For the past two years when this time of year rolls around, I cringe. I hide. I cry. When I hear Mother's Day commercials on the radio, I change the station and when I see Mother's Day commercials on TV, I flip to the next channel. It's not that I don't like thinking about Mother's Day. It's just sometimes difficult to be forced to think about the loss and sadness I feel during Mother's Day and not being able to spend it with my Mom, because there's nothing I would want more.

To my surprise, in the May issue of Cooking Light, I came across an article all about Mother's Day. This time, instead of turning the page, I read it and it is a really great article. Here's why it hit home for me:

"as Mother's Day approaches I find that Mother's Day has suddenly taken on a different shape, one of celebration through memory rather than phone calls, sweet notes or a family gathering. The stories I tell about my Mother and that others have shared with me by card or e-mail, sustain me. This ability to celebrate anchors my well-being as a daughter - and in contemplating my Mother's life I realize it was one of her most important gifts to me."


The author Kate Meyers does a phenomenal job of describing her Mother's personality, her love for her Mother and one can't help but feel special to be let into such a private moment. She goes on to write:

"anyone who has lost a loved one comes to understand that grieving is a necessary part of healing, and that there's no right way to do it. For me, celebrating my Mother in memory gives me a joyful place to go when I am sad - a place where she still is. This sort of celebration is available to all of us, but requires practice and repetition lest it slip away, lost in the vast commercialism of Mother's Day."

I like celebrating my Mother by remembering the times she'd grab me while she cooked dinner and we'd dance around the kitchen. By remembering the completely ridiculous things we would do together that would make my sister and Dad roll their eyes but make me and Mom giggle. By remembering what a caring, giving and loving Mother she was and knowing how blessed I am to have had her as my Mom.

Whoa, what a difference a mile marker can make!

This past Friday my sister, her husband and I went to Pueblo to see my Grandfather who was hospitalized after suffering a heart attack. I am happy to report that the spunky 80-year-old is very much back to normal and wanting to get back on his tractor as soon as possible.


When my sister and I got the news about my Grandfather Thursday morning, there was no question that we would be there by his side soon. We knew there was nothing we could do, but sometimes having someone to pass the time with is just as important!


Little did we know when we decided to leave first thing in the morning Friday, that we would run into some major weather. Normally the cruddy weather wouldn't be a problem as the Colorado Department of Transportation is pretty good about taking care of the roads but on this particular day, little to nothing had been done to the roads.

I'm not sure if the storm came too fast for CDOT or they were just totally unprepared, but the roads down to Pueblo were nothing short of hazardous! Here's a pic near mile marker 190:



I have never seen I-25 not plowed! It was like driving in a dream...




This pic is about 50 miles South of the first one near mile marker 138...

Crazy Colorado weather definitely keeps us on our toes! Being a Native, I have seen a lot of weather changes but this has got to be one of the most drastic I have EVER seen, anywhere!

By the time we made it to Colorado Springs and there was no sign of severe weather it felt like we were driving in a different state.

Thanks to my brother-in-law for braving the roads for my sister and I so we could be home with my Grandfather!

Karen, You Took a Page Right Out of My Book...

By Karen, I mean Karen Carpenter...from The Carpenters. And I'm talking about her song, Rainy Days & Mondays. I am kidding when I say she took a page from my book but whenever it rains I can't help but this song! And lucky you, it's a rainy day.



Rainy days always remind me of the time I lived in Joplin, Missouri. The grey days we rarely have here in Denver are just like the grey days that would last for weeks in the 4States. At the time I HATED it. Growing up in Colorado, you get used to seeing the sun on a daily basis and many Natives have a hard time functioning without it. My Mom always used to say this and it's something I've come to believe!

However, when we have grey, yucky days I am fondly reminded of my days living in the Midwest. It was an adventure to say the least! I made some amazing friends whom I love dearly and learned so much about myself. It was the first time I was truly alone.

All through school, University included, I always had people around that I knew. But when I moved to Joplin, MO I knew not one soul. It was terrifying but also liberating and some days I miss the good ole 4States. It was a time when all was right with the world. I absolutely LOVED my job. I would even go in early and stay late most days just because I loved being a broadcast journalist so much.

Nowadays, I enjoy the freedom and compensation (time off :) I have not being the intrepid reporter but am happy I can look back and smile and that I have something to smile about on grey, yucky days too!

Words to Live by...

I was reading my Body+Soul magazine the other evening (thanks Sis for the subscription) and a quote at the bottom of a page really got me thinking.

It read,

"Here's the magic soap; Your own attention is what spiritualizes things, Attention to the meal you cook, the clothes you wash, Attention is love. And that's transformative."

I just love this saying and have noticed how true it really is! When I care about what I'm cooking, it tastes better and the other weekend when I was weeding my backyard, I noticed how much nicer things looked because I took the time to care about what I was doing.

This is something I'm trying to apply to every aspect of my life. So far some areas are easier to conquer than others, but working on it is fun!

There's Gonna Be A Party!

One of my oldest friends asked me to be the Maid of Honor in her wedding and I am so honored! (thanks Luz) And, we're going to celebrate by having a wild night out in Denver before her big day. I'm extra happy with myself because I made some super cute invites for her personal shower!

If you do indeed know me, you know I am the least crafty person on the planet! This, even though it was just printing, was a big accomplishment for me! Here's what all the hub-bub is about...

The copy reads:

nighties & teddies & a little satin bra are sure to make Tylor say ooh la la!

Let’s celebrate Luz with a lingerie shower and girls night out before the big day! We’ll begin the evening with dinner and drinks at LaLa's and then head to La Rumba for some Salsa dancing.

Saturday May 8, 7:00 p.m. - ???

I'm so looking forward to celebrating my friend and having an amazing night out!

Spring Fever & I've Got It Bad!

Yesterday I woke to three inches of snow in my backyard and by the time I got home from work, it was all melted. Spring in Colorado is one of my favorite times of the year, closely followed by Autumn in Colorado. But today's post is all about Spring and how I've got Spring Fever, badly!

Last weekend I weeded my entire backyard area (it's only about 15 x 15 so don't let me fool you into thinking I was slaving away all day :) as well as dug up the hideous rose bushes the previous owner planted. I regret now not taking photos to show the progress I made and how much cleaner, nicer the backyard looks, but it is what it is and there's no photographic evidence of my hard work.


Since I cleaned the area, I'm starting to get a feel for what would work best and beginning to get excited about the possibilities the area holds. I plan on planting some ornamental grass that will act as a border and provide some privacy between my fence and the neighbors. My new neighbors' dog likes to bite at the fence and Presley does the same, so I thought it would be good to provide some natural distance between them.


I'm also thinking about planting a nikko blue hydrangea along the same fence and in between the ornamental grass to add some color and dimension to my yard.


I also found some cute flowers I want to plant along the side of my yard where my fireplace is:

And, this year, I am attempting an herb garden. My sister has had one for years and swears it's easy. Here's a few of the items I want in my herb garden this year:

The hard part will be waiting until Mother's Day weekend to plant all these lovely things!

World Health Day 2010

Today, April 7, 2010, is the World Health Orginzation's, World Health Day. This year the theme is 1000 cities, 1000 lives and focuses on urban living. Here's what the campaign means:


"World Health Day campaign: 1000 Cities, 1000 LivesWith the campaign 1000 cities, 1000 lives, events will be organized worldwide during the week of 7 – 11 April 2010 calling on cities to open up portions of streets to promote health activities. Stories of urban health champions will be gathered to illustrate what people are doing to improve health in their cities." - info taken from WHO site

"Urbanization: one of the greatest health challenges in the 21st centuryOver 3 billion people live in cities. In 2007, the world’s population living in cities surpassed 50% for the first time in history, and this proportion is growing. By 2030, six out of every 10 people will be city dwellers, rising to seven out of every 10 people by 2050. Urbanization is here to stay. It is an irreversible trend that is now part of the world in which we live. In many cases, especially in the developing world, the speed of urbanization has outpaced the ability of governments to build essential infrastructure. Unplanned urbanization can intensify an existing humanitarian crisis and has consequences for the health security and safety of all citizens in cities." - info taken from WHO site

Join the global movement and make cities healthier! Visit 1000cities.who.int today!