100 Things About Me - Part 10

91. Wrigley Field is one of the greatest places on Earth.

92. I am hopeful that 2008 is THE year for the Cubs.

93. I recently revamped my photography website, but am still not 100% happy with it.

94. My brother and sister are 13 & 12 years older than me.

95. I love hoola hooping on Wii Fit.

96. My first Wii Fit age I was given was 44. I have since gotten the Wii Fit age of 25.

97. My 10-year high school reunion is in September 2008, and I'm actually looking forward to it.

98. I'd rather have a calendar full of things to do ahead of time rather than making plans as I go.

99. I'll be seeing NKOTB in concert in October 2008. This will be the 2nd time I've seen them. The first time was when I was like 11.

100. I actually found it to be much harder than you'd think to come up with 100 unique, interesting things about myself. Thank goodness that's over with!

100 Things About Me - Part 9

81. I cannot stand the sound of a tape gun. It seriously grates on my nerves.

82. I've got a great big photography paraphernalia wish list. At the top; a speed flash. (Hint, hint ... my birthday is in April! LOL)

83. I have a recent addiction to jewelry. Costume, fancy, fun ... you name it.

84. I won't clean toilets. Nope. My husband gets the job of cleaning the bathroom. Toilets give me the heebie jeebies and I wouldn't dare stick my hand in one - gloves or not. Plus, I don't stand up to pee and make a mess, so really why should I clean it?

85. I cannot stand handling raw meat. Especially chicken. I can work with ground beef, but I really have to think about other things. Chicken really grosses me out and I nearly gag because of it's texture and somewhat sliminess when it's raw.

86. When I was in kindergarten, I won a contest naming the school newsletter.

87. I can't ride in the backseat of the car, as I get car sick.

88. I am not very good at multiplication.

89. I would love to drive a pink car.

90. I love Guitar Hero III for Wii, even if I can only currently play on the Easy level.

100 Things About Me - Part 8

71. I hate runny scrambled eggs. In fact, if I order them out, I order them scrambled well.

72. I have a love affair with fried cheese.

73. I prefer my toilet paper to be hung where the paper unrolls from the top, not the underside. If it's hung incorrectly, I'll turn it around.

74. I'm beginning to believe that I may actually like to live somewhere where it never gets cold or snows.

75. I think the next CD I purchase will be Billy Ocean.

76. I did repeat myself throughout my 100 Things About Me and I just had to come in here and edit this.

77. I think Simon Cowell is sexy in his British, very snarky and honest way.

78. My favorite Cubs player is Aramis Ramirez. I'd like to meet him, and shake his hand, and hug him, and ........ (you fill in the blanks)

79. I did not think I'd like Caesar salad, therefore never in my life tried it. I did for the first time last month, and I love it.

80. I have recently dedicated myself to the Brighten Lives program and pledge to donate at least quarterly every year.

100 Things About Me - Part 7

61. I am horrible at balancing my checkbook on a timely basis. Most times I have to balance 2-3 months worth at a time.

62. I have never used a debit card. It's cash or credit. I'd never be able to remember to jot down debit purchases to keep track, and I think I'd seriously end up with some f'd up finances.

63. I'm having a really hard time remembering my first 60 'about me's' and feel like I'm repeating myself.

64. I love American Idol. I have watched nearly every episode of every season. I think of all the winners; Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood are the best and have really done exceptionally well with stardom.

65. I hate foods with certain textures/lumps. I will not eat cottage cheese and do not like orange juice with pulp, just as examples.

66. I hate tomatoes, but love things like pasta/pizza sauce and salsa!

67. I am shy. I used to be extremely shy, but have come out of my shell quite a bit as I got older. (Seriously, am I repeating myself?)

68. I think hearing my son read is one of the sweetest sounds ever.

69. My daughter is destined to go to boarding school. She is 3.5 with the attitude of a 13 year old. So help me when she is that old.

70. I hate politics.

100 Things About Me - Part 6

51. When I turn 30, I hope someone throws me a surprise party.

52. Each and every porno we own, I bought myself.

53. My everyday handwriting is a mix between printing and cursive.

54. I lost my virginity at 15 years old, on a couch, while Jerry Springer was on the tv in the background.

55. I have a serious love for shoes. I own many, and almost never not look in the shoe department when at a store.

56. I pick my nose. Sometimes you just have to get those critters out and that's the easiest way.

57. I hate the dentist. Many things regarding teeth (including wiggly teeth) make me squeamish and queasy.

58. I love my bosses. Seriously. They are terrific people to work for, and for the most part, going to work each day is really not that bad.

59. I think the guys (Wayne Brady, Colin Mochrie and Ryan Stiles) on Whose Line Is It Anyway? are hilarious.

60. I hate bugs.

100 Things About Me - Part 5

41. In my freshman year of high school, I went through a phase where I really enjoyed rap music and wore long tshirts and baggy jeans. In fact, I got men's jeans to achieve the look.

42. One of my favorite songs, that will always be one of my favorites, is Lady in Red by Chris DeBurgh.

43. I think Matthew McConaughey is HOT! Totally dream and drool worthy.

44. I am a Chicago Cubs fan through and through. No matter how much they break my heart, year after year, I still keep coming back for more.

45. I suffer from allergies that generally flare up in the spring, and then again in the fall.

46. I have 2 siblings. They are only 1/2 related; we share the same mother. Otherwise I am an 'only' child between my folks.

47. My cousins are all female. The 4 of us were all pretty close growing up. Now 2 of us still reside in Illinois (me in the burbs, the other near the city), 1 resides in Arizona, and the other in Connecticut.

48. One place I love to shoot photos, and don't get down there nearly enough is downtown Chicago. While down there, I love to pick up Garrett's caramel pocorn.

49. I tend to drive slightly over the speed limit, so when someone in a fancy car rides my ass and then passes me, it really pisses me off.

50. I'm a multi-tasker. I usually have about 20 things going on at once. Hence why I started this at 2:40 and am just finishing up at 4:53pm.

100 Things About Me - Part 4

31. I love Christmas time, and decorating for it -- but I hate taking everything down when it's all over.

32. I love the smell of coffee, but don't drink it.

33. When I was a child, I had a pet goldfish named Norman.

34. I have only flown 3 (well, I guess 6 flights) times in my life. Once when I was 11 and I went to Disney World with family. In 2000, when we went on our honeymoon to Jamaica. And lastly, in 2006 when we went to Disney World.

35. As above; my first trip to Disney World was with my aunts, uncle and cousins. No folks (mom won't fly). The second trip was our first as a family; me, the hubby and our two kiddos (which, the trip I won through a local radio station (score!!!)). The plan is to visit WDW again, this fall, this time with my folks (we're driving).

36. Back to planes; the most recent flying experience was a bad one. Tail end of a hurricane over Florida didn't allow immediate landing .... we circled for so long we had to go to Jacksonville to refuel. On the landing into Jax, I used an airsick bag for the first time in my life (thank goodness my stomach was pretty much empty).

37. I've only been out of the country twice. To Canada and to Jamaica.

38. My favorite item of makeup is eyeshadow. Love that there are so many shades of color out there!

39. Fall is my favorite season. I love the changing leaves/colors and that the air is a bit cooler and crisp.

40. Even with fall being my favorite season, I do love summer quite a bit. BBQs, outdoor activities, and it seems like everyone is happier when the sun is shining and the weather is beautiful.

100 Things About Me - Part 3

21. Back in the day, I was HUGE New Kids on the Block fan. LOVED them! Joey was my favorite. ;) I had all the paraphernalia that came along with it; clock, bed sheets, dolls, buttons, posters, etc. And saw them in concert!

22. I was diagnosed with a degenerative disc in early 2002. To this day I suffer from back pain quite a bit.

23. I used to want a family of 6 kids. Then I got married and had a boy. Then I had a girl. Now two is plenty, thank you.

24. I dated one guy from November 1995 until the fall of 1998. Looking back, that is one thing I would have changed in my life. Not having to do with anything about him; just that I was 'tied-down' throughout high school.

25. My feet are always cold. Like icicles, really. Maybe toe-sicles. :) They don't "thaw out" until about July, and then come, say October or November and they start into their frozen-like state again.

26. I have never, ever, ever tried pot. Or any other kind of drug for that matter. Honestly, not one puff of pot. No desire to try, and I'm still not curious about it. I think it smells like something my cat left in the litter box.

27. I am a cat person through and through. I talk to them, talk for them, buy them Christmas presents, and wish them a happy birthday. They are allowed to sleep with me, next to me, on me or wrapped around my head. I understand their looks and when they 'roll' their eyes at me. At one time, growing up, we had 4 cats in the house. Now, we've just got my 'baby', Cosmo, who is 11 years old. God help me when he's gone. :(

28. My first car was a 1988 Toyota Celica GT. I had it for 3 years before I bought my first brand new car, a 1999 Hyundai Accent.

29. I am addicted to garlic & herb pita chips.

30. I am a clearance shopper. Love to hit all the clearance sections in stores. I love to shop, and saving money is great, too!

100 Things About Me - Part 2

11. I may just have a slight addiction to buying clothes for my kids. They have enough to potentially clothe the children of a small country. I can't help it. But in all seriousness - I don't pay anywhere near full price for the stuff. It's all bought at the end of the season for the next year. For instance - my kids each just got a bag full of summer clothes for Christmas. Add my shopping along with my mom's and anyone else that buys clothes and you have very stuffed closets.

12. I got pregnant before my husband and I were married. In fact, we had just started dating. I lost that pregnancy at 9 1/2 weeks and was devastated at the time. Now I look back and Thank God because I know my life would have been so much different (and this coming February, that child would have been 8).

13. I love capers. Chicken picatta is one of my favorite dishes. Yum!

14. My first 'behind the wheel' in driver's ed was humiliating. I didn't know how to turn the steering wheel back when making a turn and ended up on the front lawn of a house.

15. I have no living grandparents. I lost the last one, my Grams, over 2 years ago when I was just 25.

16. I was pregnant with my son at the time of my 21st birthday. I had no idea at the time, and I drank. Not heavily, but I did do a few shots that night. At times I feel really awful about that.

17. My cats are my furbabies. I get very, very attached to pets. I miss our family cats like crazy, even to this day. Right now I have 1 cat - Cosmo - he was given to me by my ex-boyfriend in 1996.

18. I don't cook. I can cook, just really don't have much time to do it, and I feel like I'm not very good at. Though, the several things I have made didn't make anyone go running away, so it must be not be too bad. I can bake, though. I'm pretty good at making dessert. :)

19. I don't know how to whistle. Okay, not entirely true - I can just barely make a whistling sound. I guess I just wasn't born with a very good whistler.

20. One memory I have of my paternal grandparents is being at their house, and always having Maurice Lenell pinwheel cookies and Frosted Flakes. I also remember this light-up gingerbread house that they put out at Christmastime on their kitchen counter. I found one on ebay this year, and bought it.

100 Things About Me - Part 1

"100 Things About Me" seems to be a popular thing around the blog world.

Since I just recently made my blog 'public' again, I figured this may be something nice to do for any new readers that may be lurking out there.

1. I have only held 3 jobs in my lifetime. I will celebrate 10 years with my company in November 2008.

2. I got married when I was 20. Yup, wasn't even legally able to drink at my own reception, but they made an exception. ;)

3. Some of my best friends are 8-13 years older than me.

4. Penguins are my favorite animal. Have been since I was a kid. I believe it all started off when I picked out a ceramic penguin statue souvenier while on vacation in Canada.

5. I have an extreme fear of tornados.

6. I used to bite my nails. All.The.Time. I gave it up on October 26, 2007. My nails look awesome.

7. I love music. Can't play it, write it, or even sing it - but I enjoy it. There's nothing like taking a drive on a beautiful day with the windows rolled down and the tunes cranked up.

8. Food is my downfall. I love it. All kinds. Junk food, fast food, Italian food, polish food; it doesn't matter. I love to eat.

9. Because of said food addiction, I'm overweight. Lost 35 pounds in 2006, basically maintained throughout 2007 and plan to lose more in 2008.

10. I love taking photographs. I'm not sure exactly when the passion started, but I launched a website in 2007 and hope to do a bit more with it in '08.