Introduction: 100 things

When I visit blogs, I like to know about the people behind the words...who they are and where they come from. It makes me feel more connected...like I'm not just reading random words. Maybe you feel the same? Here is a list of 100 random facts about me:

1. When I was a kid I went by my nickname: Candi. Now people usually call me Candace.
2. I got the nickname "tiny" during summer cheerleading practice when I was in 7th grade.
3. I started using "tinycandi" online when I was 15 and it just stuck.
4. My birthday is in October. I LOVE the fall. The weather, colors, smells, back to school excitement...I love it all. I got married in the fall and had a beautiful wedding.
5. I turned 30 in 2011. It seems so weird that 30 years have gone by already but I'm alright with it. Most people don't believe that I'm 30. I've had people guess as young as 16. :P My mom and grandma both look younger than they are, too.
6. I have 2 daughters who are amazing kids. Aubry is 9 and Ashlyn is 7.
7. I love being a mother. I love watching my children grow and showing them the world. Most of all...I love that they show me the world.
8. My arm span is 3in longer than my height. It's likely because of my scoliosis...the curve in my spine makes me shorter.
9. My favorite TV shows are Criminal Minds, Burn Notice, NCIS, Greys Anatomy, Private Practice, House, Law & Order SVU, and CSI Miami. I liked Smallvile when it was on.
10. I don't have cable so I watch all my shows online.
11. I also LOVE watching old episodes of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman. I watched it growing up and now my kids love watching it. We have the series on DVD and it's been great.
12. I am a night owl. I've always had trouble sleeping.
13. I like to read textbooks about things that interest me...anything related to criminal justice, psychology, sociology, etc.
14. I'm a feminist.
15. I was married once...I already had my dream wedding. I don't plan to ever get married again. I'm far too independent now.
16. I'm not really that friendly. I'm nice when I meet new people but I don't really set out to meet people. I'm really close with my friends and like to stick with the people I know.
17. I'm easily annoyed.
18. I have OCD. Mine is centered around patterns and things being in order and matching. I can't always explain it...when I see something it just needs to be in a certain way otherwise it makes me feel uneasy. It's not something that's really affected me too seriously. It has just made me very organized. Everything has to be in it's place.
19. I suffer the symptoms of Multiple Sclerosis. I also have Hemiplegic Migrains, Scolisos, Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome, IBS, and Adhesive Disease. My body is a lemon...my mom didn't check my carfax report before she brought me home from the hospital. ;)
20. I have a thing for several celebrities...Andy Garcia, Bruce Willis, Joe Lando, Sean Connery, and Joe Mantegna. And it seems they are all happily married so...I'm out of luck. Thus I will never be getting married. Just kidding. ;)
21. I have also been inspired by Mariska Hargitay. I started watching SVU in 2004 and was really touched. I emailed her in 2005 (back when she was still answering her own emails) and she actually emailed me back: Dear Candace, Thank you so, so much for writing me. Your email is very sweet and I am touched by your generosity. Your daughters are beautiful. I hope that your year is filled with lots of love, light, and happiness. God bless, Mariska
22. I also have a weak spot for dark hair, dark eyes, and dark skin. :)
23. I've always liked buying and selling on ebay. There are some new rules that I don't like though.
24. I usually do most of my shopping on amazon.com. That's where I got all the girls Christmas presents the last two years. And I really, really like Amazon Prime!
25. My kitchen table tends to be a "catch all" of sorts. Papers and mail and the girls stuff...it all just seems to collect on the table. I hate the clutter and it overwhelms me...but it always seems to collect crap again.
26. I'm obsessed with planners and calendars....have been ever since I was little. Sometimes I even have more than one each year.
27. I love the "between you and me" Hallmark cards. It just amazes me how they can be so appropriate at certain times/situations in life. They're my favorite.
28. I really love my Dr. Pepper. If it's not around I'll drink Pepsi. I will not drink Diet Pop of any kind...don't like the taste at all. If I stop drinking pop I end up getting a headache.
29. My dad drinks Diet Coke all the time. He always gives me his codes for mycokerewards.com and I've gotten a lot of awesome things "for free" from there. I've gotten a lot of snapfish stuff (prints, photobooks, and ornaments), magazine subscriptions, a set of 3 Farberware pans, an entire cookware set, a $50 Nike gift card, and I just got an ice cream scoop. The pans, cookware, gift card, and Christmas ornaments I actually gave as Christmas presents to my boyfriend and our parents. Worked out really nicely!
30. I participated in a 365day self-portrait project...one photo everyday from August 1, 2007-July 31, 2008. I've tried a couple times but haven't gotten another complete set. This year I'm trying it again. It's just a photo a day...not just self-portraits.
31. I love filling out surveys. I always have...I guess I just have an obsession with answering personal questions about myself. ;)
32. I'm a very open person. I have no problem saying anything. And I don't do well with secrets.
33. I've always loved quotes, movie lines, and song lyrics. I will often randomly recite things I’ve heard in conversation, etc. I tend to pick up on other little things people say as well.
34. I was married to a compulsive liar...and that really helped shape my opinions about lies and liars. I realized how absolutely disrespectful and frustrating it was to deal with...and I did not want to be that kind of person. So while I won’t say I never lie…I do try not to. and if I get caught in a lie...I fess up. Because I find it obnoxious to assume that someone who already knows/questions the validity of a lie...should actually believe the next lie that you tell to try to cover up the first. Which is another reason why I think lies are stupid. It turns into lie after lie and worries about getting caught. I'd prefer to just ignore the inevitable fallout.
35. I'm very loyal to my friends, family, and boyfriends.
36. I've never cheated on anyone and it's never crossed my mind. When I'm with someone I'm pretty devoted.
37. I really like being single. I like living alone and doing my own thing. I like having things in my life going my way. I've gotten used to that and I really like it.
38. That said, I am in love with someone. I have been for almost 6 years. We've always been close and even though we've never had a typical relationship...we've always found a way that it works for us and suits what we want out of life for ourselves.
39. It's really amazing to find a connection with someone who feels like your other half.
40. I'm very nosy and I am the kind of person who just kinda stores information. I just want to know everything.
41. I'm very good at reading people and analyzing behavior. I'd make a pretty good criminal profiler. I find people fascinating...and the patterns of behavior are intriguing.
42. I went to community college right after high school but I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with my life. I stopped when I got pregnant...but I decided to go back to school in 2007. In May 2008 I got my AA in Psychology and then in 2011 I got my BGS in Criminal Justice, Psychology, and Sociology.
43. I've recently applied for jobs in community support services such as case managers, crisis workers, and supervision roles in corrections (like parole officers).
44. I'm seriously considering continuing my education. I'm trying to find a master's program in social work, clinical psychology, or something as specific as substance abuse counseling.
45. I love breakfast food...any time of day.
46. Some of my favorite restaurants are Texas Roadhouse, Genghis Grill, Red Lobster, and Olive Garden.
47. I like fast food, too. I tend to cycle between Sonic, Taco Tico, Taco Bell, Arby's, Wendy's, Kentucky Fried Chicken, and even McDonalds (love their fries).
48. My children and I were all three born on astrological cusps. Aubry was born on the 21st (Gemini/Cancer), Ashlyn was born on the 22nd (Virgo/Libra), and I was born on the 23rd (Libra/Scorpio). Also, Aubry was born on the first day of summer and Ashlyn was born on the first day of fall. I think it's really cool.
49. I dip my French fries in my chocolate shake. I tried it in 7th grade when my best friend also did it.
53. Every time I go for steak, I get house/garden salad (ranch dressing), steak (medium), baked potato (butter only), and a Dr. Pepper.
54. I don't really like to talk on the phone...I prefer to text.
55. I also hate group projects. I can be a team player...but my OCD makes me want to do it "right" all by myself. It's another one of those things where I just want to do it my way and not deal with anyone else.
56. I also don't like "mingling" or being forced to talk to people I don't know. I hate awkward silence and I don't always know what to say in situations like that. I'll talk to people who talk to me but I don't tend to just strike up conversations with people.
57. I believe the best teacher of life…is life itself. Watching and learning and just paying attention. Making mistakes, almost making mistakes, and not making mistakes…you learn a lesson no matter what happens and no matter what you do. I believe WANTING to learn…is what allows you to grow.
58. I love art and photography (and photo-editing). I have done oil painting, colored pencils, charcoal, scratchboard, pen stippling, etc. I do a little bit of freelance work here and there.
59. I started competitive dance and gymnastics when I was 3 years old. I stopped when I was about 10 years old because I was tired of missing out on things with my friends. Unfortunately, I quit right before my team went to nationals in Texas and won a huge trophy. :P
60. I don't like to learn new things in front of other people. And I don't like to be embarrassed. Those two things kind of go hand in hand for me.
61. I'm not really good at sports. When all my friends were learning sports I was busy with dance and gymnastics competitions and things. And once I got older, I was too embarrassed to try. I did enjoy swim team and track (mostly long jump and triple jump).
62. I grew up going to garage sales with my parents and grandparents all the time. We'd get up really early and go from garage sale to garage sale getting lots of things we didn't usually need. The one thing I remember getting was the game Girl Talk. I still love going to garage sales and so do my kids.
63. I’ve always loved jigsaw puzzles. When I was little, I used to have dozens of those wooden puzzles that were only 10-20 pieces. I used to dump all of them out and mix the pieces up...then put all the puzzles back together.
64. I was a nerd in school. I was in the gifted program and competed in scholar's bowl, odyssey of the mind, and things like that. I took my ACT several times starting in middle school.
65. I’ve always loved playing and making a “house” in spaces wherever I could find them: cardboard boxes, closets, the bathtub (filled with blankets instead of water), and “building” houses to play in outside with whatever I could find.
66. I am not the kind of person to sugarcoat things. I’m pretty blunt and just throw things out there the way they are (or the way I see them).
67. I am a very nostalgic person. I keep lots of papers and notes and letters and all sorts of things that remind me of the past.
68. I like mild weather…I don’t like to be too hot and I don’t like to be too cold. Of course…I live in Kansas...which is all about extreme weather. Heck we can have all four seasons in one day. It’s insane.
69. I dyed my hair for the first time in 2006. My stylist had never met someone who had never had their hair colored and she actually offered me a large discount if I would let her put highlights in my hair. In 2010 I actually decided to do something different. I dyed my hair an auburn color in the fall then added blonde highlights in the spring. Last summer I had both auburn and blonde. This winter I went back to a darker brown with a hint of auburn. I love it.
70. I love cake but I hate frosting. Ooh. But I do like red velvet cake with cream cheese frosting. That’s my second favorite cake. My first favorite cake is strawberry chantilly. Mmmm. It has more of a whip cream icing and I actually eat that.
71. I pretty much refuse to cry in front of people. I can cry pretty easily when I’m alone…but it takes a LOT for me to cry in front of anyone else.
72. I'm anti-apple products. I just don't like them. I think they're far too expensive and not as expandable as PCs nor are they as compatible.
73. I refuse to own an iphone. I have an android and love it. I love that it's cheaper and has an open market. Plus, I can essentially rebuild my phone to do more things I want. With an iphone, you pretty much get what comes out of the box and the "approved" apps with "approved" prices. There's just a lot more freedom and customization with android.
74. I look a lot like my mom (fair skin, nose, hands). I'm built a lot like my grandma (thin and lanky). And my attitude is just like my dad's.
75. I never tried Chinese food until I was a senior in high school. I’ve loved it ever since. In 2006 I learned how to eat with chopsticks. Now I never eat Chinese food without them.
76. When I was a kid, one of my favorite things eat was cheese sandwiches...with slices cut from a block of cheddar cheese. To this day I still like them every once in awhile. They actually make sliced cheddar cheese now...makes it a lot more convenient.
77. I have never had anything to do with Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, the vampire movies, or anything books/movies that seem to become a "fad."
78. My first daughter was born after 28 hours of labor and pushing for only 3 sets. My second daughter was born after 38 hours of labor and only pushing one time. Both of them were born about 4 hours after I got my epidural.
79. I always thought I would have three children. But I had several miscarriage and health problems come up. And now that my kids are both in school all day, I don't want to start all over with a baby in daycare. I got my tubes tied last year...well one of them, anyway. I have a lot of scar tissue that has done some damage in my abdomen from a previous surgery and one of my fallopian tubes is lost in the scar tissue. Leave it to me to complicate something simple. :P
80. I'm very glad that I have two healthy children. They've had bumps and bruises and regular sickness but we've never had any major problems. My youngest went to the hospital by ambulance when she was 3 weeks old because she aspirated and stopped breathing...but she was fine and we've had no ER visits with the kids ever since! Thank goodness!
81. I've never had a broken bone.
82. I tend to get nervous easily...especially when it comes to public speaking. I get a stomachache and I start shaking really bad. I hate it but so far I haven't found a way to make it stop. :P
83. When I graduated from WSU, a friend of mine was also graduating. Our mothers were in lamaze together while pregnant with us, we graduated high school together, and then 11 years after our high school graduation we were able to graduate college together. We walked in together but then were separated because it ended up that the new row started with me. But I ended up staying where I was and sat right behind her for the ceremony. Then when it was time to walk across the stage, I jumped in line behind her and we were able to walk together across the stage as well. It was really neat.
84. I really, really love lists. It goes with the OCD thing.
85. Most of my furniture is hand-me-down. My awesome sectional sofa came from my sister and brother-in-law as well as the entertainment center. My dressers and bedside tables came from my grandma (who also bought my new bed for me). The girls' beds were from my mom's house and garage sales. Ashlyn's dresser was the same one I had growing up and Aubry's was from a garage sale. All the TVs in our house were from garage sales (and all under $10). I have several bookcases that my dad found and fixed up for us. My desk came from my sister. The DVD stand in the living room we got for $5 at a garage sale. The only thing I have that I purchased was the $100 dining set from Walmart that I bought after we got married.
86. I was raised to respect people and respect the things you have...to understand values. If you didn't take care of your things...you didn't have them. If you broke something of someone else's...you replaced it.
87. I was also raised to respect the law. And if you made a mistake, you faced the consequences. There was no "how can I get out of this" in my life. If you were caught doing something wrong, you owned up to your mistakes and paid the price and you didn't do it again (or you suffered the consequences again).
88. I've really, really been enjoying pinterest. I've pinned a LOT of things and actually did a few pinterest inspired things. One day I hope to actually try some more things.
89. I'm very long-winded. I also have a bad habit of always wanting to have the last word.
90. I am tech-savvy and shiny new electronics make me happy. I always get giddy when I get a new computer, cell phone, camera...anything like that. It doesn't happen that often but I get all happy when it does.
91. I love arts and crafts and so do my kids.
92. I collect Cherished Teddy, Boyd's Bears, and Willow Tree figurines.
93. I love big cats like tigers, leopards, panters, etc. I really love going to the zoo and wild animal parks.
94. I love taking my kids to museums and botanical gardens and other local attractions.
95. I take after my mom and consider a lot of moments "scrapbook moments." I take pictures of pretty much everything my kids do. And eventually I hope to ACTUALLY scrapbook...though I've rarely made time for it. I really like virtual scrapbooking (doing it all on the computer) but mom prefers old fashion paper and scissors kind.
96. My favorite kinds of movies are action movies and dramas.
97. I own almost every movie Andy Garcia has ever made...and I have a lot of the ones Bruce Willis and Joe Lando have made.
98. I absolutely love swimming.
99. I tend to swear and yell a lot. It's one of my bad habits. :P
100. I'm very resourceful. With the help of the internet, I can pretty much do anything. ;) I don't know anything about cars but I look stuff up on the internet and suddenly I know how to fix stuff. ;)