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.

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?

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!

In Denver, we visited Wynkoop  Brewing Company, River North Brewery, The Great Divide Brewing Company, and Former Future Brewing Company. Other favorites we didn't make it to with friends include Vine Street Pub & Brewery, Jagged Mountain Brewery, and Denver Beer Co. 

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! 

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!

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!

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!

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.