25 randoms: Number one

I think that every once in a while, I'll elaborate on one of the 25 random things about me that I listed in a blog here.

Since today is a rainy day, and I am feeling kind of blue, I might as well focus on number one, which is something that makes me happy. The first random thing about me is my love for all things sweet: chocolate, cake, cookies, etc.

That may seem like a pretty self-explanatory entry and not need much explanation. I agree to a certain extent; however, my love for sweets really is huge for me.

I have never really had a problem passing up chips, cheese and crackers or a piece of pizza; but if you put a nice big Reese's Cup or ice cream sundae in front of me, it's over.



In high school, I had a very negative self image. When I started my freshmen year, I could afford to lose a little weight that crept up on me at the end of junior high school. However, I lost the weight, and I lost it pretty quickly. Looking back, I think my version of losing weight was very extreme. It was to the point where I was leaning toward having an eating disorder. The day I realized my realtionship with food was bad was when I took a Nilla Wafer out of the box and put it in my mouth; a second later I was spitting it into the garbage can. (I'm being real here.) I don't think I had a disorder; however, if I would have let it go too long, it may have grown into it. I never starved myself or anything along those lines.

In college, life got stressful, and I wasn't as physically active. Plus, the cafeteria had great burgers and fries. I ended up putting on quite a bit of weight my freshman through junior years.

Then, on Dec. 24, 2004, my husband popped the question (that is an entirely different post), and I was elated. However, as the months dragged on, I had no interest in trying on any wedding dresses. In June of 2005, my mom and I joined Weight Watchers. I walked into my first meeting thinking I had approximately 20 pounds to lose. Imagine my shock when they told me I had 40 pounds to lose! I was so upset, but I worked hard, and by November of that year I was at goal and was a lifetime member. I was so happy but so scared to gain the weight back.

Long story short, I was at goal for my wedding, and this November will be five years at goal for me. Wow ... five stinking years! I still can't believe it.

If you asked Joe (my husband) if I still had a negative self image, he would tell you yes, and he's right. I have a lot of areas to work on in that department. But, I am working on it.

Back to the sweets (sorry for the detour). I love them, but I appreciate them now more than ever. I do think I deprive myself of them a bit too much, because I practically make myself sick on them sometimes. It's probably sinful what I do sometimes. (You should see my cookie spread I make for our Christmas party, I will post a picture sometime, if not this Christmas.)




If I had to pick a favorite, it would have to be chocolate. It's probably cheating to say that just because chocolate is in cupcakes, ice cream, candy and even yummy drinks like hot chocolate. But, it's my blog, and I can cheat if I want to!




So, while this entry seems pretty pointless and silly, everyone knows i love sweets, so I might as well dedicate a post to it. Plus, it is a light topic and brings happiness to my cloudy day.

By the way, I may start doing a weekly post on Sundays or Mondays about my weeks. We'll see!

25 random things about me

I have seen a lot of bloggers doing a "25 Random Things About Me" post, and I am not above being a copycat:) There are many quizzes and surveys out there that answer a lot of the basics, but this seems like more fun. This might get long, and I apologize in advance. I might go into a little more description about these in future blogs. So, here it goes:

1.) I have a major sweet tooth, and I mean major. I adore chocolate, candy, cake, cookies, and since I am constantly watching my weight, I have to work hard to limit these treats.

2.) My husband and family mean the world to me, and my biggest fear in the entire world is losing them. Enough of that, too depressing.

3.) I absolutely love Thanksgiving time and on through December, because I have a real obsession with Christmas. I love the sights, smells and sounds of the holidays. I think it even annoyed my husband when we were first together. Growing up, Christmas music began Nov. 1, and that tradition has finally taken hold in our household now.

4.) I obsess over my weight. I lost 40 pounds five years ago, and I have kept it off, but I still worry I will wake up one morning, and it will all be back on my body - irrational and silly, I know.

5.) I am a journalist, and I love writing. However, I like writing here more than what I do for a living. There is more freedom and less censoring. Side note: When I do write, I follow Associated Press Style because that is what I follow for work.

6.) I love to travel. Since getting married, my husband and I have been to Disney World (honeymoon), Minnesota, Virginia, Baltimore, the Caribbean, the British and American Virgin Islands, Mexico, Florida, New York and Ireland. There have been many other side trips along the way, but those are the major locales. Many of the tropical places were places we visited when cruising. Travel is so important to me. I grew up traveling, and it is something I want to pass onto my family.

7.) I love spending time in the kitchen trying new and creative recipes.

8.) I love to entertain. I work very hard planning parties, and my husband and I throw several parties each year: birthdays, day after Thanksgiving gathering, Christmas party, Super Bowl gathering and St. Patrick's Day party, along with all of the other gatherings we host.

9.) My husband and I have a small, but incredible, group of friends. We have known each other since high school, and they are mostly guys, but we love them dearly. They are very supportive, and we even travel together.

10.) I am a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, New York Yankees, Notre Dame and my high school football team. My husband and I, along with my aforementioned friends and family, still have season tickets to the high school games.

11.) My husband and I eat dinner together, at the dinner table, with the television off every night, unless one of us is working. I am so proud of that and really cherish that time.

12.) I have a hard time picking out one hobby to stick with. I think I get too many ideas and can't stick to anything in particular. I love to read, watch television and scrapbook. I really love blogging;)

13.) I am a very anxious person and stress over so many significant and insignificant things. It drives my husband and me crazy. I really need to figure this one out.

14.) My favorite books are Harry Potter. I adore them, and I am reading them again before the movie comes out in two months. I better get on that!

15.) My pet peeves include: smokers who blow smoke in my face, people who talk on cell phones and drive, loud chewing and poor drivers. I know these things make me look shallow, but it is the truth, and I want to be real here.

16.) I love fall. It is definitely my favorite season: the smell of spices and crisp air, the cool breeze, the changing leaves and the taste of apple cider!

17.) I am a person who loves tradition, and I stick to them. Each year, my husband and I go to a pumpkin patch, go shopping together the day after Thanksgiving and eat lunch at Panera Bread that day, cut down our own Christmas tree, decorate our tree together, go to the B.E. Taylor Christmas concert and much more.

18.) The thing I love about my husband most is that he does so many things with me. From eating together, to attending graduation parties and vacationing with my family, my husband is there and doesn't say a word. My family truly is my husband's family, and I love that about him. I don't have to worry about going anywhere alone, because as long as he is not working, Joe is right by my side.

19.) Since getting married, have become a clean freak. It drives my husband crazy sometimes, I am sure, but I used to be so disorganized. It was like I did a 180-degree spin.

20.) My dog Maddy is a rescue dog and is my life. I love her to pieces.

21.) My favorite day of the week is Thursday.

22.) I absolutely love, love, love anything and everything that is Disney. I love the old movies, the music, Walt Disney World and the magic that I feel when I experience it. I love Disney so much that we went to Walt Disney World for our honeymoon and can't wait to go back.

23.) I equally love musicals. As I mentioned before, my family loves music, and all of us can play instruments. We used to watch musicals when I was a kid, and I still love them to this very day. Some of my favorites are: "Sound of Music," "Music Man," "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," "Wicked," "Phantom of the Opera" and "Jesus Christ Superstar" (which is a musical that brings another tradition into my family, and I will talk about that in a later post).

24.) My biggest dream my whole life has been to be a mom. I feel it is a calling, and I look forward to someday fulfilling that dream. I also hope to stay at home with my kids (to some extent) because my mom stayed home with us, and I am still grateful for that sacrifice she made.

25.) We live in a small town where everyone knows everyone, and although that can be obnoxious at times, it keeps me grounded now and while I was growing up. Also, there is always someone there for you when you need it. It really is a good thing.

Sorry that was so long. If you made it all the way through, you deserve a treat. I say you go for a nice big bowl of ice cream or a warm chocolate chip cookie (that's the sweet tooth speaking).