My Strengthsfinder Results are in & Spot on!

For my Leadership class at the U, we had to read "Now, Discover Your Strengths" by Buckingham & Clifton. After we read the book, we had to take the strengthsfinder test from the Gallup Organization. I was curious to see if this multiple choice test could really tell the person I was - it claimed to be able to identify your top 5 "themes" in a matter of 30 minutes. It's taken me 22 years to figure out who I am and they were claiming they could do it in 30 minutes?! I wasn't a believer. I was shocked by my results - Gallup lived up to it's claims. It was as if this company knew who I was better than I knew myself. My five strongest "themes" - they literally described the exact person I was.

Futuristic - loves to have a vision

• The future fascinates you. It inspires you.
• When the present proves too frustrating and the people around you too pragmatic, you conjure up your visions of the future & they energize you
• Your mind allows you to venture beyond the commonplace, the familiar, or the obvious - you are a dreamer of visions & cherish these visions
• Bringing your ideas to life is an exciting proposition for you - you sense you have the power to transform whatever you think is possible into tangible outcomes
• You enjoy freeing from traditional and creating a new future
• You make your solutions for the future so real and vivid to others they have no choice but to believe you

Focus - loves to reach destination

• You need a clear destination - lacking one will make you frustrated
• Each year, month, and week you set goals which help you determine priorities
• You use "To Do" lists and planners almost daily
• You instinctively evaluate whether or not a particular action will move you toward a goal - those that don't, you ignore
• You are impatient with delays, obstacles, even tangents, no matter how intriguing they are
• Your focus reminds a group that if something is not helping you move toward your destination, it's not important - if it's not important, it's a waste of time

Achiever - loves to be challenged

• Constant need for achievement
• By the end of each day, you need to accomplish something tangible in order to feel good about yourself
• You have an internal fire within you - to do more, to achieve more. After each accomplishment is reached, the fire dies for only a moment before it rekindles and pushes you toward the next achievement
• You enjoy being busy
• Your constant need for achievement may not be logical or focused - but it will always be with you
• It enables you to work on a project for long hours without getting burned out
• It can make you feel as though you've never reached your goal. It can keep you running uphill at 70 miles an hour for your whole life - there's always something more to do

Maximizer - loves strength & excellence

• Transforming something average to superb, although requiring a great deal of effort, is thrilling and rewarding
• You reject using a one-size-fits all approach when influencing people - instead you discover each person's special talents, skills, and strengths
• You are more upbeat when you spend time on your talents rather than your limitations
• You tend to avoid those who want to fix you and make you well rounded. You don't want to spend your life dwelling on the things you lack. You would much rather capitalize on the gifts you are blessed with
• You help people focus on attributes they like about themselves and develop these strengths

Significance - loves to make a difference

• You want to stand out. You want to be heard. You want to be known. You refuse to live a meaningless existence
• You feel the need to be seen as credible, professional, and successful & you want to associate with others who are seen as credible, professional and successful
• You want your work to be a way of life rather than just a job
• You aspire to leadership roles & realize the importance of backing loyal individuals
• Your life is filled with goals, achievements, and qualifications that you crave

It's so me...

• I spend more time thinking "five years from now" than I think about the present.
• I make AT LEAST 2 "To Do" lists every day...and I have 2 different planners
• I hate wasting group discussion time on "small talk." If we aren't working to achieve the ultimate goal, I'll probably cut you off....
• I ALWAYS need to be working on a goal. Once I achieve it, I'm satisfied for maybe an hour before I begin to look for another goal
• My life has always been hectic and busy - I hate not having anything to do or think about...and tend to have way more to do than hours to do them
• I really do avoid people who try to "fix" me!! Sure I may have my flaws and weaknesses, but why focus on them? It's such a downer! I couldn't help but laugh out loud - this is SO true!
• I enjoy transforming things from average to awesome - it's like a game for me....
• Finding out people's talents & strengths intrigues me. It enables me to connect with them on a different level - I know what words to say, what will persuade them, and the best way to get through to people. I hate having "one way" to talk to everyone

Has anyone else taken the strengthsfinder test? What were your top themes? Do you agree or disagree?

Thanks for the Life Lessons, Dad

In spirit of Father's Day, I dedicate this to the man who currently holds my whole heart-my dad. I honestly have no idea where I'd be without him. Daddy advice is honest, straight to the point, and filled with genuine love & kindness. Dads give those little pieces of advice that just stick with you.

So here's a short list of the most important things my wonderful, awesome father has taught me:

1.Never say anything negative or hateful in writing

I have to say, this is probably one of the best life lessons anyone can learn. Now, I'm not saying that I talk badly about people or am a negative person. But, everyone will have at least one moment in their life they want to lash out via text. My dad always said if you want to have a fight or say something mean to someone - do it in person. No texting. No e-mails. No FB/Twitter/Whatevs. Whether it's personal or work-related...just don't do it. Then I got to thinking...when someone writes me something rude, you know I'm going to show my BFF to get her thoughts on the situation. Duh!

I learned this lesson one day when I received a rude text message. I immediately called my dad and told him the situation-angry and probably near tears. All I wanted to do at the moment was shoot back with some smart a**, rude reply. That's when my dad taught me lesson #1 of this list. Thank you, dad, for saving me from a pretty bad situation...

2. No man will ever measure up.

My dad has never said these words...but I have. I swear when I confide in my dad about the random guys in my life, at one point or another, I will whine about how they just don't have every awesome quality he does. My dad and I have a great relationship - he's funny, listens to me, makes me laugh, he's hardworking & driven, takes me shopping, fixes my car - (Who wouldn't want a dad like that?!) and we talk like we're best friends.

My father taught me to raise the bar and find someone who cares about me as much as he does. And that I shouldn't settle for anything less than that.

3. A car crash isn't always as bad as you think it is

Every time I get in a car crash (I just realized how SAD it is that I can write that sentence haha) I call my dad sobbing. Car crashes are the WORST. I'm shaken up, scared, angry, and usually crying. I dial my dad immediately - over and over until he answers. He handles it the best way - calms me down, tells me which steps to take, calls the insurance, etc.

I would be a wreck if he wasn't on the phone the moment this happens. He always reminds me it's not that bad- and in the end, it never is. Pretty sure all my hair would be pulled out without him in my life when this happens. (thanks for putting up with my terrible driving skills dad!)

4. Working hard will pay off

If I had to describe my father in three words it would be: HARDWORKING, funny, and genuine. A perfect combo right? Gosh, I'm so darn lucky :) But back to the point, my father has always been very hardworking. Not only does he excel at his own job, but around the house, with my horses-really anyway he can. I rarely see him sitting around doing nothing. He claims he hates "sitting around doing nothing" (Although I've learned to be pretty good at it over the years...)

His example (combined with my mom's) is a HUGE reason I've been so successful and hardworking since high school. It really does pay off. He always told me to make friends with my co-workers/boss and always go the extra mile.

5. Prolong your youth

My dad's favorite saying is "In my next life, I want to come back as you." It makes me laugh every single time and I know he loves that I'm prolonging my youth (yes..that includes picking up another major so I didn't have to graduate yet...). He always tells me not to rush marriage or "growing up" (THANK YOU DAD!) and to just enjoy my time being young. I don't think he realizes how much this lesson has meant to me. I have had unbelievable experiences and more fun than I ever thought I could have in my youth. I wouldn't have had these experiences if I had rushed growing up, like the Utah ways often pressure you to do. I'm so, so grateful he has continued to remind me that I'm YOUNG and I should hold on to that as tightly as I can.

6. Do what makes you happy, no matter what anyone says

Lastly, my dad always reminded me that people are always going to judge and talk, but who cares? As long as what I'm doing makes me happy, it's the right thing. I love that I can tell my dad any and everything and all he cares is that it makes me happy. & I am so, so happy with where I am in life today. Thanks for the life lessons dad, you're the best.

Other random/great advice from my dad:

-You will always lose if you gamble (Why does this continue to prove true for me?)

-Always get your oil changed every 3 months

-SPF 70 should always be used (sorry for my lack of belief in this one, dad...)

-Always make time to snow ski and waterski (two thumbs up for this one dad!)

The Worst Things About Moving

I feel like I can call myself a "Pro Mover" I move about every 3 months, give or take. Pi Phi closes in the summer which resulted in yet another moving day. I've done this so many times. I swear it's not normal to have a routine down for packing up all your stuff. I moved into an apartment with Yassie....a GHETTO apartment...but it's still an apartment. I'm just counting down the days until we can move back into Pi Phi. I already miss our cook, our house mom, our house boys, and our maid. Living on my own isn't all it's cracked up to be.

I'm getting off track here. Let's cut to the chase....these are the most ANNOYING things about moving from a Pro...

1. The clutter. Why do I have a stuffed panda on my floor? Or this racket? And how long has this POG been here? Why did I think it was a good idea to buy/keep these things? Seriously. They hold no purpose. The clutter is all the junk that's still on your floor after you've packed everything. You don't want to take it....but you feel weird throwing it away. I mean, who wants to throw away a panda stuffed animal? Or a POG you've had since elementary school? That just seems...wrong. So, you end up packing it. The next time you touch/see it is the next move in day....

2. The 32098734985743 papers you find. Then you have to go through every single one and decide if you should keep it, what the heck it's purpose is, and make "piles" (homework, mail, sorority stuff, trash). It's so time consuming you want to rip your hair out. But what if something really important is in the middle of the pile? (it never is) So you sit through it, turn on "Hitch" and work through an hour of papers.

3. Socks. I thought socks only disappeared in the dryer? Yet whenever move in day rolls around, I find socks EVERYWHERE.

4. Hangers. How are you supposed to pack hangers? SERIOUSLY? And how do they take up so much space? I never have enough hangers....so where did ALL these come from? SO.MANY.HANGERS.

5. Stairs. I swear on move in day staircases feel triple their size. Carrying heavy boxes up and down stairs is the WORST. & all I do is repeat the same phrase over and over - "I'm almost there...I'm ALMOST THERE!"

6. Did my car shrink? It always seems so much bigger every other day of the year...

Mountain West Men's Bball Championship in Vegas: How to Get There

Like many, I have a special place in my heart for Las Vegas (as you can tell by my previous blog posts...) Disneyland claims to be the "happiest place on earth" but in my opinion, it doesn't hold a candle to Vegas! Their coined phrase alone is it's own selling point, "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." Add college basketball (and college basketball players) to the equation and it's an amazing weekend! Which is why it is absolutely perfect that the Conoco Mountain West Men's Basketball Championship is held there.

The problem is, may of us are poor college students (I'll be the first to admit that I consider Cup of Noodles a major food group and save my 7-11 cups for cheaper Diet Coke refills). I can't afford to cruise to Vegas whenever the mood strikes (which is...EVERY weekend...)

However, I finally have the perfect solution to this problem. Enter the CBS College Sports $1000 Tourney Tix Sweepstakes! Not only will you win tickets to the game, but also $1000!

This Sweepstakes ends March 2nd and currently only a little over 8,000 people are registered. EIGHT THOUSAND. For an online contest those are AMAZING odds.

You have nothing to lose and a whole LOT to gain!

Enter this link into your browser and find yourself at the true HAPPIEST place on earth (VEGAS BABY!)

http://apps.facebook.com/tourneytixsweeps/contests/91556?wfrefid=f18a24dbecbd

The happiest place on earth....VEGAS (yes...I won a nickel. WHOO HOO)

Gym Time: Pet Peeves

Yesterday I was at the gym when I noticed about a bajillion things people were doing that annoyed me. At the gym, the "annoyed" feeling is quite the energy booster. Ever notice how when you're angry you run faster & longer? Well, I experienced that same thing for being annoyed. At least it did SOMETHING good for me. After I left the gym all I could think about was how I absolutely HAD to blog about my gym pet peeves.

So, here it is. My list of things people do at the gym that I cannot STAND!

1. Not wearing a bra. I never noticed before yesterday just how many nipples I literally see at the fieldhouse. First of all, OUCH...I would not want my "goodies" to be bouncing around with nothing holding them down. Second of all, when you're sweaty and have RT, I can't look at your face. All I look at is your chest...and I'm female! Ladies....protect your "goodies" AND my eyes...PLEASE...invest in a sports bra! It is not flattering. Not one bit.

2. Cut-off shirts. Dear boy, I'm sure you're hot lifting all those weights. So hot that you cannot wear a real shirt (I'm SURE that's the reason you're wearing that "shirt" right?...yeah...you're right..of course that's not the reason.) Gosh! Wearing a cut-off shirt just screams "tool" and I cannot take them seriously. These guys remind me of the girls that show up at the gym...hair & make up done, wearing tight spandex and a sports bra...barely jogging on the treadmill so they can look "hot." It's very clear that these girls come to the gym for one reason - to pick up guys. Yes cut-off shirt boy...it is the equivalent (bet you feel like a tool now...eh?). It is especially hilarious when they lift their shirt to "wipe off their sweat". We all know you're trying to show off them abs. And even if your abs DO look good...you lose points for being a tool.

3. Asking to join my rotation. Seriously? You can't wait 5 minutes for me to finish my last rep on the power tower? This is extremely annoying when you're using a machine that adjusts for height and low and behold some 6'3" guy wants to join the rotation. Waiting would save us both some time, Mr. Tall.

4. Introducing yourself in the middle of my weight lifting routine. "So what year are you?" "(deep breath) I'm a...(deep breath) (lifting of weight) junior. What (deep breath)(lifting weight) about you (deep breath)?" Not cool. I don't care about the questions you are asking me. All I'm thinking about is how I'm going to get this 20 weight up and finish my rep! Can a person look ANY busier?

There are the obvious things that annoy me -taking too long on the treadmill, wearing 10 sweatshirts and 2 pairs of sweatpants to sweat more, guys who obviously cannot lift the amount of weight they are trying too, not wiping down the machine, etc.

I feel like everything in this post are things that should be common sense. Right?

The Dating Game: Types of Guys

The dating game...something we can ALL relate to. College is the greatest dating scene of all time...mainly because there are single males everywhere you look. Now, I've been the single girl for awhile...aren't you proud? In "Ending the Cycle" I described breaking the cycle of ALWAYS having a boyfriend. & here I am! Sure, I've met boys here and there but the inevitable always drives me away: I get bored. I don't know why this happens. But, it does. Perhaps my expectations are too high, but after 6 years of dating, I think they should be. I just need to find the type of guy that is for ME. It's not that I've stuck to one type of boy either. I've dabbled in all types, which is why I decided to put my experiences on paper (or on post rather)...

The Frat Boy:

Let me make a confession- I don't know one single person who I hang out on the regular who isn't Greek. Which in turn means, I've dated my fair share of frat boys.

Pros:

The Frat Boy knows how to have a good time and dull moments will be rare

All his friends are your friends

Double the formals & Date-nights

Frat parties are pretty fun.. especially if you have a fratslam

They love to be Greek just as much as I do & understand Greek Life

Cons:

Boys. That's exactly what they are. Men? Not even close

They believe they deserve more than one woman at all times (Dear Frat Boy, you're cool, but you aren't THAT freakin' cool)

Dates consist of hanging with his bros (can I call that a date?)

Their life revolves around three things: themselves, parties, their "bros"

The Hippie:

I wish I understood my attraction to hippie guys. Perhaps it's the way they go with the flow? For whatever reason, I have had my fair share of hippie phases (which my dad absolutely HATED)

Pros:

Great music, concerts, and dinner dates

Fights? Never. A hippie guy doesn't want to fight. It's all about the love.

All the hippies I have dated shower me with compliments...all.the.time.

Cons:

Those dreds have to go (ugh.)

The ponchos need to go also (if the hippie had a fashion sense, I'd be all over that)

So.Many.DRUGS. (seriously? Can you be sober for like....ten seconds?)

The Mormon:

The University of Utah has three types of guys: RMs (50%), Married (35%), Other (15%)...which means...the Mormon guy is EVERYWHERE...

Pros:

They won't be dating a million girls...only you (cough...frat boy)

These boys are so sweet & nice

Many are Returned Missionaries..which means they have learned to live on their own & have tons of stories to tell

The best kind to take home to mom!

Cons:

Three months and you want to talk marriage? (See ya later...)

If I hear ONE more mission story....(10 stories in 30 minutes is a BIT much)

Favorite topic: The future!

The questions they ask on the first date: "how many kids do you want?" "where do you see yourself in 5 years?" "Why did you and your last bf break up?" (SERIOUSLY?)

They are pretty behind in their education (they did serve a mission for 2 years)

The Athlete:

I'm a sucker for a good bod and a passion for working out. Who isn't?

Pros:

Did I mention their amazing bodies?

Active fun dates: running, batting cages, soccer, going to the gym

They aren't texting you every second of everyday (hello..they have practice, games, & working out to do)

Watching your man play a professional sport? HOT.AS.HELL.

Cons:

The Athlete is gone A LOT during the season (although I would count this as a pro as well...)

Groupies? MANY.

He expects you to understand the game, rules, standings, etc. (No...I didn't see the game. Gossip Girl was on...sorry!)

Location. They move around a lot which means you aren't driving distance away (again, I could use this as a pro)

You won't be his top priority. (yet, this passion for the game is a turn on for me...)

The Law/Med School Student:

I've only dated two of these in my life...so this description may not be accurate. I'll go from personal experience..

Pro:

He's smart which means he has a bright future

Need help with your homework? BINGO

He doesn't have too much time, so when he does it makes it count (awesome dates/conversation)

Cons:

Busy, Busy, Busy

Some of these guys think they are smarter than you...hey I don't care what salt is made of?! k?

They are stressed out a lot

The guys I have dated lack humor (DEAL BREAKER)

The Older Guy:

I've only dated one guy younger than me (he was a hippie...sigh) other than that I date guys older than me. I dated one guy 13 years older than me (I was 18, he was 30), which even now I cannot believe I did. Since John (name has been changed) I've dated a few guys 5-10 years older than me. But I'm a huge fan. Here's why...

Pros:

This guy has an established career, home, etc. and knows what he wants in life.

BEST DATES EVER (I'm not even kidding. This guy knows where to take you to have a good time)

The conversation is intelligent, interesting, and REAL (the other guys have yet to develop this quality)

They are gentlemen (generous, courteous, caring...heck they even open doors!) Chivalry is not dead for this type

Cons:

When you were in middle school...he was in college...weird (I just don't think about it)

The generation gap can get you a bit (What do you mean you don't know what Twitter is?)

They get serious pretty fast (Not as bad as the Mormon Guy however..)

You may feel a bit unsuccessful compared to them (hello! you are!) which can be a bit disheartening (I'm used to being way more successful than the boys I date)

The Metro Guy:

He takes 30 minutes longer than you to get ready. And those shoes? Fabulous! I don't have too many Pros about this type...but I'll try to squeeze some out...

Pros:

Their sense of humor is pretty girly also (which is fun because it's like that of your girlfrineds!)

Shopping with the boyfriend just got a whole lot better!

Cons:

Seriously...your outfit is better than mine. Ew.

I don't even pluck my eyebrows....and he does.....

I like manly men. I hate feeling like I'm dating a chick

Tanning (SERIOUSLY?) tanning???

You can't wear sweats with no make-up when you run to the store with him. When is it ever okay for the guy to look better than me? NEVER.

Please see description above in picture!!! (hahahaha)

What I've learned from these many, many failed "relationships" is that my perfect guy is a bit of all of the above (okay the metro can be thrown out. I like my men manly....). Thank goodness I have many years to continue the search (Hey! I'm only 21!!)

What do you think? I know I missed a few...fill me in!

I'm Craving a NeuroBliss

Spring break is only two months away. Which means what? I’m a regular at the gym again. I wish it didn’t take a future Cabo trip to motivate me…but…it does. Hey, at least something is motivating me…right? I finished my cardio and weight lifting routine (in my brand new pink Nikes...Thank you mom!) and was heading home when a friend of mine gave me a new drink to try. I hadn’t heard of it and was a bit hesitant (I’m a very picky eater…and drinker). Then I looked at the bottle. It was called NeuroBliss and it said "happiness in every bottle." Who wouldn't want to try it? Seriously....how great is that tagline? I was genuinely surprised. And well…turns out I’m instantly addicted. With only 35 Calories, this drink is wonderfulness in my mouth. NeuroBliss is all NATURAL (swimsuit season..remember?) and enhances your mood, reduces stress, and helps the immune system. Since I'm basically always stressed...I feel like this drink is PERFECT for me. I feel the urge to drink it at every occasion...in my 3 hour International Management class (don't even get me started on how boring that class is..), at work, after the gym...basically I crave it always. Bye-Bye Diet Coke addiction...HELLO Neuro!

Apparently Neuro has a variety of different types that help you in different ways. My sorority sister (honestly..did you think I could write a post without including my sorority in some way? Haha..) Kiley SWEARS by the NeuroSleep. She claims she cannot sleep without drinking one. I was drinking a NeruoBliss at Pi Phi last night (I told you I’m addicted..) and I was talking to Yassie about this..

“Kiley says she can’t sleep without a NeuroSleep. I don’t know if I believe that” –me

“No it totally works. Christian has trouble sleeping and I gave him one and he was out within 30 minutes.” –Yassie

I guess I can be grateful for trying something new. Turns out I’m a fan. A huge fan. I actually haven’t gone a day without one. Not only do I LOVE the taste…but I LOVE the fact that it’s only 35 calories (again, remember how close swimsuit season is?) I also like the fact that it helps the immune system. The way Utah has been lately (TONS OF SNOW) I could use all the immune boosting I can get.

I'm determined to try every flavor. I'll keep you posted. But I doubt any of them will beat Bliss...