It's always a matter of where to start!! OK, well, first of all...I'm not Scottish...or English..or any shade of British. I'm American (Californian, actually), which means that I used to be tan and now I'm not. Have been in Edinburgh for the last two years and absolutely love it!

Having grown up in a town where the street signs are all carved out of wood and where you can buy a surfboard in the neighborhood market from the butcher, I'm generally a laid back girl. I don't tend to take life too seriously and have a hard time being around people who do. I'm usually always laughing or smiling ((it takes WAY more effort to be in a grump and, besides, frown lines are uber unflattering!!)).

I am big on family, the more the merrier! Just added a little niece to the mix (which makes me a first time aunt, and I'm pretty stoked about it!). Love people with crazy families, feel like I have a bit of one myself...my aunt thinks she's psychic and, without fail, tells me every time I see her that I have 'the gift'..and I should use it wisely. Never gets old.

Now, that I've sold myself so well...

Starting my career...traveling as much as I can...trying to be a good human being...oh! and running, hoping to do my first 5k in the near future.

baking...doing math in my head (watch out Mensa!)...writing (although I'm pretty sure that's subjective!)

By British people: my teeth

Books: Love All the People [bill hicks:genius!], Among the Porcupines, anything at all by David Sedaris = gold, Time Traveler's Wife, The Shadow of the Wind, Memoirs of A Geisha, Shantaram, anything involving Mormons or the Amish...soooo fascinating, it's not funny!, The DSM: if you know what it is, you're either sane or crazy--i'm witholding judgement, any piece of work by e.e. cummings...

Movies: Stealing Beauty, Y Tu Mama Tambien, Wet Hot American Summer, The Usual Suspects, Dirty Dancing (sorry, but it has to be done), The Goonies, American History X, Virgin Suicides...again, where to stop?!

Music: first, and foremost, Sublime, Matt Nathanson, Marc Broussard, Pete Yorn...like my singer/songwriters but have been known to fall into the top 40's every now and then (usually when a substantial amount of wine has been drunk!)...classics like Journey and Lionel Richie (you know you love him!), Steve Miller Band, Tom Jones, Bon Jovi, Michael Bolton and his long flowing hair (brings a tear to my eye just thinking about it!!!!)

Food: hands down, Mexican! River Cottage-y stuff....I'm not some organic-obsessed psycho (I do have to admit that the idea of living in River Cottage sounds AMAZING) but I love any good, home cooked stuff...doesn't matter if it's French, Italian, Indian...and vino :)

my dog. wine. flip flops. BBQ. passport. books.

words: and the way they sometimes sound funny if you say them too many times.

Out for a drink with friends or walking around Arthur's Seat with my dog and then going somewhere for a pint...or just a good ole cup of tea and a book :)

I don't miss California as much as I should...and I don't really like kids. at all.

the mood strikes you :)