Q & A: Personal Questions

I hope your Wednesday is going great so far! Today I wanted to do a “Q & A” post that includes various questions I get from readers on a regular basis. This one mostly focuses on personal questions I’ve received. Enjoy!

How long have you lived in Utah? What brought you out there?

I’ve lived out in Utah for about three years now. My husband moved out here several months before we got married for a job opportunity, and I followed. Never in a million years did I think I would live in Utah of all places!

Do you like living in Utah?

Yes and no. It is absolutely beautiful, and there’s a ton of outdoor activities to do. I also appreciate experiencing all four seasons since Arizona and Southern California don’t get that. However, I do miss my family (they’re back in Arizona) so much, and I’m not a fan of the long winters here.

How do you and Cody deal with living away from family? Is it difficult?

I would be lying if I said it were easy. We miss them very much! Cody and I are both very big family people and close to our families. We make sure we see them every several months, but it’s still not the same as living nearby. Of course there’s been several great things that have resulted in us living in another state as well. We both feel we’ve grown closer in our marriage and have been able to make our own lives out here. I wouldn’t trade our time out here in Utah for anything, but we’re hoping to be near family again someday in the future.

Where do you work and what do you do?

I actually have a few part time jobs, and I love them all. I work part time as the Children’s Director at our church, which at times feels like a full time job, but it depends on the week and what’s going on. My position is responsible for all of the children’s programs (nursery through 6th grade) and activities that go on at our church. For example, I ensure we have volunteers to teach Sunday School classes, I choose the curriculum the teachers use, I plan and organize Vacation Bible School and kids’ camps, etc. I also substitute for the school district we live in on some Tuesdays and most Fridays. I just started doing this in September (of 2012) and have really enjoyed it. I initially decided to give substituting a go because the thought of being a teacher has always intrigued me, and I wanted to see if I really would enjoy being in the classroom. Shortly after I started substituting we got pregnant, so I’m not sure if/when the full time teaching thing will ever happen, but possibly down the road. Of course I also blog here at My Food ‘N’ Fitness Diaries which doesn’t provide me with a ton of income by any means, but it does help and I absolutely love doing it. My jobs will change after baby Hunter gets here, and I plan to go into detail about that all when the time is right.

Where did you go to college?

I went to a Christian university right outside of Los Angeles called Azusa Pacific University.

What is your degree in?

I have a B.A. in Psychology with a concentration in Health. As you can see, my jobs don’t really have much to do with my degree (other than some of my blogging). My plan was to go on to get my M.S. in Nutrition and do nutritional counseling, but obviously God had different plans for me. Cody and I got married several months after I graduated, and I was burnt out from school. I also wasn’t sure I still wanted to go into the nutrition field at that point. I still question, “What do I want to be when I grow up?”, but currently I’m just incredibly stoked to be a mom to Hunter and we’ll see what happens next.

What part of Arizona are you from?

I grew up bouncing back and forth between my mom’s house and my dad’s house. My mom lived in Peoria, and my dad lived in Scottsdale. They both still live in the Phoenix area, so we go back to visit pretty regularly.

What are your hobbies? What do you like to do for fun?

I love food and all of the cooking, baking, and eating that goes along with it. Nutrition has always been an interesting topic to me as well, and I find myself researching it on a regular basis. I also love fitness – running, group exercise classes, strength training, yoga – you name it. Cody and I also like to camp and hike during the summer months. Even though I do get a little income from blogging, I mostly consider it a hobby. I absolutely love writing, connecting with other like-minded people, and sharing my passion for healthy living. Reading is another hobby I’ve developed just within the past year or so that I continue to enjoy more and more.

How would you describe your personality?

Hmm, this is a pretty loaded question, but I’ll try my best. I’ll start by saying that I’m definitely a Type A personality aka I am go-go-go (I’ve gotten better at this though), I’m determined, I worry more than I care to admit, and I can be a perfectionist at times. I would say I’m a good mix of extroverted and introverted. Any personality test I’ve ever taken rates me at about 55% extroverted and 45% introverted, and I would say that’s pretty spot on. Being around people gives me energy, but only for so long, and then I need my alone time. That’s pretty much the same with my alone time – I need it, but only for so long and then I go crazy without people around. What can I say, I’m kind of complicated. I have a good sense of humor and love to laugh, but I’m not particularly witty…more just goofy. I also love to talk – yes, I can definitely be a chatter box.

Do you have any siblings? What is your family like?

My parents got divorced when I was just a baby, and they each got remarried when I was right around two years old. I feel very blessed with my situation of having divorced parents compared to some of the other stories I’ve heard. Both of my step parents treat me like their own child, and I was able to see both sets of parents regularly throughout my childhood. I have a brother who is 20 from my mom and stepdad, and I have a sister who is 20 and a brother who is 17 from my dad and stepmom. We’re all very close, and I’m so thankful for such wonderful families.

Question:

• I plan to do more FAQ posts in the coming weeks revolving around the topics of food, fitness, Cody/marriage/relationship, pregnancy, and miscellaneous. Leave any of your questions in the comment section below or email them to me HERE.