Labor Day Weekend Things

Hi!  Is it just me or did this weekend feel SO LONG?  Not complaining, just saying.  I, for one, am all for a weekend that feels like it just keeps dragging on, because I cannot believe it’s already September.  I just want this year to slow down already.  Anyone else?

In true Labor Day fashion, this weekend was all about savoring the last bit of summer, which for me translates into beer, baseball, family and relaxing.  All of which started on Friday, with a Rockies game.

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Here’s everyone on their feet for Todd Helton who was attempting his 2500th hit.  I’m still harboring negative feelings towards Todd after this summer’s DUI charge (not cool!) but when the whole crowd is standing up and cheering, it’s hard to not join in.  For the record, he didn’t end up getting that hit.

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More Rockies on Saturday night.  We met out friends Bobby and Becca at the “Brew Fest and Food Truck Round Up” beforehand and I was severely disappointed.  We went to this event last year and there were at least 7 local food trucks.  This year they had TWO and neither were serving very “local” stuff.  My food took forever to come out and it was a huge mess.  And I drank a beer that literally tasted like cold stale coffee.  Unacceptable!  In other news, these little kids looked so tiny out on the field.  Too cute.

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For the record, Helton still didn’t get his 2500th hit at this game and also for the record, Joey thought he “looked good” in this picture, so don’t feel bad for him that I’ve posted it on the internet.  He asked for it, guys!  I’m sitting here trying to remember what I did all day before we went to the game and I’ve got nothing.

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Sunday started with this!  And look, I’m even following through on my no caffeine rule.  Joey, my sister, both our mothers and I all hit up Ikea for some house inspiration and my mom was nice enough to pick us all up some Starbucks for the road.  My favorite part was when my mom accidentally threw away her reusable cup and had to go back and pick it out of the trash.  Oh, Mom.

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No joke, we spent 5 hours at Ikea and spent $1.38 between the 5 of us.  We told my mom beforehand that we were just going there to get some ideas and she still kept trying to offer to buy us stuff.  You gotta love her determination though.  Don’t worry Mom, we’ll be going back once we’re actually moved into the house and then we’ll take you up on all those offers 🙂

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We also took a lunch break for some Swedish meatballs.  I had to be different from everyone else and get a salmon wrap that I seriously regretted after eating it.  I’m a sushi lover, but that cured salmon rubbed me the wrong way for some reason.  May this be a warning to myself to just go with the tried and true Swedish (horse) meatballs next time.

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I made it up to myself later with a delicious kale and mushroom quesadilla, alongside beer (naturally), the Rocky Mountain Showdown and Big Brother.  If you’re thinking that’s too much TV and too much going on in general, you are correct.  We were only half watching the CU vs. CSU game though.  Our Buffs pulled out the win this year!  I don’t even care about football but a good old college rivalry is always fun.  Especially when your alma mater wins.

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Today, we labored.  5 miles done before 8:30 AM.  Then ran a billion errands.  To the mall, to the grocery store, to Home Depot (do you even know how many shades of gray there are??) and to Beauty Brands.

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Hempz lotion on sale!  Half off.  I couldn’t resist and bought three.  In between all that, there has been lots of Six Feet Under and playing on this Ikea 3D room planner thing.  IT IS ADDICTING.  We also managed to sell the two glass tables we’ve had for the past few years.  New tables are in our future.

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Sunday Monday (whoa!) ended at my parents’ with a fabulous dinner and Huni Bunny for dessert.  Actually, we had strawberry rhubarb pie and gelato.  No offense to ice cream, but how much easier is gelato to scoop?!

I was in bed reading by 9 PM and lights out by 10, so I’m feeling well rested and ready to get through this short week.

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How did you celebrate Labor Day?

Are you ready for summer to end?

Have you ever been to Ikea?

Best of July

You guys. July, my favoritest of months, is coming to an abrupt end.  And I’m not ready.  Wah wah.  In an attempt to savor the time I have left with my favorite month (and that would be just this one last day), I thought it’d  be fun for me to do a little “Best of July” recap.

Things started off with a bang when the 4th of July, my best friend’s engagement announcement and my birthday all took place within the first 10 days of the month.  Whew!

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I’m usually pretty disappointed by the 4th of July, but this year was pretty darn good — must’ve been all the Great Divide Colette I drank… — plus a fun red velvet cake/friend-filled birthday and an upcoming wedding makes me think 24 is going to be a pretty good year.

July was also a good month for trips to Red Rocks.  I managed two trips in one week — back to back, no less! — and had the opportunity to see The Hunger Games and John Mayer is the world’s most beautiful entertainment venue.

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I know I should be used to how amazing the giant red rocks that make up the amphitheater are, or the fact that it’s a naturally occurring work of pure beauty, but I’m not.  Also not used to climbing the crazy amount of stairs to get into the amphitheater.  Can we get an escalator up here, please?

Being at the peak of summer, July can sometimes be miserably hot (and wildfire-y…), but this year has been pretty mild, making it perfect for fun weekend adventures.  My favorites being the wedding venue shopping I did with Hannah and Josh, a hike in Boulder and ice cream outings, naturally.

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This summer was almost a hiking bust, but we finally got a good one in.  Say what you will about Boulder, but there is no better view than those flatirons or what you can see from the top of those flatirons.  On the wedding venue front, I’m happy to report that a decision was made and I think they picked the perfect spot.  I know it’s not even my wedding, but I even feel a huge sense of relief now that the venue/date have been taken care of.  Celebratory ice cream for all!

I know I should probably enjoy my own birthday more than anyone else’s but I think my mom’s birthday took the [red velvet] cake this year.  Family, movies in the park, sangria, fabulous food and more sangria?  That just can’t be beat.

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I can’t think of a person more deserving of multiple birthday celebrations.  I truly hope she had as good of a time as I did, because I know I had a blast.  Now if only the red velvet cake I made for the occasion had been a little prettier…

Of course, there were a bunch of little things that A) didn’t make the blog and B) I can’t remember at this exact moment in time, but here’s one last hurrah for Farmers’ Market trips, weekend pancakes, sunny morning runs, CSA veggie dinners, Rockies games, beer drinking, and lots of laughter. 

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I, for one, am pretty excited to see what this next month has to bring.  Especially in terms of the house buying process.  Bring it on, August!