36 Hours in Phoenix

Last month, I needed a few more airline miles to maintain my frequent flyer status, so I took a quick (seriously, 36 hours!) trip to Arizona to see my sister.  As it happens, my mother needed to do the same thing, so the women of the family (and my future brother-in-law JA) reunited.  Mom & I stayed at the gorgeous Omni Montelucia Resort.

View from our room

I got in late Friday night, we drove through In N Out Burger, then settled in for the night.  In the morning, Sissy and J picked us up for breakfast.  We headed to Jewel's Bakery & Cafe, where I loaded up on protein with the Chorizo Omelet, which had a corn tortilla inside it!  Yum.

Then we drove to White Tank Mountain Regional Park for a hike in the park.  We saw old petroglyphs, cacti, and the slow trickle of a waterfall at the end.  It was a leisurely hike, but a good time!  The scenery was totally beautiful.

This cactus must be so old!  Saguaro may grow their first side arm any time from 75–100 years of age.

Had to wear my Army "A" as it was the day of the Army-Navy football game

Mother-Daughter photo in front of some petroglyphs

Afterwards, we met up with J's parents to refuel with some pho from Saigon Kitchen.  It was a chilly weekend in AZ, so it was the perfect way to warm up.

We wrapped up the night by checking out Sissy's house remodel, shopping at at outlet mall, then heading to the resort for a good night's sleep.  Mom and I drank wine and did face masks, and I enjoyed the amazing shower at the resort.  It was like its own room!

View of one of the resort pools

In the morning, when I woke up, we headed to the resort's Joya Spa for a wonderful massage, courtesy of Sissy!  It was my first full body, professional massage, and it was heavenly.  I felt so weightless and relaxed.  I might be hooked!

While I was only in Arizona for 36 short hours, it really felt like we made the most of it.  I'm headed back to AZ for work soon, so I'll have more adventures to share when that trip wraps!  At the spa, after my treatment I picked up one of their message cards at random, and it made me smile.  It reminded me to spread joy, and it was perfect timing!  Definitely a wonderful reset.

Sunday Lately: Creating, Finding, Switching, Forgetting, Craving

I'm back, two weeks after my first link-up on Sunday!  (I missed last week because Dan and I were driving across Ohio... literally.)  I joined a Facebook group for bloggers called Blogger Tribe, a small but awesome group that supports fellow bloggers.  The ladies who started Blogger Tribe also lead this link-up, so I thought I'd mention it here.  I check into the group almost daily!

CREATING...

Lately, I've been creating Excel and Powerpoint documents, for both school and work.  But what I want to create?  I want to catch up on my DAR Project Life scrapbook (it's up-to-date through October, and I probably need printer ink) as well as assemble our 2015 "yearbook".  Every year I create a hard-cover photo book (via Shutterfly or whoever has a deal) to recount our year in review.  I have separate books this year for Peru and our wedding.

If you're wondering how I do an annual book without feeling overwhelmed, as I upload photos to my computer, I pull and duplicate my favorite snaps from every set to a separate folder.  Then, when it's photo book time, I am choosing photos from a narrower selection.

FINDING...

I'm finding my center again.  I know I'm a big part of the organizations for which I volunteer.  I know I'm helping my family by working hard and collecting a paycheck.  ... but it's hard sometimes when you're feeling overwhelmed!  Sometimes we just have to find ourselves first, and I'm finding (okay, maybe seeking is the better word) my balance.  (Also, here's a photo of Bourbon helping me with the laundry.  Because this post needs to be cuter!)

A photo posted by aubreyland325 (@aubreyland325) on Dec 29, 2015 at 9:52am PST

SWITCHING...

I need to switch gears and be more active, especially 7 weeks out from the Disney Princess Half Marathon!  I'm running to partner with my friend Anna who's doing her first half, but in classic fashion I've basically forgotten that *I* need to run it too so yeah...  I guess my New Year's resolution is to follow through on commitments and get my act together.  And to get in better shape overall, because it's sooooo much harder once you hit 30, seriously.

FORGETTING...

I was just thinking yesterday how I forget what life was like without Dan.  We've only been married for five months, but we've been a part of each other's lives for years now.  It feels really good to be able to look at your partner and know your life is better because they're in it.  (We got engaged a year ago on New Year's Eve... time flies!)

A photo posted by aubreyland325 (@aubreyland325) on Jan 1, 2015 at 11:18am PST

CRAVING...

I'm trying to eat healthier in the New Year, or at least less of the crap that I usually love to eat.  Lately, I'm really craving burgers and fries.  I think if I had to choose between French fries and sweets, I'd end up with fries every time.  Except when it's head-to-head with a really good cake with vanilla buttercream frosting.  Then it might be a challenging choice.  (Ugh, now I'm craving cake too.)  This is going to be tough.

2015: Looking Back

2015 was awesome.  Seriously, I'm not sure how it gets better?  Sure, it had highs and lows... but overall as I look back, I can't help but be pleased by how things ended up.  Here are my Top Ten (in chrono order) captured on this blog for the year!

1. On New Year's Eve, at nearly midnight, Dan proposed.
2. I completed the Walt Disney World Marathon, all 26.2 grueling miles.
3. I became a godmother (and ate my way through NY).
4. We took brewery/Franklin-themed engagement portraits.
5. I had a beer brunch 30th birthday party, and it was a blast!
6. We honeymooned in Peru, the best trip we've ever taken.
7. I attended my first Daughters of the American Revolution Continental Congress in D.C.
8. WE GOT MARRIED!
9. I also traveled to Florida (once, twice), New York, California, Arizona (once, and one more post coming), Alabama, Indiana (a few times), Michigan (a few times for work and with Dan), and Pennsylvania for Christmas.
10. I wrote posts on two cities I've grown to love over the past few years (my current staycations!) Nashville and Franklin, Tennessee.

My blog got a new look this year, thanks to Maru!  Every so often, you need a nice refresh, right?

I was also more candid, honest, open this year, and I even dove further back into the past for some inspiration...  a few posts I'm proud of for various reasons:

• "No, I'm not changing my name."
• Thoughts on Remarriage
• Opening up on why I joined the DAR
• Reviewing UNDERWEAR on my blog (Thinx Period Underwear)
• Travel retrospectives to Paris, St. Lucia, South Korea, and London

And since everyone is doing that 2015bestnine thing on Instagram, I thought I'd post mine here for a laugh... because everyone loves cat photos, my most-liked photos were mostly Bear and Bourbon.  #winning #crazycatlady  (The other two non-cat pics are my South Korea pic from the retrospective and our engagement!)

BEST WISHES FOR A WONDERFUL NEW YEAR!!!