Good afternoon! How are you, friends? I’ve been pretty busy lately and haven’t had a chance to check in and say hello, but we’re here together now so let’s catch up!

Colorado finally figured out it’s winter and we had some much needed snow. The dogs were thrilled. They both love snow and Gryff especially likes to dive headfirst into some fresh flakes.

Colorado people are bit crazy and you’ll find tons of people enjoying the outdoors no matter the time of year. We have been trying to get in some good hikes lately. I mentioned in a previous post I had something exciting coming up and have been preparing for it. If you have read any posts that I mention my work at the zoo, you might know that I am a mountain tapir keeper among the many animals I take care of. I help care for two of less than ten mountain tapirs in North America and am a mountain tapir lover, enthusiast, and supporter.

I am lucky enough to be going on a trip to Ecuador in the next few weeks to participate in a mountain tapir expedition where we hope to find and radiocollar wild tapirs! My zoo has done great work with mountain tapir conservation in past years and I can’t wait to be a part of this year’s expedition. We will be hiking through the cloud forest high in the Andes mountains and I have been getting in as many runs and hikes as I can to prepare. To say I am excited for this trip is a huge understatement. I have been dreaming of doing field work in South America since I was a little girl. Even though in the third grade it was Golden Lion Tamarins I was hoping to research in Brazil, this upcoming trip to Ecuador totally fulfills a lifelong quest to play an active hands-on roll in the conservation of a species that means so much to me.

Mountain tapirs are such a unique hoofstock species that a lot of people don’t know much about. Sadly, they are the most endangered of all tapir species. With new estimates of less than 2,000 of these amazing creatures left in the wild, I feel compelled more than ever to do what I can to support and save this species. While we’re tracking and radiocollaring tapirs to get a better sense of where they range and where we can best focus our future conservation efforts, you can help out at home by looking for the FSC logo on all the paper and wood products you use in everyday life. Tapirs live in forests and when you make the choice to purchase FSC-certified products, you know the wood was sourced sustainably and it didn’t take trees away from habitat that animals like tapirs live in. Look for it on paper towels, notebooks, paper cups and plates, lumber, pencils, and especially…toilet paper. Because it just doesn’t make sense to flush the forest down the toilet!

It can even become a fun game to find the logo on the products at the store. I always get a little thrill when I find it on products throughout my day. It’s such an easy thing we can do to make that little difference.Because who can imagine a world without these majestic beauties?!

Photo credit: As always, the amazing Ashley Arimborgo

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The Happiness Project is going strong and I am enjoying February ‘s goals. One of them is to tackle my list of nagging tasks. Do you ever have that little nagging guilt because you have a to-do list in your head that somehow never fully gets done? Maybe not…teach me your secrets if you don’t. I do and tackling these little tasks gives me a small sense of accomplishment and relieves any guilt I’m carrying around when I’m not getting it done. Some of the little tasks I conquered this week were getting two of Everett’s watches fixed and a stone replaced in my wedding ring.

I also dropped off some blankets for cleaning, replaced some lightbulbs that had gone out around the house, and dropped off a bunch of old clothes for donation. It feels good to complete little things that add up to a lot of happiness for me.

Flowers give me a lot of happiness too. Everett isn’t one to buy them very often, but these roses for Valentine’s Day make me smile every time I walk by them. Are you a flower person? If not, what gift makes you feel loved? I’d love to know. I got all themed up for my Valentine’s Day run. It’s been cold so I’ve been sticking to the treadmill this week.

Well this has been a mish-mash of a bunch of different topics! I’ll continue with that theme with some questions for you! I’m out of commission on the couch today and hope you’ll brighten this sickie’s day with a comment. Cheers, friends!!

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What’s your biggest career goal?

If you could fly anywhere right now, where would you go?

Valentine’s Day…Yay or Nay?

Are you good at getting shots?

Me: Not really, getting vaccines for Ecuador will not be featured in Friday Favorites

What are you eating for dinner tonight?