Prescott Tour: Cuppers

As a two year Arizona native, I'm a little embarrassed to admit that I haven't taken the time to visit a few of the state's most popular destinations. Namely, Prescott and Tucson. Thankfully, my mama is always game to travel around the state and experience new things on her vacations, so we made the trek up to Prescott on Saturday.

Naturally, our first stop was a coffee shop. After some quick yelp research, we decided that Cuppers was the best place to go and set off on foot in search of the bright red overhang. On the journey, we stumbled on a full fledged weekend fair, some hottie firemen, and what seemed like the entire town bustling around the court house eating picnics and soaking in the beautiful sun. I felt a little like we had teleported to Stars Hallow and no one told me.

It was pretty adorable and homey on the inside. We sat down at a table topped with postcards from someone's world travels, and planned out the rest of our day. Our plans included lunch at a yelp-approved restaurant, antiquing, hottie fireman oogling, and checking out the fair. All in a days work.

I mean, right? Also, I've got to get my hands on those posters. 

A great success. We cheers-ed our mexican chocolate americanos and felt caffeinated enough to take on the day. It was great! I'd definitely stop by again the next time I'm in town. 

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The Study of Light with Arrow & Apple

Something fun to share on le blog today! My good friend & oh so talented photographer, Sarah Rhodes, of Arrow & Apple, has started offering a fantastic e-course: The Study of Light. The topics will cover the ins and outs of lighting to improve your photography, which is high on my list of blog must-dos. For all us 8-5 "night bloggers" lighting is a huge issue! The eight week course will cover everything from tools for the best lighting, at-home lighting studios, the best ways to use natural light, reflectors, and all that jazz. Check out her blog for more info, she can tell it better than I can! Until after the course, then I will school you with my knowledge.

For beginners, intermediates, or even past photography minors who haven't given a second thought to actually trying to take nice photos since graduation (SO GUILTY), this class is for you.

You may even see a familiar face in one section of lessons. I'll give you two guesses who. (Ok if your first guess is ms. elsie, I don't blame you. She's WAY cooler than me. But I'm in it too!)

AND even better, since Sarah loves you all, she's giving a 10% discount using the code: friend10

Let me know if you decide to sign up! I'll be taking the class, and would love to discuss progress with fellow classmates.

Have a fab Thursday people!

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{Crawfish Boil}

The last of my new orleans photos that I'll be sharing on the blog are a bit of a mixed bag, which I've dumped into one post (kind of like a certain seafood, veggie, spicy boiled dinner item - clever, I know). Quick snapshots of some of the big highlights on the trip. As sad as I am that this trip is over, taking the time to revisit each day and each memory has made my time in the south much more special.

It's definitely hard to narrow it down, but I have to say that Commanders Palace was the best experience of the entire trip. Kenz surprised Devin & I, making reservations for the restaurant's famous brunch more than a month before our trip. Three full courses, mimosas & bellinis, live jazz sang at our table, personal waiters who lowered each dish in a clearly rehearsed theatrical manner, a maître d' who insists on escorting women to the restroom with linked arms, pale blue searsucker suits and loud southern accents...that morning was incredible, and I'll never forget it. Thank you times a million kenz.

{my future house}

{a southern delicacy}

{drive-thru shrimp po boy stand & a louisiana sunset}

{Jackson Square - the site of our psychic readings}

{daiquiris & putting our toes in the river}

  {my first experience eating baby lobsters crawfish, the only veggie on the menu (fried cauliflower?), and red beans & rice. A true southern meal)

 Take me back.

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{Summer Days}

This is the first year since I've graduated that I can feel the ache of summer vacation slowly trickling back into my thoughts. I can imagine the warm sun on my face and chilly breeze while boating on Lake Washington, fighting the urge to put on a sweater since it was supposed to be summer, and supposed to be hot. I crave BBQs during this time of year, sweet watermelon balls, corn on the cob stuck in all of the crevices between my teeth, and the smell of fire crackling beneath my toasting marshmallow. The miss feeling you get when you check the time and it's already past 8 p.m. and the sun is still setting, it's like you've been given the gift of a few additional hours to spend with friends. Summer brings a feeling of love in the air, not the passionate and all consuming love felt during Christmas time, but a light almost bubbly happiness shared with friends, family and loved ones that is hard to replicate.

I wonder if I every truly appreciated these days and feelings growing up. Sleeping in until the sun wakes you up, moving slow in the mornings and plotting your pool-hopping plan of attack for the day. The funniest part is my memory of summertime is such a cliche memory. I can't specifically imagine a time where day after day I spent floating in a pool or boating, being lazy without a care in the world and wasting hours staying up with friends. It's almost as if I've picked out the most special memories of years past, and combined them to make one amazing memory that I cling to and hope for during this time each year. 

This year I've promised myself to care less about chores on weekends and more about laying in the pool. To read more on the patio, and to stop fighting the 2 p.m. urge to nap. To take more day trips and spend less time indoors. To stay up too late on Saturday & Sunday and feel truly fulfilled upon returning to work Monday morning. With that comes the idea of a summer bucket list, which I'd like to put together soon. 

What will be on your summer 2012 bucket list?

{Kids at Heart}

Chris and I woke up Saturday morning and realized that our free passes to Six Flags were going to expire at the end of the year. So after contemplating what we should do about it for 5 whole minutes, we decided to take a roadtrip to California. We are not ones to waste out on free fun, or rollercoasters for that matter.

Plus there was a big bonus, we got to say goodbye to our good friend Sarah who is leaving on a grand adventure to work in Atlanta for the next six months. We stayed at her house with our other good friend Dani, played a hilarious game of Catch Phrase & got breakfast in Laguna Beach. A short but wonderful visit!

Roadtrips are always an adventure with the two of us. I co-pilot horribly (I can't help but get distracted on my phone...or nintendo.), but someone gets car sick and has to drive. I'm convinced he'd be equally as bad at reading the GPS, I just haven't had the opportunity to prove it.

Word to the wise, visit Six Flags in December - it's empty. There was seriously no one at the park, and we walked right up to almost every single ride! We road every extreme/thriller/maximum fun roller coaster the park had to offer, and did it in 3 hours.

I think X2 was my favorite, with Tatsu and Goliath coming in a close second. No concussions were sustained, although we both left feeling a little queasy. Back again in Phoenix, I can't believe what a fun weekend we had and I'm sad it's already over!

{Siblings}

As an only child, I've always had a bit of jealousy for those with brothers & sisters. Growing up, people always insisted I had the best situation, having my parents all to myself, but I dreamt of constant playing companions and built-in best friends. I will admit I have fabulous relationship with them both my mom and dad, and I'm not sure if we'd be as close had any other babies had entered the picture.

With my mom and her brother both in town for Thanksgiving, it was funny to see how similar they are. They both have similar witty jokes, say the same things during conversations, and even have the same mannerisms, despite being almost 10 years apart in age. We spent an afternoon at Queen Creek Olive Mill, for lunch and a tour (which we ended up missing because we talked for too long).

As Arizona's only working olive farm & mill, the place certainly has a cult following. A wonderful trip out for visitors, you can find their products in most specialty shops around the state, as well as public markets.

On location there is a gourmet marketplace, which houses the mill's restaurant, del Piero. Their famous sandwich, The Kalamata, has been featured on the Food Network...so obviously I had to try it. Split with my mama, we also had the greek salad.

Seriously pretty food. 

Back indoors, the marketplace offers an incredible selection of their olive oils, local and imported wines, gifts, an olive bar and beauty section. They'll ship pretty much anything too, in case you're an out of towner!

Photo overload, but I couldn't help it. The grounds are so beautiful, I couldn't help but mentally plan parties around the long tables, with twinkle lights swaying from the olive trees. Dreamy!

If it wasn't so far away, I'd be back more often!

{Sweet Republic Date Night}

Apparently over the last few days & nights I've decided to completely ignore my nice camera, and leave it sitting on the counter as I go rushing out the door. Blast. Thank goodness for my iPhone, so I don't completely loose out on all my memories!

Chris took me on a surprise sushi date (swoon.) and after we stumbled on Sweet Republic ice cream. It's been on my AZ bucket list for quite a while, and every time I hear the sweet treat shop receive a mention in the press I make a mental note to get out there! It's a bit of a drive from my house, and I never would have expected to find it so suddenly!

With 24 different flavors of ice cream, sorbet & froyo like honey blue cheese, banana foster, sweet corn and brownie swirl, it took me FOREVER to decide what I wanted. 

The boyfriend settled on a double scoop of coconut ice cream. It was good, but I probably won't ever order it again. I think he agreed. (We're super snobby about our coconut after eating strictly coconut gelato in Europe last summer!)

I got the salted butter caramel. Hoooolllyyyy it was so good! I near licked the bottom of the cup even though I was already stuffed from sushi. Seriously, I've got to go back soon. I also spotted ice cream sandwiches with cookies made in the shop for sale! Mmmm.

Whoever started the salted caramel trend out there, I'm eternally grateful. 

{Weekending: Summer Edition}

This past weekend couldn't have been a better example of how I like to spend days off in the summertime. Fun events mixed with a few easy errands (Target is ALWAYS a win. not a chore), baking, laying by the pool bronzing, and time spent with good friends. 

Friday Chris and I marked another box off the bucket list, by heading to the Diamondbacks game. We had good seats, crazy cheap beers (in comparison to Safeco Field in Seattle!), and watched as the Dbacks lost. 

It didn't matter though, it was just as fun to watch all of the crazy LA Dodgers fans in their masks & capes, shouting one-liners and picking fights with the Dbacks fans. Oh the sportsmanship. After, we met some coworkerfriends for drinks & dinner at Bliss/reBAR, ate soft tacos, so good pretzel bread and a Philly cheesesteak.

The weekend was filled with delicious fresh fruit, which made an excellent topping for my early morning Eggo waffle breakfast on Saturday. I almost felt like I should turn on some cartoons to complete a perfect kid morning.

BBQing at a friend's new house "forced" me to go to Trader Joe's to pick out some pretty sunflowers, and to taste test their featured summer white wines. Green Fin chardonnay was the winner, which I definitely recommend for a hot afternoon! Once at the house we dined on amazing grilled chicken & kabobs, pasta salad and super flavorful local corn. Then we played with their new Kinect for the rest of the evening, laughing at our poor zumba salsa skills, my awesome athletic abilities & how silly everyone looks while playing. Incredibly fun!

For dessert I made Martha Stewart's peach crumble from her July/Aug Everyday Food issue. It was so delicious, and easy! Served a la mode with some vanilla bean ice cream.

Sunday the boyfriend and I watched the women's world cup, saw Horrible Bosses (which I was kinda disappointed by), rented Just Go with It (loved it - cheesy but funny), and made small jumps forward on our Switzerland travel plans.

I loved this weekend. Planning to repeat again soon!