Learning to Love Salads – Part 12: Tuna Pasta Salad

Fact: There was no need for me to learn to love a Tuna Pasta Salad this week…it’s just a given. So I was a bit torn in making this recipe part of my “learning to love salads” series, but well, it’s a salad, so blam here it is! I came across this recipe on the site Lauren’s Latest and was salivating to the point that making this dish next was a foregone conclusion.

Now for all of you tuna haters out there, just give this recipe a chance. If you get a great white albacore canned tuna, you’re not going to get an uber fishy taste and the combination of other flavors makes this dish a home run!

To me this pasta salad was like a tuna salad sandwich minus the bread and with a less tuna-y flavor. Now I am a fan of pretty much any dish with tuna in it (tuna noodle casserole, creamed tuna, tuna salad, tuna mayo jacket potato–more on those here, you get the point) and anything involving pasta makes me smile, so of course this tuna pasta salad makes me happy, happy, happy!

Here is what makes this dish delightful: Mini Farfalle (aka tiny bow-tie pasta), dill pickles, frozen peas (sigh) and a mild canned tuna. The dressing of mayo (I went with a lower-fat olive oil-based mayo), lemon juice, and dried dill was lovely and coated the pasta salad ingredients very lightly. My sister tried this one out a few minutes ago and she was a fan just like me. Yum!

So you know if you love tuna and pasta, you will love this…but if you find yourself turning up your nose at tuna, give this one a go. I am definitely adding this to my rotation of recipes, and I hope you do too! Such a perfect and light recipe for Spring & Summer!

Click here for the recipe and step by step instructions!

A look back:
One year ago: Creamy Avocado Pasta…My New Favorite Pasta Dish
Two years ago: The Deliciousness That is Israeli Couscous…

Bling and Charity — Always a Good Combination!

What makes you feel great? I mean really great… For me, two things immediately pop into my mind: Looking my best and therefore feeling confident, and also giving back. This month I decided to pair these two ideas together with what I’m calling “Operation Give Back.” A little bling and charity make people feel better!

UPDATE!: Here’s how it works. I am doing an online jewelry party ending May 26th where everyone who orders gets specials exclusive to this party, and I will be donating 50% of my commission to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Also in light of the devastating tornadoes, in Moore, Oklahoma, I’ll be donating the remaining 50% to the relief efforts for the people of Moore. Let’s work together and help some amazing causes!
Operation Give Back - May 2013

This charity is the first one that I was truly moved by growing up. When I was a junior in high school my Aunt Madge (an amazing woman who played a significant role in my life) was diagnosed with breast cancer. Thankfully, she was a survivor and we had many extra years with her due to the research that had previously been done and the advances that had been made. In college I joined the Zeta Tau Alpha sorority and our charity was Susan G. Komen, so it just made sense to start here. I know breast cancer is a scary disease and affects so many women and their families, and I wanted to be able to give back in hopes that one day a cure will be found. And this week it was really inspiring to hear Angelina Jolie bravely address her decision to take proactive steps to avoid breast cancer, and inspire many women.

Video #1: The Back Story:
I made the below video to talk about this fundraiser a bit and how I got there. In case you’re curious I’m wearing the Leaflet earrings in this video, which are one of my go-to gold earrings…adorable and lightweight!
Kelli’s Operation Give Back!

Video #2: Special Offers:
I will be giving some exclusive deals to ANYONE who helps me out (and I can’t do this on my own). Please know that everyone can be part of this jewelry party and get gorgeous pieces; you do not have to live locally. So what do you get? Well I explain these specials in the below video, so be sure to click on the link below. I’m wearing/featuring a few pieces in the video: Dispatch earrings from Special Edition collection, oh-so-sparkly Class Act necklace, Sensational ring, and the Elysian cuff bracelet:
Check Out These Exclusive Deals!

Here is a break down to reference:

 

1) The Drawing: To begin with, every person who places an order gets their name put into a drawing…the more orders I get, the more drawings I do. Drawings will include limited edition pieces and a secret grand prize for one of my favorite pieces in the current style guide.

2) $100 or More Orders: Anyone purchasing $100 in jewelry (this would be your subtotal) will get to pick out an additional piece of your choice at hostess bonus pricing. (I’ll elaborate on this bonus pricing below.)

3) Be a Future Hostess: If you want an even better deal, then be one of my future hostesses and get some great pieces using our hostess program. In addition, if you book a party now after ordering from this party, 2 things happen:

a) Pick out any item as your hostess thank you gift that is $100 or less for only $5
(if you want a piece more than $100, just let me know and I’ll adjust that price).
b) I will donate $50 of my commission to either the Susan G Komen Foundation or another charity that is important to you.

UPDATE! THE FOLLOWING SPECIAL IS GOING TO BE CARRIED FORWARD THROUGH THIS WEEKEND SO EVERYONE CAN TAKE ADVANTAGE:
4) EARLY BIRD SPECIAL! For anyone who places an order by midnight Sunday, May 19th, (so you have ALL weekend), you can get 1 item at regular price and up to 4 more expensive pieces off, and I’ll contact you so you can pick out a FREE pair of Birthday Party earrings. These earrings are great every day items, come in silver or gold in all birth stones, and they make great gifts too!


How Hostess Bonus Pricing Works:
Any item can be a bonus item. If it’s $100 or less, it’s only $15 and if the item is more than $100 you will find the bonus price either in the catalog if you have one, or on my website if you’re looking there. For example, a $128 necklace is $25 at bonus pricing to show you the great value you get!

Boulevard Necklace

Okay, those are some crazy, good deals! I want everyone to benefit and get a little extra for helping me out. So here’s a great question: Why do I want to purchase from Lia Sophia? After all, you deserve to know how awesome this company truly is:

1) Every piece you get comes with an unconditional lifetime guarantee, so you can replace any jewelry if it breaks, if there is wear and tear, or if it isn’t what you expected you can exchange it for a different piece!

2) Our Pick 6 special helps you get more items for less, and you can truly put your favorites on sale: Buy 2 items at regular price, get up to 4 MORE EXPENSIVE pieces half off…I apologize for yelling, but seriously, the higher priced items are always half off…how cool is that?! And be an Early Bird and purchase by midnight the night of May 19th and save even more!

3) Our high quality fashion jewelry has hundreds of styles so there is truly something for everyone. Plus you’ll find lots of celebrities choose Lia Sophia too!


Here’s how you order:

1) Go to www.liasophia.com/kelliwallace

2) Click on “Browse Our Jewelry”

3) Enter in “Kelli Wallace” (figured that would be easier to remember) as the hostess and select this online party

4) Shop away – the Pick 6 special discount is factored in at checkout, and if you make a $100 or more purchase or are one of my early birds, I will contact you directly and will adjust your total. PS — no cards are charged until this show is submitted the evening of May 26th. :)

I appreciate all of your help in advance. I CANNOT do this on my own, and I NEED your help, so please join in with me, find some great jewelry and let’s give back together! Don’t assume that your order won’t matter, because it absolutely will!

Wow am I so excited for this! I really want to donate a lot of money to a fabulous cause, so please consider helping and private message me on FB or Twitter if you have questions on the jewelry or ordering or would like suggestions! Thanks friends!!

~Kelli

Learning to Love Salad — Part 11: Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad

Shaved Brussels Sprout Salad

Now this is my kind of salad loving week! Finally the temperatures are starting to feel a bit like Spring after Mother Nature was clearly on crack with her snow storm last week. But I digress…I was on a mission this week to find a new salad to try out, because I realized that it [...]

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It’s Macaroni and Cheese Time Again!

Spicy Roasted Vegetable Mac 'n Cheese

That’s right, friends. I’m so sorry to have waited this long since the last macaroni and cheese recipe I made. I was looking back and realized I hadn’t made a pasta dish lately and that’s just a shame. so I bring you a spicy mac ‘n cheese that’s healthy…well it’s loaded with veggies, which is [...]

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Soaring to New Heights…It’s All About Sisterhood!

Michelle, Jen, Melissa, & Kelli - Happy Hour

Wow what a weekend is all I can say! So for those of you who don’t know, I’m a Lia sophia advisor and we sell high quality fashion jewelry, and our team had a fabulous weekend of training of sisterhood. The weekend started with a happy hour (or hours!) Friday night with some of the [...]

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Craving Muffins – Pink Grapefruit Muffins To Be Exact

Pink Grapefruit Muffins

I was low on time and was trying to pick my recipe o’ the week, and muffins were on my mind. I looked back through my archives, and shame on me because it’s been quite a LONG while since I’ve shared a muffin recipe. So I had my inspiration and when I was searching through [...]

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My Adorable Leaf Necklace

Efflorescence necklace

My sister likes to joke that I get “obsessed” with a lot of my jewelry, but the fact is it’s easy to do when it involves lia sophia. So yes, I have a few pieces I go a bit gaga for like this fabulous leaf necklace called Efflorescence. What makes this necklace obsession-worthy, you ask? [...]

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Sweet and Savory Appetizers!

Sweet & Savory Appetizers

It’s always a good idea to have some go-to appetizer recipes on hand when you need them in a rush. This week I was in that very situation. I had an event to help with and wanted to bring some great food to satisfy the group, so I thought I couldn’t go wrong with sweet [...]

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The Baked Potato Taken to a New Level

Baked Potato with Sausage and Spinach Sauce

If you like Baked Potatoes, then this one topped with an awesome sauce is one to try! That’s right I said “awesome sauce,” but this sauce really was awesome. Here’s how I got to this dish…I knew I needed to make a Giada recipe this week, because her recipes are oh-so reliable and have never [...]

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Tasty & Tangy Hummus Crusted Chicken

Hummus Crusted Chicken Dish

It’s no secret that low-carb eating isn’t my favorite thing, but I think I may have found a go-to low-carb dish. Hummus Crusted Chicken with Veggies is that dish, and thanks to Pinterest I’ve located yet another great recipe! The first great thing is that this dish was really easy to pull together. Chop up [...]

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