Saturday, September 20, 2014

Getting in the Groove

I love routine in the morning. It helps me wake up and ensure I am on time each day. I think I've got it down with my new job, and it feels great! Not that waking up at 5 a.m. is easy, but it's what I've gotta do. Plus, I love that I get to leave work at 4 p.m.! 

When Friday rolls around,  I am glad to have the weekend begin, since weekends in Denver might be my favorite ever. There is always something fun happening in the city, and the mountains are just a short drive away if the outdoors are calling my name. Hiking in Colorado is awesome compared to my wet hikes in Washington! Loving the dry trail and warm weather.

Additionally, the beer culture is incredible here. I find that we are attending a beer event of some sort just about every weekend. Plus, such events usually allow dogs -  Addie can join us!

Last weekend, we went to Denver Beer Co's pumpkin beer release party. Once in the door, we had unlimited opportunity to try their pumpkin beer plus a host of other beers on tap. Not to mention good food, games, and tons of fun people all brought together for the love of beer and a good time! Addie came along and was a huge hit. We take every opportunity we have to socialize her, and each time I am astounded at what a rock star of a dog she is. We are taking her downtown today for Oktoberfest Denver, and are so excited for good beer and German fun!

Wishing everyone out there a wonderful weekend!


Sunday, August 31, 2014

Hooray for long weekends!

Labor Day weekend has been spectacular thus far. Preston, Addie, and I just got back from two nights in my uncle's cabin outside of Lyons, CO. Their darling green cabin is tucked away in the mountains with a river running right outside the backyard. I was dazzled by the lovely flowers in the yard and a hummingbird feeder buzzing with the little birds. We went on two nice hikes and Addie passed much of the time playing with Cody, a little pup a little over a year old. 

I'm exhausted from good time spent with family, hiking, eating delicious food, and reading, and am so glad to have tomorrow off work so that I may get some extra sleep and recuperate!

Addie getting some pets and a rest pre-hike

Theo, my uncle's golden doodle

View from the top 
Colorado is lovely

Cody the cutie! Addie's playmate for the weekend.

A glimpse at the lovely backyard
Head shake

Hummingbird friend

Thursday, August 28, 2014

Full sail

I started my new job a week ago Monday, and I'm loving it! It is certainly an adjustment from not working at all, so I'm just starting to learn how to make time for other things. Add the puppy on top of that and I've got quite a few balls to juggle! 

My day starts at 5 a.m., I take puppy out, get ready for work, Preston leaves at 6 a.m. and I leave for work by 6:40 a.m.. I work till 11 a.m., drive home to take the puppy out and rush back to work till 4 p.m. Come home again for the puppy, I cook dinner, and give lots of love to the puppy. Preston gets home by 7:30 p.m.. We eat, and then to bed by 9 p.m. I haven't been this busy in ages! It's challenging but I'm loving it.

Thank goodness for the weekends when we can sleep in (till maybe 7 p.m.) and spend long days together. We've attempted two 14ers with Addie, and hope one day we can make it to the top! We are looking forward to this weekend and to more time spent in the mountains with family.

I'm hoping to get a rhythm figured out soon so I don't feel so rushed all the time, but perhaps that is my new rhythm for a time. Baby puppy plus full time job plus partner in medical school equals a lot more on my plate. 

Addie is quickly approaching 3 1/2 months this Sunday, and she has already put on 3lbs since we picked her up almost four weeks ago! It's amazing how fast she is growing and how much she is learning. She is one smart dog! 

Attempting Bierstadt

One tired pup on the way down
We (almost) did it!

I love her so

On the way down. Couldn't quite do it...

Wednesday, August 13, 2014

Raising Addie

Having a puppy is a challenging yet rewarding experience. I'm absolutely loving raising my little Addie, but I often find myself panicking that she is sick, or has fleas, or will never stop teething. She takes up just about all of my attention, which I give willingly, but I am nervous for when I have to start work next week and cannot be with her 24/7.  Luckily, my new job is only 4 miles away so I can easily come home during lunch!

Here are some photos of my little Addie. I am trying to capture her puppy hood as much as possible, because I know it goes by so fast. 






Friday, August 8, 2014

Victory!

I did it. I got a job that I am excited about and that I think will be a good fit and a place where I can learn and grow. I'm so glad this worked out as well as it did and I'm looking forward to new adventures! 

I'm also grateful to have gotten a summer "break." It made all the difference for my transition from Washington to Colorado, and it was so special to be able to travel, spend time with family and friends, and get quality, stress-free down time with Preston. 

I feel refreshed, established, and ready to get back to work. Having an income will also be nice! 

Wednesday, August 6, 2014

Obsessed

I'm afraid to admit this, but I think I'm obsessed with my puppy, Addie. Being funemployed, I get to spend all day with this little ball of fluff and I couldn't be more thrilled. Thrilled to wake up at 5 a.m. to take her out to pee. Thrilled to pick up her poops. PROUD when she poops! I'm clearly a crazy person, but I'm loving every minute. 

Like one of those overly-doting parents, I get so excited when she plays fetch, rolls on her back, pees outside, etc. I'm also convinced that she is the most well behaved puppy ever, and is likely the most adorable and intelligent. Whenever I take Addie outside, the second thing out of people's mouths (after, "awww!") is, "I bet you're not getting any sleep!" Wrong. She sleeps through the night without making a sound or having an accident. Winning! 

Things are so different with Addie compared to my dog growing up, that my mind is blown each day. I loved my family dog, Tamlorn, but he was a very shy and neurotic dog. We couldn't take him anywhere, he hated the car, he was shy around strangers, and he didn't like playing. We got him when he was 7 months old and the breeder did a terrible job of socializing him, so he was scarred for life. We tried different obedience and agility classes, and my parents even brought in a dog behavioral specialist, but he was who he was. He was a great dog for our family, but certainly had his issues. 

Addie, on the other hand, is such a dog dog. She loves playing with toys. She loves people and meeting other dogs. She can sleep anywhere, including in the car. She loves her crate. She loves getting petted all over. She is just the best. I think the big difference is that we got her at such a young age (10 weeks) and she came from a wonderful home. I'm excited to start puppy preschool with her on Saturday and to keep watching her learn and grow. I can already tell she is going to be my companion for life! 


Monday, August 4, 2014

Meet Addie

I've always loved animals. As a child, I wished so badly that I was a dog, or a cat, or a horse, or a lemur, or a snow leopard... the list goes on. I would beg my mom for pets all the time, and grew up raising rats, parakeets, a dog, a cat, and a bunny. It was the best!

After living away from home for the past 6 plus years without a pet, I was dying to add a fluffy companion to my life. Due to restrictions at my last place and knowing I would be moving, I decided to wait. Now, in Denver, that has changed! I know I'll be living here for at least 4 years and I can have pets at my rental. Hooray! Not to mention Denver is insanely pet friendly, and dogs are welcome at many restaurants, farmer's markets, parks, and breweries.

So at dusk on Saturday, Preston and I welcomed Addison Red to our home. She is a red merle Mini Australian Shepherd puppy, weighing in at 8lbs at eleven weeks of age. I am in love. 

I am pleased to introduce you to Addie!


Tuesday, July 29, 2014

Medical School Begins!

Yesterday marked the beginning of Preston's medical school career. He was gone 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. and man, that is a long time! It's looking like that will become the norm, so I am going to need to learn how to adapt.

As part of the orientation, the medical school invited families to come to a day of information about what to expect during the next four years. At the end, they had a panel of medical school student wives speak about their experiences, and they sort of made me panic. I realize this is going to be challenging, but I'm not sure I wholly know what to expect. 

I'm hoping one of my job prospects will work out soon so that I don't go insane, but for now I'm looking forward to tomorrow when I travel to San Diego for my cousin's wedding! Onwards to four days of sun, beach, and family.


Thursday, July 24, 2014

Mmmm Mmmm Summer

With Preston starting school on Monday, he already feels summer slipping away. For me, in the full swing of funemployment, I thought I'd share some of my favorite things during summertime:

Sunshine
Warm evenings
Ripe watermelon
Caprese salad (pictured below)


BBQs
Iced coffee
Outdoor concerts in the park
Open windows
Sandals 
Mint juleps (pictured below)


Freckles
Sunflowers
Baseball games
Rose wine
Afternoon thunderstorms 
Patio dining
Popsicles

I could probably go on forever... what are your summer favorites?

Monday, July 21, 2014

Busy Bee

The last couple weeks have been a whirlwind. It's been busy at our place with friends in town and lots of exploring to do and fun to be had. We have been making the brewery rounds and let's just say they are not kidding about amazing beer in Colorado!


We of course hit up Coors in Golden, an irresistible tourist spot worth it for the three free pours. A short walk from Coors, we also tried Barrels and Bottles Brewery and Golden City Brewery in downtown Golden. Next time we go, we are certainly going to float the river through town!

If ever in the Denver area, I'd highly recommend all these breweries. My favorite thing to do is get a flight so I can sample what they have on tap to really get a feel for their taste and style. Many offer food or have rotating food trucks outside, and who doesn't love food with beer? Major win.

The next few days are going to be packed with family in town and medical school beginnings for Preston. The start of his med school seemed so far away and now it is right around the corner! 

Sunday, July 6, 2014

Radiate Positivity

Today is one of those lazy Sundays, and I'm so happy to be right where I am. I am simply loving Denver and all the fun and welcoming people here, and couldn't be more content about the move. 

I'm feeling extra positive today because I have interviews for two awesome jobs next week, I had a great visit with family, and I live in a lovely home with a lovely partner. 

I'm also excited to share that I started running again last week! I developed chronic exertional compartment syndrome in 2009 and it prevented me from being able to run. I mentioned my surgery in earlier posts, and this surgery was to correct the compartment syndrome. Now, after only 7 weeks, I can run again pain free! Of course, I am miserably out of shape so really I am run-walking, but still! It is so much more than I've been able to do in years. I'm feeling so thrilled to start to getting back into shape! 

Here's to hoping the positivity I'm radiating keeps coming, and here's to sending it out into the world.

Something else to be positive about - my new plant friends! 

Our little herb garden - it's so fun to harvest the herbs and use them in our cooking and cocktails!


Sunday, June 29, 2014

Exploring Denver: South Pearl Street Farmers' Market

Between applying and interviewing for jobs, I am enjoying exploring Denver. This morning, Preston and I headed over to the South Pearl Street Farmers' Market to get some local produce and check out what this market had to offer. I grew up going to the Davis Farmers' Market every single Saturday morning and every Wednesday evening in the summers, so I was delighted to find such a great market right in our neighborhood! 

I naturally had to sample their chicken tamale offerings, which I found to be quite the tasty brunch. We also went home with ripe red tomatoes, a huge head of lettuce, kale, an onion, and a mystery pepper. Oh the joys of the market! Below are a few photos I snapped while strolling along under the big blue Denver sky.

Food trucks at the market
My tamal colombiano
More market views
I am going to explore more Farmers' Markets in the Denver area, and found this site to be especially helpful!

Thursday, June 26, 2014

Hello, again

A week-long California vacation plus a week without Internet equals no good opportunity to blog. Oops! 

A week after the big move, I spent a week in California with my parents while Preston ventured off to Yellowstone to hike and have bro time. It was wonderful to see family and friends, relax by the pool, and visit my favorite restaurants and spots in my hometown. Below are a couple pictures from my trip:

A chicken tamale, apple juice, and a latte are my staple selections from the Davis Farmer's Market. I'm telling you - there is nothing else in the world like these tamales! I had one every Saturday for brunch growing up. 

A view of the market signs.

Favorite coffee stand

My mom and I made Eggs Benedict for Father's Day breakfast! Complete with side of bacon. 

As mentioned before, I flew back from California to Denver to find the Internet in my apartment was no longer functioning. Now, I am back from my little Internet hiatus and am marveling at all I accomplished sans Internet for one week: I interviewed at two companies, read a book, spent time with friends, BBQed, bicycled, swam, and explored Denver. I'm so happy to have the Internet back on, but I have to say that going without the world wide web is entirely feasible and tests my ability to entertain myself without Netflix, Facebook, Pinterest, and reading blogs. 

Tomorrow I'm looking forward to an interview and then to enjoying the weekend. Pictures of Denver adventures soon to come!

Monday, June 9, 2014

Almost Settled

I've been in Denver since last Tuesday and it was only Saturday when I finally started to feel settled. The week of moving, AKA making Costco, Target, Goodwill, and Home Depot runs every day for 5 consecutive days, is finally (mostly) over. Preston left yesterday for a 10 day camping trip in Yellowstone with friends and I'm looking forward to visiting family in California for a week starting tomorrow. 

Yep, we are the crazy people that move to a new state and take off less than a week later. 

I'm still on the job hunt and am hopeful something will work out soon. At the same time, I am loving all this free time I have to run errands during off hours, catch up on a good book, watch Orange is the New Black (I maybe need to cool it a bit with the Netflix binging), find the perfect spot for remaining odds and ends, and learn the new city! 

Each day, I'm feeling stronger and more able to walk longer distances. I'm so happy to be a month ahead of schedule on my recovery and have my fingers crossed that I'll be running again come July!

Things seem to work out and fall into place, and I am feeling utterly grateful for the wonderful people in my life. 

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Sleepless

I found this post that I never finished from last week, so I figured I would include what was on my mind a week ago and what is going on now. 

Tuesday, May 27

I am sleepless in Tacoma, which is near Seattle, but my state of sleeplessness is nowhere near romance or glamour. This week I cannot stop thinking about all that needs to get done; work, moving, selling my car, renting a car, cleaning, etc. I'm pretty sure the list just about never ends because I have spent the last few nights awake and thinking about it all. 

Unfortunately, I find I have a very low stress tolerance. The smallest thing will see off my anxiety and, poof! I'm a stressed out mess. It's been a long time since I've actually lost this much sleep, so I literally cannot wait to be in Denver and have the big stuff out of the way! 

Thursday, June 5

I am sitting on my couch in Denver, Colorado. It has been a whirlwind of a move, and I cannot believe this will already be night three in our new apartment! This new place is certainly an upgrade in just about every way: washer/dryer in unit, walk-in closet, updated appliances, gym, awesome location in the city... the list goes on and on. 

Let's be clear though - moving is very difficult and takes a lot of time and even more money. We have been getting by with very limited furniture and an even more limited food supply. I forgot how long it takes to have a fully stocked kitchen! I went to make the most simple of meals - a quesadilla - and found I only had very basic ingredients (tortilla ad cheese), missing some of my favorite add-ons (onions, avocado, spinach, bell peppers, etc.). 

I feel like so many things are unsettled right now and I just want to be all unpacked and done with it all. We still have a huge pile of random items with nowhere to put it due to the lack of furniture (bookshelf, coffee table, end tables, etc.) and not a single photo is on the wall. 

These things take time, and I know that soon the apartment will look less like a mess and more like a home. Photos will come once the home part is achieved!

For now, the sleeplessness will continue, but each night gets better and better. 

Tuesday, May 20, 2014

Blue skies

I lay here on my couch, watching big, puffy clouds glide by framed by beautiful blue sky. This is my last week of bed rest post-surgery, and I am so thankful for the beautiful weather to cheer me up!

The movers are coming this Friday and everything around me is a box or a mess. Because of the way moving companies work, we have to have them come a week before our lease ends to ensure our belongings make it to Denver by our move in date there. Thus, we are going to be "urban camping" in our apartment for a week before we go. This will be extra tricky considering my immobility. Oh well!

I'm feeling more excited each day about my move, and equally more terrified. I've been applying to jobs as much as possible between episodes of Dexter on Netflix and working from home. I'm so exited to live in a new place, make new friends, and explore. At the same time, I cannot stop thinking about what will happen if I don't find a job. 

As the clouds go by, I remind myself that everything will work out. It just takes time.

Ok, so I took this photo in Tucson, AZ. But you get the idea!

Sunday, May 18, 2014

Milestones

Today, the class of 2014 is graduating from my alma mater. With all the social media updates, I can't help but reflect back to my own college graduation day. 

It feels strange to think that two years ago today, I walked across the stage and said goodbye to college life. I loved college, and simply did not want the four years to end. That being said, while I truly enjoyed my college years, I would not want to go back and do it again. I just wanted it to keep going and never end... 

A lot has happened since graduating, including moving twice, working for two different employers, and now moving again. Now, I face a whole new host of uncertainties, such as what my next job will be, my next car, new friends... the list goes on and on. What they don't seem to tell you is that after college, the change and uncertainty never really stops. 

I like to think I am embracing this new challenge and I look forward to what is to come, even if I have no idea what it is. I will put this down as another milestone, another step forward.

Congratulations, class of 2014, and may you embrace the uncertainty! 

Me on my graduation day in 2012

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Controlled chaos

This is day two after my surgery and I feel like I am surrounded by controlled chaos. Myself, my mom, and Preston are going through our belongings to decide what moves with us, what gets donated, and what is just trash. As I look around the room, I see a variety boxes, bubble wrap, and every sort of random household item. It looks chaotic, but they have some sort of order to the madness that I just don't get to be a part of. 

The fact that all I can do is lay here is very frustrating. I would like to be up and about helping to pack things up! 

I did have a lovely day before my surgery celebrating Mother's Day. Below are a couple photos from that wonderful Sunday.

Roses for mom

Mom and I at dinner

View from the restaurant 

Tuesday, May 13, 2014

Easy breezy

It is a gorgeous spring day outside, the windows are open, and I am loving the sweet breeze dancing across the apartment. The surgery yesterday went well, so now I am relaxing with my feet up surrounded by two of my favorite people - my mom and Preston. They are spoiling me to bits and I'm loving every moment! 

I am a bit of a struggle right now, unable to get around very easily and pretty doped up due to the pain killers. I'm very happy all went well yesterday and that I am safe at home without too much pain. 

I am feeling so thankful for my wonderful caregivers and for this beautiful day. I am truly lucky! 

Sunday, May 11, 2014

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there! I'm so excited to get to celebrate Mother's Day with my mom this evening in Seattle. She is flying in for my surgery, which just one small example that shows how absolutely awesome she is. 

I love you, Mom!

Mom and I right before my high school graduation

Friday, May 9, 2014

Surgery, moving, and other stressful things

Today I was suddenly faced with the fact that I have several stressful life events right around the corner.  I've been so busy up until 8 p.m. tonight to even notice that a lot of change is upon me. I'm having surgery on both legs on Monday, leaving me off work for two weeks and on crutches for six, I'm moving to a new state on June 3rd, and I'm looking for a new job. Eek!

It is difficult to come to terms with the fact that I will be on bed rest for two weeks with not much to do besides read books, watch movies, and twiddle my thumbs. Okay, I exaggerate. I do love watching movies and reading books, but not when that is practically the only thing I am able to do.  Once off painkillers, though, I will be working remotely and applying for jobs in earnest. But I am still not looking forward to the hours of being reclined. 

I went to yoga tonight to try and clear my mind, and I dedicated my practice to being mindful of and grateful for a body that bends, moves, and feels strong. Even though I am not perfect, I am so thankful of what I do have. Soon I will not have the capability to move about as freely as I am used to, so I will focus on cherishing these last couple days of mobility and be appreciative of all the great things in my life. 

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Washington Coast

This past weekend I went camping with friends on the Washington coast. It rained. The entire. Time. Basically non-stop rain. Luckily, our friends are very outdoorsy and knew what to do! A tarp structure was set up above the picnic table and with extra room to fit some chairs. 

After a morning of not-so-successful clamming in the pouring rain and howling wind, we nestled together under the tarp contraption and passed the time playing games and drinking delicious beer. 

Saturday night we cooked up what clams we had procured and made a delicious stew. Bonus of sticking it out in the rain: our camp neighbors called it quits and gifted us about 10lbs of steak complete with a grill to put over our campfire. Huzzah! We ate like kings and queens.

Good beer, good food, and rain. This pretty much sums up the weekend. Below are some of the photos I took on our last day camping. We had a small break from the rain and hiked out to a lighthouse and fantastic views. I hope your weekends were sufficiently drier but equally fun!




Friday, April 25, 2014

Denver: the first chapter

Preston and I are in Denver and successfully procured an apartment to rent come June! Yesterday was a whirlwind looking at one apartment community after the next and then racing to submit our applications against four other couples. We won! 

Today we've been bopping about checking out our new neighborhood and we tested Preston's commute to school. We had a quick tour of his med school and it looks like an awesome place to learn! I'm so excited for him. 

My next move is to find a job. Hopefully something will work out in the next couple months! 

Monday, April 21, 2014

Portland weekend

This past weekend, I road tripped down to Portland with Preston and our friend Caitlin to visit our favorite Portland locals (see my dear friend Kelsey's blog, Ladies in Navy!). The weekend was filled with good food, great beer and cocktails, and so much laughter. 

Kelsey is a master at photography, and she gave me a hands-on lesson with my new DSLR (I recently purchased a Canon Rebel t3i and am having so much fun experimenting!). Below is a very small collection of my photography experiments and evidence of weekend well spent in a lovely place with even more lovely people. 

Blossom at Pittock Mansion

Frisbee in the park


Spring is everywhere! 
I am looking forward to the end of this week when Preston and I will be flying to Denver to find a place to live. It will be so exciting to have this important detail figured out and to catch a glimpse of what my new city looks like in the spring. 

Here is to warmer days and to new adventures! 

Sunday, April 13, 2014

A festival of colors

Today I headed out with a couple friends to check out the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival. We made sure to leave early in the day as traffic is a nightmare starting around noon - make sure you don't make the mistake of heading up after lunch! 

Tulip Town was our destination, and what a beautiful place. The three of us walked around the fields of color, taking photos at just about every row. They had every color imaginable in bloom, and at each new row of color we couldn't help but gasp, "they are so pretty!" 

The Tulip Festival is certainly a sight to see and happens every April. Disclosure: bring cash and patience! They do not accept credit cards (at least at this location) and there was certainly a line around every corner. Well worth it, though! Check out some photos below and enjoy.






The three of us ended the day with a late lunch on a rooftop in Seattle, soaking up the sunshine. All in all, it was a fabulous spring day in Washington!

Saturday, April 12, 2014

Fun, friends, and flowers

The last two weeks have been full of "F" words: fun, friends, and flowers. And also brunch.

Last weekend, I had a delicious Sunday brunch with friends at DOA. Most tasty! They have fabulous Bloody Marys and really good Eggs Benedict, among other delectable options. If you are ever in Tacoma, this is a must!


Preston surprised me with my favorite flowers: daffodils! Washington is in full bloom and I am loving every minute. The sun is out, it is getting warm, and summer feels like it is just around the corner. 


Mmmmmm beer. That is all. 


Nothing like Saturday morning Shakabrah! Another brunch favorite. 

Time is speeding by and I can't believe I only have seven weeks left in Tacoma. Before I know it, I will be Denver bound. I'm taking advantage of my time and seeing friends, keeping active, and eating at my favorite places. There is so much more to come!