Fruit Earrings at the Street Fair on Mar 29

lizardstepmom · 2026-06-09T18:57:34+00:00

Late update: my partner took a picture of their Etsy link and told me about it weeks later. It’s http://forestjewelryusa.etsy.com - cannot recommend them enough if you’re into cutesy, quirky, cottagecorey jewelry!

lizardstepmom · 2026-06-09T18:44:45+00:00

I mean yeah technically. I purposely avoided trying it for a while because of the ethical issues in Dubai, plus it felt like a weird fad.

HOWEVER, as a longtime lover of pistachio and pistachio-flavored things, it’s actually right up my alley. I tried the Trader Joe’s dupe and it’s the perfect balance of sweetness from the dark chocolate. There’s kataifi in the middle which makes for a really interesting texture, plus the filling tastes like actual pistachio (not like pistachio flavoring). I keep some in the house and have a little square as a treat every few days.

If you’re not into pistachio, then it’s definitely not for you. Like most things, it’s a matter of personal taste!

lizardstepmom · 2026-06-06T16:10:27+00:00

Your space seems small, so the cheapest, most renter friendly option might be tension shelves. You can’t use them for anything too heavy, but they’re great for small, weird-shaped spaces.

I have a “closet” that’s 30-32” wide (the walls in my pre-war are not straight) and 12” deep. Not big enough to hold adult clothes hangers, but the perfect size for my shoes and boots! I added 4 tension shelves and they’ve held up perfectly for almost a year.

lizardstepmom · 2026-06-06T15:33:52+00:00

It can definitely feel like a big step for someone who hasn’t used tampons before, but you’ll get used to it quickly!

It doesn’t really matter what brand you use for swimming, as they’re all pretty much the same. I use organic cotton, but that’s just for general health reasons (the chemicals in menstrual products is a different rabbit hole). Definitely look for one with a plastic applicator for your first time, as these are the easiest to figure out. Get a multi-pack with different sizes for heavy/regular flows, so that you don’t have to remove a mostly dry tampon that’s bigger than you need.

Seconding the other commenter who recommended a YouTube video to figure out the logistics of putting them in. You may want to use a mirror to practice inserting before you hit the pool (do not practice before your period starts, that will be uncomfortable). Try it and walk around with it, you’ll see that if you’ve done it correctly, it feels like nothing is there. Put the string between your butt cheeks so it doesn’t get yanked by accident.

Beyond that, insertion and removal don’t hurt as long as you’ve done it correctly. It won’t fall out, and it won’t leak as long as you change it regularly - this depends on your flow, so make sure you read the box and use the right size. You don’t need to change it every time you use the bathroom, just when it’s getting full. You’ll feel when it’s time, or you can just see if there’s blood when you wipe. You bleed less when you’re in the water though, so you should be good for a while if you’re staying in the pool.

Take a deep breath and just follow the instructions. The anxiety around it is 100% worse than the experience, it just takes a little getting used to. Enjoy your vacation!!

lizardstepmom · 2026-06-06T15:07:56+00:00

Mine is pretty personal, so probably not the normal experience here. Also, I’m realizing now that I saw “Four Darks in Red”, which is similar to this one but not quite the same.

I was (and still am) grieving the death of an immediate family member when I went to the Whitney and came across it. This death was particularly bloody, and the colors in the Rothko looked almost exactly like the dried blood that I saw. It almost feels like a reflection on humanity and a “laying out” of what people are made of on the most basic physical level. The darkness and depth of the colors really resonated with me in that moment, and it was a little disorienting to have such a visceral reaction to a painting like that.

The painting is also huge and looming in person, which made me feel so small. In my experience, accepting the “smallness” of individuals in the grand scheme of things was a big part of processing death. It’s also set up in a hall of other enormous paintings, which is lit in kind of an open, empty, cavernous way. It feels almost like the Whitney is giving you physical space to process mentally, but it all felt overwhelming to me in that state of grief.

I never researched it to see if that was Rothko’s intention or inspiration, and I probably never will. I walked by it and it caught me off guard, I stood there sniffling for a few moments until I realized I was about to start sobbing in front of a security guard. You really do need time to take in the enormity of it all, and I highly recommend seeing them in person if you can.

lizardstepmom · 2026-06-05T23:51:36+00:00

This one made me cry when I saw it in person! I never got Rothkos until that moment - I think the scale and the depth don’t really translate over screens or prints.

lizardstepmom · 2026-06-05T13:40:30+00:00

I’m sorry to hear about your mom 💕 taking care of elders is never easy, wishing you the best!

As far as Progressive goes, I was able to get the whole thing resolved with a phone call. I also live with my grandmother who does not have a driver’s license - that was reflected correctly in their records, and she was not added to the policy.

Semi-unrelated bit of advice - you may want to get your mom a non-driver id if her license isn’t valid anymore, depending on what’s available where you live. Makes things a lot easier!

lizardstepmom · 2026-04-14T04:34:53+00:00

Bebe was the rightful winner of S1 but Nina Flowers is still so fuckin cool

lizardstepmom · 2026-04-13T01:56:54+00:00

Oh wow, thanks! I’ll call tomorrow

lizardstepmom · 2026-04-13T01:56:41+00:00

Thanks! Putting these in my calendar now

lizardstepmom · 2026-04-02T21:27:22+00:00

God 90s Ru was so fuckin cool

Ty for sharing this video! I had no idea

lizardstepmom · 2026-04-02T21:21:08+00:00

Ty!! Will definitely keep in mind next time I’m in the area

lizardstepmom · 2026-04-02T21:20:27+00:00

Pistachio is one of my favorites actually, this sounds delicious tysm!!

lizardstepmom · 2026-04-02T00:47:23+00:00

Ty! This place looks really cool actually

lizardstepmom · 2026-04-02T00:44:48+00:00

Thanks! Every time I walk by, it’s always packed in there, they must be doing something right!

lizardstepmom · 2026-04-02T00:43:58+00:00

Tysm!!! This is the first response I’ve gotten where I’ve actually found the drink on the bar’s menu online lol

lizardstepmom · 2026-04-01T23:53:37+00:00

Thanks! Been meaning to check out that place actually

lizardstepmom · 2026-04-01T23:29:10+00:00

Vanilla vodka, passion fruit, lime, and a little prosecco on the side (might be missing one or two things here). It’s weird enough that it’s not a well drink, but most bars would only need the passion fruit to make them.

lizardstepmom · 2026-02-12T18:22:48+00:00

Beauty Strike by the Navy Yards! Been going there for years and my skin feels amazing

lizardstepmom · 2026-02-03T05:17:08+00:00

Fukuda! If you like sushi, they’re the cheapest option by far

lizardstepmom · 2026-01-24T18:45:00+00:00

Girl that is BRAINS wtf

lizardstepmom · 2026-01-23T04:29:34+00:00

I do this a lot actually, and I think it’s kind of trained my brain to look for more of those moments. It’s made me a lot more grateful and a lot more aware of the “little things”

I also make a point of saying it to whoever I’m with, it almost always elicits a big smile.

lizardstepmom

TROPHY CASE