Getting To Know You #5: Vacation

Welcome back to the Getting To Know You linky-party! Your co-hosts this week are

Cat from Stuff I Love
Ricki from Rogue Baby

Here's how it works:

1) Copy the questions below.
2) Fill them out - be creative, we want to see the real you.
3) Include some photos if you like.
4) Grab the button to share so everyone can link up.
5) Check out a few new people and make some friends!

I'm looking forward to getting to know you all!

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Getting To Know You: Vacations

1) What has been your favorite vacation?

2) What was your most exotic vacation?

3) What was your worst vacation?

4) What is your craziest vacation story?

5) What is your dream vacation?

6) If you could vacation with any 3 celebrities, who would you take?

7) Who is/are your favorite people to vacation with?

8) What is the best gift that someone has brought you back from a vacation?
9) What kinds of vacations did you take as a kid?

My Answers:

1) What has been your favorite vacation?
So hard to choose!  I loved my trip 'home' after our first son was born.  We visited our alma mater, stopped by some historical sites, saw my family, and even took a trip up to the mountaintop where we got engaged!  Wasn't glamorous, but the memories are awesome.   Also, our honeymoon was great!  Visited some deep south plantations and stayed at super cute B&Bs.  Perfect!

Pilot Mountain - where we got engaged

Hanging out with the WashU bunny

Cousin playtime

Can't believe I made it all the way to the top!

Magnolia Plantation

More plantation

Harmony House B&B

 2) What was your most exotic vacation?

Technically, I've had two.  When I was 16 my sister took me along with her for a week in Perth, Australia.  And when I was 19 my parents took us to St. Lucia for Christmas.  Unfortunately, I don't have pics of either on my computer.

3) What was your worst vacation?
Um.  They've all had ups and downs.  I was homesick in London, ill in St. Lucia, exhausted in Australia, and I hate long drives.  But they have all been blessings as well. 

4) What is your craziest vacation story?
Nothing truly dramatic has come to mind.  I spent a month in London doing summer school at the Globe and I tried climbing to the top of St. Paul's Cathedral in flip-flops.  1) I almost lost my shoes 3 times and 2) I'm terrified of hights and almost passed out at the top :p

Hangin' with Paddington Bear

My acting teachers on the Globe stage

Richard III in our rehearsal space

5) What is your dream vacation?
Right now?  A resort somewhere without the kids.  Lots of lounging and swimming and fancy food.  Once I get past the toddler-induced-exhaustion, I'd love to take a tour of Great Britain sometime.

6) If you could vacation with any 3 celebrities, who would you take?
Woah.  That's tough.   How about anyone associated with the Whedonverse.  They seem like they'd be fun.
 

7) Who is/are your favorite people to vacation with?
My husband and his former roomates (and their respective wives).  We get together every New Years and occassionally in between and they are absolutely my favorite bunch of folks.  We had a great reunion in Vegas one summer (and I even got out to LA to visit some other friends)

Hubby and his good friend weren't quite ready for the pic

Laguna Beach!

My family are a probably a tie, but they are so far away it's hard to get together :(

8) What is the best gift that someone has brought you back from a vacation?
My dad brought me back dolls from all the countries he spent time in.  I kept them all and now my daughter has them.  


9) What kinds of vacations did you take as a kid?
We pretty much only went to our yearly family reunions.  But I have a HUGE group of cousins and they are all amazing people so I looked forward to it every year.  Don't get to see them much now and I miss them like crazy.

Love these guys!!

Getting To Know You #4: Transportation

Welcome back to the Getting To Know You linky-party! Your hosts this week are

Cat from Stuff I Love
Kendra from A Proverbs 31 Wife

Here's how it works:

1) Copy the questions below.
2) Fill them out - be creative, we want to see the real you.
3) Include some photos if you like.
4) Grab the button to share so everyone can link up.
5) Check out a few new people and make some friends!

I'm looking forward to getting to know you all!

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Getting To Know You: Transportation

1) What is your favorite mode of transportation?

2) What was your first vehicle?

3) What is your primary means of transportation now?

4) What is your craziest vehicle story?

5) What is your dream vehicle?

6) Road trip!  What's the best place your vehicle has ever taken you?

7) What is the longest trip you have made?

8) With whom have you spent the most time in a vehicle?

My answers:

1) What is your favorite mode of transportation? 
I most prefer riding in a car that is driven by someone else (someone I trust).  I'm terrified of flying, get seasick pretty easily, and I do drive, but I don't like to (esp in an unfamiliar area).

2) What was your first vehicle?
A white 1987 Volvo 240 sedan with blue interior.  My whole family had driven only white Volvos for about 20 years.  After I wrecked that one (oops), I got a navy blue 1989 Volvo 240 sedan which I loved - unfortunately it couldn't hold up to KS heat (and didn't fit 3 car seats) so we had to sell it. 

3) What is your primary means of transportation now?
A silver Honda Odyssey minivan.  Pretty much the exact same car that every other mom in my town drives.  It's a huge pain to figure out which in the sea of Odysseys in any given parking-lot is mine, but I really do love the car.

4) What is your craziest vehicle story?
With this car - my husband hit a cow!  He was driving in the country late at night, and someone's black cow had gotten loose and was sticking its head out into the road.  He didn't see it coming.  Fortunately, the cow was fine.  Unfortunately, the whole front of our car was smashed in (we hadn't even owned it a year).  Thank goodness for insurance and a good body shop!

Can you believe the cow survived?

5) What is your dream vehicle?
I'm actually a little obsessed with this car, which is probably ridiculous because it's not practical at all (or probably even comfy).  Otherwise, I'm really digging my van right now.  It's not 'cool' but it's comfy and convenient which is super important to a busy mom like me :)

6) Road trip!  What's the best place your vehicle has ever taken you?
To visit friends and family.  Those are my absolute favorite trips.

7) What is the longest trip you have made?
Ever?  Flying to Australia.  Took 30+ hours of planes/airports each way.  Totally worth it, but 4 days of flying for 4 days of visiting was exhausting.  By car, in 11th grade my family took a 5 week road-trip making a loop around the entire country to visit historical sites (and check out potential colleges).  That was fun, but exhausting.

8) With whom have you spent the most time in a vehicle?

Hmm - I'd have to do the math to know for sure, but either my parents or my husband.  Have made some major trips with both of them :)

Getting To Know You #3: Siblings

Welcome back to the Getting To Know You linky-party! Your hosts this week are

Cat from Stuff I Love
Nay from Cover 2 Cover
Victoria from Young Work At Home Moms

Here's how it works:

1) Copy the questions below.
2) Fill them out - be creative, we want to see the real you.
3) Include some photos if you like.
4) Grab the button to share so everyone can link up.
5) Check out a few new people and make some friends!

I'm looking forward to getting to know you all!

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Getting To Know You: Sibilings

* (Note: If this week's theme is not applicable to you, feel free to write about people who were like siblings to you - cousins, good friends, etc)

1) How many siblings do you have and what are their names?

2) What is the age range among the children in your family?

3) In what ways are you like your siblings?

4) In what ways are you different from your siblings?

5) What is the craziest sibling story you've got?

6) Any treasured memories or routines you shared with your siblings?

7) What are your siblings' best talents?

8) You and your sibling get to share one perfect meal.  What is on the table?

My answers:

1) How many siblings do you have and what are their names?
Just one named Lauren

Painting by Mom

2) What is the age range among the children in your family?
She is 13 years older than I - mom always said she felt like she'd raised two only children.

3) In what ways are you like your siblings?
We were both theater majors.  We both love music and art.  We both likes to dance.  We both love The Princes Bride and While You Were Sleeping.   We both like to be silly.  We both had our kids crazy close together.

4) In what ways are you different from your siblings?
My sister is a lot more conservative than I am.  She's much more organized and much more independent.  She's a much better singer and actress.  We follow slightly different religions.  She's much more spontaneous.

5) What is the craziest sibling story you've got?

 

Well - let's see.  She was a big fan of spur-of-the-moment trips.  We once packed our bags before church, left before the benediction and arrive minutes before our cousin's wedding because we'd only been invited the day before and said "hey, why not?"  We dressed up like pirates and sang a Veggie Tales duet at a church talent show.  She was a super good sport and used to tote me around when she went out with her friends - even though I was 4 and she was 17!   

6) Any treasured memories or routines you shared with your siblings?
We were each other's maid/matron of honor at our weddings.  For a little while while were living at home together when I was in high-school, we would make hot-cocoa and snuggle in her bed and read each other bedtime stories. When I was very small she'd let me stay in her room if I was scared at night (and I was always scared at night).  She moved out when I was 7 and I used to borrow some of the clothes she'd left behind because they still smelled like her perfume.  

7) What are your siblings' best talents?
She is an incredible mom.  She home-schools all 4 of her kids and keeps them involved in activities even though they move around a lot.   She is so creative in coming up with educational activities and crafts for them, I'm always awed by what she comes up with.  And, as I said, she's a great singer/actress/dancer when she's got time.

she's a great auntie, too

8) You and your sibling get to share one perfect meal.  What is on the table?

Hah, well between the two of us it seems like we're allergic to just about everything!  It would definitely involve Millet Lasagna (I'm gluten free, she can't have tomatoes) and something decadently chocolate (cake?  fondu?)  Yum!

Getting To Know You: Hobbies

Welcome back to the Getting To Know You linky-party! Each week we'll be posing a series of interview-style questions for you to fill out and link back up.  Feel free to include photos if you'd like - the more creative you get, the more we'll all get to know about each other.  Each week will have a different theme, so we can learn all about each other.  And, of course, if there are any questions you don't feel comfortable answering, go ahead and leave them out.  Here's how it works:

1) Copy the questions below.
2) Fill them out - be creative, we want to see the real you.
3) Include some photos if you like.
4) Grab the button to share so everyone can link up.
5) Check out a few new people and make some friends!

I'm looking forward to getting to know you all!

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Getting To Know You #2:  All About Your Hobbies

1) Aside from blogging, what hobbies take up most of your time?

2) What do you consider to be your most unusual hobby?

3) Do you have any hobbies that people might not expect you to?

4) What do you consider to be your greatest hidden talent?

5) Are there any hobbies that your family takes part in together?

6) Has a simple hobby ever lead you to a grand adventure?

7) What is your newest hobby?

8) What is your oldest hobby?
9) Is there a hobby you wish you had the time or talent for, but it just hasn't happened?


And my answers:

1) Aside from blogging, what hobbies take up most of your time?
Aside from blogging, I don't have a lot of time for hobbies.  I have a little shop where I make jewelry and electronics pouches (I'm splitting and moving the shop - keep an eye out for a grand re-launch in August).  And once in a blue moon I really love cooking and doing theater. I used to play my flute a lot, too, but I get it out maybe every 6 months now.

2) What do you consider to be your most unusual hobby?
Survivalism.  Hubby and I have watched so many apocalyptic movies and tv shows lately (have you seen Jericho?  you should) that we've really gotten into talking about (and even kinda preparing for) how we'd survive "the end of the world as we know it."  It's scary and fun at the same time.

3) Do you have any hobbies that people might not expect you to?
I'm still a newbie, but Hubby is really drawing me into the world of Sci-fi.  Anyone who knew me pre-marriage would be shocked.

4) What do you consider to be your greatest hidden talent?
I'm not sure I could call it a "talent" but most people are surprised to learn that I have a degree in acting.  I haven't had much time for shows, lately, and I can be deceptively shy.  But I've done my fair share of work on (and back) stage.

5) Are there any hobbies that your family takes part in together?
Gardening.  Going along with the survivalist theme we're doing lots of experimenting with growing food (not so easy in this 100+ degree KS heat!) and the kids love to help dig in the dirt and pick fresh veggies from the garden. 

Picking cherries, fighting over the watering can, helping prepare buckets - even baby sis wants to help dig!

6) Has a simple hobby ever lead you to a grand adventure?
I'd say most of them have.  I got to spend a whole summer at the Globe in London because of my theater 'hobby,' preparing for the end of the world has significantly changed the way I view "stuff" and how I prioritize my time and my things, and my little shop (and this blog) have led me to meet so many amazing new people!

7) What is your newest hobby?
Survivalism.  Sci-fi.  Austrian Economics.  All the stuff my husband has brought into my life.

8) What is your oldest hobby?
Theater.  I've been acting since the second grade.  My mother was an opera singer and both parents have spent significant time on the stage, so I guess I was born into it.  My sister was theater major, too (and now we're both stay-at-home-moms -- but we read a dramatic bedtime story!).   Here are some of my more recent performances:

A nun (along with my mom) and party-goer in Sound of Music, Martha Cratchit in Scrooge: The Stingiest Man In Town, Kate in Taming Of The Shrew, and Cecily Cardew in The Importance Of Being Ernest

9) Is there a hobby you wish you had the time or talent for, but it just hasn't happened?

I wish I were a better cook.  I've loved food since I was a kid (can you tell?)

I do pretty well in my little kitchen - considering that I didn't start cooking until college. I know my way around a decent bechamel and I'm queen of fancy mac'n'cheese.  I'm tackling the challenge of gluten-free-baking one moist cake at a time.  But I did actually consider going to culinary school (before we had kids) to learn how to make fancy cakes and combine unusual ingredients.  In the meantime, I'm happy to come up with these sorts of confections in my free time.

Also, I'd love to be a runner.  The idea of taking off on a 20 mile trek is so appealing to me.  But I can barely make it a half mile before I'm gasping, and my bad hip hates me the next day.  Something to work up to I guess :)

Getting To Know You: All About Your Blog

Welcome to the very first Getting To Know You linky-party! Each week we'll be posing a series of interview-style questions for you to fill out and link back up.  Feel free to include photos if you'd like - the more creative you get, the more we'll all get to know about each other.  Each week will have a theme, but this week we'll start out with the basics.  And, of course, if there are any questions you don't feel comfortable answering, go ahead and leave them out.  Here's how it works:

1) Copy the questions below.
2) Fill them out - be creative, we want to see the real you.
3) Include some photos if you like.
4) Grab the button to share so everyone can link up.
5) Check out a few new people and make some friends!

I'm looking forward to getting to know you all!

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Getting To Know You #1:  All About Your Blog

1) How did you come up with the name of your blog?

2) What inspires your posts most?

3) What is the greatest challenge you face when blogging?

4) Besides blogging, what activities occupy your time?

5) What got you into blogging in the first place?

6) Do you have any special projects on your blog? (linky parties, charities, events, weekly posts, etc).

7) From where do you post? 

8) Do you have any blogging words of wisdom to share?


And my answers:

1) How did you come up with the name of your blog?
I started this blog as a way to share with my friends all the great baby stuff I love.  It's expanded so much from there - but I'm still always talking about the stuff in life that I love.

2) What inspires your posts most?
Everything!  My husband is constantly teasing me about taking pictures of the silly details (what we're having for dinner, a product that we're using, the kids being goofy) so that I can blog about them.  I try to keep some running themes, but if something's really on my heart, I'm going to write about it.

Little brother finally got a treat from the ice cream truck

3) What is the greatest challenge you face when blogging?
Balance.  Trying to find time to write daily and keep up with the house and the kids is tough.  I try to use bits of downtime I find here and there to schedule several posts at once, but sometimes life just gets in the way.  And if I need to spend a little extra time with a fussy child or a messy house, the blog can wait -it's not going anywhere :)

Blueberries all over the carpet - didn't get much blogging done that day

 4) Besides blogging, what activities occupy your time?

Just being a mom!  Taking the kids to school, playgroup, swim lessons - getting them fed, changed, down for a nap - reading them books and making crafts - that's about all I have time for!  Every once in a blue moon I also do some theater (I have a degree in acting), but I feel bad leaving poor Daddy to put all 3 kiddos to bed by himself. Oh, and I have a little shop, which I'm in the process of re-launching, that occupies most of my naptime hours. 

5) What got you into blogging in the first place?
I started my first blog to share our family activities with relatives - but now we mostly take care of that on Facebook.  Then I started blogging about products, and somehow it just took off from there.  I love the amazing community of bloggers I've met along the way, and now I'm pretty much addicted.
 

6) Do you have any special projects on your blog? (linky parties, charities, events, weekly posts, etc).
I host several linky parties (you can find them on the sidebar) as well as Operation Feed The Lambs (find it up top) which is working to raise money to feed kids at risk of starvation.

7) From where do you post? 
Kansas.  More specifically, either my dining room table, or on our bed.
 

8) Do you have any blogging words of wisdom to share?
Be friendly!  The more you do for others, the more they are willing to do for you.  Some of the women I treasure most I met through blogging, just sponsoring and participating in their linkups.  The more you get involved, the more you'll be blessed with fellowship.