Sunday, July 29, 2012

previously on instagram...


Previously on Instagram...

1\\ a new bracelet from a new favorite-- Gypsy Warrior
2\\ my first green pepper from my garden
3\\ freshly baked zucchini bread
4\\ a short hair cut and a cute dress
5\\ my weekly favorite coffee moment
6\\ a close-up and new glasses
7\\ Pho
8\\ Lego head
9\\ a birthday boy by the pool

Follow me on Instagram @calicotales

on a 4th birthday...

My little boy turned FOUR today! Yes, it happened. Ahhh! Today was a success and I am so glad to have made this day a special one for a boy who totally deserves it. 
We had a low key family party with the place decorated in some Legos and some Batman. Hey, it was whatever the little guy wanted. His day, his say :) Here are some photos of all the fun we had...

 Sebastian was a very lucky boy with all the gifts he received from his beloved family. His Aunts and Uncles even surprised him with a brand new shiny Spiderman bike!
Happy day for us and I am one proud parent :D

Friday, July 20, 2012

on who I am...

I am..

...sorry that I've been neglecting my little place here. We have no internet at home yet again and we are in the process of getting services soon. Until then my posts will be scattered.

...loving this photo of Sebastian and I. Classic us together. I love this kid to death and with his birthday almost a week away I am all kinds of weepy about just the thought of him turning four-years-old. Tear. Speaking of his birthday, since it falls right on a Sunday we are having a low key family party. But the cool part is that the place is going to be deck out in Legos! He is in a craze over Legos. Lego Batman. Lego this, Lego that. So I am making a fun Lego cake and a Lego pinata!

...counting down the days until I hop on a bus to NYC to meet up with my favorite gals, Tanya and Julee. Julee and I will be present at the BlogHer conference and I'm super excited about that! Are any of you going? I hope to meet a heap of new people and maybe even get to meet some of my favorite bloggers out there! It's my first time and I'm a wee bit nervous but all that will drift away once I am with the lovely Julee :) Hope to see you all there.

...re-reading Discovery of Witches. I thought it was going to be a quick skimming of the book but alas I am enjoying reading it over again. Hoping to start Shadow of Night this weekend. Before that I read Divergent and Insurgent. Great books! I tell you more soon.

...consumed by Sebastian's future lately. Being a parent to a child that has a speech delay can be tough and challenging in it's own ways. Come September there are going to be lots of changes in Sebastian academic schedule and the thought, am I doing the right thing? is constantly on my mind. I am taking every ones advice and going with what I feel is right for my kid and in the end doing my best. It's all I can do. So with all that I am hoping to relax a little bit this weekend and get some of this tension off my shoulders. What I really need is a massage! Welp!

...already missing my husband who left for Virginia yesterday to visit a friend. Me being the worrier that I am was up until I got the text that he had arrive (a midnight). They will be heading to North Carolina today where his friend will be racing his Mustang which is supposedly fast..whoop dee doo. He'll have fun and I'll be missing him.

...getting a fresh new hair cut on Tuesday. It shall be an adventure and I'll be coming out of the salon looking like a new person. Cutting it all off and I am really looking forward to an easy summer do. Hair cuts are always the best!

...sad about the Colorado movie shooting. It breaks my heart. All those people are in my thoughts.

...starting to feel great with all the exercise that I've been doing. I've made it mandatory to hit the gym at least twice a week which doesn't sound like much but with my busy schedule it's actually amazing. I used to exercise a lot before Sebastian was born and now that I am finally getting back to it, it's makes my body sing with happiness.

...grateful for a husband who continues to work hard and even though we aren't perfect we thrive for a happy life, a son who brings me the biggest joy in my life and family & friends that are always there to help. Oh and I'm thankful for this Chai Tea Latte that is keeping me company and the fact that it's Friday. Amen!

Thursday, July 12, 2012

on french potato salad...

I am in love with this French Potato Salad recipe. I've made it at least twice in the past two weeks, once at home and again on 4th of July. So yummy and a nice change from the usual mayo based salads.

Ingredients: 
2 1/2 pounds fingerling potatoes, quartered
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar 
1 shallot, minced
2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley 
salt & pepper


Cut and put potatoes in a large pot of salt water. Bring the water to a rapid boil and then turn heat down to a simmer. Cook potatoes until tender.


Meanwhile combine olive oil, Dijon mustard, shallot, parsley & apple cider vinegar together in the a big bowl. Once the potatoes are tender, drain and then dump with into the bowl.



Mix it up nice and good. Add some salt and pepper to taste. Let it cool and serve at room temperature. Delish. I think this is my new favorite potato salad. Love the tangy flavor. Enjoy!

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

previously on Instagram...


1\\ a tomato salad
2\\ Rita's date with a little boy
3\\ summer dog
4\\ fresh baked blueberry muffins
5\\ a boy ready for school
6\\ tomato plant
7\\ headband
8\\ hubby

Follow me on Instagram @calicotales

Tuesday, July 10, 2012

on a bean burger...

Hi friends! Back again for another Summer inspired recipe. Sometimes I can have this need for a burger but without the meat. Don't get me wrong meaty burgers are great but on a hot Summer night my goal is not to get all bloated and eating a heavy beef burger will do just that. At least to me. So, I created this fun Black Bean and Rice Burger. Easy, fast and leaves you feeling fresh!


Ingredients: 
{for bean cakes}
2 cans black beans
1/2 cup cooked brown rice
1 tablespoon fresh chives
2 tablespoons fresh cilantro 
1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce 
1/4 teaspoon ground cumin 
salt & pepper
{for burger}
buns 
lettuce 
tomato 
guacamole


**Preheat oven to 400



First, follow the directions on the box and cook 1/2 cup of rice. While that is cooking grab your food processor. Dust it off if your like me and don't use it enough!


Combine ONE can black beans, cilantro, chives, cilantro and Worcestershire sauce into the food processor. Pulse it until you get a paste.


 In a separate large mixing bowl combine SECOND can of black beans with 1/2 cup of rice and that bean & herb paste. Use a spatula and mix it up.


Take your baking sheet and brush with some oil, then place baking sheet into the hot oven for about 5 minutes. Take it out and start forming your patties. It's not going to be as easy as if you were forming beef. What I ended up doing was just plopping a heap of mixture right on the baking sheet and then forming it into a patty shape. The rice & paste is what binds the patty so don't worry once the they are nice and baked they will stay together.
Bake for 10-15 minutes or until the bottoms are brown. Once they are done let them sit there for 5 or so minutes so they cool enough for you to take them off. Otherwise they will just fall apart!!


 Make your burger! Be creative. I love guacamole on all my burgers. So yummy. Bobby, my husband likes to put Thousand Island dressing on his. What do you put on your burgers? Nom Nom.

Monday, July 09, 2012

on a sweet dress...

Hi All! I'm very excited to show you all the lovely dress that was gifted to me by Sugarlips Apparel. They have a wonderful collection of cutting-edge clothing with unique dresses as well as tops & bottoms and whatdoyaknow, they're located right in the city of Angels! Today I am featuring their Striped Colored Pencils Dress



Check out that sexy back! That is totally my favorite thing about this sweet dress. It's going to be perfect for my trip to NYC in August. It's light and flowy and exactly what us ladies need in the hot summer months. Perfect with some cute wedges or sandals and you are a stylish fashionista. 

Go check out Sugarlips Apparel for yourself and hurry up and  buy some hip new dresses. Like them on their Facebook or follow them on Twitter

Happy Shopping!!

Monday, July 02, 2012

on a weekend recap...

It was another hot, hot, hot weekend and there was not much to do other than head over to the in laws and lounge in the pool. Here are some photos of our weekend...

Yes, friends I finally have my precious Iphone. I am giddy as heck and so happy with it. Bobby and I thought it was time to move to a different carrier and splurge on some nice phones. All in all, the weekend was for lots of lemonade by the pool, lovely homemade grilled pizza courtesy of my mother in law, and one happy boy with a new game. I am beyond feeling dizzy with blissfulness and so glad for the people that I have in my life! 
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