32 on 32

Happy birthday to me!  32!  That just seems weird to type!  I definitely don't feel 32 and I don't think I look 32, and you know what they say, 32 is the new 22! :)  I've always been completely at ease with turning another year older (I've blogged about it multiple times - 29th birthday, 30th birthday, 31st birthday).  The 30s are fun and I swear, life gets better by the day!

Funny story though - I felt old for the first time ever just recently!  I was thinking a month or so ago about being in my eighth year as a teacher.  I was 24 when I started teaching, and since I teach high school (and taught seniors back then), I was only a few years older than some of my students.  I was always under the impression that the kids liked me, in part, because I was a young teacher.  I remember wondering "What are they going to think when I'm older?"

Well...I think that time has come.  Since I get a year older each year, and my kids get a year younger (really, they're just born a year later), there are now 16 years between myself and most of my students! Sixteen!!!!!!  And since I'm 32, that makes me double their age!  Wowzers.  Like I said, that may be the one and only time I've ever felt old, but boy was that a punch in the face!

Anyway, that's my growing older story for this year.  Luckily, I'm still under the impression that my students like me, despite my "veteran" status. :)

For my 32nd birthday, I'm going to list 32 facts about myself!  I've seen this on other blogs when the bloggers turn 30, but since I missed that opportunity, you get 32 fun facts instead! Here we go!

32 on 32:

1. I share a birthday with Martin Luther King, Jr.  Most people don't know that about January 15.

2. I don't chew gum.

3. I'm not a movie person.  I don't dislike movies, but sitting for two hours just isn't my thing.

4. I can twirl a baton! I grew up taking lessons and twirled throughout high school with the marching band.

5. I love to shop, but I don't buy expensive clothing.  Target and Old Navy are my jam.

6. In my 16 years of driving, I've never had a speeding ticket.  Never even been pulled over.  (And I'm not gonna lie, I speed quite frequently.)  *Knock on wood*

7. I didn't drink until college.  And to this day, I don't regret that decision.  I've also never smoked.  Not even to try it.  Not even a cigarette.  Not even once.

8. I have little desire to travel abroad.  Just take me to the beach and I'm a happy girl!

9. I pride myself on my better-than-average memory.  Especially when it comes to dates/years.  Especially if the memory is connected to music.

10. I've always been good at math.  I was selected for a math competition in middle school and I was beyond embarrassed about going.  Now, I am a proud math geek!

11. I'm terrified of spiders.  Like scan-the-walls-whenever-I-enter-a-room, freakishly terrified.  And I make sure to always wear flip flops around the house in the summer in the case that I see one.  Even though when I do, I'm absolutely horrified about killing it.  I may or may not have cried for hours upon end after being home alone and seeing a spider. More than once in my life.  It's a problem.  Really.  I'm also scared silly of tornadoes.  Like I have dreams (more like nightmares) about them in the spring and summertime!

12. I'm a news-watcher.  I rarely miss a day of the local 5:00/6:00/10:00 news.

13. I started college as a pre-pharmacy major. Because of that, I have worked in a pharmacy for eight years of my life. (Before, during, and after college)

14. I'd take 100 degrees over 50 degrees any day.  30 and below...let's not even talk about that!

15. I always knew I wanted to be a mom, but I didn't play "house" or "dolls" when I was younger.  I enjoyed coloring, crafts, and things like that way more.

16. I text in complete sentences with proper grammar, spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.  Anything else drives me crazy!

17. I have lots of pet peeves.  They include: losing things, words spelled with numbers (example: 2nite), crumbs left in butter (and other containers), and people who say pregnancy lasts 10 months.

18. My bucket list includes going on a hot air balloon ride and sitting in those really expensive behind-home-plate seats at a Royal's game.  (Pretty crazy bucket list, huh?)

19. I'd like a big family because I envision really fun holidays in twenty years.  Three kids for sure, maybe even four. Assuming that's God's will anyway. :)

20. I'm not a picky eater. There isn't a lot I don't like, but pork chops is definitely one.

21. I hate working out.  And quite honestly, I'd prefer to be an average-size girl and eat ice cream once (or twice) a week, than give up junk food.

22. I hate it when people mis-spell my name.  Especially when they're replying to an email and my name is written directly above.  Because of this, I make a point to spell other people's names correctly.

23. I'm seriously addicted to chapstick. Must. have. it. at. all. times.

24. I can fall asleep in under 30 seconds.  My husband will vouch for this and my family jokes about it often.

25. I love Laffy Taffy!

26. I don't like toothpaste. The smell, the taste...yuck! I rinse my mouth obsessively after brushing until that taste is gone.

27. I also don't like taking showers. It takes time and I hate blow drying my hair.

28. I'm the opposite of creative. But I'm really good at copying, or "being inspired" as I like to say! Thank goodness for Pinterest!

29. I love flying.  I think airports are really exciting!  However, I despise packing.

30. I bit my nails for about 28 years of my life.  I stopped when I was pregnant with Brantley.  I still revert back every now and then, but for the most part, my nails are long and strong.

31. I have 1 sibling and 5 siblings-in-law. 5 of the 6 of them are also teachers!

32. I love going to bed early. 

And with that last fact, I feel old! :) Here's to year 32!