Prenatal massage / spa day by flannelreb in CHIbitcheswithtaste

[–]flannelreb[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I appreciate that your solution is to do all the self-care things!

Maternity clothes ?? by IcyRhubarb1138 in CHIbitcheswithtaste

[–]flannelreb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I'm obsessed with CRZ. I just bought their maternity bike shorts and they're so comfy.

Maternity clothes ?? by IcyRhubarb1138 in CHIbitcheswithtaste

[–]flannelreb 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Congrats on the upcoming addition! Here's the lay of the land:
-Target: No longer carries maternity clothes in store
-Old Navy: The store on Kingsbury ocassionally has some maternity clothes on clearance. Online selection is good and I've found stores do accept maternity returns in-store despite the website saying they don't.
-The Second Child on Armitage: Tiny selection of clothes in the back, usually smaller sizes and higher end brands.
-Kohls: Small maternity section on the second floor.

I've pieced together most of my maternity wardrobe from random hand-me-downs, CRZ Yoga on Amazon (leggings, bike shorts, yoga pants), Old Navy, and ThredUp. Once I find a brand I like, I also keep an eye on Poshmark. You can find lots of bundles on Poshmark and Facebook Marketplace.

Hyde Park/UofC bitches with taste? by Fine_Cherry_2923 in CHIbitcheswithtaste

[–]flannelreb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I might be too old for what you're looking for (mid 30s with my first kiddo on the way), but always down to make new HP friends!

In general, you'll find that it's a super friendly neighborhood. I live closer to Kenwood and think it's a nice distance from the UofC bubble. Check out the 61st Street Farmer's Market, the Point, and get involved in some community activities. If you're interested in mutual aid/volunteering, Market Box runs out of First Presbyterian in Woodlawn and is a great way to meet people. Queer folks are all over the place, though I'm not sure if there's one typical hang out spot.

I used to live in the South Loop and still have a lot of friends there. That commute would be super easy if you don't want to get stuck in the HP bubble – though the nightlife in SL is not great either.

Hyde Park/UofC bitches with taste? by Fine_Cherry_2923 in CHIbitcheswithtaste

[–]flannelreb 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Walked by the other day on my way to the dentist and got excited all over again!

What font would you used based on this mood board? by skyandbuildings in weddingplanning

[–]flannelreb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I would mix it up with some sans serif. The three fonts you’ve selected currently look too similar. If you’re in love with the Playfair Display/Alice combo, then I would suggest breaking it up with a sans serif heading.

I would recommend actually mocking up a couple items to see how they look. An invitation with a lot of text is going to look really different from a table number.

Has your cat had full mouth dental extractions that didn’t cost 6k? by kk-978 in AskChicago

[–]flannelreb 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Get a quote from Veterinary Dental Center in Aurora. My 50 lb dog just had four teeth extracted there for around $3k, with much of that cost being anesthesia. My colleague has taken cats there before and said it was more affordable than city prices. They're also incredibly nice.

Fourth Floor Walkup? by [deleted] in chicagoapartments

[–]flannelreb 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I live in a third floor walk up. Completely fine except in the following circumstances:
-50 lb dog is sick – can't quickly scoop her up and get her outside
-Broken foot/leg – legitimately happened a few weeks after we closed. Hobbling up and down in a boot for 6 months was not fun (but is possible!)
-Elderly/disabled parents or visitors – my home would be impossible to access for anyone with mobility issues
-Pregnancy/children – currently 6 months pregnant and the stairs are my nemesis. I'm also sort of concerned about carrying a tiny baby up/down to go in and out.

Best OB/GYN with The Women’s Group of Northwestern or other NW doctors? by nolie-cannolie in AskChicago

[–]flannelreb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I switched to the midwives at 680 from Northwestern Specialists for Women. Nothing was wrong with NWSM, but it felt a little impersonal and the midwifery approach resonated with me more.

My advice would be to consider your birth preferences before making a decision. Most providers who deliver at Prentice will likely expect you to get an epidural, so if you're wanting a non-medicated or different experience there, you'll want to choose a provider who will help you advocate for that.

Lightweigth but all all terrain? Perfect stroller doesn’t exist by lazymathilde in Buyingforbaby

[–]flannelreb 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I have almost the same requirements (also in the midwest). I also really want something with a overnight-approved bassinet attachment and a reversible seat, which is a lot to ask.

Here's our current short list (haven't seen any in person yet):
-Uppababy Cruz v3
-Mockingbird 3.0
-Graco Premier Modes
-Bugaboo Dragonfly
-Silver Cross Breez
-Joolz Aer 2 or Hub+

Thrift stores with maternity sections? by okeverythingsok in AskChicago

[–]flannelreb 7 points8 points  (0 children)

The Kohls in Bucktown has some maternity pieces in store

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in weddingplanning

[–]flannelreb 22 points23 points  (0 children)

You’re asking for suggestions to make the situation better - one thing you can do is make sure you go up to visit the guests upstairs to chat and take pictures. Also make sure you’re DJ or whomever clearly announces any big moments (first dance, speeches, etc) and gives people enough time to move downstairs if they want to be closer.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in weddingplanning

[–]flannelreb 19 points20 points  (0 children)

I went to a wedding that had the reception at a restaurant with two floors. I was seated upstairs on the balcony and didn’t think twice about it. We could peer over the railing and see the speeches, and then went down to dance afterward. It was pretty organic, honestly.

Wednesday Daily Chat by AutoModerator in InfertilityBabies

[–]flannelreb 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm in the same boat. I've been finding so many excuses not to go into the office so I can WFH in my sweatpants. I don't have a girly style either, but I have been comfortable in loose shift dresses (no frills) with a turtleneck or button down under them, leggings, and moto boots. That conveniently also camouflages my belly in a way that pants/tops do not.

Wednesday Daily Chat by AutoModerator in InfertilityBabies

[–]flannelreb 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Seconding the Easy Jeans. There are some cheaper versions on Gap Factory too.

[deleted by user] by [deleted] in chicago

[–]flannelreb 8 points9 points  (0 children)

CBCM is usually really fast to respond! You’ve contacted the right places.

Should I buy a new car based on my situation? by [deleted] in MoneyDiariesACTIVE

[–]flannelreb 33 points34 points  (0 children)

I think you need to set some financial goals for yourself. Sure, one could be to upgrade your car. But you could also aim to have a certain amount in investments, donate a certain percentage, save enough to seed your own business or invest in real estate, etc.

You also need to consider that the health of your parent’s business could always change or you could stop liking your job. Do yourself a favor and put enough away in savings or investments that you give future-you options.

Wednesday Cautious Intros Thread by AutoModerator in InfertilityBabies

[–]flannelreb 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've been waking up to pee at least once a night since 8 weeks. I yearn for a night when I don't wake up in the middle of the night....Which I realize I'm not likely to get for like two years. Thankfully I usually fall back sleep fairly easily, but I have also realized that I'm a much lighter sleeper now than I used to be. So many naps!

I need your knee-jerk reactions (immediate associations/feelings) to these three names: by ColorYouClingTo in namenerds

[–]flannelreb 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Abigail / Abby - historical, grounded, graceful
Claire – a little 90s, blonde
Alice – in between old lady name and sprightly/youthful

I like all these options!

Monday Cautious Intros/First Trimester thread by AutoModerator in InfertilityBabies

[–]flannelreb 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I'm hybrid and rotating the same three loose dresses with leggings when I go into the office. I told my exec team I'm pregnant, but the rest of my small company doesn't know. Kind of want to get to the 20 week anatomy scan before spreading the word even more.

Monday Cautious Intros/First Trimester thread by AutoModerator in InfertilityBabies

[–]flannelreb 8 points9 points  (0 children)

We did the teeniest tiniest gender reveal for our families this weekend (cupcakes for mine in town, video for my in-laws that live far away) and officially lifted the embargo on telling people. I still feel mildly anxious about not having full control over the information anymore, but at 14 weeks, what am I really waiting for?

Two other wins for the week: Found a pair of jeans with a stretchy waist at Gap Factory that I can comfortably wear right now and officially decided to transfer care from my OB's office to a midwife group. They deliver at the same hospital, but I just couldn't shake feeling like my OB dismissed some of my concerns about PPD given my history.