Hi. My name is Katie.
I thought since I have been writing this blog for a very VERY long time, that some of you might be new here and it was high time to reintroduce myself. Some of you might be like “Oh Bower Power….I heard of that blog…it’s by that weird girl that tries really hard to make jokes and do DIY projects, right?!” and that’s pretty much the truth. But I figured, I could tell ya a little bit about myself….and maybe reveal some things that nobody really knows. Let’s do ten things…that’s a good round number. And then maybe at the end, in the comment section, you could do the same. Let’s go….
Jeremy & I circa 2006
#1…..My name is Katie Bower and I have been married for seven years to Jeremy Bower. He and I have three boys with another baby boy on the way (due in two weeks!). I love DIY projects, crafting, cooking, photography, shopping for good deals, home decor, art and candy. I am obsessed with my family and with learning new things. I believe the Bible (even the crazy bits) and think that the greatest trait in the world is to love well.
Me eating a pretzel in 2008
#2….If I had a signature food, it would be soft pretzels. Jeremy’s would be ice cream. I used to make a lot of bacon jokes….don’t get me wrong…I love me some pork….but I can’t possibly eat the other white meat every day. Soft pretzels I eat every day. Every.single.day. The Atkins Diet would be a complete joke in my life. My favorite way to eat a pretzel is with cheese dip but the pretzel must be salty and buttery and not over cooked. That’s the right way to do it. That’s the only way to do it (enter drooling emoji here).
#3….I am not a fan of technology and resist it at every chance I get. I often let my phone die just so that I don’t have to answer it. I don’t do Facebook (except to post the new Bower Power posts), don’t understand Twitter, never even attempted Snapchat and have 9,526 unread emails in my inbox. I don’t even know how to turn on our thermostat. I barely know how to turn on the tv. Phone apps blow my mind. The repercussions of this fact is that I am blissfully ignorant of current events, celebrity news, and social media trends. In general, I find out most ‘world’ stuff about a week to two after everyone else. Jeremy thinks I am ridiculous because I am. I know that. If I had time and energy to keep up with news….maybe I would….maybe not….but all I know is that I don’t have time for laundry and my baseboards are a hot mess.
#4….My biggest dream is to watch my sons follow Jesus in their lives. If they loved others and loved God….that’s it for me. I don’t need anything else.
My McDonald’s pins from 1994
#5….My first real job was at McDonalds. I was thirteen and was only allowed to work 45 minutes per day….except on Saturdays when I could work eight hours. My first paycheck was just under $20 and I thought I was the richest person in the world. I said (and I quote as indicated by the quotation marks) “Now I can like buy like two things at like Old Navy!”.
#6….I met Jeremy on a blind date where I told him that I wasn’t the kinda girl that dates boys like him. When I did finally agree to date him, I wasn’t physically attracted to him until a year later. Now….I can’t keep my hands off the man. Obviously. Also…he’s hot 🙂
#7….My most embarrassing moment was when I was 20 years old and a swim instructor at a country club. I started my period unexpectedly while I was standing on the steps of the pool and my student, a seven year old boy, screamed, pointed and yelled out loud “MISS KATIE YOU ARE BLEEDING EVERYWHERE!”. I grabbed a towel, ran for the bathroom and then I had to inform the lifeguards who had to shut down the pool to shock it and send the hundred plus people home due to pool contamination. I ruined a sunny Saturday for a lot of angry people. Needless to say….I never miscalculated my ‘day’ again.
Sherry Petersik & I in Nashville 2009
#8….The best thing about blogging is that I met my best friend through it. Yes…there are a ton of perks to blogging. But six years ago I met a gal named Sherry Petersik who wrote a well known blog called Young House Love and fell in love with that girl. She and I are incredibly different yet we share so much of the same passions (DIY, our kids, our family life just to name a few) and if the internet exploded tomorrow, I would be grateful because I got the best gift ever from starting Bower Power….her friendship.
#9….When I was in middle school, I got detention twice. Once for cutting a girl’s hair in home economics. And once for writing on the girl’s locker room bench “If you are looking for a good time, call (Craig Willingham’s phone number).” A fellow gym mate said that I would get in trouble because she would tell on me. I said “No $#@* Sherlock! Of course I will get in trouble if you tell on me!” And then I got in double trouble for cussing at school.
#10….If I could go back to college, I would get a degree in art or marketing….or I would get my contractor’s license. Or some kinda certification in being a survival expert. That would be cool.
Okay….so that is ten things about me! What about you? I wanna know you! Any quirks, passions, moments you must share with the world? I wanna hear them. You can post and link up or just put em right there in the comments. If you can’t think of ten, just give me one. One golden nugget is better than zero golden nuggets…..says the ex-Mickey D’s employee 🙂
I enjoyed reading these even though I knew about most of them. (I so miss YHL! I know they are probably moved on to better things though!)
1. I met my husband when I was 19. We had seen each other once before and he called me and asked me out. This was in 2001 and he drove a jacked-up Ford Bronco (the small one) and had to literally “help” me climb up into the truck minutes after we met for the first time i.e. touch my bootie for a second.
2. I went to a community college and got as transferable Associates degree and then finished college at a 4 year school. I saved a ton of money that way and feel like I got an excellent education.
3. My husband and I lived in a single-wide trailer that my parent’s owned and didn’t have to pay any rent for the first 5 years we were married. We waited until we bought our first house to start our family though.
4. I thought coffee was disgusting until after my first born. Then I learned that it has magical powers to make you appear and seem human after having 2.5 hours of broken sleep the night before. Now I can’t live without it.
5. I can make sweet tea like nobody!! My southern Mama taught me well!
I will stop there!
1)I met my husband at the age of 12, we started dating at the age of 14, married at the age of 20, have been married for 13 years and have been together for more than half of our life!
2) I have 3 kids (12, 9, and 4) and we start our first year in the new journey of Homeschool in July.
3) My first job was a telemarketer for a local newspaper and I HATED it!
4) I was a hairstylist for 6 years and then quit to do my dream “job”…… a stay at home mom.
5) I love antique shopping and hope to one day own my forever home, an old farmhouse on some land.
6) I love the Lord with all my heart and seek His will daily in my life.
7) I have issues with mismatched things. Blue sippy cups need blue sippy cup lids, green tupperware needs green tupperware lids. My husband loves to mismatch them on purpose because he knows it makes me twitch.
8) I could live on chips and dip (any dip, salsa, cheese dip, onion dip etc…) for the rest of my life.
9) I would love to take a road trip around the USA and homeschool my kids at cool historic places.
10) I am obsessed with my family. My perfect Friday night consists of my family cuddled up together watching a movie, playing board games, roasting marshmallows or playing outside together.
okay, so i’m game! ten things about me….
1. hi! i’m ashley, a thirty-something mama to two boys, wife to a scientist, crafty lady, kids party/home decor/diy obsessed marketer/small business owner, who has a problem with having down time.
2. my husband and i have known each other since we were nine years old, but we didn’t start dating until we were seniors in high school. oh, and we were born exactly seven days apart in the same hospital.
3. i never, ever, ever, ever dreamed in a million years that i would have two boys. but they are glorious.
4. on that note, when i was seven, i was the only girl on an all-boys t-ball team (don’t ask, i don’t know why).
5. that same year, i let my dad convince me to get a bowl haircut. again, not sure why.
6. i am a natural redhead. i get asked all of the time “how do you get that color?” it’s from my grandma.
7. my first job was working for my friend’s parent’s screen printing apparel shop.
8. i’m pretty certain that in another life, i was a southern girl circa “gone with the wind” times. i feel a total kinship with the southern united states.
9. i have a sports-themed bucket list. i have crossed off one item: i went to wimbledon in 2005. still on the list: the ncaa men’s final four tournament, the kentucky derby, the us open (tennis) and maybe the olympics.
10. i have a very, very, very irrational fear of snakes. like, i can’t look at them in person, on tv, in a book, at the zoo…nowhere. nada.
enjoy! thanks for doing this katie! and can’t wait to see your newest little bower! 🙂
I giggled so hard at the no sh*t Sherlock comment. I got in trouble for saying the same thing. I had no idea that your due date is in two weeks, that time flew by! I know you found out after you were in your second trimester (I think), I guess that is the way to go. No anticipation and counting down the days. Although, with three kids running around there was no countdown anyways. I adore your blog and attempts at making jokes. They make me laugh, you have to keep a DIY post interesting. My 10 things about me
#1- I grew up in San Diego, California. I moved to Wisconsin when I was 18 and met my husband three weeks later. The move was a planned move for a few years and then I always intended to move back. The story goes, first comes love, then comes marriage, then comes three kids, a home, a mini van, and 10 years in the ‘burbs of Milwaukee. Usual story.
#2- I am a big time DIYer, and have dreams of redoing things. Seriously, I wake up and am disappointed because I did a awesome feature planked wall in my home. But it was not real!
#3- We just got a new puppy. Because three kids aged 7,5, and 4, one dog and one hamster was not enough. I guess I seek out the chaos.
#4- I have green eyes, really green eyes that were blue until I was 14. I guess puberty changed my eyes?!
#5- I am done having kids but have a list of about 10 baby names, with middle names. Just in case. Naming a baby is so much fun! So is having it, but I am not doing that. I will be THAT Mom that insists my kids use one of my names thought up 20 or so years ago.
#6- I am turning 30 in about 2 months. I am excited, confused, and wondering when I will feel “adult like”.
#7- I need probably 3 houses to rotate living in because I want to change things up so much. I need one for a minimalist, simple decor. I need one for fun and bright, lots of patterns. And I need one for the warm and homey feel.
#8- I felt weird starting a blog because I did not think I was professional enough to talk about anything. Then I realized that is the appeal for people. I am normal and so are they. I use Pinterest, Google images like everyone else. I don’t know what I am doing, but we can figure it out together.
#9- My husband and I will be celebrating our 8 year wedding anniversary in July. It feels like it has flown by, but also that I have always been married to him. He is my legally obligated best friend.
#10- I obviously have too much time on my hands today. My husband is home today with my kid’s and playing outside. I am “working” right now with editing a post and pictures. I think it is time to actually work now.
1) my name is Kathleen and I live in Ontario, Canada
2) I’ve been married for 4 years – we met in University
3) we have a 5 month old daughter
4) I was SO sick during pregnancy, but I’m counting down the months until we can have another
5) I am a CPA, but I hate everything about it. Thinking of staying home with my baby once maternity leave is up
6) I love to travel, but I’m not very adventurous. Weird eh? It’s like I want to go to all the places, but get uncomfortable when it’s too different from home.
7) I’m overweight, but don’t care enough to do anything about it
8) tacos are my favourite food – just the boxed Old El Paso homemade tacos. I could eat ’em everyday!
9) I’m very proud – proud of my marriage, proud of my cute daughter, proud of our success, proud to be Canadian…just proud!
10) I used to spend hours reading blogs. Now I spend hours watching vlogs on YouTube. You should be honoured, Katie. This is the only blog I still read!
I never usually comment…but I felt compelled to share on this one. Lots of love, Kathleen.
Thank you for the period tidbit.
My embarrassing moment was in 8th grade.
The last class of the day was vocal class.
My maxi pad was maxed out so I wrapped my coat round my waist so no one would see the spillage.
The coat became the new absorbant and there was a HUGE spot!
I reassured those that saw it that it was just dirt. Ugh. Worse. Day. Ever.
1. I’ve only ever commented on your blog, twice, and when you responded I was so excited!
2. I am a new stay at home mom after working full time for the first year of my daughter’s life and I’m loving it. But I don’t know how you get everything done in your house with all those kids!
3. I live in Boston with my husband of almost 4 years and my 16 month old baby girl.
4. My favorite food is ice cream too. And chocolate covered pretzels.
5. I love Jesus too 🙂
My turn!
1. I’m Candace, mom to two boys (3 and 1), wife of Alex. I work in Marketing for an Architecture firm and have an MBA from the University of Maryland.
2. I love to cook, spending the day in the kitchen cooking, eating and drinking would be a great day in my book.
3. I’m not crafty but I desperately want to be. I get all sorts of ideas but when I try and execute they are total FAILS.
4. I’m a natural redhead, my husband is a red head and my boys have red hair. We are the Red Family.
5. I love to sing and if I had the ability to dance I think I would have tried to do professional theater alas no dancing…
6. My first job was doing marketing for a local commercial real estate firm. I’ve been doing marketing since I was 16…crazy and kinda boring.
7. I’ve only ever won 1 thing, a contest from Bower Power, but I have yet to redeem my gift certificate…really need to get on that one!
8. I am scared of getting fat but can’t stop eating sugar, really love that stuff. Probably should stop that…
9. I like to garden but with the two littles really don’t get a chance to enjoy it, we have flowers and a veggie garden but right now they are more work than anything else.
10. I met my husband in college, he was in a fraternity and I in a sorority and we met while playing truth or dare jenga. He then hosted a party at his house so that I would come over and he could get to know me better, I wouldn’t give him my phone number but gave him an email address that didn’t work really well so he had to work super hard to get back in contact with me…
*My name is Kim Bauer and I’ve been married to my hubby for 11 years and we have 3 kids, which is 3 more than I ever thought I would be able to have. Blessed!
*I totally agree with you, as long as my kids love and follow the Lord, my work is complete
*I said I would NEVER, EVER homeschool, and guess what, we homeschool. It’s a University Model School, so they are only home 2 days a week, but those two days are crazy and make me thankful for the other 3 days.
*But as crazy as it is, those 2 days are a blessing and I have no doubt God is building up strong future leaders in my kids.
*I love photography, but I’m still learning.
*We just bought a 3,400 sq ft “fixer upper” so we’re busy
*And finding the perfect grey paint is harder than it sounds
*My husband and I met when we worked next door to each other and our companies were owned by the same guy. We didn’t date for another 18 months, but then it was LOVE from day 1.
*If I didn’t have kids (or when my 2 year old calms down a little *HA*), I’d love to pursue photography full time or design wedding/ event invitations. I do both now, but only in my small amount of free time.
*Oh, and we have a cat named Tuna 🙂
Can’t wait to virtually meet your new little guy. Praying for a safe and speedy delivery!
Hi! My name is Bailey!
1. I’ve been married to my husband Henderson for almost three years. We have three precious furbabies who rule our home!
2. I recently beat breast cancer! I was diagnosed at 27 last summer; 2014 was the darkest time of my life. But I love getting back to normal!
3. I’m from Missississippi, but five days after we got married, we moved to Texas. I never thought I would say this, but Texas is my home!
4. I don’t have a belly button thanks to a birth defect. The lack of it was my “show and tell” project many times!
5. I’m a CPA and my husband is a veterinarian. He does our taxes every year. I deal with numbers all day at work; I don’t want to do it at home!
6. I’m an open book. Even if we’ve just met, I will tell you every emotion I’ve ever felt!
7. I’m going through a bit of a faith crisis right now. I don’t believe the same things I believed growing up. Cancer and not having a baby really did a number on my faith. I still wholeheartedly believe in Christ Jesus as my Lord and Savior; just the little details are getting harder and harder to understand.
8. I’m addicted to my phone. I literally have an app for everything.
9. Leopard print is my fave.
10. If I could, I would drink Dr. Pepper all day every day. But I’d rather not be as big as a house!
1. I am left-handed to write and eat, but right-handed for most other things. I play sports right-handed and crochet right-handed.
2. I took a class in college called Children’s Drama and Storytelling. Turns out the second quarter was entirely on clowning, so I now have actual clown makeup and a persona, a white-face clown named Dottie.
3. I am crazy about Doctor Who. I have a TARDIS shower curtain, and I’ve done some cross-stitch pieces with a Doctor Who theme.
4. I am the oldest of three. I have a younger sister and a younger brother.
5. I am always and forever a cat person. Dogs make me uncomfortable, even well-behaved ones sometimes.
1. I am a working mom with two young boys. I think being a stay at home is a lot harder and I also believe me being at work is the best thing for our family.
2. I met my husband 15 years ago, moved in with him six weeks later and we have been married for 9 years.
3. My first job was mucking stalls at 13 for an Arabian horse farm.
4. I grew up on a horse farm but am now a city girl through and through, but get the craving to own horses, goats and chickens every once in awhile so my husband and I argue about beach house vs. ranch for retirement.
5. I don’t believe in organized religion or the Bible as a true story but STRONGLY believe in everyone’s right to practice their own beliefs and religion without judgement.
6. I own about 20 pairs of jeans. Everything from vintage to custom made.
7. There is nothing better than a fresh burger and veggies from the grill and a glass of red wine.
8. My favorite sounds are my children’s laughter, slamming of the screen door and the “silence” of falling snow.
9. I live in DC and try at all costs to avoid talking politics.
10. I have an art degree and work in engineering, my sister has a degree in biochemistry and is a buyer for a major furniture catalog, my other sister has a degree in sports therapy and has a start up company for energy efficient bulbs. I feel like we all got the wrong degrees but still ended up where our brains suit us best.
10 things about me:
1. I started reading blogs back in 2009, when I was a new college graduate, unable to find a job, I refinished 3 pieces of furniture on my own, well before I stumbled upon YHL and your blog way back when.
2. Speaking of YHL, the day they said we’re “on a break”. I was so sad, and now looking back I totally get why, it was just so sad, as they were a constant in my adult life thus far, and it was comforting to have both YHL and you to read throughout my week to keep me company in my mess of life.
3. I played water polo for 8 years of my life, its the most exhilarating and empowering sport to play as a girl. There was a huge difference in my confidence than that of my gfs I met in college that did not play team sports, and I feel that every girl should have that chance.
4. I am a transplant in the state I reside in, I am so loyally proud of my hometown, and I think everyone should be, embrace where you come from, its a good thing, it help mold your memories and made you who you are.
5. I research everything. Like every little thing I buy/invest in, I’ve comparison shopped online, before I go anywhere near a mall/neighborhood/travel. I comparison “shop” all over the world and US, even if its not a regionally held store. I believe I should get the item I LOVE, for a good price, regardless of where I live, or the income I have.
6. I am a snob about the kind of pizza I have. (Born and raised in Chicago). Just because it says “Chicago-style” does not mean it is, and just because its good pizza, does not mean it’s chicago-style.
7. I love being on water, on a lake, on the beach, on the shore. I love it, it makes my soul at ease. I think that’s where the Lord hears my prayers, and where I can actually listen to him.
8. I am an artist, a true artist. But my 9-5 M-Friday is in e-commerce. Years later, I can appreciate, that I do not waste my passion, and I am never burnt out by the things I love.
9. I check in on Bower Power daily when I have my morning coffee, some days its on my lunch. I love having a moment to check-out in my mind from my desk duties. You make me smile!
10. I believe in good coffee, good stationary, good style, and good manners, regardless of finances and education. Everyone can have this!
I’ll play along!
1. I love monkeys! I’ve always loved them since I was 5 years old. I hate when they sang me happy birthday so on my 5th birthday my aunt gave me a stuffed monkey to cuddle with while my entire family sang me happy birthday. I even have a monkey tattoo!
2. I met my husband online! I consider us a true millennial couple 🙂 10 years together!
3. I dream of traveling the world with my family. I want them to experience life outside of the US.
4. I want to retire early… so i can enjoy life more. Working full time outside the home is exhausting!
5. Blogging is fun but I think almost every week of quitting – the extra, little income helps #4 though 🙂
6. I know that God gave me what i can handle – 2 kids is enough! I have my boy and girl. I do think I may regret it when I’m older. Parenting is hard! Especially when you don’t’ have good family support.
7. I love coffee and cute mugs!
8. I get easily overwhelmed so need to learn to pace myself. I want to do everything at once though which doesn’t work well for someone he gets overwhelmed. The struggle is real.
9. Reading and laying on the beach = paradise to me
10. I’m adventurous and can’t wait for my next adventure.
I just want to say that you are FIERCE and fearless. Mad props for #7. I would pay someone a bajillion dollars to keep that OFF the internet … But, guess what, the world didn’t end when you posted it. I hope my daughter grows up with half your courage!
O yay I’m in!
1. My name is Cheryl and I live in Baton Rouge, LA with a hubby, two cats, and a dog.
2. I met my husband 3 times before I could remember him. We met once when I was in high school at a mutual friend’s house. I was dating someone at the time but he thought I was cute. I don’t remember that. We met a second time at the same friend’s wedding. He asked if the seat next to me was taken, because he was trying to sit next to the “pretty girl he remembered from that one time” and finally strike up a conversation with me. I almost immediately got up because I saw some other friends and never went back to that table. I don’t remember this but my poor husband sure does! In my defense, I had just gotten out of a serious relationship (same one from high school when we first met) and was in no place to meet The One. The third time, I was in a much better place. We met up again at a random party, started talking, hit it off, and I quickly developed a huge crush. We kept in contact via text and myspace (if that dates me at all!) and started dating a few weeks later.
3. I share the same birthday with my older sister, father-in-law, and an ex-boyfriend from high school! July 20th was a very popular day to have babies , I guess.
4. I can always eat bacon. I can have a severe stomach flu and still eat bacon. Yes, that has happened. It was the only thing I could keep down! It is the one thing I never turn down and never makes me feel ill.
5. Whenever I’m at Walmart, I go the fish area and move all of the beta fish in the little cups to the front of the shelf. I think it is the saddest thing when the betas are shoved in the back of the shelves, where it is so dark and must be lonely and boring. I think it’s bad enough to be stuck in a cup at Walmart but to be in the dark all the time is just too much. At least at the front of the shelves, they have something to look at!
I’ll stop there so Katie doesn’t get overload! Also, if I ever get to meet Katie Bower in person, I will be sure to have soft pretzels on hand.
Hi there Katie!
1. I’m Trisha. I’m a photographer, blogger, number crunching fool.
2. My husband and I are 8 years apart and I had a crush on him since I was 12 (he drove a Corvette, how could I not?!)
3. I got married in Mexico with the sand between my toes.
4. I love Disney and I am planning a trip to Walt Disney World at all times. It’s my happy place and my girls are following nicely in my footsteps.
5. We just built our dream home and it’s amazing, but I have realized I have NO clue how to style a shelf. I envy you. Please help! LOL
6. I survived 11 weeks on hospital bed rest while pregnant with my second.
7. I love sparkly things. Like, seriously have an obsession. Like a fish. You should see all the sparkly touches in previously mentioned dream house! Ha!
8. I hate Mexican food. So odd. I try to like it, I really do.
9. I eat Oreos. A LOT of Oreos. I should stop, but I can’t. I love them. I love them so much. My baby only eats the cream and I find this offensive!
10. I have read your blog for so many years it’s crazy. You have an amazing family and are an amazing person. Keep keeping on 🙂
1- My name is Haley, a 32 yr old momma of 2.
2- I feel in love with my husband the moment I saw him…literally there were fireworks and heart emojis all around him when we were introduced. The feeling was mutual and we’ve been married 9 years now.
3- I live in Chattanooga and every time I am downtown, in Homegoods or at Southeastern Salvage I scan the crowd to see if you and your fam are there. #Katiefangirl #sorrynotsorry
4- I’m not really as creepy as #3 might make me seem. 🙂
5- I always saw myself as a mom of all boys, little girls scared me. Now I have 2 daughters, 3 and 6, and little boys scare me. lol
6- I love lists, but only ones written on paper. I write a daily to do list and there is no greater joy than marking an item off that list. I often put simple items on it (i.e., brush my teeth, write daily todo list, etc) just so I know that I can cross it off if I don’t get anything else done that day.
7- I am an unapologetic Pinterest Mom. I make the cutesy gifts for my kids’ classes for holidays. I have every color of craft paper and glitter known to man. My fabric stash is out of control (must buy all the fabric!!). I love it, I live it and I’m not sorry about it.
8- I can’t bake to save my life. Even boxed brownies are a flop for me. It is sad but saves my waistline I guess.
9- I run as therapy. I started running in my late twenties to lose some baby weight but feel in love with the quiet time to myself. A nice long run along the riverfront is more therapeutic to me than an hour long session with a shrink would be.
10- I quit middle school soccer because our coach made us run a mile every practice. #isntitironic
Say WHAT?? You weren’t attracted to your husband for a whole year??? LOL 🙂
1) I’m a self employed graphic artist and fine arts painter
2) Last week I celebrated my 20th wedding anniversary
3) I got married when I was 19 – stop doing the math 😉
4) My daughter just completed her freshman year of college and my son has 2 days left of his sophomore year in HS – they’re both super awesome human beings – no idea how I managed that. #graceofgod
5) I’m a Bible Believer
6) I love doing muddy Obstacle Course Races and lifting weights as heavy as my body can muster!
7) I completed my first half-marathon 2 weeks ago.
8) I have 5 amazing women in my life and we are known around church and by our families as “The Crazies” – it’s fitting, oh so fitting. I love my tribe!
9) 2 things I always want to be: Courageous and a Hard-Worker – my husband and I call ourselves “Stone Throwers” because of the David and Goliath story. We always carry a stone of faith in our hands so when God says to throw it in faith at our giants we are prepared!
10) My life motto is “work hard and be nice to people”. Me and one of my Crazies fully intend on making this a stand-up routine and touring the country until we finally get a permanent show in Vegas! haha
Ooooo this was so fun!
1. I’m Julia, aka The Domestic Blonde, and I got married on New Year’s Eve (just five months ago!) to My Other Half (boyfriend of seven years).
2. If I was on death row and had to choose my last meal… it would be a Thai feast, with green curry and pad thai and all sorts of other deliciousness.
3. I started my blog in August 2010 after several epic disasters in the kitchen. I haven’t looked back since!
4. I also love the Lord and read the Bible daily! Although there are WAY fewer openly religious/Christian young women in Canada, or at least it seems it… I’m kinda alone on that one!
5. I LOVE GROCERY STORES. They make me so happy. If I’m in a bad mood, my husband knows where to take me to cheer me up.
6. I love reading novels! I founded a book club a few years ago and it’s grown to over 30 members. We’ve read more than 55 books so far!
7. My parents were competitive ballroom dancers across North American until my sister was born – they danced together for almost 20 years!
8. I follow the British royal family… some would call me a Royalist.
9. If I were a food, I’d probably be a spicy, cheesy pasta dish. There is nothing better.
10. I cannot stand the feeling of falling. When planes suddenly drop, I immediately feel sick!
So excited for Baby Bower #4!!!!
I love this post for so many reasons but mostly bc I love your writing style (I think you’re very funny)! I did a similar post last week…instead of rewriting the whole thing, he’s the link! http://www.wrightsimply.com/2015/05/selfie-friday-5-random-things-about-me.html
Have a wonderful day and thanks for sharing!!! xx
The grocery store thing put the biggest smile on my face. Love it!
xo kb
Love the Crazies! Best kinda friends 🙂
xo kb
You and I are fabric sisters…must buy!
xo kb
I seriously think cute mugs make the coffee taste better!
xo kb
Love that you made him work for it 🙂
xo kb
Okay, here are a few things about me:
1. I have been following your blog for years,maybe 10, I don’t know, seems like it’s been forever. I am a Louisiana girl born and raised, but moved to the Atlanta area about 2 years ago when I got married. I have big hopes of running into you and those beautiful little boys of yours in town one day…..I’m actually expecting a little boy of my own due Sept. 4!
2. I also followed YHL for EVER and am still heartbroken that they no longer blog. I still check their website periodically just to make sure they haven’t decided to go back to it 🙁
3. I would love it if you would do a post specifically about raising boys-what you have learned, what not to do, tips, etc. I have a 17 year old daughter, but like I said earlier, after a long hiatus I am preparing to be a mama again and to a boy this time-something I have absolutely NO experience with! HELP! 🙂
I love these kind of posts!! So fun to learn more about the blogger behind the screen. Thanks for sharing!
1. I do not eat the corners on a square slice of cheese. I had a bad experience as a kid once with hardened corners. Now, my husband eats the corners of my cheese.
2. I have to wear socks to bed. Sometimes, when it’s cold out, I tuck my PJ pants into my socks. Oh baby, oh baby. #poorhubby
3. I have two sweet kids – 4 years and 1 year. Hoping for more in the future!
4. I am an accountant and my husband is a chaplain for a poultry and pet food company.
5. We are hoping to pay off our school loans this year and we are SO EXCITED!!!!!
6. I love the colder seasons and get a little grumpy in the hot weather.
7. Favorite color is yellow.
🙂
Good luck with baby #4!! He will be here so soon!
Oh my goodness! I loved reading all of these so far. Which starts off
1. I read the paper almost everyday but rarely make it past ‘Ann Landers’… It’s the first thing I turn to and enjoy reading the train wrecks and crazy things people make such a big deal about in life that they write Ann Landers (editors)!
2. I’m a wife to my hubby of almost 9 years and we have 2 boys and a girl, all 4 and under. Only the girl wasn’t planned and I get so sick of hearing… Oh you got your girl, now you can stop. We are finished but not because of a girl. All kids are a blessing!
3. I’m a Bible believer and believe in my core all the ‘crazy’ stuff too. And the crazy stuff makes me love the Lord that much more! A talking donkey, yes please! : )
4. Our family of 5 all have Bible names.
5. I’m deathly afraid of ticks. Like WILL NOT step foot in woods or tall grass after the last frost/before the first frost. I. Can’t. Moving on…
6. I’m the most loyal friend, great listener someone can have. I used to feel out of place being an introvert and enjoying alone time but now I see how rare it is and how much my friends value a true listener and someone who cares about them.
7. I’m sentimental to a fault. I keep a daily journal of things my kids said/did. Make albums each year, save silly things… My computer was recently hacked and all my photos and videos were unrecoverable. I cried until I realized I had a backup and didn’t lose them (thank you Lord!)
8. I still plug my nose to swim underwater.
9. I NEED daily chocolate.
10. I never make our bed and don’t ask how often I actually change the sheets…
Okay, 10 things….
#1 I met my husband at the age of 12, finally started dating at the age of 24, (was not physically attracted to him at first either, that changed of course) got married at 29, and have been married for 8 years.
#2 My first “real job” was at a shirt factory. It. Was. Horrible.
#3 I love the Lord, and have went to the same church all of my life.
#4 I don’t really have a “favorite food” I like a lot, but “worst condiment ever” Pickle Relish. Nasty.
#5 I spend time with my family every chance I get. I have 2 nieces, and 5 nephews. All spoiled, by me.
#6 I make lists for everything. I feel accomplished when I check them off as done.
#7 I have read Bower Power for years, almost since the beginning.
#8 That being said, I have always participated in these “10 things about you surveys” I told you several years back I wanted a Daisy Duke Jeep, and dang it, I still want that thing! 🙂
#9 I would love to take a road trip around the USA. (In Daisy Duke jeep maybe?)
#10 I love your humor, and DIY posts, but Katie, your sweet heart is why I keep reading. You touched me many times with your prayers and concern for those women facing infertility issues. I thank you. Big Hug.
Love your blog, and can’t wait to see Baby B!
Sure I will play along!
Hi Katie! I’m Erica, a southern girl from the bluegrass state of KY but transplanted to the sunshine state and LOVE it!
1. I found your blog years ago when I was a receptionist at a small company and bored out of my mind! I had all day every day to sit and peruse the internet. So happy I found your blog and I come back often to see what is new with you and your cute little family! You make me laugh, smile, and occasionally shed a tear with your blog post! Thanks!
2. My first job was at Chick-fil-a, I worked there throughout high school and loved it! I still crave a a good ol CFA sandwich with extra pickle, I take my kids there at least every other week and pretend it was “their” idea!
3. I believe in God and his miracles. I was born 3 months early, weighed 1 lb 13 oz and was told I would have numerous things wrong with me physically and mentally, I am perfectly healthy! (well my husband may disagree! haha!)
4. I love to look at and buy scrapbook supplies however I haven’t scapbooked in MONTHS!
5. I met my husband when I was 19 in a public speaking class, we knew within months we wanted to get married. We dated for 6 years before he popped the question and married the following year. We were both trying to finish college…we were on the “8 year plan” and NO we are not doctors! 🙂 We sure had a blast in college though!
6. I’m a mom of two incredible kids, a 2 yr old girl and 4 yr old boy. They bring so much joy to our household I couldn’t imagine life without them! I’m not sure if I am 100% done popping out cute little babies but we will see what God has in store!
7. I love antique stores, thrift stores, and goodwill! I would rather furnish my house with second hand finds that are unique and noone else has!
8. I can be viewed as shy however once you get to know me I can’t shut my mouth!
9. At this moment while I am typing these facts my son is blowing raspberries on my back….this is my daily life as a stay at home mama to a rambunctious boy….never a dull moment! All day every day at least one conversation is about poop and farts….I’m sure you can relate with 3 boys!!!
10. I think selfie sticks are ridiculous (sorry if you have one!)
Well, those are 10 facts about me! Hope you have a blessed week! Looking forward to hearing about baby bower #4 and all the joy and chaos it brings!!!
Anything to procrastinate on work!
1. I discovered Bower Power through YHL. Now I stalk your blog every morning. 🙂
2. I live in Portland OR, and it’s true, we are weird. But we’re fun!
3. I made a list of 35 things I want to accomplish by 35 – and gave myself 1 year to try lash extensions, take a yoga class, do that hike, go to that restaurant, etc. Best thing Ever!
4. I plan on spending my 35th birthday in Paris, staring at the Eiffel Tower.
5. I am secretly obsessed with Tiny Houses, and plan on retiring to one.
6. I love the water, swimming, bathing, boating, etc. I sometimes dream that I live under water. I’m a Pisces.
7. I love going to Ikea and pretending I live in NYC and I have to create the most fabulous apartment ever.
8. My summer reading goal is the Anne of Green Gables series. I never read it, but loved the movies.
9. I suck at running, and I hate it, but I sign up for half marathons so that I have a workout goal. It works!
10. My mom can tell what mood I’m in by the color of my eyes. Green = happy, dark brown = run.
Your family is adorable and I totally get your sense of humor. Looking forward to “meeting” #4! 🙂
I’m usually a lay back and observe kinda girl, but it’s sound like fun and I’d really rather not work 🙂
1. I’m a HUGE procrastinator…when it comes to stuff I have to do… or I jut get distracted way too easy by projects.
2. I love DIY. I can’t bring myself to spend $10 on something, when I could make it for $40.
3. My DIY female “celebrity” crushes are Joanna Gaines & Katie Bower… I’m dead serious right now. I absolutely love you both… I’d be in hog heaven to meet either of you ladies… or just follow you around quietly while you decorate.
4. I hate to admit, but I’m that Pinterest mom. The one all other mom’s like to hate because she makes the ridiculous goody bags that took hours to make and get torn apart in 2 seconds by little munchkins. It’ sickingly satisfying.
5. I pin a lot of exercises that I NEVER do.
6. I’m not really into sappy girly movies, I’d rather watch James Bond sweat it his stuff all over the world saving us from destruction for the 20th time.
7. I’m horrible at blogging! I have so many ideas running through my head and take countless pictures of what I do, but they never make it up to the blog… my goal this year to do better.
8. I love house shopping and browsing. I love going to Open Houses with no purpose other than to look around and see how they decorated the place.
9. I secretly hide cookies from my 3 year old so I don’t have to share.
10. I’m a mommy to one rowdy little boy and two dogs… I love my pups, but I would take kids over dogs any day. They’re hard work!
This is so fun! And I am totally envious of your 2006 tan!
Here’s mine! It was fun to do! http://chatsovercheerios.blogspot.com/2015/05/ten-things-about-me.html
ok, here we go…
1. I love Jesus!
2. I am 34, married for almost 12 years to my hubs who I met in college and we live in Southern MS
3. We have 3 boys (8, 5 and 4)…I want more but hubs says “no”! ; )
4. I would love to stay home with my boys and homeschool but we cannot afford to. I guess it is my desire and not the Lord’s…I have to remind myself of that quite frequently.
5. The grocery store is my alone time…every other saturday…no one is allowed to go with me!
6. I love to hunt, fish and just be outdoors. I can’t stand to be inside all day unless I am sick. I guess that is why the Lord blessed me with boys!
7. I hated coffee until i birthed my 3rd child…now I can’t go a day without my one cup of coffee!
8. I always like change…I think it is because I am a minister’s child and we moved around so new things excite me….probably why I could have a house full of kids! : )
9. I LOVE to cook but feel like I never have time to. OH! I joined Blue Apron and get our first set of meals the 2nd Saturday in June. I look forward to trying it out!
10. I enjoy reading your blog…can’t wait to see baby #4…will be praying for you!!
You are too funny, Katie. Your paycheck quote made me literally lol. Here’s some stuff about me:
1. My brother was 3 when I was born. He wanted to name me after his best friend, Danny, regardless of my gender. I still can’t believe my parents basically went along with it.
2. Along the lines of being named Dani, which confuses people enough, my husband’s name is Kelly. We both answer to both, and think it’s hilarious, but we are determined to give all our children very gender-specific names!
3. My husband and I went to the same high school for 3 years, but it was so huge we didn’t meet until the last semester of our senior year.
4. Kelly and I dated for four years, and for two of them he was on a religious mission in Uruguay and we could only write letters. We got married two months after he got home.
5. I taught at an inner-city high school in Baltimore for five years, until my son was born last summer and I quit to be a stay-at-home mom. I’m loving it, and haven’t had to stop any knife fights since I quit 🙂
6. I’m pretty sure my baby named himself. We were debating William and Thomas for a boy, and at the first ultrasound they thought I was having twins for the most shocking 40 minutes of my life. Turns out the second heartbeat they were seeing was just a pulse in the umbilical cord, but later I found out Thomas means “twin.” Now I can’t imagine my Tommy as a Will, but maybe he’ll have a brother someday!
7. I wish I were bffs with Sherry, too!
That’s probably enough about me!
Hi I’m Debbie
1. Married to only guy I ever dated 37 1/2 years
2. Three children, with a son in law and daughter in law whom I love like my own
4 grand kids 2 girls, two boys ages 6, 3 1/2, 2, 6 months
3. live in south west Georgia, to far away from grandkids in north ga and south carolina 🙁
4. love the Lord, with all my heart.
5. will cook for you all day if you will sit down and eat and not pick at your food !
6. love to read christian fiction.
7. snakes are disgusting
8. would love a job investigating grant requests and giving away money to non profits with a worthwhile , verifiable mission
9. love to work behind the scenes to make special things happen for people
10. would never get tired of hearing the waves breaking on the beach…….
1. My name is Jenell but my husband is the only one who calls me that. Everyone else calls me Jen.
2. I grew up in a Christian home and asked Jesus into my heart when I was 7.
3. I met my husband when I was 12 and he was 16. He is my cousins best friend and he showed up at a family cookout at my cousins house riding a blue motorcycle. I thought he was so cute and I wanted to meet him so I took my 2 year old cousin over to “see the cool motorcycle” 🙂 We waited several years to start dating and when I was 17, almost 18, we finally started dating in March of 2000, we got engaged in June of 2000 and we got married in December of 2000. This year we will celebrate 15 years!
4. I am a stay at home mom to an 11 year old daughter and 9 year old son. I have an etsy shop and I volunteer twice a week at the hospital to keep myself busy while my kiddos are at school. I LOVE volunteering. One day a week I help out with the Child Life department and one day a week I get to hold babies in the nursery 🙂
5. I am an introvert. I love one-on-one time with friends but I hate a crowded room. I get all nervous and feel sick when I have to go somewhere by myself and I know there will be a crowd of people.
6. I love diy, being crafty, sewing, baking desserts and thrift store shopping.
7. I really love organization but you would never know that by looking at my house 🙁 It’s not terribly messy, but, I would prefer for everything to have its place and that just doesn’t always happen.
8. My husband is my best friend. He and my kiddos are my favorite people to spend time with.
9. My first job was as a waitress at a little burger and ice cream place in the small town I grew up in. I think I worked there for two years and decided I would never be a waitress again.
10. I grew up in the country and although I do love the convenience of living in the city, I wish we could raise our kids in the country.
This is fun, let me join, too 🙂
1. I will have been married to my awesome hubby for 7 years (anniversary on Sunday) :). This was the very first time that I used Future Perfect Continuous Tense beside the English class – like ever. Although as foreigner it kills you to learn and understand it.
2. Aged almost 37, we will get our first baby around June 22 – it’s a cute girl. (Long struggle with happy end, but your words when expecting LJ in your video were a big bear hug for my heavy heart that time.)
3. I am a fabric and book addict, I love my kindle – so do my bookshelves, as well 🙂
4. I am from Hungary, Europe and dream of travelling to US to a) see the Niagara Falls, b) Grand Canyon, c) go to New Orleans d) meet either You or Sherry – I hope this does not sound too creepy.
5) My favorite location in Europe is Ljubljana (capitol of Slovenia). Although I do not speak their language, I said to my husband, when we get old-age-pensioners we have to move there. You have there both the sea and ski mountains at 1-hour driving distance – what can you wish more? 🙂 People are very friendly, as well and food is better than in Italy IMO.
6) Today I visited the delivery room at the hospital and got a panic attack. I do not know how the delivery will happen…. (Crisis ahead 🙂
7) I dream of learning sewing with a machine, but somehow it’s a too big challenge for me. It seems I will never master it.
8) I am also a flower-addict, my husband lets me go to nursery only when he is present, as well. Otherwise I would buy the whole shop.
9) When the sun is not shining for 1 hour on any days, I need 2 pullovers. When it is shining for 2+ hours (temperature does not matter), then I am in shorts.
10) I love owls.
(Sorry for my language mistakes – 2nd language…)
Ten things about me…
1. Hi, my name is Jen! I’m a married stay at home mom to our 2 children (ages 5 and 3). I am 22 weeks along with our 3rd child.
2. I prefer trucks over cars. I like to sit higher and I like to have the option to haul stuff in the back. 🙂
3. My husband hates when our dog poops in the driveway. When I spotted fake dog poop in the store I ‘planted’ it in the drive where he would see it. I video recorded his reaction when he went to shovel it up. I laugh so hard every time I watch it. Priceless.
4. My husband says no one knows how weird I am. See #3.
5. I am incredibly hard on cell phones. I don’t know what I do that’s so rough but they never last long.
6. My husband always says all I wanna do is have fun. Who doesn’t??
7. We sold our first home a year ago. Spent the winter in an 800 square foot cabin in the woods. When we were telling everyone that we were expecting again, my husband likes to add in that we were in tight quarters and I couldn’t get away.
8. We just bought a beautifully restored farmhouse on 8 acres in Ohio. This has been our dream since we got married 10 years ago.
9. I bite my nails and hate that I do that.
10. One of my favorite spaces to decorate is our kids’ rooms. They are so fun!
You are not alone – I too had a bowl haircut at about the same age!
Oooh this is fun! It was great to learn more about you 🙂 Here’s 10 things about me:
1. My name is Anais (pronounce Ana-iss), it’s French and spelled with 2 dots on the “i”. I have been called a LOT of things in the English-speaking world, including but not limited to: Eenis, Ananis, Analis, Alice, Anis… Now when I have to give my name for random encounters (customer service, restaurant bookings etc) I just say I’m called Ana 😉
2. I was born and raised in France, moved out of my parents’ when I was 17, got my college education in Canada and South Korea, worked in Australia and now in Dubai, plus many, many travels!
3. I learned English at school and practiced it by staying with a host family in Virginia the summer when I was 15. We got very close, I visited them again and again and I now have a French Mom and an American Mom! American Dad, aunties, siblings and so on… My proudest achievement is when people tell me I don’t have a French accent!
4. I drink sparkling water out of wine glasses. Wine too, but sparkling water most of the time.
5. I have a large scar on my left ankle which I got by thrusting an axe into my leg when I was 20, trying to chop wood for the house on my parents’ farm with my brother. It was a great pain at the time, but now I love seeing the look on people’s faces when I tell them I got an axe wound! #countrygirlproblems
6. I have lived in Canada, but I suffer from the cold much more in the Middle-East! Sure the heat is an issue in Dubai and it is, but the cold is, too! The cold INSIDE the BUILDINGS! The A/C is always blasted off everywhere, and most people catch colds in the summer because of the constant switch in temperatures. In the rest of the world you carry a jacket in the winter to keep warm outdoors – in the UAE, you carry a jacket in the summer, to keep warm indoors…
7. I have been in 2 serious relationships in my life. In both, my ex/boyfriend have had different religious beliefs than my own. The first time around with my ex, we thought we needed to talk about it a lot, to understand each other’s views 100% and pick the other’s brain on every subject. We ended up breaking up over it despite loving each other very much. With my current boyfriend, we very rarely mention it, we each practice what we believe in separately, and we will occasionally have a good debate on that stuff, but the topic doesn’t belong in our daily lives – we are extremely happy and so much more accepting of each other!
8. I live in a studio apartment on the 19th floor of a 35-story building. Thank God for the balcony, because places without one can feel like living in a fish tank very quickly!
9. My Mom and Dad have been married 30 years, they started dating when they were 11 years old, and for most of my life I thought they were the happiest couple in the world. About 3 years ago, some really rough history started popping up to the surface and the whole facade shattered… It’s been a tough 3 years, but they are finally getting a divorce and I couldn’t be happier for them! I think it’s the best thing that could have happened to them. I can see them each begin a new life of their own, slowly starting to embrace their own personalities and dreams outside of a toxic relationship… I am SO EXCITED to see what new adventures life has got in store for them!
10. I love reading your blog!
Optional #11: I cannot keep it short 😉
First, I love your blog, and good luck in the upcoming weeks! I’m not a southern girl, so hopefully some of the references won’t be too obscure 🙂
1. I am a lawyer by day (and unfortunately often by night and weekend), and I had the opportunity to meet Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer (one of the highlights of my then young legal career), I informed him I was a big fan and a “Supreme Court Junkie”. He was not quite sure how to respond, but thanked me politely. I like to think he was flattered.
2. When I was little, I wanted to be a ballerina, nurse or Dodgers baseball player (anyone of my era will recall the Brady Bunch episode where Don Drysdale makes a guest appearance, though to be clear, I was watching reruns!!). Remarkably, I had no idea that girls couldn’t be pro baseball players and had not yet learned that I have absolutely no hand-eye coordination…
3. I really love reality television, much to my husband’s complete and utter disgust. My favorite movies are The Sound of Music and Auntie Mame. Musical theatre runs a close second to reality television.
4. I love experiencing every one of my two daughters’ “firsts” but get sad when I realize how much I miss during the week when I’m at work and how quickly they are growing more and more independent. While being a mom is by far the greatest thing I have ever done with my life, my momma guilt knows no bounds. .
5. I have been married to my husband for eleven years (together 15). We met online, which I used to be a little embarrassed about, but now I could care less.
6. Eight is my favorite number.
7. Growing up, my family and I vacationed every summer “down the shore” (translation – at the Jersey Shore (the 30th Street Beach in Ocean City)). Every year when we would venture to the Board Walk, I begged my dad to buy me an invisible dog. I never did get one.
8. I love the Boston Red Sox, even though I grew up in Philly and still love tastycakes, even though I live in Boston (Peanut Butter Candycakes are my favorite).
9. I have strange but fond memories of my mother singing Barry Manilow’s “Copacabana” to me while getting ready in the morning for work/school.
10. I actually love when daylight savings time ends and it gets darker earlier, because it means the holidays are coming.
After reading everyone else’s 10 things, I have to post my own or I would feel like an internet voyeur. Or a stalker. Neither of which are okay in my book.
1. Cooking & gardening are my passions.
2. I, too, love grocery stores. And library’s. The smell always makes me relax.
3. My mom teaches English so I am compulsive about grammar and spelling. Even in text messages.
4. Dancing in public scares me to pieces.
5. I alphabetize my spices. My pantry is organized like a grocery store. And while I don’t have kids yet, I can sympathize with the need for matching sippy cups/tops. I will be that mom.
6. I met my husband after a disastrous first marriage/life lesson. He is the greatest gift God could have given me. Not only is he a wonderfully kind human being, but he lets me be me. Warts and all. I love that man.
7. I also love my job – it’s a primarily male dominated field but I work hard and love a challenge. This is one place where stubbornness pays off.
8. After trying for years, we are finally expecting our first child. It feels like a miracle, but one that could be taken away at any moment.
9. My underwear and bra HAS to match. Seriously. Even on weekends.
10. Reading BowerPower is such a joy. I feel like we would be great friends. If you were okay with having friends that are obsessive compulsive. Keep it up – you are such an inspiration to many who are trying to navigate life and do it with a smile.
xoxo
1. My hubby of almost 8 years are days away from welcoming our second baby into the world… Boy or girl, we shall see!!
2. I never thought I would make a great mom and kept putting off having kids… My son is a bundle of joy and I can’t help but smother him with billions of hugs and kisses.
3. I have this terrible habit of counting down in my head how many days of vacation are left or how many hours of Christmas day is left, etc….I wish I could stop and enjoy the moment but yet I still have this bad habit.
4. When I’m bored or need a pick me up I watch you tube videos of soldiers retuning home to their families or pregnancy announcements.
5. The second I walk in the door (of my house) my pants come off. I often have no recollection of doing it… Isn’t that scary/absurd?
6. My husband and I were on Let’s Make A Deal, we lost out on two brand new cars and instead I won a very beautiful diamond necklace. Im still ticked we didn’t choose door number 2.
7. I want to travel the world so bad! It would be even more amazing if I could do this all while going on mission trips.
8. Jesus is my homeboy. I fail daily and struggle with giving Him my everything but he is so full of grace, redemption, and love it is mind blowing!
9. We inherited a farmhouse that is so incredibly crooked and lacking in character… Good thing my husband is a former contractor and helps me make all of my house dreams a reality! Also my children are the 6th generation of my husbands family to live in this house!
10. Our towns fair is the highlight of my year, we camp there with all of my husbands family and it is just the most fun/most fattening week of the year! Hello cheese fries and doughboys!
Hi Katie!
10. I have 3 kids – 1 boy and 2 girls. (10, 8, & 7). I homeschooled them until my youngest started kindergarten, then got a full-time job so had to send them off to private school instead.
9. I live out in the country on 12.5 acres. We have 3 geese, 2 ducks, 2 dogs, a lovebird, and fish. We also have 4 beehives and lots of fruit trees that won’t grow fruit. 🙂
8. My husband and I bought a house the weekend we got married. 10 years later, we sold it and moved into my in-laws new house so we could build our dream home.
7. While living in my in-laws new house, my family and I survived the tornadoes that ripped through GA/TN in April 2011. I’ve been through tornadoes before, but never inside one, and never one that big. When the tornado hit, it was classified a EF4. God spared me and my family and we thank him every day for his protection. I blogged about it here: http://www.ziesmer.us/2011/09/thankful.html
6. I’m going back to school in the fall to get a degree in Interior Design. I have a B.A. in art, but have always wanted to do interior design, so now I’m making that happen.
5. I love baking and decorating cakes. I started making fondant cakes after my first daughter was born and love how much fun they are to create.
4. I am very competitive, but have had 2 knee surgeries and have had to learn how to sit back and chill so I can enjoy playing with my kids. Now whenever I exercise, my husband threatens me to behave. 🙂
3. I love spicy foods. The spicer the better! 🙂 I tried making chili for my husband’s family when my kids were little. His parents don’t do spicy. Tomatoes are almost too spicy. I had made the chili before, but forgot how I did the spices and didn’t want to make it too hot for them…well, that didn’t work out too well. I made the whole family cry because of the spice and I was the only one able to eat it. I ate chili for a month. 🙂
2. I was super messy and disorganized as a kid, but now I love organizing and planning everything. I still have messes every now and then, but if I don’t clean them up, I go crazy now. 🙂
1. For my birthday, I drug my husband to John & Sherry’s book signing in Atlanta and as a bonus, I got to meet you, Jeremy and baby Weston! That was so awesome!!
1. I am one of those invisible readers, I almost NEVER post comments. It ain’t my thing.
2. I’ve been reading your blog since right after Will was born. I love your laid back blogging style, crazy jokes and the fact that you keep it REAL.
3. I like to live vicariously through diy blogs because I’m a broke college student who doesn’t own a home, and lives in a rental that still has wood paneling.
4. When I think of YHL, I get really sad inside that that chapter has ended.
5. I love white kitchen cabinets and subway tile. My fiancée hates both these things.
6. I live in Bend, Oregon
7. I’m a writer, and sometimes consider creating a blog – and then I immediately change my mind.
8. Instead of children, I have pets.
9. I like cheese
10. The movie Stepmom always makes me cry.
You weren’t attracted to Jeremy for a whole year?! Why did you keep dating him? Good thing you did though! I think we need more details on that story!
1. I’m a 28 year old mother of 3. 1 boy and 2 girls.
2. My husband and I met when he was a stock boy and I was a cashier, we were 17. We’ve been married 9 years. He is the best man I know.
3. I have a twin sister. She is my very best friend. She lives 7 hours away so we talk on the phone an embarrassing amount of times a day.
4. I just finally graduated from college 2 weeks ago!!
5. We live next door to my in-laws in a very small Alabama town.
6. We are currently working on an addition to our house and a full kitchen renovation.
7. I am still so sad that YHL quit blogging…
I love your blog and I miss Sherry and her crew so much!
Here is my super secret, I don’t have a crafty bone in my body. I am such a spaz i have a hard time cutting paper straight. I am very creative and can come up with good ideas…Some of the stuff you guys do is awe-inspiring.
First, let me tell you how much I love your blog and admire you and your family. I’ve been a longtime reader and would love to be your friend in real life but I’m a lot less spunky than you.
Ok,
1. I’m 33 years old, married for 71/2 years to my almost journeyman electrician. We have 3 kids, William almost 5, Lena almost 3 and Henry 4 months. We would love to have more… In a little bit.
2. I was born and raised in Southern California and would love to live somewhere else where we could buy a home but family keeps us here. And maybe the lack of humidity too. So we live in a 2 bedroom apartment and it is my hobby trying to live simply without lots of ‘stuff’. It’s hard with a little girl!
3. I’m a convert and member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints. This gives me immeasurable joy and comfort.
4. I would love to go back to school and become a speech pathologist.
5. I would love to travel more but it’s not my ‘season’ in life right now.
6. My first job was at Abercrombie & Fitch- made me detest loud music and perfume.
7. Dinnertime is my enemy but I take it one meal at a time.
8. My husband and I dated and were married within the same year and I love him more now than I ever thought I could.
9. I love vacuume lines. Love. Them. A. Lot.
10. Our family motto is Do Your Best!
Katie- I love the Lord, my husband, family, and friends. I also try to “love others well.” Life is good, and God is good….. I do have a few questions or comments for ya. First of all, Jeremy is one of those guys that gets hotter as he gets older. Had such a baby face back years ago! …….What was your degree in?……Love that you want your boys to follow Jesus and love well. They are blessed to have you as a mama…….Do you ever get to see the Petersiks? Can you reveal if they have “regular” jobs or are they still able to freelance projects? ( if you are allowed to divulge this.) I miss them , like many do and wish them only the best!…….I also love soft pretzels. But how do you eat one daily? I know of Super Pretzels, but otherwise it’s a trip to the mall. In fact, my husband just recently asked about super pretzels, because he was hungry for one and we haven’t had them in ages.!!…. This was a fun post, btw.
Hi! My name is Emily.
#1 I am 36, live in Kansas City, married 8 years next month, and am a stay at home mom to 2 beautiful little girls (6 and 3).
#2 I found your blog because I used to be a die hard Young House Love fan. I still miss them every day.
#3 I am a total foodie and love to try and recreate my favorite restaurant dishes. Sometimes successful sometimes not.
#4 I used to be quite a partier in my late teens and 20’s. I still love a great party but now they consist of lots of kids and it is over around 8 PM.
#5 My husband and I were friends for a long time before dating. It wasn’t until after a day of partying at Mardi Gras (see, I told you) when a friend gave me a piggy-back ride and we went face first into the sidewalk. It was my now husband that took care of me and cleaned my bloody face up and later planted our first kiss on me. That is how our love story began…can’t wait to tell our kids about it one day.
#6 I also LOVE soft pretzels but I could eat Mexican food every single day for every meal. I love it all.
#7 My 3 year old is going through a cussing phase right now which is totally my fault.
#8 I really truly believe that I will win the lottery one day and occassionally buy lottery tickets in pursuit of this dream. You’ve gotta have a dream right?
#9 I exercise almost everyday. I like the feeling of sweating and feeling strong, but I also exercise so I don’t feel bad about my love of food and laziness (I love me some Real Housewives of Anything).
#10 I used to work in sales, first at a radio station and second for a Pharmaceutical Company, prior to becoming a Domestic Goddess. I used to wear suits and high heels everyday which may be why I wear flip flops and yoga pants most days.
hmm… ten things about me.
1. My husband and I met online (match.com to be exact) and I knew on our 3rd date that I was going to marry him. I found out that my 2nd cousin was married to his sister the first time I met his parents at a family dinner. (yes, I can be married to him, and no not by Arkansas rules… we both married into the same family) Nothing like having a guy who has seen you as a gawky teenager also now be your brother-in-law. So strange to explain this to people.
2. I recently became a 1st time mom. And can’t believe I am the mother to that beautiful perfect little girl.
3. I am more that a little obsessed with celebrity gossip. I’ll even admit to clicking on news stories about the Kardashians (even though I couldn’t care less about them, and think they shouldn’t be famous).
4. I talk to myself quite a bit. Most often when I am at the grocery store. It is embarrassing if people start staring. Luckily now my daughter goes with me now, so I can pretend I am talking to a 3 month old and not to myself. 🙂
5. I was a late bloomer in making awesome friends department – I met my best friend at the end of my sophomore year of college and we have been friends for 10 years now. Lucky for me she looked past my crayon yellow hair and loved me anyway. She is now the Godmother to my daughter.
6. I have a shameless collection of Nora Roberts books and devour them like candy every vacation and chance I get. My beautiful built-in bookshelves my handy hubby built me look like a BnB selection. Mostly ALL Nora Roberts and James Patterson books. LOL.
7. I have 3 king Charles cavalier spaniels. Yes, 3!! And don’t let the dog hair stop me for letting them sleep in the bed. Well, okay, I’m down to letting just one sleep in bed. LOL, call me an unfair dog mom, but he is the only one that sleeps by my feet, the rest like spooning! Of course, he is the baby too.
8. I am about to start my own Graphic Design business and more than a little nervous. I just hit the “purchase” button on a brand new laptop, LARGE monitor, and the design programs. Gulp. Here it goes! I have been out of the design business for 4 years now, so here goes nothing.
9. I loved being pregnant and having a baby so much that I am already ready for #2. 🙂
10. If I could go back in time to college and change my major I would actually get that fine arts degree and a business minor instead of the business degree. Or marry for money… LOL, just kidding. I love my fire fighter husband to pieces!
My Turn:
1) My name is Jennifer, I have been married for almost 6 years and have a daughter who is almost 14 months old.
2) I am a high school math teacher and I love every minute of it.
3) My favorite place to travel to is Las Vegas.
4) I have a sister who is a total opposite of me, but is THE BEST sister (and Aunty) in the whole World.
5) Tomorrow we get the keys to our dream house. We have been building/planning since October 2014 and we are so excited to finally get the keys tomorrow!
6) We went to Disney World on my honeymoon and it was so magical, words can’t even describe.
7) I am from Canada and was super excited when Target was going to finally be here, but have a very short time they ending up closing 🙁
8) Our local NHL hockey team is the Winnipeg Jets, formally the Atlanta Thrashers.
9) My favorite food is hotdogs, and I like the ones at Costco.
10) My favorite clothing store for myself is White House Black Market, but again, something that isn’t in Canada. So, I stock up every time we go to the states. (North Dakota is only a few hours away)
Katie, I enjoy your blog and it always brightens my day! Keep it up 🙂
1. I’m Bridget and I’m a 27 year old inner city high school theology and history teacher in the Cincinnati area.
2. I am buying a dumpy little house that needs a lot of love. First thing I’m going to do is rip out the front bushes.
3. I car dance like no one’s business. If my jam comes on, watch out.
4. I rarely wear socks that match.
5. I’m working on international adoption. Even though I’m not married and would eventually like to be, I have this feeling that God wants me to be a mom and I’m ecstatic about that.
6. I love old things. Books, cars, furniture, jewelry. If it has been loved by someone else, I think it tells part of their story.
7. My first job was working at a museum. I carried down a box labeled “trains” one day only to find that it was a human skeleton. I also touched a whole lot of things that aren’t supposed to be touched.
8. I graduated high school young so when I went to grad school for history, I was 20. I taught college classes to people older than I was. It was totally odd.
9. My grandma just turned 91 and is the best person I know.
10. If I could be anything in the whole wide world, I would write soap operas. It would be awesome.
Where have I been? Congrats on the 4th little one to arrive. I have been living under a cloud since January when my life took a turn, not for the worse but I am working on improving my future.
1. My name is Karyn, 40, and a mom of 3 girls. They are my life. 10, 12 and 14 years old. Happily married for 17 years.
2. I just lost my job! I loved it!! I worked for a great company and they announced their closure the day after my 40th birthday! But don’t weep. I discovered how strong I am!! I am going back to school to better myself!
3. I love Tea and my friends. I love going to the coffee shops in our small town and sit for hours talking! Apparently I am good at that according to my 14 year old!
4. I met the love of my live in High school and have been together for 23 years. I am blessed. He is so supportive and caring.
5. I love to putter around and redo furniture. It is a stress reliever for me and my garage is taking the toll, not much room left to stash my thrifty finds.
6. I love to eat! I run 2 miles, 4 times a week in hopes to keep off the extras that I love to indulge in. Can’t have a tea without a scone, or muffin, or donut! LOL!
7. My middle daughter and I love to go for long bike rides on the weekend. We just start riding and you just never know where we will end up. Living in the country is wonderful and we have found some little gems we didn’t even know about as we are still fairly new to the area.
8. My vegetable garden keeps growing and so does my preserve cupboard. I love to garden and preserve food for the winter. It is fun and I can spend quality time with my girls while making a mess in the kitchen.
9. If I was to do it again, I would not buy a fixer upper in this bad of shape as our current house. Every corner leads to another discovery and not always good. LOL! But I love this house and so I keep pushing forward.
10. My yarn stash is half my walk in closet, and hubby just smiles away every time I buy more yarn. But on crazy hat days at the school, the teachers always have good chuckle from the hats I knit or crochet. Glad I can amuse the teachers.
Thanks for blogging. I enjoy your posts. I have finished all my paperwork and can now catch up on your blog. I am so sorry. I have missed so much.
I used to be like you and never kept up with the news. We don’t get a newspaper and we currently don’t even own a television.
Then, I was introduced to theSkimm. It is a daily email newsletter that condenses the top news stories into a few paragraphs. I read it every morning before getting out of bed and can now have adult conversations! Check it out!
http://www.theskimm.com/?r=ce0aab56
1. My first job was as an extra on TV. I was hooked when I “had” to eat cotton candy on the Zipper for a carnival scene…AND THEN THEY PAID ME FOR IT. I soon realized that not all shows were as great, but overall, it was a FANTASTIC “job” for a 9-year-old. It kept me busy until college.
2. I try, but I just cannot cook. Coming from an Italian family, I feel extra guilty about this.
3. I worked in reality tv production for over 10 years and learned from pioneers in the genre. I met my future husband in the field, when I told him I was not the kind of girl who had road flings. Obviously not. We are now married with two kids.
4. I have never felt more vulnerable than when I hit “publish” on my blog.
5. I am addicted to York Peppermint Patties. But they must be the small ones and frozen. Particular much?
6. I love, love, love going to a nursery right after they’ve watered all the plants.
7. I have lived in the land of movie making my whole life, but I still get a surge of excitement when I see something filming or drive onto a studio lot.
8. The best thing I ever did (besides have my kids) was spend the night on an African wildlife preserve. This was not a “tour experience.” This was the real deal. We had a local guide who carried a gun in case of a lion or hippo attack (hippos are actually really brutal. Who knew?) But every time I looked at the guy, he was asleep. Much older now, I realize I was super naive to potential dangers. But because we survived, it was THE BEST THING EVER!! I pray my kids don’t have such crazy ideas…but it’s probably going to come full circle.
9. I own a ridiculous amount of hats, but can’t pull off any of them. I think some people are just hat people and some aren’t. I fall into the latter.
10. I have visited every state in the US, except for Alaska. I hope to check that one off with a glacier cruise…someday. After the swim lessons are paid for, and the tap classes and the preschool and…and…and…
I’m soo not interesting enough for 10 things 😛
1. It’s my birthday today! (I’m Aussie and it’s the morning of the 28th) I am 23.
2. I’ve been married for 13 months. My hubby and I ‘got together’ when I was just shy of 14.
3. We bought our little home just over 3 years ago. It’s not our forever home, but it’s cosy. It’s 12m long and 8m wide…no attic…no basement.
4. We also own our own business. It’s a welding and machining business. We bought it off hubby’s boss almost 6 years ago. It’s both a blessing and a curse.
5. For the first 10 years of my life my dream job was ‘to be a mum’
6. We have now stopped trying not to have a baby. Giving birth freaks me out.
7. I often contemplate life and whether I’ve achieved enough. I don’t live in my dream town, have my dream job or weigh my dream number- but I’m so happy. Is that enough? (Ps, I do have my dream man so maybe he’s all I need!)
8. I LOVE interior design. I wish I lived in a bigger place with a homewares shop so I could work there and set up the shop window displays!
9. I never had the desire to go anywhere overseas, but lately I’m wishing we had time/money to go to a few places…..thailand, new zealand, fiji…all on my list…however, so is Sydney and Perth so maybe I should do Aus first!
10. I check BP, House8Tweaking and iHeart Organizing first thing in the mornings. I miss YHL terribly. Sometimes after I’ve caught up, I’ll go online shopping cause I’m so inspired (but not a handy girl at all) and other times I secretly wish I had a blog to update people of our home…and also I am a million thoughts kinda girl and could save my hubby’s ear! xxx
1. I have been reading your blog since forever!
2. I feel like if we met we would be BFFs…I have a tremendous girl crush!
3. I met my husband when i was 20 at work…then realized a month later we had had a college class together a year earlier.
4. I have really fast labor…my first was 3.5 hrs and my second was 1.5…I would love to have another but my husband is all done.
5. I was terrified of having a normal labor with my second daughter.
6. I am often lonely and can’t seem to make mommy friends to save my life regardless of how many I “hit” on…hey, that’s a fancy stroller you got there.
7. I’ve had 3 knee surgeries and am flirting with a 4th.
8. I wish I didn’t live in CA.
9. I will say yeah maybe if someone suggests something I don’t want to listen to.
10. I want to learn to be happy and content with what I have, not more.
Hi Katie! My name is Janis (aka Mimi)! I’m a long time reader of your blog, and probably the oldest!
1. I am 58 yrs old, mother of two beautiful girls, and Mimi to five wonderful grandchildren.
2. I met my husband on a church youth retreat when I was 13 and he was 15. I dated one other guy, but my husband never dated anyone but me! My Dad had to go with us to get our marriage license because I was only 17! We have been married 40 years, and he is still the one! I, like you, lovingly refer to my husband as My Boyfriend!
3. I stayed home when my girls were little, then taught preschool for 10 years, and recently retired after a long career as an office manager in a Radiation Oncology clinic.
4. I spend my days now caring for my youngest grandchild, Bristol Jane, who is 4 months old, while her Mommy works as a designer in the hospitality industry. I am SO proud of her and love to stay in the hotels she designs! My other daughter, and huge source of pride, is a high school teacher who recently earned her PhD (while working and raising her 2 kids and keeping her marriage intact)!
5. I am Georgia born and Georgia raised and bleed red and black. Go Dawgs!
6. I cook Sunday dinner every week for my family – Husband, both daughters & husbands, and 5 grands. I do most of the cooking on Saturday, and then go to early church service on Sunday so I can get home to get the dinner on the table before the masses arrive! I have wonderful memories of Sunday dinners at my grandparent’s house with all of my siblings and cousins, etc. I really want to re-create those memories for my grands!
7. I am a true Southern girl – love Jesus, my family, sweet tea, fried chicken & fried okra. Manners are big. We say please and thank you, ain’t, y’all, and ma’am!
8. I love dark chocolate, bacon, and I am a recovering chipaholic. I can eat a whole bag of any chips in a flash!
9. I try to walk and I love Zumba! Feeling healthy is important, being skinny not so much (which is good since I have never been skinny nor will I ever!)
10. I was born in Atlanta, and have lived all over the metro – Decatur, Stone Mtn, Clarkston, Riverdale, Douglasville, Stockbridge, McDonough, and have settled in Griffin for the last 9 years to be close to our grands!
Sorry this is too wordy! I really enjoy reading about your cute family and all of your projects!
1. My name is Candice and I’m the third person ot respond with the name of Candice, Candace or Candis.
2. I’m 57 years old and old enough to be the mom of most, if not all, of your readers!
3. I have an identical twin named Alice and we live together and have all our lives Neither of us has ever been married or had children.
4. My time is my own and I love reading blogs, especiall Bower Power and Young House Love, until YHL closed down. Boo hoo!
5. I am a 4th generation Arizona native. It’s practically unheard of to be born in Arizona (so everyone says), so to be a 4th generation native is really bizarre.
6. I am an amateur geneaologist and love researching my family tree. I’m just sad that both my grandmothers have passed and I can’t ask them questions that would help.
7. I have worked as a legal secretary for my older brother (an attorney) for nearly 30 years and we’ve never had a cross word between us. He’s the best!
8. I never knew I had an ugly kitchen until I started seeing all these beautiful kitchens on blogs and on HGTV. That wound up costing me an arm and a leg to redo my kitchen so now I think I have a pretty kitchen too.
9. I am very sentimental. I cannot watch old home movies without crying.
10. I have attended 2 1/2 years at a university and 3 years at a junior college (courtr reporting program) and don’t have a degree.
Well, that’s it. Keep blogging Katie and I lwill keep reading.
Bwahaha! #4 me too!!!
1. I am 33 years old, I’ve been with my husband for eight years and we have one (very active) son! 🙂
2. I met my husband at a house warming party, my roommate told me he was “off-limits” because she thought she might like him….apparently I’m not a very good listener.
3. I’ve been reading Bower Power for a very, very long time, but this is the first time I have ever commented.
4. I studied in Edinburgh, Scotland for a year during university. It was SO.MUCH.FUN!
5. I have a fluffy gray schnoodle, named Murray.
6. I desperately want to be a runner, but it hurts my knees terribly so I am working on my overall fitness before trying again.
7. I cannot stand the smell (or taste) of cantaloupe, really most melons are gross to me but cantaloupe is the worst.
8. I love traveling!
9. My day is not complete without a (huge) mug of English Breakfast Tea.
10. I currently live in China.
1. My name is Erin Malecki and I’ve been married to my husband for a year and half. (I sent you our “newlywed” Christmas card last year) :0)
2. I’ve lived in Illinois just outside of Chicago my whole life
3. I’ve been reading decorating and diy blogs since 2009 and have always wanted to start one but from 2009-2013 it’s a little hard to have a blog about your house when you live with your parents. I know own a house (since August 2913) with my hubby but haven’t pulled the trigger yet. I have a blog name and a blogger address. But haven’t posted anything yet. I work full time so it’s hard to take pictures during day light.
4. My jaw cracks every time I yawn.
5. Whenever I bite into an altoid, I sneeze.
6. I used to do Irish dance for over 15 years growing up. I stopped in high school when I got too busy with other activities. And yes, I still remember the jig. (It helps that my cousin Kevin was in riverdance)
7. If I could eat one thing for the rest of my life, it would be cheese pizza. Or just cheese.
8. I met my husband through a co-worker at the Def Leppard / Poison concert in 2009. We “walked” into our reception to “Rock show” by Blink-182. The lyrics say “I feel in love with the girl at the rock show….” Our wedding party walked into “let’s get rocked” by def Leppard. Lol
9. I like to say “lol” a lot.
10. I was on the Bozo Show when I was six and won a game (not the buckets). When Bozo asked my name, I got shy (which doesn’t happen to me) and said “Air-when”. Lol instead of just saying my name regularly I said it in a baby voice. We still have it on type.
I’m on a cell phone so writing out 10 things would cause my thumb to cramp. but I had a question, what kind of soft pretzels do you like? Like yes, the ones at the mall are so good, but have you found any that you like that you can make at home? The frozen super pretzels are just ehh to me, and even that’s after coating the in butter and romano cheese.
Love this….
1. I’m 45 years old who for the past year thought I was 46 and would be turning 47 in September. So excited when I realized I gained a year!
2. I met my hubby when I was just 19. We met at my brothers and his sisters wedding. They are no longer married but we will be celebrating our 25th next year. I pursued him and can’t begin to tell you how much I love that man.
3. I’m a momma of two boys ages 21 and 16. I always knew I would be a mom and have enjoyed every last minute.
4. We have moved 8 times and have lived in 5 states. My husband retired from the Navy three years ago after serving for 28 years. We miss the military and all of the friends we have made throughout the years.
5. Ever since I was in elementary school I knew I wanted to have a career in home decor/design. A friends mother once kicked me out of their house for rearranging her bedroom. She told me I couldn’t come back if I were to that again. I went back but the furniture stayed the same.
6. I have held a lot of jobs over the years. Retail, hostess, fast food, childcare, teacher assistant, lunch lady. My currant job as a gift basket builder at my local farmers market is fun but I’m still dreaming of having a career in design and hoping to write a blog.
7. I hate staying at hotels. I have been known to sleep in the car if I feel the room is not up to par and I travel with a sleeping bag, Lysol and Clorox wipes.
8. I love decorating with anything that is old and has a story. Old tool boxes, scales and ironstone are some of my favorites.
9. I enjoy painting old furniture and giving it new life.
10. I’m totally addicted to going to auctions.
I like to do these things:)
1 I love to bake (but not cook really). I mainly like to do cookies and pies.
2. I met my hubs on the work recreational soccer team.
3. I am a definite morning person.
4. I’m pretty bad at diy projects- I just enjoy reading your blog 🙂
5. I stay at home right now but I’m kind of burnt out on it. Id LOVE to work PT but I’ve had no luck in my field so far.
6. I have always wanted to travel to Iceland. I think my hubby and I will finally go next year and I’m so excited.
7. I love to garden – but I wouldnt say I’m especially good at it.
8, my favorite movie- unquestioningly- is the goonies.
9. I love hot weather the best. I loathe being cold. It drives me nuts in the summer when the AC is cranked up super high inside of buildings.
10. I just ordered 9 cubic yards for my home and it was an epic mistake. I hope I never see another shred of mulch avian.
Hey everyone – here is the low down on me – J.
1 – I met my husband in ninth grade. He was in love with me and I didn’t give him the time of day. We finally started dating in 11th grade and have been together ever since.
2 – I love kids but I probably won’t ever have any. I think I am meant for something else. One day I’ll figure out what that is.
3 – My hubs has a motto – Harris don’t half-a$&. Our last name is Harris. Anytime we do a DIY project and I get frustrated he reminds me of our motto. It doesn’t help the frustration but it does help me stay focused on doing it right.
4 – As a teacher I have summers off. I love to go on adventures during this time. Sometimes this means wandering around in the woods behind my house. Imagine how this looks to the neighbors. This summer I have two legit adventures planned – one in Vegas (first time going!) and one in Colorado.
5 – I love to read but I don’t often read. Writing this is a good reminder I need to read more. My love of reading is shown with my book obsession. We used to have over a 1,000 but I paired down and now I’d guess we have 400ish. Maybe I’ll count later.
6 – I like outdoor stuff – like hiking and kayaking. I love photographing when I do outdoor stuff.
7 – I like to paint. I recently learned to stretch my own canvas. Found out it is much easier as a two person job.
8 – I am a “scanner” or a “serial hobbyist”. I’ll be really hot and heavy into embroidering for two weeks and then for a couple of days I’ll be into arm knitting, and then for a couple months I’ll be into paper folding. True story.
9 – I want to finish writing a book someday. I started one recently and it very quickly because what would be a cheesy love story. They say write what you know – right?
10 – I am so clumsy that one time I turned too quickly around a corner and bashed my face into a door frame. I’ve also opened cabinets into my face. Often run into coffee tables. Fell down my stairs (well only half way, thank goodness). It’s literally out of a movie.
Cheers,
Jessica
ok, I’ll play as well!
1. My name is Amber, I am 29 and live in Michigan
2. I am on an adventure to complete 30 things before I am 30, which i turn march of 2016.
3. After 9 years of marriage, my life got jolted when I found out some awful details about my husband, resulting in a divorced, I am crushed.
4. I have a great relationship with Jesus, and I am forever grateful for his unconditional love.
5. I am the proud mama of 2 white felines… Miss Sophia & Miss Stella are the best and often make appearances on my instagram feed.
6. I am an aspiring writer, and I love to follow and read blogs. I think I’ve been reading Bower Power for the 6 years you’ve been writing it. Besides casually writing in my blog (documenting my 30 before 30), I hope to write a devotional, book, and a song.
7. I love crossfit
8. I hope to move out of the Mitten state and back to the Carolinas. I am a southern girl at heart!
9. My favorite vegetable is an onion, great news for my future husband.
10. Someday I want to attend culinary school, but I don’t want to work in a restaurant as a chef.
1. I am 29 years old, married to a biologist, and a mother to a 6 month old baby boy named Mason.
2. I still find it unbelievable that I finally have the ability to say “I am a mother”.
3. I refer to all the bloggers I follow as my “blog friends”. My husband thinks I’m a little bit crazy and reminds me all the time that I have never even met any of them. With that being said, I made my husband promise that if YHL does a book signing for book #2 within 2 hours of our house, he has take me to it as my 30th birthday present 🙂
4. For the last two years I have asked my husband to take me on a date to Ikea (which is 2 hours away) for my birthday. We eat swedish meatballs for dinner and he is not allowed to complain during the entire trip.
5. Growing up I used to tell everyone that I wanted at least 4 children, maybe more. Everyone always told me that I would change my mind after I got older and had my first child. I had my first baby 6 mos. ago and I still want at least 3 more! Now people tell me I will change my mind after baby #2… I’m pretty sure I won’t 😉
6. Katie, I often show my husband adorable pictures that you post of your family to get him excited about having a big family of our own.
7. My favorite ice cream is Graeters coconut chocolate chip. When I go grocery shopping I only buy one pint of it at a time because I would have no self control if there was more in the house. However, I sometimes make a special trip back to the grocery store about half way through the week to buy another pint.
8. My husband is a biologist and collects all kinds of animal skulls, dead bugs in shadow boxes, etc. I have spent a lot of time incorporating his favorite dead things into our home decor and I think I have done a pretty good job!
9. I work as a case manager for adults and children with developmental disabilities. It is a career that I have loved and has taught me so much, but now that I am a mom I want nothing more than to be a stay at home mother. I cry about it in my car at least once a week…
10. My hair has a reddish tint, but I dye it to be more red. I usually get away with people thinking it is my natural color because I have green eyes and freckles. My son’s hair has been coming in pretty red. I really hope that it stays that color because it will make my fake red hair seem even more believable.
1) I met my husband when I was 15. My best friend had the biggest crush on him and pointed him out to me one day in a ski club meeting. I asked if she was going to talk to him and she said ‘omg I could never!’ and I basically said, well, you snooze you lose. I walked over and said “do you know how to ski?” We’ve been together 12 years, married for 6.
2) I lost my best friend that day…
3) my first job was at mcdonalds. I worked my way up into assistant manager training! I loved that job so much even though working at Mcd’s is basically a joke to most people.
4) I went to catholic school my whole life until my senior year when I rebelled and transferred into the public school without telling my family or friends. That was interesting…
5) I spent a summer abroad and worked on a sun dried tomato farm. I LOATHE sun dried tomatoes to this day.
6)I eloped and got married on a beach in Jamaica with 2 locals as our witnesses. Best day of my life!
7)I experienced 2 attempted abductions as a child and spend my days in a constant state of paranoia.
8) I hate watching movies. I think it is boring to sit still that long.
9) I have pretty wicked anxiety and experience panic attacks in crowded places yet I live in a huge city. It’s a daily struggle.
10) I think grass fed animals taste better.
1 i am in love with Jesus ,he is my hope ! 2 i am a 29 yr old mom to four children youngest is 2 weeks old. 3.i love reading home remodeling and decorating blogs but really dont enjoy decorating my own house. 4 but ….i enjoy making my house clean and cozy and organized. 5 i love love Love my first cup of coffee in the morning. 6 born raised and still living in a small ohio town and big cities intrigue me and yet i would not want to live anywhere else. 7. I was 14 when i first saw my husband who was friends with my sister and liked him instantly ,i was always the lil sis to him until i was 17 he finally asked me out we fell in love and have now been married 9 years he is quite honestly the best daddy and husband i kno of. 8. For the babe just born to us we didnt have a name going into the hosp my husband came up with a name whilst i was in labor i loved it and that was that. .9 i love cooking but despise baking. 10.my children have taught me more in life just by me being their mom then anyone could ever have ,and i am so thankful that i get to be their mom and equally mindful that it is me and my husbands responsibility to instill in them the Love of Jesus and guide their lil souls to Him.
I will leave you with just this one nugget: I have 25,561 unread emails. I took care of this once, but old habits die hard. I do get embarrassed when people see that number on my phone icon!
1. I have been with Brad since I was 20 years old – he was at my 21st birthday and my next birthday is #37…but we are not married
2. We just had our first child this year and if I had known how much easier it is than people make it sound we would have had children A LONG time ago!
3. I prefer the company of animals more than people most of the time
4. I can read a 300+ page book in less than a day
5. I can give detailed presentations in front of strangers but meeting people in small groups terrifies me
6. I love going to Open Houses – I love seeing inside peoples homes so when I am not going to Open Houses I am reading home blogs
7. Bower Power is one of the only blogs I check everyday since YHL left blog world
8. I love taking pictures of my pets and now my child everyday – I actually got up at 11:50 PM one night because I realized I hadn’t taken her picture that day and didn’t want to skip a day
9. I only like and will go out of my way for a certain kind of ice – I call it bunny poop ice (the hospital usually has it and Circle K)
10. I love thinking I can be crafty and DIY – I am not – I fall under the Pinterest Fail section
*tear* I miss Sherry (and John and Clara and Teddy and Burger)
Just wanted to say I love your blog! Your honesty is so refreshing! Good luck with sweet boy #4.
Oh this is fun!
1. I am a 45 year old mother of 4 kids and 3 dogs.
2. I have been married for almost 20 years.
3. I have a daughter with autism who is just ridiculously awesome.
4. I love junk food.
5. I am a really fast reader.
6. When I was 17 years old I had a 17 pound tumor removed from my abdomen.
7. My husband is my most favorite person on this earth, EVER.
8. I want to take a trip with my family to Mt. Rushmore.
9. I LOVE coffee and am not human till after my second cup.
10. I love Jesus with all my heart.
Awwww!!! I miss Sherry
Hi Katie – what a fun post!
1. My name is Leisa – with an ‘e’. It’s pronounced like Lisa, but my parents thought they’d make it a bit different. I have had to explain/spell this to people my whole life. I also have a difficult to spell last name. Joy. (But I actually love that my name is so unique).
2. I have been with my fiancé for nearly 11 years. After 4 years engaged we are finally getting married in our home town in January. I can’t wait to change my last name!
3. He proposed on the ice skating rink in Central Park in New York City. I had no idea. It was magical.
4. I am from New Zealand. I have lived in South Lake Tahoe, CA and spent the last 6 years living in London, England. We came home to NZ for good at Christmas.
5. I LOVE to travel! We have now visited over 45 countries. We spent 3 months last year wandering around South America.
6. I am glad to be home so I can “play house”. I love decorating and can’t wait to move back into our home and renovate it.
7. I dream of being a home blogger myself but “never have the time”. I have no idea how to start.
8. YHL was the first blog I ever read/heard of. I miss them terribly. But that’s how I found you. 🙂 I have been reading your blog for years. Please never stop!
9. I could eat Mexican food every day for the rest of my life. Love. It.
10. I constantly flip my pillow in the night to get the cold side. Weirdly, my fiancé does the same thing.
1. I live in Cape Town, South Africa
2. Cuddling with my children in the mornings is proof of heaven.
3. I am 40 and dream of our retirement – we have SO many plans.
4. I worry we may not get to do all the things we plan.
5. I worry about getting cancer or losing a family member.
6. I dislike people saying ‘what are you doing on Saturday’ and not saying ‘please help me with something etc’
7. Be content is hard when you really want a perfect house.
8. Powerful women inspire me. Women can be so kind and uplifting (yet we so often aren’t)!
9. I wish I could tell my mom more that I love her.
10. I can’t wait to travel the world with my husband. One small bag and off we go…
xx
1. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico.
2. I moved to the East Coast after college for a work opportunity and never thought I would stay here.
3. I met my husband in 2007 on Yahoo personals; I wasn’t looking for a husband, but as soon as I met him in person I just knew he was the one I would marry. He had the same feeling.
4. We got married in 2011 and we have a 2 year old daughter and a baby boy on the way! (due in July)
5. I’m a true introvert but I also love being around people.
6. I love reading blogs.
7. I’ve always wanted 3 kids (I am one of 3).
8. I lost my Mom to cancer in my 20’s and I deal with a lot of grief, I still find it very hard to ‘move on’.
9. I am not a very good housekeeper, but I wish I was.
10. I LOL’d when I read that you could never do the Atkins diet because I am the same way.
I’ve loved reading through these comments!
1. I live in Perth, Australia
2. I am a FIFO wife, which is a common term here which Prob means nothing to you, my husband is a fly in – fly out worker on a 4 weeks on 4 weeks off roster. So he is away for 4 weeks at a time & then home solid for 4 weeks, it’s great because he only works 6 months of the year and we get quality time, although it’s downside is he is away 6 months of the year.
3. I have 3 beautiful daughters all under the age of 5.
4. My first job was at Subway and I used to blow all my pay (it wasn’t much) in about an hour after getting it on clothes.
5. I have a serious obsession with clothes and homewares. Although I can never shop for both on the same day. It has to be what I’m in the mood for and only one or the other.
6. We went to Las Vegas for a friends wedding 3 years ago and I won $1000 in the first hour and spent it all on a Louis Vuitton bag, I didn’t win again, but gosh it was fun and I would NEVER spend that money on a bag ever.
7. We literally conceived our first daughter on our 1 year wedding anniversary, even though we had been trying for 5 months prior. And then it happened again with our 3rd daughter, so our girls birthdays are only 3 days apart.
8. People think I’m extremely organised.. They don’t want to open any cupboards in my house
9. I recently went back to work part time to try it out and see if I was ready, I lasted 1 month and quit to spend all my time with my kids again, hats off to working mothers!!!
10. I love to travel, we have been to a lot of Asia, a little bit of America A little bit of Europe. Although since having kids we seem to just travel to Bali every year because it’s Easier option with kids.
Thanks for asking 🙂
1. My husband Rob and I have been married for over 11 years. We were introduced by my sister and brother-in-law. He and I are opposites in many ways, but it seems to work out pretty good for us generally.
2. I love the Lord with all my heart and seek His will daily!
3. My first real job (babysitting doesn’t count) was as a lifeguard at my college’s pool. It was a pretty quiet pool. I was often on duty when the swim team practiced so I got to do my homework since they didn’t really need a lifeguard. Plus, it was pretty decent money for a college job.
4. Ever since I graduated from high school I have wanted to move out of Michigan. I love warmer weather and think I am a southern girl at heart. But, moving isn’t going to happen so I am settling for traveling as much as possible.
5. I drive a Ford F250 diesel crew cab truck and I love it!! A truck had been my dream vehicle since high school. I have driven my truck for almost 10 years and can’t imagine not driving a truck for my main vehicle. I also owned a Grand Prix for a few years that I drove back and forth to school and work because of the better fuel mileage but missed my truck when driving the car.
6. Even though I’m in my 30’s I still eat way too much candy. Some of my favorites are Swedish Fish, Airhead Bites, Mini Chewy Sweetarts, Reese’s Pieces, and licorice. But in reality there isn’t too much candy that I don’t like.
7. I love to read. Quite often I’m drawn to romance novels but I also read my fair share of Christian fiction and nonfiction. I’ve been reading a lot of military nonfiction lately.
8. Although not a real popular sport around here, I have been in love with the rodeo since high school. I love going to rodeos when they have them close enough to me. Unfortunately, that means I typically only see 1 or 2 a year. I even dreamed of working for the PBR when I was in college and will still watch it whenever I can on TV. Someday I am going to make it to Vegas to watch the PBR or NFR finals. I would love to try barrel racing someday as well.
9. I am quiet and shy by nature and don’t talk a lot when in newer surroundings. But, if I know you well and am comfortable I talk quite a bit.
10. I really don’t like talking on the phone. I don’t know why but it has never been something I enjoyed. I much prefer to email, text, or talk in person.
I loved reading this post! It’s so fun getting to know you better, and I loved seeing that photo from 2006. Here’s 7 things about me (because 7 is my favorite number):
1. We just bought an old farm house on 60 acres. Our first project was ripping up the carpet in three rooms to uncover the most beautiful hardwood floors underneath. I had no idea they were under there, and I LOVE it. I have so many rooms I want to redo, but I’m not as DIY as you. Wanna come for a visit and help me put up drywall?
2. This is a year of traveling! My husband is stationed in Korea this year, so I got to go visit him and we were able to travel to Hawaii. We are planning to also travel to Palau, Australia, and hopefully China and New Zealand this year too.
3. I love collecting greeting cards to send to people just because.
4. I have a goal of having a bouquet of fresh flowers in my house at all times this year.
5. I love reading Christian fiction books. Especially on the beach or by the pool — basically anywhere with the sun shining on me.
6. I think I should have been born in the south. I LOVED living in Georgia. I love seafood, sweet tea, BBQ, the beach, the live oak trees, and the accents. If I could get my family to move south, I’d live there permanently for sure.
7. I can’t wait to be a mommy. Whenever people used to ask me, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I always answered, “a mom”. And that answer hasn’t changed. (It’s a little hard to start a family when your husband lives 7,000 miles away though.)
Hi! My name is Amanda, I’m 39 and live in Central MD.
1. I met my husband through MySpace when I emailed him to get some info on a city I was moving to but didn’t know anything about. We’ve now been married for 3+ years and together for almost 7.
2. I have 18 aunts and uncles (mom has 8 brothers and sisters, all married, dad has one brother, married)
3. My parents named me Amanda so that they could call me Mandy. They really liked the Barry Manilow song by that name.
4. I know a ridiculous number of Barry Manilow songs. And I love them.
5. I used to be a sideline reporter on Fox Soccer Channel
6. I cannot turn down french fries. I <3 them so much.
7. I, like Kristen Bell, cry if I'm anywhere outside of 3-7 on an emotional scale (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5jw3T3Jy70)
8. My husband and I battled infertility for 30+ months and have decided to stop trying to have kids. It's hard.
9. I love watching TV shows in a marathon. There are very few shows that I start watching the first time they are on. I wait 2 or 3 years and then watch them all at once.
10. I miss Young House Love. My sister lives in Richmond and I still hold out hope that someday I'll just bump into Sherry somewhere on the street.
1. Hi. My name is Amanda, I’m 32.
2. My husband and I have been best friends since 2001 and married since 2008. It took 4 (almost 5) years to convince him to date me and another 3 for him to realize God really did want us to be married to each other.
3. We have a 3 year old girl named Lila who is sweeter than honey when she wants to be, the rest of the time she’s really something to contend with.
4. I ended that sentence in a preposition and it’s driving me crazy, but I don’t want to put in the effort to rearrange the wording because I’m exhausted. Re:hell on wheels listed above.
5. God is #1 above all in our lives.
6. By day I work for a non-profit helping cancer patients meet financial needs and my husband works in oil exploration. By night/weekend we work with our junior high at church developing a praise band and sharing the talents God has graciously given to us.
7. Children laughing is the best sound in the world. A close 2nd to that is hearing my 3 y.o. sing praises to Jesus!
8. I CRAVE interior decorating and DIY! My husband doesn’t understand it and thinks furniture/pictures should never change or move. (This completely baffles me!) We’ve had to compromise a lot in this area.
9. My favorite gifts to receive are tools and gift certificates for a massage. My favorite things to give are handmade.
10. My college degree is a Bachelor of Behavioral Studies(emphasis in studio art), but my job is all about numbers, bookkeeping, budgeting, running reports from a database and keeping inventory. I love both sides of these things. It’s very confusing to most people that I look at numbers all day long and go home to paint and sculpt in my free time.
1) I first met my husband in 2000 at a high school football game. He was a senior and was covering it for their school paper. I was a freshman at a different high school, but went with my cousin (she was a senior) because no one else would go with her and it was their high school homecoming game and her friends who graduated the year before would be there and she wanted to see them. Patrick walked by and she said “Oh Sara, this is my friend, Patrick.” Somehow, despite my braces and glasses, busy eyebrows and overalls I had on, he was smitten, and asked my cousin to invite me on group outings–the movies, game nights. We talked on AOL IM …then he did something to upset her and I stopped talking to him. Then when I was a senior in high school (almost a graduate–it was May) he found me again through an email forward the same cousin sent out. I signed into the email address I never use (an AOL one) and he IM’d me! Of course I remembered him…we went on a group date w/ my cousin (and her now husband) and then on a single date (just us two) after that. Love at first sight, I like to think, and without AOL, we wouldn’t be together. We dated for five years (two years long distance since we went to different colleges) got engaged Mother’s Day Weekend, the weekend before I graduated from college (he asked my parents and everything) and we’ve been married for six years and have a 2-year-old boy named Luke 🙂
I will not share anything else since that was so long. Thanks for letting me share my story, and thanks for writing this blog. I miss Young House Love so much, and I also miss Peas and Thank You (not sure if anyone else read that blog, but man do I miss Mama Pea)!
Janis- you sound delightful! Your family is certainly blessed to have you as their Mimi!
Love this post! What kind/brand of pretzels do you keep on hand?
1) Love Jesus, church, my hubby, my 2 kids and my beagle, Gideon.
2) I don’t have much time for reading blogs but I faithfully check in with bowerpower, iheartorganizing, and YHL when they were active.
3) I’ve had a blog for 4 years but have never written a single post…I don’t think I’m thick-skinned enough for rude people. One day I’m hoping to take withoutamaid live…maybe I’ll turn off comments.
4) Never had cable TV in my life and I’m 35.
5) GA has been my home all my life but I hope to retire in North Carolina mountains, preferably in Lake Junaluska which I consider to be the prettiest place on earth.
6) I do NOT believe in reincarnation, but if I did I would have been a big Italian mama because I dream and crave Italian food.
7) I’ve never been into cars, I could care less. Looks good and drives great, then I’m happy. God forbid Im ever a witness and have to describe a getaway car “Brown, car, might have had 4 doors?”
8) I’ve always wanted to speak another language. I made the mistake of taking French, German and Spanish all at same time in school…it turned to a mixed gumbo in my head, you should hear me count to 20! (My Hubby’s hobby is languages and he speaks over 20 so whenever we travel I know I’ll get by.)
9) I still don’t know what I want to be…I’ve had many jobs over the years and being a mom is my favorite by far but I never finished college and I really want to but I still don’t know God’s plan for a career.
10) I love creating: meals, quilts, shelves, gardens, bouquets, songs, games for my little Sunday school class kids, spreadsheets, schedules, order to messes and most of all list. I never cross out list, I highlight items I completed…so much satisfaction.
Such a lovely idea for a post! Thanks for sharing! So interesting to read everyones comments too!
http://en.emoi-emoi.com/
1. I have eaten squirrel, frog legs and rabbit. I didn’t like any of it.
2. I’ve never been in a car accident that I caused. I did hit a deer once, but it literally ran into ME. (Well, my car.)
3. I had 5 pregnancies in 2.5 years that resulted in 3 healthy children. My first two are 14 months apart and my second two are 18 months apart. I got severe PPD but always felt like someone was missing. 5 years later we had our last sweet pea, and she completed our family.
4. I dream of having a vacation home at the beach.
5. I am infatuated with all things Carolina. My favorite author is Dorothea Benton Frank.
6. I have never been in the hospital (besides to have a baby) or had any surgeries or broken bones.
7. I am turning 37 this year, but can’t quite believe I’m that old. I still feel like I’m 25 (except for my broken body, but that’s another story.)
8. My husband and I got engaged after only 10 days of dating. We grew up in the same church, but didn’t really know each other. We’ve been married for 11 years and still going strong.
9. I love, love, love, love babies. Especially newborns. My dream job would be to work in a NICU and get to do kangaroo care with all the babies when their parents couldn’t be there.
10. I have a goal of making a quilt for all 4 of my kiddos but I don’t even know how to thread my sewing machine.
Oh, I miss me some Petersiks. How are they doing? Would love an update! Cue the tears.
Love this idea for a post. You rock KB, you rock!
I read the skimm too!! I was going to suggest that to Katie! :o) I look forward to it in my inbox every morning at work.
Love the idea of having your readers do the same as you!
1. I too have been reading your blog for years! 36 year old married, mother of two (one of which we went through fertility treatments for and the other who we dub our VEGAS baby! Not joking!) who…. LOVES ME SOME DIY!
2. My three boys are my absolute world! (gotta count the hubby you know!) The rest of my family falls in at a close second! I cherish the love of family. There’s nothing greater! I have one biological sister, two step siblings, a half sister and a brother that my father adopted (who happens to be a PASTOR!) To me these are merely technical terms, just trying to give you a glimpse into my very blended family.
3. I HATE SNAKES! Like run and scream kind of hate. They give me the goose bumps just thinking of them.
4. I caught my husband once in the middle of the night staring down the barrel of a BB gun in his boxer briefs trying to kill a mouse that was behind the washer! I laugh every. single. time. I think of that story. Why is it men can hear a mouse when they’re sound asleep but can’t hear someone talking to them when they’re staring at each other? Men…….
5. I wished before we had children that my husband and I would have moved out of our small town and to a scenic place. Now raising our boys, I wouldn’t choose to live elsewhere! Love me some small town living!
6. If I could quit my full time paying job, I would volunteer all available time I had while the kiddos are in school, to my community and taking pictures for cancer kiddos at our nearby Children’s Hospital. Volunteering=LIFE PASSION!
7. Besides my full time job at a medical office, my husband has a turf care business (that he runs full time), we also cater, I take pictures and do a little revamping of rusty, dusty and vintage things four times a year. People always call us crazy, but we call it “staying busy”.
8. We make “junking” a family affair. The looks on my boys’ face when they find something they know I will love, is so priceless. I hope they will remember our adventures for years to come.
9. I dislike cooking but LOVE baking……I think it has something to do with my love of all things sweet.
10. I am a state certified Firefighter. Something I don’t have time to do right now (sniff sniff), but I will definitely give back once my kiddos start doing their own thing.
Thanks again for inviting us to do this! Enjoy the summer and that new baby boy you’re all gearing up to meet!
Much love –
Michelle
How fun! It’s like an old school Myspace quiz!
1. My name is Bannon. I have to spell my first and last name ALL the time and it amazes me how much people mess it up.
2. I was named after a hobo.
3. I am married to a sailor in the Navy. His job takes us all over the country, but we have been lucky to move near family with each move.
4. Dr. Pepper is my everything.
5. If I were in a beauty pageant, my only talent would be saying the alphabet backwards or 50 states in order. I was asked not to participate in choir or drama because I am SUCH a bad singer and have zero rhythm!
6. My daughter is a sophomore in high school and I am panicking about her leaving college. I am coping by Pinteresting ideas for her dorm room.
7. One of my bucket list items is to be in the audience of a talk show, game show, or judge show.
8. I spelled my daughter’s middle name wrong (different than I had planned) and didn’t realize it until she was 1 year old.
9. I love true crime novels, tv shows and movies. I am totally fascinated.
10. I am 36 but feel like a teenager in my head. I am waiting for the day my adult brain kicks in.
1. I’m a horrible procrastinator so I’m joining in on this list so I can put off other things. 😉
2. I (very) briefly worked in a chocolate factory when I was younger. Think Lucille Ball and that one episode – that was me.
3. I love it when people leave their curtains open at night so I can peek in different houses while driving and see what other people are up to.
4. Large bodies of water scare me because I hate not knowing what’s lurking below.
5. I was hospitalized at 25 when I was severely depressed – it was the turning point in my life.
6. I started dating my husband a month after leaving the hospital – never would have happened otherwise and then found out he had tried to talk to me a year previously, but I didn’t seem interested. Ha ha!
7. I could live off on bread, cheese and wine and chocolate. All I need.
8. I love road trips and hate flying – I get claustrophobic and air sick.
9. I’m a shy introvert with very few friends, and while I’d like more, the whole process seems daunting.
10. I hate winter and being cold, but want to go to Antarctica one day.
Ten would be too much, but here are a few:
1. I love your blog! I’ve developed a severe addiction to DIY blogs, but I am not much of a DIYer. It’s kind of like reading about diets and exercise for me. :p
2. I love romance novels and I blog about them. Not in a serious, monetizing kind of way because I don’t want it to be work.
3. I have two kids and a career and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I tried the SAHM thing and just couldn’t do it.
They are great! They still post on Instagram occasionally so I recommend following them there!
xo – kb
So funny. My wil name is Kristy & her husband is Brad. She also took a daily pic of her son for his 1st year of life.
I’m Erin, and I probably won’t make it to 10 things!
1. Reading all the other reader comments has been so fun! We need a big ‘ol Bower Power reader party! It would be a blast!
2. I met my husband online. He is the best chance I’ve ever taken.
3. We have one little boy. Ive always wanted either all boys or a boy and then two girls. Picky much?
4. I work at a mental hospital, for the criminally insane. It’s incredible the things that can become “normal” to you.
5. I want to live out of state (CA) so badly, but I can’t imagine being without our family.
6. I’ve always thought funny people were the most attractive and coolest people. I’ve never thought of myself as funny, and wish I was.
7. I get giddy when a blogger I follow on instagram likes a photo of mine.
8. Im so excited for Bower baby 4!!
Chiming in from over the pond:
1 I’m Kate, & I live near a small seaside town on the East coast of England.
2 Currently on my 2nd – & last!- husband, we have 3 kids, 2 boys & a girl, my crowning achievements.
3 My husband was best buds with my brother when we met, my brother objected to him asking me out, now we are estranged, pretty sad, he’s my only sibling.
4 I have been a stay at home mum for 20 years (kinda – see next item) but have just resumed my career, working at an opticians.
5 I’m a qualified Ballroom & Latin dance teacher, & have been self employed while bringing up the kids.
6 I’ve always been terrified of spiders, but I think I’m getting better with age (I’m 46).
7 Living on one salary has meant all our holidays have been camping ones, around Britain and France, but the memories are priceless. Now that my elder 2 kids are away at University & I’m working, we plan to take our youngest somewhere a bit more exotic – it will be his first time on a plane!
8 I have zero will power when it comes to chocolate & biscuits (cookies to you yanks) This is sadly reflected in my waistline, but it’s oh, so worth it.
9 I’m currently reading all of Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels in order (again) as my personal little tribute to one of my favourite authors. My other favourites are Nevil Shute & Georgette Heyer. Sometimes I have little phases where I try to read those ‘proper literature’ books we’re all supposed to read before we die, but really I have to face the fact – I ain’t that highbrow. My favourite book of all time is Watership Down, my hubby had to buy me another copy as mine eventually fell apart.
10 My 8 year old cat has only just condescended to start sitting on my lap, & I’m ridiculously grateful.
Hi Katie, nice to meet you (again ^^)
1. I am one of your French readers
2. I studied Russian, Ancient Greek and Hebrew when I was in High School (love some strange alphabets !)
3. I can really produce a convincing elephant shout and even produced a youtube video for it
4. I feel dumb when trying to make new friends, and I’m really bad at small talk (oh it’s pretty sunny today, don’t you think ?)
5. I have an extra bone. In my left foot. Which caused me some severe pain and torsions.
6. I am 31 and discovered about this extra bone two months ago
7. I am 3 kids aged 6, 4 and 1
9. I finally got rid of pregnancy weight thanks to the Whole 30. I eat pretty Paleo since. (but can’t say no to croissants!)
10. I really think I was meant to live in an English speaking country… Maybe in a past life ? or my next one …
Have a lovely day Katie, I’m heading to bed right now ! (11pm here)
1. I met my husband at summer church camp when we were 16. We have been married 21 years 2. I am mama to 4 great kiddos 3. I was 19 weeks prego with #4 before I knew it 4. I love the smell of a new book 5. I do not have a blog but blog daily in my head 6. I am lover of Jesus 7.I love the beach, especially Topsail Island, NC. 8. I have followed your blog for years and this is only my second time to comment 9. I love to bake 10. Someday I would love to become a nurse .
Aww, thanks Maryanne! I think I am the one who is blessed!!
I grew up in the house next to yours in south jersey. I didn’t know this since you moved out shortly after my family moved in and i was very young at the time. MY best friend (and neighbor on the other side) used to babysit you and your siblings :). Loved your blog before I knew that, and love it even more since I found out we share a hometown!
Sooooooo, tell me about these soft pretzels that you eat every day. I’m intrigued. Hubby and I are also huge fans. HUGE. What kind do you have at home? Frozen ones? Or homemade like superwoman? Do you keep cheese sauce on hand? I need to know! 😀
Just frozen although I definitely prefer homemade…just don’t have time for that 🙂 Also, the cheese is usually a treat.
xo – kb
What is your friend’s name?!
xo – kb
Last name is Yelito, there are 3 girls, Karen, Lauren and Diana.. I lived in the corner house (my parents still do!) and they lived in the house next door on Moore Rd West. I had to laugh when I saw you post a picture of you in your TAA shirt in your post about you and Jeremy. 🙂
I didn’t apply for graduation…or receive my degree although I had enough credits in Bio Ed. My mom hates that. But I never want to teach other people’s kids…just didn’t realize that until after I was done student teaching. I do get to see the Petersiks (I am obsessed with Teddy’s legs!) but I do miss their blog 🙂 They told everyone what they do on their blog…I would check that out! I get at least two boxes of Super Pretzels for the freezer and just have one each night…otherwise I have to make them homemade 🙂
xo – kb
I wanted to be attracted to him physically but I am really glad I wasn’t because I got to know him and fell in love with who he was before I got ‘new eyes’ and wanted his body. ha!
xo – kb
I like homemade first…and then the mall ones…but usually I just snag a frozen one and eat that because I don’t have a ton of time!
xo – kb
What does a chaplain of a pet food company do?
How did you get a job holding babies in a nursery all day? That is my dream job! Is it in the hospital or at a daycare center or what? Do tell!
1. I am 34 years old and have two kids, 8 and 4 years old, and we just got a puppy so I wont be so lonely when my youngest starts school in the fall.
2. I met my husband when we were just 17, started dating almost a year later, dated for 5 years and have been married for almost 11 year.
3. I haven’t had a paying job in 9 years. I quit my last job when I had my first baby to be a stay- at- home mom. I wouldn’t trade it for all the money in the world.
4. I recently renovated my kids’ room from ceiling to floors and everything in between. The one thing I have to say now that its over: I will never again paint stripes on a wall because the unevenness in the paint is a pain in the you- know- what to cover up.
5. I gained 107 lbs with my first pregnancy. It. Was. Awful. I managed to lose all of it plus a little more and in the process learned to love healthy food, became a runner ( i’ve even ran 3 half marathons) and recently started to lift.
6. I currently have 221 followers on Instagram and I only really know about 8% of them.
7. I coach my daughter’s soccer team.
8. I am a die-hard Mn Wild fan and hockey is my favorite sport, even though I played basketball and soccer growing up.
9. I’m a fair-skinned redhead. I don’t wear shorts in public for fear that I might blind someone with my extreme paleness.
10. Its 12:06am and our 8 week old puppy is whining to go outside. Good thing I’m still up.
Ha! #9 made me LOL.
xo – kb
I just have to say I legit miss all the bacon comments. I was actually wondering what happened to them a while back. I even mentioned you and linked to your blog in one of my blog posts regarding a bacon chocolate chip cookie recipe back in like 2011?? (Semi embarrassing to admit that. Blogging and reading blogs is weird.)
You congratulated me on my fb page after I got married in 2012. It made my world 🙂 And I loved the opportunity to send your fam a holiday card last year (that included our son’s birth announcement!) I saved your address and you are going to get a creepy card from us every year. #sorrynotsorry Thank you for being you!!!!
This is fun…lemme try…
1. This is where I tell you I’m 32 (I was totally about to write 26 because that’s the age I think of myself) born and raised in Baltimore (don’t stop reading you Steelers fan you! I’m cool. ) my husband and I have been together 10 years…since college and married for 4. We have a little girl named Lo and a little pup name Gus Gus.
2. I LOOOOvED being pregnant. I can’t tell alot of people why because I fear pissing them off. I had a hard time getting pregnant and when I did I was so ecstatic because all those bellies I was so jealous of made me wear mine proudly everywhere I went. The icing on top was that I didn’t have to puke, I wasnt really that uncomfortable, didn’t swell till the very end, no stretch marks, no hemriods, everybody was healthy, gained about 25 lbs, and labor was great. I kind of hate myself for saying all that…especially since it’ll probably all be the reverse for the second one. But it truly was a magical time for me and maybe that was a little gift from God considering the three years of tears and pain prior.
3. There are days I wish I had done school differently and really nailed down a great career plan …but then I think the path I chose led me to my husband and so this thought process always leads back to me realizing it was the right path.
4. I have night terrors often now that I’ve had a baby. My husband is not pleased.
5. Happiness, compassion, and confidence. The three words I rotate in my head continuously for my daughter.
6. I love art, being creative, decorating, Googling, being a Mom, ice cream, the way I feel AFTER exercising, and planning get togethers.
7. I don’t understand people who can eat a pretzel every day and still look fabulous. Is this a trick?
8. I’m from a big loud family and I want a big loud family.
9. I did things in college that now as a mother of a girl terrify me.
10. My biggest dream is to do the best I can and enjoy what I have. Perspective is everything and I should feel so incredibly lucky to have the man, baby, and family I do.
You need to go to Animal Kingdom in Disney World just for a jalapeño soft pretzel. I don’t usually like spicy things, but I LOVE these things. Seriously, my mouth is watering right now just thinking about it.
1. I’m love Jesus too. I want my kids to love Him, and trust Him, so when life gets wonky (and it will) they have someone to fall on who is reliable and loves them more perfectly than I ever could. When I die I want to run into Jesus (or God’s) arms for a big hug and convince him to have walks with me in a garden, so I can ask all those questions that come into my brain.
2. I cry bunches. I don’t even have to be pregnant to be weepy. In the body of Christ, I’m God’s tear ducts. Psalm 56:8 is a favorite.
3. I miss Sheri. Say “hi” for me. I’m glad you are still around. For a while, I disregarded your blog after reading that you were living with your boyfriend. Your humor alluded me there.
4. I make puppets for film and live entertainment. It’s a weird little niche job I have during the summer when I’m not homeschooling my teens.
5. I love DIY too…and painting, sewing, gardening.
6. My first job was at Frontier Fruit and Nut. I gave out samples of Poppin’ Peanut Crunch. Try saying that fast every few seconds. It gets old.
7. I love taking a bath with bath salts every night. I line up my Mario Badescu skin products on the edge of the tub with a mirror and give myself a facial every night:)
8. I get migraines. Yuck.
9. My children are so sweet. My friends can confirm. They help out a lot – laundry, cleaning, dishes, gardening.
10. My husband and I have been married 20 years. We like to cruise every year on the week of Valentine’s day.
Pam
Hi Katie! Thanks for writing such interesting posts. I just love reading them with my morning coffee. Good luck with your soon to arrive little one. Too precious!
1) I’m here because of Sherry. YHL was my daily fix… I tried hoping over here a few times but you blog took so long to load I gave up. I recently discovered it’s loading fast!
2) Subsiquently, I’m reading your old posts, in a hopefully not-too-creepy way. I’m somewhere back near the birth of baby #2.
3) I have way more house projects than I should. It’s bad.
4) I’m pregnent with our fouth as well! I used to joke I’d have 6 kids by 30…. not too far off!
5) I eat babyfood. I actually like it. Veggie beef is my fav… and I actually crave it when I’m pregnant. Don’t judge me.
6) My husband and I made a homeschool math app together this year. It’s our first app on ipad.
7) I can sew cloth diapers fairly well. I can’t do clothes well at all. I’ll take it.
8) About an hour ago my husband discovered in reading an author-friend’s book, he was made a character. Full name and all! I’m excited for him… but it’s been a fear of mine that I’d make it in. Thankfully, I don’t read his books. Ignorance is bliss.
9) A friend I’ve had for years recently called me a homophobe 🙁 I’m really sad about it. It feels so… unfinished. Both the articles I posted were written by lgbt supporters, presenting opposing sides of the whole ‘cake’ argument. I didn’t even give an opinion for myself. Lesson here… I’m going to be more careful with what I post on fb, keeping it about my fam.
10) We had a spontaneous minivan fire last year. It was scary, but we all made it out okay, albeit without laptops, tablets, etc. I was brought to tears by the people who helped us get back on our feet to help replace our van. So blessed.
Your veggie beef admission is my favorite. like ever. I love quirks like that.
xo – kb
It depends on the day! Hospital visits, funerals, counseling, encouragement – mostly just caring for the people of the company. 🙂
You asked for it….
1. I have twin boys and LOVE the fact that you have all boys!
2. We live in Texas. Best state EVER.
3. I blog – theallennuggets.com and wish to actually be successful at it one day (as well as the other 988769764654 bloggers)
4. I got married at the justice of the peace 13 months before our actual wedding and didn’t tell anyone for fear they wouldn’t come to our “real” wedding.
5. I used to be 6′ tall and broke my neck 9 years ago – I keep shrinking.. now I’m 5’10”
6. I had no idea you and Sherry are friends.
7. I greatly appreciated the post you did when you were pregnant with LJ expressing compassion to your friends/readers that struggle with infertility – I think that’s the first time I ever commented.
8. I struggle with my relationship with God.
9. I love rollercoasters
10. I “secretly” want four kids. After living my whole life saying I only ever wanted two.
Ten Things:
1. I met my husband on a Monday night, we were engaged by Friday. Celebrate 45 years this month!
2. Daughter 43 and son 41 are not married yet, never have been, waiting for cosmic encounter like parents.
3. Husband and sister’s husband both submarine officers, graduates of U. S. Naval Academy. Father and husband’s brother both career Air Force officers. Husband’s father career Navy fighter pilot. Proud of their service.
4. Have owned eleven new homes and enjoyed decorating each one, and loved
every one, especially Hawaii!
5. Followed YHL everyday and was delighted when Sherry wrote me a lovely message back after I commented how much I enjoyed it.
6. Love following your daily messages about your wonderful boys. Waiting to learn new baby boy’s name.
7. I feel like I am seventeen years old…although add fifty years! Still think young, act young!
8. Still absolutely adore my handsome husband. Both retired, so lunch out everyday, Tuesday movies and lots of travel.
9. Both children returned to Atlanta from LA and DC. Both UGA graduates, so they are “home” and we are happy to all be close.
10. Grateful to God for all my many blessings.
1. I am a serial blog-starter. I have changed the name of my blog five times in four years. None of the names/directions of the blog ever seemed to fit. I settled on missfidgety in honor of never being able to make up my mind… and it’s stuck for over a year. Hooray!
2. I have been reading Bower Power since before you were pregnant with Will. I’ve often thought about unearthing my earliest comment just to see how long it’s been.
3. I’m thankful you are still here. The first blog I ever followed – Chez Larson – called it quits. Benita led me to John and Sherry, and now they’ve stopped blogging… But she also sent me here. So pleasedon’teverstop because you are my only living blog from way back when. Plus you are awesome.
3. I’m a Jesus-loving Catholic girl. Yep, they exist. People who don’t think Catholics are Christians don’t know the right Catholics. (Not insinuating that you have ever said such a thing!)
4. I love my dog. He stars in 60% of my instagram photos. The rest are pretty flowers and my cats.
5. I’m pushing 50 and have only had pets for the past three years (which explains why I take so many pictures of them), because…
6. We’ve packed up and moved to Europe to travel for months at a time three times (so far!) since we’ve been married.
7. I met my husband because he heard me on the radio. That may beer the most popular thing I ever blogged about.
8. I am obsessed – obsessed, I tell you! – with a band called Hudson Taylor. They’re adorable Irish brothers who just released their first album, and I am a giddy fangirl. Fanmom. Fanlady.
9. I’m just like Jeremy when it comes to structural integrity. I think our new deck is stronger than some of the bridges here in Portland. Of course, my obsession borders on a phobia. I don’t like bottom bunks, overpasses, or parking structures. I’m also afraid of fish.
10. I love lists. And surveys. So this is kind of the best of both worlds. xo
11. I HATE autocorrect – and I hate errors in my writing – so arrrgh. Therefore #2 should say Chez Larsson and #7 should say may be (instead of beer… although my husband loves beer, so maybe autocorrect was feeling that vibe).
Other blogs have come and gone on my feed, but yours is the only one I continue to follow. I think it has something to do with your down to earth humor, the fact we’re probably in the same life stage, and of course DIY decor. Everyone tells me I should start my own blog, but it just seems like way too much work and the fear of criticism would eat me alive. Maybe that’s why I should….
HI KATIE
i love your blog simple desing and clean