DiEduardo Divas Favorite Pasta Salad

Hurricane Florence is underway and is heading our way.  So, I thought I'd prepare one of our favorite pasta salads to snack on in the event we lose power and/or are stuck in the house for any number of hours or days.

I'm not a fan of ranch and most pasta salads use ranch as their base.  I did tons of research about 10 years ago when I was asked to bring a pasta salad to a family Christmas lunch and found the BEST PASTA SALAD.  Everyone loved it and I was so excited!  My uncle asked if he could take home the leftovers.  Now it's become a staple that I bring to picnics, family gatherings, and make for the girls to take for lunch at school.

It's super simple and doesn't require a ton of ingredients which is awesome!  And children love it because there aren't a ton of ingredients they don't like and have to pick out.

INGREDIENTS:
1 (16 ounce) package of macaroni farfalle pasta (I substituted bow tie pasta)
1/2 cup mayonniase
1 cup cucumber - peeled, seeded and chopped
1 tablespoon dried minced onion
1 cup diced ham
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
3 tablespoons olive oil
3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
salt and pepper to taste

DIRECTIONS:
In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook pasta until al dente, rinse under cold water and drain.

In a large bowl, combine the pasta, mayonnaise and mix well. 

Stir in cucumber, onion, ham and cheese.  Mix well.

Drizzle oil and vinegar over top and toss.  Refrigerate for at least 4 hours.

So yummy!  Enjoy!

If the Shoe Fits

I love shoes!  Who doesn't, right?!  I've always been a huge lover of Payless Shoes too!  When I started purchasing my own shoes in college I didn't want to spend a ton of money when trends come and go so quickly and Payless offered affordable shoes.  AND, they have ALWAYS kept up with the latest styles and trends thru the years.

With summer coming to a close, you can bet I needed to stop by and check out all of the major deals and rack up on some fabulous shoes to rock for now and for fun winter festivities.

First up, these adorable Black Quilted Slip-Ons!  Y'all, they look just like the Steve Madden version for a fraction of the cost.  So stinking cute and the perfect shoe for a casual outfit with leggings or a great shoe to transition to fall.

Speaking of Steve Madden slip-ons...I purchased this adorable Lace-up Slip-on Sneaker last year in pink and got so many compliments on them.  They were so comfortable, I even wore them home from my brain surgery.  Yep, Steve Madden has a version as well for more than double the price.  My mom loved my Payless version so much I got her a pair as well for her birthday.  You can score this adorable shoe for $24 and there are several colors to choose from.

While I haven't worn this precious Pop of Pink Pair yet, they sure caught my eye the minute I walked down the aisle.  These beauties are on sale for $15.  Talk about a fun accessory for a girls night or date night!!  And they come in several colors!!  

I know there are only a few weeks of summer left and there are only a few select sizes in this cute Platform Wedge Sandal left but you might just luck up like I did at my local Payless store.  I scored these for $15 but they're now online for $10.  That's a steal!

Another favorite are these oh, so stylish Black Suede Chunky Heels I recently wore to a fashion show (and of course I had to strike a pose).  Ha!  No one would ever know these aren't Sam Edelman's that sell for over $100!!  I scored my awesome Payless version for less than $25 and my feet didn't hurt at the end of the night.  You're welcome!

As you can see, Payless offers the trendiest of styles and most affordable shoes!  Run, don't walk to grab the cutest slip-ons, heels, and booties (my next purchase will be these adorable Peep Toe Booties) from your local Payless or purchase them online at payless.com.  Happy Shopping, friends!