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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I See. You See.

Everyone ready for Christmas?  I sure AM! Well... sorta.  I am still slacking on my Christmas shopping and to top it off I also have to Christmas time birthdays to shop for as well. Eeeks.  Better get a start on it!

For this week's ICUC, Meggy and I thought it fitting to go with a holiday theme:

The First Signs of Christmas

After looking around on Christmas lately, I've seen beautiful pictures with Christmas lights.  With people, pets, trees, houses.... But what about just the lights themselves?  They are so pretty when all lit up. Alone they make it feel like Christmas.

What's looking Christmas in Kansas?  Well why don't I let Meggy tell ya?

The very first signs of Christmas...snow flakes are falling, real and faux! The last couple of years, we've collected these LED lite up snow flakes to adorn our house around the holidays.  Something a bit different than the rest of the houses on the block, plus mixed with a fresh dusting of our very first snow, quite fitting!

So what do ya say?  Let's all get in the holiday spirits shall we?

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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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I See. You See.

Tis' the season for the F&F (food & family)!

This week's ICUC, gives you a snapshot of our favorite parts about our Thanksgiving holiday this year.

My favorite part was actually being able to contribute something to our Thanksgiving dinner(s). I made my very first stuffed artichokes! Yum! I have always been a fan of artichokes, especially stuff ones that I usually get at either a restaurant or my Nanna's house every Christmas. This year, my mom thought it would be a new little treat if we made our own this Thanksgiving.  We actually made three so we could continue the yumminess over a few days and share with friends.

As for Meggy, she took it ALL in with her lens!

This year our family Thanksgiving was huge!  It seemed everyone was in town, so there was tons of food that covered the 10-person table. Some of my Thanksgiving favorites are sweet potatoes, meat pies and stuffing. Mmmm, now if only I still had leftovers...

I hope everyone got their fill of Thanksgiving and family because we only have a little over three weeks to stuff our faces again and revisit those embarrassing moments we may have said after too much to drink :)  You know we all did/said something stupid to be brought back up again at Christmas time for a good laugh!

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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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I See. You See.

With the holidays right around the corner, Meggy and I opted to do something a little easier this week for our ICUC.

Theme: Fruit

I wish I ate more fruit.  This theme would have been A LOT easier. However, one thing that I do consume a good amount of that was helpful for this post... WINE. It's made out of grapes, which is a fruit,  right?  One better... boxed wine! A current favorite of mine pictured below. I cheated a little can you tell?

Meggy went the healthier route... 

Belly shelf made perfect for my craving of mandarin oranges (and sometimes ice cream, of course)!

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G

Is for Gracie.

Gracie is my friend Kara's Maltipoo that I dog sat for part of this weekend. I must say dogs are a handful. I always say I want a dog.  The idea of having one and taking them on a run after work and having someone excited to see me when I come home from work just makes me want to go to the pet store and get one right now!

BUT, and it's a big BUT, after watching my friends dogs over the past few years I have learned it is a BIG responsibility. One day I will be responsible and tolerable enough to have a dog full time, but now I am content on dog-sitting :)

ESPECIALLY, when I have Mia my cat.  She gets excited and "talks" to me when I get home from work and rolls around on the ground purring as loud as she can and follows me.  I'll settle for that kind of pet love!

Best part is though.... Mia and Gracie get along GREAT! Mia usually freaks out around dogs and hides, but with Grace its like they've been friends forever!

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Great Grand Junction

I feel like that could be the name of a song.

But my suggested song title aside, about two good things came out of my trip.  These pictures.

Oh and the fact I saw more cats wondering their streets than I had seen in two months being in Denver for the past two months. That was slightly exciting except they would all run when I'd try and catch them :)

The first one was on my way to Grand Junction and the second was on the way from Fruita to Grand Junction.

I was so happy to get back to Denver last night and sleep in my own bed.  I have always been one to get excited for work travel especially when it meant going to a new city I'd never been before.  But Grand Junction just didn't do it for me.  Not so much fun when you travel on your own and sit in your hotel room.

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