Pirates at 40

My favorite will always be Jack Johnson & Mason Jennings (which I got to see LIVE!!!)

But, this is pretty amazing :)

1 Year in Kansas

Whoa.

I have been SO busy, and I have been loving it!!

I have officially lived in Kansas for a year! I can hardly believe it.

It's fun thinking back to the day I moved. I can vividly remember Spence excitedly loading up the moving truck, our stop at an Iowa winery, and how nervous I was following that moving truck for 7 hours!

I remember moving into my tiny apartment, it took so long to empty my things into that place--we were starving by the time we finished. Every food place was closed. Our first dinner at my new place consisted of frozen pizza, which we ate sitting on the floor.

Fun memories.

It's funny how much has changed in the past year!

A year ago I was so nervous about how life would turn out in Kansas. I was so nervous about meeting new friends, missing my old ones, and being away from my amazing family.

It all turned out 'A-Okay'.

This weekend Spence was in Minnesota for a wedding. I was a little nervous to be alone in Kansas all weekend. Last time he went away for a weekend, I at 1/2 a box of brownie batter.
Not good.

This time it was fine. I obviously missed him, a lot....
BUT...

I was so busy, I barely had time to think about missing him.

My weekend consisted of cheer practice, lesson planning, data planning, running with a friend, meeting friends for dinner, and seeing a former co-worker.

So much has changed in a year. I am starting to feel 'at home' in Kansas (although, MN is ALWAYS my #1). I'm busy with a new job I love, and have made some great friends.

Life is good :)

Oh, Hey!

I have a blog?! What??

Sorry, I have been completely MIA this summer. It has been a very busy summer, anything but relaxing.

IT has been a wonderful summer. Full of new experiences, and wonderful family and friends! Remember that 3 item summer bucket-list?? Ummm....ya. I was pretty unsuccessful with completing the list. EXCEPT yesterday, I defended my Masters Thesis and PASSED!! I'm okay with only completing one item on the list as long as it is that one! What a relief!! I am SO happy I now have every class done for my Masters!!! I still need one more for my new license, but that will be completed on the job! VERY happy!

Speaking of on the job, I started my new job yesterday! It was super exciting! It was so cool to see my new classroom, and also so scary to see how completely bare it is. Time to start organizing and decorating!

The highlight of this summer, was definitely going back to Minnesota to visit family and friends. Recently I was able to have 10 days of pure, busy, vacation bliss in Minnesota. It was Ah-mazing.  My mom and I ventured up to Lake Superior and enjoyed the Superior State Hiking Trail. I have become a major Minnesota tourist. Minnesotans, look around you, you live in the most beautiful state! I didn't full appreciate the luxury and beauty of the lakes and woods until I moved! I wish I would have traveled around to more state parks and soaked up all the outdoor recreation the North Star State has to offer. I feel my former outdoorsy self coming back to life...

My Mom enjoying Lake Superior

Split Rock Lighthouse

At the start of Temperance River Hike...6 miles of DIFFICULT hiking! Good thing we refueled with pie!

 After our Lake Superior trip, I headed up North again to Hackensack, MN to watch Spence compete in a triathlon, and spend time with his family! It was really fun to be up on Birch Lake. Spence and I have so many wonderful memories at the lake! It was great to catch up with both his family and some friends! Great memories are always made at Birch Lake!

At the Cabin!

Birch Lake!

Moonlight Cruise

Walker Chase the Police Tri!

I didn't spend every minute of my Minnesota time in the 'Northwoods'. I began my trip home with a Twin Cities summer staple--the Pedal Pub! Had a blast celebrating my friend Tracy's birthday! The Pedal Pub always grantees a wonderful time!

My trip back to Minnesota ended with a bachelorette party! It was so fun to celebrate the beautiful bride to be!

Love getting dressed up and going Downtown! 

While in Minnesota I had some WONDERFUL food. I can't complain about the many dinner/lunch/happy hour dates. Yum. I definitely indulged and am attempting to get back to healthy this week (except last night after defending my Masters, a major celebration was completely necessary).

Anyways, I highly suggest these great Minnesota restaurants I was able to indulge at over my vacation:

1. 112 Eatery

2. Longfellow Grill

3. Rustic Inn

4. The Lighthouse at Emilys

5. Lutsen Resort on Lake Superior

6. Barrio

7. Butcher and the Boar

8. Zelo

9. Rojo

Yum....looking at this list...I start to understand why I feel so broke this week! Oh well, totally worth the great food, and great people!

Cover Love

Rarely I LOVE, love a song cover. Jerry Douglas and Mumford & Sons got it right, this is just awesome!!

Weekend at the Ozarks

Spence and I spent our weekend traveling to the Lake of the Ozarks for a wedding. We had a really, great time getting away for a (very) mini vacation!

 

 

Started the weekend off, with a fun fruity drink!

I was really looking forward to being at the lake. I think part of me is just searching for the Minnesota Lake experience here in Kansas. The Lake of the Ozarks is fun, and HUGE, but it was missing my favorite aspects of Minnesota lake-life.

I like to go to the lake to get away from city life. I love how camouflage, flannel, and sweatpants are Minnesota lake staples. I love that there isn't any showing off--there are a lot of nice boats and cabins, but they aren't paraded around. Everyone is just trying to enjoy nature, and each other. Lake of the Ozarks was beautiful, but it didn't feel like an escape from the city. The lake houses were gigantic, the boats even bigger, and if you forgot something for the weekend, Target was around the corner. I guess it was kind of similar to Lake Minnetonka? Even though I didn't get my 'Minnesota Lake' fix, we still had a great time enjoying some beautiful scenery and great people!

What's Been Going On?

 The last few weeks have been wonderfully relaxing.

This week I am back to being busy.

The transition into being busy started with running the Hospital Hill 10K. This was one of the best races I have ever done!! The course lived up to it's name, it was ALL hills. I can't wait to do it again next year! Spence captured some photos with his GOPRO (SO they are a bit fish eyed).

If I can be SUPER annoying for a second...

I finished in 56 minutes--and was ECSTATIC!

 

Monday, I got back into 'real life', and started contributing to society, instead of contributing to Bravo.  

This week I started my practicum teaching experience at a Juvenile Detention Center. So far it has been really great. I come home exhausted, not so much from teaching--but from being in such a new, and different environment. Thoughts, and questions are swimming through my head the whole time I am there. Mostly, I find myself thinking about what kind of assignments I should create for the students, and how our juvenile court system works (law friends...questions are coming).

I am absolutely in awe of how organized, and efficient everything is at the JDC. I am super impressed at how the teachers organize their classroom, and individualize student lessons. It isn't easy, everyday  new students either arrive, or students have left. The classroom, and kids are always changing.

I am excited to learn from this experience, it feels SO great to be back in the classroom teaching--I missed it so much!

This weekend Spence and I are off to the Lake of the Ozarks--for our first wedding, in "Tour de Weddings 2012." Neither of us has ever been to the Ozarks, I am very excited to be spending the weekend at a lake! I highly doubt it will compare to the lakes of Minnesota...but it's a lake all the same :)

Inspiration

This quote by Marianne Williamson was read during the yoga class I attended last Sunday. 

I absolutely love it.

source

Tunes Tuesday

I'm kinda obsessed with them...

Excellent Advice

25 Things I've Learned In My 20's

Any 20 something should be able to relate :)

New Tunes Tuesday

More from the Lumineers:

Hope you had a great Memorial Weekend!! We had SUCH a great time Up North...more on that later :)

Weekend at the Lake!!

I'm this excited to spend the weekend 'Up North Minnesota' at the lake:

Hope you have exciting Memorial Weekend plans! :)

PS. 

Ignore the shiny orb on my forehead...picture of a picture

Also, so weird to see me holding a can of Pepsi and not Diet Coke!

New Tunes Tuesday

Can't help but wish this was about a couple of Gusties....

BUT, love this song and the MIAC shout-out!

Weekend Update

This weekend was my FIRST weekend in our new apartment (if you don't count the weekend we moved...which I don't...because we were moving not weekending)

We had a much needed relaxing weekend:


Friday--We relaxed at a friends house, enjoyed the cool temperature of their patio and some great conversation.

Saturday: DATE NIGHT! It's been a while since we had a date night, we went to my new favorite restaurant Mestizo

View from our table at Mestizo

We also watched the best SNL in a while, right? I absolutely died laughing during the, "So You Think You Can Dance Music Festival" Skit--SO FUNNY. Brought back some 'point' dance memories :)

Sunday:

We had a lazy Sunday.

We did enjoy a run in the park and watched a sailboat race! Wish I brought my camera....

To top off our Sunday....

WE GOT A TABLE! How old am I that getting a table was an uber exciting event? Two of our friends came over to help us move and set up the table, and then we headed out to La Bodega for some great tapas, sangria, and live music.

Get EXCITED!!

My attempt to take a picture of the sunset...

Now that I have bored you to tears.... 

Hope you had a great weekend and have a wonderful week :)

New Coffee Obsession

I have a new coffee obsession. 

I may be behind on this...but let me introduce you to my new coffee splurge:

 

It's a Starbucks Mocha Coconut Frappuccino Light! It's fantastic--cool, creamy, coconut, and a hint of chocolate. If you are not a huge coffee fan, you can barely taste the coffee (which is usually how I like my coffee to taste--not like coffee). 

The drink isn't even that bad for you! Except, I'm totally one of those people who ask for a 'light' drink, but insist on still loading on the whip cream. oops.

Another bonus? I totally feel like this when ordering it:

 If you are loving the coconut trend these days--GO TRY ONE, promise you won't be disappointed!

New Tunes Tuesday

Love.

Weekend Update

Another great (busy) weekend in Minnesota! Spence and I traveled back to watch his sister graduate from law school! We had a great time celebrating her accomplishment, and enjoying Minneapolis.

Graduate!

Spence and I enjoying the sunny Minneapolis day

 

 

 

I was also able to see one of my closest friends graduate! (double win!)

Do you like my EXACT same pose in every picture?? Whoops.

In addition to the graduation we were able to attend Mother's Day family functions, and see some of our friends. It was a wonderful little trip, and worth every bit of exhaustion we are feeling today.
This weekend we will be staying in Kansas; I am actually super excited. May is a busy month of Minnesota trips for us, it's always great to go back...but I am excited for a weekend without the long drive :)

Hope you had a great weekend!

Summer Bucket List

On Monday morning, I enjoyed listening to the KDWB morning show on my way back to Kansas. I have yet to find a morning show I enjoy in Kansas, so it is always a treat to listen to KDWB in the morning when I am home, it reminds  me of my summer commute to St. Louis Park!


Monday, the cast members each made a 3 item summer bucket list. Only 3 items--because 3 items can be done easily in 3 months! Anyways, it encouraged me to make a 3 item summer bucket list! Mine is a little lame, maybe next year when I have the whole summer off (amazing) I'll get a little crazier with my bucket list!

3 Item Summer Bucket List:

1. Finish my Thesis Project (eek)

2. Attempt to water-ski

3. Learn how to knit

I realize these are pretty lame...BUT all things I really want to do! Well, I actually am not sure if I want to water-ski...but I felt like at least ONE item should be extreme.

What are you wanting to do this summer??

New Tunes Tuesday

Of Monsters and Men- Little Talks

This song isn't really new...but I really do love it!

Minnesota Weekend & Photo Updates

This past weekend I was in Minnesota...and it was amazing as always! It was so wonderful to see my family and friends; I am blessed with three weekends back in Minnesota this May.

Highlights of the Weekend:

• Dinner at Jake's with my Mom
• Center for Girls Leadership-Lead Today 5k
• Favorite Yoga class
• Kentucky Derby/Cinco De Mayo Fusion Party

Some of the girls looking proper

Men Looking Dapper

Every time I leave Minnesota, I can't stop thinking about how lucky I am to have such great family and friends. It is hard being away, but it has made me really appreciate how awesome my 'people' are :) I only wish I had more time with every visit--I can never fit in seeing everyone or doing everything I want (I guess I am lucky to have such a problem)!

Additionally, here are some photo updates (now that I have my camera cord back--Hooray!)

Spence and I on our Easter Golf Outing

Before Easter Church--I was DYING laughing. To get Juno's attention my Mom kept saying, "boo, boo, boo." In a monotone voice. Classic.

Redrocks

 

Redrocks

New Tunes Tuesday

Love this song--and they are at Basilica. Seriously, best Basilica line-up...EVER. Crossing my fingers I can somehow make it back :)

I'm 24!!

Love this video--celebrating how absolutely awkward being '24' is...

Busy, Busy!

Hello! I have been meaning to blog more (how many times am I going to say that), BUT I left my camera cord in Minnesota--and would hate to bore you with just words. So the few pictures I have taken from my (ghetto) phone camera will have to do :)

Things are BUSY here in Kansas, and I love it! The past two weekends have been absolutely wonderful. My parents came down for Easter, and it was a really special holiday. We had a wonderful time eating (omg...SO much food), golfing, and just spending time together. It means the world to me that Spence is getting to know my family more :) Pictures to come!

Last week (weekend) I was able to travel to Colorado once again! I have been spoiled this year with travel. This time I got to go with KU and present some of the research I have been doing here. It was a really great experience. I just presented it in a poster session, so it was very casual. The research team I am working with just spoke with many interested spectators and education greats (which to be honest--I need to be reminded that they are well known in the ed world...I really don't pay too much attention to the authors of my textbooks...ooops).

After the research was done, I was able to once again enjoy one of my favorite places with my good friend Britta. It was a wonderful time!

I enjoyed: 

• just hanging out at her family's home in the foothills working on homework, while everyone was at work
• A painting class!! (so much fun!!)
• Hiking in the Redrocks
• Eating amazing Mexican food
• Eating amazing Mediterranean food (WHY is this restaurant only in Colorado!!)
• The Denver night life
• Shopping
• Movies with a roaring fire, blanket, and a big bowl of ice cream
• Waking up to snow covered Foothills

 My few Camera photos:

My painting!

Side view of Britta's deck! I watched deer run through the Foothills, as I sipped my coffee

My view while I did homework--look closely to see Denver skyline

The next few weeks are as busy as ever! This week I am working hard to finish up school work, and next week we MOVE!! So exciting. I came home to Spence working hard on painting some awesome furniture finds. I am feeling so blessed and lucky, enjoying the blessing of being busy :)

What's Been Going On

Doesn't it seem like everything happens all at once? I'm pretty sure this is becoming a reoccurring theme here...
Everything is so busy, I have been completely MIA. Let's catch up on a few things going on:

1. Had a wonderful spring break home in Minnesota. It was so great to be able to catch up with family and friends. I am already counting down the days to my next trip home! ( All you MN lovers out there...I will be back 5/5!)

2. I got a teaching job for next year!! Two long years of doing anything I possibly can to get my foot in the education door, it happened. I am excited, nervous, and so ready to begin. I am going in this Monday, to meet some of the teachers I will be working with...oh the nerves!!

3. Spence and I are moving in together in 3 weeks! I have NO idea how this is going to happen with the insane schedule April is bringing me. Like everything else that comes at us in life, we'll make it happen and it will be great! We are already dreaming up ways to decorate, and merge our different styles into one. It's a little hard because both of us are very realistic in that, this apartment is a temporary living space, but it will be great practice for when we get to share our first home. Spence is a great bargain shopper, and I'm more of an...'efficient' shopper. It has been fun going on shopping trips together for our new place. We are lucky that we continually laugh at our own, and each others quirks.

4. Although, I would never trade in my experience at Gustavus Adolphus College for a 'Big' school atmosphere, I had a lot of fun being a part of KU during the Final Four tournament. I think part of the craziness, is that Kansas does not have a professional basketball team. People here are ALL about college sports. It seriously felt like a holiday, everyone was celebrating all weekend long. We had a great time relaxing and enjoying the Jayhawks!

Rock Chalk!

5. School is CRAZY right now. Why, oh why is everything due at the end of the semester. I seriously feel like I have done nothing all semester and now it's like, "Oh hey...could you please write 35 papers and do 50 group projects? Thanks, that would be great!!"
SO READY to be done with school--well at least I am ready to be done being a student.

6. It's EASTER WEEKEND! I love Easter, especially the candy. My parents are visiting this weekend and I am excited to spend time with them, golf, and watch nothing but the Masters...all weekend long. Oh, to be a part of a golf family.

Hope you have a Happy Easter!!

Nothing to Remember

So, I have "Hunger Games" fever.

For a few days after I saw the movie, I kept shouting, "I volunteer as tribute!!"

In a frenzy of Hunger Games fever...I bought the soundtrack.

It's excellent

And so is this song from it:

P.S.

ROCK CHALK!!

Girl On Fire

EXCITED for Hunger Games

Source

 

 

Goal:

Be the girl on fire

Spring Break Revelations

Spring Break is F-L-Y-I-N-G by. 

For real.

I wish I had some awesome pictures to accompany this post about Spring Break...

But I have been too busy!

Sorry for Partying*

*And by partying I mean walking my dog and working on school stuff..

Anyways, here are some thoughts I have had this Spring Break:

1. There are not enough hours in the day for the amount of people I love in Minnesota. I am seriously so blessed. I have such amazing friends and family in this state. I can't seem to stop overbooking myself and using every free minute possible to see them. I need to soak up all of their awesomeness before I head back to Kansas. 

2. I heart dogs SO much... However, I am not ready to have a dog. Dogs are amazing and all, but let's be honest I am still stuck in my selfish 20's and so not ready to care for someone else. I think I'm still learning to care for myself. 

3. Yoga is essential to my peace of mind--how could I have forgotten how yoga calms me?

4. I've changed a lot this year, and that's okay :)

5. I am going to savor every last minute of spring break and appreciate all the wonderful people I miss when in Kansas. You all are awesome :)

 

Oh My Stars

This song is absolutely beautiful. 

Thank you Yoga Man for introducing me, and for providing me with a very zen outlook on life tonight. Namaste.

Oh Hello, Let's Catch Up

I feel like my life has gone from 0 to 60 in 2.5

I went from complaining about how I am not busy enough to being SUPER busy. I have been meaning to blog for a couple of days to catch up on some  important things....

1. This blog is officially 1 year old...as of 3/14/12! How exciting! I do wish my blog had more of a focus...but for now my random thoughts and likes will have to do.

Source

2. Because this blog is 1 year old, Abby passed away 6 years ago on 3/14/06. I started the blog really because I was working in the lonely world of substitute teaching and wanted to talk to someone about  how weird it is that 5 years had gone by after her passing. I still often think about Abby, but I'm no longer angry. I mostly find myself thinking wonderful memories about her, as she was a wonderful person.

3.  5 years ago on 3/14/07 I met Spence. What is with this date!??
I did not want to go out that night, I wanted to sit around in sweatpants and be sad about Abby's passing. Luckily, I succumbed to my roommates peer pressure and decided to go out. Everything changed after that night. I started having FUN again.

4. Spence and I took a weekend trip to Austin, TX. It was so FUN. I think we do a great job of showing each other how much we appreciate one another. BUT, most nights I see him I'm coming home after a day of work and class (ending at 7:00), and he has worked all day. I get the biggest smile on my face when I see him after class, but we are both tired. It was so fun to have a weekend together when we were not tired from work and didn't even THINK about work or school. We just spent the time enjoying each others company and laughing...laughing a lot :)

More updates to come...stay tuned :)

We Are Young

LOVE this song! And, she is from KC!

Back to the Start

obsessed with this for SO many reasons

Missing Minnesota

source

Missing all things Minnesota SO much this week. I need a lake, friends, and family--like no other. Hopefully soon.

Happy Valentines Day!

Source

Whitney,

Much to be Done

Source

Can I vent for a second?

Thanks. 

So, yesterday I wake up and am super excited to get to work when...my computer crashed. Completely crashed. Like spent 3 hours in the apple store only for them to tell me my hard drive crashed...and I lost everything.

I never knew a machine could make me so emotional. It was weird. I held back tears in the apple store as the 'Genius Bar Man' lectured me on not backing up my stuff. Yes, I realize I should of had an external hard drive...but do YOU realize Mr. Genius Bar Man, that there are a million other things I would rather purchase than an external hard drive??  Regardless I have a shiny new external hard drive, and a shiny new internal hard drive. I still have my old computer--but it feels like brand new...mostly because there is not a single file on it.

Can I be melodramatic for a second?

I feel like I lost the last four years of my life! Well, not really...but all my pictures are gone, my music, my teaching files, my undergrad work, my resumes/cover letters, my grad school work....the list goes on.

So yesterday I was super emotional trying to calm my hysterical self down by repeating in my head..., "you lost files you did not lose a person...you need to stop being materialistic.

Today I am feeling MUCH better. I have so much work/recovering to do from emails and drop box.
Honestly, it's slightly refreshing having a blank computer. Stressful, but kind of nice and refreshing--a clean start.

On a side note...I have great friends. Very sad to be missing my music (which you can actually recover for free from I-tunes....but it's a bit like playing 'Russian Roulette', if you accidentally pick a song you haven't ever purchased you get charged), anyways, I realized a lot of the music I had by my favorite artist had come from a friend who burned me Cd's. I texted him in my dramatic style saying, "Can you do me HUGE favor." His immediate response, "Yup, what do you need." No questions asked! I mean I just needed some Cd's re-burned...but what If I needed a plane ticket to Brazil? Such a simple thing, but it always warms my heart to know my friends are there for me.

Now, it's time to attempt to recover files! Wish me luck!

Long Time-No Talk!

It has been entirely too long since I have updated this blog. Oops! 

I came back from Colorado and it was a whirlwind getting back into school, and work. I have been incredibly busy with classes that are much more challenging than last semester--which makes me a much more satisfied student. I feel like I am actually learning something I will use...

My view...for hours everyday...woo-hoo

I am doing more with work as well. This is great--If I am not busy, I go crazy! I guess I don't really go crazy, but I do get really into posting up on my couch watching Bravo marathons. This semester I have been given more responsibility and am actually doing more researching and writing! Woo-hoo (Okay, I am writing a manual--but still it's writing and I am happy).

Life in Kansas has been great, but I have been a little homesick lately--actually I would say I have been 'girlfriendsick'. I absolutely love hanging out with Spence all the time, but I am CRAVING some girl time. I would give just about anything to be with wine and my girlfriends. Poor Spence would probably like this too...as he has been my stand-in for girl talk...and as my friends know I lack a filter when it comes to girl talk...I think he's had enough :)

Last weekend, Spencer's parents came to visit. It was absolutely wonderful! It was so nice to see familiar faces. We had a wonderful weekend with them!

At the Allen Fieldhouse...Awesome museum I had no idea existed...

Chef Spence cooking for his parents.

Other than all this 'exciting' information I have updated you with; I am feeling the 'last semester' stress. Being in your last semester of school is scary! I'm bummed to find out it is just as scary the second time around. Looking for jobs makes my heart race. Looking at the price of the test I have to take makes me sweat. Thinking about writing my thesis, and what I will possibly write it on...makes my crazy eyes come out.

I have been trying to 'live in the moment', but sometimes the uncertainty of the future consumes my mind and I cannot help but feel anxious. I do not like surprises, those who know me--know I often have to read the end of the book just to make sure all the characters are okay. I mean...I had to fast-forward through the movie, "UP", because I got so nervous.

But today I got all philosophical while I was straightening my hair...(get ready for some corny metaphors..I do some awesome thinking when I am straightening my hair)

I finally just told myself to stop wanting to 'look ahead to the end of the book', I can't look ahead to the ending because it is unwritten (thank you Natasha Bedingfield). Having the 'book' be unwritten isn't scary--it's exciting because I still have some say in how it will BE written. You with me??!

Okay enough of that...I could go on forever....but will stop because I am supposed to be writing earlier mentioned manual.

Do It Now

Oh, there are SO many things I need to do right now...

Mountain Mania

I just got back from a weekend trip to Copper Mountain; it was absolutely amazing.  I first fell in love with the Mountains two years ago, on a trip to Big Sky Montana. It was really fun to experience Copper Mountain, and Colorado (for the 2nd time this year...I am lucky).

 Relaxing on the balcony, Copper behind me

Skiing in the Mountains is amazing. I absolutely love the concentration, and physicality it takes to get down the hill. When I skied in Big Sky, I stuck to Greens. I am proud to say my skiing at Copper consisted of Blues and Blacks! I love skiing so, so much. I really want to continue to improve, unfortunately I won't be able to do that in Kansas. Maybe I will have to start making annual Mountain trips...hmmm....

At the TOP!

The lifestyle of the Mountains is also wonderful. I cannot think of anything better than how we spent our days:
1. Wake up
2. Ski
3. Relax ( which consisted of movies, wine, Glee marathons, and hot tubbing...OUTSIDE surrounded by Mountains)
4. Dinner/Drinks/ Fun People
5. Go to sleep
6. Wake up-Repeat

 Off to Dinner

 The Sun was INCREDIBLE, I was able to get a bit of a tan!

I was able to meet up with some of my friends from high school!

Overall, the trip to Colorado was absolutely amazing. I feel very blessed that I had the opportunity to take this trip. Today, I am back to school, work, and training. It's stressful to come back to so much after experiencing such relaxation--BUT I am happy to be busy and back to a routine in Kansas :)