mysimsloveaffair

[mysimsloveaffair]

Part 2 will continue to post here on Tumblr tomorrow. Or you can read the rest on my website by clicking the link above.  

Read From Beginning / Read Most Recent Posts

[mysimsloveaffair]

Xavier walks me and Maia to the horse’s barn. I’m surprised to see how clean it is and there are almost no bad smells to reveal that a horse lives here. Xavier grabs Finesse’s saddle and shows us how to put it on before leading us inside his small home. I laugh to myself when Xavier refers to the tiny place as his “ranch”. If it’s a ranch, it’s the smallest one I’ve ever seen. And only a fraction of the size of Ma and Dad’s farm in Henford. 

Meanwhile, still outside…

Tami walks over to Finesse, and the horse responds by kneeling in the dirt.

Tambara: You want me to get on?

Finesse lowers herself further, and Tami takes the hint and ends up on her belly on the horse’s back. Suddenly, Finesse stands. Panicked, Tami holds on for dear life.

Tambara: Wait! I’m not on yet!

[mysimsloveaffair]

Terror wallops me in the gut when I see Tami taking a gift from some strange old man. I march over immediately.

Wade: Hey! What the hell, man! You can’t go around giving things to little kids!

Xavier: I’m sorry. I shoulda asked, but I meant no harm. It’s tradition to give gifts to guests around these parts, specially during Winterfest.

Wade: Where I’m from, it’s creepy!

Which is not entirely true���not offering a guest something back home in Henford-On-Bagley is rude and frowned upon. Chestnut Ridge has the same feel and probably holds similar customs. Maybe I’m overreacting. But then again, we don’t live in Henford anymore. We live in San Sequoia - a big city. Taking a gift from a stranger there can be dangerous. Tami has to be more careful.

Wade: Tami, you shouldn’t be over here! We’ve been looking everywhere for you! You don’t talk to strangers, remember?

Tambara: But I’m not lost! And he’s not a stranger. His name is Xavier, and I wanted to see the horsy. 

Wade: We don’t know him, so he’s a stranger!

Xavier: Your daddy is right, Little Miss. I’m sorry, I shoulda been more considerate.

Again, I realize that his giving Tami the gift was his form of being considerate. My phone buzzes, and I know it’s probably Maia. In my panic, I almost forgot she’s still looking for Tami. I pull out my phone to tell her where we are. She finds us a few moments later.

Maia: Hi, I’m Maia. Thanks for keeping Tami safe.

Maia’s calm, relieved tone encourages me to lower my guard slightly.

Xavier: I’m Xavier. And ya welcome. Little Miss was a big help, keeping my horse, Finesse, from running off.

I remember my small-town manners.

Wade: Yeah, thanks, man. We’re glad she’s safe. And we took enough of your time, so we’d better go.

Xavier: No need to rush off. Let me show ya’ll around the place since you’re already here. It’s not big—won’t take long.

I open my mouth to refuse, but Maia responds before I can.

Maia: I’m sure Tami would love that.

[mysimsloveaffair]

Tambara: I’m not lost. I just wanted to see the horsy.

Xavier: Well, you met Finesse and my name is Xavier. And I’m pretty sure your parents are looking for ya.

Tambara: But I’m not lost.

Xavier: Okay, I’ll take ya word for it. But you’re definitely not from around here. I’d remember them pretty gray eyes.

Tambara: I’m from San Sequoia, and we’re visiting the horsies for Winterfest.

Xavier: Well, Happy Winterfest, Little Miss. Since ya here visiting, I think I have a little something I can scrounge up for ya. Wait right here.

Xavier goes into his house and returns with a nicely wrapped blue box.

Xavier: No visitor to my ranch leaves empty-handed.

Tami happily accepts the gift.  

[mysimsloveaffair]

We reenter the Equestrian Center and search the stands and the stalls before we realize Tami isn’t there. That’s when the panic sets in, and we run around outside calling her name.

Maia: Tami! Tami, where are you?

Wade: *to Maia* I’ll check near the stores. You try the park!

Meanwhile, about 200 yards away…

Tambara: You’re the prettiest horsy ever!

Older Gentleman: Nessie! How did ya get outside the gate again?

The guy walks over to claim his horse.

Tambara: Is this your horsy?

Older Gentleman: Yes. Are ya lost? Where’re ya parents?

[mysimsloveaffair]

Maia agrees and we arrive in the New Appaloosa neighborhood to see a few horse competitions. But regret slaps me in the face as soon as I approach the doors of the Equestrian Center, as the scent of moist hay mixed with horse manure snatches me back to my days cleaning out our cow shed in Henford-On-Bagley. I vowed to myself a long time ago that I'd avoid livestock shit and the stables where they live in the future, but Maia and Tami are extra excited, so I'm forced to suck it up and breathe through my mouth as I step inside.

Somehow I make it through and even enjoy the competitions. Several hours later, I hurry out of the arena's doors and take a deep breath of fresh country air. Maia steps out behind me.

Maia: Where's Tami?

Wade: What do you mean? I thought she was with you!

We look around, and Tami is nowhere in sight. We're in Chestnut Ridge for only a few hours, and we've already lost our child. It's just like when I lost my little brother Drake** as soon as we arrived in Batuu after my young adult birthday.

**Link takes you to my WordPress website

(Full post available to read on my website)

[mysimsloveaffair]

Could it be?? Another Giveaway...Retro Style

Thanks to the EA Creator Network for the extra EA App codes to give to lucky followers! This time, I will pick 1 winner for the Sims 1 and 1 winner for the Sims 2.

To Enter:

❤️ Follow Me

❤️Like This Post

❤️Let me know in the comments which game you want...the Sims 1 or the Sims 2**

Extra Entries (optional):

❤️Reblog this post (+1)

❤️Follow me on simsloveaffairreblogs (+1) [comment ‘following’ below if you’re already following]

❤️Subscribe to my YouTube channel (+1) [comment ‘subscribed’ below, even if you’re already subscribed]

Ends:  Friday, February 14, 2025, 10pm CST (2 randomly drawn winners will be notified via Tumblr messages the next day)

Thanks, and good luck! 🤗

[mysimsloveaffair]

And the Winner Is...

Congrats to our lucky winner, @thecatwholovedpolish !! (Please respond by Monday, February 3rd, by 12am CST to claim your prize!)

Stay tuned...new giveaway coming later today!

[mysimsloveaffair]

Maia pulls me into a big hug.

Maia: Thank you!

Having Maia approve of my actions again feels good. I finally feel like I’m out of the doghouse. Maybe this is a step towards making Maia’s words, ‘I don’t think we will make it’ fade away for good.

After the hug…

Wade: There are some horse show competitions scheduled for this morning. Should we go check some of them out?

[mysimsloveaffair]

I reenter the cabin after I’m satisfied with the outside décor. It’s nice to be out of the cold and even nicer when Maia walks over with a tiny smile.

Maia: This was a wonderful idea.

I’m so glad to hear that.

[mysimsloveaffair]

Maia: Now you place the tooth under your pillow for the tooth fairy. In the morning, you might find a prize.

Tambara: I don’t understand why the fairy would want my old icky tooth.

Maia: It’s just one of those things, I guess.

No longer distracted by the loose tooth, Tami explores her new surroundings. She spots a colorful tube on the coffee table that looks like the leftover cardboard after the toilet paper has run out. She’s seen these on TV. It’s a Holiday Cracker. Tami picks it up, shakes it, and finally pops it open. It’s like a mini piñata, full of confetti, with candy inside.

[mysimsloveaffair]

The odd feeling of the wiggly tooth once again distracts Tami. Her tongue has been darting back and forth all morning, pushing it around. She wiggles it some more, but this time, she wiggles too hard, and the tooth falls out.

The idea of holding her tooth in her hand is unsettling. And now there’s a strange taste in Tami’s mouth that is like licking a metal simoleon.

Tambara: Ew! I can taste blood. 

The wiggling tooth isn’t there anymore, but her tongue now explores the space left by its absence. Tami can’t decide which is worse.

[mysimsloveaffair]

The cabin is cozy, and the warmth is a pleasant contrast to the chilly mountain air outside. I want to bring the ‘fest’ back into our Winterfest, so I immediately start looking for decorations for the outside of the house. There’s a decorated Winterfest tree in the corner, so Maia and Tami take some time to light it.

With the tree lit and the outside of the house decorated, our Winterfest is already feeling much brighter!

[mysimsloveaffair]

Sims 1 & 2: Legacy giveaway post coming tomorrow (Saturday, February 1st, 2025)! Be sure to check back!

It's crazy that it's been 25 years since The Sims franchise started. But, in response to my giveaway poll question found here... I remember going to Fry's Electronics store when my son was a baby (he's now a senior in college) and seeing the boxes for the first Sims game and the Living Large and House Party expansions. I had no idea what it was then, but I was intrigued. So I saved up my pennies and eventually purchased it, and it's been a wrap since then.

I've owned every Sim (1, 2, 3 & 4) game and most expansions (scrapping up money by filling out online surveys and stuff like that 🙃). I have no regrets because I don't think there's ever been a game that's allowed so many opportunities for creativity to flow. The games are imperfect. Purchasing them gets costly, and there have been many bugs and ridiculous loading times...I've been ready to rage quit more times than I can count (side-eyeing the Sims 4 My Wedding Stories pack 🤣). But the games have also been very therapeutic and have gotten me through some stressful times.

It's cool that the re-release of the first two games in the series came out today. I know plenty of Simmers still play the Sims 2, and I follow some of them here on Tumblr. But I haven't seen much from the original Sims game in years. Hopefully, some of that gameplay will pop up on my dash soon.

If you decide to purchase the original games or any current Sims 4 Expansions during the Sims 25th birthday sale (ends February 10)... Please consider using my code DIEGO2MEMPHIS as your promo code on the EA App or thesims.com. I'll earn 5% on the purchase at no extra cost to you! It's a great way to support a small creator, and I'd be so grateful.

Thanks for the ❤️.

[mysimsloveaffair]

The poll closes in one hour (10am CST), but you can still enter the giveaway (until 10pm CST tonight) by responding with your answer below. If you already voted in the poll, please also write your response in the comments below. It's the only way I'll know you voted and the only way I can enter you in the giveaway.

Thanks, and good luck!!

Another giveaway?? Let's do this one a little differently! 🙃

Thanks to the EA Creator Network for the extra EA App codes to give to a lucky follower! The winner will receive codes for both kits.

To Enter:

❤️ Follow Me

❤️ Answer the Poll Question

❤️ Reply with Your Answer (*This is your entry!)

Extra Entries (optional):

❤️Reblog this post (+1)

❤️Tag 1 Fellow Simmer (+1)

Ends:  Friday, January 31, 2025, 10pm CST (A randomly drawn winner will be notified via Tumblr messages the next day)

Thanks, and good luck! 🤗

[mysimsloveaffair]

Part 1 will continue to post here on Tumblr tomorrow. Or you can read the rest on my website by clicking the link above.  

Read From Beginning / Read Most Recent Posts

[mysimsloveaffair]

It takes longer than planned, but Tami eventually forgets her tooth long enough for us to get dressed and out the door. Although Chestnut Ridge is the next town over, my only experience with it was when Maia and I took the train** through it on our way to Del Sol Valley when we first met. The scenery was beautiful then, but driving through gives us an up close and personal view of the place.

We arrive at our rental and admire our surroundings before making our way inside. Maia and I lead while Tami drags behind with Hiro and Majesty.

**Link takes you to my WordPress website