Category Archives: Boulder

Boulder’s best lesson

Posted on by sarah

There are many, many great things about living in Boulder. Quite a few of these have been extolled in the press. Just check out the “Best of Boulder” list on the city’s website. Boulder is a town of great athletes, brainiacs, foodies, artists and artisans, do gooders, and just generally healthy and happy folks. People say that there must be something in the water. I think it just might be a tad more radiation, but there’s a more definitive common thread between these sometimes disparate groups. The people of Boulder are driven. They don’t think about doing something some day or spend a lot of time day dreaming. Nope. These folks get things done. Step 1) Idea. Step 2) Execute. It’s what I love most about Boulder, and it most certainly rubs off on you.

When you’re surrounded by people who are living life to the fullest, you come to realize that it’s just not that hard. You just have to put one foot in front of the other and do it. The only trick is listening to your mind and body for signs of burn out and ignoring the voices of self-doubt. Most important of all, you have to jump while you have the fire, because dilly dallying leads to hesitation which leads to inaction.

Thank you, Boulder for helping me be the best possible me.

Baby steps

Posted on by sarah

Over the last few weeks, I’ve been feeling healthier, stronger, and more energetic–all thanks to my new yeast free diet. I’ve been feeling the urge, no the need to exercise and to use some of this excess energy. Getting active is always one of those things I’ve said I was going to do, but it really hasn’t happened. I’ve taken yoga and ballroom dancing and swam a bit in the past, but nothing stuck. Swimming in public was intimidating back in Missouri. It seems emotionally impossible in this land of beautiful people here in Boulder. Ballroom was fun, but it can be frustrating–especially since Rich and I prefer much different styles. I love Latin; he prefers waltz. As for yoga, I’ve been kind of gun shy since a severe injury a couple of years ago.

When we moved into our current condo here in Boulder back in December, I had mixed feelings about the community fitness room. On one hand, I was excited it was here. Locker rooms are gross and intimidating. Even on rainy/snowy/super hot days, the proximity would leave me little excuse. On the other hand, now I had to feel guilty if I didn’t use it. That’s girl wuss logic for you.

Over the last few months, I’ve been taking baby steps–tiny, tiny little baby steps to get myself started. I started by visiting the weight room, just in my street clothes. I didn’t do anything with the equipment. The first time, I didn’t even walk all the way in, just walked in and out. I did this a few more times, increasing how long I stayed and started paying attention to what was in the room. Tonight, I went twice–in work out clothes and with intent to actually work out. You see, I’ve decided to start running. It hit me a couple of weeks ago that I wanted to run, not because I should or because I wanted to fit in here in Boulder. I wanted to feel the wind in my hair and catch a little air. So, Friday, I’m going in to Boulder Running Company for gait analysis (link to video) and to buy running shoes–or at least walking/jogging shoes for now :)

If you watch the video, you’ll see that the folks at Boulder Running Company will video tape me jogging on a treadmill to help me pick the right shoe for me. This was a problem as I have never jogged on a treadmill, until tonight that is. I’ve walked plenty, but jog? That’s always seemed a bit dangerous to me. Yes, I know I’m revealing my level of cowardice here.  But…I did it. And? It was fun! As part of my baby steps, I walked and jogged on the treadmill (at various speeds and inclines). I used the stationary bike. I tried a few things on the Nautilus type equipment we have. I did some arm curls with hand weights. As it turns out, I can still do a few arm curls with a 15lb weight. Woot! When I got back to our place, I even popped in a yoga DVD for a few minutes and discovered I need to work on my setup. Overall, it was probably around a half hour of working out, but that’s half an hour more than I did yesterday. I think it’s going to stick. I felt good after working out. I’ve always heard that’s how you’re supposed to feel after working out, but it hasn’t been that true for me in the past other than a glimmer from yoga. Tonight, it happened. I felt good. Baby steps.

 

Catching up. #reverb10

Posted on by sarah

Ok, I’m more than a little behind on #reverb10. This is kind of a crazy time of year to sign up for something like this–especially this year. We’re moving (just 10 miles–but still!), I’ve taken on a new volunteer project, and it’s the holidays–parties, presents, obligations, travel, whew! This all just makes it more important to slow down and reflect, and #reverb10 is a perfect way to do this. So, I’m going to try to catch up!

December 3 – Moment. Pick one moment during which you felt most alive this year. Describe it in vivid detail (texture, smells, voices, noises, colors). (Author: Ali Edwards)

Not long after moving to Boulder (Louisville really–but we’re fixing that), my hubby and I took a day trip to Golden Gate State Park, near Golden, CO. We wanted to get into the mountains without a lot of crowds. We took snacks, drove up to the top, and had a lovely little picnic. It was gorgeous. We stayed for about an hour at the summit, and mostly had it to ourselves. We breathed in the crisp mountain air, scented with pine and earth. We soaked in the views of the distant, snow capped peaks. We listened to the silence between occasional breezes. We connected with each other.

December 4 – Wonder. How did you cultivate a sense of wonder in your life this year? (Author: Jeffrey Davis)

By being purely, truly me.  My childlike wonder is something that I cherish.  I nourish it.  I listen when it is feeling crushed by adult pressures.  It’s in the small things.  I stop in my favorite store–a toy store called Into the Wind–on a regular basis and I play.  I keep toys in my office at work.  In fact, I have a pair of foam swords crossed on my office wall, just above the bookcase that my stuffed owl perches upon.  I take play doh to meetings.  (I run them–so it’s ok, right? ;) )  I smell all the lovely little soaps at Lush.  I wear fun jewelry and clothes.  Green sweater over an orange top?  Sounds great to me!

I rebel against adulthood in all ways that I can while still being a responsible adult.  I go to work.  I volunteer.  I pay my bills.  I vote.  I pay my taxes.  I even do jury duty with a smile on my face.  Why shouldn’t I wear a tiara while vacuuming? :)

December 5 – Let Go. What (or whom) did you let go of this year? Why? (Author: Alice Bradley)

I let go of my comfortable-but-not-quite-doing-it-for-me life.  By most accounts, we were living a beautiful life.  We had a happy marriage, owned a large home that we’d been making our own for several years, had good jobs, two cars we loved, and were surrounded by friends and family.  BUT, and this is a big but, it just wasn’t working for me.  I needed more.  I wanted to be stretched intellectually, not just in work but also in my social life.  I wanted options and opportunity.  I wanted a community that got me.  So, we picked up and moved to Boulder.  We’re in a much smaller place, still paying the mortgage on that nice home in Missouri, and our families are about a thousand miles away.  BUT, and this is another big but, we’re so much happier.  We have experienced more in 7 months here than we have in the last decade in our small town in Missouri.

December 6 – Make. What was the last thing you made? What materials did you use? Is there something you want to make, but you need to clear some time for it? (Author: Gretchen Rubin)

The last thing that I made that was new for me was a pumpkin flan for Thanksgiving.  I cook all the time and love flan but had never made it myself.  The hostess at my bridal shower made pumpkin flan with pistachio brittle (I was an October bride).  It was incredible.  I’ve thought of that dessert off and on for six years.  My attempt was delicious but far from perfect.  Most of our belongings are still in boxes in the garage since we’re in temporary housing (will be fixed on Saturday!), so I couldn’t find the correct pan.  I found a spring form pan and figured the caramel would seal the flan so that it wouldn’t leak.  Uhmm, no.  After spilling raw custard all over the range and kitchen floor, I poured what was still in the pan into a plain ol’ cake pan and baked it.  While it was baking, I attempted the salted pistachio brittle–also a first and a fail for me.  Even after waiting overnight, my brittle didn’t set.  If I try candy making again, I’ll be procuring a candy thermometer :)  (The caramel for the flan and caramel I made for apple cider later in the week came out beautifully.)  However, all was not lost.  The custard which really couldn’t be called flan came out of the oven beautifully.  I chilled it overnight, dusted on some maple sugar, caramelized it with a torch, and called it creme brulee!

As for things that I want to make?  Plenty!  I’ve started this Pinterist board to track my would-be projects.

December 7 – Community Prompt: Community. Where have you discovered community, online or otherwise, in 2010? What community would you like to join, create or more deeply connect with in 2011? (Author: Cali Harris)

We moved to Boulder for the tech jobs and natural beauty, but most of all, we moved here for the community.  Before we even moved here, we were a part of it through twitter, trips to visit, and events like Ignite Boulder (want to see my spark? :) ).  Since moving here, my social life has exploded.  Instead of having to be creative to come up with things to do, we are invited–and have to choose what we have time for.  It’s amazing.  I’ve found mini-communities for all of my interests, many of which overlap.

Most amazing to me, we had our first Thanksgiving away from family.  It was not the sad, lonely Thanksgiving one might expect.  It was a week full of laughter, love, and incredible food.  It had it’s own dose of holiday stress, but overall, it was just a joyous occasion surrounded by friends that we’d be happy to call family.