Happy Friday! As I sit in my office looking out at the snow swirling around my windows, I’m reminded again of how lucky I am to have the ability to work from home when and how I choose.  It’s not always easy this Wahm path, but it’s something I believe in; which is why I decided to add an additional income stream to my blog earnings this year!  I wanted a way to get more involved with my community offline while assisting my family financially and Avon was the perfect choice for me.  If you’ve been thinking of more income in 2016, I invite you to join me and my Avon team!

Avon has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.  I love their products and I’ve sold it in the past, but I wasn’t prepared for all the major advancements in the selling tools and support Avon has implemented. Selling Avon has never been simpler! They give you all the tools you need, including a free e-store and the basic starter kit is only $15!  

Being an Avon Representative can be as simple as sharing Avon’s pre-written posts on your social media channels, or if you want to earn more, selling in person too.  If you’ve ever worked with affiliate links and short-term cookies, you will appreciate the amazing earning opportunity you can have with Avon.

Join the Sisterhood of Avon Representatives:

“Being an Avon Representative isn’t just about selling beauty products. It’s about a community of passionate women. It’s about being empowered and independent. When you join Avon as a Representative, you’re not just joining a company; you’re joining a sisterhood of 6 million women from around the world.”

Pasta is a passion with my family and is on heavy rotation at our dinner table.  When we shop, we’re on the lookout for unique pasta shapes to try at home and when dining out, at least one in our family of four will order a pasta dish.  My husband and I enjoy recreating favorite pasta dishes at home so last night I made a favorite to warm up my family- Caserecce pasta and Red Sauce. I even added some meatballs for good measure.  Thank you to Ragu for sponsoring today’s post and inspiring me to pass on my family traditions.

Ingredients: Serves 6

Directions:

In a large skillet, add olive oil on medium heat until warm. Add onions and minced garlic and sweat until onions are translucent. When my family smells this, they know I'm cooking up something good! 

Meanwhile, in large pot, bring water with a drizzle of oil of your choice and a pinch of salt to boil. Once boiling, add pasta and cook according to package directions.  As with most pasta dishes, Caserecce is best served Al dente.  

Once your onions and garlic are ready, add your Ragu pasta sauce. I usually put just a little water in the jars to get out every last bit of sauce and stir it in along with the salt, pepper and Rosemary.  Let your sauce simmer for about 6 minutes, then add your meatballs. You can either add meatballs you’ve made, or pre-made meatballs now, just make sure they aren’t frozen.

The great thing about using Ragu red sauce is that it has such a great flavor, it doesn’t require any fussing with. My pasta dishes turn out perfectly each time.  Assunta Cantisano, the founder of Ragu; sure new what she was doing with her recipe when she started out way back in 1937! This sauce is truly #simmeredintradition and I’m proud to serve it to my family and friends.  Plus, as a work at home mom and entrepreneur, I was fascinated to learn about her and this beloved brand. I invite you to read her story here. 

Continue to simmer your sauce while you make your sides. 

I usually serve sourdough garlic bread and a large salad with my Caserecce Pasta & Red Sauce, but this dish also pairs well with roasted vegetables or whatever you have on hand.  

In less than 50 minutes, you’ll be serving up a hearty meal that will warm your family from the inside out and just may start a new tradition of serving pasta often as well. 

Mangia!

Please share in comments: What is your favorite pasta in red sauce dish? Is this a family recipe that's been handed down to you? 

We are officially one week into the New Year and my eyes are starting to glaze over from all the “get healthy” advice that is so prevalent this time of year. I’ll be honest; I’m tired of being bombarded with messages that make me feel bad about myself because it highlights all I’m not doing, so this post is about making one small change that is completely doable!

While reviewing my plans from last year, I noticed an area in my life that I was completely neglecting- lunchtime.  I realized this is one area that I could improve upon easily, just by making a few small changes in my daily routine.

Did you know that there are over 10 Light soup varieties with 100 calories or less per serving? I love their Savory Beef Vegetable with Barley! It is such a hearty soup that fills me and helps fill full and hydrated all afternoon.

Some my other favorite flavors include: