9.20.2010

and the most domestic wife award goes to...

...this girl!!!  [Please picture me double-thumbs-up pointing at myself.  Because if anyone was here besides Mr. Brown, that's what I would be doing.]  I seriously am the most domestic and awesome wife ever!  During the late afternoon on Saturday, I was just perousing the ol' World Wide Web, the sound of the Huskers dominating the Huskies (tell me that isn't kind of funny!) in the background, just a blog-readin', Facebook stalkin', iTunes browsin' as I always do.  I think to myself, "Self, didn't you say on Friday in that grocery/to-do list you made that you wanted to make pumpkin muffins this weekend for Mrs. Hart's birthday?  And aren't you also craving something sweet and yummy that tastes like fall?  And don't you think it would be a good idea to test those muffins you have never made before and are just going to google a recipe to make? ....Why yes, Self, I think that indeed!" 

So, I of course go to my second most trusted woman for recipes and cooking advice, straight from the great state herself, The Pioneer Woman.  [Duh, of course my mom is the first most trusted recipe/cooking advice-giving woman I go to.]  Anyway, since my mom didn't answer, I typed in "pumpkin" to Ree's [we're close] search bar and found these.  Of course she suggested I make my own pumpkin puree as opposed to simply buying a can full like a normal person would do...and since she asked so nicely, and since I am a hermit and many friends were out of town and Nick was in Lincoln and really, I did have the time, I thought, "Why not?"  So I bought some pumpkins, cooked them up, peeled them, cut them, pureed them, [then mashed them by hand with a fork and an egg beater because the Magic Bullet blender thing simply was not performing as well as one might have liked.  Annoyances aside, I pureed my own pumpkin!  OUT OF AN ACTUAL PUMPKIN!!!  Tell me you are not impressed.  No, don't tell me, because you are.  Or you should be.  Because that is ridiculous!  They sell the stuff in a can, and it makes the bread and muffins and pie taste delicious!  Next I'll probably tell you I evaporated my own milk.  Don't even get me started on the outrageous concept that is evaporated milk.  [In case you are unfamiliar with the substance, and have a misunderstanding of the word "evaporated," as I must or the poor smelling ingredient would most assuredly make more sense!]  Enough about that....

So anyway, I pureed those pumpkins and threw all the goop and seeds away (who even likes eating the seeds after you toast them anyway?  No one], and was wiped.  Early morning church [9:45 service] was looming just around the corner [still over ten hours away] and I needed to rest up for married Sunday School class.  [perhaps more to come on that at another time...let's just say we, with the Wilde's, and by we I actually just mean me...I went to married SS class with no spouse, which means I probably looked like a giant dork but whatever.]  :)  So I went to bed.  Well, I turned off the lights and fell asleep watching a movie as is the norm per whenever Mr. Brown is away. 

The next afternoon, after soaking up some delicious Vitamin D and doing some reading on our spacious veranda, I plopped some of that lovely orange [seriously orange, not like the-stuff- in-the-can orange, but like Macaroni-and-Cheese-crayon orange] goop in the ol' Kitchen Aid and added some other stuff, weird smelling milk included, threw in some dark chocolate chips, and the batter was ready for baking.  The only problem was, it was time for youth group.  [Note: Not an actual problem, simply an issue in timing for the baking of the muffs.]

Went to youth group, played some Murder Ball, learned about Jesus [actually, as a matter of fact, was deeply challenged and will perhaps share more about that later as well], and got to hang out with super cool and fun youth and sponsors. 

Came home, and my man was back!!!  Woo hoooooo!!!  Had some pizza together.  It was fab, I missed him sooooo muchoooooo!!!  College fairs, ick. 

Back to the muffs.  Well, I forgot to mention I did cover the batter with foil and put it in the fridge so it wouldn't spoil while I was gone (you know, eggs and such).  So I got that out of the fridge, filled the muffin cups with goop, and baked them!  I wont even tell you how many times I checked the oven and stuck the knife in that middle muffin and they weren't done and they weren't done and FINALLLLLY they were finished!  [Sarah, I added two minutes like 12 times... usually two minutes is perfect!]  Delish delish delish!!!  More to come soon.  Stories and muffins.  Maybe even some pictures!

With a renewed spirit,

Mrs. Brown :)

9.18.2010

P90-X?

Nick and I have great intentions.  We want to work out and be in shape and have ultra-sexy bods (well, we do!) and weigh less and eat healthy and etc etc.  Oook, so when I say we, I mostly mean I with a teensy bit of we in there.  I want all those things, and I want Nick to want all those things with me...what, is that so bad?  ;)  [I have an issue with control...let's not go there today...] 

Until probably January-ish of last semester (being a student and entering into a world filled with school, I will most likely always mark life by semesters and summers-), I did pretty well with eating healthy enough and working out semi-enough.  Then came the semester from down under and busyness and stress out the wazoo and a man who was thrilled to eat pizza, ice cream and other terrible (albeit delicious) foods all the time.  Then came marriage and a perfect honeymoon filled with multi-billion calorie meals and little to no working out to burn said calorie...whoops!  Anyway, the rest of the summer took us here and there and back and forth and to Kansas City so many times I started to think we lived there and not Manhattan... (I wish, for Marion's sake!  And for the sake of going to outlet malls within twenty minutes driving time, and not two hours.)  So we rarely had a fridge full of veggies and fruits, and were often enticed by road food and Momma's good cookin (both my Mom and Nick's, whenever we are near them the food is better, and I mean, it is only respectful to partake in their delicious cooking...right?)  Then came the rush of Enrollment and my last days at MCC and the start of school which has often left me too tired to want to cook something tasty AND healthy, and beyond too tired to work out! 



When I lived in the dorms, I got far less sleep and did much much more with my time, but somehow still managed to get to the rec multiple times a week... reason: that is where my friends were; that is so often where we hung out!  (Why I can no longer convince myself that "hanging out" at the rec is the best thing is a mystery to me...)  Anyway, all that being said, this week starts yet another attempt at being more intentional about what we are eating and working out at least a few days a week.  We bought the P90-X system, and while there is like, negative chance I will be able to trick Nick into working out for an hour-plus with me six days of the week, we are going to use the dvds and workouts in our own P-Hannah and Nick-X.  The workouts are really great, as I have done a few now already, but we just can't commit to all the time it takes with having to go to bed and get up at different times right now and being busy at night almost every night. 

Do not worry!  Hot body WILL win out, especially now that the sister and Mark-o are engaged, I have something to work toward (other than general health and fitness), as well as I plan on doing another triathlon in the spring, and the KC all-women triathlon again next August.  Oh and there is a half marathon in Lincoln that ends on the football field in Memorial Stadium, and I would really like to do that as well.  I know I know I know, ambitious, lots of goals and commitment involved, and we know how great I do with those... hopefully this will be different!  (and anyway, if it isn't, and I look just like I do now at Sarah and Mark's wedding, shoot, the bride is supposed to be the prettiest anyway, right?  I'm just helping there to be no distractions from her beauty!)  Meh meh mehhh :)

DISCLAIMER:  I do not think I am fat  or ugly, nor am I too terribly concerned with my body image as of current.  I just want to be healthier and start working out more and wanted to write about it.  I was recently reminded of how awful girls can be to their own bodies, both physically, but sometimes even more importantly mentally.  We were created by a perfect God and are perfect in HIS sight.  That perfection is what should matter.  When we continue to critique and insult ourselves over and over we are essentially insuting the handiwork of God and that is just plain wrong.  I love myself, as narcissistic as that may sound, and am content with how I look.  

Love,

Mrs. Brown :)

9.17.2010

confession :)

Let me confess-- I am terribly devoted to blog-reading.  Perhaps [definitely] more than I should be...what with the reading of blog upon blog written by precious moms and friends and newleyweds and other randoms I stumble upon... I love to read about adorable stories and love-filled times; my heart melts at an engagement story or those adorable baby-belly pictures.  That being said, I feel as though it is only fair that I might share some funny anecdotes and bouts of wisdom learned during these early days and months of married life, as well as grant the world (or at least the however many people that actually read this...) a teeny glance into the lives of Nick and Hannah Brown :)
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The other day Nick told me he had heard a song on the radio that had made him him think of me, and he bought it on iTunes.  These are some of the lyrics:


Oh her eyes, her eyes
Make the stars look like they're not shining
Her hair, her hair
Falls perfectly without her trying

She's so beautiful
And I tell her every day

Yeah I know, I know
When I compliment her
She wont believe me
And its so, its so
Sad to think she don't see what I see

But every time she asks me do I look okay
I say

When I see your face
There's not a thing that I would change
Cause you're amazing
Just the way you are
And when you smile,
The whole world stops and stares for awhile
Cause girl you're amazing
Just the way you are

Her nails, her nails
I could kiss them all day if she'd let me
Her laugh, her laugh
She hates but I think its so sexy

She's so beautiful

And I tell her every day

Oh you know, you know, you know
Id never ask you to change
If perfect is what you're searching for
Then just stay the same

So don't even bother asking
If you look okay
You know I say


Mmmmm, I love him. 

New Start

Hello blog-friends who will hopefully re-follow me on this new blog!  I am starting a new blog for a plethora of reasons, one of which being I can't stinking get my old one to format correctly! but that is besides the point... another reason being I have a renewed dedication to blogging and feel as if it is only fair to friends and family (all 3 of you who actually care what is happening in my day to day) to post more, and well, since I can't give my ol' blog a haircut, (which is what I tend to do upon starting a new journey...) or even a new background, I am simply starting a new one. 

So follow me, and Nick, even though he may or may not even read this more than a few times a year (when I ask nicely...), as we experience life as newleyweds, as I become a teacher, and as we continue to grow closer to our awesome Lord. 


Peace-

HBrown :)