looking forty-ward

Here it is… earlier this week I officially check a new box when filling out medical forms!! Yep, a new decade because this gal is the big 4-0 [a few days late]. If I’m being completely honest, I’ve been anxious about this birthday since the day I turned 39 = I guess there is just something about turning 40 that puts things in perspective and I feel like I’ve had a shift in a lot of areas in my life leading up to this day. But let’s face it: we did it BIG in Napa this week so I am coming into this with a smile across my face and excitement for what’s to come.

Last week, I let you guys ask away with all the things you wanted to know so here are forty things about the gal behind the blog:

1. When was I born? July 17th, 1983 and still to this day my mom tells me my birth story every single year… it was the day of our family reunion and she was overdue and oh so ready to meet me. At that point, she didn’t know if I was a boy or girl, so imagine her surprise when I came out! Crazy how life was back in the 1900’s [hahaha]. P.S. another fun fact, she was at the Nashville Wave Pool on her due date because it was so hot and she said she felt like a whale ;).
2. How tall am I? 5.4″ = I used to want to be taller and now I wouldn’t change it for the world. I don’t ever have to worry about wearing sky high platforms and I can sometimes get away with wearing kid sizes = I tell my girls how many perks there are to being short all the time!
3. How would I describe myself in three words? Driven, Detail-Oriented, Happy
4. Am I neat or messy? Defnitely a NEAT girl… I love all things organization and our house is usually very tidy. Everyone’s beds are always made and I can’t stand to have extra “stuff” out so we straighten up everyday.
5. If I could only take three things to a deserted island, what would they be? Barefoot Dreams blanket, sunglasses and Tucker 😉 I can’t pick one child over the other so I’ll bring my furry one instead
6. Favorite and least favorite subject in school? Favorite was history and least favorite was math = good thing Jeff is decent at math so he can tackle that aspect of Caroline and Carson’s homework while I google all the 5th grade math lessons and how to reteach myself
7. If I had a warning label, what would it read? More expensive than at first glance #truth
8. Never have I ever… gone on a blind date or bought a lottery ticket
9. What places are on my bucket list to visit? Prague/Czech Republic, Switzerland, Germany, London/England, Greece, Bora Bora and the Maldives
10. How long does it take me to get ready? If I am full-on washing my hair, 1.5 hours because my hair takes forever to dry and style… if I’m just refreshing 30 minutes
11. How can you tell if I am having a really bad day? I’m really quiet and want to be left alone
12. What’s my favorite thing about each of my girls? Caroline’s genuinely kind spirit is the trait I admire most in her… it’s refreshing and I am in awe of how truly sweet she is. As for Carson, I’d say her boldness = she isn’t afraid to be herself and she knows exactly what she wants
13. What three words changed my life? God, Forgiveness, Celebrate
14. Favorite drink of choice – both non-alcoholic and the good stuff too? Non-alcoholic would be a Sonic Strawberry Limeade and for an adult beverage… an Aperol Spritz
15. If I could only shop at one store for the rest of my life, what would it be? Anthropologie = seriously they have it all and the home stuff is even better than the fashion for us color lovers
16. What fashion trends do I hate? Asymettrical dress hemlines, black combat boots, country western fringe, bucket hats, and crocs… I’m sure there are plenty more, but these instantly come to mind
17. Have you had a boob job? Any regrets? Yes, I had a breast augmentation back in the winter of 2016 and I don’t regret it at all… it was the best thing I did for myself post-kids to help get some body self condience back and I’ve been very happy with my results, now almost 7 years later. I would do it again in a heartbeat!
18. Who is my favorite artist? Erin McIntosh will forever have my heart. Her piece in our dining room was the first substantial piece of art we ever purchased together and it’s still my favorite all these years later. We have her paintings in our living room, primary bedroom + bathroom and they make me happy every time I see them. The thing I love about collecting art is that my girls will have it all one day, too!
19. Favorite place I’ve ever been… No surprise here: Italy. It has such a special place in my heart. Jeff and I went back in the spring of 2019 and I fell in love with it then. So thrilled we got to take our girls last month and they loved it just like us! Everything about it is incredible… the history + culture, the people and landscape = I’d live there in a heartbeat!
20. What would I do if I wasn’t an influencer? I probably would’ve started my own retail store. I loved working in retail and I always had a passion for owning my own business… either that or I would’ve loved to have worked for an advertising firm in NYC like I did one summer in college.
21. Top 5 pet peeves… people that don’t use their blinkers, dirty dishes in the sink, those individuals can’t use their/there/they’re properly, when people that don’t say thank you and i hate it when people are constantly late!!
22. Do you have any siblings? I have a step brother who is the same age and lives in Ohio. Growing up, he didn’t live with us, but would spend lots of time together over the summer and holidays as well.
23. Favorite movie I could watch over and over again. Braveheart
24. Favorite dessert… Bread pudding!! Close second would be chocolate meringue pie = although let’s face it I love most sweets
25. Boy names we would’ve used… Bennett Brice was our favorite and Edward is a family name on Jeff’s side of the family so we may have integrated that somewhere too.
26. If I could have a dinner party with 5 other people, who would they be? Elizabeth Taylor, Brad Pitt, Dolly Parton, Frank Sinatra and Walt Disney
27. My secret talent: I can tell the make and model of a car at night by their headlights [the most unuseful skill ever!]
28. Biggest regret in life? Not studying abroad in college = my parents were all for it and I was worried about having FOMO and missing out on the college activities in my sorority so I passed and I regret it SO much. I hope my girls get the chance to do this!
29. Favorite concert I’ve ever been to… Lady Gaga = the full experience from the singing to dancing to playing all the instruments = absolutely incredible from start to finish
30. 5-year goals for our family… buy another rental property in Rosemary Beach [a home with a pool!], take another international trip with the girls before they finish middle school, get more involved at our church and be better about eating dinner together every night with zero technology on
31. Best book I’ve ever read. The Nightingale
32. If your life had a soundtrack, what would it be? I’d say the Forrest Gump soundtrack… music from all genres = the classics mostly with incredible rock everyone wants to sing and dance to. It just brings a smaile to your face no matter what
33. What jobs did I have before becoming an influencer? All throughout high school and college, I worked in retail… Pac Sun and then The Limited. After I graduated, I was in corporate marketing for a big engineering and consulting firm and during that time I started blogging. I also opened a children’s retail shop in 2013 and ran that online as well before closing in 2017 to pursue social media full-time.
34. Things that scare you… Losing people that I love + our current world & trying to raise children in it
35. If I had to do it all over again, I probably wouldnt… get a tattoo in Cancun when I was 17 – sorry Mom
36. Do you have a relationship with your in-laws? Yes… Jeff’s mom lives in Knoxville so we see her a few times a year, but she prefers not to be on our social media. His father passed away when he was in high school – I so wish my girls and I had the opportunity to have met him = everyone says Jeff is the spitting image of his dad 😉
37. If I could have any superpower, it would be: snapping my fingers and being completely “ready” = like hair fixed, makeup perfectly done, etc. Think of how much time this would save!!!!
38. What would you most like to be remembered for? The ability to see good in all situations and always bringing a positive outlook to life
39. If I won the lottery, the first thing I would buy is… my grandparents a one-story house
40. Something I hate: my name being mis-pronounced over and over again