The Taxonomy of the Common North American Donut, aka I did this instead of sleeping

           Last night, my sister raised the subject of the 1957 Spaghetti Tree Harvest Documentary, recalling that this was the first time millions of British viewers learned the origins of the popular and, at the time, somewhat exotic dish. It occurred to me that many modern Americans also remain unaware of the origins of common foodstuffs. For example, kohlrabi, broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, and a multitude of other plants are genetically identical, but selectively bred over the centuries to express wildly different traits. In this essay, I will discuss the taxonomy of another formerly wild species: the common North American Donut.

           The history of the Donut can be traced back to the city of Krakow, Poland, in the seventeenth century, when a parasite descended from yeast fungi laid waste to Krakow’s grain fields. The Jewish farmers of Krakow discovered that they could conserve the nutrients of the afflicted grain by harvesting the mature fruiting bodies of the fungus, and thus the Bagel was born.

           Bagels proved to be a Godsend for the hungry mouths of Krakow, and in following centuries the practice of Bagel cultivation spread across Europe, the Middle East, and eventually the Americas. However, the True Donut emerged relatively recently, after the fungus encountered the sugar cane fields of the American South in the mid-nineteenth century. Another cultivar, the Jelly Donut, developed convergently when the fungus infected the sugar beet fields farther north.

            The confections rose in popularity almost overnight, but the fruits spoil quickly once harvested and thus cannot be shipped over long distances. Now, at this point in history, Donuts were also still closely related to their Bagel cousins, manifesting as one or more rings on each grain of wheat, the most common grain grown in the United  States. However, only one or two fruiting bodies per plant actually reached maturity, which negatively affected the cost-benefit ratio of growing the delicacy. Nevertheless, demand for Donuts remained high in their native regions, so the crop persevered.

           It is interesting to note that, like some other fungi, the Bagel Fungus expresses more than one thousand distinct sexes which can combine in a variety of ways for astonishing results. Thus, over the decades many regional cultivars were developed, such as the Bavarian Cream and other “filled” Donuts. The Donut Hole derives from a fasciation of the True Donut.

           I must mention at this point that there exist other types of “Donuts” such as the Apple Crumble and the Cruller. However, these are not True Donuts; rather, they are man-made pastries created in parts of the country where True Donut production was impossible. Today, of course, modern technology has provided us with climate-controlled environments in which we can grow the various cultivars of Donuts virtually anywhere in the nation. The Apple Crumble and the Cruller remain popular, though, and can commonly be found anywhere True Donuts are sold.

           In 1941, Lester Borchardt of the General Mills Company developed a method of harvesting and drying the immature fruiting bodies, which the company introduced to mass markets as the breakfast “cereal” Cheerioats, which we know today as Cheerios. Further progress has been made in the GMO sector with the development of the Strawberry Shortcake Donut, an artificial hybrid of the Jelly and Vanilla Cream varieties. GMO Donut production is still in its infancy, however, and the Strawberry Shortcake Donut is available only in limited quantities from certain sellers.

           Another interesting development of uncertain origin is the Topped Donut, such as the Boston Cream, which is a Filled Donut with an unusual companion. The chocolate-flavored topping is in fact yet another type of fungus in the slime mold family. Theories abound as to how these two fungi came together, but the accepted version is that the Chocolate Slime Mold originated in the cocoa trees of Central and South America. As a slime mold, the Chocolate Slime Mold seems to possess some awareness both of the presence of food (specifically, the True Donut, which makes the Chocolate Slime Mold a type of hyperparasite) and of impending danger. Additionally, the Chocolate Slime Mold has a slime mold’s capacity for movement, which is the reason it inevitably tries to slip away when it senses its host Donut being eaten.

           In conclusion, large-scale production of the various cultivars of the True Donut has become popular all over the world. Some producers are even jealously guarded by law enforcement personnel, a remarkable form of symbiosis between fungus and mammal. The Bagel remains a dietary staple, of course, but the True Donut retains its gastronomical niche through careful human cultivation, and it is likely that both will survive well into the next century.

Hey r/KetoFoodies! I recently stumbled upon a culinary gem that I couldn't wait to share with you all: the book "Crunchy Keto Air Fryer Delight." If you're a fan of scrumptious low-carb recipes and the convenience of an air fryer, this is the perfect match made in keto heaven.

In this amazing cookbook, keto expert and food enthusiast Chef Keto Crunch takes us on a flavor-packed journey through the world of air frying. Filled with over 350 unique and mouthwatering recipes, you'll discover guilt-free, crispy goodness that will satisfy your cravings while keeping your macros in check.

What sets this book apart is the creativity Chef Keto Crunch brings to the table. From zesty lemon-pepper wings to crunchy coconut shrimp, you'll find a wide range of appetizers and snacks that will make your taste buds sing. And fear not, main dishes are also covered with the likes of juicy bacon-wrapped meatloaf and savory parmesan-crusted chicken—no boring dinners here!

But that's not all! The book even offers delectable vegetarian and vegan options that will surely impress even the most dedicated meat-eaters. Prepare to be blown away by the crispy Brussels sprouts and garlic-infused cauliflower bites that are sure to become crowd favorites.

As a bonus, "Crunchy Keto Air Fryer Delight" doesn't limit itself to just recipes. Chef Keto Crunch shares valuable tips and techniques to help you achieve the perfect crunch every time. Say goodbye to soggy fries or unevenly cooked foods; this book has got you covered with its expert advice and foolproof instructions.

What I love most about this book is its focus on vibrant flavors and wholesome ingredients. Chef Keto Crunch emphasizes the use of fresh herbs, spices, and quality oils to enhance the taste and nutritional value of each dish. This combination of great taste and health-consciousness is truly a win-win for any keto dieter or food enthusiast.

So, fellow keto lovers, buckle up and get ready to soar to new heights with the "Crunchy Keto Air Fryer Delight." It's a game-changer when it comes to satisfying your cravings while staying true to your low-carb lifestyle. Grab your aprons, preheat your air fryers, and let's embark on a crunchy, keto adventure together!

I am posting this for accountability, as a reminder to myself.

Growing up, I was a picky eater. It was difficult to cajole me into eating any vegetables, and even when I'd try one, I would say it made me feel sick and then go back to not eating it. So picky!

As an adult, and especially in the past ten years, I've become more adventurous and deliberately more "grown-up" about the foods I try and the foods I like. I've discovered that I actually like a lot of vegetables that I used to turn up my nose at, like broccoli, zucchini, and spinach!

I've also discovered, though, that while there are some foods I'm still just "picky" about (I'm simply not sold on the taste of eggplant, mushrooms, or cauliflower), there are other foods that I actually for real can't eat.

I have known for a while that I'm intolerant to cabbage and anything cabbage-like (bok choy, brussels sprouts), of the "physically incapable of swallowing it" variety.

And the juice of raw tomatoes and bell peppers makes me feel sick, even though I LIKE tomatoes now (I love them in soups, when they've been cooked enough that the juice doesn't affect me).

And, okay, I'm "mildly intolerant" to spinach, meaning if I eat more than an arbitrarily small amount in a sitting I might throw it up or come close, which is a pain because I really like spinach now, especially raw in a salad or cooked in dough like spanakopita or spinach bourekas.

And, all right, recently I've discovered another mild intolerance to "dark greens" - more than an arbitrarily small amount of things like asparagus, or cucumber or zucchini with the peel on, and I'll suddenly experience the "physically unable to swallow" that I know from my cabbage intolerance.

And then today, proud of my new salad eating habits, I told my mom I would try the (lettuce plus dressing) salad she had made, and she served me a big bowlful. I'm not intolerant to lettuce, I thought in my hubris. Then just past halfway through the very delicious salad, I started gagging violently and couldn't eat more.

So anyway, turns out I'm mildly intolerant to ALL green vegetables (plus tomatoes and bell peppers).

I'm probably going to keep up with the "I'm ideologically opposed to eating salad" line because in my experience only people like my fiancee who have a personal experience of niche / weirdly specific allergies or intolerances will believe you when you say "I'm intolerant to basically all vegetables" and, also in my experience, people are a lot more tolerant of someone giving a funny quip acknowledging her picky eating than of a grown adult who can't even admit to just being picky about vegetables. But I'm writing this to remind myself so I'll know, and feel vindicated, that the vast majority of vegetables that I refuse to eat, or only eat in minuscule quantities or only when overcooked, are not because of baseless picky eating but from genuine for real eating intolerance.

Hey Nadie🥺 I can’t believe I just discovered your blog recently but congrats on your milestone and I was wondering if I could take part in your event hehe 🥰🥰

My fave trope is mutual pining or friends to lovers, my mbti is ENFP-T, I am a Sagittarius, my fave colour is Yellow, my love language is physical touch, my pronouns are she/her, I am 5’5, chubby, short curly brown hair, hazely brown eyes. I love to watch films and tv shows, i’m a really big geek, but also writing and I play a lot of sport (field hockey) in my free time! I tend to be pretty open minded about a lot of stuff so I don’t tend to dislike things unless i’ve tried them. But I guess I dislike brussel sprouts😂👀

i match you with…

— iwaizumi hajime ♡

he loves your face, literally the whole set, he can spend a lot of time staring at you as you talk, sometimes you think he's not paying attention but he is and when you smile he thinks it's like the sun. your personality is so amazing to him, like you trying to stay positive and willing to try new things, it's totally lovely. he loves watching you practice field hockey, it's not as common as football, volleyball or basketball, and that's why it's very exciting.

in free time you both really enjoy playing any sport, just you two, not the sport itself, it's more like playing the volleyball without dropping it or dodgeball matches, because at the end of the day he knows you'll be tired enough to stay on the couch or in bed watching something on tv, a time dedicated to hugs.

nadie’s 500 event: open ♡

so got to try brussel sprouts for the second time in my life the other day. The first timed i tried them was in a steamed veggie mix at a friends house as a child, tried them once, hated them, the mom was nice enough to go ‘fair enough at least you tried them’ but then again i did finish the other vegetables present so *shrugs*

anyway so i recently learned that brussel sprouts(and other notoriously bitter and/or bad tasting vegetables) are not as bad tasting as they were for our parents and grandparents, and that agriculture has been breeding better tasting vegetables, also that steaming or boiling brussel sprouts is the worst way to cook them

so me and my sister went and bought some vegetables ;Brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, asparagus, baby carrots, and red potatoes to mix with avocado oil, salt, pepper, spread on a cookie sheet, sprinkled with season salt, garlic, and onion, then baked in the oven until done, and have discovered that cooked this way, brussel sprouts are not bad if you don’t hate broccoli, which is one vegetable my sister and i have always enjoyed, especially steamed then drowned in butter, also my sister tried cauliglower the first time since childhood, and also liked it(i’ve known i like it in soup), and asparagus was new to me

overall i enjoyed it, my mom doesn’t like asparagus, my sister doesn’t like carrots, and if you don’t like something, don’t be afraid to at least try it again at a latter date, maybe cooked in a different way

The Authority of Money



During my recent trip to the U.S., I decided to play tourist and visit a few places that I had never been. One of the more interesting destinations was the Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago, Illinois.

    No matter how much it’s talked about in the news and politics, I really had no idea exactly what the Federal Reserve Bank does. I know its name is printed at the top of all of my Benjamin, but that was about the extent of my knowledge. With the help of a friend I’ve had for 40 years, I signed up to take the tour and get a glimpse behind the scenes of the place that money calls home. Knowing the amount of money that passes through the place and seeing the turn of the century style conjured up images of caper stories the whole time I was there. I couldn’t help but think  

“okay, if I was going to rob this place, how would I do it?”

 

The Guided Tour

While it was interesting to learn what the Federal Reserve Bank does, the real beauty of the visit was a special tour through some of the innards with a guide who knows trivia that spans centuries and literally trillions of dollars. Jerry, our tour guide, was a fascinating man who returned from the boredom of retirement to be a tour guide, talking guests through the museum.

    He wore a light green and white suit, looking like he too had been minted by the U.S. government decades ago. Over the course of the next hour or so, he shared background on the Fed, stories and more numbers than anyone should be able to recall.

In the main museum, we got to see a number of displays about the history of currency in the United States, including a couple of displays of One Million Dollars:

We also got to learn a bit about what the Federal Reserve Bank does in a video that was put together in-house – nice, but a bit dry. I’m sharing what I took away from it, which may be entirely inaccurate, due to my failing memory.

The Fed’s charter is to “oversee how monetary policy is implemented.” It comes down to three primary functions:

they oversee how payment systems work, so the way checks are cashed, the way credit card and online transactions take place;

 they are the regulators of banks in the U.S., so they’re the ones who go in and audit banks to make sure they’re not breaking any laws and

The most visible function is that they’re responsible for moving cash around.

    For most of us, that’s the fascinating part of what they do. Every day of the week, shipments of currency come from the United States mints to the Federal Reserve Bank. The Fed then ships that currency out to the banks that need it. While the larger bills are transported by armored car every day, the $1 bills are packed into unmarked semi-trailers and driven to the building to prepare them for distribution.

I guess it’s not much different from shipping a truckload of iPhones to a warehouse, but somehow it SEEMS riskier that they do that.

On the flip side of things, the Fed gets deliveries of cash from the banks, which is counted and bundled for re-distribution. This is also the step that includes pulling old and worn bills out of circulation. One of the most surprising things I saw was how little wear a bill needs for it to be taken out of circulation. Most of the bills in your wallet are probably not going to pass.

About $17 Million in currency is destroyed every day at the Chicago Fed, which is one of 12 Federal Reserve Banks. The Money Museum even gives you a small bag of shredded money as a souvenir, which contains the remnants of currency equal to about $370. One of the more interesting facts about this shredded currency is that until the mid 20th century, the shredded bills were burned, but because of the toxic chemicals used in the ink, they had to stop doing that.

 It’s now shipped off to special landfills for toxic materials. Kind of makes you worry about handling it every day, doesn’t it?

A Personal Tour

I had the pleasure of getting a more personal tour, including a trip to see the money sorting and counting machines (through a thick glass window, of course), but sadly the machines weren’t operating that day.

    Those functions are visible from an additional section of the Museum that was closed off in 2001, so not many people get to visit it.

    My other favorite part was looking at the high denomination currency that’s no longer in circulation. One display has a $10,000 bill in it, along with several other bills from the 200-ish years of American money printing. The 10k bills were printed until the 1940s and discontinued when it became apparent that virtually all bills above $1000 in denomination were being used for criminal purposes.

 Just over 300 of the bills survive, most of which are in the hands of collectors. About 9 years ago, one of them actually arrived at the Fed through normal banking channels! Someone had gotten hold of it (perhaps stored in a box in an attic somewhere), taken it to their local bank and deposited it. With a quick bit of research, they’d have discovered it was worth close to 10 times that to a collector.

    

I’d love to make a few suggestions to the guys at the Money Museum as improvements, but since this is solely for PR (admission is free), I’m sure they are limited in how much they invest in the tour. Although considering the constant saber-rattling in Congress about the Fed, maybe they could use a bit stronger PR push.

One of my biggest pet peeves with 90% of museums is that no one really thinks about photos. Placement of light fixtures to minimize glare, setting up obstruction free angles and allowing guests the chance to pose without impeding traffic are critical factors for any museum and most of them don’t think that through.

Re-open the closed section of the tour. Money counting and shredding is one of the more fascinating things that happens at the Fed and no one gets to see it. I get it. 9/11 happened. But the security checks and procedures keep out bank robbers, so I’m sure they can be effective for other people, too.

Tell some stories. Interactive displays are all well and good, but you’ve got an asset like Jerry who has hundreds of stories in his arsenal. I’m the only one who heard any of them. Everyone else just heard him introduce the video and rattle off a lot of facts and figures.

    

Stories = excitement. Spend a little money and create a new video to share some of these stories in the context of explaining what the Fed does.

All unsolicited advice, of course, but I found the place fascinating and woefully under-utilized. As an average tourist, there just wouldn’t be a lot to hold my interest without some upgrades.

A blog post by Mike Fraser, We are the outside-the-Box, professionals here to give you the best change, solutions and strategies to develop your business idea. I can take your dream and help you make it an attainable goal. Our life experience and formal education has led us to the following conclusions:

Everyone has an amazing idea. It’s the execution that gets the job done. We are your executioner.

Brussels sprouts do not taste that great, no matter what my mom says.

Our team is made of all A personalities. We don’t care who gets the credit – We just want to win.

You will not regret giving us the opportunity to facilitate, compose and engineer the growth of your business. A professional prepared business plan can not only help your start-up company to obtain venture capital, traditional loans but can also help to maximize the efficiency and profitability of your business.

An optimal business plan can be your road map to a successful business. We thrive on building relationships and take great pride in the company we keep.



The post The Authority of Money appeared first on Business Plan Ideas | Business Plan Steps.

via Business Plan Ideas | Business Plan Steps https://businessplanpro.pennistonemedia.com/2020/07/22/the-authority-of-money/

The Authority of Money



During my recent trip to the U.S., I decided to play tourist and visit a few places that I had never been. One of the more interesting destinations was the Money Museum at the Federal Reserve Bank in Chicago, Illinois.

    No matter how much it’s talked about in the news and politics, I really had no idea exactly what the Federal Reserve Bank does. I know its name is printed at the top of all of my Benjamin, but that was about the extent of my knowledge. With the help of a friend I’ve had for 40 years, I signed up to take the tour and get a glimpse behind the scenes of the place that money calls home. Knowing the amount of money that passes through the place and seeing the turn of the century style conjured up images of caper stories the whole time I was there. I couldn’t help but think  

“okay, if I was going to rob this place, how would I do it?”

 

The Guided Tour

While it was interesting to learn what the Federal Reserve Bank does, the real beauty of the visit was a special tour through some of the innards with a guide who knows trivia that spans centuries and literally trillions of dollars. Jerry, our tour guide, was a fascinating man who returned from the boredom of retirement to be a tour guide, talking guests through the museum.

    He wore a light green and white suit, looking like he too had been minted by the U.S. government decades ago. Over the course of the next hour or so, he shared background on the Fed, stories and more numbers than anyone should be able to recall.

In the main museum, we got to see a number of displays about the history of currency in the United States, including a couple of displays of One Million Dollars:

We also got to learn a bit about what the Federal Reserve Bank does in a video that was put together in-house – nice, but a bit dry. I’m sharing what I took away from it, which may be entirely inaccurate, due to my failing memory.

The Fed’s charter is to “oversee how monetary policy is implemented.” It comes down to three primary functions:

they oversee how payment systems work, so the way checks are cashed, the way credit card and online transactions take place;

 they are the regulators of banks in the U.S., so they’re the ones who go in and audit banks to make sure they’re not breaking any laws and

The most visible function is that they’re responsible for moving cash around.

    For most of us, that’s the fascinating part of what they do. Every day of the week, shipments of currency come from the United States mints to the Federal Reserve Bank. The Fed then ships that currency out to the banks that need it. While the larger bills are transported by armored car every day, the $1 bills are packed into unmarked semi-trailers and driven to the building to prepare them for distribution.

I guess it’s not much different from shipping a truckload of iPhones to a warehouse, but somehow it SEEMS riskier that they do that.

On the flip side of things, the Fed gets deliveries of cash from the banks, which is counted and bundled for re-distribution. This is also the step that includes pulling old and worn bills out of circulation. One of the most surprising things I saw was how little wear a bill needs for it to be taken out of circulation. Most of the bills in your wallet are probably not going to pass.

About $17 Million in currency is destroyed every day at the Chicago Fed, which is one of 12 Federal Reserve Banks. The Money Museum even gives you a small bag of shredded money as a souvenir, which contains the remnants of currency equal to about $370. One of the more interesting facts about this shredded currency is that until the mid 20th century, the shredded bills were burned, but because of the toxic chemicals used in the ink, they had to stop doing that.

 It’s now shipped off to special landfills for toxic materials. Kind of makes you worry about handling it every day, doesn’t it?

A Personal Tour

I had the pleasure of getting a more personal tour, including a trip to see the money sorting and counting machines (through a thick glass window, of course), but sadly the machines weren’t operating that day.

    Those functions are visible from an additional section of the Museum that was closed off in 2001, so not many people get to visit it.

    My other favorite part was looking at the high denomination currency that’s no longer in circulation. One display has a $10,000 bill in it, along with several other bills from the 200-ish years of American money printing. The 10k bills were printed until the 1940s and discontinued when it became apparent that virtually all bills above $1000 in denomination were being used for criminal purposes.

 Just over 300 of the bills survive, most of which are in the hands of collectors. About 9 years ago, one of them actually arrived at the Fed through normal banking channels! Someone had gotten hold of it (perhaps stored in a box in an attic somewhere), taken it to their local bank and deposited it. With a quick bit of research, they’d have discovered it was worth close to 10 times that to a collector.

    

I’d love to make a few suggestions to the guys at the Money Museum as improvements, but since this is solely for PR (admission is free), I’m sure they are limited in how much they invest in the tour. Although considering the constant saber-rattling in Congress about the Fed, maybe they could use a bit stronger PR push.

One of my biggest pet peeves with 90% of museums is that no one really thinks about photos. Placement of light fixtures to minimize glare, setting up obstruction free angles and allowing guests the chance to pose without impeding traffic are critical factors for any museum and most of them don’t think that through.

Re-open the closed section of the tour. Money counting and shredding is one of the more fascinating things that happens at the Fed and no one gets to see it. I get it. 9/11 happened. But the security checks and procedures keep out bank robbers, so I’m sure they can be effective for other people, too.

Tell some stories. Interactive displays are all well and good, but you’ve got an asset like Jerry who has hundreds of stories in his arsenal. I’m the only one who heard any of them. Everyone else just heard him introduce the video and rattle off a lot of facts and figures.

    

Stories = excitement. Spend a little money and create a new video to share some of these stories in the context of explaining what the Fed does.

All unsolicited advice, of course, but I found the place fascinating and woefully under-utilized. As an average tourist, there just wouldn’t be a lot to hold my interest without some upgrades.

A blog post by Mike Fraser, We are the outside-the-Box, professionals here to give you the best change, solutions and strategies to develop your business idea. I can take your dream and help you make it an attainable goal. Our life experience and formal education has led us to the following conclusions:

Everyone has an amazing idea. It’s the execution that gets the job done. We are your executioner.

Brussels sprouts do not taste that great, no matter what my mom says.

Our team is made of all A personalities. We don’t care who gets the credit – We just want to win.

You will not regret giving us the opportunity to facilitate, compose and engineer the growth of your business. A professional prepared business plan can not only help your start-up company to obtain venture capital, traditional loans but can also help to maximize the efficiency and profitability of your business.

An optimal business plan can be your road map to a successful business. We thrive on building relationships and take great pride in the company we keep.



The post The Authority of Money appeared first on Business Plan Ideas | Business Plan Steps.

via Business Plan Ideas | Business Plan Steps https://businessplanpro.pennistonemedia.com/2020/07/22/the-authority-of-money/ from Business Planning Solutions https://businessplanningsolutions.tumblr.com/post/624334495775080448

IkeSenNet OC Event (1)

IM LATE but its still today so im good

i made moodboards and i have more info for my children

for those of you who don’t know, i have 2 ocs in the ikesen universe: Asa and Jiwoo! 

I know I’ve already introduced them both, but they have evolved since I’ve shared information about them! (I’ll leave up the old posts, but will remove them from my masterlist)  ((minor tw for mention of self harm in asa’s bio))

Birth name: Ana Minodora Roşu*

Goes by: Asa Vermillion (roşu means red in Romanian)

Star sign: Virgo

Physical

Age (when blipped back): 23

Height: 5ft 5

Body shape: Endomorph (thICc, hour-glass)

Eye color: Hazel green (left), brown (right)

Skin tone: Pale child

Hair: Platinum blonde, wears loose (above her shoulders) or will tie back, has bangs

Scars: under lip from when she fell off of a swing, self harm scars on her chest and right arm

History

Asa (born Ana, changed upon moving to Japan) Vermillion was born in Romania in  and emigrated to the States while she was a few months old. It was always hard for her to adjust as Asa was often excluded from groups. She had a lonely childhood and struggled with body image in middle school and high school. Her relationship with her parents is tight, and was verbally/emotionally abused until she left for college. 

Despite leaving her self harm habits behind, Asa still had a hard time fitting in and finding her place. When she had the opportunity to travel to Japan, she jumped at the offer to see new things. 

In Japan, Asa met Jiwoo and made friends at the laboratory she interned in – she fell in love with the country and her work there, so after college, she accepted an internship with the company. 

Education: Completed college at Princeton, now working in Japan to further explore her love for chemical physics

Things that haunt her

~ Death/dying – is prone to overthinking about the world (string theory, subatomic particles, big bang, existence itself, etc) and results in panic attacks 

~ Her ex-girlfriend – was in a bad state of mind when they got together and let herself get walked on. Only recently left the relationship and is worried that her ex will stalk her

~ Not being good enough – Asa is a people pleaser and will try to show off a bit to look good/appreciated. Simply a conditioned response to living with her parents, but is easily influenced by what other people think of her. 

Things she’d never tell a soul

~ Continues to beat herself up mentally and only lets up after going to Sengoku (has other things to focus on)

~ Stole a toy from a girl in daycare one time and felt so guilty about it that she got the girl a new set 

~ Likes to fantasize about being skinny / beautiful like a model 

Personality

~ Outwardly shy to new people, easily trusting, opens up to friends and can be very bubbly, likes to make jokes, is easy to talk to, not good at comforting / would rather give advice, hates lying

~ Can be very stubborn, lingers on things more than she should, hates being wrong, puts off things / procrastinates

Likes and dislikes

Favourite colour: anything pastel

Favourite food: donuts, dumplings

Least favourite: brussel sprouts, raw fish, yogurt

Spicy food: No she is weak

Favourite smell: Citrus, cinnamon

Hopes for the future

Pre-Sengoku, Asa wants to accomplish something major – write a book or find a major discovery in the science field – anything that would solidify her name so that she is remembered. It is a silly thing, but she wants to be celebrated or to at least get back at her parents with her accomplishments. 

Post-Sengoku, Asa still wants to write and discover more, but she also wants to have a family (husband(s) and children). She loves the idea of having good friends and family, but is shy to suggest it. 

Relationships

Parents: Crina Vermillion (mother), Mihai Vermillion (father)

Siblings: None

Children: Etsuko Vermillion*, Ruxandra (Roxie) Tokugawa, Kokuro (Koku) Tokugawa, Luca Vermillion*

Current Partner(s): Kennyo, Ieyasu Tokugawa

Friends: Jiwoo Shin, Sonya Tsvetayeva ( @caitea-ward​‘s oc), Kaida Gates ( @mexicancarolina​‘s oc), Ieyasu, Shingen, Mitsunari 

Pet: cat named Michi

Unrequited love: well it was ieyasu but then i made it a poly :)

Enemies: none (at the moment)

*Asa x Kennyo children take Asa’s last name

.

.

.

.

Birth name: Jiwoo Shin

Goes by: Jiwoo Shin

Meaning of name: jiwoo has a lot of meanings will/purpose + universe 

Star sign: Gemeni

Physical

Age (when blipped back): 24

Height: 5ft 5

Body shape: Ectomorph (hourglass, skinny, doesnt have much assets-wise)

Eye color: Amber

Skin tone: In between pale and tan

Hair: long black hair, usually wears it down

Scars: one on her foot from stepping on coral as a child, (post Sengoku) is sliced across the collarbone 

History

Jiwoo is born to a rich Korean family – basically think Crazy Rich Asians. She is thrown into the spotlight at a young age and her parents use her to gain public attention because she is a very cute toddler. Because of the age gap between her brothers and her, they pay little attention to Jiwoo. However, she receives a good education. Jiwoo starts to slip in high school though, and claims that she can do whatever she wants with her parents’ help. 

They do not approve of her love for fashion, makeup, and filming, so they send her to Japan to try an internship (where she meets Asa. She also falls in love with the country and culture, drawing inspiration from the sights to influence what she wants to do with her life. Jiwoo decides to do fashion and modeling on the side and to pursue a hotel license. 

Education: Completed highschool and is planning on returning to college

Things that haunt her

~ Her brothers’ girlfriends would comment rude things about her, hurting her image and making her question how she looks

~ Post Sengoku: teasing Sonya too much – she realizes that she is just as catty as the rest of her extended family and hates that

Things she’d never tell a soul

~ Isn’t a virgin anymore ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

~ Secretly is jealous of Asa because of how smart she is. Jiwoo will never understand science or math the way Asa does

~ Splurges on clothes and has maxed out her cards before 

Personality

~ Quite extroverted, likes to overshare (but has good intentions), will protect her friends fiercely, sexual innuendos queen

~ Is quick to judge people, can be catty, has the tendency to over-tease and upset people, might give unwanted advice

Likes and dislikes

Favourite colour: any shade of pink

Favourite food: alcoholic things

Least favourite: kale 

Spicy food: YES

Favourite smell: Blossom

Hopes for the future

Pre-Sengoku, Jiwoo is still a bit unsure what she wants. She wishes to help her cousin in running a upscale hotel chain in Korea, but also wants to pursue fashion and film.

Post-Sengoku, ... well she comes back pregnant so.... She wants to raise her children right and give them the best life possible. Deep down, she’d do anything for them, even if it means sacrificing her own dreams. 

Relationships

Parents: Mi-Cha Shin (mother), Jiae Vermillion (father)

Siblings: Jihyun Shin (32), Jinsol Shin (29)

Children: Jihwan Mori, Jihun Mori

Current Partner(s): Motonari Mori

Friends: Asa Vermillsion, Sonya Tsvetayeva ( @caitea-ward​‘s oc), Kaida Gates ( @mexicancarolina​‘s oc), Kenshin, Shingen, Mitsuhide

Pet: (gifted by Motonari) two drawf Japanese flying squirrels named Bomi and Hae

Unrequited love: Kenshin

Enemies: hopefully not you

*Jiwoo keeps her maiden name after marrying Motonari

I haven’t made a personal post on my blog in like a million years so I just wanted to update y’all on what’s been happening in my life wassuppp

Okay, first of all: I have been much more active on here recently than I was for a while and I’ll probably stay regularly active now since I revamped my blog kind of and have organized it with tags a lot more?? 

For all my new girl fandom friends: hello and I love and cherish you all even though I haven’t been active in the twitter groupchat for a million years and also I completely abandoned my fanfics RIP sorry @ everyone who wanted me to update Hot for Teacher but if anyone would ever want to like adopt that fic and I could beta it, that would be something I’d be willing to discuss in case anyone would ever still be interested in that fic??

Personal life updates since last year:

I’ve made leaps and bounds with my mental health hell yeah!!! Panic attacks?? I don’t know her. Antidepressants? We’re bff’s now.

I also started teaching myself to play piano, have discovered a deep love of writing poetry about animals and nature, I’m finally submitting my original writing to literary journals, I have an internship with a literary journal, I got approved for an ESA cat because of my panic attacks, I cut out a couple toxic people from my life, I started eating slightly healthier, I discovered that I freakin’ love brussel sprouts and mangoes (not together though lol), I’ve lost almost 20lbs since the summer, I dyed my hair blonde, I got a tiny semi-colon tattoo, I’ve become so much more at peace with myself, and have cultivated an attitude of positivity, resilience, and personal growth through patience and self-forgiveness with help from a counselor and my amazing support system annnnnnnnnd I have a super cute, sweet, lovely, amazing girlfriend now so!!!?? Life is honestly so good!!!!! I’ve never been so grateful to be here and so excited about life in general and I’m just really happy?? Like genuinely happy. Like, I had a bad day yesterday in the middle of it and I was just able to turn it around by making time for some stuff I love and it was fine??? Anyway, ya girl is t h r i v i n g and I just wanted to share because I haven’t made any personal posts in a million years and usually when I did they were sad and I just wanted to reflect on how proud I am of myself for digging myself out of the trenches of despair the last few years, like I really feel like I’ve made it?? And also I just wanted to share how excited I am about life and how good I am feeling about everything!!!!!!

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Over the past few months I’ve really been making an effort to eat more fruits and vegetables, since if you left me to my own devices I would eat chicken, shrimp, fish, cheese, and beef all the time and probably die an early death due to clogged arteries and heart disease. Not kidding, the only vegetable I would eat before I started this deliberate initiative was beans, and the only other non-meat or fish source of protein I’d get was eggs. 

I swapped out regular rice for cauliflower rice, and made an effort to saute spinach as a side to my meals and squeeze lime onto it and eat it on the side. I bought a little handheld spiralizer that allows me to make quick zucchini noodles, and eat them with sauce and meatballs. I found a crispy peanut sauce tofu recipe I love, and now I eat tofu once every couple of weeks. I recently, finally, found a way of cooking mushrooms that I like. Basically with a lot of butter and teriyaki sauce. And TODAY I discovered a way to cook broccoli! Roasted in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 minutes, with coconut oil, salt, and pepper. I bet it would be good with some garlic and paprika too. I think I’ll give it 30 minutes in the oven instead of 20 tomorrow. 

I think roast vegetables are the key for me. I could try Brussels sprouts and green beans too. Baking tofu in the oven also makes it crispy, which I enjoy. 

On the fruit front, I’ve been eating a green apple every day, with peanut butter or salt. I also bought some cheese slices to eat with my apples. Derek bought me some oranges and I’m going to try to eat those too. 

Survey #168

“i’ve wished for this, i’ve bitched at that, i’ve left behind this little fact: you cannot kill what you did not create.”

Which internet browser do you use? Chrome. Have you ever lived on a university campus? Nope. When was the last time you saw a photo of your ex? *The* ex, when I was going through old photos on my Mom's FB looking for something. Do you play any games on your phone? DragonVale and Pokemon GO. Have you ever shaved your face? Only above my lip every now and then to avoid that dreaded lady-stache. :') What color is your front door? White. What was the last vaccination you got? Couldn't tell ya. When was the last time you were at a party? A year ago. Did you ever get called horrible names like whore, skank, or bitch? The only two I can think of are bitch and martyr. Who’s your favorite rapper? And your favorite song by this favorite rapper? Eminem, "Love The Way You Lie" or "Space Bound." How about your favorite band? And your favorite song by this band? Gah you know the story, I'll just do Ozzy for this one. Hard to say. "See You On The Other Side" probably wins, but "Mama I'm Comin' Home" is on its heels. Has anyone ever made a promise to you that they’d change? Who? Juan, probably. What’s your television addiction? I don't watch TV of my own volition, but I'd be happy to watch The Good Doctor. Have you ever had any painful dental work done? If so, what? Nothing worse than just getting braces tightened. Is there anyone you’d like to apologize to? Dad again to his face about how wicked I was to him and am so thankful he forgave me. I just haven't because I want that in the past and I'd probably break down anyway. What was the last song you listened to that made you cry? Idk. Could you go a month without talking to your best friend? That's my gf, no, I'd lose my mind. Can you make yourself sneeze? No. Is there something that you haven’t told anyone that you actually would like to tell someone? Meh... I think it's better I don't. How has your style changed since you were in high school? Not really. What was the last new drink you discovered that was delicious? Dunno. What’s the most Lisa Frank-worthy article of clothing you own? Nothing, really. What color is the rim around your full-length mirror? Black. What is your favorite way your hair has ever looked? How it is now. What are five things you are good at? Interacting with animals, being there for people, writing I'd like to think, being a great beast mastery hunter in WoW like 1v1 me bro, and uhhhh panicking over the most minute things. What are five things you are bad at? COMMUNICATING, initiating conversation, arguing w/o crying, understanding finances/economics, and math. Do you enjoy drawing at all? I do, but I rarely do it because I'm way too critical and get annoyed. And fixing mistakes cleanly can be hard. I want a drawing tablet one day hopefully in the near future, because I feel like I'd be more motivated to do it.  Quickly fix errors. What was the last thing you were frustrated with yourself about? Oh boy, idk. This is so common. Do you have unusual sleeping/waking hours? No. In your personal opinion, which hair color is the most beautiful? Probably blonde with some darker highlights I guess, if we're talking about natural colors. Actually, for girls, maybe red. How about eyes? Sapphire. Last sporting event you watched? Dance recital. Have you ever had a teacher that also taught your parents? No. Are you skilled when it comes to working in the kitchen? HA no. Do you listen to music while driving? It has to be quiet or I can't concentrate. What’s your favorite style of jeans? (Skinny, boot cut, flare, etc) Skinny. Are you deathly allergic to anything? No. Who was the last person you had sex with? Or are you a virgin? Jason. Are you Italian? No. Would you ever go vegan? There's no way I could survive. Where’s the nearest GameStop near you? Like... 10-15 minutes? Have you had an argument with anyone recently and if so, do you still have issues with that person? Sara, but only because I said something stupid. No, I have zero issues with her. Who was the last person that asked to hang out with you and what’s the story of how you met that person? Colleen, girl scouts. Is there something you generally always ask for help with? Cleaning the animals' cages. Don't have anything to put them in so I hold them while Mom cleans it. Unfair to her, I know, but I can't do both and Mom doesn't seem to mind, plus she wouldn't hold any of them. Do you own a pocketknife, or any other kind of multi-tool? No. What was the last thing you took a video of? Teddy being a goof. Have you ever been somewhere where you didn’t fluently speak the local language? No. What is your least favorite kind of weather? Hot and humid like fuck off. Describe the 'look’ you did the last time you wore makeup. Uhhh mildly winged liner, black eyeshadow, black lips. If you got pregnant the 1st time you had sex, how old would the kid be now? I don't remember when it was 'cuz I've said before I didn't really. Realize it was sex until literally this year when I looked back on it. But anyway, six-ish. Have you ever polished and waxed your car? N/A As a kid, did you have any friends with parents who yelled a lot? Don't think so. What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken? ODing. Have you ever lived in a small community where everyone knew each other? No. What are some of your least favorite foods? BEANS, mushrooms, asparagus, brussel sprouts, cherries, nuts, etc. etc. etc. I'm picky as hell. Do you give your pets gifts and treats for their birthday/adoption day? Only Teddy 'cuz I actually know his rip. Has anyone ever set you up on a blind date? If so, how did it go? No. Do you believe your ex cares about you? The only ex I feel /sincerely/ does is Girt. What is the strangest type of candy you have eaten? Idk. What would be your most ideal profession? Meerkat biologist. What kind of rides do you enjoy the most at amusement parks? Kinds that don't make me fear vomiting. What is a topic you definitely don’t want to talk about with anyone? Weight. Where do you carry the things you need with you when leaving the house? Pocketbook. What’s the last thing you made with your hands? Uhhhh a drawing? Have you ever been physically or mentally abused? How did it affect you? No. Do you consider yourself a vengeful person? If so, why’d you think that is? Not in the least. Do you own any accessories with your name or initial on them? I have a "B" necklace somewhere from someone, but. Never wear it. Are you nervous/anxious, for any reason at all? Nah. For once. What was the last compliment you received from the opposite sex? Dad said I looked great when I got in the car to go to the theater. Have you ever been to an orchard? No. :c What are your plans for Halloween? I've no clue. :/ Do you plan on carving a pumpkin this year? Yeah. What’s your favorite Halloween movie? Hocus Pocus. What’s your favorite kind of apple? Red. Do you like to roast marshmallows? Yeah. If you have a job, who’s your closest friend at work? N/A When was the last time you stayed in a hotel? Where was it? Shit, not since a dance competition at the beach years ago. Have you ever gotten your nails done? Like twice because I was invited. Who was the last family member of yours that died? Idk. Who was your favorite president? Not educated enough on this. The last type of sandwich you made or ate: I believe ham, cheese, and mustard. The last time the weather was just the way you like it: Been a long time. The last time you apologized and the last time you received one: I dunno. I say "sorry" like obsessively, but a serious apology, idk. To me, either Mom or Sara. Do you have a smartphone or a dumb phone, or no phone? Smartphone. Do you own any tapestries, and if so, what’s on it/them? No. Have you ever made a collage for your bedroom wall? No. What types of churches do you find really boring? All of them. On what day is your local grocery store the busiest? I would guess the weekend? What day do you usually go grocery shopping? I don't, Mom does. She doesn't have a regular day. What devotional do you read, if any? None. What is your favorite color for cars? Burnt orange. Have you ever tried writing with the opposite hand? How good/bad was it? Yeah, not good. Do you prefer dark, brown or white chocolate? Milk/brown. Have you ever had a controlling boyfriend/girlfriend? No. Have you ever written a love letter to someone as a joke? That's fucking evil. No. How many true heart breaks have you had in your lifetime? One. Do you have any gay family members? Mom's cousin or something. Who was the last person to sleep over at your house? Sara. Would you ever get a boob job? I DON'T NEED ONE LIKE ONE OF THE THINGS I LOOK FORWARD TO MOST WITH LOSING WEIGHT IS NOT HAVING TRISHA PAYTAS TITS. Did your last relationship end because of you or the other person? Me. Have you ever tried to break up anyone because YOU liked the guy/girl? No. What would you think if you found out your ex was gay? My very first "boyfriend" I think actually is. I'd be stunned if Juan, Girt, and especially Jason came out, although Jason would make me fucking cackle. Boy could I say some shit about that. Would you ever take someone back if you found out they cheated on you? Nah son. Have you ever lied to your boyfriend/girlfriend? I've never told a serious lie, but I'm sure I've told like minuscule ones ("I'm fine," etc.) every now and again. Would you be upset if you caught your boyfriend looking at porn? Yup. Minority opinion, but. When was the last time you were on a city bus? Never. Do you have a garden? Does it have flowers, vegetables, or both? No. Have you ever burned an ant with a magnifying glass? No. Have you ever had an ant farm? Maybe? I had a lot of those little animal kit things as a kid, like frogs and butterflies. Have you ever had crabs, turtles, or lobsters? Hermit crabs. Briefly turtles. Has anyone ever told you you’re too young for something? No, I think? Maybe. What about for someone? No. How many times have you changed a diaper in your life? Literally once when it wasn't even dirty???? Why did I do that??????????? Has a younger person ever confided in you as an adult? Yeah. Have you ever felt responsible for someone’s death? No. Who knows your biggest secret and why did you tell them? No one. What’s your best memory with your ex? Aaron: group skating rink date. Juan: I'm not sure, probably making him play a Just Dance game with me lmao. Jason: That's like impossible to say with how long we were together. But a time that will always stand out for me is when we were playfighting, I came storming into the kitchen, big time slipped in the middle of "yelling," and he caught me and we laughed for like a full minute. Tyler: Nothing, really. Girt: He was reading a memento in Amnesia: A Machine For Pigs, and I'll say the writing is very unique, and he got to one sentence he read in THE most incredulous voice, and I spat my drink e v e r y w h e r e. I deadass laughed/cried for like ten minutes and still had outbursts afterwards. It was one of those "you had to be there" things. The last time you felt insulted/offended: Dunno. The last time you held a baby: Over a month ago when I had to hold Keegan for whatever reason. The last form you filled out: Something for my new doctor. The last video game you played: So here's a super weird fact about me; as a kid, I loved hunting games, all the while even then hating hunting for sport irl. Not a clue clue why. I recently got more "back" into gaming and I'm working on beating Dangerous Hunts again. What is your favorite type of cat? Persians. What religion were you raised in? Are you still that religion, if you had one? Roman Catholicism, and no. What religion/spiritual path intrigues you the most, if any? Wiccan and Buddhism. What heritage does your last name imply? Scottish. Recently, what artists/bands have you been listening to a lot? Powerwolf, Mother Mother. Do you know any HTML coding? No. Has anyone ever called you rich? HA as if. What makes you feel beautiful? lol How many bathrooms are in your house? One. Last time you were on a plane and where did you go? March, Illinois. Hopping on one again tomorrow!! Are you considered a very sensitive person? Probably by those who know me well. I know I am. Have you ever told someone you never wanted to speak to them again? Dad, yeah. What is the worst name anyone has ever called you? Being called a martyr still hurts, and that was like two years ago. When was the last time you cried out loud in front of someone? Mom around a week ago or something. Have you ever been questioned by the police? No. Have you ever had to be put on medicine for a mental disorder? Yeah. What do you normally drink when eating at a restaurant? Mtn. Dew if Pepsi products, otherwise Coke. Have you ever been in a car accident? One. Are you currently in a happy relationship? YEAH!!!! Do you normally have nightmares or good dreams? Neither. Just weird. What if a friend asked you to go with her to get an abortion? OH WOW I AM *NOT* THE PERSON TO ASK. I really don't know. I've made my opinion on the subject pretty clear, and if the abortion wasn't for your own mental and/or physical health and rather you just not wanting to face the consequences of your actions, idk if I could go. Have you ever had a deep conversation with someone who was high on anything? No. Are you experiencing problems within a current friendship? No. Ever made yourself throw up? No, I fear vomiting too much to ever. Who of the opposite sex has seen you at your worst? Jason. When at a fast food place, do you usually order a small, medium, or large drink? Medium. Do you dip your pretzels in anything? No. When was the last time you started a new medication? Recently for knee pain. What is your favorite type of nut? None. Where did you eat the best pizza you’ve ever eaten in your life? Literally Domino's lmao. Do you know what year your parents married? No. Do you know anyone who was adopted? Yeah. Do you prefer loose leaf tea or teabags? You know my opinion on tea. What is your favorite place to get Chinese food? I dunno the name of the place Mom goes. Do you part your hair to the side? It's parted far to the left. Is winter your least favorite season? No, it's my second-favorite! Do you know someone who’s a stripper? No. Are you sitting in a spinning chair? No, I'm in bed. When’s the next time you’ll go to a haunted house? I've never been to a "real" one but would LOVE to. How old is too old to trick-or-treat? I really don't care. Honestly believe there's no magic age where it's no longer okay. I still would if not for societal expectations. Have you ever caught a firefly? Yes. Do you own any camouflage? No. What's the next really important thing you have to do? Get to my flight on time. Are you looking forward to anything? T O M O R R O W  A P P R O A C H E S How late is too late for coffee for you? I don't drink coffee. Have you ever written or considered writing a play? No. How about a novel? If so, could you give us the synopsis of the plot? Yeah, as a kid. It was about a family of meerkats of different "breeds" (dragon, fire, ice, etc.) plagued by their king's brother as well as the prince finding love. That's all I remember of it. Who is considered the "black sheep" of your family? Why? Lol me. I'm just pretty different from like everyone with "problematic" traits. What's a color you hate? Puke green. What's an odor you hate? Old garbage. What's a sound you hate? Babies screaming omfg. What's something you'd never ever dare to ask another person? Hmmm. Probably if they've ever been raped or molested. What's something you've always wanted to ask someone but haven't dared? OKAY. So I coulda sworn one of my best high school friends was pregnant in middle school, before I talked to her at all. Then I believe I saw her with her baby once when we were in the gym for something. When we became friends, she never spoke of having a child and most certainly didn't look a bit like she'd had a baby. I never wanted to ask because you know the stigma of teen pregnancy. What is a song you cannot stand? Any country song where the singer has that godawful southern-as-hell twang. What's the worst/best thing you've done without your parents knowing? *shrugs* If you wear earrings, what does your favorite pair look like? Idk, I haven't looked at my earrings in a long time. Have you ever won any money from a scratch card? Like a dollar or so on the rare occasion my parents bought one. How about a slot machine? No. Do you like playing bingo? Sure. What's been the best thing you've found at a flea market? I love this little dragon figure I have. Oh, and my shipwreck lamp! Do you ever glance at people's butts? I'm a sucker for ass tbh okay. Like I'm not a dick that's gonna stare, but I'm guilty of glances, sure. What's something that catches your eye about other people? Their style. What's a random funny scene from a movie that has stuck with you? The first thing that came to my mind is from the Scooby movie where the girl introduces herself as Mary Jane and Shaggy goes, "That's, like, my favorite name" lmao. Oh, the things you miss as a kid. Are you one of those people who will not use a public washroom? I avoid it as much as possible. Have your parents ever disapproved of the person you're dating? No. What kind of things do you collect? Right now, just meerkat and Silent Hill stuff. YouTuber merch will happen when I can afford to buy it myself ha ha. Do you have a thing for body hair? No opinion. Not too into heavy back or chest hair, but still, don't really care. Is there anyone into you that you have no interest in? No clue if Girt still likes me, but if so, I don't reciprocate the feeling romantically. What's the longest you've slept for? Like 11 hours, maybe? Do your parents have a bad relationship with anyone? Not especially other than between each other. Were you raised by someone other than your parents? No. Do you prefer the color pink or blue? Pink. What's the last chore you did? Vacuumed. Have you ever had pet mice? Rats. What is your godmother's name? I don't think I have one. What's the last party you went to? A year ago at Summer's. Have you ever been to a jungle? No. What is your favorite jungle animal? Tigers! When did you first find yourself attracted to someone? I dunno. Elementary school. If you met a genie, what would you wish for? Financial stability, world peace, cure for Alzheimer's/dementia. Have you ever ran away from home? For like two hours or less. Is your father injured? No. He has a bad back, but. Would you be willing to die protecting your country? Like in the military or something? No. Have you ever dated someone from a different country? For less than a day. Are you part Native American? Not that I know of. What are your pets' names? Teddy, Bentley, Roman, Venus, Kaiju, and Mitsu. Do you like to go hunting? NONONONONONO. I'd have a hard time doing it even for survival. Have you ever worked two jobs? No. Who is the oldest sibling in your family? Katie. What are some of your happy thoughts? Being with Sara, imagining a positive future, remembering all I've endured and conquered, etc. etc. What's your favorite pattern for clothes? Plaid, I suppose? Do you ever wear fur? No. Who is the worst boss you've ever had? Why? N/A What are the names of the all the dogs you've ever owned? Trigger, Angel, Teddy, Dale, Delilah, Harley, Cali, and Bentley, I think. Where did you meet your current or last significant other? YouTube. When did you last ride a bike? Years ago. What did you last ask your parents permission for? Uhhh. I dunno. Oh, actually, I was thinking of spending a day with Dad, and I wanted to know if it would bother Mom. She said no, but I don't believe her. I didn't do it, though. Why were you in a waiting room the last time? Psychiatrist appointment yesterday. What's your lawyer's name? I don't have one. Do you own a lot of scarves? Do I even own any??? Would you ever get a face tattoo? No. What kind of car did you take your drivers test in? Haven't taken it. How much was the rent/mortgage at the cheapest place you’ve ever lived? I wouldn't know, I don't pay it. Who in life have you felt the strongest need to protect? Holy shit, Sara. What is the cruelest thing a person has ever said to you? Who even knows. What crime from history fascinates you most? No clue. Who do you think was the worst criminal in history? Maybe Saddam Hussein. Who has the weakest set of values in your family? Idk. What is the most disturbing sound you know of? Bones cracking. What's the shortest amount of time between orgasms you've ever experienced? N/A Which laws would you most like to change? Off the top of my head, we. Need. More. Gun. Fucking. Control. I'm not for a ban of firearms, but jfc, it's too easy to purchase a goddamn killing machine. What the oldest you'd like to live? 80, maybe? After that I can just imagine poor health that would really suck. Which sibling is or was favored most by your parents? I actually think it's me, tbh. Mom and I have an incredibly strong bond and have serious history, and Dad's and mine is very deep and definitely as a kid was the storybook father/daughter relationship, and now that we're reunited, I think we both cherish each other more. What's the biggest surprise you've ever had in bed? Waking up in the middle of the night to Jason groping my boobs. Who is the person you most wanted to have an affair with but didn't? I've never wanted that. Who have you most feared in your life? Dad. What would make you go insane the fastest? Losing Sara for the same reason as Jason. What was the quickest friendship you ever made? I'm not sure. What is your strongest reason for your opinion on abortion? I guess you have the right to be selfish if you're put at risk. You come first. What would you most like to hear from your father? He's proud of how far I've come. What one natural thing would you most like to see? Maybe a volcano erupt from a safe distance. What has been the single most important influence on your life? The breakup. What is the most worthy cause on earth? Seeing all life as equal and actually acting on that. Caring for one another. What would you most easily be driven to kill for? Sara's safety.

Forty Six Tiny Finger Meals Concepts To Serve In 2022

This Smoked Salmon Platter is full of high quality elements like our sustainable smoked salmon board. Let us present full service served hors d'oeuvres, along with our Elegant Butler-Style Served Buffet Service. We make use of a CIA Graduate Chef to arrange and oversee making your occasion a hit. Call Alex at present to schedule your next occasion. This baked Camembert recipe needs to be top-of-the-line Camembert recipes we have ever tasted. Baked in 15 minutes and you will have lovely oozing Camembert that is perfect served with heat, crusty bread. Delicious pasta in a light tomato-based cream sauce. Home Plate delivers a classic winner every time. We like to eat, travel, cook, and eat some more! We create & photograph vegetarian recipes from our home in Chicago, whereas our shiba pups eat the kale stems that fall on the kitchen ground. The pictures are stunning and every thing looks delicious. I use a combination of Greek yogurt and mayo in this creamy potato salad, so it’s lighter than the classic model, however no much less scrumptious. My mom’s choosy in regards to the recipes she adds to her common rotation, however this one made the minimize. A handful of straightforward elements packs it with recent flavor. Catering Lunch Concepts For The Workplace We’re speaking big parts of crowd-pleasing breakfast and lunch dishes. Our service from the beginning to finish is constantly exceptional, from our dedicated workers to the great meals. With over 20 years of experience offering catering for corporations, we can make positive you obtain individualized attention while planning so your event succeeds. Roberts Centre is residence to the region's largest convention center, an expensive Holiday Inn hotel, and Max & Erma's Restaurant. If you’re planning a corporate event, The Roberts Centre can handle every little thing from begin to finish. Are executives at your company in search of steak and lobster but they’ve given you a hamburger and hot dog budget? Serve alongside mouthwatering potato salad and corn bread for a enjoyable office lunch thought. Some other nice sides to include in your BBQ workplace lunch catering are roasted brussel sprouts, mac & cheese, and collard greens. BBQ can get slightly messy, however it’s nothing that a couple of hand wipes and napkins can’t repair. A full breakfast buffet is a superb company catering idea that permits you to get one thing for everybody. Whether your staff are looking for a full-on hearty breakfast or one thing light and wholesome, they’ll discover it in a breakfast buffet. But that doesn’t mean they won’t recognize breakfast meals at work. Whether you’re providing a whole breakfast buffet or a quirky signature dish from a neighborhood restaurant, it’s an effective way to alter issues up for your workers. With full service, you’ll have peace of thoughts understanding that each one elements of your event are lined, from set-up to serving to wash up. Whether your occasion is at your workplace or a particular venue, we will convey the occasion to you. Also, are you looking for caterers who will drop off the meals or serve everyone within the event? You also need to suppose about whether or not you've all the required gear to serve folks or you have to make leases. A lot of company occasion catering takes place on weekdays throughout common enterprise hours. Maryland Catering This will assist you to narrow your choices even further, so choosing your venue is low on stress and large on enjoyable. Consider a marriage at an amusement park wedding with roller coaster rides for you and your guests earlier than or after the wedding. These venues sometimes provide packages that embody venue space and theme park admission. Having organised a wedding for our eldest daughter and now our youngest. My advise is to Brides is to not stress on the small issues but to benefit from the day and be genuine in the individual that everybody loves you for. Welcome and thank your guests for making the journey. I suppose that everyone is lacking the purpose of this article. I assume the intent is to get brides and grooms to lighten up and relax concerning the details. As a florist I take care of brides almost everyday and so many are so stressed about making everything excellent. Fitzgerald's Fine Catering offers personalized menu options to energize your sense of taste, skilled workers, cleaned silver and china, wealthy materials and beautiful serving gildings. We can customise a menu to suit your finances and necessities. Catering Los Angeles birthday parties requires sophistication and variety. Depending the time of the day you want to have fun, we will offer our Breakfast menu, brunch, lunch, cocktails or dinner service. Catering For Lunch Time Events You may select to offer guests a self-service buffet, handed hors d’oeuvres in a cocktail setting, or maybe a formal seated dinner. Even breakfast delivery for your family the morning of a visitation or interment can be a welcome convenience. The Office of Student Life University Catering is the exclusive caterer for the Ohio Union. Our group will work to provide your meeting, event or get together with extraordinary service, culinary cuisine and event design. In addition, our in depth menu can be personalized to enhance a selection of events, from informal lunch buffets to elegant plated dinners and cocktail receptions. Needless to say, though food vans are a wonderful catering possibility, they're only suitable during certain occasions of the 12 months because of weather and seasonal restrictions. Until you’ve experienced it for your self, it’s troublesome to appreciate simply how diversified, complex, and scrumptious Indian street food could be. It’s additionally one of many uncommon fast-food kinds that lean closely on vegetarian offerings, owing to the meat-free traditions of India’s Hindu population. From lighter fare like bhelpuri and aloo chaat to extra substantial dishes like kheema pav (also known as “Indian Sloppy Joes”), your groups are certain to find a new favorite dish. Some Indian menus even include meat-based options, like rooster pakora and malasa fish rolls, which may help to appease any grumbling carnivores. Here at Fooda, we spend lots of time serious about lunch. Student Life University Catering staff will be current during the occasion to ensure you obtain extraordinary service. As catering experts we all know it’s so much more than simply delicious meals that matters. Our workers works onerous to offer skilled help in terms of all of your logistics coordination wants. We know firsthand what it takes to pull off an amazing, gratifying occasion for you and your family members. Occasions Catering Charlotte Recipes We absolutely perceive how difficult it might be to plan and host events nowadays. We’ve made the meals selection slightly easier with our COVID-19 pleasant boxed meals. We’ll keep you and your friends safe and healthy by offering contact-less supply by our tested and monitored food service group. Contact us today for any and all of your catering needs. 外燴 in a sweet-and-spicy mixture of apricot preserves, lime juice, habanero, soy sauce, garlic, and ginger—then throw them on the grill for a simple 15-minute dinner. Perhaps this straightforward grilled corn recipe will do the trick. However, this wave concept makes use of loads of area with out making the table look cluttered and provides easier access from different angles. You might easily incorporate more waves into this design without overfilling the table and the mixture of food colours of their uniform waves seems great aesthetically. No matter how nicely you prepare, occasions will all the time throw you a curveball. It’s essential to have the ability to creatively innovate on the spot with out stressing everybody else out around you. You know that scene in Friends the place Ross screams “PIVOT? ” That’s exactly what a wedding day seems like. Having my styled shoot featured on Wolfer & Co, an occasion planning and wedding ceremony planner training useful resource. This could embody one thing flaming or a pig fresh off the spit relying in your occasion. This quick catering serving concept makes use of Chinese meals containers for plates. You can put nearly anything in them and they’re highly moveable. Catering Business Below you’ll find a list of various assets that may assist you to discover out more about what goes into getting your catering business off the ground. Look to develop long-term, mutually helpful relationships with different organizations that frequently use caterers. Establishing a fantastic working relationship with the top two or three occasion planners in your space is an efficient way to maintain your business going sturdy. Is the primary place most individuals will go to see what your small business has to supply and decide if it’s a good match for them. Politely ask if they’d be keen to evaluation your restaurant and share their experience online. Arguably the very best method to promote your restaurant on-line is with high-quality, drool-inducing photos. Visual content material is in high demand online these days, and having delicious-looking photos on your website and throughout various social media shops is crucial for drawing hungry eyes. The power of online critiques is undeniable, and customers are virtually at all times joyful to leave them. This implies that asking for evaluations must be a part of your restaurant advertising technique. In addition to internet hosting your personal tasting occasion for locals like we talked about earlier, you probably can always join forces with different businesses to show off your items. Wine stores, paint-on-pottery venues, and jewelry boutiques could be found in most neighborhoods. And likelihood is they’d love the chance to draw new clientele with a catered gathering. Eleven Types Of Special Occasions That Can Be Professionally Catered Some meals trucks come with extra breakout choices, similar to a cart for maneuvering into smaller spaces. Use your occasion planning software program to store the contact data and pricing for trucks which are well-liked, dependable, and provide excellent service so you have a go-to listing of ideas for your clients. Wedding – Have a dessert-focused food truck outside in course of the tip of your wedding. Offering creative, seasonal catering menus along with full planning companies. We supply quite a lot of seasonal, Italian-inspired appetizers and salads that complement every pie completely. Ask for ideas and we may help you craft the perfect menu for your Shore Points pizza party. Our mobile pizza truck features four built-in taps so we are able to pour the proper pint. Get Theme-y – Don’t have a summer season birthday, commencement, or different excuse to celebrate? Book with Roaming Hunger understanding that you are working with probably the most experienced group within the industry. Providing catering workers for any occasion, giant or small, in NYC, Long Island, Hamptons, Boston, and in between. We're the restaurateurs with decades of experience, who know how to mobilize assets and supply you fine dining moments! 35 Yummy Match Concession Stand Food Ideas And Prices We provide multiple meals gadgets and beer trailers for this one. Few issues are more fulfilling than growing a business in an industry that excites you. For foodies and at-home cooks everywhere, starting a food enterprise is a good chance to make money doing what you love. Although prepared food saves time-on-site, it also entails some danger. You must estimate how much you can sell earlier than setting up shop for the day/evening. This gamble might cause overproduction and waste should you're unfamiliar together with your clients' wants. Elevate your concession stand's food menu with these sudden sizzling canine ideas. Permits are valid for up to 14 days at one location as lengthy as the operator remains in good standing and compliance with regulations. Local well being departments problem permits to certified retail meals operations like grocery shops, eating places, temporary operations, concessions, meals vehicles and micro markets. How about some tasty Mexican food at your concession stand? Tacos, burritos, quesadillas, salsa, and enchiladas are great, and they are different from what most other concession stands are serving. Have quite a lot of scorching sauces obtainable as condiments together with some pico de gallo. Be sure to ask about our refill specials on memento popcorn and soda cups at either concession stand, and while you are right here, try our local offerings, together with Zweigles Hot Dogs. Belmont Hall is a sports activities bar serving beer corridor classics, quite lots of New York State brewers, and menu items from Floral Park’s beloved The Harrison restaurant. Guests don't need tickets to enviornment occasions to enter Belmont Hall. Guests with tickets can move freely between Belmont Hall and UBS Arena after they’ve scanned in their tickets. You can both order bulk packaged popcorn, or pop them ahead of time, and cut up them into smaller baggage upfront. We’ve seen sweet gross sales at drive-in theaters nearly double in 2020, especially amongst popular brands like M&M’s, Skittles and Milky Way.

The 10 Best Tactics for Making Exercise an Unbreakable Habit

Exercising regularly is surely one of the most commonly made New Year’s resolutions. And surely one of the most commonly broken. Gyms around the world fill up with freshly-minted members in January . . . who are almost all gone by February. If you’ve resolved and failed, and resolved and failed to start working out consistently, you know it can be a really discouraging cycle. Cementing the exercise habit can seem like an impossible task. But it truly doesn’t have to be, as long you take the right approach. Below we share 10 key tactics that will help you make exercise an unbreakable habit. #1: Do something you enjoy doing.  I’ve been barbell training for the past two years, and during that time I’ve missed just a handful of workouts, and only when stricken with an extreme illness (I still work out if I’m just a little sick). I’ve trained on Thanksgiving. I’ve trained on Christmas. I’ve trained on vacation. But I don’t have this streak going because I’m super dedicated and disciplined and force myself to work out even when I don’t want to. I merely enjoy barbell training. A lot! I don’t work out so regularly because I’m a hard-as-nails badass, but because I want to. Because I like it. When it comes to exercise, people tend to think that for it to work, it has to be unpleasant. They think exercise is like eating Brussels sprouts; you may not like the taste, but you’ve got to get ‘em down because they’re good for you. Yet while these folks can flog themselves to exercise for a few weeks or even a few months out of a sense of dour obedience, they’re ultimately kicking against the pricks. Eventually, their dislike for their chosen regimen overpowers their will, and they stop working out altogether. It’s true that to be effective all exercise will involve some discomfort. And it’s true that certain kinds of exercise are more or less effective than others. But all exercise is good for you, any exercise is better than none, and if you choose the right form of it — the form that’s right for you — it can in fact hurt so good and be a source of great pleasure. Lots of people will say you should do CrossFit; that you should run; that you should do barbell training. These people mean well. They likely enjoy those activities and have gotten results from them and want you to experience the same benefit. But if you don’t like what they think you “should” be doing, you’re not going to do it. Instead of should-ing on yourself by exercising the way some person or some magazine told you to, find something that you enjoy doing. This will take some time and experimentation. If you don’t like road running, try trail running. If you don’t like running at all, try rucking. If you don’t like lifting weights, try a bodyweight program. If you don’t like working out by yourself, try joining a CrossFit class, or a martial arts school, or a team sport. I spent nearly ten years begrudgingly doing cardio-heavy and CrossFit-like workout programs before I discovered my love for barbell training. I recently found that I also enjoy rucking and MovNat as well, so that’s part of my exercise routine, too. Exercise is now something I look forward to — it in fact feels like one of the best parts of my life; consequently, it would take more discipline for me not to do a workout than to do one! Bottom line: if you want to make exercise a habit, start off by picking an activity you enjoy. If you do that, you’ll be 90% there to becoming a man who exercises religiously. #2: Put your training schedule on your calendar. Besides picking an activity that they don’t enjoy doing, the other thing that keeps people from regularly exercising is not setting aside time for it on their calendar. For these folks, exercise is one of those things that they’ll get to . . . if they have time for it. But, of course, they never do, because something else always comes up. If you want time to exercise, you have to make time for it. And the best way to do that is to schedule your workouts on your calendar and treat them like doctor’s appointments. Just as you’d tell someone you were busy if they wanted to do something at the same time you were scheduled to see a doc, you’re going to inform people you’re busy when they ask you to do something during your workout “appointment.” #3: Experiment to find the workout time that’s best for you. At what time should you schedule your workout “appointments”? That’s up to you. Many people find that it’s best to exercise first thing in the morning; that way, when they get tired and stressed, or “urgent” to-do’s pile-up as the day goes on, their workout doesn’t end up getting pushed off the schedule. When you put the big rocks in first, all the small rocks can fit too. However, that’s not an inviolable rule for everyone. Everybody’s got different work/life schedules and different rhythms to their daily energy and motivation. Maybe you’ll love working out at lunchtime or at night. You’ll never know unless you try. Experiment with different options and see what works best for you. #4: Remove obstacles with a pre-workout checklist. When I interviewed bodyweight training coach Anthony Arvanitakis for the podcast, he told me that one thing he does to ritualize his workouts is to use a pre-workout checklist. His checklist includes making sure his phone is charged so it won’t quit playing music in the middle of his workout, putting the phone in airplane mode so calls and texts won’t create distractions, filling up his water bottle, preparing equipment in his gym so nothing’s missing and everything’s right at hand, and changing into certain workout clothes. Arvanitakis keeps this checklist on an index card and reviews it each day, as he says he finds doing so “comforting.” As he observes, “The most difficult part in a workout is getting started,” and “Having that list gets you in the flow.” It eliminates decision-making and friction, so there’s less standing in the way of you getting your sweat on. Listen to my podcast with Anthony about making exercise a habit:  #5: Have clothes specifically dedicated to working out. Another thing Arvanitakis recommends is having sets of clothes you specifically designate as your workout clothes. He thinks of his workout gear as his “uniform” and feels that donning it helps him get in the mindset to exercise. When you put on clothes you don’t associate with anything other than exercise, this “uniform” does indeed help you get into workout mode and feel ready to go out to “battle” at the gym.  #6: Have a plan for your workout. Don’t just plan your pre-workout ritual, but know exactly what you’ll be doing once you hit the gym as well. When most people take a first stab at working out, they just show up at the gym and do whatever exercise the gym spirits move them to do. A few bicep curls here, maybe some medicine ball action, followed by some leg presses. Thirty minutes after aimlessly wandering around the gym, they get bored and hit the sauna. After a few weeks of unproductive “workouts” like that, and unsurprisingly seeing no results, they stop going altogether. Uncertainty is a big motivation killer. It causes paralysis by analysis so you end up doing nothing. And when you do nothing, your body and health don’t change. And when your body and health don’t change, you lose motivation to exercise. To avoid this fate, have a workout plan for yourself before you head over to the gym. Know exactly which exercises you’re going to do and for how many sets and reps. Write your plan down, bring it with you to the gym, and refer to it frequently throughout your session so you stick to it. If you’re running, have a weekly running plan for yourself so you know that you’ll be working on speed one day and endurance another. You’d be surprised at how much having a plan can keep you motivated to work out. It removes motivation-sapping uncertainty and ensures you actually see motivation-boosting results.   Not sure what your workout plan should be? I’d highly recommend not trying to come up with it willy-nilly on your own, but instead committing to a set program that’s been designed by experts. Here’s a list of programs I recommend which suit a variety of fitness goals. I, of course, heartily suggest Starting Strength above all, but if that’s not your thing, that’s fine. Just pick a plan you think you’ll enjoy, and then work that plan.   #7: Just get moving, even when you don’t feel like it. As mentioned above, the hardest part of working out for a lot of folks is simply getting started. Oftentimes, you just don’t feel like exercising. You don’t feel like getting out of bed or off the comfy couch. You don’t feel like leaving the house. The pull of inertia is strong. Fortunately, one of the great truisms of life, is that if you take action without feeling like it, the feelings will follow. If you don’t feel like working out, but get after it anyway, you’ll almost always get into the flow and start to enjoy it. Of course, this sets up a catch-22: you’ll feel like working out if you start working out, but how do you start if you don’t feel like it? Try making a deal with yourself. Decide that all you have to do is go to the gym and work out for 10 minutes; if after 10 minutes you don’t want to do any more, then you can go home. It’s an easy deal to commit to. Of course, what happens 9 times out of 10 is that once you’re at the gym, and moving your body, you get into an exercise-positive mindset and want to continue on and do a full workout. #8: Aim for consistency in frequency, rather than consistently A+ workouts. A key to making something a habit is putting together a chain of successes, which is, at least at first, rarely or never broken. To lay down a new groove in your life, you’ve got to etch away at it without interruption.   So always err on the side of doing something, even when circumstances prevent you from doing a “perfect” workout. Feeling just a little sick? Still work out, but go a little easier. Have a crazy busy day? Still work out, but make it a little shorter. Traveling? Still work out, even if you have to improvise with the equipment available in the hotel gym. Sluggish and grouchy and can’t get into the mood to exercise even after you’ve tried? Still move, however tepidly, through your planned workout. Even if 9 times out of 10 when you start a workout without feeling like it, you end up getting into it, there’s still that one time where you don’t. Try to at least go through the motions anyway. My strength coach Matt Reynolds calls these times “blue collar days.” You’ve just got to put on your hardhat, put on your coveralls, and do the work. You simply punch the clock and get the job done. You don’t clock out having made big gains with your physique, but that’s okay — you still strengthened the “muscle” of your exercise habit. Of course, listen to your body (and be sure you’re doing recovery right), but also don’t take an all-or-nothing approach to your workouts. When conditions aren’t perfect, it’s better to continue the habit chain, and do something, than to decide it’s all a wash and do nothing at all. When it comes to habit formation, consistency is king. #9: Exercise for something. Motivation research shows that when we have a clear purpose for a task, we’re more likely to do that task regularly. So have a why for your workouts. It could be something high-minded like being ready for emergencies or living a long time for your kids and/or grandkids, but it could also be something vain like just wanting to look good with your shirt off. Whatever it is, write it down and refer to it every day. When you don’t feel like going to the gym, read your purpose to remind yourself of why you’re trying to exercise regularly. For me, competitions serve as a big motivator for training. Signing up for a barbell meet gives me something very concrete and date-specific to train for, and knowing that I will be performing my lifts in front of lots of people lights a fire under my rear to keep up my training. If you’re looking to run more this year, sign yourself up for a 5K or an obstacle race a few months from now. Your goal might not be to win the race, but just not to look like an out-of-shape schlub hoofing through the course like an asthmatic water buffalo. Shame is a powerful motivator.  #10: Get accountability.  Some people find it useful to get an accountability partner for their workouts. This could be a personal trainer or a coach, or it could be a friend. Getting a barbell coach was a game changer for me and my training. Besides the feedback on my lifts, the accountability factor has played a huge role in my compliance with the programming. I don’t want to let my coach down by wussing out on a session. Again, shame can be a powerful motivator. If you want to take the accountability up a level, then put some stakes on the line. Paying for a coach or trainer is one way to do this. Knowing that you’re putting your money in a metaphorical paper shredder every time you miss a session can motivate you not to miss a workout. Join The Strenuous Life, where you’ll have to do 60 minutes of physical activity on most days for 12 weeks to complete the TSL Challenge. Or use something like stickK to set up a wager with a friend that says if you miss more than two workouts in a row, you have to pay him or even some organization you detest a certain amount of money. The amount needs to be large enough so that it hurts if you fail to meet your end of the bargain. Conclusion Making exercise a habit doesn’t need to be hard. Find something you enjoy, plan for it, prioritize it, and point it towards a purpose. Keep adding one link after another to the chain of your new habit, and soon you’ll find yourself becoming the kind of man who finds it difficult not to exercise. The post The 10 Best Tactics for Making Exercise an Unbreakable Habit appeared first on The Art of Manliness. http://dlvr.it/Q8f54Z

What I Eat Wednesday: Regulating My Chronic Illness!

Alright, everyone, today we are talking about Irritable Bowel Syndrome, or, as many refer to it: IBS. You might be asking, “but Barrie, why are you talking about IBS when we usually hear about your favorite foods or what outdoor activity you did this weekend?”

Great question!

That’s because IBS is actually the reason behind why I choose the foods I do. It’s a chronic autoimmune disease that causes inflammation in the large intestine and is characterized by symptoms such as: bloating, constipation, cramping, diarrhea, and excess gas - and most people can experience one or any mix of these symptoms together. The upside to IBS: it can be regulated with a specific dietary lifestyle!

The reason I wanted to talk about this today, Wednesday, when I usually share what meals I eat throughout the day, is because of the relationship between IBS and diet. I also have recently learned that I am not a rare sufferer of IBS in my friend group - throughout the last 6 months I have learned that I have 4 other friends with IBS as well! One of my friends didn’t find out about it for years because she thought it was embarrassing to talk about. Once I discovered this I thought, “I need to talk about this on my blog in case someone else can relate to these symptoms and is too embarrassed to talk about them.” Have no fear! I will talk about them for you, share my experience, and share what I have found works in my diet to keep my unpleasant and uncomfortable symptoms at bay (if not gone completely)!

In my personal experience, I have a lot of bloat, and it hurts! At the beginning of my journey with IBS, my doctor advised me to keep a food journal and track what foods personally made me experience symptoms until I could figure out what to remove from my diet. This is a great strategy! This is how I discovered what foods I should avoid. 

I learned that if I stay away from brussels sprouts, dairy, processed carbohydrates, and gluten, I am able to escape the evil grasp of that uncomfortable bloat! I recommend keeping a food journal, as everybody experiences IBS differently, but if you think you may be dealing with IBS yourself some common foods that are known to exacerbate symptoms of IBS are in this graphic I made below:

The reason a lot of processed carbohydrates are to be avoided is because they are “resistant starches” - meaning they are hard to digest and by the time they reach your intestines end up fermenting in your large intestine which creates a lot of gas.Think about the fizzy nature of fermented drinks like kombucha and beer! That’s essentially the same thing that can happen in your intestines. And just as you can hear the pressure being released from a bottle of kombucha when you open it, your body is filling up with the same kind of pressure! That is where the bloating and excess gas can come from - and let me tell you, it hurts! 

Doctors call these bloat-producing foods FODMAPS - which stands for “fermentable oligo-, di-, and monosaccharides and polyols.” Some alternatives to these and other “trigger foods” are listed below (and of course a lot of these are anti-inflammatory food choices as well):

Now that you’ve seen the common foods to avoid when you have IBS, why they contribute to the chronic nature of this illness, and how to solve most of your gastrointestinal woes through monitoring and being mindful of what you eat - I’m going to share with y’all my favorite IBS-friendly recipe!

I hope you enjoy and the next time you feel overwhelmed or embarrassed by any of these symptoms remember - more people may experience it than you realize! And nutrition makes all the difference. I love talking about this nutritional topic for that very reason - the fix can be so simple. 

Talk to you soon, my friends!

XOXO,

Barrie

Sources: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/320876#alternatives

https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/recipes/salmon-spinach-tartare-cream

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/irritable-bowel-syndrome/eating-diet-nutrition#:~:text=Eat%20more%20fiber,-Fiber%20may%20improve&text=To%20help%20your%20body%20get,may%20improve%20constipation%20in%20IBS.

Mighty Health created a wellness app with older adults top of mind

Virtual classes might make it easier to work out anywhere, anytime, but not for anyone. Mainstream fitness tech often targets the young and fit, in advertisements and cardio-heavy exercises. It effectively excludes aging adults from participating.

This gap between mainstream fitness and elders is where Mighty Health, a Y Combinator graduate, comes in.

Mighty Health has created a nutrition and fitness wellness app that is tailored to older adults who might have achy hips or joint problems. Today, the San Francisco-based startup has announced it raised $2.8 million in funding by Y Combinator, NextView Ventures, RRE Ventures, Liquid2 Ventures, Soma Capital and more.

Founder and CEO James Li is the child of immigrants, a detail he says helped him lean into entrepreneurship. He had the idea for Mighty Health after his father was rushed to the hospital for emergency open-heart surgery.

“Growing up, we can often think of our parents as invincible — they look after you and take care of you, and you usually don’t worry too much about them,” Li said. His dad survived the surgery, and Li thought about the evolving health needs and limitations of folks over 50 years old. He teamed up with co-founder Dr. Bernard Chang, the youngest-ever ED doctor to receive a top-tier NIH grant and the vice chair of research at Columbia University Medical Center, to create Mighty Health.

Mighty Health’s product is focused on three things: live coaching; content focused on nutrition, preventative checkups and workouts; and celebrations that let family members tune into their loved ones’ achievements.

The app has inclusivity built into its functionality. Everyday, a user logs in and gets a set of three to five tasks to complete, distributed among nutrition, exercise and workouts. The workouts are pre-recorded videos with trainers that have focused on the over-50 population. Think indoor cardio sets focused on being kinder to joints or lower her impacts.

Image Credits: Mighty Health

One customer, Elizabeth, is a 56-year-old mother who joined Mighty Health after suffering a cardiac incident. The app got her to start walking 9,000 steps a day, lose weigh, lower cholesterol and, best of all, discover a love for a vegetable she had recently written off: brussels sprouts.

Mighty Health’s other core focus, beyond fitness, is nutrition. The app pairs users with a coach to help them create healthy habits around nutrition and lifestyle. The coaching is done through text message. Li says this was intentional because in the early days of Mighty Health, he saw that coaching in-app was difficult for users to navigate.

Image Credits: Mighty Health

“You have to meet them in the middle where they are,” Li said. The live coaching is also met with phone calls, although 90% of coach interactions are text-message based.

The nutrition program also accounts for a diverse user base. Mighty Health chose not to offer or push recipes upon members, unlike a lot of other applications, because all countries and cultures might not find generic recipes accessible.

“Instead, we focus on the ingredient level,” he said. “We send them ingredients that they can piece together however they like at home in the way that they cook their cultural meals.”

The company offers a free seven-day trail, followed by a membership fee of $20 per month. It’s also having discussions with a number of health insurers to offer Mighty Health as a benefit.

With the new capital, the startup hired a few engineers and a designer to build out product integrations with fitness trackers, plus add new content. For now, Li sees his father’s progress with pride.

“Though I’m sure he sometimes thinks I just went from nagging him directly to nagging him through my product, he’s been eating healthier and exercising nearly every day,” Li said. So far, his father has lost 25 pounds.