Last Minute Getaway

Hi y'all!

It's Tuesday night, and a little late for a weekend recap, but it's all I've got. This past weekend Garrett and I took a late night, last minute trip to Colorado Springs. The story goes something like this...

It was late Friday night. We were bored. The next thing I knew we were on our way to Colorado Springs. About an hour and 15 minutes later, and around 2 AM, we were settling into our hotel. We planned on waking up early, but needless to say we didn't. 

Close to 1, we walked into Jack Quinns Irish Pub for lunch. This place had an amazing atmosphere and delicious food. For a second I forgot that we were in Colorado. The light was really low so I couldn't get any decent pictures like I wanted to. We decided we were going to try traditional Irish food so Garrett ordered corned beef hash and I had the Guinness Beef Boxty. Basically it was beef tips braised in Guinness and then wrapped in a potato pancake. It had a cream sauce on the top with blue cheese crumbles. The blue cheese was a little much for me, that stuff is strong! Honestly, I probably would've just been happy with my typical burger but you live and you learn!

Afterwards we headed to Garden of the Gods which is a popular tourist spot in Colorado Springs. We walked around exploring the rocks for about an hour and finally the crazy wind talked us into leaving. The crazy wind however did not stop me from taking my fair share of pictures while there. 

 

 

Garrett, true to a man's nature, thought he had to climb several things. This rock was really round and tall and he couldn't quite find anything to grab onto to hoist himself up. I couldn't quit laughing.

 

 

Afterwards we stopped in Manitou Springs to explore a little more. This particular town is small but has cute shops and several candy stores to venture into. We stopped into one and I got some Peanut Butter Bars and we each got fudge. It's so hard to go into a candy store and not by something. Pretty much impossible. 

 

  

 

 

Around town there are several fountains where you can taste the spring water. That stuff is gross. I spit it out every single time. The minerals make it taste almost carbonated but it's not.

Sunday morning we woke up and had breakfast at the hotel. You want to know what is a must for me? Continental breakfast at a hotel! There's almost nothing I love more. Ok, there are things I love more but it is so exciting to wake up and know a whole array of breakfast foods are awaiting your arrival downstairs!

After breakfast we headed home. I took a nap and Garrett went to work. Yes, I felt a little guilty! We had a good time and it was so nice to get out of Denver for just a day.


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I had to take the time to brag on how cute my sister looks!

I CAN NOT WAIT until little Kinley gets here! I don't even want to think about how hard it's going to be on me living 17 hours away. I love that baby so much already, and of course my sister. EXCITED!

Valentine's Day

Well hello, and happy Valentine's day! : )

If your Facebook/Instagram feed is anything like mine, you have probably seen 100+ pictures of flowers, chocolates, purses....you name it. Pictures of those things paired with sentences like, "My husband made me a homemade Valentine's Day dinner with an "I love you" cake and hearts and xoxoxo cupcakes! He never ceases to impress me!" have been keeping my cheeks hurting from giggling today. {I didn't make that sentence up by the way, it's straight from my Facebook.}

Don't get me wrong...Garrett and I got eachother a couple of things and said, "Happy Valentine's day!" several times, but something this year was different. I didn't feel the need to blast to the social media world every single gift I was given and go on and on about how lucky I am that he is my man and blah blah blah.

Again, don't get me wrong, I know without a doubt that I am the luckiest girl alive, but who am I trying to prove that to? Why post pictures of the gifts I was given and say how lucky in love I am? Why brag and be sure everyone knows that I wasn't left out Valentine's day? It seems unreal and cheap. Garrett knows how in love we are, so do our friends and families. That's all that matters. 

It felt weird not to share pictures of the gifts we gave eachother because I truly am excited about them and feel lucky to have a husband who wants me to have nice things. But, again, Garrett knows that. Who cares if my old roommate's sorority sister's cousin's girlfriend knows? Ok, that was extreme, but you get the point. 

I guess what I am trying to say while on my soapbox is this: I think that if you love someone and they love you and you have this great relationship, everyone who is important already knows about it. It seems to me that the one's who consistently talk about how in love they are on Facebook are the one's out to prove how great their relationship is when it actually isn't. They want people to think, "Well he bought her flowers, chocolate, AND a stuffed bunny rabbit? He must really love her!" Love should be celebrated year round, not just on the one day out of the year when you are told by corporate America that you should go out and buy your honey something. It's not as special that way. If you are lucky enough to have someone by your side in your life, then show them everyday that you love them and that they are special. Prove to them you love them, not everyone else.

I swear I am not anti-Valentine's Day at all. Even though this post makes me seem like a liar. I just couldn't believe how full my Facebook feed was today of "look at me! He got me this!" posts. I get that not everyone share's pictures of their gifts in order to get attention, but it just seemed that way. It was comical but also a little sad. It made me not want to post a single picture of anything Valentine's related....and we both know that's not me! : ) It felt like all of these people were more excited about their balloons and roses than they were about the actual relationship, if there even is one.

Now that I got that out of my system, I really do hope you each had a special Valentine's day with your babe and that you remember to show them your love year round! A great relationship isn't based on giving eachother chocolates one day out of the year, it's about being there for eachother every single day with little surprises thrown in along the way! 

Alright. Done. Now for the important stuff: Don't forget...Valentine's Day candy will be on sale tomorrow!! : )

27

27 is almost 30 and I just turned 27. 

So, I am almost 30. {Insert that one emoticon face with the huge eyes of surprise here.}

My brain automatically went there when I began this post, I guess first I should say "hi!", huh? Well, once I typed that 27 in the title space up there, my thoughts quickly went to, "Buuuut, how am I almost 30?" I've never been one to really think about age, but once I hit 25 I got the worrying-about-age bug. I guess having kids is a big part of it. Wait a minute. That's a whole other blog post....for Christ's sake, I was just going to recap my damn birthday.

My 27th birthday was last week. Garrett and I both had to work but were able to spend time together that night. When I got home, Garrett had a "treasure map" waiting for me. He's big into scavenger hunts and I love it.

My first "treasure" were these journals I had been wanting. I am so excited to get started on them!

My second treasure was a new pair of Ray Bans I had been dying for! I was so excited! Along with them was this:

Even though I was at work most of the day, Garrett made my day special and I am so thankful for that and for him! He even came home early one night from work and baked my birthday cake. Now that's the kind of thing I like to come home to...a cake. Saturday we went to dinner at LoDo's to celebrate my birthday and I bought myself a new purse. Shopping and dinner was all I wanted to do. I guess that happens when you get older.

This was AMAZING. Beer cheese and soft parmesan pretzels.

I wish it was always my birthday. Getting cards in the mail from family, presents, CAKE, Facebook posts, phone calls, and a dinner out is fun!