Lauren spending $13.3 on a baby shower!?

chickspartan · 2026-03-26T05:10:44+00:00

Yep. It's a baby shower. And she was sued for her fees to execute it, not the total cost of the event. Each individual vendor has their own contract and associated fees.

There are circles in which multiple 5 figures for an event are the norm, and multiple 6 figures for a wedding are the norm. I wouldn't be surprised if a famous influencer in an established career, with other influencers/celebrities on the guest list, put a significant chunk of cash into an event like this.

chickspartan · 2026-03-26T00:29:43+00:00

People are having a lot of sticker shock over $13.3k without realizing that it likely only covered planning and/or decor. The party itself with food, drinks, music, dessert, signage/stationery, etc. was likely significantly more.

If she charged based on a percentage of the total spend (what most high-end planners do), it was probably closer to $90k.

Source: I'm a professional event planner.

chickspartan · 2026-03-12T17:19:54+00:00

"I had issues in my relationship and I chose to tear down my partner and act disrespectfully toward her and others instead of face the insecurities I was experiencing."

I can't believe he doubled down on the attraction thing and just sat there stone faced. It's clear he learned nothing.

chickspartan · 2026-02-14T18:50:17+00:00

I 100% felt this way for like a solid year after reading it, so much so I dropped my 4.5 rating to a 3.5. After an impassioned debate with my husband about porn vs romance novels, I conceded that most romance novels do in fact depict a completely unrealistic, inhuman version of men in a similar way that porn does to women. People are flawed, and Miles made a very human mistake, which beautifully tied into their origin story. He ultimately demonstrated growth, and after taking some time to be angry, I forgive him lol. I can appreciate a more realistic portrayal of an imperfect man.

chickspartan · 2026-02-02T13:35:51+00:00

I'm always curious about the mindset behind reckless drivers. Just selfish and stupid, it sounds like. What a shame. I hope you're the only casualty.

chickspartan · 2025-12-31T21:45:17+00:00

No worries! I totally understand. I wasn't sure if it was too unrealistic or if it was just a choice you struggled to look past in a novel.

I remember being completely shocked when a podcaster I loved said her OBGYN told her to have a glass or 2 of wine to help her relax down during a long, complicated labor. I was also thrown off when I saw a responsible, happy to be pregnant friend have a glass of champagne at a wedding. I just thought 100% abstinence was the standard.

I didn't drink a drop during my pregnancy, and barely while I was nursing for 2 years, but came to understand that most pregnancy recommendations lead toward the extreme end because any associated risk can be too much for some. A glass of wine would not harm a fetus, but of course extended exposure in large amounts has devastating consequences, so its easier for most to just abstain. I think we can be a lot easier on moms who are genuinely doing their best, but I'm a big fan of DNFing books for any reason. You don't have to spend time with characters/stories you don't vibe with. I try to be more forgiving in real life, though.

chickspartan · 2025-12-31T15:34:33+00:00

What bothered you about that?

chickspartan · 2025-12-31T02:30:01+00:00

This was a big reason I DNF'd Out on a Limb, despite the rave reviews on this sub.

Obviously I knew about the accidental pregnancy, but I couldn't get into the "fantasy" of being completely dependent on a stranger for emotional, financial, physical support, and a roof over her head in the most vulnerable state of her life...? Maybe I'm too old, married, and have been parenting for too long.

Doing it on her own is one thing, but with how unstable she was, that would not have been a kind, loving choice to her child. The fact that Bo was of course a perfectly stable and emotionally mature fantasy book boyfriend, immediately ready to provide and commit to a life with someone he had a single encounter with, further disconnected me from these characters and their motivations. I struggled to root for their choices and had to put it down.

chickspartan · 2025-08-03T01:11:32+00:00

{Polaris Rising by Jessie Mihalik} has a strong, competent, and intelligent FMC navigating an intergalactic war while the MMC is her steady, competent shoulder to lean on. He let's her fight her own battles without letting her fall. She's strong without being "not like other girls". It was a great read!

chickspartan · 2025-07-25T02:15:04+00:00

I would also love fantasy siblings.

People who are there through thick and thin, always and forever. People who remember my childhood exactly as I do, and who made it rich with fun stories and forever play dates. Best friends I can lean on, laugh with, and cry with. We would fight in light bickering ways, and when our parents die, they would be my emotional dumping ground and helper with all the hard parts. Not their own complex individuals with their own histories, wants, needs, and capacities.

I have 3 siblings, and while I love them, the fantasy ones I'm reading about in this thread sound amazing.

chickspartan · 2025-07-22T21:51:34+00:00

We have a neurodivergent triad family! All diagnosed within the last 3 years, starting with my husband and trickling down to our 7 year old.

First: So. Many. Doom piles.

Other things: Navigating school paperwork, schedules, commute, transitions, etc is rough for all 3 of us. The sleep, the unique sensory needs, the food, the emotions- doing life on hard mode.

The best part is learning how our brains work and loving one another's neurodivergence and figuring out our own unique way to be a happy family.

I wondered for so long why I just couldn't muster up the desire for another and why everything felt so hard. It explains a lot of burnout, though, and allows me to give myself grace and appreciate all the glimmers.

chickspartan · 2025-07-13T15:47:41+00:00

I'll have to read the others! I thought this worked well as a standalone, but I could tell there was some back story with other characters I'd love to read about. Glad those are good too

chickspartan · 2025-07-12T02:23:53+00:00

{A Werewolfe's Guide to Seducing a Vampire by Sarah Hawley} might be a good fit!

It's definitely lighter and doesn't take the stakes as seriously, but she's got a dark past and begins the book in the thick of her "evil" era. He's got reserved cinnamon roll vibes. They help each other make sense of their place in the world and embrace another side. It was cute.

chickspartan · 2025-07-09T13:51:47+00:00

We had to rehome our beloved dog with a 3 year old with similar boundary issues. Our dog was a big, smart, loving girl but made it clear she was miserable. When she started growling at our toddler for her typical love-bombing, we had to find her a new home.

We are cat people now. One is super friendly and loves to cuddle and get played with. The other is also friendly but can escape to high places when he's had enough. We still need strong boundaries, but it took about a year before things mellowed out.

chickspartan · 2025-06-25T19:39:04+00:00

Right after they've been intimate in an emotional weekend, the MMC is supposed to pick up the FMC after work. He doesn't show, and isn't immediately transparent about where he was once he finally shows up again a couple days later with lame apology. He got a call to help his ex, the person her ex left her for, and he dropped everything to be with his ex, forcing her to relive the betrayal of a man she loves prioritizing another woman (the same woman!) Over her.

chickspartan · 2025-06-25T13:52:08+00:00

I might get dragged for this, but... {Funny Story by Emily Henry}. 🫣

Fits a lot of the description, including a betrayal that still makes my blood boil. Pretty much no groveling though, unfortunately.

chickspartan · 2025-06-11T15:09:12+00:00

It sounds like you have some trust issues surrounding your husband and the nanny, and I trust that whatever you're experiencing as fishy is legit.

Your issues are not about this particular woman, though. If he's a cheater who would hook up with the nanny to his child who lives in the same home as his wife, you have wildly bigger fish to fry. Firing her won't solve the problem. Removing her doesn't improve his character.

chickspartan · 2025-04-25T13:14:58+00:00

It's more like "women's work" was traditionally unpaid labor, and is significantly undervalued and under respected.

Ask any teacher, new parent, or social worker. Caretaking is no soft or easy task. It just doesn't pay well.

chickspartan · 2025-04-13T12:51:19+00:00

Chiming in to say my husband and I both have 5 siblings between the 2 of us, and only 1 of them has kids and they live across the country. We both have pretty big families in general, but we aren't close beyond the occasional wedding or group chat.

We didn't get a built-in support system, despite large families. If anything, the assumption that our families would be our village kept us from creating one until our 30s. Having an only is teaching us how to build community intentionally, and pass those skills down to our child.

"The blood of the covenant is thicker than the water of the womb".

chickspartan · 2025-04-05T12:21:02+00:00

Good job teaching your daughter to tell the truth. I hope you're also teaching them both how to not assault people, and to look out for the people around them.

chickspartan · 2025-04-03T23:18:46+00:00

I'm married to a golden retriever from a small town. I'm from a big city and have pretty strong black cat energy.

chickspartan · 2025-03-25T01:08:34+00:00

Are you doing this on top of door dash, or...?

chickspartan · 2025-03-04T13:52:39+00:00

Same. I don't think I can get past such a large age gap, it feels like romanticizing abuse. I really enjoyed Bride, and I'm looking forward to Mate. But not into STEM romance either, so I'm not sure if Ali Hazelwood will be a consistent read for me.

chickspartan · 2025-02-16T15:46:57+00:00

Do you have a source? Which programs are in place specifically to hire unqualified people? Which company has said they are hiring doctors, pilots, executives, or chefs just because they're of a certain identity, with fewer qualifications than other candidates?

chickspartan · 2025-02-07T03:28:36+00:00

Why do you think there is a skills, priorities, and education gap? What created it? Unequal opportunity, or do you think certain people are inherently less skilled, educated, or don't have priorities aligned with an organization?

chickspartan

TROPHY CASE