Moving is the Pits....

But Tucker's a big help!

Well, at least he's providing comic relief!

It's Spring - Love is in the Air!

Not only are we moving back into our newly remodeled house and trying to train a nutty puppy, we just got engaged on Friday morning!  I woke up when 'A' walked into the bedroom with a Tuxedo on.  I was just thinking, "If that's what you want to wear to work, that's cool."  We've known each other for 10 years and he's been known to wear some funky clothes - he used to wear Tuxedo pants to class in college.  Anyway, I was completely wrong - he was proposing!  

After a few minutes of "Yay Yay Yay!", we realized we had to take Tucker out to do his business. Tucker didn't realize what all the excitement was about, but he liked the new toy on my finger!

He was thinking, "Mmmmm, Mommy, give me a taste of that bling!

Then "A", being the gentleman that he his, picked up all the Tucker poop in his Tux.

That night we went to dinner at our favorite Vail restaurant, "Sweet Basil." Our friend, Breanna, called ahead and sent us a really nice bottle of Champagne!  So nice! 

'A' has been growing out his mountain man beard - he looks so different now!

Time to plan a wedding!  For now, we're just going to enjoy the moment, but we definitely know we're not getting married in the snow!!!

Tucker Time!

Last Sunday we drove down to Boulder to pick up our 8 week old puppy!  We were so excited and so freaked out at the same time - our house isn't quite done and here we are bringing a puppy into the mess (more on that later)!

We named him "Lord Tucker of Manchester"

Lord - His grandfather won Westminster (whatever that means) so he needed a 'title'

Tucker - We loved this name and this is what we call him (we also call him 'Bug' for some reason)

Manchester - 'A's' favorite soccer team

Here's Tucker on our way home in his crate - he was pretty scared and begging to get out!

Once home, we introduced him to the wooly Lamb/Giraffe (not sure what it is exactly), but it's his favorite toy.  He wrestles with it when he's out of the crate and sleeps with it when he's in the crate.

He looks so innocent, but he peed on our new floors 12 times in the first day.  Not his fault at all because he was in a new place, but I started freaking out and thinking that no one under the legal drinking age should be able to adopt a dog, because you need a drink...or three!

After a traumatic bath experience where poor Tucker shook the entire time, he fell asleep in my arms.

And he slept a lot for the rest of the day, he was 'tuckered out'!  Sorry, lame joke.

I know I'm supposed to make him sleep in his crate, but I just couldn't do it the first day.  What's cuter than this?

Puppy Puppy!

The other day I was sitting in our living room and saw the neighbor doggies staring at me through the window.  It was a bit unnerving - like they could sense that something was up.

Dogs are so smart!  After months of discussion and research, 'A' and I have decided to add to our family - we're buying a puppy!  We know it's a huge responsibility, but we're ready for it.  Plus, living in Vail you feel like a complete alien if you don't own a dog.  

We've decided to add to the Golden Retriever cause for "Total Vail Domination."  We found a small breeder in Boulder who has excellent health records, family tree and a long  waiting list. 

Yesterday, we traveled to Boulder to look at the 6 week old puppies and choose our 2 favorites... 

The Golden puppies have a lot of love to give and we got tons of licks all morning.  They were all saying 'Pick me, pick me!!"

At 6 weeks the puppies still waddle around and slip all over the place.  The puppy above just gave up after awhile.

Puppies like to feel sheltered so they were all trying to hide behind our backs and around our legs.

We held each puppy, trying to see which ones we liked and which ones seemed to like us.  We learned that the puppy really chooses the family, not the other way around!   The one I'm holding is sticking his tongue out at 'A'.  They must be a match made in heaven - now I can have 2  mischievous boys in the house!

Here's Becky Hayes, the breeder, holding our favorite boy.  She and her husband (who is a  Veterinarian) have been breeding and showing dogs for a long time.  They own Redog Kennels in Boulder.  They only have a few litters per year and our puppy has champion lines (his grandfather won Westminster in 2002)!  Too bad our champion puppy will only be sitting on his throne in our house all his life and ruling the rivers in Vail.  

Puppy Play!!

The mommy dog, Charlotte, was very happy when 'A' was petting her while nursing.

It was so hard to choose which puppy we loved most - I wanted them all!  We chose our top two and we get to pick him up May 4th (right after we move back into our house!).  

We might be crazy.

Shoes that Support!

As I sit here back in Vail, enduring ANOTHER huge storm, I'm dreaming of summer days in sun dresses and sandals. Looking outside, that's a long way off - but you really never know in Colorado. When I was in San Francisco, I walked everywhere, basking in the sunshine and getting some much needed exercise. For my long long walks around the city, I wore my new 'Toms" shoes that I recently purchased at "Unity" (one of my fave boutiques in Denver - owned by one of my best friends). I love these Toms because they're oh-so-cute, amazingly comfortable and supportive and I love that purchasing these shoes helped a child in need. The company's commitment is to give a pair of their shoes to a child in need each time you buy a pair of their shoes...now, that's a great justification to buy them in every color and pattern! Support those companies who support those in need!

Thanks Tom!

I'm Back!!

I feel horrible!  I've been out of touch for a while because I needed to escape the snow and visit my old home, San Francisco for a week.  When I returned, the internet service that we've been "borrowing" from the neighbor at our rental house went down!  I can't remember how I functioned before the internet - it was a tough week.   

My visit to San Francisco was amazing.  Visited old friends and took photos of EVERY flower I saw.  Living in Vail, I can't remember the last time I saw a flower growing.  

Here's best friend, Amber, picking out strollers for her twin boys on the way! 

This fire hydrant was so funny...

Beautiful rose around Coit Tower...

One of the parrots of Coit Tower...there are hundreds.

I followed my heart to Colorado, but I definitely left some of it in San Francisco...

Beautiful view.  I used to drive to word every morning across the Golden Gate bridge and think to myself, "I can't believe I live here."

What an amazing city.   It was great seeing all my friends - missing them already!

Babies on the Way

...No, not mine!  I have to say that so many of my good girlfriends either just had a baby or are pregnant.  One great friend, Courtney, in Denver just had twins and my best friend, Amber, in San Francisco is due with twin boys in July!  This is keeping me quite busy.  I'm obsessed with the babies - designing closets, lusting after and buying cute clothes and trying to help my new mama friends with anything they need.  I'm even going to San Francisco for a month to help Amber when the twins are born - I'm so excited!  

There's me talking to Amber's boys (one of them will be my god-son) while she was visiting us in Vail in February (here tummy is growing so quickly now).  Check out her blog about being a pregnant lady who loves to run in San Francisco.

Here are some great things I got for the twin boys from Styleicious in Denver:

The coolest 'Camo' baby socks by Trumpette.  I would buy these for boys or girls!

I think it's cute when twins match, but not exactly.  I found these adorable blue and brown onsies with hats by Margery Ellen.  I bought them in "Newborn" size because I want the twins to wear them while Auntie Krafty is in town!

I also got Courtney and Amber "Weleda Baby Products."  The products smell like Calendula and I love natural products for babies.  To treat the mamas, I got them some hippie/witchcraft 'belly butter' from the farmers market in Santa Fe - always be sure to take care of the mama too!

The Laundress also makes great baby laundry products - I believe in gifts that people can use!  

Congrats to all my friends in baby mode!  This is going to be great practice for me (no mom, not yet!!!).

My Favorite Beauty Book!

I have always been obsessed with skin and nutrition.  I absolutely believe that what you put in your body effects your skin on every level.  A couple of years ago, I picked up this book by Susan Ciminelli who is a well known esthetician and also created her own line of skin care.  She shares the same philosophy that I have and she created this amazing book that has a 7-day plan for radiant skin, recipe ideas, home made skin care and an easy to understand philosophy that you can follow for the rest of your life.  I love her home-made recipe for 'pre-moisturizer' oils and her soup recipes!  The only thing that she is really against (which is something that I LOVE) is putting any type of acid on your face.  I have to admit that I'm all about glycolic and lactic acids.  Other than this, I'm a believer. I have lent this book to a ton of friends, but I think it's worth it to get your own copy because I refer to it often! 

I've been asked a lot about my skin care routine so I'll share that this week too!

Here Comes the Snow...doo...doo...doo...doo

I'm sure that after living with the snow for a year, I will get used to it.  For now, I've been waking up every morning for the last few days and seeing 8 inches of new snow.  I love it, but it's consuming me.  I don't even know what else to write about.  Hopefully I can get out this week to San Francisco (had to cancel my trip last week due to a blizzard).  

Since there's nothing else to do, I've been enjoying some amazing skiing and just embracing it!  The other morning 'A' and Pete went to the gym and then at at Westside Cafe.  This is hands down the best breakfast place in Vail.  I 'poo-pooed" it for months because it's connected to the Holiday Inn in Vail (sorry, I guess I'm more snobby than I thought).  I finally took Pete (our out of town guest) there one morning and have eaten there 3 times this week (oh no!).  Anyway, the other day I had 'A' bring me a breakfast burrito from Westside Cafe and so I could load up before skiing (this is my new excuse for eating a HUGE breakfast). mmmmm......

We then headed to the slopes for a great day of fresh powder.  It wasn't as crowded as I thought it would be because the roads were so bad!

View from above the Ritz-Carlton.  This is my favorite place to ski because the snow is great and it's never crowded!

'A' loves doing tricks with his skies.  Makes me completely nervous.
Here's me in the fresh powder.  Weeeeeee.......
We taught Pete how to ski.  He had never seen snow before so I think he did pretty well for a first-timer!
'A' and Pete went up the bunny slope chair...look at Pete holding onto 'A'.  
We love Vail!  I've had 20 days of skiing so far this season, but for someone who lives here, that's just not enough!
 

Drink Your Greens!

During the winter, I find it harder to get my veggies and nutrients.  I'm going to blame this on entertaining people - too much pasta, steak, cheese and wine.  My friend Sarah introduced me to these 'Super Greens' that have too many super foods to list.  Every morning I try to make a shake with the following:

*Super Greens powder

*Barlean's Essential Woman

*My Antioxidants

*Bee Pollen

*Orange Juice

*Greek or Plain Yogurt

*Fresh or Frozen berries

It's kind of a big meal so if I don't need that, I just mix the greens in with orange juice (because the greens don't taste like ice cream).

I feel a lot better that I get a huge dose of greens each morning - good for my health and great for my skin.