The Art of Awkward

Erin & I before Beer, Brats & Symphony

I’m officially declaring August as the month of culture. I’m taking a mini-vacation in August in that I’ve decided to forgo all networking events, and am determined to get in as much culture and fun as I can. I’m kicking it off early today with tickets to Lucia di Lammermoor at the Central City Opera. Here’s what’s on the slate so far for August. If you’re up for any of these events, let me know!

Aug. 2 – Hamlet, Colorado Shakespeare Festival

Aug. 7 - First Friday Gallery Walk

Aug. 9 – Kings of Leon at Red Rocks

Aug. 11 – Picnic at Denver Botanic Gardens

Aug. 27 – Kooza, Cirque du Soleil

Aug. 28 – Absinthe & Arctic Caps, Mixed Taste Lecture series

My former college roommate Kristy feels as passionate about her broccoli as I do about clothes, which is to say…deeply. She has found her passion in wellness. We used to refer to her as Kristy of the Forest. In a state (Indiana) where each year the equivalent of the victims of Titanic dies from smoking related deaths, she has her work cut out for her.

I am addicted to refined sugar. Coupled with general laziness, this is problematic. But several of her blog posts have me thinking about my habits. She had a brilliant post on habits and on slowly focusing on making changes. Her post on running younger for longer made me contemplate what fuel I’m putting into my body. So in July, my co-workers and I came up with the challenge to not eat out for lunch during the entire month of July. So far we’ve only had three slip ups, which considering the fact we used to eat out every day is a significant improvement.

Then I made the challenge to eat my five fruit & veggie servings a day. Not even close. But my intake is significantly increased, and I’m slowly nurturing the good habits. Next up on the slate is to cut out my afternoon caffeine hit with a more sustainable source of energy, protein!

I’m putting it out on the blog so Tara can ask me how my habits are growing (which hopefully goes better than my Bolder Boulder training).

I know I am the worst about calling people in any kind of timely manner. Mainly because I have and always will hate the phone. And also since you are on East Coast time, and by the time I get home it seems too late to call. But I just wanted to say hi and that I’m thinking of you, and know that you sometimes read my blog. I am very much looking forward to hanging out with you and Steve in Philly in August. And maybe we can go to an aquarium. And this time I won’t have braces. But I still hope we can have grilled cheese together. I will try to call soon. But in the meantime – hi!

My older sister Kate got married recently. Sadly, it makes me the last Ellis standing in our family. My dad had two sisters and no sons, so I’m the last of the Ellis legacy. That hit me like a ton of bricks.

It was a beautiful and intimate ceremony at Red Rocks Chapel followed by a reception at Hotel Monaco. My godfather gave Kate away. Her veil was made by my great great grandmother for my great grandmother and has been in the family for more than 100 years. My aunt also knitted her an incredible shawl, which will be another amazing family heirloom. Oh! I also caught the bouquet. It was almost a direct hand off to me. No one in my family has any confidence that I’ll get married on my own, so they figure this can’t hurt any.

Did I mention I was head flower girl? Check it! (See Xander in the background?)

Xander looks like he’s taking his position seriously. But he didn’t. He refused to go down the aisle. Amateur. That’s why you pick people in their upper twenties. Less temper tantrums.