thanks, y'all!

this blog was the beginning of a lot of new adventures for me, and since college {which seems like forever ago already} i feel as though i've grown out of this blog and into someone else. one of my goals for this year is to start fresh – to have a new home for my thoughts + inspirations. i am so excited to share with you what will be my new dot com home, which will be unveiled on 01.31.13. i have been dying to share this with y'all and finally make things more streamline. get ready for a new website domain and blog!

i want to thank you all for your loyal following on this blog, suitcases & cardigans. this has been an incredible adventure for the past two years learning about the blogging world, sharpening my design eye, and sharing the world through my eyes with you. i'm excited about this brand new journey {eventually, this blog will be no more and will redirect to the new domain} and i'll be taking time off posting here to get brand new content ready on the flip side. look forward to what's ahead, y'all!

ONLINE COUNTDOWNS

on taking risks

goal / rule of thumb #2 i have for this year is to take more risks. it's so easy to get in the routine of things, like always going to the same coffee shop because you know the barista, but there's something refreshing about discovering / experiencing something new. i think there are so many benefits to taking risks and the obstacle is typically fear – fear of yourself, opinions of others, rejection, or loss.

i hope you'll take some time this week with me and think about a long-term risk you need to take in order to help you grow, and maybe a risk you could take this week that would change up your norm. for me, this means finally learning to ride a bike, having the courage to meet new people, being assertive and sticking to my guns.

happy wednesday, everyone!

left image via icanread / right image via unfaithfully-yours

welcome 2013!

hello friends!  thanks for your patience in my long posting break.  i hope you all had a great holiday as i did.  i recently enjoyed spending the beginning of my 2013 in NYC with some wonderful friends of mine – exploring museums, making memories over good eats and...getting each other sick.  it was definitely worth it to be in good company.

it's actually taken me a long time to really comb through 2012 to reflect upon it.  and i've just scratched the surface on thinking about 2013...what my goals might be and such.  i finally started thinking about it on my 4.5-hour bus ride from DC to NYC, and in some ways it made me quite depressed thinking about what i wanted for myself a year ago and how i haven't "reached" my ridiculously lofty goals.  what a way to humble myself.

i've resolved to make some general goals / rules to live by for the year, which i will begin to share with you here.  i've been inspired by a few articles my friends have posted, mainly these two {one and two}.   never have i had a problem with dreaming.  i like to dream, and dream big.  the issue seems to be how to be practical in my season of life and learning how to connect the dots. so, here's to 2013 and my first goal / rule of the year.

{one} unplug once a week.

okay, this may sound really simple, but i think this will be a legitimate challenge for me seeing as how i own an iphone and frequently instagram + tweet.  i'm not one to go overboard and post all my emotions on the world wide web, but i know {and always have to re-realize} that fresh air and a pen + paper do very well for me – emotionally, physically and spiritually.  in my efforts to be an active participant in others' lives and my own, this is my first rule for the year!

i'd say this is a good start.

cheers, y'all!

xoxo, m

word for wednesday

anyone else feel like this today besides me?

i've been a bit under the weather the past few days, so i'm taking the day off to rest + recover.  loading up on that vitamin c, too!  i definitely don't want to be sick over the holidays {and i hope you aren't either!}.  here are some ways to feel better fast if you're like me.

xoxo, M

p.s. for those of you who were all nuts about the instagram fiasco, here is one from them that will {hopefully} clear everything up.  i'm definitely glad that they are trying to communicate with us and not through another means.

image via trollable

hello from anthro!

sorry for being MIA all this time!  it's been a crazy fest with hurricane sandy coming through, but i promise for more regular posting to resume next week!  i have been busy working at anthropologie the past few months (if you haven't noticed from my instagram).  we're gearing up from the holidays and the Christmas music has already begun at our store.  here's a little sneak peek at a new dress i splurged on from anthro that i am so excited about!

sorry, halloween fanatics.  i've never been a fan of the holiday, but i'm thrilled that thanksgiving and christmas are right around the corner (and i think this dress is perfect for the occasion!).

catch y'all soon!

xoxo, meg

a word for wednesday

it's been a very busy {but fun!} week thus far, the highlight of it being styling some soon-to-be-launched holiday product – here's a little sneak peek.  but aside from work, i've honestly been pretty overwhelmed by the amount of things on my personal to-do list and feeling just physically exhausted from the every day hustle + bustle.  it feels like after one "problem" is solved, another arises and it's this endless cycle.  this can get easily take a toll on your work / personal life / health / you-name-it if you don't have the right mindset + attitude.

i need to remember to...

rest well • take breaks • focus on my spiritual growth • BREATHE daily • drink more water!

ask myself, "does this really matter?" in the grand scheme of things and, from there, move forward

take some time today to think about what really matters to you.  does your life reflect that?

just a little word for wednesday – we're halfway through the week, y'all!

xoxo, m

quote from iheartinspiration

about the beginning

when i first moved to the northern virginia/dc area (over a year ago!), i found myself in a huge city with zero familiar faces.  it's been a rough start getting on my feet and i feel like i'm still in that process (hey, sometimes it takes a while).  i now live in a more suburban area and often find myself missing being near the city.  i just wanted to share some pictures of my first room in virginia, a small place i am very fond of which i shared with my first real friends in virginia.

(tim + megan – i am forever thankful)

i loved my attic room – the small space was cozy and perfect for me (not so much for my taller roommates).  here's a little day/night contrast of my room within the first day of my move-in.  cue the nostalgia.

i could not have been so blessed to have lived in this house my first year post-grad, across the country, away from my family + friends...i still can't believe it!

xoxo, m

on setting goals

a little reminder from my soon-to-be real life friend, minna.

i know i just wrote this post about what's next but i feel like i left a few things hanging, so here's a part deux (for my french-speaking folk) for you.  the other day i talked about setting goals for yourself and i thought i'd share one of mine – going conference and connecting with other creatives.  it's hard to find your niche, especially if you are creative (sometimes i feel like we're all over the place with ideas!).  if you haven't had this reality check, there you go.  this is exactly why i believe gatherings like making things happen, tradeshow bootcamp, the influence conference, blogshop and alt summit (to name a few) are incredible places to meet like-minded people in the flesh (because that is important!), find mentors, and sharpen those skills.  we get empowered.

though i'm not sure exactly where i'm headed, i know that blogging is bright in my future.  i love these 8 tips on blogging on the new alt summit blog, which is full of business advice and inspiration for bloggers.  #8 was my inspiration for this post because it is just so easy to hide behind a glowing monitor instead of being brave and putting yourself out there, but it is so important to do so no matter what industry you're in.

when's the last time you were brave?


written words by minna

on what's next

as of late, i've been dreaming a lot.  yes, albeit some of my dreams may be farfetched, but some are very much attainable.  i've been setting goals (thanks, val) for myself, brainstorming, and aiming high – not because i'm confident, but because i can.  for a while, i felt stuck in this limbo of part-time's just so i can figure out what my niche is and what i should do full-time, but i realized quite quickly that this all comes with time at the good Lord's pace.  there are only so many comparisons you can make to others' lives/seemingly quick successes until you realize you've been depressed about your life for days, when all that time you could've stood up and done something about it.  it's okay to not have it all figured out, but don't just sit there – do something to get your wheels turning again!

i recently received my lovely copy of blog inc. in the mail and have already read it cover to cover.  it is full of some amazing insights about the blogging world from the design to financial front.  needless to say, i am very excited about what's to come of my blog life (stay tuned for lots of changes in the coming months!).  i have been deeply inspired by joy's work and have so many things to share with y'all! 

so, my dear friends, please be encouraged to find out & do whatever it is that you're passionate about.  i am all about dreaming big.  perhaps it will start with just a pen and paper, but who know's what it will become.

happy monday, ya'll!

23 for twenty-three

this is an awkward age.  let's face it - it's not 18 or 21 or 25, and i'm in the middle of a whirlwind of changes and definitely don't feel like this is my 'prime' as they say.  anyhow, after reading this article my girl friend sent over {thanks, val}, i felt like i needed to do something to make this year seem somewhat significant...so, naturally, i made a list.

i realized a number of things i want to work on are things the world wide web doesn't need to know, but i'll share 16/23 with y'all - i feel that's pretty generous, don't you? here they are {in no particular order}:

1. learn how to ride a bike.
every year i tell myself I'm going to learn, and i don't...but seriously, this is the year.

2. read more.
say, maybe 5 books this year.  i just finished Heartburn by Nora Ephron.  others on my list include Emma by Jane Austen, The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde, and Traveling Mercies by Anne Lamott.  if you've got any recommendations, send them here!

3. deal with things head on
no defaulting to passive aggressiveness.  just do it and say it if it needs to be said.  do so wisely, with love.

4. learn how to sail.
{got this scheduled for Monday!} I've always wanted to learn, and while I live on the east coast, why not?
5. eat closer to nature + drink more water!
less processed foods, more organic.  keeping hydrated is also a struggle for me...I just forget to drink water sometimes!  glad I got a camelbak cause it's sure been helping.
6. cook 3 times a week
hah, this is easier said than done, but i'm gonna try!
7. stick to my guns & develop that backbone
it's easy for me to be somewhat of a pushover and let things slide, but i'm learning to pick my battles and stand up for things that matter - especially in my work.
8. learn calligraphy
i still often think of Relient K - College Kids when i hear the word "calligraphy", but it's such a beautiful art i'd love to learn.
9. journal regularly
i've been slacking a lot these past few months, but i used to do this almost religiously.
10. go parasailing
it just looks so fun and i've always wanted to do it.
11. be more intentional with my friendships
you can't be friends with everyone, but no one ever told me that creating and sustaining even just a few of these relationships in your 20s was so difficult.  and it's not going to get any easier so i better start getting good at it.
12. get sleep and rest well
but don't sleep too much.  and learn to take the breaks that matter.
13. get fit. stay fit.
in light of my busy post-grad life, i've made time + financial excuses for not working out...and while most of you may not be able to tell, i sure can.  so i'm re-friending pilates and yoga and hitting the gym...or my living room floor with a DVD.
14. learn to waltz
take a few dance classes
15. remember: it's okay to fail

just don't forget to get back up again

16. go somewhere new

{places nearby} baltimore aquarium, philly, annapolis, rhode island, virginia wineries

{or far away} SF, disney world, hawaii, back to singapore, or go on a cruise...

the list could go on forever, but let's just take it one year at a time.
what's on your list?
xoxo

Before & After {bedroom}

Since I moved into my new place, things have undergone some drastic change.  A little while ago, I posted about choosing paint colors - well, here's a little before & after in my bedroom!  Suffice it to say that the previous roommate didn't have quite the color scheme I had in mind, so thanks to Behr paint + primer in one I redid it in youthful coral.

Here's a round-up of the tools I used - I even bought a small 8 oz. of a soft white paint to touch up the trim and ceiling that had splotches of the previous green color.

My room is about 8x10' and I ended up using 2 gallons of paint for three coats to get it from green to the coral that I wanted.

Note that I have very little storage space in my room and this shoe organizer pretty much saved my shoe life crisis.

I love candles, and there's nothing better than having a familiar scent permeate through your new place.  My favorite is a brand from Texas called Circle E Candles (thanks, Cathy!) - they are fantastic and have lasted me forever.

 Finally, I picked up some new things for the barren bathroom like this bath rug and shower curtain from Target.

That's a wrap, folks!

new beginnings 2.0

It's been a crazy weekend, y'all!  Painted my new room, packed, moved, and planned a poolside wedding on private property all in one weekend.  If that's not productive, I'm not sure what is.  I've been looking at paint swatches, light fixtures, storage ideas - the whole nine yards.  This move was no doubt significantly easier than the previous one (from Texas to Virginia), but different.  I've had a great time living in the Clarendon area of Arlington - a bustling little city along the outskirts of DC - but now I'm more in the 'burbs with a nice lush green drive following me to my new casa.  I've been taking pictures of my paint progress, but here are a few Instagrams.

 

Mad props to Michelangelo for all his work because painting on ceiling is no joke.  Okay, so I didn't paint my ceiling, but I did have to fix the wall-ceiling trim of the room and that was hard enough.  So it's goodbye to my wood-paneled cozy attic room and hello to coral walls and hardwood floors.

Thanks to all who helped me move and got a great "stairmaster" workout climbing up and down my house.  Off to rearranging, buying a few new pieces, rearranging some more, and organizing galore!

P.S.  When I'm MIA from the blog, follow me on Pinterest for some guaranteed activity.

oh, life.

Image by Megan Soh

I realize that I'm new to all of this.  Life, that is.  I'm making another few jumps in life (yes, jumps because they are bigger than steps and require a greater deal of faith, hence the few split seconds you spend in the air) including another move.  It's just to another house, which doesn't seem too bad considering I moved 1,400+ miles last year to get here...but oh, the pangs of moving.  That I do dread.  The boxes.  The lifting.  The tape.  The packing.  The back-and-forth driving.  You'd think I'd enjoy the organizing (which I really do) of it all once I unpack, but I literally will sit there for hours moving things around.  The time it takes is just, pardon my French, incroyable.

Along with moving, financial and career decisions only get exponentially more difficult to make.  Often I'm scared that one wrong move will put me on the wrong side of the tracks.  Again, I realize I'm a newbie at this.  I don't have a husband, kids, in-laws...and all that can surely wait considering where I am at the present.  For all of you that have gotten that far, I am astounded.

This week is full of packaging orders for Fig. 2, weddings, moving, painting, and planning for my 4th of July trip to Boston with my girls!  If you've ever been, send some recommendations and tips my way!  

xoxo

Oh, also for those of you who are confused about my #vscocam hash tag, it's an camera iPhone app from Visual Supply Company.  Lifestyle photographer Bonnie Tsang did a journal video for them!

back on the grind

why, hello june!  i can't believe it's already summer.

new york was a-mazing.  the national stationery show was unbelievable - i met so many "celebrities" in my paper world and lived the manhattan grind: work hard, play hard.  i ate a lot - probably more than i should have (as some of you may have noted with my instagrams), met a lot of new friends, explored and fell in love with a very austin-meets-manhattan williamsburg.

but now i am back, fierce as ever.  number crunching at work, searching for housing, getting some new gigs, planning trips to texas and boston - whew.  and next month will mark my first year here in the nova/dc area!  seriously, life needs to slow down.  however, i'll be leaving again soon for texas for two of my dear friends are getting hitched!  (...finally!)

anyway, just wanted to share with y'all this sweet issue of sweet paul cause it has got me swooning!  i love summertime and this issue hits it all - cool drinks and eats for the foodies, beach-y decor for weddings and homes, some bright color palettes for the season.  don't miss it!

sick + tired

*original image by Rachel Thurston via Design*Sponge

sick this weekend and it ain't no fun.

especially because it's a beautiful and special weekend.

my body's still, but my mind's a'running.

an ordinary day

how do you spend your time?  i posted a few weeks ago about this women & time article on real simple illustrated by erin jang.  i created my own day chart to see how i spend my time.  granted, my days vary greatly depending on where i'm working and what i'm doing, but i think it's pretty nifty.  try it yourself here!  work/life balance is so important and so hard to maintain well.  this will definitely be a lifelong challenge for me.  what does your pie chart look like?

off to do other things - tick, tick, tick...

a belated weekend

 

*images from Sarah Gee

Apparently I got caught up in all my weekend festivities I didn't even post on Friday!  My friends have been in town two weekends in a row and I've been showing them around town.  Last week was Sarah (pictured above), this week is Cathy and her friend Mai.  Anyhow, here are some belated links for your weekend!  Caution: lots of Texas pride in this post!

+ If you're throwing a party and not sure how to set it up and style it, check out EveryGirl's how-to on the matter here.  I think it's a great guide!

+ I'm a proud Texan.  And a proud Wildcat.  I worked my butt off in high school, probably harder than I ever worked in college.  That's because our school district ranks #2 in the nation of Most Posh Public School Systems in America.  Following us is a school district in Bethesda, near where I work now, and Houston, the city of my alma mater.

+ For all the typography nuts out there (or if you're just bored this Monday), play this web game called I Shot the Serif.  Haha, so much fun!

+ Who are you following on Pinterest?  Most likely not too many males, but there are actually quite a few out there.  Here's Mashable's Top 10 Men on Pinterest list - 2 of them are from Texas (Dallas and Austin), and of course my favorite Will of Bright Bazaar.

+ Love this super slow motion video of ballet dancers in 1000 frames per second called Le Vent.

Happy Friday!

*image via prettystuff

My friend, Sarah, is in town for part of the weekend!  So we're taking it slow this morning, getting coffee and going around town wherever the wind blows us.  Just kidding, I have some ideas, but the hard part about where I live is that there's such a variety of things to do (it's one of the easier hard things in life).

+ Love your handwriting?  Hate your handwriting?  This article from Real Simple will tell you what your handwriting says about you.

+ If you love Chinese food, here's CNNgo's top 50 Chinese restaurants in the US.

+ I'm diggin' this style series by Design Love Fest.  Bri is absolutely incredible, and her taste is impeccable!

+ Ever wonder who does all the cool graphics in the magazines?  Erin at The Indigo Bunting designed all the illustrations in the Women & Time article in April's issue of Real Simple.

I shall post a little about what I thought about The Hunger Games after the weekend!
Hope everyone has a great one.

happy weekend!

Not gonna lie, this is really what I would love to do this weekend.  Too bad it's been raining here, I have no such dock to read on, and it's been a while since I've gotten to simply sit down with a good book.  At the very least I have Kinfolk (more on that another time).  Anyhow, it's been a busy week, but a good one nonetheless.  Looking forward to many things in the near future!  Here are some links for your weekend:

Happy Friday!