Cheerful Chatter

Fall Family Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 02:14:00 +0000

This weekend S2H and I made the most of the long weekend and headed to the Triangle Area to visit Giselle and Isaac (S2H's awesome nephew who lives in NC). Our first stop was UNC for shopping, college Mexican, and some Carolina brews! We only got 24 hours in with Giselle but it was the best 24 hours!

{my beautiful sis treated me to a personal styling afternoon and lots of snuggling!}

{and S2H got his own treat at Carolina Brewery}

On Saturday we headed to Raleigh to hang out with Isaac. As luck would have it the Pittsburg Penguins were in town playing the Carolina Hurricanes. So we grabbed Isaac and headed to the game. We had an awesome dinner at Porters beforehand. They somehow magically combined artichokes and queso. Once got to the arena we were surprised with awesome seats. The game was really exciting. Lots of action around the goal and some hilarious arena antics. The Hurricanes have dancers in every corner and a crowd energizer named Big Mike. They have even adopted the home town hero Rick Flare's "woooooo" as their goal cheer. To sum it up it was a great night and an awesome treat to hang out with Isaac.

{sporting yellow and black for the Pens!}

{Isaac, a happy Canes fan (5-3)!}

{last but certainly not least, Big Mike & Stormy, the ice hog}

Best Summer Meal Ever...minus the side effects

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 13:00:00 +0000

S2H and I kicked off the work week on the right foot with a healthy dinner...grilled salmon with spicy peach salsa. Usually, I am disappointed by at-home salmon recipes...too fishy, lacking flavor, you get the drift. Not too mention I am a new seafood eater and the potential smell makes me squirm. But everywhere I turn magazines and blogs are highlighting the benefits of eating salmon on a weekly basis. So with new found resolve I decided it was time to go for it, especially after reading that it helps improve your skin-hello wedding glow! I didn't have to look far for an appetizing recipe, to the rescue, Nina! This recipe is from Cooking Light. I prepped my salmon for the grill pan, Nina's way, with kosher salt, pepper, fresh lemon juice, and a couple cloves of minced garlic. I made the salsa exactly like the Cooking Light recipe, but next time I would add another peach. S2H and I were fighting over the peach chunks to create the perfect bite! Here is our final product, on a bed of arugula (for a peppery bite) with a side of lemon green beans with toasted almonds. This meal was awesome!! Filling but in the healthiest of ways...and room for a 70 calorie Dove ice cream bar :).

Now this meal would have been absolute perfection if I hadn't made a huge mistake... I cut the jalapeno bare handed! And holy moly...this pepper was killer. I rinse my hands about a dozen times while cooking, but no luck...I got a serious jalapeno burn! I stuck my hand in cold water - no relief. Hand INSIDE bag of frozen peas...a bit of relief. Fresh lime juice...a few more temporary seconds of relief. And after Googling and finding this, I soaked my hand in milk. But we only had skim milk, and the recommendations said the more milk fat the better, sour cream the best! No sour cream, fat free creamer...I was dying! Buried in the back of the fridge was a small carton of butter milk...with a July expiration date. S2H raised his eye brow at me, but I was a woman in pain. In went the hand into weeks old buttermilk. To top it off I smeared low fat cream cheese all over. Ahhh...soooo gross, but so much better. Picture proof and a warning, beware of the burning peppers!

{wine helps too ;). did i mention this post was created a la one hand?!}

Watermelon - Stawberry-Lemon Booze Coolers

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 01:02:00 +0000

I had some watermelon that was on the brink last week, so I cut it up and froze it for later. And thank goodness I did, because S2H came up with an amazing booze-y creation to celebrate a great weekend with friends and our 3 year dating anniversary. Here it goes...

Serving Size: 2

-2 cups of frozen watermelon chunks

-Juice of 2 lemons

-1/4 cup of simple syrup

-1/2 cup of vodka

-splash of strawberry flavored vodka

-1/2 cup of club soda (we used sodium free)

Blend the watermelon chunks with lemon juice. Slowly add simple syrup. Once everything is blended add the vodka(s). Divide club soda among two iced filled glasses and pour watermelon mix to the brim! Garnish with a fresh lemon or strawberry, enjoy!

frizz, photo shoot, & fun

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 11:00:00 +0000

S2H and I were lucky enough to snag a Sunday afternoon with Lindsay Alexander last month for our official engagement photos! Luck would have it that Lindsay was in DC to capture the most amazing wedding of my work sister, Erin. Lindsay is also going to capture our day and was sweet enough to spend some extra time in DC for an engagement photo session. This was a great opportunity to get comfortable with each other and capture some images in the place where S2H and I met. The day was great for the "lighting" but not so great for my hair...hello frizz city! It was a hot and humid DC morning with a side of drizzle. Lindsay was a trooper and I tried not to let my self conciousness get the best of me! Here are some of my favorites. But be sure to check out Lindsay's blog to see us and all her amazing work!

Hair Cult

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +0000

I have always been very particular about my hair. Nina and I can have full page g-chat conversations about our hair routine, the current humidity level and how to combat it, and the newest product featured on the Today Show or our favorite blog. It may seem silly to some but it is more about a comfort thing than anything else. My hair is kind of like my security blanket, something I think I have control over...as opposed to my hips! With the upcoming wedding I went into hair obsession over-drive! And to top it off, I met Ruby. Ruby is the hair goddess at Frizzles, my new salon! Ruby has me on a "hair plan" and I am sharing this plan with everyone I know. I have been on the hair plan for about 5 months and I am a believer! The plan is easy, actually less work...I have stopped washing my hair! Well at least I have stopped washing my hair every day. I now wash my hair every 3 days. Crazy right?! But it makes a HUGE difference. My hair is fuller, vibrant, and more manageable. I have followed this little routine through spring and summer - workouts and workout slumps. Don't judge - sweat is good for your hair!

Routine:
Day 1: Wash and blowout
Day 2: Little baby corn starch to absorb oils, pin hair back if it is looking a little limp
Day 3: More baby corn starch, some up-some down, pony tail or curl hair
Day 4: Wash and blowout - start all over!

Tools of the Trade:
Baby corn starch - helps absorb oils and comes scented to freshen things up
Natural Bristle Brush - natural bristles help distribute oils, brush every night
Moroccoan Oil - use on damp hair to protect hair from styling heat
Volumizing Spray - helps make the blowout last longer
Dry Shampoo - helps add texture for pony tails and curls

Tips:
Only shampoo the crown of your head, that's where all the oil is. Only conditioner your ends, that's the area lacking moisture. If you think about it this is how they wash your hair at the salon! If you are going to splurge go for the good shampoo. Your hair naturally produces the best conditioner. Stick with the hair plan! It takes about two weeks to even out your "oil production." Before you know it you will be rocking 3-day old hair - to work and to party. It's amazing!

*photo

Love, Family, & Friends

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 12:15:00 +0000

Ever since S2H and I got engaged we have been showered with love, kindness, and generosity. We have had so much fun celebrating with our family and friends. My sweet friends, Erin and Erin, officially kicked off the pre-wedding festivities with an engagement party. All our family and friends joined us in Arlington, VA for drinks, yummy food, and the most amazing cupcakes. This party also marked the first meeting of our parents! And it was a huge success! Erin and Erin handled every detail to perfection and our parents and siblings had an amazing time. My dad came up from Charlotte, Giselle from UNC, S2H's family caravan-ed from PA, my mom's family from NY, and even sweet Nina came from the cornfields!! We are lucky kids! It was truly a special moment full of all the important things, family, friends, and laughter!

{hosts and work sisters, Erin & Erin. my person, nina! cupcakes courtesy of mama flo and kollene!}

{clockwise: S2H's fam, giselle & my dad, giselle, my mom's fam}

The fun continued this month with my first bridal shower hosted by my soon to be in-loves! S2H's mom, sister (Erin), and sister-in-law (Jen) gave me the most beautiful shower! These women amaze me with their generosity, talent, and love for family. I could go on and on about all the special details they put into the shower - mason jars full of flowers, silverware tied with ribbon in our wedding colors, chocolate fondue, DELICIOUS food, and homemade hand decorated mini cakes for all the guests! There were games too! I totally bombed on the "question game" and had to chew 11 pieces of Bubbalicious gum! :) So we had full bellies and lots of giggles. I had so much fun celebrating with everyone and felt truly loved. The day was so special. It took me a few days to process how wonderful everything was. I was so spoiled and will be forever grateful for this bright spot and happy memory during all the wedding planning craziness!

{even S2H's dad helped out- check out that beautiful lawn & tent. beautiful cakes by Jen! the best food ever! S2H's mom knows i have a thing for mason jars.}

{me & the girls! so blessed to have these women in my life!}

Year 26 Bucket List

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 15:25:00 +0000

The summer has been flying by at lightening speed. In between wedding festivities I celebrated my 26th birthday. It's official, I am now closer to 30 than 20...scary. This year S2H and I kept the birthday weekend very low key. We drove out to the Shenandoah Valley and had an amazing 5 mile hike, complete with a yummy picnic. And we made a spontaneous stop at a Virginia Vineyard for a quick wine tasting. We finished off the celebration with a few too many glasses of sangria and the great company of friends.

During our hike S2H asked me what I wanted to do in my 26th year and so formed the bucket list. This list is a little ambitious but it is nice to dream!

Travel more! This includes more trips to my dad's beach house as well as taking S2H abroad! I also want to visit Savannah, GA and New England.
Go to a UNC Basketball Game. Giselle is going to be a junior at Chapel Hill this fall and we have yet to make it to a game, this is a must!
Learn to crochet.
Take a class. I still have no idea what I want to do when I grow up, but it is time to figure it out. So I am thinking that if I take some classes it might help me. Top runners are, graphic design, photography, ceramics, or pastry.
Explore DC. I have now lived in the DC suburbs for 4 years and still have not visited all the museums, monuments, food spots, and hidden gems of the area.
Take more pictures.
Plan a reunion with my high school girlfriends and their significant others.

I'm back...with BIG news!

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 18:01:00 +0000

So...S2H and I are engaged! Or have been engaged is more accurate. I am so mad at myself for not writing this post 54 days ago when he popped the magical, life changing question. But I got so wrapped up in the air like feeling I had and the whirlwind of excitement that I completely neglected to write everything down. Which is a bummer since that initial magic and beauty is so hard to capture 54 days later. But all those warm and fuzzy feelings are still with me, and better late than never (at least that is my mantra when it comes to blogging and shipping birthday gifts)!

Let me start off this little story by saying S2H is way sneakier than I give him credit for. I am a control freak and like to have a plan and be in charge of the plan. But I LOVE to be surprised, which is almost impossible due to the prior statement. I knew S2H had spoken with my dad and asked for his blessing, I also knew that S2H had gotten my mom's engagement ring from my dad...I knew all this because I am a spaz and wanted to be involved and make sure my dad and S2H had a good love convo and that the ring was safe at all times. I also went jeweler shopping with S2H because I was nervous that some mobster jeweler would (a) ruin the precious ring (b) steal the precious ring (c) swap out my mom's stone for something that she had never touched or worn...I watch too much Dateline NBC! After finding the perfect family owned (non-mobster family) jeweler S2H and I designed the new setting together...it really was a joint effort. He wanted me to love the ring I would wear the rest of my life, and I wanted him to be proud to place it on my finger one day. After this I was no longer to be involved with engagement stuff...which I wanted but was really hard! I tried to put the engagement out of my mind but that is virtually impossible...don't let anybody tell you otherwise! I was however very mellow around Christmas...this was because I had told S2H that I did not want to get engaged at Christmas...just not my style. So the whole month of December I thought I was in control and worried more about getting a puppy with a big red bow and making the perfect Christmas cookies. Alas, sneaky S2H knew this was the perfect time to strike!

We spent the day packing for a Christmas visit with S2H's family in PA. The day was filled with laundry and last minute gift wrapping. I was kind of grouchy since I hate packing, was feeling weird about my first Christmas away from home, and I had my mom on my mind since it would have been her 50th birthday. S2H kind of did his own thing most of the day...he was out and about "buying last minute gifts". We opened our stockings by our Christmas tree before we left. We had the car all packed and were almost out the door when S2H started "putzing." You know, moving things around, going to the restroom, taking out the trash. I was ready to go people...I had on my yoga pants, uggs, pillow in hand, and scarf to snuggle with. Then S2H tells me to grab my bathing suit so we can use the hot tub at his parent's house. Umm....no way, I am not wearing a bathing suit in December...they don't call 'em chunky knit sweaters for nothing! After much prodding he finally got me to go into the bedroom. He followed me in and asked me if he could say a few things about my mom on her birthday. I was totally confused at this point, but he convinced me to sit on the bed. He was standing but I made him sit next to me because it felt awkward - see control freak. He started saying these wonderful things about my mom, how he felt like he knew her because of the way I loved him and the time he has spent with my brother and sister. This is when I just closed my eyes and let the tears fall while he said all these amazing things about our relationship. I finally opened my eyes when he took a brief pause. S2H was down on one knee telling me he couldn't think of a better way to celebrate my mom than asking me to marry him on her birthday!! I was stunned...it is the craziest feeling, I can't even describe it. It's like all the worry and sadness you ever felt leaves your body and you are filled with hope. Between a teary kiss I of course said "yes"! Or something along those lines. And then he put the most beautiful, sparkly ring on my hand...a ring that was half my mom's and half something we created together. Something that reminds me every day that she is on our side and part of our love. And that was my most perfect engagement (on December 23rd) to the most perfect man for me. He obviously knows me better than I know myself, has the kindest spirit, and always goes above and beyond. It was a moment I dreamed about but the reality was far better than the dream!

p.s. Happy Valentine's Day! xo

Tree Teaser

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 02:06:00 +0000

My little 700 square feet are about as decked out for Christmas as they can be! S2H and I got our tree about two weeks ago and I have been fussing over it ever since! I turn on the lights as soon as I wake up in the morning and as soon as I get home from work! I am still trying to get the perfect picture, so until then here are some photos from our tree hunt (aka visiting the Knights of Columbus at Church and having a nice "dad" like figure tie it onto the 1994 Toyota Camry...holllaa)!!

{in front of the little red "sleigh"}

{S2H insisted on taking his traditional tree pic with Lou...we really need Santa to bring us a puppy!}

Night at the Nidos

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 02:12:00 +0000

One of the highlights of my Thanksgiving weekend was a sleepover with the Nidos. This house just glows with holiday cheer, so it was just what I needed to get into the Christmas spirit. A meal with this culinary family is indescribable so I'll just show you with pictures! Nido Mom showed me how to make bread and I snuggled up to Nido Dad to figure out just how he makes that vodka pasta so amazing! And of course sweet Nina and I indulged in beverage or two!

Giddy!

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 20:19:00 +0000

Hello, hello! The holiday cheer continues! S2H and I had a great visit with my family in SC and a lot of fun with family friends in Charlotte. I am still riding the holiday high as S2H and I are going to see Michael Buble tonight!! I am so excited! S2H surprised me with tickets on Thanksgiving, and I could not be happier! I have been dreaming of Buble since and am crossing my fingers for a couple Christmas tunes. I leave you with the dreamboat himself! Eeeekk!

Happy Thanksgiving

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Fri, 26 Nov 2010 03:52:00 +0000

Happy Turkey Day! S2H and I are in SC with my family; enjoying good company, yummy eats, and 75 degree weather! Have a wonderful long weekend!

{nothing better than beach walks with my two favorite people!}

{so thankful for giselle! xoxo}

Autumn in New Hampshire

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 03:11:00 +0000

Earlier this month S2H and I spent a long weekend visiting my grandparents in coastal New Hampshire. We had perfect Fall weather and spent the three days exploring local apple orchards (I was dying for a New England apple cider donut), a winery, and the beautiful seaside towns. S2H and I made a point to cross the road in front of my grandparents' house and walk on the beach every day. There is something so special about the beach during the cold months. I have millions of pictures from the weekend, but here are some of my favorites.

Game Day Food Blitz

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 02:15:00 +0000

Many a Fall Sunday is spent watching football in my small abode. Well, I'm not the hugest football fan so to keep myself entertained I have tried to mix up our game day food menu this year. Below are the top recipes S2H and I have tried this year. I can't say our waistlines were always thankful but our taste buds were definitely doing the touchdown dance!

Ham & Cheese Sliders
courtesy of Annie's Eats, recipe here

These little guys are packed with flavor between the mustard, onion, and poppy seeds. We tried the sandwiches on both potato rolls and mini wheat slider rolls, I preferred the potato rolls and I am sure Hawaiian sweet rolls would be even better.

Beef Chili
courtesy of Smitten Kitchen, recipe here

This chili is a hearty treat for the weekend. It is full of veggies like carrots, bell pepper and beans (I added more than the recipe said for all of them). The chili is more on the thick side and doesn't have too much soupy-ness. We served it with biscuits one day and then orzo the next day. I'm sure it would be wonderful on nachos too!

Crockpot Pulled Pork
recipe adapted from Beantown Baker
Ingredients:
(spice rub)
2 tablespoon ground black pepper
1-2 teaspoons cayenne pepper
2 tablespoons chili powder
2 tablespoons ground cumin
2 tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 tablespoon dried oregano
4 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons table salt
1 tablespoon granulated sugar

1 (6 pound) pork tenderloin
1/4 cup of water
1 bottle of lager (we used Yuengling)
2 cups barbecue sauce

Mix all spice rub ingredients in small bowl.

Massage spice rub into meat (I recommend doing this on a jelly roll pan or large cookie sheet with sides). Wrap tightly in double layer of plastic wrap; refrigerate for at least 3 hours. For stronger flavor, the roast can be refrigerated for up to 3 days. (I refrigerated ours for 1 day).

Unwrap roast and place it in slow cooker liner. Add 1/4 cup water and bottle of lager. Turn slow cooker to low and cook for 8-10 hours, until meat is fork-tender.

Transfer roast to cutting board (again, I used a large cookie sheet with sides. This helped to contain the mess); discard liquid in liner. Pull by tearing meat into thin shreds with two forks or your fingers. Discard fat.

Place shredded meat back in slow cooker liner; toss with 1 cup barbecue sauce (or more depending on your taste), and heat on low for 30-60 minutes, until hot. Serve with additional barbecue sauce.

I think this was S2H's favorite meal of the season so far, it was such a treat! I made the coleslaw using this recipe.

Texas Caviar
courtesy of In No Simple Language

This recipe is my favorite of the bunch. It is a super simple dip and the fresh avocado is really tasty. It is the best thing to ever land on a frito! This dip travels well and only gets better as it marinates, I have brought it to two different tailgating events and it is always a huge hit! So good that I have yet to take a picture of it, I get all consumed in eating it!

Ingredients:
2 Cans of black eyed peas with jalapenos (my store didn't carry this type so I just added my own jalapenos)
1 Can original Rotel
2 Medium sized avocados
1 Large green bell pepper
1/2 Large purple onion
1 Lime
3/4 Cup Zesty Italian

Directions :
Dice avocados, bell pepper & onion and put in large bowl. Cut lime in half and squeeze juice over avocados, bell pepper & onion. The lime is to give flavor and preserve the avocado. Place black eyed peas in strainer and rinse then, add to add to bowl. Poor can of Rotel in the bowl with it's juice. Finally, add the Zesty Italian. Mix with a large spoon. Don't stir too hard or much as the avocados could get smushy depending on the ripeness you buy.

If you try to eat the dip right away, the bell pepper and onion will be quite crunch. It is best if the bowl sits in the fridge and everything marinates for a while. Delicious with fritos, tortilla chips, sun chips, anything to deliver it to your mouth!

Help Make Dreams Come True

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Thu, 11 Nov 2010 20:27:00 +0000

And vote for sweet Nina! Nina is competing for a blogger spot with Nature Made. Our Nina would be the perfect "good mood" blogger so vote every day here!

In honor of Mrs. Nina I am sharing one of the recipes straight from her family's kitchen. Like I always say, magic comes from the Nido Kitchen, and this recipe does not disappoint! Once you have a bite you will be voting for Nina every day!

Italian Mac & Cheese

Ingredients:

1 lb. of Hot Italian Turkey Sausage

1 lb. of Gemelli pasta (or small elbows)

1 Large can of diced seasoned tomatoes (or 2 of the standard size cans)

1 & 1/2 Bags of Four Cheese Italian Shredded Cheese

1 Egg, beaten

Garlic powder (or minced garlic)

Italian Seasoning

Salt & Pepper

Milk

1/2 cup Italian Bread Crumbs

Parmesan

Olive Oil

*Preheat over to 400

-Cook pasta according to the box instructions, drain, set aside

-Remove casings from sausage, cook in skillet, breaking apart with a wooden spoon. Once fully cooked drain any excess oil and set aside.

-Put pasta and sausage in baking pan, I use a Corningware rectangular pan.

-Add tomatoes, 1-1/12 bags of cheese, then I usually add some additional Parmesan.

- Add salt and freshly ground pepper.

-Add one egg beaten, then add, Italian seasoning and also minced garlic or garlic powder (to taste).

-Pour enough milk just below the top of the pasta. Now, mix it all up with a large spoon! All the spices, milk, tomatoes, egg, etc.

-The last thing to do is to sprinkle (generously) some Progresso/or other Italian bread crumbs over the top of the pasta. Over that....drizzle some olive oil to taste. Not too much, but just drizzle all around the top.

- Cover with aluminum foil, put in 400 oven for 30 min or so to cook together and heat up.

-Once cheese is melted and bread crumbs browned, remove from oven, cool for 10 minutes and serve!

Tortellini Soup

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 01:31:00 +0000

I love soup, and my soup craving always gets stronger as I pull out sweaters and boots. I like my soup to have lots of things in it and just the right amount of broth...not too slurpy. I saw this soup from the Culinary Couple a few months ago and instantly book marked it. The weather this past weekend was just screaming for soup so S2H and I got to work! This meal far exceeded my expectations and will definitely be a repeat this winter!

Tortellini Soup

from the Culinary Couple

Ingredients

· 1/2 lb. sweet Italian turkey sausage

· 1 cup onion, chopped

· 2 cloves garlic, minced

· 5 cups beef broth (I recommend low sodium, just so you can control the salt level)

· 1/3 cup water

· 1/2 cup red wine

· 1 can whole tomatoes

· 1 cup carrots

· 1/2 teaspoon basil

· 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano flakes

· 1 cup tomato sauce

· 2 zucchini, chopped

· 8 oz. cheese tortellini (I used the Bertolli three cheese and garlic tortellini)

· 1 package or 1 bag fresh spinach

· Parmesan cheese

Directions

In large pot, cook sausage ~5 minutes. Remove meat and set aside.
Add onion and garlic. Saute.
Add broth, herbs, wine, tomato sauce, vegetables (except zucchini and spinach), and sausage. Bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered ~30 minutes.
Add zucchini, spinach, and tortellini. Simmer ~25 minutes.
Ladle into bowls, sprinkle with Parmesan, and serve with your favorite bread.

P.S. S2H and I have a house guest this week...Louie is back!! Pretty sure a Fall photo shoot is in order! :)

{how cute is this face! makes me smile!}

Just What the Doctor Ordered

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 14:08:00 +0000

This weekend was blissfully low key. Just what I was craving after a week on the road for work and a month of busy weekends and lots of "to dos." S2H and I kicked off the weekend with a double date at Sweetwater Tavern. We were accompanied by the lovely Bree and Tommy. We love Sweetwater this time of year because they brew the most a-m-a-z-i-n-g pumpkin beer. We wait all year for this beer to hit the tap list...it is so perfect and the brown sugar glass garnish is too good for words. It was so fun catching up with Bree and Tommy, in fact after sitting at the table longer than the busy staff wished we headed to B&T's to finish off some take away pumpkin beer. I wish I had taken a pic of B&T's sweet pup, Sadie and Sydney the cat - they were both such sweetie pies. S2H spent the car ride home talking about how we must get a dog!

Saturday I woke up to pumpkin muffins and french pressed coffee...way to go S2H! I spent the morning bumming around the house munching on muffins and watching DVR. I was very disappointed to see that Mondo didn't win Project Runway...I'm just not a Gretchen fan. But the Halloween episode of Modern Family made me laugh at loud! I finally forced myself out of my fuzzy slippers and headed out to get a mani/pedi. I went for essie's downtown brown and love it...minus the fact that my flats smudged my big toe! How that happened I have no idea, I sat under the dryer for 30 minutes! S2H and some friends joined the masses in DC for the Rally for Sanity and/or Fear. I met them for a late lunch after it was all over. I had planned to go but decided I would find more sanity with a little pampering!

I completely bailed on Halloween this year...I didn't even get a pumpkin! So costumes were completely off the table. Instead of dressing up we spent the evening cheering on Penn State! I lit a pumpkin candle and called it a success (thanks for the candle Erin & Jen!). It also helped that I made an awesome tortollini soup with rosemary bread for dinner! (soup recipe to come later this week)

{this soup is perfect for a crisp fall weekend. i ate it all weekend!}

S2H and I woke up bright and early on Sunday to support our friend, Erin, as she ran her first marathon. Erin had a lofty goal of finishing the Marine Corps Marathon in under 3 hours (crazy!!)! And guess what?! She totally rocked it! Her final time was 2.59.56! Holy moly this girl can move. We followed her all across Arlington and DC, I got a high just from watching her, so determined and strong!

You can see Erin's take on the race here. Congrats Erin, you're amazing! We spent the rest of Sunday with the MCM support crew celebrating Erin's success. I'm back on the road again for work today. Hopefully I will get a few posts out from the hotel! Happy Wednesday!

Day Trippin'

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 16:14:00 +0000

Living in Northern Virginia is great, there is always something going on in the DC area, plenty to see and do. However, every once in awhile it is wonderful to escape the city and explore some of the great a places surrounding the DC metro area. This past summer I treated S2H to a "day date" in Saint Michaels, MD. St.Michaels is a gorgeous historic town on the Eastern Shores of Maryland. On a good day it takes about two and a half hours to drive there, we won't talk about the summer traffic and the battle that is getting over the Bay Bridge!

I knew S2H would love this little town. You can walk to a brewery, winery, and some awesome seafood restaurants all in a matter of minutes! We started off our afternoon day date at St.Michaels winery. The winery was super cute and rustic. I loved it! We sat at the bar and each had the "staff favorites" wine sampler. It was really fun chatting with the staff and hearing about how the winery was started and all the awards they have won. The guy started the winery pretty much on a whim. He was burnt out from his DC job (uuhh, I know the feeling) and loved St.Michaels and thought a winery would do well there. Lucky for him it has been a huge success and become very popular! All the wines were pretty tasty, and kept getting better with every sip! ;) I'm not much of a wine expert so I'll just talk about the most unique wine they had. They make a chocolate wine! No joke, it is infused with dark chocolate...right up my ally. This Chocolate Zinfandel is pretty sweet but I was sold when the wine lady told me it makes an awesome raspberry chocolate sauce...in the bag it went! I can't wait to make a little creation to go on top of vanilla ice cream!

The whole day date was a surprise for S2H and the main part of the surprise was a massage at the Linden Spa of The Inn at Perry Cabin. The Inn is gorgeous; set right on a little point on the shore with beautiful views and Adirondack chairs covering the lawn. I left S2H at the spa for the "athlete's relief" massage and hung out at the Inn watching the sail boats go by...it was such a relaxing two hours! S2H came out of the spa happy as a clam and ready to hit the brewery!

The Eastern Shore Brewing Company visit was a great way to end the day. The brewery had a rustic/cozy tasting room and a crazy, eccentric bartender to boot. Bartender Rusty had been pretty buzzed all day... I think since the night before as he told us he had gone to a huge rager. We were the last customers of the day so Rusty decided he would drink with us. He and S2H even shared the "Rusty Rocket." A lovely shot of pale ale and hot sauce...yikes! Needless to say Rusty provided some great entertainment and S2H left with the dream of running his own brewery!

We spent the rest of the day window shopping and I picked up a Christmas Ornament as a trip souvenir. I found a little sailboat ornament at an all things Christmas Shop...I could have spent hours in there! You can tell by the pictures that we had a cloudy day which was perfect for walking around. The rain came just as we stopped for dinner...perfect timing! Our seafood dinner was so so, definitely didn't leave an impression since I have no food photos! Next time we will definitely have to search for a better dinner spot. All in all it was a perfect day trip, I would highly recommend St.Michaels to anyone who can make the trip!

Etsy Halloween Finds

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Sat, 02 Oct 2010 14:30:00 +0000

Not sure what I am really loving-this little cutie or the stripped leggings and tutu! Got a little one or can't resist buying this for a friend? Click here.

I just couldn't help myself! A little ode to my hometown - Charlotte, NC! Y'all interested? Find it here. I think I may head to the craft store and try and make my own!

You can find the best inspiration on Etsy. This Halloween garland would be perfect for a play room or party. I don't have a sewing machine but I think this is totally do-able if you have one. For my fellow friends lacking the sewing skill click here.

If I had a kiddo in the tutu costume I would have to have a party to show off the adorableness. I love these paper invites. They kind of remind me of Charlie Brown! Definitely need to figure out when It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown comes on :). Click here.

Hopin', Wishin' & Prayin'

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 23:36:00 +0000

...for FRIDAY! Oh man people, this has been a rough week. Rough as in I am currently eating mac & cheese out of a box and biscuits with butter and I DO NOT CARE! To boot I have taken over the tv and am catching up on all my Bravo reality shows, Flipping Out seems very appropriate right now. I know I am wallowing, but plan to let it go after tonight. I want to enjoy the fun weekend S2H and I have planned, so once I finish this biscuit I am forgetting about work and the events of this week! The weekend agenda includes date night, tailgate party, and lots of time in the kitchen. We plan to see The Town. Has anyone seen it, yay/nay?

To help take my mind off things I have been perusing the webs for a little bit of cheer. In case you are in my boat-praying for Friday to come, here is a little distraction to help get you through the work day!

how cool is this water bottle? genius! i wish i would have thought of this!

after eating 1,000 calories tonight maybe i'll cut back this weekend and sip on these.

this brought back cozy childhood memories! my family used to vacation in maine every summer. my parents actually met in maine in their teens during a family vacation! not sure i remember ME being particularly aromatic though...

i'll be making these pumpkin cookies for the tailgating party, yum! for sunday steelers i'll be treating S2H to chili!

digging the photo above? check out the rest of stephanie rausser's work here. very fresh.

if only i could wear these leggings and a hoodie to work tomorrow...might make the day bearable. i think a pumpkin spice latte will have to do.

these two girls are inspiring! i might just have to start a thursday girls night!

That's all for now sweetsies! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Sunshiny Sweet Takes Penn State...Mac Clan Style

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 02:21:00 +0000

This past weekend S2H and I headed to the great tailgating land known as Penn State! It was perfect weather for a football game, sunny and a crisp 70 degrees (much more pleasant than my previous PSU game). We loaded up the mini-van with chili, buffalo chicken dip, apple crisp, and as many Mac Family football fans as we could fit and took off for Happy Valley! Once in Happy Valley we met up with S2H's brother and sister-in-law (also PSU grads) and their two girls. All in all it was a good showing of Macs, including S2H's mom and dad, Aunt Nancy & Uncle Jim.

{check out that yummy spread, color coordinated of course! how cute is little em?! and yes, jen and i have such good taste that we went for the same white-out t-shirt for the game (had to do a wardrobe change as i was originally in blue).}

We tailgated before the 3:30pm kick-off and had fun catching up and tossing around the football. We also talked about the revival of my blog, which Uncle Jim fondly referred to as "Sunshiny Sweet!" Hahaha...I knew I was going to have to use that for the blog post title! :)

{the whole gang!}

Penn State played Temple this weekend and it was a pretty close game in the beginning, but Penn State had some big plays in the end and won 22-13 . I can't really say that I was paying too much attention to the game though. We were sitting right next to the student section and their was plenty of action in the stands to keep me entertained.

{joepa taking his rightful place on the field, nittany crowd surfing, best student section ever}

We couldn't have asked for a better Fall day or tailgating crew! For the next game we are off to the "Alexandria, VA" PSU Campus for a little local tailgating action. Any food ideas for me? I'm thinking of making football cupcakes or something pumpkin! Let me know if you have any suggestions. Cheers to Football Season!

A Tasty Goodbye

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 23:11:00 +0000

This week officially ends the summer season. But you wouldn't know it with the sweltering 90 degree days, so S2H and I embraced the weather and went out for bbq! BBQ holds a special place in my heart since my love with S2H officially blossomed in Kansas City, MO. And we all know that KC is the mid-west bbq capital! I also love going out for bbq because it is definitely something I can't whip up at home.

We headed over to Rockland's BBQ, an Arlington staple. Rockland's has a homey feel with its rustic decor and friendly staff. You can tell the owner has a lot of heart, not only for food, but for pups! Every Thursday you get a free pulled pork sandwich if you bring your pup along to dine. It is the cutest thing ever! The patio has a nice little corner with doggie treats and K-9 toys. S2H was swooning, another pro for us getting a dog!

{give you an idea of the charm}

I was already smiling when we took our seat next to the K-9 gang with my mint sweet tea but I was glowing when the food came out! Baked mac & cheese, coleslaw, and tomato/vinegar pulled pork (brisket for S2H). Yuummm-o. And the bbq sauce was to die for, almost good enough for swimming!

We finished off the meal with an S2H style dessert...a pitcher of Blue Moon. It was so nice to take a moment and sip some yummy brew and talk about how fun the summer has been. It has been a whirlwind season with weddings and family visits. I hope the Fall brings just a many fun memories and moments with family and friends!

Summer Flash Back: Family Vacation

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 23:59:00 +0000

Summer solstice is right around the corner, closing out the hottest season EVER on September 21st. And I can't let the summer end without posting about my one beach trip of the year! This beach trip was a big one for me as it was my first family vacation with S2H's huge clan! I'm talking multiple houses on the Outer Banks to hold the all the aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, and siblings! It was crazy, I have never experienced such a family vacation. The Mac Clan does not mess around. They have organized dinners, activities, beach tents, and happy hours! Yes, each house choses a theme, a night and they host a happy hour for everyone else with goodies and drinks. Hippie Happy Hour below...we even made tie-die shirts!

{See-HUGE Family, and there are peeps missing from this picture! I'm on the right with a baby (I'm squinting-not cute)...S2H has 7 baby nieces and nephews so everyone pretty much got to hold a baby!}

S2H has been going to the Outer Banks since he was 10, and this planned family craziness is a tradition. Another tradition the Mac Clan has is the annual family photo on the beach. Now this may be the usual for most of you, but the OD's are not a group photo bunch. And definitely not a coordinated clothes family! S2H's sister decided on white shirts and khaki pants for the picture. I worried for weeks about what to wear for my first Mac family photo opportunity! The ladies in the Mac Clan are fit- as in they have four babies and still stay teeny tiny, so I was a little self conscious. Here are wind-blown results:

{S2H's immediate family...hello kiddos!}

{Each sibling got their own individual "family" pic, including me and S2H! Hahaha}

The wind was absolutely insane on the beach. The whole time I was trying to swing the hair out of my face. Not a good look.

{Me and baby Jake, and proof that I did try and have luscious beach locks for the picture}

Overall, it was an amazing week and I really enjoyed the quality time with the Mac Clan. Everyone was very warm and welcoming. Can't wait for next year...any happy hour theme ideas? :)

The Bouquet Toss

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 16:25:00 +0000

S2H and I just attended our third wedding of the summer season. All have been beautiful and just as special as the happy couples. I am behind in posting about all these wonderful weddings. My idea was to feature one wedding every week but I have to go out of order because of the unique events that happened at the wedding this past weekend.

Our friends, Jayana and Dan, got married in Dunmore, PA this past weekend and the wedding was straight out of a fairytale. Jayana has incredible taste and her detail oriented nature shined throughout the whole wedding. The nuptial mass was also incredibly sweet and they did an amazing job honoring their families. Here are a few pictures to show what I can't put into words!

{the gorgeous reception at the Scranton Cultural Center, Jayana started dancing here when she was 5!}

{S2H and I meet Jayana through work, here is the rest of the work crew and table mates}

{i was swooning over the details, this candy bar was color coordinated and to-die-for. monogrammed to-go bags included!}

{chocolate fountain...no words}

I could go on and on with pictures of this gorgeous event, it was just amazing. The wedding was also a lot of fun, just like the couple! In the middle of all the dancing they took a pause for the bouquet/garder toss. I usually try to steer clear of this tradition but their were too many people pushing me towards the center for me to resist. I stood off to the side with all the single ladies and did my best to keep towards the edge of the action. Well guess what? That pile of roses came right at me!!

{see me to the right. i was so shocked! and about 5 shades of red! p.s. how gorgeous is jayana!?}

{now the mortifying part, the garder! i had no idea what to do and was wishing for a strong beverage!}

Can you believe it?! Quite the eventful wedding for me. I can only imagine the pictures and video footage...hello awkward Meghan faces! Hopefully they will get misplaced during a freak accident. Anyways, it was a beautiful wedding and I feel so blessed that S2H and I were able to share in the celebration of two amazing people! Congrats Jayana & Dan!

Goooo Duukkkes

noreply@blogger.com (Meghan) — Sun, 12 Sep 2010 19:25:00 +0000

I'm not much of a football fan, if anything I get most excited about tailgate food options! However, I have a little prideful football glow today! In case you or your significant other (ahem S2H) isn't plugged into ESPN all day, let me tell you, JMU beat VT for the first time ever yesterday! The Dukes upset the Hokies with a 21-16 win, in the Hokie house I might add! This is a HUGE deal for those from Virginia...Tech and JMU are just not part of the same football planet. But today the Dukes rocked the Hokie world! Congrats boys! Gooooo Dukes!

image via here.