Because I am eternally nosy, I thought I would let you nose around my life today...
1. I don't want for much, but I want a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer in Martha Stewart Blue so bad, I am starting to think selling my left kidney sounds like a good way to get one.
2. My first car was a Volkswagen Rabbit convertible. Man, did I think I was coooool.
3. I was on the dance team in high school. I never danced in my life prior to middle school. I was more of an athlete. My high school's dance team was big shniz, and one of the best in the area. We competed in Nationals every year, and when I was a junior, we place second. The reason I'm telling you this is because my ugly mug got a close up on ESPN when our routine aired. My 15 minutes of fame was on a nationally televised network program that was repeated frequently that year. Again, I thought I was cooooooooool. (Remind me to tell you a story about my freshman and senior years on the pom squad, wowza, not so cool! But, those are stories for a different day!)
4. My high-school sweetheart is now my husband. Sure, I 'went out' with other boys, but Jake was my first bonafide boyfriend. He knocked on the door when he picked me up, and took me on REAL dates that he paid for. He was the first and only boy I've ever loved. I got engaged to him when I was 21, married him at 22, and less than 3 months later we found out we were expecting (and, yes it was planned). We became parents at 23, and 7 months after that #2 was on the way (again, planned, as were the other 2). People thought (and, probably still do) think we were crazy, but I wouldn't change a thing. I've also been led to believe that some people think we missed out on some incredible social experience by only having dated each other without having 'tested the waters', but I consider ourselves lucky that we DID miss all of that. I didn't really feel like sharing him. :)
5. I was born and raised in St.Louis, Missouri. The gateway to the west. I have a really large extended family, and, for the most part, we all still live in the area, with the exception of about 2 of my cousins. We also have a very extraordinary talent for eventually finding our way back home.
6. Most alarmingly, I went to the University of Kansas. That is true betrayal in these parts. I live in a place where, at any time, if you say 'M-I-Z...' you will, most certainly, here the echo '...Z-O-U!'. I did not go to KU to be rebellious, I went there to be closer to Jake. He went to William Jewell College in Liberty, MO about 45 minutes away from Lawrence, KS. I cannot say that I did not, absolutely, adore Lawrence...because I did. It is the best town and the most beautiful campus. I am so grateful I got to experience what I did there. Incidentally, I was a double major in communication disorders and Croatian/Serbian. Do NOT ask me to utter a word of it, though. I remember NOTHING except, "Zdravo, je li tako". And, I am most certain, even that isn't right.
7. I graduated from Fontbonne University, in St.Louis, not KU. Jake transferred back home in '97, and I followed in '98. (See? We were quite smitten.) I continued my studies in communication disorders/speech & language pathology, and graduated, on time, in 2000. I started my masters degree the following fall, but quit (gosh, I detest that word), in the spring to focus on work in the St.Louis Public Schools and my pregnancy. Now, I think I want to get my special education certification, but who knows...
8. I spent 15 glorious days in England during the summer of 1999. I loved it there, and would pack up my family and move across the pond if I knew Jake could have as secure of a job there as he does here. My dear friend, Julie, is married to an Englishman, and does not understand my being romanced by such a place. They reside in the Lou, but has England and all its splendors at their disposal. Oh, the irony.
9. I adore music to the core of my being. I cannot play it, write it, or read it. But, it is a huge part of who I am and speaks to me in ways even I do not understand. Sometimes, I think my life should have a soundtrack. And, I suppose it does, I've just never laid out the tracks.
10. I LOVE to sleep. In fact, I would, could, and should sleep for, like, 24 hours straight. Incidentally, I hardly get more than 7 hours of sleep a night. And, my husband, sleeps even less. I could fall asleep at any given moment in the day if I allowed myself to. It is a true and rare talent.
11. I can sing show tunes. Really. Some of my favorites are 'Little Girls' from 'Annie', 'Master of the House' from 'Les Miserables', and 'One Boy' from 'Bye Bye, Birdie'. I always fantasize about getting one of those roles on Broadway where the character is bawdy, cackles, and sings from the gut. After I've gotten my mixer, I will sell my remaining kidney to fulfill this fantasy.
12. My dream, aside from what I'm formally educated to do, is to make a respectable living doing something that channels my creativity, attention to detail, and eye for design. A party planner, decorator, writer, or all of the above. I, also, aspire to have my home, or some part of it, in Better Homes & Gardens. Vain and trite, I know, but it would be brilliant if that ever happened.
I could go on and on about stupid stuff about me you didn't know, or care to know, so I'll stop. But, I love when people post silly stuff about themselves on their blogs, and thought you might enjoy it, too.
Plus, I had nothin' today.
Nothin'.
Ta-Ta!
The living room side of the basement is really coming together. I need frames for the kids' pictures (they are currently hanging up in their plastic sleeves with painters tape), we need to hang the TV, I need to paint and hang the light for above the fireplace, and I need 2 orange pillows and a lime green throw. Not too shabby. Now, the boys' room and the craft area is a whole different story. Soon, though, very soon...
I love dutch doors. Don't you?
Normally, I do not press books, movies, or other entertainment. If you want to read it, watch it, or do it...that's cool by me. However, I DO think everyone, including those of the male variety, should read all of Miss Austen's novels, Leo Tolstoy's 'Anna Karenina', Roald Dahl's fanciful fiction, Bradbury's 'Farenheit 451', Bronte's 'Jane Eyre', and as much Shakespere as one can digest. Some things should just not go ignored. Reading is as close to a time machine as I could think to ever come in my lifetime.
First and foremost, I would like to say that spray paint is entirely underrated. If it weren't for spray paint, there is no way I could redecorate and remain with in my budgetary limitations. I cannot tell you how many times I've reused lamps, shelves, frames, curtain rods, hardware, just by harnessing the magic that is spray paint. My love of spray paint started about 9 years ago, and it has blossomed into one of the greatest affairs of all time. I am amazed how in 9 years, the breadth of available colors has exploded. If it's a color you can think up, they make it in an aerosol can. My sister even spray painted a ceiling fan bright candy apple red. AND...it looks great! Take my word for it, it's a DIYer's dream.
Secondly, I finally settled on a poster for a huge blank space above the chairs in the basement. I got it here at How Fabulous Designs' etsy shop. In terms of this house, I think it, really, just sums it up. It is the final piece I'll be needing. The floor will hopefully be put down this weekend, and then I can begin the fun part!
Step 5: Once the egg was dry, I splattered a bit of brown paint on the egg to make it a bit more realistic.
image 'The Falling Man'
She is, without a doubt, my kookiest kid. She makes me laugh.
