Spring in Denver

I never tire of watching the miracle of winter transition into spring. Although spring in Denver isn't as much of a relief as it is in Chicago or Columbus, I still enjoy it.  I thought I'd share some phone photos of spring in Denver for your enjoyment!

Surviving winter

As a native of LA, I've had to adjust to winters in colder climates. Although Denver isn't as cold as Columbus or Chicago, it can feel pretty cold and long for a softy like me. We're in the middle of a snow storm and I thought I'd share some things I do to keep warm and get through the winter.

1. Go out: It's easy to get holed up at home and not want to do anything. Even though it's an effort, once I go out, I'm glad I did. I enjoy taking the shuttle to downtown and walking around.

2. Eat hot foods: This winter it's been all about eating hot foods - they warm me up! Shabu shabu, samgyetang (korean chicken soup with rice), hot stone bibimbap and roasted yams or sweet potatoes are some of my favorites to cook at home.

3. Hot drinks: Along the same lines as #2. I drink something warm throughout the day.

4. Exercise: This is another one that's like pulling teeth for me. When it's cold I don't feel like doing anything. But I've been exercising 3-4 times a week and it's great to warm up the body break out in a sweat regularly. I go to the gym and on weekends take walks with W at Washington Park.

How about you? Any tips for surviving the winter?

Spring

These are photos I took in front of our house a week ago.  It seems that in one week we have gone from spring to summer.  The cherry blossoms came and went in April, leaving these beautiful red leaves behind, and now that it's May the lilac bushes are blooming.  I'm still in awe of how everything comes alive after a long and cold winter.  I love the transitions that take place in the fall and spring.  

27 cents

i got this milk glass vase for 27 cents at a thrift store in the area.  the flowers are from my cousin's wedding.  i played cello at her wedding and was returning the cello i had rented.  on the way back, i saw a little thrift store.  i went in and found this.  when i took it to the counter, the lady told me it was a quarter plus tax.  yeah!

in other news, i'm going to new york city for labor day weekend.  w's friend is getting married.  i'm so excited!  please leave a note if you have any recommendations for things to do in nyc.  i'll be staying in tribeca.

i think fall is coming.  the weather this week has been significantly cooler...

signs of fall

-- boots and coats everywhere
-- a few trees have begun to change color
-- people are no longer hanging out by the lake
-- the beachside restaurant has closed shop for the season
-- the sun sets 2 hours early
-- i broke my umbrella last week. actually, the wind broke my umbrella. we've broken 3 umbrellas and lost 2 since moving here. ha.

oh, and of course, the highest temperature this week will be 59.

fall is around the corner

i feel it. the weather is changing. the high today and for the rest of the week will be 75 degrees. today a coworker told me that the 80s are now gone. get ready for more weather posting from me.

in other news,

-> i am slowly becoming addicted to dunkin' donuts regular coffee. it is surprisingly good. the word is it's the creamer.

-> i've been using a new granola recipe. will and i love it. to give you a preview, it involves olive oil, pumpkin seeds and coconut chips. can you resist?

-> we are contemplating getting a kitchenaid mixer. is it worth it?

-> i helped plan a baby shower for the first time! and i took photos: 1, 2, 3

-> had an awesome summer: jazz fest, sox game, cubs game, wildfire, u2 concert, dance festival, music festival, air show, bourbon tour, cave tour, architecture tour, southern bbq and 10 visitors. whew.

-> will is back from louisville. i am getting used to having a roommate again.

-> small group starts tomorrow. i am nervous and excited.

i hope everyone is well.

random thoughts about chicago

i haven't written about chicago in awhile, but i've had random thoughts floating around, like...

i can't stand the pedestrian culture in chicago. no one obeys the pedestrian signals, and i think it's very dangerous and unnecessary. is waiting 30 seconds really going to set you back that much?

i miss being in the food capital of the world. yes, LA. it's amazing that although i'm currently living in the 3rd largest city in the u.s., the food in LA is like 10 times better.

ok, i have positives too. :)

we have had the mildest summer EVER! it has been so nice. i think there have been maybe 7 hot and humid days total. otherwise, it's been in the low 80s.

i love summer in chicago. everyone is outside enjoying the weather, the park, the beach, the streets, the lake, the pier. it's awesome.

i found my favorite summer activity = free music at millenium park. there is an outdoor music pavilion. the seats in the very front must be bought. but right behind that, a great big lawn stretches out for the rest of us. people bring their blankets, lawn chairs, picnic tables, food, wine, cheese and relax and enjoy the classical music. it is awesome! i've already gone 6 times, and i'm going to milk it for all it's worth. i think it's my hollywood bowl equivalent, but it's much more accessible and it's free.

summer, please don't go!

rainy day

it was rainy, cold and windy today. an umbrella flipping kind of windy. while it was raining sideways, i got on the wrong bus. i realized it, got off, and went to the bus stop. waited forever. then a bus passed me by because it was full. a second bus tried to pass me by but i knocked down the door until they opened it for me.

also, a couple that i have become good friends with is moving to denver tomorrow. i'm pretty bummed about that. it doesn't help that i have become attached to their newborn baby.

and. i didn't do my run today because of a pain in my left quad, and the rain.

another not-so-great thing happened today that i won't mention.

here's my attempt to cheer myself up. and cheer you up after reading this downer of a post.

what is wrong with this picture

it's june and temps were averaging in the 60s this week, with rain and wind. i am wearing my wool coat with thinsulate again but i still cannot stay warm.

spring's arrival

spring has been somewhat shy - okay - downright stubborn about arriving in chicago.  it's april 22!  but today she poked her head out and gave us a little glimpse of her full glory.  i went for a run by the lake after work and noticed signs of spring all around me.  first of all, it was a gorgeous day.  it hit 60 today, the sun was out, and it wasn't too windy.  also, i see green leaves appearing on trees that for so long were bare skeletons.  grass is turning from yellow/brown to green.  tulips and daffodils are opening up their buds everywhere, and people are planting their flower boxes.  it is really amazing how winter becomes spring.  it's such a sight to see green after so much grey, brown and white.  i can't even begin to describe how i felt as i saw familiar barren sites begin to show signs of change.  it is a beautiful thing.

end of lent

this year i gave up reading blogs for lent. not all blogs - i let myself read only blogs of people i actually know, which was a total of 13 blogs. the way i did this was i read them by subscribing to these 13 blogs on google reader. i didn't once look at my bloglines, where i kept all my other subscriptions. i checked my bloglines today and it was overwhelming. i subscribe to 153 blogs. so i had over 3000 newly updated posts waiting for me.

my goodness. i think i'm definitely going to cut down on my blog reading permanently.

some updates

it snowed yesterday. it's freakin' april, mind you.

i signed up to run the chicago marathon in october! it'll be my very first marathon. i'll be raising money for clean water in africa in the process. check it out here.

hopefully it'll stop being freezing, snowing and raining so i can actually start training.

i updated my photo blog today.

my mom and bro are visiting me in july. yay!

will is going to be in kentucky this summer.

i finished watching the korean drama, boys before flowers. loved it.

when i visited LA, friends told me i am becoming more korean.

i cut my own bangs the other night. i followed a youtube tutorial on how.

:)

cold again

just about a week ago, the weather got warm, the temperature inched up to the low 50s, and all of the snow from last month melted away. i was starting to wear normal shoes and coats, and had stopped wearing gloves and earmuffs. and then over the weekend, it snowed again. back to the snow gear. will was pretty discouraged, and so was the janitor in our building. right when we were getting used to the warmth, the snow just made its way back.

cabin fever: part 3

happiness is...

wearing a pea coat instead of the down jacket that makes me feel like a snowman.  and wearing normal boots instead of snow boots.

i did this the other night and i was psyched.

it's also wearing tights and a skirt.

i also did this, but it wasn't fun.  i was freezing my butt off.  literally.

cabin fever: part 2

lately will and i go out at night because by then i've gone stir crazy.  last night we were desperately in search of a good taco.  how i miss atacor!  we tried el taco veloz, based on chow and yelp reviews, but it was eh.  i don't know about these midwesterners' takes on tacos.  

while waiting for the elevator to go home, we had this convo:

bo:    honey, when do you think it will get warmer?

will:  i don't know honey.

bo:    when will it hit 40 degrees?

will:  i don't know. 

bo:    how about 50 degrees?

will:  i don't know.

bo:    how about 60 degrees?

wlll:  i don't know.  i think it will hit 60 degrees in may.

bo:    MAY????!!!

cabin fever: part 1

i have been struck with cabin fever.  my life consists of cooking, cleaning, looking for a job, and studying for a standardized test, most of which happens inside the house.  i try to make an effort to go outside at least once a day - which is the highlight of my day, including studying at a coffee shop or bookstore, going to the post office and yes, going to target.

it is quite an ordeal, getting out of the house.  the way i described it to an LA friend is, it's like being in big bear everyday.  i wear layers, get in my big poofy down jacket, gloves, earmuffs and boots when i go out.  

part of the problem is that i like to get work done at home during the day.  and i also prefer to get out of the house when the sun is still out.  it's a catch 22.  by the time i'm sick of staying indoors and want to get out, the sun is setting.  another problem is that i don't even want to spend money on a cup of coffee because i'm unemployed. 

btw, this photo has nothing to do with this post.  will wanted me to post it and let you get a glimpse of what you might get if you come visit us.

the weather outside

cutest. photo. ever.  this is will's best man and his wife.  i can't wait to take a photo like this with will.  i hope ours is just as awesome.

it's fall

The weather is changing and it always makes me feel a little romantic. I love autumn. It's sunny and warm but there is something different in the air. You start to take out the jackets and coats that have been stored in the closet for several months, and finger those brightly colored scarves again, wondering if it's cooled down enough to wear them (I know, I'm so LA). So in the name of autumn I took a walk around the neighborhood yesterday in the late afternoon, when the air was crisp and there was a slight breeze.

That (above) is Highland Park, my friends. I hope to post more about my neighborhood in the days to come. Meanwhile, enjoy the nice weather. I just wish we could also see leaves changing color in our part of the world.