Sharp shooter.

Recently there was an incident in our quiet little neighborhood involving property theft and home invasion. My lovely husband decided that after five years of trying to teach me all about firearms, it was finally time for me to learn how to shoot. Because we live so close to the edge of Las Vegas, there is a public shooting range located on BLM land only 15 minutes away from our house. My husband grew up learning about hunting and firearms safety from his father and I was raised in a household where water guns were considered violent. I have never been comfortable around guns of any kind, but when I married my husband, they were part of the package!

 I really enjoyed shooting this 22 caliber rifle, mostly because I am pretty good at it.

Not bad for my first time!

Here is a short video of my husband teaching me to fire. We are shooting a Ruger 9mm.

 

Next time my husband goes to target practice, he probably won't have to beg me to go with him like he had to in the past. 

Christmas morning snapshots.

I hope everyone had a holiday filled with joy and family. We did!

Kyle goes to the dentist.

Today my horse Kyle and I were lucky enough to work with equine veterinarian and dentist Dr. Scott Greene for his annual check up and teeth floating. Kyle is usually not a big fan of going to the dentist, I mean who is? Dr. Greene was very patient and knew all the right tricks to use while working with a nervous Arabian. By that I mean heavy sedation (among other things). This is my horse...

This is my horse on drugs...

Kyle no longer had a care in the world and allowed Dr. Greene file down the sharp edges of his ever- erupting teeth.

Dr. Greene and his assistant made the whole procedure quick and painless, even while removing a pesky wolf tooth.

Kyle is now sleeping sound after stumbling back to his barn stall and being tucked into a warm blanket. Imagine walking your 900 pound friend who had one too many shots of whiskey home from the bar. If you would like to see more of Dr. Greene and his equine dentistry (including his power tools) watch this video of him working with some of his other patients.

I was busy writing with a pen, and paper thin dream.

Today we mailed the last of the Christmas cards and gifts off to our families in far away places, and just in time (I hope). The holidays really seemed to sneak up on me this year! I am usually ahead of the schedule and stress free, however that is not the case this time around. With only five days left until Christmas day, I still have a little last minute shopping to do and I haven't even started baking yet. Fortunately for me, my mother has a head start in the desserts department so I am pretty much just left with sugar cookies which happen to be my absolute favorite. Not only does it give me a chance to put to good use my extensive cookie cutter collection (I have over 100!), but nothing is more nostalgic to me than the our tradition of baking them to leave near the fireplace with a glass of milk for Santa. Plus I adore decorating them! A girl can never have too many sprinkles, right?

Just when the holiday stress seems too much to bear, at least I have my two little love bugs Mr. Webster and Wilhelmina to lend a helping paw or at least a sympathetic snuggle. Listening to Ben Gibbard never hurts either.

The happiest of holidays.

This time of year tends to be more hectic than usual in our home, as I am sure is true in most households around the holidays. The husband and I hosted Thanksgiving at our house again this year. My brother prepared a completely from scratch meal as usual with the help of the everybody, of course. We had a wonderful time with my family and a few unexpected guests. Our friends in Icarus The Owl were on the last leg of their US tour and ended up playing in Las Vegas the night before, so they joined us in our holiday feast and we were so happy to have them. A few days later, my wonderfully thoughtful husband took me on a surprise trip to Scottsdale, AZ in celebration of my 28th birthday. Scottsdale is a darling place full of amazing restaurants, unique shopping and not to mention the home of the Super Bowl of Arabian horse shows (nerd alert). My absolute favorite place to stay in there is the 3 Palms where he booked us a room. We had a lovely time dining at The Breakfast Club, Deseo, and Petite Maison to name a few. I highly recommend the ceviche Millionaire Tacos from Deseo and anything your server suggests at Petite Maison. The menu is printed nightly so that the freshest, local ingredients can be used. Reservations are definitely recommended. In true Shapiro fashion we spent the majority of the trip stuffing our faces but we also managed to get some shopping in on Mill Avenue in Tempe, and make a stop off at the Phoenix Zoo before heading home. I just love visiting this town and I can't wait until we return in February for the horse show.

A Killer Collage

Today I over compensated for getting two hours of sleep by surviving solely off of coffee and energy drinks. Although, I do not regret my decision to do so (it was completely necessary) I am paying for it now. I am completely exhausted and wide awake. It's been a long day. This is a little of what it looked like.

A Sunset Stroll

This evening the husband and I went for a walk in our favorite park just down the street from our home. Autumn is my favorite time of year at Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs because it's just before the leaves begin to fall and the scenery is full of such beautiful colors. There are a ton of birds that call the park home including peacocks. Most of them are pretty used to being fed and will come right up and help themselves to your picnic. We love to take our dogs and wander around the historic grounds.

 

 

  

 

Click here to read the history on the Floyd Lamb Park at Tule Springs.

Hitched

Well it has been six weeks since our wedding, and things are pretty much back to normal around here. The married life is incredible and although planning was a lot of fun,  it is a relief not to have wedding details on the brain 24/7. I have been sorting through loads of wedding photos lately and thought that I would share a few of my favorites. I hope you enjoy!

 Photos by Elyse Ray

Love, April

My Big Fix

As I mentioned, I will occasionally be reviewing my favorite mark. products. Today I am so excited to share with you The Big Fix.

This multiple use tube of wonder will make the coming winter months much more bearable. The Big Fix can be used just about anywhere, from dry heels and elbows to chapped lips. I use it everyday on my lips and cuticles. Lately, I have been using it a lot on my hands because they are prone to dry skin from constant washing at work. It is unscented so it's perfect for men too! The small packaging makes it easy to keep one in your purse, desk, car, and home but it lasts a surprisingly long time. Trust me, once you try The Big Fix, you won't want to be without it. The Big Fix is also made with Fair Trade Certified ingredients. 

"In developing countries, it's common practice for farmers to be paid less than a living wage and for children to be forced into farm jobs in order to help feed their families. Each purchase from the mark. body care collection with Fair Trade Certified™ ingredients helps promote a different kind of farming, where fair labor conditions are mandated and farmers are not only empowered but are also given the support to help lift themselves out of poverty. By choosing this Fair Trade Certified™ product, you are directly supporting a better life for farming families through fair prices, direct trade, community development, and environmental stewardship." www.meetmark.com

 Please visit my mark. store to pick up The Big Fix for you and your family.

Get your gourd on.

Fall is my favorite time of year and I know a lot of people feel the same. Who doesn't love the beautiful colors of the landscape, perfect weather, and start of the holiday season? I mean, anytime I can get away with wearing flannel and shearling boots all day I am content. 'Tis the season for pumpkin carving! These are a few of the cute and creative ideas that have inspired me this year.

(Source)

Toasting (and eating) pumpkins seeds is the perfect ending to this fun holiday tradition. There are tons of recipes out there but I like to drizzle mine with a little olive oil and sprinkle with sea salt, fresh ground black pepper and powdered garlic before toasting in the oven. This year I'm recipe shopping for a sweet alternative to this usually savory treat and there are so many out there. I can't wait to try them. Happy carving!

mark.

Recently I have started my own business as an independent sales rep for mark. Occasionally I will be posting special offers, new products, and product reviews. I am also in the process of putting together some tutorials featuring my favorite mark. beauty products! Please feel free to stop by my online store often, as I am constantly updating it.

A very long engagement.

As I anxiously await the arrival of my wedding day proofs (I should have them tomorrow, fingers crossed!) I thought I would share a few of my favorites from our engagement session. These photos were taken at Techatticup ghost town, just outside of Las Vegas, NV. The location is wonderful and owned by the sweetest couple. They offer guided tours and love to share the history of the town, mines, and past residence. They even live there! I recommend you plan a visit, bring a camera and stop into Boulder Pit Stop afterwards for a milkshake.

Photos by Elyse Ray.

Welcome

After a several year hiatus from the wonderful world of blogging, I have realized I am at a point in my life that I want to capture and remember forever. As a newlywed, life seems to be flying by at a rapid pace. This is a personal blog about my personal life.