Quick Snack---Merienda Rapida

Just as the title says, this is a quick snack that is both fulfilling and delicious. It is just hummus, pita, and mango. Hope you enjoy!

Tal como dice el titulo, esta es una merienda super rapida con tres ingredientes: hummus (maza de garbanzo), pita, y mango. Disfrutenlo!

One Summer Salad/Una Ensalada de Verano

So I'm looking in the fridge looking for something to eat but with warm temperatures I don't really want to cook, so a salad was my way to go.

-Ingredients-

Spinach

Cherries (about 6)

1 Apple

1 Avocado

Crushed Walnuts

I made this honey mustard dressing but since I really don't lie olive oil, I added a tiny bit of white wine vinegar. 

Pues buscando algo de comer en el refrigerador y al no querer cocinar por el fuerte calor que esta haciendo, escogí hacer una ensalada. 

-Ingredientes-

Espinaca 

Cerezas (Como 6)

1 Manzana

1 Aguacate

Almendras Machacadas

Hice un aderezo de miel y mostaza pero como no me gusta el aceite de aceituna, lo sustituí con un poquito de vinagre de vino blanco.

P.S. I will be writing my blogs in English and Spanish! Voy a escribir mi blog en Inglés y Español!

Recap

My turtle. I am seriously deciding to get him a new tank, now on to the research.

Saw one of my favorite bands ever! Not only are they awesome musicians but their music carries messages about love and the love for social justice. Las Cafeteras, check them out! 

A secret gem. I really like this picture :)

Will You Be Watching?

Mundial Brasil 2014 is here!!!!!! 

Photo from Canchallena

Photo from Teletica

So as you know the World Cup 2014 started yesterday! After four years we are here again tied to the tv and rooting for your team. Mine are Honduras and Costa Rica, since they are representing Central America this time. (Wave my little flags) lol

As we know, this World Cup has come with some protests, not that it's bad thing, because eventually what many Brazilians are fighting for are real necessities and demands by the people. I will be watching the World Cup but not because I don't agree with the movement that is going on, I will be watching because futbol is part of my culture and because I support the teams from Latino America and I still support the movement that is going on. From my point of view, I will watch the World Cup but much more consciously and critical of the FIFA. 

So despite all of this, will you be watching the event? 

Who's your team? 

Snack: Banana slices with Nutella and Almonds

So here is a simple yet satisfying snack you could do (and which kids will love!) 

The 'recipe' is pretty much self explanatory but here it goes:

-Ingredients-

1 Banana

Nutella 

Prepackaged crushed almonds

1. Peel banana and cut into [circular] slices however big you want them.

2. With a spoon get some Nutella, place some on top of the banana slices, and smooth it out. I didn't put much so it doesn't overpower the banana and watching with how much sugar you put in your body. 

3. Put some almonds for some crunchiness! yum! 

4. Enjoy!

Summer is unofficially here!

Temperature's are quickly rising here in Southern California and man oh man, are paletas coming in handy to cool off. I recently tried this Guayaba paleta and oh my, are they delicious! Not only do they taste like guayaba, but they have guayaba pieces in there! We got a winner! 

The White Bowl

So I have been keeping up with my goal to eat more homemade meals--I still eat out sometimes, but now I am eating much more vegetable and trying to eat every 3 hours. Snacking, snacking, snacking, and drinking much more water.  Well on Instagram I have started to public photos of some of the meals that i eat so you can check some out and I will soon start posting some recipes on here. I just want to make them better for you to enjoy :)
#thewhitebowl

Higher Education: Attainable?

Picture from collegehumor.com

I am glad to say that I will be attending (hopefully, if I'm able to pay) the MSW program I have always wanted! Yay!...? When I got my acceptance letter, I was so thrilled and excited about it. Don't get me wrong, I still am but after seeing the cost and the amount of financial aid I received, I am really starting to worry how will I cover tuition. From the start, i knew that the program would be costly, but I know there will be ways to finance it :) 

There are scholarships, loans, and stipends, and payment methods, thankfully. Loans really make me uncomfortable though.  I do not want to be spending 10+ years paying off my education. That sounds so silly to me! Education is so vital for people, society as a whole and it is still something that is unattainable for many. 

Even if at moments like this I feel so stressed out, I feel blessed to be surrounded by people who support me and give me so much advice about what to do. I know that going into grad school everything will be different than my undergraduate years. Anyways, I hope you are all having a nice week and I am so looking forward to the weekend! 

Fotos y Recuerdos

Hearing Selena's "Fotos y Recuerdos" (Pictures and Memories) and here are some that are very dear to me. 

10,000 Rockets

So this books called Mission: 10,000 Rockets and it is full of rockets!!  It i every visual and how the title says, it has 10,000 drawings of rockets drawn by students from all over the country. It's pretty cool and it is awesome to see how teachers, scientists, and engineers came together and instead of  underestimating the creativity of our students, they encouraged them to be as creative as possible. Many of the kids that I work with feel inspired when they look through the book and start drawing or building rockets out of legos, popsicles sticks, playdoh, etc. I think you will enjoy this book and I am sure your local library will have in stock, so check it out! 

P.S. I just started using the collage making app called Moldiv. I would recommend it if you like doing collages and sharing them on Instagram!

ML

Here it Goes!

Okay, so here it goes. Again and again I have said that I would start eating healthier and greener but I say it one more time and I must say that this time, it is for real. I know that with a busy schedule it is hard to cook at home all of the time but reducing eating out will be my first step. Some times I won't have a choice of eating out but I know that I have to be more conscious of what I order. I am still in the process of researching for recipes,  food/nutrition blogs, introducing new vegetables, and especially new tastes and most importantly  changing the way I think about eating and how I think about food in general. I am sure that being healthy is beyond eating just quinoa and kale so I want to start learning about incorporating so many different ingredients that will help me eat more conscious and healthier without sacrificing the taste. And besides just eating healthier, I need to start working out more. Yoga for sure. I just need to find local and not so expensive classes around my neighborhood. I am also trying to run again. I've done it before and it hasn't worked out much but this time I am really trying to stick to it and have little goals to motivate myself.  This is all very exciting but I really need to focus and discipline myself to accomplish this.

Do you have any nutrition books, blogs, recipes or  just tips in general about starting a healthier lifestyle? I would love to hear them.

Thank you for stopping by!

ML

Strike!

Today being at this bowling alley with so many youth that were playing bowling for the first time, I  realized how some people haven't experienced things that we sometimes take for granted. For example, bowling. Yeah I mean it's bowling, I'm sure everyone has played it at least once. So wrong. Anyways, I'm happy that I was able to be there to see the youth play and have a fun time. I am grateful for these times and for the things I have come across with in my life. 

And finally it's Friday!!! Have a nice weekend!!!

ML

Up To Now

A little about myself. I am Michelle and I live in Southern California and I took this picture during one of the most tiring and funnest little hike. I am a Childcare Provider/Caregiver and will be a full-time student this upcoming Fall! Up to the creation to this blog, my life has been kind of a whirlwind and I want to talk about it a bit. 

I graduated college in 2012 and--I think curiosity and a touch of naiveness-- I was left unemployed and "lost" for a year and a half. Coming out from college with a plan to "land" a job and be independent is very hard nowadays. With a B.A. in Psychology I thought I would easily find an entry level job at some community service agency or as a T.A, but no. Months flew by and nothing, but I did volunteer in many places, so I was learning and growing. I was in a way working just without pay. 

During this time some people told me that I was just wasting my time being a volunteer and that I should look for a job at any place. Yes, I did consider quitting all of my volunteer positions but knowing that in the future I will like to become a clinical social work, I knew that all of the volunteer experience would help me get into grad school and eventually help me get a job after. Well, I sticked around volunteering and through patience and hardwork I was able to land my first job ever. Also, through all of this I was in the process of applying into grad school and thankfully I got accepted into the school I wanted--and I believe that all the volunteer work helped. You know this grad school process is somewhat long and stressful but I never thought that looking into grad school would be like looking into purchasing a car! Thankfully there are some scholarships, financial aid, and grants for tuition but leading up to higher education, tuition gets higher! Therefore--like it or not-- leading to loans. Yes, you expect to be in debt for a car purchase and paying of a house but being in debt for school? I think it's kind of too much. This part disappoints me a lot because yes I got in and am fortunate to pay it somehow but what about those that really cannot pay? I don't want to sound preachy or anything but it sucks that people are always told to continue school but without money, you can't. 

I understand that like me, there may be some people in the same situation and at some points you might feel like time is slipping and you are not doing anything--but no, try to clear your mind and set your goals. Self care is #1 because if you aren't happy, it is hard to figure out where you want to go and it is hard to be nice to others. 

ML

Bienvenidos!

Photo credit: SO

Welcome to Staying Mellow!

First of all, thank you for stopping by my blog. 

It has taken me a while to decide if I should start a blog and I feel that it is the right time and condition to do so. Everyone has different things going on in their life and I want to dedicate this space to some of the cool adventures in my life. This is a lifestyle blog and that includes:

nature-city life-fashion-food-books-diy's-current events-and photos. 

Yes, this is my first post of many (I hope). tee hee.

:) 

ML