1. Cost aside, if you could go (back) to college for anything besides what you currently “do,” what would you study?

I’m currently in school for journalism and I was an elementary education major for 2 years. The education classes were a blast but the internships were horrible. But if I could try out another major, I think I would try secondary education. I think I would’ve enjoyed the classes and internships more. When I was studying education, I had a professor who taught middle school social studies and she just got me so incredibly excited about the subject and teaching. She had so many fun ideas. And I’d like to think I’d be better at teacher older kids and it would excite me more.

2. What do you do for a living? Do you love it/hate it?

Right now, I’m a full-time student and work part-time at a preschool. I love being a student and would do it forever if I could! I love the atmosphere of a college, I love the challenge of papers and projects, and I love the friendships I’ve made. And it’s really, really scary to think of graduating and having to become an “adult.”

My job as a preschool teacher is also fun. It definitely has its challenges but I get to work with one of my best friends and I love the kids. They’re busy and rowdy but they are so smart and funny that it all makes up for it. Maybe not my ideal job, but I’m making the best of it.

3. What is your favorite Christmas ornament? If you don’t celebrate Christmas, what is your favorite holiday tradition?

I have two. And none of them are homemade or something from a long time ago. Truthfully, I think all my homemade ornaments look like crap and I’m sorry they have to be showcased on the tree. This girl? Is not crafty.

But my favorite ornaments are a snowman my mom bought a few years ago that is big and plump. I just think he’s so incredibly cute and he makes me laugh every time I spot him.

My other favorite ornament broke on Sunday. Sunday was a weird day with my tree falling three times for no reason at all. I’ve have live trees for most of my life and I’ve never had a problem with it just falling down – after it’s been standing up and in water for 3 days! Very weird. Anyway, this was another snowman ornament that had a cute snowman head and then a Miami Dolphins football body. As a lover of everything Dolphins, this was an awesome ornament that I loved and I’m so sad it broke.

I would take pictures of these but I’m just way too lazy to do it.

4. Name something you could literally do without for the rest of your life.

Tom Brady. Yes, I get that he’s an awesome football player but, honestly, he just annoys me. I don’t like him because he’s a cheater and the media thinks he walks on water. Everything he does is amazing – even his mistakes. To be honest, he’s not playing good this year and the media needs to realize that. I don’t think I would hate him as much as I do if the media didn’t love him as much as they do. Plus, the Patriots would be crappy without him and the Dolphins would always have a playoff spot.

5. If you were going to have any kind of “cosmetic procedure,” what would it be?

I’m scared to death of surgery and would never opt to have plastic surgery that would require major downtime. I’m not fond of my nose but I’d never consider rhinoplasty because I’m a big baby when it comes to pain. I really don’t think there’s anything I would consider, especially right now. Talk to me in 15 years and I’ll probably have a different story.

6. Do you have any “collections”? (comic books, shoes, etc.)

Not really. Maybe magazines, although the only collection I have is Shape magazine but I throw them out after a year, mainly due to space issues.

7. At what age did you get your first cell phone?

Seventeen! I was so late in the game. I have a cousin who was seven when she got her first cell phone. I didn’t get texting on my phone until I was in college (and it was only 300/month) and just this year, I got Internet and free texting on my phone.

And it was thanks to my grandma that I even got a cell phone. She badgered my mom about it until she finally agreed to buy me one. Have I ever mentioned how much I love my grandma?

8. What is currently in your purse (or pocket or backpack if you’re a guy)?

Not much. I have my wallet, a pen, and a tampon. It’s very exciting, I know. I’m a very simple kind of girl.

9. Are you a neat-freak or a slob?

It depends. At work, I like to have everything neat and tidy. And not relating to the classroom itself, just paperwork and things on the tops of shelves. At home, I’m iffy. I get very lazy so my room tends to look like a tornado hit it by the end of the week and then I clean it up. And it’s so nice and tidy. It makes me feel so much better when my room is clean.

When I was away at college, though, my side of the room was always so neat and clean. My roommate was the biggest slob known to mankind. It drove me crazy!

10. What kind of parent do you think you will be? If you’re already a parent, what is your style?

It’s hard to say. I’m only 22 years old and while I can’t wait to be a mother someday, it’s probably 8-10 years away before I even think about having kids. I’d like to think I would be a good mother. I would love to be a stay-at-home mom and I believe I’ll be the type of mom who loves her kids unconditionally, but doesn’t take them too seriously. I don’t think I’ll be one to baby them and drop everything I’m doing, every time they let out a sound. I want my children to be independent and self-sufficient.

That said, I long for the day when there’s a baby growing in my belly and my own children filling my life. I can’t wait for that day.

This week’s Ten on Tuesday came from yours truly. That’s right – I thought of these questions. So you should totally give me your answers on your own blog or in the comments – because I wanna know!

1. What was the last concert you’ve been to?
The last one was probably the Luis Palau Festival in March 2007. It was an all-day festival, mainly for kids, and then at night Barlowgirl, Kirk Franklin, and my future husband, Chris Tomlin performed. I’ve never been a big fan of Barlowgirl (although I do like their new stuff) so I was eh after their performance. Kirk Franklin was simply amazing. I rocked out with him (in my weird, white-girl way) even with a pounding headache. And then Chris closed out the night perfectly. It was my first time seeing him in person — and I forgot to charge my camera that night! You don’t know how upset I was about that, even if the picture quality would’ve been awful. Still, it was a night to remember.

2. Is it easy to make you cry?
It depends on my mood. Usually, it’s very hard. I’m not a crier. The first time I watched A Walk to Remember, I didn’t shed a single tear. But when I’m talking about things that I’m passionate about or hurt me deeply, I’m a big time crier. But, for the most part, no. I don’t cry much.

3. Do you ever feel like people underestimate you?
It’s more like people overestimate me! I get so much support from my family members and I never feel like I have anything to prove to them. They believe in me 100%. The only person who ever did underestimate me would have been my dad. Whenever I told him something I hoped or dreamed, he would laugh in my face.

4. Name 7 completely random things that you like:
(Who came up with THIS question? Geez.)

Oreo cookies, because I love taking it apart and licking the icing off one side.
The Office, which is by far one of the best TV shows ever made. By far.
New Orleans Saints, who beat the Patriots last night. I hate the Patriots, because they’re in my division. (AFC East) And I hate them even more because the media is so in love with them.
Elastics, which immediately ease my stress. Seriously, pulling my hair up in a ponytail makes me feel better.
Christmas. Well, I love Christmas but oh well. Plus, Mom and I are going out to buy our Christmas tree and decorate for the holidays on Thursday! I can’t wait!
Showers, which wake me up in the morning and just make me feel a whole lot better.
Electricity. It makes life a whole lot simpler. ‘Nuff said.

5. What’s your favorite reality TV show and why?
So You Think You Can Dance? by far. I love the dancing aspect, the amazing routines, the funny people, and the reality. I love eviction reality shows. The dancers just get better and better and the routines this year are just out of this world.

I could do without Nigel, though. And Mary’s screaming.

6. What is your favorite hair care product?
Probably my hair straightener! I’ve been switching out shampoo/conditioner for a while now, depending on the day. I either use Dove, Herbel Essences, or Sunsilk. But my straightener is a thing of beauty. No, it’s not a Chi, but actually a Revlon product that was $22. And it does amazing things to my hair! I’m totally in love with it.

7. What’s your favorite song at the moment?
Right now, I’ve been digging a new song by Francesca Battistelli called, “You’re Here.” I don’t know if she came out with an album yet or just some singles but it’s a gorgeous song. It’s like Mary talking to baby Jesus and it’s so touching. And my radio station has been overplaying it, which I love right now. In a few weeks, I’ll be over it but right now, definitely my favorite.

8. What’s the number one thing on your Christmas wishlist?
An iPod Touch or the latest version of Photoshop. I have an iPod shuffle right now that only holds 137 songs. I’ve had to really just put songs that pump me up when I’m working out so a lot of my songs aren’t on my iPod, which kinda sucks.

And Photoshop would be very, very helpful for my Magazine Design and Production class next semester, where I have to design a 20-page magazine. Somehow, I don’t think Microsoft Paint is going to cut it.

9. Have you ever lost your cell phone?
I put this question in for me since yes, I did recently lose my cell phone. About two weeks ago, on a Tuesday. On Tuesdays, I have a 2pm class and then a 6pm class so I just stay on campus and work on homework catch up on blogs. I had gone to the bathroom around 4ish and around 5ish, I realized that I had no idea where my phone was. I frantically checked my bag and the area where I was sitting. I lifted couch cushions, got on my hands and knees to look under the couch. Nothing. I checked the bathroom, the common area, and even upstairs. Ab-so-lute-ly nothing. I’ve been to the lost and found four times and nobody has returned a phone. Jerks.

And since our cell phone bill was past due, we have to wait until we’re all paid up to get a new phone. (I should also mention we don’t have insurance. Six years of service and we’ve never needed it.) So now whoever has the car uses the cell phone, which is mainly me.

And let me tell you: it sucks having only one phone between two people. Try it sometime. We’ve done this for over 2 weeks now.

10. Did you attack the hordes of shoppers for Black Friday?
No, I didn’t. I was sleeping in my extremely comfortable bed, with my adorable mini-daschund cuddled up to me. We slept until eleven and it was divine. I don’t care about sales that much.

1. When you were little, what did you want to be when you grew up?
I always wanted to be a veterinarian. I loved animals more than people (still do) and thought it would be a perfect career for me. People always asked if I would be sad to put animals to sleep to which I always shrugged at and said, “No.” I even promised my dad that I would become a vet. But then I took Anatomy & Physiology in 11th grade. College level A&P. I failed it my first go-around and it was just plain awful. I hated everything about science and knew I could never do anything in the medical field. So there went that dream!

2. Name 3 of your irrational fears.
I’m afraid of calling people on the phone. (I much prefer text or e-mail…but don’t we all?)
I’m afraid of making small talk, because I am awful at it. Just awful.
I’m afraid of car trouble. It all stems back to my childhood, where we had so many cars break down on us. It’s such a scary feeling for a kid, especially back then when we didn’t have cell phones or On Star.

3. If you had a $200 gift card to any store, what would you want it to be? (Nothing responsible allowed. Can’t be used for groceries or anything)
I would definitely use it at Kohls. Every time I go there, I never have any money to spend. So I would love to go and just shop to my little heart’s content.

4. What is your most (blog-friendly) embarrassing moment?
No doubt about it, eighth grade dance. When our principal announced who was “Mr. PPMS” I whispered loudly to my friend, “He probably cheated on that, too,” right as he was walking by. He turned, flashed a dazzling grin at me, and I was so embarrassed. Luckily, I never saw him after that. (Although, in my defense, there was a rumor going around that he cheated on this.)

5. If you were only allowed to eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would you choose?
Publix subs. I feel bad for anyone who doesn’t live near a Publix because they make the best subs on the face of this planet. Subway is such a pitiful comparison to the care and love Publix sub makers put into their subs. I swear a sub from Publix is twice the size of one from Subway. But you go ahead and get your $5 footlong…although it’s really only worth $2.

6. What was your favorite toy growing up?
For Christmas 1995, my mom and dad bought me a “La Baby.” I remember the year because she became my child that I named Jessica Katelyn. I still have her and she will be 14 this year! Craziness. I even bought her a USF cheerleading outfit to wear. (This is a little embarrassing to admit but I will not admit the age I was when I bought it.) Unfortunately, when my dog, Minnie, was a puppy she spent a morning while I was sleeping chewing off her toes. So she’s a little deformed. And I have a picture!

Check out those toes! Dang. Minnie really got her good!

7. Do you have a “go to” outfit? What is it?
Do sweatpants and an oversized shirt count?

8. Who was the best teacher you ever had?
My fifth-grade teacher, hands down. She was the most cheerful and exciting teacher I have ever had. I was new to the school that year and she made the transition so fun and easy. I like to think I was one of her favorites, as well. She also had one of those chalk holders and the coolest mechanical pencil I had ever seen.