tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72355551051029002642024-02-19T01:34:27.855-08:00A Day In The Life...Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.comBlogger268125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-76635266435204538162013-03-25T10:44:00.003-07:002013-03-25T10:44:42.830-07:00Training Progress UpdateI am sad to say that I officially didn’t start my training until March 11th, not the 4th, like I had originally planned (the day I bought the shoes). And in those 2 weeks, I have only completed the first 2 days of the Couch to 5K Training. <br />
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The main positive thing is that I have at least started. I have the shoes, I have done runs, and I have officially signed up for the 5K! And although I haven’t been doing the runs on the program, I have at least been taking 2 separate 10-15 minute breaks during the work day (one before and one after lunch) to do some speed walking in my office basement. It’s air conditioned and there’s usually no one else down there. So at least I get some exercise, and I earn a Point each time. Plus, it breaks up sitting down at a desk all day. And if I have an hour lunch, I walk for the last 20-30 minutes of it.<br />
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So it’s not all bad - I am raising my heart rate 2-3 times a day by speed-walking around for 10 minutes (sometimes I add an exercise to lunch, if I am done eating). And I burn around 50-60 calories each time. I’ve been wearing my running shoes when I do that, so I can get used to being in them, and hopefully my leg and feet muscles get used to them as well. (Plus, walking in my work shoes could really kill me!!) I can usually get my heart rate up from about 90 to around 120-130 during the quick walks, and I can feel the onset of sweating, without actually doing so. I would feel disgusting after lunch if I ran or did an actual workout, so with these walks, I at least get some benefit to it.<br />
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I have had a few slip-ups– I do great during the day at work, because I have to structure my eating and walking around my work schedule. I can’t just sit and gorge out on food for an hour if I have a half hour lunch, for example, or overeat if I only brought 2 items in for lunch. And then when I get home, I have a fridge, freezer and cabinets of temptation and possibilities. <br />
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But, overall, I’m eating better and exercising more than I was 2 weeks ago, so I can’t be discouraged. I’m doing something, and that’s better than nothing.<br />
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Good news update: <br />
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- I weighed myself on the morning of the 11th, then the 18th, and again this morning, and even though I haven’t really stuck to the running program,<strong><u><span style="color: magenta;"> I’m down about 6 lbs from my first weigh in!!</span></u></strong> I would say being down 2-3 isn’t a big deal because sometimes you can fluxuate that much in a day! But being down 6 means that I’ve lost about 2-3 lbs a week with just diet (even with the cheating!) – imagine what getting back into exercise regularly will do!!!<br />
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- Zach and I recently went on a 2 ½ hour hike the first weekend of my training, and I ended up “earning” 8 Weight Watchers activity points! That’s huge!!! That’s like a breakfast or lunch amount of points! We celebrated after at a brewery, but I kept myself to 1 beer, and 2 small chicken BBQ sliders (and perhaps some chips with homemade salsa). But I felt good about it!<br />
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- During the hike with Zach, he made a comment to the effect of “I am looking forward to climbing a ton of 14ers with you this summer”. This is very encouraging to me, because he wants to do more active things with me, and that he is planning on taking me on several of those climbs. So I have more motivation to get into and stay in shape!<br />
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So, all in all, it’s been an emotional up and down week with all the times I “cheated”, but since I mostly stuck to the program and I’ve seen a little progress, I’m excited to finally buckle down and do it for real and see a BIG improvement!<br />
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I follow a trainer on Facebook, and she always posts the best motivational pictures, and I really loved this one (helped me keep somewhat on track last week) - <br />
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-52650438304302280392013-03-11T08:44:00.000-07:002013-03-11T08:44:15.749-07:00Honestly...Honestly...<br />
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I haven't run yet. It's been a week since I got my new shoes, and while I've worn them around the house and out and about, I haven't done any actual running.<br />
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I also haven't been eating as well as I'd like. I do great during the day, and then I get home from work, and it all goes out the window. (Most likely because I'm at work so I don't have access to as much food as I do at home.) And then today, I've already had a large coffee with probably too much creamer, and a bagel with cream cheese! The bagel alone was 10 Weight Watchers Points Plus!!!! Why didn't I just eat half?? I know better!!<br />
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Finally, I was planning on signing up for my 5K on Friday because it was PayDay - and I haven't signed up for it yet. The deadline to sign up before the price increases is this coming Friday, so I'm ok there, but I'm still waiting to do my budget for the month before I actually sign up.<br />
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I am VERY disappointed in myself. I am showing no self-discipline or self control in any of the areas I really need to - weight, money and training for my 5K.<br />
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So tonight - No more excuses.<br />
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First thing, I will start my running program. Then, I will eat a 7 pt or less dinner (because sadly that's all I will have left at this point in the day without going into my extra points for the week). Finally, I will sit down with my laptop, do my budget and sign up for that 5K.<br />
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It's time to make myself be a grown-up. I don't think I've really been this mad at myself in a long time.Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-67257732301845888452013-03-06T13:37:00.001-08:002013-03-06T13:37:41.436-08:00And so it begins...again...I’m excited to get started. That's surprising, and not surprising at the same time. Each time I started training for a new race, I would be very excited and motivated. Then, when the deadline passed and I was done, I would be relieved. So I expect something similar to happen this time, but since I'm also trying to stick to Weight Watchers again, hopefully I will see more/different results, and maybe stick to running again, for good!<br />
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Today is the official start day of my training. I will be starting out with my old running shoes, and on a treadmill, to start to get my body used to running again. I work with a guy, Shawn, who managed a Sports Authority store and who knows a great deal about sports and athletic equipment, and he told me that my new shoes are really meant to make you feel like you are running barefoot, so the first few times people run in them, their feet REALLY hurt. It is meant to use and work foot muscles people hardly ever use, and it usually takes people some time to get used to. He suggested I wear them around for a few days to start to get used to them, so I will wear them around my apartment, and possibly out running errands, etc. <br />
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Since I’m definitely not prepared to start running “barefoot”, let alone run at all (since it’s been a year and a half!), I plan on starting training with my old running shoes to slowly let my feet and my body get used to running again. Then, by the time I start to get familiar with running again, I will switch to the Merrell’s and hopefully it will be less of a drastic adjustment than if I had just started in them. Yea, hopefully…<br />
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Shawn also mentioned that you do not want to run literally barefoot in the Merrell’s Barefoot shoes, because you will quickly wear down the muscles and bones on the bottom of your foot. He suggested some kind of athletic sock with a small amount of padding in it, avoiding any cotton ones, if possible. I recently got some socks with the support padding in them, but they might just be cotton – that would mean that the more I run and the more my feet sweat, the soggier and more uncomfortable they might become. Fortunately, I don’t think it will be that unbearable for the first few times, and he said he might be able to get me some “free samples” from his old job for me!! That would be really nice!<br />
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Friday is PayDay, so I plan on officially registering for the Glow Run on Friday. Then there’s really no turning back!! I will have to start looking through my clothes and even discount clothing stores to see if I can find some clothes that will help me “glow” even more during the race! Fortunately, I have just under 2 months to search, so that’s plenty of time to find something cute!<br />
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I am going to try to run everyday. I am following the Couch to 5K program again, and they recommend resting between a few of the runs to allow time for the body to recover. However, it’s a 9 week program, and they usually suggest taking a week or two after to run the full 5K length, before doing a race. I have less than 9 weeks to get ready – I can’t do that! So I will do my best to run every day, knowing that there might be a day or two in between where I won’t be able to for whatever reason, and then I should be on track for the run April 27th. My friend, Dawn, who will be doing the race with me, told me that this one really is more of a “Fun Run”, and most people will be walking or just having a good time for the most part anyway, so there shouldn’t be pressure to run this entire race – I should just let it be a good way to ease back into running.<br />
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I plan on using the treadmill during the weekday runs, since it’s very convenient (within walking distance!) and that will help with my work schedule and any personal events. Then, on the weekends, when I will have a little more time to allow for transportation and getting ready for any personal events, like showering after, I will do my best to run outside. Parks, trails, maybe even around my parent’s neighborhood, where I used to run. The shoes I got are apparently really great on trails, and I really should take advantage of the great scenery where I am, so I really feel I should do them good and run on a few trails now and then!<br />
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-20391246764020431742013-03-04T13:55:00.000-08:002013-03-04T13:55:27.793-08:00Back in Shape!!I’ve seriously been thinking about getting back to running – I’m definitely out of shape, and back where I weighed before I did Weight Watchers around 2010. I lost 22 pounds on the program, and I felt and looked much better than I do now. I could blame it on breaking up with a terrible ex-boyfriend and meeting a new guy and putting on the new relationship pounds over the past 2-3 years. But, I’ve always heard that there’s nothing to blame but myself. I knew I liked how I looked and felt about myself and how clothes fit me, and I just stopped.
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I do remember how I did at least like having something to do when I had to do a “run” on the Couch to 5K program. Or every time I read an article on Dean Karnazes, I think “I wish I really had that desire to run; people who do it all the time seem to really love it, and I want to have that”. And every time Zach goes ski mountaineering, or skiing, or climbs a 14er, I think “wow I’m just really lazy. I don’t have anything like that. I want something like that”. <br />
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And running, I can do. <a href="http://learningtorun.blogspot.com/2011/07/mission-accomplished.html" target="_blank">I've done it before</a>, and I’m still proud of it. So why not do it again? <br />
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Not that my life isn’t going well with a great boyfriend, a place to live, and a new job, but I really feel like I need something to make me feel good about myself again. Everyone seems to have their “thing”… And I don’t have one. Not to mention, my last home was in a flat neighborhood – so why <u><em><strong>didn’t</strong></em></u> I run there? And even though my apartment complex is in a very hilly neighborhood, they have a workout room with treadmills – why <u><em><strong>haven’t</strong></em></u> I run there? And, my new job even has a gym with treadmills – I <u><strong><em>should</em></strong></u> run there!!<br />
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“<a href="http://www.colormerad.com/race.i?raceid=115" target="_blank">Color Me Rad</a>” is a run coming up in June that during the 5K, at different points of the race, the runners are pelted with brightly colored powder. It’s very similar to The Color Run which is a race I’ve always wanted to do. I really would like to do it with someone though, or at least have someone there to cheer me on! Zach doesn’t run, and I don’t really know anyone who runs just yet, so I just have to think about it. Plus, I really should be more active and it would be fun to do outdoor activities with him, so it would help me get into shape for climbing some 13ers and 14ers this summer! Which, surprisingly, I’m really looking forward to.<br />
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So I posted a request on a friend’s Facebook page to see if she wanted to do the “Color Me Rad” run with me. She was actually the person who initially inspired me to start running – I was doing the employee newsletter, and she had just finished her first marathon! She replied to my post, and instead invited me to do a <a href="http://www.glowrun5k.com/cos.html" target="_blank">Glow Run</a> with her at the end of April! That’s barely 2 months away, which seems like a while, but I haven’t done ANY kind of jogging or running since October 2011, so that’s going to be a lot of training. But she is an extremely positive and motivational person, and isn’t taking any of my excuses!<br />
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Plus, I got really excited with the exchange I had with her on Facebook, and the Glow Run looks like a lot of fun…and I ran an errand at lunch so now I REALLY have no excuses!!<br />
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The only thing left to do is sign up for the run online (before the deadline increases the price!!). And then consider doing the “Color Me Rad” race in June. The first deadline is next Friday, but knowing how long it takes me to make decisions, I won’t make it. And it only goes up $5… so we’ll see.<br />
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I am also seriously considering going back on Weight Watchers. It felt really good last time to lose that weight, I already know it works, and I already know it’s going to take 2-3 months to really see some weight loss, and maybe 1 month to start seeing clothes fitting differently. This week I’m giving myself a trial run back on the program, to get back into the rhythm of things. Also, I want to see how it will go with having a new boyfriend, explaining it to him, and especially watching what I’m eating now that we eat out a lot more than I used to. I’m not so open that I would post a before picture just yet – I’d really like to see where the running and eating better get me, and I can post a before and after side by side, so you can really see the difference. <br />
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-6276240302727517612013-02-26T14:40:00.001-08:002013-03-04T13:32:56.230-08:00Birthday Weekend 2013This year’s birthday weekend was a special one for me. A few years back, I was in a pretty bad relationship, and my birthdays during that time were just not special – I wasn’t happy. Last year, I had just started to date Zach, so things were pretty new, and we were still in that stage of “what should we do” in terms of birthdays. He did get me a movie and a card, and we did hang out that night, but he had been skiing all day and was pretty exhausted, so we didn’t go out. He did take me to <a href="http://www.broadmoor.com/summit/" target="_blank">the Summit at The Broadmoor</a> the next night, and it was an amazing evening of great food and conversation, and it was very memorable! <br />
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I just started a new job almost 2 months ago, and my new schedule allows for me to leave at 3 pm every other Friday. I left work early and I was ready to just plop on the couch and catch up on my DVR. I got a call around 6:30 pm from Zach, who had just arrived back home from a day of skiing. I knew he would be <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMn-lQts7LprGQ3MPTYp9xcAClP4pEFNyWuuUVE1mWmxGVLRFAH_-FLP1TGWEAZRcUSh8wAsDgXyLRqONAsEszbkfsJusFCem8SW3DTxtd20dYhDtvd0kMelLKfYdGf_j7F0VUFibPVo/s1600/the+watch+2.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxMn-lQts7LprGQ3MPTYp9xcAClP4pEFNyWuuUVE1mWmxGVLRFAH_-FLP1TGWEAZRcUSh8wAsDgXyLRqONAsEszbkfsJusFCem8SW3DTxtd20dYhDtvd0kMelLKfYdGf_j7F0VUFibPVo/s200/the+watch+2.26.jpg" width="200" /></a>gone all day, so I wasn’t counting on doing anything with him, so I was surprisingly (and happily) mistaken! He wasn’t feeling too well, so we ended up taking a trip to the grocery store for some food and medicine for him, and we picked up “The Watch” with Ben Stiller from Redbox. The movie was not as funny as I expected, and I definitely wasn’t ready for aliens, but it wasn’t bad.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Found a great picture of the dress <br />
from JCPenny's website.</td></tr>
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Saturday morning was the weekly 8 am breakfast with my parents and their friends at Panera! But this was my special birthday breakfast – and Zach came along!! Since it was my birthday, Zach was happy to oblige and joined us. Afterwards, Zach decided to go home and hopefully sleep off some of his chest congestion, and the rest of us decided to go bowling. Unfortunately, the bowling alley was closed until 3 pm for a private event. Since the alley was next to the mall, we decided to go shopping for a new outfit for me for dinner that night. Zach was taking me out and I wanted to wear something special to celebrate the occasion! Plus, in the year and a half we’ve been together, he’s only seen me in a dress/skirt ONCE, and I felt I owed the guy a little bit of “dress up”! After a few hours of shopping, I had a brand new black dress, shoes and accessories! Success!! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Garden Room in the Tavern (recently rennovated)</td></tr>
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I was able to go home and take a nap before getting ready for dinner. Zach arrived around 7:15 pm, and had apparently *possibly* evaded getting a speeding ticket, (Oops!), so he had to apologize for being a little late! Nonetheless, we headed over to <a href="http://www.broadmoor.com/tavern/" target="_blank">The Broadmoor to have dinner in the Tavern</a>!! He remembered that I wanted to see the new renovations that had been completed since I left the hotel back in January, and made the reservations all by himself, without any input from me! </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sorry for the terrible "cropping" but it was <br />
the best shot I could get!<br />
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Dinner was GREAT. Zach extended his arm to me and he “escorted” me as we were walking in and out of the restaurant. The funniest thing was that he couldn’t remember where the restaurant was, so I had to show him! He ordered some oysters for an appetizer with a Stella Artois, and I had a Caesar salad and a Cosmo. For dinner, he ordered a filet minon and I had some amazing salmon. He knew that he really wanted dessert, so we didn’t overdo it on the first two courses. He had a huge piece of chocolate cake and I had espresso ice cream – when they brought the desserts out, they put a candle in my ice cream, and the plate had Happy Birthday written on it in chocolate. So cute!! He ended up trying my ice cream and liking it so much, that he “helped” me eat it! All in all, we were there for over 3 hours, but the entire experience just went too quickly. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPd_ReRbF-uYHeuXuYLGfZVilL9VXJtm5AgIIUpCJpsJOwKNzT1cnKNepCO-bwA7ewa0N6VRJitlS7JoNglBc4uRyNjHUA9qmgseewsexO2YhvdI_Yq4VWDEGhd9oYJq22UZ53DKYuTo/s1600/tavern2+2.26.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhPd_ReRbF-uYHeuXuYLGfZVilL9VXJtm5AgIIUpCJpsJOwKNzT1cnKNepCO-bwA7ewa0N6VRJitlS7JoNglBc4uRyNjHUA9qmgseewsexO2YhvdI_Yq4VWDEGhd9oYJq22UZ53DKYuTo/s320/tavern2+2.26.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The beautiful chandelier that I could NOT<br />
stop looking at!!</td></tr>
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During dinner, Zach handed me 2 birthday cards that he instructed me to open in a particular order. The first one was clearly a card for a little girl, but it did talk about having a “sparkling birthday”, and Zach knows how much I love sparkles! He even wrote inside the card that he knew it was for a little girl, but it just “screamed KAREN!!!”. The other card was also sparkly on the cover, but it said “A Day to Celebrate You? I’m in!!” He really thought about me when he picked them out, and he couldn’t decide between the two, so he got both! </div>
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After dinner, we headed back to my apartment and watched a <br />
movie to close out the night. I even pulled out the birthday card he had given me from last year and showed it to him. I think he was really surprised and even a little touched that I had held onto it. I’m a very sentimental person and I like to keep mementos from things I’ve done – especially something like a card that someone took the time to pick out and really think about what to write in it. I now have all my cards out on my kitchen table and it’s a great feeling to walk by and think about each of those people.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBsV8A1dM7obcT_zmzaSZYroHN0_9dPzmPTA9s-WM4wLu3HvWXYHvdphO_at2jjDln71Ma7phsXx3ZTixHbI4yV0zdDouuPtuGTlAf7QWTlZAeKmhA1P1ErdCaMn5rx8O8NBbYhNaDBo/s1600/bon+ton+2.26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" gsa="true" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkBsV8A1dM7obcT_zmzaSZYroHN0_9dPzmPTA9s-WM4wLu3HvWXYHvdphO_at2jjDln71Ma7phsXx3ZTixHbI4yV0zdDouuPtuGTlAf7QWTlZAeKmhA1P1ErdCaMn5rx8O8NBbYhNaDBo/s320/bon+ton+2.26.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bon Ton Cafe: Great food & breakfast served all day!</td></tr>
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Sunday was a great “lazy day”, to quote Zach. We went to breakfast in a cute little place in Old Colorado City, and sat by the window to watch the snow quietly falling down! Watching snow fall is one of my most favorite things in life. Afterwards, another nap (for over 2 hours!!) was definitely called for, and was certainly appreciated. Around 2 pm, Zach wanted to head to REI to look for some new ski pants, and I was happy to tag along. After the mini shopping trip, we headed to Colorado Mountain Brewery so I could appease my small appetite that had been growing since I slept through lunch! It’s one of our favorite places, and now the bartenders there are starting to recognize us as regulars!! We shared an appetizer and had a cup of soup and a beer each – what a great warm meal to enjoy on a cold, snowy day! I finally dropped Zach off at his house and headed home to take care of my dog, do the dishes and watch the Oscars. </div>
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All in all, a great, packed-full weekend of activities and food! I wouldn’t change any part of it!! <br />
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Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-33360179527924641462013-02-26T13:59:00.001-08:002013-03-04T13:31:31.879-08:00August - Finally!!<div class="s4" style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">So I just found this old post that I had been working on but never got around to posting!! (Shame on me!) This entry chronicles the month of August in 2011 when I was spending a lot of time with a new, good friend of mine who was working as an intern at the Broadmoor and she and I got along great! I was really going to miss her!!</span></span></div>
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August 2011 - </div>
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<span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">This month, my parents spent about 3 weeks in Norway! So I stayed at their house and watched both of their dogs for them, along with my "monster", Bailey. </span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">It was a long time, but it just flew by!!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">Unfortunately, the start of August was </span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">also </span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">our intern Susanna’s last week with us! I had such a blast with her over the summer (see my old posts from summer 2011) and we had really bonded and I didn’t want her to go! So we checked some more things off of her Colorado “bucket list” before she left.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">One of the things she and her friends wanted to do was to go out dancing downtown! Since I hadn’t been out downtown in a while (for fear of running into Psycho-Ex), I felt that I could suck it up and show them a good time. </span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">N</span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">one of us wanted to worry about getting home at the end of the night, so we had a cab pick us up and take us downtown – this turned out to be an excellent idea!! (Especially when it came time to head home!)</span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15"> We headed out around 11 pm- yea, 11 pm – how old am I?? I haven’t done that in years!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">We </span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">had</span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15"> a blast at the </span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">first </span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">club, and after about an hour or so, we decided to leave and try out another place. </span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">Upon reviewing our evening the following morning, w</span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">e collectively</span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15"> agreed that we didn’t </span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">remember much about the second place except it had cow-print booths, and </span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">it was our last stop</span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">. We <strong>definitely</strong> had a great time!!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">We eventually made our way out to a cab and headed home </span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">(I still don’t even know who called the cab…one minute I’m in the bar and the next, in a cab! I’m not even positive if I paid my bar tab! I might have had a receipt somewhere…) It was a nice relief to be in a cab and heading home – until we</span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15"> realiz</span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">ed</span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15"> that one of the girls had taken a poster of “The Who” directly off the wall at the bar and walked out!!! How she didn’t get caught, we will never know. Apparently, the poster made it back to Finland in one piece and is still there! Also, I ended up in the front seat next to the driver, since there were 4 of us, and only 3 seats in the back and I'm sure the taxi driver was very glad when he finally dropped us off.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">What a crazy night – and there were pictures, but kind of like “The Hangover”, we had to look through the pictures to help ourselves piece a timeline together. I didn’t even get home until 2 am! I haven’t done that in years, and don’t see myself ever doing that again. I'm just not 21 anymore, let's just face it. The cab driver dropped Susanna and her roomates off at their place, and then dropped me off at mine. I had left my car and car keys at Susanna's, so at some point the following day, she drove my car back over to my place. A</span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">ll in all, it was a BLAST!!! It made me that much more sad that Susanna was leaving</span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15"> soon</span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15"> and we’d not be able to have those fun times much longer! </span></span></div>
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<span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">Another item on their list to see before they left was to visit the Golden Bee, an English-pub at The Broadmoor Hotel. They have these really fun Bee stickers that they throw at you, a very yummy cheese/butter dip, amazing ale, and great fish and chips! We headed out to dinner at 5:30 pm (</span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">after a proper amount of recovery time from the night before).</span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15"> </span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">The fish and chips was the perfect way to </span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">end</span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15"> the day and it was just wonderful! We didn’t stay long, only about an hour and a half. I think we were all ready to get home and go to bed early</span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">! Also, I was going to drive them to Denver the following morning to </span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">spend the night before they flew home</span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">, so they also had to finish packing.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">I picked up the girls </span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">the next morning</span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15"> and we headed to Denver. We arrived around lunchtime and thought it would be fun to eat at the Hard Rock Café in Denver, which ended up being another “bucket list” item for one of the girls, who wanted to visit as many Hard Rock Café’s as possible! It was really fun having a “last meal” with the girls who had become</span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15"> pretty </span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">good friends to me in a short amount of time, but it was also a bit bittersweet. After lunch, I took them to their hotel and then </span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">I was</span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15"> gone! The entire summer was over! And this was only August 7</span></span><span class="s5" style="vertical-align: super;"><span class="bumpedFont15">th</span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">!!</span></span></div>
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<span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">After that, August was a pretty slow month. </span></span><span class="s3"><span class="bumpedFont15">It really died down! While it was finally nice to rest for a while, it was hard to adjust to! </span></span></div>
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Sorry for the random, VERY late post, but it was a month I do not want to forget!</div>
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-2587640202053289232013-02-26T13:53:00.000-08:002013-03-04T13:30:40.987-08:00A Year to RememberAs I head into my last year of my twenties (yikes – where did the time go??), I decided it was time to go back to documenting my life. There things that I would like to remember and they may seem like small details now, but as I was looking back at a diary I kept for a few months last year, I realized that it was a lot of those little details that made me smile the most. Cute moments with friends and family, small, passing comments made by co-workers, and changes in my life kept popping up at me, and it was nice to reminisce of the good times (and the bad) and see what has happened since. Are those moments still significant? Were they as important or bad as I thought they were at the time? It’s interesting to see if and how I’ve changed, even in just one year.<br />
<br />
So let’s get started on my “first” 29th birthday, and my 29th year of life!<br />
<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-5318892965343252072012-01-04T17:13:00.000-08:002012-01-04T17:38:30.162-08:002012 New Year's Resolutions<div><div><div>This year, I resolve to:<br /><br />1). Lose 20 lbs through better eating habits and smaller portions.<img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 177px; height: 165px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693955591741364338" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15gG3Y-MWsof1GGnT3v4iKCOg_v0PrsVUnmalR55sDvtRcuSwixmqAMH838mSvSZY5nz8zL0qrIyzFLbTJEQRGha4in6kuGD64XVL9JULHXkbx4QRrD7wnJVSLChwuz4q-2AoYZLbYyc/s320/plate-300x300.jpg" /><br />2). Spend money only when necessary, add to savings. Limit "discretionary" spending.<img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 241px; height: 224px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693955708282666914" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvWlMQjTcB7qig4NiGjdpSK2PbQ54CoeTcN6XIEr_gaFlM2iiXSKxpn_7YOSD0CK8bQRUjbVrhKaoKz6XQUqEeFsc7WOHPuaZnp-FhxcklA5tBoKP0MXFIY_-GBh5xBWeEUqF4ju37a0/s320/nomoney.jpg" /><br />3). Read more.<img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 238px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693955853657842802" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo9ql8k9sIi7dpfkV6G1v1IQxrw5t7kvF7dGHA-U__GxIgx0XpNZFTSLsHS1trDw53wSDRiYunvsWwP3b1K2dqlrKoNBZyVh52_vn_X2uX5QJUegy7wt4yhv6OdXysgc38Wi8S_gJk6xc/s320/Read-More-Knowledge-if-Power.jpg" /><br />4). Drink less (alcohol). Drink more water.<img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 133px; height: 195px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693955770541115762" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvQbwwoXr-regP2L4ZNmfPdApPQjY2qrSTPWEw4s9wI522HGuvudf8KeELczPspVe2OkpU_LB_pkxAHkCiHT6-VKZngmvZMjM7SjXjvNp3dlAOy7gnmV5NZxxC36IsS56TlQNTDKdbaY/s320/drinkmore-logo-refl180.jpg" />That's it. Super easy. I'm already working on them, and it's hard, but I have to keep telling myself that it's really not that hard and the more I work on it and the longer I keep them, the better I will feel about myself!</div></div></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-38845718361800947662012-01-04T16:23:00.001-08:002012-01-04T16:35:26.161-08:00Long time, no blog.So I know no one checks this anymore, so it will become more of a timeline for me. Looking back, it looks like 2011 was a pretty pathetic blogging year for me. I've been catching up on other blogs, and it always amazes me to see how much people really keep up with it!! I know I've been good in the past, but since this summer, I haven't really done much. <br /><br />I still have a ton of pictures from this summer that I haven't posted that I want to get around to...I just hope I can remember what all happened! That will have to be a totally different post. <br /><br />And it's also not so much that I don't have any free time - I have a ton of free time! It's so weird that I find myself each day just wishing it would be 5 pm sooner, to only have that thought immediately followed by "Why? So you can go home and eat dinner and then...what?"<br /><br />I have tons of books to read, and movies I want to catch up on, and craft projects to complete. I also have an almost 4 year old dog that has been cooped up all day and who wants to play all night! <br /><br />So I don't really know why I don't blog. I guess I feel like I don't have much to say. <br /><br />I will follow this blog entry with another one for New Year's Resolutions. In the past, I have always hated making them because I always break them. Then a few years back, I thought, why must I already be defeated before I start? So I started making them again...and upon looking back...Yep - definitely didn't accomplish them all. Previous years shown <a href="http://hockeykaren.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011-new-years-resolutions.html">here </a>(2011) and <a href="http://hockeykaren.blogspot.com/2010/01/new-years-resolutions.html">here </a>(2010).<br /><br />This year - I am making resolutions, and I WILL stick to them. I'm so sick of hearing other people always complaining about making them and then failing, and I'm also sick of myself doing that exact thing!!<br /><br />So stay tuned, anyone that's out there - and I will get back to my old ways of creative photos and clever writing!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-89082111173982728632011-09-17T13:18:00.001-07:002011-09-17T13:19:34.514-07:00Back to running!As you can see from my last post, I am running another 5K! You can follow my progress and thoughts on the training (and hopefully eventually photos) on my running blog here: <a href="http://learningtorun.blogspot.com/">http://learningtorun.blogspot.com/</a><br /><br />Thanks for your support!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-59184560061511470562011-09-17T13:15:00.000-07:002011-09-17T13:19:34.519-07:005K for a cause!Since November 2008, my brother and sister-in-law have been in the process of adopting two young children from Ethiopia! However, the cost of international adoption is significant. In order to adopt their children, they need to raise money for agency fees, international airfare and travel expenses. For example, the cost of one ticket alone can be between $1,200 and $1,800! <br /><br />I am trying to help them out! I will be running a 5K on Saturday, October 1st, to raise money for their adoption, and I need your assistance in making it happen! The race is called the “River Run for Orphans”, and the organization’s goal is to raise money to change lives of orphans globally and locally. You can find out more about my race or their organization by visiting <a href="http://www.riverrunfororphanscoloradosprings.org/">http://www.riverrunfororphanscoloradosprings.org/</a>. <br /><br />All the proceeds I am able to raise by running this 5K will go specifically to Brian and Kathryn Creveling (my brother and sister-in-law) to help them adopt two orphans from Ethiopia. My goal is to raise at least $500 to help them in completing their family and to help 2 orphans from Ethiopia find a loving home.<br /><br />Please prayerfully consider helping us share God’s love by donating money for my race and to the Creveling’s Adoption Fund. This donation is tax-deductible. I will be collecting all donations and will submit the final total raised to Brian and Kathryn. Please make checks payable to Karen Creveling and write “River Run for Orphans” in the memo line and contact me for my mailing address if you would like to donate. <br /><br />Thank you for your help - anything helps!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-49845401152039785182011-08-28T19:46:00.001-07:002011-08-28T19:46:50.580-07:00Adoption Fundraiser!In honor of my brother and sister-in-law being #8 on their adoption agency's unofficial waiting list for siblings, they are giving away a football signed by #8 TROY AIKMAN! Purchase one ticket for $10, two for $15. Tickets must be purchased by 9/11/11. The winner will be drawn after the Dallas Cowboys Season Opener on 9/11/11! Enter as many times as you wish!<br /><br />You can donate via Paypal on their blog at <a href="http://texascrevs.blogspot.com/">http://texascrevs.blogspot.com/</a>. Or you can donate via our adoption agency to receive a tax-deduction. Send your donation to:<br />AWAA - Eternal Family Fund, 6723 Whittier Ave., McLean, VA 22101.<br /><br />Please include your name, address, email address and specify that it is for The CREVELING's adoption. Or you can donate directly at<br />https://www.awaa.org/forms/payment.aspx (Note: all credit card transactions incur a 2.5% fee).<br /><br />Thanks for supporting their adoption and GOOD LUCK!<br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-68550952906220622932011-07-24T12:27:00.000-07:002011-07-24T12:39:26.155-07:00July (so far!)<div>There shouldn't be much more stuff happening in July, so I feel safe blogging about it so far. If I do anything else, I can always add a blog!<br /><br />I took Friday, July 1st off to hang out with my sister and her kids, and we went to the zoo!! I always have fun there! July 4th was nice because I was also able to take the day off from work, so we mostly just hung around the house and had a small BBQ with my mom and dad. Susanna, our HR intern, came over and joined us as well! She was a huge hit with my sister’s kids, mostly because she played the “pretend” games with them and let them crawl all over her! I was also a big hit because I had gotten quite a few glow sticks from the Dollar Store and gave them to the kids as a surprise – it was a HUGE hit! They were SOOO excited! They had bracelets and necklaces, and each kid had their own wand. I learned from last year that those definitely keep them entertained while we’re waiting, plus it’s always easier to see them in the dark when you know where they are!<br /><br />That week was also the week of the US Women’s Open! It was pretty slow for us in the Administration offices, but we got out to the Merchandise tent to help at the register. It was packed, and it didn’t help that it rained all 4 days of the Championship and everyone came inside to do some shopping! It was crazy, but it added to the already memorable experience of saying that you worked at a property that held a National USGA golf tournament that got worldwide recognition. I even came out of it with “credentials” and a free Cutter and Buck t-shirt! So I would say it worked out well!<br /><br />I also went with Katy and Susanna (both from work) to a Sky Sox game! The Sky Sox are our Minor League team that feeds into the Colorado Rockies. The stadium is really close and it’s really affordable – the seats closest to the field are only $12 plus tax! Then the food and drink are priced what you would expect, between $6 and $8 but that’s not bad! We had a blast, and we stuck around for after the game when we saw FIREWORKS!! Nevermind that we just saw them a few days earlier for the Fourth, but they shot these off RIGHT outside of the ballpark, which is relatively small. <br /><br />I also went to another Rockies game, this time with Susanna and friends from her school program, Sarah and Lumi! We had a great view from Right Field, but we were in direct sunlight the entire time – IT. WAS. SO. HOT. Thank goodness Susanna had 50 SPF sunscreen in her purse, or we would have burned skin off – it really was that hot. The only breaks we got were when we got up to get food or beer and when a large cloud covered the sun for a good chunk of time. We also decided to go to the gift shop and buy the first white sleeveless tank top we could find to help allieviate some of the heat from our black cotton t-shirts! 3 out of the 4 of us got a new tank top that day, and changed in the bathroom. The shirts fit a little funny, but it was worth the $27 to have even a little bit of relief! On a non-baseball related note, I think that I had the most amazing cheeseburger I have ever eaten at the game – SO yummy!! They also gave us so many French fries that I couldn’t eat them all, and I didn’t even need dinner! My dad also gave me an old camera of his – the camera wasn’t really that old, but he wasn’t using it and didn’t sell it in the garage sale they had that weekend. But, it has 12X zoom and I was able to get some really cool shots! The only bad thing was that the closer you zoom, the fuzzier the picture got. But it was still cool!<br /><br />Finally, I completed my 5K!! You can read about that <a href="http://learningtorun.blogspot.com/2011/07/mission-accomplished.html">here</a>. I bought a 5K sticker to put in my car’s rear window and might even continue running – might even do another 5K! <br /><br />So, with that all finally being said and done – here is a highlight of July so far (with a few more photos to come – the next few weeks are busy too!):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-Xu0r_7ZtwWXC4nbcfwiBDaNctHRTmhrKEwNCVQbyRs0pB6k3DAp0Juwz0D8LHCPX3sRdcc4TFmO1mNs9mdn6bPsFM-pdBkLP0MFwNCdzHPJfbHESi43X1QR1O8g25VPSyCqnFZd0SM/s1600/IMG-20110704-00328.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633003708322175010" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-Xu0r_7ZtwWXC4nbcfwiBDaNctHRTmhrKEwNCVQbyRs0pB6k3DAp0Juwz0D8LHCPX3sRdcc4TFmO1mNs9mdn6bPsFM-pdBkLP0MFwNCdzHPJfbHESi43X1QR1O8g25VPSyCqnFZd0SM/s320/IMG-20110704-00328.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaP324weD1wjrhdK6I9cplvtOVE5UYUlsW2Cxecfjn2UIT8BmC2-DXzskjRWdL8eREoBdJxerxf9iZkNWN3nTDy9KdLpaxTthDMHr35LTGvWY9Bij8yPHw5QeToKz2t_dqtlNSL8g4h_A/s1600/IMG-20110704-00324.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633003636346866930" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaP324weD1wjrhdK6I9cplvtOVE5UYUlsW2Cxecfjn2UIT8BmC2-DXzskjRWdL8eREoBdJxerxf9iZkNWN3nTDy9KdLpaxTthDMHr35LTGvWY9Bij8yPHw5QeToKz2t_dqtlNSL8g4h_A/s320/IMG-20110704-00324.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qXgwSBmAYVi-sUaQogbuH1O4qqn3A_8ZVLHTgHezeghl716ki9Kyo5voGpkIwNCDBBs8xkfEr8gSVl33Nt_zuAxeaaoHBpJwOdNvoJ_1ZM09F-9y2QjjcJDKmhym8LrdyobF6sAEPVw/s1600/IMG_2865.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633004817566447330" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qXgwSBmAYVi-sUaQogbuH1O4qqn3A_8ZVLHTgHezeghl716ki9Kyo5voGpkIwNCDBBs8xkfEr8gSVl33Nt_zuAxeaaoHBpJwOdNvoJ_1ZM09F-9y2QjjcJDKmhym8LrdyobF6sAEPVw/s320/IMG_2865.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7WNU8EaQ6etNN5gQHTAze5VtM0AECbWvlxwQPheaJiAKydrXSzGEh0KrNbZ6DArPaKzeo-dxnxzoPkBFbiolXSwjEsf9KBw7oBnt1TIWnSTkMvKjvuA1g3cz-_rBvAP-4IvsraU6dMU/s1600/IMG_2861.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633004711836319314" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7WNU8EaQ6etNN5gQHTAze5VtM0AECbWvlxwQPheaJiAKydrXSzGEh0KrNbZ6DArPaKzeo-dxnxzoPkBFbiolXSwjEsf9KBw7oBnt1TIWnSTkMvKjvuA1g3cz-_rBvAP-4IvsraU6dMU/s320/IMG_2861.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQHJT68MipPS6TBXSImFosbyGLhRxAmT7L3qGIWi0nA0nEjH4EnlxSJtCf6N7vwO9CE_ODr5XHHn8DfAAhFiPTqXZQvfqu_bgZielt0KaFxa5fsiJYr0S1VYOQ7XA7sIX6HGStaqBNYI/s1600/IMG_2929.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633005641063244658" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyQHJT68MipPS6TBXSImFosbyGLhRxAmT7L3qGIWi0nA0nEjH4EnlxSJtCf6N7vwO9CE_ODr5XHHn8DfAAhFiPTqXZQvfqu_bgZielt0KaFxa5fsiJYr0S1VYOQ7XA7sIX6HGStaqBNYI/s320/IMG_2929.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSIyOAStbMziT6NgVcgigSkLfTuTlIduVsS21-wqzDiSPPYI7QxEs5-t7lEggIDAM2wafOMPwdB_I8AAFnNakaBKgOYAmx6KamB17CNrcF-dCvkOCL3hCE3sbt5jSLieachiPclJbVck/s1600/IMG_2896.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633005431184746402" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcSIyOAStbMziT6NgVcgigSkLfTuTlIduVsS21-wqzDiSPPYI7QxEs5-t7lEggIDAM2wafOMPwdB_I8AAFnNakaBKgOYAmx6KamB17CNrcF-dCvkOCL3hCE3sbt5jSLieachiPclJbVck/s320/IMG_2896.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7f4sCkDQrQcghGHVh8PRn44CNey2Mkd4whvBy7brc_Zh1RumHcExuZAbSUNIwYWtl5hSWHDskVCxlB2-lpKZUfIxpdFB1zAC5LJd9ScLyoQNKhp_sz22pcymX9zgaim85AQPMcsNeBtA/s1600/IMG_2883.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633005232935778626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7f4sCkDQrQcghGHVh8PRn44CNey2Mkd4whvBy7brc_Zh1RumHcExuZAbSUNIwYWtl5hSWHDskVCxlB2-lpKZUfIxpdFB1zAC5LJd9ScLyoQNKhp_sz22pcymX9zgaim85AQPMcsNeBtA/s320/IMG_2883.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6spzooxcDhQxRfaHmD_H9ZkJHxDPAqOlOe4W9Yg3f3rh9xZx1hRtoZZl4__yMfQ2EvIU7k7RxAF0OY8sEp7vNl4ojzO8XMjzxf3nez1FFEtZ6E1od-gbvYaMyTyLwluGZ0HOgDI-X0WY/s1600/IMG_2879.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633005103033034434" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6spzooxcDhQxRfaHmD_H9ZkJHxDPAqOlOe4W9Yg3f3rh9xZx1hRtoZZl4__yMfQ2EvIU7k7RxAF0OY8sEp7vNl4ojzO8XMjzxf3nez1FFEtZ6E1od-gbvYaMyTyLwluGZ0HOgDI-X0WY/s320/IMG_2879.JPG" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByWkSQUguB-VEWcz0VLuHR2tJe-KsbwFrHB7qAlk8KHHUYWO208mKwk6M8fbyybgEOgVuX_pxUElECQ0z9nnE63SZ-X1j7gBxmdu3iuN0TY68fB4P3q9xajFJRaCIVStvcK6jlu3g3gk/s1600/IMG_2873.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633005004130286242" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgByWkSQUguB-VEWcz0VLuHR2tJe-KsbwFrHB7qAlk8KHHUYWO208mKwk6M8fbyybgEOgVuX_pxUElECQ0z9nnE63SZ-X1j7gBxmdu3iuN0TY68fB4P3q9xajFJRaCIVStvcK6jlu3g3gk/s320/IMG_2873.JPG" /></a></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-31438007871994960112011-07-24T12:26:00.001-07:002011-07-24T12:27:12.257-07:00Yet another Rockies game! However, it was someone else who had the tickets this time, and gave them to my team. My boss and 2 co-workers made it out on a Tuesday (yikes!!) and got a nice hook-up with seats. My boss was able to get an upgrade because he helped someone in the Rockies box office with their training program, so we had AWESOME seats! We’re generally a silly group of people who work hard but then like to relax and so of course we had a blast. The fun didn’t stop, even though we hit massive amounts of traffic on the highway on the way home. Next time, we’ll go to a game where we don’t have to work the next morning – we were all dead.<br /><br />I was also invited to go see Brett Dennen in concert in Denver with a friend in early June, very last minute, and it was a blast as well!! In fact, because I went, I saw that probably one of my top 10 favorite bands was playing at the very same theater later in June – PANIC! AT THE DISCO!!!!!!! I have loved them since 2006! I went home and promptly bought 2 tickets because I couldn’t wait and it’s a good thing I did because it sold out!!! I blogged about it <a href="http://hockeykaren.blogspot.com/2011/07/panic-at-disco-best-concert-ever.html">here</a>, and took Susanna with me! It was seriously the most fun I have had in the past year.<br /><br />And lastly, I surprised my sister with a dinner at the Penrose Room – a restaurant at the Broadmoor hotel in Colorado Springs. It is the only 5 Star and 5 Diamond restaurant in Colorado! I won it as a prize for winning Employee of the Month in May, and decided to share it with her! She had NO idea what we were doing and I kept sending picture clues to her all day to keep her guessing. She was completely surprised and excited and was extremely happy. We ending up eating (in varying portion sizes)- caviar, lobster, rabbit, halibut, filet minon, and more!<br /><br />Yet another barrage of photos (this time from June):<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpOZARXsitQzuSpzQ_P7MfxqTKitZ3L9gQC3O6pKbPGrzdN-XIhaF6pp6dNUqejJQUjewPbJeryNI0qm5VZ9Ejrq-NjZs8zkHLz2v5k4J6gR5lnyBKIg5dU5ICDt9XWGKlluguVeIYtk/s1600/Denver-20110614-00117.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630895730347787186" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjpOZARXsitQzuSpzQ_P7MfxqTKitZ3L9gQC3O6pKbPGrzdN-XIhaF6pp6dNUqejJQUjewPbJeryNI0qm5VZ9Ejrq-NjZs8zkHLz2v5k4J6gR5lnyBKIg5dU5ICDt9XWGKlluguVeIYtk/s320/Denver-20110614-00117.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9reMqYS85-ytzt2pu1qo5B4udIClwrddORusDriZWoUwlbmNdArnE-1IhuRoOqKC0h4tWOwgMm3OtHTdpr6rVSSjYmrKVpI1BhyzRiuZ0s1_i8-J5Y-tJhBiw_hm296AN677hbLnG_Q/s1600/Denver-20110614-00126.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; 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width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633001485548684866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5D9DVDwnQHD6ByHm2otDyxS1tdWFpizJ9YwztRdxhRjnaU0w8L4B95UM2FmESZUKRMeYItwhTrUPRkyBnGhKX6LuYwzFKCrtApyc1dl9NeERV-EsDub2dj_unVOdyidkWjZ1QUk03w0/s320/IMG-20110630-00299.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9HBoojTviIXNsFySigOQO6vUS7LnzJtobNMIjrQl7rjT5KfhsN3cDsYDCQSUEGDYRZsZ9RAK3-WPFxhj0pLGmEK3MHQlVhVBx_aUMh9qREsovMWHlgp7YISBhIhQj7qVXzPPvTFEDAM/s1600/Penrose+Room.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 181px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5633001421061247074" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU9HBoojTviIXNsFySigOQO6vUS7LnzJtobNMIjrQl7rjT5KfhsN3cDsYDCQSUEGDYRZsZ9RAK3-WPFxhj0pLGmEK3MHQlVhVBx_aUMh9qREsovMWHlgp7YISBhIhQj7qVXzPPvTFEDAM/s320/Penrose+Room.jpg" /></a><br />Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-3732993922782448082011-07-18T19:41:00.000-07:002011-07-18T20:05:38.913-07:00Catching you up!<div>I haven’t really been blogging on here because of my running blog, <a href="http://learningtorun.blogspot.com">http://learningtorun.blogspot.com</a>, but then again, I’m not quite as busy as most of my peers! Most of the things I do are normal, everyday things, which aren’t really that interesting!<br /><br />However, I have been pretty busy the past few weeks, so here’s an update…I've broken it down so it's not a marathon blog!<br /><br />May:<br />My company has 4 tickets to the Rockies, and allows employees to sign up for one game per season (based on availability) on a first come, first serve basis. I was able to get tickets for an afternoon game on a Saturday, which is great because I hate driving all the way down from Denver really late and especially if I have work the next morning. Susanna had just been there one week and I invited her to go because she didn’t know about baseball!<br /><br />We got there and it was overcast for most of the day, until it started raining around 3 or 4! Bummer! The worst news was that we were both wearing flip flops because when we left, it was nice and warm, but at the game, our little toes got cold and wet and it was pretty rough. Susanna had purchased a foam finger for one of her roommates and found that it made a very nice temporary “sock”! I had thought ahead to bring a rain jacket (someone tell my mom!) and Susanna had packed an umbrella, but forgot she had it until she had been sitting in the rain for a while (oops!)<br /><br />All in all, even though it was overcast and foggy and wet all day, we had a really great time and it was a great baseball experience!! May was also when I started Yoga (shocking!) and my Couch to 5K program. I am proud to say that I have stuck with both, except that I will not be doing Yoga this week so that I can practice running some more, because I have my first 5K on Saturday!<br /><br />I also went to an event in Denver called the Furry Scurry! This was before I started running, so I did not run this but it was event to raise money for animals in shelters and it was HUGE!! There were thousands of people and tents set up, and Bailey and I spent almost 2 hours just wandering around – he even got to have a cup of doggie ice cream because it was so hot out! Well, that and I love him to death and spoil him like crazy.<br /><br />Then, I brought Susanna to something called Territory Days. It's held every year over Memorial Day in Old Colorado City, Colorado. It's basically a gigantic street fair meant to celebrate when the city was the capital of the Colorado Territory. The weather was perfect and it was just a lot of fun! 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width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630893162924915794" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsDN2diN5wEz03xagUEugNsEredY6FLkwnKzF_EenbzHIPYhCqhfZB36cd5-YDDp6c4txUJxj4wo-oYUI0PS1qrP3P6wz5gYmTGQFvJPnozBeLfOB7b5sA4jgtaOxQFRiSuedd1iXh2nU/s320/041.jpg" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1lpIj9I5_ac-ZBjuXrNv6dOXFqxVLYYruDADW5Fx-EH2WmXd4f7JZRzSGpW8reWVWghwJCcZgG70z4skwgUaMb5Q04Zoow8MDTmiUIWoQWSy9yFdYEJ8L-qU_P2_mD8eZtWJVQOUzbs/s1600/039.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5630893070090436034" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio1lpIj9I5_ac-ZBjuXrNv6dOXFqxVLYYruDADW5Fx-EH2WmXd4f7JZRzSGpW8reWVWghwJCcZgG70z4skwgUaMb5Q04Zoow8MDTmiUIWoQWSy9yFdYEJ8L-qU_P2_mD8eZtWJVQOUzbs/s320/039.jpg" /></a></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-79512779214797770312011-07-02T13:00:00.000-07:002011-07-02T13:02:43.011-07:00Panic! at the Disco - BEST. CONCERT. EVER.<div>So I love Panic! at the Disco. Duh.<img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 213px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623852663911118610" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi961staxijPskja1h5DFRm1mhiLZStM7EBeDnfpDPjXmzkYp3T1N1WeGbnwu0LYFQNoaaulJocVEyDVfRSrf27S7q-KjM3rORya2OjBlMPoAn_DYX4YjyDSfEbbjX_mLFezLf8SSJU1JQ/s320/110128-panic-at-the-disco-1.jpg" />THEY. ARE. AWESOME.<br /><br />And yes, you have to have the exclamation point in their name, because that's legally how you write it. <br /><br />Back in college, circa 2005, a friend of my boyfriend at the time knew that I liked "punk" music (Bowling for Soup, Blink 182, Simple Plan, etc.) and she handed me a purple burned CD of this group called Panic! at the Disco and told me I should listen to it because I should like them. <br /><br />I had vaguely heard of them before in passing, but really had no idea who they were. At first, I thought "this is way too weird for me" and slightly wrote them off. But the more I listened to it, the more it grew on me until I loved them!! I hadn't really heard about them a few years later though, and they fell off my radar.<br /><br />Until I was invited at the last minute to a concert in Denver with a work friend. It was for an artist that I had never heard of, but as we drove past the theater, I saw Panic!'s name on the billboard for a future date in June and FREAKED OUT!!!! Now, he had never even heard of them, but it was like they jumped right back onto my radar and I wondered what had happened to them!<br /><br />So later that night, I did some research and found out they came out with a brand new album in March of 2011!! So I immeadiatley purchased this album on iTunes and bought tickets the very next PayDay. (This turned out to be a very smart move on my part because it sold out!!!)<br /><br />I bought 2 tickets figuring that I would find someone to go with me, and at the very least, I would just go with myself. Either way - I WAS GOING. (Fortuately, my office has a super cool intern working with us who I really get along with and she was game!!) And…the best part????? She took video of a lot of the songs and I can not WAIT to see them!!!!!!<br /><br />Turned out to be an AWESOME move!!!!!! The concert was last night and it lived up to every expectation - in fact, I'm sure it actually blew any expectations off the road and then waved at them as the concert passed them by - it really was THAT GOOD. At least for me. <br /><br />So if you feel like it, go check out my photos from the event - but be advised, they were all taken from a cell phone camera at a distance, so apart from the colors, they probably won't look that different to you. But it will be an amazing experience that I will never forgt, and will NEVER regret doing. </div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-59979746124026055312011-06-22T18:44:00.000-07:002011-06-22T18:47:07.398-07:00New running blog!!I have now created a blog just to chronicle my running program - leading up to my first EVER 5K that I've signed up to run in July. Then, the future will be determined once I reach it! Please follow the blog at:<br /><br />http://learningtorun.blogspot.com/<br /><br />I will still be updating this one from time to time, with non-running related news, but I wanted to keep that one separate, as it is a separate part of my life right now. Thanks for checking in and following this blog!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-76489468794141878272011-04-30T18:28:00.000-07:002011-04-30T18:42:07.382-07:00Reading UpdateI am addicted to Emily Giffin. <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 214px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601556707890262178" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVAJd-_kNoPeWKGqtIo-9NPCQ-wfKTQb8F7LQfUgpRL_bbwrUJm6gI9zWptcXfD3e7aRkjIQfWMehV_3N4tnRy1J46GfbbPiABD8t5Wm1FRr4hutsib9IxnGT0UjPmfUZskZzfCqA9zw/s320/borrowed.jpg" />It first started with Something Borrowed. I saw a preview for the movie coming out soon, and wanted to read the book before the movie came out. It was an impulse buy and - I finished the book in 24 hours.<br /><br />It was <strong>that</strong> good. Another amazing impulse buy (like Eat, Pray, Love).<br /><br />So then, the next night, I couldn't wait and went to Borders and got the sequel - Something Blue. It's a followup to Something Borrowed. I got it on a Friday - finished it Sunday afternoon. Less than 48 hours. Must be a new record for me.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 210px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601556487022473602" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5Rf-TvqnbNdop8K1HVuIJN5lmt44q2QtHR-gtAEaoxeyujjD-lguXJQAvluIbhmkmOG6_jnVeQQdavLjzS-mqYYGXBQ33kz5YKSZQVHTw1VUJHo_BgMvSt3tsRaUU_bnF5idrzOe7JKs/s320/blue.jpg" /> Now I'm addicted. She has 3 other books out there - Baby Proof, Love the One You're With, and Heart of the Matter. They're all seperate plot lines from the first two, but I realized that I really liked how she wrote.<br /><br />I just bought Baby Proof online 5 minutes ago. I didn't want to spend the full $15 at Borders, so I found a website selling it for under $4 - including shipping!!! It's used, which doesn't matter to me. It's still the same book! Plus, after I read them, I plan on trying to sell them online, so I should get some money back. Good deal.<br /><br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 206px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 320px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5601556337015134626" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi2RB3M65h6Bpc5OLB2SkDs_pJ8oSIUIv14SpNNMnmX2KIh8vtlkza7YXGj7eTGHuJBhFjP1e7JbgPUvvz3T5_uG2p7c40UKq6yO8ntQS0ltk8pcDStvOb7C4C4Kd2aDFc8BSDlYyS3UM/s320/baby+proof.jpg" /> Can't wait!! Only 7-14 days til Baby Proof arrives, and when it does, before I even finish it, I'm ordering another one because I know it will be done in less than 2 days!!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-25305347972472092312011-04-12T19:32:00.000-07:002011-04-12T19:47:48.479-07:00I've said it a million times...<div>But I really need to get back to reading. Recently, I read "Eat, Pray, Love" by Elizabeth Gilbert. I watched the movie and then bought the book online on impulse.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Best. Impulse. Buy. Ever.<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 269px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594893747618341394" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQNh9NjjFkHxusTypkdqoIocYSrURqPfbyk4JEZNy9OBxdiYUkpA1FF4kNZ1ma2z7M6NRDuCjy2Yz4-sWYmygS8P58F14n4NP9zmMhyMxWuIyNA_id5rRxzZshYCSecZ-SgR05Ha9RLaA/s400/eatpraylove-lg.jpg" /></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Anyway, I saw a movie preview for "Something Borrowed". And I then (impulsively) bought it online from Amazon.com. And I know, I'm years behind the curve, but at least I'm not a bandwagon fan, right?</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I read several reviews, and it seems like it's a very popular book. Plus (duh!) it's being made into a movie!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>So between Emily Giffin and Elizabeth Gilbert, I've got a great series of books to start on either way! Not to mention the 18 books I already have stacked up at home to read, but at least it's a start!</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Any thoughts/feedback/opinions on "Something Borrowed"??<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 197px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 246px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5594892990635458866" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4-Fz7f_v1AGoQnhTuC0IyhVlo6w2aqh6JRQzMgf793QIrGqki7o2oiGAhSsAwiNPTM9HEpBjuhBWo8X_1L8J-KbuRZIdetJDQEx3bzPbNGK7PbKO-pOs1TmCzhX03T2gCzWQ_DVGyXyg/s400/SomethingBorrowed.jpg" /></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-24178447159305576282011-04-10T14:11:00.000-07:002011-04-10T14:37:54.761-07:00Brief UpdateWell it' s been more than a month again. And I can't say I haven't visited this site during that time; I have been catching up on your blogs! I keep checking the website and reading other blogs and thinking "wow I'm boring". But you know what? I've never been happier. I recently got out of a bad relationship. It's like a breath of fresh air. I spent almost 2 years being miserable, but now only have to think about ME finally. I recently moved into my "own place". Granted, my parents own it, but now (again), it's finally all about ME and what I want. (On a side note, I went out and bought a combo modem/router So, as I promised over a month ago, I will update you all on the remaining "topics" I had listed: <br /><ul><br /><li>Recently, the lady who runs our employee events and employee newsletters (things going on at work, weddings, babies, etc.) moved to another department in the hotel. So her role was open. It was filled briefly by someone else at the hotel, but she then decided to go back to her original department, so it was open again. Basically, I was handed all of the newsletters and any kind of graphic design stuff that the position used to do! Another lady I work with got the party planning stuff (which is fine with me) and now I get to be much more creative. It's GREAT!</li><br /><li>At the time I wrote my last entry, a Hungarian named Luca was living with my parents. She came to the US a year ago to work at the hotel, and my parents became her "host family" - basically, when they come work in America for a year, they're away from all their friends and family, and my parents would have her over for dinner, and to do laundry and basically be there for her. It was like having a roomate! She's my same age, and we talked about boys and family and life. She went back to Hungary, but it was nice having her around!</li><br /><li>My New Year's resolutions (Yea, they're pretty much all broken by now). Not much else to add. But again - I'm just happy. </li><br /><li>Don't remember about my reading list - but I haven't touched a book in a month. I should really start reading again! </li><br /><li>Phone Saga - I switched to a Samsung Instinct back in October. I hated it. Other than the phone calls and texting, it didn't do a single thing I wanted. So I switched back to a Blackberry over a month ago. Again, another breath of fresh air. I LOVE it!!! And I have 2 sparkling rhinestone-type cases. HEAVEN. </li><br /><li>Necklaces - for about a month back in Feb/March, I was making beaded necklaces like nobody's business. Well, that has slowed down a bit, but it was creative and sparkly and it felt good.</li></ul><br /><p>Whew. Well, that was my list. Hopefully another month won't go by before I blog again. </p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-2213741617553937862011-03-08T19:29:00.000-08:002011-03-08T20:15:38.643-08:00A Life-Changing Haircut?So, as I promised, a real blog. And I'll be spreading out what's going on over a few blogs, as to not overwhelm myself or anyone who reads this.<br /><br />Last night, I had the weirdest dream. I can't remember where I was in the dream, but some stranger came up to me and just cut off a chunk of my hair, specifically on my right side. First of all, it cut my bangs (which I don't have) and secondly, there was no reason or provocation and I didn't even know who this person was!<br /><br />I googled "dreams about getting your hair cut". Believe me - that's out there. I found a website that offers interpretations of many different types of dreams and found this description:<br /><br /><span style="color:#000066;">"If you dream that you make a drastic change to your hairstyle, then it means that you are making a drastic, new approach to some issue in your waking life. To dream that you are cutting your hair, suggests that you are experiencing a loss in strength. You may feel that someone is trying to censor you. Alternatively, you may be reshaping your thinking or ambitions and eliminating unwanted thoughts/habits. "</span><br /><span style="color:#000066;"></span><br /><span style="color:#000000;">This actually makes sense to me. About 5 months ago, I made a major life change. I had been dating a guy named Justin for over 2 years and I ended it. Without going into details, it was a very rocky and harmful relationship at the end, and an even worse break up. But it had to be done. I moved back in with my parents and spent a few months just basically recovering. I'm happy to say that I feel like I'm finally getting back to "me". So I am (or recently have) made a new, drastic approach to my life. I'm living it without that on my shoulders.</span><br /><br />Now, in the dream, I wasn't the one cutting my hair but I do feel that back in October and the few months after that I did experience a loss in strength. I can't begin to explain all the emotions I was feeling but I did feel pretty sucked dry. I did feel like someone was trying to censor me (or you could call it smother or control). And then I began to reshape my thinking and led me to eliminate unwanted habits - him. So, if you were to really interpret the "other person" cutting my hair, you could say it was Justin shocking me into realizing what the hell was going on and that I needed to make a drastic change.<br /><br />I am extremely thankful for all of the support I recieved from friends, co-workers, and especially my family.<br /><br />And now, I'm facing the great opportunity of moving out and living on my own again. Finally, my life is getting back on track!<br /><br />That's 2 blog topics down - 6 to go!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-51351778790509170732011-03-07T21:04:00.000-08:002011-03-08T16:55:53.928-08:00What happened?Well...I feel like I should really blog, because it's been almost a month. But at this point, it's already 10 pm, and I have to be at work at 7 am tomorrow. And it's a very hairy day ahead. So I think instead I will watch some Netflix and doze off. But I have every intention of blogging a REAL blog soon, so to help my anal-retentive and somewhat spacey mind, I have to make a bulleted list so I remember.<br /><ul><li>I had a dream last night that someone walked up to me and just cut a huge chunk out of my hair for no reason. I did some googling, and I think I have the answer.</li><br /><li>A major change in my life that happened a few months ago, and another one coming up in a month or two. (*Disclaimer - no, I am not pregnant!)</li><br /><li>A promotion that I'm stressed/excited about at work.</li><br /><li>A Hungarian student named Luca (pronounced "Lootza", like "pizza" but starting with "loot")</li><br /><li>My New Year's resolutions (Yea, they're pretty much all broken by now)</li><br /><li>My reading list</li><br /><li>My phone saga</li><br /><li>My necklaces</li></ul><p>On second thought, maybe I should space those out into other blogs. Yea, that might be good. For the 8 followers!! :) Maybe I could get to 10 if I posted more??</p><p>And on that note, I wanted to share a picture that makes me happy:<img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 250px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 340px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581572809478729378" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJKWOrFrt2ajSOwu86pKvDA4rRRYE1LYB_o8EsuNoMrnMhDK9JogQWSuBX0PZ5KDaMwPfh6qwfFmx00-YLJKUjsRea64L337LRNV65ayBxEJZmEeUFvgQ8YlXDrLsMJW-KOXUI82OeueM/s400/iPad_0311_250.png" />This is the cover of this month's Texas Monthly magazine. I may be in Colorado, but I'm still in love with Texas!!</p>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-41751863293357876822011-02-17T21:11:00.000-08:002011-02-17T21:25:12.562-08:00So I’m back!! I figured I was due to update my blog and my resolutions on how I was doing.<br /><br />First of all, I’m on track with my one book a month resolution. In January, I started to read "Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell and Know" by Alexandra Horowitz, and it’s a really interesting book (mini-review to come once I’m done), but by today, it’s simply not finished.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 265px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574895030883099570" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkmgklc8abotjQnRV6lbou3S_a4d825nA3SK08kBUu52Srr8a-rrK4YSuXczzA-trHrJFTtGBhU06CkD_7zM4Dg4bSNI_ifb1NMsbM-F-305wAMDMrujeH8Ec_751jV7KAAqlxC2Ks0OU/s400/Inside-of-a-Dog-cover.jpg" /><br />However, on Friday, January 28th, I walked into the library for employees we have next to my office, looking for a future month’s selection. I grabbed one short book (probably 25-30 with large print), called “Dinner with a Stranger” by David Gregory.<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 220px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 312px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574895867054738066" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5zNO9bxKBvQ1tErEO8BFFLgZjPVUsoWAZlqBJ215xJek1UGg6rpEBTLpya1kVxIvioGK-hrM6TFSiDYD8e5EhNn3AahA_Qz-pmBkxtOp5QbkhVxTSLjCSVCXnd1sA9qEugxv0qyTDC4I/s400/CoverImage.jpg" /><br />I read the entire thing over my lunch break. My resolution was technically achieved in a matter of half an hour without me knowing. It’s about a man who receives a dinner invitation by someone who claimed to be Jesus, and the man accepts. The more “Jesus” talks to him at dinner, the more the man starts to really think the stranger is Jesus. It’s basically a really good book on apologetics. It puts out some very familiar questions that I’ve either been asked or asked myself, and could never put it into words, and it actually has answers that just simply make sense.<br /><br />However, it’s still bugging me that I haven’t finished my original January book, so I intend to finish it in February. I feel that I can say I read one book this month, since it’s the only one I’ve read in February and I will finish it!<br /><br />Also, I have every intention of doing my scrapbooking page for this month this weekend. It only takes me about an hour a page, so I feel like I can do it – it’s just a matter of buckling down and getting started!!!<br /><br />As for the weight loss, I’m not really down from January 1st, but I'm not up either. And the eating better – well, that fluxuates depending on the day. But, I have been very disappointed in my January performance, so I’m making a more conscious effort to consider what I’m eating and determine – “This is enough. You don’t need more, right? RIGHT!” Plus, I’m very busy at work, so I’m noticing that I’m not hungry as much as I used to be, which just proves to me that I eat out of boredom. I haven’t really worked out much, even after buying The Biggest Loser for Wii, but I’m just not a work-out type of person. I seem to do just fine without it.<br /><br />And there you have it!! Thanks for sticking around!! And I can use your support and encouragement, so if you have any suggestions or comments on anything related to what I blogged about, then please share!Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-40103745795156587452011-01-06T18:52:00.000-08:002011-01-06T19:05:02.844-08:00Inspiring ThoughtsI've had a rough few months recently, and along with the Bible helping me get through, I've found inspiring thoughts just randomly "hit me" at the right time, and today, I got two in a row!<br /><br />“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” – Plato (from my daily calendar)<br /> - I've been working on my issue with patience, especially with people who I feel make my life more difficult, in whatever way, and I find myself either being short with them to their face, or complaining about them behind their backs. This simple little quote brought it all to light for me in one statement - you may be frustrated with this person, but remember that you're not the only one with problems, and you don't know what this person is going through. Definitely something to think about.<br /><br />“Re-examine all you have been told…Dismiss what insults your soul.” – Walt Whitman (on my Celestial Seasonings tea bag tag)<br />- Part of my rough past few months includes a lot of mental and emotional issues where I had constantly been told (in not so many words) that I had screwed up so much that I could never be "good" again and that I was having trouble forgiving myself, even though others had. This quote just made me realize instantly - All those thoughts, motions and words that hurt my soul...just forget them. They don't have any place in my life and they can only bring me down. It's in the past now - dwell on the things that will uplift your soul.<br /><br />So even though they weren't bible verses, they "spoke" to me...and it just seemed to be exactly what I needed to hear.<br /><br />No more "negative" thoughts - Phillipians 4:8 - "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7235555105102900264.post-84065803108121735512011-01-06T18:44:00.001-08:002011-01-06T18:51:41.204-08:00Success!First of all, let me share an adorable picture - <img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559270256939181538" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcooZ9di1kVc_dK0w2JgL0ZwHrRSfEO7QYTEObKBfsyhsQcy0DGwq3PXuCO8DoRRHMH4EuC-bbi36yiZjnszQOU33ssqpfUIim37FLfhU7qS5n0aGsrc3izyaKailn7FKjD7b55PLPo7w/s400/P1050002.JPG" />When I come home for lunch during the week, I let the dogs out and let them sun themselves by the front door. They LOVE it!! And today, they all piled up by the front door and cuddled. SOO CUTE!!!<br /><br /><div><div><div>And...I've already had success on my resolutions!!<br /></div><div>So far, I've already changed my blog design from the "Fall" theme to something far more relevant to me - sparkles!<br /></div><div>And, I've already done my allotted "one page a month" of scrapbooking!! I have taken a picture for proof:<br /><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5559270064977781202" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRK95vvR2DngxocWf6t7otvKn2wDYmr9KH9kWF-JbNSFJx2wXc9LznOREbmv-0QuYAUMhurFCsWARlZ2y4bh31M11eqi50lfnExFeEbqRu8IhGQcESq3Orm5BOJ_AIpmtLsT0RGAbzgqQ/s400/P1060005.JPG" /> </div><div>Not my best work, but I've been out of practice for a while. Whew...that really took it out of me!</div></div></div>Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14193533888327023312noreply@blogger.com0