It’s My Birthday!

Today I turn another year older – 38!  That is so crazy to write and say out loud.  In my mind, I still think I’m 28, so it’s hard to believe I am now so close to 40!  Seriously, where does the time go???  These 38 years have been full of so many memories and blessings, but also plenty of struggles and learned lessons.  I am thankful to have another year on this earth, as we all know life is short and we are not guaranteed tomorrow.  In honor of my birthday, I thought I would list 38 random things about me so you can get to know me a little better.  It was hard coming up with 38 random facts, but I hope you enjoy it!  Comment below and let me know if you can relate to any of these things!   

1. I have three (much) older brothers, so I am the only girl and the baby – yeah, I wasn’t spoiled much at all 😉
2. My first car was a white Chrysler Lebaron convertible.  It was my dream car at the time – the day I turned 16 and got my license, I remember riding my friends around with the top down – in the middle of December.
3. I have a tattoo that I got the summer after I graduated high school.  Dumb decision and a major regret!  I started the process of having it removed a couple years ago, but it hurt so bad I have yet to go back to finish!
4. When I was about 4 years old, I got stuck inside a non-working refrigerator on a construction site.  I have no idea why I climbed inside it, but I scared the bejesus out of my parents – they could hear me yelling but my voice was being thrown so they were looking in all of the wrong places.  One of my brothers happened to open the fridge and there I was.
5. I have two stepdaughters – they are now 22 and (almost) 19, but I’ve been with them since they were 7 and 4.  It still blows my mind that they’re basically all grown up.  Again, where does the time go?
6. I was voted “Best Dressed” my senior year in high school.  (Fun fact, my oldest stepdaughter also received this as her senior superlative)
7. I work for a financial institution and manage sales & marketing for the credit card division.    
8. The only job I ever had before my “real” job was waiting tables at a local hot dog stand.
9. I am very driven – if I get something in my head or set a goal for myself, I am going to work my hardest to achieve it.   
10. I dream A LOT…and I dream crazy things.  Sometimes I hate this about myself.  
11. I am terrified of spiders.  I even have nightmares about them crawling in my bed, and on several occasions have jumped out of my bed, turned on a light, thrown back the covers in search of the spider only to realize I was dreaming (refer back to previous item, lol).  
12. My mom has 10 brothers and sisters – TEN!  Our family is so big, I can’t even keep up with how many cousins I have at this point.
13. All of my grandparents have passed away.  As I’ve grown older, I realize what a blessing grandparents are – I really wish I still had mine!   
14. The only sport/extracurricular activity I ever did was cheerleading and I was obsessed with it!  I started cheering for “midget” football when I was little, then cheered throughout middle and high school.  Cheerleaders are athletes, too, you know!
15. I’ve only lived in two houses my entire life.  My parents’ house and the house I share with my husband.  In hindsight, I do kind of wish I had lived on my own for a little while when I was single.  
16. I did not go to college right after high school – I ended up going to work for the same company I’m with now (just celebrated my 20-year anniversary there last month).  
17. In my mid-20s when I started to get more serious and focused on my career, I realized I needed to go back to school, so I did.  I went to NC Wesleyan College, which offered a program specifically for working adults.  I worked full time, then went to classes after work until 9pm 2-3 times a week for FOUR years.  I graduated Summa Cum Laude.  I look back on that time and wonder how on earth I did it, but it is one of my proudest accomplishments.
18. My BFFs are the same girls that I have been BFFs with my entire life.  So thankful for lifelong friends.  
19. When I first started dating my husband I could not cook a single thing – I could barely boil water.  Lucky for him I am a quick learner! 
20. You may find this hard to believe, but I am an introvert.  I can be social and outgoing, but it’s not my favorite.  I sometimes crave being at home alone and not having to talk to anyone.
21. I prefer salt over sweets (most of the time).  Potato chips have always been a weakness.  
22. I have been with my husband for over 14 years – married for 12.
23. My husband proposed on New Year’s Eve at midnight – I was SHOCKED!  
24. I am a worrier.  I worry way too much about people that I love dying.  Isn’t that so morbid?  I’m sorry.
25. I still have no idea if I want to have a kid.  I am 38 – I need to figure this out, right?  lol
26. I had a Grand Mal seizure at school my senior year.  I woke up in an ambulance with no clue what had happened.  I was diagnosed with epilepsy and have been on anti-seizure meds ever since.
27. My husband and I have been to Vegas together 10 times!  (Wish I had all the money back that I’ve lost playing Blackjack!)
28. I love all kinds of music, but nothing gets me going like old school rap.  
29. In keeping with the above item…I can rap just about any song you want to hear.  Late night parties usually end with me rapping – all of my friends can attest to this and I’m sure there is video coverage to prove it.  
30. Pop Tarts are a guilty pleasure.  I know how terrible they are, trust me.  But when I crave something really bad and sugary, it’s usually Pop Tarts.  And I like them straight out of the package – NOT toasted!
31. I had major separation anxiety from my mom starting in around 2nd grade off and on until about 4th grade.  She was a stay at home mom and we were together all of the time!
32. My husband and I have done a lot of fishing over the years.  I caught my first Sailfish in Costa Rica and he caught a 450lb Blue Marlin in Cabo.  I also caught a White Marlin off the coast of NC.  Fishing (and actually catching something!) is such an adrenaline rush!  
33. One of my front two teeth is fake – it is a veneer.  When I was in 5th grade, I fell face first into a rock driveway and chipped the whole thing in half.  I eventually had to get a root canal and a crown, and later had the crown replaced with a veneer.
34. I got braces in 8th grade and still have a permanent retainer mounted on my bottom teeth – that thing is old!
35.  I cuss a lot.  I try not to, but then I will slip up and I’m like a sailor.  I did read recently that people that cuss often are smarter, so there’s that, lol!  🙂
36. I am a die-hard New England Patriots fan.  Yes, it started because I liked Tom Brady, but now I’m a fan of the entire organization.  Regardless of which team is your favorite, it’s hard not to respect a dynasty like they have built. 
37. I have seen the Patriots play twice in person – once in San Diego and once in Boston (actually, Foxboro).  My first NFL game was like a religious experience – I’ll never forget it!  haha
38. I make my bed every.single.day.  

And with that last one, I’ll leave you with this inspirational video – it’s just six minutes in length and worth the watch!  

“Change the world by making your bed”:

(Outfit details:  My top came from Anthropologie but it is sold out – I have linked some similar styles/options below that are all perfect for the holidays!  My jeans are from Zara, and I can’t link them through here, but I have linked another pair that is VERY similar and under $30!  Also, the blush booties are my newest fave and are still in stock!)   

If you read all of this, thank you so much for sticking around!  I hope you all have a wonderful week!  XOXO