Saturday

[clevermanka]

Fanart: Veiled kiss. Everybody lives! Bridal carry. Poor Shen Wei. THIS COMIC. Poor Da Qing. First/second sight. Battle couple. Baby Da Qing! Derivative (and short comic). Temptation via popsicle.

Cosplay cake!

Hiccuping Bai Yu. They really did provide their own wardrobes. What scene is this from??? One fear. I THOUGHT I WAS SPECIAL. Zhu Yilong in a leather jacket and a nice car. My superstitious self appreciates that some things cross cultures. Flash-free version of Bai Yu Tiffany Blue. A new derivative on the horizon. My fave Bai Yu song performance (wish it was on Spotify but here's the whole version on YouTube).

Okay I am definitely adding this as a bit in Redemption.

Wednesday night I went out for drinks with a couple friends and it was fun but we didn't rent the back room and I was suuuuper uncomfortable being unmasked indoors around unmasked strangers. I won't be doing that again unless we have enough people to rent the private room. I've been paranoid all week, just waiting to start feeling ill.

Also, no more mid-week social times. I've tried it twice and was utterly wiped out the next day even though I was home by eight both times.

I felt good when I got home from work yesterday tho (🎺🎺🎺) and I did all the food prep I'd planned for this morning. So this morning I made lotion bars instead! Which is good because I was on my last one. This afternoon I'm going to Coworker A's for Korean food (they're cooking for me!) and to watch Over the Garden Wall, which they love and I've never seen. I'm completely unspoiled--I don't even know the plot--so this will be quite the adventure.

Comments

[moodsong]

What are lotion bars?

[clevermanka]

They're a solid lotion that lasts longer on the skin than lotion from a bottle (although they're a little greasy so not everyone's thing). I use 5oz coconut oil, 3oz beeswax, 3oz shea butter, and 1oz cocoa butter. If you want details on the process, let me know bc it does matter what order you do things.

[moodsong]

I'm curious about it but not enough to make a whole batch. I've never used a lotion bar so I'm not sure I'd use it or just have it melt in a drawer.

[clevermanka]

I'd be shocked if there wasn't a Canadian seller of them on Etsy if you wanna try one out. Although maybe wait until winter because pretty sure they'd melt in transit right now.

[kimboo_york]

I absolutely need the full instructions! This sounds right up my ally. Do you ever add essential oils to them?

OTGW - Every time I'm reminded that it exists I think "I should see that!" then promptly forget about it, ahahah. I look forward to your thoughts on it!

I'm with you on mid-week outings. I can sometimes do them if they don't run past 8 pm but otherwise I'm like a little old granny whining about "it's getting dark out!" and bemoaning how tired I will be in the morning. :D

[clevermanka]

I do add essential oils, yes. A scant two dropper-fulls (just under half a teaspoon) per batch.

Process!
In a heavy-bottom saucepan (I use one that's probably from the 60s that I picked up at the thrift store), melt the coconut oil. Add the cocoa butter and beeswax. Stir constantly until all is melted and mixed together. Add the essential oil if you're using it. Remove from heat. Add the shea butter and stir/blend until it's melted and thoroughly incorporated*. Pour into silicone molds or paper line cupcake tin. Put in fridge to cool and harden. I store mine there, too, so they don't get soft while they're waiting to be used. They'll also last longer without going rancid (which takes a long time, but one batch lasts me six to nine months).

*Heating the shea butter will make it grainy and while the bar will be usable, it's not smooth and is likely to crumble. Learn from my mistakes!

Feel free to play around with the ratios. That part isn't nearly as important as the order. The recipe I started with was just 3oz each of coconut oil, beeswax, and shea butter. I wanted something a little softer/more greasy, though.

[shipperslist]

I was about to ask the exact same thing. :D

[clevermanka]

I wish I could send y'all some!

[khellekson]

John Brown's Underground! Love it. I did not know of the existence of the back room. I love their super huge booths and craft cocktails.

[clevermanka]

You can reserve the back room with a deposit and five person minimum!

[wrote_and_writ]

I absolutely adore OTGW, so I can’t wait to hear your thoughts!

[clevermanka]

I'll report back!

[goss]

*Drive-by tackle hugs*

:D :D

[clevermanka]

THANK YOU!

[nnozomi]

Always good to see one of your links-and-updates posts ♡ Also I'm very fond of that song (and Bai Yu singing it).

Zhu Yilong in a leather jacket and a nice car.
I'm not even usually a fan of leather jackets? But jeez

This afternoon I'm going to Coworker A's for Korean food (they're cooking for me!)
Homecooked Korean food is BEST. Enjoy!

[clevermanka]

I LOVE THAT SONG!

Here's pics of the meal I posted on Instagram.

[trobadora]

What scene is this from???

That's from episode 14, when they're having dinner with Guo Changcheng's uncle. 33:52. :)

Zhu Yilong in the leather jacket with the red car, OMG. :D

And that's my favourite Bai Yu song performance too!

[clevermanka]

Thank you very much--gosh that was bugging me, not recognizing it!

I want to listen to him sing that song ALL DAY.

[kazoogrrl]

Yay for a homemade dinner! I am definitely curious about OTGW, I've never heard of it.

We had our date day today! I spent $1.25 on a ceramic Japanese watercolor tray and a knitting stitch counter at the reuse store, and spent a lot more at the fancy food store but also the owner gave us two mini key lime pies for free as it was their sell by day (I just ate one, still delicious). We got to pet (1) dog at the reuse place and (3) dogs at the indie bookstore, where I did get a book for my mom's birthday (The Personal Librarian) but did not buy the puzzles of cats as pop icons (David Meowie! Purrince! Freddie Purrcury!).

One really cool thing at the food shop was a cold case with all vegan items to make cheese and charcuterie boards. I'm not vegan but I was really intrigued. They had a "salami" made of figs, which looks like it's basically a figgy Lara bar in a roll, and gives me ideas of additions to traditional cheese boards.

[clevermanka]

Ahhh! The date day sounds so fun! FREE KEY LIME PIES FUCK YEAH.

That fig salami sounds amazeballs oh my gosh if you try it I wanna hear about it.

[naye]

Oooh, I have a friend who adores OTGW and says it's a lot like Gravity Falls, which I definitely loved.

Thank you for sharing so much goodness. ♥

[clevermanka]

It was very fun and engaging! I wasn't as taken with it as they were, but it was still very enjoyable and I recommend it.

Glad you enjoyed all the pretty!

[tinny]

They really did provide their own wardrobes.

Awesome! I hadn't noticed that! \o/

Zhu Yilong in a leather jacket and a nice car.

Lolol. He's all "I'm sitting here in my cool car being chill with my big watch... am I doing this right?" Peak Z1L.


Oh yeah, Bai Yu's Little Happiness is still unmatched. <3


Also, no more mid-week social times. I've tried it twice and was utterly wiped out the next day even though I was home by eight both times.

Yeah, I can't do that, either. I'm surprised how well you've been holding up anyway. I think the getting out and being among people is doing you good. <3 (in general, maybe not mid-week nights. :D)

[clevermanka]

Whyyyyyyyyyy can't I get a studio single of that song????

Being around people again is definitely helping. I'm dreading the next lockdown, but I'm more dreading if we don't.

[plingo_kat]

The hiccuping is SO CUTE I AM DISTRESSED.

Hope you had fun at your coworker's place! (Homemade Korean food sounds good :0)