big bites 2012 / colorado {part I}

in celebration (and really, in preparation) of Restaurant Week , which will start in Denver on Feb 23rd, I have finally created the strangest 2012 retrospective: remembering the good food – and drinks of the year!

I’ll be excluding here anything consumed in another state/country and will focus only on the deliciousness we were able to find here in Colorado. the selection includes restaurants, farmer’s markets, food trucks and even meals we had at home. this past year, we were in the spirit of exploring Colorado, learning everything tasty that this state has to offer. hope you enjoy it!

 

Fax Fish House

both places in Boulder and in Denver are fantastic. great atmosphere to enjoy oysters and fish sandwiches.

Lowry Beer Garden

I could never explain how excited we were for the Beer Garden big opening back in May 2012. it’s two blocks from home, across the street from the gym (great!) and the food is fantastic, like this texas burguer, with eggs and green chilli.

 

Charles’s Court at the Broadmoor

the best tasting food I probably ever had in my life was at this restaurant, one of 18 wonders inside the Broadmoor hotel in Colorado Springs. this is no ordinary artichoke and spinach dip, it had so much delicious melted cheese you could die. orgasmic.

 

café | bar

in Washington Park, this is what I call a hipster restaurant. you know, the kind that’s trying to be too cool? they have boards in the wall listing where each of the ingredients’ origin, everything is organic and locally grown, the bar is always full and the decor is the best possible,  the old stable/barn vintage chic type. love it! i barely remember the food. I remember the experience.

 

Route 40 – Argentinean Grille Food Truck

one of our favorites food trucks in town, no doubt. living in a place like Denver, that seriously lack on international food (the focus here is American cuisine), discovering this truck was pure deliciousness. not only they have fantastic chimmichurri fries, but the best Argentinean steak sandwiches and alfajors.

 

Casa dos Mael

we tried to keep healthy at home, saving the calories for when we went out to eat. this is one of our staples: olives, cherry tomatoes, carrots and broccoli with hummus and watermelon juice.

 

JH Chen Asian Bistro

we spent my birthday in Glenwood Springs and I really wanted to have sushi for dinner. this was one of the only spots in town we could find and what an interesting surprise. B. says it looks like Asian restaurants in the 80’s and the food was delicious!

 

Ondos Spanish Tapas Bar

top 1, top, top, my favorite in Denver. you can say it’s my Spanish side, I don’t care. I love this tiny spot in Cherry Creek. their tapas are fantastic, the croquetas: the best ever. chose the spinach and pine nuts croquetas or the ham and cheese, both are making my mouth water just thinking about them right now! yummm.

 

Shin Sa Dong Korean Barbecue

this is the largest Korean Barbecue restaurant in Denver (or so they claim!) and I just love it. go prepared to have a banquet! they serve so much delicious food, we love bringing visitor’s from out of town there!

{part II coming soon}

 

an awkward & cold day

this was a very weird, awkward and cold day. I didn’t sleep last night, which just makes things blurry. and, in the morning, when B. was up, it was -19F – wind chill. it’s been a long, cold, crazy cold winter. the problem with that is: my routine is completely screwed up. and I need my routine. I need my sanity.

since I started working from home, I created a series of rules and a serious routine I followed daily just so I wouldn’t go crazy. I have a calendar of what I should clean in the house, to keep everything shinning and not make me crazy tired, I have my workout routine and then, I work until I fall asleep.

but, with this weather, there is no chance I’ll leave the house to go to the gym (I have another rule, I’ll only go to the gym if it’s over 40F outside), and with darker, shorter days, I have no desire to clean. add to that the fact we have so much work lately, that a 24 hour day feels way too short. result: my routine is completely screwed up. and I miss my stupid little things. I miss going to the gym and, call me crazy, I even miss cleaning.

but hey, I’m not complaining (ok, not complaining about anything but the miserable weather). I love the work we are doing, I absolutely love working from home, and I work the new challenges that 2013 is bringing to our company. it’s just fun. and it’s fantastic to work with B. – except for when he throws temper tantrums, which happens sometimes. and, during this awkward day, I got to leave the house, stop by Starbucks, get us a sweet treat and a cup of coffee to make things, well, sweeter.

here is to the promise of warmer days, to the return to a healthy routine that includes daily visits to the gym, a return to #milaaday, lots of work, sunshine, and cleaning.

thank you for letting me vent.

02 / 52

 

 

“a portrait of B., once a week, every week, in 2013.”

B. got this sweater as a gift on our anniversary last year and, since then, refused to use it. he claimed the sweater was too “hispter” for him. finally, with this horrible weather we have been having here in Denver I got him to enjoy how warm and comfortable his gift was.

here is to hoping warmer days will come soon!

 

click here to check out Che & Fidel 52 project

the lovely Rebekka Seale created the “52″ button for Che & Fidel.

 

B. wore sweater {perry ellis}, scarf {gap} – similar here, jeans {lucky brand}, boots {aldo}, hat {h&m}.

Fashion Trends 2013

happy monday, friends!

it’s incredibly cold in Denver this morning!

i’m in love with this h&m video shot by blogger Hanneli Mustaparta.

it talks about one of my resolutions for 2013: create your own trends. don’t copy anything you see in magazines, open your closet, put outfits together according to your mood and your aesthetics. do not think about what other people will think about it, be creative, be silly, be you.

on this positive note, I start my week! let’s see what inspired things I can come up with!?!…

OPEN HOUSE /1

Move2Denver is hosting an Open House today, Sunday, January 13th, from 1-4pm in Elizabeth, CO.

 

Sitting on 2.5 acres of beautiful land, this 4 bed/3 bath home just may be perfect for you. Stare out at Pike’s Peak from your living room while watching the sunset in the evening and then stroll on your new gleaming hardwood floors to grab a snack in your modern kitchen and look up and see the stars through the skylight in your new kitchen with vaulted ceilings. If that isn’t enough, walk onto your stunning land downstairs in the finished, walkout basement to commune with nature and seek some rest before heading off to bed in your full master suite. Park both of your cars and a third in the 3 car attached garage. The home comes with a home warranty as well.

 

Details:

Sunday, January 13th, from 1-4pm.
3543 Boodel Circle, Elizabeth, CO 80107

For additional information: click here.

lifestyle /1

lifestyle/1: dressing for a business meeting after the snow and with temperatures in the teens.

in the middle of this artic cold we currently have in Denver right now, we had to leave for a business meeting with B. on Saturday morning. boooooo.

so, what I tried to do here was to survive. there are many layers under what you can see. 🙂 as a girl from Brazil, I have never gotten used to the winter in the US.

one of the best things about working for yourself: i can dictate the dress code in our company. and I must say: our dress code is more in the lines of “you should feel comfortable, you should have fun with colors, you should be yourself”.

boots {sorel}, fleece lined leggins {similar here} – I get mine at Nordstrom Rack: fantastic prices, jacket {brooklyn industries}, yellow bag {love culture}, yellow gloves {h&m}, knit hat {love culture}.

friday

happy friday, folks!

here in Denver, it’s very, very cold, and this is where I’ll be spending my weekend: on bed, under my grey covers! with temperature highs in the teens, I’ll enjoy a weekend filled with work inside the house.

I’m only hopping for a pause for date night with B.! I’m taking him for a hot chocolate date followed by a movie, I’m thinking it will be zero dark thirty!

oh, we must not forget: giant golden globes party on Sunday! yep, sounds like a good plan!

bed covers {ikea}, bed sheets {sheex} – an awesome christmas gift from my mother in law!, pillows {ikea}.

saving for a raining day

didn't I say I'm obsessed with polka dots? this is how I went out to a business meeting this afternoon. B. said I looked like a mental case. what he doesn't know is that the stripes were made to be worn with polka dots. they are the perfect fit for each other, like perfect lovers!     this last photo was just so ridiculous I had to post it here. it made me smile :) striped umbrela and tee {h&m}, polka dot pants {F21}, boots {target}

polka dot inspo

cleaning my closet this morning I found an incredible amount of polka dots everywhere! dresses, scarves, sweaters, pants, tees. it’s been one of my biggest obsessions lately, I’ve got to admit it. I even have a pinterest board for all my polka dot inspiration here.

do you think I like polka dots?

 

01/52

“a portrait of B., once a week, every week, in 2013.”

I was inspired by the Che & Fidel project named 52. it’s a portrait of her adorable little ones a week, every week, during an entire year! here is so much commitment to that, it’s even a little scary. but, we decided to join in, participate, and I’ll posting a portrait of B. every week here.

this first week of 2013, we were running errands together, and we were famished. we have been seriously dieting, trying to focus on food that’s healthy, juicing a lot, a eating salads, we are avoiding any type of food that’s not prepared inside our casa. 

we started joking about how strong we are. #not.

our time together is so much fun. even running errands with B., driving all over town is always such a great pleasure. he is just so funny and beautiful. I’m very glad I decided to start this project. this way, I can share the magic of his blue eyes with all of you.

more info about 52 here.

the lovely Rebekka Seale created the “52” button for Che & Fidel.

 

B. wore sweater {h&m}, jeans {lucky brand}, hat {outlets at Silverthorne}.

I wore seater jacket {anthropologie}, dress {h&m}, pants {zara}, boots {ugg}.