"All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey I've been for a walk on a winters' day I'd be safe and warm if I was in..." Colorado in FALL! {The Mamas and the Papas} Each season has it's own special place in my heart but fall...fall has it's own EXTRA special, EXTRA large space. Other than being the season of my birth, it's home to so many familiar sights, smells and tastes! I'm originally from the Midwest (Saint Paul, Minnesota to be exact) so fall, defined first by the weather change, typically starts the day after the Labor Day. The days get cooler with each passing sunset. The smells are different. From sun block and bug spray to pumpkin spice lattes and school bus exhaust, you always know it's fall. In Colorado, fall seems to come in a little slower but just as familiar. The main difference is the days aren't as cool. Yet. Whether it's date night out, foodie fun or fashion finds, you can find 'your fall' in Colorado. And with the recent transition (well, since January) from corporate paycheck to business owner, I'm managing my finances a little closer for now with this Personal Capital handy app I found. Here are a few of my favorite things that won't break the bank as you head into prime-time holiday season. FRIENDS & FAMILY Fall has endless ways to enjoy time with family and friends! Pumpkin patches, corn mazes, bonfires, hay rides, a run through the fall colors and the list goes on...find one for you and yours at Mile High on the Cheap. Pumpkin hunting and carving is the BEST holiday happy hour {4 for 1} - finding the perfect pumpkin, carving it, roasting the seeds, making a pumpkin pie and putting a candle in the carved one for a decoration!) Nowhere else can you get a better deal than that for happy hour. Trust me, I've looked. Here's our favorite: Denver Botanic Gardens at Chatfield Farms Pumpkin Festival - best value and fun variety of activities for all ages! Looking for something free? Check out Cottonwood Farms in Boulder. They offer a free experience with only $3 additional for a hayride per person. FALL FLAVORS My Midwest roots have me craving things like fresh, homemade bread for French toast and grilled cheese sandwiches or pumpkin-flavored beers. Or whatever comes out of those crock-pot challenges. Those what? Crock-pot Challenge! - Get some friends together and host a slow cooker cook-off (say that 10 times quickly)! Have each person or family bring one dish that's enough to share with the whole group. You'll have a great excuse to get together and enjoy good food. And, with school back in session, sometimes there just isn't time for homemade everything in the moment. Avoid expensive box meals or takeout fever. Spread out the savings and bring reusable containers and you've got delicious, diverse meals (you can freeze until use) for weeks! Add an easy seasonal salad or fresh vegetable side and you'll be feeling the flavors of fall in no time. White chicken chili, pork green chili, bean dip, and chili Colorado are our favorites! Stuck on where to start? Gluten-free? Dairy-free? Vegan? No worries, there's something for everyone. Check out these sites to spark your culinary creativity:
Not sure where to start with your shopping? We've been doing Door to Door Organics for the past few months and absolutely LOVE THEM! Their produce changes as the seasons change so you know what you're getting is fresh. They also have a deal going on through Sept. 24 for 50% off your first Bitty Box (there are a few different sizes) for new customers. Use code FALL50. Fall Beers Colorado is know for it’s beer culture being in the top five best states for beer lovers. Grab some friends or go it alone - the Coors Brewery Tour and post-tour tastings in Golden, CO are always a great bet! You'll get a chance to see the inner workings of this historic brewery, learn about the history of the company that still employs Coors family members today. Taste some of their favorites and seasonal offerings. For me? The thicker, the darker, the better. And one of my favorite breweries (Upslope in Boulder) is top on this list for fall releases: 5 Fall Colorado Beers to Drink this Season FOLIAGE Down and out in downtown? Get out of dodge but heading to one of the hundreds of foliage hikes within an hour of Denver. While you could drive just about anywhere within an hour west of Denver and find fall colors, here are some recommended hikes to make the most of this scenery while it's still here:
FASHION Last, but certainly not least, living in Denver has it's perks...sun 300+ days of the year! That means summer can be hot and jeans are not the best option. By the mid-September I'm ready to pull them out, they've been lonely and getting dusty, untouched sitting on a shelf in my closet for months. One of my favorite things about fall is jeans and sweaters! It's like a whole new wardrobe in your closet. I can wear jeans all day in the fall without having to worry about heatstroke. Dress in or bring layers. No matter what. You can experience four seasons in less than four hours on a hike in the foothills or mountains. You'll never go wrong with any combo of the following. Check out these tunes to get you inspired! So, where are you going to start as the days get cooler and the nights get longer...? Now where did I put those jeans again...
1 Comment
9/20/2016 08:14:32 pm
Great post - that 'wee you' is so cute (and also reminded me I graduated HS in 1982 LOL). Keep up the great work!
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