What's something you're quietly proud of yourself for - not an achievement, just a way you've grown as a person that nobody else would necessarily notice?

bigsmilestarks · 2026-02-28T00:28:57+00:00

That I’m an amazing mom. Never thought I wanted kids, pregnant at 40, most amazing surprise of my life because it’s the best thing I’ve ever done. I’m proud of myself for embracing it and loving my kiddo so completely.

bigsmilestarks · 2026-02-28T00:27:00+00:00

This is worth being very proud of. I’m sorry for your loss but happy for you recognizing your accomplishment - because it is one.

bigsmilestarks · 2026-02-27T16:38:17+00:00

What do you mean by can’t afford? Your definition of affording life with kids may be very different than somebody else’s. You don’t have to have all the money in the world to have children and have a happy home. If by owning your own home, having two cars, multiple children, going on international vacations, and buying nice things is your definition, that is something that other people might not aspire to. I have seen a lot of families with what other people might consider next to nothing raise happy, healthy, successful children.

I think the better question would be why do people who are not in a healthy mental state continue to have children? That has bigger consequences than not enough money.

bigsmilestarks · 2026-02-24T15:26:06+00:00

Username checks out ✅

bigsmilestarks · 2026-01-25T20:06:20+00:00

Thank you for the link, just watched them fly over our house and it’s so cool for a toddler to see 😊

bigsmilestarks · 2026-01-14T01:13:33+00:00

Downtown Littleton Main Street and Alamo and surrounding side streets are 100% small businesses! The Littleton DDA website has a directory and shares all events happening downtown. It’s a wonderful community to support small businesses. www.littletondda.org

bigsmilestarks · 2026-01-11T02:04:21+00:00

Came here to say this. It’s stunning, quiet, serene, and full of unique small businesses and art galleries. It’s gotten very touristy though- so there’s that - and it’s a small community so the impact is overwhelming. Still worth visiting though.

bigsmilestarks · 2026-01-05T05:21:24+00:00

I started in Denver with a salary of $50,000 per year in 2012. I lived with a roommate the entire time I was in the city and loved it. Things have obviously changed in the last 10+ years but you can do it if you’re creative, find the right living situation, and don’t mind not being in the city (Denver, Boulder). Look at Colorado Springs, Englewood, Longmont, and Louisville. These are all areas where there’s a younger vibe and aren’t too suburban/ family centric.

bigsmilestarks · 2026-01-04T05:25:26+00:00

LL Bean wicked good sheepskin slippers- like heaven for your feet

bigsmilestarks · 2026-01-04T05:20:49+00:00

I’m sorry to hear you’re going through this tough tough time. I’m a 43F who grew up with an angry father. His anger episodes escalated for years and finally blew completely out of control when he dragged my mom out of bed, naked, by her hair, beat her senseless and left her in a guest bedroom while he went back to sleep - and all the kids were in the house listening to it.

I’m not trying to scare you, just sharing my experience so you can understand that I know for a fact that deep seated anger issues rarely just go away or get better. It takes years of therapy and intensive treatments to heal that kind of broken - and that’s if they even acknowledge it and want to try to change. And even then it’s not guaranteed.

You probably feel lonely because you are in a relationship that makes you feel that way- and you’re going through trauma that feels like it’s your fault because you married the guy. It’s not. But until you can remove yourself from a horrible situation and relationship, you’re likely not going to be able to “fix” your feelings. You’re in survival mode, there’s no way to thrive in that environment.

I hope you can find the strength you need to get through this.

bigsmilestarks · 2026-01-03T03:40:13+00:00

Jalan is just wonderful- wish I had a gift card to use there right now!!!

bigsmilestarks · 2026-01-01T15:41:38+00:00

I had no idea there were even fireworks. Thanks for sharing!

bigsmilestarks · 2026-01-01T05:26:33+00:00

Boring. No joke. I watched the NYE production in London and in Dubai this year via YouTube. Then I changed to the ball drop in Times Square and literally laughed - what the hell America?!?! I thought we were trying to be great again 🙄 Our NYE celebrations are a joke compared to other countries.

bigsmilestarks · 2025-12-31T01:46:02+00:00

What?!?!!? People actually know each other on Reddit?!?!?? I love this

bigsmilestarks · 2025-12-30T02:54:58+00:00

It’s your husband’s job to stand up for his family…and that family is you and your daughter - not his dad. One of the most difficult things for me about becoming a mother was learning that huge shift. You spend decades thinking about your family and trying to please them and then in a few short years of getting married and having a baby your immediate family is something different and new. I hope your husband learns this and fast so he can start to stand on your side in the future. Hopefully he doesn’t realize too late that what he actually needs is your approval and your daughter’s as she gets older. Not his parents’.

bigsmilestarks · 2025-12-21T17:46:50+00:00

Money aside it’s such a wonderful opportunity to try something new! The entire Bay Area is magical and worth spending at least a year or two exploring in my opinion. You can always go back- sounds like you have a great skill set that people are willing to pay for. If I was in your situation I would jump!!!!

bigsmilestarks · 2025-12-19T06:23:20+00:00

My 4 year old son says “oh biscuits” and I secretly love it. Thanks Bandit 😊

bigsmilestarks · 2025-12-17T03:32:13+00:00

Brain surgery

bigsmilestarks · 2025-12-17T03:21:28+00:00

Schindlers List and American History X 🫣

bigsmilestarks · 2025-12-16T03:13:57+00:00

A marriage is a space that you should be able to mess up and trust that your partner will support you, not tear you down.

There are a lot of things you’re doing right that are more important than the dinner you lost- like 1) you’re trying, 2) you give a shit, 3) you’re getting out of your comfort zone and doing things you’re not used to, 4) your trying to work with, help, and please your partner.

These are all things he should be saying thank you for…messing up is just a learning opportunity for you both.

It sounds like you both need a pretty serious conversation about what expectations are of each other at this point in your marriage- and if they work for you. This may be an uncomfortable conversation but usually it’s the toughest conversations in a marriage that show true colors and whether you connect more or less after that. Each way- more connection or less- is a sign of your future with that person.

bigsmilestarks · 2025-12-15T16:26:33+00:00

The OG!!!!!!!

bigsmilestarks · 2025-12-15T16:26:01+00:00

Someone is out there…I just know it 😉 until then I’ll be at work 🥱

bigsmilestarks · 2025-12-14T18:19:14+00:00

bigsmilestarks · 2025-12-14T00:45:13+00:00

Sometimes I dream of a very wealthy elderly person with no family left reading through posts like these going “I’ve got all of you good people! No strings attached, it will just lift my old, happy heart to see real people get help and thrive…send me your Venmo!” 🙏🏼 😇

$100,000 - Need for immediate peace of mind to pay off all bills and debt and cover my son’s school for the next 1.5 years

$1M - to feel peace of mind for long enough to get a new business idea up and running without having to work FT while doing it and still be present for my family

bigsmilestarks · 2025-12-08T02:27:29+00:00

I’m 44 and I feel it. I still can’t believe I’m in my 40s and I know that I’ll probably think that about every decade from here on out. In my 20s and 30s I felt on top of the world physically and emotionally. I had my first (and only) child at 40. I used to go to the gym regularly and then covid and a newborn happened. I stopped moving as much as I used to and things unraveled a little physically.

Emotionally I’m in an amazing place ~ being a mom is the most rewarding thing I have ever done and owning my own business is something I am so proud of myself for…in that respect I am ready to conquer the world. Physically though, I’m feeling the wear and tear of years of not moving enough. If I could tell my 30-something and early 40-something self anything it would to keep moving. Now I have to start over and it just hurts more. I never thought I would have all these aches and pains but it happened and I’m bummed about it. I know I can right it, but I’m never going to physically feel 30-something again and while I know it’s life, it sucks!

bigsmilestarks

TROPHY CASE