Easy, Quick Weeknight Recipe: Gluten-Free Beef Burritos

I don't know about everyone else, but at the end of a long day, the last thing I want to do is 1) stop at the store, 2) spend a bunch of time trying to figure out what to cook for dinner or 3) slave over the stove forever. I don't mind cooking but I also would not say that I love cooking. It is part of life but I am always looking for ways to simplify and shorten my time in the kitchen.

One night I was struggling so hard to figure out what to cook when my husband started begging for Chipotle (his favorite restaurant). Neither of us felt like leaving the house, Chipotle doesn't deliver and we were starving. I decided that I would make the closest thing to Chipotle burritos I could... and hence this recipe was born. So, today, I am sharing one of my favorite simple recipes for a busy weeknight. It is a staple in our home and a favorite of my husband.

I keep ingredients on hand for this at all times. This recipe is not groundbreaking or creative. It is simple, easy and filling. There will be some leftovers but not an excessive amount (cooking for two is always a challenge) and it makes the perfect taco salad for lunch the next day. I make it gluten free from scratch for my husband who has a gluten sensitivity. You can easily make it with gluten too.

So, here you go. One of my favorite, go-to, simple weeknight recipes.

A few tips:

• Make sure to drain the beef after browning it- too much grease will make them drippy
• You can sub shredded chicken for the beef to change things up 
• Leftovers can be served over tortilla chips or lettuce for an easy lunch

Friday Five 12/21/18

Happy Friday!!

It's basically Christmas and I am living my best life. Hot cocoa, snickerdoodles and twinkling Christmas lights pretty much made up my week. I worked a little bit, did a lot of cookie baking, read 2 novels, cleaned my house, finished Christmas shopping and present wrapping, experimented with some new recipes, went to our local Zoo lights and spent lots of time relaxing with my husband and pups. Here are some snapshots from my week:

The cutest Christmas pups!

My festive front porch 

SO EXCITED for this!!!

I taught myself to knit this week because why not??

Gift Guide 3: Stocking Stuffers under $10

Happy Monday!!

This was supposed to get posted yesterday but I went to my parents for the weekend and forgot my computer so it had to get pushed back until today.

This week I am finishing up my Christmas shopping including stocking stuffers. Today's gift guide is full of great stocking stuffers under $10. I tried to select multipacks when available so that you can fill everyone you love's stocking while still sticking to a budget!

Friday Five 12/14/18

Happy Friday!!!!

I am finally done with my Fall semester!!!!! Only one more semester stands between me and graduation!

My week was pretty full of studying as I tried to stay motivated until the bitter end. As soon as my finals were over, I started baking Christmas cookies, wrapping presents and catching up on the Hallmark Christmas movies on my DVR. I also got my Christmas cards in the mail which was a big thing to cross off the to-do list. Tonight I am going to a Christmas party with all of my law school friends and this weekend I am finishing last minute Christmas shopping and relaxing after two crazy weeks of final exams. Here are a few snapshots from my week:

Started reading this on Wednesday! So far so good!

I make homemade hot cocoa mix every year and since Thursday was National Hot Cocoa Day, we had to celebrate. 

Cutest golden reindeer you ever did see!

Now here are a few of my favorite things from this week:

A Gift Guide for the Dog Mom

Happy Sunday!

Since it is the second Sunday of December, I am continuing my gift guide series! The first installment, A Gift Guide for Law Students, came out last Sunday.

Today I am talking all about gifts for the dog mom friend. Millennials are quite well known for being obsessed with our fur-babies (See this article). As a very proud dog mom myself, I love getting gifts that celebrate that. I have three of the sweetest pups in the world and our life revolves around them.

Here are my fur-babies:
Gracie, our Golden Retriever; Garth, our Toy Australian Shepherd; and Annie, our rescue Mutt (left-right)

Friday Five 12/7/18

Happy Friday!

I am finishing up my first week of exams. I only had one exam this week (thank the heavens!) and I am working hard to prepare for my next exam on 12/12. Because I only had one exam, I actually had some spare time this week- a total rarity during finals! Here are a few snapshots from my week:

   

   

   

A friend of ours got a new puppy and brought her over to visit- I am obsessed (puppy fever is real!). I made my dog wear a Christmas sweater all week and I am obsessed with our Christmas tree. There was only one day this week I did not wear leggings so I made sure to get a picture of me in real pants during finals week. I also bought antlers because for $4 at Walmart why wouldn't I? and Starbucks is necessary because of #finalsweek and a looming exam over Business Associations. 

Here are a few of my favorite things from this week!

1. Book of the Month

Guest Post: Study Supplements for Law School Exams

Hi Everyone! Today I wrote a guest blog post over on Life in Law and Coffee Blog.

You can read it here: https://www.lifeinlawandcoffee.com/blogmas-day-3-study-supplements-for-exams/.

A Gift Guide for Law Students

Happy Sunday!

I am jumping on the blogger gift guide wagon this year! I am going to do one specific gift guide for each of the Sunday's in December leading up to Christmas.

Today, I am doing a gift guide for law students! I found a variety of things that are either useful to a law student or just something sweet that they can enjoy. So this is for friends and families of law students who are struggling with what to buy the law student in your life.

Law School Final Exams: Last Minute Prep and Things You Should Bring to the Exam

Happy December!!!

My first exam is in less than 48 hours (SOS). I am sure many of you have exams coming up very quickly as well (if you have not already had one or two). Now that I am in my third year, I have exam week to a pretty good science. Here are my best tips for last minute exam prep and things you should bring to the exam.

Law School Final Exams: Last-Minute Prep and Things You Should Bring with You to the Exam

My Christmas Wish List

Happy Wednesday!

Today is my last day of normal classes for the semester and my first exam is less than a week away. These facts are really bumming me out so I am trying to find something positive to think about today.

I have seen lots of other bloggers doing their Christmas wishlists so I decided to do the same. As a naturally nosy person, I always find these so interesting and often find a gift idea that I want or something to get for someone else who is hard to buy for.

I made a Christmas wish list on Amazon every year and send it out to family and friends who ask me what I want for Christmas. Throughout the year, I add things to the list that I like but don't immediately need. Making a list on Amazon is super easy to create, edit and share.

10 Essentials for a Productive Library Study Session

Good morning!

Is it just me or did the semester FLY by?! Exams are going to be here so fast.

My exam study habits have not changed much since 1L year. I pack up all my stuff and hunker down in a library study room for hours upon hours with my study group or on my own. It is not much fun but I find it to be the most productive study environment for me. My library study sessions are long and I like to be prepared. Therefore, I carry everything but the kitchen sink with me: books, snacks, blankets and sometimes even a tiny humidifier (yep- I am THAT extra and study rooms can be very dry). I have compiled a list of the 10 essential items I have to have for my library study sessions. This list is not all-inclusive (I bring lots of other crap too) but it is the big stuff that I CANNOT leave home without when I am heading into the library to get some work done.

What to do over Thanksgiving Break as a Law Student

I feel like I blinked once and Fall is almost over. Where did time go?!? Thanksgiving is next week! Wowzers. What this means is that I only have a few weeks and a lot of turkey and mashed potatoes between me and Fall semester final exams (my first exam is 12/2/18).

I wrote a post not too long ago on my final exam prep during the month leading up to exams. You can read it here. I had a few questions lately about what you should do over Thanksgiving break to get ready for exams so I decided to write up a post about it.

I will start with a disclaimer- everyone is different and everyone studies differently. Take my advice with a grain of salt; what works for me may not work for you and vice versa. Read it, use any tips you find useful and do what you need to do to be successful. You know yourself better than anyone so do what is best for you.

Sunday Six 11/11/18

Happy Sunday!

I normally do this on Friday but I had a really busy week and I just ran out of time. So instead of a "Friday Five", I am doing a "Sunday Six" of things I am currently into.

Ohio is currently freezing and experiencing our first snow so I have spent most of my weekend bundled up and cuddling with my hubby and pups. We also took down Halloween decorations, did some Christmas shopping, cleaned our basement and I got one of my outlines up to date. I know, we are really living it up. I have no class tomorrow so it's a 3 day weekend and there is nothing better than that to get rested and prepared for the week ahead.

Fall Fashion from Amazon

Good morning!

Today I am sharing some of my favorite fashion pieces that I have purchased from Amazon. I was skeptical at first to order clothes from Amazon but I have found some amazing deals and fabulous additions to my closet. I tend to be a bit of a fashion enthusiast (or as my husband puts it, a serial shopper with a much too full closet). I love nothing more than finding quality pieces at a good price.

Fall fashion is probably my favorite. I love this season and being able to dress cute without worrying about sweating or needing to bundle up against the cold. I am always looking for some new pieces in the Fall without breaking the bank- enter Amazon. Great deals, adorable pieces and free 2-day shipping with my Amazon Prime account! How can you beat that?!? Here are a few of my favorite pieces I have purchased and worn this Fall.

Law School Q & A

Happy Monday!!

I have seen a few other bloggers do something like this so I thought I would give it a try. I have done quite a few questions and answer sessions on Instagram and they seem pretty popular. But, I know not all of my followers are on Instagram and have not participated in one of my question and answer sessions in Instagram stories. I decided to take all the questions I have gotten and compile them into one big blog post that everyone can see!

The topics of the questions range from LSAT and application concerns to lots of during law school questions and beyond. I am going to sort them into a few Catagories to make it easier to navigate.

I hope this is helpful :)

Friday Five 11/2/18

Happy Friday!

Can you believe it is November already?!?! My cold is almost gone, I turned in the paper I have been working on for 2 weeks and I am done with studying for the day so it's a great Friday at my house! The past month has been crazy busy (which is why I have been pretty non-existent on here). I am so ready for things to slow down just a bit through November before exam season hits with a vengeance.

Now that I have a touch of free time, I can actually catch up on some favorite things to share. Here is my Friday Five!

Preparing for Law School Exams One Month Out

Happy Halloween!

I am currently dressed up as Elle Woods, including carrying a stuffed Chihuahua, because I realized this is my last chance to do that as a law student and let's be honest, Elle Woods is our queen.

GIVEAWAY

Hello everyone! Happy Hump Day!

Maybe it is just me, but this time in the semester is always super stressful. Currently, I am low on sleep, fighting off a cold, behind on all my homework and my face is breaking out. If anyone else is feeling the same way, I have exciting news for you.

On my Instagram, I am doing a giveaway! I am calling it the "Pick-Me-Up" Fall Giveaway because I think we could all use a little pick me up right now, am I right? One lucky person will win a fall scented candle, a Pioneer Woman hot/cold tumbler and a Starbucks gift card!

Details of how you can enter the giveaway are on my Instagram.

View this post on Instagram

GIVEAWAY TIME!!! It’s getting cold and it’s a busy time of year so I think that everyone could use a little pick me up to brighten their day. One lucky person will win this “Pick-Me-Up” giveaway featuring a fall scented candle, a hot/cold tumbler from @thepioneerwoman collection, and a Starbucks gift card! . . TO ENTER you must complete all of the following: 1. Like this post on Instagram 3. Follow @thelegalduchess on Instagram 3. Comment on this post on Instagram tagging one friend who could use a “pick-me-up”. . . BONUS ENTRY: 1. share a screenshot of this on Instagram stories with a tag to @thelegalduchess . . 2. share a screenshot on your Instagram and tag @thelegalduchess . . . One winner will be randomly drawn on Friday October 26, 2018 at 10:00pm EST. Prize open to only US residents due to shipping. . . . #ohioblogger #lawschoolblogger #lawstudent #giveawaycontest #giveaway #starbucks #fallcandle #pioneerwomancollection

A post shared by Brandy (@thelegalduchess) on Oct 22, 2018 at 1:29pm PDT

Tips for Managing Stress in Law School

Happy Hump Day Y'all!

In case you didn't know, it is Law School Mental Health Day (it's also generally Mental Health Day so this applies to everyone). I think it is so great that law schools and the larger legal community are getting better about encouraging mental health in law students. Law school is so hard... it stresses you physically and emotionally. Historically, law school existed with a culture of "weed out the people who can't stand up to the challenge" and was pretty unforgiving (watch The Paper Chase on Netflix to see what I mean). I think the trend has moved in a positive direction to have more academic help available, encouraging a balance between law school and regular life and encouraging students to take care of their physical and mental wellbeing.

During my own law school journey, my mental health has been at an all-time low. The stress and pressure of law school have on more than one occasion sent me into a downward spiral and I have had more panic attacks than I care to admit. I can't even count the number of times I have had an emotional breakdown in front of my husband and told him I wanted to give up on this crazy lawyer dream. If anyone ever tells you that law school is easy, they are either lying or crazy. Law school is really hard and really stressful but there are so many ways to handle it and get through it.

Today, I am coming at you with a highly requested blog post on managing stress in law school (or life in general). I am not going to say I am an expert at managing stress (I am far from it), but now that I have reached my 3L year, I do think I have learned some quality coping tips.