linner is the new brunch.

just you watch. it's gonna be the next big thing. 

i'm a big fan of linner (super late lunch). it just needs a cooler name. i like it because you get to sleep in, eat a late breakfast, do your chores (i'm one of those people who has to get things in order before i can really relax) and then crank things up around 4 o'clock when you've got tons of energy, it's still daylight and then you can just see where the night takes you. perfection. 

here's my thing with brunch... i'm a huge fan, particularly because i love daytime cocktailing. however, if i do a real boozy brunch, it's pretty much a guarantee i won't get anything done before i go and there's a good chance i won't do anything after. i feel like that's a perk of linner - you get to dabble in a little bit of both daytime and nighttime play. 

it makes tons of sense, right? here's a glimpse at last weekend's late saturday afternoon at the vig uptown. 

an arizonan's summer dream. 

the naturally lit indoor "patio" 

so what do you think on pushing this late afternoon concept with me? 

sunday pizza in the neighborhood.

there's no denying it: we eat pizza 3 out of 4 sunday nights a month. it's kinda a thing. (more about sunday traditions here) 

judge us all you want. 

last night, we decided to shake things up and walk to the local pizza shop to actually dine in verses take out on our couch. big deal for us. seriously, ooohhhhh big changes around here. it was the first time we'd eaten there. 

i'm a little obsessed with our neighborhood. 

these streets. 

landmark willo sign & the one of a kind easley's costume shop

arizona's NYPD pizza shop

the cheesy tv commercial pull of the slice with the cheese still stuck... perfection. 

hawaiian. a very polarizing pizza flavor. a personal fave of mine. 

i'd already finished the chelsea chopped salad. my fave. 

our dusky walk home on a warm summer night.

note: if you're looking for other good pizza in downtown phoenix, pino's pizza al centro is fantastic. 

however, they're closed on sundays. bummer for both of us. 

fantastic foto friday.

feast your eyes on this

yup, that's my very own german sex tourist.

this photo will never get old. i love it. we laugh each time we look at it.
i snapped this gem last month at the mumford & sons concert.
it was easily the only good thing that came out of the show.
it was terrible. but that's a whole other looong story.

don't get me wrong, we love mumford & sons.
but it was the worst concert experience of all time. 
the traffic. the venue. the crowd. the sound system. the concessions. the everything.

three songs into the show, we looked at each other and decided to bail. it was too much to bear.
danny salvaged the night and raced us off to the crescent ballroom to see STRFKR instead.

on our way out of the (worst) venue, i stopped to pee and a few minutes later came out to this sight.
the solo creep loitering outside the ladies room with a camera around his neck held up by a rainbow strap,
strappy rubber mandals, short shorts & a big grin on his face.

priceless.

i love this man.
and i love that he loves this outfit. and rocks it. and owns it.

...

every friday should start with a fantastic foto.
perhaps a new installment on the blog? 

what felt like the longest drive EVER back from california.

leaving friends post-brunch on the most beautiful california day and waving goodbye to the beach to drive back into the blow dryer (what the air feels like on your face in arizona right now) when all we really wanted to do was go park ourselves on the beach to relax, was not cool. then the holiday traffic on the 10-E. the insanely crowded gas stations. the freeway accidents. the stopping six times. the heat coming through the windows. the i'm-sick-of-all-my-music-right-now. despite it all, we were home in six hours, but it felt like we drove across the country. terrible. 

i'm quite certain it was this 40-minute detour in palm springs that got us through it without complete meltdowns.

food makes everything better.

california beach bums.

each time we arrive in california, it goes something like this. 

roll down car window, breathe in fresh air... 

"ahhhh... it's so nice." 

"remind me again why we don't live here?"

don't get me wrong, we love our life in arizona, but there's something special about the california air. 

it's cool & crisp. the energy is buzzing. the coast is littered with awesome little towns.

we're surrounded by so many family and friends that there never seems to be enough time.

i long for the summer weekends where i can park myself in sand from sunup to sundown. i love it. 

we had a fantastic long weekend in california. 

it was the perfect pace. a sprinkling of family, friends & couple time.
all i wanted was to park the car and be on the beach, so we stayed at the ocean park inn in pacific beach.
nothing swanky, but it was right on the beach, walking distance to everything & had a hot tub.

{the view from our room}


{couldn't be any closer to the water}

the morning after the 4th, we woke up without an agenda and just started walking. 

we landed at Tower 23 where we stayed for a long brunch while waiting for the morning fog to burn off.

{our table view at brunch. succulents for days.}

{danny supposedly loves this photo b/c he said this is his typical view of me. not sure if that's endearing or rude.}

just as the marine layer burned off (totally so cal speak, right?), we walked to the local grocery to buy a  cooler, chips, cocktails and headed to the beach where we stayed until the sun went down.

we napped, read magazines, took a long walk along the water & played a game of smash ball (you know, the paddles & little ball). 

... that is until danny got a serious sports injury when his toe got stuck in the sand. 

bah! 

{i spy a bag of cool ranch Doritos (vacation, obvi) and ting's awesome new beach cooler}

good thing we had a cooler full of ice for his toe's "smash ball injury"

i didn't stop laughing, even hours after he limped off the sand. 

CampTing on Bear Canyon Lake: a video.

oh come on, you knew i was gonna make a camping video.
if this video kick is going to continue, i need to learn how to focus and keep my hands steadier. whoops.
so grab a dramamine anti-seasick pill enjoy!

song credit: vampire weekend "a punk" & father john misty "i'm writing a novel"

danny turns thirty one.

packages! lots of shirts this year. and a new tie clip. 

hunter was really interested in the oatmeal creame pies that came in vicky & joe's box.

mr. huntie helping with the unwrapping.

                                                                       

the birthday boy wanted mac & cheese + hot dogs, so that's what he got. i found "man of action" shapes and was really excited about it.

in his defensive, it wasn't as bad as i thought it'd be. i think the previews before the movie were the worst part. they were all very focused on one demographic: dude.

we checked out the sunday pool scene at hotel palomar in downtown phoenix.

dj shawn watson brought his american bulldog "buck" to the pool. buck is cool.

enjoying some poolside beats.

downtown view from our lounge chairs. 

muddled berry cocktails. my go to in the summertime. 

a friendly game of poolside pong. i may have beat the birthday boy :) 

  

preparations for the big upcoming camping trip. 

heaven for him. 

when in rome... 

gallo blanco. a downtown favorite that's made quite a few appearances on the blog.

my fave: mini chicken quesadillas. 

the BEST salad 

captain safety informed me that a lot of people break their teeth on corn nuts. i managed to escape lunch with an empty plate and a full grill. 

long story, but i made three trips to the grocery store over 2-days before i (kinda) finally pulled these off. 

....and then i dumped an entire batch of mix out and started all over again.

this photo is 100% candid. i was so mad and annoyed when he snapped it while laughing hysterically.

i wish i was kidding about how bad i am at baking. it's a true story.

in my defensive the bag was cut and i saw 4-cups of flour, not 2 3/4 cups. whoops.

so danny came to the rescue and stepped in to help out. 

we decided i'll be the mom that contributes to bake sales by planning & promoting them. period.