Dancing Queen

Ello loves! I am back from the most amazing weekend and couldn't quite possibly be any happier. BF and I roadtripped to see our friends get married and had the best time.

Our car ride, sing-a-longs and stories couldn't have warmed my heart any more. That boy makes me happy... *sigh*


{ Favorite weekend memory... dancing! }




I am one wild dancing queen, and once you get get me on that dance floor it's pretty tough to peel my away. Well BF (bless his sweet heart) isn't as crazy about dancing as I am, but he did it anyway just to see how happy it made me {you're my fave!}.

Between the two of us, we showcased our super cool moves (shopping cart, anyone?), had a blast, and made a pretty awesome team.

{ L. O. V. E. these photos }










Hope you're having an exquisite Tuesday!

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PS- Looking for new followers or fun new blogs? Don't forget that the Mingle Party is open until Wednesday at midnight. Stop by and get your blog some exposure!
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Mingle Monday

Welcome to Mingle Monday! Are you ready to gain new followers and discover several new blogs? Well, hopefully Mingle Monday adds some sweetness to your day!




If you are new to [Life of Meg] or Mingle Monday... thank you for stopping by! I am always so happy to have such wonderful blog friends! Feel free to click on the Mingle Monday tab loccated on the top of my blog for complete information, or keep on reading below for the abbreviated version! Glad you're here!



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!

4) All "blog and run" perpetrators will be deleted from the party, so please be sure to leave your comment!



**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!

_________________________________________________


{ 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 midnight (CST)... so get mingling! **
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Can't wait to read your recommendations and visit your blogs!

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!

_________________________________________________


{ 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!


_________________________________________________






** The linky is open until Wednesday at noon (CST)... so get mingling! **
_________________________________________________



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!