Health + Wellness

Fields of Purple

Sweet Awakening Farm Develops Lavender Products for Mind, Body and Kitchen Article by Cara Bukacek | Photography by Tammy Blackwell & Sweet Awakening In 2017, a car accident nearly claimed Tammy Blackwell’s life while she was attending veterinary school. Walking away from the wreckage sparked a profound internal shift. "Suddenly, the world was brighter, tastes were sweeter, and everything seemed more vivid," Blackwell recalls. "I couldn't go back to the life I had before." Blackwell chose to...

Beauty

Intentional Fragrance

Humble Abode Creates Clean, Luxurious Scents for Home & Body Article by Cara Bukacek | Photography by Humble Abode Fragrance has the powerful ability to influence mood, create a vibe or transport us to a particular memory from a moment in time. Just a hint of a certain scent can instantly put us in a place we once visited or in a loved one’s warm embrace. Yet traditionally, fragrance formulas have included complicated and potentially harmful ingredients. Julie DeYoung, a University of Colorado...

Home + Design

A Cut Above

At Apex Knife Co., Craftsmanship Still Has an Edge Article by Jessi Scoletti | Photography by Apex Knife Co & Brice Pardo Starting with the Swiss Army knife his dad gave him as a child, Jorge Almedina has long been fascinated with the craftsmanship of knives. A 2020 visit to a small knife retailer in Monument inspired him to pursue it as a side project while serving in the U.S. Army. Almedina later purchased the shop’s remaining inventory and taught himself marketing, photography and web...

Shopping

From "Little Gypsy" to Vintage Shop Owner

Monika Petersen Brings Global Style to Colorado Springs Article by Rochelle Reeder | Photography by Hailey Jane Photo Monika Petersen's journey to opening Gypsy Thrift Collective in Old Colorado City this past summer spans continents, cultures and a lifelong appreciation for craftsmanship. Born in Thailand, she grew up immersed in a vibrant world. Her Taiwanese mother embraced a farm-to-table lifestyle, raising Petersen with a holistic approach to food, health and everyday living. Meanwhile...