USA – Page 4 – My Friend Staci

Colorado Springs!

It had been forever since Doug and I had had a break. Okay, forever is an exaggeration but aside from weekend trips to my parents (an hour away) we hadn’t had multiple days off in a row since our Palm Springs trip (post one and two) June 2013. We got double whammied this summer with wedding invites and saw it as a sign that we simply had to get out of town. Our first trip was to Colorado in May. Mere weeks after closing on our condo, it seemed like it was going to be impossible to swing the trip, but we scored an awesome deal on airfare (and paid for it later, by being stranded in the airport) and sold a bunch of stuff on Craigslist to help offset the costs. We were moving and it seemed like a good time to pare down anyway!

Some of our favorite people in the world live in Colorado Springs. We used to spend weekends with them when they lived in Lawrence, KS, so spending a few days with them in their new stomping grounds was awesome!

Garden of the Gods

Fun fact: I lived in Colorado Springs for my elementary school days in the mid 90s. When we went back to Garden of the Gods (above) it was awesome since I spent a lot of time there at a young age. Other things we did were totally new to me! Mom, how did we not go to this amazing old arcade every weekend when I was little??

Arcade

The arcade in Manitou Springs was incredible. There were probably a hundred or more game machines dating way, way back (which you’ll see below), including “modern vintage” ones, also known as games that came out in the 90s but are now approaching 15, 20 years old (Area 51 anyone?) and new new ones like the addictive Deal or No Deal. After pooling all our tickets we were able to earn a kazoo and pixie stick apiece. Man, the exchange rate on tickets is steep!

Vintage Arcade

As far as food goes, our friends live super close to downtown so we walked over for brunch and dinner. I loved the food at Wild Goose Meeting House. The night we went there was very good live music so the place was packed! We snagged a couch in the way way back and had to balance our plates on our knees. Nobody spilled though, if I remember right!

Another amazing place that I wish I had photographed is Ivywild School. It is an old school building in the midst of being renovated. The school has been broken up into sections and each section is its own small business. On the far end, the largest rooms have been converted into a brewery (they probably pay the lion’s share of the rent to keep the place open); in the middle area right after going up the stairs there is a deli, pastry shop, and coffee shop! The coffee was very good and the pastries were super cheap– cheap enough for me to buy three (I couldn’t decide between them!) There are still lots of rooms yet to be claimed by businesses. It was so inspiring to me! I want to get an old building and breathe new life into it by making something cool.

Every time we get to spend time with Paul and Sarah we are inspired by their endless quest for thrift store gems and overall zeal for an interesting, easygoing, but anything but boring, life. Two great things to be reminded of every so often! Growing up is so hard–close friends scattered all over the country. The good part is… you have people to visit when the time is right!

Eat: The Wild Goose Meeting House, Ivywild School
Play: Manitou Springs Arcade // Hike: Garden of the Gods, Helen Hunt Falls

Check back for a handful of Denver pics on Friday!

All-American Style

“All-American.” Now that’s a crazy phrase if you think about it. First came the Native Americans, then the Puritans, westward expansion, not to mention the Spanish influence down here in the SouthWest, and in more modern times the influx of immigrants from all over the world. It’s the wonderful and sometimes strife-ful diversity that makes our country the land of opportunity! That said… Who’s to say that the preppy look of chinos and cardigans is “All-American?” Yet, that’s the look I’m drawn to this time of year. I just want to wear crisp whites, and if I had a pair of Sperry Topsiders you know I’d be rocking them!

4th of July

Eat this: I’ve had a lot of hot dogs in my day, from the classic American (ketchup and mustard) to a Los Angeles street dog (wrapped in bacon and served with onions and bell peppers) but I think the Chicago-style dog is my favorite. The garlic-poppyseed dusted bun and whole pickle slice? Yes please!

Wear this: If there was ever a time to wear Tommy Hilfiger, I think that summertime, right around 4th of July, is the best time. Bonus points if you’re on a sailboat somewhere.

Just a few of these: The last two years in Kansas, we were able to purchase our own fireworks and set them off in the driveway, which was fun but somehow felt very redneck (having grown up in areas with really strict rules about such things).

I’m not one to be overly patriotic, but I can appreciate a toned-down Independence Day shindig every year when it rolls around.

This year, Doug and I will both be working! I shouldn’t be surprised because he worked on Christmas too (I won’t complain about holiday bonus pay), but I’m a little surprised that my store will be open on the 4th. I guess we’ll see how busy it is. We’re celebrating early– this afternoon we’re going to my parents’ house to enjoy some hot dogs, and perhaps a hamburger or two, under their brand new patio cover, which is also wired with lights and a ceiling fan. Fancy indeed!

You got plans for tomorrow?

Palm Springs Part Two: Things to Do

We got up bright and early for brunch at King’s Highway, the restaurant at Ace Hotel & Swim Club. A little research revealed that before it was remodled, it was a Denny’s! I seriously loved the interior at King’s Highway. The mid-century fab stone on the wall? Yes please! It’s a dream of mine to own a home with that kind of crazy retro stone on the exterior or interior someday. My favorite thing was looking at the marks on the ground where I could picture the outline of the old Denny’s booths and fixtures.

The food was great! Our host was a little pretentious, and the prices a little steep, especially for the coffee ($3 for a non-refillable iced coffee?) but the pancakes and french toast really hit the spot. The food tilted the scale from “eye-roll” to “awesome.” To be honest… we should have eaten all of our meals here!

After our bellies were full, I did my duty as a design blogger and snooped around the Ace. Unfortunately I didn’t get the chance to look in a room… they look incredible on the website… but we peeked over the gate into the pool area and walked around the grounds. Definitely a different vibe from our colorful hotel, but everything seemed very cool and went nicely with the desert landscape. I really wanted to hang out at the Saguaro pool the first day and at the Ace pool the second day, but the day-pass was $20! Yikes!

The Ace, Palm Springs

We rode our bikes back to the Saguaro and drove downtown and walked around–just a little bit. The midday sun was roasting! So we grabbed some food at the grocery store and hung out at the pool for the rest of the day. All day! It was so sublime!

Later we got dolled up and went out for dinner–it was our anniversary celebration after all! We went downtown and found a really yummy place, Matchbox Pizza. We had a half Prosciutto and Fig and half “Q Special,” which featured chicken, portabello mushrooms and red peppers. A finer pizza was never had! However, we still had room for more so we followed it up with a little Ben & Jerry’s as we walked around downtown at dusk (it had cooled off some).

Palm Springs

For our last day, we checked out of the hotel and headed to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. I had no idea what to expect but wow!! Heading from the desert floor to 8,000 feet of altitude was very, very cool! Of course, I was petrified on the tram the whole way up and down. I shudder to remember it! I’m not afraid of heights per se… tall buildings and such don’t bother me, but suspended on a cable? That’s another thing.

Here’s the tram. Can you see Palm Springs in the distance?

As some of you know, we try to fit it into the budget to take an anniversary trip every year. Travel is such a passion of ours and we make it a priority! For our first anniversary we visited St Louis (little trip), last year the whole family took a trip to Europe (big trip), and this year Palm Springs was our low-key destination. We were lucky enough to visit Kansas in May and this short but very sweet trip was the perfect getaway to feel refreshed and rejuvenated from work. Now, I guess we’ll stay put for a little while!

In case you missed it, Monday I shared some photos of our hotel The Saguaro.

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