Even if your career goal is to totally nail every single element of your role eventually, acknowledging that you’re already crushing a few tasks will ideally build your confidence as you work on mastering the whole shebang.

“It wasn’t until after I heard confirmation from the doctor that our baby did in fact look healthy and well, until after I wiped the gel off my stomach and pulled my shirt back down — until I got outside even, on the way to our car — that it really sunk in. I was having a ****. I am having a ****.”

Stumped on what to get your queer BFF? Trying in a last-ditch attempt to bulk up your own list? Looking for inspiration for the perfect gift for your loved ones? We’re bound to have something in common with you or someone you like, so get in here and check out our wish lists!

“There were good reasons we hadn’t started trying. But the bigger reason, which came out right there in a flood on cobblestones in the French Quarter, was that Simone wanted me to carry her baby, and that was maybe going to be impossible to achieve.”

“It’s like biting into a decorative soap. Whoever decided this was an acceptable form of dessert was a sadist of the highest order. If anyone ever offers you one of these items, escape immediately; this person is trying to kill you.”

Topics include the report on Rolling Stone’s UVA story, the shuttering of The Bold Italic, how the hell does networking work, the VIDA count and MOAR!

“But no matter what, I’ve always, always, always known that I would be a parent. I’ve always wanted to have a baby. Actually babies, plural. Lots of them. One miscarriage, four embryos, dozens of pee sticks, 18 months, and approximately 132 injections later, I’m 18 weeks pregnant!”

How I prepare my home and myself for the experience of birth and new parenthood, with as few products as possible.

In which our loved ones have something to say about the words we write.

The most important item on this list is #5.

What do you want your 2015 to look like? We need to know right now.

If you thought all we could do was sit in our chairs and type words on a screen, prepare to have your mind blown!

So maybe my pregnancy path isn’t as simple and straightforward as baby books would have you believe it should be because I’m a poor QPoC with anxiety, but it has been an interesting worthwhile journey so far. I can’t wait until I can take the next step.

This holiday season, give the human you adore a sex toy upgrade.

Is “Fatshion” still a thing we’re saying? Either way, here’s some cool clothes to add to your wishlist.

So you’ve recently come out to your family, and it’s the first time you’ve been to holigay dinner since it happened. Autostraddle is here to help you through it.

“At some point, probably around the time I became a surly teenager and wanted something of my very own to craft and control and create, I decided to start making gingerbread too. At first this was just something I did alone, but gradually my younger brother began helping me, then my older brother, and it kind of became a tradition by accident.”

What do you do when the world gives you a mandatory day off, when nothing is open except Chinese restaurants and movie theatres?

Considering how special each and every snowflake is who works here, there’s bound to be something in this guide for you, your girlfriend, all your gay friends, and maybe even one of your most badass family members.

Are you feeling the Holigay spirit? Do you hate me for even bringing up that the holiday season is upon us? Either way, GET IN HERE and tell me all about it.