Giving for Good

Today happens to be Colorado Gives Day! As an associate board member with the Denver Scholarship Foundation, I've volunteered my time the past year and a half to support the postsecondary goals of Denver Public School students. This year, I am committed being an active fundraiser, a task I have abhorred since trying to sell cheese and sausage during my elementary school years.

The holidays are really much more about community; giving can be for benefit rather than consumption. I believe firmly in every person having access to education and removing as many barriers as possible to achieve success. The students who access the Denver Scholarship Foundation services have much more gumption than me.  

The truth is, I probably wouldn't have made it without the financial support of my father to get me through college. I consider this a weakness. I am immensely grateful for his support; it is one of the best gifts I ever received. I believe my college experience changed me for the better. I didn't know it when I entered university but I needed that time to marinate and grow in to myself. My dad told me years later, it was all about committing to getting the degree and making it through. I still miss him often.

Find a cause you're passionate about and "give where you live" or join me to help support the postsecondary school goals of the next generation by donating to the Denver Scholarship Foundation. Even a $5 donation can make a big impact.

P.S. Who's the curmudgeon in the background left copying my dad's outfit and photobombing before it was a thing?!

The Long Awaited Lunch

A coworker had been talking about the Queiro Arepas Food Truck for a while. What luck on our way back from the Children's Museum we stopped to catch Civic Center eats and to my delight, a new love affair was born.

Take A Hike

I had little faith in my 3 year old when it came to our first hike; she barely makes it to the end of the block somedays without asking to be carried. So I put together her backpack with treats and told her we were going for a hike, fully expecting it to be 15 minutes at best. But I underestimated the power of a lollipop and some honest toddler enthusiasm. We kept course for a fair amount of time and snacked by the lake watching ducks in the pond. She was game and so was I; dare I say we might be moving in to a new phase of adventure? Guess I just jinxed it since I still have a baby to bring through two more years (at least I can accessorize her this summer).

I Like You A Latte

We met at yoga - 8 am on a Saturday morning. We were talking before class when we got gently reprimanded and asked to take the conversation outside the studio. I shrunk into myself like I was in trouble (like I was a child). I think she did too. Silly glances passed between us. It was awkward to face the adult asserting herself and her wants for the students in her class; it was more awkward because of her approach. We went for coffee after class and discussed it among the 101 other things we wanted to talk about. Alas, there are not enough hours in the day and this proved to be that favorite part of my day.

Winter Snow Day

The cold keeps me in. What can I say: I'm fair-weather at best (really I just prefer to be warm). So this winter business is brutal on a mom with two kids. Any promise of playing in the sun is neurotically fueled by getting dressed and out in the fresh air.

 Getting miss M on board is a charge of it's own making. Usually though, once she goes, she likes it.

M with her snowman

18 in a Day

My niece turned 18...kind of a big milestone but in today's culture, the celebration seems to fizzle in between getting your driver's license and graduating from high school. Still Deb managed to make a fuss to let her know how great she is. We all met at Steuben's for some fine eats and good laughs. So proud of my sister for pulling together us women to celebrate the newest one in our group. There are days when I still think of myself as a college student going to meet her in California. And yet now she climbs mountains and volunteers and works. Can't wait to see where she heads next!

Annie

We took Miss M to see a local production of Annie because our extremely talented neighbor was...well...Annie. It was at the Town Hall Arts Center in downtown Littleton, which is really delightful at night during the holidays. It felt like a date with our 3 year old. We all got dressed up and went out on the town. M loved it all, mostly the ice cream during the intermission, but still it was fun.

Fall in Love

The world of leaf blowers never made sense to me until we moved in to this neighborhood. Everywhere, Fall accosted us with beautiful colors and a crisp blanket for our feet to crunch. The leaves took center stage and truth be told, I couldn't have been happier because I love Autumn, it feels like my "season home". 

November entered and we packed in our scarecrow and tractor; the leaves were lassoed by rakes and blowers and taken away in a huge truck. The lawn revealed itself again, ready for hibernation, ready for the winter snows.

This is one of the last trees to shed it's leaves in the neighborhood. I realized the other night when I was looking at it in the twilight with it's orangey-pink glow, that I hadn't taken any photos of the leaves because I was too busy just enjoying the colors (and because my camera phone does not do the colors justice). So this is what I have to show for the season.

The Creative Life

I finally took Miss M (and Miss A) to the Denver Art Museum. Who knew they had the coolest kids play area and toddler time every second Sunday of the month. We will surely be back. I loved being downtown and feeling urban again. M loved the art, loved the play, loved the bubbles. My heart swooned that she had such a great time - and we barely looked at any art.