Outdoorsy VS girly?

Why does a girl have to choose?

Why can't a girl have it all?!?

Why do you have to sacrifice looking sexy while having drinks apres-ski just because you rode hard that day?

Why not spend the day on the hill looking like this:

and transform yourself into something more like this before hitting the bar?

The reason most girls don't bother, is they are under the assumption that it takes a lot (of work and product) to look beautiful and fresh, especially after a day of skiing. Well, I have discovered the secret. And I'm going to share it with you. The best part: all you need can fit into your jacket pockets (or your climbing bag, a dry box in your kayak, whatever your outdoor poison.)

All you need are four simple things:

1- FACE LOTION

you would be surprised how a simple application of facial lotion can give a refreshed glow to your face.

I use Weleda Almond Moisture Cream (sometimes I use Rose)

If you're concerned with blemishes or redness (I know my cheeks are always very rosy after a day in the snow) you can try a tinted moisturizer.

ORGANIC WEAR (found at Target)

2. CHAPSTICK!!

I know that I can't be outdoors for any length of time without having chapstick with me. Nothing is sexier than smooth lips and you're much more likely to smile and allow your personality to shine through when your lips feel healthy and not chapped!

I have so many brands I cannot point you in a direction. I honestly buy whatever is organic and on sale.

I stick to non-tinted. But for a little extra "umph" you could go with tinted- Burt's Bees has some nice tinted chapsticks.

3. FOLDING COMB(optional)

I rarely actually use one, but when I need one, it's quite nice to have. If you find yourself without a comb it is just as easy to wet your hands slightly in the sink and run your fingers through your hair several times.

4. ESSENTIAL OIL ROLL-ON (optional)

I prefer Khuumba Made "Water Goddess"

(no pictures of the flavor, but all Khumba Made roll-ons are in the same packaging- the Amber is nice too)

Now there is something to be said for planning ahead. If you're planning on having drinks after a day of skiing, wear your brightly colored thermal underwear.

I prefer Capilene 2 zip-necks. Not only does it keep you warm and dry as a while on the hill, but when stripped down to the base layer, you do not appear to be wearing your grandmother's thermals.

Base layers look super sexy paired with a vest. I have a Marmot Power Stretch vest. It's fleece lined so it's practical and it's fitted so it's fashionable.

Top it all off with a bandanna or scarf that matches!

The execution is crucial and luckily, quite simple! When you enter the warm, toasty bar after a long day of skiing, you simply tell your hottie ski-bum boyfriend/date that you would like a PBR (no need to be too fancy) and to please excuse you while you duck into the ladies' room. (sans date this is even easier, just got straight to restroom)...

Step 1: remove crucial items from pockets of your ski jacket and place them on the counter.

Step 2: remove outer wear

step 3: brush hair, WET hair with hands to maximize the removal of ponytail bump.

step 4: rub moisturizer on face, apply chapstick, pinch cheeks just a tad and apply roll on oils if desired

step 5: use whatever accessories you may have on your person (scarf for example) to ad a little something extra to your "outfit"

That's it! You now look fresh and hot!

Friends

friends are really hard to come by.  I sat down and did an inventory of my friends out here.  Sarah and Evan, Raci and Theo,Steve and Sarah and Lola.  Now that seems like a good amount of friends, right.  Well if you will pay closer attention: six of those friends are coupled off.  So whenever we do go out all together, I'm the seventh wheel.  Lola, I love her to death, rarely goes out... so she's my sit around and watch television buddy... which everyone needs!

All this is a new phenomenon to me.  I've been stable in the same spot up until now.  I have had friends and family galore. So much I was getting sick of them being around all the time (no offense guys... this is a metaphor).  But my point is, I've never had a lack of people to spend time with.  If I felt like I needed to get out of the house, I had a list of people I could call, and if all else failed, I knew that if I went to Bailey's (I'm not a big solo bar patron, but this was totally different)  I would run into at least someone I liked to hang out with.  

It's hard being in a (relatively) new place and making friends.  It's especially hard making girlfriends in a town where there are very few women.  And it appears, all the women have boyfriends.  Bottom line is, it's hard to meet people when you're already grown.  I'm not looking for a best friend, I have one of those 1800 miles away, I just want someone to hang out with and see a movie with and occasionally go out on the town with.  This girl can only be a homebody for so long before she starts to go insane. 

All that being said, I'm so ready fro SUMMER!!!  I can take the dog out on long hikes and not worry about getting cold or snowed in.  I can go camping and climbing again! Hell, I can go tubing on the creek from my house into "downtown" Jackson! Fishing and hot springs and FUN FUN FUN!!! 

Okay, I'm off to work now. Have a good one! 

Redlodge Montana

Jeff and I, along with our friend Chris took a little adventure up to Montana for the weekend. 

We did a little Snowmobiling...

Saw some pretty sights...

Did some bowling... (which rocks because we can't do that here in the Hole)

Drank some beers... 

Saw old (to them, new to me) friends... 

had a snowball fight in the bar... 

and dealt with some chilly weather... 

overall good weekend!!! Happy NEW YEAR!!!!

(new post below)

She feels like kicking out all the windows...

Ahhhhhhhhh!!!!!

It's been a helluva week guys. Seriously, I've been stressed out and sad and worried and angry and every other kind of emotion you could imagine. I'm only one person and I can only handle so much emotion, especially when the reason for all these feelings (ugh feelings are so very annoying) is another person. This person has drained me... sucked the life right out of me. I once had a professor refer to a person in a similar situation as being attacked by "an emotional vampire". An emotional vampire expects you to be there for them, listen to their problems, their bitching, their SHIT. But as soon as you have a legit problem, or concern, or something you need to get off your chest, they are suddenly way too busy, or have a problem of their own or whatever. OK, my point is not to go on and on about my situation but give you some background on why I so desperately need for things to be about me for just a little while.

aside: I like having this blog, I can pretend that people actually read it and at least I can vent and say what I need to say and get it off my chest... and it can be ALL ABOUT ME!!!


I feel the need to have a ME day, maybe some shopping, a spa day, a hair cut. Girly stuff you know?!?

I mean, I CAN BE a girl! Just 'cause I like to get dirty and hang with the boys doesn't mean that I'm not a GIRL dammit. I look pretty in dresses, I have feelings and I like hugs, and I want someone to take me out to dinner... (boys, take note here if anywhere): CLIMBING IS NOT A DATE. Granted it's awesome fun and I will do it any day of the week, every now and then a girl needs some food that isn't made on top of a jetboil. Every now and then a girl wants to be treated like a lady! Every now and then, a girl wants to hear that SHE (not some other chick) is hot... and trust me beautiful doesn't always cut it, that's nice and all, but we wanna be HOT too.

I'm so very tired of hanging out with my guy friends and hearing all about the HOT women in their lives and how they have perfect breasts and perfect legs and so on and so on. I get it, you're cool enough to pull some HOT leg. But every now and then I would like to be hit on, treated like a piece of meat, I know that goes completely against all my feminist beliefs... but if some girls are treated like a piece of meat, I want to too!!!

What cracks me up is that guys (I'm totally generalizing here)KNOW that the super hot women are generally fake, and won't hang out in a tent with them and won't climb or do any of the things that they like to do, but they date them anyway. Then they spend most of their time with me hanging out in the woods, playing in a tent and climbing, then go home and take their hot women to a real restaurant. And I go home alone. What's wrong with this picture?

I think I need a make-over. I'm gonna try this girly thing (not the whole not getting dirty part, I LIVE FOR THAT!) but at least when I'm in the city, I'll start being a city girl and then I can go get dirty when I'm out of the city.

Anyone wanna help????