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Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! Gosh it feels like it's been forever since I last blogged- I hope y'all had a wonderful time with friends and family. I know I did!

I just came back from Arizona where I spent about a week with Jason's extended family. There are quite a few differences between South Carolina and Arizona:

• No sweet tea

• Everything is some shade of brown

• There's no sticky, yucky humidity

• The Mexican food is unparalleled

• Using the word "y'all" will make the locals giggle

• And the mountains are breathtaking

It was so cool to see where Jason grew up, where he took karate, and all of their favorite hangout spots, which in coincidentally, included many yummy food places. Like I mentioned before, their Mexican food was spectacular and unlike anything you would find here! I also tried an out-of-this-world, ultra phenomenal, slap-your-momma delicious healthy spot called Sweet Tomatoes and I will now be seeking someone to open up a franchise here in the Carolinas. Seriously y'all it was sensational. There was a mile long salad bar line that would have pleased any picky eater. You name it, it was on the bar. Once we reached the end of the line, we paid and then entered the pièce de résistance-

• 8 homemade soups (personal fav- Albondigas Locas)

• homemade buttermilk cornbread

• yogurt sundae buffet (includes a straight-out-of-the-oven sinful brownie muffin)

• and eat your heart out scratch made biscuits, cheese breads, etc.

I loved how everything was so ultra fresh, homemade, and delicious. This place prides itself in using fresh produce and ingredients.

I'm drooling just talking to y'all about it.

At the end of the trip, I had a wall of fear hit me right in the face. I had totally forgotten I was on a weight-loss competition! I had stuffed my face with cupcakes, chips, snacks, and mountains of food.

Oh. Snap.

Either I had much more control than I thought I did or the sheer panic I felt melted away 30 pounds but I was able to maintain despite throwing my diet out the window. Oh thank goodness.

Diets are hard.

So if you're ever out in the Phoenix area, check out these hotspots (thank me later):

• In and Out Burger (their fries will blow your mind)

• Genghis Grill (Mongolian stir-fry grill; happy hour Mon.-Thurs. ALL DAY which makes me happy)

• Serranos (Mexican delight)

• The Coffee Bean (coffee completes me)

• The Tempe Marketplace (shopaholic's heaven)

• of course, Sweet Tomatoes

• and a little place called the Grand Canyon (fun fact, Arizona is known as the Grand Canyon state)

It's such a beautiful and different place and if you ever have the opportunity to visit, you should!

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