https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004HGAMD8?tag=aboutcom02thespruce-20&linkCode=ogi&th=1&psc=1&ascsubtag=4155734%7Cn3fbdfc813211485dad8724d40859152000
I absolutely think this is the most Floridian, Eco-conscience best thing to get for your "she-shed." It really reminds me of my Target rug. I absolutely love that it’s made of recyclable materials and I’ll save this email away for when I want another outdoor rug because it goes perfectly with my theme.
Sunday, May 10, 2020
Causebox
I get this subscription box called CAUSEBOX and it’s full of recyclable/artisan/ local/reusable sourced things. I love it so much. The latest box was such a great haul! I got a vegan leather bag/ the interior made of 100% recycled plastic bottles from pixie mood. A recyclable reusable Bento box for daily lunches. A handmade bandana/scarf. Fine cosmetics lash serum and mascara.
Reusable produce & grocery bags. A seaweed and blue tansy collagen restorative eye cream. A calming lavender mist for bedtime and laundry. The box is $50 and ships four times a year or as frequent as you want.
Sunday, February 16, 2020
Good Eats in El Paso
El Paso isn’t the city that comes to most anybody’s mind when thinking of good eats, but I’ve got a list of some really good eating you can do in the border city. Wether its casual fine dining, good ole’ Mexican, or pastries on the brain you can find it on my list.
1. At the Corner Bakery you can order online for pickup, have it delivered, or get catering. If you join the rewards club you earn a free desert which is pretty fantastic considering the Mini Bundt is the #1 reason to go there. The restaurant has a cute atmosphere much like Panera Bread you order up front and your goods are brought out to your table. The sandwiches, soups, and salads are delish but the deserts are truly the reason to make the trip over to Montana Ave and Edgemere.
2. Crave at the Fountains will truly leaving craving more. It is one of my top three eats in El Paso. Everything on the menu is delish, but beware they mean business with the spice. The Monte Cristo will blow your mind: ham, turkey, and Swiss on French toast with preserves and mustard! A couple of the classics from their menu are the Chilaquiles Verdes, Huevos Rancheros, Eggs Blackstone, and Turkey Bacon and Brie panini. Salt & Honey has better atmosphere and deserts than crave and Cornerstone Bakery. The food is good, but its more on par with Corner bakery. It just isn’t up to the level of Crave. It wants to be, but I’ve tried a few things that were good. I just wasn’t devouring it in seconds leaving a mess of sauce on the plate after mere seconds.
3. Joe Vinny Bronsons Bohemian Cafe- Right across the street from Salt + Honey i find myself going back here time and time again. The names a mouthful and so is the food. Great portion sizes for a fantastic price. You just cant go wrong with anything on the menu. Start with some 420 fries to share; slathered in mozzarella, feta, cilantro and tomatoes it can be a meal by itself. It is the best vegan/vegetarian option I have found in El Paso.
4. Savage Goods is a full service cafe with a menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as a bar but I think they should just stick to deserts. Mariah really must be a culinary sorceress because they vegan donuts at Savage Goods are literally the best thing you’ll put in your mouth all week. I am a donut connoisseur, truly its my favorite sweet treat and these donuts deserve awards. The breakfast burritos are meh, and I cant speak for anything else, but grab yourself an americano and a donut and its gonna be a good day. Get there early though because they sell out quick!
5. L & J Cafe- The best Mexican food in El Paso, and that’s saying a lot. I mean they have over 1500 reviews and 4.5 stars, need I say more? A landmark eaters, El Paso’s oldest family-run business going strong since 1927. Make a reservation or be prepared to wait, the place is always buzzing with limited parking. After you try the complementary Tostadas and salsa you’ll make sure to get some famous salsa to-go. Everything’s good, somethings are great. Try the mexican combination, flautas, and enchiladas.
6. The Queens Table is a great vegan find in an unsuspecting area. You don’t have a lot of options for plant-based food in El Paso, but that’s alright because the few places we do have are really good. The Queens table was an excellent little niche restaurant I found when my vegan sister came to visit. I can tell you honestly everything on their menu isn’t better than its counterpart, but some of them are so good you wont miss meat. The buffalo unchicken sandwich, nachos, and Portobello mushroom burger for instance will leave you full and happy at The Queens Table. We were partial to the Philly or deserts, but it looks like they have added a lot of new menu options.
7. Chuy’s Tex Mex is a yummy place to eat out on a date night. Go for the free nacho bar, stay for the margaritas. I haven’t been disappointed by the food. It’s a good place for a group, and also if your doing something at the fountains, like in two weeks when we celebrate my girlfriends Dirty-Thirty. Were going out first for dinner and drinks and then walking over to the Red Door Escape Room! 8.Kona Grill is good for Sushi. I wouldn’t recommend it for anything else, although they do have a full menu. We have friends that go there monthly for date nights. We just weren’t impressed by anything other than the fresh sushi. You can even sit at the Sushi bar for a more intimate environment. Just you, your date and the Sushi chef cutting up some sashimi.
9. Fahrenheit 101 bakery, bistro, and Korean fare.
1. At the Corner Bakery you can order online for pickup, have it delivered, or get catering. If you join the rewards club you earn a free desert which is pretty fantastic considering the Mini Bundt is the #1 reason to go there. The restaurant has a cute atmosphere much like Panera Bread you order up front and your goods are brought out to your table. The sandwiches, soups, and salads are delish but the deserts are truly the reason to make the trip over to Montana Ave and Edgemere.
2. Crave at the Fountains will truly leaving craving more. It is one of my top three eats in El Paso. Everything on the menu is delish, but beware they mean business with the spice. The Monte Cristo will blow your mind: ham, turkey, and Swiss on French toast with preserves and mustard! A couple of the classics from their menu are the Chilaquiles Verdes, Huevos Rancheros, Eggs Blackstone, and Turkey Bacon and Brie panini. Salt & Honey has better atmosphere and deserts than crave and Cornerstone Bakery. The food is good, but its more on par with Corner bakery. It just isn’t up to the level of Crave. It wants to be, but I’ve tried a few things that were good. I just wasn’t devouring it in seconds leaving a mess of sauce on the plate after mere seconds.
3. Joe Vinny Bronsons Bohemian Cafe- Right across the street from Salt + Honey i find myself going back here time and time again. The names a mouthful and so is the food. Great portion sizes for a fantastic price. You just cant go wrong with anything on the menu. Start with some 420 fries to share; slathered in mozzarella, feta, cilantro and tomatoes it can be a meal by itself. It is the best vegan/vegetarian option I have found in El Paso.
4. Savage Goods is a full service cafe with a menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner as well as a bar but I think they should just stick to deserts. Mariah really must be a culinary sorceress because they vegan donuts at Savage Goods are literally the best thing you’ll put in your mouth all week. I am a donut connoisseur, truly its my favorite sweet treat and these donuts deserve awards. The breakfast burritos are meh, and I cant speak for anything else, but grab yourself an americano and a donut and its gonna be a good day. Get there early though because they sell out quick!
5. L & J Cafe- The best Mexican food in El Paso, and that’s saying a lot. I mean they have over 1500 reviews and 4.5 stars, need I say more? A landmark eaters, El Paso’s oldest family-run business going strong since 1927. Make a reservation or be prepared to wait, the place is always buzzing with limited parking. After you try the complementary Tostadas and salsa you’ll make sure to get some famous salsa to-go. Everything’s good, somethings are great. Try the mexican combination, flautas, and enchiladas.
6. The Queens Table is a great vegan find in an unsuspecting area. You don’t have a lot of options for plant-based food in El Paso, but that’s alright because the few places we do have are really good. The Queens table was an excellent little niche restaurant I found when my vegan sister came to visit. I can tell you honestly everything on their menu isn’t better than its counterpart, but some of them are so good you wont miss meat. The buffalo unchicken sandwich, nachos, and Portobello mushroom burger for instance will leave you full and happy at The Queens Table. We were partial to the Philly or deserts, but it looks like they have added a lot of new menu options.
7. Chuy’s Tex Mex is a yummy place to eat out on a date night. Go for the free nacho bar, stay for the margaritas. I haven’t been disappointed by the food. It’s a good place for a group, and also if your doing something at the fountains, like in two weeks when we celebrate my girlfriends Dirty-Thirty. Were going out first for dinner and drinks and then walking over to the Red Door Escape Room! 8.Kona Grill is good for Sushi. I wouldn’t recommend it for anything else, although they do have a full menu. We have friends that go there monthly for date nights. We just weren’t impressed by anything other than the fresh sushi. You can even sit at the Sushi bar for a more intimate environment. Just you, your date and the Sushi chef cutting up some sashimi.
9. Fahrenheit 101 bakery, bistro, and Korean fare.
Tuesday, February 4, 2020
The big move back to America
April of 2016 we said goodbye to South Korea. We packed up our home and sent it to Florida. Thomas was "lucky" enough to receive a one year unaccompanied tour to Honduras. At the stage Jaxon was in parenting was unbelievably challenging. He would tantrum, bitting, hitting, kicking, and screaming for hours on end. The childcare center on Camp Humphreys had brought concerns to our attention about his behavior and speech, but we were blissfully prideful and just believed he was suffering from the inevitable terrible-twos.
Having no discernible home to go to in the U.S. I reviewed Air BnB's and to my dismay found the areas I wanted to live to be the maximum of our housing allowance. I wanted to be closer to my sister and mom, and was looking mainly in Tampa/St. Petersburg. After many discussions Thomas and I decided I would live in a wonderful house in Tampa for two months, maxing out our housing allowance. Then I would move into the parents condo with Kayla right down the street from the Veterans Affairs hospital and University of South Florida campus.
The rental house was definitely something to look forward too. On the Hillsborough river this huge house owner by college professors had been renovated into an upscale duplex. The main side of the house where Jaxon and I stayed was beautifully designed with Swedish influences. It was minimalistic, without even a tv. The deck stepped down to a large unground pool, and down the hill you could take out kayaks at your leisure. My mom came over every week and taught Jaxon how to swim. I LOVED this house!!
It was lonely though hoping for visitors, and having only a toddler to talk too. A toddler who didn't really talk too much. Family took note of his insane temper tantrums and lack of age appropriate language skills. I took Jaxon for an evaluation at the USF Silver Center. After his evaluation the professionals laid it out for me pretty simply. Jaxon had a servere expressive delay and a mild receptive delay. His tantrums were thought to be result of early speculated Autism. Since Jaxon was so young, under three at the time, doctors were hesitant to diagnosis him. We started doing speech too days a week, and almost every appointment he had a full tantrum refusing to get out of the car or an absolute meltdown not wanting to leave the office. It was exhausting, it was demoralizing, but it was necessary.
I put Jaxon in part-time preschool on Macdill Air Force Base to give myself a break a couple hours a day. With this extra time I began a short stint as a volunteer at the Tampa Bay Humane Society. It was like magic that a beautiful Belgian Shepherd showed up, and we gave her a forever home. Although she saved me more than I saved her. Beauty came with me to run and meditate a couple days a week. She was my loyal companion exploring the beaches of the peninsula Macdill AFB resides on. I learned she is an amazing swimmer. I think Beauty's love gave me the courage to start studying for the Law School Assessment test. After we ran shed lay down next to me, and I self-studied six months away. Working on my logical thinking and analytical reasoning. I took the LSAT December 2016, amidst the chaos of being a "single" mom.
I have my sister and my parents to thank for that. My sister is an amazing aunt. Like A-mazingly different than the average young adult. She was happier spending time with her "much" older sister and tantrum having nephew on the regular. She babysat, but more than that she played with him. She is imaginative and kind, and could just Loe herself in the joy of being with him. When I was absolutely losing my mind she would tap-me-out and step in like a sister wife, step-mom, life saver.
Having no discernible home to go to in the U.S. I reviewed Air BnB's and to my dismay found the areas I wanted to live to be the maximum of our housing allowance. I wanted to be closer to my sister and mom, and was looking mainly in Tampa/St. Petersburg. After many discussions Thomas and I decided I would live in a wonderful house in Tampa for two months, maxing out our housing allowance. Then I would move into the parents condo with Kayla right down the street from the Veterans Affairs hospital and University of South Florida campus.
The rental house was definitely something to look forward too. On the Hillsborough river this huge house owner by college professors had been renovated into an upscale duplex. The main side of the house where Jaxon and I stayed was beautifully designed with Swedish influences. It was minimalistic, without even a tv. The deck stepped down to a large unground pool, and down the hill you could take out kayaks at your leisure. My mom came over every week and taught Jaxon how to swim. I LOVED this house!!
It was lonely though hoping for visitors, and having only a toddler to talk too. A toddler who didn't really talk too much. Family took note of his insane temper tantrums and lack of age appropriate language skills. I took Jaxon for an evaluation at the USF Silver Center. After his evaluation the professionals laid it out for me pretty simply. Jaxon had a servere expressive delay and a mild receptive delay. His tantrums were thought to be result of early speculated Autism. Since Jaxon was so young, under three at the time, doctors were hesitant to diagnosis him. We started doing speech too days a week, and almost every appointment he had a full tantrum refusing to get out of the car or an absolute meltdown not wanting to leave the office. It was exhausting, it was demoralizing, but it was necessary.
I put Jaxon in part-time preschool on Macdill Air Force Base to give myself a break a couple hours a day. With this extra time I began a short stint as a volunteer at the Tampa Bay Humane Society. It was like magic that a beautiful Belgian Shepherd showed up, and we gave her a forever home. Although she saved me more than I saved her. Beauty came with me to run and meditate a couple days a week. She was my loyal companion exploring the beaches of the peninsula Macdill AFB resides on. I learned she is an amazing swimmer. I think Beauty's love gave me the courage to start studying for the Law School Assessment test. After we ran shed lay down next to me, and I self-studied six months away. Working on my logical thinking and analytical reasoning. I took the LSAT December 2016, amidst the chaos of being a "single" mom.
I have my sister and my parents to thank for that. My sister is an amazing aunt. Like A-mazingly different than the average young adult. She was happier spending time with her "much" older sister and tantrum having nephew on the regular. She babysat, but more than that she played with him. She is imaginative and kind, and could just Loe herself in the joy of being with him. When I was absolutely losing my mind she would tap-me-out and step in like a sister wife, step-mom, life saver.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)