Field Trip

On Saturday, Morgan and I went on a little field trip. The Denver Ikea finally opened last month, so we decided to check it out. As this would be our first ever Ikea experience, we had to be prepared. We did some stretches. We quizzed one another with Swedish flash cards. We had no idea what to expect.

We were surprised to discover that visiting an Ikea is actually like going to a Disney Land for adults. You spend most of the day waiting in line. You feel slightly overwhelmed by the crowds and everything there is to look at, and half way through you start to whine that you would like a snack. And nothing about it seems even remotely real. It's very futuristic. Very European. And I say that with love, if you happen to be from Europe.

Ikea brought so much traffic to the neighborhood that there were several policemen on duty directing cars.

After walking through the miles of showrooms, the crowds are herded into a food court that serves meatballs and 50 cent hot dogs on nice dishes. Paper plates... Ugh. That is just so American.

We had a relaxing and productive weekend. Morgan and I have just discovered Mad Men (I know, we are way behind the times...) and we are hooked! We also finished painting our bedroom this weekend. I will post photos soon :)

Weakness

I went to pick up the cake for Morgan's Parent Night, and the bakery also had these beautiful little macarons. I tried to resist, but I have a serious weakness for sweet things.

So do Lily and Winston, apparently.

Did I mention that I get to nanny for these precious little ones? Winston is 3, and Lily is 18 months. They are so much fun!

New West Fest

This weekend was New West Fest in Fort Collins. New West Fest is an outdoor music festival that brings out great local (and some more established) bands. The streets are closed off and hundreds of tents and booths and stages appear practically overnight. This was our first year attending. It was pretty great.

The weather in Fort Collins has been hot and dry... fortunately, someone had the decency to create makeshift water fountains all over town to keep us festival-goers hydrated. 

One of the bands performing was Shel, a female folk-rock band made up of four sisters. They are all so incredibly talented. Some good genes in that family. Listen here.

Fruit Season

Hello there. I hope you all had a marvelous weekend!

Here in Fort Collins, it's fruit season... finally! The West is a strange place. Summer takes much longer to get here than it does in the South. And then it's gone again in the blink of an eye. (Last year, the first snow fell in November... the year before, it was October!) Fruit isn't harvested until late July or August. I have been {not so patiently} waiting for good, fresh fruit to appear at the market. It's finally time.

Yummy Blueberry Crisp

It's funny the things we've had to adjust to, living in the West. The seasons are all mixed up. I have had to re-learn how to bake. And the ocean is half a continent away. To name a few things.



My friend Paige is coming to visit tomorrow! I am so excited to see her. I have been so richly blessed with visitors this month. It has been wonderful to show the people I love what our lives are like now that we live out here, so far away from what used to be our whole world. Can you believe we have been in Colorado for almost a year? Crazy.

Root Beer Milk

This morning, we took John to the farmer's market. It was pretty hot out, so we went in search of something refreshing to drink. The Daily Fresh folks were there, selling their delicious local milk. They sell plain milk, chocolate milk, and all flavors of yogurt. But by far the most interesting thing that they sell is something called "root beer milk". We were intrigued, so Morgan bought a bottle. Root beer and milk sound like such a strange combination, but I promise, it's one of the most delicious things I've ever tasted. It reminded me of a root beer float. And it was pretty refreshing!


If you're curious, you can order some here.

The Month of Visitors

Sorry for the lack of posts lately. It has been a Month of Visitors. This week, my brother John is in town. Here is what we looked like in our youth, back in the days of the California gold rush. He was an outlaw, and I was a saloon girl. We were dangerous.

It is so much fun having my brother here in Fort Collins. He got in yesterday afternoon. Today, he and Morgan went to New Belgium to tour the brewery. I have a feeling they will be gone awhile.

My brother also happens to be a ridiculous musician. Listen to his stuff here. My favorite tracks are "Infant Love" and "Birds of Prey".

A Tour of Fort Collins

My best friend Leanna is in town this week! We ate brunch at Snooze this morning. It was glorious, but afterwards, we were so full we couldn't move.

Pancake Flight: 1 sweet potato pancake + 1 "cinnafull" pancake + 1 pineapple upside down pancakes. Divine.

Tonight, we are headed to the drive-in movie theater. We are taking a picnic dinner. And depending on how tired we are after the first movie, we may stay for a double feature. I love having visitors in town. I feel like I get to be a tourist in my own city, do all my favorite things. It's pretty terrific.

Have a great night. xo