Owning It

You Guys! I have a special treat for you today! One of my real-life friends is sharing her crazy today and OWNING IT!

Let me introduce you to Amanda. I met Amanda six years ago when we both signed up to be preschool teachers at our kiddos’ preschool. We were the newbies (along with Narci) figuring it all out that year. You’re going to love her. She’s as cute as can be, mom to two boys, is a blogger, and has the cutest Etsy shop. I promise you-you’re going to love her crazy and probably even agree with her a time or two (because we’re all a little crazy).

Here she is…

Hi everyone! I’m Amanda. Mom to two sweet boys (Matthew, 9 and Mason, 7), busy Etsy shop owner and wife to a retired NFL player. And since I’m “owning it”, can I just say that I only mention the NFL thing because it is seriously the only semi-cool thing about me? And I want y’all to think I’m cool! 😉 #imreallynot #lifetimeago

When Erika asked me if I would do an Owning It post, I started going over my list of crazy wondering if I could come up with enough stuff.

Oh yes. Yes, I could. Once I got started, I had to force myself to stop.

So here’s what made the cut.

ONE

This was the first thing to come to mind when I was thinking of weird stuff about myself. Since I was a little kid, whenever I would get cold, my fingers would turn white. It would happen just by drinking a cold glass of milk or holding a cold coke can but of course, it would also happen whenever I was outside in the cold as well. This was not an ideal situation since I was a year-round softball player and we played in the cold a lot in late fall and early spring. Have you ever tried holding a bat when you have ZERO blood flow in your fingers? Or throwing a ball?

(Not my actual hands. Pic from google. But mine look just like this sometimes. Gross, right?!)

I was always SUPER embarrassed by this growing up. I didn’t even tell my coaches. My sweet daddy would just load me up with hand warmers before the games and then both my parents would worry about me the whole time.

My mom has the same thing and she went to the doctor about it when she was a teenager. The doctor told her her bra was too tight. #wrong #bigdummy The correct answer was actually Raynaud’s Syndrome and apparently it affects so many more people than I ever knew.

I posted about it earlier this year and then made sure to show Erika when it happened one time at a baseball game. I’ve learned to own it. 😉

TWO

I have a very strong work ethic and sometimes I wish I could chill out a little. I have an Etsy shop. I make glittery drinkware and wood signs for the most part. I started it a couple of years ago just wanting to earn a little side income from the new hobby I’d found. And it quickly went from 1 or 2 orders a week to anywhere from 50-100 a week. With an Etsy shop, it is very hard to take a break without potentially hurting your business. It is all on my shoulders to make this work. I am a one woman show and that can get super stressful but it also makes me so proud to be a successful #girlboss.

Right now is my busiest time of year and my workroom looks like an F5 tornado went through it and I am constantly on the verge of stress tears. At this moment, I have 143 open orders which amounts to over 350 separate items that need to be made and shipped out by next weekend. Eeek. (No I will not show you the room. It’s that bad. Ha!)

This is my life.

THREE

I used to hate hashtags and thought people who used them were ridiculous. Now I love them, use them way too much and know it probably drives some people crazy. #Ireallyamsorry #owningit #Ithinktheyrefun

FOUR

I still don’t really understand Twitter 100%. I’m more at 50%. Instagram is much more my speed. And I love Facebook too. One of my favorite things to do on FB is to read other people’s ridiculous drama.

I seriously spent 15 minutes this morning reading the comments in a FB ad for Living Proof Dry Shampoo after someone commented that they were “uncomfortable” with the girl that was chosen for the ad. (insert eye roll) I never ever participate in FB drama but it is fun to read sometimes. (Unless it’s about politics. Then I’ll scroll right on by.)

And Snapchat? I have no clue. I’m terrified I’m going to accidentally post something super embarrassing. I feel old.

FIVE

I am an Audible junkie. Queen of the Audible fan club. Total addict.

I have always loved reading. I used to switch classes in elementary school with a book in front of my face and sneak-read books under my desk when the teacher was talking.

Nowadays, I have so many things that prevent me from just sitting down and opening a book. If I’m not busy with the boys at football/baseball/basketball etc or cooking/cleaning…basically just being a mom and wife….then I’m up in my craft room working. And when I work, I need entertainment. I love to binge watch my shows but I also love to listen to books on Audible. It is the only way I can “read” these days.

I love chick lit and psychological thrillers. And I love that I can listen while I’m working or while I’m driving (by myself). I listen when I do the dishes or the laundry and when I’m putting on my makeup or getting ready for the day. I am OBSESSED. And I love the books with the British narrators.

SIX

I have seen every single episode of The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, and Bachelor in Paradise. Since Day 1, y’all. I don’t even love the show. I really like it of course. It’s fun to watch. But now it’s almost out of habit to watch every time it’s on. It’s been so long that I can’t imagine just skipping a season. Or an episode. I honestly feel like I have no choice. This is crazy.

SEVEN

I am a total night owl. I will stay up until at least midnight every night just enjoying the “me” time. My husband can sleep through a tornado so he’s cool with it. I just love to lay in bed and watch all my DVR’d shows and play (or work…usually work) on the laptop until I have to force myself to go to sleep. Which brings me to…

EIGHT

When I DO fall asleep, it is to Friends. I have seen Friends (the whole series) at least100 times. I kid you not. It just puts me in a good head space to fall asleep. Especially after watching a couple of episodes of Criminal Minds.

Not that crazy, you say? Well here’s how I do it.

Since college (2001-ish), I have gone to sleep with Friends on. I used to just fall asleep with the DVDs playing and the TV on. Then I got married and Craig was not a fan of the TV being on all night so I got one of those portable DVD players and put it on the nightstand next to the bed. I realized that you could plug your earbuds into the DVD player, stick them under your pillow, turn the screen off and still hear the audio. Y’all, I did this every single night for YEARS. YEARS AND YEARS.

And then Netflix came through for me and all of a sudden, I was able to watch Friends on my phone. My portable DVD player was history. So I switched to “watching” Friends on Netflix, screen facing down on my nightstand so there was no annoying glow and earbuds under my pillow. Sweet dreamin’ to Ross and Rachel.

I still do this to this day. #totallycrazy

NINE

I have always hated tomatoes. Growing up, I could not stand them in salads or on tacos or burgers or in anything. I’ve tried to like them off and on since then but no luck. And then one day a few months ago, I got this intense craving for a chicken salad sandwich with a tomato on it. I went to Zoe’s Kitchen and ordered one and all of a sudden, my hatred for tomatoes vanished.

I even took a pregnancy test because my craving for tomatoes on everything became so intense. Not pregnant. Just weird.

TEN

When people say that McDonald’s is gross, I don’t understand. McDonald’s is delicious. Their fries? Heaven. The double cheeseburger? Yes, please. Their breakfast menu?! I mean…

Honestly, I will eat anything as long as someone else makes it because I hate to cook. I DO cook like a normal, responsible mother and wife. I just hate to. I’m not bad at it. I know what I’m doing and my food is good. I just would rather be doing anything else with my time. This is definitely something I’ve been working on lately.

ELEVEN

Before I started working full-time and was a true stay-at-home mom, I had time to actually do things for myself. Granted, it was only for a few hours, twice a week but it was so nice! And once a month or so, I would sneak off while they were at school and go to the movies.. ALONE.

I would always go to iPic, get one of those big comfy chairs with the blanket and pillow and order lunch while I watched some random chick flick. The theater was almost always empty, I would always choose a seat in the back corner and I couldn’t care less if anyone knew I was there by myself. #introvertheaven

I will say that I would never go to a restaurant alone or even to a regular movie theater. There was just something about iPic that made me feel comfortable. (If you’ve never been to an iPic, you’re missing out!)

As I finish this up, I’m already thinking of a ton of other things I should have added. But maybe I’ll save that for another post.

Thanks for letting me share today, Erika! I am so thankful for you, friend. And I just adore your sweet family. Baseball, basketball, and football would not be nearly as much fun without you and Shay! xoxo

Oh my goodness!! Thank you, Amanda! The next time you have a ~~hankering (is that a word? haha!)~~ craving for some McDonald’s fries, CALL ME! 🙂

Don’t forget to check out Amanda’s blog and her Etsy shop. Now is the time to buy those gifts, ladies! And you can find her on Instagram here.

Have a great Monday!

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