ilaxSTUDIO.com About

ABOUT ME
I am a twenty-three year old architectural intern. I recently graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor's Degree in Architecture. I live in Round Lake, a suburb of Chicago, that in all reality, is very far away from Chicago. I work for an architecture firm in Chicago.

Although I am a designer, this site covers more than just that which concerns design. I write about a variety of topics - some silly, some serious, and some work related, but all real.

I started this site in July 2005 as a means of keeping in touch with my family and friends. Happily, it has turned into much more than that, as it has introduced me to new friends from all over the world.

DISCLAIMER

All of the images on this site have been created by me, with exception to those noted otherwise. Feel free to download these images for personal, non-commercial purposes. But please DO NOT attempt to reproduce these images for commercial purposes in anyway. If you would like to ask for my permission to use these images, please contact me.

CONTACT

I would love to answer any questions you may have about the content of this site. Also, please do not hesitate to contact me with ideas, comments, or general problems you have about the site. I am particularly interested in hearing about navigational problems within in the site, or slow upload times.

You can email me at kimilax@yahoo.com or leave a message in the comments sections on the home page.
Contact me

100 Things About Me
1. I am a vegetarian - about 90% vegan. I do not keep animal products in my apartment (cheese, milk, eggs) but I do eat them occasionally.
2. I am a huge Star Wars fan (but only since the 1997 re-release). My favorite film is Return of the Jedi.
3. I have two brothers (one older, one younger) and a sister (younger). My parents have been married (to each other) since October 1979.
4. My immediate family lives in Iowa.
5. I live in a suburb of Chicago most of the time (when I am not at school).
6. I am working on getting my Bachelor of Architecture, but I am interested in other types of design as well.
7. I think I want to go into web design too... don't laugh.
8. I am engaged to be married in September 2007.
9. I have an anxiety problem (seriously, a psychiatrist told me that).
10. I love all animals, but especially CATS!!!
11. I love to travel... even alone.
12. I am really addicted to "Mexican" food - beans, salsa, tortillas, corn... yummy.
13. I am an aunt!
14. I never get my hair cut as often as I should, but also never really feel bad about it. There are more important things in life, you know?
15. I was born July 31, 1984 in Cedar Falls, Iowa.
16. I get migraine headaches.
17. I love to sleep. I think I could be a professional.
18. I love getting letters in the mail, even though it is old-fashioned and takes longer.
19. High School was the worst experience of my life (so far).
20. I absolutely hate it when people talk on their cell phones in public (including when they are riding with you in your car)!!!
21. I prefer not to wear products made of dead animals (leather, suede, fur)...
22. ...but I do love to wear Saucony sneakers.
23. When I am in school, my job is to inspect fume hoods for Environmental Health & Safety (EH&S).
24. I broke my wrist once while I was working. I didn't think that looked so good for EH&S - when their own employees hurt themselves.
25. Hablo un poco español and parlo un po italiano - but I am not trilingual!
26. I am a bit addicted to Adobe Photoshop. I have even chose to play with it rather than sleep a few nights.
27. I prefer non-fiction books over fiction. I usually only read fiction books if they have been recommended to me.
28. I try not to swear anymore (Steven said I used to sound like a sailor), but sometimes I cannot help it, dammit!
29. I love to download new fonts off the internet. I suppose that goes along with my Photoshop Addiction.
30. I don't claim any party, but I think I can relate more to democratic ideals.
31. I am anti-gun, anti-hunting, pro-choice and about the death penalty... too hard to say. I am always open to hearing somone else's views.
32. I took a dance class fall semester 2005 but still can't dance.
33. I have an excellent memory and am very good at remembering dates.
34. I have 20/15 vision, but both my parents wear glasses.
35. But I have awful hearing. Sometimes I think I need hearing aids. Often, I just guess what people are saying to me when they speak.
36. I am not very feminine, but sometimes I wish I was (I think sometimes Steven wishes I was too!).
37. I can use a Macintosh or a Windows based machine. I prefer each for different purposes.
38. My favorite computer game is Tetris!
39. My favorite actress is Natalie Portman, and was well before she was cast for Star Wars Episode I.
40. I wish I was as talented as my older brother, as witty as my younger brother and as skinny as my younger sister.
41. I don't believe in soul mates. That is serious BS. It is all about chance and luck, and I was very lucky!
42. If I had to live off of only one food for the rest of my life, that food would be potatoes! (Spoken like a true American!)
43. My favorite color is orange.
44. My favorite holiday is Christmas. How original I know - but at least now it is about the company, not the presents!
45. I think strippers are degrading to women.
46. I rotate between various bad habits - chewing my fingernails, picking at scabs... gross, I know.
47. I love OPI nail polish. I almost always have my toenails painted, and occasionally my fingernails.
48. I could eat "asian-style" ramen noodles for every meal!
49. I love chocolate truffles, especially the ones from Harry and David's.
50. Dark chocolate is better.
51. I believe that volunteering can be a self-healing process.
52. I can't cut with scissors.
53. I can be a bit cynical.
54. I played the violin for 12 years. I miss it.
55. I love Su Doku, but only on the "easy" level!
56. I think that having roommates is an idea only good in theory.
57. I find it utterly depressing to wake up before the sun rises.
58. I hate wearing shoes and socks - I prefer sandals or nothing at all.
59. But I hate wearing flip flops. Flip flops SUCK.
60. And the worst part - I hate having my feet dirty. I wash them multiple times during the day if I can.
61. I used to keep an intense journal - now I just do it online!
62. I think my little sister and I are very similar, and that scares me a bit.
63. I could spend hours browsing in the bookstore, if only Steven would let me.
64. I am a bit anti-social and hesitant to make dates with other people.
65. I despise television. I have no favorite shows, don't have a TV in my apartment and never watch it unless I am with Steven. I prefer movies.
66. I spent more of my time in 2006 living in Italy than in the States… does this mean I am exempt from Income Tax?!?!
67. I love to use the ellipsis... which you can probably tell!
68. I take my school work and real work very seriously. People sometimes say I am too serious. I am mature for my age.
69. Soccer is my favorite sport to play and watch. I despise most others.
70. I like all music EXCEPT cheesy country and hard rap.
71. I have naturally wavy hair, but I prefer is straight, naturally.
72. All the men in my life are mechanics, but I know nothing about cars. Oops.
73. I worked at McDonald's for four years (age 14-18). Three of those years I was a manager.
74. I want to buy a Mini Cooper when I graduate and a Corvette Stingray after a few years.
75. I think it is rude to stare. And to push your religion on others. And do to both at the same time.
76. I like to work on puzzles - ALONE!
77. A dream of mine is to work for George Lucas - designing sets or building models.
78. Going to the bar (or drinking a lot, in general) is not my idea of fun.
79. I have many addictions. Most of them involve food - eating too much or too fast.
80. I wore braces for two years (who didn't?) and I like my teeth.
81. I believe that the things you hate most about other people are the things you hate about yourself.
82. Everything I learned about design I taught to myself.
83. Puffs plus lotion are my favorite tissues to use when I am sick.
84. I am excellent at remembering exact facts that are told to me, but not at remembering exact facts that I read.
85. I prefer to work in the late hours of the night - between midnight and 5:00 am (right now it is 4:29 am as I write this...).
86. I prefer water over soda and juice, but I do drink Mt. Dew like a mad woman if I need to stay up late.
87. I own a lot of books. I like to cover them in protective wrap so they do not get damaged when I read them and transport them.
88. Before I met Steven, I did not know how to use a computer - turn one on, use the internet, have an email account...yikes!
89. My favorite season is Autumn - I love the fresh weather, the opportunity to wear a jacket and the crunchy leaves on the ground.
90. I still sleep with a stuffed animal (Minou).
91. I think I grew up too fast, so now, when I feel like acting goofy, I am really goofy.
92. Eating nuts (peanuts, pecans, almonds, etc.) and the smell of nuts gives me a headache.
93. I am more curious than I would like to admit.
94. I am very susceptible to feelings of guilt.
95. I can't concentrate as well as I used to be able to, especially with music on. I prefer not to multi-task.
96. I have two scars on my right knee - one from running down a hill and falling when I was young; the other from goofing around with Christina.
97. I really want to learn how to swing dance. It is so fun!
98. There are a lot of places in the world I want to visit - Egypt, China, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, Mexico, Scotland, Brazil, the list goes on...
99. I like jewelry. What good woman doesn't?
100. It took me more than four months to think of 100 things to write here!