Pizza Farm

Happy friday lovely readers. It has been a crazy busy week and I feel like my presence and dedication to my blog has seriously suffered. Today, sadly, is no different. I promise to do better next week and I have a lot of super exciting updates and posts to share with you. One hint... blog design updates!!!

Today I leave you with a hilarious funny or die video from nick offerman. The messaging is great and should make everyone think twice about what they are eating and where their food comes from.

Happy weekend ahead... make it a good one! 

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11 Ways To Be A Better Cook

I am always looking for tips + tricks in the kitchen to speed up the cooking process and to help me be a better at-home chef. These epicurious tips might seem simple at first but they are all essential ways to make your next meal come together with ease. Check them out!

To see the full article associated with this video, click here.

The Taste of Home

Last sunday I wrote about my family's tradition of eating dinner together every night. The rituals involved, the connections it brought and the memories give me so much appreciation for the time we spent together as a family unit. So many of those meals were family recipes and dishes that I have grown to associate with my childhood; they are the dishes I crave for my parents to make and they are what I want to prepare for my family to enjoy together. 

I stumbled upon this youtube video, flavor of home and it really got me thinking about the tastes of my childhood and my family home. We all have them, those dishes you hold so close to your heart because they bring you back to a moment, a meal, a feeling that you cannot quite describe but it just makes your heart (and stomach!) so full of love. Mine would be roast beef with mashed potatoes + gravy, homemade chicken noodle soup, tacos with fried shells and homemade wonton soup. These dishes were meticulously made with love by my parents and you could taste that in each bite. 

The greatest taste on earth is a meal that brings you back home; no matter how many miles away or how much time that can go by, one bite of a dish from your childhood and you are instantly transported back in time/space to a special place in your heart. I don't know if there is a better meal in the world than one that has so much connection to who you are and where you come from.

#JetSetGo // Michael Kors

Last week I jetted away to the sun and sand of puerto vallarta. The week was full of family, fun, a bit of adventure and a lot of relaxation. I am fresh off the plane back in denver and trying to get into the swing of things.

While I go through my photos and get back into a normal schedule, check out the latest video from my favorite designer michael kors. If you pretend the gorgeous lily aldridge is me, this video is practically an accurate portrayal of my week in puerto vallarta. I am so glamours... ha!  

Latest Beauty Buys

I am excited to share today's post as I have become obsessed with some new beauty products that I think you might like too. Back in august I shared my last beauty post but today's features products that have seriously changed my routine for the better.

(beauty blender  /  cleanser  /  toner  /  eyebrow pencil)

First up... the beauty blender. This makeup sponge is unlike anything I have ever used to apply foundation, tinted moisturizer, concealer, blush or bronzer. You get flawless coverage that looks like a professional applied it. I have seen beauty blenders on the market for a couple of years but after watching kandee johnson's youtube tutorial, I decided to buy one. I have not looked back since.

Image skin care is a leading professional skin-care line. Their balancing facial cleanser is a 3-in-1... exfoliate, makeup remover and gel cleanser that balances the pH in my skin while removing impurities. It smells intoxicating and leaves my skin hydrated and clean.

I found thayers toner through emily at cupcakes and cashmere and have been loving the results. This toner removes everything from makeup to dirt while leaving my skin moisturized and soft. The best part, there is no burning sensation when applying because thayers is alcohol-free.

Finally my eyebrows thank me for looking filled in after I apply my anastasia eyebrow pencil. The pencil comes in a variety of shades and can be sharpened to created ultra-thin definition without looking drawn-on. I also love that this brow pencil comes with a built-in blending brush.

I would love to hear about the beauty products you swear by. Feel free to share them in the comments section below!

Weekend Update

I don't know why my weekend updates always include an obscene amount of food shots but what can I say, I am 'that girl' who loves to take pictures of beautiful and delicious food. #sorrynotsorry

So, speaking of food this weekend... I ate a lot. Pastries + coffee at steam on friday, brunch at linger on saturday for my dad's birthday, homemade pancakes + bacon for breakfast on sunday followed by my favorite, my dad's chile rellenos while watching the superbowl. My belly was happy which in turn, made me very happy too.

Ryan and I stayed home on saturday evening which was actually quite nice. We made a trip to ikea earlier in the day and came home with 6 boxes... which eventually turned into a new faux-denza media console for our living room. Major props to ryan; I don't have any research to support this claim but I would say my husband is part of a small percentage of men who have the patience to put together furniture from ikea with such patience and excitement. 

Then there was the superbowl. I can easily say I cared 0% who won but instead put my focus towards the real entertainment of the evening, the commercials and halftime show. My heart-strings were pulled this year by budweiser, always, the domestic violence psa and dove. I laughed over esurance and doritos. However, the highlight of the entire evening was missy elliott's surprise performance in the halftime show. #amazing

NYT // 36 Hours In Denver

The new york times just put out a video on what to do in denver if you only have 36 hours in the mile-high state. I love that they were able to capture so much of my home town... this urban metropolis which is only steps from the foothills + rocky mountains that hold endless activity for us denverites to enjoy. The video highlights our ever-growing dining industry, our emerging music scene, our beautiful art + culture and of course, our love for some good beer drinking. Check it out!

Food-Trend Predictions // 2015

2014 was all about locally sourced ingredients, macaroons, barrel-aged cocktails, nose-to-tail and of course, kale. So, what will 2015 hold for food trends across the country? Bon appetit's andrew knowlton and the national restaurant association have made their predictions and I cannot wait to see and taste my way though them all.

gyros:  a world-class sandwich that balances crispy spit-roasted meat with pillowy-soft pita bread and cool, refreshing tzatziki sauce. Look for restaurants to put their spin on this worldly sandwich.

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environmentally sustainable: chefs and diners want to know where their food is coming from and are choosing food more responsibly. Destroyed rain forests/woodlands, over-fished oceans/lakes and unsustainable farming practices are being scrutinized to put the environment first.

nitro cold-brew coffee: straight off the tap and into your cup, this ice-brewed coffee is infused with nitro to create a smoother, creamier drink.

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beef tongue: adaptable to different flavors and delicious when sliced thin and grilled, this adventurous ingredient is going to be popping up on menus everywhere. The experts say, just try it...

new cuts of meat: often called 'chef cuts', these less-common cuts are getting new cooking techniques and becoming more available in stores which is also helpful to ranchers to increase profits.

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third-wave beer bars - ditch the pint glasses and taps pouring national brands. The new 'beer-nerd nirvanas' have specialty glasses, sleek taps, local/small-batch beers and destination-worthy eats. 

Check out the full article from bon appetit here and the national restaurant association predictions here. 

Ikea // The Other Letter

Wow, I do not mean to blow up my blog with endless videos but I cannot help myself because there are just so many touching videos that I cannot keep all to myself. Ikea put together this one; asking kids to write a letter to santa for chirstmas and then to also write a letter about what they would ask from their parents. The results are not super shocking but extremely heart-wrenching.

The Christmas Spirit

I know we all can get wrapped up in the chaos of the holidays and sometimes forget about the true meaning of 'christmas' but this video will quickly remind us all what it is all about... taking care of others, selfless acts, spreading love and giving, not receiving. 

The christmas spirit is all around us, be a part of the energy and spread the love. 

Union Station // A Closer Look

For those of you who have not yet visited the newly renovated union station, or if you happen to not live in colorado, then you might not know what a huge update this re-haul was to the city. Union station was built in 1881 to serve as the hub for all things travel. It became a booming railroad station and stayed that way as denver grew. Sadly through the 70s, 80s and 90s, much of lodo (lower downtown) became increasingly seedy and many of the historic buildings and commercial areas became abandoned or displaced.

Over the past 20-30 years, developers and new businesses have moved into lodo, cleaning things up and in turn, real estate has skyrocketed. Yet union station, with its massive facade and large space stayed primarily empty and underwhelming as the city flourished. But union station was not forgotten, public and private investors have just completed a major revitalization to bring it back to its original state. The building has been restored, businesses have taken over the tens-of-thousands of square feet and it is again the travel hub of denver.

There is now a chic hotel inside, the crawford, which I cannot wait to check-into for a staycation. Also there are a handful of unique boutique shops and my favorite... tons of dining and drinking establishments. I have already become a fan, and/or a bit of a regular at stoic & genuine, mercantile dining and provisions and pigtrain coffee co. If a libation is what you are looking for, union station has you covered as well; both the cooper lounge (think mid-century modern lounge) and the terminal bar (the space is like stepping into the 1881 train station with classic details everywhere you look) have delicious cocktails as well as craft beers and wines by the glass or bottle. 

Union station is back and more beautiful than ever. The building is looking extra sharp this month with its gussied up holiday decorations both inside and out. I am a bit bias but I think this renovation has upped denver's game big time, I hope you get a chance to check it out for yourself.

(I found this awesome video on union station's revitalization)

Fine Dining // A 7-Year Old's Perspective

Last month the new york times magazine hosted 6 second graders from brooklyn to a seven-course tasting menu at one of the country's top fine-dining establishments. Daniel, the acclaimed french restaurant from daniel boulud treated the diners to a $220 per person meal that featured courses like smoked paprika cured hamachi, squash pasta with pork belly and even crispy japanese snapper. The meal was shot by jeffery blitz, a oscar-nominated documentary film director and it truly is one of the best videos I have watched in some time.

I loved seeing the wait-staff's pristine service and how they treated the kids like any adult diner who would come through the daniel doors for dinner. Even better was watching the kids' eyes light up upon the arrival of each dish and then hearing their remarks as they discovered each ingredient on the plate. While some elements of each dish were even a bit outside of my scope, the kids tried nearly everything and found the 'weird' items fun and exciting to eat.

Growing up my parents really pushed my sister and I to try foods outside of 'chicken fingers and mac-n-cheese' and I truly believe this helped expand my palette and was the foundation for my food discovery. I would like to think I would have been similar to the kids in this video, excited to try new things, starry-eyed at the showmanship of it all and having fun with food, even if I was not entirely sure what it all was.

Check out the full article here.

You Can't Sit With Us

Happy Halloween. My friends deb + becca joined me to dress up like the cult-classic, mean girls. I found the brightest pink sweater and borrowed a skirt from a friend to recreate gretchen wieners... complete with my very own burn book. I even brought in a box of toaster strudels to the office.

#onwednesdayswewearpink  #youcantsitwithus  #putitintheburnbook

I hope you all have a safe and fun halloween. See you on monday.

Wellington Lake // Magisto Video

I used my favorite video making site, magisto to make a quick video of our camping trip from last week. This site is great... you upload your photos + videos and it automatically edits them together for you... oh and free which is perfect in my mind. While I would love to have a bit more control of what is included or how the edit is made, I do not have this skill-set so magisto is the next best option in my book. Please enjoy!

Weekend Update // 4th of July

Welcome back from what I hope was a wonderful weekend celebrating July 4th. If your weekend was anything like mine, you gorged yourself on tons of tasty bbq, watched fireworks with a perma-smile on your face, made memories with family + friends and soaked up plenty of sun. I put together a fun little video from my weekend using magisto, check it out...

I have some great posts scheduled this week so come on back soon! 

Puppy Love // Beagle Freedom Project

As a dog lover and proponent of animal rights, I am against animal testing in laboratories. So, when I saw this video from, beagle freedom project, with a dozen helpless and lovable pups being let out to run free for the first time, I bawled my eyes out. The dogs had never been let out of their cages or allowed to run in the sunshine. It just breaks my heart how scared they were when people were tyring to even reach into their cages.

I just think about my dog rocco who literally looks like he is smiling every day as he runs around in our yard... chasing squirrels, playing catch and lying in the grass sunbathing. I am sad that these pups, along with so many more, have never had this basic right to run and play. 

I am so grateful that beagle freedom project is rescuing pups to give them a life they deserve in a home where they will be loved. For more information on this program or to find out how you can support this cause, click here.

Foodie Movies for a Rainy Day

I love going to see movies in the theater, just as much as snuggling up on the couch to watch one in my pjs. I also am a food-addict who loves watching movies about cooking. #dontjudge Coincidentally, the weekend forecast is calling for rain here in denver which is (in my book) the best time to catch a great movie... in a theater or at home. 

Today's post is all about my favorite foodie movies. They not only make me hungry but inspire me on so many levels. Please enjoy.

Are you surprised this is first on my list? I hope not! French cooking at it's best by a girl who is down-to-earth, obsessed with food as much as I am and able to turn out amazing dishes in a tiny nyc apartment. I love julia child and how this book brought her to life. My obsession with food rocket-launched to a new level after this book and film.

Food brings people together and in this rom-com, it not only fixes relationships but creates new ones. Kathrine zeta-jones' character is strong and I love that she is the top-dog in a busy high-end restaurant. Throughout the movie she learns that approachable food has an important place in the cooking world, just as much as high-end upscale dining. 

Everyone can cook! It is a simple message but so many people find the kitchen such an intimidating place. I love the lessons in this movie along with how the rat, remy, explains how food tastes. It is exciting, electric and descriptive. Oh and finally, watching the stern food critic melt in his chair once he tastes the plate of ratatouille prepared for him. So fun to watch.

The shop/bakery in this movie would be my dream job/shop to own of my own some day. Meryl streep's character is an amazing pastry chef who's life seems to be surrounded by nurturing family and friends through food. Yes there is a crazy love affair that is hilarious to watch play-out but it all ties back to celebrating life with food + drink in hand. 

Keri russell's character is married to a horrible man who she dreams about leaving once she saves enough money from her waitressing job. To mentally escape from her life, she dreams up delicious pie recipes based upon the trials and tribulations she faces. I love the flavor combinations and seeing someone take their passion and use it to push them through adversity. 

While this movie is more about an extremely long wedding engagement, it also has a story about a chef who loves to cook. Going from a successful head-chef position in food-centric san francisco to working at a deli in michigan to finally opening a taco truck... life throws a lot at you and it is up to you on how you deal with it. Oh, and it's super funny.

Okay, I know this is the biggest stretch in the category of 'foodie movies' but there is a huge scene with dancing champagne, signing plates, tons of classic culinary terms and beautifully presented dishes. And, ultimately there is a great message... host your guests with care and effort to make them feel welcome and loved. Makes me want to throw a festive party!

If these were not enough to wet your palate and get you excited to snuggle into your couch then may I present you with one more foodie movie that is out in theaters right now. Chef, starring jon favreau is about a chef who looses his restaurant job and starts up a food truck to reclaim his passion and creativity in the kitchen. I know this is top on my list to go and see, I hope you do to!

Here is the trailer for chef...

Hike // Mount Sutro

I am still going through photos from our week in south carolina so my plan is to post everything this weekend. Again, my apologies for dropping the blogging ball. In the meantime, check out this little video I made on magisto from our hike on mount sutro in san francisco just 2 weeks ago. I love how misty the forest looks because of the low-sitting clouds just off of the bay. It is kinda crazy to think we are only a couple miles outside of downtown san fran because the forest looks so lush.

A Day in Denver // Time Lapse

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Denver truly is a beauitful city to live in. There are stunning mountain and city views along with a culture that is vibrant and energetic. Also, it is a very clean city which is much appreciated after traveling to other places. I recently came across this video from ryan dravitz and I love how he captured the picturesque city I call home. 

Weekend Update

Wow... yesterday was not exactly the ending I was hoping for after all the excitement this past season brought to loyal broncos fans. If you happened to miss it, the broncos got smoked in the super bowl and made for a painful ending to what would have been a very nice weekend. Shoot. At least bruno mars and the red hot chili peppers killed it during the halftime show.

Luckily the rest of the weekend was a whole lot better than the super bowl. We had a wonderful evening at our friends' matt + lindy's house on friday; so grateful for their friendship and being able to live so close to such wonderful people. Saturday was pretty low key due to some seriously cold temps and a few inches of snow. However, we made the most of it by getting out and running some errands and then spending some quality time on the couch watching breaking bad (we are just now in season 2 and loving it) and making sausage and shrimp gumbo. 

What did you do this weekend? Were you tuned into the super bowl? Did you like the half time show as much as I did?