Farley’s Finds: Film, Food and Favorites is a blog where I share with you things I love, who is deserving of a toast of whiskey for  being an awesome human or for doing awesome human things, where I’ll be (events) and what I’m looking forward. It’s sounds totally self-centered, but REALLY it’s because I stumble on some really amazing things other people are doing and I want to share them with you. Seriously.

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I had no idea this existed until it was gifted to me, and ever since that day, my life has never been the same. There is such a glorious thing as the Pugmoji keyboard app. Yep. It is by Batpug and is exactly what it sounds like – dozens upon dozens of cute, meaningful, totally random, breed-diverse pug emojis to communicate any feeling, thought or passing whimsy you may experience. Granted it was slightly a pain to install, $1.99 to purchase (totally worth it) and you have to make sure you allow full access to the keyboard for it to actually work, but once you do it’s like a whole new Pugalicious world being opened up to you. Fellow pug lovers,  I highly suggest. Now my boyfriend is subject to receiving a Pug-a-day to brighten his day...

Heeeeeyyyooo! I’m back! I took February off, but fear not, I have returned to adoring fans (aka the three people who read it) but what a beautiful bunch of 3 people you are 😉 Farley’s Finds: Film, Food and Favorites is a blog where I share with you what I love, what is deserving of a toast of whiskey, where I’ll be (events) and what I’m looking forward to this upcoming week. It’s sounds totally self-centered, but REALLY it’s because I stumble on some really amazing things other people are doing and I want to share them with you. So there!

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If you happen to be in the market for a customized video from Jesus wishing your bestie a happy birthday or for an artist that can draw you like a Simpsons character even though the can’t use the word “Simpsons” so they just call it a yellow character drawing or pretty much any other random thing you could think then you should check out Fiverr.com. It gave me endless hours of entertainment as I listened to Donald Trump impersonators leave voicemail greetings and watched dancers perform a rain dance ceremony. It’s crazy the things people will do for $5. I like crazy.

Reelhouse is a great online resource for independent...

Farley’s Finds: Film, Food and Favorites is a blog where I share with you what I love, what is deserving of a toast of whiskey, where I’ll be (events) and what I’m looking forward to this upcoming week. It’s sounds totally self-centered, but REALLY it’s because I stumble on some really amazing things other people are doing and I want to share them with you. So there!

Sharing the Love:  

Pretty positive I ate at the best restaurant in Arizona. No joke. It’s a small place in Flagstaff that is only open a few days of the week and only during certain seasons, but it is seriously some of the best food I’ve ever had served by the nicest, most friendly chef I’ve ever met. He studied cooking in Italy and all throughout Europe, but realized all he wanted was to make good food at home in the desert. His wife is a pastry chef and together they are a culinary force. Coppa Cafe serves local, fresh food prepared and presented in a truly artful way.  I had no idea a bowl of soup could be so captivating. The dining area is darling with mismatched furniture and the music is enchanting. Try it next time you head up north.

The honey and I started taking fencing lessons in an 8 week class at the

Farley’s Finds: Film, Food and Favorites is a blog where I share with you what I love, what is deserving of a toast of whiskey, where I’ll be (events) and what I’m looking forward to this upcoming week. It’s sounds totally self-centered, but REALLY it’s because I stumble on some really amazing things other people are doing and I want to share them with you. So there!

Sharing the Love:  

I fell in love with rock climbing! It’s possible that I suck at it. It’s equally possible that I had no real idea what I was doing the entire time I was there, but none the less, I loved the heck out of it! It’s a full body workout and requires you to be singularly, purely focused on what you’re doing. There’s no way to not be in the moment. There’s also something really exhilerating when you are at the top and you have lean back, trust and push back. Really quite a thrill!  We tried AZ on the Rocks which was great, but there’s a couple different rock gyms around the Valley.

Over the weekend we took my parents on a day trip to Kartchner Caverns. It had been something my mother had talked of wanting to do for years so we thought a trip there would be a great Christmas gift for them...

Farley’s Finds: Film, Food and Favorites is a blog where I share with you what I love, what is deserving of a toast of whiskey, where I’ll be (events) and what I’m looking forward to this upcoming week. It’s sounds totally self-centered, but REALLY it’s because I stumble on some really amazing things other people are doing and I want to share them with you. So there!

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I kept seeing a girlfriend of mine posting about boxes of things that Influenster sent her to try and I was curious. I mean, who doesn’t like being sent free shit, am I right? While I found myself getting sucked into black hole of rating things and leaving feedback, I do think it’s a cool set up for people who have time to do it. Basically you give feedback on products you try, you earn badges, get a rating for social impact and obviously the more you do the more exclusive stuff you get. You have to create a profile and sync your social profiles for best impact. All you folks who love ranting or raving and sharing your public opinion like it’s sacred fact – this might be a fun place for you! 

It still carries a bit of shame for me to admit this because I thought that you had to be in your e...

Farley’s Finds: Film, Food and Favorites is a blog where I share with you what I love, what is deserving of a toast of whiskey, where I’ll be (events) and what I’m looking forward to this upcoming week. It’s sounds totally self-centered, but REALLY it’s because I stumble on some really amazing things other people are doing and I want to share them with you. So there!

Sharing the Love: 

Most girls wear perfume or scented lotion and such, unless you’re one of those “I don’t put any chemicals on or near my sacred body” kind of people. While I’ve doused my skin in everything from Bath & Bodyworks and Victoria Secret to Clinique Happy and Meow, I recently started wearing L’OCCITANE and while I still cannot properly pronounce it, I can’t live without anymore. The hand cream in particular is to die for.  I don’t know, the scents just seem pure and somehow transformative. Putting on one scent transports me to being snuggled next to my mother in her nightgown and yet another brings me to a little tropical dive motel in San Diego. It’s lush and clean smelling and I have made the switch.

If hipsters had invented Chia Pets, this is what it would have looked like. Yep, it’s gold or aqua min...

I quit writing. I said I wouldn’t, but I did. Anyone else automatically think of that “Said I loved you, but I lied” song???

There was a legit reason so just hear me out before you start with your judgmental ways.

A couple things happened:

1. After my cousin passed away in April of 2015, I lost my foundation. Nothing seemed to matter and I sort of went into this phase of letting go. In fact, I completely lost the inner desire to soar and simply resorted to float by for a little bit. We all go through stages in life, and this has been sort of a coasting period. A waking hibernation, if you will. It was necessary; I needed it. I’m starting to wake up out of it, thank goodness, but it feels slow, like gaining consciousness from a coma. For some reason, I thought I should have been able to save her. I don’t know why – it makes no logical sense, but I should have been able to keep oxygen pumping through her and I didn’t. It was a guilt that I didn’t know how to live with.

Now I wear a tiny little ‘E’ around my neck on a silver chain to remind me every day of Erin – to live life for Erin.

2. I also started taking an anti-depressant...

Dear actors,

A question from my heart.

The week before Christmas, 1 of columnists from azcentral whom you all know and love, Ms. Karina Bland, wrote a story about a little girl who is living at the Child Crisis Arizona Center in Mesa.

She’s 7 and just wants a family. This story touched my heart and after blubbering like a baby for ten minutes, I composed myself enough to write Karina an email of appreciation. She responded back and mentioned that the little girl said that all she really wants is someone to read to her at night because she gets nightmares.

I can do that. WE CAN DO THAT.

We will be donating this young lady a Kindle Fire and on the Kindle Fire, I’m hoping to upload dozens of stories for her to listen to before bed!

That’s where you come in. It’s a simple ask – all you have to do is record yourself reading a story of your choice appropriate for a 7 year old girl and send me the link at Melissa.Farley@ArizonaRepublic.com

You have several options to do this:

HOW TO RECORD/SEND FILE:

Audio books: Help us get downloadable audio books for her to have as a digital library
· Email MP3: If you feel you can upload clean audio as an MP3 file using an appropriate d...

Farley’s Finds: Film, Food and Favorites is a blog where I share with you what I love, what is deserving of a toast of whiskey, where I’ll be (events) and what I’m looking forward to this upcoming week. It’s sounds totally self-centered, but REALLY it’s because I stumble on some really amazing things other people are doing and I want to share them with you. So there!

With the New Year approaching, I am going to say this – I am not making any lists this year or making any resolutions. I am simply giving myself permission to enjoy living in whatever shape or course that takes. <3

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So weeks ago I remember seeing a gorgeous couple at the Phoenix Flea market downtown. They looked like models plucked right out of an Urban Outfitters ad gracing the streets of downtown Phoenix with their beauty. I discovered recently that they are indeed a bit of a celebrity couple that go by the NewDarlings on Instagram. The pair came from New York and now live in an apartment in Phoenix with a feed focused on travel and fashion...

Farley’s Finds: Film, Food and Favorites is a weekly series where I share with you what I love, what is deserving of a toast of whiskey, where I’ll be (events) and what I’m looking forward to this upcoming week. It’s sounds totally self-centered, but REALLY it’s because I stumble on some really amazing things other people are doing and I want to share them with you. So there!

Sharing the Love: 

I love following artists on Instgram. I think it’s a great platform to discover new and emerging artists because they can be as prolific is they want and share their visual creations constantly. I saw a featured artists that does painting and textiles based out of San Fran. The work is bright, alive and fun! Follow KINDAHKHALIDY for a burst of color into your life!

Shopping local has really become a point of pride for me. I’m happy to say that I knocked out a good chunk of my Xmas shopping at The Phoenix Flea which was held at the historic Heritage Square in downtown Phoenix. I got everything from a vintage camera and book bundles to one-of-a-kind usable art pieces and cups. It was exciting to see how packed it was too! Way to go Phoenix for supporting small business!

I absolutely fell ...