It's a Colorado Thing!

This past week Matt and I did something Coloradan by participating in Denver's 5280 Restaurant week! Last year, we learned about this cool deal after it was over, so we made sure to take advantage this year. For those who are not natives, 5280 is a magazine with all the top rated places in Denver. They have the best restaurants, hair salons, and even dentists! I know because our dentist was actually rated by them. :)

For 5280 week, all the expensive, snazzy restaurants have specials on their menus for a dinner for two at $52.80! This is a really great way to eat at places we could never afford otherwise.

 So we decided to try out a Brazilian steakhouse called Rodizio Grill in downtown Denver. It was a really cool loft building and so fun!

This was really Matt's first choice, because they serve all kinds of meat on skewers right at your table! All in all, we tried 21 rotations, with 19 different meats. Yum! We tried everything, including the the Chicken hearts! Yep, they were pretty tough and chewy...not our favorite. Everything else was sooo good. 

 This was Matt's favorite, as you may have guessed. :) Mmm..so good, but after eating a dinner of almost all meat, I think we need a week of fruits and veggies!

Overall, we had such a fun date night trying new things. Now we can't wait for next year...especially since it will be my choice! Anyone else go out somewhere fun for 5280?

  

 

Our Home - Valentine's Day Edition

Happy Valentine's Day!

I know everyone has strong opinions about this day and they always seem to either people love it or hate it. However, enjoy doing something special for my loved ones and adding a little extra touches to our apartment during this time of year. 

Valentine's Day is the first holiday after the big holiday season, so I love the excuse to do some seasonal decorating. Like I have said before, I really enjoy the transition of holidays and seasons. Today gives me a taste of color and gets me excited about Spring coming!

Here are the few accents I incorporated into our home this year. 

   This wreath is one that I use all year-round and just change the look by switching out the flowers or berries according to the season. For February and the end of winter, I went with a soft pink budding flower and kept it simple with just one side done. I really like how it is a nod to Valentine's day without being cheesy.

 

On the dining room table, I placed a large vase with the same budding flowers along with a willow tree statue. The runner is one that I recently made from scrap fabric. I really like how it turned out and that I can use it throught the Spring when I decorate for Easter! 

(This runner was made using my new sewing machine from my in-laws and it worked beautifully! Thanks to Matt and Julie!)

  This figure was an engagement present and brings an extra touch of love. :)

 Here is another simple piece to bring in some Valentine decor. This wreath is on our coat closet and I like changing it out with little accents. This wooden heart was 50% off at Joann's and only cost 2 bucks!

 Finally, I changed up our chalkboard on the coffee bar for the season as well! In our home, we love the Beatles so this saying was perfect for the month of love. 

Hope you all are enjoying this holiday! Can't wait for Spring to be here in full bloom. Colorado has such beautiful seasons so stay tuned for some amazing spring colors to come!

 

New Year, New Adventure

January was a crazy first month, but now life is finally slowing down again. The beginning of this year has been pack full of fun, school and new adventures. 

After the holidays, my sister, Miranda moved up to Colorado with us and started her first semester at Colorado Christian University. Our first few weeks were spent showing her around and taking her to the mountains. We have so enjoyed having family here! 

I also took a January term class, which completely consumed the past 3 weeks of my life. Thankfully, all my papers are finished and turned in and my Spring semester is in full swing. 

Despite all the hustle and bustle, Matt and I were able to go on a new adventure in Colorado. A few weekends ago, we were able to go up to Leadville with our imarriage class (from church) and go snowmobiling! It was our first time and we had such a blast! We are so thankful for our marriage mentors who own and share their wonderful cabin and snowmobiles. After our day of snowmobiling, Matt and I were able to spend a much needed night together in their cabin to relax and reconnect before the semester. 

Here are a few pictures from our fun and exciting trip to the Gresham's Getaway Cabin! 

Goodbye Christmas - Christmas Home Edition

Now that we are home from the holidays, it is time to take down and say goodbye to our Christmas decorations. As I was taking them down, I remembered that I had one post left in our Christmas edition! So here is a peak at the rest of our decorations and our tree. :)

Here is the kitchen bar all decked out with a gold bowl for fruit. 

 

 Our lovely white pitcher was refilled with greenery and red berries. The Red ribbon and gold pine cones tie everything together.

 

 

Then in the dinning room, I used a beautiful gold glass lantern as the centerpiece (A gift from my sweet mom!). I placed a red leaf place-mat on the neutral runner for added color. Berries and pine cones finished off the look. 

Behind the table, we utilized our half wall since we don't have a fireplace this year. It worked perfectly to hang our stalkings and display our collection of nutcrackers!

 Then, we "elfed" our apartment by hanging snowflakes over our built in buffet! Matt was so sweet to help me cut and hang all of them up! 

 We also bought our first mistletoe this year! It hang from the ceiling over the walkway between the buffet and wall. 

  

In the bathroom,I kept things simple by adding gold and red berries and a pretty bow. I also add a Christmas candle called "Merry Mistletoe" (Bath&BodyWorks).

 

 In the living room we had to move around the coffee table (trunk) in order to fit the tree by the window. On the trunk, I used an old box to hold Christmas candles and berries.

On the shelf in the corner, I filled a mason jar with mini pine cones and added berries to the vase. I also used another Christmas candle called "Frosted Cranberry," (Bath&Bodyworks) which smells so yummy!

 A last glimpse of our Christmas tree! I will miss this view until next year, but I'm looking forward to the coming Spring! 

Hope you all enjoyed your holiday season and New Year celebration! We are excited for what 2013 holds and wish you all a blessed year.

 

Micheli Family Christmas {Littleton, CO}

The Michelis are celebrating their first Christmas as a family of 3! The other day we did a quick mini session for their first family Christmas photos. 

You can also view their maternity pictures here and Juliet's newborn pictures here.
Hope you enjoy a few of my favorites of this adorable little family!

 

 

 

Entryway - Christmas Edition!

Here is our Second Christmas Edition post...Finally! These past few weeks were the last of my semester, so I was crazy busy with finals. Thankfully, they are over now and I can fully enjoy the Christmas season. 

I love the holidays and redecorating for Christmas most of all. Thankfully, my hubby doesn't mind and actually helps out! Yep, he's a sweetie. One day we hope to host Christmas at our house for family to come and visit...but for now, our blog will have to serve as a visit. Welcome to our home!

On the door, we hung our wreath from last year, which I still love! I love the frosted berries and twig look. 

 

Once inside, I kept our self simple by adding an extra large pine cone, which I got from our St. Nick store for 0.99!! 

 

On our bench, I added another extra large pine cone with an old lantern with mini pine cones. Then, the basket stores our many pairs of gloves and hats! 

 

After that, I added garland to our railing on the staircase. It took 2 strands, but they were 50% off at Hobby Lobby this past week! Then I added lights and mini berry clusters which were 0.39 each at Joann's.

 

 I love coming home to these festive decorations. Christmas lights make my heart warm!

 

Then, once you come up the stairs, this shelf is on the left. Here I added a winter candle called Snowed In* and it smells sooo yummy! Makes me wish we could be snowed in for just a day. I paired the candle with some pine cones and another berry cluster. 

(*The candle was from Bath&Body Works. The best way to buy Christmas candles is to get their emailed coupons and wait until they go on sale 2 for $20. My coupon was for $10 off $30 or more...so I bought 3 candles and only paid $20, which is the regular price for one!) 

 Finally, your next stop would be the coat closet, which has this lovely wreath. It was the same one I used for thanksgiving and I just added some sprigs of berries and 2 clusters. Simple and pretty! 

Wish you all could be here to really see our home and visit us! Hope you enjoyed a peek at our place and got a bit of inspiration. Happy holidays and stay tuned for more Christmas Edition posts!