Fall Like Day

Our high temp topped out at 55 degrees today. I turned the heat on as I'm perpetually cold when it's not summer time. I have it on 72, Brian would be rolling his eyes at me telling me, "your rent is going up," if he saw it that high. Brrr... wish I had the ingredients to make some Ham and Potato soup!

Since it's raining outside and warm and cozy in here, I'm looking forward to cuddling up on the couch with Ries for a night of watching the America's Got Talent finale (Silhouette from Colorado!) and the new show Up All Night.



Did anyone watch Parenthood last night? That is my favorite show now that Brothers and Sisters is off the air.

I'll be catching up on reading these, although if I was smart I would save them for my flight on Saturday...

Drinking some of this...

And burning these...

Pumpkin Caramel Latte and Cinnamon Sugared Donut - to die for!

A perfect night at home!

Curtains & Misc... Otherwise Known As Thinking About Anything Except Work, Even at This Late Hour of the Night

Shh, don't tell Brian. He'll be oh so unhappy to hear that more "window installation" type projects are lined up for his return. But, these curtains are en route to me for the bedroom. Finally, something reasonably priced (thanks West Elm sale + free shipping), long enough for our pesky tall window, and I cross my fingers that they work out and I like them when they get here!


Cotton Canvas Printed Crosshatch

To go in here...


Headboard Project Here

Brian will also be less than thrilled to find out that if in fact these curtains do work it means I can finally hang things on the wall! No more piles of frames lined up on the floor (years after move in- awful)! We're almost there... lacking some key furniture pieces- i.e. dresser, larger nightstands, and new lamps... but it's coming together and I at least I know what I'm looking for- I've just yet to find it.

Something with some style, along the lines of these, that I can rehab if needed (of course!)...

Source: google.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Source: easymakesmehappy.blogspot.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Source: sherlonkahkai.tumblr.com via Amanda on Pinterest

And I've always wanted this but IKEA only makes it in red now, of course!

Source: lizmarieblog.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Source: younghouselove.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Source: thepleatedpoppy.com via Amanda on Pinterest

And just because, while I'm at it pinning away, some lamps I like the look of...

Source: potterybarn.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Labor Day in Colorado

Saturday
We headed for Red Rocks and then St. Mary's Glacier (in Alice), and then Pasta Jay's in Boulder.


St. Mary's Glacier


St. Mary's Glacier

Sunday
We headed through Longmont and Lyons into Estes Park for some hiking in Rocky Mountain National Park. Failure of the day = not stopping at Subway to pick-up some sandwiches to take on our hike. We took the 5280 Magazine recommended Dream Lake trail and then continued onto Emerald Lake. For those who might read this and consider the hike, there's really no need to go onto Emerald. Dream has the better view in my opinion. We saw wildlife before we ever made it inside the park gates- Elk! Dad was happy! Later in the day we saw BEAR! A Mama bear + 2 cubs. We left the park to go and grab some dinner at Dave's BBQ, right outside of the park entrance (2 thumbs up!), and then came back in to drive up to higher elevations (where it was freezing cold). On our ride down we saw mule deer and a ton of Elk again.


Elk outside of RMNP.


On the Dream Lake trail.


Dream Lake


Dream Lake


Yep, we did it. Brian tells me he only poses with signs for hikes over 5 miles from now on. Whatever.


Mama Bear!


The Stanley Hotel (of Stephen King fame) in Estes Park.


Freezing cold above 11,000 feet!




That long stick is the snow plow guide of the road. It had to of been over 20 feet! They had just cleared this road in the middle of August, about 3 weeks before we were driving it. Unbelievable.


Elk at dusk. There had to be 50+ of them in this field.


Had to capture a shot of Dad doing what he did for most of the day, with all of the wildlife. Snap, snap, snap, snap- lots of pictures!

Monday
Dad and Brian did the Royal Arch Trail in Boulder while Amy and I checked out Boulder. We all walked around Pearl street a bit later in the afternoon as well.


The Boulder overlook on Highway 36.


Dad made it to the Royal Arch!

Tuesday
We headed for Colorado Springs to do the Olympic Training Center tour, which being a former figure skater was of interest to me. It was a pretty neat tour to learn about the athletes that are in residence and train there. We drove back through Denver, had dinner at Bull and Bush, and went to the Rockies game that night. Dave, take some tips from your Dad and learn how to scalp some tickets!


Check out that spiral- still in good form!


And that layback too- woo!


Struburger Bobsledders


Dave, this is Dad on the move wheeling and dealing for our Rockies tickets.

Wednesday
Unfortunately due to a rainy, spring like day our plans to go to the Denver Zoo didn't pan out. We relaxed around the house, went to lunch at Huckleberry, browsed through Jax outdoor store, where Dad insisted on buying me a collapsable rocking chair I liked (Thanks, Dad- I use it a lot!) and that was the end of our action packed days. It was so much fun to show Dad and Amy around to all of the "sights to see" and show off how beautiful Colorado is. Looking forward to having them come and visit again soon!

Fun Long Weekend!

We certainly did, saw, walked/hiked, and ate a lot! It was nice being off work for a long weekend too. Dreading the mountain of e-mails tomorrow and already thankful that it's Thursday so another weekend is near. More to come soon on all of our fun filled activities. Plenty of pictures to share- even some of the BEAR that we saw!!

Colorado Weekend

Dad and Amy last night and we have a full, fun 5 days planned. Really looking forward to some cooler temps (it's been in the high 90s) and hiking these two places as well. Dream Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park and St. Mary's Glacier in Alice, I think it is. Eager for some Pasta Jay's gnocchi as well. We haven't been in awhile and always take the out of town-ers there for a delicious meal in Boulder. Most looking forward to being off work with the exception of Tuesday and Wednesday mornings- yahoo!

Enjoy the long holiday weekend!


St. Mary's Glacier


Dream Lake

LA Night on the Town

We just finalized the last of our California trip plans yesterday. 2 nights at the Four Seasons Santa Barbara, 1 night at Ojai Valley Inn and Spa, and 1 night in LA at the Beverly Hilton. I am really excited about relaxing by the pool/beach and touring the area wineries in Santa Barbara, having a "Pumpkin Spice" (Mmmmm!!) spa treatment at Ojai, and I have to admit, I was least excited about the night in LA when we started this planning but it's suddenly become a pretty thrilling part of the trip!

My sales contact at the Beverly Hilton offered up to take us out for a night on the town, as she "lives in West Hollywood and would be going out that night anyway," in her words. Apparently she has some industry friends with access to get our "names on the list" for some hot nightspots. I guess it pays to know all the right people. We certainly aren't "night life" people, and we definitely don't do bottle service and all that comes along with the LA scene, but it's kind of exciting to be doing that for an evening- feeling very VIP with car service and our names on "the list." One of those "we might never get to do this again" type of evenings. I mean, who does that besides the Kardashians?? Really!

Of course the first question I asked was "what do we have to wear?!" I know what you're thinking... no surprise that was my first inquiry. Alright, I also asked what time we have to be ready. Shockingly enough, I think I already have something in my closet that I plan to wear - two choices actually. Brian doesn't believe me. He says there is no way I won't find a way to go and buy something new. That guy knows me way too well. Truth is, I had 2 dresses but I may have to go and buy some new shoes. Perhaps I'll put my choices up and allow for some voting down the line.

I was told we would probably have dinner at Rose. In her words, "there's a buzz about this place. It's the latest new restaurant/club in West Hollywood." Apparently the middle of that table is also a dance floor. Oh my. You will not find me participating in such antics as dancing on a table, a la Paris Hilton style, I can assure you of that! We took one look at the menu at Rose and also repeated to ourselves, "we might never get to do this again!" They had $30 drinks on there!



Other places on her list of possible stops included: Roof at The Peninsula, DRAI's Poolside at the W Hollywood, Trousdale, Playhouse, The Standard (Purple Lounge), Colony, Industry, and Voyeur. I have to admit, the names alone just sound fancy. Well, if the drinks are too expensive and the music too loud, at least the people watching is sure to be at it's best!


The Colony


DRAI's

Just have to get through one major program and then it's VACA time- yes!! Only a few more weeks...

This Will Be Me Tonight

Well, maybe not quite. I'm sure Beginner Reformer Pilates isn't quite that advanced. Here's to hoping that I just don't hurt myself!





Thanks to a LivingSocial coupon, I have 5 reformer classes for $50. Major deal, since these classes are typically $20+. Yes, I get that they are trying to "hook" me, and who knows, maybe they will. SOMETHING needs to since Me + Gym = No Bueno in recent times. Time to step away from the desk and do something active!