Honestly

So my friend Clarissa challenged me to do this. 10 things you might not know about me. Okay, well everyone who knows me knows I'm a control freak. So, I figure instead of making that one of my 10, I'll break down what makes me a control freak.

1. I am a clean, neat and tidy, everything has to have it's place kind of a gal. I can't leave my office without straightening my desk. I also dust and vacuum the office about once a week or so. The bed must be made every day and I could never leave the house without everything being put away. There is nothing like walking into a clean and straightened house. In fact our old couch had throw pillows that I would have to put back in there place before I walked out the door. This drove Andy crazy, so when we bought our new couch about 2 years ago he made sure that they did not have throw pillows. Smart Man!

2. I can't stand chipped nail or toe nail polish. I never paint my nails because the polish wears off or chips too quickly. I clip, file and paint my toe nails every two weeks; even in the winter. My girls and co-workers know this about me and have told me on several occasions that they painted their toes the night before because they knew I would see their feet and say something. I keep nail polish in the office in case anyone needs it. :)

3. I must get a least 7 hours of sleep at night. Anything less and I become cranky and don't function as well. This means on school nights I go to bed at 9:30. This use to drive Andy crazy. He would always ask why I wouldn't stay up with him. I would rebuttal with, are you going to get up at 5:00AM with me? Ha. He now just gives me the count down. "Hunny, it's 9:15, you have 15 minutes."

4. I must have a diet, caffeinated drink every day. Normally, I am controlled enough to only have 1 can a day. At work it is usually around 9:30AM to keep me full until lunch time. (Eating breakfast at 5:30AM and not having lunch until 12:30 is a long way to go.)

5.I don't like change. I hate when administrators leave to take other jobs, or when my students move on to college. I like my routines and don't like for them to be tampered with. This means I'm not very good at spontaneity either. Ask Andy...planning is the spice of life.

6. I hardly go anywhere without make up on. I don't know if this comes from years of dancing when you show up with make up on even to practice, or if it's from my mom's friend Chrie who make me this way. But as my friend Tessa says, "It just makes you feel better to have a little make up on."

7. Bras and panties must match! Yes, everyone thinks I'm crazy, but there is nothing better than knowing that you are matching under your clothes. You might ask, "who will see them?" And the answer is probably no one, but it just makes me feel good. Besides, you never know when you'll be in a wreck and they have to cut your clothes off. If I'm ever in that situation the EMTs will be so impressed to see that I coordinate. Again, I got this habit from my mom's friend Chrie. (Since I have mentioned her twice, I might want to tell you who she is. We lived in our first house until I was 7. Chrie was the next door neighbor who was a very close family friend. My mom is a go with the flow, if you don't like your hair cut it will grow back, and quick and easy is best. My mom will go shopping at the mall wih no make-up on. Chrie is the exact opposite. I never saw her not completely put together. She did nails out of her house and use to give me manicures. When I told her it hurt she replied, "beauty is painful." She taught me that thongs are the best because panty lines aren't pretty. That even if a shoe doesn't come in your size, if it's cute, by it anyways. I sometimes believe she is really my mom because we are so much a like. Honestly though, I was just a sponge soaking up all of her wisdom."

8. I do not have a compassionate bone in my body. You might think I'm kidding. I'm not. Ask Andy, or my students. I can cut you down to the ground without a second thought. I don't have the time or patience for tears at my practice. But on the flip side my girls know they can come into my office and tell me anything. I will listen and give them my advice. I can also cry at the drop of the hat.

9. I don't have patience for people who don't have it together. I have always had a plan. I knew where I wanted to go to school, what I wanted to major in. When I wanted to get married, when I wanted to have a baby (and I got pregnant when I said I would). I live by the book (the book I wrote). I don't understand people who are older than me and still can't get it together. I don't get why someone who is 30 years old would still prefer to live home rather than get their life together. People always say, "what will you do if your daughter is just like you?" My fear is what if she's not? I won't even understand her.

10. I'm a daddy's girl, but my mom is my very best friend. I usually don't go a day without talking to my mom. She is my confidant. She gives me advice, and doesn't always side with me when I tell her about an argument Andy and I have had. Her best advice, "do you want to be happy, or do you want to be right?" My answer, "both!" Just kidding. I get what she is saying. My dad will come to my rescue at any time. Whether it's to bring me a bra at school, come hang frames at my house, or take time off work to watch Lyla so mom and I can go to the pool; he is my hero! Both my parents are wonderful and loving. They go to every football game and cheer me on every step of the way. I am who I am because of and sometimes in spite of them. (Neither of my parents are control freaks or cleaning fanatics. They are way too laid back, but love me any ways).

So that's me. The good, the bad and the ugly. I'm not perfect, I'm just Aubrey. I might be a bit over bearing and hard to live with but my house will always be clean. I am thankful that God gives me opposites. My husband has taught me to be more laid back and spontaneous and my parents show me how to love without boundaries. And Lyla is teaching me that life comes without rule books, you just have to follow your heart. She has also forced my heart to grow in ways I could have never imagined.

I pass this on to the following:
- Gabi because you are just like me
- Nicole because I know you'll do it
- Tessa because you're my bestie