{pray} surprisingly satisfied

Like Priscilla Shirer mentioned in her book Resolution Woman, I'm the type of person who lives for the next big thing ahead. I'm ceaselessly overeager to get to the next thing--the things that sound better than what currently is taking place in my life. 

Great example-- Stephen, my husband, has been in engineering school for two and half years now {PTL he's almost DONE!}--and in the past two and half years, like many couples, we've been through ups and downs, spiritually...financially... and I have had little satisfaction with what I have now. From day one, I have  tried to hurry through our current life with him in school and live for the "when he's done" moments-- like buying a house, starting a family, and the list goes on. On top of that, instead of enjoying each moment, each year, each step of our journey, I have constantly tried to rush our current life.

Today, while reading Resloution Woman, I feel I was definately spoken to. Which shows how faithful our Father is, since I started my quiet time asking Him to speak to me through the passages of the book! He did indeed! Today's reading was called Surprisingly Satisfactory. Fit perfectly.

Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, 'I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you. Hebrews 13:5.

Have you been rushing through for something? For what?

#febphotoaday: my {10am}

{pray}

LOL,

Meagan

{be merry} day 3 of #febphotoaday and part 2: someone's trash is my treasure

It's Friday, Friday!

I am a little pooped and I am not quite sure why...oh wait, it's probably the aftermath of the late night intense workout that took place last night at the Maxson home. So, needless to say, I was ready to get home, hug and kiss my hubby, put my pajamas on, make brinner {my dinner of choice...and my fave!}, blog, and watch some Dateline {my typical Friday night programming}. I absolutely love breakfast, especially for dinner--and especially, when I am not really feeling the mood to cook or dine out, and when I'm clearly just craving grits & eggs, and sweet potato waffles!! YUM!

a scrambed egg, grits, turkey bacon, & a sweet potato waffle

On another note, today's photo challenge word was hands. Check out my {hands} interpretation.

it's 5 o'clock somewhere

You can also check out everyone else's pictures. I do it every night and it's so fun to see how different everyone's photos are. It's super cool, because peeps from all over the globe are posting sharing their photos on their blogs, twitter, instagram, and fb too!


part 2: someone's trash is my treasure

{eat, pray, be merry friends}

LOL,

Meagan

day 2 #febphotoaday

I hope y'all had a wonderful Groundhog Day and as beautiful a day that we had here. PTL, for
this spring-like weather...I'm loving it--but yes, I'm sure it won't last!

Today, was day two of #febphotoaday challenge--inspiration word was words.


 {words in my personal design lexicon}

 Day 3 #febphotoaday tomorrow and I will also share part two of  someone's trash is my treasure. 

Have a fabulous Friday y'all!

LOL,

Meagan

{be merry} #febphotoaday and being {refab}ulous

Yay, today was not only the first of February, or hump day {ameeeeeen}...it was the first day of February photo-a-day challenge y'all!! Woop woop!

Day 1 inspiration was "my view today". Did you join in the challenge? If so, what was your view today?

And {my view today} was...

Don't forget, if you too want to take part in the challenge go to @fatmumslim's blog

http://www.fatmumslim.com.au/2012/01/february-photo-day-challenge.html

Here's how it works:

1. Using the list as inspiration on the blog, take a photo each day.

2. Share it on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtag #FEBphotoaday. You can also share on your blog or on Facebook ... or even keep the photos privately for yourself.

3. Check out other people's photos and like them or comment on them.

Okay y'all, here's my not so extreme furniture makeover from yesterday!!

my tools
paint {a benjamin moore shade of grey}
paint pan
roller sponge
2" paint brush
Minwax dark walnut stain

my {refab}ulous project
an unfinished oak hutch
a 3-drawer dresser

My style is somewhat eclectic with a vintage seaside inspiration. Many pieces we own are hand-me-down antiques and trash turned treasure...literally trash {this dresser being the trash, no kidding}. Our color palette includes shades of blue, grey, brown, and white. Since we have a blue sofa and several dark stained pieces, it didn't take me long to decide I wanted to use a shade of grey for this makeover.

Just a couple of coats of this shade of grey and I transformed drab to fab. It's amazing what a new fresh coat of paint can do!

and drum roll please....

And y'all that's what a little paint can do! I'm in love with the finished project!

Please check out eatpraybemerry.blogspot.com tomorrow for day 2 of #febphotoaday and part 2 of someone's trash is my treasure.

{be merry} and turn something drab to fab!

LOL,

Meagan

{be merry} someone's trash is my treasure: Part 1

Have you ever seen an episode of American Pickers? American Pickers, a History Channel series about antique picking,  isn't your grandmother's antiquing. Mike Wolfe and Frank Fritz {the Pickers} are what you would call "modern archeologists". They travel coast to coast hoping to recycle America, even if it means diving into junkyards or getting chased off by gun-handling homeowners. The series follows them as they scour the country for hidden gems in junkyards, basements, garages and barns, meeting quirky characters and hearing their stories. So, no surprise here, I love this show, I even had a dream a couple nights ago I was a picker myself....seriously.

Like Mike and Frank, I enjoy spending any chance I get, scouring the aisles of large antique stores treasure hunting with my mom. What makes me even merrier, is turning one's trash into my treasure.

Today's blog, I am going to share with you the recent "trash" I've turned treasure...

My first treasure actually came from my my grandaddy and grandmother's barn--a barn, I love diving into every given opportunity.

I have little wall space in my kitchen, however, they fit perfectly hanging in our tiny space.

antique tinware kitchen measuring scoops

My second treasure, are these vintage white porcelain busts. These also came from my grandmother's country bungalow.  I've had my eyes on the busts for years, and might have called "dibs" on them a a time or two...well, my grandmother brought them to TN earlier this month...and it made my heart smile. They're beautiful and by far my favorite decorative accessory in our apartment.


antique white porcelain bust of a girl...i love a ruffled collar



antique white porcelain bust of girl...& i love a bow

 My next trash to treasure for part 1, is this old horse shoe. Although it may seem like something silly to treasure, the horse shoe is somewhat of a symbol of our wedding day...we had a beautiful summer wedding on an old gorgeous horse farm in Fayettville, TN.


an old horse shoe that symbolizes the day i married my husband

Finally, last week my mom and I spent the afternoon picking through several TN antique shops. My mom picked up this vintage white milk glass open lace bowl, and I fell in love with it instantly. Yes, I must admit, I am obsessed with white milk glass. It's simple, charming, and classy.

vintage white milk glass open lace bowl

Please stay tuned y'all for part 2 of "someone's trash is my treasure"--there are lots more to come! Also, I will blog about today's furniture painting project.

I hope I have inspired you to do a little picking!

{be merry}

Happy picking y'all!

LOL {lots of love},

Meagan

{eat} my granny's fresh apple cake

Happy Monday y'all!!

So, I probably shouldn't say this, but my first attempt to blogging was quite a fail. Yes, I said it...a fail. Post my summer 2009 wedding, the idea sounded great in my mind, and I was super thrilled about it, yet when it came to posting my thoughts and ideas, I was somewhat empty. A couple years later, I discovered blogging again and www.pinterest.com. I avidly read blogs and became a pinaholic--inspired, and like many fellow bloggers, I too want to inspire others. Just through Pinterest and other blogs alone, my creative bones have been fueled. Can I get an amen?!

Through http://www.eatpraybemerry.blogspot.com/, I want to share my favorite recipes, favorite life moments, design ideas and projects, and all the other things that make my heart merry. Thank you for reading, and I hope you continue to follow my blog.  I'll get better y'all, promise. :-)

{eat}

I remember, as a young child visiting my great grandmother during the summers in Norman Park, Georgia {side note--a south west GA town w/ a population of 800}, and we were always welcomed in her tiny home, by the aroma of baked apples, apple tarts, apple dumplings, and/or her famous apple cake, oh and the list goes on.

my granny and me

Twenty years later, my lovely grandmother still continues to share my granny's recipes, whenever given the opportunity. And today, I will share one of my favorites with you. No worries friends, this is not a "secret" family recipe, this is a recipe that must be shared...

fresh apples

fresh apple cake

 Anyone who knows me well, knows I LOVE my sweets. I love a good dessert, and I love preparing and indulging in a delicious cake, or really any dessert for that matter. One of my favorite ingredients for a dessert, is a juicy fresh apple--my granny's fresh apple tarts, my grandmother's apple dumplings, and granny's fresh apple cake. And, as much as I like to promote "healthy" eating, by no means is this cake "guilt free". Needless to say, it's scrumptious!

fresh apple cake is BEST when served warm with a large glass of milk or a cup of coffee!



my grandmother's handwritten "granny's fresh apple cake" recipe ingredients

 Recipe Directions 

First, preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Coat pan with nonstick cooking spray with flour.

Second, place walnuts in pan; toast in oven 7 minutes or until golden and fragrant. Cool completely in pan on wire rack. Meanwhile, in large bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, and salt. In another large bowl, combine walnuts, vanilla, and 2 1/2 cups apples. Reserve remaining 1/2 cup apple.

Then, in large bowl, with mixer on medium-high speed, beat granulated sugar, oil, and eggs until well blended. With mixer on low speed, gradually add flour mixture, scraping bowl occasionally with rubber spatula. Beat 1 minute longer or until well combined. With spatula, fold in apple mixture (batter will be thick). Spoon batter into prepared pan. Scatter remaining apple over top of batter; with fingers, press into top of batter.

Bake 1 1/2 hours or until toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool in pan on wire rack until completely cooled. Unmold cake and transfer to cake plate. Dust cake lightly with confectioners' sugar to serve. {note- my granny and grandmother coated the cake with a glaze, either way is delish!}

{Eat and be merry}

Enjoy! Now, go bake a fresh apple cake! ;-)

LOL,

Meagan



 

{eat} sweet potato pancakes

This week my mom and I discovered the tasty alternative to the ordinary pancake.

Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day, and what's better than once in awhile {I repeat, once in awhile} enjoying your first meal of the day at Cracker Barrel. We picked up the seasonal menu, and there they were...sweet potato pancakes.  So mom and I enjoyed each other's company over a couple cups of coffee and a plate of deliciousness with a fabulous aroma.

And friends, you don't have to like sweet potatoes to love the sweet potato pancake!

I am definitely adding the spp to my favorite things list! So I had to purchase a box of the spp mix from the Old Country Store at CB.

Do yourself a huge favor...pick up a box {or a couple} next time your near a CB {the spp mix will only be available through winter}. You'll love me for it! Promise! Or if you don't like simple as much as i do...make the spp from scratch.

Sweet Potato Pancakes

Heat skillet or griddle over medium heat or to 375 degrees

Blend together pancake 1/2 cup mix and 1/3 cup water and whisk, let stand for 5 minutes

Pour 1/4 cup batter on griddle for each 4 inch pancake

Bake on hot griddle for 2 minutes, turn and cook 1 minute

Top lightly with cinnamon, powder sugar, brown sugar, light butter, light syrup, or nut of choice

Serving Size: 1/2 cup mix {makes 2-4 pancakes}

Calories: 210

Total Fat: 2.5g {Saturated Fat 0g, Trans Fat 0g}

Eat, be merry, and ENJOY!

LOL,

Meagan