lovely.

“Promise Yourself

To be so strong that nothing

can disturb your peace of mind.

To talk health, happiness, and prosperity

to every person you meet.

To make all your friends feel

that there is something in them

To look at the sunny side of everything

and make your optimism come true.

To think only the best, to work only for the best,

and to expect only the best.

To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others

as you are about your own.

To forget the mistakes of the past

and press on to the greater achievements of the future.

To wear a cheerful countenance at all times

and give every living creature you meet a smile.

To give so much time to the improvement of yourself

that you have no time to criticize others.

To be too large for worry, too noble for anger, too strong for fear,

and too happy to permit the presence of trouble.

To think well of yourself and to proclaim this fact to the world,

not in loud words but great deeds.

To live in faith that the whole world is on your side

so long as you are true to the best that is in you.”

- Christian D.  Larson

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.

I don't particularly love Katy Perry, or this song...but I do LOVE this video.

Thank you, Mary for sending it!

I suck at posting on the weekends.

::via::

So here is a little diddy to say hi.  How'z the weekend?  Good?  Good!  I'm off to run in the fall chill, then an afternoon of beer, wings and football with my main squeeze.

Cheers!

People who are better at life than me.

I'm having one of those moments where instead of posting this, I wish I had posted something more like this.  Hers was far more articulate while still covering all the bases.

Oh well.  Next time I have a mid-week breakdown.
Next time.

Speaking of things that couldn't have come at a more perfect time:

Can I get an amen?  And yes, bitch pass me the { vegan } ranch dressing!

TGIM!

I have a boatload of updates, stories and a few photos to share from the amazing weekend with friends and family, but for now I wanted to share something I came across this morning.

::via::

So simple, yet true.  There are a few on there I need to work on more than others, but I love the great reminder!

TGIM, friends!

Don't you love when,

The exact words you need to hear fall into your inbox?

::via::

You get into your car, and a favorite song is on and at the very beginning?

You complete your first ever headstand in yoga?

::via::

You find an old favorite and so stinking sentimental ring that had been hiding for a few months?

You can finally wear black without having a small white cat stuck to you all day?

Me too.

TGIF!

Open Letter :: Weekend.

Dear Weekend,

Howdy'do?  Man alive, we had some fun the last few days, didn't we?  Mostly, we ate a lot (LOT) of food, and spent just hours piled on hours creating life long memories.  Remember our lunch at McCormick's on Friday for our friend Ashley's birthday?  The seafood that was shared at the table, the stories told in the middle of the street that had strangers craning their heads going "Whaaaaa did that girl just say?!"  We do love Sara, don't we?  And let's not forget the drinks and the tons (and tons, and tons) of laughs at Osteria Marco then....oh weekend I know you didn't forget this one.  Then, after a few block walk that almost sent Becky wetting her pants from laughing so hard, we found ourselves at Edge for the perfect dinner in honor of our beautiful friend Cindy.  It wasn't rushed, noisy or overpowering.  Rather, it was the kind of dinner where you found that tiny voice in your head reminding you to remember every smile exchanged and every story told over and over and over again.  Reminding you to never forget the ease of the laughter that would erupt from the table.  Reminding you to never forget the look on Bob's face and the spark in his eyes while telling stories from years past.  Reminding you to hold on to every hand squeeze under the table, sip of wine enjoyed and toast to "Our missing person."  It also reminded you to embrace the pain and emptiness felt in your and your loved ones hearts, because remember?  Pain, though an icky one, is an emotion all the same. Simply a distant cousin of emotions like happiness and joy.  We don't dismiss our feelings of joy, so why should we pain and sorrow?  Remember waking up Saturday morning at the beautiful loft downtown?  Cars zipping past, the Pepsi Center, Invesco Field, Denver Skyline and the fresh sun shinning on mountains all peeking in through the windows?  Then, after a few cups of coffee, and a quick walk to stretch our legs, we landed at Bistro Vendome.  Yes, yes, you remember correctly.  Bistro Vendome.  THE Bistro Vendome that has supplied you with your most favorite brunch meal to date.  This visit back most certainly didn't disappoint, all while putting the familiar flavors of the Hamburger de Koby Boeuf back in your palette and hopes of bribing your ladies who brunch to join you the next time.   Oh then there was Saturday afternoon browsing through a handful of bike shops helping pick out Charlie's first bike!  And holy. cow. was it a cute iddy bitty bike.  Yeah...we may have fallen head over hells in love with a cruiser bike and the most darling basket our eyes ever did see, but we can save that purchase for a later date.  After a run to Whole Foods, a quick stop for a few 6 packs, we headed back to Hunter's for an evening spent entirely outside, first under the sun and a few scattered clouds, but slowly transitioned into the stars and the calm dark.  How cute were Hunter, Aaron and Bob whose heads would shoot up in the sky whenever a plane of any sort zoomed past?  How they would name and rattle off exactly what that plane was.  Pretty darn cute if I do say so myself. Remember how soothing and enchanting that fire was that danced around the fire pit all night long?  Then there was the mouth watering and scrumptious meal grilled and prepared by Hunter and his dad.  Ufta, they sure nailed grilling the marinated chicken breasts to the perfect char, while keeping the moisture of the chicken.  And I don't think we need to even bring up the grilled vegetables, because everyone around that fire pitt knew exactly how I felt about those.  How amazing was it falling asleep with a picture perfectly still evening outside the open windows with a loved one at your side?  Pretty damn amazing I  might say.  And here we sit, weekend.  Sunday night, after a full day of coffee drinking, bike riding, lawn mowing, salad eating (yes, I said salad eating!  After the above food devoured and enjoyed, we have to curve our diet to salads, tea and water this week, Weekend.  But don't feel too sad about it - the food enjoyed the past few days was more than worth a week of strict fruit and veggie eating.) book reading, errand running more than exhausted and wiped out.

But.

Remember that quote that has been running through our head all day long?

My cup hath runneth over.

Yup.  That one.  Let's hold on to this feeling weekend, because it is a damn good one.

See you in a few days....

Admirably yours,
B.

It really is that easy.