Meg & Katie: The Vlog (Part 1)

So, what happens on a Saturday night when you and your bestie are together while the boys are watching football?

An epic vlog. 
This epic vlog was originally 7 minutes long, but the sound didn't record. Then it got re-recorded, was 19 minutes long, edited down to 11 minutes, and now presented in two lovely parts.

You better watch, because we do some shoutouts and we poke fun of some of y'all on twitter without you even knowing!






YOU'RE WELCOME.

Mini Egg Casseroles

Since school has started and I don't have a lot of time to whip up a complete healthy breakfast in the morning, I rely on a lot of "go to" breakfasts. Granola bars and fruit can get a little redundant, and I wanted some good protein to get me through the day. Being preggo, it's imperative I've got some protein in my belly!

Greg loves to make a special occasion egg casserole which is pretty ridiculously good, but is also a little bad for you. I've adapted the recipe along with making it "miniature sized" so I can take it to go!

The best part about this recipe is that I get to use my cupcake tins to make them. I use the "big sized" pan, which yields 6 per tin (as opposed to the usual 12) to increase the serving size of the casseroles and so that only one serving is plenty filling. You can also do this recipe with whatever filler ingredients you like - I might try spinach and feta next time!

Meg O.'s Mini Egg Casseroles

Ingredients:

1 package ground turkey breakfast sausage

1 cup egg substitute

3/4 cup egg whites

3/4 cup skim milk

1/2 cup shredded cheese (I used the monterrey/colby jack variety)

sea salt and fresh ground pepper, to taste

Preparation Instructions:

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Cook the turkey sausage according to package instructions. Mix the other ingredients in a large bowl. Pour the egg/cheese/milk mixture into muffin tins. Add turkey sausage to tins. Top with additional shredded cheese. Bake for 25 minutes (if you are using standard muffin tins with 12 servings) or 45 minutes (if you are using the larger muffin tins).

This made 8 large mini casseroles. Greg and I ate two and I individually wrapped the rest up in plastic wrap and put them in the fridge for the week. All I do to reheat is pop them in the microwave for 30 seconds!

Define your features by highlighting/contouring!

Today I bring you a little makeup tutorial that will help you instantly bring dimension and light to your already glorious (or maybe tired) complexion!

Wouldn't we all love to fake cheekbones like these?

We all use blush and bronzer, but learning the method behind how to maximize its uses will really help you bring out your features!

We're going to do something called highlighting and contouring. Through my studies in makeup (this includes stage makeup classes in college), I've learned in that if you wanted to pull something in (i.e. define cheekbones) or create a shadow, you use a dark color, and if you want to add light (normally where light would naturally hit the face), you use a light color. Most importantly, you want to add shadows where they naturally would hit the face, and add highlights where light would naturally hit the face!

Here's what you need:
- Contour Powder / Bronzer (I use MAC's Matte Bronze)
- Highlighting Cream / Powder / Liquid (I use Benefit High Beam or MAC Pigment in Vanilla)
- Blush (whatever's your favorite)

If you don't have a highlighting powder/liquid, you can always use a light/pearly eyeshadow!

Now, let's take a look at my face after foundation and concealer.

 Okay, looks good and my complexion has been evened out but it's very flat. Faces have natural shadows and highlights, and we need to add those back in.

The first thing you want to do is add shadows back in. You will want to apply your bronzer around your temples, in the hollows of your cheekbones, on either sides of your nose, and underneath your jaw. Be very light-handed with your brush, otherwise it might turn a little freak show-ish. I like using a matte bronzer for this a lot of the time because I don't want to overdo it with the sparkles (since my highlighter and blush are luminous).

 I know it looks very slight, but it already is looking less flat, right?

After that, you want to use your highlighting powder/liquid/cream. Basically, something that is light and has a little pearly-ness to it. I love Benefit High Beam because it blends really well and a little goes a long way. You'll want to apply this above your brows, down the bridge of your nose, the tops of your cheekbones, your cupid's bow (the little area above your lips), and your chin.

Here's where I apply my highlighter, unblended. I figured this visual would help. Very war paint looking. Ha.

Finally, take your blush (today I'm wearing Nars Orgasm) and apply on the apples of your cheeks. Set it all with your finishing powder (I used Bobbi Brown Loose Powder). Okay, put some lip gloss on, too (I'm wearing a MAC lipglass... ah, forgot which one).

See, doesn't this make a dramatic difference in my complexion???

I'm sorry the lighting isn't the best it could be, but I was up at 6 a.m. taking photos for this tutorial and had to work with my bathroom lights. I tried as best as I could!

I feel this doesn't take much time and it fits really well in my makeup routine. If I don't have the time to do the whole shebang, I'll at least apply bronzer and blush. If you want to do some more self-study before you jump in, HERE is a great video tutorial for contouring and HERE is a great video tutorial for highlighting!

Anyone else do this on a daily basis? What products would you recommend?

Y'all have a great Friday!

My First Cheesecake Baking Experience

I acquired a springform pan from my mom, so immediately I was inspired to make some cheesecake. When I undertake a new recipe, especially when I bake, I want to do everything completely homemade and the best possible way.

I've never baked a cheesecake, but I had the ingredients on hand, including some ricotta cheese. 

I can safely say that this turned out pretty darn incredible. And I plan on doing it again for a special occasion. It is a bit time-consuming and a little advanced of a recipe, but honestly, it is so worth it!

Meg. O's Cheesecake

adapted from Joy of Baking

Ingredients:

For Crust:

1 cup graham cracker crumbs

2 tablespoons granulated white sugar

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

For Filling:

1/2 cup ricotta cheese, room temperature, strained

8 oz. package of cream cheese (I used reduced fat), room temperature

2 cups heavy whipping cream, whipped

1 cup granulated white sugar

1 tablespoon cornstarch

4 large eggs, room temperature

Preparation Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and butter, or spray with non stick cooking spray, a 9 inch springform pan. Wrap the outside of the pan with two layers of heavy aluminum foil.  

For Crust: In a medium sized bowl combine the graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. Press the crumbs evenly over the bottom of the spring form pan. Cover and refrigerate while you make the filling.

For Filling: In the bowl of your food processor or electric mixer (or with a hand mixer), place the cream cheese and beat until smooth and free of lumps. Add the ricotta and sugar and beat until smooth (about 2 - 3 minutes), scraping down the bowl as needed. Beat in the cornstarch. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating about 30 seconds after each addition. Scrape down the sides of the bowl. Beat in the vanilla extract, and salt and beat until incorporated. Fold in whipped cream.

 

Remove the crust from the refrigerator and pour in the filling. Place the spring form pan in a large roasting pan. Pour enough hot water into the roasting pan to come about halfway up the sides of your spring form pan.

 

Bake for about one hour to one hour 15 minutes, or until the top of the cheesecake has nicely browned and the center of the cake moves slightly when the pan is gently shaken. Remove the pan from the water bath and cool on a wire rack. Cover and refrigerate until the cheesecake is cold, about 6 - 8 hours or overnight. Serve in small slices.

 I whipped up some fresh cream with a bit of vanilla and sugar and topped my slices with it and some fresh strawberry slices. Let me just say -- PURE HEAVEN.

My Top 5 Makeup Must-Haves (Elsewhere!)

You'll have to do a little clicking to get to the gold, people. :)

Neely at a Complete Waste of Makeup is having me guest post today, so go check out her blog! You also need to follow Neely... she's one of my FAVES!!!

I'm featuring my Top 5 Makeup Must-Haves!

This is something you do not want to miss!

Happy First Day of School to Me!

Today I officially start my 5th year of teaching high school theatre.

I am:

Excited:
- I love directing plays and the one I am directing this fall is one I've been wanting to direct for a while
- Giving kids a place to express themselves and a little sanctuary during the school day
- Building ensemble and relationships within my class and getting all sorts of kids to respect one another
- Letting kids discover their inner creativity and giving them a vehicle to bring it to life
- Creating art and enjoying the process

Anxious:
- I know things will change as I progress in my pregnancy. Will my patience wear thin much easier? Probably. But I won't let it affect my class.
- I hope things remain under control when I am out on maternity leave in January/February.
- I pray that my water doesn't break in the middle of class. (Be careful what I wish for, right?)
- I probably will not be as energetic and mobile towards the end of my pregnancy, but I hope to be animated all throughout!
- I hope I will actually want to come back to work once Baby O is born.

My classroom is ready.

Some of my students came up last week and gave me a nice coat of blue paint with a yellow stripe.
I think it looks awesome with my theatre posters.

Am I ready?
I'm not sure. I haven't thought much about school (ok, I haven't thought about it at all), but I've kind of had a lot of other things to think about (see this post for reference). And after a certain point in teaching, you just get your groove down.

So, I'll just say....
I'm ready to see what this year brings and all of the surprises life has in store!


Happy first day of school to my other teacher friends who start with the kiddos today!

Dexter Playing Fetch (Again)

Everyone knows how amazing my cat, Dexter is. He has the most personality out of any cat I've ever had. He is obsessed with Greek yogurt, is a few days away from being COMPLETELY potty trained (yes, he uses the TOILET instead of a litter box), and is probably the most social cat I've ever known. He will greet any stranger at the door and always wants to be around people. He is determined to "help" you in whatever task you're doing around the house (even though most of the time he's in the way) and he loves sharing a glass of water with you (can we say spoiled?).

Some say this little guy is more like a dog than he is a cat. In fact, those that aren't cat people really end up liking Dexter.

I've posted this video before of his playing fetch about a year ago, but Dexter playing fetch never gets old. And let's face it, any cat playing fetch is awesome. And it's fun for you too because you can sit, be lazy, and watch TV and he is having the time of his life.

He was in a particularly playful mood last night. I captured a bit of his shenanigans. Pardon my embarrassingly bare walls. We're still decorating, people.

This video is work-friendly! No need to turn the sound on.

Ah, Dexter. I heart you and your shenanigans.

Another Meg-Approved Cleanser

I've talked about previous times before how I am on a quest for natural skin care (again, the same can't be said for my makeup). I prefer organic/natural ingredients formulated without parabens or harmful chemicals.

I've talked about some natural cleansers that I really enjoy, and I'd like to add this one to my list.

Neutrogena Naturals Purifying Facial Cleanser

It's formulated with all natural ingredients an no harmful chemicals. It's great for acne-prone skin because it contains Willowbark extract, which is the natural form of Salicylic Acid. It also claims no animal testing.

Kerbi mentioned to me something about Neutrogena carrying natural products, and I hadn't seen it in the drugstore until a few weeks ago. I got super excited about it and picked it right up since I was out of my cleanser.

I'm proud of Neutrogena for jumping on the natural train! However, the line is rather limited... they only carry a cleanser, a makeup remover, lip balm, and face/body bar. I'd like to see this line expand, particularly with a natural sunscreen.

I'd definitely recommend this, as it really keeps my skin clean and I haven't noticed any additional breakouts. It's hard to recommend an acne product with hormonal pregnant skin, but this hasn't irritated me at all. It's also convenient because it's available at drugstores!

It's definitely going in my rotation. Yes, I rotate my cleansers in and out (just like my shampoo) so my skin doesn't get "used to it."

Have y'all found any good natural cleansers or skin care lately?

Last Day of Summer...

Today I am le sads.

It is my last official day of summer.

Once the school year starts, it's a complete whirlwind all the way up until Baby O arrives in December. She's actually due the last day of school before winter break (which also happens to be an early release day). She better hang on 'til noon. Just sayin'.

Anyway, instead of mourning the death of summer, I think I'll celebrate it. It was a fantastically life-changing summer filled with happiness, travel, friends, relaxation, and a lot of "omg."

So, summer, I celebrate thee. Let's reminisce a little, shall we?

We found out I was pregnant 

(well, technically summer hadn't started yet, but close enough)

I got to spend my birthday weekend with some fabulous friends.

We joined the world of home ownership and bought a house

We went to NYC and Long Island.

I had the best cupcake of my life (while in NYC).

I went to my first midnight Harry Potter showing with Katie and my coworker

We found out Baby O is a girl and we have a name for her :)

I sang with the Houston Symphony's live underscoring of Lord of the Rings

I did a lot of yoga (including prenatal yoga, which I love)

I cuddled a lot with the cutest and best kitty in the whole world.

I met a ton of amazing Houston-based bloggers, who I now call my friends.

I passed my real estate exam and now officially hold a Texas Real Estate License

(my mom owns a real estate company and the plan is to dabble in it on the side)

It was a pretty great summer, if I don't say so myself.

Baked Ziti

I am a sucker for gooey, cheesy pasta. Greg is, too. I probably wouldn't complain one bit if the rest of my life was spent eating said pasta. I pretty much live on carbs, anyway. Unfortunately, gooey cheesy pasta can be high in calories and fat.

Not to fear!

I found this baked ziti recipe via Weight Watchers a while back and it never fails me. The best part is that it's actually not bad for you. And it is pretty darn tasty, I might add. There is just something about baked ziti that exudes comfort food. It is good any day of the year!

Meg O.'s Baked Ziti

via Weight Watchers

Ingredients:
12 oz uncooked ziti
2 tsp olive oil
2 cloves (medium) garlic cloves, minced
1/3 pound(s) raw lean ground beef
1 tsp dried oregano1
tsp dried thyme
1 tsp dried rosemary
1/2 tsp table salt
1/2 tsp black pepper
28 oz canned crushed tomatoes
1 cup (shredded) part-skim mozzarella cheese

Preparation:
- Preheat oven to 350°F.
- Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and set aside
- Meanwhile, heat oil in a medium saucepan over medium heat; add garlic and sauté 2 minutes. Add beef and cook until browned, breaking up meat with a spoon as it cooks, about 3 to 5 minutes; drain off any fat and set pan back over medium heat.
- Add oregano, thyme, rosemary, salt and pepper; stir to coat beef. Cook until herbs become fragrant, about 2 minutes. Add tomatoes and bring mixture to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Spoon a small amount of beef-tomato mixture into bottom of a 4-quart casserole dish (just enough to cover surface); top with half of cooked ziti. Next, layer with half of remaining beef-tomato sauce and half of mozzarella cheese. Layer with remaining ziti and then top with remaining beef-tomato sauce; sprinkle with remaining mozzarella cheese. Bake until cheese is golden and bubbly, about 30 minutes. Slice into 8 pieces and serve. Yields 1 piece per serving.

Meg O.'s Notes:
- I season the beef after it's browned and I also season the crushed tomatoes with the spices again, along with sea salt and cracked black pepper.
- Sometimes I get a little cray cray and add in fresh basil leaves here and there. Or maybe a dash of wine to the sauce.
- I usually use the 93/7 ground beef, but I also have used ground turkey before with success.
- My casserole dish is a 2 quart Corningware round dish, and the recipe fits perfectly in there. I actually think it's prettier round. 
- This recipe can really be altered to your tastes/likings. Have fresh mozzarella? Use it! Don't want meat at all? Forget it and use some fun summer squashes!

Lord knows I'll need some more of this comfort food as the school year begins.

What's your comfort food? Are you a gooey pasta kind of person?

Oh, hai.

Things look a little different around here? 

I'll probably keep playing with it, knowing me. I've been doing so much blog designing that I started to get jealous of all the other blogs I designed.

For reference, see:
Heather
Camille
Stephanie
Rebekah
Jenn
Tara
Michelle
Jessica
Savanah
Melissa

Yeah, so aren't their blogs pretty amazing? Mine sucked compared to them.

So I gave mine a little re-style. Nothing special, but it'll do for now. :)

I'd also like to note that blog designing also takes away precious blog posting/reading/commenting time. So I apologize if I've been a little absent. Being this awesome takes more time in the day than I actually have.

But somehow I do have time to keep meeting up with my awesome blogger (and IRL) friends!

Camille, Celia, Me (I'm holding a water to prove I can keep it classy at a bar while pregnant), Katie, Savanah

 Savanah also gets major props for driving down to our neck of the wood!

Did y'all have a good weekend?

I Hate Word Verification Unless...

It's this:

Okay, I had my laugh. Now go turn off word verification from your blogs! Kthanks.

Cell Phone Faux Pas {Faux Pas Road Show}

Simply because I'm a nice person, I'm letting a fave of mine hijack my blog today. She's going around on a little "Road Show", if you will, ranting on your favorite "faux pas." Let me just say, I hate cell phones in public, so why not let someone rant for me?!

I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I did! Be sure to visit Mrs. Monologues and say "Oh, hai!!!" for me! Feel free to vent your cell phone frustrations, as well! ;)

---

Mrs. Monologues here hijacking Meg's blog today for the:

Cell Phones in Public Places Faux Pas
a.k.a. If you do any of these things I will give you the stink eye

1. Talks Way Too Loud Person
Seriously, you know what is awesome about cell phones? Is that it is RIGHT next to your face, which means people can hear you when you speak at a normal tone. Just because you get on your phone does not mean you need to yell in to the phone. That is why we have volume buttons on the phones y'all. Inside voices, that is all I am saying.


2. The Loud Annoying Ringtone Person
Let's be clear here, no one wants to hear your baby got back ringtone (okay, well on occassion we do), I don't want to hear your rinngg rinnng rinnng answer the phone talky ringtones that you only think are funny.


3. The Person Who Calls You And Then Tells You To Hang On
This one drives my up a wall when I get a call and say hello and the other end I get "hi, hang on" and then I have to wait for the person to finish whatever conversation they were having and then they start talking to me. Especially if I don't know the person, this just sets me up to not like you. Be considerate of others. Is that too much to ask!?


4. The Blue Tooth Talker
Oops, I actually commit this faux pas every time I grocery shop, but it still bugs me when I am not doing it, because you always think that the person is talking to you, but nope they aren't. Then you feel like the dummy when replying. In my defense though, my headset is an actual headset (like the iPhone ones), so it is not as hidden like some peoples. But in all seriousness it is kind of funny to see all these people walking around looking like they are talking to themselves.


5. The Talking On The Phone While Going Tinkle Person
So gross on so many levels. Remind me never to borrow your phone to make a quick call. Yuck. This is just nasty people. Get off the phone or wait until you are finished to make a call. Please make it known that if you ever call me while on the pot I will kick you in the shins next time I see you. Don't say I didn't warn you.


6. The Talking While Checking Out At A Store Person
Give the checkout person some respect. It is just inconsiderate yo! It takes longer to checkout, especially when grocery shopping because you are more focused on the call then checking out in a timely manner. My time is important too.





What things do people do on their cell phones that drive you nuts?



This post is part of the faux pas road show. Details about how you can join can be found here

Preggo Meg O. - Halfway There!

Uh, say whaaaaat? I'm halfway done with my pregnancy?

It feels like we were just finding out about Baby O! Well, I did find out about her at 9 weeks, so maybe why this seems like it's been so quick. I actually started feeling her kick this week! Greg felt her for the first time on Friday night. It's very slight. I don't know how to explain it.

I don't feel halfway pregnant. I've been so blessed to not be sick at all, except for being extremely congested and snoring at night (which is getting better). The pregnancy heartburn is starting to kick in, which is highly inconvenient in the middle of yoga class whilst doing a downward-facing dog. My body feels heavier, and -- NEVER in my life did I ever think I would say this! -- my boobs are getting way too big. I'm awkwardly pudgy in the middle, but not super pregnant looking. I think it depends on the clothes I wear.

And don't get me started on clothes. Getting dressed has every day has been a nightmare. I don't quite know how to do it. 2 weeks ago, everything stopped fitting, pants-wise. I've got a pair of shorts (those pictured above), two skirts, a heck of a lot of yoga pants, leggings, and dresses to get me through this transitional stage. I bought a few more dresses that will grow with me and can be dressed up for work. I love dresses anyway, so this is a win-win situation for me. I am going to go out and finally buy pants right before school starts in case I get bigger.

We also successfully registered, with the help of my BFF, Katie! Previously, Greg and I went to register, just the two of us, and we had no idea what we were doing. We walked around with that scanner thinga-majig going, "Well, there's about 504389274834 different types of bottles. Which one are we supposed to scan?" It was quite amusing. Luckily, Katie came to our rescue and helped us finish this past weekend.

One more thing. I'd like to mention how awesome my blog friends are. I got a nice little surprise from Amber in the mail this weekend.

Can we say adorable? She knows me too well - cupcakes and kitties!!

So, y'all need to go read Amber's blog if you haven't already. She is seriously one of the nicest girls ever, and just as sweet in real life! Thanks again, Amber! Love ya, girl!!


So, I guess this is what halfway there feels like. I haven't even started thinking about the upcoming school year or anything else of significant importance, aside from my baby. How am I going to do this when she finally graces the world with her presence?!