Category Archives: Randomness

Go Surround Yourself in Immersive Van Gogh

A favorite new show that I discovered during the pandemic is Emily in Paris on Netflix. Well, I didn’t really “discover” it in that it was brought to my attention by more than one friend or family member. I’ll get into a whole blog post about that show later, but I did want to talk about an exciting event I recently attended, which is highlighted in one of the episodes.

In episode 5 of season 1 of Emily In Paris entitled “Faux Amis”, main character Emily, her neighbor Gabriel and his girlfriend Camille, all go to an exhibit in Paris called “Van Gogh, Starry Night”, organized by L’Atelier des Lumières (which is no longer on display). As they walked in, Van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” was blown up and projected on all the walls of the gallery. What I loved about that exhibit is that it looked like they were inside the painting, a part of it or surrounded by it. I had no idea it was a temporary showing, so any plans of going to Paris in the future to visit said exhibit were dashed very quickly.

Due to the popularity of that episode and exhibit, Van Gogh immersive experiences started to appear all over the US and Canada over the past year. Luckily, the first one I saw coming to the Arizona area was attended in Chicago by the star of Emily in Paris herself, Lily Collins: Immersive Van Gogh.

Note: For my friends in San Diego who are going to the Van Gogh exhibit there, it’s presented by Beyond Van Gogh, which is a different immersive event.

The moment tickets went on sale for Immersive Van Gogh, I immediately purchased VIP tickets for myself and my family. More recently, I had the honor of being invited to the VIP cocktail grand opening and ribbon cutting in what is listed on the website as the Phoenix, Arizona location, which I attended with my friend Susan (Styles Revealed). It was presented by Lighthouse Immersive and Impact Museums, at Lighthouse Artspace in Scottsdale.

After the ribbon cutting ceremony, we were treated to a presentation, led by Show One Productions founder, Svetlana Dvoretsk, who partnered with Starvox Entertainment to bring Immersive Van Gogh to life. During her presentation, she mentioned that one should not be shocked if you have an emotional reaction to being immersed by the imagery of Van Gogh’s paintings and the musical accompaniment. After walking around and pausing to take in what was happening, that deep connection between the images and music happened for me, leaving me a bit breathless. I later shared my reaction with Svetlana when I saw her walking around the exhibit, and she was not surprised!

I’m not sure if it’s my background in the arts, or my absolute love of music that brought about that emotional reaction, but it was definitely moving. I have read reviews that this is such an “Instagrammable” presentation, and that it’s so watered down compared to seeing Van Gogh’s actual works up close and personal. I have visited museums like The Louvre in Paris and The Norton Simon Museum of Art in Los Angeles, seeing great works of art, including Van Gogh’s, in a more “appropriate” gallery setting. But seeing his art in this newer context, moving all around me in time with beautiful music was quite a different sensation (visual presentation by Massimilaino Siccardi and musical presentation by Luca Longobardi). It was even more fun when I returned a week later with my family. It was lovely to be with my husband and son, experiencing art differently, allowing for the interest to take root. Dominic is drawn to Asian art, particularly Japanese art and was immediately taken by Van Gogh’s own versions, asking if he actually traveled to Japan.

Another criticism of the exhibit stemmed from the lack of additional information about Van Gogh, that the images were presented without context. I would have to say to anyone attending Immersive Van Gogh to do your own research, which is what I did. I watched several documentaries about Vincent Willem Van Gogh, soaking up as much information about his mindset, travels and relationships. I enjoyed one from 2010 called Painted with Words, starring Benedict Cumberbatch as Van Gogh. It detailed the artist’s story through many letters he wrote, especially to his beloved brother Theo. In fact, as you walk into Immersive Van Gogh, there is a room filled with mirrors etched with excerpts from some of the letters he wrote over the years.

I also watched the 2018 film At Eternity’s Gate, starring Willem Dafoe, which depicted Van Gogh’s isolation, revelations and sorrow. I wanted to know more about the artist before attending because I wanted to get a sense of where he was, both physically and mentally, when he painted his works. And to answer Dominic’s question about whether or not Van Gogh had been go Japan, the answer is no. He painted them mainly in French countryside, but was so moved by the light and color, that he felt it would be similar to how it would be in Japan.

In retrospect, what I believe what this exhibit offers is the power of reflection. You have hints of who Van Gogh was, and there are images of his most famous and familiar works. But I think this space was designed to overwhelm your senses through sight and sound, maybe to feel how he felt in the countryside, in Arles and Saint Remy de Provence. In recalling the documentaries and the movie At Eternity’s Gate, Van Gogh had a desire to paint, to get out what he was feeling. He thoughtfully painted with brightness, light, and color. Maybe there was an overwhelming feeling of fading away, and he counteracted that notion with bold strokes, movement and dark rich color in his paintings. In his childhood, I discovered he was actually the second child to be named Vincent Willem Van Gogh (who died as an infant), and he was overwhelmed with the notion of being insignificant and irrelevant at the start of life, not being able to live up to his predecessor. This feeling followed him to his untimely end, never getting to see that he became one of the most significant painters of all time.

And that’s what I take away from this exhibit. Sometimes we can get overwhelmed, but we allow that to channel in different ways. How will you experience Immersive Van Gogh?

Immersive Van Gogh will be at the Lighthouse Artspace (4301 N Scottsdale Rd, Scottsdale, AZ 85251) now extended until March 13, 2022! Tickets range from $39.99 to $49.99. There are also Date Night and VIP packages available.

(Additional notes: Covid-19 precautions are definitely taken with masks encouraged, sanitation and socially distant circles to enjoy the exhibition. Rental cushions, stools, and chairs are also available.)

Fangirling Over Tiny Homes at The Home & Garden Show!

I don’t think I’ve shared this with very many people outside my immediate family, but I am a big fan of tiny houses. I have been watching shows about tiny houses for a few years now, starting with Tiny House Nation, Tiny House World, and more recently, Tiny Luxury. The main reason I love tiny homes is because of the clever use of space. I’m always amazed at the innovative storage ideas, or how people pare down their belongings to just the essentials. A lot of those ideas came in handy when we moved to Arizona, and we have storage ottomans everywhere!

I have never been in a tiny home before, so you can imagine my excitement when I heard about the “Tiny Home Street of Dreams” at this year’s Maricopa County Home Show at Westworld in Scottsdale! While The Home Show has many great exhibits, vendors and activities, I have to say that my main focus was to experience everything I could about their tiny homes exhibitors. I’m so happy my husband agreed to indulge the tiny home fangirl in me and accompany me to the Maricopa County Home Show!

We currently live in Mesa, so while the drive to Scottsdale isn’t that long, I wanted to get an early start. We grabbed breakfast on the way to Westworld, and arrived 30 minutes before the gates opened. My goal was to get to the “Tiny Homes Street of Dreams” early because I wasn’t sure of how popular the exhibit would be, and I’m so glad we did! Once we made it through all the tiny homes, we looked back at the line and it tripled in size! While we didn’t get to spend too much time in each tiny home, it really didn’t take much to get through them, and I took as many pictures as I could!

Uncharted Tiny Homes

The very first tiny home we went in was with Uncharted Tiny Homes, from their Adventure Series called The Outpost. It was definitely more appropriate for outdoor adventures, perfect to take camping. But they had two other tiny homes nearby called The Limited and The Mansion Elite. I really liked the flow of the The Mansion Elite because the kitchen was separated from the bathroom/laundry room. I often see bathrooms and kitchens in the same area in tiny homes, but The Mansion Elite had them on opposite sides. After looking at their site, I would have loved to see a model from The Flat because it looks like there is an option for the bedroom to be private and on the floor level instead of a loft.

*I believe this is the outside of The Mansion Elite*

AZ Container Dwellings

The next tiny house on the tour was from AZ Container Dwellings. I have to say, one tiny home that I always had a hard time wrapping my head around was ones made from shipping containers. I think it’s the size that really confounds me because it seems like not much can fit inside. But the one from AZ Container Dwellings seemed to be quite happily situated like a studio flat. I could imagine this more like a mobile office space, where you could see a client and then stay the night if needed.

Cavco Park Models and Cabins

The largest of the tiny homes was actually a brand new model that was unveiled at the Maricopa County Home Show from Cavco Park Models and Cabins called The Veranda. It had a wrap around porch, full sized appliances in the kitchen, a distinguishable dining and living area, a good sized bath, and the loft had actual stairs.

My only hesitation with a loft is the headroom. After having gone up to experience the loft in The Veranda, I could sit up on the bed just fine, but I then realized I would have to crawl to get around. But I guess the functionality of a bedroom in these types of homes is mainly for sleeping. The rest of The Veranda feels like a good sized apartment.

United Tiny Homes

The final tiny houses we went in were by United Tiny Homes, and they had a furnished model and an unfurnished model. I believe the furnished model we saw was called The Companion, and the unfurnished one was The Companion + (only because I think the picture I took was of the private bedroom).

The Companion had a wide walkway, and I finally got to see a combination washer/dryer, which was in the kitchen. I noticed that a lot of smaller European homes have the same set up. The larger Companion + has enough room for a private bedroom and closet.

TinyCamp Sedona

The last exhibitor was not quite a tiny home, but more like a tiny kitchen/bar. It was from TinyCamp Sedona, which is a tiny home retreat in Sedona. They have five custom tiny home experiences for short term rentals. The location in Sedona is already ideal, and each of the experiences look like fantastic getaways!

Inside the Maricopa County Home Show

I didn’t get very many pictures of the indoor portion of The Home Show, but if you’ve been to the San Diego County Fair, it reminds me the vendor booth set up at the Bing Crosby Hall. What I will have to take part in the next time we go, is the Handmade Headquarters. There was a schedule of crafts, and I just missed the “Summertime Lemonade Glass Etching” class. When my husband went on the search for a waterfall showerhead (which he found then purchased), and I walked around on my own. After wandering around a bit, I did find an impromptu bath bomb painting session by Carefree Bath & Body. I didn’t stay to do a painting session there, so I bought one to finish at home! I’ll edit this post to add my finished project later!

Overall, it was a fun experience! I will say again that arriving early was the smartest thing we could do, because it allowed us to get to what I considered the main attraction (tiny homes), and enjoy the experience rather than wait in a long line. We got there at 9:30 am (the doors opened at 10:00 am) and we finished around 12:30pm. Also, it’s worth it to sign up for discount tickets because we paid a total of $6 for two people! Until the next home show, cheers!

Getting The COVID-19 Vaccine

I debated with whether or not to post about getting the COVID-19 vaccine on my blog, but I am because I want to share my experience for anyone who may need more information or who want to know what to possibly expect. I am not affiliated with any group or network that promotes the COVID-19 vaccine. This is strictly from my experience, and why I am choosing to share it here on my blog.

COVID-19 vaccines teach our immune systems how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Sometimes this process can cause symptoms, such as fever. These symptoms are normal and are signs that the body is building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19.
– From the CDC Website

I developed adult onset asthma in my mid-20’s, and my family has a history of asthma (my sister has childhood asthma and it runs in my extended family). This is why I have never smoked in my life, and part of the reason I chose to get the COVID-19 vaccine. According to the CDC, people with moderate to severe asthma are at the highest risk to be hospitalized due to COVID-19. Because of this, I have been taking all of the precautions early on in the pandemic to safeguard myself against the virus (wearing masks at all times outside of my immediate family, safely distancing myself & avoiding large gatherings). Fortunately, I have not contracted the virus, and my family have all tested negative for it, in addition to receiving flu shots.

Another reason I chose to be vaccinated is because my mom is over 75 years old and those in that age group are also at higher risk of hospitalization due to COVID-19. She also has several of the underlying conditions that put her at risk, so she actually received both of her doses in January and February of this year, at the moment appointments were first available here in Arizona. Additionally, my sister is also at risk because in addition to asthma, she has chronic kidney disease, and is on dialysis, which makes makes her very vulnerable. She and her husband received their vaccines about a month before we did.

Side Effects We Experienced

I share my redacted COVID-19 Vaccination Record Card simply to show which vaccine I received and when. I received the Moderna vaccine as soon as it was available to my age group in Arizona.

General information about the Moderna vaccine:
Name: mRNA-1273
Manufacturer: ModernaTX, Inc.
Type of Vaccine: mRNA
Number of Shots: 2 shots, one month (28 days) apart
How Given: Shot in the muscle of the upper arm
Does NOT Contain: Eggs, preservatives, latex
– From the CDC Website

Of the common possible side effects listed on the CDC website, I experienced soreness and redness in the arm where I received the injection, which is intramuscular (in the muscle). After my first shot, my arm was very sore that night, and I felt very warm, as if my body was trying to fight something in my system. I did struggle to sleep that night, so I was glad that we received our shots on a Saturday afternoon, to allow the rest of the weekend to recover.

Prior to our second shot, my husband and I drank plenty of water, as we have read that the symptoms are more pronounced after the second one. We received our injections earlier in the morning, and for the most part of the day, I had no real reaction. Later that night, I did feel a more pronounced soreness in the injection site, along with redness and irritation. It was very difficult to sleep, and I only felt very mild fever-like symptoms. In fact, I was able to run errands the following day with my son without incident (both of us still wearing masks and following CDC guidelines).

Although all the adults in our household are vaccinated, we are aware that the full effects will not take place until 2 weeks after the second shot. Even then, my husband and I are choosing to wear masks when we are out in public, especially when indoors. Once the vaccine tests have been completed for children 12 and older, our son has decided that he wants to receive it.

Please keep in mind that this is our decision as a family to be fully vaccinated. My opinions in my blog post is to share my experience and I hope this is helpful to those who are still deciding what to do. For additional information and guidance, please speak to your doctor or other medical professional.

“Influenceur Redux”

I can’t believe it’s been a year since the pandemic began. It was a little over a year ago that I went to my last event where crowds were not an issue and not a mask was in sight. I can’t believe the last concert I went to was in 2019 and that I haven’t been back to my hometown since then as well.

I’ve also been thinking about the world of being an influencer. I started blogging back in 2010. I did it because so many people would compliment me on my outfits and subsequently asked me where I shopped, or what brand I was wearing. I used it as a creative outlet and I was posting up outfits several times a week, sharing where I shopped and fun places I’d visit.

When I began as a blogger in San Diego, I made friends, joined networks, connected with people, brands and promotional companies, never worried about my numbers and just worried about good content and how I represented a particular brand or company. My social media numbers have always been lower than most, but I had built up such a great network of blogger friends and relationships with different local and national companies, having high numbers of followers were never an issue. I posted regularly and was often complimented on my content and brand representation. I was always busy and went to many events where I always saw my blogger and influencer friends. One of my most prestigious partnerships was with Legoland, because I have a friend who worked in media industry who recommended me.

My “influence” as it were, significantly changed when I moved to Arizona back in 2018. Although I had received some invites to events and was able to connect with Phoenix Fashion Week due to my wonderful friend Tiffany of Glitz and Glam by Tiff, I didn’t get any good traction with brands or companies out here. It really started to take a toll on my self-esteem because I went from heavily being a part of the influencer scene out in San Diego, to nearly no activity out here in Arizona.

So I did the best I could, posted as much as I could about local places in Chandler and The Valley, and developed a wonderful relationship with Phoenix Fashion Week (which I still have to this day). I received a few more requests for product reviews and felt a bit better when I joined a foodie network, meeting new influencer friends.

Still, I noticed how important numbers and followers were out here. I attempted to double my followers on Instagram, and tried to grow my followers on Facebook. I started to feel overwhelmed with trying to keep up and I have never felt my age and “maturity” more than I have in the Arizona influencer scene.

When the pandemic hit last year, it was right after I attended the “Suits & Sneakers” event with Phoenix Fashion Week. I had attended several food events up until then, including the Asian District Night Market. After that, we did more “take home” food reviews for my foodie network, which suited me fine. But I still felt like something was missing and that I just couldn’t get myself to feel the same about influencing.

I’ve been working from home since 2018, but once the pandemic really started to take hold, my husband started to work from home as well and our son began online learning. We decided to finally take care of all the “honey-do” things and decorated our guest room to be this mid-century modern haven. We added bistro lights and more furniture to our backyard, and bought a trampoline for our son. We also purchased dozens of board games and a billiards/air hockey/ping pong table. We definitely set to create a comfortable place to live and hang out, knowing we would be limited in what we could do outside of our home.

During this time, my mom’s health started to deteriorate, and we weren’t sure what to do for her anymore. When it started to finally worsen, she was hospitalized and finally put on dialysis for almost three months. Slowly but surely, her health started to improve and she is thankfully out of the woods! She was taken off dialysis and has made a full recovery.

Going through this pandemic and experiencing this situation with a family member’s health has made me realize that my sadness about my influencer status was not the most important thing in my world anymore. I kept trying to figure out why I was feeling so down about it, and it really was my feeling like I was constantly on the outside looking in. I felt like I was always watching from a distance and not quite belonging to any group, whether it was as a fashion blogger or as a foodie. Being in the foodie network granted me some cool experiences and I’ve met some awesome people, but I still didn’t feel as included as I did with my blogger friends in San Diego.

I also started reading blog posts on leaving the “influencer industry” like this one called “Why I Quit Being a Social Media Influencer” by Catherine Taylor. It really resonated with me and she accurately described what I have been going through. I started to watch my Instagram posts decline from once a week to nearly none, and I started not to care. In fact, I haven’t posted on my blog since September 2020, and prior to that, I posted every few months rather than my regular two to three times a week. I couldn’t get motivated to post because it didn’t matter to me anymore, because I have been working hard to create a lovely home and take care of my family. I also feel like I need to do a social media purge like Catherine did, only following the accounts that I care about and actually want to follow, instead of following because I was in some kind of paid loop or out of obligation.

Still, I feel like I want to stay as an influencer, because it’s fun, and I’ve been missing it lately. I have a few post that I have obligations to load, but after that, I haven’t been making an effort to reach out or become available for anything. I fluctuate between wanting to stay and wanting to stop, and I have been in a quandary about it for the last few weeks.

So what I’ve decided, in order to maintain some dignity and to save my sanity, was to go back to basics. I needed an “Influenceur Redux” (French and Latin mixed I know), as I like to call it, and to just not worry about who was going to include me in the next cool event and to just do what influencers do best: influence! My friends, family and followers look to me for my opinions on what to wear, where there are great places to eat and what fun things there are to do. I’ve worked with brands on their products or local establishments because I am good with creating great content. If others choose to include me in their grand opening celebrations or special events, then fantastic! If not, that should be ok as well because I can’t let that define me or let it allow me to feel less of a person or influencer because I wasn’t invited. It didn’t matter before, and it shouldn’t now.

I know what I like, and my friends, family and followers know who I am and I can’t pretend to be someone I’m not. I’m feeling like I’ll be back, slowly but surely. But it will be in my own time, on my own terms, as it should be. Cheers to a new beginning!

*Our backyard, with a view of the gorgeous Arizona sky*

Post Punk Goodness with Baby Teith!

Loving my Baby Teith Summer 2020 Crew Tee!

Hello! I know it’s been awhile since I’ve posted on the blog, but I promise that I’ve been up to only good things!

One of the amazing things that happened recently is that I’m a crew member/rep for Baby Teith! Baby Teith is an amazing brand out of Arizona, created by Tiffe Fermaint, who started it in 2013 while expecting her daughter. What I love most about this brand is that there is something for your whole family and home (including your furry family members), featuring so many of my favorite bands and music, like David Bowie, Joy Division and of course, Depeche Mode!

As a crew member, one of the perks I get to share is a discount code! Use code ANY2NDNOW for 10% off your purchase at https://babyteith.com/

*Enjoy The Silence Pillow in my home office*

*Stardust Canvas Banner also in my home office*

Tips For Working From Home

During this uncertain time, I know more and more people are in a situation where they must work from home. When we still lived in San Diego, I was commuting to work, like most people do, but quit when we moved. After we moved to Arizona, we decided that I needed to rejoin the workforce, but I needed to work from home. I have been very fortunate that my employer in San Diego afforded me that opportunity, and I have been doing so for the last two years.

Working from home is a definite lifestyle change, and I can admit that it wasn’t that easy at first! There are many distractions at home, and it could be so easy to give into them because, let’s face it, your home is your comfort zone! But there are things you can do to ensure you are productive and successful working from home. I’ve learned a few things in these last two years, and I hope they will help!

1) Really try to create a space where you know it’s a work space. If you have a room where you can make it your “office” do it! Purchase an actual desk and office chair if you can, and create a space that you know is your home office, and don’t do anything else there. I would really try to avoid making your bedroom an office. To quote John Mayer in a recent post on his Instagram, make a distinction between work and your “Gentle Hours”, between daytime and night time. Your office space should be where you are in the day, and your bedroom is where you retreat to at night. If that isn’t possible, do your best to remove or turn off any TV’s in that room, to minimize distractions.

I have an actual home office (pictured above). My desk and office chair were less than $200, and I only use it for work. When we bought our home, the additional room that we turned into my office came with windowed French doors. I can see out, yet have privacy when needed. This means that when I’m done, I literally leave the office, turn out the lights and shut the doors behind me. I only have listening devices in my office, so that I can enjoy music, but I do not have a TV in my office. Sorry Dr. Phil!

2) Be sure to wake up at the same time you did when you were going to work remotely. Do not change your routine. Shower, brush your teeth, make your coffee and/or breakfast and change clothes (well, if you want to), so you feel like you’re going to work, because you are!

3) Inform your household when you have meetings, to minimize noise and distractions. Go into a room and close the door and have others close their doors.

Also, I really suggest not multi-tasking while in a meeting. My supervisor once told me that she could tell that I was giving meetings my undivided attention, and that’s because I made a conscious decision to not do other work while in a meeting, which can easily be done when doing phone conferences. I feel that I need to be extra focused because I’m not physically in a board room or meeting room, and I can do my part by eliminating as many distractions as possible.

One more thing about meetings: TAKE NOTES! I’m better at remember things when I write things down in a notebook or on Post-Its. Whether you physically write them down or type it up in your computer, always take notes when in meetings. With everything going on at your home office, it’s easier to recall information when you have it written down or typed somewhere.

4) Make time for scheduled breaks and lunches. Set alarms or email alerts as needed and take them! Do your best to not work through your breaks, because we all need them, especially at home. Make time for your lunch and physically step away from your work space, even if that means that you only go to your kitchen, eat lunch outside, or go for a walk.

5) If you have young kids, give them homework, reading, or a schedule that emulates school. Make sure they get up and have breakfast & lunch, just like if they were in school. Make the distinction between vacation and school hours, like you do for your work space. Our son finishes his Spring Break this week, and he will be home indefinitely. He knows that while he won’t be in school for an extended unknown amount of time, this is no longer a break or vacation. We informed him that when he wakes up in the morning, he will have breakfast, then I have math and reading for him to do, in addition to practicing his trumpet.

6) If you work under a manager or supervisor, inform them of the work you accomplish daily. If you are your own boss, make a schedule and a to do list, and make sure you check things off! I send my supervisor a daily “Tomorrow’s Tasks” email, explaining what I accomplished during the day, and what I will be working on the following day. She let me know that she likes those emails, because she never has to wonder what I’m doing each day.

And there you have it, my tips on how I work successfully from home! I hope they helped in some small way, and please, let me know if you have any other tips and tricks as well. Cheers!

Back To You

I know it’s been awhile since I’ve posted here on my blog. Quite a bit has happened since last summer, but I feel we are finally at a place where I can actually settle down and get creative again.

First of all, we bought a new home! Last year, we lived in Chandler, Arizona. While staying in a lovely rental, we searched all over The Valley to find someplace that we could call home. We finally found our forever home in Mesa, at a brand new development near the Queen Creek area! Our new home has four bedrooms and a “flex” room, which means we all have our own rooms, and we have a guest room (even my mom has her own “wing”). We bought it as a “spec home”, which means the house was move-in ready. It’s also a smart home, so the appliances are all wifi capable!

A new home in a new neighborhood meant a new school for Dominic! Dominic’s new school had it’s inaugural year last year, and it is literally around the corner from our house. So being a new student was shared by everyone in his school, and all of his new friends are within walking distance from home. It’s so great to know he will grow up with these kids, and hopefully build lifelong friendships! Not only that, Dominic has played soccer in the fall, has a new team this winter and is also playing the trumpet in his school’s band!

My husband, Deon, has been quite busy himself! He did a lot of home projects: installing lights all around the house, ceiling fans in every room, a backsplash in the kitchen, added shelves and a work area in the garage, and designed our backyard (built by Mesquite Landscaping), which our puppy, Joey, enjoys it immensely! He has also been busy with work, going on a few fantastic business trips, including Denmark and New York.

As I mentioned earlier, we have a “flex” room, which we could easily have turned into another bedroom or opened up the doorway for another living area. But we kept the French doors and turned it into my home office, since I work remotely for the same company I did when we were in San Diego. I’ve truly made it the room I never had in the 80’s, filling it with all of my music, Funko Pop figures, retro knick-knacks, and even an arcade game! While I’ve created an area to concentrate fully on my job that is separate from the rest of the house, it’s also a space where I can create, and I’m starting to rediscover myself as a blogger and influencer. Recently, I did most of my influencer work microblogging on some of my social media platforms. If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll see that I worked extensively with Phoenix Fashion Week, and I joined a foodie network. But I truly have missed blogging, because it allows me to write creatively, which I really do enjoy.

As we are finally settling down in our new home here in Arizona, I will continue to share our adventures and my thoughts here on the blog. Thanks for continuing to follow along, and cheers to all to come in the new year!

Birthday Goodies

I celebrated my 49th birthday this month, can you believe it? I used to fret each year that I got older, but with all of the wonderful changes that have happened already this year, I’m looking forward to many more new birthday adventures right here in Arizona!

I mentioned on Instagram a couple of weeks ago that I’ve found so many great birthday deals or freebies on my favorite brands, restaurants and stores, simply by signing up on their official sites or joining their loyalty programs. Here’s a list of one’s I was able to partake in during the month of May. Hopefully you’ll find something you like and celebrate your birthday all month long!

TORY BURCH

This birthday deal was by far my favorite and gets first mention: These are the coveted Miller Sandals that I’ve always wanted. It’s not that I didn’t just want to pay for them outright, but more so that I’m always looking for that great deal, and it happened in the month of my birthday! This lovely pair of tortoise shell printed patent Miller Sandals were already on sale, but the purchase was made sweeter with an additional birthday gift certificate of $50 off any purchase over $100! So these lovelies went from $198, down to $139, and was knocked down to just $89. Happy birthday to me!

LE MADELIENE

This is a deal that can only be used east of California, as Le Madeleine is located more in the Mid-West. I signed up for their rewards program, using their app and scanning it at every visit. Just for signing up, I’ve already received a free lemon madeleine, free butter croissant and a free pastry of my choice on my birthday! I chose the Strawberry Napoleon (pictured next to my mom’s Key Lime Cheesecake), and lunch was complete!

YOGURTLAND

My son and I got to enjoy this treat because if you sign up for Yogurtland Real Rewards, you get a free 3oz yogurt just for signing up and another free 3oz yogurt on your birthday. The treats for you and your favorite person!

CVS

I have had a CVS ExtraCare Card for years and have always taken advantage of their wonderful discounts and free bucks. But I didn’t know that they had birthday rewards until one showed up on my app: a free bottle of nail polish!

MADEWELL

Like the Tory Burch birthday certificate, Madewell offered their own $25 one for joining their loyalty program called Madewell Insider! I bought these sneaks, plus a cute checked shirt. With both on sale, I paid a mere $15 for the remainder of my birthday order!

ADDITIONAL DEALS

Here are a few more deals that I received. If it’s your birthday, have a great one, cheers!

IHOP: Join My iHop to get free birthday pancakes

Boba Tea Company: Sign up for “Sucker” Rewards for $10 off for your birthday

IKEA: Join the IKEA Family a $15 coupon and free meal with dessert during the month of your birthday

Top photo taken by Susan of Styles Revealed; all other photos taken by moi

Paperless Post: Adding a Personal Touch to Online Stationery

Since moving to Arizona, I’ve been thinking about how to communicate to all of our friends and family about where we are in our new home state. I’m actually glad I waited, because we are in the process of purchasing our new home and will be on the move again! I would like to communicate our new address by sending both an actual card, as well as online communication for those who we do not have a physical address for.

I was recently introduced to Paperless Post, a company that designs customizable online stationery. They believe that the connection between people is important, regardless of the medium. What’s also great is that it’s quite easy to get started! I began by creating an account and getting set up. Once I’m truly ready to send out our moving announcements, I’ll fill in the address book with contacts.

Paperless Post has so many choices of stationery styles, types, and designers. One of my favorites is the Kate Spade designs, because they’re so simple yet quirky and elegant. Although Paperless Post has hundreds of free choices, premium cards and premium upgrades are available for a nominal cost through coins, that can be purchased in packages.

The cards are adorable and fully customizable! I sent a practice card to myself to try it out. The card color variation, font, envelope interior, and background can all be changed to fit your needs, and the way they’re delivered is so much fun!

Since our move will be happening pretty soon, I’ll be browsing through all of the amazing choices at Paperless Post, cheers!

FTC Disclosure: I received the product in exchange for a product review. Although I did receive product, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.

Absolutely Last Minute Holiday Gift Guide 2018: THE ARIZONA EDITION!

I’m back to posting again, and what better way to usher in a holiday post with the return of the “Absolutely Last Minute Gift Guide”! As mentioned in previously, we live in Chandler, which I recently found out is the fourth largest city in Arizona. The picture above is of the Tumbleweed Christmas Tree located in Downtown Chandler, which is a five minute drive from our house. Now that I’m officially outside of California, three of the four suggestions in my gift guide are from The Grand Canyon State!

Sibley’s West

Located in Historic Downtown Chandler, Sibley’s West is a wonderful and truly unique souvenir shop. All of their items are only “From Arizona”, which is their mantra, sourcing artisans and companies based here. If you can’t visit their shop in Chandler, they have gift certificates available on their website and many fantastic gift items to choose from on their online shop.

One of my favorite items I recently purchased as a gift is a Travel Tea Set and loose leaf tea from Tea Royalty. Fortunately, I live right around the corner from Sibley’s, so I’m definitely going back and getting one for myself!

Quench Naturel

I was recently invited to an event at Singh Meadows in Tempe for the launch of Quench Naturel’s Sweet Moringa line. They use only all natural ingredients for their products, and everything is available on their online store. I will be providing a full review soon, but rest assured that all their products would make wonderful gifts!

QMULATIVE

I first heard about and met designer Quinlan of QMULATIVE at this year’s Phoenix Fashion Week (pictured above, being interviewed by my friend Tiffany of Glitz and Glam by Tiff). He was the 2017 Lifestyle Designer of the year at PHXFW, and is known for his AZ Pocket Tees (I’ll have my own soon, and will be sure to post pictures). His designs can either be purchased on his online shop, or in the Tucson area at shops like Why I Love Where I Live and Summit Hut.

Cave Tools

I have been working with Cave Tools for a few years now, having my husband Deon try out several of their wonderful products for cooking his delicious BBQ. Any of their products would make excellent gifts for that BBQ Pit Master in your life, and if you can’t decide on anything in their gift section, they also have gift certificates available.

We recently tried their Stainless Steel Meat Injector, and look out for how we used it for a recent grill session in an upcoming post!