Weekend Things

We were finishing up our ice cream at Cold Stone today when Hannah whined that she “didn’t want to go to work tomorrow!” and I could not agree more.  How is the weekend already over?

It’s funny, I was thinking back to last year around this time when I hated my job and the weekend was A) the only thing that got me through the work week and B) my chance to make up for all the fun I wasn’t having at work.  Nowadays, I have a job I like much more and there’s always fun things going on throughout the week too, but I still prefer the weekend.  Hey, who doesn’t?

IMG_4153Also, when this song comes on at 3 PM on a Friday, you just know it’s about to be a good weekend.  I left work a few minutes early to meet Hannah, Josh, and both their mothers at the first of four wedding venues we toured this weekend.  This first one set a pretty high standard.  It was beautiful, affordable and included a lot of details that might be a little stressful to put together by yourself.  But I think my favorite part was when our tour guide’s husband popped out from behind a bush (where he was fixing some audio wires) and yelled “Hi honey!”  Priceless.

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IMG_4158Afterwards, the bride, groom, Joey and I went out for dinner and beer at Udi’s.  Apparently they’ve downsized their menu since we’d last been there and we were all slightly disappointed.  Luckily, that downsized menu still included about 10 different pizzas (I guess they have their priorities straight) and this basil, olive, roasted garlic, arugula pizza hit.the.spot.  Also, I didn’t even notice that cheese wasn’t listed in the ingredients and am so grateful the waitress pointed it out and asked if I wanted to add it.  YES PLEASE!

IMG_4162Saturday involved a hike up Mt. Sanitas, which Joey and I had never been to before.  We drove through the “Historic District” of Boulder to get there and can I just say “HOLY HUGE BEAUTIFUL HOUSES!”  I know Boulder has this reputation for being full of “dirty hippies” and homeless people, but there are some well off people in that city.

IMG_4160It certainly wasn’t the most difficult hike I’d ever been on, but it definitely got my heart rate going.  As much as I love hanging out in Denver and visiting all the awesome neighborhoods and restaurants there, the views in Boulder just can’t be matched.  I swear the sky is bluer, the air is fresher and the trees are greener.  I do wish the other trail-goers could have been a little friendlier though.  Joey and I said “hello” to everyone we passed and a lot of not-even-half-hearted responses were given.  What gives, Boulderites?

IMG_4163I treated myself to Rush once we got back down the mountain.  I know that place is calling these smoothies, topped with granola and honey (or PB&J in my case), a “meal bowl,” but I’m pretty sure blending some fruit into frozen yogurt and topping it with peanut butter makes this dessert.  I ate it for lunch anyways.

IMG_4166Saturday also involved the cracking open of our 5th homebrew: an IPA.  I’m more of a wheat beer drinker, but I definitely know an IPA when I taste one and this was an IPA.  Joey thought it was kind of mellow for an IPA and I kind of agree but it still has that super hoppy taste and overall, I would call this a definite success.

IMG_4171Sunday was an all-day wedding venue search.  We headed up to Fort Collins this time (Fun Fact: I actually went to CSU for my freshman year of college so I’m familiar with the town and it was kind of cool being up there again) for 3 more tours.  I thought it was interesting that all of the venues we’ve seen thus far have been completely different from each other.  This one in particular had beautiful flowers everywhere and how cute is that Victorian house in the background?

IMG_4173As a thank you for tagging along on the venue search, Hannah bought us all ice cream at the end of the day.  Plus, did you know it’s National Ice Cream Day?  That basically meant we had to get our fix, right?

Hoping you all had a wonderful weekend too!

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What was the highlight of your weekend?

Did you celebrate National Ice Cream Day?

What’s the best wedding venue you’ve ever been to?

4th of July Weekend Things

The top 5 moments of the 4th of July weekend, in order of importance:

#5 Mini Sopapilla Pancakes.

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After a much-too-long hiatus, Pancake Sunday is back.  For this one week at least.  I dished up some of these pancakes for Joey and I after finally getting out of bed and limping to the kitchen (see below…) and they were A) ADORABLE and B) DELICIOUS.  They truly tasted like sopapillas, which makes this sopapilla-loving girl pretty happy.

#4 Putting Joey’s house up for sale!

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We spent all day Friday and Saturday at Joey’s house, fixing holes, touching up paint, fixing counter tops and pulling weeds so it would be ready to put on the market.  Don’t misunderstand me, the actual work that went into doing all this was horrible.  I am so not cut out for yard work.  My hamstrings are so sore from bending over to pull weeds that I basically can’t walk today.  Is that normal?!  What I am happy about however is that selling Joey’s house means buying one of our own together! 🙂 🙂

#3 The actual 4th of July.

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Joey and I put in extra hours on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday just so we could sneak out early on Thursday and enjoy a fun holiday dinner before heading to the Rockies game for baseball and fireworks.  Little did we know so many restaurants would be closed that day!  Eventually, we found an open restaurant — Highland Tap & Burger — that we’d actually been talking about wanting to go to for a few months.  I ordered the Great Divide Colette and was in love.  Also, BEST ONION RINGS OF MY LIFE.

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Plus, a Rockies win and a great fireworks show.  Serious question though.  Why do songs about America have to be so cheesy?

#2 Starting birthday celebrations a couple days early.

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My birthday isn’t technically until Tuesday, but why not stretch the celebration out as long as possible, right?  My family went to Vine Street Pub for an early dinner last night to celebrate.  There was good food, beer, laughs and perfect outdoor patio dining weather.  Say whatever you want, people with spring, fall or winter birthdays, but summer birthdays are where it’s at.

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Afterwards, ice cream at Little Man’s of course.  This picture right here is proof that ice cream trumps froyo.  Have you ever seen a line like this outside a froyo place?  Also, my dear sweet mother picked out a shiny red Kitchen Aid mixer for me.  I could not be more excited about it.  I hope Joey doesn’t mind cake, muffins and bread for dinner every night for a while.

Psst, you know something really exciting is coming if my birthday comes in second place!

#1 An engagement!!!

Not mine…sorry 😛 My best friend, Hannah’s!  Josh proposed to her while they were on a trip to Steamboat this weekend and I was beyond shocked.  I mean they’ve been together for 8 years so I had a pretty good idea they’d be getting married I just had NO idea it’d be now!  I am elated for them 🙂  The four of us grabbed some celebratory drinks on Saturday night, where they asked us both to be part of the wedding party.  Guess who grabbed that Maid of Honor title?  This girl!

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In true Lauren fashion, one of my first questions was “When do we get to do the cake tasting??”

Yeah, I guess you could say it was a pretty good weekend 🙂

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How was your 4th of July?  What’d you do?

Have you ever been part of a wedding party?

When is your birthday?  And is that coincidentally” also your favorite month?