Greetings from Arizona!

Sitting at our KOA campsite, enjoying the cool breeze, Santigold radio on Pandora and a glass (or five) of wine after a long day. We hiked the Grand Canyon - in the rain, saw trees so old that they turned to stone and go to go swimming for the first time all summer! Can't wait to share more pictures and stories from this trip. 

Happy Labor Day Weekend! 

#wanderlust #offthegrid #geology

Be Better: Buy Flowers

Keep fresh-cut flowers in your house at all times, even the cheapest little filler flowers that the florist sells. Take care of them and learn how to make them last as long as possible. 

from Chelsea's Guide to Being More Happy

Weekends

As I was sitting at Tower Grove Park enjoying the Festival of Nations yesterday, I realized that next weekend I'll be in Colorado and the weekend after that is Loufest - my absolute favorite weekend in STL. 

Life is good. 

Colorado for Labor Day

A week from today, I'll be in Southwest Colorado!

We're headed on an epic camping/roadtrip for Labor Day Weekend, and we've got so much crammed into just a few days: Durango, Cortez, a cabin in Pleasant View, the Grand Canyon, Four Corners, Petrified Forest, Mesa Verde, two nights of camping, fishing, hiking... It's a bit overwhelming trying to fit it all in a few days (especially when some things are hours apart), but I think we're ready.

To be honest, the things I'm most looking forward to the most are the spontaneous ones. The downtime. Stopping in at little diners on the road for breakfast and lunch on the road. Sitting around the campsite at night chatting. Starring out at the Grand Canyon in awe. Not having 24/7 internet access (even if it kills me). Drinking wine and looking at nature. Drinking beer and looking at nature. Drinking coffee and looking at nature.

I've been to the area before (when I was really little), and this isn't my first trip to Colorado, as you know (Winter Park in February 2013 and Steamboat & Colorado Springs in March 2011), but I'm really looking forward to seeing a completely different part of the state than I have in recent years. The funny thing is, in planning this trip, we found there was so much in the region that we wanted to do and see, and unfortunately, not enough hours in the extended weekend. I want to get back to the mountains in the summertime. I want to go to a rodeo. And a hot springs, again. I want to hike to Havasupai Falls in the Grand Canyon. I'm beginning to think we'll be making a trip to Colorado every couple years....

For more CO inspiration (and photo credits) check out my Labor Day in Colorado Pinterest Board.

UPDATE:
Read more about my visit to the Grand Canyon, Petrified Forest National Park, Mesa Verde, Cortez, Durango and beyond. 

Be Better: Make Your Bed

Make your bed every day, even if you hate doing it at first. Don’t be in your room when the bed is all messed up, it will make you feel like your whole life is messed up. 

from Chelsea's Guide to Being More Happy

Maybe This Weekend

This weekend, I'd really like to...

• go for runs in my neighborhood, around the Botanical Gardens and at Tower Grove Park with Maverick
• clean my room
• clean the bathroom
• buy kitchen chairs
• go to the movies
• finish OITNB
• catch up on my DVR - it's neglected, thanks to the previous statement 
• do some overdue non-work 'work' for various committees and organizations and event planning I (over)commit to
• write blog posts... for here and for work
• spend Saturday at Tower Grove Park for the Black Thorn Pub Softball Tournament
• spend Sunday at a pool... any pool! Got a pool?! I need a pool!
• drink wine
• open the doors/windows in my house so it stops smelling like burnt plastic (long story)
• walk to Thurman Grill for dinner
• sleep in
• drink coffee
• go to Mama Josephine's for breakfast
• take a nap
• clean my car
• plan for Colorado
• go grocery shopping
• paint my nails

..... Yes, I am aware that accomplishing all of this is impossible. Actually, the chances of accomplishing even most of this is slim. 

Pushover

Ironically enough, yesterday I was wondering to myself if I was a good person, or a pushover. I was in the midst of going out of my way for a friend, after having just been burned by another just a few days before. 'Am I doing them a solid? Or being taken advantage of?' I wondered.

And today, someone told me I 'bent over'. After I did something that I think was the right thing to do, the nice thing to do.

All too often, I'm upset because people let me down or didn't follow through or didn't do for me like I feel I've done for them. And now, it makes me wonder, am I just doing too much? Am I doing too much for the wrong people?

Or is it just me? Am I a pushover?

Think Happy

Just think lovely, wonderful, happy thoughts. 

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