𝔥𝔢𝔞𝔩𝔦𝔫𝔤

"I can understand that. Any time a candle has a 'baked good' scent, I always think that it can only be used in the kitchen... unless you want to be hungry in the bathroom," which he did not. If something was going to smell liked a muffin, then he wanted the chance to reach for a muffin, truthfully. Leaning forward to smell the apple cranberry candle, Rafael nodded his head slowly. "I think I could get behind that one. It's a good combination."

"And if you want to keep a consistent theme, I do also love a cranberry base for winter. So once the apple cranberry burns, you can replace it with a different, perhaps more pure cranberry, for the winter months." Someone who collected candles and other scented items, Tamika was always happy to provide recommendations to others.

"Guess we can at least go with they'll all be hearing us scream." If she wasn't going to be screaming on her own she'd at least feel a bit better to not be the only one terrified at someone jumping out at them. Now she only had to hope that wasn't the case. "No, they're not mine at all. I don't mind spooky vibes but jumping out at me? This is not the Legends of the Hidden Temple." she laughed, "I've learned I never would have survived that game without fainting at them jumping out at the end." Really she was pretty sure that show was partly why she loved escape rooms, it gave a loose interpretation of one.

"As long as no one gets punched in the face. That's always my fear for scare actors, like those working the mazes, at amusement parks, all of that." Tamika shook her head, laughing. That just sounded like a nightmare. "I don't blame you! I vaguely remember having a similar thought of it not being for me."

Rafael paused at her suggestion, before finding himself letting out a laugh. "Okay, but tell me -- do the apple candles also have the same situation? Apple cinnamon, apple pie, apple cranberry, apple crumble…" he rattled the suggestions off, not knowing whether or not he was right, and then letting out a louder laugh as he held up two, "apple pie and apple strudel! See what I mean?"

"You may think so. It is the main scent. It's more about the layers to the scent. For example, I prefer an apple cinnamon or apple cranberry to and baked goods." Tamika proceeded to pick up an apple cranberry candle, opening it up for Rafael to smell.

"That's... the problem. To me, they all smell like pumpkins," he laughed, looking over the candle that he had picked up. "Which is good for this time of year, don't get me wrong, but not necessarily helpful for someone like me." When she gave her preference for the pumpkin spice, he reached to pick that variety up, bringing it to his nose and taking a sniff. "It smells like it would go well in my kitchen. Has that baked good smell."

"You could go in another direction and get something apple based? Still incredibly fall appropriate." She looked around for the apple based candles to see if there were any that she was willing to recommend to Rafael.

“No I wouldn’t be surprised if some kind of scare tactic was in there. Which don’t judge if I scream the second it happens.” She was a react first, think logically after in this situations. “Guess if we’re mentally prepared though maybe we can catch on before it happens. Ready?”

"That is my hope. Otherwise, you'll be hearing me scream in fear too," she laughed. "Jump scares are not my favorite."

I can understand it! When you live in a town like this, there's something a little extra special about it, too. We get pretty leaves and cool evenings and those crisp mornings that kind of invigorate you when you step out the door.

Something that I missed when living in Vegas, let me tell you about it. I'm quite happy being back in this climate. This year, with a little more knowledge on what to expect here.

"In theory," Rafael said through a laugh, turning over a candle on one of the displays and letting out a soft huff of a breath, "I'm mostly trying to figure out how on earth they manage to have fifteen different pumpkin scents." Which was the truth. There was pumpkin, pumpkin pie, pumpkin spice, pumpkin apple... and to him, truthfully, they all smelled exactly alike.

"I would assume a difference in top notes?" Her words came out more like a question as Mika peered over to just the candles Rafael was looking at. "Though if they all smell the same initially, I think that would be more the base notes differing. And not that you asked for my opinion, but of these, I prefer the pumpkin spice."

When someone easily jumped at the opportunity to join her, she was relieved. Would have been far worse if no one had taken her up and she had been wandering in the escape room by herself trying to figure everything out. "That's what I want to see, what they changed up. I'm just hoping having people randomly pop in and jump out at you aren't part of it."

"Hopefully not, though I wouldn't be too surprised," she laughed softly. It was almost expected, if not a person popping up out of nowhere, some sort of jump scares were almost guaranteed. At least, Mika was mentally preparing, just in case.

Fashion and food are pretty much my favorite parts of any season, so I can get behind this idea! Sometimes we just want to look cute while we eat good food, you know? I hope so, too! Even if it's not as colorful, a nice cool down and a breeze would be great.

There's something about fall, specifically. Makes it my favorite time of year. That sort of proper fall that I was looking forward to, coming back to the east coast.

#(conversation; rafael)#para tag #feel free to choose the store <3

where: merrock suburbs when: october 2025 who: mika & @rafaelcb

Tamika was making the shopping rounds, stopping by multiple shops in the suburbs for various items, including seasonal goods. She was occupied, looking over one of the displays, before she looked up and noticed Rafael. "Picking up some seasonal goods?"

Mika will be dressing up in honor of one of her favorite movies this year, attending the party at Vibrations as Justice from Poetic Justice. While the kids may not know the reference while trick-or-treating, Mika hopes that the parents appreciate it as she passes out candy.

#merrockfashion

That's true! All of the local bakeries have good stuff out right now. I had a delicious caramel apple frappe at Snack Shack yesterday, too, so even the drinks are top notch. I do love this time of year for goodies. I'm a little sad that it's not a more vibrant fall all the way around, but we've still got some pretty colors happening here in town. And we make our own color, anyway.

Ooh, that sounds delicious! I might have to drop by and give it a try. It's probably my favorite part of this season. The fashion, and the food. I am hoping that we get more real, good and proper fall, for some time, before winter hits.

Who: Eliana Vagh & open!

What: The Great Escape

When: October 2025

Escape rooms were one of those places that you either loved or hated, and Eliana loved them. It was where she got to feel a little like a detective for almost 30 minutes. Getting there she had planned on attempting to do these now that they had been updated for the Halloween time of year. Once she had arrived, she was told that it'd be better if there had been at least one other person in the room that they were amping up the difficulty. Someone else had entered the building, a soft chime, apparently another person thinking the same thing.

Glancing toward them, "So apparently they really upped the ante on these new haunted rooms, any chance you want to join in? See if we can beat the time?"

Tamika had grown to enjoy The Great Escape and was looking forward to see what the Halloween upgrades were. Hearing Eliana's request to join in with her, Mika nodded with a smile. "I'd be happy to! I want to see what all they've done for Halloween."

That was my Friday treat... my "not quite stale but they're getting there" baked goods for everyone to share. Except now I'm a little sad at how few baked goods I have in my cabinet, but these things happen. True! I feel like the autumn season is sort of a gateway to all the good winter stuff, which stays out a lot longer, for me? Ooh, good point! I do have one on my little table for bath times, too.

I'm sure that they were all worth, every last bit. And, we have all season to restock on baked goods through the season. So at least there's that to look forward to. I just love enjoying the seasons to the fullest. And, lets be real, the way that winter can drag. I don't blame the craving for pumpkin pie and turkey to pp back up in the spring.

noa-markam

"The season can get wild quickly," Noa said with a laugh. "More drama than an episode of reality television crammed into one Sunday football game." There was a whole universe of deeper fans and lore than even she could imagine. "The best thing you can say about me," she lifted her drink, "is that I'm not a fair weather fan."

#(conversation; noa)#para tag

"I don't doubt." Though Mika didn't keep up too closely, she knew enough, hearing tidbits here and there of the drama taking place both on and off the field. Maybe she needed to tune in more, this season. "That is how it goes! Better than a bandwagoner."

mariah-h-kenmore

"Right..." Mariah said with a sigh. She looked down seeing her son pouting a little before turning and seeing his sister with the goldfish that Mariah had just won her daughter. She bit her lip before handing some money to the person in charge of the game and getting another set of rings. She took a few breaths before tossing the rings and getting each around the same bottle. "I won!" she said excitedly, before picking Schuy up so he could pick a fish. Once he secured a white and orange fish, Mariah put her son in the double stroller to join his sister reminding them to hold their fish carefully.

"Thanks for your support. Schuy would've been so upset if I didn't get him a fish too." she smiled softly to Tamika. "How have you been enjoying Creek Fest?"