#yes i know the shops have knit doctor appointments that likely could help or fix it for me even

[highwaydiamonds]

I have come to the conclusion that the shawl I am knitting is going to be heinous most likely. Some of this is because Mistakes Have Been Made ™ but also because WOW😬 I get the feeling I have made some iNtErEsTiNg choices. Does this mean I am frogging back or starting over? Oh no. No, no, no. It just means I will pursue this nor for my own version of SCIENCE! This means seeing how many more times I go off the rails, while trying NOT to go off the rails, as well as finding out what kind of brights/pastel cotton candy funky monstrosity it turns out to be. I'm a slow and (still, clearly, obviously) unreliable knitter (at best LOL) so we'll see where and how this goes.

[romanceimp]

Pregnant s/o hcs: Mirio, Bakugo, Todoroki, Midoriya, Iida, Tamaki

SFW, just super fluffy 

Mirio:

If you don’t think this man is tearing up when you tell him... uhhh you’d be wrong

He is crying over you and so happy, will kneel and just kiss your tummy 

And when you’re in bed that night going to sleep, every few minutes he will nuzzle in closer and whisper, “hey guess what? We’re gonna have a baby” 

Anytime he says he loves you now he says it to your tummy too 

“I love you Y/n, I love that you are mine and I love that you’re going to be the mother of my child” *bends down* “And I love you too baby” 

He will have a really hard time waiting until the second trimester to tell anyone but once he is able, everyone will know, and he’s going to have a party in your honor. 

He will treat you like a queen, back rubs and foot rubs...

I feel like when you first tell him you’re pregnant he will come home a few days later with a box... when you open it, it’s a maternity dress, and its actually really pretty, with lace and silk, and nice and stretchy... 

“I know you don’t need it now, but I saw it when I was out and thought it would look perfect on you...”

He will compliment you every second of every day, will trace your stretch marks and tell you they make you beautiful because it’s all part of you becoming a mother, it’s a natural tattoo, a reminder of how you’re growing a life inside you

He will want to throw a gender reveal party 

And no, it can’t be as simple as balloons popping out of a box, he’s gotta have something extravagant to celebrate like fireworks, monster trucks, or a paid actor dressed as a baby

You’re having his baby! This is a pinnacle moment in his life and he is not about to have some basic ass party

Mirio is definitely the kind of guy who thinks you can’t have sex because it could hurt the baby, you will have to make a very embarrassing call to your doctor about that... 

He is looking forward to owning dad sandals (who are we kidding he prolly already does)

Bakugo:

This man will shit himself, make sure he is sitting down

“Bakugo... I’m pregnant”

“Hah?” 

“I’m having a baby! You’re gonna be a dad”

He’s really happy and excited, he has no doubt you’ll be an amazing mom but he’s kinda worried about him being a dad... 

Am I fit to raise a kid? Will I be a good dad?

He will probably start working more and almost go on over drive... He will start coming home later, picking up earlier shifts... And when you ask him, “Katsuki, are you not happy about the baby?”  He will kinda break down and tell you “No of course I’m fucking happy about the baby, I just want the world to be safe for our kid... and I only have 8 months till then and-” He drops to his knees in front of you and he’s tearing up. You’ll get onto your knees too and just hug him, “Katsuki, you can’t fix the world before we have our baby,” you’ll look at him lovingly as he realizes how absurd he was being. “But we can prepare to be the best parents we can be...” “Prepare? We’re already gonna be the best parents.”

Okay, Bakugo hypes up the baby too, like...

“Katsuki, come here! The baby is kicking!” *he puts his hand on your tummy* “Baby’s so strong, just like us,” *grabs you and kisses you* “I knew we made a fucking perfect kid”

He will try kill anyone who oversteps the boundary with the bump (like touching the bump without asking)

“OI EXTRA, you wanna take your fucking hands off my woman and my kid or do  I have to do that for you...” 

Bakugo would be very unnecessarily competitive in birthing class

Will wake you up in the middle of the night at least once, he’s just laying on his back staring wide eyed at the ceiling... “What if I explode the baby?”

You’ll roll over and look at him annoyed, “you won't explode the baby,” 

He will settle again once you give him cuddles 

You cannot tell me that he would not be your biggest cheerleader when you’re actually giving birth, “PUSH, FUCKING PUSH DUMB ASS!” 

Todoroki: 

This man freaks out for a sec... cuz daddy issues. But he has a strong resolve so he will come out of it quickly and decide how to 

“Shoto, you aren’t anything like Endeavor, you’re going to be an amazing dad”

He will be extremely happy, but his excitement will be softer

Everyday after you tell him he says you’re glowing

He will want to cook you special things because it’s healthy for the baby, or so his mother told him

Speaking of his mother, she taught him how to knit when he went to visit her in the hospital so you’ll find him knitting little hats and bootie and jackets for the baby

He will nest just as much, if not more than you do

You’ll find him awake at 3AM trying to put together some bullshit ikea thing for the baby with the tiny allen wrench they give you for free. “Shoto, come back to bed... we can do that in the morning” “But the baby needs somewhere to sleep,” “Yes, and I’m not due for another two months”

Shoto is already so soft but I think he would be softer

Like when you fall asleep on the couch, he gets home and just cuddles up to you and asks your bump how it’s day was. He will talk to the bump until you wake up and then he just pepper your face with kisses.  

He is the only one of all these men who doesn’t shit himself and die when watching the birthing tape. I think he would be calm and say something like “a woman’s body is made to carry and deliver a child, there’s nothing to be frightened of.”

Midoriya: 

When you tell him, he’s gonna cry

He will want to call his mom right away  

Midoriya is the kinda guy to have a box of his things from when he was a kid stored away to give to his child (it’s all All Might merch but, ya know)

He definitely panics and worries if he is going to be a good father but he takes all that anxiety and just turns it into energy to care for you with

He is already signing you up for birthing classes 

This man would take you to all your doctors visits, acupuncture appointments, prenatal massages, and even a strange healing session done in the back room of a health good shop (don’t worry, he checked google reviews, 346 people, and 5 stars) (You weren't sure about it at first, but you felt very at peace afterwards, def worth the 5 star review)

He just really wants you to be happy and healthy

It would be understatement to say he treats you like a queen... he treats you like a goddess, and he tells you everyday how grateful he is that you’re his love and giving him a baby. Especially when you feel insecure about how your body is changing

He will want to make the nursery Hero themed... with an All Might wall decal... you’ll eventually opt for something a little less... exuberant like jungle animals or something. But the compromise is the All Might mobil that spins and says “I am here” while playing twinkle twinkle little star.

He will read to the bump, and sing to it because he wants the baby to know his voice

Will make a ‘goodnight’ song with you for the baby to sing to it every night 

Tenya: 

Tenya is so excited and immediately starts thinking of things he needs to do for you and baby

The day after he will come home with a bag from the store full of prenatal vitamins and herbal teas that are safe to drink 

“My love! I have brought you Evening Primrose supplements, it’s supposed to help with your delivery.” 

I think he has name ideas picked out already and is very excited to show them to you. They are all related to the Iida family.

He would ask his brother for advice and would be so excited to tell him when it’s time. 

Don’t even worry about pregnancy brain. Iida’s got you, he will help you remember everything you need to know and he will be patient with your cloudy thoughts. 

Iida is so matter of fact tho, I can see it coming off as insensitive, especially when you’re dealing with mood swings.

“Darling, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to offend you it’s just that those chips make your stomach hurt and I was only trying to-” “YOU JUST DONT WANT ME TO BE HAPPYYYY!!!!!!” “My darling, I want all the happiness in the world for you, you are the mother of my child, I- please don’t cry” 

He really loves you a lot and he will learn to be a little gentler with you during this phase of the pregnancy

Braxton hicks contractions (the little fake contractions you get during the third trimester, closer to the due date) will send him into panic mode. 

But he is also so organized that he is R E A D Y 

You clutch your stomach and inhale sharply and sit down, he’s already running to get the hospital bag and getting the keys for the car. 

(The hospital bag includes, diapers, baby clothes, blankets, stress balls for you to squeeze during contractions and a birth mix which includes mostly Baroque composers but theres a few taylor swift and harry styles songs because he thinks it would be cool if the baby was born to Adore You, because Iida adores you and that baby so much)

Tamaki:

He is terrified

But ultimately knowing that he has a child on the way actually does wonders for his confidence because he wants his child to have a good example and he doesn’t want the child to inherit his crippling shyness

He really is there for you and much like Shoto, shows it in a soft way

Tamaki is so food oriented already that he is especially considerate of your cravings and would probably try them, no matter how weird they are

Pregnancy makes you super hungry but thats okay because Tamaki is a brilliant cook

Tamaki is also very sensitive to the knowledge that it will change after the baby is born and that he has you all to himself for just a little while longer

He is going to take you on special weekend trips, like a sleepy beach town to just relax and eat good food

He will also take you on extra dates because he just wants to soak up your time together as a couple

He is very aware of how much work you’re doing constantly to carry his child and he will want to spoil you 

“Y-you’re just so beautiful, a-and you chose me, and now you’re carrying my child...I just... I love you so much and thank you for letting me be yours b-because you make me so happy.” 

He will freak out when he sees the birthing tape

“I-I am so sorry, I can’t believe I’ve put you through this... you’re- you-  This is all my fault...” *panic panic panic*

But when you’re actually in labour he is very supportive, he will just apologize while you’re screaming in agony and wish there was something else he could do other than bring you ice chips...

[spacesuitsforemergency]

DoJ

This is how Onawa told her closest parental figures, Guy and Cat, that she was pregnant. Also Tye lives with Onawa and Roy until he gets enough money to live on his own (which doesn’t happen until Roynawa’s kid is a year old)

Cat belongs to @must-be-ryan

Amias mentioned @silverdecepticon93

“Roy! What did I say about leaving your damn arrows everywhere?!” Roy winced when he heard Onawa snap at him from the living room.

“Sorry, Ona-“

“No! What did I say?” His wife stormed over and threw the arrows at him. “Huh? Tell me.”

“You said stop leaving them everywhere-“

“That’s correct. And what did you do?”

“I left my arrows everywhere-“

“That’s what I thought.” She huffed. “Now hurry up with the dishes. They’ll be here any min-“

Her head snapped around when she heard the doorbell ring, and Roy watched from the sink as she quickly straightened everything in the house with her powers, and rushed to the door.

“Oh, it’s just you.” Onawa grumbled and turned back to continue cleaning.

“Hello to you too, sis.” Tye scoffed, letting himself in. “Geez, no need to be rude.”

“I’m sorry.” Onawa sighed, running a hand through her hair as she teared up. “Oh great! Now I’m crying! Thanks a lot, Tye!”

“What did I do?” Tye blinked.

“Word of advice, don’t tell a pregnant woman she’s being rude.” Roy said as he wrapped Onawa in a hug, who was now full on crying, which didn’t happen often.

“Oh, uh...Sorry, O.”

“It’s not your fault, I’m being annoying.” Onawa wiped her face, then shoved Roy off her. “Don’t touch me.”

“How was your day?” Roy shook his head at his wife’s sudden mood swing.

“Fine, dad.” Tye tossed his bag onto the floor, but quickly picked it up when Onawa glared at him. “Sorry.”

“You better be. Put your bag in your room and shut that door. Your room is a disaster zone, I didn’t even bother.” Onawa shook her head at her brother.

“Yes, Mother.” Tye scoffed at her, but ran to his room when she once again sent him a death stare.

“Sweetheart, take a breath.” Roy advised her.

“Roy, I’m nervous. I think I have the right to be.” Onawa mumbled as she dried the last dish and put it away.

“I know, but it’s Guy and Cat. It’ll be fine.”

“But I’m telling them I’m having a child. How do you even do that?” Onawa sighed as she finally sat next to him on the couch, letting him wrap an arm around her, the cold metal making her shiver.

“Well, maybe not the same way you told me.”

“I still don’t see the problem with how I told you.”

“Okay, we’re not arguing about this again.”

“Precisely. Because I am correct and you can’t handle it.”

“Hey I-!”

“Yo, what’s for dinner?” Tye shouted from his room.

“Do I look like your personal chef?” Onawa yelled back.

Tye didn’t respond, Roy raised an eyebrow in anticipation.

“...steak.” Onawa said after awhile. “But remember Guy and Cat will be here, so you better not-“

“Yeah, yeah, yeah.” Tye walked out of his room, not entirely paying attention to his sister. “Don’t do anything dumb.”

“Good job, you remembered.” Onawa said sarcastically, before getting up and staring at the carpet, making sure it was straight. “Now get up, this isn’t right.”

“Honey, you’ve been cleaning for like, a week straight.” Roy sighed as he got up. “And it’s Guy, have you seen his house? I’m pretty sure he’s not gonna care if, dare I say it, the couch isn’t exactly one inch apart from the rug, and perfectly aligned with the coffee table.”

“I don’t care, I want it to be perfect.” Onawa said as she slightly moved the carpet.

“Your sisters crazy.” Roy whispered to Tye.

“Well, your wife’s crazy.” Tye mumbled back, just as the doorbell rang. Onawa shoved past the two men, opening the door quickly.

“Onawa! How are you?” Guy instantly wrapped her in a bear hug.

“Good.” Onawa smiled slightly, seeing Cat standing behind him. “Hi, Cat.”

“Guy, let the poor girl go.” Cat lightly smacked his arm.

“What’s for dinner?” He set her down, ruffling Tye’s hair as he passed him, going to the fridge and helping himself to a beer.

“What a gentleman.” Cat shook her head as she shut the door behind her. “How are you, dear?”

“Fine, how are the girls? I haven’t spoken to them in awhile.” Onawa asked as she led Cat to the living room.

“They’re good. Causing trouble as always.” Cat chuckled slightly.

“Well do you want some tea?”

“Please.” Cat nodded politely.

“Tye. Boil some water.” Onawa told him.

“Do I look like your butler?” Tye mumbled, everyone widening their eyes at his boldness, which quickly dissolved when he saw the look on his sisters face.

“Tye Longshadow I swear to everything that is holy I will-“

“On it, ma’am!” Tye ran to the kitchen, not wanting to hear the rest of the threat. Roy motioned for Guy to follow him to the table, where they started talking about...whatever it is guys talk about. Onawa didn’t know, nor care.

She was nervous the whole time as she chatted with Cat, wringing her hands together, glancing at the clock and tapping her foot. Cat noticed every time she would randomly take a deep breath, shift positions or bite her lip.

“Honey, is something wrong?” Cat stopped mid sentence. Onawa shook her head quickly, but obviously something wasn’t right. “Onawa, you can tell me.”

The guys took notice, Tye and Roy exchanging a knowing glance. Onawa motioned for them to go, so they excused themselves out to the porch to grill the steak. Guy walked over and sat beside Cat, so that they were across from Onawa.

“Uh...so, um...I have...news.” Onawa mumbled quietly, trying to calm her nerves. “It’s good, it really is...um, I just uh...I’m not sure if...um...”

“Yeah?” They both looked at her, not sure whether to be worried or not.

“Honey, drink some of that, you look ready to faint.” Cat pushed the mug of tea into her hands. “Now, take a deep breath.”

Onawa nodded and followed her instructions, taking a few sips of tea before breathing in slowly.

“Okay...so...here goes, uh...I’m...I’m pregnant.” Onawa said just above a whisper, knitting her eyebrows together in worry.

Both of them stared at her, expressionless and blank, which only worried Onawa more.

“Look, I know I’m kind of young, and I only got married a year ago, but-“

“Congratulations!” Guy hollered, immediately picking her up into another bear hug. “Oh my god! I can’t believe it!”

Onawa stiffened as he hugged her, shocked at his (very aggressive) approval. She looked down at Cat, who was now crying. Onawa slipped out of Guy’s grasp and as soon as she did Cat wrapped her in a much gentler hug. Onawa started crying too, partly from the hormones and partly from relief and happiness.

“Roy! You son of a bitch, you’re gonna be a dad?!” Guy rushed outside, and you could hear Roy gasping for air from the tight hug he received. “This is so cool! Don’t you worry your pretty little head about it, I will teach you everything.”

“As much as I love him and Olive and Levi, don’t listen to a word of advice that man gives you.” Cat giggled through tears.

“When have I ever?” Onawa grinned, pulling away to look at her. “Cat, I don’t know what to do. I don’t even know how to hold a baby properly, I’ve never even held one!”

“Oh, sweetie, don’t worry, I’m gonna help you.” Cat rubbed her shoulder to comfort her. “You can call me anytime, and I mean it. Do you need money? We’ll go shopping, okay? I’ll show you everything you need. When’s your next doctors appointment? If you need someone to come with you, you can call me anytime.”

“Thank you.” Onawa wiped her eyes, trying to compose herself. “I’d hate to take you up on that offer but we might need some financial help-“

“Don’t you worry about that at all, I have more than enough.” Cat shook her head.

“How do you ladies want your steak?” Roy poked his head in.

“Rare.” Onawa wiped her face. “And don’t burn it this time, Roy Harper. You understand?”

“I told you, that was because-“

“Excuse me?”

“I mean, yes ma’am.” Roy nodded. “Catrina?”

“Medium rare, please.” Cat stifled a laugh at Roy’s fear of his wife.

“Guy, lower the heat a little, we can’t risk any burning.” Roy said as soon as he went back outside.

“Cat? Can I ask a dumb question?”

“Sweetie, there aren’t any dumb questions.”

“I’m gonna get stretch marks, aren’t I?”

“Well...yeah, sweet-“

“Roy! I hate you!” Onawa whipped around towards the porch.

“I know, honey.” Roy nodded.

“I’m calling Amias and Sawyer! Maybe they can help me fix the problem you made!”

“Yes, honey.”

[lifestylejournaling]

Masterlist of Lifestyle Journal Ideas

I was going to post images with each listing, but 100 pictures on one Tumblr post was quite a task. So, if you’d like to see examples of any of these, I am adding them to my Pinterest Board which can be found [here].

1. Books To Read- Color them in as you go! Or make a fun list of them and check them off one at a time. 

2. All About Me- Make doodles of things you love, add quotes, draw yourself!

3. Future Log- There are so many ways to make this page. Please do some research to see which would work best for you

4. Movies To Watch- Pretty self-explanatory, but there are many ways to do this page too

5. Skills To Learn- Jot down all the things you want to learn

6. Important Numbers and Addresses- In case of emergency of course. Also, be careful what you put in this part for your own privacy reasons

7. Year In Pixels- Honestly, one of my favorite pages

8. Fonts, Banners, and Frame Ideas- For practice and to choose from when you are having trouble being creative

9. Snail Mail Log- Keeping a list of people who you want to send letters to

10. Savings Tracker- It’s always fun to see how much you have saved up

11. TV Series Tracker- Keep track of all the shows you still need to binge

12. Monthly Challenges- I know I haven’t been helpful with this lately, but you can always search for challenges on my page

13. Music Playlists- A list of songs that describe you, your goals, things you love, etc. 

14. Timeline of Your Life- This was hard for me to make. My life isn’t all that exciting

15. Inspiration Page- Fill it with quotes, pictures, memories, etc. 

16. Self-Care List/Ideas- I posted many lists like this on my Pinterest if you want more ideas

17. Monthly/Yearly Memories- Look back on all the good and bad things that you’ve gotten over and endured. 

18. Sleep Tracker- See how many hours you get each night. This also works well when paired with number 7. 

19. Me Time Log- Keep track of how many hours you spend with yourself. We all need to learn to love on ourselves a little more. 

20. Tiny Adventures- Go out of your comfort zone and go on some tiny adventures like reading in public, talking to a stranger, giving people compliments, etc. 

21. Word Tracker- For those who are writers who like to procrastinate

22. Daily To-Do List- This can be done on your weekly pages or you can make a page specifically for daily sticky notes. 

23. Blog Post Ideas- Got an idea, but you’re not at your computer or have what you need for your post? WRITE IT DOWN

24. Fitness Log- Keep track of how much and when you work out or stretch or do yoga or and of those fun physical activities. 

25. Food Log- If you’re trying to lose weight or just get healthy or just want to track your food intake for fun, this is for you! 

26. Meal Prep- I love how cute and helpful these pages can be. 

27. Gift Lists- Ever see something and say to yourself, “Man, ____ would really like that”? Keep a list of things people would like so that you don’t worry about it when it comes to holiday time or birthdays. 

28. Grocery Lists- Every time I go shopping, I forget something because I didn’t write it down. 

29. Goals- Oh, yes! It’s 2018. We need some goals. Monthly, weekly, daily, YEARLY. Just get some goals and aim for them. 

30. Recipes To Try- I see nice recipes all the time on Facebook, but I never think about them again after I keep scrolling. It’s bad. 

31. Daily Affirmations- Give yourself some compliments and some emotional support

32. Business Plan- Make yourself a good businesswoman or businessman or businessperson in 2018. You got this. 

33. Birthdays- Keep track of all those important people in your life that need to be remembered on their special day. 

34. Work Hour Log- Sometimes we don’t keep track of all the things we get paid for. Actual work, babysitting, photography jobs, writing jobs, pet sitting, house sitting, etc. 

35. Wishlists- Not so you can #treatyourself, but so that you can make note of things you really want. 

36. Gratitude Log- It’s always good to have a moment of gratitude with yourself. Make it a monthly challenge if you need to!

37. Quotes- Your own, friend quotes, celebrity quotes, author quotes, and lyrics. 

38. Illustrations and Doodles- Doodling helps you keep your mind fresh and ready to react quickly to situations. 

39. Jokes- Your own, ones you heard, ones you read, etc. 

40. New Discoveries and Interesting Facts- Find a new interesting fact? How about that lemonade is basically Sprite in almost any other country than America?

41. Travel Log- Places you want to go! There are so many ways to do this, so look up different versions before starting!

42. Family and Friend Favorites- Their favorite colors, animals, stores, places, hobbies, etc. 

43. DIY Projects- Things you want to try out someday. 

44. Chore List- Keep track of when you do your chores so that your house doesn’t become disgusting or dusty. 

45. Bucketlist- What do you want to do before graduation, moving out, marriage, having kids, etc. 

46. Story Ideas- I always come up with story ideas and then when I sit down to write them, I blank. 

47. Period Log- For people with periods that have many PMS symptoms or even PMDD symptoms. This is a great way to show your doctor all of the things you go through each cycle. 

48. Words That Make You Happy- Silly words, ugly words, words that are fun to say, etc. 

49. Things That Make You Happy- People, places, and things. 

50. Monthly Habits- Water intake, cleaning, bathing, exercising, reading, etc. 

51. Story Titles- This can be titles for books, short stories, poems, or just nice sounding titles for anything. 

52. Made Up Words- I make myself laugh with all the words I make up on the daily. 

53. Follower Counter- This page keeps me inspired to keep doing what I love. 

54. Index- Always have an index for easy access to the pages you want to find. 

55. Icons- Sometimes we need to have icons to make our pages pretty. Sometimes we make too many icons and never use them (me). 

56. Packing List- For those who travel often or stay at friends’ houses more than our own, it’s good not to forget the things we need. 

57. Morning Routines- Our bodies need routines for mornings to get us ready for the day. 

58. Nightly Routines- Our bodies need routines for nights to prepare us for sleep. (see what I did there?)

59. Weight Tracker- If you’re struggling with your weight, keep a chart tracker or add your daily weight to your calendar. 

60. Pen Test Page- If you get new pens, highlighters, or markers, its best to test them out before using them. 

61. Brain Dump- Sometimes we just need to jot down ideas or thoughts. It’s okay if they don’t make sense. 

62. Spending Log- Keep track of what you spend because you might need that someday. 

63. Water Tracker- HYDRATE

64. Habit Tracker Reward System- This is something I came up with myself, so if you have questions, message me!

65. Name Lists (For Babies and Stories)- Keep a list of cool names for characters or even future babies. 

66. Looking Forward To...- Birthdays, holidays, raises, pay days, vacations, etc. 

67. Compliment Lists- Make a list of your go-to compliments, your favorite ones people have given you, etc. 

68. Level 10 Life- Please look up what this is before jumping into it!

69. Pet Care Log- Keep track of how much you do with your pets. Walks, play time, park time, play dates, baths, etc. 

70. Achievements- What have you done that you are proud of?

71. Weekly Log- Keep track of your week. This is one of the most used pages in any bullet journal honestly. 

72. Monthly Log- Another overly used page in any bullet journal. Very important. 

73. Daily Log- I don’t do this too often, but I know it helps others who really need a whole page for each day. 

74. Bill Tracker- This was fun to make and something I will be using now

75. Income Tracker- How much and how frequently do you get paid?

76. Deadline Page- Prepare yourself for things that you need to get done. Do not procrastinate this year!

77. Vocabulary Practice- Sometimes we just need to educate ourselves on our own terms. (and with our own terms. Anyone? Anyone?)

78. Doctor Appointment Log- If you don’t want to add them to your calendar or they are too far out to add to the calendar you’re using. 

79. Username and Password List- Be careful with this page. If someone finds your bullet journal, this could be bad. 

80. Monthly Cover Page- These are so cute! I just started doing them, but they make my journal so artsy and pretty. 

81. Dream Log- This is a fun one. Track your dreams. This would be good to line up with how many hours you get as well. 

82. Favorites List- What are YOUR favorites? Movies, snacks, drinks, subjects, people, colors, animals, etc. 

83. Habits To Break- Do you bite your nails? Quote The Office too much? Throw clothes into piles on your floor? STOP THAT. 

84. Small Things That Matter- Puppies, getting up in the morning, pennies, smiling at yourself, laughter, etc. Remind yourself that there is good in the world. 

85. Things To Sell- Get rid of the things you don’t need. Or make things to sell! Be prosperous this year. 

86. School Schedule- High school and college students really need this. Even teachers do too. Make a chart of your classes, room numbers, buildings, and times.

87. House Projects- Things that need fixing or improvements around the house. 

88. Day Trip Ideas- Fun places to go when you have the time. 

89. Things I Am Bad At- It’s okay to admit our shortcomings and work on them. Or just accept them for what they are. 

90. Resolutions- YES! Make yourself this better this year. Be the best you. 

91. Crochet/Knit Log- When making a blanket, small items, or just keeping track of your improvements in your skill. 

92. Future Planning- Make a list of the things you want in your future and how you plan on getting them. 

93. Quirk List- Ever notice you do small little weird things? Make a list to appreciate who you are. 

94. Who Borrowed What- Sometimes people borrow things and you forget until you need it again. By then, they threw it out or gave it to someone else. 

95. Six Word Stories- Get those creative juices pumping. 

96. Love Yourself- Write down all the things you love about yourself. Appreciate yourself. 

97. Paying It Back- Honestly, a good page to have, but it doesn’t get much attention from me. 

98. Childhood Dreams- We should always try to look back on what we thought we wanted

99. Good Deed Ideas- Ever think “wow, wouldn’t it be great if I could _____”?

100. Mind Mapping- There are a few reasons I really enjoy this, but it really helps me get my thoughts and ideas out more easily

[im-not-a-what]

The Witch Doctor on Main Street, Ch. 5

Title: The Witch Doctor on Main Street

Summary: Mr. Gold runs Storybrooke’s herbal shop. He sells remedies that some people consider miraculous, although he’s earned suspicion from florist Moe French and distrust from professionals like Dr. Whale. When Moe’s daughter Belle moves into town, she gets caught up in the rivalries and mysteries surrounding Gold’s line of work. Little do any of them know the true power of Gold’s “magic touch.” But a warlock making herbal medicine may not be the only extraordinary secret hiding in Storybrooke.

Rating: G

Genre: Friendship, drama, modern-day with magic AU

Chapter: Mystery and Medicine [1] [2] [3] [4]

AO3 link

As a balmy wind fluffed her skirt and hair, and Belle was forced to push the spirited tresses out of her face, her eye was drawn across the street. The sign from Mr. Gold’s shop winked with the morning sun. The morning beginning her second week in Storybrooke, and she’d yet to properly visit. Wisdom had begged her to give the Golds space after the awkward aftermath of the school fight. Her instincts had pinched and kicked her for not taking steps to offer friendship, especially after something like that.

You barely know him, wisdom reminded her. You don’t really know him at all!

That itch in her gut, the one that inspired her to run toward the first sign of something strange and exciting, gave a staunch retort: All the more reason to learn more about him. He’s your work neighbor. He could be your new boss. You better check out his shop to make sure it’s on the up and up. If the voice had a face, it would’ve winked.

Belle gave little credence to the notion that Mr. Gold was anything besides the owner of an herbal shop and the father of a smart, sensitive, loyal teenage boy. But both individuals had become fixed figures of interest since her arrival in town, and she’d resolved to get to know them bit by bit. Well, she’d held off for a whole week. That was plenty of restraint. Perhaps too much.

All that said, action had to wait a little longer. She still had a library to help run. So in she went, leaving the playful breeze and the twinkling shop sign behind.

Michael Prentice had gradually ceded the physical duties of library maintenance to Belle throughout the week. Today, he remained nestled in the staff office organizing paperwork. Since the library had plenty of quiet troughs in attendance, Belle gladly occupied herself with not just shelving books and refining the online catalogue, but familiarizing herself with the library’s layout. She wanted to know it as well as herself. It would facilitate directing visitors to any desired section and subsection. She wanted that knowledge for her own leisurely browsing, too. She also wanted to know why the library had an elevator. Yes, there was a second floor; it housed a loft that Michael once occupied, but he’d moved out when he could afford his own house. Now it was an empty cluster of rooms right under the clock tower—a beacon of cosmic orderliness. The library kept knowledge, the clock kept time. A cozy partnership.

But there was a third facet of this building Belle could not reach and fit like a puzzle piece into the library’s arrangement. The elevator had a button for ‘2’, the floor with the apartment, and a button for ‘B’, surely the basement. When she hit it, though, the button stayed unlit. The elevator failed to budge. Her agitated gray cells insisted that another entrance to the basement existed. She hunted along the walls of the library for a door to a staircase heading below ground. None turned up. One stairwell granted access to the upper levels, none down. That was a bit barmy, wasn’t it?

The mystery nearly distracted her from the self-appointed visit to the herbal shop until lunchtime came. On her way to the staff office to ask Michael about the basement, she checked her wristwatch. It was almost 12:30. If she wanted to make the trip to both Gold’s shop and Granny’s diner, she had to head out now!

After a short, indecisive dance between the staff office and the library entrance, Belle hustled out the door and tucked away the basement question.

She had enough sense, despite her haste, to check both ways before crossing the street. Her heart giddily jumped at the OPEN sign and the sight through the window of the herbal shop’s door. It was a shadowy space, illuminated more by shards of sunlight than the two table lamps and the one overhead light. Half the windows had closed blinds. As soon as she opened the door, a bell rang above her and the mixed aromas of herbs, scented wax, yarn, and something faint, smoky and acrid seeped into her nose. A little hesitation reined her first steps thanks to the absence of the shop owner. The OPEN sign was facing out, so Belle deemed it acceptable to go in. Maybe Mr. Gold had popped out for lunch. Maybe she should’ve gone to Granny’s first, after all.

She seized the private opportunity to imbibe the setting. Even in minimal light, she could observe the full shelves. One side was designated for the kinds of bottles someone would see at a pharmacy. She recognized maybe a third of the brands. In fact, most of the bottles didn’t have a brand name or symbol at all. The labels looked professional, though. She selected a brown bottle at random and turned it a complete 360. Its label had a golden shine with black, engraved printing. The list of ingredients was meticulously honest (one would hope so), so the only mystery was where it came from. Then Belle noticed in the upper left-hand corner, almost hiding thanks to its slightly darker shade of gold, a small silhouette of a spinning wheel. She turned to the table and shelves displaying knitting and crochet kits, along with scarves, hats, socks. A closer inspection of the table and shelves revealed sewing kits, equipped with bobbins of the most handsome-looking thread she’d ever seen. She had no expertise in thread or yarn quality, but their beauty brushed away the idea of knitting and mending clothes as menial activities. They were like a set of paints and brushes waiting for someone to pick them up and make art.

Distant footsteps overlaid her own high-heel taps as she returned to the room’s center. The steps came from behind a curtain at the back of the showroom. The russet, paisley fabric fluttered, then was pushed aside. Hence emerged the previously elusive Mr. Gold.

“Miss French,” he drawled in what she hazily guessed to be a Scottish accent, “I didn’t expect it to be you.”

For a panicked moment, Belle felt like an intruder. A silly response to entering a store. She blamed his dark suit, the casual calm with which he moved into the room, and the trace of surprise in his face and voice. They impressed on her the sense that this was his special domain, more personal to him than his own home, and that her visit had not been anticipated. Again, quite silly. He’d offered her a job. Had he doubted her interest? Maybe she’d waited too long to talk to him.

“No?” Belle bucked up against bashfulness. “I hope you don’t feel I’ve been avoiding you.”

“Not at all. I imagine you’ve been preoccupied. How’ve you been settling in?”

“Quite well. The library has been slow. That’s made getting the hang of it easy.” The basement question poked its head from the “ask later” pocket of her mind. Belle pushed it back—as if Mr. Gold could answer it. “How’s Neal?”

“He’s enjoying a little spell of grounding.” Gold’s lips pulled up in a wry slant.

“Oh dear. Is he suffering horribly? Waxing your car? Scrubbing the shop floors?”

“Scrubbing, no. I’m picking him up in a couple hours so he can sweep and dust.”

Belle laughed sympathetically. “Poor boy.”

Gold shook his head. “He practically begged for a punishment. He berated himself over the fight.”

Her face kindly scrunched as she reflected with compassionate interest. “If he was protecting his friend, I can understand why he felt compelled to act. But I shouldn’t be advocating violence. At least, not where teenage boys are concerned.”

He shrugged, his smile warmer even in the dim light. “You can advocate it if you wish. Neal will do what he sees as right. That’s how he is.”

Belle’s smile pushed up her cheeks so that her eyes sweetly squinted. “You’re quite lucky.”

“That I am.” Gold carefully slid out from behind the counter, cane in hand. “Is that why you’re here? To congratulate me? Or are you here about the job?”

“I could do both.” Belle rushed another glimpse around the shop. “You’re sure you need someone to clean? It looks well kept.”

“That’s because Neal already started his punishment. Just for a week. After that, he’ll be back to spending quality time with friends instead of his old man.”

“So, if I work for you, I’d take over Neal’s temporary duties.”

“Essentially. Have you made a decision?”

It felt like a “looking a gift horse in the mouth” moment. There was no guarantee she’d find another job in short order. Moreover, working for Mr. Gold could help her forge a stronger relationship with her mysterious rescuer and his endearing son. By presumed extension, she’d also get to know more people in town, such as Gold’s clients and acquaintances. Sure, Magdalene Vincent looked imposing, and Lily wasn’t an extraverted butterfly of a girl. Those were feeble reasons not to try befriending them as well.

The one condition that barred an immediate acceptance was informed consent. Belle wanted to know as much as could be reasonably expected about the man and what kind of boss he would be.

“Well,” she said, drawing out the word, “I’d need an idea of what’s in the shop, since I might move things around while I’m cleaning. I don’t want to misplace any merchandise.”

A narrow, knowing edge in his gaze, Gold stepped closer. “Is that all? Or did your father tell you some tall tales about my wares?”

Belle puckered her lips. The question came out slick, almost joking, yet with a sardonic aftertaste. “He hasn’t told me much about anyone or their wares. He might think working as a cleaner is beneath me after all the money we sank into my education. When I last mentioned it, he got terse.”

The suggestion behind Gold’s question brought up a worthy concern. Belle held her spot while minding how much space there was between her and him. “Is there something I should know about you and my father?”

“Only that your father doesn’t like me, which hasn’t elevated my opinion of him.”

“Why would he tell ‘tall tales’ about your shop?”

Gold waved his hand toward the shelves upon shelves of medicinal jars and bottles. “This is not exactly your convention apothecary. You’ll meet more people who deem my business suspect. Medical professionals, mostly. If that’s why you’re hesitant about the job, I understand.”

Belle, put at transient ease, drifted to the shelves and retrieved the bottle--iron supplements—she’d examined earlier. The same bottle where she noticed the spinning wheel label. “I can see why people would prefer buying from the pharmacy. The pharmacy has to sell FDA-approved products.” After another eyeful of the bottle, she looked at Gold. “What is your policy on refunds?”

“I offer them, of course, if the purchase has unexpected negative side-effects. However, if you ask my regular clients about their experiences, you’ll hear little dissatisfaction. Among my detractors who’ve never set foot in here, it’s a different story.”

“Oh? I hope I’ll know who’s a trustworthy source.” Straight away she scolded herself. Not the best attitude to have when talking to a potential employer. It wasn’t going to be part of her cleaning duties to understand his health products. But working for him would mean condoning his business practices, right? She had to keep her own accountability in mind.

Gold scoffed. “Don’t expect many to sing my praises. I have several remedies for conditions that could cause embarrassment if they became public knowledge. But clients keep coming back. If my products were faulty, I’d have gone out of business long ago.”

Belle placed the bottle in its assigned spot. Facing him, she put a consciously friendly spin on the next question. This wasn’t supposed to be an interrogation. “How long have you been in business?”

“I inherited the shop from my aunt,” he said.

“Oh! A family business!” That couldn’t assuage all her concerns. But surely the shop’s longevity partly certified its value to the community. “Will Neal inherit it someday?”

“No idea. I’d like him to. He might want to see more of the world before tying himself down.”

“I was the same way at his age. I still am a little.” She covered the somber note in the remark by leaning a hand on the lowest shelf and cocking her head in a prying and inviting manner. “Is there anything you want to ask about me?”

Gold angled his head, not as acutely or coyly. “You mentioned studying nursing before you switched to library sciences. Why the change?”

Belle folded in her lips. Her downturned eyes hid behind lowered eyelids. Then she gathered a breath of courage. “I wanted a career where I knew I would be helping people day to day, and one where I would be mentally stimulated. Nursing sounded perfect. I didn’t expect it to overwhelm me the way it did. Sleepless nights studying for exams, clinic hours that worked my nerves raw. A lot of people warned me that I had to numb myself to a point, or I’d have a nervous breakdown. I could handle the work load on a part-time basis, but the long term? I don’t think I could’ve been happy or been the best caretaker I had the potential to be. I wish it’d been different. What better way to make a real difference in people’s lives? But I couldn’t make it work. I had to make a switch for my own health.”

Every word was a scratch from sandpaper. By the end of her confession, she felt a bit sore and exposed. She even rubbed one of her arms to chase off the irritated sensation, achieving no relief. Her gaze had lifted off the floor to a shelf across the room and fixed on that while she spoke. Now, her words spent, she had to look at Mr. Gold.

He veiled any feelings with professional composure. However, Belle dared to interpret the gentle line of his mouth, the small furrow in his brow, and the glance at his shoes as signs of understanding, perhaps empathy.

“It is an immense responsibility,” he half-said, half-whispered, “having other people’s lives in your hands. It’s nothing to take lightly. You did what you had to do.”

The words didn’t coddle, which Belle appreciated. Their honesty didn’t just concern her history and career choices, either.

She looked behind and next to her at the pill bottles, lotions, soaps, candles, teas, then across the way at the knitted clothing, yarns and threads. A new light fell on them.

“You really try to help people,” she said.

Gold blinked and breathed slowly. “I do what I can.”

Belle nodded. “Then I’d like to help you help people.”

She hadn’t expected the abrupt puzzlement that seized his face. It faded quickly enough, giving room to a hesitant smile and an extended hand. “Then we have an arrangement, Miss French.”

Her own smile growing, she took his hand. “That we do, Mr. Gold.”