Recipe time!

Well, we tried a new recipe tonight. I get SO excited when it's a good one, also, it's no coincidence that Kelly is doing a SUYL link up of main dishes, so I must add this to her rapidly growing list!

It's called:
I will post the recipe, but before I do, I must add, I never follow a recipe word for word. I like to personalize it to match our family's likes and disklikes. I will start by saying, I couldn't find spinach fettucine! Too bad, so sad right? I got tri color penne instead and it tasted just dandy, and I couldn't help but think, we added a few veggies with the different color pasta right? :)

Also, I didn't get the oil packed dried tomatoes, why? Because well, I will admit, I don't know what those are and I didn't want to search for them! :) Poof, be gone! Ha!!

Ok, moving on, here is the recipe:
Lucky for me, it's one I can look up online, instead of typing it all out from the one I printed! VOILA! ENJOY!

YUMMO!!!!

Trattoria-Style Spinach Fettuccine

Makes: 4 servings

Start to Finish 18 mins

 

Views Nutrition Facts

Ingredients

• 1 9 ounce package refrigerated spinach fettuccine

• 2 tablespoons chopped shallot or green onion

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 4 red and/or yellow tomatoes, chopped (2 cups)

• 1 medium carrot, finely chopped

• 1/4 cup oil-packed dried tomatoes, drained and snipped

• 1/2 cup crumbled garlic and herb feta cheese or peppercorn feta cheese (2 ounces)

Directions

Using kitchen shears, cut fettuccine in half crosswise. Cook the pasta according to package directions. Drain; return pasta to hot pan.

Meanwhile, in a large skillet cook shallot in hot oil over medium heat for 30 seconds. Stir in fresh tomatoes, carrot, and dried tomatoes. Cook, covered, for 5 minutes, stirring once. Spoon tomato mixture over cooked pasta; toss gently. Sprinkle each serving with feta cheese.

Clean teeth!

My kids had a dentist appointment today. 

Acilia has gone many times, but Miles, this was his very first time. He was anticipating it and mostly excited. My kids don't fear the dentist at all, because they haven't had any pain to associate with it yet. So, for them, it's a fun thing to do. Miles has gone with us a few times for Acilia's visits and last time we went, I informed him, he's going to be a big boy and gets to go too! He was so cute, we walked in and he was showing everyone his teeth.

He sat in the chair and anticipated what was next.

He looked so sweet, and enjoyed the ride his chair provided as the dental assistant positioned him for his cleaning. She was gentle and kind and patient and I remember her from Acilia's first visit too. A true blessing when there is someone that can take your child and keep them at ease as they experience something new. 

Miles giggled through the whole cleaning. It was so cute. His little feet were moving around a bit too, but overall, he sat nice and still. It was precious and I am glad he enjoyed his first Dental Exam!

Painting his teeth purple to see how well he brushes

Looking at his purple teeth

When she told Miles that she would be cleaning his teeth with strawberry flavored paste, he was thrilled! That's the same flavor he uses at home :) :) :)

He held that little mirror the whole time, as he giggled, he would close his eyes and then open his eyes to look in the mirror.

We were sent on our way with a clean teeth bill of health, some stickers and a new toothbrush!

Acilia's pearly whites!

Weather

When I was a kid, my parents used to watch the news to catch the weather. I thought they were SO weird, I mean, why did they have to look at the TV to check the weather? I couldn't figure out why they didn't just walk outside, if it was raining, they would get wet, if it was snowing, they would want gloves, if the sun was out, bring your sunglasses, etc. etc.

Now, in my 30's, I get it. It's weather madness and I have fallen victim! Every morning, when my alarm goes off, the first thing I do is check the weather for the day. I check Weather.com regularly, I even look at and am fascinated by all of the thermometers on signs and in my car. I can't get enough!

It affects my mood too! If the sun is out, I can pretty much guarantee it's going to be a good day. My whole mood is lifted and I have a skip in my step. If it's cloudy, forget it! I feel like a slug!

Illinois is the WRONG state for me. I will tell you why, prime example: Sunday, it was a beautiful, almost record breaking day of 68 degrees. In the matter of a few short hours, we were facing rapidly dropping temps and fell into a low, bitterly cold 27 degrees. All in a matter of 24 hours. Oh, and there were said to be some snow flurries that night too. REALLY? That's just wrong. Not the 68 degrees part. I didn't mind that part at all. I am talking about the bitter cold and the temperature change.

Now, we are back to temps a bit higher than average and though the people that follow how mild temps in the midwest affect nature seem bothered by this weather, I can't say it bothers me at all! Infact, I like it. Not the part about it potentially killing our trees, but the part about how it makes me feel. Warmer than usual weather=Happier Karrie.

Courtesy of Google images

OLD!

I never thought of 30's as old. To be honest, I don't even think 90 is "old", ok, well maybe...but I turned 32 this past week and 3 days later, I had a doctor appointment. My appointment consisted of being told my height, which is a full INCH shorter than in previous years! Am I shrinking?? Also, I went in for neck and shoulder pain. My neck is locked, has been since Tuesday, my left shoulder has a point in it that has a pressure point that sends tingles down my arm when it's touched, not to mention there are many points along my back that scream when you touch them. I am sick of chronic neck and back pain, so I went in to have it checked out. I was a little apprehensive, I was thinking she would want to prescribe meds or call for an MRI. Nothing of the sort happened. She suggested I go to physical therapy. I walked out quite content with the plan! I also walked out feeling OLD. How is it possible to have daily aches and pains when I am not even considered middle aged yet? It's beyond me! Also, worth noting, I thought I was going nuts. I've had a sort of uncomfortable feeling in my left side. Like I have "something" inside of my abdomen near my rib cage, it's been feeling that way since my nephrectomy, and one day a few months ago, I felt around there, and noticed one of my ribs is loose. I thought I was nuts, thought NO WAY that's possible, but it IS possible and it DOES happen and my doctor confirmed my suspicions by feeling around where I showed her. She said there is one  that does infact feel a little bit loose. That's a tad unsettling, but it's not painful and I am so glad I am not losing my mind! Life is interesting. Never a dull moment around here. We like to keep it real :)

Gratitude

It's November (WOW!) and I have had the joy of catching some thankfulness posts on Facebook. It's a great theory, to think each day about what you are thankful for. November is a great time to do that, because by the time Thanksgiving comes, you have a whole wonderful list of your heart's happiness!

I spent a good part of the day yesterday pondering how to put the thankfulness challenge into action, I could have jumped aboard the "thankfulness sharing on Facebook train" but I want my family to participate with me, so I was looking for a simple print out that we could calendar our thankfulness. To my surprise I did NOT find what I was looking for, which is rather unusual for the Internet world! I did however, come across a Gratitude Jar, which I thought was both clever and simple. I visited my favorite store (Hobby Lobby!) and picked up a few supplies: A jar, a paint pen, a little hair clip to add some pizzazz and some decorative sheets of paper. Came home with my materials and got to work!

I think it turned out really cute and we have already started filling it. My plan is to leave it out until Thanksgiving, we will write on squares I cut out of the decorative paper and fill the jar with our thankful thoughts and then share with each other on Thanksgiving!

A new tradition may have been born!

Oh my wonder!

"Oh my Wonder!" New phrase, maybe it will be famous someday! :)

I sit here blown away. 1. That my daughter is being mentioned in two separate posts, on the SAME day! And 2. Because she is an artist. A real life, jaw dropping amazing artist! The little girl has been blessed with some talent! Keep in mind, she's 9 years old.

The past 4 weeks, Acilia has been staying after school each Monday partaking in a club. It's a fun little thing her school does. The month of September rolls around, a list of available clubs goes home, the kids choose their top three faves (Acilia was adamant she only was choosing one!) and then they rush to turn them in to the principal on the day they start accepting them. It's first come, first served. It's a fun little hustle and bustle and thankfully both times Acilia has participated, she gets into her first choice. This club takes place on Monday's after school through the month of October

This year it was "Everyone's an artist". Acilia informed me the first week they were painting a canvas, but after that, details were barren. Not for lack of trying on my part, but the fact was, Acilia wanted to surprise her old mom with the finished product and she was tight lipped as to what she was painting. The intensity grew each week and today was the big reveal! She came out with a box, inside was her treasure. She told me I couldn't see it..YET. I was a little perturbed because I was excited to see her hard work, but she was enjoying this little secret so much, I let her have it.

She showed the art to some friends and some parents and some teachers, while still keeping it under wraps to me. We arrived at the car, and I finally asked her to show me! She did and this is what I saw.

Amazing right?? I am blown away! Truly a work of art! 

And just for good measure, I am sharing with you some more pictures of Acilia's creations, she is mostly into drawing, but this canvas has clearly opened another path!

The heart of my daughter

I am not sure I can accurately articulate how I feel about my little big girl Acilia. She blows me away sometimes and it's a true blessing to behold. Acilia's natural personality, is that of a wise, insightful woman with a touch of innocence and spunk. Each day there is a new piece that she reveals about herself, that makes me fall deeper in awe of her. There are many qualities about your children, that once they finally embrace each one, your heart feels more full. Acilia embraced the essence of compassion and empathy yesterday when she made one simple request.

I had the joy of getting some alone time with Acilia. She decided she wanted to go out to run errands with me. She is not a fan of shopping and chooses to stay home any chance she gets, but when she's got a few dollars burning a hole in her pocket, she suddenly is my best shopping buddy! We were headed to the store, Acilia had $13 in her hand to spend on anything she wanted. As we drove, she asked if I could buy something for Miles. I informed her that he went to the store the day before (while Acilia was at her horse lessons) and was able to purchase what he wanted with his money. She was noticeably relieved. I told her how it was nice of her to think of him and asked what made her think of that? She replied that she thought about how she feels when Miles gets something when she doesn't, and it made her want to bring something home for him.

My sweet angel girl.

I adore this picture. It shows their bond as brother and sister.

The kiddos yesterday playing legos side by side. Don't mind the picture, I took it with my camera, but then took a picture of that with my phone so I could share it :)