Left overs galore!

Please excuse my tardiness of this post, I've been running around with my head cut off. Last night we had left overs! Haha I forget that there is only 2 of us and I don't need to make family style everything. Well that's about all that's going on today! Stay tuned for tomorrow!
-Megan

Getting Settled

Well, things are finally getting settled around here. I hung up some new pictures/frames and John found out his real job today at work. He will for sure be deployed "in about a month" (from his commanding officer) although unsettling news, the timing is good and that's all John has ever talked about doing. He wants to do something worth it in the Army, something to be proud of...if he only knew how proud I was already. 

Anyways, enough sappyness. I made something SUPER amazing last night, yes I know I say that on every post but people seriously- this was awesome! 

I got the idea off pinterest.com and I've attached the link to the blogger who posted it:

Stuffed Shells Recipe 

Its so freaking good, and it actually gives you a recipe for the marinara sauce which I will be making from here on out because its just so simple! 

Here are my pictures of it from last night:

Finished product:

Another amazingly, awesome idea I got off Pinterest is this thing! I call it the "I love you frame" 

I just put together some scrap paper and stamped the words " I love you because..." and viola! You get a dry erase marker and you can write whatever you want under the words. This picture was from this morning after John wrote in what he felt about the amazing stuffed shells..haha its super east and fun!

Please excuse my tardiness on this post, I got crazy motivated to do all my schoolwork today so that's what I've been working on. :)

Happy Monday to all!

-Megan

New things are on the rise

Last night John and I visited Italy for just a quick meal! Haha this meal may look like it takes time, but honestly it only takes about 20 minutes and there is no chopping or slicing involved (unless you add chicken). This meal is actually Olive Garden's recipe for Fettuccine Alfredo, I've never had that at an actual restaurant because 1-I usually get soup and 2-why pay for it when you can make it for MUCH cheaper? The book I got the recipe from is called America's Most Wanted Recipes, if you've never heard of it then you shouold definitely go to the bookstore and ch-check it out!

Here is the recipe for this delicious meal:

Ingredients:

1 box/bag/pound fettuccine 

1 1/2 cups of milk

1 1/2 cups heavy cream 

1 cup grated (or shredded) Parmesan cheese

1 cup grated (or shredded) Romano cheese 

6 egg yolks

1 tsp garlic powder

parsley for garnish

salt and pepper

Directions:

1. Cook the pasta according to the package. Meanwhile, heat the milk and cream in a large sauce pan until the mixture comes to a simmer. 

2. Slowly whisk in the cheeses and remove from heat.

3. Place the yolks into a bowl and spoon in the milk mixture into the bowl and whisk throughly, then pour the yolk mixture into the milk mixture. Taste (tip: this will have a slightly eggy taste, don't freak!) Season with salt and pepper. 

4. Add the cooked pasta into the mixture. Sprinkle the garlic powder into the mixture and stir until sauce is thick and cheesy enough for you.

Serve hot and sprinkle with parsley.

Cook time: 20ish minutes 

Prep time: less than 5

The kicker is really the garlic powder so don't forget it. Also, the REAL recipe calls for 1/2 cup of each of the cheeses but I doubled it because it just tastes better. If you'd like to add chicken to this recipe then I would advise cooking the chicken ahead of time so you aren't waiting around for it. 

Try this recipe! Its awesome!

Next topic, I've posted another picture of my sweet puppy because he's just awesome and this picture makes him look so innocent. haha

I'm thinking about cutting my hair this way? I really LOVE these bangs and this whole style, plus I can keep my hair the length it is now..any comments?

Its time for me to make my first major announcement...

My birthday is in ONE week! That's right Super Bowl Sunday will also mean Megan's 21st, if you need my address to send me gift just let me know. Haha KIDDING! 

Hope everyone has a fabulous, relaxing Sunday and great upcoming week!

-Megan

Pizza Anyone?

Oh my goodness! The dinner I made last night was a much bigger hit than I thought it was going to be! John was surprisingly in love with the whole thing and said I shouldn't change anything about it. YUM! I got this idea from my friend Annie, who made something similar so I just switched some things up and tested some new items. 

Ok so here's how this delicious meal is made..

Ingredients:

4 whole wheat pitas

5 oz. of fresh mozzarella cheese

Baby spinach leaves

1/2 a tomato, sliced

1 zucchini, sliced

11/2 celery stalks, roughly chopped

1 strip of bacon

1 tbsp olive oil

1 tbsp balsamic vinegar 

1 tsp basil 

1 tsp oregano

salt

pepper

grated parmesan cheese

Directions:

1. Heat your oven to 400 degrees

2. Cook the bacon where its crisp on both sides then chop. Meanwhile, add tomato slices, zucchini, and celery into a bowl with salt, pepper, basil, and oregano. Mix together so all veggies have some season. Add bacon to the mixture. 

3. Whisk together olive oil, vinegar, salt and pepper. 

4. Slice the mozzarella as thin as possible.

5. Take the pitas and lay them out flat and start topping (bottom to top). Oil/vinegar mixture, mozzarella, spinach leaves, zucchini, celery, bacon, tomato. 

Place in oven and bake for 25 minutes.

Cook time: 25 minutes

Prep time: 10 minutes

The final product!

It was sooo delicious!

John actually said it could have gone without the bacon which was kind of surprising but it was still good with it. I definitely recommend you try this meal out and add some of your own things onto this. It would also be good for a lunch or heated up leftovers! John and I each ate 2 (he probably could've eaten all 4) so they really aren't very big. 

On another note, school is in full swing now and I'm hoping I don't get too overwhelmed. Next week, I'm going on post and going to start getting really active in volunteering. I would really love to meet some new people and especially some new wives for when the hubs is driving me insane..haha I'm really excited! 

I hope everyone has a great Saturday! 

<3

-Megan

Updated and Renovated

It's been a few days since my last post because I've been waiting for the internet! Haha and now that we finally have it I can get back to updating. I'm going to start posting the food I cook for dinner with a recipe attached because I like to take normal dishes and give them my own twist, whether it be large or small. I'll post the dinner from the previous night so I can give y'all a better view of what actually went down. Haha

Ok well this one is going to have dinner from Wednesdsay night and last night:

Wednesday night:

Tomato Tortellini Soup

I got this recipe from Pinterest here: Tomato Tortellini Soup

It was very delicious, I was skeptical about making it because I'm not the biggest fan of tomato soup but I wanted to be open minded.

I had sent John to the store with the grocery list.. (AHH) and instead of getting cheese tortellini as the recipe calls for, he got chicken and prosciutto. It actually gave the dish more flavor and something extra. Everyone should try this dish!

Last night:

Roast with Veggies

This dish is a combination of the way my mom makes it and a recipe I got out of Campbell's Slow Cooker Recipes book. Some things are slightly adjusted size-wise because there are only two of us eating so I brought the portions way down and we still have left overs.

Ingredients:

2 pound chuck roast

3 small white potatoes, quartered

1 medium yellow onion, skin off and cut into wedges

3 celery stalks, chopped

1 bag of baby carrots

5 cups of water

1 packet of onion soup mix

2 tsp garlic powder

1 tsp of basil

salt

pepper

(this is the soup mix I use, it comes in a box with 2 packets, found in the soup isle NOT the gravy packet isle)

Directions:

1. Take a large saute pan, sprinkle both sides of the roast with garlic powder and cook until slightly brown on both sides. Meanwhile, take all your veggies, basil, onion soup packet, and 2 cups of water and place them into your crock pot.  Cook on medium low until roast is brown.

2. Take the roast and place it on top of the veggies with the remaining water (water may vary, the level must reach the top of the roast). Turn the heat up to medium (6 hours) and let sit.

Check on the roast and move veggies periodically, add salt and pepper when needed.

Cook time: 6-8 hours

Prep time: 15 minutes

This is the finished product! It was amazing!

THANKS MOM!

Today John and I are going shopping! Finally, getting some things we need for this place :)

Have a fabulous Friday everyone!

-Megan

We&apos;ve moved in!

We are finally in our new place! They're perfect and so nice! Pictures will be posted when I get myself Internet and I start the decorating process! :) no furniture yet, but we couldn't be happier. Ready to tackle school and Pinterest the rest of the way.
-Megan

Another move..

Well we got to NC last night and got our hotel booked, but turns out once you check into base we have to stay at the hotel on post..so we had to pack up our stuff again and move. I'm hoping and praying that by the end of the day tomorrow we'll have a place to live for good and we can officially start unpacking.
As if that wasn't bad enough..this morning while putting the U Haul back onto the hitch I cut the finger up pretty bad. John claims we need to go to the hospital but it's not THAT bad. Haha yes, I'm stubborn but it's really nothing.

Ok John eventually convinced me too go to the hospital so I have this huge finger wrap on my finger and when we find and apartment I'll almost be dead weight helping. I just hope this thing heals quickly.
-Megan

North Carolina Bound :)

Surprisingly we're on our way to North Carolina today! Just John, Bentley and I hitting the road. So ready to get settled in our new place. :)
-Megan

Jumping for Joy!

We got to the jump zone around 8:30am waiting for John to jump and around 9:30am they began the jumps, little did we know there was about 300 people in John's class to jump.
Well we got delayed because it started to rain with only 79 people left to jump, John happen to be one of those people. Haha so we waited and waited for the longest time and around 4pm is when the rest of the jumpers started! Geeze! Then we watched him graduate :) another school down for him and another pin on his chest.
I'm soo proud of everything he does.
My parents are leaving tomorrow :( I'm going to miss them so much, it's going to be so long before I see them back in Texas.
Well overall today was a good day.
Here's a sweet picture of Bentley waiting for the rain to stop today.
Everyone have a great weekend!
-Megan

We have arrived!

Our first stop is here in Fort Benning, GA! It was a long 12 hours to get here so I am beat. Final jump and graduation tomorrow for the hubs! :) I couldn't be anymore proud.

Please excuse the lack for color and pictures for today, I'm doing this from my phone.

Goodnight everyone!
-Megan

Final Post from Texas!

This is the final post I'll write in this great state of Texas! Its definitely a bittersweet moment knowing that this is my last night in my parents house so this might be a little scattered..haha

Well, today I packed the U Haul and read halfway through my book. Its getting so good! John only jumped once today again so that's why were leaving from here a little later than planned. I also logged into the first day of classes for me, emailed some teachers and began this semester. I'm taking 18 hours and this is what one of my classes had as an announcement:

I hope every gets a kick out of that..as if winter break weren't long enough.

My parents and I went to BJs Brewery in the Woodlands to visit my brother before I leave and because his birthday is on Monday and I'll miss it. :( I wish I had a recent picture of him and I but I forgot to get one taken of us tonight but here's a cute one of us:

This was when he moved into his apartment in College Station last summer.

Well there really isn't much left to say, hopefully it won't take me long to get back on here! Its been good Texas, we'll be together soon.

<3

-Megan

Busy Tuesday!

Hello Everyone!

Today John did his first jump out of a plane today at Airborne School! He said it was the craziest thing he's ever done and now he just has to master 4 more before graduating...JOKE! Well, besides the fact that I was waiting around all day for John's phone call/text letting me know he didn't break any bones during this crazy thing he calls accomplishment I was a rather busy lady!

I packed up everything I own that I still had left to pack. Who knew packing up your whole life in a house you've lived in for almost your whole life would be so difficult. I don't think it setting in yet that my parents house is no longer my "home" its rather sad to think about.. ok ok more postive note, please. Some other things that happened today was that I went and got a U Haul for the move and drove the trailer around town for the first time.  

This is my dad's truck hooked to the U Haul that I drove around :) haha

I ALSO got my nails done, which is just soo relaxing and I love. The only reason I even took a picture was because John wanted to see. Haha that's silly I know.

Oh my gosh my new favorite thing! I got the new Nicholas Sparks book today and I can't seem to put it down! It already so good! I'll definitely be reading that during my car rides this week!

And finally, I ate dinner with my bestfriend and her pops tonight and she got me some sweets! A delicious brownie (that my mom and I already dug into) and a banana pudding cupcake! YUM!

This day has been rather bittersweet to me, I'm not exactly sure how to take it yet. To top this whole day off, I have to keep reminding myself that school starts tomorrow! Ahhh, that's just freaking nuts and to think I only have until December! Wow time flies. I'd like to end this post with a quote..

<3

Peace and Blessings!

-Megan

Two More Days!

Oh my goodness the move to North Carolina is coming up quick! Only 2 more days until we leave and there is so much to do! It's almost like I'm running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I'm so excited to see my hubby but for the days I'll be unpacking and getting organized..not so exciting.

Well today, my parents and I spent my last Monday in Houston at the Arms Room which is a shooting range. My first one to ever go to! It was actually really fun and really helpful for when John and I get ourselves our CHL and a handgun.

Shooting my dad's 9mm handgun. :)

Another great thing that happened today is that I found out that Nicholas Sparks, my favorite author, has another book out! Yes, for those of you who know already his newest book The Best of Me actually came out in October 2011 but I haven't been paying attention. Haha I will definitely be picking that book up for our road trip to Georgia!

Hope everyone had a fabulous Monday!

-Megan

Texans Sunday!

Today is round 2 of the Houston Texans playoff run! I think we have a great chance too. Here are a few pictures of John and I wearing our jerseys in two different states. :)

At my parents house in Texas, just woke up..haha

In Georgia far, far away.

On a slightly more depressing note, I have to finish up our Thank You notes from our wedding :/ thats probably the worst part about having a wedding..is when it's over, it's really not over..lol hopefully I gain more motivation to finish them today. We shall see!

Happy Football Sunday everyone!

-Megan

The Joys of a Weekend

This is my last weekend in my hometown before John and I make the move for North Carolina. I'm so nervous but also beyond excited for our future. Well I've compiled a nice list of a few things that I have to look forward to this weekend while the hubs is still in Georgia. First thing is first, I stayed with my sweet grandmother last night and we had a ball. Y'all know that feeling going over to a grandparents, always feeling so warm and loved and the fact that you could ask her to roast a whole duck for dinner and she would drive to 5 different stores to find one..haha we had chicken last night. Well today we our going to one of our favorite places for lunch, La Madeleine! It's so delish! I've almost mastered their Potato Soup, well if you ask John I already have. Haha so I found the recipe online and I'm going to give it to y'all, it's super easy and with pretty basic ingredients. Ok here's the recipe: http://www.copykat.com/2009/05/20/la-madeleines-country-potato-soup/

Believe me you won't regret it! :)

So since my brother is heading back to College Station and I'll be moving on Wednesday were going to eat dinner with my grandparents at a place called Bubba's YUM! After that it's time to watch the Broncos and Patriots play, honestly I very much dislike the Broncos and Tebow I would like then to kick Patriot butt so the Texans can take the AFC championship :) I'm just saying.

I'm definitely ready for the game tomorrow!

John graduates from Airborne school on Friday and I know he is so excited. He's already done the air assault school but Airborne is a huge deal for him, I mean jumping out of an airplane? That's ridiculous! Anyways, I've found a lot of crafts to keep myself busy up in North Carolina and I'm so excited to get started! Along with school. Lol

Let's just bring on this week because it's going to be crazy!

Tom Brady for the Pats...

Or Tim Tebow for the Broncos..?

Its really all about the TEXANS!

My man! <3

My yummy fish and shrimp tacos from Bubba's Seafood!

-Megan

Kickin' Butt and Takin' Names

Ok so I've been really obsessed with looking at the healthy lifestyles on Pinterest.com, all the good (and healthy) food, the workouts, and bodies we all wish we had and they've all really motivated me to start working out hard again. Toward the end of 2011 I lost my drive to workout everyday and would only run maybe twice a week. I just always felt like I didn't have time with school and planning the wedding. But this New Year I've decided that I'm going to have to push myself even harder than I did before. I'll be taking ALL online classes this semester and not have a job until I make it back to Huntsville around April time so I'm going to have to pick up some healthy hobbies and prove to myself I can adapt to any situation. I'm the type of person that has a really hard time adjusting my schedule when things go haywire and this year is definitely going to prove that. I always plan out my whole day, sometimes my whole week and depending on the week sometimes working out or any "me" time gets pushed to the back burner and isn't thought about until the next week or so.
Back to my Pinterest discoveries, I've come across this really awesome website and blogger name Taralynn McNutt she is all about health and fun. Here's her website: undressedskeleton.tumblr.com/
Its so amazing and if you just search through her website there are ideas for almost everything! I think the biggest thing she inspired me to do was to blog, I thought that I would blog maybe once a week to keep people updated on how life is but she does it everyday! and the posts don't get boring either. So I'm going to jumpstart my blogging today!
Only one more week exactly until I see John again :) Hopefully my parents and I will get to see him do his final jump from an airplane! He's a crazy man I tell you.. Bentley will be so excited to see him as will I!
Here is my Pinterest site, follow me! http://pinterest.com/armywiife/

Our sweet pup Bentley!

John and My (second) wedding day 11-26-11

New Adventures

Happy New Year!

This is our first blog together and I'm really excited about it. My mom actually told me to start one because we'll be moving all over the country and it would be nice for our family and friends that we wouldn't speak to every week to keep up with us. John (whose in the Army) is my husband and we've been married for just over 8 months now. John graduated from Sam Houston State in May and began his Army career a month later, I go to Sam now and should graduated in December. Ever since I've known John all he wanted to do was be a soldier, he feels that if he's a citizen of this country and someone messes with it that he should do something about  it. I have such a higher respect for this country and for our military after knowing John and all the hardships soldiers have to go through.
He's in Georgia right now going through Airborne School (for those who don't know, its jumping out of airplanes) which is just crazy to me, but whatever. Haha I'm at home preparing everything for our big move to North Carolina in a few weeks. When John is done in Georgia, I'm meeting him for his final jump and graduation day then we are heading off to North Carolina where he'll be stationed for at least 3 years. I'm going to be with him taking online classes from Sam until they day every Army Wife dreads...deployment day. It should be coming up fast so when that happens, I'll come back down to school and finish while he's gone. Although the timing of this is great, its terrible that he has to go at all. This is what has made our relationship so strong, so we'll continue to handle everything life throws at us.
I hope y'all have a very blessed 2012 and please continue to read!

-Megan