Snow-covered valley road winding through pine forests with mountains and a distant town in the background.

Welcome to Aspen Real Life

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Blog Categories

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Adventures
Hiking

Aspen to Crested Butte

We love the ability to hike from Aspen to Crested Butte - but it takes six hours and you need to be prepared. Once on the trail it's less about racing to the finish and more about slowing down long enough to absorb the magic around you.
St. Jean de Luz Aspen Real Life
Travel

St Jean de Luz

While in St. Sebastian we took a bus to the South of France and almost didn't go back to school.
Travel
Food & Beverage
Outside The Valley

Restaurant Review: Sunflower Crested Butte

During the Crested Butte Arts Festival, we befriended the owners and staff of Sunflower Restaurant. The evening turned into an impromptu celebration of community. By the end of the night, we had not only enjoyed a fantastic meal, but had also made new friends and felt completely woven into the fabric of Crested Butte. It was one of those rare evenings where everything aligns just as it should.
Travel

San Sebastian Camino de Santiago

When not in class in San Sebastián, we explored villages which we mostly got to by hiking on parts of the Camino del Norte, which starts in Irun on the French border and stretches 800 km (500 miles) to Santiago de Compostela. 
Travel
Outside The Valley

A Month in San Sebastian

Sometimes you just have to break out of your box and study Spanish in San Sebastián for a month.
Biking
Jillian's Real Life

The Zen of Mountain Biking

There is a learning curve with mountain biking but with perseverance, the gain is far more beneficial than the pain.
Travel

Where to Go in Bilbao

Arriving in Bilbao from the United States we explored the city, went on a Pintxo Tour, biked to Getxo and visited The Guggenheim Museum.
Where to Stay Downvalley from Aspen
Media Stays
Travel
Roaring Fork Valley

Hotels Downvalley from Aspen

Snowmass Village can be one of the smartest places to stay for visitors wanting mountain access, activities, and beautiful surroundings without Aspen-level hotel pricing.

Want to Be Spotlighted?

Local businesses and creators make the Aspen Valley pulse with life. We're looking for local entrepreneurs and artists to showcase their unique stories.

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Culinary Partners

Aspen Real Life wouldn't be possible without the restaurants & hotels who understand the value of staying connected to the locals, and the chefs who want the opportunity to show off their talents. Together, we're creating a well-needed vibe of connection.

M.S. Rau Fine Art logo with gold fleur-de-lis on a dark blue background.

PARC Aspen

M.S. Rau Fine Art logo with gold fleur-de-lis on a dark blue background.

Bear Den

M.S. Rau Fine Art logo with gold fleur-de-lis on a dark blue background.

West End Social

M.S. Rau Fine Art logo with gold fleur-de-lis on a dark blue background.

Sprazzo

M.S. Rau Fine Art logo with gold fleur-de-lis on a dark blue background.

PARC Aspen

M.S. Rau Fine Art logo with gold fleur-de-lis on a dark blue background.

Bear Den

M.S. Rau Fine Art logo with gold fleur-de-lis on a dark blue background.

West End Social

M.S. Rau Fine Art logo with gold fleur-de-lis on a dark blue background.

Sprazzo

Testimonials

Corneliu Fagaraşan
Architect

Aspen Business Connect completely exceeded my expectations. From the moment I showed up I felt welcomed into a community of open, curious, and genuinely supportive people. It’s not just networking—it’s real connection. I’ve built friendships, found opportunities, and gained invaluable insight simply by being part of the group. The environment Jillian has created makes it easy to show up, be yourself, and grow both personally and professionally.

Hudson McNamee Osprey Design Studio
Owner

I came along and was immediately connected with a lot of entrepreneurs from all backgrounds. A year and a half later I have gained a plethora of connections and advice from people from all walks of the entrepreneurial journey. This valley works by word of mouth. That is the most effective way, and being a part of this has gained me the most high quality clientele that respect what I do, compensate me fairly and I don't have to go through the entire vetting process every time. I learned so much from so many different types of people. It's been invaluable to my growth as an entrepreneur and a small business owner.

Grayson Rutherford Sinclair Building Architecture Design
Director of Operations

I've been blown away by the professional connections that I've been able to make since joining Aspen Business Connect. I've even had the opportunity to make trade relationships... [and] brought multiple artists onto my company's projects that I wouldn't have otherwise found had I not been a member of ABC.

It's unmatched and unrivaled by anything else in the valley and such a special meeting and connecting place for professionals of all different backgrounds. Jillian does an incredible job making her network ours and she's the most well-connected woman in the valley, always bringing in new people from different places who have different experiences and backgrounds to share. Overall it's one of my favorite things to be part of in the valley, from our socializing events and specialized dinners to our more professional focused events , it's given me the opportunity to make great friends in the valley and even professional relationships. All of us are better off for it.

Jeremy Joseph
Jeremy Joseph Photography

I opened a gallery called Jeremy Joseph Photography, which was a place to display my fine art prints of the Colorado Wilderness and Wildlife. Shortly after opening that space, I started to realize the need for me to be more  integrated into the local community. After a short meeting with Jillian, I realized really quickly how valuable her network could be to get more integrated into the community. The amount of people and relationship building you can do is pretty impressive. Every time that I show up  I always have a bit of a vibrationally tingly inspiration because of everyone's stories and what they're doing. Just a great place to be a part of the community and get inspired for your small business.

Derron Cloud, State Farm Agent in Basalt and Aspen.
Agent

What I have enjoyed from Jillian's group, Aspen Business Connect, is I've met lots of different people, different individuals. There's great events. I have probably not only gained clients but I’ve also been able to provide clients to those other folks that I've met. I've also made friends. Several people that I met in the first meeting that I went to, I've played golf with and our families hang out together. I have also had many, many referrals from those people. This group has been fantastic for networking and learning and just meeting lots of great and wonderful, interesting people.

Dominic Del Signore Homestead Circus Productions
Founder

Being a member hasn't just grown my business; it has fundamentally changed my life in the Roaring Fork Valley.

Jillian is a master at the art of connection, and her dedication to this community is nothing short of brilliant. She understands that when you connect local businesses as genuine resources for one another, you aren't just facilitating 'transactions', you are proliferating a culture of friendship, growth, and playful engagement that makes our community thrive... Great organizations only succeed with great leaders, and Jillian’s mission to foster an environment where we all succeed together is incredibly effective.

Marisa de Lempicka Tamara de Lempicka Estate Foundation
Owner

I've been a member with Aspen Business Connect for about five years now and it's been wonderful. Jillian does an amazing job at connecting people. I always leave the events inspired, empowered, with new ideas. It's really really been a great addition to my life here in Aspen, and it's a great reason to hear what other people are doing in the community, to feel part of this amazing community. The people in this group are amazing. I've /made some really lifelong friendships.

Shari Havroud of Aetio Health
Nutritionist
I am so grateful for Jillian and Aspen Business Connect, for introducing my work to the team at Aspen Strong where we created a successful Food/Mood kids series.  From there, I have been given the opportunity to work with the Aspen Youth Center, Aspen Family Connections and the City of Aspen!” 
All of these engagements have helped me expand awareness about the benefits of medical nutrition therapy.  Just one introduction led to many more.  I would highly recommend joining the Aspen Business Connect network!"
Diane Utz, ESQ Ferguson Shindler Law Firm
Construction Litigation

Thank you once again! You’ve created something really special and have done an amazing job pulling together the movers and shakers in this Valley. I’ve lived all over the country but have never witnessed a network like the one you’ve built and are continuing to build. You are such an inspiration!

Eric Amyot Keystone Species CO
Instigator of Change | Generative Community Builder

ABC makes networking easy. More than that, the intention and energy, mood, and support for every entrepreneur and business regardless of their scale or industry, is always positive.

Harry Teague - Harry Teague Architects
Owner

Thank you Aspen Real Life and your team. Very informative and well organized panel discussion. Wonderful to network with such smart, fun crowd. Keep up the good work.

Jerome Osentowski Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute
Founder & Director

Last week Jerome, Eden, and Brook melted our minds with their wisdom on the state of our food systems, what they're doing about it, and what we can all do to improve the health of ourselves and the Earth. Thanks Aspen Business Connect for organizing this great event!

Thanks so much Jillian for putting these together. We were glad to see so many people who care about their food, we got so many business cards! Amazing

Rose LeVan Sustainable Settings
Co-Founder & Office Manager

Thank you Jillian for giving us the opportunity to talk with our community via Aspen Business Connect! Your crew is amazing.

Michele Cardamone - Michele Cardamone Photography
Owner

I just went to Jillian's Aspen Business Connect meeting at Aspen Kitchen with a panel discussing the importance of eating local and nutritious food without pesticides. There was so much positive energy in the room and such an eclectic mix of local business representatives. It was such a perfect way to connect with members of our community. Bravo, Jillian! I can't wait for more!

Molly Dodge Bosque Aspen

Such an amazing event, Jillian!! Thank you for including us and for everything that you're doing for this community and beyond. You're an inspiration and connecting people is the most satisfying thing. Xoxox

Bill Infante, Hangai Mountain Textiles, Co-Founder & President at Breakthrough Communications, Basalt Town Council Member.
Principal & Co-Founder

Great evening. Great initiative. Great connections. Thanks Jillian Livingston for bringing the business community together!

Marisa Hallsted The Mindful Vine
Founder

We thought you’d love that we all connected over a fabulous dinner. Turned into a blog post, a mastermind group, a newly designed ring from gems from my ancestors and who knows great collaborations between some of us in the future! Thanks for being our connector and for all you do!!