live well ★ laugh often

Hello there everyone! I have decided to make this journal partly friends only, because I'm kind of paranoid about RL friends finding me...All fics and recs will be public! Locked posts may sometimes happen, but you probably don't want to know ;)

★ I'm not friending back automatically anymore because of various reasons, one of them being my flist is unmanageable as it is! But you're welcome to friend and drop by and say HOWDY! :) I'd love to get to know you!

banner made by faith_mars for me. Please don't snag.

ETA:I have a fic comm: collidefics and all fics will now be posted there. So if you're here for fic only, PLEASE go there!

This is so true - and exactly how I've been feeling lately. I love social media, but in the end I compare myself to everyone:

-other authors that got more kudos/comments
-fandom friends that got more likes/replies
-teachers that have better ideas
-coworkers that are doing fun stuff
-family/friends that are having sweet relationships

UGH. I wish it were easier to just say STOP IT to that part of my brain!

♥ Silberwald by cleflink
A modern fairy tale in which Jensen isn't a princess, but he still likes dancing, Jared is definitely not a knight in shining armour, and the homeless guy across the street is surprisingly knowledgeable about sinister goings-on.
Very enthralling and makes you believe in love a little bit more :D
♥ How to Get a Boyfriend 101 by akintay
AU. Jared doesn't know how to flirt and his dating life is a disaster. Enter Jensen Ackles.
Guys, I ADORE fics like this. Clueless Jared and debonair Jensen ;)
♥ Together Is A Wonderful Place To Be by brokenhighways
It takes a brief misunderstanding for Jensen to realise that he and his friend, Jared, have kind of been in a relationship for the last three months. And as he comes to grips with his complicated feelings, he finds that it may be too late for him salvage their friendship, let alone a relationship.
The build was beautiful in this and executed lovingly :)
♥ Gossip Guy by dugindeep
American Journalist Walter Winchell said “Today’s gossip is tomorrow’s headline”, and nothing could be truer for Jensen Ackles. As he seeks the job as Editor-in-Chief of his high school paper, Jensen has to spend time covering the swim team, where star Jared Padalecki (and Jensen’s current enemy) serves as captain. Over time, they get to know one another and see past the hatred, but a new item in The Austonian drudges up Jensen’s past for spreading good gossip.
I love her wit, as freaking always, and she leaves you with such a warm feeling!
♥ The Dizzy Heights of This Dreamed of World by akintay
Jared is left on the Padaleckis' doorstep as a baby with no clues as to who he is or where he's come from. As he grows up with a life full of love and support from his adoptive family, he never loses the dreams of some far off place with green hills and meadows, a sprawling forest and gurgling stream. It's a beautiful and peaceful there, and every night Jared has his dream landscape all to himself—until he starts hearing a voice calling for him.
When a stranger on a motorcycle shows up on campus a few months later, Jared suddenly has a new reality to consider. Not only is he fae and betrothed to this man—who introduces himself as Jensen—Jared's also in mortal danger. Torn between wanting to keep living a normal life and figuring out who he really is, Jared reluctantly agrees to let Jensen prepare him for the danger up ahead and unearth his own fae powers. As time goes on, he starts to feel more and more drawn to Jensen and he comes to realize that they share a bond that reaches well beyond an arranged marriage.
MAN. I could write such odes to this! I love her characterization - it makes you want to live in that world!

♠ Stay Off the Moors by quickreaver
Hauntingly beautiful.
♠ Hot Tubbers by a_biting_smile
Absolutely gorgeous.

Let's ignore the fact that these are from 2015, okay? SMH.

( J2, J2D, and Art Recs )

So I've had a LOT going on lately
1. School/work kicking my butt (SO many emotions there I can't even tell you - just I need this school year to be over ngl)
2. I had the SPN Con 2 weeks ago (I like Misha a little bit more now, which is hilarious haha bc I thought that would never happen!) wherein I did the BOOP pose with Jared and the PUDDING pose with Jensen ♥_♥
3. I've been reading a bit more J2 fic which is fun but definitely reading more Stiles/Derek (whoops?)
4. I hit the 2 year anniversary of Dad's passing so this past weekend was no bueno
5. My emotions have been ALL OVER THE PLACE which sucks (I've actually been thinking about going into therapy...)

ANYWAY. This is my holding place to start catching up again (I'm like a month behind y'all!)

How are YOU doing? Have you done anything epic? Tell me something happy! Have you cooked anything delicious? Have you read anything fantastic? Have you written something that you're super proud of? Tell me! ♥♥♥

Look out for a rec post soon-ish. A lengthier one than last time I think...

I know there's fic EVERYWHERE (including 2 of my own!) with recent postings from reversebang and spn_j2_xmas, but here's a rec of 5 fics I've enjoyed reading (yeah some are old haha)

♥ Love Letters by riyku
God is love, but Satan does that thing you like with his tongue.
MAAAAAAAN. This was absolutely gorgeous in every way possible.
♥ The Bride Wore Champagne by stripytights
Jensen writes up weddings, and Jared takes pictures. This one is slightly different.
This was such a fun read, sexy and full of pining idiot boys :D
♥ Got Him on His Knees Like Religion by kelleigh
Jared doesn’t need Jensen’s employment contract to deduce that his driver served in the military, or that his service to his country didn’t end there. If Jared had to guess, he’d venture that Jensen was recruited into specialized training. Something elite and way, way off the books. It’s written in his sharp reactions, evident in the way he can process scenarios and routes faster than any other driver Jared has used, not to mention his, at times, unnerving vigilance. These traits make Jensen a great driver. The fact that he’s a stoic bastard makes him Jared’s favorite driver.
Well written as always, and SO intense! Absolutely phenomenal :D
♥ The Heart Must Yield by deirdre_c
Jensen was just a common knight of the King's Guard, astonished to be named as Warden to young Jared, a cast-off son of one of the realm's great houses. Jared had been compelled to leave the monastery where he was stashed as a child to take on the title of Lord Padalecki after the unexpected death of his father. Jensen’s duty was to escort Jared to the royal court so that he could select a cousin from among the warring noble families to marry as a condition for his inheritance. Once they were enmeshed in the intrigues of the Court, Jensen realized he’d fallen unconscionably in love with his Ward. Yet while Jensen was bound by honor to urge Jared into the arms of another, it turned out Jared had other plans.
This had a slow build that kept you wanting more and was so well-crafted! Dei always leaves me smiling!
♥ In Your Honor by dugindeep
Jensen walked away from the Pan Pacific Defense Corps when it was at the height of its legacy. Five years later, the Kaijus are still a threat and the jaegers are still losing. But one last-ditch effort to save the world brings Jensen face to face with his two greatest loves: Chevy Violet, the machine that's kept him safe for half his life, and Jared Padalecki, the new Commander who's not ready to let Jensen back in.
Man, that banter and wit, and the way she builds such life into this story? SO MUCH YES.

Hey y'all...

How are you guys doing? Clearly, I haven't kept up...sorry! again

1. I was nominated for Teacher of the Year at my school
2. I've had to deal with some ROUGH parents
3. I don't feel like I've been connecting with my kiddos this year :/
4. I signed up for Weight Watchers to help combat the despondency I've been feeling. I'd love any tips, tricks, or recipes! My cooking is still le fail, but hopefully I learn to feed myself better!

And YOU? What's new with YOU? What have you seen, loved, heard, written?

♥

I've been...struggling, is one way to put it. I've had a ROUGH few months and I feel bad that every time I post, it's to complain, but I WILL be better. Mind over matter right?

Basically - I get sucked into comparing myself to other people all the time: better teachers, better people, better authors, better weight-losers, better friends, you get the point and that's only 1 part of the issue. I need to stop this self-flagellating cycle and figure out why I love ME. So yeah...going to try doing that. Already did something I'm not proud of today, but it's a process :/

I do adore you. I hope that hasn't lost all meaning. I adore the CRAP out of you. Yes you. If you're reading this, I love you. Because sometimes? That's all I need. An I love you. An I'm there for you. A fic for me. An icon for me. A pic sent my way. A drive by message. Just knowing that someone out there cares for me? Man...day made.

ANYWAY. I'm going to use this as my placeholder and to read posts newer than this at least every two days. I'm going to try and comment. I'm going to try and be more involved.

Mini-Hiatus

I'm leaving for a few weeks today and won't really be in touch. I'll check Twitter every once in a while, but sadly not the flist (not taking my laptop)

If you would be so kind as to leave any pertinent info here or @ me on Twitter, I'd be much obliged ;)

True story, as I told elless, I'm a bit terrified to go because the last time we went, Dad didn't come back (it's me and Mom going this time), but I hope all goes well.

So just pray for me, keep me in your thoughts, and hopefully I'll talk to y'all in a couple of weeks. <3 <3 <3

- Don’t need nothin’ to make me fall for you by deirdre_c
Jensen’s sitting around dreading the end of his senior year. Or at least he had been, until this one freshman shows up to the rush party at Jensen’s fraternity.
I don't know what magic Dei has, but she always writes the BEST stuff!
- Flowers for You by yohkobennington
Someone has been leaving flowers on Jared's doorstep.
Oh this was the CUTEST.