Employed!

I have a job!

I haven't mentioned anything about working on the blog since we moved to CA. We moved here in August, I got the house all settled and finished at the end of September, then traveled home for Thanksgiving and Christmas. So, we decided that I would wait until after the holidays to start looking. 

So on January 2nd, I started looking at my options. I thought about doing the temp-agency thing, golf courses, and nannying. In the end, I decided the job I would most enjoy is nannying. I'm not a big fan of desk jobs, and I absolutely love kids. 

4 interviews and 3 job offers later, I found the perfect family! Today is my first day, and I think I will be SO happy in this position. The precious little girl is 9 months old, and she is just the happiest baby I've ever seen! Plus, this will satisfy my baby fever for the time being :)

Me and my sweet Meg! I nannied for Meg and her brother, Brooks, in high school!

11 Questions: Part 2

Laura's questions:

1. What are you wearing right. now. 

My Lulu yoga pants that I basically never take off and a new hoodie from Target. 

2. If you found $100 in your pocket what would you buy today?

I'd go to Target! I always end up with way more than I planned when I walk in that place!

3. If your parting gift from the Zoo was an animal of your choice, 

which one would you take home with you?

A spider monkey! 

Yes, please!

4. Would you rather have a perpetual scab on the tip of your nose or perpetual eye goop? 

(choose wisely)

This is seriously the hardest question I've answered so far! I think I may have to go with a nose scab. Eye goop reeeeally grosses me out.

5. What is the greatest lesson you learned from your mother?

Okay now this may be the hardest...there are so many! What have I not learned from my mom! I'm so lucky to have been raised by my mom....we are basically the same person now. One thing that comes to mind is that she is an excellent example of how to treat people. 

6. If you were given a free Super Bowl ad what would you advertise?

An animal rescue with lots of cute pictures of cats and dogs...then hopefully people would go out and adopt a new pet!

7. What is your favorite photograph?

Ahh this is so hard, too! How do I pick just one!? It has to be one from our engagement or wedding pictures, so I'll go with this one. 

8.  If you could change your name, what name would you choose?

I've always loved the name Brooke.

9. What is the most unusual gift you ever received? (or best, or worst)

One year for Christmas, Doug gave me wiper fluid...he thought that was hilarious. I was not as amused :)

10. What one clothing item or accessory do you wish you could pull off?

I'm not that daring with my wardrobe, so I'd probably say hats! 

11. If you had to decide which movie you would teleport into (because that is naturally how this would be possible), 

and live out for the rest of your life, which movie would you choose?

This is a tough one, too! Would you think less of me if I said Sex and the City? haha I think Charlotte and I would be great friends :)

Katie's questions:
{1.} If you could go anywhere tomorrow, where would you go?

Atlanta! I miss my family!

{2.} Why did you start your blog?

I loved reading other blogs, and I needed a hobby during my job search...so The Smitten Mintons was born!

{3.} Who's your favorite Disney Character?

Gus Gus....there is no one cuter.

{4.} What's your biggest pet peeve?

Rude people....I have zero tolerance for it!

{5.} How many pets do you have?

1 cat and 1 dog....although everyone who reads this blog knows about them all too well :)

{6.} What is your favorite feature about yourself?

I like my eyes! I've been blessed with really long eyelashes, I hope they stay this way!

{7.} Favorite color?

Pink! If you couldn't already tell by my subtle design :)

{8.} Would you rather go to the zoo or the aquarium?

Zoo, definitely. Although I LOVE penguins and otters.

{9.} Favorite ice cream flavor?

Mint chocolate chip, the green kind. 

{10.} Your roommate/spouse calls because your house is burning down. They have time to grab 2 things for you. What are they?
Well besides Maisy and Pep, I would say our wedding album and my computer. You can't replace pictures!

{11.} Favorite way to waste time?

Read blogs! :)

Sarah's questions:
1. What is your favorite piece of jewelry that you own?

My engagement ring. I looooove it so much.

2. What was the best thing that happened to you in 2011?

Maisy joined our family! One of the best days of my life!

3. Who are your heroes in your life and why?

My mom! She's my best friend :) And she gives the best advice!

4. If money wasn't an issue, what would you do with your life?

I would try to save as many animals as possible! I'd open up a huge no-kill shelter and get those babies into good homes.

5. What is your favorite Disney Movie?

I don't know if I can pick just one! I really love The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Lion King...all of the classics!

6. What is something you have done that you are really proud of?

I'm proud of the grades I made in high school and college! 

7. What is your best childhood memory?

I really loved our yearly beach trip to Hilton Head. Crabbing was my favorite part!

8. What is your favorite beauty product?

Mascara. These blonde eyelashes NEED it!

9. What made you start blogging?

(Answered above!)

10. What is your favorite place to visit?

Home! There's nothing like being with family.

11. What is the first scary movie you ever saw?

I despise scary movies and never watch them. But I watched Hannibal at a friend's house in 6th grade, and I had to sleep with my parents for weeks. See why I don't watch them? :)

Why do I always end these posts on an embarrassing note? I almost forgot, now I have to come up with questions and tag new people! 

My questions:

1. What's your favorite TV show?

2. Who would play you in a movie?

3. If you could pay someone to do one service for you for the rest of your life, what would it be?

4. What's your favorite store to shop at?

5. What's your most embarrassing moment? (sorry! :)

6. If you could only have one gadget, what would it be? (iPhone, computer, etc.)

7. What's your dream job?

8. What's the best thing that happened to you in 2011?

9. Who was your first crush?

10. What's your guiltiest pleasure?

11. If you could date one Hollywood hunk, who would it be?

(You may have noticed that some of those were questions that I answered, but they were so good that I had to pass them on! :) 

TAG! You're it!

Amanda at New Adventures

Allison at Nestful of Love

Sherri Lynn at The Life of a Wife

Alex at The Saga of a Twenty-Something

Allison at Life and Times of Justin and Allison

Allison at Moments Like This

Ruth at This GRITS Tale

Amanda C. at Interpreted by Me

Miranda at Aimless Translation

Daniela at D, etc.

Kira at Rain or Shine

Carlie at Life...Full of Stories

These girls always leave the nicest comments...y'all should definitely check their blogs out! And while I was writing this, I was tagged for this by Joey! I think I'm all questioned-out, but y'all should go read her answers! Okay, this long post is over! Congratulations if you made it this far :)

11 Questions: Part 1

There is this little tag game going on in the blog world, and I was lucky enough to be tagged...by 5 wonderful blog friends! I've been trying to figure out how to answer all of these questions, and I think I'll break it up into 2 posts. Thanks to these lovely ladies for tagging me:
Brittany from Blogging Out Loud
Emma from Legally Lovely
Laura from Twirl
Katie from Katie Lately
Sarah from Simply Sarah

The rules are:
List 11 random facts about yourself. Answer the questions provided to you. Come up with different questions, then tag 11 people to do it, too.


So in Part 1, I'll list my random facts and answer 2 sets of questions. Then I'll be back later with the rest!


1. I am not comfortable unless I sit indian-style. In the car, at restaurants, everywhere...probably my weirdest quirk!


2. I hate grape-flavored anything. When I was younger, I told people I was allergic to it just so I'd never have to eat it!


3. I'm watching Alvin and the Chipmunks as I write this...by myself...and I'm not embarrassed by that at all. 


4. Coffee upsets my stomach, but I still drink it every day. I can't stop!


5. I played the piano when I was young and now wish I would have kept with it!


6. To this day, Gilmore Girls is still one of my all-time favorite shows.


7. I had 2 hamsters in college that I named Kitty and Puppy. (It was a sad ending...Puppy killed Kitty)


8. In high school, my best friends and I went dumpster-diving at Wendy's to collect 200 cups that we mailed in for free round-trip flights to New York! Thanks again, AirTran :)


9. In college, my goal was to become a wedding planner. I had an internship and made contacts, then I decided I didn't want to work complete opposite hours as Doug, so I dropped that plan. I still don't regret it! I like my weekends :)


10. I sleep in the Heisman pose. It's really weird but the only way I'm comfortable!

11. I had a really hard time thinking of these, so I asked Doug for help....first thing that came to his mind? That I make baby dinosaur noises. I have to say, it's spot. on.


Okay, now for Brittany's questions!
1. Which Disney princess is most like you?
I'd have to say Cinderella. I would love to be surrounded by singing animals! Plus, Gus Gus is the cutest thing ever.


2. What song do you have on repeat right now?
Taylor Swift's Enchanted

3. Who was your first crush?
John Champagne- my 'boyfriend' from 1st through 5th grade! We always went to the sock-hops together :)

4. Where do you see yourself in five years? Be honest.
Hopefully, with a baby in my arms!

5. Would you rather lose your vision or your hearing? Why?
Weird...I was just thinking about this the other day! Losing my vision terrifies me, so I'd definitely choose to keep that. Plus, I know sign language so it'd be a much easier transition.

6. What scares you the most?
Not being able to have kids. Or losing a family member. Eeek.

7. When was the last time you cried?
During the previews before we saw New Year's Eve. I cried in 4 out of 5. Doug made fun of me, but 2 of them were The Vow and War Horse!

8. What three physical attributes do you find most attractive in a guy?
Smile, eyes, and build (they can't be skinnier than me!) haha

9. If you had unlimited money, which store would you visit first?
TARGET! I think that's the only store I would visit, too!

10. What is your guiltiest pleasure?
My favorite TV shows- Pretty Little Liars probably being the favorite!

11. If you could wake up tomorrow with a new talent, which would you choose?
I've always wished I could sing. I would love to have a voice like Martina McBride!

12. If you could have any exotic animal as a pet, which would you choose?
Well, as I recently posted, I've always wanted a pig. But a spider monkey is a close 2nd!


Emma's questions:

1. Are you a Samantha, Charlotte, Miranda, or Carrie?

I've thought about this one before, too :) I would say mostly Charlotte with a little bit of Carrie!

2. If you could go on a date with ONE Hollywood hunk, who would it be?

This one is actually hard! My biggest celebrity crush is John Corbett (Aidan from SATC) but he is about 30 years older than me, so that would be weird. Let's just go with Bradley Cooper :)

3. A plane just landed in front of your house. Where are you going on an impromptu vacay?

Europe! I'm dying to go back!

4. If you were on The Bachelorette, what over-the-top date would you plan?

I prefer pretty simple dates (dinner and a movie is PERFECT!) but I think it would be amazing to go to a movie premiere! 

5. If you could switch bodies with one person for a day, who would it be?

Reese Witherspoon! I love her.

6. What is your favorite book?

I can't decide on just one! Anything by Nicholas Sparks, the Twilight series, Redeeming Love, The Help...I can't decide!

7. What is your absolute dream job?

A stay-at-home mom...that may be lame, but it's what I've always dreamt of!

8. What are three words that you would use to describe yourself at 8am?

Groggy, grumpy, and disheveled. 

9. You're lost in the Amazon for a day. Who do you want with you, and what one item do you have?

Bear Grylls and a huge picnic basket full of food...I get grumpy when I'm hungry :)

10. Would you rather hitch a ride on the space shuttle, or get a brand new car of your choosing?

New car! Although I'm pretty happy with my 8 year old X-terra! 

11. What is your idea of a perfect Friday night?

Pizza, a movie, snuggled up on the couch with Doug and Maisy. Lucky for me, we do this most Fridays :)

12. What is one embarrassing fact about yourself that you would normally never blog about, but now you have to?

You WOULD do this to me, Emma! Going along with Brittany's peeing her in pants theme, I'll share my own. In high school, I was jogging to LA Fitness with 2 friends along a busy road. One of my friends tripped over a cable, flew in the air, and face planted...and I was laughing SO hard that I wasn't able to completely control myself. I think admitting this on here is even more embarrassing than it was!

And I think I'll end this post on that note :) Hopefully, this post was so long that y'all didn't even make it to the end! I'll be back Monday with the rest of the questions!