#was floating the idea of buying something from their registry

[iamindifferenttolamp]

Poll time: should I crash my ex-best friend's wedding this weekend?

[keanureevesisbae]

But professor… - c.7

Summary: Penny discovers something

Professor!Walter Marshall x Penny Townsend (Asian ofc)

Wordcount: 3.3k

Warnings: Mentions of sex

Masterlist // But professor… masterlist // Previous chapter // Next chapter

It’s February now and I officially quit school. Never in a million years did I think that I would be good enough for it anyway and when I went back after Christmas break, I realized I wasn’t in the right place at all. Ever since I dropped out, I have been looking into cosmetology school and how to tell my parents about this sudden change.

Walter is getting ready to teach for today and is going to drop me off at the mall, because I need to buy a few things. Since I have yet to move out of the dorm, I need at least some boxes and just some other items.

‘Princess, you look absolutely gorgeous,’ Walter says, patting my butt through my jeans.

I squeal, before turning around, slapping him across his chest. ‘Don’t do that,’ I laugh.

‘Why not?’ He wraps his arms around my waist and lifts me up. ‘You’ve got a cute butt.’

After I triple checked if I have everything, the two of us leave his loft and walk downstairs towards the garage, his hand securely wrapped around mine. Like usual, he opens the door for me and kisses me the second he got in his truck as well. It’s becoming a thing now and it’s weird if he doesn’t do it.

Walter holds my hand as he drives towards the mall. ‘Princess, how about you and I get you moved in the middle of the night? So I can help you carry some boxes.’

‘I can ask someone to help me,’ I say. ‘Maybe just call someone from one of those services. Please, I don’t want to risk running into someone I might possibly know.’ When I notice he isn’t liking it, I say: ‘Please, Walter, don’t sweat it. I can move out myself.’

‘I know, I know,’ he grumbles. ‘It’s just that I want to help you out.’ He presses a kiss on my hand and leans back in his seat. ‘You look beautiful.’

‘Do you need to tell me that every opportunity you get?’

‘Yes,’ he simply says. ‘Come on, princess, scoot a little closer.’

It’s been a few weeks since he got the truck fixed, so I could sit closer to him. I unbuckle myself, before sliding over to his side. He wraps his arm around my shoulders and I close my eyes after I strapped myself into the seatbelt. ‘You’re so needy,’ I chuckle.

‘I’m not needy, I just love you. Need you as close as possible, darling.’

His arm feels heavy on my shoulders and when we’re close to the mall, I say: ‘Do you need anything?’

‘Maybe some snacks, but I’ll leave that up to you.’ He gives me a long kiss, before I get out of the truck.

‘I love you,’ I say.

‘I love you too, princess. Text me when you’re back at the loft, okay?’

‘Will do.’

✎ ✎ ✎

Shopping was nice, until I had to throw up. That never happened to me before. I think in my entire life I have vomited only once, until today. I stare at the stomach contents that are floating in the toilet. I can’t think of eating anything that has made this nauseous I need to puke.

Why would anyone vomit? The only reasons I can imagine is food poisoning, a stomach bug or being pregna—

Oh.

Could it be?

I flush the toilet and with the moving boxes that I have yet to fold into boxes, I walk through the shopping mall to the drugstore. I ask the woman behind the registry if I can have a pregnancy test and she simply nods. I don’t know what I was expecting (maybe the woman first completing a three hour interview before handing me a test, I don’t know), but after I paid for it and hid it in my purse, I walk out of the mall.

What if I’m pregnant? I mean, yes, I did skip a period, but that is not new to me. I mean, I’ve been pretty regular all my life, minus a few times. Normally me skipping a period didn’t make me suspect anything, since I wasn’t having sex, nor was I the next virgin Mary, but now…

Walter and I have been having sex quite a lot. I mean, it’s always with a condom of course, but even those are not one hundred percent effective.

I might be naive from time to time, but I’m not that stupid to unrealistic about the effectiveness of condoms.

The bus ride back to the loft couldn’t be any longer and when I finally arrive at Walter’s place (soon to be ours), I quickly text him I’m home, before hiding into the bathroom. Buying one was weird, peeing on a stick is weirder.

As I wait for the two minutes to pass by, I think about what to do. Would I have a baby at this age? I mean, I’ve always wanted kids and maybe now is a good time? Okay, no, it’s not absolutely ideal (the timing couldn’t have been more off), but… I’m not in school right now and—

Oh no, that’s just me being selfish and only thinking about my situation. I haven’t even thought about Walter yet. We never spoke about having kids, because I don’t think you are supposed to do that this early on in your relationship.

Right?

Oh my goodness, this is too much for me to think about. Let’s just wait until I see what the test says. I mean, there is a possibility I’m not pregnant and just a little bit late with my period and caught a stomach bug. Why think about all sorts of scenarios when there is a chance that it’s not applicable to me.

I grab the test and discover it has two strips. After a quick examination of the box I discover that…

I’m pregnant.

✎ ✎ ✎

Six hours. Six hours have passed by since I took the first test. In that time, I went back to the drugstore, to buy another one and peed on that one as well. They say there is no such thing as a false positive, but I’d rather be too sure.

And that one was also positive.

So naturally I spend my time wisely until Walter came home. I’ve been pacing through the loft, looked online how to tell your partner that you are pregnant and I ate some watermelon.

Walter walks in with a deep frown between his brows, but that disappears when he sees me. ‘Princess,’ he says, ‘you have no idea how much I missed you.’ He sits next to me on the couch and gives me a kiss. The frown appears again when he takes in my expressions. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘I’ve got something to tell you.’

He nods. ‘Are you okay?’

‘Yes, it’s just that… I don’t know. It’s kinda huge.’

He places his arm on the backrest, while his other hand takes mine. ‘Tell me, princess.’

Don’t beat around the bush, just tell him. ‘I’m pregnant, Walter.’

If it were possible, I’d suspect someone pressed on pause, because Walter completely froze. He tries to find some words for it, however nothing seems to leave his lips. I mean, what am I expecting from him? I’m trying to figure out whether or not I should be happy or scared.

‘Oh,’ he finally says. ‘And you’re planning to keep the baby or not?’

I nod. ‘I do and I understand that it’s too soon for us and that you won’t want to stay. I really understand that, Walter. I’m so sorry.’

Walter scoffs and actually looks super offended. ‘I do not understand why you think I wouldn’t stay, because I’m going to be right by your side, every step of the way.’ He squeezes in my hand and says: ‘You will never get rid of me that easily, princess.’

I let out a nervous chuckle, realizing how stupid it was of me to actually think he wouldn’t stay. I mean, we’re talking about Walter here. ‘I’m sorry,’ I say, ‘for just assuming. It’s just that my brain is working overtime. I might be a little scared.’

He nods. ‘I understand. It’s quite a lot, but let’s think about one thing first, okay?’ His lips curl up into a smile and says: ‘We’re going to be parents.’

When someone else says it, it’s even more meaningful. My eyes fill with tears as realization hit that I am indeed gonna be a mom and that Walter is staying, thus becoming a dad.

Walter pulls me closer and gives me a kiss on my forehead. ‘Princess, it’s okay.’

‘I know, but it’s so scary. So much is gonna change.’

He nods. ‘Nothing we can’t handle though.’ He pulls me on his lap and gives me another peck, this time on my lips. ‘Now we really need to get you out of that dorm. This weekend I’ll make sure someone is gonna help you with moving and you’re gonna stay right here with me.’

I smile. ‘I can’t wait.’

‘And,’ he says, ‘do you really want to go to cosmetology school now? We can always arrange something when the baby is here.’

‘I kinda want to focus on the pregnancy first, since I have no idea what to expect.’

‘Alright,’ he says, ‘then we’ll wait with that.’ He places his hand on my flat stomach and says: ‘Oh shit, Penny, I’m gonna be a dad.’

I can’t help but squeal when I think about it a while longer. ‘And I’m gonna be a mom.’

✎ ✎ ✎

It’s only obvious that we have to tell my parents. After I had my first scan, I realize that I really shouldn’t push the matter and just tell them, especially because the baby is healthy and I’m out of my first trimester at fifteen weeks of pregnancy. Besides, I also officially live with Walter and those nerves are slowly becoming less and less prevalent.

My bump is minuscule, but that doesn’t stop Walter from continuously placing his hands on it when he can. It doesn’t matter what we’re doing, his hands are always on my stomach, but that’s okay. It’s sweet to see the demeanor of the detective change from someone who always has a figurative thunderstorm hanging above his head, to someone with childlike happiness.

We’re driving to Maryland now and we’ve been on the road for a mere forty-five minutes, when I say: ‘I have to pee.’

Walter starts to laugh loudly. ‘Again? Princess, you went three times back at home.’

Home. That shouldn’t make me giggly, but sure does. ‘I know, but I have to go again.’

‘Lucky you there’s a gas station right here.’ He gets off the road and parks his car. ‘Want something to eat, princess?’

‘Some orange juice, chips and chocolate.’

He simply nods and tells me to stay put. As usual, he opens the door for me. He was already very chivalrous when we just started dating, but pregnancy has multiplied it by a hundred. He securely places his hand on the small of my back and like the true detective he is, he checks everything and everyone in the gas station, before he says: ‘I’ll be right here, princess.’

I squeeze his hand, a silent thank you, before walking off to the restrooms to pee. After I washed and dried my hands, I exit the restrooms, to see Walter is already waiting for me, with all the snacks I wanted and even some more.

It’s nice to know that he still loves me a lot, even after we spend so many weeks together.

Once we’re back in the car, I let out a deep sigh.

‘Princess, you okay?’

‘Yeah, I’m good. Just tired.’

‘Why don’t you sleep?’ he suggests. ‘I’ll let you know once we’re close.’

I groan. ‘No, because that is so boring and I’ve been boring for so many weeks now.’

He scoffs. ‘You’re not boring, you’re pregnant. You’re allowed to be tired, princess and please just catch up on some sleep now.’

I hold his hand in mine, as I close my eyes and drift off to a light sleep. Walter doesn’t need to wake me up, because after an hour or so my eyes flutter open and I smile. ‘We’re almost there?’

‘Maybe an hour?’

I grab some of the snacks and feed Walter, as he continues to watch the road. I once saw how he drove, because we were video calling then. It was fast, hasty and in my opinion not very safe. When he drives with me, he doesn’t ignore the speed limits and is very very safe.

Imagine if there’s a child in the back, I bet he’ll drive just as safe, if not safer.

He places his hand on my stomach and says: ‘I’m not gonna lie, but I’m kinda nervous to meet your parents.’

‘You are?’ I ask. I thought nervous wasn’t in his dictionary. ‘Why?’

‘I don’t know, it’s just nerve wracking. Not only have I never met them, but I also got you pregnant. That usually doesn’t do well.’

‘Oh, I wouldn’t worry,’ I say. ‘My parents are very open minded. Besides, my mom and I used to watch Sixteen and Pregnant and she always said that despite not having to worry about that since I lived like a nun back then, she’d love a grandchild. So, I think we’re good. Also, my dad is probably a little scared of you. He is not that tall.’

Walter chuckles. ‘Well, maybe this’ll go well.’

‘It’ll go splendid, Walter,’ I say, ‘really. If my parents see how well you take care of me, then there is nothing to worry about.’ I place my hand on his and whisper: ‘They’ll love you.’

He smiles. ‘Good. Alright, let me get this straight one last time: we met at a coffee place, right?’

‘Correct,’ I chuckle.

The last part of the drive goes by fast and before we get out of the truck, I put on a sweater to hide the little bump. Walter unbuckles himself and his hand slips underneath the thick fabric, placing it on my tiny bump. He leans forward to press a kiss on it and says: ‘I can do this forever. I might have to quit my job, so I can do this whenever I want.’

I roll my eyes. He has been taking this dad thing so serious and while sometimes it’s very cheesy, I love him for it. Really, I couldn’t have asked for a better man to start having a family with. Is it pretty short notice, being only together a little over four months? Yes, of course, but that’s okay. I feel like the two of us can actually handle it. ‘We should go.’

We get out of the car and when we walk up to the door (Walter holding our luggage, since my mom insisted we stayed in the house I grew up in) my parents open the it and mom runs up to me.

‘Oh, honey, there you are!’ She gives me a hug and I hold back a little, so she won’t feel my bump against her body. I give my dad a hug as well and they look both hopeful and a little nervous when they see Walter.

‘Mom, dad, this is my boyfriend Walter. Walter, these are my parents, Lance and CC.’

Walter is polite, a role that fits him so well, yet I barely see it. He is always so sweet and kind to me, so grumpy and annoyed when it comes to my classmates and so neutral when it’s others. Now it changes a bit. He smiles, he shakes my parents’ hands and from the look of their faces, he isn’t over squeezing it (I actually had to tell him that). ‘Nice to meet you,’ Walter says. ‘You have a lovely looking home.’

‘Oh, aren’t you a dear.’ Mom ushers us to come inside and Walter places his hand on my back, as we follow them inside. I give him a little nod, a sign that it is all going well.

And, it actually goes really well. My parents are in love with Walter and he is slowly warming up to them, eventually even cracking some jokes. We talked about how the two of us “met”, what Walter does for a living (currently he is working at the police department in New York and not as professor at NYU) and a little bit about my parents’ work. Of course, the subject school came up once or twice, but I kinda chickened out telling them I actually quit.

I clear my throat and say: ‘I actually have some news.’

Walter finds my hand underneath the table and gives me a reassuring squeeze.

‘What is it, honey?’ mom asks.

I look at Walter, whose eyes say it all: I’m ready when you are. ‘Well,’ I whisper, ‘I… I’m pregnant.’

Oh no, they’re silent. Oh my gosh, how are they going to react? I bet they’re mad. Oh, shit, my dad is clenching his jaw. They are totally mad.

‘Are you serious?’ my mom asks, blinking a few times.

I nod. ‘Fifteen weeks.’

‘Oh my goodness,’ mom says. ‘Honey, that is amazing. I am so happy for you.’ She stands up from the table and walks over to me. I give her a hug and she whispers: ‘You’ll be a fantastic mom.’ She pulls back and squeals something about becoming a grandmother. She places her hand on my stomach. ‘Oh my, a little bump. Honey, this’ll go fantastic. I am sure you and Walter will become magnificent parents. That reminds me, Walter, give me a hug. You’re officially part of the family, now. Congratulations, sweetheart.’

Walter stands up and gives my mom a tight hug. Dad walks up to me and holds my face in his hands. ‘You’re gonna be an amazing mother,’ he says.

‘You think so?’

‘I don’t think so, I know so.’ He gives me a kiss on my forehead and says: ‘Is this also a right moment to tell me you quit school?’

My eyes enlarge. ‘How did you know?’

‘You can maybe fool your mom, but you can never fool me, sweetheart. You know, you focus on your pregnancy now. You can always go back to school.’

I let out a sigh of relief. Thankfully he is pretty cool about me just quitting. We’ll talk about eventually going to cosmetology school a little bit later on. ‘I love you, dad.’

‘I love you too.’

✎ ✎ ✎

That night, Walter and I are in my old room, squeezed in my two person bed (that is a little slimmer than the one back in the loft) and we reminisce about the evening. It went more than splendid, even when my mom forced me to take off my sweater so she could see the bump. She called at least ten friends to tell them she is gonna be a grandmother and that the child will be gorgeous and lovely, though they have yet to be born.

Walter turns to his side so he can look at me and says: ‘Okay, I have a proposition,’ he says, ‘and I want your honest opinion.’

‘Okay.’

‘How about, you and I move to Maryland?’

Is he serious? ‘Really?’

‘Really. I could see how happy your parents were with the pregnancy and maybe… Maybe they’d like it if you would be closer to them. Besides, I can arrange something and work in Maryland. It’s not like I’m bounded to New York. For that matter, I actually really want to leave that place, because if I see that slimy ass Fitzgerald one more time…’

While I start to laugh because of his personal vendetta against Fitzgerald, my hormones are also all over the place, because I bawl my eyes out only a second later.

‘Princess, don’t cry. This is good news.’ He presses kisses on my temple and cheek, kissing my tears away. ‘But I’ll take that as a yes?’

I nod. ‘I would love that, Walter. Thank you.’

[lokis-lady-death]

Return to Crimson Peak

Disclaimer: This story is written as a sequal to Crimson Peak. If you couldn’t handle the original story, please don’t read, because that would be dumb. 

Sir Thomas Sharpe x Reader

Mini Series Halloween (Special thanks to @bambamwolf87 for going back and forth on this idea!) 

My name is (y/n), and I would like to tell you a story.

A love story. Filled with hate. Filled with sin. Something real and imaginary, exciting and terrifying.

I want to tell you a ghost story.

There were all kinds of ghost stories that have floated through the world, like a dense fog, capturing the imaginations of those who hear them. Some based as far back as when nobility and class were all anyone cared about, some as notorious as Jack the Ripper, some as tragic as children getting taken by monsters. Each story holds some truths, based on some sort of factual event that forever concretes the illusion of a ghost to the world of the living. Alas, they all inevitably fade away. They become fables we tell children, destined to be nothing more than boy scout campfire tales.

Utter nonsense really.

But then, every once in a while, against all reasonable belief, there is a ghost story so rifeting, so heart wrenching -so full of lust, ambition, and murder- that at the end it leaves one questioning their sanity.

Crimson peak is one of those ghost stories.

The first time my brother Luke and I heard the story of Crimson Peak was from our grandmother. I remember visiting the family home in Buffalo, New York, listening to her spin fantisful tales of this or that while pouring me tea. Grandmother was a wonderful storyteller, a trait I was told she inherited from her own mother, Edith McMichael. Better known by her maiden name, Edith Cushings.

She told us that Edith had grown up a beautiful, well educated woman of the upper society of New York. An unwed heiress that only cared about one thing: writing stories. That is, until her own story had an unexpected character added to the plot. Thomas Sharpe.

From there, everyone knows the story, most likely even read the book.

But this story became something more to my brother. He wanted more than the book. He wanted the experience.

He wanted to see and live it for himself.

As he grew older, he researched more into the story and found the home in which everything took place: Allerdale Hall. As it turned out, the gothic mansion had been made over to be a secluded, lavish hotel for rich bureaucrats traveling the English countryside in the 50’s, however in the 80’s the attention died down. It went a long time without use until 2010 when a new owner took over and turned it into a Victorian Bed and Breakfast with a twist: while it’s 50’s counterpart tried to pretend nothing awful happened in that house, the new owner exploited it. There was even an episode of Ghost Hunter filmed where someone stayed the night in the bed and breakfast. They stayed in Lucille’s room but never saw her ghost. He did say the new owner and her husband were rather odd, though he thought they were just trying to give into the haunted theme they tried to portray.

It was disheartening to say the least that other than the story of Crimson Peak itself, it seemed like there was no actual haunting. I eventually lost interest and moved on with my life, diving into school and social life. But not Luke. He still felt drawn to the story and after working doubles for two months and convincing me to split the fees, we were set to travel to England and actually stay the night in Allerdale Hall.

Which is where my story begins.

*****

“This is it!” Luke exclaimed, heaving one bag onto his shoulder and another under his arm. “Crimson Peak!”

I cut my eyes at my brother, almost annoyed at the whole situation. His Ghosts are Real shirt, his bag of ghost summonings, our grandmother’s copy of Crimson Peak all in hand so as to crescent it with what he deems the unholy land. “I can’t believe you talked me into this…”

His blonde curls bounced as he turned to face our home for the next few days. “But… Just look at it, y/n....”

Turning up from the cab, I took in the entirety of Allerdale Hall. Grand, magnificent, dark, and foreboding, it stood against a gray canvas of fog. In front of it, the key part of the entire story, Sir Thomas Sharpe’s mining invention.

My eyes followed upward the structure, absorbing every last archway and stone of the complex before resting on a single window where I caught sight of a pale faced man.

I was snapped back to my brother when he called my name for what I had to assume by his aggravated tone was not the first time. “What?”

“I said grab your shit, I ain’t no packmule.”

I grabbed my bags and followed him through the double doors.

Inside, it was evident all the work the new owners had put into the mansion. It was extravagant but dark, framed perfectly with a massive wooden staircase that opened all the way to the other floors, victorian era artwork lining every inch of wall space, and a single grand crystal chandelier shining over the foyer.

“Welcome!” called out a british accent. A pink haired woman popped up from behind the registry desk with a gleaming, misplaced smile. “I’m the owner, I go by Rain. You must be the Cushings!”

As if the overtly brightness of her hair was too much for the gothic mansion, she countered with a steampunk style victorian dress of silk, leather metal loops and chains that dangled from her sleeves and a leather corset hugging at her waist.

“Actually, that’s not our name…” I corrected while Luke simply began signing the guest book.

“But you ARE descendants of Edith Cushing, right?” she pushed.

“I… Yes, we are. How did you...?”

“I found you on Ancestry.com! I have been a huge fan of your great, great grandmother for a long time! I saved up for years to buy this place,” the owner said as she looked around the empty lobby with a since of overbuilt romanticism. “Crimson Peak has always been a passion of mine.”

“You two should get along swell then,” I mumbled as Luke laid down the pen. “Now, about our rooms….”

“OH yes!” she exclaimed while pulling out two skeleton keys, handing you each one. “You will be in the west wing, Lucille’s old room,” the owner told Luke. “And you,” she said with a sideways grin, “You’ll be down the hall in Sir Thomas’s room.”

I took the key and stared at it, feeling my heart start to race. “I....”

“Excellent!” my brother cut me off, taking the sets of keys. “Are we allowed to explore some?”

There was some mischief behind the owner’s eyes when she answered, “Its actually encouraged.”

While Luke looked more than please, I had to stop and ask, “Won’t that be disruptive to your other customers?”

“Judging by the guest book, we’re the only ones staying here.”

“Correct! We normally slow down on visitors during the colder months. Which is a shame, because that’s when things always get fun around here.” Rain cut me a wink before finishing, “Now, enjoy!”

Luke’s hand grabbed hold of my shoulder to steer me away from the desk. “Yes, we will, thank you, Ms. Rain!” Just passed her I could make out another grand room with a marble fireplace and piano.

“That’s where Lucille used to play music for her brother,” Luke told like an extremely zealous curator at a museum. I wrinkled my nose, remembering that detail from the book. “Come on, let’s go find our rooms!”

At the base of the stairs was a framed layout of the house to help guests find their way around. A large YOU ARE HERE arrow laid out where you began. Luke’s finger followed the line up to the right and down a hall to West Wing where the two of you would be staying.

Luke held out my key before flashing me one of his overly excited grins, he spat out, “Race ya!”

Before I could argue how rude, childish, and annoying he was being, Luke was off. Never one to be outdone, I bolted up behind him, hoping I remembered the layout. By the time I got to the top of the stairwell, I saw my brother’s sneakers right before they disappeared down a hall. When I got to the opening of the hall, I turned and saw no one. Taking a few steps forward, I listened intently to try and pinpoint where my brother had gone.

But nothing.

“Fuck,” I mumbled under my breath. Giving up on the race, I let out an exasperated sigh and wandered deeper in to the house.

‘Do I turn here?’ I asked myself when I found another hall off the main one. I still didn’t see Luke, so I called out for him but I got no answer.

A round window at the other end of the stretch was all that illuminated my path, casting shadows from the intricate woodwork of the moldings and ceiling.

I was distracted when I heard a soft disruption in all the stillness of the house. I stopped and listened. Someone was moving around in one of the rooms, but which one, I wondered. Following the sound, I came to the end of the hall. A light on the other side was so bright that it boiled through the small gap where the door met the floor. Some more ruffling from the other side confirmed I was at the right room, I could even see shadows move through the light.

“Luke, is this your room?” I asked, going to turn the knob. But it was locked.

“No?” I jumped when I unexpectedly heard his voice from the other end of the hall, where I had just come from. “What are you doing down here?” he asked, “We’re this way.”

“I heard someone, I thought it was you...” I turned back, eying the floor where the light shone through. But there was none now. No light. No movement. Just stillness.

“Oh…” I swallowed but shook my head, knowing it had to be my own imagination getting the better of me.

“You’re already getting haunted?” Luke asked with a hint of jealousy.

“No, you idiot, this stupid house just has me on edge is all.” I grabbed up my bags and eyed him. “Now show me where our rooms are so I can sleep off this jet lag!”

Back down the main hall, he showed me where a set of double doors led down a private wing. The West Wing.

“Here’s your room,” Luke said, taking my key to open it. “My room is the last one on the left.”

The door creaked so horribly it felt like it echoed through the whole mansion.

It did not disappoint. The room, like everything else in the house, was massive, the walls solid wood carved and etched with such fine, minute detail it felt like a painting. The ceiling had golden loops around where two chandeliers hung on either side of the massive four poster bed that sat opposite of a fireplace.

“Holy shit…. Maybe this won’t be so bad, “ I reasoned as I pulled out my phone to text my friends back in the US.

Luke’s voice cracked as he watched, knowing what you must be doing. “Actually, I had one thing I had to tell you, and don’t freak....”

“I HAVE NO SIGNAL?” I raged as my eyes narrowed at him. His hands were up in defense, waiting for the slew of slaps he deserved, but I just let it go. “Fine. Ok. Whatever. Have you found the WiFi password?”

“Actually, about that…”

“Luke…”

“It’s good to take a break from modern advances now and then, y/n, you know it’s healthy…”

“Luke.” I stopped him, staring deep into his soul. “Are you telling me you brought me to the middle of nowhere England, to a haunted house, with no working means to contact the outside world?”

“It’s only for a few days…”

“LUKE, I WILL MuRdEr YOU! You will no longer be looking for a ghost because YOU WILL BE A GHOST!” My hands went flying and all he could do was protect his face.

“Come on, y/n. Don’t be so melodramatic,” he said before stepping out of your doorway. “Take it as an opportunity to get to know yourself. That’s why I told you to bring books.”

The realization that he had known the whole time we would be without technology was even more infuriating, so I started chunking pillows from the bed at him until he closed the door

I threw myself onto the bed and screamed into the comforter.

How was I going to stay sane without the internet for three days?

Sitting back up, I couldn't help but reassess my situation.

I'm stuck.

In a haunted house.

For three days.

A strange sensation washed over me, like the sudden chill of someone walking over your grave.

The house, I realized, was quiet. So quiet. Not another soul to be heard.

That was the first time I noticed that I had been hearing a steady movement the entire time I was alone and hadn't paid it any attention until now. When it stopped.

What had stopped moving?

I stayed still and listened for it to start again.

But it didn't.

Wondering why I had unnecessarily scared myself, I shook my head clear of the thought while opening up one of my bags.

My first bag was my safety net.

Junk food (because I’m shameless), sodas (because I’m shameless), and romance novels (because, you guessed it).

I opened the music on my phone and pulled out my thirstiest book.

Chapter One: How They Met

About twenty minutes into my story, the music was interrupted by a tap on the door. One solid knock. Of course I jumped, anyone would have. Then I heard some shuffling as an envelope flew under my door.  

I instantly sprang from my seat- curiosity always being both my best and worst quality- and tore the letter open.

~~We would like to cordially invite you to dinner in the Main Dining Hall this evening at 6pm. PS On the back of the door, you will find attire for the event.~~

Of course my first thought was what a gimmick to pull, but then I had to appreciate their creativity. The place wanted to bring out the Gothic Romance of  Allerdale Hall, and it certainly didn’t hold back. Opening the door to find a white silk dress, I saw the depth of that devotion.

I pulled the dress down when I heard Luke’s door open. “Holy shit!” he cussed. I went down the hall to find him awing at a suit hanging from his door. “Y/n!” he squealed through his teeth, “Holy shit!”

I laughed but really, I was excited.

A dressed up dinner in a haunted mansion. Through all the cliche, through all the irritants, I thought maybe this could turn out to be a fun get away.

After all...

What was the harm in playing along?

Part 2 is up!

The role of Luke will be played by Evan Peters:

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Federal Liberals to campaign on letting cities tighten handgun controls

OTTAWAThe federal Liberals will not legislate a national handgun ban, but will campaign next fall on allowing municipalities like Toronto to enact additional restrictions on handguns, says Bill Blair, the federal minister in charge of the file. Toronto got another sickening taste of gun violence Monday when four people were injured in a shooting during the massive Raptors victory rally. Blair, the former Toronto police chief and minister in charge of border security and organized crime, said in an interview the Liberals will propose banning assault style firearms but they believe an outright handgun ban would not significantly enhance public safety and would be too expensive for questionable benefit. That confirms what the Star first reported in December that the Liberal government would stop short of an outright handgun ban, and would focus instead on prohibiting assault style firearms. The potential cost for Ottawa to buy back handguns that Canadians had legally purchased and owned under current laws was pegged by federal sources as high as $2 billion. However, Blair said communities with concerns about handgun violence should be empowered to pass their own tighter controls, for example to require higher levels of secure storage on firearms than would be required under federal criminal law, and the Liberal proposals should be debated in a campaign. What I believe is that we can work with and it would have to be done through the provinces but work with the municipalities so that they may be able to effect additional regulation regarding storage, Blair said in an interview with the Star. In a place like Toronto, or Montreal or lower mainland B.C. there may be other measures that can be put in place that would make these firearms far less accessible to diversion into the hands of people who would commit crimes with them, he said. So it isnt something as, quite frankly, as blunt as an outright ban, but I believe there are appropriate restrictions that should apply everywhere in Canada, and there may be some additional regulatory restrictions that could be put in place tailored to the local circumstances of a jurisdiction that wants to do more. The new proposals seem certain to please no one including gun-control advocates like the group PolyRemembers. Nathalie Provost, who was shot four times and survived the 1989 massacre at cole Polytechnique, said she applauded the idea that Blair was floating but she was sad that theres no action now. They were telling us in the 2015 platform they would be doing something about that, so its not a lot, and its too late. She questioned the proposal to let cities enact regulations, saying Quebec has done its best by setting up its own firearms registry after the federal Conservatives killed the national database. But its a federal law because its a federal problem. Great, theyll do something about handguns for cities, but you know those handguns are really easy to move from one place to anotherIm not really sure how effective this proposition will be to bring a greater sense of security in our cities, will it have a real effect? On the weekend another Polytechnique survivor Heidi Rathjen said if the Liberal government truly believes that the legal availability of assault weapons puts the public at risk, then why not enact measures that are available to them right now, while they are still in power? Why make an urgent public safety measure contingent on being re-elected? Rathjen, co-ordinator of PolyRemembers, said the government could move to immediately prohibit specific models of assault style firearms by a cabinet order as the first step towards a ban, saying there is a rush by gun enthusiasts to stock up on weapons like the AR-15. It would also confirm the sincerity of the Liberals determination to prioritize public safety and to complete the job if re-elected. Given the current Liberal platform, Canadians need to be convinced that, this time, the promise to get rid of assault weapons is more than just words on paper. MP Pierre Paul-Hus, the federal Conservative critic for public safety, criticized Blairs statements, saying the Liberal plan is a desperate move. For four years, the Liberals have failed to address gun crime. Instead, their policies senselessly target law-abiding gun owners. Now Justin Trudeau is desperately trying to change the channel from his political corruption and scandals right before the election, he said in a written statement. Criminals do not register their firearms, and they will not comply with arbitrary bans. Conservatives will always stand up for the rights of law-abiding firearms owners, and will also take practical steps to keep Canadians safe. Paul-Hus cited the Conservative plan to tackle gun violence, which includes creating a firearms smuggling task force within the Canadian Border Security Agency, and which he said would ensure that possessing a smuggled firearm means prison time. Blair acknowledged that any proposal to regulate firearms differently from province to province, because municipalities are creatures of provincial legislation, is not without complicationBut I think there is merit in exploring it with them. Blair said he recommended against an outright handgun ban coast-to-coast because he had concerns about how effective that would be and I have concerns about how expensive that would be. However he said the Liberal party believes there is broad support for a ban on assault-style firearms. There is no definition for what exactly that means, which the Conservatives have leapt on to attack the Liberals for targeting law-abiding gun owners. Blair told the Star there are some weapons that are just frankly too dangerous to be allowed in society, their sole purpose and design was to very efficiently take lives, and Im talking about military design weapons that are usually referred to as assault style weapons. They take large capacity magazines, sending semi automatic fire that some people can readily convertI think theres no place in Canadian civil society for such weapons. Blair did not say how much a buyback of those kinds of weapons could potentially cost the federal government, but owners who bought their firearms in compliance with current law should be fairly compensated if Ottawa were suddenly to ban them, he said. The $1.5 billion to $2 billion estimate for a handgun buyback was based on a loose estimate of 1 million handguns registered in Canada. Federal sources estimated there is probably twice that number of illegal, unregistered handguns in circulation. The RCMP-led Canadian Firearms Program says 861,850 handguns were registered to individuals in Canada as of Sept. 30, 2018. The Mounties say those handguns are registered to 292,701 licensed gun owners. On top of that, according to the federal government, there are about 100,000 other non-handgun firearms usually rifles and shotguns legally owned and registered in Canada. Blair led cross-country consultations after Trudeau asked him last summer to examine a full ban on handguns and assault weapons in Canada, while not impeding the lawful use of firearms by Canadians. Blair defended the decision not to introduce legislation in this governments mandate, or to regulate via cabinet order any prohibition on assault style weapons immediately, saying the proposals need to be fully debated on the campaign trail. Citing a lot of polarized opinion in Canada on the gun control issue, Blair said the doing the right thing is important, but its also important to do it the right way. I think the right way to do that is not in the dying days of a parliament using regulations and a government-in-council order but as a complete suite of measures introduced in the next parliament. Tonda MacCharles is an Ottawa-based reporter covering federal politics. Follow her on Twitter: @tondamacc https://www.thestar.com/politics/federal/2019/06/17/federal-liberals-to-campaign-on-letting-cities-tighten-handgun-controls.html

[biofunmy]

If Seeing the World Helps Ruin It, Should We Stay Home?

The glaciers are melting, the coral reefs are dying, Miami Beach is slowly going under.

Quick, says a voice in your head, go see them before they disappear! You are evil, says another voice. For you are hastening their destruction.

To a lot of people who like to travel, these are morally bewildering times. Something that seemed like pure escape and adventure has become double-edged, harmful, the epitome of selfish consumption. Going someplace far away, we now know, is the biggest single action a private citizen can take to worsen climate change. One seat on a flight from New York to Los Angeles effectively adds months worth of human-generated carbon emissions to the atmosphere.

And yet we fly more and more.

The number of airline passengers worldwide has more than doubled since 2003, and unlike with some other pollution sources, there’s not a ton that can be done right now to make flying significantly greener — electrified jets are not coming to an airport near you anytime soon.

Still, we wonder: How much is that one vacation really hurting anyone, or anything?

It is hard to think about climate change in relation to our own behavior. We are small, our effects are microscopically incremental and we mean no harm. The effects of climate change are inconceivably enormous and awful — and for the most part still unrealized. You can’t see the face of the unnamed future person whose coastal village you will have helped submerge.

But it turns out there are ways to quantify your impact on the planet, at least roughly. In 2016, two climatologists published a paper in the prestigious journal Science showing a direct relationship between carbon emissions and the melting of Arctic sea ice.

Each additional metric ton of carbon dioxide or its equivalent — your share of the emissions on a cross-country flight one-way from New York to Los Angeles — shrinks the summer sea ice cover by 3 square meters, or 32 square feet, the authors, Dirk Notz and Julienne Stroeve, found.

In February, my family of three flew from New York to Miami for what seemed like a pretty modest winter vacation. An online carbon calculator tells me that our seats generated the equivalent of 2.4 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

Throw in another quarter-ton for the 600 miles of driving we squeezed in and a bit for the snorkeling trip and the heated pool at the funky trailer-park Airbnb, and the bill comes to about 90 square feet of Arctic ice, an area about the size of a pickup truck.

When I did that calculation, I pictured myself standing on a pickup-truck-sized sheet of ice as it broke apart and plunged me into frigid waters. A polar bear glared hungrily at me.

Calculating the harm

And what of my vacation’s impact on my fellow man? Actually, academics have attempted to calculate that, too. Philosophers, not climatologists. But still.

In 2005, a Dartmouth professor, Walter Sinnott-Armstrong, wrote in a journal article provocatively titled “It’s Not my Fault: Global Warming and Individual Moral Obligations” that he was under no moral obligation to refrain from taking a gas-guzzling S.U.V. for a Sunday afternoon joy ride if he felt like doing so.

“No storms or floods or droughts or heat waves can be traced to my individual act of driving,” he wrote. Conversely, “If I refrain from driving for fun on this one Sunday, there is no individual who will be helped in the least.”

Other philosophers questioned his reasoning.

Professor John Nolt of the University of Tennessee took a stab at measuring the damage done by one average American’s lifetime emissions. (The average American generates about 16 metric tons of carbon dioxide-equivalent a year, more than triple the global average.)

Noting that carbon stays in the atmosphere for centuries, at least, and that a United Nations panel found in 2007 that climate change is “likely to adversely affect hundreds of millions of people through increased coastal flooding, reductions in water supplies, increased malnutrition and increased health impacts” in the next 100 years, Professor Nolt did a lot of division and multiplication and arrived at a stark conclusion:

“The average American causes through his/her greenhouse gas emissions the serious suffering and/or deaths of two future people.”

Then Avram Hiller of Portland State University used Professor Nolt’s approach to derive the impact of Professor Sinnott-Armstrong’s hypothetical 25-mile ride.

“At a ratio of one life’s causal activities per one life’s detrimental effects, it causes the equivalent of a quarter of a day’s severe harm,” he wrote.

“In other words, going for a Sunday drive has the expected effect of ruining someone’s afternoon.”

Multiply that joy ride by a three-person Florida vacation and you’ve ruined someone’s month. Something to ponder while soaking up UV-drenched rays on a tropical beach.

Ships? Even worse

There are alternatives to flying, of course. Perhaps a cruise? After all, there’s more ocean than there’s been in thousands of years. With the Northwest Passage now mostly ice-free in the summer, new vistas have opened. One cruise company runs polar bear tours to check out “the Arctic’s ‘poster boy.’”

Perhaps not. Bryan Comer, a researcher at the International Council on Clean Transportation, a nonprofit research group, told me that even the most efficient cruise ships emit 3 to 4 times more carbon dioxide per passenger-mile than a jet.

And that’s just greenhouse gas. Last year, an assistant professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health found that the air onboard cruise ships was many times dirtier than the air nearby onshore.

“Some of the particulate counts were comparable to or worse than a bad day in some of the world’s most polluted cities like Beijing and Santiago,” said Kendra Ulrich of Stand.earth, the advocacy group that commissioned the study.

While most cruise ships run on highly polluting heavy fuel oil, many have begun using “scrubbers” to remove toxic sulfur oxides from their exhaust. But the scrubbers discharge these and other pollutants into the ocean instead, and they’ve been banned by seven countries and several U.S. states.

A spokeswoman for Cruise Lines International Association, a trade group, said that the scrubbers comply with the new 2020 standards for air and water quality set by the International Maritime Organization, a U.N. agency. The spokeswoman, Megan King, added that it was not fair to compare emissions from ships and jets because a jet is just a transportation vehicle while a cruise ship is a floating resort and amusement park.

There’s always driving, which is less carbon intensive than flying, especially if there are multiple passengers. But “less” is relative, and most long trips are out of practical driving range anyway.

Considering carbon offsets

Maybe there is a justification out there somewhere: Personal decisions alone won’t stop global warming — that will take policy changes by governments on a worldwide scale. Tourism creates millions of jobs in places starved for economic development. Carbon offsets can effectively cancel out our footprint, can’t they?

Carbon offsets do seem to offer the most direct way to assuage traveler’s guilt. In theory, they magically expiate your sins. You give a broker some money (not a lot of money either — carbon offsets can be bought for $10 per metric ton). They give it to someone to plant trees, or capture the methane from a landfill or a cattle operation, or help build a wind farm, or subsidize clean cookstoves for people in the developing world who cook on open fires. All these things help cut greenhouse gas.

But nothing is that simple in practice. Carbon-offset people talk about concerns with things called additionality, leakage and permanence.

Additionality: How do you know the utility would not have built the wind farm but for the money you gave them?

Permanence: How do you know the timber company that planted those trees won’t just cut them down in a few years?

Leakage: How do you know the landowner you just paid not to cut down an acre of rain forest won’t use the money to buy a different acre and clear that?

While certifying organizations go to great lengths to verify carbon offset projects, verification has limits.

“Whether someone would have planted trees anyway, or taken some other action like building a housing development, is ultimately unknowable and something you have to construct,” said Peter Miller, a policy director for the Natural Resources Defense Council and a board member of the Climate Action Reserve, the country’s biggest carbon offset registry. “It’s an endless debate.”

Some carbon offsets are surer bets than others. “With methane capture,” Mr. Miller said, “once you capture that methane and you burn it — you’re done. It’s not in the atmosphere, it’s not going in the atmosphere. You’ve got a credit that’s achieved and you’ve avoided those emissions forever.”

Not flying at all would be better, Mr. Miller said, “but the reality is that there’s lots of folks that are going to do what they’re going to do.” For them, offsets are a lot better than nothing.

But some climate experts call offsets a cop-out.

“It’s like paying someone else to diet for you,” said Alice Larkin of the University of Manchester’s Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, who has not flown since 2008.

She said that while governments do need to take tough action, they derive their courage to do so from the conduct of citizens. “In my idea, people move first,” she said.

Offsets, she said, encourage a break-even mind-set when what’s needed to avert disaster is to slash fossil-fuel consumption immediately.

Her colleague Kevin Anderson says that when you buy a ticket you’re not buying just a seat on a plane. You’re telling the aviation industry to run more flights, build more jets, expand more airports.

“Offsetting, on all scales, weakens present-day drivers for change and reduces innovation towards a lower-carbon future,” Professor Anderson wrote in 2012. Lately, a grassroots anti-flying movement has been gathering momentum in Europe, particularly Scandinavia.

But the world still beckons

I’d like to be able to tell you that knowing what I’ve learned reporting this piece, I have sworn off long-distance travel.

But actually this summer, we’re going to Greece, with a stopover in Paris. Carbon footprint of plane tickets: 10.6 metric tons, enough to melt a small-apartment-sized piece of the Arctic.

We committed to going months ago, but I suspect we would make the same choice today. We’re going because last year we canceled vacation to come home and watch our dog die. We’re going because the New York City public high school application process was an ordeal.

Mostly we’re going because of things we saw last time we were there. The tiny beach at the base of the towering cliff. The playground where the little children played past midnight while their parents and grandparents sat chatting. Chubby partridges pecking around the ruined temple of Poseidon.

Before we go, we will buy enough offsets to capture the annual methane emanations of a dozen cows — that’s several times what is needed to balance out the carbon effects of our flights. May they help keep a polar bear afloat.

Andy Newman is a Metro reporter for The New York Times.

Follow NY Times Travel on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. Get weekly updates from our Travel Dispatch newsletter, with tips on traveling smarter, destination coverage and photos from all over the world.

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5 Unique Wedding Gifts for 5 Types of Couples

Let’s be real, shopping from the wedding registry is safe, but it can be kind of boring. Plus, we all know the couple is sitting at home, checking their registry at least once a week to see what friends and family have bought.

There’s no fun in that, so you go off registry, but what if they not-so-secretly hate what you got?

What do you get for friends and family that’s unique and will actually get used? Check out our recommendations for unique wedding gifts for five different types of couples.

The Couple Who’s Sentimental

These gifts are sentimental and specifically selected to celebrate the couple’s wedding day and remember it forever. From a custom map of the sky on their wedding night, all the way to a personalized whiskey barrel, these gifts are thoughtful, a little mushy and perfect for the newlyweds.

The Night Sky Star Map – $60

Customize this star map with the location and date of the wedding. It’s thoughtful, unique and will look great hanging on their wall!

Anniversary Journal – $115-$130

For the sentimental couple, this anniversary journal is something they can update each year to record their story together. It’s something they could even pass down to children or grandchildren one day.

Mr. and Mrs. Etched Wine Bottle – $75-$85

Weddings are a celebration, and what better way to celebrate than with a personalized wine bottle?

Wooden Keepsake Box – $99

Help your loved ones cherish the memories they’ll make together with this personalized keepsake box. Get them started by included the wedding invitation or maybe even an ornament for their first year of marriage.

Personalized Whiskey Barrel – $85-$200

These mini whiskey barrels are perfect for the counter and you can customize them with the couple’s name and wedding date! What a great way to remember their special day.

The Couple Who Hosts

For the couple who loves to have people over, get them something that can help them host their famous gatherings! Something like a classy tabletop game or new bar cart will take their next dinner party to the next level.

Marble Tic-Tac-Toe Game Set – $40

This marble tic-tac-toe game elevates a classic game and makes it oversized for your tabletop. It will be a crowd-pleaser at their next backyard bash.

Wooden Wine Trough with Monogram – $209

Speaking of backyard bashes, a wine trough helps keeps beverages cool on a hot day. Gift them a stylish monogrammed one so they can rosé all day.

Dunloy Bar Cart – $110

A beautiful bar cart helps move the party inside. Consider additional gifts you or a group could get to stock the cart with drinks, mixers, accessories and barware.

Monogrammed Gold Pineapple Bottle Opener – $16

Pineapples are a symbol of hospitality and are considered an expression of welcome in the south. A gold pineapple bottle opener is a great gift for a couple who loves welcoming guests into their home.

Monogram Marble and Wood Serving Board – $63

Every host has their go-to serving board. Gift them one that is monogrammed with the letter of their last name to make this gift a little more personal.

The Couple Who Travels

If you’re looking to celebrate a jet-setting duo, or at least aspiring jet-setting duo, give them a gift to help them remember their travels and maybe make them a little easier.

Personalized Anniversary Pushpin World Map – $150

Help them track their travels with a pushpin map. They can pin every place they visit and relive the memories whenever they look at it.

Two of a Kind Set of Two Luggage Tags – $26

The tags are cute, stylish and perfect for the newlyweds to take on their honeymoon.

Coolife Luggage 3-Piece Set – $170

Every travel-loving duo needs a nice luggage set. Get them something that’s functional and stylish like this Coolife luggage set.

Airbnb Gift Card – starting at $25

Send them on their next trip by helping pay for a great place to stay. Airbnb has rentals all over the world and gift cards start at $25.

Worldwide Travel Adapter – $15

This is perfect, especially if they often travel internationally. This adapter can be used in more than 150 countries and fits two USB chargers as well.

The Couple Who Has Everything

If the newlyweds you’re shopping for are a little more established and don’t need another blender or toaster oven, try something a little more fun or luxurious. These gifts are things they’d enjoy but maybe wouldn’t spend the extra money to buy for themselves.

Monogrammed Turkish Cotton Bathrobe – $110

Turkish cotton is known to be a luxurious cotton and softer, because of how it’s spun and woven together. Get it monogrammed with their initials for a personalized touch.

Picnic at Ascot Wine and Cheese Cooler Bag – $40

A wine and cheese cooler bag is not something most people have on hand, but how fun would it bring to stock this and bring it on a picnic? Perfect for a weekend date.

Bocce Ball Set – $150

Yard games are great for couples who enjoy entertaining and having people over. This bocce ball set has a sleek, modern design. Not only is it fun, it will look great at their next backyard dinner party.

Floating Frames – starting at $79

Who can ever have enough picture frames? Get one of their wedding photos or engagement photos printed in a gorgeous floating frame for a keepsake they can display in their home.

Winc Subscription – starting at $60

This one is just fun. Help the couple continue celebrating with a Winc wine club subscription! Gift amounts start at $60 and give them access to unique and seasonal wines.

The Couple Who Needs Everything

These gifts are perfect for the couple who is just starting out. Gift them what they need to make their new home feel complete.

The Newlywed Cookbook – $35

If they’re moving into their first house or apartment, they may not have a ton of recipes in their repertoire. Give them a cookbook to help them plan meals and learn new recipes together.

Blue Apron Subscription – starting at $60

Speaking of new recipes … Blue Apron will send them the couple just enough groceries for the recipes they hand select. It’s the perfect gift for someone who is busy and wants to try some new styles of cooking.

16-piece Porcelain Dinnerware Set – $50

Of course, they’re going to need something to eat the food on. A porcelain dinnerware set is simple, classic and will last them for years to come.

Ninja Coffee Brewer – $80

New house, new marriage, more coffee. A coffee maker is a must-have for any kitchen (given they drink coffee, if not, maybe a nice teapot!).

A. Henckels International Classic 8-Inch Stainless-Steel Chef’s Knife – $44

When you’re just starting out and paying off a wedding, spending nearly $50 on a knife seems crazy, but a good chef’s knife will make working in the kitchen so much easier. This one is only $44 on Amazon and reviewed as one of the best chef’s knives by Food and Wine.

Do you have suggestions on what to buy couples for their wedding gifts? Share your ideas in the comment section.

The post 5 Unique Wedding Gifts for 5 Types of Couples appeared first on ZING Blog by Quicken Loans.

from Updates About Loans https://www.quickenloans.com/blog/5-unique-wedding-gift-ideas

[aaronsniderus]

5 Unique Wedding Gifts for 5 Types of Couples

Let’s be real, shopping from the wedding registry is safe, but it can be kind of boring. Plus, we all know the couple is sitting at home, checking their registry at least once a week to see what friends and family have bought.

There’s no fun in that, so you go off registry, but what if they not-so-secretly hate what you got?

What do you get for friends and family that’s unique and will actually get used? Check out our recommendations for unique wedding gifts for five different types of couples.

The Couple Who’s Sentimental

These gifts are sentimental and specifically selected to celebrate the couple’s wedding day and remember it forever. From a custom map of the sky on their wedding night, all the way to a personalized whiskey barrel, these gifts are thoughtful, a little mushy and perfect for the newlyweds.

The Night Sky Star Map – $60

Customize this star map with the location and date of the wedding. It’s thoughtful, unique and will look great hanging on their wall!

Anniversary Journal – $115-$130

For the sentimental couple, this anniversary journal is something they can update each year to record their story together. It’s something they could even pass down to children or grandchildren one day.

Mr. and Mrs. Etched Wine Bottle – $75-$85

Weddings are a celebration, and what better way to celebrate than with a personalized wine bottle?

Wooden Keepsake Box – $99

Help your loved ones cherish the memories they’ll make together with this personalized keepsake box. Get them started by included the wedding invitation or maybe even an ornament for their first year of marriage.

Personalized Whiskey Barrel – $85-$200

These mini whiskey barrels are perfect for the counter and you can customize them with the couple’s name and wedding date! What a great way to remember their special day.

The Couple Who Hosts

For the couple who loves to have people over, get them something that can help them host their famous gatherings! Something like a classy tabletop game or new bar cart will take their next dinner party to the next level.

Marble Tic-Tac-Toe Game Set – $40

This marble tic-tac-toe game elevates a classic game and makes it oversized for your tabletop. It will be a crowd-pleaser at their next backyard bash.

Wooden Wine Trough with Monogram – $209

Speaking of backyard bashes, a wine trough helps keeps beverages cool on a hot day. Gift them a stylish monogrammed one so they can rosé all day.

Dunloy Bar Cart – $110

A beautiful bar cart helps move the party inside. Consider additional gifts you or a group could get to stock the cart with drinks, mixers, accessories and barware.

Monogrammed Gold Pineapple Bottle Opener – $16

Pineapples are a symbol of hospitality and are considered an expression of welcome in the south. A gold pineapple bottle opener is a great gift for a couple who loves welcoming guests into their home.

Monogram Marble and Wood Serving Board – $63

Every host has their go-to serving board. Gift them one that is monogrammed with the letter of their last name to make this gift a little more personal.

The Couple Who Travels

If you’re looking to celebrate a jet-setting duo, or at least aspiring jet-setting duo, give them a gift to help them remember their travels and maybe make them a little easier.

Personalized Anniversary Pushpin World Map – $150

Help them track their travels with a pushpin map. They can pin every place they visit and relive the memories whenever they look at it.

Two of a Kind Set of Two Luggage Tags – $26

The tags are cute, stylish and perfect for the newlyweds to take on their honeymoon.

Coolife Luggage 3-Piece Set – $170

Every travel-loving duo needs a nice luggage set. Get them something that’s functional and stylish like this Coolife luggage set.

Airbnb Gift Card – starting at $25

Send them on their next trip by helping pay for a great place to stay. Airbnb has rentals all over the world and gift cards start at $25.

Worldwide Travel Adapter – $15

This is perfect, especially if they often travel internationally. This adapter can be used in more than 150 countries and fits two USB chargers as well.

The Couple Who Has Everything

If the newlyweds you’re shopping for are a little more established and don’t need another blender or toaster oven, try something a little more fun or luxurious. These gifts are things they’d enjoy but maybe wouldn’t spend the extra money to buy for themselves.

Monogrammed Turkish Cotton Bathrobe – $110

Turkish cotton is known to be a luxurious cotton and softer, because of how it’s spun and woven together. Get it monogrammed with their initials for a personalized touch.

Picnic at Ascot Wine and Cheese Cooler Bag – $40

A wine and cheese cooler bag is not something most people have on hand, but how fun would it bring to stock this and bring it on a picnic? Perfect for a weekend date.

Bocce Ball Set – $150

Yard games are great for couples who enjoy entertaining and having people over. This bocce ball set has a sleek, modern design. Not only is it fun, it will look great at their next backyard dinner party.

Floating Frames – starting at $79

Who can ever have enough picture frames? Get one of their wedding photos or engagement photos printed in a gorgeous floating frame for a keepsake they can display in their home.

Winc Subscription – starting at $60

This one is just fun. Help the couple continue celebrating with a Winc wine club subscription! Gift amounts start at $60 and give them access to unique and seasonal wines.

The Couple Who Needs Everything

These gifts are perfect for the couple who is just starting out. Gift them what they need to make their new home feel complete.

The Newlywed Cookbook – $35

If they’re moving into their first house or apartment, they may not have a ton of recipes in their repertoire. Give them a cookbook to help them plan meals and learn new recipes together.

Blue Apron Subscription – starting at $60

Speaking of new recipes … Blue Apron will send them the couple just enough groceries for the recipes they hand select. It’s the perfect gift for someone who is busy and wants to try some new styles of cooking.

16-piece Porcelain Dinnerware Set – $50

Of course, they’re going to need something to eat the food on. A porcelain dinnerware set is simple, classic and will last them for years to come.

Ninja Coffee Brewer – $80

New house, new marriage, more coffee. A coffee maker is a must-have for any kitchen (given they drink coffee, if not, maybe a nice teapot!).

A. Henckels International Classic 8-Inch Stainless-Steel Chef’s Knife – $44

When you’re just starting out and paying off a wedding, spending nearly $50 on a knife seems crazy, but a good chef’s knife will make working in the kitchen so much easier. This one is only $44 on Amazon and reviewed as one of the best chef’s knives by Food and Wine.

Do you have suggestions on what to buy couples for their wedding gifts? Share your ideas in the comment section.

The post 5 Unique Wedding Gifts for 5 Types of Couples appeared first on ZING Blog by Quicken Loans.

from Updates About Loans https://www.quickenloans.com/blog/5-unique-wedding-gift-ideas

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Cryptocurrency And Blockchain Glossary From A To Z

Cryptocurrency has hit the headlines for its remarkable spike and hurtles in a way early investors of bitcoin might never have expected. But in the middle of all this, many get caught up in the middle of bizarre terminologies and crypto jargons (from hot wallet to ICOs) only known by those who’ve been in the industry. It is completely fine for any newbie to feel scared by many of these terms. Here’s a list of the most popular cryptocurrency lingos that anyone will probably meet out there while trading in crypto and BTC. A-B 51% Attack –is a situation where more than half of the cryptocurrency networks computing resources are controlled by one system member or a group of people. In theory, such a computational resource power volume can negatively affect a cryptocurrency by halting mining, stopping or changing transactions, and reusing coins. Address – is used to send and receive cryptocurrency. Usually, the address is a line of letters and numbers. Also, it is a public key used by bitcoin-owners for the transaction digital signature. For example, Bitcoin address consists of alphanumeric strings that start with a 1 or 3; Ethereum addresses begin with ‘0x’. Altcoin – is a common name for all other cryptocurrencies except for the bitcoin that aim to replace it as a standard one. ASIC – is a special circuit optimized for the cryptocurrency mining, and it copes with this function more efficiently than computer GPU and CPU. Bitcoin Cash (BCH) – is a virtual currency that was created in August 2017 and basically, it is an imitation of the Bitcoin Blockchain with increased block size capacity to solve the scaling issue. Block – refers to a bunch of data that is related to transactions. It holds a historical database of all cryptocurrency transactions made until the Block is full. It’s a permanent record, like a bag of data that can be opened and viewed at any time. Blockchain – The blockchain is a digital ledger of all the transactions in a particular cryptocurrency ever made. It comprises of individual blocks that are chained to each other through a cryptographic signature. Every time a block’s capacity is reached, a new block is added to the chain. The blockchain is frequently copied and saved onto thousands of computers all around the world, and always matches with each other. Since there is no master copy stored in one location, it’s considered decentralized C-D DASH – A form of digital currency that is based on Bitcoin software but has an anonymous feature which makes it impossible to trace transactions of an individual. Decentralized – A condition where there is no fundamental control (i.e. not one single entity has control over all the processing) authority or function and no central point of the crash. Decentralized applications (dApps) – It is a kind of software program whose mechanism is based on P2P network rather than a single computer. DApps have existed since the advent of P2P networks. This software has been designed to exist on the Internet in a way that is not controlled by the single body. It can have any number of participants on all sides of the marketplace & it does not have to be financial. Ethereum is a trendy development platform for creating dApps. Digital Signature – is a code generated by a public key cryptosystem. It is a combination of public and private cryptographic keys that are used to confirm the transaction genuineness and sender identification. The code is attached to electronic documents for checking their content and sender identity verification. E-F ERC-20 – It is a kind of token standard for Ethereum which needs to be met in order for a token to be accepted. The standard regulations apply to all ERC20 tokens because these regulations are required to interact with each other on the Ethereum network. Ether – is the minimum unit of Ethereum, the second cryptocurrency after bitcoin by capitalization in the world. Ethereum – Ethereum is a decentralized software platform that is based on blockchain technology created by Vitalik Buterin in 2013. It runs contracts on a custom built blockchain that allows developers to build markets, store registries of debts, and so on. Fiat money – It refers to currencies that have nominal or no intrinsic value themselves (i.e. they are not supported by commodities like gold or silver) but it is defined as an authorized tender by the government, like paper bills and coins. Flipping – A kind of investment strategy that is popular among real estate investing where you can buy something with the goal of reselling for a profit later, usually in a small period of time. From ICO point of view, flipping refers to the approach of investing in tokens before they are listed on exchanges & again selling them for a profit as they are trading in the secondary market. FOMO – An acronym that stands for fear of missing out, the sharp rise in the value of cryptos catch the attention of investors and they invests in it and the feeling of anxiety refers to miss out a potentially profitable investment opportunity & regretting on it afterward. Fork – is a creation of an alternative successful version of the blockchain. The fork is often called a new cryptocurrency, which is based on the protocol of the existing one. For example, Litecoin (LTC) is a Bitcoin fork (BTC). FUD – An acronym that stands for fear, uncertainty, and doubt. It is an approach to control perception by spreading negative, deceptive or bogus information about something, as conflicting to logical criticism. G-H Genesis block – The first block of data that is processed & authenticated to form a new blockchain, often referred to as block 0 or block 1. Hard cap – The maximum amount that an ICO will raise. If an ICO attains its hard cap, they will stop collecting more capital. HODL – A type of inactive investment strategy where you hold an asset for a long period of time, in spite of market instability. The term was made prominent by an error made in a bitcoin forum. I-L Initial coin offering (ICO) – It is an unregulated method by which a cryptocurrency venture, usually at the premature stage can raise money from supporters by issuing tokens. It is frequently referred to as a crowd sale because ICO members can potentially earn a profit on their investments. At present Ethereum is the most renowned platform for launching ICOs. IOTA (MIOTA) – It is a kind of cryptocurrency & the name of an open source distributed ledger that was founded in the year 2015 and it works on the new technology called Tangle. It proposes features like scalability, fast and secure transactions, zero fees, and so on. It is focused on the Internet of Things. Lightning Network – It is a protocol for scaling and speeding up blockchains. While it was designed to solve some of the technical limitations of the Bitcoin blockchain, it can be implemented on top of any blockchain. Litecoin (LTC) – In 2011 former Google employee Charlie Lee created a cryptocurrency that offers features like the Lightning Network and Segregated Witness which allows for faster processing at inferior cost. M-N Market capitalization (market cap) – In cryptocurrency investment, it refers to either value increased by the circulating supply (i.e. free float market capital) or price multiplied by the total supply (i.e. fully diluted market cap). Maximum supply – An evaluation of the maximum number of tokens or coins that will ever exist for a cryptocurrency or crypto asset. Mining – A process where transactions are verified & added to a blockchain. It is also the procedure where new Altcoins or Bitcoins are created. Anyone with the necessary hardware & proper access to the internet can be a miner & earn a profit, but the cost of industrial hardware & electricity has restricted mining for bitcoins & definite altcoins today to large-scale operations. Monero (XMR) – In 2014, this cryptocurrency was created & its main focus was on scalability and privacy and runs on platforms like Mac, Linux, Windows & Android. Transactions on Monero are designed to be untraceable to any particular client or real-world identity. NEM (XEM) – The term refers to a cryptocurrency & the name of a platform for managing variety of assets like supply chains, currencies, ownership records. It comes up with additional features to blockchain technology like encrypted messaging, multi-signature accounts. NEO- The name stands for China’s first open source blockchain & the cryptocurrency that was founded in 2014 by Da Hongfei. It is analogous to Ethereum in its capability to carry out smart contracts or dApps but has some technical differences like programming language compatibility. O-Q Pre-sale – A sale that takes place before a token is made accessible to the common people to contribute. Proof of Stake (PoS) – An algorithm that reward participant who solves tricky cryptographic puzzles to achieve distributed consensus. Unlike PoW or proof of work, a person can validate transactions & create new blocks that is based on their individual wealth, for example, the total number of coins owned. One of the significant advantages that PoS have above PoW is low energy consumption. Proof of Work (PoW) – An algorithm that rewards the first person who solves a computational problem (i.e. mining) to achieve distributed consensus. Miners fight to solve tricky cryptographic puzzles sequentially to add the next block on the blockchain. Pump and dump scheme – A scheme in which the development team hypes up a project with no fundamental basis in order to pump up the value of the tokens provisionally and after that sells their holdings immediately after launch to earn a profit. R-S Ripple – Refers to the name of an open source payment platform and crypto asset. The idea for the platform is to enable real-time global payments anywhere around the globe. The Ripple payment protocol was developed by Open Coin which was found in 2012. SegWit (Segregated Witness) – The process where the block size limit on a blockchain is increased by eliminating digital signature information & moving it to the end of a transaction to free up capacity. Transactions are fundamentally split into two segments the original data segment & the signature segment. Smart contracts – An automated mechanism that involves two/more parties where virtual assets are put in and redistributed later that is based on some predetermined formula & triggering experience. It can be run involuntarily without any downtime, censorship, fraud or third party intrusion. Soft cap – Generally it is referred as the minimum amount that an initial coin offering (ICO) needs to raise. If the ICO is incapable to raise that amount, it may be canceled & the collected funds return to participants. T-Z Token – Crypto tokens facilitate the creation of open, decentralized network & offer a mode to incentivize contributors in the network (with both network expansion & token approbation). Total supply – The total number of tokens or coins in existence, it includes that coins which are circulating in the open marketplace & that are reserved or locked. Wallet – A store of virtual assets like cryptocurrencies, similar to a digital bank account. Crypto wallets can be divided into two categories hosted wallets (e.g. wallets store on exchanges/ third-party servers) and cold wallets (e.g. hardware wallets like the Ledger Nano S, paper wallets & desktop wallets). White-list– It is the list of an authorized entity or privileged members who have an exclusive access to contribute in an ICO or to participate in pre-sale. Whitepaper – An authoritative guide or report that usually describes the philosophy, technology, and objective of a project or initiative. Whitepapers are often presented before the launch of a new coin or token. Zcash – is an anonymous cryptocurrency created in 2016, which hides sender and recipient identity, as well as the amount of the transaction.

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