Don't Judge Yourself

(photo via we heart it)

"It took me a long time not to judge myself through someone else's eyes".
                               -Sally Fields

Remember: You're beautiful! :)

xoxo, meg

Adorable Piano Video

(image found here)

A couple of days ago, I talked about the movie, Amelie. One of the greatest things about the movie is the music. While I was listening to the soundtrack online (yes, I'm too cheap to just buy it on iTunes) I stumbled across this video. It features on of the main songs (my favorite one!) from Amelie and it has just the cutest animation. It shows an older man who is playing the piano and while he is playing, he sees memories from his past. It is really quite touching, actually!

Check it out: here!

Inspiring Photographer: Sharon Montrose

I read about this photographer on Cup Of Jo and was inspired by her unique ideas and concepts! Her etsy store is full of adorable photos- go check it out!

Here is a cute video about her latest photoshoot!

{photos from: here}

Pictures On the Wall

Yesterday I chose three pictures of mine that I liked and sent them off to Walgreens to be made into 8x10 enlargements. A couple days ago, my Mom and I had picked up three frames from BigLots and so after school today I swung by Walgreens to pick up the pictures and put them in the frames! My Dad lovingly helped me hang them on the wall of my bathroom and I love how it turned out. It makes the bathroom have a "finished" feel to it.

Here are the frames I bought... 

Here are the photos I chose...

Before...

And after! Yay!

Another Week

(via we heart it)

Well this weekend went by way too quickly! I cant believe it's already the start of a new week. Oh well. Schools almost over, summer's almost here...I can make it!

Today was a good end to the weekend; I went to church, had donuts with a friend and we looked at her pictures from her trip to China, I cleaned up my room (what?!), had a delicious salad while sitting outside enjoying the sunny weather, and then went to a Chad Long, Hazel and Vine, and Lybecker concert at a little church in the area. 

Here's a verse I found in Matthew. Its the "Salt and Light" example Jesus gives but The Message really gives it a new meaning.

"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven."

-Matthew 5:14-16 (The Message Version)

Amelie

A few months ago, I sat down and watched the french film, Amelie, and I absolutely loved the idea, setting (France! Ahh!) and the music (soo beautiful!)
"Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain is a film about an extremely imaginative young girl, Amelie(Audrey Tautou), who had a very isolated upbringing. The film begins by explaining what happened to her as a child and then moves on to see her moving into her own flat and with her first job as a waitress. The story line is fairly mundane but is jazzed up by Amelie's ways of dealing with things, she meets a man, Nino Quincampoix (Mathieu Kassovitz), and basically plays a game with him. He lost one of his photo albums which she later finds. Instead of simply returning the photo album she does it in a truely unique and exciting manner. The film is presented in a magical way where the viewer is bombarded with trivial yet sweet information on the arrival of any new character, the interesting subplots throughout the film and the strange thoughts and crazy antics of Amelie herself."

plot summary from here

-Megan

Friday Fun

Happy Weekend!

I can't believe it's the weekend again already...it seems like the week just started! Here are some fun links of things I've found online. Enjoy!

-for the hamburger lover-

-fun laptop case-

-chalkboard piano makeover-

-condiment packet gallery-

xoxo, meg

Right Now I'm...

Listening to this:

Ecstatic for this:

Watching this:

Dreading this:

Loving this:

(the sunny weather!)

Inspiration: Mother Teresa

Mother Teresa is a true inspiration and captures what it means to have a servant heart and love everyone. I saw this poem on Oh Mishka and thought I would pass it on. This poem was supposedly written on the wall of of her home for children in Calcutta.

photo via weheartit

People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight.
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God;
it was never between you and them anyway.

How-To: Make Black Bottom Cupcakes

I thought I would start a little something where I would post little "how-to" or tutorials for fun things. They can be called "Tutorial Tuesdays." Catchy, I know. ;)
So for the first one I thought I would show you how to make my new found favorite cupcake: Black Bottom Cupcakes. I'm getting hungry already.
Lets get started!
First off, we need some ingredients.

• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 egg
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup water
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil
• 1 tablespoon cider vinegar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon almond extract

After setting the oven at 350 degrees, beat the cream cheese, egg, 1/3 cup sugar and 1/8 teaspoon salt in a medium bowl until light and fluffy. Stir in the chocolate chips and set aside.

It should look something like this:

In a large bowl, mix together the flour, 1 cup sugar, cocoa powder, baking soda and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Make a well in the center and add the water, oil, vinegar and vanilla. Stir together until well blended.

Now, when no one is looking, take a small spoonful of the cream cheese mixture and dip in in the chocolate mixture and eat it. Delicious, huh?! ;) 

Anyways, lets get back to the recipe.

Fill muffin tins 1/3 full with the batter and top with a dollop of the cream cheese mixture.

Bake for 25-30 minutes. 

I made my cupcakes in a mini cupcake pan so I only baked them for about 17 minutes. My newest obsession is mini cupcakes....that way you can eat two and not feel as bad about it!

 Speaking of calories, I better go do my workout....

Recipe from: here

I made a little recipe sheet for all y'all here as well. Just click the "download" button and if you have any problems, let me know!
Enjoy!

Back Again

Well hello there, world! Has it really been so long since I last posted?! Whoops. Anyway...I'm back. My best friend Cambria and I have decided to go on a little "blogging challenge" of sorts and blog everyday for two whole weeks! Yikes! We'll see how it goes...

I have decided to participate in the "Diana Scavenger Hunt" hosted by Rose of R's Adventures. For those of you who are utterly confused right now, let me explain. A "Diana" is a type of plastic film camera that is famous for its unpredictability and fun surprises in photos. Random splotches, blurry spots, weird lines all add to the fun of owning one of these little toys.    No, we are not searching for hiding people named Diana, although that would be fun too. What it is is a list of 12 things to take pictures of and then comment back with a link to your photos. If you have a Diana and want to join in or if you are just curious what the scavenger hunt items are, here they are:

I'm excited to see what my little Diana can come up with and I'll make sure to post my photos up here as well.

Have a simply lovely afternoon!

xoxo, meg

Right Now I'm...

Reading this:

Craving this:

Wanting this:

Inspired by this:

Loving this:

Judging

photo

My good friend Bianca posted on her blog about judging people and it really got me thinking.
How many things in our life are based off of judgements, or wrong judgements at that? Would we still be fighting wars, experiencing racism or unfair treatment or even religious prosecution? What would the world be like if no one judged another and instead we took the time to actually get to know one another rather than basing our opinions on someone's clothes, their lifestyle, their friends? As a Christian, our actions should be based on what God would want us to do, and I definitely don't think that God wants us to judge others. After all, Jesus didn't choose to spend His time with the rich and powerful; He came to serve those who were the opposite. He came for the poor, the weak, the dirty, the diseased, the broken. And He definitely was judged by people for doing that but He ignored their insults and continued to love and show compassion. That is how I want to live.

Independence

Someday, I am going to take my little camper and travel the country. Just me and my pug (and my besties, of course) and we're going to eat whatever we want, wear what we think is cute and comfy, and stop whenever we see an awesome picture moment. It is going to be awesome.
I have been thinking a lot (more like dreaming) lately about the day when I am on my own and really have control of my life. I cannot wait until I can have my own little apartment and buy all of my food at Trader Joe's and probably spend way too much time and money sitting at Starbucks. It's not like I don't love my parents and can't wait to get out of the house (I do love them and like my house); its more like I just want that feeling of full independence.
A speaker in one of my classes today said that she wished she had appreciated and taken full advantage of her years as a teen. It got me thinking...am I really appreciating the amazing life I have going for me, the awesome friends and parents I have, the delicious breakfast my mom makes...or am I simply spending all of my time wishing I was on my own?
Soon I will be out on my own and I hope I can look back on my years at home and know that I didn't just waste them away.

That camper is just soo cute...sigh.

Photography Goals

(photo from weheartit)

Photography has really become a passion of mine and so I decided to make myself a few goals.

1. Don't be discouraged by other people's *amazing* photos. Sigh.

2. Take photos every day!

3. Learn more about my camera...there are so many settings I could be taking advantage of but I'm too lazy to pick up the daunting User Manual.

4. Figure out how to use Photoshop Elements...yikes.

5. Update my Flickr account on a regular basis, not just once a year. (whoops)

Who knows...maybe I'll really be on top of things and post some pictures on here! Wouldn't that be lovely.