Chicken Pasta Salad {Recipe}

Another day. Another recipe.

I have to admit that most of my cooking is pretty simple. It's centered around simple ingredients and wholesome taste. This was a spur of the moment thing, involving some imagination, where I used whatever I had on hand. You can add more veggies or spices for different variations of this dish. Husband dubbed it 'very good' and he doesn't throw complements easily, so I'll take it. 

Here is a recipe for a quick, weeknight one-dish, one-pot meal.

Ingredients:

- 1/2 box of tricolor Rotini pasta

- 2 tbsp olive oil

- 13oz canned chicken breast

- 1 broccoli head

- 1 can medium black olives

- 2 tbsp mayonnaise

- Parmesan cheese

- salty, pepper

Process:

Cook pasta according to package directions. 

Cut broccoli head into small florets and pour the hot liquid from pasta over the broccoli. Let stand for 3 minutes then drain.

Pour olive oil over pasta, add chicken, drained olives, broccoli, mayonnaise, black pepper and pinch of salt. Mix gently so that chicken only falls apart into smaller pieces. Cover the pasta to keep it warm. 

Sprinkle Parmesan cheese over individual plates and serve. 

Enjoy!

Hard To Find

The same blouse works two ways

blouse: Target
skirt: NY&Co
heels, clutch: H&M
necklace: similar

Hello lovelies... 

Hope you had a great weekend!

Really, it seems like a man with a good character and solid moral values is hard to find nowadays.

I'm so happy I've been blessed with an amazing husband who treats me right, because settling is worse than being alone.  

So here is something for you gals on this bright Monday morning.

A good man is hard to find

You always get the other kind

Just when you think that he is your pal

You look for him and find him fooling 'round some other gal

Then you rave, you even crave

To see him laying in his grave

So, if your man is nice, take my advice and hug him in the morning, kiss him ev'ry night, 

Give him plenty lovin', treat him right

For a good man nowadays is hard to find, 

A good man nowadays is hard to find.

:-)

Have a great day! 

Leading By Example

A leader leads by example, whether he intends to or not.

Ever since I got pregnant, I've been thinking a lot more about what kind of example I'm going to be for my kids. Am I going to be the kind of parent my children will follow and be proud of? Or the one they want to stick in the back of the family album and be embarrassed of at the family reunions?

We talk a lot about teaching our children to do right.

To respect their peers.

To honor their elders.

To love their neighbors.

To fear the Lord.

To esteem their heritage.

To obey the authority.

To love their spouse.

To cherish the youngsters.

To protect this God-given Earth.

And that's all fine and good and very necessary. As parents we have the responsibility to raise those little ones into mature, responsible adults with solid moral values.

The best way to do that is to teach by example.

You can spend your days drilling, talking and lecturing your children about what is good, wholesome and right but if you yourself isn't doing any of it - it's not worth a  single penny.
Your actions speak louder then your words.

You have to be respectful to your mean boss, without talking trash behind his back.

You need to honor your parents and grandparents, landing them them a helping hand when they need assistance in their old age.

You need to love those who gossip about you, mean to you at the grocery store and take your pew on Sunday morning.

Those who take advantage of your kindness and take your parking spot at the mall. Those who don't respect your space and privacy, and who don't ask for forgiveness. Love them.

You need to show your children how to fear God and honor Him with your life. How to be an example to this world without judging those who aren't doing right. How to be a genuine Christian and nevermind occasional hypocrisy and hate.

You need to appreciate where you've come from and who you are. No matter the race, ethnicity and color without putting anyone else down.

You need to obey the laws that are put in place by the government, even if at times they seem ridiculous and the authorities aren't truthful.

You need to protect the littlest children from the cruelty and hate in this world, showering them with  abundant love.

You need to protect this Earth for future generations and be thankful for sunshine and rain, for beauty of flower and depth of an ocean.

You must be what you want your children to become.

Date Night

dress: Target (similar)
purse: Target (similar here or here)
necklace: H&M (similar)
shoes: Guess (similar)

This outfit is supposed to be my date night get up. That is whenever, if ever, we will get a date night again [maybe this Saturday if it isn't raining cats and dogs]. 

Between having a house [always something to do/fix]; it being the beginning of summer [stupid grass grows so fast, the windows are in need of some thorough scrubbing]; and an infant [did you check his diaper? what time did you feed him?] - it's non-stop here.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not complaining. 

I'm enjoying my life. I just don't get the opportunity to wear my sexy dresses much.

I had this outfit picked out and ready to go for several weeks now. 

Date night is usually one hectic evening. Everything needs to be planned out in advance: diaper bags packed, reservations made and clothes picked out. Between dropping Jonathan off at grandparents and then rushing off to a dinner, there isn't time for outfit photos.

So to make sure I capture this PBD [perfect black dress], I snapped some pics.

I really wasn't one for the high-low trend but I'm loving it here. For some reason it works very well and kind of shows off a little bit of leg, which is always a plus for a date night.

Rule Breaker

 

top: boutique in Phoenix (similar)
pants: Target (similar)
shoes: ALDO (similar)
clutch: H&M (similar)
necklace: Forever21 (similar)

There used to be a few rules in fashion. For example, you are not supposed to wear white before Memorial Day, never mix prints or wear pink and red together, and definitely never double up on one print. 

The new rule is to break all the rules. 

Wear camo and animal print together.

Again stripes and floral.

Get super matchy.

Wear the weird daring color combo.

Double up on same print. 

Boyfriend jeans with pink heels. 

White before Memorial Day.

Ballerina skirts for everyday wear. 

Shorts with boots.

Neon shoes. Again.   

And much more.

So, I'm wearing one of my favorite prints twice in one outfit (inspire by this look) and loving it. 

Forget all the fashion rules your aunt has ever taught you and brave the new trends.

Have a great day!