Cheap peppermint mocha

What is this? Two days ago it was over 80 degrees out and now there's snow on the ground! I'm still recovering from my sunburn and wearing a ski jacket! Crazy.

Anyway, the cold weather is a good excuse to enjoy my cheap, college-student-budget version of Starbucks' Peppermint Mocha. I like making my own because it's cheaper this way, I can control how sweet my drink is, and I can have it any time of the year because I have the ingredients in my kitchen!

I use instant coffee (I am aware there is much higher quality coffee to be had, but our coffee machine broke so I am stuck with instant), peppermint mocha creamer, and hot cocoa mix. I usually just combine these ingredients to taste so I won't give actual measurements here, but give it a try!

Spring break vacation: Glenwood Springs

Back from Glenwood Springs! It was the most relaxing, therapeutic vacation! The weather was perfect in the 70's, the mountain air was fresh, and the drive was only three hours each way (with no traffic whatsoever!).

We swam in the hot springs in the afternoons and the evening and we hiked a steep yet beautiful hike that was incredibly rewarding at the top, where we reached Hanging Lake.

The canyon we hiked up into.

The lake at the top.

My roomie and I standing on the log in the center.

Standing on Spouting Rock, where the waterfall into the lake originates.

Although I am now suffering from a painful sunburn, I managed to sleep for 11 hours the night we were there so all in all I would call it a great (albeit short) vacation, and I am about as prepared as I could be for the end of the semester.

Sunny Day

Hello Colorado sunshine! And some warmth to go with it!

I've been munching on yummy summery treats like fruit slices...

...and lime sherbet with fresh blackberries.

I wore shorts for the first time this year (other than an the gym), and officially have my first tan of the season!

I hope it's sunny where you are, and if not here are some tunes to make you feel like it is...

Michael Franti & Spearhead - The Sound of Sunshine

The Beatles - Here Comes The Sun

Sunny Weekend

It has been sooooo nice to have a break from frigid temperatures here in Boulder. This weekend we had two days in the mid-60's and we have certainly enjoyed them fully. We soaked up the sun on the roof...

...and took a 4-hour hike to the see a spectacular view of Colorado.

And it only gets better from here on out, with a full week of 60's and 70's!

Snow day!

A snow day? In college? At CU-Boulder? Unheard of! Yet we got to enjoy such an event today! 

We knew that a huge snowstorm was blowing in and that it would last for about two whole days, but snow days are just so rare here that no one could justly get their hopes up, until the text came in early in the morning that campus was closed. Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee! 

Almost completely stranded from the outside world (over a foot of snow and counting!), my roommates and I enjoyed a relaxing day of baking, eating, catching up on TV shows, playing in the snow, sleeping, reading, and watching movies. It was fantastic! We made blueberry scones, deviled eggs, and sugar cookies; watched this season of 30 Rock; dozed and read interchangeably (I'm reading The Hunger Games in anticipation of the movie); and watched Bringing Up Baby. Could not have been a more satisfying day, and what makes it even better is that tomorrow is the weekend so we can still enjoy two more days off!

Skiing

Feeling my Colorado roots today, finally skiing with all of my own equipment. I have skied many times before, but each time with rented or borrowed gear. The extra steps of renting or borrowing equipment are time consuming and make the process much more frustrating. Today, on the other hand, was a fantastic change for better. I simply grabbed my gear, bought a lift ticket, and skied the day away. Although the amount of snow on the Colorado slopes is pretty slim this season, it was nonetheless a spectacular day spent skiing with good friends.

Perfect pizza picnic

Pizza on Friday after class has become a tradition with my boyfriend, especially since we discovered that we could get one for $6 (discount for being students). Today happened to be an even better deal since we got our pizza for free! Apparently they forgot to sticker it, so we lucked out. Chautauqua is a beautiful park (park is a bit of an understatement) near the CU Boulder campus. We picnic-ed there right beneath the Flatirons.

Colorado is so beautiful!

Saturday

Enjoyed a nice hike up Boulder Canyon to see the sunset, now going to dinner here, followed by seeing this finally! Great night.