Wednesday, June 16, 2010

My Best Summer Ever & a Winner

It's time to announce the winner of last week's book giveaway!

I had so much fun reading about your favorite summer jobs last week. So before announcing the winner, I'd like to share my favorite summer job!

During the summer of 2001, I moved out to Steamboat Springs, CO with a sorority sister to move in with her aunt and uncle who both worked for resort management companies. I had never been to Colorado so was so excited for a new experience!

With her aunt , we secured front desk jobs at two different properties. I worked at Thunderhead Lodge, which was located at the base of the main mountain, and Amy worked at another place called, The Lodge. We spent our days greeting guests, checking people in, and suggesting activities for our guests. I absolutely loved my job.

I didn't have a digital camera back then and haven't been able to track down as many photos as I'd like to share, but here are a few!


It's hard to believe this photo was taken 9 SUMMERS AGO. I like to think that I haven't changed too much since then.


Hiking Fish Creek Falls. Oy vey, those jean shorts were hideous. Err, the whole outfit is a bit of a disaster. And seriously - who hikes in jean shorts??


Relaxing in the natural springs - clothing was optional at night! How risque!

It's hard to believe that I actually took this picture on a hike. It looks like something you'd find in a book! I wish I had a digital copy to enlarge and hang in my condo.

The summer came to an end and I had the hardest time leaving Steamboat. There is this phenomenon known as "The Yampa Valley Curse". I met many, many people who came for a ski season and stayed for a lifetime - like my friend's aunt & uncle! They were so sure I had fell under the curse. But I had two years of college left, so staying wasn't an option. Luckily, I was able to come back out and work over the following 2 Christmas breaks. I'll have to tell you about my first experience skiing sometime!

That summer was truly the summer of a lifetime. My eyes were opened to another area of the US that I hadn't experienced before. Colorado is so breathtakingly beautiful, I feel like I would need "less" if I lived there. I gained more of a sense of independence since it was the first time I had been away from my home state for a considerable amount of time.

After graduating from college, I strongly considered moving back out there. But after a couple of discussions with my manager in Steamboat, I decided that I needed to try a different path first. I loved Steamboat, but I also know it's a city full of Peter Pans. In a way, it is sort of the equivalent of Never Land. Although, I will say I probably wouldn't be single if I lived there as the guy to girl ratio is something like 10 to 1! Those are my kind of odds. ;)

I am happy as a city mouse, but I still miss Colorado. If I were to relocate anywhere, the Denver area would be at the top of the list. I hope to some day get my family to take a vacation out there (hopefully these photos will convince them that this is an area that they need to check out). I'm already working on getting my sister & her husband to meet me there - possibly next summer - since it's pretty central for us (she lives in Tucson, I live in Minneapolis).

After all, I am pretty sure I could hook us up with a pretty sweet deal.

Alright, enough reminiscing. It's time to announce the winner of Summer at Tiffany! The winner is...

Nora from Walking With Nora!!

I'll be reviewing more books for TLC Book Tours, so I there will be more book giveaways to participate in this summer!

17 comments:

Charbelle said...

Oh my goodness so beautiful and what a fun job!! I had an outfit just like that jean short number, it was the look at that point. You haven't aged a day but you have become even prettier if that's possible!

abbi said...

What a great summer job. I haven't been to that area of the country but think I'd love it. I spent several summers in high school working at a state park. I worked in the campground office or the souvenir stand. I ate lunch on a bench everyday overlooking 50+ foot waterfall...definitely took it for granted at that age!

Becky said...

Ohhh I want to go to Colorado so badly!!! That summer sounded divine!

J said...

That sounds like a great summer job! I have heard that if you go out to CO you don't come back because you fall in love with the views and mountains! My parents actually lived out there for a year, but had to come back because my grandma got sick - otherwise I prolly would have been born out there!

Thanks for the book suggestions! I can't wait to get started reading!

Emily Jane said...

What a fantastic summer job!! Loved the pics, and congrats to Nora :)

Mandy said...

Colorado is an incredibly beautiful place and I love that you spent time working there. My summer in DC was like that -- freeing, figuring some things out, and likely a place I'd return to live. I'm so glad that you had a magical experience like that.

Congrats to Nora!!

Abby said...

Wow, Lisa! That is so gorgeous!!!! We need to vacation there! You have had so many incredible "once in a lifetime experiences" -- your very fortunate!

I showed Ryan the pictures and he didn't recognize you with your sun-kissed blonde hair!

Megan said...

I've had a couple of friends who lived in Colorado and LOVED it. I feel like there must be magic in the air or something :)

Marlys said...

I remember so well that my dream was to move to CO with my college friends after we graduated from nursing school! But soon everyone was getting engaged and married so our plans never developed! Two of my classmates did do that and enjoyed it so much! We really do need to go on a vacation there!

Nora said...

First of all, I think we all made bad fashion choices 9 years ago :) I had jean shorts *just* like that!

How awesome it must have been in the natural spring; so jealous! I've been to Denver once but it was for a work conference so I never really made it outside the city but what I saw was gorgeous.

Also? I won!? How exciting!!!! Thank you =)

Gracie said...

Hey, I hike in jean shorts ;-)
That picture looks tour-book worthy, not a snap shot off your camera. What an amazing summer. If I ever get any vacation I'd like to head that way.

Kyla Roma said...

That sounds like an amazing summer job, it's so cool to hear how close you came to having this whole other life :)

Unknown said...

Great pictures, Lisa! Makes me want to go back and explore Colorado. Kent is working there for most of the summer and he and Margie are enjoying exploring different areas of the state. You should give them some advice about places to visit!

Amber said...

Wow it looks amazingly beautiful there!! That's awesome! I haven't had any JOBS that made my summers awesome, but I'd say last summer is one of the best I've had so far. Just because it was me and Eric living far from home and southern B.C. is AMAZING in the summer! We did lots of camping and outdoor activities and it was great :)

Lauren @ Sassy Molassy said...

Love the pics. Funny story...Before I met the manfriend, I was on eHarmony and phone dating/seriously emailing this guy from Steamboat. He was cute, athletic and successful. The only problem was he was in steamboat and didn't want to leave...ever. And I sure as heck wasn't going to go out there just to meet him for the first time. haha. Anyway, it sounds like an amazing little town.

Lisa-Marie said...

Your summer sounds amazing! If you take your small photo to a print shop, they should be able to enlarge it for you!

Kelly said...

Can you explain to me what the TLC book tour is? You probably have but as you know i've been in and out of the blog world lately :)

That sounds like a fantastic summer job! I've never been to CO but it's on my list definitely. What isn't, right?