Foodie Friday: Small & Sweet Fortunes

Big things come in small packages.

Mini Frappuccino in the *Starbucks$ Coffee House! S’mores, please!

Life is like a box of chocolates … You never know what you’re gonna get.

~ Forrest Gump (played by Tom Hanks as the title character)

Celebrate everyday!

Live in the ☼moment☼

In any ♣season♣

Cherish yourself ~ YOU’re a treasure! 👑

Life’s sweeter with ♥loved ones♥ …

… ♪music♫ …

… & literature …

… + chocolate!

Keep the party going!

And most of all: spread those good vibes!

  

Sharing = Caring!

for my Bestie + yours truly & my family!

Foodie Friday: Classic Cold Remedies

Happy Friday the 13th!

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup is where it’s at!

We’re never too old to need our mothers ~ so if they’re still with us, then let’s be grateful!

Add freshly-squeezed OJ to the mix for Vitamin C to combat the cold, and I’ve got it made in the shade!

My own ♥Mommy Aya♥ came through for me during my cold that took its toil and my voice this ♣Spring Break♣.

These oranges came from my former post in the Rio Grande Valley!

As a retired Registered Nurse after over 4½ decades, my Nanay attended to me for the first time since I was a child!

Chocolate = the perfect cure to cheer me up, in the form of my mom’s Nutella brownies!

I think that my need to be put on bed rest (while my ♥A&A♥ held vigil by my bedside) was †GOD†‘s way of telling me to slow my roll …

Girl Scout Cookies also are. Always. On. Point.

Despite my week ☼off☼ from teaching and tutoring, I had still been on-the-go in the recent wintry weather with my traveling, researching, reporting and photographing!

This juicer doubles as a pitcher!

So much for tracking miles on a fun run or hitting the driving range … for now!

Floral Friday: Bouquets, Bows and Arrows

During this ♥Valentine’s♥ week

Hello Kitty ♥Valentine’s♥ bow handcrafted by mi comadre Mona

I had 2 marriage proposals this past Wednesday alone

My attempt at the hair ♥heart♥ bun {video tutorial}

and a slew of gifts from my †GOD†-sent students then and yesterday!

Happy ♥Valentine’s♥ 2015

Hence, the perks of being a single teacher

Bow & Arrow Red Velvet Gluten Free mini cupcakes + ♥Heart♥ Pupcakes

With ♥Valentine’s♥ weekend ahead

Triple-Chocolate for ♥Valentine’s♥ class: Red Velvet Gluten Free mini cupcakes * Chocolate-Covered Oreos * Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

I look forward to

These Red Velvet mini GF cupcakes have found their way to my ♥heart♥

reaping the rewards of my photography and reporting career

Our R.E. ♥VDay♥ party included these Red Velvet Gluten Free mini cupcakes!

by capturing ♥Valentine’s♥ babies on camera mañana

♪Ring around the Rosies♫

and covering Claudie Royals‘ birthday banquet this ☼Sunday☼

♫Pocket full of Posies♪

†GOD† has blessed me abundantly

Pay It Forward: My R.E. student Delightful Dani (whose mom asked me to do the readings at her Church wedding) generously gave me this beautiful bouquet ~ so I had to spread the ♥love♥ w/Sweet Annie

by always being by my side

Princess Annie ♥loves♥ them!

and bringing me ♥Valentines♥ who charm, warm, touch and move my ♥heart♥

Sniff, sniff: Annie takes a whiff! Smell the flowers!

After all …

Feng Shui Dragons surround these Philippians 4:4″ alt=”Philippians 4:4″>flowers for ♣Good Luck♣ + blue marbles represent our *Dallas Cowboys*

Take delight in the †LORD†, and he will give you the desires of your ♥heart♥.

These red ♥Valentine’s♥ carnations ☼pair well☼ w/my yellow rose of Texas

  ~ Psalm 37:4

Foodie Friday: Getting Fed in Religious Ed

F is for …

Faith * Food * Fellowship

Easygoing Evie and I, as *Excited Elaine* enjoy eating after we team-teach our Religious Education second graders every Wednesday. When we celebrate our students’ birthdays, we also are blessed with goodies to go with our lessons about †GOD†!

Sharing is Caring!

Mezamiz Deux Coffee House

Birthday Cupcakes from Sweet Life

Sour Apple Smoothies from Monks

Caramel and Pumpkin from Olive Garden

Birthday Cupcakes and Fruit Snacks

Foodie Friday: Memorial Week

Happy Memorial Week!

This heaping helping of TGIF YOLO is devoted to this week’s feasts and treats!

From la familia

For my mom’s birthday, my sister baked bodacious beet-chocolate cupcakes that can’t be beat!

My Mom’s Birthday Cupcakes ~ baked with LOVE from Joanne

After the Journey concert, my sister provided Memorial Day meals that were mmmmmm mmmmmm good!

Who needs Rooty, Tooty, Fresh & Fruity? We got Red, White & Blueberry!

For breakfast, we had berries and waffles, complete with raspberries for red and blueberries.

Tribute to my Sister’s Mother-in-Law’s Memory: Tater Tot Casserole! {Jackfruit (yellow) Bubble Tea & Avocado (green) Bubble Tea from Hong Kong Market}

For lunch, Joanne cooked tater tot casserole, a traditional recipe from her late mother-in-law.

Who needs the PB&J time? Cookie Butter & Chocolate‘s my dream Goober!

She also gave me the Ultimate Super Spread: Cookie Butter Cocoa Swirl!

Perfect combo of flavors & spices: my Mom’s Southwestern Burritoes!

My mom cooked scrumptious southwestern burritoes that have lasted me all week long!

Rice & Beans … Up close & personal.

From mi amiga

Yeah, real healthy after exercise … But I’ve only eaten one-quater at a time!

My friend Evie and I hit Hastings’ Hardback Café yesterday to reward ourselves after our workout!

Jones Root Beer: Serious Soda with Cute Cat Pic for a good kick!

When I tagged along with her to pick up gaming grub today, she gave me an IBC Cream Soda for my studies!

IBC Cream Soda to tide me over while I do my homework!

CHEERS to ☼Summer☼ almost here!

Cream Soda + Root Bear = Supernova Soda … All I need is a soft serve scoop for a float to seal the deal!