Ten on Tuesday: The First

As you know, I'm always the one behind the camera. I'm rarely in photos and prefer it that way but occasionally, everyone else gets tired of being in my photos (ahem, Ryan) so we trade places and well.. here are the results. I've also realized that while I talk about myself from time to time, it's never in much detail so... here are ten, completely random, things you probably didn't know about me:

1. I am completely infatuated with sewing and those who can sew, and sew well. I'm obsessed with all things hand-made to the point that my etsy-addiction has translated into a new sewing machine, piles of fabric and a new hobby. Strangely enough, I'm also terribly intimidated by said sewing machine.

2. In middle school, I was a total computer nerd. I spent all my time creating layouts for xanga and hosted multiple websites for this purpose. I taught myself html... for fun. I credit my love of blogging to my xanga days. It's also how I learned about Paint Shop Pro, Getty Images, Hex Codes, and loads of other, terribly random things.

Sometimes I waddle?

3. I have two favorite animals: zebras and giraffes. I once read a book called "Zinc" about a girl with cancer and a polka-dotted Zebra - they've been my favorite animal ever since. As far as the giraffes? Who knows. A few weeks ago though, I saw a video of fighting giraffes and I haven't looked at them the same way since... eek!

This happens to be my favorite photo Ryan took. It's not that I don't like my face..
 I just enjoy interesting angles and cropping. 

4. I can't sing at all. At least not well. On rare occasions, you will catch me singing outloud in front of others - but only in my car. When I was really young, my dad once said to me... "What'd you do with that money?" "What money?" "The money your mom gave you for singing lessons." I haven't liked to sing in public since. Thanks, Dad.

5. When I was really young, I wanted to be a ballerina "when I grew up". I've found first grade writing journals filled with these dreams and sketches of myself in a tutu. I never took ballet. I know positions one through five.. and that is all. Despite my lack of knowledge, I'm still obsessed with ballerinas and often think about taking lessons.

6. There are a few foods I'm obsessed with and couldn't live without. Almost every day I eat a breakfast sandwich with sausage, egg and cheese on multi-grain gluten-free bread by Udi's and a wrap made with provolone, turkey, canola mayonnaise and romaine lettuce. I never get tired of either. I also drink iced chai lattes on a four-times-a-week basis. Yum.

7. I make this face. A lot. I also talk with my eyebrows. A lot. Quite frankly, I just talk.. a lot.

8. When I grow up, I want to be a stay at home mom. Plain and simple. Despite that, I started college as an aerospace engineering major. After a year of mean boys, Calc 2, and sheer boredom - I'm now a marketing student. Let's just say, college isn't my favorite thing. Maybe one day, I'll have a shop on etsy (when I learn how to sew, that is) and people will pay me to take pictures.

9. I sponsor a child in Honduras through Compassion International. I used to think that the whole "sponsor a child" campaign was a joke. Instead, it's actually a very rewarding experience where I am able to help a little almost-12-year-old boy - Arnaldo Isiais Escobar Portillo - and his family get the education, food, and care that they need. I collect every letter he sends to me in a special notebook.

10. I have naturally curly hair - extra curly in the summer. As a kid, I'd brush all the curls out to the point that my hair was a frizzy mess. In high school, I straightened it as much as possible. Now? I embrace and love my curls. (I straightened my hair today for the first time in almost four months.) This is also the longest my hair has been since elementary school. I hope to donate 12 inches of it to Wigs for Kids in honor of Kasey's 12th Birthday in October.

In other news... we are looking for homes for lots of irresistibly cute baby kitties. If you're interested, please let me know! They are soft, fluffy, playful and terrible for my allergies.

And... after seeing (and falling in love with) Sseko Designs on Yellow Songbird today - I need a pair. These sandals are made by women who have recently graduated secondary school in Uganda and who hope to attend university to become great things - doctors, lawyers, politicians, teachers. In a nine-month break between schooling, these women work to make sandals, and to earn enough for tuition and for the opportunity to become great things. Seriously. Get a pair. Each base has five anchor holes through which you tie the straps. You can also buy lots of different straps and tie them in a different way each day. I feel like I will be living in these this summer. My favorite? the Lucia Sandal.