Snow Show 2011

This past weekend, the Snow Show was at the Denver Convention Center. My mom, being VP of Sales for Kiss My Face, was in town for the show. I've been hearing about the Snow Show for years, and this year I was finally able to go, seeing as how I live 25 miles from Denver. Here's a recap of what the Snow Show is and all we did:
On Thursday evening, I headed to Denver and had drinks and dinner with my mom and Betty at the Hyatt bar...that place was seriously hopping with conventionites and loud music.
On Friday, we arose at 6:30 to go to the hotel gym which had some lovely views of the mountains to the West. We then got ready and headed to the Regency Room for some free breakfast to fuel up for the long day ahead. We went to the convention center for the opening of the show at 9. We spent the day working the Kiss My Face booth (for me, this meant handing out samples haha), and walking around the show. If you like ski/snowboard gear and attire, this place was for you! That evening, we had a fantastic dinner at Osteria Marco on Larimer St. where I had the best scallops I think I have ever had - so good! Then we headed to Tag for some fun drinks before heading back to the hotel.
On Saturday, we headed back to the convention center for another day of the Snow Show. Tim and Sarah joined us in the afternoon, and I walked the show with them before heading back to the hotel for a rest. That night, we headed out to Tag on Larimer street for dinner with my mom, Betty, Gayle, Nancy, Tim and Sarah. The drinks there are so fun and creative, and the food was seriously the best I have had in a long time. We split all kinds of appetizers for dinner, and then ordered dessert - we got to meet the chef, and I even got a high five from him. We will go back to Tag for sure!
On Sunday, we headed back to the convention center for the last day of the show, and this is where I got the most swag :) We got lots of stickers and several pairs of ski socks, along with prodeals for Native Eyewear (sweet!). I also got the most adorable headband to wear outdoors, and ordered a Loki jacket which should come soon! If you havn't heard of Loki jackets, they are jackets that have built in gloves and neckwarmers - super cool and practical. I'll post pictures once I get it. I also pined over skis that were so beautiful and light, and may get a prodeal for Solomon/Atomic gear. After the show was over, we drove my mom to the airport and headed back to Boulder.
Overall, the Snow Show was amazing, my mom's company did some great business, and we spent lots of time together. It was a wonderful weekend that left me completely exhausted! Luckily, I had today off to recuperate!
And now for a few photos:

My pass to get into the show

Denver Convention Center with the big blue bear

Kiss My Face Booth - so nice!

Their sun slogan!

Delicious food at Tag

My Amante Picante drink - cucumbery, limey, jalepanoey goodness

Sushi of some kind

Banana Cream Bie with creme bruleed bananas



Peanut Butter Parfait

Sticky Toffee Cake

Post Connecticut Blues and A Blessing

After returning back to Colorado, I felt like I was doing fine readjusting to our home out here. Then I realized that I really wasn't. I have been extremely moody and easily frusterated/angry/upset/sad lately, and since I can't attribute it to one thing in particular, I will call it the Post Connecticut Blues. It was tough for me to leave our family and friends on the east, and even though I love our home here in Colorado, and I love being here with Tim, I still miss everyone. I think I have reached a turning point though, a place where I can still miss people, but can get back to enjoying this beautiful place where we live and have fun with my husband. That turning point came on Friday evening, when I returned from work and was in a terrible mood, and Tim and I were talking and I was saying that I just couldn't shake this feeling of sadness, and Tim asked me "Have you prayed about it?" Yikes. Nope I didn't, and it was exactly what I needed. How did I get to be so lucky?

And the blessing - since we moved here, we have been wanting to meet people, but (let's face it), we aren't the most outgoing people you will ever meet. We both have a hard time just going up to people and talking with them. Therefore, besides people we already knew from CT, and a few work friends of mine, we havn't really met anyone. And that has been tough. It makes it difficult for this to truly feel like "home". Well, at church with Sarah this past Sunday, I felt like I had finally found a place where Tim and I could meet people...I don't know how to describe it other than I felt at peace and completely comfortable there, and was so excited when married women around our age came up to chat with us after the service. Unfortunatly, Tim was away on business, so he didn't get to meet people, but I can't wait for the next time we can go! Sarah and I are headed to a small group tomorrow night with some people from the church, and I am excited to meet more people. I'm thankful that we might actually be able to meet some people that could become our friends...eek I am such a geek, but this really is such a relief!

* The lead singer of the band at church reminded me of my best friend Nora's husband Joe...he had a red and black flannel shirt with dark hair...maybe that is why I feel like we can be friends with these people? :) hehe

Pizza and Cross Country Skiing & Putting Oatmeal on Our Faces

I have to say, we Hineys sure do know how to have fun!

On Saturday, after awaking at 6:00 AM to drive to the high country to go downhill skiing, we hit INSANE traffic on I70 that prompted a turnaround back to Boulder (normally a little traffic wouldn't stop us, but it was at a complete standstill)...we decided to go cross country skiing instead. So, we packed up our lunch and heading up to the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Upon arrival, the snow was swirling in the blustery wind, and I was not too excited to hit the trail - between the snow, wind, and feeling really weak, I was not interested in doing a 7 mile ski! However, I'm glad I stuck it out because it was really beautiful. The snow fell lightly once in the trees, and it was warmish and calm. We stopped for a lunch of leftover homemade pizza and hot cocoa with peppermint schnaps, which made the trail all the more fun! :) That night we finally made it to Mountain Sun, and Sarah drank her very first beer that she had all to herself! I sure do love that place!

On Sunday, we got up early again to drive Tim to the airport so he could leave for his business trip. I am grateful that Sarah is here so I have some company while he is gone (although I still really miss him!). We then got to have a really fun girls day together, which was really wonderful. I am blessed to have such a fun sister in law to laugh and talk with. We started our day by heading to a church in Boulder, All Souls, that Sarah found...it is within walking distance from our apartment, and it was a lovely day, so we walked on over there (more on church later). After church, we headed to Brasserie Ten Ten, which is a yummy place to get brunch and mimosas! Then we headed to the Celestial Seasonings Factory, which is a great place to go if you are ever in the area and like tea! We sampled teas, took the tour, and stocked up on our favorites. We then rented a *terrible* movie, and had a delicious spread of food and champagne for dinner. After dinner, we made oatmeal, honey, and avocado masks and relaxed on the couch with cucumber slices on our eyes. It was the best girls day!

This week my mom is coming into town for the Snow Show in Denver...I'm super excited to see her and check out the show!
I'm also super excited for my hubby to come home :)
And now some photos:

Our yummy dinner

The makings of the face mask

The result

Yum! hehe

Powder Day # 2, Ski Day # 11

To top off Sarah's first week here, we went to ABasin yesterday to ski. The drive there took much longer than usual due to blizzardy conditions, and I have to say I wasn't too excited about skiing in the swirling snow. However, once we got on the mountain, I was glad we made the trip. Lots of fresh powder and warm weather made for a super fun day on the slopes (even though most of the mountain wasn't open due to high winds). After leaving the mountain, we found out there was a TWO hour delay up to the tunnel, so we decided to stay in the high country for dinner and a movie...and still hit 1 1/2 hours of traffic up to the tunnel. It was worth it to have such a fun day with my hubby and sis! :)

Things to look forward to in 2011...

We are so excited for all the visitors that we have lined up thus far in 2011! Even more exciting is that this visits start this week! :)
My sis-in-law Sarah is coming on Tuesday and spending quite awhile with us, which we are very happy about! Tim and Sarah are going to Ouray,CO to go ice climbing with our friends Adam and Emma in a few weeks too! I'm bummed to be missing the trip, but I thought taking off more work wouldn't be a good plan, plus my mom will be in Denver that weekend! And that brings us to my next visitor, my mom! She will be in Denver at the end of January, so that is soon too!
In February, we will be celebrating our one year anniversary, I can't believe it is so soon!
In March, Tim is turning 26, and our potential visitors are Mom and Dad Hine, Li, Chris and Nikki, and Joe and Priya! March is going to be amazing :)
In April, my bestest is thinking of taking a trip out here with her hubby, so I hope that works out! And hopefully my dad will get out here again as well!
We are so lucky to have so many people that love us and want to come see us!
In May, Tim will be traveling back to CT to do Tough Mudders with a bunch of guys and Sarah...basically it is a crazy 8 mile obstacle course at Mt. Snow. Also in May, I will be headed to Tuscany in Italy! :) Going to Italy has always been a dream of mine, and I am SO excited to finally be able to go! I am going with M and his family to nanny, and I think it will be such a blast to spend time with them and help them out!
Finally, in December we have Vickey's wedding, which we are so excited to go to!

That's all we have planned for 2011 so far, but I'm sure more things will pop up! We have the best life :)

Holidays on the East Coast

Tim and I recently went back to Connecticut for the holidays, our first as a married couple. We have obviously been together for many holiday seasons, but have never really "split" holidays before. Thankfully, we have understanding families and were able to have a pretty wonderful Christmas!
We were back for almost 2 weeks, and were able to do so many fun things with family and friends. Among the highlights are:
* Tim went skiing with his dad and sisters, while I went shopping with his mom, and made the Italian Wedding Soup for Christmas with my dad...this was all followed by a yummy dinner with the fam and the Burns' :)
* Meeting my parents new kitten Snoop, he is crazy but super adorable.
* Lunch with Chris and Nikki - it was so wonderful to see you guys, can't wait until you come out to visit us!
* Coffee with Vickey, my "big sister", she is getting married next December, and I am so excited for her!
* Christmas Eve with the Hines, which included matching PJ pants for the ladies courtesy of Li, caroling at the gazebo in Woodbury, a stop at my cousin's in Woodbury, and a sleepover in Tim's room with his cousin and sisters.
*Christmas Day with the Santopietros. which including opening stockings at 7:00 AM before my bro went to work, back to the Hines to open stockings/have breakfast/open presents, then back to my parents for the big Christmas dinner with my aunts & uncles, cousins, and Tim's whole fam too. It was SO great to see everyone!
* A snow day after Christmas, which including going over to the Labriola's house to spend time with the Burke fam, venturing out to Carlito's to have dinner with my parents (we were the only people in the whole place!), and staying up until 4 AM with Dunbar (although I cut out at 2).
* Cross-country skiing with Sarah & Li around Hidden Pond with Rocky.
* Tim's extended family Christmas at Nan and Poppi's, it was so great to see all of his family :), followed by drinks with friends at Shadragh's, complete with 7 people in one car driving home!
* Breakfast with Emma&Adam, Nora, Colleen&Rod at Hen of the Woods, followed by a coffee date with my bestest Nora, and then dinner with my parents.
* Dinner and Margaritas with Peter and Katie - I think I once again had ONE too many margaritas. This was followed by a sleepover at Peter's.
*Climbing in NY with Li & Sar, and then Tim went with his dad and sisters up to Franconia Notch to spend the night and hike Franconia Ridge the following morning. I had dinner with my parents at Carole Peck's.
* Tim and his sisters finally crossed the Franconia Ridge from Lafayette to Little Haystack!
* Headed up to NH on NYE with Nora & Joe to see Emma and Adam - we spent the day at Billing's Farm in Woodstock, had a drink at Bentley's, and had dinner at Murphy's in Hanover with a bunch of high school friends. It was a blast! I think the highlight of the night was Emma dressing up Nora :) It was such fun to ring in the new year with the best friends!
* Dinner with the Hine siblings and Shan and Ryan at Toro, complete with sushi and scorpion bowls.
* Lunch at Mohegan Sun & gambling with my family, and pizza dinner at the Hine's.
* Several walks around Hidden Pond, Tim hiked with his sisters more, and spent more time with family and friends!
Overall, it was an amazing trip, and we are so lucky to have such fantastic people in our lives! And now for some slightly out of order photos:

Mom's Christmas table - she does such a wonderful job!

Hine Sisters :)

Cousins pic on Christmas eve caroling at the gazebo in Woodbury

Snoop!

Matching pjs, thanks Li!

Tim trying the Italian Wedding soup for the first time! I rolled over 800 mini meatballs!

Beef Wellington, yum!

Me and G, the best kid ever.

Emma, Me, Nora on NYE :)

Everyone on NYE

Cousins dinner at Toro

Tim's mom's fam :)

Hiking - someone tell me where!

Hine siblings

Back in Boulder

Sorry for the long blogging hiatus. Tim and I heading back East to CT for the holidays, and returned a few days ago. Now that I have unpacked, I feel more settled back here! Stay tuned for a holiday/CT update coming soon! :)