One of the places I was really impressed with was Myriad Botanical Gardens. It was located downtown and all the spring flowers were blooming. There were tulips and daffodils blooming everywhere. The weather was perfect the day I went as well. Can you say GORGEOUS? I absolutely loved it! 🥰

One thing that has surprised me recently is the beauty of the desert in the Phoenix metro area. I guess I had always simply thought of deserts as dry, rather barren places.

If you’re anything like me, you don’t particularly love the month of January in the Midwest. Some folks get Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.) and tire of the gray clouds, lack of sunshine and monotony of being indoors. I don’t tend to notice that much in myself, but I do crave beautiful green plants and colorful, blooming flowers this time of year.

I had a blast today at Lauritzen Gardens new BRICKLive Dinosaurs exhibit! I have always loved learning about dinosaurs and today was no exception.

And where oh where have I been in the last year or so?

My mom, sister, daughter, and I went to the Desert Botanical Garden in Phoenix. They host a special holiday event each year called Las Noches de las Luminarias” which is simply incredible.

I was looking for a little excitement by going on my road trip and it turned out I got a little more excitement than I bargained for.

Another little secret about me is that I am a Dale Chihuly glass artist nut. Consequently, I was dying to see his temporary exhibition at the St. Louis Botanical Garden.

Sometimes you just want to “get out of Dodge!” (American idiom for leave town). And that’s what I have done.