So I outlined this post yesterday and then ran out of time to finish it. So enjoy a Seven Quick Takes-inspired post on Saturday instead of Friday.
Today, I bring you 7 Things You Might Not Know About Me:
1. I can’t help but be frugal — even in NYC.
Okay, so this one you might be able to guess. Because, well, you know, my blog name might give it away just a little bit. 🙂
Case in point: when I was in NYC last week, I couldn’t bring myself to pay the hotel breakfast prices (a bottle of water was $9, so I was kind of scared to even look at what scrambled eggs and bacon might cost!). Instead I walked to a Starbucks in Times Square and bought an oatmeal and a coffee with a gift card I earned from Swagbucks.
I could have saved even more by making my own oatmeal and coffee in the room (you can make oatmeal packets using the hot water from the coffee maker), but the beautiful hotel that Fox put me up in was apparently so froo-froo that they didn’t have in-room coffee-makers. I was clearly out of my league, folks.
2. I don’t iron.
See that picture above? It’s very important to note that I am leaning on an actual ironing board that I set up and actually USED in my hotel room to iron my dress before heading to my interview on Fox Business.
If you are a real-life friend, you know that I don’t own an iron. Why? Because I don’t iron… ever. So this was a momentous occasion, people. It probably won’t happen again for another 13 years.
3. I am directionally challenged.
You do not want me to drive you anywhere — especially if it’s not some place that I’ve been at least 100 times before. Trust me on this.
I guess my brain is too full of other more important things (or so I tell myself!), and it has trouble computing left and right and the difference between the two.
(Going to the eye doctor is a very anxiety-ridden experience because they are constantly asking you to cover your left eye or close your right eye. I sit there like a crazy woman having to think long and hard before remembering which one is which. I know, I may have some slight issues.)
If you give me directions in north and south, I am toast. TOAST, people. You might as well blind fold me and spin me around and tell me to find my way to Mars.
So you can imagine my sheer panic when I discovered that I was supposed to find my way to the Fox Studios from my hotel. “It’s only a few blocks,” they told me.
Well, trust me, with my navigational skills, it was a whole lot more than a few blocks. I got in a full body workout, broke out into a dripping sweat, and managed to get multiple blisters on my toes.
However, by some miracle, I found the Fox Business studios and I found my way back to the hotel. I also found out a whole lot of ways not to get to either place in the process. 😉
4. I have gotten completely addicted to podcasts.
I’m incredibly late to the podcast game, but I’ve fallen hard and fast in love. I listen while I’m scheduling social media posts, while I’m cleaning, while I’m driving by myself, and while I’m folding laundry.
Some of the ones I’ve been listening to a lot recently are: Sorta Awesome, Chalene Johnson’s Build Your Tribe, Beyond Pro Podcast, The Fizzle Show, The Laura Ingraham Show, The Accidental Creative, and The Art and Business of Public Speaking.
I don’t listen to every episode and find that if an episode doesn’t grab me within the first few minutes, I just skip it and move to the next one. No need to waste time listening to something I’m not intensely interested in when there are so many great shows and episodes out there!
5. I am almost always cold — except when walking blocks and blocks in NYC!
I posted the above picture as we were getting ready to head out the door to Atlanta on Wednesday and said, “Apparently, Kathrynne missed the memo that it was 90 degrees today! She’s a girl after my own heart — I’m often sporting a hoodie in the summer when indoors anywhere because it seems like I’m almost always cold!”
Yup, it’s true.
6. I still get crazy nervous about stepping outside my comfort zone.
You would think that all of my stepping out of my comfort zone things and facing my fear opportunities over the last few years would mean I never get dreadfully nervous about anything.
But nope.
I discovered last week that TV is still way outside of my comfort zone. In fact, I basically was sick to my stomach scared about it for half of the day before my interview.
I texted a few friends and asked them to please pray and I felt a lot more calm the day of my interview. And I’m grateful, because it would have been quite the eventful interview had I thrown up on set. 🙂
The crazy thing is, when it finally was my segment, I wasn’t really nervous at all and ended up enjoying it. So maybe I could learn to like doing TV interviews??
7. I’m working on living more with abandon and embracing the moments.
We had planned to check out Centennial Park when we were in Atlanta with my sister and her family this week. We ended up showing up right before the Olympic Rings Fountain show.
We didn’t even know that there was a show, so we kind of felt like we’d hit the jackpot. It was a lot of fun — and FREE!
After the show, the kids had a blast playing in the fountains. I may have gotten in the fountains a little, too. I couldn’t help myself.
It was roasting hot and the water looked too inviting. And I’m working on living with abandon and embracing the moments… So it was perfect.
What about you? What are 7ish things most people might not know about you?
Angie says
My husband has learned to follow where my finger points when telling him where to turn, don’t listen to left or right. I mess them up all the time! Also, when we first got married I thought he was crazy because he “ironed” by putting things in the dryer. Didn’t take me long to do the same. Ironing is too time-consuming!
Misty Nicole Roberts says
What a fun post. Seven things many do not know about myself would be:
1. As a little girl I lived in Atlantic City, and for two years was a junior escort in the Miss America boardwalk parade and preliminary events with Miss Mississippi and Miss Virginia; both states I would later live in.
2. I won a storytelling contest while in the fifth grade; my story was published in the Washington Post, and so I was a published author at eleven.
3. I was interviewed by Ted Kopple, and appeared on Nightline.
4. I helped start a non-for-profit community outreach organization when I was seventeen years old.
5. I have spoken before the Federal Congress.
6. I am fluent in French, and have lived and studied in France.
7. The first contest I ever won was counting pennies in a jar at my local library; I won a hardbound copy of Pride and Prejudice, and it has been the best thing I’ve ever won!
Teresa M says
I have just come to accept that I am directionally challenged. I have lived in my house almost 4 years and I still can’t tell you which side of the house I am at if I look out the window in the basement. Luckily I lived in Utah until GPS’s were invented. Most major streets are numbers and set up on a grid system. I rarely felt lost. As long as you have an address you can figure out how to get there.
meara lesho says
Next time you’re in GA go to the Stone Mountain laser show. So cool, and one of my fondest memories as a kid!
Andrea Bell says
I am SO directionally challenged. The worst place for me is the Cool Springs area in Nashville. I live about 2 hours from there but had to travel there a lot for business before I was a SAHM. It’s so twisty, turny and there are TREES covering all the signs and more than once I just pulled over and cried. Once I could SEE my hotel but could not get to it. I finally pulled over, looked at my boss who was riding with me and said “Let’s just call the concierge and see if they will come get us”.
We went there a few months ago to meet some friends at Monkey’s Treehouse and I got lost AGAIN. I could never live there.
I do love to iron though, my kids and husband never leave the house without pressed clothes (if they require ironing). I used to iron bibs and receiving blankets. I find it oddly soothing. My house is always a mess though, so that’s the only domestic thing I enjoy.
I love your blog and your list!
Mel H. says
I get it. My iron is only used for craft projects. 😀
perler beads anyone…
Jessica @ Curious Chickadee says
Hahaha #1. When I was 15, I went to NYC with my school and I came home with almost all the money I had brought for souvenirs. Everything was so expensive!
About me:
1. When I was in 7th grade, my boyfriend was in my classes but we never talked to each other. We met again in college.
2. I speak French and English. I understand Spanish and a little bit of German. I will start learning Italian in a few months.
3. My wardrobe is full of children’s books. But I’m 20. And I don’t have kids. (I’m studying to become a Speech Therapist 😉 )
4. I want to take a road trip on route 66.
5. I have a Japanese fire belly newt.
6. I play the violin.
7. I lose a lot of time on Pinterest.
Carol@simple_catholic says
I am so with you on #2, #3, and #5. My husband teases me that I get lost just going around the corner. 🙂 We also have “thermostat wars” in that he keeps lowering it to make it colder in the house and I keep raising the temp to make it warmer!
Danielle says
1. All items in my grocery cart have to be placed neatly.
2. I iron everyday.
3. I love the smell of books (both new and old).
4. I am addicted to podcasts as well.
5. I would love to write a book–either a reflection on my years of teaching middle school, or a Bible study for young mothers.
6. The trunk of my car MUST be organized at all times (weird I know).
7. I twirl my hair A LOT while thinking, reading, etc.
Lela says
My seven 🙂
1. I have red hair and i’m left handed, which is really rare.
2. I can’t drive through big cities. Think Atlanta and Birmingham.
3. I can’t close my left eye without closing my right one too.
4. My husband and I only dated for 3 months (and only knew each other for 5 months) before getting married. We have been happily married for almost 6 years.
5. My second and third children were born nine months apart.
6. I was 20 before I got my drivers license. It took me 4 tries to pass the driving test.
7. I don’t own a dryer. All of our clothes are clothes line dried. In case of emergency, I use the coin laundry down the road.
Emilie says
1. I married the only person I ever dated. Married 18 years tomorrow. together for 23 years.
2. I hate bridges.
3. I have very low self confidence.
4. I have experienced miracles and have seen the work of the Holy Spirit in many ways.
5. I write songs and poems.
6. I do not like hot dogs, sausage, pepperoni, brats, etc.
7. I love to organize my fridge…one of my OCD areas of my house
and I also struggle with left and right. I also never know which way to turn when I come out of a hotel door or a store that I have not been in before. It takes me numerous times before I feel comfortable.
denise says
1. My husband and I met online and dated long distance for about 4 months. We got married about 10 months after we met.
2. He and I started talking on the phone just a few days after we met online and have talked on the phone or in person everyday since!
3. Most people know I am bilingual Spanish but few people realize how much I love Spanish and prefer it.
4. I read approx. 100 pages per hour and prefer to read a book in one sitting.
5. I have a chronic pain condition.
6. I would already have 4 kids if everything was my choice. Apparently God has other plans.
7. I hope to do foster care or foster to adopt before too long.
Crystal Paine says
I should test how many pages I read per hour… I’ve never thought to even time that sort of thing before!
denise says
I should have said that is for fun, fiction books. I’m slower when it is for school or other non-fiction 🙂
Karen says
1. I didn’t get my drivers license until age 21 and I failed the first test.
2. I never dated anyone until meeting my husband at age 24 because my dad always told me I knew when I’d met “the one.”
3. My husband and I have been married almost 11 yrs and haven’t spent one night apart. For some reason, when ppl hear that they think it’s weird.
4. The dad that raised me (since 6mo old) is not my biological father but ppl tell me I look like him 🙂
5. I have let fear make me miss out on a lot of things in my life & I am trying hard to rectify that now that I have 2 pair of little eyes watching me!
Crystal Paine says
#3 — that is impressive!!
Emilie says
I experience #4 as well. My dad came into the picture when I was three.
Agnes says
This is great….thank you for sharing 🙂
Where can I go for the podcast….they sound great. Would love to listen too.
Thank you and blessings.
Crystal Paine says
If you look on iTunes (I have the podcast app), you can search for each of the podcasts by name and it should pull them up.
Andrea says
I love your list!! We have so much in common except the part about being cold! I also wanted to give you a big THANK YOU for featuring my guest post on Thursday about why my husband and I have decided to stay in our starter home for the time being. My blog is only about a month old, so this was huge for me. ? I so appreciate it!!
Crystal Paine says
Thank you so much for that post! It got a lot of engagement on Facebook and I loved the dialogue in the comments!
Jessica says
7 things…
1. I have 50+ first cousins.
2. I had to have a bone removed from each foot, which according to my surgeon, was like getting struck by lightning twice.
3. When I was in 5th grade, I told my best friend she was going to marry a certain boy in our class. They started dating in high school and have been married for about 15 years now and have 3 super cute kids.
4. I hate tape.
5. I also cannot stand plastic wrap.
6. While working on my bachelor’s degree, I worked in a laboratory autoclaving biohazardous waste.
7. I participated in psych experiments while an undergrad to help pay my rent. Yes, the kind with electrodes stuck onto your head.
Crystal Paine says
Woah! Now these are some very interesting facts.
I’m especially intrigued by the 50+ cousins and the fact that you’ve had a bone removed from each foot. Wow!
Jessica says
My mom is the 10th of 16 kids! My first cousins on her side range from age 3 to 50. They have to rent a party hall to have a get-together. My dad is the 5th of 7 kids!
I have very high arches on my feet and the mechanics of me walking and being a very physically active person apparently caused a loss of blood supply (avascular necrosis) to a small bone in the ball of each foot, called the tibial sesamoid. Conservative measures didn’t relieve the pain and an MRI showed bone death, so the bones were removed and not replaced with anything. I now refer to myself as “semi-boneless” 🙂
Jessica says
I once lived in an apartment above a very busy one-way street that had street parking on both sides. I heard a policeman shouting through his speaker once, “Pull over to your LEFT.” to a driver… and then, “NO, YOUR OTHER LEFT.” 🙂
Crystal Paine says
Hahaha! That would probably be me! 🙂
Delorise says
I remember several years ago being stopped in a road check by the State Patrol and they were checking blinkers on cars. When I was instructed by the trooper standing at my window to turn on my left blinker I lifted my right hand and made like I had a pencil and was writing. That is how I determine right from left–I am right handed. The look on the State trooper standing by my window giving instructions was priceless. I’m sure he later told the trooper standing at the rear of the car what a goof I was. I am smart in many things but hopeless when it comes to directions. My husband jokes that I would get lost in our backyard.
Crystal Paine says
Your husband’s comment cracked me up!
Annette Crisp says
I read once that you were listening to the Inspired to Action podcast, I have started listening to that and really like Kat Lee…thanks for sharing more you listen to because I need some more to listen to.
Crystal Paine says
Yes, I love that podcast… and I wish there were more episodes more often! 🙂
Diane says
You don’t know how relieved I am to read so many comments from people who are directionally challenged. I get so embarrassed because I have a dickens of a time finding my way around when I’m in a new place.
And for those of you who are cold all the time, just wait until menopause strikes; then you’ll wish you were cold! 🙂
Crystal Paine says
You are not alone!!
Reagan says
I feel like I could have written this about me haha! Directionaly challenged, always cold, can’t even get up to speak in church without my legs turning to jello, NEVER iron (I tell my husband to just spray it and stick it on the dryer if it’s too wrinkled ha!) And hopelessly frugal, I am in charge of our cash envelopes and I always try to have some left over that I can stash away. Trying to get our house payed off and I’m saving my stashed away cash for that last payment 🙂 I’ve been listening to dave Ramsey podcasts it motivated me to get even more gazelle intense 🙂
Crystal Paine says
Yes, yes, and yes! I think we were separated at birth! It is a game for me to see if I can keep extras in the cash envelopes every month to roll over or save for something else! 🙂
Mona says
I was always cold too! I say was because we moved to FL so now I’m rarely cold. However, I did find out that my thyroid was off and that can make you feel cold too.
My hubby gets right & left confused. I’m always telling him, the “other right.” he blames it on being left-handed.
Crystal Paine says
Maybe I need to move to FL? But nope, I love me some Nashville and I bet FL grocery stores and indoor places are freezing, too!
Asheritah says
Happy to see other podcast addicts here! I’ve enjoyed Michael Hyatt’s, Jeff Goins’, and Pat Flynn’s podcasts as well as the ones you and Nichole listed.
Here’s my list:
1. I was born in Athens, Greece. But according to the Consulate, I’m not Greek.
2. I don’t like coffee. I tried to be a tea drinker to make up for it, but sadly I can’t manage to brew a good cup.
3. I flunked kindergarten. True story.
4. I love tulips, calla lilies, and dahlias; I’m not a fan of roses.
5. I met my husband, Flaviu, in 6th grade when boys still had cooties. Obviously, I got over that notion.
6. I used to bite my nails. Now I only bite the skin around them (usually when I’m reading a book).
7. My parents were pioneer missionaries among the gypsies in Romania in the mid-1990’s and 2000’s. The revival God stirred among them was the most life-transforming event I’ve experienced so far.
Crystal Paine says
Woah! Athens and Romania… sounds like you have a very diverse background and probably lots of amazing stories to share of your growing up.
By the way, my husband and I met when we were 9 and 10. So fun to have childhood memories that we share together!
Ioana Barrie says
Hey! I am Romanian myself. Bine ai venit!
Asheritah says
Nice to meet you Ioana! Do you still live in Romania?
Melanie says
I’m pretty sure struggling to tell left from right is actually a genetic trait that I believe mainly affects women. I know that sounds crazy but it is true. I used to write R and L on my hands when I was about middle school age until my mother saw and laughed at me. Come to find out her mother has trouble like I do. If it wasn’t for my wedding ring, idk what I’d do. I never never take it off lol.
I am not however directionally challenged for whatever reason. I have a great memory so I can visualize the landmarks and turns (for turns I can remember left/right by whether or not I cross a lane of traffic) and even “zoom out” shall we say on a “map” in my head. It is weird but I love it. Once I have been somewhere once or twice I’m pretty good to go and even if I get “lost ” I can get myself out of it pretty easily.
Crystal Paine says
I need your brain to get in my brain so that I can learn how to stamp a map in my head! 🙂
Alison says
Melanie (and Crystal) – just chiming in that I relate! I am visually oriented and have a pretty intuitive sense of what direction I’m heading. Once I’ve been there, I remember, and rarely get lost. HOWEVER, “right” and “left” are just meaningless words for me. If I tell you one way, there’s at least a 50/50 chance it’s the other, especially if I’m under pressure (no time to make an “L” 🙂 )
Lea Stormhammer says
Being directionally challenged does primarily effect women but it’s not genetic – how we tell direction is. There are two primary ways people tell direction – cardinal directions (north, south, etc.) and relationally (turn at the blue house, go up four blocks,…etc).
A study a couple of years ago showed that people who could tie the two together – the blue house is north of where I am, so I need to go north – improved their overall ability to follow directions!
I thought that was interesting.
Lea
Rebecca says
Something everyone else has probably figured out about me but I just came to grips with today is that I am tightly wrapped. Or uptight about certain things. I figured this out while learning about the silly/crazy things that the leaders for our girls camp are expected to do during roll call in the mornings. This is my first year going and I already told the camp director that I don’t do windows and I don’t do silly songs. Maybe I need to lighten up, but that’s not me. Is that ok? I’m in my mid 40’s and don’t know if I will ever change. I thought this morning as I learned all these things, “Maybe I am uptight, but I love myself and that’s ok.” Oh well, at least I will have fun watching the leaders be silly!
And btw, I am loving your posts! You have made me look at my life differently!!
Crystal Paine says
I so get this. I’m trying to learn to lighten up and be less uptight in public, but it’s not something that comes natural to me.
For me personally, I know it stems from years of being a people-pleaser and perfectionist. As I work on those areas, it’s helping me loosen up in other areas — like being willing to post rather crazy and not-so-perfect selfies of myself online! Babysteps. 🙂
Rebecca says
I never thought about it stemming from being a people-pleaser. Which I def am. Not so much a perfectionist tho….My motto is “it’s good enough!” Drives my hubbie nuts! 😉
Amber Kenebrew says
I applaud you and your efforts you remind me of the Proverbs 31 woman. A woman that i aspire to be. Btw I love and am totally addicted to your site.
Crystal Paine says
Thank you so much for your sweet encouragement!
kariane says
I, too, am directionally challenged. I say, “I spent time exploring.” My husband responds, “You got lost again?” Sooner or later I always find my way back home. 🙂
Crystal Paine says
Hahaha! I think I’m going to start using that line with my husband! 🙂
Awmeme says
My husband always says we’re never lost because we’re always somewhere.
Micaela says
Crystal~you’re mom gave us a iron for our wedding…I there no I’ve used it twice…since Steven and I got married two years ago.
Crystal Paine says
😉
Angela says
Ironing is a colossal waste of time. We own an iron AND an ironing board and I’ve used them once. In fact, I use the iron to clean up candle wax out of carpet more often than I use it to iron clothes. I’ve got kids, if my clothes aren’t wrinkled they’re dirty… so… lol
Theres says
I travel with a small spray bottle that I can fill with water. I spritz my clothes, straighten them out and hang them on a hanger the night before I wear them. No need to iron- home or away!
=)
Crystal Paine says
I have totally done that before… or left them hanging in the bathroom while I took a shower so the steam would take out the wrinkles.
My problem this time was that I only had a very short while at the hotel before I had to head to the studios, so it was an “emergency” situation where I had no other option but to iron because my dress did not hold up as well as I’d hoped in my carry-on. 🙂
Theres says
Ironically, pun intended, I do like to iron.
I live in NYC. Glad you came to visit!
=)
Crystal Paine says
Best pun of the day award goes to you!
Victoria says
7 ish things your might not know about me
1. I too am directionally challenged in fact my way of finding things cracks my friends up. When I am lost while driving I just follow where the majority of traffic is going because in my mind “they must be going somewhere big and surely from there I will find where I need to go”. Strange thing is this method has only backfired on me once.
2. I should really be an efficiency manager for fast food joints. I worked at one all the way through high school and now whenever we go to one I end up whispering to my husband “they could have cut 2.5 seconds off their serving time if they reached for the cup before the tray” NOT KIDDING.
3. I count distance traveled by how many dishcloths I have knitted. A trip from Indiana to Disney World by car for instance is 11 dishcloths.
4. I don’t like flying, the fingernail marks on my husband’s arm from our recent trip together prove this.
5. I have never once mowed a yard in 20 years of marriage.
6. I didn’t know grocery carts actually make noise when you push them through the aisle or that big industrial sized fridges hum, until I put hearing aids in last year when they discovered I have reverse slope hearing loss. Unfortunately the hearing aids didn’t help me hear others talking any better so I didn’t purchase them. (I hear high pitched sounds but not low pitch sounds. If your female I can hear you if you are male you have to shout)
7. I don’t like butterflies, the way they flutter creeps me out (I even went to Butterfly World to try and break myself of this rather dumb fear, I lasted the whole day but butterflies still creep me out)
Crystal Paine says
#2 – I especially LOVE this one! This is so like something I would do!
Alissa says
I could never remember left and right until I got married. Then the ring on my finger reminded me. 🙂
Crystal Paine says
My problem? I can’t remember which hand I’m supposed to wear my ring on. Is it the right hand or the left hand??? I’d be scratching my head, second-guessing myself, and then Googling it.
Clearly, I have issues. Is there a support group for People Who Can’t Get Right and Left Straight? Because I need to join!
Amie says
Just remember you married for Love….Left starts w L. I’m fine with left and right, but I have a friend who’s the same way.
Nichole says
I’m with you on the podcast thing. I just sent out an email to my friends I love podcasts and shared four I like!! God centered mom, Inspired to Action, read aloud revival, and sorta awesome. Sorta Awesome being at the top of my list. I am so glsd I can share my excitement about with podcasts with someone who understands. I think I drive my friends and husband crazy talking about what I am learning in podcasts, but they dont understand. 🙂
Crystal Paine says
Oh, all good podcast picks!
Maybe we need to start some type of online support group for Podcast Addicts! 🙂
Danielle says
This is an excellent idea. I love podcasts as well! I listen to “Grammar Girl” and “Proverbs 31” everyday. I also enjoy Angela Watson’s “Truth for Teachers,” because I am a public school teacher. I would LOVE it if you started a series of podcasts, Crystal!
Mary says
I was in high school before a friend told me to hold up my left hand with the fingers pointing up and the thumb out to the side…your left hand makes an “L” and your right hand doesn’t.
When someone says “make a left at the corner” to me, I’m very nonchalantly looking down to figure out which hand makes the “L”…LOL
Crystal Paine says
This is SO me! Or I try to remember which hand my right hand was when playing the piano — because clearly that’s so much more efficient than just memorizing right and left!! 😉
Pamela says
That cracks me up. I can’t do the “L” thing because I get confused about it, but I can play the piano to figure it out. Left and right have always challenged me so the imaginary piano often comes out 🙂
Carol says
I failed my first driver’s test when the examiner told me to turn right and I turned left! I am so glad that I am not the only one.
Chris says
Ha, oh yes. When I’m in the car with someone and have to tell them where to go, it may happen that I say “Turn left” when they should actually have turned right. If I can realize quick enough I often say “Oh no, the other left, please” 🙂
Sandra says
I have directional dyslexia. (Self diagnosed – ha!) But I read about it while studying dyslexia. Not being able to instinctively know directions (left, right, north, south…) is the main symptom. 🙂
Sarah says
I have to do that often too! Or I have to really think about which hand I write with (which I know is my right one). 🙂