Life Of A Blogger #43

Weekly feature created by Jessi at Novel Heartbeats to discuss one non-bookish topic per week. For more information about this feature click here

This week’s topic: Where were you 13 years ago

I was in seventh grade. I was in school. I don’t remember every detail of that day, but I remember the shock and aw of everyone around me. I remember that we did nothing but watch TV in every class. I was lucky enough to not know anyone in New York City and to have no friends or family flying anywhere, so I didn’t know anyone who was killed or injured in that terrible tragedy.

Something that is hard for me to admit now is that when it happened, I didn’t understand what the big deal was. As a kid, I had a hard time empathizing with people. I lived in NC, far from New York and I couldn’t understand why everyone was upset. We didn’t know these people. We weren’t directly effected by it, so what was the big deal? I am now appalled that it was one of my initial thoughts, but it was. I didn’t understand the magnitude of it or it’s implications.

Where were you on that fateful day? School? Work? Home? And were you old enough to grasp what was happening? Let me know in the comments!

Life Of A Blogger #42

Weekly feature created by Jessi at Novel Heartbeats to discuss one non-bookish topic per week. For more information about this feature click here

This week’s topic: Fitness

::snorts:: Yeah, okay, about that. I hate exercise. I mean I seriously hate it. You know that whole spiel about exercise releasing endorphins and those make people happy? I’m the exception. After working out, I don’t feel good. I feel terrible. I feel hot and sweaty and gross and cranky. I have yet to find an activity that I can do that doesn’t cost boatloads of money that is considered fitness. I tried to do the whole running thing….nope. My issue with running is that I’m tired very easily. I know, I have to work up to it, do the couch to 5k challenge where you build your stamina. I get that, but unless I do it every day, I lose drive. If I go every day, I can continue going, but the day I allow myself a break, I just can’t make myself go back, which implies that I don’t really like it. The problem with doing it every day, besides the fact that it’s highly unrecommended, is that I get shin splints from the overexertion. I’m thinking of trying again at a gym, setting the time up a treadmill and going three times a week, but the idea with dreadfully depressing.

I went to the gym once with my husband when he first got a membership and I found it to be the most boring half hour of my life. Seriously, even listening to an audiobook, I was ready to pull my eyes out with boredom. I feel like I have so much I need to do and I can spend the hour or whatever cleaning or reading or working on my blog or anything more helpful than that.

I know logically that I being healthy is important, but that always spurs the question of if it’s about getting fit or is it about trying to mold myself into the Hollywood definition of pretty? I’m not obese by any means, but I’m a good 20 pounds over what doctor’s say my target weight range is. But is that really a “healthy” weight? What is a healthy weight? I may hate exercise, but I do walk to work every week day, which adds up to 2 miles a day (it’s half a mile to work and I walk to work, home for lunch, back to work, and then home at the end of the day), so I am healthy enough.

The topic of fitness just brings out my inner war. I want to be smaller, but I also want to learn to love myself the way I am. My husband seems to think I’m the prettiest person on the planet as is, so I want to learn to see through his eyes, but it’s a hard task for some as self-deprecating as me. I was one of those infuriating people in high school was ate constantly and never gained weight and it’s biting me in the ass now. I have since gotten a desk job and let me tell you, that really sucks the energy out of you. You’d think after sitting at a desk all day you’d be desperate to get on your feet, but it’s not the case. After you get used to it, you just want to go home and sit some more. It puts you in a cycle that’s hard to break. I took the first steps to breaking it in March, when I moved closer to work and started walking, but I know it’s not nearly enough.

I really want to start taking classes for health, something I might enjoy like karate (or some other form of martial arts) or fencing or yoga or anything really, but all the options here are either way more than I can justify paying or the classes meet each week while I’m at work. Or there are the awful ones that meet each week at an absurdly early hour which I cannot handle. I get between 7 and 7:30 on most days (even weekends), but I can’t make myself get up any earlier than that.

That was really convoluted, but what I’m saying is that I’m working on it. I’m working on both the ability to accept my body as is as well as trying to make myself be more active. What about you? Are you fit? Are you unfit and proud? Let me know in the comments!

Life Of A Blogger #41

Weekly feature created by Jessi at Novel Heartbeats to discuss one non-bookish topic per week. For more information about this feature click here

This week’s topic: Fears!

• Being a bad parent – I don’t have kids, but part of why at the moment is I’m terrified I’ll suck as a parent.
• Spiders that are crawling on me – I’m perfectly fine with a spider on the ground or near me or even one I’m intentionally hold, but one that I notice crawling on me without my permission scares me…and it will die.
• The first big hill on a roller coaster – I have no problem getting on them or seeing them, but when I’m strapped in, leaning back, climbing that first big hill I’m always hit with this “why the hell am I doing this?” type of fear. Sometimes it’s so intense I’m surprised I don’t cause a fuss and demand to be let off. But then we go down the big hill and all is right with the world.
• Drop tower rides – Logically I know they are safe. Logically I know that the drop on many roller coasters is much higher. Logically there is nothing for me to fear. Logic, however, plays little part in fear. I’ll get on them, but they always make me scream like a terrified child.

That’s it, I think. I have none of the traditional fears. I’m good with heights, enclosed spaces, spiders (unless they are crawling on me), clowns, and just about whatever else you want to throw at me. What about you? What are some of your fears? Let me know in the comments!

Life Of A Blogger #40

Weekly feature created by Jessi at Novel Heartbeats to discuss one non-bookish topic per week. For more information about this feature click here

This week’s topic: Freebie!

Today would be the perfect day to use this freebie to gab about my love for rollercoasters and Carowinds Amusement park, but since I have already wrote a post about that, I’ll let it go for now. I only want to say that I’m super excited about the new rollercoaster and can’t wait until next year when I can ride it. WHOO!

Something I really enjoy that I don’t talk about here often is shopping at thrift stores. I’m addicted to digging through thrift store racks and bins and shelves to find amazing things. I mostly concentrate on books lately, but when the mood strikes, I dig for clothes, shoes, knick knacks, DVDs, and anything else that strikes my fancy. It’s such a thrill to look through a Goodwill bookshelf and find a book that you’ve been searching for and you’ve only got to fork over $1-$1.50 for it. If you look back on my Showcase Sunday posts, you’ll see what I mean. The vast majority of those books are from thrift stores. One of the things I love about it is that you never know what you’re going to find. Sometimes, I admit, there are days where I find nothing, but then there are days where I come home with way more than I should have been able to buy for $20.

Again, mostly it’s books, but when the mood strikes to look at the clothes, I find great things too. My absolute favorite dress is from a Goodwill. I have several pairs of awesome boots from there or Value Village or Salvation Army. You get great things.

That’s really all I have to say about it! Are any of you thrift store addicts? Let me know in the comments.

Life Of A Blogger #39

Weekly feature created by Jessi at Novel Heartbeats to discuss one non-bookish topic per week. For more information about this feature click here

This week’s topic: Favorite Restaurants
Ooooo….food is a topic I’m great with. I have bunches of restaurants I love. Starting with:

ABSOLUTE FAVORITES

• Substation II: Specifically the one in Gastonia NC. I have loved their subs as long as I can remember. Large #1, all the way, extra oil and vinegar. They even catered my wedding. There is just something about the atmosphere and the people that keep me coming back.
• Tavern 24: This is a more recent discovery. The one in Gastonia opened last year and I’ve been hooked ever since. The food is great, but the cheese fries are what keeps me coming back…that and the burgers. They make exceptionally good burgers. In fact, I think they are my favorite place for burgers. My husband says their wings are great as well.
• Jia Asian Fusion: This place has the best sushi in Gaston County. That title used to be reserved for Sakura’s, but this place has it beat, easy. That may be because this place was created by the guy who used to be the lead sushi chef at Sakura’s, but either way, it’s fantastic.
• Koto’s Japanese Steakhouse: Why 2 Japanese places? Because this is my go to place for non-sushi Japanese food. Their teriyaki chicken is great and they have the lowest price….plus a nice, thick shrimp sauce.
• Mellow Mushroom: I’m actually not a huge pizza fan. I am probably the only person on planet Earth who hates pepperoni pizza. I like pepperonis, but on pizza, they become over oily and gross. Another issue is I hate the tomato based pizza sauce. Again, I love tomatoes, but that sauce just isn’t for me. The great thing about mellow mushroom is you don’t have to get the tomato sauce and they have a plethora of topping options. Their made to order pizzas are well worth the price and the psychedelic atmosphere keeps you checking out all your nearest locations because everyone is different.
• Firehouse Subs: I know, a second sub place, really? But they steam theirs and it’s amazing. We only just got one near me, so I like this place enough to drive at least an hour away to get one of their sandwiches, which says a lot about how good they are.
• Panera Bread: Three words: Bacon Turkey Bravo. Everything about this sandwich is amazing. The tomato basil bread, the meat, the sauce…oh the sauce. I wish they bottled it and sold it separately because I would put it on everything. Add in the french baguette and the possibility of a cheese danish and I’m sold.
• Showmars: Every time I eat here, I’m completely satisfied with their food. The service isn’t always amazing and the prices are a little higher than I’d prefer to pay, but the food is always excellent.
• Tony’s Ice Cream: So this is less for for and more for desert, but I couldn’t make a list of favorite restaurants without Tony’s. Tony’s is part of the reason I don’t think I could ever move too far away from here. It’s a local ice cream shop that makes the best ice cream I’ve ever had. Their normal food is pretty good too, but I definitely go for the ice cream.

HONORABLE MENTIONS

• Steak N Shake: Their food isn’t oh-my-god awesome, but it’s definitely tasty. Considering I can get a side salad, a pretty good bacon cheeseburger, and as much water as I want for less than $5 has me coming back for more. Also, their shakes are pretty scrumptious.
• Waffle House: Waffles people, WAFFLES! They can add pecans, and trust me, you want them to. I also love their Texas Cheesesteak and their hashbrowns. Mmmhhmm…tasty.
• Olive Garden: At one point, this would have been on my absolute favorites list. In the past few years, however, it’s gone a bit downhill. They got rid of some of my favorite dishes and their prices just keep inching higher and higher. They do get an honorable mention because I love their salad and breaksticks. Also because when they get a dish right, they get it really right….my last one was pretty bad though.
• Jack In The Box: I know, it’s fast food, but this is the one fast food restaurant that has yet to disappoint me. Wendy’s keeps nixing my favorite sandwiches (or doubling the prices) and Arby’s is doing the same. Every time I go in to Jack’s the food is good and the employees are nice and I can order breakfast all day long, which is a huge plus for me.
• 2000 Cafe: There is nothing particularly special about his chinese restaurant, it’s just the closest one to me with the best chicken and vegetables…though their egg rolls suck.
• McAlister’s Deli: The sandwiches themselves are kinda hit and miss. On the days they put their minds to it, they make an amazing grilled cheese, but half the time, it’s not so great. However, their side items are to die for. I only ever get the potato salad because it’s epic, but I have it on good authority that the mac & cheese is just as tasty.

As you can see, I like food. What are some of your favorite restaurants? Do love any of my favorites? Let me know in the comments!

Life Of A Blogger #38

Weekly feature created by Jessi at Novel Heartbeats to discuss one non-bookish topic per week. For more information about this feature click here

This week’s topic: Best Childhood Memories

Most of my childhood memories are jumbled together because we did similar activities repeatedly. I have a hard time just picking out one or two moments. It comes down to two similar events: trips to Carowinds with my mom and hiking mountains with my dad. I did both activities often enough as a child that I have a mass of memories of both, but I have difficulty discerning which memory came from what trip. I also fondly remember going to Emerald Point Water Park a few times. And swimming trips in general were always fun.

What about you? What are you favorite childhood memories? Let me know in the comments!

Life Of A Blogger #37

Weekly feature created by Jessi at Novel Heartbeats to discuss one non-bookish topic per week. For more information about this feature click here

This week’s topic: Favorite Outings

I’m not entirely sure what favorite outings means. X_X Does it mean favorite places to go? Favorite trips you have been on? I’m going with the first one because I’ve not been very many places.

On the top of my list of favorite places to go/places I have been is Carowinds. I know, I’ve gushed ad nauseam about that place and their glorious roller coasters, but I can’t get enough of them. The only downer is, besides my mother, I don’t really have anyone to share the experience with. My husband doesn’t care for roller coasters, Lauren is deathly terrified of them, and the same goes for Kandice. See this face? It’s a sad gnome face.

Another favorite place is anywhere there is a concert. I haven’t been to one in much too long, but I love to go and experience music live, especially in small venues where you feel connected to the performers in a way that isn’t possible in amphitheaters.

Beyond those two, there aren’t any favorite places or things to do. I just like to go out and have fun with my husband and/or friends. We usually have the most fun just goofing off all around as opposed to a specific place.

What about you? What are some of your favorite places to go?

Life Of A Blogger #36

Weekly feature created by Jessi at Novel Heartbeats to discuss one non-bookish topic per week. For more information about this feature click here

This week’s topic: Your Quirks

~I’m a little OCD about some organizational things, like how you arrange my books or movies. It has to be a specific way.
~I love peaches but hate anything peach flavored.
~I hate bananas but love banana nut bread.
~I’m obsessed with roller coasters. The higher and more terrifying looking, the better.
~I’m picky about story lines. Happy endings are a must.
~I have a difficult time driving automatics. I know, it’s crazy, but I just hate doing it. The brakes are always touchier and I am forever reaching for the clutch.
~I hate cold sweet tea, but I like hot tea with sugar and milk.
~I’m only ticklish to certain people. Most people can poke me and I won’t budge, but there are a select few that make me jump out of my skin.

That’s it, I think! What are some of your quirks?

Life Of A Blogger #35

Weekly feature created by Jessi at Novel Heartbeats to discuss one non-bookish topic per week. For more information about this feature click here

This week’s topic: Tattoos

I love the idea of tattoos, but not necessarily the reality. I do want a tattoo one day, but the idea of trying to pick something to permanently embed into my skin is more than a little daunting. What if I wake up one day and hate it? The only thing I can definitely say I want is script somewhere saying “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.” with paw prints around it. But that begs the question of where do I want it? I don’t like leg tattoos (I’m just not a fan of how they look) or arm tattoos (again, I juts generally don’t like how they look). I guess I’m okay with ankle tattoos, but I’m not sure how script would look circling my ankle. I actually love wrist tattoos, but again, how would that look? Same with back of the neck tattoos. Shoulders I’m good with, but not so much on the lower back. I also really love those behind the ear ones (have you seen the picture of the Peter Pan characters tattooed behind the ears?).

Then there is the whole issue of finding a reputable tattoo artist. I have to trust this person not only enough to allow them to repeatedly poke me with a needle and hope I don’t catch something from it, but also to be depositing ink into my flesh and hoping it doesn’t turn out badly. I’ve seen way too many tattoos that look like shit to not be overly cautious.

What about you? Do you have any tattoos? Do you want any tattoos? Let me know in the comments!

Life Of A Blogger #34

Weekly feature created by Jessi at Novel Heartbeats to discuss one non-bookish topic per week. For more information about this feature click here

This week’s topic: Sports You Have Played

It might surprise you if you read my Sports Teams post to know that I did play softball and basketball as a kid. I wasn’t particularly good at either, but a played to have something to do. The there was all the kickball in every gym class ever, which I rather enjoyed. I don’t have issues with playing sports or even others playing sports, just the absurd amount of money athletes make for those talents.

Do you enjoying playing sports? Let me know in the comments!