Is it just me, or does the start of training camp always feel like a massive waiting game? Every year, the hype builds up, we get all excited about the roster, and then suddenly it’s just a constant stream of "day-to-day" updates and minor setbacks. It feels like you can't even get into a rhythm of following the team before you're already stressing about who's actually going to be healthy by Week 1.
I remember back in my college days, watching the summer sessions, and that tension was always there. You want to see the talent, but you also want to see them actually move. It’s a weird balancing act for fans—you want to stay optimistic about the depth of the roster, but every time a coach gives a vague update on a key starter, it feels like a gut punch to the momentum we’ve been building.
Does anyone else find the preseason injury cycle more draining than the actual games?
I’m thinking about starting a small side hustle, but honestly, I’m feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the research required.
Basically, I make jewelry. Once a customer pays, I’ll ship the pieces out via mail. I’m stuck on the logistics—how should I word my shipping info, and what are the rates? Should I be sending everything as packages? (It would just be domestic shipping within the US)
Looking at the USPS website, it seems the cheapest way to send a package is $6.00!
Could I just wrap a ring in an envelope and send it as standard mail instead of a package?
And who actually does the packing? Do I do it at home, or do they handle it there? Also, where am I supposed to get packaging supplies like little boxes?
I might eventually expand beyond jewelry to things like plates or vases...
I’ve never sent a single package in my life, and now I need to figure out how to list all this purchasing and shipping info on a website so customers aren't left guessing.😵🤔
To anyone brave enough to help me out with this, thank you so much.😉
My pregnancy was textbook perfect. Now I know for next time that the biggest headache is actually those final few weeks—once you’re heavy and feeling totally immobile, everyone and their mother starts hovering. It’s honestly exhausting how many people feel the need to constantly check if you're doing okay 😠 (sometimes I just want to chuck my phone right out the window!)
Benjamin Hernandez39 said:If my memory serves me right, three weeks after M's absence is about the point where you can actually run a reliable test. 🤔
I’ve always found that tracking about three weeks after ovulation is a much more reliable indicator than just waiting for a missed period.
It looks like they’re already saying it'll be back on the first day after the break. This was what I used: I recently came across some information regarding pregnancy testing through blood work rather than just the standard home kits. It’s interesting how much more detail you can get from a lab analysis compared to those quick sticks you pick up at CVS. If you're looking for precision, checking hormone levels directly is definitely the way to go.
It can happen more often than you think! I’m living proof.
I took a test about a week after my period was due, and it came back a false negative. I'm not sure if it works the other way around—like a false positive—but a false negative is definitely possible. Last month, I was taking Duphastone to help jumpstart my cycle. After calling my doctor, they told me, "Try Duphastone again, two pills a day for seven days." So, I did that, waited another ten days, and still nothing. I went to see my OBGYN feeling totally panicked because the test insisted I wasn't pregnant 🙄. My doctor just looked at me and said, "Bird, congratulations, you're pregnant!" It turns out I was already well into it—about six and a half weeks along 😍😍 . My advice: just go get an ultrasound and talk to your doctor!
Sean Long4 said:Nathan Cox25, it’s funny how Vincent acts like such a saint when he's dealing with Charlotte... I mean, if you're looking at a cake for roughly 200 people over at Charlotte, you're looking at somewhere between $4,500 and $5,000, and honestly, some places charge upwards of $6,000. So, if anyone actually enjoys those prices, be my guest...
When I first heard that number, I nearly fell right out of my chair.
Yeah, getting a cake in Vincent actually works out cheaper for me than it would in Charlotte.😉
James Ruiz84 said:I seriously have to give a massive shoutout to the pastries from Charlotte (Facebook catering)) Look, I’m not even a huge sweets person, but ever since I tried their stuff, I am freaking addicted!!!🤣🤣🤣 Honestly, if I were getting married right now, forget the wedding cake—I’d demand their cream puffs instead😍
Man, I totally agree. 🙏 My partner and I have become absolute addicts too. We've sampled pretty much everything they offer, and nothing has disappointed us. 🤣 It’s just a shame they’re so pricey.
stormywalker69 said:Look, if they’re chauffeuring it straight to the hotel, you’ve gotta pay for the thing upfront—plus you have to put down a $167 deposit for the stand, which you get back once you drop the stand off after the wedding. But if you're just swinging by to pick it up yourself that day, then you can just pay when you grab it. I went ahead and paid for everything in advance, including the delivery fees, so they just dropped it right off at the restaurant for me.
stormywalker69 said:If anyone here is still on the fence about grabbing a Machine Cake from Vincek, let me just say—Vincek is 👍👍👍👍👍👍. Seriously, if I were getting remarried tomorrow, I’d definitely buy this thing again because it was just freaking delicious 😉 !!!
I said the exact same thing. You really can't go wrong with them 😍
Quick question for the group: we’re looking to place an order in about a week (which gives us a month before the wedding). Do they require the full payment upfront when you order?
swiftranger16 said:Everything’s getting more expensive by the day... not that those places were ever really on my radar anyway.
Maybe I’m just being picky, but I’ve officially blacklisted every single bakery I’ve ever visited where the food just didn't hit right. Even if it was just once. Those cheap supermarket pastries can taste straight-up greasy. Sometimes they’re alright... but honestly, I’m not about to take that risk.
Oh man, it's such a relief to find someone who feels the same way. I was starting to think my husband and I were the crazy ones. Everyone tells me how much they love those pastries and how they drive all the way to that small town in the US just to grab them for birthdays or big parties. Even my husband once drove over there after lunch because we were both craving something sweet. The first time, we figured they were just having an off day, but the second time, we realized that's just how their desserts are. Obviously, everyone has different tastes, but to us, every single thing they made tasted like colored margarine. 🤷👎
so what's the damage like with their prices? have you actually grabbed any cakes or pastries from them before? (I know I'm firing off questions like crazy here, but honestly, every little detail helps me out 🙂 )
I actually stopped by about a month ago to order some treats. $27They were priced per pound. They seemed really professional, and the pastries we tried were delicious! 😉
Donna Chase12 said:There’s probably at least 10 pounds left over... my mom hosted about 40 people for lunch on the second day and was just handing it out to everyone...
Good grief, Donna Chase12, that sounds like music to my ears. I was actually getting a little worried about how much we'd need per person. We have 20 kg set aside for 130 guests. That’s plenty of 😉
Daniel Smith8: We’re doing 150 slices of cake spread over three tiers. Each tier is square with a firm white glaze and a purple ribbon around the edge, plus some purple accents—I actually pulled the inspiration from that one cake in the "Purple" thread. The bottom layer is chocolate fudge, the middle is Black Forest, and the top is a parfait cake. Total comes to $500 including $20 for delivery.
Donna Chase12 said:Just wanted to give a quick shout-out to Monica’s Bakery... we ended up ordering 130 mini cakes, one smaller cake, and about 45 pounds of pastries today—and the whole thing came out to just $963... plus, she hooked us up with a $67 discount, which I seriously wasn't expecting... 👍 Oh, and one more thing—those mini cakes are actually $3.00, not $3.25 like I said before
That sounds like a pretty fair price to me. I'd love to see some photos of those treats! 😉
On another note, I've decided to stop overthinking this and stop stressing myself and my partner out. Here is the final plan: Around 120-130 guests Vincent's bakery—one large cake with 150 slices A local bakery—20 kg of assorted pastries That's it. 🙂
jadestag11 said:Oh man... I just saw the price for $18....$22/lb, and for diabetics it's $23/lb
Sean Long4 and Donna Chase12 can DM me the number this afternoon (I have it written down at home). Not sure if they’ll hike up the prices🤷... hmm... yeah... now that I think about it, it's possible🙄... my bad I can try them once they're ordered🤷... that's my style, they're great for me👍 Sorry again for the wrong figure😉
Lady, I'm interested too. Could you please send me your number via DM?
wanderingdriver82 said:We finally tracked down Lucian’s bakery over in San Francisco. Their wedding cake pricing comes out to $20 per pound. They handle all their own deliveries, too—which is a huge plus—and honestly, the sweets are absolutely flawless.
I’m dropping the link here if anyone wants to check them out
I’m definitely tempted to check them out. I'd just love to hear some real feedback first—how are their wedding desserts actually? Is the service reliable?
Benjamin Martin29 said:We ended up getting both the cake and the cookies from Grabar, and honestly, I couldn't be happier. That cake in the photo? They made it look exactly like my reference. As for the cookies, I just told them how many people were coming; I didn't bother listing specific flavors or exact counts because, really, what's the point? (I wasn't buying them all for myself, so I wanted to make sure there was enough variety for everyone's tastes anyway), plus I didn't even have a clue how much I'd need for a crowd that size. We actually ended up with way too many! But the thing that mattered most to me—aside from that one single agreement about the cookies—was how easy everything was; they delivered them straight to the catering service and handled all the scheduling themselves without me having to lift a finger. Seriously, hats off to them, and for what it's worth, they tasted delicious to me...
Thanks so much 😉 Daniel Smith8, thanks to you too 😉
How about this: I’m not paying more than $27 a pound for cookies! I’d love to hear from someone who’s actually tried them or worked with them—I want to know if they’re actually good!