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A Few Fall Favorites

FallA Few Fall Favorites

Hello Pretty Ladies,

It’s officially Fall! Wow, I think that was the fastest summer ever! I love summer and Fall—my two favorite seasons—and they seem the shortest here in Utah! Fall means my birthday month is coming. I have my Fall bucket list ready and am looking forward to crisp mornings and evenings and the stunning shades of the season.

Today, I am sharing some fall favorites for our monthly blog hop with Suzanne, Cindy, and Dawn.

I will keep this one short and sweet! Below, you will find all the fun things I want to share, including my family’s favorite recipe for this easy pumpkin chocolate chip cookie recipe and a few things you could have missed. (I’ll be sharing the sunflower field later next week.)

Sharing a great Fall transition outfit, you can easily style multiple ways, and I thought I would share with you two ways to style it by just switching out the 3rd piece. Here are the details:

Sale Alerts: Chicos wide-leg crop pants are $44 and perfect with a bootie. The pants fit tts. I am wearing a size 4 Chico’s size 0, which pairs perfectly with a bootie for Fall.

-Bootie is a Dolce Vida two-tone with a little Western vibe (last year), linking similar Here

-Olive button-up Amazon find

-The Amazon denim shacket jacket is slightly distressed, affordable & fits tts, and is perfect for summer to fall weather

-A necklace, a vintage horn

-Hat is by lack of color

The 2nd look is everything above, with the jacket switched out to the ivory Denim jacket by Chico’s

Shop the post below:

Fall Items below:

Shop the post below:

A family favorite recipe: Three Ingredient Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies RECIPE HERE

BLOG HOP⬇️

Dawn With @partytildawn on Instagram and her Blog Party Til Dawn

Suzanne With @crazyblondelifeblog and her Blog Crazy Blonde Life Blog

Cindy With @lululoves7_and her Blog Lulu Loves 7

Have a beautiful day, Pretty ladies, and remember your smile is your BEST accessory.

Thank you for stopping by.

Thank you for stopping by and reading” A Few Fall Favorites. “If you haven’t signed up for my weekly newsletter, you can do so here.

You might also enjoy the following:

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies Recipe

Fall Trends to Refresh Your Wardrobe

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AN AFFILIATE LINK. ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. I ONLY PROMOTE BRANDS THAT I GENUINELY LOVE AND BELIEVE IN! THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT!

Affordable and Easy Coastal Tablescape

Hello Pretty Ladies,

Entertaining doesn’t need to be complicated or daunting. Throwing an unforgettable party doesn’t require much time or money; it just requires a little thought, creativity, and heart.”

I was so flattered to be a part of Isabella’s @confessionsofasuperager “create the life you want to love” girlfriend’s trip… let alone having the honor of creating a tablescape and charcuterie board to welcome our friends Into her home.

“There is nothing that makes me happier than sitting around the dinner table and talking until the candles are burned down.”

Isabella had mentioned a month prior or so in her stories that if she were going to create a “Dream Team” to create a dinner party for her, she would pick me to create a tablescape, her friend Marie @cocktailsinbloom to make the cocktails, and our friend Suzanne @crazyblondelifeblog to cook the meal. Talk about the ultimate flattery.

“Hospitality should have no other nature than love.”

Fast forward to when she decided to make her “dream” a reality and decided to host a girl’s trip and Make it Happen….. See, ladies, dreams do come true… with action! Of course, I was flattered and even more honored to be a part of her “dream” in the presence of such talented, loving, and beautiful souls. This was an extraordinary time shared between incredible women, and I am so blessed to be a part of building these lasting memories and friendships.

This is your sign to host a girls’ night out or plan a girl’s trip with the woman you love.

Find more tips on Entertaining and Tablescapes HERE

Tips on ways to create a fab tablescape

Tip: Use what you have and then create around that. This helps you see what you might have to fill in with and makes shopping for items you need easier.

Get creative and think of regular items that you can create something with. I used wine corks for the place cardholders; I just used a knife and cut a slit in it to hold the card. In this case, two stickers were used to create the card.

Using what you have

A little something from our garden, cutting flowers from our garden, to bring a little outside in. It is an affordable way to create a centerpiece. These sweet little vases are perfect for single steams, making a big statement for a simple centerpiece.

Flower arranging Tips:

-Always remove any leaves below the water line. Leaves in water instantly start decomposing and causing bacterial growth.

-Cut stems at an angle so they can “drink.”

– Change water every couple of days to extend blooms

My secret little shops for finding affordable treasures

I am always looking for inexpensive treasures to create pretty and affordable tablescapes and items for entertaining everywhere I go. From little boutiques to antique stores, garden centers, and even second-hand shops. It’s a great way to be inspired by a tablescape, too.

Affordable shops

Amazon has everything you need to create a beautiful table. From beautiful tablecloths to runners, placemats, napkins, silverware, glasses, dish sets, chargers, and the little extras.

Follow my Amazon storefront for my picks, inspiration boards, and ideas.

HomeGoods is a favorite place to pick up unique and affordable vases, serving pieces, stemware, and glasses. I also like looking for unique pieces I can reuse for other occasions. We found the pineapple plastic—yes, plastic dishes above—and the silverware. We also found the Coral (we got the seashell on the beach), but you can purchase bags of them at HomeGoods as well.

The Dollar Tree—The Dollar Store has been hitting it out of the park lately—fabulous chargers for $1.25 each, Affordable dishes. Above, we found these gold chargers, wooden beads with tassels, stickers I used for place cards, and mini candle votives.

Hobby Lobby—This has an excellent craft section, candles, holders, silk flowers, a party section, and a great selection of home decor for every theme. You’ll find some fun things to create with seasonal items.

Zurcher’s Party Store—I always find the little details that make the party special here, including Party supplies, theme ideas, paper goods, unique candy, serving pieces, and party favors.

How to build an accessible collection to entertain on quick notice:

Here are a few tips on what to collect or have on hand to create a beautiful tablescape and entertain easily.

White serving pieces

White china or dishes

Crystal or clear glasses and stemware

White or cream linens

White candles

Glass / Silver/ gold candlesticks

Assortment of vases

Shop some of my favorites below:

Live life stylishly and look good at any age.

Thank you for stopping by.

💕Remember, Wearing a smile is your most important accessory!

Have a beautiful rest of the week, and thank you for stopping by and reading.

“Affordable and Easy Coastal Tablescape.” If you haven’t signed up for my weekly newsletter, you can do that HERE.

This Post may contain an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. I only promote brands that I genuinely love and believe in! Thank you for the support!

You might also enjoy the following:

Pearls & Prosecco Bridal Shower

Easy Berry Lemon Tart Recipe

Halloween Decor and Party Ideas

Easy & Hearty Minestrone Soup Recipe

Happy Sunday!

Hi Pretty Ladies,

September is here, meaning Fall is officially here on the 22nd. I am soaking up the last days of summer, but I am ready for fall days ahead.! The leaves have started to turn. Here in Utah, I had my first pumpkin spice latte last weekend and added a little fall decor to our home.

Our son got married on 8/24/24. It indeed was magical and everything we hoped it would be. I shared a lot about the destination wedding on Instagram in the feed and stories; in case you missed it, I saved them to highlights] You can view a couple of posts by heading over to Instagram

I will keep this one short and sweet today! I’m sharing my favorite homemade minestrone soup recipe below, which you can make in a crockpot or on the stovetop.

Hearty Soup Recipe:

Minestrone Soup Recipe

One chicken broth

One can of crushed tomatoes

Can of water (using crushed tomatoes can)

Three diced tomatoes (I used from the garden)

One can of kidney beans (rinsed)

1 cup frozen green beans

1 cup asparagus tips (frozen)

One Cup of diced spinach

1 cup diced carrots

1 cup frozen peas

One Cup of onions (roughly)

1/2 fresh diced basil

One tablespoon of balsamic vinegar

1Tablespoon crushed garlic

Two bay leaves

One teaspoon of garlic salt

One tablespoon of rosemary (I used fresh from the garden)

2 cups of pasta (elbow macaroni or

Leave out until about 20-30 min before serving) You can also prepare it separately and scoop it into a bowl (this is great if you have a lot to freeze or have leftovers). The pasta expands and sucks up all the broth.

Add to crockpot on high for a couple of hours, then turn to low

Stirring every so often.

Salt and pepper to taste

When serving

Top with Parmesan cheese

Add meatballs for an even heartier dish. Recipe HERE

Serve with Garlic bread, garlic knots, or a fresh loaf of French baguette with salted butter.

Our favorite is my Cheater garlic bread recipe HERE.

Thank you for stopping by.

Thank you for stopping by and reading.” Easy & Hearty Minestrone Soup Recipe”

“If you haven’t signed up for my weekly newsletter, you can do that here.

You might also enjoy the following:

Easy Homemade Broccoli Cheese soup bowls

Three easy soups and one hearty comfort food recipe

Baked Potato bar and Turkey Chili

Pearls & Prosecco Bridal Shower

Bridal shower

Pearls & Prosecco Bridal Shower

Hello Pretty ladies,

What an honor to throw my future daughter in LOVE a bridal shower in June.

In honor of the wedding week approaching.. 8/24/24, I wanted to share all the details of this beautiful day celebrating are all the details of this unique shower, What I created, The DIYs, Tips for building a Beautiful event, Ways to save money without sacrificing style, The menu, How to prep, Picking a theme, and Where to shop.

I’ve saved highlights on Instagram (the circles in my bio) of more details, prepping, flower arranging, close-ups of the DIY, etc., and live moments.

It brings me joy to entertain and create events, and it was an honor to be creative for such a special occasion. I enjoy doing this and showing my love through food and entertainment. I hope that shows in all the details.

Today, I am recapping a little bit of the shower and sharing some entertaining tips. I hope you enjoy this Post.

Are you planning a bridal shower or wedding?

I have some great money-saving tips.

Key ideas & details that take your party from drab to fab …

Tables setting

Table settings set the whole tone and theme of the party. After you’ve settled on the party’s theme, this should be your next focus: picking the linens, the table place settings, flatware, and the stemware. Round or rectangular tables and Chair style. This will help you make the choices for the following steps: The flowers, the decor, the menu, your invitations, and the tables help set the tone of your party.

Round tables/ white wooden chairs

White linens

Gold and white dishes and Gold flatware

Lots and lots of baby’s breath

White flowers/ crystal vases/upon gold chargers

White candles with crystal and gold candlesticks

Pearl strand and loose accents

Diamond Napkin Rings

Gold Champagne buckets on every table

White and gold place cards

White dual-sided frames with engagement photos

Dinner Menu

Food is served on all-white serving platters and bowls. The same color serving pieces give the buffet table a polished and professional look. Menus printed for tables and the buffet

Starters

Passed Crudites with Hummus cups

Main course

-Smoked Chicken Pasta Salad

-Fresh Berry and candy walnut fresh green salad with vinaigrette

– Melon and Berries with homemade Coconut whipped cream

-Crescent Rolls & Butter with Flaky salt

Dessert

Assortment of cookies, candies, and treats

Dessert table

Dessert table: Dessert tables are a fun way to add drama to a party; whatever the theme, you can find candies, treats, and fun display pieces to match your party. I went with an all-white theme for a Pearls & Prosecco Bridal Shower. White desserts and candies were served on all-white serving pieces and stands.

Handmade candies and chocolate treats dipped in pearls. I made these a couple of days before and refrigerated them. I did the strawberries the night before. Getting creative and making a few handmade treats will save you money and create an impact on your dessert table. If you need inspiration, look on Pinterest for ideas that fit your theme. I often make candies and treats. I create them because they are simple to do with store-bought items you dip in chocolate and roll in sprinkles, such as pearls.

-Pretzel sticks

-Strawberries

-Rice Krispy treat hearts

-Cherries

-Oreos

– Vanilla wafers

Bakery Items

I wanted to add a focal point dessert, if you will, and thought specialty sugar cookies would make a pretty impact. And who doesn’t love a good sugar cookie? I ordered from one of our favorite local bakeries, Parson’s, in Bountiful. I ordered white sugar cookies with white icing decorated to look like roses, heart sugar cookies dipped half in white chocolate and the other in a white chocolate drizzle.

Tip: When doing a dessert bar, you do not have to have every item, one per person per item. Not everyone will have dessert, and they rarely take one of everything. If it is a small item, they might have two or three; if it’s a more oversized Item like a full-size cookie, brownie, or cupcake, they’ll have one and maybe a candy. For instance, I order 24 specialty cookies from the bakery with 40 guests. With all the other desserts to choose from, it was the perfect amount. (please remember if you only have one dessert choice, make sure to order 1 for each person attending)

Candies

White chocolate Reeses peanut butter cups

Butter mints in solid white

White cotton candy gummy bears

Vanilla Taffy

: Mimosa Bar

: Bar cart display/Champagne wall

: Water & Ice Tea

Processo Bar

All champagne flutes rimed white frosting pearls…I created four signature prosecco flutes.

-Clear rock candy= Sparkle Time

-White cotton candy= Fly High

– Fresh Berry = Berry Pellegrino Mocktail

It’s all about the details.

Details don’t have to cost much; they require creativity and maybe a little DIY. Below, I am sharing some tips, things you can collect to help make your entertaining easier, and places to shop.

Tips:

-Look through what you have around the house that fits your theme. Maybe you have something that could work, but it needs to be spray-painted.

– Champagne and wine bottles – for vases and candle holders

– Collect serving pieces in white or crystal; this makes creating a beautiful buffet, charcuterie board, or dessert bar easier.

Shop for out-of-season items or check out sale sections for things that could be used multiple times.

Items you will always use for parties, dinners, and events

Candles and candlesticks

Vases

Platters, cake stands (not just for cakes), great risers, perfect for other desserts and great for appetizers

Frames- for signage photos, and great for party theme art

Linens and napkins

Chargers

Details that make a difference

Bubble machine $20 a fun detail & impact for entry, especially for pearls and Prosecco theme.. (cute for wedding Bride & groom exit)

Ribbon

Lighting

Invites & Signage

place cards

food signage

linen napkins and napkin rings

Music-Play list that goes with your theme.

Shopping resources:

Etsy

Amazon

Homegoods

Target

Dollar store

Walmart

Micheals

Zurchers Party store

Rentals

Photo wall backdrop Idea:

A great way to save money is to create your Photowall; I used the items below to make one for this event.

I have a white ruffle shower curtain with gold sequin fabric. Years ago, I purchased a photo backdrop stand and got my money’s worth out of it. I’ve used it for Birthday parties, events, school dances, etc. I own this one HERE.

White, clear & pearl balloons & Gold confetti Balloons to create a balloon feature (I purchased an electric balloon pump) are affordable, and you can use them repeatedly. Purchase it HERE

Strings of pearls mixed in with the balloons.

: Pearl earrings in Champagne bottles

: The tags to match the invites

: Assembly

Party Favors

The Party favors were a pair of Pearl earrings in mini champagne bottles. I purchased the pearl earrings in bulk, hand-punched the earring cards with a scallop paper punch and heavy card stock, and pierced the holes to place the earrings on the card. I added metallic grass to look like champagne placed in bottles and tied with the tag.

Flowers

Tip: You can save a ton of money if you create your flower arrangements or get help from a friend who can. Another huge money saver is purchasing flowers from Trader Joe’s or Costco. They have great flowers at excellent prices. If you live near a flower mart, that is another beautiful option.

What I used:

All white flowers, Hydrendyas, roses, camimile

Lots of Baby’s breath

I planned this spring when I planted all the pots for our decks, porches, and entryways and potted them with all-white flowers to match the bridal shower theme. Thinking ahead and filling all of our potted plants to match really help

Entertaining

I genuinely love it… the planning, preparation, creating… DIY, shopping, Etc. But it’s a massive amount of work and many long days and nights. Prepping ahead of time makes a huge difference. The more you can do and set up before the event day, the better and easier it will be for you. I have a great list of things you can do before the event and more tips HERE.

Quotes I love

“People will forget what you said. They will forget what you did. But they will never forget how you made them feel.”

Maya Angelou

“Quality is never an accident. It is always the result of an intelligent effort.”

“Hospitality is simply an opportunity to show love and care.”

Live life stylishly and look good at any age.

Thank you for stopping by.

💕Remember, Wearing a smile is your most important accessory!

Have a beautiful rest of the week, and thank you for stopping by and reading.

“Pearls & Prosecco Bridal Shower” If you haven’t signed up for my weekly newsletter, you can do that HERE.

This Post may contain an affiliate link. All opinions are my own. I only promote brands that I genuinely love and believe in! Thank you for the support!

You might also enjoy the following:

Easy Berry Lemon Tart Recipe

Halloween Decor and Party Ideas

Patriotic Lime & Berry Spritzer Recipe

Hello Pretty Ladies,

Are you Cheering on the USA? Today, I share a fun and easy Patriotic Lime & Berry Spritzer. Make it a cocktail or mocktail..either way, it’s festive and yummy. Perfect if you’re throwing a closing ceremony party

I hope you had a great July! It went way too fast, with the 4th of July, Our Son’s Birthday, a couples getaway, and a girls’ trip! We’re in wedding month; our oldest gets married on the 24th. I can’t believe how fast a year went by. Exciting times and a month ahead!

Summer does need to slow down.

Today’s little catch-up

The Nordstrom sale ends TODAY. I shared my picks on several prior blog posts; most are still available or have been restocked! So, many get items to grab at deep discounts. This is where I shared my favorite things: What I purchased, a couple of great things to pick up that you rarely find on sale HERE, and a few fun surprises. These blog posts are dedicated to helping you out if you’re interested in shopping the sale, and my LTK shop Nordstrom collection tab is shared HERE.

August is back-to-school for many, and several are trying to get in the last of their summer vacations. I’ve been sharing outfit inspirations for teachers and vacations in my shop.LTK is linked below. Subscribe to post notifications, and you won’t miss a thing.

It’s Sunday, which means Sunday dinners, and tonight, we’re having Grilled Steak and veggies, Pom fritz, Fresh fruit, and Homemade Rolls. I’m sharing a recipe for one of my favorite salads and a few things you could have missed. Watch my video HERE.

*Make sure to tune in on Instagram and the blog this week. I have some fun things to share

Thank you so much for being here! OX

Shop my Outfit Below:

Cheering on the USA Cocktail Idea

I’m sharing a fun and easy Patriotic Lime & Berry Spritzer. Make it a cocktail or mocktail—either way, it’s festive and yummy. It’s perfect if you’re throwing a closing ceremony party. Something I love about this cocktail is the fruit-filled ice cubes; they are complete and pretty, making cocktails easy. Adding flavor to your ice cubes takes away work later, and you can make several cocktails at a time.

Recipe:

Raspberries

Blueberries

Mint

Limeade (I like Trader Joe’s sparkling limeade)

Raspberry sparkling water

White rum

You’ll need larger ice cube trays; I like the round citrus-shaped ones, an Amazon find I use often. Grab them HERE

Making the Ice Cubes: Fill the trays with raspberries, blueberries, and a mint sprig, then top off with raspberry sparkling water and freeze.

Creating the cocktail:

Place 1 or 2 ice cubes in your glass, add a shot of rum if making a cocktail, pour limeade over, and stir.

(If you don’t like your cocktails very sweet, use 1/2 limeade and 1/2 Raspberry sparkling water) It’s that easy

To make it a mocktail, add ice cubes and limeade.

If you don’t have Trader Joe’s sparkling limeade, use regular limeade in the freezer section, make it as directed, and then add sparkling water.

💕Remember, Wearing a smile is your most important accessory!

Thank you for stopping by.

Thank you for stopping by and reading. “Easy Berry Lemon Tart Recipe”

You can do that here if you haven’t signed up for my weekly newsletter.

This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own. I only promote brands that I genuinely love and believe in! Thank you for the support!

12 July Best Sellers You Loved

Hello Pretty Ladies,

Happy Friday! I am doing a quick recap of July’s bestsellers, the items you loved, and the best sellers you made for July. Some of these items were on the Nordstrom Anniversary sale, and a few were just great Amazon finds, while a couple of them, the Eric Javits Bag and BudhaGirl Bracelets, are a little bit of a splurge; you fell in love with them as I did.

A minor life update: We are officially on the wedding countdown. Our son gets married on August 24, 2024, and Next week, I will be sharing a recap of the Bridal shower I threw for his future bride, Mother of the groom dresses, and a couple of other fun wedding-type posts, so stay tuned.

Now, let’s get to the Best seller’s

Items YOU loved and purchased

Wit & Wisdom Top is perfect for the fall transition. It fits TTS, has sweet eyelet details, and is ideal for summer to fall transition. Also on Sale $46.80

2. Budha girl– 3 kings all-weather bangles

3. Wit & Wisdom denim Wide leg cuff jeans fit tts

4. Treasure and Bond -Crew-neck sweater: $69.50, available in 4 colors. I suggest sizing it down, as it runs a little big. It’s the perfect sweater to wear now, on chilly evenings, and in the winter.

5. Amazon find sunglasses $14.99

6. Cap toe ballet flat JCrew on sale tts, on also this pair from Nordstrom for $89

7. Eric Jarvit’s raffia and leather trim tote with make-up bag included a bag I’ve used all summer. NOW on SALE 30% off

8. The best snack tote- has dividers and a lid with handles for easy travel and keeping food separate. Amazon finds

9. Another Amazon Find is this travel steamer, which is portable and compact yet strong enough to steam three dresses with one water tank.

10. Chico’s sandal slides are cushioning and comfortable, and they’re on sale for $39.98. These go with anything from shorts to Dresses, and they’re even cute with jeans and a tee.

11. Buxom lip plumper new color

12. Sweater dress, Wool & cashmere blend dress I would size down, perfect for fall with boots and layered up:)

Here are a few pieces I’ve loved

I have several of these items styled over on my Liketoknowit storefront.

: Eric Jarvit’s

: Steamer

: Chico’s sandals

: Wide leg cuff jeans

: Buxom Lip plumper

: Sunglasses

Shop the Post below:

Thank you for stopping by.

Thank you for stopping by and reading”10 Favorite ” 12 July Best Sellers You Loved. “If you haven’t signed up for my weekly newsletter, you can do that here.

You might also enjoy the following:

10 Things I am Loving Right Now

Top 6 Beauty Products of 2023

Nordstrom Beauty Picks

THIS POST MAY CONTAIN AN AFFILIATE LINK. ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN. I ONLY PROMOTE BRANDS THAT I GENUINELY LOVE AND BELIEVE IN! THANK YOU FOR THE SUPPORT!

Couple’s Vacation at Gaylord Rockies Resort in Colorado

Hello Pretty Ladies,

I have finally been able to get my full recap of Ben and I’s June getaway to Gaylord Rockies Resort up on the blog. After returning from the trip, I quickly shared our fantastic Spa experience HERE. Hopefully, you’ll enjoy my recap and want to book your next getaway.

It’s incredible what letting go and truly living in the moment can do…Not just on vacation but in life’s daily moments as well. Let go, be a kid too… run through the sprinklers, float in the water, ride the bike, play miniature golf… Sit in the grass. Life is too short not to enjoy all the little things that used to bring us such joy as a kid. Your stress level will decrease, your happy serotonin will rise, you’ll sleep better, and you’ll wear a smile more often.

Gaylord Rockies in Colorado

This is a recap of our vacation at Gaylord Rockies in Colorado. This trip reminded me and my husband to do that, live in the moment, and do some kid things. Couple’s Vacation at Gaylord Rockies Resort in Colorado: whether you need a family resort or couples time, Gaylord Resort has all your needs for a vacation. This resort has everything you could want, and you can check in and never have to leave the resort until you check out. That is exactly what Ben and I did. We would go back, which made us want to go to all the Gaylord resorts.

They provide many excellent amenities for families, couples, and conventions, including an entire water park, pool, lazy river, miniature golf, Bicycle, animal adventures, and Top golf. My hubby and I decided we would enjoy all the amenities like we were kids, even though we didn’t have our family. Boy, did we have a blast and no “little” to worry about🤍 😉(Don’t get me wrong, we enjoyed those years and every moment we had with our family) But there’s something special after those years, too…. If you embrace them 🤍

The rooms at the Gaylord resort

Elevate your stay in a Mountain View or Partial Mountain View Guest Room. The stunning sunset views over the majestic Rocky Mountains and vast open Colorado sky will captivate your entire family. Available with either one king bed and sofa bed or two queen beds. Have a family. They have a Deluxe Family King room that is perfect for families.

Our Deluxe Family King rooms are perfect for families. This distinctive and comfortable room features a king bed, two televisions, and a separate, kid-friendly sleeping area with a bunk bed, two twin beds, and a scenic view.

Our room, Mountain View, has a King bed, a Sofa bed, a Mini fridge, 394 sqft/35 sqm, a Living/sitting area, Wireless internet, a Coffee/tea maker, and complimentary bottled water.

: Desk Area

: Sitting area

: Bathroom

Adult Time and things to do

If you want quiet adult time, Gaylord Resorts has that as well, with a private, adult-only Outdoor Spa area and beautiful Outdoor grounds with live music, fire pits, and a cocktail truck.

We also visited the most luxurious 5-star Treatment Spa, where we enjoyed a couples massage and relaxation time. Ben also did the cold plunge and sauna. Full Blog post review HERE

The Food & Dining

You can choose from fine dining with unique culinary experiences, a sports bar with top golf, a beautiful lounge with a full bar and a mini market, or poolside dining and pool services.

The Restaurants

The Old Hickory Steak house– The ultimate Dining experience serving high-quality meat and seafood

The Fortunate Prospector– Pub is a traditional English pub with a great breakfast and yummy fish and chips.

: The Pub

: The pub

: The Pub

Embers Lodge Bar—Enjoy cocktails and small plates in the most beautiful lounge, with grand vaulted ceilings and dual fireplaces. Live music is available in the evenings.

: Embers Lodge Bar

: Embers Lodge Bar

: Embers Lodge Bar

Mountain Pass Sports Bar– Casual menu featuring burgers, sandwiches, salads, and draft beer at our sports bar, Including the BEST soft pretzel with beer cheese

: Sports Bar

: Sports Bar

: Sports Bar

Cantina Montana– Mexican

Arapahoe Springs Bar & Grill– American poolside dining

: Watermelon& feta Salad

: Chicken Quesadilla

: Frozen Cocktail

Rockies Marketplace– American grab-and-go market

: Coffee Bar

: Grabbed some snacks

Cocoa Bean– Coffee House

The Cabana’s

Reserve a cabana at Arapahoe Springs Water Park for the ultimate poolside luxury and relaxation. Enjoy extra shade, a plush lounge sofa and chase seating, a flat-screen TV, and dedicated food and beverage service. One of Ben and I’s favorite things to do while on vacation is to reserve a cabana and have that private time together poolside. It’s so relaxing, and that little extra makes you feel special, having your own space without fighting crowds.

Shop this outfit:

: Relaxing

: Poolside dining

: Frozen Cocktail

The Water Park and Lazy River

The Indoor water park

Water Park showcases two pools – a zero-entry indoor pool and a heated year-round outdoor pool. Three water slides provide twisting and turning fun, inside and out. The indoor slide tower has two slides for thrill-seekers, while a smaller outdoor slide is a fan favorite for younger guests. Guests can relax, float along the 720-foot-long lazy river, and enjoy twisting through waterfalls, jets, and bubblers.

Shop my outfit Below:

The Lazy River

Grab an inner tube and cool off as you float around the lazy river. The lazy river features a rocky cave, water jets, and bubblers. We reserved a cabana next to the lazy river as we knew this would be the perfect way to cool off and relax.

The Adult Spa

Need a break from the children? Here’s your little escape

Shop my outfit below:

Shopping

Need a little shopping fix or forgot something? The Rookies Trading Post has everything you could need or want, from swimsuits you forgot to the latest fashion trends with some of the best brands, from Barefoot Dreams and Johhny Was to Free People and Bogg bags. It’s truly a one-stop shop with all my favorite brands.

: Shopping

: Trading Post

Activities at the resorts

Bring the family together for a fun game of giant chess, bocce ball, or cornhole on the Games Lawn. Daily, at your leisure.

-Outdoor Lawn Games

-Live music

-Outdoor firepits & Smores

-Bike riding

-Miniature golf

-Arts and crafts

Shop my Outfit Below:

: Top Golf

: Outdoor Fires Smores’s

: Miniature Golf

: Miniature Golf

: Bike Riding

: Garden Bar Cart

Outdoor garden lounge

Enjoy a cocktail or glass of wine in the evening beside the outdoor fireplace, perfect for watching the sunset. This charming area has a cocktail truck, and you can also grab a smore’s kit for a sweet treat.

Create your Vacation

No vacation plans? Create your vacation moments in your backyard…

-Grab a book and a drink, and enjoy a break outdoors for 30 min.

– Run through the sprinkler while watering.

-Go for a bike ride around the neighborhood

-Poor a glass of wine, make a charcuterie board, and lay a blanket on the grass for a picnic.

– Have a fire pit? Make s’more’s

Have a beautiful day, Pretty ladies, and remember your smile is your BEST accessory.

Thank you for stopping by.

Thank you for stopping by and reading. ” Couple’s Vacation at Gaylord Rockies Resort in Colorado”

You can do that here if you haven’t signed up for my weekly newsletter.

You might also enjoy the following:

5 Star Spa in Colorado-Relache Spa at The Gaylord Resort

Sun Valley Idaho, Ski. Trip

June’s 12 Best Sellers

Hello Pretty Ladies,

June is officially over, and man, was it a blur. From a vacation in Colorado, throwing a large bridal shower, and entertaining family in town, the actual start of summer, which is when you can start to work in your yard in Utah, we finish our deck remodel, Save a kitten, off the highway, Shes doing excellent by the way. Then, I head out of town for a weekend with my hubby in Park City. I feel like I lost a month of Summer.

Why is it winter is eight months long, and Summer flies by? July is another month that becomes a blur. July 4 is so fast, and all the Crazy sales start for Back to School and Fall! The Nordstrom sale Starts July 9, Walmart the 8th-11th, Target July 7th-13th, and Amazon Prime July 16-17th. Will you be shopping the Big 4 sales? If so, I would love to know what you are shopping for and if you want me to showcase anything special. Comment below if you have any questions for me.

About the July Sales

I’ll share the six items I purchase yearly from Nordstrom and my picks on Amazon Prime sale, my favorite pick from each, what I believe is too good of a sale not to grab, and some gift ideas.

As for the Nordstrom sale, I will do an in-store try-on; you loved the one I did last year, as I know it helps you see how they fit. Here is last year’s Try-on. I have already noticed that several of my BEST SELLERS from previous years are on sale again this year, and if you plan on grabbing a sale item or two, you might want to add them to your wish list to have them ready when you can shop. If you’re interested in shopping for sales, sign up for my post alerts on ShopLTK. This will help you see the posts first. You can do that HERE.

Please remember that I am sharing things that caught my eye, which are great and will help you build your wardrobe. But by no means don’t feel like you have to shop just because they’re on sale. I always say it’s only a good deal if you wear and style it in multiple ways.

View My Nordstrom Shopping Tips Here.

June’s 12 Best Sellers

Stripe Tank Top—Loft tank tops are a closet staple. They’re comfortable and great to layer or wear alone.

2. Self-Tanner – Loving Tan- Self-tanner Use Code: DARCYMITT will receive a free tanning mitt.

3. Spanx– Stripe Air Essentials Maxi Dress- I adore how soft this dress is. This dress is also easy to style, perfect for travel, and can be worn in multiple seasons by layering. It fits true to size and works for tall girls who have it in petite sizes.

SAVE 10% off all Spanx with my CODE: DEARDARCYXSPANX. Great free shipping and returns, too

4. Crochet Kimono—Chico’s Crochet Cotton Kimono has an easy-breezy style. This design features a delicate lace crochet construction and a scalloped hem that adds movement and flair. Pair it with a Microfiber Tank for all-day comfort and style.

5. Amazon find– Sunglasses $14.99-SOJOS Trendy Oversized Hexagonal Sunglasses

6. Acrylic Block Heel– Crafted with a soft, slightly padded leather upper, this design features a Lucite gem-shaped heel. Brimming with style, they’re perfect for pairing with pants, jeans, or dresses. On SALE $27.98-34.98

You’re halfway through my Best Sellers

7. Straw Bag -$24.99

8. Snack Holder– Amazon find, perfect for travel

9. Denim shorts – by Spanx-denim shorts are flattering, fit true to size, and are perfect for dressing up or down.

SAVE 10% off all Spanx with my CODE: DEARDARCYXSPANX. Great free shipping and returns, too

10. Leather Slide Sandals– by Chico’s-Crafted with a soft leather upper with PU hand-inked edges, these slip-on slides feature memory foam sock padding that offers an accurate fit and ease in each step. Brimming with style, they’re perfect for pairing with cropped pants, jeans, or dresses. On sale for $27.98

11. Charlotte Tilbury– New Lip Plumper- Pillow Talk Big Lip Plumpgasm Plumping Lip Gloss

12. Citrus dress—Chico’s Silk Blend Tropical Shirt Dress is a favorite for this season. This design features a colorful tropical print on luxurious cotton and silk blend fabric. It also has a drop waist fit with a concealed 3/4 front placket and a removable tie waist belt. Pair this dress with sandals throughout the transitioning season. Sale 50% off Now $79

A quick Recap of the Best Sellers and Links Below:

: Leather Slides

: Tank Top

: Glasses

: Snack Box

: Acrylic Block Heel

: Crochet Kimono

Shop the Post Below:

💕Remember, Wearing a smile is your most important accessory!

Thank you for stopping by.

Thank you for stopping by and reading “June’s 12 Best Sellers.”

If you haven’t signed up for my weekly, you can do that here.

You might also enjoy the following:

May 12 Best Sellers

Summer Capsule Wardrobe With Chico’s

2 Over 40 Outfit Inspirations Coastal Vibes

Easy Turkey Lasagna

This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own. I only promote brands that I genuinely love and believe in! Thank you for the support!

Easy Berry Lemon Tart Recipe

Hello Pretty Ladies,

— My Twist on An Easy Berry Lemon Tart Recipe—

Are you hosting or headed to a Party for the 4th? I have an easy and fun twist on a lemon tart. Perfect for the 4th Easy Berry Lemon Tart Recipe, a recipe that is light & fresh, has a little crunch, and tastes so good. It is easy to make and looks so festive for the 4th of July. Trust me, you’ll use my Lemon Curd whipping cream on everything.

I was playing with a recipe for this dessert. I had all these beautiful red and blue berries, and I always had heavy cream and a jar of lemon curd. However, I didn’t have pie crust on hand, and I was lazy and didn’t want to make it from scratch. I did have some fillo dough on hand, so I thought I’d create a dessert for Sunday dinner to test out on the family.

I could have served the berries with just my lemon curd whipping cream because that is so yummy! It’s excellent with pound cake or any white or yellow cake as well. WATCH MY VIDEO HERE

The Families Vote:

Ben is Dutch and loves European desserts. He loved them! He said he loved the little crunch and that it reminded him of Europe.

Hudson and Kayla loved it and the little twist. Hampton liked the berries and whipped cream (he’s not really a pie or pastry lover, so I was expecting that). Now, as for me… I love a good pie crust and even like a thicker doughy pie crust, so I missed the crust. So, with that said, I loved how easy it was to make, and it was beautiful and fun to try something different.

Ingredients:

Fillo Dough followed the directions on the package. You could also use puff pastry, Pie crust, or pre-made mini tarts.

– 1/2 cube butter melted

– Fresh berries= Strawberries🍓Blueberries 🫐 Blackberries and Raspberries sliced

-Fresh Mint 🍃

– 2 Cups Heavy Cream 🍨

-1/2 cup – 1 cup Powdered Sugar

-Lemon Curd: I like Bonne Maman

: The Design I created to use on each

: The way to cut each fruit

: Fresh Berries

Quick overview on How to prepare and assemble

Assemble Fillo and bake according to the direction.

Wash berries and let dry.

While Fillo dough is baking, make Lemon whipping cream (recipe below), chill whipping cream, and slice berries … (raspberries and blackberries in 1/2, Strawberries into thin slices, and blueberries left whole.)

Make yourself one of my Berry lemonade spritzers 🍋🍃🫐 Recipe HERE, While the dough is cooling…

Once the dough is cooled, the fun part begins… assembly 🍨🍓🫐🍃

Add a generous amount of lemon whipping cream to the baked dough… and decorate the tops with fresh berries and mint to look like flowers🍃🫐🍓

Chill until ready to serve

You can dust it with powdered sugar for a little extra touch!

I adore my kitchen aid mixer and use it every week. A must-have! Mine is on sale HERE

It’s a slightly different version and under $250, which is an amazing deal. HERE

Lemon Curd Whipping Cream

2 cups heavy cream cold

1/2 to a cup of powdered sugar. (Make it as sweet as you like)

Three large tablespoons of lemon curd

Place whipping cream in a mixer and mix until it starts to peak. Add powdered sugar to your liking and mix into stiff peaks. Then add the lemon curd and continue to mix until blended. Refrigerate until ready to assemble.

🍨🍋 My Lemon Whipped cream is so good served with a tray of fresh fruit and delicious with pound cake for an even easier dessert! It’s also great on ice cream and on top of a lemonade cocktail.

Easy Berry Lemon Tart Recipe

💕Remember, Wearing a smile is your most important accessory!

Thank you for stopping by.

Thank you for stopping by and reading. “Easy Berry Lemon Tart Recipe”

If you haven’t signed up for my weekly newsletter, you can do that here.

This post may contain affiliate links. All opinions are my own. I only promote brands that I genuinely love and believe in! Thank you for the support!

Friday’s Favorites and Weekend Sale Round Up!

Hello Pretty Ladies,

Another week is flying by, and it’s hard to believe it’s the last few days of June. Ben and I are headed out of town for some stay-cation in Park City. He booked it forever ago, and he’s looking forward to a bit of downtime. If we stay home, he continues to work at our or someone else’s home, so he likes to book several local weekend trips a year.

Let’s catch up

July is a busy month, with all the BIG sales, the Nordstrom sale, Amazon Prime days, and Walmart & Target having to get into the game. I’ll be covering my favorite picks and things I have purchased, but I would love to know if there is something you want me to cover or review. Comment below with your questions and what sales you’re looking forward to. It’s great to start creating your wish lists now. here are a couple of favorite THINGS I recommend Purchashing if you don’t have Spanx| Free People Sweater| Pillow Talk| New Balance 327|

Excited this year that a couple of brands I have loved and purchased from have reached out to partner with me. Can’t wait to share the items and show you how I will style them.

I look forward to a July girlfriends/work trip with some of my favorite Midlife blogger friends. Mixing work and play is always a good time. Do you have any guesses as to whom I will be meeting?

July also means we’re in countdown mode for our son’s wedding. August 24th is going to come up fast. My dress arrived yesterday and fit perfectly, so that is a check off my list. I need to start working on the welcome boxes, and I still have some details to finish up for the rehearsal party. Say party because it’s a Black Tie destination wedding, and we invited everyone who will be in town on Friday to attend the more casual Lake Party after the rehearsal.