Tucson weekend
Hi friends! Happy Tuesday. <3 I hope you all enjoyed the long weekend. We just got home from spending time in Tucson with the fam. I have a pretty lengthy recap, but before I roll into it, some blog updates!
Check out these trail mix bites. I can’t wait to make a new batch!
The breakfast cookie got an awesome new facelift + a video
New post on the PBB site with a diastasis recti workout from my friend Jess
And now, the Tucson adventures.
I mentioned this in Friday Faves, but the ride down there was a liiiiitle real. It was P’s first longer road trip! We installed her new car seat (rookie move for a road trip), and planned on taking our time and taking extra rest stops when needed. We got into Tucson at 1:30 am -I was a terrible front seat co-pilot and crashed out- and headed straight to the hotel room to sleep.
Friday morning, we had an awesome brunch with the fam at First Watch, and then headed back to the hotel for P’s nap and so Livi could swim. After she swam and P was awake, we spent the rest of the afternoon at madre’s. P napped in the pack n’ play in my mom’s guest room, while Livi and nana read books, and my brother Trevor, the Pilot and I went to get a quick workout at the Y. I did the Squatember workout and HOLY LEGS. I’m still a little sore, and plan on doing it again today.
When we got back to madre’s, we grabbed a quick snack and left to my brother’s football game. It was the perfect chance to catch up with my dad’s side of the family.
Liv was obsessed with the mascot,
and I was quickly reminded of how long ago it was when I was in high school. I wouldn’t want to go back to that time period for pretty much anything. #awkward
Sorry this is a terrible photo, but this salad was AMAZING.
Both girls had a blast at the game, but when we was time for bed, we drove back towards the hotel and picked up two of our favorite places for takeout: Eclectic Cafe and Renee’s Organic Oven. They’re right next to each other, which usually results in the ultimate takeout conundrum, but we decided just to get our favorites from each place. 😉 We also drove past our house. We’re not total creepers, but it’s fun to drive by and make sure it’s still standing and daydream of the time we’ll be back.
We enjoyed our hotel picnic with some Apothic wine from my nana, and it was perfect.
Saturday morning, the Pilot took my Tata for a breakfast date, and the girls and I grabbed breakfast sandwiches at Starbucks before meeting everyone at the zoo. (We go from one of the most famous zoos in the world to one of the not-so-famous ones haha. it’s just the right size to see the entire thing, feed the giraffes, gush over the baby elephants, and call it a morning.) When we went back to the hotel for P’s nap, and our cousins met us there for an afternoon of swimming + lunch by the pool.
So much of our trip was spent doing the exact same things we did while we lived in Tucson, which was incredibly nostalgic and also really good for my soul. I’d been missing everyone a lot, and it was fun to pretend we lived there again for a weekend. When the Pilot and my brother hit the gym Saturday evening (I did a cardio workout at the hotel), the girls and I went shoe shopping with my mom, and everyone met us for Sweet Tomatoes dinner.
Sunday morning, of course we had to hit up the farmer’s market for CREPES!
I had the usual gluten-free chicken crepe, and it was just as awesome as I remembered it. It was crazy to be surrounded by so many people we loved. Mom’s side of the family was there, my dad’s’ side, grandparents, cousins, brothers, and also Meg’s side of the family. She officially wins for cutest preg ever.
Sunday night was dinner and swimming at my dads, followed by drinks at Sakura with Kyle, Meg, Trevor and Alexus. We had one last family breakfast Monday morning before hitting the road back to San Diego. Thankfully, the drive back was a breeze. A couple of stops, plus the necessary playtime at Chuck E Cheese, and boom. We made it! Both girls even slept during the drive, which was pretty unexpected.
Now we’re back home, and Liv starts Junior Kindergarten today. Hold me.
Hope everyone is enjoying the week so far!
xoxo
Gina
What’s something that automatically reminds you of home? Any foods or favorite places you like to enjoy? We always have to grab an eegee when we’re in town.
31 Comments
Leave a Comment
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Sounds like a fun trip home! I love how family can just fill up your soul like that. I had a completely different weekend. Out visiting a friend who lives in Orange County and we decided to go to San Diego for the day. After checking out the recs on your post I can’t thank you enough for some awesome recommendations!! We had an amazing day which included la jolla, better buzz, and stone brewing at Liberty station. I think they def need a better buzz in fl!!! Thanks again for the awesome recs! Glad you made it home safe and had a good weekend.
YES! so happy to hear you had an awesome time 🙂
they need a better buzz everywhere
Looks like such a fun weekend!!! Our friends came in town for the long weekend and we had a blast hanging out and showing them around Dallas.
that sounds like so much fun! i haven’t spent a lot of time in dallas but it looks like such a great place
Sometimes a weekend at home full of familiar places and people is exactly what the soul needs. When I’m home, I love shopping at the malls I used to shop at, visiting my favorite local coffee shop for an iced banana nut java (iced coffee with banana and macadamia nut!), and grabbing a bit to eat at an old favorite like a brick-oven pizza place or local bagel shop (I grew up in NJ so those are musts).
yes, it was perfect.
that banana java sounds AMAZING <3
What a fun weekend! I know what you mean about it feeling like you live there when you go back. I always feel that way and often wonder if I ever will move back. I miss my friends there so much. Phienix just isn’t the same.
phoenix has so much more to do, but the vibe is totally different
Looks like such a fun weekend at home with the family! So glad that you got to pop by the food truck, too.
But, wait, I can’t believe she’s starting KINDERGARTEN today! That’s crazy! She looks so big in that little maxi dress with the mascot. She must be so excited!!
Thanks for sharing. : )
XO, Jessica
http://www.semisweettooth.com
right?! it’s insane. thankfully she has one more year before the full kindergarten deal. JK is the level just under that
xoxo
Who has the Bostons? I am slightly obsessed with Bostons since my own just turned 1 year old in August!
kyle and meg! harley and luna 🙂
I always go to breakfast with my daddy at a little restaurant in town called Gus’s whenever I come home. It’s not the best breakfast around but always reminds me of home when we go. It’s like a little tradition.
So glad you all had a wonderful weekend. Sometimes it the “ordinary” things that mean a lot.
Oh and can you let us know (maybe in another post) some things you found helped you on car rides?? We are planning a trip to Disney which is about a 10 hour drive). I have a 5 year old so am already clammering for ideas!
i would definitely try to plan some of it while they’re sleeping- it helps a lot!
for liv, we got her a lap desk with some markers, crayons and coloring books. that gave us a few hours! we also let her have the iPad on road trips (it’s the only time she’s allowed to use it), so she can watch a movie or play games
xo
thank you! i totally agree. it felt so nice just to be doing normal things w the fam
How sweet! That truly sounds like an adventure. For some reason, a certain type of hot chocolate always reminds me of being little and spending time with my parents in my childhood home during winter time.
i can’t wait for hot cocoa!
Spending time with family or close friends you don’t always get to see is so special and is always some of my top favorite memory making times. 🙂 Pre-K kids are the cutest! I spent a few days subbing for a teacher and I fell in love with all of them. I want to adopt them ALL!
it’s such a fun age! when i taught dance, the 3-4 and year olds were one of my favorite classes
I could imagine that it would be so much fun!
Looks like a beautiful trip!
Those boston terriers are so cute! They remind me of my puppy, he’s a mini english bulldog and we think he has some boston in him 🙂
ahhh english bulldogs are so cute!!
Sounds like an awesome weekend with friends and family!
I grew up in Delaware (20 mins from Philly) so cheesesteaks are definitely a staple. I really missed that when I lived in other places…especially Tucson (sooooo far from home). However, I did find Frankie’s while living there and that helped. Now, I just figured out how to make good cheesesteaks at home and it hits the spot…every.single.time!
Also…I love Eegees….! It reminded me of Rita’s Italian Ice (aka water ice in Philly) so I ate that a ton…Lemon is my fave!!!
Liv’s dress is the cutest!
That crepe looks amazing! I thought Japan had all the crepes but I was so wrong. I am not a big fan of the dessert ones.
This weekend we traveled to an island in Japan and they had the most amazing creamy snow cones. It felt like home! Most people get snow cones all wrong.
Heading home this week for a quick visit. We usually always go to the same restaurant and celebrate with Cosmopolitans. It feels like home. Great breakfast cookie.
Thanks for all the Tucson pics, I loved living there in college! Although I may have ruined EEggees with rum the first week of freshman year ha ha. I’ve moved every year since I was 17 (I’m now 28), I’ve learned to look at “home” as anywhere with my hubby.
hahah! i love eegees margaritas with tequila and the lemon eegees 😉
Umm…I’m so impressed you worked out on vacation! Get it, momma. I am curious what motivated you to go to the Y/hotel workout room vs take it easy. That’s something I’m continually going back and forth on in my head (workout vs rest after a hard day). Regardless, I want to try your squat workout – hopefully tomorrow. Glad you had a nice time and it fed your soul!
yep! if it’s just a couple of days, i might skip it depending on where we go, but since it was 5 days including travel, i wanted to get at least a couple of workouts in
Eeges of course and beyond bread! I also love the Tucson Zoo. The new elephant family is sooo cute and not depressing like the old elephants were. I also love running David Bell bike path with my dad. Your post made me a tiny bit homesick but then I remember how hot it is there and how nice SD is!