bad boys, bad boys, whatcha' gon' do?

Today has not been a good day. 

Even if Matthew McConaughey appeared at my door with a giant bag of Hershey's Cookies and Cream bars, my day would still not be that great.

Alright, so my day might be all better if that happened.

Ok, I'll stop beating around the bush and just say it.

I got my first speeding ticket today.
I'm very bitter about it.
A police officer was on foot, standing in the middle of the highway with a radar gun.
Of all of the "speeding" cars, he chooses me.
Figures.

No, I did not know that I was still in the school zone.
Yes, officer, I did obey the 25 mph speed limit as I passed the school.
Yes, I stopped to let the cute little kiddos cross the street.
But as I was approx. 50ft from the end of the school zone (and about 300 yards passed the school itself), I decided to accelerate a little prematurely.
Big mistake.

In fact, the police officer was standing outside of the school zone when he got me.
...that's how close I was to the regular 45mph zone.

My clean record now has one of these on it

First, the bobby pin mess and now, this.
So sad.


Aside from all of that mess, let me tell you some good news!
Aspen Leaf Spa has the best deal/customer service that I've dealt with in a long time.

Aspen Leaf Spa offers a price-match guarantee, even if you've already placed the order with them and find the product at a better price days later.

I recently ordered a Clarisonic Mia and got it for a steal!
The Mia retails for $149, but I bought it from Aspen Leaf Spa for 25% off.
My total was something like $112.

But it gets better!
This past weekend, Beauty.com had a 20% sale on all of their skincare tools.
On top of that, Beauty.com also had a 20% off coupon.
With both of those coupons, the Clarisonic Mia would be $95.

I called Aspen Leaf Spa today and asked for information about their price match guarantee, and with absolutely no questions asked, they credited my account $17, making my Aspen Leaf Spa purchase equivalent to the Beauty.com deal.

So I definitely recommend using Aspen Leaf Spa for your beauty purchases!
Can't beat their customer service.

***
Hope you all are having a great day and are staying under the speed limit!
xo.
M

Thanksgiving Re-Cap!

Hello beautiful bloggers!

Here is my Thanksgiving weekend in pictures (ok, and some words). 

I went home on Monday, which was well needed! 

I enjoyed spending some time with Dad out in the yard. 

He picked up leaves and I sat on the golf cart reading a magazine:

He would dump the leaves on this tarp, and I'd drive the cart to the backyard, where he'd empty them into the burn pile. 

I told you how much I love the smell of burning leaves!

 A few of our smaller trees have beautiful colored leaves, like this one:

 Hey, for the SC Lowcountry, this is a big deal!

...and so the table was set for a wonderful Thanksgiving feast.

It was a small to-do, just my immediate family... but we enjoyed the relaxed day!

I got 45 minutes of sleep on Thursday night, because we had to hurry to the stores for some Black Friday shopping!

Mom, my brother, and myself braved the cold and the crowds.

In the middle of the night, we managed to shop in two different states and three different towns! 

Some may call us crazy, I call it dedication! 

I had to hurry home at 1:30pm that day to get ready to go to Clemson with the boyf and his family for the Clemson vs. University of South Carolina game.

Rivalry at its finest.

Brandon graduated from Clemson and I grew up a Clemson fan.

Brandon's parents are die-hard Carolina fans, so it's definitely a "house divided!" 

 On Friday night, a group of us went out downtown. 

We first made a stop at Mellow Mushroom and I had a spinach artichoke dip.

I've never ordered it before because I usually don't get an appetizer when ordering pizza, but I would definitely recommend it!

On Saturday, we had many hours of tailgating since the game wasn't until 7pm.

Brandon's mom has great pictures on her "fancy schmancy" camera, but here are some that I took on the humble Olympus.

Maybe I can post her pictures on a later post!

Someone put a Clemson jersey on a cardboard cut-out of the USC coach, Steve Spurrier!

Brandon's family and me

He's such a great foot rubber!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Love,

Meg

You Are What You Eat: Fast Food Edition!

I mentioned in the last post that I've been eating poorly and not getting enough 

sleep, and my body has paid the price. 

I've been eating on the run and am so ashamed to admit that I've eaten fast food
three times in the past week!

Aside from this past week, I can't remember the last time I've eaten fast food.

(okay, Zaxby's 'zalads' don't count, because I've eaten a lot of those!)

I can't wait to get back to my clean(er) eating, get back to the gym, and feel great again! 

As excited as I may be for a great Thanksgiving feast, I have to say that I can't wait for Monday to get on a normal eating/workout routine!

...so in honor of those greasy fast food joints, let's play a little game that I like to call,

"You Are What You Eat: Fast Food Edition!"

These foods are surprisingly high in calories, fat, and sodium!

I almost posted items like the expected "Hardee's Monster Thickburger," which has 1,420 calories, but I decided to stick with items that we, as ladies, might actually order when we're absolutely pressed for time!

*Thank you, Self.com for these facts!*

1.  Arby's Mozzarella Sticks

I know, I know...they're so delicious. 

But at 660 calories, 34 grams of fat, and 1,800mg of sodium ...are they worth it?

2.  McDonald's Triple Thick Shake (32oz)

This bad boy has around 1,200 calories, 26 grams of fat, and 145 grams of sugar!

3.  Taco Bell's Volcano Nachos

  I'm a nachos-lover, so this is truly disappointing!

These babies have close to 1,000 calories, 61 grams of fat, and 1,870mg of sodium.  
 

4.  Wendy's Sweet and Spicy Asian Boneless Wings

Who would've thought that one serving of these has 540 calories, 18 fat grams, and 2,490mg of sodium!

Why yes, that's more sodium than you should have in one full day!

5. Sonic's Chicken Strip Dinner

928 calories, 43 grams of fat, 1,913mg of sodium

6.  Arby's Chicken Salad Sandwich (with pecans)

860 calories, 44 grams of fat, 1270mg sodium, 33 grams of sugar and 92 grams of carbs!

Just some food for thought! 

(no pun intended!)

Love to you all!

M

let me catch you up...

Hello Beauties!

I'm sorry that I've been a little out of commission this weekend.

Last week, I didn't get enough sleep, I wasn't eating healthy, and I was so stressed with school.

Sure enough, I came down with a cold on Friday.

You know... runny nose, congestion, cough, fatigue, headache, body aches.

 That didn't stop me from attending the Miss SC USA 2011 pageant on Friday and Saturday nights.

Man, was it great to watch the pageant and not have the anxiety of competing! 

I will say, though, that it made me miss the competition so much and I can't wait to do the Miss Charleston USA pageant in March. 

Friday night was the preliminary competition.

I enjoyed second row seating with a special little girl I used to babysit when I was in high school. 

Now she's nine years old, which is unreal to me! 

The next morning, my mom came to Charleston. 

We ate lunch at Five Loaves Cafe.

I had heard much hype about this place since moving to Charleston well over a year ago.

It's one of those restaurants that started from a tiny bank loan and ended up doing very well.

It's now very popular with the locals and tourists.

I had a three soup sampler: 

1. Tomato taragon with crab meat = not very flavorful & not much crab meat

2.  Tomato Basil with goat cheese = excellent soup -the goat cheese was a wonderful touch

3. Potato soup with broccoli and cheese = tasted like mashed potatoes with a piece of broccoli on top

Next, Mom and I split a chicken salad sandwich.

I wish I had a picture of it, because the presentation was lovely.

*Side note= I'm going to get better about remembering to take photos to post!*

But, the bread fell apart and the chicken salad was a bit dry.

I ate mine with a fork and it was not easy.

I'm quite disappointed in Five Loaves Cafe and I don't think it
lived up to the hype.

That night, we attended the finals night of the Miss SC USA pageant.
Meet the new Miss SC USA and Miss SC Teen USA:

On Sunday, Mom, Brandon, and I went to Folly Beach for some lunch at Rita's.
Once again, I wish I had thought to take a photo of my meal.
I had shrimp & grits ...actually, the best shrimp & grits I've ever had.

We took a walk on the pier and snapped some pictures:

The weather was beautiful.
Even though I was sick, it was a great Sunday!

We stopped by Walgreens, bought some Mucinex, and I also got some Goody Spin Pins.

If you don't own any of these...buy some!
One of these babies takes the place of tons of regular bobbie pins.
Just one spin pin will hold you hair snug, end of story.

Hope you all have a lovely, short work week!

xo.

Megan

The Fake Housewives of Beverly Hills

 I love these ladies!

I will say that my favorite housewives are the women of Orange County, but that's probably because they were the first and I am, well, very loyal. 

I do enjoy watching the Real Housewives of NYC

....but boy, do I loooove the Beverly Hills cast!

Kelly Ripa put it well when speaking of these ladies last night.

She said that what sets the Beverly Hills women apart from the other housewives, is that they actually have money. 

You know, as opposed to pretending like the do, but really being in debt up to their eyeballs.

(Like Teresa from the New Jersey cast!)

They are an entertaining group, without being too catty (as of yet, anyway).

One thing is for sure, they've had their fair share of work done.

Taken from aestheticcare.com, I give you the before and afters.

1. Lisa VanderPump

2. Adrienne Maloof 

(Okay, her husband is a plastic surgeon, so it looks to me like she had work done in the "before" picture, too)

3. Camille Grammer

4.  Kim Richards

 5. Kyle Richards

 6. Taylor Armstrong

 ...but you know, a little nip there and a little tuck there is par for the course in the Hills.

Watch Real Housewives of Beverly Hills on Thursdays at 10pm est.

We made it to Friday!

xo.

Meg

...because we all love a good deal (Restaurant.com Coupon Code)

Restaurant.com has got to be the best deal around, aside from Groupon which I love.

Type in your zip code, and the site shows restaurants in your area. 

Then, you have the option to buy a gift card to any featured restaurant for a discounted price.

For example, you can get a $50 gift card for $30,

or a $25 gift card for $15. 

But wait, it get's better.

During the month of November, if you use the coupon code, GIVE, you get 80% off.

So let's say I go to restaurant.com, find my favorite restaurant, and choose to buy a $25 gift card for $15. 

I type in GIVE into the promotional code box...

and boom! I get the $25 gift card for $3.

Three dollars!

Then you can print out your gift certificate and dine at that restaurant just minutes later! 

This makes for one very happy Megan.

xo

 

Holiday Gift Ideas

I must say that since the high is 77 degrees today, I'm having a hard time getting into the Holiday spirit.

I want to see my breath in the air & drink my hot skinny vanilla latte, not only because I adore the taste, but because the warmth keeps my hands from being brittle!

I want this:

Brandon & me (in fab outfits) - Snow in Charleston 2010

Not this:

...but since the holiday season is here, regardless if it's hot or cold, here are some great gift ideas:

Sarah Jessica Parker Ornament

Is there a contest for the cutest ornament in the world? This would win it.

HSN $29

Kate Spade "This Year I Will" Bracelet

Cute new year resolutions are engraved along the bracelet, like "take up the trumpet."

Piperlime $ 48

Maison Noir Shea Butter Deluxe Soap Trio

I love the idea of gifting these luxurious soaps because they aren't something people would typically buy for themselves.

Voluspa $30

Tory Burch "Sophie" Wedge

I need these!

Nordstrom - $295

Starbucks Gift Card

There is something for everyone at Starbucks!

Starbucks

Nintendo DS Lite

From brain teasers to yoga training, Nintendo isn't just for kids anymore!

Best Buy - $129

Smashbox "Eye Wish" Palette

Priced at just a fraction of the $243 value ... I love these colors!

Nordstrom - $45


Nikon Coolpix S80

Nikon makes a great camera ...& it's pink! (Although it does come in five other colors, too)

Nikon - $330

Minnetonka Suede Kiltie Moccasin

I will definitely own a pair of these soon!

Nordstrom - $39

David Yurman White Freshwater Pearl, Diamond, & Sterling Silver Earrings

...because every gal needs pearls in her jewelry box

Saks - $495

...& for the man in your life,

Tailgater Ultra-Portable Sound System for iPod or iPhone

Ion - $150

Whiskey Set

Macy's - Was $60, Now $30

Deluxe Fragrance Sample for Him

This set includes 14 samples and a voucher for a full-size fragrance! He can sample them all, decide on his favorite, then take the voucher into Sephora to get the full size product at no additional cost!

Sephora - $50

Oh, and for a mere $200,000, you can give someone a Virgin Galactic charter to space!

Virgin Galactic

Have a great Tuesday, everyone!

Love,

M