Phoenix New Years

I'm not sure that I've mentioned how much I love Cafe Rio, but I do. It may even be an addiction, but I don't mind being addicted to this little Mexican slice of heaven. I literally ate there every other day of my vacation. Ya I was gone 10 days=5 times=Delish.

Well after my blissfully wonderful Christmas in the Country of Parowan, I headed South for warmer weather and to ring the New Year in with some of my favorite people.

Being that I use to live in Phoenix, I have been back a few times since I left in 2006, but it is insane to think that the last trek was February 2008! How I've missed my Arizona home and so this trip was long over due but we packed the fun and food in my 3 days there.

Drove to Mesa for this treat. Way too good to me Krista.

We really did more than eat over these 3 days...but not much. So as the following pictures reflect, Krista and I hit up every restaurant we could think of and had a blast doing it.
So here's Bahama Breeze in Mesa, a little shaved ice delicacy reminiscent of my childhood in Hawaii. Good stuff.

Krista had a coupon AND a gift card to Cold Stone, I mean you just can't pass that up! And we surely didn't.An early stop by Chick Fil-A for my poison of choice- Diet Dr. Pepper just makes me happy. Maybe I'm shallow or just easily elated, but I love DDP from the fountain. Divine.

Oh the memories at Red Robin. I first think of Ashley's surprise 21st birthday party, remember Ash?! Aww...I miss you girls already. Oh and their Buffalo Chicken Wrap is to die for- not to mention the endless fries. Ya the diet starts in 2010.

MoJo. A Frozen Yogurt shop that Krista and Ashley shared with me. You just fill the cup up and they weigh it! You put whatever you want in there...it was so fun, not to mention tasty.

We rang the New Years in at a Singles Dance. All I have to say about that...is at least I got to bust a move...and remember how single I am. Thank goodness I was surrounded by great friends :).

Krista getting the party started! This is Martinelli's, aka the Mormon Champagne..haha.. It's sparkling cider for all my Non Mormon readers.

Toasting to a New Year and great friends that have made 2009 a blast. Krista and Ashley, you make me laugh and just make my heart happy. I love you.

Sporting our Christmas PJs.

Enjoying the Arizona Sun and exercising our 2nd Ammendment. Shooting up the Desert. The only way to ring in the year!

Krista and I enjoying the gorgeous weather and catching up on some reading. I love laying in the sun, I'm definitely doing more of that in 2010.

Big Ash modeling the Christmas gift I gave her. I think Spain looks good on you Ash.

Practicing our modeling shots. America's Next Top Model better just watch out! Haha.

Oh I love you girls! Thanks for making this such a great, great New Years. Feels like I never left.

Just a sampling of the madness we created in 3 days together.

Went by way too fast, but it was exactly what I needed and the best way to bring in 2010. It would have only been better had I gotten to see Jen and Em..but luckily for us, Jen (my old roommate, who was in Peru with her family for the Holidays) is getting married in less than a month! Craziness!

2009, you've been wonderful, but I can tell 2010 is going to be even better!

Christmas in the Country

You would think with a new camera for Christmas that I would have taken more pictures...alas, I was a slacker and rather than documenting the gloriously good time, decided to just enjoy it. It was wonderful! I spent the whole Christmas weekend in Parowan, Utah where my Grandma Shurtleff lives and where we've spent Christmas for the last decade. This town has not changed a bit. And even though we tease about it's somewhat backward manners, for an Air Force Brat without a hometown, I do love a place as constant as this. Always feels like coming home when I get on Main Street.

Here is my amazing Grandma. She is a social butterfly and always takes good care of us when we come to visit. I adore her and so does the entire town. We tease her as the doorbell rings every 15 minutes with townsfolk coming to pay homage to the "Queen of Parowan". What can I say? She's a Shurtleff.

Cousins. It doesn't seem to matter that there's at least a decade between us. We have the best time together.

McKenna sporting Nathan's Christmas present. Mom and Dad wanted to get him ready for his new gig in Casper, Wyoming-complete with a Duster as well. He'll blend right in ;).

Nathan and McKenna. Pretty sure they were entranced with Joe and Lauren's Call of Duty skills. Wouldn't be Christmas without video games I guess :).

Shot of Grandma's table. We've had so many great meals and conversations around this thing. Good, good memories here.

Yup, Call of Duty. I don't get it. That's all I have to say.

Kicking it in the living room. This is one of those magical spaces that just seems to expand and fit dozens of people comfortably...I'm not even kidding. We all seem to squeeze right in. Love it.

I'm so grateful for the time I was able to spend with my family. Grandma, parents, brothers, cousins, Aunts, Uncles...I just love them. And when you mix in Cafe Rio (now available in Cedar City!! and soon to be in DC!) and a best friend willing to drive 3 hours to hang out with me in Parowan, Utah (I love you Tiffany), it makes for an absolutely perfect Holiday.

Can't wait till next year.