I made it back to Charlotte on Saturday morning--Rob came to Roanoke with Ender on Friday so I wouldn't have to rent a car to get home (we are a one-car household, which is actually super convenient...until it's not).

Leaving the house was really emotional, first when we moved everything out and then again and again because we spent a few days at our next-door neighbors, so every time I passed by the window or got in my car I could see it standing there in darkness. Finally I got used to it, but I had two more boxes to grab before we left on Saturday and so my heart broke all over again when I finally closed the front door behind me for the last time.

Rob and Ender and I spent the weekend mostly lounging. I had some work to do with my photographer friend Rémy on Saturday morning, and after he left we caught our breath on the couch before meeting our friend Corri  for a few beers and a snack. I very randomly ended up getting the tattoo that I've been putting off for years, because her artist friend posted on Instagram that he was taking walk-ins until 8:00 and I always knew it was going to have to be impromptu like that anyway. I love it so much that I cried about it when I got home.

Sunday was for sleeping in and cleaning a little but mostly watching football and taking a nap.

So now we're home for Christmas and it really feels like we're home for Christmas. Last year at this time I still didn't know my way around and I was pretty certain we weren't meant to be in Charlotte. This year I feel so much more grounded. I'm just glad to be here.

Wishing each and every one of you a very happy (and peaceful) holiday.

Photo by Rémy Thurston.

• If you think you want a boob job but you're afraid of the recovery, you should probably just do it because my mom had surgery on Monday and yesterday we spent the entire day out and about running errands and had wine at lunch. This recovery has been the exact opposite of her double mastectomy.
• That "Wildest Dreams" song by Taylor Swift if sort of catchy and also maybe my favorite song right now.
• Life is easier without a dog but definitely not better. Ender is at the dog sitter this week and I can do whatever the hell I want! But I miss him every single minute.
• If you remember something and it's even a little important you should write it down because chances are you're going to forget about it and it's going to be really irritating.
• There's a fine line between chivalry and chauvinism.
• There's nothing better than belly-laughing on the phone with your friend Shawna after not hearing her voice for months.
• Things are really incredibly hard sometimes. But you can do it.

I don't eat pasta too regularly these days, but when I do, I like to do it all the way. So when a couple of Rob's best guy friends came to visit us for a few days in Charlotte, I headed to BJ's Wholesale Club and picked up a bunch of groceries to make a nice big family dinner for all of us.

I grabbed some Barilla gluten-free penne and a couple other straightforward ingredients--I came up with an easy but delicious one-pot cheesy gluten-free pasta recipe, loaded with spicy sausage. I'm the only one in the group who's gluten-free, but it was a hit all around.

Ingredients: 

• 1 pound Barilla Gluten-Free pasta
• 1 pound of hot Italian sausage
• 1 small onion. diced
• 2 cloves of garlic, crushed
• 1-2 tablespoons olive oil
• 1 cup of tomato sauce
• 3 cups of chicken stock
• 2-2 1/2 cups of shredded cheese (I like a cheddar/jack mix)
• salt and pepper, to taste
• a couple green onions, sliced for garnish

Instructions: 

1. In a large pot over medium heat, saute the onion and garlic in olive oil. 
2. Add the hot Italian sausage to the pot and let them brown on all sides. Remove them from the pot once they're mostly cooked and slice into round pieces. Transfer back to the pot. (I'm sure you could do this when they're still raw but I like to let them cook first.)
3. Add the tomato sauce to the sausage and onion and stir. Once the sauce has covered all the sausage, pour in about two cups of the chicken stock and bring to a low boil/simmer.
4. Pour the pasta into the pot and combine well. Let it cook with the cover on for about ten minutes and add the rest of the chicken stock. Re-cover and cook for five to ten more minutes, or until the pasta is al-dente and the stock is mostly absorbed.
5. Throw about half the cheese in and give it a stir. Once it's melted, top it with the rest of the cheese and let it melt. Garnish with green onion and serve hot. Enjoy!

Make sure to check out Barilla's Gluten-Free recipe board on Pinterest for even more dinner ideas! 

Visit BJ's Wholesale Clubs on December 22nd and 23rd to see an in store Barilla Gluten Free pasta demo at select clubs.

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group®, Barilla®, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #GlutenFreeBarilla http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV