Instant Weight Loss!

How to lose 10 pounds instantly:

Cut off your hair!

This picture is from my cell phone so I couldn't get it bigger but look at the pile of hair on the floor! It looked like a shaggy dog. Unfortunately it wasn't long enough to donate.

Yup, that's what I did and I actually feel 10 pounds lighter. I know, I know. I didn't actually lose 10 pounds but boy do I feel like a weight had been lifted off of my shoulders. My new hair is so much easier. I loved my long hair but if I wanted it to look nice, I had to spend 45 minutes on it. That is just too high maintenance, even for me! Now it only takes me 15 minutes, tops. Which is fine with me.




Last week was so much fun. Mateo's school band held their last concert of the year, the Pops Concert. This one is usually a fun one, they play fun music and they get dressed up in costumes. This year they did the 80's theme. Fun!! I love the 80's. That was my era.

We had our monthly Girls' Movie Night, at Julissa's. The food was, of course, wonderful. The company was excellent and Julissa is a wonderful hostess. The movie? Don't ask! It was just like the last one. Depressing and pointless. I don't mind tragic love stories but this one was depressing in a different way. If you've seen Blue Valentine, did you like it? Oh well. Live and learn.

My sis, Cari, made these wonderful Mexican Chocolate mini cupcakes with Dulce De Leche frosting. Finger-licking good.


I tried making bread for the first time. I made a rustic olive bread from a Panera recipe I found on line. I was surprised that it actually came out for being my first bread. Can't wait to do it again.


A rose from my hubby...from our garden. Beautiful!

Tea and Trains, oh and a Show!

Happy Birthday, Valentina and Ricardito!

Valentina's and Ricardito's birthday party was so much fun. Of course, we could not expect less from Lorena and Ricky. They always plan such fabulous birthday parties for their kids. I love how they can come up with two themes for each kid but yet mesh them into one party. Tea and Trains was the theme for this celebration and to top it off, we got a show where all of the kids got to be part of.

Ricky grilled some yummy hamburgers, but of course, the self-titled Grilling Kings (David and Mr. Casillas) could not help themselves but to breathe down his neck the entire time. He's a good sport!


For the activities, the girls got to play beauty salon with their dolls. Viviana learned how to make a braid. She was so excited.


The boys got to build a train out of cardboard boxes and containers. That kept them busy for a while.



After lunch, the kids put on a play that Valentina wrote about mice in search for a new home after they nearly drowned in the rain. It was so cute. All the kids put on little mouse ears that Lorena made out of felt. We convinced Mateo into participating by telling him he could play a zombie mouse.






The highlight of the day was the the wonderful tea break. Lorena gave the kids a little lesson in tea etiquette and they were so darling sipping from their tea cups, pinkies up and all!

Mateo helped me make cranberry and apricot heart-shaped scones and lavender cookies.



It was an enjoyable party, indeed.

For Valentina, I put together a little hair care kit that included hair accessories, brush and this American Girl Hair Book. I put the items in a cookie tin that I decorated with flowers and a bow.




Ricardito loves trains so we got him a little wooden train set. I don't think that I got any pictures of him. Sorry mom and dad, but he was evading my camera the entire time. I'll try harder next time.

Mother's Day 2011

Knitting Rocks!!

Yes, it does. Thank you Viviana, my Princess Pie, for this awesome key chain. I heart it!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Mother's Day. If you are fortunate enough to still have your mother, I hope there was lots of hugs, kisses and appreciations going around. If your mom is no longer here, I pray that you found some way to honor her memory. If you are a mother, I hope that your family treated you well. If you are not a mother, I hope that you found a way to appreciate the mothers and mother figures in your life.

We, at the Casillas Domum enjoyed an evening with loved ones.

David made his now, World Famous Smoked Turkey. He made it this way for the first time on Easter and I do believe that we will never, ever eat turkey from the oven again. It is absolutely the best turkey I have ever tasted. Sorry, Hector. I know you are very hurt by that last statement. You're still the stuffed jalapeno king.

I know he doesn't look very nice now but once he goes in his tanning booth...watch out!

So I don't know exactly how David prepares the turkey. I was trying to pay attention to what he was doing, but I was busy doing my own thing. From what I saw, the turkey is slathered in butter and seasonings then placed in a bed of veggies (carrots, celery, onions) and some chicken broth. It's covered then put in the BBQ Grill with the lid closed. Oh, I almost forgot something that I think is very important; David had these pieces of branches that he soaked in water and I think those went into the grill with the turkey. That is what makes it smoked. But the turkey does not get too smokey if you know what I mean. Sometimes, when food is smoked, the smokey flavor is very overpowering. This turkey just comes out so moist and juicy. It's amazing. If you want to try it, let me know and I will try to get the recipe.

I was too slow with the camera and didn't get a picture of the turkey before my mom started to carve it, but you get the idea. It is perfectly browned and did I mention juicy?


I made Pesto Mac and Goat Cheese. I used this recipe but I made a few modifications:

I added roasted tomatoes.

Before

After

Also, instead of the 16 oz. of goat cheese, I only used 8 oz. and I added about 1/4 cup each of shredded white cheddar, rosemary asiago, and jalapeno jack.


I also made greens with chicken sausage from a recipe I got from the Food Sample Counter Lady at Trader Joe's and Giada's cornmeal and rosemary cake with balsamic syrup.

Before

After

Cari made these wonderful carrot, zucchini and apple cupcakes. Yummy!


It was another deliciously wonderful Padilla gathering!

Jeanette with her boys, Alec and Luc



Cari and her brood, Viviana, Nico and Andy

My child and me

Mom and Cari

My mom made me this adorable half-apron that I wore all night!

After dinner, Mr. Casillas and Nico relaxed with fishing magazines. Nico is totally "hooked" on anything related to fishing, thanks to Mr. Casillas. He talks about fish and going fishing every day. It is so cute.

Good night, everybody!

Sorry!

To my dear three readers, I finally got around to making some time to post about Mother's Day late last night and lo and behold, Blogger was down! It is up now so I will try to get to it this weekend because I know all three of you are waiting with bated breath for my next post.

Thank you for being such good friends and following me.

Love you!