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

A March of 30.

I know I am so behind so forgive me as a play a bit of catch up in the next week. The months have gotten away from me but some real good times have been had.

In the month of March alone, I celebrated three of my best friend's birthdays - all of the 3-0. The crazier part? There were more best friend's birthdays that I missed out there (PY! Eener! Anika!).

Andy, my cousin, my brother from another (aerobic teachin') mother and my best friend - turned 30 the beginning of the month. We celebrated with a dinner at Steuben's where I stuffed myself full and then insisted on ordering a Boozy Milkshake.

Come the 16th, just in time for St. Paddy's, Suzy's birthday was up. 'Walk Me Home' - a boozy stroll down Colfax was the plan, but when we showed up to our first stop - PS Lounge - we quickly realized we may never want to leave. All of the ladies are gifted roses upon arrival and after not one, not two but three shots bought by the house to celebrate the occasion, we bellied up at the bar and soon felt like we were home. Until, of course, it was time to go home.

Celebrating 30 on the 30th, Linzi's celebration kicked off with a Brunch at Park and Co. A few drinks on the patio at the Tavern (quickly becoming a tradition for this one's birthday) eventually led us to the Atomic Cowboy. Since we started at 1 p.m. that day, and were well - 30, we figured we would last until all of 10 p.m. but somehow, someway - we saw 4 a.m. (and paid for it the next day).

I love birthdays. LOVE. And had so much fun celebrating the three above - now if I could only be everywhere at once but just know, if its your birthday and I, for some reason, am not next to you - that I am somewhere, toasting to your day, singing.....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Open House

The month of July was like one big open house - I hosted two of my best friends, two separate weeks within two weeks, I went to an open house as I considered buying my first home (not happening) and thanks to some closure over Strongbows on a rainy afternoon - my heart was, once again, one big open house.

Lisa left sea level for the mile high mid-July. Her first night here, we broke her in to Colorado with a camping trip.

The rest involved a night of Saturday Night Shenanigans (which always end with a trip to Benny Blanco's for a late-night slice of that NY pizza), bottomless mimosas (I know, you're shocked), Jazz in the Park, Film on the Rocks with E.T. and a backyard barbecue.

Linz, Lisa and I (among those few fav others) have been friends since we were 12 and we've changed, moved, loved and lost in the meantime. We've found ourselves in 2012, lucky enough to get together not just once (Lauren's wedding) but twice (CA --> DEN) and it really fills my heart with warmth and love. Yes, it's true, the older we get, the harder it is to get away and get that time with the ones who've known you the longest and have you watched you grow from girls in to women and love you just the same. But when it does happen - it reminds us of who we are, where we came from and how incredibly lucky we are to have the friendships that we do.

The six days between when Lisa departed and Chloe came from Denver: Round Two, brought the UMS which was an adventure all in and of itself. The only one who really got a break during that time was Gordon and that's only because he was in a cone.

....And heartbroken, apparently.

Chloe arrived and this trip brought us Florence + the Machine at Red Rocks (where, yes, I cried again), a movie at the Mayan with My Two Dads, dinner at Linger, rooftop drinks at the Irish Snug and Symphony on the Rocks. Oh, and champagne, of course.

Fill that in with a visit from Aunt Karen and all the times that I am lucky to drive a quick 30 minutes to meet Pengs in Morrison for drinks and well, it's no wonder July flew by.

 So I grasp at the last month of Summer with open arms, an open heart and well, always an open house. 

We'll be waiting for you. 
 

Pengs on Trains

For my birthday, Linz told me that she was not going to get me anything materialistic but instead, made plans for us that would involve me needing to dedicate an entire Saturday for an activity together.

I'm obviously very good at shopping for myself. I'm also very good at planning birthdays - making it hard for those in my life to surprise me. She decided this year she was going to make it happen. Never one to have been surprised, I was ecstatic at the idea. I told her I just needed to know what to wear - could I wear a dress? Flats? Lipstick?

Yes, she told me. I could wear all of the above. It would take us two and a half hours to get to our destination and the activity itself would be two hours. She also said that what we were doing would involve drinking (surprise!).

The car ride was stocked with snacks, good music and lots of laughs (she knows the way to my heart - we haven't been Pengs for 15 years for nothin'). Before I knew it, we pulled in and I saw it.

THE ROYAL GORGE TRAIN.

This has been a dream of mine since moving to Colorado. I am absolutely in love with the idea of trains - there's something just so romantic about them. And this particular one happens to go through the Royal Gorge (hence the name). And, you guys, when we boarded they actually called "All ABOARD!" 

Swoon!

The trip itself took two hours (or three tequila sunrises) and the train is complete with an open-air deck where you can stand and see the Gorge. The only thing that could have made this trip any better was a guy named Bob, wearing a bolo tie with a handlebar mustache to tell us all about the history of the Gorge and the world's highest suspension bridge (956 feet high and a quarter mile wide across the canyon!). Oh wait, Bob was there!!!

When the train arrived back at the station, we were not ready to exit. Can't we just stay and do it again and again?

So, Pengs and I made a promise to each other to make the Denver to San Francisco train happen within two years. And thank you to her for making this making this girl's train dream come true.

One of 30 adventures before 30 down. 29 to go - all aboard!