Beer/Fun Lovers Paradise

Both Nate and I are fans of beer... and I'm not talking about wanting to sit around and drink a case of Coors Light, although there's nothing wrong with that. When I say we love beer, I mean we really like drinking/trying just about any beer that's out there. One place, in particular though, is pretty near and dear to our beer drinker hearts.

New Belgium Brewery!

* located in Ft. Collins, CO * 

If you live in Colorado, chances are that you have at least heard of New Belgium Brewing (NBB). There's also a chance that if you live in the US of A you've heard of them too. Fat Tire is the beer that put NBB on the map. They continue today brewing beer that pushes the envelope and tastes delicious.

Not only do they brew great beer, but the brewery is a dream place of employment (at least for me it would be) and environmentally conscious too! I've been on tours of the brewery I think 3 different times now, and on each tour I learn something new. I also fainted during one tour... definitely not recommended, because it makes finishing the tour difficult. I blame it on the a-a-a-a-a-alt-i-tude. (beware when arriving at DIA from sea level and immediately traveling to the brewery for a tour) On our last brewery tour, my uncle, father, Nate, and I all went down the twisty slide. Any employer that is on board with having a slide at work is OK with me! Slide on!!

Yeee-ha! "Happy fun place" aka New Belgium Brewery

If there are any environment, beer, or fun lovers out there, you will definitely want to make a trip to Ft. Collins, Colorado! You'll learn not only about beer and brewing, but what it means to love the life you live. The owners, Jeff and Kim, surely knew what they were doing when they started the company.

(click on the picture for more info about how New Belgium started)

Also, Nate and I would like to take this chance to thank New Belgium for putting some of their beers in cans now. We can take them anywhere, well... almost anywhere. (please drink responsibly) The cans of beer are great for taking to the pool (because glass is prohibited there), and cans are great for the golf course too!

* Thank you New Belgium! *

** Maybe... just maybe one day they'll distribute their beer in Michigan (then Nate and I will have to move), and if they do I hope I can be one of their few women "beer rangers", because let's be honest... I look pretty darn good in the uniform!

Beer Ranger Ashley
aka The Future Michigan Ranger
Current Favorite New Belgium Beer:  Belgo

Nate and I were just in the Liquid Center a couple of days ago, and we were very happy with our tasters of their new beer: Belgo! Yum yum!

Visit New Belgium!

Sunny Day

Yesterday was quite a stormy 4th of July in the Denver metro area. We didn't even bother driving anywhere to watch fireworks, because our weather consisted of: clouds, wind, pouring rain, lightning, and hail. Yes... I said hail. Never in my life have I seen so much hail and crazy weather since moving to Colorado four years ago! I spotted my first "twister" in Colorado, and I have a feeling it's only the beginning. Every time there are dark clouds near, I assume there must be a tornado forming. (It's silly, I know!) Nate thinks it's entertaining how worried I get when stormy clouds loom in the distance. But seriously... I never experienced so much "odd" weather growing up in Michigan!

(Those are hail stones... some of them were up to about 0.5" diameter)

Today, however, is lovely outside! So Nate and I just might take advantage of it with a little golfing. I am not sure you can call what I do golfing though. Golf is not a good sport for anyone who is extremely tough on themselves. Nate typically brushes things off much easier than I do, so it doesn't bother him much (as bad as it bothers me) when he shanks a shot or puts a giant divot into the tee box area! (Not that he does that very often... it's usually me doing the above mentioned things) My first time "golfing", with my own clubs and everything, was last summer, so I shouldn't be too hard on myself.... but that's what I do. My main focus today should probably be keeping my cool, instead of driving a 200 yard shot. For the "love of golf!", I really hope that at the end of the day my disposition is as sunny as the weather outside.

** Doesn't this picture sort of make you want to love golfing? **

If anyone has tips on how to be a better golfer, then feel free to share them! :)

Happy 4th of July!

I always feel extra thankful on this day each year. Yeah, it's fun to spend time with friends and family while enjoying a day outside next to the grill. Not to mention eating food hot off the grill along with some crunchy vegetables.....

... enjoy great weather and a beautiful sunset...

... but never forget those who have fought or still fight for this great country!

Thank you all! Happy 4th of July!

More like "Coastal Loving"

I was thrilled to find a "surprise" in the mail today! (I really love surprises in the mail) It really wasn't a surprise though, because I was expecting it. I subscribed for Coastal Living magazine recently and received my first issue (July/Aug) today!

(Picture courtesy of coastalliving.com)

That aside, I was even happier to find a short article titled "why we love the coast" inside the pages. Honestly, part of the reason that I subscribed to Coastal Living in the first place is because I'm missing home, and home for me is a beautiful and mostly peaceful lake in northern Michigan. So... in steps Coastal Living to bring a little slice of the coast to suburban Denver. Unfortunately, reading the list of reasons why Coastal Living loves life by the coast just made me miss it even more! Shoot. So I reminisced and elaborated a little on each reason they listed for loving the coast, so here goes:

1)  Coastal Living said, "At the beach, no one raises an eyebrow when the adults act like kids."

* For some reason, being carefree on the lake always brings out the "kid" in people. I've seen it so many times, and it's fantastic. Somewhere along the way in life, it seems that people are discouraged to stop acting so "childish", and I think that's a real shame. So it's great that children and adults can come together near the coast, wherever that may be, and enjoy it at the same basic level. Who doesn't love to splash around a little when they get in the water? I know I've acted "childish" at the lake plenty of times. :)

2)  Coastal Living said, "Lounging under an umbrella for nine straight hours is considered normal."

* Enough said. Doesn't Jimmy Buffet always say, "it's 5 o'clock somewhere"? If you can get away with it being 5pm all day on the coast, then please take advantage of that!

3)  Coastal Living said, "Our best memories are made there - on vacation, on a sunset walk, on a dare on a surfboard..."

  

* I have so many great memories from growing up on the lake and vacationing (even honeymooning) on the coast! Everything from catching fireflies, collecting seashells, and swimming until turning into a prune... to sunset views and boat rides with friends. I've loved every second of my coastal memories... each... and every... second.

4)  Coastal Living said, "At get-togethers, the dress code is always "come as you are"."

* Really! Dress code? What's a dress code? Wear whatever is practical (probably a bathing suit... or maybe not), comfortable, and will keep you warm and mosquito-bite free on chilly evenings fireside. No one's paying attention to your clothes. They're probably contemplating, while gazing at the waves, something much more important than your outfit. Honestly.

(I wasn't joking.... t-shirt, bathing suit, puppy fur... it doesn't matter what you wear)

5)  Coastal Living said, "It's where we seem to get our best night's sleep."

* Not to mention how heavenly waking up to the sound of waves crashing on shore can be... mmmm. Can someone please find me a giant conch shell to place next to my ear?

6)  Coastal Living said, "Food tastes better at the shore. In fact, you're practically required to indulge. Ice cream before noon? But of course!"

* Somehow this really is true. Maybe pairing a meal with a setting sun makes it more enjoyable, or the community meals during a picnic at the lake do? I'm not sure why, but things really do taste better on the shore of your favorite waterside location!

(one of many picnics enjoyed while growing up at the lake)

7)  Coastal Living said, "Sea lions honk. Dolphins smile. Pelicans dive. Crabs crawl sideways -- how great is that?"

* Might I add; ducks swim, crayfish scurry, loons take flight, and eagles soar. There's a multitude of wildlife at your fingertips waiting at the coast. Enjoy it.

8)  Coastal Living said, "When you're on "beach time," everything is go with the flow. No schedules. No rushing. No stress.

* I repeat... no stress. Seriously, therapists should start recommending a day at the shore to reduce stress! I know it would do wonders for me at this moment. Just imagining the sounds of waves crashing even helps a little. :)  (where's that conch shell?)

* take a seat, you know you want to *

9)  Coastal Living said, "Cocktail hour is really a race between you and the melting ice."

* If this is your biggest concern in life, then something is right. Oh how I would love to be battling with a hot sun and melting ice cubes instead of life's other major issues!

10)  Coastal Living said, "Everybody smiles bigger when they have a sun-kissed glow on their cheeks."

* An extra dose of vitamin D once in a while does wonders. Try it sometime. Part of the sun-kissed "look" comes from getting out there and enjoying what nature has to offer! Thank goodness for our lakes, oceans, seas, rivers... and any other favorite coastal locations out there. :)

Since I'm missing my home coast, I'll have to rely on my Coastal Living magazine for a little pick me up now and then. :)

Dream It. Love It. Live It.

Letters to Ashley

So I've seen this on a few other blogs that I read, and the first place where I saw this was Cleared For Takeoff and I thought that I would like to write some letters to myself too. It really is sort of like "free" therapy. :) So here goes...

Dear 10 year old Ashley,

You will begin to experience how cruel kids/classmates can be. It will just be the beginning, and some people will grow out of it and others never will. Try not to let it hurt you when boys tell you that "you're a carpenter's dream... flat as a board and never been nailed." You definitely want to stay away from boys that want to get in your pants at a such a young age. Most boys won't show much interest in you until high school any way, so you don't have to worry too much. Just do what your father always said and "be yourself and people will love you." Learn to love yourself, you're great!


Dear 11 year old Ashley,

Your best friend will make friends with girls much "cooler" than you, but don't be too tough on her... she's dealing with insecurities too. Everyone has them, and you're very good at understanding this from a young age. Try very very hard to always remember that. Most people need a little encouragement once in a while. All people need love. Don't be scared to give it. And your best friend.... she'll come around so don't let it bother you so much.


Dear 12 year old Ashley,

Try not to hate middle school so much. Don't be too tough on your parent's for not having the money to clothe you in the clothes that the "popular" kids wear. Not to mention your tiny body doesn't really fit into the clothes that most girls wear at your age anyway. You'll get a butt and boobs later (basically college) and pretty much dislike them. Don't let it bother you that no one thinks it's cool to play the saxophone or wear leggings and not jeans. Later you'll realize later how much sacrificing your parents did for you.... and love them that much more for it!

Dear 13-14 year old Ashley,

You're learning to be yourself and I'm so happy you decided to tryout for volleyball, because it ends up being really great for you and helps you gain confidence in yourself. It's one of your great loves in life, and you'll always look back on it with great fondness. Don't stress out too much about still not having your first boyfriend. You've never been in too much of a hurry to grow up, and try to keep it that way. You'll marry a man who respects and loves everything about you. I will repeat... do not worry!


Dear 14-17 year old Ashley,

You'll be doing very well in classes and well on your way to becoming the valedictorian of your class. Don't ever forget that when you set goals for yourself that you do attain them! You'll have your first boyfriend... and your first heartbreak. Don't let it get you down. Every experience you have in life makes you stronger. Learn something from everyone. All people have something to give.... including you. Never regret decisions in life, and always move forward. Don't dwell in the past.

Dear 18 year old Ashley,

Please don't spend so much time focusing on a boy. Remember to spend time working on friendships with your girls, because they are extremely important in life. Work harder at finding the right college for you... it will sneak up on you faster than you can count to three! Stop thinking that procrastination will always work for you... it won't. Work harder on being independent, then maybe college wouldn't have been such a culture shock. Never forget to thank your parents for everything that they have done for you!


Dear 19-23 year old Ashley,

See! College went faster than you thought it would. You struggled at first, and I'm proud of you for graduating... even if it did take 5 years and you enjoyed your "super senior" year at school. Leaving your friends and your new home will be tougher than you thought.... don't pretend it won't be. Also remember that you're going to marry the greatest man, so don't spend too much time on dead end relationships... but do try and learn something from them. Try not to be too scared of the future. You need to learn you can't control everything. Also... try not to stress out too much about your major, because you can always change what you do with your life. Change begins now.


Dear 24-25 year old Ashley,

You have moved away from Michigan... and all of your friends and most of your family. You drove yourself cross country alone, and I knew you would be fine. You have your first architecture job, and I couldn't be more proud... unless you find a job that you love, then that would be great too! You will meet the guy you'll marry. And you are ready for it! :) He's pretty much the greatest, so always treat him like it. You'll also be laid off from your first architecture job and work very hard to find your next one about 1 week later. Try not to struggle with it so much... you'll be there for 2 years. (that's longer than most people keep their jobs) It may not be the right place for you.

Dear 26-27 year old Ashley,

You will deal with unemployment in an economy that doesn't really support architecture and construction... try not to beat yourself up too badly. Also don't worry about what anyone else thinks about you. How you view yourself is the most important thing. There are many things in life that are outside of your control. All you can do is be yourself and keep working towards your goals. I have faith in you... and I know you will figure out something that will work for you and Nate. Even though you didn't have the wedding you always thought you would have... it was perfect! Never take people for granted, they won't be around forever. You can't always have everything you want, (but you do have everything you need) and don't ever forget that. Be happy with where you're at and never stop trying to be the best person that you can....

Buy Shoes, "Get a Pair Free"

I love these shoes! Not just because they're turquoise and cute, but because if you buy a pair of 

TOMS shoes... 

someone who needs a pair gets shoes too! I mean, it seems like there aren't many 2 for the price of 1 deals very often.... not to mention you can help change a child's life. If you ever find yourself thinking that your house isn't big enough (or if you're like me, thinking about how much you'd like to move from an apartment into a house some day) or you'd like a bigger bed to sleep in at night, remember that there are people in this world who don't even have a bed to sleep on... and sometimes they don't have a roof over their head either. Then you can do a small part (buy some shoes) to help others, and your problems don't really seem like big problems any more, do they?

buy a pair of shoes... a child in need gets a pair too :)

If you've seen any of the pictures I've been posting on this blog lately, you'll come to the conclusion that I am a bit obsessed with turquoise... and it's not even a recent thing. I've always loved the color blue, and turquoise just reminds me of perfect waters... oh well, it's a safe obsession.

Here's a little info (straight from the TOMS website) about how it all started:

"In 2006 an American traveler, Blake Mycoskie, befriended children in Argentina and found they had no shoes to protect their feet. Wanting to help, he created TOMS Shoes, a company that would match every pair of shoes purchased with a pair of new shoes given to a child in need. One for One. Blake returned to Argentina with a group of family, friends and staff later that year with 10,000 pairs of shoes made possible by caring TOMS customers."

I don't have a pair of Tom's shoes yet... but I don't know why I wouldn't get a pair. Maybe I can even talk Nate into sporting a pair too....? ;)