Day 2, Mile 1
Picked up Bella from the DIA airport last night, ate pizza and caught up! 

This morning we prepare to head out to learn about a Millionaire's mindset. 

August 1, 2012 - 3400 Women and a couple of Men at Showcase in Minneapolis

My friend, Mary Mora, and I left for Showcase 2012 in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Wednesday, August 1, 2012.  Mary's husband, Jim, was gracious enough to run us out to Denver International Airport to catch our 7:00 am flight at 5:00 am.  Mary couldn't find her glasses and Jim kept saying "it's too early, it's too early" but we made it in plenty of time.  Mary came to a Creative Memories crop with me in Denver this past April that had over 1,100 in attendance, so she knew we like to congregate in large numbers, but I'm not exactly sure she was ready for 3,400 of us in one place!

We arrived in Minneapolis about 10:00 am where we were escorted to our hotel on one of the CM busses.  We were fortunate enough to get checked in to our room at 11:00 am which gave us plenty of time to get out to the Mall of America for some fun!  We took the light rail from downtown Minneapolis to Bloomington where the mall is located.  Four floors of shopping available to all who care to go, plus an amusement park in the middle of the mall! 

Here is Mary in front of the Lego display...the guy in the background is made out of Legos! 

Here's a helicopter with a guy being airlifted!  Amazing. 

Everything in this display was made from Legos!

We ate lunch first and then started at the top of the mall and worked our way down to the first floor where we met some CM friends for dinner at 6:30 pm at Tucci Bennuch's. 

Here is Tami Worthington eating her appetizer...creme brulee!  Great food and FUN people!

After dinner we headed back to our hotel on the light rail.

June 24, 2012 - Tabernash, Colorado

An update from Mary Kay...

I drove up to Tabernash, Colorado yesterday to join some CM Consultants for a crop.  Tabernash is just outside of Winter Park and the area is beautiful.  Tami (my upline) coordinated this weekend crop for the consultants attending.  Her former neighbors started offering their dream home as a weekend retreat and this was their first weekend.  Their home is beautiful!  I just know my Michigan Ladies would love to spend a weekend here!  My pictures aren't the best, but I wanted to try and share the beauty with you all! 

Don't you just LOVE the puffy clouds and blue sky?

This little rock garden/path leads around to the back of the house which has two awesome decks overlooking the lake.

Again, these pictures don't do justice to how beautiful this house is!

Twelve can come on a weekend retreat and Melody (owner) is a

Certified Massage Therapist and has a room just for massages!

Everyone there said she is AWESOME!

Entryway...

View from the upper deck...

Conversation area (different view from above)

Just look at those mountains!

Dining area...

Kitchen...

Cropping area (most of the consultants were doing digital)

Thanks, Tami, for letting me come up for the day!  I better get my weekend booked soon, it's one of those places once you have been there,

you'll want to keep coming back!

This will be my "new Sauder"! 

 

Bella's Back in Michigan!

On the plane ride home, I sat next to a young man, Josh, who starts boot camp next week at the Air Force Base we visited last Tuesday. Small world! He will be in the Cobra squadron. I wish him the best. While boot camp is rough for them, at least he will be living on one of the most beautiful campuses I have ever seen. The vistas of natural beauty will hopefully balance the rigors he will have to endure for training.

What a difference it was to drive in my Latte-mobile compared to Dory the Toyota. After sitting down so low for 8 days, I felt like I was riding in one of those monster trucks!

Latte was glad to see her momma dog when I walked in the door. She immediately buried her head in my chest as I knelt down to give her a hug. The unconditional love of a dog...!

I got my flower pots all watered and placed back in their spots, caught up with the neighbors, assessed all the work to be done (weeding, tomato plant maintenance, vacuuming, laundry, grocery shopping), reset the wi-fi, and removed a dead mouse. Yuck! Oh, and my hunter hubby warned me we have a snake living in one of the flower pots beside the front door. He took great pleasure in doing so because he loves them and knows I hate snakes. Thanks, honey!

I saw a brand new Caddy as I was leaving DTW...maybe it is a sign of things to come?! It might be fun to travel around the country on a regular basis and keep our little blog going. There is so much to see and do right here in the USA, and as I mentioned in the post before, I have only scratched the surface. ;)

Hugs,
Bella

Day 8: Mile 2063 - Leaving for DIA

MaryKay's knee is feeling much better; however, she did not get much rest as she awaited the effects of the steroid injection to work.

We had a nice breakfast at the Embassy Suites. They really do have a great program. MKa even had time to watch her CM weekly business webinar.

When we left the hotel around 11:15a, Dory's temp was at a whopping 98 degrees. MKa could barely touch her steering wheel.

We had a hazy view of the Colorado Rockies, some still snow-capped. The Denver International Airport is an interesting piece of architecture that almost looks like a circus tent sitting out on the Denver plains.

My drop-off and check-in was smooth and quick. I do hope MKa is getting her iced coffee and heading to settle in to the nail salon for the afternoon. I've accompanied her thus far and now she will be with her Denver friends and guardian angels. I am excited for her and what lies ahead. She has a heart of gold (maybe she will settle in Golden?!) and the people of the Colorado area will benefit from her positive presence.

I am excited to see what surprises and delights are in store for me as I return to Michigan. Thank you again to my friends and hubby who helped keep our place running while I was on this adventure with MKa and Dory. I am truly blessed. :D

Who knows? Maybe we will have the opportunity to continue our blog and adventures through other parts of this state and great country. This trip was like finding the tip of an iceberg. Oh, there is so much more to see!

Hugs to all!
Love,
Bella

Day 8 - One journey complete, a whole new one on the way...

It is amazing how quickly a week can go by...testimony to the fact that we need to enjoy the journey each and every day.  This past week has been AWESOME.  It has been so fantastic being able to share why I am so excited to return to Colordao with my special friend, Bella!  She has put up with a lot of challenges from me from going down the mountain on those curves more quickly than she would have liked, to my snoring, to having to take me to Urgent Care!  She is a TRUE friend!  I will miss her as she returns to Michigan, but like so many of my friends from Michigan, I know we are only a phone call, Facebook post, or text away.  I consider so many friends forever! 

As I settle in here in Colorado (not sure where yet), I am looking forward to re-establishing connections with my friends from my Colorado life, also the kinds of friends that once we get together it was like we were never separated by all the miles! 

Heading out for breakfast here at the hotel and then off to the Denver International Airport.  Thank you for joining us on our journey, it has been fun sharing with you all!  Have an AWESOME week! 

~ Mary Kay

Mile 2027: Bella Goes to Red Rock Park

Day Mile 62:

Since MKa was out of commission due to her knee issue, I ran out on my own to capture sunset at Red Rock Park.  There is a naturally formed amphitheatre out in the Morrison, CO area.  There are two 300-foot monoliths, Creation and Ship Rocks, that stand like sentinels on each side of the stage.
 

left side of stage

stage

right side of stage 

The view below was from a lookout point showing both sentinels.

Sunset over city from lookout point

View 180 degrees in the opposite direction...

 

I wish I had arrived a bit earlier to spend more time meditating there.  Since I wasn't that familiar with the area, I decided I should start the drive back sooner rather than later.  The weather was so nice, even for 9p in the evening, I had the sunroof open to enjoy the nice breeze.  I traveled south for the return trip.  As I arrived at the exit for the hotel, I made a wrong turn so I decided to head into the Taco Bell there to grab a bite.  As I was pulling out, I looked to see if there was a "No Left Turn" sign.  Not seeing one, I drove out to the far lane and ... found myself in the far turning lane of oncoming traffic.  YIKES!  When someone does a "blonde" move, you might hear them say, "I'm so pretty!"  Well.....tonight I am the MOST BEAUTIFUL woman in Colorado!  Fortunately with it being late on a Sunday evening, there were only 5 cars that came toward me.  None honked.  Thank God!  As soon as it was clear, Dory and I made a U-ie and after a few more turns, we managed to get in the correct lane.  I love my guardian angels!!!

Tomorrow is my last day here with MKa.  It will be bittersweet to end the trip.  I definitely am ready to get back home in Michigan, yet I will miss her company and this beautiful Colorado weather and scenery.  Living around the mountains and taking in the breathtaking vantage points has been one of the best birthday presents ever.  Thank you to my wonderful husband and MKa for giving me this opportunity!  Hugs!!