Pasta Salad

There are lots of things I am loving about living alone, and at the top of my list is exploring cooking and baking. I have made lots of yummy things but this pasta salad recipe by far has been the best and the EASIEST thing I have made thus far. Now this certainly is not for those that are on a diet. The only changes I would suggest in making this if you are on a diet is using whole wheat pasta...otherwise, just make it, I promise you will love it.

First off, the main ingredient is..............................MAYO. Up until I was about 18 years old I HATED mayo. I thought it was so nasty and so unnecessary (for example in sandwiches, for moisture I would always use a vinegarette). Anyhoo, I started liking mayonnaise gradually and now I like it. But I have a rule...it cannot be clumpy. On sandwiches it has to be spread perfectly, the thought of a large chunk of mayo in my mouth makes me want to vom vom.

So on to the pasta salad. I have always loved pasta salads that were vinegar based, but recently I tried one with mayo. I tried to recreate it yesterday and I blew myself away. I promise it is absolutely delicious and it is eaten cold, so just make it, stick it in the fridge, and eat when you want.

Here it is: (PS I am obvi no chef, so work with me)

Ingredients:

1 Box of the colorful fusili pasta (I use this one b/c its the traditional pasta in deli pasta salads)

1 cup of Mayo

a few gollups of red wine vinegar (I know...I know... we don't want the sauce soupy, so use your head when adding)

1/2 a white onion, chopped (you can use a red onion if you want)

1 red bell pepper, chopped

lots of salt and pepper!!!!!!!

Cook pasta al dente. Make sure to add salt and olive oil to pasta water before boiling). While pasta is boiling, chop the red pepper and the onion, set aside. In the same (now empty) pot you used to boil the pasta, add the drained pasta plus rest of the ingredients. Add more vinegar if you like that taste (I personally love it). You can eat it right away (it is hard to resist). Put the rest in the fridge and eat straight out of it.

***Here is a trick, if you have Italian Dressing in your fridge (from Wishbone or w/e) you can use that instead of the red wine vinegar. The added bonus is the rest of the seasoning in it***

Other things you can add include feta cheese, celery, sun dried tomatoes, etc. Let me know if you try it!

Headboard Help!

I am beyond excited about purchasing the Camden Tufted Headboard from Ballard for my nuevo apartment, but am having major troubles picking out a fabric. It seems like my bedroom colors are leaning towards pink and green because I have inherited a gorgeous skirted vanity from my mother that has pink and green fabric (top layer is floral, bottom layer is striped). So it leaves me with very few options for the fabric choice at Ballard. Initially I was all about the green gingham, but want to avoid the 'country' look. I have always LOVED burlap fabric for a headboard, but am afraid that it may be too much of a stretch from the skirted vanity I am getting... So what's left? Ivory?


I would REAAAAAAAALLLLLLLY appreciate any decorating tips from you guys. Ballard also allows you to use your own fabric, but it seems so much easier to just choose one of the ones that they offer. Take a look and help me out! Or, let me know your thoughts on the choices above.

PS: the pictures (especially the burlap one) do not do the fabric justice. The first picture looks like plain white but its actually "Pintuck Creamy".

Marshall's/TJ Maxx finds

I love going to Marshall's/TJ Maxx for bargain finds... There is a Marshall's by my house that gets the best Lilly Pulitzer shipments which gets me excited beyond words (they also have a ton of cute Trina Turk bikinis). I also find that they have the best home stuff for people on a budget. Here are some of my recent finds:Bought this Lilly dress for Mommy Dearest. I went back to Marshall's a week or so later and they were all sold out of it. It was a really popular style when it came out a year or so ago.
Love these coral prints. I was super sneaky in Marshall's with these because the blue coral was in a silver frame. I had to take out the other red coral print they had and switch the frames all on the sly (shhhhh!) I think these would look good in a bathroom.
I love these bird prints and they were so cheap ($5.00 each) I don't know where they belong in my apartment but right now I am thinking in a hallway. Where would you put them? Also, do you think they look best all in a row or 2 on top of each other as pictured? I will miss TJ Maxx and Marshall's when I go to Philly. From what I understand they are all outside of the city so Muffin better prepare on a little trip here and there...

Musings

I have a little file on my computer of saved images that make me happy. So that you can get to know me better, in no particular order, I shall post:

This is what I would like the entry way to my new 1 bedroom to look like. Possibility? ABSOLUTELY not.

Monogram china = perfection (I don't know if I am partial to the gold, it's so elegant but I have seen other color options that get me equally as excited).

Monogram + blue and white + touch of yellow + classic bedroom = inspiration for future home
Pink + green + palm beachy style= meg in heaven.

Love the stuff above, but alas, it's just inspiration. Now, as I am on a budget (blehhhhhhhhhh), I have to find affordable stuff to decorate with. I have asked for help from my lovely friend Lynett who gave me the idea to get a couch with a chaise- and I have chosen this one (from IKEA).

And I am absolutely obsessed and need (NOW!!!!!!!) this mirror to go directly above said couch:

Anyways, what do you think? Have you ever sat on an IKEA couch? I have heard terrifying things about them but also great things... I have yet to see it in person but as of now it is love at first sight.