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Date Night! (not quite as adventurous as the movie...)

So, because Scott's dad is amazing, we were the recipients of a gift card to a rather expensive restaurant downtown. I'm pretty sure it is a chain, so if there is a Sullivan's in your area, I recommend you save your money and RUN there as soon as you can.

We strolled on down to Sullivan's , which is a couple blocks away from our house, and immediately had our socks blown off as we entered. Classy, refined, with a live pianist in the lounge. Not to mention a WALL of wine bottles (sorry, didn't get a picture of that).

Definitely an amazing night and wonderfully delicious. Thanks Dad Collins!!!

Posted by Megan at 3:25 PM 0 comments 


Sausage & Kale Soup

Much to my mom's hesitation, we decided to check out this recipe, with a few substitutions. Mom is not a huge kale fan, but because she loves me and she hates to cook, she was willing to let me experiment on her. Dad of course was enthusiastic about any form of food that I produced. So we dove in. This recipe is from Woman's Day magazine, although since it's a soup, we made a few modifications. The Verdict:

Overall, this was a delicious choice, so thank you Woman's Day magazine for another winning recipe! Also, don't tell the men, but kale is considered one of the super-foods, and is incredibly healthy. Shh...

Posted by Megan at 6:09 PM 1 comments 

Hello...New Jersey...

If any of you are Seinfeld watchers, you will have read that title with the same expression as Jerry saying, "Hello...Newman...".

In case you weren't aware, New Jersey and I are not on good terms. Ever. The one small exception is the town of Cape May, although that's where my brother was in boot camp for the Coast Guard so my pleasant memories are weighed down with his bad ones.

My hatred of New Jersey goes back to childhood. I grew up in North Carolina, and as my grandparents lived in Vermont...we made the trek at least once a year from the South to New England in one long, marathon road trip, usually totaling around 17 hours in a suburban (which usually overheated at least once...in New Jersey).

The few times I've gotten car-sick, oh wait, that was in New Jersey.

Hideous horrible traffic? Yep. New Jersey.

Terrible drivers? New Jersey again.

But really...when you're on your way home from a long vacation and your GPS looks like this... ...I vote you just bypass the state entirely. Please note that you can't tell that 3/4 of the length of the New Jersey Turnpike was colored red...otherwise known as "Bend Over And Kiss Your Butt Goodbye Crimson".


I feel much better now. Sorry New Jersey friends, but remember: you always have the choice to move.
Posted by Megan at 7:30 AM 1 comments 



I know, I know. I shouldn't have abandoned you all like that. But the good news is, I have 7 days worth of vacation pictures and stories from snowy, beautiful Vermont for you!

Since we were stuck in traffic in New Jersey for what felt like 12 years (along with every other citizen on the east coast...which is another rant entirely...) I haven't had much time to write, but I do have lots of pictures.

Here are some of sledding at my grandparents' house (pre-blizzard snow). Enjoy! :)

Don't worry. There are plenty more photos to come!

Posted by Megan at 9:19 PM 0 comments Labels: Life, Photography, Vermont


I know, I know.  I'm a terrible person... I haven't blogged in several days. Isn't this supposed to be a regimen or something like in Julie & Julia?

Except I'm a believer that every diet needs a day off, and the same applies to regimens.

Thus... I am on VACATION for seven days in my home sweet Vermont. I promise there will be pictures and lovely recipes, etc. But maybe not for seven days. ;)

Posted by Megan at 9:52 PM 0 comments 

Featured Home: Lauren

This is a feature I would like to begin on a regular basis once I find some willing subjects. (cough cough). My precious friend Lauren was my first brave volunteer and has decided to share her home with us. I love her AND her home, not just because of her distinct modern and classy style, but because she has only lived in this townhouse for about three months, and it looks this put together.

Here's her house tour, in her own words.

“Martha Stewart’s holiday DIY wreaths were taunting me with their gorgeous simplicity (and some not so simple options… pass), and thus I was inspired to make the most of the materials I had around the house. I used beautiful grey ribbon saved from last Christmas’s wrapping and four (ahem, fake) eucalyptus strands that I got at Pier 1 that had been sitting in a vase last year. I wanted Frasier Fir boughs, but I had the eucalyptus around and I remember my Mom always hanging fresh eucalyptus in the winter, so it made it special and nostalgic.  I bent them and fastened the strands together with thin, green wire in four places. The real feat was displaying it. No one makes wreath hangers for 9 foot doors. Or I assume so, because my brilliant, resourceful husband came up with a solution before I could suit up and go searching. We simply thumb tacked the ribbon to the top of the door. Minimal swinging. No sign of it from unless you are 10 feet tall, in which case you have bigger fish to fry, my friend!”
“Best things about the living room are the couch and the light to the right of it. We both wanted a white couch, and coveted the ones from Pottery Barn, but knew they were well out of our price range. Enter the Outlet. This couch was basically stolen from PB Outlet for just under $600. It’s linen, people. For under $600. Shut. Up. It’s deliciously comfortable. IKEA lamp to the right ($60) is so fun to me. Very old Hollywood movie producer’s house. Josh spotted it at a friend’s house, who always seem to have the best taste. Others: IKEA Lack coffee table, $30; curtains came with the place, but I think from IKEA; hutch (with unstained legs, ahem, Josh) PB outlet, $20 (I KNOW); and why yes, that IS an IKEA dog bed basket holding our blankets. And no, we do not have a dog…).”

“As I suspect most newly married couples do, we mix and match a lot. A LOT. Josh is ultra-simple (borderline minimalist) and decidedly masculine in his color, fabric, who-are-we-kidding-everything choices. I’m not a floral motif kind of girl, but I do enjoy all things soft, charming and elegant. He loves Restoration Hardware, I love IKEA. The mix is evident. I’m just hoping we don’t look like a couple of frat boys anymore. Frames, IKEA; lovely white vases, Megs; painting, my own.”

Feeling brave? Think you've got interior decorating style? Send me photos of your own house tour - I'd love to feature it! :)
Posted by Megan at 11:50 AM 0 comments 


Freezer Soup

Today's Thursday Dinner Feature is a little different than usual. Since the next three weeks are absolute mayhem for us, and about half of those three weeks we will be traveling, I'm working on cleaning out the freezer and pantry so I'm ready for a clean start when we are finally home again for more than a three day period.

Tonight I was in the mood for something quick, easy, and warm since we got a good inch of snow today. (In Southernese, that means we had ourselves a right pretty blizzard y'all.) So thus, I started rummaging through the freezer. And here's what I came up with. I call it...

2 cups frozen peas
2 cups frozen edamame
2 cups chopped cooked chicken
2 packages chicken flavored ramen noodles, (we'll be using only one of the flavor packets)
4 cubes chicken bouillon

Boil 4 cups of water, dissolve chicken bouillon cubes in water, resulting in hot chicken broth. Place peas, edamame, corn, and onion into a large pot or wok. Slowly pour hot broth over veggies in pan. Turn heat to medium, bring to a simmer and let simmer for 5 to 10 minutes. Once the vegetables are cooked, add the chicken, one packet of seasoning and ramen noodles. Simmer until ramen noodles are cooked through (about 3 minutes). Serve and enjoy! Tricks of the Trade

Turned out pretty tasty! Makes about 5 healthy portions, probably 6 even healthier portions. Now...go see what you can pull out of your freezer and put into soup and let me know how it turns out!
Oh, and here are a few snow pictures from today. :) Posted by Megan at 8:50 PM 0 comments Current Loves: Books My Nose Is In: On Repeat: Promote the Arts! Etsy finds I dream about: