u/Mountian-flower

We’re bringing home our Golden Retriever puppy, Roami, soon, and it’s been a long time since I’ve had a puppy this young!
I’ve got the obvious basics covered: crate, food, bowls, leash/collar, toys, etc. I also bought her a Snuggle Puppy with the heartbeat, and her breeder is letting me send a blanket for her mom and littermates to sleep with so she can bring their scent home with her. ❤️
But I want to hear from people who have recently survived the puppy stage. 😂
What were the things that actually made those first several weeks easier?
Products, routines, training tricks, sleep/crate tips, potty-training lifesavers, things you wish you’d bought sooner… anything.
And on the flip side, what “puppy must-have” did you buy that turned out to be completely unnecessary?
Give me your best puppy survival wisdom. I’m preparing for equal parts adorable baby and tiny land shark.

Just finished this beautiful Buffalo Games 500 piece puzzle, “bonjour!” illustrated by Geneva Bowers, and this one instantly became a favorite.

The colors are stunning.
All the glowing golds, deep blues, stars, and flowing space clouds made it feel almost dreamy to work on. It had that perfect balance where it was relaxing but still visually exciting the whole time.

And the coolest part for me?
The artist, Geneva Bowers, is based in Western North Carolina, which is my neck of the woods! That made this one feel extra special. Would absolutely do more puzzles featuring Geneva Bowers’ art!

I really loved this one! My first Ravensburger puzzle. It won’t be the last!

Just finished this 1000 piece Spilsbury (Kim Leo Collection) puzzle that I picked up at a thrift store. I loved this one but was saddened to realize a piece was missing.

The artwork is so charming. It had that “storybook village” feel that made it really enjoyable the whole way through.

The larger pieces were a big plus too.

Easy to handle, easy on the eyes, and everything fit together really nicely. Super satisfying build.

And then… the plot twist.

One piece missing.

The kind of betrayal that makes you stare at the puzzle like it personally wronged you.

So, question for you, what do you do with puzzles with missing pieces? I got one that was missing 3 pieces before and decided just to throw it away. Wondering if I should put a warning on the box and donate it back to the thrift store or just trash it?