Blogger Fun...

Here's a little blogger fun...

Your Beauty is Classic

You like to enhance your natural beauty - and your look can range from dramatic to fresh faced. When it comes to makeup and style, you know what works for you. Because of this, you let most trends pass you by. You are drawn to glamour, and while you can't always leave the house looking your best, you come close. You may gravitate toward time tested looks, but in this day and age your beauty is original. Your polished look stands out in the crowd.

What's Your Beauty Personality?

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You Should Have 1940s Hair

You are fashionable, but you need a look that is professional and sexy. Luckily, that's what the 1940s were all about. You look equally good in a smart dress or a smart suit. And you know that it's all about having the right silhouette. A 1940s hairstyle is perfect for adding a little flair to your more conservative looks. And you have the attention to detail to make it work. You can rock up and sculpted when it's time to be serious, and let out your loose waves to complement that pencil skirt after work.

What Decade's Hairstyle Should You Rock?

Blogthings: 100's of Fun, Free Quizzes!

Your Fashion Philosophy is Chic

You believe that 'Elegance is the Only Beauty that Never Fades'... and you style yourself accordingly. When it comes to fashion, you believe that less is more. You aren't afraid to go bold, but you never look too trendy or gaudy. You are also big on wearing clothes that are age appropriate. Nothing looks worse to you than dressing too old or too young. Your clothes are so stylish and classic that they are also versatile. You can survive on a small, high quality wardrobe.

What's Your Fashion Philosophy?

Blogthings: 100's of Fun, Free Quizzes!

You Are Sneakers

You are super casual and sporty every season of the year, and this is especially true for summer. You know how to rock a lot of modern looks, and you never shy away from accessories that are a bit bolder. You are active, free spirited, and ready for an adventure at a moment's notice. You love to be spontaneous. You aren't afraid to break the rules, and you like a good challenge. You are even a bit of a daredevil.

What's Your Summer Shoe Personality?

Blogthings: 100's of Fun, Free Quizzes!

Your Heaven on Earth is a Classic City

You love big city glamour and the best that cities have to offer - culture, dining, people watching... You may even already live in one of the classic cities, but that doesn't stop you from wanting to visit them all. When you travel, you like to try someone else's life on for size. You like to imagine what it's like to live in a great place. You may not be able to live like a VIP all the time, but it can be fun for a few days. You love to splurge a little. For your next vacation, try any of the great world cities you haven't been to lately - or at all. London, New York, and Paris are right up your alley. You'd also love Rome, Rio, Tokyo, Sydney, and Shanghai!

What's Your Heaven on Earth?

Blogthings: 100's of Fun, Free Quizzes!

You Have Been to 89% of America

Whew, you've seen most of the United States, and you're probably a bit over it. You may need to move overseas for a while! Seriously though, you've covered the USA backwards and forwards and up and down. You practically could write the guidebook... if you haven't already.

How Much of America Have You Been To?

Blogthings: 100's of Fun, Free Quizzes!

Fully Appreciate

I really feel as though there are some things in life you just don't appreciate... you can't appreciate until you're a parent.

Hubby and I have learned to fully appreciate a night away, just the two of us.

We spent Thursday night in Salt Lake City to attend the Michigan v. Utah game, and Michigan lost, unfortunately, but Hubby and I had an absolute blast.  Some of the things we were able to enjoy with our 36 hours away included:

• Attending a sporting event and giving it our full attention
• Riding public transportation
• Sleeping in -- which we thought we had done until we realized it was 7:45am and we were both awake
• Taking a long, quiet bath without interuption
• Making long phone calls to big agencies, where we are placed on hold, without interruption
• Enjoying several meals out in restaurants without interruption
• Both getting hair cuts at the same time

 It is amazing how FREE our schedule becomes when we are not catering to the schedule, nap needs, nutrition needs, and entertainment needs of our one-year-old.

 

Now, of, course, we missed our baby girl like crazy and were very ready to get home to see her and spend the rest of Labor Day weekend together as a family, but Hubby and I truly and fully appreciate little getaways just the two of us.

Cutest Fan

Despite an unfavorable outcome, Hubby and I had a great time in Salt Lake City cheering for Michigan yesterday at their 2015 college season opener.

And, that's more... we get to go home to the cutest fan ever.

BIG DAY

Today is a BIG DAY!!!

I have been looking forward to this day for over a year.

Today is the day my UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN WOLVERINES play Utah IN Salt Lake City, and Hubby and I will be there in the Michigan cheering section.

I have attended one Michigan game in my life, over a decade ago, and Hubby has never attended one.  Now, this game will not occur in The Big House, the quintessential location to watch a Michigan game, but it will occur 6 hours from our home, which, for us, is even better than The Big House.

In addition to it being an exciting day for us, and the commencement of the 2015-16 Michigan football season, it is also the maiden voyage coaching game of our new coach, Jim Harbaugh, who signed as the new Michigan head coach last January and has been a hot topic of conversation, throughout the sports world, ever since.

Despite all the hype, today is his first actual game coaching, and Hubby and I get to see it!

LET'S GO MICHIGAN!!! 

Thank You

I have been on the fence about this post, but I need to write it.

The words THANK YOU are completely under-used in our society.

I was raised to say Thank You, at some point in practically every conversation.  It was so much a part of life and upbringing, and, very naively, I thought it was a part of every decent person's life and upbringing.

At one point, I think it was -- sure, there were certain parts of society that didn't learn the importance of saying "Thank you," but they were in the minority, and it was clear by their words and actions that they were not raised with societal norms and societal decency.

The problem is, now, it is the minority who learns the importance of "Thank you."

You can be raised in a perfectly average or above-average home, with every advantage extended to you, and you will not learn the importance of expressing thanks to your fellow man.  If anything, the majority of people are now learning that they are entitled to everything they are given and that "Thank yous" are unnecessary.

Expressing thanks is not unnecessary.  In fact, if you ever want a similar action from that person again, "Thank yous" are incredibly necessary.

Unfortunately, 2015 seems to be the year, thus far, of major gifts going unacknowledged with thanks.

Yes, I have now transitioned from discussing the verbal "thanks" to a written "thanks" but, the truth is, people have either been taught to express thanks or they haven't, and this year, apparently Hubby and I have had the opportunity to bestow some very nice gifts, for some very momentous occasions, on people who have chosen not to express their thanks.

And I'm not talking about a scenario where we had a friend over for dinner, and they didn't send a thank you note -- no, in situations like that, a note is definitely not necessary -- now it is incredibly surprising and thoughtful when a note arrives, but no note is necessary.

I'm talking about friends of ours who have engaged in old-fashioned rituals with a very expected ritual of receiving gifts, and who received very nice gifts from us, who have chosen not to, in any way, acknowledge receipt of the gift or express thanks.  I'm talking weddings, bridal showers, and baby showers.

Now I know Miss Manners says that a bride, and mother has one year to send Thank You notes -- so I suppose these people are not truly delinquent until early 2016... but the gifts surely did not mean enough to them for them to express thanks in the first 8-9 months that it was received.

In fact, it's enough to make me want to pick up the phone and confirm that the gifts were received.

Now, I know most of the gifts were received because we sent them before the wedding, and then I was able to confirm at the wedding that our gift arrived.  Also, a few of the gifts were hand-delivered, by me, to the brides- or mothers-to-be at showers... so I know those gifts were received too.

I don't want to be this way... but I am this way.  It simply leaves a bad taste in my mouth for a gift to go completely unacknowledged.  Frankly, a thank you note does not have to be well-written for me to appreciate getting it.  It can be the worst-written, totally rushed note, for me to read it, with a smile on my face, and think, "That is so nice of them to take the time to send a note.  I'm so glad they got the gift."

So, there you have it... my rant on the importance of expressing thanks.

Thank you for reading.

Preggers II: Twins 18 Weeks

18 Weeks:

 

How far along?  18 weeks

How I am feeling?  I'm feeling well, but very tired in the afternoons and evenings, especially on days when I work.  Also, very large, but I am just continuing to tell myself how important that is for two healthy babies in a few months.

How big are babies?  The size of bell peppers... 7 ounces and about 5.5 inches long from head to bottom

Sleep:  Pretty well although I'm up two to five times a night to use the restroom.

Boy/Girl, Boy/Boy, Girl/Girl Predictions:  Not really anything yet

Babies Nicknames:  Babies, or Twins 

 

Weight Gain/Loss:  I'm still about even with what I weighed I became pregnant

Best moment this week:  I love feeling the babies kick and move, although it doesn't seem to be strong enough for Hubby to feel yet.  Also, I went back to work this past week, and I enjoy knowing that the twins are with me while I work every day and anywhere I go for the next few months.

Food cravings:  Nothing really... I just have to make sure I'm eating regularly -- my tummy just feels so full most of the time -- two babies take up a lot of room.

Missing:  My energy in the evenings -- it is hard to come home from work and be whipped.  Our clean laundry sits in the basket for days because when I finally get Tracey Ann in bed and get off my feet at the end of the day, I don't move.

 

Movements:  Yes, little pokes, when I quiet down for the night -- usually more often on my right side than my left, but sometimes I'll feel the left side get poked.

Labor Signs:  No, thankfully.

Comparison:  Here I am carrying Tracey Ann at 18 weeks:

And here I am with the twins at 18 weeks:

Hubby and I cannot even believe the difference.  I am GIGANTIC at 18 weeks compared to my first pregnancy -- but again, two healthy babies are the goal, and I will be bigger as a result.

General Attitude:  Feeling good and sort of amazed that I could be about half way through this pregnancy.  Thirty-six weeks is considered full-term with twins, and my doctor wants to induce at 38 weeks (although, we're still determining the best course of action), and so I really am just about halfway through.

 What I am looking forward to this week:  The MICHIGAN football season opener is on Thursday AND it is in Utah AND Hubby and I will be there!!!!  We have been excited about this and planning this for nearly a year, and it is ALMOST HERE!  Plus, I get to wear my cute Michigan maternity shirt again!!!  GO BLUE!

Milestones:  I'm roughly half-way through the pregnancy... or at least close.

 

New Adventures

I love it when my husband and I can experience new adventures together.  Now, yes, it's great when we can go zip-lining or whitewater rafting, but I just mean life adventures.

I can't go into details, but the last 36 hours have included a new adventure in life and marriage for us.

We are in the process of doing something we have never done before, and it has given us a new marital adventure together.  In the past 36 hours we have:

• stayed up late making Pro/Con lists
• stayed up late writing out financial options and implications
• both been awake again at 4:00am to further discuss our options
• attended meetings together
• presented proposals together
• and, come to some decisions together

We have done a few of those bullet points before in our marriage when we were weighing options for a big life decision, but never all of them in such a short period.  This has been another new adventure for us to experience together as a husband and wife team and we feel so blessed to be able to do tackle it together.

Please stay tuned and keep us in your prayers.