spinach garlic whole wheat pasta

I've been watching my calories for the last few weeks, using a great app (myfitnesspal) and paying attention to my eating habits. I've learned a LOT. I am feeling better, too.

I've had friends ask me why I'm doing this, "you look great, you don't need to lose weight, why?" The answer is that I just plain didn't feel good. I didn't feel hungry at mealtimes (nothing sounded good to me), and between meals I was constantly snacking.

My wonderful husband gave me a tablet for Christmas, and while perusing apps for it, I ran across the myfitnesspal app. I installed it on a whim. Turns out God leads us even in our whims. This has answered my prayer for Him to help me discover what was going on with me.


Sooooooo, here's what I had for dinner last night: Chicken Parmesan (made with a Tyson Chicken Tenderloin), and the following pasta dish that I created (total = 505 calories). This dish has all the things I was in the mood for last night! It's not spicy, so you may wish to add spices or extra salt & pepper. Kids & husband really liked it - bonus!





2 cups (dry) whole wheat rotini
3 Tbsp. olive oil
5-6 garlic cloves (minced or pressed)
1 thin slice of onion, finely chopped
salt & pepper to taste
2 cups chopped fresh spinach
toasted pine nuts (optional)

Bring water to boil in medium pot & cook rotini according to package directions.

While pasta is boiling, in a large skillet warm the olive oil on a low temperature with the garlic and onion. The point is to impart flavor into the oil, not to cook the garlic & onion quickly. About 2 minutes before the pasta will be finished, turn the heat up to medium, to turn the garlic & onion golden.

Drain the pasta, add the the olive oil, and toss in the spinach. Keep the heat on medium, and stir for 1-2 minutes until everything is mixed and warmed through.

Serve onto plates, add 1 teaspoon pine nuts on top of each serving.

Self Portrait Challenge { Flashback 1 }

It's "Flashback" time again at Self Portrait Challenge! This means we try to include at least 2 of the themes from the previous year in a new photo. Not always as easy as it sounds, but always fun!





themes from last year:

Literature -
Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all.
- Stanley Horowitz

The Seven Dwarfs - Sleepy

Fears - As you can see, I am afraid of being chilled to the bone in the morning, as that would not be a good start to my day!


And finally, a quick "Wow - Thanks!" to my dear Aunt Cathy, who surprised me with this gorgeous lap quilt in colors that are perfectly me :)

Pink Giveaway!

Whose little girl would love a pink ruffle skirt?
**What about a FREE hair flower?**

I have a goal to make 6 skirts, to support my friend Stephanie's running in the Marathon for a Cure.

100% of the purchase price will go to Stephanie's fundraising for her run.



Over the rest of January, every purchase of the Pink For a Cure Ruffle Skirt will be entered into a **giveaway** for the hairflower seen on the model in the listing. Stephanie made it, and let me tell you, it's gorgeous!





The Pink For a Cure Ruffle Skirt is perfect for Valentine's Day, as well as this upcoming spring!





Thank you for your support!

hoping and waiting

Every year we hope to see snow, but we can never be certain
that it will make an appearance on our winter stage.

So we decided to take matters into our own hands and make our own.

Knowing snowflakes have 6 sides, I have always had a nagging issue in the back of my mind with the standard eight-sided folded snowflake. However, recently I found this pattern for creating 6-sided snowflakes in an old kid's arts & crafts book:





It takes practice (especially for the kids - lots of assistance was needed), but once you get the hang of it, it's pretty easy. Plus, you'll have the satisfaction of knowing you have created scientifically correct, six-sided flakes.





We filled up this window, as well as another the same size. There were tons of tiny paper clippings all over the table and floor when we were finished! Once we had it all cleaned up, this project took up a whole afternoon - yay!

Final tip: iron the opened up flakes on a low setting to flatten them out before hanging.

Have fun!