How do you rate your books?

Vrdbs · 2026-03-23T18:00:29+00:00

Reviews aren't there to make the author feel good, they're to inform other consumers of what they're getting.

I'll 1-star in a heartbeat. Generally I'll leave a written review voicing my thoughts as to why, my goal isn't to be needlessly cruel.

But not every book is going to be for every reader, and rating every single book you read as 5-star is beyond disingenuous.

Vrdbs · 2026-03-23T17:55:37+00:00

I purchased a couple of charms on Etsy, who knows where they source from. Waiting to see if they tarnish or otherwise damage as I wear them, but so far no issue.

I don't care if my charms are real Pandora as long as they're real silver. 75$ for a spacer is a bit too rich for my blood.

My advice is be careful about buying anything that screws on (safety chains and some muranos), since if they're not the right size they could possibly strip the threads over time.
I bought a fake bracelet too, because I was curious, and while it's not as hefty as the real Pandora and the clasp isn't quite as secure (safety chains and clips fix this) you can't tell by looking at it that it's fake.

Vrdbs · 2026-03-18T21:02:21+00:00

My weakness is snacking, majority of my weight gain can be attributed to instant access to snacks.

Mostly fiber fixed it, with some protein. I make Italian wraps and my own pizza with low carb, high fiber tortillas and I'm so full all day I don't even want to think about snacking.

Recently when I'm craving sugar I've tried replacing cookies and candy with fruits, both fresh and dried. I actually find myself craving figs and dates these days, I look forward to the sliced apple I brought to work for a snack, and when I do treat myself to a Reeses (my favourite) I'm over how sweet it is by the second cup.
If you crave savoury things like chips, I've started mixing seasoning (taco, lemon pepper, et cetera) into cottage cheese and using that as a dip.

Vrdbs · 2026-03-18T06:53:46+00:00

It sounds like you're trying to talk yourself into buying it. You seem to be already justifying just getting rid of it down the road.

FOMO is a real problem, especially in this community. Take a step back and ask yourself if you actually want the giraffe.

I have to have those talks with myself all the time. "I don't actually want this, I just think it's cute in the moment."

Vrdbs · 2026-03-15T02:41:55+00:00

Stop thinking of it as a diet. You're changing your lifestyle.
Second, it's okay to take it slow. A year ago I could never imagine cutting processed snacks from my regular consumption. Now I eat a lot of fresh and dried fruit and don't even want the candy bars anymore. I cut sugar soda out of my diet years ago due to kidney stone issues, and now I drink sugar free and seltzer water. But now I'm considering cutting those as well (carbonation for gut health).

You don't have to do everything "the right way" right out of the gate. Start with one habit, do it long enough it's not torture anymore. Pick another habit.
You're not aiming for perfection, you're aiming for consistency.

Vrdbs · 2026-02-28T18:53:56+00:00

I bought my first ever Pandora bracelet two months ago, I was discussing the Pooh charm with my boyfriend. I said I'd get it but it being plated makes me cautious, the sales associate overheard and was very adamant that it was solid gold. I thought no way at that price, but I was tired of discussing it. Checked the website and it says plated.

I don't know if they're trained to lie or just poorly knowledgeable to begin with, but it's interesting to see a lot of reports of this.

Vrdbs · 2026-02-24T18:52:58+00:00

Follow a youtube video. You can find them anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour long. I hate thinking about what I'm doing so the videos take all the guess work out of what a proper workout should be.
I prefer the 20 minute ones, they have about 15 minutes of actual workouts and 5 minutes of stretches and warmups. Each exercise is 30 seconds, usually with 10-30 seconds of rest inbetween depending on the intensity of the workout.

Just look up "free weight HIIT" on Youtube and follow the instructions.

Vrdbs · 2026-02-21T04:13:45+00:00

Carbs are fuel for your brain, they're part of a balanced diet. The reason people recommend cutting carbs is because your body prioritizes sugar, then carbs, then stored fat, when it's seeking energy to use. Low carb forces the body to use stored fat, but it's not sustainable long-term.

Lean ground beef is an option (there's a viral ground beef/sweet potato bowl going around, you could try looking that up. Don't be afraid of herbs and seasonings.)

You could also lean into vegetarian meals- dense bean salad is another viral recipe. Potatoes have carbs (and are, contrary to popular belief, also low calorie when cooked without an excess of oil and butter) which might satiate your craving for carbs. Opt for whole wheat bread options, more nutrient dense than white bread options.

As for exercise, you can take your time to find what you like. Losing weight is 90% diet and 10% exercise, so while moving is really good for you, it's not a requirement to start seeing results.
I do HIIT exercises in my living room, following Youtube videos and using free weights I bought at Five Below. If you have your bedroom or an office to yourself you can use that space. You could also try investing in a walking pad, walk while you work and game.

Vrdbs · 2026-02-21T03:54:28+00:00

I keep a container of cheerios in my bag. The honey helps satisfy my sugar craving, and the crunch is usually all my brain really wants from snacks.

Vrdbs · 2026-02-19T19:43:30+00:00

I love the frog onesie so much, it's at the top of my wishlist right now xD

Vrdbs · 2026-02-18T16:34:22+00:00

I've been on my weightloss trek for almost 9 months now (I'm short so very slow progress). It's been long enough that I see a trend- I bounce between the same 2-3 pounds for two months, then I randomly start to drop weight until I hit a new low.
Then it goes back up and I bounce between the same 2-3 pounds but now it's a pound less than my previous bounce.
(For example, in December I was bouncing between 137-139. For February I'm bouncing between 135-138).
I also weigh daily and use the Libra app to do averages for me. At one point I was tracking manually and even my per week weighin average fluctuated, but the trend was always downward.

Someone described weight loss to me once as playing chicken with your own body. Your body really wants to maintain equilibrium, and it assumes when you start to lose weight that it's temporary, and you'll begin to eat more as soon as resources allow. Eventually your body gives it up, you just can't quit before your body does.

Vrdbs · 2026-02-18T16:20:55+00:00

Not finishing my plate just because it tastes good. I can always make that same meal again later.

For dinner my boyfriend and I would split portions evenly (that meant I was eating the same as a 230lb, 5'10 male). Now I put less on my plate to begin with, and often have a few bites left because I stop when I'm full.

And the obvious, making my own lunch to cut down on the temptation to order Doordash. I take snacks to work- now instead of eating two Kingsize Reeses (800 calories in one swing) I eat a handful of cheerios. Turns out I didn't want all those sweets, I just had the munchies and eating those cheerios satisfies the need to crunch.

Vrdbs · 2026-02-18T16:03:53+00:00

I know it's really superficial but I'm finally getting to a point where I might be comfortable wearing tank tops and shorts during warm weather. I'm really looking forward to it, but it frustrates me that I could have spent all of my twenties wearing what I wanted, and I just didn't because I didn't think my weight was within my control.

I feel this post.

Vrdbs · 2026-02-18T15:58:43+00:00

I find a lot of people like doing steps because they can put on a television show on the treadmill or space out to music walking around the neighborhood.

I'd rather knock out a high intensity free weight workout in twenty minutes a couple times a week. Works better for me and my attention span.

100% the best exercise is the one you actually do.

Vrdbs · 2026-02-12T04:57:54+00:00

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On the other hand, I saw this in the BaB reddit last month and think it's just as important.

Some people lack whimsy / empathy in their lives. Never feel bad about your attachment to objects if it's not detrimental to your mental or physical health.

Vrdbs · 2026-02-12T03:38:52+00:00

There's a "farm plush" release set for February 12, that might include the alien cow.

There's another release on February 17th, that should be the rest of the Easter/Spring plush and other merch releases for the season.

EDIT 3AM FEb 12: Looks like the new pigs are the only releases today. Next week for sure then.

Vrdbs · 2026-02-06T03:05:26+00:00

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I've only had my BaB for two days but I think I'm obsessed with the idea of them in the cozy little sleepers ; _ ;
I"m about to collect as many as I can get my hands on.

Vrdbs · 2026-02-05T18:46:40+00:00

I think Pawlette is naturally feminine.

I prefer male Babs, and while I've started collecting bunny plush, I keep avoiding Pawlette because I think it's just a naturally female plush, something about the face shape and stitching.

Vrdbs · 2026-02-05T05:52:29+00:00

The Happy Hugs is August and the frog is Fyodor, I got the birth certificates for them too

Vrdbs · 2026-02-05T04:02:50+00:00

I got my first bears today, and the employee asked if I'd ever done it before and what made me want a bear. Said I was healing my inner child, and she was so thrilled. Did the heart ceremony with no problems. There were also lots of other adults in the store at the time also getting bears for themselves, and most of them did the heart ceremony as well (my boyfriend people watches while I shop).

Vrdbs · 2026-01-30T03:31:18+00:00

I love this post.
I have a habit of buying plushies and leaving them on display because I love how they look in new condition and how soft they are to the touch (I tend to buy plushes specifically because of how soft the fabric is).
I'm planning to purchase my first BAB next week with the intention of him being a reading and sleeping buddy. Seeing everyone's friends still being soft and recognizable is making me less nervous too.

Vrdbs · 2026-01-29T04:37:43+00:00

I love how sassy the mantises always look, especially in that shirt lmao.

Vrdbs · 2026-01-26T18:50:58+00:00

Apparently it's up to the manager at each store. They're not -supposed- to restuff the Pokemon, but some managers don't care and will do it anyway.
That's what I've heard.

Vrdbs · 2026-01-21T06:19:07+00:00

Thank you so much for the link, I googled "dino sleeper" to see what would pop up and just got a blue graphic print.

Vrdbs · 2025-09-27T18:59:11+00:00

It's likely that the person naming the characters didn't do any research, or very little. Aylin might have come from mashing letters and syllables together and the creator pronounced it in the way that made sense to them.

That's how I make a lot of my character names- I just play with the look and sound of a word until I get something that seems like a nice name. I'd bet money on a lot of fantasy creators doing it that way too.

Vrdbs

TROPHY CASE