Vail Village

I have recently realized that I am a total mountain lifestyle type girl. I have always adored the warm beaches and pool days, however this trip really opened my eyes to the natural beauty that the mountains have to offer. 

As most of you have probably heard, Vail Village is breathtaking. I cannot begin to even explain the vibe - just think quaint cottages, winding roads, never ending views and lots of boozy hot chocolate. To me, that is perfection. 

I purchased the trip to celebrate my boyfriend and I's four years. We left directly from school and drove 7 hours to Denver, and another 1.5 hours to Vail, with our dog in tow. We checked in to the gorgeous Tivoli Lodge and grabbed a glass of wine by the fire. This hotel has it all - a relaxed ambiance, cozy rooms and the best 'trapped in by snow, turn the fire on, never leave' lodge feeling. 

It is family owned and dog friendly - such a plus!  The next three days were spent exploring, eating, skiing and laughing. I have skied since I was a kid, however this was only Bryce's second time and he killed it. Since it was opening weekend, many of the green, or easier, slopes were closed. I am by no means a professional so black slopes were not my forte. Bryce, on the other hand, made it down like a pro. Jealous. 

We spent our second evening venturing around the village, dreaming of moving in. We found the cutest diner with live music (and one of the best burgers I've had). We sat, we talked, we drank and we laughed our way back to our 'lodge'. 

I wasn't sure how bundled up I would want to be so of course I overpacked my suitcase with too many options. True to the norm, I ended up wearing my new Mott and Bow high waisted jeans. They are seriously the most comfortable high waist pair in my closet and perfect to tuck the front of a sweater in, or just pair with a cropped long sleeve and jacket. For the snow, I packed lots of beanies. I am loving this white one from Free People - it comes in so many colors and the pom pom is the perfect touch. 

When Austin Cocktails asked me to partner with them for their current collaboration, I immediately pictured sharing a cocktail in the snow with Bryce. Mojito's are right up my alley, so this pre-mixed Cucumber Vodka Mojito was so perfect. Sweet, light and smooth! We both loved it. 

The second night, we decided to keep it lowkey and find a yummy to-go dinner and watch a movie. While walking around the village with Tyson (in his sweater), we came across a small Italian restaurant/pizza bar called Vendetta's. I can honestly say that I have never had better spaghetti & meatballs. We then grabbed another bottle of wine and headed back to watch Home Alone. The best evening. 

I had quite a few questions about this faux fur cropped coat - it is Forever 21 and the coziest piece at the best price. Shop my other outfit details below.