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Foodies

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Smoothie Time!

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Jude’s favorite time of the day (not kidding) is Smoothie Time! Every morning we start Jude’s day by making this smoothie in our trusty Vitamix. The sound of the blending beginning is the highlight of his day! It’s the best.

We make the smoothie in our Ascent Series Vitamix, but occasionally I (Bobby) make it in a big cup with the Immersion Blender. It really just depends how much you want to make.

Here’s our recipe:

1/2 cup frozen pineapple

1/2 cup frozen mango

1 teaspoon of flax

1 teaspoon of chia seeds

1 teaspoon of hemp seeds

1 scoop of Greek yogurt

1/2 cup of Almond Milk

Lots of spinach (2 handfuls?)

3 dates

A splash of water

We more or less just eyeball the ingredients based on who’s having a smoothie. We also modify with berries and almond butter when we have them. And we also like buying bulk frozen fruit from Costco, so in general we add about a total of 1 cup of fruit. When you have this every day, it’s nice to make a few tweaks :)

This smoothie is a great way to give your kiddos all the nutrients they need to kick-start their day (and you too). Let us know what you think!

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5 REASONS WHY GUADALAJARA AND TEQUILA SHOULD BE ON YOUR LIST

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It’s been about a month now since we returned from our trip to Guadalajara and Tequila—and we still talk about it daily. We love when destinations surprise us and exceed our (already very high) expectations, and these two spots did exactly that! The history, the food, the culture… the TEQUILA! Everything about our trip was magical. 

*We also left our toddler at home, making the experience extra glorious. ;) ...But that’s besides the point. 

Here’s 5 reasons why you should book a trip to Guadalajara and Tequila ASAP:

1. THEY’RE EASY TO GET TO

Maybe we’re getting older (or maybe it’s because we’re parents), but we love visiting destinations that are easily accessible and don’t require long travel days. We’re all about maximizing our vacation time and minimizing travel stress! Lucky for us, Guadalajara is an easy 2.5 hour flight from LAX. (And yet it feels like a world away!) We left first thing in the morning and made it to the city in time for lunch—you can’t beat that!!

2. THEY’RE BEAUTIFUL

Both Guadalajara and Tequila are absolutely stunning in their own ways. Guadalajara has a charm that’s unlike anywhere we’ve been before. From the Cathedral de Guadalajara to the Teatro Degollado, it’s an architecture (and history) lover’s dream! 

Liberation Square with the cathedral in the background!

Tequila is an hour outside from Guadalajara, and the picturesque drive alone is worth the trip! You’ll know you’re getting close as you start to see rolling agave fields in the distance. The town of Tequila itself is charming and quaint and everything you’d imagine it to be. From the cobblestone streets to the colorful architecture and the festive town square–it’s like something out of a movie!

Main square in Tequila, Mexico

The Church of Santiago Apostol - Tequila

3. THE CULINARY SCENE 

Mexican food is our favorite food... And the food in Guadalajara and Tequila might be some of the best Mexican food we’ve ever had! We have a long list of all of the restaurants we did not make it to (foodies- book a trip NOW) but here’s a few of the ones we DID enjoy:

Cafe La Paloma (Guadalajara): Loved this casual (and very affordable) spot for coffee/lunch! Get the guacamole and tortilla soup—and don’t forget their homemade flan for dessert! (For a sweet, refreshing drink try their pīnada!)

Casa Luna Restaurante (Tlaquepaque): From the mesmerizing decor to the beautifully plated cuisine, this iconic restaurant lived up to ALL the hype! Order a round of “Cazuelitas” for the table (tequila, soda, citrus and spices), and if it’s in season you must try their “Chiles En Nogada” (a Guadalajaran specialty that’s only served a couple of months out of the year)!

Hueso (Guadalajara): This place is truly an experience, and one that we didn’t want to end! It’s chic and modern and playful all at once, and if you only have one meal in Guadalajara—have it here. Drink all the cocktails and eat all the food. (Especially the pork, short rib, bone marrow, risotto, and creme brulee) and thank us later.

La Antigua Casona (Tequila): We ate here multiple times (and even splurged on multiple dishes) because we couldn't get enough of the open ambiance and flavorful cuisine! Their "Torta Ahogada" (drowned sandwich) might be the best thing we ate on the trip! 

Casa Luna - look at the decor!

You can drink Cazuelas in the streets - like Vegas :)

4. THE EXPERIENCES

When it comes to things to do, there’s plenty to keep you occupied in both Guadalajara and Tequila. Bring good walking shoes, we walked a lot. (And we ate a lot, so it balanced out. We like it that way.) Here’s some highlights:

Charro Training: We went to the Lienzo Charros de Jalisco for a real Charrería experience. If you aren’t famliair with a Charrería, it’s ok, we weren’t either! Consider it their version of a rodeo- but like, way cooler. There’s fancy uniforms and rope tricks and bull riding and well, it’s epic. We learned all about the history and Bobby had a crash-course in how to be a charro and he’ll proudly say he passed. 

Walking Tour: Guadalajara is one of those cities where there’s SO much to see, so a walking tour is a great place to start. We went on a Historic City Center tour with Lily Aceves, and we highly recommend it! Not only will you see and learn so much about the history and culture of Guadalajara, but you’ll make an amazing friend, too. We love you, Lily!

Guadalajara Cathedral on the Historic City Center Tour with Lily Aceves

Explore Tlaquepaque: Just 20 minutes from downtown Guadalajara is the picture-perfect neighborhood called Tlaquepaque. There you’ll find an array of shops, galleries and restaurants that will keep you entertained (and stuffed!) for hours. 

Nuestros Dulces Candy Factory: While yo’re in Tlaquepaque, tour an authentic Guadalajaran candy factory- where you’ll be able to taste, and even make, some delicious treats! 

Mundo Cuervo tour & tasting: If you visit Tequila and don’t do the Mundo Cuervo tour, did you even go to Tequila?! This is a must do, and definitely one of the highlights of our trip! We learned all about the tequila making process, from the agave plant to the distilling… and everything in between! And of course, it comes with a generous tasting too!

5. THE LUXE ACCOMMODATIONS

Over the past few years we’ve come to a realization about ourselves. We’re kind of hotel connoisseurs. We love staying at places with character, places that surprise us, places that aren’t only visually pleasing, but have amazing customer service and care. Both spots we stayed at on this trip were exactly that. We’d book them again tomorrow if we could!

Casa Habita (Guadalajara): Think Ace Hotel meets Guadalajaran minimalism. (If that’s a thing?) It’s effortlessly cool yet inviting, with all the right features and perfectly calculated design. Our only regret is that we didn’t have time to utilize the super-chic pool!

Hotel Solar de las Animas (Tequila): We both said we’d return to Tequila just to stay here. It’s five-star service and elegance that we haven’t experienced in awhile. The spacious rooms, the perfectly manicured grounds, the decadent breakfasts… everything is perfectly executed, and fabulously romantic.

Breakfast in bed at Casa Habita

Pool time with a view at Casa Habita

Tranquility at Hotel Solar de las Animas

Insane beauty at Hotel Solar de las Animas

There you have it. Our five reasons to visit Guadalajara and Tequila. We could give you 500 more but A) we don’t have that kind of time and B) we don’t want to give all of its greatness away! Experience this part of Mexico for yourself—and let us know what you think! Better yet, take us with you. We’re already itching to go back.

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Why Scottsdale Was Our Toddler's First Trip

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After a short visit in 2016, we knew Scottsdale would be a place we’d be coming back to in the future. Fast-forward to 2019 when we discovered the unbelievable food scene, and we knew Scottsdale would now become an annual trip (at least). A pandemic and a newborn held us back in 2020, but it didn’t stop us from taking our first trip with our toddler (we CANNOT believe he’s one!) in 2021.

Now, when traveling with a mobile, always-hungry, always-busy, and always-loud toddler, you have to be selective. We need a spacious hotel room, tons of time outside, good food and drinks (because #toddlerlife), and ideally a dash of luxury. Scottsdale not only checks ALL of those boxes, but it’s an easy drive for us from SoCal.

Here’s why we think Scottsdale is a perfect family getaway!

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Hotels Offer Space, Scenery, and Luxury (without breaking the bank)

When traveling with a toddler and a dog, it’s hard to travel light. Between our bags, a pack-and-play crib, Sally’s things… our hotel rooms can quickly feel extremely tight. But that’s not the case here! We’ve now stayed at four different properties in Scottsdale, and every room has been extremely spacious.

This trip, we split our time between the J.W. Marriott Camelback Inn and the Hotel Valley Ho—and both rooms were glorious. The J.W. Marriott sits at the base of Camelback Mountain, and we had a huge room with absolutely stunning mountain views. The Hotel Valley Ho could not be in a more ideal location (right in the center of town), and we joked that our Tower Suite room was bigger than our house.

And while we’re on the subject of hotels, we’re blown away by the amount of beautiful, luxurious, and unique properties there are in Scottsdale. It’s insane. Some of the best, most iconic and award-winning resorts are here, and they are often times running some incredible offers. And as temps start to heat up during the summer, the deals will only get better. We’re talking 60% off peak season, better. If we’re off the grid in August, it’s probably because we’re living luxuriously in a chic Scottsdale hotel cranking our AC. Keep an eye on ItsThatHot.com May-September to score some of these phenomenal deals! You’re welcome.

Not a bad sunset to be welcomed to Scottsdale!

Pool with a view at the J.W. Marriott Camelback Inn

We were obsessed with the layout and landscaping!

Loving the color at Hotel Valley Ho!

Sunsets from our balcony at Hotel Valley Ho!

Covid or Not, Dining Outside Can be the Norm

While we are currently in the midst of a global pandemic and dining outside is normal, it’s nothing new to Scottsdale. When we’re bundled up in the fall and winter, Arizonians are enjoying their happy hours outside with sunny 80 degree weather. It might be obnoxious when you’re looking at Scottsdale through social media and you’re sitting in a blizzard, but it is PURE BLISS when you’re there. Scottsdale offers a never-ending array of culinary delights (see next section), and it is always nice to enjoy a meal al fresco (especially if you have a baby in a high chair and a dog under the table).

Taking Jude on a stroll through Historic Old Town!

Let’s Talk Food.

I’m shocked we haven’t yet written a food-specific blog on Scottsdale. There are SO many amazing restaurants. They’re so good that it’s hard to branch out because every time we go we have to hit our favs. Here’s a list of our 10 current must-visit spots:

  • Cartel Coffee Lab - Always our first stop when we arrive. I (Bobby) bought some beans on this last trip and wish I would’ve brought more home. So good!

  • Fourtillfour - Our newest discovery, this coffee shop in Old Town Scottsdale has some delicious coffee. And they have epic car shows on the weekends.

  • Berdena’s - We love the vibe, and love the cappuccinos even more.

  • Kaleidoscope Juice - We eat a TON when we’re in town, so some days we need a juice or smoothie to start our day.

  • Hash Kitchen - Speaking of eating a ton… the food here is outrageous. Everything has incredible presentation and even better flavor. If you aren’t a Bloody Mary fan, this is the place to give one a try!

  • Belle’s Nashville Kitchen - A honky tonk featuring upscale comfort food and handcrafted cocktails? Sign us up! We went for breakfast and indulged in the hot chicken biscuit with a Bloody Mary (Bobby) and the French toast sticks with a mimosa (Alli). Enjoy shopping around Old Town after your meal!

  • Herb Box - A new favorite! From the salads to the sandwiches, everything here is healthy and SO tasty. It’s a perfect spot after a late-morning hike at the nearby McDowell Sonoran Preserve.

  • Farm & Craft - One of our favorite lunch spots, here you can order anything and know that it’ll be amazing. Trust us.

  • The Mission - I’m sorry that we talk about The Mission’s guac on every blog we’ve ever written about Scottsdale. It is worthy of the praise. This Mexican restaurant is a must-eat on your first visit.

  • Postino WineCafe - Perfect for a date night, Postino boasts incredible bruschetta boards and an impressive wine list. You can bring the whole family, but this is a great date night spot.

  • Brat Haus - Brats and beers are always a good idea. Especially if the mustard is on point (for Bobby, not Alli). Brat Haus has a perfect beer garden to bring the kids (and dog), with house-made sausages and craft beer that will keep you there all afternoon.

Brunch at Hash Kitchen never disappoints! What a spread!

A new favorite - the Herb Box!

It looks like Jude has a giant Old Fashioned to himself :)

Brat Haus is definitely Sally-approved!

Here’s the thing… if you Google “Best restaurants in Scottsdale”, you’ll probably get a list with a variety of other spots sprinkled in. Go to those too! You can’t go wrong! (And leave a comment below telling us your favorites—you know we’ll be back!)

Hikes, Trains Sharks, Butterflies, and Stagecoach Rides

Now that it’s time to walk off all the calories, the easiest activity is to stroll around Old Town Scottsdale and do some window shopping. Our favorite shops include Cricket + Ruby, Leela Market, and The Merchantile of Scottsdale. If you’re traveling with the whole family, or you just want a little more adventure in your day, here are some of our favorite activities.

  • McDowell Sonoran Preserve - A hike among the Saguaro cacti is the perfect way to start out a morning. With trails for all levels of hiker, this protected area of land is a good to unplug and for the kids to get some wiggles out!

  • McCormick-Stillman Railroad Park - This railroad museum will blow your kid’s minds with the model train exhibits, and there’s a train to ride on too!

  • OdySea Aquarium - Definitely one of the highlights of our visit, the aquarium is a perfect balance of education, entertainment, and technology. The best part? The bathroom. Have an undersea experience as you wash your hands!

  • Butterfly Wonderland - With the largest butterfly pavilion in the US, you can enjoy both interactive exhibits along with a lush rainforest atrium full of thousands of butterflies! Amazing!

  • Stagecoach Ride at MacDonald’s Ranch - Located out in the stunning Sonoran Desert, MacDonald’s Ranch is the best place for a horseback or stagecoach ride. Feeling like you’ve stepped back in the Old West, there are great photo opps and areas for the kids to play. Jude loved it!

The early morning desert landscapes never get old!

Jude was in awe at Odysea!

Jude was in awe at Odysea!

Trains, trains, and more trains! Insane!

Felt like we’d transported back to the 1800s on this stagecoach ride. So fun!

Christmas in Scottsdale!

If you happen to be in Scottsdale during the holiday season, check out our blog about Christmas in Scottsdale. It couldn’t be more magical!

So as you can see, we’re obsessed with Scottsdale (and we’re pretty sure Jude is too)! We can’t wait to come visit again, there’s still so many beautiful hotels to explore, restaurants to try, and family-friendly spots to show Jude! Who’s joining us next time?

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Our Second Visit to Coastal Mississippi - And Why We’ll Be Back ASAP

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We first ventured to the Mississippi coastline in mid-2019, on a road trip in our cozy, tightly-packed Prius (With Sally too!). With little expectations on arrival, we were wowed by our hotel, the food, the experiences, and the people! Our second visit, in November 2020, was no different (well, besides the fact that we had a bigger car and a baby). We had grand plans to head back to all of our favorite Coastal MS spots, but we were pleasantly surprised to find some new gems, too! From tasty new restaurants to incredible new activities for the whole family, Coastal Mississippi continues to have us wanting more.

Why? Let’s start with where we stayed. In case you need a refresher, in 2019 we stayed at the Roost, the most beautiful little boutique hotel just a short walk from downtown Ocean Springs. It’s quaint and chic and cozy all in one—not to mention connected to an incredible (and under-the-radar) speakeasy. How can you possibly beat that?!

Well, their sister property, the Beatnik, is brand new to Ocean Springs, and it’s just as magical. The Beatnik boasts four modern, luxurious floating cabins that we were obsessed with from the moment we walked in. From a Covid-19 perspective, we had zero interaction with anybody to check-in, and the room was only cleaned on an as-needed basis (with safety precautions in mind). We all had our highlights… For me (Bobby), it was the outdoor shower. Alli loved the pool. Jude wanted to sleep in the hidden bunk beds (not quite ready, though). And Sally lived for the refreshingly cool floors in the bathroom. This place was a dream!

Such an incredible room at the Beatnik!

Looking down on the Beatnik.

Love the design at the Beatnik.

Jude’s nap time is Mom and Dad’s pool time.

Upon rising, which was earlier this year than last (thanks Jude), the first stops for coffee and breakfast are Bright Eyed Brew Co and the Greenhouse on Porter (for biscuits that are to DIE for). Bright Eyed was a success, but because Greenhouse was closed that day we had to branch out… and French Kiss Pastries was a hit! For our afternoon coffee, we discovered Jacked Up Coffee Bar in Biloxi and were not disappointed. If you’ve been following us for awhile, you know that finding cool coffee shops is our jam!

Our favorite spot in town!

Look at those biscuits!

Jacked Up Coffee Bar is another great coffee shop!

With so many interesting museums and art galleries throughout Ocean Springs, we were shocked to find another pop up in the past year (and our favorite one yet) - the Mississippi Aquarium! It was definitely a highlight of the trip for all of us! Check out more info here on another blog post we recently shared :)

First time seeing a stingray for Jude!

Loved our day at the aquarium!

One thing that we thought would be very different on this trip were our dinners. We had a few amazing meals on our last trip (see our blog on why Coastal Miss is Seafood Heaven) at Vestige and White Pillars, and just assumed that having a 9 month old in tow would ruin everything. Somehow, we were able to have two equally dreamy evenings out that included mouthwatering food, social distance, and romantic ambiance (even with the kiddo!!). One night we enjoyed Dinner on the Lot, a ticketed event designed to bring fine dining outdoors while highlighting local hand picked produce. Our meal also featured beer pairings with every course, courtesy of Craft Advisory Brewing (which is directly across from the Lot). With 6 courses and 6 beers, it was probably the highlight of our month-long road trip. Here were the courses: 

  • Partridge Peppers

  • French Hermit Oyster

  • Jurgielewicz Duck 

  • Two Dog Farm Carrots

  • FL Spiny Lobster

  • South African Boerewors

  • Craft Advisory Root Beer Floats for dessert

Full bellies for us all!

Look at those carrots!

A whole lot all for us!

Intrigued? You should be! You may notice by those courses that not only are they using local produce, but they’re proud to show off exotic ingredients and dishes. It was SO FUN!

On our final night in town we had probably the most romantic beach picnic of our lives set up by Coastal Picnic and Co. With an array of finger foods, wine, and an unreal sunset, it was (and we don’t say this lightly), the perfect night. Even Jude was in heaven. (His teepee!!)

The dreamiest setup!

Isn’t it so beautiful?!?

The best way to spend our last night in Mississippi

It’s no surprise Coastal Miss was one of our first places that we returned during our only big road trip of 2020. And guess what? We’d be stoked if we could head back again in 2021! That’s how much we love this place! The area continues to flourish and we can’t wait to get back as soon as possible. 


The Coastal Mississippi Promise: When you visit The Secret Coast, you will be met with warm welcomes and 62 miles of shoreline dotted by unique coastal communities. Here, you can expect excitement and relaxation in equal measure, with plenty of room to roam. You should also expect to see that our hospitality partners are implementing all necessary precautions to protect you, your loved ones, and our industry employees.

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Cozy Winter Meals - Creamy Tomato Soup Using Our Vitamix Blenders

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For those of you that witnessed our pie making extravaganza a few weeks back, we went back in the kitchen for a new adventure last night. Except this time we knew what we were in for, and it turned out the way that we hoped. Meaning it took less than an hour instead of 6 hours (for our pie). It was a chilly winter night (50 degrees in SoCal), and we decided to whip up a creamy tomato soup along with some grilled cheese sandwiches. We added a small salad to feel better about ourselves… but really this meal is all about the comfort food :)

Everything ready to go!

Overall, it was a great success! We used our Vitamix blender to whip up the Tomato flavor slurry (new term for us, ha!) and then our new Vitamix Immersion blender to blend the soup. The total time start to finish was about 20 minutes on the soup, and we made our grilled cheeses during that time too… so quick and easy! 

These blenders are the best!

For the tomato soup, we used this recipe by Amy Cakes. For the grilled cheese sandwiches, we used a fresh loaf of sourdough and a combo of white and yellow cheddar cheese. If it was healthy, this would be my meal of choice on every cold night :) 

Here’s the play by play in photos...

Making the tomato paste “slurry”

Alli’s favorite part… slicing the onions.

Adding tomatoes!

Adding salt and pepper until it’s perfect.

Jude wanted some!

Yum!

Recipe was a win! The blenders make it easy to whip up and clean up. It’s the perfect meal for when you’re feeling cozy inside! Enjoy!