So I have seen a few bloggers taking part in this little series and as I was tagged by my friend Carole of Mademoiselle Poirot, I figured I’d have a go because I’ve really enjoyed learning more about my favourite bloggers. So perhaps you’ll enjoy getting to know me a little better too.
It’s funny writing something like this – it’s so much easier and yet so much harder than you think it will be. I hope you don’t all hate me by the end of it ;)
So here we go…
On every online test for right brain/left brain, I always come out exactly even. I’m very creative but very logical too.
I used to write books of funny poetry for my friends when I was a kid.
As a child, I wanted to be an architect when I grew up.
I was called an ‘art fag’ in High School. (I’m straight, I just took a lot of art courses and High School kids can be assholes.)
The first room I ever completely planned and designed myself was my bedroom at 14 years old. It had a white Battenburg lace coverlet with hand painted roses, a white crocheted canopy and I painted the room in burgundy and tan with a gold braid trim as a chair rail around the room and hung gold framed pictures of Greek Goddess statues.
I will judge a person immediately on their humour. If they can laugh at themselves, I usually like them.
As much as I like working in my garden, I hate bugs – the more legs, the more they scare me.
I was married and divorced twice before the age of 30. I don’t regret either of them. I made choices that felt right at the time and followed my heart.
I was born to Puerto Rican parents who spoke Spanish as their first language. I was only spoken to in English growing up so I never learned to speak Spanish fluently. Someday I’d like to learn it properly so I don’t have to keep saying ‘Lo siento, no hablo espanol’ to every waiter in Spain who assumes I speak the language because I look Hispanic.
Due to choices I have made in my life that were different from what my parents wanted, I have a very strained relationship with them now. It took me a while to be okay with this but I’m fine about it now.
I moved a lot in my 20’s, always looking for something new. I craved change all the time – it made me feel alive. As a result of this, I’ve moved a LOT. 20 different places over 20 years including 4 States and 2 countries.
I once drove a very large moving truck with my car towed on the back for over 900 miles alone. It was scary but I was proud of myself at the end of it. And utterly exhausted.
I moved to a small town in Wisconsin when I was 28 without knowing anyone because I needed a clean slate. It was one of the best things I’ve ever done. I think the people in that small town (Appleton) were some of the nicest, warmest, most genuine and friendliest people I’ve ever met anywhere.
I used to write a lot of poetry. I think I fancied myself the next Sylvia Plath. Some of it I’m proud of, some of it is terrible but I’m glad I kept it all these years.
I smoked cigarettes for 10 years. I’m happy I don’t smoke them any more although on the odd summer day in a sunny beer garden, I have the odd craving. I’ve not given in to that craving for more than 2 years.
I used to be a total extrovert but I’m much more introverted now. I prefer to go to lunch with one or two people and spend quality time with them than spend that time with 20 people at a party and leave feeling like I haven’t really connected with anyone.
When I moved to England, I felt like I was always meant to be here.
English people have the best sense of humour – dry, self-deprecating and so so witty. I’m often in awe of how funny people can be. I think a great sense of humour is often a sign of intelligence.
I’m a bit of a potty mouth but I’ll only swear in front of people I’m comfortable around and know aren’t offended easily.
I still get a little soppy when I see pictures of the trees in Autumn in Pennsylvania, where I grew up. It’s really beautiful there at that time of year.
The only time I’ve ever lived in the middle of a city was in Denver, Colorado when I was in my early 20s. I lived with 5 other girls and it was always messy. I moved back home after 8 months because I missed the rain.
I lived in LA for 3 months in the 90’s. I was given a little white pick up truck as a company car and loved that truck but I really hated LA.
I always said if a film was made about my life, I wanted Helena Bonham Carter to play me.
I consider myself a “townie” – as much as I would love the idea of living in the middle of the countryside, I know the novelty of being somewhere so remote would eventually drive me batty.
Some of my closest friends are gay. I think everyone has a right to love who they want and there shouldn’t be judgement from anyone on how they share that love with someone else.
Racism makes me angry even though I realise a lot of it comes from ignorance. We are all the same underneath the colour of our skin.
I call myself a feminist despite the bad connotations that sometimes has. I’m proud of this because I truly believe women have been given a shit deal over the years and it’s about time we made a bit of noise about it so I wear that badge with pride. This doesn’t mean I hate men. I have had amazing friendships with plenty of them.
I am a big softie. I will cry if something really touches me (even an advert which is really embarrassing).
I love new music and have always tried to keep up to date with new indie bands even though I’m probably far too old for that stuff now.
Give me a female singer songwriter with a jangly guitar or a piano and I’ll probably like it.
I prefer white wine to anything else. Half a glass of red wine will give me an immediate headache.
I hate the feeling of being really stuffed after a big meal.
I’m very tidy but I’m a messy cook. Wayne often bemoans the ‘utter devastation’ I cause when I make a meal.
I use a Puerto Rican spice called ‘Adobo’ with pretty much everything – eggs, meat, fish, pasta – you name it, I’ll put Adobo on it. It’s difficult to get in the UK so I stock up when I can. I think I have 6 bottles of it right now so I’m not in danger of running out any time soon.
I stopped eating processed sugar in November and I’ve never felt better. I sleep better and my energy levels are consistent all day.
I do my best writing and feel the most creative first thing in the morning.
I drive a yellow Mini with a black and white chequered roof. I call it my “English New York Taxi”.
My wardrobe is just as colourful and patterned as my home.
I have a tattoo of a butterfly on my lower back. It’s totally clichéd but I don’t regret it.
I have an eyebrow piercing which I’ve had since 1999. It’s just part of my face now and I often forget I have it. I often contemplate getting another tattoo and another piercing but never seem to follow through with it.
So those are my 40 facts!! Whew! Thanks for reading all that and I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I enjoyed writing it all down (it was actually strangely cathartic). Fancy joining in?
this was so much fun to read!!!! i have a cliche tattoo also, but also no regrets. i feel the same about humor- i love people who can laugh at themselves and agree it’s a sign of intelligence. i live in a small town after living in larger suburban sprawl areas and the people here are so nice and genuine, and our town just got ranked 9th safest in the state, so that makes me happy! and high school kids can just be rotten…. i think it’s awesome that you totally knew who you were then and owned it… i was a little lost myself.
anyhow, really enjoyed this!
Aww thanks Cassie! Yay for cliched tattoos and small lovely little towns :D xxx
I grew up in Madison, and my uncle has been a family practice physician in Appleton for years. Wisconsin (minus Scott Walker) is a great state, as is PA, where my husband, kids, & I lived for 8 years. This was very interesting. Thanks for sharing!
Aww I bet your uncle is the NICEST UNCLE EVER. xxx
This was so interesting thanks for sharing! I am totally with you on the humour thing :) Oh and the indie bands! And I don’t care if I’m too old and uncool for it, I’m still 17 in my head!
Thanks so much! And Yes to cool indie bands, screw the age thing, I’m still 17 too ;) xxx
What a great post! So nice to know a bit more about you, and some pretty amazing stuff too. I once moved myself from Italy back to the UK in a hire van and that was insanely stressful, so a moving truck towing a car?! Hats off to you! And your mini sounds awesome – my very first car was a bright purple one and I loved it!
Oh my god, Italy to the UK is crazy! Amazing! And yay to Minis! :D xxx
This was so fun to read Kimberly :) It’s great to learn more about the girl behind this fab blog. Don’t you feel creatives are just more open-minded people? Maybe it’s our nature to crave change that keeps us that way. I agree about people in Wisconsin. The NICEST people all around. We live so close that we frequent a cabin there often and I just love th landscape of Wisconsin in the fall. So beautiful. It’s my dream to visit London and all around GB one day. Have a fab day! xo
I think so, creative types are definitely more open to the excitement of change ;) I just craved it so often, it became a bit crazy lol I’m much more settled now! And YES to nice people in Wisconsin – I’m jealous you get to go to a cabin there, I had some wonderful times on the lakes there :) And if you ever come to the UK, you MUST let me know! xxx
Lovely to get to know you a little better. And btw England is so glad to have you ;)
Claire x
Awww you sweet thing you! Thank you!! It’s lovely to be here ;) xxx
How fab! A lot I knew already, but there are some things I didn’t! I had no idea you’ve lived in LA and Denver – though I did know you’ve moved around a fair bit. As for the sense of humour bit, I feel exactly the same: I feel totally at home in the UK because of it and people who can’t laugh at themselves unnerve me. Oh, and the swearing bit. F*ck yeah!!! ;-) xo
Ahh yes, little world traveller me ;) Hahaha!! F*CK YEAH!! xxx
Thanks for sharing:) I had the same feeling about England when I moved here. I love this tiny country, the style, the traditions and the humour of course!
Awww that’s so nice. Yes, the weather is rubbish but it definitely has it’s perks ;) xx
Very, very cute and entertaining! Thanks for sharing yourself with us!
Aww thanks Christine! xxx
Thanks for sharing…I like learning about people….I always wanted to ask if you were mixed with something, You look a bit exotic. Now I know. Again, Thanks for sharing!
LOL! Yes, I’ve heard ‘exotic’ before ;) I’m very fair skinned which I think throws people off but I’m 100% of Puerto Rican descent ;) x
Kimberly, sounds like you’ve lived a life you can look back on and believe you lived for yourself. As a late 20s girl in the middle of a divorce, your pride in your past resonates with me. Thanks for sharing a real account of who you are. Love this blog and I love your attitude :)
Awww thanks Molly! That’s really sweet of you. I know it seems pretty rotten at the time, but you’ll look back on it as a learning experience, I promise :) xxx
Very interesting – loved reading this! I completely agree with the sense of humour thing. If someone doesn’t make me laugh I get bored talking to them. (How bad is that?! Obviously not if they were my friend and were telling me something serious, for example, but you get the general gist! I’m not a complete monster – “I don’t care that you’ve just broken up with your boyfriend, make me laugh woman!”)
Your life sounds so exciting and adventurous, I’m quite in awe of your bravery.
Maria x
LOL! ENTERTAIN ME! DANCE FOR ME!! MAKE ME LAUGH DAMMIT! Crap, no pressure then for Dublin, eh?! And nah, not brave really, just had some interesting experiences is all – I’m boring as f**k now lol xxx
Loved reading this. You sound like you had a lot of fun throughout the years. And I judge people based on humor too, it’s a big thing on my list. And I don’t take myself all that serious. I have certain girlfriends where I know when we hang out I can laugh like I do with no one else (with my mom too) and it’s the best feeling and therapy there is. I’ve been known to pee my pants because I can’t stop laughing ;) Some people have different humor than me though and I say they aren’t from the same planted. I also get a craving for a cigarette on a warm summer evening outside. It smells so good.
LOL! Totally agree, I have friends that I can spend time with and I know at the end of it, my sides and my jaw actually hurt with laughter! Those are the best kinds of friends, the ones that you can laugh with, laugh at and laugh at you ;) xxx
OK Kim like seriously, the similarities are a bit eerie. I, too, was married and divorced twice before I turned 30. And like you I have no regrets. I live a really authentic life my experiences have shaped me into who i am now. Im sure had I known I was a lesbian back then that may have changed things a bit. I will say third times a charm for me. I got it right this time. My wife is amazing and spending my life with her is the best thing that ever happened to me. It just clicked and i now know why my previous marriages wouldve never worked anyway. My parents were in the Army and i joined the AF out of high school so Ive done a TON of moving my entire life. I have a butterfly tattoo on my lower leg above my ankle. My DREAM car is a Mini. Ive been in love with them since seeing The Italian Job. When my kids graduate and i no longer need an SUV i will be buying one as a present to myself. I had a friend from Wisconsin and she was the nicest person ever. Also i lived in North Dakota and folks there are alot like her. Such a fun read Kimberly. Now i love you even more.
There are more than a few points there where I could’ve been reading about myself! So it’s no surprise I think you’re awesome :-) Loved finding out even more about your fabulous self. I reckon we could be BFFs ;-) xxx
Srsly, Kimberly. I really loved reading all of these. So much of these are absolute gold. I’m especially drawn to introvertedness. For forever I tried to be an extrovert because, that’s what people are like. I was so uncomfortable all the time, but this year I’ve gotten more selfish. If I don’t want to do something because it makes me uncomfortable, I won’t.
This has inspired me to (possibly) publish a ’30 things about me’ post near my impending 30th birthday this year. We’ll see.
p.s. Helena Bonham Carter. You kill me. Let’s run away and get married.