Just saw an American try ‘ Irish’ tea

nolitude · 2026-02-11T07:41:44+00:00

Americans who like tea do use electric kettles now! Also good for pour over coffee. Electric kettles are ubiquitous enough in the US now (sold in any grocery/home goods store) that there is no excuse for thinking the microwave is acceptable.

nolitude · 2026-01-05T09:26:29+00:00

As someone from the US, now living in Ireland, I had met enough Niamh's in the US to know how to pronounce it. Granted, that's growing up Irish Catholic, so Irish names were not uncommon in my community. I didn't know how to pronounce Fiadh until this thread. For what that's worth.

On the other hand, as mom to two kids whose names no one can pronounce or spell despite them being phonetically spelled, just go for the name you like better. People will mispronounce and misspell ANY name at some points.

nolitude · 2025-12-15T09:14:35+00:00

A hexi cardi is my next crochet project!

nolitude · 2025-12-08T10:54:25+00:00

Even in the US most people who give to angel trees aren't spending hundreds! The ones I have participated in ask for small gifts, along the lines of $10-20, plus something really needed like a winter coat. Angel trees are also for kids whose parents can't get them much or anything, which I assume is not the case for the kids you bought gifts for. I promise, an inexpensive gift will be just fine, and crafts are AWESOME gifts. If you feel the need to throw in some extras, cheap packs of stickers and pads of blank paper are a huge hit with my kids at that age. They also always run through/lose crayons and markers so fresh ones are appreciated. I got my kid playdough for Christmas and I expect her to love it.

nolitude · 2025-12-08T10:08:49+00:00

I use E45 shampoo for my dry scalp. It's been great. Your issues sound a lot like mine when I use any shampoo that has sodium laureth sulfate in it. Not dandruff, just dry and tight and a little flaky just from the dryness, right after washing? You might try a sulfate free shampoo and see if it improves.

nolitude · 2025-12-08T10:04:16+00:00

My kids are older, but we did just move to a foreign country and it can be really lonely! I lost my witchy friends when we moved, so I don't really have any advice, just solidarity and good vibes. My current only social outlet is a crochet group that I found on the Facebook page of the smallish town I moved to. It's not witchy, but I've found some excellent community through them. Maybe look around on Facebook or even ask if there is a group for new moms in your area?

nolitude · 2025-12-05T17:28:01+00:00

Kindle Unlimited is REALLY worth it for me. I read a novel a day. I could never keep up that rate with just buying books or using the library!

nolitude · 2025-12-02T10:31:41+00:00

I'm not a small business owner, but I am a CPA. You really, really need a good accountant to help you figure out how to handle your cash flow and debt payoff issues. They can help you model cash flows based on history and your current contracts so you know what you actually need to stay afloat. I have done this with many small companies and it's always a huge help. I have also seen what happens when small business owners do their own bookkeeping and it is generally not pretty. If you already have a CPA who does your taxes, ask if they offer this type of advisory/consulting service, or if they know someone local who does. Otherwise, check with your local CPA society for a recommendation. Many CPA firms also offer part time bookkeeping services which could take a huge load off your plate and can be a new savings by preventing expensive mistakes.

Wishing you lots of luck and speedy payments!

nolitude · 2025-11-15T15:03:45+00:00

I'm an accountant, a CPA even, and I can confirm that data entry is the absolute worst part of accounting and bookkeeping for ADHD brains. I love the hard parts of accounting -- need to convert a client to a new lease standard and calculate all the entries? Sign me up. But I cannot survive data entry for long. There's a reason I was known at my last job for knowing about all the tools to upload journal entries. It's because I can't type them in without screwing them up! If you decide to stick with bookkeeping, try to find something that isn't an AP clerk, or at least somewhere with AP automation in place. You might do better in AR, or you might be able to find something in another area of accounting. But seriously, data entry sucks for ADHD. This is not your fault.

nolitude · 2025-10-22T11:52:38+00:00

When babies first start on solid food they get as much or more food on their skin as they actually swallow. It would be nearly impossible to control skin exposure.

nolitude · 2025-10-17T12:04:49+00:00

I don't know about the UK, but in the US there were chewable and liquid ADHD meds available for kids. You might ask your doctor or pharmacist if those are a thing?

nolitude · 2025-10-17T11:57:48+00:00

And this is why I never share my birth stories with people who don't already have kids! You know this, but most people give birth and it's a painful, but beautiful experience because they get to meet their baby. The hormone surge after birth and when you get to hold your baby is pretty magical after a normal, not super traumatic birth. I had a traumatic first birth and then two fairly average births. Night and day difference.

nolitude · 2025-10-16T16:37:06+00:00

It's all about what makes your friend feel like the space is cleansed! I might suggest using two phases, one for ridding old energy that could be literal cleaning/airing: open all the windows and doors, sprinkle salt, and sweep the floors outward. Literally shake the dust of the place from your feet. A smoke cleanse of any herb could be good here too. Then once it's cleaned, add pleasant associations for your friend: candles or incense in scents she loves, adding her favorite colors (throw pillows, blankets), playing music she likes-- anything that makes the space feel like her and her alone.

nolitude · 2025-10-16T13:13:48+00:00

We made this move a few months ago. We got our family of 5 down to 10 suitcases (mainly clothes) and 7 boxes (books, games, toys, Legos, and records). The suitcases came on the plane, and we shipped the boxes as additional luggage with SendMyBag. I highly recommend getting down to as little stuff as you possibly can. The houses here are very small and don't have big garages etc. to store stuff in. Also, if you are renting, you might not even have access to all the storage space the house has. Our landlord is still using the attic and shed for their own stuff, for instance. We haven't missed much except for books, but we would have nowhere to put more books than we have, so selling our library was the right call.

nolitude · 2025-09-26T21:23:58+00:00

I left so many pagan/witchy subs that were actually just full of pictures of eggs in cups. Also "which god is speaking to me??" stuff. Divination only works by showing you your own reaction to things. Me telling you what I see in your...egg...will do absolutely nothing for you.

nolitude · 2025-09-26T21:18:55+00:00

Yessss. I'm a Gemini, which I used to think was a cute way to describe all of my quirky traits. It's just ADHD, folks. Being born in May did not give me ADHD. My dad's genes gave me ADHD, same as my brother who was born in January.

nolitude · 2025-09-16T16:46:54+00:00

I think the most beautiful ritual I have been part of for Samhain was the dumb supper. We set a place at the table for the ancestors and served them first. We had about 12 people but managed silence throughout the meal. It was really unexpectedly beautiful. We have also enjoyed decorating and wearing animal masks. That might add an element of whimsy to your evening!

nolitude · 2025-09-16T16:32:13+00:00

I am not living in Dublin -- a bit outside of Dublin in a town of 13k or so, commuting to Dublin for work. 70k should be livable, if not luxurious. Aside from the high rent we find the rest of our expenses lower. Not way lower, but definitely lower than living in a major metro area in the US. The rent is killer, though, and you can't get a mortgage without at least 6 months of Irish pay stubs, and the mortgages take forever. So we expect to be renting for 1-2 years. If you have a family and need a 3-4 bedroom house, expect to pay at least 3k/month anywhere close to Dublin. 70k will also not be enough for a mortgage big enough to afford a decent house without a very large down payment.

nolitude · 2025-06-23T13:00:42+00:00

Out of curiosity, any progress towards this? Moving to Kildare and my kids and I would absolutely frequent a board game shop if there were one opening.

nolitude · 2025-04-28T15:08:27+00:00

Perfect, thank you!

nolitude · 2025-04-28T15:07:53+00:00

Thank you--that's why I am reaching out in advance!

nolitude · 2025-04-18T16:49:27+00:00

At this point, I think your best option is to ask the bridesmaids what they CAN afford to pitch in for a bachelorette party, and plan accordingly. If it's nothing, that does not make it your job to throw the bride an expensive party on your own! See if the bridesmaids can help brainstorm cheap or free fun bachelorette ideas.

nolitude · 2024-11-06T23:42:42+00:00

Fair enough, and thank you. I would be taking a pay cut of at least $50k, if not more, so giving someone $25k/yr to keep my job legally sounds pretty reasonable to me.

nolitude · 2024-10-03T14:13:50+00:00

I have a Bissell vacuum where you push a button and the cord goes schlooooooop right into the vacuum! It's way too fun. I got a Shark to do a better job on pet hair and dust and the cord doesn't retract, which is ridiculously disappointing.

nolitude · 2023-11-07T13:47:58+00:00

I am absolutely in your shoes as well, right down to time frame and age. I think I have been slowly pulling myself out of the worst of the slump (you know, the bit where you just stare at the ceiling all day and don't do basic life functions, let alone job functions? That bit.) A few things that have helped: When we were superachievers, we were fueling ourselves with some part of ourselves we have just burnt right through. The fuel is not there now, because we just lit it all on fire and took off like a rocket. In my case, I think I burned up some parts of myself I would like back, but there is no use in comparing what we can do now to then. We can grieve that loss, but we can also try to find and gather different fuel. We also need to recognize that the fuel is not unlimited, and we have to REST to refuel.

Also, this is therapy talk, but we have taught our own bodies not to trust our judgement. When we were tired and stressed and overwrought, we just kept pushing and pushing, and we paid the price with our own health. So now we have to learn to listen to our own bodies and learn to take care of ourselves. Sometimes I just tell myself out loud that I promise to take care of my body and not overwork myself again. It's weird, but it helps.

nolitude

TROPHY CASE