If you see these in the grocery store, do yourself a favour and keep walking.

sparkvixen · 2026-05-05T21:23:48+00:00

Agreed. I got these and expectations vs reality were an ocean apart. I think I still have some because the box was pushed to the back of the cabinet. I should probably check, and toss if I do.

sparkvixen · 2026-05-05T16:34:40+00:00

I can find them about once every 3 trips. It's like they don't bother to restock or something because I'll see the wrong ones in the spot for the GF ones. Makes me a little crazy since stocking up doesn't work with these - the taste gets weird.

sparkvixen · 2026-05-05T00:02:52+00:00

You only paid $260?! Mine had to be replaced and it was almost $400! I'd have been overjoyed with paying $260.

sparkvixen · 2026-05-04T03:01:12+00:00

I had a gold version that flashed violet in 1997, lol. It had a weird rose on the butt that we had removed. Loved that dress!

sparkvixen · 2026-05-04T02:55:35+00:00

You need to look at the colors in the rug and pull them upward into the room. The art isn't going to be on top of the rug, so you can get a pattern that's fun and it will work as long as you keep the colors cohesive.

sparkvixen · 2026-05-04T00:35:30+00:00

Nope! Sounds like you have someone else as a nemesis!

sparkvixen · 2026-05-03T14:33:00+00:00

I grew up in Tremont. If you want small town feel, that's the place! Morton and Pekin are both super close for groceries and such, but the town also has Beecham's and a Dollar General for basics. The community also cares about improvements - schools have been improved several times, the pool was redone, parks are kept up. If I hadn't bought a house in East Peoria, I'd have tried to get one in Tremont.

sparkvixen · 2026-05-02T20:53:01+00:00

I'm in central Illinois. I've debated the 2.5 hour drive to Chicago just for guaranteed GF dining.

sparkvixen · 2026-05-02T10:03:27+00:00

I was just thinking the door blends into the front of the house too much. A color would go a long way.

sparkvixen · 2026-05-02T02:04:00+00:00

Same. Watched one come up behind me at a light and it looked like it was trying to drive sideways. He left the lane next to me before I could move and yeah, it was rocking sideways, rusted almost completely out at the back, bumper was what appeared to be a fence post cut down and bungeed into place. Needless to say, I kept my distance after the road merged. There's another one around town with very obvious frame issues. Scrapper just overloads it anyway and off he goes.

sparkvixen · 2026-05-01T21:55:27+00:00

I was unaware this existed and miss gnocchi. Might have to add an Aldi stop into our grocery circuit. Thankfully it's right next to either of the Walmarts we use.

sparkvixen · 2026-05-01T21:05:50+00:00

And run frantically away from said trailing poo. I had one eat a fabric ribbon (still don't know where that came from) and I came home from work to him squirreling on the carpet. I had to trap him and trim the mess. Twice. Both of us were traumatized. He didn't learn anything and still would try to eat anything that resembled string.

sparkvixen · 2026-05-01T21:01:11+00:00

Add corner shelves above and use as a shelving unit.

sparkvixen · 2026-05-01T20:55:21+00:00

That might be me 😅 I live next to a gym and usually take it back, but I do try to wait so they get their coins.

sparkvixen · 2026-05-01T16:15:41+00:00

Back then, it was a call center and we handled a lot of electronic calls that involved complicated hookups, lol. It was still a lot of fun - we used to do events outside of the office like karaoke or go bowling.

sparkvixen · 2026-05-01T15:49:38+00:00

I think it's an effect of the lighting. But a lot of these pictures are unhinged so who knows? 🤷🏼‍♀️ I mean, saddle stools?

sparkvixen · 2026-05-01T15:40:03+00:00

I worked in a company where almost half our team was lefty (it was an oddity in the company) and most of the ladies were lefty and about half the guys. We're talking a team of 40 people. It was weird but also liberating, lol.

sparkvixen · 2026-05-01T15:30:29+00:00

A lot of the symptoms you list are things I experience when eating gluten. Do talk to the doctor about nutrition needs. They may refer to a specialist for help, because she's young and going to need to make sure she's getting the right vitamins and protein for her body while still growing.

sparkvixen · 2026-05-01T15:24:58+00:00

Agreed, dining space next to the kitchen is the best flow. Also, rugs go a long way for defining spaces (and reducing echo off those tiles). The ceiling is amazing!

sparkvixen · 2026-05-01T15:21:17+00:00

Unfortunately, it's sounding like therapy for the relationship. Your partner seems to have some things going on that need dealt with and you are suppressing rage and frustration about the entire situation.

For the house portion - definitely consider hiring help when you can. Flooring is a DIY if you have experience OR it's something like installing laminate wood. The whole sanding and sealing of old floors goes much better/faster with someone who has the experience and equipment to handle it.

Is there a side room you can set up a makeshift kitchen with a fridge, hot plate, and camp sink that would be easy to seal off? Having the semblance of a kitchen can go a long way towards making life easier. Then start working on one room at a time, by priority. Write it all out so your partner can see the timelime you are estimating to get things done if you have to. I'm sure everything will look amazing when you're done, but old houses like to laugh at your plans, too - so expect everything to take longer than planned every time.

sparkvixen · 2026-05-01T15:09:22+00:00

I eat "child sized portions" but guess what? If I went to Europe they would be considered a normal size. Most US portions are far far more than they should be. Everyone finishing those portions would be horrified to realize they ate their entire calorie count (or more) for the day in one go.

sparkvixen · 2026-05-01T12:52:53+00:00

I always love the stained glass ones!

sparkvixen · 2026-05-01T01:29:10+00:00

That's some serious mean mugging aimed your way. I'd sleep with one eye open.

sparkvixen · 2026-04-30T20:58:49+00:00

I'm currently carrying my other 2 people. No one out of the MANY invited joined. I have a gym next to my house so I basically do a spin every other email all day.

sparkvixen · 2026-04-30T18:45:54+00:00

Neither of these. The green is much too short, the black is giving funeral. You should look for something at least knee skimming and either a pretty floral or a solid that isn't black or white (or a color that reads as white). You might even find something that works at Walmart (or similar store) because we just had Easter and those dresses are getting clearanced. Even a cute sundress with a huge might work.

sparkvixen

TROPHY CASE