The Journey Continues...

So this blog was always meant to be a temporary endeavor. It was a bit of a trial run. An experiment to see if blogging was something I enjoyed. I definitely wasn't ready to commit to anything long term and I was completely unsure of what I wanted to write about. This past summer gave me an opportunity to explore my interests and to find my voice. So while I will no longer be posting anything on this site, I am choosing to leave it up as a time capsule of my last summer at home. It chronicles an important time of transition in my life and I'm proud of the revelations I've made here. That being said, I have started a new chapter, which requires a new creative space. MEDIA. ART. ADVENTURE. is a place for me to share little bits of inspiration and to explore my passion for art, media, and all things internet-related. Cheers to growing up and moving on! I can't wait for whatever comes next. 

Saying Goodbye

It couldn't last forever.

Summer is over and it is time for me to go back to school to start my senior year of college. It is time to say goodbye to the reckless relaxing spontaneous adventure I've been having for the past three months and to return to the real world. If I'm being completely honest, I'm stoked.

Neat and Tidy (Artist Obsession)

I just need to do a quick post about how freaking cool these photographs by Todd McLellan are. They are part OCD, part I spy game, and part Etsy-worthy whimsy.

Mini Vacation: Victoria BC

This was not only a mini vacation but also sort of an accidental vacation. Its was spontaneous and adventurous and lots of fun! My mother was going up to Victoria, BC for a business conference and invited me to come along as her date since I had never been. I packed a bag, hopped on a boat, and had a wonderful couple of days exploring a new city.

Blueberry Ice

Cool Idea: using frozen blueberries as ice cubes in sparkling water. It makes drinking water and staying hydrated a little more fun and a little more special. Plus it turns this fantastic magenta pink color that happens to match my nails perfectly.

Pretty Things

I WANT IT ALL! Well, not really. But I want a lot of things. I am an ambitious girl and I definitely like keeping busy. This laid back summer schedule is starting to really mess with my need for routine. It's been a fun change but I'm getting pumped for school to start back up later this month.

Dinner For [Every]One: Indecisive Salads

So this summer I've been learning a lot about how to cook in single portions. When it's just you eating, it can be easy to skip the cooking and just have popcorn or ice cream for dinner. But that's not nearly as satisfying or grown up as I'd like to be. Finding that motivation to make something satisfying and moderately healthy has been a huge goal of mine this summer. However, making dinner for a crowd comes with its own set of challenges. 

Favorite things: Dry Shampoo!

My handle on Twitter and Instagram is @HairflipMeghan. This tends to be a little bit of a tipoff that I have big hair. Not crazy out-of-control big. Not even curly afro big. Just voluminous. I also have a tendency to play with my hair in public. I guess it's a bit of a nervous habit. I started doing it in the forth grade and have kept it up consistently since then: running my fingers through it, twisting it around my fingers, moving it from one shoulder to the other, etc. etc.

Mini Vacation: Getting Dirty!

So I did this thing a couple weeks ago. It's called a Dirty Dash and it's crazy. Essentially it's a 5K on steroids where you climb walls, crawl under pipes, race down Slip 'n Slides, and do all sorts of other fun stuff. I've been trying not to sit on my ass in front of a computer all summer and this is was a great way to get down and dirty with a bunch of friends and family.

Pretty Things

From funky giraffes to psychedelics to neon art, it's been a fun and vibrant week in the life of Meghan Gallagher. I am trying new things, seeing old friends, making plans for the future, and exploring all of the possibilities! And it feels so good to be alive.

At That Age

I've been thinking a lot this summer about the intersectionality of childhood and adulthood. This is my last summer of childhood and it's like I can't decide whether or not I'm a grown up yet. One day I'll be in my pjs watching reality television and eating Nutella of of the jar, and the next I am running around town like a superwoman soccer mom completing errands left and right. How is it that we can be both at once?

Every once in a while an event or even just a moment comes along to remind me that I am at that age. The age when life plans get made, when careers get started, and yes, when my friends start getting married.

Night Owl

I am definitely not a morning person. And not just in the lazy teenager way, but in the full-blown, “you have a problem,” way. If it’s happening before 10am, then I’m probably not going to show up. If nothing is happening, then I’m probably not going to leave my bed until late afternoon. I’ve been this way since as long as I can remember. I’ve tried to fight it over the years and have had varying degrees of success. However, whenever I’m am left to my own schedule, my body instinctively reverts to this shifted schedule. I don’t think I will ever be a morning person. 

Pretty Things

Happy Friday! The internet has been full of pretty and inspiring things lately. Plus, the weather has been absolutely gorgeous in Seattle so real life has been pretty gorgeous as well. Here's the latest roundup!

Cool Off

So summer is in full swing here and while I've been in vacation mode for quite some time, it seems that the Seattle weather has finally got the memo. It has been HOT and even as a California girl, I have been sweating and panting with the rest of the city. I've been in desperate need of something to keep me cool. 

Pretty Things

I've been feeling totally inspired lately, which is a little bit surprising considering my days have been pretty monotonous. It's hard to gage progress and accomplishment during the summer because I don't have many concrete tasks or obligations. I am living in vacation limbo. Hence, I have been deeming everyday that I discover something new or get inspired by something unexpected a success. It's been fun!

Dinner for One: Kale Salad

Part of acting like an adult is eating like an adult so I have been trying to put on my big girl apron and do work in the kitchen. I am never going to be Martha Stewart but I also recognize that you can't eat nachos for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (at least not without a significant degree of judgement from friends and family.) I've been making a real conscious effort lately to cook a couple of "Grown up" meals instead. 

Life's A Beach

I just wanted to take a minute to stop and be grateful for everything I have. It is so easy to look at what other people are achieving and get caught up in the comparison game.  Especially as a product of the "Facebook Generation," I view everything in terms of how others will perceive it. I get sucked into a vortex of Instagram filters and retweets. Don't get me wrong, social media is fantastic. It's just not always real. You can perform whatever identity you want through various platforms and profiles. You can show the world exactly who you want to be. However, that can sometimes distract from what is in the now. Where you are now. What you have now. Who you are now.

By The Glass

I am all about limes. Whether they’re in gin and tonics, margaritas, mojitos, or just squeezed into my ice water at restaurants, I love that sharp citrus flavor. It just tastes like summer to me. And who doesn’t love summer?!

Pretty Things

Life is full of little bits of inspiration. In fact, the internet is full to bursting with cool and inspiring things and lately I've started to pay more attention to them.

Dinner For One: Crostini

I've heard a lot of horror stories about college dining hall food. From gaining the freshman 15 to not having any variety of options, it seems that the general consensus states that college dining sucks. Luckily, I go to the best college ever and have the absolute best food. It's Awesome. I'm spoiled. However, that also means I have no idea how to feed myself in the real world. I have a couple of easy and (moderately) healthy go-tos that are satisfying and pretty easy to make (and clean up.)

Just Do It

I can always count on my mother for random acts of inspiration. These most often come in the form of out-of-the-blue text messages featuring strong female role models. So, I am passing on this little nugget of wisdom and putting good vibes out into the universe. (Hit me up, Karma!) Take this friendly reminder to never let fear or uncertainty stop you from going out and making things happen. And have a wonderful weekend!

My Happy Place

Life gets kind of hard sometimes. I'm not trying to be cynical or angsty or anything, it's just the truth. Schedules get crammed with appointments and obligations often take priority over adventures. That is just the way the world works. It is part of being a responsible and fully functioning adult (which I have been trying to do lately.) However, the wisest people I've met understand the importance of fun. Fun is a healthy and totally necessary part of life. Taking time for yourself to relax is just as important as paying your credit card bills and buying groceries. It might be more important. Feeding the soul as well as the body, and all that...

Fantasizing Our Futures: If My Life Were a Pinterest Page

Anyone who knows me knows that I love telling secrets and playing games. In fact, one of the most feared Meghanisms among my friend group is "Let's play a fun game!" Recently, I have been bullying my friends into playing a new game with me. It's called "If My Life were a Pinterest Page..."

Mini Vacation: Hood Canal

If a picture's worth a thousand words, then this little visual compilation should be more than enough to convey how much fun I had this weekend at my parents' beach cabin. From shucking and eating oysters straight off the beach to drinking wine on the porch at sunset, I had an absolutely unbeatable time and can't wait to go back for more sun and fun.

Green Glory

I love going to school in Southern California. I love the warm weather and eternal sunshine. I love the laid-back attitudes and casual cool of the people there. I would have loved to live out my fantasy of spending a SoCal summer chilling by the pool and soaking up the vitamin D. That was the plan and my overactive imagination had idealized it to the point of ridiculousness. Admittedly, I probably spent a little too much time fantasizing. As the summer drew closer, I realized I was going to have to trade in that California dream for one last Seattle summer, which is honestly a pretty great trade off.

How To Be A Blogger: "Finding My Voice"

Not too long ago I decided to start this blog. I wanted to come out of this summer with a tangible product, something I could show people and say, "Look. I did something." I also wanted an outlet for my angst and an excuse to take more photos of myself than I already do. However, breaking into the blogging community as a contributor instead of just a reader felt like a pretty intimidating endeavor and I was in need of some serious support. So, like any self-respecting Digital Native, I started with a Google search. "How to Start a Blog."

Momentum

There’s nothing quite like speeding down miles of open highway to make you feel like progress is being made. A couple days ago, as I drove away from campus with the contents my entire life stuffed in the backseat, my freedom was palpable. Tangible. Physical. I was leaving this past semester in my rearview mirror and zooming towards something safe. I couldn’t help but feel weightless and a little bit invincible. The more miles I put between Claremont and myself, the more I could breathe easy and finally relax. It has been a trying semester to say the least. Classes got harder, professors had higher expectations, and possibilities of my post-grad future were looming constantly over my head. I like to think that I rose to the occasion, however, I would be lying if I said I wasn’t relieved to have this semester behind me. A couple thousand miles behind me, to be exact.