Happy Monday, Internet Friends!
I’m gonna gush about our little honeymoon trip today, flip of hair (that badly needs trimmed btw, oops.)
Our retro/Americana themed “micro wedding” was on July 1st, heading into the 4th of July weekend. So our little “mini moon” landed squarely for 4th of July weekend, and we spent it in the most quaint little town(s) of Strawberry and Pine AZ. (Our hotel was in Strawberry but it’s smack dab next to Pine, AZ. So I consider them a package deal lol.)
I’ve always been a bit partial to 4th of July weddings, with rustic American flags and red and blue color schemes. And I FREAKING love patriotic bunting. It’s just such a festive/fun time to get married and to have a honeymoon. But. I may be biased. Obviously.
Okay! Moving on!
Strawberry and Pine are, excuse my silly giddiness, cuuuuuuuute. Seriously America in a jar–little Mason jars, with red gingham fabric tied with baker’s twine on top that is. Hey! Makes sense to me. But really! There are so many old, and folksy ice cream shops, antique shops, and pretty old houses. It is such a darling place in the Arizona mountains– which to any Arizonian that immediately translates into “perfect summer weather.” It felt so charmingly Americana and Avonlea-ish at the same time.
It’s actually a miracle we even went on a honeymoon–there was a huge, raging wildfire RIGHT before our wedding, with both towns evacuating. But then right before our wedding day–a break in the clouds–the fire was contained and the evacuation mandate was lifted. We were gonna have our honeymoon, dammit!
We stayed at the Strawberry Inn which is the perfect little place to stay for 4th of July. It is charming and painted red, white, and blue, and most importantly–THE BUNTING, PEOPLE!
Dining in the Pines
For dinner the first night we rolled into town, we checked out The Old County Inn in Pine, Az. Holy hell, freaking amazing place. They serve wood fired pizzas which were DEE-VINE. Also, their salads–DEE-VINE.
David was a happy camper because we got bar seats right in front of the wood burning stove. Artisan bread and pizzas are kind of a religion to him.
It was so good, we freaking went twice. The beet salad with goat cheese…Mmm. And the wings. (David didn’t like the wings because they weren’t crispy. I thought the sauce was delicious. Mmm.) Everything was so good and presented so beautifully. Highly recommend!
The Randall House. Okay, this was a seriously darling place. We went here for breakfast. Okay…may I say this gave off complete Avonlea vibes???
Their special for the morning was red, white, and blue French toast. We also ordered the homemade root beer.
The place had the purdiest garden around with an old, charming tin shack/barn thing. Okay, not the prettiest description but it was lovely so I forced David to pose in a self-timer pic with me.
SMALL TOWN 4TH OF JULY PARADE // I.E. CUTE OLD MEN ON FARM EQUIPMENT
After breakfast there was a little town 4th of July parade. Basically the entire town was in the parade and only a handful of us people watched and cheered them on. I loved the old men in their tractors and whatnot. Like, COME ON!
Of course we snagged some treats from the Pie Bar in Strawberry. A fun, kooky little place that sells pies and empanadas.
This guy (below) was really into it LMAO. So adorable.
Summer Strolling in Pine, AZ
Okay, Pine has QUITE the cute little vintage ice cream scene. Everywhere there was some nostalgic ice cream stand. I gave in and ordered a strawberry ice cream cone. Yes, the strawberry was intentional, like, I HAD to order the homemade strawberry ice cream while we stayed in STRAWBERRY lol. Those kind of quirks drive my mom and sister crazy btw lol.
The Farmer’s Market
So Pine has this old farmer’s market housed in this old yellow house built in the 1800s. I love me a yellow house, dammit.
But now, for the rest of adorable Pine, keep scrolling.
The Strawberry School House
So this is a nifty little old site–Arizona’s oldest standing school. Takes me to Avonlea–AGAIN. I see those slates and can only think of Anne smacking Gilbert on the head. Yes, this is the second time I’ve brought up Avonlea. Maybe it’s about time I read that book again, ha!
The Lavender Farm
Lavender Farm–nope! Not charming at all. Not one bit. Let alone all the different varieties of lavender and their poetic names. Royal Velvet? French Provence? Dreamy as hell. Not to mention the lavender bike in the lavender FIELD.
Sold. All the way.
I did buy some lavender sugar and–the very best–lavender hot cocoa.
This basic broad will be refined once December comes around. There goes Courtney…drinking her hot cocoa with her damn pinkie up again.
Yes. I will be THAT woman.
With impunity. Ha!
I’ll swirl that cocoa in my mug and talk Elizabethan English to everyone in the room. Lots of thous, thees, wouldst’s in my future.
Okay. Moving along!
4th of July
Please cue “Strawberry Wine” for this pic here.
Oh come on, you didn’t think I would blast a schmoozy honeymoon pic on the ole blog, eh?
But look at this old tunnel/bridge/whatever it is! It would turn Marilla Cuthbert into a swoony romantic, puffed sleeves and all!
OMG! There she goes again with her Anne of Green Gable puns…
Guys. My husband enjoys being festive with me LMAO. We’re officially that couple and I’m ALL about it, damn it. Go ahead, call us dorks! I don’t care! Just imagine our future Christmas cards….maybe they will be themed…HA!
Just kidding.
Or am I???
Got my earrings from Betsy Ross….
Okay. So I was SO DAMN excited to enjoy a small town 4th of July extravaganza in the park in Payson, AZ. Down on the desert floor in Arizona, 4th of July is like celebrating with Satan, pure and simple. Miserably HOT. So I thought…a 4th of July in the mountains???
So we went early, at 3 p.m. to watch the pie eating contest. You ALWAYS hear about those happening at 4th of July celebrations but I’ve personally never witnessed it so I NEEDED that experience. Okay so, we watched it and then….guys, it was still freaking hot.
And the pie eating contest lasted like 15 minutes and then the fireworks show didn’t start until 9 p.m. And Payson kinda does this thing where once you find a parking spot, you are LOCKED IN. Families bring tents and set up their stations with food, lawn chairs and books to read. Every family had a tent! So they brought everything they needed to hunker down until the fireworks show started. I never seen it done like that before.
We were utterly unprepared.
I mean there was a food truck, but how many nachos can you eat to pass the time?
We were party poopers and went back to Strawberry. Like, getting married is freaking exhausting and waiting in the heat for six hours? Not into it.
Hey! I did get a Red, White, and Blue Slush Float from Sonic on our way back. So there’s that.
But honestly, it was a really beautiful evening back at the Strawberry Inn. There was a torrential down pour, and we went for a drive into the pines where we came seriously *this* close to Elk on the road.
Like–COME ON!
So that was our fireworks show lol.
And then we stopped by this little gas station/convenience store for some snacks to watch a movie. And I don’t know what it is about trips…but like going to some random local store or gas station, or little diner, is just so beautiful to me.
Okay. Maybe I sound crazy. But it’s those little hum drum, cozy pit stops that for some reason stick out to me the most.
Plus, this is probably the MOST charming gas station I’ve seen. They sell pizza and burgers along with Christmas ornaments for souviniers and Hostess cupcakes AND THE FREAKING BUNTING!
Ugh! Love this town. I told David…we may do this every year. The bunting just does something for me.
Farewell Strawberry! In…a Strawberry Dress.
Yes I own a cute strawberry dress which I wore in Strawberry, AZ.
Duh.
On our way out, we took some stops to take campy tourist pics next to…you guess it, strawberries. In my strawberry dress.
I know. I’m insane. But that’s okay!
Awwww, these two lovebirds are now leaving daydream Anne of Green Gables summer haven, and facing the future and the world…how can I make this anymore ridiculously cliche?…oh, yes, quite right….TOGETHER.
Wait, it gets better: HAND IN HAND.
Okay. I’ll stop. I SWEAR I would never be a cheesy married woman on the internet. I have such a complex about it! So I’m making awkward sarcastic jokes like a teenager to deal, obviously.
Anyway, we love each other BERRY MUCH.
Ha!
The end.
Ta Da! The Claridges. Married and honeymooned.
Doris Day Would Love Me 