The Colorado Adventure (Part One)

I am just now realizing — in this very moment, actually — how flawed my logic was for coming back from a very awesome, action packed, emotional trip to Colorado, and then quitting coffee the very next day. Highest highs and lowest lows, people. If you also plan to go on a vacation, booking a private jet from companies like Jettly can make your trip go smoothly.

If you remember, I am quitting coffee as part of The Great Skincare Experiment, and I really want to slap myself in the face right now for even coming up with this idea, but I’m actually too tiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiired to lift my arm up and follow through. That said I do want to tell you about Colorado! But I have to break it up into chunks because I will probably need to take a nap in between.

When we last left off I was heading up to Estes Park to get settled at the Conference venue.

Can we talk for a second about the YMCA of the Rockies? I don’t know what the YMCAs look like in your neck of the woods, but in Estes Park, the place is like a full functioning resort + conference center. It was pretty amazing and I was immediately sort of overwhelmed!
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I checked in to my room, dragged all 77lbs of my luggage up some stairs (stupid, stupid idea when you are a mile and a half above sea level) and opened the curtains in my room to find this view out on the balcony:
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The drive up had been gorgeous, but I have to say I just wasn’t really prepared for all of the beauty that Colorado had to offer. I think we get a little spoiled here in California with pretty things to see, and I was just so struck by the vastness of it all.

Shortly thereafter I met up with Melissa and her other half Dave and we headed over to meet Cami + Cathy who were involved with organizing the event. We had some tasty wine and fun conversation and there were definitely a few times I wanted to pinch myself and say “How the heck did I get here in this beautiful place with these awesome people?” I would repeat that quite a bit to myself this entire weekend, let me tell you. We told stories and had some laughs and then later we grabbed some dinner and then it was off to bed because Friday morning, the menu included our first WOD with the folks over at CrossFit Estes Park.
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Sure we were sort of on vacation, but you know the rules:

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CrossFitting at this elevation is no joke, but no one even laughed at us 🙂 That’s Cami and Cathy with us below — they were the best hosts you could ask for!

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Afterwards we headed out for some post workout grub and I piled my plate high with eggs and potatoes.
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Yep, I said potatoes — did you catch that? Lots of new research showing the white potatoes are right up there (with respect to nutrient density) with sweet potatoes. I’m not telling you to go out and dive into a vat of mashed potatoes three meals per day, but what I am saying is that HASH BROWNS ARE GOOD and you should eat some.

Speaking of good eats, Cathy hosted a little party at her house on Friday night to welcome us all and because I’m a nut job I wore turquoise pants.
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Are you on the fence about purchasing a crazy colored pair of pants for fall? Please do it! I beg you. They will make you ridiculously happy every time you put them on, I promise.

Turquoise pants aside, it was THE BEST PALEO POTLUCK I HAVE EVER BEEN TO. I would show you all the food I ate, but I was waaaaay too busy chowing on it. Luckily Michelle documented every delicious bite. It was hosted in basically the most beautiful backyard I have ever seen. You can even tell with only a crappy iphone photo, right?
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Best Backyard!!!

I’ll be back tomorrow to give you the rest of the recap, you know assuming I survive the day without caffeine. Wish me luck?

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24 Responses to The Colorado Adventure (Part One)

  1. Becky "MisoB" says:

    Holly you were the bomb. You said you were nervous talking with the likes of Melicious and Michelle, but you would have never noticed. You were funny & informative & inspiring. I, on the other hand, felt like a teenager at a Bieber concert seeing you’all. Hope you come out again!

  2. Hello, superstar. You be nice to my friend Holly while she gets off caffeine. I’m assuming you’ve read Melissa Hartwig’s post about her experiences giving up caffeine, yes? Be kind to yourself and hang in there. You can do it.

    If it helps, I cancelled my trip to Chicago later this month so I can really focus on my health and commit to a complete Whole30 with no straying AND the autoimmune protocol.

    That is because of you and the inspiring example you set. Thank you for your presentation on Saturday. You’re one of a kind.

    • Holly says:

      Thanks, lady! It was good to re-read that. Who knows, maybe I will do it longer??? But I am making no promises because day one has been pretty rough! Excited to hear how the autoimmune stuff goes! Miss ya!

  3. PaulaB says:

    I wish I could’ve been there! Please come again.

  4. sizzle says:

    I’m so glad you had a great time! The photos of the landscape are so beautiful. Makes me want to hop a plane to CO.

  5. VIVA LA HASH BROWNS!

    Also: HOLY CRAP ALL THAT FOOD LOOKS DELICIOUS.

    Excited to hear more about your trip…You can fill me in while we run seven miles on Sunday muah-haha!

    • Holly says:

      Seven miles.

      WEEP!

      You know I have never run this far ever, right? Especially not while talking to another person. OMG!!! 🙂

  6. Jessica says:

    So tell me about the crazy blue pants, where did you get them???? I had some orange shorts that I wore during the summer and was thinking of getting a pair of colored pants for the fall but am not sure where to buy them.

    • Holly says:

      I bought these at Gap this summer, but they have tons of cute ones this fall (and in cords, too!) Get some!!! 🙂

  7. oh man. You may have just convinced me to buy some crazy colored pants… I think Old Navy has them super cheap right now…

    Your trip sounds amazing. I can’t wait to hear MORE about it!

    Also, inspired by you, I cut back on my coffee intake. 2 cups BEFORE noon. (I used to drink 4 cups between 8am & 4pm). I’m filling the void with lots o’ water…and feeling pretty darn good!

    Thanks for being a role model, lady!

    • Holly says:

      2 cups before noon was my baby step to quitting. Some people may think that sounds like a lot, but hell it was cutting back for me too. Coffee is so delicious! But I am noticing that I do replace it with water, so I guess I have to take my victories where I can get them. Thanks for the support!

  8. Sara says:

    I LOVE those pants and have been trying to find a pair in a similar color to those for quite a few weeks. They are so darn cute!!

  9. Esther says:

    I saw pictures of you at Nom Nom Paleo, and was like, hey I know that girl! 😛 I read that your story brought tears to the room, and I can believe it! I wish I had done a more in-depth and more skillfully produced documentary with you. Your story is so great, powerful, informative, and personable! Colorado looks like a lot of fun! So much paleo power in one place. ^^

  10. Madelyn says:

    You did it!!! Your trip sounds amazing! I can’t wait to hear all about it! And I love the blue pants -super cute lady!!!

  11. Pingback: The Colorado Adventure (Part Two)

  12. Erica says:

    I’m just so, so happy to see potatoes here.