things i love // easter

Hi lovelies. Happy Easter. It’s so nice to see the bright sun and feel the warmth. My guys are SO excited to hunt for eggs and eat too much candy and to finally get to spend the day with grandma + papa IRL. But I feel like I’d be remiss not to recognize on this day of rebirth and renewal the unspeakable horror that my beloved hometown endured while our little family was away for break and that other communities continue to face with each passing week. My heart is so broken.

We did have a lovely break, tromping through the Utah desert in the sleet and snow and rain, but there was an unshakable cloud that hung over the adults in the group as we tried to forge ahead and enjoy the moment despite the suffering of our community. The kids were blissfully ignorant of the news until we got home and they had the best time on our trip, fully unplugged with no TV, tablets or laptops to distract them from the company of their friends and the goats and weather systems moving in and out of the stunning valley where we stayed. It was wonderful to hear their easy laughter and see the relaxed bliss on their faces.

So, the only thing I know how to do in the aftermath of what happened in my favorite place on earth is to even more fiercely celebrate life and love and the living the best I can, knowing that other families no longer have that privilege. I’m making Confetti Pancakes with Sparkle Syrup for breakfast and am taking LOTS of big, deep breaths outside with my face to the glorious sunshine. I’m stealing lots of hugs from my guys and trying harder to be present for them. Hug your own babies extra tight today and all of your loves and send just a little stash of your good Easter vibes and healing mojo to Boulder for the journey ahead. Thanks, lovelies. It means a lot. xo

In the very first Things I Love post, I introduced you to Lisa Congden’s new book, You Will Leave a Trail of Stars. Well, I finally got my copy this week and I’m here again to tell you just how awesome it is IRL. It’s a book full of GORGEOUS, whimsical, colorful and downright stunning illustrations, yes, but it’s also jammed with such profound wisdom. There are excellent quotes from some expected places, but also Lisa’s own sage advice and reminders (like “Embrace the Suck”) from lessons learned by overcoming her own adversity and challenge. This book would be a truly gorgeous and heartfelt gift for any grad, teacher, friend, sister, daughter or really anyone you know who is facing a transition, a challenge or just needing a bit of encouragement as they make their way. I can see myself using it as a super helpful parenting tool as well when my own words fail me as they did last week. Her words are concise and not fluffy, but meaningful and impactful and could bring about a true change in perspective for someone ready to receive it. Plus, it’s so beautiful to look at. You Will Leave a Trail of Stars will def be a new go-to gift for me.
// YOU WILL LEAVE A TRAIL OF STARS $15.95//

Ok, and while I am having a Lisa Congdon love fest, have you guys seen the new Mondo Llama line of art supplies at Target?! AAAAGH! I had to exercise my most severe restraint to keep myself from pulling at least one of each thing into my cart. It’s SO FUN and so reasonably priced and they have an exceptional variety of materials and kits for kids and adults alike. AND Lisa Congdon designed the rad packaging (and you might as well just throw some of her crazy adorable Method hand soap in your cart while you’re at it). You could put together a seriously bonkers gift from their awesome selection. I made off with the Paint-Your-Own Wood Pets Kit for an upcoming school give-away and the Give it a Swirl Tie Dye Kit for a fun sunny day activity for my boys (plus LOTS of white tube socks to dye). The Kickin’ Kaleidoscope Paint Pouring Kit and Paint By Number Canvas Kit would be amazing for older kids or t(ween)s. I had to back away super slowly from the 3D Multi-Surface Paint (really ALL of the amazing paint) and Bright Glitter Washi Tape, but will def be back for my little’s birthday. From beads to chalk markers to glitter glue, you could never go wrong making a seriously RAD gift out of anything in this line for any aged artists you love.
// MONDO LLAMA ART SUPPLIES from $2//

Oh you guys, this HOKA x Cotopaxi collab makes me so happy. I’ve been wanting to try a pair of Hoka’s forever and this might just be the push I need. The colors are so happy and fun and summer-ready. And I’ve admired Cotopaxi for years, drawn to their colorful aesthetic, but after listening to the How I Built This episode about their founder, Davis Smith, I liked them even more. The company’s “Do Good” creed is executed at every turn. One of the tenets of Cotopaxi’s super thoughtful and impactful business model is to give their employees full creative control over the pieces they sew; the employees get to choose the colors they use from the remnant fabric for every single piece they put together so that no two are the same, which I love. So if you order this Cotopaxi x HOKA ONE ONE Batac Del Dia Pack, you won't know exactly what you’re going to get, but you can be sure it’ll be colorful and so fun. Plus a portion of the proceeds from this collab are going to Big City Mountaineers, an organization committed to getting kids from disinvested communities into the outdoors. Both pieces from this drop are unisex and would be a fantastic Mother’s or Father’s Day gift for the outdoor lovers you love who appreciate a rad pop of color. This stuff will be gone in a flash, so think fast and bring ON those summer adventures.
// HOKA x COTOPAXI from $65//

JaxKelly handcrafts delicate, pretty and super affordable gemstone jewelry and candles out of San Diego. I picked up a pair of their Clear Quartz Mineral Points at Favor the Kind in Crested Butte a few months ago and have been wearing them a lot lately. They’re almost invisible on my ears from a distance, but I love how they refract the light and Quartz is said to have cleansing properties, which just feels right for me these days. I’ve been waiting patiently for them to restock their Mineral Points in other stones and they finally have, but… now I’m having trouble choosing. The Amethyst (healing), Amazonite (hope) and Rose Quartz (love) all look so pretty and I love the mojo they’re putting out. I also love the simplicity of these little Minimalist Hexagons and Moons. JaxKelly’s Crystal Candles are hand-poured in their studio and have different stones embedded in them that each carry a different intention, like Inner Peace (peach quartz), Calming (blue chalcedony) or Balancing (Dalmatian jasper). Just lighting a simple scented candle is said to have therapeutic benefits, so adding some intention and earthly energy might just kick it up a notch.
// JAXKELLY MINERAL POINTS $34//

If you have space in your heart and your wallet, please consider donating to the Colorado Healing Fund. This nonprofit was founded in 2018 by victim advocates and the Colorado AG’s office to give people a safe and efficient way to support victims of mass tragedy. I’m just so sad that their important work continues to be relevant over and over again. The CHF provides both immediate and long-term support to victims and their families, including their financial, emotional and physical needs. They work with community partners to effectively disperse the funds, so you can feel confident that your donation will get to the people who need it most.
// COLORADO HEALING FUND //

All images via @bouldercolorado

Hey! Just a heads up that this post includes affiliate links, but rest assured that I stand by all product recommendations 100%. Questions? Reach out, I’m always here for you. xo

things i love // warm up

Sheesh, Old Man Winter really unleashed some serious shade this week. Wherever you live, I sincerely hope you and yours are all safe and warm. We’ve enjoyed our typical super erratic Colorado weather this week too, which has led us gracefully from gloomy negative temps to dumping snow to warm sunny melting and back again. No boring same-old weather here, we’re always on our toes. My little family finalized some plans for a close-to-home, but worlds away adventure for spring break, which I’m super giddy about (more soon). I’ll be holding on to that bright dream to help me ride out any cold gloom coming our way in the next few weeks. I have some fresh ideas this week for keeping YOUR winter blahs at bay, too. So make a hot cuppa or hug a fuzzy blanket and settle in for a little warming trend for just a few minutes. And take good care of yourselves, lovelies. xo

I realized this week that we’ve been in some form of quarantine for just about a full year now. I know, I know, I DEF don’t need to remind you (gah, sorry!), but I’m *just* now starting to feel a bit claustrophobic. Don’t get me wrong, I am eternally BEYOND grateful for our health, our beautiful home, our ability to access fresh air and the stunning outdoors, the fact that I actually like my little family and a million more things big and small that I thank my lucky stars for each day. Maybe it’s the shot of real winter we’ve had these past weeks or just a craving to get out to see new things, but in any case, it might just be time to mix things up a bit.

Like maybe learn something new? Like maybe punch needling? The super clever sisters at The Modern Crafter in the U.K. make it look so appealing, I think it just might be the answer. They sell ready-made kits for beginners that come with all of the high-quality supplies and tools you need to create something beautiful all by yourself, even if you’ve never even heard the words “punch” and “needle” in the same sentence. And when you’re finished with your project, you’ll have a magical piece of artwork or pillow that YOU MADE. Now, I’m not gonna lie, the shipping charge for kits is a bit eye-popping because they’re sending you super luxe heavy yarn and supplies from across the pond, but if you take into account that it’s hours of entertainment + finished artwork + boosting your mental health, it all seems totally worthwhile. Plus you get to support a beautiful independent maker, to boot.

If you’d rather not have your crafts shipped across the ocean, there’s also this pretty framed Sunrise kit or this Mountain kit that originates stateside and will also impress your visitors (once you can host them). If you want to do a fun indoor (warm + cozy) project with your kiddos, there are lots of options for super cutie themed kits that would be fun for the craft-loving little or t(w)een in your life. So get ready to mix it up a bit and hang in there, the end is on the horizon.
// MODERN CRAFTER SUNSET PUNCH NEEDLE CUSHION KIT $88 //

Pandemic of Love is the absolutely brilliant brainchild of ONE woman at her kitchen table that has turned into a stunning global grassroots phenomenon. Shelly Tygielski is a Florida-based meditation teacher who saw a need last March to help people struggling in her community from the onset of the pandemic. She developed a volunteer-based “mutual aid” system that pairs people who have specific financial needs with community members who are able to help. The idea is that all members of a community should be responsible for caring for one other so that no one member suffers needlessly. Her beautiful movement really caught on and has grown exponentially to include “micro communities” around the world, including Pandemic of Love Boulder.

Like their sister communities, Pandemic of Love Boulder has a unique system that pairs people together directly so that those with financial needs can personally connect with “patrons” who are able to help. For anything from a tank of gas to a single utility bill to school supplies to medicine, any short-term financial gap is eligible for assistance through their network. Patrons can choose to help once or twice or pledge to pay a recurring bill monthly until the need is resolved, creating a safety net of not just funds, but also love + support that’s crucial during this stressful time. And, if making that super personal connection isn’t your thing, you can also either become an anonymous patron, make a one-time donation that will be disbursed as needed or purchase something from the Amazon wishlist that goes directly to the family that requested it.

By the numbers, there are now 100 national chapters, plus 3 dozen internationally, for a total of 1500 worldwide dedicated and compassionate volunteers. Wow. Just since late last March, the Boulder chapter alone has cared for more than 500 families, collecting more than $100,000 in direct support. They also provided winter coats, hats and other cold-weather gear to more than 100 families. How awesome is that?! Pandemic of Love is hoping to keep their powerful mutual aid model going long after the pandemic is over, so please help if you can or reach out if you could use a little supportive love boost from your community.
// PANDEMIC OF LOVE //

I’ve been having my ass handed to me lately (in the best possible way) in an outdoor bootcamp led by my awesome friend, Melissa, of Fit For Me. It has been really nice to get back into working out with other actual people in a fun and supportive environment (she’ll gladly coach you online, too). However, because we’re working out outdoors and in runners, my poor yoga mat is taking a serious beating. It is now an ‘outdoor mat,’ kind of like an outdoor cat, and it’s not welcome in my living room anymore. So, I need a new one for my indoor Bar Method workouts (and my husband’s Asana Rebel workouts).

I have my eye on this Alo Yoga Warrior Mat. It’s a bit more expensive than some others, but it’s loved for its thickness and grip, which is just what I want on my wood floor. Plus, it’s pretty and since it now lives under the couch in our front room as part of our decor, that kinda matters to me. I love the gorgeous, deep Eclipse and Smoky Quartz colors. They’re also PVC-free, non-toxic and are made with ethically-sourced natural rubber, so that’s a win for me. These Liforme Yoga Mats also get amazing reviews and have a cool alignment tool if you’re using it for actual yoga. They’re also free from grody chemicals and will biodegrade when you’re finished with them.

If a bit more budget-friendly mat is best, these Jade Yoga Harmony Mats are also super well-loved and come in some really nice jewel tone colors. These pretty Navajo and Reversible Sun and Moon versions from Gaiam also look awesome. And if you’re going for straight aesthetics, Society6 has a bunch of REALLY pretty yoga mats that will double as artwork in your space. Now if only my shiny new ‘indoor mat’ could instantly transform my body to be able to do so gracefully what’s in those pictures above, we’d really be on to something.
// ALO YOGA WARRIOR MAT $100 //

Do you live where the frigid temps rolled through like a tsunami this week? To help you feel toasty from the inside out, I’m sharing our hands-down family-favorite soup recipe in hopes that it’ll heat you up (assuming you have power and can find anything in stock at the grocery…). This Nom Nom Paleo Watercress & Chicken Soup is so nourishing and delicious, and I make it so often, that my little guy put it down as THE family recipe for his school family heritage project (um, sorry, grandma). Even my super picky one slurps this up, it’s just that satisfying. I add a little pile of cooked rice ramen noodles to the bowl before pouring in the soup for an extra hearty meal and it all just feels like a hug. Her Wonton Meatballs and Pork and Napa Cabbage Soup are also on heavy rotation at our house.

Michelle Tam of Nom Nom Paleo makes beautiful, healthy food that you’ll actually want to eat and can make on an average weeknight. Many (but def not all) of her recipes highlight super delicious Asian flavors and are inspired by her childhood. All of them are healthful and nourishing and I’ve never made anything that I didn’t love. If you eat paleo or KETO, you’ll DEF want to check out her site or her awesome cookbooks (her husband does the illustrations and design) and even if you don’t, it’s just really good food. She shares a lot of recipes or adaptations specifically for Instant Pot, too, if that’s your thing. I have gifted Ready or Not! to several people I love along with a tin of her umami Magic Mushroom Powder (c’mon now, it’s for cooking). It’s a fantastic present for anyone on your list who loves to cook or eat well or for your own rad self. Stay warm and safe and dry, lovelies. Old Man Winter won’t stick around forever, but while he’s here, make a batch of this soup and feel the warmth that I’m sending your way.
// NOM NOM PALEO WATERCRESS + CHICKEN SOUP //

If you’re still chilled to the bone after a workout and a bowl of hot soup, I have one last suggestion this week for warming you up once and for all. Colorado-based Trek Light Gear makes drool-worthy blankets (I’ve been coveting the Gold Peace Blanket for months) and this week they launched their newest design, Halley’s Comet, which is just a lovely breath of fresh air. All of their wares are made for adventuring, near and far, a value super evident in founder Seth Haber’s contagious passion.Trek Light Gear’s mission is to “spread happiness and change the world one customer at a time” and I think they’re succeeding beautifully.

All of Trek Light’s blankets are handmade by artisans in Mexico using excess clothing materials that would’ve ended up in the landfill for the rest of time. The artisans use traditional wooden pedal looms and weave in their own homes, giving them freedom and control over their own work. So what began as a humble venture selling hammocks at festivals, has grown into a truly beautiful company. And in this strange time, they have taken their mission to “spread happiness” one step even further by introducing a “Pay What You Can” system that allows customers to choose from a range of  discounts if needed or pay full price if they can. I mean, who does that?! Trek Light Gear does and it’s just another heartwarming example of people helping people in the best way they know how during difficult days.

If you follow along, you already know that I think blankets make AMAZING gifts for just about anyone and any occasion, especially if you love someone who’s freezing their buns off right now. What better way to warm their buns and their hearts than with a cozy blanket made with the hope of sunnier days ahead.
// TREK LIGHT GEAR HALLEY’S COMET BLANKET $136 //

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