Dearest and I love this soup so much that he begged me to submit it for a Soup Social held at his office last week. While it didn’t win first place, it won second place only to Corn & Chicken Chowder that, in my defense, had gallons of half-and-half and heavy cream in it. Who can beat that?!

So, as long as you’re not trying to pick a winning recipe to compete with a chowder, pick this one!

Chicken Cheese Tortellini Soup
Recipe Altered By: Jessica
Recipe Originally From: Aunt Rhonda

4 c. chicken broth
4 c. beef broth
4 celery ribs, diced
1 c. baby carrots, diced
1 pkg onion gravy mix
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
1 tsp. dried minced onion
1 tsp. dried minced garlic
1/8 tsp. pepper
3 c. refrigerated cheese tortellini
3 c. cooked shredded chicken breast

Bring the chicken and beef broth to a boil in a large pot. Add celery, carrots, and seasonings.

Mix well and return to a boil.

Add tortellini and turn down to Medium High heat. Cover and cook for 20 minutes or until vegetables are tender and pasta is done.

This post was originally published on February 12, 2011. I’m bringing it back for Day 3 of 7 Days of Valentine’s Printables!

I’ve always thought that people just came up with the most clever ideas and until I saw this one online, I didn’t have any clever ideas of my own.

I made these Valentine’s “cards” with my littlest sister when she was in first grade, which seems all too long ago already.  We literally spent an entire day and then some getting them together, but the truth? We had such a good time!

Plus, she thought they were pretty cool, which is worth all the trouble. Just look at her…

Materials:
Tape
2 (14-inch) pieces of string
2 mini peanut butter cups
1 (1-ounce) box of conversation hearts
2 (4-inch) circles of aluminum foil
4- by 7-inch strip of pink paper
Glue stick
Sheet of white printer paper or printable scroll wheel and playlist

Instructions:
1. Tape each end of a piece of string to a peanut butter cup. Tie on the other piece of string as shown, then tape the loose end to the candy box.

2. Wrap each peanut butter cup in a circle of aluminum foil.

3. Wrap the pink paper strip around the candy box and secure it with a glue stick.

4. Cut paper shapes and write text for the scroll wheel and playlist, and use a glue stick to attach them to the box. Write a valentine message on the back of the box.

We already have one printable under our belt, a Valentine’s Card, but plenty more printables to go yet. Yay!

This one is even easier than the last. It doesn’t involve any computer work aside from the download and printing. The rest is something that a child can easily due with some supervision, too.

“Write” One For Me, Valentine

1. Download “Write” One For Me, Valentine Printable.

2. Print on card stock or heavy-weight white paper.

3. Cut out each valentine and cut black lines.

4. Push pencil through openings in valentine.

5. Sign and share!

You may not use this graphic for commercial use of any kind. It may not be sold as is and you may not use it to create a complete product for others to receive reimbursement of any kind. Personal use only.

This week I have 7 adorable Valentine’s printables ready for download and free for your personal use.  I’m so excited to share each one of these with you, as I’ve had such fun creating them! Make sure you come back each day this week to get your free printable!

The first Valentine’s printable is one that you’ll probably want to get a head start on. I figured it was best to give this to you today so that you have time to get your image in there, print them out, and mail them to family and friends just in time for the 14th!

Valentine’s Day Card

How To: Create a Valentine’s Day Card with Your Image

1) Download the Valentine’s Day Card Printable.

2) Open it in a program with layers. (I use Photoshop Elements.)

3) Open the image you want to use in the same program and move that layer beneath the card layer.

4) Position the image as you wish and save as an image file (.jpg probably works best).

5) Print them and share!

You may not use this printable for commercial use of any kind. It may not be sold as is and you may not use it to create a complete product for others to receive reimbursement of any kind. Personal use only.

Anyone else feel the same?

January flew by, but I have some exciting things going on this month, so I’m looking forward to it.

Next week I also have some big things planned for My Simply Complicated – something that includes treats and fun ideas for you, my readers, of course!

So, be sure that you’ve done these things: subscribe via email, follow MSC on Twitter, and like MSC on Facebook. By doing that, you’ll have easy access to my download links!

AND don’t forget to prepare yourself for February by downloading these…

February 2012 Desktop Wallpaper

To get the download link for the wallpaper, please visit The Frilly Coconut’s Facebook Page. When you click “Like,” the download link will be given to you on the “Monthly Fan Freebie” page.

February 2012 iPhone Wallpaper

Click to download the January 2012 iPhone Wallpaper.

To use this iPhone wallpaper: Download and save the image to your computer. Email it to yourself, open that email on your phone, and save the image to your phone’s camera roll. Open up the images and select the action button in the lefthand corner to select “Set as Wallpaper.”

You may not use this graphic for commercial use of any kind. It may not be sold as is and you may not use it to create a complete product for others to receive reimbursement of any kind. Personal use only.

I’m not a big spinach eater.

That being said, I’ve bought in on my last two trips to the grocery store.

I may not be able to eat it cooked with just a little salt and pepper and nothing more, but I can bury it deep inside pasta dishes like none-other, y’all.

That’s exactly what I did with this dish, too. It’s a healthy filler that takes up space that I’d otherwise occupy with something far less nutritious and much higher in calorie content.

Needless to say, the spinach isn’t too over-powering for a non-loving spinach eater. Plus, there’s cheese…AND WINE. And just in case you didn’t know: cheese and wine make everything taste absolutely delicious.

No, really, they do!

Pasta Florentine
Recipe From: Jessica

7 oz small shell pasta, cooked
1/2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 1/2 c. baby spinach, chopped
1 c. frozen peas
1/3 c. chicken broth
1/3 c. white wine
1/2 tsp. minced dried garlic
1 tsp. red pepper flakes
3 wedges of Laughing Cow Cheese – Mozzarella, Sun Dried Tomato, & Basil
Salt & pepper to taste
Grated Parmesan Cheese

Put olive oil in large skillet and heat to Medium Low. Add spinach and cook for 5 minutes or until wilted and cooked down.

Add peas, broth, wine, and seasonings. Cover and let simmer for 5 minutes or until peas are cooked.

Add pasta and stir in cheese until melted. Salt and pepper to taste and sprinkle with grated Parmesan.

SELF-PORTRAIT?!

*Insert moaning, groaning, squished up face of disgust, in the mirror belly fat squeezing, tummy sucking in-ing, and pointless, irritated hair fluffing*

If it’s not obvious already, I clearly come to you with loads of self-confidence.

I’m not one of those people who constantly degrades myself. I do know my worth, I just simply don’t feel at my best.

Despite that, I chose to capture myself in true form this week:

There is nothing that I’m hiding behind in this picture (regretfully).

I didn’t edit the heck out of this picture (or abstain from this week) like I would have liked.

I’m embracing it (the best I know how).

I work from home and rarely walk out the door for anything other than the washing machine during the week. It’s just my lifestyle and while it may not be glamorous, there will be a time where I’ll want to remember where I started and where I ended up.

Do you guys ever feel this way? Do share!

As she’s preparing to be a stay-at-home mom until the fall, when her daughter starts Kindergarten, she’s trying to organize herself and make a plan.

She’s one of those people who does far better with a plan that’s written down and right there in front of her face, as am I. If you were to look at my desk where I work each day, I have sticky notes that outline some of my professional goals for 2012.

I don’t ever want them to slip my mind and with every decision that I make, I want to be reminded of where I’m headed and what I plan on doing with my business.

If you’re like us and you crave that list of things you must do each week, this printable is for you! It was originally titled Weekly Cleaning List, but I soon realized I wanted to put more on my list than just cleaning – Weekly Upkeep List is what I decided on.

You can either choose to download a blank version of the list or the completed version, as pictured below. Enjoy and become more organized!

Weekly Upkeep List

Completed Weekly Upkeep List Download | Blank Weekly Upkeep List Download

You may not use this graphic for commercial use of any kind. It may not be sold as is and you may not use it to create a complete product for others to receive reimbursement of any kind. Personal use only.

She just does. It’s a well-known fact.

Grandma’s coming to the party? You ask her to bring Spanish Rice.

That being said, this isn’t her recipe.

But, when I was at her house just a week ago, I told her how I made this rice and it must have been very similar to her rice making ways because she got really excited and told me to try a new brand of tomatoes she’s been using. And she seemed like she was really proud of me, so I just rolled with it.

If I do get my hands on her recipe, I can’t promise I’m going to be willing to share it here – let’s face it, if Grandma doesn’t want me to share, it ain’t happenin’, but I can promise you this is an acceptable substitute.  Promise.

Easy Spanish Rice
Recipe From: Jessica

1 c. Minute white rice
1/2 Tbsp. olive oil
1 c. salsa
3/4 c. water
1/2 tsp. cumin

Cover the bottom of a medium skillet with olive oil. On medium heat, add rice and let brown.

Put rice in medium saucepan and add salsa, water, and cumin. Mix well and turn on high heat. When rice comes to a boil, turn heat to low, cover, and let rice sit for 5 minutes.

When I first read what this week’s challenge was, I knew immediately what I’d pull my camera out to photograph.

I had it all planned out perfectly, unlike the week’s prior to this where I juggled several ideas before finally settling on what would be best at the very last minute.

Not this time though! I thought I had it all in order…and I was going to share my business.

My graphic design business is something I never really dreamed up in my head. When I first started designing, it was something on the side for a little money as I worked my way through college.

Did it grow into something bigger? Yes, and better.

Is it something I dream of continuing for a while? As long as it makes me happy.

But, when I kept planning my mini photo shoot – business cards intricately laid on our coffee table, with my computer mouse sitting in the midst of it all – I felt a disconnect over and over again no matter how well I thought everything out.

I dream for myself and I have dreams for my business and while I’m most certainly passionate about what I do, it just wasn’t right for this photo shoot.

There’s someone else in my life who has dreams for himself, too.

The one thing that’s different between mine and his?

Someone else is stopping him from chasing them.

There’s nothing more heart-breaking for me than to watch application after application to dental school be turned away and show Application Denied across the computer screen – as if he’s not good enough, as if they really know him and think they have a right to tell him no and turn him away.

Dearest has gone through his second round of dental school applications and has heard back from the majority of the schools he sent applications to. Last Friday, just a week ago, he received confirmation that yet another school had told him no.

Can you imagine knowing exactly what you want to do with the rest of your life and then having someone – better yet, a committee of people who don’t know you – tell you that’s simply not going to be a reality for you?

He’s promised to give it one more shot before he accepts that this isn’t what his future is supposed to be.

But, until then, he’s dreaming a dream. And I’m praying it’s his dream, one that he will be allowed to live out because unlike so many others, I know how passionate and dedicated he is and I know that he is a good person and worthy of so much more than others are giving him…

Note: This week’s inspiration was obviously provided by my other half, Dearest, but this is a picture of a gift I received for Christmas. I’m unsure of the proper term, but it holds a wine bottle and it’s the cutest little dentist. Perfection!