14 things worth noting >> tastes + adventures

Thought I’d pop in today with some of the highlights from AJ’s visit.  Instead of the usual 10 things worth noting there were a few extra additions that couldn’t go unmentioned.  We had an absolute blast showing AJ around Colorado and it gave us a nice distraction from all of the moving + renovation madness. 

Big thanks to AJ for going with the flow, putting up with our construction zone of a house, being up for anything, and trying new things.  I hope this trip was the perfect pre-college vacation with memories to last a lifetime. xo Ashley

Tastes + Adventures [some photographed, some not]

1. simple black bean burgers – always delicious + perfect for an afternoon cookout
2. Downpours coffee – they make homemade almond milk!
3. REI downtown Denver – the biggest adventure/outdoor store you’ve ever seen
4. Chipotle Cultivate Festival – free! music, food, drinks
5. drive up Loveland Pass to the continental divide – free!
6. Georgetown – mountain town with quaint downtown area
7. Lucha Cantina – in Georgetown and highly recomment for lunch or dinner – definitely get their chips + salsa!
8. Red Rocks – free to roam with lots of trails + exploring, plus access to the amphitheater
9. Confluence/Centennial Park in Denver – fabulous downtown park area
10. Denver Museum of Nature + Science – free admission the day we visited!
11. Boulder Pearl Street Pedestrian Mall – free to roam + people watch + shop + eat – you’ll definitely catch a handful of street performers as well
12. Illegal Pete’s – better than Chipotle and worth a visit
13. Flagstaff Mountain – breathtaking mountain + city of Boulder views
14. Sweet Cow – this may be tied with my love for Jeni’s ice cream!

10 things worth noting: under construction

1. This was last week’s makeshift bedroom while the floors were being refinished on the main floor + kitchen construction was starting.  We kind of got used to being in the basement and the dogs really seemed to like it.

2. Apparently, both dogs are now bed hogs and request 2 beds each.

3. A few loud bangs and the dogs head straight under my desk.  Even 80lb Kenna.  They’re adjusting well, though, and are getting used to all of the jack-hammering, banging, strangers, etc. 

4. Does our new house look familiar?  Déjà vu! The flow of this house is nearly identical to our old house, which is exactly what were hoping to find.  The main difference is that we have a basement in the new house.  But when I say new I really mean old.  Like, 1932 old!

5. We kind of have a thing for opening up walls. [compare to photo above]

6. I’m slightly obsessed with the old features in this house. From the built-in cabinets, to the giant fireplace, the wood windows, solid wood doors, and original door knobs.

7. Instead of a refrigerator in the backyard/basement stairwell we now have a pantry in its place.  After a little kitchen demo the fridge now has a home in the actual kitchen.

The wall + doorway cutout let light flood in from the stairwell windows and make the space feel much more open.  We were able to reinstall one of the original wood doors to be used for the new pantry! The reason the floor is elevated is for headroom for the stairwell underneath.  Old homes definitely come with their quirks!

8. The first box I opened was for my waffle maker.  Surprise, surprise.  I definitely packed that last so I could find it first!  Breakfast + lunches have been happening at home but the kitchen has been under plastic, so no real cooking has happened quite yet.

9. On Sunday we moved upstairs for the 2nd phase of construction to start in the basement.  We’ve having a bedroom + bathroom added and our TV room will also be down there.  While the kitchen and floors only took a week the basement will take about 1 month to complete.  We’re leaving it to a construction team this time but will still be taking on projects ourselves down the road. 

You’re looking at our future bedroom.  Can you see it?

Egress window going in!

My current office is right above the location of this window.  It was INsane to listen to them digging it out while working at my computer!

10. Have you ever seen a coal chute?  It’s that panel on the top of the wall that goes to the exterior of our house.  This whole room was closed in and was originally used to bring coal in the house for heating purposes.  So cool!

Well, I just wanted to pop in and say hello and let you know what’s been going on the past week or so around here.  Things are crazy but we’re so excited for everything to come together!  It will be over in a flash and we’ll be fully settled in no time at all.

Recipes coming later this week!

Ashley