so psyched.

So you may be wondering why I haven't had any new posts....

Here's why :)

I am doing my FIRST craft show right after Thanksgiving.

I don't really think you can understand my excitement unless you were there when I got the news.

Literally could. not. sleep. I had ideas swarming around in my head for booth decorations and such.

But it's not gonna be easy let me tell you that. I will have a total of about a month and a half to make everything. Add to that mixture my school studies, church activities, etc. (need I go on?) and you get a very busy girl who doesn't have much free time.

Which I am totally fine with - because I'm so excited. 

Holidays are my FAVORITE time of year. The weather, the excitement, and just the feeling. So adding my first craft fair makes it even better. :)

not even halfway done :P

so until this craft show is over, I won't be doing any tutorials and stuff, but I think I might start doing a couple what I wore posts (what do you think?) and of course, pinterest loves :). 

-Megan

Halloween

I love Halloween, for the fact that you can dress up, and no one looks at you weird. 

Why can't we have more "Halloweens"?!

I don't really like the scariness, and creepiness of it much though. Some people take it WAYYYY too far... 

My Halloween costume???

Does this picture help???

My Church youth group has a Halloween dance, and you dress up, it is SO fun.

{via}

(I'm actually really excited about this costume... is that weird? whatevs. I love it ;)

This is what I was last year:

{via}

LOVED it. :)

What are you going to be for Halloween??? 

-Megan

p.s.

You're NEVER too old to dress up.

p.p.s.

My youth group is also having a party before to learn this dance... My youth group is amazing is all I can say. :)

healthy brownies

healthy brownies?

yes, you heard that right.

yes, I know this post was supposed to be for yesterday.. but 2 new things were thrown at me at the last minute... so much for free time ;)

 I figured I'd try these brownies.. I'd never tried them, and they're healthy, so you could eat them as a snack.

I found the recipe here, but this is my adaption. 

Fudgy Black Bean Brownies

Makes 16 Servings

• One 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed very well
• 3 large eggs
• 3 tablespoons canola oil
• 3/4 agave sweetener (it's a natural sweetener, so it has no sugar)
• Few packets of PureVia/or just plain Stevia (this is also a natural sweetener, but a little stronger than agave)
• 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract (optional, I didn't, but probably will next time)
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• Cocao chips to sprinkle on top (mostly cocao, so there's not much sugar :)

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly oil or coat an 8 x 8-inch baking pan or dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.

2. Place the black beans and eggs in the bowl of a food processor and process until smooth and creamy.  Add the oil, agave, stevia, cocoa powder, vanilla extract, peppermint extract as desired, baking powder, and process until smooth.  

3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smooth the top with a rubber spatula, and sprinkle with chocolate chips.

4. Bake 30 to 35 minutes, or until the edges start to pull away from the sides of the pan and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan before slicing into 2-inch squares.

(The reason I added the eggs while blending the beans, so it would blend better.)

(I never measure the vanilla when cooking... I don't know why, I just don't, it's not that big of a problem if theres a little more in my opinion :)

Mixing it up!

**warning: this batter is not good, it doesn't taste good like real brownies :)

Cool tip: if you cut brownies with a plastic knife, the brownie pieces don't come up and tear all the brownies apart. Awesome right?

Sprinkle the chips on top and eat!

If you're thinking about it, you can taste the beans BARELY. If you used regular sugar though, I'm sure you wouldn't even be able to taste it :)

let me know if you try them!

-Megan

things I ♥ monday

things I ♥ this week!

I wasn't sure if I should save the best for last, but I couldn't wait ;)

THIS IS ONE OF THE COOLEST THING EVER.

{via}

how cool would it be to sit on it and read a super good book, or it would even make doing homework more enjoyable. :P

{via}

as you read my blog, you will come to learn that I have a huge love of nutella. 

{via}

rope braids. I just discovered these... haha, so I am trying this this week sometime :)

and another thing I ♥,

finishing homework earlier than usual so that I can work on a decent blog post for tomorrow! :)

megan

hair.

I don't really like my hair up. I used to throw it in a ponytail e.v.e.r.y. day. I rarely wore it down. 

Now I rarely wear it up. 

But when I do, I can't stand to just throw it in a plain ponytail. I'm weird.. I know.

{Since I love braids I usually do a braid on the side or whatever.}

I like doing a high bun sometimes (as seen on Sydney of The Daybook here)

Except I have yet to make it THAT big. ;)

And I like messy buns, so when I saw this tutorial via VWB it caught my attention.

So on a day where I was rushed to school, I did it, but I wanted something a little different.

{let's not pay attention to my awkward face and tired eyes. let's just say waking up at 5:30am every morning catches up to you sooner or later ;)}

So instead of letting the braid hang that day, I folded it up and bobby pinned it.

what is your favorite hairstyle?
this isn't my favorite, but it sure is a super cute way to throw your hair up. it's pretty easy too!

-megan

things I ♥ monday - fall fashion

I think I will start doing a "things I ♥ monday" post {hopefully} every monday :)

I've seen these "things I ♥" post's all over blog land and love them, so I figured I'd do my own too :)

and right now, I'm loving fall fashion. We're on the line between summer and fall and I literally cannot wait! I'd rather be cold than hot, anyone else feel the same way?!?

my two must have's for fall:

boots, boots, boots!

via

I love the leg warmers (or just long socks, who knows ;) that go past the boots. I need to try that this fall!

via

....and scarves, scarves, scarves!

via

that lace scarf might is my favorite scarf I've seen this year... I'm going to have to make it... hmmm :)

via

these aren't necessarily fall-y but I ♥ them 

beautiful hair

via

via

fun nails

both via

what are you loving this week?

-megan 

Repost: Braided Scarf

{I originally posted this tutorial on the amazing blog: Live. Love. Craft.}

Today I am going to show you a tutorial of mine, which was inspried when I was surfing on none other than Pinterest.

I saw this scarf here: http://pinterest.com/pin/157877472/

and knew I had to figure out how to make it. 

1. Start with two {size medium I think} plain t-shirts, in very good condition. You can use knit fabric, but I didn't have enough handy, so I used t-shirts.. worked just fine!

2. Cut of the sleeves and cut down the middle and sides, so you have four pieces of fabric. 

3. Take two of the pieces above and sew them {right sides together} to make on large strip.

(sorry I switched to orange here for the tutorial... but you follow the same steps for each color)

4. Fold over {right sides together!}

5. Sew down the sides, making a tube.

6. Turn right side out!

7. Repeat steps 1 - 6 with the other t-shirt.

So far you should have two tubes of fabric like this:

This is about the part that I had to get really creative to do the braid. So bear with me as I create this "braid" in a very non-professional way. ;)

8. Take a random strip of fabric and tie the ends of the two tubes together {don't freak out... this will create a circle so that we can create the "braid"}

9. Set your pieces up how you see them in the picture right below. {make sure your ties are at the very end}

Apparently, my brother says this is a square knot. I looked it up:) it's KIND OF like a square knot... But we'll just going to call it a square knot.

10.: (follow the picture sequence below)

You may have to read this a few times and study the picture below... but don't give up! It can be a little confusing

11. There's two ways I can explain this.

The 1st way: Take the ORANGE knot {on the right}. It should be on the bottom. Bring it up and through the middle of the gray fabric.

Now, Bring the GRAY knot {the left}, and bring it down and through the orange fabric. {sorry the picture doesn't show the gray part well} 

Or simply....

Tie another "square knot", so it's a double square knot.

13. Once you pull it tight you should end up with something like this:

14. Untie the ties at the end.

15. Fold over and iron the gray tube so it has a nice edge.

16. Tuck the orange tube inside the gray tube.

17. Sew.

18. Repeat steps 15-17 with the remaining tubes.

PHEW! Did you make it? It's a little more difficult tutorial, but it is SO worth it, I mean, you now have a super cute scarf for a fraction of the cost it would take to buy one. :)

If you have any questions, feel totally free to email me :).

-Megan