Month: June 2021

Delicious 4th of July recipes + 100 Independence Day in Denver events!

Fourth of July in Denver. Celebrating family, friends, freedom and food! Don’t miss these fabulously easy and delicious recipes for your festivities.  Looking for Denver fun? Celebrate 4th of July 2021 in Denver: 100+ Parades, Fireworks, Festivals & More! ==== Berry Trifle at skinnytaste.com   Patriotic Funffetti Angel Food Cake at Life With The Crust Cut Off Fourth of July Bark at Life With The Crust Cut Off Blue Moon Ice Cream at Your Homebased Mom Red, White and Blue Strawberry Cupcakes by Bird On A Cake    Sandwich Pops at  Living Locurto.   Red, White and Blue Blondie by Your Homebased Mom Patriotic Ice Cream cones at Noble Pig    Here are 20 other fabulous finds! 1. Wave the flag cupcakes by the Blue...

Win a Family Night Package at Urban Air Adventure Park

  If you’re looking for the best year-round indoor amusements in the Denver area, Urban Air Adventure Park is the perfect place. With more than 37,000 square feet of space in which kids all of ages can have fun and aim higher, the state-of-the-art Urban Air Adventure Park in Denver offers a full line-up of activities the entire family can enjoy. From wall-to-wall trampolines, dodgeball courts and obstacle courses, to tube playgrounds with multi-level climbing ropes and twisting tubes, the park is equipped with unique and patented attractions that can only be found at Urban Air, providing a one-of-a-kind experience for both enthusiastic adventurists and their pint-sized counterparts. With all this activity, appetites are sure to soar, as well. Guests can also visit the park’s Urban Caf...

Great deals for 4th of July and Denver’s Tiny House Festival

For the Fourth of July, we have rounded up the fireworks shows around Denver. Certainly, there is one near you. But some of the best fireworks may be in the stores and mall – where you are able to save a lot this weekend on the sales.  Bath and Body Works. The semi-annual sale at Bath and Body Works is on! Score up to 75% off some of your favorites. Some of the best stuff sells out right away – so hustle on over for great deals. I love to stock up on favorites or get some extras to have for little gifts at the ready.  Target Décor.  Target is offering half off their home décor right now. From rugs to lighting to festive décor many items are up to 50% off. Plus, you don’t even need a coupon code.  Aerie. My teenage daughter loves this store – and...

Pikes Peak’s New Visitor Center: 7 fun insider tips for families

There’s a new addition at the top of Pikes Peak and it isn’t another mountain goat! The new 38,000-square-foot Pikes Peak Summit Complex opened to the public on June 24, 2021 after three years of construction. It is an extraordinary place to visit -almost the only place in the world where people of all ages and abilities can experience the summit of this 14,115-foot peak. The facility’s careful placement and sensitive design put the focus on the stunning landscape, allowing boundless sky and views to take center stage. No matter how visitors get to the top – by car, rail, foot, bike or bus- the reinvigorated summit experiences offer the chance to learn about the past, present and future of America’s Mountain.  The complex is comprised of three facilities:...

3 Summer Tech Tips From Comcast’s Mom Tech Expert

If there’s anyone who knows technology, it’s Comcast and we are thrilled to be partnering with them the next several months to bring you tips and tricks for parents of kids of all ages from a Denver mom like you – Alysen Cowan. Alysen is a Director on the Sales and Marketing Team in the Comcast Mountain West Region who has two sons and lives in Southeast Glendale. She has worked at Comcast since 2007 and has these tips for thriving this summer with your kids and managing screen time.  It’s summer, let the kids relax and have fun, but still hold them responsible to the family screen time rules While it’s summertime and the entire family is looking forward to some fun family-friendly activities where we can shut off our brains and not think about schoolwork, don’t let your rules g...

Five Fun Family Finds at Denver’s Four Mile Historic Park

A summer hotspot for family-friendly entertainment and activities, Denver’s Four Mile Historic Park is a perfect place to gather with family and friends for a picnic or stroll, some quality time with its resident farm animals, an event or birthday party, or some – quite literally – old fashioned education. Here are five fun finds to discover this season for those who haven’t experienced this slice of history in the city: The Four Mile House Located in the center of Four Mile Historic Park, the 162-year-old Four Mile House is Denver’s oldest standing structure. Acting as a museum, the 1800s-era home, which just reopened to the public after the COVID-related closures of 2020, offers self-guided tours, and inside, visitors will find antique furniture, fixtures and appliances such as a wood-bu...

The best deals for moms on Amazon Prime Day

I got to celebrate another family birthday this week (the third of the month so far). This year, we are relishing actually getting together again and enjoying the time together. But, I will say I love the freebies that come with birthdays! There are several places that you can score some great birthday deals – plus, once you sign up, they send you the coupon every year! We will get free scoops if ice cream at Baskin Robbins and Cold Stone, free milkshake at Arby’s, a cookie at Panera, lunch at Benihana, a bagel at Bruegger’s and more. All it takes is signing up for the loyalty club at these places. If you frequent somewhere – they likely have a club and want to perk you for your birthday! Amazon Prime Day. Amazon Prime day is NOW! Score some great deals.  Deals can change or...

Leadville and Twin Lakes: 20 fun things to do this summer

With an average of 310 days of sunshine a year, historic silver mining boomtowns, the state’s highest peaks, and abundant public lands, the mountain destinations of Leadville and Twin Lakes feature countless opportunities for high-country fun this summer. Travelers can experience something new this season, whether visiting for the first time or returning to a favorite spot, as new offerings have opened since last summer. Visitors are sure to get a warm welcome from these new businesses. Fun Things to Do in Leadville, Colorado Play Hiking: The Colorado Trail and Continental Divide Trail give you easy access to day hikes from camp or overnight backpacking adventures. A hut trip or yurt camping also make for a unique hiking-inspired overnight. Want to climb Mount Elbert, Colorado’s high...

The troubling new trend for Denver kids since the pandemic

Since the pandemic, some Denver-area juvenile courts are seeing fewer kids in courtrooms, but a troubling new trend has risen instead — the courts are seeing more kids charged with violent crimes like aggravated assault or robbery. They’re also seeing spikes in domestic violence among youth, and gang activity. “We’re getting some really, really tough kids right now,” said Shawn Cohn, chief probation officer in the Denver Juvenile Probation department. “And I do think that the pandemic played into that because these kids don’t have the outlets of school or being where there are positive adults that engage with them and kind of help walk them through some scenarios and situations.” Before some teens gravitate towards really violent crime, some — low-level, first-time offenders — end up...

Digital Binging — Is It A Problem?

Understandably most young people are on screens a ton right now. Thank goodness there are all sorts of great things made possible via screen time.  But, what are the potential costs of loads of certain screen time activities on their brain health and mood?  Are there ways to implement changes to their tech time that might help them feel better — even while keeping the same total amount of screen time? Clifford Sussman, MD, is a psychiatrist for children and adolescents in Washington, DC, and he is well known for his work in treating those with problematic internet and video game use. He and I have presented together at the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Conference and have shared ideas over the years.   Sussman and I were talking last week and I realized...

Skincare Basics for a Not So Basic Father’s Day

Dads are awesome but men aren’t great at shopping for themselves. This Father’s Day, help the dad in your life prioritize his skincare with basics he should be using every day to keep skin healthy. Theraderm’s Father’s Day set keeps things simple so that there’s no room for confusion or error. This bundle features three must-have products. No frills – just good, clean, protected skin.  Theraderm Cleansing Wash: What dad doesn’t love an all-in-one? An unscented, non-irritating cleanser, the Cleansing Wash can be used on the face, body, and even hair making it a great all-in-one. This product penetrates all the way to the center of the hard keratin in hair, helping get beards/hair under control. Fruit Acid Exfoliant: This lactic acid toner makes exfoliating easy, and not only keeps skin...

Gretchen’s Grabs for June: Smores kit, must-watch TV and ruffles of summer!

June is summer! Cookouts, pools, longer days, movies outside and concerts!   Table Mountain Farms Smores Kit. Years ago, when my kids were little I told them I was making gourmet peanut butter and jelly sandwiches when I made them on wheat bread, organic almond butter and sugar-free jam. But the Table Mountain Farms brings gourmet to a more adult level with kid-size fun! The s’mores kit is complete with artisan-made Graham crackers, homemade marshmallows and the coups de grace is the Table Mountain Farms Dark Chocolate Goat’s Milk Chocolate caramel. Ruffles of Summer. I recently found a shirt that might work for both my daughter and myself! Eeep. Ruffles are really in this summer and usually, a well-placed ruffle can hide the parts I don’t want to be shown off (read: my belly). The Wo...