Simply Sunday

Jeff and Van

Dear Diary,
As we enter Thanksgiving week I will forever be thankful for my beautiful family.  It's days like these that mean so much and make me smile.  Simple, loving, fun, play!  Our best memories are just being together and enjoying nature at its best. 

Jessie Joy

Gigi

Van

He can't help himself!

Jessie Joy

Josette

Sisters

Race time!

Have A Great Weekend!

Self confidence is the best outfit, rock it and own it!

What's In My Makeup Bag?

Estee Lauder Eye Cream

Estee Lauder Face Cream

Sarah McNamara Primer/Foundation

Bare Minerals Concealer

Milani Bronzer

Chanel Blush

Almay Liquid Liner

Lancome Mascara

Chanel Eye Shadow

Chanel Lip Gloss

Here's a list of my skin care and makeup must haves.  Yes, I love to try new items but these are my tried, tested and true favorites!

Don't Quit Your Daydream

My favorite new T, Project Social Nordstrom

Dear Diary,

Today I found myself daydreaming about our family vacation in Hawaii.  I love our time spent on the different islands and am hoping to make it back next summer.  Daydreaming is a great way to bring your dreams into reality by concentrating on your fantasies, goals and challenges.  Daydreams are a built in entertainment center and also a powerful tool for goal attainment and relaxation.  Visualize yourself a certain way or doing a certain thing and experience your emotions associated with attaining your dreams.  Let your mind wander and explore anything and everything.  Daydreaming is healthy and beneficial, so enjoy it!

4 of my favorite peeps

Doesn't get much better than this!

A Day With Friends

Jaime, Brittney, Me, Angie (and Shawn)

The beautiful Rice girls... Sophia, Ruby, Bella, Jaime and Lilah

Dear Diary, sometimes all you need is a little quality time with good friends.  I spent Tuesday with Angie, Jaime, Brittney and all of our kids.  We had the best day and The Bay Club in Newport was all ours.  The kids swam and played while we chatted for ages about anything and everything.  I love catching up on our busy lives and having a good laugh along the way.  True friends are the ones that never leave your heart, regardless of the time spent apart, you pick up right where you left off.  That is defining! 

The milkshake break led right into Taco Tuesday.  We stayed for dinner then cupcakes and candles to celebrate Jaime's birthday!

 

 Happy Birthday Jaime!

 

Van's guilty face after he snuck his second.

Grilled Chicken Salad

I love a big fresh salad!  Salad with a delicious piece of protein is always a go-to option for lunch or dinner in my home.  I like to add grilled chicken to my salad but other options are salmon, shrimp, tuna or steak.

Ingredients for salad:

• Organic Spring Mix Salad Greens
• Celery
• Cucumber
• Broccoli
• Tomato
• Red Onion
• Grilled Chicken
• Balsamic Dressing  

Chop veggies, mix together and top with sliced grilled chicken.  Drizzle lightly with dressing.

Ingredients for dressing:

• Balsamic Vinegar
• Extra Virgin Olive oil
• Salt
• Pepper
• Garlic Powder 

Pour all ingredients into a jar and shake until well blended. (typically for a single serving I will use 1 table spoon of olive oil, and add vinegar and seasoning to taste.)

Enjoy this colorful salad full of raw veggies and lean protein! 

Chic Shearling

Dear Diary,
Time to take out my cozy faux leather shearling jacket.  This season's shearling look actually has me looking forward to the chilly months ahead.  I'm all for comfort and style!  Looking for one of your own?  I picked up mine at Blush Boutique on Shoptiques.com .

Living A Simple Life

There's a lot to be said for decluttering our lives for peace of mind.  Here are some tips on living a simple life and feeling more tranquil.
1. Get Offline
There are many benefits of being online and it has helped us in many ways.  However, sometimes we forget to just be. Cut back on your online time.  Trust me, you'll feel better.
2. Walk This Way
Walking is wonderful and if you can find ways to reduce your driving time by taking a walk around your neighborhood, to the grocery store or with the kids to school, all the better.
4. Self-Sufficient
Another way to live more simply is to be more self-sufficient.  How about growing your own fruit and veggie garden?  How about beautifying yourself with the contents of your fridge?  You don't have to spend lots of money to eat well and look fabulous!
5. Throw It out
Do you have items just gathering dust?   If you haven't worn it for years and deep down know you're unlikely to, get rid of it.
6. Declutter Your WORKSPACE
Look around your desk.  It's not good to be surrounded by clutter.  Having a simple desk means that you'll be able to work more efficiently and feel wonderful as a consequence.
7. Be More Mindful
Meditation and prayer is wonderful and can really help to clear space in your mind and help you evaluate what is really important in your life.  Spend time each day just checking in on yourself and evaluate how you're feeling.  It really does work wonders!

Date Night

Dear Diary,
Saturday night Jeff and I joined our good friends Robyn & Ted and Nancy & Paul for a date night at Zanes in Hermosa then off to The Comedy & Magic Club for a few laughs.  The food and entertainment were both great!  I love getting dressed up once in a while and sharing an evening with my husband and friends.  It's so nice to be together and catch up on our busy lives. 

Looking For An Easy And Delicious Dinner Tonight? Try This!

Healthy Skillet Lasagna

Sometimes, all you need in life is a steamy plate of pasta with gooey, melty cheese bubbling on the top. 

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 onion, chopped
• 3 cloves garlic, diced
• salt and pepper
• ½ tsp red pepper flakes
• 1lb lean ground beef (93% lean)
• 8 lasagna noodles, broken
• 1 8oz can tomato sauce (I like to sub with Rinaldi Original Pasta Sauce)
• 1 28 oz can diced tomatoes
• ⅓ cup water
• 6 oz part skim mozzarella cheese
• 1 cup 1% cottage cheese
• optional: parmesan cheese

Instructions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add in the chopped onion and cook until translucent (4-5 minutes). Stir in the garlic and ½ tsp salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
2. Add in the ground beef, breaking the meat into pieces and cooking until no longer pink.
3. Layer the lasagna noodles over the meat and pour the tomato sauces and water over the pasta. Cover and bring the dish to a simmer, then lower the heat to medium and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 20 minutes or until the pasta is done. Season the lasagna well with more salt and pepper to taste.
4. Take the lasagna off the heat and roughly stir in the cottage cheese. Top with big chunks of mozzarella and let sit covered for 5 minutes or until cheese is melted.
5. If desired (I recommend it!), top with parmesan and basil.

Basic Black

Flattering on everyone!  I picked up this silk tunic mini from my favorite boutique in Calabasas, CA... Blush Boutique.

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