Running High in Colorado

Our first weeks back in Colorado have been filled with new experiences after our short winter hiatus.
We pushed for all the typical Colorado experiences on our first stay.  Now, we've been able to settle for getting the feel of living in Colorado Springs rather than rushing to get around the state.

 Some of the best things in Colorado are right here in town.  We're hoping to find that Colorado Native lifestyle.  I know we will have too quickly as we train for our spring and summer triathlons here and the Pittsburgh marathon.  One thing we have become sure of is that no course will feel too hilly after living at the base of the Rocky Mountains.

Jess and I are beginning our new jobs and hope to get out and provide some more Partner Perspectives soon as we get into the new year.

We can't wait to share what we learn!

Back In Colorado!

After a long layoff for the holidays when we visited our family and friends we were faced with another job search.   The traveling physical therapy business is anything but certain, especially when you are looking for two jobs near the same place.  We were hoping to travel to Texas during the winter where I planned to train in the warmth for my Ironman 70.3 Texas in April.  Well, life doesn't always go as planned, and we are back in the beautiful, and much colder than Texas, mountains of Colorado.
Our cross country drive from Pennsylvania involved long days driving through the plains but also a great stop at our Alma Mater, Pitt, where we were able to connect with friends.  Colorado Springs gets well deserved
praise as an amazing city to live, but Pittsburgh easily competes in my humble opinion.  Alas, we drove off in the rain on to our new jobs.


Luckily our training will have a great altitude boost to supplant the loss of temperature acclimation.



We are back and excited to share our continued travel and athletic experiences for the New Year!  Have a great one and we will see you soon!

Creations: Wedding/Bridal Shower Wine Gift

Wedding/Bridal Shower Wine Gift

I’ve always loved arts and crafts, however being a travel therapist has limited my creations lately since it would be rather impractical for me to travel with extra craft supplies and to create things for an apartment we’d be moving out of within 4 months.  Instead I’ve been channeling my creative energy to new recipes, therapy drills (although my patients would call them cruel rather than creative), and GIFTS!

One of my favorite recent creations has been a Wedding Wine Basket!  I was ecstatic and truly honored to be a bridesmaid in my friend Jess’ wedding.  Jess and her fiance Brian didn’t create a wedding registry and told guests that gifts were unnecessary; they were just happy to have everyone they love get together to celebrate.

Consequently I thought that the Wedding Wine Basket would be a fun and personal gift for them.  For those unfamiliar, the gift basket is filled with a variety of wines for the newlyweds to share on special occasions that lie ahead in their future together.  It can also make a fun bridal shower or group gift in which each bridesmaid contributes 1-2 bottles of wine.

I used Microsoft Word to create personalized labels for the following occasions and included a label a little poem related to the occasions.  I printed the labels a Avery label paper and then cut each label to the appropriate size.  Then I carefully applied the labels to the wines.  Another variation is to create tags instead of labels and attach a tag to each bottle with a ribbon.

Wedding night:
Mr. and Mrs. Hudock
This day is meant for you to share.
Enjoy each other, a perfect pair!
July, 28^th 2012

First fight:
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
When fights occur and tempers are hot,
Pour a glass and be thankful for what you’ve got.
For in marriage it would be a bore,
If everyone agreed and said nothing more.

First dinner party:
Cheers to Good Times
Open your home to entertain and eat,
Catch up with old friends and new ones to meet.
When the night is over share this bottle of wine,
But don’t sit down yet – it’s clean up time.

First Christmas:
A Christmas to Remember
Now it the season for holiday cheer.
Enjoy this bottle as family and friends draw near.
Pop the cork for a toast, for this much is true,
Santa is sure to be good to you.
 

First anniversary:
I Thought I Loved You Then
On your first anniversary you’ll wonder where time goes,
No longer are you newlyweds, you’ll soon be pros.
Now raise your glass to this date as the first, not the last,
And as you build your future don’t forget the past.

First child:
And Baby Makes Three
The news that a baby will soon share your life,
Will make you parents, not just husband and wife.
This one is non-alcoholic so you can both raise a glass.
Sit back and relax, nine months will quickly pass.

I hit up some local wineries with my mom to choose the wines and added some extra personal flair to the basket by including some heart shaped wine stoppers from a local shop and some personalized wine glasses for the colleges that Brian and Jess attended (PSU and PITT).  

I chose a cute basket from Marshall’s that appeared it could be useful for storage, magazines or such.  Using tissue paper as padding, I carefully and securely arranged the wines and glasses in the basket (they needed to survive a 4 hour car ride).  

Shrink wrap from the dollar store and a big white ribbon were the final touches. I placed my filled basket into a large shrink wrap bag, tied the top with a white ribbon and used a blow dryer to fit the wrapping down to size.   Voila!