Manaynay

Dr. Scholls Heel Balm {review}

2012-02-08T19:16:00.000-05:00

A couple of months ago my mom gave me a foot cream and I fell in love so I decided to review it :) I feel a little silly saying I'm in love with my foot cream but I swear it was love at first.. rub?? The minute you apply this stuff to your feet they instantly feel softer and smoother and they look hydrated. If that makes any sense.

I have really dry heels and even around my toes too. They're dry and the skins tougher. But this cream is like a miracle in a jar. I normally put some on before bed and then throw on some big socks (normally a pair of my boyfriends) and then I read for awhile and when I take off the socks (which is always before bed because I don't like sleeping with socks on) my feet already feel like they spent hours getting pampered. The cream smells like lavender and if it were cream you put elsewhere on your body I'd say it would be too overpowering but because it's for your feet the smell isn't in your face (and if it is, then you're feet really shouldn't be that close to your face).

I haven't been using it every day, more like 2 or 3 times a week since I got it which was two and a half months ago and I still have quite a lot left. You don't need much product, a little really does go along way. I have no problem with the packaging, I think it's cute in the little plastic container. But I do understand why some people might have a problem with it. For starters anything you have to dip your hand into can easily get contaminated, so it would be more hygienic for it to be in some sort of container that had a pump on it. However, you can always use a little plastic spoon to scoop the product out if you're that much of a neat freak. It's not like the products going on your face, only your feet.

Another thing is, the cream is really greasy which means once it's all rubbed into your feet and all over your hands it's a little difficult to close the lid of the container. So what I do is I scoop the product out with one finger and apply it using only that hand which leaved the other hand grease-free and able to close the lid. Trust me this cream has much more pros than cons.Your feet will feel amazingly soft after using this stuff and I would highly recommend it.

- Megan Elizabeth

My Skin Story

2012-01-14T04:12:00.007-05:00

I feel like I should explain what "journey" my skin and I went on recently. It wasn't a fun one. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. And I remember looking in the mirror and wishing I had horrible acne instead, because surely acne would be better than this?! You think I'm being over dramatic? HA! (And keep in mind, these pictures weren't taken when it was at it's worse and I look good compared to how I looked in person.)

Let me explain...

My skin seriously hated me or something. I felt like it was finally acting out for the bad way I've treated it these past twenty one years. Not enough sun block. Rarely washing off makeup. Cleaning my face (~~twice~~) daily? Pfft. And moisturizing? Never. Finally I realized I was literally adding years on to my face by not doing these simple things so I decided to buy a facial cleanser and moisturizer and start anew. I always seemed to have combination skin. A little oily around my T zone in the winter and dry on my forehead, corners of my eyes and sides of my nose in the winter. And I've always gotten blackheads on my nose and chin, and I was starting to get whiteheads on my chin now too. (PS sorry if this is TMI but I'm telling you about my skin, pimples and all.) I figured, since I've been getting minor acne, to look into a cleanser that would treat my breakouts. I googled and bought Cetaphil and their moisturizer.

This was at the beginning when I had tried to conceal the
redness by using my foundation & it settled into the wrinkles

While all this was going on my under eye area became very dry and itchy but since it's winter I thought nothing of it. And I began to use Cetaphil. Within two days.. all hell broke loose. My under eyes became not just dry and itchy but inflamed, flaky and wrinkly. My face broke out into a rash. And all around my lips became severely chapped and would crack at the corners if I opened my mouth too wide to talk, eat or brush my teeth. It was awful!

I immediately stopped using Cetaphil and its moisturizer, assuming this was the root of the entire problem. And this was all happening around the beginning of December and I had holiday parties to attend to so of course I just covered up my eyes and mouth with the foundation I was using Maybelline's Fit Me (in shade 115, perfect match by the way). The rash went away when I stopped using Cetaphil but my eyes and lips kept getting worse. I caked on Blistex and Vaseline onto my lips and surrounding areas which just caused milia because I wasn't letting my skin breathe. I used an all natural eye cream in excess, which caused another small rash to break out around my eyes, most probably from over use. While this went on I continued to use my Fit Me foundation because I refused to go outside looking how I did. However the makeup hardly made things better. It only settled into the fine lines and wrinkles that had formed around my eyes and made me look like I was at least forty years old. It was a lose lose situation.

People at work kept commenting about how I looked, their were even customers who couldn't keep their mouths shut. I must have broke down and cried like twenty times throughout this whole ordeal (which made my eyes even more red. Fail.)

This picture is bad quality, but this is without makeup.

I started using only Vaseline on my lips which made the milia go away and polysporin on the corners so they wouldn't crack. It helped, but wasn't a miracle worker. I also got a humidifier which I kept on day and night. It got rid of the flaky dryness which made things less itchy. My boyfriend finally made me stop using makeup to cover it up since he figured it just irritated it more. I relented, but felt hideous. It's embarrassing how upset I was over this, but to me, I felt disfigured and ugly. Which made me feel shallow. Did I rely that much on my "looks"? I realize now that it played with my confidence. I never battled with not being confident. Everyone has things about themselves they'd like to change but for the most part I had always been comfortable in my own skin and I felt like this wasn't my skin. This wasn't me.

Finally it started to get better and before going to work one day I took out my foundation and applied it only to the top of my lips and outer corners of eyes because those were the places that were most red.

While at work my eyes went from looking okay to looking the worse they had ever been. I ended up finally going to see a doctor and I definitely got the "I told you so!" from my boyfriend when we found out I was having a allergic reaction to my makeup. It wouldn't have gotten to this extent if I hadn't kept applying it. I was given steroids (because he didn't want to give me a cream seeing as it was near my eyes) an allergic medication, and another pill to make sure the steroids didn't mess up my tummy. (I know I should have seen a doctor earlier but I guess I was lazy and determined to fix it on my own. Or I didn't want the doctor to tell me it was just dry skin and to use a moisturizer, because that's what I had been doing anyways.)

Also bad quality, but you can tell my entire lip area is red

I have to make an appointment with an allergist to find out what ingredient I'm allergic to so that I know not anything with that in it. I've obviously stopped using my previous foundation. And I've went a week without wearing makeup! (Okay I lied, mascara doesn't count.) In a way though, this has made me even more confident, I'm so happy for my skin to be back to normal I don't feel like it's as necessary to cover it up. I've always had dark circles under my eyes, and I always will. But considering what happened, I'll take those circles any day thank you very much.

As for the Cetaphil, I tested the cleanser on my chin area only and it's fine, I believe the cleanser just irritated an already irritated area. The Cetaphil moisturizer however.. is pure evil. I applied it to my forearm two nights in a row and when I woke up on the third day I had a rash. So I will most definitely stop using that product for good.

My eyes are completely back to normal. I still have a slight discoloration around my lips. Almost like an acne scar, so I've been using vitamin E capsules and applying the gel around my lips. It's making the redness fade... but breaking me out. Lose lose situation, once again.

This is what they're suppose to look like!

I know that was a lot and bravo to those who got through it all. I just felt like their should be a place for me to get it all out, explain and write it all down. For those of you who asked me what was wrong with my face in a compassionate way and I snapped I am truly sorry. For those who looked at me and laughed in my face (because I got laughed at, on more than one occasion) I wish that I had been able to brush you off. You shouldn't have received the satisfaction of seeing me hurt. Shame on you.

Okay, I promise I'm done typing now... Okay I lied.. I just have one more thing to say... My boyfriends amazing. When I would glance in the mirror and sigh, he would reach over, pull me towards him, look me straight in the face and tell me I was beautiful. Every single time. I think he's a keeper <3
- Megan Elizabeth

UPDATE {Jan 20th}
My allergic reaction is back!! I have an appointment with an allergist on the 26th!

Nail Polish of the Moment

2012-01-09T23:44:00.002-05:00

I'm hoping to start a new reoccurring post which as you can tell from the blog title is Nail polish of the Moment. Hopefully I'll be posting a new nail colour every week or every two weeks and I have a pretty extensive collection so it shouldn't be difficult.

Where I work I'm not allowed to where nail polish. So I like to go all out and my toes are always painted. I actually gave them a little vacation for about 3 weeks and that was the longest I've ever gone since I was like twelve.

So anyways, these are my toes of the moment! The colour is Chinchilly by Essie. And this is actually my first Essie polish and so far I love the brand, I like the way the polish applies and it's coverage is amazing!

This isn't meant to be a huge lengthly post, just a little hey y'all, this is the colour on my toes, kinda thing :)

- Megan Elizabeth

Home Accents from Indigo

2011-12-04T11:00:00.003-05:00

While at Indigo book browsing, I came across some fantastic home accents. Sometimes I wish I had an unlimited credit card.

So I walked around with my blackberry, taking pictures like a crazy woman. These are all the fun stuff that caught my attention.

I love the look of this silver frame, mixed with the linen mat. It makes it much more neutral.

I adore these little birds. Knick knacks can really liven up a book case.

I love owls! And these bookends are oh so lovely. I need them, now!

I've always loved the look of globes but I find they don't necessarily match with every decor. This globe however, could work in any space.

On the way out I came across this gorgeous notebook. Peacock feathers are very in right now so this would be quite trendy sitting on a side table or something.

This employee actually came up to us and started asking what we thought of Indigo's new home accents line. It was actually really cute of much he loved his job.

Hope you liked all the cuteness I found <3

- Megan Elizabeth

Excuses, excuses!

2011-12-03T00:14:00.000-05:00

I know! I dissapeared again! I'm a horrible, awful person. I didn't have a computer and it was getting really difficult blogging on other peoples computers so thats part of the reason why I stopped. However I am typing this on my brand spanking new (purple!) laptop. So not having a computer will hold me back no longer.

Another reason I went MIA is because I was having a mini (not so mid-life) mid-life crisis. For many reasons school fell through and I became frustrated and I wasn't sure if decorating is what I wanted to do anymore and I'm still not a hundred percent on anything but I may never be. I enjoy reading decor blogs and flipping through the glossy pages of all my favourite shelter magazines. For now I'm just going to leave it at that.

Another big thing is that I moved back in with my parents. This was a very difficult decision for me, and sharing it online is even more difficult. I don't like to admit when I'm wrong or when I need help. But moving back in with my dad and step mom was the best decision for me. I already paid off my credit card. Seeing it at zero was such an amazing accomplishment. I bought my laptop. I'm saving up for school in the future. And I plan on getting my license, finally! Not having my apartment makes me really sad at times though, it was all mine, and I feel like it was such an unfinished project. I had so many plans that never came through. All I can hope is that one door closed and another ones opened.

All this to say I'm back, but my blog might be a little more broad and less decor related than before. Expecially since I no longer have an apartment to decorate. Maybe I'll chat a little bit more about makeup I'm currently loving, the cake I just baked or a great little hot chocolate place. Basically I'm planning on talking a bit more about all aspects of my life.

- Megan Elizabeth

I heart HP

2011-07-15T00:10:00.003-04:00

As this gets posted I'm going to be sitting in a theatre watching the very last movie to the Harry Potter series. Like the last time, I figured I'd share a little collection of goodies...

Mischief Managed!
- Megan Elizabeth Johnson

PS. Go check out this HP related post on Girls That Read! A new blog by me and my friend Althea <3

Link Love

2011-06-17T10:00:00.000-04:00

I need to try this poutine burger. Enough said.

How amazing is Jenny's tutorial for adding visual interest to a door. Add some DIY molding and paint it yellow. I couldn't have thought of a better way.

Simple desktop backgrounds from Pantone (Stumbled upon here).

Some great tips for photographing your home

Ohh this looks delicious! Peppers & Mozzarella, what could go wrong!

What most decorating shows do wrong

Big Plans

2011-06-16T11:00:00.002-04:00

When Steven and I first signed the lease I wrote a post about plans for the living room. Well things have changed since then. For starters, When I wrote the first post I was super new at the whole decorating thing. And I've changed my mind a lot since then and developed a different style.

The green paint we chose to paint one of the walls in the living room isn't exactly my favourite shade. I don't like the gray trim, I think white trim everywhere in the apartment would make a more cohesive look. And I've since changed my mind about the gallery wall above the sofa too.

But I wouldn't just change my mind and not have a plan!

I want to paint the walls a soft gray bordering on griege (for the link see definition 2). This one is Light Pewter by Benjamin Moore

I don't want a gray that has too much of a blue or purple tint to it so I'm pretty sure this ones the winner.

Then I'm going to paint the moulding a crisp white (which I already own). I've also been contemplating painting the front door a deep purple. I haven't decided on any yet but this swatch definitely caught my eye.

Then of course there's my future sofa, The Ektorp, which I must have blogged about a million times already, but here's a picture again just for kicks.

See how everything's shaping up to be fairly neutral, well there's a reason for that. Gray walls, white trim, white couch.. It's the perfect backdrop for all the fun colour I plan on adding.

I already own some apple green pillows and I plan on making and/or buying some fun patterned ones. I'm pretty sure I'll be keeping the same curtains, although I'm going to buy two more panels because I find it looks too skimpy with just the two that I have. Especially if I want to actual close the blinds. It looks like a shower curtain because they're stretched so tight.

I have a fun artwork project I plan on doing and putting above the sofa but I'm not ready to share yet, it'll be a surprise.

Then I want to add a big colourful rug (see my rug post here) to really define the "living area" and separate it from where my table is. I have a few more ideas on how to make them separate areas but I haven't decided on anything else yet.

I also need to find matching end tables. Preferably with a glass top.

These are kind of what I have in mind..

Above the end tables I want to mount floating shelves where I can display some artwork, figurines (like my elephants and my quail). I'm not going to have the shelving unit I was using as a bar in the living room anymore, so the shelves will most probably also hold any alcohol I won and my fancy shmancy glassware.

For the moment the poufs I own will have to stand in as my makeshift coffee table. I'd love to get a real one, but I feel like my space is way too small for that. Which is why I'd like to eventually thrift a tufted ottoman, have it reupholstered in a classy but durable fabric (I'm considering outdoor fabric as an option) and using that as a coffee table. I like the look of this one..

I'd obviously put a stylish tray on top of it, then it will double as extra seating when I have company.

I'd also love to find two chairs and put them with their backs to the window, but they'll have to be very small narrow chairs in order to fit so they'll be more difficult to decide upon.

Another thing I covet is an arc lamp. It would look beautiful in the far corner arching over where my imaginary twin chairs will be. If only they were in my price range.

As for the hallway. I have big plans for it, but that's a horse of a different colour and deserves it's own post.

- Megan Elizabeth

Let's talk Area Rugs

2011-06-13T14:59:00.001-04:00

I seem to have are rugs on the brain lately. It's all I can think about. I was to find a rug so that it'll be easier to incorporate the rest of the room around it.

In this post I talked about how much I loved this peacock area rug, but it is soooo out of my price range.

I'm just so in love with the pops of blue, I think it would work so well in my place, oh well.

This one if from Ikea and it's too expensive for my budget but oh how I love the pattern and the colour. It would be perfect. It's one tone so it wouldn't be too crazy, and yet it has a reoccurring pattern and therefore would add some layer to the room.

This is a gorgeous neutral option from Home Depot. I'm still debating on whether I want an area rug that's a focal point, or one that looks great but doesn't steal the spotlight.

This one from Target is another option I was debating. However seeing as we don't have Target here (yet!) I'd have to get it shipped and blah blah blah.

While on the Ikea website a few days ago I came a cross a new to me area rug. The size that I want comes in four different colours. These are two that I've been contemplating.

I love the jewel tone blue, but I also want to bring some green into the room. I'm worried however if I get a green rug it will be mimicking grass. Am I crazy think that?

I'm also really torn between getting a rug in a solid colour versus a patterned or multicoloured area rug. My sofa will be white, my walls painted gray (rather than a bold wallpaper), my curtains are patterned but its very small and intricate and doesn't add much to the whole dynamic. I could always go with the solid rug and then add layer and texture with pillows and artwork. Hmmm tough decisions.

- Megan Elizabeth

PS. I nearly had a heart attack when I was trying to find the link on Ikea for my curtains. I forgot the name and for a nanosecond I thought they discontinued them and my heart stopped. I wish I was kidding. Thankfully I found them. The reason why I would've had a meltdown if Ikea stopped selling them? I want to buy two more panels, I'd like for them to be less stretched and have more pleats when I close them

Finally, a little Chiang Mai in my life

2011-06-11T11:00:00.003-04:00

I've talked about Chiang Mai wallpaper before and about how much I loved it, and about how expensive a roll was. And I also mentioned these cute trays here. Well, I bought one!

I was going to buy two, but I figured one is enough for now. I even had to write up an email to get special permission for international shipping. Maybe it's just me, but I live in Canada! It's right next door to the States, I don't feel international, but whatever.

This is the tray I received. I love how every tray has a different remnant of fabric, it makes it look so much more interesting.

I adore the colours in this fabric I want to incorporate that navy blue into my colour scheme. Maybe by dying the piping on my future Ektorp?

And *sigh* that emerald green is to die for! I have the perfect fabric in that exact shade.. hmm future pillow perhaps?

Please excuse the flash, I had to in order to show the green

You can bet on it that I'll also bring in some snazzy green somewhere in the mix, after all green is my favourite colour!

Okay, truth be told I'm kicking myself for not buying two of them. They're absolutely tiny after all. Oh well, looks like I'll have to order more stuff from Furbish Studios and make up for the price of International shipping!

- Megan Elizabeth

Thrifted, A Beautiful Painting

2011-06-06T11:15:00.005-04:00

When I go to second hand stores I always check the artwork and frames. There's always the chance you'll come across a gem, also framing is super expensive so even if the artworks hideous you can always reuse the frame.

While scanning the wall of ~~mostly atrocious~~ artwork, my eyes fell on that little painting.

It's on canvas and definitely and original piece which is a great find because original artwork is expensive!

So far the only original artwork I own is the penguin sketch and anything that I've created myself. So obviously I bought it.

I love the colours! It really fits in with the whole colour scheme and mood I'm trying to evoke (more about that later).

I've got big plans for this little painting. But I'm not ready to reveal them yet!!

- Megan Elizabeth

PS. If for some reason anyone recognizes the signature and knows the artist, please contact me, I'd love to give them credit.

Link Love

2011-06-04T11:00:00.001-04:00

Dreaming about the day I too can have a glamorous gallery of artwork hallway. Except I think I'd use black frames with other colours mixed in just to add a little punch just like at the Kate Spade store. And I'd definitely want to throw in a mirror or two like this.

Loving this etched glassware tutorial

You had me at Bacon ~~Wrapped Potato Bites~~

I need to try this gorgeous hair style. I'm sure it'll take me awhile and I may need to get back into the hang of braiding, but I'm sure I'll get it eventually.

I need this bangle. Scratch that, I needed it yesterday. What better way to show off my love for Pride and Prejudice? Or more specifically, Mr Darcy, than a bangle with the entire chapter of Mr Darcy's proposal!

These pants belong in my wardrobe. I'll take them in Sage too please. Size 8, k thanks.

What a clever idea to store your sandwiches!

Love love love love love this little peek into this fabulous home. I want to see the whole tour now!

I should start making friendship bracelets. I think it would be cool to then braid them all together with other fabrics and make one big bangle (like on Steven and Chris).

I love when people compare fashion to interiors, this post is a great one.

Bloopers

2011-06-03T19:00:00.003-04:00

While trying to take the pictures of my shoes for my post Five pairs of shoes richer I kept getting interrupted and ended up taking lots of great blooper pictures, so here they are. Molly finally makes an appearance on Manaynay.

Here's the thing about Molly. She's Biggles' sister, as in Bigglesworths Daddy and Mommy had another litter of kittens and I scooped her up. She looks so much like him. They both have the M on their heads it's so cute. Except that Molly doesn't have the big paws with the extra fingers like the Biggster does and she's not quite as fluffy so her tail doesn't look like it belongs to a racoon.

Another little fun fact about her, I found out only a few days ago, that she is not a she. Molly is a boy. This was pretty shocking and depressing news. I really wanted a little girl kitty and I had already named her and everything. I debated some other names , like Clyde, Monster and Tucker almost stuck (it was also in the running when we were naming Mr Biggles, but Steven didn't like it) however in the end I loved the name Molly so much, and I mean she's a cat she doesn't know the difference. I had a dog that we thought was a boy so we called it Buster, until we realized it was a girl. We pretended like her name was actually Busterella, but we only ever called her Buster.

I firmly believe that she is a girl and just has the wrong "parts" this happens to people why can't it be true with animals too. So I will continue calling her Molly and referring to her as a she. I will also be getting her fixed before it comes obvious that she isn't a she.

I know I never went on like this about Biggles, because I try not to post about random stuff like my cats, but I felt like since my two little demonic beasts ruined half of the pictures I took it was a sign.

So there we have it, those are my monsters :) I love them to death.

- Megan Elizabeth

Five pairs of shoes richer

2011-06-02T14:00:00.001-04:00

I went to visit my mom last weekend, and a friend had given her a whole bunch of shoes and clothes, of course I immediately had a fashion show and tried everything on. To give you an idea of how much clothes there were.. it look more than an hour, not including any extra catwalk bootyshakes I did.

There's no way I'm sharing every piece of clothing I inherited, but I have to talk about the shoes!

These were the very first ones I tried on, I fell in love with them instantly. They're a tad big on me, but I'm going to get one of those inserts that you put above your heel, at the back of your ankle and I think that will work.

I saw these and at first I was a little intimidated by the pointyness but they're super comfortable. They're not too high so they're easy to walk in. I actually wore them twice the same weekend at my moms.

When I first saw these I thought, meh, but when I put them on I realized I don't have any classic black heels. The pair of black heels I used to wear all the time have seen better days, and the other pair I own have a 6 inch heel. Maybe it's a little morbid to say this.. but I can see myself wearing them to a funeral, not that I'm hoping I'll have to attend one any time soon, just saying.

I also stopped in at the local thrift store (duh) and came across two pairs of really great sandals.

My feet are fairly wide, so I love how these ones make my feet look longer rather than wider.

My favourite part are the metallic gold, silver and bronze straps.

The ankle strap was wayyy too loose so I have to make my own hole, which is proving much more difficult that I thought, but I'll manage.

I picked up these ones as well because I really like the two tone look of the beige and brown. They're so neutral and can go with anything. Not to mention they fit perfectly.

I have way too many shoes. One day I'll have to take pictures of them all and post them.

- Megan Elizabeth

PS. Please excuse the green nailpolish on my toes. Totally clashes with each and every shoe, but I wasn't going to repaint them just so that they "matched".

Proud owner of a... Quail?

2011-06-01T11:00:00.001-04:00

I mentioned that I wanted a quail back when I wrote my Christmas Wishlist, although it was a family of quails I listed and they were described as pheasants (but I think pheasants have longer tails and quails are fatter).

On Etsy they go for about ten to fifteen dollars depending on the condition. Well as luck would have it I stumbled upon this little beauty at a garage sale and scooped him up instantly. How much you ask? Fifty cents! Score!

He's quite heavy and probably made of brass. He's got a few dings here and there but I'd like to think of them as scars. He's one tough guy.

I think he's just adorable, not sure where his forever home will be, but at the moment he's chilling on a shelf.

So that's all. I'm a proud owner of a quail! :)

- Megan Elizabeth

My organized life starts now

2011-05-31T14:00:00.000-04:00

Or more accurately in August 2011 because that's the first month in my brand new agenda! (Said in a Bob Barker voice).

I mentioned that I wanted one here, and I decided to go ahead and get it. MomAgenda makes beautiful agenda's that are perfect for anyones busy schedule. Seeing as I'm not a mom, and won't be any time soon, I decided I didn't really want mine to say Mom on the front so I went with MyAgenda instead, which is basically the same thing just minus all the mommy extras.

I originally wanted to get the zebra one, but I felt like you could hardly see the writing on the front so I chickened out and got the graphite one instead.

I even personalized it!

I love it but I'd be lying if I didn't say I wish I'd went with the Zebra. Oh well, next year!

It even came with a little phone book thingy that goes at the back of the agenda.

It looks so clean and neat. Makes me wonder what it'll look like a year from now. Okay here's a deal, in exactly one year from now (May 31, 2012) I'll show you what the inside looks like. I can already imagine things scribbled in blue pen, then scratched out with red. Home work assignments penciled in here and there. And stickers. I'm a pretty big fan of stickers. We'll have to wait and see.

- Megan Elizabeth

Fabulous Find: Book Collection

2011-05-06T14:18:00.001-04:00

A few months ago (right after I took a break from blogging) I was at a local thrift store near my moms house when I came across these gorgeous books.

I was drawn to them because of how colourful they were. Then I realized they were mini guides of certain tourist destinations. I immediately started picking out the places I wanted to visit msot. I remember choosing Greece, Italy, India, France and England and then the saleslady told me I could have the lot for four dollars and I said yes please!

I haven't read any of them yet, I've only just flipped through them but they look nice stacked on my shelf by coordinating colour :)

I'm thinking about checking ebay and getting more of the collection. I'd like to have them all.

- Megan Elizabeth

Link Love

2011-04-29T15:50:00.000-04:00

Are you a PC or a Mac?

Wouldn't it be fun to find an old oriental rug and dye it? It would look like one of these super expensive designer ones. (I def need to dedicate a post solely to rugs, since I keep blogging about them so much!)

How can I not mention The Royal Wedding, Kate looked stunning in her dress.
And did you see all those hats? Hats should most certainly come back in style!

Eclectic Chic advice from The Decoristo

- Megan Elizabeth

Link Love

2011-04-22T11:00:00.003-04:00

I was on this fashion blog and I came across these amazingly nerdy shirts. Perfect for a bookworm like me. I like this one and this one best.

I can't afford Chiang Mai fabric or wallpaper but I can afford these!

I am most definitely getting myself one of these. Probably in zebra, with my name engraved.

I love the idea of painting furniture with a herringbone pattern. I have to try it, only thing is what I should paint like this.

Decorator Yellow Pages, if only I had my business up and running.

This rug found here makes me weep with envy. I could never afford the 8" x 11", maybe the runner?

How absolutely adorable are these mini diaries? I should get one!

A nice little collection of interiors featuring arc lamps. Oh how I want one.

This is the smallest apartment I have ever seen. I could never do it.

- Megan Elizabeth

Big Megans Rain Boots

2011-04-20T11:00:00.005-04:00

Big Sarah's Little Boots was my all time favourite in Kindergarten. It's about this little girl Sarah and she has these yellow rainboots. One day she goes to put them on and they don't fit her.

She tries everything to make them big again. She puts rocks in them and she even tries planting them to see if they'd grow.

But nothing she does stretches them. Her mom takes her to a store to get new rainboots and she tries on every boot imaginable. But nothings good enough. She wants her yellow boots. She finally ends up settling on a pair of yellow ones with fire engine red stripes. She gives her old boots to her little brother and the story ends with Sarah in her big girl boots jumping in puddles and playing with her brother.

Alas, all this to say that I bought big girl boots too :)

They're from Walmart and cost me a whopping $30!

I would've loved to get some yellow ones like Sarah. This pairs nice, or even these green ones. Maybe next year.

Aren't the little blue flower vines so adorable. I've been wearing them almost everyday and jumping in every single puddle I see!

- Megan Elizabeth

More About Maxi

2011-04-19T08:00:00.002-04:00

After posting yesterday about the Maxi dresses I bought I started doing some online window shopping. I like the way the really colourful patterned dresses look but I'd defiently have to try it on to decide for sure, which means buying online is not an option. It was fun to look though. Forever21 had a few cute ones, but they were so so. It was H&M that had the jackpot. Look at these beauties.

I have a feeling I'll have to make a trip to H&M soon, these are way too gorgeous to miss.

- Megan Elizabeth

I hopped on the Maxi dress bandwagon

2011-04-18T10:00:00.001-04:00

I was iffy about the whole maxi dress thing. I like my legs, and I like showing them off. But the trends been around for a little while now so maybe it's here to stay and I figured, why not give it a whirl.

I mean they look great don't they?!

The two dresses I bought aren't as patternlicious (yes I just made up a word) as the girls from Sex and the City, but I'm new at this and had to start slow.

Oh , and I'm not going to tell you where I bought them until after, you'll never believe how inexpensive they were!

It's a beautiful dress but because it's black I don't see myself wearing it very much in the day time. I can however picture myself wearing it while dining alfresco at a cute little Italian restaurant along the waterfront with the sun setting in the background. How romantic..

After trying on the black, I went back to get a size smaller because it wasn't fitting right and I saw the second Maxi dress. I picked it up in a small as well thinking it was the same dress just different colours. Wrong. It's a different fir completely and it was too small. So I then had to go back for a third time with the dresses in order to decide which one I was getting. The lady thought I was insane. I couldn't choose and got both.

I can see myself wearing this maxi to the beach over my bathing suit, or getting icecream with some friends. Basically it's much more daytime.

Not to mention I love love love love the fabric on this dress. If it ever gets ripped or stained I swear I'm making a pillow out of it. It's a cream and brown ikat. (Basically a blurry polka dot).

So far the only opinion I got on the two maxi dresses was a negative "I never said they don't look good on you, I just don't like the style." Which basically translates to I wish it showed more leg. But I'm ready to embrace the trend. At first I was going to take the pictures, and make the post about which dress I would keep and which I would return. But after seeing them on I love them both. I should be able to start wearing them soon. Summers almost here!!

So now down to business, where did I get them? Walmart!! They were $25 each. And totally worth it.

- Megan Elizabeth

*Editors Note: Please excuse the un-styled bookshelves, and the box & computer screen on the floor.

You're everything I aspire to be...

2011-04-16T14:17:00.000-04:00

I mentioned before about how much I love AT's Small Cool Contest. I love seeing other peoples homes and learning how they've managed to make apartment living glamorous. I expecially love discovering new storage ideas that I can use. And in most cases (but not all) people who live in apartments are on a tighter budget (most people who have the extra cash will buy a house) therefore it's also great to see affordable decorating.

This Small Cool entry took my breath away only because it's everything I want my apartment to be. I'm not saying I think it'll win, because there are a ton of amazing different homes entered but I love it because there are so many similarities with this apartment and the things that I want to do with my own. It's great to see it in someone elses house and know it works!

For starters, the gray walls. I plan on painting my living room walls a pale gray similar to this one. And you've gotta love the Expedit unit. The little dining table space is cute too, and although mines square and hers is round I still strive for mine to look as posh as this one.

Another thing is the white couch. How many times am I going to drone on about how much I want a white couch! (this one). I also love all the little shelves she's got going on in the corner wall. I plan on installing a lot of shelves. I've learned that's what you do when you have limited storage. You pare down, put things on display and stick it in a pretty box and put it on a shelf.

I am however super jealous of the entry way. I have a feeling my long narrow hallway will forever plague me.
I thought to myself that if I ever found a thin enough console table (or if i got my Daddy to build me one) I would paint it white or a bright yellow. And voila! Her entryway table is yellow!

I adore the chalkboard wall. I was thinking of painting the door in the kitchen (the one that goes down to the laundry room or up to the rooftop terrace) in chalkboard paint. I can draw a calender and even write my grocery list on it.

And how I dreamed of having a four poster bed. Mine however would be this white one, and maybe I'd even call him Ed, like John and Sherry.

Oh.. all the artwork and pictures everywhere is so me. Not to mention this Expedit and the books being organized by colour!

- Megan Elizabeth

Link Love

2011-04-15T18:33:00.005-04:00

I stumbled upon this blog, and couldn't stop giggling when I spotted this.

Don't these look delicious? I always get them when I go to 3 Amigo's. It'll be great to make them at home.

What a great tutorial for painting fabric, she also has a great tutorial for painting the piping on a sofa (which I plan on doing).

10 Rules to Break from the new online mag, Trad Home (Which by the way was a great issue. I only just flipped through it but I plan on going back and reading all the articles.)

What are your thoughts on a company paying your mortgage and in turn having your entire house painted as a advertisement?

Hope you liked these little things as much as I did :)

- Megan Elizabeth

It's that time of year again

2011-04-01T13:13:00.001-04:00

Today, Apartment Therapy's Small Cool 2011 contest starts. People will start entering their apartments. I became a member on Apartment Therapy last year because I wanted to vote.

I remember being so excited about my own apartment, and vowing that this year I'd enter. Alas, that is not the case. Next year I'm entering for sure thought!!!

These were two of my favourites from last year,

On April 4th we'll be able to start voting. Yay! :)

- Megan Elizabeth