Category: Holiday

Weekend Things: When it’s summer in winter

Lauren2 Comments

It’s officially the first day of spring, but it was 80° in Colorado this weekend!  We had all the fans on and all the windows open, but it was straight up HOT.  Felt like we completely skipped over spring and went straight to summer.  It’s cooling back down (slightly) this week, but I didn’t mind that little summer vacation one bit.

Last night, as we were putting away the dishes and getting ready for bed, I asked Joey what his favorite part of the weekend was.  He couldn’t pick.  And honestly, neither could I.  If I were to share it with you in word form it would look something like: patio beers at a new-to-us brewery, traditional St. Patrick’s Day corned beef & cabbage (PLUS GREEN VELVET CAKE!) with my family, a kombucha field trip with my sissy, pizza lunch date, LOTS of reading outside in the sun, an evening run, Beauty and the Beast, the most incredible Sunday brunch, exploring the Stanley Marketplace, “Sunday stuff” (aka being an adult), an evening stroll and capping it all off with a perfectly springy salmon dinner.

And in picture form, it would look like this…

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Joey suggested we hit up 4 Noses Brewing after work on Friday and it did not disappoint.  That place is doing everything (from their website to their beer to their taproom atmosphere) right!  

P.S. Remind me to drink more saisons.

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PSA: My mom is the best.  I declare this the best corned beef she’s ever made (so perfectly salty!) plus I mentioned to her earlier in the week that I was dying to try Irish Soda Bread and she surprised me with a loaf.  Red GREEN velvet cake for dessert because, as I said, my mom is the best.

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Our tree babies bloomed!!!!!  I actually squealed in delight when we pulled up to the house on Friday night and I saw the little blossoms.  Joey texted me this picture Saturday morning when he left to pick us up some iced coffee and those little flowers are so perfect.

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I made Joy’s whole grain waffles and they were seedy, but in a good way.  I kind of loved them!

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At noon, my sister and Wayne came over and then we all headed to American Cultures, which is, GET THIS, a kombucha taproom!  I got a taster — ginger peach was the best! — and Joey got a kombucha float so he was just as happy.  I asked Joey to take the picture at an angle that would make me look just as tall as my sister but I see he failed completely.  

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After my sister and Wayne headed back home, Joey and I walked over to Denver Deep Dish where I had a salad + slice lunch and it was so satisfying.  Post lunch, we hung out in the backyard, went on that evening run, watched the animated version of Beauty and the Beast (HOW’S IT SO GOOD, THOUGH??) and then I fell asleep on the couch at the like 10 PM.  

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Sunday morning at the new Stanley Marketplace.  People have been talking it up and I was like “yeah, yeah, but how’s it any better than The Source?” Turns out it’s way bigger, has way more restaurants and shops and is just… uh yeah, better.  

We ate at Annette and I was so totally smitten with the experience.  They do a daily biscuit (apricot & ginger) and it was huge and buttery and I think Joey loved it more than he loves me.  We both ordered the pork shank hash and it was INCREDIBLE.  Those crispy potatoes, that fall-apart tender pork, those perfectly poached eggs and PICKLED mustard seeds.  Help, I’m head over heels.   

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Post-brunch, it was grocery, laundry, lunch salad prep, slow-cooker beef (for burritos this week!), reading, being delighted by Joey finishing a bunch of house projects, I actually cleaned the bathroom (instead of just talking about needing to) and then we went on a little end-of-the-day stroll before dinner.

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I made us this Dijon-Herb Crusted Salmon with Creamy Dill Sauce + Warm Buttered Radish & Edamame Salad and it tasted like straight up spring deliciousness.  Joey was blown away and I take that as the highest of compliments.

I give this weekend an A+ and gosh, I’m so happy it’s spring today!  What did you do this weekend?!

This Week

Lauren4 Comments

I’m trying to do a better job “documenting” (and actually publishing) small moments from the week.  I often find myself lost in thoughts of the past, wondering “when DID we watch that movie??” or “what DID I wear to that wedding??”  These aren’t all that important but they will swirl around in my brain until I remember.  Maybe if these snippets exist elsewhere, they’ll stop taking up real estate in my head 🙂

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I finished The Eyre Affair on Monday night and I really really loved it!  I got completely (and wonderfully) lost in a world where “Baconians” hand out pamphlets attempting to disprove the existence of William Shakespeare, where dodos are alive and well, living as house pets and everyone knows the story of Jane Eyre like the back of their hand.  If only!  Also as far as main characters go, Thursday Next is pretty badass.

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I think I may have mentioned Tuesday night 🙂

In the same vein, I also read this Buzzfeed article called “I Tried the Gray Stuff and It Really Was Delicious!” so if you A) get that reference and B) have also always wondered what the gray stuff is then we should be besties.  Turns out it’s some kind of frosting covered thing but the “article” was packed with comments about how that mystery food appears on a tray of savory appetizers so it’s more likely mushroom pâté and I actually have to agree with the people on that one.

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I made Golden Milk!  Joey thinks that’s a gross-sounding name but he’s got a gutter brain and knows nothing Jon Snow.  It was so good all freshly simmered, frothed and spooned straight from the blender but equally delicious in my morning cup of coffee.

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I saw some stupid Facebook video a few weeks ago showing how to make a week’s worth of lunches for your kid and thought yeah yeah with kids, I want those lunches.  So I made them for Joey and I and while eating-wise, it was a nice break from our salads, it was so much more work.  Back to salads next week, please!

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Real Question: How many years do I have to be on this Earth before the time change stops affecting me so much?  We had just gotten to the point where it stopped being dark in the morning and then we just had to spring forward and now, when I wake up, it feels like the middle of the night.  The good news is, post-work napping in the extra end-of-the-day sunshine helps.

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Wednesday: Joey and I tag-teamed this veggie shepherd’s pie and after I finished it up, I ate a big bowl on the couch, in my pajamas while watching Midnight in Paris and it was easily a top moment in a week filled with top moments.  HAVE YOU EVER COMBINED SWEET POTATO AND GOAT CHEESE?!  It is life changing.  Also, should I post this recipe??

Also on Wednesday, I set out on a post-work run (the best part of springing forward is being able to run outside at the end of the day!) and made it a whole 2 miles before throwing in the towel.

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Joey was jealous of my solo coffee + toast date last week so we went on one together this week.  After I took this picture, Joey butter-and-jammed that toast to perfection.  More of that, please!

I’m going to my parents’ tonight for corned beef & cabbage, Irish Soda Bread and homemade Green Velvet Cake so sounds like one happy St. Patrick’s Day to me!