Categories
Food & Beverage Local Business Spotlight

Can It Date Night?

Downtown Ventura is a (not so) hidden gem for bars, restaurants, and shops; it is the perfect spot to shop and soak up the sun and a prime date night spot. But with so many options and grand openings, how do you choose between them?

I’ve compiled a list of places that I think pass the “Can It Date Night” test based on their menu options, pricing, and ambiance.

The Yard Bar & Grill

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

The Yard Bar & Grill is Main Street’s newest restaurant addition. The forces behind Cronies are taking everything you love from their sports restaurants and giving you an elevated dining experience. And once you finish your meal, you can head to the back of the restaurant to their cozy speakeasy, The Hive.

Menu Options: The Yard has something for everyone; a variety of shareable starters, burgers, salads, tacos, and sandwiches. But the pièce de résistance: the pub fries.

Pricing: The Yard’s burgers and sandwiches run anywhere from $15.00 to $19.00, but they do come with a good portion of fries and your choice of sauce. Their appetizer menu ranges $7.00 up to $18.00 for their heartier options.

Ambiance: The seating at The Yard is very comfortable; they’ve somehow managed to take a more industrial setting (exposed brick and ceiling) and make it very cozy. I love the open air feeling, and the gorgeous wooden bar in the center of the room feels lux.

Overall: Yes, The Yard has a mid-priced menu with a huge variety of options, giving you plenty to choose from which makes this an easy choice for a date night!

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Jaguar Moon

Rating: 5 out of 5.

If you’re looking for a cocktail bar that specializes in tequila & mezcal with a maximalist neon aesthetic, this is the place for you. The faces behind this new bar are no stranger to Downtown Ventura- they’re also the forces behind Strange Beast and Bank of Italy.

Photos from @jaguarmoonbar on Instagram

Menu Options: This is elevated bar food, with options like fried chicken tacos and a tuna tostada that is filling and pairs perfectly with their cocktail menu.

Pricing: The menu options range from $8 (fried chicken taco) to their tartara de tuna ($23), with plenty of options at different price points in between. The star of their menu seem to be their taco selection, with something for everyone’s dietary needs. Jaguar Moon also has a great cocktail menu, with mixed drinks ranging from $11 to $15.

Ambiance: This is just the coolest place; it’s vibrant and Instagram-worthy. Weekends seem to be quite busy, but for good reason.

Overall: Yes! Jaguar Moon definitely passes the “Can It Date Night” test. It’s a unique and “vibey” spot in Downtown Ventura, and is worth checking out. With so much to offer, Jaguar Moon should be on your list of places to go for a date night.

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Model Citizen

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

From the hospitality team that brought you Prospect Coffee Roasters, meet Model Citizen. You can find elevated interpretations of classic cocktails, and an array of menu items that feature locally sourced ingredients.

Menu Options: The Model Citizen menu “emphasizes local and regional ingredients, with a focus on preservation, to create fun, seasonal, and unique coastal dishes with flavors from California and the Mediterranean” (from the MC website). Their dishes are highly unique, with a lot of options that seem exclusive to their restaurant.

Pricing: Model Citizen’s pricing is on the higher end of this list, with options ranging from $9 (fries to share) to $66 (13 oz NY strip steak w/ frites). There are plenty of offerings in between, but they tend to run in the $16 – $20+ range. The cocktail menu also runs on the higher side, with mixed drinks from $14 – $21. That being said, the happy hour menu (which runs all night on Mondays!) has select mixed drinks for $10 and menu items from $5 – $15.

Ambiance: There’s a great balance between trendy and the laid-back charm that is Ventura. You can sit in one of their cozy booths, or relax at the gorgeous mid-century mod bar. Model Citizen has nailed the vintage-y, effortlessly cool atmosphere.

Overall: While it’s a bit on the pricier side, you can tell the food and drinks are locally-sourced and carefully crafted to be unique to their restaurant. While it’s a great atmosphere and has plenty to choose from, I’d recommend Model Citizen as a happy hour date.

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Categories
Beauty & Wellness

Skincare Made Simple: The Essentials for Radiant Skin

Skincare can be confusing, especially since social media influencers have 15-step routines and all recommend different products. Truth is a simple 3-5 step routine can give the same results. Sometimes even better since you aren’t overwhelming your skin with various products. In this blog post, I’ll cover the essential steps, my personal routine, and affordable products. As a bonus, I will also talk about makeup that has skincare in it.

Essential Skincare Steps

  1. Cleanser: This washes away all the dirt and makeup, giving you a clean base for the next products.
  2. Serum: A treatment for specific things like acne, wrinkles, or brightness of the skin.
  3. Moisturizer: Locks in the hydration for the day so that your skin isn’t dry or irritated.
  4. Sunscreen: Protects the skin from sun damage and prolongs aging. This step is only used in the morning!

My Personal Routine

This is the routine I use to get clear and glowy skin! Each of these products plays a vital role in my skincare to maintain healthy skin.

Cleanser: La Roche-Posay Purifying Toleriane Face Wash for Oily Skin (Target $17.99). Use both AM and PM
Link For Facewash

Serum: Good Molecules Hyaluronic Acid Serum (Ulta $12). Use AM
Link for Hyaluronic Serum
Good Molecules Niacinamide Serum (Ulta $12) Use PM
Link for Niacinamide Serum

Moisturizer: Pacifica Glow Baby Hydrodew Moisture Gel
(Amazon $16.40) Use AM
Link for Pacifica Glow Baby
Cocokind Resurrection Polypeptide Cream (Target $28,49) Use PM
Link for Cocokind Cream

Sunscreen: Round Lab Birch Juice Moisturizing UV Lock Korean Sunscreen. (Target $24.99) Use AM
Link for Round Lab UV

Makeup and Skincare in 1

For people who love to wear makeup and still want to take care of their skin, here are some amazing products that range from low to high end! Not only do these products make you look good, but also keep your skin hydrated and protected from the sun. (* next to products, are the items I use)

Primer: Tatcha The Liquid Silk Canvas* ($54) / Elf Power Grip Primer + Niacinamide ($10)
Foundation: IT Cosmetics CC+ Nude Glow Foundation with SPF 40* ($47) / L’Oréal True Match Nude Hyaluronic Tinted Serum ($16)
Blush: Rhode Pocket Blush Infused with Peptides* ($24) / Elf Halo Glow Blush Beauty Wand ($9)
Setting Spray: Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray* ($38) / Elf Power Grip Dewy Setting Spray ($10)

Budget Friendly Skincare

Here are some budget-friendly skincare products that can give the same results as high-end products without breaking the bank.

Cleanser: Cetaphil Daily Facial Cleanser for Sensitive Skin ($11.99)
Serum: The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5 Hydrating Serum with Ceramides ($9.90)
Moisturizer: CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion ($13.29)
Sunscreen: CeraVe AM Face Moisturizer with SPF 30 ($13.29)

Build Your Own Routine

If you want to build your own skincare routine, the first step is finding out what skin type you have and what kind of products you need. Dry skin, oily skin, normal skin, or sensitive skin. If you have Dry skin, lean towards more moisturizing and thick products. Look for ingredients like Hyaluronic acid or Ceramides in your products. For Oily Skin, more lightweight and oil-free products would be best. Look for ingredients like Niacinamide or Salicylic acid to keep the oils under control. For Sensitive skin, stick to fragrance-free products to prevent flare-ups. Ingredients like Aloe Vera and Glycerin are best because they are soothing. Normal skin is really easy since there is nothing more the skin barrier needs. As long as you are balancing your hydration and using gentle products, your skin will thrive.

I hope this guide helps you simplify your routine and start your skincare journey without all of the extra stress about products and steps. Keeping it short and simple is the best thing you can do for your skin. For any further questions, feel free to Contact Me.

Categories
Beauty & Wellness

Best Protein Powders

Many people utilize protein supplements for various reasons, whether it be to increase muscle mass, support muscle recovery, manage weight control, or possibly just a simple way to boost your athletic performance. One of the common choices consumers will face is which protein powder or supplement to use. In this article, we will discuss different proteins and the benefits or drawbacks that can possibly come along with them.

Whey Concentrate

Firstly, we will discuss the most popular protein powder among athletes, which is whey protein. This protein supplement is definitely the most popular, but is this the best protein for you? Whey protein, is a byproduct of milk. The way whey protein works is it enters your bloodstream faster than most proteins and boosts high levels of amino acids. This is a great way to provide muscles with the nutrients to get through your workouts and build muscle. Whey protein is considered the most effective protein powder to build muscle. Whey concentrate protein includes some lactose and fat. It’s about 78 to 88 percent protein. Whey protein is less expensive than whey isolate which we will go over in our next protein supplement.

Whey Isolate

Basically whey isolate is the isolated form of whey protein which means the carbs and fat have been removed from the protein to make a protein powder that is 98% protein. Many athletes that are trying to gain lean muscle and cut down on body fat may choose whey protein isolate.

Whey Protein Isolate, Creamy Vanilla Powder

Casein Protein

Casein protein is derived from milk, which is high in protein content. The biggest difference with casein protein is that it takes longer to digest; for this reason, some athletes choose to take it before bed.

Soy Protein

Soy protein is made of ground soybeans that have been isolated from their fats. Soy protein digests at a moderate rate. This protein contains a good amount of amino acids, glutamine, and arginine, which may help with immune support. Pea protein is actually a complete protein, which is a huge benefit and a supporting reason why pea protein is considered one of the top types of plant-derived proteins for building and maintaining muscle.

7 Amazing Health Benefits Of Pea Protein Powders — AS-IT-IS Nutrition

Egg White Protein

Egg white protein is the whites of eggs that have been dried and ground down into powder. This protein digests slower than whey protein but faster than casein. Egg white protein is a great option for a post-workout protein shake.

What is Egg White Protein? | RXBAR

Hemp Protein

Hemp protein is made from ground hemp seeds. Hemp protein has less protein content, so it may not be the best option for building muscle; however, it does provide a good source of fiber and omega-3 fatty acids. This may be a good option if you want another source for nutrients and are okay with the lesser amount of protein.

Hemp protein powder | merchant & supplier | naVitalo
Categories
Student Life at VC

How To Build The Life You Love.

Do you ever feel stuck going through the same motions in your everyday life? You wake up, go to work, or take care of your family and hope you get some of your “To Do” list done. I completely understand because that was my life for a very long time. As a single mom, I was just trying to work and provide for my daughters. There was never enough time to do everything that needed to be done, leaving me feeling discouraged. Years later when I got remarried, my life only got more complicated. My plate was stacked so high that I didn’t know where to begin. I knew I wanted better for myself and my family so I decided to make a change. I read books, and watched YouTube videos, and here’s what I found.

Create a Plan by Building Achievable Goals.

Take time to sit and write down your goals. If you don’t know what your goals are then chances are YOU should be your goal. That’s right, you can be your own goal. In fact, this year, I am my goal. This year I have committed to putting myself first by building the life I love and was meant to live. During this process take time to write down “why” each goal is important to you. I am my goal because I am tired of feeling lost and want to feel better about my life and myself. Lastly, be very specific about your goals. “I want to lose weight” or “I want to make more money” is not specific and won’t get you anywhere. Since my goal covers different areas I have broken it down for you in the next step

Breaking Down Your Goals

Since my goal is “Me” I needed to write down exactly what that meant. 

  • I am going to lose 20 pounds by December 31, 2024, by working out 3 times a week, taking my dog on daily walks, and not eating past 9 pm. 
  • I am going to be more organized and intentional by developing better time management by creating a detailed calendar of everything that has to be done each day. 
  • I am going to build stronger relationships with my family by setting time for my family and working on my relationships with better communication. On this goal, I wrote down the current state of my relationships and where I’d like them to be by December 31, 2024.
  • I am going to build a stronger spiritual relationship by taking time to pray each morning and go to church every week. 

Write Down Your Plan

Now that you have everything broken down it’s time to write it all down. There are several tools people use to write down and organize goals. Here’s what I currently use:

  • Better Life Journal- I like to manually write stuff down and be able to check stuff off at the end of my day. I journal each morning while I have my morning tea, writing down what I am going to do during the day. At the end of the day, I take a few minutes to write down how my day went and any new thoughts or ideas. I’ve used multiple planners and journals but I have enjoyed the Better Life Journal by Dean Graziosi. 
  • Google Calendar- Create a yearly & daily calendar.
    • Write down every event planned for the year. (vacations, and special events)
    • Block and schedule time for each item that has to be done during the week for each of your goals. For example, I have timeslots for my daily walks, work, workouts, classes, and date nights all blocked on my schedule. 
  • Share your calendar with your family. By sharing your calendars you’re able to see each other’s free time and create events or tasks. 

Work And Manage Your Plan!

Brendon Burchard, a highly successful productivity coach recommends looking at your daily calendar every day. During your morning coffee or tea is a great time to review your plans for the day. By journaling daily, you’re able to monitor your progress. Remember, you manage what you measure. Now that you have done all the steps it is time to work your plan. 

Conclusion

These are things I am doing to build a life I love. Although there are days that I fall off the horse and don’t follow my schedule, I catch myself more often and get back on track. Studies show it takes about 30 days to create a habit. Also, watching videos and reading books by Dean Grazios, and Tony Robbins has been a great tool that I highly recommend. Find someone who inspires you to be your best self. By working on your plan daily you are working to create a life you love. 

If you are on a mission to build the life you love what tips or habits are working best for you?

Leave a comment

Categories
Food & Beverage Student Life at VC

Ugly Sushi

Do you love sushi, but maybe not the price of a night out for a sushi dinner? Make ugly sushi with me in the comfort of your own kitchen. Yes, it may look ugly, but the taste is grade A! It’s not easy to make sushi the first time, so I will help prepare you for your sushi journey with my own experience.

Skip to Steps

We, Ventura Locals, has access to county’s best sushi grade fish. I found mine at Ocean Pride of Ventura. This fish market has been open since 1999, only carry’s fresh fish, and was even named in The Ventura Reporter’s “Best of Ventura”. It’s a little hidden among the industrial buildings next to the Ventura Car Mall. Just let owner, Tom Moore, know you’re making sushi tonight, and he’ll help you with what you need. Check out their website for peek at their menu.

To be honest, knowing that I had access to fresh fish cut at a sushi grade, I wanted to take on the fun task of making sushi at home. I called up my sister and drafted her for sushi fun.

Step One: Prepare yourself

I watched a couple of YouTube videos that took me step-by-step through making sushi rolls with various ingredients. This step is important; you don’t want to explore the art of making sushi blind. Plus, it ensures you have all the items you need, and it gives you ideas you may not have had.

Step Two: Equipment

Feel like the professionals with a bamboo mat to roll your sushi. I didn’t find this at Ocean Pride, so I took myself to Seafood City Supermarket for any other equipment I needed. There, I found a cute sushi set that had a bamboo mat, a wooden bowl, and a wooden rice scoop. 

Step Three: Ingredients

Have fun here! Find the ingredients you’d normally like when going out for sushi, even the sauces. Here’s a list of the core ingredients:

  • Sushi rice.
  • Rice Wine Powder or Vinegar.
  • Bamboo mat.
  • Plastic wrap.
  • nori (seaweed sheets)
  • soy sauce.
  • Toasted sesame seeds.

Don’t forget your fish! I bought a pound of King Salmon and a pound of Ahi Tuna from Ocean Pride. This did cost me a pretty penny, just shy of $90. But I bought enough for four people, and I think $90 was cheaper than taking four people to a sushi restaurant.

Step Four: Get cooking! 

Preparing your sushi rice should be the first thing you do once you start putting together your rolls. You want some time for it to cool off, and this is the most challenging part. I didn’t believe this until I started making sushi rice for the first time; it’s more important than the fish itself! It’s best to refer to the instructions on the sushi rice package or YouTube. I used Nishiki rice.

*Warning: Be careful with the amount of rice vinegar you put in the rice. The vinegar’s flavor can overpower the flavor of your fish. I sadly failed to notice the instructions on the back of my rice package and did just that. 

Once your rice is finished, you can start rollin’!

Final Step: Enjoy!

Dinner time! Now you can enjoy your creation. Even though my first time making sushi didn’t come out as I would have liked, my rolls may looked ugly, but they tasted almost restaurant status. My company and I had fun, and I cannot wait to do it again.

Would you make sushi at home? Comment below telling us if you will or any past experiences.

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Uncategorized

805 Rising

By: Alyssa Moreno

Hello everyone, long time no see! The last post I made on here consisted of a playlist that contained songs from exclusively Ventura County artists. Well, today I’m back with one of those artists, Young Lord, a rising rapper out of Oxnard.

I took the time to sit down with Young Lord at his studio to get a little insight on what’s next for this career and what he’s planning for the year 2024. And of course I got a tour of the studio!

He was extremely welcoming and felt like a friendly face which made asking questions a little easier on me. “So how are things with your music lately, anything we should keep an eye out for?” I asked the 25-year-old rapper.

“Oh you know, things are good, I’m working on a lot of new stuff that I can’t wait to release hopefully as soon as possible, and start getting to work on some of ideas I have for the future” he replied.

“Sounds like you have the near future planned out, but what’s happening right now in the life of Young Lord, any recent releases we should add to our current music rotations?, I asked.

“Yeah, I actually have a couple of recent releases that should be on everyone’s radar,” he laughed, “No, but seriously I did just drop a few tracks on all streaming platforms called BACK2BACK and Dior Cologne Freestyle, and I even dropped music videos to both songs on Youtube.”

“Oh, I’ll be to link both songs so that all our readers and viewers can watch and listen, so now that those songs are out, what’s next in terms of marketing what’s already released?” I asked Young Lord.

After listening to both songs and watching both music videos, I’ve decided not to link them in this article because they weren’t so family friendly, but I still think everyone who’s interested in checking them out should absolutely do so! I still really like both songs. Both songs feature Young Lords unique melodies and catchy word play with equally as enticing visuals to match.

“Well, that’s what I’m trying to figure out right now, I do what I can on social media you know like Instagram and TikTok, and my label helps me out with the advertisements, but I want it all to be very organic and not too try hard, you know what I mean?”

“Yeah I definitely understand where you’re coming from, it can be hard to want to push your art onto people, but how else will they know if you aren’t constantly telling them?”

We exchanged a back and forth of what’s to come for the Oxnard local rapper, but we’ll save that for another time, he wanted everything to come out when he was ready to put it out, and as an artist I respect that.

After some conversation he took me around the studio to see where he does most of his work, and of course I took pictures.

It’s such a cool and creative space, so much art surrounding you while you create art, I told the young rapper. The space felt inspiring and motivating, Hopefully I’ll be back here soon with more updates on the rising star out of Ventura County, Young Lord.

Be sure to follow him on Instagram @RealYoungLord

Follow me on Instagram @MorenoAlyssa_

And follow the VC Social on Instagram @VCSocialBrand

Categories
Food & Beverage Local Business Spotlight

Tatiana’s Coffee & Tea

This beloved Coffee shop located on 2470 E Main St has been open for the past ten years serving the people of Ventura. This local business has been run by the owner Tatiana Curuso and her husband Diego Mazo. Curuso and Mazo both put their all into providing the most satisfying experience to all customers the minute they step through the doors.

Beverages

Tatiana’s Coffee and Tea offers Hot Coffee; fresh drip and Espresso, Decaf, Blended drinks; the Tatalisious being the most loved, Iced drinks; Vanilla latte being the most common, and Teas; Chai is most popular. My absolute favorite beverage would have to be an Iced Chai Tea Latte with oat and whipped cream.

Food

Tatiana’s is best known for their amazing Empanadas that were voted Best Empanadas in The State of Californina in 2022. The Empanadas come in a variety of flavors including: Chicken, Beef, Potato Beef, Potato Cheese, Spinach Feta and Ratatouille. Along with savory they provide sweet, Cheese and Guava Cheese pastelitos and Coffee Cakes. All handmade by a local Chef. Other delicious food items they offer are petite croissant sandwiches, Bagels: Everything and Parmesan with cream cheese or made into a breakfast sandwich, Scones, Ham, Turkey, Italian and Artichoke sandwiches. My personal favorites are all the Empanadas and the blueberry Coffee Cake.

My experience at Tatiana’s has always been amazing, from the customer service to the delicious food and drinks. The hours are from 7:00am-3:00pm Monday-Saturday.

Make sure to stop by Tatiana’s Coffee & Tea if you are in the area at 2470 E Main St or call in to go pick up (805) 901-7620.

Tatiana’s Coffee & Tea Socials

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Food & Beverage Local Business Spotlight

Slice House

Pizza review on their newest location!

I’m sure majority of you guys have heard of the Slice House location in Thousand Oaks, however, were you aware of their newest location that opened up in Simi Valley? Yes, that’s right! Slice House located at 2916 Tapo Canyon Rd, CA 93063 had a kick off with a grand opening on April 6th at 11am. I’m here to tell you all about it.

First off you may have heard of all the hype surrounding this place and may be asking yourself what’s so great about it. Well, have you ever had massive pizza served by a whole or a slice bigger than your head with great amount of flavor? How about a large variety of off the menu items that aren’t pizza like meatballs, subs, salads, and pastas. This place has it all. Let me take you through the journey of Slice House with a few of their menu items I ordered and gave a try.

As mentioned above, Slice House has a great menu to explore that has a little bit of everything for everyone. On my particular visit to this location and my first time ever trying Slice House, I ordered four slices, the meatballs, and a beer. The slices happened to be Pepperoni, Hawaiian Hit Man, Sweet Gino, and Veggie. After tasting each of these slices, I fell in love with all of them. Not one disappointment or area of critique. The amount of flavor each slice had was amazing something for sure is in that sauce that brings it all to life. If I had to choose I would say Sweet Gino was the best one and will probably be a slice I order every time I return.

Onto the items that are not pizza, the meatballs. I had overheard that these meatballs are a must try when going to Slice House, so that’s exactly what I did. I had the order of three. In less than 3 minutes they were already being served to my table fresh, steaming, and a strong smell of aroma just waiting to be eaten. Once again, something is in that sauce bringing it all to life. These are the best meatballs I have ever had and strongly recommend them to everyone planning to visit this location.

Speaking of visiting, are these existing areas too far out from your hometown location? Well, not to worry! They are currently working on expanding their restaurant over to Burbank, Santa Clarita, Ventura, Oxnard, Pasadena, Glendale, and Woodland Hills.

Well everyone, there you have it. My own personal Slice House review with what I got off their menu. Let me know below which slice of pizza you would give a try. Link to their Instagram is listed below, check them out as they are always keeping up with their audience.

Categories
Business Food & Beverage

B&J’s Drive In

Ramon and I took an adventure down to a Saticoy, to see a historical landmark of theirs that is B&J’s Drive In. This drive-in has been in Saticoy forever, but it didn’t earn its name until about 60 years ago. The Jenkins family were the long time owners but it is now owned by Alfredo M. We got to sit down and have an in-depth interview with him that you can watch above ^ He talks about how he came to own B&J’s, restaurant struggles, what he hopes for their future and more! Here’s the food we tried during our visit!

Corn Burritos

Rating —-> Ramon: 7 Valerie: 7.5

These burritos are county famous, they are definitely something that helped put B&J’s on the map! They are a crispy, salty, cheesy treat. The bean filling adds a level of protein that helps make you full off of these alone!

Old Fashioned Combo

Rating —> Ramon: 9.9 Valerie: 9.9

This one was definitely both of our favorites. This burger was packed to the nines with 2 patties, an onion ring, bacon and other traditional burger toppings. Even though it sounds like a lot, it melded together beautifully. Everything complimented each other, it’s definitely big enough that you can share between 2 people!

Lemon Pepper Wings

Rating —> Ramon: 8 Valerie: 7.5

The wings were crispy and tangy from the lemon pepper sauce. Such a chill food to share among with friends. Would’ve loved to have more of a peppery kick to them, more on the mild side.

img_3140-1

Chili Cheese Fries

Rating —> Ramon: 8.5 Valerie: 9

These chili cheese fries were very honestly the bomb.com. They are super cheesy, crispy and savory! The crinkle fries have nice ridges to hold the chili so you can get everything in one bite. Everyone I know that knows B&J’s always recommends!

B&J’s is a welcoming family friendly environment! They have annual toy drives and cruise and chill days. They make the Saticoy community proud and continue to carry on the legacy that is B&J’s. Such a variety of food and very affordable. Such an amazing experience! Thank You Alfredo for giving us your time and resources, we wish you the very best of luck!

Categories
Food & Beverage

Worms in the Mud Cookie Cups

How 6 kids have changed the path of my life and how I’m changing Theirs

Go to RECIPE

When I was 11 years old I found out I was gonna be a Tia. Taking on this title I thought it was gonna be full of thoughtless fun, dressing the baby up in cute clothes, playing with toys and occasionally making a bottle and it was for a little while. I began to realize that my love for this one child, and soon to be others, goes so beyond what I could even grasp and I had a chance to help guide them to a better life than I had. So during my high school years I sacrificed my youth and helped raise them and it is an experience that holds so much gratitude and turmoil but I would never give it up. I took on the responsibility of healing the generational trauma of the past to give them a fighting chance to build something new. I now have 4 nieces and 2 nephews, that’s right about a decade later there are now 6 kids ranging from 9-3 years old, running around at almost all times. It’s always a party with them, sometimes I’m trying to decide if it’s a party I want to be invited to or not (ha ha).

In society it has been the standard to believe children aren’t people, that they don’t have feelings or wants of their own or that they’re not entitled to those because they’re children. I believe society is entering a transition period and reevaluating the vital role kids play because they are the future, Why would we not emphasize their importance? I was not raised to be in touch with my needs or wants, I was raised with the main focus of sacrifice and how important it was to sacrifice anything and everything as long as it helped your family make it in the end. Learning how to sacrifice has been one of the best and worse lessons in my life, learning anything without balance is bound to lead to disproportion. I do know the importance of sacrifice and it is something I will never underestimate, but now I am integrating the importance of saying no and not always prioritizing others over myself. The winding road of never ending sacrifice leads to burnout, resentment and emptiness. Sometimes never ending sacrifice is key for survival but when you’re able to get out of it and move into autonomy over sacrifice it can lead to beautiful healing.

As I sit here and type this I’m currently surrounded by 3/6 kids and I watch them and soak in their interactions and am filled with so much gratitude and some fear for the future. I can only hope that I am able to be a person for them that I never had. I hope that I help guide them towards something new and better while leaving them laced with our family culture that came before us but may not serve us anymore. So I leave you with my hope and a very kid friendly recipe 🙂

Worms in the Mud Cookie Cups

Cookie Cup

>1 cup of Butter (softened)

>1 1/2 cup of Sugar

>1 Egg

>2 tsp of Vanilla Extract

>2 3/4 cups of AP Flour

>2 tsp of Baking Powder

>1 tsp of Salt

Filling

>Store Bought Chocolate Pudding Cups

>Crushed Oreos

>Gummy Worms

Preheat the oven to 400F. Grease a cupcake pan. Put your softened butter and sugar in a mixing bowl and beat till creamed together. Slowly incorporate the egg and vanilla extract, then set aside. In a separate bowl combine flour, baking powder and salt, give a quick mix to combine. Put your mixer on the slowest setting and add half the flour mixture. Once incorporated add the other half of the mixture and put the mixer on a higher setting, it should come together as a dough. If too sticky add a tbsp of flour at a time until it comes together. Take 2 tbsp of dough and press into each cupcake slot. Bake for about 13 minutes or until golden brown. As the Cookie Cups bake prep your Oreos, separate the filling from the cookie and put the cookies into a small sandwich bag. Proceed to crush them in the bag until they are crumbs, resembling dirt. Once your cookie cups have come out of the oven and cooled for 10 mins or longer, press a circular indentation in the middle, you can do this by using a tsp or tbsp. Add the pudding in the middle of the cup, then the Oreo crumbs and then the gummy worms. Ta-Da! You have some Worms in the Mud Cookie Cups!