Shoe Decision, More Shoe Advice, 4 Miles, New Recipe: Lasagna Soup

Thank you for your sweet Remy comments and for the boot advice and thoughts - you guys are awesome!! I think the peep toe just makes them fun - i'd totally wear tights through the peep. And I'd wear them with leggings too - especially ones with stirrups to keep them in. I got them last night.... I couldn't wait! I just loved them. I tried them on with a bunch of stuff and like them best with skirts and dresses - no jeans (looked too bunchy). I did put a pair of skinny black pants in there - liked it. Forgive the bad pics - took them of myself in a mirror at night with no flash. Set up to fail, right?! hehe click to make larger

So with a dress and solid black tights; with bare legs, a skirt and long sleeved shirt; with black pants, a black shirt, a long cardi and a scarf, and with a dress, striped leggings and a black coverup. A few things I put together! And of course, I understand some of you may still dislike them - but I think i'm going to have a blast with them, and am already eying a different pair in brown.

Love, Hate, Thoughts? I think i'll wear these just as much as the black ones - eeee!

I wish they were a bit more of a chocolate brown. But ladies it's HARD to find lace up, peep toe, oxford-look with a wedge (and a wedge that is flush rather than a different color than the rest of the shoe). I'm going to try to find these tonight. I found a similar pair at Baker's and at DSW - but they don't have them at the THREE malls by me. And I want them now. Not shipped to me in "5-7 business days." Yes, I know, I'm a total stereotypical American. I'll probably even use a credit card. Love it.

Yes, I promise I talk about things besides shoes on this blog. I promise. I just have the shoe bug and am FEELING this colder weather - EEEEEEE!

Onward and out -I made a new recipe at lunch. I couldn't wait until next week so I whipped up the Lasagna Soup adapted from Real Mom Kitchen.

Makes 4 Servings below (or 6 servings if you want to add garlic croutons or a side of bread to take up the calories)

1 lb 96/4 ground beef
½ cup onion, chopped
½ cup green bell pepper, chopped
2 ½ tsp minced garlic
1 tsp thyme
1 tbsp light brown sugar
1 32-ounce box fat-free chicken broth will reduce next time (note below)
2 14.5- ounce cans petite diced tomatoes
2 8-ounce cans tomato sauce
2 tsp Italian seasoning
½ teaspoon salt
4 oz. mini farfalle pasta, uncooked
¼ cup of parmesan cheese
60 grams shredded mozzarella cheese, divided



In a large Dutch oven, combine beef, onion, bell pepper and garlic. Cook over medium heat for 8 to 10 minutes, stirring occasionally until beef is browned and crumbles. Drain well. Stir in thyme, brown sugar, broth, tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning and salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes. In the meantime, cook pasta according to package directions in a separate pan. Drain. Add cooked pasta to soup and stir in Parmesan cheese. Top each bowl of soup with shredded mozzarella.

Nutritional Information (for each serving above as 4): 430 calories, 47 carbs, 10 fat grams and 37 protein grams.

Review: Loved it! Great flavor and VERY filling. I will say that, for me, it was too soupy for 4 servings (probably great if you did 6 but that would be too low calorie for me). So next time I would cut the chicken broth in HALF to 16 oz. broth. If I did 6 servings, I would add garlic croutons like Real Mom Kitchen suggested to take it up!

On to yesterday - it went as planned: work, 4 miles during lunch, work, home to the puppers + TV. I also did TONS of work on the recipes getting them into spark people, tweaking them and making a grocery list - awesomeness!

Q: Any fall trends you plan to embrace? I'm going to continue leggings/tights, skirts, dresses and boots - but plan to add this fun/bootie deal in brown and black.

Q: When you like something, do you get it in 2 colors? I do - sometimes even more than 2. If the price and fit are right, and the other options aren't heinous, I love to get more than 1!