Mexican Flan

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Oooh weee its hot outside.

If you live in Texas, you know this summer is going to be killer.  With the hot summer days sometimes, you need a cool yummy snack. Who has heard of flan? It’s not custard, it is not jello but maybe a combination of both?  All I know is that it is heavenly and once you make it you will fall in love with the flavors.

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I know there are many recipes on how to make it from scratch but if you don’t have time for all of that then just do it my favorite way; using an instant flan. I love using Jell-O brand Flan, in my opinion this is the best as it will not be too sweet but just right.

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I used 4 packs of flan as I was making a large portion to share with my family. For each package you need 2 cups of milk, I personally use whole milk as I feel like it makes the flan taste richer. Place the milk in a pan and bring to a boil.  Once the milk is starting to boil, turn the stove off and stir in the packages of flan, the milk will turn a soft yellow.

Now in your container glass container (you can use any container that holds hot liquids) squeeze all 4 small packages of caramel. Then add the hot milk that is now yellow into the glass container. I would suggest you waiting for the milk to cool off for a bit before placing in the fridge. Let it sit in the fridge for at least two hours, then you’re ready to dig in.

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I promise this will be your go-to dessert.

P.S. you can also do individual glass containers if you want to get fancy and impress any guests you might have.

Tuna patty Burgers

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Have you had one of those days that you truly don’t feel like cooking? Or maybe you have been running around all day at work and are just tired, and the last thing you’re thinking about is making dinner. Basically it comes down to the simple fact that life is busy. Sometimes we all just need a quick, easy, inexpensive, delicious recipe.

I thought I would share with you a quick, flavorful tuna patty recipe that will make you not feel guilty for having a “burger” with these patties. We had them last night and my husband loved them. Don’t be frightened by the sound of a tuna patty burger, yes it will not taste like beef but with all the flavors your taste buds will be so confused but happy and it won’t be very fishy at all!!!

For this recipe, you will need the following ingredients:

  • 2 cans of tuna in water (I used Albacore white tuna from krogers)
  • 1 large egg
  • 1/3 cup of Panko seasoned bread crumbs
  • 1 tablespoon of mayo
  • Lemon juice (half of a large lemon)
  • 1 serrano pepper, finely chopped
  • 1 small onion, finely chopped
  • 1 tomato, chopped
  • Cilantro, chopped (about 2-3 stems)
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon of black pepper
  • ½ teaspoon of powder garlic

Now for the fun part….

  1. Open the can of tuna and drain the water out, then place the tuna in a bowl. In this same bowl you will add the chopped onion, tomato, cilantro, and pepper and set aside.

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  1. In another mixing bowl whisk together the mayo, salt, pepper, garlic, black pepper, lemon juice and eggs.
  2. Now combine both bowls into one, and with a fork mix all the ingredients together until they hold together.
  1. Once the mixture is all mixed it’s time to make the patties! I went ahead and used the top of the breadcrumb container to get a perfect circle. Place the tuna mix into the lid and start compressing the mixture together, once you are satisfied with the thickness of the patty remove from the lid and place them aside.

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  1. In a large nonstick pan, add some olive oil as you will cook each patty for about three minutes on each side until golden brown and semi crispy on the outside. You might need to add more oil in between batches of patties to make sure they all cook.

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With the two cans of tuna I was able to make 5 tuna patties! I went ahead and added some swiss cheese on top of my patties and let it melt to resemble a cheeseburger. The outcome was fabulous! Let me know once you tried this how they came out and if you enjoyed them as much as we did.

May Boxycharm

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It’s that time of the month again… Boxycharm time!!

I feel like I just got my box last month and then a new one comes. For those that don’t know or have never used Boxycharm, you are in for a treat! Boxycharm is a monthly beauty subscription box that is delivered right to your home. It is like if you were receiving a birthday gift  every single month, and who doesn’t like to receive gifts? Every month you receive a little black box that carries 4-5 full size beauty items. Boxycharm charges $21.00 USD every first of the month but the total of the items equal more than $100.00 USD so it’s totally worth it.

Here is the only catch, you don’t know what exactly you are going to get until the beginning of the month. But trust me I have never received a box that was not amazing. They include high-end brands so you can slowly build your makeup collection without breaking the bank. Let me share what came in the box of May.

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#1: Pur- Sculptor Palette               MSRP- $30.00 USD

It’s a four-shade sculpting palette that features two high-beam highlighters and two matte contour shades that will leave skin sculpted to perfection. It is highly pigmented in a buttery formula.

#2: CoverFx- Blurring primer        MSRP: $38.00 USD

A lightweight, soft focus primer that blurs the appearance of pores, fine lines, and other imperfections creating a smooth canvas for flawless foundation application.

#3: Pretty Vulgar- The Ink Gel Eyeliner     MSRP: $24.00 USD

This highly pigmented gel eyeliner provides a quick-drying application with enriched vitamin C to condition the lids. Its creamy and water-resistant formula allows for smooth application that stays in place all day. If you live in a hot weather area, you need this in your life.

#4: Aesthetica- 3 piece eye trio  MSRP: $45.00USD

The Aesthetica Trio series comes with an angled eyeliner brush, a brow spoolie, and a fined tipped eyeliner brush.

#5:Asthetica- P12 Face Brush       MSRP: $27.00 USD

With synthetic fibers that allow for maximum control, the P12 dace brush is super soft, and perfect for creating a seamless look.

#6: Beauty Creations- Liquid Lip Gloss     MSRP: $10.00 USD

It is a matte liquid lip gloss that is specially formulated to provide full coverage that dries to a seamless, smooth and matte finish.

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Total of all five items: $174.00 USD and you get it all for just $21.00 USD!! If you are interested in getting Boxycharm, here is the link: Boxycharm

DIY Flower arrangement

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This weekend, I found myself putting away my spring décor and thought I would share an inexpensive silk flower arrangement with you all. The total for this arrangement is about $5.00 USD, who doesn’t love the sound of that?

First and only stop, Dollar Tree. Yes, the Dollar Tree. Usually during springtime, they will be fully stocked with beautiful silk flowers. Pick up about 2-3 six steam silk flower bushes, one bag of white sand, and a crystal cube or cylinder (whatever look you are going for). Next, you will need to cut out the flower stems from the bushes. Once you have your flower stems ready, pour the sand into your vase and start putting in the flowers until you are satisfied with how it looks.  It’s really that simple.

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I found something very similar to this in Wayfair for $37.99 USD!! Yea, I will not be paying that when I can do something very similar for pennies.

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What do you guy think, would you buy it or make it?

BareMinerals BarePro

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Who’s ready for the hot Houston Summer? Sometimes I feel like my makeup melts off by midday with all the humidity. Then I found this little gem, the bareMinreals BarePro 16 Hour Full coverage concealer; it is a crease proof, waterproof and humidity resistant formula that lasts all day.

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If you live in a place where it’s hot and humid and If you haven’t tried it, give it a shot and let me know what you think.

Boxycharm- April 2018

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Are you subscribed to Boxycharm? If you are not, you might want to try them out.

Boxycharm is a monthly beauty subscription box that gets delivered right to your door. It’s like if you were receiving a birthday gift every single month, and who doesn’t like to receive gifts? Every month you receive a little black box that carries 4-5 full size beauty items. Boxycharm charges $21.00 USD every first of the month but the total of the items equal more than $100.00 USD so it’s totally worth it.

Here is the only catch, you don’t know what exactly you are going to get until the beginning of the month. But trust me I have never received a box that was not amazing. They include high-end brands so you can slowly build your makeup collection without breaking the bank.

Let me share what came in the box of April.

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#1: Tarte- Tartiest Pro Glow Liquid Highlighter                                         MSRP- $29.00 USD
It’s a creamy highlighter that builds from sheer to intense. Ultra concentrated pigments & pearls are suspended in the hybrid gel-cream, oil free formula that can be mixed with your liquid foundation or wear alone for naturally lit luminosity.

#2: Colourpop- Golden State of Mind Eyeshadow Palette                        MSRP: $26.00 USD
Highly pigmented shadow that applies evenly and feels ultra-velvety and silky.

#3: Dr. Brandt- Pores No More Vacuum Cleaner                                        MSRP: $47.00 USD
This award winning pore refining mask is an extraction specialist. Unclogging and tightening the look of pores and reducing excess oil from the skin’s surface.

#4: The Browgal- Instatint Tinted Eyebrow Gel                                         MSRP: $22.00 USD
Tinted eyebrow gel with microfibers to achieve a natural hair look. Perfect for those who want a quick but natural fill of the brows.

#5:Adesse- Hi Definition Liquid Lipstick                                                     MSRP: $24.00 USD
Creamy, luxurious, long wearing liquid lipstick. Provides the dazzling , full coverage of a lipstick with the ease of a wand applicator.

Total of all five items: $148.00 USD and you get it all for just $21.00 USD!!

If you are interested in getting Boxycharm, here is the link: https://www.boxycharm.com/refer/INGRI-EWMHZLOL

Mexico Lindo

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We traveled to Mexico last week for a short family vacation. Thought I would share with you all our experience.

My favorite part was the Trajineras de Xochimilco, it’s a gondola-like contraption that takes you down the canals of Mexico City. The Trajineras are truly amazing; they are colorful and can fit up to 20 people. Most trajineras will charge per hour not per person, which is the best way. For our two-hour tour they charges us $1,000 pesos ($53.09 USD). Once you are on the tajineras the conductor will take it around the canals where you will find food, mariachis, and souvenirs all without leaving the little boat. If you’ve been to Mexico but haven’t visit Xochimilco, you should stop by next time.

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Next stop, Agua Hedionda in Cuautla, Morelos. Agua Hedionda is a mineral spring water spa; the waters originate from the melting snow of the Popocatepelt and Ixtaccihualt volcanoes. The spring surpasses about 200 gallons per second filling 2 large swimming pools (120 x 60 ft) and 8 small pools that can be rented for private use. For general admission to the large pools, the cost for adults is $50 pesos ($2.65 USD).  During this trip, we rented the largest private pool that accommodates up to 15 people. I will be honest, there is a slight funky smell to the water but this is because its natural mineral water that is filled with minerals and sulfur. The private pool had its own shower and bathroom along with four changing rooms and a grill. Weather you rent a private pool or head over the bigger public ones, your skin will thank you later.

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Lastly, let’s talk about Mexico City. There are some that might be scared of traveling around Mexico City but honestly, I don’t know why. Mexico City is not bad if you ask me. If you are trying to get around Mexico City I suggest you park your car and travel by the underground metro. If you have been to New York City or Paris and can get around the metro there, then you won’t have a problem in Mexico City either. Now if you have never been to the underground metro in neither of those places, do not panic. As long as you can read a map then you can download the metro map on your phone as a pdf and get around. You should visit the Zocalo, Garibaldi, El Palacio de Bellas Artes, Bosque de Chapultepec, and the Frida Kahlo Musuem. I  will warn you, if you are planning on visiting all these places it will take a whole full day and you will be doing tons and tons of waking so take comfy shoes.

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Overall, it was a fun mini vacation, even my Teddy Bear (my dog) went on this adventure. I’ll be posting about internationally traveling with your pet in a future blog.

A different type of Yoga

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Has anyone ever gone to yoga class and felt as if you didn’t fit in? Or maybe you were not as fit as the rest of the class and felt uncomfortable? If you said yes to one of those questions then maybe you should try Trap Yoga.

This past weekend I went to my first Trap Yoga class and it was an interesting experience. I can’t say that I loved it, but I didn’t totally hate it either, it’s just different. First difference I noticed as I walked into the studio: most of the women were of all sizes and curvy and the majority African American. Second: The room was darkened and there were lights like if we were at a club ready to dance the night away. Finally: There was a DJ that played loud booty-poppin music and lots of twerking. Yes, twerking in a yoga class. You still do the regular yoga moves but with a twist. Picture you doing a downward dog pose and then adding twerking to that while the DJ is blasting music. It was fun, especially if you go with friends and I will say that you don’t feel singled out for not being the most fit or if you are not doing the poses right. Only thing that I would probably change is that the instructor talked so much that half of the time we did not know what she was saying. When we did, she sounded more as if she was giving an inspirational speech to the class on “how you should let go of all the negativity,  and for all the guys that did you wrong, for all the people that walked all over you” that kind of speech. I think if the inspirational pep talk would have not been part of the class, I would have liked it more because the music was on point.

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Overall, it was fun and an interesting experience. Maybe I’ll try hot yoga next.

Texas Safari

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Do you want to go to a Safari without leaving Texas? This past weekend my husband and I took off on a small adventure to Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch. It is an African Safari, Texas Style. Just on the outskirts of San Antonio you will find over 450-acres of natural, scenic, protected environment where animal roam around and come to your car so you can feed them. You pay $22.00 per adult and $13.50 per child and are given one baggie of food for the animals; you can buy extra baggies of food for $2.50 (We bought two because I wanted to make sure I could feed as many animals I could).

As you enter the gates, there are animals all around. The animals are used to vehicles so they are not startled but you do have to go no more than 5 mph.   There is Deer, Texas Longhorns, Rhinos, Lemurs, Zebras, Camels, Kangaroos, Giraffes, and Ostriches. Most of them will come to your window to be fed, it it’s really amazing. If you are bold enough you can even feed them from your hand. I tried this but realized I was semi screaming when the animals would get close. If you have kids this is somewhere you should visit, and if you don’t have kids then you should still come because its all-around fun.

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Something I should mention is that dogs are not allowed in the park; they might bark and scare the animals so leave them at home. Also, once you circle around you can go into the park to feed the animals again, there is not a restriction on how many times you can go. If you are interested here is their link: www.wildliferanchtexas.com

 

Side note, if you do happen to visit the ranch, I would suggest you stop by at Sal-o-Mon’s (18780 N Interstate 35 Frontage Rd, Schertz, TX 78154)  for a bite to eat before getting to the ranch. The food is amazing! It is a small family owned business, from the outside it can look a bit odd and you might be skeptical of stopping to eat, but don’t be. The menu does not have that many choices but whatever you get you will not be disappointed. My husband ordered the chilaquiles rojos and they were bomdiggity. They tortilla strips were crispy and spicy, you could taste all the flavors in each bite. I ordered jamon con huevo (ham and eggs) and they were well seasoned. Did I forget to mention that the tortillas are all handmade!!! We ordered some tacos al pastor and asada and the pastor ones are delicious. Go try them, you won’t regret it.

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New Orleans’ Hidden Gem

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I was in New Orleans for work this week, and for those that have not been there I thought I would share my opinion on this city. I have to be honest; I don’t love Louisiana. I never visited before Hurricane Katrina so I don’t know how it was before the destruction. However, most of New Orleans to me seems to be dirty and old. There is however, the usual tourist attractions such as the French Quarters filled with music and creole food but truthfully, it’s not all that and a bag of chips. Everything is highly overpriced and crowded. Unless you’re heading there to party and drink or for Mardi Gras, then I would say to save your pennies for another place.

Ok, back to my story. During my visit this week, I was dreading having to kill time before heading back to the airport until I found a little hidden gem. If you drive down Harrison Ave you will find City Park, it is their equivalent to Central Park in New York. It is a 1,300-acre park filled with things to do. As soon as you enter the park, you forget that you are in Louisiana. The park itself is well maintained with many trees and flowers. There are plenty of people walking, biking, taking a sunbath, and even fishing in the ponds. They have a botanical garden (general admission is 8 dollars per adult but are free on Wednesday if you are a Louisiana resident). They also have a sculpture garden that is free to the public. I didn’t have time to explore the whole park but apparently, there is a carousel garden amusement park, tennis courts among other things. If you are ever in the area, stop by and check it out.

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