What I learned in the UK

• Bathrooms are called Toilets. They are never where you want them to be, and if they are, you have to pay for them.
• The standard uniform for women here is black tights or leggings, boots, and a belted peacoat jacket. Sometimes very short denim shorts are worn over those tights.
• I look like a tourist, and I'm fine with that. Leave the boots and cute shoes for the Londoners, they aren't doing as much walking as you are.
• Everything is beautiful, really old, and really expensive.
• Buy lunch at a grocery store instead of a restaurant, much cheaper and healthier.
• There is still a Starbucks, Pizza Hut, and McDonald's on every corner.
• Taking the "Tube" is really easy and fun.
• Rick Steve knows what he's talking about.
• If you want to sound British, use the adjectives "lovely" and "brilliant".
• Check the heat setting on your flat-iron carefully before using it with the converter. You might fry your hair. Just sayin'...
• Flying is much easier and more relaxing without kids. But I wouldn't trade my kids for anything.
• It's really fun to Skype with your kids. They might try to feed you cheese crackers and sippy cups of milk through the computer. You might try to poke them and squeeze their heads.
• My husband really is my best-friend. I love being with him wherever we are. And wherever we are he continues to be the same easy-going, level-headed, amazing-with-directions, funny (and "brilliant") man that I love.

Things I learned in Dublin and Northern Ireland:

• Bathrooms are still called Toilets.
• They have Subways here and fewer Starbucks.
• Food is "nice" and "gorgeous" when it's really good.
• Stone walls dividing fields make a hillside beautiful.
• I've lived a very sheltered, safe life.
• Cookies are called "biscuits".
• Drink tea, more tea, and then have some biscuits.
• Baby items have cuter names here. Diapers are called "nappies", strollers are "prams", and Irish babies named Caleb have chubby red cheeks that I adore.
• Good friends are those you can pick up a conversation with after 4 years and it's like you've never been apart.
• Words can do without multiple syllables, and on whatever syllable you think the emphasis should be placed, you're wrong.
• GPS is invaluable on country roads in a foreign country.