Extra Extra! {weekend, weekend}

Now now, it is now Thursday I realize, but I am determined to post about last weekend some more.
Friday I went to geography in the morning, and then after ripping the sleeve of my dress and doing a hack job sewing it back up before putting on a blazer, I drove up to Salt Lake. My cousin Ben got married and I was able to go to both the wedding luncheon at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building and the wedding reception later that night at the Lion House. In between I went shopping at City Creek and ended up with two shirts and some other odds and ends. It was so nice seeing and talking with all of my cousins and of course celebrating mawwage!

Saturday was spent babysitting my lovelies. We went to a birthday party at Boondocks, came back to my dorm and played around, and then Mike joined us for dinner at the Cannon. I love those punkins!

 Later, a few girls and I went ghetto laser tagging, to Roll Up Cafe, and to the midnight showing of Wreck It Ralph. All in all, a lovely evening.

my "love of owls"

Life is grand.

-M

The luck of the Irish... Literally.

{Even though this will be posted on the 18th, remember that Sunday, March 17th, is the lucky day we're talking about here.}

Once upon a time, I became friends with these lovelies.

Jeni and Bayley are both in my ward. I knew Bayley first because she is on my floor and is roommates with my friend Katie (who helped me pick this floor when I was moving dorms between semesters). Jeni and Bayley were already friends before I moved in, and recently we have all been getting close and hanging out a bunch! We went to Salt Lake last weekend, had a sleepover, went laser tagging, dollar movies at midnight, etc. We are all a lot alike- we love vintage, have the same style, and are all around rockstars.

Back to this day of luck, St. Paddy's, this evening I went to hang out with Jeni and Bayley in the lobby (our weekly pool night with our friend Ben). Jeni and I were sitting on the couch and she asked me if I was Irish. Here's our conversation:

M- " Yeah, a little bit, I'm a Murphy."

J- " Really? I am too!"

M-" Yeah! My grandma's maiden name is Murphy."

J- "No way! That's my grandma's maiden name! What's your grandma's first name?"

M- "Marilyn!"

J- "What?! etc etc etc"

M- "What's your grandma's name?"

J- "Donna!"

At this point we are fa-reaking out because we realize that our grandmas are sisters. Not just regular sisters; they were uber close. They were best friends and did everything together! My grandma passed away over a year and a half ago, and I remember meeting Donna and Johnny at her funeral. Donna reminded me so much of Grandma, and I thought that she was the closest thing to Grandma. They live in California, so there was really no way of me ever getting to know them. 

Since 8 o'clock this evening, we have been chatting up a storm. We googled it, and we are definitely second cousins. We have the same great-grandparents. She is the youngest in her family, and I am also the youngest, and we have few cousins that are close to our age. My closest cousins and kindred spirit Maddie is a year and 30 days younger than me, so Jeni is a smidgen closer in age!

This is seriously so crazy and exciting. I am losin' my mind! 

I've literally been fulfilling my Parent Trap dream, except the grandparent edition. I have this photo of my grandparents when they were dating, and Jeni's grandparents happen to be cropped out of this version. Jeni's seen the whole photo so you know that scene in the Lindsay Lohan version where they're like- 

"That's my dad!"

"That's my mum!" as they compare the two photos?

We did that! Oh my soul.

It gets even better. We are now planning an epic post finals road trip to Jeni's home in California to see her mission farewell (She leaves to the Philippines in 53 days), DISNEYLAND, Balboa Island, Taiko sushi, antique shopping, regular shopping, beaching, the works! I'll also be able to hang out with Donna and Johnny which will be wonderful. 

All in all, this has so far been the best St. Patrick's Day ever. I'm pretty sure nothing will ever beat it. I mean, I found a long lost Irish cousin for mercy's sake! Fate, destiny- you are in my favor. Good thing I wore my four leaf clover necklace today. Lucky lucky luck!

Lots o' love,

Megan

P.S.

Hello all!

Today was a successful Monday. Success including making to all my classes, eating good food, and looking presentable. I've been working on this Lazy Man Iron Man and spent two hours at the Richards Building. I biked 6 miles while reading this book and watched this on the elliptical. Then it was my first pool time! I had to get a BYU approved swimming suit (ended up with this one, it fits my extra long torso perfectly!). I absolutely loved swimming. I could do it everyday, and I probably will! I was feeling stressed and overwhelmed about my essay due and my trig test coming up, and afterwards my head was clearer and more optimistic. It's nice to know I have this new outlet!

So this weekend was a keeper! Friday morning I went to see C Jane (happy birthday!) speak at the women's conference. While resting between laps tonight, a thought occurred to me. Why should I spend anymore time hating things about my body? I challenged myself to stop it. Who told me that I should hate my extra fat, or my acne, or my fair skin? I've wasted so much precious time believing I was not worth loving, because I perceived something was wrong. If I only could shed that Freshman 15, cure my pimp(le)s, and did my makeup just right, I would be content. C Jane's words at the conference inspired me. She said to the extent, love your body the way it is currently. Our bodies are just what we need right now. I'm too tired to paraphrase it completely, but I've been motivated to love myself more, and stop the hatin'.

 (Greatest picture of your life, I know.)

On Saturday, I headed up to Salt Lake with Baylee and Jeni. We hit up the Vintage Whites Market at the fairgrounds. I purchased two adorable vintage dresses for $35, curtains for $8, and gluten free cookie bar, and a ring from Ruche. 

Afterwards we went to the Happy Sumo at the Gateway for sushi. Wow man, get the Mango Mama rolls! We came out of Urban Outfitters empty handed, but then we ventured on to Decades. Jeni bought the cutest l'il hat!

 We stopped by Trader Joe's (chocolate covered potato chips...) and then we spent the night at Baylee's house. We played pool, watched The First Wives Club for some reason, ate nachos, drank pop, hot tubbed, watched SNL, cursed daylight savings, and ate a delicious breakfast before we headed back to Provo for church. Sunday night I hung out with Maddie and did my laundry, (also ate Mini Eggs).

Sunday also happened to be this little punkin's birthday! I love you Bentley Bee!

I love you all!
Megan

That half of February

Hey all, remember me? I realize things have been fairly quiet over here. Here's a little photo collection of the rest of February!

Valentine's Day was fairly uneventful, but we did have a fun ward activity that included a cookie decorating contest. We decided to go with a zombie (I know, a cliche) theme because the icing looked ridiculously like blood.

President's Day weekend I went down to St. George with my family (Mom, Dad, Mike, Bentley, Stella, Uncle Andy and Aunt Renee). It was grand to be in the sunshine, even if only for a day!

Scenes from Beaver-

Saturday my mom and I went shopping, the girls and I went swimming, we went and got yogurt and to the park, and then Thai food with the whole crew that evening. I had the most delicious Pad Thai at Benja's. Sunday we went to church, and then headed back home again!

(this is the best one)

Additional events of note:

I signed up for this! So far I've biked 11 miles and ran two. I will finish!

 Last Friday we went to the men's volleyball game, Legend's Grille, and Sammy's. It's nights like these where I feel less of a loner!

This week has including a sewing frenzy to catch up in my class, a nail biting basketball game against Gonzaga, a last minute 3-page paper writing fiasco, catching up on Revenge, Touch, and (almost) Downton Abbey, and dinner and hottubbing last night with Maddie.

I leave you with this- the artistry of our hall.

-M

Scenes from the weekend.

I know it's Tuesday, but two jam packed days of school can really cramp your blogging style! So my momma came into town on Friday and it's been a party ever since. I went up to Alpine on Friday to sleepover at Grandmama's with her. Saturday we went up to Salt Lake to play with the kidlets.

We ate yummy food, made it to Trader Joe's at my wish through a blizzard, and got pedicures. Sunday we made cookies that I could send to the MTC, made lunch, and then went to church at my BYU ward. Afterwards we ate at the Cannon Center.

More scenes from the Hartshorn's-

 Oh I love those two.

My face has frequented this expression as of late, no specific reason is to be blamed.

Sunday night we had a hall party. It was hoppin' for about 30 minutes. WE strung up lights that are now a permanent fixture thanks to Command Hooks.
Here are some highlights:

Off to bed, thanks for the catch up.

Love,
MM

This is what dreams are made of- London 2013!

From the start, Hilary Duff was right.

Today I got my acceptance email into my dream study abroad program! I'll be spending fall semester this year living at BYU's London Centre from September 6th-December 12th. You can read all about the program here. This whole journey (all of six days) to get to this moment was perfectly aligned, and a total surprise. I picked up a flyer on my way to trigonometry, applied that day (which turned out to be the last day), had my interview on Monday with the two professors who are going on the trip, and this afternoon I got the acceptance email! It was all fate, and I am all kinds of excited. There is a Heavenly Father who loves me. I am exceedingly grateful for this new opportunity, I mean look at where I'll be able to live for four months?!

YEAH DAWG!

                      

Is this real life?

Please feel free to enjoy this Brit-Pop infused video diary montage dance party of joy.

Other scenes from today, the most magical day thus far-

I want to remember my lucky pants that if I bring with me will come to France. (I will be in Paris for a week! Me in Peree!)

precious freshie boy's early v-day chalk attack 

My good friend Sarah called me up earlier today, and we ended up going to see BYU's Young Company's performance of Henry V. My new friend Nathan was in it and slayed it (literally). Then Sarah and I ventured to JoAnn's and Walmart for sewing/costume class supplies and then chatted for an hour with her roommates!

College life done treat me good today.

Loves and cheerios,
Megan M. Allen