Happy New Year!!

Its been a while....with that said hello 2014, this year will be full of new things I along with my tiny family have been so so busy!! We are in the process of remodeling our kitchen,  at the moment it is quite bare but rest assure it is going to be awesome walls are coming down and all new stuff is going up it has been a process but I know in the end it is going to look awesome!! Here is a picture of our progress...

Also as we come into the new year also comes new resolutions and my number one resolution for myself is to become healthy and fit.  My husband is joining me in this challenge because he got some rough news from the doctor a few weeks back.  I began this though a few months back when I joined a local boot camp in the park along with one of my closest friend it has been hard but I can see the changes in my body, not really in my weight but my clothes are fitting loose and I have already lost TWO sizes.  I am also doing my own challenge to eat healthier, so I started just yesterday doing the mason jar meals I went a little wild and made for 3 days LOL.  My goal for January is to get my stomach back, because alas I still have my baby belly after a year and a half.  Here is a picture of my first of many mason jar meals, I'm so excited about doing this and not only that they look so awesome and good, and they are pretty tasty. :)

In hopes of a great new year for myself and my tiny family I also wish you all a bunch of awesomeness is on their way!!

Alondra 

I am a mother of a one year old..a month later!!!

Sorry that I haven't been here in a while but so much has been going on, with the summer behind me I went back to work.  This is the first week of school and so far everyday has felt like a Monday.  It has just been so crazy busy and I feel like I am drowning in paperwork lol.  I always wonder to myself I wonder how many trees I am holding in my hands today lol.  Anyway the biggest and most exciting thing that has happen is that my baby girl turn one on August 2 it is crazy to think that a year ago she came into this world with a bang!  That story I will leave for another day, any who Baby girl turn one and of course she is our one and only right now and we just decided to go all out!  We threw this big Mexican fiesta with a Dr.Seuss theme.  I decided to do Dr.Seuss because I just fell in love with the ideas that I saw on Pinterst, and it was awesome tiresome but awesome.  We made the trees from the Lorax, had pictures of all the Dr.Seuss characters on the windows, had a cake especially made for her thanks to Sugar Shells Custom Cakes & More I used her for my birthday and she did an awesome job for my daughter.  My mother-in-law made a piñata Mexican style of course as the Cat from the Cat in the Hat, and I bought her the Book Happy Birthday by Dr.Seuss and had people sign it sort of like a guest book.  Overall even though it was really tiresome I really am happy that I threw it because even though she wont remember I will remember it.  Here are some pictures of her awesome day!

 

 

Overall I was exhasted and sweaty cause throwing a party in August in Arizona is so hot!! But I would not change it for the least it was the best first birthday ever.

Summer so far!!!!

                Sorry…it’s been a while and a lot has happen.  The school year ended with a bang on May 23 and my last day at work was June 6.  I go back to work on July 22 and so far this summer has been awesome.  We went to San Diego right when I got off work on June 6 and we stayed at an awesome hotel in La Jolla. 

We were there for 5 awesome days and it did not get high than 75 degrees.  I miss it, I really want to move over there lol.  This trip was all thanks to my husband’s friend because otherwise we would not have been able to go so I am very grateful.  Emma had so much fun and of course so did my husband and I here are a few pictures to show you how our trip went.

Here in Arizona unfortunately we are in the triple digits when we left for San Diego it was 114 degrees!  This weekend it’s going to hit 118!!!!!! I can’t wait for this weekend lol.   Emma and I have been swimming in the pool every day I need to do some crafty things, get organized and exercise this summer.  So far that has been the summer, I have a few weeks left until I go back to work but the next big even coming up is the 4^th of July I want to make some colorful jello and its Emma’s first fireworks so that should be fun.

Alondra

Happy Mother's Day

Today in celebration of mother's day the hubby, baby girl and I relaxed at home.  It was really nice for a change just staying at home.  We got up at around 7 because my parents came over to pick up some trash, then by the time they left it was only 10.  We had some yummy green enchiladas and I finished my homework.  To top things off it was another one of those rare beautiful days in sunny Arizona.  We got in the pool 3 times along with baby girl.  What a great first mother's day weekend.  I hope all the beautiful,  hard working momma's had a wonderful mother's day weekend!

My two loves :)

Baby girl after getting in the pool

until next time.

Alondra

Mommy Time!

In celebration of mother's day which by the way I get to celebrate twice once here in the United States and one for Mexico, cause of tradition.  We celebrate May 10 for my mom mostly cause its really tradition for her when we came to the United States she was already a mom of four so coming here she brought along her traditions,  don't get me wrong we still celebrate days here too but its nice keeping traditions like we still celebrate Mexican independence,  Children's day, Kings day and amoung others.   These are the type of traditions I want to pass on to my daughter our Mexican ones and American ones I consider us to be very lucky to be able to have different traditions from here and Mexico. Anyway I decided to treat  myself to some really cute jewlery.  I was invited to an oragami owl party today, at first I thought why would you have a party on how to make oragami owls lol, but then I researched it and saw what it was plus I got to spend some time with some cool moms.  We played a game and ate some food and it was just moms and daughters,  while baby girl is still to small to understand I hope to one day be able to do projects like that with her.  The charms are really cute I chose a camera, a pair of scissors,  a heart with foot prints, and a diamond ring.  The charms are suppose to tell a story of yourself and tnat is why I chose those charms.  I took a picture but its a little blurry.  So happy mothers day where ever you are in the world!

Summer is here!!

So in Arizona when you hit April its basically already summer, we've already hit triple diget degrees here! Sorry that I haven't posted in a while its been crazy busy in my life lightly.  We've finished the back of the block fence as you can see and the pool is ready, we've installed a salt water system and man is there a difference.  Our pool is crystal clear, before it was really cloudy looking but whoa is there a difference now.  I can't wait until it becomes a little hotter and the pool temperature is perfect.  Baby girl has already gone in 3 times! I am counting down the days till summer break from work in one month tomorrow exactly we will be on our way to San Diego ocean front hotel vacation, I'm so excited! Any way what better way to start the week than thinking about the count down to summer!  Until next time.

Alondra

School

So I’d like to brag a little today, to my surprise when I came home on Tuesday and I checked the mail I received a letter from Grand Canyon (that is the University that I am enrolled in) it was a letter that said that because of my grades I have made it to the dean’s list.  I’m really proud of myself and have decided to make it my goal to keep staying on that list. I just started going back to school this past October.  It was a decision that I kept fighting with but knew that I needed to do it so that when my daughter gets older she knows the importance of school.  I’m working really hard to try and get the best grade possible so it’s important for me to focus on homework and participation.  I’m trying to work out a schedule where I can still blog and do school at the same time.  So wish me luck with my scheduling. lol

 

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The Weekend and how to make Mexican rice

I've been playing around with my blog for a while and I still haven't picked the font I want, so here is a new one. So anyway this weekend it was a really nice weekend in Arizona before 12pm that is, after 12 it becomes hot. On Saturday I went to my moms like I always do and it was really nice all the kiddos from my side of the family were there and they were all playing together. I was asked about the prickly pear and when was it good to harvest. Well, spring time is when they come out, you want to get the ones that are just coming out )the babies) they are a dark green and thin, the light green thick ones are not good to eat. Here is a picture so that you could see the difference.

Remember when cutting down the prickly pear it is very important to be careful because of the stickers.

So today I want to show you how to make Mexican Rice. Mexican rice is a tomato base rice that will go good with any meal. Plus it is really easy to make and requires only a few ingredients. This recipe makes enough for about 4 to 5 people.

Ingredients

4 cups of rice

2 tomatoes

1 quarter onion

3 garlic cloves

3 tablespoons of cooking oil

Salt (to your liking)

1. Let the rice sit in water for about half and hour then rinse.

2.Add oil to a deep medium size pan and heat the pan at medium heat.

3. Pour the rinsed rice into the pan and be sure to be stirring the rice so that the rice is fried evenly.

Here is what your rice should look like when you pour it in to fry.

4. While you are frying the rice blend together the tomatoes, garlic, and onion.

5. Once your rice has turned a golden color you pour in the blended liquid and stir so that it hits all of the rice.

As you can see here the rice now is a golden color.

When you pour in the blended liquid don't forget to stir.





6. After you add the blended liquid add four more cups of water.



7. Let it sit while cooking in low heat until all the water is absorbed. It should turn a fire red color once it is done.

And your done!!!

Yummy Mexican Rice!!! Thank you mom for another awesome recipe!!  

Don't forget if you have any questions about making the rice you can comment, facebook me, or even twitter me!!! :)

That's all for today until next time.



Alondra

My Dream Kitchen

So as you know we have been working on our house a lot.  Our kitchen has actually been a work in progress since we moved in two years ago but today I’d like to share with you what I would really love to have in my kitchen with the help of Pinterest of course!

First thing I LOVE coffee, I don’t know how I came to love it but just the smell and the fact that it exists makes my mornings. Coffee + me = LOVE so I of course am putting a coffee bar in my kitchen this is my inspiration and I would love to have something close to this.

My second must have is an apron sink, I just love love love these sinks, I love the vintage look so I told my husband something I would love to do to the house is put in wood flooring.

My third must have is a double oven, I don’t know why I have always had a fascination with double ovens but I feel that if I get one then I will be baking all the time and I love baking!

Well those are my must have in the kitchen thought I’d post about this because its a work in progress and I can dream right, I do want to make it happen especially the coffee bar.  Well until next time!

 

Alondra 

Sleep Over & My First Tutorial

Today I came over to my mom’s house to spend the night because Hubby went on a Mini Vacy with his family to Las Vegas.  Unfortunately I work on Monday and its state testing week at work.  Here in Arizona they call it AIMS.  Any who I wanted to do my first tutorial today and its a recipe with LOTS of pictures. Its called Ensalada de Chicarron which is Chicarron Salad in English it is a Mexican Recipe so if you want some real AUTHENTIC Mexican food here it is my family is originally from Mexico City we moved here in 1993 so most of the recipes I’ll share will be Mexican.

 

Ingridents

Chicarron (Fried Pork Rinds) about half a pound you can get these at a Hispanic grocery store in Arizona we have Food City, Ranch Market, and the local Carnicerias I have not seen these at Fry's, Wal-Mart or any regular chain grocery stores.

Nopales (Prickly Pear) They do sell these in local Grocery stores sometimes they are peeled but most of the time they are not so it is very important that you need to peel these before you cook and eat

Half an Onion

4 Garlic cloves

3 whole Tomatoes

1 bunch of Cilantro

2 avocados

3 to 4 Serrano Chiles depending on how spicy they are or how you would like your dish to be spicy wise

Salt

Olive Oil

 

1. Crush the Chicarron (Fried Pork Rinds)

2. Peel the Nopales (Prickly Pear)

Remember its really important to peel the whole prickly pear it needs to look like this below

3. Dice and rinse the nopales

4. Boil the nopales with a quarter onion, 4 garlic cloves, and 1 table spoon of salt for about 30 min after boiling is done rinse the nopales through cold water.

5. Dice the tomatoes, the left over onion, 2 avocados, 2 – 3 Serrano Chiles, and the cilantro

6. Add the rinsed off nopales and mix 1 teaspoon of olive oil, a dash of salt, squeeze the whole lemon and chicarron and mix.

Ready enjoy by itself or with tortillas as tacos!!!!

 

 

Thank you for joining me with my first tutorial with the help of my mom of course! Thanks mom!!!!

 

See you soon!!!

 

Alondra

                                                                      

 

           

My Personal Food Challenge

So today I started my food challenge, in my food challenge I am challenging myself to make food at home everyday as many days as I can.  When you work full time and leave the house at 6 am and come home at 4:30pm the last thing that you want to do is make food, I’m not saying that this is an excuse but I get home and the last thing I want to do is make food.  So I’m challenging myself to make dinner everyday for the next two weeks, also make lunch for work.  This will be one of my toughest challenges yet.  Today I made salmon with steam veggies and mash potatoes (already off to a great start!).  It took me a total of 45 minutes to make dinner.  While I was making dinner I watched Modern family and fed my daughter.  So wish me luck for the next two weeks in hopes that I will be able to make food at home.

Alondra

Mexican Food & Grab Button

So first I’d like to talk about what I had for dinner, now I’m from Mexico City and finding real authentic Mexico City food is hard but I have found a place that is really good.  When I say really good it’s really good, now you ask what is the difference between Mexico CIty food and other Mexican food.  Well like here in the United States each state has their own plates so does Mexico.  Like when we first came to the United States we learned about the burrito here, now that was 20 years ago so I’m sure that it’s not like that anymore an burritos are known in Mexico City more. Anyway finding some good Mexican food is hard but this place is the Bomb!  Its called La Tortotota and I swear I could eat there everyday.  I always have the Machete which is like a quesadilla only better!!  Now on to my grab button I made my first one but I don’t know if I did it right hopefully I did lol it took me a long time.  So check it out!

Alondra

Crazy Arizona Weather

I swear AZ is crazy with its weather, my husband has been stressed out so much today because of it.  We have high winds of 50 mph which in the morning he was afraid that the block fence would fall over, thankfully it didn’t and it just began raining.  To top things off we’re draining our pool today with the rain ironic isn’t it. There is so much work to do for the house I’m really starting to feel it in my pocket I feel like I can’t spend any money at all and payday can’t come any sooner. It will all be worth it in the end, with the block fence up I can start with my garden if it’s not too hot I’ll probably start with something easy because I’ve never done it before.  Then our garage is almost done so I can start making my workshop for my upholstery/sewing projects I got this really cool idea from Grosgrain regarding a table that folds over from the wall from Ikea, I don’t plan to buy the table but instead make a slightly bigger one with the help of my dad.  You’ll see me mentioning my dad because he is skillful in almost ANYTHING I swear I think I’ll dedicate a post to him and all his skills.  Anyway so hopefully all these things will get done soon and I can start my endless lists of projects.

                     

Alondra

What a day…

I’ll admit it was a long day but well worth it! Look at how my blog looks now I’m excited it so cute! It took a lot mind work what looks good? what looks bad? what needs to move? what needs to stay.?  I just kept on questioning my self but finally I got it how I really want it.  I got my background from Shabby Blogs I love their backgrounds they are so cute plus they’re free!  I still need to create the buttons that go on the side but that’s still a work in progress.  The first thing I did when I got on my computer was finished my homework today was the last day of my critical thinking class, and tomorrow I start a English 105.  School has been going really fast and for that I’m really excited!  I can’t wait to get my degree and become a high school history teacher ( hopefully) Then after I did that I began to work on my blog I signed up for different social networks (twitter and instagram) I read that I need to be very proactive so that’s exactly what I’m doing.  I redid my header and put a new description, while this blog is still about my many adventures with my tiny family I needed a description that makes sense lol.  And I did this all outside because today my husband his dad and few other family members came to put up the block fence.  I’ve been out here since 10 am! Thank goodness that it is really nice outside, its one of the last days that it will be like this in Arizona.  But as you can see its almost there.  I'm excited because that means almost starting the project of my garden I know it’s a little late in the year but I’m going to be making a shade over it because of the Arizona sun and its going to be a lifted garden so the project itself will be long.  Well until next time.

                                    

                           Here they are working on the block fence…almost there!

                           On another note here is Goose our furry family member!!!!

                                    

 

Alondra

Work in progress.

So today I have been trying to set up my blog trying different backgrounds, putting a new header its a lot of work.  I'm still learning new things and reading a lot of information but I have decided to really have a go at this and invest time into my blog.  I used to just make one and I'd forget about it but now I really want to try and invest time and make it really good.  I'm really into the Shabby Chic look because I really like that style so I'm trying to create stuff with that, unfortunately I don't have photoshop on my computer but hopefully I will soon.  On another note I decided to take a break and go get myself a boba. So delicious!  I get is from this place Bomboba it recently opened literally 2 minutes away from our house.  The sign came up when I was pregnant and I was hoping to get some during my pregnancy but no such luck.  Well its hear now and I tell you I get it all the time, that's how much I love it. LOL

 

 

 

 

Alondra