Posts by Sandra Lopez2

Until you actually have a child of your own, you don't realize just how incredibly competitive most mothers can be...

"Are you breastfeeding?"
"How much weight did you lose after pregnancy?"
"Have you started solids yet?"
"Do you look put-together?"
"Why aren't you feeding them meat yet?"
"Why isn't the baby walking?"
"Why aren't they talking?"

It's always just "me, me, me..."

Live and let live, people...

I'm waiting on my third child. My first two girls are polar opposites in every single way. I don't expect the parenting methods will be identical this time around, but I'm looking forward to it. The worst thing you can do is forget to actually enjoy them because you're too busy stressing over whether lunch is late or how much laundry still needs ironing.

32 years old. 2 kids in 2 years 🙂

6'2"
196 lbs

Aiming for 174. Ideally 165.

I can already tell my body composition is shifting. My waist is tightening up, even though the scale hasn't budged. It’s clear the fat is dropping and muscle is taking its place.🤷

Nicole Kim11 said:🤣🤣🤣🤣
they brought us home in a subway car, strapped into stretchers☕
personally, I can't imagine not being buckled up in a car🤷
lotta 😛op: this guy is completely out of his mind

I always buckle up. Not just because the car chirps at me until I do, but because my brother was in a wreck seven years ago, and thank God he was belted 🙏 🙂

Nathan Kelly said:I was chauffeured in there sitting right up front in the passenger seat 🥳

So don't even try to lecture me, because I've already been through the wringer 🙂 🤣

Hahaha, pure gold. 🙏 🙏 🙏

And then there are those endlessly charming people who think calling a pregnant woman FAT is peak comedy. 🙂

Nicole Kim11 said:I sign off on every single word of that... 🙂

Just wait and see, Nicole. 🤣 🤣🤣

🙂

I’d much rather have my uncle fall for my belly first, then maybe the little kid I’m holding by the hand, but there's no way she'd pass me up just because I've got a few items in my cart 🙂

It’s frustrating because I went out and bought a massive annual supply of tampons right before I got pregnant. With my first kid, my period didn't even return until ten months later. 🙄

But hey, at least I have enough tampons to start an export business. 🤦

Peter Doyle2 said:I'm a bit lost here—I see we have a teacher in this thread, so maybe they can weigh in. What’s the deal with schools constantly organizing these trips? And of course, there's always a fee involved.
The OP mentioned that in just one week, they went to a museum and a movie theater. 😕
What kind of tactic is that?
Is this actually part of the official curriculum?

And what is a parent supposed to do? If you don't cough up the cash—even though it's technically optional—your kid ends up missing out on those experiences with their peers. Plus, you run the risk of them getting teased by other kids for being "poor," and let's be honest, kids can be pretty ruthless.
If you do pay, you're basically encouraging all these unnecessary "field trips" that seem to be pushed more and more often lately.

I really don't get why all these outings have to cost money.
Someone above mentioned how parents are complaining because it's bad if kids aren't taken anywhere—but why can't they just visit a library? Or some local landmark that doesn't require a huge expense?
I feel like two trips a year is plenty, which is how it used to be back in my day; everything else stayed local.
Nowadays, there are plenty of theater troupes that come directly to schools or preschools to perform—that's definitely a much cheaper solution than driving kids to a theater and paying for buses and stuff.

But things won't change if we parents just keep footing the bill for every single trip the school dreams up, whether it's necessary or not.
(I'm speaking from experience here; I have three nephews who were all in elementary school until recently, so I know how this works. It was constant—always needing money for something at school! And don't even get me started on the whole thing where kids are pressured to buy certain magazines, like Scholastic something or other, just because they'll be used for homework assignments. I mean, seriously, wtf? As if they don't already have enough books. It's not like they're short on reading material, yet we're expected to pay extra for more?)

Signature🙂

I would attend the next PTA meeting and bring up the issue of these frequent, expensive extracurricular trips directly to the other parents. I doubt the author would be alone in voicing this concern.

mistydrifter55 said:Just wait until you've gone through nine menstrual cycles, then you'll have your answer for sure. 😁 👍

🤣

Gregory Campbell56 said:Thanks! I heard Anne might have some places to stay, so I'll try giving them a ring to see what the damage is...
Any other ideas or tips? I feel like maybe finding some random little Airbnb or a no-name rental house would be cheaper, especially since I'm looking at the shoulder season when everything is empty and prices are way better...

You could also look at the Albin 2 family hotel; they offer both rooms and apartments. I'm not sure about their current rates, but I know they get much more affordable during the off-season...

Olivia Brown15 said:So, where do brides in San Diego go for their makeup?
I need help... advice... pricing... basically anything that can point me in the right direction
The wedding is in the 7th month... where should I even start looking? Who’s worth calling?
Thanks in advance!

Martina👍 did my makeup.

She has a salon in those buildings over on Branimir... my makeup was flawless and lasted all night. I couldn't be happier.

From what I gather, she's on the pricier side, $133

bluejackal44 said:Look, a friend just told me she might be pregnant. She’s a minor. They hooked up back in August without protection, though he pulled out in time. She got her period immediately after, the very next day, and has been regular every month since then. But for the last three days, she's had this weird sensation in her stomach. It won't stop. It's constant throughout her entire abdomen. No nausea, no vomiting, and her periods have stayed on schedule. The question is simple: is she just overthinking this, or does she actually need to worry?

Let me consult my crystal ball first, then I'll let you know.🤦

Pregnancy tests are available at any CVS or Walgreens, ranging from about $40 to $33 ☕

Anthony Bennett6 said:Here’s a quick update on some venue options...

If you want to get a real feel for them, I highly recommend touring on a Saturday between 3 PM and 7 PM. That's usually when they're setting up for weddings, so you see everything in action!

1. NIRS - Decent hall and a nice setup. They have round tables that fit about 150 people, or maybe 180 if you go with rectangular ones.

2. Dolines Lesnina 2 and 3 - $35 per person. It's a solid space, though it wasn't fully set up during my visit. Max capacity is 220 with round tables.

The main building at Dolines is fantastic! Great layout, perfect for a group of 150 to 160.

3. Phoenix - $32 per person. They have one massive ballroom for 300 guests that is absolutely stunning for big receptions—high ceilings, amazing lighting, and a beautiful setup. You can do rounds or long banquet tables for 8 to 16 people.
- They also have two smaller rooms for 150, but they weren't decorated when I saw them.

4. Ino Restaurant - $34 per person. An interesting space, though it wasn't staged for a wedding. Round tables, fits about 200.

5. Castello Restaurant - $35 per person. There's a smaller room for 150 with rounds seating 8 or 9.
- Then there's the large hall for 250, featuring big tables that seat 10, 12, or even 14.

6. Fable - $42 per person. Since the rooms weren't decorated, it was hard to judge. Their next big event isn't until December 12th.

My take:

Honestly, it feels like some owners just want to pack people in like cattle. Switching to round tables seems to drop the capacity by 15-20%!
Also, none of these places have a decent brochure with actual photos to show you what they offer. They should really just film a five-minute video tour and send it over to interested clients!

I have to say, I'm a bit disappointed with how they handle things... it's almost unprofessional.

Then I clicked on http://svadbenisalon-jabuka.com/ and wow, talk about a shocker. It's easily $45 or so, and while the venue is top-tier—comparable to those high-end spots in Los Angeles—the pricing is steep!

By pure coincidence, I was actually at that Jabuka venue recently...

I have never eaten worse food in my life; it was a disaster. So, the fact that the menu is only $22 makes sense.👎

I saw Viva play, and they are worth every single US Dollar 👍👍👍👍👍

They are true professionals. I would recommend them without hesitation. 🙏🙏🙏🙏

Gregory Campbell56 said:Got a few questions about makeup and hair in San Diego... for a wedding, obviously! 😁

I heard Martine does amazing makeup, and since I’ve seen so many good reviews on here, I’m thinking of just keeping it simple and booking her directly.

I think she has a hair salon there too, so I was wondering if anyone has used them for hair? What was the vibe?
There's also the Galant salon nearby, so if you've been there for hair, please let me know what you thought!

Did you guys do a trial run for your makeup and hair before the big day? 😕

Thanks!

I used Martine for my makeup... she opened her new studio in those white buildings behind Maraschin... she doesn't do hair anymore, but she recommended Anchi's salon, which is only 50m from hers. I was extremely satisfied.👍

Keith Nguyen9 said:I have a question for the group. Initially, I noticed a thick white discharge, but now there is a strange, somewhat unpleasant odor developing—what could this signify? On top of that, my period is now ten days late; my last one started on December 10th. Last night, I experienced some unusual pains and felt a faint rhythmic pulsing in my abdomen. It doesn't feel quite like my usual intestinal movements, as I am very familiar with how my digestion behaves, so I am uncertain. Is it truly possible to feel such sensations this early on?😕😕😕

You’re describing symptoms very similar to mine. Heavy discharge combined with pain could indicate implantation...

I am currently 17 weeks and 3 days along.😉

I took a test on day 15.... Good luck.👍

Gregory Campbell56 said:Yeah, I've heard of that Fox guy and checked his site, he seems pretty awesome😉
I'd love to find someone in Zürich since it's just easier, but if that doesn't work out, I guess I'll start looking in other cities😁
How does the whole travel and hotel cost thing usually work out?

Thanks for the tip and the password! The pictures are amazing, exactly what I'm looking for, but unfortunately Steve is already booked for our date😢

You cover his travel costs and take care of the lodging. He could literally just stay in a spare room at your place.

Gregory Campbell56 said:Thought I’d jump into this thread too. There’s so much good stuff here, even for the San Diego area—I definitely need to read through everything when I get a chance ☕
My wedding is happening next spring in San Diego, so I’m currently on the hunt for a photographer. Does anyone have recommendations? I’d really love to see an actual wedding album from someone they’ve worked with. As for Susie, she’s my 🙏, but she's already booked for our date, so that's a no-go.
I’m really looking for someone who’s at least somewhat creative 😉
What about photo Nadio, has anyone used them?
I’ve noticed that almost none of the photo studios in SD even have a website to show off their work 🤷
Go San Diegans, help me out!!! 😕

Check out Stipe Surać's photos; Ancika mentioned him here on Reddit...

And don't feel limited to San Diego. I got married there, but my photographer was from San Francisco, Ivica Lisjak. 👍

wanderingtrucker19 said:Ladies, I could use some advice... has anyone ever pulled off a wedding like this:
- intimate (maybe 15-20 close family and friends; followed by a massive blowout party for everyone else a few days later)
- fall vibes (mid-October)
- coastal (somewhere along the coast between San Diego and Savannah)

My biggest worry is the weather—I know October was gorgeous last year, but I can't exactly bank on Mother Nature being that kind again. Also, if anyone has restaurant recommendations near the water, I'm all ears...

My partner is from that area and we'll likely be moving there permanently, so I'm pretty much clueless when it comes to local spots for a small wedding... Any help would be appreciated.

🙂

There are plenty of restaurants along that stretch. What kind of budget are you working with?