Favorite Things to LOVE about Arizona

I just got back from again visiting Arizona. This time around I was in both Tucson and the Phoenix areas. I got to meet my parents and two younger brothers down there, watch lots of baseball, see family, and explore. What could be better than that?! We had a blast! SO, this gave me an idea for a blog post... and lots more postings to come. The "top" reasons to love (or hate, I suppose) a certain place! This one is allll about Arizona! So, if you haven't been... or have, and want to see why I love it too- read on! If you have other reasons why YOU love it- please share! :)

The weather. Of course, the weather. I LOVE the weather. It is hot in the summer... no doubt. But...the sun almost always shines, the sky is almost always blue... and, "it's a dry heat"! :) So, you can stay inside for heat, or you can stay inside for freezing cold winter's. I'd take the heat any day!

Mexican food. GOOD Mexican food. Being so close to the Mexico border... there is never a shortage of great, authentic, Mexican food. We stopped by Filibertos this time around, which, I must say... has absolutely amazing carne asada burritos. I've been there before, on other trips, and always love to go back. In Tucson, a local recommended Casa Del Rio Mexican Restaurant, and it really did have great salsa. I had a carne asada taco, and the rest of my family had chimichanga's... which they loved. Moral of the story- if you're in AZ, you must eat some great Mexican food!

The desert. If you're from about anywhere else... you don't see this every day. The cacti, rocks, and the mystery of whats "out there" in the desert.... it's simply wonderful!

The ambiance/atmosphere/mood/tone. It has all the hustle and bustle of a big city (well, if you're in one of the bigger places, of course), but somehow the "aura" of Arizona seems so peaceful... so charming... so much like you just want to breathe in deep and smile. It feels, to me, like the feel of a vacation. Just nice, warm, comforting, peaceful.

The Grand Canyon. Of course.

The sunsets. Also, I may as well include... the mornings. I love love love love the mornings in Arizona, when the sun is rising and it's cool out and it just seems so "fresh". Then, the night comes, and it makes me smile just thinking about the sunsets in AZ. They are spectacular... in all their glory, they just seem to be some of the most amazing ones I've seen. 

Diversity. In about everything. Sports, restaurants, people, climate, landscape... it just seems like there is a little of everything. You have the Phoenix snowbirds... then the horse rancher... then the rich Scottsdale businessman... then the tourists... mmmhmm... so nice.


Arizona... so endearing. Mmmm. I wanna go back now!!

So... what'd I miss? What do YOU love about Arizona? (More "places" to come!)

These are a FEW of My Favorite Things!

So... I love a lot of things. I mean, lets be honest... I do. So... I thought I would share a few of these things with you!! Whether you're looking for a gift, or something for yourself- I'm full of good ideas! :)

Black High Heels. For something that will never go out of style, you can wear with about anything, and it always makes you feel good? The classic black heel.

Silicone Scone Pan I got this pan for Christmas 2010 (Thanks, Deb!), and truly love it. I use it for chocolate chip scones, but it can also be used for little cakes, or corn bread! Doesn't require cooking spray, and when they're done... they fall right out! So easy.
This movie...Love & Other Drugs. I. LOVE. IT. Sooo good! A dramatic romantic comedy... that brings tears!

Better Homes and Gardens New Cook Book Such a classic, good cookbook. Recipes for the advanced cook, but all the small details, measurements, and helpful pictures for the beginner starting out!

Peony Full Blossom Pink Stems Peonies are my favorite flowers. I think they look so charming. And, speaking of... like an old soul would love. These seem so vintage to me, and smell great to boot!

Dunkin' Donuts Ground Coffee, Cinnamon Spice I make coffee daily at home. Okay, unless it's on my Starbucks day. But, regardless, this Dunkin' Donuts coffee that I make is my FAVORITE! I'm usually not a fan of flavored coffees, but this one is amazing. The scent of it brewing, and in my cup, I could smell all day long. It is a little spicy, but with sweet coffee aromas and flavors. Mmmmm. I think I'll go make a cup now! :)

Canon PowerShot Digital Camera Canon camera's are my favorite for every day use. They are easy to use, pretty universal, and do a great job of taking photo's.

Floursack Towels My mom gave me some of these a couple Christmas's ago.. '
and I cannot say enough good things about them. They are thin and lightweight, but dry your dishes SO amazingly.

I have many more favorites (of course!)... so, more to come again soon!

New BEDROOM Set Furniture!!! I Just HAVE To Show You!

I just recently... two days ago as a matter of fact... got a new bedroom set! I absolutely LOVE it!!! We searched high and low for a "perfect one"... and I couldn't be more thrilled! Bench for foot of bed is still to come! :) My kitchen barstools match the bench... and my dining table match it all as well! SO pretty! So... if you're in the market, I'd highly suggest checking this one out!

It is Ashley Furniture brand, Rowley Creek "style".

Rowley Creek Poster Canopy Bed

Black "Old World" Style poster bed.

Two matching nightstands perfectly bring the whole look of the room together.

Rowley Creek Nightstand

Rowley Creek Dresser by Ashley Furniture

I LOVE the size of this dresser, the black felt- lined top drawers, and the coordinating wood top and mirror. The mirror also has a three-way "touch" light!

Chest w/ Door by Ashley - Black

The chest of drawers is sooo pretty. It stands taller than a normal one, which I like! The left side has a door that opens to move shelves! So much storage.

Rowley Creek Poster Bed by Ashley Furniture

So... here it is! More decorating of the room to come! :) So far, sticking with the "Old World Style", the golden tone of the walls, and shimmery taupe-y bedding, with the white silk curtains, bring the style out- accentuating the bed set!

My Kitchen Bar-stools:  

My Dining Room Table

Think About It!

The great acts of love are done by those who are habitually performing small acts of kindness.

This quote... when you think about it.... makes a lot sense, huh? How true!

RELATIONSHIP Section- 50 "Best" Pickup Lines, Hilarious, Dumb, and Maybe A Few That Work? :)

You know those funny pick-up lines you hear in movies, or... if you're the unlucky one (haha), in a bar?? Here are the TOP 50 to get you laughing, thinking, or... coming up with ones of your own to use?? We can only hope. (sarcasm!) Not that we are encouraging them, trust me!

1. I was so enchanted by your beauty that I ran into that wall over there. So I am going to need your name and number for insurance purposes.
2. You must work at Subway, 'cause you just gave me a footlong.
3. Does this rag smell like chloroform to you?
4. Can I even get a fake number?
5. I wish you were DSL so I could get high-speed access.
6. I'm not drunk, I'm just intoxicated by you.
7. Go up to a girl and say "Hi! My name is Haywood Jablomee.
8. You're so beautiful that you made me forget my pickup line.
9. If beauty were time, you'd be eternity.   
10. If I were a stop light, I'd turn red every time you passed by, just so I could stare at you a bit longer.   
11. Damn, if being sexy was a crime, you'd be guilty as charged!
12. I may not be a genie but I can make your dreams come true. 
13. You shouldn't wear makeup. It's messing with perfection!
14. My magical watch says you aren't wearing any panties. Oh, you are? It must be an hour fast!
15. Are you a magnet? Because I'm attracted to you!
16. Babe, your beauty makes the morning sun look like the dull glimmer of the moon.
17. You must wash your clothes with Windex... because I can see myself in your pants!
18. Can I have directions? (To where?) To your heart.
19. Should I call you, or nudge you?
20. Is there an airport nearby or is that just my heart taking off? 
21. Fat penguin (What!?) I just wanted to say something that would break the ice!
22. Do you have a BandAid? I just scraped my knee falling for you.   
23. For a moment I thought I had died and gone to heaven. Now I see that I am alive, and heaven has been brought to me.
24. Hi. Do you want to have my children? (No.) Okay, we can just practice.
25. I know its not Christmas, but Santa's lap is always ready.
26. If a thousand painters worked for a thousand years, they could not create a work of art as beautiful as you.
27. That's a nice shirt. Can I talk you out of it?
28. You'd better direct that beauty somewhere else, you'll set the carpet on fire.
29. There isn't a word in the dictionary for how good you look.
30. Fascinating. I've been looking at your eyes all night long, because I've never seen such dark eyes with so much light in them.
31. Baby your like a student and I am like a math book, you solve all my problems.
32. If I had a star for every time you brightened my day, I'd have a galaxy in my hand.
33. If you're going to regret this in the morning, we can sleep until the afternoon.
34. If I received a nickel for everytime I saw someone as beautiful as you, I'd have five cents.  
35. You look cold. Want to use me as a blanket? 
36. I was wondering if you had an extra heart mine seems to have been stolen.  
37. Sorry, but you owe me a drink. (Why?) Because when I looked at you, I dropped mine. 
38. Your body is a wonderland and I want to be Alice.
39. Do you have a map? I'm getting lost in your eyes.If this bar is a meat market, you must be the prime rib.
40. Most people like to watch the Olympics, because they only happen once every 4 years, but I'd rather talk to you cause the chance of meeting someone so special only happens once in a lifetime.
41. When I'm older, I'll look back at all of my crowning memories, and I'll think of the day my children were born, the day I got married, and the day that I met you.
42. If you were a booger I'd pick you first.
43. Do you want to go to breakfast?" (Sure)
44. You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams
45. Me without you is like a nerd without braces, a shoe without laces, aSentenceWithoutSpaces.
46. I'm a thief, and I'm here to steal your heart.
47. Do you work for UPS? Because I could've sworn I caught you checking out my package.
48. I'm not drunk, I'm just intoxicated by you.
49. The body is made up of 90percent water, and I'm thirsty.
50. You know what? Your eyes are the same color as my Porsche.

The BEST Frosting... EVER.

OHMYGOODNESS!!!
When making a Red Velvet Cake this past Valentine's Day, I was in desperate search of a GREAT frosting recipe. I'm not a fan of much frosting... and I know there's a certain kind that would go well with Red Velvet Cake...and... low and behold, I stumbled upon this AMAZING frosting recipe from ThePioneerWoman's website. I just used it AGAIN, yesterday, to make a delicious chocolate birthday cake!

Really... this frosting is THE BEST. It is light, creamy, buttery, rich (but in a good I-want-to-eat-the-whole-thing kind of way!), and perfect. Yumyumyumyumyum.

Do I have your attention, now, on how good this really is?! You MUST try!

The BEST Frosting... EVER.

Ingredients:

• 5 Tablespoons Flour
• 1 cup Milk
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 1 cup Butter
• 1 cup Granulated Sugar (not Powdered Sugar!)

Directions:
Bake your favorite chocolate cake and let it cool.

In a small saucepan, whisk flour into milk and heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens. You want it to be very thick, thicker than cake mix, more like a brownie mix is. Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature. (If I’m in a hurry, I place the saucepan over ice in the sink for about 10 minutes or so until the mixture cools.)

It must be completely cool before you use it in the next step. Stir in vanilla.

While the mixture is cooling, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. You don’t want any sugar graininess left. Then add the completely cooled milk/flour/vanilla mixture and beat the living daylights out of it. If it looks separated, you haven’t beaten it enough! Beat it until it all combines and resembles whipped cream.

Grab a spoon and taste this wonderful goodness. If you can manage NOT to eat the whole thing... spread it on a cooled chocolate cake.

Cut yourself a piece and put it on a pretty plate. Grab a fork and prepare to experience the most divine pairing you can imagine. This frosting on chocolate cake is to die for.

Try it, you’ll see. You’ll love it so much you won’t go back.

 Try it... and let me know what you think!!

Marriage Toothpast Quote

So... I ran across this VERY interesting passage/quote today, and I thought I'd pass it along to all of you that are married or in a living-together relationship. Here it is!

Marriage is hard work, especially when it is new. Who would have ever thought that squeezing the toothpaste tube in the middle could cause such a stir? If you can get over the little problems in life, you will have the foundation of a strong marriage. 

Patience and perseverance are required.

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