We're basically movie stars

A few weeks after booked out videographer for the wedding, they e-mailed to ask if we would be willing to be guinea pigs for a new service they were going to offer ... Save the Date videos. After a mild freakout complete with happy dancing calmly talking it over with Aaron, I accepted.

Click HERE to see our special video!

A massive thank you to Rachel and John at Dewberry Wedding Cinema ... we had such a blast exploring Orr Family Farms with you. We are absolutely in LOVE with the video.

Only 71 days to go!

Love!!

A post on healthy living

Tonight, I went to my yoga class. It was incredibly challenging, with a lot of core work. 

Tonight, when I got home... Aaron and I had this for dinner.

It's all about balance.

Namaste.

The (almost) Meeks take Dallas

The original title of this post was going to be OU/TX 2014 ... but after the dismal outcome, I decided to focus on the happier parts of our adventure. Namely, a visit to Ikea and eating good food.

If we're being honest, Ikea is the main draw for me going to OU/TX. Being really honest, and its a combination of Ikea, In-N-Out Burger, and Fletcher's corn dogs. Just keeping it real.

1. Ikea

Behold, Ikea.

 Ikea is glorious.  I know some people think its cheap, and poor quality or whatever ... but I can literally wander the aisles picking up impossibly named glassware, admiring tiny tiny tea cups, wishing I had need for perfectly gauzy 92" window treatments and longing for giant prints of super quirky art prints. Aaron, prefers not to. But this trip, we discovered what he does love about Ikea.

The room set-ups.

We found one room set-up in particular that we both loved. Meet our almost dream kitchen eat in dining area and pantry/utility space, Lidingo (technically not the right name as the "o" has those weird dots above it).

Yes please.

That sink. I just. I need it.

Basically, the only thing that left us not so impressed were the dark countertops and the dark flooring which divided us as a couple. Lidingo ... we're comin' for you. With your soft-touch drawers and cabinets, glass-fronted cabinet doors, adorable cart, seating for a large family and especially you, double farmhouse sink ... we love you.

Also, Aaron found this day-bed that he loved. We may need to make this ours as well.

Basically, perfect for napping.

2. In-N-Out Burger

I mean ... does this need an explanation? Aaron decided while there that he would really enjoy being the person who chops the potatoes with the potato-chopper machine. So, there's that. Everyone needs a fall-back profession, right? Give me an original cheeseburger and a bucket of those fries ... and I'm a happy happy lady.

Also, I'm no fool. There is absolutely no way I'd let a picture of me literally smashing a cheeseburger into my mouth on here. It was a virtual inhalation of burger and fries. It happened, and that is all you need to know.

3. Fletcher's Corn Dogs

If you have never had a Fletcher's Corn Dog ... you are doing yourself a disservice by not being at the next Texas State Fair. For realsies. These things are in-cre-di-ble. Like, you need a minute or two to eat one in perfect silence, so that you can truly enjoy them. The first year we made the mistake of eating a regular corn-dog before the game, having not been able to locate a Fletcher's stand. We finally wandered upon one after the game, waited in line for nearly 40 minutes, and knew we had made the best decision of our lives the instant the breading touched our taste-buds. This year, it was our first stop.

Oh yeah, and we actually went to the game. Oh, well. Better luck next year .... PLEASE.

Love!!

Creamy Chicken Taquitos

Fun facts about this meal...

1 - We ate it tonight.
2 - It is an amalgamation of several different "cheesycreamedchickencrispycilantrotaquito" recipes I've tried on Pinterest ... to which I picked and chose my favorite bits to include in my recipe. Disclaimer -  the no shredded cheese was a divine accident.
3 - Apparently, one of the reasons Aaron wanted to date me was the fact that someone told him I was a good cook. However, when we first started dating, he made sure to let me know which food things he would not be eating. The following items were/are on his list - anything creamy (I mean, seriously. No.), casseroles (um, no.), things with unnecessary chicken (i.e., pizza, most pastas, and some chicken dishes in general), most vegetables, and guacamole (more for me, I say). This dish, which has 1) chicken and 2) cream cheese has now become one of his favorites. I showed him. You're welcome, dear.

Anywho - on to the recipe.

So, I forgot to take a picture again. This is what they look like though. Forgive me? Ok, good.

What you need:
Chicken (we like Bare Chicken breasts, at Target)
1 block room temp reduced fat cream cheese
4 or 5 big flour tortillas, cut in half
1 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp cumin
1/2 tsp chili powder
Juice of 1 lime
Small handful cilantro (the grocery store was sold out, so I used freeze dried)
Dash of kosher salt

What you do:
Pre-heat your oven to 425 and spray a baking sheet with Pam - I like the olive oil kind.
Boil the chicken in a little salt, cumin, and chili powder for 20 minutes. After it cools, shred (not chunk) it.
While the chicken is cooling, combine all other ingredients (other than tortillas, duh) in a medium sized bowl.
When the chicken is cooled, throw it in the bowl too.
Put a really large spoonful on your halved tortillas ... about 1/3 of the way onto the tortilla... tuck and roll the mixture into a taquito shape.
Baked your taquitos for 15-20 minutes depending on how crispy you want them.
Enjoy!!

After trial and error, I finally discovered the 1/2 tortilla method. Per Aaron's review - "it makes them more manageable." Also, it makes them crispier, and I don't feel so bad about eating as many. Because, they're smaller. So .... its not as bad, right?

Most of the original  recipes use 1 cup of shredded cheese. Tonight, I accidentally forgot to add it and didn't realize until I was already two bites in to my taquito. I promise, you won't miss it. But if you want cheesier taquitos, put one cup of shredded cheese in there.

I hope you love these as much as we do. For real, they are so good.

Love!!

Update

Book honeymoon.

A reminder.

Amen.

Love!!

Wedding Update ....Update.

For real. When I feel like I'm letting people down, I get stuff done. Apparently, I would rather whoop up on myself than procrastinate. After week(s) of sacrificing lunches .... let's be real, I just ate faster ... I've made progress! Don't worry, I can hear your shouts of affirmation and clapping from afar.

1. Dress fittings. Which is mildly terrifying. I feel like once this starts, I must maintain. Not gain. Not lose. Not shift. Maintain. In order to do this, I made the commitment to switch to Baked Cheetos instead of real Cheetos. So far, I'm not too disappointed. Scheduled! Although I'm kind of worried that I've kicked off the weekly meal plan with garlic knots. And I've already scheduled a Greek House date with Aaron for tomorrow. And we're having taco night at some point this week. But ... I have maintained my commitment to eat only baked cheetos.

2. Think of wedding songs. Like, all of them. We have our first dance song picked out - but that's about it. Underlined because we've only done part of this ... which earns an underline, not a strike through. I diiiiid pick a walking down the aisle song that I'm really proud of, and I've signed my name in blood promised my mom I would keep it a secret until I actually walk the walk. 

3. Pick a cake-ist. Duh. This was hands down the best part of planning. Hands. Down. Y'all ... the cake is gonna be good. Goooooo-huh-duh. You're welcome in advance.

4. Contact a florist.  So thrilled to be working with Juniper Designs. Alison,  the owner and designer, is fantastic and I know she totally got our vision. I'm beyond pumped to see what she creates for us!!

5. CRAFT NIGHT. This one, I'm totally looking forward to. Mom and I have had a blast finding ideas on Pinterest (what did brides do before this?!) and now we are ready to bring them to life.... Yeah. This is still happening. Stay tuned!

6. Pick out something for the guys to wear. No one likes a group of naked men standing at the altar. Or if they do, they are going to be sorely disappointed... And we still have naked guys. We doooooo have a time picked to look at stuff. But unless we get on it, you'll be looking at a completely different kind of stuff (sorry, Mom).

7. Finalize wedding invitations. We made progress ... and stalled out..... yeah. Yeah. 

8. FOOD. Because... FOOD. Again, we've made progress... but not completed. I've made contact with caterers, and we have a loooooooose time of tastings (oh buddy) but we haven't nailed anything down yet.

9. Figure out how to have my hair done ... I have a feeling that "lion-chic" doesn't translate well to wedding photos.... Who are we kidding? I haven't done this yet.

Progress, y'all! Planning a wedding is basically a job. But the reward will be sooooooo worth it.

In related news ... I've ordered several exciting things for the wedding, and every time an order comes in ... it's basically like Christmas. This is so fun.

Love!!

Spinach, Mozzarella and Feta Croissants

You guys. These are good. Like, guuuuuuuuuuuuuuhd. Imagine a totally derpy face as you say that, and you pretty much have how I look when I think about making these.

Disclaimer, I didn't take pictures as I made these. So you're going to have to use your imagination. Or, you can look at this, which is what comes up when you search for an image for these.

You're welcome. Moving on.

These bad boys are delicious. You need to make them. Here's how.

This is what you need...
2 tubes of crescent rolls (8 in a tube)
One carton of crumbled feta cheese
1/2 bag of mozzarella cheese
2 handfuls of baby spinach (chopped)
1/4 or 1/2 tsp of CRP ... or crushed red pepper.
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1 egg white, beaten

Here's what you do...
Preheat your oven to 350 and grease a cookie sheet.
If you haven't already... chop your spinach, and put it in a mixing bowl. Add all of your cheese, CRP and salt.
Toss it all together.
Unwrap all of your croissants and begin filling them, using a small spoon. Note ... I've found that using a tuck and roll method keeps things nice and tidy and you'll have less exploding croissants in the oven.
Once you get all of the croissants stuffed, brush the egg whites lightly on the croissants.
Bake for 15-17 minutes.
ENJOY!

I hope you like them as much as we do!!

Love!!

WE are Your Church

This song has really been on my heart and mind lately.

WE are the church. Sure, church is a building that we go to. Church has pretty people, saying pretty things. However, I'm finding that a lot of people "our age" have become disillusioned with church. A lot of people see church as a place that is fake ... that tells them they've done wrong ... that tells them what to do. That judges people for their words and actions ... looking down from ivory towers.

Church is not that to me. I think God made it pretty clear that he considers CHURCH to be a body of believers. CHURCH should be a moving, breathing, helping organism. WE are that organism. We should be the hands and feet of Jesus. We've been specifically wired with a set of gifts that will allow us to draw others to Him.

I know I'm not perfect. I don't and never will claim to be. But I do know that I'm made new each day by my loving and heavenly Father.

One of my (answered) prayers is that I've found someone who loves. Not just loves me ... but loves people. I know that God specially picked out Aaron to be my partner and to be my encourager and to be the wonderful father to our children someday. Now, my prayer has become that God will continue to use us ... to be beacons of hope ... to continue to use us to glorify Him.

Take a minute (I mean, you've already read this far...) to read these lyrics. I hope they impact you in the same way they have me.

Come set Your rule and reign
In our hearts again
Increase in us we pray
Unveil why we're made
Come set our hearts ablaze with hope
Like wildfire in our very souls
Holy Spirit come invade us now
We are Your Church
We need Your power
In us

We seek Your kingdom first
We hunger and we thirst
Refuse to waste our lives
For You're our joy and prize
To see the captive hearts released
The hurt; the sick; the poor at peace
We lay down our lives for Heaven's cause
We are Your church
We pray revive
This earth

Build Your kingdom here
Let the darkness fear
Show Your mighty hand
Heal our streets and land
Set Your church on fire
Win this nation back
Change the atmosphere
Build Your kingdom here
We pray

Unleash Your kingdom's power
Reaching the near and far
No force of hell can stop
Your beauty changing hearts
You made us for much more than this
Awake the kingdom seed in us
Fill us with the strength and love of Christ
We are Your church
We are the hope
On earth

Don't take this as my high-horse. Because its not. I've been blessed beyond what I could ever possibly deserve. I'm just hoping that maybe this impacts you in the same way as it has me. Imagine how awesome the CHURCH would be if everyone lived this out.

Love!!

Wedding Update

So ... I've been a slacker bride. Like, super slacker. I mean, sure ... we got a lot of things going early on, like picking a date, picking a place, picking a dress, picking a lot of things ... but I know we have a lot of stuff that is still left to do. 

I tend to do better when other people know my to-do list. It kind of guilts me in actually getting things done. So, here you go dedicated reader! In no particular order...

1. Dress fittings. Which is mildly terrifying. I feel like once this starts, I must maintain. Not gain. Not lose. Not shift. Maintain. In order to do this, I made the commitment to switch to Baked Cheetos instead of real Cheetos. So far, I'm not too disappointed.

2. Think of wedding songs. Like, all of them. We have our first dance song picked out - but that's about it.

3. Pick a cake-ist. Duh.

4. Contact a florist. 

5. CRAFT NIGHT. This one, I'm totally looking forward to. Mom and I have had a blast finding ideas on Pinterest (what did brides do before this?!) and now we are ready to bring them to life.

6. Pick out something for the guys to wear. No one likes a group of naked men standing at the altar. Or if they do, they are going to be sorely disappointed.

7. Finalize wedding invitations. We made progress ... and stalled out.

8. FOOD. Because... FOOD.

9. Figure out how to have my hair done ... I have a feeling that "lion-chic" doesn't translate well to wedding photos.

I know there are tons of other things we still need to finalize. But these are the only things that came to mind as I'm typing this out. I think these nine things should keep me busy for awhile. Pray for me.

Love!!

House Rules

Aaron and I decided to institute what we refer to as "House Rules" ... presumably, this would include things like "use your inside voice" or "don't forget to put the seat down,"  however, we only have one House Rule. What is it?

If Louie makes it onto the bed without assistance, he gets to stay.

I'm sure you're thinking "well, that's not hard" ... so I'll provide you with some visual examples of the effort this requires, and similar examples of failed attempts.

And one that is preeeeeeetty accurate of the struggle for Bean...

The failures in life are what make success so enjoyable.

Love!!

Engagement Pics

How blessed are we to have the totally amazing Kris Smith as a dear friend, and as a insanely talented photographer? 

Back story ... Kris and I  lived together for two years in college. We had so much stinking fun, and I can tell you without hesitation that she is one of the kindest, most true people I know. Also, she's hilarious. And gorgeous. And she put up with my Lunesta-induced creepster moments, but that is neither here nor there.

When it came time to take our engagement pictures, I knew there was no one we would feel as comfortable as one can feel being followed around by a camera than Kris. So, when she offered to take our pictures, I freaked out a little and maybe squealed calmly accepted her offer. Without further adieu, enjoy. 

(All photo credits obviously go to Kris Ellen Smith, photographer and graphic design extraordinaire.)

I just love these. We are SO thankful to Kris for capturing these special moments. 

Side note ... it is officially less than six months before the big day (!!!!) and we are maaaaaaybe a little excited.

Love!!

Hullo!

We'll start of by saying, "WELCOME!" ... we have so many friends and family scattered around, we thought this blog would be a way to share our lives with those who might not be as involved in the day to day as we wish. We're going to try and post as often as we can ... whether it be about the latest wedding developments, a life plan we're making, a delicious meal we had, a funny thing that one of us did or said, an adventure together, or a picture of one of our fur-babies.

So ... let's get this party started.

Love!!