I LOVE to travel. I studied in Italy, and if I could travel the world for my job, it would be my dream. I'll pretty much get sucked into any conversation about traveling for hours. Although this gives the impression that I travel all the time...sigh..I don't actually get to travel nearly as much as I would like to.

I grew up playing sports, I love soccer and have gotten really into running (half marathons). I'm totally addicted. My goal is to beat my best half-marathon time (hopefully get down to 1:40 at some point). Although this apparently makes me sound like speedy gonzalez, don't let me fool you. It's a 'goal' for a reason. It hasn't happened yet.

I love trying to cook new recipes (although I don't do it nearly enough) and that usually goes hand in hand with drinking wine (typically red, and mostly due to the fact that I studied in Italy).

While I'm definitely an ambitious person, and am so lucky to have a good job in this economy, I also have started to realize that it's really important for me to balance my personal life with work. I'm not interested in making work my life - although I know at times it seems that's what it is. I think it's important to enjoy work since you spend so much time there, but in the end it's how I afford to live the life I want to live.

I'm a pretty goofy person, and don't take myself too seriously. If you meet me, you might not take me that seriously either - just a fair warning! :) Anyone who can't laugh at themselves has to have a fairly boring life! Everyone who knows me would probably describe me as an extremely upbeat, cheerful person. I seem to frequently be smiling. Beats frowning though in my opinion...

I am incredibly close with my family. Some of my cousins are my best friends. They are the best support system I could ever ask for.
Like I said, I'm really into running, but I like do spend a lot of my free time working out or doing some sort of outdoor or athletic activity.

I like a lot of different types of music. It really is totally dependent on my mood and what I'm looking to get out of the music.
Norah Jones and John Legend are my favorites to listen to when I want to chill out, relax, drink some wine or cook a good dinner.
When I run, I can listen to upbeat music like Girl Talk, Cut Copy or hip hop/rap or I can listen to more chill music like Coldplay, Regina Spektor, Ben Folds.
In general I used to be more mainstream with my music taste, but I try to learn about lesser known bands through friends of mine who know more about music.

Hmmm... ideal? Hard to say...isn't this the boy's job!? ;) KIDDING!