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It's Carmen Time!

Winning at Single Motherhood One #Facepalm at a Time

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Food

Mostly healthy… ALWAYS yummy! Quick, simple, and delicious recipes… Cooking hacks, kitchen tools, secret deals & coupons, and the occasional eating out.

1 Ingredient Watermelon Slushie

1 Ingredient Watermelon SlushieRead More

Soy & Ginger Marinated Ahi Tuna & Cucumber Stuffed Avocado

Soy & Ginger Marinated Ahi Tuna & Cucumber Stuffed AvocadoRead More

Crunchy Carmelized Oat Topping

Crunchy Carmelized Oat ToppingRead More

Creamy Custard and Strawberry Filled Croissants (With Vegan Alternative)

Creamy Custard and Strawberry Filled Croissants (With Vegan Alternative)Read More

Chewy Vegan Almond Flour Cookies (4 Ingredients!)

Chewy Vegan Almond Flour Cookies (4 Ingredients!)Read More

Fudgy, Chocolaty, Sweet Potato Brownies

Fudgy, Chocolaty, Sweet Potato BrowniesRead More

Banana, Avocado, Spinach Smoothie!

Banana, Avocado, Spinach Smoothie!Read More

Classic Miso Soup (with Vegan alternative)

Classic Miso Soup (with Vegan alternative)Read More

Crispy Almond Crackers – Gluten-Free, 4 Ingredients!

Crispy Almond Crackers – Gluten-Free, 4 Ingredients!Read More

Ahi Tuna Tostadas

Ahi Tuna TostadasRead More

Sweet Potato Smoothie!

Sweet Potato Smoothie!Read More

Easy Chia Seed Pudding

Easy Chia Seed PuddingRead More

Omurice – Japanese Omelette Rice

Omurice – Japanese Omelette RiceRead More

Portobello Mushrooms Stuffed with Quinoa, Parmesan, and Ricotta

Portobello Mushrooms Stuffed with Quinoa, Parmesan, and RicottaRead More

Bubble (Boba) Tea – Three Ways!

Bubble (Boba) Tea – Three Ways!Read More

Homemade Thai Iced Tea Recipe

Homemade Thai Iced Tea RecipeRead More

Crispy Baked Parmesan & Garlic Edamame

Crispy Baked Parmesan & Garlic EdamameRead More

Slow Cooker Pork Belly with Soy and Ginger Glaze

Slow Cooker Pork Belly with Soy and Ginger GlazeRead More

Microwave Matcha Green Tea and White Chocolate Chip Cookie for One!

Microwave Matcha Green Tea and White Chocolate Chip Cookie for One!Read More

Easy French Onion Fondue!

Easy French Onion Fondue!Read More

Sushi Burrito with Ahi Tuna, Seared Salmon, Crab, and Avocado

Sushi Burrito with Ahi Tuna, Seared Salmon, Crab, and AvocadoRead More

Cloud Bread – Low Carb, Just 3 Ingredients!

Cloud Bread – Low Carb, Just 3 Ingredients!Read More

Ahi-Tuna & Avocado Wonton Crisps

Ahi-Tuna & Avocado Wonton CrispsRead More

Banana Nice Cream – Dessert for Breakfast? Yes, Please!

Banana Nice Cream – Dessert for Breakfast? Yes, Please!Read More

Ahi Tuna Poke Bowl

Ahi Tuna Poke BowlRead More

My Favorite Overnight Oats Recipes

My Favorite Overnight Oats RecipesRead More

Vietnamese Crab Asparagus Soup (Sup Mang Tay Cua)

Vietnamese Crab Asparagus Soup (Sup Mang Tay Cua)Read More

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Oh, Hai… I’m Carmen

Mommy. Teacher. Life Strategist. Best Selling Author. Advice Columnist. Foodie Wannabe. Find my articles on Lifehack, SheKnows, LittleThings, Thrive Global, Ricky Martin’s Piccolo Universe, and Thought Catalog!

Food

  • 1 Ingredient Watermelon Slushie
  • Soy & Ginger Marinated Ahi Tuna & Cucumber Stuffed Avocado
  • Crunchy Carmelized Oat Topping
  • Creamy Custard and Strawberry Filled Croissants (With Vegan Alternative)
  • Chewy Vegan Almond Flour Cookies (4 Ingredients!)
  • Fudgy, Chocolaty, Sweet Potato Brownies
  • Banana, Avocado, Spinach Smoothie!

#itsCARMENtime!

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Disclosure: ItsCarmenTime.life is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.

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itscarmentime

♡ INFJ Mom 🙋🏻‍♀️ ➔ INTP PreMed
➲ Certified Life Strategist. Accountability & Habit Coach
✩ Foodie Influencer @zipkick📍Vegas | Chicago

Instagram post 2176035083353616301_3292229998 Hai I’m Carmen! 🙋🏻‍♀️
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I think it’s time we got to know each other a little better, don’t you? Ok, I’ll start...
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🎀 I'm 1/2 Japanese 1/2 Filipina, born in Tokyo Japan.
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🎀 I've been a single mom since my son Joshua was 5... he's now 18!
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🎀 I home/virtual schooled Joshua from 4th-10th grade. BEST decision I've ever made! High School Valedictorian and now a premed who started college as a JUNIOR. He will be pursuing Cardiothoracic Surgery after med school...
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🎀 I brag about my kid A LOT.
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🎀 I’ve always been an involved mom. When Joshua was younger, I was team mom, Cub Scout den leader, room mom, and even PTA President. .
🎀 I'm a Certified Life Strategist and my education and training focus on Stress/Burnout Prevention, and Mental/Behavioral Patterns.
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🎀 I survived mental, emotional, and physical abuse from individuals with Narcissistic Personality Disorder. I'm 2 years Narc-Free.
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🎀 I share my experience and offer support on one of my 3 podcasts.
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🎀 I used to be a hula/Tahitian dancer in my early 20s.
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🎀 I play the piano and won over 150 trophies from competitions in the US and Canada. I stopped taking lessons after my teacher lost her battle to cancer when I was 14. #fckcancer
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🎀 I taught piano PT when I was in high school. My only student now is my son 🎹.
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🎀 I'm a bookworm.
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🎀 I once lived with 3 bunnies, a cat, and 2 dogs in a 1-bedroom apartment.
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🎀 I was a "Parenting Expert" for Ricky Martin's (Yes, Mr. Living La Vida Loca!) parenting support website until the site closed. .
🎀 I have a not-so-secret love affair with food and will try anything once.
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🎀 I enjoy doing laundry and vacuuming.
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🎀 I was a pescatarian for over 15 years.
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🎀 I cook at least once a day and food-prep every weekend.
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🎀 I’m a text-book INTROVERT and wrote about it on Lifehack.org. Guy Kawasaki tweeted it and got me massive exposure 💥.
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🎀 I'm deathly afraid of things (bugs, garbage, bats, etc.) flying into my mouth.
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🎀 I've been a 1st - 4th grade religious education teacher for 20 years.
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🎀 My favorite part of who I am is being a Mom.
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YOUR turn! What are some things you’d like me to know about you? 🎉.
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💕 Carmen
Instagram post 2175245553289816133_3292229998 Quality Over Quantity... 🍜
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My schedule is usually full almost every day with running a business, teaching classes, home/life responsibilities, and mommy-ing... but because my son has been homeschooled most of his life, we always had plenty of time together regardless. 😁💛 ..
It all changed this fall. 🎓 ..
My 18 year old has been quite busy this semester with classes at the university, as well as a calendar packed with premed related meetings and activities... so I can no longer just "bring him along" wherever I go... 📆 ⏰ .⠀
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And being that he's so incredibly disciplined about managing his time, even his break-times during the week are scheduled on his daily calendar... 💪🏼 .⠀
And so we make certain to fit in a mom/son dinner date at least once a week at a venue we've never tried... and while it's no longer an everyday adventure, I charish the time we spend together appreciating the meals, environment, and great energy... 🍽🥰😍.⠀
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Sooo... Check out the beef brisket with knife shaved noods and pork belly & onion pancakes from @themagicnoodlelv ... This place def doesn’t skimp on quality OR quantity!🍜🍜🍜⠀
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Noods were perfection, soup was flavorful, beef and pork were so insanely tender... I have no idea how I've come this far in life without this place!!! 🤤😋🙋🏻‍♀️⠀
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Our whole lives are made up of these little moments... be present and enjoy!⠀
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💕 Carmen .
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#asianfood #fresh #noodle #noodles #noodlesoup #soup #broth #chinesefood #carbs #foodstagram #igfood #instafood #pasta #instanoodle #lasvegas #vegas #ictYUMS #itscarmentime
Instagram post 2167012739415146779_3292229998 I'm Back (with a new name too!) 🎀 ⠀
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I know... It's been MONTHS since I was last here. Sadly, I lost two very very dear people this spring and I admit, I refused to accept it.⠀
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One of these people was like a sister to me... my rock, my strength, my strongest of allies... the one I saw as, "If she can get through her days smiling, so can I!" ... and she was suddenly gone. 💔💔💔⠀
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It took almost 4 months of strictly focusing on motherhood, my business, and self care to give myself the space to properly and completely process this... and now, I'm very slowly doing my best to open up to the world around me again. My heart still aches, but it’s not the excruciating pain like it was a few months back... but gosh, I miss them so much. ⠀
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What keeps me going... My college boy who counts on me... and continues to ask for bento boxes 🍱 to bring to lunch or have waiting at home after a long day of lectures and labs... 📚🔬 .⠀
* Grilled, salted salmon (Shiojyake)⠀
* Braised daikon⠀
* Garlic edamame⠀
* Crab sushi rolls⠀
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Thank you for sticking around. I am truly grateful. 🙏 ⠀
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‼️ IF YOU FEEL LIKE YOU’RE REACHING THE END OF YOUR ROPE, call the 24-hr National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1.800.273.8255 or the 24-hr Crisis Text Line by texting “HELP” to 741-741. In an emergency, call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room. Because even if you may not feel it, you matter and we need you. ⠀
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💕 Carmen⠀
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#itscarmentimeLIFE #healthyfoods #getinmybelly #fitfoodie #lasvegas #vegas #foodgasm #freshsalmon #pescatarian #freshfood #grilledsalmon #healthyfood #healthy #dinner #homecooking #fish #salmon #foodie #foodstagram #instafood #foodlovers #healthyrecipes #bentobox #bento #agedashitofu #agedashi #japanesefood #suicideprevention #suicidehotline #depressionhelp
Instagram post 2062250771651800174_3292229998 J & I were invited to celebrate Hawaiian Foods Week 🏝 at @thepizzapress (in Fashion Show Mall) with @kingshawaiian to try their Sweet Sun and Hot Sun pizzas featuring the King’s Hawaiian Sweet Pineapple and Big Lava Sauces! Their sweet pineapple chicken wings did not disappoint either! 🍍🍕🍗 #yummm.
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Such a FUN place! It’s a newspaper themed pizza restaurant where you can order a pre-designed pizza or totally create your own! And everyone’s sooo freakin nice! 🥰 .
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It was so exciting!!! Being that I suck at checking my DMs, this was only my second time going to an event where I got to actually meet other IG foodies in person!!! 🤩.
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And I really LOOOVE getting to do these things with my boy... I hope he never grows out of hanging out with me 💕 .
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Thank you @foodbeast for the invite!!! .
💕Carmen
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#tasteofaloha #foodbeast #ad #itscarmentimeYUMS #pizzapress #pizzapresslv #vegas #lasvegas #fashionshowmall #lasvegasstrip #lasvegasfoodie #lasvegasfood #lasvegasblvd #lasvegaslife #lasvegaseats #vegaseats #vegasfoodie #lvfood #lveats #pizzatime #pizzamania #pizzaholic #pizzalovers #chickenwings #bbqchickenwings
Instagram post 2058386956074083260_3292229998 OMG May was the CRAZIEST & BUSIEST month ever!!! My 17 year old just Graduated TWICE! 🎓🥇🎉 .
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On May 20th, Joshua graduated from Western Nevada College with an Associates in Liberal Arts Degree with 3.91 GPA Summa Cum Laude! 🙌🏼 💕 .
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Then on May 29th, he graduated from Nevada Virtual Academy High School with an Advanced Honors Diploma with 4.8 GPA Valedictorian! 🙌🏼 💕 .
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In the fall, my Cardiac Surgeon to-be will begin college as a Junior and will major in Psychology and minor in Biological Sciences and Neuroscience. 🧬👨🏻‍⚕️ .
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The kid is insanely focused, driven, kind, and hilarious (clearly got everything from his mom 😂) and I’m beyond proud of everything about him❣️
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Am I bragging? You bet!!! 😂 12 years ago, he was categorized as a “child of divorce” 💔... statistically, he was at high risk of not graduating from high school and will likely need psychological counseling. A boy needs a dad, they told me... he needs a strong male role model so he knows how to become a kind and responsible man. 🙄
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12 years later... my very own sweet, funny, responsible and crazy-smart human who shows up from a place of integrity; continues to squash ALL them silly statistics and earn his WINS! 🏆 .
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The bonus? Family members from both my side and his dad’s side celebrated his special day together for the FIRST TIME in over TWELVE YEARS!!! 🎉 .
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Ok, ok... I know this is a foodie account 🍣😂 ... BOTH graduations were followed by a celebratory meal at an AYCE Korean BBQ! It was a brand new experience for us both, and lemme tell you, we’re HOOKED! 🍖🐷🐙🐮👅
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We enjoyed a delicious lunch after J’s college graduation at Siu Korean BBQ in Carson City, NV... and a yummeh dinner after his high school graduation at the Arirang Korean BBQ in Las Vegas, NV! Mmmm 🥰🤤
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If you read this far, thank you for sharing in my baby boy’s special milestones!!! 🙏⭐️😍 .
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💕 Carmen .
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#girlplusfood #classof2019 #nvva #nevadavirtualacademy #wnc #westernnevadacollege #valedictorian #kbbq #koreanbbq #koreanbarbecue #bulgogi #ayce #jumpstartcollege #koreanreataurant #koreanfoods #porkbelly #foodie #vegas #lasvegas #lasvegasfoodie #lasvegasfood #itscarmentimeJROC
Instagram post 2045433136117237952_3292229998 Japanese Style Strawberry Parfait with French Toast & Custard 🍓🥪⠀⠀
💟 Health Friendly: #vegan #dairyfree #eggfree⠀
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Isn’t this adorable? If I had a pet, it would be this serving of Strawberry Parfait with French Toast and Custard! And I will love it forever! Just kidding... inhaled it in 20 seconds flat. 😂 ⠀
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So my son’s graduation is on Monday... he’ll be receiving his Associates Degree from college with Honors. 🎓 I’m a hot mess... don’t even know what to do with myself because I’m anxious and excited and emotional and hungry. Then at the end of the month, he will graduate from high school!!! (yeah, isn’t that the wildest thing ever?!!!) 🎉  Which is why I haven’t been on here all that much... so much preparing and working ahead to do before the big events!!! 💻🧳🏃‍♀️🍳❤️🌟 ⠀
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Anyway... this baby is so easy to make! Add in layers... fresh, sliced strawberries, pieces of French toast, creamy custard, and I topped it with more strawberries and a strawberry macaron! 🍓🍨🍞 🥰 I gotta tell ya... the combined flavors and textures is just out of this world! 🌎🚀 ⠀
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** for vegan custard recipe, see my “Creamy Egg Custard & Strawberry Filled Croissants” post from 3/11/2019!⠀
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Ok... back to being emotional. Happy Thursday!⠀⠀
💕 Carmen⠀⠀
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#フレンチトースト #パフェ #イチゴパフェ #いちごマニア #いちご #おうちごはん #おうちカフェ #frenchtoast #parfait #strawberryparfait #strawberries #dessert #desserts #dessertporn #foodgasm #foodporn #delicious #foodforfoodies #instafood #yumyum #sweettooth #soyummy #getinmybelly #girlplusfood #itscarmentimeYUMS


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