top ten.

so a few days ago, i was “tagged” my high school friend and fellow blogger, laura. the idea to list 8 random facts about yourself and then tag 8 other bloggers to do the same. well, pardon me, but i feel like bending the rules a bit today… so instead of 8, you’re getting 2 bonus factoids to total 10 and instead of me tagging you, well, i’m just too lazy for that right now. but if you’re up for it, just let me know. here we go…

1. i grew up as a rather picky eater. over time that has definitely changed but one thing has not – i absolutely hate any food that is white and creamy. just the thought of mayonnaise makes me queasy and the smell of ranch dressing, nauseous. cottage cheese is a definite no, and i definitely don’t prefer cool whip on my pie. call me crazy, but i just can’t do it.

2. i have no idea where this came from, but i have a huuuuuuge grammar pet peeve. me, the math nerd? yeah – odd. most mistakes i can overlook, but there is one that just drives me nuts and hear it almost daily! so what do you say when some one asks you…”how are you doing?”…. “i’m doing good”?? NO, it’s “i’m doing WELL”!!! it’s an automatic response, but i just can’t help but correct the poor soul immediately after they respond. well not good, people, well not good.

3. i think one of the best things about my family is that my mom and i share the same birthday – december 11th. although 31 years apart, it was always really special to be able to celebrate one another together. and what are the odds, right? but being a breached baby, my mom had to have a caesarian section to deliver me...and yeah, those can be scheduled. it took me until last year to realize that maybe those odds weren't so far fetched. ha.

4. i love to bargain shop - it's an addiction really. when life has me feeling blue i head out to the outlets, loehmanns, or the local consignment shops and hunt away. even if i don't find anything, the process helps reground me. but when i do find that steal of a deal, i'm on cloud nine. what can i say? i like the designer look (ok, brand) for less.

5. i'm absolutely obsessed with any aquaphor/eucerin product. first was introduced to aquaphor by my dermatologist when i went on accutane prior my senior year in high school. it was the only thing out that there kept my lips for peeling off. it was miraculous! since then i've been hooked. if you are looking for the best lip balm or hand creme out there, these are it.

6. my all-time favorite stress reliever is squishing my little lion, franklin. he's quite the butterball, and i just the most laid back animal i have ever met. and this little loverboy just loves the attention...well, to an extent. if you bug him too much, he won't take it out his aggression on you, but he will pounce his brother winston to release the angst. either way, it makes for an entertaining show.

7. i used to be quite the clutterbug, neat and organized, but i had way too much stuff. now i prefer near minimalism - i just can't stand excess in my house! it seems like every month, i'm throwing stuff away, making a trip to goodwill or reassessing my needs to less. i mean, why get bogged down in all the distractions of things, things, things.

8. when most people are asked what is the favorite part of their body, feet are probably the last on the list. well they are the top of mine - i love my twinkle toes! seriously, i wrap my feet in baby oil and thick socks twice a week before i head to bed to wake up super soft feet. it's one of the ways i like to pamper myself, even if in the littlest way.

9. i've been going through severe withdrawal this summer...of the office. i am way too hooked on this show. i have all of the re-runs saved on my dvr and will just play them over and over again and laugh my head off. my hubby finds this annoying at first but soon gets caught up in the brilliant comedy every time. i'm counting down the days to the hour long season premiere on september 27!!! in the meantime, i've been faithfully following petra nemcova's a model life series. surprisingly i find it actually good, and lucia's definitely my fave. eh, something's gotta get me through.

10. in college i prided myself on being an oxymoron – a texan in yankee-land, a pretty girl majoring in engineering, a christian living it real in a sorority, getting my m.r.s. degree at an ivy, yada yada yada. even in my first round of interviews with accenture, the manager noted how remarkable it was i didn’t fit into any norm and i beamed with delight. it was one of the main reasons i actually joined the firm – i loved how they valued personal diversity. but in the last few years since graduating, i have strayed from this perspective, wishing my life had a bit more continuity, my path more predictable, or life direction just easier to grasp. honestly, i’m trying with all my might to shake this because really i think i was so much cooler when i wasn’t concerned with such things.

alright, so that's me in a nutshell. any takers??