What’s in a Name?

How do you feel about your name? I’ve always been so-so about mine…I would have preferred people call me Meg, and even tried to get some of my family on board with the nickname, but it didn’t really stick. The one thing I like about it is that my parents chose it for me.

This article from TIME tells you what your name would be if you were born today, based on popularity. It obviously doesn’t account for taste, but here’s my result:

The detail I found even more interesting than my name being 11th most popular in 1989? My middle name, Frances, was the 11th most popular in the 1930s! Maybe 11 is my new lucky number.

{originally spotted on Cupcakes & Cashmere}

Right Now

I’m reading: The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

I’m listening: Piece by Piece by Kelly Clarkson

I’m watching: The Goldbergs 

I’m surfing: Final Cut King

I’m loving: Sunshine. Finally, sunshine.

Golden Globes 2015: Ladies Night

Argue if you wish, but the 72nd Annual Golden Globe awards seemed to be all about the ladies. Here were some of my favorite moments.

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler should host every party ever. Past, present, future. All the parties.

I especially loved this one:

Tina: Steve Carell’s Foxcatcher look took two hours to put on, including his hairstyling and make up. Just for comparison, it took me three hours today to prepare for my role as “human woman”.

Gina Rodriguez won for her role as Jane in Jane the Virgin. Normally I roll my eyes at actors and actresses getting all weepy about what they’ve accomplished (I mean…). But I adore what she says: “..it represents a culture who wants to see themselves as heroes.” What a beautiful and true statement!

And loving THIS from Maggie Gyllenhaal:

“I’ve noticed a lot of people talking about the wealth of roles for powerful women in television lately and when I look around the room at the women who are in here and I think about the performances I’ve watched this year, what I see actually are women who are sometimes powerful and sometimes not, sometimes sexy, sometimes not, sometimes honorable, sometimes not. And what I think is new is the wealth of roles for actual women in television and in film. That’s what I think is revolutionary and evolutionary and it’s what’s turning me on.”

It was also powerful to hear Common discuss how being on the set of Selma “awakened [his] humanity.” The fight is far from over, and you should read his whole speech here.

What are your thoughts??

{gifs are from here and here}

Goals

As I’ve said before, I’m not much into New Year’s Resolutions. So much changes during a year. To think of where I am now compared to a year ago is to see a totally different perspective. So instead of a resolution, here are a few goals I’ve been working on in the past year or so that I hope to continue…

Celebrate throughout the year. I’ve seen a few posts around the web encouraging people to write down fun accomplishments or experiences throughout the year and put them in a jar. At the end of the next year (or anytime you want, really), you can review what you’ve written and get a little burst of positive energy from how blessed you are.

Listen more. Listen to other people’s stories, feelings, thoughts…and listen to and trust myself.

Follow the one-minute rule. This one is from the book The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin. Basically, don’t put off anything that can be done in one minute or less. It’s a rule I always try to follow, that keeps me from putting off absolutely everything and ending up with a million tiny things to do. In other words, Don’t be lazy, Megan.

And a silly one that I’m actually serious about…

Keep my library overdue fees under $20. Harder than it sounds, even for the daughter of a librarian. I payed so much in overdue fees this year I should be considered a library donor.

I hope this year is full of love, health, strength, hope, and joy for you and all those you love. Take it one day at a time.

Love,
Megan

Don’t Talk to Me

I love that little spot that says, “Shut up, mug.” It’s like my sister wrote that line. I love this.

{from Emily McDowell‘s online store, which I love.}

 

Friday

TGIF.

 

{via tumblr, of course.}

Open Letter

Dear Netflix,

Thank you. Thank you so much. Gilmore Girls was the first show I ever binge watched. I would rent the DVDs, one disc at a time from each season, and watch them on the tiny TV in my childhood bedroom. I feel no shame in saying Rory and Lorelei felt like family (like cool distant cousins you see at weddings and funerals, but still family). Now I can watch again with a simple click.

THANK YOU.

Love,

Megan

{image via}

Places Where I’d Like to Read

{via}

Fall TV

On a list of the MANY things I like about fall (really, there are so many, I’m very mainstream), the return on Fall TV is near the top. The Glorious Summer of No Work meant I had lots of time to catch up and binge on shows from last season, so I’m feeling very prepared. Here is a list of what I will be watching.

Returning Shows I’m Still Watching

New Girl

The Mindy Project

Scandal

Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Homeland

Saturday Night Live

New Shows I’ll Try

Red Band Society

How to Get Away With Murder

Jane the Virgin

The Affair

The Flash

Black-ish

And let’s be honest, I’ll probably end up watching all those throw-away half-hour comedies like A-Z, Selfie, and even Bad Judge. They make for great “think of nothing when you get home from work” entertainment. I also eagerly await the return of Parks and Recreation‘s final season. So sad it’s ending.

I would love to come back in the spring and tell you what I stuck with and what wasn’t worth the time. Here’s to enjoying hours in front of my television in the name of pop culture consciousness!

Cultural Rut

I’m in one. A cultural rut. Does this ever happen to you? I blame it on spending my day with 23 precious but exhausting 5-year olds. Or maybe summer, which is the worst of all seasons when it comes to pop culture (sorry, but it was a not-as-good season of my summer guilty pleasure, So You Think You Can Dance). Whatever the reason, I can’t seem to find my way back into a good book, TV show, movie, etc.

My very favorite podcast, Pop Culture Happy Hour, recently dove into the topic. Here’s some advice they gave for avoiding a “cultural rut”:

-Consulting friends
-Consulting strangers
-Eschewing curmudgeonliness
-Dipping into our own libraries for surprises
-Turning on the radio
-Turning off the radio
-Testing our own limits
-Remaining notionally open to things we think we might hate

All very good advice, which I’m going to try to take. I also have the promise of Fall TV, which is always a welcome escape. We’ll see what a new season brings!

{image via}