My Favorite Food Week...During Lent

Do you ever have one those weeks? When you just aren't feeling life. That's me. This week. I don't feel well. I think I ate some bad food yesterday. As in, bad shrimp cocktail. My stomach has been killing me since last night!

Well, onto our week. It's a Holiday Week. So I'm pretty excited about that. That means, lots of fun this week. And tons and tons of yummy food! So my tummy better get in check!

Monday:
Probably nothing. Maybe I'll pick something up on the way home. Or just eat some soup.

Tuesday:
We're going to the movies with my cousin. So we'll probably go to Wendy's after. My Mom likes a good movie/Wendy's kind of date. 4 for $4...we're on our way!

Wednesday:
I'm thinking tuna patties with rice. Yum! We haven't had those in a long while! Do you ever eat tuna patties? I feel like those have been in staple, in our lives...since I was little. If I don't make rice, I'll make buttered herb noodles. Another yummy option.

Thursday:
Chicken and...I don't know. Chicken and pasta? Maybe a salad. I'm out of ideas here. Or maybe it's because I don't feel well. We'll have some sort of chicken dish though.

Friday:
That's easy! It's Good Friday. We always have torta. Do you know what torta is? Is it just a New Mexico thing? Not sure. Oh, and we don't use that recipe. We have our own. Would you like me to write up our recipe? And the recipes to all our sides? Let me know in the comments.

We always have torta with beans, fidellos, fresh tortillas, spinach, calabacitas. It's everything yummy...that I LOVE about New Mexico! And Lent! I can't wait until Friday!!!

Saturday:
Red chili enchiladas. Probably. We'll have leftovers from Friday. And we'll probably just make some cheesy enchis to go along with all the yummy leftovers!

Sunday:
This is super easy! Family BBQ!!! I'm on dessert duty. And quite excited about it. I'll be making some fruit salad, jelly bean bark, and maybe some Oreo bark. Yum! I can't wait!

Things I want to try this week. Oh, I don't know. I've been going through a ton of magazines lately. And watching so many YouTube videos! Right before bed. And then I literally dream of food. All. Night. LONG!

I have been dying to make this salad. During the summer, I had something similar at a local pizza place. And I've been dying to make this! This chicken also sounds yummy! With some Hawaiian macaroni salad. That might be Thursday's dinner.

A good friend of mine recently sent me 5lbs of jamaica. Nothing makes this gal happier, than jamaica tea! But 5lbs is quite a bit. Even if I drink this stuff daily. In the past I've made cookies, ice cream, and of course tea. But I was looking for a savory dish. When I came across this recipe. Totally worth a try! I also came across this No Mayo Tuna Salad. That would be good for lunch. And this yummy brisket recipe. I miss real Texas brisket! This is totally a cheater kind of recipe.

What's on your menu this week? Any recipes that I should try? I feel like I'm in a food rut. And would love to hear, all about what you are eating. Have a Great Week!

XOXO,
Desiree

Fall in the Southwest

Fall starts on Friday! I can hear the angels singing! I don't know what it is, about this time of year. I just yearn for it. There is something to be said, for the cooler temps. The comfort of snuggling up on the couch, with a blanket. While watching the familiar faces, of your favorite shows, make a return.

I'm that girl, that yearns for familiar things. The aroma of green chili, hanging in the air. That crisp feeling, when you walk out the door in the morning. The comfort of putting on my grandpa's sweater. 

With all that being said, our temps are still hanging in the high 80s and low 90s. The weatherman made me laugh last night. When he mentioned our Fall like weather on Sunday. 81 degrees. 

But I'm not letting any of that, rain on my parade. I've been dreaming about Fall colors. Warm cups of tea. And all those comfy clothes! There is just something, about putting on an oversized sweater. Or snuggling into your scarf. Oh how I love Fall!

So today, I'm talking about some of my favorite Fall pieces. Some might seem a little odd. Just keep in mind. I live in the southwest. My style often reflects that. And our Fall temps, are quite warm...compared to most!

When I first think of Fall, I think of September. And since I was little, that meant dresses with Cowboy boots. Especially for the State Fair. It's a look, that you can't go wrong with. Obviously, a darker colored dress, would speak more to Fall. But I encourage all of it!

I also feel like heavy lace, is a nice Fall look. I don't know if this speaks to me, because of my upbringing...or because of where I lived in my early 20s. But I see heavy lace pieces as being very "Cowgirl." And September, makes me want dress more in Western style. 

Are you seeing a pattern here? I adore dresses! Especially in the Spring and Fall. I feel like they are nice transitional pieces. You can dress them up or down. Add a sweater or a boot. These Chambray pieces, our my favorite! 

So our these booties. I LOVE a nice boot. But I feel like Booties speak more to me, in the Fall. The color of this pair, is absolutely perfect! And Booties are so fun, to mix into your wardrobe. I love to pair them with skinny jeans, and a thin sweater. Or a fun dress.

But my "basic Fall uniform," is much closer to this. A pair of boots. Riding boots, Cowboy boots, anything that is tall. A pair of fun colored jeans. Or a dark wash. A nice blouse. With some sort of cardigan and scarf. All day. Every single day! Fall all day long! 

I also find, this is when I reach for my makeup and jewelry more. I feel like it's time, to put the effort in again. Am I strange? Summer is just too tough. I feel like Summer, is all about low maintence. I don't want to be worrying about makeup and jewelry. Especially since you literally break into a sweat...going to get your mail. In your front yard!

In my circle of friends, I'm known for wearing mustard. Mustard everything and anything. I also like to refer to it, as baby poop. It really is one of my favorite colors to wear. I may own 3 or more, pairs of mustard jeans. A handful of sweaters. And who knows how many scarves!

I just feel like mustard is a good transitional color. It's a toned down version...of the bright yellow of Summer. And it's prepping us, for all the burnt orange, that is on the way. Oh how I love mustard!

Here we are with the boots again. Oh, how I love a cognac boot! And a stripe. Have I mentioned the mustard scarf? Or the big 'ol comfy sweater? I'm telling you, I love an oversized sweater!

A boyfriend sweater, is my favorite Fall accessory. I have an old sweater, that was my Grandpa's. Hands down, my favorite item of clothing, to pull on when it's cool outside!

Let's talk leopard. It shouldn't be a shock to anyone that knows me. But leopard is my favorite print! Way past floral or damask. I LOVE leopard! My poor dog, also has to endure my love of leopard. In her short life...she's had about 10 leopard outfits. :)

I feel like a leopard scarf, is a nice way, to add a little something to a basic outfit. And like I was saying, I feel like Fall is when I begin to "care" again. It's kind of like a bow on a present. Not necessary. But oh so nice!

I also adore a military jacket. There's just something about the cut and color, that I feel like, screams Fall! The feminity of the leopard scarf, and the masculinity of the militarty jacket...are a perfect balance!

There are my favorite booties again! Oh, I do love a nice bootie. But this is more about the color burgundy. I like a rich color. Especially in Fall. Right here, these pieces are just screaming Fall to me. 

I'm always drawn to burgundy. It was one of my school colors in college. But I just adore the richness of the color. The way some people are drawn to red in the Winter/Holiday Season. I'm drawn to burgundy in the Fall. 

Like I said, I live in the southwest. And that has always influenced my style of dress. Maybe in high school, it wasn't appreciated. But as I've gotten older, I've gotten a lot more comfortable with it.

Items like a blanket cardigan or a moccassin boot, are not new to me. They're not a trendy item. It's something I've been wearing my entire life! So when I started to see more and more people wearing these items, it got me all excited!

I guess you could wear these pieces all year long. But I feel like, around here...it's just too hot. I'm not going to lie here. I may have pulled out such items last week. And sported them to the State Fair. But when paired with basic jeans and a white T-shirt...it just works! 

The boots went well with the outfit. And in the evening, when the temps started to drop...the cardigan was a nice addition. It speaks to my roots. And my style. 

An outfit like this, just speaks to my roots. It's something, I have been known, to wear often. Simple. Easy. Southwestern. Lace and leather. Moccassins and jeans. Throw in a little Cowgirl. How could this not be Fall?

Another one of those easy looks for Fall. Gingham checks. And thin sweaters. Lots of layering. And maybe a nod, to your school colors. Or favorite sports team. This is the perfect tailgating outfit. You know, without looking like you should be part of the team.

I was once a cheerleader. And noticed just how close, some fans can get...to looking like the team. This is still a nice "put together" look, without looking like you should be passing out Gatorade.

When I see an outfit like this, I just think Fall. It's easy. Not fusy. Ready for exploring Pumpkin Patches, Tailgating fun, and wondering through the State Fair. There are layers. And more Earthy colors. It's just ready for Fall!

I also start thinking about hair. Being that I spend the entire Summer, with mine piled high on my head. I think of lots of braids and texture. Much like this hairstyle.

And although this is very much a Summer picture, the hairstyle is very much for Fall. Something messy. Effortless. And super easy.

Like I said before, I start pulling out all my jewelry in Fall. And I'm most drawn to bronze. Something about all the Earth tones, makes me think of bronze and antique gold. The richness of the metal, pairs well with the rich colors of Fall!

And being a gal of the Southwest, Native American jewelry has a soft spot in my heart. I feel like any outfit can be dressed up, with a splash of turquoise. Or coral! And I find that these heavy pieces, work best in the Fall!

I hope you enjoyed my look into Fall fashion. It's a real world take. I won't be sporting things on the Runways. It's more about easy, comfort, and a nod to my roots. Fall is easily my favorite season for fashion. The mixes of texture, color, and natural fibers. I honestly love it all!

XOXO,

Desiree

Friday Favorites

And just like that, another week is in the books! How in the world, does Friday come so fast? This has been a week filled with friends, food, and lots of puppy cuddles!

Oh, and Happy September! I'm so excited to start decorating for Fall. Now I'm just waiting for the temps to start dropping. You know, so I can pull out my sweaters and boots. And start my Fall baking too. Yum!

Time to link up, with some of my favorite blogs. And highlight my week. It's been a full one. And one, that I didn't take many pictures. So this will be interesting...

 1. Cute Pups. Yup, it's been a fun week with these two. I've not been feeling well. Since Monday! Ugh! Hate when that happens. So I've spent lots of time, cuddling up, with my 2 favorite furry pals. It's been amazing!

 2. Handmade Gifts. And the special little girls, that go with them. One of my good friends, has the cutest granddaughter ever! So cute, she makes my uterus ache. OMG! If I could have one, just like her...I'd already be a Momma.

Anyway, it was her birthday a few weeks ago. And they invited us to her party. But that also happened to be, when I hurt my back. So we didn't go. And her present sat around our living room. Until I saw it Friday. And thought, her baby doll could use a little blanket.

I might have also heard, from a little birdie, that Sierra loves her baby dolls. And her purses. So I made her a matching purse. But failed to take a pic. All is good. Sweet girl, is having fun with her presents!

 3. Birthday Parties. Sweet Gabi, had her birthday party on Saturday. We rushed to pack up our shenanigans, at the Growers' Market. And headed to Peter Piper's. Time to celebrate!

A total bonus, getting to meet her cutie patootie baby brother! If you follow me on Instagram, then you saw his adorable picture. Oh my goodness! Sweet baby overload. I was dying! He is so cute!

We definitely enjoyed ourselves. And it was nice to have a cool place, to relax. After the Market. The best part, they sent us all home, with full bellies. And HUGE goodie bags. Yum, those treats were delish!

 4. Sunday Morning Shenanigans. We decided on Wednesday, to meet some friends. For breakfast burritos. Made by our other friend, Tino. And before heading to the park, my Mom and I stopped by Starbucks.

We have at least $60 in giftcards. And never go. Because I don't like coffee. But my friends have been raving about Starbucks tea. Ever since my favorite sugary drinks, were retired...I've avoided the place. But I'm in love with this tea! Like, can I go get another right this second?

And those burritos? They were so good! And HUGE! If you're local, and looking for a yummy breakfast on Sunday mornings...head to the Mile Hi Growers' Market. You will not be disappointed. Bonus, they have fresh agua frescas. And so much yummy produce!

 5. Green Chili. You can't be a true New Mexican, and not love the smell of green chili. Better yet, green chili roasting! I'm determined to take a video, of my friends roasting chili. Every single time, that roaster goes on, my brain goes nuts. And I forget all about the video.

For real, it's the first real sign, that Fall is on the way! I wish I could somehow bottle up the smell. You know, the way you want to bottle up the newborn baby smell. Or the new car smell.

Yeah, it's that good. Even better, a piece of hot chili, on a fresh tortilla. I swear to you, my mouth is watering right this second. Just thinking of it all! If you're looking for local green chili, let me know. I know a farmer!

 6. Good Views and Great Friends. So our Farmer friend has needed a little help lately. And since we don't have much else going on, we've been traveling around the city. Helping out wherever we can. My favorite spot this week? Right here. At the Presbyterian Admin Building. The view is AMAZING!

I mean, there are other Markets that I like much more. But this view. You can't beat it! In the middle of town, and you look up, to see these beautiful mountains. Such a blessing!

The crazy jokes all morning, were a total bonus! And hanging out with a bunch of friends, made for the best day! Even with everything going on in our lives, it is such a blessing, to be in this circle of friends. Helping out, when and where we can!

 7. Dark Chocolate. I think I forgot how much I LOVE these Midnight Milky Way bars. Seriously! Dark chocolate has my heart. But it can be bitter. These bars, are everything that I LOVE about dark chocolate.

And while we were all barely surviving the Wednesday Growers' Market...my Mom went on a little adventure. Returning with some sugary fuel. To get us to the magical hour of 1PM. When we pack up.

This was the best snack! And I'm adding these bad boys, to my grocery list. The little ones. Because a gal can never have too much chocolate. Especially dark chocolate!

 8. Food On The Go. Remember how I said, we've been on the go? Helping a friend. Well, on Thursdays, we head to the park. To help at another Growers' Market. It's super busy. And is right at dinner time.

So my Mom decided to cook for us. I literally had 5 people follow me. As I pushed this down the sidewalk. The makings of Indian Tacos. After the big rush of people,  we took turns having dinner. Nothing like sharing food, with good friends. Total bonus, was watching Miss Sierra tear into the beans. I should have gotten a picture!

People just don't understand, how you become a family. I mean, we are with each other at least 5 or 6 months out of the year. You see your friends, a few times a week. They give you food. You cook for them. You spend hours talking, laughing, and just hanging out together. Playing with the kiddos. Getting invested, in their family. So blessed, to have this Framily! Up next...homemade cinnamon rolls!

 9. Celebrate 31. That's right, I finally got to sit down...and enjoy some ice cream. Baseball nut to be exact. My favorite! Darn it was so good! And a nice way, to end our Thursday evening.

My parents just adored ice cream. I swear to you, they'd go eat ice cream every single night. During the Summer. And it didn't matter where. Sonic, Dairy Queen, McDonald's, Baskin Robbins, in Old Town. They love the stuff!

So it's nice to take my Mom out now. And we got to reminisce about my Dad. While my Mom enjoyed her Butter Pecan. It's ALWAYS butter pecan. No matter what! If I buy ice cream at the store, there better be butter pecan and strawberry.

10. Hurricane Harvey. My heart has been a mess, all week long! I posted about it, yesterday. I've watched the coverage all week. Seriously, while I was curled up with my pups, I was watching the coverage. It didn't matter what channel...I was watching.

My heart, was so full yesterday. Watching everyone donate during ABC's Day of Giving. And reading all the awesome emails, from so many people. It just inspired me so much!

Stay tuned, to Two Crafty Hearts next week. I've been working on items. And hope to post them, on Friday. If you are local, I will pick a place...the following week to meet. If you purchase anything. And if you are not in the Albuquerque area, I'll be charging for shipping. Via USPS.

That's it, for last week. Mostly selling at various Growers' Markets. Lots of eating. And even more resting. Hoping this week, that I start to feel better. I have so much to do! And this weekend, we have a packed schedule. 5 parties on Sunday. Let's see what we can accomplish! Happy Friday!

XOXO,
Desiree