Ten Things You Don’t Know About Me

Or maybe you already do, as I tend to go deep.

I’ve never done a ten things you don’t know about me type of article, but I’m glad I did — it was fun! If it hadn’t been for Adrienne Beaumont’s prompt, who got it from Klara Jane Holloway, I probably wouldn’t have.

Either way, I did it. Their about me stories were so much fun to read. I highly recommend checking them out!

1. I Was Traded In For A Newer Model

As the story sometimes goes, my husband of twenty-two years traded me in for a new model in midlife.

I wasn’t expecting my marriage to end. I had no plan.

But somewhere deep down, I knew it was for the best. I decided to embrace life and new beginnings. I made a choice to look forward — focusing on the positive, steering away from the negative. Though life was uncertain, I held onto belief.

I pursued growth and dreams — plunging into the unknown in the name of reinventing my life. This photo with my sister marks the night I realized I was going to be okay.

2. Mood Boards For Stirring Creativity

I’m a big believer in being intentional with choices, visualization, and setting goals. When I realized my divorce was inevitable, I made this digital mood/vision board to keep my focus on what was next.

3. The Older Model Gets an Upgrade

I jumped all in. I focused on my vision and went for it — it’s still a work in progress.

IIN Holistic Health Coaching ✅
IIN Hormone Health ✅
Yoga instructor RYT 200 ✅
Yoga instructor RYT 300 🚧
DISC Certification 🚧
NASM personal trainer (CPT) , nutrition certification, and virtual coaching 🚧
Red Cross Lifeguarding with CPR/AED for Professional Rescuers and First Aid ✅
Write on Medium ✅
Learn Linkedin, Instagram, Twitter ✅ 🚧
Finishing my degree at University 🚧
Complete website 🚧 (but so close!)

4. My Baseball Team

I’m a grateful mom to nine kiddos (yes, they’re all mine, no twins, and yes, it’s as crazy busy as it sounds — but I wouldn’t have it any other way. 🎪🤠💪

I’d love to include photos, but my kiddos aren’t big fans of my posting their pictures. When I started writing online, I made a promise I’d never post anything they’re not comfortable with. It’s a promise I’ll always keep.

5. RV Living

I love the minimalistic lifestyle. In the early 2000’s I went all in and decided I wanted to travel the states and live simply.

Life unfolded in the most unexpected ways to make it possible. Seemingly from nowhere, we purchased a 37-foot fifth wheel and a Dually.

We spent three years as full-time RVers. The kiddos were younger — and it was an adventure in so many ways. It wasn’t all easy, but it also wasn’t all hard. It’s a treasured experience to this day.

6. Restaurateur

We had a restaurant, pub, and nightclub in one. The nightclub had bouncers and all, but it was short-lived.

All our money, effort, and time went into making it a thriving Mexican restaurant. We held nothing back.

It was going great until undisclosed debt started appearing. And since we’d purchased it from a friend, we’d neglected to have the contract reviewed by an attorney. We didn’t have a lot of options.

Financially, it was no longer worth our investment.

We had five kiddos at the time. I was still dabbling as a real estate agent and a hairstylist. I was in way too deep.

There were many hard-learned lessons, but it was also an amazing experience. Soon after, I became a stay-at-home mom.

7. So, This Finally Explains it

I love learning about personalities. It explains so much. In the Meyers-Briggs personality test I’m an INFJ — apparently the rarest of types. It makes sense as I love finding the deeper meaning behind most things. As with all personality types, it has strengths and weaknesses.

A few strengths: highly intuitive, uncanny insight into people (yes, but it’s not foolproof), empathetic, caring, creative, values deep relationships, idealistic, orderly and systematic.

A few weaknesses: Overly sensitive, deeply complex, internalizes conflict, dislikes confrontation, believes in constant growth though doesn’t stop to acknowledge accomplishments, sets too high of expectations.

Yes, yes, and yes.

8. A Tree-Hugging Hippy Kind of Gal

I gravitate towards living the non-traditional way. I’d never used social media until a year ago. I’ve been homeschooling my kiddos since 1999 — though some attended high school traditionally. Each of them dipped their toes in school the traditional way at one point or another. It was for some and not for the others.

I’m a farmers market kind of gal. I became vegetarian, then vegan, then went raw back when health food stores were for granola, tree-hugging, hippies. I juiced every day. I bought carrots and beans by the 25-pound sack. Bananas by the 40-pound case.

True, we’re a big family, but I was a bit obsessed with health. I still am, but in a much more relaxed way. Oddly enough, the majority of my kids prefer to eat healthy and still drink my dandelion juice.

9. A Few Fun Facts

I’m a lifelong learner. 📚 I’m obsessed with mind, body, and soul connections, holistic health, and fitness. 🧘👩🏼‍⚕️

I love recreating and cooking healthy and delicious foods from all around the world, especially Mexican. 👨‍🍳

I hike, run, bike, swim, and completed several races and half marathons. 🏅 My goal is to complete a triathlon and an Ironman. 🏊🏻🏃‍♀️🚴🏿

10. Puppy Love

I had no idea how loyal and protective German Shepards were until Chacho came into my life. We’re a perfect match as he loves his daily nature walks too. Chacho — short for muchacho, loves eating chips dipped generously in spicy homemade salsa — we have to guard them when he’s near. And he also goes into crazy spins for bean burritos.

So there are tenish things about me you might not have known. I’d love to invite everyone reading to do your own ten things you don’t know about me. It’s lots of fun. Like Adrienne said though, it’s not as easy as it looks.

Who’s up for it?

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