Weekly Randoms 2/20

LoveInDC

@JJMNO1616 @heatherdubrow The LT's were/are newbies, one off and on poster, and one lurking grad. Half of which now have taken theirs off after seeing the follow-ups.

jenotontx

This event also just made me realize we are missing a TW Tuesday thread. 

LoveInDC

@adirat said: @loveindc Yeah, I see the gif in your quoted section. Weird! And sad

@lulu1180 said: @LoveInDC What browser do you use?  I noticed when I used IE that sometimes gifs didn't come up or were frozen but I have no issues on Chrome.

How annoying! I'm using Firefox. It's either that or IE or my work laptop. I can check using DH's later on Chrome. But it looks like the issue is with us @adirat! Not you

eggplantface

My work blocks random gifs but I just assumed @adirat posted an awesome "what the hell?" gif or something similar so I went ahead and love titted, sight unseen

adirat

@eggplantface Wow, I am flattered by your trust in me! Thanks friend! 

BertieMeetsGertie

@adirat no gifs for me on mobile..... 

slaven

@adirat I can't see your gifs from safari but I see others' gifs

MJDsquared

@JJMNO1616 @heatherdubrow @LoveInDC I was one who loved it (I think), but I just figured she was someone who had posted here before me (I'm a newbie, but also an on and off poster--not sure which category you had me under). I certainly wouldn't post in the grad thread if I were to get a BFP at this point since I haven't been here long and I don't post a lot, so I totally get why people are upset, I just didn't know.

kiwi2628

That thread though.

LoveInDC

@MJDsquared I don't think any of us were hating on you (or anyone else) for LTing the post. We were just acknowledging that the people who did, didn't really know any better. They either haven't been here long enough (newbies), don't post often enough to notice (on/off posters), or just lurk on the grad thread (former grads). And once they got the full story, they backed off.

Thanks for thinking of us and being considerate. I think a good rule of thumb is make sure people will know who you are when you do post your grad thread. That usually comes after at least 1-2 cycles of regularly posting on the daily and chat threads.

We can't wait to get to know you and celebrate your BFP when that day comes PS, if you change your avatar, it might help us recognize you even more in the future!

heatherdubrow

What @LoveInDC said!

Tennis11785

Seconding what @LoveInDC said.  

In other news.  guys.  my Lularoe addiction is getting out of hand.  Just yesterday, I said I was buying NO MORE. Then I won a free pair of leggings in a contest today, so I said I would get one. pair. of. leggings.  

Two pairs will be arriving at my house later this week.

   

mschanandlerbong1214

Tennis11785 said:

Seconding what @LoveInDC said.  

In other news.  guys.  my Lularoe addiction is getting out of hand.  Just yesterday, I said I was buying NO MORE. Then I won a free pair of leggings in a contest today, so I said I would get one. pair. of. leggings.  

Two pairs will be arriving at my house later this week.

   

I'm a consultant so I totally get the addiction lol!! They're just so soft and comfy! 

slaven

@Tennis11785 The same week that I said I needed to budget better to pay student loans, I went out and got $140 worth of LLR but I got a free Sarah! I was asking my consultant about how they fit and she offered to send me one just to try. I own way more Irmas than I should. 

Pacty49

I'm new and not entirely sure what's going on  but since this is called weekly randoms, I will randomly say I'm just watching Fixer Upper (Joanna Gaines is my spirit animal) oh and I'm loving the weather here in VA! 

slaven

@Pacty49 Weekly randoms is just non-ttc stuff you want to talk about. I love fixer upper. Their instagram is great too.

KatieEl

@pacty @slaven fixed upper is totally my guilty pleasure show. I never thought to check and see is they had an instant, thanks for the tip!

@heatherdubrow that recipe looks so bomb! Adding it to the list for next week!

would anyone be interested in a meal prep/recipe swap thread? I'm always looking for new ideas, especially entree type salads or make aheads for lunch.

adirat

@KatieEl I meal prep so sure, I'd be interested in that! I am trying to eat healthier so I could use more entree salad recipes too!

Tennis11785

@KatieEl @adirat - I'm definitely down for a meal prep thread.  I also need some salad recipes.  I'm just so bored with most of my meals.  Especially the healthy ones.  

jess0211

@KatieEl @adirat YES to a meal prep thread! I need some inspiration with my meal prep

icecubeinthedesert

Hey all, I'm back. (Details can be found in TTCAL check-in thread, fair warning: TWs).

Anyone else have a super hectic month coming up? In addition to family visiting throughout the whole month, I've got a paper to submit, a fellowship application to write, two posters to make, two conferences to attend, an annual group meeting... In addition to still getting lab work done. Feeling a bit overwhelmed.

Anyone have some good sleep tips for times you can't turn your brain off? I've been having trouble getting to sleep, then waking up thinking again at 3am. 

heatherdubrow

@icecubeinthedesert I'm sorry. I've found that after I started taking a magnesium supplement at night I sleep much better.

JulesDP

@icecubeinthedesert I'm so so sorry for your loss.  Big, creepy hugs I frequently have trouble switching my brain to "off." When I can anticipate nights like this, I take a 5mg melatonin (I've seen dosages from 3 to 10).  I take it about an hour before bed and do not feel groggy the next morning. 

mschanandlerbong1214

@icecubeinthedesert I'm so sorry for your loss. I second the melatonin for sure. I use the one with l-theanine since it's supposed to help you fall asleep and stay asleep. I also do some yoga specifically designed for right before bed and it helps a lot. 

jess0211

@icecubeinthedesert so sorry for your loss, creepy internet hugs! Your month sounds crazy! Are you in residency? Make sure you take some YOU time!

Tennis11785

@icecubeinthedesert - To help my brain turn off, I rewatch TV shows (Friends, Parks and Rec, Office, etc) on my phone as I fall asleep.  Something that I enjoy enough that it helps me stop thinking about the real world, but not dramatic enough that I get caught up in the storyline and it keeps me up.  It also works best with shows I've already seen, again because I know what happens I don't get caught up in trying to watch the show.  I'll watch an episode or two as I fall asleep, and then I just start it back up if I wake up in the middle of the night.  

BertieMeetsGertie

@icecubeinthedesert Oh girl, I'm so so sorry to see you back here. 

adirat

@icecubeinthedesert Hugs friend. Sorry to see you back. I know many ladies here take magnesium but it gives me diarrhea I have started some relaxation stuff, like chamomile tea or essential oils in my diffuser, with mixed success. I also changed our bedroom light bulbs to a nice soft yellow which actually helped a lot! 

icecubeinthedesert

Thanks for all the tips. I have magnesium and melatonin, but forgot about them, so I'll give those a try.

@jess0211 I'm a postdoc, which is sort of the PhD equivalent of residency. Working my way to hopefully having my own research lab some day. Most of the time the stress is manageable, but it's just a perfect storm this month. 

@adirat, which essential oils work? I know lavender aromatherapy is supposed to help, and we have some scented massage oil that I sometimes run on my neck, but I'm not sure it really works (though I haven't stuck with it to know for sure)

Bababatty

@icecubeinthedesert I'm sorry about your stressful month. I've had good luck putting a pad of paper and pen by my bed. Whenever I'm dwelling on something or wake up to dwell on something or remember an idea I shouldn't forget, I write it down. Then I'm able to quickly go back to sleep.

jess0211

@icecubeinthedesert gotcha. I figured you must either be in residency or postdoc. I work in academia, also in research!

adirat

@icecubeinthedesert I realize saying this makes me very unusual but the scent of lavender really stresses me out. I don't use it though I know many recommend it before bed.

To relax, I like chamomile essential oil (plain or mixed with orange) or geranium essential oil. I also like ylang ylang oil in the evenings, but my husband doesn't care for it so I don't use it often. I've read that rose maroc is also recommended for relaxation but I couldn't find it when I was purchasing oils. 

All of these are ttc safe all cycle long. I also love rosemary essential oil but a few blogs I read recommend avoiding herb oils (rosemary, oregano, etc.) after O. 

zwink1

@icecubeinthedesert I am so sorry to see you back here.

I've had a fairly stressful month as well, but not nearly as hectic as yours sounds.  I read this somewhere and have been using it since - beginning with A, think of five plants or animals for each letter of the alphabet.  

It sounds silly, but it works better for me than counting sheep or something like that. It refocuses your brain from whatever it is you are fixating on and forces it to think about something else. I've never made it through the whole alphabet.

dragonfly87-2

@icecubeinthedesert: I have been dealing with major sleep issues for the past few months and routinely wake up at 3:00am (also at 1:00am, 4:00am and 5:30am). 3:00am seems to be the worst for me because I stay awake for about an hour. I have found the following really helps me:

• Natural Calm mixed with a few oz of water--it's essentially flavored magnesium. It has helped me stay asleep through the night
• Sleepy Time Tea--I sometimes drink this about 30 minutes before bed for the calming effect
• Melatonin--on occasion--this really only helps me fall asleep, but does nothing to keep me 
• Not checking the time on my phone--if I start checking, it creates a vicious cycle of thinking about it, making me wake up a lot. I actually bought a $15 smart bracelet off amazon to track my sleep so I didn't have to look at the time.
• I struggle a lot with thinking through problems right before bed and when I wake up in the middle of the night. I have found either sending myself emails (yes, I know it sounds ridiculous) or writing a list of the things I want to address the next day really helps. I get anxiety about not remembering things.
• Checking my blood sugar and eating a small snack before bed--like a hard boiled egg or 6 oz of yogurt. I am hypoglycemic, but a lot of people have sleep issues related to their blood sugars dropping throughout the night. So even if you aren't hypoglycemic or diabetic, it wouldn't hurt and may help to have a small snack right before bed.

Ok, that was super long, but as a persistent sleep sufferer, I can commiserate with the struggle to stay asleep. Hopefully some of the tips on this thread will help you out!

happyhiccup

@slaven @Tennis11785 @mschanandlerbong1214 i have not yet tried LLR but keep wanting to, the stuff i see online looks so cute! i just can't seem to find it in my area (or just haven't been making the effort). probably a good thing for my budget...

@KatieEl @Pacty49 i love fixer upper! there's something warm and fuzzy about it, it just makes me feel good when i watch it. i keep daydreaming about moving to texas and buying a house to fix up (mainly because we might be moving to texas, we'll see, and my dad is a contractor and could help us with the renovation). 

@icecubeinthedesert someone told me a trick to help with anxiety (like before you have to give a big presentation), which is to start counting backwards randomly, like counting backwards from 1573 by 14 (so: 1573, 1559, 1545...), and then change the number you're subtracting once it gets too easy. something about how the part of the brain that causes the anxious feelings can't operate at the same time as the part of the brain that's activated when you're doing the math? not quite sure how it works, but i've used the trick when i'm trying to get to sleep, and it helps me relax and turn off my other thoughts. i also concentrate on each part of my body relaxing and falling sleep, starting with my toes, then my feet, calves, knees, etc. my brother recently started using headspace to meditate and he said it's helped a lot generally, and the techniques help with falling asleep.

lulu1180

@icecubeinthedesert I'm so sorry to see you back here!  

I want to showcase the maturity of my husband.  He is a groundskeeper at a cemetery and was just transferred to another location in the association he works for.  He texted me this picture and the ensuing short conversation is just below it.  Sorry the pic is sideways, I'm not sure how to fix it.

dragonfly87-2

@lulu1180: Hahahahahaha, I didn't see that coming until I read it out loud. Your DH has a similar sense of humor as my husband. He totally would have done that too!

jess0211

@lund1180 That cracks me up! I am a 12 year old apparently  

Tennis11785

@happyhiccup - none of the people I buy LLR from are local to me. Most of them are friends I grew up with/went to college with, or similar friends of friends.  

mschanandlerbong1214

@happyhiccup if you're interested in diving in PM me  it can quickly become an obsession though so be warned lol! 

So DH and I eloped before having our big church wedding. Our 5 year elopement anniversary is this Friday. He asked what I wanted to do and when I answered with "idk do we have a sitter?" He said "let me put it this way. SIL is coming over at 4 on Friday. Here is your train ticket into the city. Be dressed nicely because I'm wining and dining you!" Whaaaaaaaat?!?! He's never done anything like this and I'm excited but he won't even give me a hint as to how "nicely" I should dress! These are things a woman needs to know!!