Happy Birthday {Eve} to my fun, fashionable, creative, sparkly, loving, caring, and oh so sweet friend Disa {the other half of this blog!} I hope your birthday is full of all things good! A great friend and a happy birthday, that is what you are and what I wish for you.
Best wishes for the happiest day filled with love and laughter.
~Happy Birthday~
Surviving the summers here in AZ requires finding recipes that are light and fresh. Anything heavy just makes me feel “uhggg” inside & out! I was browsing some of my fav blogs and came upon this cold cucumber noodle dish-perfect for us desert dwellers!
{recipe and photos courtesy of A House In the Hills}
Ohhhhh my, these noodles are beyond delish! Click HERE for the recipe!
The temperatures are rising here in AZ, it’s about to get HOT, HOT, HOT! Because there is no escaping the heat we must think of ways to stay cool-and what better way then a cold beverage! We have found some super fun ways to make flavored ice cubes-not only are they a cute little addition to our drink’s, but they also add a lot of flavor!
Cucumber-Basil, Orange-Lime, Lemonade-Raspberry
These “keep-cool cubes” are small on effort but huge on impact! We can’t wait to make our drinks a bit more festive as we lounge by the pool! Martha Stewart says it best when she says “Don’t sweat the rising temperatures. Just drop one of these fruit-infused ice cubes into a tall glass of water, and watch the heat melt away!”
We’ve got another great find in the heart of Phoenix and this one is oh, so SWEET! Have you heard of this place? Sweet Salvage. If not, and you are a lover of all things home decor like I am, this is the perfect shopping event for you. Once a month for 4 days only Sweet Salvage opens its doors to the public for an amazing shopping experience.
Each month they pull together vintage (and some new) items focused around a central theme. No two months are the same. They are open the 3rd Thursday of each month until Sunday…which means friends, they open TOMORROW!
If you want to be a part of the buzz finding that perfect vintage, industrial, one of a kind item for your home, this is the place to be. Sweet Salvage has made a name for themselves in the Valley as THE place to be every third Thursday. In fact, Thursday can be so chaotic, you may want to make your first visit on Friday or Saturday after the die-hards have come and gone.
Here’s just a tidbit of what you’ll find: unique & one of a kind furniture, frames, chandeliers, cool old lockers, books and more. And, to sweeten the pot, this yard-sale like event is filled with a staff of super friendly employees that are oh-so helpful.
Here’s the important stuff!
Always the 3rd Thursday – Sunday
May 16th-May 19th
Thursday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Friday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.4648 N. 7th Avenue
This Sunday is a day to celebrate all of us moms! Here are a few things “summer” inspired that we know any mom would love!
H2O is a must in the summer-mom will love this flavor-infusing water bottle!
Did somebody say pool season? One can never have too many bikini’s!
Cover ups are always a favorite-love the crochet detail on this one!
Every mom needs a cute tote to carry all of her sunscreen and magazines in!
If there’s one thing us moms don’t need it’s sunspots on our faces-a new floppy hat will ensure that doesn’t happen!
“GO TASTING WITH YOUR BUDS” {isn’t that cute? get it? tasting with your {taste}buds and your bud{dy}s}. That’s AZ Restaurant Week’s pitch line this year! And it’s almost that time again! If you’re a foodie like we are, you’re surely not going to want to miss out on this spring’s Restaurant week from May 18-27th. Leave the cooking to someone else and head over to that restaurant you’ve been dying to try. And…start lining up some sitters before they’re all busy or headed out to eat themselves.
Never been? This statewide affair gives foodies the chance to explore culinary delights from hidden taco shops and steakhouses to high-end, award-winning white tablecloth eateries.
Here’s the skinny:
WHAT IS AZ RESTAURANT WEEK?
Arizona Restaurant Week is the most edible time of the year, giving local, regional and national food lovers the opportunity to enjoy a prix-fixe dinner for $30 or $40 per person (unless noted: excluding beverages, tax and gratuity) at a number of participating Arizona restaurants. Arizona Restaurant Week’s goal is to position Arizona as one of the top culinary destinations in the nation by increasing awareness of the many dining opportunities available in the state, as well as stimulating business and revenue for restaurants throughout Arizona
WHO PARTICIPATES IN ARIZONA RESTAURANT WEEK?
Many of the finest, most renowned chefs in Arizona will showcase their culinary styles for diners. The event will feature an array of well-known restaurants that will provide unbeatable prices offered during this week only!
DO ATTENDEES NEED A TICKET TO ATTEND THE EVENT?
No tickets are required; however, reservations are highly recommended as restaurants fill up quickly.
WILL THE MENUS VARY?
Yes! Arizona Restaurant Week brings together a variety of diverse culinary menus.
Doesn’t all that sound fab?
So, take the apron off next weekend and go eat your heart out friends! Afterall, you deserve it! {oh, and be sure to make your reservations early…}
Cinco De Mayo is always fun to celebrate , but extra special at our house because it is my husby’s birthday as well! A Cinco De Mayo baby he is! So this year the boys and I thought we would get a little crazy and try and make him a pinata cake! Now I’m going to let you in on a little secret about this husby of mine-he LOVES candy! I always know where he has been because of the candy wrappers left behind! No joke! So I think he is going to be doing back flips when he cuts into his cake and finds a boat load of sweets!
I found this cake on the blog A Subtle Revelry! Click HERE for the recipe! It is so simple and festive-don’t you think?
If your throwing a festive Cinco De Mayo party, or a birthday party like me, this pinata cake is sure to be a crowd pleaser! So, ¡Feliz cumpleaños! to my most wonderful husby, who in all actuality isn’t much of a birthday person at all, and I’m not sure why…it’s your one special day, right? Oh well, luckily I love birthdays so this Cinco De Mayo babe has no way of escaping a fiesta in his honor!
Feliz Cinco De Mayo Friends!
So, let me pre-face this post by saying that my husband and I hardly EVER use our microwave. It’s just not our thing…we’ve read the articles and are wise enough to know that food shouldn’t be “cooked” in a kitchen appliance that heats food by bombarding it with electromagnetic radiation. That being said, there still is a place for it in our house when we are rushed to get water boiling for either instant oatmeal, hot tea, or even hot coca. And, when we are wanting a quick poached egg for breakfast but don’t want to break out the pots and pans and wait over the stove for that “just right” moment to crack the egg in the water and watch over it while it poaches.
After much trial & error, my husband {who is fabulously dandy in the kitchen} has MASTERED the microwaved poached egg. He’s spent a lot of time figuring out how to get it just right so it yields perfect silky, firm whites and runny, warm yolks every time. So here’s how…
To replicate his method:
*MAKE SURE TO USE A FRESH EGG
Fill a coffee mug or teacup with 1/2 cup water.
Put the cup in the microwave for 1 1/2-2 minutes or until the water is boiling.
Remove the cup, place on the counter {preferably next to a sink} and add a number of drops of vinegar {5-7) to the water. Make sure to have the vinegar ready beforehand-either in the vinegar cap or on a spoon. The vinegar is used to help keep the egg bound together in the water.
Using a teaspoon or the back of the slotted spoon, swirl the water in a circular motion vigorously to create a mini-whirlpool. Be mindful and don’t splash the hot water on your hands…it’s boiling hot!
Quickly grab your egg and crack it on a ceramic surface {other than the cup} and gently pull apart the shell with your thumbs releasing the egg right into the whirlpool. Try to get the egg as close to the water before you drop it in.
Put the cup back in the microwave and place a paper napkin over it.
Microwave on high for approximately 28 seconds. This time will vary depending on your microwave, however, in our microwave, 28 seconds is the perfect cook time.
Remove the cup from the microwave and take the napkin off. Using a slotted spoon, gently transfer the “perfectly poached” egg onto your favorite toasted bread.
And voila! Perfect silky, firm whites and runny, warm yolks for your toast to soak up!
How do you poach?
Wanna add some delish to your family’s diet without adding the guilt? Cookies that are all natural, crispy, and full of flavor? Well here ya have it: All Natural Crunchy Cookie Crisps by HannahMax Baking Company.
While my husbie was out grocery shopping last week, he stumbled upon a sampler’s table where they happened to be sampling these yummy Cookie Crisps. Rare for him to try a sample, something made him stop to try these. Once he brought the bag home, he insisted it was the best store-bought cookie ever & that I try one. So I did & I too was hooked.
Next morning, while packing lunches, my youngest daughter tried one after I told her I was packing some in her lunchbox. She took one bite and said “YUM! Mommy, you should put these on your blog!” And she was right!
“Tastes Like a Cookie, Eats Like a Chip” is their motto because they really do taste like a cookie and have the consistency of a nice, crispy chip. With flavors like Sea Salted Peanut Butter, Cinnamon Sugar {pictured}, Chocolate Chip and Original, your family is going to love these little cookies.
Made from all natural ingredients with only about 25 calories each, Cookie Chips are made using only whole ingredients such as milled cane sugar, rBST hormone free butter, cage free eggs, and pure bourbon vanilla. And, they are all free of artificial flavors, trans fats, colors, preservatives, or GMOs. The perfect, family friendly cookie you can feel good about giving your kiddos {or yourself}!
These cookie crisps are SO blog-worthy. And they’re super easy to find-they’re at most retailers including Whole Foods, AJ’s and even Safeway & Fry’s. Go grab a bag and tell us what ya think! We’d love to know if you LOVE these as much as we do!
LOVING Windsor, a neighborhood bar & restaurant in central Phoenix! It has an LA hipster feel with the most amazing patio. The food is delish, everything from salads to burgers, and a great kids menu-everything is just $5! {Click HERE to check out the menu and HERE for the kids menu}
I went for lunch and had the Mixed Grain salad with the market vegetable. The market vegetable is always changing, but on the day I was there it was roasted butternut squash served on Greek yogurt. Both were SO yummy! However, from looking around at the near by tables the sandwiches looked REALLY good as well! And I can’t wait to go back and try the burger-I’ve heard it’s one of the best in town!
I actually think one of the best parts about the Windsor is the cocktails! They infuse their own vodkas, and oh my, they are good! It’s a yes please, I will have another kind of cocktail! We had the No. 1 which is Vodka, Watermelon Agua Fresca, Vanilla-Mint Syrup, Orange Bitters! SO refreshing and light-loved it! Great happy hour-$5 until 5PM EVERY DAY..cocktails, pitchers of beer, & wine!
Great food, good atmosphere, and super friendly & chill staff! Everyone is welcome at this urban hot spot!
The Important stuff!
Hours:
Monday – Thursday
11 am – 11 pm
Friday
11 am – 12 am
Saturday
9 am – 12 am
Sunday
9 am – 10 pm
Phone:
602.279.1111
Address:
5223 N. Central Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85012
