From the Kitchen: Easy Tuesday Pasta

This is my absolutel favourite go-to easy-ish meal, especially on days I don't really feel like cooking.  I got the base recipe from an old issue of Real Simple probably close to 6 or 7 years ago.  Now, I probably make it once every two weeks, I love it that much!  I hope you do too...

Spicy Sausage Pasta
package of spicy sausage or spicy turkey sausage
package of fettucine
1 teaspoon oil
1 red onion
1 tablespoon minced garlic
7 small tomatoes
1/4 cup balsamic vinegar
handful of basil
black pepper
parmesan cheese

First off, start the water boiling to cook a box of fettucine.

Meanwhile, heat up some oil and saute 1 sliced red onion and minced garlic.   When it's starts to soften, add a package of hot italian sausage to the pan (remove from casings if not already) and cook until it's no longer pink.  Chop 7 small tomatoes and add to pan, including juices.  Drizzle a 1/4 cup of balsamic vinegar over mixture and let simmer for 12 minutes.

Toss the cooked mixture in with the drained fettucine and mix in black pepper and a handful of fresh basil (or 2 tablespoons of dried). 

Serve topped with fresh grated parmesan.

What's your go-to, I don't feel like cooking but I don't want to order pizza meal?

Splurge vs. Save

So I splurged on something big.

{Image via The Daily Green} 

No, not groceries.  I'll tell you about that later. 

It all started with Design*Sponge.  I'm a huge fan so of course I read the blog daily and I'm super fascinated by Grace's story and how she started the blog and built it into this thriving business with 60,000 readers a day.  Inspiring right?  Well she sent out a post about how she wanted to get into consulting and was asking for readers to fill out a questionnaire to help her pinpoint her services (with the chance to win a free session).  So I did it thinking I would learn a bit about my own blog and business.  Then she started sending us (the group of people who responded to the questionnaire) really cool videos about how she got started, time management and other strategies that help her in her biz life.  

Then last week she announced a small number of spots for email and Skype coaching for your biz/blog.  Well, I just couldn't resist the opportunity to get some mentorship from such a success so I splurged!  I had to fill out a lengthy Q&A and I will get a assessment and recommendations from Grace on how to improve.  I'm very excited to hear what she has to say!

Soooo....needless to say I'm looking to cut back in other areas to make up for it.  So I'm trying out a tip I got from the always inspiring Eva over at EvaEvolving.  It's a grocery shopping moratorium on everything except the basics.  So you buy your milk, eggs, bread...but nothing else.  Then meal planning is all done using what you have in your fridge, freezer and cupboards plus your creativity and imagination!  J and I are going to give it a go this weekend and see how it goes. 

Hopefully I save a few pennies here and there to balance out my splurge.

What's your biggest saving tip to make up for your favourite splurge?

A Place for Every Bauble

Where do you stash your jewellery?  If you're anything like me, it's in a pile on top of your dresser.  Not that I have 'fancy jewellery', but I love earrings and long necklaces and they must be in my eye's view in the morning in order for me to remember to put something on!  But they are in desperate need of some organizational TLC.

That's why it was such good timing for Krystal over at Village to send me the link to this most fabulous jewellery armoire.

 {Images via Little Green Notebook}

I just love all the nooks and crannies and hanging bits and drawers.  It's chic meets Type A!

Where's do you keep your jewellery?  Do you need to have it 'in sight'?  Any jewellery storage solutions you can share with us?