Holiday baking will either make you smile or be your biggest challenge this Christmas. For me, the ability to bake isn't the issue. My biggest challenge is deciding WHAT to bake and WHEN to bake it. After fiddling around with a couple recipes I found a few to share with you. Don't order your annual Christmas goodies, bake them yourself and feel the victory of success! Don't forget to take a few to a friend or neighbor that may need to holiday cheer. INGREDIENTS 12 White Chocolate Continue Reading
Quick and Easy Chipotle Pasta Sauce
In my house cooking is always an infusion of various flavors. When I was a child my Guatemalan mother made everything with a kick! Tortillas were always on hand yet regular white bread was scarce. Once my mother married my New Orleans born father, other flavors were introduced to our family. Good ole' Mississippi Southern style dishes, Creole and Cajun cuisine (there is a difference in the two) and everything in the middle. I started cooking for my family at the age of 11 years old. My father Continue Reading
25 Days of Elf on the Shelf
Recently I have had a few Facebook friends ask about Elf on the Shelf ideas. I wanted to let my readers know I will be doing a 25 days of Elf on the Shelf SOON!! Prior to that, I will also be doing a Elf on the Shelf - Smoky Mountain Christmas Travel Series. I am so excited about the series and know your family will enjoy it as well. Make sure to check back and please feel free to share this sneak peek image on Pinterest and other social media sites. Your friends will enjoy adding it to Continue Reading
My Father, My Story
Today, one of my favorite men came to my rescue. I had a last minute opportunity to go to NYC for a press event. This event couldn't have come at a more perfect time. I mean literally, the stars were aligned this week! Many of you know I rely on my husband's support for my blog adventure & #BayouTravel experiences. But this time, it was a different man that came to my rescue. When I was 8 1/2 years old, my mother remarried. Being a single mother is a tough job but my mother made sure her next Continue Reading
Throwback Thursday – Halloween #TBT
Now that my kids are grumpy tweens and busybody teenagers, I pulled out my old external hard drive and imported a few Halloween Pictures from the old days. Keep in mind that anything before 2005 I have zero pictures of unless I it was the one album I evacuated with. I did not get a digital camera until 2006 and my Katrina pictures were ruined in the flood waters. In the first picture, I am honestly thinking this is 2005 which would be right after Hurricane Katrina and not 2006. But since I am Continue Reading
Make a Commitment Today #CelebrateMyDrive
This is part of a sponsored collaboration with Latina Mom Bloggers and State Farm. However, all opinions expressed are my own. It's time! The State Farm Celebrate My Drive Campaign is now taking commitments to celebrate safe driving. Guess what is the first thing I noticed when I went on the website> As of right now, a Louisiana school is in the Top 5 Small School Leader-board. The more commitments each school received the better chance your school has to win a school grant. As a mother of a Continue Reading
Favorite Household Chore? #WhirlpoolWashSquad #spon
This is a sponsored post with the Niche Parent Network. It is no secret that laundry & I are not friends. In fact, I HATE to do laundry & household chores but it is a necessary evil. Like many families our daytime hours are a whirlwind. Whether you are a SAHM, work outside the home or have a home office there are not enough hours in the day. So, when in need of help, DELEGATE! I did household chores as a kid and although I hated every minute it did teach me time management & Continue Reading
One Funny Mother: I’m Not Crazy at The Joy Theater
Being a mom you have a sense of humor, if you're not laughing you will cry! Dana Blizzard takes motherhood to a new level in her 1 woman comedy show: One Funny Mother: I’m Not Crazy which is currently at the Joy Theater in New Orleans until October 20thth, 2013. One Funny Mother: I'm Not Crazy is a truthful, comedic performance which helps describe motherhood, marriage, the unrealistic idea of perfection. We know bring a mother is hard work but making light of the situation can help anyone get Continue Reading
State Farm & Safety plus a Giveaway #CelebrateMyDrive
This is part of a sponsored collaboration with Latina Mom Bloggers and State Farm. However, all opinions expressed are my own. In my last State Farm Celebrate My Drive post I mentioned that my teen daughter will be entering a new phase of her life shortly by becoming a teen driver. I am so nervous about this stage but with the help of so many organizations doing their best to promote safe teen drivers, it makes the transition a little easier to manage as a parent. Celebrate My Drive® is a Continue Reading
5 Ways to “Eliminate” the 10p.m Toilet Paper Run #LetsTalkBums
This conversation is a sponsored post, all thoughts are my own. My name is Maria & I am a "closet prepper"! Since 2009 I have began stockpiling basic essentials with the help of couponing and bargain shopping. Over the years I learned to pay next to nothing (if not, nothing) for basic supplies like cleaning products, dishwasher tablets, toothbrushes and of course toilet paper! Toilet paper is one of those items you're NOT going to stop using!! Never, will you wake up Continue Reading
From Pigtails to Teen Driving #CelebrateMyDrive
This is part of a sponsored collaboration with Latina Mom Bloggers and State Farm. However, all opinions expressed are my own. Having a teen is scary! There are no "What to Expect" books on teen parenting and really, not much information regarding transitioning our children from teen to young adults. As my daughter gets older, I'm finding that I rely on my friends who are experiencing the same milestones to help guide me through the ups and downs of teen parenting. Teen driving is just around Continue Reading