3 on Thursday 5.17.12

I haven't really been blogging…lots of things I should/want/need to blog about, but for now I’d rather just link up for 3 on Thursday!  One of the hostesses is Andrea from My Chihuahua Bites (who I was paired with for a swap!).  She is always funny, fabulous, and fashionable!

This Thursday the question is: What are your

 3 favorite comfort foods?

Mashed potatoes and corn ~~~ Pizza ~~~ Grandma Tea

Comfort food to me is something that I crave, especially when it’s been a trying or emotional day.  These foods all remind me of home and family.  Thus, the comfort lies not just in the pure deliciousness of the food, but the pick-me-up feelings I get from them. 

MASHED POTATOES AND CORN

This reminds me of my childhood, especially all holiday meals (including the holiday meals we still share today).  Now, when I say mashed potatoes and corn, I mean the potatoes and corn mixed together.  My brother, sister, and I would always do this, although Shannon adds gravy too.  I can’t remember if Brian would have gravy as well…and it makes me sad I can’t remember.  I’m thinking that in his youth he added the gravy, but into adulthood when he became very invested in health and fitness that he maybe nixed the gravy.  Either way, it’s something all of us kids did and I love it.  I still like to make big batches of mashed potatoes then have frozen corn and heat up a serving...or 3!

PIZZA

Specifically Happy Joe’s Taco pizza…or Happy Joe’s in general.  Too bad I have to be back in Dubuque to get this out-of-this-world deliciousness.  I mean Des Moines and Iowa City have one, but it’s not quite the same.  Happy Joe’s was always a special treat growing up and now my mom knows her children’s love of it so we often have it when we are back home.  Although ordering Happy Joe’s right now isn’t an option, pizza is still a major comfort food for me.  Or breadsticks.  NO CHEESE!  I’m a bread and sauce sort of girl…especially Little Cesar’s Crazy Bread. Cheap and delicious.  And I’m a weirdo, because melted cheese grosses me out (I think it’s the texture).  Please and thank you.

GRANDMA TEA

This third “food” was hard to decide on but I’m going with Grandma Tea.  Grandma Tea is essentially Russian Tea, but I’ve called it Grandma Tea since I can remember because that’s who makes it and that’s what she calls it.  I think my Grandma Larkin fits this beverage perfectly because according to my mom.  she adds sugar to EVERYTHING.  She’s a very talented baker and cook, but apparently anything she makes has at least a bit of sugar in it.  Russian Tea is essentially Tang, Lemonade mix, sugar, a little bit of black tea (ratios of a 1/4 cup of real tea to a nearly 5 cups of sugary stuff), plus a bit of cinnamon and nutmeg.  It is delicious and I love it.  I love it so much that for a few Christmases in college Grandma gave me some in a cute decorative holder as a gift.  I donn’t drink very much Grandma Tea in Texas as I have an aversion to hot beverages when it's so freaking hot ALL THE TIME but it’s still in my cupboard if I’m feeling under the weather or need a pick me up.

Anyone share my comfort foods?  Or do you mix any foods together ala mashed potatoes and corn (throw some meat and stuffing onto a forkful of that mixture too – heaven!)

Megan

Thankful Thursday {1}

 Two posts in one week?  Crazy!  Plus, it’s another link up.  Carina, at a Punk, a Pumpkin, and  Peanut recently started Thankful Thursdays.  Sounds perfect to me.  I’m excited to be joining in.   

Things I’m most thankful for today:

• Getting out and running
• Sometimes I can be a very NOT motivated person.  So I’m thankful that I have the CARE Race to prepare for and that I find endless inspiration in my brother and his gift of life.  It’s also spilled over in to other aspects of my day and trying to be healthier.  Baby steps!  Drinking more water and consistently taking my vitamins!
• The honesty of 3 year-olds
• It’s brutal and funny.  I arrived Wednesday morning at the house of the family I nanny for.  I had showered and partially dried my hair that morning, then put it in a ponytail while I got ready.  While in the car I let it down to air dry more and hadn’t put it back up yet.  Little A. says to me right after I walk in: “Megan!  Oh no!  You forgot to brush your hair!”  I started to explain then just told him I was going to put it in a ponytail right then.  He seemed satisfied.  About 5 minutes later, he turns to me and says: “Oh good!  Your ponytail is back!”  As if I lost it.  And apparently it’s part of my identity in his eyes.  He’s right!
• My new planner
• Via the blog world I’ve heard so much praise for Erin Condren merchandise.  When I saw that she was having a sale for planners that would be April-December I went for it.  I wasn’t really utilizing the other one I had and the look/design of hers are awesome.  So here’s my new BFF that is helping me stay on track and wrangling my many lists and goals:
• Instagram
• I was soooo jealous of people with iPhones, and one main reason was Instagram.  Now that I am able to have it on my Android phone, I’m loving it.  I’m thankful for a fun way to share pictures, because it encourages me to take them.  Also, when I need a quick pick-me-up, it’s easy to scroll through a few pictures and enjoy what others are sharing.  If you have it, come follow me at:  MrsMegWich

CARE Race Prep “Run”:
Click here for more info on my first run.  Or here to find out more about my late brother, Brian, and the CARE race.
Run/walk stats and notes:

• Distance: 2.68 miles
• Time: 29 min. 32 sec.
• Pace: 11.01 miles/hour (average between my running/walking pace)
• Highs:
• More distance
• Ran instead walked the hills (used my old cross country motto of “attack the hills”…I actually think my pace picked up on them)
• Faster pace
• Revelation that my ultimate playlist for running would alternate between rock and hip-hop.  Totally digging Red Hot Chili Peppers after todays run.
• Um, I ran twice in one week.  Hasn’t happened in…for-e-ver
• Wearing my organ donation awareness bracelet on my ankle for some Brian inspiration.  It moves too much on my wrist while I run.  Catching a glimpse of the green while I keep putting one foot in front of the other makes me think of Brian and what he’d say to keep me going.  Sometimes it would be encouragement, but sometimes he’d be calling me a pussy.  Haha, it makes me smile just thinking about it, because I would definitely flip him off in response.  Maybe even a double flip off.

• Lows:
• Ponytail/bun stayed in but I was paranoid the whole time that my hair rubberband would break.  And that would be a disaster.  Note to self: wear an extra one on my wrist and quit being such a paranoid weirdo.
• Soooooooore.  Not terrible, but still feeling it.
• Freaking rock in the back of my shoe.  I had to stop and get it out.  Annoying!
• Update on the 12 year-old air humper (see previous post for explanation)
• He and one of his buddies were in the same yard as last time.  So I turned down my music and stared them down.  The humper tried to hide behind a tree, but not before I gave him the “I’m watching you” motion aka pointing at both my eyes then at him.  Then I chuckled to myself because he actually seemed scared.  When I told Jason he didn’t believe that I did the motion, but hell yeah I did!  And it was a great end to my second run.

So, posting twice this week wasn’t too hard.  It’s just it seems to take me forever to write one!  Am I doing something wrong?  Oh well, such is life.

P.S. I’d love to here a few things you’re thankful for.  Hearing what others are thankful for makes me relate it to my life.  The more thankfulness the better!

Shan in Texas … Plus, I Ran! (kinda)

Finally decided to blog again.  I’m kind of lazy about the whole thing, plus I feel like if I don’t have something with merit to say I shouldn’t bother.  Maybe I should go easier on myself?  ANYWAY… linking up with my fave funny ladies, Shawn and IA!





Over her spring break from teaching in Minnesota, Shannon came to visit!  What can I say about my sister?  We are so alike yet so different.  It was great to have her!  I nannyed only two of the days she was here and she came with me!  It was so nice to have an extra set of hands and some more patience.  Little A. loved her and asks me often where Shannon is:  “Where’s your sister?”  “Did you leave her at your house?”  “How about we go to your house so we can see Shannon?”  I think he has a little crush!
Here some pictures of what we did….

Posing in some foliage along the San Antonio River Walk. Shannon made me do it.
She always makes me do things I don’t want to! “It will look like you’re in the jungle.” Yep, right

Posing with the statue of St. Anthony (San Antonio).  A little inside joke for my dad as he enjoys reading about Catholicism (we are Catholic) and when we were in Italy we had to visit lots of religious places and look at a lot of saint statues.  It was funny for us.  Love you Dad!

In front of the Alamo.

Nola Tropical Wine, our best find around the riverwalk.  No grapes at all, just tropicals! 
We had an awesome wine tasting and came home with some mango, peach, and pineapple wines.

Wearing my “Kiss Me I’m Iowish” shirt.  Best birthday present from my Swanson’s!

Shannon “exploring” in Wonder World Park’s cave.  Fun fact: it’s about 3 blocks from my house!

Chillaxing in the cave.

Prepping for the C.A.R.E. Race…better late than never!

Why I’m running in the first place: Longer reason or to donate to the cause, here.  Shorter reason, to honor my brother who was killed 5 years ago and was a organ donor.

So my procrastinating-self has just decided to kick it into gear as I need to “run” a 5K in less than 3 weeks.  Instead of lamenting my lack of preparation, I’m going to try and focus on what I have done and keep the momentum going.  Some notes on my run/walk:

• Distance: 1.85 miles
• Time: 27 minutes
• Pace: 14.35 minutes/mile (obviously an average because I spent about 60/40 running/walking)
• Highs:
• I would run as long as I could then walk for 1-2 minutes and my longest running stretch was 6 minutes (I’m happy with that!)
• My transition between running and walking was painless (in the past it’s been really hard to start running again after walking)
• Listened to good tunes.  I call them “dance jams” because they make me want to dance (as well as run).  I haven’t listened to this particular playlist in awhile and I chuckled to myself a little bit with every new song.  They included, but aren’t limited to:
• Get Low by Lil Jon
• I Know Where It’s At by All Saints
• Tootsie Roll by 69 Boyz
• Touch It by Monifah
• What a Feeling from Flashdance
• Don’t Stop Til You Get Enough by Michael Jackson
• The Way You Make Me Feel by Michael Jackson
• Eye of the Tiger by Survivor
• Lows:
• My running shirt kept riding up.  No one needs to see me wearing a crop top.
• Um, I couldn’t run the whole time
• My ponytail bouncing kept bothering me.  Tried looping it into a bun type thing but then the pieces falling out bugged me.  I need to try and focus on something else…seriously!

• Random moment of ridiculousness:
•  I had just slowed to a walk as I was nearing home.  I thought I heard some 12 year-old boys "whoo"-ing at me, but I was jamming out so I didn't really pay attention.  All the suddent, I felt someone coming up behind me.  I turned to look around and I find one of the boys air-humping me.  AIR HUMPING.  Seriously?  I took out my ear buds and said “Quit being inappropriate.”   Then he ran away laughing and so were his little buddies.  It was kind of funny…and totally something I would have done at that age…or in high school, I mean college…ok maybe now.  But probably only to impress my friends, like that boy.  AND I’d be smart enough to stay a little farther back.  The end.

Good story, right?  It's funnier if you can see me demonstrate the air hump. 

Have a great Tuesday!!!

My brother Brian…C.A.R.E. Race 2012

This post is from my webpage for the CARE Race my family has participated in since my brother was killed in 2008.  You can read it on that page or right here.  If anyone lives in the Des Moines area and would like to join our team, don’t hesitate!  Or if you’d like to donate, awesome!  Every dollar helps.  Any questions, just ask!  I plan on writing a series of posts about Brian and I think I’ve got my list of traits and funny anecdotes to write about in the list below. 
I’m hoping to spread organ and tissue donation awareness to as many readers as possible, so I’m linking up with Shawn and IA for TTUT.  Please feel free to share my link with others if you’re so inclined!

---

Brian Larkin Gleason

3.07.1982 – 1.11.2008

It’s strange how someone can be reduced to three words and two dates. But those of us who know Brian well, met him once, or have only heard about him through stories, understand that he can never be defined by so little. Those words and dates are a tiny piece of who he was and what he has now become. Here are some words I would use to describe my older brother, Brian:

• Hair extremist (from still being bald at age 2, according to my mom…to clown like with auburn waves to his shoulders in college)
• Intelligent
• Compassionate
• Athletic
• IHUC Ultimate Frisbee player
• Adventurer
• Hippy
• Granola (another one of the words my mom used)
• Drinker (of Sparks, Busch Light, Scotch, 40s, Whole Milk)
• Engineer
• Environmentalist
• Occasional bather (didn’t see showering as super important unless he was going to work)
• Triathlete
• Protector (especially of his little sisters)
• Photographer
• Nature Lover
• Book Reader (Hunter S. Thompson, J.R.R. Tolkien)
• Mines of Spain enthusiast (Gazebo is looking great!)
• Sarcastic SOB
• Neck chopper (ouch)
• Cup of Soup giver (farting in your hand then waving it towards someone, barf)
• Movie goer (when we’d go to them in Iowa City, people thought we were dating…gross…also see dinner date)
• Dinner date (often corrected host(ess) or server that we were brother and sister) 
• Rebel
• Tight clothes wearer
• Metal Head
• Mouse
• Disc golfer
• Life giver
• Life enhancer
• Inspiration

I could go on for days and I might. What my brother means and represents to me is an infinite number of things. Anything I see, hear, do, feel, sometimes even smell can remind me of him, often with a laugh and smile, occasionally with a few tears.

Gleason kids, most likely 1987 or 1988

(Brian 5, Megan 2, Shannon < 1)

To make my long story (mercifully) a bit shorter…
Brian was my 25 year-old older brother when he was in a car accident that ended his earthly life. His t-boned car left him with severe brain injuries, bruised lungs from his seat belt, a lacerated pancreas, and some broken bones. At the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics (UIHC) our family gathered to do whatever we could with whatever life Brian had left. With our angel, Sue Witte, from the Iowa Donor Network, we came to terms with that fact that Brian was brain dead and already in heaven. However, his body had so much to give as he was ultimately healthy and strong (his pride). Over the next couple days, Brian was monitored and we were able to spend as much time as we wanted at his bedside, praying and saying our good-byes. On January 11, Brian was pronounced dead but his body was kept functioning so that he could give the gift of life though organ and tissue donation.
Brian was able to donate anything and everything that was not injured in the car accident. His donation included his: heart, kidneys, liver, eyes, bones, bone tissue, muscle tissue, skin, and connective tissue. He was able to give the gift of life and the gift a fuller, enhanced life to so many. He continues to live through his recipients.

Gleason family out for dinner

2008 was the year we lost Brian, but also the year we were connected with the My Angel Foundation by Brian’s friends, Kristin and Kevin Dietzel. The founder, Ted Cochran, was wonderful and compassionate. That year was the first annual C.A.R.E. Race (Compassion through Awareness, Remembrance, and Education) and was the first step in turning our healing process into a celebration of Brian and his gift of life.
Now, we will be participating in our 5^th year of the C.A.R.E. Race and it has grown leaps and bounds. I am so proud to be a part of it. Brian loved doing anything athletic and outside. He would see no better way to remember him by then running a race for a good cause, joining family, friends, and a community, then doing a little (ok a lot of) celebrating afterwards.

Shannon and I at the first (rainy) CARE Race

Team “Brian Fellowship of Life” team circa 2009 (?)

Please help support Brian’s life and his gift, my family, the My Angel Foundation, and the cause of organ and tissue donation by joining our team or through a contribution. Every little bit helps and the My Angel Foundation has done so much to help support families of donors and recipients – and I am eternally grateful.

xoxo,
Megan

Spring Sweets!

{Sorry for my long absence.  I have lots of ideas but am struggling to get them down in black and white. 
I need some blogging mojo…or a schedule or something.  I digress}

I participated in my 2nd ever blog swap, hosted by the lovely ladies who blog at Stress Case and Heartfelt Happenings.  I was lucky enough to get paired with Mrs. Heartfelt Happenings herself, Shellsea!

  

Shellsea sent me some yummy sweets, good smelly stuff, and pretty décor.  Check it out :

Lucky Me!

I love a good list, so here we go with my loot :)

• Jasmine Vanilla Potpourri  Potpourri isn’t something I’d every buy myself, but I looooove me some of this potpourri!  Smelly stuff is my favorite and this will be perfect in our house!   And it pairs really nicely with the…    
• Dream Angels Heavenly candle  Smells soooo good!  Jason and I always have a candle going and normally it’s fruity but I like to alternate in something more musky/vanilla-y/warmer and this is perfect.  And I love that it will go with the potpourri well and not have too many different smells!

• Magenta-ish Picture Frame  I’m a sucker for all things bright and colorful.  This frame definitely fits the bill.  I think I’m going to stick a picture of me and my girlfriends in it.  Can’t help but make me smile.    
• LIttle Lamb stuffed animal  I just put up the Easter decorations that we have and this little lamb is a cute addition…but it’s also perfect Guinness size.  He sniffed the lamb’s butt (haha) and tried to carry it away before I stole it back!

• Light green ribbon  As I was packing up my package to send to Shellsea I was lamenting the fact that I don’t have any ribbon in my house (of any kind).  Shellsea to the rescue!  And green is my favorite color.
• Bubbles  What a simple pleasure!  The weather’s getting yucky here in South Texas so I just blew some in the house, haha.  I think it’s a stress reliever.  Plus, Jason and I got a laugh out of Guinness being sooooo confused.
• Jelly Beans  Classic!  And delicious!  It does make me wish I was closer to home so I could give the black ones to my dad!  But it makes me smile just thinking about it so it’s all good!
• Cadbury Mini-Eggs My favorite “only around Easter” candy.  The only problem is that I’ll need to exercise some self-control to not give myself a tummy ache.
• Easter Eggs with mini Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups  I had just been thinking about how we won’t be home in Iowa for Easter and kinda bumming about it.  Although the youngest in our family is (will be by Easter) 25, my dad still hides eggs in the yard for us to hunt.  Friendly competition is always big between us kids and I was going to miss those silly plastic eggs.  Well, now I have a few thanks to Shellsea…maybe I’ll hid them for Jason to find Easter morning :)

As you can see, I lucked out with Mrs. Heartfelt Happenings and received lots of sweet goodness in the mail.  Is there anything better? 

Thanks again Shellsea!  Can’t wait to keep on reading your blog and check out all the other ladies of the swap!

XOXO, Megan

Super Swap

I'm here for TTUT with Seriously Shawn and Impulsive Addict! 




These lovely ladies hosted a swap (my first one!) and I really enjoyed it!



 

My sweet and funny partner was Andrea from My Chihuahua Bites.  (Full disclosure…I still can’t spell Chihuahua without looking or spell-check!)

To say my first swap was a success is an understatement.  Andrea amazing and really out did herself (and blew the gift I gave out of the water!).

 rWithout further ado, my fantastic package:

All my stuff! So much!

• Scarf
• It’s a beautiful deep blueish-purple.  I love the color and wish it was a bit cooler in Texas so I’d have more of a chance to wear it!
• Check out Guinness sporting it … he looks good… maybe better than me?  Damn.
• Sunglasses
• Totally a style I wouldn’t pick for myself, but it’s a good thing for me to step out of my box!  I think they’re pretty cute
• Jason definitely walked in on me trying to style myself…I was bit embarrassed but just shut the door!

  
• Towels
• So light and pretty.  They’ll look great in the kitchen!
• Sonia Kashuk “Prepping for the Party”  make-up palette
• This picture doesn’t do the palette justice.  The top 6 are eye shadows and the bottom 6 are lipstick/glosses and they all have a bit of shimmer (I LOVE shimmer!).  I don’t wear a lot of lip color (no real reason) so it will be fun to try them.  I’m an eye shadow junkie and have been restraining myself from buying any new ones, so I was psyched to get this!

• Zebra wallet
• I like my little bits of animal prints so this was perfect!  And I have to resist buying myself a wallet every time I go to Target, so this will definitely help me have restraint.
• Pen
• Much more fun to write bills with a big, pink pen (:
• Basket
• I live for baskets.  Ask Jason.  He hates it!  I have many similar baskets (my classroom was a great excuse to buy them) but none that are black and white.  Can’t wait to find it a new home (maybe for hair ties/clips/bobby-pins on my vanity)
• Cadbury Mini-Eggs
• I think Andrea may be psychic, because these are on of my fave Easter time treats!  I don’t like the regular Cadbury Eggs (yuck!) but I do loves these sugary-shelled, chocolate egg goodness
• Nail Polish
• L’Oreal Tangerine Crush
• Super fun shade for spring!  I don’t wear much nail polish on my fingers (too impatient to let it try and hate getting chips and smudges) but I love bright colors on my toes!
• Ignore the less than perfect application.  Notice my artful covering of my f***ed up big toenail (a story for another day)

Thank you sooooo much to Andrea for really brightening up my week!  You're the best!

*BONUS*
Miss Impulsive Addict herself sent me a little package as a thank-you for being flexible with the swap.

• US Weekly Magazine (oh yeah!)
• E.O.S. Lip Balm (my new favorite lip balm!)
• Twix (yuuuuuuuum!)
• Orbit (went right in my car…that’s where I like to chew gum the most!)

It was so nice and sweet of IA.  This group of blogging ladies are the best!

So, needless to say, I had a wonderful first time blog swapping experience!  I can’t wait to do another one!

What would be your ideal swapping gifts (to give or receive)? 

Mine are definitely many of what I received

(candy, lip balm, scarves, nail polish, baskets, cute pens/paper/office supplies, smelly stuff, cute decore items, little giftcards -Amazon, Starbucks, Target, Barnes and Noble-). 
 As you can tell, my list could go on and on (:

xoxo,
Megan

Currently…2.25.12

Current day brightener: 
Thinking about Sam and Drew!  Reasons they brighten my day:

• They were the best damn ring bearers around!  (Drew’s on the left, Sam’s on the right)

• They’re funny!  Drew referred to his ring bearer tux as his “man suit” and wore his bow tie for last Christmas’ school program
• Sam is usually a bit shyer, but really comes out of his shell when we Skype.  He is a great story teller and very thoughtful.
• They like to show off when we Skype and that usually means being in underwear or pajamas since we usually Skype in the evening.  Shirts optional (for them, obviously!).  This last Wednesday we Skyped and they had a dance party for us.  Gina put on techno music, Drew promptly removed his shirt, and Sam got his ‘dance face’ on.   I haven’t laughed so much in a long time.  Three wild minutes of dancing and I’m still smiling about it!

• This is the boys sleeping over at our house in West Des Moines.  Jammy pants but no shirts as they were playing intense games on the Wii.  Sam has a big pirate tattoo on his stomach and Drew has the same one on his back.  They ask all the time if they can come and sleepover again…much easier when we lived 15 minutes from each other!!
• Love love love that whole family!!!

Current Lenten question:
From Jason (and his coaching buddies Link and Shawn) – Are hot dogs and bologna really meat?

Current baking project:
Cinnamon Swirl Banana Bread.  Can’t wait to make it…I’ll let y’all know how it turns out! 
AND if I have time I think I’m going to try these devil brownies…chocolate chip cookie and double-stuff Oreo brownies!

Source: lovintheoven.com via Megan on Pinterest

Source: kevinandamanda.com via Megan on Pinterest

Current epic fail:

The popcorn at the movie theatre in San Marcos.  It makes Jason and I sick!  Not because we eat too much of it (which could definitely happen!), but just because it’s gross.  Jason actually threw up when we got home last night.  I only had a little bit and felt horrible the rest of the night.  It’s taken us 3-4 times of this happening (we were optimist because of our undying love for movie theatre popcorn) but I think we’ve finally learned.

P.S. Wanderlust was a bit outrageous, sometimes inappropriate, and very funny.  Perfect for us!

P.P.S. I have finally realized my love for Paul Rudd…I would see any movie with him in it!

Current blogging questions (regarding comments):
Still learning this blogging thing…so blogging veterans, I’m clueless of etiquette and/or preferences in regards to commenting.  I’ll preface my questions with how I usually read blogs.  I usually read them on my phone with Google Reader.  I “star” the posts I want to comment on, posts that I want to pin something from, or posts that I want to read again or pass on.  But I hate commenting using my phone so I often go look at my starred posts on my laptop every few days, quickly skim the post again, then decide what I want to do with it from there.  So my questions:

1. Is it better to comment late (up to a week after the original post) or just not comment at all?
2. Is it better to leave a semi-generic comment (i.e. “I like this post”, “Great idea”, etc.) or not comment at all?

I understand that this may be personal preference,

but I still want to hear your opinion!

What are you up to currently?

Smart Sayings

Today I’m linking up with Shawn and IA for TTUT.



These ladies were nice enough to host a swap, and it’s the first one I’ve participated in!  A little intimidating but exciting.  I was matched up with Andrea @ My Chihuahua Bites. I loved exploring her blog and really enjoyed her writing and sense of humor.  I sent my package today so I’m excited to see if she likes it and to see what I get in return.

Currently…2.18.12

current day brightener:

Beautiful Valentine's Day roses from my love

current reads:

HILARIOUS!

Source: amazon.com via Megan on Pinterest

Entertainment Weekly, Us Weekly, and People (x2). 

 Brain food, ha!  But they make me happy!

current problem:

Dinner at our house.  This is how the week went:

M: leftovers

T: Pizza Hut

(we were supposed to be keeping up our tradition of Biggest Loser and frozen pizza night,

even though it was Valentine's Day...but our oven decided to stop working - WTF? 

 Oh and it's Saturday and our property management company has still not been out to fix it)

W: reheated pizza and pizza rolls (toaster oven works)

Th: Kraft macaroni and cheese

F: Papa Johns

*if you haven't figured it out yet, the problem is we are eating like college students who have never learned how to do more then boil water*

I have lots of recipes I want to try and I am capable, but just lacking energy and motivation.  Any SUPER easy recipes you'd like to share with me?!?!

current favorite quote:

I try to remind myself of this every day! 

 And yes, it applies to my husband as well...love you!

Source: friendship-quotes.info via Shannon on Pinterest

current “I’m new to Blogger and am completely clueless”

question (aka HELP PLEASE!): 

how do I know if someone subscribes in their google reader?

current favorite show:

New Girl!  And I have a number of episodes still on my DVR

so I can rewatch when I need a pick me up

(hello the "sex" episode with Justin Long...I did laughing the whole time)

Source: 9gag.com via Megan on Pinterest

current "I'm either kind of smart or waaaaaay behind":

Did you know you can reserve Redbox movies?  After going several times to rent and they were all out of what we wanted to see, I looked online and read about reserving it.  You just go on and find your “pick-up” location, then find your movie and reserve it.  You do have to be registered (your email address and debit/credit card info).  But then you just go to your “pick-up” location, hit “”, swap your card, and your done. 

AND you probably have the movie everyone’s trying to rent but is all out.  Suckers!

current feeling:

Source: someecards.com via Megan on Pinterest



So how about that quote to summarize how this weekend is going to go? 

Hope you enjoy yours!

xoxo,

Megan

Mainly…New at Blogging!

I have been reading blogs for awhile (mainly since August when Jason and I moved to Texas) but I haven’t gotten serious about my own blogging until recently (and it’s still a work in progress…obviously!)
I am now making an effort to really connect with bloggers and become a participant in the blog community!  I thought this link-up would be the perfect place to do so.  Thanks Neely!

And, since I'm not finishing this post until Monday night, I'm also going to link-up with Impulsive Addict and Seriously Shawn for Talk To Us Tuesday!

Basics About Me:

• I’m 26, married to my best friend and all around great guy, Jason

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• We don’t have any kids and we aren’t quite ready to start a family yet.
• I lived in Iowa my whole life until moving to San Marcos, TX last August.
• Jason’s career ambition is to be a Division I soccer coach. 
  • He played Division III soccer in college and coached the goalkeepers and for the past 2 years was a part-time goalkeeping coach at Drake University.
• I have a Master’s degree in Special Education (and a Bachelor's degree in Therapeutic Recreation)
• Right now I’m nannying for a family with two little boys.  Little A is 3 and Baby J is 4 months.  They can be a handful but I think I’ll be much better prepared for when we have our own kids.
• I’m continuing to search for a teaching job and starting to work on getting my Texas Teaching License (I have my temporary out-of-state license right now that is valid for 1 year).

My Family:

• Jason
• He's tall, athletic, strawberry-blonde (can't wait to have Ginger babies!), and quite the catch.  I got lucky!
• He's sarcastic and charming, with the unique ability to talk to anyone and make them feel comfortable.

• Guinness
• Our "9" year old miniature pinscher ("9" because Jason adopted him when he was about 3 and his birthday is the day we Jason got him)
• He's a typical old man...very particular with some odd habits.
• Loves cudding under blankets, laying in sunny spots, hiding socks, plus treats and people food of any kind

• Mom & Dad
• Linda and Rick have been married for over 31 years!  My mom is a 4th grade teacher at a Catholic School and I see many of her traits and habits coming out in me.  Good and not so good :)  My dad is a retired judge and one of the most intelligent people I know.  I've got a lot of his qualities as well and I couldn't be prouder.

   

• Brian
• My older brother.  He'd be turning 30 in March if not for his tragic death at age 25.  He was in a car accident and suffered irreversable brain damage.  With his death he donated his organ and tissues and helped improve or save at least 7 people.  He's my hero and I will write more about him and organ donation awareness soon!
• He was a bit "granola", loved exercising, playing ultimate frisbee, having too much fun, going on adventures, and being his sisters' biggest fans

• Shannon
• My little sister is 24 and teaches special education in a Minnesota high school.
• We are very alike and very different in many ways.  Age and life experience has brought us closer and we share a love of being with children (whether teaching or nannying)
• She's amazingly creative, as well as kind and thoughtful
• The middle "sister" in the bottom picture is our cousin Brianna who is right smack in between Shannon and I age-wise.  My mom stayed at home when we were little and Brianna was there with us and became the honorary 3rd sister!

• Tim & Karen plus Jeremy
• My inlaws.  Definitely lucked out with them!
• Tim is charasmatic and has a tough exterior but is a complete softie on the inside (he didn't talk to me most of our wedding day because he would always start to tear up!) 
• Karen is incredibly thoughtful and a very hard worker.  The lady doesn't know how to relax!  (Unless there's a Lifetime movie on...but she still prefers to iron while watching)
• Those two SPOIL their "grandbaby" aka Guinness.  They are dying for a human "grandbaby".  In due time!
• Jeremy is Jason's older brother and a self-proclaimed geek...we love him for it!  Jeremy and I had a fast bond over books.  A conversation with him got me into reading A Game of Thrones.  Best decision ever!

Loves:

Jason...my family...my friends...Dt. Coke and Dr. Pepper (my teeny, tiny bladder does not love these things)... coffee with lots of cream.. .bright colors (except orange)...
reading (books, blogs, magazines, anything!)...being sarcastic... working with kids...

ranch dressing...cute waterbottles and coffee tumblers...snacks (my friends give me crap for having a "snack" bowl)...Pinterest...trying to bake.. .buying thing to help me organize (yet I'm still quite messy)...dogs in general...dance jams...Jason singing (until I notice and comment and then he stops)...bubble baths...zip-up hoodies...Panera...when someone else does the dishes...
cute planners/notebooks/pads of paper...lately, the color turquoise...

reality tv...tv in general...cuddling...making Jason laugh...Woodchuck Hard Cider... sprinkles...tote bags...day calendars...baskets...chapstick...pedicures...Target...shopping by myself when a stores not busy so I can take my sweet ass time...vacations...

Skyping with Sam and Drew (my cousins 5 year-old twins)

Well, I think that's enough for now.  My list of things I do NOT love may be just as long.  You'll have to stick around to see that one and I'll elaborate on all my loves!

Thanks for stopping by!

Megan