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We Moved In Together!

Exciting stuff is happening in the Shaeffer household! For starters, there is now a Shaeffer household! Colt and I made the leap and moved in together to finally put an end to the “long distance” last week. We talked about it for a few weeks but didn’t take any action, then out of nowhere we got the motivation to start looking. And not too long after, we found a place we both loved!

When I tell you guys that this place is perfect, I mean it. It’s the best mix of country roads and shopping outlets. When we drove down for the first time, I was holding back tears. But I wasn’t holding back the several excited slaps I was giving colt from the passenger seat. The location has helped out a lot since the move, since we’ve practically been living at the grocery store.

Living together hasn’t taken too much adjusting for us since we basically lived together at my apartment, but it’s definitely a little different. For starters, Chef Colt makes amazing dinner almost every single night now. I will never complain about that. But I will complain about laundry and dishes. With two people, dirty stuff piles up fast. Bath towels lasted at least a week at my apartment, and now I’m having to clean them at least twice a week. And dishes fill our sink after one meal, so there’s that too. Fun adult stuff I suppose. I’m super lucky to have a fiancé who steps up and helps out whenever I’m overwhelmed with things.

We’re still working on making this place a home but we love it regardless. Things are slowly coming together and I couldn’t be any more excited. Welcome to our home for the next 12 (at least) months!

October 20, 2020October 20, 2020

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Wedding Dress Shopping!

Sorry I went MIA last week. I was a little wrapped up in moving! But that will be a post for next week, I promise you! But in the meantime, let’s rewind a week and talk about my first (and only) wedding dress shopping experience.

Being that I am the actual worst at picking a dress for anything (homecomings and proms were rough), I was not excited for this one. It’s the most important dress I’ll buy.

My whole life I was so excited to go bridal gown shopping with all of my bridesmaids. But with COVID ruining hopes and dreams, I had to compromise. My mom, sister, and soon to be mother-in-law were the ones that tagged along since I could only bring three people with me. Heartbroken was an understatement. But I was still beyond thankful I could at least bring them.

I sifted through so many gowns and pulled out my favorites. Who knew what they’d look like on me though? I was so scared I’d fall in love with one on the hanger and it would look bad on me. That would be so discouraging. I’d probably call it quits right there. We went to the fitting room and I tried on dress after dress and…

I found my dress.

I literally found my dress at my first appointment! And it was only the third dress I tried on. Maybe you guys think I’m crazy. But before I even looked at myself in it, I stepped out of the fitting room and told the girls that this was the one. It just felt right.

I wish I could tell you guys all about what it looks like or even share a picture but I like the element of surprise… and Colt would kill me if he saw it early. He refuses to look at pictures and says he wants to see it for the first time when I walk down the aisle. If he doesn’t cry, I swear I’m turning around and we’re trying things again!

I’m so in love with my dress and I can’t wait for you guys to see it! Stay tuned for other wedding planning content, as it has recently consumed our lives!

October 12, 2020October 12, 2020

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We’re Engaged!

Ahh! I’m so excited to finally be telling everyone the big news! I’m going to be Mrs. Megann Shaeffer! Can you believe it?

It sure didn’t take long for him to put a ring on it but when you know, you know! We’re both so excited to start this new chapter of our lives together and I can’t wait for all that comes with planning a wedding and living life as a family (including all of the fun content)!

We’re both so thankful for our friends and family who have been nothing short of supportive and excited along with us.

Expect a lot more relationship content since I’m on a high right now! Also send me all your best advice! I’d love to hear it!

October 2, 2020

megannlouise2 Comments

Easiest Pumpkin Muffin Recipe

Ok, unpopular opinion- I hate muffins. Well, most muffins. Pumpkin muffins are seriously the only ones I’ll eat. And when I start, I can’t stop. They’re so addicting no matter what time of year it is.Since fall has officially begun, I thought what better time than now to share the easiest and yummiest pumpkin muffin recipe?

My mom shared this with me a couple weeks ago and I chose to make a dozen for the apartment to see if they were any good. When I woke up the next day, they were all gone. They were a hit!

Ingredients:

-15 ounces of pumpkin puree

-1 box of spice cake mix

-white chocolate chips (if you’re feeling fancy)

-cream cheese frosting (again, if you’re feeling fancy)

Yes, that’s literally it. Just wait.

Steps:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix everything together. It will get pretty thick and your arm will hurt like a motherf***** but it’s worth it. Don’t give up!
Pour into cups
Bake for ~20 minutes
Let cool.
Frost.

This was my first batch, which ended up being a little sloppy. But I promise they were still so delicious! And since they require minimum effort, why not make them all the time for a nice fall treat?

September 28, 2020September 28, 2020

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How I Organized And Customized My Laptop | 2019 MacBook Pro

Hi guys! I’ve been wanting to make this post for a while now but I wanted to wait until I was completely happy with how everything looked. Now it’s finally time for a laptop tour/ how I organize my laptop post! Why am I so excited for this one?

So here’s what my desktop looks like. Take it all in real quick. Also please don’t comment about my 5,000 emails. I know I suck!

As you can see, I have my folder icons personalized and sticky notes all pinned like a little virtual bulletin board. I love the way it turned out and how easy it is to find everything that I need. So let’s get into how it’s all done.

*Disclaimer: I learned all of these cool tricks from different people on social media, but I can’t remember all of their names. If they come to me, I’ll give them full credit! I just don’t want to take credit for any of these myself!

How To Customize Folder Icons

I found this trick on TikTok a while back and immediately ran to my laptop to try it out! So cute, right?

Google clipart that you would like to use for the icon. This can be anything. I chose the white heart emoji. And it helps if the photo has a transparent background. But if it doesn’t, you can remove it through markup.
Copy the image.
Right click to create a new folder, or use an existing one.
Once the folder is created, right click on the folder and choose “Get Info.”
Click the folder icon in the top left corner of the information window.
“Control” + “C”

How To Customize Sticky Notes To Create a Virtual Bulletin Board

Full credit goes to Julia Crist on Youtube for teaching me this one. As soon as I changed my folder icons I was hooked and went on a deep dive to find more tricks and this one changed the game, even though it’s super simple. I just love the look if it now!

Fonts

I wish I could remember where I downloaded these fonts from so I could share, but I love them! If you have downloaded fonts that you want to use to customize your sticky notes, here’s what to do!

Open your stickies
Click “Font” in the top left corner of your screen.
Choose “Show Fonts” then select the font that you want to use.

Photos

This one was a little time consuming for me because I couldn’t quite figure out what size I wanted the photo to be. Stickies has a feature where you can simply add a photo to the sticky note but the photo is almost always too big. So I take a few extra steps to make sure it fits without cropping anything out. I’m sure there’s other ways to go about this, but here’s how I did it!

Choose your photo.
Create a new sticky note that is the size you would like your photo to be on your desktop. Use this for reference.
Open Pages or Microsoft Word and drop your photo into a new document.
Scale it down to a size that would fit in the sticky note.
“Command” + “Shift” + “4”
Trace a box around the photo by clicking and dragging the cursor. Release the cursor after you have highlighted the entire photo.
Drag and drop the photo to the sticky note when it appears in the bottom right corner. It only appears there for a brief time before moving to the desktop, so if you cannot find it in the corner, check the desktop for a screenshot of the photo.

And there you have it! Nothing too fancy, but it looks so nice in the end! If you try any of these out, I hope you like the new look of your desktop! Let me know if there’s any other laptop posts you’d like to see!

September 21, 2020September 16, 2020

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Just Beachy

Hi guys! Sorry I’m late. School ran me over with a truckload of assignments last week and I had nothing prepared on time (typical Meg). But I’m here! Better late than never, right?

Since fall is right around the corner, I’ve been trying to soak up all the sunshine and summer happiness while I can. That means frequent trips to the beach with my favorite people! I swear, I’ve lived by the lake for almost three years and I’ve never been to the beach as much as I have in the last month. Now, of course, I’m kicking myself in head for not going before, but I’m so glad I’ve finally gotten out of the apartment and enjoyed the fresh air.

Being that I haven’t had much time to write up something of great importance for the blog, I thought maybe I’d turn this week’s post into a purge of all the fun beach photos we took at the lake. Nothing special or exciting, but still something to post so my guilt doesn’t eat me alive!

But don’t take this as a “I’m going to miss summer” post, because who can ever miss summer when fall comes around?! I’m so excited for pumpkin spice, apple picking, and sweater weather!

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September 16, 2020September 17, 2020

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Why You Should Start A Blog in College

I started blogging when I was in high school, but I can confidently say that this was a great outlet for me to continue in college. If you don’t have a blog yet, I highly recommend it. And here’s why.

Resumes and Marketing

For starters, if you can build a successful blog, it looks pretty great on a resume! And when you blog, what you may not realize is that you’re simultaneously branding yourself. Look at it from a business aspect. It’s all about selling yourself to an audience.

It’s Your Journal

Depending on how you choose to approach your blog, it can become a digital journal for you to look back on. That’s how I consider mine. I share all of my memories and favorite moments and I can look back and see all of the big changes in my life that got me to where I am now.

You Can Make A Little Extra Money

If you keep up with your writing and people start to take notice, you can even make a few bucks from it! It’s a great side hustle if you’re really dedicated to it. However, if you start blogging with the main goal of making money, don’t do it. You have to have a genuine interest in writing and creating to keep it going long enough to make money, and even then it’s not a guarantee that you’ll ever cash out from it.

The Experience

If nothing else, the experience of owning a blog is rewarding in and of itself. I’ve learned so much from blogging that I will carry with me forever. I learned a lot about different programs, platforms, and this line of work.

Blogging is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made and I encourage anyone who is even slightly interested to try it out! The experiences and opportunities I’ve had since blogging in college have made every long night of writing completely worth it.

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September 7, 2020September 4, 2020

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End of the Month Check-In | August 2020

Ahh, another month has finally come to an end and I’m ready to check back in!

This month felt like a year in and of itself and let me tell you, I was not a fan. August is one of my favorite months (birth month, duh) but this year I was ready to skip it all together. Anyways, let’s jump right in and evaluate how this month did me in.

I need…

more time. I spread myself way too thin sometimes and this month was no exception. Online school means more assignments, new roommates means girl time, and a sweet boyfriend means time together. How do I fit it all into my crammed schedule?

I forgive…

those who did me wrong. Good luck with whatever you do next.

I celebrate…

Turning 22 and starting another semester of classes! My birthday may have sucked big time, but I’m still so grateful for another year of life on Earth. And being back in school made my month feel a little better and helped me somewhat return to normal.

I release…

any doubts in my mind. I will only encourage and celebrate myself next month.

I trust…

myself and the friends I have made this month.

I hope…

to have an even better September filled with beautiful memories with even more beautiful people.

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August 31, 2020August 31, 2020

megannlouise2 Comments

Good College Investments if Your Classes are Remote Now

School supply shopping has been my favorite part of the back to school season for as long as I can remember. I love office supplies and planning, so I’m always in my element. Now with COVID, schools are offering remote online classes, which makes supply shopping a little different. Here are some great investments you should make to prepare for online classes.

1. Laptop Cooling Pad

If you’re going to be on your laptop all day long for classes, that puppy is going to be hotter than hell, I promise you. My MacBook Pro overheats super easily if I don’t make sure it has proper ventilation. A cooling pad works wonders and it’s super inexpensive in relation to the cost of repairs you’d eventually need if you were constantly overheating your computer!

2. Blue Light Glasses

Staring at a screen all day is torture for your eyes! Invest in a good pair of blue light glasses! I have three pairs of blue light glasses as well as two pairs of regular glasses with blue light treatment in them, so I guess you could say that I’m pretty stocked up in that department. I used to get headaches and eye pain all the time from being on my computer and phone a lot and I swear they’ve almost completely gone away since I’ve started wearing blue light glasses.

3. Lap Desk

Let’s be honest. Some- if not most- of your school days will be spent in bed. So get yourself a nice lap desk so you’re comfortable while getting that education! I love lap desks because they give me a nice surface for writing rather than writing on top of my bed and hoping my pen doesn’t bust through to the other side of the paper.

4. Computer Riser

Don’t have a lot of desk space for everything you’ll need for class? Try a computer riser! That way you’re “building up instead of out” and saving space for all your supplies. You can keep sticky notes, pens, pencils, highlighters, YOUR PHONE, and so much more under there while you’re in your Zoom classes!

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August 24, 2020August 19, 2020

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Meet My Boyfriend

As I mentioned when I first came back, a lot has happened over my spicy COVID summer. One of those things being meeting my boyfriend and my better half, Colt. And ever since we met, we’ve been inseparable. It’s pretty cool.

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I was hesitant on writing about our relationship just yet because of what usually happens whenever I share too much of my personal life too soon (hint: it goes to shit), but I think that now more than ever, we have to be over the moon about every victory. And Colt is definitely one of my biggest victories.

Colt is the sweetest man I have ever met, let alone dated. He cares so much for other people and is always willing to go out of his way to make sure others have what they need. I was immediately shocked (and impressed) by how selfless this man is. It was one of the first things that got me hooked.

He was the first man to actually take me out on a first date, open every door for me, and treat me with unwavering respect. I’m amazed that someone like him exists. I don’t believe that I deserve him in the slightest, but I won’t complain.

Something extra special about our relationship is that it is my first long distance relationship. I mean, it’s not super long distance, but it’s still a whole new ball game for me. We’re nearly four hours apart, which can be daunting at times, but we’ve learned to make the best of it. Plus that saying, “distance makes the heart grow fonder,” has proven itself to be very, very true.

I know that Colt and I will be going on several adventures together, so you’ll be hearing a lot about him in the future. Be ready!

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August 17, 2020September 10, 2020

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A Letter to Myself One Year Ago

In honor of my 22nd birthday being just 2 days away (lots of 2’s… my favorite number), I wanted to share a letter to myself that I wrote while in a weird spot during quarantine. I really wanted to reflect on the last year and all it gave to me.

Hey Meg, let’s talk.

This next year is going to be monumental for you. It is going to be the time of so much growth for you. I promise you that who you are now is not who you will be in just a few weeks. Then every day after that, you’ll change again. Growing pains come along with that, but it’s nothing you can’t handle.

This is harsh, but the people in your life now will not be as important to you as they are now. You guys will all be transforming into new people and a couple friendships will be outgrown. That’s ok though. You’ll survive. You’re going to get your heart broken big time, then a few more times spiradically. But I promise you that every person who breaks your heart isn’t worth the dirt under your shoes. And their behavior isn’t your fault either. They’ve got their own problems to work through. Also, try not to hate them. It’s not worth it and honestly, it’s draining.

But guess what! All of this pain and change is leading up to something spectacular! You’re going to be so much happier.

You’re going to fall in love with someone who is bigger than the universe in your eyes. He’ll become your best friend, your lover, your medicine. You’ll feel so safe with him and never have to question him or his intentions. They’ll say to take things slow after you’ve gotten your heart broken so many times, but don’t listen to them. Dive right in. It’s ok. He’s one of the good ones. You’re going to trust him with your deepest secrets… ones only you know. He’ll be so far from anyone you’ve ever dated. He’s not your normal type at all. But that’s good. I mean, how well has your type worked out for you so far? Exactly. Don’t be afraid of what society says about time in relationships. Fall hard and fast. He’s there to catch you.

School will be interesting this year. You’ll go boy crazy fall semester and not pay as much attention to classes as you should. And you’ll hate yourself for it. Your grades won’t be the best, but they won’t be awful because at the last second you’ll get your shit together… like usual. Spring semester will get a little complicated though. You’ll ride most of the semester out and kick ass even though you’ll hate 50% of your classes. You’ll drop one class after a couple weeks because that professor is a shit stain (don’t even excuse my language) and you’ll be mad at yourself for giving up. Don’t be. It was the best decision you could have made under the circumstances. You’ll get back into the swing of school finally. You typically have one off-semester and then come back swinging for the second anyway. This semester won’t end like normal. You’ll leave for spring break and not come back. COVID-19 will show its ugly face and mess everything up. It’ll become a pandemic and nobody will know what is going on. A health concern that effects everyone will become a political issue for some reason, and you’ll want to hit a lot of people in the head with a 2×4 for it. Everyone will downplay its impact, but it’s going to kill a lot of people. You’ll expect it to go away in a couple weeks but it’ll stick around for much, much longer. You’ll finish your spring semester online, but that’ll be the best thing to happen to you because you’ll get more time to focus on your studies. You’ll end the semester with a 3.85 GPA. Yeah, it’s not a 4.0 and that’s because you kind of slacked off at the beginning of the semester, but that’s ok. You kicked ass. You might even make it into that honor society like you want so badly!

This year can only be as good as you make it. It’ll test your patience and sanity, but if you keep looking at the bright side, there’s nothing you can’t do.

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August 10, 2020August 11, 2020

megannlouise2 Comments

Answering the Most Beautiful Questions

Hi guys and happy Monday! We’re back on schedule with weekly posts, ladies and gentlemen!

Not long ago I was scrolling through Instagram and I saw an account had shared “The Most Beautiful Questions.” I flipped through them and quickly answered them all to myself. I was blown away by how unique the questions were as well as how hard they were to answer. So of course I had to bring them to you guys!

What would you do if you knew you could not fail?
Oh there’s so much I would do. First of all, I would invest every second of every day into my writing and the dream job that I want. I would create my brand and live my dream life. I would fall in love with my life again. I would take more chances in general, I suppose.

How are you, really?
Right now, much better than I have been in years. I’m so happy, healthy, and motivated. Feeling so refreshed is such a blessing and I hope that it never goes away. I’m waking up excited to see what every day holds, and that’s so far from the life I was living even only a couple of months ago. I tried to use the unfortunate time COVID brought us in the most positive way- life auditing- and it really payed off.

Are you finding your dream job or are you creating it?
Hopefully both. More than anything in the world, I want to create content. But that’s a lot easier said than done. Since my unplanned break, I’ve had so much work to do in order to play catch up and make up for lost time. So clearly creating my dream job will take a little longer than expected. But I hope that I’ll get there one day. And until then, I hope to find something that is just as dreamy to get me by.

When was the last time you did something for the first time?
This question is interesting. I suppose it would be right now. I recently decided to start reading the bible in its entirety. I’m just starting out with little experience in all of this, so it’s been pretty challenging sometimes. But I’ve made an Instagram page for my bible studies and I’ve had so many sweet, kind hearted people DMing me with explanations and links to tools that can help me. But yeah, I think that’s the last time I did something for the first time.

Why are you worth knowing?
This question actually intimidated me. I had to take a second to sit and think about an answer. Is that bad? Generally speaking, I think I’m worth knowing because I’m a hard worker and I try to be true to myself. But that’s a really loaded question that I could take in so many different directions.

What or who lights you up?
So many things. So many people. Right now all I can think of is my sweetest sweetheart boyfriend who keeps me motivated and confident each and every single day. I’ve never met anyone who has connected with me on such a deep level and really touched my heart. Without a doubt, he is the reason for who I am today. He’s my hero.

How do you treat people who can do nothing for you?
I think everybody can do something for me, no matter how big or small. A lot of people who I have never met or even glanced at have done something for me. And you never really know when someone can or cannot do something for you, so I try to stay kind and appreciative.

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August 3, 2020August 3, 2020

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