Hello, Fall.

Hello, fall. What a pleasure to be greeted by you. Your mustard yellow ignites the hillsides and steep mountain slopes that meet the bluest sky. Your breezy air, campfire smell, and glistening gold take my breathe away. And truly, truly, in Colorado, you do it best of all. Fall, I'm glad you're here. I think I'll keep you for as long snowy days stay far away and your aspen leaves glisten in the sun.

Three weeks ago we ventured through Western Colorado. Each night we camped, each day we explored. It was wonderful. And now, life is busy again in the very best way, with a trip to California this past weekend, house projects crammed in on days off and between rain, and quality down time when swimming, or cooking, or working doesn't take up the majority. So, here's just a snapshot from our trip, with a promise (to myself, really) to share my favorites from Salida, the brewery's in Ouray and Durango, and the hikes to waterfalls and ghost-homes that filled those days out west. 

Oh, and in case you've ever wondered if I can do a cartwheel. I can't. But, this picture might make you believe I darn well tried.

Oh, Spring!

Spring is either a favorite season or completely loathed, it seems. Favorite because its warmer on the flat land, yet snowy and abundant in ski days in the mountains. Loathed because winter seems as though it can't let free its grip, hanging on as long as it can, with snow days arriving as late as May. It's a rare find when you hear someone say that Spring is somewhere in the middle. A second or third favorite? Yeah, not really. Well, at least here in Colorado. 

For me though, Spring brings an overwhelming feeling of fresh, clean, and bright. I fall on the end of loving it. You can escape to the mountains and feel the need for a beanie, after spending all day in sandals and a dress. You can eat ice-cream one day, and need a bowl of hot soup curled up on the couch the next. The window lets more light in, and the brightness brings rejuvenation after a long winter of early days cold to the touch. That first sign of Spring? With the bulbs pushing up through soil. beginning to make their green mark all around, with fresh cut tulips to ring in the season, waiting all winter long to pop up and say "Well, hello! Didn't you miss me?" Longer days, with nights that are still cool, and mornings that are still damp, with birds chirping before the sun even rises. Summer doesn't have these things, because hot and beaming and sun burnt cheeks arrive--but Spring, green and bright and new--in Spring--those things are abundant. 

So here's to an end of April and almost May. The last month of this Spring love-loathe relationship. To warmer days on the flats, and melty snow in the mountains. To cool damp mornings and fresh earth piercing blooms. To early birds chirping and bright light waking the day. To new life, and growing roots. To Spring!

photos from my Instagram Feed (@lauren_tien)

Cold Brings Snow

"It's negative 13 degrees outside right now, you might have a snow day" are words that I never imagined waking up to on a regular weekday morning. Forever used to the default of California warmth, what a jolting reality of winter it has been. 

But you know what? Cold brings snow. The snow! Oh the snow is amazingly beautiful. Beauty doesn't even really begin to describe the view when you're on a ski lift peering down to the slopes and valleys below. Tree tops reaching up to touch the crisp blue layer just beyond reach--stretching, peering, almost grazing clouds as they pass by with the whisking winter wind.

Matt and I made a trip up to Keystone together for a morning of skiing, and how quick my breath was taken away. Yes, literally, because it was so dry and cold--but figuratively speaking too, as the sight of the mountains captivated my heart like that of a child on Christmas morning. The snow is different here. Not sticky and wet, or icy and hard, like what I found myself learning to navigate as a beginning snowboarder in California's limited winter landscape, but dry and just waiting to be fluffed up, waiting to be swiftly passed through, making turns and edges not as scary to take--a snow that builds my confidence as I take to it strapped in a board, bundled up head to toe, racing down the mountain.

"Its negative thirteen," is never what I thought I'd hear right before I had to get out of bed, and drive to work. But never did I imagine I'd live just an hour away from mountain top beauty with a white layer of winter that dares me to race down its slopes. I'll take negative numbers any day, if it means views above pine trees reaching towards cotton candy strands of white and snow that goes fluff.

To the Hills

Wide open space. This was in our top five reasons for why we must move to Colorado. Days like this are the ones I hold onto when the city gets to be too much. When to-do lists and chores try to become my focus, and when its easy to forget this, this beauty, that I was created to find solace in. There is a longing in my heart, and I think in all of us deep down, for wide open space. A space to feel so little, so vulnerable, so out of control as the world around feels so big, sky so high, while wandering at the will of the rising and setting sun. I like to imagine what it must have been like to discover this place. This western wide open space. What did they say? What did they see? Truly, where the buffalo roam, to the hills and through the valleys is what I hold onto. I hold onto it and keep it tied up in a leather bag that I open whenever I need a reminder. A reminder that this, this beauty, is what I was created to find joy in.

These photos were taken just outside of Morrison, Colorado.

Linking up with Annapolis & Company.

Rain, Rain, Go Away.

See that man in the photograph? I did that about ten times in multiple parking lots today. It seems to be the way to get about town this week, if you are lucky enough to make it our of your house without a lake seeping into your living room. That and if the streets are even open for you to go anywhere.

You have probably heard about the massive amounts of rainfall we have been having in the state, steadily since Monday, and although Matt and I have not had to do much more than steer clear of large flooded streets and the office closing early, there are others whose homes and businesses are flooding. All of Boulder county was shut down do to the flooding, and the same is happening elsewhere. Pray for those rained out parts of the state. Pray for the areas that most recently experienced harsh burns, and now are being flooded with dangerous mudslides. Pray for the homeless who have no shelter this week and for those who have had to abandon their homes due to heavy rain. 

Denver Metro, where most of my day to day occurs, hasn't had the worst of it thankfully, but with heavy heavy rain comes longer commutes and added inconveniences -- so I apologize for the lack of writing while this rainy start to Fall lingers. 

Stay safe, and dry, fellow Coloradans!

Photo via Pinterest

And we're off!

This morning is a whirlwind of last minute packing, finishing up some work, and a long run before two days in the car. We are hitting the road before noon today and will be camping in our little two man tent in Utah tonight. Tomorrow night we arrive in California. I am just so ready to see family and be back in my hometown for a few days. And then its wedding festivities! Over the next few weeks you'll see a few snippets from our trip, as well as a handful of features where I get to introduce you to a few of my favorite writers and bloggers. Be sure to check back often, and you are more than welcome to say hello to me via Instagram @lauren_tien (which is where the majority of any of my "plugging in" will be).

Hello August

SOURCE

Hello August, I wasn't quite ready for you! Before you turn this sunny season into a crisp fall, here's a little reminder of the summer days we had in July. It was a good month! (Photographs from Instagram, @lauren_tien)

Follow Via Bloglovin' & Summer Adventures

You may have seen stamped all over your favorite blogs that Google Reader is going away this Monday. So let's have this be an official au revoir to the reader that has kept us in the loop with our must-reads. I have opted to stick with Bloglovin' to organize my own blog lists, and I'd love for you to follow me over there! Follow me on Bloglovin' here >>

--end housekeeping. onto summer dreaming.--

One of my all time favorite memories in our first year here in Denver, is from a Saturday last summer when we went tubing down the Boulder Creek river with our neighbors. Matt ran to Wal Mart the morning of this impromptu tubing adventure, to find only one tube left of the shelves. He bought a tube for me, and a little inflatable boat for himself (see here). This is where things started to get pretty funny. As you can probably imagine, a 6 foot 3 man in a child size boat floating down a rocky creek was a sight to behold. That, and my friend Lauren braved the rapids with her dog in tow, the little cattle dog pup sitting on her lap the entire way down the creek.

Fresh Air Inspiration, Celebrating America by being in the Beautiful.

It could not have been more fitting that I find this print today after celebrating our country's independence yesterday in the great outdoors. I found this print at Denver Goodwill for $0.99 (yes that 99 cents). I am fairly certain is is of Alaska, and although the artist signs it with the date 1993, the coloring of the print makes it have that vintage feel.

Days like these make me realize that the piece in my heart that was missing can be found in creation, that legs were made for more than walking but for exploring, that fresh air is one of the greatest gifts, that rocks and tree trunks are works of art, and that I truly love Colorado. 

post mail here

SO lovely readers, something that I have been reminded of this July Fourth: The greatest bargain hunting is done outdoors, in the freedom of crisp air, surrounded by bug noises, and with a captivated heart. I feel refreshed and inspired. What revives your creativity?