Babes.

You know when you are getting older when you friends are having kids left and right, right????

To sum it up, I left KC back in September and since then TWO of my friends had little babies. One was almost 6 months (ChasingDavies) and one was just four days old!  It's just crazy to me and it's also a reminder I am NOT there yet.  While their little babies were cute as can be, that much responsibility all rolled up into one is one heck of a scary thought.  I'll settle with getting a dog before I ever consider a kid :)

BUT...I loved soaking up their little baby faces while I had chance.

Introducing... Taryn Marie.  Four days old in these pictures.

And then there's Megan of ChasingDavies little babes, Liam just under 6 months.

The difference between the two besides the obvious gender differences...?

One I was afraid to sneeze or else I'd break her and the other I didn't (well sorta... a little.... but not as scary).  Maybe my kids should come out at age 3 when he/she is less breakable.

Check out the rest of the cuties --->

Back with Beck.

Hi.

After much thinking, debating, and procrastinating I have decided it's time to rev up my little blog engine.

As you may or may not (shame on you for not checking back daily - JK) noticed, I took a mini-vacay from my blogging.  To put it out there I had gotten laid off right before Christmas (fun stuff that pharma sales), and committed to looking for a new job 100%. After three months (yes 3....the job market is rough...) I finally landed myself a job at an awesome agency here in Denver. Aside from that, I used my little three month vacation,  well I'd like to look at it like a vacation, I hyped up my traveling to visit friends and family and enjoy it while it lasted.  Yes not having job was horrible financially, but you know when sometimes you need to reset yourself after a while, that was me. It was a blessing in disguise.

Now jumping right in, and what better way than with a cutie pie.  Beck.  Beck is the BF's cousin and he is the cutest little guy ever. Over the years I've seen him grow up.  The kid hates to smile during pictures... until recently I came to find out.  You watch him in his element of monkeying around at the zoo and you have a happy little boy.

I tell you what... this kid should be a model for Gap kids ;)  So adorable.

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Homeward Bound

Ah..... so relaxed.  On an impromptu trip home to Tulsa this past weekend I got my fill of family, friends, and relaxation.  With this unemployment finger tapping me on the shoulder every second I sit at home searching all over the Internet for a job, I had to get out. Get home. How lucky that I found a decently priced flight last week and on top of that my sister would be home at the same time! Family reunion!!!

My favorite part about us all being home at the same time. Mani's & Pedi's.  Hollar! Even better.... my mom was loving on the massage chair so much she threw in a stone massage.  I've never had one of those before and definitely recommend it for those of you who love pedi's like me :)

Happy Monday my lovely little readers.  Hope it was a good one!

Rest in Peace

 A great man was lost on Christmas Day. His name was Walter Koelbel. Now I only met him a couple of times, but I can tell you this.  The people in his life loved him more than anything.  I've heard stories about how he had the best laugh. About how he could always make people smile.  About all the great things he had accomplished throughout his life.  About the memories that will carry on for years to come.

This was a GREAT man.

This was my boyfriend's "papa." His name is also Walter as you may or may not know.

I'm sorry to see him go and send all my love this his family at this sad time. He will always be remembered and cherished.

Rest in Peace, Papa.

Go here,  here,  oh and here to read more about his amazing accomplishments.

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Little Update

If  you follow along on a regular basis, you will notice I have been quite absent over the past week.

Let's just say I HATE that. I've had some crappy things happen over the past week... Ah hem... I was laid off after three months of accepting a job and moving to Denver FOR the job along with about 150+ other people. Needless to say, if I didn't say it already, I was in pharma sales.  It was my first attempt and I really do think I was doing a pretty damn good job.... but as luck would have it, apparently this job wasn't for me.

20/20 hindsight, maybe there are better things out there for me?  I hate NOT having a job, and not having a purpose right now because I have worked/ran since I was 15 and here I am at 26 and no job in a new city.  I'm looking at this as a blessing in disguise.  It's the holidays and this company can suck it for doing lay offs during the holidays, but I am just going to have to find something that much better!

That information aside, I was so lucky to have my mom come into town the night I was laid off. We had this trip planned for a couple of months and as luck would have it, it worked out perfectly. I couldn't have asked for a better weekend and a better time for her to come visit me in my new home.  I'm so blessed to have her in my life and to be there when I need her.

Just to kick things into full gear with mi madre... I had to take her to Canvas and Cocktails.  I had so much fun the last time I went with Teale,  I had to show off this fun new place when my mom came to visit.  Needless to say, Teale joined us because she is now my C&C friend.

Teale, Me, My Mom

What's with my mom being the best artist here! Teale and I have had practice!!!

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Quirky but Beautiful.

Why hello there.

I hope everyone got off to a good start for their week.  Countdown is T-Minus 2 1/2 weeks until Christmas vacay/celebrations. I'm pumped.

After getting sick as a dog this weekend and losing one of my weekend days to the couch and trying to bring my body back to life - I feel like I deserve an extra day to catch up on all the errands I could only do on Saturday and missed! Wouldn't that be peachy?

Work got insane last week so I'm just now getting to post this quirky picture of my sister Katie. I convinced her and my mom to go for mini photo shoot when I was back at home for Thanksgiving and look when I ended up with.... a weirdo :) But actually a pretty cool picture with the sun coming through. I gotta hand it to Katie for always throwing a fit for being my "subject" and then "turning it on" when I start snapping away!

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How High?

Can he jump?

He meaning Enzo.  One of my sister's boston terriers.

When I was at home I got my fill of the four pups my mom and sister have combined. With stepping in poop in my room, seeing pee on my mom's nice curtains, and then stepping in poop again barefoot in my room (yes twice) I again learned that I am not a big fan of multiple small dogs in one household.  Not to say I don't like them at all, just not for me.  I'd rather step in a huge pile of poop than something that can be hidden its so small. Well not really. Just a big dog fan, bigger cuddle buddies, right?

Plus I don't have to worry about having a small dog that leaps over fences like Enzo. When a woman walked by with her dog the dogs went crazy jumping and barking all over the place.  Especially Enzo. He literally almost jumped over the fence.  I have NEVER seen a dog jump that high and I was actually scared he'd get out!

I was lucky enough to catch the little buggar on camera!

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5 lbs Later....

I returned home to Denver from Tulsa, OK.

I did PLENTY of eating and wining it up back at home which left me exhausted today when I hit the road for work! Who knew that going on vacation could make you feel like you need another vacation to recover.

After having TWO, that's right TWO, Thanksgiving dinners over the holiday weekend, I opted to take the high road and convince myself a few extra yummy meals wouldn't make that much of a difference.  Psh... tell that to my work pants! Felt a little more snug this morning getting into them!

Oh well.  It was all worth it.  Especially getting to see my mom and sister for an extended period which we don't get to do very often.

Best part of the weekend.... Seeing "Breaking Dawn" the new Twilight movie.  It was AMAZING.  Yes AMAZING.  I mean it is hard to judge a movie vs. the book considering the book was just the best book I have every read (yes I am a huge fan - judge me if you want, but read the books first!). But I love seeing a book come to life and how other people portray it.

After the movie we headed toward the entrance to find Alvin and the Chipmunks waiting for us in life-size figurines.  How could we resist taking a picture with them?  After looking closely at my mom and sisters picture I noticed the chipmunk was taking a bite out of mom's butt! We all were laughing hysterically when we walked out.  Definitely the prime of the whole weekend and glad we got a good laugh out of it!

I hope everyone had a great holiday break and got their week off to a good start today. Stay tuned for ICUC tomorrow with Chasing Davies!

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2-Day Celebration

This is a little late, but Happy Thanksgiving everyone! I was a little incognito over the past few holi-days trying to cook, catch up with friends and family, and catch up on a little R&R.

But of course, just like most times I come home over Thanksgiving, I'm starting to get sick.  You know the sore throat and achy body. How annoying. I work so hard to have a vacation and when I finally get home I feel like poop :( I guess when things finally DO slow down, gives you time to catch a cold.

To give you a brief overview of what the past couple of days have consisted for me....

Mom and Me on Thanksigiving

My idea of Thanksgiving

Dessert

Wouldn't you know it.  I took a picture of our Thanksgiving dinner on actual Thanksgiving with just me and my mom (she was cool enough tho make my favorite meal while we pushed Thanksgiving dinner off a day for my sister to get home), but forgot to take a picture when we celebrated with my sister tonight?  OOOPS. Guess that just goes to show how excited we were to celebrate and eat up!

How was everyone else's Thanksgiving?  Anything excited happen visiting with your families?

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H.A.P.P.Y Halloween!!!

I absolutely cannot believe it's here already.  Halloween. Really? That means Thanksgiving is around the corner and then CHRISTMAS! Which then means Christmas shopping.  EEEK.

I feel like it was just yesterday that I moved to Denver.... nope it was almost two whole months ago.  Where has time gone?

This weekend my sister Katie came to visit for the first time from Oklahoma City.  I'm trying REALLY hard to convince her to move here :)  After having her here for a few days and being able to just hang out and not have to worry about entertaining her because she is pretty easy to entertain in general was a relief.

This was the second Halloween weekend we've celebrated together in the past few years and this year proved to be much more successful than the last.

First, our costumes this year were AWESOME! Second, she got to hang out with all my new Denver friends and see some hot spots in downtown Denver.

Now I am DYING to show you our costumes, BUT, I will have to wait until tomorrow's ICUC with the Halloween theme. For now... you can have a sneak preview.

Not great quality but fun shots from my iPhone serving as my digi cam at the bars!

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Meet Katie.

My little sister.  She she graduated from Nursing School at OU (Boomer Sooner) and just got her first job as a nurse.  She's all grown up now and I cannot believe how fast time flies.

I remember wanting to stay out past my curfew in high school (my sister was two years younger at the time) and calling my sister to ask her if she'd turn off the lamp outside my parents bedroom. My parents used to turn on this tiny lamp outside their room and would wake up in the middle of the night to see if it was still on to judge if I was home or not. After a while I figured out if I got my sister to help me then, I'm sure me being 21 before her would come into handy.  Not that I promote under age drinking ;)

Then she was in high school getting serious boyfriends and calling me with all the juicy details and girl drama.

Getting her heart crushed by her serious boyfriend going into college (A**). But rebounding strong and living up her college years like I wish I would have (running college track really just took up a lot of my social life and mistakes I would have otherwise made....).

Going through our parents awful divorce [insert unfaithful father here].  And her being my go to when I would get upset about it and knew she could relate to exactly what I was feeling at those exact moments.

Fast forward to today, with her graduating from nursing school, going on bad dates that she calls to tell me about (fist pounder included), and starting her very first job.

She is ultimately the most amazing sister a girl could ever ask for.  Gorgeous. Smart. Funny Hilarious. Down-to-Earth.  Shy until you get to know her. Lovable.

So without further ado here is my little sister Katie.

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One BIG Happy Family

After showing you this picture need I say more?

From Left to Right: Beau (Mom's), Enzo (Katie's), Max (Mom's), Harley (Katie's)

These are the four perpetrators that torture Mia every time I come to Tulsa. How perfect would it have been if I  could squeeze Mia in there?

Taking this picture was quite the task.  Getting four dogs to sit close enough and look normal for long enough to take a picture is MUCH harder than one would think.  I had my sister, Katie, standing over me holding dog treats.  Max and Beau had zero idea what the word sit meant, so they usually stood on their back two paws begging for the treats, while Harley observed the other three dogs looking stupid for believing they would actually get the treat BEFORE the picture, and Enzo running off every five minutes.

The result.  My idea of perfection of a family dog portrait.

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Meet Enzo.

You ask another animal on her blog?

I ask the same thing. My sister, Katie, decided she wanted ANOTHER dog.  Yes, ANOTHER dog. She's had her hands full with Harley for the past two years, and is about to start her first job as a nurse in OKC, I told her no, my mom told her no.... but no matter what we said we couldn't convince her that getting a second boston terrier was a bad idea.

Que Enzo.

Regardless of what anyone thought, Katie made the big decision to adopt another dog.  This time she was a little smarter and adopted a boston terrier that was a year and a half and actually potty trained.

He is bulging blue eyes (little creepy when you first look at him not going to lie) and is so tiny.  Compared to Harley he is about half the size.

So yes another animal. But not just any animal. His name is Enzo and he is now part of my family which  now consists of four dogs, a cat (Mia), my mom and sister.

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Pa Pa

Now this was one of the words I used frequently when I was a kid and still to this very day. This is the name we called my grandpa (my mom's dad) growing up. From this day forward, any time I hear hit or see it I think about my Pa Pa.  He's been through so much and is such a strong man and I love him SO much.

He is the man who would put the worms on my hook as I fished off the dock. When I caught a fish after hours of waiting, he was the one to take the fish off the hook for me.

He is the one who would give me a big huge goodbye before our 10 hour drive back home and slip me and my sister $20 (at the time I thought this made me rich) to calm us down until we got out of Morgan City, La.

He is the man that I will love forever and always keeping making memories with.

Not gonna lie... I took this picture with my iphone since I couldn't resist and didn't have my SLR.  Another one of those moments when I think... "Stupid, why did I not bring my camera?!" Thank god for the app Camera+. Have you used it before?  You take a picture and then have a multitude of options to alter your picture however you want.

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