That’s right, friends—for the last few months, I’ve been M.I.A. all because of a man. And, instead of my usual feelings of crippling commitment-phobia, I’m actually reveling in each and every moment (hence the lack of posts of late).

From here on out, I promise to devote a little more time to my Mavenly duties. Until then, here are two feel-good tidbits that you might enjoy:

1. The new man and I have the exact name—yes, seriously. If you’ve been a Boulder Maven reader for any length of time, you inevitably know my feelings about this particular thing (and no, it’s not the same guy). Looks like the universe was conspiring accordingly and the joke is officially on me. . .
2. As luck would have it, my wallet went missing on our very first date. After taking the usual precautions to cancel my credit cards, etc., two days later, I received a call at my office from a stranger who had found my wallet in the middle of Pearl Street with all of the contents in tact! Not only did he find my wallet, he drove to the address on my driver’s license (which was inevitably an old address) to try and return it to me. When he didn’t find me there, he found some information relating to my employer in my wallet and tracked me down at work. After all that, he personally delivered the wallet to me and refused to accept any money, lunch, coffee, or even treats for his dog in return. Just another example of why I absolutely love Boulder.

Here’s to pleasant surprises and never saying never. . .over and out for now.

Their TenToes treatment keeps my little piggies looking polished for weeks (despite my running/biking obsession) and, thanks to their great selection of girly goodies, I recently added one of these little gems to the mix:

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Wax On, Wax Off

Already been to Aji? Check out their other restaurants Leaf, The Dushanbe Teahouse, or The Huckleberry.

Okay people, here’s an opportunity for you to take a stand in true Maven fashion. . .

Here’s their e-mail address: Petsmart Communications

And here’s an e-mail for you to send if you’re so inclined:

Dearest Petsmart,

I recently learned that your store in Boulder doesn’t recycle paper (or any other materials). What’s the reasoning behind such a decision? I can only imagine that your store disposes of thousands of cardboard boxes and a plethora of other recyclable items every week–is a landfill really the best place for these materials?

While business practices of this nature may be more cost efficient in the short term, in Boulder where there’s a high level of community-wide environmental awareness and plenty of competition in your industry, it seems like the long-term impact of such decisions will inevitably be negative.

Just a little feedback from a customer who’s willing to take the time.

All my best,

(I think you can take it from here, peeps!)

Now, what other businesses are slinking below the socially responsible radar?

Want to host your own Outdoor Cinema party? Click here to get in the know.

What’s your reaction? Can love cross all boundaries or are there some times when boundaries should actually be created?

Update 07/26: This is apparently more common than I expected–check out this article recently sent by a friend!

Luckily, Mary just introduced me to the Herbal Insect Repellent by Burt’s Bees. The formula is 100% natural and safe for kids, pets, and activity-obsessed adults alike. Find it at a plethora of stores around town and tell those bugs to buzz off for good. Now, if only this formula could repel certain men . . .

Whether Saturday mornings from 8-2 or Wednesday evenings from 4-8, there’s no better time to get out there and love, love, love the local.

Inese, their party-planner extraordinaire, helped me nail down all of the details, including all of the hors d’oeuvres and drinks for the event. (Their bruschetta, wood-fired pizzas, calamari, and grilled veggies were a huge hit!) And on party day, Corrado (the GM) helped ensure that everything stayed smooth.

Even when Mother Nature threw us a curve ball (by way of some brief thunderstorms), they gave us the entire rooftop (3/4 of which is covered) and called it a private party. Overall, the staff was amazingly well-organized and accommodating, the food was delicious, and the pricing was surprisingly reasonable.

Thanks to Bácaro (and 30 of my closest friends) for making this one of my best birthdays ever!

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Hit the Spot
Them Belly Full
A Perfect Ten

Please, please, please get yourself out there and bike, walk, scoot, skate, or just plain drag yourself to wherever you need to be tomorrow (just don’t use your car for help). Need a little extra incentive? How about fueling up with FREE breakfast at one of 40 Boulder-area restaurants? There are breakfast stops in many of the surrounding communities as well, so all you Lafayette, Lousiville, Longmont, Superior, and Denver peeps can start dusting off your bikes too.

To learn more about the event and to register (for free), visit the DRCOG website.

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How We Roll
Roll With It
Road Bike Revelation