Happy Birthday, Mom!

Happy birthday to the best mom and friend I could ever ask for!

Happy birthday, Mom. I love you!

-Breanna

A Lazy Weekend Drives Breanna Bonkers

Well, I got my wish for a lazy weekend. And once I got it, I didn't want it anymore! I am such a busy body. I should have known I'd be out of my mind bored mid-Saturday! Oh well, Andy says it's good for me.

Friday night Andy and I walked to our liquor store, Grape Expectations, for a beer tasting and to pick-up some more beers for the house. We planned a quiet night in since I had been gone for the whole week. We made some appetizers (ok, ok, just cheese and crackers, and homemade fries!) and started our 1,000 piece puzzle. Wow, do you remember puzzles being hard?? I don't! We didn't get very far, despite working on it for a while! It's an ongoing process on our dining room table.

Happy Valentine's Day at Grape! I think Andy and Travis are beckoning me back to pay...

Ella's new trick. She's not quite sure why we make her do this, but would greatly appreciate it if we would stop.

Our delicious growler from Crazy Mountain Brewery that I picked up when I was driving home from the mountains.

Ella looking desperately at Andy, hoping he will pity her and throw a fry or two her way (he did).

Why the heck is this so hard?!?

We give up. This is going to take a while.

Saturday Andy woke-up sick as can be! He barely pulled himself out of bed at 4:00 to collapse on the couch for the remainder of the day. I spent the whole day reading and finished the third and final "Hunger Games" book (so good!). Ella and I went to the dog park for a while which always consists of her ignoring all the other dogs and not leaving my side. Though she really does enjoy barking loudly and uncontrollably while she's on her leash walking to the dog park, which isn't at all embarrassing. 

Poor Andy! Ella was his little buddy all day.

On Sunday Andy was feeling a bit better, but not fully like himself. We were able to go for a walk, and he actually sat upright all day playing his video game. Progress - hooray! I spent much of the day reading before heading to an afternoon yoga class. This class is one that uses weights along with the yoga poses, and man! was it a workout! I loved it and am excited to go back...in a week, once my muscles stop screaming.

I know it's a blizzard back in the Midwest right now, but I just have to tell you guys that it's in the 60's out here.

Ella loves sitting in the sun inside our door, watching me read. 

We have a busy week planned with a movie date together and few hangouts with friends, so that'll keep me happy :o)

How was your weekend?

-Breanna

Friday Photos [2.14.14]

Make sure to scroll down to my last post, too, and wish Meg a happy birthday! 
She is waiting (ok, she is being forced to wait) until dad is back in town to open her gifts, so she's celebrating her birthday AGAIN on Sunday! It's a birthday weekend for my sis!

Here are some photos from Andy & my week:

 This is what Ella does sometimes. Stands on her chair and bark, bark, barks out the window at...nothing.

Another one of Andy's "action shots".

 

I took this picture driving through the snow storm into the mountains. And then an identical one on the way home.

These lovely paintings were on the walls at a high school I visited. I was told the art classes paint murals around the school.

 

This is what school looks like when you live in the mountains.

I took this right outside the house I was staying at in Glenwood Springs. I love that little arch!

 

They do not mess around with their electrical boxes in Glenwood! I chose to not test the evil electric monster. 

My Passat barely made it down the road to the house in Glenwood!

On a hike in the neighborhood I stayed in in Glenwood.

I hope you have a great weekend! I am excited to relax at home with Andy and Ella after a busy work week traveling, and the awful snow I drove through both ways! It will be really nice to stay put for a few days.

-Breanna

Happy Birthday, Meg!!

Yesterday was my sister, Meg's, 25th birthday! Happy birthday to her! She told me that she celebrated by being serenaded by her co-workers twice, eating dinner at Five Guys with mom, and having a triple chocolate (!!!!) cupcake. Doesn't that sound like a great day? When I asked if she feels any different at 25 vs. 24 her response was "Oh yes, Bree", in a tone leaving no doubt that I was silly for thinking otherwise :o) Also, she was wondering if I had put her gift in the mail yet - lol.

Leave a comment with birthday wishes for Meg! It will certainly brighten her day.

-Breanna

Greetings from the Mountains!

I am in the mountains this week for work - Aspen, Vail, Glenwood Springs, etc. It's lovely :o) I'll post more next week about my trip, but here are some sneak peek photos from the place I'm staying in Glenwood Springs. Isn't is beautiful??

-Breanna

Live Shows & Beers

What else could I want out of a weekend?

Friday night Andy, our friend Zach, and I went to see Caroline Smith perform at the hi dive music venue in Denver. She is a rockin musician out of Minneapolis whose music Andy and I have enjoyed for years. Her sound has evolved so much over the last few years and I love what she's doing with her soulful, bluesy sound! I was oh-so tired by the time she took the stage at 11:30, but man I snapped awake with the first notes!

The merch stand at Caroline Smith's show (she's the gal in the plaid in the background).

Caroline Smith owning the stage Friday night.

Saturday afternoon I had an hour long massage. It was exactly what I needed to counter all the desk work I do! The massage therapist advised me to take it easy for the night and drink lots of water; I didn't have the heart to tell her I was heading to a brewery next! After the massage, I walked the mile or so to Pints Pub to meet Andy and our friends Heather and Noah and some of their friends. Andy received a gift certificate to the place from a colleague for Christmas (how thoughtful, right?) and we were both excited to try the place out. The afternoon turned into a night of yummy beers with Heather & Noah as we continued through LoDo to 1UP (video arcade game bar) and Falling Rock (craft beer bar).

 Drinking my stout at Pints. Andy kept saying "action shot! action shot!" looking at this photo.

Yup, it's a gift certificate. That wasn't a typo.

 They named this road Broncos Blvd for the Super Bowl. Still have the Broncos pride!

1UP! Beer taps are in an arcade game - how neat is that?

 

Heather at 1UP was totally meant to be - check out that shirt!

 Look at the tap line-up at Falling Rock! Isn't it lovely?

Another action shot!

Noah was mesmerized at how much Andy's shirt looked like Freddy Krueger's. 

I had three offers at the bar to help me carry my beers downstairs. Nah, I got this. Nanna-do.

Sunday was far less exciting than the rest of the weekend. I spent much of the day preparing for my trip to the mountains this week. I'll be in Glenwood Springs, a 165 mile drive through the mountains, all week so I was packing clothes and work supplies, making snacks to have for the ride, doing laundry, preparing my notes for student meetings, etc. Andy enjoyed having the down time (I'm always on the go and dragging him along!) to watch some mindless movies and relax on the couch with Ella.

I hope you had a fantastic weekend, too!

-Breanna

Friday Photos [2.7.14]

Here are some photos from Andy & my week:
 

Saturday morning.

 

Making sour mix is hard work!

 This gluten-free bread makes the best grilled cheese sandwich bread - mmm!!

We treated ourselves to one of our New Glarus bombers.

New Glarus suggested serving it in a Champagne flute. I felt so fancy.

I was at a high school appointment earlier in the week during our snowy days. I loved their bulldog mascot!

 

I got to my Wednesday morning appointment at a high school up north an hour early (!!!!) so I stopped off at Starbucks to kill some time.

At my office desk. My little assistant was laying so sweetly on the futon behind me and I caught her reflection in the mirror.

I actually had a pretty eventful week, contrary to the photo evidence! I guess I just didn't take pictures. I went out for Monday happy hour and Andy & I had a friend over to dinner Thursday night, among other things. I'll step-up my photo taking for you all next week. I'm in the mountains all next week for work, and they're rather photogenic ;)

Have a wonderful weekend!

-Breanna