day-AFTER-Labor-Day Work Avoidance...

Just in case you didn't get enough bbq-ing, napping or relaxing by the pool one last time yesterday, I'd like to offer up THIS little gem of site for you to waste your 'first day back to school' on. As anyone who knows me knows, I have a MINOR (read: major) obsession with scarves. Maybe it was Mama McKenna's amazing mysterious collection of bright silk prints in a tubberware under her bed, or maybe it was my years of European living, or just my general love of accessories (big, bulky, sparkly, vintage jewlery post to follow...) but I am addicted to scarves. They make EVERYTHING better. ie:

Ponytail... LAME. Pony tail WITH headscarf... Rock-a-billy CUTE!
Yoga pants and tank top... Gym. Yoga pants, tank top and sheer floral scarf... date with JIM!
Business Suit... Janet Reno. Business Suit plus designer ascot... Janet Jackson!

See what I mean???

So imagine my delight when I discovered a whole SITE dedicated to the endless powers and possibility of the scarf!!!! Complete with both video and plain text/illustrated versions of the how-to's! BRILLIANT!

So avoid work ONE MORE DAY my friends... and get lost in the blackhole of options that IS scarfs.net!

http://www.scarves.net/how-to-tie-a-scarf/chain-knot-wrap.htm

Baby Love!

I am an AUNTIE!!!!!!!!!!! More specifically, I am the PROUDEST Auntie of all time. My amazing sister gave birth to a beautiful, healthy baby boy 2 weeks ago. Tipping the scales at 7lbs 1oz, is Dario Thomas Lang... the most condensed amount of love you could ever squeeze into such a small package! Moments like this make my affinity for good ol' 55106 even more intense. I so wish I was home to hold him and change his poopy (cloth of course) diapers! Or go to the amazing Blooma sponsored Belly-rama with my siste` and the peanut... On second, thought poor Caitlin would not get much of a maternity leave if I was home because I'd be knocking on her door asking to play with Dario every morning at the first ray of sunlight ;) I cannot wait to snuggle little Dario at another happy event, Liam's wedding in just 6 short (aka really, LONG) weeks.

I'd post a pic of the little guy but I don't have expressed written consent of his mother, who is probably planning a formal unveiling `a la Michael-Jackson-balcony-dangling or something equally as risky and epic! But for all of you that have inquired, yes, Dario is HERE and both he and his amazing parents are doing great. Cue the witty and poignant parenting blogging... take it away Caitlin... ;)

Now if you'll excuse me I only have about 30 craft projects to start working on for this little guy...

xoxoxo
Aunt Meggie

The Thrill of Victory... The Agony of Defeat...

ahhhhyes, it comes but once every 4 years but the dramatic, inspiring, emotional Olympic gymnastics coverage is upon us! And I was a WRECKKKKKKKKKKKK watching Jordan Weiber get edged out of the All Around by Aly Raismen. They both had great meets. I honestly felt that Jordan and Aly deserve to go to all around instead of Gabby. Jodan and Aly both had just 2-3 tiny little hops and balance checks throughout the 4 events. And honestly- while a beautiful routine- I'm not sure Aly's floor routine deserved the huge score she received. Gabby Douglas was a complete ball of nerves on beam in particular, with huge wobbles and almost falling multiple times! She's young, not known for her consistency and coolness under pressure. Yeah she's got some big high flying tricks but in reality she's a liability when it comes to a team medal and just doesn't possess the polish and poise to bring all 4 events together for an all-around medal at the Olympics. Yet sheeee gets to go to AA finals??? Not Jordan??? 
Of course any time you throw subjectivity into the mix, sports get even more high-stakes then they already are. Baseball, basketball, soccer... its a simple matter of points scored. In swimming or track field there's no question... it's who crosses the finish line/ gets to the wall first on that given day in that particular race. Michael Phelps doesn't get seconds added to his time because one of the officials didn't like how his elbow was bent at a specific angle during his front crawl. You can be the best 100 meter sprinter in the world but on that given day, maybe you slept poorly, ate wrong, your toenail hurts, a butterfly bats its wings in the Amazon in opposing direction to your head wind and you don't end up with a medal... that's understandable. But the brutal sport of gymnastics is based on judging - a dangerous concept in life and sport. And unfortunately fates hang in the balance because of it.
At real issue here is the crazy rule that has been put back into place since the Athens Games in 2004, when the FIG (Federation Internationale de Gymnastique- the governing body of the sport) decided to would re-implement a 2-athlete/ country max to All-Around qualification. I think this was done because people were tired of the Russians/ Romanians/ Chinese SWEEPING the medal stands. But unfortunately it's at the detriment of the girls who work so hard for this ONE chance every FOUR years. Jordan Weiber- the reigning WORLD CHAMPION- and argueably, truly, THE best gymnast in the world, was 4th in the over-all All Around totals in the Team Qualification round. She posted the 4th highest total score in the competition. Yet girls placing 20 spots LOWER than her, will get the chance to try for individual ALL AROUND GOLD- a chance that Jordan, is denied. How does that make sense???? Someone worse gets a chance... but someone who is a true contender does not. That is so backwards. The problem is that of the THREE girls scoring higher than Jordan, 2 of them are her own compatriots... so she's the odd-girl out :(
Back in the day - 1992 Barcelona- Those cut throat Russkies had the same thing happen... again, this was in the original era of the 2 athletes/ country max rule... They had a gymnast who THEY THOUGHT was their best chance at gold on their team, finish 3rd in qualification round! So, the day of the All Around Finals they told the poor 2nd place girl, that she would not compete, and put their 3rd place girl in in her place- saying that the other girl had a 'knee injury. What was the outcome of the switch? Those damn Russkie's were right... their substitution and favorite for the gold actually went on to WIN the gold!!!! Maybe you all don't remember her, but Tatiana Gutsu will always hold a special place in my heart - not just because she's a fun Trivial Pursuit factoid, but because she looks just like my baby sister Caitlin! Judge for yourself...

Couldn't we do the same thing and switch silly, immature, inconsistent Gabby Douglas out and put the favorite, more dominant, better bet for Gold, Jordan Weiber in in her place??? We could, but that wouldn't be in the spirit of the Games either. I - for one- LOVE an underdog. But I think the real underdog darling here is Aly Raisman. Gabby is just a fluke and Jordan's just a victim.
Not being able to do anything about the rules, my money - and heart- is on Aly for the overall Gold. She's the team Captain, a solid competitor and irony of ironies, best friends with Jordan. I can't imagine being in Jordan's shoes, but being the strong, mature and classy athlete that she is, I'm sure she'll bring her absolute best to the podium today for Team Finals, and maybe, just maybe, if we all lean as hard as Aly's parents during the routines, we'll keep the American Girls on the beam and bars and cheer and cry with every stuck landing along the way.
 I'm not sure I have the emotional fortitude to make it through these next few days of gymnastics coverage. It's simultaneous the best.. and most F'D UP sport in the world... 

Summer Reading List...

Awwww summer time... all that travel and beach bumming gives us time to FINALLY tackle the books that we've been hearing about, recommended and gifted but NEVER get a chance to actually read. I'd like to offer up some of my summer reading critiques and recommendations for my readers... because, like Oprah, I know I TOO influence the opinions of millions of women around the nation... arfarf

1) 50 Shades of Gray- Now, if you follow one of my OTHER favorite blogs Some Balls No Chains you'll find a like-minded female reader in my dear friend Coco. Frankly, I don't get it. Like some many things that get hyped up, they usuall follow one of two fates a) it's all totally unmerited BS group-think lemming followers jumping on a band wagon or b) all said hype ruins an otherwise undiscovered literally treasure that, hey, is at least enjoyed by millions of people now that the word is out. Well, let me just save you the 4 hours it would take you to plow throw the several hundred pages of unrealistic smut that is 50 Shades of Grey and just confirm for you right here and now that this book definitely falls into the FORMER of those categories. Are they're some explicit, detailed, kind of hot sex scenes... mmmmm' yeah. But is it earth shattering, mind-alerting, rock your work, lock yourself in the bathroom good??? NOOOOOOOOOO. It's NOTHING that can't be found on any number of late night cable stations. To top this all off, the books - which are told from the perspective of the title character who is a 22 yo college girl- are in fact written by a 50 yo British lady... and she ain't foolin' NOBODY... No 22 yo soriety girl IIIII know even knows what a "Classic" is let alone constantly references them; nor do they refer to the good/evil components of their subconscious as "my inner diva"... and last time I checked, we call a condom a CONDOM. No 22 yo female making out a their neighbor's homecoming kegger ever stops mid make-up session and asks "Do you have a foil packet?"... I'm crying shinnegans. I was gifted the other 2 books in the series... and I'm not sure I'll read them... maybe sell them to the nearest sex-deprived single mother I run into instead... She'll get more out of them I did.

2) Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me?: and other concerns, by Mindy Kaling (of "The Office" fame)... my love of "The Office" is too great to share space with this pariticular post. And in watching the show, I always though Mindy's character was funny - because its TRUE- type of way.. ALL of us know THAT girl... the girl that makes mankind think we are all dellusional, obsessive psychopaths to be feared not dated... but I never knew the comic GENIUS that Mindy herself possess until picking up this book. Please run - don't walk - to your local bookstore and pick up your copy TODAY... Just take the first paragraph of the book, there is MUCH more where this comes from:

" (heading before intro starts) : DON'T PEAK IN HIGH SCHOOL
Sometimes teenage girls ask me for advice about what they should be doing if they want a career like mine one day. There are basically two ways to get where I am: (1) learn a provocative dance and put it on YouTube; (2) convince your parents to move to Orlando and homeschool you until you get cast on a kids'show, or do what I did, which is (3) stay in school and be a respectful and hardworking wallflower, and go to an accredited non-online university."

more... more... give me more! Just read it, people.

3) Bossypants, by Tina Fey... the photos interspersed amongst the pages should be incentive enough... add in the amazing wit and cultural insights as only Tina can convey them, and you got yourself a book that gets you in trouble for snorting through your nose on the plane! I literally woke Ryan up yesterday in a vain attempt to stop from laughing hysterically at her description of the first and last time she took a cruise on her honeymoon. Move over Barrack, TINA FEY for President in 2016!!!!

4) The Omnivore's Delimma... I know, I know, after those last two it seems like I am ending on a buzz kill, but trust me, you. need. to. read. this. book. It will rock your WORLD and cure you of any addiction to fastfood hamburgs, or even the seemingly harmless bag of frozen chicken breasts you bought last night- "they're good for you right?"... yes, but are they good for US... the planet, the WORLD?!... Fret not, it's not all doom and dispair and whole foods holier-than-thou lecturing... it's really really educational. So much so that I have been dabbling in veganism. (Commense outraged vegan's calling me a poser NOW... oh wait, I have to have more than 5 readers for that to happen... arfarf)... I say dabbling, cause I can't quite bring myself to live without foufou French cheeses... to go with the wine I enjoy so much... oh the vices are endless... but mass-farm-raised poutlry shall never again be one of them.

Happy reading friends! xoxo Mego

Hello faithful readers! My apologies for the  month long hiatus in posts. Today's entry will surely wet your appetite... well for a fun little recipe, if not more megoonthego :) I've been dabbling on some healthy cooking sites lately in my constant quest to expand my epicurious repitoire... and stumbled across this little gem via a girlfriend's recommendation for this site. I made this last night and can I just say YUMMMMM and most importantly EASY! Armed with over $100 in Whole Foods ingredients that I can NEVER find in this goforsaken city thanks to a recent visit to DC, my pantry selves are once again stocked with things like almond butter, and flax seed. (My twin cities/ Cali fans you have NO idea how good you guys have it til you try grocery shopping in NORFOLK VA!)... Give it a shot and let me know what you think. I topped mine with a scoop of No Sugar Added Fat Free MACADEMIA NUT Frozen Yogurt! My obession with self-serve fro'yo is worth of a post in it's self... Our favorite local fro spot sells day-old pre-packs (pints of fro yo that they pack into containers in order to change out the flavors for HALF PRICE! so whenever I go for that day's fro yo treat, I almost always pick out a 50% off pre-pack to take home- excellent for adding to smoothies etc... like I said, this fro yo topic deserves a post in it's self :) But for now (focus Mego!) check out THIS site :

http://heathereatsalmondbutter.com/2012/03/01/one-minute-flourless-muffin/

More epicurian topics to come, including frozen yogurt, victory gardens and vegetarianism... or whatever other suggestions my (4) faithful readers might want to see me tackle. Love you all and happy chef-ing! xo

Good Karma

I cannot take credit for the meat-and-potatoes (soy and quinoa???) of this article taken from Yoga Journal - one of my new favorite magazines.... But I really like the principles laid out in it. So here, with artistic license (and credit to Yoga Jounral March 2012) I present to you the following ideas to implement into your life to bring about positive, change and growth. And how doesn't need a little of THOSE sprinkled into their world?! Enjoy and Namaste, Meghan

1) Start the Day with a Positive Intention-
What does this mean? It means to wake up and put a 'theme for the day' into words. In yoga we call this a mantra or 'intention'... but it doesn't have to be some cosmic chanting stuff. Just a simple phrase that you can repeat in your head (or outloud!) that sums up your thought-for-the-day. For example: "I will be patient with the people around me" (a great one to repeat when your in traffic or working with THAT guy/girl at work) or "I will be present with everyone I meet" (good for the iPad, text, while googling, while doing that excel sheet while IM-ing or otherwise OVERmutli-taskers out there) or "I get my work done effeciently so I can spend time doing x-y-z when I get home this evening..." It's hard to work towards something if you don't have a 'thesis' and that's what an intention is... a focal point around which you center all your days work.
2) Get Clear About Your Motivations-
Sometimes we need to pause and think "why"... Why do I bust my butt at a job I hate? (oh yeah, because I'm saving up for that cruise this fall... or: because I'm THIS close to that promotion to the division head I REALLY want to run and make changes in!) One key to creating positive karma is to act with a positive motive. Yoga Journal says "for example, when you're about to make a critical comment about someone, check to see why you're doing it. If you discern a hidden feeling of envy or self-righteousness, consider buttoning your lip or offering a compliment instead." Yoga guru or not, that's some GREAT (albeit difficult to follow at times :P) advice for all of us.
3) Act for the Good of Others-
Decide to do something good EVERY DAY... it could be as simple as holding a door open for someone; letting someone with just a few items infront of your cart-for-the-apocolypse at the grocery store; or picking up that piece of trash in the parking lot on your way into Target. (Sidenote here: I will NEVER understand why people will leave full FAMILY SIZED paper bags of fast food trash in there parking spots! Seriously, people... you are about to walk into a facility with multiple trash recepticals AS YOU WALK THROUGH THE DOOR... how hard is it???). Do something good and remember how it felt to DO that little piece of good. I garauntee it'll put a spring in your step for the rest of the day.
4) Break a Bad Habit-
ok this one is tough(er)... (see above about not criticizing others...) But sometimes letting go of even a minor habit can have a ripple effect in your positivity and karma. Smoke one less cigarette... don't hit snooze and instead do 10 minutes of stretching before you jump in the shower. Sit down a write a friend a card before you decide if you really NEED that bowl of ben&jerrys from your freezer when you already ate out with friends for dinner...
5) Make an Offering-
As Yoga Journal says: "The root of most negative karmic patterns is some form of selfishness. One antidote to this tendency is the practice of offering. When you do something positive, take a moment to inwardly offer it for the benefit of others. this helps ensure that your action is surrounded by beneficial motivation. It's one of the most powerful ways there is to create positive (karma) for yourself and for the benefit of the world around you."

I was inspired by this little 1/2 page blurb in the magazine and wanted to share with my loyal (count them on one hand) public... Hope they help inspire you too! xoxo Mego

A Few of My Favorite Things...

Oprah does it so why can't I??? and if I had a million (or maybe even just $2000 extra dollars) I'd buy ALL my fans (all 4 of you) ALL of the items you see here... just like Oprah! Cue your Oprah impression, Coco- you do it best ;)

Spring has sprung and here are my favorite random items to freshen up your life. Are 90% of them fitness related... maybe... is that surprising to any of you... probably not... do I care... nope :) hehe

1) Origins Make A Difference Toner- this stuff is AMAZINGGGGGG (Coco- cue Oprah voice at 'amazing'). I've been using it for a month now and it HAS made a difference in my skin! It's fresher, brighter, soaks up my moisturizer better. All around amazing. The kick was 1 week into using it a.m. / p.m. when I was talking to Ryan in the kitchen as I made din and he interrupted me to say "Why does your skin look so amazing..." When a 24 year old boy unpromptedly notices your skin, you've gotta an excellent product on your hands, my friends.

2) About Time Protein- this stuff is BOMB! Let's start off with the fact it TASTES GOOD!!!! And then move on to the fact that its all natural, no artificial anything! My fave flavor is "birthday cake'. Blended with ice, vanilla greek yogurt and almond milk it's like a shake! I also add it to my oatmeal to give it more protein and sweeten it without the added sugar. Now if only I could get them to sponsor me so I don't have to PAY for it... ;)

3) Compression Socks- I. love. these. I've never had a problem with 'cankles'... but these make a difference in ANYONE's leg fatigue during long days of running around at the office- OR during your work outs. You can wear them under your dress pants (or camo's in my case) at work and no one's the wiser as to why you have such a literal spring in your step! My amazing Mumsey got me a pair of these for Christmas and I cannot wait for NEXT Christmas to ask for more ;) They're a little pricey- but like I said, this is my Oprah Favorite Things List so price is no object people... haha

4) Yogi Tea- Let's not talk about the fact that none of the shittyass grocery stores in Virginia carry these teas, and focus on the fact that these are DELICIOUS and SOOOO good for you! (I've resorted to ordering them online because I can't live without them!) I am especially in love with the Egyptian Licorice and Aztec Sweet Chili (which may sounds weird but is a lot like a chai) versions. Warms you heart, body and soul! ommmmm

5) Levi's Bold Curve Jeans- FINALLYYYYY a label that has caught on to the fact that there are more than two demographics of jean shoppers (size 00 asians- I'm talking to you Forever 21) and plus size drawstring/ elasta-waist. Levi's has a line specifically for us chicks with ahem- developped- quads and glutes! Willing to give their ad a run for its money, I tried their no-gap "bold curve' jeans. They fit. like. a. glove! And cost <$50!!!!!! Thank you Levis... from the bottome of my, er BOTTOM.

6) Body Step- Ok, so how do I fill out said, Levi's Bold Curve??? Get into the gym! And what better way to do so then taking a fun class!!!!!! I know I'm biased because I'm an instructor myself but SERIOUSLY group fitness classes are so much FUN! Before you know it an hour has past and you've burned 600 calories! My current fave is Les Mills' BodyStep class at my local gym. It's part dance, part butt building, and all party! SOOOO beats an hour on the eliptical with that damn CSPAN on mute! arfarf My advice: find THREE classes a week at your gym and make it like an APPOINTMENT you can't break! Then, go to Macys and try on those Levis.

7) Honda CR-Z Sport Hybrid!- Since this is the Oprah list, everyone gets a new CARRRRRRRR (cue: Coco...) And right now, MY dream car is the worlds first 6-speed MANUAL hybrid. It's amazing on gas and looks sexy! Only draw back- no back seat - which is fine with my because bijoux sits in my lap anyway :)

LOVE YOU ALL!!!! xoxo