Random Shtuffff
I’ve thought a lot about being a bit more personal here on my blog.
I want my blog to be real. Because I’m real. What I do is real.
But it’s a scary thing putting yourself out there to the world.
I don’t want to be judged.
I want my blog to be real. Because I’m real. What I do is real.
But it’s a scary thing putting yourself out there to the world.
I don’t want to be judged.
I’m just a gal. Regular life. Regular stuff. Not perfect. Far from it.
So I’m taking a leap of faith, and I’m keepin’ it real today.
So I’m taking a leap of faith, and I’m keepin’ it real today.
I don’t have any pictures of myself that I really like.
I guess that’s what happens when you’re always the one behind the camera!
But this is me. What I look like in real life. 😉
Anyway, let’s get to know each other a little better why don’t we!
Here are 20 random things, thoughts, musings and stuff you may not know about me: I warn you this is all very random and all over the place…that’s how I roll.
- Fall is my favourite time of year.
- I’m a TV junkie. I mean when the kids are in bed by 8, what else is there to do really?!
- Mamma Yamma followed me on Twitter and I’m so stoked about that! CBC Kids? Anyone? 😉
- This summer has been tough. Lots of kid bickering, and I’m not used to it.
- I love coffee. My morning coffee is my favourite part of the day.
- I had a pulmonary embolism in February. Scary stuff. It’s all good now.
- I want to live in the countryside. The prairies are where my heart sings.
- It’s unnerving to me that this year my hubby & I will have been married 13 years. I don’t like the number 13.
- Referring back to #8…I’m a little superstitious: knock on wood, salt over the shoulder, disliking certain numbers…that sort of thing.
- I really really dislike negative comments. Don’t leave them if you don’t have anything nice to say. My feelings do get hurt you know…
- I miss my childhood best friend.
- I love to clean. Yes it’s a problem. Ok, not a real problem, but maybe a little weird? It calms me down.
- I want to paint over the tree mural in my master bedroom. Shhhhh, don’t tell my hubby.
- My favourite colour is blue.
- I once had a gold fish that lived for 12 years…I kid you not! hahahaha (I told you this was random!)
- I hate exercise. Wish I didn’t, but I do.
- I have an Environmental Science Degree.
- I secretly wish I could bike the BMX track when I watch my son out there…it’s SO awesome.
- Storms are the best. I think I could storm chase…
- Putting this stuff out there is giving me heart palpitations.
And deep breath. Ahhhh.
On a side note, some of my most favourite blog posts to read are ones where I get to know the blogger behind the site…it’s so great…so I hope you enjoyed this?
Anyway, tell me a little bit about you…I’d really like to know who y’all are…maybe write your own post and share the link…
Have a brave and inspired day!
Love this Jo-Anna!! You’ve inspired me to start writing a similar post!
Because I knew you 20 years ago – I feel like I get to catch up a little reading this! So fun! And . . . reaffirms my decision to put our son in BMX next year, lol! I’ve been thinking about it for a while. I think he’ll love it. Do you go out to the track in Cochrane? And seriously – I can’t believe that you get ANY negative comments!! Crazy to me!! Love your blog 🙂
Love this and you!! So glad you are okay after the scare in Feb! You are such an amazing person and inspiring blogger. Keep on bein real friend!
Ps a gold fish living for 12 years must be a world record for sure ha!
You WERE brave to put this “out there”!… but I really enjoyed the tid-bits you shared. I wouldn’t like negative comments either, can’t believe you’ve had any cause I love your blog!
Fall is my favorite time of year as well. I don’t watch much TV, but I’m a HUGE fan of “Person of Interest”! I don’t Tweet, Twitter, or text. I use my cell phone as a phone, not a camera! I’m going to be a Grandma any time now!… my baby has been having contractions off and on for days and is due the 12th! I’m gaining a new Daughter-in-Law early next month! My drink of choice is Dr Pepper. I HATE storms… live in “tornado alley”, which is scary stuff, and I hate thunder! I’m not superstitious at all. I wish I had had a childhood friend… met my BFF when I was 45! But my sister just lost her BFF of 40 years to cancer last month… so sad 🙁
Well, that’s it for now…. and now that I’ve finished I actually feel like a weight’s been lifted off my shoulders… freedom!
Thank you so much for sharing a piece of yourself too Paula! I really love to know who is reading my blog – it makes the blogging experience so much more real and fun!
PS. I hope your grandbaby arrived safely – SO exciting! And a big congratulations on the upcoming wedding of your son! Very exciting times for you!
Jo-Anna
Yay! I love little “slice of life” posts. They just put all the rest of the pretty picture posts in context, you know? Actually here’s a fact: I’m getting a little concerned that I’ve been doing a few too many slice of life posts myself and not enough pretty pictures. It’s good to mix it up though! And seriously, I’m still excited about the Mamma Yamma thing.
I remember your scare in Feb (I was here back then). I love “real”, not grey, but the black and white real … thank you for sharing as I think it is all wonderful. I do so love that colour blue too ! xxx
This was awesome! It’s so nice to get to know the people behind the blogs, I think it’s great that you’re putting yourself out there. I plan to do a similar post and link back to yours!
Thanks Allie! I hope you do write a post – I’d love to read it!
Jo-Anna
very nice post and very brave. I love storms, too! I love my morning coffee, too! I watch a lot of what I call “crappy” tv. love to just watch those “real” housewives holler and scream at each other. I’m always happy to have my REAL friends instead! but, I hate cleaning. I’ll pay you!! I love your blog and thanks for the real personal info.
Mary Malone
Thank you for your kind words Mary! Oh man, I find myself watching those Housewives shows too – the Vancouver one is the worst (or best?!). Hahaha!
Jo-Anna
Hi! 7, 12, 16 and 19….probably in reverse order! I’ve never done a “list” but am planning to do one on my 1 year “blogiversary” next month. It’s daunting but you’ve done a wonderful job. Thanks for letting me get to know you! I’ll try really hard to do the same! xo, Kimberly
I love your blog and I like “real”. We have a lot in common. I also am married 13 years, I love storms, morning coffee and I live on the prairies and would love to live in the countryside. I started following your blog when I saw your sweet peas on Pinterest. I tried them and they are awesome! Thanks! I also love your recipes. Have a great day!
Hi Lee-Anne! I does sound like we have a lot in common! I’m so happy to hear your sweet peas are growing – mine are great this year too! I love them!
Thank you so much for your very nice comment – it really means a lot to me!
Jo-Anna
Thanks so much for sharing. I actually made SURE to read this so I could get to know you better. It’s nice. Thirteen is just a number between 12 and 14. They had to call it something ;)I might have to google Yamma Mamma! haha. But happy it made your day!!
And, that you are healthy after that scare!
I love how real you are (i.e messy toy room pictures) and how much love you have for your family.I read your blog in the morning with my coffee and try a lot of your recipes. Thanks for sharing and please keep writing!! PS…glad you’re okay!
Thank you so much for your kind comment Cara! I’m so honoured that you share your morning coffee with me and my blog! When I hear comments like this, it gives me new energy to keep on writing and creating, so thank YOU!
Jo-Anna
Hi Jo-Anna! I love this post! I think it’s great that you are putting yourself out there. You are someone who needs to be shared in the world :). I had no idea about your health scare – horrifying! I am glad you are better now. And I am SO with you on the morning coffee – doing that now. BEST part of the day. Sometimes I even get up really early on the weekends before my little guy (Chace) wakes up to just sit and enjoy it. So, please keep being YOU, and share that with us… And plese don’t paint over your beautiful bedroom mural – I LOVE it. Of course you just do what you want – but blog about it if you do 😉 xo.
Thank you Elaine! It really feels good to put myself out there, much better than I thought it would in fact. I feel a little lighter now knowing that I’m being more real! And the response to this has been amazing, and just reaffirms to me how wonderful the blogging community is! (btw, I’m really glad you are back to blogging!)
Jo-Anna
This is so great!! No one is judging you, I promise. 🙂
Tiffany
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I love your beautiful face! and your list! since you asked, here’s a bit about me http://keepingupwiththetimes.blogspot.ca/2012/08/routines-do-you-have-one.html
I dont have blog yet (but I follow 35 of them each day) – just started doing that about 2 months ago and you were one of the first ones I found…enjoy your updates and the fact that you are real…trying to get up the courage to start my own blog – I appreciate the fact that you are Canadian…cause I am too! Fall is my favourite time of year as well – although I enjoy the summer too! Kids bickering is hard but normal…My daughter had a goldfish that lived 12 years too…it started out orange and it was pure white when it died..she won it at the local carnival and we never thought it would live that long! I look forward to your posts and follow you by facebook cause feed burner/email updates dont work for me for some reason…keep up the good work – I enjoyed learning more about you…glad the health issue has resolved
Cheryl from Ontario
Thank you so much for leaving such a heartfelt comment Cheryl! I am so honoured that you read my blog – I’m always in awe that anyone reads it really! And I really really love Canadian readers!
Thank you for reading along with me!
Jo-Anna
Awesome post Jo-Anna! I love getting to know you better 🙂 And I do NOT like to clean or work out. I’m in trouble. haha.
Thanks Jo-Anna, that was fun! I love your blog and that you are a fellow Canadian. I don’t blog but I love being inspired by blogs! I love to organize but still have so much organizing todo!?
Thank YOU Natasha! I’m so happy to have you reading along with my blog! (and I double love that you are Canadian!)
Jo-Anna
I came here from a link on your mother’s blog….which I follow faithfully. So interesting to see a post such as yours. I am an “old” person, so I wonder if I would have nerve enough to makes such a post myself. Guess I’ll just have to think about it!
Great post JoAnna! It is nice to get to know more of the “real” you!
Dear JoAnna!
I usually don’t comment on blogs but I think this post deserved a feedback. I agree with you that it is really nice to know a bit about the person who is behind a blog. Well done! So, for you to have a better idea about the people who read your blog, here a 10 random things about me:
1 – I live in Brazil and am an economic adviser to the country’s energy minister;
2 – I am 33 years old and have been with my husband for more then half of my life;
3 – The birth of my son, one and a half year ago, changed me in an unexpected way;
4 – I am a TV junkie but, more then this, I am a movie junkie;
5 – I love arts and crafts, just don’t have time for them – I have already been into cake decoration, painting, scrapbooking, photography…
6 – It took me 10 years of daily work-outs (on week days) for me to start enjoying to exercise.
7 – I love airplanes, wanted to become a pilot!I love to travel!
8 – My life changed after I bought my iPhone.
9 – There are 3 persons with whom I identify the most: my best friend from my school days, my sister and my 13-year-old niece
10 – I believe in human kindness and this is always a starting point in my relationships.
Best wishes,
Agnes
Hi Agnes!
Thank you SO much for sharing a piece of yourself too! I love to know who my readers are! And I’m always SO amazed that there are readers all over the world reading along! I would love to visit Brazil!
Jo-Anna
Awesome. Everyone needs to be their real self. Thank you for all your great posts. And I love to clean to clear my head too. My husband now runs when I start. I’ll even do it at 10 at night if it is one of those days.
Fantastic! I wish more blogs were as real. It’s a great way to let things out and not let them build up. My blog is like a journal or like writing to a penpal. I include all sorts of stuff but it’s all real, sometimes not even stuff I’d tell people I see on a weekly basis.
Also, I too love Fall. I have lived in a trailer park on rented lots for over 20 years and I want to own a piece of land so bad it almost hurts. I wish I’d known about environmental science when I went to college – I was a sheltered kid. I never got a degree in anything, but that’s ok. Hubby has one and his career is totally unrelated. I want a Maine Coon and a Silver Tabby cat before I die. I hate hate hate mopping floors – yet I just replaced most of the carpet with vinyl. That’s it for now! There’s more weird stuff on my blog lol
So so proud to call you my friend. Love your honesty. Love that mamma yamma is digging your scene! I LOVE that! Cheers to you lady!
Lori
Love you too, friend! 😉
Great post Jo-Anna and kudos to you for your honesty! Here are my random comments. 🙂
I love Momma Yamma; I think she’s a hoot. My Daughter was recently a Kid Canada.
Coffee ranks quite high with me too; I like to think of it as “Momma’s Little Helper”.
I’m sorry to hear about your health scare but glad to hear you have recovered fully.
I don’t see our family always living in the ‘burbs; hope to have more space, more land someday!
I married my high school sweetheart and we’re into our 25th yr of marriage.
I’m Blessed w/two kidlets thanks to IVF and adoption.
I actually enjoy exercise; it keeps me sane and I sleep better! I also lost both my parents fairly young to bad health, so I try and do my best to live well. 🙂
Anyhoo, I love that you are real. As I’ve aged, I try to remember what Popeye said; “I yam what I yam”. I value honesty, realness, nonjudgmentalness (is that even a word? ha ha)
Cheers,
Elizabeth
Hi Elizabeth!
Thank you so much for sharing yourself with me! It really means alot! I like feeling more connected with my neighbours, friends and readers! So thank you so much for reading my blog, and taking time to comment! I appreciate it more than you can know!
PS. I love that your daughter was a Kid Canada! Mine have always wanted to be, but I never sent anything in, lol!
Jo-Anna
thanks to Visual Meringue I think I stumbled upon your blog at the perfect time (post)… I’m all about real and random.
Fall is the BEST time of year – the sweaters, the apples, the colours, the leaves – ahh yes I think I’m ready for Autumn.
our local BMX track is 3 blocks away and on Tuesday nights they have adult races – it’s a hoot… I have yet to participate (bike seats hurt my butt which is weird cause I have A LOT of cushion back there).
Thunder storms make me giddy – love ’em and I’d move to an acreage in a heartbeat (as long as the house wasn’t too decrepit – after 10 years of renos and counting, I’m DONE). xo
I love that you revealed some things about yourself. I am a big follower of your Mom’s blog, so hopped over here from there. I find that when I do reveal personal “stuff” that I get more heartfelt comments than when I surface blog (you know what I mean by surface blog, right?) Anyway, stop by my place sometime, because I know you may learn a thing or two about me too. Good luck in your future revealing…it really is good for you.
I loved this post! I’m like you – these are my favorite kinds of posts to read! So thanks for putting it out there, and I’m so glad you are all better now.
P.S. morning coffee & after kids are in bed TV are my fave times of the day too 🙂
Great post Jo-Anna! It’s fun to learn more about the bloggers I follow.
We have something in common – my husband and I will be married 13 years this October and I don’t like the number either. I like even numbers (I was thankful my daughter was born on all even numbers) and 13 just feels unlucky. I agree if you don’t have anything nice to say don’t comment.
Thanks so much for stopping by! I love to know about my readers too!
Jo-Anna
Glad your health issue resolved! Health issues are scary!
Thanks!
I really enjoy your blog and enjoyed learning a little more about you. I can’t imagine that anyone could have anything negative to say about this post or any others on your blog! My husband and I are in our thirteenth year together and so far everything has been great, so I don’t think you have anything to worry about there!
Thank you Molly! It always make me so happy to know that people enjoy my blog!
Jo-Anna
I love your blog. I use it as my inspiration. I also love that we live in the same area. Your photography inspires me. I love how you share you authentic life. Cherish the bickering that goes on between your children. Before you know it they will be off living their own lives separately pursuing their own pursuits.
I’m so honoured to be of any inspiration to you! Truly. These comments give me energy to keep on blogging and creating!
Thank you for being such a kind person!
Jo-Anna
This is such a wonderful idea… definitely doing this for our blog 🙂 Fall is my favorite season as well, i hate doing exercises, i also want to live in the country side. Have a lovely day Jo-anna 🙂
I’m so happy you liked it! Let me know if you do your post – I’d love to read it!
Jo-Anna
I love this! Thank You for sharing. I’m 28 years old and live in Ireland with my husband of 5 years and my 2 sons (4 years and 7 months). I hate exercise too…
I think your comments and the stuff on your blog are great Jo-Anna. Someone I know once told me I must let just one thing define who I am – it used to be ‘my Dad died when I was 18’ then ‘I’m a teacher’ and now ‘I’m a mum’ (although I love that one!) My daughter is the most beautiful thing in my life but I am lots of other things too and your ‘random’ comments are just perfect for reminding everyone of all the different things that make us who you are. I found your blog looking for a way to put handles on jars to make lanterns (for some reason I just couldn’t figure it out myself!) but I have already wandered through several posts and it looks great.
Thanks!
That should read ‘I must NOT let just one thing define who I am’ oops! That’s the trouble with being and doing so many things of course – typing, parenting, tidying, all at the same time – oops!
There are already a zillion replies to this, so I hope you’re feeling awfully loved 🙂 But I just had to share anyway!
I love storms, and fall, and hate exericse too! And your comment about your childhood best friend… my heart clenched a bit. I do too. Whatever happens to best friends forever? Tis sad. *hug*
~April
PS- I confess that I assume no one reads my comments when there are so many before me 🙂
I also hate that I spelled exercise wrong… *crawls under desk in shame*