Pink is Totally Your Color

My competition is really getting crazy for the Mustache Challenge. Check out Sean V's YouTube channel and spread the word.

I think you have a case of the Mondays....

The weekends always go by with such fever.

Friday: Got out of work a little early, and made my way down to Treo for a happy hour with some friends at Dish. They were doing a fund raiser for an employee's family that has been battling some extreme medical issues. Then had dinner at Cheeburger Cheeburger, which I enjoyed, but it was not as good as it was the last time I ate there.

Saturday: Got up way too early for the day and finished the book I had been reading. Then ran a bunch of errands. I started my recycling efforts by creating two bins in my house. One for newspaper and one for plastic. So far I'm loving it, and my reduced trash is GREAT. You wouldn't believe how quickly the trash can fills up with the Sunday paper and one empty orange juice container. Then I headed to my parents house to sign my tax papers. For dinner Jason and I went to Castle Rock to have dinner with our friends Kirstin and Eric. It was a great evening - and they announced they are getting a PUPPY!!!

Sunday: Slept in which was nice. Then again ran some errands. Jason opened an early birthday present because I just can't wait for presents to be opened. I took a long nap in the afternoon and then just spent the evening reading some magazine, going through the mail and watching a little TV.

Earth Hour

In attempt to be greener, I have mentioned I receive the Ideal Bite e-newsletter with helpful (sometimes crazy) tips. Today it highlighted Earth Hour - check it out and see if you want to make the pledge to turn off the lights, not drive, etc. during Earth Hour.

Who Does That?

I bought new book last night, The Green Book. It is a book of tips and simple steps to reduce your carbon footprint and make your lifestyle a little more green. One point they keep hitting on is to turn the water off when you brush your teeth... REALLY? I think we have been told that since we were little bitty. Does anyone NOT turn the water off when they brush their teeth??? Come on people, I want some new green ideas.

Side Notes

I would like everyone to check me out on the Mustache Challenge website. I am ready to kick some hair-growing butt in whatever why I can. There have also been some judges comments made about my hairy skill.

Also, I would like to note that I am enjoying Facebook's new feature of "People you may know." I know most everyone that keeps coming up on my list. Yet another way to keep the networking connections alive.

Focus People

I used to be a little more type-A than I am now. I used to have lists for everything in my life to keep me on track, and meet the hundreds of deadlines I had faced. I used to have a list I would tick off projects that were started and highlight projects that were completed. I now don't have lists in my life like I used to. Anyway, I started to feel a little scrambled and feel like I wasn't getting things done in my life. I have slightly reverted to my list making and I feel like I am in heaven.

Last night with the help of my list as a guide I accomplished the following:

• Bleach kitchen sink
• Clean papers out of car
• Clean out my mail basket by the front door
• Clean out the 2 bags of random collecting items in my closet
• Find my pay-per-coupon to include in my Dish bill
• Pick up wrapping paper
• Buy a present
• Dust living room and bedroom
  

Today I hope to achieve in crossing off these items on the list:

• Pick up photos from Walmart
• Hang white frames in guest room filled with the photos mentioned above
• Pick up present from location A
• Pick up present from location B
• Wrap said presents
• Start laundry

Then after those things, I really only have a few more things left on this list, but don't worry the next list is going to be started soon, as I already have more things to be working on.

DIY - Book Case

As you have read, I had been on the hunt for the perfect paper to line my book case and I found it over the weekend. I worked really hard on sanding, painting and covering the bookcase and last night I finally finished it!

Here is basically what it looked like before:
And now the after:

It turned out exactly like I hoped it would. A few things to note about the next shelf I re-do:

1. Sand, and sand some more. A couple spots didn't want to cover as easily.
2. I should have used primer.
3. The paper has a few errors as I didn't line up the pattern right, but I doubt anyone will notice.
4. With 4 layers of paint, the shelf doesn't slide back in very easily!!!! Had to do some touch-ups after.

Tasty

Went to Yum Yums again today for cupcakes - they were so good. Got the red velvet!

Swan Celebration

So this weekend was fab. Saturday started out with most all of the girls at work heading to Boulder to go to ten20 to get pedicures, and then go to lunch at Turleys.

Here is Jenny, Christy (birthday girl) and Meg waiting for pedicures to start - and yes ten20 provides all the coke/diet coke and M&Ms you want!
Here is Janessa and Lauren getting their toes pampered! Happy Feet!

Finally here is a shot of Christy with her birthday present. The shirt reads "Stop looking at me swan" How very fitting for our crazy office lingo.
Following lunch we made a quick detour to two hands paperie, where I could have spent hours just looking at every paper, card and journal about 10 times each. Anyway, I found the most beautiful paper by Elum for my book shelf project. I bought 8 sheets, which will be more than enough to cover the book case back panels. As soon as I got home Saturday I went to work on getting the project completed. I have almost finished - just the shelf planks need one more coat of paint. I will take some pictures of the shelf tonight to post in the morning.

Yesterday was a great Easter celebration. The morning started very early with church up in Broomfield with the Norgren family and then Jason and I drove back to my place and quickly made the green bean recipe was a I sent and asked to bring for the dinner. Finally we made our way to Easter dinner with more of Jason's family down in Castle Rock. It was a great day and the weather was beautiful by late afternoon.

To the Hip, to the Hop, to the Hippty-Hop.

Today my iGoogle gadget gave me a super cute recipe for Cheesecake baskets. I so want to make these for Easter. With the green tinted coconut and the jelly bean eggs, and of course tasty cheesecake (one of my favs).

Tomorrow will be an exciting day, most of us girls from the office are going to get pedicures and have lunch up in Boulder to celebrate Christy's birthday. I'll be taking my camera and will hopefully have some great pics to post after the weekend!

My Take on the Top 10

Hi, I'm Leslie and I watch American Idol.... "Hi Leslie"

They are down to the top 10, those who made the cut will enjoy a fine summer tour and be able to ride the wave of their 15 minutes of fame.

Here is my two sense on the contestants left, in the order that I believe they will get kicked off (however, once they get down to the final 5... it really can be anyone's game - so just pretend I call those a tie after that point).

Kristy Lee Cook: Pretty girl, but can't hang with the rest of the talent. Hope she can at least save her horse with the money she makes on the tour.

Michael Johns: Handsome, love the accent, but can't stand listening to him sing.

Ramiele Malubay: Somehow I keep forgetting she is even on the show. Can't imagine she will go much further in the contest.

Chikezie: Like the guy, just don't know if he is a fan favorite yet to be able to keep up with the number of votes needed to stay on the show.

Syesha Mercado: I really liked her version of Yesterday in week #2 of the Beatles songs (side note, that was the first song I learned to play on the piano), however she may not have the spark to keep on plugging away in the show.

Ok from here out... not sure of the rankings...

David Cook: Keeping with the rocker vote, but not in the final 2.

David Archuleta: Think he is too young to win in the end, like him, but he may be a better Broadway singer than top-40.

Carly Smithson: I think people will be scared into voting for her after she was in the bottom 3 last night. She has a great voice, just don't know if I would her CD.

Jason Castro & Brooke White: My two favs, although I doubt they make it to the very end. I hope they both go far with their own record contracts.

Talk about starting over

There was an article on 9news.com this morning about a man in Perth, Australia that is selling his entire life. He split with his wife awhile back and wants a fresh start. So he is auctioning his house, all the contents inside, his vehicle, his friends, and his job.

I don't know how I would feel if a friend decided to auction a friendship with me off, but whatever floats his boat. I also don't know how my bosses would feel if I decided to auction off my job!!!

Up Close

Finally posting a few pictures from the Carrie Underwood and Keith Urban concert, sweet 7th row seats:Then check out the pictures from him being in our face playing right next to us.... tried to crop out the crazy stalker girls grabbing at him:

OMG - I'm a mile high

Breaking news....
The line-up for the Mile High Music Festival has finally been announced. There have been rumors of this great music fest for several months, but today it is finally official!

Saturday, July 19th
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers
Steve Winwood
Michael Franti & Spearhead
O.A.R. (Of A Revolution)
Spoon
moe.
Citizen Cope
Brett Dennen
Newton Faulkner
Andrew Bird
Josh Ritter
State Radio
JJ Grey & Mofro
Bob Schneider
Meese
Born in the Flood
Railbenders

Sunday, July 20th
Dave Matthews Band
John Mayer
The Black Crowes
Rodrigo y Gabriela
Colbie Caillat
Ingrid Michaelson
OneRepublic
Flogging Molly
The Roots
Leftover Salmon
Martin Sexton
Flobots
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
Tea Leaf Green
Rose Hill Drive
The New Mastersounds
Serena Ryder
The Photo Atlas
and more to come!

I simply cannot wait! Tickets go on sale to the general public later this month. Check out the festival website for more details!

City Rhapsody

Forgot to mention that we rented August Rush on pay-per-view on Saturday night after a day of snowboarding...and OMG, such a great movie. When I saw the previews I thought it looked good, but no burning desire to run out and pay $8 to see it in the theater.

Anyway, LOVED, loved, loved the movie, so much so that we bought the soundtrack off of itunes last night. Such a great soundtrack.

Now if I could just get my hands on a copy of the movie Once, which one of Jason's coworkers has been saying he would bring in for us to borrow, so hopefully that will be sooner rather than later.

In a nutshell

As all weekends do, this weekend just flew by.

Friday night, Jason and I went to On the Border and used a gift card I got with points from my credit card. We then ran to Home Depot at Southlands to see if we could find some wallpaper for my DIY book shelf remodel. When we asked a lady near the front entrance where we could find wallpaper she look stunned, and then replied "We don't carry wallpaper here, you can try Guiry's." You would have thought I was asking if she carried shag carpet direct from the 1970's. All of my home magazines, Domino, Real Simple, etc. say that Wallpaper is hot right now and everyone is using it. Well after Home Depot we tried Target, Walmart, The Great Indoors and Guiry's and NO ONE carries it! So now I am bound and determined to find a wallpaper store close by to be able to do my project.

Saturday we woke up so early to make it Copper Mountain and avoid traffic. We were the first chair, well I should say Jason was on the first chair lift as he was greedy and wouldn't let Kristin and I take the first chair (haha).

Sunday we of course did the weekend tradition of grocery shopping and then I met my mom to go swimsuit shopping! I found two great swimsuits, although I will tell you swimsuit shopping is the hardest thing ever for a female. But, at least I am set for Mexico. I also got a really fun pair of summer shades for the beach! After the shopping we had a traditional St. Patrick's Day celebration meal of corned beef and cabbage. Tasty!

The weather people warned that we would be waking up to 8-12 inches of snow, but my drive only included wet roads down south.

This morning at work we have it all set up. Donuts for breakfast, a great lunch spread with cupcakes and green punch! Love it!

Can I have your attention please?

So when I was in Vegas walking the strip we passed a building a with this HUGE PSP on it running clips of video games. The thing must have been a couple stories high (the picture just doesn't go it great justice). I thought it was a very cool ad with a simple and clear message

Pinch Me - I'm not wearing green!

Denver's biggest St. Patrick's Day party is set up right outside the office.

Make sure to toast a cheer and drink some green beer!

Finally Friday

Made it through a big presentation at work on social media and now just ready for the weekend.

Going snowboarding tomorrow as long as the weather decides to hold, and I can drag myself out of bed. Then hoping to get some home improvement projects started. I'm wanting to paint my bookcases white so that they both match and line the back panels with some pretty wallpaper/contact paper/wrapping paper (whatever is the cheapest and cutest).

Next week should be exciting, we have two new gals starting at work, and then next Saturday we are going to ten20 for the Spring Spa Party in honor of Christy's birthday.

I really need to get back to my scrapbooking - the photos are just starting to pile up.

News Worthy

So I'm still having a hard time understanding how that lady in Kansas was able to sit still on the toilet long enough for her skin to grow around the seat. Two years! And even worse that her boyfriend let her sit there long enough for that to happen! Really??? Something strange with that whole story.

In other news, the Mustache Challenge 2008 will be starting on Monday! I'm waiting to view the rules to see if I can join in the games. I can craft a pretty mean mustache with a glue gun, some faux fur and maybe even some GLITTER.

Yummy in my tummy

The buttercream frosting is dripping down my chin, and the yellow cake is moist and crumbles slightly with my touch...

Today for a fine tasty treat some girls from the office and I ventured down to Yum Yums at the Pavilions. I bought an extra one to take home and share with Jason tonight as a late night snack - hopefully he will enjoy the cupcakes as much as I did, if not all the more for me. For those wondering, the cupcake featured to the left is the Pink Lady.

Anyway, Lauren had a great and profound quote about cupcakes. Something like "Sugar is the way (or key, or door, or...) to my soul." It was really funny as we were all drooling over our cupcakes and now the line has escaped me, so really it isn't that funny to all those reading this post.

We hope to visit all the great cupcake stores in town in the coming weeks....

Master Visionary

I received a great email from a former coworker reminding me of my many hours spent creating masterpieces in an office zen garden.I remember all the gadgets we would find to put in the sandbox. Everything from trash, to lost toys found in park lots, to excess office supplies refashioned for a new purpose. The image above really makes me laugh, because it already comes fashioned with a crane!!! To fitting.

Lady Luck my BFF

Just returned from a weekend vacation to Vegas. I didn't return a big winner, but it was a fun time. Jason and I enjoyed taking a trip to the top of the Eiffel tower at the Paris, taking a gondola ride at the Venetian, saw Stomp Out Loud at Planet Hollywood, watched the fountain show at the Bellagio, watched the end of Atlantis at Caesar's Palace and basically had a great time in Sin City. I will hopefully post a few pictures tomorrow once I get them loaded off my camera.

For now it is back to work until the next vacation comes and I can lay on the white sandy beaches of Mexico.