Welcome my Spring Home Tour! I’ve been wanting to get a home tour together since before Christmas, but things were so hectic it just didn’t happen! Next year I promise! I love to change up our home interior with each of the seasons and spring is definitely my favorite. I really enjoy growing wheatgrass in containers this time of year, it’s such a cute affordable way to add a splash of green! It grows fast and easy too, be sure to read my Wheatgrass Tutorial if you’re interested. Enjoy the photos, and any items I could find that are still for sale are under Shop My Home.
Let’s talk about how to pack light when you travel, it can be really hard for people like me. What can I say, it’s a struggle for me because I can easily overpack if I’m not careful. There’s nothing worse than lugging around way too much luggage…it’s a hassle to transport, and too much luggage takes up valuable space in your hotel room. Traveling can also be a little hard on your items because the more you pack the more you risk losing things, having them get stolen, or damaging them. So here are some wardrobe tips for those times that you want (or need) to pack light and you want to get the most out of your luggage space.
PACK VERSATILE CLOTHING – Make sure you pack versatile clothing that will work for you…items that can mix and match easily and layer up depending on the weather.
PICK A COLOR SCHEME – When in doubt pack black or neutral clothing. All black or neutral clothing doesn’t have to be boring, use smaller items that take up little space like jewelry or scarves to add interest to your outfits. When in doubt I say go all black! Black clothing is great for travel, it will hide dirt and stains best and black can easily go from casual to dressed up.
PLAN AHEAD – If you have a schedule and plan your activities you will know exactly what clothing to pack. There is nothing worse than realizing you need a bathing suit or an elegant dress but you didn’t pack one because you didn’t plan out your activities. Once you’ve selected your clothing items take pics with your phone, that way you can remember what goes with what. It’s my favorite packing trick. I just look at my phone and see what I’m wearing for the day.
ALWAYS BRING A SCARF – Even if you aren’t a scarf person I’d bring a scarf. They’re just so versatile when traveling. You can add color to a boring outfit or use as a wrap to keep warm on an airplane or out to dinner. A scarf can hide stains or tears that happen to your clothing on vacation, and a light-weight scarf can be tied into a sarong for the beach or pool.
WEAR YOUR BULKIEST ITEMS – Well yeah, avoid packing bulky items when possible but in the winter this is really hard. If you must bring bulky items such as boots or coats bring just the essentials and wear them in the car or the airplane.
ROLL DON’T FOLD – I do my best to avoid packing clothing that wrinkles, but sometimes it can’t be avoided. Rolling clothing is sometimes a little awkward but it totally works for preventing wrinkles. Who wants to iron while on vacation? I sure don’t.
SELECT HANDBAGS WISELY – A tote and pouch will work hard for you while on vacation. Totes work great for travel when you need to bring so many things with you, but at times they can get too bulky or heavy. I like to bring a small pouch or clutch with a strap attached, you can easily slip one into a larger sized tote to organize small items. Then if you need a smaller purse while walking around town or going out to dinner you have another option. I love clutches but I don’t think they’re a good idea when traveling unless they have a strap attached. This helps prevent losing it or having it stolen.
SHOES SHOULD MATCH EVERYTHING YOU PACK – This one can be tricky, it’s the hardest for me. If you’re going to be walking around a lot then sore tired feet will happen, the best way to beat this is by alternating shoes. Even the most comfortable shoes can rub a blister when you wear them walking around all day. Therefore I find alternating my footwear essential, but shoes are heavy and clunky to pack so make sure everything mixes and matches as best as possible. Obviously exceptions have to be made sometimes, if your hiking or attending a formal event. Another thing, be sure to wrap your shoes in bags, or The Container Store sells shoe covers so any dirt or germs stay off your clean clothing!
CONSIDER DOING LAUNDRY – Doing laundry on vacation isn’t fun but when your taking a long trip it’s essential. Tide laundry pods are perfect for travel, just pop a couple in a ziplock bag….you can even grab a dryer sheet too although we don’t ever use them.
Happy Monday! Last week I got behind on my blogging remember because I got sucked into this awesome book called The Great Alone, so I’m posting a little more this week to get caught up with everything I wanted to put on the blog. Today I’m excited to show you my Pottery Barn Inspired DIY Wall Art. It all started from the Inhale Exhale Print. I had them on my Laura’s Favorites List for a while but I just couldn’t pull the trigger on the purchase. I absolutely love them but two things bothered me. One, being the price, I didn’t want to pay $269, it just seemed over priced, and two I didn’t like the frame. I really wanted a gold frame. I’m trying to get more gold accents into our home. I ended up making my inspired wall art for $67, most of that was the frame. If you have old frames to use you could make this for $15 or less.
I’ve mentioned before how I love supporting sellers on Etsy. On Etsy you can find so many different images available for instant download at very low prices. I purchased both of these inhale exhale prints for a little over $5. Each listing will specify what sizes can be printed. Brian mentioned to me I could have done this myself on the computer. Yeah, maybe….that never occurred to me, but then again it was inexpensive, exactly what I wanted, cost me hardly any effort, and in the end I probably made the sellers day by purchasing.
It costs about $5 to have these printed someplace like Staples or FedEx Office, and I found the perfect gold frames from Amazon. I first checked local craft stores in the ready made frame department and couldn’t find the look I wanted. I wanted a chic thin gold frame, and wouldn’t you know I found it on Amazon. With Prime I had free 2 day shipping and it looks like I wasn’t charged tax, so under $56 for the 2 frames. You can probably shave off some cost by using black ready made frames. These frames are really high quality and just what I wanted, so I’m happy!
About 5 minutes later the frames were up on the wall….WAIT! Those who have been reading my blog a while do you notice anything different? YES!!! We took out the window over the bed. Those reading this who have no idea what I’m talking about you can read the original Master Bedroomblog post. Our photography is getting better, slowly but surely, so linking back to these old blog posts makes me cringe a little, but it is what it is. I’m working on a home tour with better photos, although we’re still struggling with some photography issues.
These were the exact images I purchased from Etsy, she turned the images horizontal for me and they were quickly emailed to me. What do you think? I’m thrilled with the look and it totally changed the look of the room. A fresh look for spring! The previous frames I had up will easily be relocated somewhere else in the home soon. The Dalmatian pillow and pink lumbar pillow are from Grandin Road, the rest of the bedding is Pottery Barn. So go create some inexpensive wall art! Have a great week!
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Happy Valentine’s Day! Maybe it seems I should have blogged about my favorite 4 Ingredient Champagne Cocktail recipe earlier….or should I have? Hmm….I’m team champagne all year round. Champagne is always a good idea, yet people tend to think it’s only appropriate for celebrations. Yes, it’s great for celebrations, but it’s also great on a regular night. So, I’m super excited to share this easy recipe with you! I love the taste, it’s creative yet not too sweet.
If you can get your hands on a bottle of brut Champagne, some bitters, lemons, and maple syrup you can whip this recipe up in 3 minutes. First of all, about the Champagne, I’d go with a cheap ol’ brut. With the ingredients we’re adding you really can’t tell the quality of the Champagne. As for the bitters we used Peychaud’s…a 5 ounce bottle is under $10 and is easily available in all liquor stores. For the maple syrup, I recommend you use real maple syrup. From years of watching Food Network I have it ingrained in my brain that Grade B is the best, but if you can’t find Grade B, no worries! Just get the real maple syrup. You’ll also need several lemons. I’ll show you how to make the lemon garnish, it’s so easy!
First, let’s make the lemon garnish. Just follow the steps in the picture. Cut a large lemon in half, then slice into thin slices. Cut through one side of the rind, but not the other side. Then with a small knife remove the citrus pulp. Once you have a lemon strip just curl it around your finger and add it to the glass. I’ve found that the thinner-sliced lemons make a better garnish – but have a few extra lemons on hand and definitely experiment!
I’ll give you exact measurements below, but to start grab some Champagne flutes – chill them 10 minutes in the freezer if you can, if not no worries – just keep going. Then and add the lemon juice (fresh or bottled), bitters, and maple syrup. The bitters has a red tint, so it gives the cocktail that pretty orange color.
Once you add the above ingredients, just give it a little stir and top off with Champagne. How easy was that? I’m loving these Champagne Flute Glasses from Amazon, they are modern, elegant and oh, so pretty! I had free 1 day shipping with Amazon Prime – yay!
Nancy Meyers movies are a true pleasure of mine. Not only do I love her movie scripts, but she designs the most scrumptious movie interior sets. Growing up I’ve always had a handful of movies I adored, Father of the Bride and Parent Trap come to mind, the list goes on. Never did I realize these movies all have a common thread…Nancy Meyers. She understands the female viewer and how we truly feast on gorgeous visual interiors.
I think we can all use her movies as our own personal inspiration in some way for our homes. So let’s think about this, why are Nancy Meyers movies so visually satisfying? The spaces are all different but have many things in common:
1. They’re light and bright, with plenty of windows. Never underestimate the appeal of natural light. Maybe you don’t have big huge windows, that’s ok, open up the windows you have, install sun tubes, or rip off the blinds if you need to, bring natural light indoors.
2. She understands how and when to use color. Neutral rooms are great and are the backbone of her interiors, but she knows the importance of bringing in color when needed. Knowing how to combine the two for the best visual is a true art – but anyone can learn! Just look for inspiration and play around with different looks.
3. Many textures are used. Textures are so important in home design. Not only are different textures very soothing to humans they bring visual interest to a room that may otherwise fall flat.
4. She mixes designs elements. I love her mix of style from a vintage coffee table to clear acrylic chairs. Old and new, modern and vintage. Take a page from Nancy’s book – it all works, and it’s necessary for visual interest.
5. It’s the little details, everything is perfectly styled from the kitchen counter to the coffee table. Having the worlds most gorgeous furniture won’t get you very far if you don’t style it properly. Details count, this may seem daunting but it’s not. Be on the lookout always for small home accessories that add pizazz to your furniture and displays.
I remember telling Brian how excited I was that a new Nancy Meyers movie was coming out. Well, I finally got to watch this one last month and the interiors were gorgeous as expected. All throughout the movie I kept asking “What’s happening?” “Who is that?” “What did she do?” because this is what happens when I watch a movie with a gorgeous set, I can’t pay attention to the script. In fact the next morning, I asked so how did that movie end again? I honestly couldn’t remember but I could tell you the layout of the kitchen, how all the furniture was styled, and every diptyque candle I saw.
I don’t know about you but I’d love to live in a perfect brownstone in NYC. From the high ceilings and the moulding to the modern chic decor it’s a winner. This is a perfect example of how to mix different design elements into your home and how it can work. The kitchen with the open shelving and subway tile is a true visual treat. Oh, and lets not forget about the gorgeous office!
My absolute favorite Nancy Meyers movie. I watch this one often, the story line is just so cute, I love all the actors and the interior is just so gorgeous. Everything about the exterior of the house is perfection from the charming vine, to the curved walkway and tree swing. The interior just gets better, I think this taps into my fantasy of remodeling, the main character Jane is remodeling her kitchen & master bedroom with a helpful architect. Not only is the house gorgeous, so are the gardens and the bakery. Truly drool worthy. Watch it….that is all.
The kitchen. Let’s say it again, the kitchen. Yes, we have an incredibly gorgeous home in the Hamptons but the kitchen from this movie had decorators and interior design lovers talking before the movie even came out. I can’t imagine one person who wouldn’t dream of this gorgeous oversized bright white kitchen. Yes, the rest of the house is decorated gorgeously, but have I mentioned the kitchen?
I love this movie and silly me, like a lot of other movies I love, I never realized it’s a Nancy Meyers movie. This movie is a real treat, not only do I love all the actors in it but we get not 1 but 2 lovely houses to feast our eyes on. The modern California mansion and the charming English cottage. For me this is a total win.
Did you enjoy that visual feast? So hmm….what are you going to be doing this weekend? How about a Nancy Meyers movie! Come back and tell me your favorite movie interiors.
Hurry up Nancy with your next movie, because I can’t wait! Shop some of my favorite home decor items below.
If you know me well, you know I just can’t leave my house alone. l was needing a change and our table was wearing horribly – honest!!! We’re pretty easy on our furniture, except tables and chairs. Man, we’re just rough on them. If you want to see the original table you can view it in Kitchen Remodel – Part 2. You can also see how my photography has improved.
I had 3 reasons for wanting a new table and chairs. One being that I needed something more rustic and distressed to hide our damage. Two, I honestly just needed a style change. And three, I thought the old table looked a little to matchy matchy with the island…the island I oh so love and will never change. I love mixing furniture styles.
Ok, so let’s get to the good stuff, the new table and chairs! Let me show you why I’m loving this table so much! Let’s drool together…..
What do you think? I’m just so in love! I bought it from Pier One….I can’t stay out of that store! Those who read the kitchen blog post or who are already familiar with my home may notice my chalkboard is missing. Yeah…I’ve had it hanging in my kitchen area a solid 12 years! I’d say it’s time for a change. I can’t part with it though, it’s very sentimental, so it’s in the attic for now. We didn’t use the chalkboard much anymore, it was mostly a scribbled mess. So I’m on the hunt for new art work. I have an idea of what I want – it’s just a matter of finding it. I can’t be rushed, I want to love my choice. Selecting art should be an enjoyable process, and you should end up with something you love. Don’t be in a hurry to just fill wall space. Make it right. In fact….I’m feeling a future blog post on this topic so I’ll stop for now. I’ll keep you updated on what I pick!
Now let’s get back to the table and chairs, the table top feels distressed yet still smooth. Just looking at it I can tell it’s going to blend scratches, not highlight them like our last table! I love the thick modern style of the table paired with these vintage inspired chairs. The chairs are surprisingly comfortable with a cool farm house vibe, but when I look at them I think of a french bistro feel. Hmm….that may need to influence my art selection!
I’m still in love with my Bellora Chandelier, it’s so versatile, it can go practically with any style. Every time I see it I smile, that’s how you know you picked a good light fixture! I love all the different tones of wood going on here! Matching is boring. Oh….one more thing. I killed my fig tree. My mother will be disappointed. What can I say? have a special talent for killing indoor plants. Right now I’m loving this faux fig tree…it’s low maintenance, unlike me.
With less than a month away it’s time to get the ball rolling on Valentine’s Day, and I thought I’d start with my favorite part – the decorating! Ok….Christmas is the only holiday that I really go overboard when it comes to decorating. Other holidays I certainly decorate, but I keep things a little more light and simple.
To me, holiday decorating starts at the front porch. This red wreath stole my heart. It’s just perfect and I couldn’t pass it up! It was a great find and I updated our doormat as well. I purchased this last week and it’s already sold out…..what??? I linked another cute doormat at the bottom of this post that I think I like even more than mine….it’s on sale so act quickly! By the way….our front door is 2 years old, and like we were warned the stain would fade facing east, and boy it is fading and losing luster! This is a little off topic but I found this Restor-A-Finish and it really made a difference! I decided it really wasn’t enough to write a blog post on, but if you have any scratched furniture or have a stained front door that’s fading give it a try! I purchased the mahogany color, it should buy us some time until we need to refinish.
Did you see my A Fresh Look For The Dining Room post last week? Oh, you guys I’m really digging this fresh clean look! The table looks so gorgeous set with these metal chargers, they’re so fun and I know I’m going to get so much use out of them! With our white dishes and these vibrant rose napkin rings the dining room still has that crisp clean look, but now it pops with a little color and Valentine’s Day fun. I love the look of roses….and not just for Valentine’s Day, I love having red roses out real or faux. I think its a gorgeous look year round, so this time of year I up our rose budget even more!
With all this gorgeous red do I have to take it down after Valentine’s Day? You know….I may not! Shop my Valentine’s Day looks below or browse the carousel and get inspired to create your own looks! XOXO.
Hey everyone, sorry about the delay in getting this blog post up….I had the sniffles….then I injured my wrist….then I switched photo software. Do you need any more excuses? No? Ok…moving on. I love how after I pack away all the Christmas decorations how clean and bare the house looks. The word “bare” sounds so harsh, but after the Holiday excess I really crave it! It also gives me a chance to analyze.
As we all know I can’t leave my house alone….honestly y’all, I just can’t! Ashley asked me once if I’d ever be done decorating. The answer is NO! I think areas of the home always need some tweaking and freshening, otherwise your environment gets stale. Every few months I like to go around the house and find little areas that could use a boost – big or small – and this time I decided the dining room could use some freshening up.
I have such a thing for slipcovered furniture, I wish I had more of it! It’s perfect for people like me…people like me who need change often and are also clean freaks – just pop them in the washing machine! First of all, if you haven’t read my original blog post The Formal Living and Dining Room Switch you need too! You will be shocked by what this area used to look like! I love the way these new white slipcovers give such a bright clean look to the dining room! Parsons chairs are such a favorite of mine too! They first caught my eye when I was engaged to Brian ages ago, I had no idea they were called parsons chairs, but I knew I loved them! The clean lines have always drawn me in, and with slipcovers you can instantly create a new look for minimal cost! When it comes to slipcovers for parsons chairs I almost always head to Ballard Designs.
I noticed some of the reviews at Ballard mentioned the slipcovers shrinking. Check the fabrics carefully, some fabric choices are dry clean only, some are 100 percent cotton, and mine are a blend of cotton and polyester. I tested out one slipcover by washing then air drying it. No change. Then I washed it again and put it in the dryer. Again, no significant shrinkage. If I was going to have problems down the road I wanted to know now! I selected the Ballard Essentials Parsons Chair Slipcover in White Quilted. I’ve linked everything I can still find on the internet below and you can find a few more shop details in the original blog post above.
I’m really enjoying this fresh clean look. It really brightens up the space and I’m so relieved at how well these washed up! Ok, lol the ironing part was a drag I will admit…but I was literally ironing one handed with my hurt wrist. If you have any questions about these slipcovers let me know. So what do you think? Do you like it?
Last week I posted about Where to Stay and Eat in Estes Park In The Winter so if you didn’t get a chance to read it be sure you do! Today I’m back to show you a little more of our trip and things to do. Estes Park may slow down in the winter but there are still a lot of fun things to do…although sometimes my favorite activity here is doing absolutely nothing at all, ha! I’ve always found the town, nestled in the mountains with little shops and restaurants, to be so charming. My soul just relaxes up here. I’ll show you some of our wintery favorites, as well as a few fun things we’ve yet to experience but we will!
The Stanley Hotel offers a History Tour, with access to several floors of the hotel, including the secret passage way. Plus the tour guides tell many stories explaining the hotel history as well as the hauntings. It’s a 90 minute tour that will keep you entertained the whole time. Be sure to watch for Scary Mary!
Those wanting to get a bit more spirit action can take the separate Night Spirit Tour. More information such as times, costs, and age requirements about The Stanley Hotel tours can be found on the website.
The Stanley Hotel is best known as the hotel that inspired Stephen King’s The Shining. The hotel tour is a must for all Shining fans. Above you see what they call the vortex staircase which is known to have spiritual activity. Besides tours you can also visit the charming gift shop and have a drink at the gorgeous bar.
At The Stanley you’ll often find other exciting events happening such as concerts, culinary events, murder mystery dinner parties, and the glamorous New Year’s Eve party in the ballroom. I’ve always wanted to attend that…one day!
GRAB A CUP OF COFFEE & TAKE IN THE VIEWS
Mountains and coffee just go together. In Estes Park my favorite two coffee shops are Coffee On The Rocks and Kind Coffee. Coffee On The Rocks is a charming little house that offers scenic views and friendly cute ducks. I ordered a lavender chai latte, which was really good! I really got a kick out of watching these ducks waddle around on the ice.
Kind Coffee is located downtown and is another great option. They sell their own coffee blends and have lots of great food and coffee drinks to pick from. The best part are the gorgeous creekside views along the back of the shop.
Snowy Peaks Winery has been one of our favorites for years. When they say family friendly they really mean it too, there is a kids room next to the tasting room so kids can play while parents relax. The staff is friendly not to mention the wine is awesome. Some of our favorite wines are Sebastian’s Reserve and the Syrah. They offer unique wine gifts, gourmet cheeses, and other snacks too. Try the wine flavored popcorn and the Syrah Liquer Chocolates, they’re so addicting!
VISIT DOWNTOWN
In downtown Estes Park on Elkhorn Avenue you’ll find a variety of fun shops to please everyone. Souvenir stores, gourmet candy shops, restaurants, pubs, and boutiques. Below I’ll show some of our favorite spots.
I have so many favorite shops down here but Trendz is definitely high up on my list. Filled with gorgeous home accessories and fun quirky items I always find a neat treasure to take home. The girls always ask to come here when we’re in town.
The Taffy Shop has so many good taffy flavors, everything from caramel marshmallow to pear and birthday cake, plus seasonal flavors like eggnog. It’s a fun stop.
Anyone else have a thing for sock stores? For Bare Feet is a fun store we always attend. All my kids went nuts in here….what can I say they like cute warm feet.
Mary Jane’s is another favorite shopping spot. They have everything here from clothing to jewelry, kids items and home decor.
I like to buy Christmas tree ornaments when we vacation whenever possible. It’s the perfect souvenir for us and gives us so many good memories every year when we decorate. Estes Park has 3 Christmas stores filled with lovely decorations and they’re open every day of the year, Spruce House is one of my favorites. The entire family will enjoy stopping by here!
LOOK FOR ELK
This is so fun for us and the elk are so tame. Often times you see them hanging out in front of The Stanley, sometimes we see them around our cabins and all up and down the country roads. This isn’t a very good photo, the light wasn’t really cooperating with us but I still wanted to show you the elk just hanging out when we headed up to The Stanley. There have been times we’ve gone into Safeway to get groceries and when we head to the car we’ll just see a heard of elk chillin’ out in the parking lot. It’s really a neat experience.
GET CABIN COZY
Sometimes all you need to have a great time is a cozy cabin with a fireplace and a great view. It’s a good way to just relax and recharge your batteries. During Christmas we like to binge on Christmas movies, drink cocoa, and bake cookies. Many cabins have hot tubs where you can soak your troubles away.
The Rocky Mountain National Park is open all year, weather permitting. Up here you can view wildlife….such as elk. I can never get enough elk, plus you can experience other winter activities. Several winter activity packages are available such as ice climbing a frozen waterfall, snowshoeing, and cross country skiing. You can find more information here. Better bundle up!
THE WINTER FESTIVAL
Ok, this is another one we’ve yet to try, but we definitely will one day. Every January Estes Park celebrates with the Winter Festival. Here you can sample wines, craft beers, try award winning chili, and BBQ. There’s live entertainment and fun activities for children, I can’t think of a better way to celebrate the winter season!
If you’re visiting Estes Park during the Christmas season be sure and check out the Christmas lights downtown, and a cup of wassail at Snowy Peaks Winery! You can find a lot more information on travel, lodging, and Rocky Mountain National Park by visitingwww.visitestespark.com. Happy travels!
WHERE TO STAY & EAT IN ESTES PARK DURING THE WINTER
Estes Park is one of our most favorite spots in Colorado. It’s a great place to go in the summer to escape the heat, hike, and just relax. Estes Park is known to be a little crowded in the summers and for good reason, at the base of the Rocky Mountain National Park there is a lot to see and do. So I thought it would be great to write a blog post on stuff to do when it’s not peak season. In the winter time the crowds leave and several places shut down or restrict their hours, but there is still plenty to see and do!
This was our 5th year to visit Estes Park in the winter and we always love it. The weather can be a little unpredictable, though. The town is nestled in a bowl of mountains, and a lot of these mountains will catch the snow, so therefor Estes Park is not an option for skiing and snowboarding, but they still get plenty of snow. We’ve had years that felt like a blizzard up there and other times like this one not much snow, except for some leftover spots. Regardless the scenery is peaceful and beautiful.
WHERE TO STAY
There are so many terrific lodging options in Estes Park, especially in peak tourist season. In the winter there are a few less options, but there are still many amazing ones to pick from! Below I’ve listed the places I’m most familiar with, either because I’ve visited them many times or I’ve stayed there myself.
Ok, I haven’t actually spent the night in this hotel, but I’ve taken the tour, eaten at the restaurant, and wandered all the floors and grounds in the winter and summer. I can say with confidence this looks like an incredible place to stay. Unfortunately our big family won’t easily fit in the rooms here, but it’s definitely on my future list of places to stay. I’m thinking a nice couples vacation would be ideal. I’m on the fence if I should stay in one of the haunted rooms or just a regular one. Probably a regular room….I’m a lousy sleeper anyway and I’m guessing having a ghost in the room wouldn’t help, lol…or maybe we could stay up and talk when I’m wide awake at 2 am.
This iconic hotel was where Stephen King stayed and the experience inspired him to write The Shining. Scenes from Dumb and Dumber were also filmed here inside and out. According to hotel employees, Jim Carey stayed in one of the famous haunted rooms and only lasted a few hours before he ran down stairs screaming he wanted to leave. He refused to go inside the Stanley Hotel unless he was filming scenes. In between scenes he would wait outside, and refuses to talk about what happened that night. He’s been known to even end interviews when asked about the alleged incident.
Below, you can see the stunning view from the Stanley Hotel. It’s truly a gorgeous hotel with lots of history.
We’ve stayed many times at the Lazy R Cottages. When it’s just us we stay in the smaller cabin, when we have extended family join us we stay in this big Mama, cabin 16.
This is our third year to stay in this cabin, it now holds special meaning to us. Below, you can see the incredible mountain view from the balcony. When we stay over Christmas we like to bring a little Christmas tree to decorate, and we bake cookies in the kitchen. It’s a great place.
Colorado Cottages was the place we stayed the first year and we also really enjoyed it! The location is very convienent and they’re are several cabin sizes to pick from. The owners are very helpful and friendly. When driving by this place during our most recent trip we see it’s had a renovation, new paint, upgrades, and cabin add ons, so I’m excited to check those out sometime too.
Driving from Fort Worth to Estes Park all at once is no easy task. Once we finally hit Estes Park we’re pretty mental. It’s become a tradition that the first stop is to eat at Smoking Dave’s BBQ. As soon as we arrive we open the car doors…with all our water bottles and gas station wrappers flying out of the car. They always welcome us while we limp inside the doors, and Smoking Dave’s is officially what gets our trip party started. From here everything improves, we get our drink on, and we have a feast. Brian always orders the “Manhandler” and I love the pork green chili….it’s also about 60 seconds from the Lazy R Cottages – a total win for tired cranky Texans.
One of my favorite restaurants in Estes Park! We selected this restaurant for Brian’s special birthday dinner this year. I love the sophisticated interior with rich wood carvings. This was where the bar scene was filmed in the Dumb and Dumber movie, and they still have the famous “we landed on the moon” newspaper article framed. Movie aside, the food is really good and the restaurant is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Some of our dinner favorites we ordered was the butternut squash soup, wild arugula salad, and the wild elk loin. They also have a great list of wine and cocktails to pick from. Cocktails….I’m going to go more into that in just a bit.
We didn’t eat at Penelope’s this time, but we have many times before. Right on Elkhorn Avenue, the main street downtown, surrounded by little mountain shops, it’s just an easy place to go in and grab a bite. Penelope’s is kid friendly and a great stop to pick up some burgers and brew.
This was a new restaurant to try and we all loved it! Not far from the Rocky Mountain National Park, this building was originally built in 1937 as a dance hall. Inside is still oozing with mountain charm, from the vaulted wood ceiling to the wood burning fireplace that heats the tavern. The menu is creative with a nice variety and not to mention yummy. Everyone left dinner satisfied and happy.
This restaurant wins the award. The “everything was awesome” award, and it gets the longest write up. Bird and Jim just opened a few months ago and we found it by accident. The kids were needing some alone time at the cabin so we headed into town for some shopping first and a bite to eat afterwards. The only problem was the restaurants we wanted to go to were closed for lunch, and the frustration was definitely building. At the last minute I found this restaurant in a Google search. It sounded nice but we weren’t sure, it was a gamble. So we walked in and…..WOW.
I was immediately blown away by the atmosphere and knew I was in the right place. Looking at these photos you can probably tell why I love it so much. Tufted furniture, patterns, cage lighting, and modern art.
Mixing modern and vintage is my jam and this restaurant definitely has the modern mountain chic thing going on! It was like who ever decorated the place had crawled in my head. The last time an interior blew me this away was inside the Autograph Hotel in New Orleans on Canal Street, a different look but also a winner.
Ok….you’re thinking what about the food? This is Estes Park eats not Elle Decor. Alright, I’ll tell ya about the food, but first one more photo of the interior! #happiness
The food is coming but first cocktails…hey, it was a few hours from 5 o’clock. Blame the time difference. So I mentioned under Cascades restaurant the cocktails, yes that had a purpose. You see Brian is a true fan of a well made old fashioned. A few years ago he discovered the most amazing smoked old fashioned at Cascades, I don’t do whiskey but according to him it was the most incredible thing on the planet. He had been fantasizing about that drink for 2 years. So we went to Cascades this time only to be told they can no longer make the drink, just a regular old fashioned…..hang in there I promise this has a point!
So as we sit down to order at Bird and Jim we naturally scan the drink menu (remember time zone -haha) Brian is still a little sad not getting his smoked old fashioned and to what do our wandering eyes appear??? Bird and Jim has a smoked old fashioned on the menu!!!
We told the waiter how sad we were when Cascades had discontinued it. “Well, it’s our chef’s recipe, he works here now so he took it with him” our waiter said. Apparently there was some drama with lighting alcohol on fire in a very old wooden historic hotel. So what a happy ending, Brian got his special smoked old fashioned for his birthday, just a day late. Like I said I don’t do whiskey but it smelled freakin incredible. It has this incredible rich smokey flavor mixed with orange. Everyone who tried it loved it. If you love a good old fashioned it is mandatory you try this!!!
Now for the food, this was a late lunch so we didn’t get a ton of food….which I deeply regret. After drinks we shared the Bird and Jim Poutine. OMG it was so good, french fries covered in pork green chili and goat cheese curds. It tasted 1000 times even better than it sounds. Next up we each ordered a bowl of the smoked pheasant chowder, complete with fresh herbs and wild rice, Bobby Flay would be jealous. I am so ashamed we found this restaurant so close to the end of our trip. Next time we visit Estes Park I’ll probably eat every meal here. Not kidding either.
The Grubsteak is a family owned restaurant and pub and is another easy stop on the main street tucked in between little shops. It’s a great casual stop to get a quick bite and perfect for families. Here you can feast on wild game such as elk, buffalo, and yak….those who are scared don’t worry they have plenty of beef. Bonus – gluten free options are available.
Not to start on a negative vibe but our first trip ever to Estes Park in the winter I had a serious fall and spent a good 4 hours in the hospital. I was so hopped up on pain meds I’m surprised I can even remember this, but afterwards Brian was determined to improve my suffering. He said he wanted to take me on a nice quiet dinner without the kids and we ended up at Nicky’s Steak House. I remember it took me at least 10 minutes to get out of the car and make it a few short steps to the door.
The interior of Nicky’s is dark and cozy, we had a quiet, delicious meal and as we left walking out to the car snow started falling all around us and we just stood there. My back pain was so intense it hurt to breath but this magical moment told me God was with me, I was surrounded by love and that everything would be ok.
So this time after taking some blog photos Brian and I snuck away again to Nicky’s, instead of eating this time we sat in the warm cozy bar that overlooks the creek. I guess you could say Nicky’s is our little getaway secret spot….haha. Meanwhile everyone back at the cabin was foaming at the mouth for food….
After asking around we heard if you’re needing some Estes Park pizza it’s all about Antonio’s. We ordered and picked up several pizzas for the heard back at the cabin. The guy who brought the pizzas out to our car said “this is heaven in a box” and I don’t think anyone will argue with him!
Well, it’s been many years, but I’m ready….I can tell the bundt cake story. For years I was traumatized and even stopped making this cake for a while. So the story is this: I was given the recipe of this cake from Brian’s family when we were first married. I loved making it but I always had one problem, almost every single time the cake would stick and look ugly. I thought my bundt pan was good quality, and I would always grease and flour the pan like crazy. Years went on and I even passed on my bundt cake sticking problems to friends and family, I tried their tips but nothing helped.
Well, one year when I was heavily pregnant with my daughter Ashley, I decided to make this cake for Christmas Eve Dinner at my Mom’s house. I had looked up every helpful tip on the internet. I found what I read was a fool proof method, which was “take the cake out of the oven, cool it 15 minutes, then place the cake pan on a towel in the bottom of your sink drenched in hot water, steam 2-3 minutes and remove”. Well….IT WORKED! I had the most perfect bundt cake I had ever seen!
I put the bundt cake on a plate and went into the living room to show Brian, screaming “it worked, it actually worked!” Then as I excitedly turned around to head back into the kitchen it slid off the plate and crashed onto the floor.
Silence…and then naturally being pregnant I burst into tears. I mean it didn’t just break, it collapsed into a cake puddle. Corey, who was about 8, and Haley, who was only 2, just stared and wondered what the heck just happened. While I stood there in a daze Brian sprang into action. He scooped the pile of bundt cake into a bowl and said “mmmmm…it’s still good…look I’m eating it!” while I just cried.
If your wondering how the story ends, we ended up going up to the grocery store before they closed and I made the entire cake again, following the towel method but this time the cake stuck to the pan again. Ugh…sometimes you just can’t win.
If you’re wondering what the point is to this story (besides humor) it was my bundt pan that was the problem not me. Once we moved down to the big city I picked up thisNordic Ware Anniversary Bundt Pan at Williams Sonoma and I never had a problem again…but if you make this cake be sure to really grease and flour the pan well. I’ve also found that Bakers Joy works really well too!
After baking I set the pan on a wire cooling rack, after 10 minutes I place another wire cooling rack on top on the pan and then flip. This is the easiest method to remove the cake.
Mix cake mix, pudding mix, and sugar together. Add water, oil, eggs, and sour cream, blend together with an electric mixer. Fold in chocolate chips.
Bake in a greased and floured bundt pan for 55-60 minutes, or until cake is set.
Cool 10 minutes on a wire cooling rack and remove from pan, cool another 30-40 minutes and dust with powdered sugar.
You can use semi-sweet chocolate chips but I like the taste better with milk chocolate. If the cake does stick and looks bad, just slice it up on a plate to camouflage and tell everybody you did this for easy convenience. Then dust HARD with powdered sugar. Trust me….I did this for years.
Have you ever thought about how things you do now can really make an impact the following year? I certainly have because I know for a fact that my Christmas goes so much easier when I plan for the future ones. Over the years I’ve found some easy methods that will guarantee you have an easier Christmas the following year, but it starts now. These 7 simple steps I promise will help.
GET ORGANIZED WITH LISTS
Just like Santa you need to make a list, and not just one list but several. I have a file folder with lists and little notes to help me out the next year. I suggest not packing the folder away as you’ll most likely need to view it early next year before your Christmas stuff is out. So you’re probably wondering what my lists are about? Pretty much anything and everything, here’s a few examples of my lists.
Previous gifts – That’s right I keep a list of previous gifts that I’ve given and look it over before I start Christmas shopping. I find that this helps because you can’t always remember what you give as gifts and nobody wants a pink cashmere sweater or a pair of black slippers every year. This also helps me keep track of last year’s budget if it needs adjusting.
Entertaining– If you don’t have a set meal that you use every holiday season (we don’t, we switch up a lot) this will help you remember what you served, what worked, and what did not. I have all my recipes listed that I made last year with notes, and one specifically said “macaroni and cheese casserole was too dry, adjust cooking time”. That’s good to know and I doubt I would have remembered, it’s not a consistent dish I make. This can also help you remember who’s hosted Christmas the years before if you need to alternate or delegate tasks.
Improvements & Ideas – Changes that need to be made, ideas you have for next year that you may forget…I wasn’t happy with the brightness of our tree this year. It’s going on the list! This is 2 years in a row I haven’t been happy with our tree lights, I’m going to write it in bold with a highlighter…haha. Brian likes to decorate the backyard more than the front yard, he has some great ideas for next year. Those are all going on the improvement list, in case he forgets.
TAKE LOTS OF PHOTOS OF YOUR DECORATED HOME
This is such a big help for me! Now, if you have just a few decorations that go in the same spot every year you probably can skip this. For me I switch things up every Christmas, so photos are a good reference, but every year I like to incorporate some new items into our decorating and I can’t always remember what I have. I like to view photos before I shop for new items otherwise I overbuy or buy things I already have. One year I didn’t check my photos well and bought these new silver reindeers before I had my decorations up, sure enough once I got our stuff out I already had silver reindeers, several actually. This is a crucial step for overboard decorators like me.
Another benefit of having photos is if you keep things in a similar spot every year others can help you decorate and take down decor by just looking at photos, you don’t have to tell them where every little thing goes.
PROPER STORAGE
Yeah, you knew I was going to throw this in. This is the most basic of them all. The better you wrap and organize your Christmas decorations the more you will like yourself next year. I’ve tried to upgrade our all plastic storage bins into clear ones so it’s easier to eyeball what is in there. Also I organize ornaments by what tree they go on…yes I put up several trees…haha. I use large ziplock bags to group together ornaments that aren’t fragile. Then I label the bag to say things such as “the ornaments in glass jar” or “upstairs tree”.
KEEP AN UPDATED ADDRESS LIST ON THE COMPUTER
This year I threw out my old address book, and I enjoyed doing it. It was such a jumbled up mess of old addresses, scribbles, & post-it notes. I had such a hard time this year addressing Christmas cards & that won’t happen again. People move too much for an address book to work anymore. My new method is having an address list typed out on my computer, in alphabetical order. This way when somebody moves I can simply update it and I’ve got a clean, clutter free list that doesn’t make my brain hurt. I also printed the list, stapled it together, and have a copy in my desk drawer, I can write any necessary notes down until I’m able to update my computer. You can also use this to print addresses easily on envelopes and check the names off the list as the cards are sent out, insuring you don’t leave anyone out.
LOOK AT YOUR BUDGET
Take a look at what you’ve spent this year on Christmas. Add it all up, how did you do? Everybody is different. Did your budget work or was it a financial strain? If it didn’t work put a plan into action now. Spending say $600 might have been a real financial struggle, but what if instead you had saved $50 a month throughout the year? That would have really helped, or even if you had saved half that it would have been less strain come December. This is a great way to maintain a yearly budget and gives you an idea if you should decrease or if you have the luxury of increasing your budget.
PLAN EARLY
Planning early can apply to so many things. Christmas card ideas, gift ideas…think if there was anything in your Christmas this year that needed more planning. Even if you aren’t an early decorator or planner you can still get the wheels in motion. Maybe you wanted to make your own gifts but ran out of time. Pick a date and put it on the calendar for next year. I love making homemade vanilla extract for gifts but it needs 2-3 months, so I pick a date and write on the calendar in September to start the plan, otherwise there is a good chance I’ll forget and it won’t be ready.
DONATE UNUSED ITEMS
Because I like to switch out our decorations each Christmas we were getting piles of stuff we no longer used. Last year I finally decided to tackle the clean out task. There is no point to store items every year you probably won’t use again. It gets in the way when trying to unpack what you really need, so pass it on and help another person out who could use it.
Have any helpful tips for an easy Christmas? Leave them in the comments below, and be sure and check out some of my other holiday blog posts!
