Arizona Living - What have I been doing?

What have I been doing in Arizona? Dodging cactus, tripping over tumbleweeds, and scavenging for rattlesnakes? Umm....No. It is time to review some great activities truly found in the valley of the sun. Especially now that I'm working and living in SLC for a few months (I suffer from vagabond syndrome - must drift from one location to the next).

For the most part work has consisted of mktg, writing, and research for different businesses. Nice diversity. On the side, I was involved with promotional marketing. It's great to get paid to attend the Superbowl NFL Experience, American Idol concert, some Donald Trump real estate convention, and various community banquets. In addition, I volunteered at sporting events like the PF Chang's Rock n' Roll Marathon. Basically when you live in Phoenix, you get involved! A lot goes on in this city. Many cool things to do!

Here are just a few things I've done while living in AZ (events with photos).

My last promo event was for State Farm insurance at the American Idol concert. Just pull people in to play an American Idol game and win prizes. Plus, I got to watch the concert. I actually got into American Idol more than usual this year. In my opinion, the best performers that night were David Cook (of course), Kristy Lee Cook (surprisingly), and David Archuleta (another of course).

I joined my mom and uncle for a skin care coalition at the Botanical Gardens. There was a butterfly exhibit at the time. Butterflies flying around my head. Like seeing stars!
I think this photo is funny. Mom and me talking about products. Uncle Bill wondering "What do I want for lunch . . . turkey avocado or grilled portabello? Or maybe he's just going . . . duh?

Away from work & promos, there's much to do with friends like . . .

Attend a Gin Blossoms benefit concert: the band dipped out Cold Stone ice cream, signed pictures, and posed for photo ops after the show.


Try pasucci (ice cream pizza)

Visit fabulous friends that come to town (Nea, Cole & Mason)

Enjoy the Scottsdale and Tempe nightlife with more awesome friends! Plenty of places for fine dining and shopping. Moderate temps (minus the summer) make AZ nightlife year round. (Friends include Huier, Kristina, Lisa, Maria, and Lyndsey) We joined Huier for a goodbye dinner before she moved home to Taiwan.

Tube the Salt River in 116 degree temps (Heat is relative). Funny expression on the river. Not sure what I was trying to do, but hilarious photo op:-)

Ah yes . . . Arizona is a good place to live, work, and play. Or if you're up for a visit, I can help you find the inside track on the great things locals like to do:-)

Desert Life - In my own frontyard

You may think the only elements of desert living are cactus, dirt, and tumbleweeds. Alas . . . it is surprising to see what the desert truly has to offer, even what can be planted in your own yard.

Mom and me in front of our grapefruit tree planted Sept. 12, 2005 (TJ's Bday), as a gift from a dear friend, It's called the "TJ" tree. The tallest, fastest growing tree in the backyard - just like my brother.

Thanks to Steve, my stepdad, the yard has some of the fanciest foliage you will see in our Scottsdale neighborhood. (Here's the plug-in for his Naturally Green Soil Treatment - the mystery product he sells that makes your garden grow better then the Jones's and decreases water usage - contact Exhibit A shown below for more info).

Exhibit A: Mr. Paul Bunyan himself - a.k.a. Steve - neighborhood house watcher, tree chopper, gardener, and new found sod layer. The neighbors love what he's done to the neighborhood just by redoing our frontyard:-)

Yes, the frontyard was classified as a barren wasteland, with fancy flowers and shrubs for over a year - for which Exhibit A could be blamed or praised. Nothing but dirt. No sign of desert rocks, grass, weeds, or even lawn furniture (refer to Exhibit B below).

Exhibit B: Fancy looking dirt:-)

Exhibit C: Here are some of the distractions planted throughout the year to defer the neighbors and onlookers from the realization that the frontyard is just brown dirt.
These petunias surely became the talk of the neighborhood! Joggers and dog walkers alike loved them, including the dogs;-)




Bring Hawaii to the desert!
Who knew tropical flowers flourish in Arizona. Red hibiscus and a purple orchid tree brought more awe and bewilderment as onlookers stared in disbelief!


Exhibit D: Sod Saturday finally arrived. 5am - I meandered out at 6:30am - let the guys do the work. The barren wasteland came to an end. Soon people will start using the frontyard for picnics; slip n' slides; stop, drop, and roll demos; and king of the hill. Finally, we can say GO GREEN!

Hawaii (Oahu) - April 14 - 22, 2008

Another long lull in blog writing must mean I have fabulous things to say about my vacation to Hawaii. Well, I do. It was everything I hoped for and so much more . . . why wouldn't it be? It's paradise!

My friends and I combined over 500 pictures, which would be difficult to include in this blog. I decided it was best to link 98 of those photos to my blog, instead of posting them in here. Photos include fabulous commentary from yours truly. http://picasaweb.google.com/tahleaj/Hawaii?authkey=yoOmocXyW_4

Flight Cancellation

After graduating from BYUH six years ago, a reunion was a necessity. Yet, this reunion almost didn't happen. A week before we were flying to Hawaii, ATA (our flight carrier) went bankrupt and immediately canceled all flights. What chaos! They left people stranded in Hawaii (like that's a bad thing), while others scrambled for last minute flights.

Fortunately, we received a full refund, but ticket prices began to soar. Our cheap $295 tickets were quickly becoming $1000. Oh, it seemed hopeless:-( Yet, I have great faith that remarkable blessings can come in times of desperation. Like getting to Hawaii of course!! A few days later, my dad came across a very reasonably priced ticket. It was the last seat available (according to travelocity). The downside was that I would have to spend 8 days, instead of 5 days in Hawaii (Bummer).

A bright note to my trip was running into my old Bishop from BYUH in my layover city - SLC. Of all places to run into someone, it would be the airport. Yes, my trip down memory lane was just beginning:-)

4 nights in Honolulu

The first 4 days were spent in Honolulu with my friends Jackie, Jen, Jon, and Kristen (I know a lot of J' people - good people:-) We did the wonderful touristy things including Pearl Harbor and the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet. Bring good walking shoes, cash, sunblock and patience a' plenty (Lines can get long at Pearl Harbor. Plus, you're in Hawaii - everything's slow). *Note on the Swap Meet - Buy everything here! Don't give into the lil' gift shops in Waikiki. You'll find greater selection and pricing at the Swap Meet (only open Wed. and Sat.)

Don't miss another important spot on the map - the Polynesian Cultural Center. Right next to BYUH and employed by BYUH students. The center highlight six polynesian cultures through dance, shows, food, etc. Highlights include village performances and the exceptional night show!

Learn to greet people in six different languages: Bula (Fijian), Aloha (Hawaiian), Talofa (Samoan), Kia Ora (Aotearoa), Iaorana (Tahitian), Malo e Lelei (Tongan). Additional local Hawaiin Pidgin phrasing would say "Was' up, brah?" or "Whaddsdascoops?!"

Every Hawaiian vacation needs a local language lesson to blend in with the surfers! Ha! Or just to get some good laughs at the attempt. A little surf lingo: "Da kine wave, brah. Jus carve up or slam the lid, or be pitched like there no tomorrow!"

Now that your language lesson is complete, you're ready to explore the north shore! Head to Sunset Beach, view Pipeline, snorkel at Shark's Cove, swim at Waimea Bay, then head to Haliewa to enjoy the popular Matsumoto's (shaved ice) experience.

Pineapple addicts everywhere flock to the Dole Plantation to savor the great flavor, view baby pineapple, and get lost in the pineapple maze.

4 Nights in Ka'a'ava

Due to my longer then expected stay on Oahu (again, woe is me), I needed a place to stay. My amazing friend, Shana, hooked me up with a great guest house in Ka'a'ava where some of her family lives. Amazing people and amazing abode that overlooked the ocean. Perfect way to enjoy the second-half of my vacation.

My quality, alone time was spent hiking Diamond Head, wandering different beaches, visiting the Laie Temple, and spending quality time at BYUH. I even wandered down to the Kokua Festival put on by Jack Johnson - just didn't get to see Jack.

Traveling alone gave me the opportunity to interact more with other tourists and locals. I forgot how sincere and kind people can be in Hawaii. Of course, not everyone's that way - like the rental car lady that tried to get this haole girl lost when I asked for directions (good thing i knew she was wrong). Or the short-tempered, grumbly clerks at a few stores in Haliewa. Yet, those little experiences can't compete with the warm aloha spirit many locals carry with them.

Overall, an amazing experience that leaves me longing for more time (and money) to go back. Another six years would be way too long. I need an annual trip (at the very least). Or if anyone needs a tour guide, I suppose I'd be willing to sacrifice the time and energy to go with you. Fo' Real! Good excuse to go back:-)

March Birthday Celebrations

I suppose there are no excuses concerning my long duration of absent blog writing. The lamest of all being - I’ve been busy, side-tracked, and try to spend as little time in front of the computer, when it’s not related to work.

Work? I guess I should clarify what in the world I’ve been doing the last seven months. After finishing my M.A. in August, I started hunting for that “big job in the sky”. I was fortunate to have many opportunities come my way, but nothing completely fell into place or felt quite right. To which I realized, hmm...I’ve never liked being chained to a desk doing monotonous daily tasks; my oddly creative, project-oriented, multi-tasking, analytical mind wants freedom to explore! So, I became a self-designated consultant. I primarily work for three companies, but have occasional side projects going on too. If you, or someone you know, is in dire need of copywriting/writing/editing/marketing assistance – just let me know*(view disclaimer to the right). I’ve done it all!

MARCH BIRTHDAY MADNESS - March 14 - 16, 2008

Now that I’ve caught up, on to “March Madness”! Yes, college basketball seems to be everywhere, but more importantly I’m referring to “March Birthday Madness”. Yeah! This year was no different. I was fortunate to be in SLC the weekend before my birthday for a Bio-Identical Hormone Conference (sounds really boring, huh?). Actually, I’m a health nerd, so I loved it. MedQuest, one of the lovely companies I work for, asked me to write some articles for journals/magazines on this topic. So, this conference provided an excellent background for my work.

I had a little time to celebrate with some March Birthday friends (Sam and Jovina). I wish I could have seen all my Utah friends and apologize to those I missed – being car-less and only in SLC for a two-day conference made it difficult to get around. I love all my Utah friends:-)

Sam had a surprise party Friday night! I'm glad it fell on the same night I flew in. I wouldn't want to miss it! Unfortunately, my short-sighted brain neglected to take any pictures. So, here is a picture from last years Birthday celebrations. We haven't aged a bit!

Of course, no Birthday celebration is complete with a little snow and sushi! Saturday night Jovina, Jasen and I celebrated Birthdays at Takashi. Food Critique: A modern-chic sushi restaurant tucked away on Market Street. Chef Takashi brings a Peruvian-style to the kitchen offering an eclectic variety of sushi rolls:-)

Sunday I celebrated with old roomies and friends. The delicious food continued on with wraps, salads, and angel food cake/strawberries for dessert. Right on! Magnifico! Qui a bon gout! Fantastico! (yummy!) Thanks to my fabulous roomies and friends.

Surprise Birthday Celebration! – March 17, 2008

On my return home to Arizona, I should have anticipated what was to come. I haven’t been home for my Birthday in 10 years, so my mom seized upon the moment. In order to distract me, I spent my Bday-eve with my grandma and Uncle (lunch and hybrid car browsing– what else could throw a girl off?).

Later that evening, I returned home to a houseful of guests and signs exclaiming Happy Birthday and Congratulations! My dear mother, threw a surprise Happy Birthday/Your Diploma Finally came in the Mail Party! She invited close family friends to enjoy the celebration. I’ll just say I was the youngest person in attendance:-) I loved it! It was so creative!

Finally Here! – March 18, 2008

My actual Birthday was pretty low key. Dinner with mom and Steve at Havana Café! Fun Cuban restaurant, yummy food. Mom and I posed in front of a rainforest mural, not realizing she was standing under some pink flower. She looks like a pink princess! It was hilarious! Steve said he didn’t notice she was standing there, but I think he was looking for a laugh. All in all it was a fabulous Bday 2008! Looking Ahead:Next month travel blog-log will feature the Hawaiian tropics, as I travel to Oahu.

Utah - Sam & Steve's Wedding Aug. 14 - Aug. 19, 2007

Well, I made my travel rounds and landed back in Utah just in time to move out of my apartment and make it to Sam's wedding. Good thing I made it to her wedding, since as a bridesmaid, I was an instrumental part of the wedding party:-) It was great to have Mom & Steve and Dad & Debbie all there to meet Steve. They hadn't given Sam the ultimate seal of approval, but they have now. I'm so grateful for the way Sam came into our lives through my brother, and the way she loved TJ during great challenges was amazing. I know TJ certainly gives his seal of approval too.

It's been a whirlwind of a summer as I traveled much, completed my thesis, moved out of Utah, got lost in D.C. and Palo Alto, CA and attended weddings for some of my most favorite people. Every summer should be so eventful! I'm slightly dazed believing I'm supposed to be heading back to BYU, finishing a thesis or something. But I do recognize it's time to move on to the next big adventure that awaits. Whatever, whenever, wherever, whomever it may be:-)

Washington DC - Aug. 7 - Aug. 12, 2007

Who knew! There's a place where singles are appreciated so much that they have their own lane on the freeway! The yellow signs say "Single Lane Ahead". D.C. is surely the place to be:-)

I went out for a Communications Conference to present a paper, and mom joined me to celebrate her Bday on Aug. 10th. Though D.C. is a popular tourist attraction, I don't know how many people can say they enjoy the city in August during humid, 100 degree weather. Can't say I enjoyed it, but it wasn't unbearable. Besides, my hair is always thick and luscious in humidity:-)

Lessons learned from this trip: I recommend the popular tourist spots, but don't try to see it all in one trip. You miss out on a lot if you're rushing from one place to the next. Even the the White House (couldn't find parking) and D.C. Temple (missed the street, and heading out to Gettysburg) were drive-bys. In case there is any question, the Pentagon does not give tours, let alone let you enter the parking lot. My mom used to go all the time when she was young, but different time period and her dad worked at the Pentagon.

I also recommend the Newseum that will be opening soon. We had a sneak peek as AEJMC delegates to see this gigantic media museum. Way cool! Inspired me to rent Goodnight and Goodluck about Edward R. Murrow (still haven't seen it). The Newseum will definitely be on my list next time I'm in D.C.

Moral of the Story: When in D.C., in mid-August, view the sites at night, especially the National Mall (all the memorials). It's open until 11:45 pm. Gorgeous city lights as we walked around Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, etc until 11:30pm. In hindsight, probably not the safest idea, so don't walk around without tons of people. Or just jump in with a random tour group wandering along the path.

Connecticut - July 25 - Aug. 1, 2007

Nothing like a summer vacation on the East Coast. Of course, a good vacation requires some outdoor chores and a house to paint. My dad and I were busily engaged in yardwork, painting the house, and fighting off hornets (at least the mosquitos stayed at bay). Great way to get a classic tan. The sun isn't as strong out there, so I always get a nice deep tan. It's kinda strange, but I turn a different color. Like Purple! Just kidding.

I enjoyed the fresh berries and apples from the yard and veggies from the farmer's market. Ah, that is the way to live. Seafood, veggie gardens and all the fruit you'll ever need to survive. Though we stayed in Westport, CT most of the time; we also went out to Pawcatuck, CT (borders RI) to visit my Aunt Helen's house built in the 1600's, and housed by a sea captain. What a tale it must tell.

We ventured out to Mystic, CT for the annual 24hr reading marathon of Herman Mellville's classic, Moby Dick. I've never read it, but as Herman Mellville recited the first chapter by memory (ok, maybe just a guy pretending to be Herman), I was inspired to get my own copy. Such passion for the sea is expressed in the first chapter, and since I was a fish in another life:-) I knew this is a must read.

Vacation is not complete without boating and fishing (at least pretending) in the Atlantic! I actually caught a Bass, while dad and Aunt Helen caught dog fish (they bark at you, funny looking creatures). No fish were harmed during our boating experience; we threw them back. My dad and I also swam from CT to RI! Sounds catastrophic, huh? Okay, I think it was really hundreds of yards to swim between the two states.

This is a highly recommended vacation destination, but I'm partially bias to the permeating childhood memories that pop up as I visit family on the east coast.