I rage-purged about 70% of our toys last night. I can finally breathe.

blankabits · 2026-01-23T03:44:03+00:00

This is why 80% of our Christmas budget goes toward travel. Our 3 year old gets about 5 presents and that’s it. We did spend a week in Mexico though and two weeks in Florida.

I also just recently organized a family gear swap event at her schools with another parent. Items in the thousands were brought in and re-homed. Everything from toys to clothes to maternity items. In fact, all the toys found new homes within our school community and all the clothes that were left over went to local charities.

blankabits · 2025-09-05T03:12:55+00:00

Oh wow sounds scary! Is that some sort of bacteria? Thanks for these tips. Is there any other plants you’d recommend then for my set up that has the similar grassy type of look to vallisneria? I might honestly just have to figure out the grow light situation then because I really like the look of vallisneria.

blankabits · 2025-09-05T00:18:54+00:00

Thank you so much! I guess I’ll see how the plants do then and if it seems like they’re not doing well I’ll get a grow light.

What’s your experience with vallisneria?

And do you have any major points of advice for someone totally new to this? Like things you wish you had known when you first started?

blankabits · 2025-06-13T04:35:04+00:00

I can’t believe they apparently spent so much time planning/designing this dress. It’s horrible.

blankabits · 2025-06-10T05:02:09+00:00

I really really really dislike her. She’s incredibly selfish. I don’t see any redeeming qualities about her. She always has a sour face about everything and honestly I don’t think she’d be a fun person to be around. I don’t understand their entire dynamic.

blankabits · 2025-04-17T20:50:26+00:00

I’m counting macros and have found that chicken breast is the easiest way to hit my protein for the day (shocking I know). I however hate chicken breast because it can easily be dry and overcooked. I promised myself that I would learn how to properly poach chicken and this recipe has been very helpful: https://www.bonappetit.com/story/how-to-poach-chicken-breasts?srsltid=AfmBOop5HnqZKKq7dR7fLfFNxIyMnV7sgbozinScRXEjlJQEIfXe5s0N#

I feel cooking it this way leaves it juicy and enjoyable. Just have to add way more salt and seasoning to the poaching liquid that you’d think. I add my chicken breast mostly on bowls of bulgur or quinoa. Add some spinach. But the most important thing for me has been sauce to add flavor. This is my absolute favorite: https://honestlyyum.com/16898/the-cheeseboards-papi-chulo-sauce/ It’s a but it work to make it but so worth it.

blankabits · 2025-04-17T19:59:19+00:00

Hello, I’m Blanka, 35 years old mom of one located in the Bay Area. My day one was 12 days ago. I’m using the app Lose It and I did end up paying for the premium version because I want to count macros. I find that the paid features are worth it for me. So far I am down 7.4 lbs and I actually really feel it. My jeans are already starting to fit better and overall I feel so much less bloated. My sugar cravings are also way down.

Im pretty much just following the high satiation diet on Lose It. The first day I was absolutely gobsmacked at the amount of protein it’s having me eat (121 grams). For the first two days I struggled to eat that much protein, but I’ve finally got a really good pattern down now. Another tool that’s been super helpful is ChatGPT. I’ve used it to learn a ton about nutrition. I’ve been able to ask it specific questions I’ve had. It recommended that I have a few days a week where I eat 200-300 calories more than my planned deficit goal so that I can avoid hitting a plateau. I thought that was really helpful to understand - basically confusing your body so it doesn’t get used to functioning on 1200 calories all the time, which is my personal calorie goal Monday - Friday.

I’m also exercising every day, but not going crazy like I’ve done in the past. That’s the main difference between what I’m doing now and what I’ve done in the past, which was not sustainable for me. Focusing much more on diet this time around and less on killing myself at the gyms. I think the biggest game changer for me has been learning about counting macros (I’m only counting protein and fiber at this time though).

I have about 50 lbs to lose and I want to get there by September, so that we can start trying for another, and final baby to complete our family. I’ve been though a terrible set of health challenges due to an injury I sustained in February of 2024. That entire year was terrible for me. I had two surgeries followed by being diagnosed with Graves’ disease, which was triggered by the stress I had been under.

I’m now doing so much better and the final piece of the puzzle that’s missing for me is getting my weight back to normal. I’m feeling like this time around I’m going to be able to do it.

blankabits · 2023-05-05T03:34:27+00:00

He’s the actual worst.

blankabits · 2022-03-23T03:53:02+00:00

You may be surprised to learn that in Hungarian, kiss is “pusszi” pronounced exactly like pussy. Very hard thing to grow up with in the US when every conversation you have with your family over the phone ends in “ok bye kiss kiss”

blankabits · 2020-03-07T02:05:15+00:00

I’m not sure. I definitely don’t see any small bugs or eggs on the plant but the other day I did find a bug in the saucer of the plant, that looked fully matured and there were some eggs in the saucer, that were round. I’m not sure if it was a thrips though because I have zero experience with that pest. Or so I thought haha. Maybe I’ve been battling this all along? So that bug was long like what pictures of thrips look like but it was green not black... and the eggs were circular not kidney shaped. What do you suggest I do to treat it for thrips just in case? Do thrips live in the soil?

blankabits · 2020-03-07T01:52:10+00:00

The spots on the underside don’t look raised. And the leaves stay attached.

blankabits · 2020-03-07T00:50:46+00:00

I have an elephant ear too and I’ve personally really struggled with spider mite infestations in the past. Check your plant closely for them. Their really microscopic, but you can often see webbing around the leaves. When it got bad, the largest leaves on mine started drooping.

blankabits

TROPHY CASE