31 Days - Day #1 - 15 Things About Me

First, a fairly recent picture of me (on the left) with my mom & sis in January when they came to visit and we enjoyed a major bake-a-thon for 5 days!!! Oh, and I made those really cute aprons we're all wearing.

And now - 15 things about myself...

1. I absolutely LOVE dark chocolate. And speaking of foods I love, if I had to pick just 1 food to eat for the rest of my life it would definitely be Mexican food!!!

2. I’m a HUGE baker…I bake constantly…and I’m notorious for my irresistibly delicious baked goods, seriously! Our family lives gluten free (it’s a genetic thing), which means most all of my baking is always made from scratch.

3. I lost 27 lbs. 2 years ago due to good old fashioned healthier eating habits and TONS and TONS of exercise 6 days per week. I’ve kept that weight off now for another whole year and counting. I love to run…and I really have to do it frequently to offset all the yummy baking!

4. My biggest pet peeve is tags sticking out on t-shirts! It drives me CRAZY! And I compulsively can't help myself and simply MUST fix your tag! Even if you're a complete stranger...I will put your tag down inside your t-shirt where it belongs.

5. I really enjoy giving gifts to others, but I absolutely HATE to open presents myself! If I can avoid doing it, I will. I think it's because I feel bad that my reactions aren't bigger to show how much I like the presents. Opening gifts is just plain awkward.

6. I hate cold weather! I can’t stand gloomy winters.

7. I grew up back east, born & raised in Maryland. I’ve been living way out west since I was 16 and have longed to move back east ever since I left.

8. Growing up I planned to never have any children and wasn’t going to consider marriage until I had at least my master’s degree…well, I got married at 18 and here I am 4 kids later, VERY happy my plans didn’t work out. I never imagined how much I would truly love the job of being a mom.

9. I often feel really guilty for being so immensely blessed with so many people & things in my life I feel I don’t always deserve.

10. I should be more interested in current events, but I really hate to watch the news (almost never watch it) because I always catch all the really horrible news reports and that’s just way too much negativity to add to my days.

11. My favorite types of music are sexy R&B and Oldies,…odd mix, I know. The R&B comes from growing up outside southeast D.C. and well, I was raised on oldies thanks to my dad who always played them every time we were in the car. With very few exceptions, I totally hate country music.

12. I’m a math geek, I actually really love statistics & algebra equations, which explains my Bachelor’s in Accounting. I am a neurotic goal setter – seriously, it’s just in my blood to constantly look ahead, constantly be involved in strategic planning, setting all kinds of goals, and always forward looking. I’m a problem solver, and I really enjoy it, except when it’s a problem I can’t seem to resolve. I really like the challenge and will NEVER give up trying to solve it! And that explains why I have an MBA in Technology Management.

13. I have a tremendous natural drive to be constantly learning something new, it truly fascinates me! This explains my millions of crafty adventures, always learning how make or do something totally new, teaching myself from scratch.

14. I grew up in a really big family of 6, and now I have my own really big family of 6 (okay, now 7 since my niece is living with us while her parents are away in military service). While quiet is not a common sound in my home, I really love having a big family, and I hate that my parents & siblings all live so far away.

15. My husband is the MOST polar opposite person compared to me, seriously in practically every way we can possibly think of! And I love that about him; somehow it just totally works for us. And come to think of it, most of my closest friends have very little in common with me too. I guess I really love the uniqueness of such variety in those people around me.