Q1 2014

January marked my first month of not blogging since this baby was born back in 2008. Then February marked the first time I had gone two months without blogging. And then came March, my first time not posting for three months.

So, let this post mark my very first QUARTER POST! This isn't to say that I'm going to start posting only four times a year, I miss writing, but I was in need of a break. As my last post shared, 2013 was one helluva beating and I just needed to find my footing in 2014.

In January, I got to seal off the nightmare formally known as #19, now known as my gold tooth. I skied, embraced yoga, cheered on the Broncos in the playoffs, drank wine and celebrated Juanuary (before we knew better). I crafted with Pengs. And I told a man that I loved him and said goodbye to a friend of ten years, all in the same conversation.

February forced me to close my eyes during the Super Bowl. Dancing to Lord Huron, brunching, attending the Banff Film Fest in Boulder and shopping at Colorado's first Trader Joe's (cause, snacks) made up for what the Broncos could not. I traveled to NYC for more than 24 hours for the first time and checked something off this list (post to come, told you I wasn't giving up). In NYC I enjoyed a lovely Valentine's Day with my one and only PY and worked some PR magic at Toy Fair. For the day that I spent to myself in the city, I shopped, sat in an Italian cafe where I ate pizza, sipped on wine and read a book as the snow fell outside the cafe window (hello, perfect life moment) then got lost in the Met. It was a perfect afternoon. Two weeks later I was lucky enough to reunite with the Knochs for a weekend filled with laughs, skis, wine and games in Steamboat.

Finally, in March, I was able to catch my breath. I celebrated all the March babies (Andy, Suzy and Linz), experienced Monkey Town 4 with LJ, danced my ass off at our new favorite Friday night in Denver, ate my weights worth at Work + Class, went on some dates, learned that two Scorpion Bowls is two too many, drank Veuve (always worth mentioning), sang-a-long with Beyonce and skied.

April brings happy with a trip from Pep and Sam, Easter (a long-time HSCOOC favorite) and some neon nights with Suzy.

...and more blog posts :D

Steamboat

One of the (many) benefits to living in the state of Colorado is the easy access to some of the world's best skiing. Even with this being one of the worst seasons on record - I was lucky enough to spend 4 days last week living in Steamboat.

The last time I was in Steamboat Springs was in 1991 so I can't tell you how much the place has changed but the way this ski town exudes charm - I would hope not much. We took on that mountain (love you, Tomahawk!), we ate like kings (you must check out Mazzola's Italian), we drank the limit of Rio margaritas, experienced SubStone (a Cold Stone inside a Subway!), we played the tambourine and ukulele (to the best of our abilities), we went to the Western store (F.M. Light & Sons!), we gamed - and basically had the time of our lives. All while surrounded by killer views.

 

If we've ever been skiing together, you know that the only way for me to end the day is with a beer in the hot tub. And the only thing that makes that better is a sunset like this.

So, yes, as previously mentioned - I enjoy soaking my body in hot water so how is it that I had never been to a hot springs before?!? We wrapped up the trip with a giant hot pool of natural relaxation with a trip to the Strawberry Hot Springs, which was one of the prettiest places I've ever been.

Maybe it was being with people I love, maybe it was the view, maybe it was the drinks but this I know for sure - it will go down as a highlight for 2012. And I'm already counting down to going back next January.

Swish swish. Spring spring.

Quite the (rear) View.

Andy picked me up yesterday afternoon from Scream to head to Steamboat. After we packed a ridiculous amount of things in the back of his VW, we were officially mountain bound.

I've always wanted to capture a great rearview window shot and yesterday, thanks to the 3:30 departure time from Denver, allowing us to hit the Rockies right around sunset  - I got it. 

Now to the slopes! 

Shots of Cheese : Twenty-one : Warren Miller

Friday night I went to the Warren Miller experience with cousin Andy.

I had no idea what this was when I was invited but Andy explained to me that it was a ski movie tradition that had been traveling around the U.S. since the 60's. It basically got everyone excited for the upcoming season and was totally Colorado. "Do they have beer?" Yes. I'm in.

This year's film was called "Like There's No Tomorrow" but it certainly made me feel like there was - one that hopefully involves oodles of snow and a number of trips to the Rockies.

See you out there.

Warren Miller
Taken at the Paramount Theatre in LoDo
Captured on November 18, 2011

What Saturdays Look Like Now

Have you guys seen my new backyard?

For the past few weeks, Cousin Andy and I have been planning on going up to ski/ride. But now that I actually get to PICK AND CHOOSE my days - I shoot for ideal (aka spring-like) conditions. The first weekend I was sick so that was a no-go, the second weekend was cold and windy so that was a definite no-go but this weekend....38 and sunny. Sign me up. We're going riding, kids.

I met eager-beaver Andy at 7 a.m. in Evergreen so we could ride together up to Winter Park. He was a peach (as always) and had picked up Einstein bagels and coffee for us and we then took one of the prettiest drives of my life up the mountain.

Come to find out, Winter Park is a little more skier friendly than it is snowboarder. Andy made the switch back to skiing last Winter and his friend had done the same, and I realize that it's easy to forget how difficult it is to go DIAGONAL across a mountain on a board rather than with skis and poles. I'd been considering making the switch myself as I skied from age 3-18 before making the trendy switch to a board and have never been as strong on a board as I was on a pair of skis. I was a mogul maniac back in the day. Now, I won't go near those things with a 10 foot pole (or board). I figure sometime this season, I'll get back on a pair of skis to see how it goes.

But I digress, after sharing my feelings of frustration with Andy, we made a few changes in our trails and I ended up having a fantastic day of riding. The sun was shining, I only ate it twice getting off the lifts, and according to Andy's watch calculations, we got over 9 miles taken care of that day. Not to mention the breathtaking views. Winter Park gets you above tree-line, providing magnificent views like this...

A little Kanye in my ears, a little Katie on a board, and a whole 'lotta mountain made for one hell of a Saturday morning.