Hey Emry, I just wanted to send some love to one of my favorite creators on here! I hope you are taking care of yourself. Sending happiness and warmth!

Ahhhhh that's very sweet of u thank you 🥹 happiness and warmth for everyone!!

Summer 2023 Cooking and Baking

Over the past week, I’ve been doing a fair amount of cooking and baking. Thus in this post, I’ll be sharing a few of the recipes I’ve used. 

First, I made my favorite buttermilk pancakes. I love making these ahead, freezing them on a sheet pan, and then storing them in the freezer in Ziplock bags. They make a great breakfast or snack as you can just pop them in the toaster and top with peanut butter. This really takes me back to the fall 2020 semester as during that semester I’d often eat my peanut butter buttermilk pancakes in between my morning classes. 

Next up I made a double batch of chocolate chip cookies. I simply followed the recipe on the back of the chocolate chip bag. My favorite chocolate chips are the Ghirardelli semi-sweets, but this time I just used the regular Nestlé Toll House ones. The back-of-the-bag recipes are identical (except for when you add the vanilla extract). 

Next, I started on the potato salad dressing by first making some homemade mayonnaise. This recipe also uses buttermilk which is why I was able to make the pancakes. 

For Friday dinner, I made cheesy polenta, parmesan-crusted air fryer chicken thighs, and asparagus. For my cheesy polenta, I start with the basic recipe on the back of the Bob’s Red Mill Yellow Corn Polenta bag and finish with a little butter and cheddar cheese. As for the asparagus, I just cooked it up in a covered skillet with a little olive oil and water. 

I didn’t follow this next recipe very closely but made a similar sausage with peppers and onions dish. I used the same core ingredients but made up my own ratios, cut up the cooked sausage into bitesize pieces,  and deglazed the pan with white wine. 

Finally, as a fun summer dessert, I made strawberry shortcakes. The linked recipe isn’t the exact same as the one I used (from my Baking Ilustrustated cookbook) but is nearly identical and is also from America’s Test Kitchen. The shortcakes came out great and we had some delicious local strawberries. I forgot to photograph the full dessert but shown below are some of the leftover biscuits. 

The Cabin - Tom Hiddleston x Curvy Reader (Part 3/3)

Part 1

Part 2

You threw some shorts and your favorite baggy hoodie on and headed downstairs to see what everyone’s plans were for the day. When you made it downstairs you saw that most of Chris’ family was dressed to go to the mountain and ski or snowboard.

“You guys headed up to the resort?” you asked, taking the plate of food that Lisa handed you and sitting next to one of Chris’ sisters.

“Everyone but ma” Scott answered, looking half asleep on the other side of the table.

“Let Chris know that I had all of the tires checked on my SUV, even the spare” you said to Scott.

Scott nodded towards the stairs where Chris was almost to the bottom. “Y/n, Can I borrow your truck or do you need it today?” he asked.

“I was just telling Scott the tires and the spare are all good to go so you shouldn’t have to worry about them” you answered, taking a sip of your coffee.

“Perfect” he said, stopping to kiss you on the cheek before going to the kitchen to grab food. “Between our two trucks I think we can fit everyone.”

When everyone was packing up for their day trip up the mountain, you made sure to throw some extra jackets, blankets, and snacks in the back of your truck and made sure Chris knew they were there.

“Are you not going?” you asked Tom when he started helping Lisa gather all of the dirty dishes from breakfast.

“I think I’d rather hang back with you if you’d like the company” he said, stacking a few more plates.

“I think Lisa and I can put you to good use” you teased, grabbing the stack of plates from him and walking them to the kitchen. “Lisa, what are your plans for the day?”

“I don’t need to start dinner until 2 or so” she answered, cleaning up the kitchen from the breakfast mess. “Is the TV by the hot tub out back set up?”

“It is!” you answered. “The remote is waterproof and it’s already signed into all of the apps on it so you can watch pretty much anything.”

“Then I think I’m going to enjoy my quiet day relaxing” she laughed. “I watch the kids most days back home so this’ll be a little vacation within a vacation.”

“Oh my god, I almost forgot!” you said, turning to reach into the cabinet above your refrigerator. “I got you this last time I drove down through the vineyards.”

You handed her a bottle of the wine she fell in love with last time the family was at your cabin. “You didn’t!” She sat the bottle down on the counter and pulled you into a hug.

“You may as well have a glass while you’re relaxing out back” you said, watching Tom put the rest of the dishes from the table into the sink.

“Maybe just one” she laughed, going back to putting the leftover food away.

“What wine is it?” Tom asked.

Lisa started talking about the wine and how it reminded her of her favorite wine that they no longer made, insisting that she pour the two of you a glass when she poured hers.

“Ooo, that is very nice” Tom said, taking a sip.

When Lisa tried to help with the dishes you told her to go and relax. Tom helped you finish up cleaning the kitchen.

“What’s next?” Tom asked.

“Do you want to bake our cookies?” you asked in response.

Tom smiled, taking another sip of his wine. “That sounds wonderful.”

You turned the oven on and pulled all of the ingredients you bought out of the cabinet, telling Tom where he could grab the mixing bowls and measuring cups/spoons. The two of you took your time, laughing and talking as you mixed the ingredients all together.  

“These are going to be so good” you said, commenting on the fact that Tom had picked out regular chocolate chips and white chocolate chips and mixed them together in the cookie dough.

“You can never have too much chocolate” he said, sneaking a bit of the uncooked cookie dough into his mouth.

“So impatient” you teased, shooing his hand away when he went to grab more.

When you filled a baking sheet with balls of cookie dough, Tom put it in the oven and set the timer. You hopped up to sit on your counter while you waited, taking another sip of your wine.

“How was your workout with Chris this morning” you asked.

Tom laughed. “Let’s just say I was grateful to get rid of some tension after doing some…*clears throat*…light reading last night.”

You looked confused for about two second before you realized what he was talking about. You threw your head back laughing, “You started reading my book.”

“Oh, you underestimate your own talent, darling” Tom replied, walking up to you. “I read the whole book.”

Your cheeks instantly went warm. “Well, what did you think?” The look on Tom’s face, the way he licked his lips…you almost wished you hadn’t started baking so that you could just drag him up to your bedroom right now.

Tom’s hands settled on your knees, slowly pulling them apart so that he could stand between them. “I think…” his lips gently pressed against yours as his hands slid up to rest against your hips. “…that your mind is just as sexy as the rest of you.” He deepened the kiss, his fingers digging into the soft flesh of your hips.

You put your arms around his neck, his body leaning into yours. “Is that so?”

Tom wrapped his arms around your middle, pulling you tight against his body. “Absolutely, darling.” Right when Tom reconnected your lips, the timer to the oven went off.

Tom laughed, resting his forehead against yours.

“We keep getting interrupted” you laughed.

Right as you finished talking, Lisa walked back inside from the back porch with a towel wrapped around her.

“You’re not wrong” Tom laughed.

Lisa looked over at the two of you and smiled. “Aww, don’t let me stop you two. You might want to check whatever you’ve got in the oven, though.” The timer was continuing to beep.

Tom quickly kissed you again before stepping back and grabbing the oven mitts. “I’ll switch these out.”

While Tom was putting the last sheet of cookies in the oven, you were talking to Lisa.

“I think we should prepare everything we can for dinner early” you suggested.

“What for?” Lisa asked, topping off all three of the wine glasses.

“Well, if we get it done now, we’ll just have to throw it in the oven later” you answered. “Then we can order some Chinese take-out for lunch, open another bottle of wine, and play some games.”

Lisa seemed to be considering it.

“Sounds like the perfect way to spend probably your only quiet afternoon on this trip” Tom laughed, resetting the oven timer for the last batch of cookies.

“Okay, you’ve convinced me” Lisa said, opening the refrigerator to start prepping dinner.

You and Tom quickly cleaned up the mess from the cookies, making room for Lisa. “Mmm, these are delicious” Tom said, taking a bite of one of the cookies. He held the cookie towards you so you could take a bite.

“They’re so good when they’re still warm” you said, licking a bit of chocolate off of your lip.

Tom smiled, pulling you into a quick kiss. “I could have gotten that for you, you know.”

You laughed, stealing the rest of his cookie. “Okay, what do you guys want from the Chinese restaurant?”

Over the next few hours, the three of you went through another bottle of wine, most of the Chinese food, and 3 or 4 different card and board games. When Chris and the rest of the family got back, the three of you were a little drunk, hanging out in the kitchen while dinner finished cooking, telling stories and spending most of the time laughing.

“What’s going on here?” Chris asked, hugging his mom and asking if she was drunk.

“Just a little” Lisa laughed, moving to pull dinner out of the oven.

“It looks like you guys had a good time” he said, leaning against the counter that you were currently sitting on. Tom had started pulling out clean dishes for dinner.

“We had a great time” you answered. “How was the mountain?”

“So good” Chris said, pulling out his phone and showing you pictures and videos of the kids learning how to snowboard.

“Aww, I’m glad” you said, telling him to send you a few of them so that you could have them printed and added to the photos in the den.

“The table is set” Tom said, walking back into the kitchen.

“Thank you” you replied, opening your arms so that he would come stand between your knees. “Dinner should be ready in a few minutes”

Tom blushed as he slid his arms around you, knowing Chris was going to say something “I think everything is good to go, then.”

Chris smirked over at you. “Let me reiterate my statement from earlier. It looks like you guys had a great time.”

“You could say that” Tom said, pressing a quick, sweet kiss to your lips before grabbing your hand and pulling you to the dining room table.

That night you, Chris, Tom, and Scott were the last ones up. All of the activity on the mountain made most call it an early night.

“I’m going to go sit up in the hot tub if anyone wants to join me” you said, standing up from your position tucked into Tom’s side.

When you were all the way up the stairs, Scott and Chris turned to Tom.

“How’s it goin’ buddy?” Scott asked, smirking.

Tom laughed, looking up the stairs where you’d disappeared to. “Well, if I had to put it into words I’d say ‘very well’.”

“Is this just you guys having fun or is this going to continue after break?” Chris asked. He knew you were an adult, but he still felt very protective of you.

“I haven’t actually had the chance to talk to her about it” Tom replied.

“What do you want it to be?” Scott asked.

“If I’m being honest, I hope this is going somewhere permanent” Tom confessed. “She’s…” He started his sentence and cleared his throat, knowing that he was about to gush about his feelings. “Well, you two know her. You know she’s incredible.”

“Nah, what were you going to say” Chris reached to slap Tom’s shoulder, laughing.

“I know that this is going to sound horribly cliché” Tom continued, “but she’s perfect. She’s kind, creative, intelligent, beautiful, confident, funny…”

Scott let out a quiet “aww”

“And if you don’t mind, I’d like a few minute head start joining her upstairs” Tom said, standing and walking towards the stairs.

“No sex in the hot tub!” Chris jokingly yelled.

Tom laughed. “I’d need more than a few minutes for that.” He could hear the brothers laughing as he jogged up the stairs, snagging his swim shorts before walking into your room.

“Y/n?” Tom called into your room.

“Just getting changed” you said, your arms covering your bare chest as you peeked out your closet door. You’d just slipped your bikini bottoms on, but you hadn’t sorted out the straps to your top. “Are you joining me?”

“I think we all are” Tom smiled, closing your bedroom door. “I asked for a head start so I could speak to you for a moment.”

“Can we talk while I sort out my top?” you asked, walking back into your closet.

“Of course,” Tom replied, pulling his own shirt off. “I wanted to talk to you about…well, us.”

“A topic I’m very interested in” you answered. “Go on.”

“That’s good to hear” Tom laughed, stripping out of his jeans and boxers. “I don’t know what you want, but I wanted to make sure that my feelings were clear.” Tom pulled the swim trunks on.

“Well, I’ll tell you mine if you tell me yours” you said, walking out of your closet when your top was in place.

Tom smiled, opening his arms and pulling you against him. “I really like you” he said, pressing a gentle kiss against your lips. “I was hoping that this is something you will want to continue after I’ve gone back to LA.”

Tom’s eyes were closed, his forehead rested against yours. “That’s a relief” you said, connecting your lips in a much more passionate kiss. “I was going to ask you how you felt about me driving back down to LA with you two.”  

“Really?” Tom’s eyes brightened.

“Yes, really” you laughed.

“That would make me very happy” Tom replied.

“Then it’s a plan” you said, moving to open your bedroom door and pulling Tom out onto the balcony.

When the brothers joined you two a few minutes later, they were dramatically walking around with their eyes closed, trying to feel their way to the balcony door. “Please tell me no one’s naked” Chris teased.

“You’re gonna have to see for yourself” you laughed. You were leaning back against Tom’s chest with his arms wrapped around your middle.

Scott opened one eye, calling an “all clear” when he spotted the two of you cuddled up in the hot tub.

The four of you hung out in the hot tub for probably another hour before the brothers called it a night.

When you and Tom climbed out of the hot tub, you wrapped a towel around yourself and walked to the bathroom that was connected to your bedroom. You turned on the shower and walked back to the doorway. “I’m going to shower tonight if you’d like to join me.”

Without waiting for a response, you dropped your towel on the counter and stripped out of your bikini. You stepped into the steaming shower, feeling the hot water run from your hair down your body. With your eyes closed, you lathered up your hair with shampoo and started rinsing it out. You could feel a short cool breeze as Tom opened the curtain to step into the shower with you. Before you opened your eyes, you felt Tom’s hands on your hips.

“You are absolutely stunning” Tom said, one of his hands moving to rest against the side of your face as he pulled your lips against his.

“I could say the same thing about you” you replied as your eyes took in his full naked form. Your hands slid down tom’s back and rested against his ass.

“Can I stay with you tonight?” Tom asked, his hands moving to your breasts and his lips moving to your neck.

“Just move your stuff to my room” you answered, your hands pulling Tom’s body firmly against yours.

“Now that I know I’ve got more time with you tonight” Tom laughed, grabbing your body soap and lathering his hands. “Let’s get clean and then we can move this to your bed.”

“Gladly” you smiled, lathering your hands and running them over Tom’s body.

The two of you didn’t actually fall asleep until after Tom’s gym alarm went off. Tom had sent Chris a text saying that he was going to skip the gym this morning, but that he’d continue going with Chris starting tomorrow.

When Chris went to give Tom shit for ditching the gym, he realized why he was staying home. Tom’s room was empty.

“I’m sure you got enough of a workout in last night anyways” Chris replied to Tom’s text with a few obscene emojis.

Tom laughed, tightening his arms around you after he set his phone down on the bedside table. “Chris will probably have a few questions for us when we wake up.”

“I don’t doubt it” you replied, snuggling into Tom’s side.

“Get some rest, darling” Tom said, pressing a kiss to the top of your head.

A few weeks later while on a lunch break from filming, Chris looked over at Tom and you. “Did Y/n ever tell you what her other pen name is for?”

Tom nearly choked on his food, and you couldn’t help but laugh and reply, “You’re never going to drop that, are you?”

Chris’ eyes narrowed as he started at Tom. “God damnit, she told you.”

Tom started laughing. “I simply don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Did you tell him?” Chris looked at you.

“He’s my boyfriend, Chris. Of course he knows.”

“I’ve known you for years! You’re my best friend! You barely just met him!” You couldn’t help but laugh at Chris’ dramatics.

“Should I tell him?” you turned to Tom.

“I don’t know how he would handle it” Tom teased.

“I can handle it!” Chris interrupted.

“If I tell you, you can’t tell anyone else. Not even Scott.” You reached your hand across the table with your pinky sticking out.

“Did you make him pinky promise?” Chris snarked, hooking his pinky with yours.

“She did, actually” Tom laughed.

“Fine, I swear on my life I won’t tell anyone” Chris said, leaning forward so you could tell him.

You pulled out your phone and sent him a link to your website that lists all of your adult books. “Just so you know, you were sort of the inspiration for one of my characters.” You stood from the table and grabbed Tom’s hand as Chris opened the text and clicked the link. You were quietly laughing at Chris’ wide eyes as he realized what he was looking at.

“Wait, what?!” Chris looked up at the two of you. “You wrote all of these?”

“She’s did.” Tom squeezed your hand. “The ones I’ve read so far are actually incredible.”

“Thanks, babe” you pressed a quick kiss to his cheek, the two of you walking towards his trailer.

“How do I know which one you based on me?” Chris called out.

“You’ll have to read them to find out” you answered, feeling Tom wrap his arm around your shoulders.

Happy Birthday Robin!

AKA: @dcbbw​

The People of Valtoria vs The King of Cordonia (Riam)

A/N: Robin, you are not only one of my favorite writers but have become an amazing, supportive friend over the last year or so that we've known one another. And I believe that friendship transcends beyond Tumblr. Youve been a virtual shoulder to cry on when I needed one and someone who made me laugh so hard while chatting once that I ... well, I won't embarrass myself here 😆 You're just truly a remarkable person with a compassionate, giving heart. I'm blessed to know you and blessed as hell to call you a friend #mycommonlawcitywife

A/N2: I wrote Riam for you. It will be no where near as good as yours and I hope I didn't mess them up too badly. Trust me, I'm nervous.

The following characters belong to Pixelberry with the exception of the term "Riam" and some references in the story which belong to @dcbbw . You can find her masterlist for them here. 

Thanks @burnsoslow for beta reading!!!!

__________________________

With assistance from Gladys and Mara, Riley stepped up onto her Hoveround scooter. The cart jolted side to side from the added load as she shifted into place. Her heavily pregnant stomach narrowly fit between the seat and handlebars. 

The motorized vehicle was a gift from Liam, who felt that at this point in her pregnancy, it was much safer and more comfortable for her to get around if she didn't have to walk. It was also easier to track her movements with the GPS hidden underneath.

For her protection, and knowing she wasn't the best driver, he had the machine’s speed reduced from its factory setting of 13 mph to a more leisurely four mph. 

The following morning, at her insistence, Drake arrived -- toolbox in hand -- to remove the GPS and increase the speed to 20. 

With a groan from the Queen, the two staff members lowered her carefully into the seat and backed away while she arranged her footing and large belly.

Riley turned her head and arched a brow, giving the majordomo a moment to figure out on her own what was missing.

Gladys' eyes flitted between her boss and the guard. 

Like a lightbulb switching on, it finally dawned on her.

The snack wagon.

She shuffled to Riley's side of the bed. The head stewardess retrieved the wagon that was already stuffed with everything needed for the Queen's busy morning: barbeque potato chips, mini chocolate bars, Tupperware bowls filled with teriyaki meatballs, ham and cheese sliders, garlic chicken spring rolls, and leftover spaghetti and meatballs topped with melted mozzarella and a dash of parmesan. 

Cook was still reheating the garlic bread and putting the finishing touches on the devil's food cake.

After running several minutes behind due to a last-minute potty break and to catch her favorite American reality show about friends living in Washington, D.C., Riley squeezed the handles to power forward. 

Followed closely by Mara on the lookout, and Gladys, who was lugging the snack wagon, she took the elevator down to the first floor.

There was a crowd assembled in the throne room to witness this highly anticipated and rather unusual royal court case.

Gladys opened the door, announced the Queen's entrance, and stepped aside to allow Riley to roll in.

The guests stood in reverence, much to her delight.

It hadn't gone unnoticed by Liam, sitting at a lone table with a piece of paper that said Reserved for the Guilty Party taped to it, that his wife's mode of transportation was quite a bit faster than it should be. 

Liam tilted his head and furrowed his brows before moving to the edge of the seat. He wasn't entirely sure how she did it, but judging by the rapid blinking and shifty movements coming from Drake, he was sure he'd found his culprit.

Liam sensed a disaster happening before he could stop it. 

While driving toward the dais, his wife's eye caught a glimpse of Annabelle Parsons standing in the opposite corner of the room.

Miss Parsons’ breasts were practically heaving from her gray low-cut backless dress that had a slit up to her hip. A white lacy garter could be seen encircled around one slender thigh, and there were unquestionably no panties worn.

The two women locked eyes.

Riley licked her lips as the object of her affection trailed a tantalizing finger over the swell of her bosom, her taut nipples peaking through the gray silk attire.

Liam jumped from his seat with a shout just as her scooter's front wheels plunged into the first step of the dais, bringing her to a hard, abrupt stop.

The crowd's eyes, which included the staff, members of the nobility, and curious Valtorian citizens alike, widened in concern for their pregnant queen and the twin heirs.

"Love!" Liam ran up beside her and laid one hand on Riley's stomach, the other stroking through her hair. "Are you okay? Are you hurt anywhere?"

"I'm just fine, no thanks to you. It's this damn defective scooter you bought me. You could have killed me, Liam. I always knew you would try to get rid of me one day. I just thought you'd at least wait until your children were born."

Liam stiffened; his voice slightly raised. "How is this my fault? You were gawking at Miss Parsons, and I know you had Drake adjust the speed."

"I wouldn't need to adjust the speed if someone hadn't bought me a broken metal deathtrap on three wheels!"

"That ... That doesn't even make sense," he countered.

She lowered her eyes to him with a glower. "You don't make sense."

Liam shook his head and wrapped his firm hands around her arm. "Come on, my love. Let me help you up and to your chair."

He lifted her to a standing position, steadying her movements, and slowly led her to the BarcaLounger on the dais. 

Once Riley was reclined and had altered the chair to a comfort setting she preferred, Gladys set up a tray of the meals and treats from the snack wagon and placed it on a table beside her. 

Liam watched with curiosity as she prodded a meatball with a fork and brought it to her mouth. "I'm worried about you. Are you sure everything's okay?"

Enjoying the delicious flavor burst from the teriyaki sauce and the juiciest pork and beef combination she'd ever had, Riley waved him away. "Liam, I'm trying to sue you. If you think sucking up to the judge before I've had a chance to find you guilty will help your case ... you're mistaken. This judge will not be swayed by the defendant; now go to your table before I hold you in contempt."

"You haven't even heard the case yet; how can I already be guilty?"

"I haven't heard the case because YOU WON"T SIT DOWN!"

He leaned over and pressed a tender kiss to her cheek. Riley melted into it and felt all those butterflies she usually had when the love of her life kissed and caressed her.

"I love you, my queen."

She bit into a barbeque chip while shaking the mustard bottle to squirt on a ham and cheese slider. "I know," she replied coolly, but there was so much love radiating behind her big brown eyes hidden by a flock of hair. "Now, stop breathing all over my food with your germs and return to your table."

Liam stepped away and took his place. The crowd went quiet, eager to get the proceedings underway.

Cook finally arrived a few minutes later with a basketful of hot garlic bread and a slice of Riley's favorite cake. The Queen was now ready to begin.

As she twisted a forkful of spaghetti noodles and slurped them up, she motioned for Gladys to call the case into session.

With a loud clear of her throat, Gladys began, "Ladies and Gentlemen! The case of the People of Valtoria versus The King of Cordonia is now in session. Please give your complete attention to the honorable Queen of Cordonia and ... grand ruler of all of Valtoria."

Riley brushed away bread crumbs from her chest and glanced up to Gladys, giving her an approving smile for using the proper title she proposed beforehand. "Thank you, Gladys."

Riley tilted her chin at Liam. "Now, King Liam, we are here today because you owe me over $280,000, plus interest, penalties, taxes, processing, restitution, travel expenses, court and collection fees for back rent at Valtoria. How do you wish to plead?"

The King sat forward and sighed in vexation. "This is ridiculous. You know full well the Crown financially supports this duchy and manor."

"And in turn, I have had to support your mooching ass with it. So ... what is your plea?" she enunciated.

Liam crossed his arms and drew in a deep breath. "I suppose, not guilty."

The Queen narrowed her eyes in a glower. "You wouldn't dare."

A smatter of whispers and gasps broke out among the audience.

Riley reached over to her tray and picked up a wooden mallet before banging it several times on the sounding board that set next to the bowl of spring rolls on her tray. "That's enough! You all will not turn my court into a circus," she admonished. 

Hushes circulated through the crowd.

Liam raised his hand to draw her attention and spoke up. "Can I say something?"

Riley contemplated his question, then replied, "Overruled."

"It's about our children," he continued.

She flashed a glance to Mara, who pursed her lips and simply nodded in approval. The Queen looked back to her husband. "Okay, I'll allow it this once. But make it quick so we can get to your sentencing."

"I was just going to remind you that we have a doctor appointment that we need to leave for in 10 minutes."

Dammit, he was right; she had forgotten all about the appointment, and Liam hadn't shaved her legs since the prior visit two weeks ago. Riley lifted the lower part of her dress, her legs still reclined, and peered down at the thick stubble that had grown. She huffed. Liam. That man had one damn job to do.

Riley twirled the gavel in one hand and a fork with the other, contemplating how to proceed with the time crunch.

She cut through a piece of her cake and took a bite, closing her eyes to savor its chocolaty flavor. After dabbing the corners of her mouth with a napkin, she looked out to Liam, drumming his fingers on the table. "I've made my decision. Would the defendant rise?"

Liam glanced at his watch and sighed. He pushed himself from the table and rose to his feet before placing his hands in his pockets.

"Due to the critical nature of this case, and the fact that the judge and offender had an important prior engagement scheduled, I have no choice but to issue a continuance. But I would like to remind the prisoner that he is not to flee the country without express written consent from this court." She slammed the gavel down. "Court dismissed until further notice."

As the attendees flocked out of the throne room to return to their homes or positions within the estate, Mara stood at the door with a crystal bowl collecting court donations to fund the Queen's prosecution. 

It received $747 and a coupon for half off at Mei Wah Sing.

Liam rounded the defendant's table and made his way to the Queen, whose legs were flailing in a struggle to get out of her lounger. 

He wrapped his arms around his wife and lifted her to a standing position, helping her straighten out her dress.

"Are you ready, love? I think we can still make it there on time if we hurry." His hand rubbed soothing circles over her aching back.

Riley leaned in for a kiss, relaxing into his special touch that always made the aches and pains disappear. Her eyes fell on the scooter at the bottom of the steps and lit up. "Oh, I know a way to get there faster."

Liam followed her gaze then shook his head adamantly. "Absolutely not! No way! Not after what happened earlier."

Riley dismissed him and tottered down the steps to her scooter.

“Riley!”

“Riley!”

“Riley!”

He hung his head with a heavy sigh as she exited. “Right behind you, my Queen.”

Permanent tags:

@burnsoslow​ @dcbbw​ @ao719​ @jessiembruno​ @hopefulmoonobject​ @texaskitten30​ @drakesensworld​ @janezillow​ @merridithsmiscellany-blog​ @mskaneko​ @loveellamae​ @queenjilian​ @sirbeepsalot​ @pedudley​ @caroldxnvxrs​ @jovialyouthmusic​ @forthebrokenheartedthings​ @desireepow-1986​ @bebepac​ @kingliam2019​ @lovablegranny​ @cordoniaqueensworld​ @amandablink​ @blueaster-blog1​ @liamxs-world​ @choiceskatie​ @iaminlovewithtrr​ ​  @hopelessromanticmonie​ @charlotteg234​ @twinkleallnight​ @annekebbphotography​ @txemrn​ @thecordoniandiaries​ @alyssalauren​ @cordonianroyalty​

FIC: The Rose and the Thorn: Chapter 5 (Mafia AU)

Summary:   So where was Blue while Rus was off getting kidnapped and how did he end up with Red, anyway?

Tags: Spicyhoney, Mafia AU, Flower Shop AU, Violence, First Meetings

Warnings: Some violence. A wee bit of unwanted touching and some innuendo.

Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4

~~*~~

Read on AO3

or

Read it here!

~~*~~

It was barely afternoon and Blue was already tired. He’d spent the morning coaxing a variety of flowers in their garden into bloom, gently forcing them to quickly travel through their growth cycles until they were ready to be cut and added to a bouquet.

Normally, their garden had a rigid schedule to keep from pushing the plants too much; stimulated growth could only go so far, after all. But losing most of their stock was forcing Blue to abandon it. Using so much magic in such a short amount of time was exhausting and when Blue parked in their assigned spot, the elderly van wheezing to a stop, he took a moment to sit in the sagging driver’s seat, ignoring the spring pushing through the cheap vinyl to poke at his coccyx as he closed his sockets for just a moment.

There really wasn’t time for a rest. Papy was waiting on these flowers, likely working hard since this morning readying the baskets for Blue’s delivery. There were funerary floral arrangements to be made, birthday gifts, romantic gestures, and every one of them added desperately needed profits back into their coffers.

Rest would have to wait. Instead, Blue pawed through the glove box, past the yellowed owner’s manual and an odd collection of fast food napkins to find a granola bar in its depths. Tastelessly stale, the chocolate chips cast in a white haze and Blue ate it anyway, chewing without tasting. It would help revive his magic and he’d be able to paste on his sunniest smile for Papyrus when he got inside.

His little brother was working so terribly hard, so many long hours on his own. Blue’s soul was so tight with pride, it felt as if it were ready to explode and shower his Papy with it, even as he kept the underling guilt hidden away, tucked back where his brother wouldn’t have to deal with it.

This was his fault. Papy shouldn’t have to deal with the brunt of the stress. He’d abandoned his own faint hopes for college to help Blue with the business, worked hard without a fuss. He learned to make flower arrangements from bouquets to corsages, how to run the registers, how to smile and charm their customers into buying more than they intended. This was Blue’s dream, not his, but he’d thrown himself in entirely, and Blue didn’t want him to know about the bills rubberstamped in red ‘past due’ ink. He didn’t want Papy to worry about their dwindling savings.

The insurance money would help, quite a bit if the representative he spoke to yesterday was correct, and they only needed to last the few weeks until it came.

A little hard work hadn’t dusted him yet, Blue told himself as he got out of the van and retrieved the first heavy bucket of cut flowers; lilies, for the funeral arrangements. A few weeks more wasn’t going to do any harm.

When he got to the shop door, for a moment Blue didn’t understand why it wouldn’t push open. Then he realized the open sign was off, the door was locked tight. The shop was closed, on a Friday afternoon when all the lovesick swains got their paychecks and were ready to pick up flowers in hopes of a romantic weekend and they’d be purchasing their bouquets elsewhere because his shop was closed.

Later, Blue would be ashamed his first instinct was largely irritated; had his silly brother forgotten to leave the door open for customers, they did have some stock! But that was not for more than a startled second, long enough for him to see the broken mug scattered across the stoop.

He leaned down to pick up a shard of the plastic, absently noting the tremble in his hand. It had been his brother’s favorite travel mug, a silly thing he’d gotten it at the thrift shop, leftover from some Halloween or another. The skeletons that danced around it would dance no more, the piece Blue held had lost its legs, and he took very little comfort in the fact there was no dust on the broken pieces because there was a single splotch of redness, a near-perfect circle of dried marrow.

Someone had hurt his brother, Humans, perhaps the same ones from yesterday and how had he ever believed in his naiveté that Humans would welcome them to the surface with open arms.

“now thems some pretty flowers you got there.”

Startled, Blue turned towards that voice, ready to tell them with as much forced politeness as he could muster that they were currently closed, and would the police even come if he called them, would they even care, who else could he possibly—

Then he caught sight of who spoke, and his soul felt as if it froze right in his rib cage, icy fingers digging in and oh, his little brother was in far worse trouble than Blue could have ever guessed.

He’d never met the Fells, neither on the Surface or below it. The Underground was a big place and the madscrabble life they’d grown accustomed to in Ebott did not lend itself to making new acquaintances. Not that Blue frequented the sorts of places where one might meet the Fells. No, he’d never met them, but he knew them by reputation. Thugs, whispered along the gossip-line, loan sharks, racketeers, even murderers said the quietest rumors, though not for very long.

This one could only be the older brother, Red. He stood only a bit taller than Blue and nearly twice as broad, with little resemblance past the fact they were both skeleton Monsters. His teeth curved into a jagged, shark grin, unlike Blue’s blunted smile and his eye lights were the burning crimson of an ember. His dark expensive suit with its rich scarlet shirt boasted of handsewn silks, and the fingers holding his cigar were circled with gold rings whose stones were too garishly large to be anything but real. His other hand was tucked into his pocket, oddly threatening for its nonchalance. Flanking him were two large Dog monsters, white on white ties and shirts, and Blue was suddenly struck by the absurdity of it all.

His little flower shop along with his brother had somehow been transported into some ridiculous Godfather-esque alternate, only proved by Red exhaling a billowing cloud of smoke as he said, “but it looks t’me like you’ve got a lil’ trouble bloomin’. lose somethin’? or mebbe someone.”

Inappropriate laughter bubble up, choked away, and Blue heard himself say, “I suppose I did.”

Red nodded as if Blue had offered not a stream of wisdom, but an entire glistening fountain. He started pulling his hand out of his pocket and Blue tensed, angel-only knew what thoughts about guns or knives shooting through his mind. But that hand was empty and Red only plucked one of the lilies from the bucket, running a razor-tipped finger along the satiny petals.

“Are you here to help with that? My…my missing person?” Blue asked at last. Not that he wanted to, he didn’t, but his options were few, any choices dwindled away. There was no one else to ask and with every second that went by, the danger his brother was in could only be growing. This had something to do with yesterday, Blue was sure of it, and he couldn’t even imagine what sort of trouble his sweet, funny brother had gotten into to cause all this.

Rumor had it Red never broke his word, that he had a twisted way of keeping it, a monkey’s paw wish. But for his brother, Blue would have bargained with the devil incarnate.

He wondered if he was.

“could be,” Red said idly. He twirled the flower stem between his fingers. “you got quite the green thumb, dontcha.”

“Yes?” Blue agreed, warily. He’d heard that before when they’d first come to the Surface, and his refusal to grow drugs had been a costly one, losing him possible allies. He wondered dismally what conundrum he was about to be balanced on for his brother’s safety.

“hm.” Red gave the lily a considering sniff, “might have to see if we can drive your posy sales a lil’ better, after we get past this oopsie daisy.”

Blue didn’t know what that meant but he was sure he wouldn’t like it.

“tell ya what,” Red gave him a conspiratorial wink and a finger gun, as if they were close pals and not a known criminal chatting with a simple florist, “me and the neighborhood watchdogs here, we’ll take care of it. you hang tight and we’ll get your bro back to you.”

Blue didn’t ask how they knew it was his brother. He didn’t ask a thing. He simply crossed his arms over his chest and said, “No, I don’t think so. I’m coming with you.”

That earned him a deep frown, “baby blue, i think mebbe you didn’t hear me so good.”

“I heard you perfectly well,” Blue told him and didn’t bother with any astonishment over what this…this person might know or not know about him. Nicknames and whatnot were not important. Papy was. “And I don’t care. I’m coming with you and I’m staying until I see my brother.”

A low growl came from one of the Dogs, silenced instantly when Red held out a hand. Those jagged teeth curved into an unpleasantly wide grin, “you think so, eh. and if i say no?”

It was not particularly difficult to work up some tears, they’d been hovering thickly beneath the surface the moment Blue found that broken coffee mug. He let them loose now, wailing as loudly as he could, “How can you leave me like this!” Fat droplets rolled down his cheeks, huge sobs gasped out, “and with a baby on the way?”

Red froze, his cigar drooping in his teeth as his grin fell away so abruptly Blue half-expected it to shatter on the stoop with the remains of Papy’s coffee mug. All around them the people on the sidewalk who’d been previously been looking discreetly away were abruptly watching with avid interest, aghast and greedily outraged as Blue wept loudly, one hand pressed against his apron to his belly over their nonexistent child. A few people were shuffling their feet as if considering playing the hero, weighing their odds against a cruel wealthy ex-boyfriend and his friends casting aside a tiny pregnant clerk.

“get in the fucking car,” Red muttered. He tossed the lily on the ground, trodding on it as he turned to do the same. Blue tried not to see the mangled flower as a metaphor and followed, hopping through the open door that one of the Dogs closed firmly behind him.

He settled into the enormous leather seat, buckling his seatbelt to at least make it more difficult if Red decided it might well be easier to simply shove him out of the car on the next block.

Not that Red seemed to be considering it. He was rummaging through a small bar installed in the side door, pouring a finger’s worth of what was probably very expensive whiskey into a crystal glass, knocking it back in a single gulp. He poured another then settled back in his seat with it, crimson eye lights targeting Blue.

“you got some balls, kid,” he grumbled. It almost sounded grudgingly admiring but there wasn’t time to worry about that.

“Can you promise me you’ll get my brother back to me? Safe and sound,” Blue hastened to add.

“sure, toots. we’ll get your bro back in mostly one piece,” Red said. He grinned again, all jaggedly sharp teeth as Blue’s gorge rose, purring out, “nah, he’ll be all safe and sound. got someone on it right now, and not one of the usual mutts, neither. he’ll get your bro. meantime, we got some things we can discuss, you and me.”

Blue lifted his chin defiantly. He’d known what he was getting into. If there was a price to be paid for saving his brother, Blue would offer his own soul on a silver platter. But there was no reason for Papy to know. “I’m sure we do, so long as it’s a private discussion between us.”

Those crimson eye lights gleamed and Blue could very nearly hear the invisible chains of fate closing around him. “good boy. now, let’s talk about you, baby blue. how’s business?”

-fin

Read Next Chapter

it’s q&a time!

tagged by the lovely @besidemethewholedamntime! 

1. What is the color of your hairbrush? light blue or red, depending on whether my hair is wet or dry

2. Name a food you never eat. there isn’t much I don’t eat, but if I had to choose, a very specific melon candy that just tastes nasty.

3. Are you typically too cold or too warm? too cold! I got too used to university heating and now I’m cold all the time

4. What were you doing 45 minutes ago? willing myself to start my friend’s profile so I can build up my portfolio before deciding to get on Tumblr. or i was scrolling through Tumblr. i’m not sure. 

5. What is your favorite candy bar? i’m pretty partial to a good kit kat bar, especially because they come in so many flavors! 

6. Have you ever been to a professional sports event? how do we define professional? because I’ve been to a baseball game, but i don’t know if we’d call college sports games ‘professional’. 

7. What is the last thing you said out loud? one of the lyrics i was harmonizing along to absentmindedly. couldn’t tell you which song it was, though...

8. What is your favorite ice cream? mint chocolate chip! 

9. What was the last thing you had to drink? tea! leftover from this morning and kind of cold unfortunately

10. Do you like your wallet? yes! i bought it at camden market when i was in London last year. it’s made completely of cork and i call it my adult wallet because i spent my college career wandering around with my wallet on a lanyard/attached to my phone case. 

11. What was the last thing you ate? ....a salad

12. Did you buy any new clothes last weekend? lol no

13. The last sporting event you watched? the super bowl, I think? after that they sort of cancelled sports

14. What is your favorite flavor of popcorn? either cheesy or caramel. no in between. 

15. Who is last person you sent a text message to? one of my friends, because we were discussing her diet coke intake

16. Ever go camping? i have! not for a long time, though. 

17. Do you take vitamins? i’m trying to on a regular basis, LOL. when i do i literally have to take a whole mouthful of ‘em. 

18. Do you go to church every Sunday? nope! 

19. Do you have a tan? i haven’t had a proper tan since July 2018 because i spent last summer in the north of england/interning in an office environment. and now of course we’re all stuck at home

20. Do you prefer Chinese food or pizza? Chinese food, because i can guarantee it won’t make me sick! 

21. Do you drink soda with a straw? it depends. is it out of a can or a cup? or a mug? where am I? if it’s a can, no, I’ll just chug it straight out. if it’s in a cup, probably. in a mug, i’m probably at home, so no again.

22. What color socks do you usually wear? white ones....

23. Do you ever drive above the speed limit? i live by the motto that you can speed to exactly 5 miles per hour above the speed limit.

24. What terrifies you? heights, this goddamn pandemic and turning out to be worthless

25. Look to your left, what do you see? my door with my honors college hat hanging on the doorknob

26. What chore do you hate? washing the goddamn bathtub. i HATE cleaning tile grout.

27. What do you think of when you hear an Australian accent? the Australian students I met while I was on exchange. either that or finding nemo

28. What’s your favorite soda? ginger ale. is that a soda? if not then Pepsi. I do miss vimto tho

29. Do you go into a fast food place or just hit the drive-thru? usually i go in, but I can be convinced to use the drive-thru.

30. Who’s the last person you talked to? my dad. I asked him if he wanted me to make him a salad for lunch.

31. Favorite cut of beef? ribeye, probably. 

32. Last song you listened to? ‘Grow As We Go’ by Ben Platt

33. Last book you read? I’ve been stuck on the same book for weeks -- “Into the Interior’ by Michelle Cliff.

34. Favorite day of the week? it’s quarantine, what are days anymore. jk i’d probably have to say either Mondays or Wednesdays, mainly because I know what day it is due to the fact that there’s new try guys content. 

35. Can you say the alphabet backwards? ...no. but maybe i’ll learn to?

36. How do you like your coffee? past coffee and straight into espresso, and at that point, i take it only with the following dunkin’ syrups: thin mint, heath bar or red velvet. and then with a ton of almond milk. iced. 

37. Favorite pair of shoes? either a pair of gray ankle boots I got two years ago or my black flower-patterned sneakers! 

38. The time you normally go to sleep? 2-2:30ish? I’m trying. 

39. The time you normally get up? 9, but whenever on the weekends. 

40. What do you prefer, sunrise or sunsets? sunsets for the sole reason that I’ve been awake to see the sunrise only a handful of times, one of them voluntary. 

41. How many blankets on your bed? three, although I have accidentally kicked one to the floor.

42. Describe your kitchen plates. they’re round and white with a floral pattern around the edges. it’s nice and pastel, and I’m pretty sure we’ve had these plates since before I was born. there are some newer ones, but they’re kind of the same. 

43. Do you have a favorite alcoholic beverage? anyone who knows me will know that i am an ABSOLUTE lightweight. i drink like a fresher, which is to say i drink mikes, Smirnoff ices, twisted teas, angry orchard and rekorderligs (rip rekorderligs, i haven’t had them since i got back from Europe and they’re fantastic). i also like pink moscato LOL. 

44. Do you play cards? not in the way of poker or blackjack? I play the kids’ games, like 21 and Big 2. 

45. What color is your car? silver

46. Can you change a tire? ooh, no...although I should probably try to learn...

47. Your favorite province? Tuscany province, because Florence is literally the only place I’ve been to that’s located within a province. other than Quebec, but I really liked Florence. 

48. Favorite job you’ve ever had? i’ve had maybe 3 in my life and while being a temp was enriching, i worked at a dunks for a spell and kind of found a family there! so that was nice. 

49. How did you get your biggest scar? went down a hill on a scooter, wiped out and almost got hit by a truck. it’s on my ankle. 

50. What did you do today that made someone else happy? ha....nothing? although I hope my family appreciates that i did the dishes. 

i tag: @swifteforeverandalways @crazyrichfilipinos @peacequack @coffee-esque and anyone else that wants to do it! 

47 Gluten Free Sweet and Savory Recipes for Cooking with Kids

New blog post! If you're like a lot of families right now, you're spending more time together than you have in a while...which means now is the perfect time for cooking with kids and finding kid friendly recipes!

Personally, some of my favorite memories from childhood involve cooking and baking with my parents. When I was young, it was a tradition for Dad and me to bake my cake together, and while we had a few less-than-ideal results, the memories are definitely very sweet. And if you want to start the same tradition in your own house, these 47 kid friendly recipes are the perfect place to start. In particular, this round up includes 18 savory and 29 sweet recipes that kids will enjoy cooking and/or eating with you. Whether you're looking for recipes that are keto, paleo, low carb, low sugar or vegan, there are also plenty of options. So let's dive right in to these cooking with kids recipes!

Gluten Free and Savory Cooking with Kids Recipes

1. Chickpea Squash Fritters (Vegan) - Piping Pot Curry

If you need kid friendly recipes that are also loaded with hidden veggies, these vegan fritters are a tasty place to start.

2. Egg & Potato Breakfast Muffins (Grain Free, Dairy Free, Whole 30) - Raia's Recipes

These are easy to make and even easier to eat on busy mornings.

3. Rainbow Vegetable Tortilla Wrap (Vegan) - Recipes From a Pantry

Your kids will have a blast cutting up the veggies of their choice to make this colorful and easy gluten free wrap.

4. Paleo Chicken Tenders (Low Carb, Keto) - Allergy Free Alaska

These chicken tenders are much healthier than their traditional counterpart but still addictively delicious.

5. Loaded Potato Wedge Nachos (Paleo and Vegan Options) - Casey the College Celiac

If you bake these potato wedges ahead of time, your kids can have a blast covering their wedges with whatever nacho toppings they want!

6. 3-Ingredient Tuna Salad - High Chair Chronicles

Tuna, mayo and a surprising third ingredient combine for a delicious and simple gluten free sandwich filling everyone will love.

7. Creamy Baked Mac And Cheese (Nut Free, Vegan) - Wow Its Veggie

Mac and cheese GOALS...whether you have kids or not!

8. Crustless Pizza (Low Carb, Keto) - Low Carb Yum

No crust, no problem. This ham and cheese combo is just as delicious without it.

9. Cornbread Muffins (Dairy Free) - Hot Pan Kitchen

These gluten free muffins are soft, slightly sweet, moist and very kid friendly!

10. Simple Homemade Salsa - Simply Full of Delight

I know one toddle who eats salsa on its own with a spoon...but even if yours doesn't love salsa quite that much, this is delicious with gluten free chips.

11. Vegan Potato Cakes with Carrot and Rice - Little Sunny Kitchen

Leftover mashed potatoes, rice, carrots, onions, and parsley combine into a "cake" that kids and adults will love.

12. Broccoli Cheese Nuggets - Joy Filled Eats

Because what kid doesn't love nuggets of some sort?!?

13. Socca Flatbread (Grain Free, Vegan) - Emma Eats and Explores

This gluten free flatbread only calls for four simple ingredients, and you can stuff or top them however your family likes!

14. Avocado Deviled Eggs (Keto, Low Carb, Vegetarian) - Tasty Galaxy

Serve these with ham so your kids can enjoy green eggs and ham, no food coloring required.

15. Pizza Eggs (Keto, Low Carb) - Peace, Love and Low Carb

Eggs are transformed into an easy and delicious pizza with some creative toppings and seasoning.

16. Healthy Bell Pepper Nachos - Momables

These are "nacho" your traditional nachos, but they're still super tasty!

17. Oven-Baked Healthy Chicken Nuggets - Goodnesst

Rice flour, corn flakes and an egg combine to give these healthy chicken nuggets an addictive crunch.

18. Sausage Balls with Cream Cheese (Keto) - Wholesome Yum

These keto sausage balls are as easy to make as they are to get addicted to, so consider yourself warned!

Gluten Free Sweet Cooking with Kids Recipes

19. Secretly Healthy Sweet n' Salty Trail Mix (Vegan) - Casey the College Celiac

Get your kids involved in the kitchen by having them help you pick out what ingredients to add to their special trail mix.

20. Easy Flourless Peanut Butter and Jelly Thumbprint Cookies - Mash Up Mom

Kids will love how hands-on this four-ingredient recipe really is!

21. Sweet Potato Muffins (Vegan) - Cass Clay Cooking

Gluten free oats, sweet potato and spices combine into a kid-friendly recipe that's especially delicious with nut butter and chocolate.

22. The Fluffiest Waffles (Dairy Free) - Eating on a Dime

These gluten free waffles are crisp on the outside, soft on the inside and one of the best kid cooking recipes you could pick for a lazy Sunday morning.

23. Banana Donuts with Chocolate Coconut Walnuts - Fearless Dining

These gluten free donuts actually have pretty healthy ingredients, but your family won't be able to tell!

24. Maple Walnut Cookies (Paleo, Vegan) - A Sweet Alternative

These cookies are actually super nutrient-dense and the recipe is simple enough for little hands to help.

25. Taste the Rainbow Bliss Balls (Vegan) - Casey the College Celiac

Kids will have a blast playing around with the superfoods that give this gluten free snack so many fun colors.

26. Healthy Snickers Ice Cream Bites (Vegan) - Rhian's Recipes

Because who can resist ice cream flavors and getting to play around with melted chocolate?

27. Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies - Ripped Jeans and Bifocals

Because what's a better recipe for cooking with kids than a classic chocolate chip cookie?!?

28. No Bake Chocolate Covered Coconut Balls (Vegan) - The Simple Cooking

No baking needed, easy ingredients and a super tasty result.

29. 3-Ingredient Blueberry Cheesecake Bagel (Egg Free) - Casey the College Celiac

This gluten free bagel recipe only calls for three simple recipes, and your kids can have a blast shaping the bagels before they're baked!

30. Peanut Butter Protein Balls (Vegan Options) - Texanerin 

This gluten free snack recipe is so simple, your kids can make them on their own!

31. Frozen Chocobananos - Bacon is Magic

Your kids will need help melting the chocolate, but after that, they can go wild with their choice of toppings.

32. Easy Coconut Oil Chocolate (Dairy Free, Vegan Option) - Eats Amazing

Watching this healthy chocolate form will feel like magic for young bakers.

33. Chocolate Chip Pancakes - Fab Food 4 All

The gooey chocolate center ensures that your kids will gobble these pancakes right up.

34. Thin Mint Cookies - Well If She Can Do It

If your little one is bummed that Thin Mint Girl Scout Cookies aren't gluten free, these are the perfect family baking activity.

35. Mini Apple Pizzas (Vegan) - Veggie Desserts

Kids will have such a fun time decorating their own fruit pizzas.

36. Super Easy Raspberry and White Chocolate Muffins (Dairy Free) - Super Golden Bakes

A dairy free muffin recipe for kids who really want to get busy in the kitchen...

37. Dye-Free Coconut Rainbow Cookies (Vegan) - Casey the College Celiac

These gluten free cookies only call for simple ingredients and are colored naturally with superfood powders and spices. What kid doesn't want to taste the rainbow?

38. Super Fudgy Brownie Cupcakes (Vegan) - My Pure Plants

You measure the ingredients and your little one can pour and mix. As always, just make sure you use gluten free oats.

39. Soft-Baked Almond Flour Chocolate Chip Cookies - Kitchen Treaty

Kids will definitely give these soft gluten free cookies two thumbs up.

40. The Best Healthy Gummies - Marathons and Motivation

You only need three ingredients to whip up these healthy gummies with your kids.

41. Lemon Coconut Energy Balls (Refined Sugar Free, Vegan) - Natalie's Health 

Your kids will love how hands-on this recipe is as they roll their own energy balls.

42. Chocolate Pecan Cookies (Keto) - All Nutritious

These cookies only have 3 net carbs per serving, and are the perfect treat for a family following a low carb diet.

43. Strawberry Fruit Roll-Ups (No Added Sugar) - Served From Scratch

Your kids will have as much fun making these fruit roll-ups as they do eating them.

44. Cookie Dough Pumpkin Pops - My Joy-Filled Life

Because what kid (or adult?) doesn't love a tasty treat they can eat off a stick!

45. Easy Keto Blueberry Muffins (Paleo Option) - Here to Cook

You can make these keto muffins in just one bowl if you need to, and the crumbly texture will win all eaters over.

46. Apple Slice Donuts - Crafts 4 Toddlers

Apple slices get an upgrade from a homemade frosting!

47.  Best Chocolate Fudge Recipe (Vegan) - Happy Kitchen Rocks

This fudge recipe doesn't call for any condensed milk or sugar, and is easy enough to make that your kids can join in.

The Bottom Line of Cooking with Kids and Kid Friendly Recipes

Now that you may be enjoying more time with your family than ever before, I hope that this list of recipes gives you some ideas of how to spend your evenings in...once you figure out which kid-friendly recipe you want to try first, anyway. ;) And if you do end up trying any of these recipes, be sure to tag me in your photos on Instagram (at @collegeceliackc) so I can see and share! What's your go-to recipe when cooking with kids or for kids? I'd love to hear in the comments!

via Blogger https://ift.tt/3bRXYLW

Jessica Barnes: Jr. CEO (One Shot)

Summary: This is the cutest company takeover in history.

Pairing: CEO Daddy! Bucky Barnes x OC: Jessica Marie Barnes

Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, Wanda Maximoff, Natasha Romanoff, Sam Wilson

Scott Lang and Peter Parker

Word Count: 1,879

Warnings: Angst; fluff

A/N: @stevieang, thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule to beta read for me. Your insight is greatly appreciated.

Exquisite Designs, a commercial architectural firm owned by longtime friends James Buchanan Barnes and Steven Grant Rogers, boasted some of New York’s wealthiest clients. For over 17 years, the firm built some of the most elegant office buildings dotting the skyline in New York City.

Their number one client is Stark and Wilson Land Development. The firm was currently working on the Howard and Maria Stark wing of Mt. Sinai hospital" It was a 24-7 project with big deadlines, big pressure, and big payoff. This project held a special place in Bucky’s heart. His wife, Lillian, died from a brain aneurysm, leaving behind an adorable daughter with rich brown hair like her father and hypnotic amber eyes identical to her late mother.

Her frail body lay in the lovely king size sleigh bed. Different hues of blues dotted the sheets, comforter and blanket. Blue is her favorite color. James Buchanan Barnes, held his wife Lillian’s dainty hand. He knew her time on Earth was drawing to an end. Sunken eyes turned towards her husband whispering, “Please promise me, you’ll live for Jess.”

“Don’t know how to do that without you, Doll.” Bucky wiped the steady stream of tears from his face. 

With a faint smile on her face, Lillian Marie Barnes closed her eyes. Shoulders shaking, Bucky sobbed openly, kissing her hand. “I love you, Lillian. I’ll do my best for Jess.”

Steve heard his best friend crying. He then realized, his “Lillie Bug” was gone. Trying to explain to a 3 year old that her mommy was gone, Steve put it this way. “Munchkin’, ya remember when your daddy told ya that mommy would go to sleep forever?” 

Jess nodded ‘yes.’ “Daddy said mommy was Sleeping Beauty, but the Prince couldn’t wake her up. So, she’ll be in Heaven watching out for us. Is she an Angel now, Uncle Stevie?”

“Yeah, Lillie Bug is an Angel.” Jess crawled in her uncle’s lap, “I’m sad.”

“Me too, sweetheart.” Burying her face in Steve’s massive chest, Jess cried herself to sleep. 

Following Lillian’s memorial service, Bucky spiralled into deep depression. No longer able to care for her, Jess mourned the loss of her mommy and daddy. Signing temporary control of Exquisite Designs to his best friend, Bucky sought the nurturing spirit of Lillian’s parents, Raymond and Bethany. They agreed to keep their granddaughter as long as needed. Unable to understand why she wasn’t with her daddy, Jess often cried, becoming clingy. 

Three months later, Steve kicked his friend in the ass, explaining Jess longed for her daddy. Losing her mother had taken a toll on her young life, now she needed him to get it together. 

Realizing Steve was right, Bucky planned a father/daughter vacation to Maui. As you would imagine, Jessica was delighted. Boarding his private jet, the duo made their way to crystal clear water, sugar white sandy beaches, for a chance to reconnect with his daughter. Tucked away in his luggage were photo albums, holding page after page of heartwarming memories.

Sitting in Bucky’s lap, Jess wiped the tears cascading down Bucky’s face. “Daddy, don’t be sad. Mommy is in Heaven. She can see us, just look up.” 

Turning her gaze towards a cloudless sky, Jess baby girl smiled and whispered,“Mommy told me to take care of you.” 

“Thank you Jess. I Iove you so much. Please forgive me for not spending time with you. Your momma was my world. Following her death, life just wasn’t the same. I neglected the one person who needed me the most; YOU!”

“Daddy, it’s okay.” Her face was sincere and her words showed the goodness deep within.

“No baby, it’s not. From now on, I’ll take more time off.” 

Her face lit up like a carnival in the night. “Really?? Yippee!”

Upon returning home, Bucky thought of a wonderful way to honor his wife’s memory. He approached Steve about plans for “The Lillian Marie Barnes Child Care Center.” A free center for all employees of the firm.  Parents could be there at the beginning, middle, and end of the day and didn’t have to worry about their little ones while at work. The age limits were: infants 6 months - 1 years old and children 2- 4 years old. Employees, as you could imagine, were ecstatic. 

Since “The Howard and Maria Stark Children’s Wing” was on schedule, Peter Parker, Director of Marketing, pitched an idea to Bucky. 

Gathered around the spacious cherrywood table were upper management and their executive assistants. Facilitating the meeting, Peter laid out his plans for “Kids Takeover the Firm Day.” “I thought it would be fun to take a day off and let the kids run the company. We’ve worked extremely hard to meet all our deadlines and it’s been accomplished.” Everyone listened attentively.

“Have you decided on a date?” Bucky leaned on the table.

“How about this Saturday? The phone lines won’t be operational just in case one of the kids decides to call out, and our answering service would alert us if they received calls that weren’t caught by one of us.”

Bucky added, “You might be onto something Peter. I’m sure they would love to dress up and  play Junior Executives for a day.”

Nat and Clint’s twins, Mason and Jason, would serve as Jr. Executive Assistants to the Jr. CEO.

Steve agreed, “Jessica should serve as Jr. CEO.” 

Bucky couldn’t believe his ears. “Are you sure? I don’t want any favoritism.”

“She’d make a great Junior CEO!” Wanda’s eyes sparkled.

With this in mind, Bucky suggested taking the remainder of the day off. “Alright, let’s get the ball rolling. I have a little CEO to shop for.”

Bucky made his way to Jessica’s preschool class. She immediately sprinted to his arms.“Hi sweetheart. How’s my girl?” 

“I’m fine daddy. We learned our ABC’s and numbers!” Jess’ smile mimicked that of her mommy’s.  

“What? My goodness you’re smart!”  Bucky kissed  her cheek, nose and forehead before dropping the big news on her.

“Guess what? On Saturday, all the kids of the moms and dads that work for Daddy and Uncle Steve’s company get to be in charge for the day. Uncle Steve has promoted you to Junior Chief Executive Officer - the Big Boss.”You’ve been deemed Jr. CEO.”

Unable to contain her enthusiasm, Jess sprung up on her toes. Pumping her fists in the air, she jumped around declaring, “I’M THE BOSS...I’M THE BOSS!!!”

“Peanut, there’s more to being CEO than just saying you’re the boss. Remember that it’s important to always treat your employees with respect.”

“Okay daddy. I’ll be good.” 

“How about a shopping trip? You’ll need new clothes, a briefcase, and shoes!”  There wasn’t much his girl loved more than going shopping.  She was all in now.

“Let’s go!!!”

TIME FOR WORK

At 8:00 on the dot, decked out in her navy blue “suit” and carrying her briefcase and phone, Jessica Marie Barnes, Jr. CEO, reported for work. 

Natasha’s twins Mason and Jason, donned brown two-piece suits, cream shirts, and brown striped ties. Malachi Rogers sported a gray 3 piece suit, powder blue shirt, and solid tie. Wanda, Scott and Sam’s kids also looked razor sharp, in pastel dress shirts, dark pants, and black patent leather shoes. 

Parents and kids gathered in the small conference room. The kids couldn’t sit still, they were hyped to get the show on the road.

“I must admit, this is the best dressed staff in all of New York.” Bucky beamed, “Jessica, you have the floor.”

“Thank you Mr. Barnes. Good morning. My name is Jessica Barnes but you can call me Jess. It’s time for our morning meeting. Follow me to the small room.” 

Their parents laughed quietly and smiled as they filed out of the room.  How much trouble could 3 and 4 year olds get into? Yikes!

Parents applauded as Jess led her friends to another conference room set-up with breakfast sandwiches, fruit, pastry and juice boxes.

Munching on a sausage and biscuit, Malachi announced, “Okay, folks. We have a lot of work to do. There’s a meeting with people who want something built.” 

One little lady asked, “Mr. Grant, who?”  

Malachi replied, “I dunno let’s make something up.”

One factor forgotten, in the midst of their excitement of the day, the cuteness of the kids, someone forgot what could happen if kids consume copious amounts of S.U.G.A.R.  

Jess, Malachi, Mason and Jason wandered away from the others and ended up in one of the copy rooms. Mason, with wide-eyed wonder, suggested making copies of their faces. How they turned the machine on is one of life’s biggest mysteries. They took turns copying faces, arms and legs. Jason, however, took it one step further. He sat on the machine and took a picture of his bottom. 

Next, a group of 3-year-olds snuck into a few offices with sticky hands, pressing on the keyboards. Yep, they made a mess. 

Not to be left out, Jessica and her gang visited the employee break room. The refrigerator and lower cabinets were raided. They devoured chips, Christmas candy, and cookies leftover from an office meeting. 

Smeared on the pristine white walls were tiny chocolate handprints, water and orange juice got spilled onto the floor, and a few kids ate too much. The room was an absolute MESS.

Mason and Jason tried to clean up the spilled juice throwing paper towels on the floor. Malachi retrieved a mop, attempting to clean up.

Instead, he slipped, face first, soiling his new suit. Jessica, completely flustered, plopped on the floor in tears.

Leave it to the Moms in the room to hear what wasn’t being said.  Natasha and Wanda suddenly looked at each other and sprinted out of the room towards the suddenly-silent children.  They knew that quiet kids equaled disaster and were nauseous at the thought of what they might find.  All the parents ran and converged on the breakroom, stopped cold by what they found.  As they surveyed the damage. Bucky murmured, “What the hell happened in here?”

While he shook his head, most of the parents pulled out their phones to capture the moment.

The state of the room was nothing compared to the tired, messy children who were in varying stages of sugar crashes. Bucky looked at Steve, “We’re going to have to give the cleaning company a major bonus after this weekend. They’re going to think we left a zoo loose in here!”

Understanding the need for parents, as well as kids to recuperate, Steve suggested everyone take an extended weekend. Everyone accepted the gracious offer.  

“Kids Takeover the Firm Day” was a complete success. Jessica Barnes’ reign as CEO had come to an end. Sleeping soundly on her daddy’s black leather office sofa, Jess was visibly exhausted. Kissing her chubby cheek, Bucky moved a strand of hair from her forehead. In that moment, he felt Lillian’s presence. Wiping a wayward tear from his face, Bucky knew his wife would live on through Jessica Marie Barnes, Junior CEO.

Tagging: @stevieang @loricameback @mrsgoodnight @suz-123 @pegasusdragontiger

Unusual Asks

Spotify, SoundCloud, or Pandora? spotify!! 

is your room messy or clean? ...depends if i don’t have company, or i haven’t been made to clean it, it’s relatively messy. well. it’s not messy to me, because i know where everything is and why things are...not...put away, but messy to Literally Everyone Else

what color are your eyes? brown!

do you like your name? why? i Love my name mostly because i chose it and i like how it sounds I Just Think It’s Neat

what is your relationship status? taken! i have two beautiful partners that i love very very much

describe your personality in 3 words or less Chaotic Disaster Gay

what color hair do you have? also brown dkjbsgalk

what kind of car do you drive? color? i don’t drive! don’t have my license yet

where do you shop? anywhere and everywhere alksjdb meijer? ig?

how would you describe your style? Grunge

favorite social media account discord! ‘s how i talk to my babies :3

what size bed do you have? a twin! v comfy, v bouncy

any siblings? unfortunately two brothers both are Assholes

if you can live anywhere in the world where would it be? why? switzerland honestly first of all, lgbtq+ has been legal there since 1942 like look at them Go oh my gosh also! i love german, it’s such a fascinating language but the biggest reason? that’s where moje rojena wants to live

favorite snapchat filter? i don’t have snapchat, and don’t really plan to kjasbdl

favorite makeup brand(s) don’t wear it! the only thing i use is chapstick lmao a wonderful vanilla chapstick by Eos

how many times a week do you shower? sometimes every night, but mostly every other night! so three or four

favorite tv show? oh gosh there are so many she-ra is probably at the top i love supernatural, and elementary, bbc sherlock, person of interest, steven universe there are a bunch of amazing shows i love!

shoe size? i think i wear like a ten and a half quadruple e do with that as you will

how tall are you? 5′4 i think probably

sandals or sneakers? flip flops!! or barefoot kadjbsgl

do you go to the gym? i don’t think i’ve ever even seen the inside of a gym

describe your dream date cuddle pile some show or movie on tv So Many Blankets but the most important thing the Most Important thing is that my babies are with me and that’s all i really need

how much money do you have in your wallet at the moment? i don’t have any cash, but i have like a little over $50 on my card

what color socks are you wearing? white with gray designs

how many pillows do you sleep with? normally three, but i’ll bring in another three if i want to build a Nest:tm:

do you have a job? what do you do? no job! i think my first job will be working at my local library

how many friends do you have? uhhhhhhh no idea a dozen? idk maybe half a dozen i really have no idea, and i have a horrible memory

what's the worst thing you have ever done? I Will Not Divulge Such Information

what's your favorite candle scent? there’s this one candle we have that’s tide+kelp scented but it just smells like a speedstick it’s awesome

3 favorite boy names Leo (obviously) Tobias Axel

3 favorite girl names L(again, obviously) Celeste i’ve always loved the name Andromeda as well! 

favorite actor? Ezra Miller!! they’re a nonbinary icon, first of all, and they’re an amazing actor in my opinion! they’re Credence in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Barry in Justice Leauge

favorite actress? hmmmmmmmmmm probably Margot Robbie tbh love her stuff also? have you seen the trailer for Birds of Prey? we Stan

who is your celebrity crush? don’t have one kjdsablg

favorite movie? oh gosh I Cannot Choose A Favorite Anything Okay i love Avatar(the one with the blue aliens not the Disgrace Of A Movie), and The Dark Knight, Captain Marvel, Abominable, and so many others

do you read a lot? what's your favorite book? i do! i used to read almost a full book every day Finding Me by Katheryn Cushman is really good, and so is Five Feet Apart, i love the Divergent series too!

money or brains? brains duh, if you’re smart you can make more money but if you’re an idiot with money what happens when you run out

do you have a nickname? what is it? not really kjabdsga my partners have their nicknames for me of course, but with my actual name you can’t have a lot of nicknames Leo calls me Q, i’ve been called Stefano and Viktor, one friend used Quimberly for a while akjfgbslkdfg

how many times have you been to the hospital? other than when i was born, i think only the once!

top 10 favorite songs Here We Go sweet tooth-Scott Helman adderall- Max Frost bambi- Hippo Campus roxxane- Arizona Zervas grixtronics- GRiZ iSpy- KYLE truth hurts- kidz bop (fuck off it slaps) walk man- TMG mr.clean- Yung Gravy peach scone- Hobo Johnson

do you take any medications daily? nope! 

what is your skin type? (oily, dry, etc) definitely oily

what is your biggest fear? Ya Boi Out Here With Abandonment Issues

how many kids do you want? i’ll stick with my fur babies thank you very much

what's your go-to hairstyle? in my face covering my right eye so i can’t see with it because it annoys my mother and i think i look Hot

what type of house do you live in? (big, small, etc) medium i would think? we don’t have a second floor or a finished basement, but i’ve never had to bunk with either of my brothers so

who is your role model? no one specific! just, kind people, yk? 

what was the last compliment you received? i think it was on...monday? when Leo kept telling me i was adorable XD

what was the last text you sent? to a gc with my partners saying i was going mia because I Have The Right To Not Interact With Anyone For Several Days And Watch Movies  no i will not be taking criticism

how old were you when you found out santa wasn’t real? like somewhere from seven to nine i think i have no idea dude, i have the memory of a goldfish

what is your dream car? .... 1967 black chevy impala

opinion on smoking? bad for you, love the smell, not gonna tell you to stop, will just worry quietly in the corner because i won’t tell you what to do with your life

do you go to college? nope! still in high school, i probably won’t go to college tbh

what is your dream job? owning my own bookstore! with a cafe a cat cafe i have it planned out to a concerning degree

would you rather live in rural areas or the suburbs? i’ve lived in one place my entire life and it’s on the side of the highway with no neighbors so Suburbs Be Like Scary

do you take shampoo and conditioner bottles from hotels? oh absolutely

do you have freckles? no and i’m salty about it

do you smile for pictures? of course! never with my teeth tho because my canines are halfway up my face :)

how many pictures do you have on your phone? don’t have a phone! i have a Whole Bunch on my computer though

have you ever peed in the woods? did not work out tried once Never Again

do you still watch cartoons? of course i do i’m gay it’s legally required

do you prefer chicken nuggets from Wendy’s or McDonald's? i’ve never had McDonald's nuggets but Wendy’s has the best for sure

Favorite dipping sauce? ranch or campfire sauce

what do you wear to bed? pajamas???? in winter it’s long sleeve tees with fuzzy pants in summer it’s basketball shorts and whatever twenty-year-old shirt i can find in my closet

have you ever won a spelling bee? i’ve never entered one so no homeschool for the win

what are your hobbies? Anything On A Screen and books mostly books on a screen but i’ll occasionally pick up a paperback also food and swimming

can you draw? s o m e t i m e s

do you play an instrument? i played guitar for a while, but i broke one of the strings and don’t have the tools to replace it i really want a ukelele

what was the last concert you saw? i went to a college campus for four days with my youth group, and a band named Sing Love played every night

tea or coffee? Neither

Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts? Also Neither i’ve been to starbucks one time and it was the most disappointing drink i’ve ever had i am a loyal biggby customer  even though i haven’t been there in over a year

do you want to get married? not in the traditional sense i couldn’t even if i wanted to because the us said No Polyam Rights

what is your crush’s first and last initial? L.R. + L.G.

are you going to change your last name when you get married? probably! or we’ll both take a new one together

what color looks best on you? warm colors!! i do look Fabulous in a nice cool forest green though

do you miss anyone right now? Of Course I Do I’m In A Long Distance Relationship With Two People

do you sleep with your door open or closed? closed if it was open my asshole cat would eat all my hair ties and my fairy lights

do you believe in ghosts? nope! 

what is your biggest pet peeve? uh people who assume? ig?

last person you called? Leo XD

favorite ice cream flavor? mint chocolate chip!!

regular oreos or golden oreos? The Golden Ones  they taste like lemon even if they’re not the lemon ones i love it

chocolate or rainbow sprinkles? i don’t like sprinkles because i’m a Monster

what shirt are you wearing? i’m Not It’s Hoodie Season

what is your phone background? my tablet backgrounds are Leo and L because i’m a Sap

are you outgoing or shy? Both i’m getting a lot better in the confidence department, but i still get nervous and overwhelmed sometimes!

do you like it when people play with your hair? I Cry Every Time and so does Leo it’s adorable

do you like your neighbors? if i did i would hate them because i Can

do you wash your face? at night? in the morning? not outside of the shower

have you ever been high? nope

have you ever been drunk? nope

last thing you ate? leftover itallian mac n cheese

favorite lyrics right now ..... ................. raindrops on rose and whiskers on kittens~ sTICKING-

summer or winter? winter!!

day or night? night, of course

dark, milk, or white chocolate? milk! or dark with sea salt

favorite month? hm maybe august because it’s just starting to get cold, but you can also still swim on the warm days

what is your zodiac sign pisces! as i’m sure is obvious

who was the last person you cried in front of? my mother Because Leaving Me Alone For Five Minutes Is Impossible

thank you Luxet for the questions!

Forbidden - Part 3 (Dimon Romantic)

The story can also be found on Wattpad You can find the previous chapters here Feedback is greatly appreciated. I went to the bathroom and finally took the much needed shower from the night before. The whole dorm was still densely filled with the smoky-alcoholic scent so I also made sure to open all the windows and doors to get some fresh air in there. “Got any suggestions where to go?” – I yelled through the bathroom door before starting the shower. “How does Starbucks sound?” – Chelle replied from her room. “Works for me.” – I said back and proceeded to wash my body Starbucks was both Chelle and I’s favorite spot for a morning coffee, the café was located in a very nice area, quite close to the centre and was easy to get there on foot from the dorm. The smell there was also blissful, nothing better than a banana cake to match the strong coffee aroma. It was the best time to go out and sit there, especially on such sunny days when the tables outside were available. On the not so bright side though, we could only go there like 2 times per week without going bankrupt. I love those guys but man, are they an expensive place. At the end of the day, I am a student and that meant being on a strict budget and having zero freedom. I put my hair in a high ponytail, and quickly put on a pair of jeans and my favorite oversized t-shirt saying “I’m sorry for what I said when I was hungry”, a present from my sister Dallas, the second biggest weirdo on this planet after me. I noticed I also had dark circles under my eyes, so now the choice was either for some make up or for the big sunglasses. “Demi, are you ready?” – I hear Chelle asking, meaning she was done with her preparations. Well, it will be the sunglasses, then. “Yup, a second” – I replied, putting the last few pins on my hair and spraying a bit of perfume around my neck. “Okay, let’s go” – I told her, letting go of my door handle and going to the front door. The way to the café was a short 10-minute long walk, but we could still notice some leftovers from the few parties that were hosted yesterday. The most common type of garbage was the occasional McDonalds’ huge paper bag or Subway’s sandwich wraps and napkins. It looked as if the rubbish bags were out of stock in this country, a horrible mess. We reached the coffee shop and picked a nice cozy table in the corner on the right. Thankfully not too many people had come yet so the tables outside were still not all taken. Our seats weren’t in the middle of the hustle and bustle if I may call it like that, yet they were also close to the inner part of the café so we wouldn’t need to walk too much with the purchases in our hands. Chelle and I sat on the table and we both started flipping the pages of the menus, as if we didn’t know it all by heart by now. I was certainly gonna be having a frappe today, it was hot AF and the alcohol was still running in my system, so I was sweating like a mine worker. Not the biggest fan of ice coffee, but the situation was of a pressing matter. I turned a few pages further, the breakfast items didn’t look too bad either, the question was if I was actually hungry or just wanted to have a snack though. I thought about having a coffee cake, but that usually bloated me up a lot, so I would rather have the white chocolate chip cookie. It was not too heavy and it usually did cover me well when the sweet tooth hit me with cravings, so I was good with it. “Alright, I can go in there and get the stuff, can you stay here and keep the table?” – Chelle asked a few minutes later. “Yeah that’s cool. Can you get me a frappe and a chocolate chip cookie, with white chocolate chunks though?” “Sure, be right back. Watch my stuff there.” “Here, take 10, should be just enough” – I handed her the bill. Chelle went inside and I plopped myself back on my chair. The day was beautiful; lots of the students from our uni or the few others in town were out as well. Sunday was the day of procrastination and it did hold a very truthful rule for students: If you put it off for Sunday, it won’t happen, dude. At some point a pretty loud noise for my still hangover head came from the road. I turned around to see a black car pull over on the other side of the street. It was a type of car that was pretty rare to notice in Boston or in the states in general, quite low over the road and with a foreign registration plate. It did resemble a very familiar car that I had definitely paid attention to before. If you’d ever watched “Gone in 60 seconds”, then you would know it too – a British Jaguar. How did I know? That was Marissa’s favorite movie and therefore my least favorite one, because we’d watched it like a billion times. The only difference here was that this car was a lot newer – a model I couldn’t name for sure. I kept my gaze on and saw the person on the driving seat fidgeting with something and then opening the door. The driver stepped out, but kept his head towards the car. It seemed as if he was looking for something, until he finally found it and grabbed it from inside. I wondered what it was like to have that much money and to be able to afford such comfort. Surely I was now in a position where finances were not the greatest developing aspect of my life, but that would change later on hopefully. I would love to buy stuff without having to look at the price tag and not worry about it. Just to be impulsive, like: a Jaguar? Yes, please. That car was worth about a million dollars last time I checked. I re-focused my look over to the driver and realized I had seen this man before. Not only that, I had actually known him and already spoken to him. That was Mr. Cowell, my Music Production lecturer. And also the man whose car - probably one of his many, I kicked. And if that wasn’t awkward enough, the man I had the audacity to call ‘a fool’. He was very casually dressed this time – in just a white t-shirt and some jeans, no trace of the formal black blazer he was wearing at the university. He was also wearing a pair of dark ray-bans and was puffing on a cigarette, whilst slowly making his way to internal part of the café. At this point I actually wondered what the best thing to do was: hide from him behind my bag, bury my face in my phone and pretend I never saw him, greet him with a simple nod or step into the dangerous zone of another possible embarrassment and talk to him. In case you wondered why would I talk to him – because I wanted to apologize!? If my math was right, he would be my lecturer for quite some time, and feeling this awkward for so long was something I’d rather pass. Anyway, the problem here was that instead of actually following one of the scenarios I thought of, I was doing probably the worst I could have right now – I was looking, actually I was staring at him as if I was bewitched, with my mouth slightly opened and my chin propped onto the fingers of my hand. Good thing was I was still wearing my sunglasses and so was he, so there was still a chance he didn’t just catch me watching him like some weirdo. He reached the entrance of the café, took the cigarette off his mouth and dogged it in an ashtray on a nearby table on the porch. Once he pinched it off, he carefully lifted his gaze and for a moment looked into my direction. My immediate reaction was to look down for good 3-4 seconds, only to make my sunglasses fall down and hear the cracking sound of them hitting the ground. So much for your strategies, Demetria. I clumsily moved the table to pick them up and saw he was getting inside once I did. My face went deep red; could this have gone any more wrong? I silently hoped there was someone else his eyes were on, but when I looked around, there was no one neither behind me nor closer than 2 tables away. So chances were somewhere between very small and absolute zero. “Sorry I took so long, but there is such a long line, and oh they wrote my name wrong on the cup, so they had to change it…” – Chelle said coming to me, almost out of breath, putting the purchases on our table and taking her seat. “There you go with your drink and the cookie” – She said again, handing me my items. “Thanks Chelle.” - I said kind of distracted. “Since when are you a fan of frappes?” – She asked me. “Yeah I’m not but now it is a bit hot so I will try it out.” – I said, taking my sunglasses off and waving my hand to bring some wind to my still heated face. “Are you alright? You look nervous.” – Chelle asked. “No, nothing” – I replied, mixing my drink with the straw. A few minutes later I saw Mr. Cowell coming out on the porch from the inside part of the café, carrying two cups of coffee, only this time it was not just him, now he was accompanied by a tall blond female. She was wearing a short grey skirt and a top that was outlining her boobs quite clearly. She looked as if she was taken straight out of a magazine cover. I wondered if this was the type of women he was into. They made their way outside and quickly chose their seats, a single table distance across from us. I was facing her back and his seat was positioned in a way that we both could see each other directly. I now started to regret taking my shades off. “Dems, come on, what is it? You seem kind of lightheaded.” – Chelle asked me once again. “How come?” “You seem to not even be listening to me?” “I am, sorry, it is just…” – I said uncomfortably, looking at Simon’s table and then back at her. “What?” “I will tell you, but promise me you won’t look” – I warned in a very quiet voice. “Not look at what?” “Shhh! Okay, Mr. Cowell is sitting right across our table” “What? Where? ” – Chelle asked a lot louder than I would’ve preferred. A few people from the other tables turned their heads towards us. “Don’t shout, he’s going to hear you! There, right behind you.” - I yell-whispered at her. Chelle slowly turned her head, pretending to be fixing her hair and noticed him along with the woman that was sat on the same table. “Woah, talking about appropriate skirts” – She commented, lifting her eyebrows in amusement. “I know.” – I replied, doing the same grimace. “Are you alright?” – She asked me. “Sure, just surprised, though” – I shrugged my shoulders. “Anyway, so tell me about the guy from yesterday, he texted you in the morning didn’t he?” – I asked her, pointing at her phone. Although I had no interest in the guy she hooked up with yesterday, I knew I had to change the topic. I couldn’t possibly talk about Simon the whole afternoon; I mean who talked about their lecturers all the time? Not even geeks did. I asked Chelle more about him, letting her show me photos of them together from last night and share some unnecessary details for me to know. She was quite caught up onto the subject, and despite the fact I should have probably listened to her, I didn’t. I was barely paying attention to her and was occasionally nodding just to confirm I was a part of the conversation. My mind was busy with the man sitting on the table behind my friend. There were two factors creeping into my head constantly though: One was the common sense, telling “He is your lecturer” and two was the guilt, following with “Why is your lecturer such interest to you?” I mean how should I even define this? In general I have always been quite an impulsive person, so yelling at him on that first day we met was no surprise. Okay, the following actions were a bit too aggressive, I take that. But now what? He was offended, didn’t like me, like any other person also wouldn’t. I, on the other hand, was apparently feeling homesick; having the guy I’m in love with thousands of miles away from me, I was looking for comfort. Man’s comfort. That was the only reason behind my strange thoughts. In the meantime I noticed both Simon and the woman stood up. He pointed at the engine to her and motioned that he was going to join after going inside first. She quickly nodded and walked towards the car, whilst he went for the café bar. I followed him with my eyes before turning to Chelle. “Excuse me for a bit.” – I told her and adjusted my shirt. “Where are you going?” – She questioned surprised. “To the bathroom, be right back”- I said, leaving my seat. I got inside the café bar and saw Simon standing at the counter, placing an order for a take out. I pretended to be looking at the cakes behind the glass, standing a few feet away from him. In my ideal world, he would have turned around; I would have greeted him politely, maybe make some small talk and bring him under a somewhat good impression of me. Actually any impression that was better than the one of being a rude, aggressive bitch I had given. That was my goal right now. In reality though, after receiving his order, he was way too busy fixing the 5 items on his hands to pay any attention to me. He kept his head down the whole time, careful not to drop anything on the floor. He passed by me and did not acknowledge me even one bit, his eyes focused on the drinks. He had two drinks in each hand and a cake, which he supported against his chest. He was also mumbling something to himself while looking down, something I couldn’t fully figure out, but it was along the lines “yeah I can carry the office drinks, don’t help me”. Needless to say, I was quite disappointed of not getting the chance to talk to him. I did try to I don’t know, establish some kind of a contact, but it didn’t go as planned. To be honest, it was probably not only the lack of luck, but also the fact that he most likely didn’t want to talk to me. I couldn’t blame him, though. Perhaps it was for the better. Asking for his attention wasn’t a good idea, regardless. As I was about to make my way out to the table and Chelle, I accidentally noticed something, which looked like a small folder, standing by the edge of the counter. I looked over to the staff members, but neither of the them had noticed it yet. I guessed it was because it was left on the front side of the bar. I slowly approached the counter to see it was an open leather wallet. My first thought was to hand it over to the bartender and say I found a lost belonging. Probably what every normal human being would have done. Probably what I should have done. Instead, I decided to check it out on my own first, without giving it much of a thought. I squinted my eyes to see the beholder's name over the documents, only to confirm the doubts I'd had. On the front side of the wallet there was a driver's license, along with a photo and personal details of the beholder - Simon Philip Cowell. This time the question in my head was judged way less by morality and more by motivation. “What are you going to do about it?”

The One With the Cookies

Since the holiday season is upon us, I thought it would be fitting to talk about one of the biggest themes of Christmas time – indulgence. ‘Tis the season of baked goods, chocolate, candy, and peppermint mocha lattes.

I wish I was over exaggerating in admitting that I’ve eaten at least 1 cookie every day for the last week and a half. You know you’ve found a new low in your life when you can relate to a blue, furry Sesame Street character who’s spitting cookie crumbs at everyone.

I’m literally eating a cookie while I type up this post. I am the actual Cookie Monster.

‘Tis the season of giving ourselves more permission to indulge on treats that we wouldn’t eat on a daily, or even weekly basis. I’m all for having a sweet bedtime snack, but the amount of sugar and gluten that I’ve consumed within the last week is not my normal and my body is definitely feeling it.

I wanted to give you guys some tips on how to survive the holidays while not completely losing sight of your health and fitness goals.

Don’t get me wrong, I love the holiday season and am not so aesthetically-driven that I’d deprive myself of enjoying a hot chocolate and some baked goods at a Christmas party. But, there’s a fine line between enjoying a few treats and eating so much garbage that you feel like garbage. Capisce?

Here’s some tips that help me keep my health and fitness goals in mind while still enjoying my favorite holiday treats.

Maintain your usual workout routine! Even though my diet hasn’t been as clean as it normally would be, I’m still remaining consistent with lifting, cardio, and yoga at least 5 days each week. Working out doesn’t give me permission to eat unhealthy, but it does help me to keep sight of my health and fitness goals without throwing everything out the window.

Try to eat as clean as possible outside of the celebrations. For example, we had a White Elephant pizza party at work earlier this week, so I tried to keep the rest of my meals as clean as possible. After my workout in the morning, I had protein oats and fruit for breakfast, I snacked on veggies and hummus in the late afternoon, and for dinner I had salmon and broccoli. Sure, indulged on pizza and cookies in between, but I did my best to get back on track for the rest of my meals.

Keep moderation in mind. I think a lot of people struggle with that “all or nothing thinking” where they’ll say to themselves, “Well, I already ate a piece of pizza today so I might as well forget eating healthy for the rest of the day.” Then, that thinking creeps into your brain the next day when you open the work fridge only to find that there’s leftover pizza from yesterday’s party. The next thing you know you’ve been eating pizza, cookies, or anything you can get your hands on for 2 weeks. Just because it’s the holiday season that doesn’t mean you have to eat like garbage and be sedentary until you set some New Year’s resolutions. Keep your goals in mind, while enjoying some of your favorite treats that you only have once in a while.

Stay hydrated! I am so much more likely to over-indulge when I’m hungry and thirsty. You know those times where you eat and an hour later you’re hungry again? I get that all of the time when I don’t drink enough water. Sometimes, feeling thirsty will feel like hunger at first. So, when you’re headed to your holiday party, bring a bottle of water to help keep you hydrated and decipher between actual hunger and dehydration. Also, it will keep you from indulging on the pop that will be served at the party so that you can just focus on the important stuff (yeah, I’m talking cookies again).

Save your indulgences for those special dishes that you can only get once a year! At a lot of holiday gatherings, there will be candy or chips sitting out before you eat Christmas dinner. Do you really want to fill up on a Reese’s that you could literally buy any day of the year or the chocolate crinkle cookies that you only get on Christmas? (AGAIN WITH THE COOKIES)

If there are healthy options served at the party, start filling your plate with those, then opt for whatever else you’ve been craving. For example, at said White Elephant party, I filled up half of my plate with salad and ate that first, but then enjoyed some pizza and cookies after. At least you’re providing your body with some nutrients and not just filling up on sugar and carbs. I know what you’re thinking. How many times has this bitch talked about cookies in this post? Don’t make me enter another Cookie Monster GIF. I wasn’t kidding when I said that he is me and I am him.

Digestive enzyme supplements can also be key. Unfortunately, I forgot to bring these with me to our most recent Christmas event and I really regretted it. Digestive enzymes really help me with not feeling as bloated when I eat gluten or other foods that I am more sensitive to. Typically, my strategy is to just avoid these foods, but digestive enzymes can help me to better digest foods that I’m more sensitive to when I do want to indulge. If you’re interested in where to get the digestive enzymes that I’m currently taking, comment below or send me a message!

With all of this being said, please enjoy your holiday parties! Christmas really is the most wonderful time of the year. As long as you’re not giving a “screw it all” attitude and keeping your health and fitness lifestyle in mind, there’s nothing wrong with enjoying treats that you don’t typically eat.

Treat each day as a new day to make choices that positively impact your health. If you enjoyed one too many cookies at today’s party, tomorrow is a new opportunity to make a better choice! What can you do today to take better care of yourself?

Happy holidays everyone!

What a Zero Waste Vegan Eats in a Week

This post has been a long time coming (someone requested it several months ago so apologies for the delay!) and I’m hoping this gives you guys inspiration for simple meal ideas using bulk/plastic-free ingredients. I won’t do a grocery haul but I below I’ve listed the bulk items I almost always have on hand, and the ones I have this week. I also don’t really use recipes, but if I do I’ll link the titles in case you’re interested in making them.

Bulk staples: Grains (rice, quinoa, barley, oats), legumes (black beans, puy lentils), pasta, snacks (walnuts, dark chocolate chips from bulk, popcorn), oils + vinegars (olive oil, coconut oil, balsamic, apple cider vinegar), and lots of spices. 

Monday

Breakfast: oatmeal pancakes, coffee

Instead of topping with maple syrup, I chopped and sauteed an apple with cinnamon. I kind of ate these pancakes as tacos and the apples served as the inside, but feel free to eat with a knife and fork like a normal person XD I also had a cup of coffee which I made in my French press using bulk grounds (pictured below).

Lunch: black beans

Made a huge batch of black beans via the mama eats plants recipe. Since they’re kinda soupy, I just ate these as such. Apple for dessert.

Snack: chai latte, red bell pepper, chocolate chips

Got the latte from Brooklyn Whiskers, a vegan cafe that serves in all reusables (!) and when I got home chopped up a bell pepper into slices and also had a good handful of chocolate chips.

Dinner: leftover barley with leeks, leftover black beans, leftover kabocha squash

Roasted the kabocha yesterday so I have a bunch for the week. The barley was super simple to make, just cooked normally (2:1 water to barley) and added chopped leek, asparagus, salt, pepper, and nutritional yeast. Sauteed all of the above in a pan to heat through and topped with nutritional yeast. Also had an apple afterwards.

Tuesday

Breakfast: apple oatmeal, coffee

Sautéed an apple and when it started caramelizing, I added oats and some homemade coconut milk that I made this weekend. Drank remaining coffee from yesterday’s batch.

Lunch: pasta with kale and kabocha

I made some bulk pasta and topped with blanched kale, leftover kabocha squash, olive oil, salt, and pepper.

Snack: apple, chocolate chips

Dinner: sushi

Went out for dinner this night! Made sure to bring my reusable chopsticks - they had cloth napkins at the restaurant as well.

Wednesday

Breakfast: apple oatmeal, coffee

I’m a creature of habit...

Lunch: gluten-free vegan crepes

Had a team lunch with my coworkers at one of my favorite vegan spots in Brooklyn - Little Choc Apothecary. Highly recommend for gluten-free crepes and afternoon tea!

Snack: ginger lemon tea

Dinner: leftover penne, kabocha squash, and red bell pepper

Mixed everything in a bowl and added nutritional yeast, olive oil, salt, and pepper. Delicious!

Thursday

Breakfast: apple, banana, walnuts

Wasn’t particularly hungry this morning so just had a quick and easy on-the-go breakfast.

Lunch: beet veggie burger with kale salad

Went out to lunch with coworkers on this day.

Snack: two energy bites

Made them for my coworkers but they were kind enough to share! Just processed dates, walnuts, and oats as the base, put coffee grounds in one batch and candied ginger in the other.

Dinner: jasmine rice with leftover black beans, kale, mushrooms, and radish

Cooked up a big batch of rice and kind of threw the beans and chopped veg into the pot once it was done cooking. Super tasty.

Dessert: apple

Friday

Breakfast: apple oatmeal, coffee

You get the drill at this point.

Lunch: leftover jasmine rice, kale, onions, and radish

Worked from home today! I sautéed the veggies first then when they were nicely cooked, I added leftover rice until heated through. Topped with soy sauce, nutritional yeast, and freshly ground pepper.

Snack: peanut butter cookie, cafe au lait

Went to a cafe near my apartment to do some work, and they have vegan options!

Dinner: roasted potatoes

This dinner was a combination of me running out of produce (woohoo for no food waste!) and my laziness XD. I had a bunch of small white potatoes leftover from my last farmers market trip, so chopped them up and added to an oiled pan with rosemary, dill, and salt, and roasted at 400 for 45 minutes. Topped with nutritional yeast once they came out.

Dessert: chocolate chips

‘Nuff said.

Saturday

Breakfast: apple oatmeal, coffee

Same old same old!

Snack: blueberry hand pie

They sell the cutest little vegan pies at my farmers market! I had a blueberry one :) 

Lunch: potato, mushroom, and onion hash

Using leftover roasted potatoes from yesterday, I sautéed them with chopped mushrooms, onions, and a drizzle of olive oil. Topped with nutritional yeast! So tasty and delicious!

Dinner: ramen

Friends came over and they brought sweet potato noodles and baked tofu (however they were both in packaging, sigh). To the soup, I added freshly made veggie broth using vegetable scraps, onions, carrots, mushrooms, miso paste, seaweed, soy sauce, and spicy mustard, as well as the noodles and tofu. One of the best ramen dishes I’ve ever had!

Sunday

Breakfast: apple oatmeal, coffee

Sautéed an apple and when it started caramelizing, I added oats and some homemade coconut milk that I made this weekend. Drank remaining coffee from yesterday’s batch

Lunch: chorizo burrito, mini churros

Jajaja is life (one of my fave vegan restaurants in NYC!)

Dinner: potato kale soup, apple

Made soup using leftover roasted potatoes, some chopped kale, and the veggie broth I made yesterday. Apple for dessert.

This Month On The Farm: September 2020

September officially marks the end of summer and I am tomato'd out!  As noted in previous posts, it was a toasty one here this year, as it was for so much of the country, so I am very much ready to move on to the next season.  Bring on the pumpkin spice everything (yes, I am THAT person).

Starting last week our walks around the yard consist of a crisp crunching under our feet.  Our trees are not only changing to their fall colors but are also shedding them quite quickly thanks to some much needed rain.  And so, leaf raking season begins.

I am still toggling between hot and iced coffee, depending on the day.  We've two had days of almost frost and more opportunities are on their way.  I celebrated fall by ordering two new sets of our very favorite flannel sheets from LL Bean.  We replace our well used sheets every few years.  They are expensive but honestly the BEST flannel sheets we've tried.  With the bitter cold winter temps we receive for 5 months of the year, it's well worth it.

Jay also finished building both a food storage pantry space in our basement plus and large pantry shelving unit to go behind the door that leads to the basement.  This has really allowed us to stock up nicely.

Putting Food Up

With the summer garden completed the fall garden is focused on winter squash, green beans, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, greens, and beets.  Food preservation is mostly complete.  I planted way too much cabbage so I was able to shred quite a few heads, blanch and then freeze them.  It will be perfect for soups, stir fry's, and unstuffed cabbage casserole.  I've left a few heads in the garden to use up before the first freeze is on the horizon.

I was successful in getting enough green beans for plenty of fresh eating and enough leftover for the freezer.  My goal was a minimum of 20 servings in the freezer and I believe I will make it.  Good thing I planted more late summer!  I was also successful in keeping up with the tomatoes.  I think I only lost 4 or 5 to rot, getting the others either tossed in the freezer for future processing or processed on the date of picking.  We have a ton of tomato sauce, spaghetti sauce, and oven-roasted cherry tomatoes for sauce, pizza, pasta dishes, etc.  I'm planning to grow greens into the winter so I haven't worried about getting those put in the freezer.  I've already roasted and froze some pie pumpkins and winter squash.    My husband's favorite stuffed jalapenos are in the freezer along with 10 bags of sliced bell peppers and 4 bags of roasted poblano peppers ready to stuff or use in soups or enchiladas.

Also in the freezer I have some bags of corn, mixed vegetables (green beans, carrots, corn and onions), corn salsa (corn, poblano peppers, and onions) as well as mirepoix (celery, onion, carrots) for soup making.  We have 6 bags of frozen strawberries, 4 bags of frozen blackberries, and 6 bags of frozen shredded zucchini for future baking.  Speaking of baking, we have many loaves of zucchini quick bread, a couple batches of chocolate zucchini cake baked as cupcakes, and quite a few batches of chocolate chip zucchini muffins and zucchini crumble muffins all in the freezer.   Those recipes are so moist that they freeze perfectly.  I've also been making a ton of homemade chicken stock.  We buy whole chickens from a local farmer friend and I cut them up and make stock with the carcass.  I freeze the stock in mason jars for use during soup and stew season.  

Good thing we now have 3 stand-alone freezers!

In the cupboard we have canned pickled jalapeno slices, cucumber relish, salsa, tomato jam, and enchilada sauce.  We dried garlic, onions, elderberries, herbs, and pumpkin seeds, and harvested over 20 pounds of sweet potatoes that are cured and stored away.

In The Coop

Feathers.  Feathers everywhere.  That's what you'll find in the coop.  We have hit molting season so every morning it looks like the Coop Girls had a pillow fight the previous night.  Unfortunately this also means they are laying very few eggs.  In the years past we would have added new girls in spring so they would be laying while the older girls are molting but not this year.  Because we're working on reducing our flock size we won't have younger girls laying during molt season for a few more years.  So, we've increased their protein to help their aging bodies with the change and wait for their new feathers to emerge.

Oliver

Oliver is acting a lot more like Emerson now.  We noticed this about 6 months after Emerson, Ollie's brother/litter mate, passed away almost 2 years ago.  He never used to be interested in food much at all whereas Emerson was obsessed with food.  Well, Oliver is now obsessed with food.  This isn't a bad thing, necessarily, because at least he eats without much effort now.  It's just very funny to see the transition.  Despite him taking on Emerson's food obsession, he's still sensitive and quirky Oliver who requires sticking right by my side, has a dislike of trash cans, shakes when the vacuum cleaner is running, and absolutely detests all white trucks and minivans (both of which the only neighbor that he can see has).

I am taking full advantage of the last of the nice days to keep my sensitive little man preoccupied.  Because he is truly glued to my side all day, I can keep him (somewhat) happy if the temps are relatively warm and there is sunshine on the deck.  So, I lure him outside whenever I can and race to get as much accomplished indoors as possible before the barking to be let in begins.

What I've Been Reading

I've actually had time to read!  I'm so happy since I absolutely adore getting lost in a book.  So my evenings and early mornings were spent with a cup of (herbal) coffee and a book.  The first few books I've read are memoirs about country living or homesteading and I've thoroughly enjoyed each of them.  

So far I've read (affiliate links):  Follow Me To Alaska, by Ann Parker, Woodswoman: Living Alone In The Adirondack Wilderness by Anne LaBastille, Homestead, by Jane Kirkpatrick, Good Husbandry, by Kristin Kimball, Mud Season, by Ellen Stimson, Winds Of Skilak, by Bonnie Rose Ward, The Feast Nearby: How I Lost My Job, Buried A Marriage, And Found My Way By Keeping Chickens, Foraging, Preserving, Bartering, And Eating Locally On $40.00/Week, by Robin Mather, and Flat Broke With Two Goats, by Jennifer McGaha.  

My favorites were Good Husbandry, Follow Me To Alaska, and The Winds Of Skilak (and the follow-up book).

I also read a few fiction books in September.  My favorites have been (affiliate links): The Tourist Attraction, by Sarah Morgenthaler, The Year Of Pleasures, by Elizabeth Berg, and The City Bakers Guide To Country Living: A Novel, by Louise Miller.  I thoroughly enjoyed each of these - the writing styles, the fluidity, the characters and how they were developed, and the stories themselves.

Jackson, my meal planning assistant....

Stews, Soups, And Casseroles, Oh My!

I adore the change of season not only because of the weather but also because of food.  I've started to put soups, stews, and casseroles on the menu and am back to making bread.  These are all comfort foods for me and I happily anticipate making them every year.  Fresh corn soup, roasted tomato soup, veggie stew with biscuits (chicken added to Jay's), chili and cornbread, and oatmeal honey bread for breakfast have all made their way to our table.  

Speaking of meals, I've settled into monthly menu planning which is easiest for me since we are so well stocked up.  You can see October's meal plan (dinner only) in the photo above.  If there are 2 listed then I'm making something different for Jay and I.  You'll also see that I don't mind eating the same thing more then one day a week which also saves me time at dinner prep.  Jay is not a fan so he eats his leftovers at lunch.

What We've Been Making

Our farmer's market has remained somewhat busy as we're still getting quite an influx of locals and tourists.  So many things have changed this year that we have no idea what to expect from one week to the next.  One thing that does stay the same though are our seasonal products, and our fall line is finally out!  It's my absolute favorite group of soaps: Pumpkin Crunch Cake, Apple & Sage, Cinnamon & Raw Honey, Chai Tea Latte, and Pumpkin Cheesecake smell soooo delicious.  We've just made the winter soaps as well which will be available the beginning of November.

That's September around the homestead!

This Month On The Farm: September 2020 was originally posted by My Favorite Chicken Blogs(benjamingardening)

WIAW

Hi friends! Hope you’re having a lovely morning. We’re just taking it easy here and looking forward to another tie dye blitz this afternoon. The girls have gotten so good at tie dye lately and have been dyeing pretty much any white article of clothing in the house.

For today’s post, I thought I’d share a WIAW-style post. To be honest, my eating hasn’t been very stellar since we’ve started this whole “stay at home” thing a few months ago. We’ve been cooking even more of our meals at home, which is a good thing, but I find that because I’m juggling so much more – it was even more intense when we were doing the distance learning thing – I’ll sometimes go for dips into the chocolate chip bag instead of real meals. When I feel stressed, I tend to feel pretty blah about food. I make the girls delicious and balanced meals, but when I need to put something together for myself, it just doesn’t sound as appealing.

I’m a believer in giving ourselves grace, especially during such an unprecedented time. In the future, I’m sure I’ll be back to my meal prepping and organized ways, but I’m just over here flying the seat of my pants most days. I probably should have taken pictures of the kids’ meals because they were a bit more exciting lol but here we are: a full day of eats.

8:30am: We all sleep until 8 (!) so I eat a few Enjoy Life protein balls while I start the coffee maker and make the girls their favorite fluffy pancakes with scrambled eggs and strawberries.

The Pilot is telecommuting today (wahoo!) so we sit on the patio and drink coffee together while the girls eat their breakfast inside.

(Decaf coffee with monk fruit, almond milk, and a scoop of Vital Proteins collagen)

10:00am: The downstairs is cleaned up, beds are made, and all of the animals are fed, so I head upstairs to catch a quick obé fitness Dance HIIT workout.

The girls are playing with their dolls and having fun together, so I get in a quick work blitz: I answer emails, respond to Beautycounter skincare surveys, respond to blog comments, and schedule four podcast interviews for the next month.

11:30am: I have official breakfast while I make the girls lunch. This is a smoothie with the girls’ leftover breakfast strawberries (I hate tossing fruit, so I just put their leftover breakfast fruit in the fridge until I make a smoothie at some point during the day), almond milk, chia sees, almond butter, frozen cauliflower rice (you can’t taste it but it gives it a great texture and nutrient boost), cocoa powder, maca, spinach, Truvani protein powder, and monk fruit.

For the girls’ lunch, they have avocado toast with a side of cotton candy grapes, hummus, and carrots

I also start the sourdough for the following day and let it rest.

12:30pm: We head to the pool and take our giant inflatable donut with us. We meet up with some friends and the girls all play in the water wearing mermaid tails, while my friend, the Pilot, and I chat in the tanning ledge area. I also practice a bit of swimming with P – she’s getting so good at swimming without her puddle jumper!

3:30pm: We’re at the pool for a few hours and since I haven’t officially had lunch yet, I’m getting pretty snacky and so are the girls. They split a cheeseburger with fries, while we all share chicken wings and jumbo shrimp cocktail. (The shrimp are the size of my hand and SO good.)

I originally planned to make a giant salad for lunch but when we get home from the pool, I know dinner will be pretty soon and don’t feel like chopping anything, so there ya go.

4:00-6:00pm: Another quick work blitz while the Pilot hangs out with the crew downstairs. I have a conference call, pre-write the meat of this blog post, answer emails (my inbox is a black hole of sadness), make a couple of quick workout graphics, schedule my coschedule content for the week, and brainstorm content for the following week.

6:00pm: Mexican food takeout from El Charro. I order the chicken tacos on corn tortillas with rice and beans.

and eat approximately 1400 chips with salsa.

We take a family walk, give the girls baths and do the nighttime routine, and they’re both crashed by 9pm.

9:00-10:30pm: I watch Tombstone with the Pilot while typing up the rest of this blog post and getting everything to go for the following day. Before bed, I sip on a golden milk latte and shape the sourdough loaves and pop them into the fridge.

We also go out to the balcony to take pictures of the fire. It’s moved east but has grown exponentially and isn’t even a quarter contained.

11:15pm: Lights out and ready to do it all over again.

What I liked about this day of eats: I really love the shrimp cocktail at the pool, so any day that includes that is a win. Also Taco Tuesday = another win. Even though I kind of skipped lunch in favor of snacks, I definitely would have hit my protein goal for the day. (I stopped tracking macros a while ago, but still try to make sure I have protein in every meal and snack.)

What I didn’t like about this day of eats: It was a bit lower on the veggies and nutrient front that I would have liked. I usually try to get in some type of fresh fruit and/or veggies with every meal, but lately, this hasn’t been happening as often. I’m just rolling with it and waiting until inspiration strikes again. Every week I say I’m going to make more of an effort, but some weeks have felt pretty blah, ya know? If you’re feeling the same way, please know you’re not alone.

What was the best thing you ate yesterday? Favorite place to get takeout right now?

xoxo

Gina

More:

More WIAW posts here, here, here and here.

Full day of plant-based eats

The post WIAW appeared first on The Fitnessista.

WIAW published first on https://immigrationways.tumblr.com/

Are you a dreamer or a do-er?  

maybe a little of both..

Do you think people get what they deserve?  

that hasn’t been the case in my life.

Does it take a lot of physical pain to make you cry?  

depends on the situation. sometimes, but not always.

Name the strangest game you’ve ever played (video game or real game):  

i don’t think i’ve ever played any strange games...

Do you like sitting in the front, back, or middle of the classroom?

middle or back when i was in school.

Do you ever see commercials for restaurants that aren’t even in your area?

probably but i generally ignore commercials.

Do you know anyone who has been struck by lightning before?  

no one comes to mind, and i feel like that’s something i would remember.

Which is better: living where there’s lots of tornadoes or lots of hurricanes?  i think both would suck..

Would you pay if your dog needed an operation?  

yeah. without a doubt. i would find a way to make it work.

If you’re a girl, what’s your favorite color of eyeliner?  

i mostly use black. i have used purple before and kind of liked that one.

Have you ever overflown a bathtub?

maybe a little bit, but i don’t know for sure.

Why did you ignore the last person you ignored?

she just annoys me.

What’s your favorite pizza place?

pizza king probably.

What’s at the top of your to do list in life?  

make sure wyatt has a better life than i did.

Do you ever eat leftover pizza cold?

not anymore. i did for a short period of time, but last time i tried it, i couldn’t stomach it.

Where are you the most ticklish?

feet and sides.

Would you put your life in danger to rescue someone?  

i would for my son, family, and friends without question. otherwise, it might depend because i wouldn’t want to leave wyatt without a mom, and i don’t really trust jacob’s parenting abilities.

When you’re wanting a midnight snack, what do you normally get?

fruit or maybe chips.

Which cartoon character would you want to keep as a pet?  

stitch from lilo and stitch.

Do you like marshmallows?

occasionally in hot chocolate or on the rare occasion that i want to have a smore.

What is your favorite flavor of candy cane?

fruity flavors.

Do you have any shoeboxes full of old photos/letters/other memorable stuff?  

i have a memory box with some of those things.

When was the last time you felt seriously embarrassed?  

i don’t remember, to be honest.

Have you ever liked a song, looked up the lyrics to it, then hated it?  

not that i can think of.

What’s your favorite Christmas song?  

hmm. i’m not sure anymore to be honest.

Did you like the show Invader Zim?

i did. probably because it was weird.

What’s the weirdest thing you’ve seen in a grocery store?  

i don’t know. i don’t recall seeing anything weird..

Do you prefer to pull off band-aids slowly or quickly?  

i usually pull them off slowly.

Have you ever met any bands/band members before?

yeah. for a couple christian artists (one of them being tobymac’s bassist). and i did meet nicole c. mullin (christian artist).

Do you enjoy riding around town looking at Christmas lights?  

yeah. i haven’t got to this year but i really want to take wy. not that he’d care. he’s only almost 9 months. but maybe next year i can for sure.

What’s a good book you’d recommend?

depends what you’re interested in. a couple of my favorite young adult fantasy series are the mortal instruments and relentless.

What states have you been to in the past year?  

kentucky, illinois, and michigan.

Have you ever sleepwalked?

nope.

What’s your favorite superhero movie?

deadpool i suppose.

Do you struggle with acne?

not really anymore. skin still isn’t “perfect” but i don’t really deal with that as much now.

Around what year did you start using the internet, anyways?

i have no idea.

What did you do for your 16th birthday?

i think i went to texas roadhouse with just jacob and myself.

Have you ever fostered an animal?

i have not. i would like to when i have my own house though i think. maybe even a child. i don’t know. we’ll see.

What’s your favorite form of exercise?  

elliptical.

Do you have a back pack in a shape of an animal?

nope.

Do you still take hot showers when it’s hot out?

yeah.. i do.. i’m not a huge fan of baths usually.

What’s your favorite type of cake?

depends on my mood. usually marble or vanilla.

Name something you thought was cool when you were younger but don’t now?  

playing house. i played house with ashley (my sister) for the longest time. lol.

What was the last song you downloaded onto your computer?

i don’t know. i don’t really download music onto here.

What color are your headphones, if you have any?

white.

Do you honestly like The Beatles or are you just conforming?

i actually enjoy several of their songs.

What was the last video message you received on your phone?

it was shaye’s daughter talking to me over marco polo. it was the cutest thing.

Who did you last talk to in Facebook chat?

i don’t remember. i think it was a forward from my grandpa’s girlfriend.

When writing $ sign, do you draw one line through the S or two?  

usually two.

Do you feel bad for people your age who have never had a significant other?

no..? why should i feel bad for them when there could be a million reasons they chose to not have one in their life? not everyone wants to be with someone...

When do you plan on moving out? If you’re already moved out, how old were you?  

hopefully in the next year and a half to two years. that’s my plan any ways. save money and get out of here...

Would you kiss the last person you texted?  

on the cheek, sure. it was my mom.

What do you think of guys wearing colored skinny jeans?

i really don’t care. wear what you want.

Where do you normally get your hair cut?

my mom.

Would you trade last names with your best friend?  

nope. i’ll take mine. it’s shorter and people don’t pronounce it wrong all the time.

Would you ever get blonde highlights?

probably not.

Will you go to your high school reunion?  

i’ll think about it, but probably not because i didn’t care for most of them anyways.

Have you stayed up past 3 in the morning this week?  

almost but no.

Do you ever not speak to someone because you’re afraid you’ll annoy them?

all the time. which is why i don’t speak to anyone anymore.

Personally, do you think you have a nice smile?  

no.

What animal have you always wanted as a pet but couldn’t have?  

turtle.

Jessica Barnes: Jr. CEO

Summary: Company takeover isn’t what you think.

Pairing: CEO Daddy! Bucky Barnes x Daughter! Jessica Marie Barnes

Steve Rogers, Tony Stark, Wanda Maximoff, Natasha Romanoff, Sam Wilson

Scott Lang and Peter Parker

Word Count:1,352

Warnings: None

A/N: This is a rewrite. Any punctuation errors are mine. Ooops!!!

Beta: @rebelslicious ILY!

“Exquisite Designs,” a commercial architectural firm owned by James Buchanan Barnes and Steven Grant Rogers, longtime friends, boasted some of New York’s wealthiest clients. For over 15 years, the firm built some of the most elegant office buildings dotting the skyline in New York City.

Their number one client, Stark and Wilson Land Developing, is in the process of adding a new wing to the Brain and Cancer Research Center at Mt. Sinai’s Children’s Hospital. This project is special to Bucky. His wife, Lillian, died from a brain aneurysm, leaving behind an adorable daughter with rich brown hair like Bucky and hypnotic amber eyes identical to Lillian’s.

Now 5 years old, Jessica Marie, whose middle name is the same as her mothers, is the light in her daddy’s life. After his wife’s death, Bucky retreated into depression and couldn’t care for Jess properly. Offering assistance, Jessica’s grandparents moved in with Bucky, while Steve assumed the role as CEO.

Even though Jess was surrounded by her grandparents and other relatives, she longed for the one person; her daddy. Clearing his foggy mind, Bucky planned a trip to Maui with his daughter for some much needed father/daughter time.

Boarding his private jet, Jessica and Bucky made their way to crystal clear water and white sandy beaches. Tucked away in his luggage were photo albums, holding pages after pages of heartwarming memories.

Sitting in Bucky’s lap, Jess wiped tears cascading down Bucky’s face. “Daddy, don’t be sad. Mommy is in Heaven. She can see us, just look up.”

Turning her gaze towards a cloudless sky, Jess smiled.“Mommy told me to take care of you.”

“Thank you Jess. I love you so much. Please forgive me for not spending time with you. Your momma was my world. Following her death, life just wasn’t the same. I neglected the one person who needed me the most; YOU!”

“Daddy, it’s okay.” “No baby, it’s not. From now on, I’ll take more time off.” “Really?? Yippee!”

Returning home, Bucky unveiled  plans for “The Lillian Marie Barnes Child Care Center.” Free for all employees of the firm. Parents no longer had to worry about their little ones while at work. Children 1-4 years of age were cared for my a professional staff. This freed up time and bolstered moral.

WIth the Howard and Maria Stark Children’s Wing on schedule, Peter Parker, Director of Marketing, pitched an idea to Bucky.

Gathered around the spacious cherrywood table were upper management and their executive assistants. Facilitating the meeting, Peter laid out his plans for “Kids Takeover the Firm.” “I thought it would be fun to take a day off and let the kids run the company. We’ve worked extremely hard to meet deadlines and it’s been accomplished.” Everyone listened attentively.

“Have you decided on a date?” Bucky leaned on the table.

“How about this Saturday? The phone lines won’t be operational just in case one of the kids decides to call out. Our answering service would alert us if it happened.” Peter flashed a huge smile.

Steve interjected, “You might be onto something Peter. I’m sure they would love to dress up and  play Jr. Executives for a day.”

Nat and Clint’s twins, Mason and Jason would serve as Jr. Executive Assistants to the Jr. CEO.

Steve agreed, “Jessica should serve as Jr. CEO.”

Bucky couldn’t believe his ears. “Are you sure? I don’t want any favoritism.”

“She’d make a great Jr. CEO!” Wanda’s eyes sparkled.

“All right. We’ll take the remainder of the day off and prepare our little ones for work!.” Alone in the room, Bucky thought of his wife. “Lillie, you’d be proud. I love and miss you, darling.”

Bucky made his way to Jessica’s class. She immediately sprinted to his arms.“Hi sweetheart. How’s my girl?”

“I’m fine daddy. We had a good day in class. I said my ABC’S and numbers.”

“What? My goodness you’re smart!”  Bucky kissed  her cheek, nose and forehead.

“Guess what? On Saturday, kids get to takeover the company for a day. You’ve been deemed Jr. CEO.”

Unable to contain her enthusiasm, Jess jumped on her toes. Pumping her fists in the air, Jessica

Jumped around declaring “I’M THE BOSS...I’M THE BOSS!!!”

“Peanut, there’s more to being CEO. Remember to always treat your employees with respect.”

“Okay daddy. I’ll be good.”

“How about a shopping trip? You’ll need new clothes, briefcase and shoes!”

“Let’s go!!!”

TIME FOR WORK

At 8:00 on the dot, decked out in her navy blue suit, briefcase and phone, Jessica Marie Barnes, Jr. CEO, reported for work.

Natasha’s twins Mason and Jason, donned brown two-piece suits, cream shirts, brown striped ties.. Malachi Rogers sported a gray 3 piece suit, powder blue shirt, and solid tie. Wanda, Scott and Sam’s kids were razor sharp!  

Parents and kids gathered in the small conference room. The kids were hyped to get the show on the road.

“I must admit, this is the best dressed staff in all of New York.” Bucky beamed, “Jessica, you have the floor.”

“Thank you Mr. Barnes. Good morning. My name is Jessica Barnes but you can call me Jess. It’s time for our morning meeting. Follow me to the small room.”

How much trouble could 3, 4 and 5 year olds get into? Yikes!

Parents applauded as Jess led her friends to another conference room set-up with breakfast sandwiches, fruit, pastry and juice boxes.

Munching on a sausage and biscuit, Malachi announced, “Okay, folks. We have a lot of work to do. There’s a meeting with people who want something built.”

One little lady asked, “Mr. Drant, who?”  Malachi replied, “I dunno let’s make something up.”

Someone forgot what could happen if kids consume copious amounts of S.U.G.A.R.

Jess, Malachi, Mason and Jason wandered away from the others and ended up in one of the copy rooms. Mason, with wide eyed wonder, suggested making copies of their faces. How they turned the machine on is one of life’s biggest mysteries. They took turns copying faces, arms and legs. Jason, however, took it one step further. He sat on the machine and took a picture of his bottom.

Next, a group of 3 year olds snuck into a few offices with sticky hands, pressing on the keyboards. Yep, they made a mess.

Not to be left out, Jessica and the gang visited the employee break room. The refrigerator and lower cabinets were raided. They devoured sandwiches, chips, Christmas candy, and cookies leftover from an office meeting.

Smeared on the pristine white walls were tiny chocolate handprints, water and orange juice got spilled onto the floor, and a few kids ate too much. The room was an absolute MESS.

Mason and Jason tried to clean up the spilled juice throwing paper towels on the floor. Malachi retrieved a mop, attempting to clean up.

Instead, he slipped, face first, soiling his new suit. Jessica, completely flustered, plopped on the floor in tears.

Quiet kids = disaster! Parents converged on the breakroom, surveying the damage. Bucky murmured, “What the hell happened in here?”

Shaking his head, the parents pulled out their phones capturing the moment.

Bucky and Steve stood in awe of their Jr. CEO and COO. “Buck, what a mess. Do you need me to stay?”

“Nah, I’ll stay behind till the cleaning crew finishes. Jess can sleep in my office.”

Steve thanked everyone for participating. He declared Monday an extra day off for the kids to recuperate.

“Kids Takeover the Firm” turned out to be a huge hit for children and parents. Jessica Barnes reign as CEO ended. Moving a piece of stray hair from her forehead, Bucky smiled. “Sleep well princess. Daddy loves you. Mommy sends her love from Heaven.”

COMMENTS APPRECIATED!

@rebelslicious @suz-123 @pegasusdragontiger @bolontiku @loricameback@buckysforeverprincess @stars8melanin @ek823 @kanupps06