When You Didn't Think You Could Sweat Anymore

First things first, some good ol' Bojangles.

Gotta. Wanna. Needa. Getta. Have A. Bojangles!

Or at least their fries with extra Bojangles seasoning.

Then one of the best places in all of NC:

The cutest gelato (Italian ice cream: 100000x better than American ice cream & extremely rich) shop you have ever seen.

The inside just screams happiness:

Well more like sings happiness. Not to mention the amazing Swedish woman who owns it. It's one of those shops where the owner knows all of her regular customers by name and whenever a family walks in, she seems to have known them for years. She is friends with everyone and everyone loves her. She doesn't have a website; her business comes all through word of mouth. I found it through a friend of mine and have passed it along to my friends. Next time you're in WS I hope you pay a visit, I promise you'll love it.

Sorry I got off on a tangent, my apologies my dear readers. But yes I went to Cafe Gelato with Kris and got pineapple and lemon. Perfect for a hot NC day.

Don't be fooled by how small it looks. It's more than you think and about as much as you can handle unless you're making a meal out of it.

And dearest Kris here looking gorgeous as ever.

Together her and I always have adventures. You can never be bored with Kris, that is for sure.

Next we found the Reynolda Gardens. I had heard of them many times before, but neither of us had been and we made a detour to discover what we were missing.

It was a beautiful site to behold despite the 100 degree weather with humidity to match.

And after a long day of exploring we decided to make dinner together (one of our favorite activities) On the menu? Salmon with a cinnamon glaze, along slices of green bell pepper, rice, red pepper humus and flat bread crisps.

And a cranberry/pomegranate juice to go along side.
Looks delicious doesn't it?

And it was!

Needless to say I had a great time with Kris as per usual.

What can I say? We bonded almost instantaneously and have been friends ever since.

Not pictured: Canoeing down the New River with my family.

It was an adventure of zigzagging down the river, picking up about a dozen spider passengers and then flinging them out of our canoe. Stopping to play in the river, getting waist deep in the water and then realizing you did not bring an extra set of clothes to change into later. And having your brother stand up in the canoe and paddle like you're on a gondola. Not to mention canoeing backwards (literally the canoe got flipped around a few times and so we would ride backwards until we got tired of it). But my favorite part by far was singing "The Call" by Regina Spektor A Capella with my brothers.

Also not pictured: Lunch at this cute little diner called Sweet and Savory. (Okay actually I do have a picture of it, but you can view it here later). But yes it was delicious and we were all impressed with it.

After having full bellies we made a quick stop to the cheese factory and store (which Albert was happy about). Where my dad got some nice sharp cheddar I believe and Albert got a cheese knife. See here. He is happy. =]

To end our travels we took a nice drive down the Blue Ridge Parkway. It was cloudy, but beautiful nonetheless.

I love our blue mountains, they make me feel right at home.

On a side note I have a terrible obsession and addiction...

Not to soda, but to collecting bottle caps! What can I say? When I see a glass soda bottle and see a cap I do not currently own as a pair of earrings, I suddenly must have them! I now have 26 pairs of bottle cap earrings. Told you I am addicted....=]

Sorry, but Bojangles fries are just too heavenly that I must talk about them again.

Oh Southern food, why must you taste so good?

Speaking of good food, WS is home of Krispy Kreme, therefore; what kind of person would I be if I did not take advantage of such savory goodness while I was in NC?

I hope you're drooling right now because I am. Don't worry, I downed 6 of them on the spot with no questions asked and Schmidty laughing at me for being a fatty. 3 hot off the belt, the sprinkly one, a raspberry jelly filled one, and that one with chocolate icing and red and white spinkles aka the Cheerwine doughnut. It was delicious in case you were wondering.

Cheerwine + Krispy Kreme doughnut = One of the most brilliant ideas known to man!

This is Schmidty by the way. Aka Jon, Jonathan, Schmidt, Dave, etc.
Yes he is more than a foot taller than me.
Yes I am short and I like being that way.
And that ends my adventures in NC.

Until we meet again,
I big you adieu und Auf Wiedersehen!
Meg

Random Thoughts and Adventures From Dear Old North Carolina

Like I promised, I am now updating you on my adventures from the past week. They will not be in order as I am too lazy to rearrange these pictures and I will try to keep this short and sweet. Mostly because I want to go spend some time with my roommate/best friend. =] I've missed her this past week. So here we go....

This is Rachel! If you didn't know this then you should be smacked. Unless you're new to my blog, then I shall forgive you this once.

Anyway she has a super weird tongue and we spent a good 20 minutes letting her try to teach me how to do this with my tongue.

But alas, I cannot do it. =[ (Note: She is probably my most favorite person in the whole world outside my family. She is pretty much my twin and other half. But seriously, she can read my mind, it's amazing and a TAD scary.....but MOSTLY amazing).

She can also lick her elbow in 3 different ways. (She's double jointed in her elbow) Cool huh?

And all around I pretty much love her to death. Carolina Girls rock! =]

And laugh till we pee our pants and then crash. I guess we had a little TOO much Cheerwine and candy....

Don't judge me. I can act like I'm 5 again if I want to. xP

Later on I got to hang out with my Trio of Hannah, Lizzy and myself. And we found out Hannah can stand on her toes!

She's a weirdo, that's why I love her! =D

And if Lizzy bounces up and down, her dog jumps too.
It was pretty funny to watch.

Flying dog ninja attack!

This is what I love about NC:

GREEN GREEN GREEN GREEN GREEN GREEN GREEN GREEN!!!!
Plus this is one of my favorite roads to drive down. It twists and turns through a canopy of trees. Not to mention passing gorgeous houses with a watermill attached to one of them. And it leads to Kris's house. =] (more about those adventures later).

Look what we found the evening I flew in!

Heaven sent! I have an obsession with restaurants/food/drinks that can only be found on the East Coast or just in North Carolina.

This is my baby brother. Since no one thinks Albert and I look alike, does anyone think Aaron (below) and I look alike?

My sweet little brother is slowly becoming a man. 16 and legs hairy enough to be a bear's legs.
Love you bud!

This is my other brother! Yes we ARE related. Seriously.
Anyway, we updated his wardrobe while I was in NC. Doesn't he look so studly?

My friend Gulledge taught Lizzy and I to spray paint. Needless to say we had a great time! Of course I myself became a work of art too. And spray paint does NOT come off with water....

But it does with acetone. =]

Ha this all happened in my 2nd and 3rd full days of being in NC.
What can I say? I like weird and crazy things.
I recommend trying all of this.
So go lick your elbow,
pass out from too much Cheerwine and candy,
stand on your toes,
dance/jump with your dog,
spray paint yourself and your canvas (whatever that may be)
dress up your brother,
take a drive,
eat amazing food found only in your local area
and have fun!

Have adventures
everyday!
Meg

Where'd You Go? I Miss You So

Seems like it's been forever since you've been gone. Please come back home.

Though this song only has some relevance, it has been stuck in my head this evening.

I guess I haven't written too much on my feelings on my blog in a long time. It normally all goes into my journal. But I guess, what I am starting to miss is the little things. Like the quietness. Not to say back East that everything was ever quiet. But if I wanted quiet it was not hard to find.

Do you ever take time to embrace the silence even for 5 minutes? Those moments of self reflection, that suddenly things that have been fuzzy for so long now become clear?

I have been pondering over some ideas for quite some time now. I have been trying to understand things beyond my capacity. And though there are some things I still do not fully understand, I am learning little by little.

This semester has been unlike anything and everything I have ever experienced. I have grown spiritually, but not in the normal sense. I have grown to learn about myself in ways I never thought possible. Most of this semester I have been working to think less with my emotions, and more with my head. Anyone who knows me well, knows I am very in tune with my emotions and not that I cut them out, but I began to think more logically.

Given there have still been times where I was confused and unsure of what to do, but I knew what I could not do and then worked from there.

What I have learned is that those we surround ourselves with should make us want to be better. I have found some people like that this semester. Not that I feel inferior to them, but they make me want to work harder and be better than I am. I cannot fully explain it, but at the end of the day, I know I want to be worthy of their friendship and be the friend I know I would want to have.

Sometimes we have to stop and reflect. All semester I have been trying to figure out what I was supposed to be learning. And this semester I have learned to be content with my life. That good things come in time and that I can only work to be better until the time comes that I am worthy of those blessings.

I have learned that being straightforward with people can allow you to grow as better friends. That having people to talk to and understand and relate to makes all the difference. I have also begun to see who my true friends are, and the answers have been surprising. I have learned to trust in ways I did not think were possible. I have had conversations with people that have surprised me for the better. Have you ever had one of those? Those conversations that start off merely as fun and entertaining, but then end up having a heart to heart you didn't expect?

Those are some of the best conversations.

I guess what I am saying is that though I am severely flawed, I am slowly improving. It may not always be evident on the outside, but that is because I am still growing on the inside.

There is more I would share, but that is for another time and another place.

In other news, I am ready to visit NC for a bit. It will be nice to see my family and friends again. Though it is only for a week, that is for the better.

I have no singular home anymore. I have family and friend back East, and I also have family and friends here. I love all of you. I love my family, as well as Hannah, Lizzy, Kris, and Nikki.

I wish everyone back East could meet Nikki. I think y'all would love her. But maybe I am partial because she is one of my best friends. Not to mention a southern bell like myself. =]

I love all of you and miss all of you. I may not get to talk to y'all as often as I would like, but you're always in my heart.

Much love,
Meg

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!

Not that being 19 is anything particularly special but all the same I am grateful for my 19 years of life and my wonderful parents that gave me life and a GREAT one at that. Thank you mom and dad! Also for all of my siblings even though Albert originally wanted me to be a boy...I forgive you Albert and I hope I've made up for that with all the cookies I've been making lately.....if you even got any of them.....O.o I'm sorry your roommates are all fatties, despite your twiggy figures.....skinniest group of boys/men I EVER did see! O.o

Anyway, yes it is my birthday and I am running on very little sleep, but that is because I got to go to the temple today with my ward. How wonderful! Can you think of a better way to spend the morning of your birthday? Sadly I missed humanities because I didn't get out until 8am (my class starts at 7:45 and it's at LEAST a 10 minute walk there with your hair wet....yeah......

So I went home and took a nap and then went to English. I know, not very exciting.....

But it's okay! My roommates entertained me with a water fight.....MOSTLY outside of our apartment......just don't sit on our carpet and you won't notice.....yeeahh.......and tonight my roommates and some friends and I are going to see the new X:Men at the drive-in theater here =D I'm excited! And we MIGHT make cake before hand? Who knows. O.o

Yeah I don't really do the party thing. I'm older and all the birthday wishes make me feel as special as I want to feel. I kind of have some problems with being the center of everyone's attention.....I don't like it.

But yeah HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!! Sorry to all those that I can't be with to share my special day with but you are all in my heart and I think of you often.


Love you all! Thanks for making me feel special, without y'all I wouldn't be the person I am today.

Have a wonderful day!

Noah and the Whale.
I am addicted!
Meg

Finally

I found some black ankle boots that I love =D

Good day when you find something awesome that is now yours.

Oh and Kris and I danced around in Charlotte Russe =]

They played "Marry You" by Bruno Mars

"The Dog Days Are Over" by Florence and The Machine

and "Lisztomania" by Phoenix

Awesome much?

YES!!!

9 Days until I fly out to Utah =D

Do something crazy
that you have always
wanted to do
have fun
and love it!
Meg

My Computer Has Stopped Spazzing

Therefore it obviously means I should be blogging. Though I am partially determined to be asleep before 11pm for the first time since I was 10.

Okay I feel like I sort of tell about my life but not really. Here's a little 411 on my life lately:

• I tend to work unexpected hours a bit.
• I also get called in for emergency babysitting when Grant manages to bust his chin open while riding his scooter on President's Day when ALL doctors are closed so the ER is packed.
• Occasionally I get nice little shopping trips with my friends Sam, Marissa, Kris or Yutsil. =]
• And sometimes I find great deals on belts, earrings and dresses with them =]
• I spent Tuesday shopping with Kris, then that unexpected working stuff and then sat down with Sam for 6 hours just catching up on life.
• There's always those few days I'm ACTUALLY scheduled to work and those are always entertaining with Brian causing havoc on my little stand, moving things around just to keep me entertained during the quiet moments. Always fun =] No really, we all have some good laughs there.
  
• Learning names my sort-of-coworkers a month after meeting them and talking to them every day. Thanks Brian for letting me know that other guys name is Brad (in my defense he NEVER wears his name tag)
• I've been writing letters lately (mostly to Rachel White) and I think I'm getting better at letter writing. It actually takes some skill, though little.
  
• Yutsil just gave me around 2GB of AWESOME music. Guess who is going to be listening to a different band every week for the next 6 months =]
  
• It rained today which smells AMAZING so Yutsil and I made Mexican hot cocoa (you melt this chocolate bar into milk on the stove) and it's SOOOOOOOOO GOOD!! while eating doughnuts =] and listening to said awesome music.
• I sprayed some perfume stuff on me because it smelled nice in a small dose and now I'm going loopy from the stench. O.o
  
• Waking up to the sound of rain is happy =]
  
• I have no plans tomorrow so guess who is having a pajama day? ME! =D
• They make Cheerwine cake, awesome? Yes. Why is it I never liked/drank Cheerwine until I went to Idaho, now I crave it randomly.
• 4 weeks from tomorrow I am BACK OUT WEST!!!
• Even better, I get to spend a WHOLE ENTIRE WEEK WITH MY SISTER AND JESSE!!!!! Now tell me you are not totally completely and utterly jealous. Yeah you are, don't even try to deny it! xP
• Finally.................I just REALLLLLLLY LOVE MY SISTER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! She is pretty much the greatest person ever and I think I should kidnap her and never let her go....but then I remember I should share her with Jesse because he's pretty awesome too. =]
  

Love you sis!


Spoons on my ears
Cameras around my neck
Songs in my head
Food in my Belly
Now of to Bed
Meg

REUNION!!! REUNION!!!

Today I went to App State with Kris to go visit Hannah.

Along the way we picked up Robert on our adventure around campus.

And I got to see a long lost friend!

ALLY VALLADARES!!!!

She was my best friend from the ages of 6 to 9.

Then she moved away. =[

But TODAY we reunited after 10 or so years!!!

And let me tell you, she is just as awesome or awesomer than she was when we were little.

It was wonderful to see her and I had a great time picking up like we never left off.

Guess who is definitely going to have to go back to App again soon! Yes. Me.

But I am not wearing heeled boots again.....

Because guess what else....

App is on the side of a mountain.

Enough said.

SLEEP
IS
WONDERFUL
CAT
HAIR
IS NOT
Meg

One of Those Days

So last Thursday Kris and I decided to go exploring...

We had garlic knots.

Aka homemade dough covered in garlic butter.

Aka HEAVEN.

And of course pizza to boot. It was bigger than my head.

She made some adorable faces, such as when she laughs, she scrunches her nose like a bunny.

We played on an art piece and made crazy shadow puppets.

When you stick your arms out, it automatically makes you a superhero. Clearly.

Sometimes we would stare at the sun, pretending to contemplate life, thinking of brilliant things, but in all honesty trying super hard not to cry from being blinded.

We took over benches, like fearless pirates!
My bench!
("The Ultimate Gift" anyone?)

Then just some sweet pictures.

Happy for not having to look at the sun.

"Argggh, I'm a pirate!"

Told you we were pirates.

Pirates that hop like bunnies!

It's really hard to hop like that.

Go on, try it.

Too scared aren't you?

Now try it in HEELS.

Yeaaaah, I thought not.

Kris is a natural beauty. Enough sad.

To celebrate taking over benches, we danced around, and clicked our heels.

And played in puddles like 5 year olds.

No, I did not dip my hair in the puddle, thank you very much.

We found this cool wall with lots of random junk in it, it's like a giant real live, I-Spy.
(More pictures soon to come.)


And a giant, gorgeous old staircase.

It reminds me of "Spirited Away".

Some of my favorite pictures for last.

What can we say? We're cute and like to have fun.

It was just one of those days.

'Those goblins smell like bacon" -Rider
"You smell like Bacon Shawn" -Guss
"No, you do, smell yourself" -Shawn
"Why do I smell like bacon???" -Guss
Do you smell like bacon?
Meg

My thought process in a few minutes

I am hungry....But why am I hungry? I just ate dinner *looks at clock* oh I guess an hour ago. But Chase says my stomach is the size of my fist *makes fist* dang it....I have tiny hands. That doesn't sound right, otherwise I over eat WAAAY too much....that or food compacts into a third of the size that it starts out as. Speaking of fractions, I need to work on those recipes. Man I've been working or trying to work on those for...2 weeks now? Maybe less....and I'm only in the C's.....dang. Now I wanna make cookies! Oooo cookies! But they're more fun w/ friends. I'll make um tomorrow, but I also wanna hang w/ Kris and. get that camera from Anji.

Ah cameras! I haven't used mine in forever! OOO must take pictures this week, better remind myself *makes note on phone* Dang I have other stuff to do today too. Meh, I should stop blogging but I am so excited! Alisa finally added our roommates on facebook! Which makes me waaay too excited for college, ah college...stealing all my money but at least I have enough money for rent this fall, finally. What an accomplishment, I'm so proud of myself! =] Alright Megan, chill out that ego there. Ouch! Sunburn...yeah so if you go swimming and get sun burnt, just because it looks mostly gone the next day, doesn't mean you should go swimming again. Eh it's not that bad.

Agggh now I'm cold. Oh which reminds me, I finally learned my comfort zone is from 74 to 80 degrees =] Ah I like controlling temperatures. Uggh like when you go to a persons' house and it's negative 20 and you're shivering your butt off and they look at you like you're crazy because you are cold. Then you feel lame for feeling cold but you can't even go get a blanket because it's not your house and you can't feel your feet anyway! That's why I bring a jacket or 2 to church, and I am going to Idaho......I Am Brilliant......yeah that's it, brilliant.

Well now I am cold and will actually work on those recipes for college........................ooo I bet Catherine will make cookies with me when she gets here! Her and Jesse come Wednesday!!!! Yayayayayayay!!!


Home baked cookies are warm!
Nap outside?
Meg

Run down of the never ending run

Past few weeks in a short blog post: starting.....................now!
So for my birthday Chase took me to Cafe Gelato which is the mostly heavenly place ever! It's so cute!
I had a super pretty banana cream cake made by Whole Foods =]
Pretty!
Chase decided we should have a water fight........he won.

After he left, Sarah decided we would have a cake fight and she won.

Then we did crazy makeovers! (left to right: me, kris, sarah & hannah)

Yeah we're strange but it was a blast!

Hannah and I bought matching shoes!

& I bought crazy awesome nail polish at Ross =]

Sarah gave me these for my birthday, I wasn't sure at first, but now I love them.

My favorite movie of all time, going to college with me!

And my most favorite play! Plus a few more by Oscar Wilde.

Yay for my new iHome
itunes cards from Hannah & Lizzy! Still waiting for Kris to finish my present....I'm excited!

Lizzy and I happy to be done!

& not caught in the rain storm.

Chase! <3>

And my good ol' friend Hannah Carpenter! Friends since 7th grade =]

Okay after that I had Youth Conference which was amazing due to President Marsh giving an amazing talk! And a kid named Conner sharing his conversion story. It ended up being a great time for all.

After that I have spent my weeks hanging with friends. Went swimming with Lizzy and Hannah twice, and once with Chase. Hannah's birthday party was lots of fun. Oh and Chase brought me lots of candy back from the beach! And then Kris, Lizzy and I took Hannah to get her ears pierced! (more pictures will be up later). We watched Kung Fu Panda.....such a great movie. "There is no charge for awesomeness or attractiveness." "Quit.....don't quit. Noodles.....don't noodles."

We've had little adventures going to Sonic, Wal-mart and Cookout. Spent the night at Lizzy's and Kris's lately which is always fun, watching lots of movies.

I started dog sitting for the neighbors on the 26th. I spend the nights there which can be nice and creepy at the same time, so friends have kept me company. Kris spent the night Tuesday night, and Lizzy hung with us for a bit. We watched Leap Year which was cute in a silly way, & Avatar.....I fell asleep for an hour of it. It was kind of ruined for me since everyone I talked to said it was "So amazing!" but it was alright, not the best.

Wednesday Lizzy and I went and saw Toy Story 3 which was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I recommend everyone should go and see it! Maybe it's because I've grown up with Andy and in this one he is leaving for college and so am I. (By the way I am taking my bear with me to college!) Lizzy ended up spending the night and we watched Passport to Paris (an OLD Mary-Kate & Ashley movie) Ah good memories! Then Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (cute movie) and Finding Nemo (only the Dory parts though and sea turtles.....ah sea turtles ;D) But not before eating Jolly Rancher popsicles and get this.....CHEERWINE popsicles! They are delicious by the way and Krispy Kream came out with a Cheerwine doughnut! I can;t wait to try it! But yeah so we were hyped up on sugar and it was a lovely time =]

Thursday I hung out with mom watching old movies. We watched a really cool mystery one about this guy who couldn't remember his past but finds two letters that help him unlock his crazy past. It was awesome! The other was about a couple having problems with their marriage and someone ends up dead and it all goes crazy. Though not as good as the first, still a good one. Plus I love spending time with my mom. =]

Friday I had a fun time with Kris before she left for New York. I took her to Cafe Gelato! (I also took Lizzy too back before Youth Conference). And she loved the shop as much as I do! Then we went to the mall to find her a brown belt but Forever 21 decided to stop carrying brown belts apparently....so instead we bought shoes at Charlotte Russe. =] (more pictures later) so we went to Target, got some stuff for her before she left. Then we got hungry and I introduced her to Jersey Mikes! And it was heavenly as usual. Finally we went back to her house, hung out for a bit, got Chinese takeout, visited Sarah and sat on her dock over the pond/lake whatever you may call it. And then I had to go back home. The end....sorta

Yesterday was awesome too though! Aaron came home from EFY!!!!!! Ah I love that kid and I missed him like crazy alllllllll week! But he came back and we watched a few episodes of Avatar before going to see the movie. We went and saw The Last Airbender which wasn't TOOO bad. Aaron didn't care for it though. The only problems with it were pronouncing names (they struggles with it though it's based on a tv show that shows you how to say the names....) and the skin colors were weird. In the show, the sister and brother traveling with the avatar are the ONLY people that are slightly colored. In the movie, they were the ONLY white people! The fire nation was Indian and the Earth Kingdom was Chinese! But I guess they wanted it to be multiracial but it was weird. Oh well, back to the present. Now I am relaxing before heading off to church with the family and taking a nice loooong nap!

Gelato Addict,
Meg