Update with Pics

So I'm back with pics.

First of all let me say that my appointment went well.
My lining for what its worth was 4.
I don't know my E2 because the nurse (who just returned from vacation today) forgot to call and give it to me.
So I sent her a sweet short e-mail and I will expect her call in the morning.
Grrrr.

Anyway, on to my beauties!
I'm so in love with these appliances is a bit comedic.
The dishwasher that came with the house looked great on the outside, but we soon discovered it wasn't working.
I have this habit I can't go to bed with dishes in the sink.
So everynight while I cook dinner, while the food is on the stove I would wash the dishes.
Usually by the time I was done cooking I had already cleaned all the pots and pans I used to cook.

No more washing dishes!!!

Our washing machine was a clunker.
It would hop forward depending on what you were washing.
No the clothes inside didn't need balancing, that's just how this washing machine rolled.
It would clank so loud you had to turn the tv up all the way or shout to have a conversation.

No more clunky washing machine.

The dryer was fine.
We could have kept it.
But the deal was sweeter if we took it.
Saved $375 at Home Depot's President's Day sale.
Wrap it up, I'll take it!

And here in all there beauty are our appliances.
Minus the washing machine of course because if you remember from here, I refused delivery.
We decided not to go with a front load washer.
I had one in my old apartment and I hated the way water would stay in the barrel.
You would have to leave the door open after washes for it to evaporate.
If you were careful the door would get mold on the rubber.

LG and a few other models have completely metal rims now.
Those that do have rubber have upgraded to a kind that doesn't carry mold, but meh.
I checked on consumer report and I decided to go with good old built in America Maytag.
It had the best ratings for top load washers.
I'll update later on how it runs.

Isn't she a beauty? (in my best Aussie voice)

Tons of Excitement

I'm so damn excited today!!
I'll be making another post with pics later but for now this is a short one.
Guess what arrived yesterday?
Our new appliances!!!

I know, domesticated, aren't I?
But seriously I was as happy as a pig in mud yesterday.
It was as if Christmas came early.

Hubs and I took advantage of the really good President's Day sale this past weekend and got ourselves a bunch of stuff.
We got a new washer, dryer and dishwasher!
Praise the Lord!
Ahhhh *cue the heavenly music*

Of course just as they were wheeling in the washing machine it fell off the dolly.
So I refused delivery and a new one arrives Saturday.
I'll post pics a bit later.
I couldn't stop gushing over everything as they were hooking it all up.
I bet the delivery guys probably thought "this chic must not get out much".
Meh! I don't care.

Now I don't have to wash dishes anymore!
I don't have to wash clothes as every few loads clean that darn spoke that sticks up in the middle of the washing machine cause as the clothes wrap around it after the umpteenth load it gets dirty.
I don't have to listen to turn the tv volume up to 36 anymore to hear stuff while I'm doing laundry!

It's a good day folks.
No bump that, it's a great friggin' day.
Anything that makes me life easier is awesome.
And both the washer and dryer have steam settings.
So Sunday iron day is gonna be a heck of a lot shorter!
Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah, hallelujah, halleeeelujah!

I'm off to my appt before starting stims.
They'll do a u/s to make sure my ovaries are clear and b/w so they can check my E2.
It's about to get real my friends.
I start stims tomorrow and then it's a matter of counting down to ER.
Woot! Woot!

I told you there was tons of excitement.

Blogger Comments

Ladies I wanted to first apologize if I haven't been commenting much lately on blogs.
I've been having tons of problems with commenting lately.
It would seem that Blogger recently changed the word verification (captcha) settings.
For the life of me I can't ever seem to get the words right.
Recently on one person's blog I found that I had to verify three different times cause the words are just so twisted that I kept getting them wrong.
I'm still reading, and when my patience doesn't get the best of me I sit and try and re-try and re-try.
But I just wanted to let you ladies know ahead of time,
if you see me commenting less, its not cause I'm not reading.
Its just that I'm having a rough time with this new captcha setting.

Anyone else having this problem?

Celebrating Marriage

You ladies remember the mini series I had while I was away last year.
Well if you don't, it was a series of guests posts by some of my favorite ladies.
Each lady talked about what they've learned so far after being married for years.

I decided I wanted to bring the series back.
Truthfully I wanted to bring it back closer to Valentine's but got side tracked with my birthday and everything else.
So here is another guest poster.
Its Jen from So This is Love where Jen shares a blog with her husband Casey.

These two lovebirds are so open about their love its refreshing.
They enjoy each other's company and if you've ever dropped by you know they make each day together a fun, adventure.

Jen shares with us her lessons learned so far in being married.

****                                   ****                                      ****                                         ****
In my 2 years, 3 months, and 7 days of marriage I have learned so much.


Do not take one another for granted.The night I had to leave my husband in the hospital overnight, just hours after having learned that he had a stroke was one of the hardest things I've ever done. Thankfully, he has recovered nearly fully from the stroke he experienced. But it was an earth shattering experience, and a startling reminder not to take any moment for granted.  


Communicate about money. We share our finances, and we faced a difficult, unexpected financial blow at tax time in March of 2011. But, we talked a lot about how. How we could cut back, make changes, and work together to make our new budget work. And we did. I was so proud of both of our marriage during this time. 


It's okay to ask for help. My husband does the dishes and the laundry about 90% of the time. Because I asked for help. Because I can't do it all, and neither can he. And that's okay. We are a team. Plus? I hate laundry. 


Surprise each other. I refuse to give my husband a list of things that I want for Christmas, anniversaries, etc. I like him to take the time and think about what I might like. To surprise me. Because I really enjoy it, much more so than opening a present I picked out for myself. I do the same for him. For Christmas I chose an engraved stone with the coordinates from the lighthouse where we were married. He was surprised and so happy.  It's wonderful.


PLAN DATE NIGHTS. Granted, we don't have children. But we both work a lot and we are busy people. We plan out date nights and date days to ensure that we are getting quality time together that isn't revolving around exercising or grocery shopping. A real date where we hold hands, and gaze at each other, and flirt shamelessly. It's important. And I hope that if we are blessed to have a child (infertility is a marriage tester worthy of a whole other subject!) that we will continue to make one another a priority.


****                           
I think these are all great lessons we could incorporate and learn from.
Hope you'll take some time to hop on over to Jen and Casey's blog and show them some bloggy love!
Thanks Jen!

100% Natural

Well ladies as promised I went to the stylist so she could finish what I started.
Guess who is now 100% natural!!
I had her cut off every ounce of relaxed hair that was left and then some.
I was trying to coax her into giving me a TWA (teeny weeny afro),
especially since she was rocking a really wicked one.
But she said no....pfff!

I of course did my own photo shoot at home.
Here are my pics.
Sorry by the time I got home there was major shrinkage.
Here in all its beauty are my kinks, coils and curls.
100% me!

Lupron Warrior

I can't speak for any of the other shots that I'll have to take,
but I have to say that so far I've been pretty good in taking my Lupron shots.
The first time we did it on Sunday I was pretty numb and somber so I didn't pay much attention.

Then we repeated it Monday night, Tuesday night and I realized it didn't feel like anything.
Hubs gives me my shots every night.
Truly I have to admit I prefer it this way.
It makes him feel like he is part of the whole process and truly I can't see myself trusting anyone else to inject me.

The injections don't hurt.
As of right now *knock on wood* I haven't had any side effects.
I do feel a slight itch after he injects me, but its very slight.
It feels more like a little mosquito bite and it quickly subsides.

That said I hope I don't jinx myself by writing this post.

Quick Trim

Yesterday I stepped out of the shower after washing my hair  and told myself just a quick trim.
For a few months now I have been trimming my ends.
I think in the natural hair community its referred to as "dusting".
I'm no stranger to cutting my own hair.

I stopped growing my hair too far past my shoulders when I hit my teen years because the dermatologist told me that the horrible, horrible acne on my back which would need weekly shots was due to my hair (and well the humidity of Miami and the products in my hair).
Me? Weekly shots? In my back?
Ummm....no thanks, I took a scissors to it and cut it shoulder length and have mostly kept it there since.

In 12th grade I wanted the Halle Berry haircut.
Mom said no....but she wasn't living with me.
She was living in a different country.
Ummmm, by the time she visits it'll grow back.
Scissors to my head again.
This time it had to be rectified by a stylist though.

2010 wanted bangs.
My hairstylist said my face was too round and wouldn't look good with bangs.
Huh? What was that you said?
Booyah! Did it myself!

Yesterday I didn't purposely start off thinking I was going to cut my hair off.
I actually went into it thinking I was just going to trim a few ends.
Lightly dust it here and there.
I'm a little bit neurotic.
I hate seeing the straggly ends.
 I hate when someone cuts my hair and it doesn't go straight across (see pic above)

So I began cutting last night....
and cutting......
and before I knew it

My head definitely feels lighter.

I'm probably going to head to my stylist this weekend so that she can even it all out.

But I'm pretty damn happy with it.

I was giggling to myself....some V-day gift hubby came home to.

I did a treasure hunt inside the house, where I sent hubs searching all around the prize was a big box of assorted sweets, his favorite Godiva chocolates and other goodies.

This haircut is kind of like my gift to me I guess.

I'm actually still laughing while I write this.

I sure am one crazy one I tell ya.

Lucky for me I don't get hung up over my hair (no pun intended).

Here is what I looked like when I was done......my hair was partially wet but mostly just had conditioner and Vatika in it.

I'll be sure to update once I have it all evened out and looking somewhat symmetrical.

Brace Face

Happy Valentines Day to all my lovely readers.
Hope you don't eat too many chocolates!!
Chris and I aren't too big on Valentines while we will probably exchange cards we don't make a fuss over this one day since we are loving to each other 365.
But for those that do celebrate it, hope you have a wonderful, love filled day!

On another note.....
Guess who's getting braces???
ME!

Ok well let me be technically correct.

I'm not getting braces.

I'm getting aligners....Invisalign to be correct.

When I was younger I had braces for 4 years and then once I was fitted for retainers I never wore them

Those things sat in their case travelling from home to home with me gathering dust.

Over time the spaces in between my teeth returned and I became less than confident in my smile.

So for a few years now I've been planning to get them but different things always came up.

Yesterday I finally made the commitment.

I was measured, pictures were taken, impressions taken, xrays and I paid my deposit.

I'm like totally psyched!

Have you ever had braces or invisalign? Are you happy with the results?

Weekend Recap of Vegas

This weekend recap is going to be in bullet points....because I can and want to.

Thursday

• Arrived in Vegas and the weather was beautiful 70.
• Checked in to our suite at the Encore (requested panaromic view suite not facing strip...weird request I know but I've had a suite with a strip view and wanted a mountain view this time)
• Took a bit of arm twisting no one seemed to understand why I wanted to switch but finally we were settled suite 5635. What can I say I like trying new things. Next time we'll go back to strip view. 
• Exhausted from flying we get freshened up and head down stairs in search of food and slots.

Friday

• Spent the entire day shopping...not kidding, with Fashion Mall across the street and Palazzo shops I totally hammed up the fact that I start shots in a few days. Shopped till we dropped!
• Walked around both the Encore and Wynn, played some Roulette and my favorite the Hangover Slot machine, hung out at the Lakeside Bar (though I didn't drink all weekend).
• At night enjoyed La Reve, then called it a night.

Saturday

• Slept in till about 9
• Had breakfast then made our way to the spa for all day treatments
• Hubs worked out, had a massage, men's facial, and then relaxed a bit in the steam room and whirlpool
• I relaxed in the sauna then had a moroccan mud wrap followed by a blended fusion massage and an express facial, I relaxed in the hot tub for a few then headed back to the room
• Enjoyed a late lunch at Wazuzu followed by afternoon cocktails at the Lakeside bar.
• It was during afternoon cocktails that we saw the news of Whitney Houston's death flash under the screen, for a brief moment the bar went silent, then a few people chimmed in it must be a mistake.

At this point I have to take a break and explain. Whitney Houston's music was a staple in my life. I don't know a single girl my age that grew up in the Caribbean that didn't LOVE Whitney Houston or want to be her or meet her. I used to play the soundtrack to the Boy Guard so much that my brother strew all the tape out of the cassette. Yeah you read that right...cassette. I used to lay by my radio countless evenings waiting for Casey's top 40 to play so I could record her songs. (Right about now I know my age is showing).

I still remember meeting Whitney Houston. Unfortunately I didn't meet her during her best times. I was the front desk supervisor of a well known 5 star hotel here in Miami. The managerial and supervisor staff was put on notice that a guest would be arriving in a few days. We wouldn't know how or when until the day of arrival. It was an intervention to be stage by family. I remember for weeks I wondered was it Mick Jagger who had been there the year before, was it Madonna, who was it. Many popular star frequented the hotel.

I remember receiving the call at 2am. VIP guest is arriving you have been assigned as the on-site contact, you are to take care of her personally and be her personal assistant if need be while on property. I rushed to get dressed. I remember standing in the drive way along with the other managers of the property as 4 black suburbans drove up all tinted.

Out she stepped. I was in utter awe. Even being introduced and shaking her hand I remember looking at this shell of a woman before me and praying the intervention worked. She was an icon and looked so disheveled and out of it. Bobbi Christina clung to her side, her mother, sister, one aunt and a personal friend and body guards all filled the remaining vans. She was to be given no phone access. Her spouse if he contacted the hotel was not to be given knowledge of her staying there. Her room was arranged specifically as the family had requested with certain items being removed.

For 3 weeks I played personal assistant. I made sure her every whim was taken care of. She actually started to regain herself while she was there. She was happy and lively and always singing in the lobby/tea room area. Her daughter was a constant by her side. I remember the day she left, the 3 of us assigned to her, she gave us each a big hug and as I walked her to the car she had a deathly grip on my hand. It was a grip of someone who just didn't want to leave one place to return to reality. 

The day she left so many of the staff memebers wondered whether she would remain sober, whether she would rise again. Unfortunately, her battle with drugs lasted several more years. I've never stopped loving her or her music. I grew up trying to sing like her, look like her and idolizing her.

I pray that her soul finds peace. The peace she was unable to find in this life. 

Sunday

• woke up to radios and music all around playing Whitney Houston
• checking out from the hotel a lady in the lobby belts out singing I'm every woman
• as we head to the airport, my mood totally somber
• back at home hubby gave me my first Lupron shot and I barely even felt it
• Watched the Grammys and except for a few performances (Adele, J. Hud, Alicia and Chris Brown, Deadmau5) I wasn't really impressed with the show. 

Italy - Milan

The last stop on our 10 day anniversary trip was Milan.
Hubs has friends there so we stayed with them and rang in the new year true Milanese style.......Bourguignonne time!!
(shhhh it's basically fonduing but we won't tell them that, since they hate hearing it)

Our friends threw a small get together at their house.
We watched the ball drop in Rome (I know kinda weird but hey when in Milan.....)
Then we went outside and lit fireworks that I'm sure anywhere in the US totally wouldn't be legal.
We were in a public park and instructions were to run if we saw flashing lights.
No seriously.
But all in all it was a good time.

I felt like a kid again.
It was great to celebrate New Years somewhere different.
Different people, different traditions, different surroundings.
Then I got to call friends and family in the US and wish them Happy New Year...of course they were still in 2011.

Milan itself was quite different from how pictured it in my head.
I don't know perhaps I thought all the streets were runways and everyone was tall like a model.
Though people were fashionably dressed I didn't find it to really be strikingly different from anywhere else.
Perhaps I expected every other person to look like a designer or just be really artsy.....but no.
Milan if I could put it into words looked very....industrial.
It's kind of what I would expect Michigan to look like....if Michigan were in Europe and had a lot of factories and fashionable people.
I've never been to Michigan...I dont' know, I'm just sayin'.
Milan just wasn't what I thought it would look like, it was nice and I had fun but I dunno.

Our friends we stayed with had recently gotten engaged and we're invited back this year for their wedding.
It would be nice to go back since we only spent one day there and one night.
Time will tell if we get to attend.
One thing about Milan, you gotta watch out for those gypsies though.

Italy - Florence

Continuing on with the pics from our anniversary trip we move on to Florence.
*sigh*
I would move to Florence if I could.
I love places that are diverse and culturally aware and just alive.
Anyone that knows me IRL knows a gathering of my friends looks like a delegation from the UN.
I was raised on one of the most diverse islands of the Caribbean, and now live in one of the most diverse cities in the US.

Florence felt like home.
Where as in Rome my husband and I garnered a few stares and curious looks...not in Florence.
No one bat an eyelid at us.
The firsts group of people I met were a bunch of Jamaican artists living there.
The Japanese locals sitting next to us at dinner give us tips on where to go for the best food.
The place is just like a cultural mecca.
The people were all charming and bohemian.
I always know its a great place when someone asks me where I'm from, I tell them, and the first thing they say is "you have the Carnival there", instant smile on my lips and love in my heart for this place.
There are Americans who don't even know where Trinidad and Tobago is.

We did very little sightseeing in Florence.
We saw the major sites and attractions but really took the time to just relax and enjoy Florentine hospitality.
We're hoping to go back soon and take my in-laws so we can do a tour of wine country.
There are very few places that make me tear up when I leave.
Sure you have nice vacations and you wish to return but for me hands down, the Florentines have been the most hospitable people I've ever met.
I truly did not want to leave Florence.

Italy - Rome

Hi ladies, so its about time that I got around to posting pics from our anniversary trip.
Thanks so much for all of your support yesterday, you guys truly are incredible and I learn so much from you each and every day from your comments.
I also want to thank all of my new followers along for the ride.
Strap in, and hang on, it may be bumpy, and at times it will be fun, I promise it'll always be 100% me.

So here are a few of the collages I made of a few of our pics from our trip.
I took a total of 1700+ photos on this trip can you believe it.
Yeah practically if I bird moved I snapped it.
This was our second trip to Rome and quite frankly I have to honest with you, I've seen it all so really I have no interest to go back.
Now Florence....that's a different story.
I'd go back there a thousand times if I could.

Ok, ok enough of my blabbing, you just wanna see pics.
Grab a glass of wine (you don't drink in the morning? it's night time somewhere.....just kidding).
Kick back relax and enjoy!

First Meltdown

I had my first meltdown yesterday.
I'm pretty sure it won't be my last.
Somewhere in between studying I just threw the book at the glass door.
Just like that.
Out of nowhere.

Why can't pregnancy be like studying for a test?
Why can't it be as easy as studying?
You know that if you put in the work and develop good study habits you'll get an A.
Why can't it be as simple as that?

Instead we try and try at this labor of love that no one really prepares you for.
You spend the majority of your life staving off pregnancy so that you can accomplish all those dreams those goals, you know school, career, travel.
You live a little and laugh a lot when in truth life is just going right on by and the big joke is you.

No one bothers to tell you that while you thought you were charting out your life, life had other plans.
Charting? Ha! Yeah, I was charting out life alright.
And I still can't even put a finger on where this rant came from, the many varied places it was lurking in to begin with.
The fear of beginning injections in 5 days, or the fact that even though I'm studying for this exam to get into the nursing program the truth is if I get accepted I'll have to defer my start date for at least a year.
I've already checked with the school and though they will allow students a semester off for pregnancy, anything over a semester means you will have to start over.
Not to mention with IVF the constant monitoring and appointments which I won't be excused for, because anything over 3 excused absences they're allowed to place you on probation from the program.

And of course being the over achiever that I am I had to go apply for one of the few programs in the country that's a 1year nursing program when most people take the sane route and do it in two!

And while I muddle all of this around in my brain I'm not forgetting the fact that IVF is just the first step, there is still sustaining a pregnancy, month by month, and then worrying over the many varied complications that could go wrong during labor.
Oh yeah, labor, like the last one isn't fresh in my mind from 2004, no meds, no epidural, just pure pain, nothing but a lifeless body to hold after hours and hours of arduous labor.

Oh did I forget to mention that for most of this year hubs will be travelling.
Due to a very huge commitment hubs has (like Olympics huge), he will be travelling for the greater part of the year.
Which means that should I become pregnant guess who'll be by her lonesome for most of it?
Of course I'm sure my mom will come visit me.......wait, I hope she would, if she's not too busy.
I've invited my in-laws and then of course just about anyone I can damn well entertain I'd be prepared to come have keep me company.
But yeah the thought of him not being around makes me nervous......a bit.....just a wee bit.

Don't mind me today.
I just had to get this rant off my chest.
I contemplated not writing it cause truly after I spiralled into it, I spiralled right back out by just emersing myself in about an hour of prayer.
But I wanted you ladies to see that because I don't always write about it doesn't mean its not there.
The fear. The anxiousness. The nervousness. The brink of lunacy. The rants.
IF is like a crap shoot, you could look healthy and be young, who it inflicts is simply that a crap shoot.
You won't know what hand you're dealt till you turn over your cards and start playing.

I'm positive most of the time, but don't be fooled I have my moments of being down.
But I get back up.
And that's the important part.....getting back up.
I lean on my faith and I thank God I have that to lean on because I'm not kidding if I didn't.......I would be a complete spider monkey!

*******
After writing this post I went outside to clear my mind.
I let our dogs run around in the cul-de-sac and just wondered aimlessly around.
I picked up the mail and as if on cue there was a little surprise in it for me.
As if God had seen my meltdown coming and had timed it all perfectly.
There in the mail was a package from a fellow blogger.
Jessica at Our Rollercoaster Through IVF sent me the cutest little care package.
Cue the waterworks.

Jessica sent me a touching card, in which she explained the gift.
Jessica who is now pregnant with twins, had a pair of  socks during her cycle, and sent the other half of the pair to her friend and fellow blogger Wishing & Waiting who is now also expecting twins!
Jessica was kind enough to send me a pair identical to the ones she has and she sent the other sides of my pair to Sarah who I also follow at "Living Out of a Suitcase".
Sarah and I are cycling very close to each other.
The package included the lucky socks, a beautifully glittered H ornament and a very thoughtfully written card.
Thanks Jessica!!!

While browsing the internet I found this video yesterday that I wanted to share.
It's made me seriously rearrange somethings.
I'll no longer be using the word infertile or infertility in reference to myself.
Its the first of many affirmations I hope to release into the universe.
I'm not opposed to the use of the word and still understand and respect those who use it.
I just simply don't want to use it to refer to me.
I just won't let it define me, or even be a part of my vocabulary.

It's just my affirmation to the universe.
I will have kids.
I will be a mother.
I'll speak it over and over with conviction cause I know it will happen.
Its not IF because it will happen.


What IF: A Portrait of Infertility from Keiko Zoll on Vimeo.

Birthday Weekend Recap

Here is a recap of how my weekend went.
I'm still sulking over the fact that my Pats lost last night.
On Saturday, hubby and I watched Forks Over Knives and made a commitment to try to eat less meat, seafood and dairy.
On Friday night hubby threw a surprise dinner for me that included some of my closest friends.
That was my weekend in a nutshell and now here are some pics.

P.S. I have to thank Katie at Married with a Pup for the exceptional recipe she posted over the weekend of Southwestern Stuffed Peppers...it was delish!
I made a few changes to the menu to make it all vegan, we enjoyed this on Superbowl Sunday.
Hubs also made his spectacular homemade guacamole (which is a must) and I made homemade bruschetta.

It's My BIRTHDAY!!!!

Guess what today is????

If you haven't already guessed by the blaring music video courtesy of Uncle Luke and youtube,
its my freaking birthday!!!!
I recently introduced my hubby to this song (can you believe it, he had never heard this song prior to a couple weeks ago....poor sheltered kid...lol).
Anyway, I'll be hamming it up all week long....cause after all its my birthday.....oh yeah and Ground Hog's Day......but who cares about a silly hog.....it's my birthday!!!!!

How old am I you ask?
Old enough to be able to celebrate in VEGAS!!!
That's right kiddos, the hubs and I will be celebrating this birthday in the place fitting for an adult to act like a kid (or at least act crazy among other adults).
Next week we'll head to Vegas and I'll rock it out, but for now, I'll quietly study and pass the time.
It'll be a good chance to relax and enjoy some good shows and restaurants and take my mind off the fact that once I return I start Lupron injections.....eeek!

Have a wonderful Tuesday.......oh and don't forget.....its my BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!

February My Favorite Month

It's February ladies.....my favorite month.
This month is my birth month.....in fact tomorrow is my birthday!
February is also the month of Valentine's.....not that I celebrate it specifically, sure we do sweet things for each other, go out to dinner, etc, but we show each other love 365, not just confined to one day.
February happens to also be the month that I'd like to bring back my little series:
"A Celebration of Love/Marriage".
I'm hoping a few of you ladies would take part......its easy.

All you have to do is write me a post telling me about your marriage.
Here is what your post should include:
1. What you've learned after "x" years of marriage.
2. What you most like about being married.
3. What you like the least about being married
4. How have you grown since being married
5. What are you most looking foward to in your future together
6. Advice to any newlyweds

You can email your posts to me at lifeasmrs@gmail.com
If you'd be kind enough to include a few pics to jazz up your post super! But totally not mandatory.

Then I'll send you an email when you're going to be featured and you can soak up all the comments and compliments on the day of your feature.
Hope you guys will decide to take part, I know you ladies all have loving wonderful marriages and words of advice we could all use from sharing.