Spicy Spaghetti Squash

I work full-time, so coming home and preparing dinner usually isn't something I look forward to. I'll aimlessly walk around the kitchen, throw some ingredients together, and hope it turns out OK. Usually I'm not impressed with my concoction, but this week the meal was filling, flavorful, and easy! Here's the recipe for Spicy Spaghetti Squash.

Ingredients:

• 1 small-medium spaghetti squash
• 2 tsp. olive oil
• salt
• pepper
• garlic powder
• 1 spicy chicken sausage (Sprouts)
• 1 T. butter
• 1/2 c. mushrooms
• 1/4 c. red pepper
• 2-3 c. spinach
• red pepper flakes (optional)
• parmesan cheese (optional)

1. Preheat the oven to 375. Cut the spaghetti squash in half and take out the seeds. Rub each squash half  on the inside with a teaspoon of olive oil, then sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. On a large baking sheet, add about a cup of water and place the squash halves face down. Set the timer for 20 minutes and put in the baking sheet in the oven.

2. After the first 20 minutes of baking, add a metal cooling rack next to the squash and place the spicy chicken sausage link on the rack. Set the timer for another 25 minutes and let the squash and chicken cook.

3. Meanwhile, heat the butter in a skillet. Saute the mushrooms and red pepper. Next, add in the spinach and stir until it is wilted and cooked thoroughly.

4. When the squash and chicken are cooked, remove the baking sheet from the oven. Cut the chicken sausage into pieces. Add to skillet.

5. Using a fork, remove the spaghetti-like strings from the squash halves into a serving dish. Add the skillet mixture to the dish and stir. Add red pepper flakes.

6. Dinner is served. Time: about 1 hour

Should I Watch Low Winter Sun

As you are trying to decide what to watch on TV, you might ask yourself, "Should I watch Low Winter Sun?" Rather than provide a full list of reasons, let's just save time. The answer is NO.

5 Amazing INEXPENSIVE Beauty Products

I like high-end makeup just as much as the next girl, but there are some great drug-store brands that blow upscale brands out of the water. Here are 5 amazing, inexpensive beauty products I've been using for years.

1. Maybelline Full 'N Soft Mascara. $6.99. A great, soft mascara that doesn't leave clumps. The waterproof is great, too. I always go with black.
2. Beautique Lip Crayon. $2.50. I get these crayons from Sally Beauty Supply. I love using it in conjunction with the lip pencil for the liner. Try it in Dusk.
3. elf Shimmering Facial Whip. $1. A great little shimmer around the eyes and on the cheeks. I use Lilac.
4. Covergirl +Olay Concealer Balm. $7.99. This is a great concealer that isn't too heavy, and blends well. I have an olive complexion, but I use it in Light -- it helps to brighten around the eyes, if you're into contouring.
5. Covergirl Liquiline Blast. $7.99. The liner goes on super smooth and is easy to apply. It has a handy smudger on the end. I use brown blaze. If you're looking for something with a bit more staying power try Revlon ColorStay liquid liner.

Five Easy Steps to Finding a New Job

We've all heard it or said it a million times, "I need a new job." First of all, take a step back and be grateful you're employed. Find the positive in what you do. If it's more money you need, refer to THIS. But if you simply must find something new and you're for real, like really for real, here are the Five Easy Steps to Finding a New Job:


1.) Make Yourself Available. It's vital in the new digital world. It sounds so simple; yet, so many skip this crucial step. Your resume doesn't need to be perfect. You don't need to spend any money. What you need to do is this:

• Create and update Social Profiles - LinkedIn (this is a must), Google+, Facebook, Twitter, etc.
• Post a resume on job board websites - Indeed, Career Builder, Monster, etc.

That's it. That's step one. You're done. If you're lucky, a recruiter will contact you and help you through subsequent steps. But that's unlikely, so stay tuned for Step Two.

2.) Contact a recruiter

3.) Apply to jobs, even jobs you don't want

4.) Interview for anything and everything

5.) ASK your friends

Design Inspiriation

While I'm in stores, restaurants, and in nature I like to look for design inspiration. Sometimes I find things to buy or make, and I just enjoy seeing what other people have created -- it gets my design juices flowing! Here are a few great ideas I saw while out-n-aboot (yes, that's my inner Canadian coming through).

Ever used your fork as a placecard holder? I saw this little idea at T.C. Eggington's in Mesa while having breakfast with a friend. They had the fork sitting in the little old-fashioned glass milk jar. Fun idea!

 La Grande Orange has a cute store inside the bakery attached to the restaurant. This is a great place to find unique gifts. I spotted these classy pumpkins! They are filled with beans and have dried stems from different sqaush on the top. Different shapes and sizes for all your pumpkin needs. (Yes, it's a need).

Lola Coffee at Sky Harbor Airport has a cozy little corner in Terminal 4. The space is inviting, but it's the menu that caught my attention. At first glance you don't even notice it's a door! This is a great idea for a kitchen, or anywhere else in your home, if you have the space. 

Book Review: And the Mountains Echoed

Do you ever feel like you need a good cry? Read Khaled Hosseini's book, And the Mountains Echoed. I've read The Kite Runner and recently reviewed A Thousand Splendid Suns and enjoyed both, but this book is something entirely different. It's almost like a collection of short stories all written by friends, relatives, and acquaintances. With each new chapter or story, you begin a new journey and find yourself trying to guess what connection the new character has to those you already know. Each story reveals a new layer of complexity and adds meaning to each life.

Reading this book will help you realize that your life right now matters, and your decisions will greatly influence generations to come.

OK, full disclosure, I didn't cry reading this book, but I did tear up several times. If you are a parent reading this book and you don't cry, you're not human.

It's thought-provoking. It's educational (yes, fiction can be). Most of all, it's difficult to summarize without spoiling; so, I won't. Grade: A

Money, Money, Money (Part 2)

Even though all of our debts are paid, the hubs and I are still trying to cut corners and save as much as we can to buy our first home. Did you know you are charged mortgage insurance if you don't put 20% down on your home loan? That adds up to a lot of cash that is WASTED. Who wants to throw money away? #NotMe. So, we're still singing to ABBA. If you missed Money (Part 1), click here.

6. Sell, sell, sell. Craigslist and Ebay are wonderful. What can you get rid of? Maybe an old DVD player, that extra vacuum, or some old wall art? Old jewelry? You can also try selling your housing contract on Craigslist. That was one of the best sales I ever made!

7. Look for new jobs. I don't know how much money you make, but if it's not enough put in the time and apply to new jobs. It took me a year of steadily applying before I found one that was a better fit for me. Don't give up!

8. Bring your lunch to work. The average cost of going out for lunch is between $8-10. Multiply that by 5 days per week and you have a hefty expense. I typically bring my lunch, either a frozen SmartOnes entree which runs about $2, or I'll make a sandwich. 

9. Go thrift shopping. Do you need a new appliance or want a new shirt? Before you go to a "regular" store, try Goodwill or a second-hand shop. It can be daunting to sift through the junk, but when you find something worth-while it's a great feeling.

10. Drink water. Stop buying soda. Stop buying Starbucks. Stop buying alcohol. The cost adds up fast and it's not good for you. Let this habit die now! Every time you have an urge to buy a specialty drink put that money in your piggy bank.

Bonus: Use coupons and shop the sales. The website and app Retail-Me-Not is a great one to look for deals. Also, pay attention to the weekly sales at grocery stores- shop the sales and freeze foods for convenience. And when you're at the register, it doesn't hurt to ask if they know of any coupon codes you can use. Shopping online can save money, too. Look at Amazon, Ebay, and Craigslist for things you need.

My Neck Hurts

Here's me with my new Tempur-Curve Pillow

If you're anything like me, you probably really like peanut butter, but that's besides the point. My neck hurts, and my cubicle is to blame! Sitting for long periods of time, staring at a computer screen for hours upon and hours, and going weeks without a proper spousal massage are all good reasons to invest in a+Tempur-Pedic pillow. After much reading and reviewing online, I finally decided on the  Temper-Curve. Life changed.

I wanted to touch and feel the pillow before I made the purchase, so off we went to +Bed Bath & Beyond. Of course, you can buy direct online, but you can't touch online, at least not yet. Do your due diligence, Bed Bath & Beyond offers a 20% discount for those that sign up for email specials.

I'm sleeping better. My neck hurts less, and I still like peanut butter. Whoa, wait, business idea: Peanut Butter Pillows!

Toilet Paper Pumpkins

This is one of my favorite fall crafts because it's easy, inexpensive, and I take them apart so I don't have to store bulky holiday decor after the season is over! Here's what you'll need to make a Toilet Paper Pumpkin:

• Fall fabric of your choosing (sized about 19" x 22". I had the craft store cut me a half yard, which makes 2 pumpkins)
• Roll of toilet paper
• Rolo candy "bar" in a roll (or just a stick for the stem)
• Scissors
• Green handkercheif, or green fabric
• Raffia

1. Place toilet paper in middle of fabric. 

2. Unroll about a yard of TP and wrap it around the roll; this will give the pumpkin some puffiness. 

3. Take one corner of the fabric and bring it to the middle, stuffing it inside the TP roll. Repeat this step until all the fabric has been placed in the hole making a pumpkin shape. 

4. Use Rolos for the stem -- it should sit up a bit on top of the fabric that was placed in the hole. 

5. Cut strips of the green fabric for leaves and tie around the Rolo stem. 

6. Tie raffia around Rolo stem for finishing touch.

Voila! You have a cute, fun, Fall decoration that is great for around the house, in an office, or as a small gift. And, it's useful in case of emergency ;). 

Note: If the fabric isn't moving the way you want it to, feel free to use a hot glue gun. And if your stem isn't sticking up high enough, try using an empty plastic bag in the tube to give it some lift.

Cheap Wall Art

Don't spend hundreds upon hundreds of dollars filling your walls. +AllPosters has thousands of affordable options. You can choose a frame or just purchase the art and build a frame yourself. Another option for frames -- the Dollar Store. Oh, and before you buy, make sure you do a search for promo codes or coupons. Typically, you can find a discount of at least 15% or so. Here's one we have in our home:

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum

Along with crack, I'm addicted to Sephora. Growing up with five sisters I've spent a fair amount of time around hair and beauty products. Girly things like nail polish, eye shadow, and purfume make me feel at home. So why wouldn't I spend hours upon hours in Sephora and on the website?

I love trying new products, so when I earn enough points from the Beauty Insider club, I'm like a kid in a candy store (I may or may not be VIB status). It was a typical day when I reached my 500 point mark, but when I chose the Ole Henriksen sample package, my life was forever changed. The pack included items like the Sheer Transformation lotion and Invigorating Night Gel (both wonderful), but it was the Truth Serum I fell in love with.

The serum smells like fresh oranges and goes on super smooth. It's packed with Vitamin C and has a proprietary "5-C' complex that works wonders. Within days I noticed my skin was smoother, brighter, and the size of my pores reduced. Truth Serum is a part of my nightly regimen. Be warned, it is a little pricey, so if you're trying to save money this may not be for you. +Sephora does have a small sample kit you can try. In my opinion, it's worth every cent.

TV Shows to Start Watching

TV can be overwhelming. So many shows, so little time. Here are the top five current TV shows you should start watching, all of which are currently in-season or will soon premiere.



5. House Hunters on +HGTV 

• Pro: New episodes air multiple times a week and each episode is only 30 minutes
• Con: Your spouse will spot things he/she cannot live without

4. +Dateline NBC 

• Pro: Anti-sleep medication for women -- the only program in which she'll stay awake
• Con: SPOILER ALERT -- the blond co-ed from California was murdered

3. The Walking Dead on AMC

• Pro: WALKERS (aka zombies)! Watch stupid people die
• Con: Often long periods of time with little to no killing (aka Character Development)

2. +Homeland on Showtime

• Pro: Good writing, great acting, and the best crime-related drama on TV
• Con: Must commit to watch seasons 1 and 2 before beginning season 3

1. +60 Minutes on CBS

• Pro: Timely, educational topics -- there's a reason this is the longest running series on TV
• Con: It's just not the same without Andy Rooney ... and his eyebrows

Honorable Mentions: +Shark Tank (ABC), +Real Sports (HBO), +American Horror Story (FX), +Boardwalk Empire (HBO)

Money, Money, Money (Part 1)

It's a rich man's world, as ABBA would say. Some people are born with the savings gene, while others must learn. I'm a learn-to-save girl. Just recently I've managed to pay off all my debt at 30 years old -- no more car payment, credit cards, or student loans. Hallelujah! I must give credit where credit is due: I married someone with the savings gene and I've learned from him. I wouldn't have been able to pay off my debt without his guidance and support. Here are some ideas to help you get out of debt and put some money in the bank.

1. Pay with cash.
If you don't have the money, don't buy it. No excuses. It's too easy to swipe the credit card, but it's much harder to buy that $30 shirt if you only have $100 left in your wallet that needs to pay for food, gas, and necessities for the rest of the month ... and it's only the 10th. Also, when you pay with cash, you end up with a lot of change. Start a piggy bank with all those coins.

2. Track EVERY penny you spend. Create an Excel spreadsheet and keep your receipts. Write everything down. If you don't know where your money is going you can't control it.

3. Save first. Before you pay bills set some money aside, even if it's only $10 per week. You need to have emergency funds. New clothes or concert tickets is not an emergency. We're talking doctor visit or car accident.

4. Buy generic. If you're on a budget, don't spend like you're not. Get the cheap soap, the off-brand mac and cheese, and the inexpensive hair cut.

5. Cut some corners. Where can you save? Car or home/renters insurance? Do the research and get some quotes. Cell phone bill? You better not have Verizon. Pre-paid plans might be what you need. Rent? Do you have roommates or could you find a cheaper place? Cancel your TV and get the cheapest internet.

Stay tuned for more tips!

BOOK REVIEW: Escape from Camp 14

"Mom" is one of the most revered words in all of language. Not to Shin, a boy born and raised in a North Korean prison camp. To him, "Mom" was just another person to compete against for food.

In this book, Escape from Camp 14, Shin's story is so outrageous, it's difficult to believe. But this story is less about escape and survival, and more about the absurdity of the modern human condition. Shin takes the reader inside a cruel prison camp and inside his uncivilized mind. His story educates about the society and atrocities of North Korea. But most of all, Shin's story takes the reader to a place where most cannot relate: the results of possibly the most totalitarian, repressive state to ever exist -- and the world, for the most part, has turned a blind eye. This is a must read: A-

Jury Duty

Jurors love HGTV, too

Most people dread being called to jury duty, but I was looking forward to it! I've been an avid Dateline NBC viewer since I could crawl. I was called to jury duty on Wednesday, October 2nd at the Maricopa County Superior Court in Phoenix. I thought I was in heaven when I arrived -- HGTV playing on screens throughout the waiting room! Is this heaven, or what?! But then things got serious as the employees prepared us for what would happen that day.

Maricopa County Superior Court

I couldn't believe it, I was juror #1 in the first group of 45 people called in. We made our way into the courtroom where Judge Brain was presiding. I can think of worse names. A series of questions were rattled off and I heard some crazy and strange responses from the other potential jurors; for example, "I can't be a juror because I have clinical depression, and my husband used to beat me," or "I'm going hunting tomorrow with my buddies," and "I work." The only question I answered was in response to my schedule for the remainder of the week since the trial would take a few days. My flight to Indiana the next day was the only thing that stood in the way of my juror duties. Alas, I was dismissed. Maybe next time I'll have the opportunity to sit in on a Jodi Arias-like case. 

The Best Breakfast Sandwich in Phoenix

What's so special about d'LiSH Drive Thru? Only the best breakfast sandwich in Phoenix. I never use absolute statements, but the food here deserves the praise. Here are a few things you need to know --

• Why: Organic, all natural ingredients and locally grown produce 
• Where: Scottsdale Rd between Thomas and McDowell
• What to order: California Club, Hummus Plate, and a Breakfast Buzz (feeds two)
• Tip: d'LiSH is small and always packed. Parking can sometimes be a hassle, so we park at the Mason's Lodge nearby and walk over. Be sure to practice the secret handshake in the event you are questioned by a Lodge member.

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