Another crazy busy week. Ended up leaving my little Butterfly with my in-laws for a couple of hours and she cried so much they asked if something was wrong! My little Butterfly spends 90% of her time with me, so isn’t used to anyone else… except kinda her dad. LOL! Well, let’s get this started.
This is my Week 9 of #AskAwayFriday where I spill my guts to all of you!
For those of you who aren’t familiar with #AskAwayFriday it’s an amazing way to meet new bloggers, make friends and ask some questions to get to know them better! We now have four permanent hosts ~ Penny at The Real Housewife of Caroline County, Tiffany at Mrs. Tee – Love, Life, and Laughter, Amber at Bold Fab Mom and Stacey at This Momma’s Ramblings. 10 questions are exchanged and answered on your partners blog, you can get as creative as you want and even get into our purses!
This week I get to trade questions with the talented Ms. Bev from Linkouture. She is the proud business owner and maker of the most awesome jewelry. She is also the mother to one adorable little girl who’s just one month younger than my little Butterfly!
1. From looking at your about page, I can see that your family is your motivation for losing 100 pounds. What really inspired you to get started on that goal?
Realizing I hadn’t looked at myself in the mirror for a long time. Although the mirror was right outside the shower, I avoided the mirror. One day I caught a glance of my naked body and realized I hadn’t seen me in a LONG time and I didn’t like what I see.
2. When it comes to exercise, I’m personally a huge Zumba fan. What is your favorite way to exercise?
With others. I prefer to play sports, basketball or volleyball, but pretty much anything that my friends drag me out to do. But since that doesn’t happen in my new state, I’m about to pull out my favorite DVD workouts, P90x and Insanity. In the house, in front of my television would be my second favorite.
3. What is the most daring thing you have ever done?
When I was 9, I called a radio station and sang this song:
My parents were sleep in the other room on this early Saturday morning. I closed the door, and sang my heart out. I sang through the chorus, didn’t get cut off and got some applause. I didn’t win because, according to them, a kid won the previous week and they hadn’t had a rapper win in a while. I don’t know if they were saying it to make me feel better or it was the truth.
4. St. Patrick’s Day is coming up, and it’s huge in the Boston area (though I haven’t personally “celebrated” it in years). What is your favorite holiday, and what do you like most about it?
Christmas. I love everything about it, except the ridiculously early solicitations in the stores. I love the smell of pine, the decorating of the tree, the giving of gifts, the receiving of gifts, going to church, the snow on the mountains… I could really go on and on.
5. I read this on a recent #AskAwayFriday and I really liked it: share a recent photo and tell the story behind it.
I can’t choose just one:
Considering that I’m typically the picture taker, I hope you weren’t looking for one that I’m in.
Top left: My Queen Bee climbed the ladder on the big jungle gym all by herself. She got to the top step then got a bit scared about taking it.
Top right: This picture is of Butterfly and Bee, both being held by family members. I was amazed that I was out with my girls and I wasn’t holding EITHER one of them! I had to take a picture!
Bottom left: I recently read a challenge post put out by Christina at Juggling Real Food and Real Life. She talked about if you want to have junk food, that’s fine, but you have to make it yourself. I normally don’t bake, but really wanted some oatmeal cookies, so I made some. Also, I have a wonderful clear cake stand that I use for deserts or whatnot and I was REALLY excited to pull it out of the cabinet and use it. It normally sits on my table (see below) and I have some treats in there for snack time or breakfast time.
Bottom right: I’m looking for a dining room table. I love the modern look, but it seems like the modern look also comes with the bar height. I’m not sure if I like the height. This is a table that I’m considering.
6. I see that you are a mom to three young children. I just became a mom myself for the first time in November! What do you like most about being a mom? What do you find most challenging?
Oh, Butterfly was born in October. Congratulations! I love the many hugs and kisses. They melt my heart. I also love to see that all my complaining at home makes them better people for the outside world.
7. What is your favorite part about blogging?
Since I’ve started taking it more seriously, I feel like I have a “job”. As a stay at home mom, duties are never ending. A clean kitchen only lasts until you enter it again. A swept and mopped floor only lasts until someone walks into the room. The kids are only full until, well, they’re not, and if I’m not feeding Butterfly, Bee is asking for something to eat. It’s just a never ending cycle of doing “something”. The problem with that is nothing ever feels done. You know that something will be dirtied and you will have to redo something you just did. With my blog, pushing Publish on a post is so rewarding because I know I finished SOMETHING. Even if there’s another post to write, that post is done and completed!
8. If you could travel to anywhere in the world tomorrow, where would you go?
Europe. I went when I was in high school and had a blast. But I think I’d have a new appreciation for it now. I’d start with France and try to tour the entire continent! Everything is so much closer over there, you could actually hit more than one country in one trip.
9. When you are not blogging or caring for your children, how do you like most to spend your time?
Blogging or sleeping. I don’t have a lot of time outside of that. Butterfly is completely attached to me, so I don’t have a lot of extra time. However, I do volunteer with a nonprofit and am trying to get more involved in my community.
10. What are your top 5 favorite books?
Sorry to say I don’t have any. As a child, up until law school, I read all the time, but I’ve never been one to read a story twice (or watch a show or movie twice). I can’t even tell you that I have. I haven’t really read anything in years. I’ve read a few John Grisham novels here and there and some other random authors that I find in the library. I can tell you five books that I have on my shelf that I intend on reading this year, since my goal is to complete a book a month:
That’s all this week with #AskAwayFriday with Bev! Make sure you head over to her place and check out her answers to my questions, especially what she thinks of my jewelry. I hope it’s something good!
Congratulations to Queen Bee on that awesome milestone!! I am mighty impressed you had the courage to sing on the radio–that is definitely very daring and not something I think I could have ever done. Great partnering with you, April, and reading your responses!
She was very hesitant, but she got there. She kept wanting me to support her on her way up, but I knew she could do it. Yes, I mustered up everything I had and didn't shy away. I would have to say that's one of my best public performances, behind the phone! LOL! Great questions.
Singing on the radio is pretty cool! I've tried being "on air" for a radio program when I was a kid because my aunt asked me to join a sort of contest there and when I was asked what my number 1 radio station was, I answered a different station! I was so embarrassed because my aunt didn't tell me what station she was calling. Haha and they said "it's ok, it was just a kid.." I'd love to go to Europe too, it has so much culture and very interesting..
LOL! That's so not fair that your aunt didn't tell you what station you were calling! I was surprised that I got on because it was the first time I tried. Of course, I never tried again, although I probably could've done well with a different song. Thanks for coming by Rea
Hey April, I loved Hi-Five back in the day. It sucks that you didn't win because they had a kid to win the previous week. It looks like your cookies turned out well. Once you get use to baking it will seem really easy to whip up a cake or a batch of cookies. I plan on making some gluten-free banana bread later today, since I have some ripe bananas.
I'm trying to transition to make everything at home, but since I'm not a natural cook or baker, it's really hard to get me motivated to do it. I've had so many failures compared to successes, especially with new things. But I'm going to keep on trying. Hubby said that he wants me to make something with green onions since he bought so much! LOL!
That's pretty interesting what you said about blogging and mommy/wife duties. As my son gets older I've noticed that too! Things done seem done but for so long. It's so true! Even after I hit publish though for a post, I still tend to not feel it's done because of all the things that come with promoting a post and needing to write more! Ahh! So I've paced myself and have decided not to spread myself too thin with blogging. I've felt better with how I've been doing it lately
Wait until you have two or three of them! The days get crazy and you may see your floor, but it's through a pile of toys! LOL! Even if I have promote a post, it's easier than trying to write one.
Thanks Again for choosing me as a co-host for the Countdown in Style linkup!!! I couldnt agree with you more on the blogging and feeling like I have accomplished something! I think thats why I stay on myself with blogging because although I am a SAHM I feel like I am doing something for myself…and I like that feeling. Its nothing like serving your family but I also like being able to do for "Carissa" too…I think its easy when you become a mom to lose yourself in family so I think thats why I love blogging
Yes! I need to feel useful, ya know? Thanks for commenting and co-hosting Countdown in Style!
I love these Q&A type posts. Helps me get to know you better, since I am still a new-ish reader! Hope you are having a great week.
I do too! I tend to shy away from the personal, yet, when I do these, I find myself opening up with ease. I think it helps people to connect with me, although I tend to keep to myself.
I enjoyed getting to know you better. Have a good time getting back into reading. I read almost too much. It will completely distract me.
That used to me, now I can't get back into reading! I have consistently read the bible though! So, I'm excited about that. I'm trying to finish the bible in one year plan that I started last January. I still haven't read a book for February or March after completing Mother of All Meltdowns in January. But we're taking a ROAD TRIP… so I'm going to grab one and hopefully finish it!