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!