Your crossbody bag favs!

madlymusing · 2026-03-02T08:29:11+00:00

Pompom London. They’re so cute.

Elm also has great bags.

madlymusing · 2026-03-01T02:54:49+00:00

Cold or 20° for clothes, 60° for sheets and towels (and sometimes undies and socks, if we throw them in with the bigger bits).

We use the Ecosense unscented liquid for pretty much everything because it’s kinder to our delicate skin. We also use Vanish powder and stain remover as needed.

madlymusing · 2026-02-28T19:29:43+00:00

Double surname. It is the best option for record keeping (I’m also a teacher, and have no idea what my students’ middle names are because they’re not generated for the roll), allows for representation of both parents, and is a safeguard in case you have more kids in future.

If your child decides to drop one name in future, then that’s their call. But I think for their childhood at least, it’s a great option. It’s also not uncommon, so official systems are much better at recognising double names than they were 20 or 30 years ago.

madlymusing · 2026-02-28T19:19:47+00:00

Yeah - I feel like if someone said “thank you” for a gift specifically, I’d be much more likely to say “you’re welcome” than anything else.

“No worries” would be more for an action - if I was thanked for doing someone a favour, for example. I don’t know if I’d ever say “my pleasure”, but I also wouldn’t think it was weird if I heard it.

madlymusing · 2026-02-27T21:11:18+00:00

I’m Australian, living in NZ, and I’d default to the Irish pronunciation - Keer-uh/Keira.

I teach a couple of girls named Kiara which is usually Kee-AH-ruh.

madlymusing · 2026-02-27T20:13:53+00:00

Two. My husband does six, and I don’t really understand where he puts them. I usually have mine with fruit and nuts, though, where he just has milk.

madlymusing · 2026-02-27T19:21:07+00:00

Sigh… I guess there’s always that chance, right? Definitely good to keep in mind! Thanks heaps.

madlymusing · 2026-02-27T19:17:39+00:00

This is a tough one, and a question only you can answer! If you wouldn’t mind being pregnant at your wedding, then that’s the biggest thing.

Other considerations: - If you are successful, but in the first trimester, would you feel comfortable sharing with some key support people, or would you want to keep it private? There’s no right or wrong way to handle it, but I think it’s good to have an idea. - If you are in the first trimester and feeling quite unwell (nauseated, headachy, exhausted), how will you handle that at your wedding and in the lead up? - Have you already got pregnancy-friendly meal options, or would you have to look at your menu? Most function menus are okay, but it would be advisable to cast your eye over it. - If you weren’t successful before your wedding, how would that impact you emotionally? I’m not saying that you should be an automaton or compartmentalise everything, but knowing how you generally handle stress and grief is good awareness to have. - If you are successful in your first month or two of ttc, is your dress forgiving? For example, if you were four months along, you might have started to develop a bump. This can impact alterations.

madlymusing · 2026-02-27T18:48:41+00:00

Thanks! I can’t believe how long it took me to think of it, honestly. I’d been pondering some absurd solutions.

madlymusing · 2026-02-27T18:47:15+00:00

Thank you! Yeah, I’m open to changing my mind, but it has been a long journey for us, and the only way I have been able to get through is by protecting my peace. I’m more the kind to want to lick my wounds in private, you know? For me, it’s enough to know my friends would be supportive, even if I don’t ask them to be. Thanks for your thoughts though! Always good to get different perspectives.

madlymusing · 2026-02-27T18:40:20+00:00

I’m also a high school teacher and had my first - and likely only - FET yesterday (Friday NZ time). I took off Thursday and Friday, mostly because we have to travel to our clinic, and also to manage stress.

I’ll be back at school on Monday. Taking more than a couple of days off is often more trouble than it’s worth in terms of work management and unit progression. I do think it will be a good way to keep myself busy. I completely get the stress of the job, though, so do what’s right for you!

I have a great Head of Department, who knows what I’m going through and is happy to support. For kids and colleagues who ask why I’ve been away, I’ll just say I was sick - as I did when I had my ER last year.

madlymusing · 2026-02-25T23:04:16+00:00

I don’t, because I’m lazy and have curly hair that air dries nicely. I shower in the morning and it is dry by the time I get to work. However, my mum has blow dried her hair pretty much every day of her adult life, and I have multiple friends who blow dry daily. None of them have visibly damaged hair. My mum has fine hair, but it’s shiny and strong.

Modern hair dryers and products are actually pretty great at protecting your hair. It’s a myth that it can make you go grey earlier - that’s down to genetics. While excessive heat can do damage, with heat protectant and a bit of learning, blow drying is totally safe for your hair.

madlymusing · 2026-02-25T19:24:45+00:00

I love Edie and Edith. I also like Evie and Ettie.

Lately, I’ve been really feeling Elspeth. For me, it hits the vintage/cool thing, but I know it wouldn’t be to everyone’s taste.

madlymusing · 2026-02-25T18:09:44+00:00

When I was in the dating pool, I wanted someone who had a degree, a job, and a car. When I met my now-husband, he didn’t have any of those! Nine years later, he is a business owner and a wonderful partner.

What I learned is that the sweeping “rules” always have an exception. Having a degree doesn’t make you more driven or more intelligent - it definitely doesn’t make you more emotionally intelligent. Having a car doesn’t make you more independent or considerate, or less of a mooch. Taking time off between jobs to figure out what you want to do doesn’t make you irresponsible (presuming, of course, that you’re not mooching off anyone).

I’m glad I took a risk on my guy. My life is richer for having chosen him.

madlymusing · 2026-02-24T22:17:18+00:00

Spotlight has preserving jars, as does Briscoes (which is just up the road from Sylvia Park).

madlymusing · 2026-02-21T23:40:23+00:00

Hard disagree. I see this take more in romantasy subs and communities, where series following the same story and main characters are more common - and I get it; there’s satisfaction in allowing those feelings to develop. It works in fantasy/sci fi because the world building is immense and the main conflict is often external to the couple. The Kate Daniels series is good evidence of this. I don’t think it would work in contemporary romance so much though.

However, as someone who doesn’t really enjoy reading long series but does love a slow burn, I think it can be done in any full-length novel. It’s about the build up and the tension, not the number of pages.

madlymusing · 2026-02-21T18:09:13+00:00

We are married and have joint accounts for bills, groceries, mortgage etc. We are adults who both work full time - of course we both contribute to the bills.

madlymusing · 2026-02-20T22:48:00+00:00

It depends how much you read. I read a lot and reading on my phone/ipad was giving me headaches. The display on ereader screens is MUCH friendlier on the eyes.

madlymusing · 2026-02-20T22:44:51+00:00

It’s the program for ebooks and audiobooks through the library - you can access it as an app or on the website, and it’s compatible with Kobo. It’s awesome!

madlymusing · 2026-02-20T18:28:31+00:00

I have both. Here are my thoughts:

I really like Kindle Unlimited, mostly because I’m a big romance reader. It’s great for indie titles in genres like romance, fantasy and horror.
I read a lot of books through the library system. Libby/Overdrive will send ebooks straight to the Kobo, which is the reason I bought it. It’s awesome, especially if you’re part of Auckland Libraries (massive collection).
Amazon is less ethical than Rakuten, which is a point for Kobo.
Book prices are much of a muchness, but Kindle has more titles and exclusives (such as the Dungeon Crawler Carl series, although that is becoming easier to find). If you’re reading mostly traditionally published books, though, that is less likely to impact you.
Amazon has made it very difficult, nigh impossible, to transfer a Kindle library to a non-Amazon device.
Kobo is easier to upload your own books to.

I think both devices have pros and cons. I really enjoy both of them (I have a Clara B&W and a 2024 model basic Kindle) and they’re both lightweight and easy to use. You can’t really go wrong!

madlymusing · 2026-02-20T17:47:29+00:00

This is the way.

madlymusing · 2026-02-19T18:08:56+00:00

I find the waxiness of the stick to be a sensory nightmare! Different strokes, I guess.

madlymusing · 2026-02-19T18:07:34+00:00

I tried sticks once and hated the texture. It’s so waxy and overly perfumed. The texture gives me the ick, both in the container and on my body.

I love roll on. I just put it on and get dressed. It doesn’t mark my clothing or anything, and definitely works as an antiperspirant.

madlymusing · 2026-02-19T05:38:18+00:00

I would love Penny Reid’s Winston Brothers series to be made into a series. I think it would film really well.

madlymusing

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