tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10387659564047856902024-03-13T01:43:51.729-07:00Ooh! Look! Pie!and burgers!Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.comBlogger190125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-85683109760023867422013-03-08T15:15:00.002-08:002013-03-08T15:16:39.999-08:0040 weeks, 4 daysAhMahGah! I'm about to pull this baby out myself. My doctor said on Wednesday that I have no dilation and no fluid loss, so she didn't see a need to see me again until next week, when I'll be 41 weeks, 2 days. What?!?!?! Apparently it's really common for 1st pregnancies to be extra long.<br />
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All of this extra time has me nesting extra hard. I've been making freezer meals to have on hand.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8539708771/" title="DSC04251 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04251" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8245/8539708771_960975db11.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
I made pizza bagels, chicken and biscuit casserole, chicken and broccoli casserole, ham, apricot and goat cheese paninis, beef & bean burritos, swedish meatballs with mushrooms (for the crock pot) and stuffed french toast!<br />
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Here is my method for freezer pizza bagels. You'd think it would be very straight forward. It's not. There was a lot of trial and error involved in getting pizza bagels that don't come out of the oven mushy with sauce soaked into the bagel, or over bubbly with the sauce and cheese everywhere but the bagel! Follow all the steps, trust me!<br />
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<div class="im" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">
Ingredients<span style="color: #500050;">:</span><br />
- 5 bagels from the bakery, unsliced<br />
- 20 oz pizza sauce, spaghetti sauce or plain tomato sauce<br />
- 1/2 bag of pepperonis, or about 3 oz, if getting it from a deli<br />
- 2 cups shredded mozzarella<br />
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- take the bagels home and slice them yourself. Don't be tempted to buy presliced bagels, because they are too smooth and don't have the nooks and crannies to hold any sauce.<br />
- lay the bagels on cookie sheets, cut sides up and freeze. If you put sauce on them right away, the sauce soaks into the bagel and makes it soggy when you bake them.<br />
- place 4 paper towels on a microwave safe plate. Scatter pepperonis all over the paper towels, and microwave for about 30 seconds. When you pull the plate out, the paper towels will have turned orange from all the grease they soaked up. The pepperonis will feel dried out, but they will be OK<br />
- make little stacks of pepperoni and cut them into tiny dices, about the size of a pea.<br />
- place pepperonis into a bowl and stir in sauce.<br />
- once bagels are frozen, pull them out of the freezer and top each one with a few tablespoons of pepperoni sauce mixture.<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">- top with shredded cheese. Press the cheese on top of them a little to get as much as possible to stick to the sauce</span><br />
- place all of the bagels, still on cookie sheets, back in freezer and freeze until sauce and bagels are frozen together<br />
- remove from freezer and wrap individually in Saran wrap. If some of the cheese falls off, carefully lay it on top of the bagel before wrapping. To prevent freezer burn even longer, store in a plastic freezer bag.</div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">- to bake, preheat oven to 350. Unwrap however many bagels you want to cook and place on cookie sheet. Bake 10 minutes, rotate baking sheet, and bake 10-14 </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">more minutes.</span><br />
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<br />Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-42053044507149037332013-03-01T11:23:00.000-08:002013-03-01T11:24:17.116-08:0032-39 weeksOK, here we are after a 7 week hiatus. Blogging is like exercise. It's a habit, and once you miss a day...you're done. The track pad on my lap top is messed up and I didn't have a mouse that was compatible. One day without fixing it went by, then another day...I have an iPad, so I didn't feel disconnected.<br />
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And here we are. No apologies, but thanks to Danielle for reaching out. It was nice to know that I was missed. I've still been keeping up with everyone else, though, so I haven't missed anything. I also never missed a week of belly photos. We had to move most of them inside though because NYC weather is THE WORST! Something no one ever mentions about it is that it rains here about 3 times a week. I don't know why, but we were un-prepared for that when we moved here. I digress. Onto the good stuff.<br />
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32 weeks<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8496025412/" title="32 weeks by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="32 weeks" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8505/8496025412_dea1b07d10.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8496023482/" title="32 weeks by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="32 weeks" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8370/8496023482_299b852eac.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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33 weeks<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8494908901/" title="33 weeks by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="33 weeks" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8108/8494908901_8fee203bf2.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8494906553/" title="33 weeks by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="33 weeks" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8374/8494906553_a1da41d5cd.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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34 weeks<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8496006456/" title="34 weeks by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="34 weeks" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8371/8496006456_b190853498.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8496004174/" title="34 weeks by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="34 weeks" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8229/8496004174_e3947fb0dd.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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35 weeks<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8494898947/" title="35 weeks by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="35 weeks" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8532/8494898947_2da7db9fc8.jpg" width="374" /></a><br />
check out this awesome hospital gown my mom made for me! Not only will I not have to wear a gown that someone died in yesterday, but I won't blend into the walls! FYI, I totally picked the fabric out myself. People made fun of it on facebook.<br />
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36 weeks<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8494897595/" title="36 weeks by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="36 weeks" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8520/8494897595_f6893e659f.jpg" width="374" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8495998842/" title="36 weeks by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="36 weeks" height="374" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8510/8495998842_a86cd71231.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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37 weeks<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8495996888/" title="37 weeks by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="37 weeks" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8094/8495996888_a0e35f1f2c.jpg" width="374" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8495995864/" title="37 weeks by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="37 weeks" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8235/8495995864_b3ee4fba9b.jpg" width="374" /></a><br />
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38 weeks<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8495994624/" title="38 weeks by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="38 weeks" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8244/8495994624_8de8beb838.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8495993124/" title="38 weeks by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="38 weeks" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8106/8495993124_915f5254f8.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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39 weeks<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8518372115/" title="39 weeks! by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="39 weeks!" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8112/8518372115_cc6d46bcf8.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8518371141/" title="39 weeks! by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="39 weeks!" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8517/8518371141_8fec5afcf5.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I can't believe it's only T-minus 3 days until our due date (Monday, March 4th). It feels like it's flown by in some ways, but when I think back to when I found out that I was pregnant, around the 4th of July, that feels like FOREVER ago! I mean, the next 4th of July isn't that far away!<br />
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She's starting to suck all the fat from everywhere else on my body. Ha! Including my face. Fine with me. I can't wait to get back to weight watchers, mostly because I miss everyone. I feel good about this pregnancy though. I feel tired, and the most mundane things wear me out (took an hour long nap after emptying the dishwasher yesterday. Seriously. I'd liken it to having Mononucleosis, if you've ever experienced that.) but otherwise, I'm still cheerful and not to the point where I scream, "get it out of me!!!" We had a doctor's appointment yesterday and the doctor doesn't think she'll come by Monday. She didn't check my dilation, and said that since I haven't lost my plug or had any contractions, she's pretty comfy in there. We'll see how I feel next week!<br />
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In my next post, I'm going to show off all of the beautiful homemade things people have made us. People have been so generous. I can't get over it.<br />
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Happy Friday to everyone!<br />
<br />Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-55410032888574458872012-12-18T16:34:00.000-08:002012-12-18T16:34:00.126-08:0012 Cookies of Christmas - "Perfect" Chocolate Chip CookiesPerfect Chocolate Chip Cookies, my ass. I saw this recipe on plain chicken and was really excited to try it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8282915764/" title=""Perfect" Chocolate Chip Cookies by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt=""Perfect" Chocolate Chip Cookies" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8359/8282915764_7ac127b317.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I was pumped when the instructions required browning the butter first. I love things made with browned butter. They add such a beautiful, roasted nutty flavor to baked goods.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8281857489/" title=""Perfect" Chocolate Chip Cookies by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt=""Perfect" Chocolate Chip Cookies" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8350/8281857489_1192fb402e.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8282912680/" title=""Perfect" Chocolate Chip Cookies by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt=""Perfect" Chocolate Chip Cookies" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8501/8282912680_35885d9a9f.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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And instead of regular, semi-sweet chocolate chips, I used Trader Joe's chopped up bits of peppermint bark. I applaud Trader Joe's for this product. Giving peppermint bark as a gift is getting old, people. If anyone gives us anymore this year, I'm going to chop it up myself and make cookies again with it, only using the recipe on the back of the Trader Joe's chips bag.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8282911784/" title=""Perfect" Chocolate Chip Cookies by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt=""Perfect" Chocolate Chip Cookies" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8352/8282911784_0bb727e038.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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This is the best chocolate chip cookie recipe. I should have stuck with it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8281854471/" title=""Perfect" Chocolate Chip Cookies by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt=""Perfect" Chocolate Chip Cookies" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8214/8281854471_1ba5907fa7.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8281853483/" title=""Perfect" Chocolate Chip Cookies by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt=""Perfect" Chocolate Chip Cookies" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8081/8281853483_dc9f7db4e2.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Then another interesting step. You cream the butter and eggs and sugar with intervals of rest. It made a custardy base.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8281852379/" title=""Perfect" Chocolate Chip Cookies by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt=""Perfect" Chocolate Chip Cookies" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8364/8281852379_b847acaf98.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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These are the baking chips. They tasted good straight out of the bag.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8282907774/" title=""Perfect" Chocolate Chip Cookies by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt=""Perfect" Chocolate Chip Cookies" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8503/8282907774_417ce8b5e9.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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And then you throw everything else together.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8282906686/" title=""Perfect" Chocolate Chip Cookies by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt=""Perfect" Chocolate Chip Cookies" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8348/8282906686_6bba149c18.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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And bake them like normal cookies.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8281849085/" title=""Perfect" Chocolate Chip Cookies by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt=""Perfect" Chocolate Chip Cookies" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8477/8281849085_f9c07c60fe.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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And they allegedly turn out perfect. They are not perfect. They are just kinda, "eh." They didn't taste very good after a few days, either. I think the browned butter custard process made them...over-processed.<br />
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Here is the recipe: <a href="http://www.plainchicken.com/2009/08/perfect-chocolate-chip-cookies.html">Perfect Chocolate Chip Cookies</a><br />
<br />Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-10789349338568520562012-12-17T16:03:00.000-08:002012-12-17T16:03:29.216-08:0028 & 29 weeks!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8281807581/" title="28 weeks by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="28 weeks" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8481/8281807581_7072e342a6.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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28 weeks.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8281808611/" title="28 weeks by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="28 weeks" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8348/8281808611_4acddccdd8.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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It's getting too cold to take pictures outside, and it's been raining the past 2 Sundays in a row. Boo.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8281803015/" title="29 weeks by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="29 weeks" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8348/8281803015_20a0695bb3.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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29 weeks<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8282860930/" title="29 weeks by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="29 weeks" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8495/8282860930_91084894ca.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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Wow. It's really getting close. I have my gestational diabetes test tomorrow and I'll be sure to let you all know how that goes. I'm really not looking forward to it because everyone says that the glucose drink they make you chug is awful. I picked the bottle up at my last appointment, and I drink an hour before my appointment tomorrow. I'm crossing my fingers really tightly that I don't find out that I have something as terrible as diabetes the week before Christmas. I'm looking forward to gorging on holiday food exactly 6 days from today. I also don't want a 12 pound baby. 9 is maybe the maximum I could deal with. No one else in my family (that I know of) had gestational diabetes, but my Mom has regular Type 2 diabetes. I'm not sure if that puts me at risk, but I'm happy knowing that only 4-7% of pregnancies develop diabetes, and it goes away immediately after the cord is cut. I have 3 pints of <a href="http://graeter%27s/">Graeter's</a> in the freezer and I'm going to be really depressed if I have to wait until March 4th to eat it!<br />
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As far as Princess Flannery's growth is concerned, I feel her somersaulting A LOT these days. I barely got any sleep last night. I knew that was coming because I barely felt her move at all yesterday during the day, I don't think even once, and then the second I tried to fall asleep, she thought that was a really dumb idea. I was 15 minutes late to work because I just couldn't drag myself out this morning. Luckily, I have a very understanding boss :)<br />
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I haven't been craving much lately. The only thing I wrote down that I really wanted was a Mango Lassi from an Indian restaurant, but that's it.<br />
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<br />Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-42931846192895608052012-12-08T15:51:00.000-08:002012-12-08T15:51:00.715-08:00Annual Christmas Tree decorating!We have a tradition in our very small, but soon to be bigger family. Every year, we decorate our Christmas tree the day after Thanksgiving while watching the movie Elf on loop, and drinking egg nog. This year, there was no egg nog, but I'll just drink 2x as much next year!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8248708468/" title="Christmas Tree 2012 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas Tree 2012" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8483/8248708468_af2c4259e1.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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This is the stupid tree holder that someone stupid person engineered. It is impossible to put together. It's the only frustrating part of the process.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8248707554/" title="Christmas Tree 2012 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas Tree 2012" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8198/8248707554_80baa883fd.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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All of the parts of the tree fit in a giant, rubbermaid bin. The individual bags indicate which level of the tree those branches go in. Go ahead and make an organizational joke. If I could Dewey Decimal them, I would.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8248706658/" title="Christmas Tree 2012 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas Tree 2012" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8347/8248706658_94ae7d6275.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Here it all goes in.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8248705698/" title="Christmas Tree 2012 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas Tree 2012" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8199/8248705698_7ffa4a36ab.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Every year, we swear that this is the last year for the fake tree. Every year, we put it away again and say that next year is going to be the last year.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8248704750/" title="Christmas Tree 2012 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas Tree 2012" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8348/8248704750_151b4cf3c0.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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I think it looks pretty real.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8247636815/" title="Christmas Tree 2012 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas Tree 2012" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8069/8247636815_fbe02bf46c.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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Then the lights go on.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8248702992/" title="Christmas Tree 2012 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas Tree 2012" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8069/8248702992_c96bd27073.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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Feelin' pretty proud. And we're not even done.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8248702136/" title="Christmas Tree 2012 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas Tree 2012" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8205/8248702136_f1ac27d784.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8248701328/" title="Christmas Tree 2012 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="Christmas Tree 2012" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8206/8248701328_7911ec26d7.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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I bought this Santa in Oklahoma City in October at the craft fair. He was so amazingly racist, politically incorrect and offensive that I had to bring him home.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8247633699/" title="DSC04146 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04146" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8062/8247633699_35f4e4ac42.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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Someday, our tree will be complete with a real angel on top. For now, we have a little stuffed bear in an angel costume. When Ryan's parents were celebrating their first Christmas together, they put their tree up and realized that they did not have an angel. Ryan's dad, God rest his soul, drove to Walgreens to buy one. He came home with it, took it out of the box, and plugged her in. Yes, she had a jack that connected to the tree lights. I wish I'd been there to see the look on their faces. This angel has a set of humungous knockers THAT LIGHT UP. They have used her every year since anyway, I cannot wait to inherit her!<br />
<br />Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-80290280554168496882012-12-07T05:54:00.000-08:002012-12-07T05:55:13.028-08:0012 Cookies of Christmas - Egg Nog ThumbprintsI absolutely love egg nog. Who doesn't? Well, actually, I know a few people who don't. Since I can't imbibe in the nog in the tradition I'd like to this year, I've found a new way to enjoy it. This was a recipe that I completely made up on the fly.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8250395015/" title="Egg Nog Thumbprints by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="Egg Nog Thumbprints" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8199/8250395015_b8d3ce6646.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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I am not a huge fan of baking mixes. They usually taste chemically to me. My lovely sister-in-law, Cyndi, uses boxed cake mix and replaces the oil with butter, the water with milk and adds a carton of sour cream and her cake is awesome, but that usually as far as I go. At Trader Joe's however, they have some really awesome mixes. I recommend the truffle brownie mix and the vanilla cake mix. Also, the pumpkin pancake mix. I digress. I had never seen the sugar cookie mix, and I think it might just be out for Christmas, so I picked up 2 boxes.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8250394167/" title="Egg Nog Thumbprints by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="Egg Nog Thumbprints" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8349/8250394167_35d6592171.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
I wanted to make thumbprint cookies, but I wanted to give them a better holiday flair, so I added a teaspoon of rum extract and a pinch of nutmeg.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8251462674/" title="Egg Nog Thumbprints by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="Egg Nog Thumbprints" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8480/8251462674_5bd2cf6e19.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
The directions on the box tell you to chill the dough, then roll it out and cut it into shapes. I immediately used a cookie dough scoop to roll them into balls. Please ignore all of the stains on my pizza stone.<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8250392395/" title="Egg Nog Thumbprints by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="Egg Nog Thumbprints" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8479/8250392395_64171ab85a.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
Immediatly after pulling out of the oven, smush a little well into the center of each cookie. This won't work after they've cooled down.<br />
The sugar cookie mix from Trader Joe's came with frosting and colored sugars, but normally I would use a royal icing.<br />
<br />
So here it is, Egg Nog Thumbprints! If you try them, let me know!<br />
1 package of sugar cookie mix<br />
1 t. rum extract<br />
1/4 t. (or so) of nutmeg<br />
<br />
- mix cookies according to directions and add extras. <br />
- roll cookies into balls and place on parchment lined baking sheet.<br />
- bake according to directions<br />
- smush with a spoon to make a little well in the center. A table spoon works well for this. <br />
- cool completely and fill wells with icing. <br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8250391057/" title="Egg Nog Thumbprints by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="Egg Nog Thumbprints" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8489/8250391057_cc9a9dc30b.jpg" width="500" /></a>Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-26019454921882609762012-12-06T15:22:00.000-08:002012-12-06T15:22:00.397-08:00It's that time of year!Of course it's all about the birth of Christ and spending time with family, but I'll be completely honest. I really love the Christmas booty at Trader Joe's.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8247619801/" title="DSC04148 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04148" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8480/8247619801_aa797dcb00.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I've dug into the Candy Cane Joe-Joe's (a classic) and the Peppermint Pretzel Slims (a new one) and I'll let you see the goodies I make with the Peppermint Baking Chips, Sugar Cookie Mix and the Minty Marshmallows!Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-25759055500576822212012-12-05T14:57:00.001-08:002012-12-07T05:55:13.023-08:0012 Cookies of Christmas - Cracker BrittleI LOOOOVE these! They are so addictive. These, and gingerbread men are the 2 things I remember my Mom making during my childhood Christmases. My Mom never used a recipe, so when trying to duplicate them, I first tried winging it from what I remembered. They either turned out too soft and felt like greasy mush, or too crispy and cracked into a million pieces when I tried to pull them out of the pan. The recipe I found is great, and tastes exactly like my Mom's version. I've seen others that call for nuts sprinkled on top, or even decorative sprinkles, but I'm going to keep it dry and simple. I really hope some of you try these because they are so delicious. Don't be weirded out by the idea of crackers in a cookie. They make these salty and sweet in a good way, like reece's cups!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8243125652/" title="Cracker brittle by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="Cracker brittle" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8058/8243125652_76891ea694.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Here are all the crackers laid out. I used a few more than the recipe called for, and laid them out on parchment paper on a cookie sheet with a lip so that they'd be easier to pull off.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8242056753/" title="Cracker brittle by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="Cracker brittle" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8486/8242056753_f5e1845bc1.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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butter and brown sugar. A match made in cookie heaven.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8242055795/" title="Cracker brittle by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="Cracker brittle" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8058/8242055795_da476d841e.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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The instructions in the recipe below give perfect boiling times.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8242054821/" title="Cracker brittle by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="Cracker brittle" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8203/8242054821_1c7673b364.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Normally, it will cover the crackers a little better, but I used a few more than called for, so it didn't spread as thin.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8242053779/" title="Cracker brittle by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="Cracker brittle" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8068/8242053779_dc3de91bc2.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
Some of the toffee stuck to the pot, and peeled out easily. During this intermediary cooking phase, it tasted and felt like the silkiest caramel. Note for the future, if I ever wanted to make caramel.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8243120378/" title="Cracker brittle by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="Cracker brittle" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8070/8243120378_7c6c0976be.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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You stick it in the oven for a few more minutes to finish cooking.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8242051591/" title="Cracker brittle by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="Cracker brittle" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8065/8242051591_357e86f980.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I forgot to take a photo before I spread the chocolate chips all over it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8242050545/" title="Cracker brittle by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="Cracker brittle" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8350/8242050545_8c0e50b1ed.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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The first bite has been taken. There's no going back.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8242049517/" title="Cracker brittle by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="Cracker brittle" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8484/8242049517_5693fdbc13.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
I promise that all of your friends, family and coworkers will go bananas for this stuff!<br />
<br />
Here is the recipe that I used from The Girl Who Ate Everything<br />
http://www.the-girl-who-ate-everything.com/2011/03/saltine-cracker-toffee.html<br />
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<br />Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-82421438633746502502012-12-04T16:04:00.000-08:002012-12-04T16:04:00.980-08:00This feels like yesterday<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8227572351/" title="DSC03896 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC03896" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8347/8227572351_f5b6254839.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
We were in such a fog about being pregnant. We couldn't believe it. We were trying to have a baby and had been so disappointed for so many months. Now, it feels so real. We're starting to nest; rearranging furniture and cleaning singular cat hairs off the floor. Might as well take advantage of it while we can. I'm sure this tiny apartment is going to get even tinier when there are 3 of us!Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-37401546394554806252012-12-03T15:52:00.001-08:002012-12-05T15:53:25.831-08:0027 weeks!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8242048515/" title="27 weeks! by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="27 weeks!" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8488/8242048515_cb3e7bafc4.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8242047357/" title="27 weeks! by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="27 weeks!" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8481/8242047357_260bf0bf7e.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
<br />
Craving? Tater Tots. Seriously. That's all! The cravings have seriously subsided. Also subsiding? Getting up in the middle of the night to pee! Which is awesome, but also a little scary. At first, I thought I might be dehydrated, so I started drinking an extra glass of water in the evening, but I still slept through the night. I have a feeling that it may be because I quit eating bread, pasta, rice and sugar during the day at work. I identified those foods as ones that make me drowsy and sluggish while trying to get things done, and if I save all the carbs for the evening, I feel fuller and fall asleep faster. Weird, but it's working!<br />
<br />
Also this week, I graduated to wearing Ryan's clothing. I have a few maternity clothes, but Ryan's work shirts with a cute skinny belt to give them some shape look so cute and are the perfect size! He wears a tall, so I'll be able to wear them for a while!Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-16222761705467409192012-12-03T15:49:00.000-08:002012-12-07T05:55:13.021-08:0012 Days of Christmas Cookies - Peanut Butter No BakesI first fell in love with these cookies when my dear friend, Karen, introduced me to them over 10 years ago. They're technically not even really a cookie, but here at Ooh! Look! Pie! we are not discriminate against any Christmas treat. They're actually fudge with oatmeal, and there is nothing wrong with that.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8225709142/" title="DSC04122 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04122" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8059/8225709142_79ede10866.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8224634307/" title="DSC04123 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04123" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8490/8224634307_b43d99ce92.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8224632621/" title="DSC04124 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04124" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8209/8224632621_b82bf70eb8.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Definitely not the most attractive cookie on the planet, but sooo tasty! I promise!<br />
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<a href="http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/cooking-live/chocolate-peanut-butter-no-bake-cookies-recipe/index.html">Here is the recipe I used. </a><br />
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And in case you missed it, the first day of Christmas cookies were Candy Cane Snowballs. Can't wait to do 10 more!<br />
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<br />Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-7991789799193211342012-12-01T15:22:00.000-08:002012-12-07T05:55:13.026-08:0012 Days of Christmas Cookies! - Candy Cane Snowballs!I'm going to post 12 Christmas cookies this December! I'm really excited about this project, mostly because I am a pregnant woman who gets a green light to eat cookies. Wahoo! I'll post about every other day, with a link to a recipe and photos of my own attempt. Most of the recipes will be tried and true, but a few I will try for the first time, like this one for Candy Cane Snowballs.<br />
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I re-pinned this recipe from a cousin of mine, and my own pin got more re-pins than any other pin I've ever pinned (72, so far). I thought there must be something about this recipe that I need to see for myself. My hunch was correct. These cookies really taste like Christmas. Ryan took the leftovers to work and they were gobbled up in no time!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8221597131/" title="DSC04115 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04115" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8208/8221597131_2e1a13976b.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I ground the candy canes up in my food precessor. I purposely chose red and green ones so that they would look especially festive. The photos from the original recipe show the plain red and white ones, and they also look pretty.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8221596147/" title="DSC04117 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04117" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8480/8221596147_cef8eae4c2.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I ground them pretty finely, because I was afraid of that dreaded chewy, large piece of candy cane in the middle of my soft cookie. I basically ground them into powdered, peppermint sugar, and could have done a little less.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8221595103/" title="DSC04118 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04118" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8487/8221595103_29b89ffa09.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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A tablespoon cookie dough scoop was the perfect size.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8221594091/" title="DSC04119 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04119" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8478/8221594091_b654d19773.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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They looked like scoops of ice cream when baked.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8222667922/" title="DSC04120 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04120" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8068/8222667922_aa0651b338.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I made my own frosting recipe, and you can use which ever one you like. My recipe only made enough to cover half of the batch of cookies, though.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8222666632/" title="DSC04121 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04121" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8349/8222666632_d9ee2c47b5.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Delicious!<br />
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Here is the original recipe: http://stolenmomentscooking.com/candy-cane-snowball/<br />
<br />Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-8928944046972052572012-11-30T18:18:00.000-08:002012-11-30T18:18:01.034-08:00O-K-L-A-H-O-M-A!I went to visit my friend Lara in Oklahoma City in October. When I arrived, she announced, "Welcome to Oklahoma, where America hasn't quite made it to 2012." Man, I thought, growing up in Ohio, I'd seen America. I was wrong. Oklahoma is about as America as it gets.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210386164/" title="DSC04005 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04005" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8341/8210386164_dd647d0d87.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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These are outside of the airport and are about 2 stories tall!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210391498/" title="DSC03998 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC03998" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8340/8210391498_c596159bbc.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Church's Chicken. I didn't know that these existed outside of Ghost World.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210390780/" title="DSC03999 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC03999" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8065/8210390780_e9b89bd6a8.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Lara is a professional baker and she made me a cake for my visit. Macaroni and Pearls is a reference to a purse-making business that we tried to start that lasted about 5 minutes.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209300725/" title="DSC04000 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04000" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8206/8209300725_bdb0fb9f8e.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210389310/" title="DSC04001 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04001" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8481/8210389310_30a7277e5c.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210388548/" title="DSC04002 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04002" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8204/8210388548_5934a4d21d.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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It was a chocolate cake with a hazelnut mousse filling. Omagah!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210387794/" title="DSC04003 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04003" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8058/8210387794_bde5586b86.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209297811/" title="DSC04004 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04004" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8209/8209297811_8350511bdb.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210385576/" title="DSC04006 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04006" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8200/8210385576_44711e1259.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Then we went to "Affair of the Heart," which wouldn't surprise me if it's the world's largest craft fair. It was held at the state fair grounds and encompassed about 5 or six convention halls. It was insane. We spent 5 1/2 hours there, bought a crapload of crap, and the people watching was unprecedented (and that's coming from someone currently living in NYC)<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209295815/" title="DSC04007 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04007" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8204/8209295815_cc9f79b003.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Midwesterners are keen on putting giant bows on their baby girls.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209295135/" title="DSC04008 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04008" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8058/8209295135_ab88ca22e0.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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all of these cocktail rings were mesmerizing.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209294295/" title="DSC04009 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04009" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8346/8209294295_ed58d64766.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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After 5 1/2 hours of walking around in my own pair of plastic jelly flops at 5 months preggo, I actually thought these looked tempting.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210382634/" title="DSC04010 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04010" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8482/8210382634_9d466c8c4f.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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If you look at them the right away, their eyes follow you.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210381896/" title="DSC04011 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04011" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8209/8210381896_06f82403fe.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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You know what this place needs to tie the room together? A leopard print cross.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209292087/" title="DSC04012 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04012" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8479/8209292087_2d71852d70.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Snack time. Strudel. It's a craft.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209291349/" title="DSC04013 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04013" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8337/8209291349_308f6af2ca.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Educational craft felt boards. These are so much more sophisticated than the ones I ever made at the library.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209290463/" title="DSC04014 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04014" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8069/8209290463_8266feb848.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Take a good long look at this.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209290463/" title="DSC04014 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04014" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8069/8209290463_8266feb848.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Ok, so, these are patches that are made of sequins. You glue them to clothing with fabric glue to make "Shirt-scapes." Shirt-scapes. Yeah, Shirt-scapes.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209288729/" title="DSC04016 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04016" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8063/8209288729_827499c88d.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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We need another snack. A giant cinnamon roll will fit the bill.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209287829/" title="DSC04017 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04017" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8059/8209287829_25e3ff33f6.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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We split a pecan roll with buttercream. I could have eaten a whole one by myself, but I didn't admit it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209287101/" title="DSC04018 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04018" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8349/8209287101_486f81f5f9.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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It was huge.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209286301/" title="DSC04019 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04019" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8063/8209286301_2f3200cefa.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle...Rita?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209285471/" title="DSC04020 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04020" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8339/8209285471_5e065302fe.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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Challenge: Where would you put this in your home?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210373740/" title="DSC04021 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04021" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8350/8210373740_ecd42c088a.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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This man was selling visors that had furry hair attached to them to make you look like Guy Fieri. Oh, and chitlins.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210372994/" title="DSC04022 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04022" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8349/8210372994_8a7f8874a3.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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My only regret in life is not getting a photo of this guy from the front.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209283291/" title="DSC04023 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04023" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8348/8209283291_080824566c.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Oh, hey, look who got a street named after them.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210371490/" title="DSC04026 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04026" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8065/8210371490_6c04932bc8.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Aaahhh, after the craft fair, we visited Womb Gallery, the brain-child of Wayne Coyne.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209281539/" title="DSC04027 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04027" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8342/8209281539_4c51b7daed.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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You enter through a vagina.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210369688/" title="DSC04028 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04028" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8479/8210369688_0812f88176.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210368834/" title="DSC04029 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04029" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8207/8210368834_f206341734.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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They were not pink. There was no need to call Yoshimi.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209278883/" title="DSC04030 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04030" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8208/8209278883_e8a6c3f7fb.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Outside, they were having a pet adoption festival.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209275605/" title="DSC04034 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04034" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8203/8209275605_266c38c3d8.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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They had a tent full of kittens!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209278015/" title="DSC04031 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04031" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8344/8209278015_494816b610.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Did you hear me?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209277199/" title="DSC04032 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04032" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8061/8209277199_e4ca6b63b9.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I said A TENT FULL OF KITTENS!!!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209276349/" title="DSC04033 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04033" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8341/8209276349_de86210500.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209274929/" title="DSC04035 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04035" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8204/8209274929_5b29d6c674.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I can't tell if I like the catfish more, or the expression on my face.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209274173/" title="DSC04036 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04036" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8203/8209274173_fc09d6a3ce.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Just thought this was cool.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209273419/" title="DSC04037 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04037" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8489/8209273419_35a38761e5.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Lara said we could visit the Oklahoma City Bombing Memorial. I thought I wanted to just drive by. I'm glad she made me get out of the car and look around. It was really beautiful.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210361630/" title="DSC04038 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04038" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8490/8210361630_62732df149.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210361056/" title="DSC04039 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04039" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8057/8210361056_d5989af39c.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210360286/" title="DSC04040 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04040" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8202/8210360286_11cc051285.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210359412/" title="DSC04041 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04041" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8338/8210359412_55f7116bba.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209264937/" title="DSC04049 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04049" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8208/8209264937_a812fea894.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I was in OKC for less than 48 hours. Right before we left, Lara took me to the Stockyards, which is a place where they auction livestock and is basically a mall of animals. They have THE BEST steakhouse I've ever been to there! It looked a little chintzy, but was out of control amazing.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210356156/" title="DSC04046 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04046" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8206/8210356156_e99defc81c.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Steak for breakfast? Yes, please. And it came with everything you see here: Steak, eggs, potatoes, biscuits and gravy and toast. And coffee. I ate all but about 3 bites.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209268745/" title="DSC04043 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04043" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8210/8209268745_5d0593b1ea.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Just in case you didn't get enough gravy, or you want to add it to something unconventional, you can get it as a side.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210356908/" title="DSC04045 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04045" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8201/8210356908_e883313694.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I don't know who this was, but watched us eat.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209266339/" title="DSC04047 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04047" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8480/8209266339_a58aedf9c8.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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The best part was our waiter, Sharp. Yeah, that was his real name. He was amazing and happily posed for this picture with me!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209265643/" title="DSC04048 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04048" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8203/8209265643_c7ffccfc41.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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The Stockyards.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210353166/" title="DSC04050 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04050" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8068/8210353166_6fc5fc5832.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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And right before I left, Pop's had to be visited. They have pop. From all over the world.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209263391/" title="DSC04051 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04051" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8202/8209263391_f11f5deb73.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I didn't get Bacon Soda, but I did get an apple pie soda and a butterscotch root beer!<br />
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And that's all folks! There's a lot of other places I want to go to next time, like the Museum of Osteology! I highly recommend Oklahoma City for a fun weekend trip!<br />
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<br />Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-39118497234542486332012-11-29T17:34:00.000-08:002012-11-29T17:34:00.410-08:00What an awesome tat!This was on the arm of a friend of a friend of a friend. Follow? It was so awesome. She said the inspiration was from her job, which is in technology, to remind her of nature. How cool. It was so beautiful and I literally stared at it the whole night at the bar.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8219383150/" title="DSC03965 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC03965" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8489/8219383150_a50069aeaf.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8219380812/" title="DSC03966 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC03966" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8489/8219380812_9bd5afcdb9.jpg" width="375" /></a>Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-18820095089442808762012-11-28T17:31:00.000-08:002012-11-28T17:31:00.388-08:00Occupy!There are a lot of bank headquarters near the library, and a few weeks ago, some occupiers marched down the street in front of all of them. I was lucky enough to be on my break to catch them. It looked the man in house-clown costume was supposed to be protesting the forclosure crisis, but I can't tell about the giant vampire. Maybe the banks are sucking the life out of Americans?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8219391820/" title="DSC03960 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC03960" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8063/8219391820_9ae7e649a1.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8219389818/" title="DSC03961 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC03961" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8477/8219389818_cd54e2787b.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8218305733/" title="DSC03963 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC03963" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8061/8218305733_5fbc7974e9.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8218303313/" title="DSC03964 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC03964" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8489/8218303313_1937bba124.jpg" width="500" /></a>Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-70061853491494149542012-11-27T17:27:00.000-08:002012-11-27T17:27:00.390-08:00SpritzenhausOne of our favorite neighborhood bars (and soon to be more favorite, because they are uber-stroller-friendly), Spritzenhaus, has Jenga games for you to play. Surprisingly, this game is just as much fun sober as it is drunk. They have about 10 boxes of the game, and inebriated patrons-past have "decorated" the tiles as time has gone by. They're always hilarious, and Ryan and I enjoy making up our own versions of how Jenga should be played.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8219400826/" title="DSC03946 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC03946" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8344/8219400826_80e550abdf.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8218317067/" title="DSC03947 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC03947" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8066/8218317067_49b7f5f7fc.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8218317067/" title="DSC03947 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC03947" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8066/8218317067_49b7f5f7fc.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8218312827/" title="DSC03949 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC03949" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8344/8218312827_871d5ac775.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8218311625/" title="DSC03950 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC03950" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8069/8218311625_9d608f791e.jpg" width="500" /></a>Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-32314216689269786472012-11-26T17:14:00.000-08:002012-11-26T17:14:00.357-08:00Momofuku Milk BarOMG, do you know about <a href="http://milkbarstore.com/">Milk Bar?</a> I did not until I moved to NYC. It's amazing. And I've only been there once. We got 2 pieces of pie that I will never forget.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8219415134/" title="DSC03908 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC03908" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8069/8219415134_536e19001e.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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How could you go to a bakery and not order the "crack pie" and the "candy bar pie?" I do not know. And such fancy packaging. That part was a little discerning. I like to order a slice of something from a bakery and watch them slice into it and move it to a container. It gets all messy but that's OK because it tastes the same in my mouth. When I ordered these, they pulled them out of the fridge just like this, despite the whole, sliced pies sitting on the counter. I frowned a little when that happened.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8219413934/" title="DSC03951 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC03951" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8483/8219413934_105521afee.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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And they were in even more packaging. When were these things baked?<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8218330441/" title="DSC03952 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC03952" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8347/8218330441_37da527031.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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First up on the devouring plate was the crack pie. I can't even describe this. It was butterscotch-y. A little chewy. Pretty salty. Pretty amazing. Normally, especially lately, I'll eat 2 pieces of pie, but 1/2 a piece of this was enough.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8219410546/" title="DSC03953 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC03953" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8484/8219410546_9691f1c955.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8218326749/" title="DSC03954 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC03954" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8350/8218326749_5b1ea2b541.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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And then candy bar pie. I liked the saltiness of the pretzels, but the whole thing was a little much. I would get 2 pieces of crack pie next time.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8218326749/" title="DSC03954 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC03954" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8350/8218326749_5b1ea2b541.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I think I will pick up their <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Momofuku-Milk-Bar-Christina-Tosi/dp/0307720497/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1353892910&sr=8-1&keywords=momofuku+milkbar">cookbook</a> to make crack pie on my own. I'll also go back to try the other things they serve, like cereal milk and pork buns! Cereal milk? It's cereal flavored milk! Think captain crunch and lucky charms! They even make soft serve with it!Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-61115258607386039862012-11-25T16:59:00.000-08:002012-11-25T16:59:00.293-08:0025-26 weeks!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209069707/" title="DSC04091 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04091" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8197/8209069707_a04fb2c983.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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These are week 25. We forgot to take photos outside before it got too dark. It gets dark so early now!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210156914/" title="DSC04092 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04092" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8485/8210156914_5568e2ae6d.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Godel the cat helped with that last one.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8219312010/" title="26 weeks! by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="26 weeks!" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8481/8219312010_a3082c0762.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8219310534/" title="26 weeks! by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="26 weeks!" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8483/8219310534_f7067bca6e.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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And thus, my need for maternity clothes grows. I thought I'd be able to get away longer with wearing my own clothes, but this week, I started wearing Ryan's shirts. I'm not going to lie, I kinda dig Ryan's plaid, cotton work shirts. It means twice as much dry cleaning, taking 10 shirts to the dry cleaners to be washed and pressed every Friday instead of 5, but maybe I'll just buy Ryan a few more so that he has a better selection. When my parent's were here over the weekend, my Mom really wanted to buy me some maternity clothes, but it's a minimum 2 1/2 hour trip to Target (what with the subway and all) and most of the maternity stores are in Manhattan. I didn't want to have to drag Dad there on his vacation. I did drag them to my ob appointment though, and for as apologetic as I tried to be, they insisted that they enjoyed themselves. They say that ultrasounds are a lot more technologically advanced than they were in 1982, and they were fascinated with little Flannery's tiny bones and heart.<br />
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As far as cravings go, I haven't had anything specific the past 2 weeks. I'm just hungry all the time. In fact, the OB is concerned over how much weight I've gained. Oops. They referred me to a nutritionist that I swear I'm going to call. One of these days. I am nervous about the gestational diabetes test I have to take at the next appointment. I plan on eating paleo foods ( I said eating them, not actually following the paleo diet) and walking a lot between now and then.<br />
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I can't believe it's already been 26 weeks. That means there are only 14 left. I remember being 14 weeks pregnant and thinking there was so much time left.Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-30239877940954130542012-11-24T16:54:00.000-08:002012-11-24T16:54:00.210-08:00I found it on Pinterest!This past week I made Meatball Sub Casserole. It was so good, that I made 2 extra batches to freeze! This recipe came from Plain Chicken, and it's no surprise that it was so good because I've loved all of her recipes.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210160176/" title="DSC04085 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04085" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8063/8210160176_567089b01c.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210159352/" title="DSC04086 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04086" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8348/8210159352_a571b453e5.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210158406/" title="DSC04087 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04087" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8067/8210158406_e39a4a1a84.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Here is the recipe: http://www.plainchicken.com/2012/05/meatball-sub-casserole.htmlMeghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-17716751842002447262012-11-23T16:49:00.000-08:002012-11-23T16:49:00.796-08:00<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210156182/" title="DSC04093 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04093" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8198/8210156182_ee4ef2294f.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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Mom and Dad are in town. As you can see, this has been a very serious study of New York culture.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209067585/" title="DSC04094 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04094" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8064/8209067585_73d7b8309e.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209066983/" title="DSC04095 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04095" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8060/8209066983_9aaef8ddc1.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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We also saw the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. I didn't want to take any photos of the actual show, but my favorites were the little toy soldiers act!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209066201/" title="DSC04096 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04096" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8064/8209066201_4879a4ef73.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Radio City Music Hall is beyond beautiful!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210153188/" title="DSC04097 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04097" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8342/8210153188_8e17ae3c5f.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209064269/" title="DSC04099 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04099" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8067/8209064269_2986a30851.jpg" width="500" /></a>Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-14881014501582994872012-11-22T16:33:00.001-08:002012-11-22T16:33:24.443-08:00Happy Thanksgiving!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209037921/" title="DSC04104 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04104" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8198/8209037921_f9a842eac4.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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If I do say so, I think this is a great turkey. It was a 7 lb breast that we brined and cooked in a cornbread stuffing.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210127912/" title="DSC04101 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04101" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8340/8210127912_d49deff8ef.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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Last year, Ryan and I made dinner for 4 friends, and this year it was just Mom and Dad. It was really nice. They drove up from Cincinnati and we've been having adventures in the city and planned a few more so far.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210126920/" title="DSC04102 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04102" height="500" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8201/8210126920_4121ae9e88.jpg" width="375" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8210126206/" title="DSC04103 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04103" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8208/8210126206_42d6f913f7.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209037069/" title="DSC04105 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04105" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8068/8209037069_08b5a736f3.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209036151/" title="DSC04107 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04107" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8483/8209036151_4b89a159f5.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/meghanflannery/8209035315/" title="DSC04109 by meghanmflannery, on Flickr"><img alt="DSC04109" height="375" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8065/8209035315_fb695d2b12.jpg" width="500" /></a>Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-36548821091139141002012-11-13T15:46:00.002-08:002012-11-13T15:46:59.383-08:00Flourish Bracelets!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNovY2LF31hgYUFsfVwBT72ZP1vMLI3mfuujzEgwiSugUgdgZJxj2qaLnEXIhnX8uFHgoJJ5VHj7YNv4pr0CYPygwh7ZdgsSoAcvo20L-nCUNxxdWQsyxS0I2VakLnuB490DGPaSsCwyU/s1600/DSC03897.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNovY2LF31hgYUFsfVwBT72ZP1vMLI3mfuujzEgwiSugUgdgZJxj2qaLnEXIhnX8uFHgoJJ5VHj7YNv4pr0CYPygwh7ZdgsSoAcvo20L-nCUNxxdWQsyxS0I2VakLnuB490DGPaSsCwyU/s320/DSC03897.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
Over the summer, I ordered 2 leather bracelets from <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/flourishleather?ref=shop_sugg">Flourish Leather</a> on Etsy. I love them! I thought I'd post a photo of the bracelets admiring the progress on the the new World Trade Center. Thanks, Danielle! Check out <a href="http://flourishblog.blogspot.com/">her blog</a> and coo and goo over her adorable new bebe, Lotus!Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-81225456174966280352012-11-12T07:54:00.001-08:002012-11-12T07:56:37.186-08:00Some scenes from the neighborhood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The other Saturday I woke up really early (9 A.M., I realize that will be a late morning once the baby comes), and so I ventured out to get coffees and a cross word puzzle or something. Not only was there not a single other person on the street, but there were only 3 cars parked on the main drag though our neighborhood. This is NYC, people. This kind of crap never happens. I thought the apocalypses had occurred a few months early and no one told me.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjoYFr4wfnA2eVif2JJIDo8_NoC4sCtVm-i0brGJKeM9kCJ49L3DsfakEqeHeEqpOCXwa80TdZSVp6P6rIf_4wsgdEiuj_dfY71iSmsEo5_GwONmjAosNoByEkPHJGAa-PQhigZuVHx8/s1600/DSC03892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtjoYFr4wfnA2eVif2JJIDo8_NoC4sCtVm-i0brGJKeM9kCJ49L3DsfakEqeHeEqpOCXwa80TdZSVp6P6rIf_4wsgdEiuj_dfY71iSmsEo5_GwONmjAosNoByEkPHJGAa-PQhigZuVHx8/s320/DSC03892.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Ryan posed for this cute photo. Little known fact: Ryan is a black belt!<br />
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Sometimes on Saturdays, they close off the streets in Williamsburg so that you can meander through them. Someone dumped a load of sidewalk chalk in the middle so that people could graffiti. I made this.<br />
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Just read it. It was a joke posted on a fence. I think it was a joke. I hope.<br />
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Those little lines on the towers were the names of everyone that died.<br />
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<br />Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-34348967402705996532012-11-12T07:31:00.000-08:002012-11-12T07:32:14.849-08:0024 weeks!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I cannot believe I am 6 months pregnant. The funny thing that no one tells you about being pregnant, you're actually pregnant for 10 months. Only 9 calendar months, but 10, 4-week months. So I still have 4 months to go from today. Good thing, because we haven't done a single thing to get ready for the baby except register, clean like crazy people and read about pregnancy and childbirth. Registering for a baby wasn't as much like registering for our wedding like we thought it would be. For our wedding, we were able to imagine what we wanted and needed and how we'd use it. Our wedding registry is still active and we buy ourselves things from it for birthdays and anniversaries. We can even still edit it to add new things, like when new colors and pieces of fiesta ware come out so that we can add them to our collection!<br />
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But a baby? what the hell does a baby need? I always thought I would just register for a boatload of onesies, diapers and wipes. Does a baby really need a mobile that stimulates her eyeballs and helps her focus? Does she really need a bottle warmer if I'm going to exclusively breast feed? She doesn't need a bassinet, I'll just empty out a dresser drawer for her. But now, I find myself over thinking a lot. I want her to be the smartest baby on the planet. Will a toy that turns her into a Mensa member at age 3 be worth it? Absolutely. What if my boobs run dry and I'm not lucky enough to breast feed? I better make sure that I get some bottles and formula that someone else is willing to buy for us. Sleeping in a drawer? That's funny to think about, and I'm sure wouldn't make a difference in the long run if it had a real mattress in it, but the American Pediatric Association says that sleeping in a crib from the get go is the way to go. Well, if they say so.<br />
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Also, this week, I graduated to real maternity clothes. Long shirts and the belly band weren't cutting it anymore. Maternity pants might be the greatest thing ever. I don't understand why all other pants aren't just made this way to begin with! One of the maternity dresses I bought doubles as a nursing outfit, so I'll be able to wear it even longer.<br />
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The past 2 weeks I've been craving:<br />
- hot chocolate<br />
- pecan pie<br />
- stir fried bok choy with general tso's sauce<br />
- tom kha gai<br />
- almond joy<br />
- sweet tarts (gross, I don't even like sweet tarts)<br />
- fried pickles<br />
- cheese straws<br />
- reese's cups<br />
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Today, I'm off for Veteran's Day, but Ryan is not :( so I'm going to redeem my birthday gift, a prenatal massage! I've never had a professional massage at a spa, so I'm really excited, and a little nervous! I requested a woman masseuse, because males always remind me of this guy that used to live upstairs from my friends who carried around lotion in a holster on his belt. Ha.Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1038765956404785690.post-85541162217321138942012-10-27T10:06:00.001-07:002012-10-27T10:07:15.933-07:0022 weeksOops. Oh, well.<br />
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And, she decided to pop out! Big time! People no longer think I'm just fat, they actually offer me seats on the train (except the 7 train, those people were raised by wolves. Seriously.)<br />
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We've had a busy 3 weeks. I had a second anatomy scan, which wasn't necessary, but since my insurance covered it, I decided to go for it. Plus, any opportunity to see the little potato is a good one. She's perfectly healthy, but a little small. I'm making an appointment with a nutritionist to see if we can bulk her up without tipping me over the scales, which I'm dangerously close to. Since I'm not puking on a daily basis, I'm just having a little pregnant party with myself. This is not good for someone like me who is addicted to food.<br />
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In the past 3 weeks, I've been craving:<br />
- vanilla ice cream (which is weird because I think vanilla is boring)<br />
- Tabasco sauce<br />
- taco salad<br />
- chili con corne wafel from <a href="http://www.wafelsanddinges.com/#">Wafels & Dinges</a><br />
- corn on the cob<br />
- baked potato<br />
- lasagna<br />
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The only other thing out of the ordinary that I've been experiencing is really bizarre dreams. I had one where a co worker's twin sister was dating the man who is the voice of Skooter from the Muppet Babies. They met at Applebee's and went camping. Also, he was a dwarf. In another dream, a little boy taught his pet hamster to speak. It said beautifully poetic things and met the president. The 4 of us went para sailing around the world together.<br />
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I'll stop eating pecan pie before I go to bed.Meghanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02655418602472260978noreply@blogger.com0