Besties Do Boulder. That Came Out Wrong.

I’M THE KING OF THE WOOOOOOR- wait, that’s not it.

I went to Boulder!

Boulder, Colorado.

You know, the town that’s like, 25 feet from the sun? That one. But the heat is DRY. It’s not like here in KC, where you walk out your front door and immediately morph into SpongeBev Squarepants. It’s a heat I can shake hands with.

I know you already know this (“They don’t know that we know they know we know!”– name that show), but I ventured west to meet up with two long-time besties for a getaway gal weekend. Laura, whom I’ve known since 1998, has lived there with her hubs Eric (who remodeled our kitchen and bathroom years ago) for six years now! (waaaaah) And Sarah, who you all know as Iris’ ma, lives in Fayetteville, AR with the rest of our hometown crew.

BUT BONDS DON’T WITHER, Y’ALL. (<–that will be the only time I say something weird like that.)

(hopefully.)

So! I thought I’d take you through our gal pal weekend – show you what we did, what we saw, what we ate, how many times I screamed. You know.

(photo above via Laura, via via some fit dude on the mountain.)

We landed in Denver around 10am, whiiiiich in my book is just in time for mimosas. #NOKIDS

We launched our extended giggle fest at the Westin, right inside the Denver airport. And without a beat, we fell right into our familiar rhythm, with inside jokes, easily teary, detailed stories and all the, “OH DID YOU HEAR ABOUT…”

Sarah had bracelets MADE FOR EACH OF US (I’ll show you later), so once we were armed with today’s more stylish, minimal version of the friendship bracelet, we were ready to take the weekend on.

Hastag rosé.

Our second stop – The Four Seasons in Denver! You can’t see it with the naked eye, but Sarah and Laura are sitting on a lounge chair about 17 miles into this photo. With my rosé and leather slip-ons. They better not steal them! (just kidding)

The Four Seasons is just exquisite. We sipped a drink by the pool, scarfed down some smashed avocado and fried fish tacos, then were treated with a lovely massage. Massages. Not just one. Well, each of us had one. Not multiple. In our own rooms. Never mind.

Oh good they didn’t steal my slip-ons.

Speaking of, I really, REALLY wanted to keep these shoes. I wouldn’t have, you know because, felony. But they were so rubbery and fitted and slim and mildly cute! WHERE CAN I GET THESE, 4S? (I call the Four Seasons 4S. They don’t hate me for it.)

This was post-massage. Massages. And yes it’s a foot photo, so you’re going to have to just bear with me.

We all sat on the edge of this hot tub, eyes sleepy, scalps oily and necks rubbery, trying to decide what our next move should be.

OH RIGHT, ROSÉ.

After a drink across the street at The Nickel, we hopped into Laura’s 13-year old trusty Subie, and made our way to Boulder.

OKAY, THIS AIRBNB.

Let me just say right now I think the listing is frozen, due to heavy bookings. But you GUYS. I have to show you this place. It’s basically what I want my life and dreams and dreams and life to look like. All the green! The flowers! The terracotta! The whimsy! (you’re like, please chill out.)

Except there was this HUGE peed-off river in the backyard, which was terrifying. But I’m fine.

Just adorable. Wanna stick it in my purse.

So you look to the right of the front door, and this is what you see. AN OASIS OF CHARMING YET CONTROLLED WOODSY BLISS.

And then you turn to the right again, and you see this! Can you tell what that is? Hold on, I’ll get closer.

Hold on.

An O.U.T.D.O.O.R.S.H.O.W.E.R.

An outdoor shower! How Romancing the Stone is this!

I never used it. So bummed. I wanted to so bad, but never got around to it. I wonder if Aaron would make one for our back yard. Wait, could we get thrown in prison for that? Let me rethink this.

So that evening, we went over to Eric and Laura’s (we call them Lauric) charming condo for mail-ordered pizza (it was insane!), homemade Caesar salad and more wine. Isn’t their place darling? See, I want a rug similar to what they have under their sofa/coffee table. But Aaron swears that a rug is Satan’s playground. “Crumbs and dog hair and tiny toys go there to die,” he says. I’m like, YOUR FACE IS SATAN’S PLAYGROUND.

I didn’t say that.

Next morning! Coffee and slippers down by our peed-off river. (It was the Boulder creek. But raging, man.)

(I’ll show you inside photos of the airbnb soon. Hold your horses.)

Our place was on Arapahoe Ave, so we took a sunny morning stroll to our first stop of the day – Alpine Modern. Good grief this place was lovely. All bright white, wood, clean tile, very airy, chic and cozy. Totally my kind of steez. I tried to stick it in my backpack. (Backpack because BOULDER.)

The girls made fun of me, slash grossed out because I had sardines for breakfast. I love a good sardine!

So then of course I tried to stick smashed sardine in their faces for a taste. But that didn’t go so well for me.

Breakfast babes! (just kidding, omg.)

We were about to take a hike (hahaha), so I was mentally preparing myself for just how much I was going to sing “Climb Every Mountain” from The Sound of Music.

Also, not pictured – 423,986 thin and illegally fit cyclists right outside on the wraparound patio, either preparing for a ride, or just coming from a ride. I forgot to notice their sweat glands.

WE HIKED A MOUNTAIN.

ME. A MOUNTAIN. UP ON IT.

And I didn’t scream once! (<–complete lie.)

Still not screaming. Not gonna scream.

Not. Gonna. Scream.

I’m laughing to keep from peeing my Wrangler cutoffs.

Made it to the top! I posted this photo to Instagram, so you already know that we did make it to the top of Mount Sanitas. Which was jaw-droppingly breathtaking.

I was almost more impressed that we had cell phone service at the top of the mountain, than the fact that we made it to the top of the mountain. CLIIIIIIIIMB EEEEEVERY MOUUUUUUNTAAAAAAIN.

Mountain mountain mountain.

Fast forward through a long, post-hike lunch and a quick beer on Pearl Street, to a late-afternoon leisurely hang back at the airbnb.

And no, that’s ^^not my mom. (right?)

But yes, I felt like I was looking at myself in 20 years. I mean, look at that messy topknot! That gray v-neck. Hi.

She’s our airbnb owner, and one of the most spirited people I’ve ever met in my life. Sarah and I sat with her for a good couple of hours, talking about hippie Boulder life, homemade jewelry, parenthood, dancing, favorite wines, and real estate. Wanted to stick her in my purse.

Look at those baby veggies. I think she got them at Sprouts? Or Whole Foods. Maybe Trader Joe’s? They come bagged, I believe, and she roasted them with olive oil, then tossed them with a simple finishing salt. And they.were.perfect. Slightly cooled and tender, but with a hint of earthy crunch. GUH.

That evening we made our way to Arcana.

And it was FABULOUS. I didn’t take any food photos, because by the time it came – well, rosé.

Lauric and all their marital sweetness. ^^

Sarev (just made that up) and all our gal pal glory. ^^

On Saturday morning we met Laura at the infamously popular Farmer’s Market. I got a green cold-pressed juice and a wooden fork. You know.

The market was busy, bustling and friendly. Everyone in Boulder is so happy! Yet CHILL. I knoooooow I know what you’re thinking.

It’s the tea.

NATURE. Because Boulder.

Can’t resist a good flower bucket photo.

Wanted to stick them in my purse.

After the market we walked over to Brasserie Ten Ten for brunch. Laura and Eric took us there the last time Aaron and I visited (which was about 6 years ago). The FLOOR TILE in this place is like nothing else. Of course I’m not showing you the floor tile, but instead showing the petite beignets with lemon curd.

Which was also like nothing else.

Wanted to stick it in my pur – right.

After brunch we noodled around a few thrift stores, finding vintage kitchen goods, an indigo scarf, the original Sound of Music poster for $350!

I didn’t buy it.

But here are some interior photos of our airbnb, before I wrap up the longest post in the history of ever.

^ CUTE.

CUTER.

CUTE CUTE CUTE.

C.U.T.E.S.T.

C.U.U.U.U.U.U.T.E.

This is the gal to contact, if you’re interested in the airbnb! Like I said before, the listing is frozen, but she’ll have more insight to when it’s available again. See how I take care of you?

Our final afternoon was magic. Laura reserved a beautifully-prepared picnic from Cured, an adorable cheese and meat shop on Pearl. It was National Rosé Day (which uh, is no different than any other day for me), so we loaded up on canned rosé, and lounged around for a couple of hours outside, enjoying cured meats, stinky cheeses, blanched almonds, pasta salad, creamy hummus, briny olives, tart cornichons, and dark nibbly chocolates. Nothing better, I tell you.

Nothing. Better.

After our dainty blorb fest, we made our way to a condo that some dear friends of Lauric own.

Giant pool – check.

Two hot tubs – check.

25 more cans of rosé – check.

The spectacular Rocky Mountains as our backdrop – check.

Hysterical conversation and gut-wrenching laughter – check.

A story about going on a date with Olivia Newton John – CHECK. (don’t ask.)

After a night of local pizza takeout, condo porch lounging, ’90s club music, and um, more rosé, we made our way back to our airbnb oasis for a few hours of snoozin’, before catching a couple of misty slash foggy-eyed flights home the next day. Waaaaah.

(above and below photos by Sarah)

Until next time, Boulder. And by next time I mean like, in five minutes.

Huge thank you to the Four Seasons for the wonderful massages, and an even huger thank you to Laura and Sarah for putting up with my, “Name that movie!” references every other half hour. You have patient souls, you do.

The end.