My Obligatory New Years Resolutions

Hey guys, I find it necessary to post about my resolutions for next year. As there are only 2 days left on 2013, reality is sort of swirling into me and I'm freaking out a little. I also have 2 days left to finish up the last of my college apps. Oops.

Recently I've been grappling with the idea of social media like Facebook and Twitter, and why I even bother with them in the first place. I always feel like they don't add much positivity to my life, but every time I go to delete them, I stop myself for some strange reason. I guess it has something to do with the idea of interconnectivity and my brain's need to feel connected with my peers. Basically what I'm saying is that one of my resolutions for 2014 is to stop obsessing over the internet, and to focus more on real life. Most people don't care about what I'm thinking most of the time #realtalk (yeah yeah, leave me alone, I just did that).

Anyway, I put together a small list of the things I would like to improve, because I think they would all benefit my happiness.

1. Stop obsessively checking and using various social media.
I explained this above, but I think it's making me feel left out of experience in a sense. It's not at all conducive to being happy. It's just another way to compare myself to others.

2. Make videos at least once a week.
I love making YouTube videos; I absolutely adore it. One of my issues is that my brain transformed it into something I HAVE to do instead of something I WANT to do. Which brings me to:

3. Stop forcing yourself to do things a certain way. Let things happen; don't let plans dictate your life.
For some reason, this year I developed this nasty habit of forming plans in my head that seemed concrete, and if they failed or faltered for any reason, I would have a mini breakdown. It was not pretty.

4. Read 2 books a month. 
This is a given. I don't factor in nearly enough time into reading anymore.

5. Stop emotionally shopping.
Retail therapy. Empty wallet. Enough said.

6. Don't be afraid of the future.
I'll be taking a huge step into the future in 2014, and I want to make the most of the last bit of high school, rather than fretting it.

7. Make the most of every minute.
I procrastinate and waste more time than I would like. Sometimes I feel like without my issue mentioned in number 1 I would be much, much more productive.

8. Draw everyday (or close to it!)
My friend gifted me a beautiful sketchbook and set of colored pencils for Christmas, and I've started my daily drawing routine up again, and it has really helped me relax.

9. Write an EP.
I've been playing/writing music on and off for the past 3 years, and I would love to sit down and actually write an EP.

10. And finally, turn my Etsy shop/YouTube/Blog into something I can really work off of.
This one was a hard one to put into words, but I love blogging, and I love running my own Etsy shop. I would love to be able to build more on these and advance into the future, if that makes much sense at all.

I hope you have a lovely rest of 2014 if I don't talk to you beforehand. Make the most of it.
Megan
xx

What 2013 Has Taught Me

This year has been absolutely wonderful! It has obviously been full of ups and downs, as does every year, but I learned a lot about myself and others around me. I wanted to compile a list of things that 2013 has taught me, and what I need to keep in mind going into the next year, and taking the first steps into my future.

1. A clean room always means a clean mind. Sometimes an organized closet and a made bed can be one of the most relaxing things in the world.

2. More plans does not always mean better. Staying home on a Friday night is completely okay.

3. People don't generally care about how you look or dress as much as you think they do. Mostly they like you for YOU.

4. People put a completely different front on online. Sometimes we're not all we make ourselves out to be.

5. Reading trumps QuizUp. Every time. Put the damn phone down.

6. Rewards come to people who actually try. You will not be rewarded for thinking you deserve it. Hard work pays off.

7. You can tell a lot about a person by the state of their nails.

8. Everyone online isn't having as much fun as you think. (Taken from Portlandia; realized this year)

9. Your material possessions do not define who you are.

10. Wishing to be/be like someone else never brings good. It makes you only dislike yourself.

11. Relish in your individuality, and let yourself change. Don't feel the need to freeze yourself in time.

12. Rap is not bad.

13. Having money saved up feels nice, blowing it on food brings regret.

14. Lattes are the perfect cure to loneliness, sadness, general-unhappiness, and a sore throat.

15. Life keeps moving on. Don't be afraid of change. But also relish in the current moment; observe it in all its beauty.

16. Catalogue everything. Take pictures of everything. Keep it down in a chest of memories.

17. Don't be afraid of trying new things.

18. More is not always better. Sometimes it's much better to live simply.

19. The smaller things add up in the end.

20. Most of all, love who you are. Love your friends. Love your life.

Walk the Talk

Walk the Talk by foxinater featuring a flared coat

Good morning! How are you on this lovely Saturday?

With all of the upcoming Holiday and New Years parties, I thought I would put together a total strut-worthy outfit. Every item in the outfit is from ModCloth, and I am completely enamored with it.

I've been into black quite a bit recently, and I love this idea of a two-tone outfit. It's mostly black with that pop of burgundy in the coat and the shoes. It very obviously adds a whole new level of sophistication when your shoes match your coat! (haha) What do you think of the outfit? 

Megan 

xx

I Need Some Room-Spiration

MY ROOM IS A MESS. Simple as that. It's embarrassingly messy, and I want to clean it, but being sick has me exhausted and I lack the motivation. Thank gob for the internetz. 

White on White on White

Currently, I am completely obsessed with white decor with slight pops of pale color. I find it completely relaxing, and with the right amount of silver mixed in, it feels so Christmas-y! All of these images were found on Tumblr under the tag 'White Room'

I think this is sufficient enough inspiration... and that idea in the last picture of hanging pictures from the ceiling is so cute! Now all I want is a fuzzy rug and blanket.

What's up, life?

Selfie with my cat and my new anorak

Say hello to my kitty, Brycie, and my new anorak. I feel like everything that can be said about life has been said. 

Yes.

How are you on this glorious Thursday? I'm quite smitten, actually. Even though I've been doing a lot of relaxing (I'm sick, dawg), I feel as if I've been rather productive. I'm currently waiting for a new and shiny thrift haul to upload to YouTube, and I can't wait for it to be up! I found the cutest stuff for my Etsy shop. And this beautiful parka that was originally $148 from Nordstrom (!!!!!!!!!). I've also actually cleared out a lot of junk from my hard drive on my MacBook Pro so it's actually functional! Yay!

But aside from my checklist items, I also got to spend some lovely time with one of my best friends over coffee and chatter at Starbucks. She just finished her last finals of high school ever (she's graduating early) and we just sat and talked about life and the future, and I am just too darn excited for life. I mean, I love high school and blah blah blah, but there is just so much more out there. I crave a little more freedom. (I go to a private school so I have a uniform, eugh). 

ALSO HERE'S MY VIDDDDDD 

(if the video doesn't work, check back in an hour because it's probably still processing)

                           

I'm simply happy. I love it. 

Megan

On Gender Codes and Why They Should Disappear

Hey guys! I saw something online tonight that bugged me a little, and I decided to write about it because why not? Anyway, I'm not the greatest writer when it comes to persuasion and rhetoric, but I'll give it a shot.

Have you ever seen that TV show on MTV called "Girl Code"? That horrid, awful show? I have, and upon first watch I actually thought it was funny. I thought,"Hey, this is great, MTV is airing a show that promotes female individuality and speaking out against what society has deemed feminine. Cool."

I was wrong.

I took another look and was appalled. This show is has nothing to do with feminism and freeing ourselves from the constraints of gender roles. It's the complete opposite. Let me analyze:

1. The idea of a girl code or a guy/bro code is completely bonkers. Who deemed at some point 50 years ago that an unspoken set of rules should underly EVERY WAKING DECISION OF AN ENTIRE GENDER'S LIFE. Like, what? The idea of an underlying code that should dictate my actions as "cool" or "uncool" or bad or good or totally not okay or righteous man is a supposed liberal way of saying that I belong in this group, so I best not step outside of it. All right. I should be able to act on my feelings, regardless of my gender. The last time I checked, my genitalia does not determine my interests or personality. That derives from my genetics, my habitat, and least of all my gender. 

2. This brings me to my next point: gender roles. Pink room, pink clothes, dolls and play kitchens, dresses, and eventually housewife. Sound familiar? I don't know if there has ever been a time that I've walked into a Toys R' Us and saw toys that weren't pink/purple/shiny/had to deal with beauty and the "ideal" life. The same goes for men. I'm not saying only women are the victims here; little boys are brought up on this unrealistic notion of masculinity that degrades anyone who steps outside the barriers of what's acceptable.

3. Putting my first two together, the aspect of "Girl Code" that irks me the most is that it has this fake front of feminism. The idea is so tantalizing--a show dedicated to talking about the pressures of society and how to overcome them and how to react in certain situations. Unfortunately, it does not come off this way. (PERSONAL VIEWS OK) 

What I noticed the most is that the show tries to be sarcastic and funny, which at times it can be (in cases of this Beyonce GIF I found. I lol'd) But what I find the most disturbing is its generalization about the female population as a whole. "Us" "We" and "Them" are common pronouns used to describe girls and how we should act or what we should like.

The picture that bothers me the most is the one I put in the beginning of this post. "You want to be thin, and you want to be pretty, but then there's pizza." This implies you can't be pretty if you're thin or you can't be happy if you're not thin and pretty. I know I'm probably reading a little too much into the semantics, but something about this really strikes a chord in me. The media has a complete stranglehold on the image of beauty and the self-confidence of millions of girls. If a TV show that is supposed to liberate women from this ideal is preaching the same ideas, how much better can it be than the rest of ads?

I don't like how this show is meant to be a voice expressing such "taboo" subjects when in reality my generation has mostly gotten over. Like OMG girls like pizza?? I never knew that. GIRLS FART????? That's totes a lie. And it's not just the fact that they treat such mundane, every day things like they're incredibly awful to talk about, but it's the fact that they treat it with such contempt and pretentiousness.

Does this resonate with any of you/make any sense?
Comment down below with your thoughts!

Megan

Etsy Discount

I just wanted to notify you that my Etsy shop is going to have a 35% discount on everything with the code WINTERLOVES until the end of December. I'm trying to clear out old items so I can update the look of my shop!

Check it out here!

Why Peter Jackson Should Make Me an Elf

In which I describe the various ways I am perfect elf material.


1. I definitely look like an elf. 

2. My D&D character is an elf named Anastasia. Boom. I have experience. 

3. I taught myself how to say some phrases in Elvish.

I'm ahead of the game.

4. I'm 5'9. Elves are tall. I'm tall. 

5. Last of all, I love Lord of the Rings and the Hobbit more than anything.

If you couldn't tell this post was a joke, it's a joke. (Unless you're Peter Jackson reading this then this is not a joke) But I just saw The Desolation of Smaug at the midnight premiere, and it was absolutely fantastic. I went with a couple of friends, and I dressed as an elf and another dressed as Gandalf. It was pretty awesome. Have you seen it yet? What did you think?

M

xx

Christmas Wishes pt. 1

Hello everyone! Since Christmas is coming up, and my parents keep asking me what I want for Christmas, I decided I would make a post detailing some items that I've been coveting. Here are a few things on my list:

Source: Oasap

I originally saw this absolutely adorable dress on Tori Lynne's blog Generations Collective. I just recently found her blog, but I am completely in love with it. She is gorgeous, and her style is impeccable--as is her Etsy shop! I totally recommend checking it out.

I was so inspired by her outfits, that I fell in love with this dress from Oasap! Definitely high up on my list.

Source: Oasap

In the same post that she was wearing the dress above, she was also wearing this perfect hat. I love the wine color, as it definitely transcends across all seasons. 

Source: Dahlia

This dress from Dahlia is also incredibly high up on my list! I'm a huge proponent fro winter whites, and this dress hits the spot. The sleeves and color are just so dainty and picturesque and crisp next to the off-white chiffon.

If you know me well, then you know that I listen to a lot music, and I'm incredibly particular with the music I listen to. Here's some of my top picks I'd love to have on vinyl.

Arctic Monkeys-AM
Found HERE

Best Coast-Crazy For you
Found HERE

A couple of other records I'd love to own:

• The Velvet Underground & Nico
• Bon Iver-For Emma
• Paradise-Lana Del Rey
• LAKE-The World is Real
• LAKE-Giving & Receiving
• She & Him-Volume 1&3 (I already have 2)
• Coexist-The XX
• Belle and Sebastian-Dear Catastrophe Waitress
• The Smiths-Meat is Murder

Tomorrow I will be posting part two of my list with more clothing :)

Megan

Life Update

Hey guys! How have you been? I've so missed posting regularly! If you're wondering why I've sort of disappeared from the blogosphere/YouTube, there's only one reason: finals. Ugh, I know. The worst. And I'm taking only three finals this year, too. It's mostly just the sheer amount of homework my teachers have decided to pile on me right at the end of the semester.

Basically I've just wanted to give you guys an update on my life etc etc because I know you care oh so much. (That was sarcasm if it didn't translate well!)

Anyway, the picture at the top of this post is a little something I made from a song called Femme Fatale by the Velvet Underground & Nico. You should definitely listen to it because it's one of my favorite songs of all time, and it's perfect. (I'll be talking more about music in some upcoming posts I have planned out, ooooh!) Anyway, this is the embedded video for the song:

Also, do any of you know much about graphic design and/or typography? I've been incredibly interested the both recently, and I'd love to find some resources to delve further into it over Christmas break.

Another thing I've been up to is actually just a lot of film watching. I've been sick for the past 3 weeks with what I'm convinced is the flu, but I've been having to go to school regardless. My nights consist of a lot of movies. (A lot of Johnny Depp movies, actually) Would you be interested in sort-of reviews of the films I've watched? Let me know in the comments down below!

Basically school has consumed all of my time, so I don't have much to say beyond that. Oh and that I've had a complete latte addiction recently; it's quite necessary with my sickness. :(

If you want to follow me on Bloglovin, click this lil' button here! It's a great way to stay up with all of my current posts. They even send out an email every morning with a list of new posts from all of the blogs you follow! I've been using it myself for over a year. :)

I'll talk to you soon!
Megan

Untitled Thoughts

Hello! I'm back with another Megan-types-words-slghtly-incoherently post today. Also I warn you in advance for any horrendous grammatical errors, because right now I just don't care, and I want to try to make my point. I have a lot of thoughts on growing up/being a teenager/expectations/dreaming. Lately I've been lacking my sense of optimism and dreaming-ness that I usually possess. And by lately I mean probably since the beginning of the summer. For a while I was questioning what had happened to me, but then I kind of realized it: I grew up a little. Which sucks to think about because I've only just turned 17. But over the summer I held an internship at a big scientific company, and it was a rather grown-up job. I had to dress business casual and work 20-30 hours a week. It was an absolutely amazing experience, but I kind of missed out on my last "high school dream summer." I didn't really do much over the summer because I was always working. But what can I do now?

I guess what I'm trying to say is that I'm kind of over that dream of high school and senior year, which is not very fun considering I'm only halfway through this year and I want to graduate already. Which is not a very unique feeling among my peers (if I had a dime for every time I heard,"I'm just done with school already"...) But in all reality, I miss that feeling of being stuck in this place that feels like eternity and that it's never going to end. Life suddenly became so real, and the small things started feeling less and less important as time goes on. Like, I used to LOVE the small things. I loved creating little memories that I could cherish forever and they would never leave me. I remember sitting in a little coffee shop with a boy I liked soon-to-be my boyfriend, talking for hours and hours just about life and what it is and what it means and feeling like it was never going to end. Suddenly it's a year and a half later, and we've been together for just as long, and it's crazy to think where I am in life. I mean, a chapter of my life is about to close and it's hard not to feel like I've missed out on so much, but that brings me to my next point: expectations.

I think my expectations have always been pretty high to begin with, now with access to pretty much the whole world on the internet, combined with exposure to pictures of people having fun on the internet, and teen rom coms, it's hard not to have our expectations raised a little too high.

But then I went back and thought about my high school experiences, and realized that I reached every single milestone I had expected and even more. When I wasn't trying to create these experiences, they just happened. I can remember trying to force myself to have fun at football games, even though I'm not really a social person in that sense. I won't look back on my high school years and think,"Oh wow, I had so much fun at the games. They were some of the best times of my life." No, I'm going to look back and remember how crucial they were to my self-realization of my personality and where I feel most comfortable and who I feel most comfortable around. I'm going to remember passing hundreds of notes between my friend and I in freshman physics, drawing pictures and joking about our favorite shows and books and YouTubers because that's what we liked. I'm not going to remember how bad I felt one day because of how my hair looked or whatever because that's so insignificant in the long run.

I'm going to remember sitting on the dock by myself just drawing and waiting for the sunset because I have always reveled in solitude and the natural beauty of life.

I'm going to remember walking around my neighborhood at one in the morning with my best friends, just talking about anything and everything. And I remembered how perfect it began to be when it started snowing and we were simultaneously laughing and crying because that's what friendship is. It's laughter and tears and sorrow and being together, even when it gets cold.

I'm going to remember sitting in a Dunkin' Donuts at 5 in the morning because I needed to teach my friend geometry the morning before the final.

And most of all I'm going to remember all of the memories I created when I wasn't trying to create them. I'm going to remember when life just fell perfectly into place and everything seemed in sync. But Im also going to remember that these experiences are not completely over; I still have 6 months left with my high school self and my high school friends before we move on to a bigger taste of the real world (As real as college can get).

I guess I'm just feeling nostalgic and sad and hopeful and a little bit terrified of the future, because it is uncertain and I can't control that. But I guess that's what makes it exciting.

I was going to share my December goals on here, but ultimately I have one. And that is to be happy and enjoy myself without thinking too hard about it. I don't know why I've started avoiding people, and maybe it's because I'm afraid of getting too attached in such a short time. Who knows. I don't. All I know is that I need to stop stressing and just be happy. Life is inevitable, and I need to stop being so afraid. But I guess these are probably thoughts that everyone in my situation is going through. Hm. Something to think about.

Thanks for being a friend to talk to
Megan

How To: The Best Hot Chocolate Ever | Foxinater

Hey guys! Just a quick little post here with a new video :) I'm going to start uploading videos every Tuesday & Saturday so definitely look out for that! I'll see you tomorrow in my December Goals post.

Megan