Week Re-Cap

A chaotic big/little relationship. 

A two week re-cap because I just didn't have it in me to post last week. My parents came back to CO for a little adventure in Colorado Springs, Pueblo and La Junta. We had a blast, saw some cool stuff and just enjoyed each other's company. I then went to Wyoming for Cheyenne Frontier Days and did a few press events. Oh! And I saw my little from college, Julia for an afternoon of fun. Overall, it has been a good two weeks. I'm headed up to Grand Lake this weekend but then my August is completely free, which I'm ready for. How are y'all? — xoxo darling, Hayden

Large Marge's cheesesteak

Gonna miss this greenery in two months.

Went to the new Bar Civic

Green Valley Ranch Market

Insane gelato at I Scream

Jamaican Jerk & BBQ Restaurant 

Homemade peach ice cream

5281 in Littleton

Homemade rose popsicles

Longmont Farmers Market

Summer.

Cinnamon sugar pretzel for breakfast

Boulder Farmers Market

Breakfast tacos from Tacos Del Norte

Beleza Coffee in Boulder

Boulder Breadworks fruit tart

Challah from the farmers market

Tacos Ay Ay Ay

The best strawberry cake from Tous les Jours.

Mangonada from Los Conejitos Neveria

Napoleon from La Patisserie in Arvada

Bamboo's incredible fried cauliflower

Finished this one!

Hydrangeas are blooming! 

Torta Tuesday at Logan Street

A girl and her coffee creamer

Dinner at Shuga's

Gold Camp Road

Grabbed a beer at Ivywild School

Favorite part of The Broadmoor

Such a pretty morning! 

Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument

Iron Tree Brewery

Garden of the Gods Market & Cafe is so good.

Finally went to Rocky Ford for a watermelon.

Bent's Old Fort National Historic Site

Had lunch at Christine's in Rocky Ford — it's in an old church.

And they make great pie!

Walked the Historic Arkansas River Walk

Desperately want to ride these paddle boats!

Learned that Pueblo was the Steel City of the west.

Had a beer at Walter's.

Ate a Bingo Burger

Went to Neon Alley in Pueblo

Did the Daddy of 'Em All!

Our book club finally met in person after seven months!

Summer 2021 To Do List Update

 Welcome to the list update! Going to be doing this to keep myself on track — xoxo darling, Hayden.

Newly Completed/Partially Completed:

Make popsicles — I made watermelon rose pops that are delightful! 

Go to a fair — Went to Cheyenne Frontier Days yesterday and had all the goodies! 

Splash in a pool — I've now done this a few times both at my apartment pool and at The Broadmoor.

Go on three day-trip roadtrips — I've done two! Last Chance and I took myself up to the Pawnee Buttes (that guide should be coming soon). 

Try all the farmers markets — Making my way through 'em. I've done twelve, just 18 left! 

Taste-test all the ice cream parlors — I think I have like 10 left in the Denver area. 

Better your frozen drink game — I've got supplies and I'm ready!

Read some beach reads — Just finished "The Great Mistake" now moving onto T"ender at the Bone."

Already Completed:

Try on a nap dress 

Find a "Beer of the Summer" 

See a traveling exhibit 

Up Next:

Go on a girls trip — Headed up to Grand Lake with the gals this weekend!

Drink rose & read an entire book outside — Planning a Saturday in August to do this.

Visit a new park — I need to go to City Park for their farmers market & then I'll walk around it.

Monday Links

Happy Monday — xoxo darling, Hayden. 

I know I'm being crazy but I'm really excited for the pumpkin cream cold brew...

Fall colors to get ready for!

Abortion clinic escorts are doing incredible work.

Romance novels + religion...interesting.

This video made me laugh out loud.

On abandoning books, something I think everyone should do!

Some photo inspiration for August (can y'all believe it's just around the corner???).

I will admit I love watching Virgin River.

14 new shows for fall!

Jasmine Guillory's favorite books.

Let me move into this Parisian apartment right now. 

Bringing Back Bags

I've been really feeling old-school purses, or what I would consider pocketbooks as of late. I want them structured, I want them to be impractical but incredibly stylish. What do y'all think? — xoxo darling, Hayden

1. Blue, 2. Navy, 3. Three-Tone, 4. Green, 5. Red, 6. Black, 7. Pink, 8. Black, 9. Navy, 10. Pink, 11. Black, 12. Green

Monday Links

Happy Monday — xoxo darling, Hayden!

Adding some of these books for Sherlock Holmes lovers to my TBR.

Fascinating piece on the terrifying rise of anti-history.

Glamour's Community College Women of the Year — some true bada**es.

Desperate to go to Nantucket one day...

Denver Friends: This exhibit looks so cool (although maybe not worth the price?), the best Colorado-made beers for summer, as a fan of architecture this exhibit looks like fun and SweetWater Brewing is coming to Fort Collins!

A cheese trail? Sign me up!

Can y'all believe fall is right around the corner? (Ha! My roommate would hate me if she read that)

I want that hat.

How do we feel about the hair trends from the new Gossip Girl?

I want to stay here.

This Texas house is insane but I love it.

The best sunglasses for your face shape.

The conservative strategy to weaken Roe v Wade is scary.

Mary Poppins is one of my favorites and I love these two characters. 

Week Re-Cap

 
Visited the Pawnee Buttes this weekend.
It was a week full of good eats and some adventures — xoxo darling, Hayden.

Tried Buckhorn Exchange for the first time — it's Colorado's oldest restaurant.

Even tried the infamous Rocky Mountain Oysters...

Taste-tested Something Brewery in Brighton.

Stopped by Dearfield, Colorado & I'm really hoping the historical commission of the state is working on something better than this plaque. 

Summer flowers!

Cheba Hut opened in Aurora!

Deep Roots Winery opened in RiNo.

Loved Dang soft serve so much!

Park Hill Farm + Flea is each Thursday afternoon.

Bras.

A while back I saw a TikTok and it inspired me (and my mom) to find new bras. And I wasn't entirely sure it would work. As a person with fairly large ta-tas, I've always struggled to find a bra that would fully support me because most common bra stores don't make bras for my size. It was really hard growing up having to wear the biggest size in what I deemed "old lady bras." So, needless to say when this amazing woman said she got me on a TikTok, I jumped at the chance. And when I put on my new bras my jaw literally dropped. I immediately put on my old ones to compare how they made me look and it was insane. These new bras give me lift and make me feel proud of my chest, which is something I've rarely felt. Please, for your own good do this!

Here's how I found some killer bras:

Step 1: Watch these TikToks

@madisonxalexandra

Measuring ##brasize at home - Pt 1 🍒| ##cupsize ##brafitting

♬ Monkeys Spinning Monkeys - Kevin MacLeod

@madisonxalexandra

Reply to @sieraf More ##brafitting resources + transformations! 🍒 ##brasize ##cup size @bellarosalingerie

♬ SUN GOES DOWN - Andreas Roehrig

Step 2: Go to the A Bra That Fits website

Step 3: Figure out your size & buy some cute bras!

My favorite sites are Bare Necessities,  Bravissimo, Her Room, Brastop

Monday Links

Hope your Monday is off to a good start — xoxo darling, Hayden.

Very into this new-to-me YouTube series.

Oh, I would love to stay here.

This new collection is just what I need right now, I'm so into the 60s!

Y'all, the amount of people that want me to apply for the new P&P dating show...

I would like to move in now.

Such a cool photo series.

What products that you see on TikTok are worth it?

Best romance novels of 2021 so far...

Hear me out...I don't think these are all murder mysteries?

Week Re-Cap

The only decorations I enjoy for the Fourth of July at this point...

Yes, Week Re-Cap is two days late, but y'all it has been a week. Work has been interesting as of late and it all kind of came to a head — but in a good way. I'm excited to see what the future holds. Aside from that, the long weekend was so nice. I popped all over Denver getting content for Instagram and TikTok and spent some quality time with friends. How are y'all doing? — xoxo darling, Hayden

Loving these summer blooms.

Hop Alley's spicy chicken thigh

Obsessed with Hidden Gems ice cream in Larimer Square.

Tried Lost Coffee in Littleton.

Finally visited Cake Crafts in Englewood.

Bakery Four is only open a few days a week and the line starts at 7am so I got there v early on Saturday.

But very worth it!

Iced latte from Cafe Zuri

Checked out the Union Station Farmers Market.

Lil walk around Curtis Park.

Elections are coming up in November — don't forget to vote!

Had Saturday brunch at Mimosas.

Had a creamsicle cone from Sherry's Soda.

Potentially my favorite exhibit Denver Art Museum has ever had...

Julia and I tried City O City.

Finally got a bit out of my reading slump.

Potentially had the best chai in south Denver at Kunjani World Coffeehouse.

Visited the, very, large Parker Farmers Market.

It's corn season!

Made my own summer bouquet.

 

Last Chance Module Array Guide

Colorado Daytrip Roadtrip Series

Last Chance Module Array Guide

Sitting in a random field just outside of Last Chance, Colorado sits the Last Chance Module Array, an installation placed by M12 Studio to evoke thoughts about our relationship with the environment and the areas around us. Looking like deconstructed rural planning grids, they sit under the bright blue sky on wide open plains. This exhibit doesn't seem to be too well known so you will most likely be there by yourself. Follow this guide to make sure you have a good time!

How To Get There:

From Denver take I-70 to Byers, CO, make a left onto 36 and stay on that until you reach the four-way-stop in Last Chance. From there take a right and two miles down, on your left, will be the exhibit (39.712378, -103.591715 — this is the exact location). It takes about 1 hour and 30 minutes to get there. 

Parking:

We parked on the side of a dirt road that leads to the cell tower and no one said anything. Just avoid parking on someone's private property. 

Be Prepared:

There is no path. You will be walking through high grass and there are low-to-the-ground cacti in a lot of places. Wear long pants and shoes with a thick bottom (maybe even boots if you've got them). Don't forget a water bottle and sunscreen — it's about a 7 minute walk through the field but just in case you stay for a while. 

Additional Stops:

Strasburg Family BBQ

On your way to Last Chance, grab lunch here. The pulled pork is tender and the garlic bread is A+.

What's The Scoop, Limon

Once you've seen all there is to see in Last Chance head south to Limon for an ice cream sundae. It's the perfect way to end your adventure before heading back to Denver. 

American Eton Mess Recipe

I have been wanting to try Eton Mess for a long time. This classic British dessert has plagued me and I finally decided, why the hell not? I don't even like meringue but let's do this because it screams summer to me. I've adapted the BBC Good Food version below, since their's is in metrics. 

Eton Mess RecipeYou'll Need:-2 eggs (you'll need the whites)
-1 cup sugar (put it in the blender for 30 seconds to make it finer)
-1 pound box strawberries
-heavy whipping cream
-powdered sugar
-hand mixer
-two mixing bowls
-baking sheet
-spatula
-glasses/bowls
Instructions:1. Preheat the oven to 250 degrees farenheit.
2. In a bowl whisk egg whites until they reach stiff peaks. 
3. Add sugar in three groups, re-whisking to stiff peaks each time.
4. Spoon onto parchment paper lined baking sheet.
5. Cook for 1 hour & 15 minutes. 
6. Let them cool completely.
7. Cut up the strawberries, put them in a bowl and add some granulated sugar. Mix it so the juices come out.
8. Whisk whipping cream and powdered sugar (however much you want) in a bowl until it's stiff. 
9. Crush up 2/3 of the meringues, add them to the whipped cream and add 2/3 of the strawberries.
10. Spoon the mixture into bowls. Add strawberries and meringues for garnish. 
11. Eat immediately!

Want more?

Blend up some froze >> Bake strawberry shortcakes >>

Summer 2021 To Do List Update

Welcome to the list update! Going to be doing this to keep myself on track — xoxo darling, Hayden.

Make popsicles — I bought the molds so that I can do this, now to find the perfect recipe! 

Try on a nap dress — Oof, I wanted to like it, but it just didn't look good.

Find a "Beer of the Summer" — Did not think I would find this at Old Chicago, or so quickly but I've called it. Resolute Brewing Company's Crispy River (salted lime lager) is it. 

Go on three day-trip roadtrips — I've done one! We went to Last Chance (guide coming later this week), so we're 1/3 of the way done with this one. 

Try all the farmers markets — Making my way through 'em. I've done seven, just 22 left! 

Read some beach reads — Just finished "Toucan Keep a Secret" now moving onto "A Rogue of One's Own."

See a traveling exhibit — Saw Paris to Hollywood at Denver Art Museum and needless to say I am obsessed. 

Up Next:

Splash in a pool

Visit the botanical garden

Better your frozen drink game

Monday Links

Just a few links for your Monday. I'm off today and have no plans — xoxo darling, Hayden. 

Austin people: A new food hall & everything it's going to have.

Airbnbs in Paris that look phenom.

Found this piece on ethical porn fascinating. 

Very excited about this new restaurant coming to Denver.

Denver: Bring your own bags!

43 new books to add to your ever growing TBR. 

God, I want to go back to London.

Obsessed with these movie art prints — specifically The Parent Trap.

3 frozen wine recipes for July.

Fourth of July

I hope you have a great long weekend full of good eats, long summer nights and good drinks. But before you go, please consider donating to one of the following organizations. Being an American means fighting for all freedoms and these groups do just that.

Yellowhammer Fund 

Provides funding for women in Alabama seeking care at one of Alabama's three abortion clinics and will help with other barriers to access.

ACLU 

Will challenge new laws in the U.S. that go against our Constitutional and human rights. 

Planned Parenthood 

I would choose a state where PP is under-funded — like Missouri, but this will help women get access to healthcare of all kinds. 

AAUW

Your donation will go to getting women equal pay as well as helping women continue to do amazing things. 

NAACP

Support racial justice and equality in the United States.

Border Angels

Provides legal help for immigrants at the United States border. 

Denver Mutual Aid

Resources, education, support and services for people in the Denver area.

Navajo & Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief Fund

Indigenous populations have been devastated by COVID, help them get food and resources. 

 

Monthly Inspiration No. 21

Happy July! I'm ready for more summer vibes, I'm thinking frozen drinks on the balcony... — xoxo darling, Hayden

Pool, Frozen Drink, Flower Tunnel, Cactus, Beach Towel, Pink Flowers, Tennis