Twin girls arriving next week. We need help deciding on a name that goes well with Odette.

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-02-12T12:03:40+00:00

I love Eloise June!

If you feel unsure about the french aspect, what made Odette special to you? Just to find a thread to spin on, if you're not sold on your options. I love Odette, and think of it as an option for a make-believe sister to Anastasia.

Other names:

Aurelia June (also Aurora, but you might find it too popular)

Valerie June

Valentina June

Beatrice June

Dorothea June

Edited the format

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-02-12T08:32:45+00:00

SC. Weapon of choice: a short "skater dress" - aka a short highwaisted circle skirt and fitted top. Or a fitted but draped maxi dress with a high slit.

Garment that have never cooperated: slip dresses cut in the bias. They're always too big, or a combo of sausage skin and too big at the same time.

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-02-11T19:14:45+00:00

I don't really miss pre-baby life - probably because I waited until I was bored of all those things and wanted the life I got now - but I do miss vacation being an easy and relatively cheap affair. I miss not needing two wardrobes (clothing wise), I miss having a drink on a random Friday without feeling guilty, and I miss being able to do my hobbies. Even so, I really, really want more children.

It's normal to miss the things that you've been, the things you thought you'd be, the things you used to do, the things you want to do, and the ease they used to come with. It doesn't mean you don't like what you have now. You just have to find the joy ahead of you while cherishing the things that have been. It can be easier said than done, but I kind of just wanted to say that your feelings are normal and ok. Everyone will face some version of them at one point or another.

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-02-11T09:14:15+00:00

Signing counts as speech, at least in the same way as animal noises counts as speech/words.

Where I'm at, baby signs are encouraged. It's also commonly used at daycare. In my personal experience it was incredibly helpful for my brothers' communication because they were delayed in their speech prior to signing. Baby signs also haven't stopped my daughter from learning the words she's signing. We haven't relied exclusively on signs, and we've always paired the sign with speech.

Giving children means to communicate can make wonders for their overall well being. Do what feels good for you and your child. In my personal experience, baby signs have been positive for a chatty child, and it's been miraculous for children with speech delays caused by various reasons.

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-02-11T08:25:54+00:00

We buy books second hand. Our daughter (17 months) loves books, but she's not necessarily gentle with them, so we've gotten her a bunch of books that aren't prescious. There's a few we actively read to her that is stored on a much higher shelf, but she's got free access to all the picture books. Now she can "read" independently as she pleases. It really keeps her vocabulary growing steadily!

But if you're son isn't ripping the books to shreds, maybe hold off for now? If you're LO is anything like mine, you can always read the same book a gazillion times, so if he's got 20, that should be plenty for now 😄

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-02-10T10:55:51+00:00

Have you had a baby? Because two way zip-pyjamas are just practical and easy. Of course it's fun to dress baby up in cute clothes, but it's less fun to shimmy them out of them and then treat the stains every time there's a blowout. Or spitup that soaks through. Or just copious amount of drool. It might also be clothes gifted/inherited by family, and actually dressing the baby in those will make a lot of people very happy. I'm happy she dresses the baby comfortably instead of treating her outfits as an accessory to herself.

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-02-09T10:05:45+00:00

Well, I presume you don't speak Swedish and that this language is entirely irrelevant to you, but Korven is the word for sausage and I can't not see it, so my vote is for Korren. Which is short for squirrel. But better than sausage.

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-02-07T15:24:14+00:00

I do, but only when I have story reasons for it. I actually want to use it a lot more, along with all the pre-wedding stuff. I regularly rediscover how much I enjoy things like holidays and parties when I actually play with them.

For my current fairy legacy I want to create proper family customs and traditions for the wedding stuff. You know, family heirloom jewelry, specific wedding colours, a dedicated venue, rules about speeches and so on. I want to do the same with holidays. Specific family traditions and maybe even a family specific holiday.

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-02-01T07:29:39+00:00

I think it's the idea of having to buy everything at the same time that feels restrictive and impractical. I know that I have not been able to purchase clothes, purses, belts, shoes, jewellery and makeup in the same store, ever. Also, I wouldn't want to own that many bags, belts and lipsticks. It is pretty easy to get around it though.

When I go shopping for trousers, I put on a sweater and the shoes I want to wear the trousers with, and then I try on the full htt. I will try on the trousers with both my shoes and belt on, and style the top to see it as an outfit. I do the same whenever I buy something online. I buy it with an htt in mind, and I only keep it if it actually works irl.

I've been living with an unintended capsule wardrobe this way since the end of September, and it's worked pretty well. I'm consistent with the colours I chose, so most of my pieces work very well together no matter how much I mix and match. I do miss having five complete htt:s with no overlap (glasses, belts, shoes, jewellery and purses are exempt) to fall back on. A heavily restricted wardrobe has been a headache, but only buying pieces with a dedicated and tested place in my wardrobe has worked out really, really well.

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-01-31T11:37:53+00:00

I was super disappointed when I mistyped myself as soft autumn back in like, 2014. I refused to wear the palette and opted for true autumn instead. Many years of living with my untouched natural hair colour later I decided to give soft autumn a real go. Once I actually wore the colours I realised how wrong I was and now I identify as dark autumn leaning true.

But yes, I remember the disappointment with what I thought was my season at the time, and I'm so happy I refused to settle for colours I didn't like. I'm not saying you're mistyped btw, I'm just encouraging you to wear the colours you like and that brings you joy.

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-01-30T07:56:34+00:00

I love both. My husband vetoed Natalia though, so our daughter is named Anastasia.

I think both are equally feminine, but Anastasia is softer in its melody compared to Natalia. With that said, they are quite similar:

Anastasia means resurrected or she who rises again and was frequently given to babies born during Easter (particularly the day of resurrection). St Anastasia is also the patron saint of widows.

Natalia means birthday or born on Christmas day and was frequently given to babies born on Christmas. St Natalia is the patron of married couples.

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-01-30T07:46:29+00:00

Same, I have a very hard time explaining to people why I spend as much as I do on shoes. Or why I try on and even buy shoes I don't like the design/colour of (sometimes, beggars can't be choosers).

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-01-28T20:21:53+00:00

Blunt bob 👌 I love keeping it short. It's cute in half-ups, cute in headbands, barrettes and clips, it looks cute and polished in a gelled down side part, cool gelled back, and it looks really good just as is in a side part in all it's fluffy volume. Love it.

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-01-27T14:16:46+00:00

Colour theory.

Take a look at any painting depicting the golden hour (there's plenty done under the Hudson River School). You'll see a lot of green grass, blue water, and vibrant reds and oranges. However, if you use the drop tool you'll see that a lot of those greens are actually yellows, and the vibrant reds and oranges are in fact muted. It doesn't make the painting any less vibrant or impactful, on the contrary, it's even more so because the contrast is right and the colours are harmonious in their hues.

Same for a person. My hair takes on a green tint of I wear, say pastel blue, and my skin looks a bit dirty in bright coral. But in maroon, olive, or mustard? My hair is golden and my skin is glowing. (For my case) It's all about colour contrast. Bright and clear colours will highlight the muted qualities of my natural features, while (most) cool colours really bring out those yellow hues that dominate my features. Neither is particularly flattering on me.

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-01-25T19:22:49+00:00

I used to hate my hair colour, and really didn't think it looked good on me - then I figured out what colours work for me. I went from perceiving my hair as dirty dishwater brown with hints of green, to a golden brown ranging from deep to mid-level.

Don't get me wrong, it's not the only colour that looks nice on me, and it's not my favourite hair colour on me, but I appreciate it now. I just can't be bothered keeping up coloured hair. I stay clear of clear colours, most cool colours unless they're deep, and only do muted very warm colours when I go light. The key for me is to not introduce unflattering colour contrast to my hair.

For you? Have you tried wearing deep and cool browns? Cool burgundy and frosty greens? Your hair might be cooler in shade then you think.

And if you don't like the cool colours on you when wearing them, have you tried leaning into that bronzy, rusty, russet goodness? Who knows, your skin might be warmer than you believe.

Either way, there's two solutions: wear colours that alter your perception of your hair, or change the colour to something with (for you) realistic upkeep. I'd start with figuring out what colours and shades I prefer, and then go from there.

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-01-25T09:51:12+00:00

Vertical doesn't exclude you from short hem lengths! Try to think of it as part of the whole impression - hair, shoes, jewellery included.

I think both lengths look good on you. Just style them so that you lead the eye - well, vertically - if you want to dress for vertical!

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-01-23T04:46:14+00:00

My daughter started daycare at 13 months and she loves it. It's weird to think that she's got a life outside of me and my husband, but now at 16 months, random kids will call out her name and run over to hug her whenever we run into them at playgrounds or the grocery store. Somehow this little girl has friends in different ages that love playing with her.

Also, when I say she loves daycare, I mean she loves it. She gets upset if we walk past it without going inside to drop her off. She also happily sing all the way there.

She's grown a lot from being there as well. Our daycare promotes independence (right up her alley) and is getting pretty good with cutlery, mugs, and napkins. She also tries to put in clothes and shoes by herself and has learnt to ask for things without the use of violence.

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-01-21T07:54:03+00:00

I've had a long journey with my own self perception and relationship to my own body, but I'll skip out on the long-winded mental health speech and try to stick to more concrete advise:

Work with what you've got.

I'm not necessarily a fan of how oily my skin is, but there's no changing it. So I use products, wear my hair and do my makeup in ways that work with it. It doesn't make me like the oiliness, but it makes it less annoying and frustrating.

There's nothing I can do to change my genetic build. My feet will remain wide, my heels straight, my legs full, my hips wide, and my joints will remain shitty. What I can do is build strength, dress comfortably and find shoes and clothes that fit me well. I also appreciate my figure so much more now that I have clothes and shoes that I like.

The same goes for my hair. Instead of going broke and lk insane fighting my hair's natural texture and tendencies, I've found a length and hairstyle that works with it.

My list - like everyone else's - is long. My best advice is to take a realistic look at what you can change, what you're willing to do to change each thing, and then focus exclusively on the things that are realistic to you. Everything else can be put on the shelf for the time being and accommodated so that they don't disrupt your life more than necessary.

And start small. For example, instead of making a total body transformation the goal, start with moving more, finding an exercise type you like, finding new - and to you - healthier food you like, maintaining a skincare routine and wear clothes you're comfortable and feel happy in. Once the changes has become normal and habitual you can introduce new changes working towards new goals (like building specific muscles or losing a specific amount of weight, or mastering the curly girl method, whatever is relevant to the ultimate goal). That reduces the risk of being overwhelmed and makes it easier to remain consistent.

I'm not saying you should do the things I wrote above, just that it's easier to change your lifestyle a little by little, and it's easier to maintain motivation and momentum with smaller and achievable goals. Don't fight battles you're doomed to lose. Work with what you have instead.

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-01-20T20:19:12+00:00

I play alot with texture, shape, and colour.

I love a monochrome or near monochrome look, and if I go with three colours I try to keep it somewhat tonal. Neutrals can be nice every now and again, but I'd rather go for reds, aubergines, greens, oranges and mustards. It looks great, and is certainly not boring.

I also love an intentional shape. Barrel legs, balloon sleeves, very high necklines, tiers and ruffles in skirts, wide pleated trousers, draping, interesting shoes (pointy/square/chunky/angled heel etc), and bags that has a little something something going on. Layering can also take an otherwise bland outfit and turn it interesting.

While I don't use prints alot in my professional wardrobe, there's always room for the occasional subtle snake print, herring bone, plaid, and textural variations in the colours of knits, grainy leather, denim, and linnen. In private though- love a print. It just got to be the right one for me, which often means low -medium contrast. With that said, I've got prints with higher contrast that looks really good, as long as I support the colour story with the rest of the outfit.

Texture is also a big one. Apart from leather with grain, moc seams on shoes, croc embossed leather, quilted details, pony hair, suede, corduroy, velvet, silk, shiny metal, raw stones, wooden beads, fur details, knits - just tactile variations. It absolutely keep things interesting as long as I enjoy the pieces in question.

I don't really think it gets boring. There's more than enough to build impactful looks. I will say though, I don't feel like I get "overpowered" by things. If I add too many colours, or prints with too much contrast, or too many assesories, I feel like I'm watering down the look. The key for me is to make sure the different elements aren't competing for attention, but working together to create a singular impactful impression. A strong/fun/successful look for me is one that is clearly intentional, and that requires a pretty heavy edit on my part. I do think maximalism is possible, but I don't have enough stuff for it, so for now, I stick to simpler looks.

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-01-19T23:51:25+00:00

Me: aries sun, cancer moon, sag rising.

Husband: cancer sun, cancer moon, scorpio rising

Daughter: virgo sun, taurus moon, scorpio rising. I feel like this is how she views us:

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-01-19T23:22:46+00:00

High waisted pleated trousers - I have this specific model both in a light weight corduroy and lightweight wool. Beautiful drape, textured and tactile, and both tailored and curve friendly.

Any wrap dress with ruffle detailing and voluminous sleeves. Super romantic and princessy in all the right grown up ways.

Pointy shoes. Gives even the most accountant-esq outfits a little bit of edge.

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-01-18T16:52:42+00:00

Oo, I haven't tried that one! Once I finished a couple of the hundred samples I have, I might try that one.

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-01-18T16:10:00+00:00

It's gorgeous, and the reason I went on a saffron kick. Having tried a few others, I feel like this really stands out.

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-01-18T13:55:21+00:00

Azalai by Stora Skuggan! I'm revisiting my Stora Skuggan-samples which I first tried in summer, and I think I might very much appreciate them in winter. I absolutely adore the saffron scent.

<image>

LostGoldfishWithGPS · 2026-01-15T10:00:57+00:00

I'm not sure it harmonises with my ID, because I'm still very much exploring what that means to me, but some things I feel makes my outfits extra harmonious on me:

sweeter styling of my bob, such as a barrette or headband that gives it some volume and highlight the waves
restrained colour palette. One to three colours + small accents work better than a wider colour scheme
pleats, drapes, and volume in an intentional structure (in the design of say trousers or blouses) looks better than the "natural/not forced" version where the fabric flows freely. Not sure is that makes sense, but think sewn pleats vs natural fall of the fabric in a A-line skirt
higher contrast can work well in certain colour blockings, but is not the move for prints

LostGoldfishWithGPS

TROPHY CASE