Tom Kha Telluride

  Early Sunday, January 29th, Nick and I began our adventure to Telluride.  The six hour drive flew by with breathtaking scenery.  We drove through canyons and up summits on our way to the secluded town.  

We drove through Monarch Pass, about 11,300 feet, which provided beautifully terrifying views.  The shoulder is the edge of the cliff the roads winds up and down.  
While we were passing a river, we noticed people out on the ice.  As we neared, we realized they were ice fishing! Very cool, neither one of us had ever seen that in person before!




At about 5pm we pulled into the tiny town of Telluride.  El met us on her way back from work and showed us to her adorably perfect apartment.  I was so excited to see my dear friend, I insisted Nick take a picture of us in the beautiful surroundings immediately! Have to say he's a pretty good photographer :)

El had to work the next day, so Nick and I spent the morning walking around downtown sipping our coffee and window shopping.  It truly is a picturesque mountain town.  Literally stuck in a valley surrounded by towering snow capped peaks!

After a delicious lunch with El, we decided to take a trail that followed a creek down to the end of town.  We passed an ice skating pond and neared the frozen waterfall that is perfectly placed.  

 

Wednesday we got ourselves up early and headed to a cafe downtown.  After enjoying our delicious breakfast sandwiches and mugs of coffee, we hit the slopes! We got our feet wet on a few green slopes, but felt the urge to get up a lil higher and try our luck on some blues.  The conditions were amazing and Nick was really shredding it on his skies! Before the sun started to go down El insisted that we head all the way up.  So glad she did, because the views were unreal!

We got in a few more runs and headed home as the slopes closed. Soaked our sore ski bodies in the hot tub and then readied ourselves for a delicious dinner at Siam, local Thai hot spot.  I had no idea why El was making such a big deal about this place, she had been raving about it all day on the slopes! As soon as the pot of Tom Kha landed on the table, I quickly understood her obsession! I had no idea that I could fall in love with SOUP! Who loves soup? I do, Siam's Tom Kha soup that is! Could not have asked for a better way to end our amazing visit to El's temp home town of Telluride.

The next morning I had to say goodbye to my dearest friend! I hated it! Miss her already! Thanks El for being such a great host to Nick and I! We had an amazing time with you and love your tiny town! We can't wait to come back for some more Telluride good times!  

We're Engaged!

A truly special day, December 21, 2011.

I will let Nick tell you this one from his perspective:

"Erin and I had decided not to give each other Christmas gifts, as we were both unemployed and had just moved out to the great state of Colorado.  A few days before Christmas, I told her we were going to go out to a nice dinner at the restaurant, Summit.  (She had no clue of my intentions).  

Summit is located at the Broadmoor Hotel & Resort in Colorado Springs.  It's a beautiful resort, especially during the holidays when they decorate the hotel and the massive trees on the grounds.  After an outstanding 5 course dinner and wine tasting, I told Erin I wanted to walk around the Broadmoor to take some pictures of the sights.

We walked around for a little while as it was snowing all around us. It was very festive and had some beautiful sights.  We came up to the middle of the resort.  It has a lake/pond between the two main buildings of the resort with a bridge going across the water.  We started walking across the bridge, which marked the spot of the actual proposal.  I told Erin I wanted to spend the rest of my life with her and got down on one knee with the ring.  Obviously, she said "Yes!""

Here is the moment after I unwrapped my arms from around Nick's neck and wiped the happy tears from eyes.

  We walked around the Broadmoor after the proposal, taking in everything we were experiencing. On our way back to the car, a man with walked by us, while we hugged near this beautiful tree and asked if we wanted our picture taken.  It could not have turned out more perfect; the snow, the tree, and the two of us, newly engaged!

  We spent the next day on the phone with family and friends, excited to share the news.  That night we celebrated Christmas with Nick's family.  The next morning, while it was still dark, we hopped in the car and headed to the airport to catch our flight back to Atlanta to celebrate the holidays and our special news with family and friends.


  It was a whirlwind of celebrations while we were home.  From brunch the moment we flew into town with close friends, to our traditional Christmas Eve dinner at the Lotz's, to Steph's first baby shower, to booking our ceremony and reception venue during a trip to Athens, to an impromptu engagement party hosted by my loving parents, which was a BLAST! 

The party was Thursday night, after a trip up to Athens where we ended up booking The Melting Point at the Foundry for our reception and visited the Catholic Church.  We also snuck in the first of three important pics for our Save the Date(idea by Maid of Honor Eleanor).  As soon as we arrived back at my parents house from Athens, we prepared for the party.  Lauren, aka Lolo, had just got engaged about 2 weeks before me, and she happened to be in town visited as well, so we made it a joint engagement party, celebrating Lauren's engagement to Adam, too!  

  I was so blessed to have 4 of my 6 bridesmaids there to celebrate with me: Stephanie Maddox, Lauren Cresse(Brown), Me, Sydney Carroll, and Austen Tully (missing: Eleanor Simmons and Sabrina Ragaller)! We had my Aunt and Uncle in from Chicago, neighbors, family friends, some of Nick's groomsmen, and his best man.  

  Towards the end of the party by Dad gave a super sweet champagne toast to Nick and I, and also to Lauren and Adam about our special our engagements are and how much he is looking forward to both weddings! 

  Nick and I could not have asked for a better celebration of our engagement.  Thank you so much to all our close friends and family that made this time for us so special! 

(Engagement Party Pictures- Complimentary of Stephanie Maddox- Thanks for capturing all important memories from the night!)