Eleven

I got tagged in this fun blog-chain by the beautiful Lucie Lee. 
A N D I am finally getting around to doing it.
Sorry Lucie, I swear it's been on my to-do list for a month+.

I've never done something like this on my blog..

But, I'm always up for a challenge.

Plus, I love to hear about other people.

It's always fun to reveal a little about myself as well.

Here goes:

Rules:

A. List 11 things about yourself.

B. Answer the questions the nominee created for you.

C. Choose 11 bloggers to nominate (or how ever many you can).

D. Create 11 questions for them (or use the previous questions).

    11 Things About Me:

1.  It's hard for me to be a stay-at-home mom.  Don't get me wrong, being a mommy is priceless/wonderful/fulfilling. It's the staying home part.  I have ALWAYS been a busy body... So, the decision to stay home with London was one of the hardest decisions I have made.  For London's first few months of life, I had a really hard time.  I went a little crazy (plus, I think I had a small case of the baby blues).  I now know that I am happier when I can work a little bit.  Photography was my perfect escape.. more on that later though.  Now, I am in a good groove & am learning to love staying home with London.  It's still not easy everyday...however, I wouldn't change it in a million years. 
2.  My favorite color changes daily.  I've never had a favorite color.  Like ever.  It just depends on what mood I'm in.  It also depends on the season.  However, I usually seem to have yellow & red on the top of my list.
3.  I dress girly, but I can get down & dirty.  I love to dress up, but that hasn't always been the case.  I used to be a major tomboy.  In fact, I used to want to become an archeologist for the longest time (I still slightly do)...until I realized that it wasn't family friendly.  Still to this day, adventure/thrills/getting dirty entice me to no end.  I'm always down to get 'dirty'....unless I'm wearing white pants.  If I'm in white pants, don't touch.
4.  I'm pretty sure I was supposed to be born in the 40's.  The 40's has always interested/inspired me in the best way possible.  I love the culture, fashion, & lifestyle of that era.  I would totally fit right in.  I like to think my style reflects the 40's.... vintage with a retro spin.
5.  I'm super lazy in my free time.  When London is asleep, & I finally have 'me' time...you can usually find me either watching TV series, reading, editing, blogging, or browsing the internet.  Give me a good book & you won't see me until it's done.
6.  I have been known to make friends purely based on Harry Potter obsession.  It's true.  I can think of at least 3 people that I probably wouldn't have been close friends with if it wasn't for our Harry Potter craziness.  Harry Potter brought us together, but our individual personalities made us close.  You probably know who you are :).  
7.  The dark side of things entice me.  Halloween is my 2nd favorite Holiday.  My favorite director is Tim Burton.  I like to jog through cemeteries on my running route.  I LOVE books that have a dark side...ex: Phantom of the Opera, Harry Potter, Davinci Code, etc.  I want to stay in a hotel that is rumored to be haunted.  I REALLY REALLY want to go to Salem & discover the history there.  I can remember almost every detail of history that is tinted.....regular history stories go in one ear & out the other.  I have been on a couple ghost tours..... When I lived in Oregon, me & some of the girls took a tour of supposedly haunted underground tunnels...that were once a little underground city.  Also, last October, we took a ghost tour in Logan.  I LOVE to hear/tell creepy stories.  However, I WILL NOT watch scary movies.  Weird, I know.  I love dark & slightly creepy, but when it comes to scary movies... I WILL NOT watch them.  Never have, never will. 
8.  I have many passions.  Since I have SO MANY passions & things that I love to do, choosing a career choice was really hard for me.  I love art..especially oil painting.  I love fashion.  I love photography.  I love health & exercise.  I love archeology.  I love music...piano & guitar especially.  I love writing.  I love reading.  I love poetry.  I love interior design.  I love traveling.  I love being a leader.  I love to help others.  I love cinematography.  I love people.  I love kids.  I love non-pet animals.  Every time I would think about doing a career in one of the above passions... I would feel heartbreak that I couldn't do a career in another passion.  That is why becoming a teacher was absolutely necessary.  No, we don't get paid that well.  But, I got to incorporate every passion I have with knowledge driven children.  I LOVED TEACHING WITH MY WHOLE HEART.  I have such a passion for it.  It truly was what I was supposed to go into.  Even though I am taking a little break at the moment, I'm still a teacher at home.  I also plan on teaching again once all my kidlets are in1st grade. 

9.  I want to write & publish at least 1 children's book & 1 novel in my lifetime.  I already know the story plot for each.  I started my novel a few years ago...but, it's still far from being done.  My children's book is derived from a real story from my own childhood.  I get excited every time I think of the possibilities.  Also, I would prefer to do my own art work in my children's book.
10.  I am a quirky little soul.  I have always seemed to gravitate toward others who have weird quirks or show some uniqueness of some kind.  Before I start a book, I read the last sentence before I can start.  Always have.  NO ONE is allowed to touch my belly button....if the unfortunate happens, & someone does touch it..I feel like my soul is getting pulled out.  When I'm driving, I squeeze my toes every time I pass a telephone poll.  I can't function if my house is messy. If I find a new & interesting word, I try to use it as much as possible for at least a month. 
11.  I am a highly motivated person.  If you know me well, you would know that this quality is one of the best things about me...but, it can also be one of the worst things about me.  I got this quality from my daddio.  I always finish a task.  If I think of something, it's usually done within the day.  I DO NOT procrastinate.  I feel like I have the ability to succeed at anything I decide to do (hence my list of passions).  I always maintained excellent grades.  Pretty much, if I want something, I get it.  I have an awesome work ethic... I will work hard at something until I can succeed at it.  So, yes...It's a good quality.  But, this quality has it's drawbacks... ex:  I feel like I always have to be busy... I have a really hard time just sitting...I feel guilty if I do nothing.  However, I have trained myself to take advantage of 'me' time when London is sleeping, & I am so much happier because of it.  My mind is always going a million miles a minute, I feel like I have to say yes to everything & do everything perfect.  Frankly, the list could go on & on.  All in all, I wouldn't change this quality about me.  After all, it's one of my best. 

My questions to answer:

1. Your biggest fear?  An unlived life.  I have a fear of wasting time and not experiencing, feeling, tasting, loving, cherishing, & making every aspect of my life meaningful. 

2. Where is your dream place to live in the US?  Hmmm, good question.  I would probably say NYC if I was single or married with no children.  But, since we have little Allen's, I would say right here in Cache Valley.  Prime for raising children. We have lived/been all over the US & nothing feels quite as comfortable as good old Cache Valley. 

3. What movie can you watch over and over again?  Well, I can't list just one...so here are a few: Phantom of the Opera, Titanic, Penelope, Emperors New Groove, & Harry Potters. 

4. Your biggest pet peeve?  #1 is chomping.  Ticking clocks follow close behind though. 

5. What the the thing you cherish most about your marriage?  Our ability to compliment each other.  Blake does a lot of things I love(which, I'm sure he doesn't love) & I do a lot of things Blake loves (which I don't).  We are good at compromising & pulling each other out of one's comfort zone.  We are not perfect, but, we are PERFECT together & for each other.  I seriously cannot think of someone more perfect for me.  Love his guts.

6. What things nerdy do you do?  Oh man, I'm totally nerdy to the core.  I read a lot.  I obsess over Harry Potter & own many shirts/bracelets/necklaces & other memorabilia.  When I watch TV series, I feel like the characters are my bff's & that I know everything about them.  I want to own a full blown library one day...in my house...& refer to myself as the librarian.  I LOVE to watch kid shows.  I have braces.... I mean, how much more nerdy can I get? 

7. What website/app do you check the most?  Instragram.

8. Do you have a specific favorite moment during your wedding day?  Blake lost his wedding ring down a drain on our wedding day.  We still laugh about it all the time... & of course, the wedding night activity (wink wink) ha!

9. Your dream job?  I already did that.....teaching.  Teaching truly was my dream job.  If only we got paid more.....

10.What is your most embarrassing moment?  I have a problem.  When I laugh too hard, I pee my pants.  Since I was a giggly little soul in high school, this seemed to happen often.  On one particular night, my two best girlfriends & a few of my best guy friends decided that it would be a good idea to explore a cave up Smithfield Canyon (the guys had been through it before, so we knew it was safe).  At one point, the cave became incredibly tight & we literately had to wiggle like a worm through it.  One of my girlfriends was having a really hard time wiggling through it & so on one side, we were pulling her through, & on the other side, they were pushing her through.  Apparently, I thought it was hilarious & laughed so hard that I actually emptied my entire bladder (usually, I can make it stop before it's emptied).  I was extremely embarrassed & therefore told everyone that I sat in a puddle.  They were all super confused because there wasn't even any water in the cave.  So, I got caught lying & peeing my pants all in one night.  Anyway, that was one of the many times I have peed my pants in front of people (prom, playing spoons, music class, on Blake, & many more)....as you can imagine, each time is embarrassing. 

11. Favorite picture?   This picture isn't the best quality, I'm sweaty & gross.  My hair is greasy....but, this picture is my favorite of ALL TIME because on this day, I became a mother.  It was the first appropriate picture of me holding her. This is the day that my life changed forever.  It changed for the better.  I have never loved more deeply until this day happened....& my love only grows each day I have Miss London around.  When I look at this picture, I am filled with absolute JOY. 

Questions for the fabulous peeps I tag:

1.  If you could do any other career (other than what you already do/did) what would it be? No limitations.

2.  Describe yourself using only 15 words.

3.  What would you do if you randomly woke up in a jungle?

4.  Favorite book?

5.  What do you do in your spare time?

6.  Who is your idol?  Can be dead, alive, fiction, famous, really whomever.

7.  Hollywood crush?

8.  What would be the worst way to die? Your opinion.

9.  Favorite quote?

10.  Describe your perfect day.

11.  Who is your celebrity doppelganger?  

I tag:

Mekell Leavitt

Jenni Hansen

Jenny Smith

Amy Johnson

Ashley Wood

Tessa Taylor

Kayde Givens

Whitney Whatts
Sharli King
Dani Lamb
Kelli Ballard
Jen Lohner 
Now, get on your blog & release some information.
List 11 things about yourself,
then, answer my 11 questions.
Think of 11 new questions for 11 people that you tag.
Have fun, I'm excited to read all about you.