Tag! You're It! - 11 Things...

Here's the Deal!

Post a photo and 11 random things about yourself.

Answer the questions that the person who tagged you asks.

Create 11 new questions for the people you tag.

Contact them and let them know they have been tagged!

I was tagged by my beautiful friend, Sarah at Life on Walnut Street. If you haven't seen her blog, check it out! She is super talented and I am blessed to know her.

This is me, catching the bouquet at my sister's wedding :)

And now for 11 random things about me! Here goes.....

1. I firmly believe that chocolate and coffee fix most things! When I'm having a bad day nothing soothes me more than a cup of strong coffee and a piece of good quality dark chocolate. *sigh*

2. My all-time favorite movie is The Princess Bride. So many quotable lines! It has everything - adventure, romance, comedy...LOVE it!

3. I'm deathly afraid of bridges over water. Gephyrophobia is the fear of bridges and the closest I can come to putting a name to it. Mine isn't just a fear of bridges themselves, though. It's not about the height - I can go to the top of a mountain, ride in a trolley, fly, and ride roller coasters. It's not a fear of water itself - I can swim like a fish. I have no problem on an overpass or bridge over land. However, put me in a car and combine all of these things - bridge...high...over water - and forget it. I'm crying and closing my eyes til we're over it. I know it's irrational but it doesn't matter. I'm getting nervous just typing this. Some of my worst nightmares involve me, in a car, approaching some monstrous bridge that disappears into the clouds! Crazy, I know!

4. I tell people my favorite food is Mediterranean or sushi but if the truth were known, my true love is cake. If it had more nutritional value (& wouldn't go straight to my hips) I'd eat it at every meal. I do love Mediterranean and sushi but if I could choose one food to get fat on - cake - hands down! Red velvet, almond, hummingbird, chocolate....the list goes on. I just love it!


5. My favorite animals are monkeys and I have a collection of sock monkeys that sits on my bookshelf. 

They're just so darn cute! :)

6. While I love the beauty, peaceful sounds, and tranquility of the beach, I'm more of a cabin-in-the-woods, cold weather kinda girl. I know, what am I doing in Florida then??

7. I love A-1 on almost any kinda meat! I even like it on a baked potato. Yes, I went to culinary school. Yes, I'm a foodie. We'll just keep this little tidbit between us! ;)

8. My absolute favorite time of year is fall. I love the crisp air, falling leaves, warm colors, smells, and flavors of the season. In fact, it's my favorite time of year for baking! Pumpkin, apple, cinnamon, ginger....oh my!

9. I can lose myself for hours in a good book. I put myself into the story and become one of the characters. It's my great escape. I love all things about books. Their look. Their smell. I don't dog-ear pages and I don't break their bindings. I shudder when I see someone mistreat them. In fact, someday I'd love to have a library just like the one in Beauty and the Beast (Disney version) - ladder and all! *happiness*

10. I love wearing dresses! So comfy and girly at the same time. Trust me - I love a good pair of jeans as much as the next girl, but a cute dress with some strappy sandals = fashion love!

11. Last but not least - I usually keep my hair short because it's easier and low maintenance. However, I secretly dream of having long, luxurious hair that is wavy (mine's naturally super curly) without frizz. And, if I could pull it off, I'd be a redhead. In fact, if I could bottle my friend Sarah's hair color (the same Sarah who tagged me in this fun post) I would! :)

Now it's time to answer Sarah's questions - 

1. What is your favorite time of day/day of the week/month of the year?  I'm so not a morning person and I get the most done in the evenings. My favorite day of the week is Saturday. On this day I can do whatever I want to do! And, to go back to my 8th random thing about myself, my favorite month is October - the perfect fall month.
2. What sound do you love?  I absolutely love the sound of a baby's laugh. Such innocence and honesty! It's one of the purest sounds on earth.
   
   
   

   

   My friend's sweet baby girl, Aubrey - how cute is she? I love hearing her laugh!

3. If you could choose to stay a certain age forever, what age would it be?  I think I'd like to freeze time right now and stay 30 forever. I feel like I finally know who I am and what I want out of life. I have incredible friends and a loving family. Life isn't perfect but it's blessed and I'm loving it right now!
4. If you could meet anyone, living or dead, who would you meet?  I'd really love to meet Julia Child and pick her brain!
5. What songs are included on the soundtrack to your life?  Laura Story's Blessings, Sister Sledge's We Are Family, Michael Buble's Haven't Met You Yet, Martina McBride's Happy Girl, and The Martins' In Christ Alone.
6. When was the last time you were nervous?  Right after I posted my first blog entry. I was so nervous about how people would react and what they would think of my writing. So far, though, I'm loving it!
7. What story does your family always tell about you?  I think the best I can answer this is a story from my childhood. I was the first grandchild on my mom's side and my family was fascinated with me. My dad tells a story about me walking through the mall and my aunts and uncles laughing at my antics as a toddler. They thought it was hysterical that I would walk right into those tall glass doors and windows (I didn't get hurt - don't worry). He used to get upset and tell them, "she's my daughter, not a side show!" :) Gotta love my dad!
8. If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?  I'd love to learn to fly a plane. Seriously. I think it would be amazingly freeing to be up in the sky and see the world from a different angle!
   
   
   

   

   Ahhhh - Freedom!

9. Tell us about a person (other then your spouse) that changed your life!  Aside from my family, I'd have to say the most influential people in my life have been my pastor in GA and his wife. They mentored me, supported me, counselled me, and encouraged me to become the woman that God made me to be. They became a huge part of my life when I lived away from my family and I will always be thankful for their friendship!
10. What is one website (besides Facebook) that you go to daily?  Pinterest. I'll admit it. I have a problem and am very much addicted to this site! What great ideas and inspiration!!
11. Over the years who do you regret losing contact with?  My best friend from high school. Yes, we're friends on Facebook, but we don't really keep in touch - not where we're really involved in each other's lives. It's sad because she was the friend who helped me through some really tough times and we grew so much together. We were such a huge part of each other's lives back then. I miss the kinship I had with her. She was my opposite - crazy, completely comfortable with herself, and always up for an adventure - and she brought some of those things out in me! 
    
    
    I'm tagging:
    Amy over at One Artsy Mama
    Katie over at Pincushion Creations
    Amy over at Food Corner
    Natasha over at Natasha In Oz
    Joy over at Joy 2 Sew
    
    

    Here are my questions:

    
    

    1. What is your favorite childhood memory?

    2. What did you want to be when you grew up?

    3. They say life is about simple pleasures. What is your simplest pleasure and how does it make you feel?

    4. When do you feel most accomplished?

    5. Describe your perfect day.

    6. How do you de-stress?

    7. You're stranded on a desert island and have 3 items with you. What are they?

    8. What book do you read over and over again?

    9. If you could only eat one food for the rest of your life, what would it be?

    10. What was your favorite cartoon from when you were a kid?

    11. Favorite movie quote?

    
    

    I hope you have as much fun with this as I did! :)