135 (!!!) Questions from Instagram Followers
I’m a big fan of the 73 questions videos Vogue does and once upon a time blogged a version of my own. I saw it pop up. recently and wanted to do an updated version, so I reached out to my Instagram followers asking for questions they wanted me to answer. I hoped I would get 73 in the end… and got 135!!! So wild and so fun! Thank you all for caring about my little life!
Here are my rapid-fire, short and sweet answers to all of your questions:
Who is your favorite Bible character? Probably Paul, because he just feels like such an enneagram One.
Who would you want to play you in a movie adaptation? My fam asks this question often, and I’ve never had a great answer. Maybe Jennifer Lawrence?
Did you ever have braces? Yep, for about a year when I was in middle school!
What’s my favorite shark? Currently, the tiger shark.
What does my perfect Sunday look like? Church, brunch, a visit to the art museum, time spent reading outside on my front porch, a nap, a home cooked meal, a long walk around the neighborhood, getting ice cream, being in bed early.
What was my favorite book as a child? The American Girl books.
How do you tackle starting to read the Bible and actually understanding it? My friend and pastor Nicole just wrote the perfect book to help with this!
Favorite book of all time? Mere Christianity.
Favorite movies? The Holiday is my #1!
What’s your dream job for the future (realistically though, not like a fantasy job)? Published author or working in book publishing somehow.
Do you and your ex-boyfriend attend the same church and how do you navigate it? Yes, we do. Honestly, we just ignore each other!
How do you edit your photos on your blog + Instagram? Do you use a camera, phone, or both? 100% phone, I edit in VSCO and always use the same filter and just make minor adjustments from there!
What’s your favorite enneagram number besides your own? 4. All the feels. All the creativity. A lot of my favorite people are 4s.
What’s your favorite plant or thing to grow in your garden? Tomatoes went crazy this year, which was fun!
If you could be any animal, what would it be? A shark, of course.
Shampoo or soap first in the shower? Shampoo!
What’s your go to makeup routine on an average day? BB cream, blush, eyelid primer, liquid eyeliner, mascara, something on my lips.
Your testimony? The short version: grew up in church, was always super into my faith, s*** hit the fan in high school, found my way back to community in college, and counseling helped save, redeem, and restore my life and faith by the grace of God in my 20s.
What keeps you strong in your faith? Community, consistency, and quiet.
Best time management/productivity tool? I don’t really use one, but maybe PowerSheets count?
Feelings about online dating? I do the apps from time to time, but mostly just get bored with them.
How did you find a therapist that works with insurance and is a good fit for you? Mine doesn’t take insurance, so not sure how to help there, but read my posts about counseling here!
Last thing you do before bed and first thing you do when you wake up? As I’m falling asleep, I practice my deep breathing (4 counts in, hold for 7, exhale for 8) until I crash. First thing in the morning, I honestly grab my phone to turn off the alarm and usually scroll my apps. I’m working on it!
If you could ask your future 65 year old self 3 questions, what would they be? What gives you life? What has been your greatest joy? How have you come to know God better?
What are your top three stationary must haves? Blank Kraft paper cards (to be doodled, painted, etc), these pens, and packs of cards I find on clearance at Target.
Favorite restaurant in RVA? Right now, Kregger’s.
What is the best book you would recommend for someone who is just beginning to deconstruct faith? Out of Sorts by Sarah Bessey.
I know you keep up with hockey really well, but are you a big basketball person? NOPE. Hate it. It’s too squeaky!
How did you get involved with bookstagram? I was posting too much about books on my normal instagram and didn’t want to annoy the people who didn’t care.
Favorite book you’ve read in 2019? Probably this one.
What is one physical achievement you admire/would love to achieve (unrealistic/real)? I admire people who run marathons, but I would never in a million years want to attempt one. I would love to hike a super cool mountain, though.
Other than RVA where would you live? The PNW or London.
The one book you will recommend to anyone and everyone (only one!)? Mere Christianity, again.
How come you don’t like Halloween? I don’t like anything creepy or gory or spooky. I don’t like being scared. I don’t like dressing up. I don’t like hype.
Most memorable book? The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.
What pair of shoes do you wear the most? Right now, these.
Favorite warm drink? Vegan dirty chai latte.
How many siblings do you have? One brother three years younger than me.
Any nieces and nephews? Nope!
What are your favorite fall and winter oils to diffuse? Anything with Northern Lights Black Spruce.
What’s your most treasured item and why? All the boxes of letters and paper goods I’ve kept from all the years of my life! SO many memories.
How do you manage your time? (Reading, work, cooking, friends) I make lots of lists.
Your favorite drink? Alcoholic? Malbec wine or moscow mules. Non-alcoholic? Water, honestly. I drink water like it’s my job.
What is your favorite experience of all time (travel, food, etc)? Studying abroad in London in summer 2012 (Olympics, Queen’s jubilee, etc).
What is your daily routine when you get home from work? It’s not always the same, but it always involves taking my pants and bra off as soon as humanly possible.
How often do you go to the gym? 1-3 times a week.
Do you miss your old car? Not really anymore! My new car is awesome.
Where do you get most of your clothes? Target, Old Navy, my graphic tees are mostly Walk in Love or Ramble and Company or Cotton Bureau.
What was high school like for you? Hell.
How tall are you? 5’3”.
Why did you recently switch therapists? To do EMDR! I talk about this more on my Insta stories — check out my saved highlight on EMDR.
How long have you been going to counseling? Since April 2017.
What time do you get up in the morning? Around 6:30.
How long have you been living in your current apartment with your current roommate? One year!
Did you grow up going to church? Yes! A non-denominational evangelical Christian megachurch in Arizona.
Did you go to college? If so, where and what did you study? Yep— James Madison University, my degree was Media Arts and Design with a Journalism concentration, with minors in Educational Media + British Communications and Media (I studied abroad in London).
How old are you? 27.
Where did you grow up? Chandler, Arizona
Favorite meal to cook? Buddha bowls.
If you were to write a book, what would it be about? My story. (Like this, but longer, and with more of the healing that has come since.)
What’s your favorite corny joke? The only one I can ever remember off the top of my head is “What’s the best time to go to the dentist? Tooth-Hurty! (2:30)”
Have you ever gone through a period where you didn’t want to read? Yes! Many. Currently in one now!
Best age of life so far? 27.
Favorite song? Can’t pick just one. Here’s what I’m loving right now.
Fave item of clothing and why? Anything sherpa, because my number one goal in life is to be cozy.
What are you most excited about? SEEING HAMILTON THIS MONTH.
What is God teaching you right now? To give myself (my young self, my now self, my future self) grace upon grace.
Biggest thing you’re scared about right now? I’m not one to be especially fearful, but I’d say things related to our president/politics scare me.
Fave matriarch of the Bible? Sarah. I, too, have laughed at God when God’s plans aren’t my own.
Fave book of the Bible? Ephesians.
You win $1,000,000! What’s the first thing you do with it? Tithe and donate to orgs fighting sex trafficking.
If you could bake anything, what would you bake? A vegan snickers “cheesecake.”
What’s your favorite genre of books? Self-help or current fiction.
If you could only pick five books to read for the rest of your life, what would they be? The Bible, East of Eden, a book of Mary Oliver poetry, and I HAVE NO CLUE.
What’s the first book that made you cry? Oh gosh. I have no idea but I was an emotional kid. I remember crying reading Tuck Everlasting and Where the Red Fern Grows and A Bridge to Terebithia.
What’s the first book you remember reading? I was reading by age 2…
What is your most prized piece of jewelry? A ring handed down from my great-grandmother.
How many tattoos do you have? And what are their meanings? 7. Read their stories here.
Favorite fancy cocktail? Moscow mules or anything with champagne.
Have you lost touch with anyone you would like to reconnect with? Yep.
What book have you recommended the most? Lately I’m hyping Sarah Bessey like it’s my job!
What’s your most re-read book? I hardly EVER re-read books, but probably Little Women.
Go-to comfort food? Pasta.
How many books have you read til now? This year? 157. In my life? I’d like to guess it’s over 1,000.
Only one fast food restaurant for the rest of your life. What do you pick? Chipotle, if that counts. (I’m vegan/gf so I can hardly east fast food.)
What were you for Halloween when you were 10-12ish? The one that stands out in my memory is Cleopatra.
Best movie you’ve seen in 2019? I’m not a movie person!
When’s your bedtime? 10ish.
Best and worst quality in a partner? Best= honest communication. Worst= dishonesty.
You have to choose: soup or salad? Salad, hands down.
What’s the worst emotion to experience? Shame.
What was your favorite book as a child? Teen? Adult? Child= Little Women, American Girl books ,and the Narnia series. Teen= chick lit, but I didn’t read outside of school much. I loved the book The Nine and An American Childhood in high school. Adult= too many to choose.
Which character in a book do you connect with most? Hermione Granger or Jo from Little Women.
What do you think is the most impressive thing about you? How much I read.
Favorite nail color/brand? Black is my go-to. Currently into earthy shades. Love the brand Defy at Target — it’s more natural.
What made you fall in love with books? My mom encouraged and promoted reading from the very beginning of my life!
What is the differential between a 4 and 5 star book for you? 4 stars is a strong like (really really good!) and 5 stars is IT WAS AMAZING, I can’t stop talking about it, I will recommend it endlessly, and it feels like a true masterpiece.
Do you like traveling? YES.
Which country do you wish you could go to and why? Denmark, because hygge.
Tips for more sustainable living? I write about this here.
Please explain weighted blankets? They are comforting, cozy, help alleviate anxiety, are incredibly calming, help your body feel protected and secure, etc. I’m a huge fan and never sleep without mine. (I have this one!)
What’s your favorite way to make a potato? Mashed.
What are you most afraid of? Like I said, I’m not scared of a whole lot by nature, but probably currently most afraid of our current president somehow getting re-elected.
If you could write one thing into your story for the future, what would it be? Marriage + kids.
Hobbies besides books? Artsy things, cooking, gardening, yoga, going to concerts.
A book you finished that you truly hated? This one.
What’s your usual coffee/tea order? Dirty chai with coconut milk.
What’s your favorite family tradition? Birthday stockings. (They’re a big gift bag full of stocking stuffer type gifts. AKA THE BEST THING EVER.)
What’s the thing you do when you’re fed UP with life/having a truly shitty day? Call my best friend, who usually tells me to exercise, and I usually listen. Or wine.
When was the last time you thought “I wish this would never end”? At a worship night at my church recently.
Favorite vacation you’ve ever taken? The cross-country road trip my dad and I took a few summers ago. Or the summer I studied abroad in London. Or the 6-week road trip/cruise my family took when I was 12.
Instant turn off in guys? Blond hair! Can’t do it.
Favorite quality about yourself? My self-awareness.
Common misconception about you? That I’m super outgoing (like I apparently seem on insta stories). Huge introvert over here!
Who has had the biggest influence in your life? It wasn’t great, but my abusive ex-boyfriend. Singlehandedly the person who has changed my life the most.
If you could only eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Probably a big bowl of lentil pasta with roasted veggies and garlic + balsamic + fresh herbs.
What’s your favorite store besides a bookstore? Target.
Favorite thing about the city you live in? The culture.
What’s the strangest thing you believed or did as a kid? I would hide out in my closet and read books with a flashlight where nobody could find me. It worked!
How many books do you think you’ve read in your whole lifetime? Hopefully 1,000+!
What’s the best thing about working for a church? Getting to spend my days doing the work I love for a place I love alongside people I love serving the God I love.
What’s the hardest thing about working for a church? It’s incredibly relational and personal and intimate, and there isn’t much separation between your personal life and professional life and spiritual life.
How do you motivate yourself to take care of yourself? I surround myself with really good friends who love me well and kick my ass when I need it.
What’s your favorite vegan ice cream? So Delicious brand — anything with coffee or mint or peanut butter.
Least favorite book? I hated this one as a kid.
Who is the most promising candidate for president 2020? I’ve been impressed by things I’ve heard from Warren, but I’m not fully convinced of anyone yet!
Would you rather fight 1 horse sized duck or 100 duck sized horses? 1 horse sized duck for sure. What a great question.
What religion do you practice? I’m Christian!
Do you travel internationally? If so, do you visit international book stores/buy books there? Yes and yes, always!
Thoughts/experiences on little free libraries? Big fan. I check mine weekly and drop books off often.
A moment you feel most content and at peace? Watching sunsets.
Favorite wines? Malbec! Also two buck Chuck from Trader Joe’s and California Roots from Target and Winking Owl from Aldi are always good bets.
What brand of mascara + eyeliner do you use? This mascara, this liquid eyeliner. Every day.
Favorite books for anxiety or depression? Made a list here!
How have you been dealing with your recent break up? Much better now! It took time (and counseling) but I’m overall grateful for where I am and for how things have played out. (Also v grateful he isn’t going to my church anymore so I don’t have to see him! That was rough.)
