stumble upon....

this past weekend, in a defiant act, i decided to read something i actually enjoy (or, in other words, not the grotesquely large, red, dictionary-like casebooks i'm usually found with) and i found two things i like for the price of one.  i read the book Charlie St. Cloud, upon which the movie is based.  not only did i like the book (zac efron's face on the cover will surely entice you to open it) but i really enjoyed the oft-repeated quote,

trust your heart
if the seas catch fire
(and live by love
though the stars walk backward) 

here is the full text of the e.e. cummings poem.  i'm so glad i stumbled upon this quote and googled it, because i have been rewarded with a new favorite poet.  the theme of the poem is also fitting, when i feel like every day is a losing battle here at school. 

dive for dreams
dive for dreams
or a slogan may topple you
(trees are their roots
and wind is wind)
trust your heart
if the seas catch fire
(and live by love
though the stars walk backward)
honour the past
but welcome the future
(and dance your death
away at the wedding)
never mind a world
with its villains or heroes
(for good likes girls
and tomorrow and the earth)
in spite of everything
which breathes and moves, since Doom
(with white longest hands
neating each crease)
will smooth entirely our minds
-before leaving my room
i turn, and (stooping
through the morning) kiss
this pillow, dear
where our heads lived and were.
silently if, out of not knowable
silently if, out of not knowable
night's utmost nothing,wanders a little guess
(only which is this world)more my life does
not leap than with the mystery your smile
sings or if(spiralling as luminous
they climb oblivion)voices who are dreams,
less into heaven certainly earth swims
than each my deeper death becomes your kiss
losing through you what seemed myself,i find
selves unimaginably mine;beyond
sorrow's own joys and hoping's very fears
yours is the light by which my spirit's born:
yours is the darkness of my soul's return
-you are my sun,my moon,and all my stars

Best of Blogging

hello, my dear few readers -

as I've mentioned, what motivated me to get a blog in the first place was the amazing blogs I read.  So because of this, I would like to give credit where credit's due and highlight the best things I read in blogging recently.  (a disclaimer to my use of "recently": it is my last week of college classes and all the tests/papers/craziness/"senior lasts" that come with it, so it is very likely I overlooked more than a few amazing things)

As seen in "The Sweet Sea"

Advice for the College Girls

[Reprinted from an article entitled "Do As I Say, and Please Call" by Bella English | The Boston Globe, Spring 2005]

"Start the day with breakfast. End it with dessert. Exercise every day (see 'dessert,' above). Make it a part of your life. Smile while you're running or biking or swimming. It will lighten the task and disconcert others. Beware of the 'Freshman 15.' It's a lot easier to keep weight off in the first place than to take it off later. When walking, don't look down. All you'll see is dirty shoes. Look around, look up; observe the world. People-watching is a fantastic pastime. Listen well - to your friends, to the birds, to music. Wear comfortable shoes. They don't have to be ugly. Don't worry if you don't know what you want to be when you grow up. May of us adults still don't. Write thank you notes. Why shouldn't you take fie minutes to say thanks when someone has taken much more than that to buy, wrap, and send a gift? (And if you don't write thank you notes, you won't get as many gifts). Find a soul mate. The most important decision you'll make in life is whom you choose to spend it with. Get a dog. They're walking lessons in love and loyalty. Spend time with children and the elderly. They're master teachers. Go out on dates. Have a relationship. Don't settle for 'friends with benefits.' What is the long-term 'benefit,' anyway? Vote. It's proof that you're a participant, not a spectator, in our democracy. Read the newspaper daily (preferably, this one). Earn your own money. Save some of it. Get a comfortable bathrobe. Guard against smugness, which is simply self-ignorance. E-mail often. Keep in touch with your siblings; they're the ones with whom you will share your old age. Don't take a television to college. If you're doing things right, you won't have the time or inclination to be a couch potato. Find your passion and pursue it. Tell your parents you love them. It won't kill you, and it will thrill them more than you now. Volunteer. Get outside. Study under a tree. Take a break and play volleyball or toss a frisbee. Buy a bike. They're fun and environmentally friendly. Be kind. Tell corny jokes. Don't color coordinate. Dance with abandon. Dare to be dorky. Be curious. Take chances. Go someplace new. Do something different. Laugh often and loudly. Especially at yourself. Never pay full price. Don't worry about geometry. Chances are, you'll never have to use it again. Get acquainted with the washer and dryer. Change your sheets more often than every leap year. Make friends across cultures. Learn another language; go abroad and practice it. Remember that luck is a large part of life, but so are the choices you make. Eat chocolate. Read for pleasure, not just for class. Read everything from Homer to Homer Simpson. Give surprise parties. Don't be afraid to ask for help. Stay in touch with your old friends. They knew you when. Lock your door when you leave your room and when you go to sleep. Always wear a seat belt. Learn to say 'I'm sorry.' Remember to sleep. Remember to go to class. Start 'War and Peace' now. You might finish it by graduation. That tattoo that seems so cool today won't be 10 years from now. Ditto on the nose stud. Be patient with your parents. Someday, God willing, you'll be as old and ignorant as they are. Call your mother. She loves you."

As seen in, Tale of a G.R.I.T.S

Skinny Girl Margarita:
- 2 ounces of white/clear Tequila
- Fresh lime juice
- Splash of Cointreau, Triple Sec or Grand Mariner
- add Splenda if desired

As seen in, Diary of a Southern Belle

Good Reads!
if you like to read, as I do, this website is a MUST.  it has reviews, gives you the opportunity to review, and is an all-around great way to find books. 



there's my little reader's digest.  enjoy!

$15 Sundresses?! 80 Degree Weather?! Now THAT'S More Like It!

Spring has FINALLY sprung, and i can't say i miss the snow and freezing mountain weather in the least.  with temperature creeping through the 70s and into the 80s by this weekend, this means it's time for many of my favorite things - most notably, sundresses.  i had always thought that wet seal's clothes tended to err a little on the trashy side, but a recent email they sent me has me eating my words.  they have precious sundresses, many of which are only $15!  they're no lilly/vineyard vines, of course, but i think they're adorable! and for the price, i won't feel so guilty about giving myself a reward...or two....or three....
 while not all of these dresses are ideal, i found it to be worth a look =)

Wet Seal's Dress Page

hope the nice weather hits everyone!!

a to z of me

A - Age: 21
B - Bed size: Full, after much convincing. I had an itty bitty twin most of my life.
C - Chore you hate: cleaning out my car. it's so hard to maneuver around and thus hard to clean, and in the winter/rain when i can't stand to be outside my car is FILTHY.
D - Dog's Name: Cuddles :) love her.
E - Essential start your day item: breakfast. i've never been one to skip. i can go without any meal, but if i don't eat breakfast i am horrible nauseated all day long, no matter what i do.
F - Favorite color: pink.
G - Gold or Silver: Silver, always.
H - Height: 5’4" to 5'5"...changes depending on who measures me, literally. never more than 5'5" though!
I - Instruments you play(ed): flute, piano (not well), and guitar (worse). i sang mostly
J - Job title: full-time student and part-time medical transcriptionist, when i'm home
K - Kid(s): i'm going to defer that question for at least 6 years, thank you
L - Living arrangements: lovely townhouse with two lovely sorority sisters. walk in closet and own bathroom...i am blessed
M - Mom's name: Carol
N - Nicknames: a million. M&M, megzan, m-cubed, meg, megs, matilda (and many other unique ones by my mother :) ), babymegan (mostly by coworkers because i've always been the youngest one)
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: not quite overnight but until 2:30 am because of my spleen/mono
P - Pet Peeve: a lot, actually.  i'm a very easygoing person so people are always shocked to know how many little things irk me.  like people who chew loudly, do weird things with their mouths when they talk, bring incredibly odorous food into public places (even when its a good smell, the library doesn't need to smell zesty)
Q - Quote from a movie: "Don't let anyone ever make you feel like you don't deserve what you really want. Go for it." - 10 things i hate about you. quotes are one of my favorite things.
R - Right or left handed: Right
S - Siblings: POM, brother, 18
T - Time you wake up: between 6:45 and 8...sleeping in makes me feel unproductive. UNLESS i was out the night before...then a world war couldn't wake me up.
U - Underwear: a true necessity
V - Vegetable you dislike: squash.  if i can be specific, sweet carrots. like carmelized carrots. not a big cabbage fan, which when you're as irish as my family is is quite a curse
W - Ways you drink your coffee: if i make it (aka black coffee) with some milk and LOTS of splenda.  i used to babysit for special needs children, and a little autistic boy used to think that all coffee was called "splendid coffee" due to confusion of the word splenda and the obscene amounts i put in mind =)
X- X-rays you've had: Teeth, stomach at least 3 times, kidneys, and im sure more
Y - Yummy food you make: i am a pretty good baker...if i do say so myself
Z - Zoo favorite: pandas!!! when my favorite at the zoo died, i cried (age 6 ish).


i feel like the loser of the blog community....any tips on how to get followers hhaha?

 

it's 5 o'clock somewhere

so aside from being my favorite number even before i was old enough to understand the meaning of 5 o'clock, 5 has been my favorite number.  this, combined with Friday being my favorite day of the week, is a love that has only grown and evolved with age.  Given that tomorrow is Friday (yay!) and there will be a 5 pm (yay yay!) and my spring break begins (yay x 3) I decided that the most appropriate post for today will be some delicious ways to celebrate my favorite day and time.  While I will be preparing for my Teach for America phone interview at 10 pm and will not be showing the world my love for 5 pm and Fridays tomorrow, there's no reason y'all can't!!!  Here's some delicious ideas that other people had on their blogs, and are definitely worth repeating!

CHOCOLATE COVERED RASPBERRY

 

Ingredients:

Raspberry vodka
Vanilla vodka
Light Creme de Coco
Dark Creme de Coco
White chocolate liqueur (or cream)
Fresh raspberries
Chocolate syrup

Preparation:

Add ice to mixer. Pour raspberry vodka (2 count). Pour vanilla vodka (1 count). Add both light and dark Creme de Coco (3 count). Add a good splash of white chocolate liqueur. Add small splash of raspberry liqueur and shake.

Drizzle chocolate syrup in martini glass. Drop 1-3 fresh raspberries in glass and add more chocolate syrup. Pour mixture in glass.

LOVE POTION #9

 

Ingredients:
1 ½ oz strawberry vodka
¾ oz white crème de cacao
½ C of frozen strawberries
1 scoop vanilla bean ice cream
Splash of milk
½ C ice (crushed is best)
Strawberry garnish

Preparation:

~Place all ingredients except strawberry garnish in a blender and blend until smooth.
~Pour into a margarita glass and garnish with a strawberry.

IRISH MARTINI

From Baileys ~

3 1/2 oz. Baileys Irish cream
3/4 oz. Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey
Shot of strong, cold coffee
Chocolate sprinkles

Preparation:

Drop some ice cubes into a shaker and pour over Baileys. Add Bushmills Original Irish Whiskey, then a shot of strong cold coffee. Shake vigorously and serve in a martini glass. Garnish with chocolate sprinkles.

Equally delicious, but picture-less and name-less....

2 parts Malibu Rum (it's coconut flavored)
Splash each of Triple Sec, pomegranate juice and cranberry juice
Dash of lime juice
* combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice ~ shake ~ and pour.

anddd

3 oz. red cranberry juice
1 oz. Malibu Rum
1/2 oz. grenadine
* combine all ingredients in a shaker with ice ~ shake ~ and pour.

enjoy welcoming the weekend! maybe if it's welcomed with open arms it will come more often? here's hopin'!

xoxo,

currently reading

i love to read. but since i can't seem to find that cool widget that everyone else has (i'm not tech-savvy) i gotta make another post.

i am currently reading....

and so far, so good. i will keep y'all posted. now off to read military history - which is far less enjoyable to me.

a journey of a thousand posts....

well, being that due to my limited creativity (classic achille's heel of mine) all my prospective names were taken, i defaulted to my old high school nickname of M-Cubed. All my initials begin with the letter M, and thus comes the nickname (and lots of asking "did your parents realize that?" answer: not exactly, just liked the sound).

my first order of business, before filling the feeds of whoever is willing to read with my "MMM, MMM, Musings" (my extra-cheesy name for my posts) I MUST jazz up this blog! I have seen SO many gorgeous outlines on the blogs I follow, and I'm dying to emulate.

to all the amazing blogs i follow - i always said i would never get a blog, but y'alls were just so amazing and have brought me so much joy i couldn't resist trying!!

wish me luck!!

<3
MMM