Life rearranges itself to compensate for your loss

Gonna make one hundred soups this year. Starting off with kapustnyak, carrot soup, chickpea soup, and parsnip soup.

Can't stop won't stop. 15 soups so far.

Four new BEAN BASED SOUPS, the first one trailblazing because it was a taco soup recipe courtesy of @alex-of-1000-dumbasseries. 61 IN THE BAG, 39 TO GO.

Thank you, I will take these codfish words to my grave. Also, I have achieved 8 more, putting me at 77 soups. How is 70 plus 9 photos 77? I'm glad you asked.

A COLOURFUL BATCH featuring another Certified Tumblr Soup because people kept recommending Yeto's Soup, and they were right.

If you are not sure what to buy or make, and the person hasn't asked for something that you can just get (or you don't want to for whatever reason), try to hone in on these broad categories:

A better version of something they use all the time, or something to augment it.

Are they always carting around a dented, old, off-brand coffee thermos? What about a new Contigo, in their favorite color?

Is the strap of their favorite satchel looking ragged, or just plain? There are fancy, decorative straps that might compliment it.

Hikers and cyclists might appreciate the types of socks they won't shell out for themselves. Or nicer sport-specific gloves, or reflective gear.

A convenience they will appreciate.

Do they read a lot of paperbacks while on the go? Maybe they would appreciate a pretty sleeve to protect those books inside their day bag.

Are they always caught without something, like chap stick or ear buds? Get them some cheap ones in different colors so they can spread the items across their various bags and locations. No more grabbing the wrong bag and having to ride transit without music.

Do they always have RSA tokens rattling around their lanyard? I swear by the 3D-printed card holders that hold and display RSA tokens on the back. No rattling!

A thing associated with something they like, be it a sports team or a show or a specific animal, that they don't already have. I say again: Something they LIKE in the PRESENT TENSE. I feel like Tumblrites are the least likely to mess this up, but still. I bet many of you received, say...toy horses years after you were over that phase, or t-shirts about a show you got mad at and stopped watching. Don't do that to someone else.

Stickers, t-shirts, jewelry, home goods, etc.

Specific example: Two years ago, I made my penguin-obsessed friend a tea towel and an oven mitt with penguin-printed fabric. He just mentioned to me that he still uses them! Probably because they are decent-quality versions of things he uses all the time, associated with something he likes.

And if all else fails: A consumable they will definitely use.

Do they host a lot of dinner parties? Then they can never have too much half-decent wine.

Do they work outside in the cold? Their hands always need good hand creams, and I bet they have a favorite brand. (If they don't, see point one and get them a fancier one.)

Endurance athletes will get through a box of their favorite fuel, e.g. Honey Stingers.

People who sew will make use of needles, rotary cutter blades, and interfacing or batting (depending on the type of sewing they do).

Most people like fancy chocolate (unless they have food allergies).

- sundays

- end of the year