Somehow, I managed to double book myself up for two #AskAwayFridays this week! As if I had tons of extra time on my hand. I think Butterfly is teething. I hope so, otherwise she’s just gone from a super happy child to a constantly irritated one, who doesn’t sleep. This week, I’ve exchanged 10 questions with Tamara and Jodi! Scroll to the very bottom to check out my old posts! Here are our hosts:
Family & Home
- By the time this post is up, Mother’s Day will have come & gone! Tell us about your day? (I don’t care for surprises, I am too much of a planner) Do you enjoy the occasional surprise? I LOVE surprises, sadly, I rarely end up being surprised because someone always tells me a little bit of the surprise beforehand. The “surprise” birthday party at our Easter dinner wasn’t really a surprise once I saw my MIL put up the Happy Birthday sign during setup. You may make the argument that I didn’t know before she did that, but it wasn’t like “Oh, there’s the sign, let’s party!” It was more “Oh, there’s a sign, let’s finish putting everything up”. Don’t get me wrong, I completely enjoyed it. Check out that post here! Wait, this was about Mother’s Day. My husband told me that he planned to host dinner at my house, and he did. So, we went to church in the morning, then ate my favorite at dinner ~ steak and macaroni and cheese. So yummy!
- Tell me a bit about hubby! Are you similar in personality or polar opposites? Does he follow your blog? LOL! It took my husband over a year to remember the name of the blog and honestly, I couldn’t tell you if he knows it now. We don’t really follow each other online like that. We are very similar in personality where it counts, like values and parenting. We are different on socializing. I’m somewhat of a social butterfly, like going out often (well, compared to him), where he could stay home every night for weeks on end… especially if a game is on. I also don’t watch sports these days, so we don’t watch television together very often. We do watch movies together though!
- Was there anything you thought you do/or wouldn’t do that changed after actually having kids? Nope. I never thought much about what I would or wouldn’t do before I had children considering I never really considered having children. I’m not sure I thought much about parenting before I parented. Most of it works out well, sometimes, it doesn’t.
- Share a description of the perfect summer evening with the family. A perfect summer evening that we will actually do or my imaginary perfect summer evening? LOL! I would love for us to bbq outside, with the boys tossing around the ball and me and the girls riding a bike. A playing music in the background and us just enjoying each other’s company!
Blogging
- Who is on your daily or weekly blog roll? Another hard one! With a 2 year old toddler and an almost six month old, I’m not getting to nearly as many blogs as I want to, and I really do, but I also want to sleep. Lanaya of Raising Reagan, Janine of Confessions of a Mommyaholic, Angel of Sew Crafty Angel, Brittnei of Homemaking with Style, Courtney of The Brown Girl with Long Hair, Tamara of Tamara like Camera, Tamara of Pastries, Pumps and Pi, Tenns of New Mama Diaries, just to name a few. This list would be ridiculously long for the ones that I hope to be able to accomplish one day!
- Congrats on your Voice Boks nomination (I voted for you!) What are some of your other blogging related goals or aspirations? I would love to be someone that people trust for advice. I also would love to grow my readership and learn how to be more open. I would also love for this to be a springboard to making some extra income for my family. I really enjoy doing it, and wouldn’t want to have to manage my family, the blog, and a part time job.
- What is your favorite/least favorite social media platform and why? I like Pinterest because it’s the most passive and I’m still trying to figure out how to “connect” with people on the other mediums. I ask questions and get answers, but I can’t seem to get a conversation going with Facebook and Twitter. It’s really hard because in person, I can talk to someone for hours, but online, I can’t get past a few sentences.
Just for fun
- You have your choice of a “superhero” (i.e… ability to fly, x-ray vision, strength, speed, cloning) power for 24 hours! What can you do? I would love to have an eidetic memory (remember things in great detail), and can read 20,000 words per minute. I would like to read all the books (personal and professional) that I haven’t gotten to in years, and hopefully my regular memory will kick in remember enough to have it still be useful after the 24 hour period is over.
- I know you wouldn’t want to change any part of the past, but if you could go back and meet a person in history or witness an event (either from family or of historical importance) Where would you travel to/what time period? I’ve never thought about going back in time. Until recently, I pretty much hated all parts of history, except to see the economy, how it worked and how it could help in the future (I was an economics major). I love the modernity of now. I love that we have computers, pee indoors and have running water. I also like the idea that as a black woman, I won’t be lynched on the street or thought of lesser than. That said, I would love to find out more about my ancestry, where I came from, what path my family took to get here. No one seems to either know or care to share.
- Congrats! you were just selected for SURVIVOR! How many days do you make it on the Island? Oh… I have two parts of me. I have the highly competitive side which will get me to the final four. But then I have the more realistic side of me who hates to be dirty, would never want to purposefully subject myself to that type of discomfort and torture, which would figure out how to be the first person to lose before any competition takes place. I don’t know which would win once I got there.
On Part two of #AskAwayFriday, I exchange questions with Tamara from Tamara like Camera. She’s known as the Queen of Commenters and her site is riddled with beautiful photographs that she took. Her writing is beautiful and personal, as she talks about raising her two children and has included the 20 part series of How She Met Her Husband (it’s good, you should read it)!
1. I ask this a lot but I really like it for you: What profession would you most like to try for a day? And what profession would you most hate to try? Here’s where my pragmatism gets in the way of these theoretical questions. Do I get to learn the craft before I do it? Or do I show up bumbling and fumbling? I would love to be a singer ~ just for a day. I love the idea that I could be strong and powerful and get in front of tons of people. Granted, this would only be if I had 3-6 months of training, so that I could blow everyone’s socks off. I would hate to try to be a miner. It’s dirty, dark and full of soot. Yuck!
2. You mentioned feeling depressed sometimes, but that you don’t take pills because you like “feeling”. I’m the same way with my anxiety. What are some natural people, places or things that make you feel better and happier? When I start to feel down, I get on the floor with my kids and play with them. I tickle them and give them tons of kisses. I’ll also watch some of the trash television, like Real Housewives, so that I can remind myself that my life isn’t as bad as theirs (or what they portray on television). I will also go do something that makes me feel pretty, like mani-pedi or getting my hair done (but that’s harder because we have to have money for it). Finally, at the end of the day, I’ll have a glass of wine, if I don’t feel better. It calms me, and then I can go to sleep and try again the next day.
3. If you were to write a whole book right now, on this given day (well..days, weeks, months), what would it be about? I have a book about zombies sitting my “to-do” list. I think it’s a great idea (even though it seems like they’ve been a bit overdone). My story line has not been done and if I can get it right, I think I could create a series (**movie deal**). LOL!
4. Got this question from Lisa of The Golden Spoons. What is your most viewed post ever and why do you think it’s so popular? The Starter’s Exercise Plan Well, it’s in the title right? Most people want to start exercising, but if you don’t know how or where to start, it’s hard to actually do it. This plan gets you started in the right direction and off the couch!
5. If you ever find yourself alone in the house, what’s the first thing you want to do? (note: not NEED to do, but want). Sleep! I don’t get nearly enough of it and I love to do it. However, considering I can’t sleep on demand like I used to, I would probably end up blogging or writing of some sort.
6. What traits of yours do you see in each of your kids? In Bunny, my 10 year old son, I see my intelligence and my laziness. I can get in a mood of just not doing anything, but it seems like he never gets in a “get it done” mode unless there’s something immediately at stake. In Bee, my 2 year old rambunctious toddler, I see my tenacity, the willingness and desire to get what she wants, and I see my stubbornness. She still sleeps in our bed most nights because she woke up and realized that she was not in ours. In my baby Butterfly, who is just 7 months old, I see her inquisitive nature ~ the willingness to sit back and let things play out before she reacts. She also is quick to let everything show on her face… you will immediately know if she doesn’t like something by turning her head, rolling her eyes, moving away. She won’t cry or fuss at all, but if you pay attention, you’ll know she doesn’t like something.
7. What is something you look back on and think, “I can’t believe I did that, but I wouldn’t go back and change it!” Having my son in law school. Do I need to explain that?
Bunny – then and now
8. What are your guilty pleasures? Watching television most definitely. My television is almost always tuned into Bravo, which hasn’t had thoughtful television in a decade. Also, I love a great glass of wine or champagne. I just got a proseco which I really dig.
9. How do you talk about body image and health in front of your kids? My daughter is going to be five this summer and she’s starting to be very aware of my actions and words. I rarely talk about the body, unless there’s something that requires addressing. I typically stress healthy choices and making good decisions. Children play and work off many more calories than adults do, so I just make sure that my children get used to eating vegetables, and no dessert without eating their vegetables. We also limit the amount of sugar they get. I water down almost every drink, so when they go out, they typically drink less (if they drink it at all), because juices and sodas are very sweet.
10. Do you have any travel plans for this spring/summer? Not really. We’re still paying off medical bills from having my little Butterfly. I also have my cousin’s wedding in California this September, which I definitely want to make with my family. My husband will likely want to go to the Bahamas because it’s so close and it’s his home. Although most people get very excited about it, I don’t because it’s just home to him, not a vacation spot.
Want to catch up on some of my other #AAF entries, check out these: In week 1, I told Amber whether I plan on practicing as an attorney. In week 2, Heather got me to show you what I had under my bed. In week 3, Stacey had me tell you about my unaccomplished dream. In week 4, I told Christy all about the best parenting advice I’ve ever received. In week 5, I shared with Penny how I think boys are different from girls. In week 6, Sarah wanted to know my favorite room in the house. In week 7. I talked to Tiffany a little bit about how to “healthify” her favorite snacks. In week 8, I shared with Rabia the women who made a positive impact for Women’s History Month. In week 9, Bev had me share some recent pictures and the stories behind them. In week 10, Sonya got me to sing… almost! In week 11, Wendy got me to admit to my biggest weight loss hurdle. In week 12, I admitted to my legal woes to Lanaya In week 13, Rea asked about what I felt was a big problem in the US. In week 14, find out which cause I’m passionate about by Beth. In week 15, Stephanie got me to open up about my practicality. In week 16, I tell Sherri how I maintain my marriage. In week 17, Danielle asked about my favorite bible verse.
Ok, is eidetic memory like the woman from Unforgettable (TV Series)? Hmm..she remembers things forever you said in great detail. Either one of those would be an amazing super power. I think I would pick detail over forever, somethings need to be forgotten. Great swap especially for being double booked!
Double booking is the down side of having too little ones and forgetting to write things down! Yes, I was thinking more Reid from Criminal Minds, but the same thing. If I could just get through the information, remember some of it, I think I'd be awesome! LOL! Thanks!
You handled being double booked like a champ!
I love your starter's exercise plan! It is EXACTLY what I need to start this summer!
Yay! I'm also doing a DietBet… which guarantees that you get a part of the pot, if you lose 4% of your body weight! Starts June 1st. I'll be posting about it next week!
Look at you multitasking! Great Q&A's.
My husband and I have some similarities, but like you said similar where it counts. I totally agree with you RHOWhatever helps me too. It's weird, but it does. My anxiety has gotten much better, but when I'm feeling it; I stretch, gather comfort from the kiddos & hubby, go outside (nature grounds me), or watch some trashy TV.
xoxo
I'm starting to get used to going outside… but I'm not typically an outdoorsy person. With my girls, they LOVE the outdoors, so we do walk more than we used to, but I reallyneed to get a double stroller and then we'll be doing it WAY more often!
Oh wow! It's terrific that you have 2 partners this week and I bet answering 20 questions can be mind-boggling, LOL. I think it's really important to talk about healthy eating and food choices to kids. I'm hoping to be able to inculcate that to my son
My ultimate favorite superhero power is the ability to fly followed by being invisible..
My son gets it. He's 10, and he has questions. I've had him ask me if something had "too many calories" and then I went into what's important overall. And now, rarely does he ask anything… and willingly eats fruits and vegetables, and will opt out of sweets or starches. It's worked well so far!
I love surprises, and I hate when they're ruined! Oh well, it's the thought that counts, right? And isn't trashy Bravo reality TV the absolute best way to decompress after a long day? I'll prob be playing catch-up with the shows this evening lol. Here from #AAF!
Yes! Although this season of RHOA is never ENDING! There's still one episode left and I have to blog for it, and I hate all these "extras"! I hate when surprises are ruined, and sadly, I've never looked to ruin them! I used to find Christmas presents every year by accident. Thanks for coming by and joining in! I hope to exchange questions with you in the future!
I am like you I love my sleep and require more than my husband does to function. Of course, I end up staying up half the night because I can't get comfy.
Same here… I sometimes can get comfy and almost every time, that means that one of my daughers wake up!
That sounds like my perfect summer night with the family, too!!
Love that you have some clear strategies for dealing with your depression. I'm getting to where I finally feel like I have a good set of strategies for dealing with depression and anxiety. It feels good to know i have those in my pocket!
It's hard because sometimes I don't even really know I've entered it until my husband or kids say something. I sink pretty slowly, but once recognized, I can get out fairly quickly, if that makes sense.
I love that you double-booked and answered 20 questions! And I love that it's Jodi – she's awesome and used to live where I live.
I was feeling blue today so I started tickling my Des – it totally worked to make me feel better. I love trash TV and trash magazines but it has to be the right kind or it will make me feel worse!
Definitely, there are some shows that I'm not enthusiastic about. There's something about the babies laughing and smiling that melts my heart! It's truly the best anti-depressant that I have, and that they're involved in AND they reap benefits from because they love to be tickled, even my 10 year old!
YOU ARE A ROCK star! Don't feel bad, I published my post and FORGOT to actually link up!
And I always could have delayed for you, mama, you were very understanding when I had to reschedule. I have to say your Survivor answer is my favorite!!!! I really enjoyed swapping with you! AND When I saw you double booked with Tamara I thought what a great person to be double booked with
I'm true to my word and I completely forgot to put her on my calendar (although I do remember booking her). It was so worth it! It was so fun linking up with you! I really did enjoy doing it. It's just my little Butterfly is very attached to me and trying to move. I've been very busy trying to figure out how to do this all with two 2 and under. Thanks for exchanging questions with me!
I read so super fast. It baffles my hubby. And I remember pretty much everything. Although, I have no idea where my car keys are. I think everyone has that duality to them. Especially concerning Survivor, but opposite for me: I could handle being dirty and eating rice every day for 30 days — but the power struggles, alliances and back stabbing? meh. I'd just want to sit on the beach.
I read pretty fast too, but when it comes to remembering long term, I don't. I can put out a book report, but that's about it. LOL! Maybe I'll have you read, then feed me information. I haven't seen an episode of Survivor in forever. It seems way too stressful for me. I don't want to deal with it all.
Oh both of these take me back to the days when my two were younger! Thank you. Reading the answers I felt years younger. Such a tonic. Now I shall go take on the day!
Thank you Kelly! I have a lot of fun with these posts! It was more work than I expected but way worth it!
Survivor…hmmm I think I could totally make it on that show….for maybe a week and then I'd ask myself why the heck I'm doing these stupid and dangerous things. Hahaha.
EXACTLY! Why are you torturing yourself? We are in the first world, this doesn't make my life better! LOL!
Awesome! You handled the double booking like a true champ! Summer time cookouts are the absolute best! We have a fire pit that we sometimes set fire to a pile of sticks and roast hot dogs, marshmallows, and glazed donuts…I love those times. I know that I wouldn't make it through the first challenge in Survivor! LOL! My hubby and I have been spending the evenings watching Little House On the Prairie and The Waltons…which has actually been really nice…normally he would be watching the History Channel and napping in his chair! I love your ideas for dealing with depression times, I am the same way! I don't like modern meds and really prefer working myself through things. Have a great rest of the week, April!
I would LOVE a fire pit. Definitely a necessity in our next house. You have a great week too!
I love reading Q&As like this Thanks for sharing at #smallvictoriessunday !
Yes, it's a great way to get to know someone. I love your photos. I stopped by and everything was absolutely beautiful! I wish you lived nearby for a photo shoot!