Fun Little Q&A

While doing a little spring cleaning, I recently came across a book that I own. It's called All About Me by Phillipp Keel. Perfect timing considering I had been wanting some inspiration to help me figure out what to write about for this little blog of mine. I've had this book for a few years and haven't written in it yet. I love that this book is a series of questions and then you simply fill in the blanks. A time-capsule of sorts. Well, here goes my answers for part of the “Fruits of Your Labor” section:

Your Watch: I own plenty. Much like my father I've always admired watches. I could browse in awe of them all day long. I should really do an inventory though! These days, my watches barely get any use since I always have my cell phone with me. But still, I sport one every now and then :-)

Your Cologne or Perfume: When I was growing up, I was never a huge fan of perfumes. I would always sneeze and felt that perfumes were way too strong for me. Sometimes I would even get headaches if the scent was too powerful. A few years ago, I discovered DKNY Be Delicious. It's a perfect fruity yet fresh scent. Not overkill, which I love! DKNY Red Delicious is a very close second. I like to invest in travel perfumes because I can take 'em anywhere and there's always one in my purse ready to go.

On your wall hangs: two hand prints (my nieces made them just for me).

Under your bed or in your closet you hide: Presents for my loved ones..I like to buy gifts throughout the year, especially if there's a good deal or if I know a loved one's birthday or special occasion is coming up :-)

Something important on your night table: my reading glasses.

If you had a safe, you would keep: my most treasured possessions in there, of course! And definitely an external hard drive with all of my pictures and important documents.

Things you like to buy: Food (Trader Joe's), clothes and earrings for myself; Gifts for friends and family that I know they will love!

If you could afford it at this moment, you would buy: A lot of things! A trip somewhere amazing would be at the top of my list!

You collect: I don't know if I'd use the word “collect,” but I do like to capture memories/events with my flipvideo camera and pictures with my Canon Rebel T3i. I'm also drawn to some home décor items from the Nate Berkus line at Target! So I guess, I collect those. I can't help it!

You don't have a lot of: Books.

Your strangest possession is: A carpet-like piece of artificial turf.

Your most expensive possession is: Probably my car.

Your prized possession: Pictures, cards, and letters I've received over the years, especially the ones my family and friends sent me while I was overseas.

If your house was burning and you only had time to rescue three things, they would be:

1. External Hard Drive

2. Box of letters/photographs/etc.

3. My pet turtle, Tico

Hope you enjoyed my Q&A. Enjoy the weekend! :-)

Five Things

I realize I haven't posted for almost 6 months, so I thought I'd give this blog a little more oomph.  I'll try to be more consistent with my blogging, but a lot of other things have occupied my time lately. I know what you're thinking: Enough with the excuses!  Well today's your lucky day :-)  I thought it would be fun to list a few things that have made this year memorable and enjoyable so far.  So in no particular order, here goes:

1. My Jam - This little number changed my listening pleasure for the better.  My sweet boyfriend Josh got me one for Christmas and I was hooked from the moment it was connected to my laptop.  It's wireless and my favorite part is that I can listen to my Pandora music wherever I go in my apartment.  I can detach the Jam and take it to my kitchen, for example, without having to take my laptop attached to it!  I love music and this was the perfect little gadget to listen to my Pandora music (ie. Prince Radio and La Bouche Radio hits ). When I'm home, I have my music on 95% of the time. Pretty much all the time. And the sound quality is not too shabby either, which is always a plus in my book!

2. Trip to Vegas

Back in March, my sweetie and I spent a weekend in Las Vegas. We stayed at Harrah's and took the Bolt Bus to get there and back. We would have flown, but by the time we started shopping around for flight deals, they got too expensive for our budget with 2 weeks left till our vacay. The ride via Bolt Bus was about $45 roundtrip per person. A steal of a deal, if you ask me! It was actually a smooth ride all the way to Vegas and back :-) Apart from spending a fun weekend with our friends, I discovered something that I know will be super useful and beautiful for my apartment.  I spotted this lovely Paris souvenir cup in the shape of a hot air balloon while we were walking the strip and I just knew I wanted one!  I can't believe in all the times I've been to Vegas, I had never seen one before...Ever!!  It was just beautiful and made of real porcelain. I ended up getting one with a Miami Vice (Strawberry Dacquiri and Pina Colada), while my boyfriend opted for a Lemon-Tequila  in a large plastic Eiffel Tower souvenir cup.  The porcelain hot air balloon is beautiful as a display alone, but I'm not sure what to store in it yet. As for the Eiffel Tower, I can definitely see it being used to store coins!

3. Trip to Peru

A close friend and I went to visit my family in Peru earlier this year.  It was only my second time visiting, and I had a blast!  My dad was born and raised in Peru and if I could visit more, I certainly would!  My family is amazing and it's wonderful to know more about my roots and spend time with my loved ones there. We stayed in Lima and the thing I remember most about this particular trip is the giant jellyfish we saw in the Pacific Ocean. It was huge!! I was a bit intimidated when we went for a dip in the ocean, because there were so many jellyfish. Everywhere! I just didn't want to be stung!  Luckily, we all enjoyed a relaxing time at the beach and nobody got stung. (Whew!) It's common for the locals to serve ceviche and other seafood while on the beach, and we sure had some. Delish!

4. My Canon Camera - Major Upgrade! I have always enjoyed photography. I'm no expert by any means, but I love capturing memories in the form of pictures. My parents got me a Nikon camera as a gift when I turned 13, and I remember taking pictures at any opportunity I would get. My job in the military was a Combat Photographer and I spent almost a year training to learn the basics of photography and video (this was before digital photography was widely introduced). It was awesome! I've loved photography for so long and finally got my very first Canon DSLR just before the holidays last year.  I've still got a lot to learn, but I'm enjoying the pictures I've taken with it so far.  Here are some examples:

A cat with green eyes taken in Lima, Peru 

My sister Deborah, my Dad, our friend Jasmine and Me at Church

A flower in Lima, Peru

5. Chick-fil-A Calendar - I'm a big Chick-fil-A fan.  It's sooooo good and for sure one of the things I miss about growing up in Georgia. I remember my high school used to serve the chicken biscuits for breakfast and I always looked forward to those Fridays! My sister got me a Chick-fil-A calendar for Christmas and it's the gift that keeps on giving, I tell ya! You activate a card that comes with it by signing up with your email. I have my calendar at my home desk and use it to jot down important appointments, birthdays, to-do's, etc. But the best part is that I have a select item to look forward to each month.  This month, it's a large soda drink, but other months offer Chick-fil-A sandwiches, milkshakes and even a breakfast entree.  I love it!  I'm gonna have to sign up for another calendar for next year :-)

Is there anything in particular that has made your 2014 great so far? Pray tell.  I'd love to hear about it in the comments below! :-)