One Date a Week - or 52 Date Ideas - Colorado Style

NOVEMBER? I haven't posted since November. Good lord, I'm the worst blogger ever. I have to tell you since going part time last November/December, I've actually worked more hours than when I worked full time.  What the hell is wrong with me? I took on a teaching job at a local Nursing College and was working part time doing the social media for my husband's company, BookFuel (a self-pub company). I'm reigning it in. I told my mentor I didn't want to teach anymore (turns out, not quite as fun as I thought it would be. In fact, it stressed me out terribly. It was like being in nursing school all over again) and they are looking for a full time social media person at BookFuel so I can step down. I'm also thinking of going into hospice and getting out of floor nursing all together (more on that on another post -- maybe in June?). The reason for THIS post is because I got all creative (rare now, see above as to why) and wanted to share.

I was invited to a bridal shower where every person was given a theme idea to bring as a gift (cool idea for a bridal shower). My assigned theme was date night (okay, I kind of badgered the hostess for that particular theme - I'm bad that way). I have to tell you I was so excited about my idea (probably seen somewhere on Pinterest and it embedded in my reptilian brain because reptiles are known for their awesome crafting skills and then kind of made it my own).

So here's what I did: I figured out 52 different things to do in Colorado, ranging from free to expensive. Some needed planning, some could be done spur of the moment. I printed each idea out and glued them on card stock and the tied the cards together with ribbon. Jason, who must have had some excess estrogen coursing through his veins for like a minute, suggested I tell the bride-to-be to take a picture of each date and attach it to the back of each card. Have I mentioned how brilliant I think my husband is at times? Then he suggested I include condoms in the picnic and when I replied they want a baby pretty soon, he told me to include the condoms after I poke holes in them. So much for the estrogen and brilliance (hmmm, is their a correlation?) I then packed a picnic basket with a waterproof blanket, some picnic yummies, and sparkling water.

And Yay, she loved it. Of course I couldn't contain myself so for the past couple of days I kept telling her how excited I was about her gift, so given how nice she is, there's no way she'd say she didn't love it. I also texted picture of said gift to my best friend, who gave me a whopping approval - again because I couldn't contain myself and had to share with someone.  But again, she's my best friend, so her exuberance might have been more about being my friend than the brilliance of the gift.

Whatever, because I'm still super excited about it, I'm blogging it and sharing it with my readers. All 3 of you.

Here are the pictures:

Here's a list of the date ideas -- if you don't live in Colorado (and if you don't, so sorry, best place on earth here nestled in the Rockies) you can adapt it for the cool unique places in your neck of the woods.

1 Date a Week – Colorado Style

52 Date Ideas

1.     (Specific to Autumn low cost) Look on line when the best Aspen-viewing weekend is -drive up 285 toward South Park and drive over Boreas Pass. Take lots of pictures and enjoy a hike. End up in Breckenridge. Take a walk around town and eat lunch/dinner at the Motherloaded restaurant.

2.      (Specific to the Christmas season – some planning – low cost, the permit is only 10$) At the beginning of October get a permit to cut down your own Christmas tree in Pike National Forest. Take some snacks and a thermos of hot cocoa. Spend the day hiking through the forest looking for that ‘perfect’ tree and cut down your own Christmas tree.

3.     (Moderately costly) – Dinner at the Buckhorn Exchange – first restaurant in Denver to get a liquor license.  Great ‘western’ cuisine. Walk around the restaurant and check out the history.

4.     (Free) St. Mary’s Glacier hike

5.     (Nominal cost/ free) Take a drive to a ghost town and look around

6.     (Moderate cost, some planning) River rafting the Arkansas river (near Royal Gorge, best trip)

7.     (Weekend getaway – expensive) Go to Glenwood Springs, stay at the Denver Hotel (Roosevelt’s ‘White House’ of the West.) Have fun exploring the town, & take a dip in the Springs. Leave early in the day and hike Hanging Lake on your way home (just outside of Glenwood and a beautiful hike).

8.     (Low cost) Take a tour of the Molly Brown House, have lunch at Angelo’s Pizza on 6^th avenue (locally owned and has been there forever – at least since I was a kid) and go home and watch Titanic and/or the Unsinkable Molly Brown.

9.     (Moderate Cost) Have dinner at the Melting Pot (warmer months better) sit outside in the courtyard and take a walk around Old Littleton.

10. (Low cost) Take a day trip to Estes Park, walk around the Stanley Hotel, have lunch in a local restaurant and come home and watch the Shining together.

11. (Summer – low cost) Pack a picnic lunch. Go to the city zoo in the morning and then have a picnic lunch in the Gazebo at the City Park Lake.

12. (Moderately expensive) Have “Tea” at the Brown Palace the walk around 16^th street mall and people watch.

13.  (Low cost) Stand in line at VooDoo Doughnuts, people-watch.  Order an outrageous doughnut, then go to the Museum of History and Science and spend the day at the museum.

14. (Expensive – Weekend Getaway) Go to a winery on the Western Slope to tour. Find a bed and breakfast and have an adventure.

15. (Low Cost) Go to the Art Museum and then have lunch at Le Central (Denver’s affordable French restaurant),

16. (Free- to low cost - Friday night date) – First Friday of each month is the Art Walk in the art district on Santa Fe in Denver. Walk around, look at different art shops, studios and have dinner at one of the food trucks.

17. (Low Cost)  Tour the Air force Academy, &  the Olympic Center and then go to lunch at http://www.solosrestaurant.com in Colorado Springs.

18.  (Weekend getaway – expensive) Weekend in Pagosa Springs. Go to Mesa Verde, hike the ruins.

19.  (Low cost) Take the Celestial Seasoning tour in Boulder. Walk around Pearl Street and stop for ice cream.

20. (Low cost) Take the tour of Coors Brewery and have lunch at Bob’s Atomic Burgers.

21.  (Low Cost) Wild Animal Sanctuary

22.  (Low Cost) Spend the day going to antique stores on Broadway, have dinner at the Imperial Chinese Restaurant

23. (Expensive)  See a burlesque show at Lannies Clocktower Caberet, dinner at Panzano’s.

24.  (Low Cost) Colorado History Museum and Racine’s restaurant, if it’s warm, take a walk along the Cherry Creek path off of Speer.

25. (Almost free) Go to Tattered Cover Lodo, have some coffee, walk around LoDo, Tour the train station, and take a walk around Confluence Park.

26. (Almost free) hike Castlewood Canyon

27.  (Free) Check out the Southlands free concert series, pick one and go

28. (Winter – almost free) Ice skating Southlands, have warm pretzels and walk down the mall and then sit by open fire pit.

29.  (Low cost) Grab some Cuban sandwiches and pastilitos from Cuban Bakery on Chambers and Mississippi (SW corner), take them home and watch Scarface.

30.  (Free – July 4^th weekend) Cherry Creek Art’s Festival. Have lunch at Zaidy’s Deli (low cost – the blintzes are way yummy)

31. (Low cost – Fall) Octoberfest – Larimer square

32.  (Moderate cost) Rockies game – dinner after at Wynkoop Brewery

33. (Expensive) Pick a play to watch at the DCPA, dress up, have dinner at Texas de Brazil

34. (Low cost) Aquarium

35.  (Low cost) Four Mile Historic Park – take a picnic

36.  (Low cost) Visit the Plains Conservation Center – off of Hampden and Picadilly  - Picnic lunch

37.  (Moderate cost – Fall-Winter) go to either a home CU or CSU football game.

38. (Moderate cost) – spend the day at Elitch Gardens

39. (Free) Visit Garden of the Gods – hike and eat a picnic lunch

40.  (Free) Hike Meyer Ranch off of 285 take a picnic lunch

41.  (Day trip – moderate to expensive) – Take the old cog train up to Pike’s Peak. Go to Cave of the Winds (if you’re brave – do the swing off the canyon)

42.  (Low cost – takes planning)  - visit the capital building and the Denver Mint (need to request permission about 6 months in advance)

43.  (Free) take a picnic lunch to Redrocks and walk the steps

44. (Expensive) Go to a concert at Redrocks

45. (Moderate to expensive) Take in an Avalanche game – have dinner at Domo Japanese Country restaurant afterwards.

46.  (Free-Expensive depending on what you buy -- June 6 or 7^th 2015) People’s Fair – Civic Center Park

47. (Low Cost) Spend the day at Botanic Gardens, on your way home, take Colfax and eat at Tommy’s Thai for dinner.

48. (Expensive) Dinner at Trapper House – Parker, CO

49. (Low cost) take a cooking class together

50. (Free) spend a morning walking around Mile High Flea Market

51. (Low cost) Pick a 5K and run/walk it together

52. (free – unless you make a baby then it will be the most expensive date ever) Stock up on your favorite drinks and food and spend the day in bed.

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The Girl Creative

Spending the day in the 'big' city -- Well big city Colorado style

So we spent the day in Denver today and stayed for First Friday. The kids did their normal amount of whining.  They did have fun though, even if they won't completely admit it.

 We walked by Coors Field and Union Station (which was closed for construction) and then stopped by Tattered Cover a very cool Denver book store in Lodo. And what do my kids do -- my non-book-loving-must-have-been-switched-at-birth children do? Well they play on their phones. UGH, I am a failure as a parent.

 Welcome to Colorado, where pot is legal -- should have taken a picture of the line in front too.

 Good plan, especially for those partaking in legal pot (see above), also good for really tired nurses.

 These are cool, mosaiced concrete forms to play checkers and chess.  

 Playing some 'drums' on the 16th street mall

 Denver Pavillions

 Brown Palace Lobby. I've lived here all my life and only just now learned the Brown Palace has nothing to do with Molly Brown, another Brown family -- whadayaknow.

 Trinity Methodist

 So some local news guys were out looking for people to interview about the Broncos. My non-sport-loving son was wearing a Broncos sweatshirt and so they stopped us. We forgot to watch the news last night to see if they were on. Of course even though we live 40 minutes away from downtown, Jake saw one of his class mates as this was happening -- Denver really is a small town.

 First Friday is when the 'art district' (10th and Santa Fe area) open up their galleries and private studios and let people wander in and out and see what's going on in the Denver art scene. There were some pretty neat, beautiful, quirky things. There a bunch of food trucks (of which we did not partake because we were going to Jerusalem's later - awesome and cheap Middle Eastern food).

 So in one of the galleries they had a make up artist who does zombie effects.  Jake decided to have him  paint a 'bite' out of his face.

 Not bad and really gross. When I said, "oh my gosh that's gross"The artist said, "Normally I would take offense, but in this case 'gross' is a compliment"

gross

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Our Beautiful World

Dixie's Tupperware party -- awesome day out with some girlfriends

Yesterday some good friends and I went to Dixie's Tupperware Party which is playing through the end of December at the Garner Galleria theater in the DCPA complex.  We had a blast! This is one hysterical show with a heart-felt message at the end and lots of risque humor that makes us laugh at ourselves, and well, others -- in a good natured ribald way.

 We parked at the DCPA and walked up to the 16th street mall to get some lunch.  It was super cold but only five blocks so we sucked it up with only a minimal amount of whining.  We had lunch/dessert at the Cheesecake Factory.

 Umm...Godiva Chocolate Cheesecake...holy cow, over the top good...thank goodness my friend Colleen ordered it and offered me a couple three bites because I would have used my week of allotted calories on just that piece....and it would have been worth it.  After lunch and dessert we made the freezing cold trek back to the DCPA.  Fun Denver fact, in different areas of downtown they have sounds of trains, people talking or livestock coming out of the sidewalk vents.  I don't know why, but it makes me laugh.

The Galleria theater is a small theater with drink service.  It's a cozy informal way to see a show, especially a comedy.  We started out with writing our names on some ID tags with numbers pre printed -- because like all good Tupperware parties Dixie held a couple of raffles.

Before the show, Dixie comes on stage to give us the 'rules' ie, no cell phones and if there's a fire, "get out" but those of us on the doorless side of the theater are 'going to go up in flames' but that's okay, since we're close to the Christmas tree, we'll be the first to see "the baby Jesus"

 We all ordered hot drinks, did I mention how freakin' cold it was yesterday.  The show was great, we all laughed -- continuously. Dixie is a parolee who needed to find a job to get her three kids back and she had an ah ha moment and decided that Tupperware would get her out of the Alabama trailer park (where a lot of her humor comes from) and provide for her family.  During her interactive comedy routine, she not only gave the traditional uses for the different tupperware pieces, she gave us alternative uses...such as using the cupcake holders for jello shots (for the Church social, and it'll hold 18, enough for you and the pastor).

There was a question and testimonial time and one of the ladies at our table, asked "how do I get my son to return my favorite piece of Tupperware" Dixie had her call her son and she left a message on his cell phone giving him a hard time about 'stealing' that piece of tupperware and how he needed to return it with a yummy store bought treat (because she just knew he couldn't cook, ungrateful son) and a note telling his "mama how much he loves her".

Interspersed with funny quips about lesbians, men who don't appreciate Tupperware, and hookers who will burst into flames if they walk into a church she weaved in the history of Tupperware and how Brownie Wise was an integral part of the success of Tupperware at a time when many people thought that women did not have a head for business.  She ended the show with a heart felt message that we are all worthy.  Which seems corny but having been to so many direct-marketing home parties, including a Tupperware party or two...this is so part of the experience...just as with her comedy spiel and alternative uses for the product a little bit MORE than your average party.

 She let us take our picture with her....she was very gracious and funny and all around a fantastic way to spend the day! Not to mention being in the company of some very fun lovely ladies!

In hopes that Dixie will again make #1 sales person for Tupperware, I purchased the meat marinating pan (I forgot the name of it, but it's 702 on the order sheet).  I will definitely think of the show each time I use it, as well as her 'demonstration' of rubbing spices on a tube steak -- did I mention how off-color this show is...but I enjoy humor like that....and if you do to, I highly recommend this show!

Fall Foliage -Two Weeks Too Late -Boreas Pass/Breckenridge

 Sigh....This year just got away from us and we missed peak Aspen changing season.  To get the idea of what peak Aspen season looks like take a look at last year's day trip.  We caught a tree here and there, but we didn't get that "wow" and "woo" you get as you drive along the pass when you are enveloped by gold.

 Boreas Pass, connects South Park to Breckenridge. We like to get there via 285, end up in Breck and have lunch in our favorite place, The Motherload. Then we take I-70 home. The picture above is on the Breckenridge side of the Pass.

 And if you clicked on the link from last year you'll see nothing has changed with my children cooperating with giving me a great picture...The elder made me promise not to post on Facebook. However, he never said anything about my blog....

 Seriously, not even a smile....sigh. 13 -- fun at times, frustrating at others....

 Younger one, punching older one pretty much ended the photo shoot and who was I kidding, it was over before it started. They of course both laughed hysterically.  Boys are so weird. (He didn't punch hard, it was more shock value).

 Breckenridge...great mountain town.  We feel blessed to live is such a great state. It's beautiful even if you miss peak season.

Part of the reason we're so busy all the time is because of the kids and their sports...the week before Isaac had a karate tournament, Jake had practices and games (baseball).  Jake had practice at 3pm yesterday, so we started our day out at 8....I kept asking Jason if it was a good idea to stop for lunch and he kept telling me not to worry, it's only an hour back.  Just before we ordered dessert, I assured him I thought he right, but could he check again any way.  He got on his phone and says, "hmmm, it says two hours -- strange, it must be wrong"  That's my husband.  The kids pouted for a second (because they fell asleep) because they couldn't get the indoor S'mores -- one of the main reasons to go to the Motherload. But we got Jake to practice 10 minutes late (it took us an hour and 50 minutes to get home...hmmmm).

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year in review - Christmas Letter supplement

There's so much I missed in our Christmas letter like my mother-in-law finding her birth-family, meeting them AND they like each other.

Family

Before Meeting New Family

I don't think I ever posted about what happened.  So, they never wrote back, I never put in the letter when in the summer Sher was coming, so they had plenty of time.  The brother that received the letter believed it right away.  He shared with another brother, who did not.  They took it to their father (their mother had already died), their father is the man their mother married after Sher was born.  He confirmed it.  All this happened before Sher knocked on the brother's door.

So, Sher knocks on the door, brother, Paul answers and knows immediately who she is because she looks just like their mother.  Tears flowed, hugs were given and an impromptu reunion happened the next weekend where Sher met one sister and three brothers (the mother and one other sister had passed away).  Sher couldn't have been happier.

Her sister Maryanne came out for a visit last fall.  She's wonderful, and confirms that humor must be hereditary.  Two of Sher's brothers are coming out in January and we're looking forward to meeting them.  During the investigation of family, Sher found out she has cousins in Wyoming and she and her sister (who also had never met these cousins) went up to visit them.

Weddings
The boys babysitter got married this past summer.  Nothing makes you feel old like attending the wedding of your kids' babysitter.  She was a beautiful bride and it was great to see her marry such a wonderful man.  Unfortunately, we have to find a new babysitter. They asked Jake to be a ring bearer and he got to wear a tux.  He loved that.
Kate getting married

Jason's cousin also got married this year.  We're so happy she chose Hawaii because not only was it wonderful to see the beautiful and talented Emily get married, it was great to have a family vacation in one of the more beautiful places on earth!
Emily Getting Married

Fort lots of pictures of Hawaii, just click on to January on the side tab....

Kid stuff:
lego qualifying tourney
Karate tourney #2
baseball and swimming, same day
karate tourney #1
championship game
Jake pitching

My friends are so funny:
One of the best pranks ever was played on me this year...it still makes me laugh thinking about it

my funny friends


Enjoy the year in review...and hope to hear from you all in the coming year!

An autumn day

I love autumn! It's my favorite season.  It's been unseasonably warm here in Denver, seriously, we had our windows open yesterday.  Thankfully (and most of my friends may be upset with me), we are going to get some snow this week!  This past weekend we went to nick's garden center to get some pumpkins and roasted chilies. We've been doing this for the last few years.

If he can lift it and carry it, he can have it...this one wasn't it.

He actually got this one on to the cart and into the trunk.  Strong kiddo.

Same rule.

oh my gosh they're getting so tall.  Not sure how many more years we'll have left doing this.  I had to bribe them with candy to do this this year.

My car still smells like roasted chilies.

Our cart was so heavy!

Another fun halloween/autumn thing we do, is booing the neighborhood.  We leave a little bag of goodies on neighbors' porches and then 'ding dong ditch'.  The kids have a blast....didn't have to bribe them to do this one.

Jack's been guarding  our porch.  I wanted to dress him up in a Bronco's shirt with a sign that said 'will sit here until the Broncos when the Super Bowl' but Jason was afraid our house would be egged.

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Go visit her, she has some great pictures of San Francisco.