u/Prior-Amphibian-5299

I need a few prize ideas ranging from $5-$50. The party will be a mix of adults & kids. It’s ok if every prize isn’t inclusive of both. I don’t want any lame or junk prizes. Practical is best. Ideas I have so far:

-Wine

-Homemade cake/cookies/bread

-Trader Joe’s snacks and/or cheese/cracker/meat

-$5-$10 gift cards to Amazon & Target

-5 gallon bucket for the ultra practical lol

These are prizes for winning games at a 50th birthday party.

I figured I’d share my experience in case someone wants to start potty training around 18-20 months :-)

-We started potty learning around 18 months. Potty books (Ms. Rachel book & Potty book for girls), got a kids sized potty for upstairs & downstairs, water wow books only for the potty, inviting kiddo into the bathroom while I went and narrated everything, taught basic anatomy. We put her on the potty at infrequent times of the day and would pee about 50% of the time. She was really interested/excited.

-Around 20 months we did an informal 3 day, stay at home, no bottoms, watch like a hawk method. As expected, lots of accidents. We finished the 3 days utterly exhausted and didn’t continue with the method mostly because she wasn’t acting her normal self (seemed super emotional, almost scared/timid - I think she was upset at herself which made me so sad to watch).

-A big pro from these 3 days was she did start to become aware of her bowel movements. She went from being totally unaware, to looking down as she peed, to peeing in her diaper and saying “pee poo” after the fact to now touching her diaper and saying “pee poo” before the fact! This has taken 1 month of gradual improvement.

-After the 3 days, we kept bringing her to the potty at scheduled times. At wakeups, before sleep times, every 30 min to an hour, and anytime we’d smell a suspicious toot or thought she was about to poop.

-After breakfast she gets to watch one 20 min show. The only conditions are: she must not wear any bottoms, she must sit on her potty and she drinks 5oz of apple juice/water while sitting on the potty. She goes pee every time therefore we don’t typically let her get up from the potty unless she has gone pee (unless it’s been a veryyy long time). We’ve been doing this routine for a month and I think it has been a key factor in our potty training improvement.

-We do give one mini m&m or raisin after very pee and two after poop in the potty. She knows the routine of us wiping her bottom, help flush waste down big potty, she flushes, we wash hands together then she gets her treat.

-we recently added in pull-ups alongside diapers which she loves. If she tells us she needs to go potty and successfully gets waste in the potty she gets rewarded with wearing a Minnie Mouse pull-up. We tell her to keep Minnie dry and clean and let us know when you have to go pee or poop. If she gets Minnie wet we tell her we have to throw Minnie away and get in a diaper.

-we have seen a recent uptick in potty successes. Able to hold her pee and tell us when she has to go. Diaper dry while we go on hour outings out of the house then pees at home on the potty. We get about 80% of her bowel movements into the potty at this point (not counting sleep times).

-as far as next steps, no idea! And I’m ok with that. I want to share this as our experience which is definitely on the more relaxed side of things. But our kiddo seems happy/emotionally regulated while gaining independence through a slow potty training journey and genuinely proud of herself which is really fun to see.

I’m planning a birthday party for my dad.

-Friday July 3rd
-Dress code: dress like the birthday guy
-I think we’ll do some type of smoked meat on the smoker (he’s keto) plus sides
-we’ll have an assortment of cooler drinks but will feature a rum & coke since that’s his signature go-to
-event is outdoors with lots of space
-there will be 20-35 guests, including kids

I want to do a theme of some sort and have some activities/games planned. He’s a funny guy and can take a joke. Jack of all trades, outdoorsman. I want to stay away from cheesy themes. Any ideas??

I’ve tried many bras as recommended by stylists at Nordstrom, Chantelle & Bravissimo. None have felt right. Panache, Freya & Fantasie are too projected for me and gore is uncomfortable. Chantelle was definitely much better but 36EUK & 36FUK both had fit issues and were uncomfortable. I’m thinking next I try Natori (Feathers, Radiance, Love Lace) & Skarlett Blue? What size do I try and styles should I focus on? 38DDUK was recommended by Natori.

Measurements:
Loose Underbust: 36.5
Snug Underbust: 36
Tight Underbust: 33
Standing Bust: 41
Leaning Bust: 43
Lying Bust: 41
36F UK

Styles/Sizes Tried & Notes:

Chantelle Norah 36F - Update: after trying again, the cups seem to be too wide for my shape. I feel the cups extending over into my armpit area and bunching up. Left breast is filled out well in cup. Right breast has some wrinkling and space at top. Otherwise, comfortable.
Worn for multiple hours and haven’t noticed it much. Gore is super comfy. No armpit discomfort. I only notice it feels tighter when I’m lying down. It does seem like my breasts are pointing outwards in the bra and I’d prefer a bra that brings them closer together.

Chantelle Norah 36E - gore digging in slightly, cups for breast better & don’t go too far into armpit area.

Chantelle Norah Chic Plunge 36E - slight left breast spillage, slight underarm discomfort/chaffing feeling. I love the look of this bra/the plunge but prefer the comfort from the classic Norah bra.

Chantelle Norah Chic Plunge 36F - Cups are too roomy. Wrinkled look. Gore feels great. Underarms are kind of noticeable.

Chantelle C Essential 36E - cups too big, breasts don’t fill the cups fully/gaps at top of cups. Didn’t try the 36F since 36E was too big.

Wacoal modern affair 36ddd - armpit area is a bit uncomfortable/digging in, everything else fits well. Love the style.

Freya Tailored High Apex 36E - cups are slightly baggy at tops. Gore is ever so slightly digging in/uncomfy and I don’t like how high the gore is or the general style

Fantasie reflect 36e - gore digging in. Everything else feels perfect.

Fantasie Reflect 36F - a little room in the top of both cups but not terrible. Cups feel wide. Cups don’t feel as form fitting at other styles I’ve tried.

Freya offbeat 36f - gore digging, very comfortable otherwise

Freya offbeat 36e - underwire feels too tight band feels snug. Armpits feel great.

Fantasie illusion 36e - discomfort in armpits

Fantasie illusion 36f - slight gore discomfort, slight cup underwire digging in.

Panache Ana 36F UK - slight digging in feeling in the gore. It’s uncomfortable after 30 min of wearing it. I did the backwards/upside down trick and the band fit well. My right breast is smaller and had more room/extra fabric on top of the cup compared to left breast.

Panache Ana 36FF UK - I put it on and thought it was a completely different style, felt more comfortable in the gore area. Initially, feeling a bit of discomfort in the armpit area as if the cups are too high up into my armpit. Extra fabric on top of the cup in both breasts but not in a bothersome/overly baggy way. 30 min in and the armpit area is uncomfortable/cups too high. Comfy everywhere else.

Panache Envy 36FUK - tops are noticeably loose on both breast, gore digs in

Panache Envy 36FFUK - top of cups are too large/roomy/loose, gore still digging, armpits uncomfortable

Hiiii. Please give me unique s’more ideas! I’m hosting a s’mores club this summer and am looking for delicious combinations to have available.

The outside doesn’t need to be a graham cracker but is ok if it is. Toasted marshmallow is a must.

I’m not looking to spend too much time making homemade elements but will make a homemade sauce. (I don’t want to make from scratch marshmallows or graham crackers).

Bonus points if you can include any nut-free combos.

TYIA!

Hello!

Measurements:
Loose Underbust: 36.5
Snug Underbust: 36
Tight Underbust: 33
Standing Bust: 41
Leaning Bust: 43
Lying Bust: 41
36F UK

Styles/Sizes Tried & Notes:
I have a Freya Tailored High Apex 36E and Wacoal Modern Affair 36E on the way so no notes on those styles yet.

Chantelle Norah 36E - immediately cozy. Worn for multiple hours and haven’t noticed it. Gore is super comfy. No armpit discomfort. I only notice the gore feels tighter when I’m lying down. It does seem like my breasts are pointing “outwards” in the bra and I’d prefer a bra that brings them closer together. I have pics I can share with legit fit experts via PM on here but don’t feel comfy posting for the whole thread lol. I guess my question is two part. Does this bra fit well despite my breasts not being super “hugged” & brought together? Is there another style I should try?

Chantelle Norah Chic Plunge 36E - Cups are too roomy. Wrinkled look. Gore feels great. Underarms are kind of noticeable.

Fantasie reflect 36e - gore digging in. Everything else feels perfect.

Fantasie Reflect 36F - a little room in the top of both cups but not terrible. Cups feel wide. Cups don’t feel as form fitting at other styles I’ve tried.

Freya offbeat 36f - gore digging, very comfortable otherwise

Freya offbeat 36e - underwire feels too tight band feels snug. Armpits feel great.

Fantasie illusion 36e - discomfort in armpits

Fantasie illusion 36f - slight gore discomfort, slight cup underwire digging in.

Panache Ana 36F UK - slight digging in feeling in the gore. It’s uncomfortable after 30 min of wearing it. I did the backwards/upside down trick and the band fit well. My right breast is smaller and had more room/extra fabric on top of the cup compared to left breast.

Panache Ana 36FF UK - I put it on and thought it was a completely different style, felt more comfortable in the gore area. Initially, feeling a bit of discomfort in the armpit area as if the cups are too high up into my armpit. Extra fabric on top of the cup in both breasts but not in a bothersome/overly baggy way. 30 min in and the armpit area is uncomfortable/cups too high. Comfy everywhere else.

Panache Envy 36FUK - tops are noticeably loose on both breast, gore digs in

Panache Envy 36FFUK - top of cups are too large/roomy/loose, gore still digging, armpits uncomfortable