This month I’m taking part in a blogging challenge & scarily we were encouraged to write one blog post a day! The first challenge was to share 10 facts with you, so here goes…..

1. Today is my Birthday!

I was going to tell you about how I was lovingly referred to as a ‘Birthday Whore’.. but my husband thought that might be inappropriate.

You know those insanely annoying people who go on-and-on about their birthday.. they won’t get up and do anything, because you know.. it’s their birthday?  Yeah, that’s me!

So let’s stick with the cute Birthday Pic 😉 And hello, how awesome is the cake my mum made… Barbie had a petty impressive outfit!

Curiously I also share my B’day with Amelia Earhart (my 1st daughter is Amelia) JLo, Bindy Irwin and my Lovely Rockstar friend Maz! Xx

 

2. JAG… the reason is all JAG

(The original 1st season, with Meg!)  At 13 I decided I wanted to join the military… & at 18 off I went.

I think we could safely say I had a few more reasons by then (hello Free Uni), but the seed was planted!  And thank goodness reality TV hadn’t arrived yet – who knows where I could have ended up!

I spent 13 years in the Air Force and found my own spunky husband in aviators… just like Harn!

 

3. I moved to Japan at 16, but I couldn’t speak a word of Japanese!

Ok that’s a lie… I could say about 5 words, but that was it! I’m not sure what I was thinking exactly, and I definitely have a new respect for my parents letting me jump on a plane to the other side of the world for a year!

But, still one of the best things I ever did!  I was ‘that’ exchange kid… a fantastic novelty for the first month and then the Nigel-No-Friends getting chubbier by the minute for the months after that!  My gorgeous 60 year old Sensei used to invite me round for dinner, I think she felt sorry for me!  Fortunately I ended up learning Japanese & they finally discovered how cool I really was (hello!!) and I had a blast!

My host family were amazing though, and I’m still really close with them.  They came to my wedding in Tassie, visited us in the US, and paid for my return tickets several times when I was at Uni to go and hang out with them!  Now two of my Japanese sisters have kids and we all love having an extended Japanese family! I’m pretty sure we’re overdue for a visit soon!

 

4.  I’m a closet fussy eater!

I’m great at concealing my fussiness by pretending to be very ‘worldly’ with food.. I eat sushi after all!

But I won’t eat leftovers more than 12 hours old, or freezer meals, or food that’s a day past it’s expiry!

And I kind of turn my nose up at mushrooms, eggplant and octopus and fruit cake!  Conversely mashed potatoes, meat and three veg also don’t do it for me!  Haha.. see what I mean, you don’t want to invite me over anymore do you!  I pretend not to be, but I’m painful!

 

5. This is my favourite video, probably ever.

It’s ok.. you can judge!

 

6. I get itchy itchy feet (not the gross, fungal kind)

I’ve lived in my current house for 3 years, and that’s the longest I’ve ever lived in the same city/state since leaving home at 16.

On one hand hand it feels fantastic; we’re settled, I love our location, I run into people I know down the street (my favourite part!).

On the other hand our little family gets crazy itchy feet for more adventure! I love the freedom that we have in knowing we could pack up and leave and chase the next opportunity, or we could stay.  Either way at this point I’d be excited about, Adelaide has definitely won me over as a place to call home!

 

7. Did someone say ‘Party’?

I’m a ridiculous extrovert, and as my friend Pam would say, I’d go to the opening of an envelope!

Perhaps it’s because we move a lot and it takes getting out to make new friends, or because I miss my big, loud, social family.. but I just love being out and around other people! I don’t even care if we know them, I’m just as happy to sit in a loud restaurant with strangers if the atmosphere is fun!

One of the biggest things I loved about being part of military communities is that it’s so inclusive… if someone’s throwing a ‘do’ or there’s a party happening it doesn’t matter how well you know them, if you’re new in town, or you’re a part of that unit.. you’re always welcome! Xx

 

8. Fancy Cakes…

My husband thinks I spend hours making cakes purely to impress people on facebook? But who doesn’t love to create something gorgeous, and then watch your child lay a knife right through it?

I also yell a lot when I make cakes, and swear, and generally scare people away!  It’s a good thing then I only make two a year, and this year I avoided one as we were away on holiday!

 

9. My first job was a RollerWorld DJ

And rink cleaner, food server, skates put away-er… it wasn’t really very glamarous, but I loved it!

I was terrified and exhilarated when I was allowed to finally run the sessions up in the Dj Box, I had the mike, the whistle, the music.. oh the power.

Anyone else from Tassie used to hang at Rollerworld circa 1996-99?

 

10. Packing Orders – the Soundtrack

I’ll be honest – packing orders for my Photography Clients isn’t my favourite part of the job!

So to help get me up and moving and in the mood I have my go-to, ‘Let’s get this shit DONE’ album.. here she is!

 

11. Hazzah – Shameless Self-Promotion!

I’m currently about to kick off our next round of Enthusiast Photography Courses… and Photography for Your Online Business!

You can totally jump onboard and possibly find out even more random facts about me! Xx