One of the most beautiful places in the U.S. (according to Good Morning America), lies just 30 short miles from our front door but so often seems a world apart. Down the mountain and out of the snow lies red rock country, Sedona. Our first trip to Sedona was motivated by a dog. Yep. Instead of winding our way through the Oak Creek Canyon switchbacks and getting backed up in traffic for more than half an hour (you'd be amazed how long it takes to travel the short 30 miles between Flagstaff and Sedona!) in order to see this beautiful place, we went to see a dog. The dog ended up being too big for our tiny living lifestyle but we got our first glimpse of our truly unique and awe-inspiring neighbors to the south. A few months later, I returned with my parents with no agenda and wandered the red rock sheltered streets and shops. It was a great time but I wish I had done a little more research prior to that trip because I've discovered lately that there are so many amazing things to do in Sedona. From hiking, to spiritual experiences (check out the vortexes as well as the Amitabha Stupa Peace Park), to cute shopping, it really is such a cool place to explore. After learning about a bunch of cool places from friends and simple Google searches, Johnny and I decided to do Sedona right (third time's the charm right?!). First in line for the proper Sedona daytrip was Tlaquepaque Arts and Crafts Village. This place is seriously the coolest and is, best of all, super dog friendly! Filled with charm and art galleries and a Spanish feel that reminded us of Santa Fe, this little enchanting village is not something to be missed. Every inch of this place was begging to be photographed, which is what we spent most of our time doing. In between our photo sessions, we stopped into an art gallery, where the staff begged us to bring Winslow inside (did I mention how dog friendly this place is?!) despite being filled with artwork we could only dream of being able to afford one day, and took a break to sip a Rose Coconut Chai on the incredibly cozy and welcoming patio of The Chai Spot (another must when visiting Sedona). The owner told me she'd make me the best chai I'd ever had which would make us want to come back to Sedona time and time again. The chai lived up to its expectations and, in combination with the enchanting atmosphere of the rest of the village, definitely has us convinced that we need to return as soon as possible. Before heading back up the mountain, we braved the wind to visit the Amitabha Stupa Peace Park. Considered a spiritual place, many come to circle the stupa while thinking good thoughts and well-wishes for their loved ones. Others sit and do the same. We simply admired this larger-than-life stupa that seemed to fit in so effortlessly, mimicking the red towers of red rock country that surround it. It's definitely worth it to head just off the beaten path to see this East meets (south)West juxtaposition. We've got a lot of places left to see on our "Flag Bucket List," but a place like Sedona makes it hard not to want to return over and over again. Thankfully, there's still plenty more for us to explore (Devil's Bridge, Soldier's Pass/The 7 Sacred Pools, etc.) while still being able to grab a quick chai and revisit a favorite place from our first year in the southwest.
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March has been a crazy month. Between a Vegas bachelorette party, showing Johnny's mom and sister around Flagstaff, a solo trip to spend time with my grandma and visiting family south of Tucson (shout out to my uncle Kirk for the ride and Kent for putting up with the two of us in the car!), and my parent's visit this last weekend (phew! I'm tired just typing that all out), the last month has flown by. While it's nice to get back into the swing of normality, we're sad our family packed month has coming to a close. What better way to send it off than with another trip to Page, this time with my parents in tow! Again we visited Wahweap Marina at Lake Powell and we couldn't have asked for a more perfect day. The only thing missing was our swimsuits. Despite that, we spent a couple hours relaxing on the beach and watching Winslow chase the waves in (pretty sure this dog really has never seen a body of water and we're loving sharing our love of lakes with him!). We were all a sandy mess by the end of our beach bum excursion but we enjoyed it so much that Johnny and I are already planning a camping trip at Lake Powell as soon as possible and there are talks about renting a house boat with our families in the future. With sunshine and 70 degrees, part of me wanted to skip Horseshoe Bend and stay at the beach all day but everyone agreed it was something not to be missed. Besides, my lucky parents get plenty of lake time throughout the year so they were up for something more "southwest-y" so we shook off as much sand as possible and loaded back into the car for the short trip to the Bend. Something I failed to mention in my last blog post about Horseshoe Bend was that unlike it's more famous neighbor, Horseshoe Bend is much more unregulated than the Grand Canyon. There's no fee to get in (YAY!), the once possibly paved trails are now thick with a fine sand (you'll feel it in your glutes!), and more importantly, there are no railings or lookout points, just sheer precipice from whatever vantage point you choose (EEK!). Now I'm not the biggest fan of heights (especially not the thought of falling from such heights) but I easily found ways to work around that discomfort by sitting near the edge or finding places with ledges beneath the edge to sit and rest my feet on below. However, for those with more enhanced fears, it may be more difficult for you to enjoy and feel the same sense of awe as I did my first time at Horseshoe Bend. Regardless, a trip to see this vast beauty is worth every penny you'll spend getting there.
Those who know me know I love planning. Whether it's trips (real or imagined), schedules, 5-year plans, 10-year plans, a year on the road in an RV (what?!), it doesn't matter what it is or if it will ever happen, I just like to plan it as if it will. My passion for planning in large part is what led me to my career as an academic advisor and despite spending 40 hours a week helping students plan their academic careers, I still spend a good portion of my free time also planning. I get that planning isn't everyone's thing (you're missing out!) so I decided to start a new series on our blog dedicated to planning. These posts will include everything from the planning process to tips and suggestions post-plan. For the first post of this series, I decided to blog about something I have recently played a part in planning: a bachelorette party. Whether you're thinking about a grand excursion to Vegas (like my sister-in-law's bachelorette party I just got back from this weekend) or staying local or even doing something totally alternative (camping anyone?), there are some universal considerations when it comes to planning a kick-butt bachelorette party. 1. LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION - Whether you're looking at a warm getaway or something closer to home, where you stay can make a world of difference. For my bachelorette party a year ago, my friends and I stayed local and crammed eight 20-somethings into a hotel room with two queen beds. It worked out great for us (for just one night)! We were within walking distance to downtown, where we joined in on the St. Patty's Day celebrations after a morning of makeovers, donuts, and a visit to a local winery/brewery. This was the perfect option for my friends who were all young professionals or still in school (aka CHEAP). For my sister-in-law, Sarah's, Vegas bachelorette party, I was in charge of finding our lodging and scoured Airbnb until I found the perfect, girly-girl pad (complete with pool and donut floaty!). Having a pool was nice, but having a kitchen and being able to cook most of our meals at home helped us make a Vegas bachelorette party more affordable. I'd highly suggest Airbnb, even if you're staying local! You never know what quirky, fun accommodations you might find! 2. Plan Ahead and Research! - Have you figured out just how much I like planning yet? Let's just say, I'm not the greatest at "winging it." I'm up for occasional spontaneity but when it comes to a weekend away (even if it's a staycation), you're better off planning and researching things ahead so you know what to expect. Looking back on last weekend in Vegas, research probably would have been a good idea before spending $36 to see Calvin Harris. We left Omnia at 2:30am and he still hadn't even gone on yet (saw Reggie Bush so it wasn't a total waste)! Planning ahead usually results in better deals and less money spent as well (all about those deals!). Whenever I'm planning a trip, I always read the reviews (see TripAdvisor or even a simple Google search can lead you to some great websites or blogs with tips and reviews) so I know what to expect from others who have actually done it. A loose itinerary isn't a bad idea either just so everyone can pack appropriate clothing, funds, etc. Loose being the keyword because what's a bachelorette party without a little whimsy?! 3. Shout it from the mountain tops! - I absolutely HATE drawing attention to myself with things like sashes or goofy jewelry but if you're anything like me, a bachelorette party is the one time in your life that you should be a little flashy. Let people know you're a bachelorette party and chances are you'll get a little extra something or at least meet some people in the process. One of my favorite things about my bachelorette party was going to Prairie Berry East Bank for some lunch and afternoon drinks. We called a couple days ahead of time and they reserved us a cozy, semi-private space to rest and refuel before our night on the town. Knowing we were a bachelorette party, they gave me a free pint and we truly felt like the afternoon's honored guests. 4. Decorate - You have permission to hit that Target dollar section. Hard. BUY IT ALL. Because really, what bachelorette party is complete without diamond paper straws, streamers, balloons, and banners? 5. Treat Yo'self (or at least the bride-to-be) - Does the bride-to-be love donuts? DONUT CRAWL. Does she love to play around with makeup? MAKEOVER AT SEPHORA OR BARE MINERALS. Is she outdoorsy and would rather be out in the sun? SKIP THE THRILLS AND HIT THE TRAILS. How 'bout her favorite restaurant? TREAT HER TO SOME SWEET AND SOUR CHICKEN AT BRACCO DARN IT (shout out to my amazing bridesmaids and friends for this)! This is her day before the big day. Make it her. Do something weird. If bar hopping is her thing, that's fine but there are so many other amazing things that can make her feel like the luckiest friend in the world. As her friends, you know her best so don't fall into the bachelorette party stereotype trap if that's not her. 6. Document It - Take pictures non-stop. And not just selfies. Bring an Instax. Have a mom or the groom or some rando be your stand in photographer before you head out for the night (shout out to my mother-in-law and her DSLR for capturing our Vegas fun!). The bride will look back on these pictures a year later when she's moved into her new place with her new husband 1,500 miles away and be so thankful for the friendship and fun that you all have brought into her life. Each bride has just one bachelorette party so make sure it's one worth remembering and hanging pictures up in her future office :)
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