So we've finally moved into our new apartment, it's alright for now, after all it has a roof and four walls (The rental market in Colorado Springs is intense right now, so everything is way overpriced). The good news is that we have an awesome view (see below)! I was also accepted into graduate school at UCCS last week. I had my in person interview and they liked me so much they accepted me on the spot, it felt pretty darn awesome I must admit (I don't think I've ever been told I'm "perfect" for anything in my life). So I will begin my MA in Special Education next month, and I couldn't be more excited! We're still getting settled in (and unpacked!) but we're loving CO and we're so grateful that we get to live in this wonderfully beautiful state!

Things I've learned so far in CO:
- Doing anything remotely involving any kind exercise in altitude is no joke.
- You actually do get used to waking up with nose bleeds.
- Living in a city of 500,000 people is too much for me, I long for a farm or mountain cabin now more than ever.
- Finding a job, any job, around the holidays is basically impossible.
- People out here are way more dog friendly, and outdoorsy, and nice.
- I have a "midwest accent"?
- I miss my family even more now that a plane, instead of car, ride separates us.
- There are legit gangs, and a very high crime level in COS. Who knew?

- ^Therefore your property & car insurance rates double...
- The only thing I enjoy about large cities is the access to awesome food & booze.

Get ready for picture overload. Sorry but I've been without internet for over a month now and I've gathered a lot of pictures. Plus I live in Colorado, everything is beautiful!

View from our apartment balcony during the day & night. I'll have to get another picture when the sun is rising, the light coming off Garden of the Gods in the morning is absolutely breathtaking.

 View from in front of the picnic table

First hike. 6800ft altitude is unforgiving.

What happens when you have an apartment but the army has all your household goods:

 cards on the balcony, our nightly entertainment for the first week.

cheap wine in styrofoam cups, I like to keep it classy.

We've been trying to do weekend adventures to cool places, the first was to Frisco, CO, which for those of you who ski/snowboard is right by Copper Mountain.

Drive up to Frisco from Denver

The BEST pizza I've ever had! Boatyard Grille 

Second adventure was in our own backyard, well 5miles from our apartment to be exact, Seven Falls!

If you're ever in Colorado Springs this park is WAY worth the entrance fee, it's one of the most beautiful places I've ever been, the pictures don't even do it justice!

185 steps up to the "Eagles Nest" sounds easy, but 7,000ft up everything becomes harder, specifically breathing.

At the top of the Eagles Nest, ignore my messed up hat :)

So the coolest thing about this park is they give you a 24hr pass so you can come back at night and see the falls all lit up. Below is all seven falls connected, as seen from the Eagles Nest.

Still acclimating...

After you climb up the stairs of all seven falls (may feel like torture) you get to two hiking trails at the top, which take you to more waterfalls, this was at the end of the "Midnight Falls" trail.

Top of the Eagles Nest

All seven falls lit up

"Hill Falls" the bottom waterfall named after the current owner

All seven falls during the day, as seen from the Eagles Nest

A few random fun photos:

London really enjoys the dryer.

Manitou Springs winterized after the first snow. This is my favorite town around Colorado Springs, we tried to live here but couldn't find a rental.

Awesome sunset from random parking lot.

I let Fernando decorate the guest bathroom, this is what happened, he now thinks it's his "man bathroom" and will only use it.

I won the fake vs real Christmas tree war, although I did promise to vacuum the needles up. You just can't beat a real tree!

One of the coolest pieces of downtown art I've ever seen! This is in downtown Colorado Springs and it fully powered by solar panels on top. It lights up and dims all night.

Lastly we were back in Medina for Thanksgiving, which included an "engagement" picture session and my bridal shower (I know we're doing it backwards).

We're pretty unphotogenic but a few turned out well :)

My matron and maid of honor, Kelsey Lawton and Nicole Blum, at my bridal shower!

(Shower was held at Connie's amazing recently renovated Victorian house off the square in Medina and it was amazing. So many people came out to celebrate with us and I am forever grateful to all of them.

My awesome wedding dress cupcake cake made by my friends at La Hoot Bakery in West Akron!

Hello Colorado!

We've finally made it out to Colorado Springs! We're currently living in a hotel but after a week of constant apartment/home tours and a whole lot of stress, we've finally found an apartment! Hopefully we'll be moving in early this week if everything goes well.

Moving has been quite the adventure, we had to delay driving to Colorado from Kansas because Remi was extremely sick. We ended up taking him to the emergency animal hospital on Kansas State's campus. $400 and a ton of pain meds later we still didn't have a definite answer but everyone's guess was that he had torn a muscle in his back. Luckily the pain meds have seemed to help and he seems to be feeling a lot better.

Fernando's truck all packed up to leave Kansas!

The last night I was in Ohio a bunch of my friends went out to dinner at House of Hunan. Lily insisted on bringing the creepiest doll ever. She also thinks Taylor Swift and I are the same person... haha

Creepy doll!

First hotel in Kansas, I missed my kitties! 

Remington wearing Fernando's Army Achievement Medal!

Army dog! Everyone in Fernando's unit in Kansas loved Remington!

The best dog park ever! Bear Creek Dog Park in Colorado Springs. It's 25 acres and a spring runs through it and pools in different areas. Remi absolutely loved it.

We're really looking forward to exploring Colorado more, we already love it here, there's so much to do! I'm having more trouble acclimating to the altitude (lots of nose bleeds) than Fernando. I think his body got used to Alaska since he was there for 3 years. My lame butt has only lived in Ohio and Kansas (thrilling huh!?) so I'm thinking it's going to take me awhile to acclimate. 

We love and miss you all! We'll see all you Ohio people (and anyone coming to my bridal shower) at Thanksgiving!

Listen to Good Music

The (best) songs that have been stuck in my head for the past few weeks.

Matt & Kim - Let's Go

Youngblood Hawke - We Come Running

Passion Pit - Take a Walk

Awolnation - Sail ("Kill Your Heroes" is also amazing)

Atlas Genius - Symptoms ("Trojans" is also amazing)

Electric Guest - This Head I Hold

Blondefire - Where The Kids Are

POP ETC - Keep It For Your Own

Aaron & Lisa Marry. Gwen Runs a 50k. Abby Turns 21. Remi Explores NE Ohio.

and I document it all.


I've been back in Ohio since September 19th. I drove 16hrs here straight, from Kansas, by myself (& Remi). Our lease was up on our apartment at the end of September. Fernando decided that since I was planning on going back to Medina for Lisa and Aaron's wedding and Abby's 21st that I could just stay there until the end of October when we move to Colorado Springs and he will camp in Kansas. Yep my husband is homeless (by choice), and loving every minute of it (see text conversation below).

Yep. That's who I married.

My friends Aaron Sargent and Lisa Stahl got married on September 29th in Cleveland. I've known Aaron for the past 5 years and Lisa is more than a perfect match for him. Aaron leaves soon for flight school at Fort Rucker, Alabama. Beautiful wedding for a beautiful couple!

Their first dance song was "Stolen" by Dashboard Confessional. Perfect choice for these two!

This is what I came back to when I ran inside to pick up lunch. Remi really wants to drive my car!

Remi and I went to the Cuyahoga Valley National Park the other day. Mostly around the Happy Days Trail and Whipps Ledges. Remi LOVED getting to climb all over the rocks and in the leaves, he's going to love Colorado!

He also loves my moms backyard. After being in a 3rd story 1bed apartment he's loving it here!

After Connie broke the US 24 hr record, she ran 149miles in 24 in Poland, Gwen insisted on running a 24hr race here, and she did more than amazing at the North Coast 24hr! The weather was awful, tornado like wind and rain but freezing, so she only ran about half the race but still logged 31 miles! Gwen ran a 50k!!

See Connie's story here: Local News Interview

and here: I Run Interview

So I got her a cake and we threw her a party!

Gwen 19 miles in!

And lastly, Abby turned 21 on October 6th! We went to House of Hunan in Medina for dinner and then hit up a few bars around Medina.

Abby picked up a homeless man named Andy Kall, and Anthony Place is creeping in the background.

Most exciting/stupid was Andy and I's decision (in addition to Jeanine, Cliff, and Anthony) to go to Paul's Pub in Medina. Easily the scariest place I've even been to in this town. Luckily everyone survived.