Currently

I have felt like blogging a lot lately but have decided to spend my computer time on Pinterest looking at tattoos and tattoo inspiration instead. I kind of have a problem.
Another reason may be because I have a fear of pouring too much into a blog entry and that's not what I want to be doing. But currently...

Watching: The X Factor, Tia and Tamera, and Catfish. I really loved the X Factor last season and I look forward to my evenings alone to watch the DVR'd episodes of this season. I have some favorites now. I am a voter too, yes. I gave American Idol a chance one season and got too emotionally involved and I hated it L.O.L. Can't get all mad because the one I wanted didn't win. It's not like I'm the one getting the recording contract anyways... 

I love Tia and Tamera!!!! I loved Sister Sister and they are incredibly funny and entertaining to watch. Truly genuine women that don't make you feel guilty for being into a reality TV show. 

MTV's Catfish is probably the only good thing among the heap of trash on that network. Can we bring back TRL, Unplugged, Diary, and Making the Video please??!?!? I encourage you to check ouyCatfish. It's a TV show version of the documentary.

Listening to: I am currently piecing together bits of a play I am writing so I have been listening to a lot of poppy girly songs. The entire cast will consist of teenage girls so I am setting the mood in my mind and it helps me create the characters and their girly nature. Songs like Avril Lavigne's "What the Hell", Britney Spears' "Do Something'", Gwen Stefani "Now that You've Got it" and so on. Basically any song that makes you picture a bunch of girly girls swingin' their pony tails. ha! Not giving away too much until it is finished and official ;)

Planning: I guess the day before Thanksgiving it would be expected that I would say I am planning for the holidays. Not so much. At all. I love food and family, but Thanksgiving seems like too much pressure. I have nothing prepared and will not know what is going on with my family until we wake up in the morning. Regardless, we will eat. Whether it is a turkey, Golden Coral, or some mini bbq pulled pork sandwiches on Hawaiian rolls. As long as I can eat some pie, I will be happy.

Thinking about: I am a woman and I think about too much for the internet to contain. But mostly, I'm thinking about this play I am trying to develop. Also that I need to take more pictures, read, workout, and paint more. Time management, prioritizing, staying motivated and energized!

Looking forward to: I was in my first show in 4 years last week and my PASSION for performance art was resurrected. I also am choreographing a praise dance for a Christmas production. So I am looking forward to doing more acting and more dancing. I auditioned for a film a couple days ago and waiting to hear back from them on that. There are 2 more shows to audition for within the next couple months. I  love that I am able to do what I love NOW. 

Reading: Nothing outside of assignments in Literature but I am going to work on a list of books to read for the new year. Nothing has captured me since The Lovely Bones I read 2 years ago haha.

Making me happy:

No explanation needed.

Happy Thanksgiving.

xoxo Meggan

OCTOBER WAS

Colder.

Stressful.

Opportunistic.

Busy.

Rushed.

Blessed.

Unorganized.

Painful.

Colorful.

Uncomfortable.

Smiley.

Fresh.

THESE BOOTS ARE MADE FOR WALKING.

There are a few things on my fall wish list and I am slowly checking the boxes. Above all, I wanted some boots. A trend now I guess is "combat boots". Ok, I get it. You buy them already kind of rugged and you lace them all the way up. Odd for me because I actually wear true combat boots. Though they have never been to true combat, that is what they are. I looked in nearly every store in the mall (I never go to the mall) and did not find anything worth swooning over. Yes, I must swoon to purchase something.

Sooo I got these babies (Mossimo) at Target! Heck yessssssss :)

boots, start walkin...

Next few things on the list:

Minnetonka booties, cardigans, & a bag/purse.

xoxo Meggan

MY LITTLE

There were high hopes of a fun Mommy and Daughter style photo shoot, but we were late in catching the light and my kid wiggles way too much for my lack of total education in my camera functions. What a sentence. Anyways, though they came out grainy, I like these new photos of her and I. I like the colors and the fact that I can do things like this with her now.

man, if we were 20 minutes earlier.

 When I became a parent, I thought I had to change the way I looked so people would take me seriously. That was an unnecessary identity crisis. My kid is a reflection of the parenting she has received in her three years of life. She is bright, creative, smart, beautiful, and has what she calls "kind heart". She also dresses like a mini me and even though it's mostly because I pick out her outfits, she loves it for surrrree :)

xx Meggan

GOOD BYE, SEPTEMBER

September is my favorite month. Breaking in the school year, Birthdays!, Fall sets in, and all the good shows start up again.

I reached 23 years of age and Jada 3 years this month.

My beloved Minnetonka Moccasins finally became unserviceable with their flimsiness and hole!!!!

I photograph my pets and kid a lot. whoopssssss :P

built Jada mediocre a fort :) we are spending more time in the sunroom too!

chalkboard wall painted in our kitchen

This past September I so graciously received a renewed heart, mind, and spiritual perception. Thank You, Lord.

HELLO OCTOBER, I dig you too.

xoxo Meggan

MONDAY IS...

Girly.

Fresh.

Calm.

Silly.

It is also the start of a lot of missed family time. Holliday is working evenings and then leaves for 3 weeks for some good training. Jada and I have done a year long deployment without Daddy before, but getting used to just us again is not something easy to look forward to. We shall make it :)

It is the first day in a looonng time that I have participated in Theatre. I attended a four and a half hour audition process for a fall production at my college. Though I became impatient with how long it took at times, mainly because I had a three year old with me, I am glad I went. We did fun exercises and improv games that helped us loosen up and get to know each other. My heart pounds in my chest but it is the beating that I love. The excitement to do something I love and that I know I am good at.

Now here lies the question of the night: Am I going to study for this exam all night and wake up dead or go to sleep and study early?

xo Meggan

4 SIMPLE GOALS

I got this idea from a favorite blog of many, A Beautiful Mess, and felt compelled to join in on it. Nothing crazy and intangible, but some good goals that I can work toward weekly and better myself in a few ways.

1. DEDICATE more time to ART. Even if its setting aside an hour every other day to work on a painting or a project in SketchBook Pro, I have to. I feel like I don't use that side of my brain as much and now that I have my own studio, I can't use "not having the space" as an excuse. Also, completing a photo challenge would be nice for once!

2. Participate in a Fun Run. We live in a place where there are so many 5k's and other running for this and that events, it's not even funny. (where did this phrase come from?) I have been running every other day and I will eventually make it a part of each day and I really need to stay committed. I want to complete a "fun run" and then still have a hunger to run for leisure. 

3. Clearing out my closet. My actual closet doesn't have much of anything in it now. I can't take my wardrobe seriously enough to hang pieces up and be like, "this is my stuff". No. Stuff needs to be donated and thrown out. I only have a few things I like and I won't let it take up valuable space. This will change...one day.

4. Read some gosh darn books. At least 4. I am not a big reader but I would like to be. I just always chose other things over reading when I do have the time. I wish I made it a habit when I was younger so it wouldn't be on a to-do list. Ha. With school, this may be hard, but I will hopefully pick up a book over a nap next time.

Lets Go!

10 THINGS

Make Me Happy.

1. Being a girl.

I enjoy having so many fun options with personal style. I change my hair just about every month and I go through similar phases the same time each year. This time last year I was growing out my hair from a big chop (which I did this past May also), and entered into the a w k w a r d   l e n g t h . No need to worry, for there are extensions! ;)

2. My daughter's imagination.

All afternoon she has been pretending to be at a beach, putting sunscreen on herself and the dogs, swimming, and "laying out" on her blankey. I delight in this.

3. Cooking.

I made a pretty great chicken pot pie improvisation meal. I like that I am responsible for the tummy satisfaction in this house. It's just another outlet to show love to my family while being creative. 

4. English.

I am an English major and I am working on the first of many papers this semester. I have always been best in this subject and not because I find it easy. It is challenging, but it's the challenge I like. It isn't about deciphering numbers and though MLA may be an exception, there are hardly any formulas. 

5. Husband being home.

Holliday works a lot. When we moved here from our last assignment in NY, I thought that meant having more family time. He doesn't have to anticipate going overseas anytime soon, but he sure is gone for the majority of a typical work week. I am so grateful for this long Labor Day weekend to hang out with my true best friend.

6. Autumn/Fall.

I am absolutely THROUGH with Summer. I have never been so excited to embrace the Fall. Alabama really broke us in these past few months. Fall in New York was so beautiful and I loved it, but my enjoyment was hindered a little bit by the thought of harsh winter temperatures coming right behind it. I would trade this weather here in the south for Upstate New York crisp chills and amber leaves any day. 

7. Birthdays!

My Birthday is this coming Thursday. I am turning 23 and I'm excited! This will be the first birthday in two years that Holliday will be around for and this time I don't have class all stinkin' day! I am going to spend it with my favorites doing my favorites, celebrating my life. My still very youthful, blessed life.

8. Naps.

Yes. Good, comfy, blanket accompanied, corner of the sofa naps. Especially on a Sunday, when I feel like that it was I should be doing. Ha.

9. Coffee.

I am not addicted or in love...yet. I have simply grown a minor dependency upon the sweet substance :)

I used to only drink coffee on my weekends that I work but now with school, I am basking in its goodness daily. I have always loved the smell but never understood why my mother would have 2-3 cups of coffee before she left the house each morning.

10. Game Nights.

We found a couple to play games with and I learned to play my first card game last weekend. Spades is a popular game for most and some would wonder why I didn't know how to play at least one card game at this point. Probably pure laziness and no desire to learn equally contributed. Go Fish does not count in my book. I do love UNO and Pictionary and I'm hoping we play those soon. I don't like the idea of games, fun, and the word "play" being limited to children. I don't do drinking games, or hippie circles...

Enjoy the rest of your extended weekend ;)

THE TIME CAPSULE

This past weekend, Jada and I made the 5 and a half hour pilgramage to Central Florida, where I was raised and where 90% of my family lives. Holliday had to work Saturday and it was tough to be without him, but it was the last weekend before school started and my cousins birthday meant everyone would be in the same spot at once. Score.
I have only been back about 5 times in the past 4 years and each time is weird in the sense that it feels like I'm going back in time. For the most part, things are just the same, minus a few details. Each time I've been back, I have avoided my old bedroom closet. Finally, I went through it and I am so glad that I did. I forgot about how thrifty I use to be and all my treasures. It was like I had hit the jackpot and suddenly the need to go shopping ceased. I found a LOT of fun things I forgot I ever owned.
I can't show e v e r y t h i n g  but heres a few.

This thing has got some serious play and I am looking forward to putting it back to work

A painted gift from a dear friend. Mostly used to hang out and look neat and photo shoots. I wore them to a Theatre Showcase in the twelfth grade.

Coil Pottery project. Freshman year. Pen holder

I think I may have bought this for like 5 dollars at a thrift store. Used to store art supplies.

Senior Year Homecoming Shoes! I wore these with a brown and gold, above the knee dress. I looked great :)

I found a bunch of baby doll tops tooooo! 

Amazing how much stuff fit in that closet and after coming back with a trunk full, there is still so much to sort through.

Pizza My Heart

Holliday and I talk about owning a Pizza Cafe in the not so near future. Not so near whatsoever. But for now, talking about what it'll look like and names is pretty fun to talk about. Holliday worked at Dominos Pizza as a teenager so of course this makes him an expert in pizza making? We thought of the names "Pizza My Heart" and "Pizza Cake" recently but unfortunately, both were taken. It sucks when you think you're being extra original and creative and turns out you aren't the only one to come up with the same idea.

On Wednesdays, we usually make homemade pizza. The pie we made last week was definitely not something we would serve at a Pizza Cafe or brag about haha. Though it was probably the best tasting one we have made to date, it was not pretty. A lot of times I notice, on super fancy blogs, that everything looks a little too picture perfect, whether it be a DIY home project, hair style, or food recipe. I have to wonder, are all of these things really that nice? Are they that nice on the first try? How many times did you have to make that? Anyways, here is a Holliday home pizza. Lacking points in aesthetics but none in taste.

Sasha wants to help :)

Hoping that tonight's pizza comes out less of a mess :)
Happy Hump Day!

What lies between.

I would like to think of myself as a girly girl. In my head I most definitely am, but I'm not quite sure it translates well when I put my outfits together. A lot of my clothes are still at the other house, which we are referring to as the "blue house", but I don't even miss a single thing enough to go and get it. I can't even recall what I even own besides my favorite PINK hoodie. All I have here in my new closet is a small collection of dresses, jeans and tees.
I got pretty flustered yesterday because looking at my wardrobe, it's one extreme to the other. I am not wearing those dresses unless Holliday and I have a date night or I'm feeling extra princess-like for church, and I'm sick sick sick of jeans and tees. Once a week, yea I need to slip into something like that, but for the most part, I don't like misrepresenting myself and I know jeans and tees everyday do a good job of that. I am in a new season of life and slowly creeping into mid-twenties. I'm feeling life out, changing, and my taste is changing as well.

This past Sunday for church, I was able to achieve a happy medium. Distressed jeans (Hollister), rustic belt (AE) bird print blouse (Marshall's), and a lace button up (Wet Seal). I'm not a teacher, in my thirties, mom of 2-3, driving Volvo SUV just yet, so I'm not going to bust out the dress pants and button ups everyday. I may not even dress like that then, but you get the point.

With the pieces I have in my closet, I don't know if I'll be able to put together such a comfy combination every day so shopping needs to happen ASAP. My Birthday is in about 3 weeks. I would like to go to Pensacola or Tallahassee to shop til I can't stand. :)))

HAPPY SATURDAY

With 50s Rock as the soundtrack to our late morning, we began our first real Saturday in our new home. A Saturday that neither Holliday or I had to work or show up to any obligations. Jada has a 3 year old's Birthday party to attend later but besides that, we are moseying about the house in bum clothes while this storm takes its sweet time passing.

Speaking of taking our time, we aren't in any rush getting our previous house emptied. We got the essentials all at once and now just making a trip a day to grab any extras. After all, we do have until mid-September to clear that house. Anyways, one thing we forgot was a proper skillet for pancakes. I had my mind fixed on pancakes today when I arose, so we had to improvise. 

After making ravioli in a coffee pot last week, I knew I wasn't "too good" to make flap jacks on a George Foreman Grill. Here is how that went.

Pretty interesting looking. Not any less delicious. Reminds me of waffle fries. Mmm...

Everybody's Happy!

Thank you God, for mornings like these :)

How's your Saturday going?