The Return of Five on Friday

It has been a minute since I linked up for one of these, but I've been loving lots of things recently (and blogging more than once a month, for a change), so I figured I'd join in. Here are some highlights from my week:

1) I got a call at work the other day from the receptionist, telling me my lunch was here. Since I didn't order lunch, I was a tad perplexed, but headed out to the lobby to find my boyfriend holding a grilled cheese sandwich and cup of tomato soup (which I had mentioned I was craving a few days back). It was totally unexpected and a very sweet surprise.

Image found here

2) Speaking of the boyfriend, he and I started binge-watching Friday Night Lights, since the weather lately has made me want to hibernate. I'm totally obsessed, even though I've already been through the series once. Connie Britton is flawless, they say "y'all" all the time, and it has football, so even dudes will watch it! It's just SO GOOD.

3) Due to bad weather and an unfortunate mix-up with the postal service, I'm still getting cards and attending birthday celebrations two weeks after the fact.  I'm really not mad about it.

I have to group them by color/flavor, which gets tricky with those red,
pink and orange ones in the middle. Or maybe I'm just colorblind ...

4) It's March and that means it's time for Easter candy! I love me some jelly beans. The Starburst and Jolly Rancher kinds are my favorite.

5) This weekend's forecast shows highs in the upper 40s and no sign of snow, thank the dear sweet lord. That means there's a chance I will leave my house!

Have a great weekend, y'all! Linking up with the lovely ladies below.

High Five for Friday

Holy crap, it's Friday again! I am finally returning to the land of the functional after arriving home from Vegas at 2 a.m. Monday morning. Seriously, it was all I could do to keep my eyes open on Monday and Tuesday, I can't remember ever being that tired before. But I'm awake now and hoping to catch up on blog posts this weekend and share more details about my trip. Until then, here are my favorite things from this past week:

1) Vegas was SO. MUCH. FUN. I got to catch up with two of my oldest friends, and I met five ladies who were so sweet and fun. We danced, sat by the pool, and had many adventures. Such a good time. Can't wait to see everyone again at the wedding in May!

The group – minus Brian, our token male bachelorette party guest.

2) I am a little obsessed with "Drunk in Love" – I heard it weeks ago, and it didn't really do anything for me, but something clicked and I listened to it on repeat all day on Wednesday. Side note: Not a good song to have stuck in your head at the office; the lyrics are not exactly work-appropriate.

3) Divergent comes out today! I really enjoyed the book (I'm halfway through the second one now) and I'm excited to see how it translates to film. Also, Shailene Woodley seems really cool. I wasn't a fan of hers in the Secret Life of the American Teenager days, but she seems like a chilled-out hippie even though she's part of Hollywood (which I love), and I want her hairstyle.

4) My mom had shoulder surgery on Wednesday, and it went really well. She'll have to take it easy for the next few weeks, but I'm grateful that she's doing well and on the road to recovery.

5) Hazed & Confused ice cream. These core things are amazing –  this one is hazelnut and chocolate ice cream with a hazelnut fudge core, but they have others with caramel, peanut butter, jam, etc. It was hard to decide which one to try, but this kind is delicious! It's like Nutella in ice-cream form, and how could that be anything but awesome?

What were the highlights of your week? Linking up with Lauren, Jennie, and the Five on Friday ladies, check out their blogs below!

High Five for Friday

Sometimes I forget how beautiful Colorado is.

Friday has arrived once again, thank goodness. Last week seemed long because I was just getting back from vacation, and this week seemed long because I was getting ready to head out on another trip! Obviously, my day-to-day life is not as exciting as all the traveling I've been doing lately. But now it's Friday, I am (hopefully) poolside, and all is right with the world. Here are some highlights from my week:

1. Daylight-saving time started this week! I LOVE IT. On Monday it was warm and I got home before it was dark outside, so I went for a walk around my neighborhood (and observed the gorgeous view above).

2. It's bachelorette party time! After weeks of planning, I am currently in Las Vegas to host my friend's bachelorette party. I don't know most of the girls, but we've been swapping emails for months now, so I'm excited to meet them and have tons of fun.

3. Quest bars - I am loving these lately. The brownie flavor is good, but the Cookies and Cream is awesome! I'm not replacing meals with them or anything, but they're great for satisfying my sweet tooth or calming me down when I get hangry (hunger-induced anger).

4. The Veronica Mars movie opens today! I'm totally obsessed with the TV show and contributed to the Kickstarter to fund the movie, so I cannot wait to watch it.

5. After weeks and weeks of slacking, I'm back to going to the gym on a regular basis, and it feels good. Except for the part where I feel like I might die when I'm running sprints. But I feel better AFTER the workouts, at least.

I'll be back next week with a recap of my trip, but until then, I hope you have an excellent weekend! As usual, linking up with the ladies below.

High Five for Friday

Friday has arrived once again! Since this was my first week back at work after vacation, I'm happier than usual to see it. Here are some of the high points from my week:

1. Mexico trip! It was absolutely fabulous. In addition to the hanging out at the stunning beach above, I got to spend a week with my mom and sister, two of my favorite ladies.

Lin, Mom, and me. The only pic I managed to take of the three of us all week.

2. Bachelorette planning - I'm throwing my friend's bachelorette party in Vegas next weekend, and I'm very excited. I've been shopping for decorations and putting together little "survival kits" with snacks, hangover cures, etc. So much fun!


3. T. Bob and I officially became a couple eight years ago today. We tend to celebrate on our wedding anniversary these days, but I always remember this date fondly.

T. Bob and me in 2006. I'm glad my style has evolved a bit since then, eesh!

4. I read Divergent on my trip, and I really enjoyed it. Similar vibe to The Hunger Games, but different enough to still be interesting. I can't wait to watch the movie and compare!

5. I've heard Pharrell's "Happy" several times, but it's been really stuck in my head since he performed at the Oscars on Sunday. The song is so upbeat and fun, and him dancing with Lupita Nyong'o and Amy Adams was totally adorable. Still don't really get the penis-hat thing, though. That is not cute.

Have a wonderful weekend, everyone! As usual, linking up with the ladies below.

High Five for Friday

Valentine's Day dessert from Blue Sushi –  I can't remember all the details, but it involved melted chocolate and homemade raspberry ice cream. Amazingly good.

Well, it's official: I no longer fall into the category of "twenty-something blogger," as today is my 30th birthday. I can't say that I really feel any different, but maybe that will come in the next 12 months. Here are some highlights from the last week of my 20s:

1. Valentine's date: On Saturday, T. Bob and I celebrated by getting massages and then went to a late lunch downtown at Blue Sushi. They have great happy hour specials, tons of veggie sushi rolls and a pretty amazing dessert menu (see drool-worthy photo above).

2. Great weather: It has been sunny and warm (well, 50s and lower 60s) this week, and I loved it. We got a dusting of snow on Wednesday night, but it didn't affect traffic on Thursday morning at all, so I'm counting that as a win.

3. Four-day workweek: Since I had Presidents' Day off, I used Monday to get a mani-pedi and start packing for our trip. We leave for Isla Mujeres tomorrow morning, and I am beyond excited.

Empty shelves at Trader Joe's. Apparently, Coloradans are a little excited to have them here.

4. Trader Joe's has come to Colorado! We stopped by the Boulder one and it was insanely busy, so we didn't buy anything. But I'm looking forward to shopping there on the regular once the excitement dies down a bit.

5. T. Bob got me the sweetest birthday gift: a book compiling the first few months of this blog. So thoughtful and totally cute.

What were some highlights from your week? As usual, linking up with the ladies below.

High Five for Friday

This will soon be my view. Not a flake of snow in sight!

Well, another week is coming to a close, and I couldn't be much happier. Especially since I'm off for Presidents' Day on Monday, so I have three days of relaxation approaching. Here are some highlights from my week:

1. Eight days until Mexico! I am super excited. I've been gathering up my beachwear (buying flip-flops while it's snowing will get you some strange looks, FYI) and I'm planning to pack this weekend. I cannot wait!

2. I finally took the plunge and hired a cleaning service to come clean my house, and IT. IS. GLORIOUS. My house looks great, it was relatively affordable, and I no longer feel guilty/stressed that my house is a mess when I have no time/desire to clean it. Totally worth it.

Source: EW

3. I've started re-watching Veronica Mars in anticipation of the movie, and I am in love. Every time I watch this show, my affection for it grows. It's so witty and smart.

4. After some major slip-ups last week, I've stayed on track with my food and workouts all week. It's been hard to resist the treats, but I'm trying to stay strong for another week.

5. Our tax refund came on Tuesday! The upside of being a nerd and filing your taxes in January is that you get your refund pretty dang quickly.

Have a wonderful long weekend, y'all! Linking up with the lovely ladies below.

High Five for Friday

View of the Strip from my 2009 trip. I go to Vegas fairly often, especially for a non-gambler.

1. Plans are coming together for my friend's bachelorette party – eight of us are heading to Vegas next month, and I'm really excited. If anyone has tips for fun things for a group of ladies to do, let me know!

2. After some seriously long commutes earlier this week, I made it in less than an hour on Thursday morning! This doesn't sound like something to celebrate, but it totally is. Sitting on the highway is one of my least-favorite activities.

3. I've been thinking about getting LASIK because I'm pretty over wearing contacts and glasses (and being blind without them). I finally made a consultation appointment this week, so we'll see what happens.

4. I found some of the new flavored Oreos (Marshmallow Crispy and Cookie Dough) at Safeway and broke my Going HAM rules by trying one of each. I thought I would prefer Cookie Dough, but I actually like Marshmallow Crispy more. The Cookie Dough tastes more like mocha than cookies, but they're both pretty good.

5. The two episodes of New Girl this week (there was a bonus ep on after the Super Bowl) were both hilarious. That show might be my favorite.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Linking up with Lauren and Jennie this week!

High Five for Friday

Yay, it's really Friday! With the midweek holiday, I thought Tuesday was Friday and Wednesday was Sunday, so I'm all turned around. Since I didn't do a High Five last week, I'm just going to cover the whole holiday period, since it's really all a blur anyway. Some of my favorite things from the last two weeks are:

1. Time with friends and family: I tried to unplug some over the holidays and really be present while hanging out with my loved ones. Thus, I have zero photos of my various Christmas/New Year activities. Not great for blogging purposes, but I think it was easier to be in the moment and enjoy the company that way.

2. Cards Against Humanity: This game is similar to Apples to Apples, except waaaaay raunchier. Which is right up my alley, so I love it. We played with my family on Christmas Day (playing with your parents is an interesting experience), then again with pals on New Year's Eve. Good times.

A sample Cards Against Humanity round. These were chosen at random,
so it gives you an idea of how bawdy it is. Obviously, it's not a game for children.

3. My new gym bag: I've been using a giant reusable grocery bag as a gym bag for a few years (yeah, I'm cheap - and it was so big grocery store clerks seemed afraid of it, so I had to find an alternative use), but my mom got me an actual gym bag for Christmas. It's so nice! It's lined, waterproof, and super cute. Plus, having pockets for my electronic stuff (heart rate monitor, headphones) and a little pouch for my toiletries really cuts down on time spent rooting around while getting ready. It's something I didn't think I needed but definitely appreciate.

Showing off my new bag with my best Price is Right model pose.
Just pretend my sweaty gym clothes are a sparkly cocktail dress.

4. Getting back in the gym: I've been kinda half-assing it in the workout department lately (skipping my lifting days, cutting workouts short, or just not going at all), but I finally have my resolve back. I lifted three days this week, and while it was pretty dang tough (turns out consistency is the key to progress, who knew?), it felt great. I'll share more about this on Monday.

5. The Secret Life of Walter Mitty: I've been going to the movies like it's my job the past few weeks (all the big movies I've been waiting for are finally out!) and this was one of my favorites. I can be a snarky bitch sometimes, but at heart I want to be optimistic and take chances and embrace the good in life, and this movie totally appealed to that side of me. 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I'm linking up with Jennie and Lauren; check out their blogs below. Happy 2014!

High Five for Friday

Sheesh, this week absolutely flew by! That seems to be a common occurrence lately, as I just realized that today is the second-to-last Friday of the year. In an attempt to stop and savor the good times in this whirlwind, I present this week's high five.

1. I had such an amazing time celebrating Mal's graduation last weekend. There was great food, great people, and lots of fun.

Clearly, we are a very classy and refined group.

2. I've been having some neck/shoulder pain on and off for several weeks, so I finally went to the chiropractor on Wednesday. I feel SO much better already! I'm going back this afternoon, so hopefully I can get back to full functionality soon.

3. Cirque Dreams Holidaze - this year's holiday outing was something new and different for us, and I really enjoyed it. It was a great combination of Christmas music and death-defying stunts. It's not everyday you get to see dudes dressed as gingerbread men doing flips or flying through the air.

4. One of the Elf 4 Health challenges this week was to hold a wall sit for as long as you can (this article explains how to do one, if you've never heard of it). I'd never done one and was pretty intimidated, especially after seeing the times posted on Facebook – some ladies did 6+ minutes! But once I decided to face the music, I just kept breathing through it and ended up holding it for 4:36, way longer than anticipated. It served as a good reminder to continually challenge myself and push my limits in my workouts.

5. These peppermint pretzel sandwiches are the easiest to make and so yummy – I love the salty/sweet combo. And there's no batter to prepare, so you can make a few at a time if you want to limit your portion size. Recipe (if you can even call it that, with two ingredients) from Young Married Chic.

These would make a festive treat to leave for Santa.

Posting will be light next week with the holiday, but I will have my favorite Christmas cookie recipe for y'all on Monday, so be sure to check back if you're going be baking. As always, linking up with Lauren and Jennie. Happy a wonderful weekend!

High Five for Friday

My dessert plate at my company party. That little holly leaf and tiny lemon slice are so cute!
Also, if you can't have four desserts at Christmas, when can you? 

Happy Friday, y'all! I've managed to banish my Scrooge-like attitude and have fully embraced the onslaught of holiday activities coming my way. Thus, this week's High Five is pretty Christmas-centric:

1. My company's holiday party was last Friday, and it was so much fun. Great food, cocktails, a white elephant gift exchange (where I scored a Vera Bradley wristlet!), and super-cute desserts. And it was great to spend some time with my co-workers outside of the office.

2. Gingerbread Oreos – tough to find, impossible not to binge-eat. Track some down, because they are delicious. I kinda want to go buy more now that I'm thinking about them.

3. The pug puppy version of Home Alone. So adorable!

4. I am done Christmas shopping and 90% of the gifts are wrapped and ready to party. I like to get that out of the way early so I can spend more time enjoying activities as the holiday approaches.

5. The arctic chill we'd been experiencing has finally worn off! It was downright frigid for about a week there, but the forecast is calling for highs in the 40s and 50s for the rest of the week. Not having to worry about your exposed flesh freezing when you go outside is definitely preferable.

So that was my week. Tell me about yours! As usual, linking up with the lovely ladies below.

High Five for Friday

1. I met Aisha Tyler on Saturday! I listen to her podcast every week and I'm a little bit obsessed with her. She's so smart and funny and down-to-earth. We went to her standup show Comedy Works and afterward she hung out in the lobby, chatting and taking pictures with everyone. I could barely keep my shit together and stammered "Uh, I love your podcast! And your book! You're so funny!" Not my most eloquent conversation, but she took it in stride and was totally gracious. Love her.

2. My sister had a surprise birthday party last weekend and it was super fun. We played Bunco, and I ate way too many snacks, got to hold my friend's adorable daughter, and caught up with some of my sister's friends I hadn't seen in ages.

3. I made it to work on time (early, even!) after it snowed on Thursday. Commuting in the snow is THE WORST. One day last winter, it took me three hours to get to work (you'd think Coloradans would be good at winter driving given the amount of snow we get, but that is not the case). But I randomly woke up at 5 a.m. yesterday, so I did yoga, got ready, stopped for a pastry, and still made it to work by 7:30 a.m. So I'm hopeful that snow and I can get along this year.

4. These burritos. I got the recipe from my co-worker's daughter and T. Bob made them for dinner on Monday, and they are delicious. Not soggy like other zucchini-based burritos I've had. Still have no idea where to find chayote, though. Let me know if you figure that out.

5. I am in love with Joy the Baker's new webseries, Bonkers Awesome! Her curiosity and demeanor are so cute, and it's really cool to take a behind-the-scenes look at bakeshops. And I'm totally envious of her style. Awesome, indeed.

Have an excellent weekend, y'all!

As usual, linking up with Lauren for High Five for Friday!

High Five for Friday

Nashville image found here.

Happy Friday, y'all! I don't know why, but sometimes the shorter weeks (I had Monday off for Veterans' Day) seem even longer than the normal ones. So I'm happy the weekend has finally arrived. Here's some things I'm loving this week:

1. I came home from work on Wednesday night to find a rose from T. Bob, just because I'm "a nice wife." Pretty sure he's the nice one.

2. I've been running intervals on the treadmill lately, and it's going surprisingly well. In the past, it's always made my knees hurt, but so far I am pain-free and loving it.

3. Nashville. I don't know if it's my love for Connie Britton or my affinity for saying y'all, but I am totally hooked on this show. It's so soapy and filled with the drama. Even the music is great, and I'm not a big country fan, so that is saying something.

4. I used the long weekend to do laundry and clean up around the house, which was a long time coming. Having some order restored at home (not to mention clean clothes to wear) has been so nice. I really shouldn't be applauding myself for cleaning my house, but hey, small victories.

5. If it has to get dark at 5 p.m. now, at least I have beautiful sunsets to stare at while I'm sitting on I-25 every night.

Linking up with Lauren for High Five for Friday!

High Five for Friday

It's Friday, and that means it's time for another High Five! Here's my list for this week:

1. Green Tea sweats - I'm not big on matching sweatsuits, but these are SO comfortable (and the pants don't have anything written across the butt, so I find them acceptable). The beginning of this week was pretty dang chilly, and this is my favorite hang-around-the-house outfit for winter weather. The pants fit great (I tend to have trouble with drawstring pants as I have no hips/booty to hold them up) and the faux-fur lined hood is super warm. Cozytown.

You, too, could be this comfy!

2. Tuesday night comedies on Fox - I don't watch Dads, but Brooklyn 99, New Girl and The Mindy Project are all hilarious in unique ways. Good times.

3. Pre-mixed alcoholic beverage pouches. They're like adult Capri Suns, without the hassle of trying to jab the straw into the top. Just buy, freeze, and drink. I've had a few flavors from a few different brands, and they're all pretty tasty.

They know how to highlight their best features. 

4. Crock-Pot meals - I actually meal-planned this week and used my slow cooker to make a black bean and rice soup for lunch, and a "Chinese hot pot" (not sure what that really means, but veggies and tofu, basically) for dinner, so I didn't have to cook ALL WEEK. Crock-Pots rule.

5. Turbo Kick - Due to working from home, some knee pain and vacation, I've been missing my regularly scheduled workouts. Monday night was my first Turbo class in two weeks, and it was awesome. And sweaty. But still awesome.

Hope you all have a great weekend!

My First High Five

I love the "High Five for Friday" posts that Lauren at Lauren Elizabeth does every week. I think it's a nice way to show appreciation for things going on in your life, even if they're just small things. And it gives you a glimpse into other people's lives, which is fun (if you're nosy like I am). So here's my High Five for this week:

1. I have found my dream car (part of a classic car collection I saw on Saturday night). I primarily like it because of its color. I know nothing about the "technical" aspects of it. Except it's called a VW Thing, which is another reason I like it.

2. Coffee is a part of my life again! I switched to green tea for two weeks, which I thought would be easy, as I only drink one cup of coffee per day, but dang. I need that one cup.

3. It's the husband's birthday weekend! His actual birthday is tomorrow, but celebrations begin today. I'm sure I will describe them in graphic detail at some point next week.

4. The weather. And fall. It has been so freakin' nice here for the past few days.

5. These shoes – I keep them in the box (not sure why), then forget I have them for long periods of time. Then I rediscover them and fall in love all over again. And they match my dream car. I might be obsessed with this color.

Hope y'all have a wonderful weekend!