The Lodge on the Desert, a Vacation in Tucson, AZ

Vacations are expensive and staycations can feel like a consolation prize. Solution -- drive to Tucson, AZ, duh. It helps when you have a reason to go. We were attending a friend's play at the Beowolf Theater. More on that later. Here's a summary of our mini-vacation, a macation, if you will.

We booked a mystery hotel on +Hotwire. Pressing the "confirm payment" button is half the fun. It's a lot like playing Russian Roulette, but that's what makes a macation fun, danger. The mystery hotel, The Lodge on the Desert. Hooray!

I would love to tell you more about our room, but it wasn't a room at all. We stayed in a "Hacienda." It was spacious, retro, and had a functioning gas fireplace. The foilage and desert landscaping was delightful. The web of pebblestone walkways added character. The pool was heated. The jacuzzi jets were 757-like. It was a dream come true ... until morning. Around 6AM, the staff decided it was time to wake up the entire village. Laundry carts on the pebble walkways, it was cacophony. Stop the music!

All and all, despite the confusing mash of cultural references (do lodges typically have haciendas?), it was a delightful stay. The price was right, it's near downtown Tucson, and the staff was almost annoyingly pleasant.

Homemade Taco Seasoning

I was putting my favorite taco soup recipe together when I discovered I didn't have a key ingredient on hand: taco seasoning. A little Google search and voila! My life is changed. No more store bought taco seasoning packets for me! How long have I been wasting $1+ per seasoning packet while all the ingredients have been in my cupboards the whole time? I found this concoction on allrecipes.com.

1 T. chili powder
1/4 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp. crushed red pepper flakes
1/4 tsp. dried oregano
1/2 tsp. paprika
1-1/2 tsp. ground cumin
1 tsp. sea salt
1 tsp. black pepper

Mix all ingredients together and store in an airtight container. It's pretty strong, so be sure to put it in a container that's not going to leak the scent. (Here's a recipe for Taco Soup you can use this recipe in).

I didn't have onion powder on hand, so I added real onions to the recipes. And I used regular salt instead of sea salt. The mixture has an awesome flavor with a little bit of kick. This recipe was a great find!

November Birchbox Review

My first Birchbox was AWESOME. Seriously. I loved just about everything in it. This month .... not so much. But that's OK! I'm all about trying new things, and knowledge is power. Especially beauty knowledge ;). My November Birchbox review might seem a little harsh, but I'm confident more great products will be showing up in December.

1. BeeKind Body Lotion. As a lotion made with honey and ogranic chammomile extracts you would think it smells similar to those things. It doesn't. It smells of lemon Pledge, like the dr. Brandt sample from my first Birchbox. And the consistency is way too runny- I prefer more of a cream. The only thing I really like about this product is part of the funds go to support honey bees and pollenation research. My advice: Donate funds to the bees. Skip the lotion.

2. Chella Ivory Lace Highlighter Pencil. My favorite product out of the box this month! My first use was a success and my skin was definitely glowing. Birchbox has a tutorial on different ways to use this pencil, which is really quite helpful since contouring is all the rage. My advice: Read the tutorials, try the pencil, become a contouring queen.

3. Joie Purfume. Scents are a powerful memory trigger. On first whiff I was transported to my sister's bedroom in 1988. This scent, in my opinion, is a mix between big hair and Barbie purfume ... both great things, it just comes on a little strong. My advice: Scent is a personal preference. Try a sample. I won't be buying the $100 bottle.

4. Wei Golden Root Purifying Mud Mask. I felt like I was putting whipped chocolate on my face, but without the chocolate scent. The mask had a nice tingle and dried fairly fast. The full size order is packaged like the sample which is the size of a single coffee creamer ... interesting. And also includes an applicator brush which I'd like to try! My advice: If you're looking for a mud mask explore your options. This is worth a try, but not jaw-dropping.

5. Wei Pomegranate Buffing Beads. I wasn't too impressed with the dr. Brandt microderm sample from last time, and the same goes for these buffing beads. I did like how you add the beads to your own cleanser, but the overall result wasn't anything special. It also didn't rinse off as easy as I would have liked. My advice: Pass. I still prefer my St. Ives Apricot Scrub.

Lifestyle Extra: Mighty Leaf Tea Pouches. I'm not much of a tea drinker myself, but my husband enjoys it from time to time. I commissioned him with trying the three different flavors so he took the packs to work. On his way there, they fell out of his pocket. Mighty Leaf will remain a mystery.

Elie's Deli

A co-worker of mine introduced me to an unassuming Greek restaurant a few months ago, Elie's Deli. I do enjoy a good gyro from time to time and was anxious to try a new lunch spot. This family-run biz is clean, quaint, and oh so friendly! It's like Cheers every time we walk in. Our favorite lady at the front counter gives some great suggestions and always has a smile on her face. Of course it's nice to go somewhere friendly, but the real reason we keep returning is the Grilled Chicken Feta Salad. Mmmmm boy!

You can try to duplicate it at home, but I'm sure it won't be as tasty. Elie sure has a way with that grilled chicken. I think it's the combo of the chilled lettuce with the warm chicken that makes it melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Here's what it includes:

Iceburg Lettuce
Feta Cheese
Tomato
Cucumber
Black Olives
Red Onion
Fresh off the the grill seasoned chicken
Greek dressing
Served with a side of pita bread

More Shoes, Please

I would venture to guess that I own fewer pairs of shoes than the average female. Since I live in Phoenix, I have sandals o-plenty, but those don't count as shoes. Of all the places to buy footwear, I have found that DSW has the widest variety. It also has an awesome rewards program. You accumulate points from your purchases, plus get an additional certificate to use for your birthday. It's dangerous to walk into this store. I rarely come out empty handed, but I found these online:

Crown Vintage Cherilyn Oxford Pump

I am really into these retro-styled shoes! Grandma Merle was a fashionista and enjoyed the finer things in life, so maybe it's in my blood. The thicker heel is a nice touch and is more sturdy than traditional pumps. I usually wear these with a shorter skirt or skinny jeans. I also own a pair of tan penny loafers in the same brand. Me and Grandma Merle are diggin the Crown Vintage style!

I used my $10 rewards coupon, plus found additional savings from the Retail-Me-Not app, including free shipping. Score! More shoes, please.