Weekend Bliss

Couldn't be more excited for what this weekend holds! It's been a busy and very crazy 2 weeks, jam-packed with wonderful family and friends in from out of town.

Although it's been an absolute blast, I'm looking forward to escaping this city and catching up with some of my favorite people.




So many blissful things to look forward to...


saturday morning coffee + roadtrip w/ BF + good music + Bella Beast
brunch with grandpa + fabulous afternoon wedding + handsome date
out to dinner + drinks w/ friends + great conversation
morning w/ the fam + quality time + back to KC
party with friends + lots of memories

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Super ready to hang with BF, his bestie (in from CO, leaving tomorrow - boo!) and co. tonight... heading to The Cheesecake Factory to get our HALF-PRICED CHEESECAKE fo' sho! Yum...



{ What fun are YOU excited for?! }


Happy Weekend to You!





PS- A very warm and friendly HELLO & WELCOME to all of you wonderful new followers. So very happy that you all are here! :)

Tomorrow = Half-Priced Cheesecake!

So my dad is amazing {think Superman} and reminded me that TOMORROW is National Cheesecake Day... meaning half-priced cheesecake at The Cheesecake Factory...


{Get your forks ready!}


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{Yummy Details via AOL}

This Friday, July 30, is National Cheesecake Day. To celebrate, The Cheesecake Factory is offering customers slices for half the price on Friday [dine-in] only.

Got a craving right now? Get a piece for $1.50 today, July 29, only, by visiting The Cheesecake Factory's Facebook page.

Just click the "Like" button, and then the Fan Exclusive tab to gain access to a printable invitation. The offers are valid at participating locations for one customer on dine-in orders only. So enjoy your cheesecake...and eat it too!
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{Pssst! BF, mark your calendar!}


Have a sweet afternoon!

Weekly Must Reads

Soooo Mingle Monday (remix style) was a HUGE success! I got tons of e-mails and comments raving about how fun the new format is and how many new followers everyone had - yay!

Just in case you missed it... you might want to check out the new format here.

Looking for new blogs?
Well I've checked out these ones and think you must stop by and tell them hello... you won't be sorry!





Weekly Must Reads


Tarryn & Allison @ 2 Bloggeristas

The thing I love the most about this fabulous blog is that there are 2 writers! Always fun posts and weekly activites going on at their blog. Creative, charming and intersting, they make for a great read!


Karen @ The Kimchee Chronicles

You HAVE to go visit Karen! Her posts are absolutely hilarious and always make me laugh. AND you have to check out her adorable hand-made etsy items. Think fabulous (and inexpensive!) headbands, necklaces and accessories... I have my eye on a few!
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A special thank you to all who gave [Life of Meg] a shout out on your blog - that means the world to me! I love to host Mingle Monday as a way for you to build followers and discover new blogs - I do it for all of you!

I am so happy it is helping you every week, but also know that all of YOU lovely readers are the only way I can get my name out there too... so thank you, thank you, thak you for the shout outs!

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Want to find out how YOU can be a Weekly Must Read? Click here for details and we'll see you next Monday to mingle it up!


Happy Thursday Lovies!





** If I missed any must reads, it's because I didn't get a comment from you leaving your URL {oopsie!}. Be sure to leave it next week and I'll happily put you in the running! :) **

What Makes You Smile?

It's lunch time, so I was catching up on one of my all time favorite daily blog reads: Kelly's Just a Girl in the City. Today she posted about 10 things that completely make her smile and wants us to pass on the cheer... so I will!




Just a handful of absolutely wonderful things that make this girl grin from
ear to ear...

{My Daily Faves}

+ having a clean apartment + fresh laundry.
+ two Justin Bieber songs came on during my morning commute - score!
+ my sweet good morning BBM from lovely BF.
+ yummy "best friend" coffee {hazelnut coffee + amaretto creamer}
.:. love you, C! .:.
+ excited about QT w/ my mister + weekend roadtrip + wedding.
+ haircut tonight, planning to get my Reese on!
+ thinking about last night's great dinner company makes me smile.
+ quiet, relaxing office w/ my Frank Sinatra pandora going.
+ so happy that everyone enjoyed the Mingle Monday blog hop!
+ all of you make my life so happy! :)


{What makes you smile today?}


Create your own blissful list and leave me a comment with the link - I'd LOVE to come visit you!

Hair Crush: Reese Witherspoon

I am heading to the salon after work to get my hair cut. It's been a few months since I've let my stylist scissor up my long locks, so I'm kind of nervous...

Naturally (in normal Meg fashion), I had no idea what I wanted. I thrive off of the daily unknown. I love the spontaneity. Today was to be no exception. I woke up and accepted my indecisiveness, open to whatever my hair goddess (yes, my stylist is a goddess! Miracle worker!) would recommend for me...


...And then I came across this photo...





Done. Decision made. Hello fabulous hair.

Operation Beautiful

If I tried to count the number of times I criticized myself in a day, I would have to borrow at least 5 people's fingers and toes.


{ Are you in the same boat? }

No matter how many compliments I get from my wonderful family about my weight loss, or how many times my sweet BF reminds me that I'm gorgeous without make-up, I still do it to myself... ugh.

BUT today is the day I stand up to my own thoughts and give myself a big hug. It's time we let our inner beauty shine through and remind ourselves how beautiful we really are!





I have found the amazing Operation Beautiful site and it's absolutely amazing! Girls around the globe are making a commitment to change their outlooks and encourage each other by leaving positive post-it notes all over the place - how refreshing!








Everyday there are several new pictures uploaded to operationbeautiful.com from girls who have passed on the positivity... you could be next!

Have you ever come across an Op Beauty note? I found one in a random venue women's restroom recently and wished I would have had my camera!





In a world where thin is in and image is everything, this is such a cool mission! Will you join the cause?

Celebrate your gorgeous self today and pass along the beauty...
I know I will!



{ Tell me: What's one thing you love about you? }





PS- Don't forget to visit the Mingle Party {open until Wednesday @ noon}! A fast and easy way to gain more followers and discover new blogs!





"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." 1 Peter 3:3-4

Oh, Sweet Weekend!

Oh long weekend, you made me so very happy! These last few days have been nothing short of completely blissful.
I took Friday off, because my fabulous family was in from out of town, and I loved every wonderful minute of this delightful weekend!





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{Friday}

I slept in for the first time in ages. Went on a long walk with mom + dad + sister + pups. Destination = Starbucks. We enjoyed the nice weather from a little sidewalk cafe table.

Went over to BF's casa for a wonderful BBQ party. I was very happy to spend time with BF, his best friend {who is visiting from CO} + brother + fam over yummy food and drinks. Lovely evening.


{Saturday}

Up at the break of dawn to drive to a blueberry partch in the middle of nowhere with mom + sis + cousins. We picked over 15 lbs. of blueberries {which were partially turned into to whole wheat blueberry pancakes on Sunday}. Enjoyed a nice long nap before dinner at one of my favorite places!

Spent the rest of the evening at the US National Youth soccer championship game. Total blast!


{Sunday}

Woke up to sweet puppy kisses and the smell of yummy coffee. Mom and dad helped me pretty up my little apartment before we enjoyed breakfast together. Went for a short walk with the dogs, a quick swim and then off to watch Manchester united play the KC Wizards.

Brought BF + the boys some gourmet cupcakes from Smallcakes after the fam left for home. Got hooked on a new show {Friday Night Lights} and enjoyed some R&R with BF & co.


{ Went to bed with a BIG smile on my face! }

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What a lovely, relaxing weekend!


PS- Don't forget to check out the BRAND NEW Mingle Monday party!

Mingle Monday (*NEW* blog hop layout!)

Welcome to Mingle Monday remix! Due to the popularity of the fabulous Mingle party, I've looked into several new fun options to spice this up! I've been inspired by several great blog hops, including one of my favorite weekend hops at Lady Bloggers, and thought we should try out a new format!

Are you ready to gain new followers and discover several new blogs? Well, grab a delicious cup of coffee and let's get mingling!





How to enter the party:

1) Must be a [Life of Meg] follower to participate.

**If not a follower yet, please click the follow button on the right hand side to be elligible!**

2) Scroll down to the bottom of this blog and click on the link to enter.

3) Add a cute picture and your blog's name.

4) Voila! You're ready to mingle!



How to play:

1) Click on 2 other blogs' thumbnails and go visit their blog.

2) Leave them a comment saying hello from the [Life of Meg] Mingle Monday.

3) Come back and leave a short encouraging review of the 2 blogs you visited!



**BONUS**

Just like a usual Mingle Monday, anyone who posts about the [Life of Meg] Mingle Monday will be in the running to be one of my top weekly reads. I will choose up to 3 blogs at random and give an amazing recommendation to all of my lovely [Life of Meg] readers... meaning lots of new followers for YOU!

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{ Super easy, super fun! }


Remember, positivity comes back around! If you rave about somebody else's blog, there is a GREAT chance that somebody will give YOU an amazing recommendation!

You have a higher chance of someone seeing your blog if you visit several - so add to the fun and be a generous mingler!


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** The linky is open until Wednesday at noon (CST)... so get mingling! **
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I hope to hear great things about this week's layout!!

Inception = Brilliant

If you haven't gone to experience "Inception" yet, you're missing out my friends. We went to see the movie late Monday night and were blown away. Deeply intellectual, mind-bending, emotional and brilliant... I promise that you will be entertained and happily exhausted after 2+ hours of this film.


{ Blockbuster of the summer by far }





Leonardo DiCaprio was simply brilliant, Ellen Page was fun to see in this psychological realm, and it was easy to fall back in love with Joseph Gordon-Levitt all over again... amazing cast!


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Inception is precisely the kind of brainy, ambitious, grand-scale adventure Hollywood should be making more of.

- Time


In this wildly ingen­ious chess game, grandmaster Nolan plants ideas in our heads that disturb and dazzle. The result is a knockout. But be warned: Inception dreams big. How cool is that?

- Rolling Stone


Inception does a difficult thing. It is wholly original, cut from new cloth, and yet structured with action movie basics so it feels like it makes more sense than (quite possibly) it does.

- Chicago Sun Times
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You're buying tickets right now, aren't you?


Well done.

Weekly Must Reads (Mingle Recap!)

Are you tired of the same old blogs? In need of some new amazing bloggeristas? Don't worry, I have the perfect, fabulous, girly, amazing blogs for you to check out while you munch your morning cereal!






Must Stop By's:


Mrs. C @ A Moment With Megan

Go check Megan out ASAP, like this second. Her blog is absolutely adorable full of pictures, stories and amazing recipes! Dying to try her Key Lime Pie and Carrot Cake recipes! YUM!


SBG @ The Sweet Life

This girl is little miss fashion bug! I can't even tell you how many gorgeous photos she has in one post - she makes me want to shop! :)


Rachel @ Simple Little Joys

What a refreshing and encouraging blog! Rachel is full of fabulou stories (she just got back from Disney World - so jealous!) and lots of girly fun!

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Many more GREAT blog reads:


Leah @ Vintage Glamorous
Jayme @ Simple Sweet Life
Love This Apartment @ Love This Apartment
Mei @ Diary of a Fair Weather Diver
Nicole @ That's Life
Aubrey @ My Simple Everyday
Karen @ The Kimchee Chronicles
Christy @ 25 Before 25
Tiffany @ The Apple Doesn't Fall Far

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Please stop by, let them know you found them via [Life of Meg] Mingle Monday Recap and maybe you will make new following friends too!

Thank you to all of you who stopped by for some fabulous fun - you all make me smile so much! :) If you missed out, don't you worry! We'll see you NEXT MONDAY for a new Mingle Monday - surprises and awesome changes to come... get excited!


Lots -o- Love!

Adele-a-holic

I need to write a thank you to whoever invented the iPod shuffle feature (...hmm, Steve Jobs?). Anyway, I was sitting in my cute little office and all of a sudden Adele came on as I was working. Where has she been? My life has been empty!


{ Absolutely love her. }

Her voice is completely unparalleled and her music speaks directly to my heart. "Chasing Pavements" is genius (and I love this music video)...





I've made up my mind
No need to think it over
If I'm wrong I ain't right
No need to look no further
This ain't lust
This is love but

If I tell the world
I'll never say enough
Because it was not said to you
And that's exactly what I need to do
If I'm in love with you

Should I give up
Or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere
Or would it be a waste
Even if I knew my place should I leave it there?
Should I give up
Or should I just keep chasing pavements
Even if it leads nowhere?



PS- Don't forget Mingle Monday!

Mingle Monday!

Yes, that's right, the Mingle Monday extravaganza is back! You're all totally pumped, aren't you? I knew it.

Anyway... WELCOME to Mingle Monday! I hope you all are ready for some fun, new friends, and lots of followers!

If you are new to my blog or Mingle Monday - Thanks for stopping by the party! Please click on the Mingle Monday tab located at the top of [Life of Meg] for details.


Just a few housekeeping rules...

________________________________________

1) Please include the NAME of your blog as well as the correct URL.

Example: [Life of Meg]
www.megnificentlife.blogspot.com


2) Unfortunately, any minglers lacking their blog's name and URL will not be able to be included in tomorrow's blog highlight list. So... please make sure it's included in your comment - this is here to help YOU! :)


3) Also, your blog grows the more readers that follow. In order to get your name out there, we all have to tell our favorite blog friends about Mingle Monday. The more bloggers the merrier!!


4) Remember, I will choose 3 mingler over-achievers (who post on their blog about Mingle Monday) to receive a feature review and recommendation of their blog in tomorrow's post.


5) In order to be entered you MUST comment again and leave the link to your blog's Mingle Monday post. Bueno? Bueno!


**Anyone who was awesome enough to participate in the Mingle Monday make-up last week will be highlighted this week - I didn't forget all of you wonderful people! xo
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{ Let's go! }




{ Mmm... coffee! }
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As always, Summer was running 15 minutes behind schedule. Her to do list for that Tuesday morning was so long that she didn't think she'd ever see the bottom.

Although she was pleasantly surprised that she pulled together a decently coordinated outfit and had time to curl her long mocha colored hair, she was absolutely in a funk. There was only one thing that could cure her... Mourt's Coffee.

She power walked the 3 blocks to the little hole-in-the-wall cafe and was greeted by a line that was almost out the door. While waiting she pulled out her BlackBerry and began tinkering away in order to make the line appear to move faster.

Finally, she was only 3 spots away from the counter. All the while she was catching up on her phone she was completely unaware that the handsome man in front of her kept stealing little looks and couldn't help but smile at her.

At last it was her turn to order her "usual" venti soy latte. Once the drink was order she went to pull out her little yellow change purse only to be interrupted by the barrista.

"Oh no ma'am, you don't have to worry about it. The man in front of you already paid for your coffee."

Summer was absolutely confused. As she shot the barrista a puzzled look, he just pointed toward the cafe door. As Summer twirled around she saw a tall man with a scruffy face and chocolate colored eyes smiling at her. He held up his coffee as to say, "Here's to you. You are stunning and I couldn't help myself."


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...and...

{ GO! }



Happy Mingling!

Epic Weekend Ahead!

Could I be any more excited about this weekend
Ummmm... no. SO EXCITED! After last night's relaxing girly night I am relaxed, nails polished, house clean and now I'm ready to take on the world!


{ Epic Weekend Ahead! }




1) Date Night

Dressing up, dinner, dessert and drinks with my favorite buddy (xo!). Very ready to spend a care-free evening out on the town... always an amazing time w/ BF.


2) Saturday Morning Zumba

Officially hit the -10 lbs mark! Woooo! I think I'm addicted to this amazing class. Love, love, love getting my sweat on w/ my girlfriends!


3) Cousin Girly Day

Looking forward to browsing City Market in the sunshine. The day naturally couldn't be complete without a spontaneous adventure, puppy play date, local coffee shop visit and a girly movie!


4) WaterFest 2010

Friends + Sunday + Slip n Slide + Water Guns + Cookout + Pool = EPIC!


5) Hangin' w/ New Friends

Really excited to meet one of BFs bestest friends of all time. Looking forward to relaxing and enjoying everyone's company this weekend!




Wishing you an adventurous weekend!

True Life: I'm a Movie Star

Yep, it's true... I am well on my way to stardom! I spent all of yesterday afternoon filming several scenes outside (I live such a hard life). What movie you ask? Well, only the summer blockbuster! Duh.

Well, I appreciate any of you who actually thought I was cool enough to be in a REAL movie... however, we were just filming a super fun video at work, very similar to my very favorite Pink Glove Dance!


{ WHAT?! You don't know the PINK GLOVE DANCE?! }


Please do us all a favor and watch this video... it will totally make your day!





So anyway, a trillion million of my co-workers and I had a blast dancing ridiculously to "I've Got a Feeling" by the Black Eyed Peas. Hope to show you the finished product soonish!

A big thank you to my Daddio who showed me the Pink Glove video a while back. It was totally my inspiration for our dance!
{ Love you, Daddy! }


Enjoy!


PS- Look out for the janitor man! He CRACKS ME UP!

Mingle Monday Make-up!

How on earth could I let a whole Monday go by without a mingle party??? Shame on me! I choose to blame the issue on my neighbors (who I am actively stealing internet from), if they could only get their router working I'd be golden! Jerks.

Anyway... WELCOME to Mingle Monday! I hope you all are ready for some fun, new friends, and lots of followers!

If you are new to my blog or Mingle Monday - Thanks for joining us! Please click on the Mingle Monday tab located at the top of [Life of Meg] for details.


Just a few housekeeping rules...

________________________________________

1) Please include the NAME of your blog as well as the correct URL.

Example: [Life of Meg]
www.megnificentlife.blogspot.com


2) Unfortunately, any minglers lacking their blog's name and URL will not be able to be included in tomorrow's blog highlight list. So... please make sure it's included in your comment - this is here to help YOU! :)


3) Also, your blog grows the more readers that follow. In order to get your name out there, we all have to tell our favorite blog friends about Mingle Monday. The more bloggers the merrier!!

4) Remember, I will choose 3 mingler over-achievers (who post on their blog about Mingle Monday) to receive a feature review and recommendation of their blog in tomorrow's post.

In order to be entered you MUST comment again and leave the link to your blog's Mingle Monday post. Bueno? Bueno!
________________________________________



{ Time for Mingle Monday Make-up Sesh! }





{ Here we go! }
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Every Friday evening of pay day, Marcie would always swing by her local grocery store on her way home from the subway to get a food overhaul... and a lottery ticket.

Although Marcie loved her non-profit career and was very good at still living like a poor college student (even after 4 years after graduating from UC Berkeley), her 300 square foot "luxury" studio in San Francisco was feeling a bit snug and clothes a bit worn.

Some days she daydreamed about living by the marina, taking taxis instead of the subway, lavish dinner dates at all the hot spots and buying that cute puppy she saw in the pet store window. One of these days...

It was a normal Friday evening for Marcie. Worn out and exhausted, she fought the subway crowds until her 18th St. stop. "Almost home!" she thought. She contemplated by-passing the grocery store for 3 blocks, but decided that applesauce and string cheese wouldn't cut it for dinner. Upon checking out with her grocery bag in hand, she stopped by the lottery ticket counter.

That evening, Marcie was finally able to relax with a big bowl of pasta and a smooth glass of wine. Around 10 p.m. or so, Marcie switched the channel over to News 4 to listen to the broadcast as she cleaned up her dinner mess. 20 minutes went by before she heard the word "lottery" louyd and clear.

She wiped the suds off of her pink fingernails and scrambled for her ticket. Although she knew there was no way she'd ever win, she still checked it.


"And this week'slottery numbers are 24-03-17-21-13!" the anchor said. "Hopefully there is a lucky winner out there who will be taking home that $36 million jackpot!"


Marcie was shocked. Could that really be right?


"24... 03... 17... 21... 13," she read outloud in disbelief.


"Oh my gooodness."


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...and...

{ GO! }



Happy Mingling!

Hello Weekend Adventures!

Now, did you really think you could keep me away for long? Of course not... I'm b-a-c-k!

I was a little stressed/overwhelmed with work and life earlier this week, so I thought I would take a nice break for a few days. BUT I realized that [Life of Meg] is my comfort, my creative outlet and the safe place that I love, so I couldn't help but miss it and miss all of you!

{ Anyway... on to weekend fun! }



So many wonderful things to look forward to...


+ going to bed early
+ DIY pedicure w/ a new sassy OPI shade
+ grocery shopping
+ trying out new yummy recipes
+ boating at the lake w/ BF & co.
+ quality time, sunshine and great company
+ dinner outing at a new restaurant
+ sunday morning breakfast date
+ world cup finals
+ lazy sunday nap + chill time
+ evening church
+ kickball w/ the gang


Absolutely looking forward to the first weekend in a while that is totally chill, flexible plans and absolutely relaxing. Excited to spend quality time with some of my favorite people...


{ Mmmm, weekend I like you already! }



What's on your fun agenda this weekend?