Review: Pasta Zero Noodles

I saw these noodles at Walmart, and I was intrigued because they were packed in a bag of water, in the produce section. The package claimed they were  "all natural" with 15 calories per servings and only 4 carbs.

I check the back, and the ingredients seemed harmless, so I grabbed a couple packs.

I like chickpeas, so these should be good...right??

I followed the directions and gave them a good rinse, and I felt good about it because they did feel like real noodles!

Next the directions said to saute them in a pan until they were dry, then simmer with the sauce for a few minutes. So I did just that.

Still looking like real noodles...

Then I added my homemade alfredo sauce, let them simmer as directed, and gave them a try.

 After the first bite, I tried to remain optimistic about them. "They aren't that bad. I mean, for 4g carbs what do you expect?". After the 2nd bite I conceded that they were, in fact, disgusting and I couldn't eat any more. They don't really have any flavor, but the texture is what got me. They are very, very rubbery, and you have to chew them quite a bit, and after a while they begin to feel like worms. David ate a little more than I did, but he agreed they were not good at all. Total and complete fail. So, I learned my lesson, and next time I want Alfredo pasta I will just have to do some extra laps on the treadmill and earn the real thing!

50 (Thousand) Shades of Gray!

So I've FINALLY picked the main living area paint color. In the true spirit of DIY, I couldn't find what I wanted... So I made it myself!

I know I said back in this post that I had chosen Behr's Aqua Breeze, but the more and more I looked at it, the more I decided it wasn't what I wanted. Thinking about the accent colors I wanted in the room, and the fact that I really wanted the bold kitchen color to stand out, I decided I wanted something more neutral.

Right - Behr's "Aqua Breeze"

So I started pouring over dozens and dozens of paint swatches and bought nearly 2 dozen sample pots!!!

I wasn't kidding!

To be honest, I think at this point I'd lost track of which colors are which. I just knew none of the would work. The closest one that I like was Behr's "Pensive Sky" (2nd to the last on the bottom row), but it was a bit darker than what I wanted. So I tried the next one up, "Snow Leopard", which is the top left, but it came out weirdly blueish purple, and way too light.

Bottom Left "Snow Leopard", Right "Pensive Sky"

So I threw up my hands, and said "I give up!" and just decided to go with Pensive Sky, even though it was too dark. But I didn't love it. I can't bring myself to spend $150 on a 5 gallon bucket of paint that I don't love. And I wasn't spending another penny on samples! So what's a girl to do?

Get Mixin'!

I decided to try and mix up a custom color. I picked the two darker grays I liked the best.

Left, Glidden "Smooth Stone", middle Behr's  "Pensive Sky"

Smooth Stone was just a bit too brown, and Pensive Sky was a true gray, but in certain lighting looked a little blue. I mixed equal parts of those two. Then, I mixed two more samples, one with 1 part Behr's "Full Moon" (a very very light, almost white, gray) to 2 parts Smooth Stone and Pensive Sky, and one with equal parts of all three paints.

Here's what I got:

I didn't paint them in order(because that would have made too much sense!), but the middle one is the equal parts of the darker colors, the right is the one with 1 part of the light color, and the left is with equal parts of all three colors. I ended up liking the left color, the lightest one, the best! It's exactly what I had in my mind, but couldn't find in store.

Top color

Perfect light gray!

It's a touch lighter than what is coming across in the photos. I call it "Smooth Pensive Moon". I don't think Behr will be hiring me as a paint namer any time soon.

Next step, I am going to take in my custom mix, and have them paint match it, first to a sample to make sure it comes out how I want, then next stop 5 gallons and no more polka dot paint sample walls!

Thrifting Saturdays!

I spent the better part of this Saturday out thrifting with my mom. I wasn't really looking for anything specific, but I still managed to find some good deals. Here's my haul:

I got this awesome, summery dress:

And this really cool beaded sheer shirt.

I made a boo-boo with this one though. I thought that I should just hand wash it, but the label said it was ok, so I threw it in the washing machine, and this happened:

:( sad face

I may try to resew on the lost beads, because it's only that one small section that came off. I don't know if I really have the patience for that, but I really really liked it and I can't really wear it as is.

I also scored this sweet Jessica Simpson wristlet, practically in new condition:

The tag was marked "2 pieces $12.99" but I looked and looked and could not find the other piece. When I asked, the manage said someone had stolen the matching bag. I didn't really care, I just wanted the wristlet. So he said $1.99!!! AND it was 50% off day, so I paid a whopping $1 for it!


I also saw this vase, which I'm labeling "Angry Owl". He did NOT come home with me.

Why so angry?

But this awesome blingy chandelier did!

I paid $20 for all it's brass and crystal glory, and I absolutely love it! This baby is getting spray painted and hung in my entry, as soon as I finish the 5,000 other projects I need to do.

So sparkly!

I also really was attracted to this light as well, but I just couldn't picture it anywhere in my house, so he'll have to get adopted another day.

Sorry, awesome wood chandy!

And lastly, I got these awesome brand new pillows for $2.99 each.

I've been wanting to pull some green into the living room, and these do it perfectly. They also perfectly match my home goods ottoman! I bought him just a few weeks ago.

I'd been wanting one of these for a long time, but I just couldn't justify the $400-$600 price I had been seeing.... I was super excited when I saw the $179 price tag on this one, and I snatched it right up!

I'll take some better photos of it once I get the living room better put together. So far, the only furniture we have in there is this ottoman and the Tv and stand. But hopefully for not much longer!!