🎄🍬 Making Gingerbread Houses | A Gentle Holiday Story for Cozy Evenings

1
00:00:02,070 --> 00:00:07,600
Welcome to The Slow Life.
I'm Jennifer Vino and I create,

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00:00:07,650 --> 00:00:12,060
narrate and design the
soundscape of this village of

3
00:00:12,070 --> 00:00:15,820
cosy stories to relax and
unwind.

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00:00:16,870 --> 00:00:20,210
Each week I share an original
story.

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00:00:20,330 --> 00:00:25,360
Read 2 times so you can relax
even more during the second

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00:00:25,370 --> 00:00:29,060
reading.
I'm happy to announce my

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website, theslowlife.ca.
It provides a space where we can

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00:00:36,270 --> 00:00:40,650
connect and I can bring you all
things cozy.

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00:00:43,060 --> 00:00:47,700
Let's settle in with some easy
breathing at your own pace.

10
00:00:48,800 --> 00:00:53,850
With each inhale, let fresh air
fill the space around your

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00:00:53,860 --> 00:00:58,850
heart.
With each exhale, feel the calm

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00:00:58,860 --> 00:01:04,450
air spread through your body and
flow out through your arms and

13
00:01:04,459 --> 00:01:09,080
legs, gently in through your
heart.

14
00:01:11,000 --> 00:01:21,550
Gently out through your body, in
through your heart, out through

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00:01:21,560 --> 00:01:27,310
your body.
And now let's begin.

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00:01:30,380 --> 00:01:35,350
This story is called Making
Gingerbread Houses, and it's

17
00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:41,810
about contributing in our own
way, disappearing candy and

18
00:01:41,820 --> 00:01:50,430
keeping the hot drinks flowing.
Snow dusts the front steps when

19
00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:55,490
my friends arrive, a light
snowfall that's more decorative

20
00:01:55,560 --> 00:02:00,110
than serious.
I greet them at the door as

21
00:02:00,120 --> 00:02:05,010
coats are shrugged off and boots
are lined up neatly against the

22
00:02:05,020 --> 00:02:09,539
wall.
We carry bags into the kitchen

23
00:02:09,669 --> 00:02:14,840
and spread everything out across
the island, clearing space for

24
00:02:14,850 --> 00:02:22,060
our delicious day of creation.
Candy bags crinkle in our hands.

25
00:02:22,600 --> 00:02:27,700
Parchment paper is smoothed
flat, and measuring caps and

26
00:02:27,710 --> 00:02:33,110
cooling racks appear.
The house already smells faintly

27
00:02:33,120 --> 00:02:38,710
of spice mixing with the heat
from the fireplace I lit early

28
00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:43,400
this morning.
One friend immediately claims

29
00:02:43,410 --> 00:02:48,150
the role she loves most with 0
argument from us.

30
00:02:49,500 --> 00:02:54,520
She sets out bowls and trays
with practised ease, already

31
00:02:54,530 --> 00:03:00,950
thinking several steps ahead.
Baking the gingerbread pieces is

32
00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:05,750
her favorite part, and she
insists on doing it for all of

33
00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:09,960
us.
I know this about her, how she

34
00:03:09,970 --> 00:03:14,780
finds comfort in the precision
of measuring and the patience of

35
00:03:14,790 --> 00:03:18,730
waiting, how she enjoys the
focus of it.

36
00:03:20,110 --> 00:03:25,520
My other friend and I contribute
in our own way, heating up and

37
00:03:25,530 --> 00:03:30,690
serving apple cider while
unloading candies of every shape

38
00:03:30,700 --> 00:03:34,920
and colour.
There are gum drops dusted with

39
00:03:34,930 --> 00:03:40,080
sugar, rock candy sticks that
sparkle like stained glass,

40
00:03:40,930 --> 00:03:45,740
chocolate buttons, peppermints
wrapped in crinkly cellophane,

41
00:03:46,150 --> 00:03:48,850
and marshmallows in various
sizes.

42
00:03:50,170 --> 00:03:55,070
The island becomes a landscape
of goodies and creative ideas.

43
00:03:56,580 --> 00:04:00,440
While the oven warms and dough
is rolled and cut.

44
00:04:01,250 --> 00:04:05,660
We settle on to stools and keep
the hot drinks topped up.

45
00:04:07,250 --> 00:04:10,960
The baking takes time, but there
is no rush.

46
00:04:11,650 --> 00:04:15,980
We have the whole day and
knowing that keeps us relaxed.

47
00:04:17,649 --> 00:04:23,140
Outside, the snow continues its
gentle coating, flakes drifting

48
00:04:23,150 --> 00:04:29,910
past the windows in no more of a
hurry than we are cozy.

49
00:04:29,920 --> 00:04:35,170
Inside, the kitchen grows
warmer, the scent of ginger,

50
00:04:35,180 --> 00:04:40,810
cinnamon and molasses mixing as
the first trays slide into the

51
00:04:40,820 --> 00:04:45,080
oven.
Steam curls upward from all

52
00:04:45,090 --> 00:04:49,680
three mugs, carrying notes of
apple and cloves.

53
00:04:51,460 --> 00:04:55,970
I keep my hands wrapped around
mine, loving the feeling of the

54
00:04:55,980 --> 00:05:02,050
heat seeping into my palms.
We visit as the baking

55
00:05:02,060 --> 00:05:06,950
continues, stories rolling out
to the same rhythm of the

56
00:05:06,960 --> 00:05:11,390
rolling of the dough,
interspersed with baking and

57
00:05:11,400 --> 00:05:15,640
cooling.
I find myself remembering the

58
00:05:15,650 --> 00:05:19,800
gingerbread houses of my
childhood, though they were

59
00:05:19,810 --> 00:05:25,330
gingerbread in name only.
I share how when we were

60
00:05:25,340 --> 00:05:30,920
younger, our friend and I used
Graham crackers instead, propped

61
00:05:30,930 --> 00:05:35,180
together with melted sugar and a
wish for it to hold.

62
00:05:36,580 --> 00:05:41,370
It was a magical time being
invited over to take part in

63
00:05:41,380 --> 00:05:47,160
this holiday tradition.
The memory brings a smile, and

64
00:05:47,170 --> 00:05:49,810
it seems to amuse the others as
well.

65
00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:55,710
One friend finds the idea
charmingly simple and vows to

66
00:05:55,720 --> 00:06:01,240
try it herself with her nieces
and nephews, and the one at the

67
00:06:01,250 --> 00:06:06,110
oven acknowledges that it would
be much easier, although she

68
00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:10,160
remains devoted to this slower,
more involved method.

69
00:06:11,540 --> 00:06:15,410
The baking part is better with
company, she tells us.

70
00:06:15,600 --> 00:06:21,080
And I can see that it's true.
As trees are pulled out for

71
00:06:21,090 --> 00:06:26,200
cooling, neat stacks of walls
and rooftops begin to form.

72
00:06:27,880 --> 00:06:32,550
Each of us receives a small
pile, just enough to make a

73
00:06:32,560 --> 00:06:39,190
modest sized house to keep.
We clear more space, laying out

74
00:06:39,200 --> 00:06:43,600
icing bags and bowls of candy
within easy reach.

75
00:06:44,990 --> 00:06:50,240
We begin assembling, reminded
that with her icing recipe made

76
00:06:50,250 --> 00:06:55,060
specifically for building, only
a bit of patience is needed to

77
00:06:55,070 --> 00:06:59,770
let it harden.
Laughter is held in during this

78
00:06:59,780 --> 00:07:04,090
step so we don't shake loose the
foundations we're piercing

79
00:07:04,100 --> 00:07:08,430
together.
The bowls of candy disappear

80
00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:14,390
steadily, not only on to the
houses, but into mouths, sugar,

81
00:07:14,400 --> 00:07:17,840
energy adding a playfulness to
the afternoon.

82
00:07:19,490 --> 00:07:23,920
Our houses take on noticeably
distinct personalities.

83
00:07:24,820 --> 00:07:30,130
One leans towards realism,
carefully iced seams holding

84
00:07:30,140 --> 00:07:35,030
straight walls, a roof dusted
lightly with powdered sugar.

85
00:07:35,040 --> 00:07:40,320
Like fresh snow.
Windows are framed neatly, with

86
00:07:40,330 --> 00:07:43,040
a sense of proportion in every
choice.

87
00:07:44,490 --> 00:07:49,180
The other two, including mine,
drift in a more whimsical

88
00:07:49,190 --> 00:07:53,450
direction.
My hosts becomes increasingly

89
00:07:53,460 --> 00:07:59,630
exuberant candy pressed into
every available surface, colour

90
00:07:59,640 --> 00:08:03,480
and texture, layered without
rules or restraint.

91
00:08:04,670 --> 00:08:09,020
Gum drops line the roof like
cheerful shingles, and

92
00:08:09,030 --> 00:08:14,060
peppermints dot the walls.
I don't resist adding just one

93
00:08:14,070 --> 00:08:19,590
more piece than another.
We make little trees from

94
00:08:19,600 --> 00:08:25,040
stacked candies, icing acting as
both the glue and the snow.

95
00:08:26,630 --> 00:08:32,870
Some trees are tall and slender,
others squat and round with

96
00:08:32,880 --> 00:08:36,570
yellow dots of coloured icing
acting as lights.

97
00:08:38,049 --> 00:08:42,860
Pathways are formed out of rock
candy leading up to tiny

98
00:08:42,870 --> 00:08:46,480
doorways.
Snow folk take shape from

99
00:08:46,490 --> 00:08:50,200
marshmallows.
They're forms teetering, leaning

100
00:08:50,210 --> 00:08:53,700
this way and that as if caught
mid step.

101
00:08:55,320 --> 00:09:00,050
Chocolate chips become eyes,
bits of red string licorice

102
00:09:00,060 --> 00:09:05,200
wrapped around as scarves.
The scenes grow busier and more

103
00:09:05,210 --> 00:09:10,230
delightful by the minute, a
small village forming across my

104
00:09:10,240 --> 00:09:15,370
counter top.
Hard apple cider is replaced by

105
00:09:15,380 --> 00:09:20,940
tea and coffee mugs clinked
softly against the island, and

106
00:09:20,950 --> 00:09:26,900
the afternoon hums along.
The snow never quite stops

107
00:09:27,090 --> 00:09:31,540
sprinkling the village like the
icing sugar on our gingerbread

108
00:09:31,550 --> 00:09:36,350
cottages.
I pause occasionally to watch

109
00:09:36,360 --> 00:09:41,690
what my friends add next, to
breathe in the warmth, to smile

110
00:09:41,700 --> 00:09:45,890
at the organized mess we've made
and the feeling of shared

111
00:09:45,900 --> 00:09:49,900
enjoyment.
These are the moments that stay

112
00:09:49,910 --> 00:09:54,520
with us long after the season
shifts and the decorations are

113
00:09:54,530 --> 00:09:59,460
packed away.
Eventually the light begins to

114
00:09:59,470 --> 00:10:03,760
change, the afternoon sliding
towards evening.

115
00:10:05,360 --> 00:10:10,650
Satisfied that we finished,
leftover candies are divided up

116
00:10:10,780 --> 00:10:13,890
and the houses are admired one
last time.

117
00:10:15,480 --> 00:10:20,450
My friends carefully box up
their creations, mindful of

118
00:10:20,460 --> 00:10:23,430
delicate roofs and top heavy
trees.

119
00:10:25,020 --> 00:10:29,170
They helped me clean up before
Coats are retrieved and the

120
00:10:29,180 --> 00:10:34,890
kitchen grows quiet as the door
closes behind them, the snow

121
00:10:34,900 --> 00:10:37,940
still falling softly as they
head home.

122
00:10:39,460 --> 00:10:44,090
I stand for a moment looking at
my own gingerbread house on the

123
00:10:44,100 --> 00:10:49,090
counter, its candy covered walls
looking just as they're supposed

124
00:10:49,100 --> 00:10:55,000
to, good enough to eat.
Once everything is still,

125
00:10:55,210 --> 00:11:00,790
temptation works its magic.
I break off a small piece from

126
00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:06,580
the back, a section hidden from
view, telling myself that no one

127
00:11:06,590 --> 00:11:11,110
will notice.
The gingerbread snaps gently,

128
00:11:11,220 --> 00:11:14,790
spice and sweetness balancing as
I take a bite.

129
00:11:15,900 --> 00:11:20,720
I know the hosts won't last long
with my sweet tooth, and I am

130
00:11:20,730 --> 00:11:23,490
entirely content with that
thought.

131
00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:36,610
Making gingerbread houses.
Snow dusts the front steps when

132
00:11:36,620 --> 00:11:41,670
my friends arrive, A light
snowfall that's more decorative

133
00:11:41,740 --> 00:11:46,300
than serious.
I greet them at the door as

134
00:11:46,310 --> 00:11:51,200
coats are shrugged off and boots
are lined up neatly against the

135
00:11:51,210 --> 00:11:55,730
wall.
We carry bags into the kitchen

136
00:11:55,860 --> 00:12:01,030
and spread everything out across
the island, clearing space for

137
00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:08,240
our delicious day of creation.
Candy bags crinkle in our hands.

138
00:12:08,790 --> 00:12:13,870
Parchment paper is smoothed
flat, and measuring caps and

139
00:12:13,880 --> 00:12:19,300
cooling racks appear.
The house already smells faintly

140
00:12:19,310 --> 00:12:24,900
of spice mixing with the heat
from the fireplace I lit early

141
00:12:24,910 --> 00:12:29,590
this morning.
One friend immediately claims

142
00:12:29,600 --> 00:12:34,340
the role she loves most with 0
argument from us.

143
00:12:35,680 --> 00:12:40,700
She sets out bowls and trays
with practised ease, already

144
00:12:40,710 --> 00:12:47,150
thinking several steps ahead.
Baking the gingerbread pieces is

145
00:12:47,160 --> 00:12:51,930
her favorite part, and she
insists on doing it for all of

146
00:12:51,940 --> 00:12:56,130
us.
I know this about her, how she

147
00:12:56,140 --> 00:13:00,970
finds comfort in the precision
of measuring and the patience of

148
00:13:00,980 --> 00:13:04,910
waiting, how she enjoys the
focus of it.

149
00:13:06,300 --> 00:13:11,710
My other friend and I contribute
in our own way, heating up and

150
00:13:11,720 --> 00:13:16,880
serving apple cider while
unloading candies of every shape

151
00:13:16,890 --> 00:13:21,110
and colour.
There are gum drops dusted with

152
00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:26,270
sugar, rock candy sticks that
sparkle like stained glass,

153
00:13:27,120 --> 00:13:31,850
chocolate buttons, peppermints
wrapped in crinkly cellophane,

154
00:13:32,340 --> 00:13:35,040
and marshmallows in various
sizes.

155
00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:41,260
The island becomes a landscape
of goodies and creative ideas.

156
00:13:42,770 --> 00:13:46,630
While the oven warms and dough
is rolled and cut.

157
00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:51,850
We settle on to stools and keep
the hot drinks topped up.

158
00:13:53,450 --> 00:13:57,150
The baking takes time, but there
is no rush.

159
00:13:57,830 --> 00:14:02,170
We have the whole day and
knowing that keeps us relaxed.

160
00:14:03,840 --> 00:14:09,330
Outside, the snow continues its
gentle coating, flakes drifting

161
00:14:09,340 --> 00:14:16,100
past the windows in no more of a
hurry than we are cozy.

162
00:14:16,110 --> 00:14:21,360
Inside, the kitchen grows
warmer, the scent of ginger,

163
00:14:21,370 --> 00:14:27,000
cinnamon and molasses mixing as
the first trays slide into the

164
00:14:27,010 --> 00:14:31,270
oven.
Steam curls upward from all

165
00:14:31,280 --> 00:14:35,870
three mugs, carrying notes of
apple and cloves.

166
00:14:37,640 --> 00:14:42,150
I keep my hands wrapped around
mine, loving the feeling of the

167
00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:48,240
heat seeping into my palms.
We visit as the baking

168
00:14:48,250 --> 00:14:53,140
continues, stories rolling out
to the same rhythm of the

169
00:14:53,150 --> 00:14:57,580
rolling of the dough,
interspersed with baking and

170
00:14:57,590 --> 00:15:01,820
cooling.
I find myself remembering the

171
00:15:01,830 --> 00:15:05,990
gingerbread houses of my
childhood, though they were

172
00:15:06,000 --> 00:15:11,500
gingerbread in name only.
I share how when we were

173
00:15:11,510 --> 00:15:17,110
younger, our friend and I used
Graham crackers instead, propped

174
00:15:17,120 --> 00:15:21,360
together with melted sugar and a
wish for it to hold.

175
00:15:22,770 --> 00:15:27,560
It was a magical time being
invited over to take part in

176
00:15:27,570 --> 00:15:33,350
this holiday tradition.
The memory brings a smile, and

177
00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:35,990
it seems to amuse the others as
well.

178
00:15:37,250 --> 00:15:41,900
One friend finds the idea
charmingly simple and vows to

179
00:15:41,910 --> 00:15:47,420
try it herself with her nieces
and nephews, and the one at the

180
00:15:47,430 --> 00:15:52,300
oven acknowledges that it would
be much easier, although she

181
00:15:52,310 --> 00:15:56,350
remains devoted to this slower,
more involved method.

182
00:15:57,730 --> 00:16:01,600
The baking part is better with
company, she tells us.

183
00:16:01,790 --> 00:16:07,270
And I can see that it's true.
As trees are pulled out for

184
00:16:07,280 --> 00:16:12,390
cooling, neat stacks of walls
and rooftops begin to form.

185
00:16:14,060 --> 00:16:18,750
Each of us receives a small
pile, just enough to make a

186
00:16:18,760 --> 00:16:25,390
modest sized house to keep.
We clear more space, laying out

187
00:16:25,400 --> 00:16:29,790
icing bags and bowls of candy
within easy reach.

188
00:16:31,180 --> 00:16:36,430
We begin assembling, reminded
that with her icing recipe made

189
00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:41,250
specifically for building, only
a bit of patience is needed to

190
00:16:41,260 --> 00:16:45,960
let it harden.
Laughter is held in during this

191
00:16:45,970 --> 00:16:50,280
step so we don't shake loose the
foundations we're piercing

192
00:16:50,290 --> 00:16:54,610
together.
The bowls of candy disappear

193
00:16:54,620 --> 00:17:00,570
steadily, not only on to the
houses, but into mouths, sugar,

194
00:17:00,580 --> 00:17:04,030
energy adding a playfulness to
the afternoon.

195
00:17:05,670 --> 00:17:10,109
Our houses take on noticeably
distinct personalities.

196
00:17:11,000 --> 00:17:16,310
One leans towards realism,
carefully iced seams holding

197
00:17:16,319 --> 00:17:21,220
straight walls, a roof dusted
lightly with powdered sugar.

198
00:17:21,230 --> 00:17:26,510
Like fresh snow.
Windows are framed neatly, with

199
00:17:26,520 --> 00:17:29,220
a sense of proportion in every
choice.

200
00:17:30,690 --> 00:17:35,360
The other two, including mine,
drift in a more whimsical

201
00:17:35,370 --> 00:17:39,630
direction.
My host becomes increasingly

202
00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:45,810
exuberant candy pressed into
every available surface, colour

203
00:17:45,820 --> 00:17:49,670
and texture, layered without
rules or restraint.

204
00:17:50,860 --> 00:17:55,210
Gum drops line the roof like
cheerful shingles, and

205
00:17:55,220 --> 00:18:00,240
peppermints dot the walls.
I don't resist adding just one

206
00:18:00,250 --> 00:18:05,780
more piece than another.
We make little trees from

207
00:18:05,790 --> 00:18:11,250
stacked candies, icing acting as
both the glue and the snow.

208
00:18:12,820 --> 00:18:19,050
Some trees are tall and slender,
others squat and round with

209
00:18:19,060 --> 00:18:22,760
yellow dots of coloured icing
acting as lights.

210
00:18:24,240 --> 00:18:29,050
Pathways are formed out of rock
candy leading up to tiny

211
00:18:29,060 --> 00:18:32,670
doorways.
Snow folk take shape from

212
00:18:32,680 --> 00:18:36,380
marshmallows.
They're forms teetering, leaning

213
00:18:36,390 --> 00:18:39,900
this way and that, as if caught
mid step.

214
00:18:41,510 --> 00:18:46,240
Chocolate chips become eyes,
bits of red string licorice

215
00:18:46,250 --> 00:18:51,380
wrapped around as scarves.
The scenes grow busier and more

216
00:18:51,390 --> 00:18:56,420
delightful by the minute, a
small village forming across my

217
00:18:56,430 --> 00:19:01,560
countertop.
Hard apple cider is replaced by

218
00:19:01,570 --> 00:19:07,130
tea and coffee mugs clinked
softly against the island, and

219
00:19:07,140 --> 00:19:13,090
the afternoon hums along.
The snow never quite stops

220
00:19:13,280 --> 00:19:17,730
sprinkling the village like the
icing sugar on our gingerbread

221
00:19:17,740 --> 00:19:22,530
cottages.
I pause occasionally to watch

222
00:19:22,540 --> 00:19:27,880
what my friends add next, to
breathe in the warmth, to smile

223
00:19:27,890 --> 00:19:32,080
at the organized mess we've made
and the feeling of shared

224
00:19:32,090 --> 00:19:36,080
enjoyment.
These are the moments that stay

225
00:19:36,090 --> 00:19:40,700
with us long after the season
shifts and the decorations are

226
00:19:40,710 --> 00:19:45,660
packed away.
Eventually the light begins to

227
00:19:45,670 --> 00:19:49,950
change, the afternoon sliding
towards evening.

228
00:19:51,540 --> 00:19:56,850
Satisfied that we finished,
leftover candies are divided up

229
00:19:56,980 --> 00:20:00,080
and the houses are admired one
last time.

230
00:20:01,680 --> 00:20:06,630
My friends carefully box up
their creations, mindful of

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00:20:06,640 --> 00:20:09,620
delicate roofs and top heavy
trees.

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00:20:11,210 --> 00:20:15,360
They helped me clean up before
Coats are retrieved and the

233
00:20:15,370 --> 00:20:21,080
kitchen grows quiet as the door
closes behind them, the snow

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00:20:21,090 --> 00:20:24,130
still falling softly as they
head home.

235
00:20:25,650 --> 00:20:30,260
I stand for a moment looking at
my own gingerbread house on the

236
00:20:30,270 --> 00:20:35,270
counter, its candy covered walls
looking just as they're supposed

237
00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:41,190
to, good enough to eat.
Once everything is still,

238
00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:46,980
temptation works its magic.
I break off a small piece from

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00:20:46,990 --> 00:20:52,770
the back, a section hidden from
view, telling myself that no one

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00:20:52,780 --> 00:20:57,300
will notice.
The gingerbread snaps gently,

241
00:20:57,410 --> 00:21:00,980
spice and sweetness balancing as
I take a bite.

242
00:21:02,090 --> 00:21:06,900
I know the hosts won't last long
with my sweet tooth and I am

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00:21:06,910 --> 00:21:09,670
entirely content with that
thought.

244
00:21:11,860 --> 00:21:14,150
I wish you sweet dreams.