Weekend Links.
Happy almost-Monday, friends! How was your weekend? I moved into the new apartment last week (yay!) and spent this weekend organizing and Ikea-shopping. I start a new job tomorrow, so it’s a busy time, for sure. Of course I’ve still seen some fun links around. Have a great week!
Hugs,
Megan
How to ride a bike in a skirt. Genius!
CANNOT wait to see this movie!
7 things you need to stop doing to be more productive (backed by science). If only it was that easy.
5 ingredient salted caramel peanut butter truffles with raw. salted. vegan. caramel. Yes please.
What’s the font of the future?
How to peel a mango. Again, genius.
If you haven’t seen this, “what I Instagrammed vs. what was really happening,” please do. It’s hilarious and all too real.
Peach and blackberry teagaritas sound great.
Surprisingly sweet greeting cards.
Buying Twitter followers is a thing? Please don’t… Interesting read, though (spoiler: it can actually lead to real followers).
8 fantastic entertaining tips.
High Five for Friday.
1. Arizona sunsets. So beautiful. Like, every single night.
2. I’m loving this nail combo of a light pink color and a rose gold accent.
3. Went for lunch and had this. BLTs with egg are definitely a new favorite.
4. Finally finished breaking bad this week. I know, way late to the party. Season 5 was probably my favorite. Have you watched it?
5. And last but not least, This week,a few of us ladies teamed up for a summer beauty haul giveaway, worth $50. If beauty-related things aren’t your cup of tea, feel free to disregard this completely (and I promise to post some more Europe pictures next week!), but if you like free beauty items, read on!
The giveaway will be live through Monday, July 28 at 11:59pm EST, so if you’re interested, be sure to enter in the next few days (International readers outside of the USA are welcome to enter, but will have to pay for shipping if chosen as a winner).
Here’s what’s included: Hard Candy Nail Color – in Bachelor Party, Sally Hansen I ♥ Nail Art Tool Kit, Remington Head Band, Long Chain Necklace with Stone Casted Owl Pendant, Hard Candy That’s How Eye Roll – in Drama, NYC Sun ‘n’ Bronze – in Hamptons Radiance, NYC Great Last Lip Color – in Traffic Jam, NYC Liquid Lipshine – in Nude York City, NYC Smooth Skin Perfecting Primer, Kiss Nail Dress set – neon Aztec pattern in both Full and French
Enter here: Summer Beauty Haul and good luck!
Hugs,
Megan
Currently.
If eating strawberries and watching House Hunters at 12:45 after a demanding morning of blog reading is wrong, I don’t want to be right.
And that’s about all I have for you today. I do suggest this playlist and taking a break today for some summertime fun, though. Halfway through the week – hump day, enjoy it!
*photo edited using the Waterlogue app
Hugs,
Megan
Homeware Dreamin’
With any new apartment comes new rooms that need pretty decorative touches. Since I am moving into a new apartment this week, of course I have decorating on the mind. I spent the past three years in a humble college apartment so while I’ve collected a fair amount of kitchen items and little knick knacks, I’m looking for a few new things to make a house feel like a home.
Of course I need practical items. However, in my opinion, the not-so-practical pieces are so much more fun to look for, so I’ve done a little round up of some of the things I’m liking.
I have always had a very colorful eclectic style when it comes to homegoods, but I find myself drawn to a lot of black and white and neutrals right now.
1 // I’m so excited to have plants around. Hopefully I can at least keep a few succulents alive! These vessels are delicate and perfect for planting.
2 // Gotta have somewhere to store your wine, right? Love the wood and simplicity of this.
3 // Candles 100% complete a space. I have a ton of Bath & Body Works candles, which are great, but Diptyque candles have such a classic look and have been on my wishlist for a while.
4 // A big-girl apartment means so more taping up old posters to the wall. I’m looking forward to printing some photos and hanging them in frames.
5 // Storage baskets are great for storing quilts and blankets in the corner of the living room.
6 – crosses, triangles, stripes // I ADORE the look of a bunch of black and white, geometric-printed pillows gathered on a couch.
What do you think? Any homeware pieces you’re loving right now?
Hugs,
Megan
The Very Inspiring Blogger Award.
Let me start by giving a huge thank you to Rachel from Rachel Things, Meghan from Fresh Faced, and Jacqueline from A Vibrant Day for nominating me for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award! I so enjoy these ladies’ blogs and appreciate their nominations.
Blogger awards like these are so great for finding new blogs and learning some new things about the ones you already follow. Here’s how The Very Inspiring Blogger Award goes:
Thank and link the amazing person who nominated you.
List the rules and display the award.
Share seven facts about yourself.
Nominate other amazing blogs and remember to comment on their blogs to let them know you’ve nominated them (provide a link to your post).
This rule is optional – you can proudly display the award logo anywhere on your blog (e.g. on your sidebar) and also follow the blogger that nominated you.
Facts about me:
I drink coffee (at least one cup) pretty much every morning.
I graduated college with a degree in marketing in May.
I have always wanted to travel a lot. I went to India in high school and it really initiated the travel bug. I set a goal when I graduated high school that I wanted to visit 10 countries in the next 10 years. I am currently at 7.
Since I was a little girl, I’ve always wanted to move to New York and open a boutique.
I kinda sorta love avocado. I eat it plain with salt and pepper at home all the time and if something on a menu has it, there’s a pretty good chance I’ll order that.
I am a type 1 diabetic and was diagnosed at the age of nine.
I have a nose ring. It was my first-week-of-college rebellious act (cliche much?). You can’t see it in every picture, but in this one, you can.
My nominations:
Confessions of a Twenties Girl
Hugs,
Megan
Road Tripppp.
What was I up to this weekend? Thursday morning, I set off with the boyfriend for our first road trip! Four days and 30 hours later, we arrived in Phoenix, AZ. If you didn’t know, we are moving here. You never know when you’ll have the time and reason to drive across country, so we decided to go for it this time. Shouldn’t everyone drive Route 66 at one point or another? Anyways, I am so glad we did drive. Comedy Central radio kept us awake and laughing most of the way and I am now the proud owner of reward cards for three major hotel chains.
It was amazing to see the changes in scenery, so I thought I would share road shots from each state across the trip. I had never seen a cactus, let alone a desert full of them!
Have you ever driven across country? Where were you traveling to and from?
Hugs,
Megan
Recipe: Homemade Vanilla Bean Marshmallow S’more Pops.
I did something bad. Well, I did something good. Okay, I did something bad for our waistlines, but good for our taste buds. Enter, s’more pops.
I don’t know about you, but the combination of marshmallow, chocolate, and graham cracker shouts summer to me. Does anyone else have a problem with getting this song stuck in their head this summer?
Homemade marshmallow s’more pops are a great way to give the classic flavors a little bit of a gourmet twist (Can we pretend that isn’t really as pretentious of a statement as it sounds? Thanks. Haha.) Really, any food on a stick is just fun, and this way, you don’t have to build a fire or dealing with gooey marshmallow all over.
First, make marshmallows using this recipe (Thanks Martha Stewart!). Don’t be intimidated – homemade marshmallows are surprisingly simple. I guess you could use store-bought marshmallows instead, but it’s just not the same.
While the marshmallows set, melt a cup of dark chocolate (or milk chocolate if that is more your jam), and crunch a sleeve of graham crackers in a food processor or plastic baggie. Once you have cut the marshmallows, insert a wooden skewer into each marshmallow, dipping the skewer in a little bit of white chocolate first (optional) to really make it stick.
Dip each marshmallow into the melted chocolate, and then graham crackers, coating each side, and then place on parchment-covered baking sheet. Refrigerate until the chocolate is set, about 15 minutes. Yep, it is that easy.
What do you think of s’mores? Would you try this twist on a classic?
Hugs,
Megan
Budapest, Hungary.
I think Budapest might be one of my very favorite cities, but I’m not sure I can exactly tell you why – just a feeling. I do remember driving into the city and instantly falling in love though. It just had such an old elegant charm. It is no wonder the city is known as “The Paris of the East.”
Definitely, our experiences in Budapest don’t hurt my love affair with the city. The first night, we took a spectacular dinner cruise on the Danube River. We had a lovely dinner of traditional Hungarian food, had local wine, and viewed Budapest’s stunning illuminations (including Parliament and the Buda Castle). This is not something to miss, and I know I will remember the cruise for a long time. It was a romantic and special night.
It was the next morning touring Heroes’ Square, Budapest’s “Buda” and “Pest” sides, driving over the Chain Bridge, and Castle Hill when I fell even more for Budapest. The cathedral, and Castle Hill in general, were amazing. The city has so many treasures, from the East and West train stations to the spas.
That afternoon, we visited an excavated Roman city (which thrilled this former Latin student!) and traveled to Szentendre (St. Andrew). Walking past ancient walls on the narrow cobbled streets of this medieval river town was the perfect afternoon. I am not exaggerating. The streets are lined with decorated nice little Hungarian shops with embroidery, ceramics, and paprika.
Wine tasting and dinner at a winery (sensing a trend here, huh?) ended our time in Hungary. I am not sure there is anything better than good food, great wine, and interesting company in a beautiful city.
Budapest has delicate and lovely detail on what seems like every inch of the city. Most buildings rely on private investors for restoration, but I just know if Budapest was able to clean up and renovate, it would be that much more of a gorgeous marvel.
It’s so fun to reminisce and share photos from the trip, and I am so glad you all enjoy following along too.
Hugs,
Megan
Terrifying and Amazing.
Hi darlings,
I plan to be back later today to share photos from Budapest, Hungary (trying to keep myself accountable, ya’ll!) but ran across this quote on Pinterest (of course) and wanted to share. It definitely strikes home and I kinda really love it.
Hope you’re having a fantastic Tuesday!
Hugs,
Megan
Weekend links.
I hope you are too busy laying on a beach somewhere to be reading blogs, but just in case you are exploring the internet a little bit today, here are some cool things I have seen around lately.
Of all the videos of fireworks from Friday (and there are a lot!), in my opinion, this one is the absolute coolest! Fireworks filmed with a drone.
Cocktail snow cones. Mmmm.
The reality of Instagram vs. non-Instagram life. Hah.
Describing color is tricky.
Floral office chairs are so pretty.
I have home decor on the mind, and am loving these minimal bohemian living rooms.
This guide to swimming holes in the U.S. and Canada could be very useful.
Rhubarb strawberry margaritas are on my to do list.
The 20-something nursery rhyme is funny and motivating. Thanks for sharing it Sarah!
Hugs,
Megan
That Charming Life 