More Christmas Decor

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I used double sided tape to add Christmas wrapping paper to the backs of each of the shelves, and then simply added all my decorations.

Foodie Friday #9 - Slices

Welcome back to Foodie Friday.

(for an explanation of the ratings, see here)

Slices
Mill & 6th St, Tempe
(Other locations in Phoenix & Tempe)

photo from Get Out AZ

Price: $

Taste: * * * *
S&A: * * * *
Value: * * * *

From a recommendation from my mom, we headed to Slices last week. Its a tiny restaurant off of Mill Avenue in Tempe - just an order counter and 2 or 3 tables. But the pizza selection was huge. We had our choice of maybe 10 different pizzas to buy by the slice (you can also order whole pizzas - like 30 different varieties). We ordered 3 slices to share between the 2 of us - Tomato Basil, Pepperoni & Mushroom, and Ham & Pineapple.

When your pick your pieces, they go back into a warming oven for a couple minutes, so you have a piping hot piece of pizza, which was very nice. The pieces were huge and all of them were delicious. My mom has been known to go out of her way to go there for a slice of vegetarian (which I didn't know beforehand, or I would have tried it).

Very tasty, very convenient, very fast.


Overall Rating: 4 Stars

Christmas Crafts

No, we don't have Christmas set up at our house.

But, we did have to dig deep into our storage closet - past the Christmas decor - last week for an unrelated item. So while the storage bins were out, I dug up the Christmas projects I put away last year, and decided to finish them this week.

I bought a bunch of clearance fabric last December for a Christmas throw blanket (and the backing came from here). It seriously only took me 3 Sophie naps to finish.

Really.

From a pile of fabric to a comfy quilt in 3 naps.

And now, before you think I'm too crafty, I'll let you in on a little secret about the pillows. I found them, as place mats, at a thrift store last year. (yes, felt place mats.) I simply opened the seam 4 inches, stuffed them with batting, and sewed them back up. They came that cute. I just awesomerized them.

The Zoo

It's fun to go to the zoo with Sophie, cause as far as I can tell, she thinks we're just walking around a park or something when we first get there and then BAM - there's an elephant at this park.

This first picture didn't really turn out.

Sophie watching the giant tortoises.

Foodie Friday #8 - Chase's Diner

Welcome back to Foodie Friday.

(for an explanation of the ratings, see here)

Chase's Diner
2040 N. Alma School
Chandler

Price: $$

Taste: * * *
S&A: * * * * *
Value: * * * *

A coupon in the 2009 Entertainment book led us to Chase's Diner last weekend. Due to a headache, I was in search for a regular American meal. Chase's Diner is exactly what you hope for when you want to eat at a diner: red vinyl booths, checkerboard floors, & 50's music playing in the background.

I ordered the pot roast, which claimed it came with "today's vegetables" and a side of my choice. I chose the dinner salad, which was quite large, but disappointing. It was your typical salad-in-a-bag, plus a tomato & croutons. My pot roast was tasty and filling. My only gripe was that the carrots were baby carrots, which never have any flavor. Oh, and that it didn't come with a side of vegetables. But it did come with a delicious homemade biscuit, so I forgave the vegetables.

Jake ordered the bacon cheeseburger, and had no complaints. His fries, like my salad, appeared (and tasted) as if they came from a bag though.

Chase's redeemed themselves fully, if not more so, though, with their chocolate peanut butter shake. If I was reviewing just the shake, I would have given it 5 stars. It was real ice cream, real chocolate, and real peanut butter. And real delicious. Perfect for a girl with a headache. Or anyone really, who wants something sweet.


Overall Rating: 3¾ Stars

I Was Never Cool.............In School

Ben Folds was, um, awesome last night.

Has Anyone Seen the 80s?

photo from FunWirks

So, a week and a half ago (Halloween), Arizona experienced extremely warm temperatures - mid 90s - which were 10 degrees higher than average.

Fast forward to today - we're experiencing temperatures 10 degrees below average (a high of 69 degrees today).

Um, what happened to the 80s? Where is our beautiful fall? (I know, only an Arizonan would complain about 69 degrees). I mean, it's still nice outside - great long sleeve weather. But I want my non-sweat / non-sweater park days!

Foodie Friday #7 - Arizona State Fair

Welcome back to Foodie Friday.

(for an explanation of the ratings, see here)

The Arizona State Fair
Closed for the year, sorry.

Price: $$

Taste: * * * * *
S&A: * * * * *
Value: * * *

When you decide to eat at a State Fair, you are expecting overpriced, greasy, fried food in huge portions. And the Arizona State Fair did not disappoint. While the fair is known for its fried, well, anything, we stuck to pretty basic stuff.

I got a taco salad from a Mexican joint. It was very good and bigger than my head. Jake stuck with the fair classic: the foot long corn dog. We then split a honey & powdered sugar covered Indian Fry Bread. Mmmmmm.


Overall Rating: 4½ Stars

All By Herself

Sophie decided to put her shoes on this morning.
By herself.
Over her footie pajamas.
On the wrong feet.

"Sophie, can you smile?"

We're Seeing Things

Jake discovered this odd smudge on our kitchen table last night.

Take a closer look.

That's right. We had a visit from a crazy alien skull, in the form of a dried up spill from Sophie.