Exciting!

Well, I was pleasantly surprised this weekend when I walked into the house on Thursday after work to find my sister here! (Monica - that is!) She decided to come and visit and with a little help or should I say a great birthday gift from my parents! Her first time in Seattle! Where do I begin....We had a blast this weekend and she was even really well behaved!!! (haha Monica - LOVE YOU!) The whole family tricked me and now looking back all the signs were there and I should have known she was coming, but they did a really good job, as there was several hints that I completely missed and was shocked! A few things we did while she was here...
- Went to Pike's Place Market and then to the bar
- Went to dinner and then to the bar
- Went to Cowgirls - and managed to ride the mechanical bull - both of us (It is Monday and my knee is still bruised and my back is soar!~)
- Went to the Pier and then to the bar
- Went to west Seattle and then to the bar or should I say multiple bars!
- Went to Melting pot then ending up at a few bars with a final destination of the Dueling Piano show at yet another bar!

I mean she was on vacation, right? Lots of fun! We may have done things a little differently, had it not been raining in Seattle! I planned on taking her on an Argosy cruise to see Seattle, which was really a booze cruise but the weather sucked! So we had to have a plan B. Needless to say, I managed to figure out a little more about life in Seattle and were to go to "a bar!" Good old sis.....Monica! On Sunday, the day she left, it was beautiful out and after we dropped her off at the airport, we did gardening. Wait.....Let me rephrase that, Megan gardened, while Carley and I did the weed pulling, cutting and mowing! Okay by me! I have no clue how to grow vegetables and get some sick pleasure out of weed pulling. It is like popping bubble wrap! I love when you get a big root out of the ground!!! It is like....Hey look at this one! I know....I am a dork! I don't think Carley liked it as much as I!

Other exciting news for me...I GOT ACCEPTED INTO JR. LEAGUE OF SEATTLE!! Yeahhhh! Jr. League, well it is kind of hard to explain, but in a nut shell, it is an organization of women volunteering to improve the community and help others. Volunteering, yet you have to pay to be in, have to commit a certain amount of time, go to training (classes), and also go to meetings a certain number of times. They had 100's of applicants and only accept 115 per year so I was really excited when I was accepted. They split you into groups according to your zip code you live in so you and a small group (about 12) meet (of course for happy hour!) and there are multiple "volunteering" areas to work with. Some examples include, building or remodeling a home, Christmas program at the children's hospital, a huge auction once a year for a benefit, a modeling show for a benefit at Macy's, creating baskets for homeless shelters, etc. The classes you take are more about Leadership, or on specific topics like "How to help your community go green," in which then you would try to implement to your community. You don't necessarily go and rebuild a house. You would learn how to get contractors to volunteer and then kinda "manage" the process. I think it will be a great way for me to meet some people in the zip code I live in (WHICH WILL CHANGE WHEN I MOVE OUT JUNE 1st~!) and also do something that will be very self rewarding! It will also be one more thing to add to the resume! I am really excited about it!

Work.....Crazy busy! I spent a week in Renton, WA (not far from Seattle) for training. I was the only OAC in training and everyone else in the class was a loan officer/consultant! I graduated (with a certificate) and felt I was well on my way to becoming a home loan consultant! I got back to the office the following week and locked my first loan! It was quite an accomplishment for me, although that may have all changed today. I spent most my afternoon in meetings. We have decided to go a complete different approach to our business. (that is my team, which is called Team Crowell, that consists of myself, my AVP, and his PA) My focus now, will be turned to Marketing, Advertising, Website Design, and also creating a contact management database. (yes, I will be outsourcing the website design and database creation!) So, I am really excited to work more in "my field!" I will be in charge of shopping around for companies that I think are good and then presenting the top 3 to my manager. On top of this....I still have my daily duties!!!! Extremely busy!!! Still love it!

Anyways, I am planning a trip back to MN in July for Rodeo! I haven't decided on the exact dates, but will for sure come! Vegas in a few weeks!! Super excited for that!!

P.S. Seattle....On a sunny day, which happens every few days now or every week, but I hear it is like it everyday in the summer (July on) is really beautiful, and perfect weather! I will have my own place, so I think you should come and visit!!! Miss and Love you all!! MUAH!