Just a few hours outside Denver, Boulder is nestled in the foothills and the perfect just far enough trip for getting away for a long weekend or holiday. Despite living just down the road from Boulder I rarely spend much time up that way so planning a quick couples getaway for Drew and I was the perfect escape.
I am a sucker for historic hotels and when we started looking for a place to stay the Boulderado was immediately at the top of my list. Located just off the Pearl Street Mall the Boulderado opened in 1909 when the town of Boulder was barely a blip on the map. The property was established by a team of local business owners in need of a luxury hotel solution for visitors to the town. While the property has been updated for modern visitors, the charm and history throughout the hotel remains evident.
We stayed on the fifth floor in a room looking towards the mountains. Getting up to our room meant either taking the winding staircase or riding up in the manually operated Otis Elevator. One of the few remaining Otis Elevators in the country, a member of the Boulderado staff accompanies you to your destination both opening and closing the elevator cage doors. This unique feature is something you don’t typically see and definitely added to the fun of the experience.
Today’s rooms are a far cry from what visitors in 1908 might have experienced and guests can tour the property seeing an example of the original sleeping rooms, including the original standard room without private bath! Our room was extremely comfortable with windows overlooking the streets around. A large king sized bed was topped with beautifully embroidered bedspread and plenty of sitting room space made the entire suite feel like home.
Throughout the property a wide variety of historic artifacts are on display, including trunks refinished by the property historian, vintage clothing and even original radiators that once heated the rooms.
Three restaurant within the hotel itself means you don’t have to travel far for a drink or meal. Our first night in town Drew and I shared beers in the first floor sports bar while watching the end of the world series upon returning from dinner at the nearby Pasta J’s Italian restaurant.
In the morning the next day we woke up early and headed out to the nearby Chautauqua Park to hike the 1st and 2nd Flatirons. One of the most popular hikes in Colorado the trail was busy despite both the early hour and visiting on a Monday. If hiking on a weekend, plan for there to be large crowds. Just under 3 miles we incorrectly assumed this was a ‘easy’ hike, failing to realize that the 1400 foot elevation change would happen primarily at the very beginning of the trail.
Colorado is always a beautiful state but during the fall you can really appreciate the rich colors that come out in the changing colors of the leaves. This trail winds through the park giving panoramic views of the town of Boulder and Colorado University campus. We reached the final leg of the trail to discover that it was currently closed for maintenance but had time to enjoy a closer view of the iconic Flatirons before heading back into town for lunch.
Back in town we left the car at the Boulderado valet and walked two blocks to the newly opened Ruthie’s Boardwalk Social. Specializing in gourmet grilled cheese sandwiches, this was the perfect mid day treat. I picked the Italian Caprese, combining mozzarella, basil and pesto into an unforgettable grilled cheese delight. Drew chose the Classic and we both added a cup of tomato soup for dipping. This was exactly what I needed after an early morning hike.
Our second evening in town we ventured into the basement of the hotel to License No. 1. Owner of the 1st liquor license in Boulder the speakeasy style bar is the perfect place for starting or ending an evening (and is even available to book for private events). We enjoyed what I can truthful say was one of the best Moscow Mules I’ve ever had. Made with fresh ginger these cocktails made it hard to head onto dinner! After dinner at Jax FishHouse just a few blocks away we headed back to the hotel for a goodnights rest before returning home the next day.
Venturing just far enough from home to relax is the perfect way enjoy a quick couples getaway. With all the holiday celebrations just around the corner, now is the best time of year to head just slightly out of town and leave all the worries back home.
In honor of their 110th year the Boulderado is celebrating with a New Year’s Eve Grand Gala, just like the one hosted in 1909 when the property originally opened. You can join in on this year’s black tie optional celebration and enjoy a couples getaway of your own should you choose to stay the night up in Boulder.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary stay at the Boulderado to inspire this post. All opinions are my own.
Stockings have always been one of my favorite parts of the Christmas Holiday. Hanging on the mantel all season long they are a good visualization of the togetherness spent throughout the season. Without kids the stockings have become a fun treat in our house that we each get to fill for each other every year. I love trying to come up with fun ideas that will surprise Drew. I pulled a couple his and her’s ideas together to help inspire your stockings this season!
Stockings for Him – Cork Pops Savor Stones
If you are filling the stocking of a whiskey lover you can’t go wrong with a good bottle of whiskey and some Savor Stones. Savor Stones are made from recycled soapstone or granite. Left to chill in the freezer, pour your favorite libation over Savor Stones and they’ll chill the drink without diluting the flavor. These are also perfect for iced coffee!
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Savor Stones – Whisky Soapstones
Stockings for Her – Morgan Taylor
Who doesn’t love painting their nails for the holidays. A good quality polish that can take you from decorating cookies to holiday parties is a must have throughout the season. Morgan Taylor, a professional nail lacquer, is the stocking stuffer every woman needs this season. The Forever Fabulous Gift Set fits perfectly in her stocking and has all the colors she needs to make this holiday season bright.
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Forever Fabulous Glitter Set | Forever Fabulous Solid Set
An Old-Fashioned Christmas
Nothing brings back holiday memories like the image of vintage cards. This beautiful coffee table book is the perfect addition to her holiday decor and is chock full of fun Christmas quotes and traditions. Use this little book as a daily devotional all season long, sharing with family and friends the spirit of the holiday.
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Hickory Farms Gift Set
You all know how much I love Hickory Farms! I always know Christmas is around the corner when the Hickory Farms mall store pops up. Summer sausage, cheese and other treats are a great standby stocking stuffer year after year and can become a family tradition!
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Interested in other Holiday posts and shopping recommendations? Check out my traveler gift guide.
Disclaimer: I received product samples to help facilitate the creation of this guide. All thoughts, opinions and writing are my own.
Once you’ve been bit by the travel bug its hard to get that need for constant travel out of your system. Travelers are typically pretty minimalist folks, brining only the necessities along for the journey. Gifts that allow travel lovers to easily move about the world are always a winner! As someone who loves to travel myself, I’ve put together a list of my favorite travel gifts for 2018.
Nalgene Travel Kit
No matter how far you travel, some comforts of home are necessary, like your own shampoo and conditioner. When flying with a carry on bag sometimes its not possible to find travel sized versions of all your favorite products. The TSA compliant travel kit from Nalgene is the perfect gift for helping get through security and on the road that much faster.
Made with the same leak proof lids found in their water bottles, the travel kit is perfect for bringing along all your favorite toiletries. Four color coded caps make it easy to tell shampoo, conditioner and body wash apart and a vial specifically sized for cotton swabs or bobby pins keeps your travel bag organized. To wrap packing up toss your vitamins into the straight sided jar and toss them all into the leakproof travel bag.
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B+B Care Kit
There is nothing worse then being on the road and having a headache or sore muscle take your focus off your trip. Packaged in environmentally friendly carry cases, b+b keeps you prepared for any ailment that might strike on the road.
FDA Approved, b+b has the same high quality products found in other over the counter medicines but a give back model that makes these a much better buy. For each b+b product purchased the company donates a product to someone in need through a nation wide partnership with Americares.
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Naproxen | Acetaminophen | Ibuprofen
Charging tools from The Grommet
As you traverse the world, staying fully powered and connect to your life back home can be a bit of a challenge. Gifting tools to help your favorite traveler stay fully changed no matter where the journey takes them is a gift everyone can appreciate.
If you travel with multiple devices, you finding a way to charge them all at the same time is difficult. My typical day includes needing to charge a cell phone, apple watch, computer and sometimes even my ipad. Luckily the TWIST World Charging station is fully compatible in over 150 countries and allows you to share up to 4 Apple devices simultaneously. Lightweight and easy to toss into a carry on bag, you’l never be without a wall charger again.
When the journey includes a rental car it becomes just as important to stay powered on the road. From using GPS to blasting road trip tunes through the speakers, you’d be lost without a functioning cell phone. The X5 Car Charger features 5 USB ports allowing you to quickly charge everyone vehicles devices at one time! Two front seat ports and three backseat ports ensure that even on long road trips your backseat passengers can keep going on ipads or kindles throughout the entire trip. The Car Charge connects with any 12v-24v vehicle outlet, ensuring you’ll be fully prepared and powered for your next adventure.
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TWIST World Charging station | X5 Car Charger
Love Sun Body Sunscreen
Traveling somewhere near the ocean? You’ll definitely want to protect your skin from the suns rays. Sunscreen that protects both you and the ocean reefs are the best options for your next beach adventure. Traditional sunscreen leaves oils on the water that can damage the reef and negatively impact the animals that live in the ocean. To ensure that these beautiful spaces remain enjoyable for generations to come, we need to be extra cautious of what chemicals are going into the oceans today.
100% Natural Origin Love Sun Body is the first fully green, safe and effective broad spectrum mineral sunscreen to hit the US Market. Broad spectrum sunscreen protects against both UVA and UVB rays, providing a more comprehensive level of protection. Completely free from GMOs, chemicals, parabens and colors you’ll feel safe putting Love Sun Body on everyday throughout your next adventure.
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Joy Car Organizer
When planning a road trip, staying organized is the most important part of the trip. Whenever I take a road trip I travel with a 1st aid kit, blankets, pillows and at least a few snacks. It’s easy to toss all that in the truck and hope for the best but when you need to find something digging through the mess is the worst!
The Joy Car Organizer can making keeping all the ‘junk in your truck’ that much easier. With three compartments, the trunk organizer allows me to sort out extra blankets from first aid supplies without needing to toss it all into the back of the car. The third section can be used standalone or with a thermal insulator to keep snacks the perfect temperture while on the road. When the trips all done, the organizer folds up and stores out of the way, ready for use during your next trip!
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Interested in other Holiday posts and shopping recommendations? Check out gift ideas for women!
Disclaimer: I received product samples to help facilitate the creation of this guide. All thoughts, opinions and writing are my own.
Throughout the month of December most of the women in your life are go, go, go. With all that’s on everyone plates, finding a gift that shows how much you appreciate them now and throughout the entire year can be a bit tricky. To help get your inspiration churning we’ve picked out a few of our favorite gifts for women this holiday season.
Wax Warmer Set from Happy Wax
Who doesn’t love walking into a house full of beautiful smells. I love candles but I’m always terrified that I’ll forget and leave the house with one burning. Wax warmers from Happy Wax are the perfect alternative for those who love the smell of candles but are worried about forgetting to leave them burning (like me).
Made in Durham, North Carolina with all natural soy wax and infused with essential oils, Happy Wax melts are perfect for gift for anyone who loves a beautiful smelling home. Each melt is molded into an adorable shape and available in mixed sets of scents. I chose the spa day scene package with scents of bamboo, lavender chamomile and eucalyptus spearmint. Completely paraffin and phthalate-free there is no worry about releasing chemicals into your home as you enjoy the scent.
Each signature Happy Wax warmer features a 3, 6, or 9 hour timer, allowing you to ‘set it and forget it’ with complete peace of mind. I love knowing that my warmer will automatically click off when its done! Each warmer includes the ‘No Scrape’ silicone melt dish that allows you to easily pop out used wax and start over with a fresh scent. No need to soak for hours and hope that the leftover wax comes off!
Right now for the holiday season Happy Wax has a whole slew of amazing discounts including 50% off all holiday sets. First time customers can also receive 10% off their first purchase with code: “IHEARTWAX”.
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Mod Star Wax Warmer | Spa Day Wax Melts
Craft Light from BrightTech
When you are burning the midnight oil working on holiday gifts there is no reason to also strain your eyes in the process. My sewing station is set up in our basement so I can leave things out in between projects but the overall poor lighting was making it hard to get things finished. With the LightView Rolling Light from BrightTech I can now work all hours of the day without having any trouble seeing what I’m working on.
The adjustable arm and rolling base allows you to bring the LightView wherever you need it to complete a project. A 9 watt LED light has an over 20 year lifespan and provides 800 lumens of brightness, perfect for seeing fine details as you work. The light is fully dimmable, so if there’s too much glare or shine you can even adjust the brightness as you work.
For projects that need a bit more up close view it’s easy to flip open the magnifier door and add 175% magnification. From sewing to knitting and bead work there are so many things ou can do with the LightView!
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Leggings from Tani
Most weekends I live in leggings and workout pants. A good pair of leggings is something no one can have too many of and the Go Leggings from Tani are my new ‘Go-To’ for being comfortable throughout the weekend. Tani is known for their mens underwear (and were also featured in my gifts for men guide) but their ladies options are equally amazing.
Made from a lightweight french terry knit, the Go legging has a comfortable 4 way stretch that stays in place throughout the day. Solid fabric means that these leggings can in fact pass as pants and are machine washable so you could easily wear every day of the week!
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Cat DNA Test from Basepaws
If you have a cat owner in your life you know how much they love their cat. Purebred cats are way less common then purebred dogs and you’ve probably wondered exactly what makes your cat look or behave the way they do. When shopping for the cat lady in your life, a DNA test for their favorite feline is just the treat to really make their holiday special.
For cats with fur its easy to collect a sample of hair and quickly send it off to the Basepaws lab for testing. Hairless cats require a mouth swab instead.
In just a few months you’ll receive a personalized report explaining how closely your cat is related to various breeds and wildcats as well as any potential health risks you may want to be aware of. If ordering as a Christmas gift you need to place your order by 12/15 to ensure holiday delivery.
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Give Back with inLieu
The holiday season is a time of giving and giving back. When you are shopping for the person who has everything or a minimalist, giving the gift of giving back is the perfect way to show you care without bringing more ‘stuff’ into their life. Launched in March 2018 inLieu allows you to select from one of 1.6 million registered US non-profit organizations and donate in your gift recipients honor in minutes.
InLieu is a phone app, so even if you forgot about that hostess gift ahead of time you can quickly send a gift while riding in the car to the party. It’s just that easy! There is a $10 minimum donation and a flat $1 admin fee that ensures more money makes it to the organizations you care about. Your recipient will receive a text alerting them to the donation in their honor.
Learn more about inLieu Online
Interested in other Holiday posts and shopping recommendations? Check out gift ideas for men!
Disclaimer: I received product samples to help facilitate the creation of this guide. All thoughts, opinions and writing are my own.
Welcome to My Bliss
