This sweet life

Hi Friends,

Hope you have had a beautiful week!  For me, this week has been so special and nothing less than inspiring.  Tuesday was Jonny and my anniversary so started out on a lovely note.  I have to admit, we didn't have a typical fancy date night and we were both more than ok with that - we went car shopping and hung pictures, but it was a perfect night for us and a great way to start our week.  

Yesterday, I attended the Women's Foundation Luncheon - the Foundation raises money so that every girl and woman in Colorado can achieve her full potential.  I loved sitting amidst 2,300 women supporting other women in Colorado.   The highlight was seeing Misty Copeland share her inspiring story of becoming a principal ballerina.  She was so incredibly humble and poised.  I have never wanted to be a ballerina so badly - haha!  One can dream, right?  

Following the event I sat at a table to enjoy the beautiful weather and work outside and saw a young man sprint and yell after a man in military attire.  I thought he had forgotten his wallet or something, when the young man yelled "Sir" and as the man turned around he stood there and saluted him in the middle of the restaurant with the proudest look on his face, then turned around and walked back to the table with his young friends and continued eating his ice cream.  It was one of the most touching things that I have ever seen.

I am headed to another event for a wonderful cause tonight. The Mode fashion event benefitting Denver Health.  I feel so lucky and proud to live in a wonderful place that supports and cares about the community.  If you are interested in going, you can get ticket information here.

I just snagged this dress from Loft (30% off with code shopsmart) when I was in a pinch for some new work dresses last week.  It is perfect for a luncheon with navy heels (like these) or a casual day at work with tan lace up booties (like mine).  I actually wore this look to work then to meet some friends for happy hour.  The weight is great for this early fall weather and will be perfect with tights and boots once snow starts falling.  And this Sole Society clutch is my favorite for fall and an absolute steal ($39.95).

Jonny and I are hoping to get to the mountains this weekend to see the fall colors!  What fun plans do you have?

xo

Slowing Down Summer in Montana

Happy Friday, Friends!

Life has kind of gotten away from us since we got back from Montana.  Our quick trip to Montana the week before last was only a long weekend, but it was so relaxing with little distractions and time didn't seem to speed by as it has lately.

Jonny and I have both been busy with work and sometimes he has to work until the wee hours of the morning so this trip was some welcomed quality time.  Most people called us crazy for driving to Montana for just a four day day trip (drive time included), but we had such an amazing time.  And enjoyed every minute of the beautiful drive through the Tetons, a night in Jackson, and the windy roads and sights of Yellowstone National Park.  Jonny had never been to Yellowstone and I hadn't visited since I was very little so we broke the drive up with a stay in Jackson and a hike in the Tetons (that was beyond stunning!).

As we entered Big Sky, Jonny and I were already in awe of the beautiful scenery - we have always been partial to CO and our mountains, but Montana's are pretty spectacular.  We were greeted with open arms at The Yellowstone Collective Retreat at Moonlight Basin (literally a big bear hug from CEO Peter!) and had an absolutely unforgettable weekend.

We were completely unplugged all weekend which I am realizing it is such an important thing to do to step back and focus on what is really important.  This is my second time "camping" - yes it is very much glamping (more on that in my next post) but because of my last few stays at Collective Retreats (also here) unplugging from the world and being outdoors is really growing on me.

I can't wait to show you more from our trip - I have about a bazillion more photos to share with you.  It was just so beautiful and I am just in love with the experiences we have had at Collective Retreats.  It has been so nice reminiscing about our trip this morning and taking a second to slow back down before the busy weekend ahead.

However, now we get back to the hustle and bustle of Friday - Jonny and I are going to Urban Nights tonight, a fashion show that supports homeless youth in Denver.  We had a blast last year and I believe there are still tickets left.  We hope to see you there!

Also, this is Jonny's new favorite shirt.  It is from Ball and Buck, a Boston based mens store that is doing a pop-up in Cherry Creek through Labor Day.  He loves the cut of the shirt and I love all of the fun designs they carry!  As we transition into fall, I am loving long sleeves tops and sweaters like this one with distressed shorts ($46) - just the perfect combo on a crisp late summer evening. I hope you have a wonderful day and weekend, friends!  

xo

To Market to Market

Hi Guys,

I hope you have had a wonderful week so far! It has been so beautiful here - it has really been a hard week to get anything done because I just want to be outside enjoying the sunshine.  Does that ever happen to you?  When you feel like a 5th grader just gazing out the window yearning for recess - I have felt like that all week!

As most of you know, I have a serious thang for farmers markets.  Exploring a new one makes me giddy and wandering around a familiar one is always relaxing and brings a smile to my face.  I recently partnered with Cherry Creek Lifestyle Magazine to share some of my favorite things about the new farmers market at Union Station in Denver (read it here). 

This will forever be one of my favorite shoots, and favorite days.  It was one of our last outings with Mr. Brown and it was perfect.  I am so thankful to Cherry Creek Lifestyle Magazine for honoring our boy and making him the cover boy of their "Dog Days of Summer" issue this month.

Whenever I visit a farmers market I love chatting with the vendors and learning about the products that they are so passionate about and have clearly put their heart and soul into.  I was obviously immediately drawn to the beautiful peonies that The Fresh Herb Company had at their stand.  However, I was even more intrigued and loved learning about the Field to Vase dinner they host in their fresh flower farm annually... I am so jealous that Zoe is going next weekend (August 13th) , we will be out of town and I can't wait to see the pictures!

Read about the rest of my favorite vendors from the Union Station Farmers Market in the current issue of Cherry Creek Lifestyle Magazine.  I would love to hear about your favorite farmers markets or vendors around town!

My dress is out of stock, but I also love these (this, this, and this) similar white dresses (all on sale!).  And I have had these wedges forever - they are so comfy and I love that they still look brand new.

Have a great day!

xo

NSale Beauty picks

Hi Friends!

The Nordstrom Anniversary Sale is now open to the public - yipee!! As I mentioned last week, this sale is one of the best of the year and a chance to get a peek at fall pieces at great prices.

I rarely talk about beauty products because my makeup routine is pretty simple (and boring honestly).  But the makeup that I wear, I love and buy over and over again and I always stock up on this time of year.  

Even at 29, I still think in terms of school years (the new fall season). Although makeup is not typically a priority, I always love stocking up on fresh new palettes like this one, this one and this one which are pretty much all you need!  And a fresh new scent and an oldie but goodie every year.  I love this perfume by Tory Burch and I have worn Daisy by Marc Jacobs since my wedding (almost two years ago).

I have been a Bobbi Brown girl since I learned what makeup was.  I love Bobbi's (I pretend like I actually know her) natural and effortless style.  On a typical day I wear this moisturizer with SPF ($46), this blush ($28), this mascara ($28), a little of this bronzer ($46), and lip gloss ($26).  These anniversary sale sets offer beautiful combinations with the makeup that I usually wear, but also throw in some fun new colors that I wouldn't think to use on a daily basis. I love that this set has everything you need for a great smokey eye - Bobbi Brown Smokey Eye mascara is my second favorite after Bobbi Brown Extreme Party (I like that it can be layered on and wont clump).

Have a fantastic week friends and let me know what else you would like me to cover!  The sale lasts until August 7th.

xo

 

 

Friday + Fitness + Fun

Happy Friday, Friends!

I hope you have had a wonderful week!  For the first time in a month, Jonny and I are not packing our bags to get out of town and a weekend at home is just what the doctor ordered.

I have talked about fitness on occasion and workouts that I like (here and here)... they may be few and far between as I am not a fitness guru by an means, but when I find something I love I always want to share it with you guys right away.  I am so excited to talk about CycleBar with you.  Not only is it my new favorite workout, but my little sister (Zoe) is instructing at their DTC location and I just can't get enough of these classes (reserve a bike here).  As many of you know she just moved home from NYC and CycleBar has been the perfect place for her to bring her love for music, choreography, and tap-backs to Colorado.

After I shared my Soul Cycle experience with you all, I got a lot of questions about my favorite local spin studio and I had a very hard time coming up with any that I really loved and would return to on a regular basis.  Enter CycleBar... I bumped into master instructor (Kmax) while out to dinner and she explained that her class was a lot like a dance party on a spin bike.  That's I'll I needed to hear - I attended my first class a few days later and have been hooked ever since!

The classes are hard, but I love leaving each time and knowing that I have gotten a fantastic workout in (in less than an hour!).  The time also goes by quickly because each instructor focuses on great music and matching your RPM's to the beat.  I also love the effort and little extras that they provide at each studio... happy hour classes, blow out/beauty evenings, water bottles (for those like me who tend to forget theirs at home), fruit for refueling, plentiful hand sanitizer and chapstick... it's the little things, ya know!

However, I do think my very favorite thing about CycleBar is that they are so involved in the community.  CycleBar is teaming up with the American Heart Association and American Stroke Association to host 3 CycleNation pop up rides to raise money and awareness for such an important cause.  The first ride is tomorrow (and almost sold out!) get more information here and the next two are October 1st and 2nd (info here).

I am hosting a great giveaway with CycleBar over on instagram - you can enter to win a 5 class package... If you have not tried it yet, enter to win @denver.darling.  

Have a great weekend!

xo

Favorite Fall Dresses - Anniversary Sale

Hi Friends,

I don't usually like to think about summer ending or fall clothing until the last possible moment - it really bums me out.... except during the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.  It is Nordstrom's biggest sale of the year and they preview all of their incoming fall items at big discounted prices (and make the inevitability of fall coming just around the corner not so bad).

The early access sale is in full swing and is available to Nordstrom Card holders for two more days.  After the 21st the anniversary sale will be available to everyone through August 7th.

I love that all of these dresses are easy transition pieces and won't be forgotten about in the closest from now until fall.  This blush dress is under $25 and comes in 10 colors - I plan on wearing it with sandals now and booties, then tights boots and a jacket into the fall (such an easy piece!).  This cold shoulder shift is adorable, comfy, and really flattering (under $30).  

This is also the time that I stock up on work dresses.  This fuscia bow dress is perfect for meetings, or tea with the girls - there are only a few sizes left (under $100).  And although I am typically more drawn to color in my wardrobe, even I can't deny a classic LBD.  This little black dress is great for going for from meetings to date night or a cocktail party (under $100).

I will be sharing a few more roundups over throughout the sale, let me know if there is something you have your eye one and would like me to cover.

(to shop, click the picture of the dress above or below).

xo

no ticket, no problem

Hi Guys!

Hope you had a wonderful weekend and it's been a great week so far.  Jonny and I had a blast in Chicago celebrating our friends and just loved exploring the city.  We spent all day Sunday, with a big group of friends, riding from neighborhood to neighborhood, along the Navy Pier with their bike share program, it was such a fun way to sightsee.

We always love to travel and spend time with friends, but we are home for a few weeks and I am so excited to spend some time in our own wonderful city for a while.  

Amazing restaurants are opening right and left in Denver, but Jonny and I have our tried and true favorites... and Linger is one of them.  They opened a few years ago, but it continues to be one of the best places for brunch and happy hour and our go to suggestion for out of town guests (the view is fantastic).  It is nice to be home to be reminded of the little gems right in our own back yard.

I do love that this dress feels like a vacation all on its own... no plane or TSA headache needed.  It is also on sale ($143) with just a few sizes left (I am wearing a 2 for sizing purposes).  All of Mara Hoffman's pieces feel like a tropical getaway - I also love this one, this one, and this one (also on sale).  Right now is the perfect time to stock up on summer dresses since brands and retailers are getting ready to launch fall lines and they need to make room (jokes on them because there is so much summer left - hehe!).  My purse has been one of my favorite last minute buys this summer - especially since it was only $12! The quality is great and I love adding a bright pop of color to any outfit.

Working on a few Anniversary Sale roundups over the next few days, let me know if there is anything you are loving and would like me to focus on.

xo

Wedding Season Brights

Happy Wednesday, Friends!

Apologies for the lack of posts lately, guys - the last few weeks have been a roller coaster of emotions and some days all I can think to type is "%$&@!". I can imagine that would not be very interesting, so I have just been quiet when I need to.  Some days are easier than others and our home is a little quieter, which is hard, but I have started a new routine which has helped.  So thank you, friends, for your support while I get through this - you've been amazing!

I don't know about you guys, but this wedding season has been a busy one for us - wooh!  We just returned from Michigan via Chicago and are headed right back to Chicago (on the same exact flights, actually) this weekend to celebrate another wonderful couple.  Luckily we love weddings!

Although its a busy time, Jonny and I agreed early on in our relationship that we would attend as many of our friends weddings as we possibly could.  It is such an honor to be able to share in a couples special day.  It's also such a fun time to reconnect with old friends and meet new ones from all over.

I also love wedding season because it means that bright dresses will be out in full force.  I love this dress that I wore to our friends wedding last weekend.  The midi length is perfect for dancing and the peek-a-boo hem, low back, and cut out in the middle make it a little more flirty than your average midi dress.  Stock is low in these, but they still have some sizes available (I am wearing a small).  I also like this one, this one, and this one for an outdoor affair.

I have been wearing these shoes everywhere and they are a steel under $20! I also get a lot of questions about my clutch - I actually, often use it as a wallet and toss it in my tote and grab it easily when I need something less bulky.

Do you have any must sees/dos for us in Chicago? We are excited to have a few days to explore! Have a great rest of your week.

xo

Father's Day Fun

Happy Monday,

I hope your week is off to a great start and had a wonderful weekend with your families.  This past weekend we had a lot of celebrating since Zoe turned 25 and Father's Day happened to fall on the same day.  We ended up at Stones, a new adorable spot just around the corner for several of the occasions.... you have to try it!

I loved reading everyone's social media posts about their father's yesterday.  Our dad is a pretty special guy - he has shown my sisters and me that kindness and generosity go a long way.  Although there are so many things that my dad has taught me - like "there is no crying in baseball,", but "it's ok to throw like a girl."  There are a few lessons that that have stuck with me and I hope to instill in our kids someday.

He taught us that you are only as good as your word.  I still remember the disappointed look on my dad's face when he found out that I forged his signature so I could get out of gym class in middle school (I didn't want to mess up my hair.... priorities, right?).  My teacher called him and I immediately knew why he was standing in the hallway to pick me up - his face said it all and he explained to me that you are only as good as your word.  I am sure there have been a few slip ups along the way, but honesty was instilled in me in that moment.  

My sisters and I were quite the handful - I can imagine raising three girls would be serious a task and I applaud our parents daily... As our friends and family are starting to have kids, I realize parenting is not the easy job it once seemed.   One thing that my dad would say (says) to us regularly is that beauty only matters from inside.  As little girls if we mentioned that someone was pretty, he would point to our heart and say, "where does beauty matter?" I think this is such an important thing for a little girl to learn - it teaches kindness and confidence in a few short words and something that has stuck with my sisters and me since day one.

I would love to hear your favorite lessons that have stuck with you! Feel free to comment below or email them.  Jonny and I have some fun travel coming up this week.  Be sure to follow along on snapchat (Username: denver.darling).  

 

 

 

Orange Crush

Hi Friends - Happy Friday!

I always love this time of year in Colorado.  The weather is as close to perfect as it can get and growing up, Zoe's birthday and Father's day were almost always on the same weekend so it was a nice time to catch up with our whole family.  This has been a hard week with all that is going on in the world, so I am very much looking forward to spending extra time with my family this weekend.

I shared this skirt recently along with some of my favorite places in Denver for a LiketoKnow.it takeover - Denver edition.  A few other Denver gals and myself, got to takeover their Instagram account and show everyone around our city, which was so fun!  My first stop was Union Station because I love how it's revamp has changed the landscape of Denver.  The restaurants are yummy, and they always have something fun going on.  I visited the new farmers market for the first time last weekend and am sure I will be a regular there on Saturday mornings.

So guys, I am typically a pink girl, but orange and yellow have been taking up more space in my closet this season.  When I saw this skirt, I tried it on in white as well, since I was torn, I asked Jonny for his opinion... clearly he went with his favorite color (all Broncos all the time in this house) and I am so glad!  The vibrant color is great for summer and the midi length was perfect.  I am (almost) 5'3 and wearing a 2 for sizing purposes :).  Also, I have to tell you, lately, Banana Republic has been my go-to for shoes (get mine here).  They have a great selection, quality, and always affordable.  Shop the rest of my look below.

It was so fun shooting this look with EmilyAnne, the first photographer that I ever worked with for Denver Darling.  She is a great photographer, and one of the sweetest souls around.

I have been loving all of your questions.  Keep them coming :).  Hope you have some fun things planned for the weekend - can't wait to hear about them!

 

 

Sharing is Caring

Happy Monday, Friends!

Photography: Corey Anthony // Blazer // Jeans // Tote (found it at Jewelius) similar here// Shoes similar (here, here, and here)// Sunnies // Cami

Photography: Corey Anthony // Blazer // Jeans // Tote (found it at Jewelius) similar here// Shoes similar (here, here, and here)// Sunnies // Cami

I hope you enjoyed a beautiful weekend.  We stayed close to home and as I mentioned, reluctantly organized our garage (I know, exciting)!  Last weekend was a blast, but it was really nice to enjoy the beautiful weather from our own backyard (or deck!).  A few of you have reached out recently and asked about living in Lohi with our pup.  We absolutely love it!  We do not have a backyard, and I am sure Charlie Brown would love one, but there are plenty of parks within two blocks every direction of us and he loves sunning on the roof deck while I work.  He also gets pretty tuckered out from our long walks on the weekends. 

This weekend is also the first weekend that I have been able to spend with my little sister since she moved home a few weeks ago.  There is really nothing like spending time with sisters.  Zoe and I revert to our childhood selves when we are together - At 29 and 25 we still get excited when people think we are twins.  Luckily, Jonny and her boyfriend, Pete know we are a package deal :).  And since she just moved home (and I am such a nice big sister) we have been sharing my car while she decides on a new one. 

We have been using car sharing apps to help us out.  Luckily my office is Downtown, and car2go has designated parking locations which has made it convenient for both of us to visit some our favorite summer spots (while the other has the car) like Red Rocks, Botanic Gardens, and The Source.  Right now, car2go is offering free membership, which is typically $35 and 15 minutes of free drive time and goes through June 19th.

As I mentioned last week, my obsession with gingham is at an all time high.  I love this look for upcoming 4th festivities.  My blazer (also comes in pink) is currently on sale and an additional 30-50% off with code shopextra.  And I love these, these, and these for a for a perfect pop of red!  Shop my whole look below.

Have a wonderful week!!

xo

This post is in collaboration with car2go As always, all opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that make this blog possible!

 

 

 

The Joys of Summer

Good Morning, Friends,

I hope you had a wonderful long weekend filled with BBQ's, brunches, friends and family.  I stayed close to home and spent some quality time with my momma and girlfriends, while Jonny finished his series of spring bachelor parties before all of the summer wedding fun starts.  

Today I am am jumping for joy for several reasons:

1) Summer is finally here: Memorial Day weekend is always the unofficial launch to summer - I love that it kicks off the season of tan skin, tired pups, colorful flowers, and smiley neighbors.  On our walk yesterday, I noticed that everyone smiles and greets each other so much more when the sun is out.

2) MY SISTER MOVES HOME! Zoe, (meet her here, here, and here) has spent the last two years conquering the Big Apple and will finally be back in the 303 - I just can't wait.  I am so proud of her and what she has accomplished, but as a selfish big sister, I am beyond excited that she will be living close again. 

3) My dress is $25.99 and and an additional 40% off if it is your first time shopping on SheIn.

This dress is incredibly comfortable and the perfect dress for all kinds of summer fun.  I wore it to an afternoon baby shower and it was great to have a little extra coverage since afternoons and evenings are still a little breezy.  I am 5'3 so have to wear heels (or would need to get it hemmed), but it would even be great with sandals for a casual picnic.  Also, wearing my favorite summer heel again because they just go with EVERYTHING (also like these if you like a shorter heel)!

My sunnies are from Ditto: I love that I can change them as often as I'd like.  You can use code: DenverDarling to get your first month free when signing up ($24 a month after).  

Have a fantastic, short week!!

xo