Today I’m participating in my first ever Ask-Away-Friday.
And, I get to answer questions from one of the hosts – Tamara. Yes, from Tamara Like Camera!!!!
Not only is Tamara gorgeous, she is the sweetest person and writes some of the most heart felt posts ever and her pictures are phenomenal!! (she is a photographer extraordinaire!) She reads and comments on numerous blogs every day(not sure how she does it all!!) and makes each person feel special!!!
If you don’t already read her blog then it’s your lucky day!!! Head over and read her answers to the questions I sent her. I promise you will be glad!!
Here are the questions from Tamara:
1. I know you’re like me with summer love/winter.. not so love. If you could have a second home anywhere in the world, where would you build/buy one? And why?
This one is easy!!! We would have a house on the beach in Hawaii!!! That is my happy place. I love that the temperature is right around 80 every single day!!!Hawaii
2. If I came to visit you (which would be fun!) would what we do together?
Well, I’m going to assume that you are coming in the summer because the winter sort of sucks!!! We would sleep in (let’s just pretend!!) and then spend the day on the boat. First we would go to a local bakery and get some cookies for you and Devlin’s (liquor store) to get a treat for me!!
You could pick the playlist for the music on the boat.
If you want to do something “native” to Kansas we could tour the state capital. But, I think the boat is more fun!!!
on the Pontoon!
3. How has the new school year been for your boys? Any challenges to share? Triumphs?
So far I think this has been a good year for both boys.
Hunter is in 8th grade and has a goal to keep all of his grades above a 97%. So far he is achieving this!!! He had a great cross country season and now has moved on to wrestling. His last meet he got 2 pins (out of 2 matches!!!).
the wrestler
Jordan has had a great 10th grade year so far. Marching band is his favorite and it just ended but he is on to Pep Band, Jazz Band and possibly being in the pit orchestra for the upcoming school musical. He has all honors or AP classes and has had to put in lots of hours studying – he is learning some valuable life skills. And – he is a driver now!!!!
Driving
4. I know from Facebook that you did a commercial this week! How did it go? What are your next goals for your business?
Well, I realized after I put my picture up (and finished the whole deal) that I used the wrong word. We did a TV spot for one of the local channels morning news program.
We are part of the CASA home tour – we are hosting the boutique for the event. There are 5 homes on the tour and each home-owner got to contribute a recipe. Since we are participating as our venue we decided to do a drink recipe!!
The Victorian
1 part vodka
1 part triple sec
1 part Razzmatazz (raspberry liqueur)
1 part Cranberry juice
splash of lime juice
Mix in shaker with ice. our into a chilled martini glass.
Garnish rim with red sugar and a lime slice if desired.
Enjoy!!
5. How did you find yourself as a blogger? Was it surprising, or a goal/dream of yours?
I worked at my boys elementary school for 5 years. It was a great job but I didn’t have enough work to stay busy so I started reading blogs. (at that time I never commented – I was a lurker!!)
I had already been running my age on my birthday for a couple years and before I turned 43 I decided that I would run my age on my birthday and then pick a different exercise each day and do 43 reps. I thought it would be fun to start a blog to chronicle my daily exercises.
Chris was gone all of August that year (2012) and at some point while he was gone he set up my blog domain. On 9-16-12 I published my first blog post and I’ve been blogging ever since. At that point I had no idea that I would meet so many incredible people through blogging so, yes, it has been very surprising.
6. What would be an absolute dream trip to take with your family, while they’re all still young enough to live home?
We are hoping/planning to go to Germany at some point in the next 2 years. Chris has been many times and has become good friends with Barto who owns our very favorite winery.
a favorite!!! Wine from Germany
Our plan is to go the year before Jordan’s senior year in high school!!
7. When was the last time you really pushed yourself to your physical limits?
Not recently, sadly!!!
I think back in May when I attempted the 50 mile race through the Kansas Flint Hills would be the time I pushed all the way to my limit.
8. What blog post(s) were you most afraid to publish, but did anyway?
Truthfully I think I feel OK about all the posts I have clicked publish on. The ones rattling around in my head are another story. Maybe one day some of them will be shared – not sure.
9. As you know, I just read and reviewed “My Other Ex.” If you could restore one broken relationship, which would it be?
HaHa -sort of a timely question since I just wrote about the “break-up” with my best friend earlier this week.
10. What’s something that amazes you?
This is hard – like Jordan said when I asked for his thoughts, “that’s pretty broad.” Since I’m writing this at bedtime (for me!!!) then my brain can’t wrap around this concept.
I think that one thing that amazes me is how very different each day can be – in every way. From the weather (on Monday we went from 72 to 37 in just a couple of hours) to people’s attitudes (nice one day, cranky the next!!) to the things that make up the day (wrestling, lunches, cleaning venues, ironing tablecloths, running, celebrating birthdays).
HaHa – I sort of took a cop-out on that question.
Thank you, Tamara for swapping questions with me – this was so much fun!!!
I’m thankful that the boys actually like and enjoy school but we are all definitely ready for summer vacation!!
This summer we don’t have any big trips planned (hello new business!!!) but we will probably do some little trips and we will enjoy the time to just be less structured!!!
There will be plenty of swimming –
swim beach
Lots of boat rides –
Plenty of happy hours on the deck with friends –
Time to just relax and hang out with the boys –
I will just pretend we are in Hawaii!!!
Look how little those boys are!!
Summer is my favorite – it makes me happy in every way no matter what we do!!! And even though Jordan always corrects me and tells me that summer doesn’t officially start until June 21, I say it starts as soon as school is over for the year!!!
Time to get my toes in the water!!!!
When does summer start for you?
Is there a certain event that “kicks it off?”
Today I worked my triceps with the 43. I also really had to use my core because I included a stability ball. I put my feet on the ball – I tried to keep just my feet and not let my calves rest on the ball to make it more difficult!
I nearly lost the ball a couple of times but I made it through 43!! It took quite a while after I finished for my arms to quit shaking!!!
I also spent some time on the elliptical again today. I’m telling myself that even though it is not my favorite it is much better than nothing!!! I did 45 minutes at a harder pace than the other day. My legs feel very tingly again but I really think it is just the blood flowing!!!
So yesterday was just one of those perfect kind of days! I got cards from Chris and the boys:Both boys were very sweet with what they wrote –
And – they gave me a Garmin!!!
my new Garmin
I can’t wait to actually start running again so I can test it out!!!In the meantime – I will just pretend!!!
The weather was gorgeous – no wind so the lake was perfect!!! And – WE PUT THE BOAT IN THE WATER!!!! This always make me happy because it means we made it through winter and now it’s summer – my favorite!!!We didn’t actually take a ride – Chris just put it in and drove it to the marina. It was a little chilly – plus we had stuff to do still!
We had some friends over for dinner – grilled steaks and chicken, campfire potatoes and this super easy summer corn – a perfect ending to a great day!!!
