Know and Tell Friday

TGIF again!!! And it's time once again for Know and Tell Friday, hosted again this week by Kayren...thanks Kayren for all the GREAT questions!

0. If you want to, leave a comment for Heather to let her know how much you missed her last week and wish her well. Hey Heather! Hope you are hanging in there and doing well...I've been praying for you and your sisters' family.

1. Do you have fake plants in your house? Do you like them? No. I used to have real plants, but I killed them all. Then I had fake plants (3 ficuses....er, ficusi?...3 ficus plants), but I HATED dusting them, so we are currently a plant-free house. I figure I'm doing goo to remember to feed my kids and my dog...I don't need to remember to water (or dust) plants as well! (Did I mention I have a bit of a black thumb?)

2. What is the oldest piece of furniture you have that is not an antique? Describe it. Probably the oldest piece of furniture in our house is an old chair from Hubby's grandparents farmhouse. It is a red upholstered chair with beautiful wood etching on the armrests. It was left in the old farmhouse for decades after everyone moved out (the house was occasionally used for overnight hunting expeditions and shelter for bad-weather camping trips). I first spotted the old chair before Hubby and I were dating when a bunch of us when to his family's land for a camping trip. His family couldn't believe I loved it so much, since it had always been "that old red chair" to them. Hubby knew I had always loved it, so about two months before our wedding, he had it brought down and moved into "our" house (which at the time was my house) while I was out of town on a business trip. I still love it!


3. Do you have any antiques? We don't currently have any antiques, although we did when we first got married. We had a 100-year old piano that Hubby bought me when we were dating (our first Christmas together) and an antique dining room set that we bought when we were first married. But 2 children later (and in the same "quaint" house), we've had to sell those to make room for cribs, toyboxes, toys, balls, etc. I would love to get some more in our "next" (bigger) house.

My piano that is no longer mine...sniff, sniff

4. What type of dishes do you use? China, stoneware, Corelle, Tupperware, paper plates?

We use red Fiestaware dishes for everyday. Well, the kids have plastic Dora, Sesame Street, etc. dishes. I do have a set of China that I absolutely love. We got it for our wedding. I think we've used it once. It's currently packed away waiting for the impending move "some day."

My china that WILL get used some day!

5. What is your favorite thing in your house? Probably our leather couches and chair. It's the first furniture Hubby and I picked out together when we were married. And it's the most "lived in" and therefore the most comfortable furniture we have. I love to cuddle up and watch TV, surf the Internet, or blog from our cozy, comfy couch...although the leather gets cold, so we always have blankets close by!

6. Do you like to use lamps or overhead lighting? I definitely prefer lamps. I like the cozy ambiance they create.

7. Are you a pristine white wall person or do you love color? I like color...but I like muted colors on walls. When I first bought my house (which is now our house), the walls were all a light tan color. It was nice, because it was neutral. However, I did have to paint the kitchen a deep red after a few years, because all the tan finally got to me! It works because we have a brick floor in our kitchen...as a matter of fact, that's what sold me on the house!

Be sure to pop over to Kickin' It In Crazyville to see what Heather & Reese have been up to as well!

Happy Friday to all!

Know & Tell Friday

Kayren at Everything's Coming Up Daisies is hosting this week's installment of Know & Tell Friday: Animal Edition. Click here for Kayren's original post and more great answers to these fun questions.

1. What dog do you most resemble? I would say my personality most resembles a Golden Retriever--loyal (to a fault sometimes). My friends jokingly refer to me as "The Golden Retriever" of the group as I tend to remain loyal (to people, relationships, even commitments) longer than what is healthy at times.

My in-laws' Retriever, Jodie

(photo by my bro-in-law, Omerad)

However, after giving a quick glance at TerrificPets.com, I'd have to say I probably resemble the Chow-Chow more physically. I have very thick, very-naturally-curly hair, and according to Terrific Pets, "The Chow Chow is commonly recognized for the massive amount of fur that seems to encase its body." There are many times (for example when the humidity is high) that I feel a bit like this:

2. What is your favorite zoo animal? The giraffe...they're so amazingly huge, and yet they move with such grace.

3. What zoo animal reminds you most of yourself? I'm going to have to say bear...again the hair thing (thick and dark), plus the fact that I would LOVE to hibernate all winter long. I mean if I could get by with sleeping for months on end, you better believe I would do it!

4. Do you have any pets? If so, how many, what kind, and what are their names? Yes, just one...our first "baby" Chester. He was a gift from Hubby when we were dating, and he's named for the dog in Disney's movie, "The Kid." You know the one...."Chester, the world's greatest dog."

5. Have you ever ridden a horse? Yes. A couple of times on "trail rides" on vacation and once with a friend and his girlfriend who owned horses. Also, my uncle had a pony when I was little. We rode him quite a bit.

6. Have you ever milked a cow? Nope, and I never want to. My grandparents had a milk cow when I was little. I remember my grandma giving me chocolate milk then telling me afterward that it was cow's milk that she put chocolate in. She is such a smart woman, because she knows I would have never drank it otherwise!

7. Why don't sheep shrink when it rains? I have no idea, but Kayren shares some interesting theories in her answers.

Hope you enjoyed this week's edition of Know & Tell Friday. Don't forget to head over to Kickin' It In Crazyville and check out Heather's and Reese's answers, too. Happy Friday!

Know and Tell Friday

Thanks to Kayren from Everything's Coming Up Daisies for hosting this week's Know and Tell Friday: Sports Edition. I hope Reese is feeling better and Heather gets a little break from work soon!

1. Do you live for the start of college football? professional football? Does anyone in your house? Do you know anyone who does? I can't say I "live for" the start of any sports season, but my dad, all my uncles, and my Hubby all live for pro football (Go Chiefs!!)

2. Did you go to college? If so, what was your mascot? Was/Is that your favorite team? If not, what was/is your favorite college team? I went to a small Bible college, Central Bible College in Springfield, MO. We didn't have a football team...but our basketball mascot was The Spartans. I don't really have a favorite college team, but since my bro-in-law works at MU, I guess I should say Mizzou. I come from a long line of Chiefs fans, though, so they are my favorite team (not that I actually follow them at all!)

3. Have you ever embarrassed yourself at a sporting event? Have you seen someone else embarrass themselves at a sporting event? I have not personally embarrassed myself at a sporting event, but I've seen MANY people do so. :) Just go to a pro game, and watch all the people who've had more than 3 beers!

4. What is your favorite spectator sport (the one you love to watch live)? I would say football is probably my favorite spectator sport (and favorite to watch live).

5. Do you have a sports hero? If so, what makes them special? I would have to say right now my sports hero is Michael Phelps. In addition to being an amazing athlete, and raising the bar in his sport, he epitomizes the idea of "teamwork." Plus, you can't watch him interact with his mom and not just love him!

6. What's the most memorable sporting event you have ever watched on television? watched live? World Series 1985 KC Royals vs. St. Louis Cardinals...and the Royals won! (It's probably so memorable to me because my dad was glued to the set and I heard the whole series relived again and again.)

7. If you have kids or grandkids, do they play sports? My kiddos are still a little young for sports, but Little Miss has told me several times that she wants to be a "soccer teamer" when she gets big.

Know and Tell Friday

It's Friday!!! I'm excited for two reasons....1. Hubby is on vacation all next week, and 2. That means it's time for Know and Tell Friday!!!

1. Are you right- or left-handed? I'm right-handed, but have a lot of "southpaw" relatives and friends.

2. Any nicknames they have (or have had) and the story behind them? Most commonly, just "Nance," my grandma used to call me "Nanny" (but she's the only one), and in college it was "Grace" because I was a bit of a klutz...not sure why specifically college, I guess those were my "awkward" years.

3. Do you need to do laundry right now? Nope... hallelujah!

4. What CD is in your CD player/music on your iPod right now? The new Hillsong worship CD (thanks to Hubby!)...not sure the name of it, but it's awesome! It's actually in BOTH my CD-player and on my MP3 player.

5. How/when did you learn to ride a bicycle? First grade, my dad taught me...the ol' "I'll hold on to you then let go without you knowing it" trick. It worked...I loved to ride bikes. Still do, but don't currently have one.

6. What is your favorite weird food combination? I don't think I have any weird food combinations, although Hubby would say it's my popcorn/M&M (or chocolate chips if we don't have M&Ms) combination. (He doesn't really get the whole salty & sweet appeal.)

7. What is something you have that is of sentimental value? The flag that was draped on my grandpa's casket (He served in the army and the navy when he was younger) and my grandmother's wedding ring.

For more Know and Tell Friday fun, check out Kickin' It In Crazyville.

Know and Tell Friday

More Friday fun from the girls at Kickin' It In Crazyville. Have fun!

1. My favorite bedtime attire is pajama pants and a T-shirt--comfy and cozy all the way!

2. The perfect meal would include any Mexican dish with a hearty side of tortilla chips and a big glass of Diet Pepsi (don't forget the fried ice cream for dessert!)

3. The most memorable girl's night out I've ever had was when my two best friends and I drove to a tourist town about 30 min away and had dinner at an upscale Mexican restaurant . That was in 2008 (March). I was 35-years-old. It was so memorable because all 3 of us mommies were out, away from our kids, all dressed up and did something totally spontaneous (hadn't planned on going so far for dinner).

4. My earliest memory is playing in our front yard and being afraid of the big bell tower at the church down the road b/c it looked like a big monster with eyes. (I was probably 2 or 3 at the time.)

5. The family is gone for the evening and I will spend my time sitting on the couch watching chick flics and eating ice cream.

6. Right now I am watching Dora with my Little Miss and realizing that my Little Man is waking up from his nap.

7. When I am done blogging, I am going to get Little Man up and take the kids outside to enjoy the unexpected break from the blistering heat!

Head on over to Kickin' It In Crazyville to join in the fun!

Know and Tell Friday

A little Friday Fun...

1. What is your favorite mode of transportation (flying, train, car, boat, etc.)? Why?

Before kids, it was flying because it was fast. That might still be the case, but we haven't tried it with 2 kids, so I'm not sure. Now that we have the minivan with DVD player, traveling by car isn't so bad. But I'd probably have to say flying is still my favorite overall because of the speed (unless, of course, you get grounded somewhere!).

2. If you could fly like Superman, jump and swing like Spiderman, swing on vines like Tarzan or fly on an umbrella like Mary Poppins, which would you choose?

Hmm...that's a tough one. I think swinging like Spiderman or Tarzan would make me a little nauseous. It seems a little inconvenient to have to always have an umbrella when you want to fly somewhere, so I guess I'd go with flying like Superman.

3. You're driving down the road and you see a small cluster of people, all with their thumbs out hoping to hitch a ride with you. As you near the group you realize that the people standing there are Queen Elizabeth, Johnny Depp, Barrack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, and John Grisham. You only have room for one person. Who would you pick up?

Um, hello...Johnny Depp! The Queen would make me too nervous. I wouldn't have anything to say to Barak Obama. Oprah would be fun, but doesn't compare to Johnny Depp. And while, it would be fun to pick John Grisham's brain on tips for writing a novel, Johnny would have so many interesting stories. Plus, he'd just be fun to look at. I mean, c'mon...it's Johnny Depp.

4. What was the most memorable trip you've ever taken?

While I've taken many fun and memorable trips with Hubby, I would have to say visiting Paris, France with my parents and sisters (May 2000) is the MOST memorable simply because of the awe-inspiring history and culture of the city.

5. If you were planning a road trip with your best friend, where would you start, what would you stop to see and where would you end?

We would probably start in Kansas City or St. Louis, MO because they are the closest cities. We would head toward New York and stop in every major city to see a broadway show, then end in New York and see any shows on Broadway that we had missed along the way.

6. You are able to transport yourself back to any time. What would it be and why?

I would travel back to the late 19th century....life was so much simpler and yet there was so much going on in our country. I think it would be interesting to get a glimpse of life in simpler times.

7. Would you have flown with the Wright Brothers when they first discovered air travel?

Definitely not. I'm a big chicken who's scared of heights.

Hope you enjoyed my answers. For more fun responses, head on over to Kickin' It In Crazyville.

Know & Tell Friday

It's that time of the week again...YEAH!!! For more answers, head on over to Kickin' It In Crazyville. For now, here are my answers:

1. Why were you given your particular name? I was supposed to be Melissa Renee, but a friend of my parents' at their church had a girl a few days before I was born, and she named her Melissa Renee. So, I was named Nancy Renee.

2. What's your favorite song of the moment? This is a tough one since I rarely get the chance to listen to "grown-up" music these days. For that reason, anything that doesn't rhyme and isn't sung by a cartoon character would probably be at the top of the list.

3. What are you wearing today which is most reflective of who you are? Probably my bare feet (comfy), or my khaki capris.

4. Have you ever had a pet that was not a cat or dog? What was it? I had a couple of guppies in the 3rd grade, but they didn't last long. Other than that, it's always been dogs.

5. What type of exercise do you do to keep in shape? I do stretching and strength exercises almost every night (crunches, lunges, etc.) and I've just started lifting weights and walking the dog each morning.

6. What is your favorite movie of all time? I like so many different movies...lots of musicals, old movies, sappy romantic comedies, but probably my all-time favorite is Chocolat. (Johnny Depp and chocolate...what more could you want?)

7. Do you enjoy gardening, or working with flowers? No, not really, but I would like to have a garden b/c I LOVE fresh vegetables...maybe next year.

Know & Tell Friday

Well, since it's a holiday, I almost COMPLETELY forgot about Know & Tell Friday! Good thing I checked my friend Lora's blog (My Blessed Life). So, here goes...

1. If you are a blogger, what got you started? Have you ever made, or do you hope to make, money blogging? My friend Lora got me started. Her blog got me hooked, and I figure two of my favorite things are writing and friendship, so why not? I've never made money blogging, but would love to someday. Maybe when the kids are a little older and I can pour more time into it.

2. Are you a collector of anything? I used to collect a few different things, but then I married The Minimalist and my eyes were opened to the fine art of simple living. :)

3. Apple juice or orange juice? Usually orange, but occasionally apple.

4. What are 3 of your best personality traits? outgoing, considerate, loyal (had to ask Hubby to help with those!)

5. Name 1 thing you miss about being a kid. No responsibilities!

6. What is usually your first thought when you wake up? "what the heck?!!?!"

7. Regarding material possessions: the more the merrier or less is best? Depends...when I'm shopping it's "more the merrier," when I'm cleaning, it's "less is best." I guess I'm a bit schizophrenic. :)

For more fun responses, head over to Kickin' It In Crazyville.

Happy 4th of July!!

Good News, Bad News, and Other Random Ramblings

Sorry I've been MIA for the weekend. We took a quick, somewhat-last-minute, trip to see my parents who were visiting my grandma a couple of hours away. Since my parents live about 10 hours from us, I like to take the kids to see them when they're close by. We had a great time visiting, and we're finally home.

I had hoped to do Know & Tell Friday before we left, but didn't get a chance. In case you missed it, too, head on over to Kickin' It In Crazyville to see all the responses...they had some GREAT questions!

So, here's the GOOD NEWS I had waiting for me when I got home...I received an e-mail from the publisher of my book, Drama Ministry: A Guidebook, stating that they have agreed to publish my (and some of my friends') original drama scripts in a series of script books. The details are still being worked out, but the books should be available sometime next summer.

As for the BAD NEWS...today Hubby registered us for his high school reunion in September. Now that, in and of itself, is NOT bad news. But it does mean that it's time for me to get downright serious once again on the weight loss front. Only 2 1/2 short months to shed those last few pounds of "baby weight" that still wreak havoc on my midsection. Here I come celery sticks and running shoes...right after another piece of chocolate ;)

TGIF and KATF

Ode to Summer for this week's Know & Tell Friday (thanks to Reese and Heather at Kickin it in Crazyville):

Which is your favorite season? Why?

Definitely Autumn (or Fall, if you prefer). I love everything about it...the beautiful color of the leaves, the crispness in the air, bonfires, warm sweaters and jackets, pumpkin-flavored anything, hot cider, candy corn, everything!!

Are you a bikini or one piece gal? Do the same rules apply to your daughter, if you have one?

Definitely a one-piece or tankini for me and my Little Miss.

What is your favorite summer getaway? Beach? Lake? Mall? Indoor ice skating? Why?

Either the beach or the lake. We are so far from a beach, though the lake is a little more doable. I love being at, near, or on the water.

You're on a sandy beach, looking out at a perfectly blue ocean. The weather is perfect. What's on the table next to you? What book are you reading? Who is sitting next to you? What are you drinking?

On the table...Huge glass of iced tea with lemon

Book...Whatever I can get my hands on

Sitting next to me...no one (the idea of an afternoon to myself sounds amazing!) or my Hubby

Drinking...the glass of iced tea on the table

Do you tan? If so, are you an all-natural tanner or do you go to a salon?

I used to be...no time these days. I did the fake-bake thing a few times, but I prefer all-natural.

What is your favorite summer clothing?

Capris, T-shirt, flip-flops

You're suddenly able to transport yourself to any summer in your past. What year would you choose to be in?

The summer of 2000...went to Paris, went to Alaska for a friend's wedding, and started dating my Hubby...a stellar summer by far!

Know & Tell Friday

TGIF!!!! Here are my answers:

1. Are you a procrastinator or do you get things done? I usually get things done, unless it's a writing assignment, then I procrastinate until right before my deadline...of course, that's when I do my best work!

2. What is the worst thing you have ever eaten? Shark. It does NOT taste like chicken!

3. What is your favorite movie, and why? There are several, depending on the category (comedy, musical, action, etc.) But I'd have to say "Chocolat" is probably one of my favorites, if not my absolute favorite. A movie about chocolate starring Johnny Depp...what's not to love about that?

4. What one physical feature would you want to change about yourself? That would be a toss-up: either my "thick" legs (thighs to ankles) or my lack of a chin (for which reason I HATE my profile!)

5. Would you rather travel the world, or travel through space? Travel the world...I'd love to see so much more of it.

6. Favorite cell phone feature: camera or texting? Camera...i'm not much of a texter, but I'm trying!

7. Sports car or SUV? Even with the outrageous gas prices, I'd have to say SUV...I've done the tiny car thing, and it's so much nicer to have the added space! (Although right now a minivan trumps them all!)

Know and Tell Friday

The girls over at Kicking It in Crazyville have started this thing called, "Know and Tell Friday." I think it's pretty cool, so here are my responses. If you're into this sort of thing, leave a comment and let me know your answers, or post them on your blog and let me know you did! I'll come check them out:

1. Pepsi or coke? Neither--it's DIET Pepsi!

2. Barefoot or shoes? Barefoot, definitely barefoot

3. If you watch American Idol – who do you want to win, David A or David C? David C--he's from my hometown...go KC! Plus, he's just really cool.

4. If money was not an option and you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go and why? Anywhere in Europe. I've only been to Paris and would love to go back. But there are so many other places in Europe I'd like to visit as well.

5. Is your desk messy or clean? Clean, but it's Hubby's fault. He's a neatfreak to the core!

6. When it's sunny, all I want to do is.......lie outside on a blanket and read a book.

7. What is your favorite word and why? Home...it stirs so many warm, cozy feelings.

Bonus Question: What song best describes you when you wake up in the morning? "Cruella De Ville" from 101 Dalmatians "...if she doesn't scare you, no evil thing will!"