This Week!

My best friend is coming to town to visit for a week and a half. She'll be here this Thursday, and I'm SO excited to see her. Every once in a while, you just need your girlfriend time, you know?

The picture of us was taken on one of her visits a few years ago (she visits at least once a year). You may know her as SkyleRae. She has a blog too. Check it out here.

I'll have so many pictures to share from this trip, we're going to try to hit a lot of fun Denver Must-see areas, so I'm excited. But today, I'm trying to focus, and all I can think of is...I can't wait until she's here!!!

Rachel May

Exterior Paint Selection: Cabrera Residence

One of the contractors I work with has decided that he's going to do a smooth stucco treatment to the exterior of his house. I was honored when he asked me to pick out a couple of paint color options! Here's what I came up with.
This is what his home looks like now, sans stucco. He's applying stucco this weekend. I came up with three options for him. He is reshingling right now, and his entire roof is going to be black.



This is the neutral option. The color is called Open Space.

This is the blue option, the color is called Renovation. It's highlighted by the white trim and dark grey foundation.

This is the yellow-toned option, again with white trim and a dark grey foundation. this one is my favorite, but I'm totally biased, as yellow is my favorite color:)

Just some quick photoshop work, but I think it really gives you the overall idea. Hope you like it!

What are you up to this weekend?

Rachel May

Advice

I have a few BIG things brewing career-wise right now, but I can't seem to make a decision on ANYTHING. I keep playing that "what if?" game and it's hindering me from moving forward. I just can't seem to sort through everything in my head and organize my thoughts.

Have you ever had this problem? Any advice?

Feeling a little wishy-washy, and I blame the weather. Excited for fall, but nervous for changes.

Rachel May

Panama: Natural Solutions Foundation

The primary reason behind our Panama vacation was to visit the Natural Solutions foundation. They're a great organization founded by a husband and wife team, with great intentions. They're located in Volcan, which means volcano (because it's by an old volcano named El Baru). Volcan is in the mountainous area of Panama, where the weather isn't quite as humid and the sun isn't quite as hot. This was our favorite location, for all of those reasons.

Natural Solutions Foundation is trying to startup a community in Panama. It's very eco-conscious and about self-sufficiency. These little guys are walking around in a movable chicken coup. It gets moved all over the yard so they will eat bugs and fertilize. Pretty ingenious.

Greenhouses were just built for growing new plants. The foundation already has a coffee plantation where you can buy beans that they grow and roast.

This was a really exciting part of the trip and a real eye opener for me. It's amazing to think how important self sufficiency is in other countries and how it's not as much of a priority here in America. I think we started that kick with the green movement, but really-not much of us would know what to do if we weren't able to go to the grocery store whenever we wanted. Just something to think about.

Rachel May