Sights & Musings from Arizona
Hello EE fam! Hope you have had an incredible start to the new year! 😊 On New Year’s Day morning, I hopped on a plane and set off for Arizona. Ringing in the new year in a different state was the perfect opportunity to get in the mind set for a some of my decade aspirations (check them out here) as well as clearing my head / allowing my mind to wander past work and the holidays. So without further ado, here is what I saw in AZ + some thoughts I had along my trip that I wanted to share with you!
Local Juice
We started our first full day in Sedona with breakfast at Local Juice, where I grabbed a cup of their Golden Latte (turmeric, almond butter, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, cardamom, cayenne, black pepper, pink salt, coconut sugar) and the PB + Honey toast (peanut butter, banana and honey on GF bread). There was a great ambiance and everything smelt so good!
While catching up with one of my friends, every now and then we would find ourselves basking in the warm sunlight pouring through LJ’s large windows. It was during one of those moments that I had a thought about eating healthier in this new year. Now before we get ahead of ourselves, let me explain what I mean by healthier…. I fully intend on continuing to share more about my food adventures and indulging in delicious treats. However, I want to get back into more fresh home cooking this year - as work travel permits - and showing you all some easy recipes. Eating out can be just as much fun as eating in!
Sedona Wine Tour
A lovely afternoon tour thorough Sedona’s wine country was a great way to kick-off the year! We went to Oak Creek Vineyards, Page Springs and more. All of the wineries on the tour had something unique to offer and overall the tasting were very well priced. My favorite wines were the Mourvedre from Alcantara and the Fire + Syrah from Oak Creek While on our tour, lead by Sedona Wine Tours, I was walking the vineyard at Alcantara and saw the view below.
The bare vines made me think a bit about how hard some part of 2019 were; moreover, how each year is likely to have rough and difficult season. But I want to remind you that even though your situation may look barren, you can still bear fruit in this chapter. I truly believe that even when it seems like nothing is happening or we feel like we aren’t progressing as fas as we want to, there is always work going on on the inside. Giving myself the space to grown into each season of life is a skill I’m still working on. As much as I’m say this to each of you who will read this post, I’m also saying it to myself. Don’t rush past what each phase in life is trying to develop / strengthen in you. We will be stronger and better on the other side because of each experience.
Antelope Canyon & Horseshoe Bend
I was in complete awe and wonder at both of these natural landmarks. As I walked through antelope canyon and heard about how it has been molded after SO MANY years of flash floods. All I could think is: “Wow, look how beautiful it is after everything this sandstone has been through. How much more refinement could I use to let more authentic self shine through?” I know its not that deep, but man it made me think.
At Horseshoe Bend, we were met with a simple ~1.25 mile walk up into the jaw-dropping beauty of a river encircled cliff. I had never seen pictures of the area or heard about what to expect, so it was a fantastic surprise. The slow moving water of the river was peaceful and comforting. So much so that we spent nearly two hours walk around various parts of the park area, climbing rocks, and soaking in fresh air. I can honestly say I’ve never seen anything like Antelope & Horseshoe. Each was gorgeous in its own way, and I cannot wait to return in the future for more time in both locations!
Grand Canyon
OH MY LANTA! The Grand Canyon (or at least the parts I was able to see) is absolutely stunning!!! Standing near the edge of one of the cliffs to watch the sunrise was a lifelong memory I’ll always cherish. It was a great reminder just how small my worries and problems felt in the expansive and beautiful intertwined valleys & planes of the dessert. The Grand Canyon area is so large that I’m sure we were only able to see a fraction of it, but I wasn’t too sad to go because I know I’ll be back one day for some (guided) hiking without all the ice.
I hope you enjoyed the views from my quick trip through Arizona! They barely do each sight justice to their natural beauty. Excited for all of the travel to come in 2020 and sharing more of my thoughts and musings with you. Shots of the food from this trip to come on my IG, so make sure you are following @emi_eats_ to see the best bites I found in Sedona & beyond. Until the next time, have a fabulous day!! ♡