Showing posts with label Phoenix. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Phoenix. Show all posts

arizona.


Can you believe it's been six months since I've been back to Phoenix?!
Crazy!
I went back at the end of September, because my best cousin was getting married.
She really was the prettiest bride, ever.
Just wait for the photos!
It was a nice excuse to make a mini vacation and see my family and friends again. 
The first day my mom picked my up bright and early..
oh and I have someone new to introduce you to!
She had my new baby brother Jack along with her at the airport,
and let me tell you how stinking cute this little two pound pup is!
Seriously melts my heart looking at him. 
ADORABLE. PUPPY.
Then the three of us had brunch at Arcadia Farms.
It was sweet soaking up the sun on the patio,
catching up with my mom,
and having each and every person who walked by ooh and awe at Jack!
My mom ordered a blueberry crepe, and somehow Jack managed to sneak a lick..
and ended up with a bright blue beard, and I was dying laughing.
As my mom was panicking that it wasn't going to come out!
Thankfully, it did. 
We then made our way to the Scottsdale Mall.
I had been totally looking forward to shopping.
Love the midwest, but when it comes to fashion, we're like a year behind.
I snagged an Anthro dress on sale and had the best time picking out presents for the newlyweds!
Then we went back home so I could take a little cat nap.
My flight was at 4 AM.. so I was a little slap happy and sleepy!
That night my dad {who I hadn't seen in 6 months..!} took me out to my favorite restaurant {Pita Jungle} and then we grabbed pedi's together.
Real pops take their daughters to get their nails done. ;)
Kidding!
He would KILL me if he knew I was writing about this hahhaha. 
We then picked up the kiddos and went to the bowling alley.
Which then turned into playing arcade games and laser tag instead-
I seriously had a blast playing laser tag {won twice, woot woot} and felt like such a kid.
I highly recommend playing laser tag on a week night {so no one else is there} with you family.
It's hilarious, completive and actually a good workout. I was so out of breath at the end!
Sad.
I ended the night staying up late with my bestie Charlcie and catching up on everything under the sun.
I miss that girl!
No one makes you laugh as hard as she does.
Never a dull moment with her!
Crossing my fingers we'll be back next year so we can have more nights like that!
Anywho, day one was killer. 








Day two:
Coffee with my awesome mother in law.
Love, love love catching up with her.
Driving around sketchy Mesa trying to find sparklers for the wedding..
with my mom, two kiddos, myself, and a pup.
Hilarious. 
Driving to Cali for the wedding. 
Putting together flower arrangements,
visiting family,
and eating lots of Mexican food. 

Day three:
WEDDING DAY!
It went bye in a flash.
So much fun.
Absolutely gorgeous. 
And picture perfect.
The dance floor was a riot,
and everyone had a blast. 
She said she wanted to look like Carrie Underwood, and I love Carrie, but Ash you looked a million times better!
Barbie bride! 
I couldn't be happier for Mr. and Mrs. White,
they were certainly made for one another!
Best wishes, you love birds!

She's like my sister. 
Gotta love a good photo bomber..NOT. Ash still looked stunning though! 
That dress was EVERYTHING.
Real life Barbie, I tell ya!
And then boo boo fell asleep on my lap and it was the sweetest thing ever. Love this little one so dang much. 
I LOVED those letters!
Day Four:
We met the newlyweds for breakfast,
said our sad goodbyes
and I headed back to AZ with my mom and Jack.
We spend the rest of the night together, which was awesome. 
The weather was seriously so nice.
Fall in AZ is perfect. 
We took the pup to the dog park for the first time.
It was the cutest thing ever to see him hoping {he doesn't run} with the other dogs in the "shy section" of the park. 
Then we went and ate Chipotle on the patio and walked around the outdoor mall with him while snacking on Gelato.
I really cherish nights like those.
And pray like crazy we get on the Phoenix track so we can be closer to our families and have more days like that. 
Okay no more talking about it or it'll make me sad. 


Like he's TOO CUTE!


Final Day:
Charlcie was awesome and picked me up in the morning with a BoSa donut in hand!
Only true BFF's do that. 
We went shopping at Anthro and target {typical},
and then met up with the rest of the girls at Pita Jungle,
yes again. 
I swear I laugh so much around them.
The sweetest friends I have!
It's crazy how we're all growing up, out of college and starting little lives as real adults.
Reason number 2395406847267 I hope we get to move back there. 
No one can replace your true girlfriends. 
Zak's mom then picked me up and took me to the airport-
ugh didn't want to leave. 
But guess what?!
Both my parents had to work that day..
and I didn't realize my flight left at 3 in the afternoon so it was going to be impossible for them to see me off.
That is, until I saw my pop in the terminal in his work clothes ready to say bye before I left.
The airport was empty for once, so we got to sit and talk for over an hour,
which I'm so grateful for!
Living away from your parents and family makes you seriously hold on to simple times like that,
and thank the Lord for time together. 
Goodbyes really suck.
I cry each and every time. 
Saying bye to the kiddos makes my heart heart.
Saying bye to my mom makes me homesick.
Saying bye to my dad makes me sad. 
As I was going through security I had tears running down my face.. and every TSA worker kept saying "I'm so sorry, I see your dad waving, how sweet.. " 
which made me cry even harder. 
Whenever my parents see me off they stay and wave me goodbye until I can't see them any longer..
and it's the hardest thing to not have a mini breakdown in the airport. 
Sounds drastic. 
But going 6 months without seeing them can be really tough.
And I'm done talking about that as I'm starting to tear up.
HAPPY THOUGHTS SIDNEY!!!

Bestest friends, and bridesmaids a girl could ask for, 



Anywho,
sorry for the novel.
I'm playing catch up and writing out my feelings.
Oh and trying to ignore the fact that there's Reese's and pumpkin bread staring at me from the kitchen. 
{I'm attempting to eat good, since I've been terrible, oh ever since this little AZ trip.}

Have a Monday people!

xoxo






arizona.

Man oh man. 
My trip to Arizona was great. 
It was well needed and a breath of fresh air. I and don't get me wrong- I missed my man for sure. It was the longest time we've spent apart {married, that is}. Every time we were together as a family someone would say, "I wish Zak was here too." 
It was really weird being in Arizona without him.

I have got to say that Arizona Octobers are simply amazing. It's finally when the temperature starts to drop, and you can really enjoy the holiday season {and go outside without having a heatstroke}! I certainly spent most of my time outdoors, soaking up all the sunshine I could get. 

When I got into town I was welcomed by my mom, niece and pup {Romie} at the airport. It was such a heartwarming feeling seeing them after over two months of being gone! I spent the morning with my mom up in Scottsdale, she just landed a new job at Restoration Hardware so she was showing me all around the store. It is beautiful, by the way.
I was oohing and awing over everything!

Afterwards I met up with my best friend over lunch at one of our favorite restaurants, Sauce, and then went shopping. It was so nice to have girl time. We had tons to catch up on. I always love hanging out with my bff.

That night we had a family dinner at my absolute favorite restaurant of all time {I know I know, I ate out A LOT} Pita Jungle. And that's when I also got to see my pop for the first time! If you know me, you know how close I am with my parents, so it was wonderful being with them again. 

On Friday my mom and I took the kiddos to Schnepf Farms. And PS if you have little ones and live in AZ you must take them here, it was the perfect place to celebrate Fall. There was a beautiful pumpkin patch, rides galore, a wittle piggy race and the best chicken chili i've ever had! We certainly had a blast and I'm really thankful we were able to spend the whole day at such a festive place. Afterwards we ended the night with dinner at another favorite spot of mine, Liberty Market.
Too good.

I spent all of Saturday hanging out with my pop. Our first stop was Joes Farm Grill. Yep more eating out {I told you I gorged myself}. Goodness that veggie burger was delish. Afterwards we just went shopping for a little bit and walked around the Santan Mall people watching and enjoying the perfect weather. Later that night we met my mom for sushi at Blue Wasabi and then went to see a sneak peek of Tom Hank's new movie, Captain Phillips. So much suspense packed into one film, it's certainly a nail biter for sure- you gotta go see it.

On Sunday I got up and went running with pop around the new Temple in Gilbert. It's gorgeous! I can't wait to see it finished. So I'm really close with both my parents if you couldn't tell, and
I honestly think them being divorced is what brought me so close to both of them. I had tons of one on one time with my dad growing up, we would always just go hangout and go on little adventures whenever we could. Even all the way through college and after I was married I'd go grab lunch or dinner with him at least once or twice a week. It's kinda crappy having divorced parents, but I have to say that was one blessing that came out of it I suppose. So anyways {sorry for the tangent} it was really nice getting to spend some time with them again.

After our little run I took my niece and nephew to another pumpkin patch and corn maze in the area. But you know what sucks? When you bring your camera, but forget to put the battery in it. Yuck.
 It was great spending time with them though. I swear if you go a week without seeing little ones they grow like weeds! So I was soaking in all our time together.

The rest of Sunday we cooked and had a nice big dinner with our whole family and Zak's momma too. Sunday dinners are just the best really. I miss them most definitely. Monday was pretty special too. I spent the majority of my time with my mom in the kitchen. Ever since we got married i've been trying really hard to take culinary seriously. I mean cooking real recipes and not microwaving Smart Ones. So my mom took me up on my eagerness to learn and taught me how to bake her famous pumpkin bread that's been passed down in our family. Like I said before, it was pretty special. We baked about seven loaves together, laughed about life and of course ate a bunch of {unnecessary} calories.

Now the sad part comes in.
I had to say my goodbyes and then we headed to the airport. Ugh goodbyes never get easier.
We all hugged and cried. And I then I cried a little more as TSA checked my luggage and thought my pumpkin bread loaves {yes I took some home for Zakary} looked suspicious.

I had such an incredible weekend full of family, carbs, pumpkin patches and wonderful new memories.
Thanks Arizona for the sweet time, I'll miss yah dearly.