This thing on?

Hello? Hello? Anyone still reading? After my dear and oh sopolite friend, Phil reminded me of my time spent away from blogging { teh phil: So who's the deadbeat blogger now? 9 days?? Puh-LEEZ! }, I realized how much time, and more importantly, how many THINGS have happened since I last blogged! I can't begin to get into the best of it, but please accept these photos as an apology while I enjoy the last stretch of my holiday in CA. I will return to over sharing every detail of my life very, very soon. And that is a promise.




































































- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Prepping for the New Year.

::via::

I have been struck downnnn with a flu that started Saturday morning, and is showing no signs of letting up anytime soon.  While I've been spending far too much time on the couch, in bed and in the bath, I've been thinking about New Years resolutions for 2013.  This year is a little different, because my go to resolutions of "Get to work on time, go to the gym 5 times a week etc." simply won't apply.  Anyway, I'll do a more detailed blog post about what I have in mind for 2013, but as I was perusing Pinterest this evening, I came across this quote which I just absolutely adore and love how it applies to my upcoming 2013 resolution.  

Do small things with great love, sweet readers.

Sputnik in pictures.

p.s. See pix from Mary and my brunch date here!  If anyone asks why I'm laughing alone roughly one flight of stairs away from Mary who is taking the pictures, it isn't because I fell down roughly one flight of stairs right before she took the pictures, ok? Thanks for asking.

Judge me all you like...

...but for reasons I can't explain, whenever I see this little "drunk" baby, I keel over laughing.

::via::

"If you ever have a vegan you want to impress..."

I said that to Sara last night, and she didn't even let me finish my sentence before busting out laughing.  Once we finished our fit of giggles, I finished my thought:

If you ever have a vegan you want to impress, take them to Sputnik for brunch.

No truer words have ever been uttered.

Mary and I met for a Bethless Maryosa brunch yesterday { I understand that's probably only funny to us, so thanks for putting up with it. }, which was the 2nd time I'd been there for brunch.  Hunter and I went a few weeks back and I don't think either of us spoke during our meals because we were THAT busy inhaling them.  I had the Stacks of Vegan Power, while Hunter { shockingly } got the breakfast burrito   When Mary and I went yesterday, I really didn't think the brunch there couldn't get any better.  Then, I ordered the v option of the South Broadway Hash while Mary got their Hangover Scramble { which was fitting because she was like so hungover.  Like wearing clothes from the night before, barely found her way to brunch hungover. }  { ok again, I understand that's only funny to non-hungover Mary and I, so thanks yet again for putting up with it. } and my theory was proven wrong.  I was thinking all throughout the night how I could recreate the hash, and I think I'm pretty close to figuring it out.  My latest vegan obsession is any version of Soyrizo...seriously I could eat it with any and every meal.  This Sputnik hash had a really killer mushroom soyrizo + a tofu scramble I completely loved.  And for a picky tofu eater, that really says a lot for how good it is!  Anyway, go to Sputnik for brunch and most def get a Ghost Pepper Vodka Bloody Mary, or their pitcher of mimosas and let me know what you think.  Added bonus?  The wait staff gives off juuuuuuuuust enough asshole-I-couldn't-care-less vibe to where you really feel at home.

Admittedly, both times I've been too excited to eat the food than photograph it, but here is a photo peek of the Ghost Pepper Bloody + pitcher of Maryosas.




After looking at their website further, I'm sure their dinner options are primo too but as far as impressing a vegan for dinner, I'll suggest City o City every time.

Lasts.

I've been thinking a lot over the weekend how to prepare for the week ahead.  The ending to the 5.5 years I've dedicated to work.  It's no question that I have problems detaching.  Detaching from routines, people, buildings, traditions.  However, what I've realized is I've been spending far too much time and energy focusing on how to detach, and all of the 'lasts' that will come with this week, and not nearly enough time focusing on the 'firsts' that I'll encounter in the weeks and months ahead.  I'm going to give myself one final moment of mourning on the lasts before really opening my week to letting in all of the firsts ahead.

I don't need to post them all, because you people will think I'm a Stage 1 Nut Job with how sentimental I am to the little things that go on during the week, but here are some of really my most favorite things that I will miss about work at CS:

I'll miss walking in to work on Monday mornings and spending a solid 15 { at times 45 } minutes catching up with my department + coworkers on what everyone did over the weekend, Broncos game scores, nights out on the towns, dinners cooked in.  I'll miss the effortless and solid friendships we've created.

I'll miss walking through the Sales Floor to ask Andy a quick question, and returning 45 minutes later to my desk after stopping at Megan, Kristen, Amy, Phil and Jaime's desks with a fist full of sourdough pretzels/Jelly Beans/Mike & Ikes.

I'll miss the one-liners that are shot around our office on a day to day...scratch that hour to hour basis.  My department and coworkers are some of the funniest, most clever and yes, at times stupid yet endlessly entertaining people ever.

I will miss hearing a nickname called out with my back to the walking traffic and know who it was.  I'll miss knowing the footsteps that round the corner and can call out an hello before the person approaches my desk.  I'll miss hearing a "psssst" in my hear, and shooting my fist out behind me to pound it out with Dennis all without turning around.

I will miss the pure genius that is my boss, and being let in on a sliver of his creativity when he will allow it.  I'll miss hearing him talk through campaign ideas, new traditions to occupy our department, and my very most favorite; his own jokes he tries out on us.

After rereading this, it's alarmingly obvious to me that what I will miss most about this job is the people, rather than the work.  But like I said before, I'll be excited to watch my now coworkers, turn into pretty solid  and kick ass friends.

Blog crushes.

A few months ago, I bet you I was subscribed to around 200 blogs.  TWO HUNDRED blogs.  Fashion blogs, food blogs, lifestyle blogs, photography blogs, graphic design blogs...you name it.  I noticed that I would catch myself ignoring more and more of the fashion blogs, big name photography blogs, dullsville lifestyle blogs { harsh, but true }, and reading more fitness blogs, food blogs and honest/uplifting lifestyle blogs.  Since that realization, I have slowly been unsubscribing from the blogs that offer zero obtainable inspiration to my life, and paying more attention to the blogs that inspire me to cook more, workout more, and just all around create more.  Here are a few of my current blog crushes.

If I could...
I would kick my day off right and go for a morning run with the inspirational and beautiful Bobbi { of nHerShoes }.
I would live next door to sweet Drea { of ohdeardrea }, and enjoy a plethora of vegan(!!!!!) cooking parties with her and her insanely beautiful daughter a few times a week.
I would bring a bottle of wine over to Kristen's { of KV's Confessions } and we'd drink it while we brainstorm, vent and discuss the life of a Graphic Designer.
I would stop by Ashley's { of Adventures of Newlyweds } with some hot chocolate and curl up with her way cute pup in their immaculate and perfectly Christmas decorated home while she shares the ups and downs and secret to success of life with a traveling doctor.
I would grab Hunter, our mountain bikes and meet up with Anna { of Life is Sweet } and her husband for a day of mountain biking and end the day with a brewery tour or 3.
I would spent a week with Jules and her amazing accent { of Stonesoup }, and get to see with my eyes how beautiful her cooking is, not just via video.
I would hope to bump into Natalie { of Nat the Fat Rat } on the subway, so I could tell her that her little boy with his old man sweaters and shoes is THE definition of swoon-worthy.
I would go furniture thrift shopping with Sherry & John { of Young House Love } and watch how they turn thrift store duds to chic and modern home decorations.
I would bring Elise { of Elise Blaha :: enJOY it } a congratulations baby gift, and hope against all hope that she would give me a tour of her glorious craft room.

These are just a small handful of the blogs I can't get enough of right now, but I can't bombard you with all of them at once now can I?  If you have any blogs you simply can't live without, I'd love for you to leave them in the comments!

Enjoy your day, friends!

Goodbye, Venice.

Sh!ts getting real folks.


Today, I received a notification that Alex, my boss, has canceled our monthly meeting.  Anyone who knows Alex, isn't the least bit surprised he'd write such a detailed description of our meeting place in Venice which was really just a little Italian cafe a few blocks down. I will so miss Alex flying by my desk saying "Beth.  I simply can't go to Italy with you today.  Can we re-schedule our flights until tomorrow?", and I will miss "meetings" where we discuss camping, traveling, family and relationships...then in the final 5 minutes hear him say "So.  I guess we should talk about work.  All is good?  Good."

I have a feeling that these won't be the last "Italy" coffee dates that Alex and I have, rather the next time we meet it will be to discuss life at a ski area, swapping stories of how life has changed since we've last spoke and really discussing the furthest thing from work.  It's pretty cool knowing someone you once called a boss, you will soon call a friend.

Bottoms up! Holiday style.

I have a girlfriend's Christmas Cookie Exchange this week, but with my non-dairy eating habits, it's hard for me to attend something like this and properly participate.  Instead of bringing cookies, I have volunteered to bring holiday cocktails!  I'm having so much fun looking up recipes...but I'm having more fun with planning how to present said holiday cocktails.  I saw this picture on Pinterest, and immediately knew this was how
I was going to serve them!

::pinterest is blocked at work, so I can't properly site this image, but will when i get home!::

SO CUTE RIGHT?!  Right.  I'll run and pick up the supplies this week, but until then I'm looking up what to put inside these insanely cute little glasses.  So far I have found:

French 75

::via::

Poinsettia Cocktail

::via::

Candy Cane Martini

::via::

Which one looks best to you?  My mom served that Poinsettia drink at Christmas 3 years ago, and it was deeeeeeelicious!  Any delicious, pretty and fancy holiday cocktails you want to share?  

Cheers, friends!

Currently.

::WORKING ON:: The endless amount of to do lists and misc sign requests that come with the opening of Snowy this weekend!  We had the absolute best and most successful weekend, and I couldn't be more pleased with how it went.  I know I've said it before, but I'll say it again: I am so very painfully proud of Hunter, his brother and dad for the countless hours that they've poured their talent and hard work into seeing Saturday go off without a hitch, and to say their efforts were recognized and appreciated couldn't be a bigger understatement.  

::THINKING ABOUT:: What a whirlwind life has been the last 2+ weeks, and how it really isn't going to calm down anytime soon.  I had a wonderful time in California with my family for a week celebrating all things wonderful and thankful, worked a short week and then headed up to Snowy for opening weekend.  The amount of suitcases in my bedroom that need to be unpacked and put away { three }, mixed with how many loads of laundry I have to catch up on { probably closer to four }, then throw in the severe lack of grocery shopping leaving my cupboards sorry, sad and empty looking really should encourage me to stay in more...but where's the fun in that?!

::ANTICIPATING:: Being done with work in less than 2 weeks!  My boss is always asking me "What are you doing to prepare for this?  How are you getting yourself ready?" and I would always blow him off saying, "Oh Alex, I'm FINE!"  The closer it gets, the more I see he really has a point.  To just one day be done with a lifestyle I've known for 5 1/2 years isn't something I'll adjust to overnight, but with the promise of a new, challenging and exciting future will surely soften the blow.

::LISTENING TO:: On nonstop repeat during work for me is handsome Paul and his lovely wife, the sweetest of sweet sisters and the most charming drunk man I ever did see.

::EATING:: Subway veggie salads.  I am on a ROLL with these lately, and don't see the obsession dying down anytime soon.  You can get AS MANY VEGGIES AS YOU WANT in one lovely salad bowl for $5.  AND, when I ask for extra jalapeno's and banana peppers, they aren't shy which is a heat loving, salad eating person's dream.  I crave their Sweet Onion sauce, and finally took the time to research how to make it for myself!  I found the recipe here, and want to try and modify it a bit to make it more vegan friendly { byebye buttermilk powder! } and less corn syrup heavy.

::THANKFUL FOR::  A busy week packed with tree decorating, happy hours,  dinners and Christmas celebrations!  I have helped Jon decorate his tree every single year I can remember since moving to Colorado, and he was sweet enough to postpone from decorating it this weekend to tonight so I can participate!!  I have quite possibly packed more into one week than I really should { sorry suitcases and laundry...you've waited this long, you can wait another week. }, but am rip roaring ready for making some lovely memories with my fancy friends.

::PLANNING FOR:: Goodbye's and fresh starts.  Enough said.

Hold on for one more day...

I'm still declaring this blog paused from last week's initial pause.  Why?  Because I can.  And because I need to better spend my time unpacking from California, repacking for Snowy this weekend, doing tons of laundry, wrapping up to-do lists to ensure Saturday goes off as visually appealing as possible, helping Hunter pack up the last of his house, wrapping up my final weeks at work all while maintaining some level of sanity.

Until then, enjoy the song that my life coach aka Amie sent me to remind me to just take a deep breath and embrace the change.

Friday's Letters { vol. 3 }

{ please note: I've been awake since 5am, and am up about 2 hours past my bedtime because I started a new crochet project I simply could. not. put. down. I will reformat this post to match the others tomorrow, but now? Now you get a post from my phone. And an easy peasy post it will be. }

dear mom, dad, kate, joel, jen &
chris.
thank you for a thanksgiving filled with belly laughs, unconditional love, endless memories, simply amazing food yet with an equal mix of challenging and testing moments. i couldn't have dreamed to spend the day with any one but yourselves, and love each and every one of you for exactly who you are. thank you all for being all the wonderful that you are



- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

pause.

Pardon my absence / random blog posts this week as I just landed to spend the holiday with my family in CA this morning!  If you do see me around these parts, it will likely be { bragging } posts of wine, wineries, food, wine, family and sun.  Like this. 

Now off to some wineries.  Hi, Phil.

Friday's Letters { v.2 }

Here we are again.  Another Friday, another Friday's Letters.

dear stretchy pants.

you complete me.  thank you for making my mornings and nights more comfortable.  i really can't wait to have a full time relationship with you come 2013.

dear fakesgiving.

are you really this saturday?!    like really really?  as in my most favorite day of the entire year?  as in the 7th annual fakesgiving at jon's house?  and hunter has the day off?  and we are both in town?  dude.  this is going to be good.  sofa king good. 

dear charlie.

you are my favorite.  thank you for sharing your infectious laughter with all of us, all of the time.  oh and for playing giant with me.  even though i wish i caught you laughing in the mirror before you saw us on the back of my camera, you are still cute.  even in a filthy bathroom mirror.

dear camera.

if it wasn't for that photo above, i would have completely forgotten about the photos below.  these shots from our west cost trip in june were the perfect pick-me-up i needed this week.

dear gina.

thank you for still being bubbly, warming and welcoming even on a really, reallyreally crappy day.  i am so thankful to call you a friend.

dear starbucks barista.

you totes mcoates made my thursday morning.  totes.

dear amie.

what would i do if you didn't pee laughing with me over go go gadget photos?!  i never want to know.

dear hunter

remember that time you picked up the entire house, kitchen and dishes when i fell asleep at an embarrassingly early time of 9:30p?  and once i did stir awake you demanded i go straight to bed versus helping you with our dirty dishes?  yeah.  you just keep proving time and time again how bad a of a bf you are, don't you?

link up, peeps!

I really do adore my friends.

We had an impromptu dinner last night filled with vino, delightful food, laughs, guilty pleasure tv shows, and laughs.  Oh I've said that already?  I love these peeps.

The 14th of December.

It's confirmed  peeps.  A month from today, December 14th, is now my official last day of work.
Cue celebration, party, excitement, nerves, changes, anxiety and everything in between.

I find it extremely fitting the confirmation I have a month left came 1 day after:
I got served my severance papers.
I noticed my first real shift from my work, to the new guys taking over my position to taking the PR's.
MY NEW SKI/WINTER JACKET CAME IN THE MAIL!  Can you tell I was more than excited to see it had my favorite thumb holes?! { that sounded so weird when I typed it out, but upon further googling, it turns out thumb holes is the appro term }

notice my cube behind me that at one time was full of fun photos and memories is now down to generic framed photos and books.  it's what i'm calling "detaching".

Jaime sent out such a sweet going away happy hour email on my behalf { not to mention this sweet blog post she wrote last week!  tear! }

30 days.  We can do this.

Capturing good, too.

Watch this and don't smile.  Don't feel good about random acts of kindness, and most certainly don't let it encourage you to go out and help a stranger.

I dare you.  Just let me know how that works out.

Pho at home!

...cont from yesterday's pho rant...

A few weeks ago when I was housesitting for Jon, I was in the maximum stage of moving/job ending/friend leaving overwhelmed stage and was desperate for a quiet night in.  What else could I have asked for than Jon's beautiful house, the two pups, classical music and an entire kitchen to myself for a better pho round 2 making opportunity?!

First I cut up all these little friends.

Wait, wait, wait, wait.  That's a lie.  First, I mixed up this friend:

whiskey + ginger beer + a few cherries = happy beth

THEN I cut up my veggie friends and let them go swimming in about 6 cups of veggie broth.  { Sadly this time I just used bullion cubes, though my next attempt, I'm making my own veggie broth similar to how Hunter and I did our first shot at homemade pho! }

While the broth + veggies were simmering, I baked up my tofu using this very simple recipe using the marinate of soy sauce plus some red chili paste.  { I must shamelessly admit, for a Carnivore Beth who before would eat truly anything that was put in front of her, I'm learning very quickly how particular Vegan Beth is on how her tofu is prepared.  After two failed tofu dinning experiences out this weekend, I'm nearly giving up on ordering it from a restaurant.  That is why I was beyond thrilled when my baked tofu below turned out, and turned out amazingly!!!  I have a block of tofu at home that I want to try this same method with, just sans the marinade to make it more versatile. }

Prepared the noodles.

the noodles are in there, i swear.  note to self: never use white bowls for photographing white noodles

And introduced everyone for a big old fashioned pho party!!

Mmm...just looking at the above picture makes me excited about attempting at cooking it again.  I will say that I learned a few things on what not to do { don't use purple cabbage, rather green so your broth doesn't turn funky colors, and also boil the veggies separate then add them into the broth in the final 5'ish minutes }, but I also learned a few things on what to do { get more creative with veggies in the soup than our first attempt, and always, always buy bean sprouts even if you have somehow talked yourself out of them. }  I have a good feeling my next go at this delicious bowl of love will be the perfect love child of our first and second shot at mastering the pho.  

Phobsessed.

If I would have to summarize Fall of 2012 into one meal, it would without question be The Meal of The Pho.  Anyone...and I really do mean anyone within arms reach of me the past few months knows exactly what I'm referring to.  I talk pho, crave pho, eat pho, make horrible pho puns con.stan.tly.  I was first introduced to pho right around a year ago from a dear friend, Phu.  { Try saying "I had Pho with Phu on Federal" 5 times fast and I'll buy your next bowl of pho. }, and really never looked back.

And by never looked back, I mean am completely, 100%, hopelessly obsessed.

 Full disclosure  if I had a photo for every time I ate pho, I could show you guys at least 1 new photo of pho a week...most times 2.  

be lucky i got a new phone a  month ago.  on my old phone's photo feed there was triple the amount of pho pix!

I introduced Hunter to it, and even though it may be hard to believe { it's not }...he never looked back either.

My favorite coworkers and I have even dubbed our lunch pho dates as TGIP!  Then you enter in the appropriate day of the week.  TGIPhoriday, TGIPuesday, TGIPhursday.  You get the jist.  I would be remiss to mention we plan a pho date at least once a week, and tend to talk about when our next pho date will be as the waiter is clearing our plates...

hi phil!

Remember my attempt at using up everything in my pantry/fridge before moving a few months back?...yeah, I made a poor man's pho out of veggie broth, rice noodles and a few veggies.

I even introduced Mary to it!  Just a side note: eating a pho picnic in the park with your BFF is really, anyway you spin it, the best way to live life.

Hunter and I tried our hand in making it for his birthday festivities, and even though it turned out good....like really good, I'm determined to make it top notch, Pho Duy/Pho 78 good.

Though my plan for this post was simply to share my most recent cooking attempt at pho, it quickly spiraled into more than just a recipe post.  I'll share that tomorrow, but for now just bask in the above beautiful pho'tos while you quickly google the nearest pho restaurant.  I know I am!