I know it’s February 2022 now, but I wanted to post a few pictures from this past holiday, starting with a picture of our holiday card, and our beautiful tree! I received some amazing complimentary holiday decorations from Aurorava, and came up with a themed Christmas tree, with all blue hues. What’s even more impressive, is that I didn’t even use a filter in these pictures! The garland and cut-out ball ornaments have a Polar Light Film on them, so no matter where the lights are placed on the tree, the reflection causes anything around them to glow!
We also received tinsel, which I used on our hall tree to create a mid-century modern display in our entryway! If you like these decorations, you can find them on Amazon, just search “AURORAVA”.
In addition to our amazing new decorations, we finally got the chance to go back to San Diego! The last time we were in San Diego was back in 2019, when my mom and I went to visit right after Christmas. But this year, we all went and saw not only my sister and her family (and their new puppy, Bruno), but we got to see our cousins and extended family in Murietta! Plus, I got to have brunch with my besties, Janice & Regi, at Great Maple in UTC!
I hope you all had wonderful Christmas and New Year holidays! Here’s to bigger and better adventures in 2022, cheers!
Brunch with my besties, Janice & Regi, at Great Maple
My mom with Bruno!
Doesn’t Bruno always look like he’s smiling?
I think we’re “Friends” fans…
Gotta love my silly niece, Mei-Lin!My mom with her grandkidsAunties!Lady cousinsGentlemen cousinsKiddie (and some not so kiddie) cousins
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.)
I remember when I first tried Frosted Frenzy Cupcakes: It was last August, and our foodie networking group got the chance to try their cupcakes. We took home six cupcakes to sample and post our reviews and pictures on our Instagram accounts. I was instantly impressed by how delicious their cupcakes were, and became such a big fan of theirs. So much so, that I have driven to several events in the Mesa area, just to ensure that I grab at least four to six cupcakes!
The first six cupcakes that introduced me to the wonderful world of Frosted Frenzy!
Frosted Frenzy cupcakes have been voted the “Best Cupcake” in The Valley by Phoenix Magazine in 2019 and 2020, and are on the list again for 2021! The reason I personally love them so much is the subtle yet dynamic flavors that they create. The texture is even and consistent in every cupcake, and although the flavors are not overpowering, they are rich and so delicious. Their buttercream frosting is so smooth and light, and they are beautifully decorated. It’s not difficult to get a great picture of these gourmet masterpieces! I love their cupcakes so much, that my husband made a special order for my birthday this past weekend! I want to thank Tami and Brian for always being so sweet and kind when I see them, and for letting me try “The King” cupcake, which is a banana cupcake, topped with peanut butter cream cheese frosting. Both my husband and I absolutely loved that cupcake, and we kind of tore into it before I could get a picture! But I did take a pictures of the rest of my birthday cupcakes, which are pictured below.
I wholeheartedly agree with Phoenix Magazine’s readers, that Frosted Frenzy has the best cupcakes in The Valley! If you want to find out where they are headed next, make sure to follow them on Instagram, and be sure to order ahead on their website. I should know, I went to an event a few weeks ago to visit their truck, and buy a few cupcakes onsite. As I approached the front of the line, Tami informed me that they are just about sold out and only had three cupcakes left, so I bought them all! Duly noted that I will always order ahead!
Thanks again Tami and Brian for my special birthday cupcakes, because these are not only my favorites, but my husband’s and son’s as well!
SALTED CARAMEL – brown sugar caramel cupcake filled with handmade caramel and topped with vanilla buttercream, caramel drizzle and salted caramel crisp pearls LEMON BLOSSOM – lemon-infused cupcake topped with lemon buttercream and crystal sugar ORANGE BLOSSOM – orange-infused cupcake topped with an orange-infused buttercream and crystal sugar STRAWBERRY LEMONADE – lemon-infused cupcake topped with strawberry buttercream and crystal sugar My son’s favorite: LEMON BERRY – lemon-infused cupcake filled with handmade raspberry filling and topped with lemon buttercream and crystal sugar My husband’s favorite: CLASSIC CHOCOLATE – valrhona chocolate cupcake topped with chocolate buttercream and chocolate sprinkles
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
Adventure Series – The Outpost
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.
The LimitedI believe this is the outside of The Mansion EliteThe 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 Veranda
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.
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!
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.
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.
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.
We had our sautéed potatoes with grilled marinated pork chops, and I’ve included the recipe below. If you try it, let me know in the comments, cheers!
Close up of the finished product, so delicious!
FTC Disclosure: I received produce for free, but not exclusively for a review. Although I did receive produce, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.
Last month, a few influencers traveled to Litchfield, Arizona to support a beautiful local farm called Blue Sky Organic Farms. Leased farmland is quickly being sold for housing and retail development, so farms like Blue Sky Organic Farms needs support through their CSA (Community Supported Agriculture subscription) or through their amazing Farm Store.
The Farms Store sells lots of fantastic local and regional brands. I purchased a bag of Noble Bread and garlic seasoning by Molly’s Mills, along with a Blue Sky Organic Farms hemp tote and coffee mug. After seeing the goodies I brought home, my husband wants to return to purchase some other produce and spices!
To further support local farmland, we were treated to a bag of Spud Buds potatoes. Spud Buds is a three-generation family potato farm from Idaho, and they deliver to Maricopa and Pinal counties, right here in Arizona! I will cover a few recipes we made with Spud Buds golden potatoes in a future post, and they were absolutely delicious!
During the Covid-19 pandemic, Spud Buds created Spud Funds to assist organizations with reaching their fund raising goals by having access to restaurant quality potatoes. Check out their site for more information on how you can help!
Thank you to Swell Video for bringing together a few influencers to raise awareness in helping to support local & regional farms!
As a part of my blog renaissance, I’ve decided to do a series called “What’s Good In AZ”, to showcase my favorite places in my new home state. And what better way to kick it off than with a place that I visit pretty regularly at least once a month: Toduken BBQ!
My first time trying the OG Baboy skewer and Ube Mochi. Many thanks to Winchell (@winchsight) for holding my tray that night!
I first met met John Cornelio briefly when I went to the Asian District Night Market last year (pre-pandemic). He had a set up there as a vendor, and I had his OG Baboy (skewer) with a square of Ube Mochi for the first time (pictured above), and I swear I became hooked! I heard he had a booth at Uptown Market in Phoenix, and had planned to make it out there for more freshly grilled BBQ dishes, when the pandemic really started to get hold. John then moved his menu to a pre-order only set up, which meant he had to take orders that would need to be prepared ahead of time, so that they could be heated at home. I made the trip to Phoenix from Mesa twice a month, trying anything and everything he had to offer. Pictured here in this blog post are a few of my favorites!
Now, John is able to actually grill, and the dishes he makes just get better and better! Not only are his dishes delicious and creative, but I can taste our Filipino roots in every bite. If you like what you see here, follow him on Instagram (@toduken_bbq) to see what he’s got cooking and to pre-order, because he usually sells out quickly! Cheers to John and his family for some of the best Filipino inspired goodness in Arizona! If you want to get to know John and Toduken better, check out this article in the Phoenix New Times!
Ube Mochi by Rina. If and when it’s available at Toduken, it’s worth every bite! Bao Bun Kit, which is an amazing take on siopao!Grilling in action!My new favorite: The Choriburger, which is made with ground longganisaWith John & Anthony at Uptown Market back in May 2020. Anthony is a fellow influencer, check him out on Instagram @az_cookiemonster
Can you believe I made these? I don’t know exactly when I fell in love with macarons, but it has been quite the love affair, and I finally decided that it’s time to make them at home! I’ve been baking some tasty treats lately, but I’m particularly proud of these macarons, especially considering these were my first ever attempt!
I looked at many recipes to find one that would be the simplest, but I quickly found that making macarons would not be an easy endeavor. I finally found this recipe from Tasty: How To Make Macarons, because it not only included the written recipe, but a step-by-step video along with tips to ensure you make the best possible ones. And although I followed the recipe exactly as written, I discovered a few things about the process that I will be sure to improve:
Follow the directions in the recipe absolutely to the letter. Do not skip any steps, including tapping the cookie sheet to release the air bubbles and allowing the cookies to rest prior to baking. I let the macarons sit for only 30 minutes after piping them and tapping them. In the future, I will let them sit for an hour before baking them.
Make all the macarons all at once. I made them in two separate sessions, which allowed the batter to sit for more than 30 minutes for the second batch. I will purchase an additional cookie sheet so that I can pipe them all at once, bake and cool them at the same time. I think this will allow them to rise better to create better “feet”. My second batch was not as well risen as the first batch.
Decrease the sugar in the buttercream filling. I followed the recipe and used 3 cups of sugar. I will confess that I ran out of powdered sugar, and only used 2 cups, but then I added another cup of granulated sugar to make up for it. I think I will only use 2 cups as the filling was too sweet.
Really let the macarons “bloom” for 24 hours…seriously! I had eaten a macaron not long after assembling them and it had a chewiness to it that I know is not a part of the macaron experience. I then tried the ones that I kept in an airtight container the following day, and they were absolutely amazing!
All in all, it was an amazing experience, and after I make one more basic batch following this Tasty recipe, I will get more creative and make more flavor combinations! If anyone tries this recipe, let me know. Happy baking, cheers!
Mia, the creator and founder of Food 4 Shirts, started her business in Denver, Colorado as a homage to her passion for food, having worked in the food industry. In addition to creating fantastically adorable sustainable shirts & sweatshirts, Mia also gives back: so far in 2021, they have donated about 5,000 meals to not-for-profit organizations!
If you like this sweatshirt or anything on the Food 4 Shirts website, use code “any2ndnow” at check out for an additional 30% off!
(If you’re wondering what I’m eating, I actually made gnocchi the night before I took this picture, and I’m having it during my lunch break in our beautiful backyard. I’ll be sure put up the super easy recipe on a different post.)
FTC Disclosure: I received a discount on this product as a courtesy, but not as compensation for this post. Although I did receive a discount, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.
