period question.

I am trying to get pregnant and so I am carefully tracking my menstrual cycles. When I start my period it is just spotting and brown (kind of like old blood) for the first two days. After the first two days I start bleeding heavily and bright red. So my question is, when should I count the first day of my cycle...the first day of the spotting or the first day of the real flow?

Day After Thanksgiving Sales

I was wondering if you know of any big day after Thanksgiving sales. Or if the sales aren't typically advertised until the week of Thanksgiving.

I go with my in-laws, and usually just go along for the ride to whatever stores they are hitting up. However, this year, my husband is in dire need of new clothes, particularly jeans.

I don't ever do homework for black Friday shopping because I'm not usually looking for anything in particular. So, if you also have any tips for the day, I'd love to hear them. Is the newspaper the best place to look for sale advertisements? If so, what day should I pick one up?

I don't know if this matters, but I will be in Sacramento.

Can you please give me some ideas how to meet women while walking on the street?

Can you please give some ideas how to approach women while walking on the street?
How to meet them?How to approach them?

A question for smokers

Can smokers smell the stench of smoking? Here's why I ask: I have an adult family member (50+ yrs old) that started smoking a few years ago, but she hides it from us. (Other members of our family smoke and they don't hide it). When we visit with her, she will make up an excuse to run an errand and then she comes back smelling of cigarettes. When she opened her purse the other day, the smell that came out about knocked me over. I wonder if she can't smell it and therefore doesn't realize that others can. Just curious.

I'd love to just let her know that I know she smokes, but I think it would be awkward for her since she has gone to great lengths to hide it and what would I really say?

Forget Edward and Jacob

Are you Team Peeta or Team Gale?

If you have no idea what I'm talking about, read The Hunger Games. It's an excellent book.

For the record, I'm totally Team Peeta.

-Peaches

Birth Control Pill & Periods

I just completed my first month of the birth control pill (took my last pill today). I am on TriNessa (generic for Ortho TriCyclene). My question is for those of you who are on the pill, how many days after you take your last pill does your period come? If I took my last pill today (Saturday), when SHOULD my period start? I just want to know what to expect, I'm new on the pill!

Thanks so much in advance!!! :)

How early did you know?

So I was just wondering how early you knew you were probably going to end marrying your spouse before you actually talked about it together and then got engaged? Did you have like a gut/hunch feeling that they were probably going to be the person you would choose? I know prayer and personal choice is all included in this. I'm just curious on if you ever had a gut feeling before you actually talked about marriage and got engaged. Like after your first-second date did you just kinda in a way know (not for sure, but pretty sure)? Sorry if this doesn't make sense, I'm just trying to see if anyone has felt how I am feeling right now, I'm just trying to make sense of my feelings.

Lending money

A few months ago I wrote a question about including all of your siblings. I appreciate all of the comments and realized I was overreacting a bit. Now I need advice on another situation.

We are back on track financially. My little brother is not. He has asked to borrow $500 to help with rent for this month. He promises this will help him out and he'll never ask again. I'm reluctant but my husband thinks we should because he's family. Have you ever lent family members money, and how did it turn out? And should we lend so much to him?

The runs during aunt flow

I've noticed a certain pattern during the past several months. I noticed that I always get diarrhea a day or two before my period. Anyone else get this?

Benefits

I'm leaving my current job to start a new job. My question is about benefits... I currently have insurance for myself and my daughter through my job, and my husband has insurance through his. I'd like to get insurance through my new job once it starts, but benefits won't be effective until February. What do you do for coverage during those gaps? I can't really go uninsured until February, and tacking on myself and my daughter to my husbands benefits would be really expensive... like $500 a month. His insurance is absolutely free though.

Have any of you experienced this before? What are you supposed to do?

What makes a woman not talking you about her problems?

I'm a man and i work for a company.I have a woman collegue and we are good friends.

Yesterday the boss shouted to her.It was not the first time he did that on her.I asked her how she felt.She answered me that she was fine and that she was used to the fact that the boss is treating her in that way.

I admired her because she seemed so strong.

Today she was talking with another collegue,a male one and told him that yesterday felt awful because of the boss's behaviour and when she went home she started crying.

What did i do wrong?Why she told me that she was fine and to other man she expressed freely her feelings?Any advise please on how to handle situations like this?How to help a woman expressing their feelings?

Thank you

To breed or not to breed?

The backstory: I'm in my early 30s and never thought I'd want children. Beloved is in the same boat - mid-3os and never thought he'd want children. However, we've discussed it lately and we've come around to the idea of having a child... by which I mean he's 100% behind it and I'm 80% behind it. He's said that it's up to me, but he would like to have one, if not two. (!!!)

We've been together for a long time (12 years) so that's not necessarily my concern. I guess my concern is whether *I'm* ready for this lifelong responsibility. I work, and love my job - wouldn't want to give that up completely - and I love my life, as it is. I have moments where I think I'd like to have a little one - especially around holidays - but like I said before, it's a LIFELONG responsibility. There's no going back, and I know my life will change completely from that moment... and I don't know if I want to do that or not.

Is there anyone on this blog who has felt this way? If so ,what did you do?

Who are your female role models and why?

Go!

Blinds

I need to buy wood blinds for my new house and was wondering if any of you have a company you would recommend. I'm mostly concerned about price. It's not that I'm too lazy to call around - I just don't have time for the run-around that they give you, saying that they can't give you a quote over the phone and that they'd need to come out and measure. By the time I schedule appointments with 10 companies, it will be almost time to move in and I'd like to have them ordered before them. Anyway, any help would be appreciated. Oh, and I'm in Utah County. Thanks!

Flying with a Baby

I'm going to be flying across the country with my four month old daughter and i'm just wondering how i can make the trip easier on her?

Marriage and Finances- should I wait?

My boyfriend and I are wanting to get married. However, I have no job and am going to school full-time. He is going to school full time as well so can only work part time. He is willing to go to school part time and try and work full time but we will be VERY poor, I mean VERY VERY poor. I can't find a job anywhere! I know we could make it work but it would be stressful. I graduate from college next summer, so here is my question: Do you think it would be best to wait until I graduate to get married so I would have a great paying job and be able to support him while he finishes school or not wait? What experiences did you have as being newly married and both going to school full-time, was it worth it or do you wish you would've waited?

Lying

Why do people lie about STUPID things?
I can see lying about something somewhat big, or lying to someone and telling them they look skinny when they dont, things of that nature, but to lie about little things that most people wouldn't even THINK about lying about. Its honestly pointless and I just don't get it for the life of me.
Over the weekend I caught a "friend" lying about something COMPLETELY ridiculous. I never confronted her (cause deep down she knew she'd been caught), but I definitely left wondering "if this person lies about LITTLE things like this, what else is she lying about."
I just dont get it. It would be different if the lie would have been for someone else's sake or to make me feel better about something but no it wasn't.
It's so dumb I dont even get it.

Google Reader

What is it and how do I use it/set it up? Will the blogs I put on there know I am subscribed (I'm a blogstalker!)?

Another Funny Picture

This picture was taken by a friend of mine at a McDonald's down the street from our house!

A little SPACING goes a long way.....

For no reason other than the fact that everyone could use a good laugh now and then!

Thanksgiving Traditions, etc

Does your family have a Thanksgiving tradition?

Where do you go (or who comes to your home) for Thanksgiving?

If you're going somewhere, did you get a food assignment? What was it?

Worst Thanksgiving food ever?

What is your take on...

Natural Childbirth vs. Epidural?

Breastfeeding vs. Formula feeding?

Cry-it-out vs. non-crying methods?

Spanking vs. Non-spanking?

I don't have kids yet but I do have my personal views on these topics. I'm sure they will probably change a lot once I actually become a parent, but I was wondering how everyone else feels about these topics. Thanks!

SLEEP

As I sit here awake at 12:20 AM I can't help but wonder...

How many hours of sleep do you get on average each night?

Laptop Suggestions

We are getting ready to buy a new laptop and we want some advice. Obviously we know a mac is the best, but that is out of our price range. Any other suggestions?

personal revelation

Does anyone know of a talk by a General Authority that talks about how you cannot receive personal revelation for anyone but yourself? I need one to get my mom off my back...

Caught in the Middle

So, I am in the middle of a raging fight between two of my friends. I will give you the nutshell version...

D and L have known each other since they were 14 (they are both 40 now, 10 years older than I am) and grew up the best of friends. At different points in their lives they have had other best friends, but they always have been very close. I became friends with D because I used to work with her and she introduced me to L and we all get along great. Their kids have all grown up together, played on the same little league teams, taken dance classes, spent every Thanksgiving, etc... but one of D's daughters (16 yr old) got into a little trouble last year and L and her husband were very outspoken in their judgment of the situation - even going so far as to say D is a bad mother (which I really don't think is true). D is very sensitive and took it very personally and basically cut L and her husband and kids from her life.

So, now I'm stuck in the middle. I can see why D got upset, I think L and her husband acted too harshly, but is it worth ending a life-long friendship? Because of D's reaction, L and her husband refuse to apologize - which only makes matters worse. I am the sounding board for BOTH sides and have to be sympathetic to both. I think both are right, both are wrong - but I wish they would just grow up and get over it already.

What should I do? I have been friends with both of them now for about 5 years. I don't want to NOT be friends with either one of them, but this is driving me insane. My husband thinks I should just tell both of them they are nuts and be done with them, but I really consider both of them to be good friends and I LOVE their kids!

Help Me (financial)

So growing up my mom always spent money like crazy, money we didn't have. Bouncing checks, collector people calling, just stupid stuff. I worked my butt of in school and she was always borrowing money and I had to help with bills. It sucked and I hated it! So why do I not have enough self control to change that part in my life and be better with my money?

I am nothing like my family. I have tried so hard to get out of that "you grow up just like your mom" thing. She's messy, I'm freakishly clean... She is overweight, I'm slender.. She is not a people person... I can talk to anyone. We are so different except this one thing I just can't control. (my fault I know)

I just feel like I have no idea how to balance money. I feel like I am slowly starting to do the things she does and I DON'T want to be like this.. YES, YES, I know I have a choice to not do that but I really don't even know where to start or how to get on a budget.
I have a debt of $2500 I cut up my cards and I want help changing.

I don't know who to talk to so if anyone has ANY tips, help, or advice.. PLEASE.. I'm begging point me in the right direction. I don't even know if this makes sense!

Baby Stuff

Where are good places/websites to find Cribs and baby bedding? I have looked on a bunch, but need more options! So please let me know if you know of anything good! Thanks!

Islam

What do you think of the religion of Islam? What do you know about Muslims and have you had any personal experiences with them?

I will start.....In my opinion, it seems as if we have become such a politically correct country that is so worried about religious tolerance that we are turning a blind eye towards the threat and spread of Islam. It is the second largest religion on the planet, and growing. It is a religion founded by a pedophile, false prophet (Aisha, one of the "prophet" Mohammed's last wives, was 6 when first bethrothed to him and 9 when married to him - it says this in the Koran) Military General that tells his followers to murder those that do not accept Allah as the one true God. All of us infidels will burn. Women are property of their husband's and worth 1/2 of what a man is worth.

Now, I fully understand that there are many peaceful Muslim people in the world. I do not think they should be mistreated or punished for their faith, but I think we need to stop saying that it is a peaceful faith when the Koran itself has verse after verse ORDERING its followers to inflict harm or death on infidels/non-believers. I have personally worked closely with several Muslim men and women in Real Estate and have never had any sort of personal problem with them. Again, I understand that there are peaceful, loving Muslims in the world. However, Islam, at its core, is very militant and very violent and incredibly threatening to the safety of non-Muslims. Yet, racial profiling and religious profiling are against everyone's constitutional rights in America - so we just have to sit back and watch as this faith spreads and Muslims who ARE militant and NOT peaceful continually murder innocent people? I don't know about you, but I am concerned.

I don't WANT to be concerned. I want to believe that we can all co-exist and be tolerant of one-another, but in the reality that is my world, my Christian, Buddhist, Mormon, Atheist and Jewish neighbors don't scare me, but the Muslims kind of do. I'm very sorry to say it. I really am, but that is how I feel.

When you were a kid did you...

ride your bike/walk to the grocery store to get grocery's?
walk/ride bike to school?
sit in the car when your parents went inside?
ride in the bed of the truck?
walk to the gas station to get cigarettes for your parents?

I am amazed at all the stuff I will never let my kids do that I did every day as a child. Do any of you have things you did as a kid that you will not let your kids do?

FYI-i do not smoke and would never make my kids do that even if I did. I know some of you will bring that up and call me a horrible mother.