2011 Past

Like everyone else I cannot believe that it's 2012! Did 2011 even happen. I guess I do have a few memories of 2011 past. I'm gonna recap for my own sanity to prove to myself that 2011 did in fact happen. So here's the top 10 memories that I can recall....some are good and some are sad so you'll have to take the good with the bad.... 10. My dear, sweet Gigi passsed away. I miss her. 9. We conceived and miscarried soon after Gigi was gone (I warned you that these memories aren't all rainbows and unicorns; keep reading it gets better). 8. We bought new couches! I know not a big deal, but it is. 2 couches that actually match, and where in fact my husband and I can BOTH lounge! Now you understand, right? 7. To help supplement our income I started watching a precious baby girl, named Tessa-Claire. We just love her and her family. 6. My baby boy started pre-school! Now that really IS a big deal. 5. My baby boy turned 4, and is not gonna be my baby much longer! 4. We got a new mattress! Ok, so this maybe shouldn't be so far down on the list, but it has changed our life! It's a KING Sealy memory foam, and sleep has never been better! When Matt and I are done (you know) we don't even have to touch! We curl up on our own side, and wake up without back pain! 3. This probably shouldn't be so far down on the list either, but Matt got me the best Christmas present ever.....an iPad! My computer is in the process of having a ver slow, painful death so now I am able to write this blog from my iPad! It is sweet. I am using it now. 2. We went on our very first family vacation! We were able to go to Chicago! So much fun, awesome place to stay by Wrigley Field, incredible food, fantastic shopping, and even Lego Land! 1. We got pregnant with our baby girl, Evie (eh-vy)! She's due in February; we cannot wait! Ahhhh! Hope you have some memories you can hold onto from 2011 past, and are excited about the coming memories of 2012. I am not big into resolutions; to me they're just made to be broken. Instead I am looking forward to what the Lord is gonna bring in 2012. I know it's gonna be even better then last year! Hope you have a good one! Talk to you soon!

A Pennyless Christmas Gift!

Just thought for those of you non-Type A-ers out there (I guess that would make us Type B-ers) that aren't finished Christmas shopping you may want a "pennyless" idea for a gift this year. Sometimes it's hard to come up with something relatively creative and budget-friendly for those precious people that pour so much time into our children. So here's what we are doing this year for those people; Simms' teachers.
I got poinsettias for $0.98 a piece at Lowe's on Black Friday weekend, but I think they only cost around $2.00 there now. I took off the "fancy", shiny, gold paper around the pot and covered them with material I had on hand, burlap. Also, tied red ribbon around them I also had, and changed the look of them pretty drastically.
Then, with the help of my much-more artistic husband, he drew some gift tags for me in the shape of watering cans.

I cut wooden skewers in half and then simply taped the tag to the stick. 

 Then I wrote:

THANKS FOR HELPING ME TO GROW THIS YEAR;

ESPECIALLY IN THE LORD!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

LOVE,
SIMMS

Stuck the gift tag in the pot and voila!

Merry Christmas!

Is Christmas here yet?

I just have to share this with you.

I walked in to check on our son while he was sleeping last night and couldn't help but laugh.

Simms is APPARENTLY ready for Christmas to get here!

When I tucked him in and we said our prayers he definitely did not have that Santa hat on, but the little stinker must have crawled out to the living room without my knowledge and snatched it! Hilarious! I just love him and I love Christmas!

Love u all too!
Megan

Long Overdue and You Must Do!

Yes, this is long overdue! I've miss talking to you guys. I have so much to share with you; so much in fact that you'll have to keep checking back with me. I truly have missed you. I've been getting ready for the baby by working on the house, busy with holidays (like everyone and their mother), busy taking care of kiddos, and then sick a couple of different times with that dang stomach bug, and then a stinkin' cold.
Anyways, enough of my excuses. Now I want to share with you something that has changed my life, and could in fact change yours if you need it to.
While working on the house I've been trying to figure out a more efficient use of our space and get organized before this baby girl comes. I guess I'm in "nesting" mode. One of the areas that was driving me insane was my spice shelf in my pantry. I wish I had a before photo, but I got too excited about the possibility of the end result that I lost all my senses and forgot to take one. But to give you a visual, my pantry has wire shelves, and then I happened to have this movable-mini-wire shelf that I used to stack my spices on. It was a nightmare, they were always falling down and I could never find what I needed.
Then one day when I was searching online for a different way to organize my precious spices I suddenly heard the Hallelujah chorus and a bright light shot out of my computer screen (well not really, but you know what I mean) and there they were.
"I have been waiting for you my whole life, " I breathed.
They were beautiful. I had to have them now! I didn't know how I could wait the standard shipping time, but I was going to have too.
"Absence makes the heart grow fonder," I said.
And, "All good things come to those who wait," over and over I thought these phrases.
Then they finally arrived! I felt like a kid on Christmas. I ripped open that package and their they were in all their gloriousness! I could not wait to get to work organizing, and here is the end result.

Aren't they awesome? They are magnetized so they stick right to the refrigerator!

They also have little holes so you can sprinkle your spice while you're cooking.

And also a larger opening for measuring out the amount of spice you may need.

Or you can just take the lid right off.

I simply labeled each one with a fine point sharpie.

I absolutely LOVE them! They're all right there on the side of my refrigerator right beside my stove. It's just perfect! I get a tear in my eye just telling you about it.

I found these little beauties on www.pfaltzgraff.com. Do yourself a favor and go get these. Or get them for someone else in need. Christmas is right around the corner, and it could make a nice gift for the chef in your life. Like a basket filled with some cooking supplies, some nice spices, and these great containers would make a really thoughtful present.

I'm so glad we had this little chat. I guess it was a little one-sided, but I had to tell you about this life-changing product! Thanks for always being such a good listener.

Lots of love,
Megan

It's a....

Just wanted you to know that pinks and purples, probably a little drama, saving for a wedding, and melting Momma and Daddy's heart is in our future. We are having a baby girl! Now that Simms knows he was right about having a baby sister he is pretty stoked; as much as a 4-year-old can be anyway! He was confused about the ultrasound pictures, and was kind of worried about the way she looked, but I reassured him that she is growing healthy in Momma's belly.

This morning as we watched her through the tears and laughter we saw her flipping and showing off, sucking her little fingers, and one time looking right up at us. All I could say under my breath was praise the Lord, praise the Lord, PRAISE THE LORD! 

After Matt wiped his tears he said that she already pretty much owns him; heart and all! I have a feeling she is going to be a "Daddy's girl"; wrapped right around his little finger.

Yep, she already owns us!

Perfect Summer Ending

Since we planted our garden a little later than usual we just now have our tomatoes coming in. So what better way to end summer then with a tomato salad straight from the garden with herbs. This salad is so easy you could make it with your eyes shut. You could make it with your eyes shut while chewing gum and riding a bike; seriously. Plus it's ultra "pennyless" especially if you have a garden with tomatoes and herbs. Here it is; the perfect summer ending.

Tomato Marinated Salad*

Ingredients:
8 oz grape tomatoes, sliced length0wise
1 bunch basil, chopped
5 sprigs chive, chopped
1/4 cup balsamic vinaigrette
1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
2 tbsp brown sugar
salt and pepper, to taste.

Directions:
Slice tomatoes directly in a bowl. Add basil and chives. In a small jar add rest of the ingredients and shake till you can't shake anymore. Add half of the dressing to the salad. Let it sit in the refrigerator covered for a couple of hours before serving.

*see another version of this salad at www.thepioneerwoman.com.

The tomatoes are finally growing!

Chop up the fresh tomatoes and then use kitchen shears for the fresh chives (those are from the garden too!)

Fresh basil, from the garden of course! You can use the kitchen shears here as well.

Throw in the herbs with the tomatoes.

This is the magical ingredient.

Pour into a small jar.

Add the oil.

Next, the brown sugar.

Salt and pepper, then prepare to shake what your Momma gave you!

Shake your money maker!

Gently toss together with the vinaigrette.

The perfect accompaniment to pretty much any dish.
Amen.

Am I The Biggest Loser?

Does this make me a loser? I don't know if I really want you to answer that. But I have been asking myself that question since the new Fall line-up of the television series has begun. I think I may watch too much TV. I was in kind of a funk ever since Friday Night Lights ended so TV shows haven't been on the forefront of my mind, but last night I dreamed a version of Glee and Parenthood; don't really know how it turned out, but I do know that I might be a little obsessed.

Here's all the shows I've started watching or am planning on watching or I'm dreaming in. Don't judge....

It's sad, but I have really been looking forward to this!