Erika

Hometown:  Cedar Rapids, Iowa

College:  Iowa State University

Career:  www.erikaleighphotography.com

Dance and Cheerleader Experience:  Rocked out on the dance floor since I was three, including Kennedy High School Dance Team, Iowa State University Pom Squad, Georgia Force Cheerleader…

Other life, scholastic or career accomplishments or experiences:  I’ve read a lot of books, I’ve made a lot of people laugh, I’ve been to Canada (for 15 minutes by Niagara Falls), I own my own business and I love every second (all the easy and even the hard seconds) of what I do in that business, more often than not I sleep well at night, I tell my parents I love them every time I get off the phone with them (and I mean it), I have just thee coolest friends and family, I’m an above average speller, I graduated college, small things (like live music and/or a nice breeze) can truly make me happy, I’ve never stolen candy from kids…small accomplishments can lead to greatness…

Long-Term Goals:  Get better/smarter/happier everyday and to be crazy in love. I guess in all categories (career-wise, life-wise, relationship-wise, style-wise, finance-wise, health-wise) I want to feel content and stable, nothing more/nothing less… except love, I want to be over-the-top, maniacally in love some day.  Oh… and I want to learn to surf.

Marital Status:  Not married…

Siblings:  Brother: Brandon (28, Smartest Person I Know, Lawyer, Guitar Hero Extraordinaire), Sister-In-Law: Sara (27-ish, Perfect, Dermatologist, Beautiful Inside and Out)

Pets (name and type):  My pseudo puppy (aka my parents’ in Iowa): BARNEY O’REILLY… and R.I.P. Kirby Winston, Lost our white puppy December ’07… tear.

My proudest moment:  I always struggle with this question.  I feel like most of my pride has come from being able to show off all the amazing people I have in my life!  I think I’ll know more what I consider to be my MOST proud moment later in life… looking back… I’m imagining it will be something I didn’t do as opposed to something I did!

Something my teammates don’t know about me:  I’m somewhat shy… kinda.

Farthest away from home I’ve been:  Visited: Seattle; Lived: Atlanta

Favorite book:  Love is a Mixed Tape by Rob Sheffield (you must read it!), My Personal Best by John Wooden, How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie, The Giver by Lois Lowry, The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls

Favorite author:  Sheffield, The Sports Guy – Bill Simmons

Favorite Atlanta-area restaurant:  Dantanna’s

Favorite Atlanta-area landmark or tourist attraction:  Any park.

Favorite college football team:  Iowa State Cyclones or Georgia Bulldogs

Favorite thing to do on a lazy afternoon:  Lay, read, google, facebook, blog, www.erikaleighphotography.com, chill at the park, couch it with Tony, go to Home Depot, catch up on my magazines ESPN and Time, photoshop, watch reruns of The Office or lovey-dovey movies

Favorite outfit or piece of clothing in my closet:  Seriously impossible… probably all my white v-necks, any of my vests or scarves, or my Shox

Favorite American Idol contestant:  Though I had a major crush on Jason Castro, I’ve matured to just seriously adoring David Cook and Carrie Underwood.

Favorite television show:  The Office, Jack and Bobby, West Wing, Ellen, Sportscenter in the fall, Grey’s Anatomy

Favorite charitable organization or cause:  Children’s Restoration Network or HERO for Children!

Favorite website:  www.erikaleighphotography.com or www.erikaleighfun.com

My dream automobile:  If not my civic hybrid, then a fancy lil Range Rover Sport would do (only if it went hybrid someday)

My first automobile:  ‘79 ‘Burnt Sienna Caprice Classic… loaded with plastic covered bench seats, large dent in right side and glow in the dark star stickers all over the ceiling… courtesy of my beautiful great grandma!

Favorite Falcons player:  J. Abraham… he means business.

Person with whom I would most like to have dinner:  Alive: John Wooden, Barack Obama or Heidi Klum; Passed: Marilyn Monroe

Favorite vacation destination:  IOWA, to see my family!

Favorite solo artist:  Ray Lamontagne, A Fine Frenzy, Gavin DeGraw, Carrie Underwood, Ryan Adams

Favorite musical group:  The Fray, The Honorary Title, Jump Little Children

One of my biggest inspirations growing up:  Any member of my family: anyone would be lucky to learn from and mimic any aspect of their life. I hope even one-percent of who they are rubbed off on me in some way.

Song that will ALWAYS be on my iPod:  My “GET YOUR LIFE MOVING ALREADY” Mix: Free Bird by Lynyrd Skynyrd, More Like Her by Miranda Lambert, You and I Both by Jason Mraz, Think of You by A Fine Frenzy, Jolene by Ray Lamontagne, Won’t Back Down by Tom Petty, You’re Not Sorry and White Horse by Taylor Swift, Motorcycle Driveby by Third Eye Blind, Blackbird by The Beatles

Favorite comedian:  Jack Black, Dwight Schrute, Will Ferrell, Nikky Williams

All-time favorite movie(s):  Two Weeks Notice, The Holiday, Wedding Planner, How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days, Pretty Woman, Pride and Prejudice, Runaway Bride, Sweet Home Alabama, My Best Friends Wedding… you get the point…

Favorite actor and actress:  Brad Pitt/Patrick Dempsey and Julia Roberts

Favorite junk food or guilty culinary pleasure:  Apple Dapples/Apple Jacks in serious quantities!

Favorite gourmet food:  You take me to someplace nice or make me something nice and I’ll like it… guaranteed.