Mile Hi - New Things

Klout is a San Francisco based company that provides social media analytics to measure a user's influence across their social network. The analysis is done on data taken from sites such as Twitter and Facebook and measures the size of a person's network, the content created, and how other people interact with that content. Scores range between 1 and 100. My current Klout Score is 37. The average Klout Score is around 20. I will work on earning a higher score by consistently creating great content that people want to share and respond to. Klout also offers Klout Perks. These are exclusive products or experiences that you earn based on your influence. This is one of my goals: to be paid to try products and then write about it.  Chevy teamed up with Klout to allow 3 day loans of its new Chevy Sonic to people with Klout scores above 35. I believe you also had to be in your 20s to qualify. It may have also been location specific. Hopefully I will qualify for a Klout Perk soon! W...

As I stated a few posts ago, I like buying from Groupon and other daily deals. I bought a Hamburger Mary’s Bar & Grille Groupon for $10 for $20 worth of food since I've never eaten there before. Matt and I split a Mary's Bleu Cheese & Pear Salad (spring mix, pecans, pears, bleu cheese, sun-dried cherries, cherry vinaigrette) and a Queen Mary Burger (cheddar, monterey jack, grilled onions, bacon, special sauce) with fries. All was excellent and I didn't feel it was super greasy like Smashburger. I highly recommend the food here. They were even getting ready to play some BINGO. We also got a few drinks: 2 $2 Coors Light and 1 $2 Margarita. The bill was a little more than $20. Good times. What did you do today?

I read an Oprah.com article, 16 Ways to Make an Incredible Impact With Less Than $15 , recently about 16 different organizations you can donate to for as low as a $1 donation or up to a $15. Since it is the holiday season of giving, I decided to donate $1 to Books For Africa . Supposedly $1 will provide 2 books shipped to a classroom in Africa. Access to an education is one of the only opportunities young people have to end the cycle of poverty and attain a better quality of life than previous generations. Books For Africa works to help children who otherwise would not attend school by supplying educational materials to reduce or eliminate education costs. In the wake of Wyclef's accusations (1/3 of $16 million raised went to the charity), I was a little leery of donating but if Oprah says it is a reliable organization, it must be! What did you do today?

It was a warm sunny day in Denver today (1 of 300 days of sunshine) so Matt and I played some basketball in Garland (David T) Park . I bought a basketball yesterday so I wanted to try it out. We warmed up for a bit then played the game O-U-T (shortened version of H-O-R-S-E). In this game 1 person is allowed to shoot from anywhere on the court. If the shot is made, then the other person must make the same shot from the same position. If person 2 makes the shot, no letter is given to either person. If missed, that person receives an O. It so happens that I won. Matt had O-U-T and I had nothing. What did you do today?

We went to Mellow Mushroom this morning at 10:00am to watch UGA vs GA Tech. Mellow Mushroom is a pizza restaurant franchise that started in Atlanta GA in the 1970s with over 100 restaurants nationwide today. Their pizza crust is buttered and sprinkled with parmesan cheese.  The UGA Alumni Chapter goes to Mellow Mushroom on the 16th Street Mall in Denver CO for each football game. Since it was so early, they have 3 different types of breakfast pizza to offer. We ordered a medium Denver Breakfast Pizza with eggs, ham, green peppers, onions, and cheese. It was different but delicious. I also had a hot chocolate with Frangelico. UGA won 31-17. What did you do today?

Today is the 104th Annual Backyard Brawl where the West Virginia Mountaineers  (7-3) take on University of Pittsburgh Panthers  (5-5) in Morgantown WV at 5pm MST. This football series begin in 1895. Instead of going to the WVU RMC's (Rocky Mountain Chapter) alumni bar, Hopper's, to spend money on food and drinks, we decided to spend money on food and drinks at King Soopers (a Kroger brand grocery store). Thanks to my friend’s parents, I was already stocked with 24 cans Yuengling (made by the oldest brewery in the US in Pottsville PA since 1829). All that we left was food. King Soopers has a lot of fresh food bars to choose from, like salad bar, soup bar, olive bar, etc. One of them is a chicken wing bar with about 6 flavors to choose from (fried, honey chipotle, teriyaki, buffalo, bbq, spicy) with or without bone and carrots and celery as well. Wings are $5.99/lb so we got 24 wings for $8.04. There were pretty good wings but not the best. WVU 21-20 but we also did not play ...

Keystone has been open since November 4, 2011 and we didn't have to work, therefore Matt and I went skiing today. Only 12 lifts open and 20 trails open (although it seemed like 3 lifts and 3 trails), but it was still skiing and Thanksgiving Day.  It was a sunny day about 40F and a little windy. The snow was decent and we did 6 runs and then went back to Denver. What did you do today?

Since tomorrow is Thanksgiving, here is a list of things I’m thankful for: My significant other, Matt - my best friend, roommate, confidant, comedy relief, cand more! My family - for all the love and support throughout the years. My friends - for lending an ear. My job - for providing a paycheck. My education - both undergrad and grad degrees. My car - for getting more from point A to point B safely. A roof over my head - for providing heat in the winter and cool in the summer. The ability to purchase food - provides energy and nourishment. The clothes I wear - may be old and out of style but at least I have clothes. The shoes on my feet - I have shoes when people in other countries do not. Good health - I try to eat healthy and exercise every day. My 5 senses - I enjoy seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching. 300 days of sunshine - people are happier when the sun is shining. No credit card debt - I rack up the bills and pay them in full. Social media - to k...

Since the holidays are here, there are holiday dinner parties. I recently read that a good gift for a hostess is The Proust Questionnaire by Marcel Proust. The book contains questions about life and outlook. Proust grew up in elite social circles in Paris. He encountered a popular ice-breaker style British parlor game that encouraged guests to answer a personal questionnaire as a means of getting to know one another better. I then did an internet search on Proust and discovered Proust.com . This website was inspired by Marcel Proust since it captures life stories, thoughts, and aspirations. I decided to signup and answer some of these questions. There are many, many, many questions and I only answered a few. You can view my story here, http://proust.com/story/patriciabuwen . What did you do today?

If you haven’t already heard me complain about how my cell phone broke, you are going to now. Last Tuesday 11/15/11, I was heading out to work. As I got in my car, my LG Ally (covered with a rubber protective case) slipped out of my bag and drop to the ground (about 2 feet). I did not realize it fell out so I drove away. A couple minutes later, I realized I did not have my cell phone with me so I went back to my apartment to look for it. It wasn't inside so I retraced my steps. It was still sitting in my parking spot without a scratch on it. What a relief I thought to myself.  There was a green light blinking on it, signifying I had a message. However, when I tried to turn it on it did not come on. I then realized the phone worked but the screen did not. I went to the Verizon Wireless Store after work and then informed me the LCD screen was shot and it was $90 for a new part + labor. I could also buy a new phone for $400+ or use an old phone until my contract was up Febru...

I finally finished The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown on the airplane today. It released in 2009 and was a best seller. It takes place in Washington DC about the Masons, codes, secrets, and unseen truths. It took me 385 days to read it but I finished today and I gave it a 3 out of 5 on Goodreads . I rated Angels & Demons 5 (my favorite Dan Brown novel) and DaVinci Code a 5. What did you do today?

Since I was travelling and I don't have my Droid anymore, I'm posting this a a day late as this occurred yesterday (Sat 11/19/11). We traveled north to Ellija Georgia on Saturday to visit my aunt and uncle. They have a cabin in the woods in Coosawattee River Resort . It is a resort full of wilderness and gravel roads. We saw some deer in the backyard. They also have a rec center with an indoor pool, fitness center, basketball court, tennis court, mini golf, and a game room. We ate at Charlie’s Italian Restaurant  for dinner. I had Gnocchi Alfredo with Mushrooms, which came with bread and a house salad.  I also had a pinot grigio. It was a nice time in Ellijay. What did you do today?

Since I was travelling and I don't have my Droid anymore, I'm posting this a few days late as this occurred 2 nights ago (Fri 11/18/11). We went to Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant in Atlanta's Buckhead neighborhood Friday night. This is a chain brewery with handcrafted beers and made-from-scratch cuisine restaurant that start in 1988 in Palo Alto CA. They currently operates 33 restaurants in the United States. I had a the Hefeweizen (a German wheat beer) and Lobster Bisque Soup. The lobster bisque was AMAZING! What did you do today?

I went to the Mall of Georgia today located in Buford GA. It is the largest mall in Georgia and the 29th largest mall in United States (based on total square feet of retail space). The mall was built in 1999 and has 225 stores. The Mall of Georgia one of Simon Malls owned by Simon Property Group . We didn't buy a single thing in that mall; it is too close to Christmas. What did you do today?

Since I'm travelling and I don't have my Droid anymore, internet hasn't been readying available and I'm posting this a day late as this occurred last night (Wed 11/16/11). This one is a little on the lame side as I've never ate at Schlotzky's but I've wanted to eat there for the past 8 year since I LOVE sandwiches. We were at the Denver International Airport today since we were heading to Atlanta. I had a sandwich for lunch so I just wanted a salad for dinner. So I ate a Turkey Avocado Cobb Salad even though they are know for their sandwiches and they sounded, looked, and smelled good. My salad had mixed greens, turkey, bacon, avocado, black beans, eggs, tomatoes, goat cheese, and croutons in it. It was served with a piece of cheesy flatbread. I had it with light ranch salad dressing. It was approximately $9.76 (higher cost at the airport I assume). Good salad but I can't wait to try a sandwich! What did you do today?

I went out to lunch with my co-worker today. We went to Café 180 in Englewood, CO. This is a unique eatery in the aspect that is lets you pay whatever you want for your food. If you can't pay, you can give 1 hour of service for food. They say "Give and Take. Pay it Forward. Support your Community." Their ingredients are fresh and mostly organic. I had a half Apple Walnut Salad, a half Turkey Bacon Spinach Wrap, and small Diet Coke so I donated $8.00. They also said I could have a complimentary cookie so I choose a Rocky Road Cookie. All the food was delicious. Jon Bon Jovi also has a new restaurant, Soul Kitchen , in Red Bank NJ that is a similar concept that opened on October 19, 2011. They serve healthy, organic meals without prices on the menu. $10 is the minimum donation for a 3-course meal that includes a drink and dessert. If a customer can't pay, they can volunteer in some way to earn a voucher for a meal. Panera Bread also has experimented with this conce...

I decided to watch a show that I've never watched before. I've never watched 20/20 even though I used to see the Barbara Walters commercials all the time. 20/20 is a television newsmagazine that has run on ABC since 1978, with around 5 million viewers per week. I chose to watch Episode 66, Lessons from Billionaires, that originally aired on October 28, 2011. Segment 1 was about Guy Laliberté , worth $2.5 billion, who founded  Cirque du Soleil in 1984. He is originally from Canada and started out as a street performer himself. I believe there have been 29 unique shows thus far. Segment 2 was about Lynn Tilton , who is the sole principal of Patriarch Partners, LLC which manages 75 companies that generate $8 billion per year in revenue. She is originally from Teaneck NJ. She buys companies in jeopardy, restructures them, and finding new ways to make them profitable. Her advice to young entrepreneurs is "success comes from following your passion." Segmen...

I met up with a couple WVU friends for brunch this morning at Highland Tap & Burger . I had a couple mimosas and a breakfast burrito while watching the Steelers (won) vs Bengals, Broncos (won) vs Chiefs, and Falcons (lost) vs Saints games. This was also my 1st time in LoHi (Lower Highlands). The Highlands is a neighborhood in Denver with many trendy restaurants, bars, and shops. It is located a few miles northeast of downtown Denver. What did you do today?

This may sound weird to some and normal to others, but today I boiled peanuts . This is a popular snack in Southeast United States (most popular in the Carolinas). Since I'm from the Northeast, I've never heard of this until last year when I watched a University of Georgia football game at a friends house in Denver. The hosts were from GA and had boiled peanuts as a snack. They were good. All you have to do is buy raw peanuts in boil them in salted water for about 4 hours. You should try it sometime. What did you do today?

As I stated a few posts ago, I like buying from  Groupon  and other daily deals.  I bought a Smashburger Groupon for $6 for $12 worth of food since I've never eaten there before and the corporate headquarters are based in Denver CO. Matt and I split a Colorado Burger with green chilies, melted cheddar cheese, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayo on a spicy chipotle bun. We also had Smashfries, Fried Pickles, and a Small Wedge Salad. Everything tasted good but was pretty darn greasy and I'm sure the calories and fat content were pretty high. I'm not used to eating 'fast food' like that at all. I recommend it if you like 'fast food' but I don't think I will be eating there again for awhile. I guess I need to work out tomorrow morning. What did you do today?

I decided to watch a show that I've never watched before. I've never watched 60 Minutes even though my dad watched it every Sunday night at 7:00 pm. 60 Minutes is a news television program that has run on CBS since 1968 and averages 13.36 million viewers per week. In 2002, it was ranked #6 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time . I chose to watch an episode that originally aired on October 2, 2011. Segment 1 was about the earthquake and tsunami that destroyed Japanese town Otsuchi in March. Death toll was about 1,500. Otsuchi has an American Sister City, Fort Bragg, CA. Segment 2 was about 26 year old mountain climber, Alex Honnold , that free solos (scales walls without a harness). He was featured in Sender Films' documentary, Alone on the Wall Segment, 3rd episode of the First Ascent series, where he ascends Yosemite’s famous Half Dome. Segment 3 was about Andy Rooney , the iconic commentator and his remarkable career on 60 Minutes, most famous for the en...

I read more Oprah these days and she has a web-base application called the O Dream Board . A dream board is when people cut out inspirational images from magazines and put them on cork boards to serve as a daily reminder of your aspirations and what you want your life to be.  It helps you get clear about your goals, your hopes, and your vision for your life to turn your dreams into reality every day. I made a quick one with the image library supplied. I tried to color code the text boxes: white for personal goals, blue for health/fitness, red for education, and green for career. It is a good start and I can probably make a better one soon with my own images and style.  Enjoy! http://www.oprah.com/odbimage/db_210248005_1 What did you do today?

Have you ever heard of the Six-Word Memoir books by SMITH Magazine? Well, Six-Word Memoirs are basically writing your life story in six words. The books are a collection of Six-Word Memoirs from its readers contributions. I took a stab at my Six-Word Memoir, here is what I came up with: Inspired by fitness, innovation, and sustainability. Everyone has a story. Can you tell yours in six words?

Tonight I decided to make my own granola. I looked up a few recipes online on www.allrecipes.com  to get an idea of what to put in it and how to do it. I settled on the ingredients of olive oil, butter, honey, oats, almonds, walnuts, peanuts, raisins, and dried cranberries. I now feel like a Boulder hippie. What did you do today?

I bought Swai Florentines from Target this week. I believe the package of 2 was only $3.99. Swai is a white fish that has a mild, sweet taste. Swai has a light flaky texture with similar taste and texture to tilapia. I baked it in the oven for 20 minutes at 375F and served it with brown rice (with creole spices) and asparagus (with pine nuts). It was delicious! We had an early dinner since we are heading to the Avs game. What did you do today?

I watched the movie Antwone Fisher tonight. It is about a man in the navy that is forced to see a psychiatrist since he constantly got in fights. He eventually opens up about his past to his doctor who helps him heal from his past and move on from the present to his future. I give it a 7 out of 10. What did you do today?

I ate at a new sushi restaurant today (when I say, new, I mean new for me). Matt and I went to Opal Restaurant . They have a daily happy hour from 4:30-7:30pm with drink specials and 2-for-1 sushi. We had 2 22 oz Kirin bottles, 1 Corona, edamame, 2 unagi pieces (eel), 2 sake pieces (salmon), and 2 spicy tuna hand rolls for $20 + tip. Good food and good times! What did you do today?

I wanted to see what all the hype was about for this game called Words With Friends so I downloaded the app to my LG Ally Android to check it out. Words with Friends is a social mobile game that challenges players to create the highest-scoring words while playing against family and friends (basically it is the digital version of Scrabble). My Aunt Nancy had already requested to start a game with me. She started the game with the word TENTS. I then played the word RATS. She played PURE, and then I played RUIN.  She is currently winning 24 to 18. What did you do today?

Today, I participated in a market research project with AccuData Market Research in Aurora CO on allergy and cold medicines. I would call it a focus group. Focus group studies are a form of qualitative research in which a interactive group of people are asked to talk about their perceptions, opinions, beliefs, and attitudes towards a product, service, concept, advertisement, idea, or packaging. Before I got invited to do the market research project, there were a series of pre-qualifications that I went through. First, I was registered on their website as a participant in their database. Then, I believe I received an email that linked to short online survey.  Finally, I received a phone call and took a short phone survey to qualify. At the market research project, there were 6 total participants (all female and I was the youngest) and 1 moderator.  She asked us what types of products we use to prevent and cure allergy and cold symptoms. She also asked us our opinions on ...

This morning, since I had a $5 gift card, I wanted to treat myself to Starbucks . I wanted to try one of their 6 breakfast sandwiches and a new coffee that I read about, Blonde Roast which is a lighter-bodied coffee. It turns out that they only announced that they will be selling this new brew soon but not until January 2012. Therefore, I tried a Bacon & Gouda Artisan Breakfast Sandwich (not bad) and a Pumpkin Spice Latte (one of my fall favorites!).   What did you do today?