Feel Good Friday 042012

Feel Good Friday is a roundup of the things that made me feel good or that I’m grateful for all week. Join me and leave your Feel Goods in the comments!

• Um, hello? Guys? I have been writing this ENTIRE MONTH as 039912 … it’s actually 04. Apparently I am stuck in March. That doesn’t actually make me Feel Good but I thought I needed to say something about it 🙂
• Highlands Closing Day Party. Probably my favorite day this entire year—I wore not one but TWO awesome onesies, had all my favorite people in one place, everyone was dancing their faces off in costumes for HOURS … what more could a girl want?! Oh, gluten-free basil pesto pizza in a hot tub followed by snagging a pair of PUCCI ski pants and playing a hilarious pictionary/telephone hybrid game? Yes. Seriously, best day ever.
  This is the party on the mountain, it only gets crazier as we ski down! Unfortunately, no full-body pics of my flowered one-piece suit with attached skirt and off-the shoulder styling exist … but don’t worry, it’s an investment piece, it WILL be making more appearances in my life.
• Accidentally riding switch for at least half my last run down Ajax of the season … and I still love snowboarding. Goodbye winter season of skiing and riding, you were amazing!
• Hot “old lady” date with a friend, where we sat at the kids’ bar and drank so much water that the entire waitstaff took bets on who would get up to pee first (it was me, and the cute bartender won).
• Summer tires. Back to ridin’ on 22s.

See last week’s Feel Goods here.

Austin & Aspen: Top Ten Party Towns

USA Today names 10 destinations for bar-hopping all over the world. I’m not saying I agree or not (Ohio instead of Monaco??), but it is important to note that, naturally, my two homes are in the top ten:

Aspen, Colorado 

“As far as mountain towns go, Aspen is one of the few that holds up in summer and winter,” Cockrell says. “Of course it has the usual ski-bum haunts, but it also has places like 39 Degrees Lounge, an urban-style oasis with a pool frequented by a chic crowd. In Aspen, you can have any type of night out you want within its few main streets.”

True, Aspen is hoppin’ summer and winter, and there are bars for all types.

Austin, Texas

“So many great bars here, just choose a street — South Congress, East Sixth Street, South Lamar — to get your fix, then end your night at one of the nation’s greatest food carts (download the AustinFoodCarts app to find out where they are),” Cockrell says. New bars on the east side include Yellow Jacket Social Club and Eastside Showroom. “South Lamar is a little more authentic Austin,” Cockrell says. “Don’t miss the laid-back Barton Springs Saloon, a repurposed gas station with a pool table and pinball machines, or the super divey Horseshoe Lounge.”

Also true. Pick a mood, pick a corresponding street, and then go.

The other 8? Listed below.
Leblon, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Dublin, Ireland
Williamsburg neighborhood, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Ohio City neighborhood, Cleveland
Seville, Spain
Portland, Oregon
New Orleans, Louisiana

Yeah, I only see nine too… good work USA Today.

Aspen: More Skiing! Ski til 6pm

Rotating across the mountains are extended lift hours: ’til 6pm or later! Even better? Each of the late days has a theme and a party!! What could be better??

Lifts: Summit Express

Hours: Lift serviced skiing until 6:00p.m.

Theme: St. Patrick’s Day

Party: Cliffhouse until 6:00p.m. then the party moves to Bumps at the base!

Special: Terrain Park remains open until 6:00p.m.

Lifts: Silver Queen and Ajax Express

Hours: Lift served skiing and riding until 6:00p.m.  Downloading on the Silver Queen Gondola until 9:30p.m.

Theme: Moonlight Dinner

Party: Sundeck Moonlight Dinners

Date: April 1st

Lifts: Village Express,  Big Burn, Cirque (conditions permitting), Coney Glade

Hours: Cirque until 6:00p.m.,  All other chairs until 6:30p.m.

Party: Party at Sam’s Smokehouse from 3:30 until 6:00. Party then moves to Sneaky’s Tavern

Theme: April Fools’ Luau

Special: Terrain Park remains open until 6:30 serviced by Coney Glade.

Lifts: Exhibition and Loge Peak

Hours: Bowl until 5:00p.m. (conditions permitting) Loge Peak until 6:30p.m.

Theme: Spring celebration

Party: MGR until 6:30p.m. then it moves to the base!

Special: Golden Horn and Thunderbowl (the run) will close at  5:00p.m. Last ride up on Exhibition is at 6:30.p.m. Downloading until 7:00pm.

 

Austin & Aspen: Oscar Watch Parties

I’ve gone Oscar-crazy over at EndlessBeauty.com, telling you how to throw your own party, but for the local effect in Austin, stop by J. Black’s for a Moet & Chandon-sponsored party …

… and if you have $160 to spend on the Oscars, check out the Aspen Film party at The Viceroy in Snowmass:

Aspen: ASPEN Magazine and Challenge Aspen Party

Challenge Aspen is a great organization, the $30 suggested donation is totally worth it.

Austin: Tidbits Party at La Pastisserie

Taste-test La Patisserie’s decadent desserts to your heart’s content at our Sugary Sweet Affair on Wednesday, February 9th, from 5:30 – 7p. Enjoy passed sweets and apps, as well as wine, champagne and hot pink hued Austin Cosmos by Dripping Springs Vodka.

RSVP: http://austin.gotidbits.com/events/a-sugary-sweet-affair

Austin: Manuary Party for the Men

I have never heard of this Manuary idea, but as men are occasionally left out here at this blog (you may like my fashion posts a smidge less than the other fabulous things I write), I feel obligated to post. Plus I really like Dulce Vida tequila.

Sabia, Criquet Apparel, and Dulce Vida Tequila would like to invite your readers to our special Manuary party, next Thursday, January 27.

Details:

Mantastic Event! Thursday, January 27th, 4-8pm at Sabia

Manscape: Sabia hair stylists are offering complimentary neck clean ups on site during the event.

Dress: The gents from Criquet, a locally owned company featuring organic polo and golf shirts, will be on hand to style.

Shop: Enjoy 20% off all shaving tools and products, plus peruse Sabia’s amazing selection of gifts for gals.

Cyclist Wax: For a smooth ride (and legs), 20% off leg waxing for bikers

Imbibe:  Anejo Old Fashioneds will be provided by Austin’s own Dulce Vida Tequila.

Sounds good for the fellas and the ladies, no?

Aspen: Yogroove at King Yoga

Because it’s not AWESOME ENOUGH, my favorite place ever for yoga (Gretchen [Bleiler] and Lance [Armstrong] are fans too), King Yoga in Aspen, is hosting a Yogroove this Thursday night. What’s a Yogroove?

“Come take a creative vinyasa flow co-taught by Aaron and Evan with the sweet melodies of Cameron Williams. Sign-up online at www.kingyoga.net“

Yo, it’s yoga to live music! How badass is that? Potluck following. Class 6-7:30p.

Sidenote: I love their clothes too. I rock this tee all the time!

Austin: Spotlight Party at La Sombra

The Octopus Club will be hosting Spotlight Parties around Austin for 2011, and the first event is at La Sombra Bar & Grill on Burnet Rd. TONIGHT! The night will be an amazing mix of FREE food, music, fashion, and beauty. DJ Johnny Bravo spinning music while Estilo showcases the hottest fashions of the season. To top it off, Endlessbeauty.com makeup goddess Brandi McCormick will be beautifying all the models!!

January 19 at 6 pm at La Sombra on Burnet (4800 Burnet Road).

The event is FREE but asking for a donation at the door. Everything raised at the door goes to the Paul Kirby Emergency Assistance fund, which provides aid to Austin citizens living with HIV/AIDS.

For more, click to the facebook event page.

To check out B’s work, I’m partial to my own Kate Hudson makeover in her hands:

Kate Hudson Smokey Eyes Makeup Tutorial

Austin: New Year’s Eve Start to Finish

Ah, the start of a new year. If you don’t have plans already, don’t fret, Austin is totally a cool town to be plan-less in. Aspen, not so much. Where did my Caribou Club membership card run off to? Anyway, here are my suggestions:

Pre-Party: From 4-7pm, let Lovely Austin Boutique help you get ready for your big night out … $10 airbrush makeovers and eyelash application from award winning makeup artist Lecia Harkins with Beauty on the Go, plus release the stress of the holidays with $10 chair massages and complimentary cocktails.

Click here to RSVP.

Eat: The Carillon features Chef Josh Watkins’ New Years Champagne Paired Dinners: Nine Courses, $90; Seven Courses, $75; Five Courses, $65. Seating available 6-10pm. Some of the best food around at totally reasonable prices for food and booze.

For more NYE restaurants, click here for the Statesman’s list (with an egregious example of apostrophe abuse)

Go Out (Never Pay Cover!): Now get this. This is life in Austin & Aspen synchronicities NEVER END! Skip silly sixth and hit up Gibson on South Lamar, which is turning into a winter wonderland with 30 tons of real snow! [Sidenote: I will BE IN 30 tons of real snow. In the real mountains.] This Ski Lodge party includes complimentary commemorative ski caps, appetizers from Out There Catering, festive cocktails, music, dancing, and a champagne toast to ring in 2011.

No fancy cocktail dresses or tuxedos for this party … don your comfy and fabulous ski attire–let me tell you, bibs are sexy. Ski bibs. Not food bibs.

All for a good cause, the bash benefits The Trail Foundation. Parking available. Tickets at frontgatetickets.com