Best Fireworks Display in Denver

A few months ago, I got an email from the Colorado Symphony Orchestra that they would be playing a special concert on America's birthday.

I'm always on the look out for a fun place to see the fireworks with my family  and this was perfect because we are obsessed with classical music thanks to our fantastic school music teacher.  I immediately bought tickets!

I moved to Denver 14 years ago (holy crap has it been that long?) but I have never been to Fiddler's Green.  I've been missing out!  It's a great venue with seating and a lawn area.  Lots of beer/wine/food vendors and most all of them took credit cards. 

We arrived early, but we didn't need to.  Turns out we were in line with all of the people with general admission tickets that needed a good lawn seat.  I will tell you that the best seats are in the 200 sections.  If you are in the 100 sections you have to move to see the fireworks because the stage will block them. 

We all dressed up but we didn't need to because it is an outdoor concert, but we like to dress for the theatre.  That's just how we are. We looked like we are the type of people that go to the symphony, which we are.  Ha...just the thought of me being hoity-toity is pretty funny! 

Once the sun set at around 8:30 we could see the stage much better and with a light breeze blowing it was the perfect night!  The fireworks started around 9:15 and lasted about 30 minutes.  The Symphony continued to play until the last 10 minutes so that they could step out and enjoy them too. 

If you are looking for a family friendly place for your family to enjoy the 4th of July fireworks and experience some culture at the same time, this is the place for you!

LEGO Apple Watch Docking Station

I've had my Apple Watch for about 7 weeks now and I LOVE IT!  I love being able to see so much information in a glance and I haven't gotten lost once since my watch taps me on the wrist when it's time to turn.

My watch gets lots of attention, but the most awkward demo I did was during my gynecological exam. My doctor was really interested in the watch and asked me a bunch of questions while I was in the stirrups. I laughed all the way home!

One of my favorite things to do with my watch is send my heartbeat to my husband and two friends that also have watches.

I have one question about my Apple Watch.  Why is the charging cord 15 feet long?  Seriously, can someone explain that to me?  It has become such a pain to deal with this cord that I was forced to use my imagination and create a couple of docking stations for our electronics.  I would have made one for our iPads too but my kids would only let me use some of their LEGOS.  

I like to look at my watch in the middle of the night to see what time it is, so I wanted mine to hang.  I was really glad that my daughter had some pink and purple bricks so I could make it girly.  

We've been using our docking stations for a few days now and they are working out great!  Time to get out the KRAGLE and make them permanent. 

Upstairs Circus

A year ago,  I started getting together with other Moms from school.  Moms that I already knew and Moms that I wanted to know better.  We had a few fun outings together and then things kind of fell apart.  My best friend was diagnosed with cancer and someone I thought was my friend, left me hanging.  I started getting moms together again for breakfast on the first day of school and it was the best thing for me.  I love connecting with my fellow Moms and sharing stories and getting to know each other better.

Several of these Moms have become my closest friends.  It's a total bonus that some of their kids are my kids besties!   I invited a handful of friends to join me in Downtown Denver for some crafting fun with mimosas.  Three lovely ladies took me up on it and we had the best time!

Welcome to Upstairs Circus!

On the weekends, you can make a craft and have bottomless mimosas for the low price of $35.  They have so many great choices of crafts, even for people that claim they aren't crafty.  The really interesting thing is that you get better at your craft and closer to your friends with each refill of your glass.  

I went with the Hex Nut Bracelet so that I could learn a new skill and open an Etsy store so my husband will get off my back about getting a job to support my family.  I LOVE my new bracelet and can't wait to go back and learn another skill. 

The very best thing about Upstairs Circus is that they are practically across the street from the new Union Station and you can take the light rail from all over the city and have a great time with your friends.  There are a number of restaurants at the Union Station and in the neighborhood to have lunch when you are done.  Be advised that people will be fawning all over you about how awesome you and your project are wherever you go.

Caution: Brewing Company

Last weekend, Keith and I went out on a date.  Our main objective was to see American Sniper and to have a nice chat over a martini.  My little secret was that we would be stopping at Caution: Brewing Co on the way home for a night cap.

As you recall, one of my goals for the new year is to visit some craft beer pubs with my darling husband.  This is the first stop in the #weissbeerbucketlist.

One of the first things I liked about Caution is that they are close to my house.  Within 5 minutes, I can have my butt on a stool.  This was also good because the night we went it started to snow as we arrived and it was blizzarding by the time we left.

I was intrigued by the Wild Blonde Ale because it is made with Minnesota Lake Rice.  It was really good and more light than some craft beers I've had before.

After trying several beers, Keith decided on the Hippity Hops IPA.  He thought it was great because he doesn't like hoppy beers.  He could definitely taste the slight chrysanthemum and thought it really enhanced the beer.

We laughed over the name of this beer and then went home.

It's funny to us because Keith's mom uses a walker. 

Caution: West is located in Lakewood Colorado on Wadsworth next to Wing Stop.  They don't serve food but you can grab anything you want and bring it in.  They also have some fun games host trivia and game nights.

Caution: West

1057 S. Wadsworth Blvd, Unit 60

Lakewood, CO 80226

Boyhood

Boyhood is nominated for Best Picture, Actor in a supporting role (Ethan Hawke), Actress in a supporting role (Patricia Arquette), Directing and Writing (Richard Linklater), Film Editing (Sandra Adair).

What an interesting movie.  I really enjoyed watching this young boy navigate life from the age of 6 to 18.  The story telling is really good with a few slow parts but that could be because the movie is so long that I needed a break in the middle.  At 2 hours and 45 minutes, I do advise treating yourself to an intermission otherwise you might give up on the film half way through.

I find it really interesting that this film was filmed over a 12 year period.  I loved seeing how Mason and Samantha grew with each new time period and felt so bad for the string of bad relationships that Patricia Arquette's character found herself in.

I like the ending message of the film; that moments seize us.  I like to think Mason has a great future ahead of him and will be happy someday.

Boyhood won a Golden Globe for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Supporting Actress.

Selma

I'm starting to notice a reoccurring theme in my life.

My education in Greeley Colorado was....lacking.  I'm sad to say I did not learn about Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in school and I'd really like to know why since I had his birthday off starting in 1986. My Vietnam Veteran Father took great offense to this because I was required to attend school on Veteran's Day.  Granted, my Dad was nearly killed in D.C. while serving in the Army because he was assigned to the riots that erupted in the late 60's.   My knowledge of King was tainted by my Dad's experience.

I would liked to have learned in school, what I learned during the movie Selma and what my kids learned this week in 2nd grade.  

Selma was eye opening for me, as you can imagine.  I did not know Dr. King won a Nobel Peace Prize and that he wished for non-violent protests.  I did not know politicians and law enforcement in the south were not following the law and were instead taking people's rights away.  It is heartbreaking to see.

I highly recommend Selma to anyone who doesn't think they know what was happening in American in the 60's.  I'd also advise you to bring tissues and a best friend.  This film should not be viewed alone.

I'd also advise you to take some of what you see with a grain of salt because as is often the case with films made about actual events, I believe some of the facts are embellished for entertainment value.  Did LBJ really say, 'Don't shit me George Wallace?'

I'd like to know more about what happened between LBJ and MLK and if the President really did drag his feet on the Voting Rights Act. It seems like so much turmoil and deaths could have been avoided.  My husband (who received better schooling than me) tells me LBJ didn't have the authority to do anything and it was in the states hands.  In that case, all I can say is, 'Are you shitting me George Wallace?'

Selma is nominated for Best Picture and for Original Song.

The Song, Glory by John Stephens and Lonnie Lynn and sung by John Legend and Common won a Golden Globe for Best Song.

What Do You Know About THAT?

Did you listen to the Serial Podcast a few months ago?  I was late to the party. (story of my life) and started listening to it when there were only 2 weeks left.

For those of you that don't know what Serial is, click here.

I was hooked and when it was over and I realized Dateline was all repeats, I started reading Finding Chandra by Scott Higham and Sari Horwitz.  It's about the disappearance and murder of Chandra Levy back in 2001.  It's pretty good.

Anyway, I've been reading it and I started to notice the person that read the book before me hated the word THAT.  They crossed them out.

So I posted the picture on Instagram and soon learned we are all overusing the word THAT and it can be completely unnecessary.  And now I'm worried that I'm using the word too much and I now have to go through all of my old blog posts and strike out THAT.  Now I'm wondering what else I didn't learn in high school.  Damnit Greeley Colorado!

RIP Elly May

When I was a kid, I watched The Beverly Hillbillies all the time!  It was a great show and so funny!  I loved Elly May and thought she was the most beautiful girl I'd ever seen.  She was also so oblivious to what was going on.  She also had a way with raccoons just like me!

In the mid 80's, Donna Douglas sang and spoke at my church and I was able to meet her.  She was so lovely in person and I had never met a celebrity before.  She even signed my bible.

Donna Douglas passed away yesterday at the age of 82.