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!

Family week in Aspen Highlights

When you are from Colorado, loving the mountains is in your blood.  Jonny and I are both natives (and our parents too!) so we spend as much time at altitude as possible.  Last week, I got to spend some quality time with my mom in Aspen.  Jonny, Zoe and her boyfriend, Pete, joined for the weekends.  I always feel so relaxed and at peace when I am in the mountains and even more so when I have all of my people in one place.

Jonny, Zoe, Pete, and I rode from Snowmass to Aspen and met mom to wander around the farmers market then enjoy a picnic afterwards.  The ride was not as downhill as we had anticipated, but it made our huge picnic even more enjoyable! The trail from Snowmass Village to Aspen is about 10 miles with about a 2 mile uphill stretch.  It is a great workout and you can do a one way bike rental.  Thank god because I would not have been able to ride back.  We rented from Aspen Sports and they were so helpful and made renting a breeze!

Before the whole gang arrived, mom and I had some great girls days! We would work out, then eat a fresh breakfast or lunch - 90% of the time at Spring Cafe (its amazing!), sit outside with the pups and work and have a glass of wine on our patio or at Bodega then head to dinner.

Our favorite dinner spot was BB's Aspen - I have walked by many times before and never had the chance to stop in.  The staff was so wonderful and the food was even better! It is hard to say what my favorite dish was - but although we were full, couldn't put our spoons down over the sticky toffee pudding!

Jonny and I started taking an annual summer trip to Aspen a few years ago.  This was the first year that we didn't stay at The Little Nell since we had a larger group, but we were sure to stop by and say "hi" to some of the friends we have made and check out the new happy hour menu at Ajax Tavern (yumm!) and the living wall which changes every summer.

I wore this $20 cropped jumpsuit to our last dinner in Aspen at Jimmy's Aspen.  Jonny happened to be wearing a matching shirt and refused to change, so we looked like quite the gingham clad couple!  I will link the rest of my looks in the scrolling gallery on the bottom of my site!!

 

Highlights:

1. Aspen Farmers Market
2. Picnic from the Butchers Block (did this last summer too!)
3. One way bike ride - Snowmass to Aspen
4. Spring Cafe
5. BB's Aspen
6. Jimmy's Bodega and Jimmy's Aspen
7. Rim Trail

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!

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!

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

My Favorite Happy Hours in Denver

Happy Friday!

I always feel like summer has truly arrived when Memorial Day Weekend is here.  I have been getting a lot of questions about the nightlife and party scene in Denver.  And although my days of last calls and dance clubs are well behind me (mostly... last weekend was a fluke, guys!) long happy hours in the sunshine are my jam! I wanted to share my list with you guys of my favorite places to happy hour in Denver!

1. Postino

On a typical warm weather week, you can find me, Jonny and Stanley on the patio of Postino, enjoying $5 peach bellinis (me) and $5 pitchers of Saison (Jonny), at least twice.  Their patio is huge so there is never a long wait for a great table and the staff is incredibly friendly (fun fact, my middle school boyfriend works there. Hi Tyler!) be sure to tell him hi if you see him.  My girlfriends and I (remember Bethany from this post and this post?!) love the $5 before 5:00 or $20 board and bottles on Monday's and Tuesday's which include a bottle of wine and 4 different bruschettas... yummmm!!!

2. Recess

On casual afternoon or evening with friends we love heading to Recess  (it is also neighbor to Postino so it is easy to go back and forth).  It is Stanley's favorite bar for for sure.  It is the most doggy friendly bar and we love being able to meet our friends for a fun pup date - my favorite happy hour deal are the $6 Moscow Mules and $7 bites 3-7pm Monday through Friday!

3. Tupelo Honey 

Ok, this is on my to-try list! Every time I have tried to go since it opened a few weeks ago something unexpected has popped up (seriously can't believe I haven't been yet!)! Any place that has a happy hour called "The Six Dolla Holla Ya'll" sounds like somewhere I want to be and $6 glasses of wine, $4 tall boys, and $8 Cherry Bomb Frozé definitely is definitely a perfect happy hour!

4 Mizu Izakaya

Mizu opened recently in Lohi and since we rarely leave our little bubble, Jonny and I were thrilled to have a new sushi spot in the neighborhood! They have $5 rolls and drinks and apps before 6pm and after 9pm.

5. Coperta

Coperta recently hosted our first Blogger Social Club event (filling you in on this more soon - in the mean time sign up here if you are interested!) and the drinks were so delicious! They made the prettiest aperol spritzes which are $5 for their Apertivo Hour.  They also serve yummy snacks for $3-$7 2-6pm Monday through Friday and 4-6pm on weekends.

6. Quality Italian

Just yesterday a friend of mine and I were stopped at the mall and a group of people asked us where they should go for drinks in Cherry Creek.  I immediately sent them to Quality Italian.  The scene is so fun and food is seriously heaven in your mouth! Not happy hour, but still amazing, they did just open for brunch - woo hoo!!!

7. The Way Back

The Way Back has the most creative cocktails I have ever tried.  The bartender was like a mind reader.  I told him specifically what I didn't love and he brought me my favorite drink that I have ever had (I wish I could remember all of the ingredients... but it was delicious!).  Take a peek at their yummy happy hour menu here!

8. Linger

Always a fan fav. Always has been, and always will be on my list for friends when they are coming to visit to stop by for happy hour, dinner or bottomless brunch! And the rooftop is the perfect spot to sit and and enjoy views of the city in the summer (see a few pics from last summer here).  I love their $6 prosecco, $5 cocktails, and $5 snacks Monday - Friday 4-6:30!

9. Avanti

They don't have any specials per se, but it is one of the best views of downtown and it is the perfect place to go with a group because of the cafeteria style set up! Drinks are typically about $10

10.  Toss Up

It was a toss up between Los Chingones, LaLa's, and the Art Hotel's Fire Lounge and my friend Molly we are traveling with this weekend broke the three way tie and said that she and her fiancé love the views at the Fire Lounge!

We are just leaving on our Colorado road trip, what are your plans for the long weekend?! Would love any recommendations for Palisade or Telluride!

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.

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

48 Hour Girls Getaway Vail Itinerary

Hi Guys!

Location: Four Seasons Vail // Photography: Jenny Nelson

It has been a week since I returned from my fantastic girls weekend in Vail with Emily and Victoria.  I shared a little about the first part of our trip (here) - it was such a refreshing and welcomed time with old friends.  

Jonny, and Emily's husband, Tom, go on an annual boy's golf trip so we decided we definitely deserved a retreat of our own.  Emily and I met in college when our husbands (then boyfriends) were roommates.  You can imagine the immediate bonding that takes place when you are the only two females visiting in a mice infested frat house (not kidding!).  9 years later, we live on opposite sides of the country and it never feels like a day has passed when we get together.  Em introduced me to her childhood friend Victoria at her bachelorette and we hit it off and have been planning our reunion ever since.

I am often asked about my favorite places for a girls trip in Denver (check out some of my favs here, here, and here), but it is no secret that I love Vail and with the mountains so accessible I always recommend getting out of town to enjoy the scenery a bit if possible.  

Upon our arrival on Friday at the Four Seasons Vail we were greeted with the most beautiful display of goodies.  I am always so impressed by their attention to even the tiniest detail.  My friends pointed out they even replicated my logo on a piece of chocolate, which made my day!  After getting settled in, we went down to The Remedy Bar for an afternoon drink before heading out for some exploring.

Whenever friends visit for the first time I am always overly cautious about everyone staying hydrated.  Altitude sickness is a real thing, guys so we were sure to drink lots of water on this trip and you should too!  Next we walked around town and stopped at a few of my favorite boutiques (shared them here!).  We obviously worked up an appetite so stopped in the Red Lion for a quick snack.  We were bummed that we had just missed the live music (my favorite!), but the delicious nachos almost made up for it!  We had a light dinner at an adorable local spot - Up The Creek (more about them here) and went to bed early to prepare for a fun filled Saturday!

Emily and I got up early to ski Saturday morning, although the snow left little to be desired, you still can't beat clear blue skies and sunshine on the mountain.  Victoria has never skied and decided she was going to enjoy a relaxing morning at the hotel before meeting up with us.  Since Victoria had never been on a chairlift before we wanted to make sure that she was also able to enjoy the views so we made reservations at the 10th (insider tip: if you are not skiing and purchase a chairlift ticket for $40 they will give you a $20 credit to the restaurant).  It was beautiful and we were able to eat outside on the patio and soak in some sun and scenery before heading down for the afternoon.

I think we would all agree that the highlight of the weekend would definitely be the Remedy Spa.  Emily and I both had the Mona Massage which reminded me of a Lomi Lomi/Hawaiian style massage and Victoria had a deep tissue! We all loved our treatments and then they gave us chocolate dipped pineapple and we saw the make your own hot cocoa bar and we thought we might actually be in heaven.

It was a busy weekend in town so I reserved a large table well in advance at Mountain Standard for the three of us and several other friends in town.  It is always a fun atmosphere and food is so unique and delicious.  

Sunday morning we took our time getting ready and packed up.  I had heard great things about Vintage - the new brunch spot right across the street from our hotel.  We walked over without a reservation and  were lucky that they were able to squeeze us right in - considering, as we were leaving there was a line out the door.  Honestly, they have my ideal brunch and I was sure to make reservations for Easter! It has the perfect mix of sweet and savory options.

As you know, I am a pretty indecisive person, so ordering is always a chore and with their menu, although everything looked yummy - I knew exactly what I wanted!  After brunch we packed up the car and Emily could not leave town without a trip to Garfinkels and comparing the nachos to  Red Lions'.... so we did (yolo? We skied it off??).  It was another gorgeous day so we sat on the patio and enjoyed the sun before heading back down the mountain just in time for Big Little Lies, which was THE BEST!! 

It was obviously a packed weekend with lots of fun and food and I wouldn't change one thing! I always love getting your questions and emails so please let me know if you have any questions or anything you would like me to cover!

xo

This post is in collaboration with Four Seasons Vail . 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!