11 Things

This morning I woke up to a @mention from the lovely Miss Danielle and was tagged for the "11 Things" meme. Normally I say thanks for being included and never really partake, but this one seemed fun and I didn't have anything else planned for the blog today so I said why not! Thanks for tagging me, Danielle!

There are five rules:

1. Post these rules.

2. Post a photo of yourself and 11 random things.

3. Answer the questions set for you in the original post.

4. Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them.

5. Go to their blog/twitter and tell them you've tagged them.

Let's go!

11 Random Things:

1. My absolute favorite cities in the world are Budapest and Amsterdam. I'd pack up my little family and move to central Europe in a heartbeat if I felt I could adequately learn the language. The architecture and story of Budapest is truly remarkable. And Amsterdam has the most beautiful canals, bridges, and row houses. 

2. I'm blind in my left eye, and I have been ever since I was a little bebe. I don't know what it's like to see out of both eyes so I just make the best of it! The hardest thing in the world: winged eyeliner! Gah, someone needs to come up with "The half-blind girl's guide to winged liner". Oh! And being up to bat in softball! My depth perception is a bit off haha! (But yes, I still have a driver's license and the only restriction I have is that I have to have both outside mirrors on my car. I have perfect vision in my right eye!)

3. Speaking of softball, going to the batting cages and go karts is my idea of the perfect date. I miss playing softball (and volleyball) every day. It'd be really fun to get in on a Jack and Jill league (my mom played up until she was pregnant with me!)

4. I cannot, for the life of me, say "Indianapolis" correctly on the first go unless I consciously think about it. I always pronounce it "Indiana-apolis".

5. Pickle-sickles are where it's at! If you don't know what that is, it's frozen pickle juice popsicles. Basically like sodium + vinegar in a frozen shape... and it's awesome. Susannah (and Mike) are making the most disgusting faces reading this, I just know it!

6. In high school I really really wanted to row crew for sport (just at an intramural/club level though). I think it's the ultimate sport/workout and it's just neat to watch.

7. I collect novelty salt and pepper shakers. This is kind of a new one, but I already have a ridiculous assortment. Ranging from stackable burgers, ice creams, giraffes, sharks and a plethora of mushrooms, I like anything cute or kitschy.

8. I was a tomboy for most of my life. The thought of wearing a dress disgusted me until I was a senior in high school, or maybe even college. I was a jeans + shirt kind of gal, but I wore mostly Hollister + Abercrombie type stuff (I know. Whoa.) One day I just decided to like dresses and that was that. Now I own one pair of jeans and basically zero shirts. It's all about the easy to manage dresses! (But for real -- My room was decorated in totally UT Vols stuff at one point... like, football. I wanted to play football. Sometimes I wonder if my frontal lobe was swapped in my sleep.)

9. My favorite author is Anna Maxted. She writes funny Brit-chick novels and I have every single one. I also love Sophie Kinsella of the Shopaholic Series (and more!). Please don't let the movie adaptation of "Confessions of a Shopaholic" ruin the series for you. They are seriously so much better in book form. (I know lighthearted fiction isn't the most noteworthy to be reading, but I guess it's better to read something as opposed to nothing!)

10. My first job was at the Elephant Sanctuary of Tennessee. It's a non-profit elephant refuge that provides sanctuary and 2,700 acres of land for sick and old elephants that have been confiscated or retired from circuses, zoos and private owners. I worked up in the office starting when I was 15 or 16 and stayed there for a year and a half (I think?). Delhi was my favorite ele and it was the most incredible experience working there. I would've rerouted my college plans to go to school for zoology, emphasis on pachyderms, if the sanctuary were anywhere other than my hometown. (You can check out more about the Sanctuary here, and even watch a live feed of the elephants! It's closed to the public though, so you can't go see them. There is a new Education center in town though!)

11. My second favorite animal is the Octopus. I started reading about them in the 6th grade and I think they're fascinating. They're so incredible intelligent, agile, and interesting. Did you know they have 3 hearts? And can squeeze through holes as tiny as a quarter? The only hard part of their body is their beak! (My absolute favorite animal is the Great White Shark of course!) 

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

Here are Danielle's 11 questions she tagged me for:
1. If money, schooling or time was no obstacle, what career would you choose?
Without a doubt: Marine Biology with an emphasis on Great White Sharks (or just sharks + rays (and maybe cephalopods, too!) in general). I'd love to work in the field, studying, tagging and documenting the migrating and mating patterns of Great Whites. So very little is known about them and they're in danger of extinction due to the finning of fishermen. I'd love to work in conservation.

2. What's the one thing you look forward to every day?
A bubble bath. Sounds silly, but it's a nice half hour break from the hustle and bustle, and I get to enjoy it all to myself. Candles, smelly good stuff and a book are the highlight of my evening.

3. What is your number one, all-time, favorite blog?
This one is hard... I'm going to say Susannah's because she's my best friend and I like to keep tabs on what she's doing since she lives 600 miles away! (Totes not creepy, right?!)

4. Biggest online pet peeve?
Passive aggression. Especially on Twitter. We're all guilty of it, I know, but I strive to not be "that girl" with the passive remarks and attitude. It just causes you to alienate yourself.

5. What is your all-time favorite book?
Getting Over it by Anna Maxted. Funny, but sincere, reading at it's best!

6. What would your "last meal" be?
Ooooh this is tough! It's a toss up between my mom's chocolate gravy + biscuits or Mike's brown rice + veggie skillet casserole (with an Olive Garden salad on the side!) and sweet tea. Home cookin' all the way! (You know, OG aside)

7. Do you believe in love at first sight?
I'm not sure. I don't think so, no. Maybe interest/infatuation/lust, but not love. However I've never experienced it so maybe it takes seeing to believe!

8. What would your ideal Sunday morning consist of?

Sleeping in just a little bit (since I get home from work around 3:45am), waking up to a fresh pot of coffee, and Mike's French toast. Lounging in our pjs to catch up on our week's worth of DVR recordings. 

9. Why do you blog?

Originally it was to share my adventures living in NYC with my family and friends, but it's since become a way for me to meet likeminded people and share my little piece of the world. It's fun!

10. If you had to choose one color to wear forever, what would you pick?

Oh man, I instantly want to say a blushy/peachy/light pink because it's my favorite color. I'm not quite sure it's the *most* flattering on me, but I don't think I could ever tire of it! As long as I could mix and match the fabrics... lace and chiffon, bring it on!

And here are my 11 questions for the gals I tag!

1. Do you believe in astrology? Why or why not?

2. If you could teleport to any time and place, where would you go and why?

3. What are the three closest items to you right now?

4. If you had a spirit animal, what would it be?

5. What is your earliest childhood memory?

6. Where do you hope to see yourself in 5 years?

7. Have you kept in touch with your childhood best friend(s)?

8. If you had to describe yourself in 5 words, what would they be?

9. Describe your idea of a perfect day: Where would you go, what would you do, who would you do it with?

10. What kind of "weird" foods do you like? (They could just be weird to your friends/family, kind of like my pickle sickles!)

11. Do you collect anything? If so, what? 

I tag: Susannah, Kate, Moorea, Mandy, Diana, Elycia, Beca and Kaylah! (and YOU if you're up for it!)

Hope you enjoyed learning a little bit more about me! Happy Sunday!