that fall time of the year

Lately I've been seeing all of these wonderful post about fall! It makes me so incredibly jealous. While the rest of the world seems to cooling down and changing colors, we here in Arizona are still in 100 degree weather. I'm talking about shorts and short sleeves, trying to cool off everyday. 

So in the spirit of fall, I hope yall enjoy some of my favorite scarves I will be drooling over this fall season. 

a little butterfly wonderland

While commuting to work every day, I continually drive by this cute little building that was labeled as Butterfly Wonderland . Husband and I had the rare day off together last Friday and we decided that it was the perfect time to check this place out. It was a wonderful experience, that's for sure. 

These creatures are so beautiful and so thrilling. We mistakenly went early in the morning (we tend to be early risers) this turned out to be a good decision on our part. The sunrise made them so active, they were flying every which way. 

Husband didnt have any luck in getting one to land on him, I was able to have two and one that did not want to leave. After we spent time with the butterflies we got to see scorpions, bees and some stingrays. It was a cute little place and a very enjoyable one on one time with my husband. 

late night walks in arizona

Late night strolls are always my favorite. In Idaho husband and I would frequently find our selves out and about wondering the streets of Rexburg at all hours of the night. Since the move to Arizona our walks have mostly been limited to early morning before the heat gets overwhelming. Last night husband and I decided late night stroll around his place of employment. What I thought would be a relaxing, enjoyable stroll turned into a terrifying attack...by cockroaches. Yes, the giant, little, aggressive, gross, disgusting bugs. Husband and I did not see just two, we saw ATLEAST 20, these things were everywhere. And the worst part about it was, they wouldn't let you walk by, no no they ran right for you. Husband would try to shoo them away so I wouldn't cringe but instead of going away they would turn and run straight at me! Needless to say husband was dying of laughter the entire time. I could not go two seconds with out being chased. 

Besides the war on bugs I was waging, the stroll was quite lovely. I really have been wanting to get out and take some images of the incredible night time sky. Its one of my personal goals before the year is over. I just find it hard because outside of Idaho, I do not feel comfortable wandering around at night by my self. One day though. 

Mormon Trail Hike

A year and a half later we are just discovering the true beauty of Arizona. Growing up I always imagined the desert as being this sandy, dry miserable place.  BUT there are beautiful landscapes everywhere I turn, and sand dunes really arent a thing, just dirt (lots and lots of dirt) and the sun rises & sets are completely breath taking. Every moment I set foot outside I am constantly amazed at the colors that are painted before me. 

Today, the husband & I hiked the Mormon trail to hidden valley. And to sum it up, as my wheezing, spazing body was trying to push its self further up the mountain all the while I was soaking up the incredible views. Once you reach the summit of the trail and turn around, you can see the ENTIRE valley. Phoenix, Tempe, Chandler,  and Scottsdale and so much more. It was such an incredible experience to stand next to husband and look out onto the valley that we live in. 

Grand Canyon

So, I have a million pictures that I want to share with yall. But its late, my parents are leaving AZ tomorrow and I really should get to sleep....so that I can sadly drive them to the airport. 

But I wanted to chance to share at least one image that I have been working on right now. Maybe a few words. 

This Thanksgiving week as been so incredible. The opportunities and the memories that I have made will stay with me forever.

 Being able to be with my family, standing at the edge of one of the worlds seven wonders has been uplifting and so inspirational. The fact that its only three hours away from me is even more thrilling. I can honestly tell you, you MUST go see it for your self. Pictures, no matter how many I took, do not do this wonder any sort of justice. When I walked up to Mather point and saw this view, my breath was gone. My mind blown. I couldn't believe that something like this existed. My husbands description of it was and I quote "a giant hole in the ground" haha. But there is something moving about this giant hole in the ground. 

I am such a lucky person to have the opportunities to have lived in Idaho (near Yellowstone) for several years and to now move to Arizona and have the Grand Canyon in my backyard. 

I hope yall enjoy the image and I look forward to sharing the rest as I finish them up. 

Sunday Dinner

A recent goal that I have set for me and Ryan is to have a home cook meal 6 days out of the week. I thought that it would be a wonderful idea to share some of my yummy recipes that I make. Sundays are usually our biggest meals and they would be perfect days to set goals to share with yall at least one meal, once a week. So I hope yall enjoy...this one is a pintrest one that I made to work for me and my husband. To say that its a husband favorite would not describe the love my husband has for this meal. Its in one of his top tens.

Beef & Broccoli

First things first I make a marinate for the meat and let it sit for at least an hour (some times its several hours). I put baking soda, sugar, cornstarch, water, soy sauce, and some veggie oil in a bowl and whisk away. Then I cut up my steak into yummy bite size pieces and throw it in the bowl. I then let it sit for at least an hour but more is most certainly preferred. 

After we marinate the beef and we are ready to eat, I chop up some broccoli (you can use thawed frozen, but fresh is the best in my opinion). I then heat up olive oil on the skillet, after its nice and hot I throw the broccoli and cook for about 3 min. A warning, dont walk away, you dont want to burn them! 

Once the broccoli is done just transfer it to another plate and in the same skillet toss the meat in. While the meat is cooking I usually make the sauce. In this sauce I put some soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and flour and whisk. 

After your meat is nice and brown I add some of the sauce and let simmer for about 3 min. Once the meat fully done cooking I add the broccoli. Here I let it cook on low for about 2 min and dump the rest of the sauce. 

Careful to not let it cook for to long, dont want the broccoli to get mushy. But now is the best part, serve it with some yummy white rice (this night I was craving potatoes so there are some mash potatoes)  And Voila!!! 

Please leave a comment or let me know how you enjoyed it, if you choose to make it!! 

Monsoon season in the desert

I am the worst...at journal-ing, blogging...really anything that has to do with documenting my life.

But lately I have been having this strong desire, a strong push to do it, to write something. And I want to full fill that. I want to set a goal to update just for my self on here twice a week...

On a other note...its been hot and rainy (really its only rained two days out of the month) but the rain here is crazy. It rains a whole bunch in just a few hours and then floods everything. We had a local park behind our house fill up so much that we had people out riding their jet skies on it. It was pretty cool.

So far we still love Arizona. Ryan and I are still shocked at how unbelievably hot it is and we are almost to October. Not sure how this winter is going to be (I am sure very dramatically different from Idaho). We are supposed to have a week in the 80's next week, we are so excited because after months of 115, 80 degrees sounds heavenly.

Ryan received his diploma in the mail the other day, that makes him an official grad with an official job! I truly cannot believe that we are graduates, actual grown ups, expected to do grown up things. Often we talk about how weird that is, it feels like just yesterday we were just meeting and worrying about making straight A's and impressing our teachers. And now, we have four chinchillas, living in the desert, making lots of decisions.

Believe it or not, we are certainly missing Idaho. Something I honestly never thought I would miss. There are times where we talk about maybe going back there...to live. But who knows where we will be. Ryan's job looks like it will keep us here for the next five years at least. After that, who knows.

Over all though its been wonderful. We have enjoyed the past few months here and look forward to what the future brings.

this and that...

Well, here we are. Just three months in to our move and we are enduring some of the worst heat either of use have ever experienced. So far though, we both love it here. I officially feel like a small town girl, coming to a big giant city (after 6 years, the Rexburg way of life has most certainly gotten to me).  Frequently I find my self just staring in awe at all of the options I have, in just my area there are three different malls I can go to. That's just malls, lets not even talk about food...in that area I am pretty sure I've died and gone to heaven. Not only is there a BUNCH of choices, but there's like different restaurants of each choice, all with in miles of us.  We lucked out and managed to get an apartment right next to Ryans new job. He was so excited and made us go over there almost every day until he finally started in June. He absolutely loves his job, and with out even really knowing it, was able to get the exact position he was wanting. Since moving here, we have both decided that its to hot to do things in the "summer" and plan to go adventuring come fall. That might sound a little weird, BUT with temperatures hitting anywhere from 100-116 daily, being in side is so much more enjoyable. It seems to be the logic that the locals here have.