Ice Ice Baby!!!

My kids definitely inherited my gypsy gene.  Seriously.  When we lived in Madrid there really was a band of gypsies that lived near our apartment building.  My parents used to tell me they think I was switched with one of those gypsy babies. 

T-bone had always told her sister that she would take her anywhere in the world she wanted for a graduation gift.  They had kicked around a bunch of different locales but I had final say in the matter because I was not crazy about my two chickadees traveling during the height of tourist season and being the target of terrorists.  Also, KJ didn't want to go anywhere tropical because she had been to Costa Rica, Nicarauga, Jamaica, the Caymens and Cozumel all in the same year.  #firstworldproblems  So, after much debate, my two knuckleheads decided they wanted to go to Iceland!  Yes, Iceland!!!  And I'm totally OK with it!  T found great flights and they leave two days after KJ's high school graduation.  Which is totally crazy. 

Also crazy is the fact that Coach and I are going to be empty nesters in a few short months!  We've been waiting a long, long time for this!!!  hahaha!!!  Very, very proud of KJ though.  She was accepted at every school she applied to (Alabama, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Oklahoma State, Mississippi State) but when it came down to it, she decided to take her talents to Ole Miss.  #hottytoddy  She already has a roommate and they've been busy planning their dorm room.  I'm happy for her.  I was actually hoping she would have gone to Arkansas or Oklahoma State because I want her to have her own college experience and not feel that she has to follow in T's footsteps.  But, at the end of the day, they are two very different people, with two very different goals and I know she'll do great where ever she is.

Getting to Know You

 

1. What part of the state do you call home? Hoover

2. How long have you been blogging? Since July 8, 2007 !

3. Why did you start blogging? A friend sent the link to her blog and I thought it would be a great way for me to keep our friends and family up North up to date on our shenanigans. 

4. What is your favorite part of being a member of the Alabama Women Bloggers community? The support!  So awesome to see a tweet mentioning my blog! 

5. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Wow.  That's a toughie.  5 years from now my youngest will be in college and we'll be empty nesters.  Hmmmm.....there's a lot of possibilities!

6. If you could choose an actress to play you in your life, who would you choose and why? I have no idea.  I don't look like anyone famous.  I've always thought Diane Lane and Elizabeth Shue have aged gracefully and beautifully so I'd probably pick one of them. 

7. Name 5 things on your Bucket List that you hope you’ll check off before you die? #1 Travel to Madrid, Spain (I was born there), #2 learn how to play the drums, #3 learn how to wear false eyelashes, #4 be a contestant on the Amazing Race, #5 have a private reading with the Long Island Medium

8. If you could be known for one thing, what would it be and why?  One thing, huh?  How about for being loyal? 

9. Describe the best moment in your life. I don't think I can pick just one moment.  I've been very blessed. 

10. If you could “be” anything (no consequences, no fear), what would you “be”? I would be the female version of Indiana Jones. 

11. What or who inspires you to blog? Current events.  My blog isn't about one particular topic.  I blog about politics, religion, fashion, my family, a book I've read or want to read, travel, sports.  You name it.  I'm kind of like the Seinfeld show.  It's a show about nothing. 

12. We’re headed to your neck of the woods… what restaurant would you recommend? My favorite restaurant is in downtown Birmingham -- 26.  I love the atmosphere, I love the menu, I love the beverages and the bathrooms are so flippin' cool!  We also love Gian Marcos in Homewood. 

13. What’s a southern tradition you and your family have? Definitely college football!  We were huge Alabama fans before we even moved here and on a beautiful fall night you can find my family on the back deck with a roaring fire going watching a game with friends.  Thanks to our daughter, we've also been introduced to the Grove at Ole Miss.  #hottytoddy

14. If you could pick your favorite blog post from your blog this year, what would it be?

15. We all love social media, tell us your links so we can follow you! You can find me on Facebook at Make Mine A Cosmo, @AlabamaValerie on Twitter and I'm also on Pinterest.