The real reason our friends won't visit us! || Guest room makeover

The real reason our NY and OH friends haven't visited us MUST be because our guest room looks like the saddest emptiest room ever. I get it y'all!  The "guest room" is also where I do work on the days I don't head to the co-working space. It's also where I spend early mornings drinking tea, and writing the to-do list for the day ahead. SO. It was time for a makeover. 

I knew I wanted something a little colorful and fresh and fun, but still adult and a natural vibe. Deny Designs  had the PERFECT selection for this, and honestly, I can't wait to use some of their magic to help revive our living room, bathroom, and the bedroom! 

I love this inky look of this set! It literally makes the whole room! I also paired it with a little wooden vanity, and a full length mirror, with a backlight to keep the vibe chill and calm. 

So, how does it ACTUALLY fair? What do Sunday mornings feel like with this set? Well, it's sister, and cat approved, and is especially cozy when mixed with coffee in bed. #sundayfeels #coffeeandcats

P.s. Friends, this room has direct views of downtown, the mountains and the sunset, and it would be even better if you were here! We love guests, so come and enjoy Denver! :D 

Hello Ohio.

Wedding season has hit a more normal flow (holy DANG was July and August intense!) so we decided to take a LONG overdue (and much too quick) visit to Roy's family back in Ohio. 

Here are some of my favorite things from this trip 

Nancy (aka Mom!) making us breakfast! She thinks it's no big deal, but what she doesn't realize is how little Roy and I actually enjoy the slowness of a big homemade breakfast. Usually we eat some toast with PB and run out the door - or grab a cliff bar. I restrained myself and only had one pancake. JK I HAD FOUR BYE! 

Roy reading the Sunday Comics. This boy stays on his phone. I haven't seen him read anything made of actual paper --- ever. Which I suppose can be a good thing #minimalism. But. I love the romance of paper. 

During our one full day there we took a quick walk through the woods with Roy's awesome sisters Becky and Kelly - and Kelly's studly man piece, Francesco. 

We then stopped at his Grandma's house. She told us the story of how she met her husband, and what it was like when he went off to war. We looked at pics of her and him when they were young, and man she was a total babe! 

This sparked us to look at baby albums when we got back to the house. OMG. Roy and his siblings are the flipping cutest - There were some GEMS for sure! 

Holy dang isn't Roy CUTE?!?!??! That sweater though! 

When we got to the airport, Roy and I talked excitedly about all the fun things we did, and how grateful we are for his family. We talked about his Grandmothers stories, and her sweetness, and how she gives great hugs. Then we were quiet. Filled with love but also it was bitter-sweet because we miss them so so so much. 

We love Denver. A lot. It's changed our lives for the better. But in those quiet moments you can miss your family is a way you never thought you would. 

Until next time Ohio! Thanks for welcoming us! 

On Labor Day we wear black

Labor day is for picnics with family, and celebrating the last bits of summer. Well. Our families aren't here is Colorado, so we decided to chase some cold air! We went to the summit of Mount Evans and kicked it with some goats, followed by a quick stroll through Bristlecone loop. 

This was followed by some netflix and chill. More like 5 episodes of "Stranger Things" and pass out way too late at night. 

I hope ya'll are full of hotdogs, or vegan bean burgers, and the last bits of summer sunshine! 

(come on fall - bring it on - I'm ready for you!) 

Grateful 8

REAL TALK TIME. When I am in NY I wake up lonely for Roy, my cats and my office (and Denver... because Denver is AWESOME). When I wake up in CO I'm lonely for my family, life long friends and the dark humor of the Northeast. This morning was one of those mornings. 

I woke up pretty sad, and unmotivated. The to-do list was long. I wanted to jump right in. But. There was also this dust bunny that needed to be swept, and my luggage that needed to be unpacked, and well, I should probably brush my hair.

It was a wrong-side-of-the-bed-wondering-if-I-was-making-good-career-choices-spilled-my-tea kind of morning. #iKnowiKnowfirstworldproblems

Then the door knocked. It was the UPS man and he had a delivery of flowers. MY FAVORITE FLOWERS. With a note full of gratitude. It couldn't have come at a more perfect time. I put them in water and I watched them LITERALLY bloom from tight little balls to colorful flowers. Holy dang. What a wonderful gift I had received and with words full of the love I needed at that exact moment. I felt so so so so thankful, and full of energy for the day!

It made me realize how important being full of gratitude is. It literally changes your body and mind! It's as effective as a morning cup of coffee to rejuvenate lost motivation.

So with that. I think it's time to kick off something I've been planning on doing (and just didn't do it). My weekly Grateful 8: 

1. Flower Delivery. Heck yes. Sending and receiving a colorful little reminder of life is what it's all about. Nothing better to energize your work space then with some plants! 

2. Coffee Shops. This will probably show up again and again. There is nothing like caffeine + desk space when you are on the road working! They can make working out of a backpack feel a little more sane. This was at Super Merchandise Co.

3. Adventurous Brides. I mean. She climbed two ladders in heels to play on a roof top.
:::Slow clap:::

4.  Brunch. Hello it's brunch. I don't need to explain. It's even better with a new friend. This was at Syrup!

5. This Candle. Bought at Meek Vintage. It brought on entrepnuerial talks and high fives. It also made my house smell like a flipping spa yesthankyouverymuch.  

6. Betsy and Mitch. My family. My sister and brother (in law, but like really world get over it he is my brother). They cook for me every time I am there and assure me it's not my fault their cat hates me. They rock. I love their rude faces in this one. 

7. Dessert. HELLO DUH! If I need to explain why I love dessert, then we might need to have that conversation over something chocolate and not here on a blog. Call me. This was at Snow Lab. Where they make awesome concoctions from flavored fluffy af shaved ice! 

8. THIS SONG. It just hit me in all the bitter-sweet spots. Especially around 2:20. I'M NOT CRYING YOU ARE. WHATEVER. This whole album is on repeat right now. The first song is also a flipping gem - it's a great morning getting ready song! 

That's it for now! Consider this the official kick off for a weekly "Grateful 8" post. 

THANK YOU! <3 

Betsy + Mitch

If you don't already know, Betsy is my sister and I am flipping obsessed with her. It's probably super obnoxious to everyone how much I talk about how amazing she is. We are more than best friends - and fiercely loyal to each other. Loyal in the way that we don't just agree with each other for the sake of agreeing, but we are honest, real, listen and reflect with each other. She is a middle school teacher and the way she fiercely fights for her students truly moves me. She cooks the best effing food. She makes the best homemade cards. Okay okay, I'll just say it, she is perfect. ;) 

Mitch is (now!) Betsy's husband. And also one of my best friends. I call him one of my life partners because I know I will ALWAYS know and love him. Mitch is brilliant. He is one of the few people in my life I can talk for hours with about ideas and he gets just as excited as me! It's rare to find that person. When we (Roy and I) have to make a big decision in life (oh like moving to Colorado) we call mitch. "Hi Mitch? Yes hi, we have a big decision to make, what should we do?" 
Just like Betsy, he is honest and thoughtful in his responses. He is also incredibly smart and filled with not only empathy but solutions. 

So to photograph their wedding day was a JOY. I was honored they trusted me with it. The day smelled like sunshine, grass, burning wood, and doughnuts. I would re-live it 100 times if I could. 

Here are some of my faves of the day: 

This is moments before they are getting ready to go out and have the ceremony. We pinned a fresh fern into her hair. And our Dad a well known hug thug like myself, snuck in to get some. 

Gram performing the ceremony

Our dad reading his passage

Then check out their table spread:

AND THEN THEN THEN OMG AND THEN ICE CREAM TRUCK. Why you so cool guys? 

If ice-cream isn't your thing (are you a monster?) here are some doughnuts! 

This loving moment was brought you by "hey act like your cat Peeti"

We ended the night with most of us star watching, eating s'mores, listening to music and then everyone slept over in this awesome farm house! :D 

It couldn't have been any better. I wish I could bottle the temp, the smells, the sounds. <3

Congrats Betsy and Mitch! 

Well hello.

Hello internet! 

I wanted to say this is my first time blogging. But it's not. Check out https://ourtwohearts.exposure.co/ if you don't believe me. I blog a flipping lot there. But by blog I mean I put down names, and drop photos in a way that tells a story. 

Writing words always made me feel so....vulnerable. I'm not great at it, and so I just didn't do it. Slowly over the past year I have put myself out there more and more on instagram, and now Instagram live stories. It's been scary and refreshing! 

I saw this post (on the right) on Pinterest and it was a little kick that I needed. 

So this is me doing what I promised myself. Putting myself out there. Of course I will be blogging the weddings still - they are my heart - but I will also be sharing my life. Real life, the sometimes ugly, messy, uncurated life.