29 Things You Might Not Know About Me (on my birthday!)

Today I turn 29! I can't believe it! I thought I'd share 29 things you might not know about me in honor of my birthday. And I'm going to warn you-- I'm getting personal. Hope you enjoy + I'd love to know if we're similar on anything I'm mentioning!

ashley slater photography 1. My parent's had a different name in mind for me for most of my mom's pregnancy. They changed it at the last minute because my grandma said she didn't love it...ha! I'm so glad they did, because I like my name much better ;)
2. My dad owns his own business and every summer in between high school, I'd work as the receptionist at his office. I thought answering phones was so cool.
3. I am the furthest thing from athletic. Never played a sport in my life. I loathe running (I'm not good at it) and I don't like sweating. But I'm really enjoying our gym membership and I'm trying hard to change those mindsets. I've been running a little and even sweating. My family would be so proud ;)
4. I AM however, pretty good at yoga! I used to do hot yoga in college and haven't really done any yoga since. Our gym has awesome yoga classes (not hot, which I'm totally okay with) and I'm loving going 3 times a week!
5. I'm a rule follower to my core. Even jay-walking freaks me out!
6. I didn't have alcohol until I was 21. (Except for the sip of wine my dad would occasionally give me to prove that I wouldn't like it. It totally worked + refer to #5 ;))
7. I eat cereal almost every night before bed.
8. I thought I was going to marry my boyfriend before my husband. I was truly heartbroken (many of you were around when I was going through that) but I'm so grateful that God had other plans. 
9. I've always had a deep love for God and have wanted to follow him from a young age. So thankful for my parent's who instilled this in me and for the guidance of mentors along the way.
10. I carry a water bottle with me wherever I go. I have always been nervous I would be super thirsty or start coughing and need water, so I've always done this as long as I can remember. You just never know what's gonna happen- ha!
11. I will always, always pet your dog. Even if I don't know you and I'm across the street from you...I will come over and pet the pup. I can't get enough!
12. The thought of being pregnant scares me. I'm so nervous I won't feel well and won't be able to work, be a burden on those around me, and won't feel like myself. (This is me being REALLY honest.) But we definitely want kids in the coming years and I love, love, love babies! 
13. I've always had a lot of friends, but only a few who I'm super close with. One thing I see as being one of God's biggest blessings in my life is anytime I've moved, He's provided really wonderful friends for me. So thankful!
14. When I moved across the country to date my now husband in 2014, I was so, so homesick. I was trying not to show it to anyone, but it was one of the hardest times of my life. 
15. I loveeee celebrating! Any excuse to throw a party, have people over, go out to dinner, get a gift for someone-- I'm there!
16. I'm such a homebody. I love being home and snuggling up on the couch! The fact that we have a fireplace now is just taking this to a whole other level.
17. One of the reasons I haven't been out of the country (other than a missions trip to Mexico when I was younger) is because I'm scared of being on a plane for so long. Not that something will happen, but that I'll get claustrophobic and won't be able to keep myself entertained for that long.
18. I'm a hypochondriac. Almost all my fear and anxiety is around becoming sick (especially at terrible times, like when I have to be teaching a workshop or something). 
19. I'm really good at pretending to be okay or look like things are going better for me than they are, because I want people to think highly of me. This is one of the things I've learned most from learning about The Enneagram. As a 3, one of my "talents" (haha--not!) is called "shape-shifting". I'm trying to recognize times when I do this and ask why I'm doing it, then work to get at the heart issue (people pleasing, wanting people to like me or think highly of me) so it can happen less and less. 
20. Planning our wedding was one of the highlights of my life. It was SO fun and memorable! Our wedding day was the best!
21. I could watch FRIENDS every day for the rest of my life and never tire of it. The Bachelor / Bachelorette is totally my guilty pleasure. 
22. A huge dream of mine is to design and build out own home one day!
23. I already have our non-existent children's names picked out and keep a note in my phone with my favorites ;) We've agreed on a girl name but I'm still working on the boy name with my husband. Luckily we are not pregnant so we have some time haha!
24. We didn't live together before we were married (or do other things married people do...TMI?! HA!), which made us moving in together after our wedding SO sweet!!
25. My husband and I have a hard time agreeing on movies because we have such different tastes and usually we spend so much time trying to find one on Netflix or Amazon that we just give up. Anyone else?!
26. I LOVE rollercoasters.
27. It's my heart's desire to live near my family again one day. I'm not sure what this will look like or when, but we're praying about our next steps a few years down the road. 
28. When I was in high school I dated two guys, each kind of on-and-off. Both were the best on their sports team which I loved, and both weren't following Jesus (at the time, I'm not sure where they're at now...) I knew God didn't want me to be with someone who wasn't pursuing Him, but I dated them anyways. Probably because it felt good to be liked and have someone. Both guys treated me terribly and even dated other girls at the same time as being my boyfriend. "Unhealthy" would be a good way to describe both relationships ;) Then in college I dated someone who proved to me that good guys do, in fact, exist. We ended up breaking up (#8) but I'm so thankful I dated someone who showed me what it could look like to be in a healthy, Christ-honoring relationship. My husband was the 4th and final man I dated. I'm so grateful for all those experiences (though it would have caused less heartache if I'd skipped the first two) because it lead me to McCann. 
29. When I was little I would draw floor plans in my journal then build them out of jenga blocks on my floor. I even got scrap fabric to make pillows, blankets and rugs to make these block houses more inhabitable for my "block people" (blocks with faces drawn in Sharpie). Then I would drag my parents in so I could tour them around the new floor plan design. You could say design and obsession with homes started at a young age :)
That's it...my 29 things! Did any of them surprise you?! Are we similar on anything I mentioned? 
Tonight we're going out to one of my favorite Mexican restaurants and I'm excited! Margaritas and tacos! And it's extra fun going to a nice dinner because today I have a hair appointment (my hair stylist is my best friend). Always fun to have somewhere to go after getting your hair done :)
Hope you have a wonderful day and thanks for being here!
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