I feel like I'm a fake paleo recipe blogger because this is my first time making spaghetti squash. There are a few reasons I've never made it before but the big reason being I thought it would be too hard. Add in pasta is not pasta if it's not noodles and you have the perfect excuse for me not making spaghetti squash.

I've read so many delicious recipes involving spaghetti squash and I just couldn't avoid it anymore. I found about 3 recipes that I thought looked delicious, combined them all and bam - I'm a spaghetti squash lover.

The best part about spaghetti squash? It's way easier than I thought. Now, just a heads up - it takes a little more time than regular pasta  - think 45 minutes versus 15 minutes - but it gives you that same pasta feeling.

When we first started eating paleo, Adam and I over did it on the goat cheese, which is a bummer since it's the only cheese we can eat. But I'm happy to report, enough time has passed and goat cheese is back and the perfect addition to this "pasta."


Now, pair this with some red wine and you've got the perfect combo. Okay, let's do this.

Ingredients:

• 1 medium-sized spaghetti squash, roasted
• 2 tablespoons olive oil or coconut oil
• 6 large cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cups baby Portobello mushrooms, chopped into sixths
• 1 (or two) large chicken breast, sliced into strips
• 4 cups kale leaves, packed
• Zest of 1 lemon
• ¼ teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste

How to Make: 

1. Roast the spaghetti squash and set aside until ready to use. 
2. To roast the squash, heat oven to 400 degrees. Cut squash in half. Rub olive oil over the squash and season with salt and pepper. Place on foiled lined cookie sheet and place squash flesh side down. Cook for about 30 minutes until tender and fork slides easily in and out. 
3. When squash is cooked, shred with a fork and set aside in a bowl until ready to use. 
4. In a medium-sized non-stick skillet, add the oil and heat to medium. Add the minced garlic and mushrooms. Sauté for 5 minutes, stirring frequently, until garlic is very fragrant and mushrooms have browned.
5. In a sauté pan, add olive oil or coconut oil and heat to medium heat. Cut chicken breasts into stripes and cook until done.
6. When chicken is cooked, add the chopped kale leaves. Cook 3 to 5 minutes, 
7. Add the lemon zest, salt, and cayenne pepper. Stir well and cook an additional minute. 
8. Add in the spaghetti squash and stir to combine. 
9. Serve with fresh goat cheese and enjoy!

Today is TWO of my bridesmaids birthdays! How crazy/awesome/fun is that?! Callie and I met our first semester in college and Alyssa and I met our first year in law school. Needless to say, these girls have been through everything with me and they still love me. These two girls are strong, hilarious, kind and deserving of all your birthday wishes!

To my two February 4th birthday girls, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, I hope you have the best day. I wish I was with both of you to celebrate and drink copious amounts of wine. How about I make it up to you on May 9th or in Vegas? I love you both. xx 

This one is easy for me because I truly have the greatest friends in the world. I've been lucky to live in a lot of different places and because of that, I have friends from lots of different places. People always say quality is better than quantity and I agree, I guess I'm just lucky enough to have both :) I feel so lucky to have this large group of woman in my life. They've been my rocks, they keep me grounded, they're all hilarious, gorgeous, smart, compassionate and wonderful. #blessed.

My friend group gets thrown back to high school/junior high. Yes, I'm 20-something years old and I'm still best friends with my friends from high school, how cool is that?! Two of them are my maids of honor and another one is a bridesmaid (and I was her MOH!). They loved me through my awkward high-school years, which wasn't pretty people, so that is saying a lot. They're the greatest humans.

My mom always told me the friends I made in college would be my best friends for life. Boy was she right. In college, I met some amazing girlfriends who became my roommates, sorority sisters and law school comrades. We grew up together. They're the girls who saw me at my best and worst. I'm so lucky to have them.

Next, guest where...off to law school. And what figures, I found 3 more girls who complete the circle. Law school would have been unbearable without these girls. They were my study group, my wine drinkers, TIVO watchers and friends. If you can get through law school and all the stress and crap it brings, along with multiple bar exams and come out with friends, hold on to them, because I haven't found anything more challenging and friends are a necessity. I'm so grateful for them.

Lastly, I'm lucky to have sisters as friends. When my brother married Camila I instantly gained three incredible ladies to call my family. And when I marry Adam I will have two more sisters to officially add to that group. They're all so strong, smart, independent and amazing. 5 sisters? How'd I get so lucky.

I know this sounds braggy and oh my gosh my friends are great but hey, they are, and I'm thankful for them. They've made me a stronger, better version of who I am. Who are you grateful for?

Day 19: What makes me happy.

1. The Broncos.
2. My steaming cup of coffee in the morning.
3. Friday date nights with Adam
4. Laying in bed with the fireplace on.
5. Denver.
6. This verse, 2 Corinthians 12:8-9, "Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weakness so that Christ's power may rest on me."
7. Red wine, white wine, champagne, I don't discriminate.
8. Cooking.
9. Planning our wedding.
10. Finding new songs.
11. Pure Barre.
12. Texting.
13. Real Simple, the magazine.
14. My kindle
15. My DVR.
16. Painting my nails
17. My sister, Erin. (you can read more about her, here.)
18. Blogging.
19. These people, I'm the luckiest and happiest lady in the world because of them.

I start my third year of law school tomorrow. Can you believe it? Because I for one, cannot. It seems like just yesterday I wrote this blog expressing my anxiety and here I am, August 19th, 2012, getting ready for my last year of school, ever. It's been a crazzzyyy, yet wonderful, two years so I know this one will only get better. My favorite thing I wrote from that blog post two years ago was "I've been given the most amazing opportunity to do something great, and tomorrow is going to be a great day. I'm ready world, let's do this." I was so optimistic about what law school was going to be, and I'm happy to report that it was all I thought it would be cracked up to be. Now, two years later, here we go again. Tomorrow is going to be a great day. 

This summer has been such a good one, yet it has been so busy. So, instead of blogging about every detail, I thought a photo montage would do the trick. I hope everyone's summer has been great, only one more month until school starts!

Girls nights are some of my favorite nights. I just absolutely love nights dedicated to being together, taking pictures, drinking wine and laughing the night away. Only 3 more weeks until Lynds is back for good and I cannot wait.

Another great night with fabulous pictures, food and drinks. It's hard to believe we're almost 3L's!