Pumpkins, peas, watermelon and mes

I recently had a birthday and decided to celebrate with a relatively low-key evening: A few friends, some tacos, maybe a margarita or two.

One friend (Miss Lynh Bui!) kicked the down-home dinner up a notch with an amazing garden-inspired cake growing pumpkins, peas, melons and mes.

And a close-up… (The peas are made from frosting and green M&Ms. Genius!)

Phoenix things to do: August 28 – 31

FRIDAY
944 Birthday Bash
In honor of its 8th birthday, 944 is having a 3 day bash starting Friday. Visit the W Hotel in Scottsdale for an array of DJs …and probably some outstanding people-watching.

944 is 8 party
W Hotel
7277 E. Camelback Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85251
7 p.m. – 2 a.m.

SATURDAY
Planning your Garden @ Scottsdale Home & Garden Expo
Master Gardener Doreen Pollack dishes about good planting practices for the fall season.

Scottsdale Home & Garden Expo Center
13802 N. Scottsdale Rd.
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
10:30 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Requested donation: $10

Miniature Tigers @ the Ice House
I’ve heard precious little about this show, but word on the street (and a few places online) say it’s on…early.

6 p.m.
The Icehouse
429 W Jackson St
Phoenix, AZ 85003
602-257-8929
Free

Def Leppard @ Cricket Wireless Pavilion
My very favorite ’80s hairband is coming to Cricket Pavilion. I remember taking my younger sister to Compton Terrace in the late ’80s to see them for her birthday. I was  wearing my newly-ripped jeans, she was wearing those sandals with change-able laces. Good times. Oh yeah, Poison and Cheap Trick are going to be there too.

Def Leppard with Poison & Cheap
Cricket Wireless Pavilion
2121 N. 83rd Ave.
Phoenix, AZ
Tickets are $29.50-125
8 p.m.

Another one bites the dust

Another post-irrigation tragedy.

You’d think I’d learned after the first water-logged busted melon; Too much water makes for an unhappy fruit. This time, I’ve marked my calendar to turn off the water several days before irrigation.

But even in the darkness, there is light…3 or 4 baby melons emerging.

…and the hidden melon continues to grow…

I promise to take better care of you! That is, until I pick and eat you…

Shopping Etsy: Back-to-school

I went back to school this week, which meant getting dressed in something other than t-shirts and sandals…it also meant that some back-to-school items were in order.

1.) Vintage Globe, $56
2.) Amigurumi Apple, $12.50
3.) Faux Bois Eco-Folder, $2
4.) Anatomical Map, $175
5.) Laptop Sleeve, $49
6.) Bionic Woman Lunchbox, $38
7.) Ceramic Owl Pencil Holder, $32
8.) Vintage Yellow Stapler, $25

Sandwich smackdown

Torta takes on torta in my most recent sandwich post.

Last week, I just so happened to sample two different Carne Asada tortas, one at Gallo Blanco Cafe Bar at Clarendon and one at America’s Taco Shop. Both were delicious…one was just a little more so.

Spoiler alert, the Gallo Blanco torta wins. It did have that egg-y edge, but after seeing Food, Inc., the fact that most of the ingredients at Gallo Blanco are local makes me feel that much better.

Also delicious, the fish torta (view photo).

Thigh high

What’s Cracking Good (for some) — Over-the-knee Boots

I think over-the-knee boots are supercool…on other people.

Unless you’re talking waders…Those, I think I can rock.

It’s not that I don’t love that swash-buckle-y style, it’s just a lot of trend, and I don’t have a lot of leg. But if I had legs for days, money to burn and places to go, I might try this Joie pair from Revolve and/or these Fiorentini’s from Barney’s.

Check out Spinning Wheels for a host of over-the-knee options >>