Case of the Monday's

Mondays. For me, a 14-hour day of school and work. But I do enjoy my Monday's because of a near three-hour break in between.
This Monday, Edwin came downtown and met me for coffee at one of, if not, my favorite coffee bar...
Lola (plus the website has an addicting song currently playing lol)

Let's try this again...

Three months! Ninety days! (Give or take). Since the last published post...
Where have I been.
Here is to my new strict vow to post at least once a week.
I certainly have had time to get enough inspiration for tons of entries.

We'll start with my day:

It's November 4.
While we valley dwellers should be enjoying ourselves in the fall weather that includes 60-70ish temperatures and falling leaves, we get almost 90 degrees with a huge heap of sunshine.
Tisk, despite the warm conditions, I could not help but wear these cozy shoes and heat retaining, err, black pants.

My absolute favorite shade of gray.

After classes, I set out with a friend to take a peak at the new Cityscape making its debut later this weekend.  Just a few blocks away from school, an Urban Outfitters, a quaint little café/grocery, a bowling alley, and a new place to escape will be here in time for winter.

Then I decided to do some people watching on the way back and sit in the shade where there was a surprisingly cool breeze.
I couldn't help but getting a photo of the popular installation at Civic Space Park...

I really hope to form this blog space into something great, something reflective and something to share.
End of the week already!
Can't wait for the coming weekend, dinner with Edwin's family, perhaps a museum, and catching up with my best friends.

:) Diana

Birthday weekend and the power of good food.

Last Saturday was my twentieth birthday, and it felt like any other day...


I think twenty is that median age where you surely have passed the teen-age and feel like you've been such an "adult" for a what have seemed to be a lengthy two years but not quite at the age where everything is available to you (mostly getting into some sweet concerts but happen to be at bars where the minimum age limit is 21, and of course...having a horizontal driver's license lol).
But of course, I am relieved to be rid of my teen years and anxious to start living a life that I can create, so happy content birthday to me.


Edwin and I had planned on celebrating out birthdays together (his was the very next day) a little differently...
We went out for breakfast both days and enjoyed some special treats.
After cruising down Central avenue, we came across Hob Nobs coffeehouse, a wonderfully renovated old- world house into modern day cafe.

Oatmeal and strawberries from HN's.

I have been dying to try this place all summer and we finally got around to it.
Nobs has amazing breakfast items and believe it or not, pizza that tastes like a slice of warm, handmade heaven.
We loved it so much, that we came back the next day for Edwin's birthday...and the next day for my second day of classes.

The waiters and cashier were probably surprised we weren't there again this week.









Needless to say, Hob Nobs is perfecto.
The rest of the weekend was spent with good friends and loved ones, and received some beautiful gifts.
It couldn't have been better.

:)

She was a daytripper...

Such a busy week before school,
Between training for the AZ Republic, doing photos for State Press Magazine, getting ready for my junior year in college (gasp) and finding time to stop and breathe, my poor neglected blog needed a fresh post;

Last Saturday morning Edwin and I decided to take a little day trip up to Flagstaff, AZ.
It made perfect timing because school starts in a few days and I considered it to be my little getaway, due to the fact that I missed this!
Bummer.
So without hesitation, I packed some snacks for us, brewed some coffee, popped in a new memory card in my camera, and off we went.
We stopped downtown for a while to check out some neat shops and had lunch at a nice little diner.
Afterwards, wanting to enjoy the crisp breeze and some change of nature surroundings, we drove out about 7 more miles to The Arboretum at Flagstaff.
This wildflower preserve garden is almost a mile-long loop of meadows, flower gardens, nature trails and green houses in one of Flagstaff's beautiful forests.
After wandering around the gardens for a bit, we figured we could walk off our food and go on a nature trail.

Walking through the trail

A field of purple flowers near a greenhouse

Yellow beauties

Amor

The serene meadow and absolute quiet beauty in nature hooked us...
We loved it, and and plan to go back in October when the weather will be more like fall.

We finally made it back around to the end of the trail and stopped in the gift shop for some sweet organic "nature-themed" t-shirts.

So inspired by our experience at The Arboretum, we threw on our new tees, and drove back downtown (looking like complete tourists) and went to a little coffee shop called Late for the Train Espresso.

Half hour or so of people-watching and some last minute browsing through shops later, we called it a night and headed back for the heat.

We were so pleased and relieved to have gotten away for a even a day.

(My apologies for the rhyme)

Goodnight, and until next time...

(Oops)

A coffee a day.

I have a firm belief that a good, strong but nicely crafted espresso will get my day off to the right start.

Even in the late afternoons or evenings I can polish off a steaming latte or ice cold brewed coffee.
And the usual response I receive when trying to put my adoration in metaphor is "Do you really need the caffeine?"...
No, truth be told. I do not.
The purpose is not for the instant jolt of energy (which almost never is a side-effect with me),
it is rather the sweet aroma and absolute decadence that my taste buds have come to acquire.
Not to mention the ever evolving theories on coffees' health benefits that can range from being a great source of antioxidants to possibly warding off different types of Dementia.
In lieu of my long-time relationship with this beverage, I have reminded myself to whip out my camera phone and
capture my daily coffee and pastry indulgences from local coffee bars during the week.
(I only wish I would have had my Rebel with me to have better quality images)


So enjoy and order up!

Lux Coffee Bar

La Grande Orange

Lola Coffee on Central

Lola Coffee on Roosevelt

Morning dates and ballerina hair.

This morning got off on the right start when Edwin and I took a drive down to a local Starbucks for delicious oatmeal and coffee, and caught a morning showing of Inception.

      Which I thought was a fabulous film.

Whilst getting ready to head out the door earlier, I felt such an agony in having to completely dry, and assemble a decent down hairstyle with my lion-like long locks per the usual.  I Instead decided to try out a new trend, a modern take on the Ballerina Bun.

(Variations of the new bun I happen to love)

After only a surprising few minutes to get the effect just right, (as if it's such a complex style)
I arrived at my low-key look for today :) Paired with an elbow sleeve striped top, cuffed boyfriend jeans and flat leather sandals.

I love going places early in the morning on a weekday, where it seems a bit quieter.
Later I hope to make time for yoga and test out my new tripod for my slr.


-Happy things.

Hidden Gems...

--Note to self, I must update this thing a tad bit more than once every couple of weeks.

I present, some lovely surprises I found in the most unexpected places...

Kneaders.
A quaint bakery that was located near our hotel in Yuma, AZ over fourth of July weekend.
They also had a little section of arts and crafts that included fabrics and handmade cards.
Made decent coffee but the gorgeous display of specialty desserts and breads won me over.
I can't wait to go back in November for a family reunion, that way I can try the pastries :)
Yuma is certainly growing...

Giant Coffee.
I'm sure I hopped on the late bus with this place even though it just opened recently, since I first heard of it on the New Times website.
But here it is, behind a CVS and next door to building suites that seem almost uninhabited...
Three of my favorites all on one table thanks to Giant Coffee in central Phoenix. Pretty flowers, strawberry muffins and iced latte's helped me unwind between photo shoots this week.
This awesome place has a warehouse-style interior while managing to be cozier than most places. It also had a sweet boutique in the same loft space.

Soyal Gallery.
While initially hearing about its opening event through my internship, I definitely want to see more of the work displayed by numerous artists that were featured at this gallery in Scottsdale.
Edwin came along that night of the opening and made for a perfect personal photo subject lol.




This post just sparked an idea that I can (crosses fingers) plan on blogging about in the future,
Hidden Gem Wednesdays.
:)

Buenas noches,