tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91439548238258269662013-06-18T17:55:28.809-05:00FriedOkraA native Southerner gone astray, Megan Cobb serves up laughter and inspiration as she shares her meandering thoughts on marriage, parenting, style, food - and pretty much whatever else comes to mind - in words and pictures.
Up for a little girl-time on the front porch? You bring the wine, I'll bring the off-topic parenthetical asides.Megan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.comBlogger835125Friedokrahttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-2946120798087482432013-04-05T11:11:00.000-05:002013-04-05T19:47:09.879-05:002013-04-05T19:47:09.879-05:00Why I Married A Black GuyYep. After nine years of blogging, I'm finally going to go there.
As most of you know, my husband Al is black. Actually I hate that word, but I'm going to use it this one time so just in case you're new here, you'll understand exactly what I mean. But Al's actually just a human being, like me, who happens to have brown skin. We have two human children who happen to have skin closer to Megan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com49tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-56750632153175453022013-04-03T06:33:00.002-05:002013-04-03T07:19:33.938-05:002013-04-03T07:19:33.938-05:00Getting Back to Real: On Adult Friendships and Vulnerability
Are you comfortable being open and vulnerable with friends?
While I believe at my core I'm a person for whom sharing my true self and deepest feelings with people comes very naturally, lately I seem to have forgotten how to do it. Given the opportunity to share what's really going on in my life, heart and mind with a friend, instead of just relaxing into the open space and laying myself bareMegan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-8407232981114009192013-04-01T12:29:00.000-05:002013-04-01T11:25:01.262-05:002013-04-01T11:25:01.262-05:00A Tisket A Tasket, Does it Matter What's in the Basket?
Bean commented in passing on Saturday, "I hope the Easter bunny brings me an iPhone," and I had to stifle an ironic giggle.
"Ummmm.. Bean?" I said cheerfully, "I don't think the Easter bunny brings stuff like iPhones."
"Yes he does! He brought my friend Elise one last Easter!"
Busted. Good news is, I've dealt with this logic from the eight-year-old before and I had my clever retort readyMegan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-52759020672955063502013-03-29T09:25:00.001-05:002013-03-29T09:25:28.280-05:002013-03-29T09:25:28.280-05:00Stuff You Should Watch While You Wait for Downton Abbey, Season Four. Part Four: Anything Jane AustenishToday I'm continuing my series on What to Watch during Downton Abbey's hiatus. For more suggestions, check out these previous posts:
Call the Midwife
Doc Martin
Monarch of the Glen
Many, many thanks to one of my oldest and most-cherished blogging-friends, Lora Lynn from Vitafamiliae for compiling All The Thoughts about the amazing productions of the works of Jane Austen for TV and cinema. I Megan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-75388393156946732242013-03-27T17:25:00.000-05:002013-03-27T18:28:55.393-05:002013-03-27T18:28:55.393-05:00What I Wore Wednesday: Spring Break Staycation 2013
We stayed home this week for the kids' spring break. (Sad trombones.) Many factors influenced this decision, all of which were dumb. The husband and I are now kicking ourselves and each other, wishing we'd gone to Arizona as we originally planned. But hindsight is 20/20 and there's no use cryin' over spilled milk and you catch more flies with honey than vinegar and love is a many Megan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-53155040413471302402013-03-22T04:00:00.000-05:002013-03-23T18:19:41.083-05:002013-03-23T18:19:41.083-05:00Stuff You Should Watch While You Wait for Downton Abbey Season 4. Part Three: Call The MidwifeEdited Saturday morning:
Okay, I watched the first two episodes last night and I AM HOOKED. Amazing acting and writing, and the screenplay is just lovely and perfect. Lots of breath-holding moments and tearful moments and happy sigh moments alike. Call the Midwife is going on my 'highly recommended' list as of now. Check it out if you haven't already so you'll be ready for new episodes next Megan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-66452796235479392942013-03-20T14:46:00.002-05:002013-03-20T15:31:49.425-05:002013-03-20T15:31:49.425-05:00On Developing Instincts, and Learning to Trust Them
When my first daughter, Bean, was born back in 2004, I worried about everything. It started in the hospital after I delivered her. She cried, a LOT, as will newborns do, I've come to understand in retrospect. My worrying continued through every stage of Bean's babyhood and on into toddlerhood and the preschool years. At four months, when she'd showed no signs of sprouting teeth, I Megan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-19713632132004938502013-03-18T10:55:00.002-05:002013-03-18T12:04:42.912-05:002013-03-18T12:04:42.912-05:00Everybody Feels Like A Fraud Sometime
That's my theory anyway. You can help me test it out. Do you ever feel like a fraud? Did you know feeling like a fraud or an impostor is quite common? Did you know that some of the most successful people you bump up against in life are probably smack in the middle of faking it 'til they make it?
I have a confession. After all the hits this little blog received two weeks ago after Megan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com29tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-22891651442992405102013-03-15T11:13:00.001-05:002013-03-15T20:08:04.399-05:002013-03-15T20:08:04.399-05:00Stuff You Should Watch While You Wait for Downton Abbey Season 4 - Part Two: Doc MartinToday I'm continuing my series on, well, series -- shows I think fellow lovers of Downton Abbey will enjoy as we all await the show's return next fall/winter. (For the first part of this series, my review, description and a trailer of the fun, quirky, joyfully Scottish series Monarch of the Glen, just click here.)
Doc Martin
Pull on your wellies and pass me a pint, y'all, you will LOVE LOVE Megan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-86923132013759625522013-03-13T07:03:00.000-05:002013-03-13T07:42:21.306-05:002013-03-13T07:42:21.306-05:00A Humble Thank You. And a Giveaway.Wow. I just firstly want to thank y'all, from way down deep in my heart. To each and every one of you who read my Dear Mom on the iPhone, I Get It post, commented on it, shared it on Facebook, linked to it on your blog, emailed it to your friends, read it to your small group, told me your own Mom-on-the-iPhone stories, or just said Thank you or Well done or Bravo!, thank you so, so much. I've Megan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-65581574525195944872013-03-06T16:01:00.002-06:002013-03-06T22:13:08.009-06:002013-03-06T22:13:08.009-06:00Dear Mom on the iPhone, I Get it.
Dear Mom on the iPhone -
This morning at 6 AM I checked Facebook and saw a letter re-posted by a friend and addressed to you. As I lay there in the grey dawn, listening out for the sounds of my own two kids waking, I pictured your tiny girl spinning in her pretty dress as you completely ignored her, staring transfixed at your phone. What an image, right? An image I think was meant to Megan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com339tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-20038363972956521892013-02-26T10:56:00.001-06:002013-02-26T21:00:37.672-06:002013-02-26T21:00:37.672-06:00Stuff You Should Watch While You Wait for Downton Abbey Season 4 (Part One - Monarch of the Glen)For the past week and a half, I've been conducting all of my standard daily tasks with the Downton Abbey title score playing in my mind. OHMYGRANNY! What a final episode -- what a crushing (pardon the pun) note on which to end the third season, and what a tragic blow to linger with us until we meet the Granthams and Crawleys and their lively downstairs staff again. UGH. Whatever are we to do Megan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-26311459951254271402013-02-12T19:23:00.000-06:002013-02-12T19:57:19.143-06:002013-02-12T19:57:19.143-06:00Cupcakes
Last week Peabody and I made chocolate cupcakes, just because. We baked them together, just us two, in the afternoon, and then we let them cool until Bean got home from school. As soon as she had her boots off, the three of us whipped up the frosting and the two of them used my trusty Pampered Chef frosting decorator to squeeze a fresh, chocolaty, butter-creamy dollop onto the top of the Megan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-13244208135951222302013-02-08T13:29:00.002-06:002013-02-08T19:01:07.421-06:002013-02-08T19:01:07.421-06:00After-ThoughtsI'm having a hard time gathering up my words right now, but I did promise to post some After pictures of the floor project. I'll admit that living on and with the floors for nearly two full weeks has completely wiped away all memory of the reportedly awful experience of having them installed. When I think back to that time now, the only image I can conjure up is one of Peabody and me skipping Megan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-84755704855894400992013-01-30T13:54:00.004-06:002013-01-30T19:16:11.854-06:002013-01-30T19:16:11.854-06:00Trenches BlessedUpdated: I've hit publish and then as quickly unpublished this post SEVERAL times, over and over again because I really hate feeling like a whiner. But I know. I KNOW for a fact that many of you who read can relate to this and I know you'll understand and perhaps feel less alone. Honestly, I felt much better the minute I finished writing it. Sometimes spelling it out pushes the pendulum justMegan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-38835568918298396272013-01-25T10:50:00.001-06:002013-01-25T11:04:15.067-06:002013-01-25T11:04:15.067-06:00InstaFriday a la FriedOkra
As I mentioned, we've had a little chaos up in here. Last week I spent many hours trucking the contents of the entire main living space of FriedOkra Manor up the stairs into the guest bedroom.
I took this picture before things really got crazy, she said, twitching-ever-so-slightly.
Most of the furniture from the kitchen, living room, cozy room, and office has frozen its collective behind Megan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-54695368768324159632013-01-23T10:12:00.003-06:002013-01-23T14:41:00.995-06:002013-01-23T14:41:00.995-06:00Embracing Chaos for the Kids' Sake
We're having hardwood floors installed on the main living area of our house this week - the kitchen and pantry, the living room, office, and our beloved cozy room. We all feel a bit displaced, I suppose, but Bean and Peabody see most things as an adventure, take it all in stride and mostly enjoy the good and pay little attention to the things I perceive as "bad."
I Facebooked this morning Megan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-32719008591957521432013-01-14T04:00:00.000-06:002013-01-14T09:14:49.359-06:002013-01-14T09:14:49.359-06:00Christmas is Here Again! The Parent 'Hood Week 16How was your weekend? Ours was great - busy, but not too busy, and then just the right amount of cozy and relaxing.
We had a huge turkey dinner with all the Thanksgiving-like trimmings at the home of some friends Saturday night, so now I feel like I've looped back fully around and am anticipating Christmas all over again. Which was bringing me joy aplenty until I jokingly reminded Al that Megan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-83897515427762882942013-01-11T10:04:00.001-06:002013-01-11T12:37:42.317-06:002013-01-11T12:37:42.317-06:00In a World Gone Head-Over-Heels for Glistening TomorrowI'm in love with the grey, drippy, barely-chilly day outside that smells of earth and worms and damp, decaying leaves and somehow the gentle, humble wisdom of seasons passing. Does that make me odd? So be it. I'd be upstairs, right inside my library window on a cushioned sill, my little lamp casting faint light out into this dreary, intelligent day, if I only had an upstairs library with a Megan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-49694822478571383782013-01-08T10:08:00.001-06:002013-01-08T12:29:49.414-06:002013-01-08T12:29:49.414-06:00My One Word: UnboundOver the past few Januaries some of my favorite friends and writers have chosen one word as a theme for the new year and kept it close through all of the seasons and changes and surprises and events that followed. I've watched as their words and the powerful, personal meanings behind them have served as guiding lights to their paths, clear lenses for their perspectives, even shelters in their Megan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-55965912803363781322013-01-06T18:32:00.001-06:002013-01-06T18:32:12.699-06:002013-01-06T18:32:12.699-06:00The Parent 'Hood Week 15We had so ridiculously much fun this year as a family, with Al on vacation all but three of the days the kids were out of school for winter break. We had a visit with my sister and her family, many, many cozy days at home just the four of us by the fire, an overnight trip downtown and play dates with many of our favorite people. At eight and four, Bean and Peabody pretty much scampered into Megan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-24562703231581711412012-12-28T09:59:00.002-06:002012-12-28T12:32:18.668-06:002012-12-28T12:32:18.668-06:00Amaretto Eggnog Pound Cake with Vanilla Rum GlazeI made this pretty little baby for dessert after dinner Christmas night, but I proudly posted a picture of it on Facebook Christmas morning. My sister Jackie, who was traveling with her whole family to our house that day, announced upon her arrival at 2:30 PM that she was having cake RIGHT THAT MINUTE because she'd seen the picture at 10 AM and couldn't wait any longer.
It was Christmas, so Megan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-24665539425654723602012-12-20T10:39:00.001-06:002012-12-20T10:39:15.618-06:002012-12-20T10:39:15.618-06:00Highlighting My Very Best Asset with Holiday AttireHowdy ho and holly jolly and all that merry jazz, y'all.
I'm virtually giving my darling husband, who always looks fantastic but might have needed a bit of a wardrobe wake-up this season, a little mistletoe-shot in the style arm over at Together in 10 today.
10 Minute Men: Easy Holiday Looks for Your Guy.
Come see how I'm heating up Al's conservative wardrobe with a few classy pieces thatMegan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-91643186225006711292012-12-16T18:15:00.001-06:002012-12-16T19:28:28.963-06:002012-12-16T19:28:28.963-06:00NewtownIt's Sunday evening as I write this, and Al has the kids upstairs in the bath tub, so it's quiet down in the office. Too quiet today, where last week this quiet would've been a welcomed change from the loud chaos of two kids who'd been stuck inside for nearly 48 hours straight.
This weekend, silence has actually been terrible. I noticed it the first time Friday night after Al and I climbed theMegan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9143954823825826966.post-90389178080011282682012-12-05T10:40:00.000-06:002012-12-05T10:54:04.532-06:002012-12-05T10:54:04.532-06:00I Might Actually Be Doing ItThis week Peabody started a new preschool because the wonderful school both of the kids have attended for a combined total of just shy of five years closed its doors. I have done my share of crying over this, as any mother who'd found a place and people to whom she could joyfully hand her children over and walk away for a few hours a week would at such news. My heart broke when I read the Megan (FriedOkra)http://www.blogger.com/profile/14008925325073263825noreply@blogger.com9