Smooshed

TB

Just another Costco trip...

Today's Thrift Store Find

$2 at Goodwill. New mirror for the vintage Ford-themed guest bath!

Adoration

Soupy

The hospital gift shop has completely revamped its inventory (which is causing all sorts of drama of which I only get snippets and about which I care...not one bit).  I like the new stuff.  After four years (I can't believe it either) of the same thing it's nice to get some variety.

But I really want this mug...

How I Roll

I am tight with the guys at Laptop Hotline.  So when I called to ask if there was any chance we had an extra docking station, they snuck me one for my home office, and overnighted it to my house.  Add in the screen I found when cleaning out the crawlspace and I've gone aaaaaaaall Matrix up in heya.  

Appreciate.

Seriously. Never gets old.

Case in Point

I made a list and I've been madlly downsizing ever since. It started with my bathroom...and my ridiculous amount of toiletries that are years old and I've just not parted with.  So I filled a Target bag full of new and used goodies, posted it to Freecycle, and by the next day it was picked up.  I still don't know why I get surprised at the stuff people take.  But the woman and her daughters were thrilled - she even e-mailed me specifically to tell me so after she'd picked the items up. Freecycle FTW.  Again.

Itty Bitty House Company

I've been fascinated with the Tiny House Movement for a while...but since the Sunday of Quivas Noah, I've become almost obsessed with getting rid of "stuff".  This is a long time coming, I'm sure...and probably started with the crawl space.  But in my iPad search of available tiny houses, tiny house plans, pictures, etc. this has become my new fav.  The Itty Bitty House Company has made what I truly believe is the perfect combination of form, function, and storage.  I will admit: I've watched the video five times, and each time I find something else to love and appreciate (dog bed space?  a dressing area?  brilliant).

Check it out.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYvHPQL_cm0

Ancient

We ventured out with the Pelles to explore south Broadway and (finally) check out Punch Bowl Social.  After feeling incredibly old and out of place, we sought sanctuary at our North Denver (who am I kidding, it's the burbs of Broomfield) haunt: Baker St Pub.  With an 80s cover band, urban Harley riders, and women older than us trying to act younger than us we felt young...and right at home.

This was the only photo from the night: a window display from Broadway...don't ask.

Peeta

My sister found two stray dogs in one day, the second while putting up signs for the first.  This one's owner never materialized.

So now, he's Peeta.  And my sister is officially becoming the Crazy Dog Lady. 

And I'm officially jealous of that.

ECP, Houston Style

After her visit to Denver and our incredible night shutting down Wine & Cheese, my sister is fully on board with the Epic Cheese Plate.  Here's her version she sent me:

Guess What Day It Is

Grammes introduced me to this gem on Monday, after which both of us started snorting we were laughing so hard.  Yesterday, he came in at 7am and said "Keeeeeendraaaaaaaa!  Guess what day it is!"

This morning, I exclaimed "Mike mike mike mike mike mike!  What day is it?"

"HUMP DAY!" we both yelled.

And that is why I work here.

"Keebler fell asleep under your desk"

Misses him some Mom when she's at her real office and not her Home one.

Guess which bowl was mine?

Mike: You gonna finish that?

And I wonder where the dogs get it...

Floored

I was really kidding about the Lakeside Property bit.  This is just unreal.

I told Mike hours later, the thing that hit me the most as we wondered if the flooding would stop, if it could reach the house, what we'd bring if we ended up being evacuated was: why do I have so much crap?!

There was a scene in an Amy Adams movie where, at the suggestion of the guy she ends up falling for, she pulls the fire alarm in her swanky NYC apartment to see what her fiance, and what she herself, would scramble to take "if the house was on fire".  It's easy for me to speculate, not having just lost my house to a river, or, like some people we spoke with last night, having a house I can't go back to because the infrastructure of my entire city is gone.  But as we thought about a list of what we'd take if we were told to leave, I was surprised at the lack of "stuff" on it.

That being said, all my legal documents and IDs are now safely stored in a fire/water-proof safe to be grabbed at a moment's notice.  And, we're discovering, fear is a formidable foe to a budget.

Who would've thought flood insurance might be a good idea.  In Colorado.  Where it's sunny 300 days of the year...

Rapids

Our yearly soccer excursion to Dick's Sporting Goods Field.  So much rain...but love these cute girls.

Lakeside Property

It hasn't stopped raining since Monday...I refer you to what this usually looks like. 

Tuckered

Step Up to The Bar

It is complete!

 Top Shelf LQ.  Appropriately placed on...the top shelf.

 You'll notice my 10 cent Goodwill glassware from last year's Halloween Party fits oh so perf.

*happy sigh*

BFF

My sister sent me what is probably one of the best cards ever.

So I took it to work so that every once in a while I could look over, see it, be reminded of the inside, and laugh!

Blue Steel

Appreciate our fine specimen of a canine:

He can turn both right and left.

V.I.P.

Also part of Denver Food & Wine is the Grand Tasting.  I was able to get tickets to this event, held on the Denver CU campus right downtown.  Not really knowing what to expect, Leslie and I ventured down (thanks to Mike dropping us off on his way to the Sprangs for his game) to the event and were let in an hour early thanks to the V.I.P. tickets!

All I can say is: SCORE.

We enjoyed wonderful lunch courtesy of The Brown Palace, the premier wines for tasting in the V.I.P. area, pop up desserts, and the best pretzel rolls known to man.  We were also given wine glass holders for around our necks that we initially thought a bit much...but learned quickly that was one of the best parts of being V.I.P.  That and the indoor bathroom.

We strolled around two huge tents worth of food and adult beverages (just kidding, the best part was no one under 21 was aloud in - including babies), enjoying tastes of everything.  The Asbolut tent had a fabulous bloody mary bar, not to mention epic people -watching.  As it turns out Leslie is a pro at What's the Issue.  As well as pointing out $900 shoes.

We stopped by the Patron tent where we heard they had popsicles (it has been miserably hot here), and were promptly ushered into the photo booth where we took these!

Best. Photos. Ever.

The day was pretty out of this world as well.

Art of the Cocktail

We ventured downtown on the 120X bus via 128 behind our house to attend Denver Food & Wine's Art of the Cocktail at the Ritz.  Lincoln was the official automotive sponsor, so we got in for free!  We tasted lots of different cocktails and finger foods that were in the competition for Best of the Night.  AND!  We dressed up as bartenders and had our photo taken.  Not bad!

We could rock the tattoo sleeves.  Just sayin'.

Whine

Keebler is so not ok with this new development (baby gate from Freecycle - sweet).

M'boys

Paint

Somehow makes the morning commute worth it.

End of the Line

I was totally dreading the drive home.  Seven hours with no stops to speak of on the last day of an epic road trip.  It was just going to be sad.

How could I ever think that?!

We made a quick stop on our way out of town to the Nebraska State Museum at Morril Hall.  We used to visit this incredible natural history museum every summer we came to Lincoln.  I remember these mastodons being massive.

We went in just to see the front - and the kind volunteer let us take a photo in the entrance without paying to take the tour.

It smelled just like it did over 20 years ago...

 Worlds Largest?

 Cool museum built over I-80.

We learned all about the Rest Stop Sculptures strewn about I-80, and the drama that ensued over their abstractness.  Fascinating what people get up in arms about.  But I actually really loved this one.  It moves with wind currents!

 I don't mind abstract park equipment either.

We stopped at the third Mexican restaurant we tried in North Platte, NE.  The first said they were open on the phone and promptly (and rather testily) told us they were closing when we walked up.  The second didn't exist?!  We really wanted us some queso.

From there we listened to Freakonomics thanks to the public library, and recounted the past (amazing) three days.  Top five trips.  For sure!