We recently moved into a new house, and as I’m sure you are aware, moving often means getting new furniture. In our case, we needed a sectional sofa to fill a large great room with 20 foot ceilings. After looking around, we decided to get a 5 piece sectional from the Futon Shop. What I love about the Futon Shop is that they have all-natural furniture with the option to have organic fill. They are non-toxic and chemical free which is really important to me and my family. As you can see in the picture below, they are comfy and we often find our youngest son sleeping on it. 

One tip when buying from the Futon Shop (or anywhere, really) is to measure the space and make sure it is big (or small) enough. We initially purchased a smaller size, but when we put it all together, we realized that we needed one more piece, which we then purchased. The dimensions are posted on the site, so you should be able to measure before buying. Learn more about the Futon Shop and its natural furniture here. 

They have so many different options for colors fabrics, and in the end we chose to go with a white color. Now, many of you know that I have 3 boys, with another on the way, so you are probably thinking I am crazy for having white furniture. I have had that thought myself if I am being completely honest, but it went really well with the overall design and color scheme of our home so we went with it anyway. 

Before making the choice, I did some research and found that you really can take some steps to keep white furniture clean. It isn’t easy, and of course there are going to be accidents, but I wanted to share some tips today about keeping that new white sofa clean. 

Pre-Treat the Fabric

The first thing you should do when you get your white furniture is treat it with fabric protector. This can make a world of difference because they are designed to repel spills and other messes. Based on my experience, this is not going to protect it from everything, but it definitely does a good job of repelling small spills and other accidents. There are many options to choose from, but I always recommend trying it on a small piece of the fabric on the underside of a pillow or somewhere else that isn’t visible to make sure it doesn’t cause any issues. 

Follow the Manufacturer’s Guidelines and Wash Often

The sofa that we got from the Futon Shop comes with easily removable covers for the cushions and pillows. This makes it easy to remove them and wash them in the washing machine from time-to-time. If you are using white slipcovers, you can take those off as well and wash them when needed. The important thing here is to make sure that you are following the manufacturer’s instructions for washing. Many fabrics require using only cold water and air drying. If you follow the instructions for washing the fabric, your furniture will last longer and should stay cleaner as well. 

Don’t let Spills Sit for a Long Time. 

The longer you wait to clean a stain, the more difficult it will be to remove and maintain the white color for your sofa. For example, if your child drops a popsicle on the couch, you should wipe it up right away and use a spot stain remover and probably wash that part of the couch at the very least. If you let it sit, it will be very difficult to get rid of later. 

Make and Enforce Rules 

This may seem like a crazy idea to all of you moms of boys out there, but if you want to keep your white furniture clean, you have to set rules and you have to enforce them. For example, we have movie night every night in our family room. With movie night, we serve ice cream, but my boys know that the rule is that we do not eat the ice cream on the couch. In fact, our overall rule is that there is no eating on the couch ever. It was hard for them to adjust, but they are used to the rule now and that has helped me keep our beautiful sofa clean. 

If you are going to spend money on a new couch, you should definitely take the time to make sure that you are doing what you can to keep it clean. I hope that these tips are helpful for you! Let me know in the comments below if you have any other tips. 

The post How to Keep Your White Furniture Clean appeared first on My Latina Table.

If you are reading this, you are most likely planning a trip to Xcaret in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. If that is the case, you are in for quite a treat! My husband and I went on an anniversary trip in 2018 to Cancun, and Xcaret was definitely a highlight. There are so many attractions available at Xcaret, that it can be somewhat overwhelming.

However, if you plan in advance and realize that you can’t see everything, you will have a great time. In this article, I will talk about five of our favorite attractions. At the end, I will also share some tips to save some money on your trip to Xcaret.

To read more about our experience at the Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe Resort, click here. 

What Is Xcaret?

Xcaret is described as a natural theme park loaded with over 40 attractions for people of all ages. It is located in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and is named after the nearby archaeological site known by the same name. There, you can swim with dolphins, explore natural rivers, see breathtaking shows, and enjoy international cuisine. In sum, Xcaret is an activity that you really have to experience to truly understand. 

With that said, we hadn’t anticipated going to Xcaret when we initially planned our trip. We had heard of it, but it wasn’t something that we thought we would have time to do. However, while at the resort, we decided to look into some fun excursions that we could do, and Xcaret came highly recommended by everyone. In the end, we decided to visit Chichen Itza and Xcaret and we don’t regret it at all!

How Much Does It Cost To Go To XCaret?

You are probably wondering how much it costs to spend a day at Xcaret. The good news is that you can pay the reasonable admission fee (click here for current rate) and have plenty to do all day. That said, many of the best activities have an additional cost, so it is important to plan and budget in advance. If you plan on eating lunch during the day and swimming in the underground rivers, I strongly recommend that Xcaret Total package, which includes a lunch buffet, a rental locker, snorkel fins rental, and one optional activity!

At the end of this article, I will share a few tips for saving money, but for now Click HERE to see current fees and to book your admission to Xcaret online in advance, saving 10% – 15% + an additional $5 off with code XC5-AF19 (valid through 2/14/2019). 

Five Must-See Attractions At Xcaret

With that background, I am now ready to reveal five of our favorite attractions at Xcaret. Of course, there are many others to choose from, but you can’t go wrong if you plan these activities into your day. 

1. Underground Rivers (included in park admission)

This was an absolutely breathtaking experience for both my husband and me. When someone told us we should swim in the underground rivers, at first I said I didn’t want to do it because I am not very good at swimming. I am so glad that I changed my mind! 

Xcaret has three underground rivers (they say underground, but you can still see the surface almost the entire time). The three rivers are called the “Blue River”, the “Mayan River”, and the “Manatee River.” 

The rivers are full of crystal clear water, and according to the website, average about 5 feet in depth. However, I feel like it was deeper since neither my husband nor I could reach the bottom at any point. Life jackets are required, and there are exits placed periodically throughout in case you want to leave before you get to the end (but I recommend that you don’t!). 

If you have ever gone to a water park with a “lazy river”, that is basically what this is, but so much better! You will enter the river at the beginning, and choose which of the three rivers you want to follow. From that point on, you can swim or float around 650 yards to the end. As you swim through the river, you are surrounded by beautiful trees and caves. It is a great opportunity to really just relax and enjoy. 

One great thing about the underground rivers (and Xcaret in general), is that it has photo stations throughout where you can scan your wristband, and have it take a picture of you. If you purchase the photo pass, you can download all of the pictures after your trip. The pictures are really high quality and eliminates the need to ask strangers to take pictures of you. Here are just a few of the pictures that we took. 

Even though I am not a good swimmer, this experience was amazing. Trust me, you don’t have to know how to swim and you will have a great time. 

Tips for Underground Rivers

• Do this at the beginning of your day. It will take you about an hour to get from one end of the river to the other, and they are on opposite sides of the park. At the entrance, you will put anything that you want to have at the end of the river in a large locked bag, and they will give it to you at the end.
• Take a waterproof phone carrier if you want to take videos or your own pictures. More about this in the tips at the end of the article. 
• Buy the photo pass and take as many pictures as possible in the river. If you click on the “Recommendations” tab here, it will give you details on the photo pass. If you book your admission from this link, just check the box under “enhance your experience” that says “add photo pass”. 

2. Swimming With Dolphins (separate fee)

Swimming with dolphins at Xcaret was one of the most amazing experiences of my life. That may sound like an exaggeration, but it truly was amazing. I had always dreamed of doing this, so when the opportunity arose, we decided to take the plunge. 

There are a few different options for swimming with dolphins at Xcaret. Each includes different activities and have different price points. The three options are listed below from least expensive, to most expensive. 

• Swim with Dolphins Interax.  Including swimming with dolphins and close-up interactive with the dolphins.
• Swim with Dolphins Ride. Includes swimming with dolphins, riding a dolphin, and close-up interaction with the dolphins. 
• Swim with Dolphins Primax. Includes swimming with dolphins, being pushed by your feet by the dolphins, and close-up interaction with the dolphins.

Since we were already spending quite a bit, we decided to go with the least expensive “Interax” option. When our scheduled time came up, we were split up into small groups with other people and taken down to the dolphin area. Each group had a guide that provided information about the dolphins and lead the group into the water.

From there, it was pure joy! We each got a turn getting a kiss from the dolphin before heading out into the water where multiple dolphins swam around us in circles. It was such a great experience and one that I would recommend to anyone! 

Click HERE to book (narrow to Xcaret and scroll down). 

Tips for Swimming with Dolphins

• Pictures are not included in the photo pass, unfortunately. You can buy a separate photo package for any of the dolphin activities and I recommend it. There are different options based on how many pictures you want, but we ended up spending around $130.00 USD. They will take pictures of you regardless and once you see the pictures it can be hard to resist!
• The dolphin area is not covered, so plan accordingly. We didn’t have any sunscreen left on us by the time we got to the dolphins, because it all washed off in the rivers. You may consider wearing a swimming shirt to you don’t get burned. I don’t burn easily, but my husband came away from this one a bit red. 

3. Sea Trek (separate fee)

This was an unforgettable experience as well. The Sea Trek activity is so unique and awesome, that I have to recommend it as well. The Sea Trek activity consists slowly descending about 25 feet under the ocean surface and then walking along a path for about 25 minutes surrounded by beautiful sea life. 

Since breathing is important, Xcaret provides you with an individual helmet that allows you to breathe as if you were on land. The helmets might make you feel like an astronaut, but they are obviously necessary and make this experience possible. 

The only requirements (other than being at least 8 years of age), are that you know how to walk, breathe, and decompress your ears. You will have a short 10-15 minute instruction before entering the water and then you will walk on the ocean floor for about 25 minutes. There is a guardrail along the entire route and professional scuba divers are present to ensure everyone’s safety. 

My husband and I loved this experience because we were able to see some amazing fish and other sea life close up in their natural environment. In case it isn’t clear, this does not take place in a pool or an artificial aquarium. You will actually be walking on the ocean floor and it is amazing!

Since we had our waterproof phone protector, we took a video the entire time. 

Click HERE to book (narrow to Xcaret and scroll down)

Tips for Sea Trek

• They will take an underwater picture of you at one point during the walk. This is included in the photo pass and you can download it with the rest of your pictures. You can purchase the pictures individually as well if you don’t purchase the photo pass. 
• If you take your own phone to take a video, you will be instructed to hit the “record” button before entering the water. Don’t forget to do this, otherwise, the pressure will be too strong and you will not be able to turn it on. This will result in a long video, but it is worth it. 
• Practice decompressing your ears before you go under. You can easily reach your hand up under the mask without letting any water in to plug your nose, but they will give you some tips on decompressing your ears without your hands as well. 

4. Aviary and Butterfly Pavilion (included in park admission)

We finished up at Sea Trek around 2:00 PM, and at our lunch buffet right after. When were done, we decided to check out some of the great nature exhibits that Xcaret has to offer. After consulting our map, we decided to check out the aviary and butterfly pavilion, because they were in the same section of the park. My husband was a little bit unsure if he would like it, but we were both amazed at how beautiful it was. 

The aviary is truly outstanding. Not only does it give visitors the opportunity to see some gorgeous birds up close, but it also does so much for conservation. The aviary includes natural habitats where over 1500 Mexican birds can live, many of which are in danger of extinction. Xcaret’s scarlet macaw has gone a long way towards repopulating the jungles of southern Mexico, and the babies were so cute! 

We really enjoyed the butterfly pavilion as well. It is one of the largest butterfly pavilions in the world and has over 20 regional species of butterflies. We went in the late afternoon, so there weren’t as many butterflies active, so if you have a chance to go in the morning you may see more. That said, the habitat that they have built there is beautiful and you will definitely enjoy it. 

Tips for Aviary and Butterfly Pavilion

• Take your time and rest when you can. There is definitely some walking involved and it is pretty humid. 

5. Xcaret Mexico Espectacular (included in park admission, unless you want assigned seats and dinner)

There are many shows going on at Xcaret, but this is one that you won’t want to miss. It starts at 7:00 PM and lasts for about two hours, but it is well worth waiting for! 

The show takes through the history of Mexico, starting in the pre-hispanic days and continuing to the present. The beginning was so cool because they play some of the Mayan ball games and show you how it was actually done! One of the games was like an ancient hockey/soccer hybrid, using a flaming ball and wooden sticks. You have to see it to understand completely, but it was amazing. 

My favorite part of the show was watching the Papantla flyers because they originated in my home state of Veracruz. The show also shows you regional dances from all around Mexico and it is quite the performance! 

If you just want to see the show, you can go in with your standard admission. However, there is another option if you want to ensure that you get a seat and a nice dinner. If you purchase the dinner package, you will have a great seat and a meal that includes multiple courses of regional foods.

Since it was our anniversary, we decided to splurge and get a nice dinner as well. It was worth it just to have the assigned seats, and the dinner was really good too! Some of the courses were better than others, but I really enjoyed the majority. 

Click HERE to book (narrow to Xcaret and scroll down)

Tips For Xcaret Mexico Espectacular

• If you don’t pay for the assigned seats and dinner, make sure you get to the theater at least 30 minutes early. 
• Sit back, relax and enjoy the amazing Mexican culture. You may hear bad things about Mexico, but it is a beautiful country with an amazing culture. 

How To Save Money At Xcaret

Although you can have an amazing time at Xcaret just with the price of admission, if you decide to do some of the optional activities, the cost can climb pretty quickly. That said, this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so if you can afford it, it is well worth the cost. 

To make it a little bit easier, I want to share a couple of tips that may help you save some money. 

• Buy your waterproof phone protector in advance. If you are going to take pictures or videos in the rivers or any of the other underwater activities, you absolutely have to have a waterproof phone protector. We didn’t know about this in advance, so we ended up buying one at the park. Unfortunately, they go for about 30 USD at the park, which is pretty high. I recommend that you buy them in advance since you can get them for much less in advance. For example, you can buy a pack of two here for a much more accessible price. 
• Buy your admission and extra activities online at least 21 days before your visit to save 15%. If you buy your tickets and extra activities ONLINE, a 15% discount will be applied at checkout. 
• Purchase the Xcaret Plus or XCaret Total admission options. Both of these options include a lunch buffet that you can redeem at one of many restaurants on site. We went with the restaurant “La Cocina” and it was amazing. They had so many authentic Mexican dishes and it was unlimited! If you buy the XCaret Total admission, you get everything that is included in Xcaret Plus, but you also get to bundle one optional activity from the following: Adrenalina, Sea Trek, or Snuba Family. This is a good way to save a few dollars if you know that you are going to want to do one of those activities. 
• Try to get a discount on your admission from your resort. You are able to purchase tickets to Xcaret at most resorts in Cancun and Playa del Carmen. The downside to this is that in order to get a steep discount, most of the resorts require that you sit through one of their timeshare presentations. We did that in order to get a discount on our admission to Chichen Itza and Xcaret, but we had to waste two hours to do it. Learn more about that bad experience HERE. We were able to get admission and transportation for about 40 dollars less than we would have online. Even though we saved some money, it is still a safer bet to buy online and get the guaranteed discount than risking not getting the discount at your resort. 
• If you don’t buy activities online, ticket agents on site may be able to give bundle discounts in person. Since we bought all of our activities and admission in person at Xcaret, the ticket agent that helped us authorized a bit of discount on our activities. We were able to save a decent amount that way, but it ended up being pretty close to what we would have been able to pay if we had planned ahead and purchased online with that discount. If you are only a few days away from your trip and are not eligible for the 10% or 15% DISCOUNT online, definitely ask for a discount in person! 
• Consider bundling multiple parks to save. Experiencias Xcaret has more than just one park, and you can save if you bundle trips to 2-4 of the parks. Click HERE for details. 

Final Thoughts

My husband and I had the most amazing experience visiting Xcaret. We were definitely tired at the end of the day, but it was worth it. Like I said above, we didn’t know much about Xcaret when we were planning our trip, but we are so happy that we found out about it. 

Whenever anyone tells us that they are planning a trip to Cancun or Playa del Carmen, we are quick to recommend Xcaret and we hope that you will make the decision to go. I can assure you that you will have the time of your life and it will be an unforgettable experience.

Let us know in the comments below how your trip goes! 

The post Five Must-See Attractions at Xcaret in Playa del Carmen Mexico appeared first on My Latina Table.

This post is sponsored by one or more of the featured companies. All opinions are my own. 

This really is the most wonderful time of the year! There is just a different feeling in the air, and I look forward to it every year. One of my favorite parts of this season is being able to buy presents for the people that I love. There is nothing like seeing the look on their face when they open a present that they were hoping for or even one that they hadn’t thought of!

This year, I have been working on a gift guide that is perfect for those of you that have a “foodie” in your life. You will find a wide variety of products in different price ranges. I hope that you can find something that catches your eye! 

Without further ado, here is the list! I am including ten of my top picks with a short description, followed by an additional list of honorable mentions. Enjoy!

Nielsen-Massey Vanillas Holiday Flavors Bundle

I love Nielsen-Massey Vanillas! They have many different varieties, and you can just tell that they are high-quality. This time of year, many different recipes call for flavor extracts, such as peppermint, vanilla, and almond. For example, this capirotada recipe uses Nielsen-Massey’s Mexican Pure Vanilla Extract. 

Nielsen-Massey uses a proprietary cold extraction process instead of heat extraction to preserve the 300+ delicate flavor compounds present in vanilla beans, giving Nielsen-Massey extracts a rich, complex flavor profile. You can definitely taste the difference when using these products. 

A great gift option this year for your foodie friends is Nielsen-Massey’s Holiday Flavors Bundle. It comes with the following three flavors: 

• Pure Almond Extract
• Pure Peppermint Extract
• Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Extract 

You can buy this bundle now by following this link. 

Traeger Elite Series Pellet Smoker

I bought my husband a Traeger Texas Elite 34 pellet smoker for his birthday this year, and we could not be happier. It has tons of capacity for burgers, ribs, chicken, and more. We have even made nachos and pizza on it! One of our favorites, however, was the brisket that my husband made. Check out the recipe here. 

This is a great option for your foodie friend or family member (and you will reap the benefits as well)!

Check out their full line of smokers here. 

Already have a Traeger smoker? The following are also a great gift to enhance its use:

• Pellets
• Rubs
• Sauces
• Accessories

ButcherBox Subscription + Get Free Bacon

Have a foodie friend that loves meat? A ButcherBox subscription might be the perfect option this year. You can customize the types of grass-fed, delicious meat that he or she will receive and if you use any of the links in this section, you can get free bacon added on each delivery for the life of the subscription! 

Vegetarian foodie friend? Check out these SmoothieBoxes. 

Blendtec 725 Countertop Blender

Every foodie needs a good blender, and no one makes them better than Blendtec. We got the 725 series a little over a year ago and it has been amazing. It is easy to use and makes perfect smoothies, salsas, and more. 

Check it out by clicking on the image above or on this link. 

Instant Pot

 The Instant Pot has been one of the most popular kitchen items for the past couple of years. I don’t have one yet, but I hope to get one soon (hint, hint). I know a lot of people that have this and they rave about how versatile and easy to use it is. 

If you are looking for a sure way to please your foodie family member, buy this now. 

Slow Cooker

 Another great option is to get your foodie friend a new slow cooker. There are so many different types now, but to be honest, I think I will always prefer the manual dial version. I have seen some newer ones with fancy buttons, but if you read the reviews the extra technology isn’t always as effective as you would think.

I have always used the one with the manual dial, and it works year after year. Check it out here. 

Knife Set

Knives are one of the most important and used tools in the kitchen. Every foodie could use a new set. You will find sets at many different prices. You don’t have to get the most expensive, but you should get a set that is high quality.

Here is one that caught my eye this year. 

Mixing Bowls with Lids

I use mixing bowls pretty much every day in my kitchen. For me, having high-quality mixing bowls with lids is essential. Having the lids makes it super easy to store leftovers and extra batter. 

Check out a great option here. 

Air Fryer

Here is another popular item that I haven’t quite pulled the trigger on yet. Enjoy all of your favorite fried foods without the oil. I’m a foodie, and I would like this, so I bet your foodie friends and family members would too!

Check it out here. 

Stand Mixer

Without a doubt, every foodie needs a stand mixer. The gold standard for stand mixers has been the KitchenAid, but there are many other more affordable options as well. I personally have and love my KitchenAid, and you can find that here.

However, if you are looking for a more affordable option, the CHEFTRONIC line looks pretty great too! 

Honorable Mentions

• Wooden Spoon Set
• Cookware
• Bakeware
• Steamer for Tamales
• Tortilla Press
• Apron
• Hot Pads
• Nugget Ice Maker
• Hot Sauce Gift Set
• Traeger Cook Book
• Hand Mixer
• Immersion Blender

I hope that at least one of these ideas sticks out to you for a present to buy for your foodie friend or family member this year. Let me know if you have any other great ideas in the comments below!

The post My Latina Table Ultimate Foodie Gift Guide (2018) 20+ Great Ideas appeared first on My Latina Table.

I am so excited to share this in-depth review on the Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe resort in Mexico. My husband and I recently returned from our anniversary trip, and we had a great time.

For some background on us, my husband and I got married in 2009. Right after we got married, we spent our honeymoon at a resort in Playa del Carmen, which is in the same general area as Cancun. After that, we had three kids and we hadn’t had the opportunity to go on any trips together as a couple.

This year, we felt like the kids were old enough to stay with my mom, so we decided to book a trip to celebrate our 9th anniversary. We spent quite a bit of time researching different all-inclusive resorts in Cancun before eventually deciding on the Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe Resort.

In this blog post, I am going to provide an in-depth review of our experience. I will cover the below topics. For each topic, I will assign a score based on the total number of points for each topic. As you can see, some topics have a higher total point value, because in my opinion, they are more important to the overall experience.

1. Check-In Process (5 total points)
2. Room Options (15 total points)
3. Dining Options (15 total points)
4. Entertainment Options (10 total points)
5. Spa Experience (5 total points)
6. Vacation Club Presentation (10 total points)
7. Location (10 total points)
8. Beach and Pool (10 total points)

Please remember that this review is based mainly on our own experience. Obviously, we didn’t experience all of the different room options, and we weren’t even able to try all of the restaurants, but we did as much as we could and hope that this review is helpful for anyone considering a trip at the Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe.

Find the best deal, compare prices, and read what other travelers have to say about this resort at TripAdvisor

Check-In Process At The Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe – 2/5

We started our trip early in the morning, with an anticipated arrival time at the resort at about 5 pm local time. We contracted our airport to hotel transportation through Cancun Transportation, and it went very well. The driver was waiting for us upon arrival and the fees were very reasonable.

We made it to the hotel right around 5:30 pm. When we arrived, the bellhop put a tag on our bags and took them, telling us that they would be waiting for us at our room when we finished checking in. After that, we were ushered over to the check-in area. We thought that it would go quickly, because there were two people already being attended to by the staff, and we were next in line.

Unfortunately, it didn’t go as quickly as we had envisioned. Keep in mind, at this point we were extremely tired from traveling all day and we just wanted to get to our room. For some reason, the two people in front of us had some issues that they were discussing, and it wasn’t our turn for at least 20 minutes. At this point, we were a bit frustrated, because there were many other desks open at reception and it looked like there were other staff members that could help us.

Nevertheless, we waited and eventually it was our turn. The check-in itself was relatively painless. We asked right off the bat if there were any upgrades available. It took the staff member about 5-10 minutes to look it up on his computer, but eventually, he told us that he could upgrade us to the adult-only Royal Tower for $60.00 extra per night. For us, that turned out to be about $300.00 extra.

We felt that the upgrade cost was a bit high, but we decided to go for it since it seemed like it would be worth it in the end. More on the room later.

After we received our keys, we were introduced to a “concierge”, who was supposed to explain a little bit about the resort and get us to our room. In reality, this was just a glorified sales pitch to try to get us to join one of their “tours” of the resort (aka – Vacation Club presentation). I don’t want to get too deep into that yet, because there is a whole section about it below.

I will say though, that we spent a good 20-30 minutes with the concierge before we were able to actually get to our rooms. We did end up signing up for one of the presentations, mainly just to get to our room so that we could relax.

Overall, the check-in experience was not positive for us. We understand that an all-inclusive resort does require some extra explanation, but in our opinion, it should never take nearly an hour to get checked-in and to the room. The staff was nice (although the concierge did apply a lot of pressure for the vacation club presentation), but the wait times were unacceptable. That is why I can only give a 2 out of 5 for our check-in experience.

Room Options At The Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe – 12/15

The Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe has many different room options. You can check them all out here.

We originally booked the Deluxe Ocean View room, which looked like a pretty good option. It would have an ocean view and was in the main building. The main building is not adult-only, so that is something to keep in mind if you are not traveling with children.

Breathtaking view of the sun rising from our Royal Tower suite.

We probably would have been fine keeping our original room, but in the end, we decided that we wanted something a little bit more luxurious for our stay. During check-in, we were offered an upgrade (at a cost) to the Royal Tower Jacuzzi Suite Ocean Front. This room is about 70-80 square feet bigger than the Deluxe Ocean View room, and it had a Jacuzzi. In addition, those staying in the Royal Tower are assigned a “mayordomo” or “butler”, who is there to help with reservations and any other questions.

This was actually a very big selling point for us. We just had to tell our mayordomo when we wanted to reserve anything at the resort, and she took care of it for us. For others staying at the resort, they have to go to the restaurant on their own and reserve it. It was nice not to have to worry about that at all.

Our mayordomo was named Jessica, and we were extremely happy with her. She went above and beyond to explain everything to us and to ensure that we had a great stay.

We also let them know that we were celebrating our anniversary, so they surprised us with a couple of special amenities.

We came back to this surprise on the second day!

The room itself was great. The view was amazing and it was so nice to be able to relax on the balcony while watching the waves rush up against the shore.

View out the window from the Royal Tower suites.

We had a couple of issues with the room that I do want to bring up. First, one of the sinks was not draining when we first go there. Since there were two sinks, it wasn’t a huge issue, and when we brought it up the next morning, it was fixed very quickly by the maintenance crew.

The other issue arose on the second night. We were sleeping, and we started hearing a really loud “clapping” sound coming from the air conditioner. It sounded like something may have been loose and was banging around in the ceiling. After about 20 minutes, my husband just stood up and turned off the AC, and then turned it back on again. After that, we didn’t hear the sound again.

The old “turn it off and back on again” apparently works for air conditioners too!

Overall, we really enjoyed the room. The view was unforgettable, and it was very relaxing. There were a couple of minor issues, but I would still give the room a 12 out of 15.

Book Your Room At The Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe Today!

Dining Options At The Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe – 14/15

One of the very bright spots of our stay at the Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe was the food. There are some really great options, and since it is all-inclusive (with the exception of the Steak House, which I will discuss below), it is really easy to try all, or most, of the food.

Dinner at the Prime Rib House on our last night.

Here is a quick rundown of all of the dining options:

1. Cocay Restaurant. This is in the main building and is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. It is served buffet style and has different options each day. We tried this pretty much once a day at least when we stayed at the resort. The breakfast was by far our favorite. They had chilaquiles, which we love, apple pancakes, an omelet bar, eggs, fruits, and more! The lunch was good both times that we tried it, and we have no reason to believe it wouldn’t be good for dinner, although we didn’t have a chance to try that.
2. El Mirador (Italian). We tried the Italian restaurant, called El Mirador, on our second night at the resort. The service was amazing and the food was delicious. My husband tried the traditional lasagna, and I tried the beef cannoli. Since this is an all-inclusive resort, we also ordered the ribeye steak and a pizza to share. Everything that we tried was amazing and I definitely recommend that you try this while you are there.
3. El Oriental (Japanese). We had a very odd experience when we tried El Oriental restaurant. The night we went was “rodizio” night, and it was explained to us that they would come around with some appetizers and that we could eat all we wanted. Then, we were supposed to be served the main meat dishes as well. When we arrived, it seemed like none of the staff knew what they were doing. We heard them arguing with each other, and we were only provided a couple of appetizers before our plates were taken away. Next, they did bring us the kabobs, which tasted pretty good, but were definitely not filling. We ordered a second round of our non-alcoholic pina coladas, and they never arrived. We ended up leaving at that point because it just wasn’t a good experience overall. Our experience may have been an anomaly, but we were disappointed.
4. La Concha (Seafood/Mexican Cuisine). We were really excited to try this restaurant, but unfortunately, we weren’t able to on this trip. We had a couple of all day trips planned to Chichen Itza and XCaret parks, so on those days were did not eat at the resort. We planned to eat at La Concha on our last night. Unfortunately, we were not aware that it wasn’t open on Sundays (the other restaurants are), so we didn’t get to try it. I heard great things about this place though, so you may want to check it out.
5. Prime Rib House. This is the only restaurant on the property that is not included at no charge. It is a high-quality prime rib and lobster restaurant that you can reserve. The cost is pretty reasonable for what you get. It was 25 dollars each for the prime rib dinner, and you can upgrade to a prime rib and lobster dinner for 5 more dollars. My husband and I both opted for the prime rib, and it was delicious. The 25 dollars includes the salad bar, which had lots of options, the meat, the side (we chose the baked potato), and a fancy dessert. It also includes drinks. We weren’t sure if we wanted to do it, but since it was our last night and La Concha wasn’t available, we decided to give it a try. While it was delicious, there are plenty of other non-paid options that you will not be disappointed.
6. El Jardin Snack Bar. This was a great find! We went to El Jardin Snack Bar on our first night, and discovered that they served about 5 or 6 different varieties of authentic street tacos. They had al pastor, chorizo, bistec, and alambre. We could not get enough of this little gem while we were at the resort. The tacos were amazing and really reminded us that we really were in Mexico! We went there three out of the five nights that we were at the resort. During the day they serve hot dogs, nachos, and hamburgers, which we didn’t try, but that looked pretty good as well.
7. Cafe Sole. Cafe Sole is a small little cafe inside the main building, right near the lobby. It serves a variety of baked goods, sandwiches, and ice cream. We stopped by there for some pastries and an ice cream cone on multiple occasions, and everything was quick and good. Definitely recommended for a quick snack.
8. Pizza Corner. This is one option that we did not have the chance to try. I wish we would have, but we just ran out of time. I have heard that it is pretty quick and the pizza is tasty, but I didn’t have a first-hand experience. Probably a good place to try!

There are a variety of bars throughout the resort. My husband and I do not drink, so I cannot provide an opinion on any of the bars. That said, they always seems to be full and I have heard good things about them. There is a swim-up bar in one of the pools, and the people that took advantage of that seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Overall, I will give the dining options at the Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe a 14 out of 15. It was that good.

Entertainment Options At The Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe – 4/10

This is one area where we were a little bit disappointed. When we stayed at a resort in Playa del Carmen, one of our favorite parts was the nightly entertainment. There were some amazing shows that we really enjoyed.

During our check-in, the concierge told us that there were nightly shows here as well. He said that the first night there would be a comedy show. After we got settled in our room, we went out looking for it in the area that we were told. When we got there, there was a staff member sweeping the floor, and she said there was no show that night in there, but that we should check by the pool. We checked by the pool and there was nothing.

When we went back to the original conference center, someone told us that there are no shows at all this week. We were really disappointed by that because we considered it part of the package that we had purchased. We checked back on the other nights, and there was never any show going on.

There were a few other entertainment options, such as Bingo, and a volleyball court, but none of those activities really interested us. Fortunately, we were able to go on a few excursions that were very fun, so that made up for it a little bit.

Overall, we were extremely disappointed in the lack of entertainment at the resort, and for that reason, I can only give this resort a 4 out of 10 for entertainment options.

Spa Experience At Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe – 5/5

One of our favorite experiences on our honeymoon was doing a couples massage at the spa. We were happy to find out that the Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe also had a spa, and it was something that we definitely wanted to take advantage of.

One of the discounts that we were provided for sitting through the vacation club presentation, was a credit for two free massages at the spa ($100 value).

My wife chose the deep tissue massage, and I chose the Shiat-zu. We were very impressed with the whole experience. They started off by leading us each ot our respective changing areas, and then leading us into the room where we would receive our massages at the same time. Like most spas, the massage room had a very appealing scent and the masseuses did a great job. 

When we finished, we were told that we could use the sauna and steam rooms for as long as we would like. We took advantage of that for a few minutes and then left. 

Overall, this was a great, and very relaxing experience and I had zero complaints. I would definitely give the spa a 5 out of 5. 

Vacation Club Presentation at Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe – 3/10

Before booking this trip, we read multiple reviews online. Many of those reviews brought up the vacation club presentation, so we were prepared for the pitch. The vacation club was first presented to us by the concierge right after we checked in. We had asked whether we could book some activities through the resort. This gave the concierge the opportunity he was looking for. He immediately told us about some amazing discounts that he could provide for Chichen Itza and Experiencias Xcaret. 

It didn’t take long to realize that there was going to be a catch. When we asked, he told us, “in order to show my gratitude”, we want to invite you a breakfast and tour of the resort. He went on to say that in order to get the discounts, we would need to attend the breakfast. We knew that the breakfast and tour would actually be the vacation club presentation, and we told him the same. We said very clearly that we were not going to sign up for their vacation club, and that we didn’t want to waste anyone’s time. He told us that it didn’t matter and that it would be very low pressure. 

We are smart enough to realize that it would not be low pressure, but we did want the discounts. We hesitantly agreed to attend the breakfast, after he wrote down the discounts we would get. The concierge was quick to remind us that a requirement was for us to bring our credit card, because “they needed to see the brand” because they are sponsors of the presentation. Of course, we realized that the real reason is that they want to make sure that they can convince you to sign up and pay right then. We told him we knew the brand of our card and would tell him, but he still insisted that we had to bring the card.

Later that night, we decided we didn’t want to waste our time or anyone else’s, so we called the front desk and told them that we would need to cancel the breakfast. They said that was fine, but that we needed to drop off the voucher by 12:00 PM the next day. We went and dropped it off at the concierge desk, and scurried away pretty quickly. Then, out of nowhere, the same concierge from the night before came chasing us down the hallways. 

He then proceeded to pressure us into going and doing the tour right then. He said, “I just got approval for two free massages and one free trip to Chichen Itza!” We told him that it sounded great, but that we really didn’t want to waste anybody’s time, because there was no way that we were going to sign up for the vacation club. He then admitted that it didn’t matter if we signed up or not because he would get credit just for signing us up. Again, we reluctantly agreed to go. 

From that point on, we were escorted to a nicely-furnished, air-conditioned room where we were greeted by a manager. We told him the same thing – that we were not interested, and that we were taking the tour solely for the discounts. He assured us that they just wanted to show us why it is a great idea, and then it would be a simple yes or no. 

To make a long story a little bit less long, it was NOT a simple yes or no. The man giving the tour was very nice and we know he was just doing his job. However, we were escorted into a large room with other people that were taking the tour. He presented the numbers, and we told him that we absolutely were not going to pay 8,500 dollars right now + 450 dollars per month for 6 years for this vacation club. 

We countered every argument he gave us and after about 5 “no’s”, he said he needed to go tell his manager that we weren’t interested. His manager then came over and proceeded to try to convince us, in a sometimes insulting manner, to sign up for a lower cost package. After another 5 “no’s”, we were transferred to one final person who was supposed to give us a survey. Of course, this turned into one more chance for them to try to sell an even lower package. 

Eventually, we got out of there and received our vouchers. 

Daniel trying to relax in a hammock after finally getting out of the vacation club presentation.

This was not a pleasant experience. We knew that there would be pressure, but the level of pressure, especially after we made it abundantly clear that we were not interested, was over the top. If you are confident that you can say no and you don’t mind wasting 2-3 hours (our’s didn’t even have the breakfast, and it still took over 2 hours), you might want to do this. However, make sure you get as much out of them as possible and get it in writing. 

I am giving this 3 out of 10 points, because the actual salesperson that gave the tour was nice, and because we did get some good vouchers. 

Location Of Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe – 8/10

It is hard to go wrong in the hotel zone at Cancun. The entire area is beautiful with great access to the beach. It is a relatively short (about 15-25 minutes) trip from the airport to this resort. This resort isn’t one of the first few hotels, but it is only about half-way through the hotel zone, so it is a good location. 

We also were pleased to find that there were a couple of “plazas” within walking distance where we were able to go and get some souvenirs that were much more affordable than the store inside the resort. Just make sure that you go to a few different stores because the prices can vary based on what you look like and how well you speak Spanish. Most of the people assumed my husband didn’t speak Spanish, but once he started negotiating with them in Spanish, the prices dropped pretty quickly! 

At the Plaza Flamingo getting some last minute souvenirs.

The weather was amazing while we were there, and it was really just a great, relatively quiet and peaceful location. 

The only reason I am docking this a couple of points is that it would have been nice to be a little bit closer to the start of the hotel zone and because the traffic outside of the resorts is pretty crazy. There were a couple of times when we were walking to the plaza where we felt very unsafe because of the speed of the cars that were driving by. Overall, I give the location an 8 out of 10. 

Beaches and Pools and Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe – 8/10 

One of the main draws to Cancun is its amazing beaches. We hadn’t been to the beach for years before this trip, so we were pretty excited to get back. 

Fortunately, the beach at the Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe didn’t disappoint. As you can see in some of these pictures, the water was stunning and the beach was great. We had so many other activities planned during the week, that we didn’t spend too much time at the beach. That said, we did go down there on two occasions during our stay.

Daniel on the beach – nice farmer’s tan!

Daniel swimming in the ocean – kind of.

The first time we went to the beach was on a day when there was a ton of seaweed for some reason. That did make it a little bit less enjoyable, but it was still relaxing nonetheless.

Lots of seaweed on the first day at the beach.

On our last day at the resort, we reserved a canopy (a perk of the Royal Tower rooms), and were able to spend quite a bit of time down there just relaxing and spending time on the beach. That day, there was no seaweed, and the waves were bigger than normal. It was so fun and we really enjoyed it. 

Charbel relaxing in the beach canopy.

Daniel standing on the beach

Charbel having fun on the beach.

With respect to the pools, we really only spent time in one of them. There are two main pools. The first pool runs in the main section of the resort and has plenty of space. The second one is over by the Royal Tower rooms and is adult only with a swim-up bar. We only went to the pool once, but it was pretty nice. It was an “edgeless” pool, so the water just flowed seamlessly over the edge. Since we don’t drink alcohol, we didn’t spend any time a the bar and cannot provide any rating there. 

View of the main pool at Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe

Overall, I would give the beach and pools at the Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe an 8 out of 10, because the seaweed was kind of disappointing on one day. 

Final Thoughts and Overall Rating

Overall, we had a wonderful time on this trip. We spent two full days away from the resort at Chichen Itza and XCaret Parques, so that had a lot to do with our amazing experience. That said, the resort was good overall. I am not going to say that it was the best resort, but it did meet our needs for the most part. We were really disappointed in the lack of on-site entertainment and with the vacation club presentation, and those are the main reasons for this resort not receiving a higher score. 

I definitely would recommend this resort, but make sure you go prepared and don’t hesitate to look for better options. I can say with confidence that you will have a good time, but there may be somewhere that is better for you.

After adding all of the scores together, the final score that My Latina Table gives to the Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe is 56 out of 80 (70%). 

Check out and compare other resorts located in Cancun here!

If you have gone to the Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe, what did you like or not like about it? Was your experience the same? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Cancun All-Inclusive Resort Review: Grand Park Royal Cancun Caribe appeared first on My Latina Table.

Here in Colorado, Winter sometimes seems to last forever. The good thing about that, is that when it is finally over, we can really appreciate the warm weather! Part of that is grilling as often as possible. 

I recently bought my husband a Traeger wood pellet smoker for his birthday. He absolutely loves it and has already made fall-off-the-bones ribs, a whole chicken, and today – burgers! We love getting that delicious smoked flavor on our food, so this is perfect for us. 

Today, I want to share how to grill a perfect and delicious cheeseburger on a wood pellet smoker. Although the patty is usually the star of a burger, I also want to point out that it is important to have a high-quality, flavorful cheese to melt on top of the burger at the end of the cooking process.

Tips for Grilling A Burger On A Wood Pellet Smoker

There are a few things to remember when you grill a burger on a wood pellet smoker. 

1. Unless you want to smoke the entire burger, you are going to want to set your temperature to around 425-450 degrees. You will still get the smoky flavor and it will be hot enough to add a good sear. 
2. The outer layer of the burger will likely have a reddish color as it cooks. This is normal and is known as a smoke ring. 
3. You will want to use a meat thermometer so that you know when the burger is cooked to your desired doneness. If you cut into the burger, it will let the juice escape and could result in a dry burger. 

How to Smoke a Burger on a Wood Pellet Grill

I always choose a high-quality ground beef and form my patties by hand. Of course, you can buy the pre-formed patties, but I like to make my own. You can season them simply with salt and pepper, or you can choose to add other spices, a marinade, or even shredded cheese. 

For today’s burger, I seasoned the ground beef with a little bit of salt, pepper, garlic, and cumin. I then formed the patties and took them straight to the smoker (after it was preheated of course). 

One issue that we had the first time that we cooked burgers on the smoker, is that we didn’t wait until it was hot enough. This resulted in not having the greatest sear. I recommend that you set your wood pellet smoker to 425-450 degrees and make sure that it is completely preheated with the lid closed before adding the burgers.

This can take some patience, but believe me – it is worth it! You can use whatever flavor smoke that you want, but I usually go with Hickory. Traeger has so many different varieties that you can check out here. 

Another option is to sear them off in a frying pan in the house before transferring them to the smoker. I haven’t done that method yet, but I may in the future!

Once the wood pellet smoker is preheated, it becomes a timing game. You don’t want to be flipping the burgers over multiple times and letting the hot smoky air out of the smoker. 

I have found that putting the burgers on and waiting 8-9 minutes before flipping, and then grilling on the other side for another 8-9 minutes results in a juicy burger that is right about at 160 degrees.

This may seem like a long time, but on a wood pellet smoker, you don’t want to rush it and you want enough time to pass to allow the smoky flavor to penetrate the beef. 

This is why it is important to have an instant-read meat thermometer. Make sure you insert the probe through the side of the burger and that it registers at least 160 degrees. Right before or shortly after the burgers reach 160 degrees, I add a slice of the sharp cheddar and let it melt before serving on a toasted bun with whatever fixings I am craving.

The first Traeger smoker that I had didn’t have the temperature probes integrated, but I recently upgraded to the new Pro Series 575 which has so many new features including the integrated temperature probe and WiFire technology.

This grill has really been a game-changer for me and I recommend it to everyone. They have the larger size Pro Series 780 which is good if you need more space. Make sure you pick up whichever option works best for you – you won’t regret it. Buy HERE. 

I like to add bacon, grilled onions, and barbecue sauce for an extra tasty version, but you can add just about whatever you want. 

Summary For Smoking A Burger 

To review, here are the steps for a perfect grilled burger on a Traeger wood pellet smoker:

1. Add your preferred flavor of wood pellets to your wood pellet smoker (I recommend Hickory for burgers). Buy pellets here;
2. Preheat wood pellet smoker to 425-450 degrees with the lid closed;
3. Add the patties, close the lid, and let cook for 8-9 minutes;
4. Flip the patties, let cook for an additional 8-9 minutes, or until an internal meat thermometer reaches 160 degrees;
5. Add the cheese and let it melt;
6. Make your burger with all of your favorite fixings!

What is your favorite food to cook on your wood pellet smoker? Let me know in the comments. 

Here are some other great meals you can make on your wood pellet grill

• How To Make Loaded Nachos On A Wood Pellet Smoker
• Smoked Brisket Recipe on a Traeger (With the Best Homemade Mop Sauce)
• How To Make Smoked Pulled Pork 
• How To Make The Best, Foolproof Smoked Chicken Wings
• Delicious Mexican Style Smoked Whole Chicken Recipe
• How To Make Delicious Smoked Ribs

Best Accessories for Your Traeger Grill

• Folding Front-Shelf. I love this and it makes everything more convenient. Buy here. 
• Drip Tray Liners. This is a must have if you want to keep your grill as clean as possible. Just add one of these and it will make clean up much easier. Buy here. 
• Digital Instant Read Thermometer. Heat is crucial when using your smoker. Even if your grill has probes built in, it never hurts to have a standalone one as well to double-check the internal temperature. Buy here. 
• Bucket Liners. Like the drip tray liners, these bucket liners are amazing for clean up. Buy here. 

Print

How to Smoke a Burger on a Wood Pellet Grill

Learn how to smoke a perfect burger on a wood pellet grill

Course Main Course

Cuisine American

Keyword burger

Prep Time 20 minutes minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes minutes

Total Time 40 minutes minutes

Author Charbel Barker

Ingredients

• 1 bag hickory wood pellets
• 4 hamburger patties
• hamburger fixings
• 1 wood pellet grill

Instructions

• Add your preferred flavor of wood pellets to your wood pellet smoker (I recommend Hickory for burgers)
  
  
• Preheat wood pellet smoker to 425-450 degrees with the lid closed
• Add the patties, close the lid, and let cook for 8-9 minutes
• Flip the patties, let cook for an additional 8-9 minutes, or until an internal meat thermometer reaches 160 degrees
• Add the cheese and let it melt;Make your burger with all of your favorite fixings

The post How to Grill a Perfect Cheeseburger on a Wood Pellet Smoker appeared first on My Latina Table.

5 homemade baby food combinations that your baby will love, and how to store them.

It’s true what they say about each child being different. I have 3 young boys, and while they are similar in many ways, they are very different in others. This is especially true when it comes to their tastes in food. My 7 year old will eat just about anything, and my 4 year old is very picky!

We just had baby boy number 3 at the beginning of this year, and we are finally getting to see some of his personality. With my first two boys, they were perfectly content to eat any baby food that we gave them, but our most recent addition to the family loves homemade baby food made with different combinations of flavors.

We started him out with rice cereal and he enjoyed that for awhile. That was convenient for me of course, because all I had to do was add some water and stir until it was ready to go. Whenever I made rice cereal for him, I liked to use Gerber® Pure® Water. I use it to mix his rice cereal and to include in homemade baby foods, because it is specially purified for babies. Anything that I can do to help my baby grow up strong is good in my book! You can find out more information about Gerber® Pure® Water here and you can buy it at your local Walmart.

After a few weeks of rice cereal, it was clear that my baby was going to need something else. I gave him baby food from the store for his age, but I quickly found that it was easier to make my own homemade baby foods and he liked them even more! Today I am going to share 5 of the best homemade baby food combinations. My baby loves them and I am sure that yours will too.

1. Apple, Banana, Cinnamon, & Oatmeal

This one is made by adding half a cup of old fashioned oats with one cup of Gerber® Pure® Water and 1 teaspoon of ground cinnamon in a small saucepan. Then heat it over medium for 3-5 minutes. While that is cooking, peel the apple and cut it into small cubes. Finally, add the oatmeal, bananas and the apples to a blender and blend until smooth.

2. Spinach, Sweet Peas, and Flank Steak

To make this delicious combination, cook the flank steak in a pot with a couple of cups of boiling Gerber® Pure® Water. Once cooked, you can shred it or just cut it into small pieces so you can blend it easier. Open a can of sweet peas, drain out the liquid, and rinse. The last ingredient is half a bunch of spinach. Add the steak, the sweet peas, and the cleaned and disinfected spinach to a blender and blend until smooth.

3. Carrots and Squash

Take one bag of baby carrots and cook in one liter of boiling Gerber® Pure® Water until soft. Do the same with one squash. Add the carrots and squash with a pinch of ground turmeric to a blender and blend until smooth.

4. Mangoes, Kale, and Ginger

Take the meat from one fresh mango (or a can of mangoes in 100% juice) and a half bunch of kale and add it to a blender with a pinch of ground ginger. Add a couple of tablespoons of Gerber® Pure® Water and blend until smooth

5. Blueberry, Avocado, and Pears

Drain the juice from one can of pears, rinse and add to a blender. Do the same with a can of pears. Finally, add one mature peeled and cored avocado to the blender. Once everything is in the blender, blend until smooth.

Storage Tips

1. Mason Jars. You can find small glass mason jars with white plastic tops. This is where you can store the food that your little one is going to eat within 1-3 weeks if refrigerated. Just add the baby food and tighten the lid before storing in the refrigerator. If you need to store it for longer, you can *freeze in these jars or follow one of the other tips below. Don’t forget to label them!

1. Plastic Storage Containers with Lid. Another way to store these is to add the baby food to a small plastic storage container with lids. You can refrigerate these as well or *freeze them. You will want to label each of these as well.

1. Ice Cube Tray. One of my favorite ways to store homemade baby food is to put them into the individual spaces on an ice tray right after I make them. Then you cover them with plastic wrap and put them in the freezer. Once they are frozen, you can remove them just like you would an ice cube and store in individual, labeled bags in the *freezer. When you are ready to serve them to your baby, select 3 or 4 “baby food cubes” and heat in the microwave for around 1 minute, or until it returns to the original consistency.

*using each of these methods, you can store the baby food in the freezer for up to 3 months.

My baby has been a happy camper ever since I started making these homemade baby foods for him. The great thing is that you can make all of these in less than an hour, you can make a lot, and you will save money in the process.

What combinations of baby foods have you tried? Let me know in the comments below.

The post The 5 Best Homemade Baby Food Combinations appeared first on My Latina Table.

4 Tips for Losing Baby Weight For Moms

Having a baby is one of the most wonderful experiences a woman can have. I have had the amazing opportunity to bring three energetic and sweet little boys into this world. Each pregnancy had its own challenges that I had to learn how to overcome. My first son had a really difficult time breastfeeding, my second son was very big and delivery was not easy, and my third son came by surprise in the middle of the night, giving us only 45 minutes to make it to the hospital just in time for his birth!

I have enjoyed each of my pregnancies, but one thing that is not fun is the inevitable baby weight and struggling to lose it. I have always been pretty petite, but it is still a challenge to burn off all of the weight that I gain when I have babies. As any mom knows, it is hard to find enough energy to make breakfast in the morning, let alone get out and exercise!

I am no expert on health and fitness, but today I do want to share 4 tips that have helped me to lose my baby weight after each pregnancy. These are simple tips that I have been able to do and that have helped get me back up on my feet and where I want to be. I would love to hear your tips as well, so please let me know in the comments below.

Eat Smart

I have to say, one of the biggest reliefs after giving birth this last time (other than seeing my sweet baby boy of course) was to be able to eat without heartburn! I had terrible heartburn with baby #3 from the beginning until the end. It got to the point where I didn’t think it would ever go away. Fortunately, since my baby was born 5 months ago, I haven’t had heartburn even once.

Not having to deal with heartburn and nausea and finally being able to eat whatever you want can really make it difficult to eat smart. The thing that you have to remember is that eating smart doesn’t mean that you can’t eat good food. There are so many great products on the market now that make it so much easier.

One of my new favorites is Eat Smart Gourmet Salad Kits and Salad Shake Ups. Eat Smart salad products are so convenient, they taste great, and you can feel good knowing that Eat Smart is the first brand within its category to commit to clean ingredients and labeling. 90% of its products already have a “Clean Label” and it has plans for all products to contain a “100% Clean Label” by the end of 2018.

So what does that mean for you? Having a clean label means being free from high fructose corn syrup, artificial preservatives, hydrogenated fats, as well as artificial colors, flavors, and sweeteners and having clear, recognizable ingredients on the label.

I loved the Gourmet Salad Kits, which come in the following flavors:

• Sweet Kale
• Strawberry Harvest
• Sunflower Kale

They come in convenient packaging and are easy to throw together for a healthy dinner.

I also instantly became a fan of their Salad Shake Ups, which come in a deep bowl with a lockable lid which makes it easy to take when you go out for the day. They come in these flavors:

• Avocado Ranch
• Tropical Lime
• Raspberry Acai

If you want to start eating smart, then you should definitely try these products and incorporate them into your new, healthy diet. You can subscribe the the Eat Smart monthly newsletters by signing up under the “Receive Exclusive Offer” button on the bottom of their website.

Go For Walks With Baby

One thing that all of my babies have had in common is that they have loved to be pushed around in their stroller. I don’t know what it is, but they all have just loved looking around and seeing their surroundings. I’m sure that you know that it can be difficult to keep a young baby entertained, so going out for a walk can be a great thing.

The great side effect of going for daily walks is that you are getting your exercise. It is so important to stay active, even if you aren’t running or doing other types of traditional exercise. I try to get in at least 5 walks a week with my new babies – and I know that it has made a difference.

Breastfeed As Much As Possible

I know that this is not possible for all moms, and that is totally fine! I wasn’t able to breastfeed exclusively with my first two boys because they had so many different problems latching on and with food allergies, so I supplemented with formula. With my third baby, however, he picked up on it right away and hasn’t had any issues breastfeeding.

I don’t think it is a coincidence that with this pregnancy, I was able to take off my baby weight quicker than with the other two. I don’t know all of the science about it, but I know that breastfeeding moms burn extra calories producing milk and it is a natural way to lose some extra pounds. If you are able to breastfeed, this is a great way to make sure you lose some weight. Remember though, that you will need to be eating smart and doing as much simple exercise as possible.

Sleep Whenever You Can

Sleeping with a newborn can seem more like a fantasy than reality, but getting enough sleep is so important in order to be able to have the energy necessary to lose baby weight. It can be hard to get used to sleeping on baby’s schedule. That said, when you get the chance to take a power nap, take it. If your husband is in a position to get up at night and help you with the baby, let him and take advantage of the extra sleep.

I know that when I get enough sleep, I have more energy to go on walks, play with my kids, and prepare healthy meals. When I am going on little to no sleep, it is much harder. It will take some time to figure out the best times to get your rest, but it is worth it.

I hope that these tips help you in your journey to lose the baby weight, and again, please let me know in the comments below what has worked for you.

The post 4 Tips For Losing Baby Weight appeared first on My Latina Table.

I can hardly believe that another school year has come and gone! My son will be having his last day of first grade next week. I am excited to spend more time with him, but I am also nervous because I don’t want him to get bored during the summer. It is important for me to have lots of fun activities for him and his brothers to do, but it can be hard to think of new ideas.

Today I want to share 5 fun activities that you can do with your kids during the summer that they will always remember.

Thank You To Chuck E. Cheese’s for Sponsoring this Post

Attempt to Break A Guinness World Records^TM

I don’t know about you, but I always used to love reading the Guinness World Records^TM so that I could see all of the interesting things that people did. I never really considered trying to break one, but now that I have kids I think it would be really fun. If you need some

If you want to be a part of  a Guinness Worlds Records^TM record attempt, and get some free pizza while you are at it, go to Chuck E. Cheese’s on May 19, 2017. To celebrate its 40th birthday, Chuck E Cheese’s will be hosting an event and attempting to break the Guinness World Records^TM record for “Most People Blowing Party Blowers Simultaneously For 10 Seconds.”

Every child that comes in on that day will receive a free slice of cake and 40 free tickets, while supplies last! The record breaking attempt will begin at 6:40 MST. Don’t forget to get there about 30 minutes before the world record breaking attempt begins.

To get in on this attempt you will need to act fast, but you can always try to break other Guinness World Records with your kids as well! My sister-in-law put together a fun list of 10 kid-friendly Guinness World Records that you can try to break with your kids. Check out the list here.

Go To An Aquarium

Everyone goes to the zoo. That is not a bad thing, we love the zoo! That said, it can be fun to mix it up a little bit and go to a local aquarium. We have gone to our aquarium here in Denver a few times and the kids love it every time.

It is so fun to see all of the marine animals. There are some aquariums that will even let you feed some of the animals and get up close with them. This is something that my kids love and it is fun for adults too!

Go On A Family Camping Trip

I have to admit that I have never been much of a camper. Growing up in Mexico, I never really had the opportunity to go camping in the way that it is popular here in the United States. I am the type that really likes the outdoors, but I also really like a clean bathroom and sleeping on a bed!

Even though I may not be too into roughing it in the wild for days at a time, I can still enjoy going to the mountains for a night and spending time with my kids. There are definitely a lot of great products to make camping more comfortable and these are times that your kids will always remember. My husband always tells me about the times that he went camping with his family and how those were some of his fondest memories. I hope that my kids can have those same memories to share when they get older.

Go To A Sprinkler Park

Have you ever heard of a sprinkler park? I hadn’t heard of it until a couple of summers ago when a friend of mine told me about them. They are basically just a big park, with a large open area with sprinklers of all shapes and sizes spraying water all over the place. The first time that I took my kids, they loved it!

There are usually sand boxes and other playground equipment nearby, but the kids tend to congregate towards the sprinklers – they just love getting wet. These places can get pretty crowded, and this because they are so fun! If you don’t know if there is one near you, I recommend just searching online and you may be surprised to find one that you can visit this summer.

Plant A Garden Together

One of my favorite activities to do with my kids is work together in the yard to plant a garden. Kids are really fascinated by being able to plant seeds and watch them grow over the summer. This can be a really great activity to do with your kids. It is especially good because it is something that you can do together everyday.

When my kids were a little bit smaller, they always wanted to help me pull weeds, dig holes, and put the seeds in. At that age, they couldn’t do too much, but they still loved to help. Now, they still like doing those things, but they are even more helpful when it comes to watering the plants and checking on them everyday. If you haven’t ever planted a garden with your kids, I recommend it. It is inexpensive, and it may even provide you with lots of delicious fruits and vegetables that you can eat together too!

I really hope that some of these ideas will help you come up with some fun things to do this summer.

In addition to all of the above, don’t miss out on going back to Chuck E. Cheese’s often during the summer. The Guinness World Records record attempt is just one of many exciting events and deals that Chuck E Cheese’s is offering to celebrate it’s birthday. You can upload an image of your receipt showing that you were at Chuck E Cheese’s between 4/10 and 5/19 for a chance to win a VIP birthday party for up to 20 kids. You can find more offers and information on the Chuck E. Cheese’s digital hub, www.40yearsoffun.com.

We had one of these birthday parties for my son last year and it was amazing! Check out our experience here.

Chuck E. Cheese’s is also offering its new Eat & Play Express package starting this month (May 2017). With the new Eat & Play Express package you can save time, have fun with your kids, and get lunch at the same time. The good thing is that you can be in and out in an hour or less. It is available from Monday-Thursday, costs between $31.99 and $32.99, and includes the following:

• 1 Large 1-Topping Pizza
• 4 Drinks
• Two (2) 20-minute Play Pass cards or 45 tokens (for non-Play Pass stores)
• Chuck E. Cheese Appearance
• One dessert per order (either the giant chocolate chip cookie or Cinnamon Dessert Pizza, based on availability)

Also – if the pizza doesn’t arrive in 20 minutes, you will receive a FREE dessert.

We are definitely looking forward to this summer – what do you have planned?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Chuck E. Cheese’s. The opinions and text are all mine.

The post 5 Fun Activities To Do With Your Kids This Summer appeared first on My Latina Table.

If you had told me 7 years ago when I moved to the United States for the first time, that I would be able to make a good income to supplement my husband’s job, I probably would have told you were crazy. Yet here I am – raising my three little boys alongside my husband, working from home on my own schedule, and bringing in some money at the same time.

I have always loved cooking, but I never thought that I could make money sharing the recipes I learned in my youth. A couple of years ago, however, my sister-in-law started a very successful blog and encouraged my husband and I to start one as well.

At that time, my husband was still in school and we were definitely struggling with finances a little bit. I had two little boys and I wanted to be with them as much as possible. At the same time, I wanted to help my husband as much as possible. My dilemma was figuring out how to make some money, and still spend as much time with my kids as possible. An online blog business was a perfect choice for us.

In today’s society, it is definitely difficult to survive on one income. I made the decision a long time ago that I wanted to stay home with my kids. I understand, however, that that isn’t the right decision for everyone. I respect moms that are able to work outside of the home and I hope that they never feel guilty about it. We should all support each other.

I am grateful to be working with BBVA Compass, who sponsored this post, to share some tips with all of you on how I am able to work from home and feel good about it. I love the podcast that I just listened to which called “Mompreneurs” and which gives some great practical advice which is definitely relevant to the blog business which I have built. You can find it and other great podcasts on the Working Moms Mean Business section of the BBVA Compass website here.

With that introduction, I hope you enjoy the following five tips for working from home and enjoying it.

Find something to do that you enjoy

If I didn’t love cooking and taking pictures of food like the one below, I don’t think my blog would have lasted as long as it has or been as successful. When I decided to create a blog, I knew that the main focus would be on the delicious recipes that I learned how to make in Mexico. It then expanded to a few other topics, such as parenting and DIY, but the main focus is still on food.

Lemon Carlota – Click The Image For The Recipe.

My first bit of advice is to really figure out what interests you and get to work! If you are able to find a job for someone else that lets you work from home, and it is in an industry that you enjoy, I say go for it. If you want to work for yourself, it is even easier to find something that you like. Do your market research and give it a go. There are so many resources online for starting a blog or really any other business.

Plan Your Week In Advance

One of the struggles of raising my kids and working from home is managing my time. I have started setting fixed hours during the day and evening when I can dedicate almost completely to my blog business. That way I am never scrambling to get my work done and my husband and kids know what I am doing as well.

I am able to coordinate my time so that I am not taking away time from my kids and their activities, but I am also not compromising the success of my blog. I usually try to work about 2 hours per day, but sometimes it is more. It really depends on the nature of your work and your long term goals.

Set up a space dedicated to your work

I can’t understate the importance of this one. There are times when I will just sit at the kitchen table and work, but those time are usually the least effective. This last year we bought a pretty nice desk and put it in a place in the house where I am able to concentrate and edit picture, write blog posts, and promote them. It has really made a difference and combined with the second point above, has helped me to make a lot of progress.

We are getting ready to move to a new home and I am excited to set up a more official home office that I can dedicate to my work. I am excited not only about the space, but also about the potential tax benefits.

Lean on your support system

I am fortunate to have a husband who has supported me in this business from the beginning. He helps me with some of the blog posts, watches the kids when I am working on something, motivates me, and much more.

It is so important to have a support system when working from home on your own business. It is even more important to be able to lean on them and accept their help. This can be a husband, kids, friends, or really anyone. Let them know how much you appreciate them and let them help you!

Don’t feel guilty

Sometimes when I am working I feel guilty – I feel like I should be spending more time with my kids instead of working on a blog post. It was hard for me to get over this and sometimes I still feel it.

What has really helped me though, is following the tips above and remembering that my family is the reason that I am doing this.

I enjoy what I do, and that is important, but the real reason is because I want to contribute in some small way to my family’s success and happiness.

There is a great e-book that I read recently called “Mom Guilt.” It goes over a lot of these topics and how you can stop feeling guilty for working. I suggest it to any of you working moms out there who could use some support. You can download it for free here.

I hope that these tips are helpful to some of you. It hasn’t been easy being a “work from home mom”, but it has been worth it. I have been able to do it without affecting my children’s schedule and it has truly been a blessing for my family.

If you are a working mom, what are some ways that you have been able to balance work and family life? I would love to hear about it in the comments section below.

The post Five Tips For Working From Home appeared first on My Latina Table.

Getting your kids to drink more water can be difficult, in this article, I will share three fun ways to make it easier.

Colorado is such a great place to live and there are so many different things to do outdoors as a family. Of course going to the mountains is always a fun destination, but there are a lot of other parks and activities that are fun as well.

One thing that all of these activities have in common is that they can definitely make you tired! Walking around through the mountains or going on hikes can really take the energy right out of you and it can be easy to get dehydrated. That is why whenever we plan one of these activities, we make sure that we have lots of water with us to keep us going strong all day.

Of course when kids are involved, they are much more interested in running around and finding things to do then in drinking water and staying hydrated. I usually have to remind them to drink water when we are out on our trips, and it can turn into a bit of a battle sometimes. That is why today I want to share three things that I do to get my kids to actually want to drink their water and to enjoy it.

I always make sure that I have a healthy supply of bottled water at our house, so that when we do head out, I don’t have to worry about whether we will have any. In order to have enough water, I am always looking for the best value. For example, at Walmart now you can get a great value on Nestlé® Pure Life® bottled water – now a 35 pack is the same cost as the old 32 pack (35 pack is only available in stores – not online).

If the 35-pack of Nestle Pure Life is not available in your local Walmart, please ask a store manager about getting the product in your area.

Nestle Pure Life is re-launching in mid-May and it will have new packaging. We love Nestle Pure Life because we know that they are committed to quality through their 12 Step Quality Process, which you can read about here. Being hydrated is so important, so now is a great time to stock up on Nestle Pure Life, especially since you are getting more for your money. Visit nestlepurelife.com to sign up for promotions, offers and more.

Now for the tips!

GET YOUR KIDS TO DRINK MORE WATER BY ADDING FRESH FRUIT

One thing that I have done that has really worked to get my boys to drink more water is adding fresh fruit. This is so simple, but the kids love it!

The sky is really the limit here – you can choose whatever variety or combination of fruit that you want and that you know your kids enjoy. For example, I will sometimes add a couple of wedges of lemon and a few raspberries to a glass of water.

Whenever I do this, they can’t wait to drink their water! You can open up a bottle of Nestle Pure Life to and it it in before closing the lid and taking it with you on the road as well.

GET YOUR KIDS TO DRINK MORE WATER BY MAKING FRUIT FLAVORED ICE CUBES

Another fun thing that I have done to help my kids drink more water is making fruit flavored ice cubes. I do this by getting some fresh orange juice, and adding it to an ice cube tray until they are frozen. Once they are frozen all the way, I add them to a glass or bottle of water and the kids love it.

The combination of the color and a slightly different flavors makes water even more exciting for the kids, which is great for me!

GET YOUR KIDS TO DRINK MORE WATER BY USING STRAWS AND DECORATING THE GLASS

This last tip may seem kind of silly, but at least with my kids, just adding a straw and a little bit of decoration to a glass of water is enough to get them to drink it without complaining.

There are a lots of straws that you can get that are in fun shapes and colors and kids love them! In addition to the straws, I will occasionally cut a couple of pieces of cucumber into round pieces and put it on the edge of the glass. The kids may not eat the cucumber, but they sure like having it on there!

I don’t know what it is about the straw, but this always seems to work for us.

A few weeks ago we went down to the Garden of the Gods in Colorado Springs for the weekend. It was so beautiful seeing all of the red rocks and walking along the trails. That said, it was a very warm day (especially for spring time in Colorado!), so we had to stay hydrated.

I used some of these tips, and I didn’t have to worry about whether my kids would drink the water or not. I hope they work for you to and I would love to hear how you get your kids to drink more water in the comments below.

The post Three Fun Ways To Get Your Kids To Drink More Water appeared first on My Latina Table.