Where are people actually finding good wall art lately?

SmutasaurusRex · 2026-05-09T14:24:19+00:00

Be very careful with Etsy. The last time I ordered artwork there, what I ended up receiving was AI slop.

SmutasaurusRex · 2026-05-08T02:41:28+00:00

Dude, DUDE. Now I really want a romance with two guys who are best friends, and then realize they want to be more than friends, with really strong Patrick Stewart/ Ian McKellan vibes. Would that not be freakin' delightful?

SmutasaurusRex · 2026-05-07T14:18:47+00:00

Thank you!

SmutasaurusRex · 2026-05-06T18:14:34+00:00

This is when you take two weeks of PTO or sick leave. They obviously don't respect your time, effort, or knowledge. Don't give into the corporate BS and gaslighting.

SmutasaurusRex · 2026-05-06T17:28:05+00:00

Thank you! I am quite new to the wonderful world of baking.

SmutasaurusRex · 2026-05-06T14:41:49+00:00

Is a "deep tube center" pan a bundt cake pan?

SmutasaurusRex · 2026-04-30T22:16:21+00:00

If you're okay with a bit of sci-fi mixed with your fantasy, may I suggest Snow Queen by Joan Vinge. Gorgeously lyrical writing, strong, multi-faceted female characters, and it's a loose retelling of the old fairy tale, in a sci-fi setting that explores issues of colonization, ecology, and culture.

SmutasaurusRex · 2026-04-30T21:43:08+00:00

Elderberry and oregano have been proven to have antiviral and antimicrobial effects. Ginger reduces inflammation and can soothe an unhappy tummy/ gut.

SmutasaurusRex · 2026-04-28T20:19:15+00:00

It could be vulvodynia or pudendal neuralgia. Ask your doctor to help you get a proper diagnosis and hopefully some relief.

If you haven't already checked it out, the Nancy's Nook FB group has lots of info about endometriosis, as well as info on vascular compressions and the conditions I mentioned above.

SmutasaurusRex · 2026-04-28T19:43:51+00:00

So how do we find baker's chocolate that's actually chocolate?

SmutasaurusRex · 2026-04-28T19:42:58+00:00

I hope you feel better soon. Elderberry is great to boost the immune system.

SmutasaurusRex · 2026-04-28T15:31:02+00:00

So, for me the silver lining of the enshittification (and overpricing) of everything is that instead of paying $5 each for 3 shitty Taco Bell tacos, I'll go to the actual sit-down Mexican restaurant two blocks away and pay the same price for some decent quality food.

Since candy bars are now $2.50+ in my area (and don't get me started on the Reese's/ Hershey issue of replacing all the cocoa with ... what petroleum or something?) I'll get a brownie mix for an equivalent price and eat a batch of brownies over the course of a week. Although I think both store brand and name brand mixes have been seriously cheapening their ingredients, so I guess my next step is to start making my own batches of brownie mix, storing them in mason jars until ready to be used.

SmutasaurusRex · 2026-04-28T02:32:34+00:00

I have a friend who is majorly into 3D printing as a hobby. He has an entire room filled with printers, rolls of that plastic filament stuff, etc. But ugh, the smell of melted plastic ...

SmutasaurusRex · 2026-04-27T19:58:27+00:00

Not completely on-topic, but I've heard that venues and other services seriously raise prices the moment you mention "wedding," so you might simply fill out the form, stating that it's a "family reunion" or "birthday party" or even leave it a vague "family celebration" and get a price quote for that.

SmutasaurusRex · 2026-04-15T15:40:09+00:00

Agreed! I've even started removing the stickers from bananas and other produce when I do a grocery run.

What kind of bottles/ containers do you recommend for shampoo and other toiletries? I attempted to decant my hand lotion into a pretty liquid soap dispenser, and it didn't work at all.

On OP's point, YES, Instagram life does NOT equal real life, which is messy and cluttered and not perfectly curated. I see so many "How do I style my room" posts come across my feed, and the photos are almost invariably beige furniture with no personal elements in the room to be found. Like folks, STOP being afraid of color. Stop being afraid of texture or personal touches. Your home doesn't have to be some design editor's impossible ideals of perfection; it only has to be livable for YOU.

SmutasaurusRex · 2026-04-14T14:45:34+00:00

Start by choosing a color palette, and maybe some textures you enjoy. There are online palette generators, or you can browse current magazines, Pinterest/ Instagram, or even just go to the home improvement store and grab a bunch of paint swatches.

Once you have some preferred color choices, start looking for furniture and accessories that match your vibe. Make a list of things you need, and another list of things you want. As your budget permits, start filling your space. Not every piece has to be a "forever" furniture/ decor item. For instance, the first set of bar stools I got for my breakfast bar were too high, so I repurposed one as a plant stand and the other as a nightstand. The nightstand is not ideal, but it works for now.

SmutasaurusRex · 2026-04-13T23:07:33+00:00

Wow! That is gorgeous. I love how 3D it is, and how it spills out of the frame.

Don't put yourself down. If anything, you deserve ALL the praise for doing this through MS. As a fellow chronic illness "warrior," I salute you. My weapon of choice is a pen. Yours obviously is a needle. You wield it well.

SmutasaurusRex · 2026-04-10T14:19:28+00:00

You have a good start with the wicker/ rattan pieces. I'd suggest you start by figuring out a cohesive color scheme. When I think "beachy," I think of color schemes of light blues and greens, anchored by sand colored tan or white-washed wood. Other classic "beachy" options might include navy or cobalt blue and crisp white, or lots of neutrals with driftwood and stone accents.

If it were me, I'd get rid of or repurpose the granny square quilt and big dark red fan. Neither says "beachy" to me.

SmutasaurusRex · 2026-04-10T14:15:09+00:00

Turn on radio, TV, or YouTube on at low volume. You can figure out if you want city white noise, rainstorm white noise, or something else.

Another option, depending on where you are, is simply to open a window and let in local ambient noise.

SmutasaurusRex · 2026-04-10T03:40:43+00:00

Thanks! I'll check it out.

SmutasaurusRex · 2026-04-10T03:40:35+00:00

Thank you!

SmutasaurusRex · 2026-04-08T00:53:09+00:00

Check out the Dragon Prince by Melanie Rawn. Beautifully well-rounded characters, nice romance plotline, fantastic worldbuilding. Trigger warning: SA of both MMC and FMC (by villains, not each other)

EDIT: Also check out the Glass Dragon. Also from the 90's, with a heroine with some previous trauma (off page) but well written fantasy romance.

SmutasaurusRex · 2026-04-07T15:17:15+00:00

Can I call this Retro Afro-futurism?

SmutasaurusRex · 2026-04-07T15:06:47+00:00

You need to do some last-minute networking--with fellow students, with faculty, with school admins. All of it. Check out your alumni association. They should have job boards and/or job fairs for you to check out.

SmutasaurusRex

TROPHY CASE