...goodbye 2010 and hello 2011...

With a new year upon us, it is hard not to reflect on the past year. 2010 will always be an extra special year in our lives as it was the year that we became husband and wife. It was also a year of travel with trips to Thailand, San Diego, Mexico, and Chicago. It was the year El Hefe was born and Riot Hospitality Group was formed, a year many babies were added to our friend’s lives, a year filled with many girlfriend reunions, a year of loss, sorrow and heartache, a year with joy and laughter, and much, much more. I hope that 2011 is full of friends, laughs, trips, accomplishments, inspiration, fun, change, and of course love.

Here is a brief look at our 2010...

[stephanie's baby shower]

[celebrating my bachelorette party]

[celebrating my beautiful bridal shower]

[enjoying the FBR with friends]

[becoming mr. and mrs.]

[on our amazing thailand honeymoon]

[enjoying the culinary fest beer garden]

[enjoying drinks in rocky point]

[celebrating the boys' birthday with a mustache bash]

[promoting el hefe at the taco fest]

[enjoying tour de bar]

[celebrating halloween as mr. mario and mrs. princess toadstool]

Here's to an amazing 2011!

xoxo,

R+M

...dinner at the movies...

Last night we ventured out for a double date night to a dinner and a movie. However, this wasn't your average dinner and a movie, this was dinner at the movies. We checked out the new luxury theater IPic Theater at Scottsdale Quarter. It was an experience to say the least. With microfiber fully reclining seats and full service throughout the entire movie, offering cocktails and food, this was one of the best movie experiences we have ever had. I don't think enjoying a movie at Harkins will ever be the same. Here are a few photos from our experience.

[seating for two]

[best way to enjoy a movie, cocktail in hand]

xoxo,

R+M

...merry christmas...

From our family to yours we wish you a very Merry Christmas. We hope your holiday is filled with family, friends, great food and memories, and of course, love!

[here's a photo of our little santa]

xoxo,

R+M

...for the love of pr...

As I mentioned here, Mikis and his partners in Riot Hospitality Group have been working feverishly the last few months on their new restaurant/bar concept, El Hefe. With the building shell almost complete, El Hefe should be opening it's doors in just a few short months. Plans and the design are finally starting to take shape and we couldn't be getting more excited about it.

With El Hefe planning to open in early March, local Arizona magazines and reporters are taking interest and starting to call for more information about the concept. I truly couldn't be more proud of Mikis, Ryan and Jon and the tremendous amount of hard work they have put into El Hefe so far. See below for a recent article featuring El Hefe which was published in the December issue of 944 Magazine. Stay tuned for much more details on this exciting venture in our life!

xoxo,

R+M

...girlfriends, wine and celebrating the holidays...

As mentioned here last month a friend of mine Teri hosted a girl's wine and cheese night, and we had so much fun we decided we must have another in December. So last week I hosted a group of ladies to celebrate food, wine, girlfriends and of course the holidays. It was a great night of catching up with friends old and new, sipping delicious wine and indulging in appetizers and sweet treats. The night really put me in the Christmas spirit and ready for the holidays.

Here are a few photos from the night...


[choose your wine and get jingled]

[hungry anyone?]

[treats for the sweet tooth]

Ladies, thanks for coming over and helping me celebrate the holidays, I hope there are many wonderful wine nights in our future!

xoxo,

R

...relaxing weekend for two...

This past weekend was absolutely perfect, with no plans on the agenda it was truly what we both needed, mellow and relaxing. Friday night we spent a much needed night at home cuddled up with a movie. Our movie pick was Eclipse, not one I would necessarily recommend renting, but entertaining nonetheless. If your a Twilight fan, for this one, the book is better than the movie.

[movie night]

Saturday we started with our routine weekend breakfast at La Grande Orange. Afterwards we did a few things around the house, and then Mikis decided he wanted to check out a few houses. This was a BIG mistake, because now all he talks about is wanting to move, again!

[first house, and the one mikis won't stop talking about]

[second house, take note of closet :)]

We finished up Saturday with a much overdue date night at Postino, which was as always, delicious!

[date night, bruschetta and drinks for two]

Sunday started with a fun girl's cookie exchange which you can read about here and ended with gift wrapping, pizza and surprise roses from the hubby.



[the fruits of my labor]

[perfect ending to a great weekend]

All in all it was a perfect relaxing weekend right before the holidays!

xoxo,

R+M





...cookies, mimosas and girlfriends...

When I think of the holidays one thought comes to mind, indulgent. The holiday time is one where you disregard calorie thoughts and indulge your taste buds in deliciously made goodies and seasonal cocktails. This Sunday was no different as I joined a few girlfriend's for a cookie exchange at our friend Molly's house. The morning was perfect filled with great food, addicting blood orange mimosas and awesome company. We were all able to spend a few hours with each other catching up on life and holiday plans and we all got to leave with a plate full of homemade treats. I see this becoming a tradition every year.

Thanks again Molly for such an enjoyable Sunday afternoon!



[some of the delicious cookie choices]

 

[saylor loving the sprinkles more than the cookie]



[blood orange mimosas, my new fave]

[kid cookie decorating]

[saylor the frosting monster]

 

xoxo,

R