Well, I have returned from vacation (dead porcupines, snow in the desert and ghost towns just to name a few of the fun things we experienced) and am already planning our next trip! I know I've been gone for a while and instead of bombarding you with ten separate posts to sift through, I'll do a quick recap of the last week and get us caught up on the next few days! Apologies and enjoy!
April 20 - Look Alike Day, Volunteer Recognition Day

For Look Alike Day, I would like to share Irina Werning's BACK TO THE FUTURE (1 & 2) series as well as something I only found today - Dear Photograph. If you've seen it before, you know what I'm talking about when I say "Holy tear jerker!" Here are a few pictures I was thinking of trying to duplicate.
April 21 - Kindergarten Day / April 22 - Girl Scout Leader Day, National Jelly Bean Day

Now, I know what you're thinking - "Enough with the old pictures!" But it's Kindergarten Day!! And Girl Scout Leader Day!! Just one more. . . or maybe two.
I LOVE OLD PICTURES!!
I think this was right around Kindergarten age -
I can't seem to find my school pictures from this
year though!
My mom's girl scout troop!
Heather Falker, Amber Foster, me, Danielle Rubis, Danielle Brandenburg, Angela Falker
and Jessica Shega-Fox.
Oh, and our apple turkeys for Thanksgiving!
April 23 - Lover's Day, National Zucchini Bread Day, Take a Chance Day, World Laboratory Day

What could possibly be better than a big hunk of zucchini bread for breakfast? Did someone say Zucchini CAKE?? Yes! That could possibly be better. Thanks to Elise on Simply Recipes for her grandmother's zucchini cake recipe!

On a semi unrelated subject - In honor of Take a Chance Day, I'm thinking about jumping on the "I'm going to do a triathlon" train. For the past month I have been taking swim lessons to learn to lap swim and I CAN DO IT! This was always the leg that was the most intimidating, but now I really think I could handle a sprint triathlon. I'm not going crazy and signing up for a full length or even an Iron Man just yet, but baby steps are still pretty exciting! My research starts today!! 
Starting April 24, we went away on a mini-vacation to southern Colorado. While it wasn't exactly a dream every step of the way, it was the perfect Pig in a Blanket Day celebration!

Day 1: Dropped Odie off at his favorite buddy's house (THANKS KATE AND SARAH AND LITTLE MAN!) then started the drive to South Fork, Colorado. Justin bought me a voucher for a two-night stay in a jacuzzi suite at the Spruce Lodge for my birthday and it was time to redeem that baby! We had the Rio Grande suite (most of the pictures in the video on the website show our room!), ate at The Shaft right next door for dinner and soaked it up in the hot tub (or luke warm tub, but who's counting?).

Day 2: Hiked to Treasure Falls, tried hiking to Opal Lake but the road was closed. Enjoyed a fabulous lunch at Tequila's in Pagosa Springs. After our morning was enjoyed, the weather turned nasty and we headed back to "home".

Day 3: Off to Great Sand Dunes National Park! Tried hiking to the top of High Dune, but a monster of a thunderstorm squashed that idea. So we watched bad-ass lightning over the dunes from our stellar campsite with a view! Then it rained all night. We slept in the car and awoke to SNOW in the DESERT! Crazy, stressful, testing vacation, but I know who I want to be with during the next thousand crazy, stressful and testing vacations to come.


April 25 - Administrative Professionals' Day

April 26 - Hug an Australian Day, National Pretzel Day, Richter Scale Day, Take Your Daughter to Work Day

PLEASE try these for National Pretzel Day!! Please!


For Take Your Daughter to Work Day, I would like to showcase my dad. My dad is the best mechanic in the whole world. He has been the best mechanic in the world for over thirty years but, last year, he got hurt. His back no longer wants to put up with lifting humvee tires, giant engine blocks or any other plethora of heavy machinery. A few days ago, he got a new job! No lifting, twisting, crunching or grunting necessary. I am SO proud of my padre. He has worked so hard and deserves every ounce of good that comes his way.
My progress so far - I feel that my pictures tell a better story than my words ever could.

April 27 - Babe Ruth Day, National Prime Rib Day, Tell a Story Day
April 28 - Great Poetry Reading Day, Kiss Your Mate Day
Justin and I have way too many kissing pictures. WAY too many.
April 29 - Greenery Day, National Shrimp Scampi Day

I hate shrimp. Like LOATHE shrimp. So, I'm celebrating Greenery Day
with all things wonderful, tasty, beautiful and GREEN!
Avocado Pesto Pasta by A Cozy Kitchen
and
Sweet Life Kitchen's delicious green smoothies . . . try one or all four!
Pistachio Cake by The Sugar Turntable (she has tons of other adorable
cake recipes and ideas!)
and
Faroe Islands waterfall
thanks to Something Beautiful . . .
wish I had a tiny cabin directly behind where the photographer was standing.
April 30 - Hairstyle Appreciation Day, National Honesty Day

I will be leaving you with some wonderful hairstyles to appreciate for Hairstyle Appreciation Day. First, A Beautiful Mess.
Then, a perfect side braid from Bride to Be.
Kate from the Small Things Blog's braided back!
Last, but not least, Great Length's funky and fabulous PURPLE underneath!
Happy bombarding!
XO