Down the Slopes

Greetings from Aspen! I am all about trying new things and this week is no exception. I came on this trip having never skied in my life, ever. I could not pass up the opportunity to learn how to ski on the mountains of Aspen. Thus, I booked myself into a 3 day school ski with day 1 already completed.
I chose to ski Buttermilk Mountain which is one of the best beginner mountains out there. My instructor told me about the well groomed and forgiving snow. Buttermilk is also home to the X-Games which will be getting underway in late January. Its pretty awesome skiing next to the half-pipe where Shaun White wins gold medals.
I have to admit, I was a bit nervous when I clipped into my skis and was about to head down the virtually slope-less starting point. My instructor taught me how to properly make turns and I practiced on this very low slope run until I became more comfortable. We then moved to the chair lift and the "powder panda" slope which was a bit larger to continue to work on my turns. Yes, I did fall quite a few times! All in all I fell less than I expected.
By the end of the day, however, I was riding on the chair lift that goes to the top of the mountain and skiing on a green run down the mountain. I couldn't believe it! After only one day and never having skied before, I was at the top of the mountain....I was impressed with myself :)
Is skiing my new calling? Perhaps, but it is definitely something I would like to add to my hobby list!

View from the top of Buttermilk Mountain

Day of Departure

You might remember when I shared that I would be meeting the West Coast....well that day has arrived! :) Im on my way to the airport and heading to the other side of this little country.

I pray, pray, pray for an on time flight, non-annoying people sitting next to me, maybe an upgrade? (pretty please), and enjoyable travel over all. Being the clothes whore I am, I somehow managed to fit my packing into a carry on....i know you probably don't believe me right? Maybe the $50 for checking bags was motivation to squeeze it into that 22 inch suitcase?

via

I might create a post or two and schedule them while I'm gone so this doesn't become completely dead for a week, again. I feel like I have been leaving this blog postless quite frequently this summer, sorry!

City Biking: Living to tell the Tale

Let me begin by saying I think this is going to be my new obsession! It was very frightening at first when taxis were passing me about 2 feet away, but then it just became pure fun.

So we picked up our bikes, and the first thing i noticed was my eyeball bell?? Still trying to figure that one out

this was my bike...cruiser style..love. And its made in Germany (I love German Engineering)

so we headed up Park Avenue...in search of a truck with free coffee

after many bell ringings. "Oh My Gods", "What should i do"...we finally made it to our original destination. Voila free coffee truck

we made our way across town hoping to reach the Westside Highway with its infamous biking path. 

After fearing we were in the lane to go through the lincoln tunnel, we did make it to the Westside Highway. It was so nice

views of river were amazing

with the city behind us

From there we headed down to Bleecker, perhaps my favorite street.

what could be better than biking on a West Village street surrounded by some of your favorite stores such as Ralph Lauren

needless to say, the helmut really cramped by style....