Probably more than you want or need to know...

I saw this on my cousin, Steph's blog. I know it's useless and silly, but it's been a while since I did one of these, and oh why not! :)


65 facts about ME:

1. First thing you wash in the shower?
My hair

2. What color is your favorite hoodie?
I think the only 2 hoodies I have are both grey. I wouldn't consider either favorites.

3. Would you kiss the last person you kissed again?
Absolutely! Snotty face and all!

4. Do you plan outfits?
Not usually. I am an extremely conservative dresser. Neil’s grandma, who is about the hippest 81 year old I know, recently complimented a skirt I was wearing that was probably the loudest piece of clothing I own. After telling me how much she liked it, she said, “And you don’t normally wear color!” I laughed, because she’s absolutely right! I am a plain jane when it comes to clothing! It isn’t that I don’t like color and flowery patterns because I really do! I just hate shopping, and can never seem to find what I want when I make the effort! Plus, what's the point when most of the things I wear just get snot (and other bodily fluids) on them anyway!

5. How are you feeling RIGHT now?
As though I’ve been hit by a truck! I started Jillian Michael’s 30 Day Shred this morning, and have just been reminded of how incredibly out of shape I am! It’s a good feeling though, ultimately. Maybe in 30 days my butt will look as good as it did the day I got married!

6. What’s the closest thing to you that's red?
My dumbbells.

7. Tell me about the last dream you remember having.
Last night I had a dream about Neil’s uncle Curt, aunt Malinka, and his 2 cousins, Blake and Jenna. We were visiting them in Salt Lake, and Malinka was re-doing the house. Random…

8. Did you meet anybody new today?
No, but it’s still morning.

9. What are you craving right now?
Water, which I’m drinking…

10. Do you floss daily?
Not even close! I’m the patient who flosses religiously the week leading up to my 6 month cleaning, and then usually the week following. Shh, Stelene. Don't tell your husband.

11. What comes to mind when I say cabbage?
Hmmm… a couple recipes that I’m eager to try out. And one I made just yesterday with ramen noodles and chicken. Yum!

12. Are you emotional?
Not as emotional as I used to be. I can be a dwelling worry wort though, which might be worse!

13. Have you ever counted to 1,000?
Nope, and don’t plan to.

14. Do you bite into your ice cream or just lick it?
I don’t eat much ice cream, but when I do, I lick it. My teeth are extremely sensitive!

15. Do you like your hair?
I’ll like it more when it isn’t all falling out! I finally stopped nursing this week, so I’m hoping to see some improvement soon.

16. Do you like yourself?
Yes.

17. Would you go out to eat with George W. Bush?
If he's paying!

What are you listening to right now?
Chloe telling me to look at her thumb, and Ryan whining (he’s sick, poor guy).

19. Are your parents strict?
Well, we haven’t lived under the same roof for nearly a decade, so it’s hard to stay. Growing up though, they were very laid back.

20. Would you go sky diving?
Never.

21. Do you like cottage cheese?
I can’t eat it right out of the container like Neil can, but I don’t mind it in certain things.

22. Have you ever met a celebrity?
Yes! I met Lou Bega (Mambo #5, anyone?) outside the bathroom at the Olive Garden in Salt Lake back in 2000. I was with my brother, and he introduced himself, and then me. Last summer I saw Diana Krall in concert, and while I didn’t actually meet her, she acknowledged me and Ryan in the audience. Read about it here.

23. Do you rent movies often?
Yes! We love Redbox!

24. Is there anything sparkly in the room you're in?
Given the fact that my daughter is 4, I’d be willing to bet that there is something sparkly in this room. Even if I can’t see anything from where I’m sitting, I'm stickin' to my answer!

25. How many countries have you visited?
Only one. Neil and I went to the Grand Caymans in 2007. Wish we could go back.

26. Have you made a prank phone call?
When I was younger, yes.

27. Ever been on a train?
Not in years, but yes.

28. Brown or white eggs?
I don’t really know the difference. Whatever’s less expensive as far as I’m concerned!

29. Do you have a cell phone?
Unfortunately, yes.

30. Do you use chap stick?
Frequently, throughout the day.

31. Do you own a gun?
Neil does, I think.

32. Can you use chop sticks?
Now do you really need to ask this question? I am the sushi queen! I could teach lessons on proper chop stick etiquette!

33. Who are you going to be with tonight?
My 3 favorite people, whose names start with N, C and R!

34. Are you too forgiving?
Sometimes, but the worst part about it is while things appear to be okay on the outside, I still sometimes hold grudges. I’m trying really hard to overcome this unhealthy habit!

35. Ever been in love?
Yep! And I love how the older I get and the longer I’ve been in love, the more in love I grow…

36. What is your best friend(s) doing tomorrow?
Hmmm, well I know what my husband is doing. As for my other best friend, why don’t you ask her yourself?

37. Ever have cream puffs?
Love them!

38. Last time you cried?
It’s been a while since I had a good cry, but I get teary-eyed daily over little things. I’m a tender person, what can I say?

39. What was the last question you asked?
I asked Ryan if he was ready for a nap. He immediately walked in the opposite direction, so I’m taking that as a “No.” Or maybe he’s just in denial.

40. Favorite time of year?
From the first day of college football season to Christmas.

41. Do you have any tattoos?
Nope.

42. Are you sarcastic?
Yes, especially with Neil. Sometimes it’s how we express our affections for one another.

43. Have you ever seen The Butterfly Effect?
I don’t think I have.

44. Ever walked into a wall?
I wouldn’t doubt it.

45. Favorite color?
Green.

46. Have you ever slapped someone?
Sure have! In kindergarten, I slapped a girl across the face because she stole my friend’s ring. I was suspended for the rest of the day, and my mom, who taught at the same school I attended, was pretty embarrassed. I really don’t know what came over me, because I was a pretty timid 5 year old!

47. Is your hair curly?
Nope. Straight, straight, straight!

48. What was the last CD you bought?
Don’t recall, but the next CD I plan to buy is William Joseph’s latest album.

49. Do looks matter?
Depends on what we’re talking about.

50. Could you ever forgive a cheater?
That’s a tough call because I’ve never had to. I don’t think anyone can honestly answer that question until they’ve endured it.

51. Is your phone bill sky high?
Nope.

52. Do you like your life right now?
Love it.

53. Do you sleep with the TV on?
I don’t make a habit of it, but sure, I’ve fallen asleep in front of the TV before.

54. Can you handle the truth?
Absolutely! I’d always rather have the truth, no matter how difficult it may be swallow.

55. Do you have good vision?
Nearly perfect. I am very fortunate.

56. Do you hate or dislike more than 3 people?
Hating takes too much effort!

57. How often do you talk on the phone?
I hate talking on the phone, but I do a fair bit of it.

58. The last person you held hands with?
Can’t remember for sure, but I could narrow it down to 3 people. :)

59. What are you wearing?
Workout clothes. It’s okay to be jealous. I’d want to see me too if I were you!

60. What is your favorite animal?
Hmm, probably a dog. I love rottweilers and bulldogs.

61. Where was your profile picture taken?
Flaming Gorge, summer of 2007, when we were camping with Neil’s family.

62. Can you hula hoop?
The last time I tried was at an Achievement Days activity when I was about 6 months pregnant with Ryan. Yeah, didn’t go so well.

63. Do you have a job?
I sure do! And it’s the best job in the world!

64. What was the most recent thing you bought?
A soft shell jacket at REI for Neil’s birthday (with the help of Dad and Mom Halliday’s gift card).

65. Have you ever crawled through a window?
I have! In fact, I have crawled through a dog door!

Now it's your turn! If you're reading this and have a blog, consider yourself tagged!

I've been tagged...

Wendy tagged me (like a week ago), so here goes!

My Random Three's

{JOYS}

1. Being married to my best friend and knowing we're equally committed.

2. Being a mother and being pregnant.

3. Music and dance, two things that have always inspired me.

{FEARS}

1. Something terrible happening to Neil, Chloe or another close family member.

2. More of a phobia: big spiders and bugs (HATE THEM ALL) and still jump like a little girl every time I see one.

3. A house fire or some other crazy accident that could result in the loss of a loved one, important possessions, or our home.


{GOALS}

1. To be a more patient person.

2. To learn to play the piano WELL.

3. To obtain my Bachelor's degree.

{OBSESSIONS/COLLECTIONS}

1. I have managed to hang onto old family photos (going back to my parents' childhood years), every single letter and card Neil and I have ever exchanged, cards from baby showers and other keepsakes for Chloe, etc. Now if I could just transfer all of these valuables from boxes into cute scrapbooks... HA!!

2. I am a perfectionist and hate it! I have no problem starting a project, but often the thought of finishing it overwhelms me because I'm afraid it won't be good enough. This can be as simple as hanging pictures on the wall or as complex as completing a scrapbook or some other craft project.

3. The closest thing to a "collection" I have are Willow Tree figurines. I've acquired several over the years and LOVE them, but have never intentionally "collected" them.


{RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME}
1. I am fascinated with the city of New Orleans; the music, architecture, culture (voodoo, which I really know nothing about), creole and cajun food, the people, their "yat" dialects, and the cemeteries with above-ground tombs. Some of my favorite movies take place in the south, and what I've seen of it myself I have loved. But for some reason there's something extra appealing about New Orleans. Neil is going there next month on business, and I'm jealous.

2. This one may change your opinion of me forever! Oh well, here goes... I love twisted and disturbing crime shows/movies and stories, even if they give me the worst nightmares. Ted Bundy and all those other crazy serial killers who took crime to the next level absolutely terrify me, but at the same time I can never seem to get enough of them, whether it's reading a detailed article or description of just what they did, or watching some random documentary. Even the thought of touring a prison, especially with death row inmates totally fascinates me, though I'd never actually have the guts to do it, or the opportunity, I'm sure. And while I'm spilling the beans, I'm also totally fascinated with corpses and the autopsy process, etc. We had some good friends in college (Brad and Maria) who lived above a mortuary (weird, I know), and I remember going down to the office with Maria one day (they did some work for the mortuary, which lowered their rent) and walking by gurneys holding dead bodies, and also walking by the room where they performed autopsies and the embalming procedures, and seeing a couple bodies laying on the exam tables. TOTALLY creeped me out, but at the same time my twisted mind wanted to see more! I'm whacked out, I know.

3. On a much lighter note, I am addicted to the Discovery Health channel. The miracle of life, the human body and the doctors and scientists who have found solutions to the most mysterious medical questions just amaze me. I especially love the shows about labor and delivery, but could be content watching just about anything else the channel offers.


I tag: all my cousins - you know who you are!

ABC tag

I am taking a break from cleaning to eat lunch and do this survey. Stefani tagged me.

A - Attached or Single? Attached for eternity!
B - Best Friend? Neil, my parents, David and Wendy
C - Cake or Pie? apple or pumpkin pie
D - Day of Choice? Friday - Neil is always home no later than 3
E - Essential Item? TiVo
F - Favorite Color? green, but I love pink and brown together too
G - Gummy Bears or Worms? cinnamon bears
H - Hometown? Vacaville, CA
I - Favorite Indulgence? sushi - I'm sure you never guessed
J - January or July? July
K - Kids? 1 sweet little snot, Chloe
L - Life isn't complete without? family, friends, good food and laughter
M - Marriage date? August 28, 2002
N - Number of brothers and sisters? 1 brother, 2 sisters-in-law, and 2 brothers-in-law
O - Oranges or Apples? oranges, or any citrus fruits for that matter (especially when I'm pregnant)
P - Phobias and Fears? Phobias: spiders.. original, I know; Fears: something happening to Chloe in the middle of the night, losing a baby or a loved one
Q - Quote? "A day without laughter is a day wasted." -Charlie Chaplin
R - Reason to smile? I'm a mom!
S - Season of choice? Fall
T - Tag three people? Wendy, Manya, Angie
U - Unknown fact about me? my bishop growing up went to medical school with Neil's uncle
V - Vegetable? peas, though there are few veggies I don't like
W - Worst Habit? getting sidetracked
X -ray or Ultrasound? ultrasound
Y - Your favorite food? asian (chinese, japanese, thai), pasta, mangoes, green salad with fruit, fresh sourdough bread
Z - Zodiac Sign? virgo

Been Tagged

Paula tagged me, so here goes!

Archive Meme Instructions: Go back through your archives and post the links to your five favorite blog posts that you’ve written. But there is a catch:

Link 1: must be about family...
This is my favorite post regarding family. Sure it's targeted toward Dad, but most of the important people in my life are also included here.

Link 2: must be about friends...
I love my friends, old and new. This post is about a friend of mine who I've had since we were practically babies, and who just recently moved out here to the Springs.

Link 3: must be about yourself...who you are...what you are all about...
This will tell you more about me than you'd probably ever want to know!

Link 4: must be about something you love...
I love my husband! Here you can learn of some fun (and funny) facts about us.

Link 5: can be anything you choose...
In the three months I've had this blog, here is my absolute favorite post.

Now it's your turn!
I am tagging:
1. Stacy
2. Shannon
3. Becca
4. Melissa
5. Natalie

Tagged - I'm it!

Dayna tagged me, so here goes!

5 Things I was doing 10 years ago:
* Living life as a high school junior in Vacaville, CA.
* Dating Zach Clapsadle.
* Rehearsing for Vacaville Ballet Academy's annual Christmas performance of 'Clara's Gift' (a rendition of 'Nutcracker').
* Writing a lot of essays for Mr. Jensen's AP English class.
* Listening to Jewel, Paula Cole, Cake, and Rachmaninov (odd combination, I know).

5 Things I was doing 5 years ago:
* Living in a 400 sq. ft. basement apartment in Provo, UT.
* Adjusting to life as a married woman.
* Working as an Intimate Apparel Sales Associate at Meier and Frank.
* Anxiously awaiting Neil's BYU graduation.
* Spending free evenings/weekends with Brandon & Wendy, Brad & Maria, Jed & Wendy, and my parents.

5 Things I was doing 1 year ago:
* Living .5 miles away in a much smaller house.
* Trying to swallow the fact that my daughter was three weeks away from turning 1!
* Working part-time for the Lynn Institute.
* Watching Chloe take her first steps.
* Breastfeeding (hey, I couldn't think of anything else).

5 Snacks I enjoy:
* Chips and salsa, queso, or guacamole
* Cereal
* Grapes
* Edemame
* Oreos and milk, both straight out of the fridge

5 Things I did yesterday:
* Caught Chloe playing in my make-up (see previous posting)
* Changed a very nasty blow-out diaper (which leads me to #3)
* Gave Chloe 2 baths (naturally she'd already had her first bath before the blow-out took place)
* Re-formatted my blog (thanks for your help, Shannon)
* Watched 'The Office' with Neil (ah, one of the things I look forward to most each week)

5 Jobs I've had:
* Ballet Instructor
* Esthetician
* Research Coordinator
* Hostess
* Mommy

5 Things I would do if I had a million dollars:
* Pay off our mortgage
* Contribute to savings and investments
* Furnish my home exactly as I'd like
* Find out what's at the top on my parents' and in-laws' wish lists and fulfill them
* Travel Europe

5 TV shows I like:
* The Office
* House
* Criminal Minds
* So You Think You Can Dance
* Almost anything on Food Network or Discovery Health

5 Things I hate doing:
* Enduring migraines
* Decorating my house
* Debating with my husband about furniture, etc.
* Reprimanding my daughter
* Dealing with bratty kids and inconsolable babies

5 Biggest joys of the moment:
* Observing Chloe, as the wheels turn in her head and she learns yet another new thing every day.
* Hearing her say, "I wuv you, Mommy!"
* My husband, who makes it possible for me to stay home and who never goes a day without asking how mine went.
* This time of year - how I love Fall!
* Long-distance correspondence with my parents, brother, and cousin/best friend, Wendy.

5 People I tag:
* Mika
* Natalie
* Shannon
* Mindy
* Carrie

About Us

What is his name? Neil Scott

How long have you been together? We just celebrated our fifth wedding anniversary August 28th. This coming February 9th will be the sixth anniversary of our first date.

How did you meet? We worked at Chevy's in Provo, UT. I was a hostess, he was a server. He swore up and down he'd never date a co-worker. Boy did I prove him wrong!

How long did you date? 6 1/2 months - we didn't waste any time!

How old is he? He'll be 29 in January.

Who eats more? He eats bigger portions less frequently. I on the other hand like to snack. A LOT! Hmm, hard to tell.

Who said I love you first? For how sentimental I am you'd think I'd remember, but I honestly don't. I'd say it was me, but I'm positive he wasn't a day behind.

Who is taller? He is, but not by more than an inch or two. I wore flip flops on our wedding day so I wouldn't be taller in any of the pictures.

Who sings better? Good question. Let's not find out.

Who is smarter? Neil is.

Whose temper is worse? Mine. Although when Neil gets really angry (which is rare), it's wise to keep your distance.

Who does the laundry? Two of Neil's least favorite things are laundry and grocery shopping.

Who does the dishes? I do.

Who sleeps on the right side of the bed? I do.

Who pays the bills? I do.

Who mows the lawn? Neil does. The outside of the house is pretty much his terrain, except the weeds. Now how did I get stuck with that job?

Who cooks dinner? I do.

Who drives when you are together? Neil mostly does.

Who is more stubborn? Chloe. She gets it from her mom. There, does that answer your question?

Who is the first to admit when they are wrong? We are both fully capable of acting like adults. It's the whole heat of the moment thing that gets us!

Whose parents do you see the most? Mine - they're in Utah. Neil's are in Georgia.

Who kissed who first? Neil kissed me. It was the first thing he did on our third date in fact.. apparently he'd made up his mind that he liked me.

Who asked who out? Neil asked me out after his original date backed out. Romantic, I know. Let's go back to the last question.

Who proposed? Neil did. First he surprised me at the Olive Garden in downtown Salt Lake (arranged a private booth for us) after we'd been apart 2 full months (he'd been in CA doing an Internship with Smuckers). Needless to say, we didn't eat much salad or bread sticks. He then took me on a carriage ride circling Temple Square and that's when he dropped the question. Got down on his knee and everything. I learned later that evening that on his way to the Olive Garden, he stopped at my parents house to ask my father's permission for my hand in marriage. What a smart boy!

What is your favorite memory of this person? One of many: Moments after Chloe was born, when Neil announced, "Congratulations Mom, you have a daughter!" and brought her over to meet me. To #1 - be called "Mom" and know it is a reality, and #2 - be told I have a healthy daughter are the two greatest things I've ever been told in the same sentence!

Who is more sensitive? I am. I have yet to see my husband cry.

Who has more friends? I probably do, but that's just because I make a greater effort to track down old friends and stay in touch with existing ones. I'm also a girl, which I think puts me at a slight advantage.

Who has more siblings? Neil does: 2 younger brothers, 1 younger sister. I have 1 older brother.