Columbia, SC Food Finds- Tijuana Flats' New #FlatOutrageous Menu

Me and the hubby were invited to an exclusive tasting event at the all new Tijuana Flats located not too far from our home. We were greeted immediately by the super friendly staff upon walking into the restaurant. The first thing that really stuck out was the eclectic, artsy vibe. There was so much to look at including wall murals, artwork, painted ceiling tiles, and more. Tijuana Flats was started back in 1995 and has grown to 129 stores and counting. 

We sat down (along with the other guests) with the area marketing coordinator, Sarah Jones to get a little background on how Tijuana Flats came about. You can tell she really loves the company and was willing to answer our questions in depth. The reason they hosted the tasting event was to introduce their latest Flat Outrageous menu items. 

Of course you can't dine in a Tex-Mex restaurant without the nachos to start with. All of their dishes and sides are scratch-made. The chips are so crisp and light and the queso, salsa, and guac are all so fresh and delicious! We were told that their recipes were recently tweaked and I think they need to keep it this way. That guac stole my heart. It was so rich, chunky, and perfect all at the same time. Everyone was a bit surprised that the queso was yellow compared to most places that serve a white queso. I will say that it is one of the best I have ever tried. Yum! 

I had a refreshing Sangria to go along with the hoards of food they brought out to us. We were warned from the beginning and they came with it! Whew, so much delicious food! The first few entrees we tried from the Flat Outrageous menu were the Lime Steak, Crispy Baja Fish, and Jerk Chicken Street Tacos. Although they were all so good, the lime steak was our favorite! The jerk chicken was very spicy for those who crave a little more heat. I really enjoyed it! 

One of the BEST parts is their hot sauce bar. There are so many to choose from with different levels of heat. The curry sauce and Georgia peach sauces were my faves. The great thing is that you can purchase their sauces online or in-store.

Their signature sauce is called "Smack My Ass And Call Me Sally". It packs quite a punch! And the name is so fun! haha! We tried samples of several sauces to see what worked best with each dish. We were told that some sauces require signing a waiver- YIKES!

The last entrees we tried included the scrumptious Philly Cheesesteak Flautas and the Bangin' Chicken Tostadas. They were both absolutely deliciously crispy and full of flavor. The Philly Cheesesteak Flautas came with a generous serving of queso for dipping- mmm mmm! Of course no meal is complete without a sweet bite afterwards, and their Cookie Dough Flautas were ridiculous! Served with chocolate sauce for dipping, this dessert is a chocolate lover's crispy, crunchy, chocolaty dream! So good! 

The Flat Outrageous menu really is worth trying and the prices overall are reasonable. If you are located near one and have not been, you really need to check it out. I know my daughters and their friends will enjoy Tijuana Flats' Tex-Mex dishes. They plan to stop by soon. One last thing that I wanted to share is their charitable side. Their "Just in Queso" Foundation gives back to communities benefiting children and our brave military in their time of need. 

We want to send a warm thank you to the Columbia, SC store manager Crystal Richardson and Will Huggins for hosting us! They are located at 106 Percival Rd. Ste 200 Columbia, SC 29206. Stop in a see them if you're in the area or place your online order for takeout. Their entire staff is so friendly and accommodating. You won't be disappointed! Follow Tijuana Flats on Facebook, Insta, and Twitter for delicious updates :)

Thanks for reading and as always, all opinions are 100% my own xo

Show Dad Your Appreciation With A Gourmet Gift Basket This Father's Day

It's June and that means Father's Day is on its way. I start thinking about Father's Day gifts well in advance when it comes to my husband. He is fairly easy to buy for, but I know a lot of people struggle with their spouse or dad. One great idea that you can't ever go wrong with is food. I mean, what dad does not like food? If you have limited time to go shopping, no worries, GourmetGiftBaskets.com has exactly what dad will want and is only a few clicks away!

You can browse their wide selection of gourmet gift baskets to suit every dad's taste. Whether he loves beer, cheese, cookies, snacks or healthier fare, you will find the perfect gift. They offer free shipping and have gifts to fit every budget. The best part is you simply order and Gourmet Gift Baskets will take it from there. Each basket is packed with care and filled with high quality goodies. I chose the Orchard's Abundance gift basket for my husband since he is very health conscious. This basket is filled with enormous fresh fruit, cheese, crackers, peanuts, a couple chocolaty treats, and the most incredible sea salt caramel sauce for those crispy apples!

The package will arrive at your doorstep complete with the card attached to the outside of the box. The recipient can read the special message before tearing into the package. I guarantee any dad would have a huge smile on his face receiving a gift like this.

You can really see the care that goes into packing these beautiful baskets. They really do use premium products. This is a very well received gift not just for dads, but anyone! If you get stuck on what to give dad, give GourmetGiftBaskets.com a try. They have same day shipping so you can be sure the gift will get there fast. My advice is to make sure the recipient will be home to collect the gift since it does contain food items. You wouldn't want it sitting out on the front porch for very long.

Check out the amazing selection of gourmet gifts and order something for the special dads in your life today. They will love it like my husband did. Follow Gourmet Gift Baskets on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter for the latest promotions and updates. Don't delay! Hurry and order your dad or husband a Gourmet Gift Basket today!

Disclosure: We received a gift basket for review. All opinions are 100% our own as always.

Get A Catalyst iPhone Case For Your Summer Adventures! (Giveaway)

School is officially out for the summer in most parts of the country, and the weather is already beach/pool friendly. Many of us are hitting the road looking for adventure this summer. Of course, you can't go anywhere without your trusty iPhone! Even when you are on the sandy beach, hanging out on the lake in a boat, hiking on dusty mountains, or just chillin' poolside, you have to keep an eye on your phone so you don't have an unfortunate accident.

Water, dust, dirt, snow, moisture, and general accidents can destroy your phone. How many times have you 'fatally dropped' your phone? I think I do this daily! Good news, Catalyst cases for the iPhone 7 are made to withstand all of the elements. When you invest in such a great phone (especially for the camera like I did), you want to get the most out of it. It's important to also invest in a good case to protect your precious phone. My theory is if you invest in quality, you won't have to buy it again any time soon.

Why choose Catalyst? It's simple. You can drop your phone on the ground, drop it in water, and get caught in the rain and your phone will be safe. Catalyst cases are waterproof to 10m (33ft)! This means you can take your iPhone under the sea or pool to record your scuba diving excursion or cool underwater pool tricks.

Why do we like this case? It has a clear front and back to show off your phone's color. So this means that pretty silver, black or rose gold color can still be seen. The sides are all shock-proof and the case in itself fits really snug and slim. I like that since I am not a fan of bulky phone cases. Also, if you need to take it off, you don't need the jaws of life to do so. I once had a phone case that got permanently stuck on my phone! The Catalyst case is easy to remove.  Another great thing is you can still hear phone calls clearly as well as listening to video or music. The charging port is easy to get to with no obstruction.

The directions to install your case is done with not only with text, but photos. It makes it a lot easier! There are simple steps to water test it. Check out these videos for details.

The Catalyst case is a must have for summer travel and would make a great Father's Day gift to the dad who lives an active lifestyle. Or if your husband is like mine, he might simply be careless with his phone. You can get full details about the Catalyst case and purchase one here for $79.99. It comes in two colors: Stealth Black & Alpine White. And don't forget a case for your Air Pods! They start at $24.99. The ones pictured below glow in the dark. Catalyst makes other products for your Apple devices as well.

Giveaway: One lucky reader will win a Catalyst Case for the iPhone 7! Enter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This giveaway is open to U.S. Residents only and will end on June 18, 2017. Please follow all rules in the Rafflecopter widget and be sure to use a valid email. One winner will be selected and contacted via email to claim prize. Please be aware that Mom Files is not responsible for any lost, stolen or damaged prizes. Good luck!

Disclosure: We received products in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% our own. 

Perfect Turkey Meatball Recipe

I was talking with a good blog friend of mine the other day and she was telling me how she drools when she looks at my Insta feed. I am always in the kitchen baking or cooking up something. Today I made some super simple turkey meatballs and they came out perfectly seasoned and not dry like turkey tends to get. Since I get asked for recipes all the time, I decided I better get busy and throw them on the blog as often as I can. Check out the recipe below.

Ingredients:

• One pound of ground turkey (I use the less lean variety since I don't want dry meatballs)
• finely minced onion, garlic, herbs (I use thyme, rosemary, and parsley), and jalapenos 
• 1/4 grated Parmesan cheese
• assorted dry seasonings (here are my staples) 
• Olive oil
• Cookware: a cast iron skillet or heavy skillet, tongs, spatula, flat tray lined with parchment paper

What to do:

Simply add all of the fresh ingredients into a bowl with the ground turkey. Add desired seasonings. I like to add a few shakes of red pepper flakes for added spice. Throw in the Parmesan and mix everything together with a fork. Use a spoon to help scoop even amounts of turkey and roll into balls. Place them on parchment lined tray as you roll. Place tray in freezer for about 5-10 minutes so they can firm up a bit. Heat skillet on medium-high and add a few tablespoons of olive oil. Gently, but quickly place meatballs in hot skillet and let them start browning without moving them for a few minutes. Carefully use tongs to flip them. If they start to fall apart, you can use a spatula to help keep them together. Let them get brown and crispy all over. That's it! 

I like to serve these meatballs with sides like smashed sweet potatoes, regular mashed potatoes, asparagus, broccoli, or any vegetable my family likes. You can also add them in your favorite pasta sauce for spaghetti and meatballs, or eat them as is. They are the perfect protein-packed snack! 

I hope you will try this recipe soon. Thanks for stopping by xo 

New Baby Dove Moisture Rich Product Line (Giveaway)

Did you know that Dove makes baby products? I did not know until recently and thought, it's about time! Dove has been a reliable household favorite for decades. You can't beat that gentle clean with powerful moisturizers. Now you can give that same thing to your baby or little one. The new Baby Dove Rich Moisture product line offers a tip-to-toe wash, baby lotion, baby bar, shampoo, and baby wipes.

Each product is made with your delicate baby's skin in mind. All products are dermatologist and pediatrician tested. Here is a little information on each product:

• Rich Moisture Tip to Toe Wash - As gentle as water, tear-free, hypoallergenic, pH-neutral baby wash and shampoo in one. It contains super mild cleansers for baby's skin and helps more moisture and nutrients stay in the skin. Retails for $5.99 for 13oz or $7.99 for 20oz. 
• Rich Moisture Baby Lotion - Soothes dry skin and leaves baby's skin extra soft and delicately scented. Retails for $5.99 for 13oz or $7.99 for 20oz.
• Rich Moisture Baby Bar - This is like junior version of the adult bar and retails for $2.49 for 3.17oz. 
• Rich Moisture Shampoo - Unlike regular baby shampoos, this one contains 1/4 moisturizing cream. Retails for $5.99 for 13oz.
• Rich Moisture Baby Wipes - As gentle as water and effectively removes impurities while moisturizing baby's delicate skin. They are hypoallergenic and alcohol-free. Retails for $4.49 for 30 wipes. Great for travel! 

Although my son William is no longer a baby, I still have to use gentle products for his skin. The Baby Dove Rich Moisture Line is excellent and I suspect will last for a long time. I confess, I love the very light scent that is reminiscent of a freshly bathed baby. There is also a sensitive skin version of these products as well. This is one of those times I wish I had these skin care items for all of my babies when they were babies. 

You can find Baby Dove products at Walmart, Target, Walgreens, and Amazon. If you are looking for a great baby shower gift, I suggest this entire product line. I know that the recipient would love it! Of course, I know you will love these products for your own baby. For more details on these products, visit the Baby Dove site. 

We have great news! One very lucky Mom Files reader will win the entire Baby Dove Rich Moisture product line. Enter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is open to U.S. Residents only and will end on June 16, 2017. Please follow all rules in the Rafflecopter widget and be sure to use a valid email. One winner will be selected and contacted via email to claim prize. Please be aware that Mom Files is not responsible for any lost, stolen or damaged prizes. Good luck! 

Disclosure: We received products in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are 100% our own.