Howdy from Omaha y’all! (Nobody actually talks like that here, but let’ s just go with it).
After more than a year, it feels great to be HOME. I don’t live here anymore (and maybe never will again), but Omaha will always feel like home to me. There is nowhere else in the world that I can go and be reminded of such fond childhood memories, from standing in front of that giant crowd on Friday night and cheering for our high school football team to walking to Hy-Vee with my friends (before we could drive) to chow down on some of their signature mac n’ cheese.
Birthday shot from 2011
Every time I come to Omaha, it’s just one big shot of nostalgia. And I love it. I feel so lucky to be celebrating such an important milestone with nearly all of the most important people of my life (and copious amounts of margaritas and Mexican food).
I’ll try to recap the birthday shenanigans on Monday, but until then, I thought I’d give the newer SHLB readers a chance to get to know me a little better. In honor of the 30th b-day, here are 30 things you might not know about me. 30 things is a lot of information. So, to bribe you all into reading this post, I’m hosting a giveaway.
Please leave a comment on this post with 1 thing I don’t know about YOU, and you’ll be entered to win a Sometimes Healthy Living Blog Care Package with the following of my “favorite things:”
As Chris Harrison would say, “The BEST giveaway EVER.”
- Goldfish (Cupcake, French Toast, Brownie, Pretzel, Pizza and S’mores flavors)
- Swedish Fish
- Blue Diamond Almonds Variety Pack
- 1 Year Subscription to SELF magazine
- Cupcake Secrets Book
You can enter until next Tuesday, July 23. I’ll randomly pick a winner and announce in my post on Wednesday.
So, here we go!
1. If I had to pick a last meal, it would be the classic cheeseburger and french fries, with a chocolate milkshake. The french fries would be a mixture of sweet potato and regular fries, and the cheeseburger would be topped with lettuce, tomato, pickles and ketchup. I might request a side of pretzel goldfish for the hell of it. I realize that it is strange I’ve thought about this at such an in-depth level.
The “last supper” for a Sometimes Healthy GIrl!
2. I like to take baths every night. And, while I bathe, I read my gossip magazines and revel in the relaxation. It’s become a nightly routine. Tried to hide it from the BF in the beginning, but now I own it. He knows not to knock on that door during bath time!
3. My favorite snack is pretzels dipped in cream cheese. Try it. You’ll thank me later.
4. One of my best friends’ names is also Jamie. In high school, we were doubles partners and brilliantly named ourselves “Jamie Squared.” We didn’t have that great of a record on the Nebraska tennis circuit, but our record on the party circuit was solid.
Jamie Squared = BAD ASS
5. As far as I can remember, my first career dream was to be an actress. I think this dream was born in elementary school. Cleary, I sensed one of my talents early on: a flair for drama.
6. Along the same lines, I cry…a lot. I cry when I watch the Bachelor. I cry when I watch the Biggest Loser. I still cry when I watch The Land Before Time. I cry when I read a moving article about a drug dealer who turned his life around and became a high school football coach. I cry at weddings. I cry when I’m happy. I cry when I’m sad. You get the idea. Imagine how the lucky guy that gets to date me feels.
7. I cannot eat vanilla ice cream plain. It must have at least two toppings, including chocolate syrup and sprinkles. Gummy bears and Goldfish are great add-ons as well.
The more toppings the better, y’all!
8. I don’t drink alone. I understand why some people have a glass of wine at night to wind down. One glass of wine makes me tipsy. When I’m tipsy, I like to chat. Thus, drinking alone is really no fun for me.
No drinkin’ alone for this chick. I gotta’ chaaat!
9. However, I often drink when I fly. I hate flying, and 1-2 glasses of wine does wonders for my “take-off” nerves. P.S. I wrote part of this post on my way to Omaha after two bloody marys. You may notice a little more character in the upfront. It’s probably the booze. Sorry for partying.
My breakfast for the flight to o-town.
10. I have lot of quirks. (I’m sure you’re not surprised.) One of them is that I can hear anyone biting or crunching from a mile away, and for some reason, I find the noise VERY distracting. In my NYC office (cubeland), the moment I heard anyone biting into an apple, I put in those headphones.
11. I once thought that puppies were cuter than babies. In my late 20’s, that changed. Still love puppies…but babies are pretty damn cute too.
12. In my first obstacle mud race (with the BF), I took a HARD fall on the logs. My back hurt for days, and those who saw me fall at the race were pretty freaked out. I still finished 10th out of all females. Baller.
I may be smiling here…but you should have seen me 5 minutes before this pic…
13. One of the top places on my “must travel” list is Italy. This is simply because I love cheese and wine.
I could eat this for breakfast, lunch AND dinner.
14. I once ran on a treadmill near P Diddy at an NYC Equinox. Gerard Butler and David Duchovny also made appearances at my gym. And people wondered why I liked to work out so much!
15. I’m a savory girl. Give me a big bowl of mac n’ cheese or a decadent chocolate soufflé, and I will choose that mac n’ cheese every.single.time.
I love me some savory bbq!
16. I met my BF in Vegas. He “wooed” me by flashing pictures of his dog, and the rest is history.
17. I drive like a drunk grandmother. Super slow, but yet, slightly erratic at times. My friend Emily, the most low-key person that I know, told me that I am “the worst driver she has ever seen.”
Caution, Sometimes Healthy Girl coming through!
18. I studied abroad in Mexico City. The only Spanish that I know are curse words. It was an educational journey.
19. I love salad. Some people think that salads are boring and that those who eat lots of salads are waifs that don’t eat anything else. That’s not me. I truly love plopping a bunch of random toppings on top of a crunchy lettuce and dousing it in dressing. You can read my salad tips HERE.
Nobody “cooks up” a salad like this Sometimes Healthy Girl!
20. I hate watching the awkward auditions on American Idol. I may be the most empathetic person that you will ever meet, and my heart just breaks for those delusional people on my television screen. Similarly, when I watch the auditions of the drug dealers who turned their lives around to become singers, I cry. (See #6)
21. I don’t really like to dance. But sometimes, when I’m getting ready for a night out (and the BF is not home), I crank up my country music and bust a move in front of the mirror.
22. There is no place in the world that I’d rather be than sitting on an exotic beach with a margarita in one hand and a solid chick lit novel in the other hand.
Happiness.
23. My mantra is “Everything’s Better with Sprinkles.” You can totally find deeper meaning in this if you think about it…
Everything is better with sprinkles!
24. I care what people think about me. There are those people out there who claim not to care about others’ opinions of them. I don’t buy it. We all care. I’m a people pleaser by nature, so of course, I want you to like me. P.S. – Do you like me?? If not, let’s work on it. We can make this work!
25. October is my favorite month of the year. Nothing like crisp, cool fall air and pumpkin spice lattes. The Hudson Valley shines in October – the foliage of the leaves mixes with the rivers and mountains, and it’s pretty spectacular!
Nothing like this place!
26. Favorite TV Show of All Time: Felicity; Favorite Movie of All Time: Devil Wears Prada; Favorite Song of All Time: Brad Paisley, “Then” (Nobody writes a love song like Paisley, ya’ll); Favorite Book of All Time: Jemima Jones
27. I’m most comfortable in a pair of nice-fitting jeans, a t-shirt and flats.
28. Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. Huevos Rancheros is probably one of my fave breakfasts, followed by french toast.
Now, that’s a solid breakfast!
29. One of my worst fears is getting stuck in an elevator…by myself. As long as I have someone to talk to, I’m good.
30. I once ate an entire bag of marshmallows while roasting s’mores at a campfire. At some point, I ditched the graham crackers and chocolate and just starting roasting the marshmallows two at a time. Yes, I felt very sick the next day.
S’more me!
Well, there you have it! Nothing particularly glamorous in this list, but hopefully you’ve learned a bit about me and have decided to stick around.
Now, it’s your turn.
LEAVE A COMMENT WITH 1 THING ABOUT YOU THAT I DON’T KNOW AND ENTER TO WIN A SOMETIMES HEALTHY LIVING BLOG CARE PACKAGE
You probably don’t know that I was born on FRIDAY the 13th!! I have always considered 13, my lucky number!!!
I did not know that! That makes you extra special lucky!
What you don’t know about me is.. I have an extreme phobia of birds. It includes rapid heart rate, screaming, almost crying.. it’s a little ridiculous hahaha
You share this phobia with my best friend Emily. It is because she once watched the horror movie, Birds. Do not see this movie!
I LOVED reading this post, we have so much in common! I basically cry all the time too. Like, I’m a mess. Oh look, a beautiful flower? Christine is crying. Why? I don’t know haha, those hormones, man! And I also care what people think about me as well. If I know someone isn’t my biggest fan, it drives me crazy!
Something you might not know about me is that I am not a big lover of cheese. So pizza is not something I usually enjoy. There! I said it! Can we please still be friends ;)?
Happy Birthday girlie!!! <3 Sending you lots and lots of love 😀
haha – I do love me some Cheese, but it’s ok if you don’t like it. Hopefully, you still like chocolate 🙂 Thanks for reading, Christine! Appreciate the bday love!
One thing you don’t know about me is that when I run and a really good song comes on I definitely start singing it out loud and busting out some awesome dance/running moves
Thank you so much! I too bust out in song if I’m feeling the song and having a good run. No shame in our game!
Happy Birthday Sister… this post makes me think of so many fun and funny memories! It is really hard to think of something you don’t know about me. Perhaps you don’t know that after being traumatized by a movie my babysitter was watching, I became really afraid of fire as a little girl, to the point I was even afraid my birthday cake… which my parents made me sit with anyway- TERRIFYING! Speaking of birthdays- hope 30 is your best ever. Cant wait to celebrate. xo
Whoah, I can just picture it. Is there video of this? If so, I must see it. Thanks for the bday love – meant the world to me to have you there!
Happy birthday!! One thing that you wouldn’t know about me (obviously because you don’t know me!) is that I want to start my own blog but am too scared to try! I give you a ton of credit for jumping head first and doing it. You are hilarious!
Thank you for reading! Do it! My advice is to start privately and begin commenting on blogs with your link. Then, when you feel confident, you can share with family and friends. I always found it easier to share with strangers before friends and family 🙂 Good luck – you can do it!
You hit it all spot on! Mac and cheese for life! And I’m totally a Chatty Cathy when I drink.
I have a habit if finishing my plate and if I don’t like a certain food, I tend to drown it in a combination of BBQ sauce, ketchup, honey mustard and/or ranch. My friends think its an insane combination but what can I say, I’m addicted to sauce 🙂
Love it! I do the same thing with all of those condiments, except ranch. For some reason, I was never a fan. But everything is better with BBQ sauce.
I love this post! You’re so honest. It’s hilarious. You prett much know everything about me… maybe you don’t know that I’m afraid of birds? Happy birthday!!!
I did know that! It’s because you saw the movie “birds” when you were little. PS, another reader is afraid of birds too.
Great post! Hope you have a wonderful 30th! In honor of 30, one thing you don’t know about me is that I swore (in my younger, ignorant years) that I would not get married until 30. I had big plans for career success/other personal goals and marriage would “get in the way of that”. Well, at 23 that was all out the window. I’m so happy my “life goal” was changed by, well life, because 10 years and almost four kids later….I’m happier than I could ever imagine.
I agree – congrats to you on #4. That is SO exciting!!! You definitely made the right decision 🙂
You are just my favorite!! Love the post and the shout out you have me 🙂 Jamie squared forever! Haha. Can’t wait to celebrate your birthday. Omaha doesn’t know what it’s in for!
Long Live Jamie Squared. Thanks for making my night so special 🙂
What you wouldn’t know about me is that I am only in high school, but already love pursuing a healthy lifestyle, one of my goals being to run a full marathon once I am old enough 🙂 We shall see!
October is my favorite month of the year too! 🙂 I LOVE the Fall!!!
Can we fast-forward to October right now?? I need a pumpkin spice latte. It’s rainy and cold today!
Jamie I am pretty sure you are one of the only adults who still puts gummy bears on their ice cream…but that’s what I love about you! I’m excited to celebrate with you this weekend.
I think you know almost everything about me but maybe you don’t know my philosophy on friends. For me it’s about quality not quantity.
We have the same philosophy on friends 🙂 If I’m the ONLY adult that puts gummy bears on ice cream, how come you suggested it to brodsters when he was making us fake ice cream??? Admit it, you love the idea!
I recently stumbled across your blog and have only been reading for a couple of weeks, so you don’t know much about me at all lol. But I just bought a Ford Fiesta in Lime Squeeze green and I love it 🙂 I named his Miguel Corona Avocardo haha
That’s amazing. What a name! I’m a huge fan of avocados so I already love your car.
And here I thought I was the only person who cries when they watch Biggest Loser- no one will watch it with me anymore and I kinda like it better that way.
As far as vanilla ice cream goes, I’m all about no toppings. What can I say I’m simple.
Yeah, I enjoy a nice TV cry on my own! I can really let loose that way 🙂
Love the post! While you probably know many quirks about me, one thing you may not know is that I pretty much fall asleep in any moving vehicle – car, train, bus, plane. I’m out like a light! You also don’t want to be near me when I’m hangry 🙂
Oh, I know about the hungry part….
I’ve never commented before but really enjoy your blog! Something you don’t know about me – I was in a promotional commercial for my middle school in 8th grade when my teacher won an award!
How cool! You’re famous!
Love your blog and the recaps of your life! One thing that you/other people don’t know about me is that I have a song in my head EVERY MORNING that I wake up…….and I seriouly mean EVERY MORNING! It actually drives me crazy because it’s usually some current song that is overplayed. 😉
I enjoyed getting to know more about you! 🙂 One thing you don’t know about me is that I will catch my self holding my breath fairly often. It’s so weird!
haha that’s an interesting one!
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