Autumn Aspens

As lovely as these photos turned out, they don't compare to the real deal.  Can you imagine that? The trees were bright yellow, the weather was perfect, and I didn't have to turn around halfway like last time!  My lung capacity for the Colorado air is getting there.  I think it's safe to say that this is the most beautiful hike I've ever experienced.


We hiked this trail only 2 weekends ago...
Now it's snowing.  Whoa.

New Digs: two months later

We've lived in Colorado for two whole months!  My does time fly.  One month ago, the apartment really came together and then a few weeks later we made some progress in the last room.  I had a few goals to complete in the apartment before I went back to work, and the list is still fairly lengthy, but I sure do love to cross off items, no matter how small!

Two of many household goals:

• Perfect my Expedit (bookshelf) decorating
• Necklace organizer  

I'm sure I'll change my mind a million times, but for now I'm happy with the new arrangement.  And don't mind the photo frames filled with people we don't know.  I'm getting prints soon!

I kind of cheated and bought a necklace organizer, though this one is still a project for the future!  Thanks Hobby Lobby for making things so easy. 

Small, but fun, progress!

The rest of my extra time was spent exploring this new, but very awesome city I live.  Now, back to the working world on Monday.  Though I'm so ready and very thankful for employment!

Weekend Brunch

We had a laaaaazy weekend.  It was cold, and rainy... and cold.  I woke up on Saturday morning to snow-covered mountains!  Really?!  The idea that it's snowing in October is so weird, but I was excited to see the white mountains because skiing is right around the corner.

So, to compensate for our lazy weekend, Ryan and I went out for brunch - twice.  We went to two different places and I ordered Eggs Benedict each time (because it's the best); the first, crab cake benedict from Mona's and the second, avocado and tomato benedict from Madison Street.  It was delicious, both times.

"Sometimes you're not in the mood for what everyone else is drinking"

Ryan agrees.

With a Hint of Autumn

Left to right:  prayer flags on our back patio, Oktoberfest, finishing the 4th season of Mad Men with Zia, fresh roses, first soup of the season: tortilla, wearing my maxi skirt everywhere, celebrating employment with Little Man Ice Cream, reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland for book club, a rainy Saturday drive

Autumn has arrived.

And I can't help but continue to open the windows every morning and wrap up in blankets.  Love it.

Lions and Tigers and Bears

Oh my!

I worked at the Tulsa Zoo during my last summer in high school.  It wasn't a glamorous job, but every little kid and kid at heart needed ice cream on hot days and it was my job to serve them with a smile.  Once the zoo closed, we all left our food stations and walked around the zoo together, enjoyed the animals, and really learned how a zoo runs and what it takes to provide for the animals.  I got to know many of the zoo keepers, all of which were very, very cool.  I love learning about the "behind the scenes" elements (that goes for anything, really). It was such a great summer.

When we moved to Denver, going to the zoo was top on my list (since I love them so much).  So a couple weekends ago my friend Rachel and I made a whole day out of it, thankfully she's just as crazy about zoos.