Halloween!

Today for work we all dressed up for Halloween, it is fun to work at a company where they let you get into the spirit!

My friend Renee as the I Pod ad--awesome!

Cleapatra

A few days ago we carved pumpkins with friends, it was fun!

KU Homecoming!

Last weekend I got to go back to Kansas again for my college homecoming--thank goodness for free Southwest tickets! ;) I love going back to Kansas during the fall, I love the beautiful changing leaves and the brisk autumn air.

This tree was glowing when the sun came through the leaves
a storm rolling in, what pretty contrast

Me and my sisters, reunited! yay!

Me and my college buddy, Adie.

Mom and daughters

At the game, Texas Tech beat us terribly!

Walking around Lawrence, it was such a beautiful Fall day.

Lilli and Erik

I am so proud of my old college campus, isn't it beautiful?

I had to sketch this building one time for architecture class, it was tough.

Cool old house, I love the "witch's hat" turret

(yes I had to do a google search to make sure that is what it's called)

Bridal Shower

My coworkers are so sweet, they took me out for a surprise bridal celebration.

A garter belt! and it has a blue bow on it so I now have something new and something blue! :)

A wedding planner book

Some of my coworkers

Rio de Janeiro March 2007

In March of 2007 we were lucky enough to go to Rio de Janeiro for Joe's "brother" Zak's wedding to his beautiful bride Luisa. It was an amazing trip. Brazilian people are so full of life and energy. They seem to enjoy everyday like it is a gift, we can all learn so much from them!

The famous Ipanema Beach-right outside of our hotel, it was amazing!

Wow! So many people!

We got to visit Zak's organization, Community in Action. From their website:

"About Us: Community in Action is a grassroots non-profit Non Governmental Organization (NGO) located in one of Rio de Janeiro’s largest favela (slum) communities. Our mission is to offer vocational and cultural classes for students of all ages, as well as personal development opportunities for volunteers. The majority of NGOs in Rio provide outreach programs on a service model: slum inhabitants simply use the services others (who live outside the community) deem they need. We implemented a new approach, a new vision - one that fosters the possibility of long-term community change by including residents in the operation of the organization. Currently, slum residents staff all human resource and administrative positions. These present and future community leaders are the volunteers, the teachers and the administrative teams. As social entrepreneurs, Community in Action has created a model for excluded and deprived people to create sustainable livelihoods and promote societal inclusion."

They accept donations on their website!

http://www.communityinaction.org/

It was a great opportunity to see the favelas up close and personal through such a wonderful organization. The volunteers are such selfless people, it was wonderful to see so many people helping each other to better their community.

Comunidade em Ação

A couple of the students, so sweet.

Another highlight of the trip was visiting the amazing Christ the Redeemer Statue. It sits high up on Corcovado Mountain above the city. It is 120 feet tall, a lot bigger in person than I expected. The view of Rio from Corcovado was awesome!

Cristo Redentor

And the best part of the trip, Zak and Luisa's wedding. It took place on a boat, I was on the decorating committee :)

The Cristo off in the distance, it is amazing how the mountains shoot right up from the ground in Brazil

The cute flower girl

It was a beautiful sunset ceremony

The reception was an unbelievable celebration at a mansion in the hills, the buses didn't go home until 2 am which was great for the Brazilians but the Americans couldn't hang, we were all falling asleep, we are wimps!