Looking for a nail tech- I have a salon i go to for acrylics. Saw a video about how at-home artists might be a better use of my money. But im not sure where they advertise or how to find them. I saw one girl on tiktok a while back who is based in conway and works out of her house but I cant find the video again
Went from 345lbs to 315lbs today, is my weight loss noticeable yet?
So I’ve been semi-successful so far in my weight loss journey—started at 345 and weighed in at 320 today. It’s been a pretty steady downward slope, which I’m really proud of. Like, objectively I know that’s progress… 25 lbs is not nothing.
But here’s where my brain is messing with me a little.
At what point do you actually start to see the weight loss? Because right now it feels like I’m the exact same person, just with a different number on the scale. Same body, same shape, same everything. If anything, it almost feels unreal, like the number changed but nothing else did.
I’ve heard people say around 30 lbs is about a pant size, and I’m getting close to that, but I honestly can’t tell if anything is different yet. Maybe I’m just too in my own head or seeing myself every day makes it harder to notice?
I guess I’m also wondering—when did you start to actually feel different in your body? Not just seeing it in pictures or clothes, but physically feeling it—like moving around, existing, just being in your body.
I might just be impatient, but it’s weird putting in the work and not really seeing it reflected back yet. Would love to hear when it “clicked” for other people.
Not a sauna massage or anything, just somewhere i can pay and sit in a sauna for 45min
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Okay, this is a long post, im sorry but thank you for reading. F26 I identify as Bi for now
Iv been thinking about my relationship with sex a lot lately, and I'm realizing I don't really understand myself when it comes to intimacy.
For context, when I was a kid, another kid repeatedly sexually harassed me on the school bus. He would put his hands under my clothes, down my underwear, up my bra, grab my head and force me to kiss them, etc. I don't want to minimize it, but I've always thought, “It wasn't that bad. I wasn't raped. Other people have been through worse.” For the most part, I feel like I've moved past it.
growing up, I was terrified of sexual contact. I couldn't even comfortably hold hands with people I dated. My first kiss wasn't until I was 17, and she was the first person I felt safe enough with to do anything with.
My spouse is my first serious relationship and the first person I decided i wanted to be sexually intimate with out of want and not obligation. I love them and im atracted to them
When I was finally able to be intimate with them, I thought I had somehow overcome this huge thing I'd been afraid of my whole life.
Then I found out my spouse is asexual.
I didn't take that very well at first. I had this belief that sex was necessary for a relationship, and that I needed to “get over” my fear of it in order to be a functional partner and be in a relationship. Looking back, I'm not sure where that belief came from. My best friend is ace, and now my spouse so iv known what asexuality is for a very long time.
The confusing part is that I'm STILL weird about sex.
I've had three sexual partners in my entire life, and with every one of them I've felt like I'm forcing myself to participate. Sex just feels like... something you're supposed to do. Or just an activity. When I have sex i dont think i feel what your suposed to be feeling. With my spouse less that im forcing myself and more of 'oh, this is happening now' if that makes sense.
I don't really feel like I can get into it with another person. I don't feel naturally drawn toward it.
That makes me wonder what exactly is going on.
Maybe my childhood experience affected me more than I realized. Maybe I've developed some kind of fear around sexual vulnerability. Maybe I'm somewhere on the asexual spectrum. Maybe it's both. Maybe there's something else entirely.
Iv told my spouse im specifically not ace, im not sure why but that lable dosent feel right for me even though it would describe alot. I think im still figuring out myself at the moment.
I don't want to force myself to have sex just to prove I'm okay. But I also don't want to assume that I'm permanently “broken” because I had a bad experience as a kid.
And I feel...stunted. when it comes to my spouse. I love them deeply and feel safe with them, but I don't know how to fully open up to them sexually. I don't know how to explain that sex can feel like an obligation even when I'm attracted to them. Maybe obligation is the wrong word. I've never really been able to put that into words that make sense. Sometimes during sex i panic, I dont know what to do even though iv done it a million times with them. I joke and say "i dont know im scared" sometimes just because I feel like i have no idea what im doing. Sex is just such a point of stress for me
I'm also starting to realize that I haven't really talked about any of this in therapy. I do DBT, so most of our conversations are about current problems and coping skills. My therapist doesn't know about the childhood sexual harassment, or a lot of the other things I've been through. I've been afraid to bring it up, partly because I'm scared of oversharing and partly because he's a man and I've only ever had female therapists before. Talking about sexual things with him feels uncomfortable.
I actually considered making up a story about something triggering me so I could use that as an excuse to start talking about the memories. Then I realized I absolutely don't want to lie to my therapist. Therapy is one place where I want to be completely honest.
So I guess I'm finally trying to be honest somewhere.
I don't really know what I'm asking. Maybe I just want to know if anyone else has experienced something similar—where trauma, attraction, love, and sexual desire don't seem to line up neatly.
How do you figure out whether something is trauma-related versus simply how you're wired? And if you've spent years believing you should want sex, how did you figure out what you actually wanted?
TL;DR: I experienced sexual harassment as a child and have always struggled with intimacy. Even though I love and am attracted to my partner. I'm trying to figure out whether that's trauma, asexuality, or simply how I'm wired.
Okay, this is a long post, im sorry but thank you for reading. F26 I identify as Bi for now
Iv been thinking about my relationship with sex a lot lately, and I'm realizing I don't really understand myself when it comes to intimacy.
For context, when I was a kid, another kid repeatedly sexually harassed me on the school bus. He would put his hands under my clothes, down my underwear, up my bra, grab my head and force me to kiss them, etc. I don't want to minimize it, but I've always thought, “It wasn't that bad. I wasn't raped. Other people have been through worse.” For the most part, I feel like I've moved past it.
growing up, I was terrified of sexual contact. I couldn't even comfortably hold hands with people I dated. My first kiss wasn't until I was 17, and she was the first person I felt safe enough with to do anything with.
My spouse is my first serious relationship and the first person I decided i wanted to be sexually intimate with out of want and not obligation. I love them and im atracted to them
When I was finally able to be intimate with them, I thought I had somehow overcome this huge thing I'd been afraid of my whole life.
Then I found out my spouse is asexual.
I didn't take that very well at first. I had this belief that sex was necessary for a relationship, and that I needed to “get over” my fear of it in order to be a functional partner and be in a relationship. Looking back, I'm not sure where that belief came from. My best friend is ace, and now my spouse so iv known what asexuality is for a very long time.
Part of the reason I reacted to badly to my spouse saying theyr ace is because there was a part of me thinking... who is the sex for then? I do it for you, you do it for me.
The confusing part is that I'm STILL weird about sex.
I've had three sexual partners in my entire life, and with every one of them I've felt like I'm forcing myself to participate. Sex just feels like... something you're supposed to do. Or just an activity. When I have sex i dont think i feel what your suposed to be feeling. With my spouse less that im forcing myself and more of 'oh, this is happening now' if that makes sense.
I don't really feel like I can get into it with another person. I don't feel naturally drawn toward it.
That makes me wonder what exactly is going on.
Maybe my childhood experience affected me more than I realized. Maybe I've developed some kind of fear around sexual vulnerability. Maybe I'm somewhere on the asexual spectrum. Maybe it's both. Maybe there's something else entirely.
Iv told my spouse im specifically not ace, im not sure why but that lable dosent feel right for me even though it would describe alot. I think im still figuring out myself at the moment.
I don't want to force myself to have sex just to prove I'm okay. But I also don't want to assume that I'm permanently “broken” because I had a bad experiences as a kid.
And I feel...stunted. when it comes to my spouse. I love them deeply and feel safe with them, but I don't know how to fully open up to them sexually. I don't know how to explain that sex can feel like an obligation even when I'm attracted to them. Maybe obligation is the wrong word. I've never really been able to put that into words that make sense. Sometimes during sex i panic, I dont know what to do even though iv done it a million times with them. I joke and say "i dont know im scared" sometimes just because I feel like i have no idea what im doing. Sex is just such a point of stress for me
I'm also starting to realize that I haven't really talked about any of this in therapy. I do DBT, so most of our conversations are about current problems and coping skills. My therapist doesn't know about the childhood sexual harassment, or a lot of the other things I've been through. I've been afraid to bring it up, partly because I'm scared of oversharing and partly because he's a man and I've only ever had female therapists before. Talking about sexual things with him feels uncomfortable.
I actually considered making up a story about something triggering me so I could use that as an excuse to start talking about the memories. Then I realized I absolutely don't want to lie to my therapist. Therapy is one place where I want to be completely honest.
So I guess I'm finally trying to be honest somewhere.
I don't really know what I'm asking. Maybe I just want to know if anyone else has experienced something similar—where trauma, attraction, love, and sexual desire don't seem to line up neatly.
How do you figure out whether something is trauma-related versus simply how you're wired? And if you've spent years believing you should want sex, how did you figure out what you actually wanted?
This blanket took me about 1 month to finish, its absolutely beautiful and I think its my best work yet! Im 6ft and it completely covers me head to toe to i love that its big enough 😌
Heres the pattern: https://www.etsy.com/listing/4464214745/sos-ancient-egypt-n-aliens
It was 104×259 stitches
This was my first ever mosaic crochet attempt, definitely learned alot for my next time 😅
I love this thing so much im so proud. I feel like every time I look i find a new detail I never noticed
Im exactly 73% done with this monster of a blanket. Getting real tired. Every time I want to put it down I just force myself to keep going this is about 3 weeks of work, really trying to finish this before that 1 month point 🙃
Its not done yet obviously but at the rate iv been going at i should finish it in under a month
Does this look cute? Or is this more of a stay home and be cozy vibe.
Its crazy how fast i can work when im completely obsessed with every row. Every time I add something it bring me so much joy lol. Sorry I know im being dramatic
This is my first attempt at mosaic crochet, I guess comming from only doing tapastry the back looks so clean and beautiful 😍
I got 2 free liquid death cans as a freebie. I hate Stevia and all fake sugar but agave and cane sugar is fine. Help me find a flavor ill like please 🙏
I get off work in 30min
I was just prescribed Adderall for the first time—actually my first stimulant ever—and I feel kind of underwhelmed?
I know this might sound silly, but I don’t really get the hype (at least not yet). My therapist told me I wouldn’t have to wait weeks to notice anything—that it would just sort of “work” right away, like flipping a switch. On top of that, I’ve read so many posts here where people describe it as this huge, emotional shift—like their mind finally went quiet, they cried, got their whole life together in a day, etc.
So I guess I went into this expecting some big “clouds parting” moment, haha.
But honestly… I don’t really feel that different? If you asked me whether I’ve noticed anything this week, I’d probably say no. But if you asked whether things felt a little easier than usual… maybe? Like, yes-ish?
Has anyone else had a more subtle experience starting out, or am I just not responding the way I expected?
The happiness my long ears bring me is unmatched
There are so many reasons to stop stretching, and not as many reasons to keep going
Iv always loved the look of a 2" lobe, I want that for myself so badly.
But...
At 41mm, sleeping gets annoying, I either need to sleep with naked lobes or silicone. I wake up sometimes where I slept on my ear wrong and I can only imagine that getting worse the bigger I go.
Employers hate them, I have a stable job right now but if I ever need to get a new job ill need to hide where my ears are alredy and going bigger would only make them harder to hide. Maybe one day if I find myself in a position where I can be a stay at home wife maybe this wouldn't be an issue but... its something I think about alot
The stress of every stretch does get to me, the worry that my ears wont handle the next jumps, my ears are thick and happy most the time, but I cant wait to be done stretching just so that it can be over. Maybe its time to think about how hitting 2" isnt in the cards for me.
I just dont want to stop here at 41mm and regret it, I dont want to buy some nice plugs and start a collection again if im just going to change my mind and try for 2" again.
But there are reasons to keep going, im in the 40s finally! Im so close! And I love the weight, the look, I love my ears so much, i dream for the day that I can start my 2" plug collection!
Im really working my way up to 2" and i cannot wait!
I have struggled and struggled to get this tattoo idea right. I finally have the money to get it and I just have no clue how to get this done.
I grew up loving saci perere. I think hes such a cool character, I read his comics, my grandma told me stories. I love saci.
But
My most nostalgic artwork looks a bit...minstrel-y, or someone else described another design from another comic as a "little guy in black face".
The problem isn’t the character—it’s specific stylistic echoes from older comic or caricature traditions that can carry racist visual coding (especially exaggerated lips, certain minstrel-adjacent silhouettes, etc.). Even if the intent is admiration, the read can still land wrong.
I really just dont know how to pull off this tattoo.
So i thought, ill design something completely new, maybe make a gender-bent version, like a pinup girl, with the iconic points (red cap, pipe, one leg, dust devil) i thought that could still be cool, but then my spouse told me it looks "tropical thunder esque" whatever that even means.
Im really at a loss. How can I, a brazillian amarican white girl get a saci perere tattoo without coming off as some sort of racially insensitive.
Now, I hate AI slop as much as anyone else, but i did use it to try and visualize what a pinup genderbent version of saci might look like, do these look like something I can show a tattoo artist to give them an idea of what I want? Do I need to scrap the entire idea and start from scratch?
Please. Any insite, any help. You dont understand how many years iv been thinking and working on this to make a saci tattoo that wont lead to akward conversations or assumptions about me
I am on 882mg of an aristada injection. (For thoes who dont know, its the liquid version of the more common abilify)
I was told I could drink in moderation, I was given the whole speech about how one drink feels like four. But iv never felt that. Instead of getting buzzed really fast I just skip the buzz and go straight to feeling incredibly nauseous. I dont get sick or anything, but my stomach feels so queezy. Is there any way around that? Anti nausea medication? A good heavy meal before hand? Im going out with some friends to a bar, I dont want to be stuck nursing a coke all night nor do I want to feel incredibly sick
Im marking this as venting because... im talking out something i didnt even realise was an issue untill today)
I sat down for the first time and did the math on how much I actually sleep in a day and I think I might need to talk to my doctor. Im starting to think I might not be as lazy as I thought, my meds might just be to high of a dose or maybe I need something prescribed to help me stay awake
I am on a 882mg shot of aristada and 80mg of atomoxetine-- For anyone curious
I get off work at 7am, immediately I go home and sleep will almost 3pm. Then I stay awake untill my pre work nap at 6pm-10:35pm
I work 11pm to 7am, mostly watching security cameras.
For the first 5hrs of my shift I usually drift between this half asleep drowsy state where I can immediately hear if someone needs me (front desk bell, front doors open, phone) but my eyes are always resting, closed. Just kind of lightly dozing while leaning back in my chair. Then at 4am I do night audit and make the hotels breakfast.
Thats 12.5hrs true sleep and 3-4hrs of limbo dozing
I cant remember the last time I was awake and really felt awake. Like, im awake and not thinking about when I can nap next. Worse even, how did I miss this!
Thats half my 24hrs sleeping plus extra. What brought this on was i looked up how much sleep is normal, at the higher normal end, I should just need 9hr. I cant even imagine sleeping from 7am to 4pm then just staying awake the rest of the time, it seems impossible. How much of my life am I wasteing