100 Things about Me

• 1. I love chocolate, preferably dark expresso chocolate bars.
• 2. Certain times of the month, I am no longer picky about my chocolate.
• 3. Chocolate Covered Expresso Beans work too.
• 4. So do dark chocolate peanut M&M's - the ultimate food barring allergies to food coloring or peanuts or chocolate.
• 5. Oh, yeah, I have a 10 year old daughter who LOVES to read.
• 6. And, a 9 year old daughter who LOVES to do gymnastics.
• 7. I have a wonderful husband who LOVES his hobby of woodworking
• 8. I enjoy crafts like quilting, knitting, painting but never have time it seems.
• 9. I a piler not a pitcher.
• 10. I enjoy selling things on E-bay.
• 11. Things that don't sell are back in my piles.
• 12. I am originally from the South (a GRIT - girl raised in the south)
• 13. Specifically from Charlotte, NC.
• 14. I am now a suburban Philly girl who needs coffee on an hourly basis.
• 15. Therefore, I know what the ultimate cheesesteak tastes like from Pat's.
• 16. I am also well acquainted with the delicacy called the soft pretzel.
• 17. For being such a sweet tooth, I don't favor the processed packaged tasty cakes.
• 18. I came to Philly to get my Masters of Science in Urban Economic Development
• 19. I met my husband here and stayed.
• 20. My sister moved up shortly after me.
• 21. She is still here which I love even if I have to go to New Jersey to see her and her husband, who is Italian and cooks awesome food.
• 22. I do still claim my twin brother who has a lovely wife and child in Charleston, S.C.
• 23. My parents want us closer to home but I call daily.
• 24. Yes, Dad, I still vote Republican.
• 25. I became a Christian at age 5 through Child Evangelism Fellowship.
• 26. I have grown in my faith by trusting in Him and moving here on my own.
• 27. I go to a wonderful PCA church plant (Presbyterian Church of America).
• 28. I tried homeschooling for 4 months.
• 29. I won't put here what happened, but feel free to e-mail me.
• 30. I enjoy a glass of wine on occasion, especially after trying homeschooling.
• 31. My favorite wines are currently mascato & pinot noir.
• 32. I have a beagle named Carmel who gets into a lot of trouble.
• 33. I quit working outside the home to be a writer.
• 34. I now need to schedule time to write!
• 35. I have done graphic design and multiple newsletters for non-profits.
• 36. I ran a Ten Thousand Villages store just after graduating from grad school.
• 37. Later I was a part-time development director for a crisis pregnancy center.
• 38. I helped a doctor start his business and realized I couldn't be office manager and be what I wanted to be to my family.
• 39. Later, I worked for an eye doctor from which I got some really cool glasses.
• 40. I never knew you could accessorize with glasses.
• 41. I now have 5 pairs of glasses.
• 42. I like Vera Bradley pocket books.
• 43. I currently own 5 (too many) of which I only use one.
• 44. I gave the Java Blue to my oldest daughter who is loving it!
• 45. I enjoy shopping from my closet when I can.
• 46. I would rather shop at the mall when I can.
• 47. Shopping is cathartic for me.
• 48. But, it doesn't energize me like it used to my mom growing up.
• 49. I want to write children's books.
• 50. I want to write inspiration articles.
• 51. I would really like to write inspirational children's books.
• 52. I am just a big kid at heart.
• 53. I loved taking the girls to the American Girl Doll Store in New York.
• 54. In fact I just submitted a fiction short story for a contest related to the experience. (which did not win by the way - keep reading for a summary of the ending.)
• 55. My favorite color is green like my eyes.
• 56. My favorite M&M color is green, but that has other connotations I won't mention here.
• 57. I wish I were Nancy Drew, always helping people and always able to get out of trouble.
• 58. I enjoy playing the Nancy Drew computer games with my kids.
• 59. I read every Nancy Drew growing up.
• 60. Now I read any mystery book I can get my hands on and have time.
• 61. Favorites include Anne Perry, Lisa Scottolini, and Francine Rivers (who is more drama than mystery.)
• 62. I wish there were more rainbows in the sky.
• 63. I wish there were more shooting stars to wish upon.
• 64. I don't really believe in wishing on things but it is fun anyway, kinda like Santa Claus and the tooth fairy.
• 65. In case you were wondering, I am Santa Claus.
• 66. I am also the tooth fairy.
• 67. Keep the calls to a minimum, I have a busy staff of elves and teeth recyclers to keep working.
• 68. Actually, I am a bonified European mutt with ancestry from about every caucasian country, after being a product of the American melting pot for the last few centuries.
• 69. My ancestors have fought or preached in just about every American war and I could be a DAR member (Daughters of the American Revolution) if I just had the time to gather the documentation (all of which lie in the graveyards of Kentucky).
• 70. I am officially now a blogaholic.
• 71. I have much to learn about blogging, writing, life.
• 72. I have much to read and much to write.
• 73. I need some time management skills to get it all done.
• 74. I want to share the hope and joy  and strength I find in Jesus Christ.
• 75. I want to share the strength I get from knowing there is a God who loves me and holds me up in tough times.
• 76. I want to share the love He places in my heart and the blood with which He has washed my soiled heart clean.
• 77. I want to share with my children all the fruits of having the Holy Spirit in my heart, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, self-control. . ..
• 78. I want to apologize to my children and my husband for not showing those fruits when I haven't had my chocolate or other obsessive compulsive needs that aren't really necessary but keep Mama happy.
• 79. I plan to counsel women in crisis pregnancies.
• 80. I plan to exercise more this year.
• 81. I plan to eat less.
• 82. I have so many plans.
• 83. I do believe that goals are good.
• 84. I also believe you have to take it a day at a time.
• 85. I believe there can be joy in the journey.
• 86. I also believe that not all things are possible.
• 87. I will never be an opera singer or famous skier.
• 88. I believe that is okay and God made me who I am for a reason.
• 89. By the way, I was an extra in a movie.
• 90. It won't be released until 2009. I'll tell you then if I made it past the cutting room!
• 91. My daughter came too.
• 92. We're crazy but that's what makes life fun.
• 93. In my fiction story about New York, I talk about sparkle and twinkle.
• 94. I made up a grandfather who told me that every child is born with a sparkle and a twinkle.
• 95. The sparkle represents faith, family, love and is nurtured through the moments we do the impossible for those we love as well as everything we do for each other and God.
• 96. The twinkle represents the fun things we do.
• 97. Going to New York, being in a movie, having 5 pairs of glasses are the twinkle moments which aren't necessary in my life but are fun and keep me giggling in the shower when no one is around.
• 98. The twinkle moments give us interesting things to share with those we love.
• 99. Both the twinkle and the sparkle have to be nurtured to stay strong.
• 100. Now, I need to go clean my house until it sparkles for the family I love and I need to  makes some plans for twinkle moments, since my girls are going to be out of school and need some memories to savor and replicate when their children are more than the twinkle in their eye.