life's a bear

Nine. Whole. Years.

2013-05-23T10:38:00.002-06:00

Many years ago, I received the best advice about marriage. A friend of the family shared that while marriage is great, it's also a lot of work. Every single day. At the time, I was nowhere near ready to marry. I hadn't even met Nate yet. But I tucked that piece of advice away and retrieve it on a pretty regular basis.

Being married to Nate is great. I love him and I even like him. But marriage has been a lot of work. Every single day. We share many things - viewpoints, ideas, passions. But we disagree too. And I think that's healthy. Like most married couples, we could do better at communicating with each other. We could be more considerate to each other.

Yesterday, we celebrated nine years of being married. Although I think it's more important to note that we've been together for nearly 13 years! Anniversaries are a nice time to reflect on the year and the relationship. Every year, I'm happy to be sharing this life of mine with Nate. He makes me laugh. He is a wonderful father. He cares about his family. He likes to have a good time. But most importantly, he's the best kind of person to have in my corner. He is supportive. And when the going gets tough, he is my rock.

Happy anniversary, Nate. We have created a meaningful life with each other and our two greatest achievements, Benny and Lila, bring us joy every single day. I couldn't ask for a better partner.

Deck the House

2013-05-20T12:36:00.002-06:00

After several weeks of preparation, we started on the deck this weekend. Nate has been so committed to getting this project done. He's prepped the house and area after work and on the weekends. As part of this project, we replaced the gutters and trim on the house. Nate removed the old gutters and replaced the trim. He's been digging post holes for what seems like forever.

But, Nate, his dad and a friend down the street made significant progress. And it looks amazing. Poor Nate will have to commit a few (many) more hours to the project, but it will all be worth it when we're drinking gin basil smashers on the deck this summer!

When Nate and I first looked at the house over five years ago, we could see a deck in the space where the patio lived. The L-shape of the house nestles the deck perfectly. And we can access it from the kitchen, which is something most older homes are not equipped for.

Notice the new gutters and paint? I think it looks really sharp, even if it's not a big change. Eventually, steps will wrap around the front of the deck and a landing will be placed in front of the kitchen door. We'll also install pergola.

It was a long weekend for everyone, including the kids. But they had a good time "helping" where they could. The loved measuring the wood and drawing on it. That made the weekend relatively easy for me too. While Nate worked, we rode all over town to gather food and libations for the fellas. Not the worst way to spend a weekend. Not at all.

Book Review: Where'd You Go, Bernadette?

2013-05-15T12:26:00.000-06:00

After reading several "dark" and serious books for book club over the past few months, we decided to go with something lighter. The subject matter in Where'd You Go, Bernadette by Maria Semple is certainly not light, but Semple has an uncanny way to write about it in a lighthearted way.

The book was really easy to read because it was organized in a novel way - through letters, emails, faxes (yes, faxes) and some narration. As the title indicates, Bernadette has gone missing. As we learn, it's for a variety of reasons.

Thinking about many of the books I've read over this year, I'm surprised about a common theme: So many of them address mental health in some way. In the Girl on Fire, a mother deals with paralyzing depression. In The Round House, a family deals with depression after a horrific event. In Where'd You Go, Bernadette, a family deals with a mother's social anxiety. It's also interesting that all of the books about women (and specifically mothers) whose mental health is impacted by serious and tragic events in their lives.

As someone who has dealt with a mental health issue, it's an interesting component of our culture that is rarely written about in a way that reduces stigma. I have more thoughts on the subject, but not nearly enough time to address them.

Oops I Did It Again

2013-05-14T09:00:00.000-06:00

I just used a Britney Spears reference. And I'm not ashamed of it. (OK, I'm a little ashamed of it.)

Somehow I've signed myself up for something big. It all started innocently enough - a friend of a friend mentioned that the annual Viva Streets event was moving from Park Hill this year.

Noooooo!

Viva Streets is a fantastically fun event during which the city shuts down a major thoroughfare and opens it to pedestrians and bikes for one day. For the past two years, LiveWell Colorado has hosted the event in Park Hill on 23rd Street. Last year, the street was packed for most of the day and it was so fun to see so many people out and about without having to worry about cars.

LiveWell is committed to introducing the concept to other neighborhoods in Denver. And for good reason. But, I was sad and disappointed that it won't be in my neighborhood this summer. So, like an idiot, I posted something on the neighborhood Facebook page. And suddenly I'm organizing the first planning meeting for a Park Hill Viva Streets this summer.

Between consulting commitments, teaching commitments and now this, I'm feeling slightly overwhelmed. As a result, I've decided to cut back on the blog for the summer. It's a reverse hibernation. I'll still post updates about #everydayonabike and the occasional family posting, but I'm certainly going to cut back on garden and food posts for the time being. But if the event ends up happening, you better believe I'll post about that too!

Mother's Day 2013

2013-05-13T21:40:00.001-06:00

My kids are lucky. They are so lucky that I have an amazing mom who has taught me so much about unconditional love, thoughtfulness and appreciating children. My mom's children are now all over 30, but she still thinks of us as her kids - and she will never stop.

My mom has always been my biggest supporter and coach. I never appreciated her enough when she was just my mom. But now that I'm a mom, I realize how much she sacrificed for her kids, how much she loved us unconditionally, how she would have done anything and everything for us. And I appreciate her so much more. She is the most amazing grandmother to my kids (and all of her grandkids). My kids absolutely adore her.

My Mother's Day weekend started off right with a playdate/happy hour with some of my favorite moms from school. The kids all got along (for the most part) while we sipped rose on the patio. On Saturday, we checked out a new restaurant in the neighborhood and I discovered that I love potato pancakes. Nate and I rode our bikes to a friend's birthday dinner 7 miles away (much to Nate's chagrin), which meant that Benny and Lila got to spend the night with one of their favorite babysitters.

I requested a low-key Mother's Day. With all the house work we've been doing, it felt good to stay at home and work in the yard. We took a break for a picnic in the park and finished off the day with Nate's famous beer can chicken and salad greens from our garden.

My favorite moment of the weekend? Benny couldn't wait to give me the gift he made me at school. As soon as I woke up on Saturday (not Sunday), he handed me a paper bag. He made me a lovely bird house. He spent the better part of 30 minutes telling me exactly why he chose to decorate the house like he did. I love it. It's so fun to be Benny's and Lila's mom.

Bike to School Day 2013

2013-05-10T13:52:00.000-06:00

It just occurred to me today that a Bike to School Day is probably happening soon. Turns out, it was scheduled for Wednesday, May 8. Lucky for us, nearly every day is a bike to school day. I don't have any photos of Wednesday's ride, but I do distinctly remember that the bike racks were at capacity and I nearly took a picture of them. It made me so happy to see so many bikes at school.

On Wednesday I did bike to the University of Denver for the first time, so I guess I did it on an appropriate day. The ride was a total of 16 miles round trip and it was relatively easy (light traffic, few hills). I'll definitely be riding to teach more often.

Bike to Work Day is scheduled for June 26 in Denver. I've never had the opportunity to participate, so this year I'm definitely scheduling a meeting away from my home office so I can get in on the action.

I'm also working on organizing a Walking School Bus for Benny and his friends in the neighborhood next year. It's a simple concept - two or more families take turns walking their children to school. It can be as small or as large as needed. The Bike Train is another organized way to get to school - and we already do that on occasion. The only catch? Lila's daycare is two blocks away from Benny's school, so I'd have to make my way there three days a week anyway.

Suddenly, It's Spring

2013-05-07T15:00:00.001-06:00

Birds are chirping, the sun is out, the high is above 55. By golly, I think spring has finally arrived! And just in time. I was getting really, really sick of winter. We have been busy, busy preparing for good weather. Yard clean up, new gutters, new painted trim. All of this work to install a deck in two weeks. It's going to be amazing.

I have been planting flowers and Nate has been planting veggies. A week ago, I transplanted no less than 50 iris bulbs from the area where the deck will be to the beds in the front of the house (that we desperately want to get rid of, but can't quite justify yet).

The trim and the gutters will match after next weekend - a nice forest green. And the garden, which is already producing!

And now that the weather is cooperating, I'm finding that the more I ride, the more confident I get about riding. See how that works? Prior to #everydayonabike, I wouldn't ride more than 5 miles away from my house and would never consider riding downtown or to the southern part of the city. But, as I've become more familiar with Denver's vast network of bike paths, lanes and routes, I'm increasingly comfortable in expanding my radius of riding and testing new directions. As a result, I've been riding to new areas of the city and increasing my daily miles. For example, today I tested out a new route that will allow me to ride to a standing monthly meeting about 6.5 miles away. I was reluctant to ride to these meetings before because I didn't like the bike route that Google naps suggests. So, I plotted a new route. It adds about a mile to the overall trip, but the sense of security is worth it!

Tomorrow, I have my biggest challenge yet: Ride to the University of Denver (a 16-mile round trip) in the morning and then to an event across town in the evening (a 10-mile round trip). When the day is done, I hope to have ridden nearly 30 miles in one day. So glad it's finally spring!

April #everydayonabike Review

2013-04-30T14:04:00.003-06:00

April has been the most of the challenging month to ride of the year. I predicted that we could ride to school everyday this month. That prediction couldn't have been further from the truth. The weather was unpredictable all month - with three (THREE!) snow storms that all hit in mid- to late April. Odd stuff.

And yet, there were more photos posted to #everydayonabike this month than in any of the previous months! Here are the stats:

69 photos posted // 29 posted by me // 40 posted by others // 10 contributors

27 days on the bike // 164.5 total miles // approximately $36 in savings in gas

Thanks to everyone for participating this month, including Melissa at Her Green Life!

@runbobbierun // @shaggybrownie // @simplybike // @thepirpirlexicon // @emfritz

@frauwein // @cathope // @mrsweichbrodt // @allmybrush // @whatwouldanedwear

I also have some firsts this month, including riding with a bike seat. Thanks to Simply Bike for the opportunity to use an iBert! I'll write a little bit about riding with a trailer versus a bike seat soon. There are positives and negatives to both arrangements. I also completed my longest commute yet - 7 miles one way. And it only took me about 35 minutes to ride, which isn't a bad commute at all - although I was TIRED!

I rode from northeast Denver to a meeting in southwest Denver (proper). I scheduled another meeting on the way home to better utilize my commute time. It all worked out really well and I was able to ride almost exclusively in bike lanes or on streets that are designated bike routes, which makes me a much more comfortable. I did have to ditch the bike trailer when I dropped Benny off at school, which isn't ideal, but at least I could lock it up!

final April ride, just after I picked the trailer up // May #everydayonabike image

I'm looking forward to more spring-time riding. Maybe May will boost more foliage and less snow. Here's hoping. Happy riding!

The Great Outdoors

2013-04-29T14:18:00.001-06:00

Otherwise known as our yard. Or at least for this weekend, the great outdoors was our back yard. We didn't have much planned for the weekend, so Nate and I used it as an opportunity to get our yard summer ready. The kids didn't seem to mind.

This spring, we have an especially big outdoor project to prepare for: A NEW DECK!

When we bought this house, we saw all sorts of potential - with both the house and the backyard. The kitchen was big, though dated. And the backyard was also big, but in awful shape. We knew that if we worked hard enough on the house that we wouldn't regret it. We finished a kitchen remodel right before Lila was born and we're so happy that we bought a house with a kitchen larger than a postage stamp. Most of the houses in this neighborhood feature small galley kitchens, which is something that we wanted to avoid.

The transformation of the backyard has been a bit longer in the making. When we moved in, the grass was nearly dead, there was a carport attached to the garage and it took up about a third of the yard, a rose patch took up about a quarter more, and an old chain link fence provided a full view of the alley. AND an rusty corrugated metal awning covered a cracked patio off the kitchen.

In five years, we have removed a lot of concrete - both from the carport and the crumbling sidewalk, installed new turf and a sprinkler system and generally cleaned up the backyard - moving plants around and rearranging the layout. Now it looks like a completely new backyard. This year, we decided to do away with the metal awning and patio in favor of an expanded deck and pergola. In order to do that, we also need to replace the gutters and paint the trim, but those projects needed to be completed years ago as well. So, the backyard and the front of the house will be getting a face lift!

Come summer, we'll be ready for some major entertaining, so be sure to come visit.

Century Ride

2013-04-24T21:17:00.001-06:00

It baffles me that many people ride 100 miles in one day. That's a lot of miles! This month, as part of #30daysofbiking, I've been keeping track of my mileage. By April 22, Earth Day, I had hit 100 miles for the month of April. I could have and would have ridden a lot more if the weather had cooperated, but 100 miles ain't bad for just over three weeks.

Speaking of the weather, I think I can safely say that snowstorms are behind us now. The next week's forecast is sunny and in the 60s and 70s. By next Monday, the temps are supposed to be in the high 70s. Nothing like moving directly from winter to summer!

As a result of counting miles this month, I'm going to start keeping track of miles for every month. It would be nice to know how much I'm riding and then estimating a cost savings. Because, I'm planning on buying a new pair of boots come this fall and I want to be able to justify the purchase! It's always this for that in my mind!

Snowy Earth Day

2013-04-22T19:03:00.002-06:00

It's snowing in Denver. Again. On April 22. Earth Day. I did manage to ride Benny to school before the storm moved in. That just means that I'll have to pack up his bike in the car on the way home. Ah well.

In honor of Earth Day, I thought I'd post a list of things that are better to buy used. It's no secret that I'm a big fan of used items. But Earth Day and this list is are good reminders of how much money you can save and waste you can avoid by buying used items.

1. The first on the list is bikes. I was this close to buying a new bike this weekend. I have some extra money to spend at REI so I figured I'd buy a new bike there. But, I think I'm going to wait it out for a bike on Craigslist. If you know anyone who is selling a women's cyclocross, send him/her my way! Benny's bike is used - purchased from a great nonprofit bike shop in the neighborhood.

2. Textbooks are number two. I'd argue that buying any book used is best. In college, I bought almost all of my books off of a site called half.com. It's a great site to find any used book. Amazon also sells used books from sellers around the country. My book club is also going to experiment with a book exchange in the next few months. I also like the Park Hill Community Book Store - a great nonprofit in the community. Oh, and using the library is the best way to save money and enjoy a whole world full of books!

3. I rarely buy my kids' clothes new. I can count the number of times we've purchased clothes new on one hand. I make trips to Goodwill pretty regularly. I also stock up at the beginning of spring and fall at a great consignment sale called Just Between Friends. There are JBF sales all over the country. You can find great deals on clothes, shoes, toys, strollers, diaper bags, etc. This weekend I spent less than $70 to outfit Lila and Benny for spring and summer as well as some new shoes and a potty training toilet seat. Another great way to score used is to find friends and/or relatives with hand-me-downs!

Ben and Lila wear hand-me-downs or clothes from grandparents almost
exclusively, including both of their jackets in this photo.

4. Used cars are just about the best and they're number four on the list. We've never owned anything but a used car. And we won't be buying any new (to us) cars any time in the near future.

5. Although number five is a great idea, we've purchased our fair share of new appliances (excluding washers and dryers). Our oven, fridge and dishwasher were new when we bought them. And we'll probably never replace them.

6. Buying used toys (number 6) is another weakness. But we're getting better. I have purchased almost every baby cargo devise, including my Bob stroller and my Burley bike trailer.

7. I'm always amazed that people sell furniture because "it doesn't fit in their space." In our entire marriage, Nate and I have bought five pieces of furniture new. And we'll probably never buy new again. Craigslist is our best friend in this category.

8. I'm hoping to never have to buy wedding attire again. However, Nate and I were relatively smart when we got married. My wedding dress was hand-made and Nate still wears his wedding slacks and shirt.

9. Pets. Not applicable (much to Lila's disappointment).

10. Entertainment. Also not really applicable (thanks Netflix!).

11. Buy a used house! I don't think we'd ever consider buying a new house. Ours is most definitely used. And we'll be working on it for the rest of our lives!

12 and 13. I'll combine the final two of jewels and designer duds. I don't buy jewels, so another not applicable. But designer (and all duds) are most certainly better used. At this point, my closet is probably at a 50/50 split. Goodwill is a great place to go. But for more quality, high-end items, I really love the local consignment boutique called Plum. Recently, I scored a Coach clutch and Banana Republic jacket. Both are lovely. I also have friends who clean out their closets and offer great pieces to me. One friend outfitted me for the entire winter with new sweaters, shirts and pants. Yes, I'm a lucky girl!

This great dress is from a friend of mine.

Happy Earth Day to you! I hope it's sunny and springy where you are!

Documenting the Unextraordinary (aka "the Ordinary")

2013-04-22T12:30:00.001-06:00

Now that I'm riding my bike everyday (or almost everyday), I'm finding that the #everydayonabike challenge isn't so much of a challenge any more. The real challenge is taking a picture everyday. My trips aren't usually very noteworthy - to school, from school, to the bank, to the post office. And then, when the ride is noteworthy, I'm too caught up in the moment to document it.

Case in point: On Saturday night, Nate and I rode downtown to attend a fundraiser for the kids' preschool. The event coincided with 4/20. And in Denver, that's a big holiday. Over 80,000 people were gathered a few blocks from downtown to celebrate cannabis. As Nate and I rode closer to downtown, we found ourselves surrounded by throngs of people who were leaving the celebration. As we walked, people began running around us. It was a paranoid, group-think type of run and we weren't sure what was going on.

When we arrived at the event location, we found some bike racks, and I was ready to pose for a shot. It's not often that I wear make-up AND do my hair AND wear nice clothes, so I was hoping to document it. However, the crowd's odd behavior unsettled us. As we walked toward the restaurant, a manager ushered us in and locked the door behind us. Turns out, someone had shot three people at the park and people were fleeing. It was a somber start to the evening.

on Colfax, after Saturday's fundraiser // bike parked at school

using the bike seat as a makeshift basket // one of our many snowy rides this month

But, I digress. Obviously we're OK and the event was fantastic.

Here I am though, still stuck with this challenge of documenting the everyday. And then I review my pictures and I decide that the mundane isn't so bad. Because the collection of photos shows how much I'm riding with my family. The photos also mark the change of season. There's a bit more green showing up in photos now and sometimes I can ride without a coat or jacket. So this exercise isn't only recording my bike habits, it's a great reminder of how much we're embracing the outdoors and our (wo)man-powered ability to get ourselves from one place to another. And that's not so bad.

Cheers to the Sun!

2013-04-18T09:55:00.003-06:00

This week has been one big busy doozy of a week. And it's only Thursday. But, know what? The sun came out today! No snow! Granted, the highs will only be in the 30s, but the sun is out and the snow is melting.

The week started with the attack on the Boston Marathon, which is beyond comprehension. I mean, really, beyond. I cannot wrap my head around it. I've been thinking about my own experience running the Chicago Marathon in 2006. It seems like such a long time ago, but I can remember so many little details about it. One of my favorite memories: the fans and specifically my fans: Nate's mom was there cheering me on. Nate and his parents ran all over Chicago to watch me. After the marathon, Nate's mom gave me a big hug and told me how proud she was of me. It meant so much to me. Less than six months later, Barb died of breast cancer. So, not only am I having a hard time with the attack, but the memories are bittersweet.

The weather isn't helping. April started on such a high note - 60s for a few days. Then a big, awful storm last week that ended up stripping our peach tree of its blossoms and ruining a bunch of stuff in our spring garden. I thought the bad weather was over, but then a storm rolled in Monday that brought with it at least 10 inches of SNOW. And then more snow. We'll have some sun and decent temps for three days before another storm is predicted to roll in early next week. While I love the moisture, I wonder why we can't enjoy spring RAIN showers rather than SNOW storms.

I hate to talk about the attacks on Boston and the bad weather in the same post, but they both have left a big dark cloud over the week. Which is why the sunshine is so welcome today. It's amazing what a few rays will do for my mood.

We're ending the week on a high note: A visit from grandparents. Beer tasting on Friday night. Preschool fundraiser on Saturday night. A busy end to a busy week.

Spring Cleaning/Purging/Cleansing

2013-04-14T20:24:00.000-06:00

Spring cleaning hasn't always been a top priority for me. I have a hard enough time keeping up with regular old house cleaning, so the dust behind the couch, refrigerator, under the beds and everywhere else doesn't bother me a whole lot. I'll get to it some day.

However, this year, I've decided to actually clean out some of my cupboards. For the first time in two years. Maybe I'll actually clean under the beds and wash my windows. Between those tasks and the spring cleaning in the yard, I'll be cleaning right up until summer.

Although I'm not a big fan of the deep clean, I am a big fan of the deep purge. I've already been through the kids' toys and have a pile for Goodwill. Tomorrow, I will clean out my closet and the kids' clothes to make room for new (used) spring attire.

Finally, I'm going to try something new this spring. Cleanses seem to be all the rage. I've never really felt it necessary to take part, but this year I'm looking for something to kick my butt into gear. I'm usually pretty tired throughout the day, only be up for a couple of hours at night. So, to combat this insomnia/fatigue and also to get my body back into shape, I'm instituting a purge today. It's not so much a purge, but more of a moderation of things. Here's what I'm planning for the next two weeks:

1. Cut back on beer and wine throughout the week. (We've been involved in a lot of social stuff this winter and it always seems to involve alcoholic beverages. Although I'm all for libations, I think I could cut back.) So, no drinks at home and one drink per evening at a social event.

2. Cut back on coffee. I'm generally a two (very large) cup per day kind of gal. But, I think I can cut back to one cup in the morning and tea in the afternoon.

3. Cut back on sugars. I'd love to say I'm going to cut processed sugars out completely, but I'm not ready to make that sacrifice. I already failed at this today with a small cup of gelato (it was our first gelato of the season - I couldn't say no!).

4. Cut back on carbs. Although the previous three items will be hard enough, the carbs portion of this "cleanse" will be the most challenging. I love bread. And we make a lot of stuff around here involving some kind of grain - spaghetti, burritos. sandwiches. I do refuse to give up my morning toast with peanut butter and honey. It's the reason I get up in the morning.

So, there you have it. Hopefully by summer I'll be bounding with energy. And maybe I'll drop a few pounds in the process. Oh, and maybe I'll have a clean(ish) house by then too.

Do you cleanse? Do you purge? Do you spring clean? Do you feel an odd pressure to get "ready" for spring?

Not Looking Forward, Not Looking Back

2013-04-11T11:56:00.001-06:00

When I had newborns, kind strangers would offer this advice: "Enjoy them while they're young! They grow up so fast!" I would smile and nod. When I had newborns, I really wanted to fast forward until they could sleep through the night. Of course, I loved my babies, but I had a rough time with newborns. My mom offered really useful advice: "After the first three months, things get infinitely easier." And they did. Things did get easier, slowly but surely. Sometimes the improvement was so slow, I didn't know it was happening until I paused to realize that Wow! This parenting thing is quite enjoyable.

And now I have a five and a half year old and a two and a half year old. Sometimes I wonder How did we get here!?! Time does seem to fast forward. I have nostalgia about when my kids were younger, but I no longer look forward to the future. I like my family right now.

I love that Benny is in kindergarten and is so curious about life. I love that he rides his bike and laughs with friends and drums whenever there's a beat.

I love that Lila is in preschool and making new friends. I love that she still enjoys a good snuggle and loves to be chased and dances like no one is watching.

I love that the two of them have become playmates - friends even. Although I don't always love their shenanigans in the moment (boy oh boy, they can be loud!), it's such a pleasure to watch them make each other laugh, make up games, have conversations.

So, I find myself in a position where I don't want to look forward and I don't want to look back. I want to stay right here for awhile and absorb these phases. Because they don't last forever.

Book Review: Catching Fire

2013-04-10T08:32:00.002-06:00

I wasn't kidding when I said I was ready to read for fun again! I finished Catching Fire in near-record time. As nearly the entire world already knows, it's the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy by Suzanne Collins. I'm a little late to this party.

For me, the Hunger Games trilogy isn't notable for its quality writing, seamless story line or even likable characters (although, there are some of those). It's notable because of its subject matter and its overwhelming popularity. It's about a revolution and the ability of people - no matter how repressed - to challenge the authority that is repressing them. Although we don't live in Panem, some people around the world live in conditions that are strikingly similar (and throughout history, Panem has existed almost everywhere). And throughout history, many people have risen up to take back their lives, their families, their communities.

Because the books are so popular and geared to a younger audience, they could be the beginning of some great discussions about revolutions and the importance of grassroots organizing.

Although I've heard the third book isn't as good as the first two, I'm excited to finish up the trilogy.

#everydayonabike in Iowa!

2013-04-09T21:29:00.002-06:00

It's only appropriate that I interview S. from Simply Bike for the April #everydayonabike profile.
I remember stumbling on S.'s blog a few years ago and was nearly instantly inspired to get back on the bike. She seamlessly transitioned from a commuter biker to a family biker (who still commutes!) and has great tips for other mamas who would like to do the same.
I've had the privilege to meet S. and I'm looking forward to taking a few rides with her this summer when we're able to meet up again.

ss // What do you ride?

sb // I ride a 1970s Peugot mixte that I picked up on Craigslist. I made a number of upgrades to it (added a chain guard, basket, panniers, better grips and more upright handlebars as recent improvements to help with my back pain. I think the frame is the only thing actually remaining of the original Peugot bike. It's a gretle Frenkenbike - it looks like no other bike in town and it rides like butter. As of last fall, I have been hitching my Burley trailer to it for my daughter to ride along with me. Before the weather cooled, I used a front mounted bike seat (the iBert) for her ride in.

ss // How long have you been riding?

sb // I rediscovered biking as an adult about three years ago. I started out shaky and unsure of myself but before long, I was addicted. I loved the freedom, fun and exercise that riding my bike provided. Three years ago, there were only a handful of cycling blogs being written by women (most notably Dottie and Trisha's Let's Go Ride a Bike, Sarah's Girls and Bicycles and Meli's Bikes and the City). There were all a huge inspiration to me. Before stumbling across them, I didn't really think of biking something other than an activity relegated to parks and weekends. These women opened my eyes to using a bike as a daily mode of transportation.

ss // Where do you typically ride?

sb // I usually ride anywhere in town. I use my bike to get to campus (where I work), to shop for groceries, to go to the library with my daughter, or to meet friends for drinks in the evening. Once a month, I organize a community-wide ride for families and children (our own branch of Kidical Mass). It's been my first time attempt at anything akin to bicycle advocacy in my town and it's been incredibly fun.

ss // How has becoming a mother changed your riding (if at all)?

sb // It's changed my riding the way it has changed everything about my day: I now have to account for nap times, carrying extra items around with me (diaper pouch, snacks, books) and for the moods and wants of this other little person along for the ride. But we've fallen into a great rhythm together and biking together is one of my favorite things for us to do. I think my daughter would agree as she's usually pretty content to be in her bike seat or the bike trailer.

ss // Why do you ride?

sb // I ride because I always feel better after getting off my bike. Even on rainy, cold days. O don't get that feeling after stepping out of a car.

Thank you, S., for sharing a bit about biking!
Please check out Simply Bike for great stories about biking and parenting and many other great topics!

The Accidental One-Car Family

2013-04-04T09:06:00.003-06:00

If you had asked me a year ago if we could be a one-car family, I would have laughed in your face. Before Nate and I had kids, we were happily a one-car couple. But then we had kids, we both worked and the logistics just didn't work out. Benny and Lila have always been at different daycare locations. Nate had a 15-mile commute and my 6-mile commute wouldn't work on a bike due to drop off and pick up and getting to work at a decent time.

Our 1997 Volvo, purchased when I was about 7 months preggers with Benny.

Fast forward a year. So many amazing and mundane changes have impacted our commutes (and, truthfully, our lives). Nate accepted a job downtown - a 4-mile commute. I largely work from home and can ride to almost every meeting I schedule. This week, Lila started at Benny's pre-school and it's only two blocks away from the elementary school. So, when our Volvo station wagon's battery died last week, it wasn't the end of the world. And when we couldn't fix it because we didn't have time, we just kept pushing buying a new battery back.

Yesterday, Nate suggested that we move the Volvo to the alley so we don't get any tickets when street sweeping starts. I agreed. And just like that, we're a one (working) car family. In the past week and a half, we have driven the car a total of three times. Nate has been taking the bus or riding his bike to work and I've been able to ride every single day.

I'm not sure how long this arrangement will last, but it feels good for now!

Book Review: The Round House

2013-04-03T09:21:00.001-06:00

Finally! I finally have time to read again! As soon as the quarter ended at DU, I picked up The Round House by Louise Erdrich. It's the next book club selection and I finished it just in time.

The book is good. Very good. However, I wish I had read the Afterword before I started the book. It would have created a good framework to better understand the story line.

Erdrich writes about Joe, a teenage Native American whose mother is raped in the first chapter. Essentially, the book is about justice, which is a challenge on reservations - particularly in the case of rape.

The build-up to the final chapters was superb and Erdrich created a realistic description of how a family deals with a scary and violent situation - from the mother's depression to the son's and father's helplessness. The final chapters could have been longer and included more description like the earlier chapters.

Overall, I'm just glad that I have the time to read again. I have visions of sitting with a cup of coffee on the porch and reading through summer. It's a happy thought. I've moved on to Catching Fire, the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy. I took a longggg break and I'm happy to read more about Katniss et al.

So Much to Do, So Little Time

2013-04-02T14:31:00.001-06:00

Spring break has come and gone. I had so many plans for spring break to explore Denver with the kids. And then the Volvo died on Monday, so we were stuck at home (because it was also too cold to ride our bikes). Benny and Lila seemed fine with it, but I was disappointed. We did end the day with an art activity that both of the kids really enjoyed - something as simple as coloring Easter eggs to send to grandparents.

On Wednesday we did make our way to the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, but it was packed with other spring breakers, so we headed home to have lunch and nap in the afternoon. That left Friday. Again, lots of plans, but then Nate decided to leave work early so we could drive to my parents' house. We had time to run errands and stop at the library.

Although we weren't busy, busy throughout the week, I can't tell you how nice it was to relax and have some down time with the kids. We slept in and meandered through our days. It made me long for summer vacation when I'll have both kids for two days every week. Of course we'll take lots of bike rides, but I'm also excited to discover some of the museums in Denver. Like the Clyfford Still Museum and the Denver Art Museum. I recently stumbled on a great blog from Denver, A Denver Home Companion. This week, check out the blog for a giveaway for a membership to the Clyfford Still Museum. I can't believe how cool the blog makes Denver look. I mean, I know it's cool, but A Denver Home Companion reflects it accurately. Please check it out.

Hurray for April

2013-04-01T20:46:00.002-06:00

I have a good feeling about April. The weather is obviously plays a big role in my mood, but so do blossoms and flowers and green grass. Overall, it's just pretty damn awesome. Plus, Lila starts at Benny's old pre-school three days a week. I love, love, love being at home with her, but I have enough work now that two days a week just isn't cutting it. I know that she'll love it. And, I can pick Benny up from school on Wednesdays now and have some one-on-one time with him before I pick Lila up later in the afternoon. We're having dinner with friends almost every weekend this month and the fundraising gala is in three weeks (yikes!). There's so much to look forward to.

I'm not offering a giveaway this month because I think the improved weather is enough incentive to get out and riding (at least, it is for me!). In the next few days, I'll profile a rider who has inspired me in my journey back to the bike, so stay tuned.

And, in case you missed it, #everydayonabike was featured in this month's Greater Park Hill News. Also, check out 30 Days of Biking for inspiration to ride this month. What a cool concept! I'll be participating, because, well, I'm riding anyway! Happy riding!

March #everydayonabike Review

2013-04-01T07:29:00.000-06:00

Nothing against March, but damn, I had a hard time riding last month! The weather was the most challenging, but so was health and travel. Regardless, I still managed to ride 23/31 days - and on many days I made more than one trip by bike, so I suppose it all evens out somehow. This year, the in like a lion, out like a lamb saying certainly holds true for the month. I rode in 15 degree weather with snow on the ground earlier in the month and last night I rode in shorts and a T-shirt in 70 degree weather.

Thanks to everyone who contributed in March. I know it wasn't easy to ride anywhere (being too cold or two hot, depending on your hemisphere), so I appreciate all of the committed riders even more! Here are the stats:

53 photos tagged // 21 tagged by me // 22 tagged by others // 10 contributors

Thanks to all of the contributors this month!

@lifewithroozle // @cathope // @emfritz // @runbobbierun // @shaggybrownie

@jaynesykora // @simplybike // @ashleynicoleaddison // @familyride // @obc_benson

And congrats to @emfritz for winning The Soup Peddler! Emily lives down the street from me and is a frequent riding partner!

Also, check out #everdayonabike in the Greater Park Hill News this month! If you're in the Denver area, you can pick up a copy at any Park Hill business.

The Ham Bone's Connected to the ...

2013-03-26T08:00:00.000-06:00

Have you ever tried to buy a ham with the bone still in? It's nearly impossible to buy a bone-in ham at most grocery stores today, which is too bad because the ham bone is the keeper of mystical flavors. Luckily butchers still exist today (although they are disappearing too) and they still carry hams with bones. And luckily, my parents frequent a great butcher in Sterling, Colorado. The best ham and bacon this side of - well just about anywhere. My parents also frequently stock us up on pork products. And I love them for it.

I've made enough chicken stock to know that a cook should never through away a bone or carcass before cooking it down into stock. And ham bone is no exception. Ham bone and bean soup is incredibly easy to make. You just need a solid afternoon (5-6 hours) to boil the bone.

Ham Bone and Bean Soup

Ingredients

1 ham bone

2-3 cups of ham, cubed
3-4 cups of white or pinto beans (or a combination)
1 onion, diced
2-3 garlic cloves, chopped
4-5 carrots, chopped
4-5 celery ribs, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste

Method

In a large stock pot, cover the ham bone with water and simmer for at least 2-3 hours. I used dry beans, so I added some prep time (boil, then soak over night, rinse, boil again for 30 minutes). Add the beans, ham, onions, garlic, carrots and celery to the stock. Let simmer for at least an hour. Salt and pepper to taste.

Yes, it really is that easy. And so good. Benny now requests this soup regularly. If I could find more ham bones, I'd certainly make it more often.

Hyper-Localism vs. Plain Ol' Consumerism

2013-03-25T11:44:00.000-06:00

On Friday morning, I enjoyed a lovely ride to a meeting about four miles away. Then, to lessen the sting of grading papers, I stopped off at a lovely French restaurant to read through pages and pages about various perspectives on media effects theory. When I emerged in the early afternoon, the air was crisp, but the sun was bright and the sky was blue. I had the perfect ride home... Only to ride again in the afternoon to meet a friend for a beer at a great local pub.

By the time I picked the kids up from daycare, the wind was howling and snow was beginning to fall. Just as predicted, an early spring snow storm hit Denver. On Saturday, we weren't sure what to do with ourselves, so we headed south to Ikea. In a mini-blizzard. It was actually a great trip, but I can't help but compare our experience at the big box store to our experiences at the businesses in our neighborhood this weekend.

Although plenty of snow was on the ground by Saturday afternoon, I was still able to walk a mile to our neighborhood grocery store for dinner supplies. (A big thanks to all the homeowners who had already scooped their walks by then!) On Sunday, we were all experiencing a little cabin fever, so the kids and I drove a little over a mile to the Denver Museum of Nature and Science to check out the new exhibit on Mammoths and Mastodons. Since we have a membership, we were in and out in a little over an hour - just in time to catch the second half of the Iowa State v. Ohio State basketball game at the local pub. On the way home, I dropped my bike off at one of the local bike shops while Nate picked up a few garden supplies at the local hardware store (they're in the same building!).

So, what's the difference? For everything but Ikea, we could walk or bike comfortably (although we drove some this weekend due to the weather). Ikea is a 30-minute drive in good weather. By staying hyper-local, we were able to support a variety of businesses within a 4-mile radius - all of them local and all of them offering a variety of services - including food and beverages, bicycle repair, garden supplies, groceries and a museum experience. At Ikea, our sole reason for visiting was to buy things. And in the end, we didn't even buy what we had intended to buy - we bought other stuff instead. And, we ended up talking to a wide variety of people by staying local: A lone woman out walking her dog after the snow storm, a man who reminisced about his own small children at the pub, the great waitress, the bike shop guy, the garden guy, etc. Do you know who we talked to at Ikea? No one. Not one soul. Unless you count the handful of people who witnessed Lila's total and complete meltdown at the end of our trip and nodded our way with sympathy.

Although I can't avoid big box stores completely (man, I do love Ikea), I'm starting to realize that the local scene offers all we need - and more. And, since we can bike to Stapleton now, I can largely leave the car at home. If I do have to drive, I can combine a variety of errands into one trip because so much is located within my neighborhood bubble. And very soon, I'll be able to bike for groceries with only one major street to cross.

Photos courtesy of @shaggybrownie on Instagram.

How about you, do you try to stay local, or even hyper-local? If you bike or walk for errands, has it changed your buying habits to focus more on the local?

And don't forget... Post a picture of you on your bike on Instagram (shopping locally or not) by March 31st and you'll be entered to win a copy of The Soup Peddler. Tag it #everdayonabike to be entered.

First Performances and Managed Expectations

2013-03-22T12:39:00.000-06:00

Benny performed in his first theatrical production on Wednesday night. He was cast as Razoul, a guard, in Aladdin. We worked on his lines for six weeks - which sometimes went great and sometimes was a nightmare. In the end, he did great and I am so proud of him. He got out there and remembered (most of) his lines. And, I think he had a lot of fun. And that's the most important point, after all.

Being a mom to Benny has been an exercise in managed expectations. I had no idea what to expect when I had a baby. It was hard. And then he turned into a toddler who was easy and fun and amazing. And shy. So, so shy. And really into mommy. For the first three to four years of his life. Social situations were hard because Benny was so uncomfortable around large (or even small) groups of people. He began warming up to these situations when he was started daycare. For him, I think daycare was one of the best things we could have done for his development. And although social situations were hard, daycare was never hard. He always dealt with change very well.

That was the "normal" and I had to manage my expectations about how he should act. And then, suddenly (or probably not so suddenly), he stopped being shy. He is still a bit wary of large groups, but for the most part, I would not describe him as a shy kid.

I've had to re-adjust my expectations. Benny has lots of friends, likes to play independently of his parents and rarely has shy moments (although they still happen). But, he's still five and a little boy. I didn't know what to expect for his first performance. Would he remember all of his lines? Would he project from the stage? Would he have stage fright? In the end, he did wonderfully and I'm so proud of him for performing. He was the youngest kid in the play, so it's no wonder he had more fun backstage while fooling around than while performing.

If Benny wants to continue performing, I will wholeheartedly support it. My heart exploded with pride when he performed and remembered his lines. To see him embrace the collective performance made this (former high school) actor immensely happy. After five years, he still surprises me on a daily basis. It's one of the reasons I love to be his mom.