u/95wsh

I've always wanted to have a food business of sorts. Everyone who tries my cookies says I should sell them. They're basic chocolate chip cookies, but I tweaked the recipe to be pretty dang good, not to toot my own horn.

My area is SATURATED with these sorts of businesses, so getting into it makes me nervous. I'd be okay with doing party trays or larger catering orders. But I always want to sell them out in the wild.

Is the permitting situation pretty easy to navigate? My state (Georgia) allows cottage law, so I just need a few things to satisfy those requirements. I'm not trying to catch a charge.

Please no hate, a girly just wants to live her dream.

I learned to use 11 (and Dragon) with the soundcard plugged into my Eclipse laptop and an AUX cord running into a second laptop to run Zoom. My "Eclipse laptop" has 64GB of RAM, so plenty of wiggle room to run both programs - so I've been told.

I had Advantage set me up today using Voicemeeter and the tech said it had mixed reviews from other reporters. We tested it and everything worked fine.

Should I feel confident that this will effectively take down the audio from Zoom and I can use one laptop during the proceedings? Obviously, I have my voice track and a couple of backup recordings.

I'm not fond of change (I know it's necessary), but I need to streamline my process and get rid of extra bulk. Once I start going in person (injury has kept me remote), I'll be using that secondary laptop with version 12 and Speechmatics, and I can use loop back instead of using a third party program.

I struggle with actually feeding myself because of laziness and convenience. I don't eat fast food, chicken, or eggs. Beef, fish/shrimp, and lamb are rotated, but I get quite bored. I try to eat a lot of vegetables and fruit, but I struggle getting protein (supposed to have 100+ grams daily, wtf).

I find myself spending way too much at the grocery store/meat market, so trying to get that in line. I think I'd have more energy and motivation to exercise if I actually ate enough to sustain.

I do love to cook, but again, the laziness kicks in and doing dishes sucks, so I grab something easy to make or don't eat at all.

Not a huge supporter of Amazon, but I saw I can get generic Tirosint for $14 a month through insurance whereas Kroger charges $35 a month through insurance.

Has anyone used Amazon's pharmacy and had good luck?

I'm looking for a specialized massage therapist who is the real deal, preferably in the Dacula/Buford area.

31F with persistent acne on cheeks, forehead, and jaw. I have had a Kylena IUD (third one in 10 years) and I was born without a thyroid.

Recent TSH was a 9.8 and T4 2.31. Vitamin D is low at 26.6.

Last year was pretty stressful and is when it seemed to be at its worst. I have tried doxycycline which works, but it's not a longterm solution. Recently started spironolactone and it makes me feel crazy. I've been getting a facial every 5 weeks. I don't have the same stressors.

PCP recommended staying on current dose of 125 mcg of generic Tirosint (dye-free levo basically), having IUD removed, and starting Yaz BC. Derm and gyno both suspect IUD. Thinks TSH is high because I haven't been super consistent with letting it absorb before coffee. 🙄

I'm wanting to see a functional doctor, but nothing in the hormone panel they recommended (had done through my insurance at PCP's office) shows anything is off, so I don't know what all they're going to suggest.

Obviously I'm insecure about the acne, but it hurts and is likely going to cause scarring. I've changed my diet, tried all sorts of creams from the dermatologist.

Has anyone had this specific IUD and the same issues?

I have CH and I've always seen the typical specialist or PCP that insurance allows.

Has anyone gone to a functional medicine doctor and actually gotten results?

Signed up for a therapist and she recommended getting this book and workbook to use during our sessions. Has anyone used it and had success?

I had a messed up childhood full of manipulation, control, silence is punishment, love was conditional, verbal and physical abuse, and always felt like I was last.

This has affected me in all of my relationships. I left my last one a year ago, and then I met a guy who was able to distract me from everything I had going on.

Now, he's got something going on that he won't communicate about, and I'm allowing those same fears of abandoment seep into the relationship. I think today we hit a breaking point. I apologized and am giving him space, but the dynamic has definitely changed. I care about this man a lot, but I'm letting my own fears stop me from falling in love or expressing that to him. He hasn't said it either, so I can't get a read on him.

He's gotten us tickets for events next year, so I got tickets for a show later this year right after his birthday because he said he wanted to go, and his response was simply thank you. He doesn't express being excited anymore. His personality has sort of dulled and I'm not getting the same energy I once did. Therefore I am spiraling. Trying not to, but the possibility of crashing and burning feels imminent. My MO is to self-sabotage. He's started to be less interested in me and these are just patterns I've noticed over the last few weeks. He knows I deal with anxiety and I'm starting therapy next week.

Are things just slowing down or could they be coming to a halt? What can I do to alleviate my doubts?

I've been "depressed" most of my life. Oldest daughter of a narcissistic, abusive (all ways), liar of a father and passive aggressive mother (with narc tendencies). Golden child brother who "needed more help than I did, that's why he got it." I don't have anything to do with either side of my family, only my mother. Any friendship or relationship I've had sizzled out. I left a longterm relationship that was going nowhere. My dog died last year from cancer. I was in a car accident a couple years ago and still dealing with daily pain from the injuries.

I strive to be happy. I try to seek joy in things. I wake up every morning with intentions on being positive. It feels like no matter what though, I remember that I'm lonely, without family, friends, my best friend, my job is okay, but it's isolating. But then I go to bed crying because life feels empty.

I've had to quit hobbies that I used to enjoy because of the pain. Exercising is also tricky, but I know it would help me release some of this energy. I read a lot for work, so reading for fun feels like a chore.

I have been seeing someone who seems to be understanding and tolerating of my sadness and moods, but I know it won't last long and he'll get tired of it eventually, too. He's a great person and I think it would break me if that happened. I want to be better for myself first and foremost, but also for him and our relationship because we have a lot of commonalities and get along extremely well.

I've seen a handful of therapists, mostly talk therapy. I've been on SSRIs and they made me feel like a zombie or violently ill. I stopped smoking weed every day, so maybe my brain is adjusting poorly to that habit. I crave a crutch when I start feeling like this, and that's not okay. I used to SH and I've worked my butt off to stop that. I cope with humor, but here lately it's gotten a little mean and uncalled for. My thoughts are dark and twisted. I have been going to church and praying a lot about the situation, and it feels like spiritual attacks. The closer I get, the harder it gets.

I'm at my wit's end and just want to thrive instead of faking it to survive. It sucks wanting to be better and not being equipped on how to actually be. Years of negativity, hateful comments, and mental warfare have beaten me down to where it's hard to trust anyone these days, especially myself.

At this point, sign me up for a lobotomy.

Taurus daughters of Sagittarius moms, what has been your experience? Specifically, ones who share the same moon sign.

Visiting next weekend and wanting to watch the World Cup final somewhere within walking distance of Centennial Park. What are some good pubs/bars/restaurants?

I'm in what I feel like is a healthy relationship. Right off the bat, we were upfront about wants, needs, expectations, etc. I told him I never felt truly loved, and he said that's not something he says without actually meaning it, which to me was a breath of fresh air because I've been love-bombed in the past.

I'm a realistic and reasonable girly who doesn't want to get hurt, so I've taken my time to get to know this guy. We have a lot of fun together. He's kind, considerate, funny, super attractive, and knows how to make me feel special. He definitely shows the love, but hasn't said it almost a year into the relationship. Sometimes it's on the tip of my tongue, but I'm stubborn and never want to show my hand unless I am confident the other feels the same way. I figured after I met his family and friends, he would know one way or another.

Is it typical to not verbally say "I love you" at this point? Should I just say it because maybe he's waiting on me? I can come off as uninterested, but it's really a defense mechanism because I'm a lover girl at my core.

I have some reservations, but I really do think they're from past experience and childhood trauma, not because he's planted that seed. My last relationship was over 7 years and I found out the guy never saw a future with me, even though we lived together, shared a dog, the whole nine. I told my current guy my concerns and I think that's why he has been more patient and slow with me. He is open to communicating, which also scares me because it's a safe space to talk about issues. I'm just so used to the blowup and silent punishment from my past. I have grown and learned a lot of my trauma and how to navigate it, but still struggle sometimes when I'm alone.

I (31F) have never had a best friend. I've had friends who get close and feel like a best friend, but then they go back to their lives and there's little connection, no hanging out, and it feels fake. I've always craved a movie-like friendship and maybe that's naive of me. It makes me feel broken that I can't cultivate and maintain something genuine. Even at church or other functions, people don't attract to me like they do other people. 😕 I've tried Bumble BFF with little luck.

Is it crazy of me to think that I'm the problem or is it honestly that difficult to make and keep solid friends?

I have a BUNCH of clothing and some household items that I want to donate to a shelter of sorts where the people receiving do not have the purchase them. I will not donate to Salvataion Army or Goodwill.

Where is a good place where women will actually find these items at no cost to them? I'm in Lawrenceville/Buford.

I took my levo as normal Tuesday and the capsule has lodged itself in my esophagus, giving me pain in my chest behind my sternum. I can still breathe and swallow, so I figured it would go away, however it's been several days and it's still there. I've tried everything I know to do. Peanut butter was a last resort and even that didn't work.

I'm wondering if this has happened to anyone else and if so, what did you do for relief? It feels like bad acid reflux and I am burping a good bit.

I haven't taken any of my medicines the last few days because it hurts and I'm afraid it'll happen again.

I took my levothyroxine capsule the other morning and laid down as I typically do. It has been stuck in my chest, like right behind my sternum, since Tuesday. I can burp and will feel it, but the bugger will not dislodge. I called my PCP today, they never called me back. Should I go to the emergency room? I doubt urgent care will do much of anything. I really don't want to go to the ER, but highly doubt the PCP will do anything, nor will I get in with an ENT next week. I'm scared to take any of my other medications. I can swallow and breathe, but there is a tightness in my chest behind my sternum. I also have a good amount of post nasal drip and coughing up clear phlegm.

I vote Sydney Sweeney.

I've been seeing a guy for about 8.5 months and it is going great. Kind of scary because it's a healthier relationship than what I've had before. I said early on into us talking that I never really felt loved by my parents, much less a partner. He responded by saying that's not something he says or throws around lightly. He shows up for me when I ask (I'm not ever one to ask, but he's helping me get better about it because he follows through) and when I don't ask, and he's learning and recognizing my quirks.

I do like him... a lot. We've talked about marriage and kids in a general sense of being on the same page as two people in their 30s. We talked about maybe moving in together next year at year two. He makes sure I have what I need to be comfortable and is extremely considerate of my well-being. It's so.freaking.easy. We haven't had an argument once. Sure, we get frustrated sometimes, but we communicate and we fix it.

Sometimes I almost slip up and say it, but I'm sort of holding out because knowing what I know about him, I want him to express that first. And that's where I'm conflicted because what if he's doing the same thing?! This is the longest I've been in a relationship and have not said that yet, which is perfectly fine. He's gone at my pace because there was a lot I dealt with at the beginning and he was so patient and comforting. I feel that he does show it thriugh his actions and the way he looks at me a second longer. Breathtaking, truly, but the realist in me has to be on alert.

He says I've met the important people in his life and I was sort of anticipating it to happen after that. We're going on a little trip for my birthday this weekend, so maybe it'll happen then? That gives me anxiety lol.

So, chat, what would you do? Is this normal?

He's a Virgo sun, Cancer moon, and Libra rising if that matters to anyone.