Friday night at work = random post.

Have a rehearsal dinner going on upstairs right now so I didn't have to be at work until 3:30pm, which was nice. The internet was down from about 5-6pm and when it came back up - BAM! No Facebook and no Hulu. My two go-to websites for event nights. Now what the HECK am I supposed to do during my events?? Luckily, I can still read blogs and get on Pinterest..and I can always get on Facebook and watch ABC shows on my phone. It's just not the same though..

So in order to pass a few minutes of the last two hours I have here, a few random thoughts on my mind...

-Today marks the ONE YEAR countdown until I marry my favorite guy in the world!!

source

-My mom and I met with the caterer today, which made me even more excited about the countdown! Wedding Wednesday post to come soon about that!

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You KNOW these will be on the menu!

-Speaking on delicious green niblets, these were on my desk today when I got to work!

German pickles! Vielen dank! (The translator tells me that means thank you.)

-Yesterday I had the bright idea to volunteer to babysit on my day off. Little did I know when I volunteered that it was from 7am - 10:30pm. That's 15.5 hours, people!!! 3 kids, too! The oldest one (ages 7 and 10) were in school...but only for a half day. The 3 year old never took a nap. They had some good moments, but for the most part they were awful. I almost cried. I just wanted to go home! Luckily, a friend suggested I bring my Wii over there and I could just kiss her for that suggestion! It saved my sanity.

-And lastly, Cameron and I ordered a bookshelf for his office YESTERDAY from Target and guess what was on our porch TODAY! The bookshelf! That is some crazy fast shipping, Target. Kudos to you!

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That's all the randomness for now! Have a good night and a great weekend!



Wedding Wednesday: Shoes.

Today let's talk about pretty much every girl's favorite item in her closet: shoes.
You can never have too many!

I've already started to thinking about what I'll be wearing on my feet the day of my wedding (Are you surprised? You shouldn't be.) When daydreaming about them, my mind goes straight to girly, soft pink or gold, flats.

Source: ohmysweetthing.tumblr.com via Allie on Pinterest

Source: lemonandlavenderblog.com via Tiffany on Pinterest

Source: renttherunway.com via Megan on Pinterest

Source: saksfifthavenue.com via Megan on Pinterest

Really loving those last ones from Kate Spade! If you spy any similar ones that you think I'll like, feel free to send them my way!

Friday starts the year countdown!!

Tasty Tuesday - David's Pork Loin Marinade.

This recipe is from Cameron's step-father, David. He is such a good cook! You are too, Daddy! Seriously, they should have a cook off.

David's Pork Loin Marinade

1/3 cup soy sauce

1/3 cup lemon juice

1 tsp dry mustard

1/2 tsp dry ginger

1/2 tsp tobasco

1/2 tsp garlic salt

Whisk together. Pour over meat. Let marinate for atleast an hour. The longer it marinates, the better it will taste!

BrightLife Golf Tournament!

As you may have seen, there is a BrightLife doo-dad on the top right of my blog. Clicking the photo will take you to a website that will tell you the story of Tim Bright, my good friend and sorority sister's husband who is currently battling stage four colon cancer. He was diagnosed just 3 months prior to their wedding in 2010! Can you imagine?? He is now 29 and while going through all of his treatments and appointments, he still maintains an upbeat and witty attitude. :)

BrightLife was set up by two couples who are friends of Tim & Jenny to help with all of Tim's medical costs.

The reason for this post is to spread the word about the 2nd annual BrightLife Tee It Up golf tournament that is going to be taking place on Monday, April 23, 2012 in Greenville, South Carolina. All proceeds benefit Greenville Hospital System’s iTOR Center for Cancer Research.

How can you help, you ask?

Lots of ways!

-Go to the BrightLife page and donate! Any amount - big or small- helps!

-Get that man in your life (women welcome, too!) to sign up for the golf tournament! $150 per person or $600 per team. Entrance fee includes 18 rounds of golf, boxed lunch, and two tickets for the dinner and silent auction.

-Sponsor a hole! Minimum donation of $175. Your donation includes a sign with your logo at the hole, your logo upon the sponsor table poster & the ability to leave collateral at the sponsor table as well as your logo on the silent auction listing program.

-Donate an item for the silent auction! Please contact amanda.lenar@erwinpenland.com if you are interested in this option.

If you'd just like to attend the dinner and silent auction, that is also available to do for the small fee of $15!

Thank you for reading this very important blog post! Spread the word, especially if you live in the Greenville area! And go get those colonoscopy's! :)

If you'd like to read more about Tim and follow him through his journey, he has made a blog to keep everyone up to date: The Story of Tim.



March Birchbox.

I totally flaked on posting about my February Birchbox so rather than going all into it, I'll tell you my favorite product that I received.

Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant

It is a rice-based powder that microfoliates to leave your skin softer and brighter. Your pour about half a teaspoon into your very wet hands and rub your hands together to create a paste. Massage gently for a minute then rinse with warm water. Voila! Super soft (not dry!) skin.

Probably going to ask my esthetician friend, Alyssa, who has been telling me about Dermalogica for years, to hook me up with a full bottle of this!

Alyssa, are you reading this? :)

Now on to March's box..

Favorite items -

Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Cleanser - Obviously, since I purchased the full size bottle of it. This cleanser smells so nice and fruity and cleans your skin without drying it out.

However, if you're looking for a foamy, tingly cleanser, this one is not for you.

Ahava Essential Day Moisturizer for Normal to Dry Skin - Even though I tend to think I'm more in the "Oily skin" category, this moisturizer works great on my skin. Before I received my Birchbox, I was starting to notice just how shiny and greasy my face was towards the end of the day. Not cute. I started using this moisturizer and instantly noticed how soft and non-greasy my face was, especially at the end of the day! This is probably my third Ahava product I've tried and they have not let me down yet!

Let me know if you'd like an invite to join Birchbox! Only $10 a month for some amazing(sometimes full sized) samples!

Tasty Tuesday - Sweet Potato Encrusted Fish with Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette.

I came across this fish on Pinterest the other day, stopped by the grocery store on the way home from work to pick up the ingredients and made this as a quick dinner when I got home. It was super easy and REALLY tasty! You should definitely try!

Sweet Potato Encrusted Fish with Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette

Recipe found here.

Cilantro Lime Vinaigrette (Yields: 1/2 cup):
1 cup cilantro - packed
1 medium clove garlic
2 limes- juiced (about 1/4 cup)
1/2 cup light olive oil
1 tablespoon mayonnaise
1 teaspoon salt (I recommed only using 1/2 tsp. It was pretty salty.)
1/2 teaspoon pepper
pinch of sugar (1/2 tsp)

Fish:
1 pound mild flaky fish (Mahi, Tilapia, Grouper, Snapper, Halibut etc)
2 medium sized sweet potatoes, peeled and shredded
1 egg plus 2 egg whites
1/2 cup flour - seasoned with a little salt & pepper
2 TBS canola oil (or any light oil)
2 TBS butter

Salad:
Mixed Greens
2-4 oz Goat Cheese
1 cup fresh green beans, blanched
Handfull of Grape or Cherry Tomatoes
Black beans, drained and rinsed

 

Combine vinaigrette ingredients into a food processor, mini chopper, or blender and pulse until well combined. Refrigerate until ready to use.

If serving over salad, prepare salad now so it is ready to go.

Add flour to a pie plate (or any dish with sides) and season with salt and pepper. In another one, whisk together 1 egg plus 2 egg whites.

Preheat oven to 375°. Heat a large oven-safe skillet over medium to medium high heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter plus 1 tablespoon oil (you may need extra if it's a large skillet - you want the entire bottom coated). Allow this to heat up.

Eyeball the size / shape of the pieces of fish and then, add a thin layer of shredded sweet potatoes about the same size & shape (one for each piece of fish).

Quickly dredge the fish into flour mixture, then egg wash, and set on top of the sweet potatoes in the pan. Repeat with each piece of fish. Cook for about 4 minutes (the fish should have a nice golden crust), lift fish out of pan with a spatula.

While holding fish with the spatula, add another thin layer of the shredded sweet potatoes to the pan (again matching the size of your fish filet). Carefully flip the fish onto the new "bed" of shedded sweet potatoes. Place entire skillet into the oven and allow to finish cooking (about 4-7 minutes depending on fish size).  (I don't currently have a cast iron skillet so I just put the fish on a small cookie sheet and stuck that in the oven.)

The fish doesn't dry out due to the natural moisture in the potatoes! When fish is fully cooked (opaque in color), remove from oven and immediately serve over mixed salad. Top with cilantro lime vinaigrette.



Chevron Dreams Dress - For Sale!

I bought this gorgeous dress and sadly, it does not fit. And now I've waited too long to send it back for a refund.

Chevron Dreams Dress

Size Small

(Be aware that I have a 33.5 bust and 35.5 hips and it was a little snug in both areas.)

$50 shipped.

Paypal only.

Front

Back
V-neck back and exposed zipper the length of the dress.

Send me an email at megan.lindley33@gmail.com if you're interested.

Thanks!

Weekend Happenings.

With my man on the party bus on the way to Jeff & Louisa's wedding.

Louisa and her Daddy walking down the aisle.

Handsome Brady waiting on his girlfriend to come over.

Gracie & Brady <3

Cameron's sweet niece and my junior bridesmaid, Kaylin, at her soccer game!

Cameron and I saw this movie last night and thought it was HA-larious. I had tears coming out of my eyes I was laughing so hard.

Happy Monday!! :)

Randoms.



I checked my Birchbox account yesterday morning and saw that I had $20 worth of credits in my account! Score! Thank you to whoever signed up through my account! Here is what I scooped up:

Kiehl's Ultra Facial Oil-Free Toner

Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Cleanser (Organic!)

Today I'm meeting with the rental company (who I used to work for) to determine our rental needs for the reception. Lucky for us, the Island House comes with some tables, chairs & a tent included in the rental rate! Was supposed to also meet with them this morning at Cameron's parent's house, where the rehearsal dinner will be, but he had to cancel last minute. Why am I worrying about the rentals so early you ask? Oh, because the weekend we get married is the same weekend as the Cooper River Bridge Run AND the Flowertown Festival. You would think that since I work in the wedding industry I would have thought to check that before choosing my date! Nope, didn't even think about it. Oh well, I don't really think it will effect us that much, especially since the majority of our guests live in the area.

Tonight we have wedding #3 of 2013 to attend at the beautiful Pepper Plantation! Real pumped for this wedding because one of the sweetest, nicest couples are getting married and they have an amazing band playing at the reception, The Mighty Kicks!

Have any of you been watching American Idol? Charleston has a Top 10 finalist on the show this year and I know her! We're not like BFF or anything, but at my previous job booking bands for weddings / events, I used to work with her! It's so neat seeing her on tv doing what she loves to do!

No St. Pat's celebrations for me this year. :( I'll be sitting at work all day. Hope you all have fun and stay safe! :)

Let's Doig This.

This past weekend I packed my bags and made the short trip to Savannah, GA for Jen's bachelorette party!

Friday night we stayed in to all catch up, hang out and throw Jen a lingerie shower.

Joe decided to crash the party.

Saturday during the day we ventured into town, grabbed lunch at Soho, grabbed some drinks at the Bohemian roof top bar and did a little shopping..

Saturday night we had an amazing dinner and lots of champagne / wine at Circa 1875. Sadly, no pics of the food but a pretty awesome pic of Emily and I with our temporary mustache tatoos.

After dinner we headed to..a drag show. This was my first experience at a drag show and I was a little hesitant. Wasn't quite sure what to expect. Turns out, it was pretty fun! It was Lady Chablis' 55th birthday, which was apparently a big deal.

Some of the other entertainers..

After the drag show, we hit up the gay bar downstairs and then made our way to Savannah Smiles - a must do for a bach party in Savannah apparently. There were about 3450823 bachelorettes there!

What a fun weekend!

Wedding Wednesday: Sh*t Brides Say.

I know I'm a little late on the "Sh*t ______ Say," but I just had to post this because it cracks me up.

Tasty Tuesday - Dark Chocolate Avocado Mousse.

Don't be afraid by the title. Apparently this healthy little snack tastes just like brownie batter! I haven't tried it yet, but next time I go to the grocery store I'm picking up an avocado. Let me know if you try it and your thoughts!

Dark Chocolate Avocado Mousse

Recipe and Photo from Julie at Peanut Butter Fingers!

1 ripe avocado, skin and pit removed

3 1/2 tablespoons dark chocolate cocoa powder

3 1/2 tablespoons honey

Place avocado and dark chocolate cocoa powder in food processor. Add honey.

Process avocado, cocoa powder and honey for approximately one minute, pausing to scrape the sides, or until a thick, smooth mousse forms.

Spoon mousse into a small bowl, top with slivered almonds, fresh fruit or chocolate chips and enjoy.

Note: You may simply add more cocoa powder and honey if you prefer more chocolate or sweetness!

Boinker's Birthday!

The word boink(er) is a tricky one. It has a lot of meanings.

Examples:

"What did you do today? Oh, y'know, just boinked around town."

"They totally boinked last night."

"Eww, she is being such a boinker right now."

So today, we celebrate the self-proclaimed originator of the word boinker, KATIE!

A bridesmaid. A true friend. An amazing daughter. A thoughtful and dedicated wife. A beautiful person inside and out.

And now for some pics that make me smile..

Her two dogs, Landon & Mickey, with Brady. They're best buds.

And a few throwback pics from college..

XO Senior Band Party
My then boyfriend of 3 years broke up with me a few hours before my last sorority function of college so I was obviously a mess. In true matchmaker Katie fashion, she came through and found me a date. There was no connection between us, but it turned out to be a fun night and the jerk dumping me turned out to be a blessing in disguise because now I'm engaged to a much better guy! :)

Garage party. Oh yes.

Tailgating - our favorite sport.