Personal

Tara's journey with the military began in 1998 when she and her husband PCS'd to their first duty station, Ft Hood. She is married to her husband, Kevin (US ARMY), and has two beautiful little girls, Wrena & Chloe. Their family, including two dogs and a cat, is all snuggled in their cozy home in Richmond Hill, GA.

Tara is originally from Southwest Missouri - Springfield (Nixa). She  and her family have been living the military lifestyle for ten years. They have been located at Fort Hood, TX, Fort Sill, OK, and Fort Stewart, GA. They have endured one unaccompanied tour to Korea and two deployments to Iraq.

Below is what started as Tara's "100 things about me" the list keeps growing every year.....
 

1. The person I admire most is my Grandma F. Ellen Bowling.
2. My favorite color is salmony orange (terracota, persimmon etc.)
3. I like my hair best reddish brown.
4. I dream of having a fast metabolism.
5. One of my favorite things to do is to kiss Wrena’s cheeks, her complexion is so perfect!
6. I love Mexican food.
7. I love to craft with my mother-in-law, and YES we get along really well!
8. My greatest accomplishment was giving birth.
9. My second greatest accomplishment was finishing my degree.
10. I value TRUE friendships.
11. I am outgoing, but always nervous about new situations.
12. There is nothing like a day with no makeup, gray sweats, and a big comfy sweatshirt.
13. I believe there are absolutely NO truly comfortable pair of jeans.
14. I LOVE to decorate things.
15. I worry what people think about me.
16. I think that my mama is one of my best friends.
17. I wish my brother and I had a closer relationship.
18. I love to shop.
19. I love primitive things.
20. I dream of owning my own home – we finally purchased one in 2004!
21. I like warm weather, but I prefer cold weather clothing.
22. I think my husband is a true hero, and a great daddy.
23. I am a clean freak!
24. I am adventurous.
25. I like to travel but I like to come home more!
26. I can sometimes be too honest.
27. I am opinionated.
28. I am goal oriented.
29. I have had two truly effective managers in my career. They were the only ones that figured out how to “manage” me. (you know who you are)
30. I am a better leader than follower.
31. I like to be in charge.
32. I like to help people who help themselves.
33. I believe life can be what you make it, try to stay positive!
34. I think my grandpa is a really amazing man.
35. I enjoyed high school.
36. I like to work out, but I hate getting motivated to do it.
37. I LOVE sweets!
38. I like to cook.
39. My favorite soap opera is “Days of our Lives” though I haven’t watched it in years.
40. I wish I could meet President Bush to tell him I think that he is a decent, honest man, and I am proud of him.
41. I like country music because you can sing to it.
42. I wish I got involved more with local theatre or church so that I could continue to sing.
43. I enjoy doing things on the computer.
44. I miss Texas.
45. I don’t like being alone.
46. I worry that I am not being the best mom for Wrena.
47. I loved to watch Thursday night TV on NBC back in the day - (FRIENDS, Will & Grace, ER) still Thursday is the best night next to Sunday (GREY’S ANATOMY, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES)
48. My true hair color is dark brown.
49. I don’t really know my age, without thinking about it.
50. I enjoy Human Resources.
51. My dream job is in training with a retail corporate office.
52. I want to one day own my own gift shop.
53. I think MO is a beautiful place, but the only reason I would live there would be for my family.
54. I wish I had more money.
55. I wouldn’t mind working for it.
56. I believe I am more Republican than Democratic.
57. I think people should ask more questions.
58. I think morals begin in the home.
59. I believe in being trustworthy.
60. I like to be on time.
61. If I say I’ll do it, I’ll do it.
62. I do not like to delegate for fear it won’t be done right.
63. I would like to learn to listen better.
64. My shoe size is 8 W. I have fat feet!
65. I like to go out to eat.
66. I enjoy movies.
67. I like nuts in my ice cream.
68. I don’t like tomatoes, but I like red sauce, ketchup, etc.
69. I like to take a shower in the AM.
70. The best time of the day for me is in the afternoon.
71. My favorite season is Fall.
72. I am loud.
73. I am a very anxious person.
74. I don’t really enjoy reading.
75. I was a cheerleader in high school.
76. I don’t like to watch sports.
77. I like to picnic.
78. I like back massages.
79. I LOVE candles!
80. When I am down, anxious, or feel defeated– I eat or shop.
81. I like to stay up late.
82. I cannot stand my toenails to be long.
83. I make killer chicken noodle soup!
84. I have two truly “best” friends.
85. I don’t like to “run into” people when I am out.
86. I would rather have people at my house than go to theirs.
87. I like to entertain.
88. I absolutely HATE to fix my hair.
89. I love to watch Monster’s INC with Wren.
90. I have TONS of clothes, but wear few of them.
91. My favorite Tshirts are GRAY.
92. I wanted to be a lawyer when I “grew up”…can you see that now?
93. I didn’t enjoy college until I met a man named Dr. Larry Garner who introduced me to a field I really enjoyed and taught me the way I learned.
94. I am easily bored.
95. I like to make lists. Sometimes I’ll even write down something not on it just to cross it off.
96. I am very proud of Mary Kay consultants that have earned their cars..truly impressive.
97. My prized possession is my Grandma’s shoe collection and the cabinet that encases it.
98. My Durango is the first car that didn’t bother me to write the check for – I miss it.
99. I love people who make me laugh. I think that’s why I fell in love with my husband.
100. I wish I could get into scrapbooking. I think it’s important but I have yet to make it a passion.
101. I hate to wallpaper.
102. I think cereal is overpriced.
103. I don’t believe that making things “illegal” will make them not happen any more.
104. I have had three car wrecks in my life.
105. I have never broken a bone.
106. I do believe people look at the “outside” first.
107. I love my coffee table.
108. I enjoy reading magazines.
109. I love my pets.
110. I don’t really like meat, but I do eat it.
111. My favorite place to be (romantically) kissed is on my neck.
112. I LOVE the sound of Wrena’s laughter.
113. I don’t like potty-training.
114. I wish I had a trampoline when I was a kid.
115. I like to go swimming, but I don’t like to swim in the lake, pond, river etc.–just swimming pools.
116. I hate seafood! YUCK!
117. Unfortunately, when I don’t have acrylics I chew my fingernails.
118. I enjoy spending time with family.
119. I love to play board games.
120. I like karaoke.
121. I could easily be addicted to gambling.
122. I worry being a stay at home mom people think I do nothing.
123. I get teary-eyed when I hear the song “Proud To Be An American”.
124. I used to think it was stupid that my mom sang along with the National Anthem at ball games, now I understand.
125. I have never tried any illegal drugs.
126. I have never fired a gun.
127. I dream alot.
128. I like to chat online with friends but hate when someone I don’t know IM’s me.
129. My second favorite color is periwinkle.
130. I LOVE the smell of Lou’s paws, and my best friend & dog Mable (God rest her soul) under the covers. (she smells like a little hot frito)
131. I love grill cheese sandwiches at restaurants.
132. I can’t go the movie without getting popcorn.
133. I am a planner.
134. I like to sleep on the couch.
135. The person I see in the mirror isn’t who I think I really am.
136. I love quilts but I don’t think I’ll ever develop the patience to do them myself.
137. I love Christmas.
138. I don’t mind doing laundry.
139. I don’t like trailer parks.
140. I like the aisle seat in the airplane.
141. I’ve never been outside the USA.
142. My wedding was at 10am in the morning.
143. I have never gone floating.
144. I love Fall when the tree leaves turn colors.
145. I love Kevin’s family and admire the closeness that they have.
146. I like houses with brick and stone.
147. I have a re-occuring dream.
148. My favorite perfume is Estee Lauder “Beautiful”.
149. I love chilli.
150. I like to read the Sunday paper.
151. I love to be barefoot.
152. I don’t really like snow.
153. I’ve voted once.
154. I grew up in Nixa, MO it amazes me how much it has changed since then.
155. I can remember numbers really well.
156. I am not so good with names.
157. I get overwhelmed.
158. I am more organized when I have alot to do.
159. I worry about Wrena being a “military brat”.
160. I want to have two children.
161. I wish holidays were like they were when I was a kid.
162. I would really like to go to New York and see a Broadway Show.
163. I like palm trees.
164. I have this reoccuring pain (muscle) of which I always insist “my ribs are overlapping”
165. People would describe me as funny.
166. I still don’t think you should wear white in the winter.
167. I wonder if people look in the mirror before they leave home.
168. I have seen a naked man in an empty bar on a Sunday morning. (actually it was pretty hilarious)
169. Every year I organize a Christmas program for Christmas Eve night. I make my family sing Christmas songs and play games. They hate it. I love it.
170. I don’t like Oklahoma.
171. I rarely drink alcohol.
172. I like diet pepsi, regular coke, diet dr. pepper, or tea.
173. I always look in the mirror one last time before we leave.
174. I don’t like to wear my winter coat.
175. When my life seems chaotic, I clean first.
176. I like to dress up.
177. I love romance.
178. I think I look better with lipstick.
179. I could sell ice to an eskimo.
180. I do not enjoy history lessons. However I see the relevance.
181. I think my father in law is a wealth of information, most of the time it’s useful.
182. I like bubbles.
183. I like to run through the sprinkler in the summer.
184. I am a big kid.
185. I like to wander around Walmart for no reason, with no list.
186. It irritates me when Kevin has to work late.
187. I think everyone should work in customer service ONCE.
188. I don’t really like to drive.
189. I don’t like rap music.
190. I think the internet is the greatest invention.
191. I have found myself doing lots of things as a mom I said “I would never do”.
192. I think you only live once, so go for it!
193. I don’t give the people on the side of the road money. I would rather buy them a hamburger.
194. I think people should take more responsibility for themselves and their actions.
195. I hate it when the phone rings when I am sleeping.
196. I buy things from kids that sell door to door for school fundraisers.
197. I am proud of my businesses and being a WAHM.
198. I prefer leather purses that don’t “organize” you.
199. I am afraid when I am high up enough to hurt myself if I fall, but not as afraid if I know I am so high up I’ll die if I fall.
200. I wish I knew more about my friends
201. Since I have written the previous 200 things some things have changed like we do own our own home now in Richmond Hill, GA.
202. I don’t like deployment.
203. I live by my to-do list.
204. I run an internet talk radio program.
205. I love to get email — real email not spam or FWDs.
206. I enjoy the tanning bed even though it is technically an “oven”.
207. I am working on eating better as a lifestyle and forgetting diets just eating less.
208. I think putting my daughter on a schedule was the best thing I have ever learned about children.
209. I love to watch CSI
210. I am good at motivating others.
211. I crave to be understood.
212. My grandpa died on Friday July 15, 2005 and I am going to miss him terribly.
213. I love water parks.
214. Sometimes I just don’t feel like posting to my blogs.
215. I have braces and I am 30 years old.
216. I hate it when religious people are hypocritical.
217. I hate it when solicitors come to my door and try to sell me things.
218. I tend to take on too many things at one time.
219. I am a flirt.
220. My third greatest accomplishment is my marriage.
221. My fourth greatest accomplishment is Army Wife Talk Radio.
222. I am madly in love with my husband.
223. I am pregnant at age 31, six years after having our daughter and we are starting all over again.
224. I love the Army. I love our life. I hate Kevin being away from us for so long.
225. I think that field time/deployment can strengthen a marriage if you use the time to communicate.
226. I have been on CBS Evening News – making my goal of “national media coverage” in 2007 a reality!
227. I dream of taking AWTR to the Oprah Show.

228.  I love the smell of my dog’s paws.

229.  One day while drying my hair in my first apartment I saw the shadow of a man, it had been a particularly rough time for me, and when I described him to my mom she said it sounded like my dad. (My dad died when I was two.)

230.  When I was pregnant with Wrena I craved Chic Fil’ A, with the second baby all I want is fruit.

231.  Every morning on our way to school Wren asks to take the “race car” so we drive crazy (within safety limits) and I make funny noises as the “race car” takes her to school.

232.  I love to do crafts and color with Wrena but she is bossier than I am – ha ha ha!

233.  I love to turn music up really loud, sit in the living room floor, and sing my heart out. Now that’s therapy!

234.  I realize that I DO need my ADD medicine.

235.  I think that there is one thing military hospitals CAN do well (we know they can’t do appointments) and that is birth babies. I guess when you do something 10 times a day you can’t help but get good at it.

236.  I am a “networker” at heart. I know a lot of people.

237.  I have three friends that have become my “chosen” family. Now that’s a compliment!

238.  I would die for Wrena or Kevin.

239.  I wish I lived near my mama, although if I did I would probably want to move. 

240.  One of my favorite memories of my grandpa was driving through the Christmas lights in Kimberling City, MO. Every year the same lights, but it was his joy to take us through them. We always acted as if we had never seen them before, though we all knew we had. He absolutely loved sharing that with us. I miss him.

241.  My grandma always made rice with cinnamon and sugar on Sunday mornings. Sometime I still do.

242.  I prefer cozy country houses to those that are retro, futuristic, or modern.

243.  I can’t dance as well now, but when I was in high school I was in drama and was the dance captain for “Anything Goes”. I also did “Princess and the Pea” and “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” and “Pippin”.

244.  I think being a news anchor would be a neat job to have.

245.  I dream of growing old with my husband and sitting on our porch in our rocking chairs talking about all the fun we’ve had in our life.

246.  I want to take a trip to Ireland.

247.  I love Kevin’s parents – they are phenomenal people. I wouldn’t know what to do without his family. Well, they’re my family too.

248.  I will celebrate my 10 year anniversary to my husband May 24, 2007.

249.  I gave birth to our second daughter during Kevin's second deployment - Jul 27, 2007
250.  I think the best thing to happen to a lawn was a self-propelled mower.
251.  I buy my husband presents (like a new stereo, BBQ grill) for holidays and birthdays even when he isn't here and save them for when he gets home.
252.  I hate to be still. Trying to relax during the last few weeks of pregnancy was more stressful than doing things.
253.  I miss my dog Mable (may she RIP) but I have to admit I'm falling for the "Bob"ster!
254.  I don't post to my blog during a hard event. Instead I go through it, learn, cope, and overcome and then post about it, that way I am always positive.
255.  I hate writer's block....so uninspiring!