When you were 10, what did you envision as your career?
AW: I thought I would be a chef. I remember trying to recreate "twinkies" in my kitchen.
MD: A teacher.
KC: I envisioned my adult self as a professional soccer-playing mom and author.
ES: Growing up, I always wanted to be a teacher, and while I don’t work in the classroom now, I homeschool my children.
What was your first job?
AW: When I turned 12, I was a babysitter. I was very sought after and was going on vacation with multiple families by the time I was 16. Babysitting enabled me to buy my 1st car with cash!
MD: My first job was as a 14-year-old. I was a cashier in a small business party supply store owned by a lovely couple.
KC: When I was 10 years old, I had my first paid job delivering The Home News newspaper to customers in my neighborhood.
ES: I worked at a kiosk in the mall where you could make a video (a VHS tape!) of your kids riding a sleigh through a pretend snow scene. We would throw fake snowballs at them, make them laugh, and take still pictures, and you could get photos printed on mugs and keychains, etc. It was super cute and fun!
What would you eat if you had to eat one meal (regardless of health consequences) for the rest of your life?
AW: Easy - anything with nuts. Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, almond butter on apples, etc. I never met a nut I didn't like.
MD: My Mom’s meatballs. The best ever.
KC: I would eat peanut butter and pepperoni sandwiches with a glass of cold milk. Don’t knock it until you try it!
ES: Do sub sandwiches count? I would switch up the meat, cheese, and toppings for variety. I never tire of delicious sandwiches.
Do you like or dislike surprises?
AW: Dislike, I like to be in control of my circumstances but I'm working on it.
MD: Dislike. I like the IDEA of them, but not the actual surprise.
KC: I dislike surprises mainly because I like to plan things. I would much rather look forward to something than be surprised by something.
ES: In general, they’re not my favorite but it really depends. Show up with my favorite coffee or dessert? Sure. Find out my kid flushed their underwear down the toilet? Absolutely not.
Aside from necessities, what is one thing you could not go a day without?
AW: I really need my alone time. Lying in my bed with the covers up over my head watching anything relaxing on Netflix.
MD: Lip balm. I'm addicted. Hate the feeling of chapped lips.
KC: Laughter, even if it is at myself.
ES: Well I consider coffee a necessity, so I’d have to say books.
What are your two biggest pet peeves?
AW: The sound of loud chewing and breathing (misophonia) really drives me crazy.
MD: I cannot stand lying and fake people who use others to get ahead.
KC: I have no tolerance for dishonesty and drama.
ES: When people tailgate me or when they interrupt me when I’m talking. Both boil down to a lack of respect, I suppose.
What was the last book you read?
AW: The Infinite Game
MD: West with Giraffes
KC: Axiomatic
ES: Dracula, for my Well-Read Mom book club.
Do you love or hate roller coasters?
AW: I hate the feeling of not being in control of my body so rollercoasters are a no for me.
MD: Loved them as a kid. Not so much as an adult.
KC: I used to love rollercoasters but now I get motion sickness from riding them.
ES: Love! My favorite is Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind. It was so fun watching my kids enjoy Slinky Dog Dash and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train also!
Do you collect anything or have you in the past?
AW: I collect Christmas ornaments from vacation spots we have visited. It's fun to see them all go up. We have amassed quite the collection to remind us of our travels throughout the world!
MD: I collect magnets from places I have traveled that adorn our garage refrigerator.
KC: Nope! I cannot stand clutter or useless things that require dusting.
ES: I used to collect a cookbook from the various places I traveled. Now I collect cross-stitch projects.
What's one thing on your bucket list you're determined to achieve?
AW: I want to visit Bar Harbor, ME, and plan to cross this off my bucket list this year.
MD: I want to take my son to the Galapagos Islands.
KC: I am determined to travel to all 50 states.
ES: I’d love to take my family on a Disney Cruise one day.
What is a skill you want to learn?
AW: I want to obtain fluency in Spanish. I bought lessons for my husband and I for the holidays.
MD: I used to speak Italian and would love to relearn and become fluent again.
KC: I want to learn how to take better photographs.
ES: Probably slackline. I am in awe of the balance and coordination it takes.
Do you have any New Year's resolutions or goals for the future?
AW: Believe it or not, I want to be able to do a pull-up. Just one pull-up.
MD: I want to retire sooner rather than later.
KC: I want to be more intentional with my time and make more trips home to visit my mother.
ES: I want to close my Apple Watch rings every day. I just got a walking pad and a standing desk so I’m on my way!
What is your guilty pleasure?
AW: See aforementioned answer about my favorite food. I love any kind of nuts.
MD: Jolly Rancher gummies.
KC: Genealogy research… and Devil Dogs (Drakes devil food cakes with vanilla cream filling)
ES: Scrolling Instagram reels, some of them are so funny and creative.
What was your first concert?
AW: Debbie Gibson at Madison Square Garden
MD: Jack Wagner, also at Madison Square Garden
KC: Gordon Lightfoot
ES: John Mayer and Maroon 5
What are three words someone would use to describe you?
AW: Easy to talk to, guarded, and organized
MD: Passionate, adventurous, and loyal
KC: Caring, determined, and honest
ES: Hard-working, funny, and loving
If you could have any other job, what would you choose?
AW: Speaker on the public speaking circuit
MD: World traveler
KC: Genealogist
ES: Cast Member at Walt Disney World or Flight Attendant
Are you a morning person or a night owl?
AW: Neither. I am a midday person.
MD: I am a midday person too!
KC: Night owl for sure!
ES: Night all the way.
What's your favorite coffee shop order or beverage?
AW: Iced almond milk latte
MD: Hot white chocolate mocha
KC: None - I don't drink caffeine or anything carbonated.
ES: Cold brew with sweet cold foam
Do you have any siblings, and if so, where do you fall in the birth order?
AW: Yes, I am the oldest.
MD: Yes, I am the oldest of 2.
KC: Yes, I have 7 siblings! I am the 4th of 8.
ES: Yes, I am the oldest of 4.
What's your favorite cuisine or dish?
AW: Indian
MD: Italian or Chinese
KC: Italian
ES: Mediterranean or Sushi
Do you enjoy cooking, and do you have a signature dish?
AW: No, I don’t enjoy cooking. I would rather go out to eat.
MD: No, but I like to bake.
KC: Yes, but I am certainly not a master chef. I can make a great Alfredo sauce though!
ES: Yes, I make a delicious roast chicken with carrots, potatoes, and veggies probably twice a month.
Do you have a favorite quote or life philosophy that resonates with you?
AW: You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. - Wayne Gretzky
MD: In the end, it’s not the years in your life that count. It’s the life in your years. - Abraham Lincoln
KC: Not everything that can be counted counts. Not everything that counts can be counted. - William Bruce Cameron
ES: All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them. - Walt Disney
What's a fun fact about yourself that most people don't know?
AW: I have never burped or thrown up!
MD: I have never gotten stitches, staples, or broken a bone.
KC: I play the flute.
ES: I’ve run one full marathon and five half marathons in 4 different states.
What is the most recent TV show or series you binge-watched?
AW: The Good Witch
MD: The Family Stallone
KC: Suits
ES: Better Call Saul
Athena West, Publisher
Maria Dinoia, Editor
Karen Creason, Publication Director
Emily Smith, Social Media Manager
