Snapshots & My Thoughts by Ailee Petrovic
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The Hilton Anatole American Girl Package

We received this accommodation for free in exchange for an honest review. Thank you for supporting the brands and companies that we love!

This past weekend, Isla and I headed to Dallas a fun ‘big girls getaway’ – she asked at least two-thousand five hundred times why Emi wasn’t coming, of course. We met our best friends, Kirby and Lillian, at the Hilton Anatole for the first of many similar trips. We had an unbelievably fun time with our big four year old girls (Lily is four this Saturday, so I’m rounding up!).

When we arrived in our adjoining bedrooms, we walked in and saw two of the queen beds with treats waiting for the girls – American Girl beds, robes, slippers, swimsuit and cookies! The girls were literally giddy with excitement. We arrived on Thursday, but the plan to go to the American Girl store wasn’t until Friday, so we all threw on swimsuits and headed to JadeWaters – the pool at the hotel. It’s a kid’s pool dream come true. There is a lazy river, lots of shallow wading areas, slides galore and on Friday, a pool party! After hours in the sun, we ate at the restaurant by the pool, then headed to our rooms to get ready for the big day.

The girls woke up READY TO GO on Saturday! We met our friend, Mary, and her baby at Snooze for breakfast (the scrambled tofu was delicious!), then went to the American Girl store for the main event. The girls were running around wide-eyed, looking at all of the pretty dolls and accessories. Lots of “Can I have that please?” being asked. Lillian picked Samantha, and Isla picked a lookalike doll (“Truly Me”), whom she named Samantha (ha!). They picked out a few accessories, then as soon as we got to the car (valet was free and included in the Hilton Anatole package!), they were ready to change their outfits already!

We ate lunch at Flower Child (holy cow, it’s amazing), then went back to the Hilton Anatole to relax (i.e. try pointlessly to get the girls to nap!) before going back to JadeWaters. We participated in the pool party, went down the big slides again and relaxed in the sun. It was heavenly! Isla proclaimed, “This is the best day of my life!” I’m not even kidding! That evening, we ordered room service, as everyone was exhausted and we didn’t leave the pool until 6:15pm.

We had to be up early in the morning, as I was taking family photos for a friend and Kirby and Lillian wanted to hit the road to spend the day with Brett and Henry before they left on another trip the following day. The girls ate Top Knot Doughnuts before doing a super huge farewell hug.

We will definitely be going back to the Hilton Anatole with Kirby and Lillian again (probably with the rest of the motley crew too!), as Dallas is halfway between Oklahoma City and Houston. Isla is in love with her Samantha doll and hasn’t stopped talking about how much fun she had this weekend. I loved my American Girl doll growing up (Kirsten), and I’ve long thought about what it would be like when I could take Isla to get her first doll. Such a dream come true!

Special thank you to The Monogram Shop in Houston for the fun inflatables, towels and beach bags!

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City Guide

Durango City Guide

DurangoTravelCityGuide

In 2012, my parents bought a home in Durango, much to our dismay, as we were rooting for a lake house in Austin. We are now so glad they ignored our pleas, as this old-timey city has definitely won over our hearts (and the lack of Texas humidity is a huge bonus). Durango has everything you could possibly need in a getaway city – great food and drinks, amazing views, fun activities, good shopping (well, not high fashion), and perfect weather (ahem, except perhaps the freezing cold winters). We’re fortunate enough to live just two streets over from Main Avenue, which is where most of the restaurants and shops are found. Given that most things in Texas are driving distance, it’s nice to be able to walk to dinner. We also take advantage of the proximity to the mountains and Animas river, and spend the days outside hiking, biking, rafting, running, etc.

If you’re looking for a fun Colorado vacation spot, I highly recommend making a trip to Durango. And if you come, I suggest trying some of the following restaurants, juice bars, ice cream shops, parks and adventure centers. If you have already been to Durango, am I missing anything?

 Food and Drinks

Carver’s Brewing Co.: This brewery is a favorite in our family, as it’s just two streets over from my parent’s house and the food is delicious. I typically order the Sesame Seared Ahi Stir Fry (substitute tofu for Ahi) or the veggie burger without the bun and a salad versus fries. Both options are delicious. Sasha normally gets the Tatanka (buffalo) burger and also loves it. They have big to-go beers called “Growlers” (discounted refills), so naturally Sasha and Dad have to drink one or two of those to prove their Colorado manliness.

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Baby

Week 6 in Durango

Week six has come and gone, leaving Isla almost 12 weeks old and us with only a few weeks left in Colorado. We had our favorite weekend so far, given that one of my best friends, Kirby, her husband, Brett, and their adorable 7 week old, Lillian, came to visit us. They arrived on Thursday, and we filled the next four days with multiple hikes, raft rides, walks through town, a visit to Durango Mountain Resort, and plenty of laughter and relaxation at the house. After the girls went down, we played games like Taboo (obsessed) and categories (we amazed the boys with our sports knowledge). It is such a blessing to have a best friend with a daughter so close in age to Isla – now we just need them to move to Texas from Oklahoma City!

Below you’ll find some photographs from the past week – lots of Lillian and Isla, including her new sassy shorts from Sugarplum Lane. Only two more weeks left! I cannot believe it.

Reminder: Today is the last day to enter the BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier We giveaway. You have until Friday to enter the BabyLit giveaway and until Sunday to use the promo code ‘Isla’ for 40% off all books (this is a great deal!).

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Me and my sleepy head while at Durango Mountain Resort

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Two generations of best friends
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Sneak peak of my floral arrangement for week 2 of Nicole’s Classes

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Isla was cracking me up during the taking of these pictures – that tongue! Similar J. Crew onesie and similar RH Baby & Child Lovey

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The future best friends in their matching Baby Gap rompers

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Our OKC Thunder loving lady and squeaky Sophie

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Kirby and her mini-me, Lillian, in this sweet J. Crew polka dot onesie

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These are my new favorite shorts ever – can I get a pair?

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Isla loves her Sugarplum Lane shorts and Carter’s top

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Serious father-daughter conversations (those are some serious duck lips!)

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Isla is one messy lady, so we’re loving these J. Crew tanks – puke resistant!

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Brett was prepping for the alpine slide race with Sasha | Cutest dads ever | The view of downtown Durango from our morning hikes

 

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Personal

Highlights of Week One in Durango

We’ve been in Durango for just over a week now, and we are loving it. Sasha said to me yesterday, “You realize the most important and stressful decision we make all day is what we’re going to eat for dinner.” I laughed – but it’s true. We go on about four to five walks a day, as my parents live within 5 minutes of the grocery store, Main Street where all of the restaurants and shops are, Animas River, and mountain trails. My Nike Fuel Band is back in action! I wrote a Durango Travel Guide post last year, but I definitely have to update it after trying many new restaurants, juice bars and ice cream shops. I’ve put together an assortment of photos from our first week – as you can tell, I’ve been very trigger happy as of late.

What are your summer plans?

PS Happy birthday, Mum and Karine!

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Isla flew from Houston to Denver to Durango and slept through every second of it (thank you, Lord!)

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Walking to Durango Joe’s for morning coffee with the whole Petrovic family

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Hiking and biking (while the grandparents were here to babysit!)

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I finally found a bow that is semi-appropriately sized for a newborn – and a tutu dress from my sweet co-workers!

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Celebrating our one year anniversary — with dinner and on a raft!

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My favorite bow romper from Paola (I love Janie and Jack!) and our romantic rooftop anniversary dinner

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Staring at that face all day and praying she always wants to hold my hand

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Geared up for a day on the water (another Paola gift!) and a wet pup from lots of Animas River swimming

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Isla’s new nap place – the BabyBjorn – and a tired tanner in her Baby Gap swimsuit from Erin

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Navajo State Park adventures with the whole family (Isla slept through the entire experience)

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A sneak peak of Isla’s newborn photos from Taylor Lord and I’ve finally sent all of the birth announcements!

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Father-daughter bonding moments that make me heart melt

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Hamming it up – and wearing her UT apparel! Girl’s gonna be a Longhorn fan, for sure

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USA

Our Durango Adventure

large copyI learned two of my favorite quotes from my American Literature course at The University of Texas at Austin. Both relate to nature (such a treehugger!). I posted the Thoreau quote here. The other one is a quote of Ralph Waldo Emerson’s: “Do not go where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path, and leave a trail.” I love the thought of creating your own path in life – taking unexpected turns and making ad hoc decisions. Cue the decision for Sasha and I to move to Durango, Colorado for 8 weeks. We tossed around the idea one day while walking our dog (pre-Isla) and sort of said, “why not?” Sasha put in his two weeks at work this week, and I’m taking maternity leave until mid-September – our adventure will start in two weeks, after Sasha finishes his capstone assignment in Austin. I am so excited. Our days will involve hikes, bikes, walks, playing horse shoe, reading on the patio, walking along Main Street, and letting Isla become “one with nature” (ha). I’ve never been so ready for an adventure in my life! I’m ready to leave our trail.

You can read my Durango travel guide here

Pictures from my sister’s wedding weekend in Durango here

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