Whiskey 50- 30 proof edition

For the last part of our April adventures, Cody participated in the Whiskey Off Road mountain bike race in Prescott, AZ.  Cody rode the 50 proof, the 50 mile race in 2014 and got snowed on. This year, he decided to ride the 30, which I think he enjoyed a bit more.

His mom flew in from Texas for the race and we picked her up in Phoenix Friday am and continued up to Prescott for the weekend. When we arrived, we grabbed lunch at a coffee shop called Cupper's in town and then headed down to the expo at the center of the action. We did some expo shopping, and Fitz even got a new shirt!

For those of you new to cycling, KOM: King of the Mountain (i.e. you have the fastest time at some section of road/trail somewhere). That night, we watched the pros race in the criterium downtown, and then ate pizza before the race meeting.

Pro Crit

After a good night's sleep we all headed down to watch Cody and Jed take off. After a steady start, Leah and I took Fitz to do some antiquing around Prescott. We even found a new teak mid century coffee table! We got back to the start/finish to see Cody cross the line, and made our way to the beer garden. Cody and Jed refueled slowly and we headed back to the hotel just before it started to rain. We stayed in the hotel the rest of the night as it was pretty chilly up there, and we were all pretty tired.

Sunday we packed up, went downtown to watch the pros take off, and the kids race, and then headed down to Phoenix for a few hours of shopping before Leah went back to Texas.

Cody seemed to have fun, he raced strong, and we all got a lot of great together time. I love watching him in his element with biking, and he is part of a neat community with it out here. I'm excited to watch more!

LB

Ramirez Wedding- Mgags is off the market

Maggie got married! To Aaron! And it was beautiful and fun and everything it should be for Maggie and Aaron. The wedding took place Friday night, at the Stillwell House in Downtown Tucson. Everything was etherial, and soft, and her details came together so seamlessly. We were all joking we should hire her to plan our events with her attention to detail! Cody loved the Frost cart, of which he had 3 servings.

Fitz was pouting

barre3 babes

Photo of a photo, Ashley and I

Congrats Maggie and Aaron! Your day was just like you, beautiful!

LB

barre3: ATL edition

This past weekend, I flew to Atlanta to visit my barre3 bestie, Amanda, in Atlanta. We met for the first time when we both went to instructor training in Portland together. She and I instantly bonded over our mutual love of Barre3, Ruby Rose, and coffee. She was one of the founding instructors at the newest studio in Atlanta, Barre3 Druid Hills. I was able to go and visit her this past weekend as a birthday treat, and our favorite actress/model/DJ was also in town for the celebration! Ruby Rose played at the Gold Room in Atlanta and we were able to go and see her live! AHH! Life made!

Sunday we slept in a bit and then I was able to take Amanda's 3pm class. We went to dinner at a yummy Thai place called Tuk Tuk, and afterwards, Amanda and her boyfriend Dylan introduced me to Sherlock on Netflix. I am so hooked on it now! I was able to take another class with Amanda Monday morning before I left, and Amanda and I quick ran over to another Atlanta studio, Barre3 Bulkhead for a class with Laura, one of their rockstar instructors!

It was an amazing trip, I feel rejuvenated and inspired in my Barre3 practice. I've enjoyed bringing the bright and positive energy back to Tucson! I am so grateful for the amazing friends and connections I have made through Barre3. The benefits keep on rolling. Thanks Atlanta, and thanks Amanda! Love you!

LB

MOH duty 1: the dress

The day my parents left town, Cody and I both flew out of town as well. I flew in to Chicago to go wedding dress shopping with my best friend, Emily. We were able to go out to eat and do some amazing shopping in the city! She was able to take her mom and I to see where she is getting married, and where her reception will be. I was also able to meet her other bridesmaid, Steph, who is AMAZING! I love her already! I am so looking forward to all the wedding festivities together! This trip definitely made it all feel real!

Found her dress!

Mama Jean and Steph

Sprinkles

LB

Parent's weekend

My parents came down to Tucson for Easter break, and it was a great opportunity for us to show them the version of the city we have grown to love over the last few years. The first few times they came down I was in school, moving around, and trying to find my own hobbies and interests in a new place. Now that we are married, settled into our careers and have a house we love, it made their visit much more rich.

My mom and dad flew into Phoenix Thursday morning, and drove down to Tucson. We went out to lunch, and then Cody got home and we ate dinner at home. Friday morning, my dad came to my class at Barre3, which turned out to be a parents class with both Amanda's mom, and both Kate's parents also present. After I was done teaching, we wandered around the mall and came back home to pack up a bit as we left to go up to Sedona for the evening when Cody got home. On the way up, we stopped at Four Peaks Brewery and had some Arizona beer and burgers, which was a hit with my dad.

Up in Sedona, we hiked at Cathedral Rock and then had brunch at Mesa Grill, which is a restaurant my dad had found when he had been in town a few weeks before. We showed my mom around downtown Sedona and then drove back to Tucson to sleep at our house for Easter.

Sunday we had a relaxing day at home. We went walking, did some stuff around the house, and enjoyed each other's company. My mom and I made Easter dinner while the boys went mountain biking in the afternoon. It was a really beautiful day, and we had a lot of fun!

The rest of the week was full of barre3 classes, walks, time with Fitz and sleep! We really enjoyed being together and I think it made us all sleep better than usual.

I really love having them down here, and I am glad they are starting to like Arizona the way we do.

LB

Celebrating M-gags!

My beautiful friend Maggie, aka M-gags is getting married! And we couldn't be happier! A few of her girlfriends went out last Saturday night to celebrate the last of her days as a bachelorette. We had dinner at Agustin Kitchen, a yummy restaurant at the Mercado downtown. Our friend Ashley read a blessing and we were all able to enjoy each other's company. A few of the girls continued on to a bar downtown for drinks, but I headed home as Fitz had cut his paw a little before I had left. 

Congrats Maggie and Aaron! We can't wait to celebrate your wedding day!

LB

Fitz-date!

Fitzy babe is 15 months old (yes I realize that most people stop counting dog ages in months after they turn one but we have no life), and his personality is amazing (yes I know I'm partial). He is playful without being over energetic, funny while being (mostly) obedient, and is tolerant of all of the photo ops and shenanigans I put him through. He lets me love on him, pinch his cheeks and hold him like a baby. Lately, he has been really aware of my mood, and he knows exactly when to give me the right amount of love. I've had a rough go of it this week with stress related to my diabetes, and every time I start to let it consume me, he gives me a kiss on the cheek, and climbs into my lap and just sits there. 

His current favorites:

- playing tag and scaring Cody (he loves to hide from him and then jump out to startle him!)

- avocado 

- strawberry tops

- burying himself in the pillows

- tucking into the blankets

Grateful for this cute babe!

LB