Talking with Kady

Here’s an interview (inspired by a blog on my Reader that I cannot seem to find!) with my friend Kady.  Well, it’s more like a list than an interview. I love a good list. I also love Kady. We became friends in Austin when we started getting our dogs, Copper and Murphy, together for playdates, mostly held on the golf course across from our house.

A. Academic Interests:  I like to read. Does that count?

B. Bed size: Queen

C. Chore that you hate: All of them! Mopping probably the most

D. Deadlines: Editing photos for clients… 5 or 6 of them this week

E. Essential start to your day: Coffee or tea but usually decaf- it’s a ritual, not a need of caffeine

F. Favorite color: Any shade of blue/grey

G. Gold or Silver: Depends but I’ll say gold

H. Hometown: Dallas

I. Instruments you play: Does an egg shaker count? I would kill to be the tambourinist for Fitz & the Tantrums or The Head and the Heart. Also, when I was little, I was an excellent pianist.

J. Job title: Photographer

K. Keep on hand: Gum and lotion

L. Live: Austin

M. Make-up brand of choice: Trish and Bobbi

N. Next trip you have planned: Katy, TX for a wedding

O. Overnight hospital stays: Only once in my life when I had pneumonia in both lungs

P. Pet peeves: Poor grammar and not refilling or restocking things (like the Brita)

Q. Quirky characteristic about yourself: I hate the feel of cardboard and paper bags

R. Right or left handed: Right

S. Siblings: 4 brothers and 3 sisters-in-law

T. TV show you will watch most this Fall: Modern Family

U. Underrated: the Idaclare blog

V. Vegetable you hate: Green peas

W. What makes you run late: Getting stuck working on editing

X. X-Rays you’ve had: Lungs, feet

Y. Yummy food that you make: The best chocolate chip cookies

Z. Zoo animal: Lion

Thanks, Kady!

Aren’t you all glad it is Friday? Whew! Would love to hear your “answers” to any of these prompts that strike you!

Talking with Charlotte Marie

A few days ago, my dear friend Charlotte Marie celebrated one year of wedded bliss with her husband Jonathan. I picked her brain about how the last year has been for them. They are one adorable and happy couple–check out Jonathan’s hilarious and sweet anniversary surprise on Char Mar’s blog!

Name a few highlights of your first year of Marriage.

Learning that Jonathan had passed the final part of the CPA exam on our honeymoon was an incredible relief and amazing way to start off our marriage. Also, since we dated long-distance for the majority of our relationship, the little things have been the highlights – spontaneous date nights, cooking together, playing tennis, taking walks – on weeknights! We have also loved building community as a couple and had fun hosting people in our little home.

What is one thing that surprised you about Jonathan over the last year?

 Little quirks about living together have been the biggest surprise. Who knew this laid-back person would be so the precise about these random things? Specifically, the way he hangs up non-iron shirts (top and third buttons must be buttoned), how you close and store the toothpaste (must be fully closed and standing upright) and insisting that the coffee maker be cleaned and emptied before work – why it can’t wait til 6 p.m., I have no idea. I suppose if these small things have been the biggest surprises, we’re pretty lucky!

Describe a typical Saturday morning for you and Jonathan.

For better or for worse, we’re not very routine people – and we seem to be out of town every other Saturday! However, when we’re in Atlanta, we like to sleep late, drink coffee, read and just enjoy catching up from the week. We’ve talked about how we’re excited for the Green Market to open in the spring; it’s a five-minute walk from our house, so we’d like to start incorporating trips there into our Saturday morning routine.

The photo above was taken in Belize – Char Mar and Jonathan honeymooned at the same sweet hotel as Paul and I did–Victoria House. How fun!

Talking with Hillary

I got a kick out of reading Paul’s answers to my questions about his favorite routines and traditions. This week, I asked Hillary about her daily routines and staples…By the way, check out Hill’s witty and adorable blog, Keepin’ Up with the Jones.

What three items are always in your pantry/kitchen?

Orange Juice, Pasta, and Coke. I can’t live without OJ in the mornings I get really cranky if I don’t have it, it’s weird but such a refreshing way to start the day. Pasta is always good to have in the pantry because it never goes bad and you can always whip up a quick dinner with some pasta and a little olive oil and voila you have a nice little din din (not frozen) and you didn’t even have to go anywhere. Coke, as unhealthy as it is, is always (hopefully) in my fridge — law school requires a serious amount of caffeine and I don’t drink coffee.

What three items of clothing could you not go one week without?

In this winter/spring transition my three staples are my J Crew black leggings, my brown riding boots, and my tan/beige J Crew cardigan (wow I sound like such a fashion icon haha). Leggings really get me everywhere in this weather from playing with Jones, to running to the grocery store, and to heading to class. My riding boots have seen better days because I wear them almost every day and I’m dreading replacing them next season, but I’m still obsessed. My tan cardigan gets thrown on over almost every outfit, its just so darn cold in class.

What part of your daily routine can you not go without?

This is tricky to decide because I have two routines one old, one new, so here are both.

Old: I talk to Todd every night around bed-time and even though he says he doesn’t like the phone he usually lets me chat, vent, rant, rave, be excited about whatever was going on in the day, sometimes I even let him tell me about his day . At the risk of sounding like an obsessive girlfriend, a lot of days with everything going on in school and life this is my favorite part of the day and I hate missing it. Its a really nice way to wind down. When we don’t talk, sometimes I just feel like the day just abruptly ends.

New: My new routine is with Jones in the morning. I am not a morning person and Jones has really helped me with that. He usually wakes up bright and early, I take him out of the crate, we lay around in my bed for a bout 20 minutes, then we head for a three mile walk through North Campus (the really pretty part of UGA’s campus where daffodils, trees, and other flowers are currently blooming). It’s really helped me start the morning and my days off right. I feel so accomplished at 8:00AM knowing all that I have done.

Talking with Paul

This is a little pilot project. As I’ve told you before, I love hearing about people’s daily lives–the ordinary stuff, the mundane routines. So I thought I might interview some people I know about such things. I started with Paul.

Describe one of your daily routines.

Ideally, I run on the treadmill in our apartment gym for 21 minutes. Doesn’t happen everyday – three times a week is ideal. Right now 21 minutes gets me about 2.75 miles but the goal is 3. I like to watch a bit of Piers Morgan while I run. He’s almost as earnest as Anderson Cooper.

What about a weekly ritual?

Sleep in on Saturday and then get up to spend the rest of the morning reading on the couch with SB.

Describe something you like to do once a month.

Take half an hour to walk through the Cy Twombly gallery at the Menil Collection.

What about once a year?

Thanksgiving in/around Austin, Christmas in Birmingham. That’s the way it has worked out going on four years now. Last November my grandmother turned 95 and we had a big reunion in the Hill Country west of Austin. The Campbells always have a festive, warm Christmas, with extended family coming in on Christmas Eve for a feast of a lunch, and then gifts and lounging around the house on Christmas Day. I’ve liked our holiday schedule so far and wouldn’t mind another year or two before mixing it up.