Colorado Adventures Part II: Winter Park

After our brief time in Boulder, husband and I and our buddies headed over to Winter Park for a few days of skiing. The drive from Boulder to Winter Park was really quite lovely. I enjoyed watching the landscape change as the snow started to cover more of the mountains, the rocks began to fade and the trees began to grow in tall clusters.

Downhill skiing is one of my favorite things to do with K because we are well matched in our skill level {except I may be just a little bit better, ha.} so we always have a ton of fun. Winter Park was gorgeous, with plenty of good tree skiing, my favorite. I love finding skinny little trails off the sides of the runs that wind through the trees. A few times husband was behind me so I knocked some snow off the branches onto his head. Ha! Mary Jane was our favorite mountain with Edelweiss being our favorite run. It was long and winding with lots of trees and hideaways. We skied at Winter Park two days in a row and spent the entire second day skiing over at Mary Jane.

And although Winter Park was lovely and lots of fun, I didn't think it was necessarily better than the other places we have been. Wolf Creek, our honeymoon spot, was a great, smaller scale local place. And Breckenridge is probably my favorite ski destination in Colorado. We didn't eat out in Winter Park, mostly because nothing really grabbed our attention. Instead we spent our evenings in our condo, making dinner, playing cards and watching movies.

You know the night life is just not for me, 'cause all you really need are a few good friends.

xoxo

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Encouraging Spring

Loft blazer, peplum & trousers {ha!}, Nine West heels {old}, Ily Couture neckalce via Etsy, vintage bracelets

It's about this time every year that I truly start to long for springtime. January has passed with it's cold days and fireplace nights, and as February is winding down, so is my desire for winter. Spring colors start to creep back into my vision, and I long for the days of open toe sandals and trail runs in shorts. 

This February is no exception. The instant I eyed these pink pants in my closet this morning, I knew they needed to see the sun. So, I wore them. And although the sun and blue sky made me believe it was warm outside, today's high of 40 had me back inside in a fleece not too long after church. 

Guess you can't win 'em all.

xoxo

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Colorado Adventures Part I: Boulder

Last Friday husband and I packed up and headed out late to visit friends and find adventures in Colorado. We love to ski {we went skiing for our honeymoon!}, hike and basically do anything outdoorsy, so traveling out west is essential for us. Our trip last year was unfortunately cancelled, so we tried our best to fit in as much as possible this time!

We flew into Denver and drove about an hour north to Boulder, where two of our sweetest friends live. {We went to high school with this guy's brother, and honestly feel like a part of their family. K used to spend weekends at the family's cabin in North Georgia when we were in middle and high school.} It was so great to spend time with Joseph and Holly! We haven't been able to just hang out with them since I was in Athens at pharmacy school. They are such cool kids -- so laid back and fun, always up for adventure, and they share our love of delicious food. 

We spent Saturday morning wandering around Pearl Street, stopping for coffee at Ozo, hands down my favorite coffee in Boulder. The gorgeous blue sky and flatirons made a great backdrop for the cold day and hot coffee warming our hands. We bopped into the Patagonia store, where husband bought me what I call a "sleeping bag" jacket. It's just. so. warm.

We lunched at Illegal Pete's, and let me tell you, the chicken pesto burrito is where it's at. After lunch, the snow started and we packed up and headed to Winter Park with plans of skiing the next day. The evening was spent telling stories, eating homemade tacos, and playing spades and taboo. Ha! We love games, especially when we have friends to play them with.

We actually spent another 24 hours in Boulder at the end of our trip. We had dinner at a really neat new restaurant called Under the Sun. Delicious handhelds {sandwhiches} made of lemon rosemary chicken + sun-dried tomato aioli + arugula + mozzerella and pulled pork + bacon + honey mustard + arugula served with kale slaw. Um, yes please. The following morning we brunched at Snooze, which was akin to my favorite Athens spot. Breakfast burritos, egg scramblers with goat cheese, and a homemade hashbrown with each plate. 

Needless to say, I was pretty smitten with Boulder. If only we had family out there, we would move in a heartbeat... but we just can't stand being that far from our loved ones. So we will visit... often.

xoxo 

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A Quick Hello From 9,052 Feet

Hello from Colorado!

Husband and I left late on Friday to spend a few days out west visiting friends, touring towns and doing a bit of skiing. I'll be back later this week with plenty of photos and other fun things.

But for now.... 

I have a snow-shoeing/cross country skiing adventure to get to!

xoxo

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Spring Inspirations: Pink + Yellow

1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

Happy Friday. I'm so glad it's finally here.
xoxo

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Happiness: A Saturday Story

6:00am   wake up, get movin, get motivated

6:45am   turn on the seat heaters & hit the road

7:30am   arrive at Heritage Park Dirty Spokes Trail Race, butterflies ensue

8:30am   get your {8 mile} trail run on

10:00am   handsome husband gets an award, swoon

10:30am   post-race brunch at the grit, baby smiles & a trip to trader joe's

3:30pm   family nap in the sunroom, puppy cuddles & warm feet

5:30pm   wake up to tingling feet, espresso pick-me-up

7:30pm   GF chicken and pineapple pizza, GF brownies
9:30pm  fall asleep cuddled on the couch

The best way to spend a Saturday

xoxo

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St. Valentine

festive, yet casual /  coral Hunter wellies

viola intimates set / anita jersey romper

pink peonies /  necatrine & basil pizza

cupcakes / sparkles

Because I am completely smitten for blush pink & coral, gold & beige, sparkles, and anything my husband will cook for me.

xoxo

Layered Basics

{Loft dress, H&M blazer, Modcloth tights, Seychelles booties, Michael Kors bag & watch, Anthropologie necklace, vintage & F21 jewels}

With the weather here fluctuating between 70-degree afternoons and cold-enough-to-ice-the-windshield mornings, layering has become a must. And although most days I wear pants purely for practicality, sometimes a dress and tights is what a girl needs.

xoxo

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Weekend Adventures: Tampa/Clearwater, Florida

Last weekend husband and I went to visit two of our closest buddies down in Land O' Lakes, Florida. I must say, the weekend was an absolute blast. Aside from the general merriment associated with friends you only see a few times a year, we had a schedule jam-packed with fun activities.

 

Saturday we spent most of our day at Weeki Wachi Springs, paddling down the gorgeous, serene natural spring. We took turns canoeing and paddle boarding, our first time on paddle boards, which was so fun. The water was so clear and teal that it honestly looked fake! Toward the end of our trip we also saw a family of about ten manatee, swimming and sleeping in the deep ponds at the end of the river.

{a reluctant thumbs up from husband & the resultant frown from me. ha!}

Sunday we ran a 5 miles race at the Clearwater Running Festival. Our friends were total rockstars and completed the half marathon! The route for both races followed the road along the ocean and bay, traversing multiple bridges {the Florida equivalent of a hill}, and allowing lovely views. After the race {and showers... and a nap} we headed down to Ybor City for a dinner feast at The Columbia Restaurant. After 1905 salads, crispy calamari, traditional cuban pork, and a {shared} bread pudding, we were all stuffed and ready for a long winter's nap.

Here's to a great weekend and sweet friendships.

xoxo

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2013: Your {30 Minute} Morning Workout

Many of my goals for the new year are focused on physical health and fitness, and I am looking forward to the journey of achieving them. That being said, I am notorious for not getting out of bed when it's cold outside! I love to sleep, and the flannel sheet are just. so. warm. After I've hit the snooze button a couple times, a long run in the mornings is pretty much out of the question, so lately I've been doing morning sprints. 

Here's the breakdown:

4 minutes to get out of bed & get ready

5 minute warm up - light stretching, a bit of yoga, jogging in place

16 minutes of sprints - 8 rounds of 30 seconds on, 90 seconds off

5 minute cool down

It's that simple. 
Best part? I only have to wake up thirty minutes earlier than normal.

I try to fit in sprints two to three times a week in addition to a strength program {three times a week} and two or three met-con WODs. Weekends are for long trail runs, swimming laps and riding my road bike. 

Here's to morning workouts and new fitness goals in 2013.
xoxo

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Friday Favorites

Even though Monday was a holiday for us, this week felt impossibly long. So after a long, slow ten hour work day, I am ready for a low-key weekend at home. Hope yours is a wonderful one!

currently....

watching 

listening

reading

tasting

smelling

wishing

feeling snug

xoxo

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Sesame Almond-Flour Crackers

When I was in high school and college, my mom used to stay up late with me when I was writing a paper or studying for a test. She would sit with me until the wee hours of the morning, usually dozing off now and then, but always beside me. She would make us cups of hot cocoa and saltine crackers with cheese just barely melted on top. Perhaps because of this, cocoa and crackers has become like comfort food to me. So now and then, when I get a serious craving for saltine crackers, I turn to these little guys. 

To make...

3 cups almond meal {I used unblanched}

1 cup sesame seeds

1&1/2 teaspoonful sea salt

Stir together dry ingredients, then add

2 large eggs

2 tablespoons olive oil

Roll onto parchement paper until desired thickness {these will not rise at all upon baking}. Slice into squares with a knife and bake for 12-15 minutes at 350. Cool for 30 minutes before serving with almond butter, cashew hummus, chicken salad, or raw milk cheese or anything you desire.

I got the recipe from this cookbook, which I highly recommend. We also love the savory pie crust and use it for both chicken pot pie and breakfast-for-dinner quiche. 

xoxo

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