FIlling Our Time With Adventure

Our dearest friends Amanda and Jim Mocco came to Arizona for a vacation last week and we had the pleasure of showing them around our beautiful state. It's hard to explain what Arizona is like to other people because it's a place that you just have to experience in person. There are red rocks to mountains covered in pine trees, rolling deserts littered with cacti to open fields for cows to graze on. It's a whole different world out here and I just love showing it to everyone I can.

We missed our friends the Moccos dearly, as we have not seen them since we left Fort Drum last year. Jim spent a tour with Dugan in Afghanistan so the two of them have a brotherhood for life and we just can't keep the brothers apart for too long. We kept ourselves very busy with traveling to some of the hot spots here in our home state like the Grand Canyon(Dugan's first time, too), the Red Rocks of Sedona, Downtown Flagstaff with HollyAnn and Seth, and of course, good ol' Payson to show them our roots.

I hope it's not another year until we see Amanda & Jim again but who knows what this next year will bring. Hopefully we can come together more often, but even if we don't, we know to cherish the time we do get to spend together.

New York- A quick vacation

Set out to Brockport, NY last week for a quick adventure. My dearest friend, Elyse, who also surprised me for Christmas, happened to be getting her Bachelor's degree and I needed to be there to support here. That's a huge accomplishment and I needed to show her that I was totally there for her... and also I missed her to death. So, i'll try not to bore you with the details but it goes without saying that I had a great time going back to New York and getting some time with the grass and the flowers.


We did lots of things while I was there.

Like I said, boring details but I like the details and I want to remember them.

Here's some photos to describe what we did so I don't have to:

Attended Elyse's graduation.

Celebrated Elyse's accomplishments with a party thrown by her family that had lots of food and drink and cake/

Saw The Great Gatsby in Theaters. I begged Elyse to go with me for like 4 nights in a row. Thank goodness she actually liked the film and didn't hate it!

We went to "wing night" out at one of the Bar&Grills in downtown Brockport.

Such a goofball:)

 We had a bon fire out at the Catlin's Farm. So nice to get cozy next to the fire after a long 5 days of freezing weather!

blue tongue from our slushpuppies on the drive to Buffalo

Went to the Lilac Festival in Rochester. There are just fields of lilacs and people set up tents and there is a bunch of food and live music and all kinds of merchandise.  A very beautiful place!

There are a lot of photos of just me and Elyse because I recently realized that there were very few out there and I needed more. It was SO nice being close to my dear friend again. I am grateful for her and so proud of her in graduating. I know she is going to do great things in her life!

I enjoyed going back to New York. It was good to run in the rain and smell all the flowers growing all around me. It's a completely different world than Arizona is and I almost forgot what it was like being there. The buildings are older, the people are grumpier, and the land is greener. I'll be going back again, i'm sure. Who knows when that will be. 

My trip home was nothing short of traumatizing. I had a delay in one of my flights causing me to miss my connecting flight and landing me in New Jersey for the night for 4 hours of broken sleep so I could make my 6:00 flight the next morning. It was a miracle that I got a hotel that would book me and that the airline would pay for it. It might be awhile until I fly again.\

Before I go, I just want to quickly say here, so that everyone can see it, that I am working on being more positive. In the negative situations I have in my life all around me, being positive is the only way I am going to keep my head on straight. I am a pessimistic person and overall way more grumpy than I should be. So I am trying to fix that. I've decided to look for the good in all that is around me, even if the hand I am dealt at the moment is total crap.

When I woke up at 4:30 in New Jersey- far from home and so under rested, I looked out my window of the room of my hotel and saw a beautiful sun rise coming up over New Jersey. It was my silver lining and I am glad I was looking for something positive to get me through my long day of travel.

I have another adventure coming my way next week when our friends the Moccos come for a visit. 

Tata for now, everyone. Hope your weekend is splendid.

Color Vibe- 5K accomplishment

A year and a half ago I did my first 5K run on Thanksgiving day with two of my sisters. This 5k, however didn't really count because we never signed up and ran with the rest of the runners, we just measured the distance and did it on our own so we could complete the race earlier in the day. During this time, I was much slower than I am now and didn't have any idea what I was doing. I didn't time it either so I can't even tell you how well I did.

Getting to the point, I signed up for the Color Vibe 5k this year and my friends Andy, Kelsey, Rd, Kyden, and a few others joined in for a bit of color fun and exercise.

 Andy, Rd and I wanted to run the whole time and that's exactly what we did!

Finished the run in 35 minutes which isn't bad because the first 2 miles was entirely uphill and was on a dirt trail so give me a break. It felt pretty good to sprint to the finish line and be greeted by some friendly faces cheering me on. 

Two Years

Saturday April 20, 2013

Dugan and I celebrated our two year anniversary.

Before I tell you about our vacation, I want to give a BIG should out to our friends Julia & Rd for helping us out. You guys are a great blessing to us. We are so grateful for you and for your help in us having the anniversary we wanted. Forever grateful.

So this is how it went: Early in the morning, we headed to Sedona and took along our picnic basket full of muffins, quiche, fresh fruit, and orange juice. When we got to the red rocks we pulled off and had ourselves a lovely picnic.

After our picnic we took a nice hike to the top of one of the red rocks. It was only about 2 miles each way but it was nice and was beautiful when we got to the top. Odin loved the exercise, too.

So, then Dugan and I went to our appointment for our massages. Let me tell you. that massage was so needed and so relaxing. It was my very first one and it wont be my last one. Yes, a little pricey but we decided not to worry about money on our anniversary and just do the things we want for once. I wish I had a picture of this place. So beautiful and relaxing and personal. The owners even let us bring Odin into the yard and helped us by watching him for the hour and a half we were getting our massages. Here's the link in case any of you are interested in having a great experience.

http://www.sedonaroyalthaimassage.com/

After our massages, we ate lunch at a bbq in town and then we checked into our lodge. We spend a few hours between then to relax in our room and get ready for dinner.

 Odin felt right at home.

 Tired boy took a nap before dinner while I got ready.

My hair for dinner. Thank you Pinterest.

In the morning, we were served breakfast by the lodge. It was pretty peaceful and very much delicious. 

We came back home and recovered from spoiling ourselves in Sedona. As we got in the car, I notices one rose Dugan pulled off a bush and placed for me in the passenger seat. So sweet. Oh, there was chocolate there, too. Because, you know, it's chocolate.

Our 2nd anniversary was much different than our first anniversary, which we spent in New York City.  We probably spent the same amount of money. But NYC was really fast paced and busy and crazy and exciting. This year was relaxing and we had lots of time to enjoy each others company without feeling like we need to fill every second of the day with touristy things to do. At one point before our message, we were sitting at the spa drinking hot tea and sitting on a swing in the yard and just breathing in the fresh air. It was so refreshing to slow down for a full 24 hours. Thank you Sedona for being so close by and for giving us the calming atmosphere we needed.

In my post last year I listed a few things I love about my husband and (you bet) I am going to do it again.

I love that he holds my hand on every walk and every car ride, even if it's just to the store.

I love that he lets me talk along to movies I love... and sing along to songs in the car.

I love that he snuggles me at night. Still.

I love that he calls me beautiful first thing in the morning when I look like THIS.

I love the wrinkles around his eyes when he smiles.

I love, though it drives me crazy at the same time, that he doesnt care what he wears as long as it's comfortable.

I love that all he wants is to make me happy.

I love that his biggest hero is his Dad. 

I love that he is nerdy and could watch a different Japanese action film every day. 

I love that he loves antiques.

I love that he's supportive.

I love that he is positive.

I love that he is so patient and takes nothing personally.

I love that his dreams consist of gardens and teaching our children about life.

I love that he loves animals.

I love that he loves me.

Love you, Dugan. I am so lucky to have been married to you for 2 years so far. I look forward to the rest of our lives. Thank you for all you do and all you are. You are kind, loving, patient, gentle, handsome, wise, generous, charitable, thoughtful, romantic, and tender-hearted. I am the luckiest lady on earth to have landed you as my man.

Year three, here we come!

Momma

Admittedly, there has been a number of begging and pleading to get my mom up to Flagstaff to see me and spend a little quality time with me. We both only have one car so oftentimes it's hard to see each other but I can't help it, I need her.

Mom came up Friday.

It was a great day. 

We went to Pita Jungle where I had my favorite black bean burger in the world. We then strolled around a few thrift stores(shocking, right?). After thrifting, we came back to my house and baked up some yummy carrot cake muffins and some mini quiche cups for the breakfast picnic Dugan and I went on for our anniversary. More on that in the next post.

I love my mom. I love having her around to talk talk talk about everything. I love that she is so A.D.D.. I like that she likes to snuggle me when she sees me and that it takes a miracle to get a good photo with her. I like that she likes to take me shopping so I can try on all the silly things she picks out for me. I love her hugs and her kisses and her comfort. Love you Momma. Come back and see me anytime.