What I Wore Wednesday

Hello! I haven't done one of these in awhile, so it feels good to get back to it. All summer I've been wearing a uniform to work and then just shorts and a t-shirt when I got home, so now that we're back in school I have to put together actual outfits again. I wore this outfit to school yesterday and these pictures were taken in our backyard. I like that this outfit was really comfortable, but still looks put together.

This post is linked up with The Pleated Poppy for What I Wore Wednesday.  Have a great day!!!

Hello Monday

I'm linking up with Lisa Leonard Designs for Hello Monday!

1. Hello to a brand new month! I can feel fall is on its way. It's been in the high forties here in the mornings, but warms up to the high eighties by the afternoon. Rumor around town is that it's going to be a rough winter. I'm looking forward to fall, but winter can hold off a bit!

2. Hello to slowing down a bit. Mike and I are starting our third week of school, and after this Labor Day weekend, things will start to wind down at work. We'll only be working weekends from now until the end of the season. While Mike will still be crazy busy with work and school, my schedule will start to open up a bit. I'm only taking three classes this semester, so I'm looking forward to having more free time and will hopefully start blogging regularly again.

3. Hello to this yummy pie I baked for Mike. He was elected Treasurer of the Trinidad State Junior College Gun Club last week and I was super excited for him!! His favorite pie is Razzleberry Pie from Marie Callenders, and I decided to try my hand at making a homemade version. I think it came out pretty good!

4. Hello pretty flowers Mike picked for me! We have tons of these beautiful sunflowers growing all over town and they definitely brightened up our home.

5. Hello USF victory on Saturday night. We might be 1,700 miles away, but we'll still support our bulls!!

Here's to having a great start to the week!

Great Sand Dunes National Park

Last Monday Mike and I headed out to Great Sand Dunes National Park. A few people at work had talked about and said it was definitely worth checking out. It's only about two hours away from our house so Mike and I added it to our Colorado bucket list and I'm SO glad that we did! This place was awesome! There are huge beautiful mountains surrounding these massive desert-like sand dunes.

We arrived and checked out the visitor center, then went to the campground and got our tent all situated.

By then it was early afternoon and too hot in the day to climb the sand dunes (they reach 140 degrees in the middle of the day!). So we decided to climb a short trail up to Zapata Falls, which is a small waterfall located in a recreation area just outside the park.

After getting back from Zapata Falls we made lunch and hung around our campsite. Then it got overcast and rained a bit. By then it was about 4:00 and we decided it was cool enough out to climb the dunes. Where we live in Trinidad, CO it is just over 6,000 feet above sea level. It took me quite a while to get used to the elevation change (I'm still not sure I've completely adjusted). Great Sand Dunes National Park is over 8,000 feet above sea level...let's just say elevation change is not my friend. At higher elevations I get out of breath and tired SUPER easily, however, it doesn't appear to bother Mike at all (how annoying). So what I'm trying to get at is the climb up the sand dunes was REALLY HARD! There were two different points were I thought I was done and told Mike he could keep climbing without me (he was determined to get to the top). However, after I rested a bit my energy would come back and I could keep going. Eventually I caught up with Mike and we finished climbing to the top together. I'm so glad I made it to the very top! The view was incredible and it felt like such an accomplishment. The higher and higher you get up the sand dunes the less people there are, so not many that start out actually go all the way. Luckily, the climb down is a lot easier. The entire hike took us just about two hours.

 A view from the top of High Dune.

 We made it!

We finished our day by making a yummy dinner and hanging around the campfire. We got some great pictures of the sunset and it was a clear night so all the stars came out. There were SO many and it was just beautiful!

This was an amazing trip that I can't say enough good things about, and Mike and I both agree we would love to go back. If you ever have to opportunity to check out this park, it is well worth it!!

It's Friday!

Hello and happy Friday! I ended up with three days off this week, one of which was actually the same day as Mike, so this has been a good week for me! Here are some of the highlights...

1. Mike and I went on a little camping adventure Monday evening. We camped at the park we work at and had a lot of fun, despite a couple rain storms.

2. Tuesday we tried fishing for some trout, no bites but we still enjoyed it.

3. We got a package from my parents this week. I love getting surprises in the mail!

Extra: Halo enjoyed it too!

4. Wednesday night our friends Jim and Lindsay invited us over to eat tacos and we had a fun night hanging out and eating.

5. I only have to work three days this week and then I have two days off with Mike...can't wait!!


This post is a link with Lauren Elizabeth for High Five for Friday. Hope you all have a great weekend!

TGIF!

Hello! It's Friday again so it's time for another link up with Lauren Elizabeth for High Five for Friday. I had to actually narrow down my list this week, there were so many little things that made my week great!

1. I went to a farmer's market last weekend and got some fruit and this pretty little succulent.

2. Mike and I went for an evening hike on Tuesday. We brought a little picnic dinner with us and it was really nice!

3. A stray cat in our neighborhood had three kittens! They are SO cute!!!! The kittens have been hanging out on our side yard, and I love to watch them play. Sorry the picture isn't that good, but those little babies don't like to sit still at all.

4. We have a miniature rose bush out front that bloomed this week.

5. My little wildflowers I planted in the egg carton took off and had to be replanted in a bigger container. Can't wait for them to bloom!!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

High Five for Friday

Happy Friday to you all! I had a pretty great week this week. Below are five reason why...

1. Tuesday evening we had some friends over for homemade pizza. It was nice to chat and eat some yummy food.

2. Clipped this flower from our front yard!!!

3. Wednesday Mike and I went to the Trinidad History Museum. Very interesting.

4. We made a super delicious meal of steaks and stuffed potatoes.

Source

5. I have been awaiting the release of Emily Ley's 2014-2015 collection. It launched on Monday and I ordered her new Home Base Binder. It should arrive today!

I wish you a every happy weekend and a happy anniversary to the best Mom and Dad a girl could ask for!!!

Book Review: Quitter

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Quitter
Jon Acuff

I finished Quitter by Jon Acuff about a month ago.  This book is super motivational! It's geared toward people who have a dream job in mind, but are currently working at a job that isn't. However, even if you already are working your desired occupation, I think this book is worth the read. The author goes through various steps to take in order to propel you towards your dream. I love that he is real and honest with his advice. Acuff tells you your dream is not going to happen in one day. It could possible take years, and lots and lots of hard work; but you can get there. The author also includes numerous personal stories throughout the book. I feel this helps the reader relate so much more to the author and also allows the reader to be more willing to take his advice knowing he's been through it all and came out with his dream. I really love that much of Acuff's advice relates to and includes steps from Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University. If you have any goals in your life right now that you are having trouble attaining or perhaps are getting discouraged about, work related or not, you should read this book!