This Week

I’ve been thinking a lot about busy-ness lately.  It’s quite the double-edged sword, isn’t it?  Being too busy is stressful and exhausting.  Being not busy enough feels boring and unproductive.  I’m trying to embrace both ends of the spectrum and accept that life ebbs and flows between the two.

This week has been on the busy end of things.

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On Sunday, we received news that we’d gotten an awesome offer on Joey’s house.  I mentioned we were putting that up for sale, right?  Also note how I’m saying “we” even though I have no monetary claim to the house.  I feel kind of weird about that…  Anyways, we didn’t even hesitate to accept the offer and now it is officially under contract and things are moving right along.  Eeee!

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On Monday, we headed up to Red Rocks for Film on the Rocks.  They were playing The Hunger Games, which neither of us had seen (or read) and Vicci Martinez, of The Voice fame, was the opening act.  I thought she sounded great and she was so amazed by Red Rocks.  I still feel that way every time I see it too 🙂

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We got there a little late and it was pretty full, but we were able to squeeze our blanket in and eat a little picnic dinner.  I love that so many people do that for FOTR.  You definitely don’t see much of that going on during concerts, although tailgating in the parking lot is highly encouraged.

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I really expected the movie to be cheesy, stupid and unenticing but I ended up really liking it!  Don’t worry I’m not about to go all “Teem Peeta!” on you.  Also, we sat behind 3 girls who were buying alcoholic drinks (aka they had to have been at least 21) and spent the entire night taking “selfies” and checking Instagram and Facebook obsessively.  I’m not even sure they spoke to each other the whole night.  I’m sad for the future of society.  Guess it’s better than having a giant tournament where teenagers fight to the death though, right?

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On Tuesday…we headed up to Red Rocks…again.  This time for the John Mayer concert, so I’m not complaining.  This marked the 5th time I’ve seen JM in concert and the third time I’ve seen him at Red Rocks.  I guess you could say I’m a fan.  We had the good sense to get there early and “tailgate” with Chipotle and beer beforehand.

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And had the bad sense to hike up these stairs to get to the amphitheater.  No joke, I counted this as my workout for the day and no joke, my calves are still sore 3 days later.  There’s nothing like a bunch of stairs to make you feel out of shape and like your heart is going to burst out of your chest.  This is for you, John Mayer!!!

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Blown away by how beautiful my little sister is 🙂

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As for the actual concert, yes, John Mayer has had throat surgery –does it freak anyone else out that he gets botox injections in his vocal cords?– so no, he can’t hit high notes like he used to BUT I still thought he was amazing.  He’s still a phenomenal guitar player (coming from someone who knows nothing about playing the guitar…) and he puts on a great live show.  In other words, I love him and he can do no wrong.

On Wednesday, we went to Red Rocks.  No, wait that’s wrong.  On Wednesday, Hannah came over so we could drink wine and talk wedding details.  When I said that to Joey, his brother and his cousin (ahem, three men), they looked at me like that was some kind of torture.  Guys are no fun!

This Thursday (and every Thursday, actually) went like this: work —> bowling —> me asking how many more weeks are left of this torturous league/threatening to leave halfway through our three games.  If I didn’t really like my teammates and watching the dorky old music videos they play on the TV screens next to the scores, I would probably pretend to be sick every week.  For the record, I bowled SIX gutter balls in the first game.

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Today is Friday and I couldn’t be happier!  The arrival of the weekend is just the cherry on top of what was a fun and eventful week.  Plus I have leftover Japanese Pan Noodles in the fridge for lunch.  (I know Noodles & Co. is just a boring old chain, but I was craving this dish all week.)  Plus I was invited to go check out a few wedding venues with the bride and groom to be this weekend.  Can’t wait!

Amidst all the post-work plans, I barely had time to wash any dishes but still managed to watch every showing of Big Brother.  Priorities, people.  Happy Weekend to you all 🙂

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Do you like being busy?

What are you doing this weekend?

When was the last time you went bowling?

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?