Guilty.

There's one stretch of town in Denver that is called "Country Club".

They think they so important,

that they have whole road slows down from 40mph to 30mph through there.

NOT ONLY THAT, but they park a police van there and take pictures of anyone speeding by.

The van isn't always there, but sometimes it is, and it will get you.

It got me.

On 2/28/2012 at 8:49AM.

Going 40 in a 30.

But then again, I just look guilty, don't I?



Our First CO Visitors

This last weekend Tom and Becky came out to visit Adam and me, and meet Stetson, of course.

We packed a lot into the 3 days they were here...dinner with Adam's family (Keje and Easton were here the exact same time!) a trip to Breckenridge, sans skiing because the snow is so bad, a trip to Red Rocks, a tour of the Coors Brewery, lots of good food and good beer (mostly the boys had the beer), a visit to our church, and of course, a trip to Bass Pro Shop (what's a trip to Denver without it), all topped off with a little Birthday celebrating (Tom turned 28 and Becky turns 27 at the end of the month).

And here's picture overload:

All in all, it was so great to see them. It meant so much for them to come all the way here, and now I'm going through post event depression.

Good thing they left Tom's Dairy Queen Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Blizzard Ice Cream Cake.

PS. If you think these aren't enough pictures and details, you can see Becky's here.

This is my life...

So yes. See this picture above? This happened.

Monday night Adam gets invited to go to the Avalanche game.

He asked if I wanted to go too (sweet guy that he is),

but I said no thinking it'd be a fun guys night and I'd rather pocket the $25 instead.

So I had myself what I considered to be a pretty productive night:

doing some stuff around the house and working on a project for work.

An evening I'd be proud of on most nights.

Well when Adam gets home, he wakes me up and says:

Adam: "Trish, you'll never guess who I met tonight..."

Me: "who?"

Adam: "Channing Tatum"

Me: "whhhaaaaat?"

Adam: "yeah, I took a picture with him because I knew if I didn't, you wouldn't believe me"

So yeah... while I'm home doing "stuff around the house" (which is code for laundry and cleaning the room) and "finishing up a project" (which is code for making a collage out of magazine clippings onto poster board for a "dream board" for work) my husband and his 3 friends from college are just, you know, having a drink with Channing Tatum.

s e r i o u s l y ?

This is my life.

And don't worry. I earned even more cool points (not) for driving around the Ritz 3 times hoping to see him. Unsuccessful.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Head over to the sips blog for our Valentine's message for you:)

If my life were a novel...

If my life were a novel, this chapter would be called "Can you sit up or go do something, you're taking up the whole bed".

Adam said these sweet words to me today as I was sprawled out on our bed, perusing the latest facebook updates. Seriously though, he wasn't trying to be rude, I just had been there a while, and he was trying to get some room to sit down so he could study. It didn't offend me, the words themselves just made me laugh.

Similarly, couple of weeks ago Kirstin walked into our room to bring me Sonic (she's the best) and I just started laughing...I was sitting there, under the covers, with my computer in my lap, still in my pjs (at 2pm), sipping some diet coke, half looking for jobs, half scrolling through pinterest, fulfilling the stereotype of the unemployed life.

Seriously though, I would say I have been a pretty focused job searcher since August. When I have spent a sufficient amount of time on facebook and pinterest during a typical work day, I do feel guilty about it, ha.

But guess what...as of tonight you're reading the closing paragraphs of "Can you sit up or go do something, you're taking up the whole bed" and turning the page to start "Hello, Colorado Business Casual, my part-timing self is happy to see you again" my book would have really long chapter titles.


I took a part-time job as a Real Estate Executive Assistant, and Wednesday is my first day! The weight that's been lifted off my shoulders was more than I anticipated I'd feel, which is why that last sentence is warrenting an exclamation point. No part time wasn't my goal, and actually, neither was real estate, but when you've been on the job-seeker rollercoaster for a while, it's surprising how much faster you are willing to get off. Woo!

A list of 5.

Sorry for the lack of blogging lately. I guess I just feel like there's not a ton going on to share. But I always get mad at other people for saying that as an excuse not to update, so I guess I'll still share the boring stuff anyway.

1. This guy has been digging lately. Burrying bones and who knows what else. He rarely gets caught, but I opened the door the other day and saw this evidence sitting right on his nose. ...Good thing he's cute.

2. Adam started up school again. He's liking his classes and is glad to be back.

3. My interviews last week went well. And actually, I have since heard from a couple of other places and have a couple of new leads... I'm hoping a job is just around the corner.

4. Sips is going well. Adam is taking the pictures now, I think he's just more patient (and just more talented) than I am at it, and it's fun to do together. And we've been doing a series called "Sip Your Way Skinny" for January and all those new-years-resolutioners and it's been fun.

5. We're selling the truck. Adam is sad about it, like really sad I think. But it just makes more sense to get a better commuting car for him. He keeps making sure that one day he can get a truck again, and really, I can't say no to that guy so I have no doubt another one is in our future.


Well, I think that's it from here. I'll try to be better, promise.

How Would You Define Success?

I have two phone interviews today {insert excited/nervous face here}.

But in several interviews I've had since being here in Denver, they've asked me this question:

"How would you define success?"

Usually I rattle off something about hard work, satisfying work, benefitting others, or something like that. But I was hoping someone else might have a better answer than that.

So what do you guys think? How would you define success?

Christmas Lights

Sorry if you read the Sips etc blog and have already heard about this, but it was too cute!

This last weekend Adam's parents got us all tickets to go to the Botanic Gardens to see Christmas lights! So we had dinner first at what's become one of my favorite places for Mexican, Tocabe, (It's seriously delicious with it's Navajo tacos--i'm getting hungry just typing this) and then headed for a Light Extravaganza.

It was cold, but the lights were so fun. Probably my favorite part was watching Burke run up to each tree and say "And look at these lights, guys! Look at this one! And this one!..." And he'd put those goofy glasses up to his face and look at each tree. My goodness, adorable.

Christmas becomes just a bit more magical with little kids around.

Free Chick-Fil-a? Please and Thank you.

Have you ever heard of the thing Chick-fil-a does when they open a new location? Almost always they do a 24-hour camp out for 100 people and then give them free (FREE!) meals for a year. (52 meal tickets to be exact).

Well I had always heard about this, but have never been able to do one, until now.

This last Wednesday, they opened one right near us!

So Kirst, Adam, my Adam, and I all decided to do it.

(Adam and Kirstin have done several before, so they knew all the tricks to be prepared to camp out in 20 degrees--thank goodness.)

Unfortunately, I didn't get picked to stay for the campout and free 52 meals

(they do a raffle to pick 100 people from those who showed up before 6 am).

But Adam did! (YAY!)

It kind of turned out to be just fine.

Even though we only got 52 meals instead of 104,

I stayed through the day with them, ate 3 chick-fil-a meals for free,

and then kissed him goodnight and went home to sleep in a bed.

Not a bad deal, huh?

Sometimes life is out of the ordinary.

This is our tree this year.

Yes, it's the same size as the one I had in my dormroom.

Yes, it's blue.

Yes, it has a purple glitter star topper.

And yes, those are lemons on the tree.

Because when life is a bit out of the ordinary, it's ok for your tree to be that way too.

Kelly from the Office...

...Has a book and I really want to read it.

Terrible

I know I've been terrible about blogging on here. I saw that I only posted ONCE in October. And I should say it's not for lack of time. It's for lack of ideas...

I guess I can just update you as if we were talking on the phone...

1. I start my job at Crate and Barrel this week. Tomorrow actually. I am waiting to hear back about my dream job this week, so Crate and Barrel might fall by the wayside if I get the dream job and CB won't let me work on weekends only, we'll see. (I should probably be more careful about posting this kind of thing on the internet, but let's be honest, I don't have that many faithful readers).

2. Our house rented, did I tell you this? She was supposed to move in November 1. We haven't heard anything yet, but I guess those are the best renters, the quiet ones.

3. We just got back to Kirstin and Adam's from house sitting for Mark and Carla. It's fun living so close to downtown, and having cable, and good beer (as Adam would say). Little luxuries. Stetson loved having a partner in crime (though, as you can see from my last post, he does most of the crime). But it's good to be back with K and A and the kiddos.

4. I just painted my nails gray. It was a birthday present from Jordan. I like them, and Adam even randomly commented that he did too. (this rarely happens when it comes to nail color)

5. H&M opens here soon! This Friday actually. Adam is doing drywall for some of K and A's friends here in Denver, so I'm hoping to sneak away to check out the new place.

6. Just joined a gym. Mark and Carla got me a membership for my birthday (so exciting!). I've decided if I were single, I would join a gym to meet people. There and church would be my two main avenues. There are lots of good looking people at gyms. But since I'm married, I just avoid eye contact now.


so, now can you see why I haven't been blogging? Kind of boring, huh?

Goofy Guy

Sorry that I mostly only blog about Stetson these days, but I couldn't resist.

We're house sitting right now for Adam's parents.

They have a black lab, Koda. Koda and Stetson get along pretty well, but there are a number of times that I peek out the window to the backyard and see Koda (obviously exhausted by Stetson) just sitting there watching my crazy weasel prance around the yard still looking for things to do.

This is what that weasel was up to today.

Never a dull moment with that guy.

Sick of Goodbyes

I'm sick of goodbyes. I hate them. Why can't we just all live in the same place, and as we make new friends, they just stay there too. I guess that's why Heaven will be so great, right? I hope anyway...

Last week was the last week with Jord and Drew and their three girls until... Christmas 2012...which is still even just a maybe anyway. But, we had a good time getting them ready to go and just spending time together.

Adam "fishing" with Keadryn, Burke and Sayla

All the cousins. From Left to Right: Evie, Sayla, Piper, Burke, Easton, Keadryn

There's a saying that goes like this:

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."

I'd have to agree. And with all the "goodbye-ing I seem to do, I must be the luckiest girl in the world.

Month Catch up

September was known as Wedding Tour 2011. Two of my very best friends got married. Aren't they beautiful?

Brooke (bride #1), me, Kate

Liz (bride #2), me. (You can tell I was totally crying here).

Add one of Adam's best friends also getting married in September, and the name deemed for this month makes sense. But all the weddings were beautiful and we love the spouses of each one too! I'm so happy for them and thankful too.

Since getting back to Denver, life has still seemed crazy. Funny how someone who has no kids and no job still can feel like life is so busy. I have no excuses. But here is what I've been up to:

1. I turned 26-One of my best birthdays to date. It started in Philadelphia with a family surprise party, then in add in some birthday month/eve texts from my fellow October birthday-er (my dad), and sprinkle in Adam's family presents and treats all weekend long, drizzled with some friends presents and cards, and topped with a trip to the mountains and mini shopping spree from the Mr. and you get one happy birthday sundae. And sundaes are some of my favorite things. Does that paint the picture for you?

2. We are still trying to rent our house. It's amazing how time consuming/thought consuming that can be. Especially when you live 15ish hours away.

3. I am still looking for a job. I'm avoiding insurance still, and politely declined the glorified Cutco Knives sales position I was offered by a company masking itself as a marketing company. (this little fake out used by lots of companies is starting to make me crazy!) But this is what takes up the majority of my time.

4. We launched our sips blog and have been busy making drinks and blogging about them. And also doing research to make sure we make it as good as possible. (click our logo below to go check it out).

5. We spend lots of time with Kirstin, Adam, and the kiddos. Seriously, it's been fun (which we're taking full advantage of since these situations never go this way for people).

6. We joined a small group with our church, and are still trying to make friends.

So that's pretty much everything in a nutshell. Glad to be back though.

Peeping Stetson

While we're living with Kirstin and Adam, Stets stays outside most of the day except for bedtime. For most dogs, no big deal, but it's a bit rough sometimes for Mr. Social. (Don't start feeling badly for him though... he has PLENTY to do out there, and LOVES having lots of grass to lay in and lots of hiding places for his bones. And he occasionally enjoys some fresh produce from the garden--sneaky dog). But sometimes he finds where we are in the house and stands outside the window whining or just looking at us. It's not uncommon to look out the window well in the basement to see this lurker peering inside...

what a funny dog.

Denver Living

Last night Adam and I were given tickets to the Rockies vs Diamondbacks game. We had a great time, despite the fact that it rained the.entire.time. Like that Grove City constant mist-rain, some of you know what I'm talking about. But seriously, who couldn't enjoy a baseball game with a guy like this and nachos like these?? And it helps when there's a big rally at the bottom of the 8th that makes a losing game turn into one where you leave just before the last out because the likelihood of the other team coming back is so small.

We're definitely enjoying Denver, and their "Big League" sports:).

Cutest Shopping Partner EVER

So what happens when you're not working anymore? You get to take your nephew on little "special days" with you. Lucky Burke, this "special day" we had was him coming wedding shoe shopping with me. But man, what a trooper. We went to 5 stores: Ross, Famous Footwear, Payless, Target, and Nordstrom Rack! And he even said cute things like "look Trish, I think these are the shoes for you". Now imagine that said with a little voice of a 3 year old... melts your heart, right? I'll apologize for making him come shoe shopping with me when he's older... but for now, I'll take full advantage. Don't worry, in case you were starting to feel badly for him, we did get a treat from Target's cafe...a "bwue slushy". Love this guy.

Back to School Cool

As I mentioned in the last post, I get pretty siked around back to school, even when I don't have a reason to. BUT now I have a reason, his name is Adam, and tomorrow is his first day.

Today, he did his back to school shopping. I, of course, invited myself along. I also learned a couple of things...
1. Adam and I have very different taste in pens.
2. Pens have a size.
3. It's a good thing for our bank account that Adam is the one going back to school, not me.

Anyway, his bag is packed (his pens and pencils are in their alloted slots, thanks to me) and off he goes tomorrow at 6:45. If I'm lucky, I'll get a picture of him for you, standing by his car!

Resolutions

I have always felt like New Years Resolutions naturally show themselves for me around "back to school" time of year more so than on January 1. Pairing that with a change in almost everything in our life, I can't help but take a step back and examine things. "What things do I do well? What things can I improve on? What are realistic goals to set for myself? What things do I want to take time to do?"

Today at church, we sang a song that I thought really was right in line with the examining and evaluating. The words are pretty heavy, but the tune was a bit lighter. Anyway, I thought it was good enough to pass along. It's called Lead Us Back by Dustin Nimmo.

Falling down upon our knees,

Sharing now in common shame,

We have sought security,

Not the cross that bears Your name.

Fences guard our hearts and homes--

Comfort sings a siren tune.

We're a valley of dry bones;

Lead us back to life in You.

Lord we fall upon our knees,

We have shunned the weak and poor,

Worshipped beauty, courted kings

And all the things our gold affords,

Prayed for those we'd like to know--

Favor sings a siren tune.

We've become a talent show;

Lead us back to life in You.

You have caused the blind to see,

We have blinded him again,

With our man-made law and creeds--

Eager, ready to condemn.

Now, we plead before Your throne--

Power sings a siren tune.

We've been throwing heavy stones;

Lead us back to life in You.

We've become a talent show,

Lead us back to life in You.

We've been throwing heavy stones,

Lead us back to life in You.