How is it Friday again? This week has been quite the doozy, but it’s also been plenty great. After Meltdown City on Monday (if you haven’t watched the video of Charlotte’s whine-fest on live TV, you should when you get a chance), this week has kind of flown by. I’m finding that every week with a toddler flies by in a flash. We stay plenty busy, and life is never dull with my crazy girl. Here’s what I’ve got for you today.
ONE.
Laughing about…
this. Good lawd! I just shared this yesterday on Instagram and Facebook, but this needed documenting on the blog, too. I knew it was bound to happen one day, and yesterday was the day: the day Charlotte drew all over herself with permanent marker. Thank all that is good and right in the world for her not drawing on my walls or furniture.
There I was minding my own business trying to pay a bill online while she played behind me (an error in judgement, clearly), and when I turned around, lo and behold, my child was beaming with red marker all over her mouth, nose, hands, feet, and even her belly button. It was one of those moments where you want to get mad, but you just can’t. She was laughing her head off, and I was, too. I tried to reprimand her and tell her how we do NOT draw on things other than paper, especially when it’s a permanent marker, but that went in one ear and out the other. As a PSA, good ol’ baby wipes took out the marker stains on her face, and it even lifted the marks from my tile. For the love. Like I said, never a dull moment.
TWO.
Reading…
Carry On, Warrior by Glennon Doyle Melton. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I love Momastery. And I pretty much love everything G writes. If you’re not following her blog, her Facebook posts, or have read her book, you’re really missing out. She’s one of those people who just makes you want to do life better. Not because she’s perfect, she’s far from it, but she tries every day to be better. It radiates from her soul. And this book, although I’ve just started (I’ve had it since Christmas…that’s how fast I read books these days), I can tell it’s going to be a life changer. It’s that good. It’s not new by any means, but it’s new to my brain, so I thought I’d share the love to any of you who haven’t heard of it before.
THREE.
Thinking about…
my life-before-child travels. I’ve been pretty fortunate to have traveled to some bucket list places. However, majority of the trips were prior to Charlotte. Lately, I’ve been going through old photographs of our trips, and I’ve been thinking of turning it into a series here on the blog. I might kick it off with how I traveled with just a carry-on to Europe. I even managed to do that in the winter! What got me all nostalgic was finding a list I made of every single thing we did when we took a European vacation three years ago. I knew I wrote all of that down for a reason. ;) Would you be interested in seeing some of the world through my eyes? I’ve got Chile, Barcelona, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Amsterdam, Maui & Kauai to cover. Any takers?
FOUR.
Making…
easy dinners. We have been totally lax in our diets as of late, and Tex-Mex has been on repeat. Chalupas (or tostadas) is one of my favorite meals, and you could even make this as a meat-less version. It blows my mind that some of you probably haven’t even heard of chalupas, but let me tell you, if this is new to you, it’s a must make! I posted this picture on Instagram this week, and a couple of you asked for the recipe. It’s embarrassingly easy, but I’m sharing my exact, step-by-step instructions to get what you see in the picture. I even made it into a printable recipe, and the printout can be found here.
What you need for the chalupas:
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tostada shells (I use Ortega)
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refried beans (I use Rosarita)
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Mexican shredded cheese
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avocado/guacamole
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lettuce (shredded)
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tomato (diced)
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cilantro (chopped, optional)
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onion (diced, optional)
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Julio’s salsa
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2 Tbsp homemade taco seasoning
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1 lb. ground meat
This meal is a family favorite and super simple! What you’ll need to do first is make the homemade taco seasoning. I have this pre-made and double this recipe to have it on hand at all times. When I get low on supply, I make it again. I store it in an old baby food jar.
Homemade Taco Seasoning
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1 Tbsp Chili Powder
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1/4 tsp garlic powder
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1/4 tsp onion powder
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1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (use more or less depending on how much heat you like)
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1/4 tsp dried oregano
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1/2 tsp paprika
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1 1/2 tsp ground cumin
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1 tsp sea salt
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1 tsp black pepper
Mix all ingredients together and store in air-tight container.
Chalupas
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Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
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On a baking sheet, lay out tostada shells and spread refried beans on each. Top with shredded cheese.
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Bake prepared tostada shells for 15 minutes or until cheese is melted.
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While tostada shells are baking, brown ground meat. Drain fat. Add 2 tablespoons of taco seasoning with a ¼ cup of water and let simmer for about five minutes. Set meat aside.
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Top each chalupa with taco meat and toppings of your choice. Enjoy!
FIVE.
Excited about…
Tidbits Houston’s It Girls of Instagram Party. This coming Wednesday, I’m going to a party at Neiman Marcus in the Galleria honoring all of these fabulous women in Houston. If you’re a local girl, you should definitely go! I’ll be supporting my fancy friend Megan from @willowcrowns. I’m so excited for her, and if you’re not local and can’t go, you can still vote for her here. Now what to wear?
That’s all I’ve got today, sweet friends. I hope you all have the best weekend. It should be a beautiful one here, and it’s a tease for spring, I’m sure. Nevertheless, I’ll take it! Radiate sunshine wherever you are. We’ll talk soon.
P.S. Thanks so much for your sweet words on the blogiversary. You all are the best!
Are we friends? I hope you’ll join me here:
You can see where I’m linking up on this page.
You always share the most delicious recipes! I truly love your honesty and openness about Charlottes meltdown at the morning show and this! It makes me smile and say- whew so glad I’m not the only one! Toddlers are crazy! My brother recently visited and joked that they go so quickly from happy to downright mad! I hope you have a great day!
Glad you like them, Keri! They are so easy and on a regular rotation in our menu.
And thanks so much for the compliment. Toddlers are crazy little beings, but dang, they’re cute. I really had such a hard time being mad at her when drew on herself. It was just one of those moments where she knew I thought it was funny. Lol. And yes, Monday definitely didn’t turn out how I wanted, but such is life with a toddler. What can you do?
Hope you have a great weekend!
You had me at chalupas! I always love seeing travel posts. We haven’t traveled much outside of baseball but what I have learned is when I have some tips from others on how they planned or things they did and I put together an itinerary ahead of time it is so much more fun. Hmmm….I’m going to be in Sugar Land Wednesday morning…not sure I can drag my mamaw to Nordstrom but that is sure tempting!! What Fun!
Lol, thanks, Shelly! I think I’m going to start putting some together. Even though some of the vacations were years ago, I still think it would be helpful to some. :) Hope you have a great weekend!
You always share the most delicious recipes! I truly love your honesty and openness about Charlottes meltdown at the morning show and this! It makes me smile and say- whew so glad I'm not the only one! Toddlers are crazy! My brother recently visited and joked that they go so quickly from happy to downright mad! I hope you have a great day!
LOL at the permanent marker story!!! And amazing that baby wipes took care of it. Definitely good to know for the future! Abigail has never tried anything that like but I can guarantee you there is no escaping it with the Mabes when she gets bigger. I can just sense it haha!
Haha, Courtney! It was hilarious, but sheesh, I hope she doesn’t do that again. It was just a wild guess that the wipes would get it out, but it worked! These babies. :) Hope you’re feeling well and wonderful with that growing bambino! And thanks so much for following the blog on FB and GFC now. :) You’re the best!
That marker story is one for the books! So glad it came off easily!
Yes, it kills me, Liz! So silly. I am so THANKFUL she did not color on the couch. I would have cried, and this would have been a totally different blog post. Lol. The life with a toddler!
You had me at chalupas! I always love seeing travel posts. We haven't traveled much outside of baseball but what I have learned is when I have some tips from others on how they planned or things they did and I put together an itinerary ahead of time it is so much more fun. Hmmm….I'm going to be in Sugar Land Wednesday morning…not sure I can drag my mamaw to Nordstrom but that is sure tempting!! What Fun!
LOL at the permanent marker story!!! And amazing that baby wipes took care of it. Definitely good to know for the future! Abigail has never tried anything that like but I can guarantee you there is no escaping it with the Mabes when she gets bigger. I can just sense it haha!
That marker story is one for the books! So glad it came off easily!
Glad you like them, Keri! They are so easy and on a regular rotation in our menu.
And thanks so much for the compliment. Toddlers are crazy little beings, but dang, they're cute. I really had such a hard time being mad at her when drew on herself. It was just one of those moments where she knew I thought it was funny. Lol. And yes, Monday definitely didn't turn out how I wanted, but such is life with a toddler. What can you do?
Hope you have a great weekend!
Lol, thanks, Shelly! I think I'm going to start putting some together. Even though some of the vacations were years ago, I still think it would be helpful to some. :) Hope you have a great weekend!
Haha, Courtney! It was hilarious, but sheesh, I hope she doesn't do that again. It was just a wild guess that the wipes would get it out, but it worked! These babies. :) Hope you're feeling well and wonderful with that growing bambino! And thanks so much for following the blog on FB and GFC now. :) You're the best!
Yes, it kills me, Liz! So silly. I am so THANKFUL she did not color on the couch. I would have cried, and this would have been a totally different blog post. Lol. The life with a toddler!
Oh my goodness that red marker! We’ve had a few marker meets wall experiences here and magic marker worked wonders — although you can’t use it on the actual child. So glad it came off easy! Mmm and I’ve gotta try your chalupas!
Yep, it was pretty hilarious. However, now I keep finding marker spots that I missed! Lol. Like on my dark kitchen table. Silly girl. I’ll need to pick up a magic marker eraser the next time I go to Target. :) I hope you like the chalupas! They’re definitely a favorite around here.
Oh my goodness that red marker! We've had a few marker meets wall experiences here and magic marker worked wonders — although you can't use it on the actual child. So glad it came off easy! Mmm and I've gotta try your chalupas!
Yep, it was pretty hilarious. However, now I keep finding marker spots that I missed! Lol. Like on my dark kitchen table. Silly girl. I'll need to pick up a magic marker eraser the next time I go to Target. :) I hope you like the chalupas! They're definitely a favorite around here.
The permanent marker incident is too funny. I am learning with my 9 month old that he can move so fast and can get into what he is not suppose to get into in a split second! I was forunate to travel overseas a couple of times too before I got married. I visited a few of the European countries you did and wrote a journal about it as well. It would be fun to see and hear about those places from your perspective.
Yes, it was hilarious! But now I’m still finding red marker marks. Lol. It’s amazing how quickly they can get into things, that is for sure! I hope to write about the travels soon. It’ll be fun to walk down memory lane. ;) Hope you’re having a great week, Emily!
Hahahaha I just can’t even with that photo of Charlotte. I am OBSESSED with Momastery, so I don’t know why I haven’t read her book yet. She makes my soul feel good. And how dare you with those chalupas!!!!!!!!!! Omg I want like 20 in my mouth right now!!
Haha! Yes, you know how we roll around here. That’s what I get for getting distracted by my computer. And we should go meet G at one of her speaking events. That would be awesome! Hahaha about the chalupas. I ate 3, and that was enough for the month. I’ve been eating really badly lately, and it’s starting to show! I need to pull up my Paleo recipe posts! Lol.
The permanent marker incident is too funny. I am learning with my 9 month old that he can move so fast and can get into what he is not suppose to get into in a split second! I was forunate to travel overseas a couple of times too before I got married. I visited a few of the European countries you did and wrote a journal about it as well. It would be fun to see and hear about those places from your perspective.
Hahahaha I just can't even with that photo of Charlotte. I am OBSESSED with Momastery, so I don't know why I haven't read her book yet. She makes my soul feel good. And how dare you with those chalupas!!!!!!!!!! Omg I want like 20 in my mouth right now!!
Yes, it was hilarious! But now I'm still finding red marker marks. Lol. It's amazing how quickly they can get into things, that is for sure! I hope to write about the travels soon. It'll be fun to walk down memory lane. ;) Hope you're having a great week, Emily!
Haha! Yes, you know how we roll around here. That's what I get for getting distracted by my computer. And we should go meet G at one of her speaking events. That would be awesome! Hahaha about the chalupas. I ate 3, and that was enough for the month. I've been eating really badly lately, and it's starting to show! I need to pull up my Paleo recipe posts! Lol.
Those chalupas look amazing! I’d love if you linked up with a new party I am hosting (Idea Box). It goes live tomorrow! Check it out if you have a chance. Here was last weeks: http://sundaesandspaghetti.blogspot.com/2015/03/idea-box-linkup-1.html
Thanks, Danielle! They’re definitely a favorite!
Those chalupas look amazing! I'd love if you linked up with a new party I am hosting (Idea Box). It goes live tomorrow! Check it out if you have a chance. Here was last weeks: http://sundaesandspaghetti.blogspot.com/2015/03/idea-box-linkup-1.html
I’m totally remembering the baby wipes, because I know the Sharpie day is coming for us. I hope you had a wonderful time at the IG party!!!
Thanks for linking up with us!
Tif
http://www.brightonabudget.com
Thanks, Tif! So sorry for the late reply! I’ve been missing comments left and right these days. Hope you’re having a great week!
Thanks, Danielle! They're definitely a favorite!
I'm totally remembering the baby wipes, because I know the Sharpie day is coming for us. I hope you had a wonderful time at the IG party!!!
Thanks for linking up with us!
Tif
http://www.brightonabudget.com
Thanks, Tif! So sorry for the late reply! I've been missing comments left and right these days. Hope you're having a great week!