Picture Purple

J.Crew Top (similar)/ AT Loft Skirt/ Steve Madden Shoes(similar)/ J.Crew Necklace/ Ring borrowed permanently from my sister

You know what I love about stretchy materials? They allow me to breathe, eat, and not get cramps doing either.

You know what I love about the color eggplant? It's a perfect color for fall.

You know what I love about this skirt? It combines the stretchy factor with the deep and rich color of eggplant.

Clothing perfection.

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New Recipe: Avocado Pasta with Chicken and Tomatoes

If you are looking to have an interesting dinner conversation, you should come to my parents' house for a meal, especially if my grandparents there.

Our dinner time talks range from the season finale of Keeping up with the Kardashians and the 1980s Jaguar my Dad bought for $200, to how you can identify a quality toilet (and this was just during one dinner this past weekend) - for the record, my parents and the Kardashians have quality toilets in their houses.

In addition to the entertaining conversation, the food is pretty amazing too. My mom puts together meals consisting of something for everyone. They end up being almost as random as our conversations (I'm talking kugel, meatballs, brisket, apple sauce and garlic bread all at one table), but I think they are perfect. Also, who doesn't enjoy a meal that they didn't have to prepare and is made with love by mom?

Most nights, however, Jesse and/or I are required to make our own meals. We try to change it up and make new recipes so we don't get bored. We also try to make recipes that don't require a lot of time or planning.

The perfect recipe? Avocado Pasta with Chicken and Tomatoes.

As a runner, at least two nights a week I am eating pasta. Thankfully, pasta is quite an amazing food because it serves as the base for all kinds of recipes and flavors, so it never has to get boring. This recipe is especially fun because it's different than your average Italian, Mediterranean, or American pasta dishes.

The avocado mixture in this recipe makes a tasty, creamy, and filling, but healthy sauce. The tomatoes add a burst of flavor, and I am a huge fan of Roast Chicken, which also adds protein and flavor to the mix.

The only downside? This dish doesn't make for good leftovers, so you will just have to eat it all at once.

Here's what you'll need:

• 6 oz. PASTA
• 1 medium AVOCADO, pitted and peeled
• JUICE of 1/2 medium LIME
• 1 clove GARLIC, finely minced or crushed
• 1/2 teaspoon KOSHER SALT
• 1/4 cup CILANTRO, coarsely chopped
• 1 GREEN ONION, chopped
• 4 PICKLED JALAPENO SLICES (optional)
• ROAST or LEFTOVER CHICKEN, shredded or diced (I used a roast chicken)
• Quartered CHERRY TOMATOES (I just halved them and they still tasted like tomatoes)

Once you have all of your ingredients, cook your pasta al dente according to the directions on the box.

Next, place your avocado, lime juice, garlic, salt, cilantro, green onion, and jalapeno in a food processor and pulse until smooth (you may have to scrape down the sides a few times).

Toss the avocado mixture with the hot pasta and add some black pepper to taste.

Divide the pasta between two plates and top with your chicken and tomatoes.

Serve Immediately.

Enjoy!

Check out this and other tasty recipes on my What's Cookin' page.

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Friday Favorites

Happy Friday! Time for fall Friday favorites. First up...food (of course).

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Truffles from Erin's Food Files:

Mini Pumpkin Pie Croissants from Shaken Together

Hearty Chicken Stew with Butternut Squash and Quinoa from Cookin' Canuck

Pumpkin Snickerdoodles from Life Tastes Like Food

Crockpot Applesauce from Mommy Makes it Better

Next up? Favorite fall fashions...

Black leggings

Fall Nails

Bags

 Crafty Fall Projects

DIY Polaroid-esque Coasters

Fall and Holiday Party Ideas

DIY Portable Writing Desk and Organizer

Misc. Favorites of the week

This hilarious blog - #myfriendsaremarried

Remember the days of AIM away messages? Check out the @YourAwayMessage Twitter feed for a blast from the past. Warning: You could get lost in this for a while.

Speaking of blasts from the past, what was your favorite childhood toy? Did it make the list?

Who knew breakfast cereals held so much meaning. What does your breakfast cereal say about you?

I have often wondered how parents of multiples are able to tell their kids apart. Now I know it's actually not that difficult.

Finally, this is my favorite video of the week. No matter how many times I see it, it makes me laugh. Enjoy!

Jess C. Penny

Gap Top/ Banana Pants/ Clark's Wedges

The other day when I was walking back to my car after an early morning gym workout, I came across not one, not two, or even three pennies heads up, but four! I thought, man, that's a lot of luck, and guess what!? It was! That same night I played, and was the first to win at bingo (yes, I am an 80 year old at heart). Oh, and my prize was a Starbucks giftcard (here I come Pumpkin Spice Latte!).

Anyhow, today's outfit is a blast from the past...you know, when the temperature reached 90 degrees and the air was sticky and humid. Ah, the dog days of summer. Wait, that was just last week you say? With this fall-like weather, it's hard to believe it was about 20 degrees warmer just a week ago.

This outfit is truly, however, a blast from the past. I probably shouldn't admit this, but I bought this shirt when I was still in college (at least a decade ago) and these pants have been through several summers with me. They may be out of style, but for me, this is the perfect go-to outfit on swampy, summer days. What's your go-to outfit?

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Falling

Bloomingdales Blazer/ Gap Top (similar)/ Benetton Pants (similar)/ Boutique 9 shoes from ideeli.com

Yep, it's fall. I know because I can breathe again, my hair isn't defying gravity any longer, and The Voice is back on TV. Still, I'm not quite ready to give up wearing white, so this is my post-Labor Day white look. What's your take on wearing white after Labor Day? Yay or Nay?

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Garden Snake

Zara Top (similar)/ J.Crew Skirt/ Banana Shoes (similar)/  J.Crew Necklace (similar)

My favorite weekends are the weekends that don't involve much of a plan, which is probably why I loved this weekend so much. The only three things on my weekend agenda were my marathon training run, enjoying my first pumpkin spice latte of the season, and cheering Jesse on while he competed in the Nation's Triathlon. Success on all fronts. Check out this weekend in pictures here.

The weekend was, of course, too short for my taste, but in just four more blog posts, I will be heading up to PA to run the Philadelphia Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon, spend time with my family, and finally get my hair trimmed (it's been four months, which is a record for me).

Anyhow, a work week does mean I have the opportunity to introduce you to my new snake skin print skirt. From the moment I laid eyes on this skirt in the fall J.Crew catalogue, I knew it would be the perfect piece for the end of summer and beginning of fall. Today peplum sleeveless top and snake skirt, tomorrow snake skirt with sweaters and tights. Hooray for transitional season clothing!

Hope you all have a lovely Monday! XO

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Friday Favorites

Happy Friday friends! AND Happy 69th Anniversary Mom Mom and Poppy!

It has been a busy week, but I guess that's what happens when five days of work get condensed into four days of work. Anyhow, I'm happy it's Friday. I'm looking forward to my 20 mile run this weekend, watching Jesse in his triathlon this weekend, and my first Pumpkin Spice Latte of the season. Hope you all have some fun stuff in store also. Here are some of my favorites from around the web as we head into the weekend. Enjoy!

I have four friends that are expecting an addition to their families between now and November. That means, a lot of meals. Check out these 10 meal ideas to make for new moms from The Kitchn.

Even though this is only his second week at school, with the exception of dinner most nights, Jesse has been eating every meal and snack on campus, and he's already sick of it. Starting next week, I'm planning on sending him off to school with some of these snacks:

Quick + Easy No Bake Oatmeal Peanut Butter Bites

Salted Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Bark

Dark Chocolate Chip and Sea Salt Cookies

Wraps

He might never speak to me again if I sent him to school with this, but the content is good.

Man it must be nice to be a kid, especially a kid who's being visited by the tooth fairy. Apparently, the award for a tooth has gone up 15% in the last year to $3! Check out the story here.

Ever wonder how much you should really be tipping? Check out this article from Get Rich Slowly for some "tips" (pun intended!).

Love these crafty ideas:


Bookcase Dollhouse from A Cup of Jo



Road Tape from Donkey

Right now I'm reading this book by ultramarathoner, Scott Jurek (I plan on writing a review on Messy Jess C: Personal Training when I finish) and it's super motivating. Until then, or until you read the book, here's some more motivation:

AND... this one is for you Laura:

Speaking of working out, do you every find yourself staring into your pantry hoping the knowledge of what you should eat before and after a workout will come to you? Ponder no longer. Here's the ultimate nutrition guide to what to eat before and after workouts from the Daily Muse.

Here are some of my favorite looks this week.

Speaking of clothing, don't you just love that perfect soft t-shirt of yours? Want to make more of your shirts that way? Check out this vintage tee how-to from Octane

How cute are these horse pillows?

I have just as many friends getting married this fall as the number of friends having babies. This photo is pretty clever ladies!

Hope you all have a lovely weekend! See you next week. XO

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