Amanda Face.

Amanda,

Remember when everything was different, and we were just single girls living together in the city? Remember when we used to stalk boys and people online, for various reasons? Remember when we drank champagne the night Obama was elected, got mixies after the Snake, and celebrated 4 years of birthdays together? Remember when I made you go out after Susan's wedding even though you were already sleeping?

You know what else I remember? I remember the many times you invited me to join you for ski weekends, walks in wash park, invites to your family affairs, and coffees at Stellas. And I remember the many conversations we had about everything (literally), and I remember you listening without judgement or advice (unless I asked for it). And I remember when you asked me to be your roommate. 2225 Buchtel Blvd...oh, if those walls could talk. ;)

I remember that you were my first real friend in Colorado (other than Susan), and through our times together you helped me explore and define friendship, frienemies, and myself.

Our lives are so different now than the day we met -- but in really great ways. I don't even live in Colorado anymore; you're officially married -- to a super awesome guy btw. I love that I can credit someone as amazing as yourself with helping me discover my own ways to fall in love with life.

Your passion for life, your passion for the people in your life, and your passion to help the world molded me into the person I always wanted to be.

Thanks for everything. Thanks for you.

PS I will always eat your buckeyes. Even if you make too many. ;)

Oh, I'll Shake Your Cake! ;)

In the midst of my packing and my saying goodbyes and my selling my car (ahh!), some great friends offered to take me to lunch.

Already a fan of many local restaurants in Denver, we decided on D bar Desserts on 17th street which just happens to be on my Denver Bucket List.

Check out the adorable interior of this modern cafe.

And the cute set up is only the beginning.

The moment the first bite of crue fries entered my mouth, I was in foodie heaven.

I mean the garlic parm fries topped with swirls of macaroni and cheese sauce, melted cheddar jack, ranch, and then sprinkled with bacon and chives not only tasted delicious, but looked quite nice as well.

After our shared appie, I dove into my main course which was the pizza salad sandwich. Also delicious and fancily presented.

You can see the load of fresh, crisp salad layered in between a thin layer of melted cheese and tomatoes, all sandwiched into folded-over handmade pizza dough.

I love that Dbar takes ordinary dishes like pizza and fries and adds a little creative love making the restaurant unique and definitely worth a try!

And after lunch, it was time for dessert; after all, I am kinda stressed to the max right now, and desserts is stressed spelled backwards. ;)

And so we went with the house specialty: Cake and Shake.

I believe I found my soul mate.

We closed our lunch with some pink champagne cheers (and some tears) to new adventures and good friends.

It was a perfect last lunch for me in the city.

Thanks, Cheryl and Kari for lunch and for you. I miss you already.

Finger Lakin' Good!

As a Colorado girl, I am heavily deprived of some good water time. And almost every day of summer, I miss the lakes, the boats, and the beaches.

So, when I go East Coast, I have to get my fix.

Mr. Umbrella and I headed to the Finger Lakes Region in Watkins Glen, New York.

Our lake of choice was the Seneca in part because of the room availability and in part because of the many wineries surrounding the sapphire waters and in part because of the hiking opportunities.

Absolutely gorgeous!

An Empire State Of Mind.

On to Upstate New York for some fun in the vineyards!

Roller Coasters and Fried Perogies.

Amusement Park Date.

It might just be on the "top 10 dates of all time" list.

{Especially if you're over the age of 14!}

Between the stress of moving to a new country and the sadness associated with saying goodbye, Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg, Pennsylvania was the perfect escape from all that is my current every day life.

Between Mr. Umbrella's free tix hook up, fried food, roller coasters, being scared silly, the water slides, various trips down memory lane {Mr. Umbrella worked here for a summer}, twirly rides, the ferris wheel, and my date...

...I kinda wanted to stay forever.

Balls and Beer? Yes Please!

Remember when I said that I see dating as an opportunity? Well, dating Mr. Umbrella means I have the opportunity to attend lots of baseball games. He's a baseball fanatic which works well because I love the outdoors, and I love beer.

After picking me up from the Allentown, Pennsylvania Airport, we headed to Coca-Cola Park to watch the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs play the Indianapolis Indians.

6 bucks gets you a lawn seat which basically means a seat on a grass covered hill or a seat in the open air bar. Both are excellent options.

9 bucks gets you a 22oz premium draft beer - not bad for a ballpark!

4 bucks gets you a fresh, made-to-order, grilled-in-front-of-your-eyes, chicken gyro.

D-to-the-licious!

But the best little hidden gem of this AAA park wasn't the Landshark lager, affordability, or food. It was the fact that the park looks out onto a view of the Poconos Mountains. I mean they aren't the Rockies, but they still make for a spectacular background at a baseball park.

Love is Real.

Best. Wedding. Ever.

Congratulations, Amie and Christian O'Keefe!

Your wedding, like yourselves, was perfect.

From the moment the first bridesmaid walked down the aisle at the National Shrine of the Little Flower Catholic Church, to the very last song played in the Grand Ballroom of the Atheneum Suite Hotel, the love, romance, and magic shone in the faces of the bride, the groom, and all the guests.

To say the least, it was the kind of night that I didn't want to end.

The Dirty D

Dear Detroit,

I know America loves to hate you, but today, I love to love you.

And Eastern Market is a great place to fall in love with this city.

Chock full of flowers, vegetables, fruits, and homemade delights, Eastern Market brings a certain vibrance and communal aspect to the city and offers a great representation of the state of Michigan.

From the market, we headed to Butcher's Inn for some delicious but cheap-o breakfast. Service is a bit slow, so you have plenty of time to enjoy the company you are dining with.

We're not in Kansas anymore

Today, Mr. Umbrella is in Detroit for the first time ever.

I wonder if now he's the one wishing his partner grew up in Hawaii.

Things to do in Kansas City

Head to 18th and Vine Street!

This street is home to a few Jazz bars, the Jazz Museum, and the Negro League Baseball Museum.

We checked out the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum, and it was definitely worth our time. Small, yet packed full of interesting information, the museum offered an indepth tribute to a part of baseball's history that is often overlooked and neglected but served an important role in the making of modern day professional baseball. Example: Did you know that the very first night game ever was played in the Negro Leagues?!

And the price is great too! $8.00 for admission into one of the museums, but $10.00 gets you into both!

Royally Fun!

When in Kansas City, do as the Royals do and hit up Kauffman Stadium to watch some baseball!

With easy parking, fireworks to celebrate home runs, and lighted fountain shows ... how else could we have celebrated Memorial Day?

For those of you with cutie patooties, Kauffman Stadium offers many activities to keep the kiddos entertained including batting cages, a mini baseball diamond for imitating the ballpark legends, an ice cream shop, and a playground.

Driving to Kansas City

Yup looks a lot like driving to Lawrence.

Goodbye Jayhawks. Hello Fountains.

{Did you know that Kansas City, Kansas has more water fountains than any other city in the world but Rome?! I know you wanted and needed to know that fun fact. I mean who needs Italy when we have Kansas? :)}

Things to do in Lawrence, Kansas Take 2

Walk around KU's campus! {Duh!}

University of Kansas's campus is quite pretty. The buildings are truly gorgeous -- and there is quite a variety of styles of architecture throughout the campus.

Just look at that development of the Jayhawk.

{To honor Spartan Basketball, I should have worn an MSU shirt vs. Denver.}

We found a fire escape which climbed to the top of a building -- look at that view of the campus behind us. Gorgeously Green.

Kyle, Mr. Umbrella's friend, related that some of the other Cougars used this exact place for first date nights. {Beware ladies -- even the Cougars use cliche dating moves.}

Alright, Izzo. Cringe like I cringed from the beginning to the end of the 2011 Spartan basketball season....Rock Chalk! Jayhawk! Rock Chalk! Jayhawk!!!!

A Warm Welcome to Kansas.

The night before Mr. Umbrella's friend's wedding, we were invited to begin celebrating the couple's love with an open house at the groom's parents' house in Topeka, Kansas.

The beautiful (and sweetly typical) view of the Midwest ALMOST made me take back this statement I had previously made to Mr. Umbrella: I wish you were from Hawaii instead of Kansas. Seeing Hawaii 2x would be way better than seeing Kansas 2x.

(Keyword being ALMOST)

Things to do in Lawrence, Kansas Take 1

After finally arriving in Lawrence, Kansas, I took a stroll down Massachusetts Avenue which is home to several local merchants as well as some larger chain stores, including GAP, American Eagle Outfitters, and Urban Outfitters.

I loved these next two stores the most. Both were proud lovers of European soaps, chocolates, teas, and trinkets.

Bahaha ... There was even a Dalek!

Mass Ave was definitely a trendy and happening place with good deals, good eats, and good beer at Free State Brewing Company. Personally, I recommend the Lemon Grass Rye and the Bee Sting Honey Lager -- both are super-duper unique and strongly flavored. It is said KU students spend more time at this brewery than in class ... I mean, with beer this good, who could blame 'em?! :)

And nothing says the Midwest like a little parade strolling down main street.

Tripping to Kansas

Driving to Kansas City is beautiful for the first 30 minutes. Then it becomes quite redundant.

Easy but boring is how I would describe the past nine hours spent riding the I-70 highway.

Around the six-ish hour mark, I started to go a bit nutzo in my car. Knowing a break was in order, I pulled off into Wilson, Kansas.

Looks like your average piece of Kansas, right?! Wrong! The city claims to have the largest Czech egg in America. I mean how, in my delusional state, could I have passed up this opportunity?

Secret: I never found the egg, but I did find some major Czech love.

Stop in Wilson, KS for some small town loving and some delicious homemade skol.

And please, Czech yourself before you wreck yourself.

Rocktastic!

Before leaving Colorado, I needed to go to one more Rockies game.

Coors field is perfect for an evening game -- mountains, coors light, good friends.

These girls and baseball games are reason number 25 million and 1 that I'll miss America.