Back to Work...

Ugh, I do not want to go back to work tomorrow. After having an exceptional time in Florida with my family, it is hard to think about heading back to the office tomorrow. I will blog soon about the trip and my baby cousins who are the best. But for now, I will complain about work. I don't dislike my job, which is a huge blessing, but who wants to go back after Thanksgiving? Christmas is 27 days away and I think we should be able to take those days off for Christmas things.


Shane and I snow shoed to find the perfect Christmas tree yesterday and we decorated and began shopping and listened to Christmas and played games with friends and now I want to do that for the next month, nonstop. More coming on the Christmas tree and adventuring into the National Forest to find it, so stay tuned and I apologize for my laziness tonight. However, it is cold and I am sleepy, so tomorrow is another day and I will blog then. Promise! 


Hope you all had wonderful Thanksgivings and were able to reflect on all for which there is to be thankful!

Happy almost Weekend!

We are heading to Flo-Ri-Da tomorrow and are pretty darn excited. I probably won't be blogging much from down there, so I wanted to warn you as I know how sad this will make you, but fret not, I will leave the video below for some silliness while I am gone.

  

'American Talk' With Josh Horowitz And The 'Harry Potter' Cast:

Who else is as excited as I am to see HP?

Was that video not enough to hold you over?   Hmm, I should have suspected as much. Well, I will also leave you with this video for your prolonged entertainment.

A Birthday to Celebrate!

Happy Birthday to my Bestest Friend in the Whole Wide World! We have been calling each other this since we could speak. She is and has always been one of my favorite people. I am pretty sure that won't ever change despite the distance.

In honor, here are 7 things you probably don't know about Bestest:

1. She's called me every Christmas morning since we were little to discuss presents.

2. Although we fought more often than not in our childhood, we always united to dominate Karl and Taylor.

3. She speaks her mind in all circumstances, even and especially, when I don't want to hear it.

4. If she knows she has done something wrong, she will try to make it better by taking me to dunks. 

5. She is my complete opposite in every aspect, yet she is the first person I call whether happy or sad.

6. She has become her mother and often reminds me that I have become mine as well.

7. She is freakishly tall. Oh, but I guess you did know that.

Love you Bestest!

Monday, Monday

It's snowing this morning and it looks like a snow globe outside my office.  It's a good way to start the week, but I have a feeling this week will take forever, because I am very much looking forward to the weekend for two major reasons:

1. On Friday, we are going to see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. To say I am excited is an understatement. We have spent the last few weeks watching all of the movies again and I am reading through the 7th book for the second time in preparation. Last night we watched the Half Blood Prince and Shane exclaimed at the end of the movie, "Why didn't we watch this on Friday afternoon? I don't know if I will be able to wait five days now!!".

2. Then on Saturday morning we head to Florida to see my dad's extended family and my parents for Thanksgiving! We have been looking forward to this  trip since we booked our tickets in July. It will be so much fun to visit with my parents, family and especially to meet my two new baby cousins who are the most adorable baby girls in the whole world. Yes, the whole entire world. I don't get to see my family too often these days, so every trip we take back east is so special. Also, be jealous that we are taking the whole week off from work. It's going to be great.

Wouldn't you be very impatient for the weekend if you had these things to be excited about?

Nuggies

I'll start my post with a confession. I have a crush on the Birdman. Maybe it's his tats or crazy hair or that he drives a big truck or maybe just the fact that his name is Birdman and he's a baller. I don't know, but he's my favorite. I don't usually start watching the Denver Nuggets until later in the season. It's just such a long season and they play so often. I am not that into it but when it finally comes to the point in the season that gets interesting, I love to watch them play. One of the only other teams I have really liked is the Giants, so this is big news.

Why, you ask, am I writing about this now, especially since there are about 7 more months of basketball season? Well, I was reading the news this morning and one of the local headlines is, "Nuggets hand Lakers first loss of season". Similarly to not having teams that I particularly like, I also don't have a ton of teams that I feel more than indifferent towards. However, I hate the Lakers like I hate the Cowboys. It's almost an innate feeling. And don't comment on this post and say, Liz, Kobe Bryant is so good. I don't care. 
This is a Happy Friday indeed!

Gym Tan Laundry

I couldn't resist posting this when Bosch emailed it to me.

It made me laugh. 

Here's hoping Friday gets here a little quicker than most weeks!

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow

I love the snow. I think it's in my nature. When I was younger my family and I changed the lyrics to this song, because we thought it was too negative about the snow.  I remember when it would blizzard out, my parents would suggest going for a drive to check out the roads. We never went sledding, we only went sleigh riding, so much more glamorous. We would ice up our driveway in the winter to make a long sleigh riding path with a big ramp at the top to pick up speed.  All winter we yearned for those snow days when we could all run outside, me of course in my giant one piece snow suit so to keep warm and dry. 

Today is our first snow out here in Colorado. Figuring we had an actual snow day mid October last year, it's a little late, but I'll take it. Although it's only flurrying, it immediately feels like winter and makes me nostalgic for my childhood. 

Now we have Ipswich to remind us of the joy brought by snow. She is obsessed. I caught her only a few minutes ago on the balcony eating the flakes as they fell through the air and licking the chair for remaining snow, trying to catch it before it melted away. 

Shane came home and asked immediately why the dog was so worked up and I knew the answer, "she was catching snowflakes on the balcony". She loves swimming, but this dog is never more in love with life than when she is bounding through the snow.

So winter, we welcome you. Let it snow and give us the 70 degree days in between. **Colorado winters are the best. If you haven't tried one, you really should.

Ghosts, post-Halloween

We live in the area of Denver called Cheesman Park and in particular, we live about 2 blocks from the park. It's a gorgeous park and it's not always full of volleyball players which is a huge bonus. Part of it even becomes a dog zone after work where 30-40 dogs and owners gather at one time and let their pets run free. And it happens to boast some beautiful sunsets. These pics were taken with my phone and all in the same evening.

But with any good park, there are legends- grave looters, chopped up bodies, ghosts and a history that makes me squirm. Needless to say, I do not go to the park after dark. 

Most recently however, there was an interesting article on 7News regarding the history of Cheesman and some skeletons that construction workers dug up. Thought you would enjoy a real life ghost story to start the week.

Rude People=Hungry Liz

On Tuesday, my boss offered to buy me lunch at Udi's. It's probably one of my favorite sandwich places in Denver, so I was pretty stoked. I ate half of my sandwich and put it in the fridge at our office (we share one fridge with about 60 or so people) for lunch the next day. Yesterday I had something else for my lunch, but today I brought nothing with me in great expectation of eating the rest of my sandwich (and chips).  Just now when I went to get my sandwich, what should I find? My sandwich had been thrown away! I found it in the garbage. It was still in it's plastic container, but it was warm, so I thought that I shouldn't risk food poisoning.

Instead, I went back to my computer in a huff and made a sign (above) and stormed...well maybe I snuck, back to the kitchen to hang it on the fridge. Now I am hungry. 

In the words of Michelle Tanner, "HOW RUDE!". 

Tea Time and Social Hour

Shane and Mel, in particular have been really into tea lately, perhaps because of the changing weather (and terrible wind). And I have been enjoying a few different flavors as well.  We recently discovered St. Mark's Coffeehouse within walking distance of our new place (5 blocks!) that has many different flavors of tea.  The only problem is, it is a place where people sit in silence, with their computers and ipods, and no community.

When we walked there the other night in search of delicious tea and a change of scenery, there was not one empty table (and about 35 people with their laptops). And if there had been one table in the midst of that scene, we would have felt like we were disturbing the peace. Shane then told us about how in certain coffee shops, they are blocking outlets to bring in more income, but also to create more of a social environment. Can you imagine a place that doesn't serve alcohol where people gather to drink coffee and socialize? Can you imagine a coffee shop where you don't feel like you need to whisper your order to the barista as to not disturb those sitting in silence around you?

But I can see both sides of the argument. I just wish that people could sit in a place like St. Marks and talk with their neighbors and their friends and read their books and observe the world around them.

Until then, we sit at the bar next door instead and enjoy our time together and our tea.

Blustery

Today's forecast might as well have read: blustery with a chance of blowing away and don't bother fixing your hair because it will be a knotty mess by the time you reach your destination. With a little humility mixed in as your disheveled self battles to cross campus. Oh, and forget about taking the dog for a nice walk, so pay for doggy daycare instead.  Followed by, your ears will get cold and your face will be bright red. ...But isn't it deceptively nice looking outside and aren't you glad the sun is shining?(I am glad about the sun, don't get me wrong)

Always keeping it classy.

Or just trying to stand straight.

Instead, the forecast read: A mix of clouds and sun with gusty winds. High 49F. 

Winds WNW at 25 to 35 mph.

Morning Commute

This morning on our way to work, I was talking about scheduling for the next few months (I know, I'm a planner) and I said, well, if sometimes we can't figure out the week ahead, we can definitely "play it by ear".

Shane looks at me and smirks, "Play it by ear?"

Yes, I say.

He says in return, "Isn't it play it by year?".

Now, usually at this point, he is correct. And I can admit to it pretty quickly, because I am not talented in correctly repeating phrases such as this one. I usually mess up at least one word, sometimes two. But, I really did think I was right this time around. So, I go into some vague explanation as to why I think it's play it by ear and he explains why he thinks it is play it by year.

Then he says, "Well, I guess one of us is going to get a fundamental lesson that will change the way we have thought for the last 25 years".

Dear husband, it's play it by ear. I looked it up of course immediately when I arrived at work. When I am wrong, I usually am very wrong and it will result in both of us laughing at the ridiculous phrase I created (yes, sometimes I laugh at myself), but I was right this time around, so I will continue to plan out our schedule and we might play it by ear.

Another Anniversary to Celebrate

Happy Anniversary to my wonderful parents! 

They are celebrating 29 years together this year.

Thank you mom and dad for being great role models for our new marriage.

In the words of my mother, "Live dun". I love you both!

Dinner

      As most know, I don't cook. Shane is an awesome cook and I don't think it's necessary to have two of us in the kitchen...that and I really just don't like it. So for our anniversary and in honor of my husband, I cooked.  But not only did I cook, I stuffed a fish. Stuffed-it. I just so happen to be  disgusted with raw meat, so it was kind of a big deal. Usually when Shane cooks, I stand over him in the kitchen and complain about him not watching his hands enough and then complain when he touches the sink to turn the water on to wash his hands. Needless to say, that is why I don't hang out in the kitchen much.
     So I stuffed a fish, all by myself. It was a whole, just caught, kind-of, snapper, stuffed with crab meat. I didn't slice the snapper (ew) and I certainly did not make my own crab meat, but I created a masterpiece that was as delicious as it was beautiful.

 

I sang and talked to the fish throughout and also spoke to my Betta who was looking on in horror, reassuring him that he would remain my pet. Overall I would say it was such a success that  
I may just cook again one day.

Do You Realize?

Maybe I haven't posted in over a week because I have been listening to this song (and dancing around the living room). And maybe I am a little behind the times, but it's a great song. And maybe just maybe you should listen to it on repeat. I promise I won't boss you with music forevermore, but maybe this one is worth the bossing, maybe just this once?

 

And maybe might maybe check out the video if you haven't seen it already, 

or maybe even if you have seen it a million trillion times.

Happy Anniversary to US!

Me (as we went to sleep last night): I really like being married to you.

Shane: I really like being married with you.

Happy One Year Anniversary with My Husband!

We spent the weekend in Boulder at the St. Julien Hotel & Spa. Our massages were wonderful and relaxing as was the entire weekend.  It's hard to believe a year ago today we were officially committing our lives together.

We also opened up a bottle of champagne from Schramsberg in Napa that we bought on our honeymoon and reflected on a year together, kind of. Mostly, we reminisced about our wedding and what an incredible time we had with friends and family and tried to figure out how to convince my parents to pay for another one.

Happy happy Friday

Happy Friday! Fridays really are the happiest day of the week! This weekend is particularly happy because it's the weekend Shane and I were hitched just one year ago. Our actual anniversary is on Monday, so more reflecting then, but for now, I will leave you with our happy plans for the weekend (Monday one year anniversaries are not as fun as weekends). 

(I still do not have one professional pic from the wedding, oops!)(remember how it was snowing a year ago?)

We are celebrating with a mini-trip to Boulder to the St. Julien where we spent our wedding night; massages included this time and not doing much else, which seems very delightful to me on this Friday. And that is my happy weekend to come. 

Doggy Daycare

Today is Ipswich's second day of doggy daycare. I tend to take on the neurotic mom role when it comes to her going to daycare.  I awkwardly drilled the woman when I picked her up after her first day, "Did she behave?  Does she have any friends? Is she a good toy sharer? How was she when I left? Do you think she missed us? Did she play nicely?".

So today when I dropped her off again, I stood there chatting with the guy at the front desk thinking, no more neurotic mom moments:

Me: "Hi, Ipswich is very excited to be here"

Man at front desk, "Oh, is she?"

Me: "Yes?......Well, thanks and I hope things go well and I guess we will be back around 4:30, but...oh, it probably doesn't really matter when I'll be back, does it?"

MaFD: "Nope, as long as you come back."

Me: (nervous laugh) "Oh, well, do you take her harness off when we are gone? I mean, it's alright if you do. Do you take her collar off too? I guess that wouldn't really make sense. Ok (bending over to pet Ipswich), bye doggy. Have fun today and please be nice."

And that's how I left Ipswich at her second day of doggy daycare. Somehow I don't think the guy judged me.

Getting into the car, I commented to Shane, "I really like Ipswich. She is just a really nice doggy."

Garden of the Gods

We went to Garden of the Gods to do some climbing two weekends ago.  Shane had been getting Karl excited about this climb all season.  Although not too difficult, it is a very high climb (and quite nerve racking to watch, may I add)! While Shane, Karl and Sean climbed, Mel, Puppy, and I watched.  Enjoy the pics!

Shane leading the climb with puppy making sure everything is alright.

The boys all excited about making it to the top, relaxing before the descent.

We make really good cheerleaders.

Tired but happy boys (and a very curious and energetic puppy).

Dream Camera Lens

Shane and I are in the market for a new lens for our pretty little camera to make it prettier.  While shopping around on amazon.com, Shane found our dream lens. Now we only need the $28,000.

Ultra Telephoto Lens

1. Please note the arms. Shane has already started working out, so he can hold it with as much precision as this guy.

2. Please read the reviews. You won't regret it. It's a two for one: missile launcher and camera lens.

Shane, 7:32AM, Friday, October 1

This morning we got on the elevator with a man who smelled like cinnamon buns and vanilla extract.  Some might find this strange, but I just assumed he meant to smell like that as we live in the Cheesman Park neighborhood. We had not met him before and Shane did not assume the same as me.

Shane asks the man:

"Do you have cinnamon buns? Because it smells good in here." 

The man replies: "No (glances in his grocery bag), I have peanut butter toast though?"

Shane responds with an awkward laugh:

"Well, we will let you escape this time, but next time you might not be so lucky". Shane laughs again.

To which I give a startled look at Shane and avoid eye contact with the man as he quickly exits the elevator.

Shane is now the creepy, seemingly gay, but married to a woman, guy in apartment 5C.

Sometimes...

 

...we watch tv like this.

Don't worry, Mel is included...she only got up to get the camera after I insisted on a picture.

A blog I suggest you follow

As I sat in our apartment last night, I couldn't help but be concerned when Mel asked me the following questions:
1. Do you have the pictures from apple picking last week still on your camera?
2. Can I have them on my computer?

These seem like ordinary enough questions to the outside listener, however, I immediately detected the meaning behind the inquiries...

In asking Mel to be our roommate for the next year, I did not realize what exactly I was putting at stake. I didn't think beyond, "oh it will be fun; we've been roommates before; we know how to live together, etc etc". I should have known better though. I should have been alerted with her initial statement of, "I don't have a camera". I should have been prepared...but she didn't even have a blog at the time. How was I to know?

I have now come to the full realization that no photo is safe from her, no story of last weekend free from her grasp. So, instead of creating a competition and as a way of surrender, I am posting the link to her blog, so that ultimately you will follow her, therefore sharing another little piece of our world{with Mel} in the Mile High City.

Plus, she is funny, smart, entertaining, and she does a really great job making collages from the pics, so really I should be grateful.

Did you know...

More than 400,000 women die every year of heart disease compared to about 40,000 who die of breast cancer (2008).

Cardiovascular mortality is declining in men but not women.

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in women in the nation.

Ahh, perhaps I am feeling a little morbid today, or perhaps we at the Center for Women's Health Research held our 2010 Annual Luncheon yesterday and I think it is important to be informed.

The luncheon went off smashingly. We had about 630 guests, a great keynote speaker, Dr. Patrick Schamasch, Medical and Scientific Director of the International Olympic Committee speaking on "Female Athletes as International Role Models for Women's Health" (who also happens to be from Switzerland with a very charming accent), and delicious food, along with a whole plethora of information on the importance of research in the field of women's health.

I am proud to a part of an organization that supports this cause, but more importantly, I am so thrilled that the event is over for another year and am not at all ready to start the planning again.

reflecting on summer round one

I have some catching up to do from the summer...

Mom and Dad came to visit Denvahtown in August and we had a great time and even got to catch up with Nance! Although they may have some time before they move out here, we did go look at an open house in Evergreen. They aren't ready to buy in the mountains but I sure am!

Home again, Home again

...Jiggidy jig. Back in the Colorado and although I have long ago come to love this state, I cannot help but miss Jersey already. I know I know, people from home may question my loyalty to Jersey after I moved across the country, and those unfamiliar with Jersey may question my loyalty because, well, they just don't understand. Despite the haters on both sides, I cannot help but feel that my loyalty will never truly waiver. My identity cannot change. I will remain, forever, a Jersey Girl.

Until I get pictures loaded onto my computer, here are a few reasons that made coming back enjoyable!

1. doggy peering at me with those sad eyes.


2. roommate and a clean apartment! She likes to dress up when we return.


3. my bed. I love my bed, probably more than any other object, maybe even more than my indisposed iphone.

4. I can get the 7th Harry Potter book back from Austin, yesssss.


5. book club or as some call it, wine club. I read the book this time!

(photo courtesy of Jenna Van Aswegen. Some book club members are missing)

We made it!

on our way!

karl and shane in the atlantic

We made it to the shore! It has already been a wonderful vacation full of familiar faces that I haven't seen in many months. I was surprised with Bestest and Anne, Dave, my cousin Jaimers and my Nana, and of course the usual shore crowd with more on the way as the holiday weekend approaches. Some pics for now and some stories later.

Repeat

I hate to repeat myself, but I am just too excited to resist.

I am going to one of my favorite place on earth this weekend. It is a much needed break and I am so ready. Now I just have to pack!

When I get pics uploaded from the last few weeks, I promise I will temporarily stop talking about the shore.

Countdown to Vacation

I don't think I can remember a time when I have ever been more in need of a vacation.

I pretty consistently want to be on vacation, but I have never felt this huge need to be on vacation.

Top 3 Reasons I know I Need a Vacation:
1. I cry from condemnation and I cry from praise.
2. Moving from house to house.
3. I volunteered to work overtime this week, volunteered.

Valid reasons? Yes!

Shore Countdown = 8 days.

I will make it. I can make it. I must make it.
i think i can, i think i can, i think i can...

Welcome to Colorado!

I was pleased to see Mel's face (and Sean's) last night around 9:00pm Mountain Time pulling up to our new place. They showed up looking a little exhausted but overall happy to be here. It was not nearly as an emotional embrace as the day I got married, but I'd say it took a place as a happy second.

Sean and Mel drove the full route from New Jersey in less than 48 hours and to say I am impressed is an understatement. I remember that long drive and would never wish it on anyone, especially Mel who did the same drive to Colorado with me just about two years ago.

I cannot express how happy we are to have Mel here with us.

Puppy is excited as well and has been anxiously awaiting her arrival. She knows her godmother will take good care of her.

Sean, thanks for being the one to convince her.

Cruising on our Cruiser

We just bought this little beauty right here off of craigslist. It's a Schwinn Tandem Bike from who knows when. It could use a little shining, but we love it.
Getting ready for Shore Time.






Ipswich being just a little dramatic for the camera.

Do it yourself

In my downtime in the last few weeks, I have become caught up in reading about DIY projects that I am hoping to try in the new condo (TUESDAY!!). Maybe I am feeling inspired because it's a new place, new time in life; I'm not sure, but here are the few that I am most excited about:

1. How to make wine bottles into drinking glasses. For someone who goes through their fair share of wine bottles, it wouldn't cost that much extra. I was just about to go out and buy a new set of drinking glasses, but this is way more fun and maybe even a little green? Shane may end up doing most of the work, but he's into it.

2. How to make homemade laundry detergent. I didn't know this was possible and secondly, I couldn't figure out "WHY?". Is it more environmentally friendly? Is it healthier? Is it better for the longevity of your clothes? No, no, and no. Then what??? Money, money, money. I am sold. More money to buy more clothes is how I see it.

3. How to make newspapers into logs for the fire. Now this one is almost too dorky, but why not since we have a wood-burning fire place these days.

4. Finally, how to make twist tie horses. Beware Mel, these might be our new go-to decorations for the condo. I especially like the color.

My new toy

This beautiful gadget will soon be in my hands. At&t decided to play nice and let me have my upgrade. I love you already my dear Iphone 4.
I don't even care if you hate on leftys.

Jersey Shore

In recognition of the second season of Jersey Shore starting tonight, thought I would post about one of my favorite places on earth. The Jersey Shore, specifically Seaside Park. The countdown begins for our trip out there this summer...29 days till we spend 11 glorious days at the shore and as an added bonus, we will be there for Labor Day weekend.


biker gang

the fam-diggity on the traditional photo bench

getting ready for a sunset cruise on the bay

kayaking on the ocean

yes, please

As I get more and more excited about our trip back east, I am sure there will be more montages of the shore to come. You don't have to watch the show tonight, but you should come to the shore and visit!