thank you, next (2018)

It’s been a while since I last posted on this site. Lately, it’s been extra therapeutic to take pen to paper and journal the old fashioned way — plus I’m out of photo memory here and don’t want to pay for more. For some reason online journaling requires images??

 

I really enjoy reading back through my yearly highlights so I know it’s March but, Imma do it.

 

2018 here we were.

January

We celebrated Dallin’s 29th Birthday with a quiet dinner in Prospect Heights. Earlier in the day Dallin thought he was dying of an allergic reaction, so dinner was a pleasant reminder that sometimes it’s just nice to be alive.

The world coined a new term: ‘Bombcyclone’. Dallin and I worked from home in our pajamas and tried not to freeze. It was so cozy.

Dallin started a graphic design program in Manhattan.

 

February

In February my Commodity team nominated me as a 2018 Notable for the Fragrance Foundation. I was so honored!! My mom even traveled to NYC for the awards ceremony.

While my mom was here we laid in bed and watched the entire season of Big Little Lies and honestly it’s in my top 10 favorite memories with her.

 

March

I started to think about maybe applying for graduate school.

We started to think about maybe finding cheaper rent to pay for said graduate school.

March was a lot of thinking and talking.

 

April

Dallins’ sister, Aubree, came to visit us! This is when she told us she’d be marrying the love of her life that coming summer. It’s a moment I won’t forget, especially since it wasn’t the first time she told me.. I just ignored the first time!! Damn text messages.

Dallin graduated from his graphic design program.

We moved! Yay cheaper rent!

May

We went to the “Honorable William Wall” with some of our favorite friends. Highly recommend – an amazing NYC experience.

I submitted my application for graduate school (late, but I did it).

 

June

We celebrated my birthday with my BFF Sara not the country singer Evans in NJ by laying in the sun all. day. long. Subsequently, I suffered the worst sunburn of my life – my shins are still red!!

Dallin and I took a random Friday off work to see The Heavenly Bodies exhibit at the MET. It was a the most perfect NYC day.

I saw Kacey Musgraves and Harry Styles live so I can check that off the bucket list. She was a spiritual experience I wasn’t prepared for.

 

July

WE GOT A PUPPY!! Definitely the highlight of my 2018 was finally convincing Dallin that we needed a furry friend. We rescued Zini and our lives have been forever changed. We love him!

Basically the rest of July is us planning our lives around going to the park with Zini + his auntie Sara Ma.

 

August

We visited Utah to attend Aubree’s wedding! It was such a beautiful ceremony. It was so nice to see so many friends and family gather to support both Aubs and Justin.

Commodity threw a big party on a boat!! It was such a fun night celebrating with all the people who have helped get this brand where we are today. #teamcommodity

I was accepted to grad school and started classes late August! It was a crazy month, but it’s been wildly worth the crazy.

 

September

CONSUMED with school work!! The adjustment of full time work + part time school was something that took some getting used to.

 

October

I traveled to Europe for the very first time and it was truly a dream come true. Commodity is quickly making moves in Europe which allowed me to travel to Paris for a few meetings. It was magical. #teamcommodity

Dallin and I celebrated 6 years of being married! Year 6 has probably been my favorite yet.

I read Educated by Tara Westover and it was by far my favorite book of 2018. 10/10 would reco forever.

I saw Lily Allen live – after having just read her memoir My Thoughts Exactly – she was amazing.

 

November

I hosted my very first Thanksgiving! It was filled with love and friendship and I’d do it again.

I also attended the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade for the first time ever – so magical.

Dallin and I attended a #myplmorning at the pier and it was probably the best day of D’s life.

 

December

I finished my first semester of grad school without dying!! I have truly enjoyed this program so much and I’m loving all the great friendships being developed because of it.

Dallin, Zini and I traveled to Utah to spend the holidays with our families. It was a great way to end the year doing some of the things I love most in life. Hiking, skiing, shopping at suburban Target, spending time with friends and family, etc..

 

Thank you to everyone who made 2018 one to remember. There were some not so fun times too – generally I’ve included some of those not so fun times in my highlights – but I decided to leave the drama for my mama this year 🙂

 

Here’s to 2019!! The year of the Dog is predicted to be very prosperous for the Monkey (me) so cheers to this glorious year. #chinesenewyear

 

xoxo

– Maggie

 

 

7th Grade Megan

The other night Dallin asked me to tell him an embarrassing story. It didn’t take me long to think of one to share, I embarrass easily. Dallin and I have been married for 6 years this month and I love that we are still learning about each other. Dallin got a kick out of this one so I decided to share.

Let me take you back to the year 2004, I was 12 and I was weird. I didn’t have a lot of friends, I mostly hung out with my siblings and my books. I loved my books. I still love my books. Moving on, before this turns into an erotic post about my books.

I was in 7th grade and my Jr. High was participating in a mock presidential election. I was pretty confident I was the ONLY person at my school, whose student population consisted mostly of conservative mormon farmers, voting for John Kerry. The mock election was being held during our lunch hour. To save myself from further ridicule (remember I was already the weird girl) I decided I needed to get to lunch super early so I could get it over with, even then I was all too aware of the anxiety political disappointments can elicit. As this was my first time voting, I’m not sure I understood how it all worked. I think I thought I would have to stand up on stage and declare my vote in front of a panel of political judges??

It was five minutes until the lunch bell would ring. I started packing up my book bag early, something I never did because #teacherspet. I made sure my keds were tied tight in preparation for my sprint to the lunch room. The bell rang and I was off to the races. I ran all the way from the science hall which was on the opposite side of the school!! By the time I made it to the lunch room I was the 3rd person in line to vote. Out of breath and slightly sweaty (I hadn’t made it to puberty yet so yes, only slightly sweaty) I felt relieved and a little silly once I saw the voting booths provided enough privacy that no one would see who I was voting for.

At the end of the school day the voting tally was announced over the loud speaker.

  • George W. Bush – 19304937 (I don’t remember the number but it definitely felt like this)
  • John Kerry – 2

I wasn’t alone. I never found out who the other rebel voter was but I was glad to know I wasn’t alone. (I’m also just now realizing that it’s possible they inflated the Kerry votes to two as to not make me feel completely alone).

Over the last few years I have been inspired by those who wear their political and religious beliefs like a badge of honor… maybe not those who are clearly in the wrong tho. I still hold mine pretty tight fearing I’ll spark contention or that I’ll sound ignorant and uninformed. I’m hoping to conquer this fear by defending my beliefs with compassion. I’m not nerdily running to vote in secret anymore.

Stand for right, even if you stand alone – Thomas S. Monson

https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2011/10/dare-to-stand-alone?lang=eng

Who else is looking forward to General Conference this weekend?!

Death to anyone who calls a migraine a ‘headache’

img_4523.jpgI am a chronic headache and migraine sufferer. Notice how I say headache and migraine sufferer. They are different, I promise. Generally these ailments are brought on by stress or not eating right so I can usually manage them. However last year, I finally decided to take action because they were ruining my life.

In 2016, I logged 13 migraines that kept me at home sitting in the dark unable to move let alone make it to the office. I can usually tell right when a headache is about to reach migraine territory. It’s right when my closing my eyelids feels like starting afire in my scalp. My vision starts to blur and I start to feel nauseous, then my neck feels sore and I can’t open my eyes unless there is total darkness. It’s so miserable.

My mom was visiting me in June last year when I was struck with a particularly outrageous migraine brought on by too much fun at Coney Island. When she saw first hand how miserable I was she suggested something called a daith piercing. She went on and on about how amazing it is for people with chronic headaches. At first I was just annoyed she was talking because I HAD A MIGRAINE. Then once the migraine subsided I was able to hear her out. I was visiting Utah in July for my friends wedding so I told her we could go check it out together when I was home.

Mom basically drove me straight from the airport, jk not really the airport, to Iris to get see about getting my daith pierced. I found a pretty piece and I thought the piercing was cute so I didn’t protest when the woman said they could pierce me up right then and there. I used the excuse that it could possibly help my migraines to get over the cost and my #mormonguilt. So I did it.

For the first few hours after getting the piercing I had a terrible headache, it didn’t cross into migraine territory, but it was a doozy. I was starting to regret my decision thinking it was going to do the opposite of what I thought it would. However, after about 2 months, it was still tender but healing nicely and I hadn’t had a headache since that initial ‘doozy’.

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Right after I had done the deed. 

Yesterday, about midday I started to get a headache. It started off pretty normal, I didn’t think much of it. By 3:00pm I knew we were headed straight to migrainville. I took off a little early from work trying to get ahead of it. I came home, took a hot shower and went straight to bed. I laid in bed for hours suffering! I felt like that scene in 500 days of Summer where they both just stare blankly and say “suffering” over and over again.

 

One doctors appointment and one cheap groupon massage later I’m now leaving migraineville and headed into headache town. I didn’t realize how nice my non-migraine life had been. I lived 8 glorious migraine-free months because of this piercing!! Now… you’re probably wondering why this news warranted a blog post – it didn’t. I’m just this happy about my piercing and the life its allowed me to have.

If you live a migraine-full life – I highly recommend 10/10.

xoxo

Maggie

Lately

Lately

This is one of my favorite corners in Park Slope, it screams Brooklyn. It’s been a while since I’ve done a life update so I felt it was time. Especially because we’ve been so busy. I love summer. My birthday is at the beginning of summer and I always feel like it’s the perfect kick off. You can see more from my birthday by seeing some of my previous posts. I think it was my favorite birthday ever so if you want to see the happiest I think I’ve ever been… check out that post.

 

 

 

This is from a concert, Lake Street Dive, we saw with friends. Brooklyn is always fun, never boring.  

 

I went to The MET with some girlfriends and did you know there is a rooftop? I’ve heard rumors of the amazing roof top so I’m glad we went up and checked it out. #views4dayz  Also, really great spot to hang out and catch up with great friends.

 

From that one time I did something cultured.

NYC recently launched a ferry route and there’s a ferry that runs from Sunset Park to Rockaway Beach… it only takes 50 minutes and you’re on a boat. So duh! Kenzie (pictured above) and I obviously wanted to try it out. Unfortunately, the ferry was AT CAPACITY!! We were so bummed, I may have even made a really insensitive refugee joke about it. By the time we made it to the beach (5 HOURS LATER!) we were feeling pretty defeated. However, it ended up being worth it. The sun and sand are always worth the wait.

Something I love about living here is having visitors. Amanda is a great friend from High School and she travels to NYC for work every once in a while and she always stops by to see me when she’s here. And every time I love it. She’s inspiring and uplifting and just the slice of heaven I need in this crazy city.

Some of you may know, I’ve been called to serve in the Young Womens in my Brooklyn Ward (for you non mormon readers; let me translate – Mormons meet in congregations called ‘wards’ in each ward, each member is given a ‘calling’. My calling is in the Young Womens which is just a fancy name for youth (12-18 yo) of the female gender).

Anyways, in our young womens it’s often challenging to get our youth together for activities because they live all over Brooklyn and they have crazy busy schedules. So sometimes we have to draw in our girls! (pictured above ;)) We went to the New York Philharmonic and it was a really great experience bonding over great music.

 

As always, NYCFC games

On the 4th of July we saw Yankee Stadium in a new light… we actually saw a baseball game. It was a blast!

That time Dallin reached enlightenment.

 

The next bit of photos are from our trip to Salt Lake. My best friend, Sara Evans got married!!! It was such a great celebration and I’m glad we got to spend some time with family and friends.

My MIL has the best artwork.
My FIL , Verl Greenhalgh, is running for Mayor of Murray!! Vote 4 Verl!

 

The Bride!!

We saw the RSL x Man U game!

 

 

 

My niece is a freak and I love her.

25

25

I’m now a quarter of a century old!!! My mom and sister came to New York to help me celebrate and it was amazing. Below are some photos from the weekend.

Jeff Koons inflated ballerina at 30 Rock! If you’re in NYC go see this!

When Dallin and I started talking about moving to New York my mom couldn’t stop talking about how she was dying to visit Coney Island. So we made her dreams come true with a 2 night stay in Coney Island!

Nathans Famous 🙂

The art walls

Luna Park is the theme park located on the board walk at Coney Island! It’s so fun and makes for some GREAT people watching!

  

I love them!

On Saturday we went to the NYCFC game! I mixed up the kickoff time so we we’re pretty late but we made the most of it. Annnnd they won! 2-1 🙂 My crush on Jack Harrison keeps growing each game.

Canal Street Market

Brooklyn Bridge
Dallin got me a little camera for my birthday – one of my favorite gifts to date. We’ve had so much fun playing with it!
I miss them already!!

 

It was a great weekend and I’m sad it had to end! COME BACK!! Counting down the days until we get to play and laugh again!! Also – how badass is Tracy? She is fearless and challenges me to be the same in every way – she’s the only reason I was able to hop on the Slingshot ride!! Thanks for coming to see me.

Lately

Lately

Life has been pretty busy lately! Wanted to share some {iPhone} pics from the last few months!

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Union Square has the best farmers market. Sorry Prospect Park!!

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In March our good friends Mikey and Emi came from SLC to hang out with us!! We had so much fun playing tourist for the week!!

We went to a Mets game, saw Madison Square Garden, played at Chelsea Market and enjoyed some serious sunshine. WE MISS YOU MIKEY AND EMI!! COME BACK!

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April was our next set of visitors!! My cousin Kourtney and her BF crashed Brooklyn.

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I got to escort this cute thang to church a few Sundays ago and there’s something about babies on the Subway that make my heart melt
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Don’t know how this photo was snapped but I think it looks fab
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The Chrysler Building is over there somewhere

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Canal Street Market is coming along nicely! So excited for the food court.

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Andrea was our next visitor!! It was quick trip but we had a blast touring the rainy city. She even braved the Subway all by herself while I was at work. I was so proud!

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Milk Bar in Prospect Heights is goooood!!
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We love you NYCFC

 

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We finally saw Waitress the Musical. To read more about our crazy experience see this post.

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Our next visitors!! My bestie Kate and her husband Colton stayed with us and it was a blast! I’ve missed her so much. Not seeing her everyday has been rough #becauseofjamberry
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I love her
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Brooklyn Bridge is a must for all my tourists
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My first time on the Staten Island Ferry at night was amazing!! I think I like it more than in the daylight.

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Commodity was nominated for an award at the CEW Beauty Awards!! It was a great event and my date was pretty cute too.

I have a pretty great life! I love you NYC!!

WAITRESS

WAITRESS

Dallin and I have officially lived in Brooklyn for a year now!! I can’t believe how much this place feels like home, we fit here.

Since the day we arrived in Brooklyn I have been begging Dallin to take me to see Waitress. To celebrate our Brooklyn anniversary (or maybe just to get me off his back) he finally got us tickets to see mah gurl Sara B slay in her musical.

We got to the show around 7:00pm and I was getting butterflies I was so excited. The ticket man scanned our tickets and his scanner beeped RED, RED!! My heart sank as he told us our tickets were for the 2pm show, not the 7:30pm show. I think he saw my eyes welling with tears because he quickly smiled and told us to go around to the ticket booth and ask for the house manager to see if their was anything she could do for us.

We ran around to the booth and told the house manager our sob story. She was really empathetic and told us to wait around the corner, although there was no guarantee we’d get in. 7:20pm hit and we were feeling pretty defeated as we watched couples and friends take their seats.

I was staring at the ground trying not to show my disappointment so Dallin wouldn’t feel any worse than he already did. I looked up and saw Jesse Tyler Ferguson (Mitch from Modern Family) standing right in front of me. Dallin was staring down at the tickets kicking himself for ordering the wrong ones so I was punching his arm trying to get him to look in Jesse’s direction. Jesse yelled to the manager ‘Tickets for Ferguson please” She stoically replied “Mr Ferguson, we saw you coming. Please allow me to accompany you to your seats” (people talk to you like that when you’re famous). In my mind I thought – Rich Bitches get EVERYTHING!!!

I was pretty green with jealous rage as it was 7:28pm and we were still waiting for the house manager to pull some puppet strings and grant us our miracle tickets. Dallin apologized to me profusely and accepted defeat by pulling up tickets to Friday nights show on his phone. (He loves me!!)

The manager yelled from her booth “Get up here, we can make this work!” I ran to the window and then scolded myself for seeming so uncool, KEEP YOUR SHIT TOGETHER MEGAN!! She showed us where we would be sitting on the little diagram and I tried to keep in my celebratory shouts by biting my lip. We were on the orchestra level 11 rows from the stage, in the handicapped seats but that part doesn’t matter. As we sat down I smooched Dallin and thanked him for this blessed screw up he made. We could see the back of Jesse’s head from these seats – I guess even not rich people get what they want!!

We took our handicapped seats, the curtains were drawn and I tried not to cry through the entire musical. Thank you Dallin! Thank you for making me feel beautiful, smart and loved every single day. I love you! I love our life! and I love Sara Bareilles.