Homemade Taco Salad - with shells to match!

I'm stretching the connotation of crafting in this post to apply to cooking. In a sense cooking is a craft. It takes experience to master it (and i still have a long way to go!)

Cooking and I have never been good friends. About a year and a half ago, I could barely muster up a recipe. Baked barbecue chicken was my specialty - which consisted on turning on the overn to 350 degrees, smothering chicken in barbecue sauce, and waiting for it to bake all the way through in the oven. IT was tasty - but not very extravagant...and most likely not too healthy either!

Well, today, I realized I've grown in my cooking skills since then. I made taco salad ( much healthier option!) with homemade tortilla shells. Ok, ok, when I saw homemade tortilla shells I mean that I did buy the shells from Meijer, BUT I molded them to be nice and wavy and baked them in the oven.

THAT does take a little maneuvering. My co-worked told me a hint on how to make the shells nice and crisp and turn out wavy.

1. She said to place an empty can on a cooking tray. 
2. Put the tortilla upside-down on the can. 
3. Spray cooking spray on a piece of aluminum foil and put it over the tortilla. 
4. Then, scrunch the aluminum foil in several spots - this gives the shell that "wavy" look. 
5. When all that is done, place it in the oven for 6 minutes at 350 degrees (I actually had to bake it for more like 12 minutes to get it nice and crispy).

After these are nice and crispy, you can add whatever you wish inside to make a delicious taco salad. I chose to add romaine lettuce,  tomato, onion, black beans, and beef. So yummy!

Do what you dream, and you'll love where you work!

This is a little different from most of my thrifting and crafting posts. But, it ties into why I started this blog and why I took a different path than the one I was originally on.

New to the workforce

In June 2011, I landed my first full time job after graduating college. I was ecstatic. I loved the people I worked with and my place in that job. I got paid to research and write blogs, edit documents, and even attempt at graphic design (which I learned wasn't my forte! ;) )

But, something wasn't right. Although it was such a great opportunity and it was a job in my major...I wasn't happy with where I was.

I started getting really down and resentful. I blamed everyone around me for how I was feeling...when the person I should have been pointing the finger at was myself. This is when I learned that even though I had it good with where I was, I wasn't where I saw myself. I wasn't where I wanted to be and I had to make a choice.

Besides learning to change my attitude no matter where I was in life...I made a decision...

...I quit my full-time, secure job in search of what would make me happy in a profession.

I mean, if you aren't happy with the work you are doing, find something else, right? Especially since I had JUST graduated. The first job isn't always the best fit - no matter how great of an opportunity it is! 

Getting over the guilt

At first, I was very hard on myself. I felt guilty for turning away a good opportunity. I felt like a failure. Once I got over that initial guilt, I was able to pursue my dream job - photography and working with special needs children.

I work full time now, but it takes three jobs to add up to 40 hours a week. I gotta say, I LOVE it! Working small shifts at different jobs throughout the day keeps me happy.

New Work Schedule

I work in the early mornings and late afternoons as a special needs bus aide with an adorable girl. She inspires me to be more positive with her great attitude! Plus, she's a sweetheart - it's hard not to be happy after spending a moment with her.

Then from 9:30a-1:30p I work at a photography studio doing all sorts of things. I photo assist, do post-production, file papers, write and mail invoices, marketing, AND I brand and book sessions for my own photo company. It's the sister company to my boss's original photo company.

Here's just a brief peek at a day in the studio

My walk downtown to the studio is always nice in the early morning. :) 

My boss is pretty awesome too. Can't deny that.

We always have time to have fun and make weird faces. :P

One thing I've learned - keep an eye on my sandwiches. We have a sandwich swiper. Still in the works of figuring out just who's the culprit. ;)

Did I mention besides having a cat in the studio, there's also a dog? Part of my job now consists of giving the dog regular walks! Well, I sort of asked if I could do that! :)

How can you deny this lithe guy a walk?!

The other piece to the 40-hour a week puzzle is working as a community living support. Usually, I squeeze in some time on evenings and weekends to work one-on-one with an adorable 8-year-old boy with autism. Most people may not like the idea of working then - but let's face it, my husbands a teacher so he works evenings and weekends sometimes too! Not a big deal.

The other week, we went swimming! :)

Photo Courtesy of Kiri Salazar

Although, I was insecure at first about how unconventional my new route in the workforce was, I've realized it's the best fit for me right now. I love kids and taking pictures so what's so wrong in finding a way to do what I love? 

Sometimes I think about going to school part-time to get a teaching certificate. Maybe someday I will, but for now I'm content with where I'm at and excited to see where life takes me.

One word of encouragement: Be proud of the job you are in. YOU are a valuable employee wherever you are and there's a reason you were chosen for the position. Don't lose sight of that! But, if you aren't happy with where you are, don't feel guilty about looking for something else! YOU are your first priority - not the job!

Shoes, shoes and more shoes

I have a weakness - I love shoes.

See what I mean?

Ok, well I only picked my top 4 dress shoes, so it doesn't look that bad. But I have an assortment of shoes for every season.

The good thing is most of my shoes I've found at thrift stores. The low prices make me feel less guilty about having so many! ;)

Black, felt heels

Perfect go to for working at the office or business casual type settings.

Only $4.99

Purple, felt heels

I have only worn these a couple of times with some brown pants and a pink sweater top. Goes well together and totally worth the purchase even if I only wear them now and then.

Only $4.99

Red, satin heels

I have yet to bust these out! I feel like these are perfect for a wedding or to go with that red dress everyone should have in their closet! 

Only $3.99

Brown wedges

Love these and wear them often. Its the perfect summer go-to heel. 

Only $12.49 

(still had the originally store tag on so a little higher in price)

Happy shoe bargain shopping!! :)

Thrifting: Fall is approaching...

Welcome - fall is almost upon us. Honestly, I'm looking forward to cooler temperatures since we had such a hot summer! Plus, fall brings lots of great things - trips to the cider mill, corn mazes, trick-or-treating, and for all the sports fanatics (include myself sometimes), lots of tailgating and football games.

Well, in celebration of fall - I was for a walk in a maze...but not a corn maze. It's one at Blandford Nature Center - it's a path cut out through a field of wildflowers (Absolutely beautiful to walk in). I guess it's not technically a maze, but it is to me.

My latest thrift store finds are starting to pile up, so I'm finally writing about them all in one outfit.

This bright, turquoise skirt was purchased for only $5. It's silky fabric is perfect for fall temperatures - not too hot, not too cold.

 The blouse I'm wearing is light brown with lace across the collar - only $3.

Shoes were a little more expensive, but still a good deal at $12. Love these wedges, very cute and comfy to walk in.

The belt I am wearing was not a thrift find - it came with a shirt I bought at JC Penny awhile back. I use it with lots of different outfits though!

Total expense of this outfit: $20.

Crafting: Attaching Origami to Earrings

Happy late Monday! Doesn't it feel nice to be basically finished with the first day of the week? After I got my second wind last night, I only was able to get to bed and sleep for 6 hours and after working all day - I was pretty spent. 

Reflecting back on my weekend, one of the things I got to do was make some jewelry with my good friend, Kris. Kris is basically amazing. She's one of those people who is open, honest and loving from the start.  Oh, plus, she's a HUGE crafter and has inspired me to organize all my supplies.

hence, I bought a $3 box to store all my earring supplies in.

She called me up a few weeks ago and asked about making some origami earrings. In a past gift I purchased for her, it came with free origami stars. She'd been pondering what to do with these for quite some time and came to the conclusion that earrings were a good choice! I asked her if I could feature her creation on my blog (and make some of my own while I was at it too!).

Here's her adventure from start to finish:

Using a needled, she made a small whole in the top of the start, then she bent wire with pliers and created links to make dangling earrings.

My creation(slightly less dangly...ok a LOT less dangly):

Kris

 + Me

= Awesome Crafting Friends Forever! :)

We also had a little guest watching our EVERY move while we made earrings. Sometimes she even playfully attacked our feet. ;)

Crafting: Pearl Earrings

When I opened the mailbox Monday afternoon I was greeted by a nice package that I had ordered off of etsy. Inside were some pearls I had ordered to make pearl earrings. Of course, I had to make just one pair and try them on...so that's immediately what I did!

I think they turned out pretty cute. If anyone would like a pair let me know - because they are pearls the earrings will cost a little more than the others I've been selling. $8 a pair. But they're so worth it and still less expensive than other pearl earrings I've seen!

I just received two more pendants to make earrings with, so check out another crafting blog later this week. :)

Crafting: Landscape Photos

When I first thought about writing this entry, I had to question myself for a second. When I thought of crafting I didn't necessarily believe photography fells underneath that category at first. The way I defined craft was some sort of jewelry, clothing, pottery, or any artistic endeavor that involved making something with your hands. Well, although you don't mold a photo with your bare hands - you still take something and make it your own. You set the exposure, align the lens to the angle you wish and do postproduction. Photography really IS it's own craft.

Below are photos I took from this past weekend in Frankfort.

The first two have no altered color in the photos. This is what they really looked like! There was a weird storm coming in and it was close to twilight. Very eerie colors and clouds - but beautiful!

Because of my new work routine - I wake up around 6am. So, I see the sunrise most mornings. Even though it was the weekend, my body alerted me that it was time to get up (thankfully at 7am!). I was able to catch the sunrise and some beautiful things it did!

Moon during the day. So pretty!

Thanks for checking out my photos from this past weekend. Hope yours was just as sunny! :)