Getting to Know our Contributors Week-Aliese

Do you have any pets? Yup! I have a very cute Holland Lop bunny named Truffle. She is almost two years old and was the runt of her litter; she is still rather small. It took some time, but we have potty-trained her to use a litter box (like a cat) and she just hops around the house! So cute. Her current obsession is to eat the pine needles off the bottom limbs of our Christmas tree. She also really loves to watch TV.

What was the last book you read? The last book(s) I read were the Pretty Little Liars series. I was intrigued by they TV series and had to read the books. They're kind of raunchy, but definitely gripping.

Do you like to cook? I LOVE to cook! That's probably why I'm the culinary contributor.... :) I do not enjoy cleaning up my cooking messes though...I also wish I were better at making my own recipes. I tend to do more tweaking to recipes I already know and love.

Where and what do you like to eat when you go out? I LOVE to eat out. That being said though, I prefer restaurants that aren't necessarily mainstream/franchised. I love the veggie noodles at Pasta Factory with Alfredo sauce, chicken, and sauted mushrooms. I also like the special burrito at Paula's Cazuela, and the entirety of the menu at Basila's Mediterranean Cafe. I also really love the sushi and mango/sticky rice dessert at Benja's. Oh, and even though it's totally franchised: Texas Roadhouse rolls. YUM.

What are your pet-peeves? I have so many of these (is that healthy?). I guess the ones that come to mind are: flaky people, clocks that flash 12:00 constantly, tardiness, people who blame others for their own poor decisions/actions.

What is something that you regret about your past? I regret not taking the train to Paris the TWO times I've been to Europe. Seriously! You think a girl would learn that if you wanna see the Eiffel Tower, you're gonna have to go to Paris! I planned to take the train to Paris for a day while my husband was working over there in October, but the media blitz advising all Americans to travel with extreme caution discouraged me from going since a) I would be alone, b) I speak no French, and c) our cell phones didn't have service.

What is something that you don't regret about your past? Not that I can think of an EXACT occurrence, but I have never regretted speaking my mind and being honest--even if it hurt someone's feelings. It may sound heartless, but I've had far more heartache over gossip and back-biting than honesty.

Do you have brothers and sisters? What is your relationship like with them? I have one brother (Jacob-19) and two sisters (Jennifer & Natalie-24 & 15)--all younger than myself. I also have a brother-in-law, Adam. We get along famously and it is truly an honor to be able to call them my very best friends. They're completely rad. We're very close! My siblings and I all have the same smile, the same blue eyes, and twisted sense of humor. Our parents figure the eyes and smiles are genetic, but our personalities are definitely OURS. I'm quite certain my parents have been ashamed to claim us on more than one occasion. I can't say I blame them. :) We're a rare breed.I also have four sisters-in-law and four brothers-in-law on my husband's side.

Which sports do you like? My family members are all swimmers. We eat, sleep, and breathe chlorination (that cute brother of mine even holds a few state records; he's freakishly quick). And really, if there are concessions involved, I'll happily watch any sporting event.

Do you live in a house or an apartment? My husband, Darrin, and I bought our house six months after we were married. It's a cute, little 3-bed, 2-bath home. Ironically enough, we're already beginning to grow out of it!

Have you ever lived in another country? I have never lived in another country but I have spent a combined 2-3 months OUT of the country visiting various places.

Have you ever met a famous person? I had the way cool experience of meeting and then singing with Rosemary Clooney when I was in high school. If you're familiar with the old, holiday classic White Christmas, she plays the older sister, Betty. Needless to say, my grandparents were pretty stoked about my opportunity! I also met and sang with Michael McClean on his "gold" Forgotten Carols CD, as well as various Forgotten Carols performances around the state of Utah. Oh, and I used to hang out with Steve Castleberry all the time in college (he played for the 76ers and is now playing in the Czech Republic, I guess). But I guess that was BEFORE he was famous.

How do you spend your free time? I spend my free time doing homework (I'm just finishing up grad school), sewing, cooking, digital scrapbooking, playing games, watching movies, playing the piano, singing, camping, swimming, texting my siblings because they all live far away from me, etc.

What countries have you visited? I have visited Canada, Mexico, the Bahamas, England, Germany, and Belgium.

Do you have a nickname? Quite a few, but "Liesey" is the most common. Girl, Liese, Ace, and Magoo are others.

What do you do on Sundays? I go to church, hang out with family, and relax on Sundays. My husband and I usually make a treat on Sunday nights as well.

What's your job? I am in my 7th year teaching school. I started as a 7th grade English and history teacher, and am now a 6th grade science teacher. I am currently working on my Master's and my administrative endorsement so that maybe one day when I'm MUCH older, I can be a principal.

What is your motto in life? When you go through life-whatever be your goal-keep you eye upon the doughnut and not upon the hole. NRLTD is an acronym my husband lived by and it has also since been added to my personal list of mottoes. It is one, however, I have vowed to keep secret. Feel free to try to figure it out on your own though because it's a good one!

What is/are your favorite movie(s)? While You Were Sleeping is my very favorite with the Anne of Green Gables trilogy and Mary Poppins close behind.

Which languages do you speak? I speak English (obviously) and some German.

What are you best at? I'm a really good listener, and I'm very patient. I tend to be a "jack of all trades" when it comes to crafting, music, cooking, almost anything really. I generally try something once or twice and am pretty decent afterward. What can I say? I lead a fairly charmed life. I'm just not THE BEST at anything.

Any bad habits you need to work on? I definitely need to work on de-junking. I wouldn't call myself a hoarder at all, but I could definitely stand to de-clutter and simplify.

Who has had the most influence in your life? So many people! My parents, siblings, friends, and husband are all wonderful (and easy) answers, but my 9th grade English teacher ( Judy Jackman) and my high school choir teacher (Kelly DeHaan) are two people I can guarantee I will never forget. They both changed my life and I think about them all the time.

Would you like to be famous? Umm...depends on what for! I think I'd prefer to be influential rather than famous though.

What do you think you will be doing five years from now? I can pretty much guarantee I'll still be teaching school with a possible child.

Are you a 'morning' or 'night' person? Both. I prefer nighttime, but I am a hardcore early riser (sometimes as early as 4 AM) which drives my husband crazy (especially Sunday mornings). I have a really difficult time sleeping in. Once I'm awake, I just can't go back to sleep!

What is your favorite season? Winter! With summer as a close second. I love snow and the holidays which come with winter. As a kid, it was always really easy to look forward to winter thanks to my birthday, Christmas, family traditions, etc.

What do you like to do as a family? We really love to play card games, watch movies, go camping, and reminisce. My siblings and I could look at photo albums and home movies for HOURS (and we have).

How many times did you move as a child? We moved seven times, but always moved within a 15-mile radius. We moved into the home my parents live in now when I was in the fifth grade, so most of the moves were when I was VERY young.

If you could live anywhere in the world for a year, where would it be? Europe. I would just backpack around going from town to town!

If you knew you could try anything and not fail, what dream would you attempt? I would become a vocal performance major (again).

What super-power would you most like to have, and why? Hmmm...Torture people with only my thoughts? Sounds creepy, I know, but don't you ever wish you could--just once? You know--that "customer service" rep. who doesn't want to help you, people who don't use their turn signals...I just think it'd be nice every once in awhile.

Would you rather take pictures or be in pictures? I would much rather be in pictures so that posterity knew I was there!

Are you a beach, country, or city person? I'm a beach/city person. Neither of which are where I live...sad...

Where do you spend most of your money? I spend most of my money paying bills-but when I'm shopping, it's spent at Abercrombie & Fitch, H&M, and various craft/fabric stores.

Why did you choose the shirt you're wearing right now? I am currently wearing an Abercrombie & Fitch hoodie...I totally buy Abercrombie brand stuff because my initials are "AF" and I'm obsessed with monograms. Lame reason, but it's the truth.

When did you start feeling old? Umm...Wednesday, since it was my 28th birthday? No, actually the first time I really felt old (even though I don't consider myself to be old and find it UBER-ridiculous when people say they're old and they haven't hit 50 yet) was when a student from my first year of teaching sent me a Facebook message saying she was engaged. I've only taught for seven years and had only been married for a couple of years myself! I also received a bunch of graduation announcements that same Spring and had a hard time believing kids I taught were actually adults since I didn't really consider myself one...yet...

How would you describe your overall style? VERY Casual.

What is the best material gift you ever received? Probably the diamond earrings my daddy bought me for my birthday one year (I think it was my 21st??). They're certainly not the prettiest, largest, or most expensive diamonds, but he picked them out himself and didn't even tell my mom until after he'd already bought them. It really meant a lot to me since my dad had always told us, "If God wanted holes in your ears, he would have put them there to begin with." I didn't get my ears pierced until I was 19 and living on my own. It may seem silly, but it meant a lot for Daddy to buy me earrings--diamond earrings, no less.

If you have a significant other, how did you meet and what attracted you to him/her? My husband (Darrin) and I were first introduced at a mutual friend's home, but didn't really talk until we were both auditioned for Beauty and the Beast with a regional theater company. Turns out, we were both cast in the show! He played LeFou and I was a myriad of characters. We also randomly ended up in the same LDS singles' ward and his best friend was my home teacher. We met in July 2006, were engaged October 2006, and married March 2007. We were almost instantly attracted to one another purely by our interests. We love performing and playing card games. Well...that and "single" people in the cast were few and far between. :) When you have to spend 50+ hours/week with a group of people, they tend to be your only interest by default!

What is your favorite TV show? FRIENDS, Gilmore Girls, and Glee. I'm also a sucker for MTV reality shows.

Which store would you choose to max out your credit card? So many! Abercrombie (obviously), H&M, Pottery Barn...even Target!

What is your favorite recent purchase? Netflix. :)