12 Things

While not perfect, and filled with unexpected challenges, I think my 30s have been among my best years so far. 

1. I started my birthday morning cleaning poop off the floor and then shortly after I oversaw a timeout. I'm definitely a mom.

2. I'm OCD about cleaning/organizing, but I am a terrible house keeper.

3. I used to have daily reminders on my phone of what I should clean every day. Then we lived in hotels for 6 months and my reminders would go off everyday and annoy me because I couldn't even pretend to try to clean.

4. I pretty much have every children's book in our house memorized. We have a lot of books.

5. I keep hoping we will go hiking more (or at all), but that doesn't seem to be something that fits our current life stage. Some day.

6. There has been no lighting in our master bedroom for several months. Sometimes we start projects and they take longer than expected. Ok, that's really every project.

7. I essentially got new windows in the master suite for my birthday. I love the extra light. When I was younger, this is not something I would have imagined to be a good present – but it totally is!

 Before

 After – still have trim work to do and need to decide on paint colors.

8. The nicest car we have ever owned (and currently own) is a '98 LandCruiser. That's the year I graduated from high school. It has a tape deck and CD player... I know you're jealous.

9. I am probably the only 30-something year old that has had to relearn how to drive an automatic car. I forget to put it in park about 50% of the time. At least I pull the parking break every time.

10. I've pretty much quit reading books with any kind of regularity. I blame Kindle. It just isn't the same as a real book. Time to get back on track.

11. I voted today, which is fitting since I was born on an election day.

12. We celebrated my birthday this year with dinner at the Tupelo Honey Cafe. Their honey and biscuits are fantastic, and breakfast for dinner was perfect. 

 Chicken and Biscuits

 Country Breakfast

 Kids Sweet Potato Pancakes

2007 Things // 2009 Things // 2010 Things // 2011 Things // 2012 Things // 2013 Things

10 Things

Over the last couple of weeks, the Things meme has been circulating Facebook again. Remember back when we all did it in 2009? I just reread my 25 Things list from then and some of it surprised me... 

1. The avid reader things still stands, I now have 504 books in my To Read list on Goodreads instead of 98. Though since writing that in 2009 I have read 214 books.

4. Having kids no longer scares me. I also no longer watch Super Nanny.

8. I am still an avid meal planner and grocery shopper. 

9. If it's not on my list, I don't buy it. Period.

17. We got a dog. She does make our lives harder (as predicted), but she also makes our lives better. 

18. I still haven't owned a car that is less than 8 years old.

22. I no longer have a clothing budget... I almost never buy new clothes and when I do, it's usually with birthday money.

Here are a 10 new things you might not know about me (though, you probably already know way too much about me since I blog so much).

1. I hate clutter. It drives me crazy. Piles of paper on the counter are the worst.

2. My solution to clutter is to put it all in a basket and hide the basket in the closet. Ta-da. No more clutter. Daniel hates this solution. 

3. It makes me incredibly sad when someone I know gets divorced. I guess it's like death, it makes me realize that no one is invincible and that is saddening.

4. I am fascinated by history and politics. I can't wait to read the history books in about 10 years about politics that we have lived through.

5. I love my son with all of my heart, but I am always thankful when we put him down for bed.

6. I can't function without internet. It's like losing a limb.

7. I'm OCD about what direction you hang a shirt on a hanger. 

8. When we lived in Charlotte, I went through a period where I would get panic attacks in the middle of the night. I would wake up and think someone was in the room and I would be completely unable to move. I thought I was going to die of fright and I couldn't run away. I have only experienced these a couple of times since moving to Alabama.

9. The women in my family used to cram onto a bed together and talk for hours. When I was really little I would pretend I was asleep and learn all sorts of interesting things from my mom and aunts talking. We no longer do this and I kind of miss it.

10. The two ways I am most fearful of dying are in a tornado or flipping my car off a bridge into water.

Thursday Things You Might Not Know About Me (fluff)

Because a friend said I had to play if I "liked" her list of Things on Facebook...
 
Favorite song right now?
"All I Want Is You" by Tristan Prettyman (cover of Barry Louis Polisar song)

Last movie you watched? Did you like it?

I have no idea... does this happen to all parents? 

Three things that are super-annoying at the moment?
1. I'd say the election, but that is (thankfully) over and done with.

2. Having to wipe Jack's snotty nose multiple times a day. The poor guy hates this.

3. Suctioning said snotty nose... this may be worse than wiping.

Three random facts about yourself?
1. I am a control freak.
2. I still bite my nails. It's a horrible habit that I cannot seem to break.

3. I hate buying presents or cards for people (my love language is NOT gift giving).

Three things that scare you?
1. Tornadoes. 

2. The thought of an intruder in my home. 

3. Something terrible happening to someone I love.

Three things you wish you could be:
1. Funny. 

2. Better at making friends. 

3. More thoughtful before I speak.

Top five words/phrases you use?
1. Jack... Daniel... Sophie... Whatever your name is.
2. Whatcha doing buddy?
3. awesome *this is almost always sarcastic
4. Definitely

5. I read in this book...

Two things you're excited for:
1. Mountain biking (I have no idea when we will be able to do this, but I would love to get on my bike and get out in the woods).
2. Taking Jack on his first camping trip – we'll probably have to wait until spring, but I can't wait.

Your favorite ice cream flavor?
Currently TCBY frozen heath yogurt that I can buy at Walmart

Guiltiest pleasure movie?

Dan in Real Life

What movie have you seen the most?
The Sound of Music

What never fails to make you smile? 
When Jack grins at me.

Worst movie you've ever seen?
???

Best way to relax? 
Hiking, paddling or biking.

Favorite quote/lyric?
This is a tough one... but I would have to say this quote has really stuck with me for a long time: "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it." – Aristotle

Spring, Summer, Autumn, Winter?
I love spring and fall the best, but I appreciate them even more because of summer and winter.

32 Things

1. I was born the day President Reagan was elected for his first term.

2. I don't feel old.

3. This makes sense because I believe that age is relative... i.e. old is your age + 10 years.

4. I don't exactly feel like I am 18 either.

5. I don't want to be 18.

6. I am pretty happy right here, at 32.

7. I feel like I have changed tremendously in the last year. I can't decide if that has to do with being a parent or if it is just a part of aging.

8. I used to think I didn't care what people thought of me, that I wasn't competing in life. But that is silly. I totally was, even if I didn't believe I was. Now, I think I have really reached a point of not caring {or at least I am closer to that end of the spectrum}. It doesn't matter whether or not someone likes me. It has little bearing on my life. I am not in a competition with those around me. It is so freeing to really and truly let go. To just live my life.

9. I don't think I did a single thing on my life list this year. Not to completion, anyways. And it doesn't bother me at all. I haven't given up on my list, it's just not a priority right now. On second look, I did cross #57 off my list. So, that is something.

10. If we are Facebook or Instagram friends, don't be fooled by my cooking photos... Papa John's cooks for this household at least once a week.

11. I am really at my happiest when I am out hiking or paddling.

12. Especially if Daniel and Jack are with me.

13. I love how having a baby pushes me out of my comfort zone. All of the time. I talk to perfect strangers. I smile more. I am incredibly silly. I'm no longer embarrassed to have photos taken of me, even if my teeth are crooked. 

14. I have no idea what is currently playing in movie theaters or what the hottest show is on TV. So, if you ask me what I thought about *whatever is current* don't be surprised when you get a blank stare.

15. People in Alabama love them some football. I am almost ashamed to tell people that I didn't watch whatever game was on. Or worse, that I am from Arkansas and Daniel is from Tennessee!

16. When we first moved to our little town in the middle of nowhere, I was freaking out. I am a city girl at heart. There are things about the country I like, but living here? Yikes. 

17. I have grown to love where we live. I still miss conveniences of the city, but we get the best of both worlds. We have Huntsville and Chattanooga {both are only an hour away}. These cities offer different experiences and we are blessed to have friends in both places.

18. There is nothing like looking up at the stars in our back yard. They are the best and brightest that I have ever seen. And all I have to do is go outside and look up. Beat that city.

19. I have a confession: I am looking forward to being done with nursing. I may throw myself a little party for making it an entire year.

20. If we lived in Chattanooga, I would totally sign up to do Cyclocross.

21. I really wanted to go on a big trip to another country to celebrate our 10th wedding anniversary. 

22. More than anything I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY wanted to do this. But with a baby who will barely be 1-year-old, well, i guess that my priorities have changed. We are not going to do what I REALLY, REALLY, REALLY wanted to, and that is ok. 

23. We will still going to do something fun {just low key} and that trip abroad will happen... eventually. It just might have to wait for a few years... maybe for our 15th.

24. How do 10 years go by so quickly?

25. For that matter, how do 32 years sneak by?

26. Most people that know me, know that I am a pretty good cook. But for some reason, I cannot make rice or bread.

27. I am getting better at rice, but I won't be satisfied until I can make it consistently.

28. I recently read that the worst possible combination of birth orders to marry each other would be two firstborns. 

29. This is funny because Daniel and I are both oldest children. 

30. It is even funnier when you consider how accurate the description of marriage between two firstborn children is: 

A husband-wife combination of two firstborns is sure to result in head bumping. This group is by nature perfectionists, flaw-finders, and nitpickers.  They are also the most competitive, so both will be convinced they are right.  The key with them is acceptance and compromise.

31. Thankfully we typically make light of our mutual desire to be right. Generally we pretend that we are both right or agree to disagree. Somehow we make it work.
 
32. My one rule for my birthday is that I don't cook. Daniel honored that and we had lunch with friends at o'Charley's then dinner at Buena Vista to celebrate.

15 Books

Don't take too long to think about it. Fifteen books you've read that will always stick with you. First fifteen you can recall in no more than 15 minutes. (I don't tag people, but feel free to play).

In no particular order...

1. The Secret Garden (Frances Hodgson Burnett)
2. Three Cups of Tea (Greg Mortenson)
3. A Walk in the Woods (Bill Bryson)
4. The Places in Between (Rory Stewart)
5. Juicing the Orange (Pat Fallon)
6. Blink (Malcolm Gladwel)
7. The Chronicles of Narnia (C.S. Lewis)
8. TLOTR trilogy (J.R.R. Tolkien)
9. The Princess Bride (William Goldman)
10. Night (Elie Wiesel)

For the record, I read this when I was a teenager, way before it was a part of the Oprah Book Club.

11. Freakonomics (Stephen Dubner and Steven Levitt)
12. Anne of Green Gables (LM Montgomery)
13. Where the Sidewalk Ends (Shel Shelverstein)
14. The World is Flat (Thomas L. Friedman)
15. Sense & Sensibility (Jane Austen)

25 Things

I was recently tagged so here goes... 25 random things about me.
(I am posting, but not tagging.)

1. I am an avid reader and currently have a list of 98 books that I want to read.
2. I believe that cooking with olive oil and garlic make just about any dish better.
3. I have nightmares of doing karaoke by myself in front of a crowd of strangers.
4. The show Super Nanny makes me afraid to have kids.
5. I am too cheap to buy books. I like to go to Barnes & Noble and peruse best selling books and then go and get them from the library.
6. One of my dreams that will probably never happen, or at least not until I retire, is to through hike the Appalachian Trail or some other really long trail.
7. I don't buy junk food to keep in my house.
8. At the beginning of each week, I faithfully make a weekly meal plan and go grocery shopping...
9. I will not buy anything at the grocery store that is not on my shopping list.
10. I love to sit around a fire with friends - whether in front of my own fireplace or a campfire outdoors.
11. If I could spend a majority of my life outside, I would.
12. I have been without cable television for a couple of years and I don't miss it one bit.
13. Daniel and I have been a one-car family for an entire year.
    This has been the hardest on Daniel, but he is a good sport.
14. I really like North Carolina, but I hate being so far away from my family.
15. I didn't get a cell phone until I moved to Charlotte, NC (4 years ago)...
16. Now I don't have a home phone.
17. Some days I really want to get a dog.
    Then I think about all of the time I would have to spend with a dog and I just can't commit.
18. I have never owned a car that was less than 8 years old.
19. Sometime it annoys me that being a "grown up" feels like a never ending chore... work 40 hours a week... cook... clean... pay bills... renovate. But then I go do something I love and forget about the chore part of being grown up.
20. Someday I want to have a home in the mountains that is made predominantly of glass and wood.
21. I have a monthly clothing budget... and it is not very much...
    I am paying off debt.
22. Thanks to Daniel, I know more about tools than most men.
23. I love spending time with my family - they make me laugh.
24. I like awkward TV shows like Ugly Betty and Scrubs.
25. Whenever I take personality tests, I always score a weird combination of outgoing and shy.

Received this survey twice recently and feel like procrasting...

1. What is your occupation right now?
Designer and Teacher

2. What color are your socks right now?
No socks for me

3. What are you listening to right now?
Pandora - specifically Pearl Jam at the moment

4. What was the last thing that you ate?
Just got back from lunch at Big Daddy's - chicken sandwich and onion straws

5. Can you drive a stick shift?
Currently this is all I drive (or my bike)

6. Last person you spoke to on the phone?
Probably by brother

7. Do you like the person who sent this to you?
Yep

8. How old are you today?
27

9. What is your favorite sport to watch on TV?
Do the Olympics count?

10. What is your favorite drink?
Pumpkin Spice Latte

11. Have you ever dyed your hair?
Of course

12. Favorite food?
Breakfast at a diner

13. What is the last movie you watched?
Does 24 on DVD count? Otherwise, I think we saw Indiana Jones recently...

14. Favorite day of the year?
Any day that I can spend outside

15. How do you vent anger?
Exercise

16. What was your favorite toy as a child?
We didn't have toys growing up... just kidding. Don't know that I had a fave.

17. What is your favorite season?
Fall

18. Cherries or Blueberries?
Both, but I love blueberries for breakfast when they are in season (and affordable)

19. Do you want your friends to e-mail you back?
20. Who is the most likely to respond?
21. Who is least likely to respond?

22. Living arrangements?
A partially remodeled house

23. When was the last time you cried?
I don't cry too often. Probably last weekend when I was frustrated about a house project

24. What is on the floor of your closet?
shoes - maybe I need a shoeskirt...

25. Who is the friend you have had the longest that you are sending to?

26. What did you do last night
Watch Ugly Betty, then the last disc of season 6 of 24

27. What are you most afraid of?
being alone

28. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburger?
cheese with all the fixin's

29. Favorite dog breed?
Labs or Goldens

30. Favorite day of the week?
Saturday

31. How many states have you lived in?
3 states, 1 province, 3 countries

32. Diamonds or pearls?
not big on jewelry

33. What is your favorite flower?
Gerber Daises

The X Game

Since I don't generally forward emails, I am posting my response to this in the form of a note...

Hit forward and place an X by all the things you've done and remove the X from the ones you have not, and send it to your friends (including me). This is for your entire life!

( ) Gone on a blind date

(X) Skipped school (to go to Bobby's for breakfast... many times)

( ) Watched someone die

(X) Been to Canada

(X) Been to Mexico

(X) Been to Florida

(X) Been on a plane

(X) Been lost

(X) Been on the opposite side of the country (drove thru) 

(X) Gone to Washington, DC

(X) Swam in the ocean

(X) Cried yourself to sleep

(X) Played cops and robber

( ) Recently colored with crayons

( ) Sang Karaoke

(X) Paid for a meal with coins only?

(X) Done something you told yourself you wouldn't?

(X) Made prank phone calls

(X) Laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose

(X) Caught a snowflake on your tongue

(X) Danced in the rain

(X) Written a letter to Santa Claus

(X) Been kissed under the mistletoe

(X) Watched the sunrise with someone you care about

(X) Blown bubbles

(X) Gone ice-skating

(X) Been skinny dipping outdoors

(X) Gone to the movies

Part II
1. Any nickname? C, Shrum when I was little
 

2. Mother's name? Lois
 

3. Favorite drink? Dr. Pepper or most coffee drinks (Mr. Blonde)
 

4. Tattoo? no
 

5. Body Piercing's: 3 in my ears - but don't generally wear earings
 

6. How much do you love your job? I FINALLY have the job(s) that I love. I just work way too much now...
 

7. Birthplace? I was born in Conway, AR... but until I was about 10 I thought I had been born in Hong Kong... this may have to do with the fact that I remember visiting Hong Kong as a child and since I only lived in Conway for the first 3 months of my life, it didn't really stick...
 

8. Favorite vacation spot? We go to Hilton Head and the Outer Banks once a year. Beyond that I love to go to new places (preferably overseas)
 

9. Ever been to Africa ? NO, but someday...
 

10. Ever eaten cookies for dinner? Not cookies, but I have had a blizzard from DQ for dinner on several different occasions...
 

11. Ever been on TV? Nope and that is ok with me.
 

12. Ever steal any traffic sign? nope
 

13. Ever been in a car accident? never... adendum... I got hit by a car when I was 10, does that count?
 

14. Drive a 2-door or 4-door vehicle? 4
 

15. Favorite salad dressing? a very small amount of ranch is good for me
 

16. Favorite pie? Pumpkin or Pecan
 

17. Favorite number? don't have one
 

18. Favorite movie? Anything with Audrey Hepburn or Cary Grant
 

19. Favorite holiday? CHRISTMAS
 

20. Favorite dessert? Pistachio cake
 

21. Favorite food? Breakfast
 

22. Favorite day of the week? The weekend
 

23. Favorite brand of body wash? dove soap - don't use body wash
 

24. Favorite smell? Mom's cooking
 

25. What do you do to relax? take a bath if I need to wind down after work. If I have time, hiking is 

really relaxing for me.

Surveys

My sister forwarded me a couple of surveys. I am not a huge fan of forwarding things, so I am going to just post my answers...

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE? I think my Dad dated a girl in college who had a cousin named Cheree and he liked the name and so did my mom...

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED? I don't generally cry.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING? It is not so great. I normally try to print for legibility.

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT? I like pretty much all lunch meat.

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS? Nope.

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU? Probably.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM A LOT? I used it a lot more when I was in high school and college.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS? Yep

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP? Yep

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL? There are too many to choose from...

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF? Nope

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG? sure

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE? Whether they seem friendly or not.

15. RED OR PINK? Red

16. WHAT IS THE LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOU? I can't seem to stop biting my finger nails...

17. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST? my family - they all live 12+ hrs away

18. DO YOU WANT EVERYONE TO SEND THIS BACK TO YOU? NA

19. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING? Blue jeans and brown pumps.

20. WHAT WAS THE LAST THING YOU ATE? Grapes

21. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW? silence

22. IF YOU WERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE? I would be a different color everyday.

23. FAVORITE SMELLS? Anything that is baking.

24. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE? Daniel

25. DO YOU LIKE THE PERSON WHO SENT THIS TO YOU? Yep

26. FAVORITE SPORTS TO WATCH? Would rather play than watch.

27. HAIR COLOR? Brown

28. EYE COLOR? Blue

29. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS? Nope

30. FAVORITE FOOD? Breakfast

31. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS? I prefer suspense (but not gory or stupid)

32. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED? 3:10 to Yuma

33. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING? Brown shirt with an off-white sweater

34. SUMMER OR WINTER? Fall

35. HUGS OR KISSES? Yes

36. FAVORITE DESSERT? Any kind

37. MOST LIKELY TO RESPOND? NA

38. LEAST LIKELY TO RESPOND? NA

39. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW? SMARTS

40. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD? I have a track ball so no pad...

41. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T. V. LAST NIGHT? 24

42. FAVORITE SOUND? Rain

43. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES? Beatles, but I really like the Stones too.

44. WHAT IS THE FARTHEST YOU HAVE BEEN FROM HOME? Time Zone wise, the airport in Narita, Japan (outside of Tokyo)

45. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT? I can blow bubbles with my tongue and blow them into the air - my siblings hate this talent!

46. WHERE WERE YOU BORN? Conway, AR but until I was about 10 I thought I was born in Hong Kong because I remembered visiting there as a child and I had no recollection of Conway as I moved to Papua New Guinea when I was 3 months old...

47. WHOSE ANSWERS ARE YOU LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING BACK? NA

CHRISTMAS QUIZ
1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? wrapping paper

2. Real tree or artificial? as a kid: real, as a grown up: artificial

3. When do you put up the tree? Normally the day after Thanksgiving, but this year we are putting it up tomorrow night

4. When do you take the tree down? normally after New Years, last year it made it until March-ish...

5. Do you like eggnog? Nah.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My dad made me an easel.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? I think I have a miniature one.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Everyone, I HATE shopping.

9. Easiest person to buy for? See above.

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Must not have been that bad since I don't remember.

11. Mail or email Holiday Cards? I love snail mail

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? A Christmas Story

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? I procrastinate

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Yep

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Pecan pie

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear

17. Favorite Christmas song? There's No Place Like Home For The Holidays

18. Travel for Christmas or stay at home? Travel. Travel. Travel.

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeers? Uh - Yeah

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Star

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Voyles Tradition: 1 on Christmas Eve, the rest on Christmas day. When we are with Daniel's family we open all the presents on Christmas Eve.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Traffic and shopping.

3. What I love most about Christmas? I love Christmas music, but I really have to echo my sister: "Being with my family, drinking coffee, playing games and laughing (mostly at my brother) and remembering funny times in holidays past."
Merry Christmas!!!