"Insert Cliché Self Discovery Blog Title Here"

I am a 3rd generation Las Vegas native who did the unthinkable & moved to a new big city to pursue & advance my career in the Corporate Meeting & Events industry. Catch up on my latest escapades, & have a laugh with me (or at me) as I write about my adventures, struggles, & new experiences during my epic journey in moving away from my home while living in Downtown Denver & Seattle.  

[ashleysunstrum]

Beautiful day in San Francisco with my favorite ☀️❤️ #sanfran #bayarea #missiondistrict #sunset #love #travel (at Dolores Park)

[ashleysunstrum]

San Francisco Brewery Tour in a VW Van = Legit 👌🍻 #sanfran #bayarea #brewtour #haightandashbury #microbrew (at Haight Street)

[ashleysunstrum]

The cotton candy sunset tonight makes me miss Vegas ❤️ #homesick #seattle #pnw #sunset #spaceneedle (at Lower Queen Anne, Seattle, Washington)

[therealmudapuckgui-deactivated2]

Stop And Look For A Moment // #PICSR #VSCOcam #PNW #Alki #Seattle #Explore (at PrecisionImageCapturing.Com)

[ashleysunstrum]

Clear skies and autumn leaves ☀️🍂 #seattle #belltown #pnw #fall #spaceneedle (at Belltown, Seattle, Washington)

[ashleysunstrum]

Missing my new home already! I love the view from our apartment (if you couldn't tell from all of my photos). Off to Vegas for IMEX! Don't do anything crazy like change the locks while I'm gone @rickshukis 😉✈️ #jetsetter #seattle #pnw #sunset #skyline #emeraldcity (at Lower Queen Anne, Seattle, Washington)

[ashleysunstrum]

The Snapshots

I have this weird thing about posting too many photos without anyone in them on Facebook. I could have bombarded your newsfeed with photos of nature, weird things I saw in Denver, and all of the craft beer I drank in the Mile High City - but I decided to post them on my blog instead and spare all of you the clicks and likes. My time in Denver comes to an end on Thursday. It's been one hell of a trip that I will elaborate more on once I have time to process my thoughts (it's Monday, give me a break!) - in the meantime, sit back, relax, and happy scrolling!

Guanella Pass, Colorado

Larimer Square - Downtown Denver, Colorado

Capitol Hill - Denver, Colorado

Great Divide Brewing Company - Denver, CO

The view from my apartment balcony - Congress Park - Denver, CO

"Don't be a Lab Rat" - youth anti-marijuana campaign with oversized rat cages around Denver. Fun fact: Teen and adult cannabis usage are at an all time low since the state legalized cannabis, and the majority of profit the state makes from recreational purchases are from tourists. Go figure?!

Tourists LOVE the downtown Segway tour! There were times when I was frustrated with not having a car and wished I had a Segway ha!

"Dancers" by Borofsky - Denver Performing Arts Complex

My first rain jacket! - Downtown Denver, CO

The best fortune cookie ever - Downtown Denver, CO

View from the highway in LoDo - Denver, CO

Capitol Hill - Denver, CO

Denver Art Museum - Denver, CO

Commons Park - Downtown Denver

Night shot of Coors Field - Ballpark District in Downtown Denver

Dinner line outside of Jesus Saves Rescue Mission - Downtown Denver

Dinner line outside of Jesus Saves Rescue Mission - Downtown Denver

Street art under the highway at Commons Park - Downtown Denver

Cheers from a Rockies games at Coors Field - Ballpark District 

City view driving in from the airport on a rainy night

Great marketing at Ice Cream Riot - City Park, Denver

Caravan of RV's on my work camping trip - Grand Lake, CO

Gorgeous day in Grand Lake, CO

Foster the People - Red Rocks, CO

Seriously, how beautiful is Colorado? - Grand Lake, CO

Whitewater rafting - Ft. Collins, CO

Whitewater rafting - Ft. Collins, CO

Whitewater rafting - Ft. Collins, CO

Heaven at Voodoo Doughnuts on Colfax - Denver, CO

My favorite cyclist in Denver!

Lykke Li performing at sunset - Red Rocks, CO

LoDo - Denver, CO

The leaves changing colors for the fall - Guanella Pass, CO

The most amazing double rainbow I have ever seen - Ballpark District

[ashleysunstrum]

The Camping Trip

I went camping this weekend. Yes, you read that right - camping. Actually it was more like "glamping" with a caravan of 9 rented pimp-my-ride RV's, electricity, and a bed - but my story isn't as funny if you don't have the mindset that I, Ashley Sunstrum, spent a weekend in the mountains...with colleagues.

Backstory: I have had a hard time connecting with people in Denver. 2 weeks ago I had my 60-day check-in with my big boss and in my meeting he kept repeating the phrase, "it's not about the process, it's about the people". I reflected on this phrase for a few days when it suddenly hit me like a ton of bricks - I haven't done my best in the last 2 months getting to know the people I work with on a personal level. Rick is probably reading this right now and laughing at me. He's been telling me this for weeks, but sometimes you need to have the realization yourself before it clicks. 

I cried like a baby the day I left my last job. Not because I was going to miss the crazy work load, but because I was going to miss the people. Looking back, I realized that I became best friends with some of my old coworkers. We hung out on the weekends and spent countless of late nights with cheap pizza together in the office. I knew so many personal things about them, attended some of their weddings, watched some of them have children, they helped me through a bad breakup, and I could probably order every single one of them a drink at the bar before they got there because I knew their drink of choice. Granted, we spent 3 years together - but the point of me spending 3 months in Denver was not only training for my new job, it was to get to know the people before I was out in Seattle by myself representing this company.

I don't know if my lack of ambition to meet new friends came from the anxiety of all of the big changes that happened in my life so quickly, or if I was just being selfish and expecting them to befriend me since I was new, or if it was simply the fact that I never really wanted to be in Denver because it was 3 more months of not being in Seattle. Anyway, I went on that damn optional camping trip so I could make friends, stepped out of my comfort zone, and ended up having a fucking blast!

Let me start off by saying how extremely nervous I was for this trip. I had no idea what to expect. One girl in my office told me the weather could drop to the 30's and possibly snow. Numerous email reminders were sent out weeks in advance about remembering to bring winter jackets, and I'm over here like - what the hell is a winter jacket?!

I was off to a rough start on Friday. I was accidentally left behind when the office departed (remember I don't have a car in Denver). No big deal! I took an Uber to the park-n-ride meeting spot 20 miles outside of Denver where we hopped in the RV and made our way up to Grand Lake, CO. The first 30 minutes of the trip were great. My RV-mates and I jammed out to the new T-Swift single, rocked our company branded neon "this is how we roll" trucker hats, and soaked in the beauty of the colorful fall leaves as we made our drive up the mountain.

Half way up the mountain my head started pounding, I suddenly got quite, my mouth got watery, and I felt like I was going to...yep, you guessed it - I threw up in RV. I am not sure if it was the 10 thousand foot elevation going up the mountain or if I ate something bad - but I was pretty embarrassed to say the least. I was on this positive kick to make friends on this trip and all of a sudden I am the weird new girl who threw up. Good news is I didn't projectile vomit on a coworker! My RV-mates were super nice, helped me clean myself up, never mentioned it again, and the struggles ended right then and there. What a way to break the ice Ashley! 

The rest of my weekend was filled with a gorgeous hike, yard games with beers/ bourbon against my boss, new friends, a night in the small town of Grand Lake to watch the fireworks, a ton of laughs, inside jokes, campfire acoustic sing-alongs, and of course s'mores - you can't forget the s'mores!

I actually had to stop in town on Saturday afternoon to buy a pair of yoga capris and a t-shirt because the weather was PERFECT and I only brought winter clothes assuming I was going to be staying in an igloo in the mountains. Silly me!

I feel a lot better after this trip. Not saying I wasn't happy before, but I feel like I finally came out of my shell in Colorado. I was even the cool kid for bringing a bottle of Fireball! Moving to a new place and making new friends is hard - even at the age of 25, and you might read this and think I was a little too late to be building these relationships since I have 2 weeks left in Denver, but like my mom always said - better late than never! 

[wvnderlst]

Maroon Bells, Colorado | Mike Kvackay

[yoursummerdreamz]

[ashleysunstrum]

The Countdown - 32 more days

Where do I begin?! It's almost been a full month since my last post. I am slacking!! The countdown for my big move to Seattle is getting shorter. So many things have happened in the last month, so I guess I will start from the beginning.

My girlfriends came to visit! Coincidentally my friend Alex moved to Superior, CO with her husband and 2 cute kiddies a few days after I moved away from Vegas. It was Alex's birthday earlier in August, and two of my best girlfriends, Whitney and Kayli, came to Denver to help her celebrate! The four of us have been friends since high school where we were practically inseparable. 

We had such a fun weekend bar hoping downtown and whitewater rafting in Fort Collins for Alex's birthday. Check out the awesome GoPro video Alex created from our weekend adventures!

I went to Seattle at the end of August for a work event, and I took another load of my shit to unpack at Rick's our apartment (<--weird?!) Rick has been great at making me feel like his apartment is now our apartment. I swear I don't know where all of these personal belongings came from. Did I really buy all of this stuff over the years?! I swore I gave away half of my stuff before I moved away from Vegas. Rick and I are going to have to get really creative organizing everything once we unpack my stuff in our 1-bedroom apartment. Pinterest here I come!

I stayed in Seattle through the weekend, and Rick and I were able to have some fun. We took the ferry and went wine tasting on Bainbridge Island, watched Predator (obviously Rick's pick for our traditional sci-fi Saturday), and went bowling and caught up with some friends in West Seattle. It was a gorgeous weekend in Seattle!

Last weekend I took a quick trip home to Las Vegas for my dad's 60th birthday! You have no idea how happy I was to see my crazy, awesome, amazing family! I didn't realize how homesick I was until I got home. I miss the dry heat where I don't need hairspray, the bright lights, the slot machine dings, the lighting-speed service (Vegas, you spoiled me - other cities don't move as quick as you), and most of all - my friends and family. The Chubstrum's celebrated my dad's birthday with dinner at the Venetian followed by the Motown hit show - Human Nature. It was so great to see everyone, and I can't wait to be back in Vegas for Life is Beautiful in October. 

This lovely note from my 14 year old little brother was on my bed when I got home. He thinks he's funny. Instead of giving me a hug goodbye the day I left, he held out his hand and asked me for his motel fee. Ha!

It's been 58 days since I moved to Denver, and I have a lot of life changing events coming up in my near future. 6 more days until the iPhone 6 and iOS 8 are announced (yes, this is classified as life changing). 22 more days until I am reunited with Rick in Phoenix for our friend's wedding, and exactly 32 days until I move to Seattle. I better start packing! 

[ashleysunstrum]

Oh hey there, Seattle 👋 #pnw #seattle #spaceneedle #cloudporn #perfect (at Seattle Center)

[ashleysunstrum]

The Update - My First Month

Happy 1 month in Denver to me!! I am happy I made the decision to train in Denver for the first 3 months at my new job. I have good days and bad days. There are moments when I feel very lonely, but the good, hard laughs at myself and all of my new experiences definitely make up for the not-so-fun times. I also have an out of this world support system between my family, the best boyfriend in the world, and my stellar friends who pick me up when times are rough. 

I was lucky enough to have my 2 roommates from college move to Denver 2 weeks after I moved. I thought we would never live in the same city again after they moved to Southern California for work after college. Miles and Tom live in the Ballpark District downtown across the street from Coors Field, so of course we had to check out a Rockies game! I walk to their apartment pretty much everyday after work to wait for rush hour traffic to die down before I head home to my neighborhood, Congress Park, which is about 4 miles away from Coors Field #blessed

I bought a bicycle! Below is the shameless selfie I sent Rick when I took my bike out for the first time. So cheesy! I am still learning how to adjust to my bruised butt bones. Yes, I swear they feel bruised - Rick doesn't believe me and tells me that it's really hard to "bruise" a bone. He just doesn't understand that the struggle is real! Rick told me I just need to practice and ride my bike more often so my muscles/ butt bones get used to it. I wish I could skip that step and immediately feel like a graceful Gazelle while I bike the streets of Denver. Yes, I understand this logic falls in the same category as working out and expecting to be skinny when I wake up. A girl can dream okay?! 

Note: Check out the backpack action!

Rick came to visit last weekend!! Yay!! I was so happy to see him! I picked him up from the airport in a Car2Go. I am happy I got to pop his Smartcar cherry! We checked out Snooze - my favorite brunch place, went on a self guided microbrewery tour in Downtown Denver, checked out Denver's First Friday art walk, biked to see Guardians of the Galaxy at the 16th Street Mall, went to an awesome speakeasy, and randomly ran into a few friends from Vegas! Such a small world! Of course I had to take my doughnut connoisseur to Voodoo Doughnuts on Colfax. I have never seen anyone enjoy a doughnut so much until Rick ate his Oreo doughnut when we got home. If he would have died at that moment in time, at least I would have known he died a happy man! I was sad to see him go home, but 55 more days until we are reunited in Seattle!

Earlier this week Miles, Tom, and I went to the famous Red Rocks amphitheater to see a Foster the People concert. So many people told me I had to see a concert here before I left Denver. Now I understand why. Hands down - one of the best venues I have ever been to! My pictures don't do it justice. Warning: it was a long trek up the mountain, and I literally felt like I was going to pass out from being up so high for the first 30 minutes I was there, but nothing a little aspirin and beer can't fix. I wore wedges like the girly-girl I am, and to also stand taller in the crowd because the struggle is real at a concert when you are short - worst decision ever! If you ever go to a concert here make sure you wear your tennis shoes. The hike was so worth it though, and I definitely want to check out another concert here before I leave. Beyond gorgeous! 

This afternoon I am headed to the Brews and Blues festival in Cherry Creek. Yes, I am rocking a flannel shirt so I fit in with the crowd. No, I am not a huge fan of bluegrass music, but I am sure the beer will be delicious! Cheers to you Denver, stay classy!

[ashleysunstrum]

The Assessment - 5 Life Lessons

It's been 3 weeks and I haven't died living on my own (go me!!)

I have learned A LOT living in Denver the last 3 weeks...

#1: Timing is everything

Whether it's making it to my Car2Go reservation in the 30 minute window I have, or knowing how far I can really walk in 30 minutes, timing is everything when you live on your own without a car. I have to be at my office at 8:30 am every morning, and if you know me, you know I am NOT a morning person and I probably never will be! I am the type of late night person who lies awake at night calculating the amount of time I have left to sleep. After missing many Car2Go reservations, getting lost in a new city, and underestimating my ability to walk a mile in work shoes- I now know that I have to give myself 40 minutes to commute or a solid hour if I want coffee. It's a great damn day if I can make that 7:30 am departure time, and I use every curse word in the book every morning rushing out the door. The great news is I leave my office around 4 pm (still getting used to that) and every smart working person knows that 4-7 pm are the "happiest hours" of the day!

#2: I really wish Google Maps had an "avoid ghetto" route option

I walk a lot now, and as of Friday I am a proud owner of a bicycle! When you rely on car services, your own two feet, and a bike, you sometimes don't get the heads up that Google is going to take you on a wild goose chase where you question your safety. I have made the mistake of taking walks on my lunch break through some of the shittiest parts of Downtown Denver where homeless people literally lay on top of each other in alleyways. I have accidentally reserved a Car2Go next to a soup kitchen, and I rode my shiny new bicycle down the streets of Little Mexico. I didn't expect there to be so much homeless and poverty in Denver, but at least I now know where those areas are and to avoid them if I can.

Fun Fact: I live in the "Wealthy Gays" neighborhood according to this judgmental map of Denver

#3: Backpacks! Backpacks everywhere! 

I never understood why so many people, men and women, carried backpacks when I would visit Rick in Seattle. Now I get it! The weather in Denver has more mood swings than a woman going through menopause, and my cute suede Coach purse doesn't really like the rain. The afternoon showers are always a treat, and walking in mud puddles in your chic work shoes/ clothes after it rains is NOT cute. My backpack has taken the place of my purse, and it's a lot safer to walk around with during my adventures downtown. I find myself packing my backpack with everything I could possibly need throughout the day: water bottle, rain jacket, gym clothes, tennis shoes, clean socks, work sweater, bike lock, keys, lunch, and an extra phone charger. I should probably take that Michael Kors bag off of my Amazon Wish List - but it matches the wallet I got for Christmas (the struggle!!!) Shout out to the best boyfriend in the world for buying me the North Face backpack I wanted! He's the best!!

#4: Higher altitude really does make physical activity draining 

I truly understand what it means to live in the "mile high city" now. Before I moved I read articles online about how it takes time for your body to adjust to the high altitude in Denver. The first 5 days I was here I barely noticed it. Day 6 hit me like a ton of bricks. If I don't drink enough water throughout the day I get terrible headaches. I almost passed out after working out the first time I went to the gym here, and my first bike ride left me winded! I feel so damn tired all of the time, and I really wish I was making this up! As the days pass by I am adjusting to the lack of oxygen in the mile high city, and physical activity is getting easier. My motivation to push through the headaches is thinking about how stronger my stamina will be when I move to Seattle where I'll be at sea level. Maybe I'll even become a faster speed walker than Rick by the end of September!

#5: Craft BEER! My god, I love craft beer!!

Yes, I am becoming a smug beer drinker. The people of Colorado take their craft brews seriously! Every restaurant or bar I've been to so far have more beer selections than food menu items. My office is next door to the Breckenridge Brewery, and there are 5 craft breweries within a half mile radius of my office. I feel obligated to try a new beer at every place I visit, and I have noticed that most of the beers served in Denver are local. It's also totally sociably acceptable to have a beer on your lunch break with your boss (don't worry Mom, I'm not having beers at lunch yet!) However, you need to be VERY careful with your drinking habits in Denver for the following reasons:

Craft beers typically have a higher alcohol percentage than my go-to Stella.

The altitude makes everything hit you harder, including the hangover.

It is possible to get a DUI on a bicycle here. I am not kidding! Don't drink and bike people!

I am very excited for Rick to visit next weekend so we can check out all of the local craft breweries downtown. It would be super awkward if I went on brewery tours by myself, and I am pretty sure my mom would be convinced that I really have a drinking problem!

Cheers!

[ashleysunstrum]

BEYOND AMAZING 😳🍩 #voodoodoughnut #denver #milehighcity #pinkbox (at Voodoo Doughnut Mile High)

[ashleysunstrum]

TGIF 😎 #borofsky #artinstallation #dancers #letsdance #denver #milehighcity (at Sculpture Park)

[ashleysunstrum]

Yep, this just happened! First Car2Go ride was a success! 😂🚙 #smartcar #cartogovirgin #hilarious #imstilllaughing #denver (at Downtown Denver)