Scottsdale

So anticipating this trip--I couldn't even stand it. The formula was all there for the perfect trip. Scrapbooking, an impossibly posh hotel, pool time sans Mack and a best friend. Highlights:

Okay, you HAVE to stay at a Four Seasons once in your lifetime. It really should be mandatory for anyone questioning if there is anything good in life. It is so good and then some. The Scottsdale Four Seasons is situated out in the foothills of Scottsdale in it's own little desert paradise. It is quiet, breathtaking (may have stole that adjective from their brochure), and very southwest. There is probably like a zillion pounds of adobe out there amongst the cacti. We pull up and are instantly greeted by a valet, bags taken out of the car, and whisked to the front desk. Painless check in, and then a golf cart ride to our room. The room was amazing. An outdoor patio opened up to a wide expanse of more carefully cultivated desert. A little jackrabbit hopped by. Our bags were placed in an amazing closet by the bell boy as we checked out the massive bathroom (with, {SQUEAL} L'Occitane bath products which I pilfered at once). We chilled out on our patio for a while luxuriating in the chairs and taking in all the different varieties of desert plants.

The pool was almost as wonderful. A handful of different pools were situated amongst cabanas, huge pool chairs and teak everything. We selected a cabana, had our chairs "prepared" (special huge towels covered the back of the comfy chair with more towels being offered), and soaked up the sun. We dined on gourmet nachos, complimentary mango slushes, and huge jugs of ice water. Took the Omnivore's Dilemma with me for reading material (as I had already reading Breaking Dawn even though I promised not to), hit my new playlist on my iPod, and chilled. Best pool experience in a long time:)
We were also lucky enough to catch a Janet Hopkins class at Scrapbooks Etc., in Mesa. Janet is the educator/creative director at Heidi Swapp. We made the most to die for cute little book. It was super fun hobnobbing with her and getting such great ideas for my most favorite scrapbooking products ever.

Also had fun visiting Kriston, Amanda's friend from high school. We hit all of her local favorite scrapbook stores, ate at Joe's BBQ (soooo good!) and laughed over silly stuff. I am still laughing about our conversation if you can have a night so amazing you blank as to how feather pillows and headboards get destroyed (for those of you that read Breaking Dawn, let me know what you think:).

Last but certainly not least was the Scottsdale Mall. We made this one a really quick trip on the way back to the airport, so just hit PB Loco and then Sprinkles across the street from the mall. I had such high hopes for Sprinkles. My friend at work has actually been known to hop a flight to Newport Beach just to pick up a black and white cupcake. But, alas, the little treasures were not as wonderful as I had heard. Flavors seemed a little off. They were little works of art though--should have saved the calories and just stared at them until they went stale.

Amanda, are you up to making this an annual trip? Hope so!