Brought the Heat to the Desert 🌵🔥

This year for my birthday, my sister and I spent a week in Arizona - and man, was it HOT! but the views were nice so let's get into it.

After a 14-hour road trip our first stop in Arizona was The Phoenician Resort and Spa . First time there and loved it! We were near mountains which gave us a great view and it added to the experience. We hit the sauna, steam room, indoor whirlpool, cold plunges, and even managed to accidentally take a nap poolside. Asia made sure we got our money's worth, okay? She couldn't stop talking about her massage therapist applying warm oil directly to her back and thighs... Sis talks about that massage like it changed her life LOL. Honestly, after a 14-hour drive, we both deserved it.

Of course, on our way out of the resort we had to stop for photos.

Shortly after we took these, someone walked up inquiring about my photography services. I was lowkey not in the chatty mood and naturally Asia stepped right in and facilitated conversation (10/10 assistant. Would hire again. 🫶🏽). By the next day, we had a mini lifestyle session on the books. Normally, vacation means vacation, but I had all my gear with me and I believe in not fumbling a blessing when it shows up. Plus, who's turning down a little extra vacation money? God said, 'Since you brought the camera...' One thing I learned though? I need to get my mobile systems together. Booking clients on-the-go should not require a prayer and three different apps. Maybe this is God's way of preparing me for my traveling photographer era. We'll see. 😉

The session itself went great but my favorite shots are actually from when Asia stepped in front of the camera 📸

Now back to the birthday vibes!

In planning this trip, we didn't have any big ideas - the main vibe was to keep it laid back and a break for the normal day to day tbh. I knew I wanted to be in nature, and the desert was new experience. The evening of our birthday, we got dressed for dinner. Asia and I don't really do the whole matching outfits thing. We've always been more into complementing each other, and we ate with these looks -- still obsessed.

Our backdrop was actually our hotel, Senna House in Scottsdale, and she was cute, very desert chic. Definitely understood the assignment. 🤎🌵✨

Dinner was at Toca Madera, which was easily another 10/10 item on the itinerary. Great food, beautiful ambiance, and just the right amount of birthday energy. No notes. 👏🏽

The next day was pretty chill. Went by the pool, ventured out around town redeeming bday freebies, and dinner at the hotel. Later this night we also did a cute stroll - check out the camera roll (iphone photos!)

The second photos is the bloom of the cactus! The hotel staff showed it to us, it only blooms at night and only lasts 24hrs, so cool.

Up until this point, AZ has been treating us so nicely but the next few days TOOK ME OUT. Part of this trip was designed to be outdoorsy. Asia and I are outdoor girlies so when we decided to go on a bike ride one morning, I was so game. The ride started off great. It was hot but there were cool views and also, when was the last time you were on a bike??

What I thought would have been like a 1hr bike ride at most took, like 4hours. We were trying to bike to this mountain and it was like we could never make it. It didn't help that we slightly got lost, we had no real plan fr, I underestimated the distance and was very dehydrated and honestly unprepared. HA!

Needless to say.... I didn't make it. But shoutout to Asia because she biked all the way back to the hotel, got the car, and came back to retrieve me. She had water, slim jims, and fruit snacks waiting on me. 💓

A few cute ones of us... before I died.

Got in the car and got my second wind. I was good after that! We went for ice cream and let me tell you... after nearly burning to a crisp on the AZ asphalt, that ice cream was everything. We had like this butter cake caramel mix, I forgot the name but sooo good.

Little did I know, that bike ride was preparing me for the hike the following day. Instead of biking to mountain, we drove and hiked the trail... I wasn't as bad this day! I was hydrated, packed some snacks, we started early in the AM.

Besides a healthy respect for hydration, this trip reminded me that like entrepreneurship sometimes the best thing that I can do is to slow down so I can keep up.

Arizona, thank you for the sunsets, the mountain views, and the beautiful backdrop to welcome this new decade.

Until the next adventure... 📸🤎