Happy Valentine's Day

Ben and I had some really great plans for Valentine's Day this year. We planned a fun little date and then we were going to get dressed up and do dinner. It's a tradition for Ben to make dinner and me to make dessert.

Our date idea didn't exactly work out...the place closed at 5! Who the heck closes at 5 on a Monday?? Especially Valentine's Monday? I won't tell you what it was because we're still going to do it soon and it's going to be fabulous.

And, the dessert didn't really work out either. I was going to make a cheesecake, but I haven't made one in years and forgot how long it has to rest after baking it! So I ended up buying one from the Cheesecake Factory, which was heavenly!

But, Ben's dinner did turn out GREAT! We pulled out the V-day placemats, lit some candles, and enjoyed some wine.

Appetizer was goat cheese baked in marinara served with crackers

Main course- NY Strip, lobster tail, and a potato cake

The lovely cheesecake

I hope you all had a great Valentine's Day and got to spend it with the ones you love!

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

I have a couple of words of wisdom this week. I just finished the book The Noticer by Andy Andrews and it was awesome! Here are a few of the gems I found.

"Everybody wants to be on the mountaintop, but if you'll remember, mountaintops are roky and cold. There is no growth on the top of a mountain. Sure, the view is great, but what's a view for? A view just gives us a glimpse of our next destination- our next target. But to hit that target, we must come off the mountain, go through the valley, and begin to climb the next slope. It is in the valley that we slog through the lush grass and rich soil, learning and becoming what enables us to summit life's next peak." Pg. 8

"If you are breathing, you are still alive. If you are alive, then you are still here, physically, on this planet. If you are still here, then you have not completed what you were put on earth to do. If you have not completed what you were put on earth to do...that means your very purpose has not yet been fulfilled. If your purpose has not yet been fulfilled, then the most important part of your life has not yet been lived. And if the most important part of your life has not yet been lived that is your proof of hope." Pg. 84

"Life is like a game of Monopoly. You may own hotels on Boardwalk or you may be renting on Baltic Avenue. But in the end, it all goes back in the box. The next generation will be getting out all your stuff and playing with it or fighting over it." Pg. 102

"You possess the power of perspective. You can choose to see your life becoming whatever you wish. If you so choose, you can move the mountains in your life's path with the eventual help of those who will come to love you and learn to respect you for what you are becoming." Pg. 121

"Your time on this earth is a gift to be used wisely. Don't squander your words or you thoughts. Consider that even the simplest actions you take for your lives matter beyond measure...and they matter forever.

It is an answer that most people seek in times of turmoil. Sometimes that answer is immediate, but it is not seen due to a lack of perspective. The reason an answer is not often found in the midst of crisis is that many times, at that very moment, a specific answer does not exist!

In desperate times, much more than anything else, folks need perspective. For perspective brings calm. Calm leads to clear thinking. Clear thinking yields new ideas. And ideas produce the bloom of an answer. Keep your head and heart clear." Pg. 154

Weekend Wrap-Up

This weekend Ben and I were busy, busy. Friday night, my company finally had their Christmas party. We went bowling over at Lucky Strike downtown. Ben and my boss totally hit it off which was great! We had a good time and I'm glad Ben got to meet everyone I work with. Later that night we headed over to the Hi-Dive. And, it's pretty much a dive! Our friend's band was playing and we went to go support him.

Saturday morning was spent baking! I made cake balls for my parents and my sister and bro-in-law for Valentine's Day. I think they turned out really cute!

Choc-full-of-love

Saturday night we met up with my family to go to the CU basketball game.

My husband grew up in small town Nebraska and has always been a die-hard Nebraska fan. CU and Nebraska are big football rivals, so Ben has always hated CU. I think he's starting to come around and support the better team...he actually sported a CU hat for the night!! My little heart was so happy.

I think he looks good in black and gold!

It was a great game! CU won 58-56 after a game winning shot was waved off.

My parents have always given us Valentine's Day gifts, and this year was no exception. I was completely spoiled!

Happy Valentine's Day!! Ben and I have a fun plans for tomorrow, but that'll be for another post. :)

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

Hard things take time to do. Impossible things take a little longer.
~Percy Cerutty

Snowshoeing in the Snow

Saturday Ben and I headed up to Chief Mountain, just outside of Evergreen. It was definitely a lot colder than last weekend and it snowed the entire time. Supposedly when you get to the top you can see Mount Evans and Pikes Peak, but it was so snowy, we didn't see much of anything. We still had a great time together!

At the bottom of the trail head

It was so snowy!

Chief Mountain!

On the way down we found this sign...kinda fun to have a street with your last name!

Wednesday's Words of Wisdom

Obstacles are those frightful things you see when you take your eyes off the goal.

~Henry Ford

Jenga!

Last night Ben and I snuggled up inside and enjoyed games of Jenga and hot chocolate. What better way to spend the evening when it's bitterly cold outside?

Our tower looking pretty good

Such concentration