11 Things…

When the blog is somewhat quiet, sometimes a meme is order. Thanks to Mrs. Momma Bee for tagging me to try out this one!

11 Things You May Not Know About Me

1. I have an obsession with to-do lists. I can’t write them down on paper because when I do one of the tasks and check it off/cross it out/whatever, I MUST immediately re-write the ENTIRE list again, so it can be fresh and clean.
2. I can’t cook breakfast foods. Even with a recipe, breakfast foods and I just don’t get along. Instagram for photographic proof.
3. I’m working on creating my own business. It’s pretty scary and awesome at the same time.
4. I could O.D. on strawberries. We have been buying cartons of them from Costco and they don’t even have time to go bad! It’s the best time of the year.
5. I was a cheerleader in high school – I was even the flyer for the varsity team when they needed to practice new moves. That’s the one they toss up into the air and hopefully catch on the way down!
6. I was going to audition to be a costumed character at Disney, if other things hadn’t changed my path. A professor at my college really thought I would be great at it, because I’m expressive actor with my body. Hehe.
7. I have almost 600 friends on Facebook but only check the status of about 200 of them on a given day. That still seems excessive looking at it now.
8. I am trying to be a better Cardinals fan this year by paying more attention to the games as they’re played – and not asking who a particular player is because more than likely he’s been on our roster for three years.
9. I have only owned two cars in my life – and they were both red Saturns. :) Hubs’ cars don’t count.
10. I own three iPhones – an iPhone 3G that I use for podcasts, an iPhone 4 that I use every day and an iPhone 4S for work. Plus a shuffle means that I have too many things to carry around with me.
11. A weekend afternoon nap is my favorite part of the weekend, hands down.

11 Questions

1. What is your profession?

I’m an event planner by day, wedding planner by night and a sometimes-actor. I think that sounds like an odd type of super hero or something.

2. How would you describe your style?

Confused? Is that a style? I would say traditional.

3. What one make-up product can you not live without?

Mascara. I look so weird without it, but it’s worth putting it on in the morning, even if I do get raccoon eyes at the end of the day if I forget to wash it off.

4. If you could be besties with one celebrity, who would it be?

I miss Ugly Betty on TV. I think America Ferrera looks like a fun gal to hang around.

5. What is your dream vacation?

I love taking cruises. The idea that your hotel room travels with you to beautiful ports of call is just the perfect vacation for me. But the dream would be to rent a huge fancy yacht and sail it around the world, stopping whenever and wherever we’d like.

6. What magazines do you subscribe to?

Real Simple. And I’m still six months behind.

7. If you could have any special talent {that you don't currently have}, what would it be?

I would like to be able to sing in church without making dogs howl.

8. What is your favorite breakfast food?

Anything that I don’t cook? But really, a nicely done french toast with maple syrup and powdered sugar is amazing.

9. If you could do anything, what is your dream job?

Cruise director. I wanted to do that right after college, but meeting my future-husband changed the direction of my life. I think living on a cruise ship, meeting lots of different people, sounds awesome.

10. What is your guilty pleasure?

I’m gonna go with Mrs. Momma Bee – trashy TV. Although I’m trying to break myself of the habit, I still watch the Bachelor series (I’ve only been into it for a few years, though!) and the Duggars and the like. I’ve stopped watching the Sister Wives only because I can’t take it anymore.

11. What is the best piece of advice you've ever received, and who gave it to you?

"Ask God's blessing on your work, but don't ask him to do it for you."
~Dame Flora Robson, English thespian

And now, to tag a few other ladies…

• E over at New Teacher New-ish Wife
• Chelsea at Across The Brandywine
• Cole at All the Small Stuff
• Sarah at Classy and Fabulous
• Mrs. Jones at Keeping Up with the Joneses 

100 Foods Challenge

How many of these have you tried? (I marked the ones I've tried in blue.) Thank you to Sarah at Things She Said for the idea on a quiet Thursday when I wanted to post but can’t seem to get my thoughts straight enough to write something.

1. Abalone

2. Absinthe

3. Alligator

4. Baba Ghanoush

5. Bagel and Lox

6. Baklava

7. Barbecue Ribs

8. Bellini

9. Bird’s Nest Soup

10. Biscuits and Gravy

11. Black Pudding

12. Black Truffle

13. Borscht – what IS this?

14. Calamari

15. Carp

16. Caviar

17. Cheese Fondue

18. Chicken and Waffles

19. Chicken Tikka Masala

20. Chile Relleno – I feel like living in Texas for all these years really should have given me the opportunity for this one

21. Chitlins

22. Churros – best in Disney, however.

23. Clam Chowder – ew. Clams.

24. Cognac

25. Crab Cakes

26. Crickets

27. Currywurst

28. Dandelion Wine

29. Dulce De Leche

30. Durian

31. Eel

32. Eggs Benedict

33. Fish Tacos

34. Foie Gras

35. Fresh Spring Rolls

36. Fried Catfish

37. Fried Green Tomatoes

38. Fried Plantain

39. Frito Pie – done best at the rodeo, of course! The original “fast food”

40. Frogs’ Legs

41. Fugu

42. Funnel Cake – anything with fried dough is ok in my book

43. Gazpacho

44. Goat

45. Goat’s Milk

46. Goulash

47. Gumbo

48. Haggis

49. Head Cheese – EW. EW. EW.

50. Heirloom Tomatoes

51. Honeycomb

52. Hostess Fruit Pie

53. Huevos Rancheros

54. Jerk Chicken – tried while in Jamaica on a rum tour. Fabulous.

55. Kangaroo

56. Key Lime Pie

57. Kobe Beef

58. Lassi

59. Lobster

60. Mimosa – YES.

61. MoonPie

62. Morel Mushrooms

63. Nettle Tea

64. Octopus

65. Oxtail Soup

66. Paella – on a beach (literally) in Nerja, Spain. Awesome.

67. Paneer

68. Pastrami on Rye

69. Pavlova

70. Phaal

71. Philly Cheese Steak – but not in Philadelphia.

72. Pho

73. Pineapple and Cottage Cheese

74. Pistachio Ice Cream

75. Po’ Boy

76. Pocky

77. Polenta – but not a fan

78. Prickly Pear – you can eat this?

79. Rabbit Stew

80. Raw Oysters – I wanna try ‘em!

81. Root Beer Float

82. S’mores

83. Sauerkraut

84. Sea Urchin

85. Shark

86. Snail

87. Snake

88. Soft Shell Crab

89. Som Tam

90. Spaetzle

91. Spam

92. Squirrel

93. Steak Tartare

94. Sweet Potato Fries

95. Sweetbreads

96. Tom Yum

97. Umeboshi

98. Venison

99. Wasabi Peas

100. Zucchini Flowers

I’ve had out 28 of the 100. Some of these things are actually edible? Crazy. Some sound like a challenge on Fear Factor. I don’t think I’m as adventurous like Sarah, but I sure thought I was. I have some dining reservations to make!

A Few Lists for a Friday Afternoon

Mrs Doctor at Life of a Doctor’s Wife posted a few lists today that seemed to be a wonderful way to recap a Friday. I told her that I’d probably borrow it and post my own answers to her lists, so here I am, doing just that.

5 Things I Want to Do But Cannot Do No Matter How Hard I Try

1. Manage to dress myself every morning without over-thinking things
2. Eat scallops
3. Wear jeans tucked into boots without looking like a farmer
4. Argue with/confront someone without crying – blatantly stolen from Mrs. Doctor because it’s so true for me too!
5. Not hate my hair the minute after I’ve styled it for the day

5 Things I Want to Do But Not Quite Enough to Expend the Effort to Do Them

1. Exercise a few times a week
2. Cook a real meal for myself and Husband every night
3. Read all those books from high school that I didn’t really enjoy back then
4. Stop drinking caffeine
5. Keep my house as organized as I really would like

5 Things I Want to Do and WILL Do

1. Start my own wedding planning business.
2. Travel somewhere in the world with my husband where we’ve both never been (this has never been the case)
3. Have a child (God willing)
4. Decorate our dream house after we buy it
5. Learn to say a few words in French – and know what I’m saying!

Tagged – 8 Questions

Melissa at Duoly Noted recently tagged me and I’m just getting around to answering her questions! :)

1. If you could have an unlimited shoe budget or purse budget which one would you pick?

I know that Melissa would pick purse, but I would have to go with shoes. When we organized the guest bedroom where my clothes live, I counted over 50 distinct pairs. Some of them really need to go away, but most I wear on a semi-frequent basis. I love shoes. :)

2. If you could change lives with one person for a day who would it be?

Lately, I’ve been fascinated by the work of the First Lady. I know she’s incredibly busy and her day is planned down to the second, but to impact so man lives in one day, I think I might like that.

3. What is the one place you haven't been that you want to visit before you die?

There are so many of them! If I had to pick one, I would say the Great Pyramids. I’m fascinated by their construction and it just seems like an amazing place to visit.

4. What is your most unrealistic fear?

I have the unrealistic fear of an elevator dropping out from underneath me and me plunging to my death below. I hate elevators. I was trapped in one as a child. 

5. If you could compete in one Olympic sport, which one would you pick?

I always wanted to be a gymnast. But not the rhythmic kind – the Kerri Strug and Dominique Moceanu kind.

6. What was the last book you read and did you like it?

I just finished The Kingdom Keepers by Ridley Pearson. I feel silly reading books meant for kids, but I read it in less than a week! I loved it. :) It’s about Disney after dark.

7. What song best describes how you are feeling this moment?

The past few weeks, I’ve been crazy busy at work, and haven’t had a lot of free time to listen to music. But I think it might be a song about life and to enjoy every minute of it, because you don’t know how many of those moments you have. Or something like that.

8. Who is your rolemodel?

Right now, my role model is my mother. The past few months have been very difficult for all of us. I can’t even imagine how she has been dealing with all of it. The way she has picked up the pieces and moved on is incredibly inspiring to me. And since I know she reads this blog, she should know that. And that I love her even more than she knows.

Five Question Friday

Kaitlin @ Ah, My Married Life posted this quizlet today and since I had nothing better to write about it, I figured it was a good idea. :)

1. What is one food you could eat everyday?

I could eat Switzer Cherry licorice bites every day - Husband can attest to the fact that I almost have eaten it every day for the past few months. It's probably going to give me cancer or something but I love it so much. It just hurts my jar after a while.

2. Are you working in the career you thought you would be when you were 18?

When I was 18 and looking at colleges, I thought I might be a drama teacher - but definitely would have drama in my life. Well, I ended up not using it in my career, but I sit on the board of a local theatre, as well as serve as a judge in the local professional theatrical awards. So drama is still around but it doesn't pay the bills - I'm not sure I ever thought it would!

3. What is something that you wish you would have done when you were younger and you didn't?

I wish I had studied abroad in college. It's an experience that Husband had and absolutely loved. If I could turn back the clock, I would have studied in London or Rome or another amazing place for a semester.

4. What color are your kitchen walls?

Boring renter's white. Ugh.

5. Do you remember what your very first favorite song was?

I think my first song was Third Rock from the Sun by Joe Diffie. I spent part of my childhood in Texas, give me a break. It was either that or something by Selena. I don't remember. Joe Diffie was the first tape I can remember having... or at least one of the first.

I can't believe I just admitted that...

99 random thoughts on the wall…

After the Alter recently posted about 99 things and I thought it was cute! Since I haven't had anything substantial to say in WEEKS, I figured I should write something.

1. Started your own blog – I've been writing on this thing for a few months now. Obviously.

2. Slept under the stars – Technically this is a no, but I've been camping in the great wilderness of Tennessee so I'm wondering if it would count.

3. Played in a band

4. Visited Hawaii

5. Watched a meteor shower

6. Given more than you can afford to charity – I hate to say no to this one but I'm afraid it's true.

7. Been to DisneyWorld – Um, yes. It's pretty darn awesome and we're going back in less than three months!

8. Climbed a mountain – I'm not sure if it was a "mountain" but on the camping trip in TN we climbed up a pretty darn tall hill.

9. Held a praying mantis

10. Sang a solo –Well, not in front of anyone but a judging panel. When I was in college and taking voice lessons, I conquered my biggest fear and sang in front of people. Scared me to death, too!

11. Bungee jumped – I'm not sure I'll EVER be able to do this one. I'm scared of heights.

12. Visited Paris – Husband and I spent our honeymoon there. It was absolutely magical!

13. Watched a lightning storm

14. Taught yourself an art from scratch

15. Adopted a child

16. Had food poisoning – I'm pretty sure I gave myself food poisoning from bad beef in Hamburger Helper back in January. It was NOT pretty.

17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty – This was closed right after 9/11 and so we never even got to go up on any level.

18. Grown your own vegetables

19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France – This was one of the many pieces of art we saw in the Lourve - amazing.

20. Slept on an overnight train

21. Had a pillow fight – Aren't they the best?

22. Hitch hiked – Um, no.

23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill – Well, it started out that way... but I ended up getting sick at the end of it. Figures.

24. Built a snow fort

25. Held a lamb

26. Gone skinny dipping – Given that my parents have a pool, I'm surprised I can't say yes to this one.

27. Run a Marathon – I can barely walk a mile.

28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice

29. Seen a total eclipse

30. Watched a sunrise or sunset – On our first vacation together, Husband and I took a sunrise tour of the Grand Canyon. It was absolutely amazing!

31. Hit a home run – In our beer soft ball league I was lucky if I could hit the ball.

32. Been on a cruise – Multiple times! I think this may be my favorite type of vacations.

33. Seen Niagara Falls in person

34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors- It's on the very long wish list. We're hoping to see Germany and Italy (mine and his) soon.

35. Seen an Amish community- I've seen their wagons on the road but never got to see the community itself.

36. Taught yourself a new language- Ugh. I don't know if I'll ever do this one.

37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied – My husband is in law school. This one's a no.

38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person

39. Gone rock climbing – Only in a rock climbing gym

40. Seen Michelangelo’s David

41. Sung karaoke – It was painful, but yes.

42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt - Like clockwork!

43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant

44. Visited Africa

45. Walked on a beach by moonlight

46. Been transported in an ambulance

47. Had your portrait painted

48. Gone deep sea fishing – Nope.

50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris - On the honeymoon we never actually made it to the top but does the second to last one count?

51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling

52. Kissed in the rain

53. Played in the mud

54. Gone to a drive-in theater – We saw Star Trek at one of these – so much fun!

55. Been in a movie

56. Visited the Great Wall of China

57. Started a business

58. Taken a martial arts class

59. Visited Russia

60. Served at a soup kitchen

61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies – Doesn’t everyone?

62. Gone whale watching

63. Got flowers for no reason – I wish!

64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma – I’m scared of needles so this doesn’t sound like fun to me!

65. Gone sky diving – never gonna happen.

66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp

67. Bounced a check

68. Flown in a helicopter

69. Saved a favorite childhood toy

70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial

71. Eaten Caviar – Again, on the honeymoon in Paris, we had some amazing food and tasted caviar for the first time.

72. Pieced a quilt

73. Stood in Times Square – It’s like the center of the universe.

74. Toured the Everglades –

75. Been fired from a job

76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London

77. Broken a bone

78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle

79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person – Yup!

80. Published a book

81. Visited the Vatican

82. Bought a brand new car –

83. Walked in Jerusalem

84. Had your picture in the newspaper

85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve

86. Visited the White House – We had a special tour on our Close Up trip to DC my senior year of high school.

87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating

88. Had chickenpox – Yup!

89. Saved someone’s life

90. Sat on a jury

91. Met someone famous

92. Joined a book club

93. Got a tattoo

94. Had a baby

95. Seen the Alamo in person – When you live in San Antonio, it’s kind of a requirement.

96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake

97. Been involved in a law suit

98. Owned a cell phone – It’s like another appendage.

99. Been stung by a bee

It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas…

I saw this on Sonya's blog for a Christmas meme. I was drawing a blank so it seemed like fun!

After you finish this tag be sure to link up with Heather @ Top Ten Christmas, she originated the meme and wants to share everyone's posts.

1. Have you started your Christmas shopping?
We had to start our Christmas shopping early because of our situation – we spend Thanksgiving in Kansas City with my side of the extended family. Since we don’t go back for Christmas, there’s always Christmas present opening on that same weekend. It’s just so much more fun to open them in front of people! So half of my shopping is done. :)

2. Tell me about one of your special traditions.
We always open presents on Christmas morning, have a big breakfast, go to Mass if we haven’t gone the night before, and then end up at the movies in the afternoon. It’s my favorite thing!

3. When do you put up your Tree?
I would like to say it happens the day after Thanksgiving, but that’s Black Friday, so it’s usually that Saturday. This year, however, it isn’t happening! There’s no room in the new townhouse so it’s a little less Christmas-y around here.

4. Are you a Black Friday shopper?
Not until I met my husband – now I’m addicted! But we slept in this year until 6:30 am. It was grand and I still got the boots I wanted!

5. Do you Travel at Christmas or Stay home?
Our holiday season is pretty crazy. We usually travel for Thanksgiving and then again for Christmas and most years for New Year’s. Whoopee!

6. What is your funniest Christmas memory?
I remember the first time that I watched my husband’s home videos from Christmases past. I fell out of my chair laughing! Now we all are in on the joke about waiting until my father-in-law gets the video camera out to tape us coming down the stairs before we open presents – even though we are all grown and aren’t waiting on Christmas morning upstairs. Does that make any sense to anybody but me? :)

7. What is your favorite Christmas Movie of All time?
I don’t have a favorite – is that bad?

8. Do you do your own Christmas Baking, what’s your favorite treat?
I haven’t really done a lot of baking on my own, mostly in my mom’s kitchen when we’re home for the holidays. My favorite has to be old fashioned sugar cookies with way too many sprinkles. :)

9. Fake or Real Tree?
All my years growing up we had an artificial tree that got replaced with a bigger one every few years. We had a real tree our first married Christmas but now the husband has pretty much declared we’re going to be a fake tree family.

10. What day does the actual panic set in to get it all done?
Mine happens the week after Thanksgiving. That’s when I realize we have about four weeks to get it all done and I freak out. So yeah, I’m good at this point!

11. Are you still wrapping presents on Christmas Eve?
Since we travel, I don’t wrap those presents until we get to my parents’ house. So yup, we’re normally wrapping on Christmas Eve!

12. What is your favorite family fun time at Christmas?
I love decorating the tree, wherever we are. Somehow, that just makes it feel like Christmas.

13. What Christmas craft do you like the best?
I haven’t really done any crafting around Christmas. I really enjoy putting up the cards in a place where I can see them everyday. Does that count?

14. Christmas music? Yes or No, and if yes What is your favorite song?
Oh my gosh – yes! My favorite song has to be Mannheim Steamroller. Any song.

15. When do you plan to finish all your shopping?
I hope to be done sometime next weekend. Only a few more gifts to go!

Do you want to play along?
Just simply copy and paste the questions into your blog, and then answer them.
•Then tag 5 or more of your favorite blogs, and leave them a comment telling them they’ve been tagged.
•When you post on your blog, please spread some Christmas Cheer, and leave a link back to Heather's blog (Top 10 Christmas), and the blog that you were tagged by.
Heather would like any blogger to participate in this meme, even if you have not been tagged. She will go back and add your blog link to the list if you want play along.

I tag:
Anybody – have at it! :)

When you can’t think of something to say…

Four things

Four jobs I’ve had

1. Event coordinator (currently)
2. Hostess @ Saltgrass Steak House
3. Marketing intern @ Austin non-profit
4. Wife :)

Four movies I can watch over and over

1. Waiting for Guffman
2. Center Stage
3. North By Northwest
4. Best in Show

Four places I’ve lived

1. Smithville, MO
2. Austin, TX
3. Houston
4. Arlington, TX

Four TV shows I love [so hard to choose just four!]

1. The Dollhouse
2. Fringe
3. FlashForward
4. So You Think You Can Dance

Four places I’ve vacationed

1. Paris [our honeymoon]
2. Grand Canyon [our first vacation, spring break of senior year in college]
3. Eastern Caribbean [on a cruise]
4. New York, NY [for college trips plus a bit of Broadway!]

Four of my favorite dishes

1. Arancinis @ Vito’s [fried risotto balls – YUM]
2. The old seafood ravioli at the Olive Garden
3. Shrimp and crab risotto at Triumph Grill
4. Grandma’s mashed potatoes

Four sites I visit daily

1. The Hunger Site
2. Facebook
3. My Google Reader
4. Twitter

Four places I would rather be right now

1. On a beach in the Caribbean.
2. Walking the Louvre.
3. In a Broadway theatre watching an amazing show.
4. Snuggling on the couch with husband.