Currently...

(via Social Survival)

attempting to // pack, clean, shop, wrap, and cook before the upcoming holidays. 

excited about // the many yoga opportunities I've found; a free class every Sunday night and a weekly class taught at my workplace too.  I feel like I'm getting stronger each time I see my mat.  It's a great feeling!

listening to // There's No Leaving Now by The Tallest Man on Earth

loving // all the Christmas cards that landed in our mailbox this week.  When I was little, my parents received so many cards from their friends and I thought it was the coolest thing.  Now, us kids are somehow adults, sending our own holiday cards to each other with photos, announcements, and well wishes.  It makes me smile. 

hating // the news of Sandy Hook Elementary and the loss of so many young lives.  I still can't wrap my head around it, but I feel heartbroken and confused and very angry. 

looking forward to // Christmastime with our family and friends in Oklahoma.  It's always good to go back home, to receive all those hugs you look forward to for the year and laugh till your belly hurts. 

reading // the first book of yet another YA Trilogy, Birthmarked... surprise, surprise!

stumbled upon // a tutorial for painted wine glasses that I gifted to a friend for Christmas last night.  A pretty simple DIY that was definitely well received. Who doesn't want to drink wine out of confetti glasses?

watching // Homeland, I can't say it enough.  The season 2 finale on Sunday was WILD.  And word on the street is that you can catch up on both season for free On Demand between January 11-13.  Talk about a weekend marathon.

spending time // bundled up in front of our (electric) "fire" place with as many as layers on as possible.  It's cold, y'all!

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.

It started snowing in the metro area late last night and has yet to stop.  It's a little winter wonderland outside and I couldn't be more excited about it.

We leave for Oklahoma pretty soon... it has some catching up to do if we're going to have a white Christmas this year.

Snow, snow, snow! 

Churchill & Of Monsters and Men & Fun.

Live music is my thing.  My jam.  My happy place.

A friend told me about Of Monsters and Men earlier this year and I haven't been able to pull away from their album, My Head is an Animal.  Since Spotify has been around, it's noted that this band is one of my top played artists.  I love their quirky lyrics and big sound; they remind me a lot of Arcade Fire, so when I heard they would be in town, I immediately bought a ticket, no question.

I haven't been to a large concert like this in a really long time.. all ages, big arena.  It's not the exact setup I desire for live music, but I had to see this band, with kiddos and all.  (Though one girl next to me, probably 15 years old or so, said I looked like the lead singer.  I was flattered, I can't lie.)

Fun. was headlining and Churchill, a local Denver band, opened for Of Monsters and Men.  I hadn't heard many songs from Fun. besides their 2 big radio hits, both of which I enjoy a lot, but never put much more thought into them.

Of Monsters and Men were just as incredible as I hoped for, but you know what, Fun. absolutely stole the show for me.  And that's saying a lot, especially since I didn't even go for the headliner.  I couldn't believe how insanely good they were and the lead had this absolutely positive and enthusiastic aura about him.  Also, maybe the most beautiful person I've seen in real life.  I don't even know, he was movie star status lovely.  And smiled a whole bunch. 

I left at midnight, utterly exhausted from dancing the night away.  Went to a friend's house until 3am, and then finally hit the hay.  One of the best night's I've had in a long time.

Concerts feed my soul, I fell asleep that night feeling very full. 

Breaking Dawn Part 2

That's right, I saw the new Twilight flick

...twice.

And I liked it a whole lot.  It's sort of the best one (we're talking movies, not books.. don't get me started on the book).

Seriously though, if you haven't already, go see this one.  Or go again, it's just as good.

Happy Friday!

Santa Claus Pub Run

Another weekend, another Living Social bargain.

This past Saturday was the Santa Claus Pub Crawl.  For a small fee, we received a Santa hat, drink coupons, and were set free to visit a handful of bars downtown.  My friend Ethan was visiting and I thought it would be the perfect Saturday afternoon spent, running around Denver with 300+ people in Santa outfits.  I mean, why not?

It was a grand ol' time.
As always, we decided to step up the costumes next year! 

Peppermint Sugar Scrub

Another DIY post!  Look at me go! 

You guys, I know sugar scrubs aren't the latest and greatest thing around (cough, Pinterest, cough) lately, but when I drew my Secret Santa for Book Club I knew I wanted to take that opportunity to make a sugar scrub for her.  We set the limit at $10, which was just enough to find a cute jar at Michaels (with a 50% off coupon), a scoop from World Market, and to buy all the ingredients at Sprouts.

There are many variations, but with careful research, I went with this festive recipe:

I simply took two cups of white granulated sugar and mixed in a 1/4 cup to 1/3 cup of coconut oil.  Add the oil slowly till you have a nice soft consistency that is soft but not too oily.  Then add a few drops of peppermint essential oil. 

For the two contrasting colors, I split the mixture in half and used a little strawberry juice to make one part pink. Then I alternated between the pink and white in the mason jar.

And I always think that good packaging can go a really long way, especially if it's a homemade gift.  So, I printed a cute lil' label, tied twine around the body (okay, Ryan did this part!), and added a tag.

I had a little left over so I threw the extra in a recycled jelly jar for me to keep in the shower area.  I really love this scrub!  It smells like Christmas and it feels so nice too.

(note: the original sugar scrub recipe with 3 other variations, go wild!)
(another note: I didn't finish our book club pick - Cloud Atlas, so sad)

28

(Beth Retro Photography)

Wow, a big hello to year 28!  This birthday really sneaked up on me, but in such a good kind of way.

This past year quickly moved along with very little change or big events.  Though it seems to have progressed faster than ever, without me even realizing.  Looking back and now really thinking about it, I feel that's a sure sign of happiness. When you don't even notice the seasons are changing because there's this magic in the air, and it's constant. 

Right now I can look into a mirror and know the person staring back; for this brief moment in time, I understand myself more than ever and especially know who I want to be and who I don't want to be. It's only me taken 27 years and I'm positive the clear understanding will be fleeting, but I'm quite okay with that.  Last year will be forever known as a time of reflection and realization of my true desires.  So as complicated as I think know I am, it's a really exciting time. 

Here's to 28, may it be even better than the years before it.  With that being said, it has some pretty. big. shoes. to fill.

Cheers.

A look back at 26 & 27