#where to buy loose leaf tea near me

[sxdfcxe1485]

Title: Exploring the Wonders of Mullein Tea: Health Benefits, Varieties, and Where to Find Them

Introduction

Mullein tea, also known as Amazon mullein tea, is a herbal infusion that has gained popularity in recent years due to its numerous health benefits and soothing properties. Derived from the leaves and flowers of the mullein plant (Verbascum thapsus), this tea has been cherished for centuries for its healing qualities. In this article, we will delve into the health benefits of mullein tea, the various forms it comes in, where to purchase it, and the best ways to incorporate it into your daily routine.

Health Benefits of Mullein Tea

Respiratory Health: One of the most well-known benefits of mullein tea is its ability to support respiratory health. It is often used as a natural remedy for conditions like asthma, bronchitis, and coughs. The tea helps to reduce inflammation in the respiratory tract, making it easier to breathe.

Soothing Effects: Mullein tea is renowned for its soothing properties, making it an excellent choice for relieving throat irritation and congestion. It can also provide relief from dry, hacking coughs.

Anti-Inflammatory: The anti-inflammatory compounds found in mullein tea may help alleviate symptoms of arthritis and other inflammatory conditions.

Antibacterial and Antiviral: Mullein tea contains compounds that have antibacterial and antiviral properties, which can help the body fight off infections and boost the immune system.

Gastrointestinal Health: This herbal tea can aid digestion and alleviate digestive issues such as indigestion and diarrhea.

Sleep Aid: Some individuals find that mullein tea has a calming effect that can promote better sleep and reduce insomnia.

Varieties of Mullein Tea

Mullein Extract Tea: This concentrated form of mullein tea is made from the plant's extracts and is known for its potent medicinal properties.

Buddha Mullein Tea: A special blend of mullein tea, Buddha mullein tea combines the benefits of mullein with other herbs and spices, providing a unique flavor profile and enhanced therapeutic effects.

Mullein Loose Leaf Tea: Many people prefer loose leaf mullein tea for its freshness and customizable brewing. It allows you to adjust the strength of your tea to suit your preferences.mullein tea bags near me

Mullein Tea Bags: For convenience, mullein tea bags are readily available and can be found in most health food stores and online retailers. They are a convenient option for those on the go.best mullein tea for lungs

Where Can You Buy Mullein Tea?

Mullein tea is widely available from various sources:

Health Food Stores: Many health food stores stock mullein tea in various forms, including loose leaf tea, tea bags, and extracts.

Online Retailers: Websites like Amazon, iHerb, and Thrive Market offer a wide selection of mullein tea products, making it easy to purchase from the comfort of your home.

Local Herbalists: Herbalists and holistic health practitioners often carry mullein tea, and they can provide guidance on its use and dosage.mullein tea online

Specialty Tea Shops: Some tea shops specialize in herbal and medicinal teas, making them a great place to find high-quality mullein tea.

The Best Way to Take Mullein

The best way to consume mullein tea depends on your preference and health needs. Here are some common methods:

Brewing: To prepare mullein tea, steep one to two teaspoons of dried mullein leaves or flowers in boiling water for 10-15 minutes. Strain and enjoy.

Tinctures and Extracts: Mullein tinctures and extracts can be added to water or other beverages for a concentrated dose of its medicinal properties.

Blending: Experiment with blending mullein tea with other herbs and spices to create a personalized flavor profile that suits your taste.

Mullein Root Tea

While mullein leaf and flower tea are the most commonly used parts of the plant, some people also use mullein root tea for its potential benefits. Mullein root tea is believed to have a diuretic effect and may support kidney and urinary tract health. However, it's important to consult with a healthcare professional before incorporating mullein root tea into your routine, as it may interact with certain medications or medical conditions.

Conclusion

Incorporating mullein tea into your daily wellness routine can offer a plethora of health benefits, from respiratory support to soothing effects and more. Whether you choose to brew your own loose leaf tea, opt for convenient tea bags, or explore specialty blends like Buddha mullein tea, this herbal infusion has much to offer. Just be sure to source your mullein tea from reputable sources, and consider consulting a healthcare professional before adding it to your regimen, especially if you have underlying health concerns. Embrace the healing powers of mullein tea and savor the soothing comfort it can bring to your life.

FOLLOW US ON:

Website - https://www.teacurry.us/

Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@teacurry

Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/tea_curry/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/teacurry/

Twitter - https://twitter.com/reachteacurry/

Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/company/teacurry/mycompany/

Judge Reviews - https://judge.me/reviews/teacurry

Trust Pilot Reviews - https://www.trustpilot.com/review/teacurry.com

REACH US ON:

Whatsapp - +91-8178027907​

Email - support@teacurry.com

Website - www.teacurry.us

#Teacurry​ #SlimmingTea​ #HonestReview​ #AllNaturalTea #TeacurryReviews #slimmingworldfood

[talkingismylifewrites]

roomate au plus its not you its my enemies froger au?

john stormed back into the house, furious.

roger looked up from behind the paper, sleepy as he drawled, “that was fast honey. have a good day at work?” 

“it happened again!” he bellowed, crossing the kitchen in four short strides. “again! the garden! it’s the third time this month! the begonias--gone!” 

“ah,” said roger, unhelpful as he turned back to the paper, focusing his attention on eating his toast soggy with butter and the obituaries. “nancy.” 

“fuckin’ nancy,” john seethed, throwing himself down into the chair next to roger and letting his head fall onto the table. 

“want me to go wake up freddie?” roger asked as he ran his finger through john’s hair, no doubt streaking butter through as well. john merely groaned in displeasure. 

“freddie!” roger hollered, twisting in his seat. “nancy did it again!” 

from the bathroom floated freddie’s echoing response; “oh dear. is john having another wobble?”

“i dunno, babe, are you having a wobble?” roger teased. he pressed his fingers to the side of john’s head and pushed until he was looking up at him. “yup, he’s having a wobble, fred!”

freddie waltzed into the bathroom, the silk of his bathrobe fluttering against the tiles. “john, darling, you need to let this go. you can’t let this work you up so much--” 

“m’gonna fight her,” john slurred into the table, eyes squeezed tight. “m’gonna kick her ass out of principle.” 

“the woman is eighty-one years old!” freddie cried, scandalized.

“she’s got osteoporosis, i can take her,” john said, just a shade too serious. next to him, roger rolled his eyes, returning to his toast.

“aren’t you going to be late for work?” he quirked an eyebrow, glancing at the oven clock that was an hour and ten minutes slow. 

john grabbed roger’s last slice of toast and shoved the whole thing into his mouth; at this point, he wouldn’t be able to stop for a sausage roll as usual. “i practically run the office, miami can forgive me for being five minutes late after nancy fuckin’ blackwell ran into our fucking garden for the seventeenth time!” 

“ratty’s gonna call in tears if miami catches him alone. you know he’s not allowed to be unsupervised,” roger continued, betraying his lecture by again stroking his hair gently. 

“let him call, i’m on strike until someone takes her license,” said john to the table top. 

“honestly,” said freddie with an air of finality as he dumped loose-leaf tea into a pot. “all we have to do is call her and tell her that we don’t appreciate her constantly backing into our garden. or, better yet, we’ll send your boyfriend over in that shirt she loves to ogle and a tin of biscuits. problem solved.” 

“we tried that already,” sighed roger. john grunted in agreement, remembering the way nancy had practically drooled over roger, pretending to stumble on the doorframe in order to lay her hands on roger’s chest. roger swore it was a genuine trip, but john knew better. 

“that’s it,” john announced, sitting upright only to lean back in the chair, his hands to his face. “i’m moving out.” 

the spoon freddie had been using to shovel in tea clattered to the ground, followed shortly by the sound of roger choking on his toast. panicked, john thumped roger on the back solidly, avoiding his flailing arms as he did his best to stop his boyfriend from choking.

“christ, rog, are you alright?” 

“you can’t move out!” freddie shrieked, coming over to whack john over the head with roger’s forgotten newspaper. john dodged freddie’s blows while attempting to save roger; in the background, the phone began to ring. 

with a final wheeze and cough, roger spat the mangled and sodden bite of toast onto the table, his chest heaving with the effort.

“are you alright?” john pressed his hands to roger’s shoulders, his heart beating.

“you’re--moving--out?” roger gasped, voice rough from the near-death-experience. john had a very brief moment wondering why roger would choose those as the first words post-almost dying.

“well, i--”

he barely had time to speak before freddie and roger exploded, frantically shouting over each other.

“i knew this was going to happen after the answering machine-- it was roger’s idea, not mine!” 

“i’m sorry i keep leaving my towels on the bathroom floor, and that i gave crystal your leftover palak paneer--”

“--fine! you’re right, it was my idea, and i stand by it, but please don’t move out--” 

“both of you!” john shouted, hands in the air. “shut up!”

they fell silent just in time for the answering machine to pick up, blurting out a jaunty toon before freddie and roger’s voices sang out: believe it or not, john isn’t at home, please leave a message at the beep. he must be out or he’d pick up the phone. where could he be? believe it or not, he’s not home! 

“john? john, it’s ratty-- miami just stopped by looking for you. i told him you were in the bathroom, but please, john, hurry. you know how he gets when he finds out someone’s lying!”

john stared at the two of them, both curled inwards and looking like scolded puppies. he sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

“i want to move to a different apartment,” he said, cutting roger’s exclamation with a raised hand. “not because of anything you did-- though you are going to change the answering machine today-- but because if i don’t, i’m going to murder nancy, who is now my mortal enemy.”

“that’s fair,” piped up roger. “i’ll go buy some more cookies, see if we can convince her to give up her license first.”

“thank you,” said john primly. leaning over, he gave roger a peck before getting to his feet. “now, i’m off to work. fred, keep an eye out for nancy, if she backs into the garden again, take a picture for evidence and call the police.” 

as john walked out the front door for the second time that morning, he heard freddie fall into the seat he’d abandoned, grunting; “can’t believe you had to fall in love with someone who’s mortal enemy is an eighty-one year old woman.” 

[oscurolibelle]

Old Men - Madatobi

This must be what it feels like. Tobirama nearly muses at the idea, his chest tightening, his heart aching with a pain he had only felt a handful of times before. Of all the stories he's read, all the poems in books and scrolls, nothing told him it would burn like a fireball lodged deep in his chest. One he can't put out. One that his very soul knows only Madara can soothe with the balm of his care.

Like a hole punched straight through. Leaving his veins on fire, his face hot behind the skin and eyes. If this is truly what it felt like to be consumed by Madara Uchiha, then it was a fitting description.

He thinks to himself, as the literal flaming idiot before him barks nonsense at the old shinobi. Madara's gaze flickers ever so discreetly to his undead ruby eyes and he realizes Madara is now reborn. And that he will have to face him ... or join him. There is a flicker of recognition there and then Madara's gaze is recentered on the Kuubi child before him.

And his soul grieves for a man he loved gone insane.

Its dark mostly, the sun has set on the fire country border, and on Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage, Senju Clan Head, and sole survivor of the warring states period. In his final moments he thinks of his team. Of Danzo and the darkness in his heart that Tobirama knows he cannot change.

Of Kagami's softness that he wouldn't trade for the world. Of Koharu and her sharp wit but narrow thought processes. Of Homura and his weakness for Koharu. Of Torifu and his hidden strengths. Of Hiruzen and the heavy burden he's placed upon the boy.

He feels his blood seeping into the ground beneath him. His breath ragged and body jerks with pain in each breath. He prays Hiruzen has the courage and the strength to fix his mistakes, to lead the Leaf into the light. Tobirama coughs, blood pouring from his mouth and knows that Hiruzen will be tried and tempted above what he might be able.

His vision is blackening. His thoughts drift to Mito and Tsunade. The old harpy will be fine without him and Tsuna is a force all her own already. Tobirama worries for Nawaki, the last Senju heir. He is too young to see if Mokuton will manifest in him. Tobirama silently prays Madara doesn't get to him before he is old enough to manifest it. Nawaki might be the only one with the possibility of stopping Madara in the future.

Because Tobirama knows. He has always known Madara was alive. He can sense him from countries away. Can feel him even now, stronger than moments ago and Tobirama knows it's his paranoia thats climbing on him. 

His limbs are cold, and everything is beginning to numb. Tobirama thinks of his brothers that went before him. Of his young mother. Of Touka and the others. He wonders if he'll see them soon and drifts off into darkness.

His eyes crack open and Tobirama shifts in the sunlight warmth. His mind, as ever is running fast and he's unsure if this is the Spirit World or if he's still miraculously alive. He does his normal checks. All fingers and toes move just fine. His heart is a bit sore but working perfectly. Lungs don't burn and sensory-

He freezes, his mind coming to a dead stop on one word.

Madara.

The fire-bright-white-scorching feel of his chakra is burning so close it would be almost as if he were right-

"Good morning, Tobirama." The familiar, if not gruffer voice drawls lazily. Tobirama can't remember a time he more desperately wanted to remember what happened the night prior. Or maybe it would be best he didn't. Slowly, he opens his eyes to an old style house ceiling, sunlight filtering through the open doors and windows. He feels the light breeze upon his skin. He's not near Konoha at all. In fact, he and Madara are the only chakra signatures around for kilometers. 

"Madara." He manages to not sound terrified. The silence that follows allows him to sit up without worry. It dawns on him that he's clean and dressed in a dark blue yukata in swirling ocean waves. Tobirama pulls the blanket from his legs and crosses them, eyes locking on the enemy of his life for the first time since Hashirama delivered his clone corpse to Tobirama decades ago.

Madara is sitting at the door. He sees the silver starting to streak through the wild mane iconic to the Uchiha. He is witness to the new wrinkles starting to form at the edges of his eyes and forehead. Tobirama watches as he moves still effortlessly in a loose black yukata of his own, and locks eyes, dark, dark orbs piercing Tobirama's own red.

And his breath is taken. Even in their older years the man has a way of making his brain short circuit. The next things out of Madara's mouth surprise him even more as the Uchiha turns his gaze back outside. Especially since Tobirama has never been on Madara's radar.

"You aged well. You're more beautiful than I remembered."

Tobirama has no response. Coming from anyone else, he's trained himself to quip back something fierce and sassy. Right now his tongue is tied and his fingers itch for something to ground himself with. Its then that he notices he's not bound in anyway. No chakra seals. No ropes. Nothing. Just him, Madara and a one room house.

He wonders how long he's been here. "Don't suppose you'd care to stay?" Madara moves, sliding a shogi board over in Tobirama's direction and the Senju can't help but wonder why. Why any of this? His only thought process is next to Madara is the best place for him to be. If he's to keep the Leaf safe from the Uchiha. 

He gives in and begins a silent game with his old enemy.

Months since he decided to stay to watch Madara. To keep an eye on him. Well, two. And the man has made no moves that he can tell would directly or indirectly harm the Leaf. Tobirama thinks it naive to believe Madara would give up on destroying the leaf even after Hashirama's death.

But part of him.. yearns to believe the peace he feels is real. His companion walks with ease beside him in a little town where no one knows either of them. They buy fruit together in the autumn air and Tobirama wonders what this is all for.

They do not speak of Hashirama. Of Konoha. Of anything they shared prior. Tobirama sees the conversations in Madara's eyes but makes no move to intiate. Angering the Uchiha proves fruitless and honestly the past is dead for both of them. Or so he hopes. He spends days in silence sometimes. And when he finally finds something to say, Madara's eyes light just enough to make them different. He isn't sure what to think.

Tobirama isn't sure what to feel. It is hard not to admire Madara Uchiha. He is everything most people dream of. Powerful and alluring, strong and capable. He is intelligent and sharp, attractive under all that mass of tangles. Tobirama knows he's no different than the average person when it comes to Madara's charms. He keeps all these things to himself and remembers his self appointed duty to keep Madara in check.

They retire for the evening, like they always do. Tobirama settles in as the lightning bugs come out and sips his tea, watching Madara pull his hair down from a high tail through white lashes. His gaze lingers a bit too long and Madara's voice rumbles through the silence.

"I've never known you to be an indecisive man." 

The jab is pointed. He knows. Tobirama knows Madara knows of his wandering thoughts, his lingering eyes. And now they're at a tipping point. This was supposed to be a mission to keep Madara under watch. He had let his eyes linger too long though.

And now his desires were rearing their heads. 

"Indecision is still a decision." Tobirama tries to clarify without ruining all he has been given and all he has worked toward. Madara seems to have given it some thought though, and red eyes watch with suspicion and awe as the Uchiha crosses the room nearly undressed the way his yukata is so damn loose on him and-

"Tell me there is nothing here, and I will leave you to your own devices." The words hit him hard, but Madara's scent hits him harder and Tobirama stupidly snatches the Uchiha into his arms, pressing their lips together like he's wanted to do since the boy at the river turned his back on his brother and activated his Sharingan.

Madara has never looked at him. Always Hashirama. Always the village. To have his attention fully for so many months already has intoxicated him. Tobirama wonders if this is just an elaborate genjutsu. Pushed up against a hot chest and chapped lips, he can't find it in himself to care. What's the harm in giving in now? He would never turn on the village, and Madara has made no moves. Perhaps somewhere in his heart he thinks he might have a chance at diverting the man's attention away completely.

Its years later, and the aging Senju is now feeling it in his bones even if his albino compextion and his bloodline connection to Hashirama has slowed the visuals. His lover is old and white now. His long hair rivals Tobirama's snow white, and he is wrinkled from his schemes Tobirama knows he's been up to.

But the man doesn't stop him. There isn't much an old man can do in his position but dream. Tobirama smiles at his companion, and remembers fondly two nights ago upon their bed. It is then when his heart feels as if it will burst from his chest.

It's seconds he is sure of it, but it seems to last for hours as he crumbles to the floor, unable to catch himself. Madara lurches forward, catching him in his arms just barely, the two old men curled in a mess as Madara pours over him, trying to heal what he cannot hope to stop.

Tobirama knows this is his time. He has cheated death one too many times. His mind barely registers the tears on his own face, since his gaze is locked so fully on his lover. The man babbles constantly, saying things that Tobirama has never heard. Spilling secrets of love and hate alike as if he'll never see the Senju ever again. Tobirama tries to ignore the way his heart is losing beats, and reaches for Madara's face. 

His lover's eyes swirl and the last thing Tobirama sees is Madara crying, his eyes a brilliant violet he has never seen before. His lover's voice cuts through the darkness as his eyes close.

"I have always loved-"

Tobirama's chest feels lighter. There's tears threatening to crawl down his face but he's stronger than that.

The flaming idiot, Uchiha counterpart, and the only sane member of their team managed to stop Kaguya, freeing Madara in the process. But his lover is dying again, and this time he is semi-alive to witness it. He should be at his side, but for the entire battle they have both lingered away, playing their respective roles.

Even when he challenged Madara, knowing he could not defeat him, Tobirama smiled at him as he drove rods through his edo tensei body. It was all a game. A rouse. 

Red eyes watch has his secret lover and his brother make amends. He longs to have Madara look at him once more, but they both know he won't. His gaze remains skyward as Hashirama talks about drinking as brothers and war buddies. Tobirama wants to laugh at the obsurdity of it. Wants to laugh at how much Hashirama just does not know about his best friend.

Wants to see Madara again in the Spirit World. To make him laugh and smile. To make him see Tobirama again. To drag moans from him and listen to him rant about overcooked eggs and rice. But Tobirama knows Madara hasn't stopped loving him. 

No Uchiha ever stops loving anyone.

And so Tobirama waits patiently, allowing his body to dissolve and smiling to himself. He will find Madara on the other side, he is sure if it.

[preux-chevalier]

1, 4, 10 and 13 plllllsss :D

I’ve already answered 13 here, but as for the rest... :D

1. Tell me about the imaginary bookshop you dream about running.

Ooh! I’ve never actually thought through this consciously, I don’t think! It would have a store cat, obviously, to Lounge Artfully and accept adoration from customers. A big priority would be good lighting, because I’ve been in way too many indie bookstores that are kinda gloomy, and while that’s good for the dark academia aesthetic, it’s not necessarily good for reading. And that’s the point, right? You gotta skim the back cover and a page or two to see if you want to buy the book. I’d also make sure that aisles are big enough to fit more than one person in, because it’s a pain in the ass to have to wait for someone else to finish browsing.

I kind of love the idea of also having a small tea bar. I’m not a coffee person myself, but loose leaf tea is almost as much of a passion of mine as books are, and how great would it be for a bookshop to have a little reading area where you could order a mug of tea and someone delivers it right to your armchair without you even having to get up and fetch it? Heaven.

The most distinctive thing I’d want for my dream bookstore, though, is a featured section that was more abstract and dealt with way more genres than one usually sees. Like, say the current theme was something like ‘water.’ I’d want things like photography books of gorgeous lakes and oceans and the architecture that people build near them. Nonfiction about ships and sea animals and the science behind tides. Fiction like the Odyssey, Life of Pi, the Master and Commander series, The Perfect Storm. Poetry - heaven knows every poet seems to write about water at some point. Travel books and local interest areas. I want my bookstore to pique interest in multiple directions, and while it’s not a good idea to organize the entire bookstore that way, having that sort of multidisciplinary but coherent approach to the area every customer will see entering the store would really, really reflect my approach to knowledge and books in general.

4. Tell me about that one book that you can’t remember the title of and maybe you just made it up except you remember that one specific thing so clearly.

I have a really distinct memory of reading this one YA novel years ago in which there’s a bunch of girls who fall into like... a hole in the ground or something, and have to climb a literal mountain of potatoes to get out of a cellar, and there’s two evil sisters who get turned into raisins or something? And also Hieronymous Bosch is involved somehow. And I distinctly remember that that book was the first time I’d ever read the word “macrame” because they told fortunes through this wack ass hippie mantra guide. I think there’s four girls and they’re all best friends by the end because of the bizarre shit they lived through together.

If any of you have ANY idea what I’m talking about, please tell me, because what I do remember is so fucking weird I cannot possibly have made this up.

10. Tell me about the sort of cover you cannot resist.

A font that is not just your typical boring sans serif. A relatively simple illustration with details that make me ask questions about what’s going to happen while also giving me a clear sense of the ... not quite genre, but not quite tone either. Like, if I look at the cover I’d like to know if it’s going to be balls to the wall crazy or more on the introspective side, yeah? The cover for a Dan Brown book is not going to look the same as a Nicholas Sparks cover. I know, I know, don’t judge a book by its cover, but like..... the cover exists purely to judge the book by.

Also. This is technically bending the definition of “cover,” but it needs to be said. IF YOUR BOOK DOES NOT HAVE A BLURB ON EITHER THE BACK COVER OR THE INSIDE FLAP, I AM PUTTING YOUR BOOK BACK IMMEDIATELY. Who the fuck has time to read books that don’t even bother to try to pull you in. I don’t care who got recruited to give celebrity testimonies, because there’s no reason I should assume their taste in books is similar to mine. I have better things to do than hunt down the barest scrap of information about your plot. Give me a blurb or give me death.

[nintendoduck-blog]

Festive Giveaway with Adagio Teas - Premium Gourmet Tea

New Post has been published on https://www.vivrelereve.co.uk/giveaway-adagio-teas/

Festive Giveaway with Adagio Teas - Premium Gourmet Tea

Festive Giveaway with Adagio Teas – Premium Gourmet Tea

Long time readers of Vivre Le Rêve will know of my love for tea, especially really good quality tea. That’s why when I came across Adagio, I knew we had to feature them here. What really sets them apart is that their hand-picked teas are sourced directly from origin. They are extremely high quality and nothing like what you might get on the high street, these are all premium full leaf. They have a wide range of unique products, a huge variety of tea blends, flavoured matcha, iced-tea pouches, teapots and infusers.

Firstly, I absolutely love the personaliTEA red teapot infuser. You can enjoy loose leaf tea anytime with this elegantly simple red ceramic teapot. A large infuser basket provides ample room for the leaves to unfurl, affording a fully infused, flavourful cup. The non-drip spout ensures your tea ends up in a cup and nowhere else. It’s also dishwasher safe.

And if you’re not sure where to start when it comes to their huge selection of loose leaf tea. I suggest you get the holiday cheer selection box. This holiday tea assortment is a great way to introduce someone to superior teas, whilst still offering the convenience of teabags. It includes six varieties of gourmet teabags containing the same high quality full-leaf teas they offer loose. Their pyramid shape gives leaves plenty of room to unfurl and fully infuse.

Looking for a unique stocking stuffer this Christmas? Or something to bring to the office to share with your coworkers to spread some holiday cheer? Check out Adagio’s affordable Holiday Sampler. This set includes 6 samples of their holiday teas – loose or in the form of 5 gourmet teabags. We think this is the perfect way to spread the love of tea this holiday season.

Personally, I think that their sampler boxes are amazing! So far I’ve tried the nut and spice teas, berries, chai teas, sweet tooth teas and Christmas teas. We think that these sampler selections offer incredible value because they allow you to try a range of flavours.

If you’re looking for a Christmas gift for a tea lover, I think that this Spice Jubilee selection is fab. This gourmet tea collection includes premium black tea from Sri Lanka flavoured with fresh cranberries, spicy pumpkin and minty candy canes. Artfully created and beautifully packaged, these teas are sure to warm and delight through the holiday season and beyond.

And lastly, we’ve been working our way through what is an incredible range of loose leaf blends. These are like no other tea I’ve ever tried. The flavour combinations are amazing, and you can taste each and every flavour note listed. Here’s the list we’ve been trying:

Rooibos Nutcracker: How suite it is! Limited-edition holiday herbal features rooibos with fruit, nuts, caramel, and cocoa. Smooth, rich flavours offer a natural sweetness and depth. This is the ideal blend to sip by the tree, on a snowy winter’s evening.

Yuletide Toddy: Let your heart be light! This herbal blend is a lovely duet of classic holiday flavours (cranberry and orange) with the added sparkle of cinnamon spice. Bright and festive, tangy yet sweet.

Pu Erh Hazelberry: Sweet Pu Erh tea with strawberry and hazelnut. This blend combines fruit and nut with an earthy smoothness of rich Puer tea. A hint of cream adds a soft, dreamy note to the sweet tea and smoothens out the earthiness. This is a sweeter Pu’er which is perfect for those new to this style of tea.

Earl Grey Moonlight: Your senses will swoon at the first sip of this Earl Grey cream blend. Vanilla and cream combine to soften the bergamot citrus notes of this traditional black tea. Earl Grey Moonlight is perfect for afternoon tea, pair this black tea with cupcakes for a delightful tea party.

Christmas: Christmas black tea combines bright, tangy Ceylon tea with warm cinnamon, pungent cloves and orange peels. And don’t be fooled by the seasonal name: this is a treat worthy of year-round enjoyment. Spicy and fresh aroma, outdoorsy and cozy, with a balanced tangy flavour and slightly sweet finish.

Chocolate: While the greatest chocolates may come from Belgium, the best chocolate tea undoubtedly comes from Adagio Teas. Their fine Chocolate black tea starts with the bright, full qualities of Ceylon black tea, infused with the natural flavour of rich dark chocolate. Very smooth, clean and liquid texture, much like a chocolate liquor, rather than cocoa powder. The balanced astringency of the Ceylon acts to brighten the chocolate flavour. This Chocolate black tea is both decadent and divine.

Cinnamon: A combination of spicy cinnamon with bright, full Ceylon black tea. Very warm and high cinnamon flavour, with a clean, richly aromatic freshness. Spicy, crisp finish. Great blended with other teas, too!

Turmeric Bliss:Bright and sunny, their turmeric tea has the fruity, sweet taste of juicy mangoes and the zest of aromatic oranges. The fruitiness balances the earthiness of the turmeric, widely popular for its health benefits, while ginger and peppercorn enliven your senses.

And the best bit? The lovely people over at Adagio Teas are offering our readers the chance to win a pretty red teapot with matching mugs plus a range of teas, including their new Christmas Sampler, Chai Sampler, Berries Sampler, Nut & Spice Sampler and Sweet Tooth Sampler. A great range for beginners or experts in tea drinking! Just enter via the rafflecopter below. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & Conditions

This promotion is open to residents of the UK only.

No purchase necessary.

By entering the prize draw entrants agree to be bound by any other requirements set out on this page.

Entry is only available online. No responsibility can be accepted for entries not received, only partially received or delayed for any reason.

Entries that are incomplete, defaced or damaged will be deemed invalid.

Entries must not be sent through agencies or third parties. Any such entries will be invalid. No trade or multiple entries.

No responsibility will be accepted for entries lost, delayed or damaged in transmission.

Winner details will be publicly announced if permission is granted.

Competition closes at 12am on 22nd December 2017. Entries received after this time and date will not be entered into the draw.

The prize is an Adagio teas bundle including a pretty red teapot with matching mugs plus a range of teas, including their new Christmas Sampler, Chai Sampler, Berries Sampler, Nut & Spice Sampler and Sweet Tooth Sampler.

Prize details are accurate at the time of promotion; the promoter reserves the right to substitute the prize for one of greater or equal value.

The decision of the promoter in all matters is final and binding.

The Promoter reserves the right to withdraw the promotion due to circumstances beyond its control. Neither Vivre Le Rêve™ nor any other respective agents involved with this promotion shall be liable for any failure that is caused by something outside its reasonable control. Such circumstances shall include, but are not be limited to, weather conditions, fire, flood, hurricane, strike, industrial dispute, war, hostilities, political unrest, riots, civil commotion, inevitable accidents, supervening legislation or any other circumstances relating to Force Majeure.

[firelight-tales-of-exandria]

Firelight Tales of Exandria, Ch.10 - “Promises”

Thank you for coming, and let’s tell some stories...

“When we last left the party, they had found the source of the growing infection within the Bramblewood; it could be traced back to a quaint, adorable, little cottage carved into a tree, where pretty, vibrant you woman invited them in for tea cakes and pudding, and where the party for absolutely no reason accused her of witchcraft and malfeasance, and it turns out she was actually as green hag. Having prior history with Ladryssa, the hag goaded the party, overlaying multiple illusions to throw them off her trail, but thanks to a little hardheadedness (and no small help from the gifts of a mysterious cowherd) the party pierced through her illusions and confronted her in the hag’s cavern lair, where she was concocting this strange brew. The party slew the hag, destroyed her brew and her fungal garden, took her head, and began making their way back, triumphantly, to Westruun.”

The party left the fungal pits burning in the caverns, which Cezika mentions because the party was supposed to leave evidence for the investigators that would come after their claim on the contract. Song says the creepy hag cottage and the head should be enough to convince anyone.

Ladryssa is uncharacteristically quiet for most of the trip back.

Cezika also mentions that group, as per the contract, must remain under observation while the contract is being investigated, which troubles Song.

Leaf wants to take a wide detour back through the forest to return the dead Green Man’s staff to his comrades. Song is apposed to going back into the dark, foreboding woods, but eventually relents.

Song: “Uh, this is not the way back to the city! What is happening? If this is a coup, I am not here for this.

Shadow: “What is a coup?” *coos like a pidgeon*

When the group arrives near where they met them last time, there is no sign of the Green Men, but signs of a struggle (blood spatter, broken foliage, tracks, etc.) suggest they were confronted and captured by other adventurers.

Shadow: “Perhaps the people from the city vented their anger on these people.

Leaf: “I am worried that might be the case.”

Song: “I don’t want to say that’s why you don’t trust people, but I will point out that that’s a good reason why you don’t trust people.”

Shadow: “They were acting on wrong information, if that is the case.”

Song: “So were we, and you don’t see us killing everyone on sight.”

Shadow: “We literally went into someone’s house and killed them.”

Song: “Yeah, but we did that using our critical thinking skills, and that’s the difference.”

The group plans to clear the Green Men of wrongdoing when they return to claim the bounty.

Song decides to not join the group in claiming the bounty, proclaiming that he didn’t do enough to help the group. The rest of the party contest his claims, which Song once again tries to swerve.

Shadow: “It may not have been your intent, but the result is the same. You protected people of this group, of this circle. That is not being useless; that is being indispensable.”

Song insists that he cannot be confronted by law enforcement or nobility, nor can he be detained without an avenue of escape.

Song: “I mean, I really did have this whole story planned about this evil twin brother-- um, I had it all written down, it was going to be great...”

Shadow: “You have an evil twin brother?”

Song: “Oh, would you buy that? So, I have this evil twin brother--”

Cezika: “Song--”

Song: “--he looks exactly like me, he’s a terrible person, he’s gotten into all sorts of trouble, and if I am confused with him it could end badly for me, and that’s why I can’t see the Margrave.”

The rest of the party desperately tries to keep Song from leaving the group. He insists that if he is confronted by the Margrave, he won’t. The party keeps prying, and Song becomes increasingly agitated.

Song: “There was an incident, a while ago; and if I’m really, really lucky, they think I’m dead; and if I’m really, really unlucky, they don’t think that and I get yanked off to gods-know-where to talk to some people who are probably not very happy with me.”

Shadow: “What did you do, or what do they think you did?”

Song: “It’s more a matter of what I didn’t do.”

Shadow: “You are indispensable to us. You saved us. I will save you. It is only fair.”

Song: *placing his hands on Shadow’s shoulders, looking them directly in the eye* “Don’t ever say that to me again, got it?”

Song stands firm, saying he is going to the Sloppy Satyr to get a drink and the party can meet him when they are done. Cezika makes him promise to not skip town before meeting again, and he makes another unconvincing reassurance.

Ladryssa: “You were the first person I met when I came to this place, and I didn’t know what it would be like, if it would be safe, if I would like it here. There’s parts of my life that I’m having trouble remembering, so I don’t know if I have something like what you have, but... the person you are now is better than whoever you were, and I don’t wanna lose that person.”

Song: “Sweetheart... the person who I am now... I feel like you would have liked the person who I was a lot better. I sure did.”

Song heads off to the pub and Nakiya accompanies him, while Leaf, Cezika, Shadow, and Ladryssa head to the Freeman’s Lodge to turn in the, now melting, head. Shadow, tries to freeze the head to preserve it.

When the group arrives at the Freeman’s Lodge, they have to get in line behind several other groups seeking to files claims on the bounty. While in line, Leaf sees two Westruun Shields dragging out a slumped, injured gnoll towards the Westruun Garrison.

The Lodge clerk, beset by paperwork and pushy adventurers and mercenaries, tries to move along the party’s claim. Leaf insists that Buddy and the Green Men are innocent, while the Shields dismiss their claims and insist on following due process.

Leaf: “Why have you hurt him?”

Shield: “We haven’t done anything to it. It’s a ‘person of interest’ in an ongoing investigation. I suggest you don’t worry about it and go about your business.”

Leaf: “We have solved your investigation!”

Merc #1: *laughing* “Yeah, we solved it too, two hours ago!”

Merc #2: “Solved it this morning, meself!” *more laughing*

The party gives the clerk a rundown of the altercation with the hag, loosely explaining what she was doing and how they stopped her. However, the party does choose to embellish or omit certain details of the encounter.

The party gives the names of the six claimants as “Cezika, Leaf, Nakiya, Shadow, Ladryssa, and Storyweaver”

As evidence, they hand over the hag’s head and the location of the hag’s abode, but not the vial of goop or the sample of goop-soaked meat

When describing the encounter they don’t mention Song by name, the run-in with Bodb, or the hag’s relationship with Ladryssa

The clerk gives the party a housing voucher, instructing them to lodge at the Westruun Barracks for five days while their claim is investigated. They are free to move about the city, but are not to leave without expressed permission by the Margrave. The Shields catalogue and carry off the evidence the party submits.

Leaf presses the clerk on the whereabouts of suspects, and he says the Shields take them to the Garrison Dungeon. The firbolg complains about the treatment of prisoners, to which the clerk insists that he is only responsible for the paperwork and not how gentle other adventurers are with their targets.

Leaf: “Seeing something wrong happen in front of your eyes does not make you innocent.”

Shadow makes a beeline for the Temple of the Platinum Dragon. Leaf wants to go to the Garrison to see the Green Men and Buddy, but Cezika says it would probably make things worse. Instead they head to the Sloppy Satyr to meet up with Song and Nakiya.

At the Temple, Shadow presents the sample of the hag’s brew to Dren. The head priest calls over the temple scholar, Brother Maynard, to examine it. The eccentric acolyte asks to keep the sample, and Dren assures Shadow that they will keep it secret and do everything in their power to discover the nature of the hag’s work.

When Song and Nakiya get to the Satyr, they find many of the mercenaries and adventurers after the Margrave’s bounty have gathered at the tavern, displacing many of its normal patrons and cat-calling others (including Song and Nakiya).

Nakiya and Song share a few drinks. Song asks if the party would be better off if he left, and Nakiya says it would make everyone sad but she understands.

The two find common ground in that they are both running from something in their pasts. The tavern-owner comes by with complementary drinks (sent by the "admirers” from earlier) and shares one with them.

Tavern-owner: “I know a thing or two about running, myself.”

Song: “What are you running from then?”

Tavern-owner: “You know, that’s really thing thing, isn’t it? When you first start, you’re running from something, from someone; could be something physical, a place you gotta get away from. As the years go by, you start running from the memory: what you did, who you were. You run long enough, you don’t really run from anything anymore; you just run to run. It really boils down to one simple choice: keep running or choose to stop. Once you start running, it’s real easy to keep going, but once you stop you realize just how tired you are, and its hard to start running again. Whether that’s good or bad, that’s up to the person. The longer you run, the more tired you are...but damned if you aren’t too afraid to stop that first time, ‘cause you may never have the energy to start running again. Run for too long...and you just flat-out forget how to stop.”

Nakiya reveals she is running from someone that she hasn’t heard from in a long time.

Song: “I mean, look on the bright side: they could be dead.”

Nakiya: “I do not think that they are. They are too stubborn to die.”

Song: “I thought I knew someone like that once. Turns out: not so much.”

Song says it’s funny that he misses them sometimes, and Nakiya says he would be surprised she understands.

Song: “It was my choice, and I made it. And I am here, and I am alive, so I guess I win. Yeah, I won that one.”

Nakiya: *toasts* “To being here and alive.”

The cat-callers have turned their attention to Cezika and Ladryssa, who have just entered with Leaf. Song, having had enough, reproaches the offensive mercenary from earlier, while Nakiya kicks his chair out from another of his group.

Choosing a more direct approach to conflict resolution, Nakiya punches the loudmouth square in the jaw. While the merc tosses slurs back at the half-orc huntress, Song kicks him in the groin. Losing his balance, the offender reaches out to balance himself against Song, and, realizing his grotesque assumption of Song’s gender by the bard’s heritage, Nakiya returns the favor by knocking him unconscious.

As the mercenary’s comrades begin drawing their weapons on Song and Nakiya, the tavern-owner activates the Sloppy Satyr’s sentry statues. He ejects the mercenaries, dragging their emasculated compatriot out of the tavern (as Cezika and Shadow swipe a couple of their coin purses).

Song is displeased that he has been implicated in the case, despite not being named.

The tavern-owner, as an apology, pours a special round for the group. The alcohol has an immediate effect on everyone in the group, except Song who feels narratively blue-balled by missing out on the emotionally-uninhibiting effects.

Cezika presents the instructions for their case file to Song, who suggests everyone pretend that he died so he doesn’t have to go with them.

Song makes everyone promise that, if he is confronted and detained by authorities, nobody comes to his defense. The group vehemently objects, but Song stands firm.

Song: “I am not going to try and sit here and convince you that I’m not worth it, because, quite honestly...that is just way too depressing for all involved. I think I mentioned, the first day we met, I don’t like murderers. But if there’s one thing I hate worse than murderers, it’s cowards... and that’s me. So when I tell you that ‘I’m not worth it’, please believe me, I am not worth it. Suffice it to say, that before I met all of you, I can say I’ve had one friend. He’s dead now. I let that happen. That was my choice. That’s the sort of person I am. Please believe me when I tell you it’s not worth it.”

Shadow: “That is who you were.”

Song: “No, it’s who I became.”

Song says that if the group cannot promise to leave him behind, then he will make himself scarce in the dark corners of the city, like where they all found him.

Ladryssa: “I’ve had to say goodbye to too many people I loved. I don’t wanna say it again. But...if it means there’s a chance I don’t have to say it again...then yes, I promise.”

Shadow begrudgingly agrees, but still thinks there’s a way around this situation, offering to disguise Song while they are confined to the Barracks.

Ultimately, Song decides it is safer if the party “mourns the death of Storyweaver”, and he goes into hiding. The Tavern-owner gives Song a bundle before he leaves.

Song: “What’s all this?”

Tavern-owner: “Just a few things you’re gonna need. Trust me; I was very good at running.”

Song: “You’re a damn-good man, you know that?”

Tavern-owner: “I know you’re used to spinning yarns, but you shouldn’t tell lies.”

[coreseo]

tea shops

Join our Tea Club and enjoy the benefits.

If you are too stressed by making a choice from the wide variety of excellent teas out there, relax! We have a solution. Join our club programme and

let us take you on a discovery journey. Each month we shall deliver not only an exciting tea selection directly to you, but offer you information

about the origins, the makers of the tea you are drinking and their special properties. Also, enjoy special “Member only” events and discounts.

we provide services tea shop online, tea shop online usa, tea shop online europe, tea shop online uk, tea shop near me, tea shops, tea shop

, best online tea store, specialty tea shops near me, tea online, art of tea, tea online shop, tea shop online australia, loose leaf tea shop near me

, tea shops near me, the tea shop, online tea shops, online tea shopping, online tea shop, tea stores near me, tea stores, tea store near me, tea store

, online tea store, specialty teas near me, loose tea near me, specialty tea shops, where to buy tea, specialty teas, specialty tea store, local tea shops near me

, loose tea shops near me, herbal tea stores near me and more.

[hurbspantry]

Shop Red Rose Original Black Tea 100ct , 3 Boxes Included - $19 at TrueGether

red rose tea figurines red rose tea bags red rose tea k cups red rose tea website red rose tea review red rose tea  red rose tea caffeine content red rose tea benefits red rose tea animals red rose tea animals value red rose tea american heritage series red rose tea animal figurines value red rose tea ad with monkeys red rose tea australia are red rose tea figurines valuable are red rose tea bags compostable are red rose tea bags plastic are red rose tea bags plastic free are red rose tea figurines worth anything are red rose tea cards valuable are red rose tea bags safe are red rose tea bags biodegradable red rose tea bags near me red rose tea brand red rose tea box red rose tea bags plastic red rose tea bags decaf red rose tea blend red rose tea coupon red rose tea canada red rose tea company red rose tea cup of fortune red rose tea collectibles red rose tea circus series red rose tea calories red rose tea 100 ct red rose tea decaf red rose tea discount code red rose tea decaffeinated red rose tea dancing monkeys red rose tea during pregnancy red rose tea dinosaur cards red rose tea discontinued figurines red rose tea directions red.rose tea red.rose.tea red rose.tea red rose tea elephant red rose tea england red rose tea endangered species red rose tea earl grey red rose tea ebay red rose energize tea red rose energy tea red rose english tea red rose tea figurines value red rose tea figurine sets red rose tea free shipping red rose tea figurine collections red rose tea flavors red rose tea figurines animals red rose tea for sale red rose tea gluten free red rose tea gift set red rose tea glass figurines red rose tea gingerbread man red rose tea gingerbread man value red rose tea good for you red rose tea glass ornaments red rose tea gluten red rose tea history red rose tea health benefits red rose tea house red rose tea has caffeine red rose tea hippo red rose tea have caffeine red rose tea high blood pressure red rose tea hedgehog red rose tea individually wrapped red rose tea ingredients red rose tea instructions red rose tea images red rose tea in canada red rose tea is from red rose tea india red rose tea is good for you red rose tea jamaica red rose tea jingle red rose tea saint john nb red rose tea bags jamaica red rose tea building saint john red rose tea mansion saint john red rose tea building saint john nb red rose tea factory saint john nb red rose tea kroger red rose tea keurig cups red rose tea keurig red rose tea kombucha red rose decaf tea k cups red rose original tea k cups red rose decaffeinated tea k cups k cup red rose tea red rose black tea k cups red rose tea loose red rose tea lemon cake red rose tea logo red rose tea loose leaf red rose tea leprechaun red rose tea leaves red rose tea lipton red rose tea little falls ny red rose tea mermaid red rose tea monkeys red rose tea mermaid figurine red rose tea miniatures red rose tea month figurines red rose tea marquis chimps commercial red rose tea meijer red rose tea monkey video red rose tea new figurines red rose tea near me red rose tea no figurines red rose tea nautical figurines red rose tea nursery rhyme series red rose tea nutrition facts red rose tea noah's ark series red rose tea nursery rhyme figurines red rose tea orange pekoe red rose tea original red rose tea owl red rose tea organic red rose tea ornaments red rose tea online red rose tea order red rose tea original blend red rose tea promo code red rose tea pet shop series red rose tea pesticides red rose tea pods red rose tea premiums red rose tea price red rose tea packaging red rose teapot red rose tea quality red rose tea quotes red rose tea figurines queen of hearts is red rose tea good quality red rose tea para que sirve red rose tea recipes red rose tea reddit red rose tea room grayshott red rose tea room red rose tea room hindhead red rose tea retailers red rose tea rooms grayshott menu buy red rose tea red rose tea song red rose tea set red rose tea shortage red rose tea statues red rose tea sign red rose tea source red rose tea steep time red rose tea strawberry cheesecake red rose tea tin red rose tea trinkets red rose tea twitter red rose tea tiger red rose tea tastes different red rose tea theme song red rose tea trading cards red rose tea uk red rose tea usa red rose tea unilever red rose tea us does red rose tea use plastic bags does red rose tea use plastic red rose tea vs lipton red rose tea vs tetley red rose tea vs pg tips red rose tea vintage figurines red rose tea varieties red rose tea vintage signs red rose tea vashi red rose tea walmart red rose tea wade red rose tea with figurines red rose tea where to buy red rose tea wiki red rose tea wade whimsies red rose tea world monument red rose tea youtube red rose tea monkeys youtube red rose tea commercial youtube red rose tea chimps youtube official red rose tea youtube channel is red rose tea bad for you red rose tea cards animals and their young red rose tea figurine zebra zehrs red rose tea red rose tea 144 red rose tea figurines 1970's red rose tea figurines 1961 red rose tea figurines 1967 red rose tea american series 1 red rose tea 2020 red rose tea 216 red rose tea 216 bags red rose tea figurines 2019 red rose tea figurines 2018 red rose tea figurines 2020 red rose tea coupon 2019 red rose tea figurines value 2019 red rose tea 3 bears red rose tea prizes red rose orange pekoe tea bags 72ct

[gutterballgt]

Can you do a "paint me"? Raleigh and Chuck of course. :D

Leave a “Paint Me” in my ask, and I’ll write a drabble aboutone character drawing a picture of another [like one of your french girls~ beit painting them or drawing them, maybe offering a picture of them as a gift,feel free to specify.]

Heeeee. Your wish is my command! *waves magic wand*

"This is the stupidest fucking thing ever. Why the fuckdid I agree to this?"

The stupid American wanker that had somehow become Chuck'sbest damn friend in the year since Pitfall brandished his stupid fake gun witha stupidly broad grin. "Because you're bored out of your mind and Hercbanned you from the big bag until you replace the one you knocked off the chainand split open?"

Dammit.

Giving in with admittedly bad grace, Chuck took another,less caustic look at his weapon of meager choice. The stupid fake gun lookedbasically the same as Becket's, though Chuck had gone with a larger reservoirto extend times between reloading. Otherwise, they should be fairly evenlymatched.

Which didn't matter because paintball, as the wanker calledit, was stupid. And a waste of time. Wasn't like it caused any lasting woundsto show off. Fuck, even the paint was washable.

"Let's just get this over, wanker. Most hitswins?"

"And careful with headshots. The goggles only protectso much."

Unimpressed, Chuck glared flatly at the silly fuck."Really. You worried a little paint will ruin your pretty face?"

But the wanker just smiled sunnily. "Aw, Chuck! Youthink I'm pretty?"

"Oi, fuck you, ya ratbag." He definitely was notblushing. It was just hot in here. "Just for that, you're buying foodafterward."

"You're on. Let's go."

Grumbling all the way, Chuck followed his unlikely best mateinto one of the designated battle zones -- unable to avoid rolling his eyes atthe thought of calling this shite "battle" -- and eyed the schematicjust outside the gate. For all that this was fucking stupid, he had no doubtBecket would make the most of his prior experience and be damn goodcompetition. If he wanted to keep up, he'd damn well better remember thehidey-holes and high ground areas.

Upon stepping into a warehouse-sized room mocked up like asparse forest -- they both agreed that the crumbling cityscape might bring upbad vibes and ruin the experience for one or both of them -- they mutuallyagreed to giving each other a ten count to run in opposite directions for coverbefore starting. They broke, and without a second glance, Chuck headed for acopse of fake trees on a slight rise he'd seen on the map. High ground and abit of cover sounded just the thing for getting a feel for how mobile Becketplanned on being.

But this was still fucking stupid.

He held that opinion until the first paintball slammed intothe side of his ass, feeling enough like a shot out of nowhere that he yelpedand rolled away and reached for the spot, half expecting to be bleeding fromsomething that hurt so bad. It didn't help that he touched a wet spot, and hewould've panicked if he hadn't remembered. Paint.

Thankfully, bluepaint, or he might've thought the worst.

But seriously. Paintballs fucking hurt.

Game. Fucking. On.

Refocusing now that there were physical stakes to be had, heignored the heat of a bruise settling into the swell of his ass and tried todetermine where the shot came from. These guns weren't that powerful, and theroom wasn't so huge that there were infinite options.

His best guess, based on a quick peek through the heavygrouping of plaster tree trunks he lay behind, he guessed the irritatingbastard had burrowed down in a makeshift cave off to the side. Smirking, Chuckstarted picking his way nearer, figuring if he was stealthy enough, he couldpin the wanker in and unload his whole clip. Winner winner chicken dinner, asBecket said when he was being particularly insufferable.

Which was often.

It took some doing and more time than he'd expected, but heeventually sidled up beside the cubbyhole without making a sound, grinnedmadly, then leapt over in front of the opening and fired off three shots beforerealizing... the bloke wasn't there.

Pop pop pop!

"Jesus fuck ow!!"

The shots landed in a diagonal up his back, the lastsmacking into his shoulder hard enough to start a spin-around that he allowedto turn him all the way, his gun raised to return fire.

Nothing. No sign of the sneaky wanker.

"Oi, Becket, stop fucking about!"

Silence.

He... might have underestimated the situation. Refocusingagain, he eyed the nearest cover for a sign of the wanker, trying to rememberwhere on the diagram he currently was. Nothing moved in the false underbrush.Not a fake leaf twitched.

Frankly, it was eerie.

The afternoon progressed in much the same vein. Chuck wouldthink he caught the wanker's wind, track him carefully and silently to a likelylocation, only to take exactly as many shots as he wasted on the scenery. Bythe fourth such set-up, he was furious, sporting an even dozen hot littlebruises on his back, chest, ass, thigh, and arms, and more determined than everto beat the irritating fuckwit he'd befriended for no goddamn good reason hecould remember.

He hadn't landed a single fucking shot, and that, mates andnobs, would not fucking stand.

But he had the rotten sod now. He actually had his fuckingnemesis in his sights. A few more steps, and he'd be in effective range. Andyes, he planned to empty his whole fucking reservoir.

Crouching behind the last scrap of cover -- a plasterboulder pushed almost right up against the wall, which was painted to look likemore scrub forest -- he paused to savor his oncoming victory, then squeezed thetrigger.

Five shots in, he realized the shirt he'd targeted had givenaway under the onslaught and was fluttering down from... shit. From the fakebranch the tricksy bastard had draped it over. Where the fuck was--

Pop pop pop poppoppoppoppoppop!

The painful stings backed him up as the sadistic fuck neareduntil Chuck tripped over the stupid fake boulder, paintballs splattering allover his stomach, chest, and -- more painfully -- his neck. At least the wankerhad the grace to reach out and snag him by the arm so he didn't go ass over teakettle, but all that did was spin him around until he faceplanted on the wall,then slooped dizzily off to collapse on his side. The strap on his helmetslipped, knocking the whole damn thing askew.

Aching and frustrated, he lay there and groaned.

Then, the giant walking asshole that was no longer his bestmate... snickered.

"You okay, kid?"

Refusing to even roll to his back, he addressed his rebuttalto the wall just before him. "Fuck. You."

"What?" Now, the wanker was laughing at him."I just painted a portrait of you, Chuck. You are now immortalized here forever.They'll talk about it for years to come."

Groaning again, he slumped further. "The fuck are youflapping about now?"

A hand cupped under his upper arm and tugged. To bestubborn, he refused to go at first. Unfortunately, he had no intention ofspending the rest of his life curled up against a stupid fucking forest-paintedwall, so he eventually gave in and let the wanker haul him back to his feet.

Then, the wanker -- shirtless and smug as fuck at the lackof any paint on his person -- gestured at said stupid fucking forest-paintedwall. And the extravagant swoop of blue paint from where Chuck had faceplantedand fallen.

"I call it 'The Fall of a Hero'."

Fucking. Wanker.

"Aw, c'mon, Chuck." The asshole had the nerve toelbow him. "You are the tool with which I have created mymasterpiece."

Tired and cranky and sore from all the fucking paintballsbruising the fuck out of him, he glared. "I fucking hate you."

Undeterred, the sadistic wanker shrugged, still grinninglike a goddamn sunrise. "You'll do better next time."

"There won't fucking be a next time. I fucking hatethis stupid game."

"Oo! We'll bring the Weis and team up againstthem!"

Un. Fucking. Believable.

Beyond done with the whole fucking day, he tried to shovepast, but -- as usual -- the rotten sod was too fast and shot an arm out to clotheslinehim across the chest. He struggled reflexively, fucking up their balance untilthey both ended up stumbling back against the wall, chest to chest, the stupidblue paint smearing the bare skin pressed against him.

Their eyes met.

Chuck held his breath.

Becket blinked, those baby blues wide and surprised atfirst, then... warmer. Crinkling at the corners. The skin under Chuck's handswas warm and damp, firm and smooth. Maddening.

"We pair up with the Kaidanovskys and destroy theWeis?"

That... would be terrifying. And awesome. Almost as awesomeas being crushed back against a wall by his best mate whose perfect ass he'dbeen hard-pressed to ignore all these months.

And the crushing might somehow happen again if they cameback.

Well, fuck.

A smirk twisted his mouth. "Those speedy little fucksdon't stand a chance."

The corners of Becket's eyes crinkled further on a wide,wicked grin. "Damn right, they won't."

If he just leaned a bit further....

Blue eyes lowered to Chuck's mouth, and his breath caught.The urge to wet his lips was damn near irresistible. The warm weight againsthis chest increased, increased, increased...

...and stopped.

Becket took a deep breath and stepped back, and without thinkingit through, Chuck reached out and snagged the bloke by the belt, hauling himback in close. He'd been waiting almost a year to taste this silly fuck'smouth, and after the shit he'd just been through, he reckoned he'd earned it.

Thank fuck but the wanker kissed back with equal verve,crowding him back against the wall and groaning softly. A warm hand cuppedChuck's cheek, and he tilted his head just that much, and the kiss heated evenfurther with the better angle.

At which point, Chuck gave him a mighty shove and let loosean upward-arcing spray of paintballs at point-blank range, splattering thewanker from left thigh to right shoulder with green paint.

"Ow, Chuck, what the fuck??"

"Now we're even, ya wanker."

Though he had no doubt those shots had hurt like a bitch,what with the point-blank range and the lack of clothing between skin andpaintball.

In fact, now that he'd done it, he felt a little bad andimmediately dropped his gun and put both hands up in surrender. "Sorry,mate. But you earned it."

Sort of.

Maybe.

Jesus, the bloke had to be pissed. And just when they'dfinally admitted there might be something between them besides friendship andcomradery. What the fuck was wrong with him?

But a sheepish glance up told him Becket wasn't entirelyfurious. The poor sod's jaw was clenched, yes, but his mouth was also twitchingup at the corners.

"I'll forgive you on one condition, jackass."

Fair enough. He shrugged, hands still up.

Oh, fuck. The wanker lowered his head and looked up at himthrough those thick eyelashes, and if that wasn't flirting, Chuck didn't knowwhat was.

"You have to wash off all the paint."

His heart kicked up a notch, his pulse throbbing in histhroat. "Deal."

"Then what are we waiting for?"

"Not a fucking thing, mate."

They couldn't get back to the shatterdome fast enough.

--

The paintball place refused to paint over the blue splotchon the wall. They ran ads bragging about the famous hero, Raleigh Becket,painting the portrait of his fellow hero, Chuck Hansen, in their facility.

It was a surprisingly successful campaign. The scraggyforest became the best-selling room in company history.

--

The Kaidanovskys absolutely destroyed the Weis. Raleigh and Chuck didn't have to fire a shot.

Thus, they spent their time making out in the fake cave.

It was a success all around.

THE END

[defilerwyrm]

Tumblr I have an addiction. This isn’t even all of it! This is just MOST of the tea I have from Adagio.com. My friends I cannot crow loud enough about that website. If you like ANY KIND OF TEA AT ALL, Adagio is your place. Green, black, oolong, pearl, gunpowder, herbal, you want it, they got it.

But where Adagio really shines is in the fact that their blends are open source. You can MAKE YOUR OWN BLENDS. And as you might puzzle out from the photo, they have user-made fandom blends that you can buy singly or in sets of sampler tins. OVER A HUNDRED THOUSAND OF THEM.

Some recommendations:

Stars and Stripes by Cara McGee. One of the best chai blends ever. Apple forward in good balance.

End of the Line by Cara McGee. Assam, cocoa, and hazelnut; it’s dark, fruity, and damn near perfect.

Pumpkin King by C.J. Bieter. If you’re trash for pumpkin spice like me you will goddamn love this chai.

Earl Grey Bella Luna. Probably my favourite Earl Grey ever; it’s very creamy and smooth. Only available on the full moon.

White Eternal Spring. Bright, fruity, and floral white tea.

Cream. Simple and marvelous. Doesn’t even need milk.

These are all loose leaf, just so you’re aware.

If you’re a tea junky like me and wanna dive into this, here’s a $5 gift certificate code: 5317490087 ...It expires at 7PM CST on 8th of July 2017, but if you miss out on it and want another, hit me up and I’ll make another for you! :3 [ETA] This only works for new customers!

[valisi-clark]

Brand

For that special anon who threw a curve ball at me and prompted: dishonesty. 

Eruris being dishonest? I struggled. You almost got me, anon. I hope this gets you back. 

******

Levi opens the door to Erwin’s office without knocking. It’s what he’s always done, but this morning it catches Erwin off guard. Erwin looks up from the paper in his hand as if he’s not sure who to expect, as if Levi hasn't breached that area of privacy years before.

Levi doesn't expect to see Erwin so disheveled. Erwin's jacket is removed, tossed across the desk, his shirt is unbuttoned, leather straps of gear hanging off of him like puppet strings, hair mussed, and he's twirling his bolo tie in the air with his right index finger like it's a child's toy. Erwin catches the clasp of the tie in his hand when Levi closes the door behind himself.

“Good morn-”

“You didn't sleep?” Levi asks.

“No.”

Erwin looks back down at the paper in his hand. Levi crosses the room, approaches the opposite side of the desk, takes the paper out of Erwin's hand. Leaning back in his chair, Erwin slides a few centimeters away from the desk and turns in his chair to stare at nothing while Levi reads.

The paper is a letter from a noblewoman in Sina, and she's promising an allowance to the Survey Corps. Levi raises his eyebrows because the sum of money isn't small. In fact, with the allowance they could run a corps of 800 soldiers, even if they've never had a soldier count of over 400 before. Levi's wheels start turning. If they fed the soldiers better, better supplies, better housing, all of that combined could make a different when recruiting.  

But when Levi reads down to what she wants in exchange, he rolls his eyes. In exchange for supplying the Survey Corps she has a few “minor suggestions”: expeditions should be reduced to eight times a year, twice a year the Survey Corps will host a military parade and festival, and the Wings of Freedom insignia will be stripped from all uniforms and replaced with an insignia of her own design. It's Erwin's responsibility to set all of that into motion before they get the first payment.

Levi shakes his head, but the lunatic “suggestions” don't seem so bad for the amount of money she's offering. He loves his wings, but he would trade them to take the financial stress away from Erwin. Near the end of the letter, she mentions that it's troubling that Erwin has never married, and his lack of commitment gives him the public image of only being “half a man”. Then, she suggests that his situation should be altered, or Erwin could be re-accommodated. Levi drops the letter like its burned him and wipes his hand off on the thigh of his trousers.

“That's why you stayed awake all night?”

“I could resign,” Erwin says, and Levi feels like his eardrums will burst and bleed. “If I step down as Commander, I could offer up someone who has a better public image and still conduct strategy behind closed doors. I've thought of it before, but I never considered I might be paid to do it. We could give her what she wants and never go to another Sina begging competition.”

Levi hates even thinking about it. 

“How long have you been awake?”

“What time is it?”

“5:30.”

“A little over 24 hours.”

Levi's eyelids lower in irritation, and Erwin looks away from him before swinging the bolo tie around his index finger again. When Levi looks at the tie, flying through the air so fast that the green gem is only a spark, he tenses. Erwin's really considering it, rocking in his desk chair, determined to figure out the angle where they can have the financial support and still focus on saving humanity rather than becoming a private military force.

“Go take a shower,” Levi says.

Erwin catches the clasp of the tie in his hand again and looks up at Levi. And Levi notices how tired Erwin looks, how defeated, and slightly hurt. All of it is because he's exhausted, and Levi has to remind himself of that. He can't honestly believe that Erwin is going to give in and give up. The walls will fall before that happens.

Rather than putting the tie back on, Erwin drops it on the desk and stands. Levi stares down at the tie on the paper covered desk, some of the leather strap laying across Erwin's jacket, and he listens to Erwin walk across the office to the door. Then, the footsteps stop.

“A new shipment of tea came in,” Erwin says. Levi lifts his head and looks at the office wall.

“I'll make some.”

“It's not in the big crate behind the kitchen. There's a smaller crate in the officer's pantry that hasn't been opened yet. It's yours,” Erwin says. The footsteps start again, and Levi listens to the door close. When he looks back down at the desk, he only sees “half a man”, and he feels choked by the frustration. No one has the right to say that Erwin.

While he's staring at the letter, Levi imagines ways to destroy it. But then his mind drifts into daydreams of terrorizing the noblewoman. Some of those old Underground ways surface, and the knife in his right boot feels a little heavier than it did when he dressed that morning. But he can't do anything about it. There's no way he can make Erwin forget the words.

Levi's eyes dart back over to the bolo tie, and he stares at it, thinking about what's going to happen if he ever has to call another person Commander. What would it be like to go on an expedition where Erwin was among the ranks instead of leading the front? And minutes later, while he's still eyeing the gem, he realizes that he's sneering at it.

He closes his eyes and squeezes his eyelids together tightly to try and erase the image. There's no use in worrying about it if it's not really going to happen. He rubs his face with his hand before turning away from the desk and walking over to the office door.

When he exits the office, he catches a few soldiers running in the hallway. They're late for PT, and they freeze and blanch when they see him. A messy salute follows.

“Captain!” they both say. Levi doesn't address them. He just wants to make a cup of tea and try to get into Erwin's head. That's all that really matters at the moment.

Levi walks down the hallway, hears the two soldiers marching behind him, and makes his way to the kitchen. The soldiers on mess duty are already moving quickly around the room trying to get prepared for breakfast, and Levi appreciates that they don't stop their work to look at him. He passes all of them and goes into the pantry behind the kitchen. Then, at the door to the officer's pantry, he digs his keys out and unlocks the door.

When he steps into the room, the sunlight coming in through the small window shows him all of the dust particles floating in the air. The pantries are always filthy after a shipment, and he feels anxious thinking about how he might not have time to clean it. Levi closes the door and his gaze falls on the small crate that Erwin described. There's a large, lumpy black square branded into the side of the box, and Levi's eyebrows pinch together. Normally, the crates are branded with a company name, or with the the Survey Corps insignia. He's never seen a plain black, lumpy square on a crate before.

Either way, Levi walks over to the small crate and pushes at the top. It hasn't even been pried yet. So he finds the crowbar hanging up on the wall and pries the crate open. For some reason, it's been nailed shut twice, and it takes long enough to open the crate that he feels like he's worked out some of his nervous energy. With all of the nails loose, Levi pushes the top of the crate away and looks down into the box.

It’s full of small burlap sacks.

Levi reaches into the crate and picks up one of the little sacks. He opens it, looks into first, and sees black tea leaves. There are small, colored things among the leaves, and he frowns. Bugs. They got an old shipment again. If the bugs are dead, they can demand a new shipment. If the bugs are still moving, the company will claim that the bugs weren't in the leaves before they shipped.

Levi walks over closer to the window so he can see better. In the light, he sees that the little pieces mixed in with the leaves aren't bugs at all. They look like a different type of leaf.

He smells of the tea, and his eyebrows raise in response. It smells floral and fruity. So he dips his hand down into the bag puts his fingers into the leaves and pulls out a sample. When he looks at it in the light, Levi sees little petals and pieces of citrus rind.

“Oh, fuck,” he whispers. The leaves are in beautiful condition. They aren't crushed like they normally would be after being near the bottom of a barrel. The leaves in his hands are from the top of a tea barrel. Levi looks over at the crate again. He drops the leaves back into the sack and closes it tightly.

Squatting down next to the barrel, Levi looks at the black square burned into the side of the wood. The lumps at the top of the square look familiar, but he doesn't know why. So he stares at it harder, thinking about all of the military insignia, all of the company signals, and that's when he realizes.

The lumps on top of the square were left over from the top of Sina's crown and the waves in her hair. Before there was a square brand, there had been the brand of Wall Sina. Someone had burned out the brand to hide that it was sold illegally. 

Levi's feet slip out from under him, and he lands on his ass. He stares at the black square and grips the sack of tea in his hand.

Erwin bought illegal tea for the officer's pantry.

It's yours.

Erwin bought illegal tea for him.

And Levi feels his heart thumping in his chest, burning even. His pulse is racing because he feels afraid. Not afraid that Erwin has taken a risk. Not because Erwin could be tried for buying illegal goods. Levi's afraid because this is a gift that means more to him than appreciation or a kind gesture between friends.

Levi has broken the law for his friends before. It's not difficult to justify especially if they need something. But Levi didn't need tea from Sina. Erwin bought it because he wanted Levi to have it. He was thinking of Levi enjoying it. And Levi's never taken that type of illegal risk just to see someone enjoy something. There has always been a more important reason behind the actions that could have gotten him tried and convicted.

Erwin wants him to enjoy something.

Directly after the fear and confusion, Levi remembers the dreams that he's had of Erwin. The way that he's imagined Erwin's hands the skin of his back. How Erwin’s mouth might taste. Or how Erwin's thumbs pressed into his hips. And how Erwin could look while he sleeps in a bed with sheets barely pulled up over his-

Levi shakes his head. He's not going to think about it. He has to leave that pantry and pretend that it didn't happen.

Standing up, Levi holds tightly to the sack of tea in his hand. He shoves it into his left thigh belts to hold it securely while he puts the top back on the crate. Then, he presses the nails back into their holes and pulls his knife out of his boot. He flips his knife open and carves his name into the crate. If anyone finds out, it's his tea. He bought it with Survey Corps funds. But he also does it because he doesn't want any of the other officer's drinking his tea. If his name is on it, they'll skip over it.

Once his name is in the crate, he closes the knife, puts it back in its place, and he wipes the wood shavings away from his name. Taking the sack out of his thigh belts, he leaves the pantry.

On his way out of the kitchen, he gets a pot of hot water, a strainer, a tea pot, and two tea cups. A few soldiers in the kitchen actually notice him this time, and one even greets him. Levi grunts in response before he leaves the kitchen and goes back up to Erwin's office.

When he opens the door to Erwin's office again, Erwin is sitting in his chair, properly dressed, bolo tie around his neck, damp hair in place, writing. Erwin only glances up this time before he goes back to writing, and Levi focuses on the tray in his hand, closing the door with his boot.

He walks across the office to a small side table and measures out the leaves from the sack carefully. He's not going to waste any of it. Impatiently, he crosses his arms while he waits for the tea to steep. And he's tempted to lift the lid of the pot and watch the leaves expand in the water. But the steam is important, and he doesn't want to risk the first taste over curiosity.

Levi pours the tea through the strainer four minutes later, and the he grins at the wilted petals and citrus peel when they come out of the spout.

He serves Erwin a cup a first, and then he sits down with his own. First, Levi smells of the tea, and the aroma is of course stronger. But he didn't expect the scent of earth to tickle the back of his throat. It smells bold even with tender ingredients.

When the tea is cool enough to drink, Levi sips from the cup, and he hears Erwin lift his cup from the saucer. He waited for Levi to taste it first.

After the first taste, Levi licks his lips, and Erwin sets his tea cup down hard enough that Levi wonders if he's chipped the saucer.

“Not bad,” Levi says before he takes another sip. He feels greedy, and he wants to drink the entire cup fast to have another. But he needs to savor it. The crate won't last as long as he wants it to. And he's going to make sure that Erwin has just as much as he does. “What company made this?” Levi drinks some more, tries to remind himself to slow down again. His heart has started thumping in his chest again. But his gaze lifts to Erwin.

Erwin is already looking at him.

“I'm not sure,” Erwin says before taking another sip. It's a lie, and they both know it. Erwin probably knows every detail about the company and the type of tea. He's standing in the way of Levi knowing too much. “But it's good.”

“Yeah,” Levi says with a grin. He tries to restrain himself from another sip, but he chooses to enjoy the rush instead. After that sip, Levi gasps almost loud enough to embarrass himself, and Erwin has to put his cup down after that.

Conversation dies while they drink their tea, but Levi catches Erwin looking at him a few times. Once, Erwin continues to look, but twice after that, Erwin turns his eyes back to the report in front of him quickly. It feels like a childish game, and Levi wonders why they're looking instead of touching. There are many reasons that come to mind: it's first thing in the morning, there are so many other soldiers around, they both have really important roles in the corps. But Levi closes his eyes and imagines what it could be like anyway, while he drinks his tea.

He feels bereft when the cup is empty.

Setting the cup and saucer aside, Levi crosses his arms in front of him, inhales deeply, and tries to think of how to ask the question.

“I've decided to turn down the offer from Mrs. De Vries,” Erwin says. Levi looks over at Erwin across the desk, and Erwin's smiling at him softly.

“Good plan, Commander.”

“Thank you for the tea, Levi,” Erwin says. One of Levi's eyes twitches.

“Where's the letter?” Levi asks. Erwin looks down at his desk, moves a couple of papers, and pulls the letter out from under them. Levi stands and walks over to the desk. Erwin holds it out to him, and Levi takes it, folding it up, and shoving it into a pocket.

“What are you planning to do with it?” Erwin asks.

“Gonna wipe my ass with it later,” Levi deadpans.

Erwin laughs so suddenly that it spooks Levi, and he blushes. To hide his face, he walks back over to the tea pot and pours himself another cup.

“I knew you would hate the idea of wearing anything but wings,” Erwin says after he's laughed.

“Yeah,” Levi says. “But that 'half a man' bullshit belongs in a toilet anyway.”

Levi drinks some more of the tea, and he can't turn around to look at Erwin yet. There's still too much heat in his face, and he doesn't want to show it.

“Does it?” Erwin asks. Levi sets his tea cup down and turns around to look at him. And Erwin's eyes linger on Levi's body before his gaze raises to meet Levi's eyes again.

There's a knock at the office door.

“Come in,” Erwin says. Levi looks to the door when it opens.

“Excuse me, Commander,” the Squad Leader says. “May I have permission to take the green soldiers to the training forest this morning rather than this afternoon? There are dark clouds headed our way, and that might mean the afternoon is rained out.”

“Yes,” Erwin says.

“I'm going too,” Levi says. He walks over to the Squad Leader who salutes him before turning around the walk out of the office and lead the way.

“Levi.”

Levi turns around and looks at Erwin.

“If it's going to rain this afternoon, that would be a good time to get some rest,” Levi says. Erwin smiles at him softly.

“Be careful out there.”

Levi can't trust himself to say anything in response before he leaves the office and closes the door.

Later in the forest, he tears the letter into pieces and tells the young soldiers that he'll buy three rounds of beer for anyone who can slice the pieces to shreds while midair. Levi gives the lucky girl the money for beer instead of going to the bar with her. The horses stomp the remaining pieces of the letter into the mud on the way home.

[djseaward]

the best souvenirs to bring home

among the online travel community, souvenirs are sort of a divisive issue. there are those who would never even touch a souvenir and feel like they are a waste of money and not an accurate representation of a place, and then there are the people who can't stay away from those touristy shops with knick-knacks and bags that say the city's name all over it (made in china).

while i don’t like knick-knacks (clutter!!!), i do love a little bit of shopping on a trip and almost always regret not picking up something. over the years, i have developed and refined my stance of souvenirs -- often there’s not a whole load of room in my bag and normally, i’m on a smaller budget when i travel. but! that does not stop me from bringing home really meaningful souvenirs that i can use in my everyday life back home. that's the key thing you want to aim for -- useful. not anything to sit on a shelf.

so here's my tested guide of the best things to take home from any place -- for yourself or even as a gift. above all, when you don't know what to buy, always lean towards the edible.

1. woolen goods, especially socks!

in many places, especially in northern europe, this is really a get! socks are an affordable way to get yourself a little something (#selfcare), keep yourself warm in the colder months, support the local economy, and enjoy a traditional product. (the more wool in my winter wardrobe, the better)

above, some spoils from a past iceland trip!

2. tea or coffee.

when i say i am a tea person, i'm not even fooling around. i take home boxes when i go abroad at all, no matter where that is. i love picking up local icelandic herb tea or pukka herbs tea when i go almost anywhere, or whatever the local favorite tea purveyor is. conversely, my friend ginny is a complete coffee nerd, taking home sometimes 6 bags from a trip!

hot tip for taking tea home: break down the box the tea comes in so it packs flat and put all the tea bags in a ziploc bag - you can re-form the box when you get home (if you want it). another space saver is purchasing only loose-leaf tea which ends up lasting much longer than bagged tea.

3. sweets, snacks, jarred food products or liquor

once again, you cannot go wrong with the edible! when you visit a place and try loads of snacks and sweets, why not take home your favorites? last time in iceland i did not buy enough tritlar when i left and i had regretted that ever since. this time i tried a new sweet (lindar buff, it’s no tritlar, though).

 i’ve also taken home local honey from switzerland, lebkuchen around the holidays from germany or austria, and rhubarb jam from iceland. even if i can get jam and honey here, it sort of gives me warm fuzzies thinking about where it came from and keeping a connection with that place.

please note that one is not permitted to take meat products out of the european union, even in your checked baggage. (eat your black forest ham while you can!) wine or liquor is a great souvenir (also makes a great gift), but pay attention as there are maximum amounts permitted. i wouldn’t recommend flying with beer in your checked bag, but i’ve seen the desperate do it -- more often, people purchase beer at the duty-free at the airport and get to bring it with them in the cabin.

4. prints or art

when you can't get enough of your favorite place, put it somehow on your wall! we still have a print that i've been waiting for frame for want of a good framing shop in budejovice (local friends: advice accepted regarding a frame shop!).

5. a cloth shopping bag

this, i tell ya, is the cheapest yet most useful and meaningful souvenir for the money you can take home. i doubt it costs more than a dollar, but every time you go to the grocery store in your normal daily routine at home, you'll remember all those stops are your favorite supermarket that you made! it's always a fun conversation piece.

6. clothes

i'm not just talking about raiding the high street primark (which, cool, if you want to, i won't judge) but picking a unique piece from a place to take with you. perhaps, a locally-designed rain jacket, a silk nepalese skirt, a dress from your favorite clothing store that you could otherwise never afford the shipping for but lust after for months? (just me?) this is the time. perhaps the most expensive of all my souvenir options, but if you save and budget for it, it will become an unforgettable souvenir you may have for even decades.

7. a book or an album

so many books and albums, too little money! but if you see something that strikes your fancy while you're away, don't wait -- you'll regret that more! i don't actually buy too many books even though i love them, but recently i picked up an english/german duo reader book as i know they're harder to find here in the czech republic and i regret it exactly zero percent. while in iceland, i wished i had picked up JFDR’s new album which... get this... was sold in an om-nom matcha flavored chocolate bar. now that is a next-level willy wonka situation. nobody regretted picking up a book or an album!

8. spices or salts

i always tell alex we'll go back to budapest when our sachet of amazing smoked paprika runs out. (it looks like that could be within the year, so you know what that means!) i love picking up some local spices or salts (whatever the specialty is) to use in my cooking back home, and it also makes an amazing gift. recently i've picked up some herby salt from iceland (above) which has bits of crow and juniper berries in it. be still my herby heart!

9. yarn

this one is for my knitters out there -- what could be better, especially if you're visiting a country famous somehow for its wool and wool products, than picking up some for your next project? i am such an amateur that i have no idea how many skeins i would need for a certain project, so i personally prefer to have my source near me so i can easily obtain more, but if you already know, there you have it! icelandic wool is famous for its waterproof qualities, making it one of the most prized wools in the world.

(above - my current WIP/yarn stash - unfortunately, i am possibly the slowest knitter ever and need to get a move on!)

10. holiday decorations or ornaments

i adore my precious ornaments i've brought from past wintery trips and cherish them so much every time i un-box them to put them on the tree! also fun is hanging decorations. kind of funny, isn’t it, because if you saw these ornaments every month of the year, you’d get tired of looking at them, but putting them away for eleven months and taking it out is like remembering your trip all over again!

and one bonus souvenir, because i can’t help myself....

11. shower or bath goods

i tried the sóley organics line from iceland on my second trip and adored the fresh herbal scent and, honestly, the fact that these products are made with plants and herbs from the icelandic countryside as well as the pristine glacial water. whenever i use these products now, it takes me back to those smells and images (like in the banner image at the top) of the sweeping landscapes, deep gorges, hours spent laying in icelandic moss as a light rain started to fall, or traipsing through the long grasses on the way to glacier or waterfall hunt. anything that i use almost daily that brings back those memories and feelings is absolutely worth it!

the main takeaway here is that all of these are everyday things you will eat, look at, use, or see everyday. i think those, far and away, make the best souvenirs, regardless of price tag.

what do you tend to buy the most when you go on a trip or holiday? anything i’m missing?

ps, you might like how i travel often on a teacher’s budget or unique czech gift ideas.

[ais-n]

Hi Ais! I really like the scent of tea and I know how good it is for your body. I would like to drink it more often but the thing is that I can never get used to its bitter taste? Any advice please? (Btw blueberry tea smells amazing!!)

BWAHAHA YES I WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE OVER THE WORLD WITH TEA PROSELYTIZING YES YES COME TO ME CHILDREN I WILL LEAD YOU INTO THE DARK SIDE OF THE TEA REALM >:D

lol so first of all before I start rambling, any other tea fiends should totally reply too! You may know other/better things than I do for recommendations!

Also, interestingly I just happened upon this: https://www.t2tea.com/en/us/tea-finder.html  So maybe that can help you too?

But in terms of finding a tea that doesn’t taste bitter, I have a few thoughts! :D (Which, being me, turned into like 10 pages of text lol)

First, you don’t always have to drink tea straight. Adding milk, sugar, honey, or other things to your tea may help improve the taste for youand could affect how bitter it tastes to you. There are some teas where I always put honey in it, or other teas that I think taste best with about half milk and half water. Although for me, most of the teas I like the most I drink straight. But it’s all very dependent on each person’s palate. Feel free to experiment with all sorts of variations to see what you like, if anything.

Second, you may like a different kind of tea than the kinds you happen to have tried so far. There are several kinds of tea (full list here), but the most commonly known or available (at least around me) are black and green, and sometimes it’s expanded to include white, oolong, and herbal.

All of the kinds of teas can have major variation in the way they taste (including how bitter or strong or etc they are) depending on a lot of factors like flavor or lack thereof, brand, how long it was steeped, the temperature and technically even type of the water used, etc– plus, tea is one of those things where the way the plant itself was grown can also make a big difference. Things like the type of soil used, the geography of where the leaves came from like was it on a steep hill vs something flatter, the weather, the way the leaves were picked, the way the leaves were processed so that they become the packaged product you buy, etc, can all have an affect on the way it may taste to you as a consumer.

LOTS MORE ON TEA BELOW THE CUT BECAUSE I’M A NERD

For example, I love the hell out of jasmine tea, and yet I have specific favorite brands or kinds of jasmine I like more than others because I’ve found that some of the jasmine teas I get can turn bitter super quickly as opposed to others that simply intensify the longer it’s steeped. 

Speaking of steeping, water is another main culprit that can really affect your tea game. Technically, the different kinds of teas steep best at different temperatures of water. You don’t need to find the exact temperatures and write them down and be super anal about that or anything lol, but just know that if you find a tea you think you could like but it just keeps tasting wonky to you, you could try different temperatures of water to see if it affects anything. I mean, if you do want to go full in on it, you could also try looking up the kind of tea it is, see what temperature that type of tea steeps best at, and give it a go at something closer to that temp. Plus, the water itself can make a difference like if you’re using tap water that has whatever minerals in it vs filtered water, etc.

The other huge issue for tea is how long it’s steeped. Some teas get better the longer they’re in the water, but other teas have a very specific amount of time they should be steeped and if they’re in there any longer than that they can start to taste bitter or taste odd. I would say definitely read the instructions on whatever tea you purchase or try. Most of them will tell you on the box or packet how long you should steep it for– and if it says only steep for a minute, make sure you steep it for no longer than that and see if that affects your experience.

Also, teas can be caffeinated and the different kinds or flavors or brands of tea can have different caffeination so if that’s ever a factor for you, make sure you check into that for different brands.

Also also, there’s a whole other direction you could go with this, which is to try chai, but that’s a whole other topic. Especially because “chai” in the US means something pretty different in other countries if you go into a restaurant or coffee shop.

Anyway, you don’t actually need to know all that stuff, it’s just that I’m a particular kind of nerd who legit took a class on tea through my city’s community classes program just because I love tea that much lol XD The teacher mentioned a lot of this stuff in the class and I thought it was interesting so I’m passing it along in case it also intrigues you :)

The reason I mention it here isn’t to be intimidating or anything, it’s just to say that if you want to give tea a try but so far have felt like tea has tasted bitter to you, there’s a pretty good chance that there is a tea out there you could really like, because there are so many factors that change the way different teas taste and there’s a huge variation in the actual taste of them. I mean, I love the HELL out of tea, but there are lots of teas I also don’t like. I can’t stand earl grey, for example; I try to like it but it makes me want to gag every time. In fact, most English breakfast teas are not my jam, but give me a number of Japanese teas like my favorite yamamotoyama or rice tea, and I’m all for them.

So, just know that even people like me who are ridiculous about tea still have teas they don’t like. I just learned what I tend to like and I drink those kinds of teas, and avoid the kinds I don’t like.

Generally speaking (and this is just my personal experience, I could be totally wrong) – I tend to find that some green teas can taste bitter sooner if not steeped the right amount of time, and some black teas can get pretty intense pretty quickly if not steeped properly. Herbal teas, white teas, and oolong teas tend to be more chill, less likely to go bitter or super intense as quickly. It does definitely depend on the exact tea you have but MOST herbal teas I’ve had don’t really go bitter even if left in long, same with MOST oolongs I’ve had. I have less experience with white.

I have not personally seen a specific difference between tea bags and loose leaf tea in terms of quality or susceptibility to bitterness or intensity.

I would say first of all, if there’s any sort of tea shop anywhere near where you live, best thing to do would be to go into that tea shop and tell them the sort of thing you’re looking for and see what they recommend. Ask them if they can brew samples for you, or if they can’t, ask if you can buy (or even better, get for free if you’re somehow super lucky??) small samples of the tea itself. Don’t buy giant boxes or tins of tea unless you know you like it, otherwise you’ll be wasting your money. You’re better off getting little bags of tea. I will say though that tea shops, at least around me, tend to have primarily loose leaf tea. If you find that loose leaf tea intimidates you, it still might not be a bad idea to ask the tea shop people for recommendations of types of teas based on your interest, but you could then take that information to the tea bag arena of teas.

For tea you can just buy at the grocery store and which comes in tea bags, I have a potential recommendation for you for a brand of tea to check out:

I’m thinking that you may want to give herbal tea a try first, just because herbal tea tends to have a nice variation of options but it also tends to not be as likely to be as picky about steeping times, water temperatures, and water type. You can usually get away with more with herbal teas, so it may be less intimidating, and less annoying for you. Also, if you like how blueberry tea smells, that’s most likely an herbal tea (although it could be it isn’t, depending on what exactly the tea is)– but anyway that may mean you may be someone who likes fruity or floral tea, at which point herbal may be a good starting point.

A brand I recommend for you to check out is Celestial Seasonings. They have a lot of teas that at least where I live you can find in the grocery store – but most importantly they have 2 of my 3 favorite teas currently:

Sleepytime lemon jasmine green tea and Morning Thunder. They look like this (pics taken from Celestial Seasonings’ site):

(My other favorite tea is Yamamotoyama’s jasmine tea, which in terms of jasmine teas is much better about not turning bitter than other jasmine teas I’ve tried, but if you’re sensitive to things tasting bitter you may find that one to be too hard to time right off the bat)

I do not recommend you try Morning Thunder as someone trying to get into tea, unless you think you’d like something that’s not really bitter but is pretty intense (I was first recommended that one by a major coffee fiend who said she liked it for its high caffeination for tea and how it tasted a little more coffee-like for a tea vs the way other teas tasted to her) but even though green tea can sometimes turn bitter more quickly, Sleepytime lemon jasmine does not. You can leave that tea bag in there for approximately forever and it doesn’t really get bitter. I love Sleepytime lemon jasmine tea for decompressing at night– partially because it has chamomile which is very relaxing.

If Celestial Seasonings is a pain to find near you, you could also try any kind of chamomile type tea and see if you like it or if it still tastes bitter to you.

Another tea you could try is see if you like anything that’s minty, like has spearmint or peppermint in it. Those are unlikely to taste bitter to you in my experience but they can get pretty strong tastes so if you don’t like mint you may not like them at all.

If you think you might like something minty but aren’t sure, another one I like that you can buy in the grocery store here is Traditional Medicinals Echinacea Plus which looks like this: (taken from their site)

That one is actually best used if you’re getting sick because echinacea can help support the immune system and can help stave off some minor illnesses sometimes, so it may seem a bit odd for me to recommend it -- except that it's nice and minty. It does taste best when sick, though. I find sometimes the mintiness can taste a little heavy when I’m fine.

I haven’t tried too many others of Celestial Seasonings so I can’t give recommendations there, and Traditional Medicinals I do find I like the Echinacea Plus one the most, but you could check your local grocery or other stores just to see what’s out there, what doesn’t look crazy expensive, and what seems interesting. Another thought is if you’re in a coffee shop, and if they serve tea, try asking the barista what the kinds of teas might taste like, let them know your preferences, and see if they have recommendations. As much as you can try to test out different kinds of teas without committing to buying entire boxes or huge tins, the better for your wallet and peace of mind. So also, if you know anyone IRL who’s into tea, maybe you could also ask them if you could try some of the different kinds of teas they have to see if anything resonates with you. Maybe you never end up finding a tea you love, at which point you could try other beverages that are also healthy. But I do think that if you want to like tea, and are willing to give a bunch of different kinds a try, you will probably find at least one kind of tea you really like. Because I used to not like tea, too, even though I knew it was good for you. It took me finding a tea I actually liked for me to be opened up to the world of tea, and then I started trying more and more kinds of tea, until now I have a completely ridiculous collection, especially considering the fact that I regularly drink the same 3 kinds over and over -_-Anyway, I don’t know if that helps but hopefully it does at least a little. Sorry this ended up being so long omg

[capricornusgravitas]

Neon Silk

I’ve been wanting to go to a psychic in New York. There’s something about this city (I think it’s the name) that makes you think that it’s of the utmost talent. If anywhere would have the best psychics, it’d be New York!...Or that’s what they say. I don’t think that’s necessarily the case. I think those weird kids that hang out in small towns of 1000, the ones with tarot card decks deep in their pockets that they hide from their religious parents, are sometimes more tuned in to the other side than those who are fed praise in one of the most well-regarded cities of the United States. Personally, I’d say New Orleans is the place to go.

I think about New Orleans more than I do Austin, more than I do New York. If you’ve never been, make it an effort. The seafood is fresh and the vibe is like neon silk, easygoing but engaging. There’s music and art and a breeze off the sea that’s tacky and damp. New Orleans is a place for the arts. Artists sell their stuff across the streets from churches and musicians play music late into the night on the street. I saw a girl playing a violin hooked up to an amp on the sidewalk once.

Everyone in the French Quarter seems to have an art gallery. Doesn’t matter how good or bad your stuff is, they have a space for you if you have the money. I had wandered into this guy’s art studio/gallery. He was selling paintings in a box of no air conditioning, my sweaty fingers buried in shards of tile and roof shingles that he was selling in a basket by the door. The sign attached to it said it was debris from Hurricane Katrina. I didn’t buy anything, considering all the high prices and my lack of cash. I left with nothing in my hands and not enough cash in my pocket and wandered down the street, passing plenty of other art galleries selling their own things. I don’t know if they were selling Katrina debris and it made me wonder how common it is for people to be selling a basket full of wood and glass. The streets of New Orleans was warm and I felt real whole. That’s something New Orleans did- radiate orange light in everything it did and make me feel whole and carefree for a little bit. Naturally, I ended up in a voodoo shop during this lightness I felt.

It was a small little store, different from the other voodoo shop I had already visited earlier in the day. That one had a real altar with all these signs around it warning everyone to keep everything where it was. Everything was dark too, shadowed and mysterious. I felt like it was the real deal. But this one was much more tame, with the walls painted a light color and nice women behind the counter smiling. I bought some loose leaf tea and I stepped to the back hallway after paying for a tarot card reading session. A woman was already waiting for me in a little cubicle-like niche in the wall, She told me to close the curtain behind me, for privacy, I guess.

I was skeptical of her as she didn’t look like what I was expecting. She wasn’t a priestess or an old woman who had practiced this art for generations. She looked more like someone who would be in front of me in line at a Kroger or Tom Thumb. Average. She told me all the vague stuff, y’know, like I’m coming up with ideas and I should continue my hard work- real expected, overall. Then she got into it, telling me I needed to get away and move to better myself, that I needed to move from my home if I wanted to grow. She alluded to me not having a regular job, saying “you aren’t doing something normal, but you can make it work.” I left feeling still somewhat skeptical, as she was off on several things at the time.

Only later did I realize this was a year before I moved to New York, a decision made after I felt stagnant and in the need of growth. At the time I wasn’t set on being a writer either. I’ll admit, I was ruling it out no matter how much I loved doing it. It was too anxiety inducing. It seemed easier to throw away my passion to ensure a more definite future. But then I said fuck it, ridded myself of images of myself sitting at a desk job and packed my things for New York.

Now I’m in New York as I sit on a couple writing projects. I’ve also been recently thinking about a few close people that have passed away, looking at old pictures and the like. Between wondering about the future of my writing and memories of the dead, I feel like it may be time to head back to a psychic. I’m not going back to New Orleans anytime soon, at least I don’t think, so if you know of a psychic in New York City, let me know. I’ve just been wanting to get some insight when I live a life of near invisibility and maybe this is the insight that will help bring about another much-needed change in my life. Who knows. 

[the-good-food-mood]

Smoky Miso Ramen with Spicy Fried Tofu

Adapted from a recipe by TwiggStudios

This is a recipe for a savory, hearty, and filling vegetarian ramen, perfect for cold dreary winter days and long nights enjoying whatever streaming service floats your boat! It can also be made gluten-free and vegan with a few easy adjustments.

Ingredients:

Ramen Broth:

6 cups of water

1 vegetable stock bouillon cube**

2 lapsang souchong tea bags (equivalent to 2 Tbsp loose leaf tea, in a bag or strainer)

3 scallions, thinly sliced

2 Tbsp fresh ginger, coarsely grated

1/3 cup sweet white or yellow miso

2 Tbsp soy sauce** (optional, depending on the saltiness of your miso)

Tofu Glaze:

Firm or extra-firm tofu

Neutral oil for frying (canola, vegetable, or untoasted sesame oil)

1 Tbsp hoisin sauce**

2 tsp soy sauce**

1 tsp honey**

1 tsp sesame oil

1 Tbsp hot sauce (optional)

Tofu Breading:

3/4 cup bread crumbs**

2 Tbsp cornstarch

1 Tbsp chili flakes (adjust to your taste preference)

1 Tbsp sesame seeds (try toasted or a blend for variation)

1 tsp Chinese five-spice powder

1 tsp ground black pepper

Base:

dried ramen noodles**

Ramen noodles are sold in serving-sized bundles and are similar in shape to spaghetti, only paler and solid in texture. You can find them in the Asian aisle of most grocery stores*. Just make sure to avoid pasta or egg noodles. 

If you’re feeling really fancy, Twigg Studios has a recipe for homemade ramen noodles on their website!

Toppings:

selection of fresh mushrooms, approx. 1½ cup sliced (Shiitake and enoki are recommended, but oyster and cremini also work well)

dried seaweed, aka wakame (I’d go with plain, salted, or sesame)

bean sprouts (I like mung bean sprouts for crunch)

soft-boiled eggs (If you can find them, quail eggs are perfectly sized; leave out if you’re vegan or not ovo-vegetarian!)

fresh cilantro (Don’t @ me, if you don’t like it leave it off!)

scallions, thinly sliced on the bias (Makes longer “onion strings”, as seen in many ramen shops)

For the Tofu:

Start by pressing your tofu for at least 15 minutes, up to an hour. Pressing tofu removes the excess liquid, which makes for a more pleasing mouth texture and a much safer frying experience! The longer you press, the drier the tofu will be, and the easier it will be to work with.

Ideally, you would use a tofu press for this, but you can use plates in a pinch: start by placing the entire unsliced block of tofu on a paper towel-lined plate. Place another plate on top, followed by a heavy book (here’s a way to get more use out of those college textbooks!) and several heavy soup cans. You want equal pressure on the entire surface of the block of tofu.  

Don’t forget to keep an eye on your makeshift tofu press! If the soup cans start to shift, it’s time to readjust your book base!

Once you’ve pressed your tofu, slice it into thin pieces. Keep in mind you’ll be frying these, so keep your strips between ⅛” and ¼” thick. Lay the strips out on a layer of paper towels and pat dry before glazing.

For the Broth:

In a large pot, bring the water to a boil, then remove from the heat and add tea bags. Let the tea bags steep for 10-15 minutes, then remove. 

Return the pot to the heat and add the bouillon cube. Once the bouillon is dissolved, add miso, scallions, and ginger (and soy sauce, if deemed necessary) to the water. 

Bring the broth up to a boil, then reduce heat and let simmer, covered, until 5 minutes before serving.

For the Glaze and Breading:

Combine all wet ingredients in one shallow container, and all dry ingredients in another shallow container.

While your broth is simmering, dip your dried tofu pieces in the glaze, making sure to get a light, even coating on both sides. Repeat with the breading, avoiding large clumps. (I recommend using the two-handed breading technique for this: one hand dedicated to the wet glaze, one hand dedicated to the dry breading.) Store the breaded pieces on a dry plate until ready to fry.

Working in batches, heat a few tablespoons of neutral oil in a frying pan. Fry a few strips of tofu at a time until the breading is crispy, about 1½-2 minutes per side. The breading will darken and fall off quickly (this is due to a lack of protein binders in the glaze), so be prepared to work quickly. Drain the fried tofu on paper towel-lined plates.

For the Noodles and Toppings:

Five minutes before serving, add your chosen mushrooms to your broth and return to a rapid simmer (not a rolling boil). Prepare your noodles according to package directions. Usually, this process involves adding dry noodles to boiling water, then removing the pot from the heat and letting the noodles sit for a few minutes.

Add your noodles to your serving bowl before ladling the broth over the noodles. Top with sprouts, wakame, soft-boiled egg, scallion strings, and cilantro to taste; heat seekers can also add sriracha or hot sauce for an additional spice kick! 

Serve with warm tofu, either on top of the noodles or on the side. 

Enjoy!

* If you’re lucky enough to live near an Asian grocery store, there will likely be an entire aisle just for noodles. This is also where I would recommend buying your miso, five-spice powder, sesame oil, sesame seeds, hot sauce, hoisin sauce, bean sprouts, mushrooms, wakame, and tofu press. American grocery stores mark up their prices exponentially for these ingredients - whereas all of these ingredients are household staples in Asian households. 

** Dietary restrictions: - If you’re vegetarian, be sure to check your bouillon cubes and hoisin sauce for vegetarian compliance.  - If you’re vegan, check all store-bought sauces for compliance, and replace honey with light agave nectar. - If you’re gluten-free or celiac, double-check your hoisin and bouillon, and replace all soy sauce with tamari soy sauce. Use gluten-free bread crumbs, and replace wheat ramen noodles with rice-based phở or pad thai noodles. 

[toomanysurveys9]

What was the last thing to upset you? wyatt was upset when he woke up the first time because he said he wanted milk (or “gilk” as he calls it lol) but i went to give him some and he didn’t want to drink it.. he just wanted to play with my breast and i told him no. it sometimes gets frustrating... but i was eventually able to settle him down and he was fine. even on mornings like today, i wouldn’t trade being his mom for anything. he is so good 99.9% of the time and i am so lucky. even on the rare occasion he isn’t “good”, he still isn’t crazy difficult. i was just so tired today which is why i got a little upset (not that he knew i was even upset - i’m good at the calm mom thing).

How’s the weather been today? cool like fall. :)

What was the first tattoo you got or what would be the first tattoo you’ll get? the first tattoo i got was a matching flower tattoo on my right shoulder blade with my mom.

What was the last store you went into and did you buy anything? walmart, and yes. i bought a couple different types of pads for after ellie is born.. a car seat cover.. a little blanket for her.. and some candy for wy, jake, and me because i needed a kitkat.

Have you ever been late for school or work? well, yeah. not often, but it has happened.

Do you prefer to shower in the morning or at night? whenever i can these days...

Do you dip your pretzels in anything? i dip the soft pretzels in cheese. i don’t dip the hard ones though.

What is your favourite kind of fruit cobbler? i don’t really eat cobbler of any kind.

Is there a basement in your house? If so, what is it used for? there is, and pretty much all storage. eventually my dad will have a workspace, and jacob might have a hangout spot.

When was the last time you were intoxicated? i don’t remember, to be honest. it was before i found out i was pregnant though. which was february 17.

Have you been swimming today? oh no. it’s way too cold.

Is your phone fully charged at the moment? no. it’s at 78% right now.

Have you driven a car today? not so far.

When was the last time you felt extremely nervous? before my doctor’s appointment this past thursday because i had to do the groub b strep test and he decided to see if i was progressing at all so far.

Do you have a small, medium or large bedroom? it’s larger than we have had in quite a long time.

Where was your first job and how old were you? mcdonald’s. i was sixteen i believe.

Have you eaten soup this week? nope. i don’t think so.

Have you ever made your own survey? i have not that i recall.

Do you know your birthstone and if so, do you have any jewelry containing it? sapphire. and i at least used to.

What colour is your hairbrush? gray and green.

Do you hear any other people talking right now? my grandpa. and lillith is watching teen titans go...

Are you a fan of The Office? not really. i’ve only seen bits and pieces of episodes though.

When was the last time you started a new medication? it’s been a long time.

What is your favourite type of nut? peanuts.

Where did you eat the best pizza you’ve ever eaten in your life? my dad’s homemade pizza. for sure.

Do you know what year your parents married? 1992.

Did you ever watch The Rugrats when you were a kid? yeah. it was one of my favorite cartoons.

Would you ever shave your head to raise money for cancer? i would not i guess, because i could have when i went to bethel but i never did.. i’m just.. not that confident...

Did you watch Breaking Bad as it aired or did you catch up later on? kind of later on, but i didn’t really watch it a whole lot - just caught some of it when jacob did because he was super into it.

Is there anything you’re looking forward to at the moment? ellie being born in the sometime near-ish future.

Do you believe in the paranormal? not really, no.

Do you know anyone who doesn’t have a middle name? my grandma lehman doesn’t.

What is your fast food place of choice? depends on my mood and what i’m craving...

How close is the nearest Starbucks from your house? there is a starbucks in the martin’s not even five minutes from our house.

Have you ever played in the snow? yeah. we live where it snows, and i used to play in it a lot when i was younger.

Do you know anyone who was adopted? my two youngest sisters will be adopted the beginning of 2019. and my grandma randolph was adopted.

Do your parents’ professions match their college degrees? neither of my parents went to college.

Do you write shopping lists on paper or just remember it in your head? my head. which rarely ends well..

Have you put your phone on silent today? it’s always on vibrate.

Can you name all 50 US state capital cities? not anymore.

Have you been to the mall today? nope. we don’t go very often.

Have you ever watched Scrubs? If so, did you like it? again, bits and pieces because jacob was into it. it was alright.

Do you prefer loose leaf tea or teabags? i don’t drink tea.

How often do you check your emails? every other day or so.

Do you read John Green novels? i have not read any. i’ve thought about it though.

What was the last thing you purchased at a supermarket? some things for ellie, some things i’ll need after delivery, and a couple candy bars..

Have you ever used a lawnmower? i have not. i’m pretty allergic to grass...

Have you ever played QuizUp on iOS? i have not.

Have you ever consumed so much alcohol that you vomited? oh, yeah. a handful of times.

Have you ever been to Thailand? i have not.

Have you ever been to Universal Studios? i have not.

Have you had a bath this week? nope. i did take a shower, though.

Do you like pumpkin pie? yes. and i really want some lately. lol.

Do you know anyone who smokes in their car? kayla.. vanessa..

Have you ever seen a shooting star? or something.

Can you tie balloons? i can but i tend to struggle a bit.

What is your favourite place to get Chinese food? panda restaurant. not to be confused with panda express.

When was the last time you were at a pet store? it’s been a very, very long time.

Do you do a big weekly shop or just shop for groceries as you need them?

usually a weekly shop.