Happy Sunday Funday, friends! I hope you have had a great weekend! We went to a fall dinner party with friends last night and it was so much fun! We ate all of the fall harvest foods like butternut squash, brussel sprouts, sweet potatoes, apple salad, and pears for dessert! It was delicious and I’m so thankful to have nice friends who do fun things like that. 🙂
Today’s blog post is all about TIGER print! I am obsessed with it! I can’t get enough animal print lately, and I’m so happy to add this one to my closet! At first I wasn’t sure, but now I’m all here for it. Tiger is the new leopard, friends! Get on board! 🙂
I’ve been seeing tiger print everywhere! Handbags, shoes, belts, and clothing! All of the big designers are featuring so many cute tiger pieces! I linked a Gucci bag I love below and some others at more reasonable prices. If Gucci is doing it, this trend is here to stay for a while.
I love this sweater from Express. It is part of the Negin Mirsalehi collection she did with Express. Negin is a major fashion influencer and I have a huge crush on her and her style. So, I was so happy to see this collection. There are a couple different tiger pieces in it.
This sweater is so easy to style. I went for a casual look with jeans from Good American (one of my favorites, as you know!). But, you could easily pair it with pants for work, or a mini or midi skirt for going out, too! It’s so soft, not itchy at all, and has a nice stretch to it. I’m wearing the XS just for size reference.
I’ve linked a bunch of my favorite tiger print pieces for you below! What do you think of this trend? Have you caught the tiger fever yet? Let me know in the comments below!
Happy Wellness Wednesday, friends! Today, I’m sharing my entire clean beauty makeup routine with you! Ever since I’ve been so sick, I’ve made a lot of changes to the way I eat, live, and what products I use in my home and my body. It’s important to remember that our skin absorbs what we put on it. It goes into our bloodstreams and can often be very harmful. The cosmetic industry in the United States is not regulated. You might think that because it is on a shelf in a store that it must have passed through some testing process to make it safe for consumers. Unfortunately, this is not the case. We as consumers are responsible for checking labels, doing research about ingredients, and making decisions about what is best for us and our families. If you want to learn more about why I choose clean beauty products, check out this post.
I love clean, non-toxic beauty products because I know that I am not causing any harm to myself with what I use on a daily basis. I spent a lot of time researching and finding quality brands that are made with natural ingredients and that PERFORM well! Check out my clean beauty makeup tutorial video on Instagram today where I show you step by step how I use each product! Here on the blog, I am going to list out everything that I used to create this look. These are not all of the clean beauty brands that I use and trust, but some of them. Stay tuned for more to come!
Primer and SPF in one:
I love this sunscreen because it gives you protection from the sun with safe, non-toxic ingredients, PLUS it acts as a primer for your makeup! Be careful with conventional brands of sunscreen because they almost always have harmful ingredients. I would recommend any of Suntegrity’s products.
Foundation:
I love this foundation by Dermablend because it has amazing coverage and lasts all day! I need a full coverage foundation because I have some skin pigmentation and this totally disguises it. It scores a 2 on the EWG’s SkinDeep website which is a great score! The lower the better. EWG is a great resource for checking whether products are harmful or not. There’s even an app you can put on your phone for convenience. This foundation comes in a lot of great colors. I use Bisque when I’m more fair and Sienna when I have a tan! I also want to mention that I really like this Ilia True Skin Serum foundation as well! It’s nice and lightweight when you don’t want or need full coverage. It lays really nicely on the skin.
Concealer:
Unfortunately, I cannot link this concealer through an affiliate, so I don’t have a photo for you, but you can find the concealer here. It’s by Uniful Beauty. I love this concealer because it also has great coverage, goes on smoothly, and brightens my under-eye area a lot. I use the shade Fair in the winter and Light in the summer.
Setting Powder:
This setting powder by Jane Iredale is awesome! It doesn’t leave you looking dusty and it sits so nicely over top of any foundation I have used. Most conventional (mainstream) brands have aluminum in their powders. Heavy metals are very toxic and dangerous to our health. They can lead to chronic illness and even cancer. It is very wise to toss all of your products that contain aluminum or other metals, including deodorants and antiperspirants. This powder really sets your makeup so it doesn’t smudge off and leaves your skin looking nice and flawless!
Eyebrows:
This eyebrow pencil by BeautyCounter is really great! I love the colors it comes in. I use the shade Medium. It is nice and ashy! Most of our brows are on the ashier side, so it’s good to use a pencil that matches. I’ve used ones with red in them before and it just doesn’t look right! These are nice and neutral. I love that it has a brush attached! Brushing before filling in is a must!
Contour:
This contour kit is awesome. It has a really nice ashy tone for your contour. It’s important when contouring to use an ash brown because if you use a more reddish-orange bronzer, it doesn’t look natural. Contours are meant to create a shadow. Shadows are more grey than orange or red. So, this color works perfectly. I love the formula. It goes on smoothly and evenly. There is also a highlight color here to use on the tip of your nose, forehead, tops of the cheekbones, and cupid’s bow.
Blush:
This blush by Alima Pure is so pretty! I love the color Antique Rose. It’s nice and natural and works all season long. This blush is so pretty and sheer, not too heavy. It blends beautifully for a fresh faced, rosy glow!
Eyeshadow:
I am blown away by this eyeshadow palette by Aether Beauty! It is so beautiful! The colors are extremely pigmented, and man, do they perform! They last all day. There are both matte and shimmer shadows in this palette. It’s perfectly balanced. The shimmery shadows in the palette are more amazing than conventional ones I have tried! They really stand out! Don’t let the name of this palette fool you, it is perfect for year round use. I love that it has both neutral, everyday shadows, and some for a more dramatic evening look, too! You can even use some of these as a highlighter as well. I am so impressed with this product, and it’s been worth every cent! I love to put a little dab of this gold shimmer shadow in the center of my eyelid for an extra pop! It looks so pretty! You can find this palette at Sephora! They now carry a lot of clean beauty brands. Just look for the green seal!
Eyeliner:
I love to use liquid eyeliner on my upper eyelids. In my tutorial on IGtv today, I use this ZuZu eyeliner. It is less toxic than other conventional brands. It gets a rating of 3 on the EWG SkinDeep Website. So, it’s not the cleanest option, but it is what I have to use right now. I will probably be replacing it with either Mineral Fusion Liquid Eyeliner or W3ll People’s liquid liner. These are better options. For my lower eyelids I use a pencil. This Lily & Lolo eyeliner pencil is great! It’s very pigmented, goes on smoothly, and lasts all day.
Mascara:
This mascara by W3ll People is one of my favorites! The brush is so good. It really helps to separate your lashes and coat them for a longer, fuller look. This formula never cakes or crumbles. It has my seal of approval!
Highlighter:
One of my favorite clean beauty highlighters that I use over and over again is from Gia Minerals. It’s called Candlelight Glow. It shows up so beautifully! It also works better than conventional brands I’ve tried. You can find it here along with my entire collection that I made with Gia Minerals earlier in the year! It’s an awesome combination of products that are great for everyday use. I love to wear neutral tones with a bit of sparkle and shine. This collection has it all! I love this highlighter because it really gives you a beautiful, golden glow! The name says it all. You look like your best self in candlelight!
Lipstick:
I love this Siren Lipstick by Vapour! It is certified organic, goes on smoothly and wears really well. I have the color Naive and it’s a really nice brown, nude color. They have lots of really great colors to choose from. Great for everyday wear!
Alright, guys! That’s it! My entire clean beauty regimen broken down for ya. It is so important to remember that what we put on our bodies is just as important as what we put in them. Be an informed consumer and know that you have to do your own ingredient checking! Hopefully the laws in the U.S. will change to ban many of the ingredients that are restricted in other countries. By choosing better products, we can shift the direction of the beauty industry. I always tell people to replace old products with new, cleaner ones. You’ll feel and look good from the inside out 🙂
Happy Monday, friends! Hope you had a great weekend! The weather changed here in PA, and we are in full fall mode! We spent our weekend taking it easy for once, but now it’s full speed ahead for an insanely busy week! We are headed to Nemacolin tomorrow for an event called “Fat Bird Food Fight”! All of the chefs compete against each other! Should be very fun. I’m excited to eat all of their delicious food 🙂
Today’s post is all about shirt dresses! I am loving this trend for fall and winter! It’s a great casual way to wear a dress. It doesn’t have to be fancy. It is definitely office approved (assuming the slits aren’t too high and the wind isn’t blowing your skirt up, LOL) and looks so chic for going out, too! It also works for weekend brunches or dinners! Very versatile, and you guys know I love a good piece you can wear everywhere!
I found this adorable snakeskin shirt dress at Shopbop.com. It sold out so fast! There are a couple left now at Nordstrom, so if you are interested in it, I’d act fast! These shirt dresses, especially the snakeskin ones, are super popular right now and everyone wants to get their hands on one!
I paired mine with my favorite new pair of Steve Madden slouchy snakeskin boots! I love this look! The slit in the skirt of the dress really shows off your shoes, so it’s a perfect opportunity to rock your favorite fall boots! It looks classy and elegant, but so on trend. If you’re looking for new boots, check out my post on Fall 2019 Boot Trends. I have tons of the most popular options linked there for you!
You could easily throw a cardigan or little moto jacket over this dress for extra warmth come the winter months. I like a cardigan with it, topped off with a chic belt!
I’ve linked some of my favorite shirt dresses for you below! What do you guys think of this trend? Will you try it? Leave me a comment below! 🙂 Also, if you like this post, be sure to check out my recent post on Fall Maxi Dresses here.
Hey, guys! Hope you’re having a good week so far! It’s been soooo hot here in PA it’s insane. I saw a meme that said “Hope you’re having a great July 71st!” No joke! I’m ready for it to cool down a little. The leaves have still turned and are dropping though, so at least it looks like fall if nothing else 🙂
One of my favorite trends for fall this season is the long sleeve maxi dress! I love wearing dresses because they’re more comfortable and I like to be dressed up and look nice. Why not? 🙂 I usually get a bit disappointed when cooler weather comes around because I typically go back to wearing jeans. But, I’m loving these maxis for colder weather! It’ so easy to wear and works for work or pleasure!
I found this C/MEO Collective maxi dress at Shopbop.com during their sale a few weeks ago. It has since gone on sale even more at other stores! YAY! If you find it in your size at one of the stores where it’s not on sale, you can usually send them a screen shot of it on sale elsewhere and they will match it for you. I have no idea why ASOS has it listed for $316?! It was never that high to begin with anywhere, so that’s pretty puzzling. But, you can contact customer service and hopefully they would help you out!
I LOVE the colors and pattern of this dress! It screams fall romance! It’s cheetah maybe? Haha, I think it is a cheetah print. I’m seeing so many animal prints lately that they’re all starting to look the same! But, I really do love this one. It’s classy and sexy at the same time! The cut is also stunning! I love the plunging neckline and the buttons down the front. It has a lining to the knees and is sheer from the knees down with a pretty little slit and flowing skirt. Can we talk about these sleeves?! So gorgeous. I’m in love with the balloon sleeve. It’s such a statement and makes this dress look so high fashion! It really does look more expensive than it is.
I paired this with some strappy square toe shoes from ASOS that I got this summer. However, when it does get cooler, this dress would look amazing with some black boots! I love it with over-the-knee or slouchy boots (see the dresses in the widget below – a lot are modeled this way). Slouchy boots are really in this season. Check out my post on Fall 2019 Boot Trends here. You can also rock this with some booties! A suede or faux suede would be so cute!
Maxi dresses are great for colder weather because you get the extra coverage, and you can wear tall boots with them, so you won’t freeze like I typically do in mini dresses. I love this look paired with a leather moto jacket over top, or a cardigan sweater, too. It’s versatile and can be worn for lots of different occasions.
I’ve linked a bunch of my favorites at reasonable prices for you below! What do you think of this trend? Let me know in the comments. Hope you have a great weekend 🙂
Happy October, friends! I can’t believe it’s already October. I’m trying to stay in the moment and enjoy it without fearing the coming winter, haha. I love fall and all of the warm colors, tastes, and smells! Making seasonal recipes that are healthy is one of my favorite things to do. In the spirit of the season, I’m sharing this Pumpkin Pie Smoothie with you today!
I love this smoothie because it is made of REAL food ingredients. It is also free of sugar, dairy, gluten, grains, and artificial sweeteners. It’s a perfect way to start your day, or end it as dessert. I always like to have protein, fat, and carbohydrates in the morning to steady my blood sugar levels throughout the day. This recipe sets you off on the right foot!
This smoothie is Paleo and Vegan (option of not being vegan, depending upon what you have and your chosen diet). But, don’t be fooled, it’s very flavorful! It’s also packed with so much nutrition! Pumpkin has lots of antioxidants and is rich in Vitamin A and C. If you add your spinach in, you’ll get iron, too. Just because it’s delicious, doesn’t mean it’s not nutritious! 🙂 Here is what you need to make it:
2 tsp of Organic Maple Syrup (Or honey – not vegan)
1/2 tsp of Organic Pumpkin Pie Spice
1/4 tsp of Organic Ground Cinnamon
1 tsp of Organic Vanilla
1 Cup of Ice
Handful of Organic Spinach (optional)
Note: I listed all ingredients as organic because we don’t always realize how many pesticides and toxins can be in things like spices! I used to think it was not a big deal, but I did a lot of research and have found that spices are full of them! So, it’s good to start to replace them with higher quality, organic ones as you go.
Then, put all of the ingredients into a high speed blender and blend until smooth! Pour, and enjoy!
This recipe was adapted from The Real Food Dietitians. They are awesome, and you can find their recipe and website here.
I hope you enjoy this autumn treat! Happy Fall everyone! Let me know if you make it in the comments below 🙂 If you haven’t yet, check out my Pumpkin Turkey Chili Recipe!
Happy Monday, babes! Hope you had a great weekend! I don’t know about you, but i am WIPED out after the weekend. I need a weekend after that weekend, haha. I didn’t do anything crazy, I just worked a lot and am exhausted from it. I haven’t been feeling well for a few weeks and the stress just takes a toll, you know? Gotta rest up this week and try to get to a better place. I hope you’re feeling well or giving yourself rest, too.
I wanted to share this fun jumpsuit trend with you today! I don’t know about you guys, but I’m loving the puffy, 80’s sleeves! We saw this trend all over the major fashion house runways and I’m loving that its made its way to more affordable brands!
I found this jumpsuit by L’Academie at Revolve. I love this brand! They always have such unique pieces that stand out and are so much fun to wear! This jumpsuit is no exception.
The color of this jumpsuit is so bold, just like it’s cut! I love this for fall and winter. It will work so well during the holidays, too! The fabric is so silky and it’s really comfortable!
I paired this with a belt with chain link detail from Asos. I love the mix of femininity and edginess! It makes for such a strong look! No one will mess with you in this outfit, LOL! I also chose my favorite Sam Edelman heels and Chanel bag. Royal blue always looks so great with black! Classic combo in a fresh and trendy style.
I’ve linked some other similar jumpsuits for you! I included some of the designer ones just so you can see them, but there’s lots of affordable options, too! Hope you guys have an awesome week! 🙂
Click on the images below to shop! Waiting for something to go on sale or just want to buy it later? Simply click the heart icon and enter your email address. You’ll receive a confirmation e-mail (to shop products you favorite anytime from your inbox) and another e-mail when the price drops!
Hey, guys! Happy Saturday! Hope your weekend is off to a great start! We are headed out tonight to see a comedian. We love going to comedy shows! It’s always a great way to let loose and laugh a little and who doesn’t need that in their life?!
Before I go, I wanted to share some of my favorite fall sweaters with you! The weather hasn’t quite turned yet here in PA, but I can sense it’s coming soon. I like to be ready with some cute new sweaters in my closet.
This sweater is from Lucca! I got to do a collaboration with them and pick out things that I liked, and this was on the top of my list! I love how laid back it is. The cropped, raw hem is still really in style. It looks so great with jeans or a midi skirt!
Some other trends in sweaters I’m loving lately are the puffy sleeve, square neck, animal print, cut out designs, and of course pom pom sweaters! There are lots of cuts and styles of these trends to choose from. I love cropped sweaters because I am such a huge fan of the high waisted denim and it’s a fun, youthful, trendy look for fall!
Check out my my picks from some of my favorite brands! What’s your favorite sweater trend happening lately? Let me know in the comments below! 🙂 Have an awesome weekend!
Click on the images below to shop! Waiting for something to go on sale or just want to buy it later? Simply click the heart icon and enter your email address. You’ll receive a confirmation e-mail (to shop products you favorite anytime from your inbox) and another e-mail when the price drops!
Happy Monday to you! I hope you had a fun and relaxing weekend! I had a rather rough week with my health. I was pretty down for the count. But, I managed to get up and out with some of my blogger friends on Sunday and it was so nice to be out in the sunshine with people who lift my spirits! If you’re a blogger, you should check out Style Collective. I’ve met so many great girls in my area that support each other and we’ve become friends, too! It’s a wonderful way to get started with blogging. There’s so many tips and educational information for you there on the website that you can only access if you’re a member. I’d highly recommend it!
Onto fashion! Today is the first day of fall! Yay! I love fall. The colors are so beautiful and I love how we can incorporate them into what we wear. This season, florals are really trending! Not your summertime florals, though. We are seeing lots of darker florals and rich tones to bring out the warm colors of fall.
I love pairing a fall floral blouse with jeans and boots for a casual look. You could spice it up a bit and throw on a mini skirt in leather or corduroy for a cute autumn look, too! These tops are perfect for the early fall days where it’s still warm and not yet sweater weather.
I found this top by Free People at the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale. I got a great deal on it at the time, and it is unfortunately sold out everywhere 🙁 But, I’ve linked a bunch of other similar, pretty options for you below as well as these boots, because they are my FAVORITE! One of these tops says that it is sold out, but if you click on the link, it’s actually fully stocked. Sorry about that! I’m not sure why that happens sometimes?!
Hope you find something you like here. Would love to know your favorites! Have a great start to your week. Thanks for reading! Sending you lots of love and light 🙂
Happy Friday, friends! Hope your week has been great! I have been down with a flare-up of all of my usual symptoms and have been really sick. So, I’ve been chilling at home all week, trying to recover. It comes out of nowhere sometimes and really sets me back. But, I know it won’t last forever, so I’m giving myself time to heal and then I’ll keep moving forward. If you’re struggling today, know that it’s okay to stop, rest, and give your body the break it needs to rebuild. You will get through it!
On the fashion front, I’m talking all about Double-Breasted Blazers today! The blazer trend was huge last season and it’s back this year! But, instead of a lot of single breasted blazers, we are seeing the boxy, double-breasted ones making a big splash!
I love this menswear trend for my ladies because it makes us look like the BOSSES we are! Isn’t it about time that men have womenswear trends, though? I did buy my husband a leopard print sweatshirt the other day, LOL! I LOVE it! I hope he wears it proudly, haha!! 🙂 But seriously, this trend makes you feel confident and in charge! I love how clothing can really change the way we feel on the inside like that.
Plaid blazers are really popular! I love the neutral tones, but the colorful ones are really fun, too! You can also find solid colored (lots of bright colors!) blazers, and often times they come with matching pants so you have a full suit! I love this look. I think it is so fashion-forward and such a powerful statement! GO FOR IT!
I found this cute, plaid blazer at Shopbop.com! I love the neutral tones. It’s so easy to style. You could totally rock it with a skirt of any length, button it up and wear it over leggings, or throw it over a dress! I paired it with my favorite pair of faux leather pants. It looks amazing with jeans as well.
I wanted to bring out the colors in the plaid, so I picked my Gucci wine-colored belt and Louis Vuitton monogram bag to pull out the browns and maroon in the jacket. I went for my favorite block heel pumps by Steve Madden (from last season – but there are still so many pumps like this out again this year) to complete this neutral look!
For my petites, this look can sometimes be a bit overwhelming. So, I try to keep everything else relatively fitted. I tend to get lost when I try to do too much of the over-sized trend, so keeping it to one piece works really well for those of us who are smaller. 🙂
What do you guys think about the over-sized blazer trend? Are you into it? Let me know your thoughts! I’ve linked this look and some other double-breasted blazer favorites under $200 below! Have a wonderful weekend 🙂
Hey, guys! I hope your week is going well! Ryan and I just got back from Colorado a couple weeks ago and I wanted to share some of my favorite things from our trip. There was so much beauty and fun to be seen and had in Colorado and we only got a week’s worth taste of it. But, I’m hoping to go back and explore other spots again soon. We started our trip off in Denver, so I’ll begin there and make my way to to the Boulder area.
DENVER:
Where to Stay:
We flew into Denver from Pittsburgh on a non-stop flight with United Airlines and for once did not have any issues with our luggage or flight there, LOL! We stayed at the Kimpton Hotel Born in downtown Denver. It was awesome! If you’ve never stayed at a Kimpton before, I highly recommend it! We have one in Pittsburgh and it’s absolutely gorgeous and so artistically decorated! The Denver Kimpton Hotel Born was no exception. It’s brand new – just two years old, and is located right by Union Station (the train station) in Denver. Don’t be fooled though, our room overlooked the train station, but I never heard a train and I sleep lighter and later than anyone else I know! It was again, really well decorated in a theme that’s true to Colorado’s western history, but so modern at the same time. Our suite had a nice TV room and table for eating, as well as a HUGE bathroom, walk-in closet, and king size bed. It was perfect!
The hotel is a short distance to lots of attractions. You can walk to a lot of areas or take a quick ride in the hotel’s complimentary Tesla! For longer distances, we used Uber or Lyft. They have a complimentary wine hour, room service, a gym, and two restaurants: Tavernetta and Citizen Rail. We did not have the pleasure of eating at Tavernetta, but everywhere we went after we’d left people asked if we ate there. It was on our list, but we unfortunately ran out of time. So, if you’re staying there, be sure to grab a bite at Tavernetta!
What to Do:
There’s so much to do in Denver! We were only there for 2 days and as usual when traveling I had a rough day one of those days, so we focused on doing things that we love to do which are basically eating and shopping 🙂 But, there are incredible museums, botanical gardens, a zoo, and lots of cool shops and restaurants.
Our favorite area for shopping and dining was definitely Larimer Square. It’s so pretty especially at nighttime because they have string lights lit up all the way down the street. It’s not actually a square, but rather a stretch of one street.
I was so excited to visit Denver for many reasons, but one of them is that they have a store on Larimer street called Aillea that carries ALL clean, non-toxic beauty products! It was amazing! So many incredible brands and everything you could wish to find in the clean beauty world was in that store. I got an awesome eyeshadow palette that is so good! It was so nice to get to sample clean beauty products. There aren’t any stores like this near Pittsburgh, so I felt like I was in heaven for a little bit 🙂 If you’re in Denver, and love clean beauty like I do, be sure to check it out!
My favorite boutique on Larimer Square was Hailee Grace. They had a lot of my favorite brands and so many other cute ones I hadn’t heard of! Plus, the pricing is doable. I hate when you walk into a boutique and everything is $11k and you have to act casual, smile and leave, LOL. This one has quality brands but also affordable and is super cute!
We went to the Molly Brown House one day, but unfortunately it was just closing. Molly Brown was a famous Denver citizen. She was a survivor of the Titantic and a humanitarian! (Kathy Bates played an exaggerating version of her in the movie “Titanic”!) She did a lot of great things with her wealth, and I find that to be super inspiring. Plus, I LOVE touring old homes. So, check that out if you’re into history and females who crush life. 🙂
Since our hotel was right by Union Station, we obviously checked that out! It’s an old train station that’s been converted into a beautiful shopping and dining attraction. The trains still run through there, but the inside of the building is now more of a social gathering place. There is also a hotel connected to it. We went and got tea at Mercantile Dining & Provision and walked around all of the shops inside the station. It was a pleasant way to spend an hour so.
There were some spots we wanted to visit but didn’t get a chance, such as RiNo, which stands for River North. It’s an artsy neighborhood in Denver with more shops and restaurants. It sounded right up my alley, so if I were to go again, I’d definitely check it out! Also, we heard great things about Comedy Works located on Larimer Square, too. We love comedy shows, so next time that’s on our list!
Where to Eat:
RIOJA: We ate here for dinner our first night in Denver. We sat outside and it was so pretty with all of the lights strewn across the street. The food was delicious! It’s an American/Spanish restaurant with unique and flavorful dishes! We loved our meal here. Highly recommend!
TAMAYO: This restaurant is a Mexican restaurant also located in Larimer Square. We ate here for lunch before we went shopping on the same street. It’s conveniently located to all of the shops and had some incredible skinny margs! I had gluten and dairy free tacos and they were amazing! Very accommodating to allergies! If you love Mexican, try it out. It’s super cute inside, too!
54thirty: Definitely save a drink for this rooftop bar! It looks over the city and is a perfect place for a nightcap!
THE KITCHEN: I could eat here every dang day. It is super allergy friendly and so delicious! Everything is so fresh and healthy! I actually ate a sandwich for once in my existence at a restaurant (being gluten free usually means you get lettuce) and it was awesome! The french fries were also gluten free and I may have eaten those as well. But, there’s lots of healthy options, too, haha!
BEATRICE & WOODSLEY: This is a very Instagrammable place! We had dinner here on our last night and it was lovely! The interior decorating here is beautiful! The bathroom, though, is the MAIN ATTRACTION. Just trust me. Save this for a special night. It’s definitely a romantic place. You can do several small plates here or main entrees, too. We did a little of both and it was delicious. I didn’t feel deprived at all having my dietary restrictions and that’s always a sign of a great chef!
EUCLID HALL: This is a great place to grab drinks and appetizers. It’s a very old, historical building! It has more of a sports bar-like feel, but it’s really cute inside. They make amazing cocktails!
BOULDER:
Our next stop was Boulder, Colorado. We were so excited to get to Boulder because it’s set beautifully in the mountains and we’d heard so many great things about the town. It’s a very health conscious town. All of the food is so fresh and healthy! They pride themselves on it! We didn’t have a bad meal here. I could stay forever and just eat 🙂
Where to Stay:
Hands down the best place to stay in Boulder is the St. Julien Hotel & Spa. It’s located right in the heart of Boulder and you can easily walk to all of the restaurants and shops! They even provide bikes for you to grab and ride around town!
The hotel has a beautiful view of the mountains from the back patio. We had drinks here in the evening and it was such a beautiful backdrop! There is a bar and restaurant in the hotel, so you don’t even have to leave if you don’t want to.
The service at the hotel was excellent! They have a beautiful spa there, as well, it’s perfect after a long day hiking! The room we stayed in was very nice and spacious. Also worth mentioning is the flourless brownie. I am still having dreams about it!
What to Do:
Boulder is a great place to stay if you want to hop around to different hiking areas. It’s about an hour from Rocky Mountain National Park. It’s a little extra perhaps if you take the scenic route, but it’s totally worth it! We drove to Rocky Mountain National Park our first day in Boulder and it was breathtaking! You can drive up the mountain to the very top and the views are stunning! Word to the wise: take a sweatshirt even in the summer. I wasn’t expecting it to be quite so cold at the top, but it was. There’s lots of things to do inside of the park. You can visit the lakes or take hikes. It’s a MUST!
Another area right near Boulder that is great for hiking is Chautauqua Park. You can hike the famous Flat Irons there and get some more incredible photos! That’s where I took these! So beautiful and the hikes aren’t too difficult I hear. I wasn’t able to do the hike, but I was told it wasn’t overly difficult.
Another day, we visited Eldorado Canyon State Park. I loved it there! There was a great trail that wasn’t difficult at all (Rattlesnake Trail) and had the most beautiful views! Other trails are more challenging for those who are able. There’s also rock climbing! We really enjoyed our afternoon there. It’s only a 25 minute drive from Boulder, if that.
In the town of Boulder is the cutest area called Pearl Street. It has so many shops and restaurants! There’s a Free People, Lululemon, lots of outdoorsy shops, a dispensary (yes, marijauna is legal in CO!), bars, and so many good restaurants. Two boutiques worth mentioning are Cedar & Hyde and MAX! We walked around here a lot. There’s always street performers and live music going on. It’s so quaint!
We also checked out a concert at Chautauqua Auditorium. It’s a big music venue up on a hill. Beware, you do have to park at the bottom and walk up to the auditorium. This was a bit difficult for me as I wasn’t feeling well. There is a shuttle, but we didn’t see it. So, if you have a handicap or are not well, perhaps have someone drop you off. Otherwise, the venue is really cool and is an experience in itself! There’s lots of great acts that are booked here. We had tickets for Jose Gonzalez. There’s a cute little pavilion outside that serves some food and drinks. You can’t take anything inside, though which was a bit of a bummer.
Where to Eat:
Honestly, you almost can’t go wrong in Boulder in regards to the restaurants. But, we hit up all of the most highly recommended ones, so here’s our list of favorites!
ARCANA: Arcana was one of our favorite restaurants! We ate here more than once. The food is so fresh, right from the farm to the table! It was so healthy, too! They’re very conscious about making things clean here. All of our meals were so delicious and flavorful. Lots of fresh vegetables! The cocktails were also top notch. DEFINITELY hit this place up!
THE KITCHEN UPSTAIRS: This is a great lounge for evening cocktails! They also have food. It’s the same family as The Kitchen restaurant we ate at in Denver, but trust me, it’s not chain-like AT ALL. The cocktails were amazing and so are the apps and desserts!
FRASCA FOOD & WINE: This is THE spot for fine dining in Boulder! It’s an Italian restaurant with amazing food and wine, obviously. I don’t do wine, but word is, it’s incredible here. It’s at least a 4 course meal or you can opt for the chef’s tasting with more courses. Bring your appetite! They catered to my food allergies as well and it was soooo good! I even got to have a gluten and dairy free rhubarb and coconut cream dessert that was to die for! It’s a perfect date night spot!
RIO GRANDE MEXICAN RESTAURANT: This is Mexican with the best view ever! We sat outside on the rooftop for lunch one day and it was awesome! You can see the mountains and the air is as fresh as the food. I would say that this is clean eating Mexican! It wasn’t greasy, or heavy. It was perfect.
LOCALE: If you love pizza and wine, GO HERE! It’s so fresh and authentic! They have gluten and dairy free options which made me insanely happy! I actually ate here twice because I never get gluten free pizza at home. I had the Gambero pizza the first time. It has shrimp on it. AMAZING. Then, I had the Marinara pizza and it was delicious, but my favorite was the Gambero for sure! They do not have a full bar. It’s mostly wine or premixed drinks. So, beware of that before you go, in case you are looking for cocktails, too. We did have one of their pre-made cocktails though and it was great!
CORRIDA: This is a great place for upscale dining and drinks! We did not have a chance to eat here, but we did have a nightcap on their patio. It was beautiful! It overlooks the mountains. There’s a nice little fireplace you can sit by and cuddle up on the couches. It was the perfect way to end the day!
OAK AT FOURTEENTH: This was another delicious meal! We shared a big piece of sea bass and it was so deliciously prepared with lots of fresh from the garden ingredients! The salad was so filling and delicious, too! Pretty much everywhere is farm to table. The cocktails here were also top-notch!
FLAGSTAFF HOUSE: I was sooo disappointed that we did not get to eat here 🙁 On the last day, I was feeling really horribly and had to spend the day in bed. So bummed. This place looks AMAZING! It’s set in the mountains and has the most beautiful views! I want to go back just so we can eat here! It’s got great reviews and I’d recommend making a point to go.
Well, that about covers our trip! It was incredibly beautiful and I can’t wait to go visit again soon. If you’ve been and have experienced any of these places or others I didn’t mention, please drop a comment below! I’d love to hear about it! ALSO, check out my Instagram highlight “Colorado” on my page, here. You can see all of my pictures and videos from all of the above mentioned places! It was a blast! 🙂
