New Pizza Place in Phoenix: Fired Pie Review

Chipotle for pizza. That's Fired Pie. I'm always looking for a great, new place for lunch. Lunch is often the best part of the workday. So, when I heard about Fired Pie, I had to check it out ASAP. As far as pizza goes, Fired Pie is unique. It's high(er)-end customizable, brick-oven pizza. Why a build-your-own pizza place hasn't been done before (successfully) is incomprehensible.

First, choose a sauce. Next, choose cheese(s). Then, choose meat(s). Finally, choose any additional toppings (roasted peppers, kalamata olives, artichokes, onions, etc.). Here's the great part, I owed a coworker lunch, and thankfully this place didn't break the bank. Nearly every combination of pizza is the same price: $7.75.

I still prefer La Grande Orange (LGO) and Spinato's, but Fired Pie holds its own, plus, it's quicker and cheaper. That'll do, Fired Pie, that'll do. Oh, the owners have serious pizza cred, too.

Favorite Lip Balms

Not all lip balms are created equal. During winter in Indiana my lips would chap and crack, and it was an ordeal to find something that would get them back to normal. Then, I moved to the desert. The winters are glorious, but all the dry air takes a toll on skin and that precious pout. Here are my top 4 favorite moisturizers for lips -- keep 'em silky smooth.

1. Vaseline Lip Therapy: $1.99. Petroleum jelly, a gift from the Gods! This stuff is simple and works so well! Vaseline helps to heal dry skin, is fragrance-free, and reduces the appearance of fine lines. This little Lip Therapy tub is adorable, but not super user friendly. Get the large size regular Vaseline since it has a ton of uses. (Tip: when dying your hair at home put some around your hairline so you can easily wipe off any misplaced dye from your face).

2. DHC Lip Cream: $8. I received this Lip Cream as a gift from my sister, Emily, and now request it each year for my birthday. This stuff is amazing! The "secret" ingredient is olive oil. It goes on so smooth and is perfectly packaged. DHC is a company out of Japan and has a slew of skin care products. Let's be real, Asians have youthful, fabulous skin. Check out their website for a listing of all products they offer.

3. Mary Kay's Satin Lips set: $18. This is a great duo I've been using since high school. The lip mask is a gentle exfoliator. Follow it up with the lip balm. Your lips are silky smooth for hours! The downside, you must contact an Independent Beauty Consultant to get it. If you don't want to invest in the lip mask try using a face scrub like St. Ives or do a once-over on your lips with the Clarisonic.

4. Sugar Advanced Therapy: $25. This stuff is great, but a little pricey. It's an anti-aging lip treatment that doesn't have a bunch of yucky ingredients, fills wrinkles, and plumps your lips. It smells phenomenal and the packaging is heavy duty! There are other Fresh Sugar lip treatments in a variety of shades available at Sephora.

Things To Do During Summer In AZ

The Kalamata

What do olives, pigs, and cookies have in common?

While visiting with some friends from out of town we made a journey out to the Olive Mill, located in Queen Creek. The Kalamata sandwich (delicious) from the Eatery at the Olive Mill was featured on Food Network's The Best Thing I Ever Ate, and Mike Rowe (Stef's celebrity crush) from Dirty Jobs also took a trip to the farm.

Aside from the mill's moments of fame, it's just a fun, unique place to visit. It has a quaint little shop and sells branded clothing, olives, and a myriad of olive oils. On our next trip, we plan on taking advantage of the tours and the Olive Oil 101 class. 

Your go-to place for meat sticks!

Naturally, after the Olive Mill, we needed a meat stick. WTF!? Explanation: The Pork Shop -- a tiny, family-owned meathouse with characters that put Duck Dynasty to shame. Fresh meats from every part of the pig and a piggy propane tank outside, what's not to love? Oink oink.

Speaking of oink, it was time for dessert: BJ's pizookies. A half-baked warm cookie topped with ice cream is just orgasmic.These tasty bits of heaven can satisfy anyone's craving for dessert.

Olives at the Olive Mill. Pork at The Pork Shop. And cookies at BJ's. A Saturday well spent.

Homemade Healthy Granola Recipe

What's to discuss? Granola is healthy and fabulous. Let's get right down to business. Wait, preheat the oven at 350 degrees. You'll need three bowls and a large cookie sheet.



Mix the following ingredients in large bowl:

• 3 - 4 cups rolled oats (not instant)
• 1/2 cup flax seed
• 1/2 cup raw, unsalted pepitas (shelled pumpkin seeds)
• 1/2 cup chopped peanuts
• 1/2 cup raw, unsalted sunflower seeds
• 1/2 cup wheat germ
• 1/4 cup chia seeds
• (optional additions - slivered almonds, coconut)

Mix in separate, small bowl:

• 1/4 cup coconut oil (others work, too)
• 1/4 cup applesauce or apple juice
• 1/4 cup brown sugar or honey
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• (optional additions or substitutes - cinnamon, maple syrup, molasses)

Now, mix all ingredients evenly and spread on a cookie sheet. Cook for 12 - 15 minutes. Take it out, stir it up, and put it back into the oven for 5 additional minutes. As the granola cooks, prepare the dried fruit. Do not cook the fruit.

Mix into a medium sized bowl:

• 1/2 cup dried, unsweetened cranberries
• 1/2 cup dried bananas (chopped)
• 3/4 cup dried apricots
• (optional additions - raisins, dried blueberries)  

Let the granola cool for 5-10 minutes. Add dried fruit and enjoy! I like to add milk and eat while it's still warm.

Smartphone Case Review

Finding the right case for your phone can be a challenge, especially for females. It needs to be a fun color, not too bulky, and have some cute factor to it. The biggest selling point in picking a phone case should be functionality. I purchased an iPhone 5 back in December when my Droid went kaput. Of course, Verizon tries to up-sell customers on cases, extra chargers, screen protectors, etc. Don't fall for the trap! Repeat this mantra: "Amazon is my homie."

$8.95 iPhone wristlet wallet from Amazon

I became envious of a friend's adorable Kate Spade wristlet iPhone case. It had a cute pattern, room for a credit card, I.D., and space for cash. Plus, she didn't need to carry a purse. Everything she needed could be held in the wristlet. The price tag: $70. Ouch. I was on a mission to find something comparable and I did -- for $8.95! I'm sold on this case. The functionality can't be beat. It has an opening in the back for your camera and is available in five colors with fun patterns on the inside. I rarely carry my purse anymore. Ladies, I seriously recommend this product if you're in the hunt for a new smartphone case.