Meg{Moir}

I have *ahem* two monster Martha books. The first one I bought is Martha Stewart’s Homekeeping Handbook and the second is Martha Stewart Cooking School. And I love them.

The new movie Julie and Julia, which I will never convince Patrick to see and therefore will be showing up in my Netflix queue soon, got me thinking about the Cooking School book. It is really more than a cook book, it is a primer for a semi-beginner chef who wants to learn how to do things right. I’ve been drawn to this book a lot in recent weeks. Maybe its because I’ve been having ice cream for dinner. Don’t judge me. Ice cream for dinner is an inalienable adult right. Anyways, I was wondering if anyone took on the Martha challenge like Julie Powell does in the movie (and the book). A quick google search confirmed my answer…

Jeff and Martha: My Year of Cooking Fabulously

Jeff took Julie’s idea to heart and is making his way through all of Martha’s recipes and technique lessons over the course of a year. I have really enjoyed following his journey and can’t wait to see it through with him. Because as much as I can’t wait to have more than one mouth to feed at night so I can justify spending inordinate amounts of time on dinner, this girl will be eating no such thing as calf liver. Or, let’s be honest, mushrooms of any sort. Or beans. Unless they are green beans. Jeff, I am eating vicariously through you, that way I don’t have to eat the icky stuff.

In not-Martha news, another really great food blog that I enjoy is The Delicious Dish, by Kathleen. Actually, I know her as Lusher, you’ll know her as the girl who makes the fabulous looking food. She is on a hiatus right now (girl is planning a wedding after all!) but check out her archives and you, like me, will be impatiently awaiting her return.

On a side note, did you know that Martha has a blog of her own? Did you care? Don’t answer that. Just go to The Martha Blog and check it out.

First and foremost: Happy Friday!

Secondly, I am totally cheating this week. As a follow up to last weeks “nesting” edition, I wanted to share some of the many addicting quizzes out there in internet land that claim to “show your true style” or “express your design viewpoint” or “release your color aura.” Um…

Here are some fun ones, along with my results:

Find Your Style – Ikea Business
My style here is Country Original

Celebrity Decorating Style
I got Jennifer Aniston – love her!

Decorating Personality – Better Homes & Gardens
I got French Country (but the choices were only Formal, French Country or Vintage)

What’s Your Design Style – HGTV
They say I am Rustic Comfort

What’s My Style Quiz – Merillat
Here I got Formal Traditional (???)

Have fun playing around…while I don’t think any quiz can really reflect you by picking lamps out of a line-up, it is a fun way to spend a Friday afternoon!

With the wedding only 6 weeks away (eek!) I can feel myself getting into a serious nesting mode. All of the sudden I have the urge to clean and purge, paint and organize. I might even finally put some art on my walls if I get feeling crazy.

Here are some of the blogs I have been reading to feed my cravings.

Chez Larrson

Young House Love

The Inspired Room

SimpleMom

I Suwannee

Go get lost in them.

Note: I’ve been sitting on this post for about a month in a half looking for more blogs that are written by a Megan. No luck so far, so I decided to go ahead and post it. Where are all the Megans at, yo?

A short list of blogs by girls named Megan (or some derivative of it) for your Friday.

A Pratical Wedding: Love this Meg for keeping me centered during the wedding planning stages.

…Love Maegen: I just found this blog a couple of weeks ago. I love Maegen’s style and DIYness.

This is the blog I tried to write Friday, but I was so excited I was having trouble writing anything besides OMG OMG OMG I LOVE OUR PICTURES! It is a such a thrill to see yourself on a blog that you stalk um….multiple times a day.

After a few days of cooling off, I still LOVE our pictures, but I think I may be able to write about them slightly more intelligently.

A few weeks ago, Patrick and I spent the evening with our wedding photographer and her husband, Cheyenne & Geoff Schultz. We took pictures all around and in the Free Expression Tunnel at NCSU, and then headed down to City Market downtown. We had so much fun, which I really think you can tell when looking at the pictures.

Cheyenne did a great job capturing us. I can’t wait for my bridal portraits at the end of the month, and of course our wedding! See you soon Cheyenne!

Photo credit: Cheyenne Schultz

Well…I am slammed today. So much for a lazy friday. How about some short & sweet posts from my favorite bloggers:

Spectacles: From Seth Godin. I would love to create a spectacle that creates a big ruckus. Does September count?

Train Ride: From Emily Style. I can’t wait to ride the Wine Train in Napa!

Perfect Lady Apartment: This is how I feel about my townhouse, I love having space all to myself.

Ok I sorta lied…JD & Trent never write short posts. But these are 2 good ones, so don’t miss them!

How to Handle Windfalls: A problem I’d love to have.

Just a Normal Day: An insightful look at the ways Trent wasted money before his finanical meltdown.

Ok, that’s all from me. Patrick and I are headed to my parents home this weekend for the wedding of one of my ‘most goodest’ friends, Josh and his beautiful bride Gabby. We are so excited for them!

I realize that I am dangerously close to another Friday afternoon with no blog love. Yikes! The consensus here is that everyone in the office thinks this week flew by, it’s not just me! Not that anyone is complaining…

So this week has been a mash up of all kinds of wedding happenings on my end. Emails have been flying, I have been buying paper like a mad woman, and I have seen enough tuxedos to hold me over for a good long while. Sticking with that theme, how about some wedding posts?

I love these outfits for a summer bridal shower! I already have one dress to wear for a shower, but another in turquoise would be perfect!
http://www.iamstyle-ish.com/2009/06/q-bridal-shower-outfit.html

Patrick and I struggled with the “to register or not to register” for about 3 seconds. We love it when people register for gifts, it’s the best way to make sure you are giving something that the couple actually wants.
http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2009/06/12/gift-registries-tactics-and-good-taste/

Cheyenne has got to be the most fabulous wedding photographer in all of North Carolina. And she is all ours! (Ok, not exactly all ours, we have to share her with like, 30 other couples, her dogs Ellen & Jazzy, and of course her husband, Geoff.) We could not be more excited that she is ’shooting’ us…check out her latest wedding to get as pumped as we are!
http://cheyenneschultzphotography.blogspot.com/2009/06/crystal-and-matt-married-speedway-club.html

I plan on doing something similar to this soap project for the wonderful ladies that are helping with my showers. Shhhh! It’s a secret. Although, I’m making mine cold process, not a big fan of the melt & pour soaps. Oh, and without the embeds, this gift is about them, not me!
http://soap-queen.blogspot.com/2009/06/customized-wedding-soaps-for-everyone.html

It was so comforting to me to read that on Carly & Kyle’s 6 month anniversary, all is good. Everyone tells you that the first year is hard, and I know that there are lots of adjustments that you have to make, especially when you don’t live together before hand (Patrick and I don’t). But “hard” doesn’t have to be how you think of it.
http://budgetdisneywedding.blogspot.com/2009/06/six-month-checkup.html

Well there you have it, some wedding insights from around the web. Everyone have a wonderful weekend, Patrick and I are making a last minute trip to Belmont to hang with his parents.

So usually I create my blog-curious posts during the morning on Friday while drinking coffee (spent this morning playing Age of Empires. I know I am a huge dork) or during my lunch break (at an American Heart Assoc. luncheon). Not only was I occupied during both of those times but I have been so busy that I have barely breathed all day. It was just one of those times when you have 8 things due at once. Frankly, I’m relieved that its the weekend.

Enough excuses for your? Here are just a couple of posts…Disney style.

How much does a Disney wedding cost? I’ve been following Carly as she planned her Jan. 09 wedding for about a year and a half. It was so much fun to watch it all come together.

How much does an unexpected Disney trip cost? I’m glad that J.D. decided to stay an extra day on his free trip to Disney, but frankly, I didn’t appreciate his attitude. (EPCOT is NOT just a place to eat and shop! Where is your inner child?) I’ll blame it on the rain. Plenty of people have schooled him on how to save money in the comments section.

And finally, through Carly’s blog I found this site called Polyvore that lets you put together outfits (that you can’t afford). Who wants to pitch in and help me buy this outfit for wedding parties this summer?

Have a great weekend everyone, see you on the other side.

Ok, so with the long Memorial Day weekend coming up, I’m doing my best not to mentally check out after lunch. No promises though…

How about a look at some of my favorite posts from the week, that is why we are all here, right?

Agree/Disagree – Modite. I love Rebecca Thorman for posting these Agree-Disagree articles, it expands the pie for everyone. This one was particularly interesting, taking a look at how MTV is finally catching up with the views and values of our (Gen Y) generation. A study at how they could have caught on quicker if they paid attention to the moview that define generations. My only complaint – are we really so shallow that “The Devil Wears Prada” is our identifier?

How I Prepared to Relocate and Made it Work – Small Hands Big Ideas. Well, I thought that I was an expert packer after living in Raleigh, England, Peru and Orlando over the course of 4 years, but Grace definitely took the process of moving much more seriously than I did. I could have benefited from her research and preparation. Especially good advice if you are moving for a job.

Kris Allen Nation. Can I tell you a secret? I actually voted for the American Idol finale this year. I know. Lame. But whatever, I started watching this season because of Ricky Braddy, who is from my hometown. Adam Lambert and Kris Allen really got me hooked though. I know it is easy to say that now since they both ended up in the finals, but if you look at my music collection, you would see that over-the-top 70s rock and acoustic guitar are at the top of my play lists. At first I was a big Adam fan (Ring of Fire? Yes.) but Kris really won me over when he played “She Works Hard for the Money.” Have I mentioned yet that he is adorable? That never hurts. So I some how found this Kris Allen Nation website and I really liked this letter that they put out to everyone who came together to vote for him. I know that Ar-kansas is proud.

What Freelancers Must Know about Ergonomics. Scratch that, what ANYONE should know about ergonomics. Working a desk job for the past two years has aged me at least six, I feel. If it wasn’t for long walks with Amos and frequent if unreliable work out routines, I don’t know what kind of shape I would be in. My desk is too tall for me, the arms on my chair make it impossible to sit comfortablly under the desk, my feet either don’t touch the floor or my arms are above my heart while trying to type. I’m 5′5”, a normal height I think. I can’t imagine being very short or very tall and trying to deal with this mess that is my workspace. I am praying for new furniture when we move to our new location in October.

Well, that’s all I have for this weekend. Everyone have fun and be safe, see you Tuesday?

Photo by demi-brooke