My friend Kendall had something like this posted on her blog, and I thought it would be a fun little thing to do. So… here are 125 random facts about me! J
1) My name means “My Father’s Joy” and I’ve always been very proud of that
2) I’m addicted to the Food Network. Rachael Ray taught me to cook and she’s one of my heroes
3) I read very fast. But a lot of times, instead of using this ability to go through lots of classics… I just re-read my favorite books over and over again. A habit which my parents constantly berate me about. J With love of course.
4) I love quoting movies. I love to be able to associate a quote with a circumstance. I often say “Name that movie!” and usually people have no idea what I’m talking about, because it’s often an obscure quote.
5) I love to know what actors are in what movies. I love to be able so associate who they’ve acted with, and what they’ve been in. After I see a movie I like, I hop on IMDB.com (best site ever!) and look up what actors were in the movie, and what else they’ve been on. There’s a secret to my genius!
6) I despise having anything beneath my fingernails. I’m constantly cleaning them out. This means that I despise weeding, and after I cook I clean my nails out immediately. My mom finds this hilarious.
7) My guilty pleasure in reading is that I love fantasy books. I truly have a nerd streak.
8) I have 3 quote books and hope to continuing accumulating more. I love browsing through them, and I also riddle them with pictures and tickets from movies and events I’ve been too. Since I’m really bad at writing in my journal (except when I have a boyfriend….) I consider my quote books to be my journal. The quotes show my moods and the pictures and other add-ins show who I am.
9) I discovered apples with peanut butter as a snack my Freshman year of college and I absolutely love them!!
10) I make a wicked awesome spicy marinara sauce. It’s delectable. I don’t mind bragging.
11) Until a few months ago, I had saved every flower I had ever received from a boy (including corsages). I had dried them all, then placed them in vases. My mom finally persuaded me to get rid of them last January when I was moving out for the second time.
12) I used to take sewing lessons from my Grandmother every Wednesday. I would brag to all my friends, and loved being able to spend time with my Grandma. I made everything from purses to dresses to pajamas. My last project was a pair of jeans, which I never finished due to my life suddenly being consumed with swimming.
13) I love sugar. I have a very hard time controlling myself around it. I’m usually a pretty healthy eater, but get me near some sugar if I’m even a little bit hungry… and I’m gone.
14) It’s taken 2 years (since I stopped swimming) but I finally can run without hating every step (my former coaches will be shocked by this). I actually have this faint inkling of a dream in my head to try and train for a marathon… but that’s gonna take some time…
15) I was the Women’s Swim Team Captain for American Fork High School both my junior and senior years. I was so honored to serve in that capacity as it was directly chosen by my teammates.
16) I love being able to say that I am a State Champion. With 6 girls (two being me and my sister!) my high school won the 4A State Swimming Championships my junior year. Go AFHS!!!!
17) My biggest goal in high school was to be a Sterling Scholar, and I actually accomplished this! I was the English Sterling Scholar my senior year.
18) I have a secret crush on Jim from The Office. If he were a real person… I think I would be his stalker.
19) I have to sleep with three pillows. Two behind my head (though only one is actually under my head – the other is just against the wall) and one either against my back, or between my legs, depending on which way I’m facing.
20) I’m a little OCD about my alarm clock. I set about 6 alarms every morning, and I check them at least twice before going to bed. I’ve calmed down a lot. I used to check them 5 or 6 times.
21) I think I could live on pineapple. It’s the most delicious thing ever.
22) I love my job! Some people may think that serving is a very un-desirable job, but I LOVE it! I love the social interaction with the guests and with my fellow servers, I love the food. I love that I actually have to do WORK to be paid. The harder you work, the better your tips!
23) I’ve changed my major 3 times. I went from English Literature, to Art History, to History Teaching. Although it sounds like a lot, I’ve at least stuck with the Humanities department! I’m very excited about my latest major, and I can’t wait to teach!
24) In high school, I drove a 1987 Cadillac Deville. My grandparents gave it to me and I loved it! We called it Cruella Deville because it was maroon and had leather interior. Sadly, it died of cancer my senior year.
25) I talk to myself. Especially when I’m walking to school. Though I usually disguise this by having my iPod in my ears, so people think I’m singing.
26) I’ve got about 15 million missionaries out right now and I’m so proud of each and every one of them! They start coming home in October, and I can’t even express how excited I am!
27) My favorite vacation ever happens every year with my family. It’s our annual trip to Green River. We’ve been going since I was about 11 and I LIVE for this trip! I’m even more excited for next years, because I discovered a few new places in Moab we can hit!
28) I want my honeymoon to be at Disneyland. I can’t imagine a happier place and I want to share it with my husband!
29) My first CD ever was Shania Twain’s “Come on Over”. I used to have fantasies about becoming the next Shania Twain.
30) I’ve never enjoyed being tall as much as some other girls do. I was always taller than the boys. But now they’re all catching up, so I’m good with being tall.
31) I call my little brother Isaac “Squirt” and he calls me Squirt too. Nobody else is allowed to call him Squirt. I’ve been pounding this into his head since he was 3 and it’s stuck. He only responds to it when I call him. I’m very proud of this. It bugs Katie to no end.
32) I love milk. I couldn’t survive without it. I go through about a gallon a week. It’s my lifeblood!
33) I am of mixed feelings about the Bella/Jacob/Edward triangle. I still haven’t decided to this day… I also am not positive that I want Bella to be a vampire…
34) I’ve always loved doing crazy things to my hair, much to the disappointment of adults around me (except my Mum, who thinks there are far worse things I could be doing). I had 7 distinct haircuts/colors my senior year of high school. I’ve mellowed out, mostly cuz I don’t want insane hair whenever I get married.
35) I’ve always wanted twin boys. I know they’ll be a pain in the rear most of the time, but I’ve always wanted them! I have this fantasy that they’ll be adorable trouble makers like Fred and George…
36) Even though I don’t swim much anymore, I still love the sport! I am so excited for the Olympics this year, I can’t even stand it!!
37) I’m just a little bit addicted to Facebook. Just at little, little bit…
38) I wish I could have Guy Fieri’s job (he’s the host of “Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives). I would get fat to have his job.
39) I love food fights. My husband must be willing to have food fights with me.
40) I absolutely love hiking. I love being outdoors, and challenging myself physically. Hiking is a perfect mix of both.
41) When I was little, my friend Shea and I had a game called “Roller Blade and Skate”. We would each wear either blades or skates, and then swap periodically. It was our very favorite game, and we thought we were so clever for making it up.
42) When my friend Melynne and I were little, we tried to make a Barbie Pool out of some clay we found at the Dirt Hill (an abandoned lot across the street). We were positive that it would turn into cement by the next morning … and we were horribly disappointed when it didn’t. Even though we didn’t even like Barbies.
43) Sometimes when I swam I would get so angry at the set I would have to do, that I would start to leak tears in my goggles. Then I would have to empty them, which just made me even madder.
44) My favorite spices are Cumin and Chili powder, if I’m cooking Mexican. Rosemary is my favorite spice for Italian. Or for just smelling…
45) I’ve always wanted to learn how to dance. I’m just a little bit scared to try since I have about zero coordination.
46) I want a sash on my wedding gown. I’ve wanted one for as long as I can remember. Though the color of the sash keeps on changing…
47) I’d rather have my wedding cake taste really great than look absolutely perfect. That means no fondant frosting.
48) My favorite flowers are red roses. I am very very traditional.
49) The smell of parsley reminds me of Christmas.
50) I collect porcelain dolls. So does my mom and my sisters, but I have the most. I love them, which is weird, cuz I hated dolls growing up.
51) My life’s ambition is to write a novel. And I WILL accomplish it. I’ve already started one, and have ideas for a couple more. Who knows what story will actually be published!
52) I want my yard to have lots of trees. Almost enough so that the whole house is obscured by them.
53) I hate mowing the lawn. That’s something my husband will do.
54) I love Bolthouse Farms Green Goodness Juice. I lived off it last summer. I call it Green Juice. Everyone thinks it looks nasty, but once I make them try it, they love it.
55) I got a caricature drawn of me in NYC. It’s quite skanky… the artist was definitely not Mormon.
56) I only like hot dogs if I’m camping or in NYC. Though I did finally try J-Dawgs and it wasn’t bad…
57) My favorite trip ever was Heritage Tours. I’ve never been so surrounded by the Spirit or felt so much love and excitement in my life. I WILL BE THERE!
58) My favorite summer ever was Summer 04. Good times, great boyfriend, good songs, okay swim season, 16 years old… basically, no summer yet has topped it.
59) My favorite songs on my iPod come from musicals. Phantom of the Opera, My Fair Lady, The Lion King, Hairspray. Mostly because they are easy and fun to sing to.
60) My favorite fairy tale is Beauty and the Beast. I’ve always wanted to be Beauty (or Belle, in the Disney version).
61) Like every other straight haired girl, I’ve always wanted curly hair. But I do also love my straight hair, more and more as I’ve gotten older.
62) I love Cary Grant and Audrey Hepburn. They were perfect in Charade and I wish they did more films together!
63) I love Shakespeare. To read, to watch, to quote. The man was brilliant!!
64) My favorite book of all time is The Agony and The Ecstasy by Irving Stone. I’ve never been more taken in and utterly enthralled with a book. Irving Stone is one of the best authors I’ve ever read and Michelangelo is one of the best artists and most brilliant men this world has ever seen.
65) I’ve always wanted to be kissed in the rain. And underwater.
66) My first kiss was in the snow. So romantic. And with a really good kisser too!
67) I’m the only one in my family so far to have made Sweet 16 and I was very mad about it to this day.
68) Until recently, all of my friends have been older than me, hardly any my own age. But now, I’ve got younger friends too!
69) My sisters and I used to play make-believe games every morning before church (especially when it was at 1) and the villain every time was named “Barnaby” after the bad guy in “Babes in Toyland”.
70) When I was 2, I tried to share my orange soda with Katie (who was about 6 months old). My mom caught me pouring it down her throat as I tried to “share” with her… almost killing her.
71) I remember seeing Santa Claus fly across the sky one Christmas Eve when I was sleeping at my Gramzie’s with my Aunt Meg when I was 5. Even though I don’t believe in Santa anymore, I still am not sure whether I was dreaming, or I really saw something fly across the sky…
72) Katie and I love to be sarcastic to commercials as we watch them. It drives people nuts.
73) I trust my sister Jaynie with absolutely anything related to style, hair, makeup, whatever. She has impeccable taste and always tells me if how I look is good or not.
74) I’m old school. I love water skiing. I don’t really like wake-boarding.
75) Even though I’ve lived in Utah my whole life, and my Uncle works at Snowbird… I’ve never been skiing or snowboarding.
76) I want to go to Machu Pichu. It’s incredible!
77) I want to go to Italy and hit all my favorite Cathedrals, seeing all the gorgeous statues and paintings of my favorite artists.
78) If I weren’t Mormon, I would get married in a Gothic Cathedral. They’re gorgeous!!
79) Sometimes I wish I was from England, so I had a sweet accent!
80) Sometimes when I want something from across the room, I find myself thinking “Accio!” and really truly wishing I had a wand and went to Hogwarts…
81) I always thought going to a boarding school would be a lot of fun.
82) When I was in 8th grade, my swim coach helped me do my science project, doing a study of caffeine on endurance in swimmers. All I wanted was an A, but I ended up going on to Regionals…. Then State. I was NOT happy.
83) The day I got my letter saying I was accepted into the A.L.L. program (I was in fourth grade at the time) I cried because I was so happy.
84) I played the cat in “The Little Red Hen” in Second grade, and had a major crush on the boy who played the Dog.
85) I asked a boy to kiss me when I was five… and he did.
86) In 6th grade, I was chasing a boy across the playground and I reached out to grab his shirt to stop him and I ripped it off his back…
87) My friend Diana and I used to make movies when we were in high school. We would get Barbie dolls and make our own clothes, then film them with my parents camcorder. We did A Knight’s Tale, Pirates of the Caribbean (I was SO good at making my Ken doll look like Jack!), The Italian Job, and Ella Enchanted. We should have won Oscars…
88) At one point in my life, my Coach Dee was my swim coach, my dad’s Home Teaching companion, and my Sunday School teacher. I saw him every day of the week. Dee’s influenced my life probably more than any other adult besides my parents. He’s a great role model and I’ve never wanted to disappoint him.
89) My favorite class in high school was Art History. My teachers name was Gina (a name my guy friends had given her) and it was so relaxed and laid back. My friend Kyle and I would talk and discuss the questions during tests, but strangely, we all learned something. Just about everyone who took the AP test passed! Including me and Kyle!
90) My favorite high school teacher was Ms. Jaussi. She taught Ancient and Modern World history, both of which I took from her. I also aided a class for her, and she even let me substitute teach for her. Miss Jaussi was the BEST!
91) My friend Brynn and I used to get together at her house almost every day and play with our Pet Shop animals (I think that’s what they were called??). We also had a set lunch. Cheese and Miracle Whip sandwiches with grape juice and graham crackers. To this day, neither of us can figure out why we used to find that appetizing…
92) I’ve never thought Brad Pitt was hot. But strangely… I find Adrien Brody (from King Kong) very attractive…for some odd reason…
93) I was told my whole life (even by my uncles’ old girlfriends) that I should play basketball because I was so tall. I looked at them like they were idiots. Obviously they’d never seen me on a basketball court, or with any kind of ball for that matter.
94) My favorite Girls Camp ever was my 4th year. We went down to Mt. Pleasant and stayed in some dormitories down there. We were woken up every morning by “Shake Your Groove Thing”, went to the Manti Temple, and had a spa day. It was the best ever! It was also the last Girls Camp I ever attended.
95) One of my proudest accomplishments was swimming 10,000 meters in 2 ½ hours (7 ½ miles). My coach Dee had me and two other girls join the other older swimmers in doing it at the last minute. It was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done, but I am so proud of it!!
96) I worked at 5 Buck Pizza for three years in high school, and strangely… I loved it! We had some great people working over there, and we all had some crazy random times.
97) My favorite scent from Bath and Body Works is Coconut Lime Verbena. I absolutely adore it!
98) I love Victoria Secret’s bras. No one else’s fit quite like them! I even braved up and got a fitting once!
99) I was told once that I looked like Diane Kruger (the girl from National Treasure). I’m not sure if I agree or not.
100) My aunt’s are some of my best friends. They are all at least 8 years older than me, but I tell them everything. They are like my sisters and their kids are like my nieces and nephews. I love them all!
101) I have an “older sister” named Jeni. She lived with us when she was in high school and she’s a part of the family. Her kids are my nieces and nephew for sure! I love them!!
102) I get excited over getting cooking things. My grandparents got me salt and pepper and a chopper for Christmas and it was one of my favorite gifts!
103) My childhood fantasy was to be Sabrina the Teenage Witch. I loved that she could change her outfit at will! No shopping!
104) I love slapstick comedy. Things like Arsenic and Old Lace, all that old comedy stuff. Those people were brilliant!!
105) I am scared of the dark. Ever since I was little and more especially since I saw Darkness Falls… not fun…
106) I want my husband to treat me like a lady. I’m tough, and I want him to know it. But I want to be treated with respect.
107) In my house when I’m married, I want to have black and white pictures on my walls, with quotes overlayed on them on transparent paper. I saw this in a house when I was younger and I’ve always wanted it.
108) I love to stay up late. Reading, writing in my quote book, writing missionaries. The earliest I go to bed (even if I’m dead tired) is midnight. I just can’t do it!
109) I fall in love with fictional characters. Quite frequently.
110) When I swept the floor when I was younger, I used to pretend I could do ballet and I would leap all around the kitchen.
111) The only beef jerky I’ve ever really liked is the round stuff (which I’m sure was heavily processed) that we sold in our store in my 6th grade classroom.
112) I love the photo-booth things in the mall. I do them with my sisters all the time and someday want to kiss my boyfriend and/or husband in one.
113) I’ve been trained to be tough my whole life. My daddy wanted me to be a lady, but also to not be a pansy. The biggest manifestation of this was when I was playing Powder Puff my senior year. I collided with a girl’s hip and got a black eye. I almost passed out, but as my guy friends were all running onto the field, all I could think was “Don’t be a pansy! You’re daddy wouldn’t want you to be a pansy!” and I popped back up and started playing again. Thanks Pops.
114) I once had a boy kiss me and then tell me later he thought he was dreaming. Yep, I am a Dream Girl.
115) I always thought it would be amazing to win Miss America.
116) My very favorite book when I was younger was called “The Man Who Loved Clowns” about a young girl and her 35 year old uncle with Downs Syndrome. I love it to this day.
117) I had a friend in high school whose mom used to take lots of pictures and place them all over her cupboards, rotating them periodically. I’ve always wanted to do this in my home.
118) My Senior class nominated me as “Most Likely to be the Next President”.
119) I love to cuddle. I don’t consider it that serious, and any guy who will let me cuddle with him goes up in my books!
120) I cried when Dumbledore died. And even though I knew it was coming, I had tears in my eyes during the 5th movie when Sirius dies. I love that man!
121) I’d rather hang with my family and sisters than any of my other friends.
122) Instead of moving down to Las Vegas with my family my senior year, I moved in with my Gramzie and Gramps and finished up at American Fork High. I missed my family like crazy, but I loved living with my grandparents!!
123) My favorite thing to do in Cedar City (and one of the only things I liked about living there) was to ride my bike up the canyon. It’s gorgeous!!
124) Dark chocolate covered almonds from the BYU Bookstore are possibly the most delectable things on the planet!
125) It is so much easier for me to be friends with guys than with girls. Girls are too complicated!
There you go! More than you ever wanted to know about me I’m sure. J
