Welcome to For the Birds Living
For the Birds Living is about making the most of life in Arizona — Snowbirds who come for the season and Firebirds who never leave.
Here you'll find the trips worth taking, the recipes worth making, the get-togethers worth planning, and everything in between.
If that sounds like you, you're in the right place. Welcome.
Recipes
Entertaining
Seasonal Living
My Favorites
Explore the Site
Yes, you’ll find recipes, entertaining ideas, Arizona escapes, and a few favorite things.
But there’s usually a story attached — because the recipe is better when you know who created it, where we served it, or what went sideways along the way.
Recipes
Family recipes written in code, old favorites that needed a little updating, and a few newer one’s worth making again.
Patio happy hours, tables I overthought, and all the little tricks that make hosting a bit easier the next time.
Entertaining
Arizona at its best — spring training, rodeo season, farm days, golf. Then summer hits, and we start looking for ways to escape the heat.
Seasonal Living
My Favorites
The pieces I use and recommend — from the perfect linen napkin (I know, Johnny B doesn’t get this either) to the gadget that saves me an hour in the kitchen.
I’m not looking for more things to do.
I’m looking for more meaning in the things I do.
good friends • a good meal • a little golf • somewhere fun to go
Hosting friends for football? Get my free Game Day on the Patio guide with the menu, shopping list, prep timeline, setup checklist, and printable labels—so most of the decisions are handled before kickoff.
You’ll also receive my monthly From the Nest email—recipes, entertaining ideas, favorite finds, and a little Arizona.
Game Day on the Patio
From The Blog
Recipes with a story and the occasional mishap, Escape the Heat destinations, patio parties, golf adventures, and everything that happened along the way.
A Little Gift From Us
What started as a little pantry-label project turned into three trips to Staples, two redesigns, and more label alignment issues than I care to admit.
The good news? The labels turned out exactly the way I wanted them — and I’m happy to share them with you.
A Halloween dinner on the patio with smoky split pea soup, Bourbon & Broomsticks cocktails, pumpkin Bundt cake, and spooky sugar cookies. Use decorations you already own, add a little color, and invite your friends.