Go ahead . . . make my day. and the tale of the crazy kickballer

The State of Colorado has the most fabulous law commonly called the "Make My Day" law.  More or less it gives a person the legal right to use deadly force to defend their place of residence and any other innocent persons legally inside it, from violent attack or an intrusion which may lead to violent attack.  Last night I was taking full advantage of this law.

Don't worry, someone didn't break into our house . . . something did. 

One of the wonderful adventures of having a puppy (and a cat who is obsessed with being outside) is that your door is always open.  Dally can never seem to decide whether inside or outside is a more exciting place to be and so we are constantly assisting her relocation.  (Yes, "relocation" is the appropriate word-- she's a lot of puppy to move and each move usually requires food/water and at least one toy.)

As much as I looooooove our new sliding glass door, I am starting to think that a revolving door would have been more appropriate.  I also realize how convenient people must find those "dog doors" . . . those people probably don't have dogs the size of a large man though.  Hence, no other practical solutions have yet been determined to cut down on the amout of time our back door is open.

Because of the constant opening and closing of the door, not only should we buy stock in WD-40 to try and recoup some of our costs--- we are also being invaded by a number of creepy crawlies. 

Monday, my battle was against a particularly annoying mosquito who I could swear bit me about ten times while I was making dinner.  I would consider that a violent attack, wouldn't you?  I swatted and I swung and I even called the Mr. over, but the devious blood-sucking pest seemed to disappear each time Mr. MHH came to help. 

Fast forward to 12:30 at night.  I was wide awake, the Mr. was not interested in staying up super-late to hang out . . . so I decided to take a bath.  All was going well until I realized that nasty little nusiance has followed me into the bathroom!!!  As I sat in my blanket of bubbles, vampire mosquito flying around, I found myself wishing for a gun, grenade, something big and explosive to blow this nasty vermin to high heaven.  I imagined myself pulling out a hidden handgun and bam! "Make my day, mosquito."  Yes, I now realize that shooting the teeny bug would have done a tremendous amount of damage to my house and would not have been a good decision.  I would've felt better though. 

Not to worry, I did manage to rid the world of said beast before it infected my toothbrush, or bit me for the 100th time. 



At least she's not drinking Natural Light

In other news, we had kickball last night.  I really like kickball- the kicking is fun, the runnint is fun, Dally mostly goes for the beer. 
I like all things kickball, but am not the most aggressive fielder.  The kicking and running don't bother me . . . but I'm a little intimidated by the giant red ball hurling through the air at my head when the other team is "at bat." 

Anyway, we were a little shorthanded last night so yours truly got stuck at second base rather than my usual post at catcher.  So I'm standing there, about ten feet behind the baseline 3/4 of the way between first and second.  Fro boy on the other team was up to bat- he kicks the ball toward third, rounds first heading toward second (for some reason running the bases ten feet deep in the outfield--- right into me.  So, one of our guys throws the ball at the him to tag him out about 8 feet before he gets to second. 

That is when fro boy (who was also apparently celebrating a birthday) loses it.  He grabs the ball and chucks it . . .  AT MY FACE. (whaaaaaat??)

Yes-- seriously.

He then proceeds to argue with my husband about whether or not his behavior was appropriate and kept saying that it was "all in good fun" and he was "just having a good time" and "celebrating" because it was his birthday.

???

Let me make sure I've got this straight, Sir Psycho.

1) Losing your temper and throwing things at girls is "all in good fun"???
2) As long as you're "just having a good time" you have some kind of hall pass to act like a complete idiot???
3) You were "celebrating"????

I'd hate to see how this guy acts when he's having a bad day.

Needless to say, fro boy decided that getting into it with my husband (who was furious but managed to not kill the guy) was not worth it.  Mr. MHH is the nicest guy--- but DON'T mess with his woman.

We ended up winning something like 18-4.  Happy Birthday, Sir Psycho

If you're interested in seeing a picture of the crazy or just in reading a fabulous blog, check out my friend Lauren at Climbing Grier Mountain.  She's a foodie, photog and fabulous kickballer!

I Demand More Weekend. (or three of me so I can have thrice as much fun)

Hello my lovelies, (and handsomes if there are any of you)

It is Tuesday.  I am in a meeting.  We are waiting on someone to get back in here so we can continue . . . . so, now--- I blog!

If there were three of me, my weekend would have additionally included the following:
FYI: Me1= actually me.  Me2= alternate me also fun like Me1. Me3= healthy, responsible me, much less fun than Me1.

Me2 would have gone to Tablerock Lake for the weekend.  My sister. her husband and my darling parents were at our lake house with our family dog, Tucker.  Tucker is a giant yellow lab who had surgery last week.  Tucker's story will be featured in a blog later this week where I will spend time thanking my sister for being amazing/ probably saving Tucker's life. Me2 would have hung out with my family, waterskiied, cooked with my mom, swam around the dock and ridden around in our boat.  Me2 would have survived on ice cream, guacamole, and pina coladas (thus making Me2 vary thankful for Me3)

Me3 would have spent the weekend sleeping until 10 every morning, cleaning our house/sorting through my closet room from 10-12, working out from 12-4 and drinking water/ eating raw veggies to compensate for eating and drinking Me1 (real me) did this weekend

As there are not 3 of me, and I am limited to just Me1... I will go ahead and write about the fabulousness of the weekend I had.

Friday (As in "Friday, you charlatan") Mr. MHH and I took Dally to the vet to get her last round of shots so we could take her to doggy daycare for the weekend.  After marvelling at the monstrousity that is our puppy, the doctor recommended taking the 16 week old off of puppy chow.  Apparently she's growing too fast and weighing 60lbs at 4 months isn't exactly necessary.  There goes my dream of Dally growing into an enormous, fluffy, sweet, slobbering mess rivaling Clifford the Big Red Dog.  I'll have to settle for the slight 160lbs that she's planned to be.  Drat.

After dropping off Dally, Mr. MHH and I headed to Steamboat Springs to meet up with our friends from CGM for a weekend of fun. 



the part of the drive I was awake for

 

The drive up was absolutely gorgeous, and went by so quickly . . . . this may have something to do with the fact that I slept most of the way while Mr. MHH drove though.  (I tend to do that a lot in the car, thus road trips go by really quickly!)  Arriving at Chez Griswold, we were greeted with margaritas (ole!) wine (hurrah!) and the smells of a fabulous tortilla soup (ohh yes!).  Our first order of business was to change into comfortable clothes.  Hellooooooooo sweatpants! 

Have I previously mentioned how much I absolutely adore sweatpants?  If I were to make one of those "I'm a PC" commercials, my tagline would be, "I'm a PC and I love sweatpants" . . . "and stillettos, and my family, and my cat even though she tries to move out once a week, and thunderstorms, and bunnies"

Okay, maybe my commercial wouldn't work.  

Oh yes, back to the weekend.  After a delicious meal, I went downstairs to the room we were sleeping in-- full of yummy food, exhausted... and went comatose.  Sleeping was AMAZING-- the week had felt so long and I was soooooo tired.  LUCKILY, a few hours later Mr. MHH decided it was time for him to go to bed . . . or maybe he decided it was time to wake me up.  Either way, that's just what he did.  We were staying in a room that had twin beds, which I didn't mind because after sleeping alone for 26 years... I kinda like my space.  Well, Mr. MHH decides that not only is it okay to wake me up... he wants to cuddle.  IN A TWIN BED.  I couldn't decide if he was messing with me, or trying to be sweet . . . but I really wasn't having any of it.  I believe my quote was something like, "There are two beds for a reason, now shut up."  (I know, I know . . . . not nice.  But it was 2 in the morning!!!)

Saturday was Jeeping, walking around town, visiting an art fair in a park that smelled so much of sulpher that I almost threw up in front of 300 strangers, lunch at the Boat House, a nap, and then an incredible dinner at bistro c.v.   <-- This place is foodie HEAVEN!  I wish I could re-create their grilled romaine salad, or their hollandaise, or their potatoes, or their blueberry cobbler . . . all so good!  After dinner, we returned to the house and once again... food coma.  Luckily, this time Mr. MHH decided that the twin beds really only had room for one. 

Sunday we had the joy of going running with Mr. B and Lauren.  They ran 12 miles . . . . I was perfectly happy not even getting close to going that far!  After our run, Mr MHH and I went bathing suit shopping for me.  I had an incident with come tar in Little Cayman that has made my favorite suit unwearable, and my other go-to is starting to fall apart . . . so I was in need.  Here's something about shopping for bathing suits with your husband . . . you quickly realize that he is either A. insane B. blind or C. not thinking about  the fact that you actually wear bathing suits in public.  My sweet Mr. MHH marched himself over to the bikini rack in Quicksilver and grabbed far too large of a top, and far too small of a bottom.  Sweet of him, but so not happening.  We picked out some and I went to try them on--- and he picked his 2 favorites.  One of them is very cute and definitely wearable . . . the other is going to do a really lousy job of keeping my buns under control.  (Beginning daily runs . . . now!)



my rear is not this small . . . . hello brazilian



cute . . .



cute . . .

After our last lunch at the Boat House, we Mr. MHH was ready to hit the road (since we couldn't mountian bike because of the rain) and battle traffic back to Denver-- while I slept in the car.  The traffic was pretty insane, and no amount of Angry Birds and orange soda pop could make it go by anymore quickly.  On these rides, I always wonder, "Should we have left earlier?" "Should we have left later?"  "Should we have just stayed?" 

After picking up Dally, we arrived home to discover that Munchkin was outside the ENTIRE weekend!  She muxt have slipped out when we were loading the car.  She was very hungry but seems to have avoided the ferocious neighborhood fox.  (thankfully!)  

The weekend definitely went too fast, so if anyone out there knows how to make it longer or how to multiply myself so I can enjoy three times the weekend at once-- please let me know.  If this is possible, I may want a Me4 who will also work out all weekend and go to the office during the week so Me1 can play all day. 

Also--- enough with the rain already.



xoxo, Mrs. MHH

Friday, you charlatan!!!

Dearest Friday, or should I call you Monday?!!!

Ha!

Yes, that's right!

 I know it's you Monday-- despite your trickery, I have found you out! 

"How?" you ask . . .

"Why?" you wonder  . . .

Well, it didn't even take much Nancy Drew-ing because I am quite familiar with Friday and all the glory Friday brings!

Never. Ever. Ever. On a Friday would the following happen:

1. My flat iron died.  This CRITICAL hair rescue tool would never ever be so obtrusive as to die on a Friday.  This is clearly a Monday-only sort of event.
2. I found my favorite red pumps chewed to high heaven.  Even Dally in her 16 weeks of maturity knows not to chew up shoes on a Friday.
3. Ridiculous traffic.  Okay, fine. This happens in Denver on every day ending in "y" but still seemed a little inappropriate this morning.
4. Bagel drop- cream cheese side down.  enough said.
5. One and a half hour project kickoff meeting until 3:30 on a Friday.  Ruined my "work a half day" plan
6. Kickoff meeting outfit:
1. Pressed woven shirt: check
2. Pencil skirt: check
3. Mile-high heels: check (not really complaining about this one
4. Slip under pencil skirt: check (because my momma raised me right, ladies.)  
5. All of those add up to NOT "Casual Friday"

See, obviously NOT a Friday!


So, Monday-- please send Friday back my way in time for Mr. MHH and me to head to Steamboat Springs for the weekend!

anti xoxo, Monday!

Mrs. MHH

Breckenfridge-- Summer Style

Happy Thursday!

As I write this, it is after 5pm and I am sitting at my desk in my office.  Why you ask?  Well, apparently it is MONSOON season in Denver.  I left home in my 4 1/2in blush pink Joan and David's . . . and definitely don't have my trusty Hunter boots under my desk.  DRAT!



Bad in rain



Good in rain





Modis is a really gorgeous space



So, while I sit here and wait out the rain, I wanted to share about one of the best parts of being married--- weekend trips!



This past weekend for the 4th of July, we went up to Breckenridge.  We had a couple friends with us, but only for part of the weekend--- and we managed to steal away for a date night.  The first place we went was Modis for a cocktail.  I absolutely love this place.  They have a really eclectic drink menu and their food is fabulous as well.  However, we didn't stay-- because we wanted to hit a classic Breck spot, Downstairs at Eric's (because everywhere else just sucks) (not really, but that's what their shirts say).  I ordered their Southwestern Veggie Burger and it really was incredible.  The burger itself was really really flavorful and actually looked like a burger (sorry Gardenburger people, it might taste okay... but yours look kinda gross.)  I only finished half, so I got to have the rest of it the next day.... which made me a happy Mrs! 

On Monday, the 4th we had the entire day to ourselves!  (oh yes, an entire date day!)  There was a lot going on in Breck on the 4th and we were lucky enough to do a little bit of everything. We got up early and took Dally downtown to get some breakfast.  After we ate, we wandered through the art festival and spent some time with a watercolor artist, Laine Dobson.  His work is really beautiful and surprisingly masculine for watercolor.  His use of color reminds me a little of Richard Thomas-- who is one of my dad's favorites. 

The day was so gorgeous, Mr. MHH, Dally and I decided to hike up Peak 9 a little bit.  We had a great time and I got some fabulous photos!

Dally played in the runoff stream but only for a moment-- it was freezing!



Mr. MHH and Dally Bear





Mr. MHH loved it!



After nature-hike part of date day, Dally was exhausted... so we walked back to the condo and I finished my weekend mission:  TO MAKE AN APPLE PIE.  I did it!  I peeled 8 apples by hand, managed to make the crust without a food processor (the pastry blender and I battled), rolled out the dough, cut it for the lattice work, filled the pie, placed the lattice, baked the thing, and it was so yummy!  I have never baked a pie before and was quite nervous about the whole thing, especially considering that I was baking at 10,000 feet --- yes, altitude DOES make a difference. 

 

 

The rest of our day consisted of walking around town together enjoying the day.  We dinnered (I like that "word") at Mi Casa-- because you can't go to Breck and NOT go to Mi Casa, (hellooo margarita!) watched the fireworks (lame), and rested our eyes to prepare for the week ahead.



Why fire fighters are cute



What I dig about the Highlands

It's been a whirlwind couple weeks-- Mr. MHH has been crazy busy with work. we've been traveling a bit, and also doing lots of fun things during the week.  It's been fun loving things around our house and Denver as well. 

I want to share my latest favorites in one of our favorite neighborhoods, The Highlands:







Love the lights in Linger


• Linger--- Located in the former Olinger mortuary has an extensive menu featuring food from all over the world, and an amazing drink menu.  I went there one night with my lovely friend K-Spence and some other girls.  Having the bar in an old mortuary is a little creepy . . . .but lots of fun.  Of course, we got a little silly. 

River of pool balls









Yes, it's really this gorgeous

• Vita-- The upstairs patio here is AMAZING.  Mr. MHH and I were here for Mr. B's birthday (whose lovely wife writes a fabulous blog) and I also had my bachelorette dinner at this hot spot.  When Mr. MHH and I needed a location for a date last week before he was out of town for work, the obvious choice was Vita. 

• Lola- actually located right next door to Vita-- fabulous margaritas and even better food!  We went there with the Griers last Wednesday night and as usual, it did NOT disappoint!  I had the poblano relleno with some ahi and it was INCREDIBLE.  Mr. MHH had the caldo de mariscos and we all had some plantain tamale. 

• Little Man Ice Cream - This sweet little spot is actually located around the corner from Lola and Vita-- just down the hill from Linger.  It's the most adorable building- shaped just like a milk can and the ice cream and gelato are AMAZING!!!  Mr. MHH ordered ice cream after our Vita date while I opted for gelato.  There is usually a line down the street, but this place is not to be missed!

If I haven't made it clear . . . I dig the Highlands and all the great places to eat and grab a martini with friends!  The view of downtown is amazing and the cuisine is so eclectic!  I plan to do some shopping adventures there later this summer and will keep you posted on the great places I find.

xoxo,

Mrs. MHH