Quotes of the Week

Oof, this weekend went by too quickly. Last week was a rough one — lots of work, not a lot of sleep and I was just in a weird mood. But this weekend has been a nice relaxation period...although I wish it were about three days longer. I've got another full week plus some events and one of my best friends is coming to visit this weekend. I'm excited but trying to pre-plan outfits and meals so I don't have to think a lot aside from work. What are y'all up to? — xoxo darling, Hayden

Images here.

Marcus & Hayden Vlog

A week ago today I flew to Austin for a whirlwind weekend with Marcus — aka one of my best friends. I always like to make a vlog of our time together because they end up being my favorites to go back and watch throughout the year (see here, here, here). Although with his imminent graduation, I'm hoping we see each other more than once in ten months. We went all over — had epic milkshakes at the Domain, went out on Rainey, ate at the dining hall I used to eat at freshman year and went to the game. It was so fun and I already miss him like crazy. But I hope you enjoy this vlog — it's a short one this time — xoxo darling, Hayden.

Week Re-Cap

Took Marcus to his second football game.

It's Wednesday....and y'all the last two days have seemed to go by at a snail's pace. Maybe because it's been crazy at work and I've been exhausted each morning...I'm thinking I still haven't recovered from this weekend. Marcus and I stayed up late each night — went out to Rainey on Friday and the game went late on Saturday — but we had the most amazing time. I miss him so much when I'm in Colorado but these weekends are so great because we just pick up right where we left off. Do y'all have a friend like that? — xoxo darling, Hayden

 We didn't win trivia but we had fun, so...

Bacon wrapped dates at Chocolate Lab.

The cutest little s'mores at Chocolate Lab.

 An early Friday morning flight to Austin.

 Croque Monsieur from Annie's in the Austin airport.

A over-the-top cookie dough milkshake at The Yard at the Domain in Austin.

 Got to stay with the amazing Marcus this past weekend!

Friday night at the Container Bar — makes me miss college!

 Saturday morning shots of the stadium.

 Double fisting Modelo because I was worried we wouldn't win...

 ...but guess what, we WON!

Late night dinner at Trudy's after our victory. 

Dinner at The Peached Tortilla before heading out of town. 

Where to go Apple Picking in Colorado

Apple picking just screams fall to me. As a person who grew up in hot, humid south Florida and then lived in hot, dry Texas, I was always so jealous of my friends that lived in colder climates that got to do the fall things. So, of course when I moved to Colorado and discovered it was a possibility I started curating a list of places I could drive to with my friends. We didn't get a chance to go last year — football season got in the way — but this year we did! So, without further ado, here are my three favorite spots to go apple picking within driving distance of Denver. 

Third Street Apples

So this is the place I've gotten the most apples from. It's absolutely adorable with plenty of apple picking apparatus, other goodies in the farm store and all around cuteness. It's a great spot for photos as well. Plus, the apples themselves are amazing — I made apple bread twice with them a
nd ate about half the apples I cut first (then had to cut more). They grow lots of different kinds, when we got there most of the reds had gone and it was greens/yellows, which are my favorite anyway. 

Happy Apple Farm

This is probably the most experiential farm. They have a huge orchard, grow berries and have a cute pumpkin patch. They even have a restaurant that serves delicious bbq and the best apple cider donuts. They are more like cake but they're so moist and make me feel like fall to the extreme. You can take a hay ride down to the pumpkin patch/berry fields and they have those cute apple picking bags. I highly recommend going for lunch at this place and then stocking up on their apples, pumpkins and jams. 

Jenkins Farms Apple Valley Orchard

If you're looking for an orchard that isn't as packed as the other two, Jenkins is for you! We got there on Sunday afternoon and there were only two other groups picking. They also make some of the best apple cider I've ever had. But they only make it certain weekends of the year, so make sure to check their website or call them before you head down. Make sure to get photos with their cute sign (see below). 

Quotes of the Week

Happy fall y'all! I am coming off one of the most relaxing weekends but a long travel evening home has made me super tired this morning. After work I'm planning to unpack and crawl into bed with Gilmore Girls or Schitt's Creek because that sounds fall to me — xoxo darling, Hayden.

Images here.

Articles I'm Reading

1. If you're a creative, this is a great read // The Creative Independent
2. Omg the town that A Good Year was filmed in // The Londoner
3. Love Julia's house // Gal Meets Glam
4. Who doesn't want a blizzard candle? // PopSugar
5. Such cute costume ideas // Sugar & Cloth
6. As a huge fan of Chili's, this is the greatest // Good Mythical Morning

Fall Baking: Apple Walnut Bread

A while back — like a long while back — I wrote this post about some apple walnut bread my dad and I baked. The recipe comes from Deep South Mag (aka my first internship) and I love it. It's incredibly easy to make and tastes so good. It's the perfect thing if you have too many apples from apple picking adventures or want something fall without a lot of hassel. 

Apple Walnut Bread Recipe:

You'll Need:

-1/2 cup vegetable oil
-2 eggs
-1 cup sugar
-1 1/2 cups flour
-1/2 tsp. baking soda
-1 1/2 cups apples, peeled & diced
-1/4 cup orange juice
-1/4 tsp. salt
-1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
-1 tsp. vanilla
-1/2 tsp. cinnamon
-1/2 tsp. nutmeg
-parchment paper
-bread pan
Instructions:1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees.
2. Cut parchment paper to size for pan.
3. Peel and dice apples, put in bowl and douse in orange juice.
3. Mix oil, eggs and sugar together.
4. Add flour, baking soda, apples, salt, walnuts, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg.
5. Pour mixture into pan, top with some leftover walnuts and apple slices.
6. Bake for 1 1/2 hours. And you're done!

Troubleshooting:

I had no problems with the recipe, it's incredibly easy to mix up — the worst part is cutting up the apples — you pop it in a pan and a little less than two hours later and you're done.

Apple Picking Look

Okay, this might be one of my favorite shoots I've ever done. It definitely is in competition with the pumpkin patch look from last year. A few weeks ago I sent out in my gal pal group text that I wanted to go apple picking in September and low and behold, four other ladies wanted to go too! So we did. We drove down to Penrose (a little south of Colorado Springs) and visited three orchards. These photos were taken at Third Street Apples by my lovely friends. A whole post is coming about Colorado apple picking soon — and tomorrow is a recipe for apple walnut bread using the apples from this trip! Anyway, I bought the top on sale at Dillards. I couldn't find the red version but here is the navy version. It is one of the most flattering things I've ever owned and it's comfy. It was a hot day for apple picking and I never got overheated. Plus, the quality is excellent. What do y'all think? - xoxo darling, Hayden

Week Re-Cap

A girlfriend trip apple picking.

Okay, this week seems to be going by s l o w. Like molasses coming out of a plastic jar when you're trying to bake gingerbread quickly slow. Maybe it's because I'm so looking forward to spending the weekend in Austin with Marcus or maybe it's because I had a great week last week but I just want it to be not the middle of the week! Although I do have a dinner tonight that I'm looking forward to and some political functions tomorrow that look good. How has your week been? Over the weekend some gal pals and I went apple picking because...we're basic and it's basically fall! It was so much fun, I loved it. Other than that I ate a lot of food, take it away photos  — xoxo darling, Hayden

A salad at a newly discovered restaurant near my office, Blue Sky Cafe.

Biscuits (above) and empanadas (below) from Acres on Tuesday night.

Debz and I grabbed dinner while she was in town for work. 

Pierogis Factory does magical pierogis.

Treated myself to a little casual Friday night — had Jimmy Johns, 

went to a book store and ended the evening at Nella's Frozen Yogurt. 

Early morning walk on Saturday.

Followed by coffee at Unravel.

Third Street Apples is already growing some cute pumpkins.

Happy Apple Farms does a mean apple cider donut.

Kind of obsessed with this green pumpkin.

A little group shot to end the post with because I love these ladies! 

My New Skincare Routine

A while back something came over me and I decided that it was absolutely necessary to start moisturizing. And y'all, I've stuck with it! It's a shocking turn of events, I know. So, I thought I would share what I've been doing. The routine is easy so you can do it too! I promise. Let me know your day/night routines too — xoxo darling, Hayden.

Morning

Because I'm an insane person, I wake up most mornings at 6:15am so I can be to work around 6:38am. I hate traffic, what can I say? Therefore, I jump out of bed, brush my teeth, apply mascara and am out the door by 6:20am. But in between the teeth brusing and mascara application I smear on some Neutrogena moisturizer with SPF 35. Denver is crazy close to the sun — trust me, I feel it — so I can get a sunburn just from driving my car...nuts, right? I put this stuff on and it does the trick of protecting me from the flaming ball in the sky as well as giving my skin the moisture it needs.

Night

Every night I shower right before bed, I use this body wash if you are curious, and when I get out of the shower and towel off I use the CeraVe Moisturizing Cream. How did I choose this? It was the cheapest for the most at Target and it had a ton of reviews that were positive. And let me tell you, it's good. It's nice and thick but will last you for forever and I have felt a noticeable difference in my skin's softness/moisture retention. Then I put my hair mousse in and it's hasta la vista to the day. 

Quotes of the Week

Images here.

Articles I'm Reading

1. Bookmarking all of these recipes for fall // BuzzFeed
2. An interesting look at other countries & American culture // Far & Wide
3. For my ladies that are chestier than others // Man Repeller
4. I want to go to there // Belgrave Crescent
5. Some amazing photos from a blog I love // The Londoner
6. Obsessed over her sweater & the idea of creative camp // Wish Wish Wish

Fall Baking: Pumpkin Chai Snickerdoodles

When I saw these cookies on Half Baked Harvest and knew I had to make them. I used their recipe but amended it a bit with a little more chai flavoring. Feel free to use their's though, because it is amazing as well. I took these bad boys to work and they were gone in about an hour and people said they tasted just like fall. Which they do, if you want to get in a fall mood these are your best bet! — xoxo darling, Hayden

Pumpkin Chai Snickerdoodle Recipe:

You'll Need:

Dough:

-2 cups all-purpose flour

-1/2 teaspoon baking soda

-1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar

-1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

-1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

-1/2 cup butter

-1 cup granulated sugar

-1/2 cup pumpkin

-1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Chai Spice Sugar:

-1/3 cup granulated sugar

-2 teaspoons cinnamon

-1/2 teaspoon ginger

-1/2 teaspoon all-spice

-1/2 teaspoon cardamom

-1/4 teaspoon ground cloves

-1 tablespoon & 1/2 teaspoon chai concentrate 

-Parchment paper

-Baking Sheet

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

2. In a small bowl, combine the sugar, cinnamon, ginger, all-spice, cardamom, and cloves. Set aside.
3. In a medium bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cream of tarter, salt and nutmeg.
4. Using an electric mixer, in a large bowl beat together the butter and sugar until light and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Add the pumpkin, egg, chai concentrate and vanilla and beat until combined. Gradually add the flour mixture, mixing until just fully combined.
5. Roll the dough into 1 tablespoon size balls and then generously roll through the chai sugar. 

6. Place on the prepared baking sheet, spacing the cookies 2 inches apart. 

7. Transfer to the oven and bake for 8-9 minutes or until the cookies are just starting to set around the edges.

Troubleshooting:

Be forewarned, the dough is incredibly sticky! I had to flour my hands about three times while I was rolling the dough and placing it on the baking sheet. These cookies came out really soft baked, which I think worked well but if you want them to be a little firmer, bake 'em for 10-11 minutes. 

My Favorite Dress

Back in spring I visited the Mile High Flea Market, which I highly recommend going to if you live in Denver and I saw this dress in a shop that technically wasn't open and I fell in love. I immediately asked the woman who was opening if I could come inside and she agreed. I didn't see the name of the shop but if you go to these coordinates, you should be able to find it. I adore the embroidery, bright colors and the history of the piece. It is truly my favorite thing I own.

Now, let's talk the history behind San Gabriel Chilac Chanel. 

First, they are called San Gabriel Chilac Chanel. Second, they are made in the Sierra Negra in Puebla. The people who make the dresses have been doing so for generations. However, with the recent popularity of these dresses, the people from the Sierra Negra have been taken advantage of by third parties. And now manufacturers are making dresses like these because of that popularity and none of the money is going into the Sierra Negra.* 

Also, with this competition for the marketplace, reproductions can be made in under an hour on a computer. There are still people making these classic pieces in the Sierra Negra, some of which are here.**

Moral of the story: please make sure you know who you are buying from, why you are buying something & make sure to respect the culture when you wear something like this. Cultural appropriation is a real thing. It happens on a daily basis. By wearing something that is traditional of the community you are taking that on. So, if you wear a dress like this you better be supporting Mexican artisans, you better be learning the history of the people whose culture you are wearing, you better be all about freeing children kept in cages & reuniting families and you better be about abolishing ICE.***

*Source: Where does your Mexican dress really come from? Bonita Boutique

**Source: Familia Romero Roque. San Gabriel Chilac, Puebla. Todo Fresh

***Source: Fashion? Or Cultural Appropriation? Kayla Padilla for Trinitonian

Now for some organizations to donate to:

Abolish ICE by calling your reps

Mijente fights for Latinx rights

Immigrant Justice Corps fights deportation

Week Re-Cap

Pumpkin spice donuts at LaMar's.

Feels like it shouldn't already be Wednesday...even though Monday seemed like it was going by at a snail's pace. Maybe I'm just still tired from the weekend? I'm truly not sure. All I know is today is the day in my apartment. I'm "fall-bombing" our home. I told my roommate I'm doing this and the blog post is coming in early October but I'm just ready for it to happen. I've purchased all my decorations, done crafts and I'm ready to stick it all up. Plus, I'm going to be baking some fall cookies — recipe on the blog Friday — that I'm hyped about. 

Anyway, enough about today, let's discuss last week. I tried a few pumpkin delights, went to Austin with my parents, lost to LSU (it's okay, I'm fine with it) and ate too much. It was a fun week but lordy am I feeling the afteraffects. But I'm excited for the upcoming days — having dinner with friends, attending my monthly AAUW meeting, going to a Texas watch party, traveling to apple pick with some of my girlfriends and probably some more fun too. What are y'all up to? — xoxo darling, Hayden

Tried the Pumpkin Pie Chai at Dutch Bros, and loved it! 

My favorite place to eat in the airport — Root Down.

Finally tried The Switch in Dripping Springs, so good! 

After many years, the fam got to try Altstadt Brewing outside of Fredericksburg. 

Acopon Brewing in downtown Dripping Springs.

Wouldn't be a trip to Texas without a night trip to P. Terry's.

Spent Saturday morning at College GameDay...

...mainly sweating.

The Brewtorium has great food and good beer. 

Scenes from the Co-Op.

Finally got the sign my dad & I had been wanting since I toured UT.

A beautiful night although very hot.

A Sunday Pinthouse trip before heading to the airport.

New Current Denver Dining Guide

As I talked about in my first Current Denver Dining Guide, I'm trying to do my Denver dining guides in installments so they aren't as intimidating. Basically, I just wait a few months until I've tried a bunch of new restaurants and make a new post. At the end I'll actually narrow it all down into my ultimate guide that is just my favorites. But y'all deserve to know how I feel about every Denver restaurant I've tried, so here is the latest guide, I hope you enjoy - xoxo darling, Hayden.

Denver

Acme Delicatessen

Located in Union Station, this sandwich spot is a little pricey but so good. The bread was excellent, I liked the shredded lettuce and the chipotle aioli is so good. It is the perfect place to grab food before you get on a train or if you are going to sit down and get work done in the station.

Allegro Coffee Roasters

Right on Tennyson Street, Allegro is also in almost every Whole Foods in Denver. The shop itself is cute, with creaky wooden floors and lots of options. They also serve Topo Chico (a favorite of mine) and it's nice to sit outside sipping one of those while on wifi.

Ba-Nom-a-Nom

This food truck roves around Denver's events and they make ice cream out of fruit...that's it. There's no dairy, which is insane. And I'm a dairy lover but this stuff was creamy and good and I loved it. I had the classic banana with chocolate and it was so good. Like dream of it good.

Birdcall

A "fast food" joint that is so good, I love it. They basically make fried chicken sandwiches, milkshakes, etc. You order on a computer and it just pops out of the kitchen. I had the Nashville Hot and it was h o t. But so good. Also, the banana cream pie milkshake is excellent. It tastes just like banana pudding.

Bonnie Brae Tavern

A Denver classic, Bonnie Brae seems like somewhere where everyone knows everyone. They do burgers and pizzas and the burger I had (the Hank Special) was so good. The atmosphere is old school but there is parking and it will fill you up.

Cerveceria Colorado

I realize this is a brewery and it doesn't serve real meals but it must be mentioned. I love Mexican style beer and this place does it so well. Plus, it's adorable inside and the bartenders are super nice. It's a great Sunday afternoon place to drink away the Sunday scaries.

Chook Chicken

A fast casual restaurant started by some pretty successful Denver restaurateurs, Chook is good. Like truly good. I took Julia and kind of fell in love with it. While it's counter service, the restaurant doesn't feel that way, it feels upscale. The chicken was juicy, the mac & cheese creamy and the potatoes are a great side option. Have the Piri-Piri sauce and you'll feel like you're at Nando's.

Cozy Cottage 

If there is a Sunday brunch place in Denver, Cozy Cottage is it. It's this tiny little house on Tennyson with a great patio (well, if it's summer). Sit outside on a sunny day and get the chocolate chip waffles. They are crispy and Belgian in every way possible. I love 'em so much. Also, the restaurant is BYOB, so I saw a ton of people bringing their own champagne and just using the restaurant's orange juice, which is kind of ingenious.

Crema

In Denver Central Market in RiNo, Crema does a mean cappuccino.

Cruise Room

Probably my all-time favorite Denver bar, the Cruise Room was born after the repeal of Prohibition back in 1933 and has been going strong ever since. It's in the historic Oxford hotel, it's immediately on your left when you walk in, and it gets insane at night. I take all of my friends and if you wait in a corner you can usually get a spot at one of the booths or the bar. The whole thing is art deco, lit in this cool red lighting. All of the drinks I've had are good, I've never tried the food but it is a must visit.

Duffeyroll Cafe

OMG, some friends & I tried this place during the South Pearl Farmers Market (my all time favorite in Denver) and it was so good! I just assumed it was all cinnamon rolls, which aren't my favorite, but they do amazing savory options as well. I highly recommend getting a few mini rolls and going to town. The Bacon, Cheddar, House Roasted Tomato and Original are my favorites.

Euclid Hall

Off Larimer Square, this spot is a little over the top but the sandwiches are well done. The rest of my party loved the Bubble & Squeak. They also have a good beer selection. I think it's good for a once in a while situation, but their food is a little too complicated for me on the regular.

Finn’s Manor

Like a food hall, but drinks, Finn's Manor has outdoor seating (and a bar) as well as some indoor areas (and a bar) too. The best friend and I went inside to get drinks then ended up by their colorful walls. It's very RiNo, very hipster, very Denver. Have the Caloosahatchee, it's bourbon, curacao, tangerine, lemon, grapefruit hops bitters and an orange twist.

Habit Doughnut Dispensary 

A donut shop that is open for longer and their donuts are good! Plus, you get to squirt a shot of some type of alcohol in your donut...and let me say, it does wonderful things. I had the Real Mint Shady with Jameson and loved it.

Happy Bakeshop

This adorable bakery made me a cake for my one year anniversary but they also do good cupcakes (including a great deal on Tuesdays). I'm a big fan of just the traditional vanilla cake with vanilla icing.

High Point Creamery

This is a very famous Denver spot as they do the ice cream flight; meaning five flavors of ice cream, one of their sauces and a few waffle cone chips. It's a great way to find out what your favorite HPC flavor is. We went to the one in Denver Central Market and the people working were super nice! The salted caramel was probably my favorite.

Izzio Bakery

Inside Denver Central Market, Izzio is a bakery that I would eat at every day if I could. They have so many options and they all look amazing. I usually go for a classic almond croissant but I've been known to expand my palate occasionally.

Link Coffee Bar

One of my favorite cozy coffee shops. Mainly because it's across the street from where I volunteer, but still, it's good. Plus, they do self-serve alcohol and have really good wifi. It does close at 4:30, which is quite early. And annoying for me now, since I used to go at 4 and stay until 5:30, but maybe their hours will change in the fall!

Milkbox Creamery

Located inside Union Station, Milkbox dishes up Little Man Ice Cream in a subway tile setting. I had the creamsicle (it was summer) and sat out in the station with a book. So good. 

Platt Brewing Company (Gates Deli & Grog)

Platt Brewing is one of our go-to breweries because they do good trivia and the guys are so nice! The beer itself is good and the pizza sandwich at Gates Deli (inside the brewery) is such a great drinking food.

Post Oak BBQ

If you're a Texan or if you just love Texas, Post Oak is for you. Literally, their logo, their atmosphere, everything about it is Texas. I went on a weeknight and it wasn't crazy crowded. You line up and order, then pick a seat. They have a full bar and the sides are really good. They do a mean sausage as well!

Rise & Shine

When I'm missing Bojangles, Rise & Shine is the place I go. Also, it's just a great breakfast place with good biscuits (their biscuits are much like Bojangles) and tasty combos. It's a counter service situation with lots of seating and while it can get crazy, it moves quickly.

Steam Espresso Bar

Such a good coffee shop. The drinks are well done, the place is cute and the wifi is solid. I will say, it's small and in a neighborhood so it does get crazy busy. I went on a Saturday afternoon, sat outside in the beginning then went inside and snagged a table.

The Budlong 

This hot chicken joint is in the Zeppelin Station food hall and let me just say, their chicken lit me up. I think I do fairly well with spicy foods so I got the extra hot and it burned...but in a good way. I like that you can get the chicken in strips instead of just a piece on a sandwich roll. It makes it easier for leftovers, which I definitely had. The mac & cheese was creamy as well and helped soothe my mouth.

The Pig & The Sprout

Downtown, a little walk from Union Station, The Pig and The Sprout is a cool spot. We sat right by the windows, which were open because it was still summer and enjoyed the people watching. They have a good beer selection and offer a meat menu and a vegetarian menu. I had the pulled pork sandwich, it was good, I wish they had put the bbq sauce on it instead of on the side — but I'm a bbq traditionalist. Julia had the poutine and seemed to enjoy it.

The Welton Room

Okay, this has become my new favorite bar in Denver. It is AMAZING. The two bartenders were the nicest I've ever had. They made us special drinks and just generally got us. We were the only customers for a bit on a Tuesday evening, but I'm sure it can get nuts. The actual atmosphere is slick, located in a new apartment building in Five Points. The drinks are out of this world. Get the cotton candy martini for the 'gram but also because it's good. Also, the RTD stops just in front, so you have no excuse to drink and drive.

Tupelo Honey

A chain, but such a good one. The fam and I visited the location right by Union Station on a Sunday around noon and it was nuts inside. But we got a seat at the bar and I cannot stress enough how cute the place is. Down to their glasses, which have graphics of a hand holding horses (aka, hold your horses). It was as if Kacey Musgraves had designed the restaurant. The food was good as well, very southern comfort in the best way possible.

Taziki's

A fast casual Mediterranean spot, Taziki's is super good. Their hummus is amaze and I like that while it's fast casual they are actual meals. Like you don't go down a line saying what you want (no offense to one of my favorite med-fast-casuals). Plus, it's really cute inside and a good place to meet a friend for lunch.

Vero

The best friend and I ate at this stall in Denver Central Market and were so happy with it. We had a spicy pepperoni pizza (well, you call those soppressata). It was super spicy but so good! I dream about that pizza to this day.

Wild Women Winery

Such a fun place to visit on a Friday night — they do happy hour well. I think it would be a great girls night as the winery is owned by women so, ya know, girls supporting girls. The roommate and I went and drank a lot for about $30 (plus, we had the cheese plate).

Yazoo BBQ

Located kind of at the entrance to RiNo, Yazoo has great bbq and a cool atmosphere. They have seating on the first floor and then a full bar and more seats up top. And y'all, they have parking in downtown Denver! I must say the baked beans are excellent and the mac & cheese was good too. The chicken was also flavorful.

Lakewood

Bardo Coffee House

While technically in Wheat Ridge, I'm putting this in the Lakewood section. It's a really cute coffee shop with lots of space, although on a Tuesday afternoon around 3pm it was pretty crowded. They do have wifi but it's only for 180 minutes per purchase. So if you want to camp out there expect to have to buy a new item every so often. They have lots of coffee options and snacks. I went for a simple cappuccino as it was cold outside and it wasn't bitter, just rich and strong.

Hello Coffee 

This super cute coffee shop is probably off your radar as it's in a shopping center I had never even seen until I visited. They have a few very instagramable spots inside and on a Saturday afternoon it wasn't crowded. They have an extensive latte menu that all looks delightful — I had a mint chocolate concoction and loved it. 

Piggin’ Out BBQ

Piggin' Out has a few locations but the Lakewood one is fun because all the seating is outside. It's an eclectic mix of seating options but so nice for a hot summer day or a crisp fall afternoon. All the meat was flavorful and smoked well. Would recommend this spot to get out of your routine!

Littleton

Adelitas y Cocina

As I try to eat at all the Littleton restaurants — the Denver community I call home — this was at the top of my list. It's located along the adorable main street downtown and has a rooftop portion. Have yet to go up there but the roommate and I grabbed dinner at the bar one night and I was happily surprised. We had margaritas, they make 'em strong and the Pollo con Crema is excellent. It's smothered in this chipotle cream sauce that I wish they bottled and sold so I could put it on everything.

Atlas Coffees

My favorite car wash is in this parking lot, so one morning I thought to finally try this little coffee shop. The atmosphere is cute, very world travel themed and the coffee was strong but not bitter (aka my goal with coffee). I had a chocolate muffin too and just sat for a bit; twas very peaceful.

Bacon Social House

I have never been to the original location of this spot, but I love the Littleton one. It's right across from the Littleton courthouse and has a rooftop with views of the Front Range. It's a all-day brunch type of place, which as a basic human I love. Definitely get the bacon flight, bacon & waffles and an aperol spritz.

Bowles Cafe

You walk into Bowles and you get the sense that everyone knows everybody. It's cute and sweet. I did breakfast on a cold, rainy morning so I didn't get to take advantage of the outdoor seating next to the waterfall — but do that if you can. The breakfast burrito was pretty good and the service was excellent. It's that no-frills breakfast spot near your house that won't have an insane wait on a weekend.

Cafe Terracotta

A classic brunch spot in a big, old house off of the main Littleton drag, Cafe Terracotta does not disappoint. The brunch wait can be kind of long, so go early on a Sunday. But while you wait indulge in their mimosas and pretty much all the food on the menu is good. I had a classic breakfast with bacon, eggs and potatoes, all were good and cooked to perfection.

Flying Pig Burger Co.

In west Littleton, Flying Pig serves up juicy burgers and good craft beer. They also do good specials so check out their website before you head over.

Gunther Toody’s

I love a classic diner, the more over-the-top the better and Gunther Toody's is right up my alley. The best friend adores their Monte Cristo, I love their thick chocolate malts and the burger is also good.

LaMar's Donuts

I finally tried this Denver staple, they've been around since 1933, and was not disappointed. I had a pumpkin spice donut, because I'm basic and it was so perfectly done.

Nekter

A chain, but a new to me chain, Nekter does juices/smoothies/cleanses. And while I'm not a huge fan of all that I do recommend if you are looking for a quality smoothie. When I got sick I went and got their "immunity" shots — not sure if they helped but they made me feel like they helped. 

Nook Coffee

Located in a downtown Littleton cheese shop, Nook is good for when you need to get something done in cute surroundings. They have great wifi, good baked goods and delicious coffee.

Original Pancake House

OPH might be a chain you are familiar with but just in case you aren't, here's this one! It's located in the busiest/maybe best shopping center in Littleton and it doesn't disappoint. The meals aren't cheap but they are MASSIVE. Look at the whipped cream atop those chocolate chip pancakes! If you are headed for a long day shopping, hiking, driving this would be my go-to.

Piccino Wood Oven Pizza

A cute pizza spot with great deals — including a 6" pizza, half salad and drink for $12.25 — the food is really yummy. It's fast casual but a little bit nicer so you can use it as a date night spot or a place to meet with your girlfriends for their wine bottle deal on Monday nights.

Rosie’s Wild Flour

Please walk, don't run to Rosie's. It's in a strip center across from the Southwest Mall and if you didn't know it was there, you wouldn't go. BUT GO. I went twice in two days because I love it so much. They serve up delicious baked goods but they also do great breakfast biscuit sandwiches that both myself and a friend love. The atmosphere is cute and the guy who operates the front is hilarious. Seriously, go to this local spot and enjoy it!

Tacos Selene

This little spot is located in an unassuming strip-mall near the Elvis movie theater...if you know, you know. I wasn't expecting a whole lot but you walk in and it's cute and the service is great. The tacos are tiny — just like the classic taquerias in Texas — and they do good sauces/salsas as well. 

Taste of Philly

I'm a big philly cheesesteak fan, I grew up with a place right by my house, so I was curious how this place would be. It was classic and perfect. Good for when you just want something a little greasy and bad for you. 

The Bundt Shoppe

I love a bundt cake, Texas has many Nothing Bundt Cake shops but this is the local version of that! I went in the afternoon on a weekday and they still had a ton of the mini bundts in tons of flavors. It was summer and they even had pumpkin! I had the creamsicle and the chocolate, which were both incredibly moist and the icing was just sweet enough. 

Arvada

Global Goods & Coffee 

This is one of my go-to coffee shops on the west side of Denver. It's in a cute old house with outdoor seating and for some reason it gives me the feeling it could be in Stars Hollow (where are my Gilmore Girls fans at). I think it is the perfect spot on a crisp fall morning to grab a chai, breakfast burrito and sit out on the patio with a good book. Too cold? Sit inside where the wooden floors creak and you can curl up next to a window.

New Image Brewing

My friend and I tried to go to this brewery/restaurant one Friday night and it turned out they were celebrating an anniversary that was insane so we ended up at a chain. But a few Sundays ago I took my parents because the brewery is known for IPAs and my mother is an IPA lover/snob (give her a follow). I wasn't expecting to like the food as much as I did. I snacked on the Carnivore Nachos, house-made chips and shredded chicken with all the normal fixins.

Aurora

HashTAG

This spot out near the airport...as close as a cute restaurant can be to the airport... had been on my radar for a while but I hadn't had a chance to try it until recently. The place looks like if Bumble (the dating/friendship app) was a restaurant. In the best way possible — it's highly Instagramable with bright yellows and honeycomb design features. The wait can be super long on weekends (but the counter is a free-for-all). Get the Fro-J, basically a frozen mimosa and split the cinnamon roll — it's massive. I enjoyed the breakfast nachos, because that's fun but I think they could have thrown some scrambled eggs on top to keep with the breakfast theme.

Rolling Smoke BBQ

Located in Stanley Marketplace, Rolling Smoke is bringing traditional bbq to Denver. Their mac & cheese is made with shell pasta and is delightfully cheese, plus they serve traditional baked beans — where there is almost more molasses than bean. The meats were smoked well and I was shocked at how good it all was on a Sunday afternoon only a few hours before closing.

Snowl

I think Snowl was designed with social media in mind because it seems like every corner has a staple of the perfect aesthetic restaurant. This was also the first place (and only) I have had Taiyaki, those adorable fish shaped cones. I had it filled with red bean paste, taro and covered in fruity pebbles. The cone was so good because it wasn't overly sweet. That was probably my favorite thing that while I was eating dessert, it wasn't sickly sweet. Plus, the place was packed but I easily got a seat and just enjoyed people-watching the other influencers. 

Sonder

If you love that minimalist, Pinterest coffee shop design, go to Sonder immediately. If you're like me and love a good coffee shop with good wifi, Sonder is great too. It's located in an apartment complex...or so it seems? But there is always parking and I highly recommend asking about their seasonal menu. I went in the summer and had a sunflower latte (not sure I liked it, but it was so different than anything I've experienced).

Wonder Tea

I love Thai-rolled ice cream. The love began in Austin and it continues today. This particular spot is in a grocery store...but don't be intimidated. You don't even have to walk into the actual store as Wonder sits to the right before the second set of doors. Wonder is another Instagram place, there is a cute green wall with twinkle lights and a golden sign. I had the mango ice cream, which was so light and airy that I wanted to go back for more. The people running the shop are so sweet and gave me suggestions on what to top it with — overall a fantastic experience. 

Zero Degrees

Yes, this is a chain (and for my Austin readers, y'all are getting one!) but it's so unique I wanted to include it. I have never had Ube in my life but when I saw a photo of that beautiful lavender milkshake I knew I had to get my hands on it. The place gets packed but you can always find a parking spot and the line moves quickly. Most people, myself included, were getting items to go. The food is something I have yet to try but it looks interesting!

Centennial/Lone Tree

Fox & Hound

This sports bar invited me to dine for free and I said yes (of course) because I love a good sports bar. And this one doesn't disappoint. It's massive yet intimate at the same time. The night I was there my roommate and I were seated in the more billiards-style room and we had no idea trivia was going on on the other side of the restaurant until my roommate went to the restroom. For a sports bar to be quiet can be a nice thing. They also have about 8,000 tvs so if you want to watch "the game" they will have it. I highly recommend the boozy milkshakes and the loaded tater tots. 

Morrison

The Cow, An Eatery

This is a cute spot on the main Morrison drag. I love it because it's one of the closest breakfast restaurants near my apartment and it's a great place to take people who don't have mountains where they're from. The drive to the place is almost magic. They do have a parking lot, but I've gone during the week at 9am and gotten the last spot, so be prepared to park on the street. They serve up all the classic breakfasts, including a delicious biscuit dish smothered in gravy. If you're visiting Morrison in the afternoon and want a sweet treat, you can walk up to their ice cream window.

 

Quotes of the Week

^probably one of my all-time favorite quotes. happy monday - xoxo darling, Hayden.

Images here.

Last of Summer Recipe: American Tiffin

As y'all know I'm an avid viewer of Zoe Sugg's YouTube channel and she has, recently, been making this "tiffin" thing a lot. I had no idea what a tiffin was as we don't do this kind of thing in America. After some research it seems close to "rocky road," which is another thing we don't really do in America...or at least the parts of America I'm from. However, it is delightful and so freaking easy to make! Seriously...I think it took me 15 minutes to do the whole thing and that's because I obsessively read and re-read recipes. The tiffin recipe itself comes from Frances Quinn (a Great British Bake-Off alum) but, since we don't live in the U.K. I thought I would show y'all how I amended it to make it easy on us bakers in the Sates. 

American Tiffin Recipe: 

You'll Need:

-1/2 cup of butter, chopped

-2 tbsp light corn syrup

-1 cup milk chocolate chips

-1 cup dark chocolate chips

-1 cup biscuits (I think you could use any rectangular cookie)

1/2 cup Famous Amos cookies

-1/2 cup Whoppers

-1/2 cup mini marshmallows

-Metal tray

Instructions:

1. Save half your biscuits for the top portion of the tiffin. Put the rest in a bowl, add the chocolate chip cookies and whoppers — then proceed to break them up with you hands (or if you have something to bash them with. Basically you are breaking them up so they'll be in small chunks for the mixture. Add your mini marshmallows to the mix. 

2. Melt the butter and corn syrup in a saucepan — I truly don't think it matters what kind. Stir it occasionally as the butter melts. Once it is all melted you'll add your chocolate chips and stir until smooth. Don't let your chocolate burn! Remove from the heat once you have a nice mixture. 

3. Pour your melted chocolate mixture over the dry mixture and stir until everything is combined. 

4. Put parchment paper down on your pan or put cooking spray. Then spread your combined mixture along the bottom — shoot for evenness but it isn't the end all be all. 

5. Press your unused biscuits on top and set in the refrigerator to set. 

6. Mine set up after about two hours but I didn't cut it until the next afternoon, so just wait until it has set, cut it up and there you go! 

Troubleshooting:

I didn't have any problems making this except from finding rectangular cookies...maybe I'm just having a brain moment but I can't think of any American cookies shaped like that. So I went to my local European market (love y'all) and bought some Croatian cookies. But I think the beauty of a tiffin is that you can put pretty much anything in it and it's delicious. Also, this whole thing takes about 15 minutes to make, so if you mess it up — it's fine. 

Last of Summer Shoot

Summer is definitely coming to a close as the temperature gets colder and colder each morning. I'm excited for fall, as it is my favorite season, but I will miss the bright sun and hot days of summer. 

You can find my outfit here.

Week Re-Cap

First play of the college football season.

Ooo it was a good week y'all. First, we love a long weekend so that made it great but also, college football came back with full force this week and ya girl went to her first game of the season. While Mizzou lost, it was a fun game and I just loved being back in the atmosphere of a stadium. We also went to a Rockies game and a CU soccer game so it was a #sporty weekend. Monday I woke up at 4am wide awake so I headed out for coffee at 6, tried to go somewhere local — it was closed — and ended up at Starbucks, but y'all that Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is worth every penny! Then I went on a shopping spree for fall decor...don't worry a fall hall is coming in early October. I have some grand plans for our apartment this year...I warned my roommate she's going to come home one day and it will look like a fall bomb has gone off. 

The week ahead should be fun, I took Friday off in order to head down to Austin for the big game this weekend...I'm terrified but excited. College GameDay, a show I kind of hate and never watch is coming...but of course, since it's Texas, I will attend because...why not? And I get to see my parents and hopefully my best friend. It should be a good one! What are y'all up to? - xoxo darling, Hayden

 Jessica and I went to trivia @ Platt Park Brewing — we didn't win but we got free beer.

Dinner @ the Pig & Sprout.

Did you even go to a sporting event if you didn't eat Dippin' Dots?

A Friday night Rockies game.

 We got our photo with Dinger!

Colorado has been having some beautiful sunsets lately.

Loved all the details on the University of Wyoming's campus.

 One of my favorite drinks I've ever had...and it's from Starbucks!! 

The Pumpkin Cream Cold Brew is A+.

 Sunday brunch at The Buff in Boulder.

Watching Texas soccer play vs. CU Boulder.

Summer Vlog

So...here's the deal. I filmed various vlogs over the course of the summer but never got around to editing them/my editorial calendar was full. So, I thought I would combine all of the really good clips into one massive vlog. Yes, it's long, but I love a long vlog — anyone missing Zoe Sugg's? — so please enjoy my summer, from the last snow in May to bouncing on the world's largest bounce house to attending a fair and a rodeo to going to my first football game of the season — hint: it wasn't Texas - xoxo darling, Hayden.

Quotes of the Week

Happy Labor Day! And what the perfect time for a long weekend? - xoxo darling, Hayden

Images here.