Ah, summer Fridays. In my first post-college job it meant we had half days and usually drank a beer with clients. Ah, the joy of working in advertising! Now it means sharing surveys on my blog. Stay wild, Brittany, stay wild.
All jokes aside, I love a good survey, especially when you guys play along! I’ve had some new followers around these parts recently (hello!), so I thought it would be a great time to follow in Jen’s footsteps, as she posted this same survey last week.
1. What brings you the greatest joy? Being with my family. I know, I knowwww, it sounds like the dullest answer ever, but being with my people and watching my girls laugh and learn- it is the absolute best. Close seconds are wine on patios with friends, witnessing small acts of kindness, and traveling.
2. What are your vices? Wine.
3. What is on your nightstand? Books: Crash the Chatterbox, The Happiness Project, Jesus Calling, and Children’s Mathematics. A ridiculous heart-shaped photo of David that I found in one of my memory boxes 2 weeks ago from when we first started dating. A lamp. A few essential oils. Usually a leftover cup of water, as I always have to go to bed with water. I chug the whole thing as soon as I wake up.
4. Do you have a secret talent? My left thumb is double jointed and it really freaks some people out. Is that a talent? How about being able to accurately predict how long any outing will take me, down to the minute? I’m a stickler for being on time.
5. What is your greatest indulgence? My cleaning service. I have house cleaners come twice a month and it has changed my life. I always tell David I would sacrifice any other luxury to keep my clean dream team.
6. What should everyone try at least once in their life? Completely unplug for a week and get out in nature. Sail. Dream up something crazy and actually follow through with it.
7. What makes you laugh? My girls. The things that come out of their mouths leaves my sides aching. I just bought Kaitlyn her own quote book, like I have for Hailey, because she’s starting to rattle off some hilarious phrases too.
8. What is one thing people would be surprised to know about you? I really love Jen’s answer on this one because I can relate so much. I’m highly sensitive and emotional, but not in the sense that I cry at the drop of a hat. I am deeply empathetic, easily impacted by the energy of people/situations, and highly introspective. I have been for as long as I can remember. My psychologist dad calls it high EQ and it’s a blessing and a curse, as I tend to have higher highs but lower lows. That’s one of the reasons I love David so much; we balance each other out.
9. What is on your bucket list? More travel. As a family. And to swim with whale sharks.
10. What is on your feet right now? Pink polish and nothing else. Yay summer!
11. How did you make your first dollar? My mom used to pay my brother and me a penny a pine cone to clean up the pine aisle, but not sure if we ever made it to $1. I started babysitting my neighbor’s kids when I was 12 and loved it!
12. What superstition do you believe in? I wouldn’t say I believe strongly in any, but I do always have the urge to stay home all day on Friday the 13th.
13. What items in your closet do you wear the most? In summer? These shorts and these sandals.
14. What is the best gift you’ve ever received? A folder filled with notes my dad wrote me from the moment my mom went into labor with me through all my childhood years. He gave it to me when I had Hailey. There are no words to describe what it means to me.
15. What is on your liquor shelf? It’s fully stocked, even though we don’t drink liquor very often. Right now, if we go liquor, we make Kentucky mules, so we always have ginger beer and bourbon!
16. What is on your kitchen counter? Knives, a tray with all my regulars (salt, pepper, ACV, garlic powder, honey, nutritional yeast, chia seeds), a fruit bowl, a drying mat, candle, and dish soap. I wish it were more sparse, but function reigns supreme right now.
17. What would you never leave home without? My keys and phone. Also, waters for everyone in the car.
Please pick a question and play along!
I love learning more about you. 🙂
John J. says
Glad for answer # 14. My greatest “gift”(s) are you and Kris, after super “gift” = your Mom!
Brittany Dixon says
<3 <3 <3
John J. says
What does that mean?
Lauren says
Re: Your answer to #5, I’d love to see a post about your cleaning routine and how that works with your cleaning service. Every time I think about trying a cleaning service, I wonder how much it would really take off my plate (how much upkeep I would have to do in between visits). I’d be really interested to hear how that works for you. Thanks!
Brittany Dixon says
I’d be happy to go into more detail! I will say it truly makes the BIGGEST difference. I do a lot of wiping down, tidying, sweeping, vacuuming, etc, but for the most part my house cleaners do the floors, bathrooms, etc. I price compared for a long time and found that what works best for us is having them do one visit, just the main floor and bathrooms, and the other visit they do the whole house.
Elizabeth says
Love this.
What would I never leave the house without? my shoes. I like to reject technology and be unavailable at times so I don’t always have my phone on me. I walk around the outside of our house barefoot, but if I was to go anywhere, I’d have to have my shoes. It disgusts me to think about walking into a store without shoes on. I’ve noticed that since it’s summer, some people don’t mind this (e.g. going into an ice cream shop without shoes on, going to the pool bathroom (yuck!)).
Have a great weekend!
Brittany Dixon says
Barefoot in pool bathrooms freaks me out! Not so much if other people do it, but for myself. I cringe just thinking about it.
Lauren @ Oh Hey! I Like That! says
Oooh I totally want to do this survey!! So, first of all, I can’t wait to get a monthly cleaning service. I realized that I totally need one, and hopefully that’ll be a real thing in the near future. Also, I’m totally emotional, too! I feel your pain, girl!
Julie says
LOVE the notes that your dad made for you & saved for so many years!!! SO special! I can’t even.
I’m not an overly emotional person in general (at all), but I AM overly empathetic. If someone’s feelings are hurt (not by me, just in general), it KILLS me! Like I lose sleep worrying about them. Oh yeah, I’m a huge worrier, too. It helps immensely to turn it over to God, but my goodness, do I worry sometimes!
I have had a cleaning lady come once a month for YEARS, & I would never give her up! #idon’tdotoilets!
Brittany Dixon says
Oh yes, worry is something I’ve always struggled with too, but I like to think I’m getting better overall. Still if I wake up in the middle of the night and let my thoughts wander, game over- I’m up all night!
Monica says
As it’s the first time I’m answering to your posts, thought I’d answer a few questions.
Brings me happiness: my family! Spending quality time with my husband and two little girls. Having a date night with hubby. Family holidays with the whole family. Basically the simple things in life!
Vices: wines and chocolate! (2 things that I can’t have at the moment as I’m breastfeeding!)
Things to do in your lifetime: visit Iceland (blue lagoon, northern lights, walking on a glacier)… So much to do in an unforgettable setting!
Ps: Love reading your blog
Brittany Dixon says
It sounds like we have a lot in common! I’d LOVE to see the northern lights and such a pristine environment. And well, then there is wine of course 😉 Thanks so much for sharing!
Cindy says
We live in England at the moment (military family here) but I am from Georgia. When I was little, my mom used to pay my sister and I I think 10cents a pile for Leaf raking…..so don’t you know we made as many piles as we could! But of course then we had to put them in the wheelbarrow and haul them to the back yard/forest area.
Nicole says
If it makes you feel any better about Friday the 13th, I was married on Friday the 13th, and will be married 9 years this June. Whenever I tell people that, they say to me, “Why would you get married that day?” and I say, “It just happened that way!” lol. Honestly, if I really noticed it, I might have changed it, lol!!!!
My greatest joy? My husband and dogs. I could spend the entire weekend, trapped inside out home, with no power or internet, and I would be the happiest person in the world. My favorite memories are the simple ones spent all together.