this should have been numero uno.

As the title clearly states, this blog should have been the very first one, but since I have never been one to do things like a normal person, here it is now. The about me blog! Anne in a nutshell...or what have you.

Well...

Mi nombre es Anne-Marie Ruder.

I ended up with my name because my aunt never had any children but she would always tell my mom that if she ever had a daughter, she would name her Anne, so there it was. I went through a phase when I was in second grade where I refused to put the 'e' on the end of my name because I thought it was stupid. While I am quite fine with the 'e' now, but my name then turned into Anne-Marie on account of my grandma referring to me as Anne-Marie instead of just Anne. So theres the story behind me name.

Birthday: July 31, 1991

I'm from Andover, MN (wish it was a more exciting place)

Currently I attend Bethel University where I am sophomore and an art major (officially declared about 2 weeks ago) so I am super excited about that. Art is the one thing that I have always wanted to pursue and I'm stoked that I actually have that opportunity now.

Jesus Christ is my savior and I don't know where I would be without Him today. So much of who I am as a person today I owe to Him because without the support and love that He gives me, I would be nothing.

As I mentioned before, I LOVE (intensely) art and also music. Music is another huge part of who I am. My mom stuck me in piano lessons when I was in second grade and I automatically despised it at first, but low and behold I stuck it out and it ended up being one of the best decisions that I could have ever made. So I currently play the piano (not as much as I would like) and I dabble with the guitar. In middle and high school I played the clarinet and was an All-Conference player for my school district. Basically I lived and breathed music for 11 years of my life and I don't regret it in the least. When I am not playing music I am listening to it. Pretty much anytime I am doing anything I have music. Whether its walking to the academic buildings, working at my job, doing homework, what have you I always have something on. I can't help it. I frequently search iTunes too for more new music to add to my already huge library of 8,000 + songs. Also, I am a huge concert-goer. It is safe to say that I have probably been to about 20 or more concerts so far in my life (I should try to list them all sometime...). The most recent concert I went to was The Script (from Dublin...so sexy...) and Parachute.

Another thing that fascinates me is traveling and foreign countries. I am enamored (one of my favorite words) with anything England and Europe in general. If I don't get there before I die, I would be seriously depressed. Maybe because I have only been to Mexico, I feel like I want to broaden my horizons and be able to travel the world. Nothing would make me happier (except if I were to become a famous designer maybe).

I love to watch HGTV. It is pretty much one of the only TV stations that can hold my full attention for longer than half an hour (mainly because I love anything and everything having to do with interior design). LOST, Gilmore Girls Pushing Daisies are probably three of the best shows ever created, even though PD is no longer on the air (sad day).

I consider myself a huge neat-freak and I love to clean and organize things (something I get from my grandma and not normal by any means). Someday I will own my own house or apartment and I can't wait until I can decorate it and make it my own. My style will probably be somewhat eclectic and indie and a black & white room is a definite must (ok so more like a fun wish...but still).

Other random things I find enlightening and enjoyable:

puzzles, libraries, anything black & white, IKEA, tea, movies, rain, cities, storms, harry potter,
working out / exercising, disney, the simple things in life, sunsets, going on long scenic walks, being adventurous, being random, being myself, photos, reading God's word, creating anything, dogs, living life to the fullest, reading, nature...

I'm only touching the tip of the iceberg because there is so much more than that, but I am hoping that as I write more blogs it comes across who I am as a person. I think that there is something to be said for expressing yourself. Everyone is so different and wonderfully made that I can't wait to express the unique side of myself as I continue writing.

Everyone has a story and you might hate yours, but someone is bound to be fascinated by it.

Love,

annie em