1. Choosing your Shade
Sadly, I have a complex process for picking my nail polish colour. First, I usually decide on a colour family (purples, reds, darks, pastels) and texture (cream, shimmer, glitter, etc.). Since I was following a Hanukkah theme, I knew I wanted to use a blue cream and a gold glitter, and narrowed it down to the ones you see here. From Left to Right: Urban Outfitter's Gold Glitter, OPI Ski Teal we Drop, Essie Bikini so Teeny, OPI What's with the Cattitude?, Sally Hansen Pacific Clue, OPI Tomorrow Never Dies, and Essie Coat Azure. Sadly, these are not the only blues, nor the only gold glitter, that I have in my collection. I always have difficulty making a final decision on my own, and usually end up asking my mother (or boyfriend) to make the decision for me. Debs (mom) ended up choosing Ski Teal we Drop by OPI (second polish from the left) , to pair with the Urban Outfitter's Gold Glitter for my accent nails (yes, I know accent nails are so 2011, but I'm still not over them).

2. Prepping for Polish
In my opinion, the work you do to prep your nails before applying polish is equally (if not more) important than the actual nail polish application itself. Naturally, you should always start with clean, unpolished nails. For someone like me, I usually go straight from one nail polish colour to the next, and need to start my manicure by actually removing whatever I had on my nails previously. Personally, once I discovered these polish-removing tubs, equipped with sponges for convenience, I have yet to go back to the traditional liquid + cotton pad combination. This tub is the Kwik Off Moisturizing Nail Polish Remover by Sally Hansen, though any similar product will suffice; I usually just buy whatever is cheapest when I run out. After removing all traces of colour, I file each nail individually. Now listen, if you will take anything away from this blog post, let it be this: YOU NEED A GLASS NAIL FILE IN YOUR LIFE. I fully credit the discovery of this holy grail product to my mother (Debs), who has used the same glass nail file for as long as I can remember. Yes, these nail files are (and should) be more expensive than your traditional, run-of-the-mill sticker-on-cardboard nail files. However, these babies are made to last, if you invest in a good-quality one. I honestly do not know where this is from, as my mother bought it for me four years ago AND I AM STILL USING IT WEEKLY (but I would check your local beauty/nail supply shop). If you want to do your manicure quickly and efficiently, then a glass nail file is your new best friend. You're welcome. 

I have also recently began pushing back my cuticles, once again by Debs' recommendation (insistence), and use a dual-ended metal contraption in order to do so. Although I don't notice a huge difference when I push my cuticles back (#yourcuticleslooksexypushedback), it takes only a mere couple of minutes to do so. The main element I miss from getting real manicures done is when they would cut off all of my dead cuticle skin, since it prevented me from picking at it (close second: the hand massage). Pushing the cuticles back sort of does the same trick. The last step involves using the teardrop-shaped Revlon crazyshine Nail Buffer. There are several similar buffer products (some even come equipped with a file, but it doesn't hold a candle to my glass one) on the market, though I have enjoyed this one for quite some time now. First, you use the buffer side to smooth the surface of your nails, and finish with the crazyshine side, which leaves your nails rather shiny. If you're the type of person who frequently leaves your nails bare, then I would highly recommend picking one of these buffers up at the drugstore. Once all of these steps are complete, my nails tend to look like what you see in the picture above. Yes, there is some minor yellowish discoloration on my nails. BUT, the camera made them look a lot more yellow than  they do in real life. For someone who always has nail polish on, my nails are in pretty good health, thank you very much.

A mere couple of years ago, I had never applied so much as mascara, and some occasional concealer on my teenage acne. Right before my seventeenth birthday, during my senior year of high school, my family took a relaxing beach trip to Jamaica. Unfortunately, while the resort was wonderful and Jamaica is amazing, it rained for the majority of our stay. After devouring the only novels I had brought, I ended up reading several beauty/fashion magazines cover-to-cover to pass the time. Somehow during that week, a love of beauty and makeup was born. Since I can have a rather obsessive personality, it didn’t take me long to find the online beauty community, both blogs and YouTube videos. Nowadays, several peoples’ livelihoods are being made by sharing their passion for cosmetics on the Internet, which means there is a whole lot of content added daily! Through reading several blog posts and watching tons of YouTube videos, I have learnt a whole lot about a whole lot pertaining to these beauty themes (makeup, skin care, body care, fashion, etc.) and my thirst for knowledge has only grown over the years.

Many people do not understand how/why I devote so much of my free time to learning about beauty, and I don’t expect them to, nor do I try and justify it (because I honestly don't know the answer myself). However, I know a lot of people who have turned to the online beauty community, either to search for specific information (a product review, a particular tutorial, etc.) or out of general interest, but have become overwhelmed and discouraged by the confusing terminology and customs that the virtual community assumes is general knowledge. I know that I would have greatly appreciated some sort of guidebook/dictionary/FAQ to help me out along the way, so that is precisely what I have chosen to write. Without further ado, I present: Megan’s Guide to the weird world of talking about beauty products on the Internet and other related inquiries. Unfortunately, if I tried to cram all of the weird aspects of the online beauty community in one blog post, it would still be very overwhelming. Therefore, I have decided to divide my guide into a three-part series, and today I present



Lesson #1 - Vocabulary

GLOSSARY: the most commonly used terms/abbreviations/acronyms of the virtual beauty world

• OOTD: “Outfit of the Day” - the clothes I wore today and where I bought them from
• FOTD: “Face of the Day” - the makeup I wore today (and sometimes how I applied it)
• NOTD: “Nails of the Day” - the nail polish I had on today
• MLBB: “My lips but better” - refers to a lipstick whose color is very similar to the natural lip shade that you possess
• HG: “Holy Grail” - a beauty product that cannot be lived without (or that you would really rather not live without)
• VIB: “Very Important Beauty Insider” - a Sephora acronym/title that you can receive when you sign up for a membership account with the company
• VIB Rouge: special Sephora membership status attained once you spend a certain amount annually on products (next step after having a VIB account and you get some added benefits)
• Cult product: a product that has a significant cult following of fans and is usually well-known to most of the beauty community, such as NARS Orgasm blush (though many people awkwardly do not like this) and Urban Decay Naked Palettes, which reminds me…
• Naked Palettes: Eyeshadow palettes by the brand Urban Decay that contain twelve full-sized neutral colors. These palettes are extremely popular, and Urban Decay has just released their third “Naked 3” version for this holiday season
• GRWM: “Get Ready With Me” - usually in the form of a video that takes the viewer on a journey of someone getting ready for the day or night out (clothing and/or makeup and/or body care)
• Swatches: what a makeup product looks like swiped on skin’s surface, usually on one’s hand or more likely on the inside of one’s arm (this is to show you a more accurate representation of how a product looks, since it often varies from how it looks in its packaging)
• Haul: to haul (verb) essentially means to buy; a haul (noun) refers to a shopping trip
• Dupe: a substitute of a cosmetic product that provides an identical effect to another; often used to showcase a cheaper drugstore alternative that can be used in place of a higher-end product
  
• “Creasing”: Our skin happens to actually have tons of little wrinkles and crevices, no matter what age you are. Creasing occurs when a product settles/clumps into the natural creases of your skin, which most usually occurs under your eyes (with concealer) and in the fold of your eyelid (with eyeshadow)
• DIY: “Do it Yourself” - an easier/cheaper way to substitute the benefits or effects of using a beauty product, often with household ingredients or items (this is an acronym that you probably should know already)
• “Hitting Pan”: when you have used so much of a product that you have hit the backing (or actual metallic pan, for powder products) of its packaging, which can feel like quite the accomplishment (you go Glen Coco)
  
• Beauty "Guru": When girls started making videos about makeup on YouTube, the only classification for their YouTube channels that made any sense was "guru," and thus many beauty vloggers/bloggers still follow the title of "beauty guru"
• High Street: British term that technically refers to the concept of the primary business street of a town/city. In beauty terms, this usually refers to what North American's refer to as "drugstores," or where you can buy cheaper makeup and cosmetic brands

Well class, that’s all the time we have left for today's lesson (since it’s almost 3:00am and I have actual class tomorrow, oops). Remember that Megan’s Guide to the weird world of talking about beauty products on the Internet and other related inquiries is only intended to serve as a helpful resource, and that these are not actual dictionary-defined terms.Thank you for your attendance and attention in today’s lesson, and I’ll see you next time for Lesson #2: Traditional and Routine Topics.

One of the many benefits of attending a large university (McGill) in a major metropolis (Montreal) is that there are a variety of opportunities to get involved and to take advantage of. This past weekend, I was lucky enough to glimpse the inner workings of CBC Montreal, by none other than the seasoned anchor Debra Arbec, who currently hosts CBC News: Montreal at 5:00pm, 5:30pm and 6:00pm from Monday to Friday.

As someone who has always had a passion for television and broadcasting, this experience was truly invaluable. Yes, I have been on the NBC studios tour in New York City (which was a blast and a half), and I have also been to CBC studios in Toronto several times to dance for the Easter Seals Telethon. However, the opportunity to spend over an hour with an actual anchor answering all of my (many) inquiries made me learn a whole lot about a career in news broadcasting and journalism. Not only was Mrs. Arbec extremely friendly and relatable by providing us with tons of insight and personal stories, but she also made a great effort to introduce us students to any member of the CBC Montreal team we encountered throughout the tour, which included her co-anchor Andrew Chang, reporters, producers, interns, writers and directors. Every single employee that we met was more than willing to answer our questions and offer advice. Additionally, I was able to learn the distinctions in job responsibilities across all of these different positions, and how they are increasingly becoming blurred as CBC employees are expected to be more and more cross-functional. Below is a slideshow of some of the pictures both taken by me, and by the McGill Women in Leadership club, who graciously organized the tour:

I once again want to thank the McGill Woman in Leadership club for organizing this event. In fact, the tour was originally supposed to be limited to fifteen students, and I was shocked that there were only a total of eight of us in attendance. I want to encourage any students reading this to stop immediately deleting all of your University emails, or walking by every bulletin board poster without so much as a glance. I know that we all get very busy, and that it can be hard to filter through all of the information being thrown at us constantly (considering a lot of it may have no relevance to your life), BUT you may just be missing out on some wonderful, unique opportunities!

So for anyone interested in a career in broadcast journalism, or who may just be interested in learning about the industry, I can share some of the insider anecdotes and tour highlights from Mrs. Arbec and her crew at CBC:

It finally happened. This week, my iPhone 5S was delivered...and the rest is history. I must confess, I was not eagerly anticipating this arrival in the same way that I await something like a Sephora delivery. I naively believed that I wouldn't even enjoy having an iPhone. "But I like having a full keyboard," I had said when my mother first propositioned a complete family-transfer to iPhone 5Ss. Which I must say, is still the main downside to my iPhone. It is true, after only ever having a Blackberry phone with a full QWERTY keyboard (I got a cellphone later than most and so went straight to the first Blackberry curve in red), I had become fully accustomed to such a luxury. However, I must say that I so so underestimated how much I would love this device. 

Some initial highlights include (but are not limited to):

• Aesthetics: The iPhone 5S, especially the gold and white model I waited so patiently for, is undoubtedly sexy. Its the Porsche of smartphones! (correction: RIM's new Blackberry Porsche  is probably the Porsche of smartphones, so the iPhone can be the Ferrari of smartphones).
• FaceTime: Yes, I know that virtual communication is not a true replacement for face-to-face contact, since the majority of communication is non-verbal (thanks, organizational behavior class). However, there are many important people in my life, such as my immediate family, who I do not have the opportunity of living in the same city with. Being able to have actual video conferences easily on a cellular device is so futuristic and cool like I don't understand how people aren't more amazed by this feature. The Jetsons lifestyle is slowly becoming our reality! (Obvious stipend: you can only FaceTime with other iPhone users, but fortunately my whole family has made the switch together).
• The music: Sometimes we forget that it was the iPod that started it all again for Apple, not phones or computers. After not having a functioning iPod for a while, I didn't realize how much I would appreciate having all my music on the go. Suddenly, I'm reverting back to my eighth-grade self, trying to collect all my music into iTunes, but oh how I miss the days of LimeWire. Also, is it just me or does shuffle finally play songs that I'm actually in the mood for? Like, it somehow got a much better intuition or something (though I could be imagining this, obviously).
• Network Effects: One of the first concepts I learnt in my business degree was that of Network Effects. In short, network effects describes the phenomenon wherein a good/service becomes increasingly valuable with each additional user that adopts it. In other words, the fact that most of my peers, friends and family have transitioned to iPhones makes mine even better because of all of the added applications available solely to iPhone users (FaceTime, Snap Chat, Instagram, etc.).
• The App Store: those network effects have a secondary function in that they encourage software developers to make applications compatible with the iOS platform. The amount of Apps (and especially free apps, which are the only ones I have tried thus far) in the App Store is astounding, and growing every day. I never realized how fun/useful/creative a lot of these apps could be, and just how varied their functions are. As such, I plan on doing a "my favourite apps" post in the future, once I've explored them a bit further.
• The microphone - text transposing feature: Instead of typing text, you can press a little icon that allows you to speak your text into the microphone, and then converts your speech into text on your phone. Obviously, this is not one hundred percent accurate, but I have found it shockingly more effective than I had anticipated.
• The thumbprint security feature: Again, not perfect, and definitely not necessary, but just so cool.
• Accessories: Given the network effects phenomenon, phone accessory makers are also increasingly motivated to make products compatible with the iPhones. Phone cases and accessories have become legit fashion statements, with several fashion designers now including iPhone cases in their collections (a girl can dream). However, Debs has insisted that the whole family wait until the new Otterbox Waterproof Preserver series become available (I'm on the email notification list, don't worry). This is understandable given that a couple of us have lost some phones to water damage, and I honestly don't care how bulky it may look, as long as it actually works. Until it becomes available, I opted for a clear screen protector and a vintage cassette style silicone case to prevent any scratching or damages (see gallery above).
• The new headphones: these are awesome, and a drastic improvement on the classic iPod headphones I have used in the past. The little silver speaker silver netting does not touch your ear, and the headphones are shaped to actually stay in your ears. The best part? There's a small attachment that controls your volume AND acts as a microphone so you can talk on the phone using your headphones, while the phone is in your pocket/purse.
• The camera: I remember the days when I five megapixel (MP) digital camera was difficult to fathom, yet here I am with 8MP, panoramic capabilities, autofocus, and many other fancy features better outlined here. I have never been one for taking lots of pictures, and every time I look back at old family photo albums, I wish that weren't the case. With the iPhone 5S, I have already found myself remembering to capture specific moments whose memories I want to preserve.
• Siri: Okay, so she's not perfect either. But we must admit, Siri is pretty unreal. The fact that there is realistically a little robot living within my iPhone who calls me "Your Majesty" (because I asked her to, duh) and answers all of my stupid questions (and yes, there are such a thing as stupid questions) is pretty f!*#king unreal.

The cons of the iPhone 5S? Easy, (1) the lack of keyboard and (2) the short battery life. As of now, that's really all I can complain about. As a sort of disclaimer, I realize how spoilt I am to have received this device for my birthday/Hanukkah present, but I am doing my best to make sure I use the most of her and keep her safe. Regardless of which phone/smartphone you may own, can we just take a moment to drop our jaws at modern technological advancements? Nowadays, with schools having every student use an iPad, we have all grown accustomed to having such advanced means of communication that we are unaffected by their sheer awesomeness. So whether you have an iPhone, another smartphone, a laptop, or any tablet, appreciate these crazy robots. And then go for a walk and experience a bit of nature, or have some actual human interaction (just sayin').

Of all of the aspects of makeups, eyeshadow is, without a doubt, the area where I get most creative and let my freak flag fly (exception: sometimes I rock the hell out of a bright lip). Given the absurdity of makeup that I have collected over the years, I actively make an effort to try and “shop my collection” and avoid falling into any sort of makeup rut. Of course, given limited time to get ready most mornings, I do have some go-to minimal makeup looks, usually consisting of eyeliner, mascara, a lip/cheek tint, and some powder to control oiliness throughout the day.

Mondays can obviously be quite the downer. However, I was able to wake up naturally this Monday morning (meaning, without an alarm), and had the added luxury of plenty of getting-ready time. Obviously, I chose to take advantage of this extra time and play around with some adventurous eye makeup, and photograph it for your viewing pleasure. 

My introduction to eye makeup was completely through MAC shadows, primarily because that is all my mother had laying around to be stolen. Since then, I have expanded my collection to include some palettes from Urban Decay, NYX, Wet n' Wild, Smashbox, Stila, etc., while also slowly purchasing MAC single eyeshadows to fill in my customized palette (*see below). This Monday morning, I was inspired by the American Thankgivings spirit, comfy clothes in chilly weather, and comfort food. Cranberry was one of my most recent MAC shadow purchase, and had the honour of taking one of the final spots in my palette. We've all been told that red eyeshadow is very tricky to pull off, makes your eye look bruised, and is best avoided. Although Cranberry looks intimidating in the pan, it is actually an extremely workable shade, especially for those with blue eyes. (Red is the opposite of blue on the colour wheel, and therefore makes it appear more vibrant, though Cranberry can still look beautiful on any eye colour). 

The trick to pulling off Cranberry for an everyday makeup look is to use complimentary warm, neutral colours that balance out Cranberry's strong red tones. In order to ensure that my makeup would stay in place all day, I chose to use a cream shadow as an eye primer. For this look, I used Maybelline Eye Studio 24-hour colour tattoo cream gel eyeshadow in Pomegranate Punk, as the shade's rust colour provided the perfect base for my shadows to adhere to. Directly over top, I patted MAC eyeshadow in Cranberry all over the lid, using a flat shader brush, and blended it into the crease. Afterward, I applied a light dusting of MAC eyeshadow in Woodwinked (a copper-toned gold) on top of Cranberry, and blended them together, adding a bit more of Cranberry in the crease for depth and definition. Finally, I used a small dome brush to apply MAC eyeshadow in Club (a brown-ish deep green with red duochrome) in the outer corner of my lid, and continued blending until I reached the desired effect. I also applied some of Club under the lid, using a small angled brush. I then lined my eyes with L'Oreal Infallible eyeliner in Carbon Black, and set it by dipping my angled brush into Urban Decay Blackout eyeshadow (from the Naked2 palette). In order to look a bit more awake, and prevent any "bruised eye" looks, I applied the Rimmel Scandaleyes Kohl Kajal liner in Nude to my waterline (not pictured above, sorry). Applying a white, nude, or light pink to your waterline is an amazing way to make your eyes appear bigger and brighter, as it emphasizes the whites of your eyes. Obviously, I finished off the look with my faithful Maybelline the Rocket Volum' Express Mascara in Blackest Black, which brought the whole look to life.

And alas, below is the final product on my eyes. Note: Please ignore the severe under eye bags/dryness in these photos, as I was still very sleep-deprived, and my dark circles are chronically regardless. Also, I am aware that I have neglected to get my eyebrows waxed all semester, and plan to fix this eventually...

In the end, I was very pleased with how this Cranberry look turned out, and I think it's a perfect way to change things up makeup-wise this time of year. As you can see: the warm, red tones lend beautifully to blue eyes. I was wearing this to school and the eyes were pretty dramatic, so I kept the rest of the fact pretty minimal: NARS Laguna bronzer, some Hard Candy Glamouflage concealer, a bit of Benetint just to give my lips some colour, and my Maybelline FIT Me Powder to bring it all together. 

All too often, we buy super fun eyeshadows, blushes, or lip colours that we write off as "too much" for everyday wear, or that we're saving for "special occasions." Instead, I want to encourage everyone to take some risks, enjoy your makeup collection, and most importantly, wear it with confidence! After all, life's short, and it's a lot more fun when you take some creative freedom. And a very happy earlier thanksgiving to the Americans :)

As a beauty junkie, I too frequently buy into the latest claims, crazes, innovations and trends that arise with every season. That being said, there are certain items that I find myself repurchasing again and again, either because they are a necessity, or because I have yet to find a better replacement.  Today, I will be sharing of few of these good ol' faithful beauty products that 

1. Cotton Pads: You can rest assured that I will always buy another bag of these when I run out. Cotton pads, or "makeup removing pads," as these one are called, are amazing for applying toner to your face, and more gently removing stubborn black makeup under your eyes. However, I am not brand loyal to any particular brand/type of cotton pads, and usually buy whatever is cheapest/around when I run out. 

2. Revlon Colorstay Base + Top Coat: Given how much I have grown to obsess over makeup, it is hard to believe that I used to not wear any (except the occasional mascara) or know anything about the entire realm until my senior year of high school. My first forray into extreme superficial girly-ness was with my obsessive nail polish hoarding around the tenth grade. Since 2008, I have barely spent a day with bare fingernails. However, I pride myself in the fact that my nails are still in good health, have no discoloration, and are usually chip-free. I have also tried out my fair share of base/top coats including Seche Clear + Seche Vite, OPI Ridge Filler, Sally Hansen Insta-Dry, Sally Hansen Diamond Strength, etc. After a long love affair with Seche, I have found my new holy grails, and that would be these gems my Revlon. They're easily accessible, relatively cheap, the colour lasts, my nails dry fast, and the finish is always super-glossy. I would highly recommend these to everyone, and also encourage you to check out the rest of the Revlon Colorstay nail line.

3. Hydraluron by indeed labs: Sometimes, you just gotta follow the pack, if just for investigative purposes (to see if a product can truly be as miraculous as it is made out to be). For those who have never heard of this product before, let me provide a brief synopsis: Hyaluronic acid (or sodium hyaluronate) is by no means a new skincare breakthrough or discovery. In fact, it has probably been somewhere in the ingredients list of several moisturizing products you've owned as it "can hold up to 1,000 times its weight in water" (whatever that means). However, hyaluronic acid is having a huge comeback, and indeedlabs is capitalizing on it by providing a no-frills, moderately priced, fragrance-free, and paraben-free "moisture booster" serum. A bit over a year ago, internet skin care guru Caroline Hirons sung her praises for hydraluron, and since then, almost every beauty blogger has also joined the fan club. Although the tube is little in size, it lasted me several months of near daily use.

So is hydraluron worth the hype? To be honest, not really. I have not noticed some fabulous breakthrough in my skin while using this product, nor do I notice a grand difference on days that I go without it. Granted, this may be because my skin wasn't really all that dry or dehydrated to begin with (I just sort of assumed that the extra hydration couldn't hurt). Regardless, I still chose to repurchase it before I ran out, because (a) it is still well-priced when compared to other serums, (b) I actually got it on sale so that was tempting, (c) hyaluronic acid is a skin-identical ingredient proven to boost moisture content and prevent moisture loss *(source). For now, this will remain an ol' faithful serum under the yet to find a better replacement category.

Now that cold weather has officially become the norm in Montreal, me and my fellow university students have come to accept that the our city's 5-month winter season is here to stay, and that we can/should dress appropriately. However, I will be escaping to sunny Barcelona as of 2014, and therefore have chosen to embrace winter fashion as much as possible until then. My latest obsession: head warmers. If right now you're wondering "what the hell's a head warmer?" then you probably just know them by some other name such as a head turban, head scarf, knit/wool head band, knit/wool hair wrap, etc. 

Below are some of my current lust-worthy warmers ranging from budget-friendly to as if prices:

How do I love thee head warmer? Let me count the ways:

1. They keep your ears warm - this can be underratedly necessary when it's cold as $h!t
2. They are much easier to throw in your schoolbag/purse than earmuffs.
3. They can also be thrown in the wash (for the most part) if dirty.
4. They can be worn all day to cover up greasy hair, though I would recommend a lighter option to prevent sweating i.e. more greasiness. Don't judge me...sometimes those extra twenty minutes of sleep are really more necessary than a shower.
5. Like scarves, you can wear the same head warmer every day without anyone really noticing.
6. Bad hair day? s'NO PROBLEM!
7. They come in a variety of colours and textures to coordinate with different scarves, moods, coats, and weather conditions.

So come on guys, let's stop complaining and moping around indoors all day. Embrace the cold! Love the wind! Or at least get a head warmer, and the next five months might not seem so daunting.

There is nothing quite like watching a great movie to inspire, relax and lift your spirits. Now that the winter season is fast approaching in Montreal (as I write this it is presently -2 degrees Celsius), there is nothing I crave more every night than cuddling up in a blanket with a nice cup of herbal tea, a cool breeze from the window, the glow of a candle, and a great 90 minute film. To be honest, I am not a a fan of recent trends in entertainment where movies are now two hours or longer. Ain't nobody got time for that (I'm talking to you Benjamin Button).

I will soon be celebrating my twentieth birthday and I believe that justifies reflecting on my childhood as if it happened quite a while ago. Let's be honest, the world is a much different place than it was ten years ago. I also have significantly less time to devote to movie-watching, let alone re-watching a movie I've already seen. Therefore, I decided to pay homage to the movies I used to watch incessantly, to the point where people would get frustrated because I quoted all the dialogue while watching. Many of these movies were not extremely successful, critically acclaimed, or well-received by the general public. Regardless, watching any one of them provides me with that warm and fuzzy feeling of nostalgia and great family memories. This winter, we should all try to set aside some time, ideally 90ish minutes, to make some popcorn, escape our daily worries, and snuggle with some great company to watch a movie. Below are my top ten choices (in no particular order) that can be enjoyed by all ages/genders and appeal to your inner youthful spirit:

1. Spaceballs (1987)

Ok so I'm going to be honest, I barely understood the multitude of amazingly witty and clever cultural references in this movie when I used to watch it. ("That's funny, she doesn't look Druish") All I know is that I found this hilarious and my family used to watch this all. the. time. Essentially, the storyline is that planet Spaceball is running out of air, and President Skroob decides to send Lord Dark Helmet to Planet Druidia in order to steal their air. The Princess ditches on her wedding to Prince Valium, and Lone Starr is the only once who can save the Princess and the precious air of Planet Druidia. This movie has a little something for everyone, and is my secret party weapon ice breaker, since everyone who has seen Spaceballs loves to talk about Spaceballs.

Note: superstar Mel Brooks wrote, directed, produced, and starred as President Skroob; talk about an over-achiever. Also, the late John Candy kills it as Mog, Lone Starr's half-man half-dog sidekick.

2. Paycheck (2003)

For years, when anyone used to ask me "What's your favourite movie?", I would say "Paycheck" without a moment's hesitation. Ninety-nine percent of the time, this was immediately followed by "What's Paycheck? Never seen it. Never heard of it." Well, shame on all of you because Paycheck is awesome. Similar to the much-more-respected Memento, Paycheck is a fragmented flashback memory-thriller starring Ben Affleck, Uma Thurman and Aaron Eckhart. Michael Jennings (Affleck) is a reverse engineer, meaning he is hired by a company to imitate/improve a competitor's technology for short-term contract durations. In order to protect their intellectual property, his clients wipe Jennings' memory once his contract is complete. One day, Jennings gets an offer he can't refuse (we're talking lots of cashmoney), but the project is a three-year job, which is significantly longer than anything he had done in the past. Jennings wakes up after the three years only to find out that people are trying to kill him, and he has no clue why. To make matters worse, he finds out that past-Michael withdrew the huge paycheck from his bank account, and only left him with twenty useless household items. I can't really explain why I love this movie so much, especially since Mr. Affleck himself has since admitted that he was not at all proud of Paycheck and that it inspired him to stop making shitty movies (ouch). Ignore him, go watch it, just don't have any high expectations. Also, Paul Giamatti has a small role as Shorty, Jennings' friend. That alone should be enough motivation to have you torrent Paycheck stat.

3. Eloise at the Plaza (2003)
honorable mention: Eloise at Christmastime (2003)

Confession: I never read the Eloise books as a kid. But who cares, because this movie series is amazing regardless. Eloise is a fun, adventure-loving, curious, friendly, spoiled, and compassionate six-year old girl who just so happens to live at the Plaza Hotel in NYC. The movie adaptations starred a young Sophia Vassilieva, undoubtedly one of the most talented actresses of my generation. The movies also feature Julie Andrews and Jeffrey Tambor, so like you really should watch them. These are the ultimate feel-good movies that I had no shame watching over and over. There's love, New York City, princes, the Plaza, fancy balls, all explored through an innocent, blunt and adventurous narration. Eloise is like To Kill a Mockingbird without the lawsuits, racism and rape. I dare anyone to watch this and not feel better after.

4. The Parent Trap (1998)

Of all of these movies, The Parent Trap definitely had the biggest impact on my life. Once my mother told me that there was just one girl playing both twins Annie and Hallie, I was so amazed by production magic and Lohan's acting abilities that I was inspired to start acting myself. Lohan kills it, and Dennis Quaid and Natasha Richardson are rather adorable together. For anyone who has somehow not seen this (go change that now): the movie tells the story of two identical girls at Walden summer camp who were both raised by single parents. Awkwardly enough, it takes ripped up pictures of their respective missing parental unit to even realize they were twins separated at birth, as if strangers can actually look that much alike by fluke. Realism aside, this movie takes heart-warming to a new level. 

Note: If nothing else this movie deserves legendary status because it made dipping your oreos in peanut butter a thing. Also, I was so obsessed with this movie that the Debs (my momma dearest) was determined to get me my own "Cuppy" bunny stuffed-animal. I never had a sentimental relationship with a blanket or toy as a child, but that bunny received more of my love than any other beanie baby/inanimate object in my collection.

Biologically, human wellbeing is driven by connections created with other people. Forming strong relationships with friends and family have both been proven to provide value and meaning to our lives, thus increasing our health and happiness. I do believe in the validity of this outlook. However, when it comes to happiness, I also think that there should be equal emphasis based on one’s connection with oneself. These views are the pillars behind my motivation for starting this blog. This may not appear to make any logical sense, and so I have chosen to explain my reasoning through a most underrated medium, the numbered list:

1. In our modern world, connections are not simply made through physical contact. I have been reading blogs + forums + websites and watching online videos for nearly a decade, and I can attest to the fact that Internet communities and virtual communication can contribute (in their own unique way) to those feelings of connection and belonging that we crave. 
   
2. Documenting my thoughts and my life through writing (or any media form) has several personal benefits. It is therapeutic and relaxing, provides an extremely fun creative outlet, and serves as a journal/scrapbook/diary to look back on in the future.
   
3. I am going away to study in Barcelona this January, and was intending on starting my blog then with an emphasis on travel and documenting my experiences. But life is short, and I felt like getting a head start. Besides, this blogging thing will probably take some getting used to (hence the present awkwardness).
4. My mother and best friend aka the “Debs” is my number one fan and online stalker. If even one person will read and appreciate these blog posts, then I’ve already won. And trust me, Debs will read every one of these (love you Mom!)
5. I am such a hoarder of beauty, lifestyle, fashion, décor and food blogs. I legitimately have two bookmark folders on my computer dedicated to organizing my daily reads (one for beauty + fashion blogs and one for the others). It was about time I started contributing some content.
   

And with this, I officially welcome you to Megan|Taylored. The name has been chosen because (a) Megan Taylor is my name and (b) I enjoy the pun on the word “tailored,” meaning simple, not elaborate, and having a neat appearance (essentially, I am implying that this blog represents a tailored version of my life, in case that was unclear).

Instead of deciding on a specific theme or direction for blog posts, I will simply let my writing style evolve naturally and write about whatever I want when I feel the need to share it. I should warn that there will probably be a helluva lot about cosmetics (i.e. skin care, body care, makeup), some occasional fashion, entertainment and lifestyle, and a sprinkling of recipes and/or obnoxious pictures of food that I eat.

Talk about a concise intro! Be warned, I never shut up. You’ll get used to it. And now that I have significantly depleted tonight’s sleeping hours, it’s probably a sign that I should say goodbye.

Goodnight,

Megan