Tag: Southwest

Categories
Food

Taco Bowl Tuesday

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Honestly, it doesn’t have to be Tuesday for tacos! Or for me to be craving my favorite taco salad and call this Taco Bowl Tuesday! This perfect taco salad is one of my favorite, quick, weeknight dinners. You can mix it up with beef, ground turkey, chicken, or stick with veggies. Tortilla, no tortilla. You really can’t go wrong. Start with your protein, 3-4 veggies, cheese and build yourself a salad. Seriously, it’s that easy! img_4695-1

1 lbs ground turkey or beef                                1 cup frozen corn

1 Tbsp garlic salt                                                   1 can black beans

1 Tsp pepper                                                          2 Roma tomatoes

1/2 head of lettuce

Fry ground meat over medium high heat. Add garlic salt & pepper to meat. Stir, at more to taste as needed. While meat is frying, wash and chop vegetables. Fry meat until full cooked, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat when done.

If you’re lucky enough to have won these handy tortilla bowl molds at a White Elephant exchange, pop them in the oven with a  tortilla at about 325 degrees for 6-8 minutes until crispy. If you don’t have molds you can use tortilla chips or ditch the tortilla all together and turn this into a carb friendly recipe. Once done, remove and start to build your salad. Lettuce, protein(meat and beans), veggies, cheese, salsa, combo seems to work pretty nice as layers.

 

Categories
Travel

Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta

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If you happen to be traveling through the Southwest during the fall (October) or New Mexico is a state you’ve been looking to visit, you definitely have to add checking out the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta to your bucket list. The largest hot air balloon fiesta in the world, with more than 500 balloons annually, has been an annual event in Albuquerque, NM since 1972. Whether you are a first timer or a fiesta veteran, this festival is always spectacular and never gets old. The festival takes place over 9 days, usually the first weeks of October. Mass Ascension takes place each morning, weather permitting, with the sunrise. Many festival goers begin arriving at the Balloon Fiesta Park as early as 4:30-5 am.  Thankfully, the park vendors are awake right along with you and offer a variety of breakfast foods, coffee, drinks, fair food and souvenirs for you to enjoy as the hot air balloons prepare for lift off.  Parking is available for festival goers, prince and distance will depend on the time you arrive at the park.  Walking will be required to enter the park and to walk around as the hot air balloons lift off. The City of Albuquerque also provide several Park and Ride locations across town to help festival goers forgo the parking lines and festival traffic. A list of locations and departure times for park and ride locations can be found on the official Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta website.

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With the festival taking place during the fall season in New Mexico, it is important to dress warm for the event. Jackets, sweaters, hats, gloves, scarves, closed toed/walking shoes are all welcomed festival attire and will ensure you enjoy the festival to the fullest. The weather is also one of the most important factors in festival activities being canceled for the day. Each morning the Mass Ascension takes place and is based on a weather/wind report. Conditions must be mild in order for the hot air balloons to take flight. I would suggest having at least 2 days you are available to attend the festival in case any weather prevents flight for day. Most every season, at least one morning or evening event is cancelled due weather. Mentioning other festival events, another event to catch is the nightly Balloon Glow. Most every night of the 9 day festival is accompanied by a balloons lighting up the night sky. This event is also beautiful and enjoyable for all festival goers as you get to chat with balloon pilots and enjoy seeing the balloons light up. Unlike the morning Mass Ascension, the Balloon glow offers you a chance to see hot air balloons light up, without lifting off the ground, creating a spectacular sight against the dark sky.

Categories
Travel

Monte Sagrado Resort-Taos, New Mexico

If your traveling through Northern, New Mexico, Taos should definitely a must stop on your list of sights to see. This beautiful Northern town is full of natural beauty, culture and adventure. It’s perfect place to getaway for the weekend. There are many things to see and do in  and around, Taos, from skiing and snowboarding at Taos Ski Valley to walking across the Rio Grande, Gorge Bridge. You can get lost on the plaza, enjoy some local shopping, eat New Mexican dishes and sip cocktails and listening to live music on a patio.  With lots to see and do to keep you busy during the day in Taos a perfect evening calls for a stay at The Monte Sagrado Resort in Taos. There’s no other Northern New Mexico Resort like it!

 

This hotel in located in the center of town, just off the plaza where food, drinks and shopping are available. This resort is like no other in the area, beautiful, tranquil, welcoming and is surrounded by the beauty of nature. I was lucky enough to visit just after a snow storm, which added extra wonder to my stay.

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If possible request the Native American Suite with an outdoor balcony. The view is breathtaking any season of the year. The suites are roomy with a private master bath, large bathroom with walk in shower and living area with fire place. You’ll will most certainly enjoy your evening relaxing, after a day of skiing, sightseeing or shopping.

img_1298Don’t forget to pack your swimsuit! The property has a tropical indoor pool and hot tub area with plants, flowers, and water to help you relax and enjoy your stay. The hotel lounge carried dinner style food items and make cocktails to order. They didn’t mind making drinks in a to-go cup to carry to the pool, either!

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You’re sure to leave wanting to come back!

 

Categories
Travel

Traveling Arches National Park

Utah has a beauty all its own. Every time I’ve been lucky enough to explore this gorgeous state I’m left in awe by it’s natural beauty. Arches National Park was no different. Here’s some tips and tricks I picked up along the way. Hopefully they help planning your trip a little easier.

Moab, Utah is the closest city to Arches National Park. There are multiple hotels and RV parks in town to rent and enjoy your stay. There’s also lots of restaurants and places to eat in town.

First, plan according to the season you are visiting Utah. Summer months get hot and in the winter you’ll more than likely be greeted with snow.  Believe it or not, I visited Arches on The 4th of July! Kid you not! July brings the heat and this year was no different. With many sites to see and trails to hike, I began about 6 am. I know, it sounds crazy, but at this time of year it’s the only way to beat the heat and truly enjoy the hike. There are several arches around the park to hike too. The hike to the Delicate Arch pictured was about 2 miles, give or take. A little less than 4 miles out and back. Depending on the time of day and season the trails are highly congested and the earlier you set out the better. Trust me, heading back down nearly two hours later and seeing the folks just starting the trail with a temperature of more than 90 degrees, I was happy I started early in the morning. It also helps with parking. There are lots of spaces up and around the trail head. Early in the morning it was easy to find a parking, later parking was congested and harder to find. As you drive around the park to different areas of the park some places are more popular than others and are more congested. Some trailheads are easy to drive up to and begin hiking.

Make sure you pack your water, even the early morning heat can weigh on you and you’ll need to hydrate. I took my camel pack and I had more than enough water for the day. You’ll be happy you have it when you reach the trail end and have some time to rest and enjoy the scenery. I always have at least a granola bar in my pack.

Packing a lunch in a cooler is a really good idea. There are several sites to stop, park and hike through the park. Depending on how long you spend exploring it’s nice to have a lunch break before heading up more trails and driving through the rest of the park.

The beautiful of Arches National Park will certainly not disappoint and is a must see in the Southwest!