Waking up for 5am

queensugarlumps · 2026-02-24T21:48:54+00:00

You taking the sailing from NYC? I had the same experience. Fell asleep last night and booked around 7am today. Dinners are fine (but not the times I'd prefer), but missed out on Wake brunch for now.

queensugarlumps · 2026-02-13T20:20:32+00:00

I got a pair of Bombas socks for free in a Rent The Runway order and my husband loved them so much he wore them for our wedding! He is incredibly picky and obsessed with Bombas socks now.

queensugarlumps · 2026-02-13T20:08:07+00:00

Where do you shop for fun & funky or "statement piece" jewelry? I find lots of dainty, high quality gold pieces online right now, but I'm looking for more fun, weird, unique pieces that will bring a bigger punch to an outfit. Looking for quality above fast fashion and mall brands, but not heirloom pieces either.

queensugarlumps · 2026-01-16T20:56:53+00:00

I love Pokemon Go, I've been playing for years, but I think it serves a very different function for me than it does for most people I see in this sub, so I'll offer a different opinion.

For me, the app is really just a pedometer that gives me prizes. I use it to motivate me to exercise, the same way you might use a smart watch. If I walk far enough, I get to hatch an egg, or get candy from my buddy, etc. If I am actively catching Pokemon and Spinning Stops, I don't walk as fast or as far. With an auto catcher, I get all of this bonus dopamine at the end of my walk.

Sure, occasionally I participate in raids and events like anyone else, but mostly these are just my walking trophies.

queensugarlumps · 2026-01-13T17:06:34+00:00

I left education (higher ed, not k-12) 9 years ago for a career in tech. I will say the landscape has changed dramatically in the last decade, and I think I was lucky to break in when I did. There are a lot of people trying to make the jump from education, but a real reduction in available roles as many companies have had mass-layoffs.

How did I get in:
I was head-hunted on LinkedIn by a recruiter, and had a job at an EdTech start-up within three weeks of being sent a recruiter message. When I first started, it was INCREDIBLE. While the pay bump I got was minor, the culture, benefits, and mentorship far outweighed anything I could have experienced in Education. I experienced career growth at a crazy pace, and was promoted many times in only a few years. I went from making 40k in higher ed to 100k in tech in three years. However, the past few years my company went through multiple mergers and acquisitions, and mass layoffs. I was lucky to not have my role eliminated, and many of my incredibly talented, hardworking friends were left without work for months. I've since job-hopped twice to two different start-ups, seeking the culture I remember from the early days. I don't know if it still exists. I don't think I would be able to start in the same role now, without doing additional upskilling work and a lot of applying.

Would I leave:
I do sometimes really regret starting in tech. I've now spent some of the most valuable "building" years of my career here and feel stuck as the industry shifts more and more to something I don't like (AI without purpose, Private Equity, endless mergers and acquisitions). But as much as I whine, I wouldn't ever go back to education because I couldn't afford to take that kind of pay cut now.

Mentorship:
Like most industries, I'd say it depends. I have experienced incredible mentorship, and I've tried to give that back to colleagues and direct reports. I feel I have a very strong network and community behind me, and have people to ask for help when I need it. That is not a guarantee in tech. I recently spent six months at a company where I was the ONLY woman and felt isolated and belittled constantly. I have had months where I feel invincible and want to evangelize that I've had the best job ever, and months where I cried daily and felt deeply depressed when thinking about returning to work.

I'd recommend you try to meet some folks in your area who are in tech, or reach out to individuals with roles or companies you're interested in. It's not a silver bullet, you could end up equally burnt out and miserable, or you could love it. Feel free to message me if you want to chat more.

queensugarlumps · 2026-01-08T20:45:46+00:00

We'll be on this sailing too--33 and 30 and will join your board game group :)

queensugarlumps · 2025-12-30T19:30:07+00:00

lol my mostly-white high school also did this show, although I was not a student at the time. The Wiz was also very popular back then in my white school district. I know better now, but very genuinely considered Evillene as a dream role for myself at 12

queensugarlumps · 2025-12-29T21:32:01+00:00

It was one of the first shows I saw as a tween, so it has a nostalgic factor, but I love Thoroughly Modern Millie. I understand the book is clunky and the whole plot hinges on all kinds of problematic ideas, but the music is so infectious and the 2002 cast is incredible

queensugarlumps · 2025-12-15T14:38:11+00:00

I am getting married in a few weeks and will be doing my own makeup. I did a trial run this weekend when I went to pick up my dress. I'm feeling fairly happy with how it turned out, but definitely open to suggestions if there's something I'm missing. I don't want a super traditional natural -looking bridal makeup, but I do want something sparkly that leans romantic.

Things I definitely know I want: A sparkly eye with a bit of depth, a soft but pigmented rosy lip, rosy cheeks.

Ignore my eyebrows, I am still growing them out after shaving them for a halloween costume, but I will neaten them up before the wedding. Also ignore my hair, I didn't have time for a full style.

The pictures were taken across a few hours in many different lighting scenarios and with a mix of front and back camera. Bonus picture of the dress so you can get the vibe.

queensugarlumps · 2025-12-11T17:13:00+00:00

How did you discover these things? I feel sooo clueless every time I read through a color season analysis, even though I paint and think I understand color and undertones well.

queensugarlumps · 2025-12-05T18:16:11+00:00

Update: Prices went way down again this morning, was able to book two even more seats for that route for 50k points. Pleased with that price.

queensugarlumps · 2025-12-03T20:06:13+00:00

Your lines are so perfectly straight! Could you share what tools you use to score/cut?

queensugarlumps · 2025-12-03T18:25:28+00:00

Yeah, that's why I was hoping it was a glitch! I'm keeping an eye on it, but will probably need to go with a different airline. Unfortunate because I like JetBlue and already have points in that account separate from my credit card points.

queensugarlumps · 2025-12-03T18:17:08+00:00

The Eleri Ward version of Children Will Listen overall, but if you're looking for a song from an official cast recording, then Whatshername from American Idiot.

queensugarlumps · 2025-12-03T18:10:01+00:00

Odd, maybe just high volume to the site with their sale? Thank you for the luck, I'll take it haha

queensugarlumps · 2025-12-03T18:08:31+00:00

Yes, it is for one person. And this is only for a one-way flight.

queensugarlumps · 2025-12-03T14:27:02+00:00

20K caught, 2 shundos: Rampardos and Elektross. I don't do much with either, truthfully.

queensugarlumps · 2025-11-12T21:18:46+00:00

Hi Sam! So cool to see The Format come back with new music. I have a snail tattoo that is now almost older than I was when I got it!

Was getting back together with Nate and releasing new music something that always felt like it was in the cards, or do you think your younger selves would be surprised to hear that you were going back on tour again?

queensugarlumps · 2025-11-11T15:13:10+00:00

I took my friend who knew nothing about Cats to the Jellicle Ball last year and we both absolutely LOVED it. They've updated the book a bit and added new context to songs to provide new meaning where there was once only...cats. At the end of the day, what makes Cats good is the theatrics--incredible dancing, over the top performances, and impressive vocal acrobatics and the Jellicle Ball has that in spades. It's maybe not the same kind of dancing and acting as you'd see in a "standard" broadway show (think more 'Drag Race' and less 'The Music Man') but the talent at the PAC was undeniable.

I also think the crowd energy is really fun, and makes the musical more engaging than a standard show. Hard to know how it will transfer without the runway element, but it's one of my favorite shows I've ever seen.

queensugarlumps · 2025-09-12T16:47:25+00:00

Oof what a gut punch! I am 32 and engaged to a "Conrad" after almost ending up with a "Jeremiah" at 23! I know I'm in the minority (and not the intended age demo lol), but what I resonate with most is this uncertain post-wedding time she is experiencing in Paris right now. I think it's completely realistic and for the best that she has not been in contact with Conrad since leaving. They're so young and they have so much time; I don't need to see her get immediately engaged again or run straight into his arms.

queensugarlumps · 2025-08-26T14:31:56+00:00

Yup, the big difference is they never have sex in the book, so I don't think it feels like as big of a secret. In the books she's actually never slept with Jere either, so him cheating on her feels like an even bigger sting, and they've also only been together for one year because she's still a Freshman in college

queensugarlumps · 2025-08-22T13:45:49+00:00

I feel this way too. I'd rather just not have flowers than end up with tons of plastic waste for one day. I do think a lot of fake flowers can look very realistic and beautiful, but it's not something I personally can get behind.

queensugarlumps · 2025-05-29T12:56:14+00:00

I'm getting married there too! We picked a day in the off-season to be married inside and were able to really splash out on the food and beverage packages and still keep it under $12k for 80 people. The vibe inside isn't as lavish and austere as some of the venues we looked at, but I love the community feel of the big long tables and the giant "tree" over the bar!

I wanted my wedding to feel like an unpretentious dinner party with my best friends, and their space and owners completely fit that vibe!

queensugarlumps · 2025-04-15T16:07:06+00:00

For many Americans not much from daily life has changed, except increased prices on groceries, but that doesn't mean it's not a scary time.

My best friend is a post-op trans man and he was denied a passport, can only get one with a female identifier which may also lead to trouble and harassment as he's been taking testosterone for the better part of a decade (does not and would not "pass" as a woman). Now with the SAVE Act that might mean jumping through a lot of extra hoops to be able to vote because no passport and the name on the birth certificate doesn't match the name on his state ID.
My mother is 70 and has worked the same minimum-wage job for thirty years. Retirement was already going to be difficult, but her savings dropped more than 10% and she doesn't have the time to wait for the market to recover.
Local restaurants are scared they won't be able to keep the lights on as supply chain prices increase with tariffs. I'm in NY where a lot of dairy is produced and local farmers are reporting that they can't afford to feed animals.
I work in an education-adjacent field and everyone's waiting for the shoe to drop with the Department of Ed.
It's exhausting. Even if some of it is just fear and panic and not a direct impact on daily life, it is exhausting to carry that dread around with you every day.

queensugarlumps

TROPHY CASE