Food Feature Friday #10: New Grocer On The Block.

For as long as I can remember, my neighborhood has been a tight-knit community when it comes to businesses. If we don't like what you've done or are about, we simply don't encourage you. We also tend to lean more towards smaller businesses, to better help those who we feel truly deserve it. 

I could be speaking for a small portion of us folk around here, but it's very evident when you hear the stories of big businesses trying to swindle our "city-like" buyers. You may think that we are all pompous natured, but in reality we try to take care of our own.

I will say however, that I personally am not too keen on the "pricey health food" stores, that seem to jack the prices well above average pricing. I understand quality is keen when eating healthy/organic, but I've gotten much more bang for my buck shopping at Trader Joe's compared to Whole Food's, for example. But I'm not opposed to giving people a chance either. So when I heard about a new grocer that was Southern California native and claimed to have cheap/reasonable prices for their organically healthy foods, my padawan and I drove over to decide for ourselves. 

The grocery store that I'm specifically speaking of, is called "Baron's Market". It's a family run business with the claim that their products are typically 25% to 35% less than the average supermarket, while still providing quality food with a flavor to match. 

After browsing their 12 aisles, sampling some of their cuisine, tasting a taco, and picking up a few interesting - and less interesting - items to determine price vs quality, I've come to a semi-definitive decision. I'll explain:

The first thing you walk into when venturing into the North Park "Baron's Market", is the produce department straight ahead, with the check out stands to your left. This is of course, if you're entering from their underground parking garage, through the elevator. 

The produce is very well stocked with excellent variety and a beautiful display. How long it will look this nice, purely depends on how attentive the employees will be long after the initial opening - don't worry, I plan on making another visit to determine if it was all for opening day or it's consistently being kept pretty. Everything had the appeal of freshness, but what specifically caught my eye was the orange juice stand neatly displayed to the left. 

They were handing out samples and the kind employee proceeded to tell me about how the oranges are locally grown in Valencia, CA - which are delicious, in case you're wondering. I noticed the jugs filled with the fresh squeezed orange juice - you can literally see the machine that is squeezing these fresh oranges AND clearly taste the level of freshness with the first sip. What I was shocked to find out, was that you weren't bound to just their one sized small jugs. You could in fact, grab an empty container - that they have there - and fill up the jug to your preference. 

Behind the produce, you'll find an Olive Bar priced at $7.99 a lb. and a Salad Bar priced at $5.99 a lb. Not too shabby for their seemingly fresh greens! 

Further through our grocery store escapade, I discovered a small freezer section filled with practically anything you'd need for "pizza night". From blank pizza doughs, to fully filled pizza creations, they truly do "got you covered" as their sign suggested. 

Another interesting find, was the fact they had a little coffee stand, where you could pour yourself a cup of brew for a mere $1.69 for 16oz or $1.49 for 12oz. The coffee is 100% arabica beans, with breads and pastries surrounding the coffee stand, in case you want your breakfast fully ready to go. 

Don't want fresh brew there, but want beans to take home? They sell the beans in bulk style - you can choose the amount - closely resembling a Sprouts (formerly known as Henry's) styled bargain. This isn't the only "bulk" item in the store though. 

They also sell the sugary sweets - chocolates, gummy bears, etc - nuts, sunflower seeds, and beans, to name a few. You can find these gems in between the produce and the salad bar, to the right. 

A very peculiar find that I haven't seen before in a grocer, is their variety of bottled vinegars and oils, neatly displayed to where you can sample them as well. A very sweet employee was handing out samples of their ice cream - which was flavorful and decadent - topped with a sweet vinegar drizzle. I didn't think that there was such a thing, but with a nice Mango White Balsamic Vinegar on top of Vanilla ice cream, you'd be pleasantly surprised with it's powerful yet sweet flavoring. Don't knock it, ti'll you try it. 

Don't worry, they aren't selling only sweet vinegars and oils. They have a beautiful selection ranging from Garlic Infused Olive Oil to Basil Infused as well. Practically anything for a scrumptious meal, you'll find fresh in their store. 

A section I was hoping would be included in the store - and was later found to indeed exist within - was their "ready made" sandwiches and lunches. Tuna salads, sandwiches, wraps, you name it. 

My son and I picked up some sandwiches, which I will later discuss in this post. 

In case you're looking for a hotter meal that's pre-made, they offer a mini "Baron's Kitchen", where - for the opening - they were handing out samples of steak and fish tacos. Let me tell you, everything melted in my mouth with the essence of fresh cuisine. It was well deserving of being on a restaurant menu, which shocked me that the extent of their service was indeed living up to the claims on their website. 

They also have hot ready made soups at their Soup Bar, with prices ranging between $1.99 for an 8 oz. and $6.99 for a 32 oz. cup of soup. The smell was intoxicating and I will be back to purchase a bowl. In fact, I plan on going back to create an entire lunch picnic, using mostly their ready-made meals and bars. 

Speaking of ready-made meals, another food I want to test out, is their low priced rotisserie chickens, going for $4.99. They didn't look overcooked or overly seasoned, which can be a good or bad thing. The price is excellent, but I couldn't comment on it's quality, as I didn't try it first hand. No worries though, I plan to do just that in the near future. 

Something that utterly pleased me, was the extent of their gluten free products. They didn't have a tiny little area, shoved off to the side that made you feel like you were in the outskirts of town around shady characters. No, it was smack dab in the center of excellence and they mean business. My padawan nor I are gluten intolerant, but to see the quantity of selection for those who are - or by choice going gluten free - was pleasant to see. 

The rest of our tour consisted of browsing the neighboring aisles, which were filled with a nice selection of frozen food, dried fruit, a gorgeous array of teas, and an aromatic display of spices. I picked up two teas - which I'll review next week - along with a poultry spice. 

As I previously mentioned, my padawan and I picked up a few sandwiches to taste, for our lunch yesterday. We both chose a turkey breast kids meal - that's right, a kids meal - which included NUT FREE honey graham crackers, 4 - yes precisely 4 - gummy bears, a rectangle of cheddar cheese, one organic juice drink, and a turkey sandwich with white bread. 

There aren't any condiments in the sandwich, nor are they included - which kind of sucked since we like mayo and mustard, but can make for an easier time for those who don't like condiments or are sensitive. It wasn't too big of a deal for us, seeing as how we were eating them at home, but I would suggest being prepared in case you were planning to take it on the go. I'm not sure if they have packets separately in the store - I would imagine so - but I will check soon and update this when I know for sure. 

Every single item in the kids meal was fresh, delicious, juicy, tender, and just plain good. My son and I both devoured our food, which gave us the feeling of a homemade sandwich. It was as if someone made us a sandwich at our house and filled the plate with more goodies to snack with. 

Overall the experience was lovely and I really enjoyed how straight forward the grocery store was. No crap to fill empty space or unnecessary aisles. It was very much like a Trader Joe's and Sprouts mixed, with prices more on the Trader Joe's spectrum. 

We spent about $60 for all of our grocery items, which comes to a little less than $4 an item. The kicker, all these prices will remain the same well after the opening has long since passed. They didn't have any special sales for the day or gimmicks to draw you in. It was set as is and you can be certain that you'll pay the same price. 

My hope is that the quality of the store, it's products, and it's services, will remain the same throughout the years and will stick around to provide them to all the locals. I predict good things for this grocer and I highly recommend you try it if you have the chance. Worst thing that will happen, is that you'll taste goodness and want to buy everything. 

I don't see myself choosing this store over Trader Joe's, simply because I'm a die-hard fan, but I do see myself returning over and over again. It seems I've only just begun to scratch the surface of this seemingly simple grocery store. 

Well there you have it guys! Another Friday, another review. The last review - and blog post - of the year! Holy cannoli! I can't believe the New Year will be hitting us this weekend. So much to be thankful for and so much to accomplish. What are your guy's resolutions, if any?

Have a fantastic weekend and end of 2016. I hope that in 2017, you find prosperity, love, and success in all your endeavors. Much love from the TWRC family and don't forget to keep on rockin' Jedi's. See you all in 2017!

iPhone 6s Review - Better Late Than Never!

iPhone's have a way of keeping us on our toes at all times of the year. Between Apple's constant releases and ios updates, we never know what we're in for when it comes to our phone's capabilities. The most recent release was the iPhone 7 - September 16th, 2016. The iPhone 6s - released September 25th, 2015 - was the "it" item before the 7. 

I myself used the iPhone 4s since January 2012, with high hopes in having it for years to come. While that statement does stand true - almost 5 years - it was high time to retire the 4s after multiple complications and it's inability to guarantee me a working phone. 

After much consideration into which phone would better suit me, I took to the Apple store and played around with the iPhone 7 and the 6s. While I've never been too keen on getting the newest item the year it's released, I was optimistic seeing as how the iPhone 4s did me well. 

It was to my displeasure however, that the headphone jack was taken out and to be honest, that bothered me. It bothered me that I would have to make a new purchase for headphones that I would most likely lose. I understand that it was done so to make the phone waterproof and overall more durable - supposedly making phone covers/cases unnecessary - but it wasn't something I was worth to give up. Sorry. 

I also didn't like the price tag one bit. With their plan, they wanted me to stay on a 2 year contract - through Verizon - while I paid the phone off. What they don't tell you is that the payments would last beyond the 2 year contract and if something happened to the phone or you wanted an upgrade, you'd have to pay off the phone in it's entirety before getting a new one. I didn't really feel comfortable knowing that I would be locked into a price tag with the possibility of issues. Call me paranoid, but I know how phones and I coexist. Let's just say, it hasn't always been cordial between myself and mobile phones. 

With that in mind, I was gifted a 6s for Christmas (you can see that post HERE) and immediately put it to the test. After transferring everything over through iCloud - easiest process, but a tad time consuming - I dove into my newest beauty and got into the details. I will say that I haven't used the phone strenuously within the last 5 days, but it's had it's work cut out for it. 

A few tech specs would include an A9 chip processor, 4k recording, noise reduction, touch ID, and live photos for stabilization. For all the tech specs, click HERE. 

With the iPhone 6s, I was given the option to use "touch ID" for my passcode, apple pay, and itunes. I opted out of apple pay and itunes, but liked the idea of my fingerprint being my passcode. I also noticed that you could use multiple fingerprints to get into your phone - I guess for ease and "just in case" - which up-ed the "fanciness" of the phone. 

The ios is amazing and the speed is astounding as well, with new emojis, a faster processor, and greater capabilities, I truly feel like I'm finally caught up with the youngans. 

A great feature I've come to adore is the fact that you can delete apps that are automatically downloaded onto your phone, unlike the past when you were basically forced to have less data. That was the first thing I did. Delete any unwanted crap that they installed on my phone, because I knew they would be shoved in it's own category on a separate page, never to see the day of light. 

Texting is interesting too, because now I can literally write with my finger! Additional emoji's are hilarious - although I really despise the clown (I have a fear of them - but it's nothing I can't overlook. Gifs are automatically an add-on into the texting features as well, which really helps with getting your emotions across to fellow gif receivers. 

Apps aren't crashing, data is steady, editing is easy, and all is going well so far. 

My all time favorite upgrade that I've experienced with this phone, is the camera! Don't get me wrong, I love that now I can browse with ease, work without issues, and actually use my phone, but having a camera that takes quality photography regardless of lighting is astounding.

Of course the better the lighting, the better the photo, but to take a nighttime photo without a blurred effect is awesome! I was able to take a photo of Christmas lights, at night, in complete darkness, with quality that really showcased the lights themselves. Something I could never have done with my iPhone 6s.

The battery life is also a huge step up - but it is a newer phone - and allows me to play games, read emails, edit photos, use social media, text, and take videos without dying on me in 10 minutes. 

Obviously many of the features are still running in perfect order from being brand spanking new, but even after testing out the phones in the Apple store - some that are constantly played with - they iPhone 6s seems to be a huge improvement from iPhone 4s. While I'm not hating on the iPhone 7, but I don't see myself running out to purchase it in the future. Never say never, but for now I'm pleased. 

If you're looking into getting a new iPhone, I recommend the iPhone 6s, but I also recommend going to the Apple store and making yourself acquainted with the products yourself. Without any help. I know the employees are there to answer your questions, but they won't be at your house showing you every step of the way. Best way to figure out what works with what you need, is to go test it for yourself. 

As for me, I'm an iPhone 6s momma all the way. It's perfect for work, play, and taking memories. Just what I needed.

Did you guys get a new phone for Christmas? What's your opinions on the iPhone 6s and the iPhone 7? 

Take Time To Live.

Found HERE

I yet again, offer my condolences to the family of Carrie Fisher, for they have now lost another. Debbie Reynolds - known as the mother of Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia) and the grandmother from Disney's "Halloweentown" movies - has passed away just one day after her daughter, Carrie Fisher.

The amount of death and sorrow that has fallen on this Earth within this last year, is astounding. I know that everyone meets their demise and every year we loose beautiful souls, but with these two deaths - along with quite a few other icons I grew up adoring -  it hit me just how quick anything can change within the blink of an eye.

My whole life has been filled with fear and anxiety, which has kept me from living to the absolute fullest. I've held back from venturing to far out of my comfort zone, but I will say that I've made progress.

These two souls lost their lives to heart attacks, but they did not go in vain. They are both gravely missed and truly admired for their excellence in not only films, but as icons to millions. 

I looked at my son after hearing of Debbie Reynolds' passing and realized that I didn't want him to be stuck in my world of "bubble space". I want to teach him to take time out of everyday and do something that he truly wants to do. I want him to learn that even if you're afraid, you can do it in fear. 

You know how sometimes you get this spark under your ass (excuse my language) and it instantly ignites the fire inside you? That's what happened today.

I know this isn't thee most informative piece of writing I've written - let's be honest, I've had a few days where my posts weren't exactly up to par - but I'm human.

I also care. Which is why I'm telling you this now. I know it's terrifying to take a spontaneous drive out to an unknown city and have an adventure into god know where. I know it's hard to push the boundaries with anxiety, let alone a mental illness. I know it's tough to speak up, be heard, scream out loud. But you know what, time could halt at any second. Our rocks could have an untimely demise in a nanosecond, without a blink of an eye. 

Love your rocks, hold your rocks, tell them how much they mean to you, don't let them doubt your love for them, but be your own rock as well. Be the brave soldier you've admired, act like the hero you honor, live like the soul you've dreamed of. We have one life and if we spend it working all day, sleeping all night, errands every moment, before you know it you'll be looking back at the youngans doing just what you wish you could. 

Go eat at that new restaurant 4 hours away. Travel to Disneyland and party like you're 12. Go off grid for a weekend. Camp at the national forest that you're scared of. Try that exotic wardrobe you've been eyeing. Photography those castles you've dreamt about. Take time to live, because damnit you deserve it. 

DIY Form Fitting Flannel for $5!!

Found HERE

First off I'd just like to say that I'm still sad that Christmas is over, but I'm glad 2016 is almost over, because it has stolen too many icons! Today I learned that the ever gorgeous Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia from Star Wars). She was a hero, an icon, and an influential part of my life. Many others can attest to that statement, I'm sure. With so many outstanding souls having been taken this year, I've come to realize that time is of the essence to acquire true happiness. Live your lives to the fullest padawans. Space mama is now living amongst the stars and she will watch you all with the force. 

While I'm still shocked and heartbroken of the loss, I didn't intend for today's entire post to be a dedication to the beautifully talented Carrie - although she deserves much more than just a measly post - I want to now bring your attention to the main topic of today and that is winter wardrobe! And a little fall. 

For the entirety of the cold weathered season, I've had my eye on a cozy flannel that would compliment my wardrobe and keep warm throughout the day. With the "traditional" patterned flannels costing anywhere from $20 and up, I merely passed by them with a yearning of hope. Hope that they'd go on massive clearance during the spring season and I could snatch one up for a fraction of the cost.

Of course this logic would mean that I wouldn't be able to rock my flannel until NEXT fall, but I would've been happy nonetheless. However, as fate would have it, during a trip to my local Goodwill - you've never let me know ol' buddy - I came across a stunningly colored flannel with just the right amount of warmth! The best part wasn't just that it was only priced at $4.99, but that it was a BRAND NEW Polo Ralph Lauren. It was Christmassy, it was new, it was warm, but it was also huge. 

I'm talking grown man XL huge. You could practically hear my heart shatter with disbelief that Goodwill would taunt me in such a way. I grabbed the over-sized shirt and held onto it for dear life, hoping by somehow squeezing it hard enough, it would shrink to the perfect fit. 

News flash, it didn't work and I looked like a lunatic.

But it was then during my brief moment of insanity, that I realized I could indeed make this shirt turn into a dream come true. I just simply had to make it sew! See what I did there? I crack myself up. 

I proudly marched to the register and purchased my future DIY project, repeating to myself that while I could fail miserably, it was only $5 and I didn't have anything to lose! Expect my $5 of course. 

Once I got home, I put on the ginormous flannel and stared in the mirror for a good 10 minutes, praying to God that I could make this work. In an effort to be as precise as I could, I pulled out a "cowboy style" button up shirt that I had, to use as a reference for sizing. 

To make my markings, I simply used a white Crayola colored pencil - surprisingly, it makes for an excellent chalk outline without ruining the shirt - and drew roughly 2 inches away from the shirt I was outlining. To give myself a little "goof up" room. 

I did this process for the sides, the sleeves, the cuffs, and the overall length. I knew it meant practically resewing the entire flannel, but I meant it when I said I wanted one and by golly I was determined. 

One thing I will say helped me a little more forceful with my decisions, is that I sewed on the white line and did NOT cut anything off, until EVERYTHING was sewed. This meant having a little extra fabric on the inside momentarily while I tried it on - about a thousand times - before I actually took the leap to cut off the excess fabric. 

This saved me big time though, because if I did mess up - which thankfully I didn't - I could carefully rip the stitches, make new markings, and sew again. I'd rather not sew fabric back onto the shirt and only cut once. 

I even managed to sew a tiny "swoop" in the back and while it's definitely not perfect, it's perfect for me! 

The entire flannel now looks like it was practically made to fit me and I was able to finish the entire process within about 45 minutes. This is mostly because I measured everything 4 or 5 times before I started sewing, just to be sure. I also had to take a couple juice breaks with my padawan. 

Overall I'm really proud with how my flannel turned out and I gotta say, I'm feeling a little bit more empowered with my progress in the sewing world! I'm by no means an expert, but with practice here and there, I think I'm starting to get the hang of it! I won't be sewing gowns anytime soon, but I definitely see this as an enhancement to my thrift shopping experience! 

I've always taken mini leaps of faith when it came to semi-ill fitting clothing, but never something this "drastic" before. With this under my belt, the world is my possibility! Well, the world of Goodwill anyway.

Hopefully this has inspired you to take a new look into the thrift store world and see that you yourself can create anything with a little time, patience, creativity, and determination. If I can figure it out, trust me, so can you!

To close out, I'd like to extend my condolences to the entire family of Carrie Fisher. In the off chance that you read this - which I doubt, but I need to say this anyways - Carrie was my hero since I was a little girl. She made me believe that hope is all you need to move forward in a world of hate. She gave me my inner force and brought to life a sense of realization into my adulthood. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to love and admire her. May the force be with you all. 

Christmas Recap of the Greatest Year Yet!

I have never been so sad to have a Monday come, than I am right now. Sure Monday's have their way of ruining a grand weekend, but this one in particular meant the end to my favorite holiday of all time. You can be certain however, that I am grasping onto my Christmas tree for dear life, hoping that it won't die on me soon.

Let's face it, I just need to live in North Pole, Alaska where it's Christmas year 'round.

While I'm not exactly a happy camper with the glorious holiday being over, I am quite thrilled with what I've been gifted! So many wondrous presents - I know that Christmas isn't all about gifts - that I just had to share with you all what Santa and our family gave to us this year!

No I'm not bragging in any way, shape, or form. I'm merely expressing my gratitude with the utmost respect and sharing with you all a recap of our holiday with love. 

Christmas Eve was our Christmas Part 1, with my mom and stepdad joining us for a peaceful dinner/lunch. Of course the moment they arrived, we dove straight into exchanging gifts, because my padawan and I couldn't wait any longer. 

Christmas Day was our Christmas Part 2 at my dad's house, with another feast and the company of my father and his girlfriend. Again, we jumped into presents immediately. 

My son lucked out big time - seriously, he won't stop telling me how happy he is with his presents - with all his gifts and I myself am still reeling from the amazing present my stepdad found for me. I have to say, when you don't have to tell someone what you want for Christmas, yet they get you the perfect thing, you know they care!!!

Padawan got a Imaginext Super Hero flight city (Santa), Lex Luthor (Santa), a Minecraft hot wheels set (Santa), Minecraft hot wheels carts (Grandpa), Pokémon Cards (grandpa and Santa), a stuffed Darth Vader (Santa), a SUPER cool marvel superhero pillow (Grampy), Skylanders Imaginators (Grampy and Grammy), extra characters for Skylanders Imagniators (Grampy and Grammy).

I won't go into a full review in this post, but I do plan on posting a review about the Skylanders game and the city later this week. 

My little padawan is basking in the glory that are his new additions. He will surely be entertained for quite some time. Seems like this has been a successful Christmas for him!

For me, I would say that this Christmas was extremely eye-opening and extravagant!

I was gifted an extremely soft neck pillow and matching sleep mask (stepdad and mom), a rice cooker (dad's girlfriend), an HP laptop (it's for my son's school from my dad's girlfriend), a Trader Joe's gift card (stepdad and mom), an iPhone 6s (my dad), a pair of oven mitts (my dad's girlfriend), a pair of pink SUPER soft slippers (my mom and stepdad), and the greatest gift of all that I am absolutely in love with, a Bing Crosby Christmas record.

I know you're probably thinking, "Really? You like a record over a new iPhone?" Let me tell you this. My phone was messing up consistently and causing me a lot of problems. I'm very grateful and blessed to have the iPhone and I treat it like gold, but my record is like my second child. 

First of all, I'm in love with Bing Crosby's music in general, but "White Christmas" . Second of all, I never mentioned it that I had been dying for this record. The fact that my stepdad went out of his way to purchase something that I am truly passionate about and something that has a soft spot in my heart, is awe-inspiring and to me is the true representation of Christmas. 

He learned what I loved, scoured the internet to find a very difficult item that I adore, and purchased this record to make me happy. He made this mama one happy old soul. I keep playing it over and over - Christmas shall never die in this house - and my son is already giving me the stink eye. Luckily my Crosley player allows me to use headphones during the day and I play it during my mommy time at night. Long live the holidays!!!!

Again, I won't go into full review mode in this post, but I will be doing a review on the iPhone 6s - I know I'm late, but I've heard a few people consider upgrading so I thought I'd offer up my thoughts. I may do a laptop review as well, along with a few rice cooker recipes, so stay tuned for those! Also, if you're looking for a genuine Christmas album, Bing Crosby is the way to go!

As for food, we definitely ate like kings on Christmas Eve AND Christmas Day. If you want to see our feast for both days, check back this Friday for the full run down!

Our weekend ended with an up close and personal experience with Christmas lights. My dad displays a mini winter wonderland in the front yard, so as soon as the sun went down and the lights turned on, we were outside with thick coats dancing to Christmas music and watching my padawan light up with joy. He adores seeing Christmas lights and I adore seeing his smile, which made this the perfect ending to a perfect weekend. 

With so much to talk about and a bunch of goodies to review, you can expect a week of awesomeness sprinkled with reviews, DIY's, and food. 

Hopefully you guys had a magnificent holiday weekend filled with peace, family, love, and thanks. I'd love to see what you guys got this Christmas! Share your photos on social media and tag me or use #TWRC for a chance to be featured!

I know Monday is a bummer, but at least we're here to experience it! Love you guys and don't forget to keep on rockin'!

Food Feature Friday #9: Dinner, Holiday Edition!

Christmas is 2 days away, but Christmas Eve is tomorrow!!! This could potentially mean that you may be having your family dinner tomorrow while majority of the stores are either closing early or closed completely, but perhaps you'll either have time in the morning to make adjustments or you'll be having dinner on Christmas day. In lieu of the upcoming Christmas feast that will - hopefully - be ensuing soon for you and your love ones, I thought I'd do a very special Food Feature today based on holiday meals!

Now to be perfectly clear none of these are my recipes, but I thought that each and every one of them made excellent alternatives to the traditional menu for this fine holiday season. I will be linking each and every source - simply click on the recipe's title to be taken to it's original creator - to make sure everyone gets their well-deserved credit. I simply pasted each recipe in a convenient location for you all to test out, but like I said, they are NOT mine. Simply deliciousness that may make for a new-style dinner. The best part is that you can either pick and choose a few new items that you haven't done prior or re-create the entire list!

So without further ado, let's get into this mouthwatering food! 

Sirloin Tip Roast

Don't get me wrong, I love ham, but sometimes you just want to experiment with something new. 

Last year my son and I had decided to go with a roast instead of a ham with excellent success. I do understand however, the anxiety that can come from trying a new main course for a full house, but that's how memories are made right? 

The great thing about roast is that you can really worry less about getting people sick - not that you would with a bird or pig, I'm sure you'll do fantastic - and you can really play around with any side dishes that you'd prefer! 

Tomato and Roasted Lemon Salad

I'm a fan of salad's in general, so seeing a really bright and colorful salad on the table spread, gives me a sense of joy. 

This salad I haven't specifically tried, but I do think it would make an AMAZING side. I do however do special salads during the holidays, with either new green blends or new dressings. 

Like I said, experimentation can be difficult during big holidays, but you won't know until you try!

Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Cinnamon Butternut Squash, Pecans, and Cranberries. 

I love Brussles sprouts during the holidays, which made this an easy pick to add to the menu.

My padawan is not the biggest fan of the "mini cabbages" as he calls them, but personally I make a small side for myself with butter and bacon. 

With this mixture, you're getting a mildly sweet dish and a bit of a festive dish all together. Cranberries and cinnamon can often be found in numerous side dishes - or desserts - so why not try to make something that combines everything into one. 

Having this on as a side will be a unique way to jazz up the common dishes, while showing your cooking skills with ease. 

For those with nut allergies, you could easily remove the pecans from the equation for a very similar tasty dish. 

Sugar Cookie M&M's Bars

I saw these glorious goodies on Pinterest the other day and absolutely couldn't resist adding this delectable dessert to the list of potential items for a glorious holiday meal. 

These are awesome for portion control - we all know that pie slices can come in an abundance, which makes them hard to resist - and they make for a super easy dessert that the kiddos can enjoy. 

With a nice glass of milk, you'll have a splendid twist on the traditional Christmas sugar cookies. 

The best part is, this could be an easy "activity" for the kiddos - or any loved ones - to help make! 

And there you have it guys! One main dish, two side dishes, and a dessert to top it all off. 

I know that traditions are implemented for a reason, but perhaps you're just starting with a new family or you're tradition is to create a new dish each year. Regardless you'll now have a few additional foods to possible add into your delectable meals. 

I love each and every one of you Jedi's - and the padawans too. I hope every Christmas miracle you've wished for comes true, your families to be joyously intertwined in harmony, and your hearts filled with happiness from all the love. 

Merry Christmas and happy holidays from the TWRC family. Remember: it's not what's under the tree, but who's around it. 

A Diner With A Surprise.

I know it's not Friday, but I couldn't resist sharing an interesting find that I recently devoured. 

Now this restaurant isn't necessarily a new find for me, but I can definitely say that this experience was completely unbeknownst to me. The restaurant I'm speaking of, is called Ruby's Diner. While there are numerous locations for Ruby's Diners, I am specifically speaking about the Mission Valley location in San Diego, CA. This entire review is based on the service and food there, but I would like to think they'd provide the same experience all around. 

In the past I've gone to Ruby's Diner, but I never left with a crave for more. In fact, I hadn't been to a Ruby's Diner in over 8 years. To be quite honest, I had seen the eatery a few times while browsing the mall, but never even had the urge to go in. However, my son and I were particularly hungry, so when my son spoke up about trying Ruby's, I opted in with the expectation of a mediocre meal. I was gravely mistaken. 

Upon entering, I was hit with a mild nostalgia from the times I had stepped into Ruby's in the past. The old school diner vibe with a few updated fixtures - like TV's - that took you into a time warp to the 1940's.

The customer service was friendly and immediate, without any hesitation to accommodate our request to be moved to a quiet booth. My padawan was given a child's menu, along with a pop-up Ruby's food truck, which instantly won him over. 

I wasn't necessarily looking to be picky about the meal we were there to eat, so we both chose to go with a burger and hope for the best. 

My son chose a cheeseburger kids meal with fries, while I went with a personalized guacamole burger. What I mean by that is I ordered their guacamole burger (swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato, guacamole, Ruby sauce) and asked for a half-pound patty with a side of BBQ to pour over the burger in-between bites. My burger also came with a basket of bottomless fries. 

For drinks we stuck to lemonade and iced tea (for me). I initially decided to go with a coke with vanilla flavoring, but when I changed my mind the very generous waitress of ours offered me the coke free for future reference. Of course I didn't object.

Within about two rounds of eye spy each, my padawan and I were kindly greeted with our food, which is where we turned from a hungry family looking for food, to a hungry family that looked like a deer in headlights. Eyes as wide as can be, I was pleasantly shocked by the portions and smell of the food placed in front of us. 

After topping my son's burger with ketchup and mustard - might I say I really appreciated the condiments coming on the side without asking, as toddlers tend to be picky as heck - we dove in for the bite that would take us to a whole new love. 

Not only was this burger packed with crisp vegetables, perfectly melted cheese, and fresh guacamole, but the meat itself was an intense flavor that flipped my food scorecard on it's side. The BBQ I added to each bite, merely enhanced each and every ingredient. 

I've always considered Lazy Dog to be a major contender in the burger world - you can see that review HERE - but I will be perfectly honest with you all, the Ruby's guacamole burger took the cake. 

Don't get me wrong, Lazy Dog is still in the top 5, but Ruby's quickly made a comeback that no one - not even myself - expected. Even my padawan agreed that his burger was better in comparison to the kid's burgers at Lazy Dog. 

The meat wasn't charbroiled on the outside, which some may specifically look for taste wise, but it's more of a well seasoned patty that gave you genuine juice, not grease. The seasonings - which I have no knowledge of - gave the burger it's own mouthwatering flavor that purely signifies what a home-cooked burger should taste like. 

Each and every warm bite reminded me of burgers from family "get-togethers", with a taste that would leave you constantly searching for at every burger joint. 

Everything mingled so exquisitely, that I walked out of the diner immediately making plans to revisit when we had the opportunity to do so or whenever we craved a good burger. I will say however, I didn't jump at the chance to try any shakes that I saw constantly being carried by, but you can bet that I will return with that in mind. 

I'd rate this burger a staggering 5 out of 5. Something I didn't expect, but will gladly recommend over and over again! 

I don't think this will be the greatest burger in the universe, but I do believe it deserves recognition for it's affordable - around $20 for our entire meal - and appetizing eats. 

What Does Christmas REALLY Mean?

Christmas is quickly approaching and with everyone seeming to be in a materialistic mood, I thought I'd try to shed some light onto why Christmas really means so much to me. 

Now I'm not saying that absolutely everyone has turned into the Grinch this year, but it's an observation that I've started noticing as my padawan and I have ventured around town. People seem to be so dead set on trying to get the best gifts, with the prettiest paper, and the shiniest bows. No smiles being shown, stories being shared, or joyous moments being created. What's happening???

Perhaps it's desensitization with all that's happening around the world and the media constantly portraying what the newest "hot item" of the year is, but regardless of the cause we need to take a step back and really reevaluate what Christmas - or any holiday - is all about. 

I could go into detail about how Christmas is Jesus' birthday and the sacrifices he gave to us, which can be said for other holiday's and their meanings - but what I'm specifically talking about is how Christmas affects me personally. 

Growing up I was lucky. I didn't have to worry about where my food was coming from, if I'd have a bed to sleep in, or whether or not I'd have clean clothes for school. Heck, I was able to GO to school. That alone is a privilege some don't have, so I understand how incredibly lucky I've been and am. 

Throughout my adulthood, I've struggled to find myself and learn who I really am, but one thing always remained the same during any trial in my life...Christmas. It was still this time of joy when we could step back and realize how blessed we truly are. How all the stress and worry in life is minuet compared to the good we have. How nothing is permanent and the only sure thing in life is death. Don't worry, we're not getting morbid over here. 

I simply mean that when I decorate a Christmas tree - no matter how big or small it may be that year - I look at each light and reflect on how much good has come into my world. 

Christmas is about family, blood or not, and loving what we have. It's about giving to those who may have little or nothing, in an effort to spread joy to a heart during the holiday season. It's about coming to terms with the fact that while life isn't perfect, it's an amazing story in itself. 

Some of us can only afford a small Christmas card under a plant we've plucked from the local part, in place of a Christmas tree. Some of us can afford an extravagant 7 ft tree with presents surrounding it to the top. All of us should be proud. 

We all have the opportunity to positively influence someone's life, no matter how big or small the gesture is. A simple "you're doing an amazing job" can bring warmth to a cold heart. A heartfelt hug can soften a hard soul. A smile can uplift a terrible day. 

This world is full of hatred and , but that doesn't mean that you yourself have to contribute to the negativity that surrounds us all. Be the light that shines and the way that you can easily spread that light, is through family. 

I've always known Christmas as to be this highly celebrated holiday, filled with happiness, hot cocoa, good food, and warm cuddles. Sure the presents were nice - and still are - but as I got older, I realized they didn't matter. If I could just sit with my family, drinking a hot beverage, cuddled in our pajamas, watching a movie, and reminiscing on good times, I would feel like the luckiest person in the world to have that opportunity. 

Now that I myself am a mom, I do my best to uphold traditions and maintain a festive vibe as long as possible for my padawan, but I do so with the constant reminder that it doesn't matter what is under the tree. What matters is who's around it. 

As I sit here on my couch, wrapped in a blanket, surrounded by Christmas lights and a faux fire on the TV with a cup of hot cocoa close by, I want to thank those family members that I love, even though they can't be around the tree. 

That includes all of you. 

I'm blessed because of my family and friends that have passed.
I'm blessed because of those who are still in my life.
I'm blessed because people read this blog.
I'm blessed because I receive smiles.
I'm blessed with support. 
I'm blessed with love.
I'm blessed with my family. 

Blood or not, I cherish each and every one of you, along with my physical family. Things may not be peachy-keen all year long and we may not constantly see eye to eye, but that doesn't mean anything. 

After all, Christmas is about giving. So I would like to give my love, because it's the purest thing I can offer that will never die. 

Easy DIY's For a Festive Holiday!

The holidays are quickly approaching - 5 days ti'll Christmas to be exact - and with so many families coming together, you may be scrambling to create a picture perfect scene for your related guests. With an empty wall or desperately pinning possible table centerpieces, I decided to offer up 3 super easy DIY's that you can re-create, to fill any space in need of festivity. 

First up is a super easy table centerpiece. Now this won't just work for the eating area, but you could also use this as a coffee table decorative piece or a side table feature. 

All you need to complete this pine cone creation is:

- Pinecones (scented are awesome)
- A candle holder 
- faux red berries (sold at Dollar Tree)
- faux garland (mine has silver tinsel strands as well)
- candles

With some pine cones spread about and a few red berries sprinkled into the mix, you'll have a really cute decor piece by itself, once you've topped off the candle holder with it's candles. The garland wrapped around the center piece adds to the Christmas theme and gives dimension to the overall look. 

Next up is a mini makeover of the hallway, perfect for any blank wall really. 

All you're going to need is:

- Christmas bulbs
- yarn or twine 
- a few stockings 

This will take practically no time at all. Simply lay out the bulbs you want to use in any given pattern - or just randomly - and begin threading the yarn or twine through each one. 

To make sure you have enough yarn for your Christmas bulb garland, simply lay the yarn next to your bulbs - while they are spread in your pattern on the floor - and add a few inches to each end for it to be hung. You can also thread the yarn through while it's still attached to the roll, without cutting it, which will ensure you have enough. 

To add additional festivity to a blank wall, you can hang matching - or not - stockings, that will compliment your garland. It's replicating the traditional "fireplace setting" that we so often see, without the actual fireplace. Time wise, this took me about 7 minutes to set up and now I get loads of compliments on what was once blank. 

For our last easy DIY, I bring to you all a really cute piece that you can place practically anywhere. I bring to you all, my Christmas bulb flower vase. 

All you'll need is:

- small bulbs - perhaps a few medium mixed in (metallic and glitter work best together 
- a tall, clear vase
- flowers of your choosing (mine are fake...obviously)

Plop your flowers into the vase, pour your bulbs around them, and place for viewing. You'll instantly jazz up any table with a beautifully simple Christmas flower decor piece. 

As you can see, it takes hardly any effort at all to make a few gorgeous pieces for your Christmas home. When it comes to prices, for the centerpiece I spent about $6, the garland and stocking wall about $8, and the flower vase about $3. 

Christmas doesn't have to be expensive if you just use a little creativity! 

Hopefully these 3 super easy and cheap DIY's, have helped inspire you all to decorate with ease. I know that with them, I've been able to sit back and feel like I've successfully completed decorating my home in harmony!