{lower} antelope canyon & horseshoe bend

This summer in Arizona I am focusing on rephrasing everything as follows:

"I love ____ about Arizona." vs "I hate everything about Arizona."

"I enjoy (participating in, seeing, going, jumping, laughing... ext.) in Arizona." vs "Why do people stay in Arizona."

Seeing as I don't think I could ever possibly endure another winter & our location is incredible... I will continue living in this place, which means reframing everything I think about it right now! A few of my recent changes in views:

Springtime in Arizona smells almost like lilacs... but they are orange blossoms, I make myself tired trying to smell so hard outside.

The weather is AMAZING. You can do ANYTHING outside.

There is SO MUCH TO DO!!!!!!! Hidden gems, things to get my evergreen state of mind rolling & happy. Moral of this story is that my goal is the find as many places & things to do this summer to love it as much as the winter!

Zach & I took a trip to Page & boy howdy! IT WAS AMAZING! we used the Dixie Ellis tour & it was incredible! We learned so much while we were there & not to mention our tour guide knew all the best spots to snap some photos. We even had time to take a walk to horseshoe bend, all I wanted to do was dive down to the water &  float around on a boat. it was also beautiful. 

homemade {pop-tarts}

Have you ever just taken a bite of something & thought, "This would be the food I would choose to have on a stranded island!" Well, it happens to be quite a bit but this one... oh man, this one was it! I found the recipe in the $10 magazine Zach reluctantly purchased for me... he was right, I could have found the same recipe on pinter, but I prefer the hard copies. These tasty little morals reminded me of the danish recipe I have previously shared.

What you'll need:

Pop-tarts 

1 3/4 C of flour

1 tablespoon of sugar

1/2 teaspoon of salt

3/4 cup butter 

1 {beaten} egg

2 tablespoons of milk

your choice of fruit preserves or jam - I used raspberry {YUM!}

Frosting 

1 C powdered sugar 

1 tablespoon of milk

splash of vanilla 

1. 2. 3. 4. ext. Mix your dry ingredients first! add in your butter slowly... should begin to look crumbly! stir in your lightly beaten egg, once mixed in begin to add your milk slowly... you may need more than 2 tablespoons {until the mixture holds together} you do not want a milky or "wet" texture... or you have added too much milk! But don't worry, sprinkle some flour in if you need!

Then! Separate your dough to 2 {even} balls. clear a clean surface and sprinkle some flour to avoid your dough from sticking... If you haven't noticed... I'm not a good follower of directions so in other recipes you will find step by step instructions on how to cut up perfect squares but Zach & I preferred to roll out all the dough & make some funky looking shapes along with these 2 "pretty" ones! Just make sure that each tart has 2 matching sides to eventually stick together!!!

Preheat your oven to 375. Find your matching pieces, one of side add approximately 1 tablespoon of your filling choice, once you have done so you can lightly smudge some milk along the edges to ensure they stick together, place the matching side on top, begin to use a fork to smoosh together the edges! use the fork to stab some holes in the tops before they take a trip into the oven to avoid an explosion of tasty jam.

BANG! You have a pop tart. JK, place these little suckers in the oven for 15-20 minutes. Once you have removed them, let them cool! Unless... you want your frosting to melt all over the place.

The icing is the most simple part. 

stir together your powdered sugar, milk & butter!!! Once the tarts are cooled, spoon that delicious frosting over them... don't make my mistake & eat it all before it ends up on the finished product!!!

PS: I made mine dairy free!!!!!!!!!!!!

{Trisha}

Oh the wonderful things I could tell you about Miss Trisha!!! I had so much fun running all around downtown Phoenix yesterday trying to find the best places for some photos to be taken!!!

Wedding bells {Dicker & Moore}

It's hard to contain my excitement about this couple's engagement photos ... Mainly because i have known Ashley since I moved to Arizona & I have seen her grow into such an incredible woman & mother... I know that she will be the most amazing wife & from the short time I spent with Adam he will be a phenomenal husband & support for both Ashley & Ava. Ashley chose to have their photos taken at Canyon lake where they frequently go with friends & family. The sunset, weather & bats... yes, bats... were really on our side! 

Poached eggs... in Marinara!!!!!

Zachy ordered something similar to this at a restaurant & I truly thought it was going to be AWFUL, but guess what... it is now my go to food at the time. I am OBSESSED!
The first time I made it {pictured} we made some homemade marinara which I throw in some canned tomatoes, tomato paste, spices, onions & some peppers!
I then brought it to a boil, cracked the eggs in as if I were poaching them in water & watched them cook to perfection! I also threw in some chunks of mozzarella because everything is better loaded with CHEESE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Toasted some break & chowed down!!!!


Now...
The easy way...
already made marinara sauce
eggs
toast

Preheat  the oven to say 415 degrees, crack the eggs in a marinara sauce which should all be in a small glass dish pop them in the oven for about 10 minutes & DONE!!!!!!

DELICIOUS!
I have become OBSESSED!

time is flying by!

Oh my gosh, I feel like i haven't written a post or taken a photo for the longest time!
Between graduating, getting a job, moving, family emergencies & whatever else life is throwing around I have had ZERO time for a new post!!!
I promise I will have something yummy or an easy peasy DIY up SOON!!!!!!

During my quick trip to Washington last weekend my Grandpa shared some jokes with me! 

I couldn't help but giggle all day at this!

tasty BBQ chicken & Bacon pizza

I have got a huge crush on the BBQ chicken pizza at California Pizza Kitchen, but they are pretty expensive for a pizza... so, I made my own! MmMMMMmmmmm

Ingredients:
pizza dough (Trader Joe's has pre made & it is SO YUMMY)
BBQ Sauce
Chicken Breasts
Bacon
Onion
Garlic
Mozzarella
Parmesan /Gouda cheese mix (if you want)

Directions:
Cook up those chicken breasts, I popped mine in the oven with olive oil, salt, pepper & some other herbs... however you like your chicken!
Cook up that yummy bacon, cut first... it's A LOT EASIER
Roll out your pizza dough, I had my assistant in the kitchen for this one ;)
spoon over BBQ sauce over dough
Throw all those other toppings on top!
I grated the onion & garlic into little pieces & threw some around... do as much as you like! Some people don't like onion & garlic!
Then top with that yummy cheese & drizzle some BBQ sauce on top!
Follow the pizza dough directions & cook pizza as directed, once it is cooked up top with some fresh cilantro & eat up!!!
SO YUMMY!!!

fork, wine cork & LABEL

FINALLY!
A craft!
I feel like most of my blog has become recipes, which is strange.
Anyhow, how cute & easy are these!?
I combined a few different ideas that I have seen on Pinterest & created these cuties!
What you'll need:
forks, wine corks, hemp string (or yarn, whatever tickles your fancy), hot glue gun (or super glue may work), marker (my mom is one upping me & using a wood burner to write her labels on) & some scissors of course.

Wrap & glue your string or yarn around the forks!!! Tie a cute bow & super glue wherever you would like, first step DONE!
Second, stab your wine cork... I also used a knife to make the holes a little deeper but be SUPER CAREFUL! Don't cut yourself!
Then put your glue on your holes & re insert your forks in!
write whatever you are labeling on your cork...
& you're DONE!

Now hopefully these herbs will grow! Testing my green thumb, yet again!

CureSearch {Phoenix Walk}

One thing about my life that I throughly enjoy & could spend the rest of my life doing is helping people. Young, old, sick, disabled, short, tall & so on... {I know you thought I was going to say crafting}
Thankfully I just graduated & hope to pursue a career where I can spend everyday of the rest of my life doing so.
Luckily some of my life has been dedicated to being apart of the most amazing committee of people as activities & entertainment chair for {CureSearch for Children's Cancer}. In this group of wackos, they have taught me so much more about passion, commitment & pure love... I could make an endless list of what I have learned from them... but I will keep it short for your sake.
They bring their stories along with their passion to even more people to get the word out that these kiddos need our support to get the help they need to say sayonara to the awful thing called cancer... Nobody should have to suffer.
Everyone who is supporting the cause of eliminating Childhood Cancer are incredible beyond words, I am a little biased for my group & would like to brag about their dedication & work they have done over the years to support the cause.

At our walk last year we raised over 25K & this year our goal is $57,500.00 & to have 69 teams registered!!!!!!!! Help us help these kids... If your in the Phoenix area our walk is November 16th 2014 http://www.curesearchwalk.org/faf/home/default.asp?ievent=1105486
If you can't walk, join/create a team or donate... your voice is the strongest tool you have, get the word out!!!!!!
Follow our journey on:
instagram: http://instagram.com/phoenixcuresearchwalk
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Phoenix-CureSearch-Walk/287224401334211
twitter: https://twitter.com/CureSearchPhx

You only have one life & you should do the most you can with it, I plan on dedicating mine to helping others & having a positive impact where I can, hopefully creating a ripple effect & impacting more than I ever knew I could. I am so thankful to have people in my life who support this goal & help me to move towards it.
If it isn't childhood cancer research or elimination you aren't supporting... find something, find a passion... making an impact & be good. 
There is a lot of good in the world, but there needs to be more. Smile, laugh, go with the flow & pass on that goodness.

Right now & for as long as I need to I will be supporting these beautiful, unbelievable strong little cancer warriors,  my voice will always be as loud as I can make it to help them speak when they can't on their own.

"CureSearch for Children's Cancer accelerates the cure for children's cancer by driving innovation, eliminating research barrier, and solving the field's most challenging problems." We provide funding to scientists addressing questions that challenge the status quo and promote collaboration in order to push the children's cancer research field closer to a cure. And, because clinical trials are the means to saving the lives of infants, children and adolescents with cancer today, CureSearch continues to fund therapeutic clinical trails at hospitals across the country"
To find out more about CureSearch visit their website http://www.curesearch.org/

Photo: Last years walk, son of Nicole... Event chair & one of the most admirable woman I have ever met, who I will forever look up to.

graduation {party}

My boyfriend's amazing mother sure knows how to throw a party!!! So thankful for all that she has done!!!!!! The party she threw for Zach & I was the BEST!
She found the cutest little place in Scottsdale for the bash, {Sip} which is a coffee & beer house.
Since the first time she took us there, I have fallen madly in love with the place, I could live there!!!
It was a great party filled with all of our friends & family who could make it! As well as my incredible momma who came from Washington!
After the past week I am feeling beyond lucky & so happy!!!!!!

Mother's Day mini bouquets!

For all the special momma's in my life that I got to see & spend time with yesterday they got some cute little mini bouquets that I crafted up {with Zach & my momma}
Once they were done I realized how cute they would be for some sort of party or dinner... or anything for that matter!!!
All you need is some hot glue, burlap, ribbons, jars & some flowers!!!!
I also go these adorable clippy blackboard tags from {Michaels}to use as well!!!!!!!!!!!

graduation is finally here!

What you get when you hand your friend your camera & force her to take your graduation pictures... after previously forgetting that you weren't beyonce & threw a temper tantrum about how freakin hot it is here in Az!!!!
Anyways I have finally made it to graduation!!!!!!!
Arizona State you have been wonderful!
Time to use this family & human development major & change the world!

{no fry} fried ice cream!!!!!!

Are you ready to make the most delicious Cinco De Mayo dessert?
EASIEST, soooooooo yummy & did I mention easy?

Ingredients:
6 cups corn flakes {crushed}
2 tablespoons white sugar
3 tablespoons butter {melted}
5 table spoons corn syrup
5 table spoons honey
2 teaspoons cinnamon
vanilla ice cream {1 gallon}
any toppings you want {whipped cream, syrup, honey, chocolate, syrup, berry syrup, ANYTHING YOU WANT}

Directions:
crush corn flakes, I throw them into a big baggie & give them a few punches
combine cereal, sugar, butter, corn syrup, honey & cinnamon!
Shape ice cream into any size ball you want, I did little babies... roll balls in the cereal {press lightly to ensure balls are fully coated}
place ice cream balls into a muffin tin or on a plate... freeze until ready to serve or it appears to have set together!
Top with any of your yuppy toppings & ENJOY!!!!!!!!!!

mmmm citrus {& herb} chicken

I have been seeing a lot of these recipes on Pinterest over the last month of so, so I decided to give it a go!
I mixed up a few different recipes using what I liked from each! {you don't always have to follow one specific recipe, be fancy}

Ingredients:

1/4 cup olive oil
3-4 cloves of garlic, minced
2 tablespoons sugar
2 lemons
2 oranges
1 onion, sliced
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon basil
1 teaspoon thyme
1 teaspoon parsly
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 tablespoon rosemary
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
salt {your choice of amount}
pepper {your choice of amount}
10-12 chicken pieces, I used drumsticks & thighs {at Trader Joe's they have BONELESS thighs!}

Directions:
Mix together olive oil, garlic, all seasonings, sugar, 1 juiced lemon, 1 juiced orange! I let my chicken marinade in the mix for about an hour in a big zip lock baggie, if you don't have time for that... place chicken in a 13inX9in baking dish & pour mixture over chicken making sure all the chicken parts gets some of that sauce bath!
slice lemon, orange & onion, place around and under chicken then if you want to add some more seasoning over your chicken, go for it! This is when you make your recipe your own.
Bake for an hour or until chicken reaches 160 degrees, uncovered {middle rack, move to top last 10-15 mins for a nice brown color}
THEN!
Enjoyyyyyyyyyy!!!

I made garlic cheesy bread & garlic green beans, it went together perfectly!!!!!!

How stinkin cute are these?!

I picked these adorable tags up at {Rust and Roses} the last time I went antiquing & I can't get over how adorable they are... I also still have to find the perfect place or use for them!
I wish they had the brand name on them because they had a bunch of other awesome stuff!
I'll have to check next time I am there & give ya an update for some awesome online shopping!
Tag Quotes:
"admit one to dreamland"
"I never met a cupcake I didn't like"
"live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air"
"I can't wait til you see me fly, let your heart soar in new directions"

Where have {I} been!!!!!?????

I am so, so sorry that I have been MIA the past week!!!
I am super busy, about to graduate from ASU in a couple of weeks & I am definitely starting to feel the pressure!
I haven't had much time for new yummy treats or diys... but I promise I will have some new ones coming soon!!!!
I will post some of my old diys or refurbishes to stall until I can find some free time for new ones!
Thank you to all of my new viewers, family & friends who keep interested in what's up on the ol Kaddywhompus blog!

Updates: Lemon water in the mornings... FABULOUS! My face completely cleared up, which could have been luck! But I have been drinking it for about a week or two every morning & I don't crash in the middle of the day, my skin looks fabulous & I am feeling great!
Berry Danish... a definite to do Easter morning!
What else... hmm!!! OH... ohhhh noooooooo
Apparently I lack the green thumb that runs strong through my families blood... I blame it on being in Arizona... but it appears all of my new plants are slowly dying... hopefully they will perk back up soon!!!!
I hope everyone had a perfect holiday weekend & stay tuned for some new fun on Kaddywhompus next week!!!!

{Sedona} Saving me from AZ 1 trip at a time

I love, love, love, love, love Sedona... Anyone who has ever been would have to agree with me.
Every time I go I feel so blessed to live so close to such a beautiful place. Thankfully my boyfriend agrees to go with me frequently to help me avoid insanity of the desert in Tempe.
I don't think there are any "bad" places to go in Sedona but fortunately we have found some of our favorite little places each time we go... Last time we hiked up to Devil's Bridge with some friends & it truly took my breath away, probably more so from the actual hike.
We decided to check out the Amitabha Stupa & Peace Park to experience some peace & see this "sacred" place... There was even a Buddha there doing some stuff, I would assume praying but... I don't know much about that! Anyways, it was pretty cool, I was obviously obsessed with the flags & trinkets that were everywhere.
Then we finally did some hiking... {"stomping" - Zach} around Oak Creek and found a perfect rock to lounge on and enjoy the cool water & beautiful day...
Every time I leave I can feel any weight I have had on my shoulders completely disappear & I feel physically & mentally refreshed, it's perfect!