"In the Midwest they call it a vacation. In Colorado they call it Saturday."

I don't know that I have ever seem a more breath taking lake! Ice lake pictured below looked as though it belonged on some tropical beach where the air is 90 degrees and Mojitos are served to you with little umbrellas! Low and behold it is located 8 hours SW of Denver just outside of Ouray, CO.

This little adventure took place last weekend (Thursday-Sunday) D and I were joined by friends from Church (Chris and Katie, and Brennan and Christa).

Here is one of the many water falls seen from the lower basin, probably the neatest one around in my opinion.

Really this is a lake...no photo shopping involved! I mean it! You have gotta see it for yourself!

I don't know if I could ever get sick of photographing wild flowers...they were literally everywere here. Every color, size and shape. The most I have ever seen in one place.

D and I went on a grueling hike up to the peak of the Golden Horn (13,600feet). We scrambled over all kinds of terrain! The view of the lakes from the top were incredible!

On our way back down we took a different route and stumbled upon this old Mine site. All the old equipment, tin cans, wheel barrows, and tracks were still around. I wish I knew more of the history...how long has this stuff been there?

How funny is it that the biggest fish I have ever caught in my life was with my bare hands? While we were exploring Fuller lake we came upon these streams full of trout. The fish would get trapped in small pools, there we could nab them with our bare hands...I don't think I have ever had so much fun!

Adventures of Amy and Chelsea Picture Series...

Here are the pictures I promised!
Jordan and Rochelle had a beautiful outdoor wedding with the perfect weather and spectacular views of the city and the mountains in the background.

After the formal event, Saturday we dressed down and headed for Piney lake to break Chelsea into some real camping! We saw wild flowers, fools gold in the stream (Check out Chelsea foot you can click on the picture and see the gold glitter on her foot!) and relaxed in our own private little oasis!

Off to our sky diving adventure! Flying in a tiny plane over the Royal Gorge, falling 10,500 ft over Canon City, I love adventure...the more heart pumping the better!

Chelsea and I spent her last day in town shopping in Boulder. Earlier in the week we both splurged and bought ourselves B-day gifts...these adorable leather purses...Mine is the lovely mustard yellow!

The Adventures of Amy and Chlesea!

Oh how I wish I would have had time to load my pictures on blogger before work tonight! I have so much to updated you on! I ran out of time this eve and was unable to get my pictures on here before work. It has been a whirlwind of a week. One of my best friends Chelsea from nursing school came last Wednesday to visits and stayed until just hours before I had to work tonight. We crammed more fun into one week then I would have thought possible! Wed night we met up with Dustin (who Chels was dying to meet) to have a picnic in the park. We enjoyed marinated meat and mojitos with edemame and fruit. Thursday we enjoyed a total girls day, facials, shopping, and one of the best movies I have seen in a while called My Sisters Keeper...I cried I mean sobbed for probably 45min of the movie. Yes the book is better and different but do both you won't regret it! Friday we helped my friend Rochelle and her family get ready for their wedding that night. We got all dolled up and enjoyed an eve wedding. Friday morning D and I pulled Chels out of bed early so she could experience some back packing in CO. We headed up to a lake near Vail called Piney lake where we enjoyed our own private little oasis. Sunday we chilled out and watched a movie and took long hot showers to remove the layers of sunscreen and OFF. Monday I went in for a meeting @ work, got some labs done; I thought it would be cool to get a base line @ age 25 write all my stats down and look back when I turn 50 and see how drastically I have changed. Chelsea rented a road bike so we could go on a ride along the Cherry Creek trail...we felt the burn! Throughout this whole week our excuse for spending money was "Its our birthday!" It helped take away some of the guilt. Tuesday was probably our biggest adventure... off to Canon city to sky dive! Once again we got up early to beat the storms. We hopped in to a itty bitty plane and put our lives in to 2 strangers hands. Chels last words as they opened the door were, "I'm gonna say a prayer! Lord I love you!" and then she was out the door. It was an awesome experience! Everyone must try it once! We went over to D's that eve for another movie night and ended up spending the night in hopes to use is pool in the morning...no such luck it was closed for some maintenance =( So we slept in and then spent the afternoon in Boulder shopping and seeing the town. Chelsea bought the cutest dress for herself and an adorable tank top for me for my birthday. It was sad to see her go tonight, It has been nice having an old friend around...it just feels comfortable. But we all must work...even if for only one night. Tomorrow D is picking me up @ 0830 as I get off work and were heading out for another weekend of camping with friends. More pictures and stories to come soon!

Sunny Yellow Tray

I did a quick redo number on this tray...all it needed was a little sunny spray paint and vola!

A Wedding Basket...

Jordan and Rochelle friends from Church are getting married this weekend. I knew immediately that I wanted to make them a picnic basket, so as I was searching craigslist for the perfect one to revamp I kept coming upon messages like " We got this basket for our wedding...never used". Hmm was this a bad idea after all? After consulting a few friends I decided the art of picnicking must live on! So...I started collecting things to fill this lovely wooden basket.

I painted on their initials and filled it to the brim with eclectic items such as hand embroidered and hand crocheted linens, Fresh colorful plates, cups, a bottle of vino, and a gift card to the grocery store so they can fill it with yummies!

Hunters Frying Pan...

Last weekend I was off on my first backpacking adventure here in CO. Dustin, Brennan, Christa and I hiked in 4miles, until we came upon our very own lake front camping property. Along the way we saw some of the most spectacular wild flowers...way to many to count. The mountain side looked as if God had taken His wet paint brush and flicked the green back drop messing it with a rainbow of colors.

The cold fresh mountain snow melt carved its path along side the flowers.

This is what we saw as we looked back...

and this is what we saw as we looked ahead...our very own private alpine lake.

There is always a little work involved with setting up camp. Dustin collected some wood so we could enjoy a fire all night long.

Can you smell it??

Check out our camp!

Protecting our food from the bears was a nightly task.

Who says backpacking can't have luxury's?

Hats and Headbuffs...gotta love em!

We discovered as we were playing cards one night that we were the Alphabet gang...A(Amy) B (Brennan) C(Christa) D (Dustin). Brennan and Christa are actually Sconnies as well, I love reminiscing with them about the Union, Lake shore path and all the other lovely things Madison holds. These guys broke me in well. I look forward to 2 weeks from now...Ice Lake here we come!

{ROUTINE}

Since I have started with my invisalign in November I have to go to the dentist about every 4 weeks. I have made it some what of a habit to stop by the Salvation army on my way home. I drive by it with its 1/2 off or 99cent sign staring me down...how can I pass it up. Many times I run in and out with nothing but most often I end up finding something to fill my cupboards or table top. When my nephew Isaiah was here a few weeks ago he commented that I didn't have any small bowls for his oatmeal in the morning like grandma does...well Zaiah, I found some!

Another cute breakfast item I found were these little juice/milk glasses.

So all of these vases have come from a thrift store but the most recent one I purchased is the one on the far right. I bought $15 worth of flowers split them up and spread the cheer around my house! Happy Monday!

My First Fourteener {Go big or go home. ~Kevin Kruess}

The quote above is one that was often made by my friend Kevin. When he and John were around if you weren't gonna make whatever you were doing BIG, then what was the point? So last Sunday I decided to live by those very words. Dustin and I were invited to join some of the high schoolers from our church to help out with their climb of Mt. Elbert. So I can't say I didn't know what I was getting into because that would be a lie. Dustin had told me quite often the week before how awesome it was that the first mountain I climbed in CO would be the largest one it has to offer. Mt Elbert, the beast that we tackled on Sunday stands @ 14,440 feet it is the tallest peak in CO. We set off on our hike @ 8am and returned back to our cars around 3pm or so. The last 800 or 900 feet were the toughest steps I have ever taken. The air is thin and your legs are just exhausted all you can do it put one foot in front of another. It became what we lovingly called the "death march". The view from the top was well worth it. Check it out.

This is the crew we hiked with.


Here are some of the shots I took on our way up. The sun was out and the air was warm.

As we neared the top it started to hail on us and the storm clouds rolled in. We had to make a quick decent because its not a good idea to be above tree line when the thunder is rolling!

So climbing this MTN makes one for me and 7 for Dustin...I only have 53 to go and D 47.

You better believe I added my initials to the post at the summit!=)

What can I say? I like this guy.

Dustin and his good friend Brennan.

Dustin's celebratory dance.

Warm Up On Dinosaur Mt. {Boulder, CO}

Last Saturday Dustin and I decided we had better get ourselves in the the hiking mode if we were going to climb Mt. Elbert on Sunday. So we packed up our water and hiking shoes to do a quick hike in the Flat Irons. Here it the view from the top, the peak overlooks all of Boulder and even out to Denver.

Relaxing @ the top.

A look @ Bear Peak.

Yellow cactus flower along the trail.

goofing off on the way down.