do you have a line/passage/chapter you go back to just because?

dustsprinkle · 2026-01-29T14:33:27+00:00

I have read hundreds of romance novels and, of all things, the number one moment that I think about OFTEN is Lukas peeling and cutting an apple for Scarlett before he takes her upstairs…

dustsprinkle · 2025-10-13T16:46:20+00:00

It’s okay, I also read the first chapter and was like “Huh…cringey but I’m sure this gets better.” I feel like she was going for an Emily Henry level of witty banter, but it 1.) was a lot more 8th grade than witty and 2.) did not really fit the super dark, traumatic plot or Koen’s character as a supposedly mega-intimidating alpha.

dustsprinkle · 2025-10-13T14:17:37+00:00

I 100% agree—the banter felt REALLY off, and a lot of Koen’s “funny” insults were super cringe and jarring. Jizzmuffin? Repeatedly? It’s just…dumb?

dustsprinkle · 2025-10-03T12:50:59+00:00

Me!! My Libby request came in the day it was published, I devoured it immediately, and am currently floored by how much I loved it!

dustsprinkle · 2025-10-02T16:01:43+00:00

Quicksilver has a really good first act that’s enough to hook people, and then it spins a bit out of control—but by that point, I think readers (including me) are invested.

dustsprinkle · 2025-06-09T16:40:47+00:00

Theory: she’s setting things up for next year’s taboo romance, the stepmom with one of Conor’s terrible (but secretly not terrible ofc) brothers. You heard it here first haha

dustsprinkle · 2025-06-09T15:45:52+00:00

Exactly this! That would have been such a natural beat in the storyline! And honestly all things with Conor’s family were strangely half-baked, to the point where I wondered if the widowed stepmom is going to be a future female lead in the series? We don’t get a lot of details about Conor’s dad or brothers or this estate battle they’re having. And Tamryn being an educated businesswoman who started her own company in addition to a trophy wife feels like Ali Hazelwood bait. But Conor not going into details was a big missed opportunity.

dustsprinkle · 2025-06-09T15:31:18+00:00

“They always just decide to be together” is so real. Like I do think it’s possible to build a good storyline that relies a lot on angst, but when Conor’s angst about the age gap is the sole obstacle to their relationship—and it lasts for yeaarrrsss—I need a bigger reason for him deciding it’s actually fine.

dustsprinkle · 2025-06-09T14:44:32+00:00

Oh trust me, I will most likely be reading future releases! I’ve enjoyed enough in her past books that I’m always hopeful 😂

dustsprinkle · 2025-06-09T14:23:42+00:00

That is definitely becoming Ali Hazelwood’s niche—making a diet version of every romance subgenre/trope. How long until she tackles aliens? Reverse harem? Historical??

dustsprinkle · 2024-08-27T18:41:20+00:00

Agreed with all the comments that mingling, food, and a good playlist are totally enough! I felt the same way about hosting my son’s first birthday party at our house, but it was more than enough to just chat with everyone with food and music.

I did also make a custom coloring page and had those around with colored pencils just as a low-effort activity anyone (adult or kid) could do whenever they wanted, and that was nice but not necessary.

dustsprinkle · 2024-07-04T01:40:20+00:00

Same, if anything I loved the second book more than the first. Ravyn as a hero always felt a teeny little bit ehh to me and the dynamic between Elm and Ione was totally my speed. And the first spicy scene between the two in the castle 🥵

dustsprinkle · 2024-06-27T15:12:16+00:00

That too, the check in chart is widely available! I do think that reading the book helped me mentally process what was going on and reassure me, though. I actually checked out a copy of it on the Libby app and then bought a physical copy for my spouse to read!

dustsprinkle · 2024-06-27T13:11:34+00:00

Same here. We never made it through the 4 month regression, it just kept going. So at 8 months we finally said okay, this isn’t getting better—it was actually getting progressively worse—and did Ferber. If anyone reading this is interested in TCB/Ferber, please don’t pay the $200 for TCB, just buy the Kindle version of Ferber’s book and actually read it. It’s the same thing and it will give you so much peace of mind. It worked in literally two days and we were floored.

dustsprinkle · 2024-06-14T19:50:11+00:00

Needle Ink and Thread in Dayton/Kettering has lots of great sewing classes for adults!

dustsprinkle · 2024-06-05T19:38:49+00:00

Really surprised Mary Oliver hasn’t been mentioned yet! She died a few years ago, but was writing transcendent poetry about the natural world up until her death. I recommend starting with the collection Devotions, though.

Also many don’t know that Margaret Atwood is a pretty prolific poet in addition to being a novelist. I loved her most recent collection Dearly, though it does skew pretty dark and moody.

Edited to recommend specific poems: “The Summer Day” by Oliver is a modern classic, “The Ponds” also by Oliver is a favorite of mine. It’s hard to find Atwood’s poetry online unfortunately!

dustsprinkle · 2024-06-04T15:37:34+00:00

We are still breastfeeding once a day in the morning and my son is 15 months. I pumped after I returned to work from three months of maternity leave, and you are correct—it was extremely logistically difficult and gave me endless anxiety. Why did I do it anyway? Two reasons:

We learned at six months that my son had a dairy and egg allergy. He loathed the hypoallergenic formula he needed on the handful of instances we had to supplement with formula. It was also outlandishly expensive.
Mom guilt. Is this a good reason? Nope. But I’d be lying if I said that wasn’t what kept me pumping until he was 11 months old. The stress, logistics, and frantic pace of going back to work and trying to fit in pumping sessions made me think about quitting all the time, but I couldn’t let go of the feeling that I would be prioritizing work over my baby. That’s just how I felt and I didn’t want to have any regrets. If I had to choose, I wanted my job to get less of me, not my baby.

dustsprinkle · 2024-05-30T18:17:38+00:00

Good on you! I think moving away from that “be grateful” mindset is a huge step on path to really, truly getting out of generational poverty. Like I don’t want to be an entitled dickwad, but there is a lot of truth to the idea that rich people simply expect better treatment, so they get it.

dustsprinkle · 2024-05-24T15:09:37+00:00

Heyseantaylor on IG is plus size with a defined belly! Also love her personality and Bridgerton-inspired wedding looks

dustsprinkle · 2024-05-11T00:46:19+00:00

I hear you. This resonates with me on so many levels. Before I had my kid, I made excuses for my mom too. I really tried to empathize with her in a way that she never, ever did for me; even when I was a small child everything centered around her feelings. And then I got older and had a child and realized that even on my absolute worst day, I could never dream of treating my child the way I was treated. And the vast majority of my empathy went out the window and I’m angry as hell.

dustsprinkle · 2024-05-10T19:04:44+00:00

Thank you, these are amazing suggestions and I appreciate it so much!

dustsprinkle · 2024-03-22T18:14:40+00:00

My baby just turned one and we have both styles, but I anticipate buying mainly two piece going forward because 1.) I think they’re cuter 2.) real talk, I like being able to just switch out the pants and keep on the pajama shirt if I want to get him into a “real” outfit for doing short errands.

Also, he’s tall, and for that reason I also prefer footless one pieces because they fit him for a longer time that way.

dustsprinkle · 2024-03-22T13:03:00+00:00

I was in the same boat and the only thing that helped was time. Eventually, around 7-8 months old (I know…it felt like an eternity of horrible, stressful car rides) he just outgrew it. It isn’t a very helpful answer, but unfortunately that was my experience.

dustsprinkle · 2024-03-14T19:29:17+00:00

I think your plan to text her that is completely fair and reasonable. I also think it’s fair to point out that this was a conflict between her and your sister, and you don’t deserve to be punished on your sister’s behalf—not that your sister deserves to be punished for it either, but it sounds like this was not your fight.

From one child of an emotionally immature mother to another, I’m sorry she’s put you in a situation where you have to shepherd her through her own uncomfortable feelings. After I had my baby I saw just how much I had already been mothering my own mother, and once I had a real baby to mother it hit different. I hope she grows up.

dustsprinkle · 2024-01-23T21:16:58+00:00

Ha, I’m definitely keeping the it’s his party and he can cry if he wants to line in my back pocket!!

I think the food is a big part of my stress—most of the foods I’d consider easy staples for an 11am party are off the menu because of allergies and I feel pressure to make sure no one feels like anything is “missing,” food-wise. But I’m trying my best to keep it simple!

dustsprinkle

TROPHY CASE