In the hustle and bustle of modern life, we often reach for quick and convenient sweeteners, often laden with artificial ingredients and unnecessary calories. But what if there was a natural alternative that's not only sweet but also potentially beneficial for your health? Enter stevia leaf extract, a remarkable natural sweetener that's taking the world by storm. for the original blog : whole leaf stevia extract organic Benefits

Ditch the Sugar Rush, Embrace Stevia's Sweetness

Stevia leaf extract is derived from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant, native to South America. This ancient herb has been used for centuries by indigenous people for its remarkable sweetness, which is 200-300 times that of sugar. But unlike sugar, stevia leaf extract is zero-calorie, making it an ideal choice for those seeking to reduce their sugar intake without compromising on taste.

A Sweet Ally for a Healthier You

Stevia leaf extract is not just a sweet treat; it's also a potential ally in your health journey. Studies suggest that stevia leaf extract may offer a range of benefits, including:

• Blood sugar control: Unlike sugar, which causes blood sugar spikes, stevia leaf extract does not affect blood glucose levels. This makes it a suitable sweetener for diabetics and those at risk of developing the condition.
• Weight management: With its zero-calorie nature, stevia leaf extract can be a valuable tool in weight management. It allows you to satisfy your sweet cravings without adding extra calories to your diet.
• Oral health: Stevia leaf extract is a friend to your teeth. Unlike sugar, it does not promote the growth of bacteria that cause cavities and tooth decay.

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Stevia leaf extract's versatility extends beyond its sweetness, seamlessly integrating into a variety of culinary creations:

• Baking: Replace sugar with stevia leaf extract in your favorite cakes, cookies, and other baked goods, enjoying the sweetness without compromising texture or flavor.
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Safety and Considerations

Stevia leaf extract is generally considered safe for most people when consumed in moderation. However, some individuals may experience mild side effects such as digestive upset or headaches. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult their healthcare providers before using stevia leaf extract.

Embrace a Healthier Lifestyle with Stevia Leaf Extract

Stevia leaf extract emerges as a compelling natural sweetener, offering sweetness without the calories and potential health benefits that make it a valuable addition to a health-conscious lifestyle. With its versatility and growing popularity, stevia leaf extract is poised to revolutionize the way we sweeten our food and beverages, paving the path toward a healthier and more enjoyable culinary experience.
Ditch the sugar, embrace the sweetness of nature with stevia leaf extract and embark on a journey towards a healthier, more balanced life.

I discovered this recipe in my cooking video files on Tuesday, and decided to make it on Wednesday. This is SO easy!
2Tbsp - Sugar
2 Tbsp - Cocoa Powder
1/2 tsp - Baking Powder
1 Egg
2 Tbsp - Heavy Whipping Cream
1/2 tsp - Vanilla Extract
Add everything in the order listed. The cocoa powder will need to be sifted so you don't get clumps of bitter chocolate powder in your cake. Mix all the ingredients into a batter. Pour batter into an oiled microwavable bowl or mug. Make sure the inside of your bowl/mug is thoroughly coated in oil or it won't release when you turn it over. If you plan on just eating it from the bowl/mug then it's not quite as important. Also, make sure your bowl/mug is in the center of the microwave or it won't rise evenly.
45 seconds in my microwave gave me a delicious lava cake. 1 minute 10 seconds gave me an actual cake. Your times may vary depending on your microwave.
I'm stopping off at the grocery store for raspberries when I get off work in the morning to see if adding a few will be as yummy as I think it will be. I might even try banana or peanut butter too...
Oh... and it's gluten free! Not my thing so I really don't care, but I know that's important to some people. So, I thought I'd mention it.
​

Chapter 1: Hope’s 16th Birthday
As the rays of the sun hits her eyes Hope Moonshine wakes up excited, she was waiting for this day for all her life
She jumps out of her bed and rushes to her mom's room excited and she accidentally flung the door open too fast making a loud cranking noise waking her mother, Queen Matilda up
"Oops didn't mean to wake you up" hope said awkwardly"Honey I know you are excited for your birthday but you need to be patient the sun has just risen everyone is still asleep" Matilda said tiredly, "please go back to sleep darling you will have a long day today and you will need the energy, your party wont be begin till noon"
"Ok mom, sorry for waking you up" said Hope as she was trying to close the door slowly enough that it doesn't crank but it still did "Not an issue dear", said Matilda
As the door closed Matilda took a deep breath and closed her eyes her emblem on her right shoulder a pink diamond glowed she opened her eyes and she made a finger gun with her right hand pointing at the hinges and a shiny pink light zaps comes out of her index and zaps the hinges, the beam turns into a hand and it open the door and then closes without making a cranking noise, "I should have done that a long time ago" said Matilda
She removes the blankets from her bed to reveal she is already clothed for a serious occasion, as she goes towards the mirror she is wearing a long cyan dress that trails all the way to her feed her top being smartly tight with short shoulder sleeves, she puts on long white gloves and glances over her diamond ring she lets out a small sigh and frown and puts it on, she trances over the mirror for a few seconds before snapping out of it, and she looks over to a miniature painting of her an her daughter when she was 6 she picks it up and smiles "I know you are eager dear you won't have to wait for long"
After Matilda ready's herself she open her window and conjures a light bird of the palm of her hand, the bird flew off to Hope's room where it sees her lying in her bed on her stomach, the bird soon returns to Matilda's room and land on her palm her eyes glows for a moment and the bird fizzes into a yellow cloud, "Well it looks like she actually listened not very common of her to do so, it means I can continue to do my plan unobstructed" she said with a smile.
Matilda leaves her room and walk across the hallway to the main hall then she claps her hand twice, and snap her finger, suddenly a figure jumps into the window it spins 180° and a muscular women stands up, she has a scar on her left cheek and short brown hair, she wore knight armour that cuts of at her shoulder emblem that looks like a dark grey shield.
"At your service my queen", she said with a salute
Matilda is startled for a moment, but then composes herself, "Sally there is no need for you to enter that way you can just wait for me at the hall entrance", she said.
"I was scouting the perimeter we have to make sure this place is safe and to make sure no one can harm the princess at her important day, I was up all night with my team searching every corner of the upper ring for any danger and-" Sally was abruptly cut off by Matilda.
"It was not your fault Sally, there is no need for you to prove yourself to me" Matilda said remorsefully, "You tried your best so you must eventually forgive yourself it wasn't anyone fault, it truly came from nowhere"
Sally's serious expression break into expression of regret as she shamefully looks at the ground
"Now is not time to punish ourselves over who we failed to protect but to make sure my daughter has a great birthday" Matilda said with determination
Sally's expressions of regret turned to a smile, "Yes my Queen, me and the royal guards have spent last few weeks clearing a safe path from the upper ring to the more presentable areas of the lower ring that ends at the great barrier" Sally says with a salute.
"Well I trust your judgement, you are now dismissed" said Matilda
Sally goes down the stairs of the central hall towards the doors "I won't mess up again" Sally said with determination
"Oh Houston" Matilda said while turning her head left and right, "where is he when I need him",
"I am right here your majesty" Houston whispered from behind, Matilda was startled and was annoyed on how everyone seems to sneak up on her, "Sorry for spooking you" said Houston as he polished his monocle "We are well prepared to begin celebration soon" he said as his hand pointed towards the empty hall.
Matilda stared at him, he then clapped his hands and an army of servants entered the hall setting up the chairs and tables, followed up by waiters quickly setting food on the table, and then 6 waiters came together to slowly lift the large 4 layered birthday cake with a milk white colour with chocolate cream on top of each layer, with "happy birthday Hope" spelled with strawberry topping on the side of each layer, with the glowing yellow number "16" candle at the top.
"As I was saying my Queen" Houston started "We just need to wait for the guests to arrive, I will let you know when you can call your daughter" Houston stops from a moment "Do you want anything else your majesty or am I dismissed?" he asked.
"You are dismissed Houston" said Matilda
Matilda walks up to Hope's room and slowly opens the door to find her laying in her bed
"One thousand one hundred and forty-two" Hope counted to herself, she paused and took a deep sigh, and tried to continue but then paused scratching her head "Um One-".
she was interrupted by her mother saying "Thousand one hundred and forty-three", "Unable to sleep dear?" She said with a smile, Hope gasped and she had the biggest smile in her face, her mother was a bit startled and asked "what is it you are smiling at?".
Hope pointed at her, jumped from her bed and as she was taking heavy breathes pointing at her mother clothes, "You don't sleep in this" she takes a deep breath and exclaims "which means I have got to get ready" and she runs to her closet to pick up something to wear.
Matilda takes a glance down at her clothes and rolls her eyes "so much for a surprise"
"I am ready mom" Hope said ecstatically, she was wearing a beautiful turquoise dress which complemented her hair colour styled in two plates with with joined with a pink band and wearing her favourite golden necklace,
"That was quick" her mother commented
As they enter the main hall a bunch of guests are seated drinking beverages and helping themselves to freshly baked foods, "Attention everybody, I would like you to welcome the birthday girl" said Houston, everyone stopped what they were doing and turned their heads towards the princess.
She gets a bit nervous and let out an awkward "hey guys", she didn't recognize any of them but she had to pretend to know all of them while hoping they don't ask her if she knows them, they all continue to stare as she and her mother get seated.
Houston lets out a forced cough to break the awkward silence, he says "and now Princess that you have come here you may blow the candles", the table the cake was on was carried towards Hope and her mother seated on there high chair, Hope tries to mask her excitement as she takes a deep breath and gently blow the candles, which fire off the cake and make a small explosion spelling out "Happy Birthday Princess!", Hope's eyes lit with joy.
Trumpets play and two royal servants come into the hall holding a gold plated chest decorated with diamonds, the chest is slowly opened and a blinding bright light shined from inside it, "Go ahead dear" said Matilda as her eyes pointed to the chest.
Hope goes down towards the chest and slowly lowers her hand inside of it and grabs what inside, as she removes her hand from the chest it reveals her to be holding the magic wand, it had a purple handle with a sparkly cyan diamond at its back end and a translucent turquoise sphere at it top decorated with a white glowing shape which resembled the combination of a two star into two different planes inside, and topped off with a small yellow crown at the top
Hope's shoulder emblem a pink heart with a tiny crown on top of both curves starts glowing, she raises the top of the wand at eye level, "ooh what's this" she says as she tries to stick her finger inside it to touch the spinning star
"HOPE DONT" shouted her mother, as soon as hope touched it burnt her finger and she let out a painful screech and fires a yellow glowing beam fires from the wand at some guest who were quick enough to duck, it hits a glowing orange decorative plant crushing it against the wall,
"hehe this could have been worse", Hope said awkwardly, the wreckage catches fire...
"FIRE" yells Sally, the guards that were standing by the walls quickly moved and shoved away all nearby guest as Sally goes and faces the fire here shoulder emblem glows and she fires yellow beam at it from her hands she then she clenches her fist and the beam turns into water extinguishing the fire and a yellow cloud evaporates from it, she quickly turn over to Hope and rushes over to her "ARE YOU OKAY PRINCESS" she exclaimed worryingly.
"I am fine it's just my finger is a little -" before she finishes her sentence Sally picks her up and running with her in her arms and runs up to the door and out of the Palace.
Queen Matilda is left with the guests and lets out an awkward chuckle and says "so who wants some drinks?", "Please help yourself to the finest wines in the whole kingdom" she said as a servant reveals a bunch of wine bottles in gold coating, the guests all rushed to get a sip
"I am telling you I am fine it's just a little scratch its rude for me to leave suddenl-" Hope was interrupted by Sally kicking the door open.
"PA-" Sally yelled before being interrupted by a "SHHHH", she was shushed by a woman with a white robe that cut offs at the shoulder, and a hand crafted necklace made of cotton around her neck, she had red hair tied into a bun and a green plus sign as her shoulder emblem.
"Seriously Sally how many times do I have to tell you to be quiet in here" said healer Pam with frustration she lets out a sigh and asks, "So what seems to be the problem?" Sally pulls out Hope and holds her at arms length right Infront of her Hope lets out a "Hi".
Pam gasps "Oh my princess sorry I didn't know you were coming, are you hurt?"
"No not at all it's ju-" Hope was interrupted yet again it seems like although she is becoming a grownup no one seems to want to listen to her
"She burned herself quickly check up on her" commanded Sally as she lowered Hope to her feet, Pam glanced at her up and down
"Where was she hurt", asked her confused. Hope sheepishly pointed to her left index finger it was a bit red which could be easily seen as it contrasted with her smooth white skin, but it was also accompanied by a yellow 'liquid', Pam conjured a white napkin to clean the site of the injury and singled out the injured finger from Hope's hand and put her hand on it and made into a fist and then she took a deep breath and closed her eyes her shoulder mark started having a green glow for a few seconds and then it suddenly went dim, she opened her hand to find the finger fully healed like it was never even scratched.
"Oh wow t-thanks" said Hope with a smile.
"Oh it's nothing" said pam, she took out her napkin it had some yellow glowing spots of what looks like fluid except its it didn't soak in but floated around it, "I see you can use magic now, what was your first spell" Pam said with excitement.
"I-i just shot this out of the wand" she said as she pointed at liquid on the napkin that started evaporating considerably, she then lowered her voice and talked faster "and it hit a plant and set it on fire" she was saying as she looked at the floor, Pam laughed and Hope was starting to blush.
"Oh don't worry dear we all mess up at the start, when I first started I accidentally broke a boy's arm" Pam said with a laugh.
"Is he okay now?" Hope asked with curiosity
"Well when I was your age healing wasn't what it is today they just put his arm in a cast and said if he was lucky his arm would be usable in three years", "I never was interested in healing like my mom but I wanted to fix my mistake so I studied and practiced for months to focus my healing and one day it just clicked, I got back to him and I was able to heal his arm and this happiness a patient feels when they are treated makes this all worth it" she let out a calm sigh and continued "It was not an easy journey but in just 8 years I was able to reach my peak"
"Eight years?" Hope said in disbelief
"Don't worry your path is way longer than mine my peak is at least four levels lower than you" Pam said with a grin
"It isn't that huge difference right?" Hope inquired hoping her journey wont be in the double digits because that's a very long time
Pam laughed and then said "Oh it way larger than it looks, but don't worry royals don't have a peak at least not one that one knows off" she put her hand on Hope's shoulder "Don't let the long road overwhelm you as long as you are better than yesterday you will be a great princess"
Hope smiled at her and said, "Thanks a lot Pam"
"So is everything alright with her, she stuck her finger into the wand are you sure there wont be any complications" asked Sally
"She will be alright she might have lost her finger if she went deeper and then It will actually a challenge to fix, but this is what pain reflexes are for, it a blessing in disguise", replied Pam
Sally clapped her hands and said "Well we got to go now we cant keep the guests waiting thanks for your help Pam"
Hope looked over to her and said "You should come over it's my birthday you can go change the setting", "No dear being a Healer is big commitment what if someone is in need of assistance and I am not here but I appreciate the gesture, maybe I could arrange my schedule to be there next time, go enjoy yourself".
"Pam the amputee is ready for his second regeneration session" a voice called.
"The what?" exclaimed Hope.
"Oh it's a bit graphic you really don't want to see it, I got to go now send your mother my regards" replied Pam as she ran over to a patient
Sally and Hope went to the door and left.
"You know I was really fine, it was just a scratch" Hope said as she looked up to Sally, "It's kind of rude to just leave the guests hanging I could have just sucked it up-"
Hope tried to continue when Sally muttered under her breath "I won't forgive myself".
"What was that?" asked Hope.
"Nothing, it's just you can never be so sure and no one was stupid enough to stick there finger in the wand I was just making sure but since it wasn't serious we don't need to worry" Sally said with an anxious fake smile, Hope sensed there was something off about her tone but she didn't want to push Sally into an uncomfortable spot so she left it at that
Sally and Hope make it back to the palace and Matilda rushes to her daughter "Oh dear are you ok"
She said as she gave her girl a hug, Everyone was staring and Hope got a bit embarrassed "yeah Mom I am ok" Hope said, Matilda stood up and was about to say something before Hope pre-emptively said, "I know I know it was pretty stupid from me to to do what I did, I know the wand is not a toy and I promise I will be more careful with it" she said while avoiding eye contact
Matilda smiled and said "Well I appreciate that you understand that you messed up but that not what I wanted to say" Hope made eye contact and Matilda continued "As princess and future queen we will have you visit the LOWER RING" Matilda took her daughter's hand "Sure its not the safest or best place in the kingdom but a hermit ruler is a bad ruler"
Hope got extremely excited over this as she always wanted to see the rest of the kingdom the Lower ring, the Outer ring but she was always told no because Sally's word "It's way to dangerous, you are not ready, you aren't old enough" or her mother's word "Is there something there that you cant find at home?, The place isn't very hygienic" but how bad could it be it was still under the rule of the Moonshines. Life in the Upper ring and the palace get boring after a while, why would she wants to stay put there when there a whole world to explore?
"The escorts are waiting for us outside those who want to go with us are welcome to go" Said Matilda looking at the guests with a forced smile almost knowing the reaction. All of them tried to mask there faces of disgust as if Matilda just asked them to bathe in mud or even worse she said that the food at the legendary "façade haut de gamme" was just an overpriced scam. They didn't look very impressed, Matilda coughed and asked "Well?".
One couple went towards the exit and when they got to Matilda the man said "We are truly flattered by your invite my queen but I am afraid we have something important to do" the man paused and scratched his head trying to think of an excuse Hope looked over him and asked
"What's more important to than a trip to see the rest of kingdom its not like we can always get to do it" with an ecstatic smile the woman who was scratching her head stopped as if she got an idea she went over looked to Hope with a stupid fake smile and said
"Well sweetie we forgot to sign up our son for school and registration will be closing today" she turned over to her husband and elbowed him in ribs and asked "Isn't that right honey?"
The man nodded in agreement and they walked out and they led out an audible sigh and when they were just outside of earshot the man told his wife "Moonshines huh? You would think after what happened a decade ago they would get the memo" the woman looked back at the Queen then waved and looked back at her husband and said
"She is weak if this happened to me I will make sure those pigs wish they weren't born".
Following into there footsteps and sensing an opening other guests decided to excuse themselves outside and at this point Matilda stopped resisting she knew some wouldn't want to go but she didn't think that many would go and she looked defeated Hope turned to her and said "Well mom we don't need those nose in the airers it's there loss anyways"
A woman walked up to them "She is right you know in-law" that woman was Hope's paternal aunt Mary, she had short blonde hair and brown eyes wearing a yellow dress for the occasion "The only reason any off these arrogant buffoons came here is societal expectations much like basically everything here" she said while rolling her eyes "and they all dipped the second they had the chance, come on lets go"
As they walked past the doors Sally was standing just outside the door scanning the setting with her eyes, her eyes wandered and locked with Mary "You should relax Sally no need for you to be so tense" she said with a smile she then changed her tone suddenly and said with a frown and a in a low voice that Hope and Matilda couldn't hear "Me and Matilda can protect ourselves and we aren't relying on you and my niece was under my protection since she was six, all you need to do is drive the horses and look menacing" and then she put her hand on her shoulder and smiled and said with an audible voice "So you can feel a lot more at ease dear", Sally tried hid her feeling of guilt with a fake smile "Let's go" said Mary joyfully
Everyone got on the horse driven chariot, just a classical chariot nothing magical about it, it's a very ineffective method of transport but one of the most relaxing ones
"HEEEEEY WAIT FOR ME" yelled a girl from as she was she surfing a purple cloud wearing a long sleeved purple sweater and blue pants as she got closer she tried to slow down by tilting her body backwards but she lost control and started flying at high speeds towards Hope
"EM SLOW DOWN" shouted Hope.
"I CANT BRACE FOR IMPACT" they both closed there eyes with their arms covering there eyes but just before contact she was caught effortlessly by Sally one hand and her cloud in the other she crushed the cloud in her fist into yellow mist that faded away and put the girl on her feet she then crossed her arms and looked down and barked
"Miss Emberlynn Springfield you should know how dangerous using magic without experience is, and you can't just rely on something you can't even responsibly use to make up for your own lack of punctuality"
Ember looked taken aback but she didn't want to look stupid so she snapped back with "I didn't know Hope is celebrating her birthday early in the morning, birthdays are a night activity".
Sally who was crossing her arms now raised her eyebrow and simply replied with,"Lies you were told everyday for the last week not my fault you can't seem to be able to be punctual friend's birthday, do you simply not care?".
Ember now looked embarrassed and now was rolling her finger around her dyed purple hair "M-M-My rooster didn't wake me up" she said with a smile while shrugging her shoulder as if she is asking question and the question was 'will Sally let the lecture go'.
"This doesn't matter now anyways it's that Ems is here" interjected Hope with excitement as she put her arm around Ember's shoulder "We shouldn't be wasting time let's go" she said as she punched her hand up in the sky.
Matilda, Hope, Ember and Mary entered the Chariot while Sally rode one of the two horses moving it while the other was being moved by an over-armoured and visibly nervous man.
"Calm down Edmund its just a short trip by a defined path we will be in an out in an hour or two" commanded Sally looking at Edmund clearly getting tired of his lack of confidence.
"I am trying but its such a big deal, escorting not one not two but three royals into the lower ring, I am not sure if I can do this, If I mess up-- I am too young for the consequences" he said clearly on the edge of panic
Sally slapped her hands on his cheeks "Edmund calm down you can do this I know you can" she said, Edmund seemed to calm down a bit "The whole path is being heavily guarded you and me are the last line of an extremely deep wall of defences we are most likely just going to be there for company" she looked back at the cart and said "and besides it's not like the royals can't protect themselves, they are much stronger than us after all"
"That's what they said about fre-" Edmund mumbled before putting his hand on his mouth mid sentence, Sally expression changed to that of anger.
"What did you just say?" she barked.
Edmund realising his mess up and started shaking "Um- I was talking about ---- the nice weather we are having" he said trying to pretend that this wasn't the stupidest attempt at backtracking, before Sally was going to give him a piece of her mind Mary stuck her head out and said in annoyed tone
"Hey I am not getting any younger here", Sally and Edmund looked forwards and shook the horse reins and they got moving forward
As they got to the edges of the Upper ring they reached translucent yellow barrier "We are reaching the barrier you might feel a tickle" proclaimed Sally.
As the horse crossed the barrier the barrier walls phased through the cart and it phased through Mary and Matilda there shoulder emblems glowed a four pointed star and a diamond respectfully in a yellow hue when it got to Hope and Ember the cart got to a sudden halt and they were thrown forwards Hope fell on her mother while Ember face was slapped into the barrier which was at this point halfway through the cart.
Sally opened the door "Everyone ok" she took one look at Ember and let out an annoyed sigh she dragged her hand out of the cart and asked while trying to hide her frustration "Show me your emblem"
Ember scoffed and tried to tuck back her long sleeves but she couldn't get back enough and said while crossing her arms "I can't and I am not removing my shirt".
Sally wasn't having any of it and from tip of her index made a sharp grey magic beam, she flattened Ember's sleeve and made a small cut in her right shoulder showing a yellow star rotated slightly to the left, after the cut yellow gas evaporated from it "And this is why emblems aren't covered it's common knowledge Springfield" said Sally annoyed.
"My favourite shirt! This was very unnecessary" whined Ember and before she could say anything Sally went back to her horse leaving her alone she scoffed and went back to the cart and sat next to Hope crossing her arms.
"You okay there", asked Hope concerned.
"Yeah I am fine just another lecture", said ember looking at the windows
As Hope looked out the window the lower ring didn't seem so different from home, people dressed and walked smartly roads were clean but something was off she couldn't help but notice everyone wore long sleeves even though it was a summer and it's not proper etiquette and that's something else it was surprisingly hot, She took her head out through the windows "Hello stranger" she greeted a man walking nearby he took one solid look at her and looked towards her mother and Sally who was frowning and her hands free with her emblem glowing, he didn't say anything and turned back and proceeded to speed walk away in a few seconds he ditched the subtlety and ran away, Hope was pretty disappointed and got her head into the cart
"What did I do wrong?", Hope asked.
"Girl it's either because you were too friendly it felt fake" said Ember, Hope looked down "Or they were made to feel unwelcome by misses buzzkill in the driving seat" she remarked
A loud sound of crashing wooden boxes was heard and cart went to a halt
"What was that" commented Mary
"Something that isn't boring" Hope said with excitement before leaving the cart.
"Make sure all of them stay put in the cart I will be gone for a short while" said Sally to Edmund before running to the source of the sound Hope tried to follow her but was body blocked by Edmund with his arms crossed
"Sorry I can't let you go princess, Superior's orders", he glanced to the left of him to seeing Ember touching a fancy table Infront of a café just for it to poof into a yellow cloud,
"Ow splinters" she cried, the yellow cloud fizzled reveal a wooden table barely clinging to its shape with a bunch of makeshift wooden fixes that don't even match in colour
Edmund looked like he just saw a ghost and ran towards Ember who was now transforming outdoor expensive furniture into splinter traps
"Stop touching it" said Edmund before shooting out a grey magical hands towards her subduing her, "What's your deal" he scolded annoyed.
"No what's this place deal why is everything here so fake?" snapped Ember "You hearing this Hope this place is fa-" she then stopped and asked "Aye were is Hope?"
Edmund let her go and pulled on his hair "Oh no no no no no no no" he cried
"Is everything alright where is my daughter?" asked Matilda concerned, Edmund didn't know what to say but before he could make up an explanation Mary interjected
"Oh don't worry Mati she will be ok she is probably with Sally and besides she still has this necklace I gave her so I am sure she will be just fine" Mary said with her hand on Matilda's shoulder "and we can go have some tea and chit-chat while we wait I heard that Gilbert's tea shop has actually potable tea" she suggested Matilda sighed and decided to go with what Mary said and walked towards the shop. "What about me?" asked Ember, Edmund turned towards her with anger and barked "You are staying right here!".
"Sally where are you?" called Hope as she was walking she saw a little girl wearing a cute pink dress and smooth brown hair walking alone Infront of her, she approached her and asked
"Hey do you happen to see a tall lady around here?" she tapped on her shoulder to get her attention and suddenly a cloud of yellow gas evaporated out of her Hope and the little girl coughed and as the smoke cleared the little girl was wearing a poorly knit patchwork of randoms scraps of fabric and her hair was covered in dirt she had a brown circle on the side of her shoulder, Hope froze in shock "I- I am so sorry, it was an accident" she apologised "I can go get you a new dress or--" the girl just looked at Hope her eyes glanced her wand which was in her right hand as well as her royal emblem and then she started hyperventilating and burst into tears.
Hope got on to her knees and she gently put her hands on the girl's shoulder "Calm down calm down, it's alright, It's not your fault but mine"
"P-P-pwease do-don hu-hur meeee" the girl sobbed.
"What hurt you? no no no no" Hope explained trying to figure out from where the girl got the idea
Hope hugged the girl "Here calm down see I am friendly" she soothed, the girl seemed to calm down a bit and she started sniffing
She let her go and asked "So what's your name?"
"R-R-Rosie" replied Rosie.
"Ok Rosie I am so sorry for ruining your dress, do you remember were you got it from?" she asked
"Ms Bea had guys gib it to us" Rosie said
"Misses Bea huh" she wondered out loud "Well can you tell me were misses Bea is"
"Sowwy I can't tell you misses moonnnn" Rosie was saying before she looked she wanted to cry again
"Please don't cry" Hope pleaded "You don't need to tell me where you live just wait" Hope passed her wand to her left hand and put her now free hand to her pocket and pulled out a purple wallet and she pulled out a golden note with 50 written on it she passed the note to Rosie and said "Here give this to misses Bea and tell her I am so sorry for destroying your dress also" Rosie grabbed the note and stared at it, Hope pulled some wrapped candy she got from the party "Her have some candy too" the girl put her the note in her pocket and grabbed the wrapped candy she struggled with it a bit and she then passed it back
"Open it please" Rosie asked
"Oh you can't? it's quite simple here" Hope said she gently tapped the candy her emblem glowed for a moment and the wrapping fizzed out.
Rosie put the candy in her mouth and quickly chewed and swallowed it, she then gave Hope a hug, she let go after a moment "Thank you miss, Ms Bea says Moosines are scawy but aren't scawy"
"Scary why would we be scary" Hope asked in disbelief with a smile
Rosie looked around and said "I am sowwy I need to go" she turned back and ran away and took a turn and was just out of sight.
"You couldn't just stop causing trouble for one day? what did we pay you for?" Hope heard Sally barking.
The sound of Sally's voice came from an alleyway, as Hope entered the alley the clean white paint started fading into rotting maroon bricks and the smell became foul coming from the open dumpster "Ewwwww" Hope said as she lowered the lid to try and lessen the stench
"Hey you know it's rude to close the lid on someone trying to fetch themselves a meal" a bald man barked as he popped out like a jack in the box he had a white beard wearing over shoulder strapped brown pants with a black plastic bag for a shirt and a metal can of beans for a hat and his left eye with a grey iris spinning his shoulder emblem only consisted of a simple brown circle, Hope screamed and ran away "Oh beans was that a Moonshine?" the man asked himself "Well I probably should skip town" he said to himself with a goofy smile while snapping his fingers.
Hope stopped running and started panting "Now you are lucky I am not here in head bashing duty or I would have sent you to a one way trip to the Outer ring and the monsters there could deal with you" Hope heard Sally scolding, she walked to the end of the alleyway the place beyond it was extremely different people clothes were worn out in which the holes were covered up by half baked sewn rotting fabric the road didn't exist it was simply a dirt undefined path and walls were all made of rotting bricks same as that of the alley, windows were broken and the stench of garbage filled the air, Hope saw Sally tying up a bunch of muscular men with a magic rope.
Sally glanced over and saw Hope "Princess what are you doing here?" she asked with dismay the rope holding the gangsters vanished they got up and shook of the dust and looked up and saw Hope and they all ran away in terror "Moonshine here run awway". All of a sudden all the people went indoors and the windows were sealed shut with wood and hammered with nails and just like that the place looked like a ghost town.

1) NY strip pad thai 2)steak and potato 3) spaghetti squash and meatballs 4)cabbage rolls 5) marinated grilled portobello 6) chicken parmesan 7) tacos 8) Salisbury steak and cheesy spinach & broccoli 9) more steak and potatoes! 10) salmon and rice 11) twice baked sweet potatoes 12) jalapeno cottage cheese frittata and sage sausage gravy (yes there are gf biscuits under there!) 13) salmon 14) crab cake and corn salad 15) grilled cheese sampler with fries and tomato soup (ham, Swiss, mushroom/turkey BLT/gouda and granny apple) 16) spicy salmon Mediterranean veggie rice bowl 17) "jalapeno popper" meatloaf and mashed sweet potato 18) fried chicken and waffles 19) chana saag with naan bread 20) sushi rolls and salmon cups

So in my family, we have broken all the Christmas, birthday, Thanksgiving traditions and survived. There was a LOT OF STRESS when we stopped making sugared parsnips and trifle, baking birthday cakes and wearing paper crowns at the holiday table!
But I still have to do some things, make everyone tea or a snack if I make one for myself, for example. Give my Mom a very emotional card for each holiday, etc.
What are you still obligated to do?

It's my birthday month. I'd like to do a ritual or two for myself. It might just be a fancy bath with some self pampering, but I'm curious if anyone else partakes in birthday magic and how.
I'm thinking of incorporating journaling a wishlist for the year into some spell work, something like a bucket list for the year, regarding productivity, abundance, etc. Just brainstorming. Any ingredient recommendations or spells you might do?
The obvious is baking myself a cake. I'll probably make something with my kids. I'll do an early morning tarot read for the next month and the year. Any recommendations on herbal teas? What do you do to make your day feel ✨special✨?

I'm getting a little extra money from my student loans, considering investing in something that could potentially bring in some extra cash, even if it's nothing crazy, as long as it will make its money back and be worth the interest. I'll get roughly $3k per year, thinking I could start small and ease into it and invest more each year if it's successful. Not looking for unrealistic passive income or get rich quick, i'm open to things that I could spend 10-15 hours on each week or potentially a legitimate business or several side hustles to replace or supplement my full time job until I finish school?
Vending machines? Purchasing items to rent out (baby items, party equipment maybe?)? Reselling? I'm really open to anything, just have no idea what's become oversaturated and what might still be profitable.
I currently do cakes as a side hustle and i have been pretty successful, but it's hard to keep up with due to lack of commercial equipment and time because i'm employed full time and in school, also lack of space in my home kitchen. I'd love to invest in this more, but renting a commercial kitchen or building one in my home is out of my budget. I could rent a small office space as a storefront/prep space to essentially do all the work besides baking to avoid having to install hoods/grease traps/etc, but i'm not sure if legally I could get that approved.
Any advice on any of this is appreciated!

Hello everyone!
I've got some new stuff this week! I'll probably be adding more tomorrow/Sunday as I continue to test out stuff. Lots of new Astrid samples and Sorcellerie decants! Also lowered some prices to get some stuff moving.
As always, shipping starts at $6 and may increase depending on size/weight of package. I do use my own packaging (unless I run out). Cat and bunny-friendly home.
Spreadsheet here for easier viewing :)
BOTTLES/BIGGER SIZES

• BPAL Syrnyk (~4.5ml): A dessert akin to a crustless cheesecake with a hint of vanilla and lemon zest. - $14
• Gucci Guilty Absolute Pour Femme (~50% of 7.4ml rollerball): Top notes: Blackberry, Pink Pepper and Bergamot Middle notes: Cypress, Bulgarian Rose, Woody Notes and Vetiver Base notes: Indian Patchouli and Amber - $10
• NAVA
  • Cotton Candy Mango Rice Milk Marshmallow Musk (4ml): Mango skin essence, Mango seed, Mango accord, Rice Milk accord, Marshmallow Crème, Mallow root, Crystalline Vanilla absolute, Vanilla Bean essence, Cotton Candy accord and Vanilla Crème - $15
  • *PENDING* KAIK (5ml old bottle): Egyptian Butter, Cinnamon and Vanilla Clove, Allspice, Apricot Fruit and sprinkled with golden raw Egyptian Sugar. - $23
  • *PENDING* *NEW* Royal Sandalwood Lavan (~50% of 5ml bottle): Italian Lavender, French Lavender, Moonstone (Studio Limited Vanilla) absolute, Bourbon Vanille (Studio Limited Vanilla) absolute aged with black French Vanilla beans, Mallow root extract, Blend of four Sandalwoods aged in oak barrel for this blend; Santalum, White Sandalwood, Bourbon Sandalwood and Indian Sandalwood blended beautifully with Madagascar and Tahitian Vanilla beans - $18
• *PENDING* *NEW* Sorcellerie Apothecary The Ghost Wants Birthday Cake (6ml rollerball): Warm peach cake spiced with ginger, cinnamon, and cardamom; vanilla bean ice cream, Indian sandalwood Mysore, Australian sandalwood. - $20
• Sucreabeille Larceny (3ml decant dram): Sweet salted caramel, almond, a freshly opened jar of pure Canadian maple butter, coconut milk. - $2.50

NEW SAMPLES (don't really want to list them all here lol)

• Astrid *ALL PENDING*
  • Apple Pie Filling (slink): No additional scent description. - $3.50
  • Crème Pâtissière (~1ml dram): Single note of vanilla pastry cream, which is like custard - $4
  • Innocence (1ml dram): Peony, vanilla cream, rose, patchouli, and rice milk - $3.50
  • Whinnies Twenty (1ml dram): Marshmallow with mimosa, vanilla, and tangerine - $3.50
• BPAL Snake Oil Sufganiyot (1ml vial): No further description. - $4
• Nui Cobalt Hokum: Blueberry Cobbler (~1.5ml vial): The welcome simplicity of garden-grown blueberries baked under oatmeal cinnamon streusel. Wear to cut through confabulations and intrigue to reveal the very heart of the matter. - $4

NEW DECANTABLES (all details in spreadsheet, it's night time and i'm tired :( )

• *PENDING* Astrid Merci No. 50: Vanilla cake, chocolate buttercream, and coffee
• NAVA Strawberries & Cream Musk: Strawberry Seed, Strawberry Essence Accord, Ripe Strawberry Accord, Cream Accord, Marshmallow Crème Accord, Vanilla Bean, Bastet’s Musk Absolute, Whipped Vanilla Crème, and Strawberry Musk (NA Studio)
• Sorcellerie Apothecary
  • Falling Stars: Salted Vanilla Sweet Cream: A super-cozy, rich and warm blend of black coffee, almond cream, sandalwood, natural oud, palo santo oil, tonka bean absolute, and vanilla bean with Salted Vanilla Sweet Cream
  • Strings of Light in the Forest: Vanilla milkshake, Haitian vetiver, lavender maillette, beeswax absolute, golden orbs of amber, Ambroxan
  • Stuck on You: A perfect, crisp apple with a thin caramel shell
  • UFO Disco: Mango lassi sprinkled with cardamom, guava, amyris wood and a holographic vanilla musk

Again, spreadsheet for easy viewing and other 'fumes/goods I have! Feel free to ask me any questions or if you're interested in something from my collection that I don't have listed in the sales sections.

Interested in hearing other peoples’ go-to easy recipes/snacks (premade or diy) when you’re really in the mood for a dessert! Bonus if it’s chocolate-based😅 I’m 27f and have lost 40lbs in the past 4 months and interested in adding some new ideas for my final 10lbs! (SW 170, CW: 130, GW: 120)
My current favorites: -halo top (brownie caramel) -Fiber one brownies -veggies made great chocolate cakes w/cool whip -chobani zero lemon meringue flavor w/graham crumbs -clios yogurt bars (100 cal variety) -Reese’s zero pb cups (I love the 360cal bag) -sugar free chocolate pudding w/cool whip or reddiwhip (can also add some crumbled fiber one brownies) -arguably inedible but I love the halo top brownie mix BATTER but not when it’s baked lol.

Interested in hearing other peoples’ go-to easy recipes/snacks (premade or diy) when you’re really in the mood for a dessert! Bonus if it’s chocolate-based😅
My current favorites: -halo top (brownie caramel) -Fiber one brownies -veggies made great chocolate cakes w/cool whip -chobani zero lemon meringue flavor w/graham crumbs -clios yogurt bars (100 cal variety) -Reese’s zero pb cups (I love the 360cal bag) -sugar free chocolate pudding w/cool whip or reddiwhip (can also add some crumbled fiber one brownies) -arguably inedible but I love the halo top brownie mix BATTER but not when it’s baked lol.

Hello po, Good Day! Last December, nakabili na po ako ng electric oven. Nakakapag bake and nakakapag luto naman na kami gamit yung oven namin (35L). Ngayon naman if ever may extra money sa December ulit, I'm planning to buy gas range naman. Any recos po para sa gas range? Nakakahiligan po ngayin ng asawa ko mag bake ng mga muffins and cakes. May difference po ba ang oven na electric vs gas range oven? Thank you po and God Bless.

Wanting to start up a home baking business (really for now just an instagram and some socials) but struggling with a name. I do mostly cakes/cupcakes and cookies, both custom and off-the-shelf (may expand into bread at some point too). My first name is Lauren (but I'm honestly kind of against using it in the name) and outside of baking I'm a psychology researcher and do fencing. I also had an unrelated small business in my teens that had a tapir motif and I still like that idea but have no idea how to mix them. Not a huge fan of aggressively punny names either but won't say no to hearing them.

I've been asked to make the following for someone:

1. Two-tier 6 to 9 inch, ombre frosted birthday cake
2. 2 dozen plain sugar cookied with Swiss Buttercream frosting

For those of you that sell your creations, what would be a ballpark price you would advise someone to charge? I'm a home baker using Cottage Law to bake, if that matters at all.
After materials and a conservative labor cost, I calculated $80-$85, but I want to make sure I'm not way off.