Some pics from my trip

Since its friday and I'm tired and can't think of a single thing to write that might be interesting to someone else, I've decided to share some photos of my recent trip to Orange County, CA. These were all taken with my little phone camera, so excuse the quality.

Oh, and my beautiful neice is the star of the show.

My "creatvity"

This week's inspiration on the left, my attempt on the right.

As heard over the cubical walls this morning

Cool Engineer #1: Hey, Engineer #2, do you know what holiday it is today.

(I glance up at my calendar because, well, I'd hate to miss out on celebrating a holiday)

Cool Engineer #2: Um, no....

(I realize what the date is today and smile.)

Katie: (quietly) It's pi day.



FYI pi=3.14, or March 14th.




Cool Engineer #1: I'm gonna say it quiet so that no one heard how dorky I am....It's pi day.

Cool Engineer #2: Katie already said that.

Cool Engineer #1: Oh. (pause). Katie is officially kicked out of the cool club.

(I smile at the knowledge that he is jealous that I stole his thunder, making me QUEEN of the cool Engineer club)

I could not be prouder

This morning I came in late to work. Why? Because I was supporting my man.


Today was the day of his big clinical defense. To fufil the last requirement for his AuD degree (graduation May 9th...holla) he had to stand up in front of some of the best audiological clinicians in the state of Colorado and present two case studies. He had to explain their testing, diagnosis, treatment and therapy. Then he had to field their questions.

I sat in the back of the room totally impressed by how professional and expert he was. He knew his stuff and blew their socks off. Plus, the perfect outfit he put together didn't hurt either...what a hot stud.

I'm so proud of my incredibly smart and hott husband.

Great idea

If I were having a small wedding with a big budget I would make these little books as wedding favors.







The book would be the ear doctor and I turning over signs that say "thanks for coming...we love you" and then we'd wave.

Thanks, Tonia for finding them!

Made for me

Whoa. This is the first (_____)-of-the-month-club that I've ever really wanted to join.







For those of you who don't know, I love me some bacon. In our house we have bacon mixed into at least 3 meals a week. I ALWAYS have frozen bacon waiting for me in our freezer.





Doesn't that sound fantastic?!?!

Fantastic Top

If only this shirt fell into the "need" catagory instead of the "want"...

(via Armelle)

Dear Billionaires,

I have a great investment idea for you. A sure thing. An instant winner.





Buy this house and use it as a vacation home. You'll love Boulder and this house will make you feel right at home.

It's located in the best neighborhood in the whole city and would be a nice little get away for you. And when you aren't in town the ear doctor and I will graciously live in the house, keep it clean and immaculate for you. I'll even make you some whole wheat panckaces with organic blueberry syrup when you come to visit.

Let me know when you are interested and I'll do all the footwork here in town for you.

Can't wait to hear from you,

Katie

A little slice of heaven

I've been in beautiful, sunny Orange county for the last 5 days and have the sun burn to prove it. This little red headed Coloradoan was not prepared for the seasons to shift so suddenly. All the women on my mom's side of the family decided to take a trip down to the home of the Grizzly bear and catch up.


It was spectacular.


My favorite day by far was the trip to the Huntington Botanical Gardens. If I lived in Orange county, had a bazillion dollars, and hadn't already gone through the ordeal that is wedding planning, this would be the scene for my dream event. So beautiful!


The best part is that the garden just happens to be in the most fatastic little city in California.....San Marino. Talk about idealic! My dream home and I would fit right in!

Too bad the first line of the Wikipedia entry for this city reads as the following: "San Marino is a city in LA County. Its ZIP code of 91108 ranks the city as the 48th most expensive in the United States, with the median home sale price in 2006 of $1.35 million dollars."


Yeah, I'm pretty sure this little engineer is going to just keep dreaming about living there....

Confession of a huge dork

I'm always a little shocked when someone compliments me on style or creativity or anything like that, and here is why.



About 7 years ago US News and W0rld Rep0rt printed an issue dedicated to robots. At the time I was a starving mechanical engineering undergrad and didn't have the dinero to go out and buy the issue. I kept seeing it all over the place and secretly really wanted to swipe it.

I was out with a group of non-engineer friends one night, saw the magazine and started pining over it. From that night on I was mercilessly teased about being a robot lover.

Truth be told, I am a big, fat, geeky, robot fan! I think going to an automated plant is just about the coolest way you can spend an afternoon. Which is why I can't really contain my excitement about the invitation I got in my email box this afternoon.

Feast your pretty eyes on this bad boy:

A VIP inviation? For little ole me? To be part of an organization that inspires kids to get involved in my industry? Oh heck yes!

I just hope the ear doctor can handle the freakishly high nerd level that will surround an even of this caliber.

Shout out jcrew

Would I wear this whole outfit?



You bet your bottom dollar I would!

Well, OK

I haven't been tagged in a long time, and my ole roommie asked, and since I thought I lost her forever, but didn't because she ran into another old friend at a playground, I figured I better honor our newly rekindled friendship and submit to her request.

Wow. Onto the goods:


10 years ago: Hmmm, my bff Brooke and I were probably sitting in a stadium over in Seattle watching our high school's State basketball game, alternating between being really bored, laughing at our friend John's socks and making funny catty comments about the other girls in our class. Hey, we were 16....what did you expect? Writing the great American Novel?

5things to do on my list: Call a company about Fluorosilicone gaskets, watch the Project Runway finale, talk to my friend about writing a book, pack for my trip to California tomorrow, eat some yummy smoked pork chops cooked by the ear doctor (YUM)

5 snacks I enjoy: Girl Scout cookies, ritz crackers with peanut butter, hot tamales, chips and guac, pretzels

3 bad habits: Watching trash TV (America's Next Top Model, Janice Dickenson Modeling agency), leaving my shoes all over the house, not washing down the bubbles in the sink after I brush my teeth.

Places I've lived: Salt Lake City, UT Puyallup, WA Spokane, WA Provo, UT Logan, UT Boulder, CO

What I would do if I suddenly became a Billionare: (in this order) pay off student loans, get 6 months expenses in savings, restock my wardrobe, buy a house, get a puppy, buy a new couch, get the ear doctor a huge flat screen TV so we can play our Wii better, take our whole family on an expensive exclusive cruise to some fabulous place, fly out to see my friends all over the country, start my own bakery.

Jobs I've had: (in this order) babysitter, golf course ranger, retail at Nordstrom, computer lab TA, REU intern at Space Dynamic Lab, TA at CU, engineer.

5 things you don't know about me: I love Kraft mac & cheese. I bang my head on the glass whenever I go to aquariums. I eat peanut butter straight out of the jar. I'm a little scared of being in a dark bathroom alone. I don't own a working hair dryer.

Oh, yes please

While I already own 2 of the cutest aprons on the planet earth, I wouldn't mind getting this gem.

From a company called Callie Micks, whose motto fits perfectly with my cooking mentality:

Cooking for someone is loving someone!

Found this morning on HWTM.

Thriller anyone?

I don't know about other colleges, but the campaign race for BYU student body president was a big deal. At least it was when I was there. I never really understood the function of having a class president for a student body of 30,000 people at a school where the control over the way the college operated was held under a fairly firm grip, but whatever.

Personally, I thought people just wanted it on their law school applications.

To tell you the truth, there is only one campaign that I really clearly remember from my 4 years at the Y. I don't remember the candidates. I don't remember their "platform". I don't remember who I voted for. What I do remember is their strategy.


At the top of the hour, every hour some flunkie would be standing around with an ghetto blaster from 1987 playing Michael Jackson and handing out jolly ranchers.


Talk about pure genius.



For an entire month I was moonwalking to class with the sweetness of a watermelon jolly rancher in my mouth. Come to think of it, I probably voted for that guy and I think he might have even won.



So my question is this: Is it a coincident that the re-release of Michael's best work falls right in the middle of this tumultuous time in politics? And why hasn't one of the candidates adopted this wildly successful tactic?




I mean, really, who cares about foreign policy when you can pop some watermelon goodness in your mouth, hold hands and sing "heal the world?"



Or there's this great idea too.

No thanks, creepy butcher-shop guy

The ear doctor's class ended earlier than usual last night, so we decided to take full advantage and spend the entire evening together. This meant that when the ear doctor wanted to go to his favorite store (not costco....his other favorite), I gladly acquiesed. We pulled up to our local butcher shop, W@lly's quality meats. This place is a great source for some kickin cuts of meat, and since the ear doctor has recently become a meat-smokin fanatic, we find ourselves there a lot.

Confidently, the ear doctor sidled up to the refrigerated meat case and authoritatively asked for a couple of pork steaks. I thought to myself, "I've never in my life heard of pork steaks...but the ear doctor is the grillmaster of our house, so I don't question."

The butcher, our new best friend, pulled out two of the world's thickest pork chops, looked up at us and asked if we were from Iowa.




Hmmm.



Total blank stare on my part. I looked down at what I was wearing to see if there was any kind of state-affliliation emblems on my outfit. Nothing denoting any specific locale. Not that there is anything wrong with Iowa, I was just surprised that I seemed to be giving off an "Iowa" vibe.

He then went on to explain that the cut of meat was asked for were sometimes called Iowa-chops because a lot of mid-westerners really like it. Who knew?




It was about this time that a VERY ragged looking gentlemen sauntered into the shop. Long, greasy strings of hair issued from under is cock-eyed trucker hat. It was during my double take that I realized the jar of marinade in his hand wasn't in fact the can of PBR that seemed to make more sense.

We paid, said a warm farewell to the butcher and before we left I made a joke about living so close to the store. The aforementioned gentlemen took this as an invitation to come on over and dine with us that night. Toothily grinning, he lumbered over and said, "What time's dinner then?"



Um, I really don't think so, bud.

Rad

I've seen these before, but was reminded of them by etsy-love.

(from nervous system)

I just think this looks really cool. I don't really wear much jewelry, but I think I could wear this cool piece with almost anything.

Hardcore fan

I haven't fallen head over heels for a musician's style in a really long time. But, my oh my, do I love Ms. Sara Bareilles. Aside from obviously amazing talent, doesn't she just seem cool?

(photo from her website....I hope she's no mad I snatched it and put it here....Sara, if you want me to take it down, let me know)

She describes her music as an intersection between Norah Jones, Fiona Apple, and Ben Folds. Since these are 3 of my favorite artists, its not suprising that I love her stuff. And anyone who gives Etta James a shout out is chock full of rad-ness.

Plus, I love an artist that puts ENTIRE songs on their website instead of a 34 second teaser.

If she decides to come anywhere near Colorado this summer I will be the crazy redhead in the front row.

Burn baby burn

Last night I went out to dinner with a dear, dear friend.

The kind of friend who simultaneously reminds you of who you are and who you were. Shes my oldest, truest friend. The one who will always be a part of my heart despite distance or time apart.

Our friendship is like a huge raging campfire. When you're standing away from it you can see the flame, and get a sense of the warmth. You know what its like and you know it will keep burning for a long long time without the addition of much fuel. It is constant and unchanging.


But,


If you step close it, the intensity of the fire warms you from the tips of your toes to the top of you head in no time flat. Quicker than you can catch your breath you feel enveloped and welcomed in from the cold. If the campfire is really really big your buns don't even get cold.

That's Kathy....a heat-your-jeans-so-hot-they-burn-your-shins-when-you-sit-down-kind-of-campfire.

Good news

Rachel at Black Eiffel found my dream home this morning. I think I'll print this picture out, put it in my wallet next to my debit card. That way every time I think of buying something I don't need I'll see this house, mi amor, and have restraint.

Just look at that fence! The garden! The front door!

Hey Anth,

Remember that R0bbie Williams song that we loved Sophmore year? What was that sucker called?

Spectacular weekend

I could not have asked for a better weekend! Saturday was 75 degrees and clear as a bell.

After reading all week about how much c jane wanted donuts and then how she endulged her desire, I knew I had to have one myself. Bright and early the ear doctor and I scooted over to Lamar's for a simply better donut. I had an old fashioned (yum), the ear doctor had a cake with maple frosting and sprinkles (which he dunked in his milk) and we shared a buttermilk bar. I was a little worried about all the early morning caloric intake. Littile did I know, I had nothing to worry about.

The ear doctor left me to go play 2 hours of basketball and I stopped at Target to get a gift for a friend's baby shower. The shower was at 11 am that morning, so of course all the cute stuff on the registry had been FUFILLED. I tossed the list aside and got stuff that I liked. Can I just tell you how cute the Dwell baby line is at Target? Adorable. I got her this:








And this:






And this:





































After the shower I planted some herbs, played frisbee, got slurpees, hit balls and the driving range, went out for dinner and went dancing.


And then on Sunday we woke up to a blizzard. That's Colorado for you.

Copycat of the week

Before Valentines day I saw this print on Bloesem which she found on Identity5 and loved it. I knew I could copy it and make a really cool invitation for my girls.

This week we're learning about budgeting, so here is my total rip-off:

I got inspired to teach this topic from reading this post. Some people really got their stuff together, you know?

Again?

I know I'm sick again because the steam from my hot chocolate feels really really good on my face.


Usually I hate drink-steam on my face. I'll even let my drink cool to the point where there isn't any steam to avoid this unpleasant side effect.


However, today my bowling ball-like head enjoys the warmth, so I've gotta be really ill.

Slightly deeper than usual

I was asked to put together some thoughts about keeping a personal record. And, well, since that is one of the functions of blogging, I thought it might be interesting to post about and share my findings.

Thought #1: "Your journal (or blog) is your autobiography, so it should be kept carefully. You are unique, and there may be incidents in your experience that are more noble and praiseworthy in their way than those recorded in any other life.”

Thought #2: "No one is commonplace, and I doubt if you can ever read a biography (or blog) from which you cannot learn something from the difficulties overcome and the struggles made to succeed. These are the measuring rods for the progress of humanity."






(quotes from Spencer W. Kimball, “‘The Angels May Quote from It’,” Tambuli, Jun 1977, 16)

Finds

Ever since I was little I've loved garage sales. I clearly remember some of my favorite buys: a plastic silver star shaped pin with a shiny plastic faceted "jewel", an old box of beads and twisted wire charms. This love of making another's trash my personal treasure has endured. Which is why I love craigslist with all mi corazon.



If I had the time, I'd save these beauties:










I'd paint them some happy color...white or yellow and cover the cushion in a nice bright print. That little table would come inside and make a great plant stand.

This guy is pretty great as is, although I might think about painting him a dull red color to add a pop of color in my front room. Simple, clean, sturdy.

Beautiful wingback chair with caning. I'd paint the wood and caning white and recover the cushion with some rad print like this makeover.

I saved the best for last. This sofa is $190 and could be STUNNING if reworked. Although, with all those curves I'm pretty sure the reupholstering of this piece is a little out of my skill set. Also, I'm pretty sure ear doctor would find the shape way too feminine. But I still love her.

How I spent my Saturday morning

I showed up Saturday morning not really knowing what to expect. To be perfectly honest, I didn't really want to go. I wanted to sleep in and make breakfast for ear doctor and maybe go to the early $5 movie or something.

But I went. I went because I said I would and because I knew people were counting on me. And I absolutely refuse to flake on people if I can help it at all.

Begrudgingly I pulled on my running shoes, threw the rats nest of my hair up into an (unwashed) ponytail and headed out.

As soon as I entered the gym and saw the 45 little girls sitting excitedly in a huge circle a wave of nostalgia hit me. I remembered the uncountable hours I spent as a little girl at school/girl scout/church functions similar to the one these girls were about to experience. I remembered having hula hoop competitions and making crazy crafts. I remembered running under and tucking the edges of a parachute so that my friends and I were surrounded by a slowly deflating rainbow-colored world. I remembered it all, and I got really excited for them to make similar memories for themselves.

After eating french-toast sticks covered in gooey syrup, playing an intense game of musical chairs and teaching 50+ girls two dance routines I was beat. My body was exhausted but my heart was full of three things:

1. Admiration for mothers of 10 year olds. Where do you get the energy?
2. People who care enough about the health of future generations to organize a program that encourages exercise and fitness without receiving any sort of compensation for themselves.
3. How lucky I am to be part of such a great group of people.

Is it just me?

I cannot get over how similar Danny Noriega (from this season's American Id0l) and Jessica Alba look!

They've gotta be related somehow, right? They even have the same bangs!

8 ways

Yesterday marked the 8th month that the ear doctor and I have been married, so I thought it was only fitting to share 8 ways my life has changed since the big day.

1. Vegetables. I eat WAY more of them now that I'm married. Before I was married I think I'd made myself a salad about 4 times in my life. Now, we have a side salad with dinner every single night.

2. TV. Just take a look at what is sitting in my DVR right now:

Before getting married there is no way on earth that something called "Bigfootville" would have been recorded.

3. Garabage. My garabage can has somehow turned into a never-ending bottomless hole. I mean, I just keep tossing stuff in and the bag magically gets emptied and taken down the the curb for pick-up. It's really amazing.

4. Knowing my weight. Growing up we never had a scale in our house. I guess my mom just never saw the need. The ear doctor had a scale, and brought it to our relationship so now I periodically check myself. I half hate half love this.

5. Propane. I never knew the price of a tank of propane and now I do. Owing to the ear doctor's love of grilling out, we burn through this stuff on a pretty regular basis.

6. Costco. I went there every now and then when I needed to get supplies for a party or develop film. Now we go twice a month (at least). Turns out the ear doctor just likes to wander through the warehouse and get a polish sausage on the way out.

7. Budgeting. Wow, this is really a whole new world for me. Before I tied the knot I had a budget, but it was very inaccurate and easy to break. Now it is regimented, fixed and forward looking.

8. Confidence. Knowing someone loves you and is always there for you inspires a wicked strong personal confidence. It's not like I wasn't a confident person before I was married, but now it's different. Deeper. Richer. Realer (or more real?).

A survey

Anybody seen the new commercial on TV for Flat Earth crisps? The one where an impossibly pretty girl wanders through an impossibly pretty house following a strange noise only to find out that there is a little pot bellied pig in her house. Then, she eats these chips and the pig starts flying through the sky?

Anyway, if you've seen it than you probably thought to yourself, "my, that dress she is wearing would be PERFECT for my internet friend Katie."

Becuase that's what I thought.

Seeing that dress on TV, coupled with the fact that my little sister is currently making herself a dress has got the sewing bug primed to bit me (hopefully not in the hand....that little guy has enough wounds at the moment)

I went to V0gue patterns to see if there was anything I would to make and I saw this little gem.

The first few thoughts that went through my head:


1. Wow, that is seriously heinous fabric for a dress.

2. How can that model be making a seductive face while she's wearing a horribly cheap looking lace inset?

3. 1976 called, they want their collar lapels back.

4. She kind of looks like that actress who played Laney Boggs in She's all that.

5. Gosh, I really hope it isn't that actress. Falling from the lead roll in a major motion picture to posing for Vogue patterns is a long, long descent.

6. When they said, "add some bangles," she REALLY added some bangles.

7. Her hands and arms looks SO awkward....what would Tyra and the J's say about this photo!

8. Hot shoes.

9. Aside from the strange lace, pic nic table fabric and alarming actress career move, do I actually like the pattern of this dress?

10. Yes.....yes, I really do. Made out of the right fabric with slight alterations I think this dress could look fabulous.

What do you think?

What is going on here!

I really love to cook. A few years ago the ear doctor got me a gift certificate to a fancy cooking school down in Denver. The class I took was a 2 day, 4 hours each day, intensive cooking basics course. We learned a little something about each cooking skill. It was awesome. My pan-cooked chicken breasts have never been the same since!

One important lesson we learned was knife skills. We learned the proper way to use our beautiful, very sharp 8" chef's knives. As soon as I got home from the class I was meticulous about how I used my knife. I was very aware of keeping my knife clean, dry and in good repair.

As time has passed, I've become lazy. My fingers aren't placed correctly and my nice knife gets tossed in the drawer with all of the other knives. Turns out I was begging to be taught a lesson.

Sunday I made a beautiful braised brisket and as I was trimming the 3" layer of fat off the meat I made a beautiful deep cut into the side of my left pointer finger. Ouch. Last night I was cutting a pear for a scrumptious fruit salad (to accompany our mushroom stuffed burgers and spicy sweet potato fries) and I attempted to hack off my left thumb.

Alright, knife, I get your point. (har har har). From now on you will get my full attention and the highest level of respect.

Because there is nothing more embarrassing that telling dinner guests to wait for dinner while you run to the bathroom to clean dripping blood from your hand.

Don't worry mom, I didn't leave the bandaid packaging on the bathroom counter for you to come and throw away.

This perplexes me

Why do some textile makers only sell their wares to designers and/or wholesalers? Is there a disadvantage to selling directly to the public?

It is seriously frustrating when I find a fabric that I LOVE and want to make a quilt or recover a chair and I can't get it because I'm not in the industry.



So, I figured there must be a good reason they are limiting their customers, right? Any ideas?

That's shocking

Last night I had two really vivid dreams that have stuck with me all day.

First, my upper, right canine tooth turned gray, fell out and turned into powder. Scary, but not that unusual. I always dream about my teeth falling out.


Second, I'm driving through a gas station parking lot and see my mom limping down the sidewalk. She's wearing a bright pink bike helmet, her clothes are dirty, knees scrapped up and she's crying. I ask what happened and she said she was riding her bike to church and wrecked it. I don't know why, but this dream was VERY traumatic. Mom's are supposed to be invincible, not hurt from a bike accident.


Anyone care to interpret?

Made my day

Go here, click and enjoy.


Top 3 moments:

3. fixing the pretty headband
2. hand motions to "sun going down and the moon going up"
1. the total sincerity and commitment to her craft

two great finds!

This weekend the ear doctor and I went to two AWESOME new restaurants to celebrate our belated Valentines Day.

The first was his pick. A great place called nine75. Very hipster, lots of 20 somethings in the bar in the back. All the servers looked like they could be art school students with square heavy framed glasses. The best part? A HUGE bowl of fresh, warm, delicious cotton candy for dessert. As soon as that soft spun goodness hit my lips I reverted into a happy 7 year old girl with pig tails and saltwater sandals. Truly a fun place!


The second was my find: Via, in LoDo. It is the new(ish) sister restuaruant to one of my favorite cherry creek spots, (cucina colore). The crowd at this place was a little less Kerouac, a little more Chianti. The food was spectacular. Just really, really good. My pasta had the freshest tasting tomatoes, which is a real trick for mid february. Again, the dessert stole the show. Peach bread pudding sitting in a lake of the smoothest, creamiest carmel sauce you could ever imagine. It took my breath away and was dubbed my new favorite restaurant in Denver.

Pictures of our day

Despite feeling horibble, we still had a pretty awesome Valentines day. We spent the day watching old movies (thankyou TCM for your Oscars marathon), falling asleep and finished it with delivery Chinese food. Yummm.

As we were cracking our fortune cookies I apologized for not having the most romantic of holidays for our first married Valentines. He paused, looked at me and said, "actaully, it was pretty romantic. We both took care of each other and this will make a great story for the rest of our lives"


He's pretty great.



Now, onto the loot. Look at all the great tokens of love he gave me yesterday:

He hid these vintage space-themed valentines cards all over the house. I don't think there are more perfect valentines on the face of this earth for me. As you can see I've found 9 of them...one more is hiding somewhere in the house.



Here is what I got for him.


(the card in the middle is a subscription to Paste magazine, which he will LOVE)

out of commision

Woah! Sorry for the lack of posts this week. The ear doctor and I both home sick. He's snoring away across the living room and I'm wearing the same clothes...day 3.



Even like this, I love this man. Luckiest girl in the world = me.




Aren't you jealous of our romantic first married Valentines Day? You should be,

Why my mom is tricksy

Usually when someone comes to visit me I put together a wonderful schedule of events that we can do. I like to have interesting things to do so I can show off how awesome it is to live near the Mile High city. In preparation for my mom's visit I made a list of really great things to do: visit the botanic garden and learn about Chinese sculpture or download a walking tour of Denver and go for a wonderful outdoor urban adventure.

However, this weekend when my mom came to visit I decided that I'd just show her a nice relaxing time. I wanted her to see what the ear doctor and I do on any given Saturday.




The main event of the weekend? The ear doctor and I took her to our favorite puppy store. We do this every weekend. It is our way of getting our puppy fix without having to scoop any poops. (yuck)




Being a dog lover and away from her beloved Quinnie, I think she really liked it.


While we were there we discovered a new breed that seems ideal for our lifestyle: an adorable Basenji.





I really want a dog, but I'm just not ready to get up and go for sub-zero snowy morning walks. Is it so crazy to wait until we have the beautiful, warm early mornings that I know are coming soon to Colorado? Is it?


As usual, the ear doctor picked up a puppy and gave me the pleading eyes. Nerves steeled against his almost-irresistable good looks, I stuck to my guns.


Thinking I would get support from my ever-practical mother, I turned to her for assistance. Shocked, I realized I was staring directly into the exact same gleam, transported into her eyes. She was pleading with me to bring a puppy home with us! Where did my mother go and who replaced her with this 10 year old, giddy little girl?!? Then she casually said, "I'll throw in $100."






She is a tricky, tricky woman who knows me so well. I have a REALLY hard time passing up a deal. I had to dig deep in my soul and muster up the poop-scooping memories of my youth in order to leave without a furry pal of my own this weekend. But I can feel my resolve weakening.....

Hooray for Moms

My mom has a conference in Chicago all next week. She decided to fly through Denver and see me and the ear doctor for the weekend!!!!!!!!!!!! I am very excited about her coming, especially since it is supposed to be 50 degrees and sunny ALL WEEKEND.

I heart Denver weather.

It should be a pretty nice break from this:

Atta girl

One of my favorite writers, Isabel, decided to tell the world of her faith today.

I'm pretty impressed with her. It's kind of intimidating for us Mormons to let it all hang out and tell people of our faith sometimes. Probably every individual in my church has at one point had a pretty poor experience with being mocked, hurt, degraded and laughed at for our faith. A once-bitten-twice-shy attitude can be developed.

Anyway, I'm so happy for her and so totally IMPRESSED by the love she's had in her comments section for this very personal post.


My faith in the genuine niceness of humanity is restored.





(note: if you feel inclined to say something unkind to this post I'm going to delete it, so don't waste your time)

Oh, yes please

If someone wanted to get me this stunning platter with the ear doctor and my initials with '07 carved in the tree, I'd be ok with it.

From Jessica Rust Designs.....so pretty!

And a chocolate ganache cupcake wouldn't be too bad either.

New Things

So with this new job status maybe the ear doctor and I will finally be able to join in this really cool week of foodie-love in my city.





The gist of the event is that you can go to a bunch of local awesome restuarants and have a mulit-course dinner for 2 people for $52.80 (mile-high city price...cool). For the restaurants listed, that's a pretty great deal.



Plus, one of our resolutions was to try out new restaurants this year.

Quick Great News

I got a promotion and a raise today.

Hooray!

A perfect blend

Last night at Activity Day we made Valentines cards and frosted heart shaped cookies.

We didn't have a great turn out, so there were quite a few left. I decided to frost them and take them into work so that the ear doctor and I didn't eat them all in one day (as we are wont to do).

I got a little creative and decided to nerd it up a little bit. See....

The ear doctor called them a perfect mix of my talents.

I love being a dork!

Between email accounts

Ear doctor (1:47 pm): Meat Loaf Sandwiches are AWESOME. Thank you for my delectable lunch babe.You're the best.

Me (1:55 pm): I'm glad it was good, Lovah! I miss you and I'm grumpy here at work.

Ear doctor (2:00 pm): That is C-RRRRRRAPPYYYYYY. It's ok 'cause tonight we're making frosting ....

(this morning he asked what we are going to do tonight and I told him "make frosting" for my activty day girls. We're frosting heartshaped cookies for Valentines day)

Me (2:01 pm): That's the truth. All I want to do right now is sit around watching TV or playing Mario. Am I 10 years old?

Ear doctor (2:02 pm): No, not ten years old ... the WOMAN of mis suenos

Me (2:03 pm): Maybe we can add eat popcorn to that list list of things I'd rather be doing. The DC (our code name for diet coke) in the work fridge is calling to me, and I'm having a hard time ignoring it's siren song.

(remember, I'm only drinking diet coke once a week on saturdays)

Ear Doctor (2:06 pm): Be strong against the clarion call of the DC. We can definitely do all of the above on your list, including eat popcorn, tonight. I don't have class today, so I'll be home early!!!!! Maybe then we can get ourMario on ... I'll be player 2 if you want.






You know it's true love when someone offers to be player 2 for Mario Galaxy on Wii.

If I'd known

If last year when I moved, got a new name and re-registered to vote I had known what an interesting presidential race this was going to be I probably wouldn't have registered as Independent.

Now I'm left out in the cold tonight hoping that others, who plan ahead more than I do, get out there and do what they think is best.


Have a great Super Tuesday.

Tell me

The other day I was sitting around minding my own business when a very sweet elderly lady grabbed a hold of my elbow in that way that only elderly ladies can.

She looked me in the eyes, smiled and said, "it's so nice to see how much you and your husband love each other."


Cue my light-up-from-the-tips-of-my-toes-to-the-top-of-my-head smile.



When I make remarks about the ear doctor and I people often shake their heads, roll their eyes and say, "you're newlyweds, give it a year or so and it'll wear off."



UGH.



I don't want this to wear off. We've been married for almost 8 months and he's become an even greater friend than I ever expected. Why do people feel the need to rain on our parade? Why the negativity? Why can't more people be supportive, loving, and sweet like the nice elderly lady whose small, passing comment will be locked in my memory forever?

Must get out more

I clearly remember having a conversation with a friend when I was 15 years old. We were just leaving a dance hosted by my church and I looked over and her and said, "The man I'm going to marry will have to be a great dancer."

As my dating life progressed this small quality sank further and further to the bottom of my future-mate top 10 list (BTW did anyone else do this, or was I really weird?)

Then I met the ear doctor. He was funny....check. Thoughtful?....check. Smart?...you bet.

Best of all....a G-R-E-A-T dancer. Even better, he wasn't just a good freestyler, but he swing dances. While we dated we went dancing almost once a week. Since getting married and moving farther away from the venues, we have been slipping in our attendance.

Friday afternoon I found this great video, and KNEW we MUST go out the next night.





(the move the male dancer does at 1:15 is the ear doctor's favorite and he looks so great doing it!)



We went and it was AMAZING.......just like the ear doctor! But, man are my shoulder blades sore!

Spo-kompton

My mom sent me this picture. It is a shot the neighborhood where I grew up. It's from our front yard looking down our street.

That's a lot of snow, and she said 10 more inches were on their way. Needless to say, I'm not too sad about not living there anymore.

Updated: I thought I'd add a cool action shot of my Dad, the King of the Snowblower!

Glorious Day of Good Fortune

Yesterday I got this in my email box.

I couldn't really believe it was true. Free burritos just because I work here?!?!?!?

This morning I waited in half eager anticipation, half cynical disbelief. I just didn't want my poor heart to be crushed.

The clock struck lunch time. We arrived at 88th and Wadsworth. I ordered. I didn't have to PAY A DIME!!!!!!!!!!

I love Chip0tle!

white knuckles

Last night Denver finally got the snow from the storms that the rest of the country isxperiencing. Should be no big deal, right? I mean, when you think of Denver in winter the first thought you come to is snow.

Well, this morning the roads were ridiculous!


For some reason, that I will never understand, Colorado has still not learned how to keep the roads plowed.


And the scariest thing you can see on your drive in to work happened to me. I was smack behind someone driving a Jeep with an Arizona license plate.

Yikes!




(I'm not knocking AZ drivers here, but there aren't a whole lot of chances to learn to drive on ice in that state, right? Plus SOME people who drive big cars like that tend to feel a little invincible to poor road conditions.)