OVERNIGHT IN FLAGSTAFF WITH A BABY AND A DOG

We survived our first overnight with baby A! We patiently waited 7 months to venture out and Atlas, Winter, Joe and I are so glad we did. A night in Flagstaff was the perfect family outing for us. We found great places to eat, drink and rest our heads. Here’s our quick guide and reccs especially during the new pandemic normal with a baby and a dog.

Where to stay?

That’s was top priority. The birthday queen in me was temped with a bougie glamping tent off the Grand Canyon, but the mom in me thought smarter. AirBnB to the rescue. We found a 100 year old A-frame home in the heart of downtown Flagstaff. It had original wood floors, a claw foot tub and antique fridge. But plenty of space for a a pack-n-play, a dog bed and all off Britt’s luggage. Side note: packing with a baby requires a lot of things! Stroller, seat, bed, bath, Breza, mat, toys, all the clothes, etc. We just did one night; it’s a 2.5 hour drive from Phoenix and great practice for car trips and overnights with Atlas. (& mom to practice pacting).

Where to eat?

Breakfast?

Biff’s-Bagel sandwiches. Get there early and take to go. Walk to a near by park or coffee at …

Late for the Train- Order the Coconino Mocha, thank me later.

Lunch?

Toasted Owl Cafe- Outside dining bring baby and dog. Order the Turkey Pesto on Ciabatta. Order dranks or water, the drinks taste like soda fountain.

Dinner?

Historic Brewing Barrel + Bottle House- Love at first flight. Sip some sours, IPA, rose, ciders and more. Nine brewed locally. Plus the food is delish: burgers, wings, fried pickles, chicken fingers, etc. you can eat inside or out and everyone is sooo friendly. The smallest of world moment happened when our waiter walked out with our food it was the same guy from lunch!

Desert?

Yet to find! Leave your reccs. We did the gelato at a pizza joint but i won’t not recommend, sorry.

Where to go?

Parks:

Wheeler Park- grass and beautiful trees.

Heritage Square- live music and great shops. Be sure to check out P.J. Chilcottage!

Shop:

P.J. Chilcottage- everything from littles to moms. Great tourist gifts and home decor. and homemade soap. Literally wanted everything in the store, EVERYTHING. Check out their IG.

Babbitts- outdoor gear, dog swag and souvenirs. Love the historical building too!

What a trip for the memory books. We even signed the AirBnB guestbook. Reading some of the entries on the travelers and their stays in the past were entertaining. Let us know if you recommend anything in Flag so the next time we head up north we can be sure to check out. Be well and continue to stay safe out there.

XoXO

Mama Britt

ATLAS' FIVE FAVORITE FINDS MAY 2021

ANOTHER Atlas Five Favorites?!? He is our world and we love sharing what he’s digging. Were learning so many things everyday along with him. I just learned right now I need to get better about sharing more in between the favorites. BUT in the words of Roman Reigns “Let’s not waste anymore time.”

ATLAS’ FIVE

1. THE LIBRARY- In the post COVID new normal world we are looking for places to go with baby A. Once the libraries opened up it was a chance to get back to a favorite place, introduce the world of wonders to Atlas and BONUS read some new stories not on our bookshelf. We have had a blow out, a feeding and a cry fest in the library already- they love us. Some of our Phoenix Library Branches are open and with a reservation you can visit with up to 5 people for 45 minutes. Call or look online before hand here, or not in Phoenix? Check your local library for policies.

2. TEETHER TOYS- We haven’t broke skin yet, but his hands are always in his mouth and when they aren’t, drool is falling out. We have invested in a munch mitt from Malarkey as well as freezable pacifiers. He likes variety and we like that the products are so innovative.

3. DOORWAY JUMPER- Little man has been kicking his feet since he was inside me. Now that his perfectly round head is stable on his shoulders we are ready to stabilize the legs. Target.com has this great Doorway Jumper featuring a plush seat and textured toys. Atlas loves it! It only fits on 1 doorway in our house though considering its a historic Phoenix home.

4. DIAPER RASH CREAM– It doesn’t come up often but with summer time and swim time here we want to make sure our Atlas is comfortable and clean. The diaper rash cream from Natureplex has been a miracle cream. Overnight it goes from red to normal. I love that is has aloe and soothes as it heals.

5. SHARK BAIT- Pool time is here and Admiral Atlas is hitting the high seas. Amazon to the rescue again with a safe floatie for his age and weight. He sits forward and is strapped in four ways. Other than the water being a little chilly he kicks his feet and enjoys the swim swam. This is just the beginning of our little fish.

ATLAS' FIVE FAVORITE FINDS APRIL 2021

WOW… the last time we did a FIVE FAVORITE FINDS POST I was pregnant and didn’t know it. Check out the post from last year. COVID had just swept the country, we were struggling to find the new normals and Jose and I were about to receive news that would ultimately change our lives. Now that our little bundle of joy is here we want to start sharing his 5 favorite things. As he grows so quickly so will his interests, talents and activities. Welcome to Atlas’ world.

ATLAS’ FIVE

1. MICKEY MOUSE CLUBHOUSE - We already have begun watching children’s programs and filling our YouTube watchlist with all the hits. Of course, the top of the popular list is Mickey! Atlas loves Mickey. From his Hot Dog Dance to his Mousekatools Atlas is mesmerized. Of course we celebrated May the Fourth at the Acevedo household. We look forward to the day we can go to the Happiest Place on Earth and make even more Mikey memories.

2. HUMIDIFIER- Atlas has his mom and dad’s respiratory system. Thank goodness for his humidifier. His room is turned into the Pirates of the Caribbean ride to keep him less congested while he sleeps and we frequently crank up a hot shower and create a steamy room for him to spend a few minutes in when you can hear him struggling to breathe out his nose. We are open to suggestions because living in Arizona we just can’t not turn on the air conditioner and it’s always a “dry heat.”

3. OTTEROO - This is one of those products you see advertised everywhere once you have a baby. Because we have a pool we wanted Atlas to continue to enjoy the swim. While the pool is heating up we practice indoor in the meantime. After bath time we will fill up the tub and pop on the Otteroo. ATLAS LOVES IT! he swims, kicks off, and even tries to flip around. I can’t wait to get this kid in the pool!

4. BABY BREZZA– Once I came to terms that i wasn’t going to be Atlas’ primary milt supplier I invested in a Baby Brezza Formula Pro. It is the Keurig for Baby Formula. It has paid for it self over and over during the middle of the night quick, quiet and get back to sleep feeds and the middle of the day fussy, hurry up, I need milk now feeds. Highly recommend for newborn parents.

5. KICK N PLAY- While in my belly Atlas kicked all the time! Outside the womb he still loves to move his legs. I saw on other mom’s insta stories the Fisher Price Kick N Play Piano Gym and said, “Atlas needs that.” We now know every lyric to the soundtrack and we are now even transitioning it to a finger piano with tummy time.

PREGNANCY AND COVID

One of my worst pregnancy fears happened. The middle of a pandemic, second wave beginning and what happens? I tested positive for COVID. I was taking extra precautions all the time- wearing a mask at family and friend’s gatherings, social distancing, wiping down light switches and door handles. But, working in a nursing home, I guess, it was only a matter of time.

First, the symptoms didn’t present themselves. The weather started cooling down, so I attributed my dry throat to it. My achy body, I thought, was because I was growing a human inside. But, once I couldn’t sleep from my sinuses burning, I went to work that Monday morning and asked for a rapid test. I waited 15 minutes for my results and when I heard the word, “positive,” I thought it was a joke. Then I started crying- scared of the unknown.

I called my husband to alert his work and to get a test ASAP, then my parents on my way home to quarantine. The first 3 days were the worst. My nose wouldn’t stop running, my body had zero energy and by head was aching. By day 3 I lost my sense of taste. Sleep was nonexistent, it was hard to breathe and there was a heaviness felt in my chest. I called my doctor and they recommended vitamin C. Being pregnant there isn’t much I could take or do- just rest, relax and take care of my mental health as much as my physical.

For the next 10 days I tried to make sure we were nourishing our bodies with smoothies, grilled chicken, salads and plenty of water and juices for fluids. Staying home was hard and we masked up to take our dog for a walk. The in laws dropped off a dinner on our porch one night and waiving to them through a window was very surreal.

Halloween was different for everyone this year so turning our porch light off and not inviting trick or treaters wasn’t too hard as most of the neighborhood did the same.

My work guidelines allowed me to return back on the 11th day from my positive test as long as I had no signs and symptoms and no fever. I was so happy to return and be social again. The 12th day we spent cleaning and disinfecting our entire house. We washed all the linens, bleached and cleaned out the fridge, wiped the walls and baseboards and all the high touch areas. Our house felt brand new again. I even wiped down my car.

Our facility is administering weekly testing so 17 days after my original test date I was set to get swiped again. Fifteen minutes later I came back negative! I am so proud I not only made it through COVID-19, but built up antibodies all while growing a tiny superhuman inside of me. Once he is born I would love to test to see if the antibodies were passed along to him.

I know we are all figuring this virus out together and new developments come up every day, but I would like to remain optimistic. Although not everyone has the same experience or outcome as I, it was a learning experience and I am glad to come out on top. Opinions are a dime a dozen for not only the virus, but the vaccine too. This is just my opinion; I’m not a doctor so please see yours if you have questions or are experiencing signs or symptoms.

Thanks for following along my journey. Mask up, wash your hands and be safe out there.

XoXo Britt

MAY FINAL FRIDAY FIVE FAVORITE FINDS

Arizona Summer is here so it must be May. We are hitting triple digits this week and spending more time in the pool. Social distancing is still being practiced and the podcast is still trucking on. I am so proud of the adjustments we have made and the safety precautions we initiated to always make our guests feel safe. But, what are Jose and I enjoying when we’re not “working?” Here are our five fave from the month of May.

BRITT’S FIVE

1. HOW ITS MADE - Rediscovered this gem on Hulu and it has become our bedtime show. But honestly I am fascinated with watching the most obscure things come together: commercial dishwashers, pencil sharpeners, toy dinosaurs. It as been a great distraction from reality, but still educational.

2. POOL TOYS- As I mentioned we are spending more time in pool and obeying our one pool rule: All flotation devices must be like things you eat: Pizza, Pineapples, Popsicle! We are building our collection and enjoying the variety.

3. DRUM AND BASS THE MOVEMENT -Okay, my favorite music of all time is Drum and Bass. Since Quarantine, two major labels: Hospital Records and Ram Records along with many of their artists have been streaming weekly mixes on YouTube and it is the greatest soundtrack to a sunny Arizona day. Recently, a documentary long overdue and years in the making was released sharing some of the history, its a great YouTube watch here.

4. ICED COFFEE– Between Dalgona, Iced and Cold Brew I have been appreciating great chilled coffee lately, and especially grateful for Starbucks for honoring healthcare workers with free tall iced or hot coffees till the end of the month. I truly understand the meaning of first sip feeling.

5. PEOPLE MAGAZINE- I love me some celebrity gossip and while I get my daily fix on TMZ.COM I get my weekly fix from People Magazine. I love seeing what they are doing during quarantine and realizing, “Stars, they are just like us.” Although, my favorite part is after I am done reading I take to a resident at my facility who loves magazines, but by the time she makes it down they are always gone. Handing her this special gift every week puts a smile on her face and one in my heart.

JOSE’S FIVE:

1. LIGHTROOM MOBILE APP - I know. I know. Everyone has known about this little gem for a while now. With sites also putting out free presets, it is hard not to see the appeal.

2. JUICE CLEANSE - Britt and I took on the challenge of doing a 3-day juice cleanse. Now we have done these before, so this is not my first rodeo. So overall, I can say this time around I felt pretty ordinary. The first time, I definitely felt more hunger and eager for food. We ordered our Juices through Squeezed.com .

3. OUTDOOR PROJECTOR-By far the best couple gift we have purchased together! We hope to have for our first friends/family party soon, once it’s safe. Until then, we enjoy summer night’s movies, just the two of us.

4. THE WRONG MISSY - The Sandler production team turned back time for this movie. Back to their r-rated raunchier days with jokes to match it. Combined with a stellar performance from Lauren Lapkus, you will definitely laugh more than once. Streaming on Netflix today, you have to check it out!

5. HAWKTHORNE HEIGHTS - During one of my recent runs, I found a certain song from my high school days found in a playlist with this band. Now with the magic of Spotify, I can go back into their discography to start from the beginning.

We are continuing to take things one day at a time and appreciating all the wonderful things we have including each other. You do the same and we will chat next month!

XoXo

Britt

WHY I AM SCARED THE WORLD IS OPENING UP

Three hundred and sixty five days ago i would have never thought I would be working in healthcare let alone during a historical pandemic arguably the craziest of our time. When this all stared I remember going to and from hospitals seeing the “If you have traveled to China,” signs slowly pop up and then masks at the door, then the restrictions of anyone under 12 or flu like symptoms.

One morning meeting we got word the first positive case in a local hospital. We had to pull admission records, order Double PPE and begin to take it more seriously. Hospitals began restricting visitors all together and my role was changed, and soon my title.

Essential personnel. Getting free coffee and special grocery shopping hours are great if you have time to get there. The hours got longer and the rules changed rapidly. Of course, no one wants the virus and working in a Nursing home fighting all the stigmas this quickly became a new one. The safety of our loved ones at home and work is a 24/7 job; just because we clock out doesn’t mean we stop fighting the disease.

As I write this we remain non-positive. Which was a weird word concept for me to grasp. Positive comes with such a different connotation for me but when COVID takes over the frontal lobe you don’t look forward to seeing that word often. Everyday there are scares. From symptoms, to pending tests and accepting admissions from our partners in the community as ordered by the governor of the state of Arizona. But we do our best, that is all we can. But it is not just our responsibility.

Why am i scared to open up? Because we don’t know anything about COVID other than it’s name. Because someone who was tested negative in a Billion Dollar Famously Named Hospital while interacting with him today I had to wear full PPE. Because the grocery stores can’t keep food on our shelves how are the restaurants supposed to supply their needs and what about the hospitals and nursing homes that are ordered to care for your loved ones. Because you not wearing a mask and choosing to live a normal life is selfish in a time where we all need to work together. Because its is not just healthcare and first-responders who are risking their lives.

I feel like this is dividing us more than politics or religion. Protesters are marching the capitals and pages are being started to report those breaking the stay at home orders. But today we open up restaurants and beauty salons and clothing stores. Some with “rules” in place, but we don’t know what the future looks like. Tests are becoming more available but we need the antibody test not the swabs. Our spikes are flattening out, but we haven’t had a steady two week decrease. So please, stay home.

Stay Safe.

XoXo

Britt

APRIL FINAL FRIDAY FIVE FAVORITE FINDS

April- Some of us are still quarantined and some of us are still essential workers. Either way were still stuck in this Groundhog’s Day. After rounding up ways to support small businesses in last month’s favorites were back to selfishly sharing our faves of the month. I was (not) surprised its mostly things were watching, but maybe you’re sick of The Office reruns and looking for new binges.

BRITT’S FIVE

1. BITES WITH BRITT - It’s a working title for my cookbook/cooking show. LOL. Not sure if it’s the quarantine stock pile that we have going in my pantry or my obsession with cooking shows right now, but when I am not working you can catch me whipping up something yummy. We have the Tastemade Channel and I have been binging Mary’s Kitchen Crush and Struggle Meals. I also knocked out more than half of our monthly cookbook. You can read some of the recipes we tried in this blog post here.

2. SPACE - To distract myself from the current unknowns I revert back to our original unknown- our universe. Ancient aliens and Nova have been on the TV for bedtime. I am back to following the moon cycles and appreciating our Earth a little bit more. Not sure if it is because its Earth Day or because less people are out, but plants are greener and the animals are active..

3. ALL OUT SHOW -Shade 45 is the best station on Sirius XM Radio and the best show on the station is the All Out Show with Jude. It’s a hilarious afternoon radio show covering news, slang, and a segment called Hate it or Love it that always has me cracking up. Jude Anthony Angelini originally was from the Jenny Jones show and I totally recognized him after Googling it. Now, I catch up every day on the episodes if I can’t catch them live. XM is free right now becuase of the Corona Virus, check it out here.

4. KIANA LEDE “MAD AT ME”– Listening to a mix I heard the OutKast’s “So Fresh, So Clean” sample and I was boppin, but then this angelic voice popped in talking about a girl being on her shit and people can’t be mad at her. I was like “YAAASSS” and since then I listen to it every day to and from work. Listen here and LMK your thoughts.

5. MOCKTAILS- I am transitioning away fromdrinking alcohol for so many reasons, but still craving a cute, fun, spritz to boost my day. I have created a mocktail that you can easily make at home. I call it the 3LW: 3 Layer Lemonade Strawberry Watermelon. Start with a glass half iced, then add some lemonade we use Crystal Light or Country Time. Next, slowly pour a Kirkland Sparkling ICE Strawberry Watermelon drink as slow as possible. It’s carbonation stays light on top of the lemonade and creates a beautiful ombre mocktail. Add a fresh lemon wedge or a fancy straw ans serve. Enjoy.

JOSE’S FIVE:

1. EATING-Britt has been going HAM with the baking and the cooking! I’m helping eat it all and I’m not complaining. My new top pick for dessert is her new butter pecan bars from HALF BAKED HARVEST: SUPER SIMPLE cookbook. It’s literally my favorite things in it - coconut, chocolate, shortbread. Need we say more? 

2. DAVE ON FX - It is a new pick for tv comedy. The concept is simple, Dave Byrd aka Lil Dicky is a white Jewish rapper trying to find his way through the complex world of hip-hop/rap music. Filled with laughs, complex conversations, and the occasional rap star pop in. You will laugh for sure. 

3. THE SCOTTS- Travis Scott’s new music Friday find. I really enjoyed how he premiered the song. He did it by working with the company that created Forte Night and held a live concert in the game. The last song was the first airing of the song.  

4. CANINE CARE-Canine care is a new badge earned by Britt and myself. We have had to care for our dog for the past couple of days. She has been suffering from a small infection but is recovering well. 

5. HOME TO DOS - Our home suffers from a surge of pigeons squatting on our roof. What we have learned from a previous podcast with a pest control company is that this species tends to return to their place of birth. I am trying to add prevention to our home to stop them from returning. 

And before the month is over we have triple digit weather. Time to get ready to quarantine ourselves in the pool. Continue to sty safe, stay home and stay healthy.

XoXo

Britt

QUARANTINE COOK BOOK CLUB: HALF BAKED HARVEST

It wasn’t supposed to be like this; we aren’t supposed to still be locked up; but here we are. I remember our first cook book club where we got together IRL over an Aperol Spritz and carbs, but now our second book turned into our third. BUT, at least it is a fantastic one at that! Half Baked Harvest Cookbook by Tieghan Gerard has your new favorite recipe; I guarantee it. I’ll share a few we’ve been working on bellow.

Spinach & Artichoke Mac & Cheese Bake

Difficulty: Easy

Taste: Delicious

We made this for a family night (before the quarantine) and the in-laws. I loved that it was essentially one pot and we had all the ingredients. Sneaking in veggies maybe tricky for your picky eaters out there, but this was fool proof! I would also recommending adding chicken and or broccoli.

Chewy Brown Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

Difficulty: Medium

Taste: Game Changer

I am always testing out chocolate chip cookie recipes. It is not like there are bad ones, I am just in search for the best. Although this isn’t HOLY enough, its pretty darn close to heaven. Two words: Brown Butter. I just discovered it, but it is a simple act of almost heating your butter tp brown perfect before you use it in a recipe. This simple change amplifies the taste of the creamy sugar and egg combo that is not too sweet. Plus add a little fresh sea seal on top, yum! Mine didn’t look the same, but sure did taste good.

Broccoli Cheddar Soup & Seasoned Pretzels

Difficulty: Hard

Taste: Okay

I am a soup fanatic. I make my own copy cat Panera Bread Broccoli Cheddar soup. But after seeing Ms. Gerard has one in the book, I had to try. I prefer my soup a little more chunky vs pureed. Also it was missing that extra something. Even with the pretzels, which were delicious, just a lot of work for little flavor. I want to play around with the seasoned pretzel recipe a bit more, but still sticking with my soup.

Black Pepper Buffalo Cauliflower Bites

Difficulty: Hard

Taste: Okay

I was most excited for this one andI think that is why. graded it so hard. I try all the time to find “healthy” “vegetarian” options for my favorite snacks. This one looked good on paper, but the execution was sub par. The spicy bread crumb mix did not stick to the cauliflower and ended up just falling off in the baking process. The cauliflower steamed in stead of roasted and sogged its way into the dip. The dip was great and inspired me to make various creations including a taziki that I hope to share on the blog one day. Overall, would not recommend or remake these.

Potato & Burrata Pizza

Difficulty: Easy

Taste: Perfecto

Pizza dough from scratch- don’t be afraid- it is made with beer! That is right a can of beer and a packet of yeast gets you the perfect pizza dough. We followed her recipe for the Potato & Burrata Pizza, minus the Burrata because where can you find it at a time like this? We also made out own sausage pizza with the remaining dough and it was delicious. We will be using this pizza dough recipe for future Make Your Own Pizza Night at home #PostCorona.

Gingered Thai Steak & Peppered Salad

Difficulty: Medium

Taste: Beefy

This dish was a perfect dinner steak. Hearty with the beef and balanced with the light greens and dressing. There is so much delicious spicy ginger flavor in this dish without even trying you feel like an iron chef. One thing you do have to love is rare steak. I had a harder time searing the meat because personally I like a medium to well done steak and there is no way you can do this (and it tastes good) with this meal. Overall wouldn’t make again, but would recommend.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Blondie Brownie Bars

Difficulty: Hard

Taste: Phenomenal

I have always wanted to make blondies! I was a bit surprised to find the recipe called for a box of brownie mix, but I went along with it. First, let me re-state baking is difficult.It is a science and you always have to account for other elements. Second, with that being said I think this is why I had some difficulty with this dish: Consistency. My batter wasn’t drizzling in the pan, my peanut butter after much attention didn’t melt and the pan size called for was not in my kitchen. But did they taste great? Yes. Would I make them again? Absolutely! Chocolate and peanut butter- you can’t go wrong.

As quarantine continues, and while we still have flour, we will be continues to cook up delicious treats and crafting our own. Let me know what you have been cooking up and if you have any recommendations for our next cookbook when we get out of this!

XoXo
Britt.

HOME UPS- QUICK & CHEAP REDESIGNS IN QUARANTINE

Finally, Arizona issued a Stay at Home Order this week. Although, as essential personnel this means the same for us. Jose is now #Workfromhome, but once I return, after I de-clothe and shower we become home bodies. April 1 we celebrated our 3rd year as home owners and wanted to share a few Home Ups we did to protect our budget and our sanity as we Shelter in Place.

Living Room- The first piece of furniture we invested in our living room was a new couch. It took a while to find the right sectional for our space. We love comfy couch sessions and could see us doing that with a normal sofa. Luckily Living Spaces had the right size within our budget! Once that main piece was in we worked on accessories. Between Ikea and Walmart we found these gorgeous gold frames and had our favorite wedding photos printed in black and white to showcase in the entryway. I also was looking for a great full-length mirror that would not break the bank, to balance the other side of the TV and Way Fair had #JustWhatINeed. Lastly, I went around the house to the other rooms to re-purpose trinkets, books, knickknacks, candles and crystals that would fit the theme. I even used a rug from another room to warm the space’s concrete floors. This room proves that you don’t have to go out and buy all NEW items for a room makeover.

MASTER BATH – This was and is my favorite room in our house. So much pink and potential. It was originally added to the home in the 70’s for the owner’s wife, as it’s the only part of the house ADA approved. Three things we did here and for less than $100. First, the original wood vanity mirror we painted black. Second, we switched out the light fixture. Geeze, the things you realize are so expensive when you get older: rugs, lights, nuts, etc, blog post to come? We scored a great LED light on Amazon, I bought, Jose installed. Our latest VLOG will show you the BTS of that. LOL. Lastly, I got a frames at goodwill, painted black and printed free, fun bathroom sayings: I like your butt, and more! You can print your own from my Pinterest page here.

KITCHEN/PANTRY- Our kitchen is next on our home remodel. We recently had to make a major investment into our plumbing as we had the original cast iron pipes from the 1949 build collapse. As we continue to save back up for the kitchen cabinets, counters and hardware we made a few arrangements that make our house a home. The biggest and best change I made was turning our bar cart into a coffee cart! We don’t really drink alcohol, anymore, so this re-purpose was necessary. Instead of dragging out my Keurig to our limited counter space every morning, I rolled our bar cart into our pantry, added our carousel of k cups and ordered a quick Frida print on Amazon. Now my pantry is more than just a walk through, it’s a walk in.

The purpose of this blog is to show you during Q-tine you don’t have to be bored. You don’t have to spend money you don’t have. You don’t have to live in a space that doesn’t bring you joy or spark creativity. Take these tips into the weekend and let me know any room redecorating you’re doing.

We plan on filming a Cribs Vlog next weekend and I can’t wait to show you what we have done and what we plan to do with our forever home space. Stay safe and stay home.

XoXo Britt

MARCH FINAL FRIDAY FIVE FAVORITE FINDS -LOCAL BUIZ EDITION

March- the month of social distancing and quarantine. COVID-19 or the Corona Virus hit the US hard, and still continues to do so. Everyday more cases are being reported, the CDC is implementing new regulations, and thousands of Americans are stressing. Finances, health, work, you name it- we’re stressed. Instead of highlighting FIVE of our favorite things this month, we want to each share FIVE local business you can support, like us, in this time. Please let us know any more that may need some extra love! Just because we’re practicing our distancing IRL doesn’t mean we have to virtually.

BRITT’S FIVE

1. PAIGE POPPE - Paige is an Arizona artist who’s work is now seen throughout the valley from greeting cards to murals. It has been amazing to watch Paige blossom and support all her creative projects like Children’s books, pins and more! Now, she is launching a coloring book! We Stick Together is a printable coloring book featuring amazing sketches you can fill with color manually or digitally. Another added bonus: 50% of the proceeds support a local charity. I purchased a few for our Nursing home and self. You can too, here.

2. THE MADISON - The Madison Improvement Club is a health and wellness fitness studio, most well known for their Party On A Bike Spin Classes, is doing some innovative stuff during this pandemic. First, everyday they are offering LIVE classes on Instagram. I usually take the weekend yoga flow; check out their page here and turn on notifications. Second, they are renting out stationary bikes to continue your spin classes at home. So smart!

3. PRICKLY PEAR PAPER - Our friends Mark and Lauren are offering some great deals everyday of the week to support their business. Free pens and stickers, BOGO deals and more- you have to check out their website and stock up now for #PostCorona. We use Prickly Pear Paper for our custom business cards; they are cute, practical and stand out! Everything you want in a card. Visit their site and support today!

4. CAFE EMPOROS - We have mentioned this coffee before and are still obsessed with it! Pour over and enjoy- its too simple. We met Ruben at Phoenix Flea and after coming on the podcast and sharing his invention we continue to enjoy the Uganda blend at home. I am looking forward to the summer and trying the cold brew. You can purchase and try it out at home here.

5. LOCAL FIRST- This is a business who is all about supporting business. Their message has been and always will be sustainability, but right now I love that they are offering support for small, local, and independent businesses during these uncertain times. Check out their site. You can also discover thousands of other connections and resources an deals here.

JOSE’S FIVE:

1. LOCAL FIRST RELIEF FUND- Local First Arizona is our favorite organizations in the community. We are consistently learning new connections and networks from them. LFA is sponsoring mini-grants to help support Arizona’s smallest locally owned enterprises. Click here to learn more. 

2. STATE FORTY-EIGHT - They always find themselves in the front lines supporting as much as they can. During this crisis, they have created a new shirt to support local business and are creating accessible food options. Fifty percent of the shirts’ proceeds will be going to Local First Arizona and Matthew Crossing Food Bank. The shirt is also always cool looking too! Support here.

3. PUBBLICO ITALIAN EATERY-  This announcement is for those you who have love for Sunday Dinners. The incredible staff behind leader Danny will supply you a classic Italian supper. Go check out their latest post to find out how to pre-order today

4. WASTE NOT AZ- As a previous guest on our podcast, we love promoting their fight against hunger. Waste Not “...is the only nonprofit agency in Arizona collecting prepared foods that would otherwise go to waste and deliver it directly to nonprofit agencies that serve those in need.” They are continuing their fight and always educating others on how to help even virtually through times like today. Check out their website.

5. OPEN LETTER TO DOUG DUCEY -Behind the scenes, business are working together to make their voices and comments heard. Available on the breadfruit website is a open letter to Arizona Governor Ducey. On the letter is a response and petition to help save small business in the local community. :learn more and even sign the letter here.

Not sure how April will go as I take it hour by hour, day by day. Thankful for so many things and finding the optimism in everything and more for those who can’t. Stay safe, and thank you for supporting us by reading.

XoXo

Britt