Spaghetti Pie

Today I had a very long, very tedious, very aggravating day of trial. Trial makes me hungry, like really hungry. But I had lunch with my client today so I couldn't really pig out like I wanted to, it's not very professional.

On my drive home I started thinking about the leftover spaghetti with meat sauce I was going to eat for dinner. And while that sounded good, it just wasn't enough. And that's when I had the idea to make spaghetti pie.

Here's what you need, leftover spaghetti, leftover spaghetti sauce, Italian blend cheese, and Italian bread crumbs. So deliciously simple. I love reworking leftovers. It's so yummy and economical.



I took a casserole dish, spayed it with olive oil Pam and spooned some of the sauce into the dish. Then I layered the leftover spaghetti, more sauce, cheese, more spaghetti, more sauce more cheese, and then I covered the whole thing with the breadcrumbs.



I baked it at 400 degrees for 20 minutes covered in foil, then uncovered for like 10 minutes, then I put it under the broiler for 5 minutes to get the top nice and crispy.




It was so yummy and comforting. A little spaghetti pie and a little wine and the stress of the day was melted away.



And now I need to get back to work, blah.

Anniversary Trip, Part Two

Brady and I continued heading North on the 101, we had passed Santa Barbara, Solvang, Santa Maria and I still had no idea where we were going. Then Brady pulled off the freeway at the Madonna Inn exit. He said he had to go to the bathroom. At that point, I knew it, we were going to the Madonna Inn! I have always wanted to go to this hotel. You can see it from the freeway in San Luis Obispo and it is fabulously tacky and kitchy.

This place is like Disneyland on crack, pink crack.

The best part about the Madonna Inn is that all the rooms are decorated differently I was so excited to see our room! Brady led me down a secluded pathway....

.....to the Hideaway!

It was so pink and plush and tacky and rocky...like the walls are made of giant boulders.

Even the shower was made of rock, it was like showering in a cave.

That night we went to the Madonna Inn Steakhouse for our anniversary dinner. It is so over the top. Everything, I mean everything, is pink and flowery.

The restaurant had super fun Halloween decorations. I heart Halloween.

I want this little guy. I need this little guy. If anyone can tell me where I can buy him I will love you forever.

One of the most famous things about the Madonna Inn is the mens' restroom in the main building. I made Brady take pictures for me. The guys pee in a giant waterfall! Brady informed me that there is a sensor and when you walk up to it the water starts pouring, seriously.

I also need one of these, this is a chandelier thing out by the pool. It is so freaking cool.

This place is so pretty and relaxing. We had a fabulous time.

Anniversary Trip, Part One

This past weekend was our first wedding anniversary. Brady took on the task of planning the festivities since I planned the wedding, it seemed only fair. Brady is a master of the surprise trip, so I had no idea where we were going.

Brady wanted to hit the road early, so we started off with breakfast from McDonald's.



This was good, because I was a tad cranky from having to get up early and I freaked out at the last minute about what to pack since I didn't know where I was going. My sausage breakfast burrito with no sausage and no cheese calmed me down. Yes, I order a sausage burrito without sausage. I've argued with many a McDonald's employee about this order but it can be done.



I was convinced we were going to the hotel where we spent our wedding night, the Laguna Cliffs Mariott. But then we got on the 5 and started heading North. Soon enough, we were on the 101 North. I was texting my sister about my whereabouts just in case Brady was planning to ditch me in the mountains, you never know.

So we pass Los Angeles, pass the Valley, and are heading towards Santa Barbara. Brady says, if you could eat lunch anywhere you wanted to in Santa Barbara, where would it be? Our first stop was Santa Barbara! I picked my favorite pizza joint from college and we headed towards UCSB.

Brady and I have never been to Santa Barbara together. It was so much fun to show him the campus, where I used to live, my sorority house. We walked all over the campus. UCSB is known for its students use of bikes, but I was surprised to see an actual lane for skateboarders. In college, I was afraid of the skateboarders, I could hear them coming from behind me and they are all over the place, I never knew what side I should step to or if they were going to crash into me. Of course Brady and I were the dorks who were the only people on the sidewalk and managed to walk in the skateboard lane and almost get run over.



Brady took me to the UCSB bookstore so I could get a license plate holder. My UCSB Alumni license plate holder broke off and I was totally bummed about it. But now I have a shiny new one. Now, I just need a shiny new car.

I posed in front of Storke Tower pretending I was a high school student looking at colleges. It was strange being back on campus, seeing where my classes were and my old dorm. I can't wait to go to Ann Arbor so that Brady can show me University of Michigan.



We had lunch at Gio's, my absolute favorite pizza in college. I was a rebel in college, I did not like Woodstock's. A slice of cheese and salad with ranch, sooooo good. The ranch is amazing. No wonder I was chubby in college.



So simple and delicious. This pizza place was across the street from my sorority house, I was seriously there all the time. Again, I was a little chubby in college. The year after I graduated I lost a ton of weight simply from not eating pizza and drinking beer everyday. Ah, college was fun.



After lunch we got back on the road. Our next stop was Solvang. I had never been to Solvang, even though it's really close to UCSB, and always wanted to see it.

Solvang is such a cute little town, it's full of windmills and little old ladies dressed up in Dutch costumes selling kitchy souveniers. Brady had me pose by the horses. I was a little afraid of them and they definitely could tell.

After Solvang, we were on the road again. We kept heading North, I still had no idea where we were headed!

Why I'll Never Make Partner

I'll never make partner because when I am supposed to be working I do things like make my bulldogs take pictures with me using my laptop camera.



Frank was less than cooperative, he kept trying to attack my ear.



I can't believe I actually got a raise this week. I better start doing some actual work.

It's Halloween Time!

Halloween is fast approaching and it is obvious in my neighborhood. My neighbors do not mess around when it comes to decorations. There are skeletons, pumpkins, cobwebs, Halloween flags, these houses are decked out. We moved to our new house in January, this is our first round of the fall and winter holidays. I decided I needed to step up my decorations game.

I went to Michael's because I had a 20% off coupon. Alas, my coupon was only good on regular priced items and everything I bought was on sale. But I did get some great deals. I love Michaels. Every time I'm there I have to resist buying loads of yarn, I have to keep telling myself that I have never finished knitting a scarf so there is really no need for additional yarn.

I picked this up for my door.



I love this so much! It is so perfect, especially since my neighbors think I'm a witch.



This little guy was a smokin' good deal.



Hello happy scarecrow, welcome to the neighborhood.



And my all time favorite, the scary, hairy spider in my tree.



This guy freaked me out so much, I almost couldn't pick him up to purchase him. I conquered my fears and put him in my basket. Now I think a need a few more spiders in my tree.

Introducing Sprout

My family is still reeling from the heart breaking loss of Maddie. In the healing process, my parents decided to open their house and hearts to another puppy.

Allow me to introduce you to Sprout.



Sprout is a fiesty, sweet, playful, scrappy little puppy. She already loves my mom, and whimpers when she doesn't get to sleep in the bed with her. Which means that she is now sleeping in the bed with my mom.

Maddie will forever be remembered in our hearts. Her picture is still prominently displayed in my parents' house. She was such a special little puppy and she will never be replaced. But I'm glad that my mom is able to have such a little lovebug like Sprout to ease the pain just a bit.