What a wild week it's been. Where to begin. . . I drove down to Colorado Springs to fill in at an office I would KILL to work at. Met more really awesome people and had a pretty disastrous camping trip that actually turned out to be not-so-bad. Found a stray dog. Adopted said dog. Very crazy ten days.  I hope you had an awesome end to your May. Here's a list to catch you up on your holidays you've been so desperately awaiting!
May 21 - National Memo Day, National Waiters and Waitresses Day, Rapture Party Day
May 22 - Be a Musical Instrument Day, National Taffy Day
May 23  - Lucky Penny Day, World Turtle Day
May 24 - National Escargot Day, Brothers' Day, International Tiara Day, Morse Code Day
International Morse Code Alphabet!


Morse-coded necklaces, blankets and scarves - People would have NO idea they say something!!
So many Morse code crafts, I don't even know where to begin! I LOVE the idea of crafting hidden messages all over my wardrobe. Maybe some Morse Art coming up next??

Also, am I wrong in saying memo = Post-it? Check out this stop motion video of Post-its! Super cute! Happy Memo Day!
May 25 - National Missing Children's Day, Tap Dance Day, Cookie Monster's Birthday, Geek Pride Day, Towel Day, National Wig Out Day, Player Piano Day
May 26 - International Jazz Day, Sally Ride Day
In honor of Cookie Monster's Birthday, let's celebrate with a few cookie recipes! Giant S'mores Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies by Smells Like Home & Red Velvet Thumbprint Cookies with with Marshmallow Frosting by How Sweet It Is! Yum!
May 27 - Sunscreen Day
May 28 - Amnesty International Day, Memorial Day
May 29 - Learn About Composting Day
May 30 - Water a Flower Day

Colorado is suffering from major wildfires right now so it's not exactly the most fun thing trying to breathe outside. I am lacking a need for sunscreen since I'm holed up in my dark apartment to keep the heat (and smoke) out. Let's travel to three places you might actually want to enjoy the sun and NEED sunscreen.
I want to sit on this dock with my feet dipped in the water and lather on the sunscreen until the sun goes does. Would you join me in Hungary for some dock-time? Come on!
Or maybe Canada is more your style? Watching the sunset over Lake Superior sounds like another one of those times that you would need ample lotion to protect you from the sun. Oh, Lake Superior, how I miss you.
Last, but certainly not least - a natural swimming pool in Samoa. I'm sure I would have a pretty hard time wanting to leave these crystal waters to reapply sunblock. Alas, I'm a fair-skinned strawberry blonde and would sizzle into oblivion if I didn't!
May 31 - National Macaroon Day, Save Your Hearing Day, World No Tobacco Day, What You Think Upon Grows Day

Have you read "The Art of Racing in the Rain"?? A quote that pops up a couple of times in this amazing book is "Your car goes where your eyes go" and I think that goes hand in hand with "What you think upon grows" - What an awesome way to live At-Cause in your life! Celebrate the things you have brought into your life and the things you have continued to grow by thinking on them! Congrats!

P. S. To save your hearing - I'm addicted to my Jack Johnson station on Pandora. Perfect for summertime, if I say so myself!
Happy sizzling!
XO
 
Doctors' Day, Take a Walk in a Park Day, I am in Control Day, Pencil Day
P. S. Create your own wall-mount for colored pencils HERE!

I am TOTALLY in control today!
Here's a recap of my 26 before 26 to show just how IN CONTROL I am!

(After I re-read this, I'm realizing that I'm actually OUT of control. . .

SO proud of my accomplishments so far this year. Keep it coming!)
1. Climb three more Fourteeners.   
    a. Mt. Elbert - Sawatch Range - 4700ft elevation gain /  9 miles
    b. Mt. Lincoln - Mosquito Range - 2600ft elevation gain / 5.5 miles
    c. Grey's Peak - Front Range - 3000ft elevation gain / 7.5 miles
    d. Torrey's Peak - Front Range - 3000ft elevation gain / 7.5 miles
    e. Quandary Peak - Tenmile Range - 3450ft elevation gain / 6.75 miles
                (CONQUERED!)
    f. Mt. Democrat - Mosquito Range - 2150ft elevation gain / 4 miles
    g. Mt. Bierstadt - Front Range - 2850ft elevation gain / 7 miles
2. Go camping at least five times this summer.
        Moab, UT / Southfork, CO / Fort Collins, CO / Glenwood Springs, CO / Aspen, CO
3. Go skiing at least once this winter.
        Below: Eldora skiing near Nederlands, CO. I forgot how much I love skiing!! I also
            forgot how fast you can get sunburnt in Colorado! I burned my eyeballs!!
                Worth it!
4. Rent a house.
        Don't really have to worry about this until September, but I'll admit I already
            started looking on Craigslist. Then I realized how much it sucks to look for a
                place to live and stopped! Phew!
5. Ride my bike to Denver.
6. Keep one plant alive for an entire year.
        So far, so good! Our money tree is actually sprouting new little leaves and stems!!
7. Lost 10 lbs OR two sizes.
        I started on the Herbalife "diet" (I hate saying I'm on a diet... It's more of a lifestyle
            thing for me!) Check out Rightfitt Nutrition for more information (if you're in the
                Northern Colorado area!)
8. Read 10 books.
    a. A bunch of Stephen King books.
    b. A book about a flu pandemic.
    c. I'm thinking about starting in on the Hunger Games. Yes? No?
9. Document my 25th year through pictures.
        So far, I'm doing alright. I'm going to start nagging Justin to take more pictures
            because ME taking pictures means I'm taking pictures of OTHER PEOPLE's lives
                during MY 25th year. Hmph!
10. Continue on my path to becoming a Hygenius. (Genius Dental Hygienist!)
        I LOVE YOU, SHANNON!
11. Run at least one more 10K.
12. Try 25 new recipes.
    (A few below, but for more SUCCESS/FAILS check out my
        "Defying the Pinterest Stereotype Pinboard HERE)
    a. Baked Banana French Toast = FAIL
    b. Fruit Dip = SUCCESS
    c. Brownie Pops = SUCCESS
    d. English Muffin Bread = SUCCESS
    e. Dulce de Leche = mild SUCCESS /
                                 possible REDO
    f. Greek Yogurt Dill Dip = SUCCESS
g. Buffalo Chicken Dip = SUCCESS
h. Pretzel Cheese Sauce = FAIL
i. Chocolate Lovers Cupcakes =
    ULTIMATE FAIL, I might not
        understand baking for higher
               altitudes yet.
j. Soft Pretzel Bites = SUCCESS
13. Build a bridge with my sister.
        Trying. . .
14. Re-vamp my wardrobe.
        Waiting on #7! Polyvore helps =)
15. Complete 10 DIY projects.
        Again, check out my Pinterest HERE. So far, I've done. . . Bowties, Valentine Chapsticks,
            Back-to-the-Future pictures (Below is my first of many with this project - I HAVE
                SO MANY MORE IDEAS FOR THIS ONE!!), Gold-Dipped Wine Glasses,
                    and Watermark Tee to name a few!
16. Get a smart phone and not kill it.
        Keeping my fingers crossed!
17. Go on a cruise.
        No plans yet, but I'm totally open!
18. Go on a hot air balloon ride.
        Making reservations TODAY for our 3 YEAR ANNIVERSARY!
19. Get all eight Harry Potter movies.
        Done. Watch all eight Harry Potter movies = DONE! Now I get to start playing the
            Lego Harry Potter I got for Christmas! Haha!
20. Call one family member per week (not counting my mom or dad!)
        Not doing so hot on this one. I call my Mom at least every week. Talk to my Nana,
            Aunt Deni, Aunt Lisa, Papa, too - But I'll get back on this!
                Start scheduling in my planner!
21. Volunteer for at least one dental event.
        Been doing research, but haven't found THE ONE yet. So why not do them all??
22. Have a dinner party.
        In the planning stages. I'll probably end up with 73 by the end of my 25th year.
            Not even something to complain about!
                Get ready for dinner parties galore, friends!
23. Celebrate three years with the love of my life.
        August 28, 2012 - Let the countdown begin! 140 days!
24. Take one vacation by myself.
        Also in the planning stages. Going to take a weekend by myself.
            Maybe take a pup along? Gotta get those vacation juices flowing!
25. Buy (and use) one new attachment for my KitchenAid.
        These buggers are EXPENSIVE! And I can't quite find a need for any of them enough
            to shell out $60+. . .  This one might not get done. Maybe I'll do one recipe with
                each of the attachments it came with.
                    Bread hook, whisk and regular paddle - Here I come!
26. Turn 26!!
        Let me check - yep, I still have a heartbeat. On the right track!
Holy crap. What a whirlwind three months it's been. Looking forward to my next nine months as a 25 year old! How are your resolutions going?
Happy being held accountable!
XO