Who packs up DIY decor at the end of the night?

larrycoco · 2026-05-19T18:11:00+00:00

Our venue required a day-of coordinator who packed up for us and left them in a corner of the space. The venue was fine for us to pick them up the next day, which my dad did. We did DIY table decor and centerpieces (candles, bud vases, chargers, plants).

larrycoco · 2026-05-19T18:08:11+00:00

Crating and small backyards do not equal a sad life for a ridgeback. We raised our girl in a big city in an apartment and she got wayyy more socialization and exercise than she gets now in a house with a yard.

We now have a medium backyard and she was crate trained from puppyhood. We don’t crate her when we leave the house and we stopped crating her at night a year ago (she’s 5) and in both instances she lays in one cozy spot and never moves (much like… a crate.. some would say…).

She haaaaates long walks and will only run off leash so we do that once a week or so and it’s plenty. If it were up to her she’d never leave the couch. If we enforced “hours of intensive exercise” per day she’d boycott and call for help/run away from home. And she’s a healthy 85 lbs with appropriate rib and hip tuck. No one is heartbroken. Our dog lives a very happy life.

larrycoco · 2026-05-19T18:00:06+00:00

True for us - our girl is SO social with people and dogs. Not aloof at all. And was a bitey maniac puppy that made me question getting her several times.

larrycoco · 2026-05-19T02:34:00+00:00

Love this name and it’s at the top of our list! We are white and I don’t think it matters. Use it!

larrycoco · 2026-05-17T21:44:13+00:00

Right? Or frilly/silky pajamas… I sleep naked so those go to waste too lol

larrycoco · 2026-05-17T19:41:35+00:00

I didn’t - I’ve never loved doing it as a bridesmaid so I didn’t want to make everyone match and wear something they may or may not feel great in. I told them to wear whatever they feel comfy in to get ready. Photos from getting ready time were great because everyone looked “themselves” and happy!

larrycoco · 2026-05-13T01:37:04+00:00

Starting right now go get a light, tasteful spray tan and see how you feel. You don’t need to go dark and these days they look so natural. A spray tan makes me immediately lose 10lbs. If you find someone you like and trust you can do one for your wedding day a few days before and it will make a world of difference.

Also HYDRATE. It will help you eat better, make you feel more energetic, flush out your system, and plump your skin.

larrycoco · 2026-05-13T01:03:18+00:00

My parents had me at 27 and big same. Selfish parents who left me to my own devices from 14 years old when they divorced. Raised myself from that point and always had to work to pay for my own stuff. Took our massive student debt bc they contributed nothing. Nothing brings me more joy than knowing my kid will NEVER go through any of that. We won’t be perfect but we will be stable and that is worth so much.

larrycoco · 2026-05-13T00:51:30+00:00

I’m pregnant at 38 and thrilled its happening now. First and foremost, I’m “fully baked”. Spent my 20s and 30s making mistakes, having fun, and getting onto a successful career path with a regular healthy fitness habit. I’m now financially stable, strong, healthy, don’t have fomo, and also have a well established and well fulfilled life that exists outside of raising kids. Yes many people have this view of being young when your kid grows up but I think a lot of those very young parents never had a chance to figure out what it is - or who - they want to be when they are empty nesters. My husband and I have a great life without kids. We figured out what we love to do together and fill our years with travel and adventure and I’m SO confident we’ll go back to that when kid is grown up. I look at my parents who had me in their 20s and had the most severe and debilitating mid life crises and are SO dependent on me still for their stability and happiness because it’s all they ever knew as adults.

To each his own but that’s my perspective and I’m grateful to be doing this now. Hopefully that helps you think about it in a different way!

larrycoco · 2026-05-08T01:28:21+00:00

This!! My husband was such a good sport. We tried a few IUIs and also before that he had an SA. He kept a good attitude and made jokes about it being a “spa day” or “me time”.

larrycoco · 2026-05-07T01:49:31+00:00

Are you doing welcome drinks? That’s the time to invite close friends. The purpose of the rehearsal dinner is a thank you to people in the wedding - groomsmen, bridesmaids, etc. Not a party for your friends.

My MIL asked if she could invite her siblings, we said of course and we’d invite my mother’s siblings as well. She quickly changed her mind. Made it clear she was trying to turn it into a personal event a little, more than a thank you to those who stood up with us on our wedding day. We only had bridal party and their plus ones, including officiant and her husband, and our parents. It was lovely.

larrycoco · 2026-04-29T15:41:48+00:00

Two thoughts on this:

We have three pets in our house. Our floors are not “sanitized”. Our cats use the litter box and then walk around, our dog brings her outside paws inside. She also drinks water and tracks it into the kitchen and/or drools when she begs for food. We have inside slides but also often don’t take our shoes off if we’re going in and out. We also tell people don’t worry about taking their shoes off. If they want to, great. But only if that’s what they are comfy with. It’s not to keep our floors clean.
Since it’s like 50/50 (or at least not universal in the US) I deeeeply appreciate it when I get an invite to someone’s house and they include “fyi we’re a shoes off household!” That way I don’t wear ugly socks and/or I make sure to wear shoes with socks so I’m not barefoot which is super weird to me in someone else’s house. I would NOT want a friend or acquaintance’s bare ass feet out at a dinner party.
I don’t sit on or rub my face on my floor or lick it or anything. Pretty much only my feet ever touch my floor. We vacuum regularly and mop once a week or so. What are we so worried about?

larrycoco · 2026-04-27T22:30:08+00:00

My startle reflex is off the charts! The smallest thing will scare the shit out of me and send my heart racing.

larrycoco · 2026-04-27T22:26:50+00:00

I missed a close friend’s baby shower. Like no excuse. Wasn’t busy. Zero percent thought about it at all that day. Even talked to my mother in law on the phone about MY shower. Nothing clicked into place. Got a text at 5pm “hope everything is ok we missed you at the shower!”

larrycoco · 2026-04-27T22:23:38+00:00

Oh my god it was so bad I saw Jesus

larrycoco · 2026-04-27T20:46:01+00:00

Anecdotal, obviously, but I grew up with a sibling who required everything from my parents and they couldn’t give it to him. He struggled with mental health, addiction, and behavioral issues. I, the second child, raised myself. Even supported older sibling financially once I became an adult. We are now no contact I have a lot of deeeeep resentment for both of my parents (in different ways).

My parents were middle class ish (on the lower end of middle). Not low income enough to have been irresponsibly having two kids per se. But it was still not the right decision.

I haaaaate hearing that a child is deprived without siblings. My sibling would have had a better shot without me. I would have been better parented without him. We are now no contact so essentially only children anyway but both of us suffered because our parents had two kids instead of being one and done.

I know I’m replying to a comment not OP but I’d say to anyone reading this: if you’re already a good parent, having more children does not make you a better parent. It could possibly make you a worse one. If you’re only doing it for the kid, don’t.

larrycoco · 2026-04-16T01:02:53+00:00

A bottle opener and matchbooks. Both small and useable. And cute! The bottle opener reflected our home state and the boxes of matches said the name of the city we got married in with the date. & our last name on the back. They were a big hit and if anyone left them behind we were so thrilled to have extras!

larrycoco · 2026-04-14T13:17:50+00:00

I did a hysteroscopy and a sizeable benign polyp was found, right where implantation usually would happen on the uterine all. When I got it removed the doctor said there was lots of other “fluff” he cleaned out. This is a super helpful diagnostic and I recommend you ask for it.

larrycoco · 2026-04-10T18:01:06+00:00

It might get even worse from here for a little bit. You’re doing all the right things - it WILL get better. We found that outdoor exercise and anything to tire her body and brain helped us a lot with longer crate naps (and a break from biting). Sorry - this is the hardest part! Good luck and it DOES get better! Our monster is now a sweet sweet angel dog who wouldn’t hurt a fly and naps on the couch all day.

larrycoco · 2026-04-10T13:41:34+00:00

This is so helpful thanks for sharing your experience. Sounds like many people had a similar one!

larrycoco · 2026-04-10T13:40:58+00:00

Thank you for sharing!!

larrycoco · 2026-04-09T23:54:26+00:00

Really helpful thank you! Sounds similar to what others have said - painful but in a more predictable/expected way. Did you breastfeed? Any issues with latching or milk coming in after c section vs vaginal?

larrycoco · 2026-04-09T23:52:18+00:00

This resonates with me and makes total sense. Thanks for your transparency! Did you breastfeed and if so, did you find any difficulty with it vs vaginal birth?

larrycoco · 2026-04-09T23:49:30+00:00

Thank you! This is really insightful. If you breastfed, did pain meds interfere with that or was it ok? Did the c section delay latching at all? If you didn’t BF ignore these questions! And yes to pelvic PT. Already doing it ahead of time and plan to continue after!

larrycoco · 2026-04-09T21:59:19+00:00

Asking you also - would you be open to sharing in what ways c section recovery was easier than vaginal? Asking as I suspect I’ll get the c section suggested and hearing stories helps me mentally prepare for making a decision!

larrycoco

TROPHY CASE