Gratuitous self quiz

I've seen these around and thought I'd try my hand at a personal bloggy quiz. Feel no obligation to read this post (unlike my other posts, which are mandatory to read) but if you'd like to know a little more about me, for whatever reason, enjoy!

1.Who was your favorite celebrity as a child?

Mr. Rogers all the way. He was like a grandpa to me. I watched his show every day. 


2. What type of pets do you have?

Currently I have 4 chickens and an adorable little dog. 

3. What is your favorite color?

Green and blue. 

4.What is most memorable about your high school years?

I was a big drama nerd so the first thing that comes to mind are the plays I was in. 

5. What word describes you best?

Inability to take serious things seriously. (I know that's more than one word...but you see my point, no?)

6. What is your greatest accomplishment?

I know this is cheesy but I'd say giving birth to my two boys is at the top of the list. I got really sick for both my pregnancies and I was amazed at how much I could survive!

7. What drives you every day?

A small monkey in top-hat (see question #5).

8. What is your favorite food?

My palate has expanded over the years but good cheese will always be at the top of my list. 

9. Where do you want to retire?

I'd love to live by the ocean. So very very much. 

10. What is your business goal this year?

I just got a new job so I guess my business goal this year is to still have a job at the end of it. 

11. Where do you like to vacation?

Anywhere. Really. I love to travel. I love beaches, but I love historical sights as well. Someday I will go to Sardinia. Someday. 

12. Who do you admire?

Anyone who is able to be soft with their convictions and know when to play and when to draw. Extremism is my least favorite human trait (well, maybe sadism is my least favorite human trait, but extremism is a close second). 

13. What is the kindest thing anyone has done for you?

What an odd question. I'd be remiss if I didn't list that one time my mother birthed me and then subsequently, with the close and dedicated aid of my father, raised me, sheltered me, and taught be how to be a human being. 

14. How do you want to be remembered?

As someone who was always available to help out. At any hour, at any place. 

15. What would you do with a million dollars?

Honestly? All fourth grade answers aside? I'd pay off any debt we have, sell our house, buy a house of similar size just a few miles north of where we live right now, but maybe with a bit more land, put the rest in savings, and keep doing what I'm doing right now. 

16. If you were on an island, who would you want to be with? Why?

My husband is and always will be first and foremost my very best friend. With that said, Tina Fey, no questions asked.

Head held high

I haven't been over here in a while, mostly due to new jobs, increase end-of-summer activities, cleaning of houses, life changes and so much more.

Tonight I am home alone. Well, Sammy is upstairs sleeping but Dan and Eli are gone camping so the house feels mostly empty. The dishes in the sink are dirty, there is a mountain of clean laundry to fold upstairs, but I'm taking a few moments to pause and gather my thoughts. These days life is moving at a rapid rate and I don't always take time to stop and be in my own brain.

For whatever reason lately, I have been a pillar of negativity. My life rocks, and I am fully aware of that. I have an amazing husband, two of the cutest kids on the face of the planet, my DREAM job and life is swell. With all that though, I have found ample amounts of material to draw from to host daily or weekly pity parties.

Sure, our life is a little uncertain right now. There are some things about our future we don't know much about. That's just life. Sure, the boys keep me up on my toes every second they are awake. I don't remember the last time I thought, "My house is clean.". These things are all stress factors. But I'm realizing more and more that I've just gotten myself in a habit of being negative.

It came to a head today when we got some frustrating news about some of these life changes we're working on. I called up Dan and ranted and raved. I used language unbecoming of a young lady.  I roared and gnashed about the unfairness of life, the sheer madness of it all, and how, well, butt-hurt I was.

Dan, my never moving rock, listened patiently, expressed similar frustration, gave helpful tips on how to not throw dishes at the wall and told me things were going to be ok. I was so worked up I could only manage a half-hearted acquiescence of sorts and asked him to please forgive the theatrics. He did, after all, marry the former vice president of the Bountiful High Drama Club.

Tonight I sit in retrospect of the day's events. I'm not one to compare human suffering and think, "well, someone has it worse.". A littler perspective is always great but I truly believe trials are relative to our life's experience. I don't think it's a healthy practice to diminish your own hardships by forcing yourself to mull over the hardships of others. Every thing is relative.

With that said, I do believe it is easy to create a pattern of negativity that leads oneself to accept life as one big trial. I feel like I have been falling victim to this event in my life lately.  I think a healthy way to approach life if to acknowledge trials, accept them as part of life and work on viable solutions. For me, I just need to pull my head out of my rear and get with the program.

I don't think we have to force a smile when we don't feel happy. Not a believer in this. But I do think it's important to set a tone in life that is sustainable. Constant negativity is not sustainable. It will eat you alive. So my goal for tonight is not to change my life, but change the way I view the events transpiring in my life. Many things are out of my control right now. It's ok to admit when things are hard. It's probably not ok to put on sackcloth and ashes 24-7 and weep and wail. No one wants to be around that person.