Tagged But Not Tagged

 Well, Megan said she's tagging all her friends who want to do this, and I thought it would be fun to do it. :-)

Only, I'm going to include the eleven random facts, too.
Also, as I don't have very many followers (and only a few of them actually have blogs, and even fewer of them by all I can tell actually read my blog, and even fewer of them actually comment on it), I will be tagging people, but some of them will be friends of mine from other places. Also, if you have been tagged, don't feel obligated to make a post yourself. You can if you want, but if I tag you, it's because I just really want to know your answers to the questions...so you can answer them via a comment on my post, or through email, Facebook, or even TLC PM (for some of you) if you want. Also, you can answer them even if I didn't tag you, of course. ;-)

11 Random Facts:

1. I was born with a hereditary birth defect called bilateral tibial hemimelia, and therefore had both of my legs amputated when I was three or four years old.

2. I love The Dick Van Dyke show.

3. Most of the space taken up on my computer's memory tends to be screen caps I take from various movies and tv shows.

4. I collect historical costume, cultural, and literary paper dolls.

5. I just got my first smart phone back in October, and I've been completely distracted from reading a lot since. (Bad me!)

6. My favorite fairy tale is Thousand Furs. (also called Many Furs)

7. I am currently addicted to the Tudor Scene maker at Azaleasdolls.com. :-P

8. I am 28 years old and I have yet to have a boyfriend or go on a date. (What's wrong with the men out there!) Eh....I'm picky anyway.

9. I love beef tamales.

10. I love reading new books, but I also have several series I love reading over and over again.

11. My dream career outside of ministry (but can also be incorporated into ministry) is to do freelance photography- mainly journalistic, artistic/decorative, and creative portraits. My favorite kinds of photos to take are travel/city, architectural, and floral/still life.

Now for the questions:

1. What is the last full sentence you read?  The question you just asked me, if that counts.

2. What is your Myers-Briggs type? Do you think it is accurate/relevant?  I am INFJ (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, Judging) and I think it is really quite accurate.


3. Which of the seven dwarves from Snow White do you most identify with?  I assume you're talking about the Disney movie version, as in the original Grimm tale the dwarfs were not named, and therefore many different versions of the story have used many different names for them. Anywho, going with the Disney names, I'd say Bashful. Although, there is Dreamy...or Stealthy, the long lost eighth dwarf.

4. How would you (poetically) describe your eye colour?  I stared at my eyes all while brushing my teeth this morning, thinking this answer out. I came to the conclusion "A creamy mixture of melted dark and milk chocolate, and complimentive to amber". I've actually been told the amber part.

5. What accent do you find the most attractive?  British accent, of course! Especially the really high end kind that you hear in BBC period dramas.

6. Which world cultures intrigue you the most?  Just call me Euro-girl! I love all sorts of European cultures, but especially Irish, British (primarily English and Welsh), Polish, and French.

7. What is your voice range?  Well, are you asking speaking voice or singing voice? Since I really don't know how to describe my speaking voice range, other than young and feminine, I will go with  singing voice. I am a second soprano, and if I have properly warmed up and supporting myself right, I can get up to a high E  and still have proper support.

8. Are you an emotional reader/viewer, or do books and television leave you generally unaffected?  I'd say it really depends on what I'm reading or watching. Some things I can read or watch and say, "That was nice," and put it away. While other things will stay with me forever, and maybe even bring me close to tears. But there's only one scene in one book I've ever actually cried over, I've never cried over a tv show, and the only movie I've cried at was The Passion.

9. How do you unwind at the end of the day?  Well, when I get home from work, the first thing I do is get on my computer and check my email, Etsy, Facebook, blog, and The Lions Call; so I guess I'd have  to say I get on my computer and veg out for a while. That's not the end of the day, but that is what I do most of the time between work and bed- just add in computer/phone games, reading, a little writing, a little tv (mostly half watching whatever my mom has on), and maybe a movie....if I don't have things that absolutely need to get done.

10. Do you remember your dreams?  Some I do, yes. Not necessarily whole dreams, but there are some where I still remember parts quite well. There are a few dreams I've had, however, that God used to speak to me through, and I remember those almost as clearly as if I had just dreamed them.

11. What is your favourite punctuation mark?  Hee hee! I think that's rather obvious...don't you? It would have to be ! and ... Though , and ; come in close second. ;-)




Now my questions for you:

1. Would you rather have lunch at a cafe (like Panera Bread) or have dinner at a really fancy restaurant?
2. What country outside of your own country would you love to visit someday?
3. Likewise, what city within your own country would you love to visit?
4. What verse (or passage) of the Bible is your favorite, and what has caused it to be so?
5. Would you rather live by a lake surrounded by woods, on a bright sandy beach, or inland surrounded by fields?
6. Are you more of a city person or a country person? Or that happy medium of a town?
7. Would you rather have a dessert full of chocolate or full of fruit?
8. Does your living space tend to be a complete mess, an organized mess, or neat as a pin?
9. If you could learn to play any instrument what would it be? (If you already play any instruments, please pick one you don't currently play.)
10. If, for some reason, the television has to be on, but you don't want to pay attention to what is on, would you rather put it on a cooking show or a kids show?
11. What would be your ideal day (from morning to night) spent with friends?




Here are the people I would like to hear back from most (and, remember, you don't have to make an actual post, you can just answer the questions in a comment, email, via FB, or whatever):

Ajnos
Alex
Anna
Katie
Caroline
Becca
Rachel
Rachael
Alia
Moriah
Swan
Lys
Tooky
Lexi
Tammy
And, yes, Megan, I'd like to see your answers, too. ;-P

Beautiful People- March/One Year Edition

The moment I saw that this month's questions was meant for a couple, in staying with So She Dances, there was only one couple I knew I could possibly consider doing! Ms. Katelyn Lewis and Mr. David Bradford! :-)
(Oh! Before I begin, in case anyone has been interested in seeing some of So She Dances, a few snippets have been included in my March Snippets of Stories post. ;-)
As always, you can find out more about these posts here. Now, on with this special edition of Beautiful People!

Part 1:

1. Do they believe in anything that most people think is impossible?  That a bilateral amputee can dance, and dance well.

2. Are they strong, or the "damsel/knight in distress" sort? They are a strong couple, and neither are the "distress" sort individually, nor are either over bearing individually.

3. Do they have a special place? (e.g. a corner in his/her bedroom, under a tree...) Well....there's a somewhat hidden little fountain in the corner of the park. That's where they like to go to talk and just enjoy being together.

4. What occupation do they have, or plan on having?  Well, he is a dance instructor, and she is the piano player at his classes plus teaches home economics for any students (home schooled, public schooled, Christian schooled, or whatever) that are interested in participating.

5. Describe their current place of residence.  He has a house of his own that he bought during his first marriage. It's small, but nice, and decorated in a mix of modern and country garden (thanks to Katelyn's influence). She shares a townhouse with a couple other girls who are also teachers.

6. Explain their last crisis. How had they changed when they came out of it?  The last crisis....hmm. I'd say it was when David got an offer to teach for two years at a dance school in a town just outside Paris. He didn't want to go, afraid a long distance relationship would be the kiss of death for them, but she didn't want him to miss  out on such an important opportunity. Eventually, he worked it out with the school to only teach during the summer. He changed by learning to open the door to opportunity and not fear distance in relationships, and she changed by learning not to push him into something he doesn't like the sound of.

7. If they could drive any kind of car they wanted, what would it be?  He would want some sort of fancy sports car, like a Ferrari. She would want something sensible, like an Impala, or cute, like a VW Bug.

8. How do they deal with change?  He takes it, though a bit grudgingly. Still he makes  the best of the situation and does what he needs to to make it work. She goes with the flow, though, she's not "any way the wind blows" either. She accepts change gracefully.

9. If they had to amputate one body part, which one would they choose?  o.O Oh my goodness! You had to ask that! You just had to ask that! Excuse me while I crack up at the irony of that question with this book and my life! :-D  Ahem... Of course, if they had a choice, they would choose the appendages that would not affect their jobs as much. Therefore, he would choose and arm, and she would choose a leg.

10. What would their favorite be at the local coffee shop? His would probably be a double shot espresso with a little sugar. She prefers tea, so she would probably get a chai latte.   

Part 2:

1. How did they meet?  She was assigned the pianist for one of the other teachers at his dance school, after answering a job ad in the newspaper.

2. How do these two deal with conflict?  If they need to, they wait until they've cooled off, then they pray and  talk it out. And they keep working on whatever the conflict is until all is well again.

3. Do they have a special song, phrase, item, or place?  Nocturne No. 2, no, no, the hidden fountain at the park.

4. What kind of things do they like to do together?  They like to take walks, ride bikes, go on picnics, and have quiet reading time together. They also like to do things like going to movies, swing dance nights, and drives. Really, there's a lot they like to do together, even if it not both of their top interests, they just like to be together. :-)

5. Describe their relationship as a whole in 3 words, or less.  Strong and Steady (that counts as one.....right?), Loving, Gentle.  

March Snippets

I was almost worried I wouldn't have anything much for this month, as I really wanted to be able to have something from So She Dances. Well, that spurred me to finally start writing it! ^.^ And, as you'll see, I've included a few snippets from that, as well as my two Faerie books.
Of course, Snippets of Stories is hosted by the fantabulous Katie at Whisperings Of The Pen.

Snippets!

“Well, at least you didn’t say I shouldn’t be exploring the cave at all. So, are you offering to go with me, then? Because, I’ll warn you, I’m determined to explore it, so I’m going with or without you,” she took a stubborn stance.

~Faerie's Grace: Hwinny's Story

They watched her sail out into the distance. She was a fast ship, built for speed in her size. It was perfect. Just what they needed, and she returned having proved herself to the fullest. 

~Faerie's Grace: Hwinny's Story

When they entered the village, it almost felt like a ghost town. Nobody was out on the streets, and it wasn’t even past sunset. There were hardly even any signs of life coming out of the various houses and buildings. 

~Faerie's Grace: Hwinny's Story

Her feet were starting to ache, she felt fidgety and restless, and she wanted to find out why mother was empty now. Naji had overheard a few courtiers mention that the queen would be placed into one of the royal family crypts the next day- Naji guessed it was because her mother was empty. Did empty people get put into crypts? Why? Her five year old mind was very inquisitive. 

~Faerie's Love: Naji's Story

“But why?” Naji questioned, “Why must it be black? I don’t like black. It is the one color I do not understand.”

~Faerie's Love: Naji's Story

Talitha let her mind wander, carried off by the music to distant worlds- worlds where she could dance as well as any of the people in the room.

~So She Dances

Talitha sat on the bed pulling her legs out of the sockets of her prosthetics. Her stumps had been so hot inside them after such a long day with all that walking, she had sometimes felt like her legs were on fire. The cooler air now on them felt very refreshing. She sat there for a moment, enjoying the sensation, rubbing her stumps gently to get the burning feel of the former heat off them.

~So She Dances

“I felt like watching something funny, yet whimsical, so I chose Nanny McPhee. Sound okay to you?” Michelle double checked.

“Yah, that’s fine.” A smug smile spread across Tallie’s face, “You know me. I’ll take Colin Firth any day!” The two girls laughed and squeed in mutual fan girl delight.

~So She Dances

Comfort and Joy

No, this is not a Christmas themed post. This is another post I was quite delayed on- my favorite things post. Joining in line with the likes of  Megan, Abigail, Anna, and Katie, I have decided to make a list as well.
The things that follow are those that bring just what the title says, or give me that sunny or bubbly feeling inside. Or a calm quiet happiness.

Window seats with cushions ~ Sunlight through glass block windows ~ Lying in sunspots on the floor ~ Big, overstuffed armchairs next to large windows ~ Light Classical music in the afternoon with sunlight streaming through the window ~ Worship music ~ Celtic music ~ Jazz music, especially old fashioned Jazz and piano, bass, and drum trios ~ Breezes wafting through open windows ~ Cool Fall days ~ Warm Spring days ~ Gazebos ~ Hidden corners in libraries ~ Four poster canopy beds with beautiful hangings, and tall enough to need a step stool to get onto them ~ Cupboarded or curtained beds ~ The sound and sight of rain from sitting in a parked car ~ Road to Avonlea ~ Fairy tales ~ BBC Merlin ~ Lip gloss and lipstick ~ Creamy white and dark crimson roses ~ White lilacs ~ Lilac scent ~ White tulips ~ White tea and ginger scent ~ Christmas lights (white and multi-colored) hung around a room ~ Fleecy blankets ~ Super soft mattresses and pillows ~ Tea ~ Faeries ~ Kitties ~ Bunnies ~ Hugs ~ Small, hideaway places ~ The tower at CFN Poland ~ The Eiffel Tower when it sparkles at midnight ~ Dreamy  and brilliant color photography ~ Black and white photography ~ Rich, dazzling lighting ~ Fireflies ~ Butterflies ~ Christmas music ~ Musicals ~ Christmas trees with or without presents underneath~ My nieces and nephew ~ Sonic screwdriver ~ Walks around CFNI campus ~ Squeeing over Austen (and other) heroes with friends ~ Cucumbers ~ People playing with my hair ~ My favorite books ~ Things that make me think of England and English things ~ Irish and Celtic stuff ~ Photos of Ireland ~ Historical dresses from Medieval through Victorian ~ Lovely parks ~ Creating stories in my mind, some to write down and some just for the moment ~ Jewel toned and pastel toned blues, purples, and greens ~ Starbucks Blended Cremes ~ Cream and gold, maybe with touches of burgundy ~ Chocolate (plain or combined with mint or peanut butter) ~ Hot soaking baths ~ Getting letters and packages in the mail ~ Fun and serious conversations with friends ~ The fountain at Highland Park Village ~ Old Town Warsaw and Gdansk ~ Sweet, ripe berries ~ Watermelon ~ Grand Haven Pier ~ Library book sales ~ Bath-Junkie ~ Looking over Stony Lake from the red swing at Camp AO-WA-KIYA ~ BBC Narnia ~ Dream Day computer game series ~ My favorite books ~ Discovering new favorite books ~ Opera ~ Guitar music ~ Playing my guitar when no one is around ~ Masquerade masks ~ Flower circlets ~ Scarves and hats ~ Historical, cultural, and literary paper dolls ~ Getting a photo just right ~ Autumn Wreath scented candles ~ My old teddy bear and Samantha doll ~ Seeing my DVDs well organized ~ Caleb and Hwinny ~ People watching at the mall ~ Bunica and Moshu's (now Joel's) house ~ Inside jokes that don't grow old ~ Lifescapes music ~ Things from my childhood ~ The unearned, undeserved, unmerited favor of God ~ Nights of Worship ~ Shalom ~ Basking in the love of God

  

"God rest ye merry, gentlemen, let nothing you dismay...

Oh, tidings of comfort and joy!"

Cup O' Tea

I'm afraid this post is long overdue. I promised it some weeks ago, but unforeseeable circumstances delayed it. Still, it is here now.

  If you couldn't tell by the title of this post, it is a post about tea! Lovely, lovely tea! What did people ever do before the discovery and wide distribution of tea?! How did they live!

Now, I'm not going to go into the history of tea itself. This post is merely a rambling of my favorite teas, tea/snack pairings, and some tea tips. Okay, there might be a bit of my personal history with tea. I'll try to keep it somewhat organized, but I can't promise anything.

I must first say that my love of tea truly started the first time I went to Poland on a mission trip. We had to drink lots of it to stay warm, it was so cold! And there was a lovely black tea that one of the churches we were working with gave us each morning. I had liked tea well enough before that (especially peppermint and honey vanilla chamomile), but it was that trip and being around my friend Rachel (a fellow tea lover) that made me truly appreciate it.

My only problem is that I can  no longer handle caffeine except in very small quantities. But here are some interesting facts about dealing with that in tea:

• Caffeine is water soluble, so, if you do not have a decaf tea available to you, all you have to do is steep your tea for 20-30 seconds, then dump that liquid. Steep your tea again for a normal cup, and it will have a much lower caffeine content.
• White tea has only 1% the caffeine of coffee, green tea has 5-10%, Oolong has 10-15%, black has 20%, and Mate' (mah-tay) has a full 100%
• Rooibos (African Red Bush) and most herbal teas are naturally caffeine free.

I have three top favorite tea brands: Twinings, Celestial Seasonings, and Teavana. There are other brands I have tried and liked, too, but these are my main three. Although, I must give an honorable shout out to Red Rose brand, as that is my family's all around favorite regular black tea brand- I think it's a Canadian brand.

I love Twinings for their black tea blends. My favorite is their Irish Breakfast Tea- nice dark and hearty with at least three teaspoons of sugar. I also love their English Breakfast, Earl Grey, and Lady Grey teas.

Celestial Seasonings is my go to for herbal. They have such a wide variety it's hard not to find one you like. My favorites from them are Mint Magic, Honey Vanilla Chamomile, Gingerbread Spice (a holiday tea- sorry, it only comes out at Christmas), and Tension Tamer. I also always keep their Echinacea Complete Care and their Tummy Mint teas on hand in the house, too.

I love to pair my Mint Magic tea with Oreos! I know it's not exactly a healthy pairing, and some think it kind of strange, but it's so good! ^.^

The Gingerbread Spice is good anytime of the year, in my opinion, even if it is only available in stores during the holidays. Add a little sugar and a little half and half, and it's a wonderful creamy gingerbread tea late! And why not pair it with a slice of gingerbread cake with whipped cream. ;-)

Tension Tamer should come with a warning for first-time users. Though, it could have just been me.... Its purpose is just what the label says- to help relax tension in the body. I, however, the first time I had it, after only having four little Chinese style teacups (that all together don't even equal a whole mug) of it, got really silly. My friends had to promptly take it away and put me on green tea for the rest of the night. But it's a lovely flavor blend of lemon, mint, and cinnamon. Some people don't like it, but I think it's wonderful! (by the way, that's the only time I ever got like that after having that tea- it never affected me like that since)

Tummy Mint (and other peppermint based teas minus Mint Magic)  is the only one I'll drink completely unsweetened. I was forced to at a hotel once, when there was no honey to be had, and I couldn't use sugar because sweetening an herbal to with sugar makes it lose all its health benefits. So, I had to take it straight...and eventually learned to like it better that way.

When it comes to Teavana, I've not actually had much experience with their teas outside the samples they offer at their stores. But those samples are absolutely awesome! They only sell loose leaf teas, and they have such a unique variety! They even have chocolate teas!!!! They love to give suggestions on tea mixes- where you mix two or three different flavored teas to gain a whole new flavor! They also sell very nice, very good quality (and, yes, very expensive, some of it) tea equipment. I would highly recommend checking out one of their stores, if there is one near you. It's well worth it. If there isn't one near you, their website is still worth a look- even if you do have a store near you, as there is more on the site that isn't in stores.

Some other teas I haven't mentioned....

I have tried one of Celestial Seasoning's white teas and their Madagascar Vanilla Rooibos, and they are very good.

As for somewhat random flavors I like- a good apple cinnamon, mixed fruit, and jasmine (I especially loved this one my friend Rachel had...so fragrant).

Bigalow's Constant Comment is a nice tea, too.

And who can forget a good Chai latte (hot or iced)!

Now, when it comes to iced tea, I like raspberry well enough, but I love peach. What I really love, though, is Fuze Green Tea with Honey and White Tea Orange Blossom (bottles sold in stores). Those are heavenly!

Oh! Did you know, when it comes to hydrating the body, yes you should mostly drink water, but you can sub a couple of those servings with green tea? Green tea is the only beverage that naturally hydrates the body as well (or nearly so) as water. But, of course, water should be your first choice. ;-)

Some of my other favorite things to pair with tea? Milano cookies, toast, chocolate....I guess anything goes, really! (well...almost)

I'm afraid all this doesn't even touch all the different teas that I actually own. 

I suppose those shall have to wait for another day. After all, it is now....

^.^