I was the kid from Chicago in the back of my dad's green station wagon, headed out West for a family vacation, wishing that I was the girl galloping on horseback through the cornfields of the Midwest. I'm truly living my dream on our ranch outside of Scottsdale, a labor of love that has taken years to come to fruition. Part Eco-ranch, part boarding facility and part vacation rental, Rio Rancho Verde is surrounded by the natural beauty of the Sonoran desert, on the edge of the Tonto National Forest, yet close enough to Scottsdale's fine dining, shopping and events. Watching the sun rise over the Four Peaks and the sunsets over the Scottsdale Preserve still fills me with awe, and an appreciation for the desert we call home.