Rhapsody in Rooms

A Colorful & Creative Life

To My Girlfriends: You Saved My Life

To my girlfriends,

Did you know you saved my life?

That time we sat on the floor trying to pop balloons with our bare hands on my 21st pirate themed birthday party?

That time we had the emergency Google Hangout?

The time we sat on the beach without speaking for hours reading romance novels?

The time you reached over and grabbed my hand and squeezed in the movie that hit a little too close to my real life pain?

That time you sent me flowers just because?

That time you sent me a text just to see how I was doing? Or that text with the ridiculous TimeHop picture?

Or that time we bonded over that stupid TV show that we not so secretly love?

To My Girlfriends: You Saved My Life | www.rhapsodyinrooms.com

You saved my life that night we broke the blender making hard core cookie dough blizzards (tip: don’t put a spoon in a whirring blender. Duh.)

That time we hated each other for a week in high school yet loved each other enough to still be friends a decade later.

That time I told you about my marriage falling apart and you surrounded me like mother birds and held me.

That time we both couldn’t stand our roommates and bonded over it (not a proudest moment but hey – we didn’t kill our roommates).

The time you showed me how to travel like a champ.

The bedazzled pepper spray – nuff said.

When you listened to me complain about my job for about 2 years without telling me to shove it.

Winchester Bay Oregon | www.rhapsodyinrooms.com

Did you know that you saved my life with all those little moments?

I know I hide it sometimes. I mask the pain of my life with a smile. Because I want to be happy, and I don’t want to burden your life with my pain because I want you to be even happier then I want me to be happy.

But you precious gem of a friend, both near and far, old and new, you saved my life. Your love, laughter, listening, honesty, saved my life.

You make my life sparkle a little bit more. You know my heart. You accept my soul.

California Treats and Treasures

Thank you for being there for me, when I needed you and when I didn’t. Because that’s what true friends are — there for it all: the good, bad, and boring.

I love you to the moon and back. Thank you for getting me here. Let’s have a sleepover, watch chick flicks, eat raw cookie dough with ice cream on the side, and giggle about boys. Because that’s what you do with your girlfriends, no matter what your age. (Although sorry boys, the things we are giggling about now are way different!)

I write this just so you know your worth. So you know those moments that you may have never given a second thought of, impacted my life to the extreme. You never know what moment will save a life.

I write this, not just to my friends, but to you too. Know that you are that friend to someone out there. That, unbeknownst to you, you have saved someone’s life in the small details and the silly moments. So without even knowing it, you are a life saver and an amazing, amazing, essential part to life.

Love,

Megan

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Leave a Note

Alyson

Love this post! 😀ReplyCancel
- Megan
  
  Love you!!!!ReplyCancel
Glenn Aubrey

You all Go Girlfriends! Thanks for always being there for each other!ReplyCancel
- Megan
  
  Awww, love you Dad!!!ReplyCancel
Paula@SweetPea

This post warmed my heart. I am so glad that you have a close group of friends that has helped you through the past year. I’ll bet that you’ve helped them through a tough time or two as well.ReplyCancel
- Megan
  
  Thank you Paula!! I definitely include you in my group of friends too!! 🙂ReplyCancel
Hillary

This made me tear up a little (and somehow think about Gilmore Girls simultaneously?) — I just think it’s a truism that good people attract good people, so your friends are essentially just further proof that you are wonderful. I’m glad you can feel the love 🙂ReplyCancel
- Megan
  
  Oh my goodness, I feel like I need to edit this post and add in Gilmore Girls! I don’t know how I forgot about that one. 🙂
  
  You are the best. So much love your way. Thank you for such sweet words!!ReplyCancel
Heather W

LOVE this. Shared it with my BFF of 23 years 🙂ReplyCancel
- Megan
  
  Awww yay!! That makes me so happy!! What a blessing to have a BFF of 23 years!!ReplyCancel

My August 2015 Stitch Fix Review

Sniff, sniff. Can you smell it?

Well I can. It’s the smell of fall quickly sneaking up on us! The smell of pumpkin, spices, and that crisp fall air.

It also means that fall fashion is just around the corner. Oh who am I kidding?! Pictures of fall fashion are everywhere now! It’s just not the right weather for it. Which I am TOTALLY fine with. 80 degree weather, you just stick around for quite some time.

Anyways, with fall just weeks away, I took that into consideration when thinking about my August Stitch Fix box. I wasn’t ready to request ALL fall related items, but I did ask for a fall jacket and another pair of Margaret M Emer Pants. The rest….well I let them surprise me!

Might I say too, it was another box really well done. I think my stylist Lauren and I may have a long Stitch Fix future to look forward to. She gets my style the most of any stylist I’ve been given. I am going to specifically request her in my stylist notes for my September box!

Just a quick recap, stitch fix is a personal stylist company that hand picks 5 items based on your style and size. You get assigned your own stylist, and she gets to know your style based on your pinterest fashion board, style profile you fill out online, and feedback you leave on your previous fixes. In turn she hand picks out pieces she think will make you look – and feel – great and sends them to you along with styling advice and a personal note. Love that part so much!

This month I decided to not just give you one video, but TWO! Wahoo! The first video shows my reactions to opening up my box and seeing all my goodies. The second video is me trying on the clothes and giving you my feedback. Hope you like! 🙂

Margaret M Emer Brocade Tall Pant

The pants that I requested! I got my first pair and they were a little too busy for me. Last month I got my second pair and they were just black, but everyone needs a good pair of black pants. So I kept them. This month I got a pair of black brocade pants.

Ahhh! I wish they had sent me these last month! I would have preferred black brocade over just black. But alas, these are SO similar that there is only room in my wardrobe for one pair. So back these went. 🙁

Returned

Blank NYC Minnie Moto Jacket

I requested a fun fall jacket to help transition the season. I suggested a moto jacket with perhaps a little edge. Boom. They nailed it.

This jacket was so fun! Alas, it did not fit. It was very, very tight. It also made it extremely uncomfortable, which is a big no-no for jackets. They have to be uber comfy for me to wear them.

Returned

41Hawthorn Zappo Printed Mixed Material Sweater

Coral and navy! Yes! I loved the pattern on this!

So cute right?! Such a great transitional sweater. However, I have a sweater that is so similar that it just doesn’t make sense to have two of these sweaters.

Returned

41Hawthorn Ava Floral Print Silk Henley Blouse

When I pulled this one out I was over the moon about it! The colors have Megan written alllll over them. Plus, 100% pure silk! The luxury!

I was even more thrilled when I tried it on. This blouse was made for me. The fit was perfect. The feeling was incredible. Welcome to my closet.

KEPT!

Pink Martini Dwight Cross Back Blouse

This top was the one I was most on the fence about. I mean, check out that pattern (plus the white skirt! Wish I had that one too!)

I loved this shirt so much! I had fun dressing it up and down. Unfortunately, it just doesn’t fit my lifestyle. I’m not a huge strappy shirt wearer. This would have been the exception except…budget cuts. Haha. I splurged on the silk shirt so everything else was returned.

Returned

So there it is – my August box! What do you think?? Do you agree or disagree with what I kept and returned? Also, are you liking the videos? Let me know in the comments below or via social media!

Also, if you are interested in signing up for stitch fix, I would love if you would sign-up using my referral link.

Want to see more? Check out my other reviews!

my february 2015 stitch fix review

my march 2015 stitch fix review

my april 2015 stitch fix review

my may 2015 stitch fix review

my june 2015 stitch fix review

My July 2015 Stitch Fix Review

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Paula@SweetPea

First, I loved both of your videos. You do such a nice job with them and it’a great to not only read about what you think about each item, but to also hear all of your thoughts. I agree with the choices you made this month. The blouse you kept is pretty and you’ll be able to wear it into fall with a jacket or sweater over it. Thank you so much for reviewing the Margaret M Emer pants and suggesting that I request them. They are the one thing that I kept this month and I’m wearing them right now.ReplyCancel
- Megan
  
  Thank you so much Paula! I have a lot of fun making the videos! I’m so glad you like the Margaret M Emer pants are working for you too. I bet they will be great for school! Can’t wait to see your next review!ReplyCancel
Katie

Hi! I just read all three of your reviews about the Margaret M Emer pants. They sounds great and I’m in desperate need of some black pants for work. My question is how tall are you? I’m 6 feet tall and just haven’t been able to find skinny black pants that are long enough and flattering. I asked for a pair in my last fix and what was sent was so comfy and fit so well, but we’re WAY too short. (To be fair, my stylist knew they would be too short, but I had asked for some to wear with flats and tall boots. She knew they would work with boots.) I’m trying to gauge if I should ask for the Emer pants. Thanks!ReplyCancel
- Megan
  
  Hey Katie!I am 5’10” and the pants are just the right length on me. I definitely think they would be too short on you. 🙁 I’m sorry! I don’t think I would recommend you trying them; with having two inches on me they would definitely be too short.ReplyCancel

Welcoming my Dear, Sweet, Darling Silence

One late night it snuck up on me, catching me unaware.

I had been sitting, mind wandering as I read a book of inspiration. Not even truly paying attention. It was one of those times that I had to keep telling myself to pay attention to the words on the page because I kept reading the same sentence over and over again.

I don’t know what that sentence was but it must have been a good one to reread.

Because, all of a sudden, I put down the book. I stood up and walked into my bedroom and just stopped. I looked at my gently lit bedroom, with the blanket like sheets folded down ready for me to slide into.

I turned my head to the shuttered window that separates me from the tree panoply outside. I heard the sweet summer melody of the tree frogs that only us country girls know the tune of.

Then my eyes kept casting around to this sweet, darling apartment that I had put together on my own. A product of my love, pain, tears, heartbreak, joy, and growth. A place that symbolized me, through every stage: raw, beautiful, and honest.

There were no electronic distractions. No TV on in the other room, no music coming from my blue tooth speakers, no phone dinging to catch my attention.

All I heard was the background noise of the tree frogs and the wonderful, yes I said wonderful, silence of being alone.

It was a glorious nothing sound to my ears.

Of months of needing distractions and noise to get me through the day-to-day, I had finally harnessed the silence again.

The silence that signifies peace, acceptance, understanding, grace, love, and pure being. The silence that calms the soul when the outside world is banging around begging for attention. The silence that protects and rebuilds us.

The silence that reminds us that we are okay. No, we are better than okay. That we are strong, whole, pure, good, and oh-so lovely in every way. The silence that seems to blanket the world in a beautiful white silk sheet, blowing gracefully around us, effortlessly making it a beautiful place.

The silence that really just is the being of life.

I had regained my being.

I wasn’t just wishing for my being, pretending I was okay but still needing my noise. I wasn’t forcefully saying the silence was good, that I wanted it – when it wasn’t truly even there. It was my being quietly reclaiming itself, on its own time and terms. No force, no fancy introduction.

It was the silence that just crept upon me late one Monday night. The silence that hugged me like no one else can hug you. The silence that swept me up in its arms and whispered in my ear, “I’m here, my child. I love you. I’ve got you. You can just let go and lean into me.”

The silent tears of happiness slowly, oh so slowly, slid down my cheeks. First right, then left, bubbling over my eyelids. I leave them and let them take their own course, accepting them for what they are. For in their own way they are part of this beautiful silence.

There will be times of raucous chaos again. Times where the silence is covered up by a hailstorm of emotion. Except now I truly, truly know that the silence is within me, ready with open arms and comforting caresses. I know it is there and I can slip into it, feel its embrace, and know that I really, truly am okay. That I am darling. That I am my true being, right here, right now.

I know now that the silence is enough. That it truly means, it truly shows me, that I am enough. No splashy, distracting noise needed.

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Carol

Amen. I’m so happy for you.ReplyCancel
- Megan
  
  Thank you so much Carol! 🙂 How you are feeling it too!ReplyCancel

Let Artwork Speak to Your Soul + Giveaway

I spend a lot of time in my apartment these days.

I think it is a good balance, but that’s coming through my homebody filter.

I go to work every weekday for my eight hours plus I go to the gym for 45 minutes after work.

I have a social life. I get dinner and fro-yo with friends, go to movies and baseball games, and randomly go places around town. Plus, I visit family and friends whenever I can (I just got back from an awesome weekend trip to see my friend on the coast). It feels like a pretty good balance in my life right now, but I am also at a point where I need alone time. Time to be by myself and process.

I value this alone time in my life right now. I think it is the solace after the storm, the time of recovery and healing. The time to really learn more about me. Sometimes you need to eliminate outside distractions to really learn about yourself.

So when I am home alone in my apartment, it is absolute Megan time – a freedom to do, feel, and be whatever I need to be at the time.

It is also a time for me to brainstorm ideas of how I want to decorate the apartment and make it even more me (this takes up a lot of my home time). As I’ve shown you earlier, I’ve decided to take the leap and actually hang real artwork and photographs on the wall (as in actually put holes in the wall).

After having calendar pictures taped on my wall for almost a year, I decided it was time to put a real piece of art there. Instead of a gallery wall scene I wanted one piece of art that really spoke to me.

At this point in my life I don’t want to just go out to a store and buy generic artwork that is the right size and color. I want to see a piece of artwork and have it speak to me. To stare at it and feel compelled to add that to my (super) small but growing art collection.

Now, I’m not one who needs originals or one of a kinds. I just want something that makes me feel.

So when I started looking for this piece of artwork I hopped on to Minted because I LOVE their selection (I hung another one of their prints in the bathroom using my two step picture hanging method), plus hello, online art shopping is amazing. When I saw this piece (Lone Sunbather on Dunes) I knew it was the perfect one for me.

The feeling I got was overwhelming.

I looked it and said, “That’s me. That is exactly how I feel in my life right now.”

The woman, by herself, but surrounded with such beauty and peace. That is how I imagine my life right now. Sure, there may also be roaring waves way beneath her, but that’s where they are now, beneath her.

This was the artwork that needed to absolutely be the star of my living room. Because this piece represents me so much that it needs to be front and center when you walk into my apartment.

So I urge you, when picking artwork, pick something that speaks to and reflects who you are and what you are feeling. When you hang that on your wall it creates the atmosphere of home that is 100% you through and through.

Giveaway

The giveaway is now closed. Thank you for entering. The winner is Paula @SweetPea!

An even bigger NOW – the giveaway! Enter to win a framed 16 x 20 print of your choice from Minted! Just comment below with your favorite print or item from Minted to be entered to win this prize! A winner will be chosen using random.org from the comments below. Giveaway ends on Monday, August 24th at midnight! One entry per person. Good luck!

I have not been compensated for this post but Minted did provide me with a complimentary print. The frame was purchased here.

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Leave a Note

Paula@SweetPea

That print looks perfect in your apartment!

Minted has a great selection. I like the Swift Fox print.ReplyCancel
- Megan
  
  Thank you so much! The Swift Fox is a great one!ReplyCancel
Meg

I can definitely see why that artwork spoke to you: it’s gorgeous! Like you, I’m trying to take my time selecting art to hang at home that inspires me . . . not simply what’s inexpensive or generic enough to work anywhere. Many walls in my home have been bare for more than a year because of that, but I want to spend my money and energy wisely!

I love Minted, too! I’m a big stationery geek, so any of the cards and invitations catch my interest, but I’m definitely still hunting for art. I love the “Mornings Away” print by Emily Jeffords, and her “Mid-summertime” is beautiful, too!ReplyCancel
- Megan
  
  I think there is nothing wrong with a bare wall! I would rather have bare then something that’s just hung to fill space!
  
  I love Minted’s stationary too! It’s gorgeous!ReplyCancel
Clelie

how cool is that?! I love how just that one little change made that space so much brighter and Megan-like! I love the “Marin Cows” print on Minted.ReplyCancel
- Megan
  
  Thank you so much! I’m glad you think it is Megan-like! 🙂 Love the print you chose!ReplyCancel
Laura

love the photo you picked! I also like island wildflower no. 6ReplyCancel
- Megan
  
  Thank you so much! Love the picture you picked too!ReplyCancel
Michele

It’s so hard to pick a favorite! I love all the art from Minted. Right now I’m loving Twinkling Light along with the gold foil maps. I’d probably want a New York map and a California map for my apartment.ReplyCancel
- Megan
  
  I love the gold foil maps too! So pretty!ReplyCancel
Shari

What a great print! When art speaks to your soul, it is amazing, isn’t it? I really love the “Oyster Blues” by Christa Cariddi.ReplyCancel
- Megan
  
  It really is, Shari!! I love the piece you picked!ReplyCancel
Marisa cheung

I absolutely LOVE the herons nest print! So pretty!ReplyCancel
- Megan
  
  Ooo that is pretty!! 🙂ReplyCancel
Amy Gaberdiel Miller

I love all of the foil-pressed art! AND your blog 🙂ReplyCancel
- Megan
  
  Me too! The foil is gorgeous! And you’re so sweet!! 🙂 🙂 Just made my day!ReplyCancel
valerie sobus

also i really love your gray chairs!ReplyCancel
- Megan
  
  Thank you!ReplyCancel

You Are Enough

It seems like the world’s goal is to make you feel like you aren’t enough.

The magazines put picture perfect people on their covers with magical tips inside to make you as perfect as them. Except those tips never work (because, duh, Photoshop and teams of people make them like that).

The endless streams on social media of people sharing their magical life moments (guilty) that make your life seem un-magical.

Bosses who cut you down and make you feel like you are a useless human being even when you are working harder than you ever have in your life.

The lure of drugs and alcohol to help take the edge off, to make it easier to be you, because maybe you don’t feel up to being you without a little assistance.

Here’s the thing though: all those things — they never touch you. They are not a part of you. You don’t have to let them in and they don’t have to govern you.

You are the master of your world. You have the sole ability to make choices for you. You do not have to work to get to these crazy world standards to finally reach that peak of unfathomable perfection.

Because right now, you are enough.

You really, really are. You are you – completely you, through and through. That in itself if amazing. Being you is amazing because there is no one like you. You get that? There is no one on the earth that is just like you.

I think that is pretty incredible. You are one of a kind. You are special just because you are you. Just being you changes the world. Because without you this world would be different. Big or small, the world would be different.

You are enough. That’s right. Just because you are you, and you are here, you have changed the world.

Without doing a thing you have changed the world.

Now that’s pretty spectacular. Go you. You’ve already changed the world without even trying.

So what if you tried a little bit to change the world? Think of the magnanimous results that could occur.

But whether you goal is to change the world or just to get through one more day, know that it is enough to just be you. You are enough. You are beloved. You are special. You are already the change in the world.

It’s time to accept you fully, wholly, completely. You are enough, enough, enough. So be – be you. Enjoy you. You are enough.

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Rhapsody in Rooms

To My Girlfriends: You Saved My Life