Category: Work

Everyone that knows me in real life knows I don’t have your typical office job. There’s always something different going on, whether a meeting, event, seminar, visit from a group, expo, etc.

The days leading up to a visit from a group at work are usually hectic, and usually, these types of visits require a lot of walking, a lot of meetings, a lot of places to see. My favorite part: all the places we get to eat 😆 .

We started our first visit at Cracker Barrel, where I usually have the “healthier” version of the Good Morning Breakfast.

It was so good. Of course I’d have to have a biscuit, though 😳 !

We went to look at vacant properties, which was followed by a meeting at the Country Club. I’d taken an allergy medication (my allergies have been HELL lately!) so I was a bit drowsy, but I perked up once they brought this to the table!

It was heavenly! Seriously, one of the best things I ate during this excursion! I was sad I wasn’t able to devour the entire thing 🙁 .

We had several more meetings throughout the day and it was so humid and hot and just unbearable outside. We took a break around 4pm, so I freshened up at home and tried sleeping my sinus headache away but it was a no-go 😕 .

Dinner was at House.Wine & Bistro, one of my all-time faves. We decided to go for small plates and appetizers and share, which was totally fine with me since I was still somewhat digesting lunch!

These are probably my absolute FAVORITE!

And then it was time for dessert! I’m still not over the fact that they discontinued the Banoffee 🙁 , but the S’mores Mousse and Apple Pie with Cheddar Ice Cream was pretty darn satisfying!

(OMG. Take me back!!)

We had early meetings the next morning, so I had a quick breakfast at home (half a PB sandwich on wheat), very early in the morning. By the time we stopped for lunch, I was starving! We went to the newest Palenque Grill location on Nolana, which I hadn’t been to yet. I ordered the same thing I’ve ordered at the first location: the Shrimp-Stuffed Tilapia. The cream in this dish is so delicious!

The plates are certainly enough for two people; I shared over half of my tilapia, which was good considering we headed straight to another meeting right after lunch, and I was having trouble staying awake 😆 . I would have straight-up passed out if I’d eaten the entire thing!

We took another break so I went home and freshened up (it was another scorcher!) and I tidied up my bedroom till it was time to go.

Dinner was at Bodega Tavern & Kitchen and the whole experience was just amazing!

My dish was the Chicken Roulade, which included a quail egg and ravioli. Some of my favorite foods all in one dish! I got to sample the brussels sprouts as well, which were SO GOOD! It kind of reminded me of the ready-salad I buy at HEB with the brussels sprouts, kale and cranberries that I toss cayenne shrimp into!

Isn’t that the prettiest cocktail??

Then it was time for dessert! I didn’t catch a photo of the mousse, but I did capture one of the strawberry shortcake 3-leches!

Again, it was a good thing we shared dessert because I COULD HAVE eaten that entire thing.

My babies all got back from their other parents’ houses that evening. I got home and the little ones wanted to play, so of course I obliged!

We had a *super* early meeting on Friday morning, so I woke up and ate a quick breakfast. Eenan was already awake and wanted to learn to make scrambled eggs. I looked at the clock–I had time, so Emily joined us and we have him a quick lesson. I rushed my directions at the end, and Emily noticed, because she said, “It’s ok Mom. I’ll stay with this kid” 😆 . She’s such a little mom!

We were on the road by 7:45am, arrived at the meeting at 8:30am as scheduled…and they told us we were at the wrong place. So much for my completed notes; now we had to start from scratch again. There were about 4 hours till the next meeting, and our guests had new forms to fill out and wanted to check something out on the island, so after getting the OK, we headed there!

They filled out what needed filling out and after Googling a few things and making a few calls, I got to sit back and relax. They finished up their paperwork and we headed back to town for lunch.

You can’t go wrong with Luby’s! I am not ashamed to say I polished off that entire bowl of mac-n-cheese!

We headed to the next meeting, which was another head-nodder to be honest. But I paid attention and listened like a good grasshopper.

I broke away from the group at 4pm when we got back to the office. I said my good-byes, since they’d be having dinner with another group and I had to be at the Food Park to help set-up for the vendors and our Unplugged event. But first, I checked up on the kids. Since Jorge was also tied up at work, he ordered pizzas for them so Mom wouldn’t have to worry. I would have taken them kids with me, but the heat was unbearable. The girls would have been miserable (and would have made me spend about $30 at the market once the vendors showed up like last time!).

Since it was boiling and I had 30 minutes to spare(seriously, heat index was 114!), I joined EZ and Michelle at SALT. I had enough time for one cocktail before I had to rush off. So I had a Paloma.

And EZ ordered the Baked Alaska.

Holy, moly. It was to die for!!

Once 6pm came around I went back to the Food Park 2 blocks away and started set-up. I was lonely for a while, but then EZ, Michelle, Rosie, Val, Ryan and Rick showed up. Our performers for the night, Just the Two of Us, were fantastic!!

Of course I had to eat dinner, so Taqueria Los Brothers brought me their awesome lemonade and shrimp tacos. Oh geez. So good!!

I regret nothing! Ok, maybe just a little… 😀

My Mother’s Day weekend started a bit early on Friday, with Emmos presenting me with a beautiful magnet frame for my fridge .

We had movie night that night, and I managed to fall asleep during the latest Star Wars movie. The parts I saw were great tho!

I skipped yoga the next day (after much rolling around in my sheets debating how long to “sleep in”) but I eventually got up and got ready…only to sit at the kitchen table drinking coffee 😆 .

I took Emmos with me and we searched all over for the small Peppa plushes for Charlee. They were out everywhere. But we did find this:

For $1.00!! We couldn’t believe it. We searched the isles for more, but again, nothing 😕 .

We did all our shopping and errands and then we got home and I got the 3 little ones ready to go to Charlee’s party. Before we got ready to leave, Julien runs to me and says, “Happy Mother’s Day!!”:

I immediately choked up; I felt overwhelmed and just surprised! I put it on the fridge proudly, next to Emmos’. He brought me a little poem, too, with handprints and a painting of a vase with flowers in it (the buds were his little hands!), but I told him it should be for his 1st Mom. I didn’t know how to take his reaction; I didn’t want to offend him, but I figured she should have something, too, from him. I know I would want to. I did take pictures of him with the poem and painting and I said, “There! Now we’ll both have one!”

So after adjusting my mascara and swallowing down the lump in my throat, we were off 🙂 .

They had so much fun at Sally’s! She always comes up with cute games for them and they love it. And Charlee looked adorable, of course!

I had a great time, too, catching up with Sally. I love spending time with her!

We got home and just as I changed into my lazy clothes, I get a message on Facebook stating that I won a Mother’s Day contest pack from Xquinkles Snack Land!! I never win those social media contests so I was thrilled, and hello?! Who wouldn’t be thrilled over this:

I took half the brood with me; the others stayed home playing video games with Dad 🙂 .

Then we got home and watched The Jungle Book–which I passed out during as well.

The next morning was officially Mother’s Day 🙂 . Jorge woke me up with smooches and told me to stay in bed, so I obliged 😆 . Then he and the girls woke me up and I was greeted by these beautiful, drowsy faces:

My love and the kiddos didn’t make breakfast that morning, but he did bring the next best thing: menudo and barbacoa!!

So we ate, and then I was allowed to lounge around all morning until we got ready to return some stuff (can you believe the tunic I’m wearing in the photo was $5??) and then we went to visit Gramma:

She was doing good, thank God :). She’s recently moved to a new facility, per her request, which shocked us all. So that only means she really didn’t like it at the previous place before 🙁 .

We got home and Aunt Nora and Linda came to visit. Then we lazied around the rest of the day. It was just awesome, and low-key with all the kids, Mom and my love. John was around for a bit, but disappeared to study. We watched Grey’s Anatomy with the kids the rest of the evening until I passed out on the sofa.

As for gifts, I did a satisfying amount of clothes shopping 🙂 . Plus my love got me this:

I had such a great day yesterday, that I actually didn’t mind having to wake up at 5am this morning 🙂 . And dropping the kids off was a piece of cake on our way to school/work and the day went by fast and was a breeze! I even applied for a grant (with my co-worker’s advice, of course!)

Late March/early April were huge for us at work. In our usual manner, we planned 3 large events in the course of 2 weeks; 2 of them being 3 days apart.

I was stressed, especially with Taste McAllen, which is my baby. We had lots of changes and this new concept was being unveiled for the 1st time, ever. I was praying for the best!

The day of the event just so happened to be the HOTTEST day this spring so far! I couldn’t believe our luck. I felt so nervous and just unprepared, even though we’d stayed late Tuesday and Wednesday to make sure we had absolutely everything we’d need. It’s just my anxious personality, I guess!

We were at the event site since very early, which is probably why I felt like I had heat exhaustion at least twice 😳 . I’m pretty sure my boss had it. And even though we were missing a canopy at registration and our registration staff got all messed up (I ended up at registration!), I have to say, thanks to everyone’s help, the event was pretty close to amazing, if I do say so myself!

(Didn’t get to snap a photo of Ram Danesse singing because this was when I got stuck at registration. Meh.)

So sad I didn’t get to try anything from the Pit!

See? What did I tell ya?? It was awesome!! Worth the blood, sweat and tears 😆 !!

The next evening was Music After Hours & Craft Fair. I took a few photos for the Food Park Facebook page and went to Kohl’s to get some jeans for the BBQ the next day (priorities). Lisa told me she and her mom were heading to the food trucks so I rushed back, but I was too late, they were gone. I was kidless, Jorge was still working and it started becoming cold so I got some nachos from Planet Munchies and went home. Since the BBQ was happening at the Food Park, the trucks parked right next to the curb at Archer Park. It gave it such an awesome feel!

Jorge and I hung out at home and then we were up bright and early the next chilly morning! Everyone that had arrived when I did were all buzzing around, cleaning, getting things ready. Then it was time to go to our posts. Mine was at the judges’ room, like it has been the past 2 years. I like it there: air conditioning, time goes by fast, the girls and I are like well-oiled machines AND we get first dibs at pan de campo :love: !

I didn’t get to get photos of the event, or the food since we were busy, but I got a pic with Michelle and Rosie when I finally made it outside.

We cleaned up and the event was over so I went home and Jorge got home from work and we went to Feldman’s to get some drinks and watch Grey’s Anatomy 😀 .

Our boss took us to breakfast on Monday morning and I got home to these beautiful, adorable faces!

We had Latina Hope Wednesday and EZ, Michelle and I went to Red Lobster afterwards.

Jorge and I went to the Lunchbox on 10th on Thursday, one of our exhibitors from Taste McAllen.

Friday was our golf tournament. I got to be in the Margarita tent this time and it was a blast! It drizzled awhile and became really humid but it was a great day once the sky became overcast.

It was a great time and whizzed by. I got my dinner burger to go once we were done cleaning up and picked up a botana (per Mom’s request) on the way home 🙂 .

It’a always nerve-wracking before our events (especially when it falls directly under me!) but the end result is usually pretty badass.