Rocky Mountain High....Colorado!

I'm leaving for Colorado on Sunday for an entire week...and I couldn't be more excited! I need a vacation....and there's no better place to spend it than good ol' Colorado! We're staying in Aspen for the first half of our trip and then we'll head to our cabin in Buena Vista for the 2nd half of the week. We've got some fun adventures planned this go round...white water rafting at Noah's Ark and summiting Mt. Princeton for the first time! (Our cabin faces Mt. Princeton and none of us have ever summited it before, so we're all looking forward to it.) And of course we'll do the normal lounging around, morning coffee runs to Bongo Billy's, shopping and eating great food! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it!

So, I'm checking out for a week....and hope to return nice and refreshed next Sunday! Colorado has a way of doing that to ya! You can't help but relax while taking in the beauty and wonder of God's creation. The mountains are truly a testament of the Lord's workmanship. I love it!

I'll try to post some pictures while I'm there...not to make you jealous or anything.... :)

Have a great weekend!

XOXO,
Mindy


Watch out Mt. Princeton...here we come!

A little bit about...Mindy Marie Popelka Rives

I've been tagged!!! I was trying to think of something to blog about today (since I've been a bad blogger lately) so thanks for figuring it out for me, Marina!

1) What I was doing 10 years ago...
Enjoying the summer, I'm sure...either at camp, on vacation, hanging out with friends, working at Petite Folie (a stationery store I worked at throughout high school), laying by the pool, playing lots of volleyball, getting ready for my junior year at Coppell High School! C-O-P-P-E-L-L...everybody yell....COPPELL!! Go Cowboys!

2) 5 things on my to-do list today...
Work, take clothes to the cleaners, work out, go by the post office, cook dinner...the only thing that got done today...WORK!

3) Snacks I enjoy...
Skittles, chips (any kind), Diet Dr. Pepper, fresh fruit (especially pineapple, strawberries and grapes), pistachios....I could go on forever here...I love snacks!

4) Things I would do if I was a billionaire...
After I gave a ton of it away to our church and various charities, I would....take lots of fabulous vacations with my family and friends, pay off our house, build my dream house...and a lake house, buy a red convertible Corvette, hire a personal shopper, hire a personal chef, hire my hair guy to wash and blow dry my hair everyday.....I think I might go buy a lottery ticket now....

5) Places I've lived...
Temple, TX
Buena Vista, CO
Coppell, TX
College Station, TX
Washington DC
Dallas, TX

6) Jobs I've had...

During high school...
Re/Max (receptionist)
Petite Folie (stationery and gift store)

During College...
Pine Cove (camp counselor)
Rose Cottage Creations (bakery)

Post College...
Accenture (consultant)
City Club of Washington (special events)
DFW Events (wedding and event planner)

7) Bloggers I'm tagging...
Karen
Julie
Jamie
Katy

06.17.05

To the love of my life...

The past 3 years have been simply amazing....it seems like just yesterday that I was walking down the aisle to you...a moment I will never forget.

Happy Anniversary!!! I love you!!!


Practicing...


Seeing each other for the first time....


A sweet time during the ceremony....


Our first dance...


Off to start our life together...

My good little sleeper...

Kaci Grace is many things...one being a good sleeper. She can fall asleep just about anywhere....anywhere but her doggy bed. This morning, after searching for her for about 10 minutes, I found her asleep behind the washing machine. Here is an adorable picture of Kaci catching some zzzz's in her Aunt Marina's arms...

Kickin' it at the Ghost Bar...

Me, Josh, Karen, BJ, Marina and Chris brought "sexy back' to the Ghost Bar on Friday night. Talk about a F-U-N time! Helen/Katie, if you're reading this...I know you're proud.

Happy Father's Day to the dads in our lives...

My daddy-O...Mr. Billy Popelka (third from the left) and family in Colorado last Fall.


Josh's D-A-D and my wonderful father-in-law....Mr. Wray Rives (On the far left) and family last Christmas.


My brother....Mr. Jimmy Popelka and family last Thanksgiving....he is an excellent father to my niece and nephew...and he takes really good care of his little sister! :)

Happy Father's Day!!! We love y'all!!

XOXO,
Mindy & Josh

Are those cookies homemade?

Why, yes they are. Well, not really, but they sure do look like it! During our last visit to the grocery store, Josh made me buy Nestle Toll House chocolate chip cookie dough in the family sized tub. I was a little skeptical at first...for some reason I get grossed out when things come in bulk (and I'm just comfortable with my usual square shaped slice and bake cookies)...but I purchased the tub anyways to appease my husband. Last week I needed to make cookies for 2 different events, so I whipped out my tub-o cookie dough and got to work. I used an ice cream scoop to scoop the dough onto my cookie sheet. I baked them for about 8 minutes at 375 (they were still a little doughy when I took them out) and let them cool on a cooling rack. After the cooled I arranged them nicely on a platter and sprinkled powdered sugar on top. They turned out beautifully....and really looked and tasted like homemade cookies! At each event, people asked me if they were homemade. Of course, I was honest and said, "no"...but I was very tempted to say, "why, yes they are!" So, next time you need to make cookies, pick up a tub of Nestle Toll House cookie dough in the family sized tub...you won't be disappointed!

I'll leave you with a picture of our new pup, Kaci. I found her like this on Friday night, face planted into our tile floor...but sleeping soundly none the less.

More of Kaci...

Day 1 of new puppy has been a success...well, somewhat. Unfortunately, Kaci is a bit of a piddler....she enjoys marking her territory on my hard wood floors and new area rugs. I've been chasing her with carpet cleaner all day long! But, other than that, she's doing great! She slept a lot today, ate well and has enjoyed a few play sessions with big sister, Chloe. We've got a lot of training ahead of us, but hopefully she'll catch on quickly to the rules and regulations of the Rives' household. Moral of the story = puppies are hard work!

We got miss Kaci from a breeder in Sherman. I found her from an add in the Dallas Morning News. Kaci is a 9 week old Malte-szu (half Maltese / half Shitszu) just like Chloe.

Chloe is doing really well with her. Chloe followed Kaci everywhere today....a very concerned and protective big sis! I think they're going to be great friends...especially as Kaci gets bigger...she is just so small right now compared to Chloe, so Chloe pretty much tramples her when they try to play.

Here are a few pictures I took today....





To be quite honest, I NEVER thought that Josh and I would have 2 dogs....I have to keep reminding myself that I haven't gone crazy....yet.

Introducing the newest addition to our family...

Kaci Grace Rives

I'm in love with her already....

Complaining...

Yesterday morning Josh and I went to get our shots for Africa...Tetanus, Hepatitis A and Meningitis. 3 in a row...ouch! My arm hurt yesterday....and is STILL hurts today....badly.

That's all I really have to say today. My arm hurts. But, only 47 days until we leave for Zambia! Can't wait!

2nd grade thoughts...

I was going through some of my childhood things that my mom had given me and found my 2nd grade school journal....pure gold I tell ya. Here are a few entries that just cracked me up....


I was a huge NKOTB fan....huge.


Doplse = Dumplings


Things haven't changed much...I enjoy being the "captain!"


Sorry Jimmy...


I still love surprises...and Sainta!


I was the perm princess....loved perms.


Some friend to friend journaling slipped into my school journal...too funny!