10 Months

My how time flies... Tyler and I have been married 10 months (today) and I really couldn't tell you where the time has gone. Having that said, I also can't believe all that we've done and all that has changed over the past year, or 10 months really.

I've taken on a new role at Perceptive Software, which has been quite the ride. I've been involved with several recent acquisitions as well as a multi-million dollar project which has taken most of my time and energy since mid-June. I've been to Chicago, Scottsdale, Lexington, the UK, Dallas and Minneapolis for work. Tyler and I also spent 5 days in Cabo with friends in April as well as a long weekend in California (Los Angeles and La Jolla) in August. We still have Vegas and New Orleans on the docket before the end of the year. It doesn't feel like a lot of travel, but when you add a honeymoon in St. Lucia last December, I guess that's quite a bit of traveling for a ten month span. Traveling is something Tyler and I both have a passion for, and we are already planning trips to Nashville, Austin and Colorado next year.

Ty started a new job in May with Ceva, a companion animal pharmaceutical company. It's been a great transition and he's really enjoying the new gig.

Our house is a work in progress, but we've come a long way. So far we (and I use "we" loosely, I really mean Tyler) have completed the following projects:

-Knocked down the popcorn ceilings in the living room and kitchen
-Added can lights and updated all light fixtures
-Put in a new sliding door
-Painted the kitchen
-Refinished the cabinets
-Installed new backsplash
-New kitchen appliances
-New cabinet hardware
-Redid all cabinet shelving
-Redid the kitchen countertops
-Painted the living room
-Painted our bedroom
-New bedroom furniture
-Redid all shelving in Tyler's closet
-Mounted a TV in our room
-Turned our third bedroom into my walk-in closet
-New driveway
-New stamp and stain patio
-New vanity in the bathroom
-Painted the bathroom

Here are some photos of our bedroom, it's pretty much finished (is anything really ever done??)

We still have quite a bit to do, but our house really feels like a home and I am so impressed with all the work Tyler has done.

Tyler is quite the cook! The other night he made his famous Gumbo and it was delicious. As I mentioned, we're going to New Orleans in November, for our anniversary trip. I surprised Tyler with the location, because he surprised me with our honeymoon location. Ty loves Cajun food, and the Gumbo Festival happens to be going on while we are there. So we're getting excited for Cajun culture and more importantly, Cajun food. Here is his recipe in his own words:

Tyler’s Cajun Gumbo

This recipe feeds about 4-6 people.  Double for larger groups.

Ingredients:

Meat

This is where you can add/omit anything that you don’t want.  I have found that sausage can make or break this recipe, so make sure you find a decent andouille for this recipe.

·         1 ½ lbs boneless, skinless chicken thighs cut into 1-inch chunks (I prefer chicken thighs, but you can use chicken breast if desired. Just note that dark meat will be more tender in a stew)

·         ½ lb of shrimp, deveined w/ the shell off

·         ½ lb cured andouille sausage, sliced. Smoked and cured andouille works well.

Roux

·         ½ cup flour

·         ½ cup vegetable oil (I put a few tbsp of sausage grease in the measuring cup, then fill the rest with veggie oil)

Stock

·         6 cups LOW SODIUM chicken stock (Anything but low sodium will turn out too salty)

Vegetables

·         1 large onion, diced (white or vidalia – whichever floats your boat)

·         4 ribs celery, sliced

·         2 bell peppers, diced (I like to use green and red for color, but any color will do)

·         1 small head of garlic, peeled and minced

·         1 red jalapeno, minced (leave in seeds and ribs if you want to turn up the heat. If you use a green jalapeno, I would suggest removing the seeds and ribs)

·         ¼ lb okra, sliced (I leave this out – the choice is yours)

·         Small bit of freshly chopped parsley – optional

Spices

You can also change up your spices to get the flavor you want, but I have found that this blend gives a great authentic taste.  Note – I leave salt of the mix (other than a little celery salt) because I get enough sodium from the broth and Cajun seasoning blend)

·         3 tsp Cajun seasoning (I use a blend of a couple seasonings – I would suggest Old Bay and the Weber Cajun seasoning.  Taste these before you add, so you know how much heat, salt, etc. you want the Cajun blend to have)

·         ½ tsp celery salt

·         ½ tsp dried basil

·         ½ tsp dried oregano

·         ¼ tsp dried thyme

·         1 dried bay leaf

·         Freshly ground black pepper

For Serving

·         Long grain white rice, cooked

·         Sliced green scallion and/or fresh parsley for garnish (I leave out, but it tends to add a little freshness and visual appeal)

·         Tabasco

I like to chop all my veggies and mix my spices before I start. At the very least, make sure your veggies are chopped and ready to go before you start your roux.

         

Methods

1.      Brown meat – Heat up about a tbsp of veggie oil in a large skillet and brown the sausage over medium-high heat.  Just get the sides a little crispy and brown then throw them in a bowl, toss in Cajun seasoning, cover with foil and set aside.  Steal a few tbsp of sausage grease, set aside and brown the chicken in the remaining sausage grease.  Just cook the outside – DO NOT cook all the way through.  Same drill – remove chicken to a bowl, toss in Cajun seasoning, cover with foil and set aside.

2.      Make roux – First things first… take your bio-break, turn on some tunes, grab a beer/glass of wine and set aside at least 30-45.  Making a good roux isn’t hard; it just requires attention and patience.  If you have a large, heavy-bottomed Dutch oven, use it.  Add the veggie oil to the Dutch oven and cook on low to medium-low.  Let oil heat up, and then slowly add the flour. Constantly stir – I use a wooded spatula so it doesn’t burn. Take it slow and don’t add too much flour at once. Once all the flour is mixed into the oil, keep stirring for about 30-45 minutes. The best roux for gumbo is a dark brown roux – it will be a chocolate color.  It usually takes me about 45 minutes to get it dark enough. Don’t move on too soon, you want this roux to be a chocolate color before you go to the next step. Note – if you see black specks in the roux, you have burned the roux – throw out and start over. If you smell burning at any point, turn your heat down.

When your roux reaches the right color, turn off the heat and add the onion, bell pepper and celery all at once. Keep stirring until the roux cools down.

                        

3.      Assemble and cook the gumbo – To the roux and veggies, add your stock, chicken and sausage (with any juices that accumulated in the bowl while resting), scallions, garlic, jalapeno and spices.  Bring to a Boil, then reduce heat and simmer partially covered for about 45 minutes to an hour.  Stir occasionally. Add the okra and cook for another 30 minutes, partially covered.  Taste and adjust your seasonings then add your shrimp (or other seafood) and parsley.  Remove lid and simmer for an additional 20 minutes or longer to thicken the sauce. 

  

                       

4.      Serve – Pour gumbo over rice. Garnish with Scallions and parsley if desired.  I like to add garlic French bread or cornbread on the side.  

                

  

Store

Like all stews, gumbo thickens and improves over time. If you have leftovers, refrigerate for up to a week – your second meal will be even better!

Extras

·         I like to serve my gumbo with French bread.  Slice fresh, spread butter on one side, sprinkle garlic salt on top and broil in the oven until golden brown.

                              

·         You can also serve with cornbread. Let a stick of butter soften for about 30 minutes, then mix in some honey and serve with the cornbread.

·         For less slimy okra, give it a water/vinegar bath for about an hour.

·         Don’t feel like you need to season the gumbo all at once. If you think it might have too much heat, wait for your first tasting (after the chicken is cooked through) and adjust accordingly.

·         If you have never made a roux, watch a couple videos on YouTube so you will know what to expect – it helped me my first time.

·         Serve a salad with the gumbo (with a light dressing).  It will help lighten up the meal.

·         Change up your seafood – you can substitute crawfish or crab for shrimp.

·         Make your roux ahead of time – you can make your roux in advance. When you get your roux where you want it, just keep stirring with the stove off until it cools down. Store covered in the fridge up to a week. When you are ready to cook your gumbo, just heat up the roux and you are ready to go. 

·         Make it yours – add or omit ingredients to make it your own and bring out the flavors you like best.

I  I also have to add this picture for what Tyler is typically doing while the gumbo simmers: 

In this picture you can see our new light fixture above the table and the new sliding door. All that's left is the floor!

Until next time...

Lucky

Once again, I really need to get better about updating my blog. Time is flying, things are changing and I want to be able to look back on this fun, special and often crazy time in my life. Tyler and I have been married for over 7 months now. In fact, we are already planning our anniversary trip to New Orleans in November. In other news, we added a new member to our family.

Meet Tux.

He is a Mini Australian Shepherd (no we didn't pick him because he's a Shepherd, but it sure is convenient!) Ty has tried to talk me into getting a puppy ever since I can remember. I finally gave in and I'm so glad that I did. He's a wild puppy and needs a lot of attention, but we just love him. Please note in this picture, that he's on our bed. It only took him about three weeks to figure out how to jump onto our bed. The "stay off the furniture" rule only lasted for about 3 hours.

Last night we had my family over for dinner. Tyler grilled burgers and I made Bobby Flay's potato salad recipe from his restaurant, Mesa. (I would highly recommend the recipe if you are looking for a side to bring for a cookout!) It was a special night because Tyler and I have been wanting to do something to thank my dad for all of the time and effort he has dedicated to helping us with our remodeling projects. Anyone who knows my dad, knows how giving and selfless he is. Unfortunately, last year, his work computer was stolen out of his truck and he lost all of his files, pictures, and so much more. We decided the perfect token of our appreciation would be to surprise him with a new work computer. After a lot of research, we opted for the new HP Envy which is a laptop that converts into a tablet. We sent my dad on a scavenger hunt around the house, finally leading him to our next project - the bathroom, where the gift was waiting. The look on his face was priceless. He was excited, and definitely shocked. The time he has dedicated is worth much more to us than the laptop, or anything for that matter, but if anyone deserves it, my dad does.

Tyler has been hard at work on our kitchen remodel, as well as other projects around the house. I often find myself saying, "I just can't wait until we're DONE!" But last night, at the risk of sounding cheesy, I had a minor epiphany. After dinner, Tyler and I sat out by our fire pit with a glass of wine. We were reflecting on the night and talking about our jobs, our house, and all that we having going on in our lives. We took the time to stop and just realize how much we enjoy working on the projects and talking about the future. I have a sign hanging in my closet that reads "Life is a journey, not a destination." It's so easy to get caught up in where we hope to be in 10 years, and how we want our house to look and day dream about trips we want to take. But right now I can honestly say that I am genuinely happy and very much content. Tyler just started a new job that he loves. He is working for Ceva, a veterinary pharmaceuticals company, in inside sales. I just started a new role within Perceptive, and I'm really looking forward to the challenge. We have a great support system of friends and family, which makes life even sweeter. So often we are reminded that life is very fragile, and to make the most out of each day. We are happy, healthy and greatly enjoy making our house a home.

With that said, the kitchen project is ALMOST done. But I have to share a sneak peek. The only projects left are the counter tops and floor. Look how far we've come!

Kitchen Before

Kitchen - Almost Done!!

 
 I'll leave you with this:

Until next time...

Renovations and Resolutions

It's hard to believe that's it's already February. Since last year at this time I got engaged, planned a wedding, got married, honeymooned in St. Lucia, became a homeowner, and completed several house projects. As crazy as it all was, I'm part of the atypical handful who misses the craziness of wedding planning. However, I have to admit, that I'm sleeping better (finally) and don't have all of the stresses that come along with wedding planning madness.  It's nice that we can get back into the routine of everyday life.

Speaking of house projects. Our most recent project was putting in and framing out a new door in our kitchen. (Also, when I say "we" I'm typically referring to my dad and Tyler.) I'm mad at myself for not taking a before picture of the ancient door and the blinds that came along with it. However, I found a few photos to at least give you an idea of what it looked like:

We are guessing the door was around 30+ years old and the glass was in terrible condition

In order to block the sun, these beautiful vertical slat blinds were put in place to keep out about 40% of the light.

My dad and Tyler installed the door, all that is left is the framing

Finished project! The door has blinds inside the glass which is a huge upgrade from before

Next up is the full kitchen reno. Luckily my dad is a contractor and Tyler is quite handy. But we have a BIG project ahead of us. Next time you see a picture of the door, you won't see the beautiful linoleum flooring, instead we will have hardwoods...can't wait!

As I mentioned before, time is flying and Lent is already here. I've been thinking a lot about what I want to give up as well as what I want to work on. I read my good friend Katie's blog (http://healthyandhappyhour.com/) religiously and she gave me the idea of posting my goals to keep me accountable. First, I'm giving up pop. I know that might sound like an easy, 7th grade resolution, but that does not apply to me and my Diet Dr. Pepper addiction. Not only did they just build a brand new QuikTrip down the road, which has the best fountain drinks. My place of work also has a free pop machine on each floor.

No, they don't have DDP, but they do have Pibb Zero which is the next best thing.

I also am working to achieve a healthy balance when it comes to eating, working out, and going out. I'm guilty of setting high goals and then once I fall off the wagon, REALLY falling off the wagon. I end up indulging in whatever sort of bad-for-you things I can get my hands on, specifically (but not limited to) pizza, hot wings, tacos, chips and salsa, cheese dip, ramen, Ice Cream Twix....the list goes on and on. So my goal is not to cut out all of my favorite things, but the keyword is moderation.

I'm back to my workout regimen at Fusion Fitness. My friend Melissa got me into Fusion, and I absolutely love it. It's a mix of cardio, dance class paired with upbeat music. The classes are never the same, so I don't get bored (which is typically my problem). It's a really tough workout, but one that I enjoy! Apparently ex-Olympic Gymnast Alicia Sacramone also attends Fusion which is pretty cool!

I'm still reeling from a great weekend so I've added a few photos. Tyler and I went down to Springfield, MO with our good friends Janna and Evan to see our 9th Zac Brown Band concert. Yes, I know, nine is a lot. However each concert is so much different and even better than the last...but yes, we're definitely groupies. 

Dinner at Kai in Springfield, MO

Tyler and Evan, and the rose

Such a fun concert!

Having no fun at all...

Janna and I

Until next time.

"It's funny how it's the little things in life that mean the most
Not where you live, what you drive, or the price tag on your clothes
There's no dollar sign on a piece of mind this I've come to know
So if you agree have a drink with me
Raise your glasses for a toast"

Mrs. Shepherd

Well I'm back, and married (I guess it's time for a new name for the blog).

As you can probably imagine, quite a bit has happened since July! Wedding planning and work took over my life. However, I can't complain, because I love my job and the wedding was absolutely wonderful. Let's see, I feel like I need to back track to my (semi) single, summer days to catch up on what's been going on.

Like I said, work has been crazy busy, in a very good way. Perceptive/Lexmark have been acquiring companies left and right. By default (and via our co-worker's pregnancy leave) Janna and I ended up being responsible for much of the training for the new companies. That started in D.C., continued virtually to the Australian team, then to Denver and ended in Europe!

Our trip to D.C. was supposed to be July 1st - 3rd, but being that I was there with one of my best friends, over the 4th of July, we decided to pay to stay a few extra days. As always, we had a great time and have some extremely funny stories (to us at least.) Here are some highlights from our trip:




Janna and I were able to tour the Capitol which was such a neat experience!

 

Arlington Cemetery on July 4th



JFK's gravesite

The White House

Reflection pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial

Hangin' with Lincoln

Following the D.C. trip, I traveled to Nashville for one of my best friend's bachelorette party. I had been down there once before to visit her, and absolutely loved it! The first time I went with two of my friends to visit Katie (who was attending Vanderbilt at the time.) However, in August I was with 11 other girls, so we had an absolute blast. Beautiful weather, cocktails, and country music. It was so much fun celebrating the bride to be!!

Chi O's! Such a fun weekend

"Gettin' Hitched!"

The bride-to-be!

Love these three

Katie got married in October! It was the perfect day. She looked beautiful!!

I'll save the other trips, happenings, and wedding goodness for future blogs (I'm determined to get back in the habit...).

Progress on our house is coming along slowly but surely. The wedding gifts DEFINITELY helped a lot, and it's starting to feel like OUR home and not a bachelor pad (much to Tyler's dismay :) ). I haven't made much progress in my closet, besides this solution for my necklace collection. I went to hobby lobby and found the cork board and some sturdy, multi-colored pushpins and voila. We have a few other projects in the works, and I can't wait to see it all come together!

Until Next Time...

Megan Shepherd :)

Let the Games Begin!

It has been far too long since my last post. I blame it primarily on the wedding. You wouldn't (or I guess I wouldn't) think that a November wedding would be consuming tons of my time during the summer, but I have learned that is far from the case. There are so many decisions to be made and I find myself working on something for the wedding almost everyday. I decided to create this blog to document our engagement, so here we go again! First, here are 4 of my 6 bridesmaids and hostesses of my bridal shower:

Left to Right: Brianna, Katie, me, Melissa, Janna

Yesterday was one of the best days of my life. Yes, I'm aware that is a very bold statement, but it absolutely was. I spent the day lounging by the pool, soaking up the sun with my bridesmaids, my mom and future mother-in-law. We indulged in Summer Shandy and buffalo chicken dip. After catching some rays, I went home to change and the others got the house ready for a fabulous bridal shower. Let me preface this by saying that I knew the shower would be wonderful. My bridesmaids are fun, creative and incredibly thoughtful. However, the shower TOTALLY exceeded my expectations. Not only was the shower absolutely gorgeous, but it was also one of the most fun nights I've ever had. Let's start with the invitations.

The theme was "Wine and Dine" complete with cork and a wine glass seal on the back. I know, I have brilliant, creative bridesmaids, right?!? I pull up to the house, and there are pink and purple balloons tied to the mailbox. I knew that if they were meticulous enough to think about balloons, they had gone all out....and that was definitely the case. I was floored as soon as I walked in the door. The shower was so detailed and so beautiful. I've added pictures below but they really don't do their time, effort, and beautiful results the proper justice.

Adorable name tags! The wine bottle was a gift from the hostesses, they made a wine label from the invite. Also, note the lighted fish bowl (there were several incorporated with the docor) it was an addition from my futuer mother-in-law, so cute!!

They had several gorgeous flowers in wine bottles, SO cute. My bridesmaids are DIY queens :)

 

A few of the centerpeices that I brought home! So pretty!

You can see the delicious Sangria on the left, luckily they bought 25 bottles of wine for 23 people so rest assured we had plenty! Also, delicious cheese, grapes (wine and dine!), hummus, pretzels....just for the appetizers. Everyone wore pink, purple, or red (wine colors).

Note that the cheeses are indicated by wine corks, so creative!

The wonderful meal! They prepared an elaborate Italian dinner complete with caesar salad, fettucini alfredo, pasta marinara, homemade mac and cheese, caprese salad and garlic bread. It was DELICIOUS! (And some how I didn't spill any of it on my white dress!)

Beautiful outdoor setup! Reine even had the pool fountain going!

Gift Table before everyone got there :)

The first hour we spent chatting and everyone was able to get acquainted. Then we had the fantastic dinner then made our way inside for gifts.

My cousin Mary and I

Cousins! Maggie and Amy, my  twin :)

The MOB (Mother of the Bride)

Everyone brought such sweet and thoughtful gifts! Here a few unique gifts:

Trish and Maureen brought these adorable personalized towels. Love the monogram!!

Lindsey got us a personalized beverage tub with outdoor wine glasses, so cute! 

So the shower was so beautiful and it was clear that my bridesmaids had put so much time and effort in. But, their gift was the icing on the cake. Not only was it fitting with the theme, but it was SO thoughtful. They gave Tyler and I 6 bottles of wine for all of our "'firsts". The card read:

"Like fine wine, our friendship only gets better with time! We are looking forward to seeing you through your 'firsts' in your new married life!"

The baskets included:

1. First New Years - "La Jolie" Champagne
2. First Dinner Party - "Foodie" Cabernet Sauvignon
3. First Fight - "Clean Slate" Riesling
4. First Anniversary - "Barefoot Bubbly" Champagne
5. First Christmas Eve - "Kris" Pinot Grigio
6. First Baby - Sparkling Grape Juice :)

Each bottle has a very sweet note that goes along with it. The gift means SO much to Tyler and me, and I love that my best friends will be a very special part of our "firsts" as a married couple.

Thank you guys so much! I LOVE the gift!!

After gifts, we played a cute game that the girls came up with. They asked Tyler several questions, and I had to guess his corresponding answers. If I answered a question incorrectly, I had to take a sip of Sangria, but if I got it right, everyone else had to take a sip. Each received a different question, my bridesmaids also put a lot of thought into who got what question. For example, my cousin with curly hair had the question about how I think Tyler likes me to wear my hair. While my cousin with 2 kids, had a question about how many kids Tyler said that he wanted. Tyler's answers were well thought out and so funny! Here are a few examples:

 Question: Which movie did Tyler say you would watch if you could only watch one movie for the rest of your life?

My Answer: Meet me in St. Louis.

His Answer: Does my high school football highlight film count?? If not, she would either watch the
Holiday or Meet me in St. Louis.

Question: We asked Tyler what your favorite color of shoe is. What did he say?

My Answer: 90% of my shoes are tan or nude, so definitely tan

His Answer: Really??? I have no idea. Leopard Print?? (Needless to say I had to take a drink on that one)

Question: Tyler was asked to pick what kind of animal you would be. What did he say?

My Answer: A Chipmunk. He always says that if I was an animal, that's what I would be.

His Answer: A Chipmunk.

Question: Tyler was asked to pick what kind of animal he would be. What did he say? Why?

My Answer: He always says that he'd be some kind of Jungle cat.

His Answer: I would also be a chipmunk because tigers and chipmunks cannot get married.

It was such a cute game and Tyler's witty answers made it extra entertaining. Janna pointed out that I answered the question, "When is the first time you and Tyler said, 'I love you'" incorrectly, but I was able to list off the animals we would both be without any hesitation, haha. It was such a cute idea and made me laugh and cry (tears of joy, mind you).

That concluded the fabulous shower, and were ready to head out on the town! They gave me beads, "Bride to Be" glasses, and a BRIDE goblet to bring out. However my mom and Melissa (my maid of honor) had a surprise. My mom brought the veil from her wedding (that I lovingly refer to as a yamaka - see picture below) to wear out. We were heading out the door, when I saw the last surprise. Reine (my future mother-in-law) had arranged for a trolley to pick us up and take us out. The ride down was an absolute blast! It was such a fun surprise! We went to the Levee in Westport, danced the night away, and ended the night with the whole group singing Happy Hanukkah by Adam Sandler (an ode to the yamaka veil). Party Pics below :)

Party Trolley to the Levee...with a few unexpected stops :)

Hilarious...

Complete with the yamaka veil!

I'm so grateful for such wonderful family and friends. I can't say enough good things about my bridesmaids and I'm so appreciative of all of their time and effort that they put into the shower. It was absolutely perfect and it is definitely a night I will never forget!!