Sunday, November 30, 2014

:: El Pollo Loco:: Eating Healthy & Conveniently

::Momma of Dos:: {This is a compensated post by El Pollo Loco. All statements are my own and honest opinion.}


I think that this year even before Thanksgiving came to be we were all Turkey'd out! Ha. Between pot-lucks at work and Thanksgiving feasts at the kids schools in a time span of 2 weeks; by the time Thanksgiving came around we were semi-done with turkey. After Thanksgiving comes a day of leftovers and last night we were ready for something different. I bet you are too? 

How about a chicken dinner with all the freshest of sides from El Pollo Loco! Like corn, broccoli, a loco salad or some yummy black beans.   It now has dos new locations here in Houston conveniently in your neighborhood and their newest location on Mason Road coming soon! 



El Pollo Loco has so many great family deals and I love their freshness and yummy desserts. For easy and convenient dinners you can order from the drive through and take it home to your Holiday guests or head on over and dine-in to get away from all the busy streets of Holiday shopping. No matter how you choose to order El Pollo Loco is a great alternative for family dinners during the upcoming Holiday season. 

For us as a Mexican {American} family of 4 we are always seeking delicious Mexican food and El Pollo Loco has some authentic foods such as their sopes and tortas as well as burritos and enchiladas which we crave! 

So, as you prepare to head out for Holiday travels or in-town shopping don't forget that El Pollo Loco has great healthy alternative for your entire family. And, if you decided to dine in or order out it's an easy and convenient way to get dinner done for you  and your family. 




::El Pollo Loco::


"At El Pollo Loco, pronounced “L Po-yo Lo-co” and Spanish for “The Crazy Chicken,” we go to crazy lengths for our signature citrus-marinated, fire-grilled chicken. First, we marinate fresh, whole chickens in a special recipe of herbs, spices, fruit juices and garlic. The whole chickens are then fire-grilled, hand-cut, and served with our chicken meals, burritos, salads, soups, tacos and quesadillas. And if that’s not enough, we apply that same passion to our handmade guacamole, salsas and dressings every day. Some say the lengths we go to are crazy. We say it’s Crazy You Can Taste."

Thursday, November 27, 2014

Yvette {Traveling Husband} #inspiredseries





Hello! My Name is Yvette, Wife to an amazing Hubby, of 6 years, and a Stay at Home Mom of 2 Little Ones.  My daughter(5) is a princess in every form.  She LOVES make up, dresses, heels and all things girly.  Lord Help Me!  :)   My son (2) is truly a boys boy.  He likes to play rough and usually ends up in trouble over it.  My kids are my world, but at times I would struggle with being at home and feeling like I wasn't contributing to the world.  I have a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration in Finance with experience in Accounting.  I was really good at it too, but that experience and degree didn't matter to my kids.  Its easy to get depressed and I always tried to look at the positive side of staying at home with my kids, but it was really hard.  My husband has a CRAZY schedule and we live 3 Hours away from our ENTIRE family, so I usually felt alone and became somewhat of a recluse.   

Starting a boutique was something that I wanted to do since I got pregnant with my daughter in 2009 but we travel for weeks, sometimes months, at a time so starting a brick and mortar boutique seemed really impractical.  After a lot of research, and getting denied by the city the year before, I got approved with a Home Occupancy Certificate.  I was finally able to open up an Online Children's Boutique.  It is the piece of the puzzle that I felt was missing.  Now I feel complete, I get to stay at home with my kids, teach them, play with them and raise them.  My husband never has to worry about taking my kids to any doctor's appointments and I don't have to worry about taking time off work when they are sick.  It is a win, win situation for everyone involved. 


http://roseandrhodesclothing.com/
     


When I was pregnant with my daughter we lived in New Mexico for 3 Months.  It wasn't so bad. 

Then, when I was pregnant with my son in 2012 we lived in Washington DC for 3 1/2 Months.  My daughter was 2 1/2 and we had no vehicle.  We had to walk EVERYWHERE and used the subway when we needed to.  The closest grocery store was about a mile away.  That was a long ways to waddle.  HAHA!  On the final day in DC, I had a scheduled Drs. appointment and ended up at the hospital.  I was 5 months pregnant and already contracting due to the walking and dehydration.  They gave me a shot to strengthen my sons lungs, put an IV for the dehydration and sent me on my way.  Then, when we arrived back home, we went straight to the hospital from the airport.  I spent the night and they gave me meds to prevent the contractions.  In the end, my son was born two days before his due date.  He is a VERY HEALTHY, VERY LOUD little boy.  I really think those shots to strengthen his lungs worked a little too well.  


We have done short stints of travel in California, Houston and the RGV.  Needless to say, we do A LOT of traveling, and with 2 toddlers its not always easy.  My kids are still small so they get impatient and sometimes don't understand that it takes a while to get to a destination.  We have done many things to try and get their minds off of a long trip.  If it is a road trip, we try to leave after lunch so the kids can take a nap on the road and it usually works out just fine.  We also bring movies with us on the road and if we are traveling by plane we make sure to bring snacks, toys and coloring books.  We do sometimes stay behind when my Hubby has a short trip.  Before he leaves, we have a conversation with our daughter so she can know her Daddy will be gone for a couple of days.  She usually says "ok" and "I'm gonna miss you, daddy".  I think it makes it easier on her to know what is going on.  Our son is still too small.  Every time he asks for his Daddy, I just tell him he's at work and he usually says "ok".  




The biggest challenge of having a traveling Hubby is probably having to stay at a hotel room.  My kids like to run and play, and they don't mean to be, but sometimes they are really loud.  The security at a hotel once came knocking because someone complained about the noise.  Obviously, at home they are used to being loud and no one getting after them over it.  I don't like to get after   them for playing but they do have to learn to be mindful of others.  Traveling is not always a horrible thing.  We LOVE that our little ones are able to see other cities, especially big cities.  My husband and I didn't have that privilege growing up so we try to do as much as we can, and see things that we wouldn't see in our small city.  

This time around we are celebrating our Thanksgiving away from our house.  Usually, my parents come over to our house and I make the turkey and my mom helps with making the sides.  This year, it will just be the 4 of us, but that doesn't bother me.  We celebrate Christmas for 3 Days. It starts with Christmas at our house, just the 4 of us, on the 23rd.  On Christmas Eve we Celebrate with my Husbands Family and the 25th we Celebrate at my Grandmas House (my dad's mom), then at my parents’ house in the evening.  Yes, we are all over the place at Christmas.  The kids love it because they get presents everywhere.  On the 26th we pack up and head home.  

It might sound crazy, but we are used to the travel. Most of the year, we are at home, bored out of our minds. My daughter starts school next August so our travel will slow down some. Until then,               we will see where the road takes us.    

I hope you have enjoyed reading a little about how I got started with the boutique and about our traveling experiences with 2 small children.  

Thank You to Connie Gomez at Momma of Dos for this opportunity.  

To contact me, email me at roseandrhodesclothing@yahoo.com or message me on Facebook and Instagram at Rose and Rhodes Clothing 


http://roseandrhodesclothing.com/

                 

         

::Thankful:: #30daysofaffirmation

If you follow us on Instagram then you know that I started a 30 days of affirmation challenge more so for myself but then I started receiving such positive feedback and I hope it will help others as well. 




There are so many times in my life when I have lost sight of the who and the why. 

I lose sight of truth and instead have in the past focused on the wrong people or others' dreams when I should be focused on my family of 4 ::Team Gomez:: and OUR dreams. 

Today, I am thankful. 

For my family. My Hubby, my Dos amazing children who have brought the true meaning of my life to be and have created my passion and dreams. 

Today, I am thankful for my purpose and my focus on who and why I have made it this far. 

Thankful for my family. My Momma, my Dad, my Sister , Nephew and my Brothers. They have all been here for me in huge ways and no matter how bad it has all shaped me to be the person I am today. Driven and ambitious but definitely grounded and realistic. I have not reached all my goals but slowly I will make my dreams come true. 

And, for that I am thankful. 

I am also thankful for my extended family {especially the 3 best Tia's ever; Ale, Erica & 'Nanielle} and of course my friends, not only those people I have met along the way in person but also all of the beautiful online family who support and love me as much as I support and love them. 

For that I am thankful. 

I am thankful for my life, my vision, my home, my job and my future. 

Everyday I am thankful for so many people and so many instances of grace and life..... not just today... 

What about you, what are you thankful for?



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Monday, November 24, 2014

Luminaries Craft for the Holiday's #childrenscrafts

Are you looking for a fun and easy way to keep your children busy during the Holiday season, one way is by creating these easy Luminaries. Inspired by a quick Google search one afternoon. I am visual person so I like to Google images of crafts or ideas that I can create with my children. My kids are also very hands on especially my Cami. They love cutting shapes or paper in general and using their handy-dandy glue-sticks, skills they are learning in pre-school. I decided to help them create these easy kid-friendly centerpieces.



If you too want to help your children create these fun and very easy luminaries to shine some light on your upcoming Holiday dinners here is what you will need: 




  1. Simple White Paper Bags
  2. Tissue Paper
  3. Stickers for added decorations
  4. Scissors-not pictured
  5. Glue Sticks-not pictured
  6. Candles-not pictured - I used small/medium size candles in glass holders 
{Please remember that the candles can become very hot, they are only for temporary lighting and should be in sight at all times as well as turned off over night.} 




  • First; we cut shapes in our paper bags: I opened the bags, folded them in half and cut simple shapes. 
  • Then we cut our Tissue Paper shapes; such as snowflakes, Christmas trees and a flower. {I traced the shapes for my kids and helped them cut them out.}
  • We then glued them to our bags and placed our candles inside.
It was so easy, my children loved the fun Holiday activity.  Are you doing any fun Holiday crafting? Please share some of your favorites with us! 

Thursday, November 20, 2014

::Non-Traditional Thanksgiving Dinners:: #thankfulthursday

This time next week our little family will be eating a semi-traditional Thanksgiving dinner. My parents are truly Mexican. Not just throwing that out there but it is a fact.  They want salsa and tortillas with their Turkey every year, no matter how non-traditional that may be. Growing up I never had a problem with it, I was used to it. It was later in my years of life that I felt like my parents were just being difficult.  Then I had children. Seems your perspective is clouded before you have kids.

I changed my views, feelings and thoughts on situations like this. I now embrace my parents’ ways. I embrace our roots and accept new traditions. That’s what Thanksgiving was about right? Not just adopting America as our new country but also accepting the coming together of cultures and embracing our life in the American’s and theses differences.

Which is why now, our thanksgiving table is never lacking in tortillas and salsa. Oh yea and our leftovers are always interesting. Either, taquitos dorados or enchiladas, this year I am thinking Turkey Enchilada soup!  I mean come on, is there any other way!?

These days we accept all new foods to our Thanksgiving dinner table, not just because it’s delicious but because I want my children to be open to new ways and foods.  What better time then Thanksgiving to create a melting pot of traditions. I am extremely thankful of my family and our difference, it makes us who we are and stronger as a unit! 

I know we all have very different non-traditional ways of celebrating during the Holiday season and I always love listening and learning from those around me. 

I learned about the awesomeness that happens at my friend Alba’s house of Independent Mami and trust me, I want to be there!!!  She is Salvadorean and her Momma makes an amazing, from what I hear, Pan con Chumpe! She has pictures on her Pinterest board and let me tell you. I almost ate my phone!! Ha.


What are your most favorite non-traditional dishes or family rituals for Thanksgiving? 

Wednesday, November 19, 2014

Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch ::Picture Overload:: #wordlesswednesday

A couple of weekends ago we visited San Antonio and one of our must stop places to visit was the Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch  we didn't know how REAL and how CLOSE the animals would be.

Here is what we experienced in pictures!







The adventure was one of kind. We had so much fun and were even "attacked" by the animals. NOT in a bad way. It was all in good fun! These animals are aware of all the interested visitors and I feel they kind of put on a show to make it all more REAL!





But, just in case...we kept the windows rolled UP when we went past the show-offs! HA.



 My Husband tried to talk the Zebra into walking over to the truck... 
 He quickly rolled the window back up..haha. 
 I rolled the window up too!! 


{We did not harm the animals and they did not harm us! }

Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Inner Peace I want that....




We all have difficult times in our lives when all we want is peace. These days, I truly don't have many difficulties in my life and most are just a matter of my own perspective. NO my life is not perfect, I just don't allow too much to get to me anymore. 

The year is quickly coming to an end and it's that time again to revisit, "New Years Resolutions" which from now on I will be calling... "Life Goals"! Don't really care what year it is anymore... I just want to do more, be me and live my life to the fullest

I wrote about them here last year and I chose my focus word to be PEACE. And, while I have gained peace in so many areas of my life... worries, weight and with my family... I started to lack it and my motivation in my 8 to 5:00 p.m. job. Which I never really write about for personal reason. But, yes. I had recently lost motivation and purpose in my position, But, through speaking to an old co-worker now Momma/Faith friend and to a new connection from Blogalicious, who happens to be a magnificent life/career Coach, Boni. I was able to find some clarity. Some light and thoughts into my situation. All very very very helpful!

Inner peace. I want that. It's all I have been thinking about since speaking with these two ladies!

I know it will not be an easy process but I will take it one day at a time. One peaceful affirmation at a time and just continue to grow and learn from my experience. I will take small steps everyday to reach my goals and be better from the inside out. I deserve it and so does my family.

If you are Instagram follow me, I also started a 30 days of affirmations challenge!






Monday, November 17, 2014

:: 5 Lessons I want my kids to learn from Traveling::



::Life is too Short::
Life is too short, we work so hard everyday, it is only fair to as they say....play hard as well! I want my children to enjoy their childhood, so many children don't get to experience this. It's a difficult world and there are some things that I want to make easy for my kids. Having fun and laughing together is so important. There is also the balance of not spoiling them or giving them everything they want. It will be a challenge I am sure. I want them to appreciate us as parents, the world as a whole and the fact that not everything comes easy. 

::Wisdom/Acceptance:: 
Learning cultures, languages and life in other places of the world is something that I am very happy to have learned about growing up. You will be surprised the ignorance in our world and how much people don't know about other cultures, ways of life or parts of the world. I want my children to rise above that and know that the world is filled with differences that should be learned about, acknowledged and at times simply accepted. I don't want my children to be blinded or sheltered from reality. The world is what it is.


::To Explore/Discover::
The best way for my children to gain real life experience and to grow as tiny individuals is by allowing them to explore and discover! What better way then for them to discover, than to travel and introduce them to new places, new life, new culture. Their little brains are developing and taking it all in, such an amazing time to teach and fill not only their minds but hearts, spirits and souls as well.



::Try new things::
My Hubby and I will always willing to try something at least once; new food, new activity, new adventures... we want our children to be the same; adventurous, easy going and to live life to the fullest. For me the only way to do this is to step outside of your comfort zone and do just one thing that you wouldn't do daily. Life becomes so routine it's easy to get stuck in doing the same thing day in and day out, instead I want us to do new things that will bring our family closer and help us learn more about one another and our surroundings. 

::Family Travel {& Time} is Important::
My Husband traveled as a children with his parents, mostly to Mexico but all he knows is it was the best memories he has of his family and his childhood. For me, I like to say that my parents were nomads, we traveled to live in almost every major city in Texas. Dallas, Houston and "the Valley" or South Texas. We also lived in Detroit, Michigan and traveled many years to and from Detroit to Texas. We also visited family in several areas of Mexico. Again, those are some of the best memories I have from my childhood. My parents and siblings together as a unit. And, it's what I want for my children.



What about you, how do you help your children learn more about the world around us?

Saturday, November 15, 2014

::Top 10 Travel Must-Haves for Busy Toddlers:: #texastravelers #travelwithtoddlers

With the Holiday's just around the corner and while many families fly, hundreds of families are soon to take the roads as well. Surely many of you will travel some place to visit family. If this is your first major road trip with toddlers then you might want to have a mini-check list of things that you will need to have to make your trip a not so stressful one.

As my kids have become toddlers there are certain things that keep them busy; the following have really helped when we have gone on recent road-trips. My children are now 3 1/2 & 5, we have been traveling with then both for a few years now.

Please follow us on Instagram it's were we post all of our fun road-trip pictures !





::5 Items you can pack that will make your road trip a successful one::

Books to Read- My children love stories and I make sure they fill their backpacks with the books they love and sometimes they "read" and make-up their own stories or I will read to them.

Coloring Books-What toddler doesn't love to color? I go to the dollar store and buy inexpensive coloring books and crayons and then take them out when the kids are getting restless.

Toys-My son is huge on certain toys. So, I allow them to select their top 3 toys that will really play with on the trip. For my daughter it is usually dolls and nail polish. For my son some kind of action figure or cars and trucks.

Portable DVD Player- We personally do not own a portable DVD player but my Mother-in-Law does and twice now we have borrowed it. Usually this is best for when we are road-tripping late at night. It's easy and the kids love it.

I-Pads/Tablets/Smart Phones-My parents recently gifted us a an I-Pad and an Android tablet, my Husband and I both have smart phones. When the kids become too restless and most options have failed we let them play games or watch their favorites like Peppa Pig or the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on YouTube.



::5 simple and fun activities to do in the car while on a road trip::

Now while I can dream that my kids will sit quietly and play in the back seat it hardly ever happens that way. My children, like most, require so much attention and interaction even while a row of seats away. So, we have created certain road-tip games that are fun for both my husband and I as well as for the kids. Sometimes we get a little carried away and take over, that's OK too, haha.



Snacking- Of course who doesn't love to eat! We give our children snack options and allow them to help pack their snacks. This is usually a good way to get my children's attention. They love food and especially snacks for a road-trip; they become very excited to be able to select their snacks and will almost immediately ask for them once we get in the car!

Music Game- My Hubby loves music so he created a music game. We connect our phones with an auxiliary cord to our vehicle radio and then use YouTube to select songs. We go in a circle and take turns the kids love keeping up with whose turn it is. This game is only good until their Daddy takes over and starts playing 10 songs of his choice in a row. For the most part the kids love his music though. Some of our favorites are music from La Bamba, Dirty Dancing and Jersey Boys as well as old Rock and then of course Disney songs. (You can create your own play list or version of the game depending on the kids ages.)

I-Spy- My kids love it but don't really fully understand the rules. Still we play it their way and they love it! It's so great to listen to them give you answers or come up with their descriptions which for the most part are colors right now.

Story Telling- My Husband is huge on story telling and during bed time he has started to just create stories with the kids and allows the kids to create their own stories. It was started because my Hubby didn't want to lay in bed and read long story books. But, the kids love it. I suck at it. It's so fun to listen to the kids tell their stories and use their imaginations. Some are so random it's hilarious. My son has mastered it and Camila she tries! Haha.

Potty/Stretch Break-And finally, we have recently made it our custom to stop at Bucee's but on longer trips we stop at designated rest areas as well. Just to give the kids a break for few minutes from the car and their car seats. It helps them take a breath and relax. We let them know it's only for a few minutes because they can quickly turn it into an extended play time. But,  we have found that even 15-20 minutes helps them and us regain sanity! We do make scheduled stops such as Bucee's and as many needed for bathroom breaks. These have become less as my kids become used to our road-trips which is good for travel time.



Friday, November 14, 2014

::San Antonio // Riverwalk:: #pictureoverload #blogalicious

One of those skills that I am trying to perfect for my blog is photography. This past weekend while at Blogalicious, I had the opportunity to wake up super early, haha, and go on a morning Photo-Walk along the San Antonio River Walk and then my family joined me on Saturday so we continued our site-seeing the next day. Here are the pictures I took...