Final Blog Post for Crunchy Green Mom - New Blog ~Everyday Lush~

Hello everyone!

      I started Crunchy Green Mom in 2007 while I was a pregnant mother of 5 (awaiting the birth of my final child in Jan 2008). I was newly separated and searching for a way to distract myself and gain a bit of entertainment for myself and my kids.

       Before CGM I was doing a mini-emailer to my close friends called Lilithology and it had many items in it like, "Word of the day", "Today in History" and "Joke of the Week"... it was my way of staying connected with my friends and learning something new. Then one of them suggested that I start a blog.

      Crunchy Green Mom was born. In the past 10 years, I have had that beautiful child, moved into an amazing house with the man that I would one day call my husband and made huge strides in my career. I've gained an AMAZING group of friends that call ourselves "The Tribe" and work to find the balance between kids, employment and life.

    However, all good things must come to an end and transform into something bigger. Dave and I have decided to start up another brand, to recreate ourselves into a more inclusive website that allows us to do our favorite thing, Be foodies in an amazing American town- Denver.

So, since that has begun, we are now closing the doors on this amazing part of our history and opening the door to a new beginning.

Please, find us at Everyday Lush and engage with us.

You can contact me at: suzannembastien@gmail.com

Thank you for being my fans, my readers and my friends during these past 11 years! Blessings

~Suzanne/Lilith/Lily

Colorado Renaissance Festival 2018

My family is big on tradition, and there is one that won't be dying off anytime soon. My birthday weekend at the Colorado Renaissance Festival.

Good King Henry to celebrate a memorable 2018 Colorado Renaissance Festival. For our 42nd Anniversary season, we take you on a magical tour through time and legend. As you wander down the village streets and pathways of the Colorado Renaissance Festival, ready thyself to revel with master revelers, watch artisans create original works of their ancient craft and be taken in by the tantalizing aromas of roast turkey legges, steak on a stake, fresh baked goods and much more.

 Featuring a cast of hundreds of authentically costumed merrymakers living and working throughout the village and performing, continuously, upon the Festival's seven stages, the illusion of a rollicking 16th Century festival day is created.

Get your tickets today! https://coloradorenaissance.com/

The 2018 Colorado Renaissance Festival is now open Weekends Only Through Aug. 5. Affordable Fun for Everyone! Get your tickets today! 

https://coloradorenaissance.com/@CORenFest Kids Go Free

 https://www.coloradokids.com/coupon.php?bid=11719&dealid=1721

(I am compensated for this post)

Mystery Tackle Box

     There are times when the weather in Colorado is amazing and my husband and his son get up bright and early, take the boat to the reservoir and spend all day floating around, searching for fish. I call it searching because they aren't very good at it, but they do LOVE to do it.

    Christmas presents for fishermen is hard, they usually buy what they want and for a woman that doesn't fish, I have no idea what to get them. Until I found this...

Mystery Tackle Box is the #1 fishing tackle subscription service offering anglers and fishing enthusiasts a fun and affordable way to discover new fishing lures, learn new techniques and catch more fish! If you, or someone you love, enjoys fishing, get them a Mystery Tackle Box Subscription today. You'll enjoy a monthly box full of new and innovative fishing lures and products, content on how to use everything, plus stickers and special offers. Visit http://mtbfish.com/holidaygiftUSFAM to learn more!

My Readers Get $10.00 Off Your First Mystery Tackle Box - New Subscribers can enjoy $10.00 off their first box of Mystery Tackle Box fishing tackle subscription by using the promo code USFAM10. Get a box full of new fishing products delivered straight to your door. Subscriptions start at $15 per month. Coupon valid through December 31st, 2017. Visit http://mtbfish.com/holidaygiftUSFAM to learn more!

(I am compensated for this post)

Elitch Gardens Fright Fest 2017

The kids are getting older and we all need fun and entertaining new things to do with them... How about Roller Coasters, Funnel Cake and FRIGHTS!!!

In October, Elitch Gardens transforms into Family By Day and Fright By Night, plus all your favorite Theme Park rides. Don't miss out on five weekends of scary fun at Colorado's largest Halloween event!

Open Friday nights, Saturdays and Sundays from September 29 through October 29, 2017.

Fridays: 6-10 PM / Saturdays: 12-10 PM / Sundays: 12-9 PM

My Readers Enjoy Exclusive Discoun for Elitch Gardens Fright Fest Combo Ticket $39.99 at http://www.elitchgardens.com/coloradokids/

Aspen Square Condominium

This time of year bookings for holiday parties, Thanksgiving cocktails and a night of entertainment with New Years is what many of us need with family coming into town.

Last year my husband and I found a way to escape the weekend after Thanksgiving so we could unwind and spend some time just one on one. That is what I'd love to do for this coming year. Aspen, snow, Colorado holiday... it's the greatest way to unwind before the chaos begins.

Aspen Square's warmly welcoming personality, ideal location across from the base of Aspen Mountain, and full hotel-style services and amenities combine to make our property a great choice for a memorable vacation year round.

Booking a stay at Aspen Square during the off peak winter season has many advantages for a frugal traveler.
* Early and late season rates can be as much as 50% lower than high season, for the same room type
* More rooms are available in the lower seasons, so even hard to book rooms like our one-bedrooms or three-bedrooms are more likely to be open for booking.
* Guests receive the same outstanding services and amenities as the high season guest
* Smaller crowds translates to shorter lift lines, easier access to restaurant and event tickets
* Pre-holiday stays allow guests to enjoy the festive ambiance without the crowds and costs associated with holiday rates and costs in town
* End of season snow is sometimes the best of the entire winter season, with longer ski days in late March and early April

 So perhaps we will sneak out and get another chance to reconnect before things get hectic again.

Hopefully we will see you there

YMCA Estes Park Center - Perfect for family gatherings all year round

The holiday season should come with a disclaimer that comes across our phones and say, “High Stress, huge reward. Make sure you take time for yourself.” Then people would make sure to book their trips for the upcoming season in advance.

My husband and I did just that the weekend before Halloween this year. We didn’t want to do anything too far from home because I was co-coaching my daughters LEGO Robotics team and needed to get home for practice on that Sunday, but we wanted something that was relaxing and allowed us to reconnect.

(Photo by: Grace Communion International)

When we got the chance to stay at the YMCA in Estes Park we knew we were going to find that there. No TV’s in the lodge rooms, buffet style meals three times a day and endless events for the Fall Festival. What more could we ask for? Who doesn’t love walking through the brisk air of Estes Park, holding hands, watching the plentiful deer wandering around and carving pumpkins or interacting with the loads of kids in costumes welcoming you to the center? It’s as happy a place as you will find in the Rockies.

Lodging: YMCA Estes Park has wonderful lodging options, a multitude of lodges with comfortable rooms and cabins big enough for family reunions. We stayed in a lodge room overlooking the whole complex, we watched deer outside our window and slept comfortably in a room with two queen beds, bathroom, shower/tub combo and enough room to store all our items for the weekend. There is no way to cool the rooms, however we did have a fan, so we put that in the window and it kept the room plenty cool throughout our stay. Parking was plentiful and an easy walk to the lodge.

(Photo by: YMCA Estes Park)

Food: The food is very good at the YMCA. Imagine camp food, all you can eat, hot, great staff and the people watching is fun. You can sit with a view of the mountains in front of you and even walk out on the porch and appreciate the cool morning air.

Amenities: Pool, arts and crafts, archery, campfires, talks, fising, minigolf and yoga. At the YMCA there is something to do for everyone or you can sit quietly in Adirondack chairs outside and do nothing!

Location: YMCA Estes Park Center is located right on the outskirts of Estes Park, Co. buried within the trees, decorated with elk, snow capped hills and the stars. Nothing more is needed to enjoy this rustic beauty. There is so much to do in the surrounding town and National forest, that if you get bored you aren’t looking hard enough.

Visit YMCA Estes Park any time of year, they have activities and events going on that will help you and your family create memories together.

(I was compensated for this post, all opinions are my own)

Ringling Bros. Out Of This World 2016

I love surprising my kids! My family calendar is full of “SURPRISE” days. Two month ago I managed a surprise to my kids and when I say that, I mean almost every single one of them.

We were heading to the Greatest Show on Earth! Three of the kids that I was sitting next to had NEVER been to the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus.

This years show is Out Of This World and it truely was!

Prepare to blast off on an intergalactic adventure for space-age family fun! Launch into the future with Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® Presents Out Of This World™. Children Of All Ages can take the helm to join the Circus Space Fleet on a heroic quest of good versus evil that will let imaginations run wild with unexpected surprises and thrills at every turn. Your entire family will be amazed by this cosmic voyage as you discover the wonders of gravity-defying acrobats, orbital aerialists, majestic animals, fearless daredevils and humorous clowns

First thing I will have to say, the elephants are gone. I commend RB&BB for making the choice to retire all the elephants from their show after 145 years of having them a part of this magical troupe. There is a part of me that was sad to not see them there. You can find how Ringling Bros and Barnum are assisting in the conservation of these majestic beasts at the Center for Elephant Conservation

Instead they had:

*Tons of dogs

*Goats

*Donkeys

*Horses

*Tigers

*Pigs

*and a surprise critter!

This was the kids favorite part! So many things to see at the once, even my 10 month old grandson was enthralled and stayed awake the entire time! 

There were stunts that made me gasp, however, I was honestly so happy to sit and watch my kids faces. There is something magical about the circus, the storyline, and kids, no matter what age!

The circus is a rite of passage for families big and small, it's a memory that kids will always have and share with one another for their whole lives.

If you are looking for a show in your area that is upcoming, check out their schedule here.

(I was compensated for this post)