#we were all going to go for sushi or tacos but I think everyone's done and ready to go home

[yn-x-animeboy]

Jungkook x y/n (as a famous artist) Pt. 1

request: mine, my brain made me write this

pairing: reader x Jungkook

genre: fluff, romance, for entertainment purposes

BTS x Fem Reader

sinopsis: You are a popular artist in America, pretty famous, loved and well-known by the general public (actually you were one of the top 10 artists in the world but you are pretty humble and naïve to realize your popularity), one day during one of your fan meets you talk about how much you love BTS, and not only how you wish to meet them and work with them but how Jungkook is one of your celebrity crushes. During the meet you fangirled with other ARMYs in the crowd; video clips of you fangirling and talking about BTS at your meet where posted and reposted all over social media. This obviously broke the internet because you were not only a famous singer but you also were always accepted and loved by ARMY and this made a lot of people happy. Suddenly it felt like everyone wanted you to meet the seven handsome and talented idols and collaborate, but you could only wish, you believed they didn't even know who you were...or so you thought.

Pt. 1- Introduction. Your fan meet

Basically every couple of months you like to organize small get-togethers with your supporters as a way to have a closer contact with them, to get to know them, as a fanservice and to just thank them in a way. Lately you have been noticing one specific group of fan pages dedicated to you who have been really interactive and supportive on twitter; 

promoting your latest music video and the recent EPISODE of: y/n’s camera roll uploaded to your oficial platforms (your team uploaded a weekly video=episode to your channel; almost like Run BTS. Each episode had a different theme and your fans loved it)  this group of fan pages is constantly on your main page, so you decided to contact them and fly them out for a day in L.A. for one of your infamous meets so you could meet them.

You don't normally film your fan meetings, they are normally just a one on one gatherings between you and your fans,  but your team thought it could be a good idea to record today’s meet and upload parts of it for your weekly EPISODE, these were greatly appreciated by your international fans and other fans who wanted to see a little more into your personal life.

You were currently hanging out with the small group of fans you invited over. A group of around 10 boys and girls were currently sitting on the fluffy carpeted floor and some were sitting on plush chairs randomly spread in front of you. (a/n i imagine this setting like the Zach Sang Show, for the Ariana Grande interview episodes) 

You were sitting in front of them on a small white couch for two. Once everyone was comfortably settled in, you introduced yourself and invited the others to do so as well, one by one telling you their name, username, pronouns, age, and fun facts about them. You smiled wide, happy to be able to meet such amazing people and also making mental notes to remember their names and facts. 

After the personal introductions your camera crew was set up and ready to start, you told your fans sitting in front of you about how today's meet was going to be recorded and asked for their consent to upload said video; and then proceed to open for the camera; 

“Hello everyone welcome to another episode of…. f** I don't even know what we call these videos, jajajaja” 

Your fans sitting in front of you stated the name of the youtube series in a heartbeat;

“Wait what?... jajajajaja omg guys thank you, I'm so sorry, yeah you heard them, welcome back to y/n’s camera roll, I can’t believe I forgot that, anyway today’s episode is a little different……” you proceed to explain what the episode was about and thanking the future viewers for tuning in and watching the video. “Waw what a long introduction, so, before we actually go on and have the meet while you guys at home enjoy, I want to introduce you to the lovely group of people who I have invited here today….” Again proceed to introduce your fans to the camera by name, trying to not miss anyone and not butcher any name in the process.

After the introduction is done you porcede to carry out the fan meet like you normally do, you normally have scheduled sections of activities during your meets to make them fun; For today’s meet you all played games and did a couple challenges with your fans; then you recorded a couple of tik toks and instagram stories your fans asked you to be in, and casually all hung out. After a while of comfortable chatting and laughter, you wanted to hype up the mood. You turned down the lights, turned on some color  LED lights and had a dance party with everyone invited, dancing and going all out to popular music.

After being all drained from the heavy physical activities, you ordered a variety of food for your fans, like pizza and pasta, sushi, tacos, snacks, etc. and had a muckbang/eating section for the episode as well.

You were having so much fun, you looked around while eating and just by looking at their excited and happy faces you couldn help but feel complete and thankful for all of your fans.

After filling up on food, you carried out the Q&A section of the meet, allowing fans to ask you personal questions and conversing on various topics. The camera director gave you instructions to proceed with the questions, you nodded and thanked him and the staff for their hard work, turning on your heel and sitting back in your spot you tuned to the main camera: “Hi, quick update, sorry I haven't been so interactive with the camera in this episode for everyone watching at home, but I have been having so much fun and I am not used to having a camera crew for my normal fan meets, I’m sorry. Anyway now we will move on, I am going to answer some questions and hopefully this is entertaining enough  for the EPISODE hahaha” the crew and fans present chucked as you finished the small interruption.

And the questions began. A girl sitting in the back, raised her hand and spoke; “yeah um, I’m sorry I wanted to  see if I could start the questions, idk if the others are okay with that”. The rest of the group nodded sweetly at her, others replied with short “yeah’s”. She then proceeded nervously “thankyou g-guys, um I’m sorry before my question, is there anything we cannot ask you or..?

You sweetly smiled at her shyness and consideration, you tried your best to make her comfortable, “You are so cute, hahaha, thankyou for being considerate, but I really can’t think of anything that I am not allowed to answer or talk about, let me ask my manager...do I Sam?” you shifted your upper body to the side where the crew was standing, your manager Sam shook his head, you don't really have any tea to be spilled anyway so he is pretty confident and comfortable allowing you to be 100% in control. 

“Okay if Sam says it’s cool, it's okay  jajaja. You can ask me anything”

The girl then proceeded to ask her question, and waited for you to answer.

Time went by, and it was pretty cool to see what your fans were interested in learning about you, after some time the group continued asking you questions like “who is your biggest inspiration? favorite song?, favorite thing about being on tour? what would you do if you weren't a singer? etc.

One of the boys in the group spoke; “Hi, y/n, can I ask you another question?” you nodded and signaled him to proceed; 

“I saw that you liked an instagram post about BTS a while back uploaded by a fan account and I also saw that you actually follow their personal twitter account. ALSO in your behind the scenes video for your music video shoot you can be seen in the background dancing the Boy with luv choreo. So I wanted to ask if you were an ARMY and if you know them personally? and like should we be expecting a collaboration soon?”

You chucked at his talking speed, curious questions and great detective skills.

 Before you answered you mentally told yourself to hold back and not go all cRAzY fAnGirL on them, you inhaled and answered:

“OMG hahaha I love you so much, what an amazing question, Okay so first off no I don’t know them personally and sadly no plans of collaboration are on sight. Oh wow I have never been asked if I liked BTS before, I’m excited hahaha. Yeah I am an ARMY, I love them so much I am one of their biggest fans, and they are also one of my biggest inspirations when it comes to work ethic and professionalism, listening to them or watching them gives me motivation to keep doing what I love, which is this. 

anyway I am rambling I should stop; you guys can say y/n stop whenever I start rambling okay? hahaha''

The group in front of you laughed and added some extra comments on your response.

After a couple comments back and forth you realized something… and asked out loud, 

“Wait so, how many of you guys here are actually ARMYs?”, 

all of the sudden the 10 fans sitting in front of you raised their hands. 

“So you guys are telling me literally everyone of you is a fellow ARMY and didn't tell me until now?” everyone chuckled and looked around surprises at the coincidence 

You were already feeling shy after talking so much about yourself before so you redirected the activity, “Guys should we actually talk about BTS for a bit? hahaha” you asked your fans

This made a girl raise her hand and ask: “Can I ask you a BTS question then? Okay so, who is your favorite member?

You loved the new conversation topic. You answered truthfully: “Well first off, I don't have a favorite member. I really mean it when I say this. I love them all equally and I love them all as a group. I don’t prefer one over the other or like one better.  I really do support them equally. I mean there is nothing wrong with having a bias, as long as you also respect the other members, hope that all made sense lol” Everyone seemed moved by your support towards them and nodded.

“Y/n so you don’t have a favorite, but do you have a crush on any of them?, like if you could date one of them right now, which one do you pick?” A fan asked.

You looked at her and really thought about how to answer said question in the best way possible; “okay...well...Like I said just to be clear I don't have favorites amongst the group members, but I do have a type…. I consider one of them to be my celebrity crush” you answered, starting out slow and finishing by blurting out the last part.

Your fans in front of you went crazy, they leaned over their seats wanting to feel closer to you and not miss anything you were saying as you took a breath to continue speaking.

“So in that case, if I had to pick someone that I would date in real life...i would say…. Jungkook'' The room was filled with surprised remarks, small comments and squeals.

“Omg guys chill hahaha, breathe, it's just a crush I don’t know him and it's not going to happen. It's just that I find him really attractive and he is my type.”

The fans kept raising their hands to ask you various questions about BTS,

the camera director and manager signaled you to get your attention after you finished answering other questions and told you you only had time for one more question before the fan meet was over.

“Okay guys so apparently we have time for one more question, so make it a good one, it can be about anything, shoot” you said as you leaned over to reach for your water bottle, swung the bottle and pointed to someone on the corner of your eye who seemed to have one last question, as you drank some water they asked: “I have a last BTS question if you don’t mind y/n” 

Still gulping water you moved your hand indicating them that is was okay and to go on,

“okay, um I just thought about this, do you have like a specific fantasy or make up scenario about BTS that you could only dream could come true; like I wish i could walk into a café shop and suddenly meet V, realizing we were reading the same book and covering for hours”

That was such a deep and personal question, you had never once thought anyone would be interested in what your fantasies where; you thought it might be boring for your fans if you went on and on about  stupid make believe scenarios that live in your head rent free. But seeing everyones approving faces over the question and the intrigued eyes they were shooting at you, you spoke: “I love that question, and your scenario is so cute, you should write a tumblr post about it, (a/n wink wink) well yeah I obviously have created fake scenarios in my head about BTS, past crushes, fake arguments even hahaha, there are so many BTS fake scenarios in my head…. hmm oh I know which one, okay so this fantasy of mine is about how I would meet them irl and work with them, I will make it quick”

You kinda chuckled at yourself, playing with the cap on your water bottle, you felt as if you were about to say something really cringy and embarrassing. You took a deep breath and started the narration of the sinopsis of your personal fanfic created by you. 

“Okay so, my literal fantasy is to one day meet them at a talk show, you know how hosts like will surprise their guests with something/someone they like?, I believe Ellen has done it multiple times where she surprised a guest with their idol or celebrity crush, you know?” The group nodded, invested in your fake scenario “Well i would be invited to like the Jimmy Fallon Show, where he would just randomly surprise me with BTS. Then I would be given the opportunity to introduce myself and tell them how much I love and support them. I would also be able to show them my Korean speaking skills, I learned Korean and Spanish back in school and I have never been able to actually use either them, lol, anyway...well after that we would all become really good friends, and we would collaborate and put out one or multiple songs for you guys. I mean that's basically it, I wish I could meet them, and become their friend and write songs with them, even produce songs with Suga or RM if I could'' you sighed as you ended your mini narration.

You continued; “But well, that's just a fake scenario I repeat, it's not real and it's not gonna happen, EVER. For now I will keep supporting and loving them with you and the rest of ARMY. I really doubt they even know who I am, anyway” you closed the conversation at that. Your fans seemed like they wanted to say something but your camera director called you over before anyone could say something else. You excuse yourself and walk over to the cameras and lights set up where the staff is.

*your fans were really confused, and this you didn't know, but your fans knew for a fact that BTS knew very well who you were. The fans even knew which member has continuously admitted to having a platonic crush on you for years now, ever since you first blew up, back when you were 16 and he was 17. Your fans knew how you are one of BTS’s favorite artists, and this was no secret, you could literally look all this information up... 

They didn’t understand how you could have no idea how famous you actually are* They talked amongst themselves about this while you talked to your team.

Your manager and camera director indicated you to do an outro for the video’s footage and other instructions. You nodded your head and smiled, you took a step back and bowed your head towards the staff behind the cameras and thanked them for their work.

You then walked towards the group of fans and told them you had to do an outro for the camera if that was okay with them; you then sat with them on the floor while side hugging the two fans next to you, you directed yourself to the camera:  “Okay guys so sadly today’s meet is now over, I am really sad I wish we could hang out for longer, thank you so much for coming and making today so fun and special” you then turned to the camera “And for my other amazing supporters who are going to watch this on youtube, today was just a little scoop into my life like the other y/n’s camera roll EPISODES, in case you are interested in other videos like this one you can visit head to the channel where this video was uploaded and watch more! hopefully you guys had fun with us! I adore you all, thank you! Please Spread love always, y/n out” you waved as the camera director said “CUT” and the crew cut the cameras.

Your manager then stood up and directed everyone to get ready to leave, also thanking them for always supporting you and taking care of you, you smiled at your amazing manager and looked back at your fans while they picked up their stuff, smiling sadly.

You said your goodbye to everyone one-by-one as they headed out.

After lots of farewell hugs, kisses, selfies, and gifts, you went home with a smile on your face for the amazing time you had.

You went to bed, turned your phone on silent mode and looked at your ceiling,  reliving that fake scenario you talked about a few hours ago, oh how you wished it could become real (a/n hehe wink wink). Finally dozing off and resting for the work-packed day you had tomorrow unaware that your social media was currently going crazy and how they yearned for your new weekly EPISODE to come out.

Part 2- Jungkook’s POV --------> here

thank you so much, please interact with me to let me know if you like this :) Xx

[obaby-me]

Your Type

Beelzebub x Reader

He never even had a chance.

Author’s Note:  I love me some pining.  But also, I love me a happy ending.  The quiz that is mentioned in this story can be found here:  https://www.buzzfeed.com/javiermoreno/whats-your-actual-type

If there’s anyone who knows anything about attraction, it’s Beelzebub’s older brother, Asmodeus.  He’s a natural matchmaker, known to fix up his brothers with dates and hook ups that have always returned rave reviews.  So, when Asmo says he can find you the perfect date for Diavolo’s latest inspired event—a homecoming dance—Beel knows that without question, he will.

“First, we need to know your type,” Asmo tells you as he lays out on the living room couch, his legs over laying over top of yours as you sit upright with the latest reading assignment laying forgotten in your open palms.

“I don’t think this is really necessary,” you tell him with a small laugh.

“Oh, but it is!  I want you to have the most enjoyable time possible!  And as much as I’d love to be the one on your arm, I already made a promise to Solomon to accompany him instead.”  Asmo says with a regretful sigh.  “He was going to go stag, can you believe it?  I couldn’t let him!”

“I don’t think there’s really anything wrong attending an event without a date,” you say thoughtfully. “I’ve certainly done so before.”

“You what!”  Asmo gasps.

“Well, sometimes no one asks.  But I still want to meet up with some of my friends that will be attending, so I went on my own,” you said with a small shrug.

“Well, you didn’t have me then, and you do now.  I’m going to find you a perfect date!”  Asmo declares confidently.  “Now, type if you please.”  He says with a snap of his fingers, demanding an answer.

“I don’t have one,” you tell him, turning a page on your book in an attempt to return to studying.

“Oh, yes you do! Everyone has a type!  Some just more loosely defined than others,” Asmo says with a hand wave.  “Take Beel for example, he loves someone who can cook and share recipes with him, or someone athletic to swap workout regimens with!”  Asmo says as he waves a hand to Beel who sits at your feet, back against the couch.  “And he’s a sucker for a tight ass,” he adds with a grin.  “Oh, the shorter the better too!  He’s got such a kink for-“  Asmo begins.

Beel chokes against the chips he’d been pouring from the bag into his mouth, trying to catch the last remnants that remained in the bag.  Though not intended, it was the perfect interruption.  A heat blooms on his face as Asmo calls him out on his preferences, and he’s glad you can’t see his face while he’s sitting at your feet, his back against the couch.

Asmo’s right, of course. He does like those things, and he’s been quite happy with the partners Asmo’s previously selected for him when he’s been required to attend other Diavolo events that demand a date.

“Well, if I have a type, I certainly don’t know it,” you say quickly, and Beel silently thanks you for help him save face.

“Well, I have just the thing for that!”  Asmo says with delight.  He swings his legs over you and over Beel’s head as he stands and quickly leaves to fetch whatever “the thing” is.

There’s a silence that envelops in the room and he can hear you turn a page in your book, indicating that you’ve returned to your studying.  “J-just so you know,” Beel begins, “I-I like other things too.”  But he can’t quite grasp all the words he wants to say.

He likes your hair, its style and its color.

He likes your eyes, especially when they light up with delight.

He likes the way you smile and how you sound when you laugh.

He likes how you feel in his arms on the rare occasions when he gets to hold you.

He likes the way you spend your time at his side; when he eats, when he works out, when he studies, when he simply lays about with his brother Belphie.

He likes you.

And he’d like to go to the dance with you.

But there’s hardly any time for him to translate his feelings into any proper sentence before Asmo returns, waving a magazine in his hand.  He plants himself beside you, cuddled into your side, head leaning on your shoulder as he flips through the pages quickly.

“You can’t be serious,” you tell him with a laugh.

“It’s just the start,” Asmo says with a wave of his hand.  “It’s the first read on the general direction I should be going in, and then I consider other things too!  Like your interests, and your hard limits, y’know, the basics.”

“Asmo, this date is not going to end with me needing to express any hard limits,” you warn.

“Maybe,” Asmo says with a playful wink, “but what if it becomes something more?  What if you hit it off so well, it becomes two dates, then three!”

Beel can feel his brows furrow and his heart feels tight at the very thought.

“Three dates will also not end with me expressing any hard limits,” you say with a laugh.  “But I understand what you mean.  I’m still not sharing that with you.”

Asmo bites his lip and raises his brows, whispering into your ear gently, “oh, but I do hope someday you will, in one way or another.”  Just as quickly as he turns on his flirting, he’s quick to return his attentions to the magazine in his hands.  “Anyway, other than the obvious me, let’s get back to finding your type!”

Beel can’t help but take a glance at your face, it’s slightly red but you seem to be laughing Asmo’s suggestion as a mere joke.  He wishes he was just as smooth.  He wishes he could make your cheeks heat up into that pretty shade.

Quickly he turns back to his textbook, as if he wasn’t hanging on to every word.

“First question!  What feature do you fine most attractive?  Full lips, sexy eyes, luscious hair, well maintained eyebrows, clear skin, or a bright smile?”  Asmo reads.

“Those are the choices?” You ask, finding the options rather ridiculous.  “Bright smile.”

“Well, what choice would you choose if it’s not listed here?”  Asmo asks curiously.

“No, bright smile is a good one.”  You say with a bright smile of your own.  Beel can’t help but wonder if you would think the same of his.  Certainly his are white, but when he looks at you, he knows that’s not why he considers yours so blindingly wonderful.

“If you were visit any of these mountainous regions, where would you like to visit?  The craggy mountains, the witch’s eye, the-“

“You can stop right there on that one,” you say holding a hand up, “I don’t know any of those places.”

“Fine, fine.  That one’s pretty unimportant anyway.  Now!  Describe your personality with one word!  Fun, social, deep, reserved, nice, bookish?”

“Nice,” Beel answers for you.

“I’d agree!”  Asmo says with a nod.  “I didn’t think you were interested, Beel.”  Asmo mocks.

Beel doesn’t bother to respond and only holds his textbook up a little higher.

“I don’t think I’m especially nice,” you mutter, though you are flattered.

“What’s an ideal food for you to have on a date?  Sushi, tacos, steak, fon-“

“Steak.  I know that one, steak.”  You say cutting him off with a grin.  Asmo gives a laugh but marks it down on to sheet.  Beel can’t help but grin.  He’ll be keeping that in mind on your next outing to a restaurant with him and Belphie.

“Which personality trait is a total turn off?  Dishonesty, selfishness, vanity, cockiness, terrible manners, aloofness?”

For awhile you are silent, mulling over the question.  “Dishonesty,” you say slowly.  “Being lied to hurts the most.”

Beel can sympathize with that, recalling how his eldest brother Lucifer had lied to him about Belphie’s disappearance for so long.  And Lilith, the truth about Lilith hurt him the most.  He understands this better than anyone.  And so do you.  It’s a comfort him to know.

“And finally, what’s better to have in a relationship, a lot of good food, or a lot of good sex?” Asmo asks with a grin.

Beel holds a breath, his fingers suddenly crossing as he holds the textbook tight.  Food, he hopes, food.  If there’s anything more Beel-like in an answer, it’s this one.

You laugh wildly at the question.  “Are those really the two options?”  You manage between bouts of laughter.  Asmo’s eyebrows flit up and down suggestively.

“Come now, answer the question!”

“Sex, then.”  You say as you wipe tears from your eyes.

Beel can feel his heart drop into his stomach.  But one question doesn’t mean anything, right?  He fits some of the other criteria—probably.  He still has a chance.

“Well, well, I’ll be keeping that in mind!”  Asmo grins. “And that certainly knocks Beel out of the running,” Asmo teases as he turns to prod his younger brother with his foot.

And Beel doesn’t dare to turn to look at Asmo, or you, the joke hitting him where it hurts the most.  But Beel doesn’t think Asmo knows it.  He can’t bring himself to be angry at him.

“Let’s see, results here say that what you like is the Creative Type!  Expansive mind, expressive, with knowledge of the arts. Brains and creativity are your ultimate turn on.”  Asmo reads out, skimming the results.  If anyone, it sounds like Satan,” Asmo says with a laugh.

Beel can’t help the way his fingers suddenly grip the book so tightly that he feels the hard cover bend and indent with the force of his grip.  The idea of Satan taking you to the dance makes his stomach turn upside down. And his nerves feel like fire.

“Mm,” you hum, non-committal.  “Maybe,” you sound unconvinced—but the fact that you’re considering at all makes him feel like he’s dropped a dumbbell over his chest.  It was as if you’d rejected him without him having ever gotten the chance to ask.

Unable to bear being in the room any longer, Beel mutters, “I’m hungry.”  He shuts his book (as best as it can be considering how he’s unintentionally maimed it).

“I could use a break too,” you say, closing your own book, and standing up.  “I think that’s enough for me,” you tell Asmo who looks dejectedly at you.

“Oh, but I haven’t even gotten to follow up with the better questions yet!”

“Later,” you promise him, which seems to light him up.

“Not too much later, dear! I’ll need the time to find you your date after all!”  He chides.

You smile and wave but don’t otherwise answer him and follow after Beel, whose plan to get away from you has since failed.

Opening the fridge, he pulls out the many containers which have his name scrawled on sticky notes. Sometimes two or three for one container—for good measure.

“What’re you having today?” you ask him with interest as you peer into the clear glass cases.

But Beel’s not really sure to be quite honest.  He’s just pulling everything he can.

“Beel?” You call out to him.

“Hm?”  He responds, not once turning to you.

“Beel, are you okay?”

“Yeah.”

There’s a silence as Beel takes the various containers to the multiple microwaves to the end of the long counter on the opposite end of you, the whir of the three machines taking up the room.

“I like other things too,” you echo to him his words from earlier.  It seems you had guessed the reason for his somber mood.

“Yeah?”  He asks a small dash of hope lingering in his voice, though he still didn’t dare look at you.  He could feel himself flush.

“I like you,” you whisper quietly from across the room.

His breath catches in his throat and his heart rate spikes as if he’s run 5 miles.  He heard you correctly, right?  Right?

He gulps audibly, pausing as he attempts to calm himself.  “Yeah?” he asks as he gives you a sideway glance.  However, now it seems that you’re the one who can’t seem to look at him. But the red tips of your ears give him all he needs to know.

“Yeah,” you answer back, your voice quiet but resolved.

He’s not sure he’s ever smiled so wide before—his cheeks actually hurt.  But he doesn’t mind.

“D-do you have anyone you’re going with to the—”

“No.”  He says quickly, turning to face you fully.

There’s a loud screech signaling that his food is finally ready and waiting for him.  But his appetite has since dissipated—his stomach too full of butterflies to take anything else in.  He ignores them in favor of striding towards you.

“Do you maybe want to—” you ask as you hear his footsteps approaching.  You turn to look at him, looking apprehensive.

“Yes.”  He says, with a happy nod.

“Like, as a real date,” you clarify quickly.

“Yes.”  He confirms, his hand reaching towards you to stroke your cheek.  “I’d like that more than anything.”  A screech of the microwave reminding him of his meal perfectly attesting to it.

You smile as you lean into his hand, your hands cupping his so gently.

Guess he had a chance after all.

[bellaireland1981]

New Beginnings: CH 6

Characters: Andy Barber x Single Mom! Briella James (Named Reader), Jacob Barber, Ava James

Summary: Briella James is a HS teacher and has Jacob in her class. Jacob meets Briella’s 5 year old daughter and they form a bond. Andy is interested in Briella but her ex (and Ava’s dad) is becoming a problem!

Warnings: Mostly fluff, some angst, jerk of an ex that harasses Briella, kissing… will update in future chapters.

Word Count: 4084

A/N: I do Not own Andy Barber or Jacob Barber, they are fictional characters. I do not give permission for anyone to repost my work or translate it to another site. Reblogs always welcome!   This is my FIRST EVER attempt at writing for Andy…or any character, so be gentle!  THANK YOU to my friends for supporting me and encouraging me! I’m my own worst critic so I love their feedback! @denisemarieangelina @fluffymisha97 @jamielea81

Chapter 5     

Thankfully the rest of the week went pretty quickly. Friday morning, Ava was a ball of excited energy for dinner with Andy and Jacob. She wasn’t the only one. You couldn’t wait either.

Unfortunately, throughout the day you were inundated with texts and calls from your ex, which set you on edge. You managed to make it to your lunch before you broke down and actually called Andy. You planned to just leave a voicemail, as you were sure he was busy. You were happily surprised when he picked up.

“Hey, Sweetheart.” He said, “Are you on lunch? How’s your day going?”

“Yeah.” You said, “It’s much better now that I’m talking to you. I was just going to leave you a voicemail, but this is much better.”

“Everything ok?” He asked, concerned, “And unless I’m in court, I’ll always answer for you.”

“I’ve been getting a lot of texts and calls today from the ex.” You replied, shakily, “It’s just getting to me. It’s exhausting.”

“Forward me the messages,” he said, “I promise you, this will be over soon. In the meantime, we have tonight and tomorrow night together to look forward to.”

“That’s what’s getting me through.” You replied, “I can’t wait to see you. Ava is beyond excited as well.”

“Only a few more hours.” He said, “I can’t wait to see you and Ava either. How about you both come over at 4:30. Gives you time to get her picked up and I’ll leave work early and meet you at my house.”

“Sounds perfect.” You agreed. “I’ll let you get back to work, and I’ll see you soon.”

“I’ll see you soon.” He said, “And you can call me whenever you need to.”

The rest of the day went smoother. The calls and texts tapered down so you were at least able to focus. Once your last class was finished, you wrapped up some last minute emails to parents, then shut your laptop, grabbed your stuff and headed out of the building.

You got Ava picked up from school and headed home to change before going to Andy’s. Ava insisted on wearing her Elsa pajamas, even though you repeatedly told her it was not a sleepover.  One thing you were sure of, the child was headstrong.  You changed into jeans and a lighter weight sweater. It was starting to get cooler, especially at night.

You arrived at Andy’s and parked behind his black Audi. Getting out of your car, you made your way around to get Ava out and the two of you walked up to the front door. Andy was already there waiting with the door open, smiling at the two of you.

“Hi Andy!” Ava exclaimed, bounding up the step and throwing her arms around him. He hugged her back, smiling at you over her head.

“Hey, Princess.” He said, “I hope you’re hungry. We’ve got lots of pizza on the way, and enough snacks to rival the movie theater.”

“I’m starving.” she confirmed, beaming up at Andy. “Where’s Jacob?”

“Right here” He said, coming up behind his dad. “Come on, let’s steak out the best seats for the movie.” Jacob reaches for Ava’s hand, helping her into the house.

“Hey, Beautiful.” Andy said smiling at you, “Come here.” He gently pulled you up the step into the house and into his arms. You felt your whole body relax into his embrace. The stress of the week and everything with your ex melting away.

“That was exactly what I needed.” you said smiling up at him, “Thank you.”

“If I’m being honest, I needed it too,” He replied, “It was a long day. I was more than happy to leave it all behind. Come on, let’s go inside, I’ve got wine or beer. You’ve earned it.”

Andy led you into the house and to the kitchen. It was a very nice house from what you saw of it so far. It was definitely larger than yours. Surprisingly, it looked very homey, not the bachelor pad you were expecting with two males living there. Jacob and Ava were seated in what looked like oversized bean bag chairs on the living room floor flipping through Disney+, deciding on which movie to watch. It was cute that Jacob was patiently flipping through them all, even though everyone knew the choice would be Frozen.

You’d decided beer sounded better for the evening, especially with pizza coming. You and Andy sat at the island in the kitchen sipping your beer, enjoying each other’s company while you waited for dinner to arrive.

“I wasn’t sure where you’d like to go tomorrow night, but some of the other lawyers at the firm suggested the new sushi and steak restaurant KoFusion. I made reservations but we can always go somewhere else if you’d prefer.” Andy said, taking a sip of his beer.

“That sounds perfect.” You replied, smiling. “I’ve actually been wanting to try it, but Ava isn’t really open to trying sushi or steak.”

“I don’t think I would have been much for them either at her age.” He laughed, “Jake may eat steak now, but I doubt I’d ever get him to try sushi.”

“I was planning on making them a mini taco bar for dinner.” You said, “It’s easy to make.”

“I know Jake loves tacos so he’ll be happy.” He replies.

The doorbell rang, signaling dinner’s arrival. Andy grabbed the pizza and paid the delivery person, bringing the pizza back to the kitchen. We loaded up plates for everyone, grabbed drinks for the kids and brought it all to the living room.

“We’re going to watch Frozen!” Ava declared, “Jacob said they haven’t seen it yet!”

“We were just hoping to get to watch it with you, Princess Ava.” Andy said smiling and winking at Ava, while handing Jacob his pizza.

“Be careful, Monkey.” I told her, handing her a plate.

“Mommy, I want a Princess party this year for my birthday!” Ava said, “And I want Jacob and Andy to come to my party!”

“When is your birthday, Ava?” Jacob asked.

“November 6th!” Ava said excitedly, “And guess WHAT?”

“What?” Jacob humored her smiling.

“I’ll be 6 years old!” She replied, “Mommy said it’s special because it’s my golden birthday!”

“That is very special, Ava!” Andy said, “We’d love to come to your extra special princess party.”

“We’ll go get the invitations next week and fill them out so you can pass them out to your friends.” You told her, “

Jacob starte the movie and we all watched while eating our dinner. Once everyone was finished, you stacked the plates on the coffee table until the movie was over. Andy scooted closer to you on the couch, pulling you into him. His arm was round you and relaxed against him, enjoying just being with him.

Halfway through the movie, Andy paused it and declared it was ice cream sundae time. Everyone went to the kitchen and built their own sundae before carrying it back to the living room to resume the movie.

After the movie was over you helped Andy to carry all of the dishes to the kitchen. You offered to help him with the dishes but he said he’d have Jacob help later. Ava was starting to get sleepy, so you got her tucked into the car and said goodnight to both Andy and Jacob. You were definitely looking forward to your date the next night.

“Drive safe and text me when you get home.” Andy said leaning in to kiss you gently through the driver’s side window.

“I promise” you replied, smiling.

By the time you got home, Ava was fast asleep. It was a good thing she’d worn her pajamas afterall. You didn’t want to wake her enough to brush her teeth, you figured one night wouldn’t hurt. Thankfully, she was still light enough you were able to carry her into the house and get her tucked into her bed. Once you finished that you text Andy to let him know you made it home. You exchanged a few more texts back and forth and then you too, decided to call it a night.

You spend most of Saturday getting errands run and household chores you’d neglected over the week completed. Ava spent a few hours with your parents while you got everything done. They were used to getting to spend time together on the weekends. Later afternoon you swung by to pick her up so that you could go home and get ready for your date.

“She’s welcome to spend the night here if you want, Sweetheart.” Your mom said, “That way you don’t have to rush home from your date.”

“Jacob is coming to the house to hang out with her while Andy and I go out.” You replied, “Those two are thick as thieves already.”

“All we heard about today was Jacob and Andy.” Your mom said smiling, “I can’t wait to meet them. Just be careful, Bri. I’d hate for Ava to get attached just to get her heart broken. You too for that matter.”

“I wouldn’t let her get attached if I wasn’t sure about this, Momma.” You reassure her, “I know it seems fast, and really, it is, but the connection is there… and it’s strong. Wait until you meet them, you’ll see.”

“How about you bring them over Sunday for a family dinner.” Your mom suggests.

“I can ask him.” You replied, “If this Sunday doesn’t work, we can always schedule for next week.”

“Just let me know.” she said.

Ava came in with her jacket already on, bouncing in excitement.

“Come on Mommy! Andy and Jacob are coming over soon!” She said. She ran and gave your parents hugs, “Bye Nana and Papa! I love you!”

“I’ve ever seen her in such a hurry to leave us before.” Your dad pouted, “We’ve got competition now, Honey.”

“That we do.” Your mom laughed, “Have fun tonight Baby doll! You can tell me all about your fun night with Jacob tomorrow, ok?”

“I will! And Mommy can tell you about her date with Andy!”

“I can’t wait.” Your mom said, winking at you.

“Love you both” You said, “I’ll call you about dinner.”

“Have fun, Sweetheart,” She said,”I’m really happy you’re getting back out there.”

Ava was already in her seat and buckled when you got to the car. On the ride home you glanced in the rearview mirror to look at Ava and noticed the same car had been behind you for several blocks. You shrugged figuring it was nothing and continued on your way home.

Once you pulled into your driveway and parked, you got Ava out and the two of you headed inside. She immediately started setting up the living room for a movie and game night. Poor Jacob would be kept busy for sure.

You decided it made more sense to get the taco meat cooked up and veggies chopped before getting ready, so you got to work on that while Ava was setting up the living room. She finished before you and came into the kitchen while you were getting everything ready.

“Mommy, can I have a snack?” She asked.

“There are apple slices and grapes in the fridge,”You told her, “Grab a bowl and you can put some fruit in it.”

“OK!” She carefully grabbed one of her bowls from the cupboard on the island and went to the fridge.

Twenty minutes later, all of the food was prepped and the taco meat was finished. You settled Ava on your bed  with her tablet geared up to one of her learning games and you started looking through your closet to decide what to wear.

“Mommy,” Ava said looking up from her tablet, “You should wear the pretty blue dress you wore to Nana and Papa’s party. Andy wears blue lots, I think it’s his favorite.”

“You think so?” You asked, smiling, “I like that dress a lot too. I think I will wear it! Thank you my sweet Monkey!”

She beamed then went back to playing her game as you quickly changed into the dress. It was a short sleeved, chiffon fit and flare dress, simple yet elegant. Most importantly, it was comfortable so you wouldn’t be readjusting it all night. You chose the diamond pendant necklace your parents gave you when you graduated college, and a pair of silver drop earrings to match. Once you were dressed, you went into your bathroom and did your makeup. You decided to leave your hair down, but quickly took the curling iron to it give it a little bounce. Finally you were as ready as you were going to get.

Satisfied with the end result, you finally stepped out of the bathroom.

“You look pretty, Mommy!” Ava said, “Is it almost time for Jacob to come?”

“Almost!” You confirmed, “And thank you, Monkey. Let’s go downstairs, I need to check my phone.”

Ava made herself comfortable on the couch, while you went to your phone. You had several messages from your ex. You chose to ignore them for now. You didn’t want anything to ruin the night with Andy. You had one message from Andy, which you tapped to open.

Andy: We’re leaving now, be there shortly. See you soon. XX

You checked the time stamp and the current time and realized they’d be here any minute.

“Mommy! They’re HERE!” Ava exclaimed, launching herself off of the chair by the window where she’d apparently taken up watch.

“Give them a moment to get to the door, Monkey” You laughed, “Don’t go flying out of the house.”

You started to head to the door to open, but Ava flew past and beat you to the door. She remembered to look back and check that it was OK for her to open the door. Once you’d given permission she quickly pulled the door open. Andy and Jacob were just getting to the door.

“Hi Jacob!” she greeted him, happily, before launching herself at him to hug him. Jacob chuckled, bending down a bit to hug her back.

“Hey Ava!” He replied, “Ready to watch movies, eat junk food and stay up past your bedtime?”

“YES!” She confirmed, “Can you always be my babysitter? Not even Nana and Papa let me do all that!”

“I’m not sure you’re supposed to reveal your master plan while the parents are present, Jake.”  Andy laughed.

“Hi Andy!” Ava said, breaking away from Jacob to hug him, then looking at the button up dress shirt he wore, added, “I knew blue was your favorite color! I told Mommy  to wear the blue dress because she would be pretty and it was your favorite color!”

“Blue is my favorite color,” He confirmed smiling at her, then looking up at you, he said, “And your mommy looks beautiful.”

“Told you, Mommy!” Ava beamed, happy having helped you out.

“You did tell me, Monkey.” You replied smiling, then to Andy said, “You’re looking pretty handsome yourself.”

“Ok, Ava,” Jacob said, playfully rolling his eyes, “Let’s get away from these two.” The pair headed into the living room, Ava already chatting a mile a minute.

“Hey, Sweetheart.” Andy smiled, stepping into the house, and closing the door. He wrapped his arms around you, pulling you in close and dropping a quick kiss onto your lips.

“Hi.” You replied, smiling up at him, “Looks like we’ve learned how to clear the kids out of a room.”

“That’s going to be a handy skill to have.” He agreed, laughing. You both made your way into the living room where the kids were.

“Ok, the tacos are all ready to go, although you may want to reheat the meat. There are drinks in the fridge. Ava knows where all of the snacks are. Just make sure she isn’t bouncing off the walls from too much sugar.” You laugh, “There are emergency numbers on the fridge. If you need anything, just call or text.”

“We’ll be fine” Jacob assured you, “I’ve got this. You guys go have fun and don’t worry. We’ll be having too much fun here to even miss you.”

“I’m feeling the love here.” You teased him. “I know you’ll be fine, I’m not worried in the slightest.”

After hugging them both, they pretty much shoved you and Andy out of the house.

Once you arrived at the restaurant, Andy quickly came around and opened your door. He held your hand as the two of you made your way into the restaurant, only separating for him to open the door and then his hand landed on your back, gently guiding you into the building. Once inside, he took your hand in his own again.

You were seated at a semi-private table toward the back of the restaurant. Your waiter took your orders for drinks and then left you to look over the menu.

“This all looks amazing.” You said, “How is anyone supposed to make a decision?”

“I was thinking the same thing” he laughed, “How about we get a variety and we can try it all?”

“That’s a brilliant idea.” You agreed.

The waiter returned with your drinks and you placed your orders. You took a sip of the wine to help calm your nerves. You weren’t nervous around Andy, just being on a date after not dating for over 5 years was causing a little anxiety.

“I haven’t been on a first date since college.” Andy said, as if reading your thoughts. “I have to say, this one is already far better.”

“I haven’t been on any date of any kind since before Ava was born.” You replied, “But I can say with certainty that this one is already better than any date I’d been on before that.”

“Here’s to many more dates together.” Andy said, raising his glass to you. You raised yours toasting.

“And possibly to last first dates.” You said, smiling.

“I’ll definitely drink to that.” He agreed, smiling back at you.

“Ava spent the morning with my parents while I was running errands and according to them she didn’t stop talking about you and Jacob.” You told him. “They offered to keep her tonight but she wasn’t trying to miss out on time with Jacob.”

“I think Jake would have been bummed to miss out on time with Ava too.” Andy said, “I think he really likes having someone look up to him.”

“They’re good for each other.” You agreed, “My mom invited you and Jacob to dinner tomorrow, I told her I’d pass along the invite. It feels weird to say that on a first date. You don’t have to accept, I know it’s really soon.”

“We’d love to.” Andy reassured you, “It might be soon by others’ standards, but I’ve had enough of living by others’ standards. I think we just need to do this our own way.”

“I like the sound of that.” You agree, “We can make our own standard.”

The waiter brought the dishes to the table. You and Andy enjoyed the variety of sushi, trying different kinds. Conversation continued to flow during dinner. It honestly felt like you’d been on many dates by the time you were finished eating.

“I don’t think our kids want us home yet, and I’m not ready for this date to end.” Andy said, “Do you want to go for a walk by the lake?”

“I’d love to.” You said, “I’m not ready to go home yet either.”

After paying the bill, Andy leads you out to where the car is parked. He opens your door for you, and you slide into the passenger seat. He quickly walks around to the driver’s side and gets in. The drive to the lake doesn’t take long and being pretty deserted, it’s easy to find parking. Andy once again comes around to open your door and offers his hand to help you out of the car.

You’re glad you thought to grab the lightweight sweater to wear with your dress. It provides enough cover to where you’re not going to get cold while enjoying time with Andy.

You make your way to the path that leads along the lake, Andy taking your hand in his, your fingers intertwining.

“I’m really enjoying the milder fall weather this year.” You said, “It’s been really nice to be able to be outside longer. I’m hoping it holds through Ava’s birthday before it gets cold.”

“I imagine it would be easier to hold the party outside as opposed to all of those kids inside the house.” He chuckled, “I’ve really loved the weather being so mild too. It allows me to go for walks by a lake with a beautiful woman.”

“Smooth, Mr. Barber.” You laughed, “And yes, holding the party outside would be much less of a headache.”

“I’m only stating facts, Sweetheart.” He smirked, “And whether the party is inside or out, Jake and I can help wrangle kids.”

“That would be most helpful.” You said, smiling.

The two of you continued to walk along the path, stopping when you arrived at a pier. Andy led you to the end where there was a bench and you both sat down, close to one another. He wrapped his arm around you, pulling you in close, and you relaxed into his side.

“I haven’t been this happy or relaxed in a long time.” Andy admitted. “Even before everything exploded with Jake and then after...with the accident… I wasn’t happy. I was trying. I wanted to be happy and to want the life we had, but it felt too forced. I can’t remember the last time I was happy. Meeting you and getting to know you better, has changed everything. I don’t know if I deserve to be happy, but I’m going to hold on to this.”

“You deserve to be happy, Andy.” You said, turning slightly so you could look into his eyes. “I thought I was happy with my ex, I thought I wanted to marry him, but once he walked out when I got pregnant, I realized that I wasn’t actually happy with him. I don’t know that I ever really loved him. Being with you though, makes me happy.”

His hand comes up to cup your face, his head lowering to yours. His lips connected with your own, his beard rubbing against your face. His tongue licked at the seam of your lips, asking for entry. You allowed him access, your own tongue snaking out to meet his. The kiss deepened, he pulled you closer into him, your arms wound around his middle. You continued to kiss until you finally had to break apart for air. His hand stayed cupping your face, his thumb brushing against your kiss swollen lips.

“Maybe we should have had your parents keep Ava,” Andy teased, his voice husky, “We could have continued this without a curfew.”

“Maybe next time,” You smiled, “Depriving Ava of Jacob wouldn’t have won you any points.”

“I wouldn’t want that.” He agreed, “I need her on my side.”

“I think you’re good on that front.” You assured him.

“As much as I would love to stay out here with you, we should probably start to head back.” Andy said, reluctantly.

“We probably should.” You agreed.

You walked back towards his car hand in hand. On the drive back to your house, Andy kept your hand in his own, driving one handed.

Once you arrived back at your house, Andy parked and came around to you. This time when he helped you out of the car, he pulled you into him and kissed you again.

“I can definitely get used to that.” You said, smiling.

“Me too.” He said. “Shall we head in to see what the kids are up to?”

You nodded, turning to head to the front door. As you turned, movement caught your eye on the street. You turned your head to investigate and felt your stomach drop. In the street light, you were able to see the same car that you’d thought had been following you yesterday. With the light, you were able to see the driver.

“Andy” You said shakily, “It’s him. That’s my ex in the car.”

“Are you sure?” He asked, turning quickly to see the driver before he drove off down the street.

“Yes.” You confirmed, “I think he followed me yesterday too.”

“Let’s go inside.” He said, guiding you up to the door.

@nickysurfer28  @waywardodysseys​ @thesecretlifeofdaydreamss​

[dumbchickwrites]

office affairs -- part 1

Pairing: CEO!Sam Wilson x Reader

Summary: Sam is the CEO of the Red Wing PR agency where Reader has been working for the past two years. Problem is, they both think one hates the other. However, when their friends set them up on a blind date, they’ll realise that it was all a big misunderstanding.

Words: 1.9K

Warnings: language.

A/N: This new series is part of @marvelmaree​‘s birthday challenge (happy birthday Maree!) The series will be updated part by part and the masterlist will be available on my blog as well as Maree’s. I hope you enjoy! <3

“What do you think about him, Nat?”

Maria shoves her phone in Natasha’s face, stopping the redhead from biting into her taco. Nat doesn’t seem to mind though. She’s used to Maria’s antics.

“Hmm, no. She’d leave halfway through the date,” Natasha said, scrunching her nose at the screen.

“Hum, hello? I’m right here?” you wave your hands in front of their faces and scoff when they look at you like you just interrupted a discussion at the Pentagon. “Can you guys do this another time?”

When Maria and Natasha offered to set you up on a blind date a few days ago, you thought they were joking. Which is understandable, you know, they had a few drinks in them already and it was late. So you just laughed the absurd conversation off like a normal person.

The only issue is, they were dead serious and to this day, they’re still looking for a date. You would try to stop them, but you gave up two days ago after they got your sister Noelle involved. That traitor agreed to team up with them to find you a date because – and quote “your coochie is probably covered in spiderwebs already”. After that you decided to let them have their fun. Not because your coochie is… your coochie is fine, okay? Thank you very much.

Natasha finally takes a bite of her taco, the crunch of the tortilla making you wince slightly, and turns her attention back to the phone. You scoff at the blatant disrespect. Unfortunately, the action doesn’t pair well with the grain of rice that was apparently stuck in your throat and you start coughing like a madwoman.

This is the moment your boss chooses to sneak a peek in Maria’s office.

“Hey ladies—woah, is everything okay?” Mr. Wilson asks, slightly alarmed.

You nod as best as you can, your eyes filled with tears, and turn your back to him in hopes to preserve your last ounce of dignity as you choke on your miserable grain of rice. Maria hands you a bottle of water as Natasha reassures Mr. Wilson.

“We’re okay, Sam. She’s just enjoying her sushi a bit too much.”

“Oh. See you later, then.”

You don’t see him wave, and you don’t see the look your friends share either.

“Oh my God!” You exhale once the cough is gone. “I just saw my life flash before my eyes.”

“Oh please, would you stop being such a drama queen?”

Nat hands you a napkin and you use it to dry your tears. You’ll touch up your makeup after lunch.

You brush off the comment and take another sip of water before you speak. “I feel like the esteem he has for me is totally gone by now. Or do you think there’s still a bit left? I mean I outdid myself with the Drax event last month.”

“Sam doesn’t hate you. He’s just…”

You raise your eyebrows at Maria, waiting for her to finish her sentence but nothing comes. You throw your arms in the air in defeat.

For a reason unknown to you, Sam Wilson, CEO of the PR agency Red Wing, does not like you very much. At least that’s what you’re assuming. You’ve never done anything but a good job for the two years you’ve been working at the company and yet, every time you make eye contact with the man he averts his gaze like you’re Medusa or something. The worst thing is, he’s friendly with almost everyone else. Natasha is one of his closest friends, and in a relationship with his best friend – she practically helped him build the company. So yes, you kind of feel like the black sheep of the office.

“You know what,” you say, pouring more soy sauce in the little receptacle that came with the food. “Maybe something’s keeping him away from me, the universe—or God, and maybe that’s for the best.” You finish with a shrug.

“Believe it or not, Sam’s actually a decent person.”

“Okay.”

Natasha and Maria share another look before the three of you move onto another topic as you finish your lunch.

The rest of the afternoon at work is uneventful. All of your projects are up to date already because you like to be ahead of things, so you decide to just call it a day and head home early.

Before you do, you drop by Maria’s office to say bye. She simply nods and waves without taking the phone away from her ear. And of course Natasha’s office is the last stop.

Her blinds are always drawn over the glass walls, so you never know what happens in there. The last time you barged in her office she was making out with her boyfriend James, and God help you, you never want to know what would have happened if you’d gone in there a minute later. So naturally you knock, then go in when she answers.

And you freeze in the doorway.

Mr. Wilson is in here. That’s not uncommon. She’s his right hand lady. They’re almost always together. You know that. So why are you standing here awkwardly? Mr. Wilson smiles at you. It’s a polite smile – a professional smile – the kind that doesn’t really reach his eyes and for a moment you wonder what he looks like when he smiles from the heart.

That is before he looks away and shakes his head, like he can’t even stand the sight of you. You hold the sigh and the eye roll.

“I just wanted to say bye,” you say to Natasha. “I’m heading home early.”

“All right, sugar. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

You give her a smile then head out, finally releasing that sigh.

Home is where the heart is. And what better way to describe your eight year old niece than that?

Michelle is the light of your life. She’s the smartest, funniest little girl you’ve ever met and a gift that keeps on giving. She arrived when you were still in college, and you moved in with your sister, at her request, when Michelle was born. The three of you have been inseparable ever since.

Usually at this time of the day, Michelle would still be at school, but she’s recovering from a cold and her mom doesn’t want her near other kids during this time.

The sound of “Almost There” from The Princess and the Frog greets you as you step into the foyer of your home. You hum along quietly as you kick your heels off, get rid of your coat and leave your purse on the messy console.

“Sounds like you’re feeling better Mimi,” you tease the little girl with a smile once you get to the living room.

She immediately stops singing along and runs toward you to give you a hug.

“I am! But mommy said I can’t go to school for another couple of days,” she pouts.

“She’s right, that was a nasty cold you had there.”

Mimi throws her head back in a dramatic groan which makes you chuckle. She loves going to school and learning, which is something you’re very grateful for. Homework time always goes smoothly and she’s actually excited to go to school in the morning.

Your niece goes back to the couch and buries herself under the mountain of blankets and pillows before she turns her attention back to the movie.

“Hey Noelle,” you greet your sister when you get to the kitchen.

You’re not actually hungry but you could use a cookie or two. Maybe three.

“Hey,” Noelle lifts her eyes from her laptop. “You’re home early.”

“Yeah, I was done with today’s work. I can see you can’t say the same for yourself.”

Noelle rolls her eyes. “Elena just dumped two new manuscripts on my ass. Thank God I love my job and the pay because girl, I’m exhausted.” She takes her glasses off and rubs her eyes with the heels of her hands.

“Tea?”

“Yes, please.”

You pour water in the kettle and set it on the stove. You take out two mugs, a Tinkerbell one for Noelle and a Dumbo one for you, your favourite jasmine tea bags and honey.

“How was work?” Noelle asks as she shut her laptop and puts in on top of the pile of manuscripts next to her.

“The usual. Nat and Maria are still bothering me with this blind date business and I blame you for it.”

“Me?” Noelle feigns innocence with a hand on her chest.

It’s your turn to roll your eyes.

Seeing that you’re not buying her cheap act, Noelle straightens in her seat and starts fiddling with the Post-Its sticking out of the manuscripts. “Actually, I think we found someone.”

You nearly drop the teaspoons you’re holding.

“You what?”

“You heard me.”

You narrow your eyes at her.

You’ve always had a good relationship with your sister. She’s your best friend, she’s been by your side through every rough patch of your life, and you know she’ll always be here for you. But sometimes, she really, really gets on your goddamn nerves. Not just because of situations like these. Noelle is the kind of person who puts everyone’s needs before her own, that is why she often finds herself drowning in a sea of problems that aren’t even hers. More than once you’ve had to be the one to pull her out of the water.

The whistle of the kettle makes you stop with the murder glare and you pour the water into the mugs.

“You have to stop being so wary. Don’t you trust us?”

“Not right now, no.”

Noelle gives you a look.

“Just give it a chance.”

“Oh, like you gave a chance to Amara’s mom?” you say, eyebrows raised and voice dripping with sass.

“It’s not—She—I’m busy with the—”

“Aht aht! I don’t wanna hear it!” you raise your hand and grab your mug, heading to the living room.

You settle on the couch with Noelle and Mimi – who’s now watching some kids’ cooking show-- and the three of you  enjoy the rest of the afternoon together.

Some time during the evening, while you’re going through your skin care routine, your phone dings with a message notification. It says Natasha added you to the group chat Spider Coochie.

These girls…

Nat: So… we found someone.

Maria: This is amazing. I’m already excited.

Noelle: GIRL.

You: You can’t be serious.

Maria: Oh but we are.

Nat: Friday night, L’Orage, 8:00. “Spider” is what you’ll say to the host.

You: “Spider”? Are you fucking kidding me?

You hear Noelle cackle as you sit on the edge of you bed.

Maria: Hey, it was your sister’s idea.

You roll your eyes.

You: Can I at least get a hint?

Noelle: Hell no.

Nat: Everything’s gonna be fine. You can go to bed now.

You: Ugh. I don’t even have the strength to argue with you.

Maria: Good.

You lock your phone with a loud groan – loud enough to make sure Noelle hears it from wherever she is – and you let your body fall on the mattress.

As much as you try to pretend you’re annoyed by all of this, you can’t help but be excited by the idea. A bit curious as well. But you trust your friends. They would never put you in an embarrassing position and pair you up with some awful sewer rat.

A sigh leaves your lips.

As the saying goes: “Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back.”

[purplesurveys]

1260

surveys by taco-tuesdays

What would be the pros and cons of a four-day school week? That was my schedule throughout college (we had Mondays off) and it really helped out a lot, especially mentally; and, on some level, emotionally as well. I’ve always thought 3 days is the most effective and ideal length of time when it comes to having a break.

As for cons, I honestly can’t name any as I was happy my schedule and I only heard miserable insights from my friends from other schools, who otherwise had to keep up a 5-day schedule in college.

What is a subject or topic that you would like to learn more about? My manager recently encouraged me to watch Going Seventeen – I initially thought I wouldn’t get the hype but I was wrong hahaha; they seem super interesting so I’ve been reading up about them today.

Would you rather live somewhere that was hot year-round or cold year-round? COLD.

What is something that you do during the summer that you don't otherwise? Give the weather the power to make me cranky. I’m not always vocal about the weather, but the summer heat just unleashes a monster right out of me.

Which professions do you feel deserve the highest amount of pay? Well, especially in the case of my country where essential workers are not paid nearly enough – medical frontliners.

What is your own definition of success? Reaching a point wherein I can honestly say I’m proud of myself. I’m my biggest critic and the worst overthinker I know, so if I’ve done something well enough to feel confident and comfortable about it, then I consider myself successful.

Do you have a favorite day of the week? Fridayyy.

What are some of your favorite songs? These days I’m really into Blue Side by J-Hope.

Do you donate to a specific charity or cause on an annual basis? Not annual, but there is an animal shelter to which I donate a small amount of my earnings whenever I can. I used to do it monthly but as more...life stuff that I need to pay for has started to pile up, I haven’t been able to keep up the habit as often as I would like.

If you won the lottery, how would you spend the money? Give half to my parents; use a portion of my half to get a new phone since my screen’s LED recently got permanently damaged and my phone now has weird colorful lines on the screen lmao; get sushi; save the rest.

Would you be a stay at home parent or send your kid to daycare? Ideally I would provide my child with their own helper that can watch them while I’m away for work. That’s a luxury I never got to have so my petty ass just wants to get back at my way-too-simple childhood and give my kid their own yaya.

What excites you more - tire swings or treehouses? Treehouses. I’ve never seen one; they’re not common at all here.

What's the highest amount of money you received in a card? I think around ₱2000? That’s roughly ~$40.

What's the last CD you purchased for yourself? My Butter set.

Dolphins, whales, sharks, or narwhals? Whales, then dolphins.

Did you get any scholarships or grants towards your education? No. But I technically didn’t need to apply for one; my entire college tuition was free.

Are spicy foods a yay or a nay for you? Absolutely the fuck yay. I have a pretty high tolerance and I think it just got even higher over the last year from all the kimchi and spicy noodles I’ve been downing haha.

Have you ever quit or been fired from a job before? No; but being fired is one of my biggest fears.

Have you ever wondered what your pets are saying to you? Just Cooper. I can read Kimi like the back of my hand at this point.

Did you walk or take the bus to school? My parents paid for a school bus service, which is the practice here. We don’t have a public school bus system.

--

Have you ever had to turn someone in before? For what? Hmm, not that I can recall. I don’t think so.

Describe a time where one of your parents embarrassed you. My dad belittled a staff at McDonald’s when we did drive-thru a couple of weeks ago. It has been like 11 in the morning and he was upset that his change came in coins, so he made a fantastic show of staying at the payment window for what felt like fucking years as he counted the coins one by one...like seriously? It’s fucking currency, are you really getting your panties in a bunch over coins?? Anyway, I didn’t talk to him for the whole day after that and didn’t touch my order that he paid for.

Do you prefer grapes, raisins, or prunes? Grape-flavored candies are fine, I guess. All of these choices in their pure form all suck.

Do you like knocking icicles off of things? Well no, considering I don’t encounter them a lot.

Have you ever had a party when your parents weren't home? I’ve never thrown a party at my own home.

What is something that irks you about your sibling(s)? There is a glaring lack of proactivity. My mom could be struggling with carrying something heavy and they will stay glued to whatever they’re doing, and will literally not move unless they’re addressed. It worries me sometimes as I don’t know to what extent it could possibly reach.

Does everyone really deserve to be forgiven? No.

How do we make men and women equal in today's society? Equal pay can be a good start to go with.

Did your parents favor one child over another when you were growing up? My mom clearly favored my brother and would give him millions of passes for shit I would otherwise be yelled at for; I didn’t feel any favoritism from my dad.

How much PDA is too much PDA to witness? I scrunch my nose even at light PDA all the time just to make my friends laugh, but to be honest about it it doesn’t actually bother me as much as I let it show. I’d only be grossed out if I see a full-blown makeout session or anything beyond that somewhere inappropriate.

If you get married, will you take your spouse's last name? I’d hyphenate so that I would still get to keep both my maiden and last names.

What's the last fight you had with your mother? Something about the courier delivery service I booked last week. The whole thing is too complicated to explain but I do remember retorting at her and her biting back with what I can best translate as, “How dare you have the gall to answer back,” which...as a minor probably would’ve been effective and made me feel guilty...but I’m literally 23. I had to hide my face to snicker because that kind of statement just doesn’t bother me anymore.

Do you still eat Lunchables as an adult? I’ve never had that; we don’t have them here.

When's the last time you made Kool-Aid? I have never tried Kool-Aid either.

Do you prefer photographs in color or black-and-white? Why? Color. Moments and memories just feel more alive that way.

What's your favorite comfort food? SUSHIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII fuck I need some right now.

What makes you proud to be from the country you're from? I like our regional and local cultures.

If you had to work in a store, which would you choose, and why? Ooh...I dunno. Maybe a bookstore? so I can get to slowly rekindle my love for reading.

If you were a teacher, which subject would you teach? History.

Who shows that they love you more than they actually say it? I feel like this question applies to me more than it does for people in my circle, most of whom are quite vocal. I don’t usually throw around the words I love you, but I will show it a lot.

[normal-thoughts-official]

See I think the problem is sweden is just.. cold amshnsdhdj we can’t really grow spices here so throughout the times it’s just been salt and pepper (until we started importing spice from the colonies like we thought we were the brits lmao) but traditional swedish food is like??? Potatoes and meatballs with lingonberry jam and sometimes you make the sauce out of the fat you fried the meatballs in and it’s gross. I’ve never been to Germany actually but that restaurant sounds disgusting I’m so sorry what are they doingggg. THANKFULLy we have so much food imported from pretty much everywhere that most people’s favourite foods is almost always something that didn’t originate here. Like tacos!! It’s a staple in pretty much any household here, at least where I grew up, and one of my friends is obsessed with Indian food, specifically vindaloo which is so so spicy but so good. As for the cream cheese sushi, at the restaurant here they put it in the maki rolls with veggies and a piece of omelet, i cannot stress how good it is ahaha. I love food so much!!! I don’t think I’ve ever eaten anything Brazilian specifically, but since we’re talking about it I’m really curious. If you have a specific dish or anything you think I should try let me know!! I’m gonna ask google but it’s always fun to get tips from someone who is living with the culture behind it and everything!! - salmon anon (salmnon? salmanon? Swenson? I actually wrote swenon but my phone corrected me so I’m leaving it skhdkshd)

aaaa okay so when it comes to brazilian food you gotta understand that there’s...... so much stuff. our cuisine is super varied and rich and there’s just... a lot. so it all depends on what strikes your fancy. but i have a few suggestions, although keep in mind that again, brazilian cuisine is varied and rich and it’s a big country, so i have the mos contact with food from my region (the southeast), although i’ve been to the northeast, north, and south as well

so the basis of culinary in most brazilian households is the rice + beans + farofa combo. farofa is basically cassava flour with spices, it is made to add Big Crunch to the meal. we eat that in every meal, except for breakfast. it’s kinda the foundation/pillar of the plate. i do recommend trying it, absolutely. the most likely version of that for you to find is feijoada, which is a little stereotypical as far as brazilian dishes go, but i doubt you’d find regular rice beans and farofa around in a small town in sweden. in feijoada the beans come with pork parts, and it’s black beans, not regular beans. it is also traditionally served with kale and orange slices. it’s really good, personally i love it

[image ID: a plate with kale, rice, farofa (which is sandy-colored and has a grainy consistency), orange slices, and feijoada. end ID] 

another great dish worth a try is moqueca. moqueca is (usually) fish/shrimp, coconut milk, dendê oil, bell peppers, and other spices. it takes cilantro so if you are a little bitch, i mean, if you don’t like it, you might skip that one. it is also usually served with farofa or pirão, which is essentially farofa but moist 

[image ID: a pot of moqueca. it looks soup-like and has very vibrant colors, particularly red, yellow, ad green. you can see pieces of bell pepper and chopped cilantro in it. end ID]

i do recommend trying anything palm-heart related if you haven’t. palm heart pies are one of my favorite things. and okay i know that you probably won’t be able to find this but i doubt you’ll be able to find most things i’m talking about so i’m just gonna dream big here: catupiry is this kind of brazilian... cream cheese, except it’s creamier and tastier and just superior in general. we love putting it on shit, and when it comes to stuffing, palm heart + catupiry or chicken + catupiry are my favorites

i also love bobó de palmito na moranga, which is essentially palm heart inside very creamy squash. the most common version actually takes shrimp instead of palm heart, but i don’t like shrimp and they’re not super accessible in my city anyway lol

[image ID: a carved pumpkin with shrimp swimming in a creamy mixture of squash, coconut milk, and catupiry inside. end ID]

escondidinho is another great dish. it means “little hidden one” in portuguese and it is cassava puree with dried meat inside, gratinated. there’s also a version with mashed potatoes, ground beef, and tomato sauce, but cassava is better. honestly just go for anything cassava. it’s the basis of native brazilian culinary and it’s fucking delicious. fried cassava, roasted cassava, cassava puree.... if you’ve never had them, they’re like potatoes, but better in every way. and don’t get me wrong, cuz i love potatoes

anything from the state of minas gerais FUCKS and is highly recommendable. tutu de feijão might look bad for a gringo but i promise it’s worth a try. feijão tropeiro is amazing, and chicken with okra is one of my fave brazilian dishes. it’s also easy to make so you can make it at home, even. just don’t forego the rice beans and farofa. my eastern european friend had never seen okra so if you look it up, no, that is not pepper. it’s not spicy. seriously i know yall are afraid of everything but it’s not

as for snacks! one of the greatest institutions in brazil is coxinha. coxinha is a potato-based batter stuffed with chicken (and usually catupiry as well although coxinha without catupiry is also commonly found) and deep fried. you cannot have a kids party and not serve it, it is absolutely essential. but it is also eaten as a regular snack commonly. it is super good, everyone loves it, and i highly recommend

[image ID: a plate of coxinhas. they are round-ish thingies with a “beak” on top, making it look almost like a pyramid. they are orange-golden in color and have a distinctly deep fried texture. end ID]

another great institution is pão de queijo, which i’ll admit i’m not a fan of because i don’t like cheese (catupiry doesn’t count) but i can’t just forego mentioning it. it takes polvilho, which is tapioca (which is a derivation of cassava, i’ll get there in a minute) flour, with cheese, basically. it gets a fluffy consistency that is hard to describe and that many people love. it is most traditional in the state of minas gerais, but you can find it all over brazil and also in other places in south america although recipes vary

[image ID: a bowl of pão de queijo. they are small, round, and white-ish. they have a very thin hard-looking layer on the exterior, but it also has cracks that make you able to see that the inside is fluffy. end ID]

tapioca! you might have heard of tapioca as the bubbles in bubble tea are made of it. it is a kind of cassava flour, but it’s very different from the cassava flour used to make farofa. it is white in color. you just put that motherfucker in a frying pan (no oil needed) and the grains stick to each other, making a sort of... taco-like thing? it doesn’t taste like a taco but it looks slightly like one. then you just stuff it with Whatever You Want. can be savory or sweet, personally i prefer savory but the "classic” one is coconut and condensed milk. another good stuffing to try is what we call romeu e julieta (literally “romeo and juliet”), which is a cheese that we know as queijo minas, but if you have contact with mexican food you might know as queso fresco, and guava paste. i know it sounds weird which is why it has the name as these two things are not supposed to be together but they go WELL together. romeu e julieta is a common dessert and the basis for thousands and thousands of other recipes in brazil

[image ID: a plate with tapioca. it has the form of a taco, but the “batter” is thinner and white. the inside is coconut and condensed milk. end ID]

speaking of tapioca, DADINHO DE TAPIOCA (tapioca dice) is where shit’s at. it is tapioca flour with cheese rolled into a dice format and fried, served with pepper jam, altho you can forego it, but i DO recommend trying it with the pepper jam. it is not super spicy and so so very good. don’t waste an opportunity to try it

[image ID: dadinhos de tapioca. they are small cubic snacks with a golden color and granulated-looking texture. there is also a little bowl with pepper jam in it. end ID]

and an ESSENTIAL brazilian institution: pastel and caldo de cana. pastel is a flour-based batter with a bit of cachaça (sugarcane liquor) stuffed with Whatever You Want (most common tho are ground beef, and cheese. but personally i’m always a slut for palm heart and there’s a local pizza place near my home that also makes pastel with whatever flavor you could possibly want and broccoli with catupiry pastel? PEAK) and deep fried. it is kinda big for a snack but bro it is so very good. and then we usually have it with caldo de cana, which is sugarcane juice. now, caldo de cana is very sweet, so personally i like to put a little bit of lemon in it, which is how we usually make it in the state of São Paulo, but other states lowkey look down on that (brazilians as a whole have a sweet tooth, many of our desserts are Really Sweet) but they are wrong and we are right. anyway, pastel and caldo de cana are usually served at street markets, so once you are done with your groceries, you can sit down and enjoy some. highly recommended altho again i’ll be surprised if you can find any in sweden. but pastel is not hard to make! caldo de cana is tho, you have to have kind of a machine to extract the juice from it

[image ID: pastel and caldo de cana. pastel is a long, golden-colored, thin rectangle with, in this case, cheese inside. caldo de cana is of a brownish-green with a regular juice consistency. end ID]

onto desserts! an all-time brazilian favorite is brigadeiro. that is condensed milk, butter, and cocoa with chocolate sprinkles, essentially. i recommend using dark chocolate as it is otherwise really sweet but it depends on your tastes. do try it tho

[image ID: brigadeiros. they are little balls completely covered in chocolate sprinkles, each places in a smal paper holder. end ID]

romeu in julieta as i already mentioned is very popular and seriously, give it a try

if you’re into sweet stuff, try rapadura, which is our version of piloncillo. it is like 90% sugar tho so seriously, you gotta like sweets

pé de moleque, which literally translates to “boy’s foot”, is rapadura and roasted peanuts, and it’s one of my all time favorite desserts

[image ID: a plate of pé de moleque. they are thick rectangles with almost entire roasted peanuts parts stuck together by a rich brown sort of batter - rapadura. end ID]

paçoca is also grounded peanuts with a little bit of salt and sugar, usually coming in a cork format. they are absolutely amazing and i can’t recommend them enough

[image ID: paçoca. it literally just looks like a small cork, even the color is similar. looks like something totally underwhelming but i promise you it’s so so very good and worth a try. end ID]

and okay i think that’s what i have!! at least off the top of my head (yeah that’s just what i came up with off the top of my head. like i said. brazilian cuisine is RICH) sorry for the gigantic answer that is probably not very helpful, but welp, now you know what to look for, at least lol also if you’ve followed me for over a year you should have known i would do this. BITCH I’M LATINO FOOD MATTERS TO ME

[abiteofnat]

AN ANXIETY-APPROVED GUIDE TO SOCIALLY-DISTANT  DINING IN THE NORTH SHORE

A headline I truly thought I would never write, because I used to be the type of person to leave work, jam myself into an L train packed with people, scroll through my phone while breathing in someone’s backpack, and then get to a busy restaurant to meet friends and dive into food without washing my hands. My entire immune system was chock-full of city scum, and eating indoors with dozens of other people who likely got off an equally full train? Not even a question of a doubt in my mind. Things took a quick and dire turn in May when suddenly I became afraid of everything and grossed out by anything, and after moving home with family I was certain I would never leave the house again. I miss being the fearless gutter rat I used to be, but times are different, and staying safe is key. 

Alas, while my family has been taking quarantine very seriously, we reached a point in August where we all felt “ok” with sitting at a restaurant once or twice a week to feel like we were still part of society and because we all mutually hate cooking. After not being at a restaurant once since March, we nervously ventured out to a local Italian restaurant, sat outside very far from others, and ate pasta that was still piping hot from the kitchen and that didn’t taste mediocre after sitting in a takeout container for an hour. It was refreshing as FUCK. Rose? In a real wine glass? Served chilled? What am I, a QUEEN? 

Ever since we have been carefully dining, only ever sitting outdoors, and carrying packs upon packs of antibacterial wipes and hand sanitizer like actual loons. But safe loons! Being home and enjoying the local restaurants through new eyes and new level of appreciation has made me love them 10x more, even if we’ve eaten somewhere a hundred times before. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to dine with these spots, eat favorite dishes & try new ones, and be out of the house for 1-2 hours on a Friday during these wild times. So, why not share some of my favorite spots?? Maybe you’re also living back in the good ole North Shore, and looking for any excitement at all in the quiet of the suburbs. Here you go. 

1. Mino’s Italian - Winnetka

This restaurant is newer to Winnetka, however it became an instant local favorite and is always, always full. They have a huge patio area with lighting, cozy wooden benches, tons of tables, heaters, and a menu packed with classic Italian dishes done so right. Their Calamari is unreal due to the seasoning and the roasted garlic aioli it comes with for dipping. Their Cacio e Pepe is magically light but still full of cheese and fresh cracked peppercorns, and the seasonal Risotto consists of warm mushroom richness. Their pizza is great to-go as well, and tastes like an NYC slice if you order the largest size. 

2. Pescadero - Wilmette 

Ok to be fair, Pescadero is not somewhere we’ve actually dined AT during the pandemic. We do pick it up quite often though, and it is some of the best carryout in Wilmette. The Fish & Chips is mouth-watering, with fresh fish covered in a seasoned batter that alone is delectable. Their chips (really more french fries) are thin, crispy, and topped with a parmesan and herb dust. DO NOT MISS OUT ON THE FRIES. The Mahi Mahi tacos are excellent and a lighter, fresher dish with broccoli apple slaw and avocado crema, and for fuck’s sake order a side of the Mac & Cheese just to stick a fork in. Pro Tip: You want as much extra tartar sauce as they will give you!!!

* Edit - since I wrote this post a few days ago, we ate on the Pescadero patio and it was delightful. Even though it was 55 degrees, the hot Clam Chowder and Fish & Chips warmed me up real quick. Clam Chowder served in a hot mug = a new fall dinner staple. Will only accept soup in a mug from now on. And, they do have heaters!

3. Depot Nuevo - Wilmette 

I have eaten here no fewer than 3,456 times in my life and every single time I feel like I’m on vacation because the vibes, the food, and the booze are immaculate. Located in an old train station turned restaurant, Depot Nuevo is warm and inviting no matter if you’re inside (pre pandemic) or on their gigantic patio that allows for spaced out and comfy seating. They’ve added heaters for the fall, so don’t worry about being chilly- and if you are, the Pomegranate Margarita will warm you right up. It’s strong, delicious, and comes in a very pleasing traditional margarita glass. I always order the Appetizer Trio as my entree, which has queso fundido (ordered without the chorizo!), guacamole, and ceviche composed of scallops, shrimp, and calamari with vegetables and lime. Usually this comes with tortilla chips as it’s meant to be shared, but I ask for corn tortillas instead and then pile a little of everything in there for the taco of my DREAMS. Do it. Order it. I dare you. 

The staff is exceptionally friendly and have taken COVID precautions seriously, so menus are disposable and everyone has gloves on. They will treat you like family, and they are family to us because we go there so often. See you on Friday, Depot! 

Other good things on the menu are the Fish Tacos, Shrimp Tacos, BBQ Salmon, Chipotle Mashed Potatoes, Cheese Quesadilla (smothered in their salsa verde of course). 

4. The Noodle - Wilmette

Can you tell downtown Wilmette is the place to be? It has truly popped off and the majority of restaurants aren’t serving up your typical “suburbs” food (you know- fried appetizers and burgers and weird salads and overpriced meat dishes) so I am always happy to be out in our little mini city. The Noodle is as classic Italian as you can get, with overflowing ceramic boats of buttery garlic bread, a salad OR soup included with your entree, and no bar- only wine (or beer) if you want a drinky drink. Incredible. I am partial to the house-made spinach linquine with Roasted Garlic and Sun-dried Tomatoes sauce, and the starter salad with house Creamy Garlic Parmesan dressing. Their Tomato Basil soup is also delicious, however I have some suspicion that that soup is the same as the Roasted Garlic and Sun-dried Tomatoes sauce... just served as soup... they refuse to confirm or deny whenever I ask. Either way, delicious. I tried a NEW DISH when we went last week to sit at one of the 6 large tables they have spaced out outside, and let me tell you that the bowtie pasta (not house-made) with Alfredo sauce is THE SHIT. It may be my new go-to when I just want to carbo-load the hecking out of my night. On your way out, get a Pot de Creme to go- it’s the richest, smoothest chocolate dessert on this side of town. 

5. Hometown Coffee & Juice - Glencoe 

Hometown deserves a round of applause for breathing life back into the stuffy grandmother of the North Shore - Glencoe. Between the gorgeous Writers Theatre and countless boutiques selling blouses and hand-blown glass jewelry, it used to only really serve a certain demographic, however Hometown said “let me give it a try” and changed weekends in Glencoe for good. This coffee shop, smoothie bar, bakery, & cafe hotspot is the perfect afternoon spot to grab a drink, enjoy avocado toast, and sit outside at one of the dozens of tables they’ve lined the corner and two streets with. They’ve moved their registers outside so you don’t even need to go inside to order, and the wait staff will bring you your order right to your table to make it as organized and safe as possible. The tables are spread out, the corner it’s located on is beautiful in the fall, and there are lots of good dogs out and about. 

I will say that while Hometown is doing a great job with COVID precautions, the people of Glencoe are a little high & mighty, and seem to think they’re exempt from wearing a mask to wait in line to get their smoothie. It’s irritating that they’re putting the staff at risk and just ignoring state mandates because they feel safe in their little North Shore bubble and because it’s entirely outside, but come on. Be respectful and understand the privilege of these places even being open to serve you, and just wear mask. I hate people. ANYWAY. Love you, Hometown. 

6. Coast Sushi - Evanston 

Ok, so this gem is not open for dining indoors OR outdoors, however they have their carryout system down and their sushi is so, SO fresh and good. I’ve picked up from here a few times and eat time I fall more in love with the flavors and how consistently tasty it is- and with sushi, it’s always a gamble if it’s going to be really good or kinda fishy and old. The Coast in South Loop was a favorite spot for a while, however it has shut down and I am so happy to be able to get my favorite rolls up in the burbs. My go-to order is a Spicy Tuna Maki, Spicy Scallop Maki, Spicy Miso Soup, a side of Spicy Mayo, and a side of Sushi Rice. This sounds odd, but hear me out- I like to mix the spicy mayo into the sushi rice and eat it just like that. It’s. So. Good. Am I gross? I might be gross. 

Anything you get from here is going to rock your socks off, so for your next night in (aka every night lol) treat yourself to some sushi, babbyyy! 

I sincerely hope that we can keep dining outside for at least a few more weeks, and I am absolutely ok with wearing Uggs and a full-on coat to be able to. Just a reminder to keep your mask on when talking to wait staff, be polite, be patient, and don’t be an asshole. You don’t NEED to dine out- it’s a treat- and you should treat it as such. Don’t be a Karen, or don’t leave your house. Those are literally the only two options.

I hope you try somewhere new, whether it’s carryout or dining out, and tell me if you have any favorite North Shore spots I missed! 

Until next time, Happy Eating!

- Natalie

[kyliexc]

AYOOOOOO, it me, mini from the blockkk ~ and im here to give you a very bratty kid. she’s rude, unfiltered, ride or die and a hell of a fighter. truly, i hate her but i hope you enjoy her and i wanna plot with everyone new and old pls. 

chicago’s very own kylie castillo has been spotted on madison avenue driving a bentley continental gt, welcome ! your resemblance to becky g is unreal . according to tmz , you just had your twenty first birthday bash  . your chance of surviving new york is uncertain because you’re hot tempered , but being brave might help you . i think being an aries explains that .  3 things that would paint  a  better picture of you would be a bottle of patron, messy makeup brushes and a joint. & ( female + she/her  ) +  ( mini , 23, she/her , est )

We got a pinterest board right here ! Besides that, give this a like and i’ll mssge u! 

Basic Information

Full Name: kylie valentina castillo

Nickname(s): ky, kyky, k, kybby

Age: 21

Height: 5 ft

Date of Birth: April 15th 1998

Zodiac sign: aries

Hogwarts house: slythindor (slytherin + gryffindor)

Ethnicity: mexican

Nationality: american

Gender: cis female

Pronouns: she/her

Orientation: bisexual

Religion: agnostic-catholic

Tattoos: a peach on her ass, #2 tramp stamp and canon becky g tattoos

Language(s) Spoken: english + spanish

Accent: american with a hint of spanish

Favourites

Weather: fall

Colour: yellow or pink

Music: sebastian yatra, reik, travis scott,

Movies: halloween or selena

Sport: soccer, basketball, hockey, volleyball

Beverage: tequila

Food: chicken or carne asada tacos 

Animal: lions + dogs

Family

Father: alejandro castillo, soccer player (jersey #7)

Mother: lupe castillo (molina), seamstress/designer

Sibling(s): ricky castillo

Step Siblings: jesse james altera, elissa altera

Pet(s): sushi and lola (dogs)

BIOGRAPHY

FAMILY HISTORY

kylie castillo is 2nd generation American, meaning that both pair of her grandparents immigrated to the United States a looong time ago from Mexico, and both her parents grew up in the USA. 

Her dad, alejandro castillo grew up in Los Angelos, California working to be a big time soccer player, and he got scouted but he ended up playing for MEXICO, and when he wasn’t playing for the official team, he played for Barcelona FC. So her dad made a name for himself in soccer. 

Her mom, lupe castillo molina grew up in Chicago, Illinois. She went to school and started up her own fashion brand, it was small and slowly growing as she was working as a seamstress for different companies all over Chicago. It took awhile to take off, but it did, and she had a shop in Spain bc she was illegal in the US and it was easier to stay in Spain and gain citizenship. ANYWAY, her shop blew up in Europe before getting big in the US. 

Both met in Barcelona where lupe was just a fan. it suddenly became more after they got pregnant, and after they married with their first child they decided to settle in Chicago. 

They were together until Kylie was 12 years old and her mom started seeing angelo altera, eventually marrying him for a few years. This means that she’s step siblings with lennon james and elissa altera! 

That marriage didn’t last that long, so right now both her parents are single, separated and living in different households that share the same customs. EXCEPT, kylie’s mom and dad seem to be sorta reconciling~

lupe castillo currently lives in New York for her step kids and kids while alejandro castillo still resides in Chicago, and sometimes Los Angelos. 

WHO IS KYLIE CASTILLO?

kylie was born in Chicago and she had a pretty normal childhood. she grew up in a house with her parents, siblings and grandparents under one household, growing up with hispanic traditions. She grew up speaking latin american spanish meaning she’s bilingual and is 100% PROUD of her ethnicity even though she has been told the typical slurs from ignorant people, but you know, it happens. it’s really only made her stronger as a person.

kylie has always been the closest to her dad and he implemented not just in kylie but in all of his kids that if you work hard you can achieve anything. to not let anyone tell you that you can’t do things. this was especially true with sports. ofc having a soccer player for a dad, kylie was automatically interested in soccer, all of her siblings were and are. they were known as the sports family on the block.

while her dad taught her sports and to toughen up in any situation, by no means does this mean she was a tomboy. she can play a game of soccer in 6 inch heels. if you don’t think so, she’ll prove it to you! So while her soccer interest grew, her mom would introduce kylie to clothes, makeup, cooking. all of that stuff so kylie always knew to be presentable. ‘let them judge you by what you wear so you can prove them wrong with who you are.’ is one of a thousand quotes her mom would tell her about life.

even if kylie grew up comfortable and in a good position, her parents instilled the value that you gotta work hard to get what you want. if you don’t implement blood, sweat and tears, you haven’t earned it. So if you know kylie, she’s a partier mixed with a workaholic sometimes mixed with a UFC Fighter dEKJGDKJFSGH

When her parents broke up, she went on a rebellious streak, more of a streak than the one she’s always on. she had family that weren’t the safest but for kylie it was safe. so she got involved with some shady characters, and she’s done some stufffffffffff. hmu if you wanna know more. FKJGHDFKHGJ that went on for awhile, she was wildin and she settled into her new home with her step siblings and step dad. 

Kylie is still very much closer to her dad than her mom but she loves them both, bouncing between houses and states (since her mom lives in NYC now) to hang out with each of them often. 

In a grand total, she’s a problem child that just likes to have fun. 

CAREER

There was at one point where she wanted to be a soccer player like her dad but for a women’s team. although there were times growing up where she would definitely show guys she could kick their asses in the sport. she still can! 

When her dad found out what she wanted, he made sure and he worked with her everyday to make her a better player, EXCEPT, kylie overworks herself, A LOT, even when her dad didn’t schedule practices. it didn’t work out for her in the end because during a game she really messed up her knee where she had to give up the sport.

She was DEVASTATED, and she moped for about a day before she found something else, which was makeup. She actually rlly slowly got into it, watching tutorials, practicing on her lita’s, siblings, tia’s, mom, etc. By networking through her mom’s connections, she landed a couple of gigs to do makeup for a couple of backstage things and movie productions. she was getting around to a lot of stuff.

For awhile she was an MUA, and works with a lot of different people. she doesn’t care who you are as long as you’re chill, but then she wanted to try something different and went into music. She is step siblings to lennon james, and there is a lot of musical influence in her life, so of course she was going to dip into that. 

Her style of music is primarily in spanish, targeting that market and since it’s being big in the US, she’s definitely one of the prominent artists since she’s one of the few born in America that makes this type of music. So currently she’s working out stuff with music, working on collaborations, and then doing things in other fields.

Kylie doesn’t believe in limiting herself, if she wants to do something, she’ll do it. She also very much loves to work with charities and going to marches for things she believes in, using her platform for things like that ... even if she isn’t the best person to look up to. 

PERSONALITY

kylie is literally F I E R C E. she’s got two types of personalities, one where she’s a home body and loves her family, will beat you in a quick game of soccer. she’s that bubbly girl with the laughter, sarcastic remarks followed by a smirk at the end of it

BUT

she is also that girl that when it’s time to work, she is scary. she knows what she wants, she knows how she wants it and she will get flustered when it’s not like that. she’s got a whole ‘that BIIITCH’ personality, like when she’s on the red carpet, she just has it going for her kind of thing.

but she’s a goof, and that’s something everyone will notice. she loves to make people laugh and smile. 

if you’re an asshole, those are her favorite types where she’s just drawn to those people. she really does love a challenge. 

A big thing for her is she is really hot tempered. talk shit get hit, is kinda her thing. if you wanna start an argument, don’t expect to come out of it without a scratch on you when you’re with kylie. she just has that mentality that if you don’t wanna talk it out she already has her hands up to start swinging. 

If you’re close to her, she will ADORE YOU. This girl is ride or die for anyone she loves, she doesn’t care what you did, or how other people perceive you. if you’re close with kylie, that’s all she cares about. she’s too loyal.

connections?

old school friends

old school enemies

makeup clientele

squad?

ride or die

drunk friends

sibling like friends

exes ( good + bad + messy + angsty )

crushes ?

former lovers to friends

um, anything? let’s brainstorm ! :)

[lovemesomesurveys]

England Do you like to drink tea? I like to drink some at night before bed. Do you like to put sugar in your tea? Yeah. I just use 1-2 packets of sweetener. Have you ever explored an ancient castle? No. If you’re a Christian, are you Catholic or Protestant? Protestant. Do you live in a big house? No. 

Are there a lot of seagulls where you live? No, not in my city. Do you have a garden? No. Name something you own with the British flag on it. I don’t have anything. What’s your favorite part of London? I’ve never been, but I’d love to visit. If you’ve been to England, what was your favorite city you’ve visited? If applicable, what is/was your favorite store in London? Have you ever been lost in London? Would you say your personality is British? Do you think you’d fit in there? What are some examples of a British personality? Do you have English ancestors, or are you from England? No. Ireland What is one of your favorite celtic songs? I don’t know any. Do you have red hair? Not naturally, but I dye it red. Are you Irish? I do have some Irish in me.

Name 5 redheads that you know. I have a cousin who’s a natural redhead. That’s the only redhead I know, personally. Who in your family is/was a redhead? ^^^ If you’ve been to Ireland, what was your favorite city you visited? I’ve never been. Did you have any bad experiences in Ireland? Do you celebrate St. Patrick’s Day? All we do is have corned beef and cabbage for dinner, ha. Do you like Irish food? I think they’re kinda big on soups and stews, which aren’t my thing. I’m not crazy about corned beef and cabbage, but I’ll eat it that one day a year. Now potatoes, on the other hand, I love in all its various forms. What’s one thing you like about ancient cathedrals? The architecture, the interior, the artifacts, the history. Do you like rolling hills of green? That scene from The Sound of Music just came to mind. haha. Do you like bagpipes? I don’t really feel any particular way about them. It’s not something I hear very often. If you’re Irish, what part of Ireland is your family from? I don’t know. I really want to do one of those DNA tests to find out more about all that. Do you like English accents or Irish accents better? English. China What is your Chinese zodiac sign? I don’t know. ^Do you like it? Do you feel it fits your personality? I don’t believe in that stuff. Do you like your American zodiac sign or Chinese zodiac sign better? Do you like Chinese food? I like some. It’s not my favorite and it’s not ever something I really crave. List three of your favorite Chinese foods. Chow mien, egg rolls, pot stickers. I loved orange chicken, but I can’t eat it anymore due to the spiciness. Are you familiar with the topic of footbinding? Yes. This actually has come up in 2 other surveys I’ve done recently. What are your favorite books about the Chinese? I haven’t read any. Do you know anyone Chinese? Yeah. Who is your favorite Chinese youtuber? I like this ASMRist named Tingting ASMR. Have you ever cooked Chinese food at home? I’ve made pot stickers. Are you familiar with the Great Chinese Famine? No. Do you wish your school would teach you about other countries’ history? They did. Would you ever want to go to China? Sure. Do you have any Chinese in your family? No. Japan Do you like sushi? Noooo. ^If so, what are your favorite kinds? What is your favorite manga series? I don’t read manga. Do you love Japanese street fashion? Not my thing. What color hair would you have as an anime character? Red. Are you aware of the struggles of Japanese Americans during World War 2? Yes. What is your favorite Japanese name? I don’t have one. Do you like bonsai trees? Sure. What’s one thing you think Americans should adopt from the Japanese? I don’t know. Have you ever listened to Jpop? I’ve heard some before. Do you like Hello Kitty? Yeah. I was really into it as a kid. What is something you want to know about the Japanese? I don’t know. Do you know anyone who’s Japanese? Yes. Would you ever want to go to Japan? Sure. Australia Do you have blonde hair? Nope.

Do you live near a beach? About 2ish hours away from one. Do you surf? No. Who is your favorite Australian youtuber? I don’t know of any. Do you watch The Norris Nuts? I don’t know what that is. Who is your favorite Australian fictional character? I can’t think of any Australian fictional characters. What is your favorite song by Hillsong? Not familiar with them. Have you ever tried to surf? No. Do you skateboard? No. Have you ever been on an island? No. Do you live on an island? No. Do you like Australian accents or British accents better? British ones. Have you ever heard the term, “Crikey, mate!” Yeah. Have you ever met anyone from Australia? No. Africa Do you know anyone from Africa? I don’t think so.

Are you familiar with the War on Sudan? I’m not. Do you own an Invisible Children shirt? No. Have you been to Africa? No. What’s your favorite wild animal? Giraffes. Do you prefer dancing or drumming? Neither. Do you have good rhythm? Nope. Would you ever want to go to Africa? I’d love to visit giraffe manor. What is a great African song? I don’t know any. Have you ever tried African dancing? Nope. Do you own any African jewelry? No. Ever danced to “Waka Waka”? No. What’s the furthest you’ve ever walked in one day? My friend and I have walked all over San Francisco. If you’re not familiar with the city’s landscape, it’s got a lot of hills and is very steep. Do you live in a mud hut? No. Mexico List 3 of your favorite Mexican foods. Burritos, tacos, quesadillas. List 3 Mexican names you like. *shrug* List 3 people you know who are Mexican. My family. Have you ever been to Mexico? Yes. Would you ever want to go to Mexico? I’d like to visit a few different places in Mexico. Do you think you could handle being around people all the time? I know I can’t, ha. Do you like spicy food? D: I was obsessed with spicy food and ate it all the time until I developed some kind of sensitivity to it a few years ago. It really, really sucks. How do you do with crowds? I don’t do well with crowds. Is it hot where you live? Ugh, yes. We have horrible summers. Do you like bright colors? Sure. Can you speak Spanish? Only very little. Have you ever been to a fiesta? Yeah. Ever smacked a pinata? Many times. What’s your favorite thing to order at Taco Bell? Bean burrito, no onions, extra sauce and a couple Doritos tacos. The Middle East Are you Muslim? Nope. Do you know any Muslims? Yeah. Do you know anyone who wears hijab? No. What are some of your favorite books about Muslims? I haven’t read any.

Ever been to a desert? I’ve been to Arizona. Would you want to ride a camel? I’d be too scared. Did you watch the show Legends of the Hidden Temple? Yes. Korea Have you read To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before? Nope. I haven’t seen the Netflix movie either. ^Have you seen the movie? Oh haha. Nope.

Did you know that North Korea is closed? What. Would you ever want to visit South Korea? No. Have you ever had Korean food? Yeah. South America Have you read The Spirit of the Rainforest? Nope. Name one fact you know about Venezuela. I don’t know at the top of my head. Do you know anyone who lives in Peru? No. Have you ever tried Peruvian food or drink? No. Have you ever been to South America? No. Do you know anyone from Brazil? No. Would you ever want to visit South America? Sure. Name someone you know who owns llamas. I don’t know anyone. Do you like llamas? Sure. Have you ever sewn on a loom? No. Do you own a skirt from Guetamala? No. Do you ever wonder why we don’t hear much about South America? I haven’t thought about that. Thailand Do you like elephants? Yeah. Would you ever be brave enough to try walking on stilts? Well I can’t, but also no. Do you know about sex trafficking in Thailand? Yes and in other various places. It’s a serious problem. Do you like Thai food? I haven’t tried it.

Do you know anyone who’s Thai? I don’t think so. United States If you live in the US, which state do you live in? California.

Which states have you visited? Arizona, Idaho, and Georgia.

Which states have you lived in? Just California.

Have you ever been to Washington D.C? No. What is your favorite American food? Chicken tenders and fries, chicken wings, and Big Macs. Haha. Do you listen to popular music? Yeah. Do you dream of having two kids and maybe a dog? Yes to the dog, no to the kids. …and living in a two-story house with a white picket fence? It’d be nice, but I don’t need a 2 story house. That would add additional costs for me because I’d have to make it accessible. It would be pretty cool to have a 2 story house with an elevator. I really just would like a spacious enough house for 4 adults and a dog. …and having a good job and saving for retirement? That would be great. ….where you can retire to Florida and live on the beach? Not Florida, but yes to a beach home. Did you go to college? If so, what was your major? Yes. I got my degree in psychology. Were you abused by your parents? No. Do you know any nice people? Yes, plenty. How often do you bbq? We never do anymore. Other What’s the best family vacation you’ve been on? Disneyland vacations are definitely among the top. What countries have you visited? Mexico. What countries do you want to visit? Many. I want to travel all over. Have you ever been to NYC? No, but I’d like to. Do you live in a big city, small town, or other? Big city.

Do you live in the city or country? City. What is your favorite country besides your own? Hmm. What country do you live in? America. What is your ancestry? I know we have some Caucasian, Mexican, Filipino, Irish... I don’t know what else. Like I said, I really want to do one of those DNA things to find out exactly.  What currency do you use? US dollar. Do you think you have an accent? Everyone does, but it’s weird to think of me having one as just a California gal. I guess cause when I think of accents I think of like British, southern, and even like New York or midwest, etc... something distinctive, ya know.  I guess they don’t really think of it either; though, since it’s normal for them. Have you ever been told you have an accent? No.

[butterscotcheye]

i was tagged by @teddy-fluffnhugs! I have not done a tag in a bit. So i cannot remember if i have ever done this before.

Rules: Answer the questions in a new post and tag 10 blogs you would like to get to know better.

Age: 37

Birthplace: I was born in Tucson AZ, but haven’t really been back since the 80′s ^ ^;; well, lies. i visited once really briefly when i was a tween but it was so weird cause i didn’t really recognize but a few extended family members. I’m not super familiar with them.

Current time: 8:06 PM

Drink you last had: just water

Easiest person to talk to: Teddy!

Favorite song: that keeps changing ^ ^; right now its alot of retrowave in general

Grossest memory: oh snap. probably when my brother shat so much the toilet overflowed but he didn’t bother to MENTION IT TO ANYONE so the entire second floor of the place we were living in at the time was soaked in shitty water. >< And i remember having no choice but to walk through that for days. uuughhh.

Hogwarts House: ?? i don’t know

In love:: no

Jealous of people: I wish i was smart like other people ^ ^; also like, normal looking. and tall. And good at learning new skills. I envy everyone who falls into those categories.

Love at first sight or should I walk by you again: What does this sentence mean, exactly? who am i walking by?

Number of siblings: two, both younger than me.

One wish: I WISH to just stop being afraid and go try the new things i’m afraid of.

Person you called last: uuuhh i think it was my mom because we got separated at awesome con, and she was carrying something me and my sister wanted to get signed and had to find her to get it back.

Question you are always asked: WEll, now its usually at work, stuff about insurance. -_- but i guess before that, yeaaars ago, if someone was being personal it was like ‘why are you so quiet?’ which the answer really just was because i didn’t enjoy socializing but i would just try to be diplomatic and say uh i don’tknow derp.

Reasons to smile: I don’t know, all the good stuff in life? that’s alot of things. 

Song you sang last: UM. sang. hmmm. I can’t remember if it was Careless Whisper (george michael), something by radiohead (any number of songs) or possibly Tame Impala ‘s ‘the less I know the Better.’

Time you woke up: 6:50 AM which is typical on a workday. It’ll usually be between 6:30-6:50 something. But if i don’t have to go in, it can vary between as early as 7, 8, or be 9 and SOMETIMES as late as 10:00 AM. But i have too much to do on ‘free’ days to allow anything later ^ ^;;

Underwear color: Blue today.

Worst habit: forgetting stuff ><

X-rays: how many? i don’t know. They’re mostly dental. But there was also two ultrasounds and a CT scan, does that count? i probably should have had a foot x-ray cause i am prettttyyy sure i broke my foot (it still hurts btw) but who has time (or money??)for that?

Your favorite food: hmmm! alot! i love spagetti! and ice cream, Indian food (so much) sushi, tacos, pizza, seafood, squash, mushrooms, cake, insect-based food, chick peas, beets, and much more. :p

Zodiac sign: Libra (the most hated of signs)

I will tag @artist-of-troy, @taffing-garden-salsa, @showeredwithlullabies, @buccura, @oculeth, @amayanocturna, @armoured-escort aaand i guess i will hold off there? You don’t have to if you don’t wanna.

[theepitomeofsimplicite]

Hi everyone! As many of you may already know, Amsterdam is like a place I feel like home. This city is well… gold! Lacking for better words to say this simply 😉 As I was chatting via Instagram with the lovely Chloé (@chloe_mrnr), who is going to visit for the first time the Venice of the West, I was giving her my own Amsterdam city guide so I might as well share the tips with you all.

Amsterdam Centraal

Amsterdam Canal View from Amsterdam Centraal

Ok, so where would you like to start the city tour? If you are arriving by train (like me most of the times), then you are getting off from Amsterdam Central. Make sure to head outside to be mesmerized by the train station architecture once out there and you will quickly grab a sight on beautiful canals, the white and blue tram railing by, and among other things a handful of tourists. Your eyes will also intercept from a distance the church of Saint Nicholas and some covered gallery shops.

Keep walking over the canals and see from a distance the Saint Nicholas Church

Inside of Saint Nicholas Church. Free entrance!

Look at these colorful buildings hanging over the canal!

Amsterdam Centraal from a short walking distance away, admire this architecture!

Then, as you are walking further away from Amsterdam Centraal, there is the notorious Red Light District area with funky empty shops by day but at night fall, this neighborhood gets seriously busy. I still recall the awkwardness I felt when I visited this area with my mom the first time a few years back where she was describing each woman behind those recognizable red light windows as they were lacking of something she would call “normal”. I couldn’t help than laughing at this precious moment with her by having her refusing to be convinced that women are made of a variety of shapes and colors just like the sweet skittles we enjoy so much. Euhh sorry for this poor comparison, ok then I’ll skip there! Shall we?

Amsterdam is very simple to navigate through: walk, hop on the tram, or do as the Dutch; bike everywhere! The city is divided into 4 areas and I’ll start clockwise from the North West.

The North West:

Toki is a fav local coffee shop (but don’t you worry! There is business there. I just happened to take a photo when it was closed).

The street of Haarlemmerdijk is where there is lots of tiny independent designer boutiques along with delicious bakeries that have window glasses where everyone can drool over the artful pastries, delicious sandwiches, and you gotta check out all the variety of fresh Dutch bread. The locals can be proud of their breads but also the coffee is quite remarkable. One of the locals’ fav is Toki (Binnen Dommersstraat 15, 1013 HK Amsterdam), where I’d meet up with friend Kimberley (@theotherway) for coffee and cake!

Meet Kimberley! (@theotherway)

Kimberley is one of the very first Dutch women I met during my first visit to the Netherlands! Let me just start by saying that she set a very high standard for other Dutch folks haha. She is one of the sweetest and kindest person I know. I still recall meeting her over in Eindhoven de Burger (5, Kerkstraat, 5611 GH Eindhoven), where she had waited for me (Sorry!) then surprised me with the world renown Dutch Stoop waffles from Albert Heijn (a typical Dutch grocery store should you need anything) and some other goodies. I still have so many stories to share about our meet ups but let’s save it for some other post 😉

Kimberley street style is always impeccable! I wonder how she does it?!

I love strolling these streets, wouldn’t you?

A great place for a brunch is The Breakfast Club (Haarlemmerplein 31, 1013 HR Amsterdam) where Kimberley likes her pancakes haha. I also recommend strolling through the street of Haarlemmerplein where there are those tiny boutiques and lots of greens and flowers sprouting here and there in front porches of the apartments. I think it’s an Amsterdam signature landscape.

The Breakfast Club for brunch is delicious!

The Breakfast Club

Sorry, I couldn’t help to creep snapped a photo of these Dutch girls as they wore the exact same things as I was and found that twinning was funny (striped top, jeans, and Celine trio) 😉

Other great coffee spot is Café Thijssen (Brouwersgracht 107, 1015 GD Amsterdam) but also great for late night bites. This is where I met up on the terrace with friend Nikki (@sartreuse). After shopping, you may get great pizzas at de Pizzabakkers (Haarlemmerdijk 128, 1013 JJ Amsterdam).You must check out the Movies (Haarlemmerdijk 161, 1013 KH Amsterdam)! Aside from catching a movie, you can have a romantic dinner too!

Meet Nicki (@sartreuse)

de PizzaBakkers is a fav local place!

And the pizzas are delicious at de PizzaBakkers 🙂

at The Movies

At the Movies is a place for movies but food too!!

Some interesting architecture

The North:

In the Northern area, it’s easy to find A’dam Toren (Overhoeksplein 23-B, 1031 KS Amsterdam) because it’s a very tall modernistic building. There, take the elevator which has cool light shows (each elevator gives a different experience) all the way to the 20th floor and the observatory deck offers a sweeping 360º view over Amsterdam and the river and if you ain’t afraid of heights and seeking a thrilling experience then you can try to get on the red sensational swings where you get to be propelled in the air over the edge of the building. A tad bit scary in my opinion! There is good ambiance there for night out with drinks and clubs. Downstairs though, there is the Butcher for burgers and fish chips with a beautiful bar setup right in the middle of an arcade. For culture, nearby there is the EYE Filmmuseum (IJpromenade 1, 1031 KT Amsterdam).

Sweeping view of Amstedam from A’dam Toren penthouse

Not afraid of heights, then try out these swings at the A’dam Toren! It’s the highest swing in Europe!

The Butcher’s Fish n Chips and yummy burger

The Butcher Bar overlooking at the river has an arcade there

The East:

On my last trip, I went to this English place for brunch at Bakers & Roasters (Kadijksplein 16, 1018 AC Amsterdam) to meet with Kimberley and Silvana (@saisonlune). In need for green space, there are Hortus Botanicus (Plantage Middenlaan 2a, 1018 DD Amsterdam) and the Oosterparkbuurt. Oh check out the Skylounge for a great view and a great drink (Oosterdoksstraat 4, 1011 DK Amsterdam). After a visit to the park, there is time for shopping at the Waterlooplein Market  (Waterlooplein 2, 1011 AL Amsterdam).

Bakers & Roasters

Bakers & Roasters’ crumble eggs and green juice are delicious. Very friendly staff!

Oosterparkbuurt is very relaxing

WaterloopleinMarkt

WaterloopleinMarkt has lots of jewelry, interior decor, and more!

The South:

Park Museumsplein

Rijksmuseum

Rijksmuseum

This is the cultured area where we have many museums to visit like Van Gogh Museum and the beautiful Rijksmuseum. Don’t forget to take a break in between and stroll around the Park Museumsplein for a break. Are you now ready to shop, then go to Albert Cuyp Market (Albert Cuypstraat, 1073 BD Amsterdam).

  Ok, now the real break to me is here at the Sweet Cup (Lange Leidsedwarsstraat 93HS, 1017 NH Amsterdam) where they make the best coffee in town in my mind. But then, others might say the Bocca Coffee (Kerkstraat 96HS, 1017 GP Amsterdam) is better maybe because the baristas are hotties. Hmmm I don’t really know why would some people think this place serves coffee best haha.

Bocca

Bocca coffees

Wait, there is far more so if you need to stay over the night, the Hoxton (Herengracht 255, 1016 BJ Amsterdam)!! There is great breakfast with yummy avocado toasts and carrot juice, and some cool kitchen to host parties like this wine tasting tour I once attended.

The Hoxton Bar

The Hoxton brunch!

If you are in the mood for shopping in quirky boutiques in this area, go along de 9 Straatjes (Wolvenstraat 9, 1016 EM Amsterdam). But I also personally like to stop by my fav designer spots such as Loves Stories for the sleepwear, and Filippa K for the essential wear.

When dinner time is ringing, I’d go to San George (Stadhouderskade 7, 1054 ES Amsterdam). The staffs speak loud Italian and the pasta is just beyond words can describe. See the pics for yourself! But I also recall my double date with Silvana here at Caffe Restaurant Panini (Vijzelgracht 3, 1017 HM Amsterdam) a while ago.

San George pastas are delicious!

The West:

The Breakfast Club Brunch!

Some of my favorite things to do in Amsterdam are if you haven’t already noticed eat and drink hahaha which may explain the weight gained. To satisfy my taste bud, thanks goodness there is Foohallen (Bellamyplein 51, 1053 AT Amsterdam) where anyone can find whatever he or she desires (sushi, small bites of tapas, sandwiches, beers, wine, cocktails, tacos, and even ramen). I last went with my frenchies Jo, Adrien, and Yohann. If you like thrifting and need art works for the interiors, I’m sure you will like de Hallen (Hannie Dankbaarpassage 47, 1053 RT Amsterdam).

Foodhallen

Ramen & Beer!

Back to The Center:

Jordaan District (Rozengracht 76I, 1016 NE Amsterdam) I think is really cool! The narrow canals and streets there are filled with indie boutiques, cozy pubs and hipster eateries. At Noordermarkt square market there are stalls that sell jewelry, clothes, antiques and even organic food. But this is not just for the hipsters, there are also galleries in the area for innovative contemporary art. Other attractions include the Houseboat Museum and the Amsterdam Cheese Museum. Hmm must have Gouda cheese! But I also like Waterlooplein Market (Waterlooplein 2, 1011 AL Amsterdam) for more second hand stuff and quirky finds. And if you are hungry (like me, I’m hungry all the time!!!), Cut Throat is a barber shop brunch & Bar (Beursplein 5, 1012 JW Amsterdam) where the beau gets his hair done while I get food and drinks haha.

At Cut Throat

Cut Throat Brunch

If you can’t get enough of Amsterdam yet, supplemental guides can be found below just for you my friends:

Handy Guide: iamsterdam

Handy Book for the foodies: The Amsterdam Gourmet 

Amsterdam Hi everyone! As many of you may already know, Amsterdam is like a place I feel like home.

[1000fandoms]

@fanfiction4thewin112 Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!! (I really hope you like it! Sorry it’s kinda late!😅) @weekofhetalia 😊

Every year, all the countries put aside their differences, their past, and their grudges, and come together to celebrate Christmas the way it should be celebrated.

With fun, family, joy. With peace.

All of the personifications, young and old, big and small, both in age and land mass, come together, and eat Christmas dinner… before all the older countries go crazy after the smaller ones go upstairs.

Each year, a few months before the party, at the end of one of the world meetings, the Christmas party is brought up (and it is the only way any of the meetings has order of any kind).

~September~

Germany sighed as he watched the world meeting crash, once again.

France and England were at each other’s throats for the third time that day; China was trying to share (sell) food; Greece was, once again, asleep.

He looked down at the notepad on the table, full of discussions for the meeting, in frustration, and noticed something circled at the bottom. He picked it up and smirked, knowing he would finally get some sort of order.

“And now,” he paused to let his voice carry over the noise. The smirk stayed on his face as he spoke. “about the Christmas party affairs.” He held a stoic face as he watched everyone freeze and look to him. “If you will all take your seats again, we will begin.”

Everyone scrambled to their seats and began to sort out who would host the party, and who would bring what.

When they first started the tradition, everyone agreed that because there were so many counties, and that more were added over time, that the country that hosted did not have to prepare the food. Another country would go to the host’s house and prepare the food there.

So, this year, it was agreed that the party would take place at France’s house and that Spain and Romano (much to his “displeasure” would prepare the food and already began thinking about what foods they would prepare, taking into account each country’s general tastes.

~December~

“Hurry, Romano,” Spain called from the driver’s seat as Romano wedged his suitcase in the back and slammed the lid shut. “we have to start cooking soon if we want everything to be done in time for the party!” The two men had gotten up before dawn and flown to France’s place to spend that day and the next preparing for the party.

“Yeah, yeah, I know!” he grumbled as he climbed into the passenger’s seat and Spain drove to France’s house.

They discussed what they could do and when they could do it as they drove. Putting together a meal like the one they did took massive consideration and planning. Other than the traditional, more complicated Spanish and Italian foods, they would have burgers, pancakes, pizza, different types of sausages and cheeses, tacos, sandwiches, sushi, along with any other food imaginable.

It was an unspoken courtesy that whoever was doing the cooking would try to have some of the basics from as many countries as they could, so everyone would definitely have something to eat that they liked.

They subconsciously went over the recipes of what they were each tasked to prepare in their heads and figured out where to find most of the basic foods they would need.

Spain soon reached France’s house, and the two men grabbed their respective suitcases and went to the front porch. It was barely even two seconds after Spain had rung the doorbell, when the door was thrown open and he was engulfed in a hug by the Frenchman. The two began speaking back and forth in a combination of their languages, and Romano was quickly becoming annoyed.

“Are you two going to just stand there and talk like to each other like two teenage girls or are we going to get something done before the new year?”

“Lo siento, Romano. It’s just been a while,” Spain apologized while rubbing the back of his neck.

“Oui,” France conceded. “We’ll have more time to catch up. I am almost done with decorating for the party!” he practically bounced with excitement. “I cannot wait for everyone to be here!”

“Yeah, yeah. We’re still outside and it’s freezing. Can we get inside where it’s warm?”

Both men knew Romano well enough to look past his rough demeanor to see what he was trying to say under his blunt way of speaking.

“Yes, of course! Sorry about that.” The two men had soon put their suitcases in their guest rooms and had met France in the entryway. “My kitchen is completely at your disposal, my friends. I should be done with the decorating sometime tomorrow, and I can help you both cook after that.”

“Thank you, my friend.” Spain walked off to the kitchen as Romano stopped France.

“We may need help with the things that are harder to find,” he grumbled.

“Of course, Romano! I know every store and exactly what they sell!” He then proceeded to tell them where they would find the more uncommon items. Romano gave a curt nod, then went off to go with Spain go get the ingredients they would need.

The two, after quite some time arguing throughout the multiple stores, managed to buy everything they needed to prepare the feast for the party. They returned to the house as France was decorating the doorframe with a garland covered with flowers and lights throughout it.

“Did you find everything you needed?”

“Sí, we did! We’ll get started on the breads!” Spain called over his shoulder as he went through the door.

“Yeah, whatever, jerk,” Romano grumbled as he followed.

The two countries put everything away that needed to be put away, such as the frozen and cold foods, then washed off the large counters and then prepared to begin baking the multiple different types of breads.

As they each rolled up their sleeves and began on a different recipe, Romano became more relaxed and looked like he was enjoying himself. He remembered when his brother had noticed it one day.

“You always seem happier when you’re baking, fratello!” Italy had said as he watched Romano make lunch to share with him one day.

Romano rolled his eyes and smiled at the memory, glad he had found something he could enjoy.

Hours of kneading, rolling, cutting, and baking, the two men collapsed at the table and relaxed as France volunteered to make dinner. The men ate, then Spain and Romano collapsed in their beds and fell asleep.

The next day was filled with every food and every cooking process imaginable as they made as many basic foods as possible, along with the Spanish and Italian dishes they cherished.

They baked, broiled, grilled, sautéed, steamed, fried, and steamed. The stoves and ovens ran all day, every pot and pan had to be rewashed and reused at least four times. By the time the food was finished, it was near one in the morning on Christmas Day.

“I don’t care how bad or expensive it is- I’m not cooking anything for three days,” Romano stated as they sat on the couch.

“At least the party doesn’t start until tonight,” Spain reminded.

“Good. I’m not going to wake up until an hour before, and don’t try to get me up before then.”

“Get some sleep, mes amies,” France gently prompted as they stood and trudged up the stairs.

They each managed to bathe and find their clothes for the party the following night, before collapsing into their beds again.

Spain managed to wake up a few hours before the party, and began to set out the food on the long banquet table, while France put the finishing touches around the house. True to his word, Romano woke up an hour before the party began, got dressed and came downstairs to help Spain finish and wait for everyone to arrive.

They soon did, and Spain and Romano heard only positive things as they watched the food quickly get eaten.

“We did a good job, didn’t we Romano?” Spain glanced back at the empty table, then looked to the party to see everyone enjoying themselves (along with the first bottles of alcohol be brought out and the smaller nations go upstairs).

“You expected otherwise? Merry Christmas, Spain.”

“Merry Christmas, Romano!”

[beach-rattt]

1, 3, 5-13, 16-18, 21, 22, 27, 28, 36, 40-49, 52-59

1. selfie? I promise you don’t want to see that!

3. do you miss someone? yeah, of course.

5. is there anyone who can always make you smile? oh yes! 

6. is it hard for you to get over someone? it really depends on how serious the connection is, but I'd say yes.

7. what was your life like last year? the first half of the year - terrible. the second half of the year - incredible. 

8. have you ever cried because you were so annoyed? yes.

9. who did you last see in person? my little sister.

10. are you good at hiding your feelings? not really haha.

11. are you listening to music right now? no, i'm watching Schitts Creek.

12. what is something you want right now? I'd really love to hangout with my little brother, get the sibling squad back together again. 

13. how do you feel right now? good, i suppose!

16. have you ever wanted to tell someone something but you didn’t? yeah, i think everyone has done that though. 

17. opinion on insecurities. we all got em, some more than others but that’s okay.

18. do you miss how thing were a year ago? well, this time a year ago i was packing for vacation soooo haha

21. age and birthday? 26, july 29th.

22. description of crush. short...er than i am, insanely gorgeous, a little weird but in a very cute way, stubborn as hell and 100% my favorite. 

27. things I hate. snakes, bad coffee, rude people. the list could go on for days!

28. i’ll love you if… you make me laugh.

36. 3 dreams you want to fulfill? 1. go to the olympics. 2. adopt a dalmatian. 3. spend the night at the aquarium.

40. favourite memory. as of recent? i'd have to say hiking while listening to my favorite playlist. 

41. relationship status? in a relationship with the funniest person I know #blessed

42. favourite book(s)? if you feel too much by jamie tworkowski. to kill a mockingbird by harper lee. where the red fern grows by wilson rawls.

43. favourite song ever? explosions by ellie goudling. although, why does it just have to be one? cause I have a lot.

44. age you get mistaken for? everyone thinks i’m younger until they see the tattoos haha

45. how you found out about your idol? stumbled upon her demos while downloading music for a trip to tennessee

46. what my last text message says? “snacks?”

47. turn ons? a great sense of humor will always be my number one.

48. turn offs? people who are rude for no reason.

49. where i want to be right now? I wouldn't mind sitting in front of the ocean!

52. something i’m talented at. i can play multiple instruments if that counts!

53. 5 things that make me happy? 1. my girlfriend. 2. my animals. 3. my siblings. 4. the ocean. 5. pineapple pizza

54. something thats worrying me at the moment? did I charge my phone.

55. Tumblr friends? those are my dudes! 

56. favourite food(s)? sour gummy worms, pineapple pizza, watermelon sour patch kids, sushi, tacos.

57. favourite animal(s)? raccoons and sharks.

58. description of my best friend? giant teddy bear who thinks he’s the most intimidating guy on the planet. 

59. why i joined Tumblr? my dude, that was in like 2012 I have no idea.

[foundyou-ff]

Chapter Forty and Five

Just like that the fall semester was gone. The holidays were also here and then. We spent the holidays together, as usual, with gift exchanges and dinners. For Christmas we also invited classmates over. That's when Sakura found out about Sasuke leaving. Ino overheard our conversation and proceeded to tell everyone else. Of course, the girls started crying and complaining. Sasuke could only glare at me for even mentioning anything to Sakura in the first place. He had warned me that I should wait to tell her until everyone else was gone, but in my eagerness to share the news with her I may have overdone it. The New Year's was just as quick and simple. This time around, Itachi took us to the beach right outside the city where we could the fireworks and light shows on display that time of year. It was definitely a sight to see. Sasuke had gone out of his way to get us all sparklers. We stayed at the beach until sunrise, to see the first sun of the year. Plenty of people had gathered. So much so that there were food carts everywhere we looked. Itachi stuck to sushi, while Sasuke and I ventured to try some food at random. We even had some chopped up fish wrapped in this really thin bread thing. The vendor called the dish fish tacos. He said it was something he'd learned during one of his trips to North America. Wherever it had come from, it was really good. "Come on, Naruto, I want to show you something," Sasuke said, pulling on my jacket. Itachi was sitting at one of the food carts, enjoying his sushi with a warm cup of tea. He waved us off, telling us to not be long. He'd be waiting for us at the car when we were done. Sasuke walked away quickly and I had to run to catch up with him. Stupid, teme. Once I caught up to him he walked a little slower. We were approaching a pier; Sasuke was leading me beneath it. "Where are we going?" "Shh. Just follow me." Forever cryptic. Without arguing any further, I followed Sasuke to...wherever the hell he was taking me. Before long, we were standing next to one of the pier pillars at the entrance of a cove. That's when Sasuke very slowly moved toward the cove. He motioned for me to do the same thing. I wasn't sure why he wanted to be sneaky all of a sudden. “Stop here, and get down.” “What? Why?” “Shh. Just get down.” I groaned. “Why, teme?” “Shh. Look over there,” he said as he pointed into the inner part of the cove. With the sun rising, some of its light was beginning to spill into the cove itself. That's when I saw what Sasuke was talking about. At the edge of the light I could see a couple of nests. I wasn't sure what kind of birds created them, but they were sitting over eggs. “Whoa!” I whispered. “Are they about to hatch?” Sasuke nodded. “I think so. The birds seem to be very agitated. The eggs must be about ready to hatch.” “This is so cool. How did you even find this place?” “I had to walk past here to get to the cart where the fireworks and sparklers were being sold,” he explained. “It was dark then! How could you have possibly seen this?” “The mothers were making noise. They started squawking at me because I was zipping by here. At first I thought it was just an injured bird. On my way back, I bought some steamed fish. I gave it to the birds and saw that they had nests full of eggs.” I was crouching there in silence, listening to Sasuke speak. Yeah, he'd always been a softie inside. I smiled. “Well, I'm glad you found them, dattebayo. They probably would have needed to wait to eat if you hadn't brought them food.” “Hn. I think they're waiting for the eggs to hatch. They haven't touched the fish I brought them.” We sat there for a few minutes, waiting for the eggs to hatch. The sun rose higher and higher, until finally the whole cove was bathed in sunlight. As if on cue, the mother birds started gently pecking at their eggs. The eggs started moving around and jiggling a bit. It wasn't long before chicks started breaking out of their shells. For like, two minutes, we just saw the baby birds hatching, breaking free from their eggs. I couldn't help but smile. Sasuke? He was smiling, too. It was a gentle smile. One that I don't really get to see too often. Once again, I wondered to myself what it would take to make Sasuke smile like that all the time. At that point, the mama birds started eating the fish that Sasuke brought them and feeding their chicks...by regurgitating it. I slowly stood up and walked away. “Yeah, the miracle of life is great and all, but I draw my line here.” Sasuke chuckled. “Fair enough. Let's head back, dobe.” “Yeah. I'm sure Itachi is wondering where we are.” Sasuke nodded and slowly moved away from the birds. We headed back to Itachi who was leaning against the car, staring at his phone. He was probably about to text us. He saw us, smiled and waved us over. On our way home, we told Itachi about the baby birds hatching. We couldn't tell him what kind of bird it was, but we told him how the sun lit the area and the chicks were forcing their way out of the eggshells. When we got home, Sasuke and I headed into the living room to watch some TV while Itachi made us some tea to warm us up. By the time Itachi had come back, we'd already fallen asleep. Sasuke was leaning against the arm rest with his head propped up on his hand. I was using the teme as a pillow, with my head resting on his arm. Itachi didn't bother waking us up. Instead, he brought out a blanket for both of us and let sleep there on the couch. When I woke up, I was curled up against the arm rest and one of the cushions. Apparently Sasuke had moved upstairs to his room and didn't bother waking me up. I wrapped myself in the blanket and headed upstairs. I went to Sasuke's room to find him at his desk, drawing on his computer. “You left me downstairs, teme.” “I didn't want to wake you.” “Why not?” I grumbled. “I didn't want to deal with a grouchy dobe.” I pouted a little. “Whatever. Just for that, I'm going to annoy you by sleeping on your bed while you're in here.” Sasuke stopped drawing and swiveled around to face me. “Why?” “Because you abandoned me!” “And? Why does that equate to you sleeping on my bed?” “I know it annoys a stiff prick like you,” I told him. Sasuke glared at me as I settled on his bed. He rolled his eyes and turned away. It wasn't long before I fell asleep again. By the time I woke up, Sasuke was still sitting at his desk, with a tray of food beside him. “I thought you'd be hungry when you woke up. Itachi's gone out.” I grinned. “Thanks, teme.” “Hn.” Sasuke continued to draw as I ate. The rest of the afternoon, we spent it hanging out in his room. I was mostly chatter, with random comments from Sasuke and his drawings.

[youimaginetube]

hi hello I just discovered you and can I say I love youuuu 💙💙 can I make a request where the reader meets Ethan at a convention and she's maybe a bit younger than him? It's like an immediate attraction. Love your writing yeah k byeeee

aww, that’s so nice of you, love!! i love writing!! this sounds super adorable, i really hope you enjoy this. tysm for the request, as always!

Volunteer Convention

Right around the time IndyPopCon rolled around, you’d been signed up as a volunteer photographer for a couple of tables. Because you’d done this in the past for much bigger conventions, you were super excited to have (hopefully) a more intimate experience with some of the creators and their fans. It was always really fun to work with such talented or lucky or creative people, and honestly, it gave you a pretty big smile.

However, you were always a little bit worried, because you looked quite a bit younger than you were. You’re currently 18 (and three fourths!) but everyone who you’ve ever met always says you look about 16, and that youth doesn’t usually make you feel all that confident. Hence the fact that you wear some makeup, try your hardest to cover up all the young and tired eyes, and focus on getting good grades in your college courses. Good thing so many conventions take place over the weekend.

Needless to say, you don’t entirely have a lot of time on your hands. Apparently, a couple of boys were coming to the convention who were pretty popular, and the house was expecting a pretty big turnout. You were thrilled to add a few new shots to your portfolio, considering your current employment is a wedding photographer and special occasions.

Of course, you had your cameras on a constant string of charging and around your neck, preparing for these large lines and silly gimmicks.

The first person you were introduced to was named Ethan.

“Hey, I’m gonna be photographing you and your signings and stuff as long as you’re at the convention. I’ll have a special badge, probably some kind of hat on, and you should be able to recognize me right away. I’m Y/N.” You smile brightly, and his face, a little bit pink as he looks down to your short form, laughs.

“I’m Ethan,” he grins. “I’m a YouTuber, it’s my full-time job and I’m gonna be here with my friends. It’s super fun. I really hope that we can talk some more, though. How old are you?”

Please don’t say he thinks you’re a minor already. Nonetheless, he was more polite than most people talking to you. You’re really short. “I’m almost 19. Why?”

“You’re just really…” he pauses, hearing a security guard calling him over for protocol. You even get a “bodyguard” or someone to keep anybody from grabbing at you or trying to steal anything on your body. “I’m sorry. I’ll catch you really soon, okay?”

He’s very sincere and genuine, and honestly, you love it. He’s really cute, and you can’t help but admire the constellations of acne on his cheeks and how pretty his eyes are and how even though some may see endless imperfections, every feature on his face seems incredibly complimentary to another.

Ethan is honestly your favorite to photograph, too. Because even when he sees you, he doesn’t pose, he just keeps the natural movement going and makes for a really cute photo-op. His hair is always somewhat tousled and his shirts always wrinkle just perfectly, the light practically bouncing off of his smile-ready teeth.

You really do admire him, and spend the first night in the hotel room watching some of his videos. Nobody told you he was hilarious, too. That’s obviously an added bonus to how adorable he is.

The following morning, Ethan had arrived before you had. “Good morning!” He chirped, and offered you a coffee he bought this morning. That was sweet of him; at least he didn’t treat you like an intern.

“Good morning,” you laugh back, “you’ve already given me some great photographs. I have your email to send a bunch of them to you. Would you mind if I used any of them for my personal portfolio? I know it’s sort of a big question, but-”

“I don’t have any problems with it. They’re your photos, I just happen to be the subject of them. You can do whatever you want.”

You two exchange jokes, smiles, and on your end, photos, all day. He only leaves for short periods of time, normally for lunch. He’s always determined to have people get to meet him, and to not rush anybody through the line. You can tell by his face that he’s consistently happy, and mostly energetic. Sometimes he’ll mellow out for an hour, and it’s these periods when you get the most photogenic pictures of Ethan.

He’s truly beautiful.

“Hey, Y/N!” He yells a couple hours into the day. “Did you eat anything yet?”

“I’m not usually that hungry in the mornings, actually. Why?”

“Take this,” and he offers you a muffin from the large tray of food behind him. Apparently, his fans like to gift him quite a bit of food. You nibble through it bit by bit.

It’s about 5:30 when you finally eat the rest of your muffin as a dessert after tacos and sushi (an interesting combo). On the napkin it was set on is a phone number, and the name “Ethan”.

You squeal giddily in your hotel room, and make it your mission to give him the biggest hug after adding his contact and texting him for several hours.

You’re pleasantly surprised to find that he hugs you just as tightly.

[cake-faceshawty]

If you read my last post, you know I loved Punta Cana! It has already secured a spot on my “must visit” list for the Caribbean (you already know Jamaica is clearly numero uno!).

Now that you know everything you need to plan your perfect Punta Cana vacay, I’m here to tell you how to make the most of your trip. This is the ultimate guide on what to do, where to go, what/where to eat and what to wear (or really, what I wore).

WHAT TO DO

GO TO THE BEACH As someone who lives on an island, you’d be surprised how infrequently I visit the beach (it really is a shame!). Whether you stay at a hotel or a villa, there’s bound to be a private beach somewhere.

We enjoyed our time at Juanillo Beach! The beach itself was clean, the water was clear and the staff was polite. Unlike some beach spots, chairs/loungers were free of cost once you can get one (the staff will assist in this). There’s also a restaurant right there on the beach, but I’ll get into that later on…

Some other great beaches to check out include Macao Beach, Playa Esmeraldo, Montaña Redonda and Bavaro Beach.

GET A MASSAGE! Punta Cana is well known for their top notch spas! Take full advantage of your vacation and get a little rest and relaxation in a calming, beautiful atmosphere. Some recommended spots are Sanctuary Salon & Spa, Secrets Spa by Pevonia, SM Wellness, solaya-spa, and Tiara Cap Cana Barbor Spa

DAY TRIP TO SAONA ISLAND If you checked out the PDF document I posted in my last blog, you’ll see that this day trip was listed as one of the activities. I’m going to try not to scandal the company that pretty much screwed us over didn’t allow us to book this excursion, but whenever I go back to DR, this is a must-do!

https://bestvacationstours.com/en/producto/isla-saona-punta-cana-bavaro/

You can pre-book the excursion online (check TripAdvisor or Expedia), through your hotel or at various shops in Bavaro. They usually include transportation from your hotel to the catamaran. The catamaran then takes you to one of the largest Dominican islands, where you can relax on the white sand beach, swim in crystal clear water and feast your eyes on the various flora and fauna on the island. The trip will also include a Dominican buffet lunch on the island.

I feel like I need to hurry and plan my next trip just to experience this.

SCAPE PARK AT CAP CANA

http://puntacananow.com/juanillo-vip-cap-cana-day-by-scape-park-juanillo-vip-cap-cana-day

Scape Park is Punta Cana’s natural theme park with various adventures, activities and entertaining experiences. For $149 USD (includes transportation), you can experience the Hoyo Azul Eco Tour, Zip line, Saltos Azules, Cultural Route, Cave Swim, Iguabonita Cave, Iguanaland, a Domincan buffet and so much more!

  This was such an amazing experience! You can stay there all day, but we really only needed a few hours to get our money’s worth. We visited Iguanaland (omg I touched an iguana! See below), did the ziplining from a cliff (this is a whole workout – you have to literally hike up a hill – but it was my first time zip lining and such an awesome experience), zip line eco splash, the cultural route (learn about the discovery of DR and check out some cultural artefacts), and the cave swim (the water was freezing but it felt so good – such a relief after all that physical activity). We also saw some tropical birds and monkeys!

The only downside is that you have to pay for all your pictures. Despite the warnings, we were allowed to take our cameras in and snap some pictures, but pictures with the monkeys and on the zip lines must be purchased (for ridiculous prices!)

Be sure to carry cash to tip the tour guides and to purchase fresh fruit popsicles. Those were so yummy and refreshing in the heat.

COCO BONGO We didn’t have space for this on our itinerary but I regret not fitting it in. After already having locations in Cancun and Playa del Carmen, Coco Bongo can now be found in Punta Cana. It is a mix of a night club experience and a variety show production that provides entertainment to a wide range of audiences. You can buy the tickets in advance from their website, which gives you options for seating, inclusive drinks and area access.

https://www.puntacanatickets.com/product/coco-bongo-disco/

IMAGINE NIGHTCLUBThis club did make it to our itinerary, however, it seems we overestimated our youth lol. We opted to go to sleep instead of clubbing after dinner but from what I’ve heard, this is definitely a hotspot in Punta Cana – it’s a night club in a cave for goodness sake! They’re open Thursday to Sunday with a different musical theme for each night and various drinks-inclusive options. Be sure to check it out!

https://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147293-d1448068-Reviews-Imagine_Punta_Cana_Disco-Punta_Cana_La_Altagracia_Province_Dominican_Republic.html

INDIGENOUS EYES ECOLOGICAL PARK AND RESERVEThis is another spot that didn’t fit into our schedule, but is a must-visit if you love nature or just enjoy swimming in fresh-water lagoons (they have 5 you can swim in!). You can learn a lot about the reserve’s various projects, explore the exhibits and take a rejuvenating dip in the gorgeous, clear water. For more info, check out their website.

  WHERE TO EAT

As a foodie, I’m always scouring websites trying to figure out where has great menus before going to a new spot. I love Hispanic food so I was very excited to see what DR had to offer. I can safely say they love pasta dishes with pink sauce, plantains and sushi – we saw these items on almost every menu.

I had a ridiculous list of places to try out that I narrowed down for my itinerary, so I’ll list and give my feedback on the ones we actually went to, and suggest some others that didn’t make the cut.

VALE VALENTINA 

This was the first restaurant we tried (literally out of buck-ups because we were too tired to go elsewhere after a day of traveling) and it was so good we went back for breakfast on our last day. Found in Punta Cana Village, it is a great spot for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The service was great, the food was delicious and the ambiance is lovely! For dinner, we tried the Crispy Shrimps (appetiser), hot chicken vodka pasta, pepperoni pizza, bacon roasted chicken pesto pizza and the Valentina roll. Everything was delicious – especially the Valentina roll! Sweet plantain on a sushi roll?! Everywhere should do this! We also had huge glasses of sangria that were super yummy.

The portions are big and the prices are pretty affordable too – all that food and cocktails came to about $120USD! And we all went home with leftovers 😁. You can check out the menu here.

On our last day, we wanted to experience real Dominican breakfast, and it was clearly destined for us to return to Vale, because as we walked around the village, another tourist highly recommended we check them out for breakfast. We definitely didn’t regret it!

Traditional Dominican breakfast, El Criollito, consists of mangù de plátanos verdes y guineítos (Dominican mashed green plantains with butter topped with sautéed pickled red onions), fried cheese and Dominican salami. It was a bit salty for me (a lot of Dominican food seems salt-heavy, especially the cured meats – saltiest bacon I’ve ever had), but it was still delicious.

We also got great cappuccinos that come with a cute heart-shaped sugar cookie – highly recommend. They also offer continental breakfast options such as avocado toast, pancakes, eggs and bagels. We each got the same thing (el criollito, a side of bacon and a cappuccino) and the total was about $60USD. Once again, be sure to check this spot out!

TACO’S TRUCK

I love tacos, like loveeee tacos, but this place is no bueno! While it wasn’t on the itinerary, we chose the stop there after scape park for something to tie us over until dinner time (it’s located at Sanctuary Cap Cana in Juanillo Beach) and we really could’ve missed this. First of all, dem tief they are ridiculously overpriced – $25USD for 6 small tacos! Secondly, both the chicken and beef tacos were so bland, I was wondering if they forgot to add seasoning. The only good thing was the salsa they serve with a little chips on the side – and we had to fight over that because they give you a half a teaspoon of salsa 😠. This is definitely an overpriced, overrated tourist trap – 2/10, would not recommend.

CITRUS RESTAURANT AND LOUNGE

First of all, Justine-Renee and I are still waiting on our pumpkin bisque to come…

After reading great reviews about this place, I chose it for our Friday night dinner spot despite being a whole 40 minutes away from Cap Cana (it’s in Bavaro). Upon entering the restaurant, which was cute – live music going and a great ambiance, we were blatantly stared down like this isn’t a tourist area (but I understand everyone ain’t ready for the staycation vibe). To start, we ordered soup – Christine and Tami got the pumpkin bisque; JRJ and I ketch hype ordered the lobster bisque. The lobster bisque smelled awful (think of that raw scent out by backroad Portmore) and if that taste had a smell – it was in the bowl in front of me. Usually I can just suck it up and eat it but no – this soup was bad. We sent the soup back and it was apparently the worst thing we could’ve ever done. Even the chef came out to ask what the problem was and tried to tell us “it’s a man’s soup” – whatever that means. We then had to deal with other staff inquiring as to why the soup was sent back – one big fuss. We then ordered the pumpkin bisque to replace the lobster mess: the chef even gave us tiny spoons to try the pumpkin bisque at the table. Listen… ALL NOW THE SOUP CANNOT REACH. It’s like they said “screw y’all” and threw the whole soup order away. We waited and waited until all that was brought to us was our entrees. No bueno. Anywho, I had the chicken breast stuffed with plantains and cheese, and a sushi roll topped with plantain (still delicious). The food was meh – not bad but not a must-try, and the service was not good at all (except our clearly frighten waiter – he was sweet). The cost isn’t bad – food and cocktails came to about $110USD. 6/10 from me!

  API BEACH

This spot was actually recommended by our host, Carlos, and I’m so glad it was. We went for my birthday brunch 🎉 instead of the spot on the itinerary because it’s actually in Cap Cana and the other place was 45 minutes away.

First of all, the view of the beach is beautiful to look at  hile you eat. The staff were also really pleasant and helpful, and the food and cocktails were delicious! For appetisers, we had the crispy shrimp, api fingers and arepas. For entrees, we had the API burger, the Monty burger and the Bondi burger. I started drinking before we even got there (birthday lituation) so I can’t remember what cocktails we had but they were also wonderful! Everything here was great! It’s a little pricy (the bill was like $250), but it is a touristy spot so we weren’t surprised. You can check out their menu here.

MONTSERRAT MANOR

Found at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, this was our fine dining splurge restaurant for the trip. We celebrated my birthday with dinner at this beautiful Japanese-Peruvian fusion restaurant. The restaurant is very chic and stylish, and the staff were amazing! We loved every second of this dining experience! For starters, we had crispy shrimp and beef tacos – hello! delicious! For the main course, I had the lamb chops with pumpkin puree and vegetable fried rice.

Like all fine dining restaurants, the portions were relatively small (but filling) and pricey $$$$. Their cocktail menu was a bit too much for me (the drinks are overwhelming mixes with peppers and plantain syrup – too much for me), but you can order any regular cocktail despite it not being listed – I had a mojito. They also brought out a little birthday treat with chocolates and sang me happy birthday in Spanish and English. 10/10 – would highly recommend!

LITTLE JOHN AT JUANILLO BEACH One perk of going to Juanillo Beach is this delicious restaurant. I actually wish I went there on an empty stomach to have been able to try more things on the menu. The staff is friendly, the food is reasonably priced and it’s delicious! We had great pizza and chicken fingers here. The only issue I had here was the Pina colada – it was a bit too sweet for me. Definitely recommend checking this place out!

JELLYFISH RESTAURANT I would love to tell you about the delicious seafood we had here and the beautiful view of the ocean, however, despite making a reservation before we even left Jamaica, and driving 40 minutes to this place, we were informed at the gate that they couldn’t let us in because there was a private function – thank you, NEXT.

BALICANA ASIAN CUISINE

After being denied entry by Jellyfish Restaurant, this Asian, Thai, Indonesian restaurant came to save the day. The atmosphere is great there – nice lil’ island vibe. Our servers were welcoming and the food was affordable and tasty. To start, we had an appetiser platter with chicken satay, vegetable spring rolls, shrimp spring rolls and tempura vegetables.

For the mains, we had sesame garlic chicken, beef oyster, Malaysian coconut curry fish and pineapple fried rice.

Just a heads up, this is not like Jamaican Asian food – the dishes are actually individual, not large plates to share, so keep that in mind. And just like most Asian foods, we were hungry again by bed time 😭.

EL BURRITO Because of proximity, we spent a lot of time at Punta Cana Village. After drinking way too much tequila and rum, I decided I wanted to get tacos before dinner. I did not regret checking this place out! We got take-out, so I can’t comment too much on the staff or atmosphere, but it all seemed great. The food was delicious! I had the spicy shrimp tacos (three tacos with refried beans, cheese, lettuce, pico de Gallo, guacamole and sour cream) and refried beans and rice. Everything was so yummy and perfect to soak up the alcohol 😂. I definitely recommend this place.

LA CASITA DE YEYA

For our last meal, our host recommended we check out the authentic Dominican food at this place (yes, back to Punta Cana Village for the third time in one day). The food was okay, but we were a little disappointed. The prices were moderate and the servings were huge. We tried the arepas, empanadas, nachos, fish in coconut sauce, steak salad, pork chops and plantain stuffed chicken breast.

The atmosphere is nice and the waiter was pleasant but the food was so-so. We all woke up with stomach issues the next morning- so just a heads up 🙃.

OTHER RESTAURANTS TO TRY…

BREAKERS (breakfast/brunch)

DELICES FRANCAIS (breakfast)

SAFFRON

LA YOLA

LA PALAPA

ISABELLA STEAK & BISTRO

TOC BEACH BAR

LA CAVA KITCHEN

BACHATA ROSA

WHAT I WORE

Finally, here are my slaycation outfit details…

Airport outfit – Fashion Nova Remedy For Everything Romper (Black), Fashion Nova On the Prowl Hooded Jacket (Mauve), Nike Free RN (Black)

Scape Park outfit – Fashion Nova Calling all Angels Bikini (Emerald), Denim shorts (Style Savvy), Custom white T-shirt, DESIXQUAY HIGH KEY Aviators (Blk/Fade)

Dinner outfit – Hot Miami Styles Wine Long Sleeve Knotted Skirt Two Piece Set

Birthday brunch outfit – Miss Lola Venetian Dress (Yellow), Miss Lola Adventuress (Nude)

Birthday swimsuit – Jae Jolly ”Paraque” Tropical

Birthday dress – Fashion Nova Open Up to Me Dress (Green)

Beach outfit – Fashion Nova Calling all Angels Bikini (Black), Bon Voyage Tunic (Black/White), DESIXQUAY HIGH KEY Mini Aviators (Rose/CPRFD)

Dinner outfit – Fashion Nova Brighten My Day Skirt Set (Neon Pink)

Poolside swimsuit – Fashion Nova Party At My Cabana Swimsuit (Red)

Sightseeing outfit – Grass-Fields White Off Shoulder Shirt, Miss Lola Press Your Luck Skirt (Nude)

ALL EARRINGS WERE FROM TCG & MORE!

Enjoy Punta Cana!!!!

If you have any questions about planning your trip, check out my previous post here.

Be sure to follow me on my other social media platforms:

@tiffanysamantha_ (blog)

@beatsbytiff_ (makeup artistry)

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Travel Guide: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic If you read my last post, you know I loved Punta Cana! It has already secured a spot on my "must visit" list for the Caribbean (you already know Jamaica is clearly numero uno!).