A month into the new year and it already feels like there hasn’t been a minute to catch a breath. Between Drew working extra shifts and me putting together a few TV segments the month of January has truly been crazy.
Cue the need for a Spa Day.
The Gaylord Rockies opened up just over a year ago and when they reached out to share their upcoming Valentine’s Day Spa specials I was excited to go check it out. When life is as busy as it’s been lately, taking a mini-vacation is the perfect way to reconnect.
One of my favorite things to do as a couple is heading out to the spa. What’s hard is finding a place that offers both a relaxing setting and allows us to spend time together. For couples looking for a spa outing Relâche Spa at the Gaylord Rockies is the perfect solution.
You check in at the front desk and attendants will take you back to the individual men’s and women’s locker rooms. Here you receive a private locker with a robe and sandals. Both sides feature the same amenities, including a eucalyptus steam room and a Rocky Mountain Rain Shower to cool off after enjoying the steam. If you’ve ever put your toe in a mountain stream you know exactly what you expect from the Rain Shower.
Before heading off to your treatment you can meet back up with your spouse in the co-ed Alpenglow Fireside Lounge. This is a sitting room everyone wishes they had in their house.
A massive fireplace greets you and comfortable seating provides plenty of space to relax together. Screened off chaise lounges provide private areas for you to enjoy the time as if you are the only ones in the room or you can enjoy the cushy group seating in front of the fire. Ice cold pitchers of cranberry and elderberry infused water are the perfect beverage to sip on while waiting for your treatment. There are even colored pencils and coloring sheets for additional stress relief while waiting!
We booked a couples massage so after a lounging for a short while our masseuses Amy and Marsha greeted us and brought us back to the couples treatment room. Side-by-side massage tables meant that we could each receive custom massages, but still spend a bit more time together. With aromatherapy and a complimentary yoga balm treatment my massage was exactly what I needed after such a busy couple of weeks.
I enjoy trying to find time for a massage a couple of times a year but I can honestly say I’ve never had a massage that was so customized before. Amy shared that a lot of the tension in my back is originating in my hip flexors. She helped me stretch out the muscles in my hips to really relieve the stress on my shoulders and upper back.
With the instruction to drink lots of water we headed back into the Fireside Lounge to make a plan for the afternoon. I wrapped up my stay by spending time in the steam room and enjoying the Crystalline Ice Fountain. Small ice pellets help keep a comfortable temperature while in the steam. The dry air in Colorado makes a steam room that much more heavenly. I love how soft my skin feels after a good steam.
Throughout the locker room a variety of lotions, soaps and scrubs were available to use. I loved the Honey Coconut Mango Salt scrub and used it to exfoliate away some of the harsh winter dryness on my hands.
After enjoying the spa amenities guests are invited to relax by the pool before heading home. The front desk will even validate your parking with the purchase of your treatment! This is truly the best way for a Denver couple to experience a spa day ‘staycation’.
Throughout the month of February Relâche Spa is offering several romantic seasonal spa treatments.
This 50 minute treatment combines the aroma of chocolate and the exfoliation of papaya and pineapple enzymes to craft the perfect facial experience. Price: $180 per person
Couples will enjoy a full body stone massage while their hands are wrapped in chocolate paraffin. A warm Moroccan Oil scalp masque tops off this 110 minute treatment. Price: $330 per person
A wine inspired bath bomb soak ad wine pairing combines chocolate and peppermint for the ideal hand and foot refresh. Price: $150 per person
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary spa service to facilitate this review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
One of the beautiful (and challenging) parts of living in Colorado is understanding how to properly dress for the weather on any given day. Known for 300 days of sunshine that means a day that starts out as 20 degrees can end up in the 60’s by lunch time.
For dealing with Colorado’s temperamental weather my favorite looks are from Royal Robbins. Known primarily as an outdoor clothing company, the durability and comfort built into each clothing design makes it a go to for the winter season.
As a knitter merino wool is one of my favorite fibers, because its breathable and temperature regulating. For a day at the office I love the Women’s All Season Merino Skirt II paired with the Highlands Cowl. Warm enough for chilly mornings it’s both comfortable and professional to wear all day long.
When styled with my favorite boots it’s the perfect look for giving a presentation at work, without needing to worry about getting overheated while standing in front of a large crowd. Both the sweater and the skirt are constructed from Merino wool, making it lightweight but warm.
Women’s All Season Merino Skirt II| Highlands Cowl
For a comfortable day on the town the Lucerne Ponte Slim Leg Pant paired with the Highlands Pullover is my new favorite outfit. After a winter snowstorm this outfit is my go-to, providing the warmth and comfort that makes crawling out from under the covers worth it!
With all the comfort of a pair of leggings the Lucerne pant is both flattering and stylish. Travelers will love that these leggings are wrinkle free and come in three classic colors making them perfect for styling with all of your favorite blouses. Highland Pullover is a closet staple every woman should own. A longer length provides full coverage so there’s no need to worry about showing off your assets when wearing with a comfortable pair of leggings.
Lucerne Ponte Slim Leg Pant| Highlands Pullover | Havana Fedora
For Men’s winter fashion flannel is a must have. Royal Robbins Performance Flannel is a soft cotton blend with enough warmth to wear on even the chilliest Colorado Days. Machine washable and wrinkle resistant means it easy to toss in your luggage for a trip up to the mountains without worrying about having to shake out all the wrinkles upon arriving at your destination.
The nylon Echo Creek pant is perfect for all your winter outdoor activities. Reinforced knees and cuffs provide the perfect solution for hikes or yard work throughout the season.
Performance Flannel | Echo Creek Pant
When it’s really chilly, layers are the way to make sure you are comfortable all day. The All Season Merino Track Jacket is a versatile staple that can dress up any look while adding warmth and comfort. Zippered pockets and machine washable yarn make these and easy care style that the guy in your life will love.
I’m not joking when I say that the Crag Pant is Drew’s new favorite pair of pants. The bright Blaze color adds a pop of brightness to any look and makes these men’s pants a fashion statement.
Designed as a workman’s pant, it’s perfect for how hard Drew is on his clothing. Durable organic cotton provides a soft but sturdy feel while reinforced pockets help keep his phone and any other gear like a pocket knife close at hand.
Crag Pant | All Season Merino Track Jacket
Disclaimer: Royal Robbins provided product samples to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
It’s hard to believe that Drew and I have been married for five years. Some day’s it feels like we’ve been married so much longer and other’s it feels like our wedding was just yesterday. When we started brainstorming how we wanted to celebrate our anniversary I knew no matter what we did, I wanted to take anniversary photos.
After tossing around a few different trip ideas we decided to celebrate our anniversary by heading back to London and then traveling up north to Edinburgh and Glasgow.
I am still working on putting together a few posts about the actual trip itinerary but I couldn’t wait any longer to show off the amazing photos we took with Siobhan Stewart. It was a gloriously rainy Scottish afternoon and we were a bit worried we might end up rained out of our photo session. Luckily just as soon as we made it to our meeting location the clouds decided to finally part providing the perfect lighting for the evening’s activities
Edinburgh is really an amazing city. Everyone we talked to said it was a must visit location and they were not joking. The Edinburgh Castle over looks the town no matter where you are making it easy to capture from nearly any place in town.
We started off the photo session on the Edinburgh Royal Mile. Our trip was during both the Festival Fringe and Military Tattoo so for the most part the Mile was packed. Luckily Siobhan knew of some quiet locations where we could enjoy the amazing architecture without all of the crowds.
In the square near the Edinburgh Writers Museum.
Behind St. Giles Cathedral
From the Royal Mile we walked down the hill to an area known as Grassmarket. The Grassmarket is famously known as the part of town where hangings used to take place but is now popular for bars and tourists. It also have a picture perfect view of the castle!
Next up we hopped in the car with Siobhan to drive up to Arthur’s Seat. The long dormant volcano is accessible from the opposite end of the Royal Mile but driving saved time and allowed us to find this beautiful Lock.
From Arthur’s Seat you can look back towards Old Town and enjoy a panoramic view of the city. I definitely want to do the hike to the summit next time we visit Edinburgh.
We wrapped up the photo session by jumping back in the car and heading over to Calton Hill on the opposite end of town. Calton Hill overlooks the New Town section of Edinburgh.
This was a part of town we had never heard of and likely would not have visited with Siobhan’s help. The hill has breathtaking views and was the perfect place to enjoy the sunset as a wrap to our anniversary photos.
Looking back on these photo’s I’m already looking forward to the next time we get to head over to Edinburgh and explore the city some more! Keep an eye out for more posts about our Scotland and London adventures over the next few weeks!
Interested in other travel posts? Check out my tips for visiting London as a couple!
How much I love good food is no secret. When I heard that a new restaurant would be opening in the location formerly occupied by Southern Hospitality in Denver I was looking forward to learning more about the new concept. Sorry to JT [Who was a part owner in SH] but Rose & Thorn is literally 1000x better.
Described as latin style street food the upper level of the property houses an upscale dining experience perfect for date night or getting together with family. Ironworks and draperies combine with an amazing lighting design to create the perfect intimate environment right in the heart of the city..
Downstairs the Double Barrel Club showcases a classic speakeasy vibe with Cuban inspiration. With the goal of becoming the home to the largest selection of rum in Denver, the Double Barrel Club is perfect for happy hours, bachelorette parties, or just a low-key place to grab a drink with friends. The full menu is available on both levels but the ambiance is entirely unique.
In addition to the public bar, rum aficionados can join the private rum room with a membership fee of $5,000 annually. The cost includes a bottle of rum and access to the room whenever it is available, providing the perfect solution to business meetings, football parties and beyond.
Back upstairs for dinner I couldn’t wait to try out the Ice Lab. Designed as a feature in the entrance of the restaurant the lab itself is a patented process for high end mixology. Each drink is paired with an option of savory or sweet ice that has been infused to change the flavor profile of the drink as the night continues. Instead of watering down a drink, the Ice Lab creations enhance them.
My pick for the evening was the Aqua Vitae with Rosemary Lemon while Drew tested out the Aqua De Rosa with Raspberry Rose. You can not beat the presentation of these drinks and the flavor was amazing. I am typically a slow drinker so being able to experience the changes in the Aqua Vitae as the ice melted made it feel like each sip was a new drink entirely.
We started off the evening with three sharing plates, Pork Belle Carne Frita, Crab & Piquillo Cheese Dip and Tostone Al Ajillo. With generous portion sizes these three dishes could have easily been a stand alone meal.
Fried and roasted the Pork Belly was unlike anything I’ve ever tasted. Big thick pieces made this a rich and flavorful start to the evening. Eating each bite required starting out by cutting from top to bottom with a steak knife, that’s how thick this pork was! The crispiness alongside the full flavor of the pork makes for dish I would order again.
We previously had a neighbor who invited me over for fried plantains so when I saw the Tostone Al Ajillo on the menu I had to give it a try. Double fried each plantain chip was rich in seasoning with a satisfying crisp.
After eating through the first two starters I wasn’t sure if I ‘needed’ the Crab & Piquillo Cheese Dip but it looked so good I had to forge onward. Creamy an served on French Bread crostini’s the dip was much lighter then I expected and I was able to easily eat several without feeling overfull before dinner.
For our mains we chose the Carribean Curry Chicken and Pabellon Arepa to share. Let’s start off with the Carribean Curry Chicken because I could literally talk about it all night.
It’s hard to cook chicken in a way that turns it into fork tender meat but this award winning dish does that and more. The recipe is direct from Chef Jose’s grandmother’s kitchen and he literally doesn’t allow anyone else to prepare it. This dish is a labor of love and it shows. Each batch is marinated, frozen and marinated a second time before it goes into the kitchen for final preparation. What comes out to the table is a holy grail of curry. Every bite was the perfect combination of coconut, spice and smoke.
After having this dish I know I definitely could get along with Chef Jose’s grandmother.
If you’ve never had an Arepa before it’s a bit of a unique experience. Traditional Arepas similar to a pita, using a corn meal wrap to convey the filling into your belly. That said I’ve never had an Arepa like the Pabellon before. The wrap was the perfect thickness and didn’t overpower the rich full bodied taste of the shredded beef inside. Rose & Thorn’s beef recipe is seasoned with 23 herbs and spices making it unlike any meal you’ve ever experienced before. Each Arepa is served with a fresh and bright side salad that includes the resturants signature Sofrito Dressing. With the consistency of ranch, Sofrito is so-so much more. It’s hard to say you really love a salad dressing but in this case, they’ve completely earned that title.
For dessert we wrapped up the meal with Mexican Chocolate Ice Cream served alongside lemon cookies filled with Carmel. While the ice cream itself is not made on location it is made with the chef’s recipe. That recipe is one for chocolate magic. A hint of chili brings a unique taste that is the perfect compliment to the rich smooth chocolate.
I’m excited to see such an innovative menu and creative take entering the Denver restaurant scene. I can’t wait to come back to try out brunch and want to put together a big group to check out their ‘Whole Suckling Pig’ experience. With the ability to serve 12-15 guests the Suckling Pig requires a 2 day notice but if the curry is any indication of why that time is worth it, I can’t wait to check it out myself!
Rose & Thorn is located on 17th & Blake Street. You can visit them online at their website, Facebook or Instagram.
Disclaimer: I was hosted at Rose & Thorn to facilitate this review. All photos, thoughts and opinions are my own.
