Happy Weekend!
Two weeks back I wrote a post called
"Ask Allie". I challenged you, my readers, to ask anything as a way to get to know me better. Here are my answers!
The first question I'll address isn't quite a full "Ask Allie" question, but after mentioning my first date in yesterday's post, many of you mentioned you wanted me to fill you in on how last night went.
I had a bunch of errands to run so decided to meet Bryce at his house when I was done rather than having him pick me up. We started the night with a drink at his house (yes, he already owns his own home!) and then headed to
Carytown for dinner. We ate dinner at
Can Can, a French restaurant, and both loved our meals! We followed it with frozen yogurt and a walk for dessert. (I haven't told him about the blog yet, otherwise, I would have taken pictures of our delicious meal!) When we got back to his house, he invited me in and we literally talked for THREE HOURS! I looked at my watch and was shocked it was midnight! I told him it was past my bedtime and I had to go and we made plans to get together again Saturday night. I'm really excited about this because he is a complete gentleman, we really hit it off, and a lot of our values and aspirations align! More details to come soon, hopefully!
Now onto the official "Ask Allie' questions...
If you could have one person over for dinner, anyone at all, who would it be?
This one was really tough for me. There are so many people I would love to share a meal with--some for a fun-filled evening full of laughter, others for a serious and intriguing night. The first answer that popped into my head, however, was Gandhi. One of my all time favorite quotes is by him: "Be the change you wish to see in the world" and I would love to just sit down and talk with him about his views, his life, and more.
What is your favorite clothing store?
This is another tough one--I tend to go through phases where I shop a ton at one store and then switch to somewhere else. A huge portion of my wardrobe is
J. Crew, however, I really have not liked them very much lately. I hate that they have somewhat abandoned their classic look and are now going for a trendier style--I also have found that a lot of their stuff is overpriced for the quality. Additionally, I have a lot of pieces from
Lilly Pulitzer,
Anthropologie,
Banana Republic,
Ann Taylor Loft,
Nordstrom, and random boutiques. Finally, I'm a huge bargain shopper and LOVE
Marshall's though you have to be in the right mood to scour through all the racks.
The title of your blog is "Sundresses and Smiles"--where is your favorite place to buy sundresses and what one person makes you smile the most?
Hmmm, I'd probably say Lilly Pulitzer would be my favorite sundress buy, however, if I'm really dreaming I'd say Trina Turk, Milly, Tibi, and Shoshanna--BUT these brands are a bit out of my price range and are usually only bought by me when they are on super sale. As for making me smile the most...this one is tough because it really depends on the situation. If I had to narrow it down to one person I'd probably say my Dad. His intense love for me makes me smile as well as his fun-loving and hilarious spirit. A broader answer, however, would be the ones I love. What makes me happiest is to be surrounded by people I love and care about.
Definitely smiling in this pic: with my dad and in a Milly top that was a steal!
What is your favorite food?
I've always had a really tough time picking favorites when it comes to everything, and food is no different. Some of my favorite foods, though, are any and all pasta (including macaroni and cheese), chicken parmesan, and crab cakes. I'm also a huge fan of breakfast foods--omelets, chocolate chip pancakes, cinnamon toast, bagels, hash browns, etc...
Why did you decide to be a teacher? What age would you prefer to teach?
I literally think I was born wanting to be a teacher. What I probably played more than anything as a child was "school"--my entire playroom was decorated as my "classroom" complete with bulletin boards, posters, and more. I went through a phase from about my junior year of high school until my second year of college, however, not knowing if teaching was what I really wanted to do. I tend to be interested in so many things that it is tough to make decisions about what to do in my future. My second year of college, though, I took a Child Development Class in UVA's Curry School of Education which really made me decide to give teaching another shot and now I am so excited that I did. I love the energy kids have and when I am around kids I am truly my best self. As to the age I'd prefer to teach, I'll have my Masters in Elementary Education when I finish up in December and will be certified preK-6. I'd love to teach 2nd, 3rd, or 4th grades but could also see myself as a high school English or Social Studies teacher.
Why did you choose UVA and your major? Obviously, I'm sure it's because you want to be a teacher, but was there a specific reason for your choices, instead of other universities and their programs?
When I was a senior, I applied to 7 colleges: Vanderbilt, UVA, University of Richmond, Emory, Duke, Furman University, and a school in Cambridge, MA that will remain unnamed. Vanderbilt was by far my #1 choice, and after that all the others were tied for #2..I didn't really have a preference. I was wait listed at Vandy, though, and when it came down to it, UVA, was the smartest choice. It had all I was looking for in a school and was also the only public school I applied to--meaning a HUGE price difference. In the end I'm glad that I didn't go to Vanderbilt, because I think UVA turned out to be the best place for me.
As for the major, I went into college undecided. At that time I was anti-teaching and trying to find myself and a career path. I took a bunch of classes and ended up choosing psychology as my major because a) it really interested in me and b) I thought I might want to become a counseling psychologist. I loved psych and my greatest advice for choosing a major is to choose something you love and that interests you--most people don't use their "major" after college anyways and for the most part, employers just want to see the degree and don't really mind what major you chose. Additionally, once I did decide to teach, UVA's program was exceptional. It offered a 5 year program in which you begin taking graduate level classes as an undergraduate and are able to earn your Masters of Teaching in just 1 extra year. I was able to keep my psych major and will come out with a Bachelor's in Psych and a Masters of Teaching.
What is your favorite song that captures the essence of summer?
Another tough one...a few I love are: "In the Summertime" by Mungo Jerry; "I'm Walking on Sunshine" by Katrina & The Waves; "All Summer Long" by Kid Rock; and "Summertime" by Kenny Chesney. There are also many other songs that will bring back memories of a specific summer or moment, but those I just listed always put me in a great summer mood.
What's your favorite place to shop?
I have a confession..I really am a shopaholic. I enjoy shopping anywhere--even shopping places like Lowes and the grocery store excite me. My two favorite shops are
Tweed and
The Shops at 5807, which is a large space with 21 shops under one roof. Both are the best places to get things for your home, gifts, and special accessories for yourself. Just walking through their front doors puts a smile on my face.
This lovely sign was bought at Tweed!
Do you want to get married? Have kids?
YES, YES, YES! I am interested in doing so many things during my life and have lots of dreams, however, the greatest of them all is settling down to have a family. As of now, I think I want two boys and a baby girl and I just might already have their names picked out, hehe!
Who's your favorite celebrity?
I've never been big on celebrities and celebrity gossip, but if I had to pick a favorite celebrity it would probably be Julia Roberts. I also love Reese Witherspoon and would give anything for a date with Matthew McConaughey or Bradley Cooper.
What are some of your answers?
Have a fabulous weekend!
