Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Tune in Tuesdays
This week's song is from my most favorite band in the entire universe, Incubus. I've loved them since my freshman year in High School. I've only missed one of their tours since then (due to Bean being too little to leave alone for that long), and I have the possibility of going to their concert on August 30th on their current tour (with Linkin Park) if the stars align and our friends in Denver can come with us and if my mom can watch Bean.... I am holding my breath and crossing all my fingers and toes that this works out. It's been too long since I've seen them in concert and the itch to go is driving me CRAZY.
I love all their songs. The older ones are the ones I'm MOST fond of, but I love them all. I decided to share Sick Sad Little World because it has an amazing musical interlude half way through the song. The guitar and bass players are amazing at what they do. Brandon's (the lead singer) voice is amazing. This song is amazing. Incubus is amazing. Here's to hoping that I will get to see them on the 30th!
If you're linking up this week be sure to grab my button and link up here.
I love all their songs. The older ones are the ones I'm MOST fond of, but I love them all. I decided to share Sick Sad Little World because it has an amazing musical interlude half way through the song. The guitar and bass players are amazing at what they do. Brandon's (the lead singer) voice is amazing. This song is amazing. Incubus is amazing. Here's to hoping that I will get to see them on the 30th!
If you're linking up this week be sure to grab my button and link up here.
Thursday, August 16, 2012
30 Things in 30 Days.... About Me!
(I first came across this challenge on Six Cherries on Top, who linked up with Best of Both Worlds, who originally got the list/inspiration from Hopes and Dreams.)
1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misunderstand most about you?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
7:15 Wake up
7:30 Emily gets dropped off
8:00 Bean wakes up
8:30 Breakfast
9:00 Errands/Play at the park/library/Bean's room
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Naptime
3:00 Wake up/Snack/Play
3:45-4:30 (depending on the day) Emily gets picked up
5:00 Start prepping dinner
5:30 Cook dinner
6:00 Eat dinner
7:00 Family time
7:30 Bathtime
7:45 PJs/Storytime/Bottle
8:00 Bedtime
8:30 Pick up the house/Finish 'chores' that didn't get done in the day
10:00 Jeff goes to bed, I get on the computer
11:30-12:00 Get ready for bed, lay down, watch TV
12:00-2:00 (depending on how tired/stressed I am) Fall asleep.
This is for M-F, on the weekends it's all the same except I sleep until Bean wakes me up sometime after 8am.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
1. I care too much about my friends and family. To the point where I give myself perpetual stomach aches and stress over their lives.
2. I'm insecure. I'm always worried about if people like me, what they're saying about me, what they really think about me, etc.
3. I'm a worry-wort. I think about the what-ifs too much.
4. I'm a control freak. Not always having to make the decisions, etc... but more about stuff I have NO control over. It keeps me up at night wishing I could make something happen, or change something, when it's completely out of my control.
5. I'm sensitive. My feelings get hurt easily. Unfortunately over the years I've stopped coming across as hurt and emotional and now come across as confrontational and angry when someone hurts my feelings. I need to work on it.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
1. I'm loving. If I love you my love for you is fierce. Once you're in my heart it takes a LOT for me to stop caring about you.
2. I'm dependable. If you need me, I'll do everything in my power to be there for you.
3. I'm creative and resourceful. I can make a fun time out of nothing - so long as whoever I'm with allows me to do it and doesn't rain on the parade.
4. I'm sensitive. I know it's in my negative list, but because I'm sensitive I usually root for the underdog and try to find the best in people/silver lining in crappy situations. People sometimes get frustrated at me for this, "Why are you defending him?? Just be pissed with me!!" But I'm sure that underdog appreciates SOMEONE being on their side.
5. I'm protective. If, however, that underdog turns out to actually just be a dog and treating someone I love poorly - repeatedly - I will turn on them in an instant.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
A house cat (in a loving home). Their life is lived on their terms, their family love them for their quirks, they leave them be, but when they come around their humans love all over them. They get to gaze outside, nap in the sunlight, sleep 18-20 hours a day, and they're so pretty! ♥
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
1. My daughter
2. My marriage
3. My 2 college degrees. Even if they don't mean much to the real world they mean something to me.
4.
5.
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
Being the best mom to Bean that I can. There are days that I feel I rocked at being a Mom, and there are days where I go to bed feeling like I could have/should have done a hundred things differently.
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
My father's absence. I don't know if I ever forgave him, but I finally accepted it for what it is and let it go. It still irritates me, but I don't have an emotional breakdown when I think about it anymore. I used to take it personally, like he wasn't around because he didn't love me, but I know that he wasn't around because he was an irresponsible, addict, fool of a man. I'm better off with him NOT being in my life. I'm thankful he's not in Bean's either.
1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misunderstand most about you?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
7:15 Wake up
7:30 Emily gets dropped off
8:00 Bean wakes up
8:30 Breakfast
9:00 Errands/Play at the park/library/Bean's room
12:00 Lunch
1:00 Naptime
3:00 Wake up/Snack/Play
3:45-4:30 (depending on the day) Emily gets picked up
5:00 Start prepping dinner
5:30 Cook dinner
6:00 Eat dinner
7:00 Family time
7:30 Bathtime
7:45 PJs/Storytime/Bottle
8:00 Bedtime
8:30 Pick up the house/Finish 'chores' that didn't get done in the day
10:00 Jeff goes to bed, I get on the computer
11:30-12:00 Get ready for bed, lay down, watch TV
12:00-2:00 (depending on how tired/stressed I am) Fall asleep.
This is for M-F, on the weekends it's all the same except I sleep until Bean wakes me up sometime after 8am.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
1. I care too much about my friends and family. To the point where I give myself perpetual stomach aches and stress over their lives.
2. I'm insecure. I'm always worried about if people like me, what they're saying about me, what they really think about me, etc.
3. I'm a worry-wort. I think about the what-ifs too much.
4. I'm a control freak. Not always having to make the decisions, etc... but more about stuff I have NO control over. It keeps me up at night wishing I could make something happen, or change something, when it's completely out of my control.
5. I'm sensitive. My feelings get hurt easily. Unfortunately over the years I've stopped coming across as hurt and emotional and now come across as confrontational and angry when someone hurts my feelings. I need to work on it.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
1. I'm loving. If I love you my love for you is fierce. Once you're in my heart it takes a LOT for me to stop caring about you.
2. I'm dependable. If you need me, I'll do everything in my power to be there for you.
3. I'm creative and resourceful. I can make a fun time out of nothing - so long as whoever I'm with allows me to do it and doesn't rain on the parade.
4. I'm sensitive. I know it's in my negative list, but because I'm sensitive I usually root for the underdog and try to find the best in people/silver lining in crappy situations. People sometimes get frustrated at me for this, "Why are you defending him?? Just be pissed with me!!" But I'm sure that underdog appreciates SOMEONE being on their side.
5. I'm protective. If, however, that underdog turns out to actually just be a dog and treating someone I love poorly - repeatedly - I will turn on them in an instant.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
A house cat (in a loving home). Their life is lived on their terms, their family love them for their quirks, they leave them be, but when they come around their humans love all over them. They get to gaze outside, nap in the sunlight, sleep 18-20 hours a day, and they're so pretty! ♥
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
1. My daughter
2. My marriage
3. My 2 college degrees. Even if they don't mean much to the real world they mean something to me.
4.
5.
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
Being the best mom to Bean that I can. There are days that I feel I rocked at being a Mom, and there are days where I go to bed feeling like I could have/should have done a hundred things differently.
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
My father's absence. I don't know if I ever forgave him, but I finally accepted it for what it is and let it go. It still irritates me, but I don't have an emotional breakdown when I think about it anymore. I used to take it personally, like he wasn't around because he didn't love me, but I know that he wasn't around because he was an irresponsible, addict, fool of a man. I'm better off with him NOT being in my life. I'm thankful he's not in Bean's either.
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Wordless Wednesday : Dancing in a Tunnel
Please excuse my bun-hair, I wasn't planning on getting in front of the camera lens today.
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Tuesday, August 14, 2012
Tune in Tuesdays!
This Tuesday's song pick is a beautifully slow, dreamy, touching song. It's by Sara Bareilles and it's called Once Upon Another Time. Her voice moves me. It has since I first heard it 7+ years ago. This song evoked an emotional reaction when I first heard it. Bean's 2nd birthday has had me in a very nostalgic mood for the past week or so. The PMS that's creeping in over top of me is pushing that nostalgia over the edge and turning me into a weepy sap.
I close my eyes and listen to this song and it's like I'm the one driving the car. I'm watching the yellow lines on the road, feeling the warmth from the sun on my arms through the car windows, I'm driving up a mountain-side on a curvy road, everything is in slow motion. I can hear Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah coming from my car's speakers, I notice the light haze of cigarette smoke swirling in the air around me. I can smell the outside, earthy, air. There is some sort of ornament dangling from my rear view mirror that I see slowly swaying right to left as I follow the curve of the road. At first I feel anxious and lost, but by the end of the song I feel at peace. I feel older and wiser and realize that the shit I'm worrying about isn't as big as it seems. By the end of the song it's nighttime, I'm still driving, but I'm not trying to escape anymore. I'm driving because I can, because I can take myself where I need to go, because I enjoy driving. I remember those anxious memories, but they don't scare me anymore. I'm ok. When the song started I noticed my pulse sped up, but the end of it my pulse and my breathing had considerably slowed. It happened like that, the whole mental and physical experience, each of the 15 times (in a row) I listened to it.
I love her voice and I love her ability to completely paint a scene in my mind's eye.
I close my eyes and listen to this song and it's like I'm the one driving the car. I'm watching the yellow lines on the road, feeling the warmth from the sun on my arms through the car windows, I'm driving up a mountain-side on a curvy road, everything is in slow motion. I can hear Jeff Buckley's Hallelujah coming from my car's speakers, I notice the light haze of cigarette smoke swirling in the air around me. I can smell the outside, earthy, air. There is some sort of ornament dangling from my rear view mirror that I see slowly swaying right to left as I follow the curve of the road. At first I feel anxious and lost, but by the end of the song I feel at peace. I feel older and wiser and realize that the shit I'm worrying about isn't as big as it seems. By the end of the song it's nighttime, I'm still driving, but I'm not trying to escape anymore. I'm driving because I can, because I can take myself where I need to go, because I enjoy driving. I remember those anxious memories, but they don't scare me anymore. I'm ok. When the song started I noticed my pulse sped up, but the end of it my pulse and my breathing had considerably slowed. It happened like that, the whole mental and physical experience, each of the 15 times (in a row) I listened to it.
I love her voice and I love her ability to completely paint a scene in my mind's eye.
"Once Upon Another Time"
Once upon another time
Somebody's hands who felt like mine
Turned the key and took a drive
Was free
Highway curve, the sun sank low
Buckley on the radio
Cigarette was burning slow
So breathe
Just yellow lines and tire marks
And sun-kissed skin and handle bars
And where I stood was where I was to be
No enemies to call my own
No porch light on to pull me home
And where I was is beautiful
Because I was free
Once upon another time
Before I knew which life was mine
Before I left the child behind me
I saw myself in summer nights
And stars lit up like candle light
I make my wish but mostly I believed...
In yellow lines and tire marks
Sun-kissed skin and handle bars
And where I stood was where I was to be
Once upon another time
Decided nothing good in dying
So I would just keep on driving
Because I was free
Once upon another time
Somebody's hands who felt like mine
Turned the key and took a drive
Was free
Highway curve, the sun sank low
Buckley on the radio
Cigarette was burning slow
So breathe
Just yellow lines and tire marks
And sun-kissed skin and handle bars
And where I stood was where I was to be
No enemies to call my own
No porch light on to pull me home
And where I was is beautiful
Because I was free
Once upon another time
Before I knew which life was mine
Before I left the child behind me
I saw myself in summer nights
And stars lit up like candle light
I make my wish but mostly I believed...
In yellow lines and tire marks
Sun-kissed skin and handle bars
And where I stood was where I was to be
Once upon another time
Decided nothing good in dying
So I would just keep on driving
Because I was free
If you're linking up this week be sure to grab my button and link up here. Now excuse me while I go listen to this song on repeat, with my eyes closed for another hour.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
Bean Girl is TWO!
Happy Birthday Bean! It absolutely amazes me that my little baby isn't a baby anymore, but instead a bonafide toddler. She looks more like a kid now, less like a baby. She's going a million miles a minute; running, jumping, hopping, climbing and talking. Talking SO much! Her speech and vocabulary has exploded in the last month! For a couple weeks before her two year well check I started writing down the words I'd hear her say and was astounded that she was regularly saying and using 109 words! Her pediatrician was impressed with the number of words she says and the fact that she strings together 2-word sentences. She weighed in at a whopping 22.5lbs (5% she's always been petite), is 33.5" tall (45%), and her head is 19" around (70% sorry for the big head genes, kiddo).
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Jeff and I spent an hour the night before her birthday blowing up 60 balloons and put them on her bedroom floor so she'd get a birthday surprise when she woke up. I know that she doesn't understand what a birthday is, but I wanted her to know it was a special day. She had never had a room full of balloons, so I'm hoping that the balloons did the trick. She loved them!
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After we dropped Emily off at her theater class we went to my mom's for a quick birthday breakfast where Bean had a pumpkin muffin. I meant to put a candle in it to make it more festive, but forgot the candle.... Still, we sung, and she didn't like it. lol. She liked the muffin, though!
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Her birthday was an exciting day.... she finally was old enough to get her grocery-cart-car-drivers-license. And, check out the name of the car!
We ended the day with an official "birthday cupcake" complete with candle and singing - which she did not enjoy - but I think she appreciated the chocolate cake. :)
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Jeff and I spent an hour the night before her birthday blowing up 60 balloons and put them on her bedroom floor so she'd get a birthday surprise when she woke up. I know that she doesn't understand what a birthday is, but I wanted her to know it was a special day. She had never had a room full of balloons, so I'm hoping that the balloons did the trick. She loved them!
After we dropped Emily off at her theater class we went to my mom's for a quick birthday breakfast where Bean had a pumpkin muffin. I meant to put a candle in it to make it more festive, but forgot the candle.... Still, we sung, and she didn't like it. lol. She liked the muffin, though!
Her birthday was an exciting day.... she finally was old enough to get her grocery-cart-car-drivers-license. And, check out the name of the car!
We ended the day with an official "birthday cupcake" complete with candle and singing - which she did not enjoy - but I think she appreciated the chocolate cake. :)
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Her birthday party was Thomas themed. We held it at my mom's house on Saturday and after many days on Pinterest, many late nights crafting, many hours baking, and then more hours setting up and decorating the party went off without a hitch. I'm exhausted after the ordeal, but I'm SO glad that I did all the planning and preparing that I did because my girl loved her party. I'll let the pics speak for themselves.
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Now that the festivities are done I have to get back to real life. I had let the house completely go for the 3 days leading up to her party, trading house work for party planning, but now it looks like a bomb went off up in here. I thought I was almost over my cold, but now feel like it's just moved from my sinuses to my chest - making it hard for me to breathe. It's going to be FUN trying to clean the house, as well as purging Bean's old toys to make room for her new birthday toys, with Emily and Bean running amok in the apartment. *siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiigh* I'm going to go to bed early-ish tonight and hope that I'll wake up feeling 100% better.
I can't believe I've been a Mommy for 2 years now. ♥
Saturday, August 11, 2012
30 Things in 30 Days... About Me!
(I first came across this challenge on Six Cherries on Top, who linked up with Best of Both Worlds, who originally got the list/inspiration from Hopes and Dreams.)
1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misunderstand most about you?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
1. Bean has started singing along to songs, the best she can anyway. And it's so cute to be driving in the car, or cooking dinner, listening to music and have her sing, "Oh, oh, oh!" or clap at the right parts. She dances along, and pumps her fist - usually with the beat, too! Cracks me up. Cute girl.
2. Iced tea. Just normal bagged tea, brewed hot and then poured over ice. Love it so much in the summer.
3. The temps have been in the 80s again instead of the high 90-100s. Going outside doesn't make me want to murder people anymore.
4. Summer produce. Melons and squash. Berries and peaches! Mmmmmm!
5. Every night when I open the windows when I go to bed I'm reminded how lucky I am to live somewhere where it cools down to the low 60s every night in the summer. I love sleeping with the windows open.
6. What is the hardest thing you've ever experienced?
I think, honestly, it'd have to be my c-section/postpartum period. I was planning a natural birth, it didn't happen. I had a c-section. Due to severe sensitivities to pain meds all I could take after the surgery was 800mg Motrin. I've never felt pain like that before in my life. Breastfeeding was a complete nightmare for 12 weeks. I thought I was fine at the time, but looking back now 2 years out of the gate, I most definitely struggled with postpartum depression and was pretty much just surviving day to day.
7. What is your dream job, and why?
I would love to be a lactation consultant and a labor doula. I feel so passionate about breastfeeding and childbirth - that every woman should be able to have the experience that THEY want to have - and would love to help them achieve that. So many women feel bullied by their Drs, family, friends, etc to have a birth that fits a certain 'mold' and then end up regretting things. I would really love to help women make educated choices and support them if they need help or reassurance.
8. What are 5 passions you have?
1. Breastfeeding/Childbirth (as stated ^above)
2. Eating a vegetarian diet. Not contributing the the animal abuse that has become our food industry.
3. Photography, even though my talent pales in comparison to so many other photogs out there.
4. Family. Specifically my little family unit. Jeff and Bean are my world.
5. Reading. I love to read.
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
(in no particular order)
1. My mother. Duh.
2. My grandparents. My grandpa was the larger-than-life male figure in my life, and my grandma and I shared a special relationship as well.
3. My first best friend, Jes, and her moms. Jes was my saving grace when my mom dropped me off at summer-day-camp at 6 years old and I melted down. She hugged me and we were fast friends. I'm thankful that through FB I've reconnected with her. She's a beautiful, talented, actress living the dream in NYC. Her moms were the first in a long line of friends in my life living the GLBT "lifestyle". I'm so grateful that I was surrounded with all different variations of 'normal' when I was young, it - no doubt - made me who I am today with regard to how I deal with non-traditional situations.
4. My friend Nina. I didn't realize it when we were in middle and high school, but her friendship has taught me a lot about being there for someone, and a lot about forgiveness.
5. Lurlene McDaniel. She's an author who writes young adult novels. Her books taught me a lot about myself. I was constantly reading her books from ages 9-16.
6. My lactation consultant Tiffanie. If it weren't for her there would have been no way that I would have succeeded in giving my daughter breastmilk for one-day-shy-of 17 months. She saw me at some of my lowest points and calmly helped me through them. She was/is a constant sources of strength and knowledge to me.
7. My lactation consultant Stacey. (see above, ditto.)
8. Jeff. My best friend. My love. I don't know how I got so lucky.
9. My cat, Whitney, and my dog, Daisy. My childhood pets. They might as well have been my siblings. They really taught me how to be responsible for someone else, and to love unconditionally.
10. Madeline Jo Bean. I thought I knew what it meant to 'love' before her, but what I feel for her cannot be described. The minute she came into my life I was transformed. There is a quote, "The decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." ~Elizabeth Stone And I feel that it describes motherhood the best that I've found. The minute I became a mother I could not fathom my life without her in it. It is the most terrifying, and most gratifying thing, I've ever done.
10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
I know I've had a lot of them, but there isn't one sticking out in my memory as being THE MOST embarrassing. I guess one of them was when I had my first kiss. I wasn't expecting it. I was walking behind my boyfriend, smiling while we were talking, and he abruptly turned around and kissed me. Except we clunked our teeth together really hard. I don't know if that should have been his embarrassing moment or mine, but I remember feeling mortified that I made such a rookie mistake.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
1. Words pronounced incorrectly. Suposably. "Let me axe you a question." Irregardless. Towards. etc.
2. Lip smacking.
3. When people take for-ev-er to get their thought out. "T-t-t-today Junior!!" (That was a joke. If someone has an actual speech impediment it doesn't bother me!)
4. There/their/they're, its/it's, your/you're and seen/saw I'm positive we learned the difference between those words in grade school and yet, people who graduated high school can't seem to get them straight.
5. Nail clippings being left around the house.
6. The toilet paper being put on the holder the 'wrong' way. Yes, I understand that there is not actually a right/wrong way to unroll your toilet paper, but I like the sheet to lay on TOP of the roll, not to fall behind it. It drives me BANANAS. I've been known to change the direction the TP rolls in friends/family member's houses.
7. One-uppers. You're telling them about your hospital experience and before you finish their sentence they're telling you about the time they almost DIED in the ER last year. You tell them how proud you are that you got that promotion and they're telling you about the FABULOUS job offer they just turned down because it wasn't good enough. You're telling them that your major complaint with your home is your small kitchen and they assure you that it's bigger than THEIRS is, so you should just be thankful. SHUDDUP!!!! It's one thing to relate and commiserate, it's another to be a constant one-upper.
8. Chewing with your mouth open.
9. Talking to people who aren't listening. ESPECIALLY if they called me. You called me, you asked me about something, I'm in the middle of telling you about something, and it's OBVIOUS you're not paying attention. Why am I wasting my time? Why did you call me?
10. Dirty clothes left on the floor 3" away from the dirty clothes hamper.
1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
2. Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year-old self, if you could.
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
7. What is your dream job, and why?
8. What are 5 passions you have?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
12. Describe a typical day in your current life.
13. Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
14. Describe 5 strengths you have.
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
21. If you could have one superpower, what would it be and what would you do with it first?
22. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
23. List your top 5 hobbies and why you love them.
24. Describe your family dynamic of your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
25. If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
26. What popular notion do you think the world has most wrong?
27. What is your favorite part of your body and why?
28. What is your love language?
29. What do you think people misunderstand most about you?
30. List 10 things you would hope to be remembered for
5. What are the 5 things that make you most happy right now?
1. Bean has started singing along to songs, the best she can anyway. And it's so cute to be driving in the car, or cooking dinner, listening to music and have her sing, "Oh, oh, oh!" or clap at the right parts. She dances along, and pumps her fist - usually with the beat, too! Cracks me up. Cute girl.
2. Iced tea. Just normal bagged tea, brewed hot and then poured over ice. Love it so much in the summer.
3. The temps have been in the 80s again instead of the high 90-100s. Going outside doesn't make me want to murder people anymore.
4. Summer produce. Melons and squash. Berries and peaches! Mmmmmm!
5. Every night when I open the windows when I go to bed I'm reminded how lucky I am to live somewhere where it cools down to the low 60s every night in the summer. I love sleeping with the windows open.
6. What is the hardest thing you've ever experienced?
I think, honestly, it'd have to be my c-section/postpartum period. I was planning a natural birth, it didn't happen. I had a c-section. Due to severe sensitivities to pain meds all I could take after the surgery was 800mg Motrin. I've never felt pain like that before in my life. Breastfeeding was a complete nightmare for 12 weeks. I thought I was fine at the time, but looking back now 2 years out of the gate, I most definitely struggled with postpartum depression and was pretty much just surviving day to day.
7. What is your dream job, and why?
I would love to be a lactation consultant and a labor doula. I feel so passionate about breastfeeding and childbirth - that every woman should be able to have the experience that THEY want to have - and would love to help them achieve that. So many women feel bullied by their Drs, family, friends, etc to have a birth that fits a certain 'mold' and then end up regretting things. I would really love to help women make educated choices and support them if they need help or reassurance.
8. What are 5 passions you have?
1. Breastfeeding/Childbirth (as stated ^above)
2. Eating a vegetarian diet. Not contributing the the animal abuse that has become our food industry.
3. Photography, even though my talent pales in comparison to so many other photogs out there.
4. Family. Specifically my little family unit. Jeff and Bean are my world.
5. Reading. I love to read.
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
(in no particular order)
1. My mother. Duh.
2. My grandparents. My grandpa was the larger-than-life male figure in my life, and my grandma and I shared a special relationship as well.
3. My first best friend, Jes, and her moms. Jes was my saving grace when my mom dropped me off at summer-day-camp at 6 years old and I melted down. She hugged me and we were fast friends. I'm thankful that through FB I've reconnected with her. She's a beautiful, talented, actress living the dream in NYC. Her moms were the first in a long line of friends in my life living the GLBT "lifestyle". I'm so grateful that I was surrounded with all different variations of 'normal' when I was young, it - no doubt - made me who I am today with regard to how I deal with non-traditional situations.
4. My friend Nina. I didn't realize it when we were in middle and high school, but her friendship has taught me a lot about being there for someone, and a lot about forgiveness.
5. Lurlene McDaniel. She's an author who writes young adult novels. Her books taught me a lot about myself. I was constantly reading her books from ages 9-16.
6. My lactation consultant Tiffanie. If it weren't for her there would have been no way that I would have succeeded in giving my daughter breastmilk for one-day-shy-of 17 months. She saw me at some of my lowest points and calmly helped me through them. She was/is a constant sources of strength and knowledge to me.
7. My lactation consultant Stacey. (see above, ditto.)
8. Jeff. My best friend. My love. I don't know how I got so lucky.
9. My cat, Whitney, and my dog, Daisy. My childhood pets. They might as well have been my siblings. They really taught me how to be responsible for someone else, and to love unconditionally.
10. Madeline Jo Bean. I thought I knew what it meant to 'love' before her, but what I feel for her cannot be described. The minute she came into my life I was transformed. There is a quote, "The decision to have a child is momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." ~Elizabeth Stone And I feel that it describes motherhood the best that I've found. The minute I became a mother I could not fathom my life without her in it. It is the most terrifying, and most gratifying thing, I've ever done.
10. Describe your most embarrassing moment.
I know I've had a lot of them, but there isn't one sticking out in my memory as being THE MOST embarrassing. I guess one of them was when I had my first kiss. I wasn't expecting it. I was walking behind my boyfriend, smiling while we were talking, and he abruptly turned around and kissed me. Except we clunked our teeth together really hard. I don't know if that should have been his embarrassing moment or mine, but I remember feeling mortified that I made such a rookie mistake.
11. Describe 10 pet peeves you have.
1. Words pronounced incorrectly. Suposably. "Let me axe you a question." Irregardless. Towards. etc.
2. Lip smacking.
3. When people take for-ev-er to get their thought out. "T-t-t-today Junior!!" (That was a joke. If someone has an actual speech impediment it doesn't bother me!)
4. There/their/they're, its/it's, your/you're and seen/saw I'm positive we learned the difference between those words in grade school and yet, people who graduated high school can't seem to get them straight.
5. Nail clippings being left around the house.
6. The toilet paper being put on the holder the 'wrong' way. Yes, I understand that there is not actually a right/wrong way to unroll your toilet paper, but I like the sheet to lay on TOP of the roll, not to fall behind it. It drives me BANANAS. I've been known to change the direction the TP rolls in friends/family member's houses.
7. One-uppers. You're telling them about your hospital experience and before you finish their sentence they're telling you about the time they almost DIED in the ER last year. You tell them how proud you are that you got that promotion and they're telling you about the FABULOUS job offer they just turned down because it wasn't good enough. You're telling them that your major complaint with your home is your small kitchen and they assure you that it's bigger than THEIRS is, so you should just be thankful. SHUDDUP!!!! It's one thing to relate and commiserate, it's another to be a constant one-upper.
8. Chewing with your mouth open.
9. Talking to people who aren't listening. ESPECIALLY if they called me. You called me, you asked me about something, I'm in the middle of telling you about something, and it's OBVIOUS you're not paying attention. Why am I wasting my time? Why did you call me?
10. Dirty clothes left on the floor 3" away from the dirty clothes hamper.
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