DATE NIGHT: TACO BELL CANTINA PHOENIX

Jose and I are always looking for easy ways to keep it spicy. From planning a wedding to maintaining a consistent podcast schedule, it gets difficult, sometimes, to remember to take time for us. We routinely make sure to get out for date nights and mix up the norm to avoid this robotic lifestyle. Recently we went to the Taco Bell Cantina and found it to be quite the Friday Night Fiesta!

Only 1 of 20 in the United States and 1 in 13 that serve liquor, the Taco Bell Cantina is a place to add to your things to do this in Phoenix, Aizona. It’s smaller than a regular sized restaurant and tucked away in the Collier Center on Second Street off Washington Street- but once you open the doors and the smell of Fire sauce hits your nose it becomes a place you never want to leave.

So what makes it special? Alcohol for starters. The drinks and apps are a mandatory order. Chose from margarita, piña colada and Mountain Dew freezes, which can be ordered with rum, vodka or tequila. Pair it with Cheesy Jalapeño dippers like us, or Mini quesadilla nachos or Naked chicken chips. Also , the decor is next level, flat screens coming together to make a wall of tvs to catch things like the latest boxing match or a hilarious comedy movie.

After stuffing our faces and finishing our delicious drinks we had to be the Instagram couple and take come great photos at the hot sauce wall before walking the gorgeous city.

I’m looking to go back ASAP; curious if they honor that Dbacks deal? Anyway, if you want to Cantina it up, let me know, comment bellow. I’m always drown for TBell.

XoXo
Britt

JULY FINAL FRIDAY FIVE FAVORITE FINDS - SATURDAY EDITION

From opening up our guest room to adjusting into a new career, July was a pretty crazy, quick month! So quick in fact, we had turn this Final Friday Blog post into a Saturday Morning Edition! Enjoy the 5 things we each were loving this month.

BRITT’S FIVE

1. THEMED PARTIES - Earlier this month we threw a Puppy Party inspired by the show Vanderpump Rules. James Kennedy and his girlfriend were planning a puppy shower for their new pup, but since ours was turning one we wanted to throw her a big bash. So after Pinterest-ing a few themes I went with: “Wild One “. We had a Blaze Your Own Trail Mix and other punny food themes. And after whipping out a few different versions of the lavender lemonade I really feel like I’ve nailed it. You can check out some of the photos here. But this inspired me to want to go back to the old-school way of doing parties; cheesy, but they work and everyone loves them. Take our wedding for example black and white everyone in theme: simple and so perfect. It is going to work so well!

2. THE RESIDENT ON FOX- After starting my new position I realize that I quickly needed to advance my clinical skills so I was searching for a show to start to binge watching and came across The Resident on Hulu. Originally airing on Fox, this drama captures not only the OR but the AR (accounts receivable). I love relating to every aspect and also learning what a new abbreviation stands for or braving myself to watch a laryngoscope camera capture a biopsy to test for cancer.I just saw this and didn’t look away or cringe! If you have any other medical shows, podcasts or books I can learn from, send my way.

3. GREEK FOOD- I am 14% Italian/ Greek/ Southern European so I am obsessed with mediterranean food. A warm pita, fresh feta, spicy hummus, tender gyro, juicy olives, my mouth waters talking about it. I recently discovered the gyro making kit at Costco and except for not enough pitas, which is always a problem, they were delicious! The gyro is combo beef lamb and so tender and flavored well. Plus, the taziki sauce is quality! Add fresh tomatoes and greens and it’s a great meal. We also have a place called Halal Guys here in Arizona that is so good; street pitas as fresh as can be!

4. COLOR COORDINATING MZY HOME SCREEN- I saw it in a mag, googled it and saw that Martha Stewart had and article about it so I immediately took a mindless Instagram scrolling night and organized my apps in ROYGBIV order. I thought I would be so difficult to find them, but quite the opposite. My brain automatically knows the color associated with the app, blue: Twitter, FaceBook, Orange: Vivint , Red: Instagram, Yelp. Try it out. It’s so aesthetically pleasing.

5. ONLY CUBS BASEBALL - Not to be a Negative Nancy, but my last favorite is from a recent realization of what I don’t enjoy! Recently I attended two Diamondback / Dback (whatever they go by) games in a four day span. At first I was excited, ballpark snacks, a live sports atmosphere, but after the 3rd inning I was over it. I realized when you don’t enjoy any of the teams playing, baseball can be a very boring sport. I am sorry to offend any fans out there, but, I don’t remember the last non-cubs baseball game I went to whether that was in Arizona, San Diego, Los Angeles, and of course Chicago. I came home from that Monday night game and turned on the final inning of the cubs game.

JOSE’S FIVE:

1. GOOGLE SKETCHUP - The last couple of weeks I have been designing not only at work but at home too. This easy 3D modeling program has help me create things that are hard to envision in the mind. It is a free program and you can access it on SketchUp.com

2. RAW MEAL DIET- As the 3-0 dwells closer and closer, Britt and I are taking advantage of all health knowledge and making healthy choices together. One we have started is doing 1 raw meal a day. Meaning throughout the day we decide on one meal that has to be completely raw. No sugars, preservatives, or carbs. Which has been helping a lot with our digestion.

3. CBD RUB - Chronic lower back issues has been my achilles heel for years, and now I have solution to when it flares up. Any CBD rub gives my inflammation an instant relief. Granted, this is not a cure all. I also have continued my stretching and my yoga to help strengthen my core which is the root of my issue.

4. THE BOYS - This Amazon Original series is new product to the superhero world. The pitch here for this series is “WATCHMEN MEETS KICKASS AND MAKE IT INTO A SERIES.” Surprisingly finding its way through dark humor and superhero antics, I enjoy the overall characters. If you are a fan of the DEADPOOL movies, you will definitely enjoy this hit.

5. 90’s PLAYLIST (SPOTIFY) - I was doing some wedding playlist searching, and found myself listening to this playlist. It brought me back to my childhood and it felt great to bob my head to every song in the line-up. You can follow this playlist and jam with me here.

August is my Birthday Month! Thirty is approaching and I am excited for the wedding plans to come together.

XoXo

Britt

ACEVEDO DESIGNED ACEVEDO BUILT

A few weeks ago, Jose posted a photo of our newly finished product, the pergola! Acevedo designed and Acevedo build, the deck and the pergola are the newest additions to the FInding Arizona Home and we are one step closer to the wedding date and the backyard looking fabulous! I wanted to take this time to highlight the amazing team behind Pair of Aces. My amazing father in law and his business partner work so hard to deliver quality results and treat every project like it is apart of their home.

Our deck was the first project the Aces worked on. This gigantic 16x18ft deck was put up in 3 days and elevated the space in so many ways. We went from a 2x4ft plastic deck to a massive idahoan wood dance floor. I came home from work one day and had the pleasure of screwing in the last screw! Speaking of dance floor: it has been brought to my attention by a close friend, and professional that if you are attending the Finding AZ Wedding DO NOT wear skinny heels. Block heels, wedges and flats are preferred, not only for the deck, but the grass ceremony and gravel dinner. I am sure at one point all shoes will be off, but just a side note.

More recently, the pergola was designed and installed. I loved watched Jose use Sketchup to bring his design to life. I joked that the model in the photo looked just like him! Right?

After printing out measurements to the team, the Pair of Aces were off to work cementing in footings and getting all the wood we need to sand and stain. We wanted to work smarter so we sanded and sealed each piece of lumber prior to it going up. This meant late nights and sore muscles, but now that it is all up we are so glad we took the tame to protect the wood.

Each hour casts a different shadow on the pergola creating the most breathtaking shadows. Yesterday afternoon I was sitting in our library gazing out the sliding glass doors in awe of the hand crafted masterpiece. From the block wall, to the deck to the pergola all I want to do is hangout outside in the yard and admire. BUT of course in the pool, because we have officially hit triple digit teens in AZ!

Time to book your travel plans and pack your bathing suit. I fixed up the guest room for some amazing people staying with us in July, and of course, will shared the details on the blog here! No, it’s not a real Air BnB but it feels like paradise to us everyday.

XoXo

Britt

SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL INVITES BY DESIGN SQUEEZE

I got a text two days ago saying, “I got your wedding invitation!! So beautiful! Just like you.” BEAUTIFUL is exactly the word I would use to describe these custom watercolor invitations by Design Squeeze. From the custom watercolor agave to the classically, clean info sheet, these invitations are everything we wanted and more!

I discovered Design Squeeze through The Honey Book, like so many amazingly talented creatives we have worked with. I found out her name was also Brittany, and after scheduling a meet up at Copper Star Coffee, we saw how passionate she was and loved her open arms to work with us! Our meet and greet was getting to know her and her journey of transitioning from a side hustle to full time business owner and also venturing into the blessed world of motherhood. She met our puppy, Winter, and went through the timeline of the process: questionnaire, design, edits, production. What seemed like so long, is here now!

The process of working with Brittany at Design Squeeze is seamless. Her online web portal started us off with a questionnaire covering everything from favorite fonts and colors, to things to avoid. We had a fun time asking ourselves what we saw for our dream invites, browsing through Pinterest and clipping magazine examples. Getting our first draft back was as exciting as a Christmas morning. Always seeing what a designer envisions from your suggestions is my favorite part of the process. Brittany did a great job capturing our style in 2 very unique and different ways at first. Design 1, although I loved, did present more of a feminine feel with the pink colors and curvy fonts. Design 2 took my breath away. From the simple watercolor to the classic black and white feature card, I was smiling from ear to ear.

Each edit and proof was so easy to navigate and communicate. Within days the edits were made and Brittany was more than open to suggestions to ensure it was exactly what we wanted for our special day. When it came time to sample paper, I left it up to the the expert herself and when she hand delivered them to us I was nearly in tears.

This new mommy, who was gifted a beautiful healthy baby girl in this time frame also stuffed all of the envelopes! She truly is the best! All that was left was stamp and seal!

Browsing though the gram one day I saw an advertisement for custom stamps from stamps.com. Our face on a stamp? I thought I had to be famous for that! It was a great way to add another personal touch to our invites. We ordered 2 different types for the invites and RSVPs. Just in time, the maid of honor showed up for a weekend in the desert when the stamps arrived! We organized, sealed and sipped coffee one morning, then off to the post office for a photo shoot worth getting honked at.

My two favorite things about the invites are how perfect each piece is as a stand alone, but also how it comes together to complete the suite beautifully. These are extras we can keep as momentas forever. My second favorite is one of the things I was most nervous about addressing:
Dress Code & No Children. We love your kids, but keep them home. We want everyone to feel safe, relaxed and comfortable. We have a pool. We have drinks. Enjoy 1 night without the littles. AND wear Black and White ONLY. We want the whole party to feel apart of the “party.” Simple, classic and clean. Dont make me give you a Goodwill back up at the door.

It is not the end of our journey with Design Squeeze. We, of course, will be having Brittany on for a full episode on the Finding Arizona Podcast so everyone can learn about her amazing talents and why you want to work with her to from anything from invites to custom stationary to prints and signs! You can learn more and send Brittany a message for her services at designsqueeze.com and we will see some of you in a few months.

Looking forward to getting back your RSVP’s

XoXo

Britt

GUEST ROOM REDESIGN ON A DIME

It only took us over a year to fix up the guest room, but we did it! First, it was storage, then WInter’s Dog Room, and now a proper guest room for our future stays! I cannot be more excited about the first guest staying in the room, but before that, I want to share all the details of this design on a dime guest room.

When we first moved in and painted every room in the house I immediately used this room to practice an ombre wall. Blending blues for hours and hours I was very impressed by my work of art and have even used it for several photo backdrops. We used the blank walls to hang my Monet prints collection. Other than that this room was easy to clean up to prep for a makeover. A little paint to touch up the base boards that our wonder full puppy chewed up and the room was ready for furniture.

We wanted to go with a futon for function and sticking with the midcentury trend keep the style of the furniture like the house. A futon allows us to maybe put a bed in later or adjust the use of the room altogether. We also wanted to put in a credenza. Not a dresser and not a tv console, but both, and our guests can put snacks in their too! These two pieces are bold in color and purpose but we are happy with the outcome and function.

Thriting and repurposing was where the rest of the details came from. My favorite orange rug from Ikea is a simple and inexpensive way to add color and change up a room. I love the shag to it! Great for bedrooms! Speaking of Ikea this clock shelf was in my office for the last 6 years, and I still love to this day, which is why Ikea still carries it! The statement chair was a set of two from Costco 6 years ago as well and Costco doesn’t even carry things from 6 months ago so good luck finding that! Finally I thrifted this Ikea blue table at a Goodwill 50% off day and scored it for $3.

I would like to think I am pretty good at “Staging a Bookcase.” All you really need are: Books (lol), candles, plants (real or fake), art, photos, crystals (something unique). Make sure to balance each shelf meaning if you did a book on the right, a few shelves down, add book on the left. Always share photos of great memories and change them out from time to time or different seasons or guests. And finally, put some crystals in there. Cleanse the energy and give your guests something to admire.

A few candles and throw pillows from target’s clearance section and we are ready to put some fresh linens in the cabinet and have our first guest enjoy her stay. We are book through July and Last week in August, but message me and we can see whats open for the other summer dates.

XoXo

Britt

JUNE FINAL FRIDAY FIVE FAVORITE FINDS

June makes is Summa Summa Summa Time in AZ and things are heating up. Temps hit 110 this week and here are the 5 things we each did to keep our cool and stay cool.

BRITT’S FIVE

1. ONE RAW MEAL A DAY- If you have not read my blog post about my results from my food sensitivities test, I suggest you do so here. But, LMTY (Let me tell you) I think I just made that acronym up. I am really more conscious of my food habits and choosing to nourish by supplementing 1 raw meal a day. Whether that be a protein shake or a Perfect Bar for breakfast or a pressed juice or a salad for lunch. I have substituted cashew milk and all!

2. BEING A STUDENT - I promise this is not a post to highlight my blogs, although, if you create BOMB content share the hell out of it because you worked so hard to put your heart out there. Recently, I changed careers and have spend the second half of June being the best student. First, it is in healthcare and more specifically: skilled nursing. Second, it also involves a Microsoft HP Elitebook and an Android Samsung Galaxy S9+. Send help! Between my online training and in person trial by fire I know this time next month I will be confident from competence. Catch up on the change here.

3. HAIR CLIPS FROM THE 90S - You have seen them all over insa! And would you would believe I still have a few a barrettes from when I was a kid? I did score and find some amazing deal on a amazon for too many I will ever use. I am a creature of habit and will usually style my hair the same way, but throwing in a barrette allows for variety. I really wish I could rock the headbands but I get the worst headaches.

4. WORKAHOLICS - I know this show stopped airing years ago, and if I was doing this blog feature then it would have been on it for sure. I was searching Hulu for a new binge and came across this comedy classic. Three stoner friends surviving corporate america, barely and living for shenanigans- what more can you ask for for a good laugh. I recently watched the Adam Devin Netflix special and it was a hilarious too! Definitely a recommend.

5. THE ALCHEMIST- Our July book of the month book is The Alchemist by by Paulo Coelho is the story of a shepherd’s journey, but is sooooo much more than that. It was such a great book for my career transition and also a book for anyone and everyone to learn from and most importantly what happens when you pursue your dreams.

JOSE’S FIVE:

1. DRAKE FT. RICK ROSS (MONEY IN THE GRAVE) - This is my new workout jam. It’s just a good hit you gotta listen to.

2. WELL FOR CULTURE PODCAST - Well For Culture is an Indigenous wellness initiative to help reclaim health and wellness. Episode 1 is the introductory episode: a breakdown of our general philosophy, a peek into who we are, and a preview of what’s to come. Take a listen here.

3. DAVID DOBREK VLOG - This youtuber has a comedy vlog series that has had me cracking up from its ability swing emotionally through the episodes. From laughs, to crazy stunts, and celebrity visits catch it all every week for FREE. Check it out here.

4. LUNCH TIME - Recently, Britt has been home for lunch with me. Its fun to send extra time with your significant other than you normally do. Our time together is precious and I enjoy every second we get.

5. POOLS!! - As the summer months starts to ramp up, I am thankful for the pool I can jump in and enjoy. I use it to swim and exercise in. Its overall therapy from the harsh temperatures.

July has some fun guests in store and even warmer weather! June FLEW by and I know the last 3 before the wedding will even more!

XoXo

Britt

NO MORE ALMONDS- YOU'RE NUTS

The test results for my food sensitivities test are in. What!? Food sensitivities!? Yes! I took an Everlywell at home test to be more aware of what I am feeding my body. As you can tell by my title, ALMONDS are at the top of the list! And it’s all I can think about eating. But, here are the #5W’s to share my journey from eating nuts to being a healthier nut.

This idea sparked a few years ago when I took an at home DNA test for my golden birthday. I was rehashed with a food test and didn’t bite. I saw a few people on the socials trying the sensitivities test and fascinated with their results. And, finally, over the last 3 years I have tried changing my habits and incorporating juice cleanses, but need the cold, hard facts to tell me what to do.

What is the difference between sensitivities and allergies? The Mayo Clinic best defines it:“Food allergies cause an immune system reaction, where food intolerance/sensitivities symptoms are often limited to digestive problems.” I realized that drinking an overload of kombucha did not produce any more benefits than just a delicious refreshing drink after a certain point. And after my initial I’m hungry and have a bad headache from the first day of juice cleanse feeling I felt great and wanted to carry on that.

I ordered my Everlywell test and it arrived in 3 days. The test kit had everything I needed. First, I created a profile online and registered my code. The registration allowed me to get text confirmations and immediate notifications when my results were ready. Then it was time to collect the sample. I had Jose prick my finger and pool just enough blood to fill three dots on the collection card. Lancets are provided and my brave, strong, future husband did all the work! A few bandaids later, I let the sample paper dry and properly enveloped it to drop off for mailing.

Everly Well’s testing labs are CLIA certified and the test results are independently validated by a doctor. My test results were ready in exactly 7 business days.

My food sensitivity results showed 1 food that was a high reactivity, 4 that were moderate reactivity, 16 that were mild reactivity, and 75 that were low reactivity. Low Reactivity are considered largely non-reactive, as this level of reactivity is considered normal, while High Reactivity (Class 3) foods are considered very reactive and guess what was there- ALMONDS! My favorite nut, my favorite candy bar, my favorite cookie….. now my new love will be Cashews.

Not surprising were my moderate reactivity foods: MILK- COWS, WHEAT, CHEESE- MOZZARELLA, CHEESE- COTTAGE. Well, surprising because I LOVE CHEESE, but not because we all should be more aware of the gluten and dairy we’re intaking. One of my intentions for June was to eat 1 raw meal per day and I have honored that by replacing a meal with a juice or a salad everyday since.

I’ll wrap up my results with my mild reactivity foods, the 16 are: GLUTEN, MALT, POTATO- WHITE, BARLEY, TURKEY, CORN, LETTUCE, CABBAGE, PINEAPPLE, LEMON. PEACH, SOLE. MUSHROOM. COCOA. CHICKEN. WATERMELON. My alcohol reactions now make sense as my body is not tolerating it any more, but if I have to suffer a tummy ache for cocoa, I just might. I can give up Vodka, but not Chocolate.

I will continue my bio hacking journey and taking any tips and tricks to avoid cheese. I will use this info to make healthier decisions for myself and encourage those I love to honor their health too. I loved my experience with Everlywell. They have easy-to-use tests that range from Food Sensitivity to Thyroid, and 30 others. Use my link and get 20% off your purchase!

XoXo

Britt

WHEN ONE DOOR CLOSES....

I debated about sharing this. I REALLY debated about sharing this in anyway and the last thing I thought about was writing a blog post about it. BUT, while taking a shower, where I get my best thoughts, it came to me…. why am I not sharing this!

For the past nine years, almost a decade, I’ve been an entrepreneur and more recently I am making the biggest change into corporate America. Why am I scared to share? Because of what others would think of me? Oh, how horrible that is to say, how horrible that is to type, but just thinking about it made me realize that I’m not alone and I definitely need to share and let others know that they can be confident in making and sharing life changes too!

Straight out of college I jumped in to a direct marketing and sales position. I had no idea what I was doing at first but, I knew that I loved it I had a passion for the people I was surrounded by every single day and I was learning something new every single day. Within 24 months, I was running my own marketing company! I was in a completely new state I was making decisions for people’s futures, writing and signing paychecks. I was creating opportunities and jobs for people every single day.

I am more than grateful for the skills that I’ve acquired through a career in direct marketing and sales. The first half of my nearly decade in this industry was building and developing Roadshows for Fortune 100 companies. Learning how to take “No’s to the Chin” and how to time manage like a MOFO was my specialty. The second half was building and developing people and then really honing in on my skill sets in marketing both direct and indirect. I created digital magazines, built websites and took on the challenges of learning photography and videography. I had business coaches and I had life coaches.

I went from running the business to having one of my best friends and business partners allow me to help run her organization on a daily basis. Most recently she’s been presented an opportunity to help hit some of her long-term goals and I am more than excited to watch her grow. This also has allowed me to really look at my goals and ask myself “Where do I see myself growing.” At first I said, “I can’t imagine my life without this business“ and then I realized, “I can’t imagine my life without her in this business.” So the universe provided me with connections and opportunities and without even me sending my resume to the job boards that I am more than familiar with getting candidates from I was put in the right inbox at the right time and made an unbelievable connection into the corporate world of healthcare. This will be a completely different industry, but at the end of the day it’s all about building relationships, putting a smile on somebody’s face and HELPING PEOPLE.

So as this one door closes I see 1 million more opening and I’m definitely not saying goodbye to anyone today it is see you later. Driving to my last day at the office today I listened to the Tim Ferriss Show interview with The Coach with the Spider Tattoo and among many things, one quote stood out to me: “Often times we speak with our actions and go through life without being heard.” And this is my attempt at speaking my actions.

Do I feel better after sharing this? Yes, but not as good as I felt after telling my parents and they were the ones that I was the most nervous, scared, in fact, hesitant, to tell because of what they would think. But why? They’ve shown nothing but love; they have and they always will. So if you’re reading this afraid to tell somebody you love something, I hope this gives you the courage to do just that because tomorrow will be a better day for us all.

Xoxo
Britt

MAY FINAL FRIDAY FIVE FAVORITE FINDS

Wow, May was a QUICK month! I honestly don’t know where it went! We kept our head down focusing on the wall going up and scheduling podcasts episodes to keep us consistent. BUT in between the organized chaos here are the 5 things we are each learning, listening, eating, drinking and loving!

BRITT’S FIVE

1. URBAN DAWN’S “COME TOGETHER” - Drum and bass is my favorite genre of music for many reasons! Top 2 are: fast beats and the absolute skill that comes with producing and actually Dj-ing this music. Urban Dawn has been producing tunes for a while, BUT this tune is absolute bananas. Everyone likes the Beatles, so you will recognize this classic hit, but once the drop hits.... WOW! You can listen on Spotify here.

2. FRUITS, VEGGIES & TEAS - Not exciting I know, but I have been becoming more conscious of what I can and should eat. Understanding Tapatio isn’t one of them anymore. Lately I have been craving nutritious foods like raw broccoli, unsweetened black tea, nuts and seeds. I dislike peanut butter but love The Peanut Butter Perfect Bar! On the go, QT has an amazing selection of fresh brewed teas. So when we need refreshing drinks we reach for tea instead of soda.

3. DALLMYD - aka Scuba Jake aka Scuba Steve 2019. Let me preface this by saving I am not savvy in the YouTubes, but I heard about Suba Jake, a young treasure hunter who returns and cleans up what he finds. I can watch him and his friends search underwater for hours. It may not always be crystal clear waters but guaranteed he finds the crazy stuff! From guns, to gemstones, even snakes. Watch one of his videos here. The sound of the water is so soothing and the first person Gopro cam is a great perspective.

4. THAIRAPY CLIPLESS CURLER - For the nearly a decade I have a had my hand in developing roadshows for major retailers and one of our latest clients is Thairapy. It’s designed to lock nutrients in your hair with their styling tools and my favorite, the clip-less curler is made with tourmaline. I have ALWAYS been a fan of the wand / clipless curler, but this one leaves my hair with more volume and lasts longer. It’s sold out on Amazon and Neiman Marcus but you can check here for you local Costco roadshow!

5. THE GREAT 48 - Yes, of course, Joe and I had to pick this month’s Phoenix Magazine! The honorary Great 48 Issue was released and who can you find among the media team? Jose and the Finding Arizona Podcast. I’m not saying that my manifestation of putting this on my vision board back in January (you can see the photo here on my pinterest page), but I am also saying what you put out there will come back to you! I am so proud of the recognition, but also the verification that what we are doing is “Great” and with our continued consistency and not losing sight of why we started we will hit even bigger goals! You can see the entire article and read about all 48 amazing individuals here!

JOSE’S FIVE:

1. HERTZ SPECIFIC PLAYLISTS - Before going to bed, i will turned on one of their playlists (usually from Youtube). I turn on 435 Hrtz because I have felt best after night sleep with it on. 

2. VALLEY 101 PODCAST - Recently, a past guest on the podcast transition from one podcast to another. She is now part of the Valley 101 podcast, and she is doing wonderful episodes. THe podcast is produced by the Arizona Republic and AZCentral.com. I have learned a lot of Phoenix specific history.  Take a listen here.

3. PHOENIX MAGAZINE “GREAT 48” - am suggesting this article for everyone to read. Not only cause I am in it,but also because there are 47 other really amazing people you need to read about. Check it out here.

4. HOT ONES - This Youtube series is back with a new line up of hot sauces for celebrities. It is so much fun to watch and experience. The latest is with the Jonas Brothers, and it will only get better from there.  

5. FOAM ROLLER - I am using this tool more and more because of my lower back. I use mostly really get out knots from long days. I look up how-to videos either on Pinterest or Instagram. 

We are looking forward to June and keeping up with some of the health and wellness practices into the Summer! We hope you enjoyed an insight into our May 2019.

XoXo

Britt

FINDING ARIZONA WEDDING PLANNING: MONTHS 8-5 TIMELINE

Wow! We are less than 6 months out from “I Do” ‘s, so it is time for a recap on the last few months and how we have been preparing for the preparations. These passed few months my menality went from planning a wedding to planning the best damn party and wait till you ready what we got cooking!

Month 8

INVITATIONS : After finalizing our guest list and organizing everything via spreadsheets, its time to invite! We are fortunate to be partnering up with Design Squeeze! We met Brittany through the Honey Book and after having coffee, hearing her story, and connecting on so many levels we began production. After a few proofs and such a streamline editing process we are headed to production. I will be sharing a full blog post on our invites and the amazing process of working with Design Squeeze on the blog very soon.

HOME PROJECTS : We began tackling some outdoor projects starting with a custom 14’ x 18’ deck! Jose’s dad and business partner took 3 days and installed a gorgeous deck right off our back patio. It is Jose and I’s turn to sand and stain next! Also, I started and completed my wall! Completely repurposed pallet wood and designed a herringbone feature wall. You can read about the entire process on the blog now!

PLANNER MEETING: We had a follow up meeting with Paige of Front Paige Events to talk timeline and the next steps! We were told we were ahead of schedule. I laid out my vision board and we game planned how to turn dream into realities. We also laid out EVERYTHING we have started stock piling up, glass ware, table covers, tree stumps. She opened up my eyes to questions I didnt even think about. Like what would be in the line of sight during the ceremony photos and how to reset the space amongst the chaos. She has been a pleasure to work with and up next is picking out a caterer and she graciously invited us over for take out and taste testings, more to come on that!

Month 7

WEDDING WEBSITE: After getting engaged I was bombarded with ads to create your own site, link your registry, and download this app. I was not onboard for any of this. Instead we began creating our own website through the FInding Arizona page! First, I googled top wedding websites and screenshotted some of my favorites. Then we recreated it. We not only wanted to give the basics: location, registrations and where to stay, but we also wanted to highlight the amazing vendors we have a pleasure of working with. It officially went live and you can check it out here. We share places we LOVE in Phoenix and will be adding details throughout the entire wedding planning process.

HAIR AND MAKEUP: I found another amazing partnership with Lorissa Kyle through the Honey Book! She goes by What Lois Likes and not only is she a phenomenal MUA she is also developing her only line of cosmetics! I have been pinning inspos on my board you can check out here. We will be meeting up soon and talking details of trials.

Month 6

MUSIC : They don’t call me DJBJ for nothing and yes, I will be DJing our wedding. No, not like that. BUT I am curating an amazing Spotify playlist to capture tunes for all audiences to groove to. You can follow the playlist here. We are taking requests now and will be adding as the time gets closer.

CUSTOM JEAN JACKET: One of the pins I was obsessed over recreating was the custom denim jacket with “Mrs.” and Roman Numerals of the wedding date. Ask and I shall receive. Thanks to my amazingly talented soon to be mother in law, she made my pinterest board come to life. I, of course found the black denim jacket at the goodwill bins paying no more than $1.15 for it. I sent her photos for inspo and days later it was in my hands. I cannot wait to take some stunning photos in it on the big day. Who wears a jean jacket over a couture gown? A girl who will be stylishly cold on her wedding day.

Month 5

BLOCK WALL: As I mentioned in the last timeline post, our budget primarily went to our venue/our house- and first priority was removing our chain link fence and replacing it with a block wall. Over the last year we have a handful of contractors come by give us quotes and after meeting with Dan from Toro Construction and of course loving his prices we decided to go with their team. Four days and minimum of four guys per day went to work and completed the goal! By the end of the clean up I never thought I could love my house even more than I did, but wow, what a difference. I feel like I finally live in the Castle I deserve to be in.

We did not expect this much rain this reason and it has pushed back some projects that we are looking to tackle ASAP! Also, we are thriving with the podcast making sure to stay consistent in episodes and even planning out very own LIVE Create Your Own Podcast Event, teaming up with The Forum, an amazing co working space in Chandler!

XoXo

Britt