We might have a problem on our hands.

After days of trying, Dexter figured out how to get in the crib.

Sorry if you've seen it before on the twit... I just can't get over it.

Happy Friday!

Pumpkin Pie White Hot Chocolate

Since it's officially fall, even though the temps here don't reflect it, Greg has been into fall recipes. You might have seen the recipe for Pumpkin Bread that he made.

I pinned this Pumpkin Pie White Hot Chocolate recipe on Pinterest recently, and Greg found it somewhere else and really wanted to make it.

Source: closetcooking.com via Meg on Pinterest

Yummy right?

It WAS yummy!

And pretty easy to make (well, it looked like it was.... Greg made it.)

All that was missing was some fresh whipped cream on top, but it definitely wasn't a deal breaker.

Greg O.'s Pumpkin Pie Hot Chocolate

via Closet Cooking

Ingredients:
3 cups milk (we used Organic fat-free)
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ginger
1/8 teaspoon cloves
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 ounces white chocolate (roughly chopped)
pinch salt

Directions:
1. Heat the milk, pumpkin puree, and spices in a sauce pan until it just starts to simmer and remove form heat.
2. Add the chocolate and stir until it has melted.
3. Pour into mugs and top with whipped cream and garnish with cinnamon. Makes 4 servings.

I highly recommend everyone try this!

And since this was Pinterest inspired, I'm linking it up for "Oh How Pinteresting Wednesdays!" with one of my blogging BFFs, Michelle!

Yet another successful blogger meetup!

I am so happy how successful our Houston Blogger Group has become! Who knew I would meet so many fabulous girls and make so many meaningful friendships? If you're a Houston-based blogger, you need to join!

Yesterday, we had our monthly meetup and I was graced by the presence of these gals. We indulged in yummy brunch foods, delicious drinks like frozen sangria (well, sans me) and of course, had a great time conversing and getting to know one another. Might I add, the wine makes for a lovely backdrop to our group photo!

Top Row (L to R): Sarah, Megan, Britney, Jamie, Laura, Jocelyn
Bottom Row (L to R): Savanah, Katie, Me, Camille, Lindsay

If you're not following any of these lovely ladies, clicky clicky on their names and do so right now! If you weren't there yesterday, shame on you! ;)

Preggo Meg O. - Third Trimester!

Can y'all believe it? I'm officially in my third trimester!

I still can't fathom how fast this is all going by. It still feels so surreal to me. I still feel great... just bigger! Each Friday, Baby O is a new size of produce. My students have even joined in on the celebration! On the board, they wrote "Baby Today is: _______ " and fill in the appropriate item of produce. Last week, I walked in and they asked, "Ms. O! WHAT is the baby today?!" and they cheered when I replied "A Cauliflower!" I'm sure they'll be cheering today when I announce "Chinese Cabbage!"


Here are some other things worth mentioning:
- Baby O is definitely getting stronger. I have been teaching and in mid-sentence, she'll throw a big kick or punch (perhaps she didnt't like what I said?) that really catches me off guard. I really am enjoying the movements, albeit they really have distracted me.
- Greg felt some of the big kicks the other night and it was fun for him, too :)
- My appetite is CRAY-ZAY. I can really pack it away. It's almost to the point where it's embarrassing, but I laugh it off. And I find myself eating multiple snacks throughout the day. I'm keeping it healthy by sticking to almonds or fruit.
 - I started getting really tired this past week. Even after 8 hours I definitely can take an hour nap.
- Pregnancy brain and the "no filter" still exists.... even more so.

I'm hoping this last stretch will continue to be relatively easy (although I know the bigger I get, the more uncomfortable it will be).


Happy Friday to my little Chinese Cabbage!

Pumpkin Bread

Recently, Greg has been into a "fall foods and scents" mood. We've got the Clove & Cinnamon Scentsy Bar going in the warmer right now, and hey, the temperature is in the 90s instead of 100s! There's something to be said for that, right??

Anyway, in this huge desire for fall, Greg randomly decided he wanted to make pumpkin bread (among other things that are to be posted on the blog). How could I resist a cute guy baking?

Let me just say, it turned out delicious! I am so proud of him. And oh my GOODness, the smell of pumpkin bread in the oven is pure heaven. HEAVEN, I tell you.

And I may or may not enjoy slathering a bit of cream cheese on a slice... 

Greg O.'s Pumpkin Bread

via AllRecipes

Ingredients

• 1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 2/3 cup water
• 3 cups white sugar
• 3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour three 7x3 inch loaf pans.
2. In a large bowl, mix together pumpkin puree, eggs, oil, vanilla, water and sugar until well blended. In a separate bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves and ginger. Stir the dry ingredients into the pumpkin mixture until just blended. Pour into the prepared pans.
3. Bake for about 50 minutes in the preheated oven. Loaves are done when toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

This is definitely going in the recipe book and will be baked each fall from here on out!

Anyone have a yummy go-to fall recipe?

Product Rave: Wet 'n' Wild Comfort Zone Eyeshadow Palette

Before you start tipping your nose in the air when I mention the words "Wet 'n' Wild," hear me out. There is a Meg-worthy 8-eyeshadow palette available for FIVE DOLLARS. Do you hear me?!?! FIVE DOLLARS!

It's called the Wet 'n' Wild Comfort Zone Eyeshadow Palette. It's available at drugstores and I got mine at Ulta.

This first sparked my interest after Mandy had created some fantastic looks with this palette. By the way, y'all need to read her blog. She does some fantastic work and is so great about mixing high end with low end products with absolutely gorgeous results.

I had to get this palette. If she could wear Chanel and use this, I could add this to my collection.

Wet 'n' Wild Comfort Zone Palette

First Thoughts on the Product:
- The packaging isn't the greatest, and I'll never use the brush that came with it.
- I like how the shadows are imprinted with what part of the eye they should go on, although I could have figured that out for myself. For eyeshadow newbies, this could be very useful.
- I hope this doesn't break into a million pieces if/when I drop it.

Using the Product:
- The shadows themselves are very soft and buttery
- The shadows apply very easily with my MAC eyeshadow brushes
- The bottom right "Definer" shade is an exact dupe of MAC's Club. I kid you not.

Thoughts After Using the Product:
- Applied over my Too Faced Shadow Insurance, the staying power of these shadows lasted me all day. I haven't tried them without a primer, but I would think it is necessary
- I haven't experienced any fallout from the shadows, I just hope their super soft texture doesn't let them crumble in the pan.

WnW Eyeshadows on Me:

In case you were wondering, I'm also wearing:
- Dr. Jart BB Cream as foundation
- MAC Studio Finish Concealer
- Bobbi Brown Corrector in Light Peach
- Anastasia Perfect Brow Pencil
- Benefit High Beam (highlight)
- Nars Laguna (bronze/contour)
- Nars Orgasm (blush)
- Make Up For Ever AquaEyes liner
- Bobbi Brown Extreme Party Mascara
- Make Up For Ever HD setting powder
- MAC Lipglass in Mimmy

Bottom Line: You can't beat the price and quality of this product!

Have y'all come across some worthy beauty steals lately? Do share!

Decorating Challenged

One thing that never was a strength of mine was interior decorating. Why is it that I can design a blog, and direct plays to my heart's content, but I can't put a room together? I mean, I'd like to think I have good taste, but I just don't know how to piece things together. Pinterest has been a real help because I can pretty much copy what the pictures do, but one can only rely on that for so long.

This is where you come in.

First thing's first - I officially hate the layout of my living room. I think it's the fireplace that limits the wall space (even though I love my fireplace). There is really only one wall where the furniture can go. The other side of the room is the kitchen and bar with barstools.

My mom is selling her house and will be closing on it really soon, and since she's downsizing, I'm getting some of her expensive, gorgeous furniture (score!).

I got this great off-white brocade winged-back chair with ottoman. I just have no idea where to put it. Yes, it works in the niche by the window, but if you're sitting in the chair, you can't see the TV screen. I would think that's an important aspect of sitting in a living room. So, what the heck do I do with this chair?

Pardon the crappy iPhone photography. And at least my mantle looks awesome thanks to the help of those like Savanah and Emily via twitter!

And my sectional is on the entire wall opposite the TV.  A giant mirror is going up there, btw. Still haven't put it up. And to the left is where the barstools are against the bar in the kitchen.

Second thing. The other piece I got was this gorgeous buffet table that I want to put a great entryway together with.

So, what do I put with it? That's the entire blank wall it will be going up against.

HALP ME PLZ.

I'll post updated pictures when I'm done pulling my hair out trying to figure out what to do.

They're my 'FOR REAL' Friends.

On Sunday, we threw Michelle a little bloggy bridal shower! It was so much fun to get together with the girls. At one point, some of us even started tearing up (myself included) because Michelle said she felt so honored to have us as her friends.

It is so nice to know so many women who share so many things in common with me! These girls are just as lovely in real life as they are on their blogs... heck, they're even better!

Even though I'm from Houston, once I moved back after college to start working, I didn't have too many friends in the area. Now I have a big handful of girls who I can honestly call my real friends! And although we're sort of spread out throughout the Houston area (I'm definitely one of those in the 'burbs), it's soooooo worth the drive to go hang out with my gal pals.

Who knew blogging would bring me to lots of lovely women who I can actually call my friends?

Tara, Heather, Michelle, Me, Savanah, Jenn

Love you girls!

p.s. I'd also like to mention that we are all wearing complementing jewel tones. Great minds think alike.

We will never forget.

I wanted to take a moment to honor those who have been affected by the acts of terrorism on September 11, 2001.

I remember exactly where I was and what I was doing on that day. I was in my high school physics class. We were taking a test and my teacher wouldn't let us turn on the TV until an announcement was made. Keep in mind, school started at 7:20 central time so this didn't happen until mid-way through 1st period. Once this became a big deal, we were all told to go home because they thought NASA was going to be a target for terrorism (we're down the street from NASA).

It bewilders me now that my students were so young when this happened, and since they were little, they didn't really understand it. My seniors were in 2nd grade and my freshmen hadn't even started kindergarten. In school this week, we had a special period dedicated to 9/11 memorial stuff, and it was interesting to hear some of the students' perspectives. It is just not that personal to them, although they seem to understand the big deal that it is. Of course, this is the big thing that happened with my generation, whereas my parents can think of things like JFK's assassination.

I will talk to my daughter, someday, about this day. Although she may not have a personal connection with it, I pray that she understands it.

All I know is...

We will never forget.

Taken in St. Paul's Chapel near Ground Zero during our trip to NYC.

Drained.

 

Getting back into the swing of things at school is draining.

I wish I had more hours in the day to do everything I want.

The good news is my eye makeup still looks good after 14 hours.

TGIF, y'all.  TGI friggin F.

Preggo Meg O. - 25 Weeks

You might have seen this on twitter, but humor me okay?

I'm 25 weeks done with this pregnancy. That means I've been pregnant 6.25 months, and I have 2.75 months left. Holy moly. We're getting close.

Honestly, this pregnancy has been really easy. Lots of people like to give me advice, thoughts, and all these things I should be feeling/doing/etc. and not even half of it feels like it's applied to me. Not that their advice isn't welcomed, I am just getting the feeling that every single pregnancy is so incredibly different. I never got morning sickness (aside from motion sickness on airplanes). I just felt like I've been getting bigger (and something is definitely moving around in there) but I really do feel like myself.


There are definitely a few things worth mentioning...
- I always thought that when you get pregnant, your tummy will grow but the rest of you will stay the same. Totally not true. As if my hips/butt could get any wider...... they are. I am officially in maternity pants. Hey, at least the maternity pants are a size small.
- Whoever said that pregnancy makes your skin glow was lying to me. I have had nothing but a struggle to keep my overly teenage-looking skin clear. On a happier note, my nails grow incredibly fast and are super strong (let's blame that on the prenatal vitamins).
- I have had less of a filter. Meaning, I just simply say what I think. My coworker and students think it's amusing. I've also had less tolerance and patience for BS, which has made my students know I am not one to be messed with. Of course, I'm still happy and even-tempered, I am just not one to walk over right now.
- "Pregnancy Brain" truly exists. Baby Girl O. really sucks my smarts and makes me very forgetful. I don't mind, because it's for her growing brain, and people have more sympathy for pregnant women.
- A lot of people want to help me... lift things, don't let me bend over, etc. I think it's amusing. I don't feel disabled. Oh well, if I can play the pregnancy card, I will.\
- This still doesn't feel 100% real. I'm ready and I'm excited, but it's still just me, Greg, and Dexter in this big ol' house. Obviously that is going to change in 2.75 months.
- I feel very happy because a few of my friends have since gotten pregnant... it's so awesome to know that we're all going through this at the same time!
- I absolutely LOVE prenatal yoga. Every preggo woman should do it.


Well, there you have it. Preggo Meg O. at 25 weeks pregnant. 
Have any of you mommas had a similar pregnancy experience?

This Labor Day weekend, I dared to do something new

I ate a cupcake that had BACON SPRINKLES.

(Katie, I totally thought of you.)

Yes, that top right cupcake was a banana cupcake with peanut butter frosting and bacon sprinkles. It was called the "Elvis Cupcake." During our visit with the in-laws this weekend (they live outside of Austin), my mother-in-law and I poked around a really cute town called Wimberley. Of course I had to stop at their cupcake stand.

So, what do I think of said bacon sprinkles? Honestly, I was surprised it didn't really taste that bacon-y. The rest of the cupcake overwhelmed it, and I didn't get a salty mouthful of bacon. Well, it was still fun to say I dared to do something new.

What about y'all? Anything new and EXCITING (I know bacon sprinkles is hard to top) this weekend? Hope you all are enjoying your day off! (If you're off, that is. If you're not off work, I'm sorry to rub it in. But not really.)

Meg & Katie: The Vlog (Part 2)

Since me and my BFF, Katie, are so cool, we vlog together! You can watch part 1 HERE.

Are you ready for Part 2? YOU KNOW IT!

Meg Approved Body Wash

You've read before how I am trying to incorporate products with natural ingredients into my skincare routine. I've talked about cleansers here and here. You can also visit my "topics" page to view more of my natural skincare secrets.

Maybe you'd like to know how I use EVOO as makeup remover? Go here.
How I create my own skin brightening toner? Well, that's here.

The point is...
I've said it before, and I'll say it again. I think it's important to use products without harmful chemicals.

I think it's great a lot of cosmetic and skincare companies are jumping on board the "natural" train and pushing out products that contain all-natural ingredients and are not animal testing. Even better, it's available at your local drugstore, so it's accessible and doesn't break the bank. This body wash goes on my list of approved products!

St. Ives Energizing Citrus Body Wash

The Product Claims:

Made with natural ingredients • Contains 100% natural extracts • Formulated without parabens and phthalates • Does not contain animal ingredients • Not tested on animals • Dermatologist-tested • Hypoallergenic

My Thoughts:

I love the way this stuff lathers, smells, and feels on my skin. I am even more in love that it's formulated with 100% natural ingredients. The end.

....So basically, go out and buy it.