Family Time

It was great going home last week and seeing my family! My niece turned 2 years old and I just can't believe she is so big! I'm still waiting for emails of pictures from my sisters.....hint hint. Anyways I love love love to be with my family because they are all such amazing people! I feel so valued and loved when I'm around them. Plus all the sisters were together this weekend. You just can't explain the type of fun that 4 sisters have together it is a unique bond and something very special that I will never take for granted. I love all my sisters very much and the parents that raised us! I'm also very grateful for the new additions to my family because not only to they make my sisters happier they enrich our lives as well. This is why I can't wait to come home! Anyways here are some shots that I got of the fam on my new iPhoto... which I love as well lol.
Ham
Well I'm missing a sister simply because she wouldn't let me take a picture of her and I'm also missing Josh and Devin!

Carving Pumpkins

On other news, we took a break from school and the cold to enjoy the season and carve pumpkins. And no being 21 and 22 is not to old to still carve pumpkins! It was fun and we enjoyed some hot chocolate as well.

Pumpkin Before
Starting to carve

Steffany and Jeff
The finished product
Steffany and Jeff's scary pumpkin and our happy pumpkin

Eugene as Usual

My grievances with the stupid city of Eugene continue. There is probably nothing I hate more in the world than people who have nothing better to do with their lives than to go around and destroy public and personal property!!! It is so disrespectful and down right wrong!! Have enough respect for the people around you to get a life and leave other people's stuff alone!!! Ok I feel a little bit better now. Well today was suppose to be nice day to see Mom and Dad on their way home from La Pine, you know get some lunch and talk. Instead we spent most of the day calling police, insurance and going to Fred Meyer's to get packaging tape and 2 mil plastic. Because on our way to dinner as I was getting into Mom & Dad's car I saw glass laying by my car so I walked over and this is what I saw!!



Yea that is right someone broke into my car! I have been hearing stories from friends about car theif and robberies lately in my area. I can remember as least 10 different crimes that I have been told about in the last 2 weeks. I have been worried that something like this would happen to m. Or something even worse like my friend Mak who had his house broken into and someone stole every vauble thing he owns including his computer with 4 years of architectural projects. So I consider myself to be lucky that I just got a broken car window. However, it still really sucks and I can't wait to get out of Eugene!! As we drove down my street a little bit we counted 5 cars that had their windows smashed in! Freaking losers! There has been so much crime in my neighborhood lately I wish the Eugene Police Department could stop spending all their money on party bike cops and start spending it on cars to patrol this neighborhood!! Where have they been while all this crime has been going on?? It's that what we pay them for?

Personal Strengths

I taking a Management class and I was just taking it to fulfill my last Business Minor requirement but I have actually been learning a lot about myself. I had to buy a book called Strengths Finder and take a test online that would tell me my 5 Strengths. Well here are mine.
1. Futuristic
2. Learner
3. Discipline
4. Empathy
5. Individualization
It's funny to have those strengths in front of you because you think, "Wow I thought that was a weakness!" Like take empathy for example I always think about how other people are feeling, how what I say or do will affect them and it drives me crazy sometimes. I thought it was a weakness because it prohibited me from doing things. However, in a work environment I'm learning it is a great skill to have as management, you can really understand your employees and what they need.

Also we have been watching a series of videos on strengths and weaknesses... sounds lame right? Actually it is really interesting. Contrary to what society will tell you.. you should not spend time and effort to improve on your weaknesses! Instead spend that energy on furthering your strengths and imagine the things that you could do! I remember when my sister was failing math and all the teachers were concerned and they thought she had a real problem. Well my mom let my sister drop math and that is exactly what she should have done. My sister wasn't good at math.. so what? That wasn't her strength and that is ok, because she pulled out of it she was able to focus and improve on things she was good at and not only that but also enjoyed.

Finally strengths are things that you enjoy! Things that when you do them you lose track of time, you feel replenished after doing them and look forward to doing them. Think back to the last activity you enjoyed... those are your strengths. They say that 2 out of 10 are using their strengths in the work place and it's because people don't know how to determine their strengths. Well it's easy think about what you enjoy doing and make an effort to incorporate that into your work and life! Live your passion!! Don't do things that you"have to" because you don't have to. You are in control of your life and you can determine how to use your strengths. So I'll encourage all of you to learn your strenths and live up to your potential! You will be a happier and more efficient person!

Birthday and Christmas

All I want for Christmas and my birthday!! So I started thinking about things that I want/need.

1. I want a new wall clock for my house. I like ones with a black frame and a white center... like the one at target.
2. I want to expand my dishes I only have 4 of the chocolate dinner plates but I want the whole set in chocolate and blue! Or just 4 blue plates to go with my chocolate ones.
The Chocolate Dishes
The Blue Dishes
3. Coffee gift certificates are always good
4. I'm in desperate need of clothes. I know you don't like buying me clothes but tough. I've been really into Urban Outfitters lately.
5. Also I need to add to my architecture library:
Architectural Graphics
Architect's Studio Companion
6. I always love movies!
7. I need a new cute purse too

Well this is it for now... I'll keep thinking about it.