It’s in fashion. I really love the blue denim shirt on blue jeans look since I prefer a monochrome look for myself. I just don’t own a denim shirt and little did I know the 90s fashion would be back or I would have kept my wardrobe from back then. And you look fabulous!

Dd uses it for cramps. We had thought that our dog needed a heated pad made for dogs but of course the dog prefers a heater. Dog pads are bigger than normal ones for humans but not as comfortable since they need to be water proof. They do soften when heated. Is your mattress pad the ones that cover the entire bed like a fitted bed sheet? Dog pads are smaller though I did get the biggest one for our dog.

I used to get these after every piano lesson. Though like Arcadia I’m a 70s kid but the preteen years were more impactful/memorable so I would describe myself as 80s kid.

I thought about it but my robot vacuum (no wet feature) is more work to untangle dog hair from its brushes than for me to use a Dyson even if it’s daily. I really hate cutting dog hair from brushes. And at least for us, we had to constantly empty it. Now I use a swiffy mop with an attached disposable pad but not their liquid - I use a liquid cleaner made for hard wood floors. What I did do recently was buy a dog vacuum and just used it this weekend. Enough hair was vacuumed from her to fill a pillow case but I suspect it’s also shedding season for my husky.

One of my good friend’s son is autistic and is about 20 yo and does get easily overwhelmed. She would really appreciate this article. This is an excellent read!

@Spryte may I ask, each time you have an allergic episode, do you use one epipen or 2? And if 2, how far in between do you spread each shot? I hope you are feeling better and resting. Keep us posted please. I had no idea that there could be recurrence.

During pandemic I stopped carrying a purse and haven’t since that time. I usually wear blazers with deep pockets or coats with pockets. In the summer my shorts have deep pockets. I’ve narrowed down my essentials to lip balm, car keys if I’m driving, no house keys as it’s on the app or it’s a smart lock, one tissue, and a flashlight if walking my dog. My phone case has a slot at the back for driver’s license and credit card. And if I drive, I have money and hand sanitizer in it. If I do need more than what I can put in my pockets I have a lunch bag to carry whatever I think I need or a cloth tote or if I want to look fancier maybe a leather tote but I haven’t had the need to look fancy in 4 years. I used to carry really cool knives in my purse but not anymore due to keeping it as minimal as possible. ETA: if I know I need to go to a place that only accepts cash like a cannabis dispensary I carry the cash in a zip lock lunch bag and put that in my blazer pocket. A wallet is more than I want to carry these days.

What a scary day! I was reading your reply on the other thread and telling Dd to be more mindful of the 2 systems. She tends to drink a lot of water to dilute the allergen. Part of the reason is probably embarrassment if she is with friends or just trying to avoid bothering us and hoping that with enough liquid her symptoms will subside.

I can’t use any American commercial sunscreens, but if it’s one that is hybrid from Korea, I don’t have any allergic reactions. Good to know about Missha!

My parents had a blue Volvo, the distinctive vintage ones, and I miss the visibility of it.

@soror That sounds like an exciting trip! I like the fact you just have a carry on. It’s the only way to travel for me to lessen stress. Are you staying at a house so that you can cook and do laundry? I have a friend who went back to Scotland after grad school, and I’ve always wanted to include it in a European travel just the way he used to talk about the country.

I’m focusing on weight training for the next 3 months, spending about an hour each time, 1-3 times per week at the gym. It’s cheaper to join the gym if I commit to 3 months and in that way I’m compelled to go. I’ve been wanting to lift weights for years given that I’m probably genetically predisposed to osteoporosis/bone density. I hope starting at 50 will help a bit. I haven’t been to a weight room since I was 28 years old.

So far I’m using the free Nurtec program, and I didn’t know it changed until you posted. So I’m going to be in the same position as you. I like Nurtec a lot. Up until the first week of January, I used to get the 8-pill packet every 21 days and used as needed. Due to switching insurance and then PCP I won’t be able to even see a doctor until March. I have some leftover pills but they will not last if I’m supposed to take 3 alternatives. If I were in your shoes I would quickly start the alternatives and let the doctor know the alternative doesn’t work. For me I’m not sure if I would even bother taking the alternative due to side effects. I don’t have any side effects with Nurtec. I still have one week to switch back to my original insurance so that I can go back to my old doctor in February. It was too good to last this long. I started in August 2023 when in received a free sample.

How much magnesium do you take?

If nothing invasive, I would use tretinoin prescription strength (I prefer an online pharmacy like Agency) and vitamin C such as Maelove or Timeless. I know there are devises such as MediCube or Nira Pro or even LED masks that could possibly help with collagen production, but they are rather expensive and could take a long time to see results. Congrats on the weight loss! I can barely get it down by 5#s.

I love black faucets, but I don’t have any. I was planning to switch over slowly. I wonder what’s the next color. Gold? I’ve noticed more houses with this color.

Life 360 is probably my most used app. Sometimes I need to switch to findmyphone if the person I’m tracking has low battery and can’t be tracked.

Are you guys low income? There’s a federal program where you apply based on benefits you receive from the government or your income. I just helped a friend apply. But if it’s not about the cell phone bill which can be rather high when the entire family has phones, then you can buy a refurbished iPhone (this is just my phone of choice) or any other brand that is unlocked or compatible with Verizon. I did have to get my Dd a phone when we lost her at the zoo. None of us had cell phones, just flip phones for years, until maybe 8-10 years ago. At that time I only gave her a texting/calling option. And hey! Flip phones are now considered cool for the younger generation. It’s like so retro 😎

Congrats! And Laura, you have a gorgeous smile!

Dd has at least 4 friends at Mudd and one who just applied as ED 1. We wouldn’t have been able to afford it but would have considered taking loans for Mudd. Not that it matters, and it could just be the people we know or meet, but not many people know about Mudd or for that matter many of the LACs. To be in debt for a school that doesn’t have the instant name recognition feels bad if I’m in debt. Dd is now at a UC because we can afford the tuition. And I think she likes it because it’s a campus that suits her personality. But deep down I know that the consortium or any other suitable LAC would have been overall better for her. The debt would have been suffocating, but Dd would at the end probably have a better college experience at a small private liberal arts college.

Sometimes I wonder about my husky. She barks and loves to snuggle next to the heater.

Does raking leaves count? Multiple trees dropping leaves at various times mean raking daily.

I have a few Quince cashmere sweaters. Like all cashmere they will develop lint, but I have an electric lint remover so it always looks new. I’ve tried other brands like Everlane. I actually think Quince lints slower than Everlane or Uniqlo. Quince is good quality yet affordable. Shipping does seem to take long maybe 1-2 weeks. I’ve been eyeing a few items for Dd and possibly for me. I only wear cashmere or merino wool in fall/winter because I don’t like to wear layers and layers of clothes. And Quince has good customer service. When I ordered a gray cashmere sweater, it didn’t come with a price/info tag, and they sent me another sweater right away without having to return the original one.

Well if you like Hokas, Allbirds won’t feel as comfortable. That said, I’ve had a few pairs over the years. I like slipping them on without socks. I like the wool piper because they have a minimalist look which I prefer. I got the wool runner recently won’t run in them because nothing is like Hokas for me. And I was planning to return the runners but didn’t realize they are a final sales item. I find the pipers a bit flat without enough cushioning, but I’ve walked in them to go dog walking. Piper is really comfortable if you work inside and don’t need to walk too much outside.

We got 2 due to 2 floors. But I think it’s overall more work to cut through the dog hair entangled in the brushes. I’ve stopped using them for now. I’ve been using Dyson for now. Maybe there are robot vacuums that are better than the ones I have which is Eufy from 3 years ago.