Tag About Me

10 Things You (Probably) Don’t Care About

allisonbarton 10 Comments

The wonderful Trinity at Phanatically Speaking recently tagged me in a meme. The rules of the meme:

The Honest Scrap award is given by other bloggers who consider a blog’s content or design to be brilliant. The awardee must then post ten honest things about themselves and pass the award on to other bloggers who fit the bill – in other words, whose blog is brilliant.

(Can I take a moment and say that I blushed when I read that? I feel so special!)

So, ten honest things about me, in no particular order (unless you count the order of how my mind comes up with ten things):

  1. I have lived in over 18 different places in my life. I have lived all over the city of Pittsburgh, in houses and apartments, and lived in Florida for a (not so lovely) short time during my sophomore year of high school and Massachusetts during my three years at Smith College.
  2. I get cold really easily. When most people are comfortable, I’m cold. When most people are complaining of the heat, I’m comfortable.
  3. When I cook, 90% of the time it is with some asian influence. I find “American” food horrendously boring, and I rarely find meat and potatoes to be anywhere near as good as stir fry on rice, indian or thai curry, or udon noodles topped with just about anything. I use soy sauce, ginger, chili paste and sesame seeds more than seems possible.
  4. I have successfully lost at least 40 pounds. I estimated my starting weight when I began this weight loss journey in January, so I don’t know the exact amount. I am very happy about it (though I still have a bit more to go), but very not amused that this weight loss has given me gallstones and the need for surgery in August.
  5. I didn’t learn how to study until I left Smith College. While I was a pretty good student during my three years at Smith, it wasn’t until I was home with an infant and limited time to focus that I really learned how to study. I currently have a 115% in one of my classes thanks to a great curve, but without the curve I would have a 98%.
  6. I know nothing about pop culture. If you name a singer, actor, model, or just about anything to do with the behind the scenes of movies and TV, I won’t know who you are talking about. There are exceptions, of course, but for the most part I never know what people are talking about. It obviously doesn’t bother me enough to put any effort into learning about these things. But I do know all about the Real Housewives of everywhere and Jon and Kate.
  7. I kind of have 7 siblings. My father was married before he met my mother, and with his first wife he had 7 children. So, I have 7 half siblings. And something like 23 nephews and nieces, including many who were my nephews/nieces before I was born.
  8. I want to have another child. One day, not now or any time soon, I would like to have another child. I don’t care if it’s a boy or a girl, though I always pictured myself as a mom of an older boy and a younger girl about five years apart. So, here’s hoping I can convince Zach of that!
  9. Removed.
  10. I would go vegetarian if Zach would. I don’t want to have to deal with making separate meals, and while Zach has become very willing to eat many vegetarian meals I prepare, I’m pretty sure he would have a conniption if I took all meat out of our diet.

And now I must tag:

Jen at jayesel
Dawn at Red Pen Mama
Sarah at Becoming Sarah

Resolutions

allisonbarton 14 Comments

I’ve only ever managed to keep one resolution. In ninth grade I decided I would no longer drink soda. I didn’t touch a drop of soda throughout the rest of high school, and to this day I will only drink one soda (diet) when it is mixed with vodka. Even that is a rarity.

This year I will keep my resolution. I have a plan. I have a goal. I will make it work.

This year I will get back to my pre-pregnancy weight.

For Christmas, I asked for a Weight Watchers membership. I also received a Wii Fit from Zach, so between Weight Watchers and Wii Fit, I will keep my resolution.

Today, my calves are sore from Wii Jane (my “fitness instructor” on the Wii Fit) and, while I am not starting Weight Watchers until Saturday when family leaves, I can see the change coming.

Birthday Hair

allisonbarton 9 Comments

I got my hair cut last week. It was the first haircut I’ve had in a long time where I walked away saying, “Wow! I love this!” The stylist was great, complimented my hair numerous times, and took the time to tell me how to blow dry my hair properly.

On Thursday night, I decided it was time for a change in color. I haven’t dyed my hair since before I found out I was pregnant with Alex. Needless to say, it was a mess. The last few inches of it were still dark red, while the rest was my natural color: mousy brown. I figured with a new cut and my graduation party the next day it was the perfect time to make a change.

While it’s a little redder than I was expecting, I like it.

So, now I have new hair. New hair that helped me celebrate my graduation on Friday night and new hair that will be there with me to celebrate my Birthday tomorrow.

Thursday Thirteen #6

allisonbarton 23 Comments

This is part 6 in my Thursday Thirteen series, getting me up to 104 things about me!

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Allison’s Thursday Thirteen: Part 6

1. I cry at the drop of the hat. This wasn’t always the case, but I cry during movies and TV shows all the time now.
2. I have always dreamed of having two children: a boy and then a girl. So far so good!
3. I wanted to be an Astronaut for a while growing up. Quite frankly, I still think that would be an amazing career! (But I don’t have the brains for it!)
4. I grew up watching TV Land. As such, I grew up watching shows that most of my generation doesn’t talk about.
5. I won a spelling bee once. It was pure luck.
6. I wear glasses. I got them in 9th grade and was told to only wear them when I needed to see things that were far away (the chalk board or a movie).
7. I used to play Ultimate Frisbee.
8. I really enjoy a nice cold beer. As long as it’s not too “hoppy” I will probably love it! My favorite beer (I think…) is Magic Hat #9.
9. I want to travel the world extensively. There are very few places that I don’t have a lot of interest in visiting.
10. I have had two manicures and one pedicure. In my entire life.
11. I could watch the movies “Knocked Up” and “Juno” over and over again. I saw Knocked Up when I was, ::ahem::, knocked up, so it was extremely fitting for my life at that point.
12. I am Irish. And Russian. And a bunch of other things. My Irish side shows itself the most, though.
13. I am not religious.

Thursday Thirteen #5

allisonbarton 36 Comments

This is part 5 in my Thursday Thirteen series, getting me up to 104 things about me!

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Allison’s Thursday Thirteen: Part 5

1. I was in the 5th percentile for height until I was in 5th grade. I hit a growth spurt at that time, and since then have been just above average. I’m 5′5″ now.
2. I love to sleep. If I could, I would sleep for 12 hours a night and be thrilled.
3. I took four years of French. I couldn’t hold a conversation in french if my life depended on it!
4. I have gone on many long drives. My Mother and I always drove places. We drove from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin, PA to Florida, PA to MA, PA to ME, PA to AR…basically, I have spent an enormous amount of time in the car!
5. I type at around 100 words per minute It varies a bit. I just took two typing tests online and got 98 and 112 wpm. (I am always about 95% accurate too.)
6. I have freakish hair. It grows insanely fast. I can chop it all off and within a year it will be back down to my shoulders.
7. I love taking baths. I don’t take them to get clean, but to relax. Generally, I shower and then take a bath to relax. It’s wasteful, so it doesn’t happen very often.
8. I hate buying people presents from a list. I feel like it doesn’t show how much I care when I just choose a gift from a wish-list (like on Amazon.com), so I try to rely on thinking of something on my own.
9. I love to shop. Fortunately, I’m also really cheap. The two even each other out pretty well.
10. I have bad knees. They got bad during that growth spurt and have never been great since then. While I rarely feel them now, I still can’t run very much without them throbbing.
11. I love Pixar. They make the most unbelievable movies.
12. I enjoy reading Sci-Fi. My most recent read was “Red Planet” and I loved it.
13. I wish I had a talent. Most people are amazing at something and I haven’t yet found my something. Hopefully I will.

Thursday Thirteen #4

allisonbarton 46 Comments

This is part 4 in my Thursday Thirteen series, getting me up to 104 things about me!

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Allison’s Thursday Thirteen: Part 4

1. I hate raw onions.
2. I love raw peppers, tomatoes, carrots, broccoli, cucumbers, and most vegetables that you can eat raw. I don’t eat nearly enough of them, but hope that my new diet will get me back to eating them more often!
3. I have seven half brothers and sisters. My Father had seven children with his first wife. I consider myself an only child, but in reality I have seven siblings!
4. I have only broken one bone in my body. It was one of the bones in my middle finger on my right hand. I had to wear a little finger splint for a short period of time. Now, my right middle finger is fatter than my left middle finger.
5. I have an amazing memory. When it comes to my life and the life of the people I care about, I remember everything. Sometimes I may need a reminder, but it’s there!
6. I have a horrible memory. When it comes to facts, specifically about people or things I don’t really care about, I cannot remember a thing! Even if I enjoy a movie, I couldn’t tell you what it was about a few days later!
7. I have a tremendous sweet tooth.
8. I didn’t know that I loved steak until a few years ago. My mom insists on eating her steak medium-well to well done. It wasn’t until a few years ago that I tried it medium rare and realized that steak is delicious.
9. I used to have my belly button pierced. I took it out when I got pregnant.
10. I was taught how to tightrope walk when I was about five years old. My Grandmother had a student who became a clown, so when we went to visit him at a circus I got to walk on a tightrope. Don’t worry, it was only about a foot off of the ground!
11. I have done two illegal drugs. Both of them are actually legal, just not for me or here in Pennsylvania.
12. I don’t understand the whole Star Wars thing. I have only seen the original three movies once, and it was about 10 years ago. I guess I need to watch them again to really judge them.
13. I am petrified of getting old. The thought of aching all the time, losing my memory, not being able to walk without hurting, getting diseases, etc., all scare me. A lot.

Thursday Thirteen #3

allisonbarton 20 Comments

This is part 3 in my Thursday Thirteen series, getting me up to 104 things about me!

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Allison’s Thursday Thirteen: Part 3

1. I would have been named “Tiffany” or “Melony” if it had been up to my Father. I’m glad my Mother didn’t approve, because I don’t think those names fit me at all.
2. I wore a size 8 shoe until I got pregnant, and now wear a 8.5 or 9. I really wish my feet had shrunk back to normal size, because I miss my shoes dearly.
3. I think my eyes are my best feature.
4. I am a Capricorn, though not always. I don’t know why it changes, but occasionally I’m a Sagittarius. My Mother is a Capricorn, my Father a Sagittarius. My Mom was in labor all day on what would have made me a constant Sagittarius, but I was born a few hours after midnight. I’m a “cusp baby.”
5. I scored higher on the math portion of my SAT than the verbal by 10 points. I can only think of one other person who scored higher on the math.
6. I have lost two dogs and a cat in my life. I sobbed tremendously after each of them passed.
7. I have taken two religion classes. One was a study of (parts of) the Hebrew Bible, the other an overview of a few of the most prominent religions. From my studies, I think Buddhism is the most beautiful religion.
8. I can’t whistle. It’s pathetic when I try because this tiny little high pitched noise sometimes makes its way out of my lips. Normally, I just blow out silent air and look silly.
9. I was amazingly good at gymnastics as a child. I competed multiple times a week, but quit because I hated the competition aspect. You couldn’t just do gymnastics at that level, they made you compete.
10. I have the most boring dreams you could possibly imagine. The last dream that I can remember having: I was at Whole Foods with my son, trying to find black beans. They weren’t where they normally are, so I had to ask someone for help. The person I asked for help told me that they were in aisle 10, but there was no aisle 10. I found the beans in aisle 11, which also had Heinz ketchup in very large glass bottles. See? If you even read that I’m impressed.
11. I love the movie “Big Daddy.” An inordinate amount. I’ve probably seen it over a dozen times.
12. I come from a family of educators. My Mother, Father, Grandmother, Grandfather, Uncle, Aunt, Great Aunt, Great Uncle, and maternal Great Grandparents were all educators. Some teachers, some administrators. My Great Grandmother even had a Ph.D
13. I was pulled over by a cop for speeding once. I had just gotten my license, was pulling off of a main highway in Maryland, and there was no speed limit sign. I kept with traffic, and about 6 of us got pulled over. I started crying (out of fear) and he gave me a warning.