Recipe: Chicken and Spinach Pasta Bake

I found this recipe on Pinterest and I just had to make it.  I love anything with pasta and cheese, and this dish did not disappoint! 

Originally the recipe said to only use 10 oz of dry pasta, but I decided to double it after cooking the 10 oz and feeling like it wasn’t enough.  I left everything the same and it worked out perfectly.  

I will definitely be making this again. 

Ingredients:

2 cups of Dry Farfalle Pasta
2 tbsp Butter
½ Onion, chopped
2 Cloves of Garlic, minced
4 oz of Chive and Onion Cream Cheese
1 cup of Sour Cream
1 cup Whole Milk
½ cup Shredded Parmesan Cheese
2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese
½ tsp Salt
½ tsp Black Pepper
1-1 ½ cups Chopped Fresh Spinach
2 cups Cooked Chicken, cubed or shredded
½ cup Fresh Grape Tomatoes, chopped in half
Fresh Parsley

Directions:

Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees.

Cook the pasta.

While the pasta is cooking, heat the butter in a medium sauté pan.  Add in the onion and garlic.  Cook for 3 to 4 minutes but do NOT brown them.

Add in the cream cheese and stir to melt it. 

Reduce the heat to low, and add in the sour cream.

Add the milk, salt, and pepper.

Add 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese.

Add the parmesan cheese.

Make sure everything is well combined and melted.  Turn off the heat.

Combine the pasta, chicken, spinach, and tomatoes to a large bowl. 

Add the sauce and gently stir.

Coat a baking dish with cooking spray, and pour in the pasta mix.  If it looks a little dry, add a little bit more milk. 

Top the dish with the remaining mozzarella cheese.

Bake uncovered for 20-25 minutes or until bubbly and beginning to brown.

Top with parsley and serve!

Enjoy!

xx

**I don't have a completed picture because I was just so hungry after it was done, I forgot.  But I can tell you this dish was AMAZING! 

Garnier Fructis Clean and Nourishing Oil & Clean and Balancing Gel Exfoliator:

Garnier Fructis Clean and Nourishing Oil:

After receiving an oil face wash I decided that I wanted to try a few others.  I chose Garnier Fructis because it's one that I see often.  It was the first I saw on the shelf, so I figured it would be the best match.
According to their website, this bottle cost $7.99.  

Garnier Fructis says this oil "instantly dissolves impurities, and long wear make-up with no greasy residue," and as long as you use a washcloth while washing the oil off, there will be no residue.  If you just use your hands (as suggested), then there will be some left over.  I had the same results with the other oil I tried. 

When up against make-up, this oil works greats.  It doesn't get into my eyes as much as the other oil did.  This oil dissolved my hardest make-up like it's nothing.  I really like that. 

It smells great and makes my skin feel so soft! 

My only problem so far with this oil is the pump.  If you're not careful and you squeeze too fast then the oil will splash up out of your hand and could potentially stain your clothing.  (I'm just assuming that, since it is an oil.) 

Even though I've only used it a few times so far, I really like this face cleanser, and I would recommend it if your were looking for a cleansing oil.  

Garnier Fructis Clean and Balancing Gel Exfoliator:
I got this cleanser because I've been getting little flaky spots on my face recently, mostly my nose, so I decided an exfoliator is what I needed.
This costs around $7.99 also.
It's a very light exfoliator.  I can't even feel the beads when I use it.  It is very bubbly though, so it takes a bit for it to feel like the water is washing anything off.
Garnier Frucits say that it "targets T-Zone to deeply cleanse away oil and impurities."
Since this is a different cleanser from the oil, there is no instant result.  It will take a little bit for this one to show the effects.  So I'll get back to you with the results.
I'm not the biggest fan of the smell, but it's nothing I can't ignore.  It's not so strong it knocks me out, and it's not a scent that sticks around.

xx

Empties #4:

I feel like it has been way to long since the last time I made an empties post...Yeah, I just checked, my last post was in June.  Three months.  Oops.  

I just really haven't finished much.  But now I have a few things.  So exciting! 

Sensodyne Toothpaste, Flavor Fresh Impact:

I got this after I went to the dentist and I decided to use it because my mouth is very sensitive and I figured why not?  Usually the toothpaste I get from the dentist goes to waste, just sitting in my cabinet forever, but I’m glad that I decided to try this one.  I liked that it didn’t hurt my mouth at all, and it did seem like my teeth were feeling (is that the right word?) better.  I went to the store after I had finished this tube, but I forgot the flavor and I ended up with a different flavor that does sort of hurt.  But I’ll remember for next time. 

Crest Be Creative Toothpaste, Flavors Vanilla Mint Spark and Lime Spearmint Zest:

I received these for free from Bzzagent, and I did a whole review on them here.  I got three of them and I finally finished these two, but not the other.  (Find out why in the other post.)  I really liked that these aren’t your everyday toothpaste flavors.  I like that I could choose between minty, limey, and vanilla-y.  My favorite in the end is the Lime Spearmint Zest. 

Estee Lauder Advanced Time Zone Face Cream:

I am in love with this face cream.  I love the way it feels, the way it smells and the way it works.  I was so sad when it ran out because Estee Lauder is a bit out of my price range, but luckily my mom has a smaller pot that she’s going to give to me.  Her face didn’t like it as much as mine.  It made her all red for a week.  This moisturizer absorbs really quickly and it’s so smooth.  It made my face feel so soft, and even though I didn’t use it every day, I could feel that it had worked when I touched my skin.  I love it, and I suggest that you go buy if you have the budget for it and like Estee Lauder. 

Neutrogena Make-up Remover Wipes, Night calming scent:

I used to buy these face wipes every time I ran out.  I’ve tried all three scents, and the teal colored one is my favorite, but all they had was the night calming scent, which I also really enjoy.  But now that I’ve gotten into creams and oils, face wipes aren’t on the top of my list anymore.  Don’t get me wrong because I obviously buy face wipes still (see below), but not ones specifically for make-up.   But if you're shopping around for good make-up remover wipes and you’re on a budget, I do suggest these.  They remove make-up really well and you’re left with a clean feeling after you're done. 

Puffs Fresh Faces, Fresh scent:

I’ve talked about Puffs Fresh Faces before, and I’ve tried both scents.  My favorite is the yellow box, which is called fresh scent.  This works amazing on removing mascara, but for some reason not so great at removing eye shadow?  I don’t really get that.  But it’s cool.  I like it for many different other reasons.  It’s sort of a big box, but I like to take it on the go with me for the after shopping I go out to dinner and my hands feel gross wipes. (I don’t go into public bathrooms.)  It’s also great for sweaty days where you just want to freshen up a little bit in between stores or whatever.   Great for summer.  I am now on my third box, but I did notice that they were really hard to find the third time around.  Don’t know why, maybe they’re just popular?

Herbal Essence Naked Dry Shampoo:

I got this dry shampoo as a sample on my shampoo and I was expecting it to smell like the shampoo that it came with, well I was wrong.   It smells a little bit like their shampoo line, but it also smells a little bit like rubbing alcohol.   Unfortunately, this dry shampoo doesn’t work for me.  I felt like my hair looked exactly the same after I used it.  So, I used it to texturize my hair on the days I actually washed my hair.  It worked fine then, but the day after shower hair, not so much.   I won’t be purchasing this one.  

There you have it, and I'll be making another empties post sooner than 3 month from now.  I promise!
xx 

Instanatural Deep Cleansing Facial Oil Review:

A little under a month ago, I received an oil face wash from Instanatural to review.  I had never used an oil face wash before but I’ve heard many stories about how great they are. 

  What I really like about this one was that it was all natural, I know what everything is on the label, and also, that it covers a few different things.  This face cleanser removes make-up, cleanses your face, and you can use it on your make-up brushes. 

There are a few different ways you can apply the oil to your face; by hand, cotton pad, or cotton ball.  I prefer to use my hands if I’m going all over my face, but if I want to just target my eye make-up I feel like the cotton pad works best.  I wasn’t a big fan of the cotton ball application. 

I’ve tried a few different make-up removers from creams, to wipes, to liquids, to (now) oil, and I would have to say oil is my favorite way of removal.   I favored cream for a while, but the cream that I have doesn’t remove my mascara unless I try really hard, and with the oil, it’s almost instant.  The only thing that I’ve had a hard time removing with the oil is the eyeliner from Flower. 

I’ve used this face oil with two different mascaras, make-up with primers, make-up without primers, and even foundation, just to make sure I covered all of the bases.  It works really well with everything.  Some face wipes will leave a little bit of mascara and foundation behind, but this stuff didn’t.  I was ecstatic.

After I wipe it off with a washcloth, my face is left feeling so soft and clean.  My skin type is a combination of both oily and dry, but mostly oily, and there does seem to be a little bit of residue later on in the day, but it’s not so much that I can’t work with it. 

I also used it on my make-up brushes, and it works really well.  I used it on a few brushes that I haven’t used since the last time I washed my brushes, and some make-up still came off.  The only thing I have to warn you about is don’t use this on really cheap brushes.  By really cheap I mean the kind that leave behind bristles after you use it, the kind that you get with cheaper make-up, the kind that are in those Christmas brush packs.  All of mine fell apart.  It could have been just their time to fall apart, or the oil could have made them loose.  Who knows, I’m not really careful while washing my brushes. 

Currently looking on Amazon, this face oil is $19.95, and I feel it’s worth it. 

xx 

Recipe: Ranch Pesto Rigatoni Bake

Ingredients:

1 box Rigatoni 

½ cup of Ranch Dressing

¼ cup of Prepared Pesto

28oz can Diced Tomatoes

2 cups Shredded Mozzarella Cheese, Divided

Parsley

Directions:  

Cook and Drain the rigatoni.

Drain and slightly rinse the tomoatoes. (I cut my tomatoes in half because my sister doesn’t like tomatos.) 

Stir in the ranch Dressing, Prepared Pesto, Tomatoes, and 1 cup of the Shredded Mozzarella.

Transfer the pasta mix to a baking dish and top with the remaining cheese and parsley.  ( I personally didn’t feel as if there was enough cheese so I added more.)

Cover with foil and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.  Remove the cover, bake for another five minutes and serve!

This was so good!  I loved it so much that I plan on making it a lot more.  Let me know what you think!

xx

I found this recipe on Pinterest, follow me there!

Physician’s Formula Organic Wear Curl & Care Mascara:

I picked up this mascara about three or four weeks ago and I’ve used it about 20 times, and to be honest, I didn’t really care for it at first.  But I think it’s grown on me.   If you’ve been here long, then you would know that I don’t curl my lashes.  I’ve never really thought about to be honest, and I’m thinking about buying an eyelash curler, but I just haven’t gotten around to it.  When I saw that this mascara curled your lashes I decided “why not?”  I have noticed a small difference, but it’s not like eye popping different.   

Please excuse Benny, I tried to move him and he'd just most right back. 

I really like that it’s 70% organic.  I don’t often find organic make-up that’s closer to my budget.  I want to say this mascara is around $10.  I typically pay $6 to $7.   The color is true.  It’s lasts all day long and if I rub my eye I don’t worry about it smudging.  It stays in place. 

The only thing I really hate about this mascara is that it has a plastic applicator.  I hate them so much.   Also the tube itself took me a few seconds to get used to.  It’s not the standard tube shape, but it’s not like I had to change my application process. 

Would I buy this again?  Yes, if I were spoiling myself.  I’m on a tight budget with make-up right now.  Would I recommend it?  Yes, definitely! 

xx