How to get a custom paint color...

Here's a post I wrote this week for San Diego Momfia. I realize that it's about a specific paint store here in San Diego, but there are some general tips about getting a custom paint color that you might find helpful. As you'll see, I am a devoted fan of Benjamin Moore paints! I love the way they look (of course) but some of you may be interested in their superb line of eco-friendly paints, called "Natura"-I forgot to mention that in the post, which you can read HERE.


Wishing you love with extra cheese,
Nacho Mama

Taking Time to Celebrate: NATIONAL TORTILLA CHIP DAY!!

That's right! I know, you can't believe it's here again already :) As you might have guessed, I eat an obscene quantity of tortilla chips. In so many ways, I wouldn't be the woman I am today without them :)

Ahhhh....

Now I am more motivated than ever to perfect my nacho recipe! I've been tinkering with it for years, and the time has come to nail it down already. Stay tuned! In the meantime, I hope you live somewhere that has fresh, homemade tortilla chips available so you can enjoy a delicious plate of nachos tonight!

Wishing you love with extra cheese-

Nacho Mama

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO *THE ORIGINAL* MOMMYBLOGGER, ERMA BOMBECK!

If you consider yourself a "mommyblogger" you have this great lady to thank!

Photo via wikipedia.com

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ERMA BOMBECK!!

Most of us were in diapers when she exploded onto the national scene. Long before we could even imagine such a thing as Twitter parties, Klout scores and Facebook groups, she was there.

I vividly remember my mom and her friends when they were my age, laughing at Erma's column in recognition at the challenges that faced the modern mom.  A generation ahead of re-tweeting and wall-posting, women clipped Erma's columns and mailed them to each other, with passages underlined, circled and often with comments like "That's my David!"  I also remember how they passed around battered copies of her many, many books to be enjoyed on those rare occasions when Mom could get enough time to sit down with a cup of Sanka and read, for Pete's sake!

She wrote with accessible, limitless humor about not only the joys of motherhood, but the most profoundly challenging moments of a mother's life as well. Erma and her husband had adopted a daughter after they were told it would be impossible to have children-then they birthed two sons. Any blogger can relate to Erma's story: she started her career writing on a plank that had been propped up on cinder blocks in her bedroom. Her first professional gig, writing for her local paper, earned her exactly $3 per weekly post, ahem, column.

Eventually she would be a nationally syndicated columnist (her column ran from the mid-60s to the late 90s) and best-selling author. Most of her books, like my personal favorite Motherhood: The Second Oldest Profession, are still a relevant read today. And questions like "What kind of a mother would wash and dry a measuring cup after it only held water?" still make me laugh.

Erma died in 1996 from complications of a kidney transplant. But her words still hold a treasure trove of wisdom for all of us. I know that whenever I have a particularly bleak day, I bring to mind what is perhaps my favorite Bombeck nugget, "If you can laugh at it, you can live with it."

On behalf of mommybloggers everywhere,

Happy 84th Birthday, Erma! We love you and thank you!

-Nacho Mama

Review of Delizza Pastries

Wow-sorry to send you all over the blogosphere, but here's a review I did on Delizza Frozen Pastries for Rock On Mommies. Don't want to click over-here's the gist: they were delectable, cost $6 for a box of 50 at your local supermarket and (for my sister Weight Watchers out there) are 7 pointsplus per serving of 6 mini-eclairs. Each eclair is filled with yummy custard, covered with dark chocolate and is slightly larger than your thumb, so 6 is kind of a large serving.  Learn more and get coupons at the Delizza Website. Muy NOM!

Wishing you love with extra cheese,
Nacho Mama

What's Hot in Homes this Season? Trend Report

Hi folks!

February is always very busy for me-seems like I spend at least 2 hours a day catching up on all the new collections, checking out innovative new materials and looking for trends that I can carry into my projects over the following year. Here's a little trend report about this season's use of color that I wrote for my soft furnishings blog, The Blissful Bed and Bath. Hope you find it useful!

Wishing you love with extra cheese,
Nacho Mama

Eat It or Wear It? (What I Bought at the California Gift Show)

Wow-I feel like I haven't blogged in ages! But my whole family was taken down for over a week with a particularly nasty cold-thingy.  I'm still a little green around the gills, but I couldn't go this long without blogging-especially since I meant to share this with you at least a week ago!

One of my favorite events that I attended in January was the California Gift Show-you can read the trend report I wrote for Rock on Mommies HERE.

What I didn't share in my review was the one thing I actually bought at the gift show-but first let me tell you about the absolute highlight of that day for me (drumroll)

I GOT TO MEET THE CRAFTY CHICA!!!!! 

That's right, I got to meet, hug and talk to Kathy Cano-Murillo, aka "The Crafty Chica." You've seen me mention her here a few times, I am a GIGANTE fan! If, like me, you follow her blog and tweets, you know she is clever, sweet, generous and adorable-in person and in print. I was bummed that I didn't get to attend her book signing that evening, I absolutely loved her first novel, Waking Up in the Land of Glitter, and I can't wait for her next book, Miss Scarlet's School of Patternless Sewing, to come out on March 8th (You can pre-order your copy by clicking HERE!)

I saw several vendors offering Mexican-themed gifts, but Kathy's booth was by far my favorite. There were beautiful original art pieces by Kathy and her husband, Patrick...

The "Crafty Chica" booth also featured work by the Armas family, of CJ's Angels. I really enjoyed speaking to Jose, Annette and Theresa about their work. It was quite inspiring to see how this gifted couple were so supportive and nurturing of their daughter's artistic talents. So I just had to buy a set of their pan dulce earrings. You know how I love pan dulce! I couldn't resist-I got a pair in every color!

Now I can enjoy my pan dulce without worrying about blowing my weekly points! 

Better on my ears than on my thighs, right?

Wishing you love (and pan dulce) with extra cheese-

Nacho Mama