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!

Life in the 'Burbs

We are back in Highlands Ranch for a few weeks. Highlands Ranch was one of my first Colorado experiences...and trust me, it is an experience. I will not spend this post though on the downfalls of life in the 'burbs. I appreciate our current situation and the generosity of my in-laws too much.

Instead, I will give you a simple list of the little pleasures of "burb life":

1. A beautiful house with all of the amenities of that which we have only dreamed. They live the American Dream here.

2. A view of the mountains. Although you can find this in other parts of the Denver metro area, it would come at a price out of our reach.

3. Timed stop lights. This has been a completely new experience for me moving to Colorado. You mean the light changes when you pull up to it? It's really hard to imagine but it is by far one of the best perks about living in the 'burbs. If you have not experienced this phenomenon, I highly recommend a field trip to HR.

4. The grocery stores. Grocery stores in the city cannot even come close to comparison to the grocery stores they offer here. I have never seen a cheese selection like I saw the other day in Highlands Ranch. It is truly incredible.

5. Similarly, liquor stores. Not only are there sales, but they offer discounts if you buy in bulk. How could I not be tempted?

6. Finally, my favorite part of the 'burbs is a little place we like to call the Oebs. The Old Blinking Light was a frequent haunt of ours when we were living in HR last time. It offers us a delicious cheeseburger, chocolate mints by the handful, and drink specials we could not beat. And we decided that there really was no point in trying to beat it. We made friends with the managers and owners and were often teased that we were there more than the wait staff. Oebs, I am glad to have you back in my life, even if temporarily.

And so you might ask, why hate on the 'burbs? It seems to offer you many rewards. And it's true, I can never hate the 'burbs. It was my first home in Colorado and my first real taste of the fastest growing county in the country five years in a row. Who wouldn't want to be a part of this? I showed up almost two years ago to the HR, and said I was staying a month. 9 months later I moved out, only to move back a year later. Let's face it, I can't get enough.

The exciting news!

This guy right here

my husband

has a new job!

Yay! He does already have a job, but it is time to move on and that is what he is doing!

What will he be doing?

He is the new Professional Research Assistant for General Internal Medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus working with former prison inmates on health issues.

Isn't that where you work, Liz?

Yes, it is. He will be working one floor above my office.

How awesome is that?

It is so incredibly awesome.

I am so proud of him! He is so excited about this new position and I am excited about the extra spending money in our pockets, and even...maybe...he'll drive me to work everyday? Yesss to an easy commute!

A post before a post

I know it's Wednesday and I haven't posted since Friday.

This is for two reasons:

1. I hate packing and moving and all I have been doing is sweating and packing the last few days, but it's almost over. We move Saturday morning. I am looking forward to air conditioning. I noticed that despite having 12 boxes packed already (Shane is constantly shocked that we have so much stuff), it does not look like we have packed anything. Our apartment is actually more messy now.

2. I have exciting news, but I cannot share it with the outside world for a bit (No, I am not pregnant-that would not be very exciting at this point in our lives or marriage). Hopefully I will be able to share this afternoon though.

In the meantime, keep on, keep on trucking.

Friday Distraction

I am lusting over and loving these tables.
One day, Liz, one day.

(www.potterybarn.com)


(www.alexanderpaulantiques.com)


(www.alexanderpaulantiques.com)

Maybe it was all of those years I spent dreaming about my future as a farmer and maybe you are asking yourself, "Liz, why are you lusting over dining room tables?". It's not just the table though; it is the invitation that these tables offer, it is the kitchen you imagine in the next room, it's the delicious smells coming from the just prepared meal, it's the buzz from the wine, and the chatter amongst friends and family gathered around. Enough, enough, I get carried away. I love these tables and thought it was a happy note on which to end the week. Happy Friday!

Tribute to our first home

Shane and I are moving out of the first place that we have together called home...by ourselves(thanks to Shane's parents for letting us stay at their home for so long and thanks for taking us back again for a few weeks). I am excited for our new apartment, but thought I should pay tribute to our first home as newlyweds.

(photos taken from our landlord's realtor, but it's all of our decor)

I am also kind of obsessed with our table and chairs, but apparently the photographer did not feel the same, maybe because they are from 1978. Aha, but I have found a youtube video featuring our apartment...and no, our ceilings are not sloped like that.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwcGHQc1AkM&feature=related

We are so looking forward to more space, closets actually in the bedroom, a new roommate, a balcony, dishwasher and a ROOFTOP POOL! YESSS!

A Birthday Wish!

Happy BIRTHDAY to my DAD!!

He is a man of many trades and talents. He's a husband, storyteller, brother, great dancer, son, skibum, friend, grillmaster and the best DAD! If you see him today, make sure to give him a big birthday hug!

(picture borrowed from Uncle Shawn)




(picture from Uncle Shawn-thanks for posting on facebook)



Love you Daddy! Miss you and wish I could be there to celebrate!!

Rare Occasion

I don’t normally cook…gasp, I know. What’s the use of a wife if she doesn’t cook? I do find other purposes, but I did decide to cook and bake last night. Shane has been working so hard and we just bought this delicious Mahi Mahi on sale. The plan was unexpectedly altered when Shane came home early. I lost all of the little motivation to cook (shocking) but I did manage to bake from scratch, shortcake with all sorts of fresh berries. And let me just say that I think both of us agree that I should bake more often; it was delicious! I decided evidence is needed for therare occasion, so pictures are below.

Ps, I have to give my mother all of the credit. She taught me the tricks of the baking trade.

Happy Independence Day

Happy belated 4th of July!!
Hope you all had great weekends full of bbqs, fireworks, friends and family! Shane managed the fireworks stand as usual, so I didn't see too much of him, but I had a great weekend sitting by the pool, shopping, hanging out with friends and setting off some fireworks thanks to Manager Shane.


Sarah, Jenna(the photographer of these lovely photos) and I


Despite the rain, we managed to still light some fireworks off.


No 4th of July bbq is complete without a red, white, and blue shot. I was asked to make 14 of these to get the party started. These little beuts are not as easy to make as they may look. I told people they tasted like a fruit salad; they didn't. I was handed this one and I probably deserved it since this is more like a glass of "shot" than a shot itself, and I sipped it for most of the afternoon before ditching it for something a little more delicious. However, they were very pretty and patriotic and that's all that really matters.

Germany v. Argentina

This is obviously a big match and I will obviously be in my Germany gear ready for it tomorrow at 8am. 8am on a Saturday...it's not usually my best time. Shane even asked me to get breakfast with him. But despite the fact that we have seen each other for a total of 6 hours this week, I told him sorry honey buns (sometimes I call him that),

I have a game to watch!

Auf gehts Deutschland!!
2010 Weltmeister!