Note: Not much can be purchased online. This store will be moving in 2021 so they are offering discounts on pretty much everything in the store.

Toy Maven - Toys, games, novelties, and lots more.

Toys Unique - Games, puzzles, arts & crafts and lots more.

Twig & Olive - Boxed sets that encourage creative play with no batteries, buttons or screens.

Gaming

Common Ground Games - With board games, trading card games, miniatures and paints, it will also someday once again be a great place to meet others and play games. Their week-long small business Saturday sale runs through Sunday, Dec 6.

Madness Games and Comics (Plano) -  A pop culture mega store with new comics, graphic novels, actions figures, board games, RPGs, and more.

Richardson Bike Mart near White Rock Lake at sunset.

Bikes

Red Star Bicycle Shop - Family-owned bicycle services, repairs, sales, and rentals.

Richardson Bike Mart - Founded in 1962, this local shop has grown into a small chain with stores in Richardson, Frisco, Dallas and McKinney. Their website has multiple holiday gift guides and online shopping.

Oak Cliff Bike Synergy - New and used (some vintage) bicycles.

Preston Hollow Bicycles - Local bike store selling a variety of bikes, accessories, utility items, apparel and more.

Sports/Outdoors

A J Vagabonds - Outdoor & Sporting Goods store in Bishop arts with a motto of “Go Outside Y���all.” They have fun stuff and great gift ideas on their Facebook page, but it looks like most of it cannot be purchased online.

Buddy’s Sporting Goods - In business 40+ years, focus on team sports equipment and apparel.

Dynamic Discs - This company wasn’t “born in Dallas” and isn’t headquartered here, but it’s family-owned and has a small footprint with a strong presence in Carrollton and Lewisville. If you’re into disc sports, you’ll want to shop here.

Not Just Soccer (Dallas & Fort Worth) - locally owned and operated business specializing in everything youth sports.

Play it Again Sports (Plano) - Locally owned, new and used sporting goods and gear.

Ray’s Sporting Goods - The iconic Dallas guns and more store on Singleton.

Plants

North Haven Gardens - Sustained a hard hit from the tornado, got up and dusted itself off and got back into business. Truly deserving of your support!

Ruibal’s Plants - Locally owned and managed with four (beautiful!) locations in Dallas. 

Books

Deep Vellum - A nonprofit publishing house and literary arts organization. Order books they’ve published through DeepVellum.org or request any book you want and they will order it for you through DeepVellum.com.

Half Price Books - OK, they’re a huge chain but they belong to Dallas.

Interabang - Another tornado recovery story, their online shopping system is quite robust.

Lucky Dog Books - Used book stores in Mesquite, Oak Cliff, and East Dallas. No online shopping site, but you can call or email requests to see if they have something you want in stock and they will ship it to you.

The Wild Detectives - To provide an online shopping experience, they’ve leveraged Bookshop.org, which offers a large selection, great service, and supports local bookstores with the proceeds of sales.

Pretty bonbons from Chocolate Secrets.

Chocolates

Cocoa Andre - This Mexican-American family-owned chocolate shop has Mexican chocolates, themed chocolate molds, vegan chocolate, bean to bar chocolates made in house and much more.

Chocolate Secrets - Hand-painted bonbons and truffles are the thing here. They also have a great selection of different chocolate Santas, Christmas trees and other fun holiday-themed chocolates.

Dude, Sweet Chocolate - Chef Katherine Clapner likes peculiar things and unique flavor combos and it shows (in a good way) in the delicious chocolates and treats she makes.

Kate Weiser Chocolate - Oprah made Kate Weiser’s “Carl the Snowman” famous. Handmade and beautifully painted candy bars are special here anytime and the holiday version is no exception.

Pre-pandemic in the gift shop at Nasher Sculpture Center.

Gift Shops/Flower Shops/Stationery

Abundantly Aromatic -  Soaps, body scrubs, Shea Butter lotions, and more all  handmade locally with all-natural ingredients.

Bettie Lou’s - Sister store to Froggie’s Five and Dime, they offer gift baskets online.

Dallas Museum of Art Gift Shop - Posters and postcards along with more practical items like umbrellas and tote bags to fill your life with art.

Lone Chimney Mercantile - Dallas-themed art, kitchen linens with salty sayings, fun accessories and gifts. Order gifts from their online store or choose art prints and canvases from the owner/photographer’s Etsy shop. 

Nasher Sculpture Center Gift Shop - There’s lots here from home goods to jewelry and accessories ranging from affordable to extravagant. 

The T Shop - East Dallas florist with a lovely gift selection.

White Rock Soap Gallery - Soaps, candles, bath and body products and more from more than 50 Texas makers.

Pets

Scotty’s Bowties - Pet bowties, bandanas and more.

Uptown Pet Wear - Doggie wear, leashes, harnesses and more.

Etsy Spring Bash 2018. Love, love, love these gals!!

Apparel and Accessories

Bullzerk - Undoubtedly the coolest store in Dallas, offering entertaining, Dallas-themed stuff. Shop online and consider checking out the Charity Shirts category to also support the Dallas Zoo and other charities.

Favor the Kind - Apparel, accessories, and gifts. Cyber sale thorough Monday.

Lucky Franklin - T-shirts, sweatshirts and more for dog and cat moms, plant lovers and other wonderful people.

Mosaic Makers - Multiple local makers under one roof (and in one online shop!)

Odin’s Leather Goods - Leather bags, belts, and bracelets are just a few of the offerings at this store that went from making products at their dining room table and selling them on Etsy to a  workshop space in Coppell.

Neighborhoods

Bishop Arts District - This website has links to many of the retailers in the Bishop Arts District. Use the links there to check out which ones offer online shopping.

Deep Ellum - Here’s where to shop in Deep Ellum.  Be sure to “Load More” at the bottom of the page to see them all.Use the links there to visit individual shops for online shopping links.

I bought one of these handmade totes from Lucky Franklin and then I won another one (full of locally made goodies) in a Boho Market giveaway a year or so later.

More suggestions:

Buy merchandise (T-shirts, hats, etc.) online from restaurants, bars, small music venues, coffee shops, breweries, distilleries and more. Just visit the full website of your favorite places and look for a link to “shop.” Or if you’re in a position where you can do so, look for a donation or GoFundMe link on their site and help out some of the hardest-hit places. They could use your support. 

Hardware stores under the True Value and Ace brands are usually locally owned and operated. My favorite is Rooster Home and Hardware because George the Rooster lives there. Online shopping is through TrueValue.com. I’m told Stones Ace Hardware in East Dallas has free beer while you shop.

Shop local from dozens of area makers at Etsy Dallas. Use the links on the page to go to the Etsy stores that interest you.

The State Fair of Texas has a holiday shopping site where you can buy State Fair souvenir gifts and shop from State Fair vendors and GoTexan merchants.

Also, here’s a large list of local businesses offering gift cards, compiled by the Dallas Morning News in cooperation with USA Today.

Next week my list of great gifts of wine and spirits from local producers and shops is coming to the Dallas Observer Food and Drink section. Stay tuned!!

[northshorehealthandfitness]

Fall Gratitude Quinoa Salad

Real talk: Last week was a rough one.

What specifically was the reason? It was more like a culmination of little things. Working in corporate retail means that we’re currently in the biggest quarter of the year – the one with the largest amount of work, the biggest demands, the highest revenue expectations and the loftiest targets. And just like in any job, there are deadlines, unexpected obstacles, on-the-spot problem solving and plenty of other challenges that can create a fair bit of stress.

I know I’m certainly not the only one who experiences this – you can surely relate in some way. But you know how sometimes, all those work things, plus personal commitments, plus things like a change to a new season with shorter days and gold weather, all build up and leave you feeling irritable and overwhelmed? Last week was just one of those here in Angela land.

Conveniently, I happened to have some extra vacation days banked up so I decided to take Friday off in the name of self care. First up on the calendar that morning was hot yoga (which felt so good!) followed by my usual monthly tea/juice date with one of my besties, Trevor. I always leave those chats feeling like a renewed person, and this was no different.

As I drove home, I focused on putting my mind in a place of gratitude. Canadian Thanksgiving was back in October, and even though we’re not celebrating with those of you in the US this weekend, there’s never a bad time to feel grateful, right? This strategy always makes me feel better, and even though it felt like a slog of a week, there was a ton of positive things hidden in it too.

Isn’t it funny how situations or events, when perceived as stressful or negative, have a way of totally overshadowing everything else? All it took was a shift in perspective for me to see the great parts of the week, and not too long after, I was feeling so much better – and unbelievably grateful. The list included…

My amazing team at work. Up until a couple of months ago I was an email team of 1, which made it hard to take vacation because it seemed I always needed to spend just as long preparing to be off. I’m so thankful to have 6 others to help balance the load now, and everyone is really good about supporting each other. At first I felt really guilty about considering the idea, but when my realist brain kicked in, I told myself that I’d be a better person for it when I arrived back at the office on Monday – for everyone’s benefit.

Getting to come home to a beautiful apartment each night. It may be less than 400 square feet, but it’s my sanctuary and the moment I walk in the door at the end of the day, I can instantly feel the tension in my shoulders start to release.

The grand opening of Saje in Pacific Centre Mall. I was lucky enough to be invited along to this event, and the party was amazing! Saje’s limited edition holiday collection this year is unreal, and if you have a location near you, I strongly recommend checking it out – even if you’re just stopping in to smell a bunch of lovely smells! And if smelling turns to buying, I highly recommend the 12 Days of Wellness Advent Calendar, geo candles, aromaTime ultrasonic diffuser (I’m lusting after this hard!!), and of course, the new Travelling Pocket Pharmacy. It’s like the regular Pocket Pharmacy (which goes with me everywhere!) plus 3 more roll-on remedies, plus the Sleep Well, Quick Study and Energy roll-ons.

Crawling into a bed made with fresh, clean white sheets. Alright – this obviously took some laundry effort on my part last weekend but this has got to be one of the best feelings in the world. Anyone else feel the same?

Soul-nourishing, body-energizing meals. I talked on Monday about maintaining healthy lifestyle habits during times of stress, and how knowing that food can completely change the way I feel is often plenty incentive to make me invest the time in healthy meal prep. When I anticipate that a week is going to be particularly crazy, I’ll spend a little extra time on prep so that those meals feel more special.

In the case of last week, I made what I’m now calling a Fall Gratitude Quinoa Salad – a mix of balsamic roasted Brussels sprouts, cinnamon roasted sweet potatoes, quinoa, fresh pomegranate and crunchy seed clusters. It was a meal I came home very hungry to on several nights, and every time, a meal I was extremely glad to have waiting there for me! To keep things interesting, I mixed up the protein source depending on the night – roasted chicken on some, and maple marinated tempeh on others. No matter which option you try, or if you prefer to serve this salad as a side dish rather than the main part of the meal, I can assure you that it won’t disappoint!

Print

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Fall Gratitude Quinoa Salad

Warm roasted veggies, quinoa, crunchy seed clusters and fresh pomegranate make this an extremely flavourful, texture-rich, vibrant salad that’ll keep you feeling full for hours. I recommend adding roasted chicken or maple marinated tempeh for extra protein to make it a complete meal.

Author: Angela @ Eat Spin Run Repeat

Prep Time: 15 mins

Cook Time: 1 hour

Total Time: 1 hour 15 mins

Yield: 4 servings

Category: salad

Method: roast

Ingredients

For the sweet potatoes + Brussels sprouts:

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil, divided

3 cups diced peeled sweet potato

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp each ground cumin and paprika

5 cups trimmed + halved Brussels sprouts

2 tsp maple syrup

2 tbsp dark balsamic vinegar

For the seed clusters (see note):

1/4 cup pumpkin seeds

2 tbsp each sunflower and hemp seeds

1 tbsp maple syrup

For the rest:

2 cups cooked quinoa

4-6 cups shredded baby spinach

arils from 1 pomegranate

Instructions

Preheat the oven to 375F.

Prepare the roasted veggies: In a large bowl, toss the sweet potatoes in 1 tbsp of the olive oil, plus the cinnamon, cumin and paprika. Toss well to coat, then scatter in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Do the same with the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil, Brussels sprouts, maple syrup and balsamic vinegar. Roast for 30-40 minutes or until golden, stirring occasionally. If you like, switch to the broil setting for the last 5ish mins of cooking to create some crispiness on the edges.

For the seed clusters: Mix the seeds and maple syrup together in a smaller bowl. Add a pinch of sea salt to enhance sweetness, then pour the seed mixture out in a flattened layer on a parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 350F for 20-25 minutes, stopping half way through to break the layer into clusters. Let them cool completely (which will help them solidify after you take them out of the oven.)

Once the roasted veggies are ready, combine them in a large mixing bowl with the quinoa, shredded spinach and pomegranate arils. Stir well to combine, then distribute between 4 bowls.

When the seed clusters have cooled, use them to top each salad.

Notes

If you’d like to boost flavour further and don’t have time to let the salad sit for a while (which helps flavours develop), mix 2 tbsp apple cider vinegar, plus some sea salt and black pepper into the salad when you mix everything together in the mixing bowl.

I often bulk up my meals with shredded greens, which is why I’ve indicated 4-6 cups for this salad. If you want to make the portions even bigger without adding heaps of calories, feel free to toss in as many shredded greens as you like!

This salad tastes great as leftovers – I actually prefer it on day 2!

If you prefer not to make the seed clusters or don’t have time, you could mix in whatever combo of raw seeds you like, or use something like Navitas Organics Coconut Hemp Pumpkin Seeds.

Perfect for #Thanksgiving (or any day!): Fall Gratitude Quinoa Salad Click To Tweet

So tell me… What are you especially grateful for today? For me, it’s cozy sweaters, the soy candle sitting on my desk that smells SO good, and you guys.  Mwahhh! Have a great day!

from North Shore Outlet - Health and Fitness http://ift.tt/2zcSRml via IFTTT

[accuhunt]

What India (and the World) Can Learn from Sustainable Tourism in Kerala.

These are difficult times for the tourism industry and we have much to learn from sustainable tourism in Kerala.Cover photo: Ponraj Krishna Pandi (CC)

These days, lying under the warm sun, soaking up spring in my hometown Dehradun (luckily I’m in lockdown here!), I’ve been thinking a lot about Kerala. Just a few weeks ago, I was lost in the bountiful south’s magical beauty. Cycling along bright yellow marigold fields. Hiking amid the mist-engulfed Western Ghats. Devouring organic, sumptuous, vegan Kerala meals off banana leaves. And devouring stories of kindness, humility, entrepreneurship and humanity from the many souls I met along the way.

Cycling along the lowland farms near Thekkady.

Being in an unprecedented lockdown has led to many of us discussing the future of travel. We have no idea when the on-going crisis will be behind us. Or what the world – and travelling in it – will look like thereafter.

But one thing is for sure.

Responsible travel will become more important than ever. After all, nature might have wrecked havoc on us to remind us of the havoc we’ve been wrecking on her.

When Kerala Tourism reached out to me with their latest campaign on the ‘humanscape’ of Kerala, it immediately reminded me of something I’ve been meaning to write. Responsible tourism lessons for India and other developing countries, from my travels across ‘god’s own country’:

Create linkages between vocational skills training and responsible tourism

A micro-entrepreneur who grew her family business through sustainable tourism in Kerala.

It’s no surprise that Kerala was India’s first state to launch a “Responsible Tourism Mission” in pursuit of a single-minded goal: “Making better places for people to visit and better places for people (locals) to live in.”

Tourism projects often tend to focus only on the former. To create more infrastructure for tourists, for instance. This mindless focus has led to roads being built through pristine forests and hill stations being overwhelmed with ugly, concrete construction. Officials often feel obliged to pander to tourist demands, no matter how they destroy the local ecology or culture. In the dry mountain desert of Ladakh for instance, that has led to the phasing out of centuries-old dry composting toilets in favor of flush toilets. Across India, that means tourism often hampers local life instead of enhancing it.

This winter, while travelling across Kerala, I understood what the latter part of that statement meant. I ended up meeting several micro entrepreneurs and women’s self-help groups who were trained by Kerala’s RT Mission to develop their vocational skills (one of the mission’s many initiatives). These range from making poppadums and crafting recycled candles to sewing cloth bags to replace plastic bags. Vocational training is offered by many Indian states, but often fails due to the lack of job opportunities. Kerala’s success came from integrating these skills with tourism. By connecting entrepreneurs with hotels, resorts and homestays, market linkages were created to sustain livelihoods.

Many entrepreneurs I met have managed to grow their business and improve their standard of living. Responsible tourism accommodations now have a steady supply of locally sourced, environmentally conscious products. Together creating a better place to visit and a better place to live!

Also read: Offbeat, Incredible and Sustainable: These Travel Companies are Changing the Way We Experience India

Support dying art forms by creating value for the time and knowledge of local artisans

Nangiar Koothu – an awe-inspiring storytelling artform in Thrissur.

Many of us would love to support traditional arts, music, dance, crafts, storytelling rituals and other creative expressions that date back several centuries. But for a long time, I struggled with the how. As much as I value the effort and intricacy behind many dying crafts across the country, I simply don’t have the space in my bags (and the money in my wallet) to invest in them. And even if I did, the minimalist in me would probably cringe. Besides, many ornamental crafts are only relevant to a specific lifestyle – performing artists, ritualistic storytellers and the like.

And yet, I still want to experience and value their efforts. I want to fill myself with awe as I watch a bell jar artist at work or comprehend why a jaali artist continues to use rudimentary tools instead of giving in to modern temptations.

While travelling along the River Nila with the Kerala-based travel organisation, The Blue Yonder, I had a moment of clarity. We spent time with several artisans who are single-handedly keeping their craft alive. We learnt about their lives, asked them burning questions and documented some of their work. It was unlikely that we’d buy Kathakali ornaments or metal (bell jar) mirrors though!

But unlike most responsible travel companies I’ve travelled with, The Blue Yonder compensates artisans for the time and knowledge they share with travellers. A novel concept for artisans who rely on the sale of tangible creations, but perhaps the only way to leverage tourism to save many of India’s dying arts!

Also read: How Responsible Tourism Can Challenge Patriarchy in India

PIN this post for future reference.

Leverage environmentally-conscious luxury travel for employment opportunities

Sustainable tourism in Kerala: A cottage at Spice Village thatched with elephant grass.

Environmentalists and conscious travellers often argue that high-end, large-scale tourism is detrimental to the environment and the local way of life. I used to feel the same way. But I’ve come around to the fact that hotels and lodges create significantly more job opportunities than homestays or guesthouses, with the potential to impact many – for better or for worse.

This winter in Kerala, one family-run business settled my internal conflicts. CGH Earth currently operates several accommodations across Kerala (and Tamil Nadu), employing 1500 people directly and many more indirectly. Their signature property – Spice Village in Thekkady – is a single-use plastic free zone, runs 70% on solar energy, has kept the tribal art of elephant grass thatching alive (so no air conditioning is offered / needed, even on hot days), has its own water bottling plant to collect rainwater and recycles paper waste for registration sheets at its own handmade paper making unit, among many other environmental initiatives.

To me, Spice Village is setting the benchmark for luxury travel. One that offers unique experiences, creates large-scale employment, preserves the indigenous culture and is largely positive for the environment.

Also read: How to Indulge Your Wanderlust at Home During the Travel Lockdown

Tap indigenous wisdom for wildlife conservation

Sustainable tourism in Kerala: Rafting on Periyar River on handcrafted bamboo rafts.

Travelling through the tribal belts of Odisha and Chhattisgarh left me quite disenchanted with the concept of development. In our “modern” scheme of things, the indigenous people of India are considered “backward”. Despite their connection with the earth, their invaluable knowledge of nature and their largely sustainable way of life. Instead of tapping upon their vast reserves of wisdom, they’ve been sidelined into the fringes of society. Relocated from their forest homes, and encouraged to change their diet, clothing, traditions, customs and rituals to fit in with the rest of the country.

In Central Kerala, in Thekkady’s Periyar Tiger Reserve though, I was inspired to learn about a visionary forest department initiative. The Mannan tribe lived in this forest for centuries, sharing their space with tigers, leopards and other wild creatures. They cultivated small patches of remote forest land, fished occasionally and largely lived off forest produce. When relocated to the buffer zone, with little to no livelihoods, many resorted to poaching. A community tourism initiative set out to create alternate sources of income. They were born in these forests, so basic tourism training readied them to be guides, bamboo rafting crew and anti-poaching squad.

Leveraging indigenous knowledge has aided wildlife protection, created sustainable livelihoods and offered travellers an opportunity to deepen their understanding of the forest through guided walks and treks. An idea that can and should be replicated in the rest of India’s tribal areas.

Also read: How I Connect Meaningfully With Locals as I Travel the World

Encourage tourism as a means to support sustainable development in rural villages, not an end in itself

Farming life in Kerala. Photo: Nandhu Kumar (Unsplash)

The current pandemic has put a lot in perspective. In the responsible travel space, one important learning is that tourism – with all its ups and downs – can no longer be relied upon as a rural community’s only source of income.

This made me reminisce about my first trip to North Kerala and the conversations I had with the founders of Kabani and URAVU, Kerala-based social enterprise and NGO respectively. In the picturesque village of Thrikkaipetta aka Bamboo Village (named after its bamboo artisans), they’ve developed a community tourism program with a difference.

The goal is first, to supplement farming and craft incomes, through minimal investment in tourism development. That means the experience is raw and genuine – living with local families in their homes, sharing meals and conversations, hiking, getting involved in farming if you’re so inclined.

The second goal is to ensure that the entire community, even those not directly involved in tourism, reaps the benefits. While 25% of the tourism revenue is used for administrative costs, the remaining 75% is channeled in two ways. Towards direct tourism providers – homestays, guides etc, and towards a sustainable development fund for the entire village.

The assessment of what rural dwellers need is often done in air-conditioned offices with gross misassumptions. So the third goal is then, to let the community decide how to use the village development fund. This could include vocational skills development, waste management, renewable energy initiatives and organic farming – and ultimately contributes to the empowerment and sustainable development of the entire village.

Also read: A Himalayan Village Where Locals Run Marathons and Their Own Instagram Channel

Lower carbon emissions through local plant-based cuisine

Sustainable tourism in Kerala: A sumptuous vegan meal in Kerala.

I guess I can wax lyrical about inspiring initiatives that promote sustainable tourism in Kerala. But like the rest of India and the world, much of Kerala too can learn from Kerala itself.

A conversation still jarringly missing in the sustainable tourism space is the conversation about food. Tourism currently accounts for 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. I haven’t yet come across a study that estimates the carbon footprint of food in tourism. But this is what we know: Animal agriculture – raising livestock for meat and dairy – accounts for 14.5% of global emissions, a whopping 7 times more than flying! This doesn’t include emissions from fisheries, which is now estimated to be higher than previously believed. So my guess is that animal-based food contributes significantly to the carbon emissions of the tourism industry.

Besides, to travel responsibly means factoring in the ethical aspect of using animals for food, clothes, zoos, riding and in the case of Kerala, elephants used for temple festivals. Perhaps their responsible tourism mission needs to have a third goal: to create better places for all living beings that share this planet with us.

Which brings me to a small ray of hope in Kerala – a vegan homestay in the hills of Thekkady! Indhrivanam (a combination of two Malayalam words to imply “a feeling of forest”) is the home of Sarah and Morten. Built painstakingly with local materials, featuring dry composting toilets and rainwater harvesting. But what really sets it apart from other sustainable tourism projects in Kerala is the focus on locally-sourced plant-based cuisine. The food offered here – curries, millets, cashew cheese, lemon cake, kombucha and other mouth-watering delights – is entirely plant-based with substantially lower carbon emissions. And no animals are harmed in the process.

Also read: How to Travel as a Vegan and Find Delicious Food Anywhere in the World

Have you experienced sustainable tourism in Kerala or elsewhere? What are your takeaways?

*Note: I wrote this post as part of Kerala Tourism’s new campaign ‘Human by nature’. Opinions on this blog, as you know, are always mine.

PIN these lessons from sustainable tourism in Kerala.

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[lifesa-witch-blog]

Witchy Questions

Here is the list of the 105 witchcraft questions I just finished answering. I answered one each day but feel free to answer them all at once or however you want to do it. Tag your it!

(Questions from @prettyalice13)

1. Are you solitary or in a coven? Solitary.

2. Do you consider yourself Wiccan, Pagan, witch, or other? Other, I’m just a spiritual little witch. 😊

3. What is your zodiac sign? Pisces sun, Sagittarius moon, Sagittarius rising.

4. Do you have a Patron God/dess? Nyx, but I also feel a little pull from Brighid. 💛

5. Do you work with a Pantheon? Nope.

6. Do you use tarot, palmistry, or 
any other kind of divination? Tarot & oracle cards.

7. What are some of your favorite herbs to use in your practice? (if any) Sage, Rosemary, I tend to stick to regular household herbs.

8. How would you define your craft? Very fluid.

9. Do you curse? If not, do you accept others who do? No, and sure.

10. How long have you been practicing? Lightly for 2 years, just starting to get a lot deeper.

11. Do you currently or have you ever had any familiars? Yes, my beautiful cat Mollie. And a kitten named Rocky will soon be added to our crew.

12. Do you believe in Karma or
Reincarnation? Yes and yes.

13. Do you have a magical name? Yes.

14. Are you “out of the broom closet”? Yes? I’m an adult, so I haven’t made any big proclamation or anything.

15. What was the last spell you performed? A Lammas goodness spell jar.

16. Would you consider yourself knowledgeable? I’m getting there.

17. Do you write your own spells? Sometimes.

18. Do you have a book of shadows?
If so, how is it written and/or set up? I use Goodnotes on my iPad and have different notebooks on there for everything - spells, Sabbats, journaling, gratitude logs, crystals, astrology, etc.

19. Do you worship nature? Yes.

20. What is your favorite gemstone? Amethyst.

21. Do you use feathers, claws, fur, pelt, skeletons/bones, or any other animal body part for magical work? Not unless it’s a feather or tooth found organically while I’m in nature. I’m on a journey to veganism, so I’m not really into that.

22. Do you have an altar? Yes.

23. What is your preferred element? I would say water.

24. Do you consider yourself an Alchemist? No.

25. Are you any other type of magical practitioner besides a witch? No.

26. What got you interested in witchcraft? I’ve always had an interest in it since I was young.

27. Have you ever performed a spell or ritual with the company of anyone who was not a witch? My husband is usually hanging around, does that count? lol

28. Have you ever used ouija? Once. But I am not a fan of it. It gives me a bad feeling.

29. Do you consider yourself a psychic? I definitely had psychic tendencies, but it’s a craft I need to hone.

30. Do you have a spirit guide? If so, what is it? He’s a Native American man I was related to in another life.

31. What is something you wish someone had told you when you first started? Stop feeling like a failure because you don’t have “everything a witch should have” or know everything right away. It’s okay to learn slowly and do things your own way.

32. Do you celebrate the Sabbats? If so which one is your favorite? I was a very lazy witch until a month or so ago, so I haven’t celebrated the Sabbats with more then greetings to my fellow witches and a small prayer, but that’s about to change. I’m very excited to start celebrating all the Sabbats and making offerings/feasts. 😊 My favourite sabbat has always been Ostara.

33. Would you ever teach witchcraft to your children? Sure. I am already teaching my son to love and respect nature.

34. Do you meditate? Yes.

35. What is your favorite season? Spring/summer.

36. What is your favorite type of magick to preform? Full/new moon rituals are my favourite.

37. How do you incorporate your spirituality into your daily life? I am constantly talking to Nyx, asking for guidance or giving my thanks.

38. What is your favorite witchy movie? The Craft.

39. What is your favorite witchy book, both fiction and non-fiction. Why? Practical Magic by Nikki Van De Car was the first witchy book I bought to gain more insight & get advice and it really ignited my journey, so it has a special place in my heart. I’m not sure what my favourite non-fiction book is my favourite. The one I’ve read most recently is The Witch of Willow Hall by Hestor Fox and I really enjoyed it.

40. What is the first spell you ever preformed? Successful or not. The first spell I performed was a releasing spell and it definitely helped with releasing my guilt and some of my grief surrounding my son’s stillbirth.

41. What’s the craziest witchcraft-related thing that’s happened to you? I haven’t had anything super crazy happen. Maybe a quick prayer for abundance and then suddenly getting extra money.. or all the synchronicities I experience when I stand in my own power and walk my path without apology.

42. What is your favourite type of candle to use? I don’t do a lot of candle magic, so I generally use white candles.

43. What is your favorite witchy tool? I’m a big fan of my tarot/oracle cards. I pull cards for myself every day. I also love crystals.

44. Do you or have you ever made your own witchy tools? Not yet, but I want to make myself a wand.

45. Have you ever worked with any magical creatures such as the fae or spirits? No.

46. Do you practice color magic? I’ve just gotten into this. I’ve been feeling a strong call help realign my throat chakra & learn to unapologetically speak my truth, which has brought on a strong need to be around the colour blue.

47. Do you or have you ever had a witchy teacher or mentor of any kind? I get some pointers from a friend of a friend. But nothing I would consider a mentor.

48. What is your preferred way of shopping for witchcraft supplies? Amazon or a local witch shop. 😊

49. Do you believe in predestination or fate? Yes, although I also believe in the power of free will and that we have the ability to change our fate.

50. What do you do to reconnect when you are feeling out of touch with your practice? Meditation, reading, learning something new.

51. Have you ever had any supernatural experiences? Yes. Many.

52. What is your biggest witchy pet peeve? Gate keeping. Everyone’s practice is different. “Your” way isn’t the only right way to do things. 🤷🏻‍♀️

53. Do you like incense? If so what’s your favorite scent? Coconut. lol

54. Do you keep a dream journal of any kind? Yes.

55. What has been your biggest witchcraft disaster? Nothing major. I think just making a mess while mixing herbs and spilling moon water.

56. What has been your biggest witchcraft success? Honestly, my biggest success is the confidence and empowerment I’ve gained.

57. What in your practice do you do that you may feel silly or embarrassed about? I used to be embarrassed about not having enough stuff, or saying the wrong thing.. I basically had zero confidence in myself and in my abilities.

58. Do you believe that you can be an atheist, Christian, Muslim or some other faith and still be a witch too? Yes.

59. Do you ever feel insecure, unsure or even scared of spell work? I used to, not so much anymore.

60. Do you ever hold yourself to a standard in your witchcraft that you feel you may never obtain? Not anymore.

61. What is something witch related that you want right now? A wand, and a crystal ball. 😊

62. What is your rune of choice? I haven’t really gotten into runes.

63. What is your tarot card of choice? The death card - I’m in a season of releasing the old and welcoming the new.

64. Do you use essential oils? If so what is your favorite? My favourite is a blend of peppermint, eucalyptus & lime. 🤤🤤🤤 It makes me feel so calm and relaxed.

65. Have you ever taken any kind of witchcraft or pagan courses? No.

66. Do you wear pagan jewelry in public? Yes.

67. Have you ever been discriminated against because of your faith or being a witch? No.

68. Do you read or subscribe to any pagan magazines? No.

69. Do you think it’s important to know the history of paganism and witchcraft? Yes.

70. What are your favorite things about being a witch? The things I’ve learned - releasing what no longer serves me, self love, confidence, standing in my own power, speaking my truth, welcoming new things, loving and respecting nature.

71. What are your least favorite things about being a witch? Nothing?

72. Do you listen to any pagan music? If so who is your favorite singer/band? I really love My Mother’s Savage Daughter by k.l.kahan as Wyndreth.

73. Do you celebrate the Esbbats? If so, how? I am not in a coven and there are none near me, so no.

74. Do you ever work skyclad? I have, yes.

75. Do you think witchcraft has improved your life? If so, how? See my favourite things about being a witch.

76. Where do you draw inspiration from for your practice? Love, nature, Nyx.

77. Do you believe in ‘fantasy’ creatures? (Unicorns, fairies, elves, gnomes, ghosts, etc) Sure.

78. What’s your favorite sigil/symbol? I have one for self love, that I really like.

79. Do you use blood magick in your practice? Why or why not? I honestly haven’t tried it yet. Although I heard menstrual period is incredibly powerful in spell work. I haven’t been brave enough to try it yet.

80. Could you ever be in a relationship with someone who doesn’t support your practice? No.

81. In what area or subject would you most like your craft to grow? Astrology.

82. What’s your favorite candle scent? Do you use it in your practice? Vanilla, coconut, anything warm and inviting. And yes, I do.

83. Do you have a pre-ritual ritual? (I.e. Something you do before rituals to prepare yourself for them). If so what is it? Meditate, rest, take a bath, “spiritual hygiene”.

84. What real life witch most inspires your practice? I think my practice is really a culmination of all the witches I’ve ever encountered/learned from. I couldn’t point out one specifically.

85. What is your favorite method of communicating with deity? I just like to talk to Nyx, either aloud or in my mind.

86. How do you like to organize all your witchy items and ingredients? Usually mason jars? lol

87. Do you have any witches in your family that you know of? No.

88. How have you created your path? What is unique about it? I think my path is mainly about being the best me I can be and giving/receiving unlimited amounts of love. I’ve dealt with depression my whole life and witchcraft has helped me see that even in the hardest of times, there is still goodness & strength within me to hold on to.

89. Do you feel you have any natural gifts or affinities (premonitions, hearing spirits, etc.) that led you toward the craft? If so what are they? I’ve always been very sensitive to spirits and see/hear things that aren’t there.

90. Do you believe you can initiate yourself or do you have to be initiated by another witch or coven? Either one works. Whatever you feel drawn to.

91. When you first started out in your path what was the first thing or things you bought? Tarot cards.

92. What is the most spiritual or magickal place you’ve been? The grotto at the church in my home town. It buzzes with energy, you can feel it vibrating in the air.

93. What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone who is searching for their matron and patron deities? Ask for a sign.

94. What techniques do you use to ‘get in the zone’ for meditation? Slow breathing, ocean sounds, quietly acknowledging then dismissing any intrusive thoughts.

95. Did visualization come easily to you or did you have to practice at it? It depends on where I am emotionally.

96. Do you prefer day or night? Why? Both? I love the energy and warmth from the sun. It makes me feel safe and loved. But I also love the strength and vitality I feel from the moon. I always feel “more” when I’m under the moon - more beautiful, more confident, stronger, wiser, braver.

97. What do you think is the best time and place to do spell work? I do more spell work at night because of how the moon makes me feel.

98. How did you feel when you cast your first circle? Did you stumble or did it go smoothly? I have cleansed my work space, but I have never cast a true circle. 😳

99. Do you believe witchcraft gets easier with time and practice? Yes.

100. Do you believe in many gods or one God with many faces? I believe there is a universal spirit that presents to each of us in the way we need to see them.

101. Do you eat meat, eggs and dairy? I’m on a journey to veganism. Currently, I only eat small amounts of fish, chicken, eggs and milk. I eat no pork or beef.

102. What is your favorite color and why? Purple and yellow. They’re bright and beautiful.

103. What is the one question you get asked most by non-practitioners or non-pagans? How do you usually respond? I can’t think of anything specific.. just about what I do or what I believe in. I answer honestly.

104. Which of your five senses would you say is your strongest? Probably sight? I’m not sure.

105. What is a pagan or witchcraft rule that you preach but don’t practice? I can’t think of any, honestly.

[drashleighreid]

Do them alllllll!! 😂😜 you’ll probably need snacks for how long it takes to answer 💓

lord. LMAO okay 

1. Do you ever doubt the existence of others than you?

not really?? life is weird tho who knows man. 

2. On a scale of 1-5, how afraid of the dark are you?

4.5 

3. The person you would never want to meet?

HMM. never... im sure there are plenty 

4. What is your favorite word?

colloquial

5. If you were a type of tree, what would you be?

peach tree ! 

6. When you looked in the mirror this morning what was the first thing you thought?

gotta brush tha teethies 

7. What shirt are you wearing?

a lana del rey concert t shirt n a harvard sweatshirt over the top sksksk .. get u a girl who can do both

8. What do you label yourself as?

vegan lesbian :o ? dumbass

9. Bright room or dark room?

both for different moods... i like rooms being bright and open during the day but dimly lit at night

10. What were you doing at midnight last night?

writing fic 

11. Favorite age you’ve been so far?

done

12. Who told you they loved you last?

my mum

13. Your worst enemy?

myself bitch

14. What is your current desktop picture?

miss cdp in that blue coat

15. Do you like someone?

done

16. The last song you listened to?

the rip - portishead

17. You can press a button that will make any one person explode. Who would you blow up?

[REDACTED]

18. Who would you really like to just punch in the face?

see above

19. If anyone could be your slave for a day, who would it be and what would they have to do?

sdlkfj these questions are weird. br*ttany snow can be my slave for the day just so i can play w her hair 

20. What is your best physical attribute? (showing said attribute is optional)

litcherally no clue lkjsf ppl compliment me on my eyes but thats such a basic attribute ppl always comment on. we all got eyes hun. 

21. If you were the opposite sex for one day, what would you look like and what would you do?

probably ,, me but the opposite sex ,,, j*rk off :) 

22. Do you have a secret talent? If yes, what is it?

?? maybe ? maybe not. its a secret 

23. What is one unique thing you’re afraid of?

unique ??? i have claustrophobia and hypochondria  lkjsf. what a SHIT pot. 

24. You can only have one kind of sandwich. Every sandwich ingredient known to humankind is at your disposal.

thats nice. is this a question? PICKLES. 

25. You just found $100! How are you going to spend it?

clothes, or some candles,,, perfume. i want colour pencils ! nice lotion. 

26. You just got a free plane ticket to anywhere in the world, but you have to leave immediately. Where are you going to go?

mexico! 

27. An angel appears out of Heaven and offers you a lifetime supply of the alcoholic beverage of your choice. “Be brand-specific” it says. Man! What are you gonna say about that? Even if you don’t drink booze there’s something you can figure out… so what’s it gonna be?

sdkfj gin. hendricks or beefeater. or i mean, if its a gift just give me some BOUGIE shit.

28. You discover a beautiful island upon which you may build your own society. You make the rules. What is the first rule you put into place?

no a55h0l3s allowed

29. What is your favorite expletive?

‘cunt’ has been working its way back into my road rage repertoire lately 

30. Your house is on fire, holy shit! You have just enough time to run in there and grab ONE inanimate object. Don’t worry, your loved ones and pets have already made it out safely. So what’s the one thing you’re going to save from that blazing inferno?

my laptop

31. You can erase any horrible experience from your past. What will it be?

hmm

32. You got kicked out of the country for being a time-traveling heathen who sleeps with celebrities and has super-powers. But check out this cool shit… you can move to anywhere else in the world!

once again, is this a question. good i wanna move away from here anyway lkjsf 

33. The Celestial Gates Of Beyond have opened, much to your surprise because you didn’t think such a thing existed. Death appears. As it turns out, Death is actually a pretty cool entity, and happens to be in a fantastic mood. Death offers to return the friend/family-member/person/etc. of your choice to the living world. Who will you bring back?

my grandma

34. What was your last dream about?

i actually dont know, i know i had a weird dream last night but i cant remember it 

36. Have you ever been admitted to the hospital?

no, knock on wood 

37. Have you ever built a snowman?

yes

38. What is the color of your socks?

kljs they’re grey, cute and cozy and they look like lil woofos :’( my mum bought them for me they keep me so warm

39. What type of music do you like?

lots of different stuff tbh ! idek how to describe the genres LOL

40. Do you prefer sunrises or sunsets?

sunrises

41. What is your favorite milkshake flavor?

lime ! or caramel 

42. What football team do you support? (I will answer in terms of American football as well as soccer)

i dont have any strong feelings

43. Do you have any scars?

yeah, theres one on my knee from when my friend pushed me over on bitumen in 1st grade kjsf 

44. What do you want to be when you graduate?

writer/director/not poor

45. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

hmm. i wish i was more open to change sometimes 

46. Are you reliable?

yes i hate letting people down 

47. If you could ask your future self one question, what would it be?

is it worth it?

48. Do you hold grudges?

yes 

49. If you could breed two animals together to defy the laws of nature, what new animal would you create?

omg. a bear and a corgi :D i just want a little cuddly bear 

50. What is the most unusual conversation you’ve ever had?

omg. so many. i had a really weird conversation with this guy in amsterdam who just like,, cornered me on the street and told me he wanted to hang out with me and i had to make up an excuse and say i was meeting people even though i was travelling alone because i thought he was going to murder me. i’ve travelled alone quite a bit so ive just had weird af conversations overseas kjf 

51. Are you a good liar?

maybe?? i just dont like lying so i dont do it a lot. i only really lie to get out of doing things i dont want to do and to rearrange plans when im feeling mentally Unwell 

52. How long could you go without talking?

a long time lmao

53. What has been you worst haircut/style?

hmmm. when i was in highschool i cut my hair really short and it just didnt look nice. i also had bright red bangs and black hair in high school, and another time i had turquiose bangs. it was a time. 

54. Have you ever baked your own cake?

yes!

55. Can you do any accents other than your own?

i dont like to lol

56. What do you like on your toast?

v cream cheese and jam !! pb+j ! avocado 

57. What is the last thing you drew a picture of?

a little bear

58. What would be you dream car?

i dont care. something black n bougie with tinted windows so people dont Look at me 

59. Do you sing in the shower? Or do anything unusual in the shower? Explain.

only if im in hotels, i dont like my neighbors to hear me so i sing in my car kljsf. i dont think i do anything exceptionally weird in the shower 

60. Do you believe in aliens?

yes!

61. Do you often read your horoscope?

done

62. What is your favorite letter of the alphabet?

Z

63. Which is cooler: dinosaurs or dragons?

dinosaurs

64. What do you think about babies?

... cool but i dont want it near me 

thanks for the entertainment sweet pea !!!! 

[yegfoodie]

One of the most epic places in the city of Edmonton to be able to support your local small businesses, find sustainable and healthy food choices and get that “Farm to Fork” experience is the Old Strathcona Farmer’s Market. 

The market started outdoors in 1983 in the space that is now the free parking.  It is now Edmonton’s largest year-round indoor market with approximately 10,000 people through the door each Saturday. 

A team of Edmonton bloggers was invited to a meet and greet with some of the local producers and farmers this past weekend.  This was their first “food tour” and they called it the “Picnic Edition”. 

It was an early start for some, but the market gets busy (and quite crowded) quickly.

After we were all introduced to our lovely Hostess, April, we were on our way to our first stop which was Sunworks Farm. 

Sheila was very passionate when she was talking about her farm and the way that the animals are treated humanely and respectfully.  Coming from an indigenous background myself, this is something that has always been important to me.  The animals should be treated well, killed humanely and we should use as many parts from snout to tail as we are able.  Sunworks does all those things. 

Their farm was started because their daughter had such severe allergies and food sensitivities that they needed to be able to grow their own food.  They started out feeding themselves and through a few requests started raising a little bit more, and a little bit more until it grew into what it is today.  No farming background.  Amazing! 

Free range, BCSPCA certified humane, grass fed, certified organic and “as close to nature as possible”.

These folks are passionate about their farm and their animals and it shows.  The end products are delicious, good for you AND celiac safe and allergy free.  The Chicken Moroccan sausages are so good. 

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Sunworks has an open farm day on September 3.  Go and meet the family, have lunch and get a tour.  You need to REGISTER to attend.  See you there!  

  Our next stop is now one of my new favourite things to eat!  

Alex from Golomein Noodle House introduced us to his fresh, healthy and convenient meal packs.

There is always a lovely story on how every small business started and Alex’s story is inspiring as well:

“Our Dad developed the recipe initially 52 years ago where he worked the streets of Brunei, as a hawker trying to earn enough money to support a family of 10.  Struggling agains all odds, he developed the awesome recipe he would later bring to North America”.

He made his noodles only to serve his friends, family and coworkers charging them only for their gas and their time it took them to visit his home.  He even delivered packages to his mother who always looked forward to the tasty treat. 

The fabulous noodles caught on and before long, everyone wanted more.  People searched for the delicious meals, but they were at the mercy of whenever Dad felt like making them and his kitchen was the only place this amazing taste could be found.

Alex, the youngest was unable to sleep one night , so he decided to do a marathon session of watching 5 episodes of “Dragon’s Den”.  Tired of beating his head in the corporate world, he decided a change was in order.

It brought back memories of the work his Dad put into his noodle recipe that he created over 50 years ago.  The noodles were so good that Alex’s childhood friend, Paris, would rid his way too small bike halfway across the city just to eat the noodles. 

Recognizing the incredible opportunity before him, he immediately told his 2 brothers, Albert and Allen.  Alex’s enthusiasm was infectious and it didn’t take much convincing to persuade his 2 siblings to join his quest to bring their dad’s noodle recipe to the masses.  All 3 brothers were excited about continuing their beloved Dad’s legacy and making noodles for future generations.”

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For the meal packs, the noodles are lovingly prepared and then packaged in a neatly folded square of butcher paper.  They are then frozen.  They are sold individually ($11) or in packages of 5 ($50).  You simply pop the frozen package, paper and all in the microwave for 5 to 6 minutes and then unfold the package to open and enjoy!  You don’t even need to transfer the contents to a plate or bowl.  They are available in beef or pork.  

If you crave them like I do, the family has a restaurant waaaaay in the south with a more varied menu. Worth the drive!

Next stop was Mojo Jojo Pickles and Preserves.  Johwanna has been an Edmonton staple for many years now.  She is definitely a pickling artist and knows how to make the vinegar bend to her will!

Salted caramel pear butter… Do I even need to say anything else?  We were treated to some very lovely marscapone grilled cheese sandwiches with some equally lovely pear butter to dip it in.  This was simply joy on the tongue!  The pear butter would go well with so many things, as do many of her pickled veggies.  Charcuterie anyone? 

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Johwanna was also sampling “Shrubs” which is a drinking vinegar.  I had no idea how tasty they are.  I am a new fan!  

If you can’t make it to the market, Johwanna has a store on the website where you can purchase most of the products. 

Nancy from Market Pizza was our next stop.  “Delicious take & bake pizza made with the finest ingredients”.   The booth smells amazing!  They offer samples all day. 

If you would like to make your own creation, they also offer frozen, ready-made crusts.  They have a secret recipe that makes it the lightest pizza crust that I have ever come across. It is not a thin crust, but it is light and airy, almost like the dough is whipped before baking.  

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The take & bake pizzas are frozen and are $15 each.  There are some amazing flavours available and it will be a different mix every Saturday at the market.  I tried the Bacon Cheeseburger and the Donair pizzas.  It was like you were eating a cheeseburger or a donair, just a flat version without the traditional bun or wrap.  Both of them were delicious, but my favourite out of the two was the donair pizza.  A donair eating experience without all the mess!  

I can’t wait to get my hands on another.  

Monica with Rainbow Acres was our next stop.  Berry farm extraordinaire!! 

How Rainbow Acres farms differently:

From Dave’s own market garden specific equipment to their modified old granary pack house, Dave and Monica are masters at making use of materials to fit their needs. This kind of instinctual innovation is part of what makes their operation so unique.

Their incredible variety of crops is a result of their eagerness to try anything new that comes to their attention. They like to “dabble” in many crops to see what will thrive on their land and add to their already diverse produce offerings. Anytime something new comes up, they want to try it out.

When they started in 1989, Dave and Monica were cautioned against doing fruits and veggies at the same time because their harvest seasons overlapped. While it can be an intense work load, they’ve been making it work for years. While most of their fruit is used in processing their delicious jams, jellies and juices, in her commercial kitchen Monica also processes many of the veggies that are leftover from market. To make sure none of their product ever goes to waste, Rainbow Acres regularly donates left over fresh produce to the Edmonton and Leduc Food Banks.

And those are just the Coles notes!  Rainbow Acres is famous for their carrots, but they have a wide selection of preserves to choose from at the market.  These are some hard working farmers!  

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I used to help my Grandmother with the canning, pickles and jam.  It’s a lot of hard work!  Rainbow Acres makes it easy for you to stock up for the winter and to pop a few of their products into a gift basket at Christmas time (its close folks!) 

Martina’s Vegan House, where veggies are sexy, is up next. 

I got the impression that the Peanut Brittle is what Martina’s passion is.  Vegan Peanut Brittle is available in the regular version, or the spicy version.  The spicy version is amazing.  

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Martina has frozen vegan meals, soups and stews at her booth for all of you folks that are passionate about plant based eating!

Doef’s Greenhouses visit was a bit of an eye opener.  The family has been farming since 1979.  What is grown today is all done hydroponically in greenhouses which allows vegetable production all year round.  Currently the greenhouses span 11 acres and employ 50 people. I had no idea that we even had such an operation near Edmonton.  

Tomatoes are what they started with, their grape tomatoes are juicy and full of flavour. The main crops continue to be Long English cucumbers, mini cucumbers, tomatoes, and bell peppers, with small amounts of eggplant and hot peppers as well.

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Birds & Bees Organic Winery and Meadery was the next stop.  My Grandfather kept bees so I was fortunate to see the whole process of how the honey was extracted from the hives.  A sweet treat for me as a child was to be able to chew on the beeswax that had a bit of honey left behind.  As an adult I still love the smell of beeswax and used to be obsessed with making candles. 

From the website: 

“Birds & Bees Organic Winery and Meadery straddles the fine line between naughty and nice – and sometimes more. Flirtatiously flavored and seductively styled, our full-bodied wines and mead are always up for a one night stand or an evening rendezvous. 

But, you can’t have your Marilyn Monroe without your Jackie-O.

A little restraint can make a true romance.

So how do you like it? The purity and innocence of the Bird? Or the seductive tease of the Bee?”

The statement above from the website sums things up quite nicely.  Naughty names like “Kinky Cranberry” and “Big Tease Raspberry” adorn the bottles.  If you visit the website, it gives you the sassy profile of the wine and tells you what it pairs best with.  

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The wines and meads are available at some liquor stores in Edmonton. Liquor Connect can help you find them! 

Ben was next up with Farm Fresh Lamb/Blacksheep Farm 

Another reason why I love the farmer’s market: Sustainably grown & humanely treated without the use of animal by-products or growth promotants.  No antibiotics, no animal by-products.  The sheep are fed a mixture of oats, barley, yellow peas and alfalfa hay grown on the farm in the Peace Country, and allowed to pasture graze during the summer months.

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I find that when you treat the animals well and give them a good diet, the meat tastes much better.  With lamb, if it is butchered properly, it doesn’t have that “gamey” taste that a lot of people complain about.  I am going to be looking up all kinds of lamb recipes now!  

  Last, but certainly not least was Sean from Mighty Trio.  (no website)  From Organic Box:

  “Mighty Trio Organics is a family owned and operated business located on a beautiful acreage just outside of Redwater Alberta. They are both a manufacturer and distributer of highly nutritious, fresh foods such as hemp, flax, and canola oils. This allows them the opportunity to interact directly with customers and seed producers. By bringing people closer to the farms where their food is grown they are able to provide the freshest, most nutrient rich foods available. Mighty Trio Organics values the environment and supports local businesses, which is why they only use seeds that are grown as close to their facility as possible. By supporting Mighty Trio Organics you are also supporting local farmers and because their products have not traveled great distances, you are also making a friendlier choice for our planet. Mighty Trio Organics provides you and your family with the fats, fibers, proteins and nutrients essential for healthy bodies and minds. To your good health!”

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“Smoke Point” is a thing.  Hemp is not recommended for frying.  Canola on the other hand has a pretty high smoke point compared to other oils.  So the hemp and flax oils are great for salad dressings etc.  In fact Culina has done a collaboration project with Mighty Trio to make their salad dressing. 

This food tour was an absolutely wonderful experience.  It gave me the opportunity to get to know the people behind the brand.  I am very passionate about shopping local, but not necessarily someone that will approach the owners to get to know them.  This was very informative and very fun.  

I look forward to meeting more of the vendors for the next round, and sharing them with you! 

  New Blog Post: OSFM Quarterly Local Food Tour - Picnic Edition! Meet 10 of the @strathconamrkt vendors. #yegfood #newfriends One of the most epic places in the city of Edmonton to be able to support your local small businesses, find sustainable and healthy food choices and get that "Farm to Fork" experience is the…

[awesomedeepvoidstudent-blog]

The Story Behind Mexican Food Stuff

The Story Behind Mexican Food Stuff

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