Dear Frannie Friday--Best Local Shops

As you know, this week I've been all about buying local.  I love it because I really genuinely feel good after I buy local.  Not only am I helping an honest to goodness family out, but small businesses are so accommodating.  Most of the time, you get really good deals for the quality of the product.  So here are a few of my favorite shops in the NoCo area:

Butcher

I've never actually used a butcher, but when I heard about Your Butcher Frank and looked into the various meat bundles that they offer, I knew this was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.  I remember the building well from when I was a kid, so I know it's been around a WHILE.  They have SO much meat and the options for their bundles are vast in variety and price.  Not to mention, you can substitute practically any meat in the bundle to match what your family eats.  For example, we substituted the bacon (because it is made with sugar and thus not Whole30 compliant) with some ground chicken.  And--get this--they also have a deli!

Seafood

I have always loved the idea of loving seafood--it's lean and very good for you.  But I just haven't really been able to LOVE seafood.  During this Whole30 challenge, however, I am going to push myself to eat more seafood (mostly to appease Patrick's sensitive palette).  Blue Reef Seafood Market is located doors down from Your Butcher Frank's place.  I went in there looking for halibut and found every possible seafood you could think of--shark, alligator, frog legs, squid and much, much more!  And, of course, they did have the usuals--salmon, halibut, shrimp.

Groceries

Of course, the best place to get local and amazing groceries is the Farmer's Market.  I've been a long lover of the Farmer's Market.  Brielle and I have a Farmer's Market date every Saturday morning.  But if you live in a place like Colorado where we don't have seasonally appropriate weather all year, you might not have accessibility to Farmer's Market foods all year long.  Second to the Farmer's Market, I usually rely on Door to Door Organics for fresh and local produce.  You can also buy meat and other items there too.  We get some milk products delivered via Longmont Dairy.

In other words, we usually shop pretty local as it is.  But outside of those places, I usually go to Sprouts or King Soopers to fill in my grocery list.  This time I opted to go to Natural Grocers.  I was surprised to find so much organic and Whole30 compliant foods for even cheaper than the other two grocers there!  A big bottle of EVOO for $8?  GTFO!!!

Clothes (duh!)

One of the coolest things about getting in the know with Denver Style Magazine is meeting the local designers and boutiques that occupy our great state.  Here are a list of a few to check out:

Inspyre Boutique

Whorl Shop

Patterns & Pops

If nothing else, be sure to visit and follow their Instagram accounts for all the cute stuff they have to offer!

Colorado has so much to offer in the way of small businesses and surely your town/state does too!  Be sure to check out all of your local shops and help to support a local family!

Scala Sun Hat Review

I was sent the Scala Collezione Sun Hat to review.  It has an UPF rating of 50+!  I admit, I am horrible at making sure I get sunscreen on myself, so hats are usually my savior when it comes to sun protection.  This one has a drawstring inside to adjust to the comfort level of your choosing.  The brim can be rolled up or left down for a casual look, as I've done here.  It folds up so easily and fits into a beach bag, diaper bag or purse for travel.  And it doesn't have those annoying fold lines when you unfold it.  I used this one straight out of the mailing box--so it had been folded for a while--and as you can see, it held its shape very well.  I will for sure be using this little hat when we have lake days! 

Knee High Gladiator Sandals-Amazon

White Tee-thirfted

Striped Short Sleeve Blazer-Banana Republic, thrifted

Sun Hat-Scala, c/o

Bag-Bebe, gifted

Distressed Denim Shorts-Target 

Thursday Mixer--All Blogs Post the Same Stuff Tee

I think that I first saw this shirt on The Man Repeller and, being a style blogger, I fell in love with the irony of it.  And then I saw it on our California vacation back in 2013 and I wanted to buy it, but I ended up passing and saving the money for the kids instead.  But I kept track of it and when I had the money to buy it, I did immediately.

I'm thinking it cost me about $20, but it has been worth it.  Because even though I only have worn it 7 times on the blog, I grab for it all the time in real life.  And even still, the documented price per wear is less than $3.  Perf.

Top Left to Right-1, 2, 3

Bottom Left to Right- Now, 2, 3, 4 

 

Black and White Striped Pencil Skirt-Target

All Blogs Post the Same Stuff-American Apparel

Pink and Grey Striped Sheer Button Down Blouse-Old Navy

Silver Oxfords-thrifted

Starfish Earrings-Touchstone Crystals, c/o 

Wordy Wednesday--Buying Local

Ever since our South Dakota vacation and subsequently Vegas--I've really slacked on my resolutions.  But one of the ones I really wanted to keep was buying only local for a week.  I am going to share my experiences on Friday, but I can say that the Whole 30 has definitely helped with that goal.  Here are some great quotes for you on why you should buy local too!

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Camel Skinny Jeans-Jordache

Striped Peplum-Kohls

Studded Gladiator Sandals-Target

Share the Covers--Leaving on a Jet Plane (2)

I've already featured another cover of this song by Peter, Paul and Mary, but I fell in love with this cover by one of my favorite bands, Slightly Stoopid . . . 

And it fits because last weekend I went on a little Mother/Daughter weekend to Las Vegas with my mom and little sister.  Of course, if you follow me on Instagram (and if you're not--you should IMO), you already know this.

It was a lot of fun--though too short of course.  Mostly it was just nice to spend time with my mom and sister.  They truly are two of my very best friends and I am so lucky to have such a great relationship with both of them.

This is not to say that we do not have our differences.  My sister, for example, is quite outgoing where I am more introverted.  My sister, much like her oldest daughter, makes friends with everyone she meets.  I'm not kidding you.  She came home with at least a dozen phone numbers.

And I don't mean men's numbers.  I mean the married couple on the shuttlebus.  I mean some of the women she met poolside at the hotel.  I mean that she made friends with taxi drivers, father and son guests of the hotel, children, old people, married people and waitstaff.

This girl, I tell you.  She could find a friend anywhere.  Meanwhile, I was over here all . . . let's not.  #nooffense #notapeopleperson

Blue Sequined Pencil Skirt-Forever 21

Boom Sweatshirt-3.1 Philip Lim for Target

Black Mules-Vera Wang

Earrings-gifted

Make it Work Monday #19

Today's style inspiration comes from a blog that I have followed for a while--The Not Vanilla, formerly Runway Hippie.  I just loved this look the moment I saw it and knew it would go magnificently with my Great-Grandmother's bag (yep!).

Today starts something new friends.  Today I start the #Whole30 challenge.  And I am actually really excited about it!  Ever since my juice cleanse, I've been so motivated to do even more healthy eating (although we generally eat pretty healthy anyway).  I have been really cutting back on carbs and sugar.  One major change that I made was putting honey instead of sugar and creamer in my coffee!

But today starts the big leagues.  The book says to not start with things that you can't eat, but because we all know that the Whole30 is about eating organic and natural foods, let's just say that there are a lot of limitations to that. 

For starters: no dairy.  And that, I think, will be the toughest.  No cheese?  No sour cream?   But I will make it.  Also, no peanuts, no beans, no grains, no soy.  That will also be a hard one as I have come to rely on peanuts specifically to get me through the work day (read: no lunch break). 

As I said, I am excited.  I am committed.  And now that Vegas is over, there is nothing standing in my way of doing this.  Patrick is supposedly on board too.  But as someone who doesn't like potatoes or bell peppers or onions or tomatoes or coconut (or basically anything)--I hope he will survive.  

I'll keep you posted.  Obvi.  

Polka Dot Dress (worn as a skirt)-Casual Corner, thrifted

Red and White Striped Shirt-Jones New York

Sandals-thrifted

Sequined Bag-vintage from my great grandmother

Red Bandana-vintage

Necklaces-Kohls and vintage from Grandma

Diamond Earrings-gifted

Mission #62, Day 5

As I've said, I am not a Kardashian fan.  But I have to say, dressing like a Kardashian has been fun this week.  And this look was one of my favorites--I think because it wasn't blatantly Kardashian, if ya know what I mean.

via

One of the main reasons that this was my favorite look was because of this pencil skirt.  I love this Pendleton pencil skirt, but it is extremely fitted.  And thus I have been unable to wear it since summer-ish of 2014, i.e. B.R.--Before Reilly.

Doing that juice cleanse was the best motivation I have had in a while, body wise.  It helped me lose a little more weight when I felt like it was a lost cause.  And that has really helped me maintain by eating better and wanting to eat better. 

And now I fit into this skirt once again and that is truly thrilling.  Pockets and endless styling possibilities make it a true favorite.  I cannot wait to see our future together.

Red Pencil Skirt-Pendleton, thrifted

Grey Turtleneck-WalMart

Red Cap Toe Heels-Chinese Laundry

Nude Clutch-thrifted

Earrings-gifted

Necklace-KMart