MISSION CLOSET REORGANIZATION

They say one of the keys to a successful marriage is not sharing a closet- well we went 1 year following that rule, but now with the nursery taking over, my closet room, I am learning to share. Wish us luck as we come up on our first year wedding anniversary.

Jose was blessed with a walk in closet since we moved into the house and took to sharing very nicely. Our key elements going into the reorganization are we wanted to stay organized, size down and make sure it was esthetically pleasing. After a few weekends of work and binging the entire season of Get Organized with the Home Edit on Netflix we now have a success husband and wife closet. Here are a few tricks we followed to smooth out the process. Whether you are sharing or not here is how to live your best closet life.

1.       Eliminate- Whether you follow Marie Kondo’s “does it spark Joy?” rule or not, we went through our entire closet and asked ourselves: When is the last time you wore it? Does it fit? Is it practical? As a new mom I need to make sure I am updating my wardrobe getting rid of the trendy sweaters and graphic T’s and making full use of a wardrobe I can wear. After compiling several boxes and trash bags of donations we were able to eliminate quite a bit.

2.       Categorize- Once we had what we were keeping, we started organizing by style- shirts with shirts, pants with pants, jackets with jackets, etc. Even accessories matter too- hats, belts, shoes. It not only makes it easier to find things but also organizes for seasonal wear and an added plus, it is esthetically pleasing.

3.       Make it look good- If your closet looks good, it is a place you will enjoy being in; picking out something to wear or folding laundry wont feel like a chore when it is a place that bring you happiness. You don’t have to break the bank by hiring a third party closet organization company- instead #DIY. Two biggest tips are matching hangers and bins. The velvet hangers fit more and look great, we picked ours up from Costco, but Amazon has a great deal too, check it out here. Storage bins allow you to not have the perfect fold or throw things you don’t normally fold in like socks or ties. We picked up these from Walmart- V budget friendly.

Hope this brings some inspiration to your closet. I would love to see some before and afters in your house. As we prepare the baby room, these tips will definitely carryover and we hope to continue to keep the peace in our shared closet.

XoXo

Britt

ITS A BOY!

I recieve the best birthday present last week- knowing that we are having a baby boy come January 2021. Once people find out you’re pregnant, they immediately ask girl or boy and what I am hoping it is. Honestly, I would respond, and still wish for just a healthy baby. With my first, and now second trimester being so rough- dealing with so much nausea uncomfortableness and I can pray for is my baby is healthy and growing strong. After several ultra sounds we were being reassured that, but last Wednesday, for my (31st) Birthday we had another anatomy scan and were given the news about the gender, it’s a boy!

We scheduled an anatomy ultra sound for the first thing in the morning. After about 45 minutes of measuring heart, brain, lungs, kidneys, and more, we got down to the legs. And the tech goes “this is the right leg, this is the left leg, and this is a boy.” Jose was ecstatic! We quickly had another appointment with the midwife right after and we were happy to share the news with her too. Also the 20 photos the tech printed for us, she was amazing.

After the appointments we rushed home, safely, to finish icing the gender reveal cupcakes for my office meeting. The night before i baked 48 funfetti cupcakes. Once cooled, I scooped out a small section from the center, food colored vanilla icing in pink and blue and filled 24 each. I covered the tops with swirled white vanilla icing and packed the blue ones in Tupperware to share with my work team.

Calling the parents was probably one of my favorite things about the experience. We called the Acevedo’s separately as they were at work. Then we faced timed my parents who were costing my uncles at the time. My mom said “I knew it.” And assured my dad we have another little cubs fan joining the team soon.

An episode of our VLOG was dedicated to this announcement and you can check it out here. make sure to subscribe to catch all of them.

Every day after I have felt little flutters/ bubbles where our little boy is at knowing that he is just as excited as we are to meet us. Few more months of cooking to go and now it’s time to focus on the nursery. Excited to share more as we begin this next project.

XoXo

Britt

PREGNANCY SNACKS

Snack time! It seems to be the only thing helping me in between the nausea. Having a little something every 3 hours instead of big meals you would think would be easy to remember, but working 10 hour days, I sometimes forget or can’t pack enough to eat. These are some the yummies I have been loving, and I think they would be great for your back to school kiddos too, whether in the house or on the campus it is worth the share!

Perfect Bar Bites! Peanut butter is the only flavor I love. Even though I do not like peanut better, these bites are heavenly. In stead of a full bar- which I could only eat half of, you get a container full of bites. Have a few, close the lid, and save for later. They last well beyond the best by date (whoops) and can stay out of the fridge, but can go right back in.

Apple Sauce Squeeze Pouches! These are not just for toddlers, but as an adult don’t you love apple sauce too? Stick it in the fridge or freezer and by the time you are ready for it, it is still cold. Its a little sweet and a little sour and one sometimes isn’t enough, but it is the perfect snack to satisfy all your cravings. We picked up the Costco size pack and even though it is just the two/three of us, we will be going through it!

Fruit Leather! There is such thing as a healthy fruit roll up. Fruit leather is packed with five plus fruits and all 100% fruit ingredients into one delicious strip. You get help getting your daily does and a little sweet treat at the same time. The apple cinnamon ones taste like an apple pie and the tropical ones taste like a vacation.

Cheese its! We can’t keep these long enough in our house. Whenever I start to feel sick I reach for something bubbly- Ginger ale and Cheese its! I am all saltined out and I love cheese so this satisfies both my cracker and cheese craving. Pair it with some green olives and pumpkin seeds and I have my own charcuterie board in 2 seconds.

Pumpkin Seeds! It doesn’t have to be Halloween to enjoy these salty yummies. No shell and a pinch of salt; you can get hem by the sack full at Costco, or fill your own bag at a health-food store. Not to mention they are packed with vitamins you cant get in other salty snacks.

Finishing this post means it is time for a snack, you too! You deserve it. Also with these cravings what do you think it means? Boy or girl? We will soon find out.

XoXo

Britt

EXPECTING AMY (AND BRITT)

Amy Schumer and her husband share a raw mini-series on HBO on the ups and downs of her pregnancy journey and their adventure to parenthood. I was not a fan of hers in the past- you either love that she always talks bout her vagina or you don’t. But, now that I am relating and finding more of an interest in everything about pregnancy this was a must watch.

Broken up into three parts, part one called “Conception” is all about her first 15 weeks of pregnancy and this episode in not for the weak stomaches. As someone suffering from all day sickness I had to leave the room a few times and visit the toilet bowl myself during this episode. Although it was rough to watch, I loved the way she outlines the unglamorous phase of pregnancy. All my life I have seen from movies and the highlights of social media ladies puke once, find out they’re pregnant then live their best, glowing nine months. But Amy shares the opposite- and I can relate. Feeling sick all the time, no energy, losing weight, throwing up multiple times a day, that is my first trimester and the start of my second.

Part two is called, “Gestation” and this part focused more on her and her husband, Chris’ personal life as he is diagnosed late in life with Aspergers. Not only are they experiencing her first pregnancy, but she is also touring and prepping to film her Netflix special. The entire series is directed by Alexander Hammer- who also brought us Beyonce’s Homecoming documentary. And between the hand-cam cinematography and the professionalism once we were halfway into episode two, we were committed to finishing the third. Amy is unfortunately diagnosed with hyperemesis: excessive vomiting through out your entire pregnancy. She finds little relief in suppositories and I can relate.

The final episode, “Birth” everything comes to a close. The special gets filmed, the diagnosis are more manageable and little baby, Gene, makes his way into this world. Although, the complicated C section scene left me- and Amy scarred, it was beautiful to see all the pain and suffering was worth a beautiful health baby boy. That is all I keep telling myself- when everyone else says- it will go away, you will feel great soon, I am tired of hearing it and just look forward to the day I can hold my little one and say, it was all worth it.

WINTER'S SECOND BIRTHDAY

Last Monday we celebrated Winter’s second birthday. It was lot different than her first. No big party, no theme, no friends over for fun. It was a Monday and I had the day off from working all weekend, so it was a day to just spoil our little one before our new little one arrives.

We started the morning off with a trip to Petco. We have been in the market for a new harness for our big two year old. During our morning walks she can get a little rambunctious, so we researched using a harness versus a leash would help establish dominance and make the walk more enjoyable for us both. After trying on a few styles and sizes in store we settled on the Kong brand harness, here.

In the afternoon, to beat the heat, we treated her to an at home spa day: Mani, pedi and a bath. Recently, I ordered a dremel pet nail file from Amazon and it is the best and safest way to keep her nails short and dull. It is a highly recommended product, check it out here. For less than the cost of one nail trim you can have unlimited at home. At first, it took some getting used to, but it is a lot less stressful than being a in a grooming room with blowing fans, barking dogs, and a stranger grinding down her nail bed. Finally we finished up with a fresh shampoo and conditioner wash leaving her coat so soft and smelling great.

In the evening I got in the kitchen to put together a dog and people friendly birthday cake. I found an easy recipe on the TheAlmondEaster.com. I had all the ingredients and made a frosting from peanut butter- another one of her favorites. After singing Happy Birthday, Jose and I got to enjoy a slice with her too.

I know next year’s birthday will look very different, but life is all about sharing the little joys together as a family, making memories and capturing them for years to come. I hope you enjoyed our little one’s birthday recap and the photos along with it.

Also, if you are interested in learning more about dog food and how to choose the right dog food for your dog, check out this amazing article. It breaks down so much valuable information and if you consider your fur baby as part of your own family, then you will check it out too.

XoXo

Britt

RED, WHITE & DUE

Coming in with the big news! Eleven weeks and three days pregnant: it’s official! Well we can talk about it now because it’s been official on social media and we are overjoyed with all the love we are receiving. This is been one of the hardest secrets to keep and I can’t wait to tell you the story and continue to share throughout the journey of becoming a mother.

How did I find out?

I knew because I had a feeling when I was getting sick in the afternoon consistently and I missed my period- I know I knew it was time to take an official test. When I saw the + it didn’t seem real almost like a dream but I knew I had to share the news in an exciting way to Jose. I was overjoyed with the news that our life was about to change- we are about to be parents.

How did Jose find out?

Four days after I received the news, jose and I both had the same day off and I booked us an appointment to confirm the news. That morning I woke up early and went and got donuts, threw up on my way to the donut place, came back home told Jose what a great cat dad he is what an amazing dog that he is and that he’s going to even make an even better human. He was in shock, of course, like most first time dad’s reactions. From there we went to the doctors to confirm the news

Working in healthcare I am mediately had to tell my boss, my director of nursing and my HR director, but they couldn’t have been more supportive. The hardest thing, though, has been or was keeping it from our families.

How did the family find out?

I’m an only child so I knew that I had to tell my parents in person and during this quarantine I didn’t make things any easier. We tried to get them to come out but Fourth of July ended up being the big weekend. Keeping it from the local parents, Jose’s parents, was even harder especially when you want to go over for Sunday dinner or celebrate Father’s Day. Finally we had everyone over on the Fourth- and shared- were Red, White and Due, January 2021.

So how is my first trimester?

The morning sickness turned in the afternoon sickness turned in the evening sickness. I remember getting my blood drawn and the phlebotomist said the only time she wasn’t sick was when she was sleeping and I feel that girl. The cravings were more like things I enjoyed over things I didn’t enjoy like citrus sour salty things. I really had to change up how I was eating meals and making sure I was snacking throughout the day to not only keep up my nutritional intake, but make sure that I was eating enough. But, even as I write this I’m trying to figure out if I want to go throw up or not. So, first trimester we are a week away from being over and I’m hoping that’s true with the nausea as well. Now that the cats out of the bag I can start asking for tips tricks and any advice that will help me along the way to the second and third trimester. 

Boy or Girl?

That’s the million dollar question. As long as the baby is healthy I am happy and to make sure the baby stays healthy I need to make sure I’m taken care of myself. This is hard for me because I want to do everything obviously cleaning the cat box and heavy lifting is out, but I definitely need to be more vocal in expressing my needs and allowing those around me to lend their hands. Being pregnant during the Corona Virus is not any easier, not that I have anything to compare to, but imagine being sick and having to wear a mask all day- feeling nauseous and the smell makes you sicker and you have to continue to either smell your mask or smell whats is in your mask. I also work in healthcare so I see the pandemic every- new cases or asymptomatic patients and I know that I need to put myself first, my health and my baby.

 I can’t wait to share everything about this journey. It’s a long road ahead, but baby when you read this when you’re older, know that I love you so much already and I don’t even know you. Cheers to 2021! I know we’re all looking forward to it for so many reasons and here’s another one! Thank you for the love and support and we can’t wait to debut our new Finding Arizona Podcast Co-host in January 2021.

XoXo

Britt

ARIZONA LOOKS TO BECOME HOTBED OF ESPORTS

Arizona is well on the way to become a hotbed for eSports in the US, courtesy of our thriving college teams.

Grand Canyon University, University of Arizona and Arizona State University all have thriving eSports teams which have seen notable success of late, but that isn’t the only reason we might soon see a boom of eSports in the area.

The field of eSports, in general, has seen an increase in popularity, not least due to the recent world crisis. In the absence of physical sports, fans and players alike have taken to their computers not only to participate but also to watch and interact with their favorite sports teams. Major League Baseball’s Player League was a roaring success, capturing the imagination of baseball fans across the country, although the Diamondback’s pitcher Jon Duplantier did not qualify for the playoffs, finishing 17th of 30.

Indeed, even prior to the need for more home-based activities, ‘electronic sports’ was rising in popularity across the globe. In Asia, the 30th South East Asia Games saw eSports make a debut as an event. Expatbets reports that eSports is the rising star of the entertainment sector and that was cemented in the region by the inclusion of titles such as Dota 2, Tekken 7 and Starcraft 2. They took their place at the games alongside more traditional physical sports such as badminton, soccer and swimming. That exposure across a wide range of platforms has also been evident in other parts of the world, including the US. The Player’s League took place on MLB: The Show 20, whilst other titles such as Rocket League, Fortnite and Overwatch also have thriving communities built up around them.

Back in Arizona, GCU was the only school to reach the 2019 Overwatch National Championship beating the top-ranked school at the time, California-Irvine. Albert Lee, GCU’s esports coordinator, has grown their division since introduction in 2018, but he is also full of praise for the other two schools, who do not have university funding for their projects.

“From a community standpoint, I really admire the programs at ASU and U of A,” Lee told the Cronkite News. “We are lucky here at GCU to have university support. I’m impressed by what ASU and U of A have accomplished without it.”

It is not just the success of our universities that is helping develop Arizona as a hotbed of eSports. A WalletHub study looked at the percentage of homes that owned computers and smartphones to try to predict where an eSports hub might pop up and, surprisingly, Gilbert was amongst the top-ranked towns. That, along with the dreams of a company called Do Not Peek Entertainment, could help drive more eSports competitors to Arizona.

“We want to figure out how we can bring more esports to Arizona,” said Scott Smith, co-founder of Do Not Peek Entertainment. Smith is a former freelance journalist with 20 years’ experience in the industry and he’s hoping to bring more focus on the area as an eSports hub, although he’s mindful of the other companies who have been doing the same, for longer. “Being the flag holders might seem egotistical of us,” he added. “There have been organizations here longer than us grinding away and I don’t want to disparage those that have been here growing the scene.”

That desire ties in with the sublime efforts of U of A, ASU and GCU, all of whom have contributed to the exciting possibility of seeing Arizona become a hub for eSports in the future.

For further reading on how Arizona residents have been dealing with recent events, be sure to check out our article latest Quarantine Cookbook Club featuring Half Baked Harvest.

Credit – Tommy Beland / Writer.

CHANGES

“I see no changes, all I see is racist faces.” I can’t get this line outta my head given the current times. The tragic, senseless death of George Floyd in Minneapolis has put a spotlight on the injustice that exists in our country. We are hurting, exhausted, angry, and discouraged right now. I am not here to tell you what to do or how to act, just know that it’s tough for everyone. But, I am going to encourage you to have the talk: internally, externally, educate yourself and get out of your comfort zone because that’s where changes happen.

I started thinking about what I know about black culture or when I started learning or recognizing it. When did I see the difference in colors? I remember in elementary school I was enrolled in a dual English-Spanish immersion class. I was born and raised in San Diego and learned how to count to 10 in Spanish before English. It just becomes second nature - you don’t look at colors, symbols or people any better or worse, just respectfully different and that is perfectly okay. In the fourth grade I was in a performing arts school and we held a play entitled: Out of Africa. It really explained the history of slavery and racism- the first time I was really learning about it. Hearing the Martin Luther King speech over and over and over again in school is crucial to understand racism and the path towards anti-racism. What sticks with me is we will be judged by the content of our character and that’s how I was raised. We read about the riots in the 50s the 60s ,then the 70s , the 80s, definitely the 90s and now here we are in the middle of a pandemic experiencing the same damn thing we have for the last thousands of years.

I don’t have any answers I don’t have any solutions; I just know that I hear what’s going on and I am listening and I am actively participating in my own way. I don’t need to take to the streets to be heard I don’t need to jeopardize the safety of my family or myself to be heard and I don’t need to go low when they go low.

We will get through- it I don’t know how, but it starts with conversations much like this I’m having with myself: remembering, understanding, questioning, accepting, changing, adjusting. Our podcast mission remains the same: an open door policy for any race, religion, gender, background, or preference to share their truth. Our recommended book list is getting a lot longer with some eager reads and we are on a mission to discover the best BBQ in the valley. Together we will rise, we are Phoenix after all.

Stay Safe.

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

SQUEEZING OUT THE DEETS OF MY 3 DAY JUICE CLEANSE

Year three of my three day juice cleanse complete. How am I feeling? Hungry. So why do I do it? I enjoy a mental and physical challenge and as a Virgo I love controlling things. I consider it a reset and after enjoy all the great benefits and appreciations for delicious food and drinks.

I use the company Squeezed for my juice cleanse. This is my second year and I am a fan. Their delivery is next day, their juices are fresh and the cashew milk is to die for. It is reasonably priced and you can customize your experience to taste more sweet if you don’t like traditional “green juice” taste or spicy flavors to increase metabolism. The bottles are clearly numbered so its easy to follow. Directions are given about how frequent to drink and making sure to still pack in enough water.

Day 1 was the easiest this time. t was helpful to mentally be ready for the next two. I did not miss coffee as much as I thought I would and definitely happy no caffeine headache! However, I did not enjoy the final taste of the “dinner” juice to I opted to switch my lunch and dinner the next day. My energy was still up, but I was felt more bloated than I was before starting the cleanse. Looking forward to day two.

Day 2 was a sleepy day. I tried to keep up with more water today and I was so happy I made the switch for my lunch and dinner. At work we had a meeting catered by Chik-Fil-A, but I toughed it out; wearing a mask helped wean the smell. At night I did get some heartburn from my new dinner juice, but it went away after I drank tons more water. I did go to bed hungry and just started missing chewing and biting foods.

Day 3 is all mental. I wanted to stop for a coffee on the way to work or just start chewing carrots or celery to get my jaw moving, but I stayed strong. My coworker ordered Canes and it was even harder, but I feel skinny- whatever that means. No bloating, no gas, no irritable bowels. Plus, my skin is clear! This is when I start to believe what I did was good. I begin planning what my first meal is going to be: joking about donuts and pizza, but really craving a nice crisp salad or fresh grilled chicken breast.

So yes I may be “off my diet” now, but I dislike the word diet. Life is all about moderation and this yearly reset for me reminds me about how amazing food is and to appreciate all the wonderful things it does for our mind, body and soul. So yes, I will be back in the kitchen ASAP sharing a focaccia recipe and (of course) dessert recipes I have been finalizing. But this was fun and until next year, stay safe stay health, stay juicy.

XoXo Britt

If you are interested in checking out Squeezed please go online and sign up! You can also use my email address for a referral! johnsonbrittjohnson@gmail.com (its my old one, lol)