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katrisims
Hello, and welcome back to Pauline's Paintings, my Summer Challenge for 2024! It's a Great Boolprop Olympic Challenge with the goal to paint 25 paintings. My competing sim, Pauline Abrahams, has reached 10 paintings, and is currently in the middle of toddler training her daughter Penny. Shall we dive right in?
Penny's first word was “bottle”, and from there, it didn't take long to get the rest of talking figured out.
Since Pauline is currently off from work to take care of Penny, the two of them started working on the final toddler skill, nursery rhyme, right away.
That too, was mastered that afternoon.
They also spent a little time together, just for fun.
Afterwards, Penny headed to her toys.
And of course, Pauline headed to her easel, to get started on the 11th painting.
While she was at it, she maxed the creativity skill, which made her Knowledge side very happy.
While Penny was having a nap, also phone time and practice on charisma with the Execuputter were in order.
After Penny woke up, they enjoyed her newly learned nursery rhyme together. It's Penny's final Aspiration boost before her birthday.
Just as Pauline was about to take Penny to the cake, I noticed there was a walkby on the yard. Bonita Curious is from my completed GBOC. On a whim, I invited her in.
There was no party, but Bonita came in to see Penny grow up.
Alright, Penny, let's see how you turn out!
There she is, and still a cutie!
Penny: "Look, I'm all bigger now!"
Before bed, Penny gets a makeover. I'm pretty happy with how she turned out.
Oh, and before bed, she needs an actual bed. We sold the toddler stuff and got Penny a big girl room instead.
In the morning, Pauline made a call to the nanny service. The Business career hours are decent, but there's still one hour a day that Penny would spend alone, so I figured I could use the nanny for once, since there's no second parent to take turns or anything. It'd probably be just fine, but the popups about leaving a child alone are annoying at best and worrying at worst.
Pauline had a bit of time for charisma practice before work.
Meanwhile, Penny enjoyed the day's most important meal.
Then, it's time for her first day at school!
A little bit later, Pauline headed to work as well. I bought her a car since she wanted one a while back, and figured she might as well use it for going to work. It spares us from having to listen to the helicopter twice a day.
After school, Penny spends a little time with her new nanny in front of the tv. She quite likes tv, probably because she doesn't have much in the way of active points.
After Pauline got home from work and the nanny left, she cooked dinner for herself and Penny.
Then they did Penny's first homework together, and Penny got the knack of how to do it herself so it doesn't take all night.
After Penny went to bed, Pauline worked on her charisma, and just as I was about to send her to bed for the night, she maxed it, thanks to her newly gained "Eureka!" Aspiration perk.
The next morning wasn't super eventful. Penny had breakfast with Pauline, then fixed the tub (again) and worked on the next painting before work.
Penny came home with her grades improving.
While the nanny watched tv inside, she decided to enjoy the snow while it was there.
After Pauline came from work, it was dinnertime again.
After dinner, it was time for painting and homework.
And in fact, Pauline soon finished the 11th painting, and it joined the others in our gallery.
Afterwards, Pauline and Penny got to spend a little quality time together before Penny's bedtime.
I didn't take a picture but Penny made a snowman during the day. At night, the penguin showed up to talk to it. About crime, apparently.
Pauline had a little time before bed, so she got started on painting number 12.
In the morning, Pauline made an important phone call. She wanted Penny to get into private school, and the headmaster was interested in meeting them.
Pauline already made tonight's meal last night and stored it in the fridge, so she had time to work on her painting before work.
In the afternoon, Penny brought home not only an A+ report card but also a new friend. Which is great, since she's been wanting to make a friend.
Brandon Curious (son of Bonita and Brenda, who've visited before) watched some tv with Penny while the nanny watched over them from the llama game.
By five pm, Pauline was ready to greet the headmaster, Justus, outside.
He was quite impressed by our unfinished gallery, and the living room especially was to his liking.
Spaghetti was the most demanding meal I trusted Pauline to make, so spaghetti it was. The headmaster seemed perfectly happy with it, and I made sure he had company too.
In the end, our efforts paid off, and Penny got into private school.
After the headmaster had been fed, Brandon headed to the chess board, so Penny joined him.
Meanwhile, Pauline got the chance to paint.
After their chess game it was getting late, so Penny said good night to her new friend.
Not much after Penny went to bed, Pauline finished the 12th painting, and we hung it in the gallery.
She did yet a little bit digging before bed, to grow her inventory of goods.
In the morning, some elixir was in order, then more digging before work.
Then it was also time for Penny's first day as a private school student.
That day, Pauline had a little work mishap due to never learning my lesson about chance cards. I thought the hobby chance cards were harmless, but apparently not, and well, Pauline got demoted. She was playing a game on her lunch break, her boss walked in, and despite being interested in Pauline's explanation about the game, still got mad at her for playing games at work, and thus demoted her! Which felt so unfair, it was her lunch break for goodness' sake! And who even is boss to a Business Tycoon, anyway?
Pauline: "Well, on the upside, I didn't get fired, and once I get promoted back I'll get a new promotion bonus, which helps my LTW."
That's the spirit!
Well, the demotion thing did kind of mess with my plans for Pauline's weekend. She was supposed to have tomorrow off, but since she's now level 9, she doesn't. I was planning to only do this tomorrow, but I figured I'd get started in the evening.
Yes, this is where all the digging comes in. My sneaky plan is to sell all the stuff she's dug in a home business, to earn more money for her LTW. You probably guessed that already, the plan wasn't that sneaky really.
One phone call later, Pauline is the owner of a new home business.
I rarely do home businesses, so this one is kind of exciting. It was partially inspired by the Trailer Park Challenge, where an important source of income is yard sales, essentially home businesses that sell all kinds of junk you don't need (anymore).
The first customer was apparently my simself.
And it seems the second one was the reporter. My simself looks really pleased for some reason.
This reporter was very easy to please. I don't think Pauline even had time to interact with her before she announced we were getting a good review, then a few moments later, not only that but also the Best of the Best award. Well, we've no complaints!
I was planning on Penny getting some leftovers from the fridge, but apparently she had a better idea, and made herself a muffin with the toy owen. Well done Penny!
Bonita seemed to like the business too, as with her star, it climbed to rank 1.
Before she closed the business off for the night, Pauline gained a bronze sales badge. We didn't make that much money, but we're off to a good start, and every little bit helps.
Before bedtime, Pauline did some painting and Penny played some chess.
In the morning, Pauline took care to eat breakfast together with Penny, before they headed to work and school.
They both had some time for hobbies before they had to go.
In the afternoon, Penny brought a friend from school. She's one of the Ottomas children, so I don't think she has a phone so we could call her again, but well, a nice llama game was still enjoyed by all.
When Pauline came from work about an hour later, she was rightfully promoted back to the top of her career. Well done Pauline, again!
Penny got some phone time with Brandon.
Pauline of course cooked, and dinner was enjoyed with her coworker Brent.
After he left, Penny got to relax in front of the tv, and Pauline, of course, painted.
After Penny went to bed, she finished the 13th painting.
Naturally, it joined the others in the gallery.
Penny started on number 14 a little bit before going to bed for the night.
The next day was a Saturday, so Pauline and Penny enjoyed their breakfast in peace.
After breakfast, Penny invited Brandon over to play.
Soon enough, the two of them were found at the chess board again.
Pauline spent the forenoon painting.
And, having gotten some uninterrupted time at the easel, she completed the 14th painting.
Here it is in the gallery. Actually, now that I think of it, that portrait kind of looks like it could be Will Wright.
Brandon joined the family for lunch.
He then went home, because Penny needed a nap. She's going to be a teenager soon, and one of the perks is definitely the larger energy bar.
While Penny was asleep, Pauline opened the business for a bit to hopefully sell some of those treasures she's found.
It seems the neighbors were happy to buy some rocks and bones.
And just as we were closing for the night, Pauline gained a register bronze badge. That should make handling the queues a bit less of a pain!
After the last customers left, it was time for some quiet activities for the rest of the evening: Penny studied cooking while Pauline worked on the 15th painting.
Sunday morning came, and naturally, it started with a family breakfast.
Pauline and Penny spent a little time together, and talked about their hobbies, which they both had on the head.
t's Penny's birthday, and she's had a pretty persistent Want for a puppy, so we decided now would be a good time to adopt one! So Pauline made the call, and the puppy would be arriving soon.
I don't play much with pets, as busy households can become a bit of a hassle, and say, the breeding category in legacies mostly just stresses me, so I tend to skip it. But here since the household is small and I don't think Pauline will be having more kids, I figured why not get a puppy for once.
Pauline took care that the puppy has everything it needs, while a very excited Penny went to greet the newcomer.
It's a male puppy, and because I wasn't feeling very imaginative, his name is Fluffy. Welcome to the family, Fluffy!
Pauline got to know Fluffy a bit, too, and got started with his training via praising and scolding (hopefully less so) while she was at it.
While Fluffy was resting and Penny was doing her own thing, Pauline got to work on the 15th painting some more.
They enjoyed a late lunch, so that all would be ready for Penny's birthday in the evening.
Birthday time! No big celebrations as there were no Wants for it, but in any case Penny got a cake and her mother cheering her on.
There she goes, let's see how she turns out!
Penny: "There, not too bad if I say so myself!"
Indeed, and happy birthday!
Penny: "If you need me, I'll be at the dresser."
And here's Penny after her makeover. She rolled Romance/Popularity for her Aspiration, and likes male sims with Vampirism and high charisma, but they can't be too artistic. Her LTW is to have 30 successful parties, which would be fun but that'd be its own challenge.
While Penny was at the dresser, Pauline worked on her painting, and managed to complete it. That means we're at 15 paintings now, 10 more to go before the challenge is over. Woo! That also means that it's time to wrap up this update. Thanks for reading, and I hope to see you next time. Until then, happy simming!
