Into the West.

View of the Flat Irons from my brother's street in Boulder

Big news.  As some of you may know, I've been yearning to move out to Colorado for a few years now, ever since my brother and sister-in-law moved out there, and especially in the last couple of years since they brought Zora, my niece, into the world.

So, if you haven't guessed already, I'm packin' it up and heading out to Colorado!  There are many things I'll be sad to leave behind in Atlanta, but there is so much I'll be moving towards in the glorious mountainous west.  

A note to my wonderful and loyal customers, you can expect a minimum of two months before I'm up and running out there, and then probably another couple of months for me to restock my shelves to a respectable level, so if you don't want to run out, head over to my etsy site and pick up what I've got left before my co-workers buy it all up (they love Sudstress!).  I don't have a place to live yet, no job, and several glitches in the plan already, so I'm prepared for delays.  Rest assured, however, that I will continue to make soap out in Colorado and I'm looking forward to what I suspect will be shorter cure times what with the dry air out there.  *fellow soapers nod their heads* 

I shipped out the last of the wedding favor projects that I had on the books yesterday and will get those pictures up as soon as I can.  Needless to say, the next couple of weeks will be a flurry of activity as I prepare to become a resident of the mile high city.

Though this move is a long time coming, I'm taking a huge, flying leap of faith moving out there with no job or apartment, but I have family, the love of my life (who will be joining me), and a plan to get my MBA at the Leeds School of Business, so it's calculated at least.  Without great risk there can be no great reward, but I think my sentiment is best summed up in the words of my 15 month old niece...  "Ooooooh my".

What's new?

First and foremost, the best new thing in my life is my 7 week old (as of yesterday) niece Zora.  Zora is a name of Czech origin - my grandmother spoke fluent Czech, as that's where her mother was from, so it's in our blood.  It means dawn or sunrise.  I love it.  I love her.  I visited with the bf a couple of weeks ago and got to meet her for the first time.

This trip gave me a permanent change in perspective.  I instantly fell in love with Zora and am pained to be so far away.  I know being related gives a person some bias, but she's such a lovely li'l lady.  I can't express how incredible it was to observe this little human, watch her face change from second to second, and learn her little idiosyncrasies.  She loves to bounce, she needs to bounce or you get squirmy face.  She furrows her brows, but when she's tired, if you stroke above the bridge of her nose, between her eyebrows, instantly her eyes close and face relaxes.  She sometimes falls asleep with her eyes open; she smiles in her sleep; she fights sleep because she wants to look around, she seems fascinated.

At Red Rocks to see Ray LaMontagne - they only got to stay for three of his songs... such is life with a li'l one.

Just past 6 weeks - she's been starting to smile and giggle.  The videos are absolutely adorable.

I finally made some more after hours a few days ago.  I was down to the last bar which sold the same day, oddly enough.  It's looking good.  Should be ready in about a month.

I returned to yoga at a new studio in Oakhurst.  I bought a groupon for a month of unlimited yoga.  My goal is to make 6 classes per week.  So far I've made 3 of the last 4 days.  I really like it because there are no mirrors.  I hate mirrors in any kind of exercise class.  All I do is pick myself apart and lose focus.  I know the mindset would be the better fix, but for now, mirror-less studios are going to have to do.  Most of the classes are Vinyasa and my shoulders are feeling all of those downward dog poses.  I'll update you on my progress.

I switched locations at my job.  I was dealing with a dynamic regarding one specific manager that was detrimental to my well-being, so I put in my notice.  I was surprised to be offered a position at the other location and I have to say, the place has a really nice feel.  I was greeted with a warm hug and a sincere welcome and really like the people I'm with behind the bar.  My income will be substantially less, but some things just aren't worth the mental anguish.

That's about all I'll share for now.  Life's been jam packed with surprises, new things, small crises, several things up in the air, uncertainty, etc...  I suppose that's nothing unique to me, so I'll spare you the rest and leave you with one more photo that is full of love and laughter - the two most important things in life: