100 Things for 2010

Servers are crashing, keyboards are clacking, mouses are clicking, women are chatting… It can only mean one thing: It’s time for the Ultimate Blog Party!

Women everywhere across America, Canada, Australia and yes even other parts of the world are going to get slightly obsessed and cross-eyed by the time this thing is over, believe me, I’ve seen it happen. Not me though, I’ve got it all under control, being a veteran UBP-er that is. ;0)

Several years ago (for my 100th post) I did a list of “100 Things About Me”, which also had the happy timing of coinciding with the very first Ultimate Blog Party ever. Here we are three years later and not only has the UBP grown (so much that their servers CRASHED when the Linky went up the past two years!) but my blog has grown and changed and so have I!

How fitting it is, then, for me to take this opportunity, my fourth UBP, to give you a new, updated, and DIFFERENT “100 Things?” And what a challenge! Oh who are we kidding? I talk enough I’ve got this in the bag. 😉

100 Things for 2010

10 Things About My Childhood

1.) I’m a Texas gal but I was born in California.

2.) Potting soil, marigolds, watermelons and paint thinner all make me think of California.

3.) I say “you guys” almost as much as “y’all” and I can only attribute that to living there until I was 6.

4.) My favorite cartoon then was Danger Mouse.

5.) I still have my first set of big girl sheets — Strawberry Shortcake, because I LOVED. HER. (Even more than I loved Rainbow Brite.)

6.) Speaking of cartoons, I hated Reading Rainbow and disliked Mr. Rogers. Dunno why.

7.) Carrot cake was my favorite and I remember requesting it as my birthday cake 3 or 4 years in a row. I still love carrot cake. MMMmmm.

8.) I loved spending entire summers at my great-grandmother’s house. Things I remember: traditions of making chocolate pudding by shaking it in a jar, watching Wheel of Fortune and playing in the sprinkler.

9.) I played girl’s softball as a kid, and to this day I’m a good enough shot to hit the bull’s eye on a dunking booth – usually in the first shot. The benefits of childhood sports. =P

10.) My favorite toys as a kid were my original (like when they VERY FIRST came out before they were really popular) Cabbage Patch doll, my Pound Purry kitty, barbie dolls and my Math Speak N Spell (or Speak N Math? Or whatever it was called. Actually my brother had the Speak N Spell and we shared and I liked it better. )

5 Things About Living in Texas

11.) I love bluebonnets. (I got that from my mother.)

12.) I DON’T love the heat in the summer! I am a weenie. I don’t like to be anywhere, in or outside, where it is hotter than 80 degrees. That’s my cut off.

13.) Every year I wish for a white Christmas but know it’s not likely to happen. Except this past year. When it DID happen. And I was out of town. I’ll probably have to wait another 20 years to see that again!

14.) I really, really, really don’t like western wear. Or country music. Or line dancing. But I do love Texas, really!

15.) Praise God for Tex-Mex food. I don’t care if it’s not REALLY Mexican food. I *heart* tortillas, pico, black beans, guacamole… YUM-O.

5 Things About My Hubby and Me

16.) I met my hubby the first time because I was dating one of his friends. I met him again later because I was interested in one of his other friends. And then God prevailed, James caught my eye, and he didn’t hold any of that against me. 😉

17.) I knew after dating my hubby a few months that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with him. (We got married two years later.)

18.) One of the things that I fell in love with? He made me laugh. A lot. .. He still makes me laugh.

19.) Our first date was at Braums. I think. I actually DON’T remember a lot of those “first” details that a lot of women do. Really lets my hubby off the hook for not remembering either. 😉

20.) I DO remember our first kiss. *Waggles eyebrows* (And that I sorta dared him into it, after he hinted at it and then seemed to be chickening out.) What can I say?

5 Things Marriage Has Taught Me

21.) Sometimes it doesn’t matter if you really were right. Okay…It rarely does matter really, and even then it’s not worth it to say it.

22.) When one person rocks the boat the other one can either rock back or steady it – it’s your choice.

23.) Sometimes it is so dad.blamed.hard. to do the right thing. (But God will help you do it every single time if you just ask.)

24.) There’s no harm in listening to your spouse’s suggestion and trying it their way. It’s incredibly pride-smashing when their way turns out to be a better way, but the end result is worth it.

25.) You have the ability to affect your spouse’s mood (and heart) with a single word, a single look, a single action — either good or bad. Use your ability wisely.

5 Things That Scare Me

26.) Tornadoes. Nuff Said.

27.) Cruise Ships (fear of drowning.)

28.) Scary Movies about realistic psycho creeps who target random people.

29.) Going to other people’s empty houses at night – like to check on their dog/cat, etc.

30.) The thought of losing my husband or my kids.

10 Things That Make Me Smile

31.) Scented candles.

32.) COFFEE.

33.) Good friends.

34.) Cute shoes!

35.) Kisses from my kids.

36.) Fresh cut flowers.

37.) A clean kitchen.

38.) Learning how to do something new.

39.) My husband.

40.) My God.

5 Things About My Faith

41.) I am firmly, completely certain of my faith, my salvation and my God.

42.) I consider myself Reformed. Though I’m learning that there are others who consider themselves Reformed who think/do/say things I don’t agree with, and there are others who think that “Reformed” means something other than what I think it means. But in the grand scheme of things that all means very little.

43.) I grew up in a Southern Baptist Church, and now after ten years I find myself back in a Southern Baptist Church. And for some reason, I feel a bit like a fish out of water.

44.) I’ve read the majority of the bible many, many times. I have attempted to read the whole bible through several times but never finished. I started reading it at the beginning on April 1st this year with the intention of reading the whole thing, every word, by July 31st of this year.

45.) My God is my all, and He is good. And I am imperfect and broken. Fallible. I fail Him as much as I succeed through Him.

5 Things About Homeschooling

46.) It’s hard! So much harder than I ever thought it would be.

47.) Some things do get easier, but then your family dynamic changes, or your child’s need changes, or SOMETHING and then other things get harder.

48.) Even so, I wouldn’t have it any other way, I don’t regret it, and it’s incredibly fulfilling.

49.) I have learned so much about myself, through my kids, from God, by schooling here at home. My kids are not the only students in this household.

50.) As many opportunities as you have to feel good about yourself and be proud of your kids, there are just as many opportunities to doubt yourself and come face to face with your faults. But nobody is perfect. Nobody.

10 Things I Want to Get Better At:

51.) Gardening. So far so good this Spring.

52.) Photography. Would love me a fancy camera but I’m doing good with what I’ve got.

53.) Listening.

54.) Self-control. And Self-Discipline. They go hand in hand.

55.) Cooking. I do “a’ight”

56.) Ironing. I’ve never been very good at it. Actually, I’ve been improving here lately. Before long I’ll be a pro. 😉

57.) Going to bed on time, getting up earlier in the day.

58.) Making time to read books.

59.) Sewing. I didn’t even start learning until after I had my oldest. I have spent very little time practicing since then.

60.) One thing I’d like to learn this year that I don’t know how to do at all: Can veggies & fruits & jams.

10 Things I Am Addicted To

(And I say that only half jokingly, I’m borderline holy ghost conviction intervention on a few of these and some of them I have already been convinced of and struggle with!)

61.) Coffee (see number 32.) ;0)

62.) The internet.

63.) Impulse shopping. (Recovering addict.)

64.) Sleeping in late.

65.) Chocolate. (Recovering addict.)

66.) Stress snacking. You know what I am talking about.

67.) Hugs and kisses from hubs and kids. CAN’T. GET. ENOUGH.

68.) Talking.

69.) Root beer.

70.) Tex-Mex food. After all, there’s the guacamole.

5 Things I Have Never Done (and never want to.)

71.) I’ve never smoked (Or done any other drugs.)

72.) I’ve never been drunk.

73.) I’ve never bungee jumped.

74.) I’ve never been to jail.

75.) I’ve never seen someone die.

5 Things I Have Never Done (but want to someday.)

76.) I’ve never been outside of the country.

77.) I’ve never bleached my hair blonde.

78.) I’ve never been to a Nat’l monument/park/etc. (Grand canyon, Yellowstone, Lincoln Memorial, Statue of Liberty and so on.)

79.) I’ve never owned a home.

80.) I’ve never been to a REALLY fancy restaurant.

5 Bad Habits

81.) Not folding laundry fresh from the dryer.

82.) Not returning phone calls in a timely manner.

83.) Starting projects and not finishing them.

84.) Interrupting.

85.) Forgetting things.

5 Good Habits

86.) Telling my kids and husband “I love you” frequently.

87.) Eating my daily 5 fruits and veggies.

88.) Depending on God daily.

89.) Being quick to say I’m sorry and being quick to forgive.

90.) Tucking my kids in each night.

5 Things I Want to Be Remembered For:

91.) A good heart.

92.) Being a strong woman of God.

93.) Helping others in need.

94.) My smile.

95.) Making others smile.

5 Things I Wish:

96.) I wish there was a housecleaning fairy.

97.) I wish it didn’t hurt so bad when someone you love wrongs you.

98.) I wish I knew exactly what to do, immediately, all the time.

99.) I wish I had the metabolism of my college days.

100.) I wish I had a dollar for every single time one of my kids said, “But mo-o-o-o-m!!”

Well that was a doozy – did I count them right? I hope you got a snicker or a smile out of some of those. Feel free to add your own to the comments! And then when you’re done, you can head back to the UBP to *meet* more people. Remember, pace yourself, take frequent breaks and don’t ignore your kiddos TOO MUCH. Tip: I like to first visit all the numbers that end in the same number as my contest entry and then go back through some of the others if I can. But that’s just one way to do it. Have fun!

~~ Some required details if I want to be entered to win some prizes. Not that I’ll be upset if I don’t, but prizes are always cool.~~

My top 3 prize picks would be:

USC 60 – $200 gift certificate for any Wall Slicks vinyl wall decal of your choice. Provided by: Modern Wall Graphics, the makers of Wall Slicks

US112 – $50 Amazon Gift card Provided by: Robyn ~ Our Homeschool Home

US46 – Scentsy plug in warmer and 3 scents of the winner’s choice! Provided by: Amundsen House of Chaos

I’d also like:

USC 39 – Provided by: MomDot; USC 8 – Provided by: Kelly’s Lucky You; US104 – Provided by: Shoot Me Now!; USC 3 – Provided by: Peggy Gorman; USC 63 – Provided by: Tree Lindsay @ Mommies Faves; US49 – $25 gift card to Starbucks Provided by: Janice Yurek; US73 – Provided by: Escalate Network; US87 – Provided by: Christine/LiveLaughLoveCj; US68 – Provided by: Mrs. Marine; US52 – Provided by: The Product Review Place; US55 – Provided by: Mom of 2 Boys, Wife of 1; US113 – Provided by: Susan Stahley; ; US85 – Provided by: Beautiful Blooms; US32 – Provided by: The Frugal Novice; US37 – Provided by: Grocery Shop For FREE!!; US31 – Provided by: Jennifer Sikora (For Such a Time as This)