Miss Aniss

Where to Find the Best Wings in Phoenix

We accidentally found the best wings in Phoenix. Celebrate Small Business Week by supporting these locally-owned restaurants in the valley. Both the wings and ice cream shops are life-changing.

travel

Utah Road Trip: 1 Week Honeymoon Itinerary

We hit the highlights on this 1-week Utah road trip...Snow and winter activities, hiking, good food, hot springs, historical sites – this route offered a little of everything!

DIY

How I Planned My DIY Micro Wedding

As a recent newlywed who successfully planned and survived a COVID-19 DIY micro wedding with only a 6 week engagement, I'm telling you it's absolutely possible to create your own gorgeous wedding that fits a tight budget.

lifestyle

Five Phoenix Photographers You Should Be Following

Despite everything 2020 cancelled or postponed, love and togetherness are still triumphant, and Phoenix photographers are still here for it. The season for weddings, school pictures, and family holiday cards quickly approaches. During these uncertain times, documenting such memories is important as ever. Even if it means masks or reduced

DIY

DIY Daybed Design for Office Renovations

I wanted to share an inexpensive, DIY daybed design the boyfriend and I put together for my open den slash office space. Whether you think you’re handy or you’ve never done woodwork before, this simple DIY daybed design is easy to follow and super customizable!

lifestyle

The Best Fall Drinks in Phoenix That Are Better than a "PSL"

I did the hard work for you: I tested a multitude of seasonal drinks from various coffee shops in Phoenix, and narrowed down the best fall drinks (7, to be exact) found locally. Many complain greater Phoenix is lacking in the “cool, local coffee shop” category. Coming from

DIY

Making a House a Home: DIY Kitchen Renovations

Kitchen renovations were the first (tied with the stained concrete floor project) on the to-do list for my new home. As most DIY renovations go, these projects occurred about the same time for convenience and budget’s sake. My fellow hostesses and mother hens out there know the value

DIY

Making a House a Home: Renovations on a DIY Budget

No doubt about it, taking on your own home renovations makes the result much more rewarding–as long as your DIY methods are successful. Half the battle, though, is deciding which products and techniques to implement from so many articles and experts that each tell you differently. To clarify,

analogy

Pretty Things Inside - Outward Perfection Versus Inner Beauty

Recently, I received a package from One Loved Babe that read “Pretty Things Inside.” At first, I nodded in approval at the clever marketing. But my very next thought was, “I sure hope that can be said about me.” Believe me, I care about my outward

2020visions

Anyone Home? Tales of a Neglected Blog.

…Hello? Anyone home? Knock, knock. No, this isn’t a joke. It’s really me, writing a blog post that is half a sheepish apology and half a letter from a long-lost-friend playing catch-up. So first things first, speaking of homes, I bought a new one at

best things in life are free

Freebies

Show of hands: how many of us love freebies? If you kept your hands at your side saying no, I’m questioning your honesty, possibly your humanity. For the rest of us (normal) folks, the price tag of free often makes gadgets and gizmos aplenty even more attractive. To

before it's too late

Forget the Regrets: Give Them A Rose Now

Although it isn’t the most common expression, you may have been told that while someone is alive you should “give them a rose.” Similarly, Proverbs 3:7 states “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due…” Have you ever wished

DIY

Eight Phoenix Based Small Businesses & Entrepreneurs

Phoenix, Arizona, may be a big place, but it is one of the leading cities in the nation for producing small businesses and entrepreneurs. We love to support local businesses! But how many startups or side hustles do you know that struggle to get the exposure they need to generate

benefit of the doubt

Spiritually Speaking: Predetermined Judgments

Ephesians 4:25 (KJV) Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Gossip can be so sneaky. We so often want to trust and believe what our friends (or extremely convincing folks in the media…another story, another time)

adulting

Spiritually Speaking: What Self-Care Is Not

Recently, I saw a meme on social media that read “Cancelling plans is OK. Staying home to cook is OK. Disappearing for a bit to get your life together is OK. Resurfacing in a foreign country 10 years later with a new name is OK. It’s called

attitude is everything

It Gets Worse (Sometimes)

All it took was one look at him, and I was smiling and blushing. I know, this sounds like a typical start to a predictable, sappy love story, but it’s even better than that, people. I smiled because his sign said “cheer up, it only gets worse.

travel

Made in Morocco (Pt. 5): Recapping My Two Week Tour

Give yourselves a round of applause if you made it this far through all of my Morocco recaps, because we are finally done. I promise. I hope you’ve all enjoyed the adventure. Probably not as much as I did. But now you know what to see, or what

travel

Made in Morocco (Pt. 4) Recapping My Two Week Tour

We are on the latter half of this recap, folks! I hope you’ve all enjoyed my journal entries thus far. Out of all 15 days of this tour through Morocco, those mentioned in this post are the most dear to me. I think you’ll understand why.

travel

Made in Morocco (Pt. 3): Recapping My Two Week Tour

I know, I know…this recap is taking me forever. But really, I’ve only been back for 2 months! Cut me some slack–I WILL get you all through this safe, sound, and satisfied. Day 5 – Midelt Our drive from Fes that morning was a

travel

Made in Morocco (Pt. 2): Recapping My Two Week Tour

Day 3 – Meknes, Volubilis, & Fes Meknes wasn’t as truly a memorable day or location compared to others on our agenda. Not that it wasn’t worth seeing. The morning found me temporarily alone with my included breakfast of yogurt, eggs, bread (duh), olives and coffee,

travel

Made in Morocco: Recapping My Two Week Tour

Why Morocco? Of all the many questions I’ve received about my recent trip, that’s the most common. A very close second, of course, is “what was your favorite part?” And while I still don’t have a direct answer for that one yet,

anthology

Perhaps Poetic

Although there is hope for a comeback, it seems poetry in written form is all but an extinct art these days. If not for social media and writers like Morgan Harper Nichols and the alias Atticus, there’s a good chance our generation would carry no concern for the

burnout

Spiritually Speaking: Well-Rested

So, it’s still a Monday in my timezone, and methinks that calls for some real talk. Today marked the fourth day since my wisdom tooth extraction. I still can’t open my mouth more than an inch and I look like I took a right hook to

aboutme

Getting Personal

Napier truck tent in my Tacoma, Mogollon Rim, AZ I got to thinking the other day that when I started this humble little blog almost 5 years ago I didn’t bother posting an introduction or an “about me” beyond what’s on the front page.

analogy

Spiritually Speaking: The Ripple Effect

Opal Creek Wilderness, Oregon Matthew 5:16, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” This might seem “so last year,” but I’m sure the majority of you who