first day back

it is the morning after getting back last night from our long drive. i was far more elated to be in minneapolis than i expected. how was colorado? devine. it was a great couple days filled with nature. but of course there is nothing like home. and by that i mean, my own bed, my own bathroom, my comfortable house that is set at the perfect temp i like it to be, and of course my kitchen filled with food i love.

i've missed it all. but i'd be lying if i didn't say frisco, colorado is one cool town i'll forever be daydreaming of revisiting. i'd love to live in a little town like that some day. you absolutely have to be a lover of the outdoors to live there and it would be nice to know everyone you meet there is probably just as big of a fan of the rugged mountains, beautiful views, clean air and endless hiking trails as you are.

i could definitely see myself hiking every morning, rock climbing with friends, playing in the lakes, and learning to ski at copper mountain. the people of frisco are blessed with these opportunities. i hope they never take that view of the mountains for granted.

these mountains really are quite remarkable. so big and grand and slowly ever changing. hiking the trails made me wonder how many people have hiked here before me many many years ago. seeing old mines and ruins made me wonder how the place looked like when these people from long ago lived and worked there.

 mountains may be grand and hard to break but it still made me sad for all the nature we have lost. the trees that have been cut, the animals driven out and nearing extinction, the resources exploited. mother nature gives us so much, we must give back and preserve.

+++

back to today. i am definitely feeling the end of summer sadness. after making the whole wheat pancakes i have been missing i have been verrrrry slowly unpacking my luggage from the trip and cleaning up the place. this weekend i am all alone for two days and i'm not sure that is a good thing after expecting to come home to family but either way it will give me some time to myself and to reorganize my life before school starts on tuesday.

hello new beginnings! today's mantra: be patient and welcoming to change.

i found some time to get my tan on outside and i was shocked how hot it was. i've clearly been accustomed to colorado weather. which no offense minnesota, is waaaay better. i'm not a fan of this humidity. but at least it gave me a chance to try and get tan for once this summer and of course drink my green smoothie!

ingredients:

• handful spinach
• handful kale
• baby cucumber
• one banana
• handful blueberries
• little bit of frozen raspberries
• 2 tablespoons chia seeds
• coconut milk

 

^^ yup, i'm finally getting around to reading 1984 

DENVER

our first day in denver colorado before driving to frisco !

we arrived around eight pm to J's sisters apartment and the first thing i did was take a much needed shower. the highlight of the night was watching J play robot unicorn attack. remember that!? best.theme.song.ever.

the next morning we ate the food we brought from the road for breakfast;  vegan pizza, cucumbers, green peppers with hummus and flaxseed crackers.

we went to the grocery store to get some food for the week and after that we made sandwiches for lunch; mashed avocados with garlic on toast, with sliced tomatoes and my mom's garden sweet peppers. J had hummus on his sandwich and i also ate the sweetest peach after with a glass of coconut milk. it was a delicious lunch.

we were pleasantly surprised J's sister had an outdoor pool at the apartment so it was a perrrfectly hot day to go read by the pool and cool off in the water. also bonus: we were thee only ones there! 

here's some myspace pictures for ya'll  ; )

^^^ my pool boy cleanin the pool hehe

^^^ heaven

^^^some pool side yoga 

^^^ sidecrow

^^^ yuppp, pretty great morning

afterrr some pool fun we made k8ters a birthday cake before we headed out to stay with her the rest of the week in frisco. the recipe is from ambitious kitchen and was a chocolate lovers dream. you can find the recipe here ! i think the name sold me; "best ever vegan avocado chocolate birthday cake with vegan chocolate ganache".

it was a pretty simple recipe with weird things like avocado, and fresh brewed coffee. which you couldn't taste either of them once it was done so that was great! i hate coffee and even though i love avocados that would be gross with cake. but the avocado was just an egg substitute and overall i recommend the cake if you love chocolate! this was also my very first bundt cake. i like to call it a butt cake though.

^^^ then i carried said cake the whole 1.5+ hrs to frisco in my lap

we had a beautiful drive through the mountains the whole way -- can't complain about that :)

we arrived to frisco and it was much much colder than denver. but the view was incredible; mountains and green everywhere you look and the freshest air you ever breathed! i kept saying i wish i could capture it in a jar and take it home with me. i'm gonna thoroughly enjoy staying here this week. here is the lovely lady that let us stay in her beautiful home! 

^^^k8ters with her birthday cake !

what are men to rocks and mountains?

“thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out going to the mountains is going home; that wilderness is a necessity...”

-john muir

jack's in colorado with this view, how could i not share.