Hello from Louisville... I'm answering some Q's!

I'm in Louisville, Kentucky for the weekend, doing the conference thang with my husband.  Today, I'm taking a little time out to answer some questions that Miranda asked some of her fave bloggers this week.  When you're finished here, head over to check out her blog, Hangin' w/the Tucci's - I've known for Miranda for a few years, as both of us graduated from Marshall in '06 (so that automatically makes her awesome!)  She's also into blog designing, so if your home on the web needs a little facelift, be sure to check out her work!  And now... the questions:

1. What is your daily routine like? What time to you get up, go to bed, dinner routine, etc.
On a work day, I get up around 5:30 a.m. and hit the treadmill before I'm too awake to realize how horribly not fun it is.  I get ready for work, and spend quite a bit of time staring into my closet, trying to figure out how I can make my favorite ratty Gap jeans look "business casual".  I do this at least once per week, but never succeed and end up settling for some type of dress pants. Yuck. I arrive at work around 7:30 a.m., tune in to 93.3 WLZT Soft Rock Columbus online, or play my iPod on shuffle.  I perform my work duties all day - sometimes I'll head out for a bite around lunchtime (HELLO Quiznos Turkey Ranch & Swiss on whole wheat!), but most of the time I stay in and eat at the office.  When 3:30 rolls around, I run errands then head home, where I neaten things up a little, and cook a lil' something for my husband and I. He usually strolls through the door around the same time I do, so it works out.  We enjoy dinner while listening to ESPN's Jim Rome, PTI, and SportsCenter.  The remainder of my evening is spent reading, writing, doing laundry, watching some TV, chit-chatting, and cuddling with the cat. I always end the day by curling up in bed and reading myself to sleep with the TV on the lowest volume - usually i'll turn it on QVC or an old black and white movie. By 11:30 p.m., I'm snoozing peacefully!

2. What are things you do with your family for fun?
For fun, my husband and I love going out to eat and grabbing a good coffee afterward at least once per week.  We love going to the movies, going to college football games, catching an Ohio U Bobcat basketball or baseball game (depending on the season), and taking walks on campus.  Sometimes, we like a calm evening in - we totally still love going to the movie rental store, and we buy super sized-movie-boxed candy like we're little kids!  We love mini-3 day trips to new cities more than anything!

3. What are your FAVORITE holiday traditions?
Decorating! I celebrate my birthday (which is November 5th) by putting up my Christmas tree the first full weekend of November.  A little early, I know, but I'm always excited to get out my new Hallmark Keepsake Ornaments and methodically hang them on the tree!
I LOVE the day after Thanksgiving at my mom's house in West Virginia - dinner is at her house on Black Friday b/c I do dinner at my in-law's on bird day.  We usually get up bright and early and go Christmas shopping, have dinner at home later in the evening, then put up the Christmas tree while my step dad lazes around and watches college football - I love it!  Also, Christmas Eve at my in-laws' is great fun... too much food and too many people, but it's never boring and it's always one big crack-up of a good time.  I also love when my husband and I return to our home in Athens and have a little Christmas of our own on the 26th.

4. What do you do when you want to relax and have some "me time" ?
Chocolate, chick-flicks, reading, online shopping, and quiet time - that pretty much does it for me!

5. What is one of your favorite books you've read so far?
I absolutely loved Olive Kitteridge!  It was a pleasant surprise. "Hello Kitty Must Die" was a fun beach read, as well.  Also, Richard Russo's "That Old Cape Magic" was a super enjoyable book; I laughed non-stop while reading the last 50 pages.  Russo is a great fiction writer who can create seriously interesting yet normal characters. He's one of my favorites! 

6. What is your biggest guilty pleasure?
Hands down, Bath and Body Works.  It's a sick, sick thing I have going with that place and all of its' wonderful products...  I can't go in without spending way too much, and I always have B&BW stock-piled for holidays, birthdays, and "me" days. If i quit going, I would save a heck of a lot of money - probably enough to make a new car payment each month!

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend - I'll be back on Monday with a recap of my mini-trip to Louisville!