Day One
8 a.m. — Start my morning with an acai bowl from Rush Bowls, and it makes me miss my tried-and-true from Whole Sol Bar which sadly closed a few months ago (for unknown reasons). Rush Bowls is a franchise and it shows…there’s barely any fruit topping and it tastes overly sweet. Acai bowls are supposed to make you feel healthy, not put you into a sugar coma. The delivery cost a big extra, but it’s worth it for the convenience of not having to leave my couch. $23
11 a.m. — Finish my skincare routine, I’m experimenting with Tata Harper which advertises itself as “100% Natural Non-Toxic Organic Skincare” — I’m currently trying to live more clean as the article in the New York Times a few weeks ago on “forever chemicals” freaked me out. Then I take my mini golden doodle, Mochi, with me on a walk along the Boulder Creek Path. I work in clean energy PR so Mondays are spent catching up on the weekend’s news and so I multi-task with get fresh air and exercise. Plus Mochi loves the chance to explore!
12:30 p.m. — Meet up with college friends at Blackbelly, honestly Boulder is such a small town it’s almost impossible to find a good lunch place on a Monday. I got a yummy bowl with quinoa, pickled onions, and millet fritters (Meatless Mondays) with a curry sweet potato soup. I realize I need to come back soon to try their dinner menu as I walk past gorgeous hunks of meat (I’m talking about the steak y’all) dry-aging in their fridge and my mouth is salivating! $45
2 p.m. — I walk over to Minuteman Press to pick up my new business cards. I’m old-fashioned but I find people just remember you better with a well-designed, beautiful business card and I love supporting local businesses. I’ve ordered 1,000 cards but the price is still extremely affordable. $150
6 p.m. — Full from a day of eating I decide to go for “girl dinner” and make a charcuterie board full of yummy Whole Foods cheeses and meats, crunchy snacks like these edamame beans, and SkinnyDipped’s unicorn birthday cake cashews. Let me repeat. Unicorn. Birthday. Cake. Cashews.
8 p.m. — After a bath, I unwind with this glow mask and some SleepyTime tea and put on my favorite Netflix show “Bridgerton.”
Daily Total: $218
Day Two
6 a.m. — Got an all-day work event today so I wake up early, do 10-minutes of stretching on my yoga mat, let Mochi out, then drive over to my client’s office. We’re hosting a press gaggle tour of the client’s community solar gardens in the Denver area so I’ll be running herd on 10 harried clean tech journalists today.
7 a.m. — Arrived at the office and confirmed all the details with my assistant. We help the caterers set up the breakfast buffet of Bonfire Burritos and a smoothie/juice bar of strawberry-banana, avocado-kale-pineapple, and beet-carrot-orange options. I inhale down a Jackalope taco (egg, hash browns, roasted peppers, cheese, avocado crema, and pico de gallo) before the day’s craziness starts.
10 a.m. — We on the road, on schedule, and the on the way to the first stop!
1 p.m. — Since we’re touring “gardens” I thought it would be cute to setup a picnic for lunch with catered sandwiches from Organic Sandwich Company. I over-ordered by about 2x getting a variety of spicy chicken, prosciutto apple, soppresata cheese, beetnik, chickpea avocado, and turkey bacon jam sandwiches along with chips and cookies. Several of the journalists pack themselves doggy bags to take home, I pretend not to notice although it’s a little annoying when one of them complains they’re still hungry after they stuffed a sandwich into their backpack. I apologize profusely and offer to DoorDash something over but he graciously declines and says he’ll “power through it.” I did not get an opportunity to snag a sandwich and spend the rest of the day hangry.
6 p.m. — It’s over! The journalists have all been sent home with their goodie bags and press kits. The company is happy with how the day went and excited to see the press coverage over the next few weeks. I take my assistant out for a celebratory dinner at Basta and we feast on delicious chewy sourdough bread and giant pile of Caesar salad. We split three pizzas (hey I didn’t get lunch!) – one plain, one clam pizza, and one pork and hot honey combination I loved. The bill is hefty but I’m expensing it to the client! $450 (expensed)
10 p.m. — In bed and my whole body aches although I did nothing today but stand around and smile at journalists. I browse Amazon and decide to order a back and neck massager. $35
Daily Total: $35
Day Three
12 p.m. — Slept in and decided I’m not working today. I get myself and Mochi ready for a long, luxurious, no-Slack, no-phone hike at Chautauqua Park. The views of the Flatirons are breathtaking, and it’s a perfect way to start the day. I run into some friends, and we decide to make this a weekly tradition.
4 p.m. — After showering, I head over to the weekly Boulder’s Farmers Market to pick up some weekly essentials including fresh produce, local honey, and homemade soap. Supporting local farmers and makers are a priority for me and I splurge extra for some fresh eggs, goat’s milk, and grass-fed beef. $200
6 p.m. — Some friends have texted me to go out tonight but I’m still exhausted from yesterday. I make my excuses then pour myself a big glug of red wine and make a creamy bucatini pasta with the Swiss chard, poblano peppers, and tomatoes I picked up earlier at the farmer’s market.
11 p.m. — Spent too much time doom-scrolling Instagram and ending up buying cute reusable, net grocery bags to fully embody farmer’s market chic girl aesthetic. Finally get into bed to the soothing rain sounds from my sound machine. $60
Daily Total: $260
Day Four
9 a.m. — Wake up and leash Mochi up for a short walk along the Boulder Creek Path. He’s still tired from our long hike yesterday so it doesn’t take much to tire him out. During my skincare routine I’m noticing my face is drier than normal, uh-oh, is it the Tate Harper? I quickly search on Reddit if others have had dryness issues but find nothing. Maybe it’s because I was in the sun for longer than usual yesterday? I decide to commit using the products til the end of the week before deciding whether to swipe right or left.
11 a.m. — As penance for skipping out on plans last night, I agreed to meet that same group of friends for brunch at The Buff today. One of them is gluten-free, dairy-free, and vegan so she dictates where we eat and The Buff is on her approved-list. I actually really like their gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan pancakes so in solidarity I order the lemon pecan cakes with her. They download me on all the fun and drama I missed; I pick up the tab as an apology for dipping out and promise them I’ll go out tonight. $250
7 p.m. — Spent the rest of the day heads-down in meetings and phone calls and am finally resurfacing. I throw on a change of clothes and race over to Stella’s Cucina to get the party started. We get a beautiful corner booth, Stella is in town and stops by to say hello, and we overload on cocktails, risotto, gnocchi, sea bass, and duck. We play credit card roulette but my card is taken out of rotation since I already paid for brunch this morning.
10 p.m. — Stumble over to License No. 1 and the rest of the night is a fun blur. I get to bed by 3 am and like a responsible adult down an entire bottle of Gatorade before passing out. $350
Daily Total: $600
Day Five
12 p.m. — Wake up and no surprise, I’m not feeling so good. I crawl out of bed to let Mochi out, over to the fridge to heat up my leftover farmer’s market pasta, DoorDash over a avocado-kale-pineapple smoothie, then collapse onto the couch. I order same-day delivery of cooling eye mask. $15
3 p.m. — Accidentally went back to sleep and missed a client call. Honestly, I would have been a horrifying sight on Zoom so it’s probably for the best. I send them an apology note and we reschedule for next week. I order them a Deluxe Farmers Market Basket gift basket from Boulder in a Basket. The client is located in Utah so they’ll get a kick out of Boulder-local items. $250
7 p.m. — I’m starting to feel human again but still can’t stomach much so I put together another girl dinner of charcuterie, pantry snacks, and birthday cake cashews. My eye mask has arrived so I prep my board with it on. It works wonders.
12 a.m. — After binging several episodes of Bridgerton I fall asleep on the couch snuggled with Mochi.
Daily Total: $265
Day Six
12 p.m. — Wake up to a friend texting if I want to go catch a movie tonight. I haven’t been in a movie theater in forever so I enthusiastically agree. I hop into the shower and take Mochi out for a quick walk around the neighborhood.
2 p.m. — Made an appointment for a full-body massage and facial at The Dragontree Sanctuary and decide to go shopping along Pearl Street beforehand. I manage to dodge all the tourists and pick up some nice outdoors gear from Norrøna (going on a hiking trip in two weekends) and a few fleeces on sale at Marine Layer. I stop at bartaco to fuel my body with chips, guacamole, and lobster tacos. $750
5 p.m. — The spa was absolutely heavenly and exactly what I needed. My masseuse and esthetician are goddesses. I asked the latter about Tata Harper and she said she hasn’t personally used it but has heard good things! $300
6 p.m. — Meet my friend at the theater and we catch a screening of Furiosa; I don’t usually like action movies and this was the most action movie! I found Anya Taylor-Joy entrancing to watch and loved the female-focused origin story of her character. Since I skipped breakfast and dinner I got a healthy selection of concession snacks that I share with my friend. $30
10 p.m. — In bed at a reasonable time! I try another Tata Harper face mask and relax while watching some more Bridgerton in bed.
Daily Total: $1,080
Day Seven
9 a.m. — In bed at a reasonable time and woke up at a reasonable time! I get Mochi all settled and then make myself a big avocado toast using sourdough bread and free-range ranges I picked up at the farmer’s market.
12 p.m. — For a weekend reset, I take a class at Yoga Pearl with a girlfriend and lose myself flowing on the mat. Since my work keeps my schedule crazy, I always just buy per-class versus a membership. $30
1 p.m. — We walk over to the SALT and I get a chickpea burger and my friend gets a pasta dish. She recently broke up with her partner of two years and over lunch we talked about how she could get herself out there and the dating scene in Boulder. I couldn’t offer much comfort; it’s a pretty bleak dating scene in Boulder and Denver, so much so I just don’t date anymore. It’s better for my mental health than therapy. I loved our girl time but the lunch was a bit of a downer as I thought about being single at 28-years-old and if I’ll just be alone forever. $30
5 p.m. — After thinking about it all afternoon I decide that if I’m going to encourage my friend to put herself out there, I should as well. I dust off the old Hinge profile and re-activate. The first 20 profiles send me back in depression (that shirtless pictures isn’t doing what you’re hoping it will) and I almost deleted the app again. But I took a deep breath and make myself a farmer’s market rice bowl using the steak along with tomatoes, avocados, sprouts, and sautéed Swiss chard. I follow up dinner with a Brownie Batter Halo Top pop and Google the best cities in America for dating. Maybe I should change my location on Hinge for better prospects?
9 p.m. — Changed my location to D.C. cause my (extensive) research said there’s a lot of career-focused men who aren’t all married by age 25. Cross my fingers and swipe right on a few promising prospects while drinking a glass of red wine before falling asleep.
Daily Total: $60