January 2010: The Westin Kierland Villas, Scottsdale AZ

A sister's reunion to celebrate a birthday was the official reason we found ourselves in Scottsdale, but am not sure too much justification is required to trade-in the frozen east coast for a few days of sun and relaxation in Arizona. I had gone to graduate school in AZ a long time ago, and always referred to the 'snowbirds' with a fair amount of disdain, but finding myself a snowbird felt pretty good, and the soft shifting light of the desert is a wonderful alternative to Florida for a winter get-away.