This is my first week to jump on the Ten on Tuesday bandwagon, and I’m excited! But a little confused since there are 15 questions instead of 10. Oh well, I will persevere!
1. If you could change anything about your physical appearance, what would it be?
I always hate this question, because I could make a laundry list of things I would change, starting with my size 10 feet and ending with my Tyra Banks forehead. Because that’s what women do. We pick ourselves apart, little by little, and criticize ourselves to no end. The other day, I had a HUGE zit on my face, and when I looked in the mirror, all I could see was that zit. (Gross, I know.) Later that day, I saw my sister, and she told me “Your eyes look so pretty today!” Really? I hadn’t noticed because I was too busy tearing myself down. My advice is this: Next time you feel like picking yourself apart, take a step back and look at the whole picture. You look great. You are beautiful. Remember that. No one else sees that zit or extra 5 lbs. Only you.
I’ll go ahead and get off my soapbox now.
2. Is there a habit in others that you find annoying?
Self-absorption. When you have a conversation with someone, it should be 50-50. You should leave knowing just as much about them as you told them about yourself. (I know I am guilty of this too, and it pisses me off about myself!) Lately I have been trying to listen and ask questions rather than just ramble about myself. There is nothing more annoying to me than a conversation where you can’t get a word in edgewise and the other person is just waiting for your mouth to stop moving so they can start talking again. It’s okay to be chatty, it’s not okay to be obsessed with yourself.
3. What is your favorite recipe using ground beef?
Meatloaf. It’s so easy and my husband loves it. Don’t be a food snob. Meatloaf can be delicious.
4. What was your favorite book as a kid?
Hands down, the Anne of Green Gables series. My mom bought them for me when I was maybe 8 or 9, and I must have read all 8 of them a hundred times. The words are so beautiful! I owe half of my vocabulary to L. M. Montgomery. I also loved the Amelia Bedelia books. Oh Amelia, when will you learn?!
5. Did you work as a teenager and if so, where?
I worked for my parents’ ministry (they have a camp for innercity children) and did a lot of volunteer work with children. I didn’t make a lot, but I was blessed to not need a lot, so I was able to do so much of what I loved.
6. Did you work while in college and if so, where?
In addition to continuing to work (off and on) for the camp, I also worked for an internet marketing company, which is how I ended up with the job I have now. It’s crazy how things work out.
7. When you go to sleep do you like total darkness or semi? When you go to sleep do you need quiet or is some noise ok?
Total darkness. I used to sleep with music on (think John Mayer, Death Cab, etc.) but Michael has to have complete silence, so I have adapted.
8. When doing laundry, fabric softener or not?
If I can ever remember to throw in some dryer sheets. So, no.
9. Open toed or closed toed shoes?
Peep toes! I am a huge fan of the peep toe.
10. Would you rather be blind or deaf?
This is a tough question. Deaf, because I’ve always been intrigued by sign language and I think I’d rather see than hear. But I am thankful God has given me both, and greatly admire those who live without one of these senses.
11. Dangle or stud earrings?
My diamond studs from my stud. (I’m so cheesy!)
12. Bottled water or tap?
I’m not picky. Pretty much the only complaint I have about water is if it tastes like a swimming pool.
13. What do you put on pancakes?
Butter. And syrup. But mostly butter. My favorite recipe calls for melted butter in the batter. Then I cook them in butter. Then I put more butter on top. And a little syrup to make it balanced.
14. On a long trip would you rather drive or fly?
Fly, absolutely. I have long legs and get cramped in the car. I’m also a bad “car sleeper,” so I get grumpy.
15. Do you prefer classic old movies or new?
Movies lately have been sucking. Did anyone see “The Ugly Truth”? AWFUL. The other night, I turned on TCM. To Catch A Thief was on. Listen, I like new movies as much as the next girl – Julie & Julia is amazing – but the good ones are few & far between. You can’t ever go wrong with a movie starring Cary Grant or Audrey Hepburn. It was a simpler time. The women were ladies, and the men were gentlemen. It wasn’t oversexed; they actually left some things to the imagination. The people were classier. We didn’t know everything about the movie stars and their personal lives. I enjoy old movies the same way I enjoy fairy tales, because it’s something that seems almost unattainable, almost perfect. Like if you could step onto the set of an old movie, the world would be a better place.
That was virtually painless! Leave your own answers in the comments, or go to Chelsea’s blog and leave a link to your Ten on Tuesday post in her comments.
Comments on Ten on Tuesday: I have a Tyra forehead.
From Kari Anne:
I LOVE your #13!!! And so would PW and Paula Deen!!
From Erin:
I believe it is called a five head.
From David:
Try putting peanut butter on your pancakes. I don’t eat breakfast, but when I do, pancakes with peanut butter is the you know what.
From Angela:
I loved Amelia Bedelia when I was a kid! What I love even more is that as a nanny, I get to re-read all of my favorite books with the kids I nanny!
From RootsAndRings:
You don’t have an extra 5 pounds.
We have the same #3.
13. I love butter. I made you cinnamon rolls. Will you make me butter pancakes?
Good answers, friend. Now come up with a set of ten of your own. That could be fun.
From Nora:
I have size ten feet!
Loved Anne of Green Gables.
Meatloaf is one of my comfort foods.
I also put mostly butter on my pancakes. Probably too much.
And Audrey Hepburn? You can’t go wrong with her movies. Ever.
From Jill:
I totally said meatloaf too. We love meatloaf, but it always makes me think of Wedding Crashers when Will Ferrell shouts “MA! THE MEATLOAF!”
I have size 9 feet. I don’t care so much these days but I am 5’3…most people my height don’t have such big feet!
and ps, never noticed your forehead. In fact I’ve always thought to myself that you are so pretty! grass is always greener, huh?
From Rachel:
I love meatloaf too!
From Jessica:
Amelia Bedelia books are awesome! My grandpa used to read them to me when I was little.
Also, I love your answer to number 1. So true.
From Taryn M. Peine:
I AGREE about old movies sister – I have had TCM on constantly in my sewing room and I’ve seen White Christmas, Holiday Inn – AMAZING.
From Amy --- Just A Titch:
Awww, Lauren, I can’t believe you have any complaints about your looks—I showed my bf a pic of you and was all, “THAT’S WHO I WANT TO LOOK LIKE!” I get i, though—we all have our own thoughts about our flaws.
Also, studs from my stud made me laugh out loud. Ha.
From Amber from Girl with the Red Hair:
I LOVED the Anne of Green Gables series as a kid also. I devoured the books and the TV series. Loved it!
From Leah:
This was fun! Re: the self absorption in conversations, I always think of it as a complete lack of social skills when people manipulate conversations to revolve around themselves. Not a very nice thing to have to deal with. Be thankful it isn’t you!
I have big feet and love peep toes too, I think they make big feet look smaller.
From Victoria:
I completely agree! Movies DO SUCK lately!!!! I LOVE classic movies! There have only been a couple of SEMI good movies lately! Bride Wars…super cute!!!!
From Tabaitha:
I loved Anne of Green Gables!
From Just Fine Just Dandy:
I feel like we are bossom buddies! Ha! I loved Anne of Green Gables too… These books as well as some Judy Blume books are the reason I ever got into reading back in the 3rd grade.
As for Anne, I even have all three of the movies. The last movie doesn’t really follow the books and came out YEARS after the first two, so Anne (Meagan Follows) looks strangely old!
From Cio:
who’s Anne of Green Gables?
From Kyla Roma:
I’m a big fan of your answer to #2 – I find that I have trouble with that, and most of my friends do too. And that makes for people monologuing at each other, not interesting!
I love that you think about this stuff, it makes me happy.
From Clare:
I love what you said about old movies – SO TRUE! I am a huge Audrey Hepburn fan, her movies are so magical to me.