30 for 30 Birthday Wrap Up

HAPPY MEAN GIRLS DAY (and my birthday!).  At the beginning of this year, I put together my own 30 before 30 to keep me intentional throughout the year, and I'd like to think I did an okay job.  Yes, there were a few things I wish I could have accomplished, but that's what 30 is for now, right?!

1. Invest in an original piece of art - Pretty little canvas from Modern South Studio

2. Get back to my ideal strength and weight

3. Volunteer

4. Get 8 hours of sleep each night

5. Purge and donate my closet - Did this twice this year!

6. Start an herb garden - I started this last October and added more this spring.  My basil is out of control!

7. Have a girls night once per month - most months?!

8. Visit more baseball stadiums - We got to Dallas and Tampa this year!

9. Network more

10. Run another race - I did start running daily again but haven't signed up for anything. 

11. Take a cooking class - Big ole nope

12. Try yoga - Okay, so maybe I went on YouTube last night and did a couple of online videos, but hey, I did try it!

13. Start a family tree - This is definitely something I will be doing next year. 

14. Do something nice for a stranger everyday

15. Visit the rest of the breweries in Charleston - We only have 3 more!  Here is my latest installment of local breweries.

16. Try something just for the adrenaline rush - I bet I did, but I can't think of it now!

17. Learn about wine - errrrr, not professionally

18. Make a plan to get to Cuba - There's a cruise starting from Charleston in the fall of 2019!!

19. Be a positive encouragement to those around me - I tried my best!

20. Make an effort to break out of my introverted shell - This has definitely been helped with #9.  I'm trying to meet new people every way I can!

21. Go on a hike - Memorial Day weekend was a blast!

22. Advance my career - I went to a few events over the last year!

23. Buy a new camera - I bought my Canon 80D around Christmas and could not love it more.  There is so much versatility.

24. Travel internationally - Well, the London trip isn't happening due to work reasons, but we are hoping for a trip somewhere fun this winter. 

25. Invest for the future - We are now meeting with a financial planner, and we're on our way!

26. Cut my hair to donate again - I didn't donate it yet, but it is the right length!

27. Grow this blog - Such a big nope.  I just haven't felt like I've had the time or motivation to make it happen recently.  

28. Stay more connected with family - I need to start writing birthday cards again, but I have become better at texting and calling!

29. Learn all the words to Rapper's Delight - SO upset about this one.

30. Write to my congressmen about causes about which I'm passionate - Yes, yes, and yes.  Calls, emails, and letters.  This year has been a wreck.

Well, looks like I was 20/30 with (what I believe are) a couple more half points in there.  Now, if you need me, I'll be drinking all the coffee today while I still try to recover from West Coast jet lag!  I'll be sharing all about that trip (and my last month in the 20s) on Friday!

30 Before 30: Halfway There

My half birthday was earlier this month, so I thought it was about time to make my halfway update for 30 before 30!  So far I've officially completed 9 of 30, so I still have a bit to go, but a bunch of them are ongoing throughout the year so I do feel more accomplished than that!

1. Invest in an original piece of art - The below canvas is from Modern South Studio

2. Get back to my ideal strength and weight - I gave up dessert for Lent, and that really put me on the right track.  I still have a bit to go, but I think at the halfway point, it's a good start.

3. Volunteer - I still want to do this more, but last month, my friends and I made dinner for the guests at the Ronald McDonald House.  It was so much fun!

4. Get 8 hours of sleep each night - Since the time change, I have been rocking at this.  I think it's because it gets light later in the morning, so I haven't been waking up before my alarm.  Yes, I know I'm strange to usually do that.

5. Purge and donate my closet - Spring cleaning got this done for me!  Everything is back to organized!

6. Start an herb garden - I started this last October.  Most things made it through the winter and are back to thriving.

7. Have a girls night once per month

8. Visit more baseball stadiums - After Dallas this month, we checked another one off the list.  Hopefully we can get to one or two more this summer.  I call this one halfway there, too.

9. Network more - I've really been trying to step out of my comfort zone.  I've started trying to attend more of the events I get invited to, and not just talk to the people I know.  I've made some great connections and even better friends!

10. Run another race

11. Take a cooking class - Mike got this awesome book, Salt Fat Acid Heat (here's the link), so while I haven't taken a class, we have learned a lot about what goes into cooking.

12. Try yoga

13. Start a family tree

14. Do something nice for a stranger everyday - Working on this one!  Who has other ideas besides holding doors, buying the car behind you's coffee?

15. Visit the rest of the breweries in Charleston - We only have 3 more!  Here is my latest installment of local breweries.

16. Try something just for the adrenaline rush

17. Learn about wine

18. Make a plan to get to Cuba - It's in the travel plans, we will see when!

19. Be a positive encouragement to those around me

20. Make an effort to break out of my introverted shell - This has definitely been helped with #9.  I'm trying to meet new people every way I can!

21. Go on a hike - We have an awesome hike planned over Memorial Day weekend!

22. Advance my career

23. Buy a new camera - I bought my Canon 80D around Christmas and could not love it more.  There is so much versatility.

24. Travel internationally - Still hoping for that London trip this fall!

25. Invest for the future - We are now meeting with a financial planner, and we're on our way!

26. Cut my hair to donate again - It's getting loooong.  My goal is 12 inches, and I think I'm almost there!

27. Grow this blog - In terms of page views, I had my biggest blog post ever with this Kitchen-Themed Easter Basket last month (90k!), and it all came from Pinterest.  I think I need to work more on my social media to help this keep happening!

28. Stay more connected with family - With all of our trips planned to New England this year, we will be seeing them a bunch!

29. Learn all the words to Rapper's Delight

30. Write to my congressmen about causes about which I'm passionate

30 Before 30

I can't even count the number of people who said, "oooh, next one is the big one!" this year when I told them I was turning 29.  Well, if this year's birthday (and birthday weekend) were any indication, I guess this year is going to be big... I thought it'd be fun to round up a few of the things I want to do before this "milestone" to feel like I'm getting the most out of my last year of my 20s.  I tried to pull ideas for every aspect of my life: some of these are work-related, others travel-related, a few are to make the world a better place, and the rest are to try and be my best self.

1. Invest in an original piece of art

2. Get back to my ideal strength and weight

3. Volunteer

4. Get 8 hours of sleep each night

5. Purge and donate my closet

6. Start an herb garden

7. Have a girls night once per month

8. Visit more baseball stadiums

9. Network more

10. Run another race

11. Take a cooking class

12. Try yoga

13. Start a family tree

14. Do something nice for a stranger everyday

15. Visit the rest of the breweries in Charleston

16. Try something just for the adrenaline rush

17. Learn about wine

18. Make a plan to get to Cuba

19. Be a positive encouragement to those around me

20. Make an effort to break out of my introverted shell

21. Go on a hike

22. Advance my career

23. Buy a new camera

24. Travel internationally

25. Invest for the future

26. Cut my hair to donate again

27. Grow this blog

28. Stay more connected with family

29. Learn all the words to Rapper's Delight

30. Write to my congressmen about causes about which I'm passionate

A Look Back...

Talk about the ultimate review on a Monday... all of 2016.  It was quite a year, and while I will remember the highs of this year (a new home, new friends, weddings, and weddings) fondly, there were so many ways that I dream 2017 will be better.  On a personal level, I hope that all of my eye troubles are behind me, and for our world, I wish that we can all find peace, love, and acceptance, no matter who we are, who we love, or where we come from.

I also want to thank all of you for your support this year.  I thought I'd round up my top post from each month in 2016, and I was pleasantly surprised at what y'all enjoyed the most:

January - Tax Tips for Bloggers 

February - Carmelita Bars 

March - Disney Glass Slipper Race Recap 

April - (New House:) Framed and Financed

May - Guide to Charleston Breweries

June - Host a Spa Party at Home & Southern Proper Style on Kiawah Island

Two posts within two days got the most page views all year, so I thought they both deserved to be shared. 

July - Watermelon Sangria

August - A Lilly Look

September - Game Day Football Banner

October - The After Matth(ew)

November - Builder Grade to Custom Made Bathroom in Five Easy Steps

December - But the Prettiest Sight To See...

And continuing with December, Mike and I spent the last week in New England with our families.  I can honestly say that I've never "unplugged" for a vacation so much in my life.  I snapped a few times, but took literally 11 photos on my phone.  It felt great, and I am definitely recharged for a new year of blogging.

Mike and I always do our own Christmas before we leave for New England so we don't have to bring the presents for each other up and back down on the plane for no reason.  The cats were obviously very excited about his tickets to the Daytona 500 this year!

I don't even understand how my ring bearer and these twins are getting so big!!

 Coffee dates with old friends

Our annual college friends reunion and Secret Santa party!

New Year's with fantastic friends!

I hope y'all had a fantastic New Year's - happy 2017!  Linking up with Biana for some New Year's Weekending!

28 Birthday Things

Happy Monday, y'all!  Today is a pretty good Monday for me because it's my birthday!  In the spirit of this (national) holiday, I thought I'd share 28 random facts about myself:

1 || I have the same birthday as Gwen Stefani, Ashlee Simpson, Tommy Lee, Seann William Scott, Kevin Richardson, and Dave Winfield (Baseball Hall of Famer).

2 || Snapchat and Instagram are my favorite social media channels... although I don't post to either nearly enough.

3 || I'm currently reading Amy Schumer's book.

4 || She taught me that it's okay to be an introvert, and I love her for it.

5 || I've only ever owned cats, and until Ruxin and Shadow, they were all named after baseball players.

6 || Halloween has always been my favorite holiday.

7 || Water, beer, and lattes are the only things I drink.

8 || I don't have a favorite color.

9 || Ask me if I've seen a certain movie?  There's about an 80% chance I haven't.

10 || However, ask me about 13 Going On 30 - I can quote any line #seenit100times #embarrassing

11 || I met my husband at my 21st birthday party in college.  If you asked me then which one he would be, I would have been very confused.... and probably wrong!

12 || I am an outlet shopper all the way.

13 || I've never missed a Baseball Hall of Fame Induction in my life.

14 || I always hated spicy food growing up, but now, the spicier the better.  Carolina Reaper, I'm coming for you!

15 || My teams: Yankees, Cubs, Panthers, and Eagles.

16 || My life bucket list: own a Wrangler, a pickup truck, visit every MLB stadium, and move South.

17 || Half of my life bucket list is now complete since I inherited a pickup from my uncle.

18 || I grew up in Rhode Island.

19 || I've only ever successfully completed two New Year's Resolutions: sending birthday cards to all friends and family last year and wearing makeup everyday this year.

20 || I've played golf since I was 5, and I'm a 3 handicap.

21 || This time last year, I had never seen a Star Wars movie, but now I'm seen the first six three times through, and we saw Episode VII three times in the theater.

22 || I have a killer sweet tooth.

23 || Manicures and pedicures are my favorite splurge.

24 || I hate when my nails are naked.

25 || I am always hungry.  If I say, "I'm full," I really just mean I'm tired of eating what I'm currently eating.

26 || I'm still driving the same car I had when I was 15 - Jeepy the Jeep Liberty (original, right?).

27 || Mike does 100% of the dishes in our house, and I do 100% of the laundry.  We split cooking about 50/50.

28 || I share my birthday with Mean Girls Day!

My blog is a Kindergartener.

Happy Blogiversary to this little space!  I cannot believe it was five years ago since I wrote my first blog post, anticipating college graduation and my new "adult" life.

This blog has brought me so much joy over the last five years.  It's chronicled some big things in my life: from the happiest day of my life to one of the saddest, my move across the country, our most recent adventure, as well as so many "firsts:"
first recipe
first half marathon
first blog swap (and resulting first blog friend and best friend)
first Pinterest obsession
first attempt at fashion
first time monetizing my blog

I feel that it's fitting that I'm beginning my (way overdue) first blog conference today: Southern C!  I am so excited that this conference is right here in Charleston.  I look forward to not only meeting new bloggers from around the country and also connecting with local companies and brands.

Writing this post, I had fun looking back on the last five years of Borrowed Heaven and thought it would be cool to see what y'all liked the most.  My top 5 most-read posts are: Wedding Workouts, A Tale of Two Kitties, Charleston Eats: O-Ku, Christmas 2015 Wish List, and A Few of my Favorite Things.

As a little thank you to y'all, I'm giving away five Starbucks gift cards (valued at $10 each) to lucky readers.  All you need to do is follow me somewhere - your choice!  Enter with the Rafflecopter widget below, and good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Love | Hate

A couple of weeks ago, I was tagged by Nikki for the Loves and Hates tag.  I've been so happy to see some new faces around here, so I thought this would be a fun way to share a little more about myself:

Loves:
1. Charleston
2. Flowers
3. Cats
4. Cupcakes
5. Target
6. Weddings
7. Golf
8. Palm trees
9. Instagram
10. My husband

Hates:
1. Snow
2. Cola
3. Salmon
4. Mushrooms
5. Forget my reusable grocery bags in the car
6. Driving in the snow
7. Being cold
8. Annoying people on Facebook
9. The smell of burned popcorn
10. Waking up before 7 a.m.

Tagging ten of my fellow South Carolina ladies to join in:
1. Erika
2. Shelby
3. Jillian
4. Chesson
5. Jordanna
6. Kaitlyn
7. Lauren
8. Megan
9. Shree
10. Jacquelyn

And one more thing - I'm co-hosting an Instagram giveaway for the next couple of days with 7 other awesome bloggers for a $200 Target giftcard!  Here's the link to my IG photo to enter!

Don't Ask Me Why

Hellooooo there!  I'm sorry again for my unintentional blog absence!  This work week and two golf tournaments in 8 days has kicked my butt.  I cannot wait to finally relax on Sunday.  So, almost two weeks ago, I asked y'all if you had any questions for me (thanks for all of you who responded.  Today I thought I'd answer some of those questions for you.  And yes, I've had this song stuck in my head the whole time while writing this post...

Since you're living in the South now, do you prefer living in the South or the Northeast more?  Mike and I always joke that if we could move all of our families and friends down here, we would never leave Charleston.  It's seriously a wonderful place to live: the people are friendly, the weather is perfect (I don't mind the heat), and the scenery and history are unbeatable!

What are some suggestions for a New Englander who wants to visit Charleston?  Honestly, if you are not used to the heat, I would definitely not visit in the summer.  I'm used to the humidity, but it can get very overwhelming.  The best time to visit is between April & May and September & October.  The crowds aren't too big and the weather is great.  Also, I'd suggest using airbnb and staying in a fun, unique location on the peninsula downtown.

Have you found yourself "speaking Southern" yet?  Oh, yes.  I don't even think twice about saying "y'all," and "bless your heart" has been added to my vocabulary.  I also might be entering Stage 1 of the "Modern Southern Accent" ...the "i" in South Carolina seems to glide a bit more than it used to.

Tell the truth, do you really just go golfing all the time and play with kids?  Why thank you for that one, sister (yeah, she gave herself away with "wicked fah away" and "put up more photos of your beautiful bridesmaids" comments - haha). For those of you who don't know, I'm the Program Director for a youth development non-profit, and yes, I get to play golf and hang out with kids, but you can read more about it here.  

How long have you been playing golf?  I was five years old when I started playing, or in Southern terms, since I was "knee-high to a grasshopper!"

What's the best part about being married?  Oh boy, difficult one here.  I'd say the best part is having someone in my life who truly loves me for me and with whom I look forward to spending each and every night.  

And from the same person - What's the hardest part about being married?  Changing my last name?  Honestly, we are loving married life, and I wouldn't change a thing.  

What is your favorite part about blogging?  The people.  I met my best friend in a blogger swap 3 years ago and moving to Charleston, I've found an amazing group of lady bloggers in the Charleston Blog Society.  

Thanks again to everyone who asked questions and gave suggestions for posts.  I'm so glad to see that so many of you enjoy my "Outfit of the Month" posts and everything about Charleston.  I also plan on doing a "day in the life" post and things I do and don't miss about the Northeast post very soon - thanks for the ideas, Anonymous #8!  Have a great weekend, y'all!

Four on Friday

We've all heard of "Five" on Friday, so why not a Four on Friday?!  Thanks to Shelby for this fun idea.  I love reading these on other blogs, so let me know if you do one, too!

Four of my nicknames

Meg

Megs

Meggum

Bear

Four jobs I've had

Golf cart washer

Substitute teacher

Software documentation writer

Program Director

Four movies I've watched more than once

13 Going On 30

Love, Actually

The Parent Trap (the Lindsay Lohan version)

Taken

Four things in my purse

Two planners: blog and real life

Fiber One bar (low blood sugar, yo)

Chapstick

Tide To-go

Four books I'd recommend

Bossypants, Tina Fey

Angels and Demons, Dan Brown

The DaVinci Code, Dan Brown

The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald

Four places I've lived

Westerly, RI

Mondorf Les Baines, Luxembourg

Paris, France

East Hartford, CT

(and now Charleston!)

Four places I have visited

San Francisco

3 Disneys: CA, FL, and Paris

Belgium

Amsterdam

Four places to visit on my travel bucket list

Australia

Hawaii

Italy

Russia

Four things I don't eat

Mushrooms

Mayonnaise

Salmon

Hazelnuts (being allergic to Nutella is the worst)

Four shows I watch 

(I chose favorites that are on tv right now - check them out!)

Modern Family

SNL

Archer

PLL

via

Four things I'm looking forward to in 2015

Our first full married year

Honeymoon in May

Exploring more of Charleston

Becoming healthier

Linking up with That Friday Blog Hop and Oh Hey, Friday!

All I want for Christmas is...

You?  Got married this year, so I'm good there, I guess!  Jeesh, it's not even Thanksgiving, and I've already loved reading so many blog friends' wish lists.  If you looked at 2013 Meg, you'd guess she likes to: cook, be comfortable, be on time/schedule everything.  And yes, you would be correct.  Since it's almost Black Friday and Small Business Saturday, I thought I'd make another...

I wonder what my list for 2014 says about me? Here it goes:

• TOMS for Target Denim Button Down - I LOVE this new TOMS for Target line! 
• ANYTHING from the candle section at Bath and Bodyworks
• Pottery Barn Cable Knit Throw - How comfortable does this look?  I love that powder blue color.

• Marley Lilly Monogrammed Puffy Vest - There's a change I already know I'm getting this one from a certain husband so we can have matching puffy vests :)
• LXM Boutique Monogrammed Tire Cover - Going as Southern as possible!
• Marley Lilly Monogrammed Samsung Galaxy S4 Tuff Stuff Case - I might have broken my last "ultra-durable" case, so let's try another!

Sooo, I might have developed a little shoe obsession over the last year.  I love crazy-colored flats and have branched out to more than just my Uggs and Birkenstocks.  FYI, I'm a size 8 ;)

• Rampage Intense Riding Boots in Brown
• Krochet Peep Toe Wedge in Black
• Lucky Brand Letah Flat in Teal
• Sperry's Angelfish Leopard Jacquard Slip On Boat Shoe - I wear my Sperry's all the time for work and my "new" ones are looking even worse than my original pair

I LOVE Etsy, that's really no secret.  I love shopping with small businesses and these items are definitely some of my favorite I've found recently. 

• DSLR Ruffle Camera Strap Cover with Lens Cap Pocket from Marine Parents
• Women's Racerback Feather Shirt from Good Sailor Apparel - Lindy is no stranger to this blog and just started a new line of men's and women's clothing.  This one is my personal favorite!  She is having a one-day Black Friday sale, so make sure to follow her on Instagram to get all the details!
• Gold Arrow Bangle Bracelet from Potissi
• This Multi Pattern Infinity Scarf from Krazy Horse Designs - or ANYTHING in her shop - check out those leggings!

And if all else fails, Target's where it's at.  No, I was not compensated by Target to say that, but I wish I was and would be happy to be sponsored by Target, hint hint. ;)