Yes Way Chambray!

Ok, it's no secret that I am a big chambray fan! Give me a chambray button-down, blouse, dress, whatever really, and I am a happy girl! There's something that's just so classic about chambray pieces and the way they can act as a neutral that can be dressed up or down.

For date night, try throwing on a chambray button-down with some waxy black skinny jeans and a heels for a casual yet sexy evening look! Think something like this:

Chambray dresses are a great staple to have in your closet as well! They are easy to throw on and are so effortlessly chic. Sometimes finding the perfect chambray or jean dress can be tricky though! They can often leave you shapeless, are unflattering, or the material just isn't quite right.

I have rounded up my favorite chambray dresses that are perfect for the end of summer and great for transitioning into Fall. Click below to shop!

Sky Pond Lake Hike

One of the best parts of living in Colorado is all of the beautiful hikes that are only a short distance away. Sure I have my favorites that I love to do every summer, but every once in awhile, I am introduced to a new one, which simply takes my breath away and forces it's way into my Top 5. That is is exactly what happened last weekend. One of my best friends since 6th grade asked if I wanted to do Sky Pond with her, and after Googling the hike, I was immediately sold.

Sky Pond Lake is located in the Rocky Mountain National Park in Estes Park. The drive from Denver took about an hour and a half and I would recommend leaving early, as parking can be tricky! Entry into the park is $20. We arrived around 10 am (after a much necessary coffee and bagel stop), and there were no spots left! After circling the lot for a bit, we found the tiniest parallel parking spot that I somehow shimmied my way into. We asked a Park Ranger what time you need to arrive to ensure you get a spot and he said 7 am, so hope you're a morning person!

A 5 minute bus from the lot drops you at the Glacier Gorge trail head and then you are on your merry way! There are certain criteria that make any hike a great one in my opinion, and this one checks all of the boxes! Waterfalls, rivers, beautiful views, wildflowers, glaciers, lakes, and wildlife!

As you start the trail, a beautiful stream runs to the side of the trail and right around the one mile mark, you reach Alberta Falls, the first of many waterfalls to come. It seemed like this was a popular destination for families to hikea nd enjoy the 30 foot waterfall for the day, since it is an easy mile up !

After a quick picture, we kept on. For a 9 mile hike, this trail is really not too difficult. There are some uphill parts, but they level out eventually, so it's not like you're climbing the entire time. I would classify this hike as 'moderate'. After about 3 miles, you reach Loch Lake, which is so beautiful and it's not even the final destination! This  beautiful subalpine lake, situated at 10,190 feet, provides incredible scenery as you hike along the perimeter towards Sky Pond.

I am not going to lie, after this lake is where things start to get interesting! The hike becomes a bit more challenging as you start to gain more elevation. Around the 4 mile point, you reach an amazing 100 foot waterfall, Timberline Falls, which is a great opportunity for a photo-op (and to secretly catch your breath). Looking out are amazing valley views and you can hop from rock to rock to go under this powerful waterfall.

Now the question hits... where do we go from here? Like I said, this is when it gets interesting! To get to the second lake, you have to climb up a chute on the side of the waterfall. Warning, you literally climb 200 feet, in just 0.15 mile, and yes, the guy in front of me did fall into the waterfall, so focus is required here! You will be using all 4 limbs to manuever your way up, but you can do it! It's honestly not too bad if you strategically climb up and stay focused. This guy was just a show off!

After basically becoming a Mountaineer, you reach Glass Lake, just 0.1 miles from the top of the waterfall. Honestly, I was shocked that this lake wasn't even the final destination, because it was so gorgeous! This is what I picture when I think of a great Colorado hike. Glass Lake is a gorgeous alpine lake full of outstanding views and wild flowers. We explored around the lake and then enjoyed our lunch before continuing onto Sky Pond Lake, which is just .4 miles down the west side of Glass Lake.

Behold Sky Pond Lake! This lake sits at an impressive 10,900 ft elevation and is surrounded by three sides of pure cliff walls, which are unlike anything I have ever seen! Sky Pond is famous for the unique rock formations, which are granite spires called "The Sharktooth". To put it simply, this lake is dramatic and so worth the hike up!

Our time at Sky Pond was cut a bit short as weather moved in, and we did not want to be climbing back down that waterfall in the pouring rain! The descend did not disappoint though!  On the path down, we continued to run into packs of elk, with their babies. So cute! They would be 5 feet in front of us and completely unfazed, it was amazing! After finishing up the hike, I knew it was instantly one of my new favorites. But wait... there's more! To top it all off, we saw a grizzly bear right on the side of the road on the drive back. I mean, could it get any better? 

If you can, definitely take the time to try Sky Pond Lake trail this summer. You will not be disappointed!

Beach Vacay Dresses

Summer is officially here and hopefully that means you have a beach or lake vacation in your near future! When I am on vacation, I like to plan my outfits ahead of time and love to just throw on dresses for both day and night. There's something about a tropical dress that just screams give me a piña coladaand don't bother me, am I right?!

My rules for a tropical vacation dress are the following:

1. Must be light and flowy. It's the beach... you do not want to be hot and uncomfortable!

2. Must be bright, fun, and/or a great pattern! Think bold prints and bright colors like greens, pinks, oranges, etc. The more attention it grabs the better!

3. Must not wrinkle (You're on vacation, who wants to spend time steaming something?!)

Wherever you're headed, here are some of my beach/tropical vacay picks. Just click to shop!

Telluride Bluegrass Festival

Telluride could very well be my happy place. It's about a 6 hour drive from Denver, which is definitely a trek, but even the drive is beautiful. The town of Telluride is a former Victorian mining town, nestled into a box canyon, with stunning views every direction you look. Walking down main street, there are tons of restaurants, shops, coffee shops, quaint hotels, bars filled with live music, and the historic opera house. Bridal Falls, a 365 foot waterfall at the end of the box canyon, overlooks the entire town and is always in view as you stroll down the street.

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This was my third year going to the Telluride Bluegrass Festival and I fully intend to carry on the tradition. We arrived Thursday afternoon and got settled into our amazing condo in Mountain Village, which is just a gondola ride away from town. After unpacking and unloading the car (full of a Costco supply of food and drink to last through the weekend), we promptly went into town for a few drinks. For dinner, we went to one of the most amazing Thai restaurants called Siam. It is authentic Thai cuisine that you can't stop eating even after you're stuffed!

Friday morning I hiked Bear Creek Falls trail with some of my girlfriends. This is a hike I have done every time for the past three years and it never gets old! The trail can get a bit crowded, especially later in the day on these busy festival weekends, so we made it a point to get an early start. The trail is around 5 miles round trip and is moderate in difficulty. It is a steady incline the majority of the way, but the gorgeous views are there to distract you and then it ends at this incredible waterfall. We actually witnessed a proposal right when we got to the top. Cue the goosebumps! I would highly recommend this hike to anyone going to Telluride. The trail head is right in town, so you don't have to drive at all, and then at the end, you're right back in town to grab a sandwich. My guilty please is The Butcher & The Baker, which has the best sandwiches, salads, and little deli sides!

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After the hike and my well deserved sandwich at the end, it was time to head into the festival! If you have never been to a Telluride Bluegrass Festival, then add it to your list! Period. Even if you're not the biggest bluegrass fan, there is something about being in such a gorgeous location, surrounded by your closest friends, and enjoying this fun fiddle music while sipping on a cold drink that just cannot be beat.

Every morning hundreds of people start lining up to get a number to do the running of the tarps. I'm not even joking, last year a guy sitting in front of us broke his arm during the tarp run! It is intense to say the least. Definitely something to witness!

There really isn't a bad seat in the house but luckily we have a seasoned veteran in our group that is a VIP tarp runner and always gets us nice real estate. Once in the festival, it's time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the bluegrass! The festival food is not to be missed either! Some of my personal favorites are the dumplings, gyros, and fish tacos. My mouth is honestly watering just thinking about them!

The festival goes until midnight every day, so around 5 or 6 pm, we usually go back to the condo to quickly change into our warm clothes and then head back in to catch the headliner! This year Greensky played Friday night and Dispatch on Saturday. Both killed it!

Saturday was day 2 for us and after another successful tarp run by our VIP veteran, we settled into our spot and enjoyed another beautiful day in Telluride. Imagine being surrounded by  multicolored tarps, many of which have custom flags to identify their location, good people, good food, and good music. Combine that with the 360 mountain views and you have Telluride.

Packing for the festival, I went for a mix of Coachella meets Burning Man, with a mountain casual vibe. It gets pretty hot during the day there, around mid-80s and then cools off at night quickly. Daytime calls for shorts and a breezy tank top or lightweight sundress and nighttime requires jeans, boots, a flannel, and jacket. Anything honestly goes here though. You can wear tevas and a tye dye shirt and no one will even look twice. You do you at Telluride!

For more information on Telluride Bluegrass Festival, click here.

A Spin on The White Button Down

There is something about a white button down that is so timeless. It's that all-American look that is just plain ol' classy and goes with everything. And while I always recommend having one go-to simple white button down in your closet, sometimes it's fun to add a little more edge and chicness to that staple.

I have linked my favorite white button downs with a spin. No need to save these for the office, they can be worn day or night and be dressed up or down! These ain't your dad's button downs ladies! Click to shop.