Ellen Slater

Happy Birthday (+ a Giveaway – CLOSED)

in About me, Everyday on

Hey there! So, today is my 20th birthday! Aaaand it’s also the day before my first final. This week has been busy and stressful, and it will continue to be until Thursday at 12:30, but I wanted to pop in and say hi and apologize for not responding to comments right now. Just know that I see them and I love them and I love you.

I could have written something a little cliche about 20 things I’ve learned in 20 years or something, or just a reflection on the past year. I’ll honestly probably do that at the end of the school year, though, and I’d rather have a little more fun. After all, it is my birthday. What’s more fun? Getting to know each other! I saw this idea on Erin’s blog and liked it, so here are 20 facts about me. I want to try to make these things you wouldn’t know just by reading the blog, and they will be very random, but they should help give a better sense of who I am.

Oh, and there’s a giveaway at the bottom of some of my favorite things! Why? To thank you! Starting this blog is one of my favorite things I’ve done. It’s introduced me to some lovely people, brought me really cool opportunities, and given me an outlet for my thoughts and ideas. Seriously, if you’re reading this, you’re wonderful and I love you and you make me smile even during really gross days and weeks. ❤️

Alright. Enough sappiness. Here are my 20 random facts:

  1. My pop culture loves include: Disney movies, Pretty Woman,  all things Harry Potter, the Food Network, Gilmore Girls. I also really enjoy The West Wing, even though I don’t love the politics.
  2. I broke my arm in second grade and got my cast signed by Shania Twain. Definitely threw away the cast after they cut it off, because those things smell gross.
  3. My “lovey” from when I was a baby is still a total comfort object for me. Bobby used to be a stuffed bunny with a yellow shirt and green pants that said “Baby’s First Bunny” on the front.2He’s wrapped up in my arms, but he’s in the second picture from the bottom left. Now, he lacks stuffing, his colors have faded, and he really doesn’t resemble a bunny. But I love him.
  4. I’ve been hang-gliding at 2000 ft in the air twice and in sand dunes once. hangglidingIf it weren’t such an expensive hobby that also requires you to live in a fairly specific environment, I would totally be a regular hang-glider.
  5. I’m super fair-skinned and I’ve always been a little annoyed that yellow just doesn’t look good on me because my favorite Disney princess is Belle.
  6. For a long time, I insisted I didn’t like tomatoes, peppers, and probably some other foods because my aunt, Kim, didn’t like them and I wanted to be just like her. I still want to be just like her, but I like those foods. The same also applies to raisins and scallops for my mom.
  7. I can turn each of my feet 180° inward, so my toes face behind me. Not at the same time, anymore.
  8. My handwriting is extremely tiny. xiLike, my capital letters are less than half the height of a line of college-ruled paper. Writing small started as a really silly competition between me and one of my friends in seventh grade. She definitely won the competition, but the effects still lingered for me.
  9. Growing up, my favorite hockey player was Rick Nash and his jersey number was 61. In my head, I sometimes counted things: 1-2-3-4-5-6-1. Sometimes, I still do. 
  10. I was a fit model when I was in elementary school. I am thoroughly convinced that this is the best job ever. If you’re a given size, all you do is try on clothes and let the designers, etc. examine the way they fit – and you get paid for it.
  11. I’ve always loved quotes, but in middle school I was particularly obsessed and just memorized tons. When I was bored in school, I covered the backs of my notebooks in quotes (in miniature handwriting).
  12. Waiters are always amazed at how quickly I make drinks disappear. Diet Coke & MeFill up my glass with water or Diet Coke, and it’s half-gone before you leave the table.
  13. I played piano for about 5 years as a kid and wish I hadn’t give it up.
  14. Economics is really interesting to me. That said, part of how I picked my major was by determining what would allow me to avoid 3-4 hour labs.
  15. I like country music. Also, lots of other music. But I like country music.
  16. Even though everyone is pretty much over it, I still love Candy Crush.candy crushAnd seeing this makes me a little sad.
  17. I am horrible at folding laundry. I try, but it just… doesn’t work. My family trusts me to fold towels at home, and I just try to buy clothes that I can mostly hang.
  18. I used to hate cake and frosting. I then just hated frosting. Now, I’m just not a fan of the super-sweet stuff on store-bought cake and I still take my other frosting in moderation. But cake is okay!
  19. Before reading blogs, I had never had sweet potatoes, nut butters other than Jif, almond milk, spaghetti squash, Greek yogurt, Brussels sprouts, or mug cakes, among other foods. These are now staples in my diet. Blogs also introduced me to all sorts of fun workouts. Thanks, blog world. ❤️
  20. I’ve never been one to get very excited about my birthday, but I plan to be excited today.good day birthday Because why not? My plan is just to be excited about days in general.

And now for the giveaway!

I want to give you a jar of Justin’s Maple Almond Butter, Orbit Sweet Mint gum, Burt’s Bees pomegranate chapstick, Ghirardelli Sea Salt Soiree, a cupcake-scented candle, and a pretty notepad for all your thoughts and ideas. 

The giveaway closes on March 22 at midnight Eastern time. Use the Rafflecopter to enter and I’ll be sure to keep reminding you! ☺️

birthday giveaway blog

 a Rafflecopter giveaway

About EllenSlater

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E-Mail – ellen@myuncommoneveryday.com

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Comments

  2. clusterforked says

    Happy Birthday, I hope you have a truly wonderful day! You were such a cute kid. Just out of interest, where/how did you go hang gliding? It’s something that is on my bucket list.

  4. Ellie says

    Hmm something about myself…I contribute the majority of life changes that I’ve made by being exposed to new ideas and inspired by the Rich Roll podcast hahaha
    Happy birthday Ellen! Have a wonderful day

  5. Kristin says

    Happy birthday hope you have a fantastic day. Enjoy, relax and have fun!
    Something about myself…. I am usually very happy, love to clean, love coffee my husband, daughter and fur child. Moved from PA to MI a few months ago and trying to enjoy life in a new state. I’m a work-oholic but trying to enjoy life a bit more.

    • EllenSlater says

      Thanks, Kristin! I hope you’re settling in well in Michigan! And I totally relate to trying to relax more. Best of luck with that, too – I know it’s not easy! 🙂

  7. SuzLyfe (@suzlyfe) says

    Happy Happy Birthday! I must echo what snackiebird said: you are a fabulous lady and soul and I have my fingers crossed for you in all of the things you are going after. But I know, without a shadow of a doubt, that you will end up exactly where you need to be, doing what you need to do, and you will love it once you find out what and where that is.
    PS, if I win, I am adding on a lunch/dinner date as part of it. Non-negotiable.

    • EllenSlater says

      Thank you so very much. I definitely needed to hear that 🙂 And psh even if you DON’T win, we’re doing lunch/dinner sometime! Duhhh. 😉

  9. Hayley says

    I loved reading these and finding out random little things about you! HAPPY BIRTHDAY girlie! Hope it’s a great day filled with yummy food.

  12. Morgan says

    Happy birthday! I’ve actually never played candy crush – I’m scared to start playing phone games because I think I would never stop!

  14. meganh295 says

    Happy birthday Ellen! I loved all your random facts, it’s cool learning more about you because I’m new around here. I’m a big fan of quotes too, I’ve got a journal where I write down all my favourites.

  15. Emily Swanson says

    HAPPY Birthday Ellen!!! 🙂 You like almond butter? 🙂 I love your handwriting. Praise God for all the years that He’s given you. <3 These fun facts are really unique. Do you like hang-gliding?

    • EllenSlater says

      Thanks, Emily! And yes I love hang-gliding – and almond butter! All the nut butter 😀

  18. Hannah Elizabeth says

    So weird! I had a “lovey” as a child too…that’s just what we called it and I’ve never heard anyone call it that before. Though mine was more like a security blanket that my mom made. I didn’t know any of these things about you! I hate store bought frosting and cake, but I adore homemade frosting and could eat it off a spoon. Hang gliding looks fun…someday I hope I can go skydiving! See above though about it being expensive…

    Random thing about me: I used to hate, hate, hate avocados, but then my cousins showed me how yummy it is in various new ways, most importantly guac. I’ve never looked back, and now I’m addicted and can’t get enough.

  19. Charlie says

    Happy Birthday! Hope you had a brilliant day 🙂
    I also have tiny handwriting, so much so that my History teacher in Middle School made me do handwriting practice so she could read my essays…

    For another random fact; I love the fancy store-bags you get when you shop at high-end brands or retail outlets and have been known to track down the cheapest item available just to get the bag.

    xx

    • EllenSlater says

      Thanks, Charlie! Once my history teacher was making of my fellow tiny-writing friend, and he simply scribbled on her paper and pretended he had actually written really tiny comments ? And I love your bag trick!

  20. Jill says

    Happy Birthday! I’m also a 20 year old college student so I am right there with you! I’ve got an exam, english paper, and annotated bibliography all due tomorrow so I’m also counting down the minutes until Thursday 😉

  21. Kate says

    Happy happy birthday! A bit about me – I love overly sweet desserts. If it doesn’t have chocolate and/or frosting, it’s not a real dessert to me!

  24. Jen Lyle says

    Happy Birthday!!! Hope you get some time to take a break from school and studying to celebrate!! You only turn 20 once 🙂

    I love love love Gilmore Girls! I read Lauren Graham’s book “Someday Maybe”, and it was really good! I too am fair skinned and always jealous of the tan girls that can pull yellow off fabulously 🙂

    • EllenSlater says

      Thank you! I did manage a little downtime, and there will be lots of celebrating this weekend! 🙂

      I didn’t realize Lauren Graham had written a book… I might need to check that out!

  25. Kristy @ Southern In Law says

    Happy birthday, gorgeous! I hope you get a chance to relax and enjoy yourself!

    I’m with you on the laundry folding. I delay it as long as possible so we often have baskets of laundry hanging around in our room.

  26. Liv @ Healthy Liv says

    Oh wow, this is such a fun post! First of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY again!! I can’t believe you’ve been hang gliding not once but multiple times! Can I be you?! 🙂 And loved hearing all of your other fun facts, too.

    Hmmm…fun fact about me: I actually CAN lick my elbow and I can also touch my tongue to my nose?!

    • EllenSlater says

      Thanks so much, Liv! LOL fun fact about me is that I just tried to both. And I can’t 🙂

  27. Melanie says

    Happy belated birthday, Ellen! I love these types of random facts posts. I love learning about people (or maybe I’m just nosy)! 😉 I’ve got to agree with you on #19 about never having tried a lot of foods until I started reading blogs. Who knew sweet potato was such a yummy vitamin-filled gem that served more purposes than a Thanksgiving side dish?
    I can’t quite turn my feet 180 degrees like you, but I am double jointed. For me this equals extreme flexibility, and shocked expressions when people look at my knuckles and how far back I can bend my fingers 🙂

    • EllenSlater says

      Thanks, Melanie! Haha ohhh I can relate to the bendiness. And YES to sweet potatoes all the time. I love them!

  30. Rosie says

    Happy birthday! I love to sew, and started at a young age when I couldn’t afford to buy doll clothes, and stuck with it.

  31. Jordan D. says

    Happy birthday! Hmmm, something about myself? I work full time as a grant coordinator for a physical education/nutrition grant, but hold part time jobs as a trivia host and trivia questions writer, event and wedding DJ, and Drums Alive fitness instructor.

  33. Jeffrey says

    I’m a 40 year old who has a love for running and a passion for making pizza…and desserts!

  35. Angeli says

    Belated happy birthday!!! I love Gilmore Girls and have a major sweet tooth. I love to consider myself as an honorary Gilmore haha.

  37. Rachael Miner says

    A belated Happy Birthday!! I loved reading all of your facts- I loved Rick Nash too, but then he went to the Rangers and I was not a happy camper!

  38. Ally says

    I went skydiving once (my dad found a groupon deal and jokingly asked me–I said yes) and I secretly want to do it many more times 🙂

  39. Cara says

    What a cute way to celebrate your bday. Happy Birthday! I don’t mind folding laundry…it’s ironing that get’s me!

  40. Donna says

    Great giveaway! Something about me is that I just started taking yoga classes with my daughter. Perfect activity to do together and great for us

    • EllenSlater says

      Thank you, Donna! It’s so fun that you and your daughter do yoga together. I always loved going with my mom, too. Enjoy those classes!

  41. Deborah G. says

    Happy Birthday! I have a baby boy who’s turning 1 in a month! I’m so excited, he is my world!

    • EllenSlater says

      Hi, Casey! I love your blog 🙂 I love hiking and that sounds like an awesome one!

  44. EnticingHealthyEating says

    Happy Happy Birthday! That red dress you are wearing in that photo is beautiful! It just caught my eye. Haha, you sound like my fiance with how fast you can put drinks down at restaurants. 🙂

  45. Virginia Rowell says

    Happy Birthday! Well, My husband and I run a lawn and landscaping service so I am on a weed eater all day. Then I come home, enter some contests and play candy crush and candy crush soda (that is what relaxes me at the end and it is so addictive)!

    • EllenSlater says

      Nurses are so important. Thank you for that ❤️ And I love all those things, as well!

  47. Scott says

    I’m born in bred in Virginia, but moved around a bit. I’ve settled in Long Island and am married with 3 awesome children.

  49. Brittany Koelmel says

    I just want to say thank you so much for the prize pack! I got it RIGHT in the middle of moving in, it was an awesome break to sit down and look through the goodies! You’re awesome!

    • EllenSlater says

      Aw, yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed it! I hope the move went well and you’re loving your new home, Brittany 🙂