Monday, October 31, 2011

Shots of Cheese : Five : Happy Halloween

Saturday night we went to a Halloween party held at the Allen's - Linz's cousins. My original plan was to dress as a ballerina this year - for the Ballerina Comeback of 2011 and all - but the ballerinas made such a comeback that even I was over it come October. Then again, I was dressed as a ballerina for the majority of January 2011.

So I was an Indian. It was warm, and I got to wear a feather in my hair without committing myself to a trend that has been stale for the past year.

I can tell that Michael Granquist took this photo because I think this is how I look at Michael 99% of the time - out of love, of course.

Happy Halloween
Photographed at the Allen's in Conifer, CO
Captured on October 29, 2011


Sunday, October 30, 2011

Shots of Cheese: Four : Pumpkin Mummy

I look forward to Halloween every year for multiple reasons.

1. I love candy.

2. I love any reason to get dressed up.

3. Pumpkin carving.

Unfortunately, as much as I love my new apartment - it doesn't give me a ton of room to do something like gut and carve a pumpkin. So this year, I went for the un-carved approach.

The result:

Pumpkin Mummy
Photographed October 30, 2011
Captured at home


Saturday, October 29, 2011

Shots of Cheese : Three : Sloan's Snow-Capped View

This morning - OK, afternoon - I took Gordon for a walk around Sloan's Lake. As I'm sure you know, it snowed masivally - ok, some, on Wednesday here in Denver.

The result = snow-capped Rockies surrounded by fall colors.

Sloan's Snow-Capped View
Photographed October 29, 2011
Captured at Sloan's Lake


Friday, October 28, 2011

Shots of Cheese: Two: Ms. Pacman

This has got to draw up some nostalgia for some of you, or at least get you in the Halloween spirit. I, personally, was a crazy Pacman player as a whippersnapper so I was G A M E to volunteer to wear the suit for the Scream Scram.

The Scream Scram is a 5k run/walk (if you're in a Pacman suit) that Lora (owner of Scream) started 12 years ago to benefit MS - now goes to Boys and Girls Club who actually run it now, but Scream still adds the creative touch and we are therefore, still heavily involved and supportive (of course).

We wanted to go with the art designed for this year's race so we went as Ms. Pacman and the ghosts. Here is the outcome:

Ms. Pacman and Co.
Photographed on October 21
Captured at the 12th Annual Scream Scram at Wash Park



Thursday, October 27, 2011

30 Shots of Cheese : One : Fall Wonderland

No, I am not talking about PatrĂ³n shots (for once). Or actual shots of Cheddar. Although I wouldn't put it past me.

I am talking about my new challenge. A photo a day for 30 days, inspired by my friend Tiffanie's blog and my lack of challenging myself here on HSCOOC since Pieces of Cheese - which was a year ago!

Plus, I miss you guys. Plus, my photogenic eye has been feeling rather inspired lately. And the next month includes a lot of good old fashioned fun - I mean in one week alone I've got a wedding and Disneyland. My heart is smiling just thinking about it.

Enough reasons there? Good. Well then, I give you....

FALL WONDERLAND. 

Photographed on October 26 - the first day of snow here in the Denver metro area. 
Captured at Cheesman Park at dusk.


Tuesday, October 18, 2011

mrs. +more


About a month ago, my +more called me with some news. It's the kind of news that I will always remember where I was when I heard it (walking Gordon, on a Sunday morning during a return trip from Dazbog, down Downing St.). It's the kind of news that as a best friend, you wait for your girlfriend to share with you - even if you two have been guessing when it said news was going to come for months. It's the kind of news that changes a girl's life for eternity, and if you're lucky enough (as Lauren is) - that change is for the better. It's the kind of news that puts a ring on that left finger.

It's the kind of news that makes your girlfriend scream over the phone, while walking down the street..."YOU'RE ENGAGED?!?!?!? YAAAAYAYYYYYY!!!!!!"

So if you haven't heard yet - and couldn't hear that scream all the way from Denver - you have now. Ms. Lauren Bruner is engaged to Mr. Scott Robydek and they are to be wed in the year 2012.


I could not be happier for the two of them. I've had a few family members ask, "Well, do you like the guy?" and I could not be more honest when saying that yes, I love him - Scott is one of the nicest people on the planet and I believe that he will make my +more a very happy woman for the rest of her life.

Lo was out here the weekend before this past one, partly so I could see her ring - partly to talk wedding - and partly to eat and drink a Friday - Sunday away. We did all of the above, sometimes in combination with another - i.e. looking at her ring while toasting blood orange mimosas in celebration, eating while discussing the possibility of venues.


I am truly honored to be a part of her big day - there is a lot of planning to get done, a lot of champagne to be drank and a whole lotta love to look forward to. 

Congratulations, Lauren and Scott - from the bottom of my heart - CHEERS!



Tuesday, October 11, 2011

The Head and the Heart

 The Head and the Heart were the soundtrack to my summer. I had their self-titled in constant rotation from the beach to Vegas to the mountains - in fact, I cannot tell you how many times I listened to 'Down in the Valley' in the month of June. So when I found out they were performing at The Gothic on October 10 - that date immediately had hearts drawn around it in my moleskin datebook.

I have the tendency to set my expectations too high - this stands true to movies to boys to a few fallen friends to concerts (think Britney's return circa 2009). The Head and the Heart did not disappoint though - in fact, I would go as far to say that they exceeded expectations. That's right - exceeded expectations.


They harmonize in the most heavenly way. And luckily, Kristen and I met Andy and Angela there who totally scored the perfect spot - about third standing row in, with just enough room to sway and close enough to see that yes, they really are that good looking. And Charity (the girl in the group) was so adorably shy every time she was put on the spot to carry the song, that I wanted to just put her in my pocket and promise that she could just sing to me from there forever. Safe keeping and all.


Also, it's rare that I get there for the opening band - mostly just out of typical lateness - however, my new friend Sean, who's music taste I trust 100% got so excited when my response to him asking who was opening was "Umm - Thao and The Get Down - " he jumped in here, "Thao and The Get Down, Stay Down!???" NOOOO! Yes. He promised I would love her/them and so I made sure we arrived by 9 to catch them and wow so glad we did. I have a feeling that if HATH was summer - Thao and her-most-fun-name-for-a-band-ever will be fall.

And don't even get me started on the tambourines. OH THE TAMBOURINES. Just in case I wasn't sold on quitting my job, packing up Gordon in the Fiat (a girl can dream) and hitting the road as a tambourine girl - well, the HATH and Thao sold me on making that dream a reality last night.

So HATH, I hope it's not Rivers and Roads until I reach you again. See you on the road. With my tambourine.




Friday, October 7, 2011

Steve Jobs, 1955 - FOREVER


As the girl who bought the first iPhone like a total sucker for $650.

As the girl who believes that Apple makes the sexiest products on the planet.

As the girl who types this on her mac, listening to her iPod.

As the girl who has this blog name engraved in to the back of her iPad.

My heart broke on Wednesday. 

R.I.P., Steve. And thank you. The world is truly a better place because of who you were and what you created.

“Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Fall Foliage


Sunday afternoon, Gord and I took a drive up to Pine, for a little doggie playtime and a little mommy mimosa time.

As we were taking the (long) drive up 285, I can't believe we didn't crash. You see, I've never really lived anywhere to witness the change of the seasons. Sure, I grew up in the Maryland and Pennsylvania area but when I was 7, I think I was way more concerned with jumping in to the leave pile than appreciating the true beauty of them being on the tree before the fall.

Eventually, I pulled over - for Gordon's safety - to take some photos (filter free) to share with you here because you should see this. 





If time (and weather) abides, I would love to get up to Rocky National Park or Aspen, to lie on my back and take in all the colors.

And yes, then jump in to a giant pile of leaves.

Happy fall, my babies.