Posts by analoggardener51

I need to vent for a moment....
My husband and I were on a mission this month. My last period was October 15th, ovulation was around the 29th, and a few days later, the symptoms hit me hard. I was dealing with an exhaustion so profound that I’d get home and have to sleep for an hour just to function. My breasts were incredibly tender—you could practically see the veins from space—and I even had some discharge, sometimes watery, sometimes milky. I was running to the bathroom every half hour. Then my lower back started aching too. I was almost certain this was it, because I never felt anything like this during my first pregnancy; back then, I was just tired and that was it. I took a test a couple of days before my period was due, and it was negative. I tried again yesterday morning, and still nothing.
Then, just a few hours after that second test, my period arrived right on schedule. But there was absolutely no cramping, which is something I always experience. Despite that, my breasts are still swollen, I'm still getting discharge when I apply pressure, my back hurts, and I'm constantly needing to pee!
Even my period feels strange. It seems heavier than usual, but I can't explain why my stomach isn't cramping at all....
I'm just so heartbroken...

Here is the situation. Two days ago, on the clothing sales subreddit, I made my first proper entry. I created a post (post number 1332) containing a direct link to my item album, using a photo of some jeans as the thumbnail. Since I added several more items to that album the following day, I opened a new thread (post number 1377), included a link back to my initial post, and used photos of the new items as thumbnails.

And today, I am hit with an infraction from the moderator Palma Sutra, stating: "This infraction is worth 30 points and may result in restricted access until it expires. Serious infractions will never expire."
Naturally, the link to my album in my original post is now gone.

What does this infraction actually imply? How long does this penalty last, and when will my album be visible again?
Furthermore, on what grounds was this infraction even issued?

My response from Palma Sutra was simply: "Shouldn't you have just updated the first post? And please respect the interval between advertisements."

Which first post? I provided a direct link to the album in my initial post. I must admit, I find this entirely incomprehensible...

Everything I did aligns perfectly with the subreddit rules:

After the initial posting of an album or a post featuring items for sale, reposting is permitted after one week has passed.

Reposting shall be conducted in the following manner:
Copy the link to the post containing your offer.
Paste-ati it into a new post, emphasizing which items are sold and which remain available.*

If you wish to lower prices or add new items during that week, this is permitted only once. You must write the post using the aforementioned method (by copying the link to the post containing your original offer). Should such instances occur, the date you are eligible to repost the album will be one week after you have lowered prices or added new items.

Every subsequent post in this thread (with the exception of the first, obviously) must contain a link to the previous or most recent post. Posts that fail to include this link will be deleted and sanctioned for violating the rules.

So, can someone please explain to me why I received this infraction?

I’ve already mentioned how I saw those two lines on the test and felt like I was on top of the world, but since my first ultrasound isn't scheduled for another ten days or so, I went ahead and got my blood work done. The results show a beta level of 7,123.00 👍 (based on a 5+3 conception date). I was reading online that a typical value for the fifth week can go up to around 7,300.00, so this number feels a bit high to me... Or is it?
In any case, I’m not feeling any specific symptoms, other than being chronically exhausted and dealing with constant aching in my abdomen and lower back!
I am definitely pregnant... provided everything looks fine at the appointment!

cosmicpanther71 said:Maybe it’s just subconscious, since you’re hoping to stay pregnant.
But mostly, I'm pulling for you. 👍

This is our very first month of trying! So, I haven't let myself get too obsessed yet, knowing the odds are slim when you're just starting out, but still... Plus, the wedding is only a month away, so I don't have much headspace to dwell on symptoms.
I am genuinely wondering why I've been feeling this sharp, stabbing pain for a week now!

rustyorca15 said:It could mean something, or it might not. It is quite difficult to say for certain. Personally, I experienced such unusual bloating and breast tenderness that I just knew I was pregnant. Wishing you the best of luck... 😘

My breasts don't hurt at all, and I've never even had cramps during my period, so if they actually start aching, I'll be one hundred percent certain.
Since I'm feeling a bit bloated, I think I'll just wait a little while before taking a test... 😛

Fine, I’ll buy the test if it doesn't arrive in time. But there is something on my mind. Is this normal? I know everything is "normal," but I am genuinely concerned. Since the start of last week—right when my fertile window opened and my ovulation was confirmed—I have had this constant, sharp poking sensation in my lower abdomen. On top of that, I feel bloated like a barrel... I can barely even button my jeans. And as of today, my lower back is absolutely killing me.
Usually, I only experience pain right around ovulation, and nothing else until my next period. Aside from some bloating, I typically feel fine. But I don't remember ever having this stinging sensation or this much pressure before. Could this actually signify something?
We have certainly been staying busy in the bedroom this month...😬 so maybe we just got lucky.👍

I’ve never personally heard anyone mention that before, but I saw it with my own eyes... so clearly, they weren't lying to me!

velvetjackal752 said:That cake is absolutely stunning. I am obsessed with those satin ribbons they use for decoration—they just add such a classy touch. We actually considered using fondant for ours, but I honestly had no clue if the flavor was going to be hit or miss. Now you’ve got me second-guessing everything 🙄 we might just pivot to white chocolate instead. I have a huge soft spot for those cakes decorated with butterflies, though I don't think ours will go quite that route. I would love to use some fresh roses as a garnish, but my husband is totally freaked out by the idea of bugs crawling on them or some hidden pesticides getting onto the food. I keep trying to gently suggest that we could just place them on a layer of clear cellophane so they don't actually touch the cake. Maybe if I play my cards right, I can finally talk him into it 🙂

Regarding white chocolate, I've been told by several local bakeries that it just isn't as "flexible" as dark chocolate. It's highly probable that a glaze made from it will crack in certain spots.
I saw this firsthand at a bakery in Cleveland when the clerk pulled a birthday cake out of the cooler that was entirely coated in white chocolate, and the icing was already splitting apart!
So, proceed with caution if you choose white chocolate.

copperraven39 said:Oh, let me think if I missed anything else... does anyone happen to have the exact dimensions for the cake? Like, you know, the length, height, width, all that good stuff?

Ultimately, the size of the cake depends entirely on your guest count—specifically how many slices you need—and, of course, the specific shape you're aiming for.
Once you factor all those variables in, you arrive at the final dimensions...

Ashley Adams4 said:Aha....
Anyway, that’s actually a decent price for Vinny—but honestly, most decent bakeries are hitting those numbers now, so... I’m still torn between going with them or just heading over to Baskin-Robbins... can't make up my mind yet.😁

I think M&M might be the better call; they seem way less corporate than Vinny's, plus I've had their pastries before and they were fantastic!
They were definitely on my shortlist until I ran into Emma.😬

urbanrider6 said:So I called up this bakery yesterday—my wedding is still six months out—to see if they could whip up a cake with marzipan and let me come by for a tasting. And get this: they won't touch it 😲 😲 Apparently, since marzipan is so heavy, they told me I’d have to go with some stiff, structured cake instead of anything light like a parfait or fruit-based sponge.
Honestly? I'm thinking about ditching them and finding someone else entirely. I'm totally stuck on what to do here.

Just so you know, I had the exact same conversation with my aunt from Emma's place, since I also prefer avoiding maraschino cherries—they're tasteless. She even let me try some, and honestly, they're incredibly bland!
But I didn't cave, so I'll be having them in my cake, and I'm certain it'll turn out great. They just get those cherries pre-packaged in cans, and then you just have to mash them up properly and spread them over the cake. 😬
So, you're more than welcome to come check out mine in five months!
The only catch is that you really have to work those cherries to get the consistency right, so it's a bit more labor-intensive than just using whipped cream or frosting.

Ronald Hill3 said:Ha, okay. I’m looking at September, so do you think I should have my deposit ready by then if I want a big wedding? How much does the deposit usually run? Did you end up booking with them?
Gosh, I just love this forum... A huge 😘 to everyone, ladies!!!!!

September might be a bit of a stretch right now, but why not call your aunt or just swing by a local bakery to ask. You can grab a cookie while you're at it 👍

I already put down my deposit with them, and I left $33, and the cake should cost me about $167!

Ronald Hill3 said:If you guys end up going, let us know if the pastries are actually any good—and whether you really need to pre-order everything that far in advance. 😍

The sooner, the better. I put down my deposit this past Monday for May 19th, and they already have three weddings booked for that date. Generally, they can handle two large ceremonies or one big wedding alongside two or three smaller ones.
And my aunt mentioned they’re already taking massive deposits by the bucketload!

northernhawk87 said:Ashley Adams4, I haven't quite managed to break the news to my family yet—specifically the part where we're opting for fewer treats because there simply isn't any packaging for homemade goods 😁. I am quite certain my folks have some massive, stubborn ideas swirling around in their heads regarding this matter 😉.
Where exactly is Emma located in that small town in the US? Is there a recognizable landmark or perhaps a well-known shop nearby that she could use to get her bearings? I find myself thinking that I really 🙂 must try
those sweets for myself eventually.

Must try!
I believe the address is 7th Street or maybe 17, the street runs perpendicular to the old highway leading out of town!

My recommendation? Emma’s Bakery in Smalltown, USA.
I placed a deposit with them a few days ago after touring about ten different bakeries, and this one definitely blew me away. The lady there packed up about 20 different kinds of bite-sized pastries for us to sample at home, along with a slice of cake. And I can tell you this: even though I usually argue against serving those little finger foods at weddings, I’m actually starting to second-guess my stance...
The pastries truly taste homemade, and unlike the mass-produced stuff you often find, none of them taste exactly the same. The whole shop smells like heaven. As for the cakes, I don't even need to go into detail; we actually went back the very next day for more 😬
. The price for the assorted pastries is $23, and a cake large enough for 60 people runs about $167.

If the argument is that we shouldn't cater to every single whim of the guests (which isn't actually the issue), then the young couple should simply be treated as the honored guests of their own celebration, while everyone else focuses on organizing the party itself.

There will always be someone finding something to complain about. This band wasn't loud enough, this wine tastes sour, that guest is sitting too close to the edge of the table, someone didn't order enough chicken, this person wants this, that person wants that... It is an endless, exhausting cycle of negativity.

In America, things are done according to our own wishes. Anyone who spends their time nitpicking only proves they didn't attend out of respect for the couple to celebrate their special day, but rather showed up just to eat, drink, and party at someone else's expense.

To me, every single wedding cake tastes exactly the same, and I have zero interest in eating them.
That is why we aren't doing a traditional cake at our wedding. Instead, we’re going to pick up an assortment of high-end chocolates—think Ferrero Rocher, Lindt, Ghirardelli, and various truffles—and arrange them beautifully in large glass bowls so guests can indulge.
As for whether the older generation will approve... frankly, I do not care. This is my wedding, and we are running it exactly how we want to run it.

Gerald Thomas11 said:Look, friend, you aren't looking for a mortgage; you need a home loan.
Head over to the housing subforum if you want more details.
Here is the basic breakdown:
A mortgage—you put up property you already own as collateral to get cash in hand. It's basically just a general-purpose loan.
A home loan—it's specifically for buying, building, or renovating. Because it's purpose-driven, the interest rates are much lower.

A person can absolutely use existing property as collateral for the purpose of purchasing a new one, can't they? Or even use someone else's property as security!
And even when you take out a standard home loan, the payment is secured by a mortgage on the property you are actually buying!

silentmason15 said:I'm with you on that. An acquaintance of mine reached out to explain all this investment hype to me because she works for Charles Schwab. It caught me off guard, so I agreed to meet up, mostly because she's a cool person we met out in a more relaxed setting 😬. There is zero chance she's going to sell me some bullshit; I'm going purely out of curiosity, not expecting to hear anything life-changing. For me, the most important thing will be whether we actually go out that night—now *that* is something I'll definitely invest in, with the smile of a satisfied customer. 😬

And then you'll be stuck dealing with the fallout for months!
If I were in your shoes, I would think twice about this one!

Head over to a local Suburban garden center and pick up some dried nettle root and leaves. Brew a few liters of a really strong tea from them. Once you’ve finished your standard shampoo routine, soak your hair in that infusion for about five minutes. Don't rinse it out; just let it air dry or towel dry normally.
It works, guaranteed.