27 Things You (Probably Don't) Need to Know About Me

I'm just sitting here staring at this new blog design. I've wanted to revamp my blog for some time, but was just too stingy to do so. The time finally came, and it feels like a breath of fresh air, like starting from scratch. In honor of this turning over of a new leaf, I thought I would re-introduce myself as the new-and-improved, Kaity of (Bee)autiful Blessings.

1. I'm 27 years old. Hence the 27 things to know. Most days, I still feel 16...until I get around teenagers, and bam! I feel ancient. It's still unreal to me that I'm old enough to be married and have a child, but I am the happiest I've ever been, so bring it on, 28!

2. I never thought I'd get married. Not necessarily that I never wanted to, I just honestly never thought I'd find the right guy for me. I dated one guy before Chuck, and mostly just because I was 19 and had never had a boyfriend before. I was never crazy about anyone, let alone in love with anyone. But I knew right away that Chuck was something special, so it didn't take long for us to get engaged!

3. I'm a domestic violence survivor. Seriously. I spent most of my teen years living with an abusive alcoholic. You can read more of my story here.

4. I think I have a legitimate chocolate addiction. I eat dark chocolate after (and sometimes instead of) dinner almost every night. Sometimes I have Chuck run out and buy me a chocolate bar because I get weird and antsy if I don't have it.

5. I once bungee jumped over the Nile River. It lasted about 7 seconds, but is one of my most brag-worthy life experiences. 

6. I'm in love with the month of December. I've always been a freak about Christmas, but I met my husband in December 2010, and then had Charlie in December 2014 so it's become extra special to me over the years.

7. My Dad is disabled. My parents announced they were getting divorced when I was 10 years old, and about a month later, my Dad suffered a debilitating stroke that has left him unable to speak and/or use the right side of the body. His health continues to worsen, and honestly, I don't talk about him much because I really struggle with the fact that he's still alive.

8. I have a thing for elephants. Which you may have already noticed, but I like to think they're my spirit animal. They are intelligent, loyal, and family-oriented and are to me, the most majestic, magnificent creatures on the planet. I got the opportunity to see elephants up close on a safari in Uganda, and I was easily the most awestruck I've ever been in my life.

9. My 21st birthday was a little atypical. You can read more about it here, but basically, I spent the morning preaching to a church of Rwandan genocide survivors. Talk about a life-changing moment. 

10. I was a vegetarian for four years. Prompted by my experience in Uganda, I made the decision to stop eating meat, as I realized livestock production was a huge environmental issue. I actually miss it sometimes, but Chuck is a red-blooded, carnivore and needs his meat, so I started eating fish and poultry again once we were married because I was just too lazy to try and eat a completely separate diet.

11. I love classic rock. I love music in general, but I'm convinced I was born in the wrong generation. Led Zeppelin is my all-time favorite band, with Crosby, Stills and Nash following as a close second. 

12. I still feel like a total badass for having a natural birth.  Seriously, it was the craziest thing ever and I would do it again in a heartbeat. You can read all about Charlie's birth here.

13. I don't talk much about my faith. Because I still haven't figured it out. It's something I wrestle with constantly. Whether I believe that the Bible is the divine word of God, or whether it is a collection of stories written by ancient men. Whether believing in Jesus as the Messiah makes Judaism, Islam or Buddhism any less true. Whether there is a heaven or a hell. I believe in a higher power. I believe in kindness and compassion. I believe in love. Everything else is a bit of a gray area.

14. I'm obsessed with the TV show, Friends. I own all ten seasons and quote them almost daily. Bonus points to whomever can place this quote, "This is smack dab in the middle of the blue!" One of my favorite episodes, don't ask me why. 

15. If I was a millionaire, I'd probably spend all my money on food. I love food so much. I keep a mental list of my top five favorite meals of all time. Currently, there's a tie for first between my meal at The Girl and the Goat in Chicago and the Seafood Caesar Salad I had the night Chuck proposed. I'm salivating just thinking about it. 

16. My two favorite movies are Love Actually and Almost Famous. I have a new favorite couple every time I watch LA, which is often. It's just so...LOVE-ly. As for AF, my inner hippie lives vicariously through William's journey with Stillwater. I'm telling you- I was born in the wrong decade!

17. My favorite fictional character is Neville Longbottom. You can read more about why here. But also, Matthew Lewis. Oh. My. God.

18. I don't do scary. Scary movies, haunted houses, spooky mazes. I used to, because it's what my friends did. Now that I'm older, no way Jose. If I even see a scary movie trailer, I won't sleep all night. Strangely, though, I love Halloween.

19. I wanted to be a lawyer. I sat for my LSAT, applied to law school, interned at the Philadelphia District Attorney's Office, and then promptly realized I am way too shy and overly sensitive to be a lawyer. Some of the cases I sat in on completely wrecked me and I knew I could never handle it.

20. I don't really watch movies. Which sounds counter to #16, but they're just not my thing. I'd rather read or watch a TV series. 

21. I love my job. I work full-time at a non-profit where I get to help low-income folks access fresh, healthy food. The job is awesome. My co-workers are awesome. My employer is awesome. ...awesome.

22. I once slept outside the U.S. Supreme Court. It was to sit in on a hearing for my Constitutional Law class, but still. It was one of the most memorable nights of my life.

23. I used to be a cheerleader. I'm not very athletic, and I was never super good. But I got to be captain of my high school squad for four seasons and I loved it. I cheered my freshman year of college, but fell out of a stunt and dislocated my elbow and never really got back to my peak level. 

24. I love to write. You're probably thinking, duh. But I love to write and am weirdly kind of private about it because I can't handle any criticism (constructive, or not). One day I genuinely hope to be published.

25. I don't know how many children I want to have. I think either 2 or 4. But not 3, because I would never want one to feel left out. I think it would be fun to have a big family, but I'm also an introvert who loves quiet, so the two don't exactly mesh well together.

26. I've donated my hair 4 times. My hair is really thick, and grows really fast. I've been able to donate to Locks of Love four times in my life and will probably be doing it for a fifth time in the near future.

27. I hate odd numbers. If I'm pumping gas or leaving a tip, I have to round up to the nearest whole number. My alarms are set for 5:00, 5:20, and 5:40 AM. I can't explain it, I just hate them.

28. See #27. I couldn't leave off on an odd number, so bonus fact of the day is: My Mom and step-dad are riding over 3,500 miles next month to the attend the 75th Annual Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and are raising a dollar for every mile to benefit Love146. If you feel so inclined, I would love if you would "like" their Facebook page to support them.