🎭 Some People Belong in Your Stories… Just Not in Your Life

 

Let’s be real. Life has a habit of handing you people. Some are meant to stay for decades. Some are meant to teach you a lesson. And some… well, some are best left as strangers in the background of your story, popping in for a plot twist and nothing else.

Remember that one friend you thought was ride-or-die, only to find out they were more like “ride-or-die… but only when convenient”? Or the coworker who seemed chill, but somehow became a full-time drama consultant in your life? Yeah… hindsight is hilarious like that 😏.

✨ Extras vs. Main Characters

Here’s the rule of thumb:

• Main Characters – people who show up, support you, lift your vibe, celebrate your wins, and occasionally tell you when you’re being dumb.

• Extras – people who show up for their own entertainment, drama, or personal gain. They teach you lessons but don’t stick around for the sequel.

• Strangers – those whose cameo you wish you’d skipped entirely. Spoiler: it’s totally okay to never call them back.

Life gets a lot smoother when you realize: not everyone needs a front-row seat. Some just get background music. 🎶

😈 Why This Matters

Keeping extras and strangers in your life is exhausting. It’s like hosting a party where everyone wants a snack, a selfie, and an opinion — and no one actually cleans up after themselves.

By being selective about who you let in:

• You protect your energy 💖

• You maintain your peace 😌

• You free up mental real estate for people who actually matter 🏆

And let’s face it, the fewer unnecessary plot twists, the better your story reads.

💬 How to Spot the Extras

Some signs your life cameo is more trouble than it’s worth:

1. They only show up when it benefits them.

2. They drain your energy faster than your phone battery at 2% ⚡

3. They bring drama like it’s a full-time job.

4. They make you question your own sanity.

If you check more than one box… congratulations. You just earned yourself some distance, a little inner laughter, and maybe a private eye emoji 👀 for your mental rolodex.

🔥 Your Life, Your Story

Here’s the thing: you get to write your own script. You get to choose the people you share it with. And you get to decide who gets a front-row seat, a cameo, or a permanent background credit.

Not everyone deserves a chapter. Some deserve a footnote. Some… just get deleted like an embarrassing selfie from 2010 😌✨

So here’s your takeaway: don’t feel guilty for pruning your cast. Your peace, your energy, and your happiness are main characters — the rest are just extras.

🔥 Unapologetically Unboxed: When You Finally Stop Living by Other People’s Scripts

 

Let’s talk about that moment — you know the one.
The moment when you realize you’ve been living your life like a character in someone else’s group chat… and you were never even asked to audition.

For years, people will try to hand you a script:
Be quieter.
Be nicer.
Be less ambitious.
Be more agreeable.
Be successful — but not too successful because heaven forbid you make anyone uncomfortable.

And for a while? Most of us try to play along.
We shrink. We edit ourselves. We over-explain our choices like we’re defending a thesis called “Why I Deserve to Exist Comfortably.”

Then one day… something shifts.

You wake up and realize:
The world’s expectations never made you happy — they just made you tired.

☕ The Myth of “Fitting In”

Somewhere along the way, society convinced us that blending in equals safety… and safety equals success.

But let’s be honest — fitting in usually just means:

• dimming your personality

• silencing your opinions

• and smiling through things that don’t align with your soul

And the wild part?
The same people who tell you to “be yourself” are often the first to panic when you actually do it.

Funny how that works 😌

😏 The Glow-Up Nobody Warns You About

There’s a certain freedom that comes when you stop asking for permission to be yourself.

You start:

• saying no without a 12-paragraph apology

• choosing peace over proving a point

• protecting your time like it’s your last clean towel

• realizing that not everyone is meant to understand your path — and that’s perfectly fine

Growth isn’t always loud.
Sometimes it’s just quietly deciding you’re done being manageable for people who never tried to understand you.

🔥 Being “Different” Is Not a Character Flaw

Let’s clear something up real quick:

Different doesn’t mean difficult.
Bold doesn’t mean aggressive.
Independent doesn’t mean cold.

And refusing to settle for a life that drains you?
That’s not selfish — that’s self-respect.

History didn’t change because people blended in politely.
It changed because somebody somewhere said,
“Yeah… I’m gonna do this my way.”

💬 Protecting Your Peace Isn’t Optional Anymore

Here’s the reality check:
Life is already going to demand enough from you — work, responsibilities, challenges, growth.

So why on earth would you also sign up to:

• live by other people’s opinions

• chase approval that keeps moving the goalpost

• or silence your voice just to keep the room comfortable?

Peace isn’t passive.
Peace is a boundary with good lighting and zero explanations.

💥 Your Voice Matters — Even If It Makes Noise

Some people talk just to be heard.
Others speak because they actually have something to say.

And when you finally own your voice — not to argue, not to prove yourself — but to stand in your truth… something powerful happens.

You stop performing.
You start living.

You stop blending.
You start leading.

And you attract people who don’t need you to be smaller to feel bigger.

✨ The Real Flex? Living Authentically

Success isn’t just money, applause, or validation from strangers who only see the highlight reel.

Real success looks like:

• waking up without resentment toward your own life

• choosing goals that actually matter to you

• building something you’re proud of

• and standing firm in who you are — even when it’s inconvenient for others

Because at the end of the day:
You are not here to be digestible.
You are here to be authentic.

🚀 Final Thought: Watch What Happens When You Stop Asking Permission

The moment you stop trying to fit into expectations that were never designed for you…

You get louder.
Clearer.
Stronger.
More peaceful.
More focused.

And suddenly, the life you once thought was “too much” becomes exactly the life you were meant to build.

So go ahead:
Be bold.
Be different.
Be unapologetic.
Be exactly who you are — without a disclaimer.

Because the world doesn’t change when people conform.

It changes when someone finally decides to be real.

💘🔪 Love, Luck & Low Expectations: Surviving the Friday the 13th Before Valentine’s Day

 

Ah yes… the calendar really woke up today and chose chaos.

Because nothing says romance is in the air like Friday the 13th showing up the day before Valentine’s Day like that one ex who still watches your stories but never learned emotional maturity.

So here we are.
Half of us are lighting candles for love…
The other half are side-eyeing our phones like, “Please don’t let Mercury be in ‘text your ex’ retrograde.”

🖤 Today’s Vibe: Suspiciously Romantic

Let’s be honest — today is giving:

• “Should I believe this sweet text… or is this a trap?”

• “Flowers tomorrow? Or emotional character development?”

• “Do I want love… or just snacks and uninterrupted sleep?”

And frankly… all are valid life choices.

💌 The Relationship Status Roll Call

Let’s check in with the crowd real quick:

💍 The Happily Coupled:
Y’all are posting cute selfies and pretending you don’t argue over thermostat settings. We support the delusion — it’s beautiful.

💬 The ‘Talking Stage Warriors’:
You’re analyzing punctuation like FBI agents.
“Why did he say ‘Good morning 🙂’ and not ‘Good morning 😘’???”
Ma’am… please hydrate.

🔥 The Single & Thriving Crew:
You bought your own chocolate, your own wine, and your peace is currently undefeated. Honestly… you’re winning.

👀 The Situationship Survivors:
You’re waiting to see if tomorrow brings flowers… or a motivational quote about “healing.” Stay strong.

😈 Friday the 13th Energy Check

Today is not the day to:

• Text anyone you blocked for “personal growth.”

• Believe promises made after 11:37 PM.

• Assume “We should hang soon” means an actual calendar invite.

Today is the day to:

• Laugh at your past dating decisions.

• Appreciate how far you’ve come.

• Remember that the biggest red flag you survived… was probably your own patience.

❤️ Tomorrow Is Valentine’s Day — Let’s Set the Record Straight

Listen… love is amazing. Romance is cute. Grand gestures are great.

But let’s be very clear:
Your worth is not determined by:

• A dinner reservation

• A dozen roses

• Or a man who suddenly becomes poetic for 24 hours

Real love shows up on random Tuesdays when you look like a snack that forgot its seasoning… and someone still thinks you’re the main course.

💋 Final Thoughts From Your Friendly Neighborhood Reality Check

Whether tomorrow brings:

• Candlelight dinners

• DoorDash and sweatpants

• A cute text

• Or blessed, peaceful silence…

You’re still a whole vibe.

So here’s to surviving the most chaotic calendar combo ever:
Friday the 13th… followed immediately by Valentine’s Day.

May your standards stay high, your humor stay sharp, and your chocolate be hidden from people who “just want one piece.”

Happy Love-Eve… and remember:
If today feels unlucky… at least you’re not texting “I miss you” to someone who still owes you emotional rent.

🔥 Calm on the Outside, Volcano on Standby: Understanding Your “Fight” Trauma Response Without Feeling Like the Villain

 

Let’s go ahead and say the quiet part out loud:
Some people think you’re “too intense,” “too reactive,” or “too angry.”

Meanwhile… you’ve spent YEARS swallowing words, regulating emotions like a full-time job, and choosing restraint when your nervous system was basically yelling, “WE RIDE AT DAWN.”

So no — you’re not broken.
You’re not unstable.
And you’re definitely not the villain for having a fight response.

You’re a human with a nervous system that learned how to survive.

And honestly? You’ve probably been showing more control than anyone realizes.

🧠 What a Fight Response Actually Is (Spoiler: It’s Not Just “Having an Attitude”)

Your fight response isn’t random rage or a personality flaw.

It’s your brain’s built-in security system saying:
“Hey… something feels threatening. We need to protect ourselves.”

When triggered, your body can feel:

• intense energy

• sudden anger

• urgency to defend yourself

• a strong need to take control of the situation

It’s primal.
It’s protective.
And it often develops when your system learned early on that standing your ground was the safest option available.

So no… you’re not “too much.”
Your nervous system just learned how to survive in high-stress environments.

🌋 The Part Nobody Sees: The Massive Amount of Restraint You Practice Daily

Here’s where the sarcasm comes in a little…

People see the ONE moment you snap and suddenly they’re emotional detectives, diagnosing you like they earned a psychology degree on TikTok.

What they don’t see:

• the thousand times you stayed quiet when you wanted to scream

• the moments you walked away instead of escalating

• the internal negotiations you do before responding

• the deep breaths, the grounding, the emotional gymnastics

You’re not constantly exploding — you’re constantly regulating.

And that takes serious strength.

😮‍💨 Why People Misinterpret the Fight Response So Easily

Let’s be honest… society tends to romanticize calmness and demonize intensity.

So when someone with a fight response finally hits their limit:

• they’re labeled dramatic

• accused of overreacting

• or told to “just calm down” (which is basically the fastest way to make anyone want to flip a table)

But here’s the truth:
Anger is often a secondary emotion hiding things like hurt, fear, or feeling unsafe.

And when people ignore your boundaries repeatedly?
Your nervous system eventually says, “Okay… new strategy.”

🛠️ Healthy Ways to Work With Your Fight Response (Instead of Fighting Yourself)

Your goal isn’t to erase your fight response — it’s to channel it wisely.

Some powerful shifts:

• Pause before reacting — not to suppress yourself, but to choose your response intentionally.

• Name what you’re feeling — “I’m feeling threatened,” “I’m overwhelmed,” “I need space.”

• Move your body — physical activity can help release that surge of survival energy.

• Create boundaries early — because boundaries prevent explosions later.

• Give yourself grace — healing is messy, not aesthetic.

And yes… sometimes the healthiest thing you can do is step away before a conversation turns into an emotional cage match.

💬 You’re Not “Too Much” — You’re Carrying Survival Energy

Here’s something people rarely say:

Many people with a fight response are incredibly strong, loyal, protective, and deeply resilient.

You learned how to stand up when others might have shut down.

You developed sharp awareness, strong instincts, and an ability to protect yourself when necessary.

The goal now isn’t to silence that strength…
it’s to use it with intention instead of survival panic.

✨ Final Thought: You’re Not the Problem — You’re Healing

If you’ve ever felt ashamed of your anger…
If you’ve ever been misunderstood for your intensity…
If you’ve ever wondered why you feel like a volcano while everyone else looks calm…

Take a breath.

You’re not failing at life.
You’re unlearning survival patterns while still trying to function in everyday situations — and that’s incredibly hard work.

And honestly?
The fact that you’ve held yourself together as long as you have… says more about your strength than any single moment of overwhelm ever could.

So no — you’re not bad.
You’re not broken.
You’re evolving.

And learning to carry your fire… without letting it burn you.

🎭 Game Over, Chaos Goblin: How You Know You’ve Finally Defeated a Covert Narcissist (and Reclaimed Your Peace)

 

Let’s have a real talk moment — not the fluffy, “just send love and light” version.
The real, gritty, empowering truth about what it actually looks like when you’ve broken free from a covert narcissist’s grip.

Spoiler alert:
It’s not dramatic speeches.
It’s not revenge.
It’s not a mic drop in a group chat.

It’s quieter than that.
Stronger than that.
And honestly? A little savage in the most peaceful way possible.

Because the moment you win… is the moment you stop playing their game.

🧠 First — You Stop Taking the Bait (And They Hate That)

You know you’ve leveled up when their attempts to reel you back in feel… obvious.

You can practically see the script:

• First comes the nice version — compliments, nostalgia, “remember when we were happy?” energy.

• If that fails? Cue the drama.
  Suddenly they’re poking your wounds, triggering your anger, stirring chaos like it’s their part-time job.

Why?
Because attention is their oxygen — positive or negative, they’re not picky.

But you?
You’ve learned the ultimate power move:

You give them nothing.
No reaction. No debate. No emotional performance review.

And nothing confuses a narcissist more than silence that isn’t rooted in fear — but in clarity.

🎯 You Realize Arguing Is a Trap Disguised as a Conversation

You used to think if you could just explain better, prove your point, or make them understand — things would change.

Now?
You understand that arguing with someone committed to misunderstanding you is basically a full-time job with zero benefits and constant emotional overtime.

You stop defending yourself against made-up narratives.
You stop trying to win conversations that were designed for you to lose.

And suddenly… your nervous system gets a vacation.

💸 You Don’t Rely on Them Anymore — Emotionally or Financially

Here’s a big shift that hits different:

You no longer look to them for:

• companionship

• validation

• support

• money

• approval

• or crumbs disguised as generosity

Because you finally see the fine print:

Help from a narcissist often comes with invisible interest rates.
If they “do something nice,” it’s stored in their emotional receipt book — ready to be weaponized later.

And when you stop needing anything from them?
Their leverage disappears.

Game. Set. Boundaries.

🕵️‍♀️ Their Tricks Become… Predictable (Like a Bad Reality Show Plot)

Once you see the patterns, it’s almost comical:

• Fake vulnerability right before they want something

• Crisis mode when you start pulling away

• Playing the victim when you hold boundaries

• Suddenly rewriting history like they’re the editor of your life story

And instead of confusion, you feel something new:

Calm recognition.

You don’t get hooked.
You don’t over-explain.
You don’t spiral.

You just… see it.

🤫 Silence Becomes Your Superpower

Not the silent treatment.
Not passive aggression.

But intentional non-engagement.

You stop feeding the drama cycle.
You stop reacting to every poke, jab, or emotional fishing expedition.

And when the chaos stops working?
They lose interest.

Because without emotional fuel… there’s no fire.

🕊️ Their Absence Feels Like Peace — Not Loss

Here’s the truth bomb that hits deep:

You didn’t lose them.
There was nothing healthy to lose.

What you actually gained was:

• emotional quiet

• mental clarity

• deeper self-trust

• space to rediscover who you really are

And the wildest realization?
You are not the villain they painted you to be.

You were never “too sensitive,” “too difficult,” or “the problem.”
You were responding to dysfunction with a human nervous system.

🔓 You Break the Trauma Bond (And Find Yourself Again)

The moment you stop chasing closure from someone incapable of giving it…
The chains start falling off.

You begin to notice:

• You laugh easier

• You sleep better

• You trust your instincts again

• You stop shrinking to avoid conflict

• You feel lighter — emotionally and physically

You remember who you were before you started walking on eggshells.

And that version of you?
They were never broken. Just buried under someone else’s projection.

💥 Final Truth (A Little Spicy — But Real)

When you stop reacting, stop needing, and stop playing their game…
the narcissist loses power — not because you destroyed them, but because you reclaimed yourself.

Healing isn’t loud revenge.
It’s quiet freedom.

It’s waking up one day and realizing:

• you’re at peace

• your life feels lighter

• and the chaos you once normalized now feels… completely unnecessary

You didn’t just survive.
You evolved.

And the most savage victory of all?
You moved on… and your peace stayed.

Communication Isn’t Talking — It’s Actually Understanding (Yes, There’s a Difference 😏)

 

Let’s clear something up real quick…
Just because words are coming out of your mouth doesn’t mean you’re communicating.

I know. Shocking. Groundbreaking. Somebody alert the group chats and half the comment sections on the internet.

Because real communication?
It’s not about who talks the most, who texts the fastest, or who sends a novel-length voice memo at 11:47 PM.
It’s about understanding what’s actually being said — the words, the tone, the intention, and sometimes… what’s being carefully not said at all.

And honestly? That’s where most people drop the ball.

Talking Is Easy. Understanding Takes Effort.

Talking is basically a reflex.
You have a thought → you say the thought → boom, you feel “heard.”

But communication requires a little extra emotional cardio:

• Listening without planning your comeback

• Asking questions instead of making assumptions

• Actually trying to see the other person’s perspective (even when your ego wants to throw hands)

Wild concept, I know.

Some people think communication means winning the conversation.
Spoiler alert: if someone leaves feeling misunderstood or dismissed, nobody won — you just successfully hosted a verbal wrestling match.

The Biggest Communication Mistakes (Yes… We’ve All Done Them)

Let’s be honest with ourselves for a minute:

1. Listening to respond instead of listening to understand.
You’re not in a debate club. Relax. Put the mental microphone down.

2. Assuming tone through text.
You read “Okay.” and immediately think someone is mad. Meanwhile, they were literally just… saying okay.

3. Hearing words but ignoring feelings.
Someone says “I’m fine.”
Are they fine? Maybe.
Are they secretly hoping you ask a follow-up question? Also maybe.

4. Thinking louder equals clearer.
Raising your voice doesn’t make your point stronger. It just makes everyone wish they brought earplugs and emotional armor.

Real Communication Looks Like…

• Asking, “What did you mean by that?” instead of jumping to conclusions

• Saying, “Help me understand your perspective”

• Pausing long enough to actually hear someone

• Realizing that intent and impact are not always the same thing

And here’s the truth bomb nobody likes to hear:
You can have the best intentions in the world… and still communicate poorly if you’re not paying attention to how your message lands.

Ouch. But necessary.

Why Understanding Matters More Than Being Right

You don’t build strong relationships — personal, professional, or romantic — by being the smartest person in the room.
You build them by making people feel heard.

Because when people feel understood:

• Defensiveness drops

• Trust grows

• Conversations get real instead of surface-level polite

And suddenly, communication stops feeling like a battle and starts feeling like connection.

Final Thought (a little spicy but true)

Communication isn’t about who speaks the most eloquently or who drops the most motivational quotes online.
It’s about understanding — even when it’s uncomfortable, even when it challenges your assumptions, and yes… even when you might have to admit you misunderstood someone.

And let’s be real…
Half of the world’s arguments would disappear overnight if people listened with curiosity instead of ego.

So next time you’re in a conversation, try this:
Listen like you actually want to learn something — not just prove a point.

Because communication isn’t talking.
It’s understanding what’s actually being said.

And that… is where the magic (and the growth) happens.

Why the Groundhog is Your Ultimate Valentine

 

So, you’re single on Valentine’s Day? Don’t worry. Honestly, you probably didn’t have a groundhog on Groundhog Day either 🐹💖 And somehow, the little guy survived. Thrived, even.

Let’s be real for a second: what does a groundhog do on Groundhog Day? He shows up. Same day, same routine, same predictability. That’s consistency, folks. That’s reliability. And let’s be honest—consistency is way sexier than overpriced roses or chocolate that melts before you even open it.

Valentine’s Day is optional. Drama is optional. Crying over a soggy heart-shaped box? Definitely optional. But laughing at memes, sipping your coffee like a boss, and quietly noticing who and what actually shows up consistently… that’s essential.

Here’s the lesson: be a little more like the groundhog. Show up. Be steady. Be adorable (if possible). And maybe, just maybe, notice the people and moments that actually earn your attention. They might not hand you a heart-shaped chocolate, but they’ll probably be a lot more consistent than most.

So, this Valentine’s, let’s raise a cup of coffee—or a heart—to the groundhog energy: unbothered, reliable, a little mysterious, and thriving, whether anyone notices or not. 🐹☕💅

Mirrors Are Hard, But Your Excuses Are Harder

 

Some people treat self-reflection like it’s a horror movie—“Nope, not going in there, too scary!” And that’s fine… if you’re fine staying stuck. But me? I’m not the plot twist you need to finally face yourself.

Here’s the truth: if you can’t check yourself, you can’t check in with anyone else. And honestly, my energy doesn’t do unpaid therapy sessions, drama reruns, or people who think accountability is a suggestion.

Self-reflection is not a flaw. It’s like Wi-Fi for your soul—without it, nothing connects, everything buffers, and everyone around you is frustrated. Avoiding it? That’s like trying to stream Netflix with zero internet. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

So yeah, I stay away from the avoiders. The excuse-makers. The “it’s everyone else’s fault” crew. Because life’s too short, my coffee’s too strong, and my vibe is too sacred to babysit someone who refuses to grow.

Pro tip: be real with yourself. It’s the only way you can be real with me… or anyone else who actually matters. Otherwise? Enjoy your solo reruns—don’t worry, I won’t be watching.

Protecting Your Peace… or Avoiding Your Problems? 😌✨

 

How to tell the difference between healthy boundaries and professional-level emotional hide-and-seek.

Let’s be honest…
“Protecting my peace” has become the adult version of “I don’t feel like dealing with this today.”

And listen — sometimes that’s valid.
Sometimes you really DO need space, quiet, and distance from chaos.

But sometimes… just sometimes…
we’re not protecting peace — we’re protecting our comfort zone from growth, accountability, and mildly uncomfortable conversations 😭

So how do you know the difference?

Pull up a chair. We’re unpacking this with humor and honesty.

😌 What Real Peace Protection Looks Like

Healthy peace isn’t avoidance — it’s intentional energy management.

It looks like:
✔ stepping away from people who constantly disrespect you
✔ not engaging in arguments that go nowhere
✔ saying “I need time to process before we talk”
✔ choosing calm over chaos

Peace says:
“I will talk about this — just not while everyone is yelling.”

That’s growth. That’s emotional maturity. That’s adulting with boundaries.

😬 When “Peace” Starts Looking a Little… Avoidant

Now let’s talk about the other side 😏

If your version of peace includes:
– avoiding any conversation where you might be wrong
– disappearing instead of communicating
– blocking people the second they hold you accountable
– calling anything uncomfortable “toxic”

…we might not be protecting peace.
We might be dodging growth in cute self-care packaging 😭

And listen — no judgment. We’ve all been there.

Sometimes silence feels safer than honesty.

🤣 The Honest Test: Peace or Escape?

Here’s a quick gut check:

👉 Does this distance help me heal… or just help me avoid feeling uncomfortable?
👉 Am I removing chaos… or removing responsibility?
👉 Would a calm conversation actually make this better?

If the answer is “I just don’t wanna deal with it ever”…
yeah… that might be avoidance wearing yoga pants and drinking herbal tea.

😏 Growth Is Peace and Accountability

The truth nobody wants to hear:

Healthy people can:
– set boundaries
– have hard conversations
– admit when they’re wrong
– and still protect their peace

Peace isn’t isolation.
It’s balance.

You’re allowed to say:
“I’m not engaging in drama.”
AND ALSO
“Let’s talk through this respectfully.”

That’s real emotional growth.

💡 How to Protect Your Peace Without Hiding From Life

Let’s keep it practical:

✨ Pause instead of reacting — but don’t disappear forever
✨ Communicate boundaries once — no novels required
✨ Give yourself time to calm down before difficult conversations
✨ Be honest about whether you’re avoiding discomfort or protecting your wellbeing

Because healing isn’t just quiet nights and bubble baths…
sometimes it’s mature conversations and uncomfortable honesty.

❤️ Final Thoughts From Someone Who Also Loves Silence 😌

You don’t have to fight every battle.
You don’t have to stay in chaos.

But you also don’t have to hide from growth in the name of “peace.”

Real peace feels like:
calm conversations
strong boundaries
clear communication
and zero unnecessary drama.

And sometimes the most peaceful thing you can do…
is face something honestly so it stops living rent-free in your head.

Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Casserole Recipe Idea

 

Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Casserole

4 servings 

Ingredients:

4 cups cooked spaghetti squash 

8 oz part-skim ricotta cheese 

8 oz reduced-fat mozzarella cheese, divided 

2 tbsp egg beaters

2 tbsp reduced-fat grated parmesan cheese 

2 cups Great Value Italian diced tomatoes, divided 

1/4 tsp garlic powder 

1/8 tsp pepper 

5 oz Jennie O Italian seasoned ground turkey 93%, cooked 

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Prick squash with a fork or metal skewer and roast in the oven for 45 to 50 min or until it seems soft when you press on it. Take it out and leave on the counter until cool.

When squash is cool, cut in half and scoop out the seeds and discard. Use a fork or spoon to scoop out the rest of the squash and set aside in a bowl. Measure out 4 cups of spaghetti squash and store the rest in the fridge. Add garlic powder and pepper.

Mix ricotta cheese, parmesan, egg beaters, and 4 oz or 1 cup of mozzarella cheese together.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Pour 1 cup Italian diced tomatoes on the bottom of a 9 inch or 8-inch square casserole dish and spread evenly. Add squash. Top the squash with the ricotta cheese mixture. Then top the ricotta cheese mixture with the cooked ground turkey. Spread 1 cup of Italian diced over the meat.

Bake for 30 minutes. Spread the rest of the mozzarella cheese over the top (1 cup) and bake an additional 20 minutes until cheese is melted and lightly brown. Let rest for 10 minutes or so to serve.