#yay organization yay shelves yay productivity yay yay yay!!

[scarecrowbutch]

sometimes all it takes is a new desk to completely rejuvenate yourself

[healing-hanyou]

I stayed up all night, but hey, at least I cleaned my room! It still needs vacuuming and window washing, but these will have to wait until daylight.

[tariqsee-blog]

13 Fun Side Hustles To Earn Extra Income

Let’s face it,living a satisfying life in a big city can be expensive. For most people, a 9-to-5 simply doesn’t cut it anymore. That’s why many people are seeking out supplemental employment to help improve their financial standings.

A recent survey found that nearly 50 percent of millennial’s and 24 percent of baby boomers in the US have a side hustle. Aside from boosting income,a side hustle may also open up a career path that wasn’t previously considered. Finding the right fit for your lifestyle will take a little time, but it’s definitely worth it! You will want to ensure that any side hustle you choose to undertake brings you a sense a joy and is flexible enough to work around your full-time gig.

Here are 13 flexible part-time positions that are great for folks with busy schedules who want to boost their income.

1. Delivery Driver A great side job for those who have their driver’s license is delivering packages for a company. You can select your own schedule and work flexible hours to earn extra income. Amazon Flex’s program allows you to make $18 to $25 an hour as a part-time delivery driver. Also, UPS hires part-time and seasonal drivers. You should check company websites in your area for more information about delivery driver jobs.

2. Household Helper Consider a household helper job if you like cleaning and organizing things around the house. Sites such as TaskRabbit allow you to earn money by helping people with their daily chores. You can find jobs that you like and select a schedule that is suitable for you. Also, you’re able to set your own rates based on what seems appropriate.

3. Merchandiser Merchandisers work alongside shop owners to position products, stock shelves, re-order stock, and analyze sales figures.You can find local merchandising side jobs at career sites like Upward, Indeed, and Wonolo.

4. Senior Caregiver Becoming a senior caregiver is a rewarding side job with an earning potential of $20+ per hour. Assistance provided in this position to seniors is generally non-medical and involves tasks such as shopping,household chores,medication management,and assistance with daily living activities.

If you are interested in this type of position, you can start looking for jobs at ElderCare.com or Care.com.You can also contact your local senior caregiver agencies to inquire about any temporary positions that may be available.

5. Nannying Nanny positions will always be in demand. You can earn between $10 to $25 per hour depending on where you live. Most parents will gladly pay a premium for an overnight stay to look after crying infants. You can look for open positions at either Sittercity.com or Care.com.

6. Tutoring Consider offering tutor services during the evenings or weekends to earn extra income. Sites such as Tutor.com allow teachers, students, and industry professionals to offer tutoring services. You can teach kindergarten up through college level students depending on your experience and qualifications.

Consider applying for a curriculum creator position. You can find many different part-time positions for assisting institutes in creating a curriculum. The jobs generally require working under strict deadlines,but are very rewarding!

7. Rent Out Your Space Do you have a spare room in your house? If so, you could consider renting it out to earn additional income. Many sites such as Airbnb, Home Away,and FlipKey allow individuals to rent their spaces and earn a pretty decent income.

The best part is that it’s totally up to you on how you chose to charge for your extra space.You can rent your space by the hour,day, or month.

8. Sell Your Professional Photos If you are a talented photographer, you should consider selling your photos online. People need photos for all sorts of different reasons. From engagement announcements to holiday cards and blog posts, there is a constantly high demand for good quality images.

You can sell your photos online through sites such as iStock, Shutterstock, Dreamstime, and Yay images. Alternatively,you can also consider setting up your own photography website and start selling your photos there.

9. Virtual Assistant Becoming a virtual assistant is another great way to earn extra bucks during your spare time. Most virtual assistant jobs consist of tasks such as transcribing documents,coordinating schedules, answering emails, preparing letters, organizing files,etc.

Virtual assistants can be administrative assistants, executive assistants, or personal assistants. Since most of the work is conducted digitally,these type of positions require a general competency with computers and good typing skills.

10. Ride Sharing Offering services through ride sharing companies such as Lyft or Uber is another flexible way to earn on the side. This is a great option if you love to network with others and don’t mind having strangers in your car.

Create your own schedule and work around your commitments!

11. Local Tours Do you have expert knowledge about local art, food, or history? Consider turning your knowledge into profit by offering guided tours to travelers. You can provide tours during the weekends to earn extra income. Sites such as Shiroube, Airbnb Experiences,and ToursByLocals will help to connect you to travelers who are interested in guided tours of your area.

12. Part of a Research Study Being part of a research study is another good way to earn extra income. Participants are generally paid a decent rate for lending their time and feedback. Studies range in duration of time and vary from in-person to online participation.

You can find paid research opportunities at FindFocusGroups.com.Another option is to use search engines, such as Google, to research about paid research studies in order to find opportunities in your area.

13. Social Media Account Manager It is not uncommon these days for companies to have and maintain official social media accounts. Moreover,managing these accounts is not super difficult, it just takes some time! Usually creating one or two posts daily as a means of staying engaged will keep the current hype up among customers and fans. This may be a job to consider if you are looking for something home-based.

Most of the above jobs are easy to perform and don’t require you to have specialized skills or a fancy degree. Having a side hustle will help you to boost your income and meet your financial goals. It will foster a vivacious supplemental income if you maintain a steady pace by committing to it in your spare time. It’s another safeguard way to ensure financial security. Best wishes in finding the right fit!

[kojoty]

Scrubbed the bathroom and redid it (rearranged stuff, put up a new shower curtain, new Mats, organized my shelves etc), mopped it, then did all the dishes, scrubbed the counters and the stove, rearranged the counters and tidied em so the counters have more room, scrubbed the sink, and am now making some lunch to celebrate. Up in the docket I have to go through all my moving boxes and try to downsize, since when I moved in I was overwhelmed and just shoved everything in storage without being neat about it.... Did two loads of laundry, and still have probsbly three or four more, plan on folding those, and hopefully keep scrubbing counters and reorganizing. Goal is to have the place Spotless by tonight so I feel better and more able to deal with my life. All in all, a good start! Especially since I worked this morning, too :) yay productivity. Hopefully I can get done early enough to take a bath tonight :)

[lovemecharlie]

When Erik's away, the wives will play. Dom Charlie and Sub Hennessy.

Hennessy

Hennessy's bedroom door swings open and Charlie enters holding a medium-sized black plastic crate as she enters Hennessy's domain. "Ready to play, Miss Chiron?" Sitting the box beside the bed, Charlie pushes it with her foot signaling to Hennessy not to look inside of it.

"It's about time, Miss Jade," Henny shifts on the bed closing her leave-in moisturizer bottle and sitting it on the nightstand. She rubs the residue on her bare thighs. She'd been waiting on Charlie for an hour, but Charlie seemed to be dragging her feet. She couldn't understand why. Any other time, Charlie was all for it, ready and eager to go at the drop of a hat.

"I know I said I didn't need a room for my nasty antics, but now I'm reconsidering.. Might need to add a room to the poolhouse or something. Trick it out in a galactic theme," Charlie mused climbing onto the bed in her shorts. Hennessy was half listening. Having held off on masturbating since Charlie popped up unexpectedly at her office, small talk was dead. It'd been a looong day of distractions and self-denial ever since.

Earlier that day.

"Have you been obeying my command today Miss Chiron," Charlie asked getting directly to the point of the call when Hennessy picked up the phone.

"Yes, King Jade," she lied. She'd taken a ten-minute break just a short while ago to sate her flower's growing hunger. Being told she couldn't touch herself only made her want to do it even more.

The dispensary was clean, open, large, and full of variations of marijuana. Clear containers held shelves on shelves of neatly arranged product in nuggets, powders, and dried bits. Green, pink, purple. Charlie had never seen so much weed variety. “Hey. Where’s Dr. Chiron,” Charlie asked the girl working the floor, organizing containers. She was pointed to the greenhouse that was attached and as she walked down the rows of fresh growing plants, she spotted Hennessy closely observing a plant that didn’t look like the others. Must’ve been a hybrid of some sort. She was on the line claiming not to have touched herself and Charlie didn't believe a word the little munchkin said. “Hennessy Chiron Stevens-Udaku,” Charlie called causing the short-stacked woman to look up in surprise. The good doc looked like a stack of fluffy blonde pancakes soaked in syrup. Thick, pretty, and sweet.

“My whole damn name though,” Hennessy called back. Her initial confusion faded to an earnest smile when she saw the small bottles of Hennessy and apple juice Charlie presented. Giddily, she took them to her desk which was covered in research material. “What brings you in here today,“ she asked sitting in her leather chair. "You just came from work and you don’t smoke.” That was true.

"Came to check on my wife," Charlie replied. She was in a long sleeved zebra blouse tucked into cognac colored high rise cropped pants with black three inch heels. A smart look. Cognac for Hennessy. Hennessy started mixing her trademark concoction, Happy Juice, and just as the name suggests she was smiling into her cup. “You should mix that and sell it here in small cute round or star shaped clear containers with edible glitter. Call them Happy Bombs, Charlie suggested pulling up the hem of Hennessy's skirt.

"Watcha doin," Hennessy gasped as she blocked Charlie's bold hand with a nervous grin looking around to make sure no one was near. Charlie's eyes remained on hers willing her to keep eye contact instead of looking around.

"Right here, Hennessy," she said catching the shorter women's attention. "Who's in charge while Daddy's gone," Charlie challenged waiting for Hennessy to move her hand out of the way.

"You are," Hennessy relented hesitantly. Her hand went lax and Charlie slipped her hand under her skirt feeling the material of her panties. She'd gotten wet with her arousal.

"That's right, so listen to what I tell you. Get on the desk," Charlie commanded pushing the papers out of the way. She guided Hennessy's hips as she hopped up before sliding her fingers inside of Hennessy's panties and down her slit to her slick and slippery hole. "Why'd you lie to me," she asked bringing her wet fingers up for Hennessy to see. Hennessy wasn't admitting guilt so Charlie brought her nose close to Hennessy's belly where she could smell the floral scent of her arousal. It was fresh. "You know, I actually came to give you some bomb head.. toe-curling, leg-shaking, forget your own name head.. I came hungry and everything," she sighed licking her glossed lips. "..But I see I can't do that now because you don't follow instructions."

Hennessy gaped, suddenly ready to play the game. Erik was gone on a trip and if she wanted King Jade to make her cum, there were rules. King Jade's only rule to her for the day had been to refrain from touching herself. "Can I start over? I won't do it from this point on," Hennessy promised.

"If you do I'll know," Charlie pointed raising a brow. She backed away leaving Hennessy to her own devices. "Don't fuck up."

Currently.

Picking up on Hennessy's no bullshit mode, Charlie leaned forward, pulling on her panties to check to see if she'd obeyed this time around. It didn't seem like she'd touched herself. "Okay, take em off," she hummed watching her wife pull them down and off, flinging them at her. She caught them with her teeth snickering. "You want this tongue or not, lil girl? Play some music and lay down. Thighs up." Settling between Hennessy's plush thighs, she grooved internally to Sevyn Streeter - Sex on the Ceiling.

She started with Hennessy's calf knowing that the tiny woman was on the verge of having a fit. Placing small bites, she trailed her way to her inner kneecap and then her thigh.

🔉 Turn the bed upside down, flip me round. Gravity’s left the building.

🔉 I’ll be on top, really I’ll be on the bottom 'cause we goin' be having sex on the ceiling.

"Ask me for it first," Charlie teased, her tongue sliding through the crease between Hennessy's pussy and thigh. She was enjoying the control and Hennessy's impatient keening. There was a particular tone of neediness she developed when she was horny that caused her voice to become smol as she became more and more submissive and agreeable.

"Please, may I experience that tongue King Jade," she whimpered, way past ready. She'd been waiting for what felt like all day, her lust an unscratchable itch. Charlie's fingers rubbed down her slit, parting the lips to peer inside. Pure pink. Her tongue roamed lazily over the contours of her slick skin and inner flesh, then with purpose and precision, she moved over the highly sensitive spots, making a home at the clit. She blew on it, cool air, before enveloping it in wet warmth and adding pressure with her skilled tongue. The playlist played on in the background, forgotten by both women as physical pleasure was the only thing on their minds.

Once Charlie was convinced that Hennessy had cum enough to be completely satiated, she sat up wiping at her sticky face. Hennessy was slumped. Meanwhile, she had a tired tongue to rest. The part under her tongue had gotten its workout for the day. She stood from the bed, making her way to the bedroom door about to head to her own bathroom.

"Wait, what's in the crate," Hennessy pointed sitting up on her elbow. Rather than respond, Charlie came back and picked it up. She sat it on the bed pulling out a handful of star-shaped plastic containers filled with amber liquid. When she shook one, iridescent glitter floated like in a snowglobe. She looked to Henny for a yay or nay.

"Happy Bombs," Hennessy smiled.

@poosypoosy @bastioncarterstevens-udaku @hennessystevens-udaku @itsangeludaku @alyshastevens-udaku @itskimorafireudaku @allhailnjadaka @bidibidibombaclaat @blackpinup22 @destinio1 @hold-me-like-a-heart-beat @leahnicole1219 @vikkidc @thehomierobbstark

[stavee]

Plans for over break

It's winter break, guys! I'm hoping to utilize my time for organizing! Here's what I hope to get done by the start of the Winter '19 semester:

hang my whiteboard! (It makes a visible and eye-catching list that gives me the satisfaction of crossing off/erasing)

Going through old assignments from the 17-18 academic year (I need to sort what's worth keeping and what I can toss, yay more folders/reusable notebooks!)

Reorganizing my shelves!

Actually using the lifestyle apps I have downloaded, I'm going to try to start a "100 Days of Productivity" into the next year!

How about y'all? I'd love to hear how you're using your break! 😄

[yhame-blog1]

PEOPLE TYPES - OLYMPIAN GODS | Yhame Tia

Aphrodite: laughter-loving, sweet smiles, dressed in silk and satin, flower in their hair, thrives on attention, sees the world as a runway, unapologetically sexual, the sea washing their ankles, in love with love, stirrer of passion, cunning concealed by painted lips, secret daggers, doves, revolution in their kiss, delighting in the waves, flirtatious winks, strolling along the beach, staring wistfully from a balcony, this is how to be a heartbreaker, your girlfriend thinks they’re attractive, wants to be adored, gets turned on by danger    

Apollo: glitz and glamour, art galleries, turning the volume up, being made of gold, neatly-organized music sheets, notebooks filled with poetry, bathing in the sunlight, the powerful urge to create, collecting vinyl records, beautiful cover of Wonderwall, playing multiple instruments, tasting like sunshine, healing touch, speaking in prophecies, smile mingled with wrath, shunning lies, sporting shades, hanging out at music festivals with their friends, sleeps naked, arrow to the heart, paint brushes, probably has a Tinder account

Ares: armed for battle, wants to raise a dog with their significant other, soft spot for children, gives piggyback rides, scarred body, blood on their hands and face, willing to fight the world for the ones they love, fights against injustice, warm hugs, well-worn combat boots, boxing gloves, bandages wrapped around bruised knuckles, fist raised in protest, ignites revolutions, fear is a prison, more sensitive than what their tough shell may have you think, exhausted, damaged goods, force to be reckoned with, red roses, curses under their breath

Artemis: keen senses of a hunter, freckles like constellations on their skin, piercing eyes, disheveled braid, moonlight peeking through the shadows, the calm of the forest at night, lying on the grass and staring at the stars,mother doe and her fawn, protecting their kin, the moon shimmering on a still lake, quiver full of arrows resting against the bark of a tree, running with wolves, bonding while circled around a campfire, not being much of a people person, arrow hitting its target, popping egos, patience on 3%, touches heaven and returns howling

Athena: discerning gaze, unreadable face, the patience of a life-long teacher, quiet museums, owl perched on their finger, armor that intimidates, eye for architecture, plays the sims for the sole purpose of building houses, studied the blade while everyone else was busy getting laid, big fan of logic, loves brain teasers, go-getter, balls of wool displayed on shelves, ancient buildings, sweaters in neutrals and cool colors, hair done up, can kill you with their brain, heads to the library often to research, sharpened pencils, abs that can cut steel, stoic statues, pottery classes  

Demeter: soil-covered hands, smile that can bloom flowers, skin loved by the sun, being the mom friend, can lift you and all of your friends, flowers kept in the pockets of overalls, takes pride in their beautiful garden, speaks to their plants, leaves rustling in the wind, stalks of wheat, picking fruit, greenhouses, heart as strong as a mountain, values simplicity, daisies dotted across a collarbone, curls crowned with flowers, folded pile of sweaters in warm hues, pulling out fresh-baked bread out of the oven and the smell wafting through the air

Dionysus: drunk shitposter, on their sixth glass of wine before you’ve even finished your second, seductive smirks, untamed curls, rich fabrics on dark skin, sleek-furred panthers, theater masks, stage productions, receiving a standing ovation, rose caught between their teeth, being the baby of the bunch, wild parties that last from sundown to sunup, creeping vines,inspiring loyalty, grand opera houses, masquerade balls, rolls of film, shattered chandeliers with broken glass scattered across the wine-spilled floor, pouring champagne into flutes, lives for the applause

Hephaestus: the calloused hands of someone who knows labor, sweaty brow, flame burning in their eyes, inventive mind, broad shoulders,steampunk goggles, nuts and bolts stored away in little boxes, ashes, striking a match, blueprints for future projects, fixing up a busted up car and giving it cool upgrades, wrestles with bitterness, work boots have seen better years, wrinkled plaid shirts, iron melted by blazing fire, huge jackets, crafting masterpieces, greased-stained overalls, fascination with robotics, pain is fuel, stack of weaponry, even their muscles have muscles

Hera: resting bitch face, dressed to the nines, cows grazing on a pasture, cool rain, loving and hating fiercely, hand clutching a string of pearls, large chandelier with glittering crystals, plays the sims for the sole purpose of killing off their sims, romance to realism, pictures of the sky while flying on a plane, files that under fuck it, downs glasses of wine as they relax with a scented bubble bath and netflix, like their selfie or you’re grounded, knows 57 convenient ways to murder a man, dark eyes that penetrate your soul, marble and gold

Hermes: devil-may-care smile, ink-stained hands, always up-to-date on the latest technology, will steal your french fries, does it for the vine, shitposter, puts googly eyes on everything, meme hoarder, long drives on the highway,ma and pop diners, spontaneous road trips, folded maps, fingers dancing across the keyboard of a laptop, shooting hoops on the basketball court, chatting up strangers as you all journey to your own destinations, goes jogging in the morning, mixes red bull with coffee, menace on april fool’s, hoodies and sneakers    

Poseidon: storm with skin, colorful coral reefs, waves crashing against the shore, the sea casting its spell, stroking the soft fur of a cat, their heart pounding as their horse’s gentle trot speeds into a gallop, tousled locks, clothes smeared with paint, owns several sketchbooks yet always yearns to own more, leather jackets, fondness for diy projects, handwriting that flows across the page, nimble fingers playing the strings of a violin, velvety singing voice that haunts your dreams, mood as ever-changing as the sea, the roar of a motorcycle, compass with a spinning arrow

Zeus: thunder in their heart, running on coffee, flash of lightning, natural charisma, eloquence, badass in a nice suit, aficionado of history, force of nature, lenny face, pretends that they don’t have feelings but they do,nightmare-filled nights, proud arm around their lover’s waist, high-rise buildings, planes soaring through a cloudless sky, technician on the piano, maintains order, strong handshake, juggling multiple events on their busy schedule with apparent ease, most likely to be voted class president out of their peers, expensive watch, like a boss

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

First post, yay! 

Tbh Yhame is so boring, but idc I love him anyway.

Thank you for tagging me, @seeker-of-sights!

If you see this and you’d like to do it, please feel free to do so. I love reading these kinds of things. ^^;

[benjaminreevesart]

WHY DOES FORTUNA DISAPPOINT ME SO?

In November of 2018 DE released its latest OpenWorldTM Fortuna, an update I had been waiting for with bated breath from the edge of my seat since its announcement last year. At the time of launch I was logging in every day just for the chance to be one of the first to experience it.

Now over a month later, I sit here struggling to convince myself to go back. Yes, even after the heist update. A sentiment seemingly shared among many others in the community. So as with all things in life we must ask ourselves… why?

-Aesthetic: they decided to drop this thing in November, so I guess instead of going outside to play in the snow users could stay inside log on to warframe and play… in the snow. Yay.

I find myself missing the familiar exotica of not-africa and its kind-of-alive-but-not-really-except-its-made of-flesh-and-you-can-eat-it-wtf-DE? tower. (that bothers me). Just standing in these updates’ respective hub-areas and listening to the ambiance of the environment speaks volumes. The plains has haggling traders, merchants announcing their wares, wind rustling through the many canopies and tent flaps of hand hade fabric, it feels alive where fortuna feels like a cold mechanical day job. If you say that’s intentional… well, I hardly think boredom is anything to aspire to.

I get that they’re going for a sci-fi-punk feel, but it just comes off as monotonous, hopeless, and impersonal.

-Personal connection: Sure Saya’s Vigil was stupid romantic melodrama, sure onko’s decision is lame, sure it was kinda dumb to give newby players a warframe blueprint they couldn’t build until after reaching the mid-game, but ya know what? It worked.

I know who saya and konzu are, i have been with them on their story, every time I see konzu standing there with his girl I know that is because of me. My journey, my struggle, my effort brought these people together. Its simple its small, its human.

I mean who the hell is eudico anyway, why does she fight? Why caste shade on biz’s origins, and are we just going to gloss over an innocent person getting their head chopped off and their organs harvested in the open fucking street???????? There are constant references to people being “brain-shelved” which I can only assume means they get their brain put in a jar and thrown in someone’s freezer, and we get ZERO resolution for that! I mean sure there are fragments to find and scan, but they don’t really tell us anything that couldn’t already have been inferred. With exception to the relationship between biz and little-duck, not that it seems to play into any of their interactions at all. The business does have his conservation thing, which is a part of his character, an old war veteran understand the fragility of life and working to preserve it through peaceful means. But the spirit of it is robbed when they give the same shtick to the random bird guy from cetus. Why? while I could buy Nef Anyo hunting whole species to extinction for profit, nothing about the setting of the plains suggests the animals are in any kind of danger from the grineer. Its just pointless. I mean you could’ve just used the business for both, maybe he’s building a zoo for critters from all over the system, I wouldn’t have questioned it. Heck, it could even have been a nice little unlock to see the place once you catch one of every animal.

Weirdly enough the one character I think is kind of done right here is ticker. Yeah, the kiosk guy above biz’s shop whose only purpose is to sell you debt bonds so you can increase your standing. Maybe its just a dumb stereotype but I like tickers flair for the theatrical, I find it charming. Plus, his first fragment is so terribly depressingly human it just makes me want to give the poor dude a hug.

But at least there’s plenty of snow in the sandbox… er…

-The sandbox is full: I may not be in the console market these days but there have been a lot of sandbox games as of late, like… ALOT! Its basically the only game Ubisoft makes anymore. A wide-open area filled to burst with pointless shallow time wasting minigames of no real importance. OpenWorldTM. The announcement said Orb Vallis would be twice the size of Eidolon and good god does it feel like it! The very construction of the map itself restricts you from moving around it. With its massive board blocking Tim Burton mountains, and how those same mountains prevent you from utilizing the full freedom of the hoverboard, a new vehicle introduced with the update. Sure, there’s a new pet and new guns, but we already had fishing, we had mining, we had a new faction of peaceful traders and merchants to interact with. Outside of new shooty-tubes and endo dumps I don’t really see what’s so special here, especially when the terrain itself renders the races more chore than a challenge without delivering on any significant or memorable locations. Which is weird since there are interesting set pieces in the Vallis that are just never used. Of all the bounties I did getting to “old mate” rank the only location used was a data vault spy mission. You know, the building with the profit taker on it, yeah, you know the one the worst part of the map. Its built like a maze, is too easy to get lost in, has too many BIG rooms going into tiny vents you need an eagle eye to find, and its just an unenjoyable mess. This is especially infuriating as there are numerous more interesting locals around the map, they could use for practically any of the bounties. But no, its never the big Nef Anyo statue we’re fighting under it’s that damn farm thing again. Its never that cool cavernous road through the mountains, its that same damn bridge right in front of Fortuna. Its never a big base filled with enemies and tons of vertical platforms, its always that one generic outpost just down the road.

-Environmental Story: what’s even worse for the environment is its total lack of connection to the rest of the universe. The Plains weren’t just some vaguely African safari area, it was a battlefield. Haunted with the remains of shattered sentient contained within a massive forcefield that also happened to protect it from the deadly radiation and poisons of the outside world. The strange rocks which dot the landscape are the remains of alien spacecraft and its soils are stuffed with all manner of deadly armaments and tools. So, it makes perfect sense that the grineer or other factions would covet this area for its agricultural and military resources. The vallis just looks like a giant sink of effort and resources that could be put to more productive use elsewhere, doubly so considering it’s the corpus funding the whole operation. Which is even more sad given that environmental stories are the one story telling mechanic exclusive to video games. There is no other medium which allows a reader or a viewer to experience its world at their own pace to seek information in their own ways. Making this literary opportunity not only a waste of warframes universe but of the medium itself.

This is naturally only compounded upon with how the resources of the vallis seem even more restricted to fortuna than the plains did to cetus. The toroids are the worst offence in this, but I think I’ll save my thoughts on this growing problem in warframe for when I get around to covering the jovian concord as the issue of resource gating is more blatant there.

-The warframes: so garuda and baruuk, while I find it strange that DE released two frames around the same time that where functionally immortal, I just find their acquisition boring. Garuda’s main blueprint is just handed to you after finishing the introduction mission, and baruuk is straight up just another item you buy. The only difference between buying baruuk for real money and buying him for in game currency is time, and a lot of it given how rare the resource to get him is. Now I know garas main was given at the end of sayas vigil too but there it was built up as an ancient relic of mystical origin. A man left his wife and home to keep this powerful artifact out of enemy hands, sacrificing his whole life and happiness to keep them safe. You weren’t building just another tank with tits; you were reviving a warrior of legend who slew giants and protected the innocent. Revenant as well, had a deific entity granting visions to a child guiding you to the grave of an ancient warrior who fought and eventually fell to the control of his hated enemy. This might sound like a re-tred of inaros for most of you but at least gara and revenent look their parts, rather than just a mish mash of infested gunk slapped onto a skeleton. Point is worldbuilding matters, especially for the warframes. Being the name-sake of the game they deserve some kind of gravitas behind them. Treating a new warframe like another commodity to be bought off a shelf or passed out like a gold star from kindergarden is just… condescending. At least hyldryn got a boss fight out of her release, which is more of a backhanded compliment when you realize almost every other warframe gets a boss fight by default. Soooo… yeah.

 Conclusion:

Maybe I’m jaded, just sick of snow, or maybe I’m projecting my exhaustion with the OpenWorldTM genre, I don’t know. There are a lot of reasons I find fortuna unfulfilling, but ultimately, I think its this; fortuna and the vallis were supposed to be an extension to the warframe universe, a playground to explore new perspectives and build on its mythos. It didn’t do that. We went from space travelling assassins trying to fight a war on many fronts to make the galaxy a better place, to a plucky resistance force against an evil conglomerate. It just doesn’t fit with the world we’ve already seen. everything “new” that was introduced here may be new to warframe but has been done much better within any title from the cyberpunk genre.

Its really a shame too as just looking a around can be breathtaking at times, some caves and structures are genuinely beautiful to look at. A lot of work was clearly put into this update, just not in the right places. Gameplay has a few upgrades, the environments are pretty if frustrating to traverse, but the story just comes up short. Sure, we can tolerate illogical grinds and only semi-complete mythologies for our new areas, but without a good story to keep us coming back, to tie everything together, its just disappointing.

-END OF LINE.

[bri-is-my-homeslice]

Also I finally got around to organizing my art stuff and I'm actually using shelves now 👌👌 and I cleaned up my desk

Ooo that's goood. Yay for productivity!

[lifeisafearfulthing-blog]

2019-01-31

Tis the end of Januray and all through the house the tasks are completed and we celebrate. We got Aubreys bedroom almost finished, Cody built her a raised bed so she can play under it. He also built us a bed with storage under it. YAY. PLUS i made the dresser into the shelving unit for the kitchen. January has been productive. I am thankful for everything that has happened this month. Some Goals for February.

1: Pass Learners Test

2: Organize my closet (Marie Konodo Style)

3: Organize Kids Clothes

4: Take CELPIP test

5: Successful date night with Cody.

[motherofdragonfruit]

I got the first of my floating shelves put up today. Yay for being productive and organized!

[thomassegonne-blog]

Another step forward… To be completely honest, time management and organization are categories in which I really need to work on; and I only discovered this during this spring break. In La Paz, for spring break we receive 3 weeks off, which would make you think I can get so much of my school work with that amount of time… Well… as it turns out, i can’t! The worst part is I was fully aware, constantly reminding myself and my CAS partner (Marco) since the very beginning of the holidays. I can’t blame Marco for not working on the project because I was very capable of moving on, advancing on my own, and yet, I haven’t. After the end of the first week of vacations I texted Marco, telling him and almost forcing him to come over to work on the project, knowing I will be out of the country for the entirety of the last week. And as it turned out, he sent me a picture of his own portrait in the airport… After a lot of discussing and arguing through text messages, I finally learned that he was gone when I was here and when he comes back from the states, I would be in Canada. I was very frustrated because he never told me that he was leaving and I made it very clear to him that I wouldn’t be here the last week!!!! Before I knew it, it was already too late… So, then I finally realized that I could make an advancement on my own... without him. Since Marco is responsible for the keeping money that funds the CAS project safe, I had no way to get to it so; I borrowed 70 000 colones from my parents. I redesigned the shelf and calculated how much plywood I would need to buy in the end. As it turns out, I needed to buy 3 full-sized laminates of 15 mm thick plywood (one of the thickest sold in Comaco) which were sold at the price of 19 802,99 colones per laminate. On top of that, I purchased 50 screws for wood which cost me in total 721,50 colones. With what was left of the 70 000, I payed the woodcutter to cut the pieces of plywood with specific measurements. The men wanted 15 000 for the pieces cut but I successfully convinced them to lower the price to 11 000. I forgot to mention that he was the only woodcutter in town and was loaded with work that made him unavailable most of the time; he was doing business in Panama and wasn’t expected back before Friday at midday, bummer, since I was leaving Saturday at 2:30 in the morning… So Friday morning, I packed all of my bags and at 1 I went to the woodcutter’s place and as it turned out he had to work in avellanas and they told me he would be back by 3. I left and at 3 on the dot I came back and waited patiently for his return. He finally cut my pieces of plywood and I came home ready to work. With the help of Juan, I built the first part of the shelf. In the end, I am happy with the progress I have done however, I regret wasting so much of my vacations doing nothing beneficial when I could have spent more time productively. In relation to CAS, productive work could be: Planning the fundraising and book-raising events, build more shelves, attempt to create relationships with local bookstores to inquire about the opportunities we can benefit from, etc… Now… we need to do all of this along with all our school work! Yay!

[lostinreality014]

#ThinkPositive2020: Aug 13

DAY 143: SOCIAL DISTANCING/STAYING AT HOME DAY 104: WORKING FROM HOME

Got more than 7 hours of sleep last night so I’ll tolerate waking up before my alarm went off

Had a decently productive work day

Picked up some more groceries and didn’t over buy so go me

Had my first counseling session (not very first, I have gone to therapy before) today with a new counselor. It went well for a first visit. Hoping for a better match this time around

Made pizza for dinner

Watched the Stars game - I’ll let you know how that goes tomorrow cause the game will be over well after I post this - yay for 9:30 CT puck drops

I love hearing Celena Rea sing the anthems before Stars games

Got some more of our kitchen set up/organized today now that we have the extra shelving units built

[nickgerlich]

What We Have Learned So Far

I remember back to the 1970s, when I was a mere teenager. My Dad the Accountant was also the purchasing agent for our family. It was a task in which he prided himself and his squeezing-blood-out-of-turnips ways. He shopped with ruthless cunning and laser precision. This explained why our basement had metal shelves lined with enough canned goods to get us through a nuclear fallout, because Dad was the kind of guy who would find corn on sale, and then buy the whole case.

My friends used to make fun of me. “Are you guys planning on World War III?” they would ask. Nope. Dad was just being a good shopper, so we shut up and ate corn.

But suddenly I realize that Dad was ahead of his time, while at the same time, a product of his times. He grew up during the Great Depression, so he knew the value of a nickel saved, a paper clip, piece of string, even an empty beer can with its top removed to use as a pencil holder. This is not just quaint nostalgic yearnings, it’s the new survival strategy. I suspect if you went into many American pantries these days, you would think my Dad had paid them a visit.

While the first documented US case of coronavirus happened on 20 January 2020, it wasn’t until the last two weeks that we really stood up and paid much attention here. In that short time, we have learned many things, about ourselves, about our society. Here are a few:

No one is happy right now. We are filled with anxiety. We’re stress-filled, and easily provoked by the littlest thing someone might do to us in public. I get it. When your world is turned upside down, it’s easy to take it out on others. Even though only a tiny tiny fraction of our 330 million people will contract COVID-19, there is still the chance it could happen. Given the fact that we are all told to stay home, one has to wonder what the social outcomes will be down the road. Will there be a baby boom next winter, as some chirpy people suggest? Or will the added stress lead to divorces? Worse yet, not if, but when, will there be shopping cart rage and shootings in shops as people fight over scarce commodities?

What we once took for granted, we may never do so again. Remember when we could go to a supermarket and they would have everything we needed? Yeah, me too…about two weeks ago. I remember my first semester at WT, when I had a young Polish emigre in my Principles of Marketing class. She told of life in the mother country, still reeling under years of an oppressive regime. She spoke of being overwhelmed by all the choices we had in America, because in Poland, it wasn’t about which bread, it was about whether there was any bread at all. If you saw a queue forming outside a store, you got in line without even knowing why you were there, under the assumption that someone knew something you did not, and you better not miss whatever was available.

How sad that we now think the same thing. We blindly get in line before opening hours in hopes that shelves have been restocked during the night.  And for that matter, every other aspect of our lives, from dining out to movie theatres, concerts, sporting events, and more, are all out the window right now. We have our Netflix, as long as they don’t cut the bandwidth to save the internet for everyone now engaged in online learning.


Cheap gas is nice, but if you can’t go anywhere, it is worthless. With a barrel of oil around $24, dealers are practically giving gas away. Today, you can get gas for $1.69 a gallon in Amarillo. The only problem is that, with so many people sent home to work, shops closed, and everyone hunkering down, there’s really nowhere to go other than the grocery. Oh, for fuel this cheap when we are able to take road trips. This is nothing but a false positive externality of the coronavirus crisis.

Agile companies and organizations will survive, while the others will be weeded out quickly. We will definitely lose a lot of businesses during this pandemic, especially mom-and-pop businesses. There are more businesses than we realize that are only one or two months away from bankruptcy, mirroring the condition of many citizens who are similarly skating by, month-to-month. Are you in the restaurant business? Why haven’t you considered takeaway before? Have a retail shop? Why haven’t you gone online yet with a commerce-driven website and/or mobile app? Teach at a university? Why haven’t you pushed yourself a little the last two decades by developing at least one online course?

Furthermore, this will cause many businesses, organizations, and even governments to reconsider how business is done, but only among those that survive. Does it necessarily have to be face-to-face? Why can’t it be done electronically? Does it have to be done the old way forever?

I do not need to eat out anywhere near as much as I once did. I have been moving in this direction for the last few months anyway in an effort to eat more healthily, as well as because I am enjoying teaching myself to cook. But with restaurants off-limits in most areas, and everyone my age being urged to have a month’s worth of provisions on hand, my pantry runneth over. And you know what? I am enjoying it. Even with my beginner’s skills and tools, I can put together a mighty tasty dinner. My oldest daughter often joins me in this endeavor, and she, better than I, produce some amazing meals. Guess what? We are saving money. We are eating very healthily. And I am losing weight. Lots of it. Yay, us! Of course, that’s bad news for the restaurants if they are able to survive this tragedy, because I may not return there as frequently as I once did.

Many more people are now getting exposure to e-commerce, curbside pick-up, and home delivery. This could forever change the way we buy things, making it difficult for those unable or unwilling to evolve. This goes far beyond the native convenience of it all, and even the social distancing aspect. I, for one, do not want to purchase items that have been handled, tried on, manipulated, etc., by others.

What people purchase during times of panic reflects their worst fears. Panic is irrationality at its worst. It causes us to do things completely out of character, and when it comes to purchasing, it causes us to buy things that make no sense whatsoever. The elephant in the living room right now is toilet paper. The coronavirus does not even cause diarrhea, so there’s no worry in that department, yet Americans and others worldwide have gobbled up virtually every available roll. One report I read said that we bought 60 days’ worth of toilet paper in three days. A standard 18-roll pack should last a minimum of one month, and quite possibly two months, in a two-person household.

So why did everyone hoard this most basic commodity? Simple. Because everyone fears having to take a dump and not having paper with which to wipe. Never mind starvation or more important matters; we just want to be clean down there. I want to be clean, too, but I’m not going to go crazy on inventorying it. A second fear is bottled water. Really? Unless our public utilities also break down, we’re going to have tap water. So picture this: We are a bunch of defecation dehydrophobes. I don’t like that mental picture.

The food people are buying reflects our rather pedestrian American cuisine, which also turns out to be our comfort foods. The American diet is a mash-up of various international influences and regionalized adaptations, along with some items of our own making. To be honest, I don’t think it is all that good. It is rather bland, favors sauces that happens to red, and probably puts more emphasis on the centerpiece—meat—than is healthy. But that’s a discussion for another time.

Folks are buying the things they know how to prepare, because going out to eat is out of the question unless you can live with takeaway, and people are buying the things that will provide comfort and hope during a time of discomfort and seeming hopelessness. If pounded steak and potatoes make you feel good, then by all means, eat it. It also means that my rather esoteric tastes and dietary preferences are pretty safe. This is one time that being in the minority has its benefits. All of my stuff is still abundant.

People will rearrange their schedules to go shopping if there is hope that a scarce item has been replenished overnight. When was the last time you went grocery shopping at 7:00am? I did it this week, and was not the least bit surprised to see about two dozen others out there, milling about in the pre-dawn moonlight. Many stores have now trimmed their operating hours to allow more time for thorough overnight cleanings and restocking, as well as to accommodate seniors-only shopping hours, but the long and the short of it is simple: We’ll do whatever it takes if we think we might find a roll of toilet paper or canister of Lysol. Think about this. Aside from Black Friday, when was the last time you engaged in cart-to-cart contact for a limited supply of products?

We are social animals, and we are already starting to miss each other. I can see it on social media already. We want…no, we need…human interactions, whether it is at church, the pub, the workplace, the classroom. All of those have been taken from us in short order, and it did not take long for us to feel that immense loss. Thankfully, we have social media to stay in touch, and inexpensive calling plans to just say hello. Reach out and touch your loved ones, maybe not physically, but at least electronically. It may be a while before we can hug, kiss, even shake hands. But we can still communicate.

There will always be defiant, belligerent people among us. This is the scariest part. There are many folks taking to social media trying to downplay the importance of this matter, dissing the statistics that shows this to be a highly communicable disease with a much higher mortality rate than the common flu. Worst yet, I have seen some of my former students echoing these refrains online. Now more than ever we must use reasoning and logic to filter through the news, all of it, from real to fake. This is a very real contagion that can grow exponentially if left unabated. Interventions of the highest order are necessary to throw speed bumps in its growth. This is not a conspiracy from any political party; it is a global pandemic that knows no borders nor ideologies. Don’t blow off the truth; don’t dig your heels in the dirt and embrace nonsense claptrap that ignores the magnitude of this situation.

We use social media to vent our frustrations and anxieties. And argue. It is sadly ironic that the very tool intended to bring people together has also made it possible for oceans of discontent to rage between us. Give someone a microphone, and suddenly they feel like they are back in high school debate. But more than that, I see raw emotions in people’s posts…the empty shelves, the shuttered stores, the empty parking lots. The mere act of photographing, composing a caption, and posting them is cathartic in that it lets us release those pent up emotions. My advice going forward: skip the arguing, but keep posting your photos and words. If anything, we are all now citizen journalists documenting history in the making. Can you imagine nearly everyone in 1918 had a decent camera in their pocket or purse, and snapped hundreds of photos of the pandemic that year? We would have a much better record had this all been available. We do, so keep shooting and posting.

Finally, we need to love our educators. They have all been forced to do things they may or may not know anything about as they transition to online. For some, it has been easy. For others, it is like being thrust from knowing miles, pounds, and quarts, and suddenly having to use kilometers, kilograms, and liters. We are doing our best to make sure the learning continues, with or without the comforts of the classroom. We all have to make the best of the situation. And I offer encouragement to students for whom online learning is unfamiliar. It’s not perfect, but neither is the classroom. Keep an open mind, and trust your educator. We’re not doing this for ourselves.

I know that I could go on, and there is certainly much more we will learn in the days and weeks ahead. And that’s right—weeks. I am not hopeful that we will return to what we consider to be normal for quite some time. This is the new normal. All I know is that my dad was right. Life could get tough again, maybe not quite like it was in the 1930s, but certainly a far cry from what we all know as the American way. In the end, though, it will make us tougher. Our steely resolve will help us get through this, and prepare us for whatever the future may hold. 



Now who wants some corn?

Dr “Going The Distance“ Gerlich

Audio Blog

[howellrichard]

14 Vegan Cheese Brands that Will Make You Want to Ditch Dairy

Hiya Gorgeous!

I love cheese! Grilled cheese, cheese pizza, mac n’ cheese, cheese boards… all of it.

I know what you might be thinking: “But Kris, I thought you were vegan. Do vegans eat cheese now?!” Well toots, I’m not talking about just any old cheese. I’m talking about vegan cheese, and that’s what today’s article is all about!

The plant-based food market has taken off over the last couple of years. Vegan alternatives to animal products are popping up at grocery stores and restaurants all over the place. It’s been so exciting to watch this progress. And when it comes to vegan cheese, let me tell you that we’ve come a looooooong way from some of the stuff I tried to stomach back when I first went vegan.

Most vegans would probably agree that cheese is one of the hardest foods to cut when you’re getting started. I regularly hear from folks who say they’d like to try a plant-based diet, but just can’t imagine giving up cheese. People who are lactose intolerant or allergic to dairy face the same challenge. Luckily, vegan, dairy-free cheeses are easier to find, more varied and much tastier than ever before.

But with more options come more decisions, so navigating the vegan cheese aisle (here’s hoping that one day there WILL be a whole aisle dedicated to it!) might feel like a guessing game. You don’t want to empty your wallet or compromise on taste. I know that nutrition is top of mind for you too, so you might have questions like, “What is vegan cheese made of?” and “Which vegan cheese brands offer the healthiest options?”

Well, whether you need slices for your sandwiches, schmear for your bagels, goodies for a fancy cheese plate or any other variety of vegan cheese, I’ve got your back. My team and I have tried and tested lots of brands over the years, and we want to share that wealth of knowledge with you! So today we’re covering…

My favorite vegan cheese brands, including info on how they stack up from a health perspective

Advice for cooking with vegan cheese and the best options for different purposes (like which shreds melt the best on pizza, how to make the perfect vegan grilled cheese and so on)

And resources for making your own vegan cheese, just in case you want to get creative in the kitchen!

But before we get into all of that goodness, let’s tackle the question that I suspect is on many of your minds…

Is vegan cheese healthy?

The short answer is YES! Plant-based cheese can absolutely be a great addition to a healthy diet. That’s especially true when you compare it to its dairy counterpart. Cheese comes from dairy milk and dairy milk comes from cows (or goats). That milk is specifically designed to nourish baby cows and help them grow, just like human mothers’ milk has everything human babies need. For that reason, the proteins in dairy can be hard for people to digest. Many folks don’t even realize that dairy might be causing their persistent, unexplained digestive discomfort.

Dairy is also often loaded with growth hormones and antibiotics that the factory farming industry uses to churn out as much as they can, as cheaply and quickly as possible. This isn’t true for all dairy products, but it’s the case for many of the options available on grocery store shelves.

I’m not here to convince you to go vegan. My mission is really just to encourage you to eat more plants. So if you replace even some of the dairy cheese you’d usually eat with plant-based alternatives, then I’ll be doing my happy dance!

What is vegan cheese made of?

Critics of vegan alternatives often argue that they’re fake and highly processed. And yes, those products DO exist. But there are plenty of brands out there using wonderful ingredients like nuts, seeds, vegetables, probiotics and more to create vegan cheeses that are just as good (if not better!) than the dairy alternatives. I’ve also noticed more products popping up that are free of common allergens like nuts and soy, so no one has to miss out… phew!

Why eat vegan cheese?

I’ve found that including dairy-free cheese helps make a vegan diet more sustainable. That’s a huge win in my book because I believe that a plant-based diet is one of the healthiest, most compassionate ways to eat. The more satisfying and scrumptious we can make it, the better.

And finally, I’d be remiss not to mention how much healthier vegan cheese is for our planet and furry friends. Many authorities agree that choosing a plant-based diet is the most effective and powerful way an individual can reduce their environmental footprint. And animal agriculture is often inhumane, unsafe and unsanitary—especially when it takes place on factory farms. So every time you choose vegan cheese over dairy, you’re helping to reduce animal suffering. You don’t have to go full vegan to make a difference, just do what you can while keeping this info in mind!

Sometimes vs. Often: Our Crazy Sexy Cheese Categories

I worked with my fabulous nutrition team to put each of the brands I’m sharing into one of two categories: Sometimes or Often. These are our recommendations for how frequently to include them in your diet—emphasis on recommendations! You know yourself best, so ultimately it’s up to you (and your integrative doc) to decide what you eat and how often. You might see certain ingredients that you prefer to avoid and that’s ok! The good news is, there are plenty of options available, so there’s a vegan cheese brand here for everyone.

The vegan cheeses in the Often category include only simple, natural and whole-food ingredients. As far as our Crazy Sexy team is concerned, these options can be regular staples in a healthy plant-based diet. Yum!

The Sometimes category is for plant-based cheeses we also enjoy, but not necessarily on an everyday basis. Their nutritional profile might not be quite as sparkling as the Often options, or they might include certain processed ingredients that some people prefer to limit.

But you can rest assured that this list is free of cheeses that I’d never eat. The options in the Sometimes category are fine in moderation. I wouldn’t share something if it contained ingredients I avoid altogether… and I did exclude some brands for that very reason.

Now that you know how the categories work, let’s sink our teeth into some creamy plant-based treats!

14 Vegan Cheese Brands that Will Make You Want to Ditch Dairy

Kite Hill: Best Vegan Cream Cheese (Often)

You might have seen Kite Hill’s line of almond-based dairy alternatives at your local grocery store. This wonderful brand has continued to expand over the last couple of years, so their yummy yogurts, dips and cheeses have gotten easier to find. Lucky us!

I love Kite Hill because all of their products are gluten- and soy-free, and non-GMO. They also don’t use any artificial flavors, colors, preservatives and sweeteners. You’ll notice xanthan and guar gum in their ingredients lists—both are plant-based and considered a better option for thickening and stabilizing than many other additives.

Why I love it: Kite Hill makes the best vegan cream cheese I’ve ever had. It’s perfectly light and creamy at the same time. My favorite flavor is the chive, but they also offer plain, everything and jalapeño!

Violife: Best for Vegan Grilled Cheese (Sometimes)

This is another vegan cheese brand that has gained popularity in the U.S. over the last couple years. And rightfully so—their slices and shreds melt beautifully, making them perfect for any of your favorite ooey gooey dishes. I also love that Violife is available in other countries around the world… yay for accessibility!

Violife’s products have been certified by the non-GMO project and don’t contain any gluten or soy. They’re also free from preservatives. We categorized them under Sometimes because Violife does use non-GMO modified potato and corn starches, which some people may prefer to limit or avoid. The Just Like Feta block doesn’t contain any modified food starches though, so that one makes it to the Often category!

Why I love it: Violife’s Mature Cheddar and Smoked Provolone Slices make the meltiest, most delicious vegan grilled cheese ever! But they do melt much more slowly than dairy cheeses, so the key is to cook ‘em low and slow. Keep the heat at medium-low or even low, cover your pan and be patient. Just make sure to watch your bread closely and flip it if it’s getting too crispy.

Miyoko’s: Best Artisan Vegan Cheese for Cheese Boards (Often)

Miyoko Schinner is a legend in the vegan world. She was considered an expert on plant-based cheese long before her brand showed up in grocery stores (you may have heard of her cookbook, Artisan Vegan Cheese). So it goes without saying that I was pretty excited when I heard that she was putting out her own cashew cheeses… and they did not disappoint!

Miyoko’s products are all organic and non-GMO. They’re made with great ingredients like organic rice miso, fermented rosemary, plum and oregano (natural flavor preservation!), and live cultures. These vegan cheeses were made to shine on an appetizer platter. I’d go with the Classic Double Cream Chive and Smoked Farmhouse paired with whole grain crackers, fig jam and olives. Ok, now I’m drooling!

One thing to keep in mind: In my experience, Miyoko’s cheeses are all very tangy. That’s not necessarily a bad thing, but something to be aware of if you have an aversion to tangy foods.

Why I love it: Miyoko’s has been teasing nut-free products for a while and it looks like they’re almost here! I’m looking forward to trying the new pepper jack and cheddar options this spring.

Daiya: Best Vegan Cheese for Pizza (Sometimes)

If you’ve had any exposure to the vegan food world, you’ve probably heard of Daiya! This brand was here for us long before the dairy-free cheese boom, so of course I had to shout them out. You can find Daiya in most grocery stores, which makes them a great go-to for last-minute meals. We categorized Daiya as Sometimes because they do use safflower oil, which isn’t the healthiest oil around. Their cheeses also contain vegetable glycerin made from other processed oils.

There’s also a Daiya divide in the plant-based community. Some people love it, some people… really don’t. The main complaint I’ve heard is usually about the taste and texture, so you’ll have to try it for yourself. I think it’s a good option, but if I had the choice between Daiya and something like Violife, I’d definitely go for the latter.

Why I love it: Daiya comes out ahead of other brands in one important department—the Mozzarella Style Shreds are the best vegan cheese for pizza. In my experience, they melt faster and more evenly than other shreds. Let me know what you think if you try it out on pizza night!

Treeline: Best Spreadable Vegan Cheese (Often)

Treeline makes artisan cheeses good enough to share cheeseboard space with Miyoko’s, and that’s no small feat! All of their products are certified non-GMO and don’t contain any gums, thickeners, artificial preservatives or oils. They’re also 100 percent gluten- and soy-free.

Treeline has two types of plant-based cheese: The soft, French-style nut cheeses make a perfect snack when spread on crackers or a crusty baguette. Then there are the aged nut cheeses, which are more firm and pair well with fruit for an elevated appetizer. I love the Cracked Pepper flavor!

Why I love it: Treeline’s soft cheeses have a hidden talent—they can transform into mouthwatering sauces! Take a peek at this recipe for an example.

Whole Foods 365: Best Budget-Friendly Vegan Cheese (Sometimes)

Whole Foods knows the plant-based market is taking off, so why not get in on the action? I wasn’t sure what to expect when they released their slices and shreds, but I must say that I was pleasantly surprised! These vegan cheeses melt well, and the slices are also good on cold sandwiches.

Whole Foods says that all plant-derived ingredients in their 365 products are sourced to avoid GMOs. That sounds to me like they do their best to avoid GMOs but aren’t guaranteeing they never use them—but I’m just reading between the lines! Their vegan cheeses do contain modified potato and tapioca starches.

Why I love it: The 365 Plant-Based Smoked Gouda is right on the money flavor-wise. And speaking of money, this house-brand alternative is comparable to Violife but notably cheaper.

Even more vegan cheeses to tempt your taste buds…

I explored six of my go-to brands in-depth to help you learn what to look for at the store, as well as the many ways you can use vegan cheese. But there are SO many other fabulous options out there, I couldn’t possibly highlight them all in this article! That said, here are a few other brands that are worth checking out:

Sometimes:

Field Roast’s Chao slices are delectable on sandwiches. I love the Tomato Cayenne flavor! These dairy-free cheeses are made with fermented tofu, so skip them if you’re sensitive to soy.

Follow Your Heart is another staple in the vegan world. They have a great variety of cheese slices—the Pepper Jack and Garden Herb are my personal faves. Follow Your Heart does use modified food starches as well as less-than-ideal oils like canola and soybean.

When I think of So Delicious, I usually think of their plant-based yogurts. But this brand also offers plant-based cheese shreds that some vegans swear by. They do contain palm oil and we weren’t able to find out if it’s sustainably sourced.

Often:

The Honest Stand makes delightful dips with all natural, organic veggies and nuts. What could be better? We love the Cheddar Style Dip over here at Team Crazy Sexy.

Trader Joe’s Cashew Fiesta Dip has a unique strength: It’s good hot OR cold. I like to warm it up in the microwave (just 30 seconds at a time so it doesn’t burn), then stir in some salsa and serve with veggies or organic tortilla chips.

Brie is a must for most cheese lovers, and wildbrine has you covered with their cultured cashew alternative. This vegan brie is organic, gluten-free and comes in three varieties (classic, beet and shiitake). Bonus: wildbrine cheeses are made in-house with their own probiotic cultures.

Reine Royal’s in-store availability is limited, but they have an online store filled with lots of enticing options. This brand uses stellar ingredients too, and everything is made without fillers, starches, gums, preservatives or artificial ingredients. I can’t wait to try the Fauxgonzola!

Spero is special because they make cheeseboard-worthy treats with sunflower seeds. Many of the artisan-style cheeses on the market use almonds or cashews, but now folks with nut allergies can enjoy fancy vegan cheese too. The Goat gets five stars from me!

Wondering how to make vegan cheese?

I’m grateful for all of these vegan cheese brands because they’re as convenient as they are delish. But depending on where you live, your access to these products might be limited. Plus, there’s nothing quite like homemade food. You get a sense of pride from knowing you made it yourself, and you have total control over what goes into the recipe. Plus, you’re saving on packaging, which Mother Earth certainly appreciates!

Making cultured vegan cheese does take time, but it can be a really rewarding experience. And if that’s not for you, there are plenty of quicker recipes to choose from. If you want to learn how to make vegan cheese, check out these cookbooks:

Artisan Vegan Cheese by Miyoko Schinner

This Cheese is Nuts! by Julie Piatt

One-Hour Dairy-Free Cheese by Claudia Lucero

Crazy Sexy Kitchen by moi! This isn’t an all-cheese cookbook like the others, but I included recipes for Cashew Cream Cheese, Cashew-Pine Nut Ricotta and Truffled Parmesan. Don’t miss ‘em!

Vegan cheese for everyone!

It would be an understatement to say that I’m excited about the progress we’re seeing in the vegan cheese world… I’m over the moon! Making plant-based foods more accessible is the best way to introduce folks to how delicious and diverse a vegan diet can be. And if trying a surprisingly yummy dairy-free cheese convinces even a small percentage of people to choose plant-based meals sometimes, the environmental savings could be huge. Not to mention how many innocent animal lives could be spared! Who knew that kindness could taste so good?

Your turn: What other vegan alternatives should I write about? Ice cream, milk, burgers?! Let me know what you most want to learn about in the comments below!

Peace & cheesy choices,

The post 14 Vegan Cheese Brands that Will Make You Want to Ditch Dairy appeared first on KrisCarr.com.

[jonasjjackson]

Spring Cleaning: A Laundry Room Makeover

Jen Woodhouse of House of Wood surprises her parents with a beautiful laundry room makeover just in time for Spring! See what products went into re-creating his parent’s space below.

Spring Cleaning: A Laundry Room Makeover

Spring is officially here which means it’s Spring cleaning time! What better room to get started in, than in the laundry room? It’s literally the only space in the house dedicated solely to cleaning. Here, in this magical cleaning room, can you believe we have shiny machines that faithfully clean all the things at the push of a button?! Oh, yes.

We are serial renters (Army life!), so when The Home Depot asked me to makeover a laundry room, I knew the perfect place. My parents have wanted to update their laundry room for years now, so we were thrilled to partner with them on this laundry room makeover. I flew from Texas to my parents’ house in Nashville to complete this laundry room makeover over Spring Break and we finished it in under a week! It was so much fun – The Home Depot made the entire process so easy – they are our one-stop shop for all things Spring cleaning.

Let’s start with a few good ‘before’ photos, just so you can see where we started. Are you ready for this?

Womp, womp. Nothing to see here, folks. Move along, move along.

Does this space inspire you to clean? It sure doesn’t do it for me – and I need all the motivation I can get when it comes to cleaning.

I’m not sure why the home builder decided to place the dryer exhaust on the left and the water lines on the right. I think it makes more sense to work from left to right. Washer on the left, dryer on the right – am I right?! Perhaps, it was a design choice.

Another interesting design choice was how the water lines and the power outlet are placed on the wall: how poetic! I mean, look at them – they’re not even at the same level. (Am I the only one who gets annoyed by these things?)

Because I planned on adding a countertop over the washer and dryer, we had a plumber and an electrician move the water lines and power outlet down so that they wouldn’t interrupt the countertop lines. Then, we patched up the drywall.

Okay, so now that the nit-picky stuff is taken care of, let’s get started on this laundry room makeover. You’ll see how a few small upgrades, like cabinets and countertops, can make a world of difference.

These Hampton Bay Shaker cabinets in Dove Gray add so much functionality and storage to the room! We ordered them from HomeDepot.com and good news: because they’re in-stock, they’re delivered in 3 days or less! They came preassembled – we just had to hang them up on the wall.

Hanging wall cabinets may seem intimidating, but it’s easier than you think! First, you’ll want to remove the doors from the cabinets. Simply unscrew the hinges and doors and set them aside. Next, use a stud finder to locate the studs in the wall. The cabinets will be screwed to the studs in the wall with 2 ½-inch wood screws.

To make this job much easier, use a ledger board – a scrap 2×4 board that you’ll put in place temporarily to act as a ledge for the cabinets to rest on while you attach them to the wall. Determine how high you want the cabinets to be, then screw the ledger board to the wall studs. Make sure this board is level. Then, lift the cabinet carcass up on the wall, rest it on the ledger board, and screw the cabinets to the studs in the wall. Replace the doors and install the cabinet pulls. After the cabinets are hung, remove the ledger board, spackle any holes in the wall, and repaint. Simple, right?

We chose these beautiful cabinet pulls by Amerock in Gunmetal. Aren’t they gorgeous?

Now that we have the cabinets hung, it’s time to install the countertop. The Home Depot called on one of their local Nashville vendors, Stone World TN, to fabricate and install the countertop. The entire process was incredibly easy from start to finish – the folks at Stone World were prompt, communicative, and friendly.

We chose a beautiful marble-looking quartz countertop called Viatera Rococo. First, I determined the height of the countertop – it had to be tall enough so that the washer and dryer could fit underneath, allowing for a couple of inches clearance. Then I screwed 2×4 cleats to the studs in the wall and checked for level.

The counter will rest on these 2×4 cleats. I also built a base carcass out of ¾-inch plywood to help support the weight of the countertop. Then on installation day, the guys from Stone World simply laid the countertop into place and sealed the joints with silicone.

We chose a full ¼ round edge profile, to match the existing counters in my parents’ house. I just can’t get over how gorgeous this countertop is! Thank you Stone World TN!

Now, let’s get our Spring cleaning game on!

My mom loves a clean house, so when it comes to cleaning and disinfecting all of the hard surfaces in their home, Clorox Clean-Up Cleaner Spray is our go-to product.

For those hard-to-remove stains, we use Shout Trigger Stain Remover to pre-treat fabrics before throwing them in the washer. I should be a grass-stain-remover pro by now – I’m pretty sure I get more than my share. #boymom

Of course, Tide HE Liquid Detergent and Downy Fabric Softener are a staple in both of our homes. This liquid detergent is made for high efficiency machines.

Downy makes our towels so fluffy and soft. And they smell so good too.

We got this GE High-Efficiency Front Load Washing Machine and GE Electric Front Load Dryer from The Home Depot.

Yes, please! Give me ALL THE OPTIONS! I’m a bit of a germa-phobe, so I absolutely love the ‘sanitize’ setting. So does my mom. She’s a clean freak. Maybe it’s hereditary?

My sister drove into town for the weekend to join in on the fun. It’s a family affair! I asked her to be my hand model and this is what she gave me:

Hilarious. She gave me a few other hand-model poses, but I can’t post those publicly.

The dryer is no less impressive. All of the different settings make me feel so fancy. I especially love the ‘steam refresh’ and ‘steam de-wrinkle’ features. If you’re like me, you may forget about those clean clothes in the dryer for days at a time. This setting will help you pretend that you have your act together and you make smart life decisions.

Yay, you! You are a rock star.

 This handy little ClosetMaid wire bin is great for organizing. After all the laundry is folded, I can separate it into different bins, then take the bins to their respective owners. Work smarter, not harder, right?

On second thought, it would be smarter for my family members to do their own dang laundry. #iquit

Moving on.

This Swiffer duster is great for dusting plantation shutters and blinds. The dust is magically drawn to the duster, like a moth to a flame. The extender arm helps with hard-to-reach areas. This works great for dusting ceiling fan blades too!

I love that this Decorative Wire Chrome Heavy Duty Shelving Unit offers additional storage space. These decorative plastic storage baskets and Sterilite 64-Qt. Latching Storage Boxes make everything look neat and tidy.

My dad loves his new Dyson V7 Cordless Stick Vacuum Cleaner. It makes clean-up a breeze. I want one for my own house now! Sadly, it won’t fit in my carry-on. (I tried.)

My mom uses these Sterilite Latching Storage Totes to store extra linens and blankets. We love that they’re clear so we can easily see what’s inside.

The Home Depot made it super easy to plan, shop for, and complete this laundry room makeover in under a week. My parents absolutely LOVE their new laundry room and I love that I got to spend my Spring Break improving an otherwise neglected space in their home. Thank you Home Depot!

Click here to shop the items you’ll need to complete your garage makeover like Jen Woodhouse from House of Wood.

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