Happy hump day all!
As I write today, I’m currently doing one of my favorite summer activities: sitting on the patio, listening to music, watching Ace hunt birds. The current temperature is a hot 79 degrees, with a nice breeze, the song currently humming through the speakers is ‘Lost in the Light’ by Bahamas [new obsession; they’re amazing], & my current mood is blissfully happy.
I’m coming off a couple of the best weeks of the summer. Tony and I celebrated our five year anniversary with a Denver weekend trip, we continued celebrating with a yard game bbq with our closest friends and family, and I was surprised with a best girlfriend coming into town for a visit yesterday. Some bright, shining, memories from the last two weeks:
DENVER
Tony and I explored the streets of downtown Denver during our visit, hitting up some crowd favorites. The first one we tried as soon as we got in Friday morning was Snooze. Snooze delivered one of the best egg benedicts I’ve ever eaten. Those of you that know me, know I absolutely LOVE a good eggs benedict. Snooze not only had a half a page worth of choices for different egg benedict meals, but they have the science of flavor combinations down cold. I enjoyed the Bella, Bella, Benedict: Thin slices of prosciutto, Taleggio cheese, and perfectly poached eggs on toasted ciabatta, topped with cream cheese hollandaise, balsamic glaze and arugula. Oh. My. God. My mouth waters just thinking about it.
Aside from Snooze, we bar hopped in LoDo, near Coors Field, stopping at a brewery, a swanky Irish pub, a sports bar and grill, [for one of the best Cobb salads, I might add], and ended the night being entertained at a piano bar.
One of our favorite parts of the trip was experiencing Pride Fest downtown Denver. We were in Denver to celebrate our anniversary, and there was no better way than to attend a festival which does just that; celebrates love. We danced, drank, & got lost in the festivities.
All in all, our weekend was simply fantastic. The time away from everything and anything besides being with one another was so special. Over bubbles, we took turns reflecting on our favorite parts of the past five years of marriage; top trips, moments, meals, memories, etc… & we made goals for the next year of marriage. It was a trip I will always hold close to my heart.
BACKYARD GAMES & BBQ
I had the idea to throw a yard game party as part of my anniversary gift to Tony for a while. The traditional wedding theme for five years is wood, and going off of that, I bought a bunch of wood yard games and was going to surprise him with all our closest friends and family in our backyard to eat, drink, and celebrate.
We grilled hot dogs, served chips, dips, and pasta salad. We play jenga, bags, bocci ball, and beersby. The music jammed, while friends laughed, and I was in heaven. We had about 37 people in our backyard, reminiscing of the great times we had on the beach five years ago. I tear up thinking about the people we have in our life. People who have been there, seen us at our darkest, and have seen us when we shine. My only wish was that the afternoon had more hours. At times, I stopped myself from hustling more food, drinks, and ice out to the patio, to glance around at those I love most, all in one place, at our home, to celebrate Tony and I, & my heart would explode with happiness.
It was another afternoon I’ll always remember.
A VISIT FROM A FRIEND
Yesterday I was able to spend the day with two of my best girlfriends, sipping bubbles & rose, giggling over stories, catching one another up on life’s happenings. This time was an extra special day, because one of these girlfriends lives in New York, and visits with her are few and far between; being around her yesterday, reminds me how much I miss her & adds to the excitement of visiting her at the end of the month.
My girlfriends truly are my soulmates & I never try to take for granted the relationships I have in my life that are so precious to me.
& EVERYTHING ELSE
There is always a fear to let my guard down; the fear of everything going perfectly amazing that something bad will have to happen. Because three and a half years ago, we were perfectly content, happy, and blissful. Three and a half years ago a cancer bomb was dropped on our home, crushing those positive emotions under a rubble pile of unknowns, what ifs, and chemo.
But, I’ve dug out of that rubble pile and learned: what’s the point of this life, if you’re not going to live it?
So today, I feel confident in saying I’m back at some of those positive emotions. I am happy, content, and peaceful. I’m comfortable with my nights in our living room binge watching Netflix series with Tony; I’m satisfied with daily walks and runs with Ace; I’m elated for friends expanding their families; & I’m pleased to plan dinner parties & group outings with best friends.
They say the summer months bring out the best in teachers,
and I got to say,
I agree.
🙂
xo