That time I woke up looking like I'd been electrocuted

That time was actually this morning.  And be aware, this is the after picture.  After I slaved over my hair to make it look nice and presentable.  Actually I didn't really slave, but it did take work!  It's not easy looking this fabulous.

Here's the 411.  I thought I'd be a cool hipster and jump on the friar tuck method  bandwagon of curling your hair and this is what happened.  I was hoping/expecting awesome, beautiful curls like Aunie's but no.  Who was I kidding thinking that I'd roll out of bed with my hair looking like anything but a mess?  It's funny how after all these years, I'm still waiting for it to happen...

Anyway!  Back to the story.

I got out of bed and my hair was disheveled and a little bit unkempt.  Then I tried taking it out of the headband.  How's that for fun!  Let's just say, the look of frustration I saw on my face as I was trying to take my hair down has made me rethink ever doing this again.

Yeah.. How'd you like to wake up to that every morning?  You're right.  I've probably got seven messages waiting for me from potential suitors as we speak.

It doesn't look so bad here, but up close it was like a personal rat's nest.  The way it used to look in the morning before I had it permanently straightened.  Talk about déjà vu!  Certainly don't miss that.

After I carefully brushed it out to tame the rat's nest I had going on, I pinned back the front pieces which were practically ringlets next to the rest of my hair, because I couldn't go out looking like what you see in the picture above, now could I?  After some gel and a lot of hairspray, this is the result.  Semi-decent.  Somewhere between I-slept-over-at-my-boyfriend's-house-and-didn't-have-a-flatiron and this-was-all-I-could-put-together-in-ten-minutes.  I can work it.

Now tell me, have you ever tried to curl your hair like this?  Was it a total disaster or did you look like you'd just stepped off the runway?   xx

Life lately.

I'm officially the worst blogger ever.

It's been a whole 11 days since I've written a single blog post, and for no reason other than I just didn't feel like it.  Being in school full time and working 20+ hours a week doesn't go easy on my sanity!  In fact, yesterday was the first morning in 6+ weeks that I didn't have to be somewhere, and I liked relaxing in bed so much that I only got up for brunch.  That is how thin my sanity has gotten.  Nothing short of the thought of a Beligan waffle topped with strawberries and hand-whipped cream got me out of bed.  I know.  It's a new low.

You can take the picture of my adorable black lab puppy as a peace offering.  There's no resisting her.  Nope.

So, since you've probably forgotton the sound of my voice or what color my eyes are since I've been gone so long, here are a few updates on my life lately:

1. //  This past weekend I participated in Meredith's Sheepish Heart Bomb; this heart was one of 15 I scattered across 4 cities in honor of the day of love.  Even more awesome: some of them are still there!

2. & 3. //  I spent Valentine's day out in the country on a picnic with my ex, Miles.  Not a cloud in the sky, a light breeze, a beautiful pond to gaze at, and no cell reception; doesn't get much better than that, folks.  (Since I missed it, how was your Valentine's?)

4. //  These are a few of my recent orders that have gone out.  So excited about my new logo!  I just got my new business cards and stickers with the logo on them last week.  Couldn't be happier.  :)

Speaking of excited, I'm so glad to have those of you here who found me from The Life of Bon!  Here's all you need to know about me: my favorite number is 13, just like my girl T. Swift whom I channel often.  I used to have a mane for hair.  I traded that for sleek, straight hair and bangs, if you can believe it!  I knit with no abandon, and often.  Now that I've bared my deepest secrets, I hope I'll continue to see your faces 'round these parts.  ;)

Happy Tuesday!   xx

p.s. The winner of my Corkcicle giveaway is Laura from Mice in the Kitchen! Congrats! & thanks to everyone who entered.  :)

What being sick means

Being sick is possibly one of the worst things to ever happen.  You lose your voice from coughing, can't breathe well because of sinus pressure, and all around just feel like crap.  It sucks being sick.  But here's what being sick really means.

Being sick means people go out of your way to get you what you need/want.  Water, cough drops, maybe even your favorite snack from the store.  Anything to keep you happy and quarrantined so everyone else doesn't get sick too.

Being sick means having a five-foot invisible bubble around you.  People can sense when someone is sick and give you a wide berth at all times so as not to become infected with what is making you miserable.

Being sick means suffering through work becauseyouhavetoshowyourbossthatyou'lldoanythingforapromotion.  ANYTHING.

Being sick means sleeping for 10 hours at night, but still feeling exhausted, which means a 3 hour nap in between those 10 hour nights.  Who has time for errands or cleaning?  

Being sick means watching SVU reruns so much that you're now able to recite every single line, and know things you really shouldn't.  What, you didn't know Tutuola's badge number?  Shame on you.

But most of all, being sick means losing your voice, not being able to breathe, and feeling like crap.


p.s.  don't forgot to enter the corkcicle giveaway!  it ends tonight!

The big reveal! (and an outfit)

blouse | inherited from a friend   necklace | forever 21   boots | madden girl

Alright guys, like I said, Tuesday was the last day you'd see me without bangs.  Here they (it? are bangs plural?) are!  Still can't believe I did it.  While sitting in the chair, I was freaking out as much as when I got my tattoo.  You can kind of guess, I'm very attached to my hair.  I knew I wanted bangs, and have for a long time, but that last single moment of doubt as the scissors are laid against your hair... it's a very tense moment.  Those of you who have gotton a drastically different hair cut before will know that moment of doubt I'm talking about.  ;)  Anyway, I'm in love with them, but since it's been 13 years since I've had bangs (which were very thin to begin with), they're extremely hard to get used to.  I know they look nice from this point of view, but think about it like this: every time I look up (only using my eyes) it's like.. BAM.  There they are.  Right in my face.

I'm kind of in love with this outfit.  I even cheated a little bit and wore it twice this week.  Don't tell anyone.  I've looongg admired the outfits girls wear with a long shirt and boots over leggings, but I never had a long shirt for said outfit.  And I'm definitely not one of those girls who can wear leggings or yoga pants in public without anything covering their behind!  This shirt was long enough to do that, but I still felt.. naked.  I've never worn leggings just by themselves.  It was weird.  Just had to follow Chrystina's advice and just mentally rock it.  ;)

Have you ever worn leggings by themselves? What about bangs? Do you wear those by themselves too? ;) Just kidding!  xx

currently listening to..// Cruise - Florida Georgia Line

Keeping your chin up

I've been thinking lately about being happy.  I realized the other night how (for the most part) happy I am.  It was the first time in over a year that I had that epiphany.  Sad, but true.  2012 was a tough year for me.  So I said to myself, "You know what Megan, there are probably other gals out there having just as much of a hard time and wouldn't they like some tips on getting through it all?"  So here we are.

Tip #1:  It's cliché, but don't let the small things drag you down.  Don't let them cloud the big picture, or cast a shadow on the path you want to take.  Yes, it's good to enjoy small things in your life - like a stranger on the subway randomly comping your ticket or a passerby gushing over your jacket - but if they don't happen, don't let it bother you.  If you've been to your local Starbucks a million and one times and the same barista still doesn't know your name, don't sweat it.  

Tip #2:  Do what you love.  I can't stress this enough.  I was lucky enough to find a hobby that became a passion, and then somehow I managed to turn it into a business.  Truth be told, I would have lost my sanity years ago if it weren't for knitting.  And making money off of that is just the icing on the cake.  Steve Jobs said it best in his 2005 Stanford commencement speech: "You've got to find what you love.  Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work.  And the only way to do great work is to love what you do.  If you haven't found it yet, keep looking.  Don't settle.  As with all matters of the heart, you'll know when you find it."

Tip #3:  Dream big.  Here's the best advice I could ever give you.  Are you ready for this?  Don't ever let somebody tell you that you should scale down your dreams.  Never.  I might have just put a few therapists out of business, what with giving such good advice away for free, but no matter.  For pretty much my entire life, I've been a "dreamer".  So, naturally, I never gave chasing my dreams a second thought.  And I'm happy to say, that at 20 years old, they are slowly becoming a reality.  I used to think that you couldn't chase your dreams if you were a kid.  Yes, I consider 20 still being a kid.  I'm finding out every day that that's not the case.  If something makes you happy, do it.  Put aside all doubts, all the people who say it can't/shouldn't be done, and chase what's yours.

So there you have it, people.  My top three tips on being happy and making it in this dog-eat-dog world.  What do you think is the best tip you could give someone about being happy?   xx

p. s.  quick fact:  the self-portrait above is exemplifying my being a dreamer.  My head "is in the clouds."  ;)

p. p. s.  another quick fact: this is my 200th post!

ALSO.  this is the last time you'll see me without bangs (eeeekk !) so take a long look or forever hold your peace.

What's that you say? A giveaway?

Hey gals!  Have I got a treat for you today: an awesome, ingenious (did I say awesome?) giveaway!  Up for grabs is a Corkcicle!  

Stephanie, whose client is Wine Enthusiast, approached me about hosting this giveaway and said, "Hey Megan, would you want to give away something totally cool?!"  And how could I say no??  I mean heck, I'd love a chance to win this myself! (Cool fact: this was one of Oprah's favorite things this year!)  The Corkcicle is a wine chiller, and allows you to leave your wine bottle out on the counter instead of sticking it back in the fridge every time you're done pouring a glass.  How's that for handy?  PLUS the winner gets to pick her own color.  It's a win-win!

There is bad news on the other side of this shiny coin, though.  Unfortunately this giveaway is only open to those of you who are over 18 and live in the US.

To those of you that are eligible, all you gotta do is follow me here, and if you're feeling extra ambitious, there are a few extra ways to win!  This giveaway will end next Saturday, the 9th.  Good luck!   xx

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