New Orleans

Oh hai! Megan here. Yes, I still exist. I was almost swallowed up by the terror of finals, but I came out victorious. Miracles happen, people. I am still not out of the woods quite yet, but I have done the worst of the things. There were many things.

So 'bout three weeks ago I went to New Orleans! True story. Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

 We took a six-hour flight with one stop and one layover. The skies that day were ferocious, and having watched the first episode of LOST not 48 hours before, I was a bit terrified. Turbulence is a fun feeling when you're riding a roller coaster, but when you're on a plane, no bueno.

Apparently it was stripe day.

New Orleans has great book stores. Great book stores have cats.

 Beautiful architecture

The streetcar that we took. We inadvertently toured...

...the garden district. A beautiful place where there are gorgeous homes and, of course, gardens.

Pralines are said "PRAW-leens" They're super sweet. But my favorite sweet things in NOLA were...

Beignets! Imagine a scone and a hootnannie (AKA German Pancake) are madly in love and they have a child. Imagine that child is sprinkled with so much powdered sugar that it looks like the snow on the top of the Himalayas.  This is a beignet. Because of the amount of daily powdered sugar avalanches that occur in this 24-hour, seven days a week joint, the flour is caked in the white stuff. It's a bit sick, actually. But those man-catching beignets are divine.

You guys... this is the Mississippi river. I'm not sure if this picture is on the East or West side of it (it's nigh impossible to judge directions without mountains, mmmkay?) The point is, I know that I did cross this mighty river. So I HAVE BEEN EAST OF THE MISSISSIPPI. This fact is so wonderful, I put it in caps. Big deal for me. I'm just happy this has happened. By the way, this river is gross and big, but it's an American legend so you just have to love it anyway.

The true reason for going to NOLA -- the conference. There was a lot about grammar. You just had to be there. If I told you all the things I learned, you'd probably be super bored. But suffice it to say, I was entertained and enlightened by grammar nerds from all around the country.

New Orleans is loud and windy.

I wish I got a better picture of Cassandra, our instructor for the cooking class we took. The food was delicious and it was prepared before our very eyes. We had unlimited lemonade and as she cooked, she talked about the history of the area and how it related to cooking. Add that in with an amazing accent and charm, and you have the most adorable cooking class ever!

 The Audubon Aquarium was fantastic because it had beautiful sea horses and jellyfish, among other exciting sea things.

Oh the trees in Audubon Park! Their branches bend low to the ground, and some go underneath the ground and come back up again. How this happens I do not know.

Live Oaks.
I loved being in Louisiana for a million reasons, some of which being that it was hot (and I heard it snowed back home); Sam was once here, and it made me feel that much more connected to him and his past (he served a mission in Louisiana, although he never served in New Orleans); I loved being with my Chrony friends and getting a break from school for a few days; I loved learning about copy editing and journalism. The conference was really great.

I want to give a big thank-you to everyone who helped us get to NOLA. It was real.

-Meg

NOLA or bust!

In two days I'm headed down to New Orleans. Don't roll your eyes. I'm really going down for educational purposes. We're attending the American Copy Editors Society conference.

The days leading up to this big journey have been stressful, and I'm far from out of the woods, but it will be so nice to get out town for a while and learn about something near and dear to my heart -- grammar.

In other news, I've been baking again! I still can't manage to do my muffins/cupcakes every week, but I try to do some here and there. I just can't wait until I have some free time to actually clean my house and do my laundry. But I know I'm never truly happy unless I'm doing something.

In old news, I'm still very in love with my dear Sam. He is so amazing. His family is pretty great too. I got to spend Easter Sunday with them, and it was a blast! Easter is such a happy holiday. It's a time of renewal, rebirth, and refreshment. I love spending time with those I love as I think about the Savior.

-Meg

Crazier

So another year of General Conference has come and gone. I love it, even though I fall asleep almost every session.

I love being with my family, and with Sam, of course. There was the perfect mix of sun and rain, comfy and formal.

My days lately have been stressful, but very happy. Finals are approaching. My last finals, for a while, anyway. I want to go to graduate school, but I'm going to work for a while first. I don't know what I would want to go into, and Sam will be in school. I'm really ready for a break from school. I want get in the workplace and do something instead.

I'm still looking for a job, and trying not to get frustrated and discouraged. I wish I had more time to devote to job hunting. But it will come, soon enough.

Wedding plans are coming along! Bridesmaid dresses are ordered, I still get weird looks when I tell people my most prominent colors are cream, ivory, and biege. Just stay with me, people. I have some olive and sage green in there too. Not every wedding has to be hot pink and lime green.

I should also mention that I loved the Hunger Games will all my soul. Because Katniss is an awesome lady, and the story freakin' rocks. And I was with my dear Sam.

This post took me two days to write. Seriously people, I am so wonderfully busy!

-Meg

Love the lights

It's still really weird for me that I'm actually getting married. I am uber happy, of course, but some days it just doesn't feel real, and it feels really far away. It's so odd that so many people would do all this stuff for me and help me plan this huge celebration called a wedding. Really, for me? So many friends and family are excited for me, but I can't help but wonder why.

I guess I am usually giddy about weddings, but I just don't expect other people to be, too. And it's so odd to think that's its my wedding -- our wedding, really -- not my cousin's, not one out of a magazine, not one in a movie. It's ours.

My wedding colors are cream, beige, sage and olive greens, and a wee bit of plum.

Sam's been more involved than I think most grooms are. This is good, because I can't stand being parted from him for long.

Anyway,

Today was one of those days where I can't decide if it's a good day or a bad day. I can't find my student ID card, but one of my classes was cancelled. My computer is working again, so I can blog and do homework better. I've also been really grumpy and slightly emotional. But you know, I'm a girl. It's what we do.



In other news,

I'm obsessed with this song. You should listen to it a few times, and then listen to the other remixes. I hardly ever post music on my blog, so you know this is good.

-Meg

Words al dente

OK, study break.

I would like to say that I'm famous for eating my words.

I said I would go on a mission and that no boy could keep me from that. Nope.

I said I would date someone for at least a year before I got engaged. Nope.

However, I am going to graduate college before I get married, so that's one aspect I'm doing just as I said I would.

My friend NaTasha once said, "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plan for your life." I absolutely love the life I'm in right now. Is it different than I expected? You bet. I think it would be silly to pretend that's not true.

I think it's better, though, than what I had planned. It just took a little faith and a lot of love. Things are just the way they ought to be.

Yesterday, Sam and I were doing homework on his couch. I was sitting with my feet propped up on the stool. He had his back on my shoulder and his legs stretched out perpendicular to mine. We laughed about stupid things on Pinterest and watched a sad clip from a sad movie. Moments like this I would trade for nothing.

I am so happy, but I'm also filled with the usual stress and strain of school. But Sam's always there, helping me as I sprint to the finish. Having someone to lean on is a blessing.

I find myself saying cheesy things and smiling at the stupidest of things. I'm even being a little bit nicer to people. Life is so good, even if it isn't easy. I don't even care if people think I'm too young to get married.

And who knew my words would taste so delicious?

-Meg

P.S. If you want to hear Sam's side of our engagement, click right here!

The Story

I always thought I would cry, when the time came.

But instead I just laughed--a giddy, unbridled happy laugh. I think I said, "oh my gosh" and I might have said, "I think I'm the happiest person in the world right now."

I don't really remember.

I should have seen it coming, really. But you see, Sam's always romantic and thoughtful. It's not unusual at all for him to show up with flowers and to remember that six months ago we met for the first time. We usually go on fun, well planned-out dates. He's always so sweet. And he didn't seem nervous at all!

We snowshoed up to Donut Falls. It's a significant place in our courtship, so it was a fitting place to end it and begin our engagement.

He asked me to marry him! We were taking pictures like we always do--I go stand in the frame while he sets up his camera on the tripod.

One moment I was squinting into the snow, the next I look up and there he is, the love of my life down on one knee. And he's holding a ring in a little gray box.

It's perfect. I've never worn a ring in my whole life. (OK, maybe I wore a CTR ring for a few days when I was 8.) I'm just not a jewelry person. But this is so different. It signifies so much, and it's so beautiful, and it's exactly my style.

Sam and I have been calling and texting and visiting so much this weekend. We have to let everyone know our exciting news. Getting back to life and focusing on essential things will be difficult, but somehow between now and July 12, we're going to be planning our new life together.

I'm going to New Orleans for the ACES conference in April, graduate in May, and get a job... all while planning a wedding.

I am so blessed! Sam is so wonderful. He is the perfect man for me. I'm so happy and in love, I think I'm going to explode. It's been hard not to blog as much, mostly because before now, I couldn't share all these exciting plans with the world. But now, I will have so much to write about. This is the start of a beautiful journey.

I have such a wonderful family, and my new Thornton family is so kind and loving. Our friends have been fantastic and supportive. There is so much love going on!

Oh, and lest I forget! Happy Grammar Day!

-Meg

Instagram catch up

I usually write more, but sometimes photos are just better. And more will come. My life will never be more busy or more amazing.

I woke up today and I counted all my blessings. I have so many. This may sound weird, but I just love being inside my own head. I could spend hours in there talking to myself and figuring out life. I just love thinking. So if I disappear, that's probably where I am. I'm not going crazy, I'm going home.

So I've been cheating on this blog with my blog for the Chronicle, check it out here.

-Meg