Happy New Year!

2010 is going to be a great year, I can feel it! This past year has been nice, but definitely had it's struggles. As fast as it's gone it has also gone by very slowly. I'm so ready for the New Year to be here, with a fresh start and new beginnings! My resolution for 2009 was for a healthier me ~ not just about losing weight but about eating healthier, getting more exercise, and taking better care of myself. I think I did a pretty good job of holding up that resolution throughout the year. I'm not ending that resolution when the clock strikes midnight on January 1st, 2010 though, it's a resolution I want to carry on into next year {and every year after!}. So here's a toast to all of you for a healthy, happy and successful New Year filled with lots of love!

My love

I love this boy so much. He's so wonderful....patient, kind, caring, thoughtful, selfless, loving, funny...the list goes on. I'm gonna miss him!!

Gratitude Friday

Happy Friday!! Can you believe 2 weeks from TODAY is Christmas?!! My goodness, I can't! This season has just flown by! Tonight Ryan and I are going to enjoy ourselves at one of the best restaurants ~ The Melting Pot and I can't wait (the best part is that it's a Christmas gift) ! If you have ever been there you know how wonderful it is....if you haven't, trust me it's amazing! We've only been there one other time because it's, well, a little out of our price range but OH so worth it! This weekend I hope to just enjoy time with Ryan before he leaves Monday to head out east for more Marine training {not sure how long he'll be gone for ~ we think 6 months to a year}. We hope to tour some great Christmas light displays, spend time with his parents, and head to the Tuba Christmas on Sunday. Ok on to what I'm thankful for this week:

• With the average temperature this week being in the single digits {with many nights well below zero} I am SO VERY thankful for having a roof over my head and a place to stay warm 
• Along with the frigid temperatures we also had snow that has stayed on the ground for more than a day or two ~ I love how the holiday lights look at night surrounded by the snow
• Ryan and the quality time I've gotten to spend with him recently
• My Christmas gifts coming together and feeling more accomplished about that. I still have a lot to do and less than 2 weeks for those that I want to get shipped off....still stressful but I feel a tad more on top of things
• Losing 13 lbs! It's not a lot but I'll take it for now. Hopefully I can keep it off for a few weeks over the holiday until I can attack it again in full force after the New Year.
• Hot tea ~ it's a new love of mine {how great is it that it's good for you, has no calories, can give you an energy boost or help you relax, and keeps you warm}. I've tried a LOT of teas recently and have definitely grown my tea collection in my pantry but my sister introduced me to one that I just can't seem to drink enough of {I love it that much}....it's Yogi Egyptian Licorice and it's just delicious ~ it tastes a lot like Aveda's Comforting Tea, but much cheaper!

Hope you're holiday season is bright and cheery and you're staying warm!!

I've been a busy bee lately and have hardly even had time to get on here and check my favorite blogs I like to look at...time is slipping through my fingers!! I have inspirations on posts in my head that I would love to implement as soon as I have time. {Not entirely sure when that will be though}. I've been working on getting gifts made and wrapped, helping Ryan make sure he is ready to head off to VA for training (he leaves on Monday), and we have some great dinners in store for us yet {MELTING POT!!!). Be back here soon enough!

Lovely long weekend

Today I worked on sewing projects for 8 hours...8 HOURS!!! I wish so badly I could share with you what I've been working on today, but that would take the fun out of the surprises of gift giving! Even with how productive I was today I still feel like I have a TON of things left to make! That's basically because I DO have a ton of things left to make! Deep breath.

Aside from gift making I have to say that I LOVE LOVE LOVE my new computer. It is SOOO much better than the old one I've been using. And I can actually DO things on my computer, like upload photos, edit photos, listen to music, burn cds/dvds. What a concept!!! Not to mention the picture quality on the screen is phenomenal. Ohhh it's just amazing.

The long weekend flew by way to fast and I'm sad to see it leave already. These next 2 weeks before Ryan leaves and then the next 2 weeks until Christmas are going to be so full and be gone before I know it! Hopefully I am able to breathe each day, sit, relax, and enjoy the hustle and bustle of this spectacular season!

Gratitude Friday

Happy Thanksgiving!! I hope everyone found lots to be thankful this year and had a blessed day! Ryan and I decided to stay home and spend some quality time together ~ and not overeat {what a concept!} In fact, we didn't even have a turkey dinner on Thanksgiving. He has already made turkey twice this year and we're having a Thanksgiving dinner in a few days with his parents. Plus when we stopped by to wish his parents a Happy Thanksgiving they gave us a little turkey to eat...so I'm convinced we weren't missing out. We were too busy getting amazing deals on things to worry about it though. I'll just give you a rundown on our day because I know you all care so much. Our day started out with {after tea in bed while watching the Thanksgiving Day Parade and checking out the adds} a trip to Radio Shack to get me a new phone and then we headed to Old Navy. We got there an hour before they opened but had nothing better to do so we chose to just wait for them to open....plus we knew that the first 15 people in line would get a FREE Rock Band guitar. Well, we were first in line so not only did we get 2 free guitars but we also got interviewed by the news and were on TV that night! Ok so after getting some great deals at Old Navy we headed home to play with our toys some, chill, and eat some dinner before we headed to Office Depot to wait in line for this lovely new laptop that I'm using RIGHT NOW! We waited ALL night but it was SOOO worth it. It's an amazing laptop that he got for such a great deal {and the best part? I get to keep it cause it's my Christmas/late birthday present!!} While he was waiting at Office Depot I made the TREK over to Walmart and Target to fight the crowd to pick up a few more great deals. And then we headed home to bed after being up for 24 hrs. PHEW!!! Now on to what I'm thankful for this week:

• being blessed with such wonderful family and friends {Ryan included}
  
• my health and the health of the ones I love
• my sister and her husband and the fact that I'm going to be an AUNTIE!!!! wahoo, SOOO excited for this! {I hope I'm allowed to say this now}
• my job and the amazing family I work for
• having a roof over my head and good food to eat
  

And you know what? I think that's enough to be thankful for...because it's definitely the creme of the crop!!

Wahoo!!

Keep comin off pounds ~ I hate you anyway!!! It's a great thing Ryan and I decided to do our own Thanksgiving so I don't overeat!!

I ate an orange today

And made my house smell yummy!!! Years and years ago when I was at my Aunt's house one year for Christmas she made this wonderful concoction on the stove and it filled her house with delicious smells of the holidays. I'm not entirely sure what was in it but I know it consisted of cinnamon sticks and orange peels {I think?}. So after I ate my orange today I made my own little version consisting of about a cup of water, my orange peels, some cinnamon {I didn't have sticks so I just used the powder}, and a little nutmeg. I threw it on the stove and let it just simmer for hours while I played around my house and it was just delightful!!

Gratitude Friday

But it's Saturday? Ya well I forgot to do this yesterday. Oops. It's probably a good thing I'm doing it today though because I'm a happier girl today. Why? Because it's Saturday!! Ohh how I love Saturdays!! Right now I'm drinking my tea, catching up on Oprah, and waiting for Lexi do be done getting groomed {how wonderful is it that there's a traveling groomer that comes to my complex?! I got to walk her over to the groomer's this morning in my pjs!}. I'm hoping to get some Christmas presents made today and then I'm off to a concert with my sis!! Alright so on to what I'm thankful for this week:

• New craft ideas for Christmas presents {although I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not because it just makes my list longer of things to make....and yet I'm still stumped on what to make a few certain people}
• Weight loss....or better yet, a healthier me {trust me, it's not much but every little bit counts, right?}
• Ryan getting his orders to head to VA for more training (thankful he's leaving? you might say...but yes, because it's what he wants, what is best for him and what he needs at this time in his life)
• And at that I'm thankful I get to spend some good quality time with him before he leaves
• The Ellen show! Oh if you've never watched it you must squeeze in an hour and catch one of her shows because they are absolutely hilarious!! Oh my gosh I just laugh my pants of watching her. Sometimes Ryan will even watch it with me and laugh right along! (ok he probably doesn't want the world knowing he watches Ellen occasionally but oh well)
• oooohhhh how can I not be thankful for the Christmas lights that are starting to be put on on houses, buildings, shopping complexes, trees, etc ~ LOVE IT!!
• ...and Christmas music {yay for Mannheim Steamroller}, Ryan and I were at the bx last night and there was holiday music playing throughout the store - it was delicious!
  
• ...and Christmas decorations!!
• Drinking my tea and coffee out of lovely little mugs, I have a fetish for mugs and love to find unique ones to collect {especially Starbucks ones.....the mug section is usually the first place I walk to when I go in Starbucks, yes sometimes even before the counter to order my drink if it's been a while since I've been in}
• Well I just took a quick break from this post to go get Lexi from the mobile grooming center and now I have something else to be thankful for....it's taken me about 2 years to find a groomer I actually like down here - I've tried many groomers as well as doing it myself (which works fine but is def quite the task to take on, and at that she won't let me do her toenails or her ears). Recently I'd found a good one that's only about 2 minutes away and I thought it was great....but it's even more great that this groomer comes to me!!

Ok I need to get on with my day and get off the couch ~ hope you all have a good Saturday!

AHH!!!

Did I bite off too much for myself when I decided to make everyone's Christmas gifts this year? I'm sort of starting to think so.....somehow my weekends just keep ending up to be not as productive as I had wanted them to be ~ Thanksgiving is just around the corner, which also means Christmas is just around the corner TOO. I'm going to try my best to get everything done, wish me luck!!

Gratitude Friday

Friday the 13th!!! So far nothing bad has happened in my neck of the woods, thank God. I'm glad it's Friday because I have so many projects to work on this weekend. I'm continually saying I'm going to get things done over the weekend but then I get distracted doing something different {although last weekend I did manage to get some great things done, but I can't discuss them on there because I wouldn't want to give away any gifts}. Hopefully this weekend is different because I will be alone all weekend as Ryan is headed to help out with a Boy Scout camping trip. As always, many things to be thankful for this week:

• My sister and her husband :)
• One day this week I was sitting in my car waiting for someone and they were running a little late. I happened to be sitting in front of a Starbucks {in a no parking zone} and there was a man outside of the Bucks with his harp. He wasn't playing when I first pulled up. I thought to myself that it would be absolutely joyous if he played Pachelbel's Cannon because it is a song that always makes my heart calm and brings a smile to my face; how beautiful would it be on a harp?! It reminds me of growing up and listening to it during the holidays on George Winston's December album. The man with the harp gets up, stretches a bit, drinks some of his coffee, sits down and starts playing music. My window was up and I couldn't really hear what he had started to play but it sounded very familiar to me. I roll down my window and what do you know? He was playing the song I had just requested in my mind!! How amazing is that? I was able to sit there in my car and listen to the whole song played beautifully on his harp. Had I not been there at that particular moment, parked in that no parking zone I never would have been able to experience such a random and amazing moment!! I'm quite thankful for this little stepping stone into the holiday season that I received from the man with the harp.
• Finding that blog I mentioned in an earlier post about the J.Crew refashionings that can be done to our clothing....LOVE it!!
• Another turkey dinner that Ryan made ~ this one was amazing, with all the great yummy things that go along with a great turkey {he's becoming quite good at this turkey cooking thing!!}
• Feeling great from the gym
• A full night's sleep that I got one night this week ~ I slept so hard that I didn't move the entire night, woke up in the same position I went to sleep in {I know this because it was a very random position sprawled across the bed}
• The holiday tidings appearing all over ~ this is by far my favorite time of the year, and I am one who could {and sometimes do} start listening to Christmas music before Halloween and put up my Christmas lights before Thanksgiving. I'm holding off this year a little bit though, but I think the festive music and lights will be making their appearance sometime in the very near future.
• Michael's having GREAT sales on their yarn

What are you thankful for this week?

Vintage

I am in fashion HEAVEN right now. A friend just introduced me to the most amazing blog ever. I have been SOOO in love with JCrew's latest fashion. I love love love the chic, vintage styles that they have. Absolutely adorable! But who wants to spend $40+ on a t-shirt? Well thanks to this woman's wonderful blog we don't have to!!! Oh my goodness I'm drooling looking at all the cool things she's made...so off to the store I go to see if I can find any cheap scraps of fabric. {doesn't matter that I already have a ton of things on my project list to do} Stay tuned for pictures!!

Gratitude Friday

It's FRIDAY!!! Thank the Lord!!! This has been a loong week for me ~ mostly due to the fact that all week I haven't been able to figure out what day of the week it is. Tuesday I thought it was Wednesday, Wednesday I thought it was Thursday and then Thursday I thought it was Wednesday. What's up with my brain?! Not sure but it has left me feeling very confused! Again I've been slacking on my Gratitude Friday posts, but here's what's on my mind today that I have to be thankful for:

• My sister ~ her birthday was this week, another year older. I drove down to the Springs and we had a nice afternoon eating sushi, getting a pedicure and spending time together. Something we never seem to do enough of.
• Sunshine AND snow!! A week ago we had about 2 feet of snow on the ground, which I loved. Today it's about 75 degrees and tomorrow we're expected to break records at 80 or 85!!! Guess I need to bring the tank tops back out! This is one of the things that is so great about Denver ~ the weather can drastically change from one day to the next. Just when you think you're in a weather rut...it goes and changes things up!!
• NOT having the Swine Flu {or at least I'm pretty sure}. I'm paranoid about getting it, but it's something I probably just need to come to terms with because most likely it's not something I'm going to be able to avoid {no matter how ocd I am about germs}....that's sort of the life when you're around kids all the time. I started feeling really yucky yesterday and still don't feel too swell today, but the symptoms seem more flu-like than swine flu-like (but come on, is there really much of a difference?) so I think I'm safe this time around.
• My dates with the gym ~ I've managed to get in 60 minutes of good hard cardio almost every day this week which always leaves me feeling great and refreshed! (now when can it start taking away the numbers on the scale?)
• Turkey dinners prepared by Ryan. He's in the process of teaching himself how to properly cook a turkey {and maybe even master? (if that's possible)} and so I've come home to turkey on the table and I love it!
• My always great, always past due conversations with Megan. Wish we were closer so I could see her more often and squeeze that little P of hers {or not so little anymore}. Very excited to get to see them over the holidays!!

TGIF!!!

They are HERE!!!

I think there aren't many females out there who don't just LOVE drinking our coffee out of the Starbucks holiday cups...well they came out today!!! I tried to save myself a few bucks this morning {figuring I would spend my share on coffee this season} and so I had MY morning coffee in the ceramic version of the cup that I got from Santa last year {which Santa also brought with a lovely Starbucks gift card....hint hint}. Makes me feel warm and cozy :)

Happy Halloween!!!!

My little ladybug :)

Ladybug meets Squirrel

Oreo as a squirel, quite PISSED that we put him in this!!

And Kona the ladybug!!!

Fun in the snow!

Ryan and I went out and played in all of this lovely snow that we've gotten so far during this storm...there's probably at least a foot out there!!

Ryan making a fresh track down a set of steep stairs

Jumping off big ledges

Snow ANGELS!!!

Ryan hitting his rail {you can hardly see it cause it's white}

SNOW MUCH FUN!!!

16 INCHES?!!

PERFECT Wednesday, today couldn't be a better day off! Between this morning and tomorrow evening we're expected to get 16 inches of snow!!! We already have a thick layer on the ground, maybe 4-6 inches. When I took Lexi out this morning she had difficultly unloading...she just sank into the snow! As I sit inside enjoying the view outside I have spent my day warm working on some knitting project for Christmas gifts. In store is still a trip to the gym, church {oops, just found out it's canceled due to the weather}, and hopefully playing in the snow!!

Snowflakes

Thought I'd drop a little hello. Happy Tuesday! I've been busy being crafty as I work on some Christmas presents, spending time with Ryan, falling into Jodi Picoult's amazing books, and getting back to the gym. Had a wonderful and MUCH needed workout last night ~ hope to get there again tonight. Denver is supposed to get pounded with cold air and SNOW tomorrow....I could go for a cozy snow day :)

Gratitude Friday

It's been a while since I've done my 'Gratitude Friday' post ~ I guess being in Maui distracted me a little bit. So I'm going to try and attempt to cover the last three Fridays in one post today. (Note: 3 Fridays ago I was on a plane flying to Maui, last Friday IN Maui, this Friday in Denver):

• Safe travels to and from Maui for me AND my family
• My health that I was able to keep through my flights (with people hacking their lungs up around me) and while I was on vacation....guess I should thank all the Airborne I took
  
• Waking up my first morning in Maui and EVERY morning to the most gorgeous view
• Wonderful bubble baths in a big bath tub
• Swimming with the fishies
• Pool time, beach time, hot tub time
• A nice golden tan
• Warm sunshine
• Being nearly responsible free...the hardest decision I had to make was whether to lay by the waves or the pool :)
• Dinner around the table with my family
• Fresh coffee in bed every morning, just the way I like it {thanks Dad!!}
• Great inexpensive pearls (and harvesting my own!)
• Humidity that kept my skin moisturized and my cuticles/nails nice (guess that's a big thing to be thankful for when you live in a very dry place) {and there probably aren't very many people who are usually thankful for humidity in the heat}
• Being with my family
• Coming home to a clean house
• Meals on the table the minute I walk in the door from work
• Huge hugs and smiles from the kids I watch
• Creative inspirations
• Sushi with Ryan
• Worship service
• Finding the softest yarn {I think I'm starting to sound like an old lady...Ryan laughed at me the other day as I was knitting in the recliner ~ said I looked like a grandma in a rocker :)}
• Snow falling, forcing me to bring out my cozy cloths ~ boots, warm jacket, scarf
• Sunny skies

Well I think that's a fair amount of things to be thankful for....but it's true the list could go on and on!!!

Hump Day

Getting back into the swing of things since being home from Maui has been somewhat rough. From what I have learned through myself and talking to others ~ coming home from paradise leaves you having 'Maui withdrawals'. It's weird, I've never really felt this way after coming home from a vacation. It's sort of a feeling of sadness and loneliness. Anyways, I think I'm out of it by now...and today was a great day. It was a short day at work (which is always fun) and then Ryan and I went to church tonight and then out for 'endless sushi' ~ always a wonderful thing! We had been wanting to head out for sushi for our birthdays (which were back in September) but never got around to it....tonight we did, his treat :) Hope YOU had a good day!

Mahalo Maui!

My wonderful vacation has come to an end :( and now I'm back in Denver. The weather was just beautiful today to fly in to and I came home to a very clean house (thanks Ryan!!). So all is well here in Denver but I'm still a little sad to not be on the beach anymore. Here are some of the highlights from my time in paradise....

The most stunning sunsets!

Wonderful dinners with my family

Endless warm beaches

All the Maui Gold Pineapple you could want!

Yummy, yummy wine!

Gorgeous flowers!

Spectacular sites to see!

More amazing sunsets!!

Swimming with the fishies

Beach time every day

Golden tans

Ooooh Maui how I wish you were just a jump away. Can't wait until we meet again!! Thanks Mom and Dad for an amazing trip!!

Just in case you were wondering....

My journey to Maui is complete and I'm now sitting here on our lanai watching the ocean. HEAVEN. Wish you all were here to enjoy it with me!! :)

All packed and ready to go!!!

Waiting in LA on a layover, keeping myself busy by watching shows. Met a sweet sweet girl doing her residency in LA but went to UW....turned out we had a lot in common. Small world!

Two semi-short flights, sitting near a screaming child on each flight and one that kicked the back of my seat the entire time. One loong flight over the ocean. Got to watch a red sunset over the ocean from the airplane window. Too excited to sleep.

Landed in Maui, was hit by a brick with humidity. Took a bath in this amazing jet tub (that's a shot from the bedroom looking through the window into to the incredible bathroom)!

Woke up to this slice of Heaven from our balcony. INCREDIBLE!!!

More to come later....hope YOU are enjoying your Saturday!!

ALOHA!!!!

Maui here I come baby!! My bags are packed and I couldn't be more ready for a family vacation! So funny how we go through a phase in life where we couldn't be caught dead with our families and then......we wouldn't pass up a trip with family (especially if it's on them :))! I can't wait to spend quality time with my parents and my aunt ~ and what better place to do it than on the beach under the sun? Oh and I finished my beach bag I've been working on.... I couldn't get a real good picture of it, but I still like it :)

Recipe Time!!!

Penne with Grilled Salmon, Asparagus and Lemon Butter

Mmm this recipe is SO delicious and easy to make too. I got it from Tracy, the lady I work for. Ryan and I love this meal ~ and since we got such great deals on seafood last week I just had to make it last night. I wish I would have taken a picture but I forgot.

2 salmon steaks (about 8 oz each)

1 teaspoon soy sauce

8 oz asparagus, trimmed and cut into pieces the same length as the penne

8 oz penne

6 tablespoons butter (I use maragarine)

1 garlic clove

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 tablespoon grated lemon zest

1. Brush salmon steaks lightly on both sides with the soy.  Grill or broil until almost cooked through, about 3 minutes a side for a steak 1/2 inch thick. Cool slightly; remove and discard outside skin and any bones. Pull salmon into large flakes.

2. Cook pasta in plenty of boiling salted water until al dente, or firm to bite. Drain 

3. Meanwhile, steam the asparagus. Cover to keep warm and set aside.

4. Melt the butter in the pasta cooking pot; add the garlic and saute 30 seconds. Add the lemon juice and zest. Toss the pasta, asparagus, and melted butter until pasta is coated. Add the salmon and gently toss.

Enjoy!!

 

Where's my magic wand?

I wish I knew how to knit. Not just knit, but knit well. But the thing is....I don't want to have to go through the process of learning. I just wish I already knew how. I went through a phase where I was working on some scarves....but then I got frustrated because I didn't know what I was doing. But how great would it be to be able to make sweaters like these?! Mmm they're just so warm and yummy.

Gratitude Friday

I recently saw on one of the blogs that I follow the idea for a gratitude day, done once a week. I think it's a great way to sit back and slow things down a bit ~ to actually take the time to think about what we are thankful for in our lives. So here is what I'm thankful for right now, this week:

• Ryan. Besides my own dad he is probably the most patient man I have ever met....I have issues with patience at times so this is something that I continually see and admire in him. He's funny ~ constantly making me laugh ~ we have a blast together. He's pretty close to a genius ~ there's not much he doesn't already know or have the capability to learn about. In addition to brains he also has the skill to fix, construct, or 'design' anything. I think it's the engineer in him...even when I have problems with my sewing projects (or anything) I just have to turn to him and he's got it all figured out. He is very selfless, always putting others before him. He is thrifty. He is AMAZING with children. I knew this before, but this week he has spent extra time with the kids I watch and I (as I am currently doing a 3 day stretch with them) and I have seen a side that hasn't yet been able to shine through. It's so marvelous to watch him interact with these 2 kiddos that I have come to love so much. He is kind and caring with them, going out of his way to make sure they are having a blast. He continually comes up with new ideas or things we can do that they might enjoy. He laughs with them. He plays with them. He looks at them and I can see the love in his eyes ~ because he has come to know these kids through me over the last year and a half. And in addition to all that he helps me with them. He just picks right up with them as if he has been watching them as long as I have and helps me be a good person for them and a rock in their lives. He helps me to discipline them or 'reward' them. And he helps me to give them a good life. He's great, I love him. :)
• The changing colors of fall ~ providing such beauty
• Chilly mornings and warm afternoons ~ in the same day
• The Colbie Caillat concert I am going to tomorrow night. I love her music and am very excited to get to see her and see friends I haven't seen in a while
• My family. AND the fact that a week from right now I will be in Maui with my family.
• Comfy beds with fluffy pillows and a down comforter
• Soft, cozy slippers. I've been wearing mine a lot recently due to the weather change and I just love them. The girl I watch was wearing mine around tonight and found them to be just heavenly....requesting a pair. So now I am on a hunt to find her the perfect pair, because I believe everyone should have a great pair of slippers.
• Great sewing projects.
• Old friends like Megan. Got to chat with her this week after way too long of not catching up and it was wonderful. I love how we can go for months without having a good conversation and then pick up exactly where we left off. I miss her.
• Being domestic.
• My health and the health of the ones I love.
• Season premieres of my favorite TV shows.
• Heading to Albertson's (one we don't ever go to but it was near where we were when we were out and about) to pick up a great deal on meat ONLY to find the store was closing so the ENTIRE store was 50% OFF!!!! Can you believe that?!!! We got $116 worth of groceries for only $58!!!! INCLUDING about 10 meals of yummy seafood....doesn't get much better than that!!!!

Time flies!!!

TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY!!!

Exactly 2 years ago my mom and I were making the trek down to Colorado with all my belongings in my Hyundai Tuscon pulling a UHaul trailer. There were so many emotions: scared, nervous, excited, sad, happy....I had lived 24 years in the same house (except when at college) and now had made the choice to venture out on my own. Sure my sister and her husband were a close half hour away from my new home but their busy lives and mine made it a little challenging to see each other often. I was forced to be independent, but I had made the choice. I couldn't have made a better choice. I LOVE Colorado SO much. The weather is amazing ~ very inconsistent at times, but it's wonderful. Shoot we have over 300 days of sunshine a year!! The mountains are glorious. The view I am blessed to see every day is so grand. The people are very down to earth and accepting. It's been hard. It's been lonely. I miss my mom and dad a ton. But I wouldn't change the decision I have made for anything. It has forced me to develop and grow into an adult. To make new friends. To constantly be pushing myself to live outside the box.

One of the biggest blessings in coming down here was the family that God found for me to work with. After doing multiple interviews with places and having no luck I was becoming discouraged with finding a job and beginning to think my move to CO wasn't going to happen. But then I interviewed with the family I am now with and knew instantly God had answered my prayers. They are nothing short of amazing and I love them to death. They are the reason I was actually able to move to Colorado (I had decided I would not move unless I had a job). But it's not just a job to me, it's an extended family and a wonderful relationship. I am so blessed.


And then I found Ryan :)



Such a beautiful mountain! Oh wait, that's Mt. Rainer....guess I had to add a little bit of home :)

There is SO much to be said about the skiing/snowboarding conditions here. That mountain range is the Continental Divide!!


These cute little sunflowers can be found ALL over come August in Colorado!!!

Just a few pieces of my life in Colorado thus far. And I love it!!!

Happy Birthday Ryan!!!

Today is Ryan's birthday. Being that he's not huge on birthday's and it's a Monday I had to lay low with things. But I DID do a piece of cake for him and we hope to head out to dinner somewhere this evening.


I ALSO whipped up some pumpkin buns (pumpkin cinnamon rolls) last night and popped them in the oven this morning. I had found this recipe out of Family Circle, and since I love pumpkin flavored things, I thought it would be great to try out. Ryan's birthday was a great occasion for it! {Especially since I'm not much of a baker and really don't love to slave over sweets} But I do have to say they turned out to be quite delicious!! I'll post the recipe later.

Have a great day sweet thang!!

Today was a great Saturday filled with love. Busy busy day, but I got to spend almost the whole day with Ryan {that's rare these days since he works nights and on my weekends} It was wonderful :) AND we rearranged the living room...which is something I have been talking about doing for quite some time. The change is refreshing.

I heart fabrics

I think I may have become addicted to cute fabrics and the sewing machine. Is that bad? There's probably a whole lot worse things I could become addicted to, right? As mentioned in a previous blog, many or all of my holiday gifts this year will be made from the heart....so I have a few things up my sleeves that I am not at liberty to discuss because there are people who read this blog who will be receiving those gifts... and I wouldn't want to give anything away. BUT here is a sneak peek of just a few of the fabulous fabrics I have been collecting. They're just great. Ok, well really only a couple of them are for gifts....the rest are for.....


A great bag I'm making for my HAWAII trip out of these fabrics. I'm pretty excited to see how it turns out :)

Chicken Soup

"Sarah" ~ Michele Wallace Campanelli

Sometimes the heart sees what is invisible to the eyes ~ H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

I will never forget Sarah. In my eight years as a Head Start teacher, she was my most exceptional student.
One morning, the administrator had called my assistant and me into her office. She told us that we'd be getting a new student - a three-year-old named Sarah. "The girl has been abused," she said. Her father had poured a scalding bucket of hot water down her head, badly burning her neck, back, legs and scalp. She had no hair. Her back and legs would have to be wiped down with oil every few hours so they would not get stiff.
Sarah visited my preschool room the next day for an introductory meeting while the other students were out. Her facial features were petite, and she smiled up at me with innocent brown eyes, startlingly naked because her eyebrows were missing. The back of her bald head was badly scarred down to the neck. She wore a simple white sundress that showed her burnt arms. I seized with anger at her father. Then I worried about how the other children would react. I struggled to maintain calm in front of Sarah, her foster mother and my teaching assistant. After Sarah and her mom left, I gave into tears.
"We must prepare the students," my assistant reminded me. "We can't just let her walk in and be made fun of."
"To draw attention to her appearance would single her out," I said. After much discussion, we agreed to have Sarah come in for a half-day on her first day in order to ascertain how the children would react towards her.
The morning Sarah arrived she quietly took a seat. I watched her every second. During playtime, the other children talked to her and shared their toys. They didn't seem to notice she was different.
"It's dress-up time," one of my students reminded me. Every day before lunch, they all got to raid the closets and play in a collection of grown-up clothes and fanciful kid's costumes.
"Okay, everyone, let's get started," I agreed.
Sarah followed the other children and put on an Easter bonnet and princess outfit. I tried to smile, but the disparity between the delicate fabric and her scarred skin made me ache for her.
Sarah left after lunch. Here classmates had nap time, and then I led a vocabulary-building lesson.
Finally, I asked the children, "So how do you all like our new friend Sarah?"
One child answered. "Her hands are small."
Another added, "She picked the long skirt for dress-up."
Not one mentioned her thick skin or her missing hair.
The children's observations helped me realize something very valuable. We teachers saw Sarah as a child who had suffered greatly, a child who needed exceptional handling and assistance. We wanted to hold her, prove to her that not all adults were bad. The children, many of whom had also suffered in some way, saw beyond her scarred appearance. They saw another child, a peer, a new friend.
They next school day, during dress-up, Sarah put on the princess clothes again. She stood in front of a full-length mirror and danced in front of her reflection. "I am so beautiful," she murmured to herself.
The confidence of her whirling poses and self-compliments struck me. Here was a child who I thought should be shriveling in self-pity. Instead she was twirling around, having fun. I felt humbled by her inner strength and honored to witness her joy in just being alive. I reached out and embraced her. "Yes, Sarah, you are beautiful."

And that is why I love children. They are so amazing, innocent, and perfect in every way. They have no idea what judgment is, have not yet been scarred by the world, and are born with the ability to unconditionally love others.

Brrrr

30 degree drop in temperature from yesterday + rain/snow + wind = a day feeling more like winter than the last day of summer!!!

My latest fashion obsession: pearls. They're beautiful and can be worn dressy or more casual. Such a classic and elegant look. Amazing that it is the only gemstone that has been grown inside a living organism. Mother nature is fascinating.

Goodbye 4 day weekend ~ it was nice having you around





Had homemade chicken noodle soup

Burned a candle all weekend

Gave the dogs some exercise

Wrote some notes. Drank some green tea

Went to the gym

Did some sewing :)