100 questions ((thanks, IbB!)

100 Questions

1. What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received? That I'm strong. Not physically, but in life. I've been through a lot since I became an adult. Lately life has been pretty easy and for that I am so thankful.

2. What’s one thing you’re deeply proud of — but would never put on your résumé? Adaptation. I can make a life anywhere.

3. What’s the most out-of-character choice you’ve ever made? HA! There are plenty of these... Sometimes we have to make choices we don't like or give up something we dream of for the betterment of our greater good.  

4. If a mysterious benefactor wrote you a check for $5,000 and said, “Help me solve a problem — any problem!” … what would you do with him or her? I would help them discover a love or passion they have been suppressing. Seriously. I can dig deep.

5. What’s going to be carved on your (hypothetical) tombstone? If I had a tombstone (don't plan to, I don't want my kids or grandkids visiting and taking silly mothers day photos with a rock that has my name on it) it would probably say something like "excellence requires sacrifice." There are many things I am not excellent at but I do believe I am an excellent mother and I pray daily that my children see that I have given them and will continue to give them my best effort in life.

6. What are you FREAKISHLY good at? everything. besides running. nah, I am FREAKISHLY good at making friends/talking to people. 

7. What’s one dream that you’ve tucked away, for the moment? How come? Traveling. Moving. I love to travel and I love it when we move. I love new places. But my kids deserve a constant in life, they deserve roots... I had roots. So, here we are. 3 years and going strong (I'd move in a heartbeat though, not even joking). 

 8. What are you STARVING for? success. not by society's standard but by my own. There are a few things I have going on right now and I am working so hard on them, and waiting for the time to come where success happens in my mind.. excruciating. 

9. If you could have tea with one fictional character, who would it be? Dumbledore 

10. Do you have a morning ritual? Water, Coffee, more coffee

11. Do you believe in magic? When have you felt it? Yes! the divine. I feel it often, especially when I look at my husband and realize how incredibly lucky I am to love him.

12. Is there something that people consistently ask for your advice on? What is it? Not anymore-- I've let my niches fall to the wayside.

13. Have you ever fantasized about changing your first name? As a kid, I wanted to be Tiffany, or STAR. yes, STAR. Soooooo glad I'm not! ha 

14. When was the last time you astonished yourself? I'm not really sure...? Maybe Thanksgiving when I handled all the stress without a meltdown.

15. What’s your personal anthem or theme song? I'll have to think about that.

16. Do you ever yearn for your life, before Facebook? yes. I think about deleting my Facebook 100x a week. However I do run a business and right now, facbeook is a LOT of free advertising.

17. What’s your definition of an ideal houseguest? one that doesn't show up. haha kidding. my family. or anyone. We love entertaining and have guests quite often. 

18. If you had an extra $100 to spend on yourself every week, what would you do? I would save it. Usually. Or buy a LOT of stickers I don't need for my ECLP! ha!

19. If you could sit down with your 15-year old self, what would you tell him or her? College first. There ARE people that WILL pay you to promote their products. Communications IS your jam. Being a young mother isn't the worst thing but seriously... college first.

20. What are you BORED of? complacency. mediocrity. Funny, Brianna had the same answer. There is a lot more I could be doing, but at this time, my most valuable resource (time, babysitters time), is very scarce. 

21. What’s the best birthday cake you ever ate? Probably a friend's red velvet cheesecake that Rachel had flown in from NYC. OMG

22. How do you engage with panhandlers on the street? Depends. Are they kind? Is it cold? Are they aggressive? Once we had a man ask us for money for his [terrible] painting in the parking lot across from this mom and pop store. We said no and he swore at us, then told us he put a curse on us and the devil will love us. Dude was crazy. 

23. Do you think LOVE is chemical, intellectual, spiritual — or completely undefinable? A combination of the first 3 and 1000% undefinable. 

24. Have you ever dreamed about starting a business? I'm doing it. I've done it. I'm working on it. shop BARbelle here and follow us on instagram @shopBARbelle  

25. Are you afraid of flying in airplanes? (How come?) no. 

26. What’s your most urgent priority for the rest of the year? my walk with God, my marriage, my children, my store. Myself. Being the best and giving the best of me to those I love.

27. If you could master any instrument on earth, what would it be? piano

28. Have you ever been genuinely afraid for your physical safety? YES. Last winter, a man tried to come into our house at 2am. Andy was out of town. I had to hold the door closed while he tried to come in repeatedly while I was on the phone with 911, waiting for the police.

29. What are you an expert on? Is it because of training, lived experience, or both? I don't know that I'm an expert on anything. I'm more of a Jill of all trades, master of none. I'm working on that, though.

30. Has a teacher ever changed your life? How so? A college professor. Matt Critcher. He gave me the opportunity to see Europe for my first time.. my life's dream. Without his class, his planning, his budgeting and dealing, I would not have been able to go! I had no clue. Since he and Mrs. McCracken took care of all the details, it was very easy!

31. Are there any household chores you secretly enjoy? um... no. 

32. How do you reign in self-critical voices? Its hard to drown them out. I drown in them more often than not.

33. If you could custom blend a perfume or cologne, what would it include? cedar. 

34. What does FEAR feel like, in your body? shakes. immobility. 

35. Do you think you’re currently operating at 100% capacity? no. I'm restricted. 

36.What do you value most: free time, recognition, or money? Free time. and money to create FUN free time

37.  If you could save one endangered species from extinction, which would you choose? some type of sea creature. never pandas

38. Are there any laws or social rules that completely baffle you? I don't get the generation my daughter is growing up in AT ALL 

39. Would you like to write a book? (About what?) Yes. nutrition. oh, and a sarcastic comedy about my life. Only.. I would lose a lot of love (tolerance) over that one. Maybe when I'm old.

40.  If you could choose your own life obstacles, would you keep the ones you have? yes. compared to many, my life is a cakewalk, and the obstacle I have face and do face make me who I am.

41. Have you ever SCREAMED at someone? (What did they do?) yes... and unfortunately it was my kids so.. they probably cried

42.  Do you think there’s going to be an anti-technology whiplash, in our lifetime? doubtful. We have everything we want to know at our fingertips

43. Where + when do you get your BEST IDEAS? in the shower. where I can't write them down and then I forget them! I need bath crayons. 

44. Have you ever met one of your HEROES? I married him

45. What’s in your fridge, right this moment? leftover mashed potatoes, milk, tons of condiments, stuff to make spaghetti squash with zucchini sauce, and stuff for a basil tomato salad.

46. Can you tell when someone is LYING? sometimes.  

47. Can you tell when someone is telling the TRUTH? not always 

48.  Have you ever pushed your body further than you dreamed possible? yeah. then I stopped. working on that though

49. Are you living your LIFE PURPOSE — or still searching? For now, I'm living it. I'm a mother. I know I was created to do more, be more, though.

 50. Have you ever had to make a public apology? (How come?) No.

51. What’s the WORST piece of advice you’ve ever been given? I can't remember. 

52.  Do you think we’re designed for monogamy? (Why or why not?) Yes. Because the Bible says we are. Brianna I am leaving your answer. I will also add, Amen.

53. How do you CELEBRATE your victories? A gift, or special time spent with my husband 

54. Would you consider yourself an introvert, extrovert, or ambivert? Definitely an ambivert. I'm very extroverted when I'm in public.. but at home I dread leaving or being around people. I make plans when I'm with someone and then dread those plans until they happen

55. Do you ever hunt for answers or omens in dreams? constantly

56. Do you think everyone has the capacity to be a LEADER? In their own ways, yes. Do they have the capacity to be the leader that is needed in every situation? NO

57. Is WAR a necessary EVIL? Yes. Because if you don't believe it is, and you won't fight for what is yours, then someone that DOES believe war is necessary, WILL come and take what is yours. So unfortunately, until all mankind is peaceful, war is necessary. Otherwise all peace loving people would be indentured (or worse) by non peace loving people.

58. Are YOU a starter, a finisher, or an implementer? starter. I'm working hard to become a finisher. 

59.  Have you ever unplugged from the Internet for more than a week? no. I dream of it.

60. Do you think we should live like we’re dying? Yes. Fear holds me back. 

61. Do you have any habits or quirks you wish you could ERASE? yes. Picking at my skin around my nails and also, pulling out my eye lashes!! I don't even realize I'm doing it until I have a huge gap in them!

62. What was the most AGONIZING hour of your life? There have been many

63. Have you ever dramatically changed a habit, or gotten yourself out of a rut? How’d you do it? YES. I have incredible will power (sometimes)

64. Would you rather be a lonely genius, or a sociable idiot? Lonely genius. There are always friends within the pages of a book

65. How would YOU help someone in need. vitamin L O V E

66. What was your very first JOB? A waitress at hilltop drive in

67. What brings you SHEER DELIGHT? Olivia & Sophia's sweet laughter!! so cliche but so true. OMG. Being a mother is the best

68. Are you highly useful in a CRISIS? no, I panic. 

69. Do you like to be SAVED — or do the saving? Andy always saves me 

70. What’s one mistake you keep repeating (and repeating)? Putting myself down. 

71. If you were heading out on a ROAD TRIP right this minute, what would you pack? Andy, iPhone, charger, 5dmkii, lots of shoes, clothes... snacks

72. Do you have any irrational fears? anxiety keeps me scared

73. When you see peers + competitors getting things you want, how do you react? I am not in competition with anyone. I am happy when my peers unlock life achievements!

74. If you were to die three hours from now, what would you regret most? mediocrity. staying in one place too long. not prioritizing seeing the whole wide world. 

75. What’s something you’ve tried, that you’ll never, ever try again? I have a whole long list-- I'm picky

76. If you could enroll in a PhD program, with your tuition paid in full by a mysterious benefactor, what would you study — and why? communications

77. Have you ever had a complete + total nervous breakdown? (How did you recuperate?) yes, and I removed the cause from my life. It was hard, is hard, to be the product of a narcissist 

78. Have you ever set two friends up on a date? (How did it go?) Don't think so.

79. Have you ever questioned your FAITH — or lack thereof? I have questioned my faith. I went years thinking I didn't believe in God at all. But he brought me back to him and I know that he is All. I am so thankful for the comfort and grace he gives me every single day.

80. What’s your recipe for recuperating from extreme heartbreak? chocolate and good friends. 

81. Have you ever had a psychic reading? Did you believe it? Was it accurate? I've had my tarot cards done and my palm read. both were accurate! 

82. Have you ever (actually) kept a New Year’s Resolution? Yes!

83. Have you ever met someone who was genuinely EVIL? yes yes yes

84. Do you believe that everyone deserves redemption + forgiveness? YES

85. What was the BEST KISS of your entire life? Every single kiss since Andy. 

86. Do you secretly miss Polaroid cameras? nope

87. Do you have any physical features that you try to cloak or hide? How come? Nope!

88. What makes YOU so special, anyway? (No, really.) I am perfectly created in God's image. So are you :)

89. What’s in your pocket (or purse, or man-purse) right now? I don't even know. I bought a HUGE purse and I hardly ever carry it. 

90. Ever fantasize about being in a rock band? What would your group be called? no.. not at all.

91. What’s your guiltiest of guilty pleasures? desperate housewives reruns on hulu

92. Who’s on your panel of imaginary mentors? I don't have one. 

93. Have you ever stolen anything? (Money, candy, hearts, time?) probably in my youth

94. When was the last time you saw an animal in the wild? Last time I went to the country I guess?

95. What’s the hardest thing you ever had to write — and why? I don't even know. Some paper for a news class in college probably. By the time I (didn't finish), I was so burnt out I just kind of gave up

96. Who’s the last person that deeply disappointed you? (What happened?) I'll keep that inside. Sorry.

97. Have you ever won an award? What was it for? Yes. I won some awards for photography (nothing large scale). I'm over the camera pretty much. Sad right. 

98. Is there anything that you are currently really dreading? not particularly. 

99. Is there one trait the you notice first about someone you have an interest in? teeth. shoulders. eyes. 

100. What are you OBSESSED with currently? Fashion. Fitness fashion. Athleisure.