Carb Loading

Don't get me wrong I know that eating healthy is a big part of staying healthy, and processed sugars and starches typically don't do much for my waistline but what can I say I have a weakness over carbs!  In particular pizza or anything pizza-like and pasta (hence Rene's purchase of the past maker for me).

As I go into Day 4 of my detox I figured it was time to reminise about my tasty treats from last weekend.  Mainly the carb loaded delights that we aren't eating right now...First up! Fresh pasta and homemade marinara.  Don't get me wrong I am no  Italian so I make the sauce the way Rene and I like it!

The necessary ingredients, oregano, basil, garlic, onion, red pepper flakes, onion powder, garlic powder, crushed tomatoes, tomato paste, and tomato sauce...

 And then cook low all afternoon.

 Then the pasta dough-2 cups of flour 3 eggs-pretty simple!

 Refrigerate and then roll and cut and allow to dry!

I will say the first batch was pretty good but next time I will have to make the pasta bit thinner.  For those of you who have never worked with fresh pasta when cooked it expands to about 3 times it's natural thickness...so while it wasn't quite right I'll be working on it for the future.

Then we made pizza pull apart bread - Rene even helped out!

 It only takes 5 ingredients! 

Premade pizza crust

Mozzarella cheese cut into little cubes

Garlic (we bought the pre-minced)

Pepperoni 

*optional marinara or ranch for dipping

Roll out small balls of the crust and flatten into a disk

 Next place a pepperoni in the center (folded works best)

 Add cheese

 Roll and secure

 Repeat and then place in a bunt pan and brush with melted garlic butter.  Bake at 400 degrees for about 30 minutes.  

We learned a couple of lessons from our first try.  As you can see this isn't the ideal turn out.  First we need to press the little pizza bites together more so that they hold a firm shape when removed from the pan.  Second my pan was new and therefore super non-stick and the shape kind of flopped onto the plate and didn't look too pretty and third our oven here at the apartment is awful and it got a little extra crispy.

Nonetheless, it was amazing and we will be making this again for a non-healthy day for sure!

Are you hungry now?

Back to Napa! Recap #2!

So after we left Clos du Bois stop #1 we had some time to kill before our next tasting. We were in Sonoma County so we made our way back to Napa and just picked a random vineyard/tasting room to stop by....stop 2 was Signorello Estate.

We pulled up the drive past the vineyards to the little tasting room and decided to go with the current release flight to taste a little of everything.
Then the man who was providing us the tasting asked if we had been back to the patio yet. Of course we hadn't so he gave us an extra glass of Chardonnay and we walked onto the patio....

The view was wonderful and I decided that when I have a house a pool like this is a must!

I was glad with our in prompt to stop at this little tasting room it was really a nice surprise.

Napa Recap #1

Well here is the first of the Napa re-caps! Sorry for taking over a week to get it posted--work has been a killer this past week.

Our first vineyard visit was Clos du Bios! It was a little over an hour from the hotel but well worth the drive!

We did an amazing tasting and blending seminar which included lots of red wines yum!

We spent around 2 hours here just enjoying it and taking pictures after the tasting/tour. I really liked the red wines here especially the zin, we had really only drank the Chardonnay from Clos du Bois because it's the only white while Rene will really drink!

Needless to say we walked out "members" of the winery and will be getting 3 bottles shipped from their reserve collection each quarter--and free tastings when we go back *clearly a reason to plan trip #2 right?*

Don't worry many more to come!

MIA a little longer

We had an amazing time in Napa this past week but as you can imagine we are playing lots of catch up!

I promise to post some recaps of our favorite spots and some pictures later this week or this weekend!

In the meantime I will give a small sneak peak of my favorite location....it was heaven!

Raw Recap & Kentucky Derby Winning!

Well after my 1 week of eating raw I must say that I somewhat pigged out this weekend when Rene's friend Matt came to town, whoops!

Of course we had to let him experience "Texas Grass Fed Beef" on the grill on Friday, then we took him to an amazing burger place on Saturday called Twisted Root and then did some fro-yo on Saturday night...nonetheless I actually lost a little more than a pound (and I really slacked in the working out routine too). Overall I don't really "feel" any different, but I am sure the extra veggies were a good addition to my diet. Now it's back to the tried and true egg and turkey bacon breakfast -- yogurt, fruit, veggie lunches and healthy dinners for me.

On a side note Rene and I did pick the winner of the Kentucky Derby this weekend when we went to the horse races and placed our bets!

We put a whole $2 each on--you guessed it...

What can I say we based it solely off of the name and I knew on Friday when the guys at the office were looking at the odds I picked Animal Kingdom because it's a Disney park, of course they all laughed but who was laughing when me and the hubby won 30 to 1 odds?

Ok yes it would have been A LOT better had we put $5 or $10 down but making $63.40 off of a $2 bet not to shabby for my first horse races...maybe this means next year we should take the trip to the Derby and see if for ourselves!

Call Me a Kid....

I am so looking forward to the end of the work day today...why because of course Harry Potter and the Deathly Hollows is playing at my favorite movie theatre The Inwood Theatre .

Let me just say that it is amazing and well worth the $10 general admission tickets....

Who wouldn't want to watch a movie and have it feel like you are watching at your home on our couch?

Add to the great seating with plenty of room to spread out that the Inwood Theatre has a full bar as well! Just like watching in your living room!

Now the day just needs to wind down a lot faster and 10:15pm needs to arrive a whole lot sooner so that I can enjoy my movie viewing!

Have a great weekend!

6 Months Ago...

As I sit here writing this and realize it is a post about the first six months as Mrs. Blanco I cannot believe that Rene and I have been married for a half year (as of tomorrow!)!! It is amazing how time flies! With that being said I decided that due to the overwhelming number of times I’ve hear “so how’s married life” from friends, family, and co-workers that in celebration of our 6 month anniversary this post would be about some things that we have realized along the way in these first 6 months. Though little has changed from dating life to married life for us there are some things that I have come to realize and also look back on about the wedding and everything leading up to it.

So what have I looked back on after the wedding???

1. Did everything go the way I planned for the wedding??

Absolutely not, but in the end I realized that it didn’t matter much at all. We had people there who loved us and in the end does the design of the cake matter that much or is it the stories that everyone has to remember about the week? I do not believe the cake made that big of an impact.

2. Would I do it different if I did it all over again (traditional vs. destination wedding)?

Nope, I loved the fact that our ceremony was simple, the wedding festivities lasted 4 days and that we had friends and family there who really truly wanted to be there regardless of where we were getting married. Having a small group of friends made it that much more memorable about we took a little something from every guest that was there and have a great memory from our wedding cruise.

3. One thing I would do differently for someone planning a destination wedding?

I had a couple of people ask me this and it’s hard to say really. I guess that my main thing is I think that we gave the guests too much information in our invite. As silly as it sounds putting all of the details in one place for people makes them lazy…that being said the majority of people who didn’t come because they were worried about the cost never even got onto the cruise website to realize that you could pay a little here and there for 1 year prior to the sailing date and that the total was not necessary in one lump sum. Oh well you live and you learn…so my advice for anyone thinking destination wedding, do not provide all of the information up front on paper-it just gives people an excuse without looking into things on their own.

And then the married life questions….

1. So how’s married life?

It’s just as great as dating life and engaged life…I get to hang out with an amazing guy for the rest of my life how much better does it get than that?

2. What has changed?

Oh you mean other than the fact that I never tried to write Megan Blanco (I know, every girl does this but I really did not even think about it...until it was too late) before having to sign it on my driver’s license so it looks like a 4 year old wrote it? Or the fact that when I talk to potential clients at work now I feel like I am lying when I say my name is Megan Blanco? LOL no but really aside from the obvious name change (which as you can tell I am still getting used to) little has changed. We have a joint bank account now…but other than that not too much.

I have realized that one of the best things for Rene and I was to live together before we got married. We know how the other operates on a daily basis, when he needs his time and when I need mine. I know that he leaves the cabinets open after he grabs a cup, and he knows that yes he must suffer through General Hospital on DVR with me when I get home (even though he knows he hates to miss an episode). He knows and accepts the fact that I shed, yes a lot and I can’t help that, just as I know he makes a mess around the sink in the morning washing his face….but it is a part of the routine and what makes us “us” and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I don’t think that living together made a difference in terms of taking something away from us being married over just dating, I think that it made our relationship what it is and I wouldn’t have it any other way!

So here is to the first half year of our soon to be long and happy marriage!

Recap #13 The Reception

Well here we are a little past our 3 month anniversary and I am done with the wedding day recaps, sad but true.
So here we go!

After the ceremony we all went to the Cadillac Lounge and that is where we had our little reception. Since we decided to do the cruise line wedding the reception was not the dinner and dancing one would expect. Instead we did a cake and champagne toast, our first dance, mother son, father daughter dances.

First Rene and I had our first dance to Michel Buble's "Everything"

Next up Dad and I shared a dance. Trust me my dad is not a big dancer so this was quite impressive...music choice was made by Mom...Chad Wick's "Stealing Cinderella" and Rene and his Mom danced to the Beatles's "Let it Be".

Then it was the time for toasts, we had both of my maids of honor, the best man, and groomsmen all give toasts. And each and every one of them were so different--some sentimental, some funny stories, and some quite tearful (Kelly really didn't get all the way through hers due to water works of tears). They each touched on good memories and fun times and well wishes for us in our new married life!

After that it was time for cake! We chose to go the classy route and not smash cake in each other's faces--though Rene is known to smash cake in people's faces...

How cute is the knife! We didn't even notice this detail until we saw the photos! Sad side note, we didn't get to keep the serving set **tear** but I will be looking to buy it just as a keepsake eventually!

I am such a sucker for black and white photos! I love that Jenn was able to capture such great images! I love looking at them, and I really don't think I'll ever get sick of it!

We make a pretty good looking extended family group huh?

This finishes up the wedding day recaps! It's a little sad writing the last one. But of course this was not the end of our wedding cruise! We had a great time the last 2 days with family and friends. We could not have been happier than to be able to share this time with those close to us! And we can not wait to see what the next chapters of our life as "Mr. & Mrs." brings our way!

Need to Catch Up?
Day 6 We Now Pronounce you
Day 6 The I Do's
Day 6 The Wedding Party
Day 6 Paparazzi-Bride and Groom Pics
Day 6 The First Look
Day 6 Becoming the Bride
Day 6 Getting Ready to Say I DO
Day 5 Our Last "Single" Night
Day 4 The Civil Ceremony
Day 3 We board the Wonder
Day 2 Orlando and Cocoa
Day 1 in Orlando

Recap #12: We Now Pronounce You....

Ok back to the recaps...FINALLY! Things have just been a bit crazy at the Blanco house recently so lets get back to it!

Last we left off was the entrance of the wedding party and me and dad...the rest as you know is a typical wedding ceremony, the vows, the rings, the I Do's....I don't have much in terms of "story" so here we go with a picture collage instead enjoy!

Need to catch up?
Day 6 The I Do's
Day 6 The Wedding Party
Day 6 Paparazzi-Bride and Groom Pics
Day 6 The First Look
Day 6 Becoming the Bride
Day 6 Getting Ready to Say I DO
Day 5 Our Last "Single" Night
Day 4 The Civil Ceremony
Day 3 We board the Wonder
Day 2 Orlando and Cocoa
Day 1 in Orlando

Recap #11 Here comes the BRIDE!

What better way to spend a Friday afternoon than share some more of our wonderful photos and recaps about the wedding?!

So without further waiting lets take a look at our "venue"!!

Since things with the cruise wedding were very cut and dry as to what you "got" in your wedding package I knew from the start that we would of course want some personal touches at least one or two things for the ceremony. Thus my idea of the flower ball DIY project. Of course from that I continues and made the ones that my ladies carried as well.

We didn't have a lot to work with in terms of decorations (mainly because contractually you can't add a lot)as well as the fact we would have had to fly with or ship everything from Texas, but I think that it was simple enough to incorporate the blue and yellow and just make things seems a bit more "weddingish". Plus what do you really need with the backdrop we had?!
**thanks to Mom and Jenn for going down and grabbing a few shots before everyone arrived**
Then it was really time for the big walk down the short aisle.

My wonderful maids of honor Kelly and Laura were escorted by the best man Matt

Followed by groomsman Andrew and grooms-woman Katie

Dum dum dee dum dum....

Here Comes the BRIDE!! and Dad of course

It was a quick little walk down the aisle to the alter....
*Note this photo courtesy of a wedding guest**

Up Next---We Pronounce you HUSBAND & WIFE!

Need to catch up?

Day 6 The Wedding Party
Day 6 Paparazzi-Bride and Groom Pics
Day 6 The First Look
Day 6 Becoming the Bride
Day 6 Getting Ready to Say I DO
Day 5 Our Last "Single" Night
Day 4 The Civil Ceremony
Day 3 We board the Wonder
Day 2 Orlando and Cocoa
Day 1 in Orlando

Recap #10- The Wedding Party

After the first look it was time for some group shots and pics of me and my wonderful maids of honor and bridesmaid before the ceremony.

First up was a fun veil picture with my ladies! I am so glad that I went with the cathedral veil!




These 3 girls are amazing and I am so glad that there were able to share our special day with us!






And the whole group! I love the fact that we went with the vibrant blue colors of the ladies dresses it made for some great colors for all of our pictures! We had the most amazing group of people for our wedding. The each played such am amazing role and it would not have been the same without each and every one of them.
(From Left to Right) Andrew proved to be the life of the party, Matt added to countless laughs the entire trip. Kelly (MOH#1 ) proved to be the sentimental one of my side, her heartfelt words will be long lasting. Laura (MOH#2) was so calm cool and collected the entire trip that it put my mind at ease about everything! And last but not least Katie, though Rene will tell you she is the Grooms woman for the event since she had been through the wedding events about 7 months before she knew exactly what I needed even before I did--including the bobby pins when the wind did a little damage to my hair. Thank you all for making the cruise so amazing for us. One of the best things about a wedding on Disney Cruise Line aside from the gorgeous backdrop was the bright colors and fun places around the ship to get some great pictures. Up next we took a stroll down Route 66.

As we were heading up to the overlook of the lobby for some family shots I was greeted by an unexpected "creature"....Stitch!

He then continued to "eat" my flowers...

We also took this time to get a couple of pictures with just my side of the family.

Me and Mom

After we did a little mini-family photo session we went down to meet up with the guests to go down to the ceremony location. I wasn't worried about people seeing the dress before hand, I guess I figured if the groom had been me what did it matter for the rest of the guests? Plus it was nice to get to mix and mingle a bit with everyone....even if it felt rushed!
Up next....the first look at the ceremony location. I must say a big thank you to Jenn and my Mom for going down to take a look at everything all set up.

Need to catch up?

Day 6 Paparazzi-Bride and Groom Pics
Day 6 The First Look
Day 6 Becoming the Bride
Day 6 Getting Ready to Say I DO
Day 5 Our Last "Single" Night
Day 4 The Civil Ceremony
Day 3 We board the Wonder
Day 2 Orlando and Cocoa
Day 1 in Orlando