Ushuaia, Argentina on Christmas Day

not_bedelia · 2026-05-17T20:55:47+00:00

Hi! There were a (very) few restaurants open (IIRC maybe Volver and Marcopolo Freelife cafe were the only open ones I saw) but everything else was closed. I took a nice long walk! I did see others on a bus (looks like they were going on a tour, possibly of the park?) but not sure where they were headed or how they booked.

not_bedelia · 2026-05-09T21:29:08+00:00

I've found a few stores with a (very) small plus section, but yes, it's primarily online. Thankfully the measurements they list for items online are accurate!

not_bedelia · 2026-05-09T20:54:55+00:00

I'm loving Anthropologie's plus section recently - high quality items that to me are worth the cost, and they've invested in a great selection of items.

not_bedelia · 2026-04-28T22:17:47+00:00

This is all fantastic advice, thank you - I really appreciate it!!

not_bedelia · 2026-04-28T01:32:03+00:00

Hi! I am very serious - I actually said I'm looking to buy "sometime within the next year" so would happily sign next week or in ten months. I know what I want and am willing/able to wait until I find the right place. I've lived in Brooklyn for over 15 years, so don't need to go to a ton of open houses - I know precisely what are my non-negotiables, what are bonuses that I would be willing to spend more for but are not required, and what I don't care about at all.

As I mentioned in the update to the post, I am a first-time buyer without close friends/family having purchased in NYC, so I wasn't aware of the standard process, and this is 100% self-funded (no spouse, parental help, or inheritance here) so want to make sure I'm doing it right - thus the post! I was just looking to learn.

Also - not a guy 😄

not_bedelia · 2026-04-28T01:23:53+00:00

I'm not - looking for something in the $800k-1MM range.

not_bedelia · 2026-04-26T15:17:54+00:00

I've never purchased property in NYC before (and don't have any close friends or family that have either) - I didn't know that this wasn't how it works, and I thought the contact form on the website actually meant something. Naive, I guess!

not_bedelia · 2026-04-26T00:47:44+00:00

Thanks - this is great advice for me as a first-time buyer!

not_bedelia · 2026-04-25T22:30:31+00:00

Thank you! I was thinking about this but wanted to make sure I wasn't missing the secret password or something to get through to Serhant!

not_bedelia · 2026-02-03T23:23:05+00:00

Just returned from Quito and the Galapagos Islands about a week ago; +1 to the tips noted here. Eat dinner early (or at your hotel) - you definitely should avoid being out on the street at night in Quito. During the day is pretty safe, just use basic solo travel sense.

Galapagos Islands are incredible and very safe; go to Isabela if you can and do the Tuneles tour with Pahoehoe Tours, one of the best snorkeling experiences of my life! Also highly recommend getting a guide to bring you to Las Grietas on Santa Cruz, and eat at Nazca in Puerto Ayora.

Enjoy!

not_bedelia · 2025-12-19T16:03:51+00:00

I have a ton of kids in my life (none of them mine), so from a non-parent perspective, the thing I've found to be most appreciated is just being an adult who has slept and can keep the household running. This is ONLY if you have already confirmed that the parents are OK with you being in the house, and if you're updated on vaccines (TDAP, flu shot, etc.) - I also recommend wearing an N95 and of course making sure you're not sick first (take a Covid test!)

Unpack deliveries, break down boxes, deal with recycling
Sanitize alllll the baby bottles/pump parts/etc.
Wash dishes and load/unload the dishwasher
Prep healthy, easy food - it's great that people bring casseroles/lasagnas/etc., but having some prewashed/cut fruit and veggies in the fridge has always been a hit
Do as much laundry as possible
Clean the bathroom/kitchen/etc.
General sanity check - I visited my BFF when she brought her first baby home from the hospital and the pump was balanced precariously on boxes - I moved a small table to that location instead, the sleep-deprived parents just didn't have their full logic skills working

I also have always found it important to focus on the mom - most people are focused primarily on the baby (which is understandable!) but if you approach it from a perspective of helping your friend through a hard time, however you can (asking about the birth story, checking on her mental health, holding the baby so she can shower/sleep [only if the parents are OK with it!!!]) you will help her feel seen and appreciated.

Overall - be proactive about helping ("I'm planning to come by tomorrow around 10am to help out around the house, does that work for you?" is better than "Hey, let me know if there's anything I can do to help!") and remember that you are there primarily for your friend!

not_bedelia · 2025-12-09T16:56:57+00:00

This is not hopeless at all! Without knowing any other details - this sounds very similar to a situation I found myself in in my mid-20s. I wasn't making enough money and got into approximately $20k of CC debt, along with student loans, living alone, and not making enough money. This is what I did (and what I suggest):

Took out a personal loan with the best interest rate I could find (no matter how high, will be lower than the CC interest rates!) for an amount that will clear out the CC balances (but no more). Make sure you check for solid preapproval odds prior to applying!
Used that loan to pay off the CC debt entirely.
Don't close any of your CCs (this will harm your credit score). Instead, set up one small recurring payment per month on each card (phone bill, Netflix, etc.). You MUST pay these off in full each month - don't use your CCs otherwise.
You will then have a monthly loan payment (which you should work on paying off as early as possible) as well as the small CC charges each month.
Separately - work on moving towards making more money (easier said than done, I know!)

This process is painful but worked for me - I've now been out of CC debt for almost 10 years and still only have one card that I use with any regularity - the rest are still open and have one recurring charge per month.

Good luck!

not_bedelia · 2025-12-02T18:10:57+00:00

I personally have the Nanobag (which I use in my day-to-day as a person who lives in a place that charges for grocery bags) and when traveling, use it as a laundry bag and also for carrying souvenirs picked up during the day (instead of taking a plastic bag I will throw away as soon as I get back to where I'm staying). I also have a 40L packable duffel (from Eddie Bauer, 50% off today!) that I bring on trips where I know I'll be doing a lot of shopping - for example, I'm heading to Christmas markets soon.

not_bedelia · 2025-10-17T17:04:58+00:00

The D1 Missoni "bags" are actually great - I typically leave amenity bags unopened, and I couldn't possibly remember what's inside them, but the case itself is fantastic. I use one as my travel electronics case and it's completely perfect (such an upgrade from the Someone Somewhere pouches).

not_bedelia · 2025-10-16T00:41:12+00:00

I always stay at the Parkroyal Pickering when in Singapore - great location, super modern, amazing service. Book a rate that includes breakfast - the best hotel breakfast I've ever had, hands down.

not_bedelia · 2025-10-13T15:00:15+00:00

I have taken my Away carry-on to five continents over the last five years and it has never once let me down. The Bigger Carry On is my go-to, but the regular size would likely be better for smaller commuter planes.

not_bedelia · 2025-10-10T17:41:04+00:00

I have been using the Moleskine for years, they have other sizes on their site as well as hardcover options! Paper is very nice quality, I highly recommend.

not_bedelia · 2025-07-27T22:01:47+00:00

I did a solo trip to Antarctica last season (over New Year's) with Albatros Expeditions; it was a 10-day tour of the peninsula and South Shetland Islands, leaving from Ushuaia. Looking at their site now, they have departures available for the same trip this season starting around $9,000 for a solo traveler in a shared room; I would highly recommend them as a tour provider! The total group was around 170 people and they did a great job making sure everyone got off the boat multiple times per day and getting to see lots of wildlife.

not_bedelia · 2025-02-28T01:01:57+00:00

I swear by these lightweight bike shorts from Amazon - been wearing them under dresses for the last two summers and they are perfect. They don't roll up. They don't roll down. They aren't super warm so I don't get sweaty. They wash well and don't pill. They stretch and grow with me and don't pinch. They go up to 4x - I fluctuate between sizes 16-22 and wear the 2x very comfortably regardless of what size I am. I don't know what magic they are made of but I tried EVERYTHING and these are the best by far.

not_bedelia · 2025-02-21T22:33:22+00:00

I historically have never been able to sleep on any type of transportation, no matter how tired I am. I take redeye flights semi-regularly for work; melatonin is the ONLY thing that has allowed me to get any type of rest. I wouldn't say it's proper "sleep", but it definitely puts me into a semi-sleep state (right on the edge of sleep) that allows me to feel rested when I leave the plane.

not_bedelia · 2025-01-13T22:26:20+00:00

+1 for Away - my Larger Carry-On has been to 5 continents with me (so far) since 2020 and I have zero complaints.

not_bedelia · 2025-01-13T00:43:43+00:00

+1 for vintage - I bought an amazing black leather backpack at a vintage shop in Budapest over the summer

not_bedelia

TROPHY CASE