7 things ...

A little blogging fun for this Monday was just what I needed.  :)  Dana [plum tree studio] tagged me as a "Versatile Blogger", so here goes.

1) thank and talk about whoever gave you the award

2) share 7 facts about yourself

3) give the award to 7 other bloggers who rock!

Who is Dana?  That's a tough one to answer without it being its own blog post, which I will have to do!  But in a nutshell ... she is a dear, dear friend who I have never met in person.  She is my Etsy trail-blazer & matriarch of creative blogging.  We've been friends for 2 years now - but I was a silent blog reader of hers for about 9 months before that!  We did, however, talk on the phone last week for the first time!!!!  :)  It was our solution for a much needed catch-up session ... when we knew it was too much for an e-mail!

So my 7 things ... [Note: I have sat here for like 15 minutes thinking of something to say.  So sorry if these are RANDOM.  They indeed are. Starting with #1. Wow it's so random.]

1. I sort of have landfill phobia.  The landfills freak me out.  Not being at one.  But having stuff go there & the idea of having mounds of stuff covered up by dirt & grass acting like it's "pretty".  So as a result, I try & reuse as much as possible, give away, recycle, compost.  Even if it means extra trips places .... like the paper bins at the kids' school.  And the glass bins around town.  [Interesting links .... I know]

2. I also don't like throwing money away.  So, yes.  I am not only a Box Tops cutter, but a year ago I finally was clued in on the whole Coke Rewards thing, too.  Last year I probably turned in $50 worth of Box Tops to our school [my mom & sister Becky give me theirs, too!] & because of my Coke Rewards I got a free year subscription to Better Homes & Gardens.  My mom & sister Leah also got me hooked on SwagBucks & I have enjoyed $30 worth of gift cards to Amazon in the last year.  [If you don't know about all that stuff ... now you know!]  :)

3. I invented the tight-roll.  I don't exactly have proof of that, but I swear I did.

4. After graduating with my degree in Communications, I landed an internship with Fleishman-Hillard [an international Public Relations firm] in St.Louis where I was the UPS intern.  Every morning I had to be downtown at 7:00 AM searching the internet & newswires for any & ALL stories on the United Parcel Service & all of its competitors ... then I compiled them all into a "Daily News Summary" which was then sent to the appropriate head-honchos at UPS.  It was fun & exciting to be around all those creative people & important decisions in the operations of such big name companies.  Fleishman-Hillard was sort of where my fun, flashy corporate job got started & peaked.  :)

5. I have a story published in a "Chicken Soup" book. Years ago when we were in our 1st squadron, I learned they were looking for some stories for the upcoming "Chicken Soup for the Military Wife's Soul".  I wrote a story & submitted it.  I had forgotten about it, until I got an e-mail confirming I was the author of my story & wanting me to okay the edits.  I got a check mailed to me for $200 & a free book.  I will never forget seeing the cover on the shelf at Target for the first time ... knowing I was on page 301.  The whole thing is a little cheesy ... but the inspiration behind my story [a simple pep talk from my grandma] still has stuck with me.

6.  I am a total wannabe home stager.  If I were to get a [real] job ... that's what it would be.  I love problem solving with design & decorating.  Love it.

7.  A huge pet peeve of mine are lights left on when no one is in that room [I get that from my dad] or lights that are turned on during daylight when they are unnecessary and have no lighting impact whatsoever.  Apparently I'm the only one in this house who has a lighting pet peeve ... they keep me busy going from room to room.  :)

So there you have it.  7 quirks & randomness.  I now have to pass it on.  I don't think I can come up with 7.  But I will name Lindsay, my sisters Leah & Becky, and my mom.  Have at it, ladies.  :)  Happy Monday!