1. What did you get for Christmas?
Hmm, let’s see. My parents gave me a Keurig for my birthday, which was also part Christmas gift. I got a great pair of boots from Josh’s grandparents (I have seriously worn them EVERY SINGLE DAY, and that is no lie). Josh’s parents gave me a flannel shirt (that I love–I’ve worn it three times since), a necklace, a $25 gift card, socks, pajamas, and other random gifts. My brother-in-law gave me some nail polish from Sephora by OPI. Josh’s cousin received my name for the gift exchange we do at his great-grandma’s house, and she gave me a shirt and a k-cup carousel for my Keurig. I received other random, awesome gifts as well! (Many of the gifts have been posted on my instagram, if you follow me there: @somewhatvoluble)

2. Have you taken down your Christmas decorations?
Uh, no. I meant to yesterday, but then the Christmas tree came on (we have it on a timer), and it was FINALLY flurrying outside, so I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Maybe tonight? We’ll probably wait until later in the week to take outside lights down since it’s supposed to warm up again (well, to the 50s).

3. What did you do for New Years Eve?
New Year’s Eve is Josh’s birthday (he turned 25 this year!), so we always go to his parents’ house and his mom cooks us dinner. Josh gets to pick what he wants every year, so we had tacos “with the fixins.” We also played some games on the Wii with his parents, brother, and grandparents. Josh and I went home around 10:30, and we were in bed by 11:00. Yes, we missed the ball dropping, but we had a great night of sleep!

4. Do you like accents?
Sure. I’m surrounded by southern accents on a daily basis.

5. What kind of television do you have?
Off the top of my head, I have no idea.

6. Did you make any changes at the beginning of 2012?
Not really. I’m not big on resolutions, aside from “remain optimistic.” I’m trying! I actually would like to lose about ten pounds this year, though, if I can. Even five would be okay by me!

7. What’s the last book you read and do you recommend it?
The last book I read all the way through was Divergent, I think. I HIGHLY recommend it. Seriously. I can’t wait for Insurgent to come out in May–it’s already on pre-order!

8. Do you stay current on celebrity gossip?
Occasionally, when I’m bored, I read up on a few things.

9. Do you know the words to Bohemian Rhapsody? Gangstas Paradise? Fresh Prince of Bel-Air?
Probably not every single word, but I know most.

10. What is your favorite education television show?
We actually just got rid of our satellite, so we only have Hulu and Netflix. I’m sad to say we don’t watch much educational television. When we had satellite, Josh watched shows on Discovery, History, etc… and I would occasionally watch with him. I always like watching the “How It’s Made” shows.

Questions found here.

1. What is your favorite online-only store?
I actually don’t think I shop at any online-only stores. Duh, Amazon. (My brain wasn’t working very well this morning.)

2. Do you enjoy wrapping gifts?
Not really. My husband is a great gift-wrapper, so I usually try to get him to wrap mine.

3. What is the temperature in your city today?
Currently, it’s 48-degrees, which is warm for this time of year. The high today is 60-degrees, which is DEFINITELY too warm. It should be in the thirties during the day.

4. What time do you eat dinner?
I usually try to eat around six, but last night, I ate after eight because I was crafting a yarn wreath for a couple hours and forgot about dinner. (Wrapping a yarn wreath is a LONG–sometimes frustrating–process.

5. Will you be making New Years Resolutions?
I have a few things in mind that I’d like to accomplish in the coming year, but I’m not declaring official resolutions.

6. How old is your oldest pair of shoes that you still wear?
Maybe a few years?

7. Do you have any restaurant phone numbers saved in your phone?
For some reason, I have Little Caesars saved in my phone. I also have our local Mexican restaurant saved for take-out.

8. What is your favorite and least favorite letter to write in cursive?
I’m pretty good at L’s in cursive (because my middle name begins with one). My least favorite might be the official way to write Q in cursive. I definitely don’t write it like that, if I’m writing in cursive.

9. Do you know any good riddles?
None that I can think of off the top of my head.

10. How do you feel about snow?
I like it when I don’t have to drive on it. We actually don’t get “big” snows very often. We are more prone to getting ice, which I’m not a big fan of.

Questions found here.

1. How do you eat your eggs?
When making them myself, I either eat a fried egg with runny yolk or scrambled. When at a restaurant, I specify either “sunnyside up” or “over-easy.”

2. Do you volunteer?
No, I don’t, though I’d like to volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House.

3. What’s your favorite brand of jeans?
Mostly, I wear AE Artist brand, but I’d like to branch out a bit. Suggestions?

4. What was your child’s first word? Or what was your first word?
I don’t have a child, but my first word was “bye bye.”

5. Can you french braid?
No, but my mom can.

6. Do you prefer wide rule, college rule, or blank paper?
College ruled.

7. Is there a specific treat do you always make during the holidays?8
I usually make sugar cookies.

8. Do you have a KitchenAid mixer? Do you want one?
I don’t have one, but I want one!

9. What kind of computer do you use?
I have a macbook. At work, I use HP.

10. Favorite Christmas movie?
I love the classics: Santa Clause is Coming to Town; Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer; Frosty. I also love Elf.

Questions found here.

1. What are 3 things that are on your Christmas wishlist?
The Keurig was on there, but my parents gave me one for my birthday. Now, I want (a) Kindle giftcard(s); k-cups (flavored coffees, especially!); and maybe a pair of tan, slouchy, flat boots.

2. What’s your favorite Christmas song?
Silent Night. It’s so peaceful. Another favorite is Carol of the Bells.

3. Do you have a favorite band or singer that sings it especially awesome?
I love The Bird and the Bee’s cover of Carol of the Bells. (I used to put it on my myspace every Christmas, back in the day.)

4. Have you heard about the website goodreads?
Of course!

5. What are 3 books you want to read?
Insurgent by Veronica Roth. (It will be released May 2012.)
Sarah’s Key by Tatiana de Rosnay.
The Book Thief by Markus Zusak.

6. Do you hunt deer?
No, I don’t.

7. Have you started Christmas shopping? Are you completely finished?
I bought a few things online for my nephew, but I’m not finished yet.

8. Did you shop on Black Friday? What was the best deal you got?
No, I don’t shop on Black Friday.

9. What’s one holiday tradition your family has?
On husband’s side of the family, at his great-grandma’s house, we always draw names. That way, we just have to buy a gift for one person.

10. How many blogs do you read? Do you subscribe/unsubscribe often or do you purge every once in a while?
I’m not sure of the number of blogs I read. I mostly read in Google Reader, and I unsubscribe occasionally.

1. What are you doing for Thanksgiving this year?
Thursday, we’ll be going to Husband’s great-grandma’s house for dinner with his mom’s side of the family. (I’ll be making baked macaroni & cheese.) Saturday, my family is doing their Thanksgiving at my parents’ house. (I’ll be making my Granny’s stuffing/dressing and a cake.) Sunday, Husband, my dad, my brother, and my brother-in-law are going to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (my dad’s team!) v. Tennessee Titans game in Nashville. Mom & I will be driving along, too, so we can spend some time in Nashville.

2. What are you most thankful for this year?
I’m thankful for life in general this year. I’m thankful for an amazing husband. I’m thankful for awesome parents and wonderful siblings. I’m thankful for my adorable nephew. I’m thankful I have such great in-laws. I’m thankful for all of the people in my life.

3. Do you have any traditions on Thanksgiving? The parade? Football? Long naps?
Um, we mostly cook and eat food. I usually make my Granny’s stuffing.

4. Is it called stuffing or dressing? Is it in the bird or a separate dish?
I usually call it stuffing, even though I never put it in the turkey. It’s a separate dish. Well, more like two or three giant pans full. When Granny & I used to make it, we’d mix everything together in a HUGE laundry basket. I’m serious. We made a lot of stuffing.

5. Do you cook?
Yes, though I’m making less than usual this year for my sanity.

6. What is your favorite dish?
Stuffing. Even though I make Granny’s stuffing, it’s not really a recipe. I know what to put in it, but I just sort of eyeball how much of everything to put in. It still never tastes quite like her stuffing, but it has been close! I really like broccoli casserole, too!

7. What is your dessert preference?
Mmm, pumpkin pie.

8. What is your favorite Thanksgiving memory?
All the years I shared with my Granny and Pawpaw. Especially the year Granny let me make the stuffing on my own for the first time. It was maybe a year or two before she passed away.

9. Do you plan to shop on Black Friday?
Nope. I don’t really want to stand in line at 2:00 a.m. after eating a huge Thanksgiving feast. I’d rather sleep.

10. What are you most dreading about Thanksgiving this year?
Really, nothing. This is the first year (since Granny & Pawpaw passed away) I’m truly looking forward to Thanksgiving.

1. What are your pantry staples?
Pasta, alfredo sauce, flour, potato chips, sugar, peanut butter, bread. Random, I know, but those are the items that are always in my pantry.

2. What are your refrigerator staples?
Water, miracle whip… really, those are the only things that are always in my refrigerator. If we’re including freezer, we always have chicken and frozen rolls.

3. You already look like Heidi Klum (or your favorite supermodel). Now, what are the top three non-physical things you would change about yourself?
Hm. I would want to be more patient, more optimistic, and less introverted.

4. What’s holding you back from your dream job? (If you already have your dream job, how did you get there?)
A degree, I suppose. That’s something I’ll have in the next two years or so, though.

5. You have $500 to spend but it has to be on one item only. Go.
Right now, I’d say I’d put it toward the $2,000 I owe on my car or toward my student loans. If I had to buy something for myself, though, I’d buy an iPad, which is $499 (at the lowest).

6. What is something that you are embarrassed to admit you buy on a regular basis?
Fast food. I eat there several times a week because it’s convenient before class.

7. What’s in/on your bed every night?
Husband and I, about five pillows, a sheet, and a comforter.

8. What is a non-necessity item that, no matter how expensive it gets or how tight your budget if, you will always find room for it?
I don’t have any items like that. I don’t typically buy anything if I can’t afford it, and if it’s something I want, I just save for it.

9. What is the weirdest sandwich you’ve ever made?
I typically stay away from weird sandwiches, actually. Husband thinks it’s weird that I get black olives on my chicken salad sub from Publix, though.

10. Would you rather: Be banned from Pinterest forever, but gain a million captive Twitter followers; or, never get on Facebook again but gain five thousand blog readers?
Honestly, I’m not very wrapped up in Pinterest. I don’t really have time to browse as much as I’d like. I think I could go without facebook, but I do use it occasionally for talking to distant relatives.

Questions found here.

1. What’s your favorite television show for each day of the week?
Sunday – Sister Wives
Monday – How I Met Your Mother
Tuesday – Parenthood
Wednesday – Up All Night
Thursday – The Big Bang Theory / Grey’s Anatomy
Friday – Nothing
Saturday – Nothing

2. How many times do you wear your jeans before you wash them?
I usually only wear them once before washing them… But if they don’t get dirty and I haven’t washed clothes, I’ll just toss a pair in the dryer to “freshen them up” once.

3. What is your favorite pasta shape?
It depends on what I’m eating. I like spaghetti, angel hair, linguine, vermicelli, fettuccine, and penne.

4. Do you read newspapers?
Not usually. If I see one lying around, I might skim the articles. I usually read the news online.

5. Do you sleep in socks?
I never wear socks to bed, though I used to when I was younger.

6. Favorite genre of movies?
Comedies or romantic comedies (even if they are corny). I do like a lot of indie films, though.

7. How do you feel about wrestling?
I don’t care one way or the other.

8. Should men pluck their eyebrows?
I suppose that’s a personal choice. I don’t really care either way.

9. Do you have dimples?
No … But my nephew does!

10. Do you like to camp?
I’ve never really been camping, but I’m not sure I’d like it.

Questions found here.

1. What is your favorite month?
October. I just love that it usually brings fall weather and colors along with it.

2. What is the best candy to get while trick or treating?
Anything chocolate. I hated candy as a kid, unless it was chocolate.

3. What kind of pen do you use?
I usually use Sharpie pens.

4. You go to a new Italian restaurant, what is your go-to order?
Chicken or seafood Alfredo.

5. If you could choose to have any celebrity’s hair, who’s would you choose?
Ginnifer Goodwin.

6. What’s your favorite board game?
I’m a big fan of Monopoly.

7. Do you know how to play poker?
No. I think my friends and I tried when we were younger, but we had no idea what we were doing.

8. What do you think about Old Navy commercials?
I think they’re usually pretty creepy with the mannequins.

9. What hurts worse- a stubbed toe or a paper cut?
A stubbed toe! I get paper cuts all the time, and they do hurt, but not as much as a stubbed toe!

10. What’s your favorite kind of pie?
I really love pumpkin pie, even though I typically eat it just once a year.

1. What is the worst compliment you have ever received?
In high school, during a time that I was somewhat insecure about my body, a boy told me that I’d be the perfect girl if my breasts were bigger. He meant it as a compliment in a weird way, but I was already insecure about the size of my boobs. (I’m completely okay with them now, by the way!)

2. Did you/would you tell everyone the name of your baby before they were born, keep it a secret, or not choose until after they were born?
I’d probably tell them. I already have a couple names picked out that I like (Ian Finley and Ainsley Sage) for future children, but they could change once I actually get pregnant someday! I have nothing against telling people once we decide and are 100% certain on a name.

3. What is your favorite candle smell?
I really like vanilla scents. Or cucumber melon.

4. What is the best birthday/Christmas gift you received when you were pregnant or the best birthday/Christmas gift you gave a pregnant person that was really appreciated?
I’ve never been pregnant, but I bought a crib for my nephew while my sister was pregnant. I also bought her nursing tanks and things like that that I’m sure she appreciated, personally.

5. Who was your favorite teacher?
Since I’m not completely done with school, I’m not sure yet. So far, though, I think my 8th grade math teacher is one that sticks out in my mind the most. He taught me how to love math (and that I’m pretty darn good at it).

6. What is the best game/activity you have ever played at a baby shower?
I haven’t been to many baby showers, actually. Besides my sister’s (where we didn’t play games), the last one I think I went to was in high school, so I don’t really remember.

7. What was your major in college and did you end up using it in your career?
Right now, my major is psychology. (When I first went to college in August 2007, I was majoring in early childhood education, but then I dropped out for three semesters. When I started again in August 2009, I went with psychology.) Ultimately, I’d love to receive my master’s in counseling. I’m sort of deciding which path I’d like to go with that–family counseling; grief counseling; counseling children (and their families) with special needs (specifically on the autism spectrum). If I don’t go into counseling, I might do human resources or get my master’s in I/O psychology. Right now, my concentration is in education.

8. What is a beauty product you swear by?
Since I don’t wear make-up, I’m going with Clean & Clear morning burst face wash. I’ve used it for years, and everytime I try something new, I always go back to it.

9. What is the kindest thing a stranger has ever done for you?\
Oh, gosh. I really can’t think of anything off the top of my head!

10. If you could recommend one new baby necessity, what would it be?
Someone to help take care of the baby while you get some much needed rest?

Questions found here.

1. You’re packing for a week long vacation, do you pack ahead of time or wait until the last possible minute to pack?
I usually pack the day before.

2. Are you a light or heavy packer?
I always pack a few extra things, just in case, but I don’t go overboard.

3. What are your favorite road trip snacks?
We usually take peanut butter crackers and water. Maybe some potato chips.

4. Do you take any reading material along?
Usually, but I hardly read on vacations. Reading in the car makes me feel sick.

5. Do you prefer to drive or fly to your vacation destination?
I really like driving and seeing everything, but if I had to go a very long distance, I’d probably fly. The longest distance we’ve driven is about 10+ hours to my family’s house in Florida. We’re considering flying next time to see if it allows us to enjoy the trip more.

6. What is your favorite time of the year to take your vacation?
Any time, really. I love Asheville in the summer. I love Florida in the winter (because it’s not very cold down there) or late summer.

7. Where is your favorite place to vacation?
Asheville, NC or Florida (where I’m from).

8. You are vacationing in the mountains, what is your favorite thing to do while there?
Well, I live very close to the Smokey Mountains. If we really want to see the mountains, we head toward Gatlinburg (which is just a couple hours away). We’ve stayed in a cabin up there before, and it was nice. Usually, we’ll go to a creek up there and have a picnic with Husband’s family and then hike. It’s always so beautiful there.

9. You are at the beach for your vacation, do you like to take it easy on the beach or play all day in the water?
I usually stay away from the water. I might put my feet in the ocean, but it sort of terrifies me. (I have a phobia of sharks. Seriously. Just the word creeps me out.)

10. While your on vacation do you prefer to eat out every night or cook some of your own meals?
We usually eat out, but when we went to Gatlinburg, we cooked breakfast at our cabin. It’s really nice to save money that way, and there’s always a pretty view. When we go to Florida, since we stay with family, we don’t eat out for every meal.