A charming eatery located in an historical neighborhood . . . Victorian gardens with lots of relaxed seating and high-top patio furniture . . . delicious organic and farm-fresh cuisine. The Vig at Fillmore in downtown Phoenix is a great local eatery that is just a little different from the norm. It’s delightful and trendy […]
Author Archive | Shelli Elledge
Corrales, New Mexico!
New Mexico, nicknamed the “Land of Enchantment” is beautiful and distinctive in so many ways! The turquoise and terra cotta combinations are infinite. The history, folklore, customs, and traditions make New Mexico a melting pot of diversity. It is a paradise for artisans, painters, and photographers who try to capture the essence of the Great […]
Tripping to New Mexico . . .
Taking a road trip from Arizona to New Mexico is a special treat. There are several ways to get there but we like to take the scenic through some of the most beautiful mountains in Arizona – YES, ARIZONA! It doesn’t add travel time to go through the mountains – unless, of course, you decide […]
A Culinary Camp for Kids: Summer Activities
Summertime is almost upon us and many families are scrambling to enroll their kids in activities offered during the summer months when school is not in session. And one of the coolest activities I’ve seen in downtown Phoenix is a culinary camp for kids, ages 7 through 12 years old. It’s a four, half-day, camp […]
Australia: Something for Everyone
Australia is a distant land that’s captivated the hearts of travelers and explorers for hundreds of years. It’s a land that evokes a mysterious type of magnetism that makes us want to go there because of the legends and folklore that surround the historical nature of this place. It’s where one can “get away from […]
College Savings Plans in the News
Just the other day, I read an interesting article on the Business Insider, an online publication, about saving for children’s or grandchildren’s college education through College Savings Plans. It provided insight and information about the different aspects of 529 state-sponsored plans and why they are so popular. When I first started to read the article, […]
Duolingo: an Easy Way to Learn a Foreign Language
Duolingo is one of the coolest ways that I’ve found to learn a foreign language! There are loads of foreign language choices and it takes very little time out of your busy day. Plus, it’s completely FREE to join! You have to sign up to join, and you can do that using your email, Google, […]
Cave Creek, Arizona; One of our favorite close get-aways
There are so many great places to see and so many things to do in the Phoenix area. And, one place that we’ve always loved to go to is Cave Creek. Cave Creek, Arizona is a small town nestled near the foothills of one of Arizona’s beautiful mountain ranges. Located north of the valley, it’s […]
Shepherd’s Pie – Mashed potato-topped
This Shepherd’s Pie recipe is adapted from the “The Engine 2 Diet” book written by former firefighter, Rip Esselstyn. To his recipe, I also added carrots, celery, beets, and sweet potatoes, which makes it a perfect St. Patrick’s Day meal. The recipe makes a hearty meal and the leftovers freeze well. […]
Vegan for St. Patrick’s Day
St Patrick’s Day is celebrated all over the world. The wearing-o-the-green, Celtic music, shamrocks, and, of course, Irish food are all part of the scene, whether or not our heritage is actually Irish. So, what do vegetarians and vegans eat during the festivities? Recipes for corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s beef pie, and lamb stew […]
Viva Phx Music Festival
Whether it’s Spring Break, Major League Baseball Spring Training, golfing, shopping, or dancing in the streets of downtown Phoenix, March is a fantastic month to be in Arizona. The weather is picture perfect during the day for outdoor activities and the evenings are warm enough for patio dining. This week-end was no different. And it […]
Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa
The Sanctuary Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa Arizona is famous for its resorts and spas, and the Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain Resort and Spa is one of our favorite local places to get away. This famous resort is a great place to spend a leisurely afternoon or evening enjoying the scenic views, eating lunch in […]
When Health Seems Fragile!
It’s been a little while since I’ve posted but wanted to write a quick update about what’s been happening in our world. Please let me know if you’ve had wake-up calls that are even remotely similar! Sometimes when things are just going smoothly . . . . and we’re busy doing our own things . […]
The Taco Guild in Phoenix
Tacos are one of America’s favorite southwestern meals, and Phoenix has great places to find them. However, when they’re served in an historic building that used to be a mission – I mean, how cool is that! There are so many great places to eat downtown, and even midtown in Phoenix. And the Taco […]
Goals and Resolutions 2014 – Update #2
Wealth If you read my article on Goal Setting for 2014, you probably noticed that they are very broad. For example, my “Health” goal includes basic such as healthy eating, getting some sort of physical exercise into the daily routine, and being involved in a hobby or activity you love. What it does NOT mean […]
Phoenix in February
We have been out of town this week at one of the most inspiring conferences that we’ve ever been to! Although I’ll write more on it later, we thought it might be interesting to show you what Phoenix is like this time of year. During the last several days, we’ve been sitting […]
Custom Made Denim Clothing: Unique and Practical
To walk into this shop is like stepping back in time. It has the look and feel of an understated classic . . . rows of vintage pre-World War II sewing machines . . . bolts of soft yet sturdy denim fabric (some as wide as 60 inches) . . . industrial-sized spools of colored […]
2014 Goals and Resolutions: Status Update
When many of us go through the process of determining New Year’s resolutions, I like to evaluate periodically to see if what I’m doing works – or if it’s just a list of “things-to-do.” In an article entitled Healthy Living Goals, I had written that my first priority for goal-setting is directed towards health. This […]
Smoothie Recipe
I prepare a smoothie almost every day of the week because it’s nutritious and quick to prepare. It’s easy to vary the recipe – just use different combinations of berries, fruit, and seeds. It also goes well with a quick slice of toast or banana bread! List of ingredients: 1 cup frozen berries 1 fresh, […]
Fuego ‘s in downtown Phoenix
Recently we found another hidden treasure of a restaurant, Fuego’s at CityScape, that specializes in Southwestern cuisine. It’s a fairly small place, with colorful purple cloth napkins and small potted plants on each table. As with many of our favorite places, this eatery is located at CityScape right on Central Avenue. We’d never eaten here […]