Before I got ready for the ♥Sweetheart♥ Ball
Brain Food: Egg white & lean bacon breakfast sandwich of Healthy *Champs* from *Starbucks$
I had a Starbucks Haul!
Cooling refreshment: Orange Mango Banana Smoothie to energize yours truly as I go scholar mode!
Happy National Croissant Day!!!
Almond Croissant Blossom from *Starbucks$
Some timing: Context Media Health sent me this text tip after I ate the aforementioned croissant!
The Perfect Study Snack: My mini croissant is packed with flavor, filled with Cocoa Cookie Butter Swirl for a sweet treat complete with coffee!
Also, with Mardi Gras on the way …
We still can eat, drink and be merry!
And YES: just like its previous counterpart, this bad boy also is *Gluten FREE*
A moderate way to do it is through this mini croissant Cajun-style sandwich ~ simple yet savory!
Cajun Croissant Sandwich: Aren’t these mini croissants absolutely cute?
Snack-Happy!
This DISPO still can’t seem to let CHRISTmas go.
The †CHRISTmas† ☼HOLYday☼ gift that keeps giving
Since Friday wraps up my weekend (before I return to work on Saturday), I prefer to cozy up at home with A&A at the end of the day …
Aah … So much better when RTC: Ready to Consume!
With my fave HOLYday flavor!
As I watch HGTV‘s Love It or List It Too about houses with pools, I watch this Milano swim in my Mocha ~ Peppermint-style!
*~* TGIF CHEERS *~*
When we’re working on-the-go and don’t have much time to cook …
Target has yet another exclusive line as always … YES, I intentionally left the label on to show how much $ I saved!
Everyday Italian to the rescue!
This flavorful lunch meat actually is gluten free! SCORE!
H is for …
Open-faced …
Healthy and hearty!
… or a Rollatini!
Quick sandwich pairs perfectly well with work, either when I report to duty or write my dissertation from my desk!
Happy Veterans Week!
This past week, I have celebrated my Airman dad and our armed forces through fun feasts!
Taylor County Taphouse (Military Discount)
Dallas Blonde & Pear Ale ~ CHEERS!!! — at The Taylor County Taphouse.
Unique array of appetizers & entrées: CFS * Waffle Wings 🍗 * Texas Craft Beer & Cheese Soup topped w/ Chili Dusted Popcorn — at The Taylor County Taphouse.
Coldstone Creamery (Military Discount)
Sundae Sunday: This Marine deserves a Military Discount!#DISPObustAFlow #DISPOsAlwaysFly #SaluteThisMilitaryGuy #SemperFi #Support #Honor #Remember 🇺🇸🎊🎆🎇🎂🍨🍮 — at Cold Stone Creamery.
Oreo Overload in Chocolate Dipped Waffle Cone w/ Rainbow Sprinkles at Cold Stone Creamery.
Pumpkin Pie in the Sky in Chocolate Dipped Waffle Cone at Coldstone Creamery.
Fazoli’s (Military Discount)
Military Monday: Build-Your-Own Pasta Bowl * Strawberry Banana Minute Maid Smoothie * Breadsticks * Classic Cheddar Pasta Bowl * Ghirardelli Caramel Pumpkin Cheesecake — at Fazoli’s Italian Restaurant
Irresistible Ghirardelli Caramel Pumpkin Cheesecake — at Fazoli’s Italian Restaurant
1 photo couldn’t do justice: Ghirardelli Caramel Pumpkin Cheesecake — at Fazoli’s Italian Restaurant
Olive Garden (FREE Military Meal on Vets Day)
*Veterans Day* full of festive flavor: Strawberry Passionfruit Limonada * Orange Cranberry Limonada * Porto Vita Rossa * Smoky Mozzarella w/Chicken Gnocchi * Grilled Chicken Butternut Squash Fettuccine Alfredo w/Zuppa Toscana — at Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
Our servicemen and –women deserve our highest respect and honor.
*CHEERS to our Military*
Eat, drink and be merry…
And so I did on my birthday trip!
Road Trip Food
Ghost Town Grub: Starlight Café (Terlingua, TX)
Santa Elena (my namesake) Margarita ~ CHEERS!!!
Terlingua Chili Fries
Chocolate Bourbon Pecan Pie
Family Feast: Tokyo Asia Fusion (Abilene, TX)
Sake Black & Gold
Hibachi Chicken w/Miso Soup (me-so hungry) & salad ~ gotta top off w/Lo-Sod Kikoman!
YOLOs all the way around!
Happy Morning After My Birthday!
Since I always care to share my wealth of health, my family and friends deserve honorable mentions for feeding me for my BiG 3-3. Two weeks ago, I left the Valley with a bang when I my classmates celebrated with me!
One week before my birthday, my Church bestie Evie took me to brunch at Hickory Street Café.
Hickory Street Cafe: Spinach Quiche & Salad with Raspberry Vinegarette + Raspberry Tea ~ Raspberry Good
Hickory Street Cafe: Tomato Basil Soup
Hickory Street Cafe: Chocolate Kahlua Bundt Cake ~ Just how this Bday Girl likes it!
Last weekend, my childhood friend/fellow August baby Dee cooked lunch, and my mom cooked dinner for us and our dads, and our Pinoy homeboy Vince joined us with his kids! We celebrated more last night to wrap my birthday up right!
Birthday Feast for this Beautiful Beast!
Rigatoni tossed in Pesto with Marinara by Bday Girl Dee
Red & Ready: Summer Strawberries & Wonderful Watermelon
On my birthday eve, my gym rat/fellow mama of a cat and August baby Lisa had us over at her house to wine and dine, and I brought cake!
Carne Asada Simmering
Traditional Mexican made by Lisa
Photo Cake c/o Snowhite Bakery
After my Birthday Blessing, my Church buddy Joe cooked me yet another bodacious breakfast.
Sweet Potato Steaming
Sunny Side-Up, if you please
Blessed Birthday Breakfast, thanks to Joe!
Last night, we wrapped up my birthday with another family night plus making music time!
Noodles for Long Life from Nanay
Beautiful Feast for this Birthday Beast
Grapes for GOOD LUCK!
TGIF for Thank GOD It’s Friday * Thank GOD I’ve got great Family & Friends!!!
Being just a hop, skip and swim away from the border means there’s access to …
Really delicious, not always healthy food!
Here are my favorites (aside from my in-laws’ good homecooking, o’course), that I’ll miss in this neck of the woods, or shall I say: foot of the Valley!
Bubble Tea (Tea Rush Café in Sharyland/Mission, TX) ~ during my West Valley Church Tour
Koko’s Mexican Cuisine (Uptown/McAllen, TX) ~ for my classmate, Dr. Alejandro Garza’s Birthday
Sweet & Tasty Bakery ~ also for Dr. G’s Bday, with this Banana Split Pie to die & the BEST pan de polvo
¡Salud!
♪And I drive 1,000 miles♫
That’s exactly what I did when last weekend, and I usually grab an apple when I’m on-the-go. Thanks to my family, the food that they did provide helped tide me over during the two 500+mile rides! What would I do without their generosity?
Look who’s welcoming home …
When I left the Valley a week ago, mi Cuñada stocked up on snacks to last me a week’s worth of survival in the wilderness! Starbucks was where it was at!
… It’s Annie!
My GODmother hooked us up with pasalubong, so the mocha cake came in handy!
Ninang Auring‘s such a giver!
Then when I took off back to el Valle, my dad made a pot of Papa Jun Joe, and my sister hooked me up with horchata and breakfast tacos from La Popular!
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!
