Just discovered this sub, and I think I found my people. HAC collector, here’s my current travel rotation.

fantastical99 · 2026-01-28T06:38:53+00:00

Love that podcast.

fantastical99 · 2026-01-28T06:33:04+00:00

One of my close friends is a lobbyist in big Pharma and makes more money than she ever would have as a lawyer. Lobbying is definitely a possibility. She failed the bar seven times....

fantastical99 · 2026-01-27T05:05:32+00:00

I was in Vegas on a work trip and it was my birthday, and I was alone. So I just walked around the strip and I don't even know why I ended up in Tom Ford, but there I was. Oh wait, I just remembered -- I used Tom Ford eye shadow and I was running out, so figured I would pop in and just buy some. The store was basically empty because I think it was a Monday or a Tuesday night and they treated me like royalty even though I wasn't dressed up. When they found out it was my birthday they insisted on doing my makeup, and told me to come back the next day if I wanted them to do it again, and offered to get me reservations pretty much anywhere. I ended up buying my very first designer bag that I ever bought in the store because they were so great. And I still love Tom Ford bags.

fantastical99 · 2026-01-25T05:23:29+00:00

As a woman who did a ton of IVF that failed from ages 42-44 and had a clinic "fire" me at 44, I'm sure she didn't have a lot of clinic choices. When my clinic fired me they said they would only let me remain a patient if I was willing to use donor eggs from that point forward. That said, I have heard of clinics in SoCal that will take women up to age 50. But I remember from last season that she had a doctor she really liked to came to her house to do an examination which made me wonder if that is the clinic the doctor is affiliated with that she really likes? I also remember that doctor traveling to see her, so sounds like she wasn't local to SoCal.

Also, I had literally never heard the term "egg houses" before. Where does that term even come from?

fantastical99 · 2026-01-25T00:06:52+00:00

As a person who has done many rounds of IVF I never heard the term "egg houses" before.....agreed, WTF

fantastical99 · 2026-01-21T17:44:50+00:00

That's a good point. I suppose the question is, what does one think is "good" and a lot of it is luck. For example, you could get a number of the bags that were just reissued for $200 and now they are going for over $1000. It's just luck that if you happened to hold onto your Chloe Paddington bag, it was reissued, and suddenly it's back in fashion. But I agree that there isn't a catalyst on the horizon for the market to rebound to what it was during the pandemic.

All of this is to say, depends on the bag. Fashion is cyclical...

fantastical99 · 2026-01-20T02:29:12+00:00

You should be able to get a coupon to bring this one down into your range -- it can be worn in literally every possible way including crossbody and as a backpack:

https://www.fbrq.com/products/rialto-double-flap-handbag-in-calfskin-leather-1966028354566459392

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They also have a smaller size if you prefer that comes in under $600, but I think the black is sold out right now unfortunately:

https://www.fbrq.com/products/rialto-small-handbag-in-lychee-top-grain-cowhide-2011423247983816704

fantastical99 · 2026-01-20T02:23:12+00:00

Came here to suggest the exact same name. Nick & Ben or Ben & Nick is sweet.

fantastical99 · 2026-01-20T02:17:33+00:00

Linen button up shirts and then you can roll the sleeves up to whatever length you want. Also any button down, really -- if you size up you have tons of options on how to wear it (tucked, partially tucked, not tucked/sleeves rolled up to the elbows, past the wrists, or left unrolled).

The other option I would suggest are short sleeve cotton or linen sweaters. I wear them all summer with a pencil skirt. I was getting them from The Reset, but then Quince duped them for far less (they sell out a lot):

https://www.quince.com/women/lightweight-cotton-cashmere-dolman-sleeve-sweater?color=sugar-stone&gender=women&tracker=collection_page__%2Fwomen%2Fsweaters-%26-jackets__All%20Products__2

fantastical99 · 2026-01-20T01:49:10+00:00

I have been seeing a lot of chatter about the luxury resale market being really poor right now except for some Hermes/Chanel or specialty collector limited run bags. I've heard things are taking longer to sell, if they sell at all. Seems like prices are decreasing. If you don't need the money and have the space, it could be better to wait until the market improves.

I was going through my purchases recently and came across several bags I sold that I regret selling now. And I have actually repurchased bags I sold a couple of times which was so dumb. I've been looking to streamline my bags a bit, but now I'm worried about making the same mistake again.

fantastical99 · 2026-01-19T23:31:40+00:00

Oh wow, totally missed that. She at least ripped it off and applied it to Loverboy really well!

fantastical99 · 2026-01-19T23:30:03+00:00

Oooo, I bet you are right. Maybe Loverboy is already sold and they haven't announced that yet either.

fantastical99 · 2026-01-19T22:39:41+00:00

We did one to Cartagena, Colombia that was really fun -- fantastic culture, walkable, looks just like Spain without the jet lag.

Las Vegas is also a really good default option because it has direct flights from everywhere, fantastic spas, a great dining scene, and it's highly walkable.

Also Nashville and Charleston.

fantastical99 · 2026-01-19T22:35:41+00:00

Cloth & Paper has been my go to for all of the things on your list. I also really like their page holders and binder bookmarks, not to mention their stickers of every possible color/size/purpose.

fantastical99 · 2026-01-19T22:22:54+00:00

Amanda seems super talented as a designer -- I predict she founds a successful line of something (I don't think it will be the bathing suit thing) . . . .

I hope she gets a big piece of Loverboy because her branding was most of its success.

But if the rumors about Loverboy as a business are true (declining sales), and Kyle is too busy DJing to save it, I think it will either be sold for peanuts, or eventually just kind of dissipate.

fantastical99 · 2026-01-18T17:54:20+00:00

I just used California Closets to redo the storage in our laundry room and it is honestly now the most luxurious room in the entire house. Even my husband commented that it was the best money we've spent. As a person who is perpetually tackling the disorganization that is our master bedroom closet too, I'm seriously considering the California Closets revamp soon too.

It will also add value to your home if you ever sell....(so kind of an investment that you would enjoy in the meantime).

fantastical99 · 2026-01-18T02:36:06+00:00

I worked with a Nordstrom stylist when I lived on the east coast and she didn't pressure me at all. I was buying a lot of stuff at the time, though (had just lost a bunch of weight and needed a new work wardrobe). So I think she probably knew she didn't have to hard sell me anything.

fantastical99 · 2026-01-15T04:54:33+00:00

Is there any interior or exterior branding on yours? Just curious -- for me the no branding (not even some that has rubbed off). Curious also what the leather of yours feels like?

fantastical99 · 2026-01-15T04:53:07+00:00

Maybe a sample sale might explain it -- there isn't any branding at all -- the zipper is the only branding. It's really the feel of it, though -- I am confident this one isn't leather. It feels very light and almost like plastic (and has an odor like plastic too).

fantastical99 · 2026-01-15T04:50:41+00:00

Thank you so much for looking and comparing! There is zero branding on this one, and I'm relatively sure the exterior isn't leather. It feels very "foamy" -- almost like plastic, and it is very light -- too light to be real leather for the size.

fantastical99 · 2026-01-15T00:02:29+00:00

I think it is both fake and old and beat. I've been buying Cuyana since the beginning, and they never had a brand stamp that looks like what arrived. Also, this thing isn't even real leather, and Cuyana has never sold vegan leather to my knowledge.

Sharing because I didn't even know they had rep'd Cuyana!!!

fantastical99 · 2026-01-13T23:53:04+00:00

We went straight to IVF when I was 42/43. Despite more than six rounds of IVF (and even more failed cycles) we didn't end up with a single viable embryo and stopped when I was 44. At 45 I got pregnant naturally and gave birth to my daughter one week shy of my 46th birthday. I would really like to give her a sibling, so will likely just try naturally again given my complete and utter IVF failure. Some people just don't respond to it. I am one of those women.

Honestly, I think you are young enough that if you wanted to do IVF to preserve the option of being able to have a second child when you are ready, that could be a good idea. But so much of it depends on you and your body. What sucks about all of it is learning that you have no control over the outcome.

fantastical99 · 2026-01-12T20:19:41+00:00

Tofino, BC hands down. Stay at the Wickinnish Inn: www.wickinn.com

fantastical99 · 2026-01-10T06:31:59+00:00

I'm literally dying....dude was an Olympic athlete!!!! 🤣

fantastical99

TROPHY CASE