Me- Given name: Stephanie.   I’m your ’recently married’ cruise director through this blog that documents my wild and often unorthodoxed attempts to be a ‘grown up’.   I’m tackling marriage, careers, family, friends, and any other topic that gets in my way.   I have a BS in Life Sciences and an MBA from the University of Tennessee.    My parents never warned me that being a grown up wasn’t as fun as it looked. 

The Engineer – also known as: Mr. E, the Boy, DH (dearest husband).  He’s my introverted engineer husband who has both his BS and MS in Civil Engineering from the University of Tennessee.  He hates the word blogging (says it sounds like something you should light a match after doing) but tolerates my consuming need to drive 30 minutes to procure a British candy bar. 

Sophie- Full name: Sophia Louise Cattington.  The Engineer’s calico cat.  She’s bitchy and is completely devoted to only the Engineer.   She loves milk rings, freeze dried salmon treats, folding up the front door mat so you can’t open the door when you get home, and occasionally peeing on my side of the bed (I told you … she only likes the Engineer).

Phil - Full Name:  Phillip Buster T. Catsworth.  My orange tabby cat.   Goes by Buster or “Get-down-from-that-counter-right-now”.   Loves scaling high places where he’s not suppose to be, catnip, running circuits around the house at 2 am, and the warm lap of his momma.  Has a bit of a drooling problem. 

J-art – MY best-est friend in the entire world.  The Mountain Dew to my cotton candy, She’s the other 1/2 of my brain (the artsy, creative, tolerant 1/2).  We look alike, finish each others sentences, and were known as the ‘mean girls’ in high school.   She writes the “So this is Love” Blog.

Lux - my brother-in-law or the Engineer’s look-a-like brother.  Full name: Mr. Luxurious. He has many redeeming qualities for my one and only ”little brother”.  He’s also an engineer, loves to cycle, and is quick on the quips.   We tend to agree on most things except politics. 

Tink- Lux’s wife, and therefore my sister-in-law.  She’s petite, blond, and cute as a button.  She’s like Tinkerbell; smart and sassy, only with more style and a way better wardrobe. 

Shagomatic- My oldest sister.  She taught me the fine art of shopping and is solely responsible for my affinity to shoes and handbags.   She bought me my first Cabbage Patch doll, took me on my first excursion to Sea World (where I thought I was going to be eaten by Shamu), and is the proud creator  of my delightful 8-year old niece M. 

Dirt Diva – My middle sister.  She loves all things dirt related.  Fixing cars, racing quads at the desert, and even gardening from time to time.   She and my brother-in-law Zoo Boy are possibly the two funniest people I know and always have a taste for adventure.   If there’s a wild and crazy family story, you can bet that they’re in it (in it!?! They typically caused it!).  They are the proud parents of my niece C and my nephew B.

Hip-A – The Engineer’s older sister.  She’s a bit of a hippie v. 2.0, tootling around town in her hip, cool, trendy VW Bug convertible, wearing her designer jeans and Birkenstocks.   She lives 10 minutes from the Engineer and I, but we don’t get to see her that often (and I give her a hard time about that whenever I can).  She’s always in the ‘know’ about the latest trends (see.. hippie v. 2.0) and is my ‘go-to’ source for all things green, healthy, and/or ’mother earthy’

Mom and Dad- My parents.   My mother is Puerto Rican, my father is a Southerner.  They both grew up in California, but moved the family (Mom, Dad, and myself.  The sisters were old enough to stay in Cali) to Tennessee 24 years ago. This mixed background made for interesting discussions at our nightly family dinners.   They are conservative through and through (read: Republican), and have an affinity for RVing and Alton Brown (sometimes at the same time).  

MIL and DIL- My in-laws or the Engineer’s Parents.  Oddly enough, MIL was born and raised in California and DIL is a Southerner too.  However, that’s pretty much where the parent similarities end.  MIL plays a mean round of volleyball, and DIL has recently turned his photography hobby into a blooming career.   They often enjoy frequent travels to the Caribbean whenever they get a chance.