I’m in the middle of what I like to call a ‘population explosion’. This last year I think I’ve attended at least six baby showers, maybe more. Two of those showers were my cousins and one is my sister in law. After years of only adults it’s so much fun to have babies in the family again!
I shared photos from one cousins woodland baby shower last fall and today’s photos are from another cousin’s Peter Rabbit Baby Shower! She knew she was going to be having a boy so when this May shower happened blue and spring flowers became the perfect backdrop for this garden party.
Using inspiration from Beatrix Potter I worked with Denver Bakery French for Sugar to put together this beautiful cake. Each character was hand painted on fondant (just like the water colors in all of Beatrix’ books) and attached to the cake. They handmade each flower and cabbage as well. I couldn’t believe the amount of detail that went into everything!
Each cupcake was decorated to match the color scheme of the shower and both the frosting and cake was delightful. Just enough sweetness set off the perfectly fluffy cake batter in every bite.
Since the shower was in May it was easy to collect up bunny table toppers from easter display’s. These rattan bunnies all had the sweetest expressions.
This Bunny Bunting was one of the projects I made. I used my silhouette and cut out the bunnies and shirts using the instructions for this project from Sixxix. I loved the little cotton ball tales on each of these bunny bottoms!
One of my other cousins made a diaper cake wagon using flannel to cover a box base and diapers as the outer layer of the wagon. The front wheel consisted of several diapers rolled together with a large ribbon the the handles were constructed from receiving blankets. When it was all done she added plastic play vegetables from Amazon. It came out so cute!
On the buffet we used green silverware wrapped in orange napkins to look like carrots and plastic pots as dip containers. It all looked so sweet once it was put together. More cutout characters from the Beatrix Potter Stories adorned the fruit display giving the buffet it’s finishing touches.
Credit for this adorable party idea goes to my aunt and cousins who came together with this adorable idea and I was just there to photograph it and shower the mama with some love before baby arrived!
Disclaimer: French for Sugar provided a product sample as inspiration for this post. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
Growing up in Colorado I have always been spoiled with good Mexican food everywhere I turn. It was honestly a bit of a shock when I moved to Texas and discovered ‘Tex-Mex’ is an entirely different genre of cooking, and one that doesn’t feature green chili as the predominate ingredient.
The Blue Bonnet Restaurant off Broadway and Alameda is one of Denver’s oldest family owned and operated resturants and just celebrated their 51st anniversary in the city. The evening we visited we were seated by Lulu, a staple of the restaurant itself who has worked at the Blue Bonnet for 35 years.
When you are craving good classic Mexican Food the Blue Bonnet is the place to be. We started off the evening with a classic margarita. Margs are my go to drink during the summer and the Blue Bonnet’s refreshing house margarita is just what a hot day ordered.
Next up we tried the bacon wrapped shrimp. Stuffed with chorizo and cheese these were the perfect compliment to our margarita’s alongside the house salsa.
I’m a bit of a salsa fanatic and typically will completely fill up on salsa before the meal is at the table. Blue Bonnet’s salsa could have easily been my entire meal. Fresh flavors and a little bit of heat provided the ideal snacks while we waited for the rest of the meal to arrive.
Remember what I said in the beginning about green chili? The same goes for poblano peppers. For me, a good stuff pepper is a must have and Blue Bonnet’s did not disappoint. Fire roasted each order includes two poblano peppers stuffed with onions, sour cream and your choice of protein. I tried one with Chili Lime Chicken and the other with their Homemade Chorizo. Both were equally fantastic but I enjoyed the Chorizo a bit more with the added seasonings and flavor that comes with it.
Drew chose the Carne Asada for his entree. Marinated steak is the star of the dish and served up alongside roasted salsa and fajita vegetables. The long marination really draws extra flavor into the beef, giving it a unique flavor that helps this dish stand apart from regular fajitas.
After the entree plate were cleared away it was time for dessert. Dinner at a Mexican restaurant wouldn’t be complete with out a cinnamon and sugar filled soppapillas. Making a good soppapilla is an art form and the Blue Bonnet is a master. Topped with honey, caramel and whipped cream, this dessert was the perfect way to wrap up the evening.
Since I typically spend most of my time on the north side of Denver I’m not surprised that I had never been to the Blue Bonnet before but I’m looking forward to making it one of my go to stops for Mexican from here on!
Interested in other dining reviews in Denver? Check out Ocean Prime for the best Seafood downtown!
Disclaimer: I received a hosted meal to facilitate this review. All thoughts, opinions and photography are my own.
In a landlocked state it’s easy to quickly assume that most seafood you find in Denver can’t compare the the options on the coast. Knowing how hard it is to get seafood to the mountains the restaurants who do it well don’t stop at ‘a good meal’. This couldn’t be more true then at the Larimer Square located Ocean Prime.
The original Cameron Mitchell Restaurant group flagship in Denver, Ocean Prime is truly a treat for a special night out on the town. Last fall they opened a second location down in the tech center that I have not yet made it out to but I am confident that the level of dining mastered at their Downtown location is just as present.
A good meal at Ocean Prime has to start off with one of the amazing dishes on either their appetizer or sushi menu. I’m a huge fan of poke so I knew the Ahi Tuna Tartare would be right up my alley. Served on top of a bed of avocado and sesame seeds this dish was everything off my list of favorite things.
After enjoying a couple of apps it’s time for the entrees. Scallops aren’t something I typically order because so few places do them well but after having these I have officially changed my perspective on them.
The buttery flavor of the scallops were perfectly complimented by the Parmesan Risotto and Citrus Vinaigrette that accompanied the dish. Each one was fork tender and simply fell apart with delicious flakiness as I ate.
Known for their seafood, Ocean Prime does an equally amazing job with steak, pork, lamb and chicken. No matter what you a craving you’ll be able to find the perfect dish to suit your mood.
Once you’ve wrapped up dinner you need to make sure to save room for dessert. We tried THREE. The Mile High Carrot Cake will convert even the biggest carrot cake hater into an evangelist. Fresh cream cheese icing and pineapple syrup make this a must try dish. If you are looking for a classic favorite you can’t go wrong with the Chocolate Peanut Butter pie. This dish is rich and delicious.
For a lighter option the Warm Butter Cake topped with fresh berries and Raspberry sauce is always a winner. Served warm like the name implies it tastes like something that could have come right out of your grandmother’s oven and landed on your table in the middle of Denver.
Complete your night on the town by enjoying a stroll through the beautifully lit Larimer Square before heading back home. You couldn’t ask for a more romantic evening out on the town!
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t still heartbroken over the closure of Marcella’s but Having two Ocean Prime locations means that there are still plenty amazing date night options from Cameron Mitchell to choose from.
If you love good food you are going to really love the Nourished Festival. Formerly known as the Gluten Free and Allergen Friendly Expo the Nourished Festival is a two day event where you can sample and learn about the hottest trends in allergy friendly eating. I don’t eat gluten free myself but I have family who do so I like learning about new ways to cook when family are over.
This year’s Nourished Festival is May 18 and 19th at the National Western Stock Show and in addition to Gluten free products they’ll also be featuring special diets like Paleo, Key and Plant-based products!
I had such a good time at last years festival and I’m so excited to partner with them to share this event! Head over to my Instagram to claim one of the 10 sets of FREE passes the Nourished Festival provided for Rocky Mountain Bliss readers!
Missed the free passes? You can still buy a ticket at a discount through May 17th! Use the code ADVANCE when you check out to receive 20% off your ticket purchase.
Tickets for the festival are available on EventBrite and buying your tickets in advance mean you won’t have to wait in line to get in. That’s more snacking for you!
