Zoodles & Turkey Meatballs??!!!! YES, Please!!!

OK, I have wanted to try this version of spaghetti & meatballs for a LONG time and I FINALLY set out and whipped it up tonight!!! We are at my mom's so I didn't want my zucchini to go bad over the weekend, so yep, I packed all my ingredients up and brought them with. First off the meatballs....OMG!!!! They were sooooo flipping good and when you see the ingredients you MAY be skeptical, but absolutely DELISH! Zoodles with spaghetti sauce, always got a raised eyebrow from me in the past, I  just could NOT imagine what they would taste like, but they definitely did NOT disappoint! The family gave it TOP NOTCH reviews and it will definitely be staying in the rotation!!! Try it out and let me know what you think!!!!

Turkey Meatballs

INGREDIENTS:

1.5 lbs ground turkey
1 tsp sea salt
1 tsp paprika
1 large egg
3/4 cup quick cooking oats (hmmmm....are you getting nervous?!)
2 cloves of garlic finely chopped
parsley finely chopped (I didn't measure this out, just do as much as you like)
1 Tbsp tomato sauce, no sugar added

1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees

2. Spray a sheet pan with cooking spray

3. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl

4. Roll mixture into 1 inch meatballs and place on sheet pan.

5. Bake for approximately 20 - 25 minutes (turning half way thru) or until no longer pink in the middle


ZOODLES

3 - 4 zucchinis cut into strips with either a spiralizer or mandolin
1 tbsp olive oil
1/4 cup red onion diced
3 cloves garlic minced
salt & pepper to taste

1. Heat a large skillet over medium heat, when hot add the oil, onions & garlic and cook until fragrant (about 1 - 2 minutes)

2. Increase heat to medium high and add zucchini, season with salt & pepper to taste and cook about 1 minute. Stir to mix everything around and cook another 1 - 2 minutes or until the zoodles are cooked through yet firm.

Divide between plates, top with meatballs and your favorite spaghetti sauce.
Secret: Ok, so I had REALLY good intentions of making a homemade sauce, but in a time crunch it did NOT happen so YES I did take the easy way out and heated a jar of sauce on the stove and used that and GUESS WHAT??....It was still DELISH!!!! LOL! ;)  #lifehappens #shortcutsaresometimesnecessary

Coffee Talk

Ohhh coffee you are about to get a WHOLE lot better....is that EVEN possible??!!!! Well of course, when you are PUMPKIN SPICE flavored!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Let's get to it!

5 Random Thoughts:

1 - Pumpkin thoughts are CONSUMING me.....now come on, don't judge!!! I know it's NUTS because I will be the FIRST person moaning and groaning about the COLD WINTER ahead of us, but this girl HEARTS Fall and all it entails MAJORLY! Also in my defense you almost HAVE to extend it because it's OVER in the blink of an eye and I KNOW my photog clients get that because they ALL want their "FALL" photos done with all this beautiful color and then BOOM before you know it EVERY. LAST. LEAF. IS. GONE!!!! So POW, there's my come back to WHY pumpkin season MUST start earlier! ;)

2 - Today is the DAY!!! This OLD  lady can't WAIT to come home from work and see a brand spanking NEW sliding patio door and water heater installed!!! Um, how did I age soooo FAST!?!? I am lucky enough to have a papa to help us out so he is getting here bright and early this morning to put those babies in and the pure delight in the anticipation of coming home from work and seeing the finished product is RIDICULOUS!!! If you don't own a home, when you do one day...you will TOTALLY get this and have the same crazy emotions about home projects! Pinky Promise!

3 - My Fall Challenge Group is starting September 7th and it's the perfect time to take care of YOU for a change! If you are one of those people who does, does, does for EVERYONE else and you are always on the back burner, but you feel like it's time to make a change and start a journey to a new YOU, come check out my challenge group! If you still aren't sure what one is...I tell you all about it here! Message me for more information or to join my group! :)

4 - We had a super fun Sunday this past weekend. We went and met my sister, her hubby and my nieces at Hickory Run. Seriously, I needed just a day of relaxation and it fit the bill to a T. However, what would be your opinion of this situation (and granted I do photography so I'm trying to see it from her perspective as well) So we had our little "beach" area all set up with our blankets, towels, sand toys, umbrella and chairs, but we had gone over to our picnic table for a quick bite to eat. As we are over there a lady in her swimsuit (so she is at the lake enjoying the day as well), with her fancy camera is over by our "stuff" and she is just shooting away. Not just for a second but seriously kneeling down, doing different angles but DEFINITELY shooting our STUFF!!!??? What the?! Ok, so finally I'm like what the heck I'm going to go over and pretend to get something. I walk right in front of the shot she is taking and start going through the diaper bag....NOTHING. She doesn't say a WORD, no explanation STILL finishes her shot and then walks away!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am totally baffled by this whole encounter and looking at our arrangement I'm thinking OK, she is trying to take an "artsy" beach pic but wouldn't you SAY something?! Fine, I go back over to the picnic area and low and behold she goes BACK to our stuff!!! Whatever at this point I am done! This is where it gets really WEIRD! We are done with our lunch so we are back at our seats the kids are playing in the water and Oh MY FREAKING GOD, she is at her beach chair taking pics of ALL of us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Who does that??!!!! Looking back now I wish I would have confronted her since it was our kids, but REALLY, in this day who DOES that!!!??? Shaking MY head!!! Vent over!

5 - On a lighter, sillier note. I started doing Shaun T's new work out CIZE! Don't even get me started on this workout!!! Ok first off I am NOT a dancer, but I will tell you this.....you may FEEL like a back up dancer when you do it!!!! No joke! It is so much FUN! I don't even feeling like I'm working out, well minus the fact that I look and feel like a Mack truck hit me after because I'm so whooped but it has so much energy I'm just in LOVE with this cardio work out! I may or may not get the courage to share my video on here so you can see how ABSOLUTELY crazy I look! There is also an Ab work out at the end which is NO JOKE! I swear he is trying to kill me! If you want any info on Cize message me, he says it's the end of exercise....um, I agree....it's a full blown COMEDY act filled with energy, sweat and laughter, not EXERCISE!!!! ;)

Hudson is ONE!!!!

Get ready for some SUPER uber duber CUTENESS!!! So I was lucky enough to meet Hudson's mom just a few months before he was turning the big ONE and I was over the moon ECSTATIC when she contacted me to do his one year shoot!!!! My first time getting to actually meet the little guy was the morning of his shoot and he did NOT disappoint!!!

OMG....I can't even put into words what a happy little DOLL this little guy was!!!! He completely ROCKED his session and just WAIT until you see the cake smash! Cake smashes are funny because they can go soooo many different ways:

- they LOVE it

- they HATE it

- they CRY

- they are AFRAID

Those are just a few examples of the different reactions that are possible.....well Hudson, you definitely LOVED it!!!! I want to thank Hudson and his beautiful Mom for some serious cuteness and BELLY laughs on that shoot! It was an absolute BLAST and I can NOT wait to do your family session this fall!!!!! XO

Here are some of my favs from the session:

 Yep, this was a FIRST for me...no baby has EVER stuck their whole face in the cake!!! LOL

Coffee Talk!

More than half way thru August LOVES!!! UN-FREAKING-BELIEVABLE!!! Coffee talk time.....let's do this!

5 Random Thoughts:

1 - We FINALLY spent a weekend at home and getting to sleep in our OWN beds was like a little slice of HEAVEN!!! I totally heart going on little getaways (as you all know) but once in awhile you just want to have NO WHERE to go and NOTHING to do!!! ;)

2 - 15 days until our NEXT getaway!!! LOL! However this one is going to be EVEN better (I'm not sure if that's really possible, but hey each time seems to get better than the last) Not only do we get to go see our favorite family in Jersey but we are going to see...(sit down for this, I'm about to REALLY show my age) the Counting Crows in concert!!!! Then go ahead and give me yet ANOTHER weekend with the best friends peeps could EVER ask for and it pretty much equals PERFECTION!

3 - Yep, I know it's ONLY August 20th, but this girl is ready for her PUMPKIN! Bring it ON! So I whipped up some pure yummy-ness before work yesterday. Pumpkin Pie Energy Bars from my new fixate cookbook!!!! helllllllloooooooo  Here is the recipe if you are interested in trying them NOW in FALL (ya know a few weeks from now)!!!:

Ingredients:

- 1 cup pitted dates
- warm water
- 1/2 cup pecan pieces
- 1/3 cup canned pumpkin puree
- 1/4 cup unsweetened coconut flakes
- 1 tsp hazlenut or pure maple extract
- 1 tsp pure maple syrup
- 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
- 1 pinch sea salt

Directions:

1. Place dates in a medium bowl and cover with warm water, let soak for 10 minutes, drain and set aside.

2. Place pecans in food processor and pulse until finely ground

3. Add dates, pumpkin, coconut, extract, maple syrup, pumpkin pie spice and salt and pulse until well mixed. Place in medium bowl, cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

4. Using clean hands, roll into tablespoon sized balls and roll in some coconut if desired.

5. Store, refrigerated in air tight container.

4 - My office has been receiving a little redo and I am kinda crazy in love with it! I have a few final touches to make and then hopefully pics will be coming! eeeeekkk...you know me and a good home project!

5 - So here is how you absolutely positively know you are O. L. D.
A new water heater and a sliding door may or may not make your heart pitter patter and your face light up!!! Um, yeah we are OLD! Who cares??!!!...Saturday the water heater gets delivered and crossing fingers that both get installed next week!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ok, that's a WRAP! I am tying up loose ends on some sessions before my schedule gets out of CONTROL!!!! Happy almost FALL peeps!!! XO

Skinny Shrimp Scampi with Zoodles!

Ok loves....well I am a HUGE Shrimp Scampi LOVER, but let's face it, it's not always the healthiest!!! Sooo I decided to give this healthier version a try and see if I would be lusting after my PASTA!!!  I also was a TAD bit nervous about the family's reaction to it! Anyway, I whipped this up after work and what I REALLY loved is how quick and simple it is to make. Totally DO-ABLE for the working Mom! I personally really liked it, but I would be lying if I said I will NEVER eat my pasta with it again! I think it was a nice light change something to eat when you would like pasta but don't want the "heaviness" of pasta.  The rest of the family liked it however I don't think hubby LOVED it as much as he did the Cilantro Lime Chicken that I made here. (he would NEVER say that, but I know him pretty darn well) All in all it was a success! It was a delicious, quick light meal that I felt no guilt about eating!!!! Give it a try and see how your family likes it! XO

Ingredients:

2 Tbsp Olive Oil
1 pound jumbo shrimp shelled and deveined (I used 2 pounds because I LOVE shrimp!)
1 Tbsp minced garlic...(again, I don't like to chance vampires coming so I used more of this too!!!) ;)
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes - they add just enough of a BITE
1/4 cup white wine
2 Tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 - 4 zucchini turned into noodles (mandoline or some type of spiralizer)

Directions:

Place large saute plan over medium-low heat.  Add the olive oil and heat for 1 minute. Add the garlic and crushed red pepper and cook for 1 minute stirring constantly.

Add the shrimp to the pan and cook them until they are cooked through and pink on all sides (about 3 minutes). Season the shrimp with salt and pepper and then using a slotted spoon transfer them to a bowl, leaving the liquid in the pan.

Increase the heat to medium and add the white wine and lemon juice. Use a wooden spoon to scrape the bottom of the pan, cooking the wine and lemon juice for 2 minutes.  Add the zucchini noodles and cook, stirring occasionally, for 2 minutes. Return the shrimp to the pan and toss to combine. Season with salt & pepper and parsley if desired, serve immediately.

Coffee Talk is BACK!!!

OMG!!! No words...simply NO Words!!! Last week I was literally a HOT mess! I could NOT keep up with company, vacation, life in GENERAL and with that came me skipping COFFEE TALK!!! What?!! Ugh all I can say is I'm SORRY! It's a new week....So here we go!

5 Random Thoughts:

1 - Vacation was last week with some VERY special family visiting from CHICAGO! We literally did a little of everything over our "stay-cation". Went to Momma & Poppa's "Resort" for the weekend and got to see my other brother who was also in town visiting from Florida, went to Jim Thorpe (more to come on this trip- BOOOOOOOOO), went to Atlantic City (Um...more to come on me being a REBEL), and just got to enjoy lots of LAUGHS!! I totally enjoyed every single minute of every day.

2 - Jim Thorpe - VENT SESH   I will start with the disclaimer that I usually LOVE, like seriously ADORE this little town, BUT Jim you LET me down....BIG TIME!!!!!! I could NOT wait to take Aunt Maynell to the little shops, eat and drink our way around, peruse antique shops, do some wine tastings....just ABSORB every PRESH moment that town has to offer. Bummm bummm bummm...90% of EVERYTHING was closed!!!!??? Why?! Why would you do that in the freaking SUMMER!!!?? Winter, now winter I can TOTALLY see that and understand but when you only get a few good months WHY do that and NOT make it known on your website!!!?? I was thoroughly disappointed! So according to the handful of shops that were open, it is becoming a "WEEKEND" town!??? That little tid bit is something you should probably SHARE with the public! I'm just sayin!!! It's going to take me a little bit to get over that, but I'm guessing it will be out of my system before my next scheduled visit there!!!! LOL! (I can't hold grudges for toooo LONG and like I said that place holds a special place in my heart!)

3 - Atlantic City - so everyone SIT down....this little BEAUTY happened while we had our big bad day at the SHORE!!!!

Um, yeah, so I may or may NOT  have got my nose pierced while in AC!!! So before you go judging me, I have been contemplating it for a while and didn't have the nerve and then after a pina colada or five ok, fine, TWO, I decided I was a BIG girl and I was not going to worry what others thought of me. This journey has really been helping me find who I truly am and putting away all my inhibitions and thoughts of what others think of me. So I got my nose pierced! Does it make me a BAD person? Are you going to stop being my friend? Are you judging me? If any of the answers to these questions are Yes, then I'm sorry it has to end this way. LOL No, but seriously it does NOT change who I am and what I have learned is that I am completely comfortable with where I am right now and I LOVE it! It's so dainty and sparkly and ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4 - My new doctor ....I think I like her. LOL! It was hard because she didn't have all of my records from my other doctor so she has to go thru all of my testing and so forth before we know how to proceed but at least I got good VIBES from her and I think she & I will have a lasting relationship! ;)

5 - Can I just go ahead and WHISPER that my FAVORITE thing of ALL time is going to be making it's annual appearance SOON.....DRUM ROLL please:

PUMPKIN

I am still kinda in denial because I am soooo NOT ready for summer to be OVER but hellllllloooo it's a REAL struggle...you KNOW this girl is a PUMPKIN LOVER!!!! 

Pumpkin EVERYTHING! I may or may not have bought some pumpkin scented loveliness for my house the other day!!!! EEEEEKKKKK BRING IT!!!!! 

That's all loves!!! I MISSED you guys and harbored lots of guilt skipping this last week but sometimes you have to prioritize your life and realize you can't do EVERYTHING!!! Speaking of which...BUSY photography season is almost upon me as well. If you are on my fall list I pinky promise you will be receiving a message soon!!!! Over the moon grateful and blown away by ALL of the inquiries for sessions this year!!! LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!! XO