2015 Birthday Wish List

Hello Darlings!

It’s July. Which for most people means fireworks on the Fourth, hot days and beautiful nights, and camping trips. However, it’s my birthday month! Yep, I said month. So I have dreamed up my birthday wish list (yep, wishes, because seriously, who is going to pay $40 for a towel? They are just SO pretty) with some help from my darling friend Melissa from Treats with a Twist, because apparently she knows me better than myself when it comes to pretty presents.

Tinkerbelle Turns Four, Celebrate with MaxFund!

Hello Darlings!

You all know that I am that dog mom. I throw birthday parties, hand-make dog treats, and buy more toys than the girls know what to do with. Tinkerbelle’s birthday is Tuesday, April 28th, and after last year’s super fun birthday shenanigans, I knew I had to do something special. And what can be more special than a charity fundraiser and event benefitting MaxFund, a no-kill animal shelter right here in Denver?!

When it comes to what MaxFund is, they explain best:

"MaxFund is a true no kill animal shelter and adoption center that challenges the traditional methods of animal sheltering by leading the no kill movement in Colorado. We strive to give animals, including the injured, abandoned, and abused, a "second chance at life."

In 2014, 1,407 dogs and cats were adopted from MaxFund, and we spayed/neutered 4,547 dogs and cats. Since inception, we've found great forever homes for 29,297 dogs and cats, and spayed/neutered 39,149! Thank you for helping us to make a difference in the lives of many in our community!"

While Tinkerbelle and Meeko aren’t rescues, they have lots of great friends that are! We believe that every animal deserves a loving home and MaxFund is a great way to give animals that need new leases on life that chance.

So, where do you come in? To celebrate Tinkerbelle’s Fourth birthday, we’ve decided that instead of gifts we will donate money and goods to MaxFund!

We’ve set up a GoFundMe account that will collect money online to be consolidated into a check and presented to MaxFund, and on Saturday, May 2nd at 11am we will have a puppy (and human!) meetup in Cheesman Park in Denver! (Facebook Event Here)

As an extra incentive to donate TinkandMeek has teamed up with BarkBox! For every $5 you donate you get one entry into the drawing for a FREE BarkBox for your pup, a pup in your life, or to donate to your local shelter and a personal shout-out on the TinkandMeek Instagram page! (Not from the USA or Canada? I’ll substitute a $25 E-Giftcard from Amazon) Coming to the event? Bring a toy, food, leash, or another pet-centric item and earn entries for the value of your donation! The raffle event will be open for two weeks starting today so share with all of your friends!

Tinkerbelle Turns Three: Birthday Party at the Bark Bar!

Hello Darlings!

When it comes to Tink I am that dog mom. The silly little creature is quite spoiled (to the point that is Tink up there in my header!) and so of course I had to do something special for her birthday!

Summer Drink Series: Elderflower-Hibiscus Champagne

Hello Darlings!

A birthday is just not a birthday without a little champagne toast! If you can give that (sometimes cheap!) champagne a little extra kick, why not? This super simple, but incredibly delicious cocktail is a fun twist on a traditional glass of champagne!

I Made Pretty Cupcakes!

Hello Darlings!

There is really no better reason to make cupcakes than for a (your own!) birthday. I made a few (dozen) cupcakes for today and they turned out so pretty that I just had to share! The funfetti ones are (obviously) funfetti- because what’s a birthday cake without sprinkles?!

A Healthy Living Blogger’s Birthday Wishlist

Hello Darlings!

I was one of those kids that made very detailed lists of what I wanted for Christmas. I scoured catalogs (usually the American Girl doll one) and circled and cut out the pictures of items that I wanted. Apparently I haven’t changed much. I still love making wishlists of things I love –one of the reasons I am rather addicted to Pinterest- and I realized that my actually corkboard of wishlist clippings was made up of healthy living items. With my birthday being tomorrow I thought it might be fun to share a few of the items from my board!

Summer To-Do List : Denver, 2013

Hello Darlings!

I’m a huge fan of lists; and absolutely adore summer. So put the two together and I do a bit of a happy dance. While browsing Cupcakes and Cashmere, one of the blogs I love to follow, I came across the darling Emily’s Summer To-Do list for this year and knew I had to create one of my own, so here goes (in no particular order)!

One of my favorite summer spots: Cadaques, Spain

1. Explore around Denver with Tinkerbelle!

            Colorado is beautiful. There are so many parks, hiking trails, and quaint little towns under two   hours away from Denver that day trips are very necessary. I’ve already started exploring by taking Tink to the Garden of the Gods in this post!

2. Participate in a fun run 5k!

I wanted to do a color run, but by the time I got my act together it was all sold out (sad face) but there are so many fun runs in Denver this summer I just have to choose!

3. Go craft beer tasting.

            I live in Colorado- self explanatory.

4. Throw a fun party for my birthday!

I turn the big two five on July 18^th! And what’s a quarter century crisis without yummy food, fun drinks, and great friends?

5. Attend an event at Red Rocks.

            Summer nights in an amphitheater made out of gorgeous rocks? I think yes.

6. Go to Jazz in the Park.

This sounds like such a fun time. Picnic basket, bottle of wine, and good company equals a fabulous night.

7. Go to a Rockies game.

I’m not a huge baseball fan (hockey all the way!) but I love the atmosphere of summer games. Plus, I live a 12 minute walk from the stadium; you can’t get easier than that!

8. Vegas with the girls!

         We are having an all girls weekend in Vegas in August. I. Can’t. Wait.

9. Go on a Denver food tasting tour.

I am a bit addicted to the Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives show and they have shown so many delicious looking restaurants in Denver. Foodie love.

10. Sunrise yoga in the Botanical Gardens.

Yoga is such a wonderful way to start the day, adding the gorgeous backdrop of Denver’s botanical gardens sounds like heaven!

I brought Tinkerbelle home in June two years ago- Summer is a great time!

What is on your summer to-do list?

If you’re a Denver native did I miss any must-dos ?

Let me know in the comments below!

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Save The Children: Celebration of a Special Birthday

Hello Darlings!

When I was in college I used to wander around Harvard Square in Cambridge when I wanted to escape campus life. On one particularly sunny day, while aimlessly window-shopping I (literally) ran into a sweet undergrad canvassing for Save The Children. I had heard about the charity and the amazing work it did but, like most kids my age, I had never thought that there was something that I could do. I was wrong.

Today, three and a half years later, the darling child I sponsor is turning fifteen, and I couldn’t be more pleased. Shewaye is an incredibly intelligent young girl with ambitions of becoming a teacher in her village in Ethiopia. I absolutely adore the fact that I am afforded the opportunity to be part of her journey. With each letter I receive I see more hope and more joy as she continues her education and works towards her goals. If you remember my love for snail mail, you know how much delight a simple letter brings- this glee grows exponentially when the postmark reads Ethiopia.