Blogger 411 Link-Up!

Today I decided to link up with Becky over at From Mrs. to Mama with her Blogger 411 link-up. I have some new faces around here and I have been gone for a while, so this seemed like a great way to re-introduce myself. Here goes!

1. How long have you been blogging? And what got you started on blogging? Has your blog changed?
I started blogging in March of 2008.  A lot of big things were happening in my life and I really wanted to document them for friends and family who weren't on facebook.  I also enjoy writing, but I like typing more, so I saw this as a journal of sorts.  I'm pretty sure my blog has remained a lifestyle blog since day one.  I post about my ongoing fitness journey, life happenings, outings with friends and the hubs, etc.

2. Did you go to college? If so where, and what did you study?
I did go to college.  A few of them, actually.  I started at the local junior college out of high school, American River.  I didn't see a reason to pay a bunch of money at a state school for the same classes I could get for $11 (yes, $11) per unit at a JC.  After doing my general education requirements and lower division business classes there, I hopped over to CSU, Sacramento to join a sorority finish up.  A couple of years after graduating, I decided to take advantage of my company's tuition reimbursement program and get my masters at Chapman University.  All of my studying was in Business Administration and Human Resources.

3. Where have you traveled?
Let's see...VEGAS, VEGAS, VEGAS!!  I have been there quite a bit.  I have been to Vancouver, Canada, Mexico, Western Caribbean, New York, Boston, up and down the California coast line, Germany, Italy, Kansas, Washington, D.C., Washington state, Oregon, Arizona, and probably some other places I am forgetting.  Some of those were for work, but most for leisure.

4. If you won the lottery, what would be the first thing you would buy?
I would probably buy a large plot of land big enough to build houses on for most of my immediate family that could be spaced far enough apart that we wouldn't kill each other.  I would probably also buy a couple of vacation homes around the world :)

5. What are your 3 biggest pet peeves?
People that lack common sense, rude people, and my alarm clock.

6. What is your favorite movie?
This is one of those questions I am never quite able to answer.  I can narrow it to a specific type and say my favorite Disney movie is The Lion King (JTT what?).  But as far as the general collection of movies goes, I don't think I can narrow it down to just one.  I like RomComs, chick flicks, and suspense/thrillers, but I can't really watch scary movies anymore.

7. What is your drink of choice; wine, beer, or liquor. Or Water, Soda, Tea?
On any given evening I would take a glass of wine over beer just so I don't feel bloated.  Don't get me wrong, I would down any of the three if they were the only one available.  I think nights at home need wine, BBQs and water activities need beer, and nights out with friends need cocktails.  My go-to is usually a vodka/soda water with lime.  I don't drink soda (pop for you mid-westerners) or tea, so water is my go-to non-alcoholic beverage of choice.

8. What is something you enjoy to do when you have me time?
I enjoy trashy reality television, reading a good book, and maybe a mani/pedi or massage if it's in the budget.

9. If you could have a $10,000 shopping spree to one store, which store would it be?
Oh man!  I am the worst shopper ever!!!  I would probably say Nordstrom's or something like that because I never shop there normally, but always want to.  Definitely a store that has everything under one roof.

10. Share with us an embarrassing moment of your past? Or present.
6th grade camp.  We went on a night hike with our counselor and no flashlights.  When we got to this stopping point we check out all the cool stars and constellations and then our counselor paired us up and gave us each a wintergreen lifesaver candy.  He told us to face each other and chew them with our mouths open.  They started sparking and we all started cracking up.  I laughed so hard I peed my pants.  No joke.  I couldn't stop laughing and the fact that I pissed myself made me laugh even harder and I screamed out while laughing "I PEED MY PANTS!!!".  Pretty sure I got teased about that for the rest of the year.

11. What day would you love to relive again?
Wedding day, hands down.  That day was so awesome.  The one occasion where we had all of our friends in one room together drinking/dancing/singing.  So much love that day.  Can I please do it again?

12. If your life was turned into a movie... what actor would play you?
Hopefully Chelsea Handler.

13. What are the jobs you had in high school/college/the early years?
My very first job at 15 years old was the front counter/daycare/janitor/collections person for a privately owned gym.  Later I left and went to another small gym where I was the front desk clerk.  I also did cold calling for some under the table cash for my friend's dad's insurance company.  After I graduated high school I stayed at the gym and then also started working as a courtesy clerk (grocery bagger) at Ralph's Supermarket.  I worked both of those for a while until I got a student assistant job with the state and then I worked there and for Ralph's.  At some point I quit Ralph's and was only working for the state until I got a job with a temp aganecy that paid me more and then I worked a job with Wells Fargo through the agency.  I left Wells Fargo for Docuware, a copier sales/service company, where I stayed until after I graduated college.  I can't believe I have been working for 15 years already.

14. Show us a picture from high school or college.
You will have to visit this post to see those :)  You won't regret it.

15. If you could travel anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would you go?
I really have to pick just one?  I think an over-water bungalow in Bora Bora would be high up on that list.  I would also like to visit some of JB's family in the Philippines and see much more of Germany and Rome.  And Ireland...see, this is hard.  I'l just do all of Europe, how's that?

16. Show us the most current picture of you or you, or your family, or anything of meaning to you.

My everything.  From left to right; SIL, bro, niece, step-mom, dad, me, JB, step-dad, mom, maternal grandma, step-paternal grandparents.

17. Where do you see your life 5 years from now?
We have talked about starting a family towards the end of the 5-year plan, but we will wait and see how we feel when we get there.  We hope to be more financially sound and still as much in love as we are today, if not more.  I hope to have reached the next level in my career as well.

That was a lot of information, so I can't blame you if you checked out half way through it.  If you are reading this, thanks for sticking around!  Be sure to link-up so I can get to know you too!