i’ll be the first to admit i get into dinner ruts. i’ll become completely uninspired and reach for the same 2-3 meals on repeat, and while there’s not necessarily anything wrong with that, all i really need to break out of it is a picture.

an image of something quick and easy i’ve made before, that just isn’t on my radar at the moment. that essentially sums up my love of pinterest - i need that small kick to remind myself of what else i can be reaching for.

in this case - tacos. they’re one of those rut-on-repeat meals yet all I need to elevate them is a touch of pre-planning. homemade cilantro lime rice, a swap of carnitas or flank steak (or even grilled chicken) instead of ground beef, and if we’re feeling fancy, a bottle of mandarin jarritos.

i’ve shared this before, since it’s my go-to on cinco de mayo, but we stopped at el molino central in sonoma county once after a hike in sugarloaf state park and grabbed two mandarin flavored jarritos to go with our lunch. it was one of those meals that was so memorable because a) we were post-hike starving. and b) it was genuinely amazing food. the combination of being so hungry, the food being so delicious, and being in such a beautiful setting on vacation, has led us to the conclusion that mexican meals are best when paired with that soda.

so all we need to incorporate some of that best-ever-vacation life into our everyday are a few simple swaps. and special soda.