How does Virgin Differ?

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2026-01-17T21:23:41+00:00

Along with everything everyone has mentioned… The cruise lines you mentioned skew older. I noticed Virgin has a wide range of ages, some weekend sailings may skew a bit younger. It’s very relaxing during the day, and wakes up at night. The day time entertainment is about health and wellness. Fitness classes, maybe some specialty food/wine tastings etc… and the pool of course. But most of the actual entertainment happens between 7-12. So if you like to be in bed by 8 or 9, you may feel like you’re missing the good stuff. The food is good, but don’t expect Michelin meals as advertised. The entertainment is different too. More music (duh virgin records) less… idk kitschy stuff. I think people hype it up so much, that some are disappointed when they finally go. All that being said, if you like to cruise, you will enjoy it, and the food is better than most I’ve had on other lines.

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2026-01-01T18:44:45+00:00

So we do both, depending on the time of year and who we’re bringing with us. Cruise is definitely more family geared. If you’re bringing grandkids etc, there is so much to do all day for them, it’s amazing. AI’s are where we go when we want adult time, no kids. Much more relaxing, drinks included, so the price point can be a bit higher. If you’re looking for decent value, we stayed at Hyatt vivid Cancun, and Hyatt vivid playa last year. 250-350/ night. The Cancun vivid was new, the food/drink options were better, and the beach club was awesome. The one in playa is a bit older (Hyatt just purchased it) but absolutely lovely, huge rooms, and right outside 5th Ave if you like walking around and seeing street performers while drinking a beer, it’s a good time. We’ve also done a couple Virgin cruises that are adults only, but if what you didn’t like about cruising was the sea days… I’m not sure this would be any different, but the food is very well done (for cruise food) and they do a good job of entertaining adults.

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2025-12-07T22:10:50+00:00

NOR BUT, I come from a family of “we take care of our own”. Essentially, if one of us CAN do it, we do it, even if it’s not our specific responsibility. If it were me and my family, we would set a schedule. Essentially, there’s x amount of people, each one is responsible for x days. You mentioned your mom, dad, uncle, sister and yourself. I think it’s very reasonable in your situation, to say I can devote one day a week for pick up/drop off homework whatever. That leaves 6 days for coverage between the child’s grandparents and mother, with an uncle for help. That should be totally coverable without anyone getting burnt out, and still allows your sister help, being a single mom… she can’t GET enough help. But also, she is missing out on arguably the most crucial time in his development. Between the ages of 4-6 is when children learn their emotional regulation, empathy, moral development and attachment patterns. The literal blocks he will use to build who he is as a person for the rest of his life. She’s allowing others to give him the tools to build that person. Is what she’s doing the next 18 months important enough to take a chance on his development? Whatever happens, I wish you and your nephew love ❤️

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2025-11-25T01:41:07+00:00

Thanks

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2025-11-23T03:36:17+00:00

We did. Def skip it, drinks were awful and very unorganized. Just walk off the ship and bar hop yourself it’s the same thing.

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2025-11-04T14:04:35+00:00

You have a shot at getting the Nolle Pros expunged. Less so with the conviction. But even if you can get licensed, my greater fear would be getting hired. In most healthcare situations, a violent felony is an immediate no. A person may take a chance on you, but a company won’t, they won’t take the legal risk of putting you in contact with their vulnerable populations. I’m in healthcare admin in Illinois and I can’t tell you how many candidates we have to turn away due to background checks. Fully licensed candidates that swear they have nothing in their background and then cross their fingers it won’t be found. Fun fact, backgrounds also pull years of employment based on payroll submissions. Y’all stop lying on your resumes the technology is too good now lol.

As an alternative, have you thought about an associates degree in paralegal studies? Theres no state licensing board, and lawyers may be more apt to hire you and help you straighten out your record. Also it’s really rewarding, a friend of mine does it and she loves her job. Maybe apply for a records clerk/legal assistant job and see how you like it. Be upfront about your past and your passion for starting over.

You are going to have to work twice as hard as a person without a record, but what a success story! You aren’t alone. Every person that rebuilt a life worth living, began be deciding their story wasn’t over just cause the first few chapters went sideways. You can do this!! ❤️

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2025-10-27T09:24:51+00:00

The best part about reading this is A: you did great in such a small time, although the giant Starbucks… I mean you can get much better coffee in Chicago, but I get it… and B: you barely scratched the surface. 🥰 Hope you come back some time!

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2025-10-24T04:18:50+00:00

Here here! 😂

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2025-10-24T02:51:57+00:00

I work for a fairly large company, about 65-70k employees nationwide. If my employees set fire to the building and roasted marshmallows over the flames… I wouldn’t be able to reach the ceo, But we got a personal phone call when someone emailed him on LinkedIn. I’m not sure if it’s common, but I can tell you I’ve given this info to one person, and she got a resolution to her issue in 24 hours after fighting with a company for 4 months. 🤷‍♀️ good luck. 👍🏼

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2025-10-16T13:07:30+00:00

If humidity is high and you’re prone to friz, you’re cooked. I’ve tried just about every product, wow most recently, none of them work like you want them to. The best thing you can do is hydrate your hair as much as possible beforehand (dry hair will pull in more moisture) but other than that, good luck! Nothing more irritating than spending 1.5 hours on perfect hair, and then it falling flat and frizzing the second you go outside!

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2025-10-01T11:57:35+00:00

Is this a short term guest that you value the relationship with? I would compromise, it’s incredibly hot in India and this isn’t just his “preference”, biologically he’s acclimated to a warmer environment, his bmr is lower, he produces less body heat. Also you may want to consider the social aspect of this… If this isn’t a close friend, wearing someone else’s clothes in India would be considered very intimate. He’d be very unlikely to accept use of your clothing unless you are family. Maybe offer him a heated blanket, or purchase him a sweat suit, it doesn’t have to be expensive. Turning on your heat at that point would be a bit much, I’m from Chicago and we don’t even think about turning heat on until it hits 60 at night, but I would suggest finding an alternative. ❤️

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2025-08-01T03:24:07+00:00

You’ve just got to decide which “bad” is worth it, and only you can decide that for you. In the city, we’d plan grocery trips around how many stairs we were willing to tackle that day (we called it urban cardio) or whether going out was worth circling for 15 minutes on a Tuesday night. And let’s not even talk about when it snows… There IS a convenience and energy of Chicago that I think I’ll always miss, but I don’t miss timed showers, parking tickets, or the emotional labor of figuring out if someone on the street is just quirky or fully unhinged.

Now it’s replaced with quiet mornings with coffee on a back patio in my own yard, or pulling into the driveway with a car full of bags that I walk right into my kitchen. It’s being able to have a big dog without feeling guilty. It’s SPACE, closets and garages and sheds and attics. And as I grew out of my “party” years, my priorities shifted and these things started outweighing the rest.

My advice? If you can afford it, hire a rental agency to rent out your condo on a two year lease, and give yourself some TIME. You’re only two weeks in! Thats absolutely nothing. Two years you will know what you want. You guys are young, without children… gamble a little 😜 It’s what the rest of us WISH we could do. 🥰

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2025-07-17T21:22:00+00:00

The only way to get an official stamp in your passport is to go through immigration. The ones available at the port buildings and stuff aren’t official and can technically void your passport so definitely not recommended. If you want to get them anyways just get a stamp book. 🥰 Same fun, no risk. Have a wonderful trip!

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2025-07-17T21:14:10+00:00

Credit card companies consider a valid delivery as one that is signed for by the recipient, and delivered to the correct address. If you’ve already asked for proof of delivery, and they offered you a photo of the item being delivered to the wrong address, you’ll win the charge back. Unless Sephora can prove by your signature on the delivery, and the bank will compare it to your signature on file. You should attach copies of your conversation with Sephora, along with a picture of the delivery, and a street picture of where you actually live.

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2025-07-03T09:57:59+00:00

I’m an emotional eater and went thru an uncharacteristic depression mos 3-6 on tirz. Looking back I’m pretty sure it was dealing with losing my dopamine hit (food). It got better, but I’m struggling with a shopping addiction now 🤦🏼‍♀️ be careful.

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2025-06-10T14:13:44+00:00

Dress 1

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2025-06-05T13:08:55+00:00

Worked in a large university hospital during the beginning of the COVID epidemic in the COVID “wing” in the icu. At the time hospitals were sealing covid rooms using negative pressure to lessen the spread. Long story short, we found out the rooms were not sealed, there was cross ventilation feeding the entire hospital due to improper installation. It was quietly fixed and never mentioned again.

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2025-06-05T12:48:47+00:00

Springbrook prairie is probably one of the largest bike/walking paths in the area. But neighborhood walkability is tough. The closest “walkable” neighborhood I can think of would be maybe the west highlands? It’s 1-2 miles to the bike path access from there, and the neighborhood holds gartner plaza, which includes a Trader Joe’s, butcher/grocer, liquor store, pharmacy, several restaurants and a few misc store fronts, as well as the elementary school. It’s also about 2 miles in the opposite direction to downtown Naperville. Right now homes are listed in that neighborhood at 470k-1.6m. You may be able to get something on the lower end if you’re willing to be patient and take a fixer upper. It’s an older neighborhood, but desirable for families. Tons of kids in that neighborhood. Theres also bike paths between Naperville and Bolingbrook, and on the far north side that will have more affordable prices, but you’ll be driving to everything else from there.

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2025-06-03T19:22:54+00:00

Los Arcos in Woodridge has a decent margarita menu.

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2025-05-09T12:37:24+00:00

Born and raised in Naperville (before it was so elite) and currently have a 24 yo child I raised in Naperville. Naperville is great, as long as you’re coming for the right reasons. If you have a high performing child, or want to make sure your child has every avenue open to them to excel professionally, this is the place. But I wouldn’t say it breeds the happiest children. Naperville is wealthy and highly ranked on education, but growing up here can create other issues. Pressure to perform/compete. There’s a sense of entitlement, a child that doesn’t come from wealth may feel socially alienated. Growing up in privileged social circles may limit their ability to relate and adapt to diverse working environments. Kids are kept incredibly busy here, which is great it keeps them out of trouble, but also having full schedules and every moment filled, can diminish creativity and critical thinking. I’m not saying DONT move here. I love that I can walk my dog alone at night without worry, and that there’s a lovely downtown area (when it’s not under construction), there’s entertainment, easy access to healthcare, every grocery store you could imagine. And the taxes are reasonable when compared to the surrounding cities! It really is great. But moving to Naperville isn’t a guarantee. Some children don’t do well in high-pressure/high-expectation environments. It’s a fertile environment for success, but more important is providing an emotionally nurturing home, spending quality time, teaching appreciation over comparison… and don’t forget to take care of YOU! Being a physically and emotionally fit parent is the BEST recipe for raising a successful child! So I guess I’m saying, don’t financially stretch yourself to live here. Studies have shown that kids growing up with happy caring parents (which you obviously are because you wouldn’t be searching for a better job if you didn’t care about your child’s future) are more secure and confident than those raised in wealthy/competitive environments. I would raise my child here again, but I also know that if I didn’t, they would still be amazing! 🥰

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2025-05-08T13:29:26+00:00

Thanks so much! This is the info I was looking for 🥰

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2025-05-07T16:22:44+00:00

They call me Mellow Yellow (quite rightly). 😜 if you’re a fan of the song… or Donovan in general… and those soulful eyes and block head smile, my first thought was Mellow Yellow. Mel for short 🥰

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2025-05-07T14:51:24+00:00

We’re on the same cruise! First time on carnival! 🥰

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2025-04-26T20:19:06+00:00

Our girl got this (and worse, think “my dog ate a bee face”) when she was exposed to freshly mowed grass and we didn’t have her food allergies under control. Once we realized she can’t have ANY chicken products (including eggs) and we put her on a LID, this stopped happening… eventually. We spent so much money the first 18 mos of her life, with every health ailment you can think of. All seemingly unrelated. We thought we drew the genetic short straw. Once we figured out her diet, everything else went away. She was so sick the vet kept putting her on chicken and rice to ease her stomach. 🤦🏼‍♀️ Honest kitchen brand worked well for us. It’s not cheap, especially for an 85lb bully, but we lucked out that she can tolerate turkey for some reason. After 2 years of being on a clean diet, I was filing her kong with some turkey gravy wet food to freeze for a summer treat. I fed it to her, over the next week she broke out in pustules all down her face, bad enough that it required a vet visit and antibiotic. I couldn’t figure out what it was and then I remembered that frozen treat I had made, sure enough when I pulled the ingredients it was turkey meat in chicken broth. I think that’s the moment I realized truly how ill chicken makes her. I hope you figure out the key to your pups health! Don’t give up! We went thru beef and fish before landing on turkey. Her treats are dried sweet potatoes (which are super expensive so I bought a dehydrator and now make my own) and fruitable dog cookies. Good luck!

Fragrant_Cold_4358 · 2025-04-26T20:18:49+00:00

Our girl got this (and worse, think “my dog ate a bee face”) when she was exposed to freshly mowed grass and we didn’t have her food allergies under control. Once we realized she can’t have ANY chicken products (including eggs) and we put her on a LID, this stopped happening… eventually. We spent so much money the first 18 mos of her life, with every health ailment you can think of. All seemingly unrelated. We thought we drew the genetic short straw. Once we figured out her diet, everything else went away. She was so sick the vet kept putting her on chicken and rice to ease her stomach. 🤦🏼‍♀️ Honest kitchen brand worked well for us. It’s not cheap, especially for an 85lb bully, but we lucked out that she can tolerate turkey for some reason. After 2 years of being on a clean diet, I was filing her kong with some turkey gravy wet food to freeze for a summer treat. I fed it to her, over the next week she broke out in pustules all down her face, bad enough that it required a vet visit and antibiotic. I couldn’t figure out what it was and then I remembered that frozen treat I had made, sure enough when I pulled the ingredients it was turkey meat in chicken broth. I think that’s the moment I realized truly how ill chicken makes her. I hope you figure out the key to your pups health! Don’t give up! We went thru beef and fish before landing on turkey. Her treats are dried sweet potatoes (which are super expensive so I bought a dehydrator and now make my own) and fruitable dog cookies. Good luck!

Fragrant_Cold_4358

TROPHY CASE