The last of the 30 Days of Photos

So apparently, it's really annoying that I didn't finish what I started with my 30 Days of Photos, so by the request of my wonderful sister (http://thismomhastattoos.blogspot.com/) I'll just finish them right now.

Day 28: A picture of something you're afraid of.
Yeah, not a huge fain of spiders, especially spiders the size of Shelob from Lord of the Rings. Gives me the heebie jeebies every time I watch those scenes!



Day 29: A picture of something that can always make you smile.


Those kids and the third one can always make me smile. Especially when they run up to me and give me a huge hug and call me Aunt Sam! It also really makes me miss my nieces, which leads to Day 30...drumroll please

Day 30: A picture of someone you miss.
So I just went home for Thanksgiving, but I was working on a project and didn't get much time to just hang out, so I'm looking forward for Christmas and actually seeing my family!

30 Days of Photos: Day Twenty-Seven

Day 27: A picture of yourself with a family member.

A picture of my parents and I after Easter Service at the Vineyard!

30 Days of Photos: Day Twenty Six

I really need to finish this. School consumed me for the past couple of weeks with final projects and final exams, then trips home and getting ready for summer trips. But here is the rest of my 30 days of photos

Day 26: A picture of something that means a lot to you.

This was the first thing that I could think of, probably because I just made it. I'm sure I could find something else that means more to me, but I also wanted to show it off (even though it's not done)

So I finally made a quilt with the t-shirts that I had at Lincoln. It means a lot to me because I can look at all of these and remember times at Lincoln. I wouldn't trade my undergrad for anything, and I made a lot of good memories and fantastic life long friends.

30 Days of Photos: Days 24 and 25

Day 24: A picture of something you wish you could change.

This is from an organization called Free The Children. One of their missions is to build schools with the Brick by Brick Campaign. It costs about $8,500 to build a new school. I would love to be involved in this organization in an architectural capacity some day.

Day 25: A picture of your day.

Yeah, it's Monday, so I'm in the Architecture building. It's also one week until my final reviews, so I'm in the architecture building working on my Algae Roof Distribution Center.

30 Days of Photos: Day Twenty Three

Day 23: A picture of your favorite book.

Another easy one. That would be Lord of the Rings. Although it is quite lengthy, and at some places hard to get through, I still enjoy it. I've read it through twice now. Maybe I'll read through it again this summer, or make it a summer habit.

Great book, great author. I'm actually reading the Silmarillion right now (or I will actually be as soon as studio stuff is over!)

30 Days of Photos: Day Twenty One and Twenty Two

Day 21: A picture of something you wish you could forget.

So I didn't have time to do a picture for this, and I don't want to post a picture because I don't want it to be in everyone else's head. But I wish I could forget the watching of Lady Gaga's Born This Way video.

Take it from me, don't watch it if you haven't

Day 22: A picture of something you wish you were better at.

This is easy. I wish I was better at all these programs that I need to know. Which is also what I will be doing this summer.

30 Days of Photos: Day Twenty

Day 20: A picture of somewhere I'd love to travel.

EASY ONE! Not only would I love to travel there, but I am...in 39 days! Madrid, Barcelona and Bilbao, Spain!

¡Vamos!

30 Days of Photos: Day Nineteen

Day 19: A picture of a letter.

Yeah, so this is the letter that changed a lot of things for me. My acceptance letter from University of Illinois. Also why the next two weeks are going to be crazy trying to get this Algae Roof Distribution Center done before Easter.

On a more creative note, and after conversation with Katy, this is another picture of a letter. This is my second tattoo above my right ankle. I got it on Graduation Weekend from Lincoln in 2007. Sara, my sister, go the same one on her arm. It has Celtic knotwork inside, because I love Celtic knotwork!

30 Days of Photos: Day Eighteen

Day 18: A picture of your biggest insecurity.

I hate getting up in front of people and talking. Even more, I hate getting up and defending my design choices to people that know a whole lot more than I do. I also hate not feeling passionate about projects. It's harder to defend them and talk about them when I don't really care about the project guidelines. But that's a different story.

My biggest insecurity is talking in front of people and defending my design choices. I also know I need to get over it.

30 Days of Photos: Day Seventeen

Day 17: A picture of something that has had a huge impact on your life recently.

Alright, so this is a picture of the stage at the Vineyard. I haven't actually written this story down, so some readers might not have heard it.

Back in October, the Vineyard did a sermon series titled "Jesus Heals and So Can We." I was challenged to keep praying for healing. So I prayed on a Sunday Night during small group, then a Monday morning, and then a Monday night at Vineyard Leadership Team Meeting. I was told to be persistent and not give up. I also got the strong sense that I should stop going to my chiropractor, so I went one last time and told him that I wouldn't be coming back unless I absolutely needed it.

And that was six months ago, almost to the day.

Now I know that some days I have some pain, but I also know that it's because I do that to my body, I sit too long, or I don't sit the right way, or I get frustrated with something and it translates to my back. Oh or that stupid fall that I took on campus on the ice!

We've been singing this song a lot lately, and it is always a fresh reminder of what God has done for me and what healing He wants to do in others' lives.

Healer by Hillsong

You hold my every moment
You calm my raging seas
You walk with me through fire
And heal all my disease

I trust in you
I trust in you

I believe
You're my healer
I believe
You are all i need
I believe
You're my portion
I believe
You're more than enough for me
Jesus, you're all i need

Nothing is impossible for you
Nothing is impossible
Nothing is impossible for you
You hold my world in your hands

30 Days of Photos: Day Sixteen

Day 16: A picture of someone who inspires you.

This organization has been on my mind a lot recently. I recently just purchased my first pair of TOMS (they should be here by Monday!) The company (and it's founder, Blake) inspires me because it's a for-profit company that also gives to children in need. With the "One for One" idea, a consumer becomes a benefactor. With every pair of shoes that is sold, another pair is given to a child that doesn't have a pair. It's just one simple thing that people can do. And shoes are actually a very basic need. A leading cause of disease in developing countries is soil-transmitted diseases, which can penetrate the skin through bare feet. Shoes can prevent these diseases, protect feet from cuts and sores that can become infected. Shoes are often required as part of a school uniform, so without shoes, children don't get an education.

For someone like me, who has a background in business and will be working in the for-profit sector when I get done with school, I'm glad that TOMS proves that you can bridge the gap of being in the business world and also doing some good for our global community.

As of September 2010, TOMS has given away almost 1 million shoes to children in need. Check out TOMS to see more information and look at their first Giving Report.

30 Days of Photos: Day Fifteen

Day 15: A picture of something you want to do before you die.

I really want to take ballroom dance lessons. Every time I watch Dancing with the Stars, I feel like signing up to take lessons, especially if it means dancing with Mark Ballas!

30 Days of Photos: Day Fourteen

Day 14: A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.

Here's my mom. And quite literally, I can't imagine my life without her, since she's the one that brought me into this world (and by golly, she can take me out of this world :P)

Anyway, it's true. I can't imagine my life without her, even if I don't call or visit as often as she would like.

30 Days of Photos: Day Thirteen

Day 13: A picture of your favorite band or artist.

Ok, who didn't see this one coming? If you didn't guess this, then please go back and reread previous 30 days, or other blogs of mine in general.

So yeah, they're my favorite. I'm going on 14 years of being a fan, more than half of my life. Except for a few songs that I will always skip over, I have liked everything that they have done. It's been interesting to grow up with a band and hear their sound change. They are excellent song writers and great musicians.

I can always count on them for an awesome concert. I've seen them 6 times, most being at the House of Blues in Chicago. You can really tell that they love performing for their fans, and MMMBOP is always a crowd favorite.

Aside from their music, I'm just really inspired by them. They have taken something that they are good at and have used it to help others. They have partnered with a handful of great organizations to try to do some good for the world.

And the whole time they're doing this, they remind their fans that it doesn't have to take a lot of money or fame to do some good. It's as simple as donating a $1 for a clean well, or walking a mile barefoot to raise awareness and start conversations about the need for a pair of shoes for children. You just have to do something, anything to help out.

There you have it, good musicians, and good people.

30 Days of Photos: Day Twelve

Day 12: A picture of something you love.

I love stairs! I seriously have an obsession with a good set of stairs. This is the interior of the Rookery Building in Chicago. The interior was remodeled by Frank Lloyd Wright.

There is also a pretty amazing staircase in the ACES Library on campus, which you should check out if you're in Champaign. And there was one is an old antique shop in Arthur that I absolutely loved (I think it was Arthur, right Rachel? where you found that china set and those amazing shoe chairs)

30 Days of Photos: Day Eleven

Day 11: A picture of something you hate.

Soooo, I'm going to take it as a good sign that I had trouble finding something that I hate.

I'm just going to go with this one. I hate Sauron! He is pure evil.

Also, the bell tower on campus totally reminds me of Barad-dur!

30 Days of Photos: Day Ten

Day 10: A picture of the person you do the craziest things with.

Easy! First, I don't really think I do extremely crazy things, I'm mostly laid back. But Katy and I can usually end up finding a way to have a crazy time. We're both so busy with school lately though. But I can safely say that Katy and I are partners in crime (not that it's anything bad). I think I'm less inhibited when we're together. And I can't wait to see the crazy things we do in Spain!

30 Days of Photos: Day Nine

Day 9: A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.

This one is easy. Definitely the one true constant who has gotten me through the most. Plain and simple. JESUS!

30 Days of Photos: Day Eight

Day 8: A picture that makes you laugh.

I was debating on when to pull this photo out, I could definitely use it for other days as well. But this picture always makes me laugh.

This was a Camryn's birthday party last year. The first time she did this jump, I wasn't able to get a good shot of it, so I asked her to do it again, and this was the result. Amazing picture, right? I also love this picture because it reminds me that she is fearless.

30 Days of Photos: Day Seven

Day 7: A picture of your most treasured item.

This one is really difficult. I was trying to think of the first thing that I would grab in case of a fire, thinking that might be the key to finding my treasured item, and I came up with my laptop, but that's only because I have all of my projects and portfolio stuff on it that I would need to recover. I don't really think that is my most treasured item though. Just necessity. I could say a scrapbook, but all those pictures can be found elsewhere, so that's not a huge deal. Most of the things I have are easily replaced: books, movies, picture frames.

So I guess it's time that I come clean with how big of a dork I really am. So I bought this book that Hanson wrote of their experience in Africa, and what their trip inspired them to do with their music in order to help people. Their enthusiasm has really been a catalyst for my own enthusiasm to create and give back with my architecture. Anyway, when I got the book, there was a signed copy of the book cover along with it. So I framed it. Also in the frame is one of Isaac's guitar picks that I caught (or it just landed on me) at one of the concerts I was at.

There we have it. Cue the ' Sam, you're a big nerd' comments.

30 Days of Photos: Day Six

Day 6: A picture of the person you would love to trade places with for a day.

Ok, I'll just say it: I'm a big nerd, and this was my initial reaction when I read the topic of today's pic of the day. So I'll pick to be Taylor Hanson's wife for a day. But it would have to be a day that wasn't crazy with the brothers being in the studio all day and me being stuck at home all by myself with all the kids.

It would be cool to hang out with them all on tour and travel and watch them perform. And if I were Taylor's wife, I would feel comfortable being around all of them, and not revert back to a starstruck tween. Of course, if I did ever get to meet them, I'm sure I would calm and collected and have the ability to have a good conversation with them. Haha, yeah right.

30 Days of Photos: Day Five

Day 5: A picture of your favorite memory.

Man, this one was a really difficult picture to choose from. There are so many memories that I can call my favorite.

This is a picture of a view from a restaurant in St. Pete that my family always went to when we had summer vacations. The restaurant is Woody's Waterfront, and we would go there at least a couple of times during our two week vacations. The water comes right up to the foundation of the restaurant, so we always watched the boats and jet skis go by. The one time that my family always brings up was when I ordered a basket of fries off the menu, and I asked for the golden brown ones. The menu said there were plain, golden brown, or spicy fries! DUH!!

So this picture represents all the memories of family vacations in St Pete, Florida!

30 Days of Photos: Day Four

Day 4: A picture of your night.

Alright, so this might be a little lame, but it's all I could think of. Being that it's the Monday after Spring Break, and I did not do the work that I intended to do (I really did have the best intentions on getting ahead), this is what my night should look like: staring at Revit or 3D S Max, or writing a rough draft.

In all actuality, it might be a combination of work and DVR: Monday's recordings are General

Hospital and Dancing with the Stars.

UPDATE: This is what my night actually looked like. On any given night, you can be sure that one of us mentions Mexican, the other does not disagree!

30 Days of Photos: Day Three

Day 3: A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

There are so many shows that Katy and I DVR, I almost couldn't pick a favorite. Until I remembered that I have most of the seasons of 'The Office' (somehow I am missing Season 5) and I have a daily desk calendar with quotes from the show. Today's quote:

Michael: How long have you known about the pregnancy? A week? A month? A year?

Jim: Michael, we only told our parents last week.

Michael: Did you pee on a stick?

Jim: I did. But it was inconclusive.

Aww, I just love Jim! And I can't believe that Michael is leaving!

30 Days of Photos: Day 2

Day 2: A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest.

I had some difficulty with this one, there are a few people that I could have picked (who might pop up later in the next 30 days), but as I tell new friends how I know Corrie (and Adam too) they are mostly surprised to hear that I've known Corrie for 10 years. We have lots of stories!

30 Days of Photos: Day One

Hello All! It's been a while, I know, I'm horrible.

I found this thing on Facebook and thought that I would try it out here in blogland! For each day, there will be a new photo:

Day 1: A picture of yourself with fifteen facts.

Day 2: A picture of you and the person you have been closest with the longest.

Day 3: A picture of the cast from your favorite show.

Day 4: A picture of your night.

Day 5: A picture of your favorite memory.

Day 6: A picture of a person you'd love to trade places with for a day.

Day 7: A picture of your most treasured item.

Day 8: A picture that makes you laugh.

Day 9: A picture of the person who has gotten you through the most.

Day 10: A picture of the person you do the craziest things with.

Day 11: A picture of something you hate.

Day 12: A picture of something you love.

Day 13: A picture of your favorite band or artist.

Day 14: A picture of someone you could never imagine your life without.

Day 15: A picture of something you want to do before you die.

Day 16: A picture of someone who inspires you.

Day 17: A picture of something that has made a huge impact on your life recently.

Day 18: A picture of your biggest insecurity.

Day 19: A picture of a letter.

Day 20: A picture of somewhere you'd love to travel.

Day 21: A picture of something you wish you could forget.

Day 22: A picture of something you wish you were better at.

Day 23: A picture of your favorite book.

Day 24: A picture of something you wish you could change.

Day 25: A picture of your day.

Day 26: A picture of something that means a lot to you.

Day 27: A picture of yourself and a family member.

Day 28: A picture of something you're afraid of.

Day 29: A picture that can always make you smile.

Day 30: A picture of someone you miss.

So without further ado, DAY 1: A picture of yourself with fifteen facts!

1. I just got a new haircut, as you can see!

2. My curls are natural.

3. I consider myself fashionable (except for maybe my hoodie collection I lounge around in), and not at all at risk of seeing Stacy and Clinton any time soon!

4. I will be a University of Illinois School of Architecture Alumna in three years!

5. I'm really pale.

6. If I had to choose a favorite movie, it might just be The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

7. I tend to be a procrastinator and a perfectionist at the same time.

8. The beginning of my summer is already packed with two airplane rides.

9. I've worn glasses since the second grade, and have only had contacts for about a year.

10. I love coffee!

11. I am fluent in two languages: English and Sarcasm.

12. According to my roommate, I am a terrible cook and shouldn't be allowed in the kitchen (it's not true!).

13. I'm the youngest.

14. I am not fond of household chores.

15. My favorite color is green.