Well, today is my birthday. Maven just asked if I have a birthday breakfast for us. Like one with sprinkles because that’s what I got her for her birthday. So… I’ll be improvising a super sprinkly rendition of pancakes this morning I guess.

30 was good. Really good. And I continue to love sharing life here. So..

In honor of my 31^st birthday, I am sharing 31 things about me that you may not know. 😚

1. I grew up in the small town Pewaukee, WI and now I’m raising my family here too. It was much smaller when I was younger. Cool fact about Pewaukee is that kids go to K-12 all on one campus, so many of my friends were classmates from kindergarden on + we still remain friends today.
2. I have two older sisters and a younger brother. One of my sisters and I were often mistaken for twins when we were younger.
3. I would describe my personality as a weird introvert-extrovert mix. I’m quite talkative but really love and crave alone + quiet time.
4. If I could eat one genre of food for the rest of my life it would be Mexican food. Hands down.
5. Culver’s used to be my favorite fast food joint, but Chick-fil-A is creeping in on that #1 spot.
6. I danced on the Poms team while in high school. Dancing is still one of my favorite things, though it’s relatively contained to living room dance parties as a family these days.
7. I grew up playing soccer + played on an intramural co-ed team as an adult. After tearing nearly every ligament in my right ankle a few years back, I did reluctantly give it up.
8. When we were younger, my close friends called me “mama Lisa”. In the words of Amy as we were recently talking about this, “you were so much more mature + motherly than we were. Even in 7^th grade.” 😂
9. My favorite holiday used to be Halloween. I loved it because it was so simple and so fun. Now I just love them all because there’s something so sweet about celebrating all holidays with your kids!
10. My favorite flower is the peony.
11. All white bouquets breathe life into me.
12. I’m terrible at keeping plants alive but do try. I want at least 15 in our home for improved air quality + aesthetic.
13. I love shopping and hate spending money (+ I’m incredibly indecisive). I’m pretty much an oxymoron.
14. If I could buy home décor every day of my life, including serving platters, cups, utensils, baskets, rugs, you name it, I would be so happy.
15. I feel like naps are the only time I get good sleep.
16. I love pancakes + waffles and hate maple syrup.
17. The combination of mint and chocolate makes me cringe.
18. If you’d order me a margarita, I would take a lime on the rocks, hold the salt.
19. If you would order me a latte, I would tell you I just found the most heavenly variety I’ve ever sipped: a soy honey lavender latte. Every single day, please. Never had a latte (coffee) before baby number 3 joined us!
20. I do NOT like scary movies. I’m actually not really a movie person in general.
21. I’ve always enjoyed reading and writing. Reading these days though is in the form of listening to books (and podcasts). Audible is life.
22. Three favorite places I’ve ever traveled are: San Francisco + Napa Valley, CA (were in the same trip, so I count that as one!), Kitale, Kenya and San Pedro Island, Belize.
23. Three places (of an endless list) I’d really like to go: France, Fiji and Spain.
24. It’s my dream to take my family on an African safari some day.
25. Running is one of my favorite forms of exercise. I was training for a marathon when I found out I was pregnant with Maven. I had morning (all day) sickness so bad + so long with her I had to give up training. The farthest I’ve run in training is 18 miles.
26. Mark and I met on e-harmony. But more of that story here.
27. I thought I would be done having kids by the time I was 30. But again, more on that here.
28. My undergraduate degree is in Psychology and my graduate degree is in Public Health. Most of my career experience is in marketing and communications.
29. I think I’ll forever be a slash person though – as in, I’ll always be doing multiple things, have multiple jobs or balancing a ton of priorities. I don’t think I was meant to just have one career in life.
30. I’m really afraid of heights. Like really afraid. The fear has intensified as I’ve gotten older. But for whatever reason, the gentle float of a hot air balloon ride over Napa Valley didn’t kill me.
31. Organizing things excites me. I would love, love, love to work with the Container Store to organize my pantry, closets, playroom, laundry room…um, okay every room.

It feels a little crazy to me to be 31 today. I once thought the age was so old, but now, it doesn’t seem old to me at all. On birthdays, I like to look ahead and think of where I will be the next year at this time. If I had to predict anything, next year on May 16, I will be happily (still) working at pumpspotting, expanding the product line of my 2018 business launch (<— when I can add a link in here I’ll be SO happy), on vacation with my family at a beach somewhere other than Florida and contemplating what our complete family looks like.

So much goodness in the year ahead.

So blessed to be living this life of mine.

Here’s to 31.

XO

ps. photo by my lovely friend Katie Bingen Photography