Escaping the Colorado Cold to Scottsdale

Hi Friends!!

I am so happy to that the sun is finally shining in Denver!! Last week was freezing and reminded me that I never shared our sunny trip to Scottsdale.

Last month Jonny and I were supposed go on a two week European tour (our second attempt at the trip), but #life and we had to cancel again.  We were both incredibly bummed and knew we had to book a trip right away.  Not to mention we were about to have our first snow in Denver and neither of us were ready for it.  We quickly looked at easy trips from Denver and knew Scottsdale would be the perfect place to lift our spirits and escape from the chilly early winter weather.

I have visited Arizona a few times, but everything about this weekend was completely unexpected and Jonny and I fell in love with the sunny city at every turn.  I arrived a day earlier than Jonny, and started the long weekend at the Omni Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Montelucia. 

I was in total awe the moment I pulled into the driveway at the Omni.  Honestly, I should have researched the hotel better because I had no idea what an incredible resort it was.  We have several hotels with the same ownership here in Denver so I pictured something more business and conference like - when I say I was in awe, I was truly amazed by every little detail of the gorgeous property.  They have several delicious restaurants - I highly suggest the "Tapas Experience" at Prado.  After getting in pretty late, I wasn't sure I wanted to have a big dinner and the small plates at Prado were the perfect late night treat! 

I got up bright and early to take in all of the beautiful sights at the Omni - and again was surprised when I stumbled upon an outdoor spinning class overlooking Camelback Mountain.  I am always able to relax more when I get a nice sweat in - and I had big day of relaxation ahead of me! 

After the gym, I headed to the Joya Spa, which I can easily say is the most creative and one of the most beautiful spas I have experienced.  The staff ensures you are on a relaxation journey right from check in - and even stopped to remind me to set my intention at a giant crystal upon entering the spa area.  After my Hammam scrub (so cool), and massage, I sat poolside all afternoon long on the rooftop of spa and enjoyed a delicious lunch.  It was truly heavenly. 

I finally (reluctantly) left the spa and packed up to go to our next hotel for the weekend, Mountain Shadows, which was just down the road.  I really did not want to leave, but was again wow'ed when I checked in to Mountain Shadows.  From the front the hotel isn't very flashy, but everything on the inside is sleek, classy, contemporary and and truly stunning, and the staff was over the top friendly!  It is really hard to say which hotel I liked better because they were both amazing.

I met some local friends for wine tasting on the Scottsdale Wine Trail that evening, which was such a fun way to see the town.  We landed at FnB - a hidden gem, and local favorite where Jonny met up with us for dinner (starving just thinking about it!!).  The food is fresh and flavorful and I loved meeting owner and beverage director, Pavle... he shared his delicious wine that he curates himself which was so special!

There is no way Jonny would let me get away with planning a warm weather trip without a little golf, and although Mountain Shadows has a beautiful 9 hole course of its own, Jonny was dying to play at The Boulders about a 30 minute drive from town.

We enjoyed a delicious lunch with a view at The Grill and then toured the property, even saw a bride and groom taking pictures before heading back to get ready for a memorable dinner at the Fat OX.

Jonny and I thoroughly enjoyed ourselves at Fat Ox - 1 bottle of wine turned to two and we ate our weight in tiramisu. Such a fun date night spot!!

We planned to leave late on Sunday so we could enjoy a full day of fun before heading home to the snow and we were so glad we did.   Arizona Outback Adventures picked Jonny and me up early for a kayaking tour down the Salt River. It was such a great activity and way to see the beauty of Arizona in such a fun way.  Our tour guide mentioned that we may get lucky and see some wild horses on our trip... and to our surprise I almost ran right into them as they were crossing the river... such a cool experience!

After returning from our excursion we enjoyed the gorgeous Mountain Shadows pool in one of their poolside Cabanas for the rest of the afternoon.  It was the perfect spot to spend a Sunday - I could relax in the pool and Jonny caught up on football since there were TV's in each cabana.  I was thinking this would be the perfect place for a bachelor/bachelorette party! Before leaving for our flight we had one last amazing dinner at Hearth '61 which is conveniently in the hotel and overlooks the gorgeous pool.  We honestly thought about staying an extra night because we were having so much fun.  As I type we are planning our next trip and can't wait to get back there!!

Scottsdale trip recap

• Where to stay: Omni Scottsdale Montelucia and Mountain Shadows
• Where to eat: FnB, and Fat Ox
• Where to play: Joya Spa, Scottsdale Wine Trail, Golf at The Boulders, and Kayak the Salt River with Arizona Outback Adventures

xo

This post is in collaboration with Experience Scottsdale.  As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible!

#BecauseImALady

Morning Guys!!

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and start to your week.  We had such a relaxing/low key weekend with zero obligations and it was exactly what I needed.  The past few weeks have been busy.  Packed to the brim with travel and fun celebrations that I can't for one minute complain about.  But sometimes a weekend in with Jonny and Stan and homemade soup from my momma is just what the doctor ordered.

Because I am a lady in 2017 date night no longer fits one mold.  Staying home and cooking with my boys or ordering takeout so we don't have to clean up the mess gets me just as excited as dressing up for a night out.   

I love that Talbots its promoting real women in real life with their #BecauseImALady campaign because life isn't always exactly the pretty picture we paint on intagram (says the girl sitting in her mismatched p.j's as she types).  I think it is an important message.  They are also having a huge friends and family sale and you can get my whole look for 30% off! 

I have been living in these leggings - I am always so pleasantly surprised when I put on a pair of petite pants and they just fit perfectly.... no alterations need, woohoo! And these hit right at the ankle and are thick enough to wear to work, and thin enough to go in a boot.  My coat is the perfect fall staple with a little feminine flair! I love the ruffle detail on the front that makes it unique from my other camel coats (#cantstopwontstop my camel coat love affair).

Jonny and I do have a big night out planned for later this week and hope you can join us! I have mentioned a few times on social media that I am co-chairing a new event, Rev The Runway, for National Jewish Health on November 2nd.  It is going to be a fun night with lots of food, fashion, delicious cocktails and a great live and silent auction all going towards a wonderful cause!  Hope to see you there!!

xo

This post is in collaboration with Talbots. As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible!

Money Matched Update

Hi Friends!!

Recently, Jonny and I participated in a "Talking Money with Your Honey" and "Money Matched" workshop with Capital One (remember this post?).  Well I wanted to give you an update after learning a bit more about the program.  We really had no idea what we were getting ourselves into when we were asked to join in on the Money Matched "dating game" at the Capital One cafe, but Jonny and I figured that discussing finances can be a challenging subject for any couple and were curious to find tools to make setting goals fun and less stressful.

I think we got more out of a couple hours playing a "dating game" with them than we ever imagined.  Capital One suggested that we meet with their All-Star Money Coach, Megan, prior to the game to have our own couples coaching session.  Since Jonny and I are so different when it comes to how we like to spend our money, Megan had us work together on a creative assignment together that made thinking about how we should save and spend our money fun.  It made us both put each other in the other's shoes and she suggested ways to have similar conversations pointing out that it doesn't have to be a big deal, that it should be casual and fun on a walk or over a glass of wine (both things we love!).

I loved playing the Money Matched game too because it was helpful to know that we aren't the only couple that does have opposite views.  The Debt Free Guys are so similar to Jonny and me - one guy is a super spender and the other is  chic and cheap.  I bet you can guess who is who in our relationship :).  We learned that although opposite in this area of our life, it is balances us out.  Jonny reminds me to reign it in when I am out of control and I encourage Jonny when needs to let loose a little.

We thought it was so helpful that we have already scheduled our final two coaching sessions to finish out the program.  I think it is incredible that Capital One offers this Money with Your Honey as a free program to any couple and similar coaching programs to individuals as well.

You still have ONE MORE chance to catch a Money and Relationships workshop in Denver on October 25 5-6 pm- talking "Your Money - Your Values". Or you can make a coaching appointment any time at your local Capital One Cafe.

xo

This post is in collaboration with Capital One. As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible!

Money and Relationships with Capital One

Hi Guys - Happy Friday!

Jonny and I just got back from celebrating our 3 year anniversary last weekend  – can you believe it?! Time certainly flies!! You can read one of my OG posts about our wedding here.  We have really been lucky to celebrate our anniversary back where it all began in Vail every year since our wedding.  It is truly a magical place!

Every year around our anniversary, Jonny and I reflect on all of the stars that aligned to bring us together nine years ago (holy moly!) and to get us to where we are today.  We reminisce about our early years dating, watch our wedding video, and talk about our goals for the future.  Early on in our marriage – and sometimes still – setting financial goals together was/can be tough.  When you get married, bringing two totally different backgrounds and mindsets together can be tricky.  And as similar as Jonny and I are (in pretty much every other way), we couldn’t be more different when it comes to how we value our finances…  I love to get my nails done, splurge on great shoes and never turn down a chance for a date night (obvi!), but Jonny likes to save for big experiences and fun activities that we can do together. 

Especially early on in our marriage we had to learn to adapt our individual spending habits to compliment our new life together.  And today, we know it is important to keep the communication open to make sure that our values are lining up and we are marching down the same (or similar-ish) path towards our financial goals. Jonny will never quite understand why I need someone else to do my eyebrows… and I will never understand his need to eat Chipotle daily?? (Girls, can you relate?) but we have adapted 😂.

When Capital One asked Jonny and me to partner with them on their upcoming Money and Relationship workshops in Denver, I jumped at the opportunity because I think this is such an important topic for new couples! They shared some interesting statistics with me like: three quarters (75%) of Americans who are currently in, or have ever been in, a committed relationship feel that setting financial goals with a partner is more difficult than setting goals as an individual. But, despite this sense of difficulty, nearly two-thirds (63%) would prefer to manage finances with a partner rather than individually. The challenge? More than two- thirds (67%) of those currently in a relationship admit that they don’t manage their expenses equally with their partner.

Jonny and I are so excited to participate in the Money Matched game at the Capital One Café onOctober 4th – a live “dating game” if you will, to see how well we know each other’s money values.  We hope you will join us – feel free to point, laugh, make funny faces, and participate!  And stay for the first Money and Relationships workshop that focuses on how our pasts have influenced our feelings about money. 

• What: Money Matched Game and Money and Relationships Workshop
• When: October 4th
• 5:00-7:00p
• Where: Capital One Café – 1550 Wewatta St. 

Hope to see you there!!

xo

This post is in collaboration with Capital One. As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible!

Denver Bike to Work

Yesterday was one of those days guys...  just a big fat bummer!! You know the big European trip that I have been telling you about?  That I have been so excited about all summer?  Coming up in a few short weeks... well we just found out we have to seriously modify or cancel it because Jonny has some work conflicts that are unavoidable.  On the plus side, if you follow my instagram stories, you know it was my childhood best friends baby shower this past weekend and we are getting very close to the end of her term so I am a relieved that we will certainly be home when the baby arrives.

A few weeks ago, Liz and I and I did our best to do a small part to reduce pollution in our beautiful state.  We participated in bike to work day with Allegra Allergy whom sponsored many of the Denver Bike to Work Day activities as well as others around the country.  

We both work from home, but often have meetings and appointments all over the city!! Liz and I biked from Lohi to meet Lacey at Civic Center park to check out all of the great vendors for Bike to Work Day, sample some treats, and head out to meetings from there.  It was such a great way to start the day and such a great reminder to enjoy the outdoors each day!

It was the perfect day to bust out my new bike (Clementine).   These Huffy bikes are so adorable and all around $100 or less!! I also love this yellow one $119, this pink one $139,  and this white one $79!! I have to admit, my dress ($35) was probably not the most practical Bike to Work outfit, but it was quite warm.. and most importantly it matched my bike #priorities?! This dress is still available in all sizes and perfect for summer days or a casual date night! I am wearing a 4 for sizing.

Allegra Allergy wants you to know that: A recent survey found that a majority of Americans (88%) are concerned about the impact of air pollution on their overall health. It also found that most Americans (90%) wish there was more they could do to get involved and help reduce air pollution. Riding a bike to work instead of driving is a great place to start.  This survey was conducted online using Toluna’s QuickSurveys methodology between January 22, 2017 and January 24, 2017 among 1,256 adults (ages 18 and over) in the USA.  Respondents for Toluna QuickSurveys are selected from among those who have agreed to participate in Toluna surveys.

This post is in collaboration with Allegra Allergy . As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible!

What is the Anniversary Sale?

There is always a lot of hype around the "Anniversary Sale" and that is because it is one of the biggest sales of the year put on by Nordstrom.  If you have been following for a while, you know that I am Nordstrom lover - and the Anniversary Sale offers a chance to preview and grab fall staples at a fraction of the price... score!! Early access for Nordstrom card holders begins today - July 20th and is open to the public after that through August 6th (but the hot items go quick!!).  I will be updating my Anniversary Sale Shop at the top of the page throughout the sale so be sure to check back!  And tomorrow will have a few shots from my try-on session and picks today.

Happy Shopping!!

My Experience at the Aspen Food and Wine Classic

Last week I was frantically running around getting ready for the Aspen Food and Wine Classic (ummmm take me back!!!).  As a lifelong Colorado girl I had always heard about the Classic, but had no idea what to expect.  Turns out having no expectations made it a million times better!!  

Aspen is obviously always beautiful and lovely, but add endless food, drink, dancing, farm animals and fun and it takes it up to a completely different level!  For me, the entire experience was like a fairytale.  Enjoying time in the mountains with Jonny, amazing friends, and all the delicious food and rosè a girl could ask for made for some incredible memories!!  I am so thankful to American Express for inviting me to participate in such an unforgettable weekend!

The Classic runs for three days starting Friday and events kicking off on Thursday.  We didn't want to miss any of the fun so Juli and I left Denver early Thursday afternoon just in time to meet Leah for the Glenlivit tasting dinner.  Fun fact, Juli and I grew up across the street from each other, but haven't seen each other in forever so we had a blast catching up and reminiscing all weekend!! It is so cool to catch up with your childhood friends and see the amazing things they are doing and she is absolutely crushing it!! Fun fact 2: I was reading her blog (Paleomg) before I knew what a blog was (seriously!).

Lacey arrived late Thursday night and our whole blogger posse was complete, she missed dinner, but we were all reunited bright and early to explore the American Express Platinum House and take a pop up Soul Cycle class Friday morning.  Lacey, Leah and I have been having so much fun traveling together! Remember our Mexico trip last spring and our Garden of the Gods getaway last month?  

Walking into the American Express Platinum House was so surreal.  Mostly because I was convinced that it was held at a hotel then we found ourselves winding and weaving through an Aspen neighborhood and up a mountainside driveway to someones home.  We spent a lot of our time there.... because #whynot!! They made it really hard to want to leave.  We started both Friday and Saturday with Soul Cycle classes and snacks after.  They of course had a DryBar pop, mani station for primping and endless food from Top Chef Stephanie Izard.  Someone said it was like a grown up/ultra luxury Real World house and I think it's safe to say that was a very good comparison.

After a few tastings and more fun at the Amex Platinum House we all went to the Patron party hosted at the Little Nell Residences (basically a huge dance party at the base of Aspen Mountain) - it was so much fun!! I attended another Patron party last night in Denver and I am convinced that they have the summer fun market cornered. And yes, this has been a heavy week of drinking... detox starts next week.

There was a lot of eating all weekend, but Saturday there was a TON!! I attended the the Blackberry Farms x Amex Trade picnic lunch as Juli's date and wore this super light ruffle, off the shoulder dress! I changed into this maxi for the afternoon because it was a little windy and ruffles and wind are not friends.  We walked all through the the tasting tents my favorite booth was the all pink booth from the JW Marriott (pictured above) and they had the yummiest drink - they were so dangerous!!   I wish I could pin point one delicious food, but I cant.  Cheese comes to mind for some reason.  Lots of cheese.

We were so fortunate to stay right in town at the Molly Gibson.  Once we parked for the weekend we walked everywhere! It was so nice to not have to worry about driving in and out of town especially with our big group (4 of us + 3 spouses) - coordinating cars and meeting up would have been such a pain! The hotel prides itself on being an affordable option without skimping on amenities.  I had a slight obsession with the orange cruiser bikes they have available (complimentary) for guests.  I also love that they are very dog friendly and they include a yummy full breakfast every morning at both the Molly Gibson and their sister property Hotel Aspen across the street.

I wore this ruffle top - wearing a small (wind had died down fewww!) to our last evening out! We saw Dan White perform the most amazing magic show ever.  I was completely floored by all of his tricks.  Jonny eagerly offered to participate in the show and got to be part of the finale - it was amazing. There was an after party and an after after party back at the Amex House.  It was one amazing, busy, and filling weekend and I am so incredibly thankful that I got to be a part of it!! Crossing my fingers, toes, and everything else that I can go again next year with this same group of amazing people because they just made it that much better!!

Napa tomorrow, friends... wish my poor little liver luck.  Any and all suggestions are appreciated!!

This post is in collaboration with American Express and the Molly Gibson Lodge . As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible!

Master Bedroom Update and DIY Shoe Wall pt. 1

Hi Guys!!

I am finally feeling rested after our four days at the Aspen Food and Wine Classic today.  It was one of the funnest experiences I have had and can't wait to give you the full recap later this week, but it is always nice get home!  As I mentioned last week, Jonny and I are traveling quite a bit this summer and our master bedroom update has made for such a relaxing (and organized) space to come home to!

Until recently, for the last four years that Jonny and I have lived in our house, my shoes scattered our closet floor and various areas of our house.  Obviously not his favorite thing about me.  Now I (almost) look forward to unpacking because our home looks and feels so much more organized with the addition of some extra storage.

When I posted this photo of our new shoe wall on instagram a few weeks ago, I got a lot of questions about the specifics.  And I wanted to share exactly what we got because we did this update for a fraction of what I thought was possible.

I figured a ceiling high, book shelf would have to be custom built, which means $$$, but after a little research I found that this would be perfect! And we purchased and installed ours for under $200.  We bought the $69 Billy Bookshelf from Ikea, with the $35 extender for an extra shelf and 3 extra shelves $10 each.  I paid $80 for Ikea to deliver and assemble (so worth it!).  If you do not have an Ikea near you, it is also available on Amazon for a bit more!  I almost purchased this one originally (love the detail!), but I love the versatility of the Billy.

I added 3 extra shelves in addition to the extender on top which gives me plenty of storage.  I love that you we were able to move the shelves around and have space for heels, boots, and flats.  And we also made a shelf for that fits several baskets for my flip flops and slippers.  These are the baskets that I have, but I LOVE these and this 3 pack is great too.

Along with this $12 clothing rack I purchased that day to help with planning outfits for upcoming trips and shoots, our bedroom was instantly more organized and I can't believe that we have gone as long as we did without the extra storage (especially since it can be done so affordably!).  

I will be sharing the details from the rest of our bedroom update next week.  And as always please feel free to send along your questions!!

The Perfect Colorado Road Trip

Hi there, happy Friday!

In case you missed my Instagram story from last weekend.  I wanted to be sure to fill you in on our fun filled road trip that we took over the long weekend.  Until our road trip to Montana last summer, I had forgotten how much fun they are.  When my sisters and I were little we would take one long road trip as a family a year.  We would pack up our suburban, make a bed with sleeping bags on one row of the seats and listen to The Lion King on repeat (my poor parents).  

This was similar, except with two of Jonny and my best friends and we replaced sleeping bags with dog beds and The Lion King with Hamilton (poor Molly and Brandon).  I guess some things will never change.  

We left Denver Thursday evening and stayed at our cabin in Silverthorne to get an early jump on the drive to Palisade Friday morning.  Palisade is about four hours from Denver (3 from Silverthorne) so we got there just in time to enjoy lunch on the patio (with the pups) at Palisade Brewing Company.  We checked into our adorable airbnb that was set on the sweetest little farm.  Our puppies had a blast playing with the baby goats on the property and swimming in the Colorado River right behind the house. 

We reserved the rest of the afternoon for exploring the Palisade wineries (which I was pretty skeptical about)... We first picked up our cruisers from Rapid Creek Cycles - they were so nice and helpful mapping out our route and gave us so many wonderful recommendations - I can't recommend them enough.  I had no idea the wine tasting would be so extensive in Palisade.  I have always known that Palisade was known for their peaches, but I have never thought of Colorado as being hot spot for vineyards. Honestly, I don't know exactly what I was picturing?  Something like 3 or 4 tasting rooms lined up in a strip mall, maybe?  But that wasn't the case at all.  The bike rental shop gave us a map with a 7 mile loop with wineries scattered throughout.  I was still skeptical.  After our first stop, I was on board, and after our second stop at the Meadery (honey wine) I was in love! The scenery could not have been more beautiful - pastel homes and buildings, lush gardens and wineries, rivers, and the prettiest backdrop all along the way.  We are all already planning our next trip for the Wine Fest this fall. 

Before leaving Palisade Saturday morning, we took our time and grabbed breakfast at the Slice O Life Bakery (they had amazing peach and lavender lemonade!) and got on the road to Telluride.  Telluride is another gorgeous 3 hour drive from Palisade through several small towns and over a scenic pass that drops you into town.

We checked into The Lumiere. OMG. We were all so impressed with this hotel.  The staff, the accommodations, and their doggy hospitality.  Upon arrival, they upgraded both of our parties to ensure that we would have enough room for our pups to play.  I have stayed in some pretty rooms before, but this was definitely one of the biggest!  I feel like I always write about shoulder/mudd season in Colorado because it is definitely our favorite times to travel.  You get beautiful weather and the mountain towns are still sleepy so you can find incredible deals too!

The Lumiere is located in Mountain Village so we rode the free gondola into town for most meals/activities.  Our first night we went to Sidework, a speakeasy in town, and had an early night before our hike Sunday morning.  Sunday, we hiked the Jud Wiebe Trail, which was the perfect intermediate hike (about a 3 1/2 mile loop plus an extra mile to go back and see the waterfall).  We had lunch in town afterwards at Brown Dog Pizza, the puppies snoozed outside with about 6 other dogs at the dog parking spots (so cute!).   We also loved dinner at Oak 221 and our lunch on the way out of town at The Butcher and Baker. 

We all agreed that we could have spent weeks exploring Telluride.  It is definitely my new second favorite mountain town (Vail will always have my heart).

Have a great weekend! 

xo

Garden of the Gods Club Girls Getaway

Hi Friends!

I am so happy to see a little bit of sunshine this week.  Last week was pretty gloomy, I was starting to think I lived somewhere other than Colorado.  The weather here can definitely be unpredictable, but it is typically sunny more often than not, so several gloomy days in a row had me in an unusual funk!

Luckily the weather just missed my girls weekend with Leah from Eat Pray Wear love, and Lacey from My Boring Closet at Garden of the Gods Club and we were blessed with a couple gorgeous days in Colorado Springs.  We were able to enjoy views from the beautiful infinity pool overlooking the Kissing Camels rock formations and could even see Pikes Peak!

Colorado Springs is only about an hour and a half from Denver, but our trip a few weeks ago, was my first time to Garden of the Gods since I was a little girl.  It is absolutely stunning and I can't wait to go back with Jonny.  He is a huge golfer and I can imagine the views from the Kissing Camels course are fantastic.

Obviously no girls weekend would be complete without room service and a trip to the spa.  After filling up on our delicious spread I went to join Leah and Lacey at the Spa at the Garden of the Gods Club.  My back was a little sore for some reason so asked for an extra deep tissue massage and it was amazing!  After my massage, I relaxed in the cozy relation room and sat in the Himalayan Salt Room before heading to my pedicure (also amazing!).  I felt so relaxed and beyond pampered.  I am actually getting sleepy just thinking about it.

The Garden of the Gods Club is a private country club as well as beautiful resort.  Since staying there several friends have told me that they have attended some amazing weddings here as well (I believe it!).  We enjoyed the yummiest tasting dinner at the formal restaurant at the Club.  And I can't say enough about our knowledgable server and each member of the staff that we encountered.

You may remember, I left a little early so I could get home to see a movie with my mom for Mother's Day.  I did miss out on a visit to the BodPod which is a pod that accurately calculates fat vs. lean muscle mass. I definitely hope to try it sometime soon to get an in depth understanding of my caloric needs as well as possible health risks.  Cool, right?!!

I am starting to pack for a fun road trip Jonny and I are headed on with some friends this weekend.  I would love to hear about the summer trips you have planned.  As always let me know if you have any questions or suggestions of things you would like me to cover!  You can shop all of our looks in the scrolling galleries (above or below within this post!).

This post is in collaboration with Garden of the Gods Collection . As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible!

Evening at Alamo DraftHouse

Hi Guys!

Last week was an absolute whirlwind! I was playing catch up all week from my travel the prior week on emails, meetings, calls, and events.  Sometimes I feel like going out of town can be so stressful because I have so much to do when I get back.  The house is a disaster, my suitcase has exploded and taken over our bedroom, and I always have to retrain my body to get back on a regular workout routine (thats for a whole other post).  Luckily I had carved out a little time for fun in my schedule - and the grand opening of the Alamo Drafthouse did not disappoint! 

When Jonny and I first started dating we saw a new movie every week.  As our schedules have gotten fuller, we are pretty picky about how we spend our time and until now have not had the option to enjoy dinner AND a movie in the same venue unless we  drive at least 30 minutes from Denver. So I could not be more thrilled that their is now an Alamo Drafthouse (Sloans Lake) so close to us.

I bumped into a familiar face (Lacey from My Boring Closet - you met her here and here), at the grand opening and before exploring the theater, we were greeted by some rapping magicians on a tilt-o-whirl tuk tuk (I think??)... they insisted we take a ride and "raise the roof", which we of course could not pass up!  I doubt they will be at every movie, but they definitely made for a wonderful first impression.

Jonny and I are already planning our next movie date and can't wait to try the full dine in movie experience.  If you saw my instagram post last week, then you know that the weather was INSANE so getting dressed last week was a little interesting.  I went with this new favorite, lightweight top ($16) (also comes in white)! I have worn it with these white jeans ($59) and these navy shorts ($125) too!  And I wore my favorite OLD sailor trousers, so I am sorry to say they are out of stock, but I found a very similar pair here ($35) and here ($40).

What great movies have you seen lately? Would love to hear your recs!

xo

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Alamo Drafthouse. The opinions and text are all mine.

Mother's Day Gift Guide

My mom's birthday is a couple days before Mother's Day and this year I wanted to surprise her with something extra special.  My momma has always been my best friend and biggest style inspiration and I know she would love a great spring sweater set (like this vacation ready one - only a few sizes left!) or summer scarf (like this one!) any day of the week.  But when I was scrolling through Minted's site for artwork the other day this personalized foil recipe card jumped out at me and I couldn't stop thinking about my grandmother's banana bread.

When I think of my grandma. I think of the way her house always smelled like a bakery when we walked in.  She was always making something yummy and was well known by her neighbors for her baking, in particular her banana bread.  I keep her recipe card in my kitchen to keep her close and when I saw the option to customize, and frame a recipe card, I knew that would be the perfect gift for my mom this year (I have instructed her not to read this post until Monday in case you were wondering).  It was super simple and you can still order one in time for Mother's Day, but will need to select expedited/rush shipping.  Right now, they are also offering 30% off graduation announcements with CODE: GRADMORE30 through 5/15.

I had originally put this adorable recipe book in my cart for my mom, but after finding her Minted print I ended up getting it for myself (oops!).  If you caught my IG Story over the weekend, you may have noticed that I attended two baby showers and a birthday.  And my favorite way to organize gifts recently is to package several items together with a fun theme.  For instance, I would package this candle (25% off with code mom17) , with this book, some toffee, and these jammies for a relaxing theme.  Or this adorable mug, with this tea pitcher, an assorted tea tasting chest with this monogrammed journal for my nana because she loves tea and journaling (like me!) to start her day.

xo

Palm Print in Palm Springs

Happy Friyay, Friends!

I've sure missed you guys! If you follow me on Instagram you may have picked up that I had a packed travel itinerary last week.  I started out in Palm Springs visting my grandparents and it was so nice to spend uninterrupted, quality time with them.  As we all get a little older I do my best to take in and cherish every moment with my loved ones.  And this time with my Nana and Papa was especially important because I rarely get to spend more than a few hours at a time with them.

Photography: Erica Mendenhall // Location: Palm Springs, CA

When I was deciding what to pack for Palm Springs, Scottsdale, and Chicago, honestly I was a little overwhelmed! The idea of squeezing outfits for three cities, multiple events, and very different climates made my head spin a bit.  At the end of the day, I had a few things that worked for me (more on that next week!).  But the one thing I knew was I wanted to find the perfect palm print to wear while I was in Palm Springs.  And I was thrilled when I found these palm print overalls!

Anyone else been resisting the overall trend? Me too. I thought these were a great way for me to ease into it! They are advertised as a romper (or playsuit.. potato/pot-a-to), but they definitely need a little top under (I like this one, this one with ruffles or this one $12), so I think they are definitely in more of the overall category!  I opted to size up so the shorts would be longer, but if you are looking for a tighter/shorter fit I would say it runs true to size.

While I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to get ready for my trip(s).  I stopped by a new boutique in Denver, Billie and got these sunnies and this adorable lemon print top!  This clutch is so perfect for vacation and summer and I even wore it dressed up in rainy Chicago.

What are your Cinco de Mayo or Derby plans this weekend?!  

xo

Easter Mountain Weekend

Hi Friends!

Photography: Jenny Nelson

I hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend.  I was lucky enough to spend the entire weekend with my family.  Jonny, Zoe, my mom and I spent the Easter weekend enjoying Spring Back to Vail which was an absolute blast! Anytime you are able to ski in shorts/leggings and grill mountain top it is sure to be a great time!  If you watched my Instagram story, you saw that Jonny participated in the World Pond Skimming Championship.  If you don't know what I am talking about (here) is a little video, and no he didn't make it across... he is already planning out his strategy for next year!

As we get older, it seems quality time with our families is harder to coordinate.  With busy schedules and double (sometimes triple or quadruple) the family to visit on holidays, it can sometimes be hard to slow down and truly enjoy the time with our loved ones.  My heart is always so full after time with mine - as I am sure yours is too! And I am always reminded how important making time for quality time is.

I originally brought this dress ($24) and blazer for Easter brunch (please excuse the wrinkles... I packed in about 3 minutes 🙈) but it was so sunny and warm I ended up wearing it to dinner one night instead.  My furry blazer is currently sold out, but I am sure will be restocked soon.   My dress is great for lunch meetings and I have a friend or two that I have already promised to lend it to for their bridal showers.  The weight makes it a perfect spring/summer transition dress and I love the bow and fringe details.  

Each spring I always stock up on things that I know I will need next fall/winter because you can always get the best deals.  For me, right now, I know I am looking for skis and snow pants (I like these and these).  But it is also a great time to snag boots that you have been eyeing! I like these $70 ( 5 colors!), these $59, and these $70.  Have you found any great spring sales?  I would love to know what you are looking for!

Have a wonderful day!

xo

My favorite Denver neighborhoods

By far, the question I get most frequently is, "What is the best neighborhood for young women to live in Denver?"  And it seems recently, I have been getting more emails, comments, and messages that a lot of you are making a move here from out of state (or even just looking for a change of scenery within the city).  First of all, YAY!! You will love it! We can't wait to have you!  And next, the mission for my blog has always been to be a resource for friends new and old to share my love for all things Denver/Colorado.  That being said, I get giddy when I see your emails asking for neighborhood, restaurant, or shopping recommendations because you are taking a trip or moving here.  You may have noticed the new "Denver Guide" tab at the top of the blog which I will be adding all my local recommendations and favorites going forward.

Lohi

A few of you have been pointing out that you are hoping to live in a place that is fun, but have outgrown the party scene.  I'm with you!  Jonny and I live in Lohi and it is hands down my favorite neighborhood, but obviously I am a little biased.  Lohi is nestled between the Highlands and the edge of Downtown, where the rejuvenated Union Station area is.  We love that there are at least 10 great restaurants within a few blocks and a new one popping up seemingly every day (I say this all the time, but we love Linger, Postino, Avanti, Lola, and Recess to name a few).  We rarely leave our little Lohi bubble because there is so much going on: a fun place for happy hour, great brunch spots, and it is a 15 minute walk (via pedestrian bridge) to the Union Station area to enjoy the beautiful farmers market in the summer.  And because I am a visual person and maybe you are too, here are a few of my favorite looks I have shot around the hood (look 1, look 2, look 3, look 4, look 5).  

Apartment recs: Commons Park West, The Station, The Manhattan (Riverfront), Line 28, Studio Lohi, Glass House (for rent by owner)

Wash Park

When it is nice out I am at Wash Park at least once a week.  Because Colorado is landlocked people flock to big parks to hang out when it is warm and Wash Park is the perfect location.  It is right between Downtown Denver and Cherry Creek (which we will cover next).  Cherry Creek Shopping Center is the closest mall to me and I must admit, that I am there far too much, but I do love stopping at Wash Park before or after for a quick jog with Stanley.  The neighborhood around the Park is just as charming as the park.  Just south of the park is the best sushi in town and a couple of my favorite boutiques on Pearl Street and a few blocks east is an adorable gift shop and bakery.  A couple of my favorite looks from Wash Park (here, here, here, and here).

Apartments: Country Club Towers

Cherry Creek North

Cherry Creek North is another neighborhood I find myself in often.  Jonny works in the area and my mom lives in the neighborhood as well (it doesn't hurt that the mall is there as well).  My mom loves living there.  She walks to dinner with her friends, and is able to walk to the mall or boutiques.  The salon I have been going to since I was 18 is a stones throw from her condo and several of my favorite restaurants (Hillstone, Cucina Colore, and Quality Italian are all within blocks of each other. I shot a few of my very favorite looks in CC North! Like this one and this one from our holiday card!

Apartments: The Seasons of Cherry Creek and Steele Creek

Cap Hill

Some of our best friends live in Capitol Hill and love it! It is in walking distance to Trader Joes (which was a big deal for us CO peeps btw), several other grocery stores, and Cheeseman Park, another gorgeous park for jogs and picnics.  

Apartments: Acoma

Other favorites:

• Highlands: West of Lohi, great restaurants and a lovely farmers market in the Summer.
• Riverfront: Connects Lohi and Union Station, affordable apartments, great restaurants like Colt and Gray, and Sushi Sasa.
• Uptown: East of Downtown (gosh we were creative with the names here...?) affordable apartments, great restaurants! We like Coperta and Beast and Bottle!
• Congress Park: Just discovered this adorable neighborhood, but shot these photos at Sweet Cooies here and can't wait to go back! The main street could not be cuter.. packed with families and young people.

Breaking Down Liketoknow.it and the new app!

Hi Guys!

I hope you had a great weekend!  Jonny and I had a low key-ish weekend at home and if you follow me on instagram you may know that we attended the Heart Ball benefitting the American Heart Association.  I am so impressed by this organization and am so grateful for the wonderful work they are doing to educate people about heart health.  

We also went to dinner with friends from out of town and several asked me to walk them through exactly how and what Liketoknow.it is.  Halfway through the conversation my little sister (who may online shop and use social media more than me!) let me know that she has never fully understood how to access Liketoknow.it.  I realized if my closest friends/ and hippest family members don't understand what I am talking about, then I need to do a better job of educating!  So here goes:

1. I use Liketoknow.it on most of my instagram photos (like this one) to create shoppable links for you guys. Until recently (last week in fact!) you had to register with Liketoknow.it in order to receive these details.  You can still sign up with your email (here) to receive outfit details direct to your inbox within 5-10 minutes of liking a photo of your favorite bloggers who are affiliated with Liketoknow.it.

2. With the launch of the new Liketoknow.it app getting details from your favorite bloggers pictures is even simpler!  Once you have downloaded the app (no email/registration required), you can shop details direct from the app by taking a screen shot or liking a Liketoknow.it enabled image on Instagram, Instagram Stories, or SnapChat.

3. How do you know if a photo is shoppable with Liketoknow.it? Good question! You may have noticed a little heart in the lower right hand corner of my instagram photos this past week (like in the above pic).  That is the new Liketoknow.it logo and will signify a shoppable image (via like or screen shot) on instagram or stories (sorry my snapchat game is the worst!).  Another clue it is Liketoknow.it enabled is, @liketoknow.it and hashtag #liketk is within the caption of the post.

4.  With technology there is never a guarantee, right?  If the app or emails are not working you can always go directly to denverdarling.com/liketoknowit and find all of my Liketoknow.it enabled instagrams and details there!

I am so excited about the new app! And I hope this clarifies any questions that you have had.  If you have any more, don't hesitate for a minute to reach out!.

Highlights from Secrets Akumal

Happy Friyay!

We have been on a major spring like streak since I returned from Mexico.  It has been in the 60'/70's all week which has made for a nice transition from the tropical temperatures in Riviera Maya.  However, we know in Colorado we can just as easily have two feet of snow on the ground tomorrow, so I am soaking in the sun while it lasts.

A few weeks ago, I had a serious case of the winter blues... serious!! And I got an invitation to attend a viewing party of Top Chef at Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya, where it was filmed, and I could not reserve my spot on the beach fast enough.  Apple Vacations and Amstar made this last minute trip seamless!  They booked everything and made sure transportation to and from the airport was a breeze.

Every direction I turned at the resort was simply picture perfect.  However, more importantly the service was wonderful.  We were greeted with cocktails upon arrival (big bonus points), and the staff made us feel right at home.  Several people have asked about the food because I guess all inclusive resorts are typically not known for their cuisine, and I have to say, the food was absolutely a highlight!  

Secrets Akumal has 7 restaurants and I was so impressed with each one.  Lacey and I loved the breakfast spread at The Market - the smoothies were the perfect start to my morning! And I also loved the all pink French restaurant, Bordeaux, and the sushi spot we dined at our last night.  I wore this dress with these comfy wedges ($39) to our progressive dinner tour which commenced in the main kitchen of the hotel with the most delicious and creative eight course dinner.  I could not have been more impressed!

For me, the most important part of truly enjoying a beach vacation is laying out.  Jonny would have something to say about that, so as much as I missed him, it was nice to be on a girls trip with some lovely ladies who understand the importance of soaking in some rays.  After spending a sufficient amount of time laying out and swinging on the swings at the beach bar we spent the afternoon relaxing in the Pevonia Spa.  It was the perfect way end to the day!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend - would love to hear what fun spring break trips you have planned! And as always, please let me know if you have any questions or suggestions!

xo

This post is in collaboration with Secrets Akumal . As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible!

Travel Style

Hola from Riviera Maya, Mexico!

This has been a fun, but busy week!  Last weekend  I celebrated my birthday in the mountains with my very best friends.  We went snowshoeing, made dinner at our cabin and played games - It was the perfect way to ring in 30 for sure.  Then I had just a few hours to get myself organized before heading to Secrets Akumal Riviera Maya.  I can't wait to share more about this amazing resort with you (I have never done this all inclusive thing before and WOW!).

I got a few questions about how I dress when I travel so wanted to be sure and share a few tips! I feel like I have been on a plane quite a bit lately and have figured out what works well for me in terms of a travel uniform.  

When it comes to traveling, my moto is function over fashion.  When Jonny and I first started dating, and he was in school across the country, I would dress up (boots, accessories, the whole nine) for my 4+ hour plane ride to go see him just to be disheveled and uncomfortable after a half day of travel.  

A few years wiser, I try to stick to a simple, classic look when I travel.  I always select pieces that are versatile and can be updated quickly once I arrive.  I like a chambray shirt because it can be worn so many ways like my pants, white jeans, or leather leggings ($18) for dinner once you arrive!  I always layer up with a cardigan and jacket because temperatures fluctuate so much on the plane.  I wore this jacket on our flight to Mexico as well as these tennies on our trip down here and these flats on my trip to NYC - both were unexpected Target finds and I wear them all of the time!  Finally, I like to bring a nice tote that can fit my lap top and double as purse which minimizes having to carry extra bags! I am loving my tote from H&M - affordable and well made, the blush is available in stores, but I also love the taupe and gray!

Love getting your feedback and questions!! Hope you have had a lovely week and happy weekend!

30th Birthday Lessons

Hi Friends,

Oh hi, its me.. I'm Abby and I'm 30??? WHHHAAAA, where has the time gone?!!! I remember crying in 5th grade because I didn't want to go to outdoor camp in 6th grade because after outdoor camp meant middle school, then high school, then college, then marriage, then you're 30!! Welp, 12 year old self, you were right!  I have been struggling all week with this birthday, but I woke up today and am so excited about this next chapter.  I think turning a new year older always brings a little reflection, transitioning into a new decade brings a whole lot of reflection.  Through these past few days I've come up with a list of advice that I would share with my younger self and thought I'd share as a reminder to me and hopefully helpful to you too:

Location: Sweet Cooies Ice Cream // Photography: Jenna Sparks

• Be Kind

This seems simple and obvious, I know.  I've found when I am having a bad day and the last thing in the world that I want to do is be friendly to anyone other than my dog, doing something nice for another human makes my day instantly better.  Kindness makes people happy - happiness makes you laugh - laughter is the best medicine and keeps you young.... so pretty much being kind is the fountain of youth! 

• Find Your Passion

They say that if you do something you love you will never work a day in your life.  I am not entirely sure that is correct.  I think once you find something you love you will work your a** off like never before to make sure that it succeeds.  Before starting Denver Darling I worked on The Hill in DC, in the non-profit space as a fundraiser, and also at a PR agency.  Each were great jobs, but never got me excited to wake up early or well into the night like I do now.  

• Be Active

Do something active every. single. day! Before I found workouts that I loved I would stress about working out.  I would plan a trip to the gym days or a week in advance.  I realize now that was because I never loved the exercise I was doing and was just so dang bored at the gym! I fell in love with CorePower Yoga, it turned into an every day thing for me and now I alternate, yoga, CycleBar, hiking, skiing, running, and walking with Sir Stanley.  

• Don't Diet (seriously)

Just don't do it! If you know me personally, you know that up until recently I was always on some crazy diet.  I realize now that I missed out on some fun times and delicious meals to a save a few extra cals.  I believe that my metabolism has finally kicked in at 30 because I am eating normally and enjoying what my body is craving.  Eat the damn ice cream cone and enjoy it (and this new spot Sweet Cooies just might be the cutest place to do that!)! #yolo

• Quality over Quantity

My early 20's self worried about doing as much in one day as humanly possible and spending little time with as many people that didn't mean all that much to me.  Now I spend more time doing the things I love with less people that I care the most about.

• Roadtrip

Jonny and I have been to some fun places for sure (last year we spent my birthday in Thailand which was a highlight!), but one of my favorite trips to date was a last minute road trip we took to Montana.  We took our time, and stopped for hikes, pictures, interesting biker bars and listened to Hamilton on repeat.  We can't wait to do another this summer!

• Know your go-to's

Find 2 favorite restaurants that you love that are perfect to recommend to friends for brunch, that you can always drop in and have a great meal and perfect for date night (we love Postino and Linger here in Denver).  Memorize a delicious, but easy recipe that you can whip up for guests or take to a friend's (this dessert is always a hit!). Know your go-to beverage orders... mine are prosecco, an oaky chardonnay (this one is sparkly and gives 15% back to charity!), and Cider!

Enjoy your weekend!! I would love to hear your favorite kernels of wisdom always feel free to email or share in the comments below.

xo

Going Red with Kendra Scott Tonight!

Hi Friends,

I am so excited this morning because today kicks off a long few days of birthday celebrating.  Don't get me wrong, I am normally not a birthday person at all!! However, I think transitioning into a new decade feels a little different and I am going to soak in the last days of my 20's and celebrate the heck out of this weekend with my friends and I just can't wait.

Tonight I am celebrating the start of my birthday weekend with Kendra Scott and the American Heart Association and I can't think of a better place with a more important message to kick off the fun! February is Go Red for Women Month and I recently learned that cardiovascular diseases kill about one woman every 80 seconds and about 80% of cardiovascular diseases may be preventable.  Last year, I touched on some heart issues that my mom had been dealing with and how important, as women, it is to be our own biggest advocate.  The last few months, she has been having trouble again and I have been so proud to watch her advocate for herself to ensure that she gets the care that she needs.  Yesterday, she received a heart monitor to make sure that her heart is working properly and I am thrilled that tonight's event will benefit the American Heart Association.

It is highly likely that I will be wearing this exact outfit tonight (please don't judge).  I don't know about you, but when I find an outfit that I love, I wear the heck out of it!  And I love these pants and can't get enough of them!! I have really been into high waist trousers lately, but they also come in a mid rise version.  The fabric on these is so so soft.  This blouse had me at "hello" ruffles, flowers, and a bow? and a price point under $60, game over!  My Kendra Scott earrings are from their Go Red collection and as I mentioned here 20% of proceeds will be donated to AHA and will be a great way to support if you are not able to make tonight's event.  Hope to see you there!! Please see details below. xoxo