30 Things: My DREAM Job

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7. What is your dream job and why?

Totally rocking it out!

If I could be anything, and I mean ANYTHING (because it's a dream job, right?), I would totally be a rock star!  I wouldn't be a crazy blow-snorting, groupie-banging rock star, just your normal, everyday mom rock star... because those totally exist, right?  I would still live in the same house and still do the family thing.  I could spend my days with my family and party on into the nights and the occasional weekend.  I would have purple streaks in my hair and holes in my jeans... wait, I already do :o)

In true rock star fashion, I pulled a Britney...
BUT at least I remembered my undies!

It would be GRAND, I tell ya!  I'd have fans running behind walls and crying real tears after meeting me.... NOT like I'd ever do that, personally!  I'd be totally awesome.  Well, WE would be totally awesome!

Jackie DeShannon LIVE!

I would only be half of a rock star without my partner in crime, Jax!  I can't pull off a good show without my number one gal!  Coming to our shows would be live-changing!  Our fans would go nuts and take pictures with us and put them on mugs to look at while they drink their coffee every single morning... NOT that I'd ever do that, either.  Ah... to be a rock star...

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Stay tuned for 8. What are 5 of your passions?

30 Things: We also do hard things!

6. What is the hardest thing you have ever had to experience?

Thanks to Shawni's daughter, Elle, for reminding us that we, too, can "do hard things."

Honestly, I think that the whole moving process has definitely been the hardest thing I've experienced in my life so far. Mike and I have been very fortunate to have had healthy children that have never had any real issues. There haven't really been any traumatic emergencies or episodes in our family that caught us off guard.  When we decided that we wanted to have children, we had no problems getting pregnant.  So, hard things that other people go through really haven't effected us.  I feel very fortunate.  I say all this because I'm sure I'll get some sort of comment from some "anonymous" reader, telling me that, "you don't know what hard is."  Different people experience things differently and for us, buying and selling our houses was HARD. (I already wrote about most of the ups and downs here.)

Mike and I don't handle stress very well. It eats at us and eats at us and eats at us until it literally makes us sick.  We are easy going people and do what we can to avoid having too much stress in our lives.  Obviously it is not totally unavoidable, but moving was a long, long process.  We started packing up our belongings in March in order to declutter our storage areas a little.  We didn't move out until Memorial Day.  That was two solid months of packing, showing, and repairing our house. For a family that thrives on routine, we were all a little off balance for a while.  Then, we had to live with Mike's parents for 2½ weeks.  They were very welcoming and did what they could to help, but it's hard to live your daily life in someone else's home.  After we finally did move into our new house, we spent every free moment unpacking and getting it put together.  The entire process was extremely difficult.  We were smiling one second and crying the next.  BUT, was it worth it? TOTALLY!  We are finally at a place where we can relax a bit.  We are working into a new routine and are absolutely, without a doubt, LOVING our new home. It is perfect for us.  We have definitely found our "happily ever after."


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Stay tuned for 7. What is your dream job and why?

30 Things: What Makes Me Happy

5. What are 5 things that make you most happy right now?

This is pretty simple...

1. My Man :o)

2. My Kiddos

3. My New House

4. The Weekends

and in a tie for number 5...

This Song (as performed by my girls!)

and the fact that in 2 weeks, I will be

MEETING HIM

I die...


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Stay tuned for 6. What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?

30 Things: 10 Things I'd Tell Myself at 16 - UPDATE!

4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year old self.

My 16th Birthday in 1998

1. See all of your friends around you? THEY matter, not that doofus you are dating. 

2. Take super good care of your skin because when you are 30, you'll have "fine lines" on your forehead...

3. Someday you will have TWO daughters. Be kind to your momma or karma will come back to bite you in the butt.

4. Be nice to your bro. Believe it or not, he'll be your buddy one day!

5. Have fun! You are still a kid.  Enjoy your time in high school and keep making memories. Live with no regrets.


6. Never stop reading!!


7. Do your absolute best in school. Strive for perfect... you can do it!


8. Save your money. You'll want a good chunk to start your adult life with :o)


9. Image is NOT everything. Don't compare yourself to your friends. You are beautiful exactly how you are.


10. Smile!  Never stop!  Find happiness in the little things :o)

UPDATE: I asked Mike what he would tell his 16 year old self: "Wrap it before you tap it."

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Stay tuned for 5. What are 5 things that make you most happy right now?

30 Things: My Relationship with My Parents

3. Describe your relationship with your parents.

Thanksgiving 2010

My parents and I have an amazing relationship! This little fact probably comes at no surprise to you if you really know me.  They are who I look up to, my shoulders to cry on, my support system, and my best friends!

  

Fort Wayne Children's Zoo - May 2012

My mom and dad are two people that Mike and I model our parenting after. They are present in our lives and appreciate our family. My parents have huge hearts made 100% out of gold.  They are two of the most amazing people you could ever meet... and I'm not just saying that because they both read my blog :o)  I truly mean every single word.

My Dad Max

Trans-Siberian Orchestra Concert - April 2012

My dad is such a FUN guy! He has a laid-back personality and is always up for anything.  The photo above is from when he and I went to the Trans-Siberian Orchestra concert together in the spring.  Taylor Maxine was named after Dad and it couldn't be more fitting.  The little stinker loves her "paw-paw J" to pieces!  I am my dad's "honey-bunny."  He has supported me in every crazy idea I've ever had.  He makes me smile; he makes me laugh; he, at times, makes me roll my eyes; and he makes me proud.  Love you, Dad!

My Mom Jenny

Mother's Day 2012

My mom is my best friend. There is rarely a day that goes by that I don't talk to her.  In fact, if we don't call one another at all in a single day, the first question the very next day is, "Are you mad at me?"  Obviously the answer is always no.  We are never mad at each other!  My mom is super-creative and fulfilled her dream of owning her own business that allows her to showcase her creative abilities on a daily basis.  She is my role model as a mom... just as a person in general.  She has always been available to me at ANY hour, any day.  My girls absolutely ADORE their Gramma J!  If I am half the mom she is, I consider that pretty amazing.  Love you, Mom!

Vintage Indiana Wine Festival - June 2012

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Stay tuned for 4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year old self.

30 Things: 3 Fears

2. Describe 3 fears, and how they became fears.

This little guy isn't so scary!

This is a tough one. I only really have one fear: DYING.  Ugh... I get chills just thinking about it.  I fear not ever seeing my family again. I fear missing out on the girls' futures. I fear what will happen to my body when I die.  As crazy as it sounds, I can't decide if I want to be buried or cremated because I'm afraid of dark, enclosed spaces, and I'm afraid of fire.  I know, I know... I won't be alive so why does it matter?  I don't know!  That is why it scares me!  I'm changing the subject because I feel like I might vomit if I think about this any more.

Other things I'm scared of, in no particular order, are:

• Spiders
• Snakes
• Flying
• Dark, enclosed spaces
• Fire (not like a bonfire, more like a house fire)
• Drowning
• Oceans
• Tornadoes
• Driving on the highway
• Pretty much anything that could cause my DEATH.

I'm not really sure why these things became fears... Maybe just common sense?  I do know that in the same year, I saw the movie Titanic and also a National Geographic documentary about seals, and the image of them eating penguins has stuck with me.  Since that year (1998 maybe?), I'm scared of the ocean, BUT Titanic is totally my favorite movie!

So, I guess if I'm following the rules of this post, I would have to say that my top three fears are:

1. Death
2. Burning alive
3. Sinking on the Titanic

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Stay tuned for 3. Describe your relationship with your parents.

30 Things: 20 Random Facts

I saw this idea on a blog I ran across while debating whether or not my blog needs a professional makeover (that's a topic all on it's own!)  Anyway, I thought it would be fun!  

THE LIST:

1. List 20 random facts about yourself.
2. Describe 3 fears, and how they became fears.
3. Describe your relationship with your parents.
4. List 10 things you would tell your 16 year old self.
5. What are 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 of your passions?
9. List 10 people who have influenced you and describe how.
10. What is your most embarrassing moment?
11. What are 10 of your pet peeves?
12. Describe a typical day in your life.
13. What are 5 of your weaknesses?
14. What are 5 of your strengths?
15. If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
16. What are 5 of your greatest accomplishments?
17. What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
18. What has been the most difficult things you've had to forgive?
19. If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
20. What are 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. What are you top 5 hobbies, and why do 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.

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1. List 20 Random Facts About Yourself

1. I always paint my fingernails on my ring fingers a different color than the other eight fingernails.
2. I absolutely can NOT survive a single day without at least one cup of coffee. Just ask my coworkers. I forgot my coffee once and one of them moved Heaven and Earth to find me a cup!
3. Pet peeves interest me. I like knowing what irritates other people.
4. My clothes are organized first by style, then by color. Always have been!
5. When I was in second grade, I vomited in the third grade hallway. I had Golden Crisp cereal that morning. I have not eaten Golden Crisp (or the similar Honey Smacks) since.
6. I like Spaghetti-O's better cold or room temperature, straight from the can.
7. My middle school aptitude test told me I would be a mortician.
8. I am more easily embarrassed FOR someone else than I am for myself.
9. I'm a firm believer in, "the best things in life aren't things."
10. I first started listening to DMB in middle school because my crush liked them and I was obviously interested in anything he was. That and Bone Thugs 'n Harmony :o)  Dave stuck with me, Bone did not.
11. Gnats disgust me.
12. I often confuse the letters Q and G when typing.
13. I secretly wish I had a dog. A bulldog. That doesn't pee in the house, poop in the grass, or drool or shed on my furniture. Highly unlikely.
14. I stood in line at Kroger at midnight when the final Harry Potter book was released.
15. I say envelopes like N-velopes.  Mike says it like ON-velopes.  I say coupon like Q-pon, Mike says coo-pon. I always thought I said coo-pon until I re-read this sentence out loud.
16. I LOVE rings! (See photo above)  Mike thinks I look like a gypsy. I think I look like... AWESOME ;o)
17. When I love a song, I listen to it on repeat all day, every day. Currently: We Are Young by FUN.
18. I don't always wear deodorant. I don't sweat a lot nor do I have a bad body odor... at least I don't think I do!
19. I love playing checkers!  I could literally do it for HOURS.
20. I underestimate my abilities and have mediocre self-confidence. I need to work on this.

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Stay tuned for 2. Describe 3 fears, and how they became fears.