4 Months

April.1.2016 || 4 Months

Loves… walks in the stroller, trying to stand, playing airplane & kisses from the puppies!

Hates.. sitting still, his car seat & being held like a baby!

Ryker is currently sleeping through the night but things change day to day so right now we are embracing it ;) He loves rolling from belly to back and it so so close to go from back to belly. He loves being held and we have made it 4 months EBF which warms my heart because we have worked so hard! My favorite time is our dream feed or early morning feed because he is so cuddly. We see more personality each day and love watching Ry grow!

xoxo

The Ultimate Arizona Bucket List: Part 2 Food

With a lot of help, recommendations and personal experiences I bring you The Ultimate Arizona Bucket List. I am breaking the series into 3 parts because there is just so much!

Outdoor Adventures – Food – Entertainment 

I hope y’all can benefit from this and if you have any additions/changes please let me know so that we can all enjoy the great state of Arizona to its fullest!

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Breakfast & Doughnuts:
The Breakfast Club – Scottsdale
Perk Eatery – Scottsdale
Morning Glory Cafe – The Farm at South Mountain (Phoenix)
The Breakfast Joynt – Scottsdale
Matt’s Big Breakfast – Phoenix
Lamar’s Donuts – Phoenix
Bosa Donuts
Fractured Prune Doughnuts – Westgate
Donutsville – Peoria
Rainbow Donuts
Karl’s Quality Bakery – Phoenix
Crave Waffles – Westgate

Dessert:
Sprinkles Cupcakes – Scottsdale
The Sugar Bowl – Scottsdale
Sweet Republic
Rock Springs Café (Pie)
Top That Frozen Yogurt – Glendale
Churn Ice Cream – Phoenix
Nothing Bundt Cake
Thriftee Ice Cream Shop – Pinnacle Peak & 39th
Napoleon Bakery – Phoenix
Sweet Cakes Café – Mesa
Bahama Bucks
Frost Gelato
BJ’s Pizookie

Mexican/Spanish:
Rio Mirage Café Y Cantina – Surprise
Manuels
Blanco Tacos
La Santisma
Tapas Papa Frita
TeePee
Popos
Don Rubens
Pedros
Rito Burrito
Fredricos
Carolinas
Plaza Bonita
Salsa Blanca
Abuelos
Café Rumba
Mi Familia
Los Reyos de Tortas
Camineros
Casa Bonitas

Pizza/Italian:
Maggianos
Pomo
Oregano’s
Sauce
La Piazza Al Forno
Babbo Italian Eatery
Pizzeria Bianco
Nostalgi’a Cancione e Vino
Humble Pie
Organ Stop Pizza
Cibo
North
Grimaldis
The Parlor

Other:
True Food Kitchen
Zinburger
Culinary Dropout
Arrogant Butcher
Olive & Ivy
The Henry
The Fry Bread House
Windsor
Chop Shop
George & Son’s
Ghengis Grill
The Herb Box
Pho Avina – Vietnamese
Chelsea’s Kitchen
Bluewater Grill
Bobby Q
Betty’s Nosh
St. Francis
Liberty market
Teds Hot Dogs
Queen Creek Olive Mill
Short Leash Hot Dogs

enjoy, xoxo

The Ultimate Arizona Bucket List: Part 1 Outdoor Advetures

With a lot of help, recommendations and personal experiences I bring you The Ultimate Arizona Bucket List. I am breaking the series into 3 parts because there is just so much!

Outdoor Adventures – Food – Entertainment 

I hope y’all can benefit from this and if you have any additions/changes please let me know so that we can all enjoy the great state of Arizona to its fullest!

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*part 1 includes hikes (by city), races & water activities*

OUTDOORS & HIKING

Camp Verde:
Fossil Creek – Strawberry (between Camp Verde & Payson)
Montezuma Castle
West Clear Creek

Flagstaff:
Lava Tubes
Lake Mary
Lowell Observatory (not outside)
Mt. Humphrey
Sunset Crater

Grand Canyon:
Havasupi – Havasu Falls
River Raft the Colorado River
Skywalk

Mesa:
Coons Bluff – rappelling
Salt River Tubing

Page:
Antelope Canyon
Hoover Dam
Horseshoe Bend
Lake Powell

Payson:
Fossil Creek – Strawberry (between Camp Verde & Payson)
Tonto Natural Bridge
Water Wheel

Phoenix Valley:
Camelback Mountain: Echo & Cholla Trails
Estrella Mountains
Hole in the Rock & Papago Park
Lake Pleasant – Peoria
Pinnacle Peak – Scottsdale
Salt River Tubing & Paddleboarding – Mesa
Salt River Canyon Scenic Drive – Globe
Thunderbird Mountain – Glendale
White Tanks Mountains – Surprise

Sedona:
Devil’s Bridge
Jeep Tour
Slide Rock

Tucson:
Chiricahua National Monument
Mt. Lemon
Saguaro National Park
Wonderland of Rock

Other:
Tubac, AZ
Kartchner Caverns – Benson
Lake Mead National Recreation Area
Tumacacori National Historical Park
White House Ruins at Canyon de Chelly
Flat Iron Loop Gold Canyon by Apache Junction
Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument
Petrified Forest National Park – Holbrook
Salome Jugs
Vulture Peak – Wickenburg

RACES

The Color Run (January)
Phoenix Marathon, Half Marathon, 10k – Boston Qualifier (February)
Ragnar Del Sol (February)
Vacation Races Grand Canyon Half Marathon (March)
Bubble Run (April)
Vacation Races Lake Powell Half Marathon (October)
Questival by Cotopaxi (November)
see more here

WATER ACTIVITIES

Lake Havasu & London Bridge
Fossil Creek – Strawberry
Lake Pleasant – Peoria
Lake Mary – Flagstaff
Lake Powell – Page
Slide Rock – Sedona
West Clear Creek – Camp Verde
Salt River Tubing – Mesa
Water Wheel – Payson
Surprise Pool
Wet N Wild
Foothills Aquatic Center
Hubbard Swim Schools
Sunrise Mountain Pool

Splash Pads:
Pioneer Park
Tempe Beach Park
Phoenix Zoo – Leapin’ Lagoon
Goodyear Community Park
Kierland Commons
Scottsdale Quarter
Marley Park – Surprise
Rio Vista Park
Westgate
Desert Ridge Marketplace
Pioneer Park
Riverview Park – Mesa

enjoy, xoxo

3 Months

March.1.2016 || 3 Months

Loves… classical music, being outside (yay spring training!), bath/naked time & rolling over!

Hates… loud noises, hiccups & THE CAR!

Ryker started rolling over Feb 4, right after he hit his 2 month mark and it just about broke my heart but at the same time I was so proud of him! He still gets nervous/surprised every time it happens but he is a champ. This month he also got to meet his Pawpaw and Grandmommy which was so sweet to watch. He received his baby blessing, took his first flight to California, and had his first beach trip to the pacific :)

Mommy is more comfortable nursing in public places (thank goodness for covered goods! more on that later) and loves waking up with a smiling baby boy!

Daddy was grateful for a 7 hour sleep on his birthday and loves his Ryker and Daddy time in the hammock!

xoxo

2 Months

February.1.2016 || 2 Months

Loves… his swing, sucking his thumb, bath time, and being naked (still)!!

Hates… his car seat, wearing hats, shots, and mommy’s british accent!

Ryker loves tracking with his eyes and smiling :) He looks intently at our faces and knows mama’s voic.! He is a great feeder and weighs 10lbs 12oz!

STOOOOOP GROWING! This kid is killing me with his sweet personality but I wish he would stay little forever! We got shots this past month and it was so sad but I didn’t cry because I am pretty sure I am immune to giving kids shots since we did it so much in nursing school.

YES – I have a thumb sucker and it kind of makes my life complete!

I can’t get a hat on this kid to save my life. He gets so fussy and I can’t bring myself to make him wear one.

Okay so I kind of LOVE talking in accents and try out different ones all the time! I started talking in a British accent and the kid starting frowning, which was hilarious till the cries came… :( no spot of tea for this yorkshire lad!

Happy Valentine’s Day from my little HUNK!

xoxo

1 Month

January.1.2016 || 1 Month

Loves… bouncing with daddy, tummy time, sleeping on mommy, car rides, & being naked!

Hates… being cold, gas bubbles, & baths!

This picture was taken when Ryker turned 1 month but since I am late posting he is now almost 6 weeks old {insert all the crying faces here} I can’t believe how fast time if flying and how big he is getting! I can’t wait to see him grow and change but at the same time I really wish I could freeze time and keep my newborn babe.

Happy New Year!

xoxo

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins (5 Ingredients!)

I was desperately craving pumpkin anything anything delicious and mouth watering but…. I was out of sugar and most cookies call for at least 1 1/2 cups sugar :/ bummer. Then I thought I saw on Pinterest that you could mix a can of pumpkin with a spice cake mix. Bingo! Problem solved. FALSE, no spice cake mix here. I did have a yellow box mix so I thought what the heck I’ll improvise. And poof these muffins magically appeared and then disappeared as soon as Mr. Smith came home.  Success this time really was in a ‘can’…. of pumpkin that is!

xoxo

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Ingredients

1 Yellow Box Cake Mix

1 Can Pumpkin

1 Teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice

1 Egg

1/4 Cup Semi-Sweet Mini Chocolate Chips

Directions

Mix together first 4 ingredients then stir in chocolate chips.  Spoon 3/4 full in mini muffin pans and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.

Serve warm or cool; with or without cream cheese frosting.

*Makes 48 mini muffins at approximately 47 calories per muffin // without frosting.

Wild Open Spaces

Last weekend, we decided to ditch the valley and head up north to Flagstaff for some fresh air and cooler temps. Cam had been on break all week and we had been cleaning the house, painting, driving around completing errands, visiting family and we just needed a break! We woke up early and decided to pack up the pups and take a road trip. Right when we got up north it started raining and it honestly made me so happy. When you rarely see rain, you bask in it :) We headed out to sunset crater and came upon a beautiful field of wild yellow daisies which warmed my heart because they look like mini sunflowers, which of course are my favorite! Cam turned off on a dirt road that took us far back up the mountain and we let the dogs out to run. I love being able to let them roam off leash because they rarely get to and they love to explore. We grabbed some delicious pizza and headed out to a small lake. Of course being Arizona and the end of summer it was all dry but we let the dogs out again and just sat back with blankets and watched the sunset. It was so nice to not have technology to distract us, or people eyeing our dogs, or worries about school/work/baby budget. We just needed to hit reset and I am so glad that we did. We are planning to go back up soon and camp out before baby boy comes.

What do you like to do to hit the reset button?

xoxo

Four Year Anniversary

Four years! Crazy!!! It has truly been the best years of my life and I am so grateful for a loving husband that supports my goals and dreams but more importantly a best friend that motivates me to be a better person. Thursday was the big day but unfortunately life doesn’t stop to celebrate. I had a 13 hour clinical in ICU which honestly was rough to say the least and Cam had scheduled patient’s back to back since he would be on break this week. (yay 1 year left!) Lucky for me the man knows the way to my heart and Friday night drove me to Scottsdale for a little anniversary ‘staycation’. The hotel was so sweet and was thrilled to upgrade us to celebrate. We decided it would be fun to throw back on our wedding clothes, order room service and have a wonderful relaxing break. It was seriously just what we needed and we stayed up laughing and talking about how much we love our life together! No matter where I am, Cam always feels like home to me.

xoxo

Sunnies

Photography: Rachael Pearce Photography

Sunglasses: FantasEyes c/o|Belt & Dress: H&M|Earrings: Rocksbox c/o

By now I am pretty sure you have discovered my shoe addiction but you may not know about my sunglasses fetish! My car console is jam packed with a dozen different pairs of sunglasses and my new go to pair for this Spring is the ever so stylish Hollywood Blvd from FantasEyes! They have awesome accessories but I am obsessed with their eye wear. I own three pairs :) Just sayin… you won’t be disappointed.

And make sure you take advantage of your FREE month of Rocksbox with code ‘mrandmrssmithxoxo’

xoxo