What I Want to be When I Grow Up

Apparently, I have found a new love in my life. I suppose it would go under the title of "Small Event Planning." A great friend told me this week that I should consider small event planning on the side. I thought I had all of this "grown up" stuff figured out. Untrue. I AM a Registered Massage Therapist and I love it. I also have a passion for kiddos and teaching. And recently, I have started to adore party planning and basket-making and diaper-cake assembling.

So, who out there would like to hire a Massage Therapist, 1st grade teaching, bridal shower planner? :) There's got to be a position out there for someone like me! Right?!

The truth is, I can actually do all of those things, isn't that perfect!? For me it is. You see, I work during the week at the spa, and every other Saturday I get to "teach" 2 year olds in the nursery at church. I am the host in the Tots & Toddlers room and it is awesome! They are hilarious, and no matter how my day goes before I get there, I always leave the room with a huge smile at the end of the night. I will post pictures of the room later...it is amazing!

On top of that, I got to plan a bridal shower this summer, a baby shower in July, and I just made a donation basket for a Susan G. Komen for the Cure silent auction at my spa. Body & Sole is hosting a silent auction on October 10th and all proceeds are going to Komen. We are asking businesses in the area to donate baskets, and well, since we have our own business, Jimmy John's donated to the cause and I made the basket. I decided on a Christmas Decorations Theme, considering that about 90% of the people at the event will be woman, and let's face it, women are suckers for anything decorating-related! ;) I filled it with 2 stockings, stocking holders (snowmen of course), tree ornaments, pinecones, etc. etc.

Overall, my life is grand. I am able to pursue all of the things I love, and I even get paid to do some of it! I am fulfilled when I do "work" for others and I guess it's my way of giving back.

To whom much is given, much is expected.

My Life in a Nutshell [Revisited]

I was thinking about my "random" list and decided I would add a few more things. Only this time, the things listed below are a list of qualities I wish people thought about me. Yes, this is a different approach, but hey! This is my blog, I can do what I want! :)

1. I am unselfish and put others' needs before my own.

2. I am a downright wonderful cook.

3. I have a big heart, and am easy to talk to.

4. I will be an amazing mother someday.

5. I have a giving spirit, and love to accomplish small acts of kindness.

It's difficult to look at myself and wonder if these are qualities that people see in me. Do I really want to know the answer? While there are of course many other things that I strive to be, these 5 were the first to pop into my head. I want my life to have an impact on others not just because I'm fun and outgoing and friendly, but because I served those who needed it the most, because I made a difference in someones life today that might impact their tomorrow. That's what really matters, I think. So I guess I'll just keep trying.

My Life in a Nutshell

Original post: February 5, 2009 on Facebook

I was looking through my Facebook "stuff" and stumbled upon this tonight. Apparently, back in February, it was all the rage to write random facts about yourself. I had completely forgotten about it, until now. Just for fun, enjoy! :)

29 Random Things

1. I think the best decision that Jase and I ever made was to move to Denver. It has been an awesome experience, and I absolutely LOVE living here. What’s not to love?

2. I am a weekend warrior when it comes to exercise. Even though I want to exercise and know I should, I usually don’t do it during the week. I wait for the weekend when I snowboard, and talk myself into the fact that it burns a lot of calories, enough for the whole week!

3. I do not enjoy things that take a lot of patience. Examples: untying knotted stuff, putting crap together, long, tedious cleaning and organizing, and the list goes on.

4. I am a total momma’s girl. When I was little, my dad would try to make me do “boy stuff” like track through the woods for a deer and spend the day fishing. I wasn’t having it…I basically whined and cried until he took me home. Now, I would give up anything for a chance to do those things over again.

5. I honestly think that Taylor Swift read my diary and stole the lyrics for some of her songs right out of it, especially Fifteen.

6. When I was 9, Jenni and I would ride our bikes past Jason’s house, hoping he was playing outside with his brother so we could show off. If we were lucky, they would launch water balloons at us, and it was the best day ever!

7. I try to act tough, but when it comes right down to it, I hate confrontation and conflict.

8. In the early 90’s I would practice “making commercials” in the bathroom mirror, convinced that one day I would be a movie star. The Olsen twins were my idols! How sad! Haha

9. My family constantly reminds me of how bossy I was when I was little, and it is so embarrassing, especially the home video proof!

10. I went to a New Kids on the Block concert when I was 5, with Kylie Callander! I remember picking out a new faded jean skirt, and I was in love with Jordan Knight, obviously.

11. It makes me sad when I talk to my friends in Indiana and they are having a ‘girls night’ and I can’t be there. Like, really sad.

12. I love reading, and when I start a book it totally consumes my life until I’m done.

13. I nearly have a panic attack every time Jason’s phone rings, convinced that something horrible at the store happened and he has to go in.

14. I think it’s awesome that my mom and I are such good friends now. I never thought that could happen when I lived at home, but it really did. I talk to her at least 4 times a week.

15. My sister and I are complete opposites, and secretly I wish I was more like her, especially when it comes to clothes. She is way braver than me, and I admire that.

16. At the risk of sounding cheesy, I am so proud of my not-so-little brother, and he reminds me more of my dad every time I see him.

17. I’m also very proud of my sister in law, Jenae, and I love getting to spend time with her. I especially love watching Jon & Kate plus 8 marathons with her and going shopping!

18. Which reminds me, as long as I don’t go shopping, things stay under control. It’s when I am at the mall that things go downhill fast…

19. I would say that at least 3 or 4 nights a week when I come home from school, my husband has dinner ready. I mean seriously, how awesome is that?! And it’s good, too!

20. I hate cooking, but I love baking. Desserts are totally my thing, probably because I have such a sweet tooth.

21. Warm, tropical vacations are my favorite. Nothing a week on the beach with a good book can’t fix.

22. That cute little blondy that talks in his highchair on the E*Trade commercials is seriously my favorite kid ever! I want him to steal him, so darn cute!

23. I never understood those “weirdo dog people” that love their dogs so much, and now I’m one of them.

24. I have more than 1 best friend. And I think it’s awesome. If you’re lucky enough to have more than one person that you can totally spill your heart out to, that’s something special.

25. I could play Sorry! for hours…seriously! I love that game.

26. As sad as it is, I get excited when I have new notifications pop up in the bottom right hand corner of my screen.

27. I am almost a Registered Massage Therapist in the State of Colorado.

28. I cannot wait to be a mom and do cutesy little “mom” things like crafts, and birthday parties, and helping in their class at school.

29. I am truly blessed in this thing called life. I have an amazing family, friends, and of course the cutest hubs ever. ;)

Summer of Love

Once again, it's been so long since my last post that I actually forgot my password. I spent a good 5 minutes trying to figure it out, typing in every last combination until my head was dizzy. That's when I saw the light: the CAPS lock was on. Disaster averted!

May/June/July extra-fast recap:

The highlight for May was white-water rafting at the Royal Gorge in Canon City with Jamie and Jordan. We went on the full-day trip and it was amazing! We all stayed in the raft and dominated Class IV and V rapids and only suffered one injury: a black, bloody eye. Not bad for such a rowdy trip!

In June we were home for Jenae's graduation from Bethany for the first weekend of the month. It was great to see everyone and enjoy time in Indiana. We celebrated our 3 year anniversary on the 17th, hard to believe how fast time flies. The last week of June I flew home for Kara and Andre's wedding, and Jason opened Store #2 on June 23rd. The opening was much easier this time around, for many reasons. Unexpectedly, Jason flew to Indiana on June 29 because of the passing of his Grandma Riegsecker. We spent a few days in Ohio with the family and shared many memories of Grandma who was such a lovely, sweet woman of God.

July brought my family to Colorado over the 4th; we spent four days in Breckenridge shopping, hiking, horseback riding, eating, and more shopping. Jamie and Jordan spent the day with us in Breck, and the guys (Jason, Mike, Dustin, Jordan) went mountain biking, which seemed to be a highlight of their week! We came back to Denver for the end of the week and went hiking in El Dorado and drove to Colorado Springs to see Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak. Fun stuff!

We've had a really fun and exciting Summer overall. However, I've had a pesky little friend visit me many times over the past few months and his name is Migraine. Normally, I would not give him the credit and allow him to be part of my post, but I feel like he demands my respect and believe me, at this point I will do whatever he wants so he will LEAVE me ALONE! I have to admit that the typically beautiful Colorado weather has been less than glamorous this summer season....let me explain.

Many afternoons in the months of June and July (around 20 in a row in June to be exact) a gray, cloudy sky rolls in about 2 or 3 p.m. and unleases its fury on the Front Range. Why would this be a problem? you might ask... This is about the time of day that my face, and by face I mean sinuses, feel like they are going to explode. The pressure mounts in my head, and if I'm lucky to catch it in time and take the proper precautions, I'm usually fine. But for the 10 or so days in the past 2 months that I have not been so lucky, Mr. Migraine comes and makes my day pretty miserable. I have never had the frequency of migraines that I am experiencing now, and I really do think the weather is to blame. The worst part is that (as all sufferers of these headaches know) they wipe out every last plan that you have for the day, fun or not. But enough complaining, many many people in this city are going through the same pain I am, and I'm learning how to deal with it better. Let's just hope Mother Nature decides to like us again soon! Otherwise I might have to buy stock in Advil Cold & Sinus.

*A life without love is like a year without Summer*

*Swedish Proverb*

April

is a promise

that May

is bound to keep.

*H. Borland

In Honor of Earth Day...

Ok, so I know what you're thinking: "Danielle moved to Denver and is now a tree-hugging hippie due to too much time spent in Boulder." Haha! Not entirely true, but I have changed/opened my outlook on many things since moving here. Or maybe that's just part of growing up. Either way, I thought I would pay respect to our planet today, considering it is Earth Day after all. My family did not recycle growing up, and to be honest, ad campaigns weren't "in your face" about going green like they are now. Now its all we hear about. But back in the old days of the early 90's recycling wasn't a priority for many families. Ours was no different.

But now that I have my own house, I try my best to recycle as much as I can. And I have even abolished paper plates (in reality, I ran out and decided it may be better not to use them anymore). I can feel myself getting "crazier" as I try to come up with more green ways to live. We have changed almost every light bulb in the house, and I'm thinking about switching over to environmentally friendly cleaning supplies. I will admit one big guilty pleasure though: my aerosol hairspray. Not sure I will ever be able to give that up! ;) So now, for your reading pleasure, I have included a few facts about recycling. Part of the reason for the listing of these facts is the "teacher within" coming out in me; but the truth is they really are important.

Props to those of you that already recycle! If I could, I'd put a cheesy ol' smiley face sticker on your shirt! :) Job Well Done.

Every little bit helps, do your part!

Enjoy & Happy Earth Day!

Did you know...

• Recycling 1 aluminum can saves enough energy to run your TV for 3 hours

• If every American home replaced just one light bulb with an ENERGY STAR qualified bulb, we would save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for a year

• ENERGY STAR qualified bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer

• Recycling just 1 ton of aluminum cans rather than throwing them away conserves more than the equivalent of 36 barrels of oil

** For more information about Going Green, click HERE.

*Source: http://www.resourcefulschools.org/facts.html

Life = Beautiful!

This is by far the most exciting time of year! And by this I mean the hope of Summer is just around the corner. Summer is my favorite season of all, and the warm days of Spring get my mind so ready for those smoldering hot days of Summer! If you ignore the fact that our weekend weather was terrible (a good ten inches of snowy, slushy, get your jeans wet and your hair ruined rain) you will see that Denver is known for its sunshiny days like today. Days where I wake up to sun coming through the slats of the shades, and looking forward to taking Sadie outside just to see how warm it is. Days when I think and think all day to decide what to make for dinner that we could eat outside on our cute little green umbrella-ed table. These are the best days. Especially if you consider my great morning which included a cardio class at the gym followed by lunch and shopping for hair products with a great friend at an exclusive place shop-able only by those who have a coveted cosmetologist license in the State of Colorado (or those with a friend who does). :)

So as I sit here, my chicken is broiling for some yummy chicken enchiladas for a "picnic" dinner outside with Jamie and Jordan tonight (and I would be mistaken if I forgot to add our adorable little dogs to the mix, who happen to be best friends and completely obsessed with each other). The weather is a wonderful 66* and our landscape lights hung on the fence ready for many a meal in the backyard. Life is beautiful!

I am making 2 new goals as of last week. Here they are:

1. Work out at LEAST 3 times a week

2. Come up with new ideas for dinner, so I can continue to enjoy cooking more and more (those of you who know me well probably realize that I'm not the biggest fan...Rachel Ray is trying to help me!

Feel free to bug me and ask me how these things are going...I need the accountability. But, so far so good.

I have uploaded some recent pictures of activities at the Rupp house...

Enjoy your week! I know I will :)