tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82235532619114383282024-03-13T05:06:52.537-05:00Mrs G and The GoatMeganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-87863342094327440652014-03-11T10:01:00.000-05:002014-03-11T10:01:17.219-05:00Oh, Josephine!<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">A few weeks ago, BG and I travelled over to the 12<sup>th</sup>
South neighborhood of Nashville to eat at Josephine. Our wonderful
neighbor, Sam, gave us a gift certificate to Josephine for Christmas!
Seriously, he is the best neighbor ever. If either one of us ever moves, I’m
going to cry. But anyway. Back to the food.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">According <a href="http://www.nashvillelifestyles.com/" target="_blank">Nashville Lifestyles magazine</a>, Josephine is Miranda Whitcomb Pontes’ latest project. She
is also known for Burger Up and will be opening Prima later this year. The
atmosphere at Josephine was really nice. The stainless steel bar greets you as
you walk in, and I specifically noticed the bar stools, which looked like
rustic old lab chairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The dining room
is a decent size, with banquette seating around the perimeter, which is where
we sat. Our table was also stainless steel, like the bar, and not full of
“junk”, which I really appreciate. As I sat down, my eyes went right to the
back of the room where there was a huge leather-upholstered, tufted booth. It
was divine. Very nice vibe. Cozy and sophisticated without being stuffy or
fussy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The service was great. Our server, Richard, was
delightfully attentive without being pushy, and he explained that the <a href="http://www.josephineon12th.com/menu" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank"><span id="goog_2053778646"></span>menu</a><span id="goog_2053778647" style="background-color: yellow;"></span> is laid out in four courses, with the
first three courses being smaller plates, while the last course is entrée
size. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Now, as a “foodie”, I should know more about the chefs in
Nashville, but regretfully, I do not. The chef at Josephine is Andrew Little from Pennsylvania and is fairly new to Nashville. Let’s chat a bit
about what he has goin’ on at Josephine, shall we? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">(The "him" notes below are Billy's words/thoughts.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Cocktails:</b> I don’t recall exactly what was in these as
the cocktail menu is not online, but I’ll give you the gist!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Me: The Lea Louisiana – Tequila, St. Germain, grapefruit.
Lime wedge and sprig of rosemary for a garnish. Very light and refreshing.
Delicious.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Him: The Lee52 – Knob Creek Rye whiskey, orange. A nice
play on the Old Fashioned. Citrus notes with a spice, most likely from the
bitters. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Bites: </b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times;">Lobster toast, lobster salad, grilled
pretzel, Meyer lemon vinaigrette</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">YUM. The toast
was perfectly toasted, which I think can make or break your toast or crostini. I
have a big problem with toasts that are so hard you can’t bite into them
without the topping going all over the place. NOT the case here. The lobster
salad had the perfect amount of citrus zing but you could still taste the
freshness of the lobster. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Vegetable:</b> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Brussels sprouts, charred orange, dried
cherry, peanut vinaigrette, rye onion rings.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Y’all. So I’ve
only recently started eating and enjoying Brussels sprouts. Like, within the
last couple of years. Billy loves them so we’ll make them during the holidays
and I’ve grown to like them. But THESE sprouts I could easily eat every day.
Perfectly roasted and the peanut sauce…ohhhhh the peanut sauce. It was
ridiculous how delicious these were.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We did not get a
noodle or dumpling dish. Might be something to try next time, though! Off hand,
I’d probably go for the papperdelle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Last course:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Me: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Beef cheeks, horseradish risotto, rosemary
crumble –</i> I was seriously torn between this and the scallop dish but I’m so
very glad I chose the beef cheeks. I have not tried that before, so I think
it’s fun to try new things – especially if you’re paying with a gift card!
Richard helped me to choose this dish and he did not steer me wrong. The cheeks
were so tender they could be cut, or pulled apart really, with a fork. The
risotto was creamy and had the perfect bite to it, with that extra little kick
from the horseradish. Yum. Yum. Yum.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Him: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Loch Duart salmon, celery root, cauliflower,
kale, agrodolce</i> –The Loch Duart – I had to do some research as I always
have to with my first time visit so I can get to know the menu (act like I know
what I am talking about/ordering). Loch Duart is a form of Scottish salmon
farming that is more environmentally conscious, taking into context the
over-fishing of many wild-caught fish that are demanded on a global level.
Anyway, back to dish – an awesome filet of salmon that was cooked perfectly
that was served on top of a celery root, cauliflower (nicely roasted), a nice
portion of sautéed kale with enough acid to help balance the fish with the
other veggies in a nice agrodolce sauce (Italian sweet/sour sauce – had to look
that up). <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Dessert..duh:</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Me: <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Chocolate ganache tart, peanut mousse, sweet
and salty peanuts</i> – Rich, creamy, smooth, decadent. The peanut mousse was
very subtle, and I thankfully I didn’t feel like I was eating a giant Reese’s
peanut butter cup. Just peanutty enough and it blended well with the chocolate.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Him: Port wine –
Port for me always rounds out the dining experience by supplementing the sweet
cravings after a protein course. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Overall – I
highly recommend Josephine. It was packed when we went on a Monday, so
I definitely recommend making a reservation - we made ours through OpenTable. I
was pleased with every aspect of our visit and meal, and it was one of the
better meals I’ve had in quite a while. Bonus – I noticed they had some branded
diner-style coffee mugs at the front and around the restaurant, so I asked our
server if they sold them and how much they were and he just GAVE ME ONE!</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b>Josephine</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">2316 12th Ave South</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Nashville, TN 37204</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">josephineon12th.com</span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Times;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><i>Side note: I
hope to continue telling you about our dining adventures, whether they’re in
Nashville or wherever we/I happen to be travelling. I’m not really one of those
diners that takes pictures of each course, so you might not see that much here.
It’s just a personal preference and I don’t want to hold up the meal by
sticking my phone or camera in someone’s plate. I’ll do my best to link to the
restaurant’s website, menu, and any pictures I happen to find online, with
proper credit, of course!</i></span></span><o:p></o:p></div>
Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-78324755178459180932014-03-08T15:30:00.001-06:002014-03-08T15:30:53.344-06:00Hello again!<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Hi friends! It is hard to believe that we are already a
week into March, and that 2014 is nearly 3 months old! For me, 2013 was a
fantastic year. I started the year by leaving a not-so-great job, I turned 30
in March, and finished my MBA in November. Needless to say, the year FLEW by,
but it was great.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Yesterday, I celebrated the 10<sup>th</sup> anniversary
of my 21<sup>st</sup> birthday…or, I turned 31. I took the day off from work,
slept in, and generally just enjoyed the day. It was a gorgeous day outside, as
Mother Nature thankfully loosened her wintery vice grip on us. I tell you what,
I am OVER winter and I’ll take 60-degree temps and sunny skies any day of the
week! Since it was so nice out, Billy and I walked down to a local East
Nashville bakery called <a href="http://yeastnashville.com/" target="_blank">YEAST Nashville</a> to try out their kolaches. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Now, y’all know I’m a Texas girl, right? And kolaches are
a Texas staple that I have sorely missed living in Tennessee. Kolaches are a
breakfast item that are very popular in Texas, developed by Czechoslovakian
folks (there’s a big Czech/German population in Texas), and usually consist of
sausage and cheese, wrapped up in a fluffy pastry dough. The kolaches we got
from YEAST did not disappoint! They get their sausage from Elgin, so you know
it’s legit! I got to meet the owner, Bill, and talk to him for a few minutes.
Turns out, we grew up about 10 minutes from each other in Spring, TX! Funny how
small the world is. We both agreed that our lives would be complete if there
were a Whataburger and Pappasitos here in TN.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Anyhoo, we really enjoyed our goodies and will certainly
be back. It’s nice to have small piece of home in Nashville. Later in the
evening we met up with some friends for dinner at Mafiaoza’s in the 12<sup>th</sup>
South neighborhood for some delicious Italian food. Then we went back to our
house to enjoy cake and ice cream that Billy made for me…from scratch! I don’t
know too many ladies out there with husbands that make their birthday cakes and
ice cream, so I’ll consider myself a lucky duck! He made Barefoot Contessa’s chocolate
buttercream cake and Brown Butter Almond Brittle ice cream out of the <a href="http://www.jenis.com/jenis-splendid-ice-creams-at-home-signed-copy/" target="_blank">Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams cookbook</a>. The best thing about all that? I got to eat it
again for breakfast! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">So, I think it’s safe to say I had a fab birthday. I have
some truly amazing friends and I woke up this morning feeling incredibly
blessed. Here’s what a 31-year-old looks like, in case you’re wondering...photobomb courtesy of my friend Niki.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvChp5GO8XVLcbdf0A4AxixhSxAPMRcsGlDvz9g1NT28Pu24gcOXKciLgIL3zbMqCPy62ttJ-orCx0VfgzvY215EVsR-pb68oWOTye_CTpXe3z4wEVa6xtgn5aMQJqXRTU0UORTMbbgo/s1600/mwg31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvChp5GO8XVLcbdf0A4AxixhSxAPMRcsGlDvz9g1NT28Pu24gcOXKciLgIL3zbMqCPy62ttJ-orCx0VfgzvY215EVsR-pb68oWOTye_CTpXe3z4wEVa6xtgn5aMQJqXRTU0UORTMbbgo/s1600/mwg31.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">I’m really glad to be back on the blog – several people
have asked if I was going to start blogging again now that I’m done with
school, and I am excited to get back into it. Stay tuned!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-20050939980902705552013-05-07T09:54:00.002-05:002013-05-07T09:54:29.898-05:00I OBJECT!<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Back in March, I turned 30. Among some really cool gifts from some fantastic people, I also got a jury summons the week of my birthday. <i>Gee, thanks, Davidson County. You shouldn't have...no, really!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">My summons was for last Monday, April 29th, and for the last six days I've been hanging out at the Birch Building in downtown Nashville. Apparently last Monday was one of the busiest trial days the courts had seen in a while, so everyone who showed up that day had a good chance of serving on a jury. <i>Wonderful. </i></span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">I landed myself on a case that was supposed to only be "2-3 days", and ended up lasting 6.</span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Our case in particular was pretty tricky, and involved really sensitive subject matter as it was a rape and sexual battery case. Neither party spoke English, so we also had to deal with Spanish and Chinese interpreters, which made things go a lot slower than they should have. Long story short, a lady went to see an acupuncturist for pain relief for her back and sciatic nerve, and he took advantage of her. While her husband was in the waiting room.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I can't imagine what it must be like to go to the doctor and be sexually abused. I also can't imagine what it must be like to live in a country where you don't speak the language very well and can't defend yourself or tell your story, and be afraid that people won't believe you. We found the defendent guilty of two counts of sexual battery, one count of sexual battery without consent, and one count of sexual battery by fraud. It was a really long, hard week. Made my old job look like a cake walk. <i>Sheesh!</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Here are some other thoughts to summarize my week:</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I met some really nice people on our jury. One girl even got engaged this weekend!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Our court officer (aka jury babysitter) was Stephanie, and she was a hoot. Never a dull moment!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you have to show up for jury duty, don't try to be chatty. People around that place are generally not very pleasant.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Get there early! It takes some time to get parked, to the building, through security, and checked in.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">One of the Assistant DA's on our case reminded us of a very famous country singer, so we affectionately referred to her as "Reba" all week. It would have been AMAZING if she had busted out with "Fancy" during her closing arguments.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I can officially rule out any future in law enforcement or the legal system. <i>No thanks.</i></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I don't really have much planned for the rest of the week, other than working on my resume and applying to a few job openings I've found. I have a break from class until May 23rd, so I won't have to worry about homework for another week or so. I have a few photography projects I want to tackle and I might set up a sewing/craft station, but nothing much other than that!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Have a great week!</span></div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-9383131301849248062013-04-22T13:16:00.000-05:002013-04-22T13:16:25.289-05:00When life hands you lemons...<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Or in my case, grapefruit...what do you do? Well, I made grapefruit sorbet!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Did I ever tell you that my husband brews beer? Yep, he does! It's something he's tinkered with since we moved into our house, I'd say about 5 years now. What does this have to do with grapefruit, you ask? I'm getting to that! This week, he decided to branch out and experiment with his beer flavors. Normally, he sticks with the traditional pale ale, Hefeweizen, Belgian ale, things like that. He asked me what type of beer we should try and I immediately said something citrus. We did a little research and eventually came up with the idea of Grapefruit and Honey Ale. Does that sound delicious or what?!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So, he had to get 5 grapefruits and peel them all so he could steep the beer with the peels. That left us with 5 whole grapefruits with no peels. Of course, the normal thing to do would be to eat them. However, I was craving something cold and sweet, so I decided to make grapefruit sorbet! The recipe is really simple:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b>Grapefruit Sorbet</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">2 cups simple syrup</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">1 1/2 cups fresh grapefruit juice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For the simple syrup, add 2 cups sugar and 2 cups water to a saucepan and heat on medium-high heat until boiling. Lower heat until sugar is completely dissolved and let cool. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">For the grapefruit juice, I strained mine to make sure no pulp or little seeds got into my sorbet.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Then, you just mix your simple syrup and grapefruit juice together, pour into your ice cream maker, and let it do its thing!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Voila!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkA0UGb-iD5MFVUo7-cqDmrjRzszPQ36zZSu-oNjeE-9_vvBr0QHdRheKC4DDGlQRTysnUWRv6ikviZNjCWLTpvOEsVXlxHX4OC6LWMSSmoWt5G4RvOlkPIN4oxpfX7VfXFHVTgVXFes/s1600/2013.04.22_grapefruit_sorbet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkA0UGb-iD5MFVUo7-cqDmrjRzszPQ36zZSu-oNjeE-9_vvBr0QHdRheKC4DDGlQRTysnUWRv6ikviZNjCWLTpvOEsVXlxHX4OC6LWMSSmoWt5G4RvOlkPIN4oxpfX7VfXFHVTgVXFes/s320/2013.04.22_grapefruit_sorbet.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">If you're in the market for an ice cream maker, I have the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cuisinart-ICE-21-Frozen-Yogurt-Ice-Sorbet/dp/B003KYSLMW/ref=dp_ob_title_kitchen" target="_blank">Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt, Ice Cream and Sorbet Maker</a>. I got mine at Costco a couple summers ago for about $35, and it has been really nice to make cold treats and know EXACTLY what goes into them. The machine also comes with a little recipe booklet to get you started. This particular recipe was a little on the sweet side for me, so next time I might not add the whole 2 cups of simple syrup and use more of a 1:1 syrup to juice ratio. I like my sorbet a little more tart!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Enjoy!</span>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-41700633772437231302011-07-30T17:56:00.004-05:002011-07-30T18:11:13.955-05:00StuffFriends, I am such an awful blogger. I'm barely averaging once a month now. How pitiful. I've been a complete slug, otherwise, too. While I'm loving my new job, it's really kicking my butt. I work through lunch and stay late MOST days. And that is starting to take a toll on my fun time. I haven't baked anything. I haven't really taken any pictures. My book reading is suffering. Oh well, here is what <i>has</i> been going on lately...<div><br /></div><div>1. I've lost 15 pounds! The Jillian Michaels program is definitely a winner for me. I love the recipes in her books, I love her workout DVDs. I love that I can work out and be done in 25 minutes. I also love that I can make dinner, and most of my meals for the next day, in about the same amount of time. We also got a spin bike and have been using that pretty frequently and I love it! That 15 pounds has me down a dress and pants size. Go me! Still have more to go, but at least I've made it this far.</div><div><br /></div><div>2. I start grad school in about 3 weeks. I'm nervous but excited. And nervous. I hope I do well. Did I mention I'm nervous?</div><div><br /></div><div>3. We're having a baby...doggy! Haha, almost got you! We recently started the process of adopting a puppy from the Middle Tennessee Golden Retriever Rescue organization. We've passed the application and home visit portions, now we just have to wait to see which pup we get! I've got my eye on a gorgeous little golden girl, but it depends on how many people are in line for a puppy. Hopefully good news on that soon!</div><div><br /></div><div>4. We're going to paint the house. We noticed that the wood around our windows needs some TLC. Which then led to our porch, and the brick columns, and then the porch floor, and eventually the actual siding of the house. Now we just need some time and to actually do it. Big job.</div><div><br /></div><div>........I thought I had more to update on than that. I guess not. You probably don't want to know that I have bronchitis and have been hacking up a lung for over 6 weeks (thanks, Bonnaroo) and annoying anyone within earshot of me--like my husband and work people (sorry!!). </div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, that's all for now. Until next month!</div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-48799661835344761582011-06-17T21:52:00.006-05:002011-06-17T22:26:53.016-05:00Out in the backyard<div>Hello strangers! Things have been busy around here lately. We've been tinkering around the house, working on little details and trying to get things cleaned up and decluttered. Part of this little operation included sprucing up the backyard a bit. </div><div><br /></div><div>I knew I wanted more color out there and more lighting so I devised a little plan, and I didn't want to spend a whole lot of money.</div><div><br /></div><div>Let me first say that I had THE best idea for a lighting solution in the history of the universe. I was so proud of what I had thought of, so we headed down to Home Depot to start picking up our supplies. We got some skinny wooden posts (2"x2", I think), some terra cotta pots, and those little bistro lights from Target.</div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XrEeQaSE-6t1ALV4s9HfUbbMHCVr446D6T1-bdIymjFmCRxfLWL-dWRCBTH3FiBvsDKhp7MMcmAH_1xrUn15IkEvr6L7yKv7i9mi1bfI0zTnZirm9q4xtn9-8nr4w2UPNeKSHFK_QgY/s1600/3-materials2-small.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XrEeQaSE-6t1ALV4s9HfUbbMHCVr446D6T1-bdIymjFmCRxfLWL-dWRCBTH3FiBvsDKhp7MMcmAH_1xrUn15IkEvr6L7yKv7i9mi1bfI0zTnZirm9q4xtn9-8nr4w2UPNeKSHFK_QgY/s400/3-materials2-small.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619388129189132994" /></a>My fabulous idea was to anchor the posts in the pots with pea gravel, then screw a small hook into the top of the post and hang my lights in perfect swoops across the patio...<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrnoBu3AGagbrm_ZPWOsAFeRaE29sp9L6jDl7puVI5QjRnNkGhFuJ09oILVK-OgFiZdRIk1F5XGTHHrqOELrmKqpUwB-Jt3VNcpSWlrUYxw6Oo4MtmDVaLmA2NN1La1dfxvs1zhxMy1M/s1600/4-posts.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlrnoBu3AGagbrm_ZPWOsAFeRaE29sp9L6jDl7puVI5QjRnNkGhFuJ09oILVK-OgFiZdRIk1F5XGTHHrqOELrmKqpUwB-Jt3VNcpSWlrUYxw6Oo4MtmDVaLmA2NN1La1dfxvs1zhxMy1M/s400/4-posts.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619388126254180962" /></a>This is where my idea went south. I had the posts in the pots and pots filled with the gravel. Everything seemed pretty secure. I placed my pots where I wanted them on the patio. We started to open the light packages and get ready to string the lights up. I get one in on one post and go to string the other end on the other post....and POP! POP! POP! POP! POP! POP! POP!<div><br /></div><div>...the weight of the strand of lights was too much for the top-heavy pots. The pots tipped over. My lights broke. Cue sad trumpet sound.</div><div><br /></div><div>So then, my brilliant hubs, Mr. Goat, suggests that we string the lights in the trees! We get to work on this by drilling small holes into 2 trees and in the boards on the two corners of the house and screwing the little hooks into the trees and boards. We string the lights (carefully!!) and secure them with cable ties. A quick 2nd trip to Target and Home Depot and a few trips up and down the ladder later, the lights were hung!<br /><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Ta-da!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUK3ONfCrAm4Ufv0QrXH128OhDW8cqY6RFzFK3XGBm3PoYC0OuSTp0s1-EoSy6gBClXjUwqWOe8Dtmegm2Bjj4tQB0OQ6aId00iyGkJUbUwkb2h1cf2x55qhqswB5UKLalpmAyj6PU4-A/s1600/5-after.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUK3ONfCrAm4Ufv0QrXH128OhDW8cqY6RFzFK3XGBm3PoYC0OuSTp0s1-EoSy6gBClXjUwqWOe8Dtmegm2Bjj4tQB0OQ6aId00iyGkJUbUwkb2h1cf2x55qhqswB5UKLalpmAyj6PU4-A/s400/5-after.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619388122792031378" /></a>All in all, my lighting solution (well, plan b) worked out really well. Since we no longer needed the pots for stringing the lights, we put tiki torches (that we already had!) in the pots. This means MORE light! </div><div><br /></div><div>Now to infuse some more color back there. Green grass + green house = A LOT OF GREEN. I need some pink! Some red! Something! Other! Than! Green! So I found some pillows and some flowers...</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Here is the lounge area on the right side of the patio with the new pillows...nice eh?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_2L_2ebVyVN8UULo7383IXeMe6MVdInjAoJIq2x83Dm7VOYu6-RO4FmEGYhuQ31rUX8CedDZCdVf8PjAwVGuQP8ADMGhs5ms5tsx2PPt-Yd6-isfVQPhz7C5AURy3AJTUB5bdUqMfiM/s1600/6-lounge.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0_2L_2ebVyVN8UULo7383IXeMe6MVdInjAoJIq2x83Dm7VOYu6-RO4FmEGYhuQ31rUX8CedDZCdVf8PjAwVGuQP8ADMGhs5ms5tsx2PPt-Yd6-isfVQPhz7C5AURy3AJTUB5bdUqMfiM/s400/6-lounge.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619388110305048434" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Care to lounge?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BkPeCyW5suyCA8zJKWYV5YbW6ok1evxcnfhWOhrTkcM_UbmwKGYzmA91S-1bJlQgK9OWJLeBpC_VgE43uBDHp4K7kO6Lf-WYHeRSPp5GQw8OuHFb4hG2VyY1r0WaRu0HE3EP3CzcxO0/s1600/6b-lounge.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9BkPeCyW5suyCA8zJKWYV5YbW6ok1evxcnfhWOhrTkcM_UbmwKGYzmA91S-1bJlQgK9OWJLeBpC_VgE43uBDHp4K7kO6Lf-WYHeRSPp5GQw8OuHFb4hG2VyY1r0WaRu0HE3EP3CzcxO0/s400/6b-lounge.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619388106887098274" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">And of course, the hammock. This is actually a new hammock net because some hood-rat in our neighborhood decided to creep in our yard and steal our old one. </div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh well, this one is new and clean! And it needed a pillow, too...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPCy-DqRgjUzJE_GWbsRap7z9Ia21yDAGJ5yvUUdxewNSc8dVFF4Yypc81QyWWoaVjFmW3aoVQFzQHpS7xzwkgKFjA20fsS0bgNgvbAy_w714Bv1Rdtyq5y8iN_ziBwahmqiAJ_8SVaA/s1600/7-hammock.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPCy-DqRgjUzJE_GWbsRap7z9Ia21yDAGJ5yvUUdxewNSc8dVFF4Yypc81QyWWoaVjFmW3aoVQFzQHpS7xzwkgKFjA20fsS0bgNgvbAy_w714Bv1Rdtyq5y8iN_ziBwahmqiAJ_8SVaA/s400/7-hammock.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619387815463063154" /></a><br /></div><div>To add more color, I decided to use every piece of real estate I could. I put some flowers and other plants in the top of my pots! These are Petunias, the tall grass is Mondo Grass, and the other plant is Sweet Potato Vine. I have no idea if it actually grows sweet potatoes. I think it turned out rather nice!<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XgDjRepSobrLJ9kMBqfT_uQIDVRTCZuWS70l93eycOre5i7ejh60CPhD-87iZHVvnkA_w58Qjx56zeK01lwVe6kmk5IBLdCWPhWvVELSKYFoRL_w8hqhXGNv6ihxSi4hlyBluWBzquE/s1600/9-flowerpots.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4XgDjRepSobrLJ9kMBqfT_uQIDVRTCZuWS70l93eycOre5i7ejh60CPhD-87iZHVvnkA_w58Qjx56zeK01lwVe6kmk5IBLdCWPhWvVELSKYFoRL_w8hqhXGNv6ihxSi4hlyBluWBzquE/s400/9-flowerpots.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619387807467316226" /></a><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">I love my lights!</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyaboHEuA4ZnpEwg6HmXJ_3zBNu1Mkk_Kxr5mryQTzSQK9ialfF0jt6mJ8qTxCPeucBeo77NWyk8iLep2yxOgp1i5pwg2_VBatWrwjLpE3VxRyJTKJkjWcdtDuKlpqAbOGuAa9g8ROKBk/s1600/10-lightstring.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyaboHEuA4ZnpEwg6HmXJ_3zBNu1Mkk_Kxr5mryQTzSQK9ialfF0jt6mJ8qTxCPeucBeo77NWyk8iLep2yxOgp1i5pwg2_VBatWrwjLpE3VxRyJTKJkjWcdtDuKlpqAbOGuAa9g8ROKBk/s400/10-lightstring.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619387801787678354" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I don't think the billy goat minds them one bit, either...</div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHWgYUAdSa124ZOtDKHVDGHWJqrd2ANPQxXrYnvF1nWHbJ6XhP6xgy3tURg36PClPhJwSrXU5U2stTmwyHvrQ4CyCyKRtD7V4yVNhGo508mNufUabnAPhoZXZUVcOKc84n8LpuOwjti4/s1600/11-billyhammock.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuHWgYUAdSa124ZOtDKHVDGHWJqrd2ANPQxXrYnvF1nWHbJ6XhP6xgy3tURg36PClPhJwSrXU5U2stTmwyHvrQ4CyCyKRtD7V4yVNhGo508mNufUabnAPhoZXZUVcOKc84n8LpuOwjti4/s400/11-billyhammock.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619387800310227154" /></a><br /></div></div><div>I think we created a really nice little outdoor space. We had our friends over for a Memorial Day cookout they all seemed to enjoy the fruits of our labor. It was really nice being able to SEE...the only light we used to have out there were 2 motion lights on our house and our neighbors house. Talk about being blinded by the light...and then 2 feet away you couldn't see your hand in front of your face! This was a definite upgrade. I would say the whole project cost us about $150--I'm not that great at keeping receipts and that was two weeks ago so I've totally forgotten everything other than the fact that we fixed up the patio. </div><div><br /></div><div>Bye for now, and I hope to not have another whole month before my next post. Stay cool!</div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-25583707640782355472011-05-13T23:00:00.003-05:002011-05-13T23:33:42.012-05:00She Works Hard for the Money...<i>So hard for it, honey. She works hard for the money so you better treat her right!</i><div><i><br /></i></div><div>And now that <i>that's</i> out of my system...</div><div><br /></div><div>Wednesday marked the 1-month anniversary of being at my new job! I have to say, it is very challenging and very fulfilling. I definitely made the right choice in accepting that position. Everyone is great. Aside from all that and everything being great, we have been BUSY. So busy that I come home at least a few times a week and crawl straight into bed for a short nap. <i>I's tired.</i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>It's definitely been a transition, going from working at home to working in an office...8-5. It's a job in itself to get out the door and to work on time, but I'm making it work! I like being around people and it's nice to get out of the house.</div><div><br /></div><div>HOWEVER...I must say that I can't help but feel <i>behind</i> in every other area of my life. I've been trying to do something to keep the house up at least every day, but like I said, <i>I's tired. </i>I'm so thankful to have a husband that keeps up with MORE than his share of the housework. I'm truly blessed, indeed. Also very behind in the blog world--reading <i>and</i> writing. But, as I check my Google Reader for what seems like the first time in weeks, I also notice that some of the blogs I subscribe to have only posted 1 or 2 times in my absence, so I try not to feel too bad. And then I decide I'll take a page out of <a href="http://afewofmyfavthings.blogspot.com/">my friend Jill's</a> book and just subscribe to the belief that <i>good enough is the new perfect.</i> Fine with me!</div><div><br /></div><div>One thing, however, that I'm happy to report that I'm NOT behind on is my health/fitness/weight-loss goal. I officially kicked Tony Horton out of my sandbox and invited Jillian Michaels over for a visit. And now we are BFF <i>for real. </i>I've been following the meal plan on her website and am on about a 1,250-calorie-a-day plan that was the result of a little quiz on the website. She breaks things down into different oxidizer groups (Slow, Fast, Balanced) and that determines what you eat and the breakdown of carbs, fats, and proteins of each meal. I was surprised to discover I was a Balanced Oxidizer and to find out what all that entailed since I was <i>sure</i> carbs would be banished from my life forever. I haven't really touched pasta or much bread since I started, but I eat a LOT of fruit. Fine with me, though. I'm always satisfied and the meals on this plan are GREAT! Most of them are 5-10 ingredients and take less than 30 minutes to make. We do our best to prepare at least breakfast, lunch, and our snack the night before so there is no guess-work the next day. I've discovered that, left to my own devices, I make horrible food choices. This plan has been great. I work out a couple times a week (JM 30-day Shred), follow this meal plan....and I've lost 8 pounds so far, and 2 inches off my hips! A steady 2-pound-per-week weight loss. Color me a happy camper. I have a ways to go, but I've finally found a program that I love and that works for me, so I'll be sticking with it. </div><div><br /></div><div>BG is pretty much eating what I eat, not working out, and has lost about 15 pounds so far. What an a-hole.</div><div><br /></div><div>The garden is going well--still waiting for some things to mature a little more since most everything is being raised from seed. Billy brought home some blackberry plants the other day, so I'm excited to see if those will work out. Blackberries are my faaaaaaaavorite. Some people I know are already harvesting squash and zucchini, but my zucchini plants are not quite there yet, so I'm just trying to be patient.</div><div><br /></div><div>And finally, not sure if you've heard, but we are having an emergence of the 13-year cicada. A cicada is a gnarly-looking insect...kinda like a grasshopper that doesn't jump, with wings. They come out of the ground every 13 years, mate like crazy, lay eggs, and are LOUD. They are all over the place here and it is GROSS. There were two in our house tonight, which led to my drinking two extra glasses of wine just to calm my frazzled nerves. If they're not dead on our driveway, their shells have been shed and are everywhere, and they are all in the trees. I contemplated relocated myself temporarily for this 6-week period. Why Nashville, why must you do this to me??</div><div><br /></div><div>Time for bed. <i>I's tired.</i></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-2669373233150456442011-04-06T15:54:00.005-05:002011-04-06T16:19:38.142-05:00Hodgepodge<div>So sorry to keep you waiting on pins and needles about the new job (ha). Turns out, just a day later, they extended an offer and...I accepted! I start this Monday. My mind is swirling with anxiety and excitement, not to mention worries of "what am I going to wear?!" and "I hope they like me!". Oy. New chapters are so exciting, but I can't help make myself sick with nervousness right before. I guarantee I will not sleep a wink on Sunday night. So very thankful, though, that I am able to jump right into a new position and not have the added fear of not being able to find a job in today's economy. Ack! That's just stress I'm so glad I don't have to deal with.</div><div><br /></div><div>As for the clothes issue, since I can't really roll up to my new job wearing my trusty "work at home" uniform of yoga pants and Old Navy $5 t-shirts, I think a shopping trip is in order. I hate to shop. Especially while trying to lose weight and get fit and all that. Luckily, my BFF Kara LOVES to shop and personal shopping/styling is a service she provides to clients of her new business, she's throwing me a bone here and we're going shopping on Friday. I don't even want to think about the damage I'm going to do financially....I may have just given Dave Ramsey heartburn. I hope we find some good stuff.</div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of style, I was super lucky last night because I went to go see Tim Gunn lecture at the Langford Auditorium at Vanderbilt with Kara and our friend Jen. He is just delightful! He just has the greatest advice: be nice, never assume, always take the high road, etc. He mentions many other points like this in his new book <i>Gunn's Golden Rules</i>, which I plan on purchasing ASAP. Oh, and I smuggled my camera into the lecture and managed to take a picture of Mr. Gunn, even though I totally brought the wrong lens. Meet Tiny Tim...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUILFSyjgB54gB_jlhGHSBUrbvBfAY9cKi_Km9dbi8Fw_3HwzDcXyzxEhSUvrkzY74mWbYjvjzNJD0Tb7m2YAuUKduLuJPgOD4TBNOcQeYqt6Qlsh01fPT1bXBYfNSW69cMIuOzJh5h0/s1600/timgunnvandy-sm.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 255px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeUILFSyjgB54gB_jlhGHSBUrbvBfAY9cKi_Km9dbi8Fw_3HwzDcXyzxEhSUvrkzY74mWbYjvjzNJD0Tb7m2YAuUKduLuJPgOD4TBNOcQeYqt6Qlsh01fPT1bXBYfNSW69cMIuOzJh5h0/s400/timgunnvandy-sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5592576982843480738" /></a><br /><div>In other uneventful news, I went to the dentist this morning and am proud to say I had great appointment and came out unscathed and un-cavitied. No cavities allowed!</div><div><br /></div><div>And finally, a gripe...mainly to myself. I know a goal I set for myself this year was to do and FINISH Power90. Well, after some unplanned breaks in the workout program, I'm around day 60ish, and while I can feel a significant change in my body muscle-wise, I definitely cannot say that I've lost any weight. I weigh myself regularly and fluctuate a lot. I had a goal to lose 5 pounds by April 8, which is Friday. So depending on what my body plans on weighing that day, I may or may not have hit my goal. I'm just frustrated. I watch <i>The Biggest Loser</i> like it's gospel, and this people are amazing and lose SO MUCH WEIGHT, and I can't lose 20 pounds. REALLY. I know I need to cool it with the pasta. It is my #1 weakness. I've been out to eat twice since Saturday and got pasta both times, both time with a creamy sauce. I KNOW these are not good food choices. And today I was so hungry when I left the dentist that I picked up some McDonald's--which I rare. I'm sabotaging myself, I know. </div><div><br /></div><div>So, I know I need to get real and just have some self-discipline. I know I need to make better food choices and maybe get to treat myself once a week (preferably not in a way that involves food...maybe a pedicure or new book?), and I think I'm going to switch up my workouts. I'm burnt out on the Power90 and P90X. I'm breaking up with you, Tony Horton. I'm taking my toys and going to play at Jillian Michaels' house. I plan on picking up her <i>30 Day Shred</i> DVD today, and may even use her online weight-loss tool on her website. Enough is enough. I can do anything else...why can't I do this???</div><div><br /></div><div>Sorry for the Debbie Downer moment, but I'm just in a rut and beating myself up about it. </div><div><br /></div><div>I need to go take a chill pill.</div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-28559368908495017872011-03-30T12:02:00.002-05:002011-03-30T12:19:46.201-05:00What a week!!Holy cow, y'all. This has been a roller coaster week. To give a little background information, the company I work for is going through a bit of a transition. Let me walk you through my week...and it's only Wednesday!<div><br /></div><div>Monday:</div><div><ul><li>Talk to my boss, looks like my days are numbered. As in, less than 10...</li><li>As you know I've applied to an MBA program. I get a call from the admissions counselor. He tells me that my admissions test score was probably the highest he's seen since he's worked there. I aced the math and writing sample, and matched the highest-ever score on the critical thinking portion. He tells me on the spot that I'll be part of the program that starts in August. Hot diggity!</li><li>I started my job search early (a few weeks ago) with the anticipation that I wouldn't be around much longer. Got an email Sunday setting up a phone interview for Monday. I speak with the recruiter, she thinks I'm overqualified. The I speak to another person in another office. Not sure I like what I'm hearing about the job responsibilities. Email "no thanks", but get an email back requesting that I go ahead and come in for an interview...</li></ul><div>Tuesday:</div></div><div><ul><li>Have the interview and boy am I glad I did! Have a totally different understanding about the job. Love what I hear, love the people, love the office. Love!!</li><li>Current boss calls. My last day with current company will be next Friday. Not feeling so doomed after the good interview.</li></ul><div>Wednesday:</div></div><div><ul><li>Email back from owner of company setting up another phone interview with CEO (did I mention this company is small??). Very excited.</li></ul><div>So that's where we are right now. I am a mix of emotions. Sad that my current job is ending. I adore my boss and the folks that I work with. Excited about grad school (holy cow I got into grad school! and I rocked my exams!). Nervous about finding another job. Excited that I might have found another job. Nervous about grad school. Sad that going back to work in a real office means I won't get to hang out with Murphy all day. In my pajamas.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>So, my insides are knots. Cross your fingers and throw up a prayer that everything works out. I know it will. I always manage to land on my feet. I'm so lucky to have a husband that supports me in whatever I do, bless his heart. I cannot help but freak out a little bit though.</div><div><br /></div><div>AAAAAAAAAHHHHHH!</div><div><br /></div><div>Sorry, had to get that out.</div><div><br /></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-64646512069941131292011-03-20T11:20:00.008-05:002011-03-20T12:11:48.203-05:00The Nooky Nook<div>Hi friends! I wanted to tell you about a project that Billy and I tackled last weekend. We have this very random nook <i>thing</i> in our kitchen. A real waste of space. We decided that before our house was remodeled back in 2004, it must have been a fireplace, because there is a chimney right above where the nook is in the attic.</div><div><br /></div><div>Up until now, it's just been a catch-all for random kitchen objects. Here is that corner last Sunday morning...</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnoeJYE534Y6z3twcwVpIDij0Ur8RVuLjHfPYh6xj40C7HhlDgeScblYSiOZTHjMuGkNpFW4Xm8qQ_K7lJ9Yut_-_rNz3afOIUWdEwUMCREBXU3Pw6Yyvr23WsCPHUfFr6bwyh3pHrNs/s1600/nookbefore.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnoeJYE534Y6z3twcwVpIDij0Ur8RVuLjHfPYh6xj40C7HhlDgeScblYSiOZTHjMuGkNpFW4Xm8qQ_K7lJ9Yut_-_rNz3afOIUWdEwUMCREBXU3Pw6Yyvr23WsCPHUfFr6bwyh3pHrNs/s400/nookbefore.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586198464085733842" /></a>Here's the nook close-up: There's a wine rack, the food processor, a basket of stuff that goes to my food processor and stand mixer, and some candle holders that currently have no home.<br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugkrVoGjxE2deazc0nwHGFPqb2iYLkhdnAMheazFjb7T1Cw2EVR3zBBMY-21uUK1VBap6pWJ05nYT9p25lbqqOvImoECwycnLsx3uaQVS-DP519t5Xzr98u3uOK3n5cCQEgjTKzle-Rk/s1600/nookbefore-close.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgugkrVoGjxE2deazc0nwHGFPqb2iYLkhdnAMheazFjb7T1Cw2EVR3zBBMY-21uUK1VBap6pWJ05nYT9p25lbqqOvImoECwycnLsx3uaQVS-DP519t5Xzr98u3uOK3n5cCQEgjTKzle-Rk/s400/nookbefore-close.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586198457169082754" /></a>Something had to be done! I could stand it no longer. I've seen in magazines where people have made little appliance garages to house all of their kitchen gadgets. And since I'm the QUEEN of kitchen gadgets, I thought that was exactly what I needed!</div><div><br /></div><div>Here's husband, after we removed all the junk, preparing to paint. We chose to go with the same wall color, Behr's Garden Wall, to make it cohesive with our pantry and the rest of the kitchen. And we had some of the paint left-over.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR78bxQBdPzJw-NOPFHDrssGU2GBYU0LrWPV3GWaYu0AwWFybrWG90LNTRpHtsfuQp7i1j-s15WYaAl7jkZVj5mUgIaMQPJRY-sBiSe23yT-wVrv2R3Xbmha3WjnsiGdFheWtw01EnEoc/s1600/nookbeforepaint.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR78bxQBdPzJw-NOPFHDrssGU2GBYU0LrWPV3GWaYu0AwWFybrWG90LNTRpHtsfuQp7i1j-s15WYaAl7jkZVj5mUgIaMQPJRY-sBiSe23yT-wVrv2R3Xbmha3WjnsiGdFheWtw01EnEoc/s400/nookbeforepaint.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586198451190117026" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Here's the nook after it's all painted...looks a bajillion times better already! </div><div style="text-align: center;">Did I mention the nook also has random green tile?</div><div style="text-align: center;">It has random green tile. Not bad though, I don't hate it.</div></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oRDPraa8Ui21JFCQUproo65lZ4KhT3r3XFIiux0WEKwS5XBEjGxD5WVzovc4IiPhOHQzoFf_709bYgDHNX0lil6eLF8PWa_nzR4tV5oDbKLHo7L1FBmVhOOFEeRlJMpLzuM9PIETFdk/s1600/nookpainted.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6oRDPraa8Ui21JFCQUproo65lZ4KhT3r3XFIiux0WEKwS5XBEjGxD5WVzovc4IiPhOHQzoFf_709bYgDHNX0lil6eLF8PWa_nzR4tV5oDbKLHo7L1FBmVhOOFEeRlJMpLzuM9PIETFdk/s400/nookpainted.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586198451311456802" /></a><br /></div><div>We are huge fans of the ClosetMaid white wire shelving at Home Depot. We've used it in our pantry when we redid it, and the closet in my office. Since it matched what we've already used in the pantry, we decided to be consistent and use it again here. </div><div><br /></div><div>There are 4 components: the main support bar, the vertical supports, the shelf brackets, and the shelves. We measured the width and depth of the nook and decided that the 12" deep shelves would be best here. The shelves come in all different lengths, so we grabbed 2 4' shelves and they cut them right in half for us at the store. You could also cut them yourself, but we're nothing if not lazy.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, you mount the main support bar in the wall above where you want your top shelf to be. We used some heavy-duty drywall anchors here since the shelves are going to hold somewhat heavy and expensive things. Then you slide in the vertical supports and screw those into the wall using more drywall anchors. Then you just decide where you want your shelves, hook on the shelf brackets, and place the shelves! Super easy! I think this project took us about 2 hours total, with painting and everything.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ekg8cubt53XnMZCfTFrP97NbwWYFPYG8PRzDnXlOznGAD11YJtY92J-9HuCXypB8AVMb8LKdqWkp8kET-tI7NmnJ1tnEeJQZsU6xZa2pPoP7tkyPyktt-5U2XrvfWXi22C6LPY8OvVk/s1600/nookshelves.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8ekg8cubt53XnMZCfTFrP97NbwWYFPYG8PRzDnXlOznGAD11YJtY92J-9HuCXypB8AVMb8LKdqWkp8kET-tI7NmnJ1tnEeJQZsU6xZa2pPoP7tkyPyktt-5U2XrvfWXi22C6LPY8OvVk/s400/nookshelves.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586198139669333634" /></a><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">Here's the finished nook, will all of my goodies in there...</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Yf7VpQNHjKfYAFKnVejiROB0c_0-vNWSgAxVXxPZCE_r-kNulcHtQFzy36PE3ESnlwPNNFmNr8mvs5sHGRnTuAtSUfqbRa7AEV_EyxCxE9CBr7hyqZutVLMk5p-l1n4YYzo3sRKZqFU/s1600/nookafter.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 235px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8Yf7VpQNHjKfYAFKnVejiROB0c_0-vNWSgAxVXxPZCE_r-kNulcHtQFzy36PE3ESnlwPNNFmNr8mvs5sHGRnTuAtSUfqbRa7AEV_EyxCxE9CBr7hyqZutVLMk5p-l1n4YYzo3sRKZqFU/s400/nookafter.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586198134883147970" /></a><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">I use these items quite a bit, and this makes them super easy to get to </div><div style="text-align: center;">and also freed up a LOT of cabinet space for us. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2_FuHOhq19k5mZ40ETZq7aQJDVsrAbUfrjA9IsaKezo5YO_oV9WY9SKjJnK66PQGMtqAAOTOlRlIQqGcEYiF2Bpi-dVRBjtlWatgePME3hDPlbhPkXIjCvw22nyIhRgqv-GjhgvYkNM/s1600/appliances.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 251px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2_FuHOhq19k5mZ40ETZq7aQJDVsrAbUfrjA9IsaKezo5YO_oV9WY9SKjJnK66PQGMtqAAOTOlRlIQqGcEYiF2Bpi-dVRBjtlWatgePME3hDPlbhPkXIjCvw22nyIhRgqv-GjhgvYkNM/s400/appliances.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586198132502635234" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Here's the nook, blending in nicely with the rest of our kitchen, </div><div style="text-align: center;">looking nice and neat and actually cute!</div></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbQoTkYNBVorEpJoXTj1jqhP_4ixu1ZjbBewr1RGlHE_c09nfbcviQxIr-5R9XuKnvsAcGM7tLCfv_j3hRsCcnf9fmhtvK7sbSn3qfblBGy_dox1xq3RyIKHfkNsmkGpRXsu51sQEFSo/s1600/nookkitchendone.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGbQoTkYNBVorEpJoXTj1jqhP_4ixu1ZjbBewr1RGlHE_c09nfbcviQxIr-5R9XuKnvsAcGM7tLCfv_j3hRsCcnf9fmhtvK7sbSn3qfblBGy_dox1xq3RyIKHfkNsmkGpRXsu51sQEFSo/s400/nookkitchendone.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586198123592904562" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">Oh, and one more thing...see that light fixture? We've named it "the squid lamp". </div><div style="text-align: center;">I've hated it since the day we moved in. </div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrlEj3tkhiP7pX8LqP8c5VjCHSvcgsmhhDGz78oG_LfFjUIWeeHe8FjwtzeD4yj1T89sbVJf_O8iow5gv752rHl8q_deggg_Z69OrEPyCZxUXUw-8HVyRsK_4Ph4244C55IVSptTJ4BQ/s1600/nosquidlamp.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYrlEj3tkhiP7pX8LqP8c5VjCHSvcgsmhhDGz78oG_LfFjUIWeeHe8FjwtzeD4yj1T89sbVJf_O8iow5gv752rHl8q_deggg_Z69OrEPyCZxUXUw-8HVyRsK_4Ph4244C55IVSptTJ4BQ/s400/nosquidlamp.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5586198118175753634" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">It's gone. We've replaced it. </div><div style="text-align: center;">And on that note, I'll say that West Elm is a very dangerous place for me. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I love EVERYTHING.</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">As far as cost goes for this project, here's the breakdown:</div><div style="text-align: left;">Paint: $0, we used leftover paint</div><div style="text-align: left;">Main support bar: $7.27</div><div style="text-align: left;">2 4' Vertical Support bars: 2 x $8.32 = $16.64</div><div style="text-align: left;">6 shelf brackets: 6 x $4.57 = $27.42</div><div style="text-align: left;">2 4' shelves: 2 x $4.86 = $9.72 (we only used 3 of the cut sections, so we have a 2' section leftover)</div><div style="text-align: left;">Shelf cutting was FREE</div><div style="text-align: left;">Total: $61.05</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I'm sure there are less expensive options out there, like if you live near an Ikea (which we don't, the closest one is in Atlanta...boo hiss), but for the quality of the shelving and how easy they are to install, I think it's totally worth it. And since then, every time I pass our made-over nook, I yell out "I love my shelves!". </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I hope everyone's had a great weekend. It's been just lovely here in Nashville!</div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-66612162733097935132011-03-14T14:50:00.007-05:002011-03-14T15:44:27.110-05:00The Best Baking Tip EVER!!<div style="text-align: left;">Even though this is a month late, I definitely wanted to share with you a few things I learned while making Billy's birthday cake...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This was a recipe I got from Barefoot Contessa recipe for <a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/carrot-and-pineapple-cake-recipe/index.html">Pineapple Carrot Cake</a>...which is pretty much just a carrot cake with a little more natural sweetness from the pineapple. Carrot cake is Billy's absolute favorite...and he actually bowed out of having a groom's cake at our wedding because he said he liked my cake more than any carrot cake we could get...tee hee. I just thought the fresh pineapple was an interesting addition, so I tried it out! I even "butchered" a pineapple!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsWFYeFAd2T4roG-xy0WFE3ajzoZkTtAxgZwKB6S58gRZSvqFjG-ZIEzWy7cgsnG75fGVVxsC0basOzT2kVmR-4OUwmRPzhXQm1f9NxCwNyT6fzs7wsi8KfTQXaYquoVcv3dQTfzhuqM/s1600/pineapplecarrotcake.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 270px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKsWFYeFAd2T4roG-xy0WFE3ajzoZkTtAxgZwKB6S58gRZSvqFjG-ZIEzWy7cgsnG75fGVVxsC0basOzT2kVmR-4OUwmRPzhXQm1f9NxCwNyT6fzs7wsi8KfTQXaYquoVcv3dQTfzhuqM/s400/pineapplecarrotcake.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584027135041884050" /></a><br /><div>While the cake looked and tasted absolutely delicious, the main thing I wanted to share is the little trick I learned recently. To take you back a little bit, I made a scrumptious chocolate-chocolate cake for New Year's Eve/our friend Blair's birthday, but I have been having a heck of a time getting my cakes to come out of the pan easily. I literally used my chocolate buttercream icing as glue to piece my cakes back together since they fell apart while I was getting them out of the pan. Arg. Talk about frustration. Was it my pan? The oven? ME? Color me perplexed.</div><div><br /></div><div>Enter Martha Stewart. She has a new show on the Hallmark Channel called <i>Martha Bakes--</i>it's pretty much just her in an amazing kitchen sharing some of her secrets on how to get perfect baked goods. A definite must-watch for any baker. On the very first episode, I learned how to solve my problem...</div><div><br /></div><div>First, grab the pan you're going to use, some parchment, a pencil, and scissors.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEKLOzIlkVGLXES0bN7xu4E1b1gZHqO4OCUL81BXMCFH0K45uTR0ot6f3gbpkj1SlVI4RAFEiNuMHGJRQDoGfIb3yT5KIQWNEEnGBv1FYNLsb_eO7AZiwH5hVlCytXJJB1OQBRflrGPc/s1600/step1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtEKLOzIlkVGLXES0bN7xu4E1b1gZHqO4OCUL81BXMCFH0K45uTR0ot6f3gbpkj1SlVI4RAFEiNuMHGJRQDoGfIb3yT5KIQWNEEnGBv1FYNLsb_eO7AZiwH5hVlCytXJJB1OQBRflrGPc/s400/step1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584026008184940050" /></a><br /></div><div>Trace around your pan on the parchment with your pencil. See my awesome tracing skills below. Make sure you trace a circle for each pan you have. 2 pans = 2 traced circles.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuq699n1R7U4G8duy7Av7spQHpbkRkRQDie0qw4LzEjj0oqnqIekjNDt_Fdg2avP2dJY0coAbTEdqyVILoo7ag0bpsoCCDliAe60_FWrV8Eo36e-0nA6r8fOceQZ2dHJC39sHqkmLLA8/s1600/step1b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuq699n1R7U4G8duy7Av7spQHpbkRkRQDie0qw4LzEjj0oqnqIekjNDt_Fdg2avP2dJY0coAbTEdqyVILoo7ag0bpsoCCDliAe60_FWrV8Eo36e-0nA6r8fOceQZ2dHJC39sHqkmLLA8/s400/step1b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584026002401242370" /></a><br /></div><div>Next, cut out your circles! Side note, you can actually BUY pre-cut parchment circles for your cake pans. Who knew?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdo_oBRZzB3DL8qjDS1Dbfw2iRUzk1v4wswaeqqH21C_qgxIMdAvfA1aWdS_oXXOPC-r33BIw6yh4NSNJr3HeDrGaMG2HeZ1P00DZpJCOiUn5WRn2AH3xDM1K81_CR_qU0XjdbZWhozk/s1600/step1c.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZdo_oBRZzB3DL8qjDS1Dbfw2iRUzk1v4wswaeqqH21C_qgxIMdAvfA1aWdS_oXXOPC-r33BIw6yh4NSNJr3HeDrGaMG2HeZ1P00DZpJCOiUn5WRn2AH3xDM1K81_CR_qU0XjdbZWhozk/s400/step1c.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584025999545730690" /></a><br /></div><div>Next, butter your pan with softened butter and a pastry brush.</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMLFESge3iZkvjgZENVJg5TwVNaM9oHd1X_TRbshab9pVrhzwLwiqbeSp453U1y2-XCP01d-9PfHkQZaRAoLujyd8RqRz45CZf4U6wh7Ex7THCSrEUQtTruJAxORUjfUifLJh-r2Xosk/s1600/step2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMLFESge3iZkvjgZENVJg5TwVNaM9oHd1X_TRbshab9pVrhzwLwiqbeSp453U1y2-XCP01d-9PfHkQZaRAoLujyd8RqRz45CZf4U6wh7Ex7THCSrEUQtTruJAxORUjfUifLJh-r2Xosk/s400/step2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584025802133385186" /></a>Place your parchment in the pan and shmear some butter on that, too.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyGkHpy1fRl3ONuzsK8g6nFGTJjk2wv5aM7dQom9VPR2Np3eiuwM_4KjwoS8T57GP9tRXEI1Oh7hRhq8uiLy0biFcxzfEt4vfGm1KUClrEc-nIL0l_vbWuuF7ZTTRu6cTgC-5MYV6ZWU/s1600/step3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisyGkHpy1fRl3ONuzsK8g6nFGTJjk2wv5aM7dQom9VPR2Np3eiuwM_4KjwoS8T57GP9tRXEI1Oh7hRhq8uiLy0biFcxzfEt4vfGm1KUClrEc-nIL0l_vbWuuF7ZTTRu6cTgC-5MYV6ZWU/s400/step3.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584025797962091906" /></a>Now flour your pans. Put about a tablespoon of flour in one pan, roll it around and tap out the excess into your other pan. Continue for each pan. Make sure they are coated really well.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaSoFlXOwj_AEz4GdOXf0kvF1fFV9cQgK3Yb-Q_ujNv4xRSmLuP-wMzZ7F9z5X9y_fSnZN17IKAoN8pBMhDgEnzHYyF5EjO9yAZnDax1ODpRD5saYBVdASL9b6orwtIw10d5msgNjAJE/s1600/step4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaaSoFlXOwj_AEz4GdOXf0kvF1fFV9cQgK3Yb-Q_ujNv4xRSmLuP-wMzZ7F9z5X9y_fSnZN17IKAoN8pBMhDgEnzHYyF5EjO9yAZnDax1ODpRD5saYBVdASL9b6orwtIw10d5msgNjAJE/s400/step4.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584025791883162562" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Fast forward to cake removal. Enjoy your perfectly non-stuck cakes!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuZOvVpJplKCF2NRi46aA490Z8w6AdvRyPemIBuKDIZ400wlUtYzH7aKgb6Gaex-OOHwiWxfCStoqzVSV2fYmiQE3r7aUIW4aJa_Czv8-yUuYj1kpxCyQhR8L8l1juDOi1rywUGADiPU/s1600/cakes.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcuZOvVpJplKCF2NRi46aA490Z8w6AdvRyPemIBuKDIZ400wlUtYzH7aKgb6Gaex-OOHwiWxfCStoqzVSV2fYmiQE3r7aUIW4aJa_Czv8-yUuYj1kpxCyQhR8L8l1juDOi1rywUGADiPU/s400/cakes.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584025786037424194" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">GORGEOUS!</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTHV3IjF7J6ybl3wm5zaMA1q7aaDTrfA1c3_7IFat-JxQcRkbC3alSUviWy62zCjygvxowb48WZc5pXW-3fzZ4x-AMEL97uZMmXs2V5rvyvttd7l9v5PTDTcYmeGddFCSQf2MlDbebFk/s1600/cakes-close.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTHV3IjF7J6ybl3wm5zaMA1q7aaDTrfA1c3_7IFat-JxQcRkbC3alSUviWy62zCjygvxowb48WZc5pXW-3fzZ4x-AMEL97uZMmXs2V5rvyvttd7l9v5PTDTcYmeGddFCSQf2MlDbebFk/s400/cakes-close.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584025780756868322" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">I was so pleased with how my cakes turned out! Martha really does know her stuff, but we knew that already. No more wasting icing piecing things back together, although that was one of my finer MacGyver moments.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">One thing I don't like is how my pans have a tapered side, so my cakes aren't perfectly squared off (I know, I know...where's your tiny violin...). I have my eye on some of these: <a href="http://www.fatdaddios.com/round_layer_cake_pans.htm">Fat Daddio's</a> aluminum cake pans. I've heard aluminum pans are the best and this particular brand got great reviews. I believe you can order them directly from the Fat Daddio's site, but I've seen them on Sur La Table's site and on Amazon. I will definitely be getting two 9" ones VERY soon.</div><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiTHV3IjF7J6ybl3wm5zaMA1q7aaDTrfA1c3_7IFat-JxQcRkbC3alSUviWy62zCjygvxowb48WZc5pXW-3fzZ4x-AMEL97uZMmXs2V5rvyvttd7l9v5PTDTcYmeGddFCSQf2MlDbebFk/s1600/cakes-close.jpg"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHiEBS2hL69c-zzT9vjiZHx9gn9GrHe3mXBHRL5vxUXyn6N2fyX-yEzJW9emWTtjOMs3ccks9Bts1ixsFusBehjPjoH69tkPPafF6IG1WYOedpPzdhEueeZf_zdew54Mvg7LqkAs0w4Xk/s400/fatdaddios.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5584028267613190770" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 292px; height: 239px; " /></span><div>So that's that. I actually have a pile of unwatched <i>Martha Bakes </i>on my DVR. They are REALLY informative! I have another tip about icing, but I'll save that for later!</div></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-83931870424931777202011-03-07T10:44:00.003-06:002011-03-07T11:07:20.795-06:0028Hi friends!<div><br /></div><div>Today is a bit of a day of reflection for me, as it is my 28th birthday. My facebook wall is flooded with birthday wishes (thank you all!!) and my heart is full of love. Part of me can't believe that I'm thisclose to turning the big 3-0, but at the same time, I find myself liking the person I've become more and more with each year that passes, and welcome each new candle on my birthday cake.</div><div><br /></div><div>What did I accomplish as a 27-year-old?</div><div><ul><li>Started a very fulfilling photography hobby</li><li>Quit a job that made me miserable and got a new job that I love, working with people that I adore (who knew it would be at the very same company!)</li><li>Celebrated 1 joyful year of marriage with Billy</li><li>Watched my little brother graduate from college AND get married</li><li>Improved my baking and cooking (because that's important, right?)</li></ul><div>It was a great year! Honestly, though, I hope that 28 is somewhat uneventful. I'm so happy with how things are in my life right now, that I couldn't possibly think of a single thing to change. However, I will (hopefully) add another role to my growing list (wife, friend, daughter, sister...): Grad student! I'm applying to an MBA program and should start this August if I get accepted...</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Speaking of school, this year will be 10 years out of high school and 6 years out of college as well as 6 years of living in Nashville.</div><div><br /></div><div>As far as updates go, I've been a little busy these past few weeks and have to apologize for not sharing all of the things swirling around in my brain:</div><div><ul><li>I visited our big office for a big team meeting in Herndon, VA last week. Surprisingly enough I had some GREAT Mexican food (I'm very picky about it since I'm from Texas), got some great feedback on the work I've been doing, and won one of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XgC3zjNH1oU">these</a>. It is super cool and would be a great gift, especially for a techy husband or dad. It's BG's fave new toy.</li><li>I learned a new baking trick while making Billy's birthday cake a couple weeks ago. It has changed my life! I promise to share SOON!</li><li>Still trying new recipes...like a Caprese Panini. OMG delicious.</li></ul><div>So that's about it for me today! Time to finish up some work, maybe work out (I'm on day 52 of Power 90--and BG gave me a birthday pass for today so I could take the day off, but I feel like I should work out anyway...oh the guilt!) and then go have Happy Birthday Happy Hour at Eastland Cafe with some friends.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>Did I mention that my husband, the man that does not read directions or pay attention or do things in order, is making me a birthday cake? This should be interesting...</div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-15176607355264280402011-02-24T20:08:00.003-06:002011-02-24T20:29:55.315-06:00Yummy Dinner!!<div style="text-align: left;">Things have been really busy around here the last week or so--last week was Billy's birthday and we've just had a lot going on around here! But we just had the yummiest dinner and I just had to tell you about it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I've been trying to plan our meals ahead of time and shop according to the menu plan, while also keeping things light and healthy to work with our fitness and weight-loss goals. Something we really like to eat is tilapia and we tend to buy it in bulk at Costco every few weeks, repackage it into 2 filets in a freezer bag, and just pull it out of the freezer a day or two ahead of when we plan to cook it.</div><div><br /></div><div>I came across a tilapia recipe in <i>Bon Appetit </i>(I think in the January or February issue) and it looked easy, quick, and tasty so I gave it a shot tonight and BOY, WAS IT GOOD!! So good, I ate it right up before I could get a photo, but here's what it looks like:</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmeQfbCbqaC6FGgfgHivyDJzqZSmsQTw0Uo_DxDW86X_yZB8uzznNgptMxtXl7VvR3PvicDBPHmajBqMYqEiwhnyc-MZrrXeLdhm0BM1NLm175oEt_sPbRaUagQjPAZLrcCxFhe8eTyIQ/s400/tilapia.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577444712349185986" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 284px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i>Image from BonAppetit.com</i></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><i><br /></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">Doesn't that look good? All you do is pat the tilapia fillets dry and sprinkle salt on both sides. Whisk an egg white until frothy, and brush the fish with the egg whites--I suppose you could dip the fish in the egg whites, too, if that floats your boat! Then you dredge the fish in the panko breadcrumbs. Cook in 3 tbs of vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a nonstick skillet for about 2-3 minutes until the panko is golden brown and crispy. Put on paper towel to drain any remaining oil on the fish. That's pretty much it!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I did a little steamed broccoli with our fish and the whole thing was done in less than 15 minutes. It was light and fresh, healthy, and EASY. Perfect for a busy night after work or if you really just don't feel up to the whole production of making a big meal.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I also made a little lemon aioli with it--sort of like a fancy tartar sauce. I don't really measure the stuff, but I guess it's about a 1/2 cup of mayonnaise (we use the light version), a bit of lemon zest, juice from half a lemon, a clove of garlic (minced), and salt and pepper. Some fresh dill would be good in there, too. Stir until combined and add more lemon juice if it looks too thick.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Trust me! Try it! It is so good! </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/quick-recipes/2011/01/crispy_tilapia_fillets_with_fennel_mint_tzatziki"><i>Click here for the actual recipe.</i></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-34825443377682785272011-02-14T16:12:00.003-06:002011-02-14T16:28:41.567-06:00My Valentine<div style="text-align: left;">In honor of today's totally ridiculous commercialized holiday, I thought I'd share some pictures of my very special Valentine.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumpw34io-x7ZlC1Y71H2ePq9b-8OoTn9vZykFAAmu6WiHt9MNX5SdNN1B_Ne_GikjMJeAfK2rnn6ihZcoX_QE5THpiG0ZPK_lctJmWUET-viVE4siyxNcqe1vrG1by4afIz2zARQslMU/s1600/IMG_4216.jpg"></a><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My Valentine is funny, goofy, quick to laugh...</i></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQrHQrwLdS-bspfFuUIfLEqSGSLXGGuYmNvf1QOe4Gjtf8y_oXg2PqjaFQfuYhMRs2ucxHdJyHAusJHN9Sw0ydxKOrq-PB_wzHhxM8cjNZmpzfI5TJvh6fnwV0pYdGh3pkVPJEW-G8uU/s1600/billy1small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQrHQrwLdS-bspfFuUIfLEqSGSLXGGuYmNvf1QOe4Gjtf8y_oXg2PqjaFQfuYhMRs2ucxHdJyHAusJHN9Sw0ydxKOrq-PB_wzHhxM8cjNZmpzfI5TJvh6fnwV0pYdGh3pkVPJEW-G8uU/s400/billy1small.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573672327802679826" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My Valentine is kind, sensitive, caring, and thoughtful...</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Ik0fAB57bunjAj2aHxZj6jgI0czBMwHplAL5yGU8JqhZrqjWEDr8tQ81zAGcUuKPKjGddl6YERtPr28Kq_C6s8j88JuxH2rMBkXWdxiITU6OObbKbSjoyZjd8S181XLgMvpZJ6c_uuM/s1600/billy2small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Ik0fAB57bunjAj2aHxZj6jgI0czBMwHplAL5yGU8JqhZrqjWEDr8tQ81zAGcUuKPKjGddl6YERtPr28Kq_C6s8j88JuxH2rMBkXWdxiITU6OObbKbSjoyZjd8S181XLgMvpZJ6c_uuM/s400/billy2small.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573672326382409698" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My Valentine is silly and fun and always puts a smile on my face...</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMq8kl2o-XXsRbXtWsP4YnV2bBso-rHad_dfSqqvYJlV9wKpUy7-7dtRsmPh2t4j9-XTmcMWaWgEH8Ob4CG95_vtCpjlPrk_0fRG2QyM_4sx4szHxRKhsbROfFNAwyt6ErTZI184DNYks/s1600/billy4small.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMq8kl2o-XXsRbXtWsP4YnV2bBso-rHad_dfSqqvYJlV9wKpUy7-7dtRsmPh2t4j9-XTmcMWaWgEH8Ob4CG95_vtCpjlPrk_0fRG2QyM_4sx4szHxRKhsbROfFNAwyt6ErTZI184DNYks/s400/billy4small.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573672321090846818" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>My Valentine loves my family like they are his own...</i></div></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgznEgTidsCeKgZkKlnm2fuaQEwap1viIWA0M68dYrFxaYhSBB56uipB4pPPh0mejVCD00felmB2wldyUk3z3ZlbUvTprVwiFOmRS68mAJVdIxAdvzwUSsxor56SYbNih5QS4mp2cGd4c/s1600/billymomsmall.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgznEgTidsCeKgZkKlnm2fuaQEwap1viIWA0M68dYrFxaYhSBB56uipB4pPPh0mejVCD00felmB2wldyUk3z3ZlbUvTprVwiFOmRS68mAJVdIxAdvzwUSsxor56SYbNih5QS4mp2cGd4c/s400/billymomsmall.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573672320306270706" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>...and loves my friends as much as I do...</i></div></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5vPExmrUnqMdqR45wS16KiVeK8ewEhUy11R_hqfr7ekzpmWoo35Q7ONjJOOfRODnLg2JtXAsloWjGL2dFybhKFXCkRHkTi8bFiG_hQNlHC67nOC4YTXuy2vgbxUMre-l15e2n7keF9A/s1600/billykara.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5vPExmrUnqMdqR45wS16KiVeK8ewEhUy11R_hqfr7ekzpmWoo35Q7ONjJOOfRODnLg2JtXAsloWjGL2dFybhKFXCkRHkTi8bFiG_hQNlHC67nOC4YTXuy2vgbxUMre-l15e2n7keF9A/s400/billykara.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573672316456823890" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">Happy Valentine's day to the most amazing man, my best friend, </div><div style="text-align: center;">my husband, my partner in crime. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I love you!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>And then there's this guy...</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl5vPExmrUnqMdqR45wS16KiVeK8ewEhUy11R_hqfr7ekzpmWoo35Q7ONjJOOfRODnLg2JtXAsloWjGL2dFybhKFXCkRHkTi8bFiG_hQNlHC67nOC4YTXuy2vgbxUMre-l15e2n7keF9A/s1600/billykara.jpg"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgumpw34io-x7ZlC1Y71H2ePq9b-8OoTn9vZykFAAmu6WiHt9MNX5SdNN1B_Ne_GikjMJeAfK2rnn6ihZcoX_QE5THpiG0ZPK_lctJmWUET-viVE4siyxNcqe1vrG1by4afIz2zARQslMU/s400/IMG_4216.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573672613856701970" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 275px; height: 400px; " /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: center;">I love you, too, Murph!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><br /></span></span></u></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-55289608357541311042011-02-06T12:13:00.004-06:002011-02-06T12:27:32.397-06:00Pasta with Pecorino and Pepper<div>A few weeks ago I was at Costco and guess who hopped in my buggy?</div><div><br /></div><div>The Barefoot Contessa.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_sFqDrNqqAuCe622qHwx1qUaicNwncYiAkCEnQxy3vPlbdiKw-ar09Q_YYOCssan52wNIxoOBsfjrpD2h3DAdvY_67C4MzwQf0YPOEgDySOeShzZ0rT1YjORZNvCC7dSAxiObNXu7ao/s1600/IMG_4184.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 304px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6_sFqDrNqqAuCe622qHwx1qUaicNwncYiAkCEnQxy3vPlbdiKw-ar09Q_YYOCssan52wNIxoOBsfjrpD2h3DAdvY_67C4MzwQf0YPOEgDySOeShzZ0rT1YjORZNvCC7dSAxiObNXu7ao/s400/IMG_4184.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570641621794106674" /></a>I just love her cookbooks. She actually hopped in my buggy twice--I also got her newest cookbook <i>How Easy Is That?</i> One of the many things I love about her food is how simple yet elegant it is. So, I flipped through and decided to try:<div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIYdVe5moVzsUMAvsTJMNvO2ZJHcmIAVjeSFIZeIOYjuvnbxzz7bY3Hq3ITIY_ewRFMxdSNK21pUYGLgFb0kDiYEV4KF_-J6OOjC1Qrtc4YkbAaGJgZAQRTg0_8OjnYMrjUQKmLtfNk0/s1600/IMG_4182.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 308px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwIYdVe5moVzsUMAvsTJMNvO2ZJHcmIAVjeSFIZeIOYjuvnbxzz7bY3Hq3ITIY_ewRFMxdSNK21pUYGLgFb0kDiYEV4KF_-J6OOjC1Qrtc4YkbAaGJgZAQRTg0_8OjnYMrjUQKmLtfNk0/s400/IMG_4182.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570641535419184546" /></a><br /></div><div>The <i>Pasta with Pecorino and Pepper. </i>So, I got all my stuff ready...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGj1bie4uAOnuC3zdIYSSEsVXUA1JZ8AmoebGuQ1WqaIcTJwbfDFaStz9Az4F637J_wRLmBBds47zScHi_MqYRKnSPn_Nipid6Y7qyJGKPjAN4BHYF2T8OQUiL1p25t91hYNHAr7EfKo/s1600/IMG_4179.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGj1bie4uAOnuC3zdIYSSEsVXUA1JZ8AmoebGuQ1WqaIcTJwbfDFaStz9Az4F637J_wRLmBBds47zScHi_MqYRKnSPn_Nipid6Y7qyJGKPjAN4BHYF2T8OQUiL1p25t91hYNHAr7EfKo/s400/IMG_4179.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570641534312708546" /></a>This recipe actually calls for egg noodles. I've never cooked with them before and I can't recall that I've ever had them before, but you just cook them like regular noodles.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aqHYZPqmlf6Dp6l7Y66bCMmalXi4YGC7-gde3kadqF2f78mn_jY-TeyEakyHqHf8BK8SwaD6e9CN2JZpLL4PZMjlf7vmmwYyxHWLJN19yyGqCE3MarqdWzv77m5gKfuH5lRq_ndQCgA/s1600/IMG_4180.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aqHYZPqmlf6Dp6l7Y66bCMmalXi4YGC7-gde3kadqF2f78mn_jY-TeyEakyHqHf8BK8SwaD6e9CN2JZpLL4PZMjlf7vmmwYyxHWLJN19yyGqCE3MarqdWzv77m5gKfuH5lRq_ndQCgA/s400/IMG_4180.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570641524401345394" /></a> Now, if there was a tricky part, this would be it. Once you get the noodles back in the pan, you have to work quickly. Reading the recipe before hand, it seemed that having all of my ingredients ready to go would be super helpful here, so that's what I did, and it worked great. You throw in the cream, butter, salt, pepper, cheese!, and parsley and toss it all together.</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pvIJF77xLcCA4nsMpJfhvDL6kkD_UjeoKkSmtf1LHZfFuXHyelAknStqQOcoI8ZEseI-dxusCNeL1d4yehUpvWyG-kcSMs7vVBXO0sMqx0Ubj_qKhRQSN_qtMndsDfBg0FC-0BZPgCs/s1600/IMG_4185.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5pvIJF77xLcCA4nsMpJfhvDL6kkD_UjeoKkSmtf1LHZfFuXHyelAknStqQOcoI8ZEseI-dxusCNeL1d4yehUpvWyG-kcSMs7vVBXO0sMqx0Ubj_qKhRQSN_qtMndsDfBg0FC-0BZPgCs/s400/IMG_4185.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570641523135979170" /></a>And this is what you get...</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMBUKceffcDeqhyMec_Wy5BczvW96a8-HT2mi0bj9jMtAjMvm8Sam86UeT-V3Nnhs1YbZegyDiislvQrgj9HWK3E6UoydbupGjsBJBy8Dpw5YyhsjngXb0iyNTigf13qaiiytfEv6IYc/s1600/IMG_4187.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpMBUKceffcDeqhyMec_Wy5BczvW96a8-HT2mi0bj9jMtAjMvm8Sam86UeT-V3Nnhs1YbZegyDiislvQrgj9HWK3E6UoydbupGjsBJBy8Dpw5YyhsjngXb0iyNTigf13qaiiytfEv6IYc/s400/IMG_4187.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570641518198162930" /></a>The creamiest, most perfect and delicious bowl of pasta! The egg noodles were tender and definitely had a different flavor to them than the regular whole wheat pasta I normally cook with. A nice departure from the norm, and I think I'll cook with them more in the future. I've not cooked with Pecorino much either, and it seems to me like it's a softer version of Parmesan. Nutty flavor, kinda salty. Coming from someone whose favorite pasta dish is anything involving Alfredo sauce, this was definitely a very simple yet elegant (and yummy!) recipe.</div><div><br /></div><div>That Ina doesn't disappoint!</div><div><br /></div><div>I hope everyone has a wonderful Sunday and a fun time watching the Superbowl! I don't really have a preference to who wins today, but I'm looking forward to our friends coming over and spending time with them. On the menu: Taco Soup (since it's easy and feeds a lot of people), spinach dip, and chocolate chip cookies!</div><div><br /></div><div>And just an FYI--"buggy" in the south is the same thing as a shopping cart. ;)</div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-36866588963360231102011-02-03T15:29:00.003-06:002011-02-03T15:46:01.965-06:00The Best Tuna Salad.<div>A post two days in a row? Someone check my temperature!</div><div><br /></div><div>I wanted to share my lunch with you today. I made a yummy tuna salad sandwich. I grew up on them. They are comfort food for me, and probably for my brother, too. We ate so many growing up, I'm kinda surprised we didn't turn into a tuna sandwich at some point. Anyway, let's get down to the nitty gritty...</div><div><br /></div><div>I make my tuna salad...in the food processor! I tried it once and it was so light and creamy that I will never make it the regular old way (in a bowl) again. Today, I started with 3 cans of plain old albacore tuna in water, and dumped it in the food processor.</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOh9N6m66cMwnnZBgXEgBoQz-9qoLct413FsVFi8P4BpFw9igyfW3-NeEwJWgVpFVyxA3ReVUeseQZXo1LBF_Mt0FSyxE6VAM99_K9KEQ6PtYwAoWgwDy0U-DsWOgs3pfiahT7bL60W0/s1600/IMG_4168.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuOh9N6m66cMwnnZBgXEgBoQz-9qoLct413FsVFi8P4BpFw9igyfW3-NeEwJWgVpFVyxA3ReVUeseQZXo1LBF_Mt0FSyxE6VAM99_K9KEQ6PtYwAoWgwDy0U-DsWOgs3pfiahT7bL60W0/s400/IMG_4168.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569579018958380034" /></a>Then, I add mayo a few tablespoons at a time and pulse until it's the right consistency. And here's my little secret: lemon juice. That's what really lightens it up and gives it a super fresh flavor. Keep adding the mayo and lemon juice and pulsing until it's the consistency you like. I used the juice from 1 large lemon.<br /><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcZjuHDXoLZ6rMbq67ogGDvzDkT_wcikM1Gop5gf0Xtj5rUw7y0nVU7wsh6yUyaZKAF8pywraaB_QPJ0M4pFsiMHAKx6K-TkW2sAF9VA-GlTMlW92geyLeH5YSyTbdYxqiH7AcJyNw6w/s1600/IMG_4169.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRcZjuHDXoLZ6rMbq67ogGDvzDkT_wcikM1Gop5gf0Xtj5rUw7y0nVU7wsh6yUyaZKAF8pywraaB_QPJ0M4pFsiMHAKx6K-TkW2sAF9VA-GlTMlW92geyLeH5YSyTbdYxqiH7AcJyNw6w/s400/IMG_4169.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569579012718435810" /></a>Now for the goodies. Here are my favorite pickles. If you live near a Trader Joe's, go get some now. If you don't, let me know and I'll send you some (only kidding!). These are the best pickles! I even try to sneak drinking the pickle juice, it's so good. And I know it's pretty much just vinegar. Let's ignore that fact, shall we?</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpl3GQXrF2j1PIaQ_S0CnD2Twf8mzdHT8zjuAQhSfFxIzFJexocf3HBahAjB_RO3LkudBc2Tev0GomDmiFphR9OzO3sQ3eG9UEOh-1b09rPwjTFZmW5ufFHqoH4jq8krmeRVfEFfvC244/s1600/IMG_4171.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpl3GQXrF2j1PIaQ_S0CnD2Twf8mzdHT8zjuAQhSfFxIzFJexocf3HBahAjB_RO3LkudBc2Tev0GomDmiFphR9OzO3sQ3eG9UEOh-1b09rPwjTFZmW5ufFHqoH4jq8krmeRVfEFfvC244/s400/IMG_4171.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569579013055910674" /></a>So, I like some onion in my tuna salad. I usually use red onion, but today I had a sweet Spanish onion. I dice it up real small because I don't like a surprise mouthful of onion when I bite into my sandwich.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRftoECxAs7y0Wxm8SRl8EFiHkSbWHzar9psz4OVfZdz_5BbLhfruUwuxFbex9YuhxDyUFwR-bkkTGO-MWukEMFAwuMKTp2CvqsrKDnd7PPBIbbzP5z6_eeg5uJfwydAZc5GmsJRZr6MI/s1600/IMG_4172.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRftoECxAs7y0Wxm8SRl8EFiHkSbWHzar9psz4OVfZdz_5BbLhfruUwuxFbex9YuhxDyUFwR-bkkTGO-MWukEMFAwuMKTp2CvqsrKDnd7PPBIbbzP5z6_eeg5uJfwydAZc5GmsJRZr6MI/s400/IMG_4172.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569578853176314786" /></a>Then I dice up a few of those pickles, about the same size as the onion...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEemZbaSY3ei1zvjNEbcpoLAK16li3nsolPePDsp4iJobAloKrT01yqs65R2ahjtHVl4WVr1JezHjd42QJI3_vo4mc13SElCYjIN6FEyAwA6XI-GCVdveNGqfK44xgk9vlvtntpJJ8vu4/s1600/IMG_4173.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEemZbaSY3ei1zvjNEbcpoLAK16li3nsolPePDsp4iJobAloKrT01yqs65R2ahjtHVl4WVr1JezHjd42QJI3_vo4mc13SElCYjIN6FEyAwA6XI-GCVdveNGqfK44xgk9vlvtntpJJ8vu4/s400/IMG_4173.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569578849159926050" /></a>Throw'em both in the bowl. Add a pretty good bit of salt and pepper...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9kwlff3Jz3UqZIvrBl8TN8D7KYJnF-ZAgeEOk0C00313OP18i9MyVSoZ_9sMCNTBnSffOX7wm2vkZaejKrOOAArkfmd9DMh2gASlp98PwnegFjnzZ4zbPFpbEUwf8tN1XhaInRn3vhQ/s1600/IMG_4174.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9kwlff3Jz3UqZIvrBl8TN8D7KYJnF-ZAgeEOk0C00313OP18i9MyVSoZ_9sMCNTBnSffOX7wm2vkZaejKrOOAArkfmd9DMh2gASlp98PwnegFjnzZ4zbPFpbEUwf8tN1XhaInRn3vhQ/s400/IMG_4174.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569578851541710530" /></a>Mix it up. It's ok to sneak a few bites while you're stirring. You're just making sure it tastes great, right?<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKutXe1mB9b-dmq1Vw06Vvk-e1Uk2mSrFacoMiGgxdKVYVSmDE-A_wd_uzY-rD2kuUcEW0ZqydrnkWouEHbVQwKKlWXrx1CkVQLrXErYBamUU7mqYoEuvM22di2x22h7VR7IFSWY2XR0/s1600/IMG_4175.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdKutXe1mB9b-dmq1Vw06Vvk-e1Uk2mSrFacoMiGgxdKVYVSmDE-A_wd_uzY-rD2kuUcEW0ZqydrnkWouEHbVQwKKlWXrx1CkVQLrXErYBamUU7mqYoEuvM22di2x22h7VR7IFSWY2XR0/s400/IMG_4175.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569578845340336082" /></a>And now it's time to make your sandwich. I did two perfectly toasted slices of Honey Wheat. And another trick: I spread on a little Miracle Whip on both pieces of bread before I put the tuna in it. I know, you're thinking "Mayo AND Miracle Whip? You're crazy!" Trust me! You get a little tangy zip from it and it is delish!</div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLj08P4b6nGy3rr7gGb50ZGCsXYZx5Q6J3JCAHP3_yr9Ju6hBeh7VhoRH-KaHpuebUEYIzcpJk_8iS65lWKsg8iHbC1RxdQ2fQINcZOSXiQBMoXX5YEGbQxbLPiRfNmUFfkfVsUHGFhp8/s1600/IMG_4177.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLj08P4b6nGy3rr7gGb50ZGCsXYZx5Q6J3JCAHP3_yr9Ju6hBeh7VhoRH-KaHpuebUEYIzcpJk_8iS65lWKsg8iHbC1RxdQ2fQINcZOSXiQBMoXX5YEGbQxbLPiRfNmUFfkfVsUHGFhp8/s400/IMG_4177.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569578839799997426" /></a>Apparently I couldn't control myself and had to take a bite.</div><div><br /></div><div>It was worth it.</div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-54319163637105263632011-02-02T16:12:00.004-06:002011-02-02T16:49:11.015-06:00Reflection...<div style="text-align: left;">First I want to start by throwing out a BIG thank you to Mother Nature for sparing Nashville in her latest little temper tantrum here in the US. I've had enough snow to last me for A WHILE. Either it's 2 feet of snow and blizzard conditions or solid ice and rolling black outs--which happens to be what my Texas friends are dealing with at the moment. I'm just really thankful that we didn't really get anything but some rain and colder temperatures.</div><div><br /></div><div>Anyway, I fiddled with my blog design a little bit (which, honestly, I didn't even realize I could fiddle with and was about to curse blogspot for crappy templates...but duh!) and looked back on some old blog posts and it got me thinking a little bit about 2o1o. Let's look at last year's goals and take a look at how I did, shall we?</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style=" color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; font-family:Calibri;font-size:13px;"><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1--</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">P90X</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">--Ok, I tried. It's hard. I think the longest we made it was 60 days and I was EXHAUSTED. BUT as of today, I'm 26 days into POWER 90 and LOVE IT. It's night and day. Let's be honest. I can't commit more than 30 minutes to a workout. I'm not as fit nor do I care to be as fit as Jackie Warner (but love her show!). I like food and I like to eat food. Power 90 suits me just fine, and I know I can do it and I'm determined to finish. I might try Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred next.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span><div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">2--</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">--Things are going well here! We paid off some things in 2010 but 2011 is going to be our big year to do some real damage. Good damage. I just paid off my car (and a year early! Booyah!) and that is going to give us some real momentum to pay off some other lingering debts that we accrued, oh from say buying a house and getting married. That stuff's expensive. Like with anything else, discipline is the key here.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">3 -- </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Find a church we like and go regularly. </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We found a great church! Need to work on the going regularly part. Lucky for me, they record their services and have a podcast, so even if I'm too lazy to make it even to the 11:30 service, I can still listen. And you know you live in Nashville when your pastor is in a Taylor Swift video. Not kidding.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></b></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">4 --</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">For Billy and me to keep working on having a healthy marriage.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> This is always going to be a priority. I'm working on my patience and concentrating more on not letting things just fly out of my mouth. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">5--</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Try at least 1 new recipe a week. </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Done and done. I have several new cookbooks and just love trying new things! I still want to finish my </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Everyday Italian</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> project, but like I said, it's not going to be very consistent. But I will cook every dish in that book and my two new </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Barefoot Contessa</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> cookbooks. Yum!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">6--</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Eat locally.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Easy. Nashville has a great independent restaurant scene. I couldn't tell you the last time we ate at a chain restaurant (yes I can, on our road trip) and the times we do are few and far between. I've already planned my SFG (square foot garden) and will be hitting up the Home Depot soon to get my seeds going. Fresh veggies here we come! Anything else I'm going to make it a point to get at the Farmer's Market. Since it's literally 2 seconds from our house. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">7--</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Keep up the reading.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> Major success here!! I really need to keep better track of what I'm reading, so I've started a list to count all the books I finish in 2011. I've already finished 5 and should finish another this weekend. Current read: </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The Hunger Games</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> series by Suzanne Collins. It might be for teenagers, just like </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Twilight</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> is but I cannot read them fast enough. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">8--</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Learn to sew. </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Baby steps! I've watched the DVD and figured out how to thread my machine and even did a few practice runs on some scrap fabric. I have some projects picked out and cannot wait to get to the fabric store! Stay tuned, I might suck!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">9--</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Take more pictures. </span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We all know I got a new camera (thanks babe!!) and my photography is DEFINITELY improving. I only shoot on Manual mode, now I just need to shoot MORE and post the photos I take. Definitely enjoying this hobby. Want to up my badass-ness on my editing, but learning more all the time! Trying to not let myself get discouraged when I submit things in a Pioneer Woman photo contest and don't make the cut. One day...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">10--</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Get up earlier.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! Yeah, right.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">11--</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Get better at the housekeeping thing.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> WHO CARES. It gets done. Whatever.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">So, all in all, not bad! 2010 was full of blessing, family, friends, and good food, and I know 2011 won't be any different. I'll leave you with, what I think, is a pretty cool shot from my brother's graduation in December. The kid wears his Converse with EVERYTHING. So, of course, I had to get a shot of them with his cap and gown. So here ya go. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhRmNYRLTajyDrm-iFP18tfyL0VbZe9N3dwe8t7MtypU27Cyi7_d9AExYBd9TuXA7NPdvTxzGw0jJlNxX7dfKQ2Tj_GD4eRKCDf9z4oo8SstpwrEqBYVHyVkJReNlYo03LKKVb9lPHkQE/s400/11grad-chuckssmall.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5569225629262762338" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 282px; " /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 22px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); font-family: Georgia, serif; line-height: normal; font-size: 16px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><br /></span></span></span></div></span></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-50666707012593698582011-01-18T14:30:00.003-06:002011-01-18T15:15:28.445-06:00Hibernation In Progress...Hello and (a very belated) Happy New Year!<div><br /></div><div>So sorry I have been MIA--things have been crazy since Thanksgiving, with the holidays and all of our crazy cold winter weather. We've already had several multiple-inch snows here in Nashville, y'all! One of which was on Christmas Day, so I missed what would've been my very first White Christmas. Talk about bummed.<div><br /></div><div>Other than holidays and freezing weather, here is a VERY short list of things that have happened lately:</div><div><ul><li>Billy and I drove to and around Texas for Christmas break. We drove from Nashville to...</li><li>Nacogdoches, TX--My brother graduated from Stephen F Austin State University on December 18th with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in some sort of Graphic Arts somethingorother! Then we packed up his apartment (and all of his art crap!) and moved him and his fiancee to...</li><li>San Antonio, TX--I don't know if it was just because it was a few days before Christmas, but it was CRAZY there. The traffic, the crowded stores, ugh. Billy and I did get to spend a lovely little evening on the Riverwalk and stayed at La Mansion. The next day, we did a quick walk through the Alamo (way smaller than I expected!) and then picked my mom up at my brother's apartment and drove to...</li><li>Houston--Pretty much just relaxed and hit up some of my favorite hometown restaurants. We had our actual "Christmas" with the dinner and the presents on Christmas Eve, because on Christmas Day we drove to...</li><li>Midland, TX--Out in the middle of nowhere! But leave it to my brother to cram everything into one holiday break: he and his fiancee Sarah got married on December 27th! The wedding was gorgeous and I took a TON of pictures, but I'm too lazy to post any here now. Sorry. :( The next day, we drove...</li><li>HOME! That was the longest day of my LIFE! Fortunately, since we woke up so dang early, we hit Dallas about breakfast/brunch-time and got to have a quick meal and visit with my college roommate, Jenny, and her husband, Dane. We made plans to HOPEFULLY attend a Fightin' Texas Aggie Football game next fall. I really hope so! Then we made it through Texarkana, Little Rock, Memphis, and finally back to Nashville late that evening. Phew!</li></ul><div>After all that we put about 3,000 miles on my car. All of that out-and-about-ing is fully to blame for my current state of home-body-itis. You could not pry me from this house if you tried! But, I've gotten a lot of reading and cooking done, started to plan this year's garden, watched my Aggies put on a good show against LSU at the Cotton Bowl (even though they lost, dang it!), and generally been a big slug. Oh, and we've watched almost the entire series of LOST on Netflix.</div><div><br /></div><div>I have some great plans for this year, so bring it 2011!! First and foremost, we will be DEBT FREE by this summer, if Murphy's Law doesn't launch into affect and ruin all of my planning. We have already knocked off a big debt item: our car! </div><div><br /></div><div>I hope everyone is staying dry and warm! I'll be curled up on the couch under a few blankets if you need me...</div><div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div></div></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-91812711127923780832010-11-23T15:01:00.005-06:002010-11-23T15:23:13.850-06:00What's been cookin'...<div>Here's a little bit of what we've been cooking around here lately...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Zesty Chicken Enchiladas</i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPlNS1Vl1Hj4oGBbaR0MvOFVvJfczRn9VnkOu_Qog5Xsv_k6sXdvA8DWNRpGOaHXmFEryChju3fBH3JHwjpILJZGiH6qXmR_6DtIhk_bmcMaRhVa_0NiEOjndrBL5htiQG5G3L8Rahhw/s1600/enchiladas-sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmPlNS1Vl1Hj4oGBbaR0MvOFVvJfczRn9VnkOu_Qog5Xsv_k6sXdvA8DWNRpGOaHXmFEryChju3fBH3JHwjpILJZGiH6qXmR_6DtIhk_bmcMaRhVa_0NiEOjndrBL5htiQG5G3L8Rahhw/s400/enchiladas-sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542854701674772034" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">Recipe out of <i>Real Simple</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjtGN2noTiINvYiSTSXo8YQAhD9wZ4sB78jDCnxjAhsE8UI32IbMrHDikxoJmURe5EIZwwJ67zXg9xKZssNOFIwhpCLWoVJfkPy_bBLTbFne7x_YJS6co02RXvtY6UTPAx_VyH5ftxJg/s1600/enchilada1-sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCjtGN2noTiINvYiSTSXo8YQAhD9wZ4sB78jDCnxjAhsE8UI32IbMrHDikxoJmURe5EIZwwJ67zXg9xKZssNOFIwhpCLWoVJfkPy_bBLTbFne7x_YJS6co02RXvtY6UTPAx_VyH5ftxJg/s400/enchilada1-sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542854684220887826" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">They are super good. Tangy and zesty from the tomatillos with lots of gooey melted Monterey Jack on top!</div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">A favorite: <i>Roasted Veggie Orzo</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">an Ina Garten recipe</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNAsqtMXLst9VboPqMusgvZewdyM4fd_R6YsoLot7uLdRBZMGudSJ3E-X4a8QThe1IImznw8HvpVgTj744bccqNi0Z0cIYfUeIfTsj7HrSv-lvRpGNeRc84lsOmEimOfilgQjK_EBmnU/s1600/orzo-sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisNAsqtMXLst9VboPqMusgvZewdyM4fd_R6YsoLot7uLdRBZMGudSJ3E-X4a8QThe1IImznw8HvpVgTj744bccqNi0Z0cIYfUeIfTsj7HrSv-lvRpGNeRc84lsOmEimOfilgQjK_EBmnU/s400/orzo-sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542854667178073666" /></a><div style="text-align: center;">I think this is all I ate that day. Really hard to stay away from it! Easy recipe and good for a crowd. My friends often say "bring the orzo!" if we're all bringing something for a party.</div></div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Potato-Zucchini Pancakes</i></div><div style="text-align: center;">A Giada recipe</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVOy1d_-H8ATfJ66oBZXF9vXTWBJYWJa9qPkSNfnkLFeUItPLYErsjPgaiJ6DOUcTt4PpF0ZZJCSX8uXXxZwskZTpkRgbsZy7K0vMH5nnehAr_XyJqOxa0kikKP9tZU1rlFliVnPlxe4/s1600/potzucpancake-sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbVOy1d_-H8ATfJ66oBZXF9vXTWBJYWJa9qPkSNfnkLFeUItPLYErsjPgaiJ6DOUcTt4PpF0ZZJCSX8uXXxZwskZTpkRgbsZy7K0vMH5nnehAr_XyJqOxa0kikKP9tZU1rlFliVnPlxe4/s400/potzucpancake-sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542854644250562642" /></a>Those were super tasty--would be great for a party, especially a Christmas/Holiday party since there is Rosemary in them. Mmm!</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>White Bean Dip</i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTyfasQ0NmGKJ26mllF8dTewnSHJv19V0sEU0a_hG5Jipy__2Gh6xO_9yvLSlM5MtCxsXZKEuZGwiJFNO_OE-TPEt4CgdbBxCq2EPIAFW0NmWb-r-2OS4CXwrRn0eneYK5YvQI9EIIEc/s1600/whitebeandip-sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWTyfasQ0NmGKJ26mllF8dTewnSHJv19V0sEU0a_hG5Jipy__2Gh6xO_9yvLSlM5MtCxsXZKEuZGwiJFNO_OE-TPEt4CgdbBxCq2EPIAFW0NmWb-r-2OS4CXwrRn0eneYK5YvQI9EIIEc/s400/whitebeandip-sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5542854631604873330" /></a>This was a recipe out of the Everyday Italian book I've been cooking from. A great, easy little snack to whip up. Just a few ingredients: White kidney beans, lemon, parsley, olive oil, s&p! I've also made the Marinara Sauce out of that book and it's really fresh and full of tomato flavor! I can't wait to try the fried calamari to dip in it. Completely different from the usual spaghetti sauce I make, which has brown sugar in it (somewhere, an italian woman just rolled in her grave...).</div><div><br /></div><div>I can't believe Thanksgiving is in 2 days! BG's parents are coming up, so it'll just be the 4 of us...and 3 dogs. I'm making my mom's traditional turkey, dressing, and gravy, but I thought I'd mix up the sides and try some Pioneer Woman recipes. I'm going to make the Whiskey Glazed Carrots (had these at a friend's house once, delicious!), Creamy Herbed Potatoes (made these for Easter this year, delicious!), and Green Bean Casserole (this one's different...it has peppers! And bacon!). We got everything from Trader Joe's, even the turkey. Their cornbread is SO good and I can't wait to make the dressing with it again.</div><div><br /></div><div>I plan on taking lots of pictures of our goodies, so I'll be sure and share them here! And Friday is Christmas Decoration Day! I got some new ornaments and a few other things to change up our decorations this year, so I'll be sure and share that too!</div><div><br /></div><div>I hope everyone has a great week and a Happy Thanksgiving!</div><div>meg</div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-86527614835030064042010-11-13T11:43:00.006-06:002010-11-13T12:04:00.365-06:00Updates...<div>Hi friends! It's been almost a month since my last post...tsk tsk. Things have been pretty busy around here, so here is a quick update on what we've been up to:<div><br /></div><div><ul><li>Work, work, work!</li><li>My mom came in town for her birthday and I made her some cupcakes. Happy Birthday Mama! I made her some mini cupcakes.</li></ul></div></div><div><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGQv2f659DJFM4HhfHW5spVBH0Kf6cA74zFWHB21REsMC5NL8REyDA_zaPyY7rNMDQtce92vkEBfKXQCvvZ3jZYofmeaeFu5GgVj86rXxcY8_p2XcfOzkYnV0aNLB8KBGLXUzNGxjEMdQ/s400/mamasm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539093493657694722" /><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhClusd80ZKDFkqDerQtKBD003k_DRDZ_Gk-4hdWLrp7r0ANQ3cTwj_P8cGKhZGgZLOeMPdvVfc-4JWJxen2M2qPVMvCA2jp6_98h5v6hF2R4EB78-XRwA6x8nPaHJp5InY2ambfiORD2I/s400/lonelycupcakesm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539093491123011250" /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul><li>I haven't cooked my next Giada recipe yet, but I have been cooking a lot of new things...mainly recipes that I've pulled out of magazines. Some were good, some not.</li><li>Billy and I have been riding our bikes a lot more lately on account of the weather being so nice. So, we can blame the weather for my absence here, right?</li><li>I've been reading a lot. I've read 5 of the 9 Sookie Stackhouse books...and we've joined Netflix, so we're watching a lot of movies.</li><li>Here is something else I have cooked: Mini Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cream Cheese frosting. The pumpkin cake is a recipe that my grandmother made for years. I'm currently obsessed with small things (mini cupcakes, small appetizers, etc) so I decided to adapt this recipe for smaller amounts. I also tweaked how you put the ingredients together, based on what I've been learning about mixing dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately, and sifting your dry goods. These turned out so much lighter than the actual cake, and they were delicious! I'm not knocking my grandmother...what can I say, she was old school!</li></ul></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWr4wzp3vtpLLvalm8pHJjIfokYn_LWjAm1Jra1riqnPP07_nJvT0wGeVEX2iVC8InrUvN27Gv7Ygk1461tLZJ47RiTdSe40hVt8UUg_yVVSAN_cup4v5JyCiH-GD0E3K2FTZSr6DJI54/s1600/pumpkinminism.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 257px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWr4wzp3vtpLLvalm8pHJjIfokYn_LWjAm1Jra1riqnPP07_nJvT0wGeVEX2iVC8InrUvN27Gv7Ygk1461tLZJ47RiTdSe40hVt8UUg_yVVSAN_cup4v5JyCiH-GD0E3K2FTZSr6DJI54/s400/pumpkinminism.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5539093500377256962" /></a><br /></div><div>So that's about all I have to say right now. I'm considering pulling the plug on this little blog...I'm so AWESOMELY BAD at posting regularly. Should I just do a "picture a day" type thing where I just show you what I've cooked that day, or something that we've done? Not sure yet. I'm still working on my photos and cooking/baking. We'll see what I come up with. </div><div><br /></div><div>Happy Saturday everyone!! Enjoy it!</div><div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-90267674528554836982010-10-16T14:43:00.006-05:002010-10-16T15:19:29.347-05:00New project!<div>It is a GORGEOUS fall day here in Nashville, and I've started a new project. I was really inspired by <i>Julie and Julia</i> and decided that I, too, wanted to cook my way through a cookbook. I have a whole shelf of them that I rarely ever try recipes from, and decided that needed to change!<div><br /></div><div>So, I'll be cooking through Giada de Laurentiis's book, <i>Everyday Italian</i>. We all know I'm a huge fan of hers: I DVR both of her cooking shows and watch them in my down time and I often try the things she cooks on her show. Our favorite pork recipe is actually a Giada recipe!</div></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi950qL3k193dWyQUeMOHTZ5mhV3GojwTRJ5wpA-4hEOChjr4UaH8ffG5XVPJzASaK2nOurHLEwC3buI8bHWrs5sPvLWkCXXlCxE3-e_mmkzwmA8CX-BVZ7pR09q1Cgdew9nAU-8Xhx8-g/s1600/bookcover-sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi950qL3k193dWyQUeMOHTZ5mhV3GojwTRJ5wpA-4hEOChjr4UaH8ffG5XVPJzASaK2nOurHLEwC3buI8bHWrs5sPvLWkCXXlCxE3-e_mmkzwmA8CX-BVZ7pR09q1Cgdew9nAU-8Xhx8-g/s400/bookcover-sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528734192092875266" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">So here we go. My plan is not very strict. I'll cook when I have time, and try to do 2-3 recipes at a time until that gets too ambitious. The first section of the book is <i>Everyday Antipasti</i> and I've done 2 of those for today. I love that each section has a "cooking from the pantry" section how many of these recipes can be done with little or no special grocery shopping since these are items many of us have in our pantry already. I, myself, actually did have to pick up a few things, but not much. And I don't really feel right about posting the actual recipe, since I'm working from a book, but I bet you could find them on the Food Network website.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The first thing I tried was the <i>Tuna and White Bean Salad.</i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi950qL3k193dWyQUeMOHTZ5mhV3GojwTRJ5wpA-4hEOChjr4UaH8ffG5XVPJzASaK2nOurHLEwC3buI8bHWrs5sPvLWkCXXlCxE3-e_mmkzwmA8CX-BVZ7pR09q1Cgdew9nAU-8Xhx8-g/s1600/bookcover-sm.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9_S_XYCciyOXdx2HbHDi6JGiJHbkToVvXSY2hWcbPXLVfAsjjtQJ9S3otxBGKSMsqR5tXRt2jW3g1T7dDsy5bOIyN9nZZ5o6bxWab44R5gSZNaDcHtxAkILCHFPPbtA7j0jTYCOxQQU/s1600/tunawhitebeadsalad-sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 282px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9_S_XYCciyOXdx2HbHDi6JGiJHbkToVvXSY2hWcbPXLVfAsjjtQJ9S3otxBGKSMsqR5tXRt2jW3g1T7dDsy5bOIyN9nZZ5o6bxWab44R5gSZNaDcHtxAkILCHFPPbtA7j0jTYCOxQQU/s400/tunawhitebeadsalad-sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528734167432769522" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div>This was very a light and refreshing, simple recipe. There are only a few ingredients: cannellini beans, tuna (it called for dark meat tuna in olive oil, but I had albacore in water, so sue me), red onion, red wine vinegar, s&p. I've never actually thought to put red wine vinegar with tuna, but I loved the tangy zip it gave the salad. This would be a great light lunch, especially over some arugala or romaine.</div><div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><p style="margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px Helvetica"><span style="letter-spacing: 0.0px"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#000000;"><br /></span></span></span></p></u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">The next one I did was the <i>Crostini with Sun-Dried Tomatoes and Chickpeas</i>.</div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF9_S_XYCciyOXdx2HbHDi6JGiJHbkToVvXSY2hWcbPXLVfAsjjtQJ9S3otxBGKSMsqR5tXRt2jW3g1T7dDsy5bOIyN9nZZ5o6bxWab44R5gSZNaDcHtxAkILCHFPPbtA7j0jTYCOxQQU/s1600/tunawhitebeadsalad-sm.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpGjQa8yj15Md6h4gghlsh7wi9slRRs05n6WOuLRcZCFiumW-zMKnxX51PO1SAWDz_JvFpfRsROc10OZaDuRkdxynY_O0GzwblHF2Gdoj4Q9O0v1vaZBuLcB3jr25dqceL_Zubajqzfo/s1600/crostini1-sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpGjQa8yj15Md6h4gghlsh7wi9slRRs05n6WOuLRcZCFiumW-zMKnxX51PO1SAWDz_JvFpfRsROc10OZaDuRkdxynY_O0GzwblHF2Gdoj4Q9O0v1vaZBuLcB3jr25dqceL_Zubajqzfo/s400/crostini1-sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5528734155581645842" /></a>I loved everything about this. The texture of the dip is very similar to hummus, which I love, and has the yummy flavor of the sun-dried tomatoes. I didn't have the dried basil or parsley that it called for, so I just used some herbes de provence and I think it tasted great! And then a little garnish with some fresh basil from my garden and some lemon zest. The crunchiness of the baguette complimented the creaminess of the dip very well, and it was easy to make. Who doesn't love just throwing things into the food processor and letting it do its thing? Needless to say, I'll definitely be making this the next time we have people over.</div><div><br /></div><div>An added bonus to this project is that I'm trying new recipes, of course, but it's also giving me a way to practice with the photography. You can only take so many pictures of the dog. </div><div><br /></div><div>I have the ingredients for the next one, so I'll probably try that tomorrow.</div><div><br /></div><div>In other news, I'm down 8 pounds total with Weight Watchers, and Billy and I have started Power 90. The weight's not falling off as fast as I'd hoped, but I think this is really setting me up to live a healthy lifestyle from here on out and it's not so much about losing a bunch of weight quickly. Fad diets never work anyway, so I think this is the right program for me. I love that we are working out again and I feel stronger with every workout.</div><div><br /></div><div>Billy and I also celebrated our 1st wedding anniversary last Sunday, the 10th! It was extremely laid back--we had friends over and hung out outside around the fire pit. I also made homemade marshmallows and graham crackers, but would you know I did not take a single picture! It was really laid back and we had a great time. We even had thawed out the top tier of our wedding cake and ate a slice for breakfast that morning and it was so good! We didn't do the traditional first anniversary paper gifts, unless you count the concert tickets we bought ourselves. Actually, a few weeks ago we went out to the Prime Outlets in Lebanon, TN and got our gifts together. I got a new Coach purse and Billy got a new Coach wallet and some new Oakley sunglasses.</div><div><br /></div><div>So anyway, that's what's going on with us right now. Talk to you soon! Enjoy the day!</div><div>mg<br /><br /></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-3013075924584069372010-09-30T17:04:00.002-05:002010-09-30T17:15:52.475-05:00Our house in the middle of our street...<div>Today, September 30th, is the 2 year anniversary of the day we closed on and began moving into our home...here she is:</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGyOFvk0ejZd8iPFmGoMgdFFGtYLvHIkLWjBFJTMXX_l4KOwmqk3MCSuUpaYomYCwlCFivjW22gUzb3w912ya3bJefggIWexJta7nnuBmnlbFl7C6Zh5AQD_hMtL62sSdfq7RUSEw1is/s1600/IMG_2657e.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWGyOFvk0ejZd8iPFmGoMgdFFGtYLvHIkLWjBFJTMXX_l4KOwmqk3MCSuUpaYomYCwlCFivjW22gUzb3w912ya3bJefggIWexJta7nnuBmnlbFl7C6Zh5AQD_hMtL62sSdfq7RUSEw1is/s400/IMG_2657e.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522831038265434530" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><u><br /></u></span></div><div style="text-align: left;">I had no idea that you could fall so in love with a piece of property, but it's possible! Billy and I fell in love with this house the moment we walked into it in 2008 and never looked back. We know it was our "home" immediately.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">House, here are a few of the many things we love about you:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul><li>How charming you are, in all of your 90 years (that's right, she was built in 1920!)</li><li>Your beautiful leaded glass front door</li><li>All of your windows</li><li>How you keep us safe and dry</li><li>How you sit up high on a hill</li><li>How you make our friends and family feel like you're their home, too</li></ul><div>We also have another anniversary coming next week! Can you guess what that is?</div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-12697819165483251012010-09-28T13:10:00.003-05:002010-09-28T13:18:39.716-05:00Snack time!<div>Happy Tuesday! I just wanted to share with you a little snack recipe that I found on the Weight Watchers website. It's for Roasted Red Pepper Dip--but I tweaked it just a bit because the original recipe called for cilantro and I don't really care for that. Whether or not your watching your weight or just want an easy, tasty snack, I urge you to try it! It's super good!</div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISctX9TaImj0N-kI7KIWfL4QanDwnTsFNiBSReGWKBDgxBJcMthbfITW_0VsfaPCm0m55rZ6DRmQenbMH4OY-1Kd-vE3H6ba4cyW8mpd-Op56FHcRFRTs28LsIM-5fTwr1VZ6yyNxTDE/s1600/redpepperdipsm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISctX9TaImj0N-kI7KIWfL4QanDwnTsFNiBSReGWKBDgxBJcMthbfITW_0VsfaPCm0m55rZ6DRmQenbMH4OY-1Kd-vE3H6ba4cyW8mpd-Op56FHcRFRTs28LsIM-5fTwr1VZ6yyNxTDE/s400/redpepperdipsm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5522028548824302482" /></a><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Mmmmmm! Snacks!</i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISctX9TaImj0N-kI7KIWfL4QanDwnTsFNiBSReGWKBDgxBJcMthbfITW_0VsfaPCm0m55rZ6DRmQenbMH4OY-1Kd-vE3H6ba4cyW8mpd-Op56FHcRFRTs28LsIM-5fTwr1VZ6yyNxTDE/s1600/redpepperdipsm.jpg"></a><br /><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Roasted Red Pepper Dip</span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">15 oz. roasted red peppers</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1 c. fat-free sour cream</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1/4 c. basil</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1/2 tsp. garlic powder</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1/2 tsp. salt</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">1/4 tsp. black pepper</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Put all ingredients into food processor and pulse until smooth. Serve with Stacy's Simply Naked Pita Chips and enjoy!!</span></div><div><br /></div><div>I think this would also be a great recipe to take to a party, which I might do in the future so I will have something yummy to snack on without wasting all my points...like I did the other day with our friends' queso dip. Oops! And I'm happy to report that even after a week in NYC, I still lost a pound! I am definitely stepping it up this week and it's been a lot easier since I'm at home.</div></div><div><br /></div><div>I hope everyone is having a great week, and that the weather is nice where you are!</div><div><br /></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-80150996809062769102010-09-26T11:56:00.006-05:002010-09-26T12:32:03.172-05:00House Tour--Master Bedroom<div>Hey y'all! It's a gorgeous Sunday morning here in Nashville. I LOVE fall here. Although the weather hasn't quite changed yet, I know it's coming and that makes me so happy! Time to get out my fall decorations.</div><div><br /></div><div>So, I know I said I would write again "tomorrow"...but the very next day I got a crazy email from my boss that they needed me in New York for help on a project! So, all last week I was in NYC. We worked a lot and I actually got a chance to see a lot of the city and even New Jersey; it was a whirlwind to say the least!</div><div><br /></div><div>Billy and I were talking and he thought it would be a good idea to have pictures of our house for insurance purposes, and it gave me a good reason to get off my lazy butt and take some pictures, and then post them here as promised. I'm actually going to work from the BACK of our house and move forward.</div><div><br /></div><div>Today, let me show you our master bedroom. The fact that it was actually clean is a miracle in itself, so please enjoy!</div><div><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSb4Q5VSNV28en4DXIAKIQmc1jXuriBPoCWa0KHRekfKoDOFu-SU1CUbBt9LpVV0WbUbgxVaiRgWcdLkGGuOS8c8iIpqcMejIEF8mgFTjcIonY44FbxpbVtERdMiLypyFXEaM-tg7s85Q/s1600/IMG_2545.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 259px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSb4Q5VSNV28en4DXIAKIQmc1jXuriBPoCWa0KHRekfKoDOFu-SU1CUbBt9LpVV0WbUbgxVaiRgWcdLkGGuOS8c8iIpqcMejIEF8mgFTjcIonY44FbxpbVtERdMiLypyFXEaM-tg7s85Q/s400/IMG_2545.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521267891429497250" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Master Bedroom</i></div><div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1GG-mxCCUyIw4ZfIybkJgnj3IM8wL7ol8iwS-tYpC-oxUwg0tN1-huLrCN2CAWqpr32lBbtl_OF-oVCpvkTxZjYLWDWHFLmzRILxce-uQLAQ8COiJPBU-O-RnvEOGTGtqKHpCNzC_gg/s1600/IMG_2547sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1GG-mxCCUyIw4ZfIybkJgnj3IM8wL7ol8iwS-tYpC-oxUwg0tN1-huLrCN2CAWqpr32lBbtl_OF-oVCpvkTxZjYLWDWHFLmzRILxce-uQLAQ8COiJPBU-O-RnvEOGTGtqKHpCNzC_gg/s400/IMG_2547sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521267884649295906" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sitting area to the right of the bed</i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1GG-mxCCUyIw4ZfIybkJgnj3IM8wL7ol8iwS-tYpC-oxUwg0tN1-huLrCN2CAWqpr32lBbtl_OF-oVCpvkTxZjYLWDWHFLmzRILxce-uQLAQ8COiJPBU-O-RnvEOGTGtqKHpCNzC_gg/s1600/IMG_2547sm.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFGVQc0GK6dd0QMoQxs8Y_UYPxWYKKlgosxkI4rnGoNAp_3W6P8tmVk4rdyVnM_xC9YsAciJ83ocszlQXLZK6O47613JE7HHsO7PRIl-TsHbtc9Bv3khGbjwzpdKtN151ulYAiXdhDX40/s1600/IMG_2548sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFGVQc0GK6dd0QMoQxs8Y_UYPxWYKKlgosxkI4rnGoNAp_3W6P8tmVk4rdyVnM_xC9YsAciJ83ocszlQXLZK6O47613JE7HHsO7PRIl-TsHbtc9Bv3khGbjwzpdKtN151ulYAiXdhDX40/s400/IMG_2548sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521267569843433714" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Area to the left of the bed. Door on the right is the walk-in closet; </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>door on the left is the bathroom.</i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggouHEXFeEN1-qAVuceS4DC6N_c3B7krufbn5yL4dW77Kk15WTTVqqOtZFZRjTu_ob2RJgONV23b7Cp0KBMnilHnLQXO_Aem49mgeCuPORNNtS20-5Zij3bxzYXKpmoQjDK19BIEBwevE/s1600/IMG_2553sm.jpg"></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggouHEXFeEN1-qAVuceS4DC6N_c3B7krufbn5yL4dW77Kk15WTTVqqOtZFZRjTu_ob2RJgONV23b7Cp0KBMnilHnLQXO_Aem49mgeCuPORNNtS20-5Zij3bxzYXKpmoQjDK19BIEBwevE/s1600/IMG_2553sm.jpg"><img style="text-align: left;display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggouHEXFeEN1-qAVuceS4DC6N_c3B7krufbn5yL4dW77Kk15WTTVqqOtZFZRjTu_ob2RJgONV23b7Cp0KBMnilHnLQXO_Aem49mgeCuPORNNtS20-5Zij3bxzYXKpmoQjDK19BIEBwevE/s400/IMG_2553sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521267560506474146" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>View from the left side of the room.</i></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggouHEXFeEN1-qAVuceS4DC6N_c3B7krufbn5yL4dW77Kk15WTTVqqOtZFZRjTu_ob2RJgONV23b7Cp0KBMnilHnLQXO_Aem49mgeCuPORNNtS20-5Zij3bxzYXKpmoQjDK19BIEBwevE/s1600/IMG_2553sm.jpg"></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uOiYGk_XK_eU5yRMz0-fhZoNHJp2jd7v8wb6Ng7-80qQgLvdbcd_u76bUH0aO0GNoQln2ZtPI8iWyPUtf4H2VN4S20SyMWFdPH4Viv5doYjShVfz4ytwAiAf3dPEo-FqHkhbB8kaDcI/s1600/IMG_2561sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3uOiYGk_XK_eU5yRMz0-fhZoNHJp2jd7v8wb6Ng7-80qQgLvdbcd_u76bUH0aO0GNoQln2ZtPI8iWyPUtf4H2VN4S20SyMWFdPH4Viv5doYjShVfz4ytwAiAf3dPEo-FqHkhbB8kaDcI/s400/IMG_2561sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521267555140433426" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Vanity and "throne" in the bathroom.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQixdogFe7lZRYAidmiJxAAjB-swXMtXm0xhlXjOAT9HhSNJ4YKT0V-0oKi_j8o_y7R_msRM2IIsf4TIa5AA-yuKlZtXD-YwqQRZM_c9rFjytp-7QpL2hVfB8Cq8Hi8UpJqrkIF8ITwM/s1600/IMG_2562sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQixdogFe7lZRYAidmiJxAAjB-swXMtXm0xhlXjOAT9HhSNJ4YKT0V-0oKi_j8o_y7R_msRM2IIsf4TIa5AA-yuKlZtXD-YwqQRZM_c9rFjytp-7QpL2hVfB8Cq8Hi8UpJqrkIF8ITwM/s400/IMG_2562sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521267549151209010" /></a></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Take a shower, you smell like New Jersey!</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>- a funny quote from my new work friend from last week's project</i></div><b><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggQixdogFe7lZRYAidmiJxAAjB-swXMtXm0xhlXjOAT9HhSNJ4YKT0V-0oKi_j8o_y7R_msRM2IIsf4TIa5AA-yuKlZtXD-YwqQRZM_c9rFjytp-7QpL2hVfB8Cq8Hi8UpJqrkIF8ITwM/s1600/IMG_2562sm.jpg"></a></b><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQyk-sU-9hkHWtGkiWUsbEG9pIKY5SZd8GBUsdIbIDDvhwoR_c6c_V3zUm_8feC1VSHIAtEgsHleV05kO6fHrgDmjpTbbUG_8m1HrN5lTWjQSTj0RfNZX6f3R9SVFI5qovSOeSsx831A/s1600/IMG_2563sm.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 267px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhQyk-sU-9hkHWtGkiWUsbEG9pIKY5SZd8GBUsdIbIDDvhwoR_c6c_V3zUm_8feC1VSHIAtEgsHleV05kO6fHrgDmjpTbbUG_8m1HrN5lTWjQSTj0RfNZX6f3R9SVFI5qovSOeSsx831A/s400/IMG_2563sm.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521267547769816994" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Storage and stuff. I can't believe I put this on here!</i></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;">The paint color is Behr's <i>Quiet Moment</i>, but my friends and I have affectionally dubbed it "Adult Blue". I'm seriously thinking about painting--I want the room to have a peaceful spa-like airy quality, and I'm just not getting that with the "adult blue", and it really doesn't flow with the rest of the house. Maybe I've been spending too much time in hotels, because I really want something light and neutral and clean, much like a hotel room. Some favorites right now are Martha Stewart's <i>Spring Melt </i>for the bedroom and maybe <i>Whetstone Gray</i> for the bathroom. I also like Behr's <i>Ivory Mist. </i>I think we'll try to pop over to to the HD today and get some samples.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The furniture (bed, side tables, and chest of drawers) are all from Haverty's, the Marseille bedroom collection.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The bedding is from Crate & Barrel, the Lindsey Paisley Bed Linens. It's actually on sale right now!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Accessories:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><ul><li>Lamps on the side tables, curtain rods--World Market</li><li>Curtains--JC Penny (I think! I've had them for a while so I don't really remember!)</li><li>Long mirror over the couch--TJ Maxx Home Goods</li><li>Small round table was my grandmother's</li><li>Metal candle-holder over the bed--Pier 1.</li><li>White shelves in bathroom--Target, from my college apartment.</li><li>"Art" in bathroom, small white bud vases--Ikea</li></ul></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">So, there's that. Like I said, I have some plans to change things up in there. If we had the time and the money, I would gut the bathroom and start over--or at least fix some of the things that bother me. We fell in love with the slate tile in the shower when we saw the house and do still love it, but there are other things about the bathroom that are just not functional. Maybe the BG will let me mix it up a bit...yeah, probably not!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">mg</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8223553261911438328.post-37918034211171826882010-09-16T21:18:00.005-05:002010-09-16T21:52:58.756-05:00Brain dump...<div style="text-align: left;">And here we are again...almost 2 months since my last post. Bad blogger lady!! We have a lot to catch up on, and I have a lot on my mind, so this post might be a bit of a brain dump. Here we go...</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I've moved several things around in the house and I do so want to post pictures. I've almost gotten to a point where I don't want to touch another single thing around here, as I love the way it is THAT MUCH. Somewhere in Nashville, Billy's jaw just dropped...</div><div><br /></div><div>That pesky 5% is still the adult blue in our bedroom. I just can't figure out where to go with it. I'll post some pictures of how it is now, promise, and then let you see what you think of some potential color choices. Definitely loving some of Martha's new shades.</div><div><br /></div><div>And then there is work. I had a really good day today. Most of my job is learning and implementing Salesforce.com with some of the projects that our marketing team has been working, and I gave a training presentation today and had great feedback. Within minutes I had an email AND voicemail from my fabulous boss saying how great she thought I had done. Phew!!!!</div><div><br /></div><div>In August I went with my two friends Kara and Jennifer to our other friend's wedding in Savannah, and it was the best time! BG couldn't go, but we had a great time, just us girls. </div><div><br /></div><div>I took lots of pictures but honestly, I still feel a bit wonky with that camera attached to my face. But K and J reassured me that it is a MUST accessory on our adventures. I still have to thank them for making me lug it around as I got some great pictures! Here's one for you of us at Catherine's super-swank wedding. I fixed the color just a bit, but didn't crop because I love to see all the background people having as much fun as we did! Cheers!</div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 238); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; "><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMt9LoBX9sRe0Xd4OHpimfK9g8lBxmurPYArXFICOBgeqJ_xVEl9eKNR4QVLrTo_OKNKER7P6u5lCiGepyKzpEMVaTU_o9HFeTMIYHaNi7-kearVm6CT9lzvRtbqTxDHrF6SJmsuPMMWY/s400/IMG_2386esmall.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5517705481071279794" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Jennifer, Kara, and me at Catherine's wedding, 8/7/10. Love them!</span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#0000EE;"><br /></span></div><div>And one more thing...I know how many times I've posted that I'm gonna do P90X and finish, or how I like Power 90, or recently that I've started (trying) to walk 3 miles a day, or even post on here once a day. Here's what I've discovered about myself: I have no self-discipline. And it really doesn't bother me that much, honestly. So, I've decided I'm going to do my best, at whatever it is I choose to do. Lately, especially after dress shopping and seeing myself in pictures, I've decided that the self-discipline thing definitely needs to change and I need to start taking better care of myself, so I put myself on Weight Watchers last Thursday. Today was 1 week into it and I've already lost 5 pounds. I'm hoping to lose 20 at least by the end of the year, and I think I've got a good chance of hitting my goal.</div><div><br /></div><div>Part of me feels really embarrassed by admitting it, but the first step to fixing a problem is admitting you have one. Truth is, I was so proud of myself when I weighed this morning and actually had a RESULT!! I love the accountability of the points and being mindful of everything I eat, and seeing that line go down on my weight tracker. And the fact that there is an iPhone app to help when I'm out and about or traveling for work REALLY helps. I don't feel deprived at all or that I'm even on a diet. I still get to eat the things that I love, although not as much, but it makes me appreciate it that much more.</div><div><br /></div><div>As far as this blogging thing and self-discipline goes, I know I have to treat it just like a work project--do a little every day. And that's what I intend to do! I'll put it on my to-do list right up there with unloading the dishwasher. Baby steps!</div><div><br /></div><div>Until tomorrow,</div><div>mg</div>Meganhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15632183091432608577noreply@blogger.com0