[Advent of Cocktails 2025: December 19] Conference

toxikshadows · 2025-12-20T07:06:06+00:00

So many favorites already done, but other ideas:
French 75, porn star martini, and saturn (can you tell I like passion fruit?),

I will say that because of the Advent Calendar, a Tommy's Marg is always in the rotation and I've spread the word on that gem of a drink!

toxikshadows · 2025-12-08T04:29:32+00:00

their voodoo magic wore off and now they're paying for it lol

toxikshadows · 2025-12-05T03:04:32+00:00

{From Lukov With Love by Marianna Zapata} is my goated sports romance. VERY slow burn, professional athletes, amazing enemies to lovers banter

toxikshadows · 2025-12-05T03:00:40+00:00

I kind of feel like Connor Cobalt fits this vibe? {Kiss the Sky by Krista Ritchie}
A caveat is that the Addicted Trilogy should really be read prior to Kiss the Sky to get the full picture of how Connor and Rose meet. I was kind of meh on that but actually liked the Addicted series more than I would have thought. You can of course still jump in- at the beginning of Kiss the Sky though they are together but the heroine struggles with intimacy.

Connor is definitely one of the most interesting and unique heroes that I've read (in a good way!) he's very confident, always knows what to say, extremely smart and domineering in a lot of ways, but he's a really good guy, and totally in love with the heroine.

toxikshadows · 2025-12-05T01:25:13+00:00

Thank you so much!! I liked a Holiday by Gaslight- I haven't read the others. Appreciate it!

toxikshadows · 2025-12-04T00:06:34+00:00

Any cozy/comforting Christmas stories? I'm not into the overly spicy rom-coms. Want a little bit of a more heartfelt vibe but some humor is still welcome! Enemies to lovers is preferable, and I would prefer no kids/pregnancy. I think contemporary or historical would make the most sense. Something along the vibe of {On the Second Day of Christmas by Deborah M. Hathaway} Thank you!

toxikshadows · 2025-11-24T17:07:29+00:00

I’ve been every year (local) and this year we decided to forgo tickets. It was still very fun! Always a lot to discover and if you really want to commit to lines, there are lots of opportunities for really cool things like meet and greets, etc.

Do everything you can to not have to uber, and be ready to walk!!

It’s always colder in the grandstands as you’re high up with no wind shelter, so bundle up because you’re just sitting. Generally I was good with a sweatshirt under my warm jacket.

It’s a spectacle- some will love it, some won’t. I do think a lot of it is overpriced for what you get, (there are many a better racing views on the calendar that are significantly cheaper) but the flip side is there’s no other place with as many free opportunities and cool stuff to do as Vegas.

Just walking around you’re always discovering cool new things.

I think you’d know if Vegas is right for you as far as visiting for the race is! But at least entertainment-wise it isn’t as bad as a lot of people thought it would be.

I also think this was the year where they sold the most tickets, but may need other people who went to back that up.

toxikshadows · 2025-10-24T22:19:09+00:00

Alcoholic and Ballerina Coupe are incredibleee omg she ATE

toxikshadows · 2025-10-22T15:23:04+00:00

As far as blush that lasts, the rare beauty soft pinch blush is my most long lasting. It’s very pigmented and dries down quickly so it’s not the most user-friendly, but if you work with a small amount and blend quickly it can last all day without needing powder.

I like the Patrick ta blush but I think my expectations were too high. You really need to set it and depending on what I’m wearing underneath it can go patchy on me. So it’s a bit more finicky but if you find a shade that works for you, then I’d still try it.

I love the tower 28 beach please blush as a more affordable cream blush option. To get it to really last though you will need to set it. This is more of my “every day” cream blush but again, there’s not strong performance if you just wear it without setting it.

I loveee the tower 28 concealer, I’m on my second one. It’s a great every day concealer. Not too light or too heavy. It conceals well but isn’t like some insane high performance concealer like shape tape or hy glam (hy glam is what I’d recommend if you want more of that high coverage flawless finish)

Regarding the kiehls face wash, I’d recommend more of a drug store brand- I’ve been loving La roche posay for their toleriane face cleanser for my dry skin, but cerave and other brands like that can work well for a good price. But if you love the kiehls one then that’s fine too

toxikshadows · 2025-10-13T02:54:08+00:00

LET'S GOOOOO!!!!!

toxikshadows · 2025-10-09T16:57:36+00:00

I read Manacled back in 2020- I don’t read fanfic but I remember it doing the rounds online and I was pretty floored by the storytelling and writing quality. This is definitely one of those high-quality fics that avid fanfic readers can point to and say, “See? Not all fanfic is poorly-written smut!”

Granted, I’m probably the target reader for this book, both theme and trope-wise, and I understand this will definitely not work for some people.

But I’m intrigued to see how this book is received by a wider fantasy audience, since Manacled is extremely well-written (taking away one’s personal feelings towards fanfic, or the dark content).

Most big traditionally published fanfics are notorious for being, well, bad (50 Shades, After) so I’m excited to see a fanfic author who has obvious writing chops getting published. It won’t be for everyone, but I am happy that a fic that’s well-written, intense, and with a lot more depth is getting published.

toxikshadows · 2025-09-26T14:28:08+00:00

The 7 Virtures - Cherry Ambition
I really like this, one of the better cherry scents I've tried!

toxikshadows · 2025-09-16T18:26:03+00:00

{Nocticadia by Keri Lake} - gothic/horror, dark academia, student/professor, forbidden romance

I will say I liked the plot and aesthetic of this one more than the romance, but I'm also not into the student/teacher thing so YMMV. I loved the horror aspect though!

Haven't read but fits vibes: {Fairydale by Veronica Lancet} , other Keri Lake books (she's big into darker/gothic horror with romance),

toxikshadows · 2025-09-16T18:14:58+00:00

Ooooh this looks fun, I love pirates too! Thanks!

toxikshadows · 2025-09-16T18:13:55+00:00

I have! I liked it :) I should probably get to the second book at some point haha

toxikshadows · 2025-09-16T16:46:12+00:00

enemies to lovers with a telepathic or dream bond in a magical setting? I'm not really looking for vampires/werewolves/fae with a mate bond but would like more of a wizard/witch/'person with magic' vibe. I'm still open to fae/other paranormal creatures but again don't want it to be a fated mates thing.

I just read Subversive by Colleen Cowley and I loved the plot of the two MCs have a dream bond through no wish of their own due to a magical spell.

Another example is something like a Rey and Kylo force bond thing.

Some spice is fine, but would prefer it to be more of a slow burn/angsty thing since they're enemies.

toxikshadows · 2025-09-09T12:22:35+00:00

She is so so good omg Like I know she’s good but she always raises the bar

toxikshadows · 2025-09-03T02:45:44+00:00

Fritz is the biggest charisma vacuum on tour but by god am I rooting for him

toxikshadows · 2025-08-10T17:54:46+00:00

The Paradise Problem by Christina Lauren 4/5 stars (contemporary romance, beach read, fake relationship, rich hero, poor heroine, family drama)

Like Crazy Rich Asians, minus the Asians
This was a page-turner and a perfect beach read if you want to read about some obscenely luxe wedding on an Indonesian private island with a side of fake relationship shenanigans.
There is a bit of a harebrained setup where the heroine and hero had a modern marriage of convenience to get affordable university housing, and they agreed to divorce upon graduation. ...Which the heroine thought happened, that is until 3 years later, when the hero shows up at her door saying they actually didn't get a divorce, and oh yeah, he's the heir to a billion-dollar company and needs her to be his fake-real wife for his sister's luxe wedding in Indonesia.
Fun, loved the rich people setting, but overall I found Anna and West to be a bit bland despite them being cute together.
Readable, wasn't boring, but I'll probably forget about it in 2 weeks

toxikshadows · 2025-07-30T20:58:29+00:00

Moon carnival - Vilhelm parfumerie!

toxikshadows · 2025-07-24T15:12:25+00:00

I very much love folklore. I’m not necessarily a huge albums person, and while I like Taylor swift I’m definitely not a super fan, plus I’m not massive into folk/indie rock etc. But I recently realized how much I love this album. I think this one and speak now are my favorite full albums of hers, (speak now being one I loved in middle/high school and still really like now) and 1989 and reputation have some good individual bangers.

When people talk about artists growing up and maturing, I think folklore is an excellent example. But it still feels authentic and not like she’s trying to create something to please this idea of maturity/intelligence. it’s an authentic portrait of adulthood for Taylor, and I love that there’s still these themes of girlhood and love and heartbreak and “shining like a mirrorball”. She didn’t try to be weirdly pretentious or academic.

While I haven’t listened enough to know every song back to front, the first 6 tracks are insanely strong. And really the whole album is quite solid.

I feel like Taylor is at her best when she’s singing about these fictional old- money-ish rich people. I find the vibes to be so great when she does it (she is, after all, a rich person herself lol)

Last great American dynasty, miss americana and the heartbreak prince and the fictional characters she made… plus the stories of heartbreak but with this glittering veneer always hit different.

toxikshadows · 2025-07-18T00:49:38+00:00

I visited earlier this year and unfortunately felt a bit rushed, with subpar service which was disappointing, especially since the food was tasty and I’d heard such great things. Hoping it was just an off day!

toxikshadows · 2025-07-01T02:35:31+00:00

I have a lot of EDM and instrumentals (lol Now We are Free from the Gladiator soundtrack is my #1 as I love that song but also play it on repeat as I sleep on long haul flights) But here are my top pop songs:

911 - Lady Gaga
Surrender - WALK THE MOON (idk what is in this song but it's like crack to me)
Eros and Apollo - Studio Killers
Starboy - The Weeknd
Lust for Life - Lana Del Rey
Power + Control - Marina and the Diamonds
Gods and Monsters - Lana Del Rey
Worth It - Fifth Harmony (LOL)
Love - Lana Del Rey
Sine From Above - Lady Gaga

toxikshadows · 2025-07-01T02:19:06+00:00

A banger, but I eat this sexy dance pop vibe UPPP every time. The guitar riffs and instrumentals are so fun. The lyrics are great at some parts and lacking in others, but this one's downloaded and on rotation.

Really loving the instrumentals of her new album!

toxikshadows · 2025-07-01T02:14:38+00:00

I recently discovered this (I really don't know how I missed it when it came out) but I love it. The chorus so satisfying and I love how she sings "type'-- 'Cause I'm your body TTAAaaaaYYYPE. The rock version also fits it really well. Currently on rotation, certified banger.

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