Holiday Weekend

Last days of summer? Last time to wear white? I don’t know about those things, but I do know that I spent every minute (well almost) enjoying my time off in the beautiful and so very Ferris Bueller’s Day Off weather! Serisously, 70* and not a single cloud in the sky.

To me, there is nothing more American than a baseball game. I feel more patriotic singing Take Me Out to the Ball Game than the National Anthem! Joseph joined the gang for pregame hotdogs at It’s Brothers and postgame pizza at Mellow Mushroom! Best food day ever! Just look at how happy I am about my cotton candy! Although my Reds lost, we stayed till the bitter end, cheering on our hometown! Don’t trash the Nati, Rockies!

I actually took time to slow down during this holiday weekend. I spent one day watching Young Victoria and thinking of Emily and Ellie (our cute slumber party back in Cincinnati). That night I went out to a casual sushi dinner at Hapa with the girls! We stayed for a good 4 hours! Much needed! When Joseph wasn’t around, I popped in my favorite movies and added crystals to my Irish dance dress ~ merci, Emily! E-6000 is brilliant. Kelly was kind enough to invite me over for snacks and shopping Sunday afternoon and that about wraps up my weekend!

Thank you to all my friends who went out with me and had the best of times! Shout out Alexandra, Kelly, Jenny, Heather, Natalie, Erin, Ashley, Joseph, Seth, and Brian!

In the pictures: Alexandra, Kelly, and I, our new Cincinnati friends and I holding up “105″ as in MPH of the pitch, Joseph and Stacey pregame, Stacey and cotton candy, Jenny and me at Hapa, Heather and Natalie at Hapa.

Friday Night Lights – Rockies vs Cubs

I love a Friday night baseball game! Can you believe we are wearing sweaters and rain jackets in late July? I love Colorado!

Above: Joseph, Jon, and Jeff. Below: A pretzel for Kari (with Funacho from Cincinnati), me eating the wonderful pretzel and cheese, Seth’s big dog. It’s all about the food, baby!

Lazy Summer Day

1. Penguin Classics Little Women and Cranford 2. Lemon Granita/Limoncello and lemon tree painting, 3. Freaks and Geeks Complete Series, 4. USPS Abstract Artists Stamps, 5. Iomoi Personal Stationary, 6. OPI Coney Island Cotton Candy

I don’t know what’s on your list for a hot lazy summer afternoon, but I’m taking it easy while I can. I don’t own these pretty Penguin Classics, but I’d love to sit in the garden and tuck into Cranford (one of my favorite Brit classics!) or Little Women, which reminds me of my dear sister-like cousins! Did you watch Freaks and Geeks when it was on TV? I’m revisiting this classic with some of my new favorite actors – hello James Franco!

Joseph has decided to make his own limoncello with the extra lemons hanging around the house. I’m looking forward to an ice cold cocktail in our courtyard before the summer ends. I can close my eyes and pretend I’m sitting under a lemon tree in Italy!

Summer is a great time to slow down, skip e-emails, and write a personal letter. Who was the last person you got a letter from? Have you sent an old friend a little hello via snail mail? Now is the perfect time to pick up some cool stamps at the post office and remember the good old days of hand-written salutations.

Travels from Home – Vintage European Beaches

I’m loving these images from LIFE of vintage* European beaches. I’m mad for surf and sand today consider our high temp of 101* – you scorch me, man! I dig the classy style of the Euro bathing beauties and the effortlessness of the hot sun and the lapping waves.

If you want to search outside the wanderlust in you, there are plenty of interesting photos galleries, including newly released pictures of The King of Cool Steve McQueen. If you ask me, that sounds like a good way to spend a Tuesday night.

*take some time to sift through the entire “vintage” collection, including Italy, Greece, England, Scandinavia, and Croatia.

Baseball Night

Thanks, Kelly, for joining me in a girls night out at Coors Field! The rain was kept at bay while we indulged in gourmet dogs and local brews at It’s Brother’s in Lodo, and cheered on the Rockies in our J.Crew purple & grey ensembles. It turned out to be a beautiful cool night, with the threat of thunderstorms constantly moving around us. The Rockies didn’t look too good last night, but little did we know, they would turn it around and take the W for the game. Look for yourself! I told Kelly, it is rare I feel really patriotic about being American, but when it’s the 7th inning stretch and everyone around you is singing Take Me Out to the Ball Game, I can’t help but feel generations of my family before me singing the same song, enjoying the same traditions… even though when I sign that song I still think of the Reds, my hometown team that I’ll always cheer for!!!

Thanks, Courtnay, Rob, and Hannah for the tickets! I love a good baseball game! Next time, I hope we can all go together! Miss you and see you at dance this week!

4th of July Photos

Happy 4th of July!

fireworks image via Flickr Blog

Around Town – Seeing Pink

I love Denver in the summertime. Even though it doesn’t have a beach, I still love all the things happening around town. Joseph and I live in the thick of it all, so we can take a stroll at any moment and find fun things to do (for free)!

The Biennial of the Americas is here in Denver the entire month of July. You can help Denver celebrate anything and everything art related (that means dance and music too) by visiting events throughout the city. You can click on the above link to check out scheduled events.

Joseph and I took these photos of the Biennial opening day location of the recently renovated McNichols building. I think everything in Denver should be covered in pink! It was amazing and oh-so summery!

World Cup!

Photos from the US game (Saturday) and the England game (Sunday). Friends who stuck it out – Anne (from England, poor thing), and daughter Michelle, Emily, Alexandra, and Seth. Joseph would have been there if not for work. This Saturday I’ll be with friends again, this time Shannon, Alexandra, Seth, and Joseph (anyone else want to join?) for the Argentina vs Germany game!!!

What did you do this weekend? Did you watch the World Cup?

What team colors do you wear? What teams are you/were you cheering for now?

Happenings – Around Town #1

Is there such a thing as too much fun? I don’t know, but I’m beginning to think there is. For the last few weeks, life has been brilliant, fun, and non-stop. I don’t know if summer energy spreading around or the infectious World Cup spirit, but my friends have kept me busy every night! Denver feels young and vibrant. It’s one of the reasons we moved to this city and I am going to take advantage of it while I can!

How have you turned your summer into a “stay-cation?”

OPA! – Greek Festival 2010

Opa, Denver! Did you get your Greek on at the annual Denver Greek Festival this weekend? Since high school, I’ve looked forward to this event every summer. Summertime wouldn’t be the same with it! Since I’m currently traveling from my couch these days, little festivals like these take me away for an afternoon or evening. The weather is beautiful, the music is loud, the food is BRILLIANT, and people watching is my favorite! So last night I took my camera and indulged in Greek culture. The best thing about going on Sunday is the pastry sale! Opa to that!

Photography – Sun Glare

Summer is the season of SUN ~ honestly, I’m obsessed with playing around with my f stop in order to get the perfect sun glare. What better way to capture summer’s bright, lazy, dreamy feeling?

Brilliant image via Saga Flickr

Weekend Report – Birthday

Feeling a little nostalgic for Polaroids and missing my weekend already. Here are some shots from my iPhone to help me feel like it’s not Monday.

For my early birthday, Joseph organized a surprise breakfast with close friends, then drove me to my favorite store in Denver, Talulah Jones, and before I knew it, we were zooming across town to the Boulder Jewish Festival! My day didn’t end there! Joseph and I walked up and down Pearl St. taking in the sites and sounds of everything, drinking fresh lemonade, munching on candy, visiting our favorite stores, and soaking up the sun. After our trip, we grilled out in courtyard, played cards, and listened to summer tunes. I didn’t have birthday cake, but even better, I had Sweet Action Salted Butterscotch.

I hope you enjoyed your Sunday too!

Summertime Eats – Gelato

Summertime is here!

Classes are out for the summer (except for me – I’m teaching summer school), kids are playing at the pool, people are enjoying the outdoor patios of Denver, and Wash Park is full of dogs, runners, bikers, picnic blankets, and the wonderful smell of the BBQ!

My favorite summer pastime is eating ice cream. I do love everything about Sweet Action, their Baklava, Salted Bustterscotch, and Strawberry Balsamic flavors, but it is good to branch out every now and then.

Yesterday while visiting Joseph at work, I indulged in a little Whole Foods gelato to beat that 90* heat of the city. It was fabulous, but not as good as Sweet Action!

Denver Chalk Art Festival

To round out the year, Karen & I are taught our students about chalk art! We only had one day left with some of our rotations, so we celebrated – chalk style!

The Denver Chalk Art Festival is held annually on Larimer Square. I love walking around the Square with a cool gelato in hand, checking out the amazing local talent of not only professional artists, but high school and little kid art too. *There is also a photo contest, so charge your camera batteries!

Our students are enjoying the sun by trying their hand at chalk art. Do you remember drawing with chalk?