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A Date With My City: Phoenix, AZ

7/11/2015

32 Comments

 
I think we all reach a point where we take our "here & now" for granted. I've been feeling an overwhelming sense of wanderlust lately, not sure if my soul was pulling me to simply travel or to pack our bags and relocate all together. But it's been something. Strong and fierce. 

And while things aren't always that simple, and it makes the most sense for us to be here, now, I needed to take a breath and make the most of the weekend and go on a date with my own city. Sometimes, right where you are can charm you if you let it.  

So I picked out an outfit to set the tone for the weekend, packed some snacks for the day in case we couldn't find a safe eatery and we were off! 
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Mr. Charming was on board to be a part of the day, as weekends are our longest, most wonderful hours together in a week and so we mapped out some places that we'd never been before. (And they were only 20 minutes away!) 

In Phoenix, close to downtown, there is an adorable street of shopping known as the Melrose District. Mr. Charming's aunt & cousins actually own a shop down there, Melrose Vintage, that has the CA-UTEST things and vintage shabby chic furniture. If you go, tell them Mandi sent you!  Two of our favorite new stops we scoped out were Pearly Mae's (where I found a 1930's Stardust tea set) and Zinnia's at Melrose (where I fell in love with a pair of Ruby Slippers). Mr. Charming and I adore antique shopping so we spent a good couple of hours browsing. 
After shopping we were getting hungry and I had heard of a marketplace on Instagram called Luci's Healthy Marketplace. I. Fell. In. Love. Not only did they have a quaint market STOCKED with some of my favorite Paleo & gluten-free products (I stocked up!) they also had a charming retro coffee shop and cafe. 

The coffee shop offered an assortment of beverages including almond milk & rice milk lattes! However, having had my pre-natal B-12 smoothie in the morning, I was feeling a buzz and I was in no need of more energy stimulation. So instead I opted to try a new drink. It was carbonated water infused with ginger, vanilla & lime by Sipp. Pure, simple & less than 5 ingredients? I'm in. 
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Lunch was fresh & delicious. I had a salad topped with fresh turkey & avocado (of course, because avocado goes with EVERYTHING.) And Mr. Charming enjoyed a chicken salad with fresh tomatoes and toast on a bed of greens (which can be made 100% gluten-free! All their items can be!) We finished our meal with a little plate of gluten-free, vegan chocolate chip cookies that we shared as a weekend treat. We decided we are going to make this a date place for sure and come for breakfasts. After this visit I was feeling refreshed and I was already loving my city a little more. 

After Luci's we headed to REI and a tactical shop so Mr. Charming could get in some camping shopping. Ladies, remember it's all about give & take. He perused shops with me and dined in my dream of a vintage cafe, so I enjoyed looking for all kinds of cool camping stuff with him for our next outdoor adventure. 
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After our tummies were fed and we were all shopped out we headed to another nearby shopping district closer to home called City North. We'd driven through it a couple of times and Mr. Charming had had work meetings there before but we wanted to check out a shop I had heard of called Pinspiration.

Yes, Pinspiration. It's a place where you bring your friends, drink champagne and do projects off of Pinterest! I of course bonded with the girl at the shop (she actually stated to Mr. Charming that she believed her and I were practically the same person, haha) and I made a mental note to bring all my girlfriends here with me. Whether they want to come or not. It's happening. 
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After a long successful outing we came home to play with our fur babies and crack open my newest find, the cookbook, Paleo Takeout by Russ Crandall, which after trying just one meal has pretty much changed my life of me longing for traditional takeout food of the past. The review is forthcoming - once the food coma subsides.

Until then, for those of you lacking a love, or even a like for the city that you call home, schedule a date. Go on Instagram, Pinterest or Google and look for a couple of new places you've never been before that fit into things that interest you. Scope them out, give your city a shot. Worst case, the date goes badly and you have a great story to tell the next city ;) 

Do you have any great "date your city" stories? Or do you know of somewhere I need to check out in AZ to keep our relationship going? ;) Seriously, I've lived here a LONG time and haven't been to many places. I usually travel out of state to sight see.  Leave it in the comments! 













as seen on "thursday coffee dates" link up

32 Comments
Melanie link
7/11/2015 04:37:26 pm

I live in Phoenix too and never heard of this area. Pinsperation sounds really cool! I need to get out more. But it's soo freaking hot!

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Mandi
7/14/2015 06:17:37 am

Haha Melanie - it is hot - and being from CA I used to complain all the time about being here. Saturday downtown wasn't TOO brutal. There was even a cool breeze for some our morning which was a super nice surprise. But Pinspiration is indoors! :D

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Linda at Mixed Kreations link
7/11/2015 05:23:14 pm

I would love to travel around but that's not happening, at least not anytime soon. Our date with the cite usually consist of going to a small town our side the big city and hitting the craft and junk shops. Other then that it's go to work come home and work on the house. Not to exciting.

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Mandi
7/14/2015 06:18:48 am

Linda,

The craft and junk shops can be some of the funnest date days! My husband and I do that as well - and esp. if you're working on your house you can have a mission when going to places like that. :)

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Sarah Twain
7/11/2015 06:28:33 pm

Beautifully put together site and article. Well done

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Mandi
7/14/2015 06:19:20 am

Thank you Sarah! :D Glad you stopped by!

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Kaycie link
7/12/2015 02:16:27 am

I love this! I have always wanted to visit Phoenix and now I know where to go when I do :) I've been feeling the same pull of relocation or a vacation, so maybe I need to do some exploring as well! :) great post!

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Kaycie
7/14/2015 06:20:53 am

Where are you from? Maybe I could get tips on your state as well - as we are planning some trips :) And if you do come here, reach out. There are a lot of other fun little places to see and great places to eat. And agreed - exploring always help squelch my wandering tendencies for a bit ;)

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Liz link
7/12/2015 02:21:03 am

Love this! Just moved to a new city so I definitely have to do this!

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Liz
7/14/2015 06:21:33 am

Liz,
Thanks for stopping by! Exploring a new city is always super fun!!

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swell conditions link
7/12/2015 02:52:08 am

Oh wow, that Pinspiration sounds like fun and I really liked our outfit - love that t-shirt!!!

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Mandi
7/14/2015 06:22:23 am

I know, I'm so excited to take some of my friends there for a fun night of Pinning & Crafting <3 and thanks! I picked it up in Las Vegas at H&M!

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Kayleigh @ Sugar in My Texas Tea link
7/12/2015 03:08:54 am

Such a great idea! I've been in Houston almost 6 years and have barely explored the city. I know the suburbs in and out, but that's not quite the same or as much fun.

Great outfit too!

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Mandi
7/14/2015 06:23:37 am

Thank Kayleigh! Love your name BTW!

And its so true - we get so stuck in our "normal" that we have to remind ourselves that so much beauty and fun can exist all around us if we just step out to find it!

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Sabine link
7/12/2015 03:34:32 am

I love your story, your city seems to have some awsome food places :)...I did pretty much the same, but I actually went all touristy and pretended to be the first time in Cologne, doing the same stuff tourist do :) I had a blast...we should discover our home cities far more often, to get out of the routines :)

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Mandi
7/14/2015 06:25:43 am

Sabine, so true. And as far as food.. it does ok. With as strict as my dietary needs are, Phoenix can be quite challenging, I prefer coastal beach cities - they tend to have healthier fare - but I like finding little gems like this one when I do go exploring!

And so fun! if you do a blog post on your adventures in Cologne I'd love to read it! link it here if you do :D

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Chelsea link
7/12/2015 04:40:36 am

Love it! I've always wanted to explore Phoenix. I'm a travel junkie...have been in Phoenix, but that was only for a layover!

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Mandi
7/14/2015 06:27:34 am

Chelsea,
That sounds like me and Texas. SO many times I've flown through there but have never seen any part of any city. haha. If you write about your travels Id love to read them sometime :)

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Ashley Soto link
7/12/2015 04:48:30 am

Pinspiration sounds awesome! Is it only Phoenix?

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Mandi
7/14/2015 06:29:26 am

Ashley,

I went to their site for ya - as of now Phoenix is the only location - but maybe in the future they will make more. They should, its an awesome place.

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Marilyn link
7/12/2015 05:10:40 am

You right! I believe we can take where we live for grant. Great job, fun and unquiet places.... By the way I live in Texas and just done the same things!

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Mandi
7/14/2015 06:30:38 am

Marilyn,
Thanks for stopping by and your kind words! I can't wait to explore Texas! It's on our list for sure. We want to see Austin, Dallas and San Antonio. Just don't know what to do first!

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Kate link
7/12/2015 07:45:50 am

This is such a fun idea- I love it! And Pinspiration sounds absolutely amazing! I wish DC would get one!
<a href="http://thissideofparadiseblog.com">This Side of Paradise</a>

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Kate
7/14/2015 06:32:10 am

Thanks for stopping by! Yeah I'm excited to try a night there. And D.C. is on our list to travel to next! If you have an posts on things to do, link me!

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Keturah link
7/12/2015 09:50:30 am

What a great idea! I bet there are a hundred places my fiancé and I haven't been to in our city! We're always looking to venture outside of the city, but we could probably find great stuff right here :)

Thanks for sharing!!

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Mandi
7/14/2015 06:33:20 am

One thing we do is make a notebook of places we find on Instgram or local maps when we're out and about. That way we're not put on the spot to think up something when we are bored. We just go to the book to try something new

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Amberly link
7/12/2015 11:58:05 pm

This is an awesome idea!! I need to do this with my town!

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Mandi
7/14/2015 06:34:06 am

Thanks! Everyone should! Makes it more interesting when you treat your own city like a vacation spot :D

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kailyn link
7/23/2015 05:06:57 am

OMG a store called Pinspiration?! THAT'S AMAZING!!!!

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Mandi
8/10/2015 11:34:28 am

Beautiful name Kailyn! And yes, its SO fun!

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Jessica link
7/23/2015 05:54:23 am

awe love that you found the market place on instagram!! Im only ever in Phoenix for nascar and its not even in Phoenix lol silly Az

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Mandi
8/10/2015 11:35:23 am

Jessica,
Yes, def explore more next time you're here. I've worked the Nascar event a few times when I was promotional modeling and it is faaaaaaar. There really is some culture here I'm finding out! :) Haha

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Nosh & Nurture was born of this journey I am on to better the health of myself, my family and those around me.  What started as a simple compilation of recipes has grown to a all-around lifestyle journal with ways to incorporate organic products into your home, pantry and beauty cabinet.  I also include stories on pregnancy, new motherhood, travel, Proverbs 31 marriage, and spiritual health, as I am a Christian who couldn't do any of this without my Lord & Savior Jesus Christ. For more of my story you can click here. 

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