Blog Challenge: Day 3

A picture of you and your friends.

Oh my gosh, where do I begin?! I have so many pictures of friends, which makes me so glad because they all capture memories that I'll cherish forever. In high school, being a part of several clubs meant I had a few groups of friends. They all taught me so many things and helped me in SO many ways that they will never know. I absolutely could not choose, so I'm going to post a few of my favorites.

This one was taken during a Debate tournament, and it pretty accurately depicts what happened at every single tourney: we laughed a lot. We had several hours in between the rounds being over and waiting for awards, so Paige (left), Annelie (middle), and I laid down on some backpacks and talked and laughed. One of our teammates (and Paige's boyfriend) Kohl came over and started taking pictures of us on my phone. It was probably one of the biggest struggles of my life. You know what I really remember about this photo? I remember that this tournament was happening in the midst of some serious relationship drama from me. My heart was literally breaking, and I did not feel in the mood for a tournament. But I ended up being so glad I went. These girls (and Kohl) COMPLETELY took my mind off of it and I remember doing nothing but laughing and remembering I wasn't alone.  Annelie, Paige and I were a fabulous threesome that year and I adore them. I posted this picture because that wasn't an uncommon occurrence for me in my three years of Debate; my debaters were my biggest supporters. They made me laugh. They protected me. Some of my most cherished memories in high school were from Debate, and I owe everything to them.  You know what? Here's a picture of (almost) the whole team: 

And just for the heck of it, I think Paige, aka my wifey (because we're both married to Channing Tatum. Duh) deserves a pic of her own here: 

Paigey Poo and I became fast friends our sophomore year, and have been best friends/wives ever since. From Debate tournaments to birthday breakfasts to gushing over T-Swift to dying my hair to seeing Big Time Rush in concert (and touching James' hand. No big deal), some of my happiest times were spent with this gal. We always have such an easy-going, fun time together. With Paige, I was always able to forget my troubles. Not to mention she and her boyfriend are the cutest couple that ever existed, and I can hang out with just them without ever feeling like a third wheel, ever. That's something super rare in couples. I love them both! 

Okay, here's another of some other friends:

Man oh man, where would I have been without these girls in high school? This picture was taken towards the end of Junior year. We were in L.A. on choir tour and were waiting to go see Beauty and the Beast. Junior year was my glory time of high school. I remember how eager we all were for Senior year, myself included. I never knew how hard Senior year was going to be. I especially didn't know how much I would be relying on these lovely ladies. Boy drama, vicious rumors started about me, a broken heart or two. At one point my senior year, there were weeks where I wondered if I even had it in me to go to school the next day. But seeing these girls in class and in the halls always got me through it. They were my rocks. I owe them everything. I know I'll be friends with them forever. So much of who I am is owed to them. 

And there's about a million more pictures like this taken in front of Sayri's webcam. She and I have been best friends since the third grade. No matter how far apart we go from each other, we always meet up again and pick up right where we left off. This girl AMAZES me. I've never known a more thoughtful, or creative, person. Love my Sayri-Wa. 

THIS GIRL. 

"Every brunette needs a blonde best friend."
I'm so lucky mine was Annie. We helped each other in so many ways. I helped her heal from wounds of her past and she helped me to figure out it's okay to not ALWAYS be happy. And basically, we were just a couple of crazies. For more info, go here. I have a post just for her. 

This was a lot longer than it was probably meant to be. At one point in high school, I was surrounded by guy friends and flocked to them when the girls got too dramatic. But one by one those guy friends walked away and threw me under a bus for one reason or another. I consider it a blessing, because that's how I figured out who my real friends are. The friends I'll tell my kids about and call up when I'm in need of some nostalgia. All of the friends pictured above. I was SO lucky to have such fantastic friends. 

But here's the most important part: 

"Friends don't let friends do stupid things..... 

ALONE." 

Pretty much. 

~just megsie

Blog Challenge: Day 2

The meaning behind your blog name. 

Hey there, invisible readers. Cuttin' it a little close this time, but that's just how I like to do things. I am barely getting Day 2 in, just in the nick of time.


There are very few people who have stayed up-to-date on my blog since I started it almost a year ago. Those few know that my blog title has changed at least four times that I can remember. I don't know, I just couldn't ever decide.

Well, I've finally landed on one that not only captures the essence of me, but happens to just make me super giddy. So I think I'm going to stick with it.

"Second Star to the Right" 

I think everyone who grew up on Disney automatically hears the words "second star to the right, and straight on 'til morning!" said in Peter Pan's voice. I know I do.

Well, I have always loved Peter Pan. It's my favorite Disney movie, my all-time favorite story, and one of my top five fav rides in Disneyland (I can only do a top 5 because choosing one is just way too hard.) Why my love for Peter Pan, you ask? Well, let me tell you.

First off, I just love the idea that happy thoughts make you fly. The pixie dust is nothing without the happy thoughts. I think that's one of the best lessons anyone can learn. Happy thoughts make you fly. Simple as that.

I love the idea of Neverland. Not necessarily because I never want(ed) to grow up. Nope. I like the idea of a place where things can stay the same. In life, everything is always change. Some is for the good. New jobs. Marriage. Having kids. Graduating college. Moving to a bigger house. Some is not so good. Loved ones die. Friends betray you. Your heart gets broken. You break hearts. All of these milestones in life have one thing in common: they all include change.

Now, I've always been a big believer in the good in change. But as I've grown, I've learned that there are some things that just need to stay the same. Compassion needs to remain. Love needs to remain. Ambition. Family. Friendship. While components of those things may change, the things themselves are better left unchanging. They must be in a constant state of Neverland. Dreams, that's a big one. Dreams should stay the same. They can grow. They can mold. But they shouldn't change, if they're worthwhile and good.

And how do you keep them in Neverland? How do you find them if that's where they are?

Well, you head towards that second star to the right.

That little star leads to a land of pirates, mermaids, love, friendship, magic, and dreams come true. Yes, it's fictional. But does all of it really have to be? I sure don't think so. I don't think Neverland could exist without that star. While Neverland never changes, that star changes lives....if those lives choose to follow it.

And not just for a couple hours. Not just until midnight. Nope.

You gotta follow it straight on 'til morning.

So put on your best nightgown, sprinkle some pixie dust, think good thoughts, and fly. Second star to the right, and....well, you know the rest.

~just megsie

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 1

I haven't written here in a really long time.

I could lie to you like all those other bloggers and youtubers do (not that I'm bitter that those I'm subscribed to lie to me on a regular basis...ahem.) and tell you my life has been SO busy and I just can't find the time!

This is false.

My life, as of now, consists of work, mission shopping, and hanging out with my mom.

Oh, and getting in as much Netflix as possible within the next two months.

Well, I figure I should end with a bang on this blog before I go forth to serve the Lord for 18 months. But, I've had nothing to write about. That's actually quite a terrible excuse, because the writer in me has about a MILLION things she's busting to write on. So what it comes down to is laziness. Oh well.

I guess my point is the Blog Challenge is a lazy writer/blogger/future missionary who is enjoying a blissful summer of nothingness's best friend. So alas, here I am. It has come to this: a blog challenge. Let's see how well I keep up on it.

Here we go.

Blog Challenge Day 1: A recent picture of yourself and 15 facts about you. 

1. I am a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. I'll be leaving on August 29th to serve a mission for the church in the Uruguay Montevideo West mission. 

2. I am obsessed with dipping sauces. Especially Ranch. Okay, maybe I'm just obsessed with Ranch. 

(sub-fact: I hated Ranch until May of this year, when Sonny's Pizza's (in San Clemente, California) ranch that they served with their salad was kind of the greatest thing I ever tasted. Changed my life.) 

3. I love the colors baby blue and orange. And most bright colors. Most bright, happy things, actually. 

4. I am a generally happy person. Maybe that's why Disneyland and I are best friends.

5. My favorite dessert is chocolate chip cake. Fresh out of the oven, with cold milk, equals love. 

6. You know what else equals love? the feeling in my mouth after some Listerine mouthwash. It's 30 seconds of death followed by pure bliss. I love it. 

7. I dyed my hair for the first time last summer, and now I'm never going back. I hope my companions enjoy helping me dye it on my mission. #darkhairdontcare

8. I have freakish toes that can bend freakishly far. 

9. I have this weird obsession with tornadoes. And lightning. And astronomy. I can research it for hours. Watch videos of tornadoes and lightning flashes for hours. Look at the sky for hours. It's a problem, really. 

10. I love, love, LOVE. Peter Pan. (not the character, though I do love Peter. But that would be weird to have an obsession with just one fictional character. It's much more sane to have an obsession with the whole story.) 

11. My favorite animals are otters, horses, and...heyenas. Judge me. 

12. I am a HUGE cuddler. I don't think I was born with that personal bubble. I am waaay touchy-feely. Sometimes, I'll be standing talking to somebody and I'll just decided to grab their hand or hug them or lay my head on their shoulder (completely depends on how long I've known them, but I'll still hug just about anybody.) If you find me doing that to you, don't be creeped out. Or at least try not to be. 

13. I am extremely, and I mean EXTREMELY, ticklish. I don't think I have a non-ticklish bone in my body. I would try and keep this a secret, but most people figure it out pretty quickly so I figured I would just embrace it. Just know, should you choose to use this information against me, I am not responsible for any bodily injury inflicted upon you whilst you are engaged in the act of tickling me. You've been warned. 

14. My favorite time of day is dusk. 

15. I HATE THE COLD. Don't ask me how that can be since I grew up in Utah my whole life. Also don't ask me why then I decided to go to school at Utah State, where January is a tundra. I really don't know the answers to either of those. Yay for tropical climate of Uruguay! 

~just megsie