Royal Baby Names

An Article came out yesterday that then name Elizabeth Diana Carole is top name for baby Windsor. It's seems that a lot of the world is convinced that Kate & Wills are having a girl. I won't lie I am wanting a little girl more than a little boy... because who doesn't love a little princess. I am sure however, no matter the gender of this baby it will be a cute one. Wills looks just like his mother Diana and Kate is a pretty lady too.
As your Royal Baby correspondent I have been thinking long and hard about baby names. And the three names predicted were on my list, among several others.


Little royal lady...

Elizabeth: An obvious classic choice, named after several Elizabeths. The queen, Kate's middle name is Elizabeth and Kate's mother Carole middle name is also Elizabeth.

Diana: I am sure, if the royal baby is a girl the name Diana will be incorporated somehow. I am not sure they would give the baby the first name Diana, for one I am not sure how the Royal Family would feel Diana wasn't exactly their favorite... but it's also a huge responsibility to carry that name. Diana is one of the most beloved women not only in England but around the world. Giving a baby that name seems like a lot of pressure. However it wouldn't surprise if it was a a middle name. I could see them even calling her by her middle name. Maybe little D or Di.

Philippa: I love the name Philippa. Kate's best friend (although I wish it was me) is her sister  Philippa  or "Pippa" as we like to call her. Phillip is the name of William's grandfather so this name has two meanings behind it. Philippa wouldn't be a first name.

Carole: The name of Kate's mum! It won't be a fist name but It could easily be one of the middle names.

Victoria: A classic English name. the Windsors come from a long line of Victorias. It's a pretty name and also a family name (i.e.Queen Victoria)

Charlotte: Charlotte (along with Vivian) is one of my favorite names! I could see Kate & William using this name... Since William's dads name is Charles and Pippa's middle name is Charlotte... I hope they don't use it... I liked it first.

Now for prince names,

Spencer: I can't imagine Spencer being a first name, but to honor William's mother and her side of the family I could see Spencer being in the child's name somewhere.

Henry: William's best friend is his mischievous ( and handsome ) brother Harry. Again I don't see this name as first name but is definitely a possibility! ( I also think Henrietta could be a fun a name for a little girl...)

Arthur : One of Williams middle names and popular family name. (not a huge fan of this name)

William: I wouldn't be surprised if William named his son William or had it as a middle name.Its a great name with lots of nicknames available.

Charles: Not just after Prince Charles, but after Diana's brother, William's uncle Charles.

Those are my predictions, but then again who really has any idea. We won't know the name of the baby until it arrives and I sure I will be waiting by tv with a bowl of popcorn and a glass of champagne!

xx
Your Royal Baby Correspondent,
Kimmy

We're happy free confused and lonely at the same time

Whether or not you like Taylor Swift, you just can't deny that the  lyrics to her song 22 are perfect for the 20 something age group. It references all of the "miserable & magical" things that you feel when you're in your 20s.

"Where happy free confused and lonely at the same time"
YES, To all of the above. I am at the this huge crossroad in my life and I have no idea where my life is taking me. I am graduating from college at the end of APRIL. Yes, this April I will officially be a college graduate.(Wait...What?)
I have been in school since I was 4(if you count preschool) 18 years of school! I know how to do school, school means routine and structure. However, when April rolls around I will no longer be in school. What I am suppose to do with the rest of my life? Where I am suppose to go?How am going to find a job? Where is my husband? All these questions and more are constantly running through my mind.

     I am not the only one in this limbo land of 20 somethings. Some of my friends are getting married, others are married and some are having babies. I don't fit into any of those categories! so where does that put me!? I fall in to this miserable and magical world of single-hood. I can literally go wherever the wind takes me. I have no one to report to and no one to hold me back. I can be spontaneous, go on an adventure and not have to worry about another person. I AM FREE. but with freedom often comes those moments of sadness. I begin to think,Why am I not married? Why doesn't anyone love me? Is there something wrong with me? And then I think, Do I even want any of those things right now? I would really like to have a successful job before I get married and I would like to move before I meet someone. So when I reason with myself I realize, I need to celebrate my 20 something life style. Someday I will think back to my 20 something life and think,Why didn't I live more in the moment?

     So here's to hanging out with girlfriends, staying up late, game nights, drinking coffee, unplanned adventures, tv marathons, long walks, margaritas, reading on the beach, going to concerts,snowy days, cozy sweaters,DIY projects, and dressing like Kate Mid.

Embrace your 20s, celebrate you and live a little.

xx
Kimmy

Ps. Here is a  link to this great song, that is currently my ringtone...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vYiRgRyGyMg

Galentines Day

I realize this is a bit later than I anticipated, but the thought of skipping a post devoted to the women I hold nearest and dearest just wouldn't do. Last month a very serious woman love fest was held in the name of Galentines Day! The idea was stolen from the one and only, Leslie Knope of Parks and Recreation. It's traditionally the day before Valentines Day that gal pals gather to celebrate being a woman and being a friend.

Our Galentines Day was held at the fantastic and delicious Beezy's Cafe in Ypsilanti, MI. We all grabbed breakfast and exchanged silly, heartfelt gifts and cards while chatting about life, love, and other outrageously inappropriate topics. After the meal was exchanged, a few of us kept the love fest going with a viewing of Warm Bodies.

The day was perfect. I am so unbelievably in love with the women in my life. My sisters, mom, friends, mentors..... They're such a blessing it is ridiculous! I truly am surrounded by the most incredible support system and I am so thankful. Honestly have NO IDEA what I would do without you!! In case you missed the Instagram flood, here are some highlights. Wish I had space for more!

Xoxo, Hannah

Kate Middy: Baby Bump Update.

     It's no secret to those who know that I love Kate Middleton. One December morning I looked to check the time on my phone,  I had 6 missed phone calls, 7 texts and 4 twitter notifications, and 2 facebook posts from people asking me about my excitement of the news that HRH Kate was pregnant with the heir to the thrown! I wish I could explain in words just how I excited I was.. My entire afternoon that day was spent watching the British television.

     I guess you could say I am bit obsessed with Kate Middleton. While her and William were dating, I was told by someone that I looked liked Kate. I was flattered but I knew it wasn't true, I decided to photo shop my face onto her body.The picture was of her and William's engagement announcement. People began commenting on the photo and some didn't even know it was me, they thought it was Kate! Ever since then I have been associated with her by my friends and family. I LOVE IT. How fun is it to adore a celebrity and kind of look like them?  But my love & reasons for liking her will come in another post. This post is about that baby bump!

     As soon as I heard the news that Kate was expecting, people asked me when I thought she was due. I guessed that June early July because Kate wanted to wait until the three month mark to tell the public but had to go to the hospital (at about 8 weeks) due to severe morning sickness.  I have been waiting anxiously to see what Kate would wear during pregnancy.I think because of Kate's pregnancy maternity clothes are changing. Kate is known for her classy style and that hasn't changed since her pregnancy began. THIS IS SO WONDERFUL FOR PREGNANT WOMEN EVERYWHERE. Stores like target are jumping on the classy & trendy bandwagon and making cute clothes for pregnant women! FINALLY. Now I have never been pregnant but I can tell you that most women I know hate the clothing.

I have decided to be your official royal baby bump correspondent. I promise to post pictures and keep you updated on the Royal pregnancy. I will post about Kate's clothes, baby name predictions and much more, After all it's the least I can do.

These two photos are from Kate's outing today in Grimbsy. I hope I look like Kate when I am expecting. You can't even tell she has a bump. Her lovely brown coat with highwaisted belt and dress like fit looks stunning on her. I also really like the small belt like band around the sleeve. I am sure we will see a knock off version of this coat hit our stores in the next few weeks. 

I will leave you with this photo, it's my favorite of Kate so far.

I love how natural this photo is,It's a great candid of Kate's hand is placed gently on her belly. 

    The photo looks like it just of an ordinary expectant couple.

Have an enchanting Tuesday, from one princess to another,

xoxo

Kimmy 

 Photos curtesy of:
 [Leon Neal / AFP / Getty Images]

Love.

As I reached for the third cup of coffee this morning in an attempt to ward of the sleepiness that comes along with child care, I asked myself the same question that I always ask in moments of exhaustion... Why do I do this to myself?

This week has been a bit crazy so far, which is usually normal. Last week, however, was the opposite of crazy while I vacationed with my family in the retirement capital of America... Marco Island, FL. Coming from such a slow moving, fun/sun/food-filled week made my usual 7am - 9pm schedule a bit more exhausting than I remembered. I try to be a super-nanny, but I will tell you all who have never cared for a child... KIDS ARE EXHAUSTING. They constantly want something (often food, or something equally as inconvenient), they have indescribable amounts of energy that they likely stole from you (one mom likened this concept to the dementors in Harry Potter), and they are full of an impossible amount of bodily fluids! Any person who works in child care (parents, teachers, coaches, etc.) deserves a billion gold stars and a lifetime supply of strong coffee. So why, then, do I voluntarily spend my 40-hours per week cleaning up aforementioned bodily fluids while being energy sucked by dementor children? Love.

After dealing with yet another mid-nap potty accident, and going through the motions of the nap-time ritual for what seemed like the billionth time today, the 3-year-old I watch looked up at me with something to say. I expected him to request yet another snack, or drink, or "five more minutes," or "just one more book," but instead, he said to me, "Han, I love you" and closed his eyes for his nap. I don't care if it is the cheesiest thing ever. This is the moment of my day that reminded me what love is. Those little dementors who produce piles of dirty diapers, dishes, and laundry are people. They're not going to be people when they grow up, when they start talking, or when they've reached some other milestone... they're people right now and they need the grown-ups in their lives to know that. They are each special, kind, creative, and smart. When they play it is sometimes loud and irritating, but it is so important. Their fresh, young minds are able to learn and grow so much everyday. It is so outrageously impressive the way we've all been created. People are so intricately designed. Our ability to love... that's an incredible gift and kids are able to do it so well sometimes that it makes cry for so embarrassingly long that you have to write about it. As I sit here listening to the early signs of the end of nap time, I am just so thankful for the life that I have, and for the people God's placed in my life. I am so thankful that one of those wonderful people reminded me, yet again, how much God loves each one of His children, and that He is calling me to do the same.

Xoxo,
Hannah

A Guide to Hannah: Not-So-Pretty-Things You Should Know About Me

1. Faith, family, and friends are my top 3 priorities in that order.
2. I am a procrastinator in the worst way.
3. Things don't typically line up neat and tidy in my head. I usually have to force the jumbles into some sort of order to maintain sanity... and form coherent sentences.
4. I can't spell many words well without spell check.
5. Self-control is tricky for me sometimes, because I'm a pretty passionate person.
6. I need my sleep.
7. Music is powerful and necessary in my day-to-day.
8. Sometimes being the listener of the conversation is a huge struggle, but it's not because I don't want to hear what the talker has to say.
9. Stress manifests itself physically in the form of weird, awkward ailments like stomach pains, excessive sweating, itchy rashes, or vision loss (to name a few).
10. Sunshine warms my heart and boosts my mood.
11. I'm meant to be a mother someday. It's my purpose in life and I am so excited to fulfill it.
12. I frequently eat my feelings.
13. I love vegetables, but I love chocolate too.
14. I hope to one day be truly surprised by something amazing.
15. The biggest adventure to me is becoming vulnerable enough to love all sorts of people and things... investing my whole heart.
16. I'm honestly afraid of what a coffee outage could do to me.
17. Encouragement is my favorite way to be loved.
18. I am strong willed to a fault, therefore I don't react well to being told what I can or cannot do.
19. It pains me to let other people down, because I genuinely want them happy and fulfilled.
20. I tend to keep an absurdly busy schedule.
21. My feet stink horribly and I am ashamed of them.
22. I hate being in debt.
23. I'm usually late.
24. I'm not perfect, or normal, or one of the cool kids, but I'll try my best to accept you and respect you just as you are.
25. I'm weird about having things be round numbers, so I had to have 25 things.

Project 373.

 A little New Year update:

 2012 was a year of new adventures and new beginnings.  I began to take part in a project of taking pictures for a whole year. I started this project on Christmas 2011 and "ended" it New Years Eve 2012( I still take a picture just about every day.) I don't  believe in New Years Resolutions, I think you should constantly be challenging yourself to live a healthier more meaningful life.

I wanted for this project to take pictures of my everyday life that I often forget to document. We usually take pictures of the "big moments" but what about all the little moments that make life, well life? Throughout my 373 pictures you see bits of my life captured on film. What started off as an instagram challenge from a friend turned into a wonderful memory.

  Here  are few moments of time captured from my past year.

                Worked with strangers rebuilding our community after a Tornado swept through

        Saw Titanic at least 4 times in theaters, including on 100th anniversary of when the titanic     

             sank.Because lets be real here,  TITANIC IS THE BEST MOVIE OF ALL TIME.

                                              

 

My oldest niece graduated from preschool.

  

Mourned the loss of my cousin Chad, and learned just how precious life truly is 

                                                                       

                                                  Jumped in front of the Tanner Residence

                                                   Took my 18 year old dog for a spin.

                                              Said goodbye to my Sassy Cat, Cookie.

                                             

                                          Welcomed a new family member Lady Pippa Winslet

   

                                        Celebrated many birthdays (my little niece turned 2)

                                                       Fell in love with the first grade.

 

                                                           Spent time with family.

                                                              Joined a headband mafia.

                                                            Enjoyed days at the beach

 

And nights at the pool

                                              traveled to imaginary worlds at the beck

                               laughed and dance my way through my last year of sorority life

                                                                 became a princess

                                                    

                                                    crafted  away my last day as a nanny

                                             

                                         Rang in the new year with my nearly normal girl.

There are so many other memories I wanted to share in this post, but I ran out of space! if you would like to see more, follow my instagram Conninator.

Thanks for reading,

xoxox

Kimmy