RaNdOm Questions! {#TuesdayTen Linkup}

By now you know that Rabia and I like to research weird holidays to inspire topics for our Tuesday Ten posts. With a little research, I discovered that today is National Ask a Stupid Question Day. I knew that, somehow, we had to use that as a topic, but I couldn't quite figure out how to spin it into something that would work. Then, I read this post from Kenya and the light bulb lit up!!! Through her post, I found this list of 100 totally random questions and, for today's link up, we are encouraging you to pick 10 - any 10 - and answer them! This should be fun . . . . . . 

{If you want to participate, CLICK HERE so to see the list of 100 questions. Just pick any 10 to answer!}

I chose my questions based on some special numbers:

• #1 (Because My Birthday is on the 1st day of the month) - Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, and find line 4. As I type this, I am sitting at a coffee shop and there are no books with me. At home, however, I am currently reading two books, both for church. Help, Thanks, Wow by Ann Lamott & Blessings of a Skinned Knee by Wendy Mogel.
• Edited to include line/sentence 4 from pg. 18 of Help, Thanks, Wow: " So, to recap, my parents who were too hip and intellectual to pray, worshipped mostly mentally ill junkies."
• #3 (Because my birthday is in March, the 3rd month) - Before you started this survey, what were you doing? I'm actually typing this on Friday, so before I sat down with my computer, I drove the middle school carpool, came to the coffee shop, & ordered a small, nonfat caramel coffee.
• #6 (My hubby's birthday)- Now look at the clock. What is the actual time? 9:24am, Friday, September 26.
• #8 (Month my hubby, oldest, & youngest were born)-When did you last step outside? What were you doing? About 7:15 this morning (Friday). We live out in the country and have a large backyard. We noticed a deer that was just lying out in the middle of a very open space. It seemed odd and we were concerned that it might be hurt, so my oldest and I traipsed through wet grass to go check on it. Fortunately, it heard us coming, jumped up, and ran off into the woods before we were even close.
• #9 (Day my oldest and middle were born)- Did you dream last night? Not that I recall. I sleep pretty hard most nights.
• #11 (Day my youngest was born)- When did you last laugh? In my car this morning on my way to the coffee shop after dropping kids off at school.
• #12 (Month of our wedding anniversary and the month my middle was born)- Do you remember why / at what? I was listening to the radio and a particular radio show that I like. The hosts always crack me up!
• #28 (Sum of my children's current ages) - Type of music you dislike most? Rap. To me, music involves singing - not talking. Just my personal preference.
• #37 (My current age)- What is the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning? Going back to sleep. 
• #77 (Year I was born) - If you could have any job, what would you want to do/be? You can read my entire list of 10 from a couple Tuesdays ago, but if I have to choose just one, I would choose to be a famous singer.

Your Tuesday Ten hostesses are:

We hope you have enjoyed our #TuesdayTen lists! If so, please link up one of your own and share your post using #TuesdayTen!
RULES:
1) Link up a post, old or new, pertaining to the TuesdayTen topic for this week and add our TuesdayTen button to your post or sidebar.
2) Please do not link up contests, product reviews, or sponsored posts. Links not pertaining to the topic will be removed at the hosts' discretion.
3) Visit your hosts and follow them on social media.
4) Visit as many other linked posts as you can and show those bloggers some love by commenting and/or sharing.
5) By linking up you agree to be subscribed to out #TuesdayTen mailing list. Emails are only sent once a week and you can unsubscribe at any time. If you would like to be added to the mailing list without linking up, click here.

Come link up again next Tuesday, October 7. We'll be sharing some of our favorite quotes!

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<a href="http://www.the-golden-spoons.com" title="The Golden Spoons" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b552/lspoon1/19cef8c1-afb5-4c38-b3bd-5f09bd4d4937_zps0e6fb14d.png" alt="The Golden Spoons" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

An InLinkz Link-up

Dinner Party For 10 {#TuesdayTen}

If you were hosting a dinner party and you could invite any 10 people you wanted - rap or fictional; dead or alive - who would you invite?

It's a loaded questions, isn't it? When I saw this idea for a prompt, I thought it would be really fun. However, once I began to actually ponder my list, it became a little overwhelming. After all, the possibilities are endless and I was trying to narrow it down to just 10. It was simply impossible.

So, I'm cheating. Kind of. Only a little. 

1. A party with deceased relatives - Wouldn't it be great to see all those beloved relatives again who have passed away? I would invite my grandparents, great grandparents. It would be the ultimate family reunion.
2. A Girl's Night Out Party - What woman wouldn't want an evening to hang out her best girlfriends?!?!
3. A Party With My Blog Besties - I got a taste of this at BlogU in June, but there were still a few I haven't had a chance to meet (including my lovely co-host, Rabia). The only problem with this party would be narrowing the list down to 10!
4. A Red Carpet Shindig - It might not be the fine dining they are used to, but I would love to host a celebrity dinner party. Robin Williams could makes us laugh, then we could do a little karaoke with Carrie Underwood, and watch a chick flick with Sandra Bullock.
5. Movie Night Party - Instead of the celebrities themselves, perhaps they could come as their alter egos. Appetizers with Iron Man/Tony Stark, Dinner with Leigh Ann Tuoy, and dessert with Willy Wonka, of course!
6. History Night - As I've said before, I enjoy history. Imagine sitting around the table with George Washington, JFK, Albert Einstein, and William Shakespeare!
7. TV Dinner - Not the kind you microwave, but the kind where I would sit around the table with my favorite TV characters! Sheldon Cooper, Uncle Jesse, and, of course, all of my "Friends."
8. Biblical Figures - Can you imagine being able to share a meal with Jesus? Moses? Mary & Joseph? Wow!
9. Long Lost Friends- Have you wondered what happened to that one person from high school? Maybe an old friend you lost touch with long ago? That one high school teammate you cannot find on Facebook? It would be like a high school reunion except only with the people you are actually interested in seeing again.
10. Fabulous Food - The last dinner party I want to host is one where all of the guests are chefs who bring a dish to share. Bobby Flay could grill something, Paula Deen could make a sinfully fattening side dish, and Buddy Valastro could make an incredible cake for dessert!

How about you? What kind of dinner party would you like to host and who would you invite?

Your Tuesday Ten hostesses are:

We hope you have enjoyed our #TuesdayTen lists! If so, please link up one of your own and share your post using #TuesdayTen!
RULES:
1) Link up a post, old or new, pertaining to the TuesdayTen topic for this week and add our TuesdayTen button to your post or sidebar.
2) Please do not link up contests, product reviews, or sponsored posts. Links not pertaining to the topic will be removed at the hosts' discretion.
3) Visit your hosts and follow them on social media.
4) Visit as many other linked posts as you can and show those bloggers some love by commenting and/or sharing.
5) By linking up you agree to be subscribed to out #TuesdayTen mailing list. Emails are only sent once a week and you can unsubscribe at any time. If you would like to be added to the mailing list without linking up, click here.

Next Tuesday, September 30 is National Ask A Stupid Question Day, so, for #TuesdayTen, click HERE for a list of 100 random questions. Pick 10 - any 10 - and answer them in a blog post! It should be lots of fun!!!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.the-golden-spoons.com" title="The Golden Spoons" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b552/lspoon1/19cef8c1-afb5-4c38-b3bd-5f09bd4d4937_zps0e6fb14d.png" alt="The Golden Spoons" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

An InLinkz Link-up

Put up or Shut Up - Because Life Is Too Short For Complaining

This post is a bit more blunt than my usual tone, but writing is healing for me, so here goes. 


I have never liked the way I look. Never. As long as I can remember, I have looked in the mirror and seen something negative. Skin problems, hips that were too big, boobs that were too small. I have a tendency to compare myself to all the "skinny girls" and all the women that are, in my mind, so much more attractive than I am. I always find a reason to berate my physical appearance.

That's me on the far right in the purple dress and I absolutely DESPISE the way I look in this photo from BlogU in June - over three months and 15 pounds ago. 😝

This terrible habit of mine was at an all time high about a month ago. You see, I gained what I think is a lot of weight over the summer - about 20 pounds in 4 months. For someone who is already very self-critical, it was very difficult cope with this change. As the weight kept piling on, so did the insults I was hurling at myself. Eventually, I got to a point of not being able to look in the mirror without wanting to either cry or vomit. Literally. 

Finally, mostly through, some encouragement nudging tough love from my very supportive husband and encouragement from some Facebook blogging friends, I realized something: It was time to either put up or shut up because life is too short to waste time complaining.

I did two things. First, I made an appointment with my doctor. I talked to him at length and he agreed that the rate at which I was gaining weight was abnormal, so he ordered blood tests. While I waited for the results I had very mixed emotions. Of course, I didn't want to have a health problem, but that would have been an answer at least. For better or worse, all the results cam back normal, so it appears that there is no medical reason for the weight - at least not one that is easy to diagnose. 

Secondly, I joined a gym - something I haven't done since I was in college. I have committed to going three times a week. During two of those times, I work with a trainer. It's never easy to work it into my schedule and I would much rather be sitting my fat butt in this computer chair cruising Facebook or writing. Every time I go, I hate it and I resent it, but I leave feeling like I have accomplished something. It's been 4 weeks and I'm still waiting to see that "accomplishment" move the number on the scale in reverse. It has, however, stopped it from continuing to go up at least. 

I keep trying to remember that, at this point, it's only been a month and the kind of results I want don't happen quickly. I'm also trying to be a little less self-depricating, but, I fear, losing the insults is going to happen in direct proportion to losing the weight. I don't know why my self esteem is so tied to my weight and outward appearance. I don't want ti to be that way but I simply cannot get past it. It's an old and deep-seeded internal scar. I hope that with some serious determination, continued support from the hubs, and great friends who let me cry and completely unload on them after a workout (Thanks, Wendi!), and friends who help me remember the good qualities I have to offer,  I'll get there - eventually. I don't know that I will ever love my body, but I truly want to get to a place where I can accept it. It has taken me mani places, given me three beautiful children, and will, hopefully, allow me to enjoy life for many more years to come. Someday, I will be able to look in the mirror and like what I see because life is too short to waste time complaining.   

This has been a Finish the Sentence Friday post.

Your hosts: Kristi From Finding Ninee & Stephanie from Mommy, For Real.

Guest hosts: Kelly from Just Typikal

and Katia from IAMTHEMILK

Jobs I Would Like To Try {Tuesday Ten Linkup}

When I was young, I knew I wanted to be a teacher when I grew up. Both of my parents were teachers and I always enjoyed working with young children. I went to college, majored in Child Development, got my certificate to teach birth through kindergarten, and got a job teaching special needs preschoolers in the public school system.

I loved my job, but as much as I knew I wanted to be a teacher, I also knew I wanted to be a stay at home mom. So, when my first daughter was born twelve years ago, I left the profession and haven't gone back. 

The longer I stayed at home and the more public education changed, the less I wanted to ever go back to that career. While I've contemplated other careers, I haven't made any moves toward actually changing and/or reclaiming an occupation (except for the part time in children's ministry at my church that fell into my lap and is, for now, temporary).

When Rabia suggested this topic for Tuesday Ten, I loved it and thought it would be fun to actually "write down" a list of careers I would like to try.

1. Singer/Songwriter - This one is purely hypothetical because I have no musical aptitude at all. I took piano lesson for years, but it never came naturally to me. I love music, though and if I did have the talent, I would certainly have pursued a career in it.
2. Interior Designer - Again, I do not have a natural talent for this. I have a difficult time envisioning the whole picture. I wish I had the talent to make my house look like something out of a magazine and, if I did, it would be a great career.
3. Photographer - I suppose photography is something that can be learned and I would have a lot to learn before I could make this my occupation. However, I would love to be able to take photos as beautiful and emotion-filled as my friend Tamara.
4. Real Estate Agent - I watch more HGTV than any other channel. Since I don't have an eye for design, I suppose I could become a real estate agent. I love the idea of exploring different houses and helping people find one they can truly make into a home.
5. Social Media Consultant - Like many people today, I'm a tad addicted to social media. Any time I have spare moment, I almost instinctively check Facebook or Twitter. I hear you can actually get paid to sit in front of a computer all day and manage social media for someone else!
6. Flight Attendant/Pilot - I know that, in these positions, you have to work your way up to international travel, but would't it be great to have a job that allows you to travel the world?
7. Chef - Oh, to not have to worry every night over what's for dinner! If I was a chef who could just take ingredients out of the pantry and turn them into something delicious, life would be so much easier!
8. Event Planner - I'm an organizer and a planner by nature. It's somehow cathartic for me. Maybe I could make a career out of planning and organizing big events.
9. Personal Trainer - I have some serious ulterior motives behind this one. I gained a lot of weight over the summer - a lot. So, I have recently joined a gym and have had a couple trainers kicking my you-know-what to try to get back in shape. Now, I'm not someone who particulate enjoys the gym, but if I was actually getting paid to endure the torture of the workouts, I might change my tune!
10. A Writer - This is what I would really, truly like to have as a career. Some might say I am already a writer because I have this blog and I have been in a book. However, it's not really a career unless it earns you a living and all total, I've earned about $100. That's not a career. I'm still figuring out how to get my foot in the door as a freelance writer and I 'm learning it's not easy. If it were easy, it wouldn't be so rewarding, would it?

What careers have you and and which one would you like to try?

Your Tuesday Ten hostesses are:

We hope you have enjoyed our #TuesdayTen lists! If so, please link up one of your own and share your post using #TuesdayTen!

RULES:

1) Link up a post, old or new, pertaining to the TuesdayTen topic for this week and add our TuesdayTen button to your post or sidebar.
2) Please do not link up contests, product reviews, or sponsored posts. Links not pertaining to the topic will be removed at the hosts' discretion.
3) Visit your hosts and follow them on social media.
4) Visit as many other linked posts as you can and show those bloggers some love by commenting and/or sharing.
5) By linking up you agree to be subscribed to out #TuesdayTen mailing list. Emails are only sent once a week and you can unsubscribe at any time. If you would like to be added to the mailing list without linking up, click here.

For next Tuesday, September 23, imagine you are having a dinner party. What 10 people, real or fictional; dead or alive would you invite?

Be sure to join our Tuesday Ten Facebook group and/or sign up to receive reminder emails by clicking HERE!

<div align="center">
<a href="http://www.the-golden-spoons.com" title="The Golden Spoons" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1291.photobucket.com/albums/b552/lspoon1/19cef8c1-afb5-4c38-b3bd-5f09bd4d4937_zps0e6fb14d.png" alt="The Golden Spoons" style="border:none;" /></a></div>

An InLinkz Link-up