Tag Archives: arizona

lil beasts

Posted by

0

crossfit

hey there AZ parents of littles!  you know how it is already 100 degrees out?  you know how you are already looking for something fun for your kiddos to do to beat the heat?  you know how summer is almost here and it is going to be even hotter than it already is and you will be desperately searching for something fun and healthy and different for your kids to do since you will be officially bored of going to the pool everyday and pretending that the water is cool and refreshing instead of feeling like lukewarm bathwater?  you know what i mean.

well, my dear friend hallie is a rockstar crossfitter and she recently sent me a flyer from her local crossfit.  they are having a summer camp for kids you guys!  such a fun and fresh way to keep your kids active this summer.  crossfit scottsdale will be hosting a lil beasts summer camp this june and july {um, this looks pretty great.  can parents attend too?  what if i am as short as a child?  no?  okay.  sigh} and pre-registration is already underway.  so, what are you waiting for?

if you live around these parts and have littles…do it.  i am sure they will have a blast and {if i know anything about crossfit…} will probably come home able to deadlift or clean-and-jerk or squat {insert other cool crossfit lingo here} a highchair or industrial tire or vw beetle or other such amazingness.

crossfitscottsdale.com

vinyl + dogs

Posted by

1

this past saturday was record store day.  just imagine thousands of hipsters all around the country gathering at local record stores to pick through piles and vinyl.  fabulous, right?  we have had our eye on a few records and figured that this would be the perfect day to hunt.  and vinyl snobs need to eat…so what better than a food truck?  a hot dog food truck.  oh, it was really something.

new and old music in hand, we strolled over to the short leash truck for some dogs.  some SERIOUS dogs.  we selected “the bear” {see menu below for ingredients.  and get ready for your mind to be blown and your tastebuds to be envious} and savored every. single. bite.  not gonna lie, i probably could have downed another…but, you know, restraint.  nah, just kidding.  i stopped at one because we were busy heading over to the dessert truck for a pecan tart and chocolate eclair.  go us.

photo 3 photo 2 photo 6 photo 4 photo 5 photo 1

vitamin D overdose

Posted by

0

photo

it is officially sunshiney time in arizona.  yes, indeedy-do.  and that is my sad little sunburned face.  pink forehead.  red lips.  melasma cheeks {thank you residual pregnancy hormones}  looking good lady, looking good.

this past saturday morning, i decided that i would take advantage of the gorgeous weather and go on an extended run.  elinor was enjoying her heavy morning nap.  and my sweet hubby was kind enough to hold down the fort so i could get some one-on-one time with the pavement.  it was glorious.  sunshine.  cool breeze.  vibrant blossoms.  springtime scents.  it was prefect.  and 11 miles later, my legs were starting to get heavy and it was feeling really good with that runner’s high and all.  plus, i had worked up a nice, cleansing sweat and soaked up some vitamin D.

oh, but silly me. i forgot that when you haven’t really soaked up any serious rays in months and months and months, anything longer than an hour in the sunshine will inevitable crisp you up pretty good.  desert sun, you don’t mess around.  and now, thanks to my lack of spf-ing, i have a super cool v-neck tan line AND a band on my left arm where my iPod was strapped on.  so, i kind of look like i’m rocking a red and white body chevron pattern.  nice.

just do it • is it in you • i’m loving it

Posted by

0

jdi3

hiking

before it becomes all blistering and oven-like around here, i want to take advantage of the splendor of the desert and spend some time enjoying the scenery of the trail.

iiiy3

olive oil cake from the forest feast

i am most definitely going to find an excuse to make this.  a sunday afternoon is a good enough reason, right?  right.

ili3

a dark accent wall

you’ve done it again, design*sponge.  i need to do this.  love the clean contrast,

mr & mrs whitehaüs at the brat haüs

Posted by

0

this place has been on our list for a few months now.  so when my sister gave me a dinner double-date night for my birthday, the brat haüs was my first pick.  i mean, you can’t go wrong with brats, fries, and pretzels, right?  right.  it was quite scrumptious.  so get ready to see more and more of these tasty links appearing on the blog.  i have a feeling that we will be visiting this establishment on a regular basis.

try not to drool…

the haüs.  so cool + food & brew menu [or, "bru", as they call it] + hubby’s beverage + a half-eaten pretzel.  the pretzels also came with assorted mustards and a beer-cheese fondue…but we all kinda jumped in before a formal picture could be taken + okay.  seriously.  the best fries i have ever eaten.  these are the winners by far.  belgian style [the homeland of the fry] which means that they are “thrice fried” in duck fat.  duck fat is the best.  PLUS, they come with gourmet dipping sauces.  we chose homemade dill ranch, bacon bleu cheese, sriracha aioli, and truffle aioli. + spicy sausage with hot peppers and root beer onions + my selection for the evening…turkey, apple, sage sausage with apricot onion chutney + my beverage of choice…arizona date shake.

snaps & snippets & blurbs

Posted by

1

happy monday!  hubby and i feel mighty refreshed a ready to jump into a new week.  we spent the weekend enjoying some tasty grub, watching movies, hanging with family, puttering around the house [as my mom would say], and celebrating palm sunday as we prepare for holy week.  so many great moments together.

a friday date night at cb&cb + the crazy good menu chock full of cheesy deliciousness + a tall glass of icy water was in order to combat the increasing az heat + my prime dip…oh my + hubby’s o-lineman burger which consists of two patties smooshed together with cheese, sandwiched between two grilled cheese sandwiches [yes, it is extreme, but it was a gastronomical experience that could not be turned down] + a peak inside the yumminess + a scrumptious breakfast smoothie that feels like such a splurge!  greek yogurt, coconut milk, protein powder, a few little squares of super dark chocolate, and plenty of cherries and blueberries.  so frosty and amazing! + the buddies watching my week with marilyn.  they too were quite enamored with miss monroe + our movie watching snack…sparkling ginger ale with prickly pear juice & freshly popped corn with a splash of butter and a sprinkling of white cheddar powder + our sunday morning drive to church for a palm sunday celebration.  we had a guest speaker who is a wheaton college prof and an oxford c.s. lewis scholar. [dream job] can you imagine steeping your mind in the deep waters of c.s. lewis for a living?  so cool.

this was a good one indeed.

the saturday evening post

Posted by

0

can you believe it is almost april?  what is happening folks?  wasn’t it just christmas?  jeepers.

also, it is 90 degrees here.  ninety.  nothing much more to say about that…

hubby and i went out to a totally crazy dinner last night at cb&cb [cold beers & cheeseburger].  it was everything that we dreamed it would be…lots of meat and cheese and toppings and fries.  so good.  i took plenty of snaps of the glorious food and our extreme happiness while consuming said food.  these pics will appear on the blog on monday but keep in mind that if you are the kind of person who enjoys instant gratification…you can follow our adventures on instagram. snap by snap.  find us @swankyanddapper.

in addition to the fun dinner outings, we will mostly stick to our weekend usual – groceries, a good long run, a saturday morning coffee run, church, spending time with family, and just take it easy.  doesn’t get much better than that.

the casablancas at blanco

Posted by

0

ben & rachel whitehouse took a little trip to blanco tacos + tequila.  it is another favorite of ours.  bustling atmosphere.  perfect chips and salsa (not too much cilantro!  cilantro, yuck).  clean and flavorful food.  this place is so good.  plus, because we live in a lovely climate, the front of the restaurant has these garage doors that roll up and stay open about 95% of the year.  this makes for a breezy and al fresco-esque dining experience.  so nice. and boy oh boy, did we munch on some tasty grub.

driving to date night…so happy to spend time with my hubby enjoying some modern mexican fare in this casual-chic setting + ahhh…there she is + super cool decor with the most fantastic mosaic tile wall! + my handsome hubby + eagerly awaiting our entrees + the menu + oh-so-good chips and salsa [bottomless!] + baja chicken tacos with grilled onions and peppers, shredded cabbage, and cotija cheese…with a side of black beans and buttered rice

…

it was a good night.  i love dates.

snaps & snippets & blurbs

Posted by

1

a warm welcome to a new week!  hubby and i had a simply splendid weekend together.  here are a few little snaps…

waiting for the baroque concert to begin + my handsome and remarkably talented hubby leading those strings while the youth soloists are featured + a post-concert splurge at jalapeño inferno + we split some queso and mini chimis…it really hit the spot as our evening snack :) + my current obsession in a cup…32oz iced decaf americano from coffee bean and tea leaf.  big coffee flavor in a huge cup with heaps of tiny ice cubes.  i can already tell that this will be my go-to summer beverage.  it was lovely to sip on our 80-something days…and will be even more refreshing when it is 120 outside [eek] + weekend breakfast snapshots…harissa eggs with gluten-free bagels [a guilt free indulgence] and savory sweet potato hash + charlie’s adorable face…he likes to sit as close to me as possible + driving around town on a warm spring day, just me and my man

spring has sprung

Posted by

2

it’s here!  it’s here!  it’s officially here! and the signs are everywhere…

this spring i want to spend more time in the fresh air of the outdoors, have more fresh flowers in the house, and try some fresh recipes that incorporate springtime ingredients.  what are your fresh ideas for spring?