...a weekend for three...

Well really it was a weekend for six, but our trip to Colorado was all about spending time with two of my best girlfriends, and sprinkling in a few family visits as well. When Liz called me in November and told us to book tickets to Denver in January for a weekend meet up, we didn’t think twice. A $39 Southwest deal is almost as hard to pass up as a weekend with some of your favorite people in the world. It’s obviously a no brainer.

So after two months of anticipation, the wait was finally over and we were hopping on a plane and heading to the cool climate of Denver. As soon as our plane touched down we realized we weren’t in Arizona anymore. Trading 70 degree days for 40 wasn’t the most ideal, but well worth it for the weekend and memories to come. As soon as our engine turned off in the Robinson parking spot, Tara was running down the steps to welcome us, that’s when I really knew this weekend was much needed.

While Liz and Kevin were playing Snowbunnies in Copper Mountain, we were exchanging stories over bloody mary’s in the warmth of Alex and Tara’s home. For our first night in Denver we were able to coordinate a dinner date with two of my cousins Josh and Desi, which made the trip even better. Whenever you can spend your short trip with as many people you love and care about, it makes it that much more worthwhile. After eating and drinking the night away it was time for bed.

Our second day started with an awesome breakfast and included a special guided tour of the new Denver Four Season’s Kitchen. Afterwards, the girls were spoiled by a three-course meal by the boys. I guess that’s one of the perks of marrying a chef, huh tara?

Our last full day was packed! First we squeezed in a brunch date with my cousin Eric and Melinda and their beautiful daughter Abigail. Seriously, she’s gorgeous! After brunch we joined the rest of the gang for bloody mary's and to plan the rest of our day. It was an extra cold day, but we decided to venture Downtown to do a brewery tour and tasting. Only problem was the brewery wasn’t Downtown, which we didn’t notice until 30 minutes into our search. So, we decided to do the next best thing and headed into the resturant with a bar. It got us out of the cold and made the day much more fun! After wandering around Downtown it was time to head back to get ready for dinner, it was an extra special night as we were celebrating Alex and Tara’s 3^rd Wedding Anniversary. We celebrated over dinner and drinks at Il Fornio. After dinner the ladies headed out for some much needed girl time and hung out at the local pub, shared stories, laughs and even a few tears.

Here are a few highlights from our weekend:

The girls who never stop eating.

Brenner and his new lip-gloss addiction-sorry Alex!

Little Timmy sporting B-man’s apron.

Raaawr…are you scared?

Kevin and his new addiction to angry birds, despite having to play with a purple phone.

The never-ending walk to the Brewery, I mean Corporate Office. 

I’ll take her. I didn’t know I was something you could order.

Don’t worry, it taste’s like Vanilla Ice Cream.

Tara, your being a really bad friend right now.

A drunken phone call at 2a.m., sorry Getty!

I swear I have called 10 pizza places and they all close at 11p.m.

[welcome to denver]

[thank god for iphone's]

[the boys cooking away for us ladies]

 [tara did a little cooking herself]

[this is his "cheese" face]

[a little after dinner ipad. how cute is it that they match?]



[starting our trek to downtown, it was very cold,
so we were seeking shelter in the elevator doorway]

[pooped!]

[the blurry walk home after "girls" night]

Our Colorado weekend was awesome, and one we hope we can relive sometime soon. Thanks ladies for the laughs and love, I can’t wait until we reunite again. Until then…

xoxo,

R+M

...heading to the rockies...

Today Mikis and I are making our way to the cold climate of Denver, Colorado for a weekend with friends and hopefully a few visits from family. We are saying sayonara to our beautiful mid-70's climate and hello to gloves, boots and scarves. Despite the much cooler temps, this is a weekend I have been counting down the days to. We'll be sure to share with you a recap of our trip once we return. Happy weekend everyone!

 

 

[which weather would you rather be spending your weekend in?]

[view of our snowy surroundings from the plane]

[first time wearing gloves all year]

xoxo,

R+M

...a weekend for the girls...

This weekend is an extra special weekend for us. Not only is it a fabulously long weekend, but a weekend that only a year ago we shared with the greatest of friends enjoying the best of times. A year ago from today I was hoping onto a plane and heading to San Diego for a weekend with the girls celebrating my last official weekend as a single lady. 

Some memories from the special weekend include:

a sash fit for a pageant, being ms. trojan and men sharing way too many trojan stories with me, dancing the night away, breakfast with a view, a surprise shower, true friends letting you borrow their dress for tear control, too many stories and secrets, bathing suits tied by shoelaces, not exactly making it to the hot tub, golden globes and tapas, and much more.

Thank you ladies for an amazing trip. It truly was a weekend I will never forget, and wish I could relive on a yearly basis. Here are a few photos...

xoxo,

R

...hello algodones...

As mentioned here and here Mikis and his partners have been working hard on El Hefe,  a new resturant/bar concept that will be opening in Oldtown Scottsdale this upcoming March. With the project just a few months away, we have been researching and constantly looking for design inspirations and fixtures for the bar. Since the bar is taking on a mexican theme, we decided to make a little pit stop in Algodones on our way to San Diego to celebrate New Years. Our trip proved to be successful with us bringing home a ceramic Lady of Guadalupe and Donkey, and of course two bottles of tequila. The only downfall is we had to carry our new very heavy purchases all the way to the border, which was a venture in itself. We were sore for days!

Here are a few photos from our excursion...

[on our way to the border]

[on a lady hunt]

[we have found ms. guadalupe]

[success!]

 [and the trek begins]

xoxo,

R+M

...for the love of change...

Normally I never set resolutions for the new year, because I know I won’t keep them. Well, 2011 is different. It’s a year full of hope and uncertainty for me, and one I am truly excited to start. So with that said I have decided to set a list of resolutions I hope to stick by throughout 2011, here are just a few…

-Get Organized- although I call my life organized chaos, I truly want it to just be organized. So in 2011 I hope to organize both my personal and professional life. With that I also plan to de-clutter my closet, beauty products, and anything else that is overfull and unused. This is one resolution I know Mikis can't wait for me to work on.

-Be Positive- generally I am a pretty positive person, but the last few months I have been sort of in a funk and well, I need to get out of it. I am going to push myself, funk or not, to constantly look on the bright side, and disregard negative thoughts and frustrations.

-Spend more time with girlfriends- although I pride myself on my great girlfriend relationships, I could always make more time for get-togethers or even hour long phone dates. In 2011 I hope to reconnect with all my girlfriends on a monthly basis.

-Get Healthy- let’s just say my willpower when it comes to working out or staying away from junk food is slim to none. In 2011 I hope to work out at least twice a week (baby steps), and eat a healthier diet.

-Go to more concerts- Mikis and I LOVE music, and we used to go to concerts on the regular. Lately our concert schedule has been pretty empty, in 2011 I hope we make our hobbies and interests a priority and get out more and enjoy the music.

-Go on more vacations- We love to travel, who doesn't? In 2011 I hope we make more plans for travel within and out of the U.S. This is our prime time to see as many sights as possible, before we have to "settle down" and start a family. As much as we like to travel alone, I hope we plan more trips with friends as well. Friends help make trips a bit sweeter and add to the memories.

I am sure this list will grow more and more as I remember things I would like to work on or change. If I even do a little bit of each of these I will be happy. Remember change is always a positive, if we all stayed stagnant where would we be in life? What are your resolutions for 2011?

[happy new year!]

xoxo,

R+M

...goodbye 2010 and hello 2011...

With a new year upon us, it is hard not to reflect on the past year. 2010 will always be an extra special year in our lives as it was the year that we became husband and wife. It was also a year of travel with trips to Thailand, San Diego, Mexico, and Chicago. It was the year El Hefe was born and Riot Hospitality Group was formed, a year many babies were added to our friend’s lives, a year filled with many girlfriend reunions, a year of loss, sorrow and heartache, a year with joy and laughter, and much, much more. I hope that 2011 is full of friends, laughs, trips, accomplishments, inspiration, fun, change, and of course love.

Here is a brief look at our 2010...

[stephanie's baby shower]

[celebrating my bachelorette party]

[celebrating my beautiful bridal shower]

[enjoying the FBR with friends]

[becoming mr. and mrs.]

[on our amazing thailand honeymoon]

[enjoying the culinary fest beer garden]

[enjoying drinks in rocky point]

[celebrating the boys' birthday with a mustache bash]

[promoting el hefe at the taco fest]

[enjoying tour de bar]

[celebrating halloween as mr. mario and mrs. princess toadstool]

Here's to an amazing 2011!

xoxo,

R+M