C's Football Season is Here!

Well guys, C's football season is officially upon us!  Saturday was his first game.....only 17 more to go!

I thought since it had been awhile, I would re-post some of the things I wrote about the League, how the game is played, C's involvement and even fun (ok not so fun) things like "football bimbos"and crazy fans. I'll post a bit each week...since this next six months our lives are largely focused around the AFL (Arena Football League).  Of course, this season will be a bit different since about half way through we will be welcoming another member into our family!

So be prepared ladies (and gents? Are there any out there?), I am about to talk about football!

Arena Football is a lot like the NFL, with a few key differences. Believe it or not, the league is celebrating its 27th year! It is still a professional league, but the game is played indoors, hence the “Arena” part.  The guys do get paid, just not million dollar contracts like in the NFL.  A lot of these guys are really playing it for the love of the game! They usually have to get jobs in the off-season, which is exactly the opposite of the NFL, August through March.

Arena Football can be a very high scoring game. I'm talking points in the 60s and 70s. The reason? The field is only 50 yards, instead of 100 like the NFL.  Oh man does this make for some intense games. I mean really, a quarterback can throw a pass the entire length of the field for a touchdown!  That being said, it means a team can score really quickly.  Two seasons ago, C’s team was down 9 points with a minute to go and they ended up winning!  (You can’t take a knee in Arena Football, you must keep playing)

Another difference is that there are no sidelines on the field.  The entire field is surrounded by a padded wall (in our home stadium it is about 4 feet tall).  Multiple times a game you can hear the boom of a player being shoved into that wall. It sounds really dramatic. Since they don’t actually have sideline space, pushing another player into or over (yes it happens a lot) the wall is considered “out of bounds” so the clock stops, like in the NFL.

C is the one in white with the black sleeves....see the padded wall?

Because the field is a lot smaller, obviously there aren’t as many players on the field.  In Arena Football there are only 8 players on the field at a time, versus 11 in the NFL.  Also, an Arena team can only have 25 players on its roster (versus 52 for an NFL team) which means a lot of the guys play multiple positions. An Arena team can’t afford to have players that only play special teams (except for the kicker) so players on the kick returns and such must also play an offensive or defensive position.

One last major difference that is noticeable right away are the goal posts.  In the NFL, the regulation width is 18 feet, 6 inches.  In Arena Football, they are a measly 9 feet! Let me tell you, it definitely looks tiny from the stands.  Granted, the kicker obviously isn’t kicking as far, but there isn’t much room for error. Yikes. 

Right now, there are 12 teams in the league.  Last year, the Rock band KISS bought a team in LA and this year Vince Neal (of Motley Crue) bought a team, the Las Vegas Outlaws. They have been pretty fun additions.  Next week I am actually going to head to Vegas to see their away game, I am curious as to what kind of show the Outlaws will put on!

Filming some green screen things for the upcoming season!

 So that’s a very basic overview of Arena Football! Next time I will talk more about C and what he does!

Week 31

What's Going on in There?

This week little man is the size of a pineapple.  I feel like that is finally a good comparison, something I can actually imagine. He’s about 18 inches and 3.5 pounds.  I still remember when the little squirt was only an inch or two big and weighed an ounce.  Unbelievable how it all changes so quickly! All 5 of his senses are now working and he is starting to turn a little pinker from all the fat he is gaining.

Maternity Clothes? 
Only dresses this week.  So thankful I have a bunch that will work for the office!

Weight? 
25 pounds.  I’m hopeful I will at least stay under the 35 mark.    

Stretch Marks? 
Just the nice giant one on my butt check.  Lovely.

Movement? 
Such a little wiggle worm.  He seems to have slowed a bit later in the week, but that’s not saying much.   

Food Cravings? 
Nothing this week.   

Anything Making you Queasy or Sick? 

Thankfully no!

What I Miss? 
Well C’s ring ceremony was last night, I can definitely say I was missing some drinks! Oh to have a nice cold Redd’s Apple Ale!

Nausea/Vomiting?  
Nope

Symptoms? 
Just feeling large.  I can’t shave my legs without it hurting my belly anymore either.  So thankfully to have a loving hubby to help me out with that task!

Labor Signs? 
Not at all

Gender? 
Little boy blue!

Belly Button In or Out?
Out, You can pretty much see it through all my clothes.

Wedding Rings On or Off? 
On, though barely.  I told C he needs to head to Walmart and buy me a fake!

Sleep?
I’m definitely beginning to get the dreaded 3^rd trimester insomnia.  It’s not bad yet, but its happening. I now wake up to pee 2-3 times a night and usually lay there for a bit before I fall back asleep.  I’ve noticed myself waking up a lot from tossing and turning at night too. 

 What I'm Looking Forward To? 

C’s first game is on Saturday! I am really curious to how Noah will react during it.  He tends to move a lot when there is a lot of noise (he moved then entire 1.5 hour Beatles show in Vegas) and also at the games there is a very loud cannon that goes off every time the team scores. I am wondering if baby will react by punching or kicking me when he is startled by it!

 

Ipsy Review - March

Hello Ipsy!

As always, this is one of my favorite times of the month….I love getting this bag in the mail! As I’ve always said, this is the best bag out there, especially for such a low price.  If you are looking to start a beauty subscription, I would definitely try Ipsy first. $10 for everything including shipping?  You can’t really beat that!

The theme of this month’s bag is “Flower Power,” which seems like a great theme, but honestly I don’t see how a single item I received (except for the bag) matches it!

So here it is…the March Ipsy bag!  

           1)     Dr. Brandt Anti-Aging Mattifying Lotion – .25 oz.

            I have a moisturizer that I love, but it doesn’t hurt to have small tubes like this for travel.  I 

            like the mattifying solution, but I would never, ever pay $60 for a full size amount of this.

Full Size: $60.00 for 1.7 oz. My Value: $8.82

           2)    Marsk Mineral Eye Shadow in “Fifty Shades” – .04 oz.

            This is a bit too dark for me.  I also kind of hate that they are trying to play off the whole 50 

            shades of Grey thing that is so popular right now, it makes me not like it even more.  There is 

            nothing to complain about though, other than I wouldn’t pay that price for it.  I rather get a 

            full size shadow from MAC for that price!

Full Size: $12.00 My Value: $12.00

           3)    Sexy Hair Soy Renewal Crème Oil – 1 oz.

            This seems like a lot of products in one.  I like trying things like this on my hair, but I haven’t 

            had a chance to yet. I hope it isn’t to heavy or greasy.  My hair does not do well with things 

            like that!

Full Size: $22.95 for 4.2 oz. My Value: $5.46

4)  NYX Butter Lipstick in “Pops” – .16 oz. (FULL SIZE)

I think this is the third Butter Lipstick I’ve gotten in a beauty box.  Enough with this already. I wish this stuff truly were like butter, but it is so drying on my lips I just can’t use it.  The color doesn’t look too bad though, I almost could have used it!

Full Size: $6.00 My Value: $6.00

       5)  Evelyn Iona Concealer – .55 oz. – (FULL SIZE?)

This packaging has nothing on it except for the brand name.  I had to do a lot of digging to find out what it is (concealer) and I still can’t figure out the size.  Ipsy says it’s .55 oz. which makes sense, but the website says a full size version of this is 3g. If I convert, that makes the one I got 15 g which makes no sense.  There is no way this is 5x the size of the regular version. Due to all that math confusion, I am highly annoyed by this product and their lack of brand/product awareness that I don’t even care for it.  I haven’t even tried the product yet.  Plus, I hate concealers in containers like this.  I can’t stick my finger in it without getting it all over me!

Full Size: $18.75? My Value: $18.75?

Final Cost: $10.00

Final Value: $51.03

This bag was a bit lackluster for me, but it wasn’t terrible.  I will definitely be getting use out of several of the items. I wish it introduced me to some new, exciting items, but it seems more like the “same old thing” in terms of beauty bags this month.

What are your thoughts?

If you’d like to give it a try you can sign up here!

(As always, I swear I’m not a review blog….I just like sharing these things in hopes that other people will get to have the same fun that I do!  I am not compensated in any way.)

Week 30

What's Going on in There?

Holy cow.  30 weeks.  Only 9 more weeks until we meet our little man. This week, according to the internets, he is the size of a cucumber.  I personally have never seen a 16.5 inch, 3.5 pound cucumber, but they must be out there if that’s the comparison! This week he is starting to shed his coat of baby hair that kept him warm in the early days since he is gaining more fat and his brain is starting to get wrinkly from all the new brain tissue.  He is now strong enough to grip a finger too, which is cute to think about.

Maternity Clothes? 
Still straight maternity dresses and maxi skirts.  I am too afraid to put maternity pants up over the belly after the itchy rash, I’m not sure I’ll ever wear them again!

Weight? 
23 pounds.  I am feeling good about that though, which I am thankful for.   

Stretch Marks? 
Ugh. I found my first real dominant one.  Straight down the middle of my butt check.  Um?  Is my butt stretching that much?!?

Movement? 
All the time.  I love that he still moves a lot during the day and hasn’t woken me up moving at night.  

A rare, front, bare belly view!

Food Cravings? 
Here is a weird one….slim fast. Earlier this week I just HAD to have some!  I’ve also been huge into fruits and veggies.  Every night I come home from work and take a relaxing bath and C makes me a plate of  

Anything Making you Queasy or Sick? 

Nope!

What I Miss? 
I miss just being completely comfortable.  You don’t realize how much you take being comfortable when you sit on the couch or lie down in bed for granted until that disappears! 

Nausea/Vomiting?  
Not at all

Symptoms? 
Itchy belly at night, allergies, definitely more tired in the evenings, belly is starting to get sore at the end of the day

Labor Signs? 
Not at all

Gender? 
Baby boy!

At 20 weeks....for comparison!

Belly Button In or Out?
Out, out, out

Wedding Rings On or Off? 
On, though getting a bit tighter

Sleep?
Much better.  I found a nightgown to wear that covers my belly that makes it so I don’t itch so much at night. It’s soooo helpful.  I wake up at least once to pee at night again, but I’ve mostly been able to go right back to sleep.

 What I'm Looking Forward To? 

C’s ring ceremony (where they received their Championship ring from their game last August) is coming up on Thursday.  After a ton of searching, I finally found a dress that makes me feel good.  Well frankly, I feel pretty darn hot in it which is exciting.  I was so afraid I’d be around all the other tiny girlfriends and wives in their tiny dresses and cute little bodies and just feel like a whale.  I am so thankful I found something! I can’t wait to show the dress and the bump off!