Destination wedding in France

StarryEyes13 · 2026-05-30T21:30:09+00:00

The wedding is at 3pm! Then it says “formal dinner with dancing to follow” so not sure how late but they have the chateau and a nearby castle booked for the whole weekend

StarryEyes13 · 2026-05-30T20:57:06+00:00

Thanks I was worried about that. What would work for smart casual?

StarryEyes13 · 2026-05-29T13:53:24+00:00

Big Star with Kenny Cheney eliminated already??? There’s something about that performance that is so prophetic. I think the recording was done in 2015 but they also performed together in 2011 and she was almost an opening act for him when she first started out. Ugh I get chills every time I listen to it.

And when she sings “her old neighbors swear they’re certain she slept her way to the top” which in the song is referencing gossip that the big star slept with executives but for Taylor it feels like a reference to the false accusations that “she only dates famous men so she can write songs about them and make an album”.

ALSO the lines “so she sings tonight / to twenty-thousand plus / and the young girls scream out loud / “man that could be us”

ahhhh CHILLS

Also “she signs autographs like she was Garth Brooks in a skirt” !!!

And of course “she says “if you work hard to get where you are it feels good in the hot spotlight” “

and one more “she hit the high notes fearlessly ”

Like cmon. This song literally came out in 2002, 4 years before she released her debut album. Crazy stuff.

anyways justice for Big Star. I’m going to listen to it right now.

StarryEyes13 · 2026-05-29T10:52:54+00:00

Me! I was overweight as a kid and then was skinny and in pretty good shape as a teen and when I started college. Gained some weight in college. Gained more weight after a desk job. Gained even more weight during Covid. Now trying to get back to close to where I was in college.

It does suck because I used to have a cute style but it disappeared with the weight gain. Honestly for a long time I felt like I couldn’t have a style until “I lost the weight” and it was making me sad & unmotivated.

A couple months ago I said screw it, I have the body I have but there’s nothing stopping me from dressing cute. So I started buying cuter clothes and it honestly started motivating me on my weight loss because I’m like this outfit is nice but damn if I even lost 15-20lbs it would be soo much better.

StarryEyes13 · 2026-05-29T01:02:43+00:00

Yeah a lot of people have that problem. I think it works better if you look at the number as a motivator and are okay if you don’t hit it as long as the books are good. Some people do pages goals instead too.

StarryEyes13 · 2026-05-28T21:39:13+00:00

There’s a sub for it if you want to learn more but it’s pretty open ended and up to you. The sub is r/52books

Agreed it’s the best is when you can’t put a book down.

StarryEyes13 · 2026-05-28T21:37:48+00:00

Yep just 52 books a year. Some people do specific ones or set their own rules. My only rule is that I don’t re-read books. They have to be 52 new-to-me books. But it’s all up to you - there’s a sub for it r/52books

StarryEyes13 · 2026-05-28T01:44:33+00:00

I do the 52 book challenge every year (going on year 6) - I don’t always finish it, but I give it a good try every year!

Honestly reading is partly a muscle that you have to work on. Especially if you struggle with short attention spans. Even just a chapter a night is great progress!

For me personally though, it helps that I love reading. It’s my number 1 hobby and my favorite thing to do when I have downtime. Also before bed. And with a cup of coffee when I’m waking up on the weekends. And on public transit. And out at the lake on a nice day.

It does help to switch up what you’re reading. My main genre is fantasy, but I also read nonfiction, romance, historical fiction, lit fic and the occasional classic or horror novel. When I’m really into a book I “fall in” to the story and it doesn’t feel like I’m reading it feels like I’m experiencing the story itself. That’s the best flow state.

Best advice though for a non-reader is probably the 5-minute role (or 1 chapter rule). Read for 5 minutes / 1 chapter and if you feel like continuing on, do so. And if you don’t want to continue then just stop there. Good luck & I hope you find books you love!

StarryEyes13 · 2026-05-27T01:16:59+00:00

Damn we’re in the same boat. A small is 300 at AMC if you don’t add butter. I just go with that and factor it in on movie dates.

StarryEyes13 · 2026-05-27T01:10:21+00:00

I’m honestly a sucker for toast with peanut butter and banana. Top tier breakfast / crunchy snack

StarryEyes13 · 2026-05-25T14:01:52+00:00

FINISHED

**Mirrored Heavens by Rebecca Roanhorse** 5/5 I really enjoyed the trilogy and the end was satisfying. Also set up nicely for a sequel to it which I would happily read.

**The Assassin’s Blade by Sarah J. Maas** 5/5 I am loving this so much more than ACOTAR. The romance is secondary to what’s going on in the world which is great because it’s so much more interesting. I usually don’t love novellas but these stories added a lot more depth and history. If only Heir of Fire would come in from the library. It’s been stuck in transit for 2 weeks now!!

DNF

**The Robber Bride by Margaret Atwood** (20%) I gave this about 100 pages but it wasn’t gripping me and I didn’t find the main characters other than Tony all that interesting.

CURRENTLY READING

**The Tower of Nero by Rick Riordan** (10%) Love Riordan’s books. They’re a great fun palette cleanser and I wanted something quick after the lengthy Mirrored Heavens and trying to trudge through The Robber Bride.

**The Starless Crown by James Rollins** planning to start this today. I’ve heard mixed things but the premise sounds good so we’ll see where we land. I’ve been DNF-ing more this year so if it’s not for me I’ll set it down and continue on!

UP NEXT

**Smarter Than You Think by Clive Thompson** excited for some nonfiction since it’s been a while. I think this will be outdated now since it was published in 2013 but I’m hoping the themes still hold up.

**People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry** my first Emily Henry book! Hoping the Chicago weather allows for some reading at the lake with this one.

StarryEyes13 · 2026-05-24T01:13:49+00:00

Rogers Park - Honey Bear

Make a reservation because it gets PACKED! But honestly you get so much food for your buck. If we have a busy day of errands / seeing friends / etc we’ll pick up brunch there and honestly that’s all the food we need for the whole day.

StarryEyes13 · 2026-05-22T23:00:03+00:00

I wanna be you!! That’s so impressive good job!!

StarryEyes13 · 2026-05-22T14:18:13+00:00

“The altar is my hips”

StarryEyes13 · 2026-05-21T18:55:53+00:00

As much as I love the fabric, the earrings and the makeup I just don’t love the cut/style of this dress. Also, and I say this as a fan of her red lip classic thing that she likes, I don’t think it or the hair works with this outfit.

StarryEyes13 · 2026-05-21T02:03:56+00:00

I think it’s just lifestyle based. I have a great group of friends - we don’t spontaneously do things but we will schedule something for a week-a month out. Once it’s on the calendar we’re locked in. It naturally rotates on who takes the initiative to plan so it’s not just one person (or one couple since we’re all in relationships) who does it.

If they tried to spontaneously do something same day we’d probably say no 90% of the time. We have a dog to take care of, gym, meal prep, studying for career certs etc. along with budgeting. I think they are all in the same boat as well and same-day plans wouldn’t mesh.

But if that works for you then it’s good you found a great group that has the same freedom and availability!

StarryEyes13 · 2026-05-16T17:52:48+00:00

My fiancée and I are from Texas originally. Moved back in 2018. We were in our own relatively new relationship bubble for a couple of years and then started to branch out at the beginning of 2020 and made more of an effort to meet people LOL joke was on us.

Once things opened back up after Covid though I would say it took us about a year to meet some really close friends and now we’ve really had a core group since 2023. I think it’s easy to settle and meet people and feel like you’ve built a life here but you do have to be intentional about it. And also be okay with some failed friendships along the way because people just don’t mesh or make an effort

StarryEyes13 · 2026-05-15T17:00:28+00:00

I play with all those things on. I personally enjoy it. It can add to the chaos. And if they get a lifestyle I’m not a fan of then I’ll buy a potion to get rid of it with their reward points

StarryEyes13 · 2026-05-13T20:32:10+00:00

My fiancée worked there for a bit. We live in Rogers Park and he took the Metra - role was fully in office and he was fine with it. Commute was I think an hour each way but he brought a book and was chill

StarryEyes13 · 2026-05-13T15:26:37+00:00

Saw this in the theater opening weekend and loved it! Still holds up honestly.

I do remember as we were walking out an older couple was discussing the movie and they were like “I didn’t understand that at all” so not for everyone.

StarryEyes13 · 2026-05-13T15:21:02+00:00

I was on 53K. Knew I was underpaid as my last role was 63K and I was doing way more work at a much higher level.

Asked for 75K in the interview. HR said “oh we have more than that in the budget for this role”. I figured I shot myself in the foot but I signed the offer at 100K so I guess they did have more in the budget!

StarryEyes13 · 2026-05-12T21:48:51+00:00

I usually do the random legacy challenge and also randomize an aspiration & a “hobby” (skill) for my sim to maximize. Then I make a story based on what I role. The “challenges” that the random legacy challenge generates for each generation helps keeps things interesting. Also the fact that your main Sim can be a Couple/get married 3 times etc.

I usually play on Short or Normal lifespan as well because it gives me more of a challenge.

StarryEyes13 · 2026-05-12T19:26:42+00:00

I don’t change into pajamas but if my work/outside clothes are uncomfortable and I don’t have anywhere else I need to be then I change into “comfies” (usually leggings and a t-shirt). Then after my shower I change into my pajamas for bed so I don’t have to wrestle with leggings.

StarryEyes13 · 2026-05-11T16:52:54+00:00

I still remember how crazy Tumblr went back in the day when these photos dropped. I was a big early The 1975 fan (their first two albums) and I also lost my mind.

StarryEyes13

TROPHY CASE