New Address

For those of you who read this blog and are wondering why there haven't been any posts lately, it is because I have moved my blog over to WordPress.com.  I don't know why I did this, but I did.  If you want to check me out, my new blog address is http://meltingenchiladas.wordpress.com/

Bucket Lists

Most everyone I know has a "bucket list" or some sort of list of things they want to do before they die or at least reach a certain point in their life.  I am no different and do have a few things that I would like to mark off.  Some are written down in pen while others are just written in pencil since I have realized that I never know where my life is going to go.  Every time I come up with a plan, God likes to mess with it.  Don't blame Him because His plans always seem to work out better.  

One of my friends recently posted a blog about things she wanted to do in the next couple of years which inspired this post.  It makes me wonder if I really should make my dreams and desires more of a priority or at least get off the couch more to live life.  If I was to do this, the list would probably be of simple things and not major life plans because I can't forget about Him.  I may even ask for His help to come up with this list.  Stating this list publicly may just help jump start my journey and hold me accountable.  

We shall see if this actually happens because I have a tendency to get really excited about something really quickly and then cool off just as quickly just like a microwave.  What do you think about stating your list and actually going through with it?  Good idea or bad idea?

TC's.......Yum, Yum!

Growing up in Houston, I had a plethora of Mexican food options to choose from.  Because of this, I was taught to turn my nose from fast-food Mexican chains such as Taco Bell and Taco Cabana.  I did try them on the most rare occasions.  Since I was predisposed to think that they were not good, I never enjoyed anything on the menu.

When I went off to college in San Antonio, my whole perception of cheap Mexican food changed.  During my time there, I never found a sit-down Mexican food place that I truly enjoyed.  There was Alamo Cafe, but it never could hold a light to any place in Houston.  Then I learned that the very first Taco Cabana was just down the street from school and had a student discount which made it a popular place for students to escape to when they were sick of the cafeteria food on campus.  It was more commonly known at Taco C or TC's.

I was not sure what to order my first couple of times; so naturally I tried the enchiladas.  I did not know it was possible to make a bad enchilada, but this place did.  I tried a few other items on the menu which were much better than the enchilada, but I was still not fully impressed with this San Antonio instituion.  Finally, I was introduced to the tortillas and queso which has since become a guilty pleasure of mine.  The tortillas are nice a fluffy and full of flavor, and the queso makes the perfect compliment to them.  This combination is worth a trip alone.  When one is out late, this heavenly combo makes an excellent treat.  A swing by Whataburger is the only acceptable alternative.

Another thing that I really became a fan of during college was the breakfast taco.  I had always been a fan of a Mexican-inspired breakfast, but I never had pursued the perfect taco.  Since I have never been the most functional person in the morning, I had a tendency to grab breakfast and get some work done before classes.  One of the options that always seemed good were the bean and cheese or chorizo and egg breakfast tacos.  I was quite impressed by these savory morning delicacies.  The breakfast tacos at school are one of the few things that I miss from the boring food service, but I do not have to worry since they are very similar to TC's breakfast tacos.  I can now maintain my level of happiness with a good breakfast taco in H-town when ever the occasional craving sneaks up.

I have saved the best of TC's for last, it's color scheme.  It has the color pink which is the color of all the TC restaurants except the original; so what is not to love!  Some of the staff even wear black aprons with "TC" in hot pink on them. 

I'm sure all dogs go to heaven, and I am sure there are TC's on every block in heaven.

What's a Budget?

So it has come to my attention that I am not the best when it comes to managing my own money.  I know I have written about this in previous blogs, but this time my attempt to redeem myself is actually legitimate.

Let me refresh your memory if you have forgotten or do not know the story of my finances.  I have always been an impulse buyer.  I just get a high every time I find something fun that I may or may not need, and it becomes mine.  There have been new hurdles added to my struggle to save over the years also.  I have lived along since my senior year in college.  Since I am a social person, I go out to eat every time I'm asked since no one enjoys eating alone.  Well, those people who like to pull out their fancy laptops at restaurants might enjoy it since I never see them with someone, or they just might have no friends other than their computer. 

Then, I discovered some online stores that have major discounts on designer brands.  There are other small things that I have trouble showing restraint with my plastic, but I do not wish to bore you too much.  Let's just say that my impulses go beyond objects but experiences as well.  Oops!  I do hope my readers minds have not gone straight to the gutter because I have meant no such thing!  I am a lady, after all!

A few of my friends mentioned to me the website, Mint.Com, which is a free website that keeps track of all your expenses and helps you plan your budget and future goals.  I plugged in everything, planned a budget and set a goal or two.  It has been pretty useful, and it is very user-friendly.  I am very happy that I joined this site.  Hopefully, it will help me keep track of everything.  We shall see.....

It has been over a month since I have been sincerely working on this.  In the end, my credit card bills were more than past bills, except for the month that I went to Vegas.  I am sure that I am not the only that this has happened to.  I don't know exactly how this happened, but I am on the case.  Turning my spending and saving habits around will be a challenge, but I am sure that I can do this!  My savings should never be hemorrhaging!

Stay tuned!  I will keep you posted.

Bridezilla Dreaming

For those that are unaware, I am currently a single lady.  No, it is not because of my desire to dance to Beyonce's anthem right before the bouquet toss.  Mr. Right just hasn't found me yet.  I have thought about on occasion what kind of shin dig I would throw when he finally finds me.  What girl hasn't?  Well, there is my coworker.  She has imagined herself looking like a present when she is pregnant but has not thought about her wedding one bit.  She is an anomaly that I love.

Ever since my mom purchased me that bride costume that everyone else also dressed up in with the elastic sequin head band with tulle going up and down in the back for a veil, I have thought about what kind of dress I would wear and what else would go with that day.  Throughout the years, the level of detail of how what I have planned for when I finally walk down has varied.  There have been times where I have known exactly what my flowers and cake would look like. 

Currently, I only have a few basic concepts in mind.  My dad has pretty much told me where I will get married and where the reception will be.  I am not going to complain since they are lovely locales, and he does get a say since he probably is going to pay for it.  I do not have a color scheme since I do not want to have spring colors for a fall wedding and vice versa.  I do know that I would like to have at least one shade of pink since it is my color.  As for my dress, I like the simple princess styles with lace that you can dance in.  This means that I will probably need to get something with sleeves since "my girls" have been known to come out and play when it is not always appropriate.  Not much beyond those thoughts since I do not know when I am getting married and to whom.  I am really trying not to become truly obsessed with weddings, and having my wedding planned would probably not help with the constant potential planning.

A notable moment in my search for the ideal wedding concept was the fall semester of my junior year in college.  That semester I took MKTG 3382 -Promotion Management.  The main project for the semester was taking a brand, coming up with a product that would work with the brand and creating a whole marketing campaign for the product.  I was in a group with three other girls, and we were assigned Godiva.  What product did we come up with?  Yup, wedding cakes.  This meant doing research on the wedding industry which involves purchasing a few wedding magazines and reading wedding blogs.  I now know way too much about weddings for someone other than a wedding planner. Oh, did I mention that I was also doing a presentation ball that semester?  That means that I got to look at wedding dresses and try them on.  Fortunately for my sanity, my next semester was in Spain; so I wasn't too obessed for long.  It just was not a good semester to have a major crush on a particular boy.

When I log in to Facebook tosee what someone is doing that I have not seen since middle school, I have a hard time with my quest not to have my thoughts consumed by weddings.  With people posting photos from weddings and wedding-related links and blogs, it is hard not to find oneself comparing other people's "I Do's" to one's latest nuptial master plan.  Facebook stalkers can be some of the harshish critics!  If you ever post wedding photos online, you need to make sure your wedding blows any other wedding out of the water.  Yes, you might have thought it was beautiful, but the judges of the world wide web expect perfection.  (Disclaimer: If you're happy with your wedding, that's all that matters.  No one else's opinion is important.)  I also would like to point out that if a daydreaming single lady clicks through enough wedding photos online, she can find herself looking at photos from the wedding of someone that has fewer degrees to Kevin Bacon than her.

I really do want to get married one day, but I am in no rush since the divorce rate gets higher and higher every day.  My parents have not had an easy ride, but they take their vows seriously.  This commitment is an inspiration and something that I will not take lightly when it is my turn.  Also, I am not really ready to get married.  I like having Beyonce's words as my musical mantra.

Target Darryl

I went to Target today to get some last minute supplies for my trip this weekend. I saw the gentleman who works there taking the shopping baskets from the parking lot and brings them back to the store front for the next customers to use. He kind of reminds me of Darryl from one of my favorite TV shows, The Office.

Today, Target Darryl was wearing shorts since it is summer which made me think of all the times that I have seen him working while battling the elements such as heat, cold and rain. He is always concentrated on getting his job done and being efficient. He doesn't always seem too happy just focused, but he never seems to be unappreciative about his job. I can't imagine anyone who hates their job work as hard as this man does. Even The Office's Darryl needs to pull a few stunts every now and then to get away from the monotony of his job.

If most people had the mentality towards their job as Target Darryl, then I think a lot more would get done in this world. He even inspires me to work harder and try to focus more on my duties at work. If more people took notice of him, I think they would see how much of an inspiration and blessing that he could be to them too. The fact that he has a mental handicap makes me feel even more inspired and blessed since he doesn't let this get in the way of doing his job well.

I know some of you may think you are above Target Darryl because of what his job is and his mental state, but do you use your gifts as well as he uses his?

That's What It's All About!

I want to first apologize to those who read this blog purely for comic relief.  I may not always be the wittiest person; but I am sure a few of my readers may use this blog as a break from reality while they are at work.  For the record, I do have more than one reader, but I only have one who is brave enough to become an official follower.  I cannot apologize for what I am going to talk about.  I know it may be more serious than what everyone has come to think about me, but this is my blog.  The whole point of my blog is writing about whatever is on my mind, and this post is just what happens to melt my enchilada today.  In the end, thinking about the following subject of this post makes me feel very happy and blessed.  I just wanted to share what made me feel this way.

Today was absolutely awesome!  It started off with a quiet time drinking some coffee while reading from my one-year Bible and then Rich Stearn's book, The Hole in Our Gospel.  After hearing him speak at our church last week, I feel like everyone should read this book.  It really gets people to think about their purpose in life, better than some guy in California made people think.  Then I went to church.  Last Sunday was amazing, and I did not think it could be any more amazing with the new changes in our summer program which started last week.  I could not be more wrong.

For once, I was actually able to focus long enough to have a decent takeaway that keeps me thinking about how I can live my life in a way more pleasing to the Lord. This is a miracle since I do not have the best track record for paying attention during sermons.  There are many reasons for my inability to listen, but that is for a different post.  I must point out that it is a personal issue and is no way reflective of the teaching abilities of the priests.  Someone once said that the best way to judge a sermon is whether or not Jesus had to die for the sermon to be true.  This sermon did pass this test.  Our rector spoke about what it means when you say "I believe in God" when you recite the Apostles' Creed. He discussed the weight of these words and what exactly one is saying when they say them.  Ultimately, God is so big and complex that these words should not be taken very lightly.  He is a living God.  He died, but He rose again and is still alive.  He is not some old, distant figure that we cannot be close to.

Following the service, there were a few options for people to go to.  There is adult Sunday school.  I do not know what it is about since I have never really gone because of previous commitments to children's ministry.  I did hear some favorable reviews of the lesson and and anticipation for what will be taught next week.  While adults were doing their thing, the children and youth were doing something new which started last week.  This summer the youth are teaching the younger kids.  From my understanding, there is a lesson taught by an adult for everyone and then everyone breaks into smaller groups.  The beauty of this is that the youth pay attention more closely than they have in the past because they know they will have to help the children understand the lesson.  The children still get their lesson because they always only get a few concepts; so it's okay if the youth are only able to discuss a few topics because that is all that the kiddos will be able to remember and comprehend.  The youth get an opportunity to practice discipleship, and the children get an opportunity to see what they can aspire to in the near future.  Whoever thought of this program gets a gold star, and I hope this concept is able to continue in some format for the rest of the year.

I chose to go to our parish hall where there was a small mission project going on as well as the revamped church cafe was serving food.  I did this last week as well.  It gives you the opportunity to serve those in need and spread God's Word which we are commanded to do in the Great Commission as well as to love our neighbors as ourselves.  It also allows the opportunity for fellowship with people that I may not necessarily talk to on a regular basis.  Cliques within a church community never help people grow in their faith; so this diverse fellowship is a definite plus. 

Then the I stood in line for lunch at the other end of the hall.  The food has been some of the best that I have ever eaten served from the church kitchen, and I have sat with a different group each Sunday with people that I probably would not go with to lunch after the service. This fellowship helps people including myself see that God did not use a cookie cutter when he created us.  I always find it amazing how diverse God's people are, but at the same time we can all come together to glorify Him. 

As I was getting ready to leave church, I realized how blessed I am to be in a church that gets what it is all about to be a Christian.  The section I read in Stearns' book was about faith and works.  Not everyone gets this argument, and many people choose to focus on only one.  The book stated that we are saved by faith and saved for works.  Neither one is more important that the other.  Why would God save us if He didn't have a plan for us? He does loves us, but we are not toys that he just plays with.  We are called to serve Him.  Also, it is rare that a message from the pulpit does not need Jesus' death and resurrection to be complete.  Many churches focus so much on being relevant to today's society that they completely forget what it means to be a Christian.  I am very thankful that my church has not forgotten and that my faith can grow in a way that is pleasing and glorifying to God.  My church realizes that following God means living at the foot of the cross while serving out His plan for us.

Later in the day, I returned to church for a class on Revelation that a friend is teaching.  The lesson reinforced what I realized earlier in the day and showed how incredible and important God's Word is.  It was just another blessing that the Lord has provided, and I will go to bed thinking how thankful I am that God is a living God who just also happens to be my Lord and Savior.  I am also very thankful and happy that my church gets what is important.

Amen!

My Favorite Enchiladas

In my first post, I mentioned that enchiladas make me happy. Also, enchiladas is in the title of my blog. With these two tidbits in mind, I thought I could discuss my love for this delicacy of cross-culturalism.

My favorite type of enchilada is chicken. Depending on the restaurant, I will either order chicken enchiladas with either a mole or tomatillo sauce. Mole or more specifically mole poblano sauce has an assortment of different spices including chili peppers and cacao (Mexican chocolate). The typical chocolate lover may be disappointed since it does not taste like chocolate at all. I must warn you that it can be an acquired taste which I have been fortunate to acquire.  Tomatillo sauce is made using the tomatillo pepper which is typically green. Many places call enchiladas with tomatillo sauce, "enchiladas verdes".

My favorite mole enchiladas are served at Sylvia's Enchilada Kitchen. Sylivia is from around the border, and she knows how to cook! The rest of her menu is absolutely delicious as well.  If you need your enchilada fix but your copatriots for the meal are not feeling it, they have many other options to choose from. I know a few people, including myself, who consider it to be one of the best Mexcian restaurants in town, if not the best! The tortillas and queso are worth the extra calories. The only downside is that they have not perfected the frozen margarita. Have no fear, Mexican food lovers! The margaritas on the rocks can be the PERFECT combination of taste and potency.

My favorite enchiladas with tomatillo sauce can be found at Cyclone Anaya's Mexican Kitchen. To me, they are the perfect combination of chicken, cheese and goodness. The ultimate end to any good Mexican food meal is taking a chip and scooping up the leftover enchilada goo, beans and rice. I feel as if Cyclone's had this in mind when they created their cuisine. I am a fan of some of the healthier options they have in their kitchen's arsenal. Besides baked chips and a skinny margarita, they have the Mexican Chopped Salad. At first glance, this salad is one of the most depressing looking salads you will ever see, but you will not be disappointed when you pick up your fork and start eating.

A close runner up to the tomatillo enchilada and the ultimate ending is Laurenzo's El Tiempo Cantina. Many people will disagree with this, but I will point out that Everclear is rumored to be in their margaritas which means any one's judgement while dining at El Tiempo is questionable.

My wild card vote for enchiladas are the Special Enchiladas-A-La-Taylor at Spanish Village Restaurant.  These are some of the best cheese enchiladas ever!  They have a nice blend of spices and a chili con carne sauce, plus plenty of cheese which makes any meal happier.  The cook who came up with this recipe is a genius.  I would not be surprised if this recipe has been perfected through serveral generations because it is just that intriguing.  I must warn you that this place may seem a bit sketchy at first, but once you walk in, there is an eclectic clientele.  I am sure you will find someone who could have a margarita with if you actually knew them. 

The last Mexican eatery that I must mention is Molina's on Westheimer.  It is part of the Molina's Restaurant family.  I rarely order enchiladas here, but they do have some excellent queso gratis during happy hour in the bar at its Westheimer location.  You can definitely taste the processed cheese, but at the same time I do not know of another cheese seasoned to such perfection as this.  They also have the ever popular Jose's Dip which is a must for any queso connoisseur.  I am also a fan of the margaritas.  Good margaritas seem to go hand in hand with good enchiladas.  When you go, you must go to the bar since two of Houston's bestwaiters work in that area.  One of them now hangs mostly behind the bar which is a waste to those who choose to sit at a table, but Jorge still roams between the tables and booths.  They have mastered the art of giving you space to enjoy your margarita but not going too far when you need another round or actual food.  It is a gift that very few waiters have. 

There are many other places in town that have excellent enchiladas and margaritas.  Some of you may even feel that I have not named the best enchiladas in town, but these are the places that I frequent the most.  I like to go to places where I can feel like a regular since Mexican food to me is one of the best comfort foods and relaxing experiences for me. If you feel that I have made a grave error by leaving not mentioning the best enchiladas in town, then you are welcome to post it in the comments section.  I am always on the search for my perfect enchilada and Mexican food experience.

I need cafeina stat!

My Latest Attempt!

In the past, I have made several attempts at keeping up with a blog. When blogs first came out, I had to have one because I went to a school full of nerds who think they're cooler than the Fonz. I kept up with that blog randomly. When I graduated, I made even less of an attempt to keep up with another one which who knows what it was about. I didn't think anyone would read it or that I had that much to say. My last attempt was about my life at work and my attempt to do a half marathon. I used one of my favorite TV shows and a circus as metaphors to be cryptic. I decided that might be bad since the mayhem that can ensue from any workplace or any attempt by a fat person to get fit could be very dangerous to discuss. I needed to keep the blog clean which is not always easy for this Texas debutante with the occasional mouth of a sailor.

For my latest attempt, which is this attempt, I think I will write whatever is on my mind. The blog has been inspired by the phrase "whatever melts your enchilada" which means whatever makes you happy or works for you. Enchiladas make me happy; so I feel the title has an extra dose of happiness thrown into it.

I hope this attempt either makes you happy or at least get you to think which is how I seem to approach my relationships. I either like to make those close to me happy or get them thinking about life from different perspectives. In other words, you will have some of the dumbest conversations or some of the most brilliant conversations with me. It just depends on the day and whether or not I have taken my meds in a while.

Let's do this!