Social Media Campaign for Judy's Mission

Earlier this month, a handful of Houston's top bloggers and social media influencers gathered on behalf of  Houston ovarian cancer charity, Judy's Mission, in order to raise awareness for Ovarian Cancer Awareness month. Given that Judy's Mission is a Mad Meg client and I'm a survivor of OC myself, i was so appreciative to each and every girl that came. 

TOP(left to right)  Julie Weinstein, Executive Director of Judy's Mission, Aimee Friend, Ailee Petrovic

MIDDLE (left to right) Brandi Lisenbe, Candace Thomas, Me

BOTTOM (left to right) Mad Meg Account Associate, Alyssa Evans, Esther Freedman, Macy Silianoff and Isla Petrovic

Here's why ovarian cancer is such a bitch and so deadly; there's no screening for it. 

Breast cancer has mammograms. Ovarian cancer has nothing. So by the time we find it in someone, it's usually far along and therefore the overall survival rate isn't great. 

The other problem is there is no universal symptom. With breast cancer, a woman feels a lump, she goes to the doc, scared shitless sure, but she knows to go and why. With ovarian cancer, when a woman experiences back pain, bloating, or any urinary symptoms - doctors (or us as patients) often chalk it up to our cycle. That's what happened with me and why it took almost two years to diagnosis.

Macy hates ovarian cancer too. 

This pic of Mace and Ailee's daughter, Isla, is precious but also so symbolic of what we're trying to do here; take care of OC so our kids don't have to worry about it - surely they're gonna have their own problems with all the "screen time" and what not. #amiright?

Also, ovarian (and breast cancer) can be genetic (I wrote about my experience with that  here) so we, as a society, need to be informed about the BRCA gene, especially if we're knowingly passing it on to our kids.

Judy's Mission y'all, their work is important. And for the rest of this month you can support them by purchasing any of these products if you wish!

*Photos by the sexy mamma Rocio Carlon! Book her for your own portrait needs!

- FOLLOWING MEGAN ON SOCIAL MEDIA WILL MAKE YOU SKINNIER, RICHER, + PRETTIER-

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TREND ALERT: BAG BALLS (HA!)

All the Houston fashion bloggers are back from NYFW and I've been drooling and jelling* (past tense of "jel") over their pics! I can't help but notice they all have furry balls (ha!) attached to their purses though! WTF is going on? Let me show you what I mean and then we can debrief and decide what we think about it.

ALEX CARRENO OF ADORED ALEX

See more pics of this look on Alex's blog

VALERIE DITTNER OF (ADORN YOURSELF ACCORDINGLY)

I stole all these pics from Val's blog which you need to read here!

LYNDSEY ZORICH OF L'AVENUE

(Technically Lyndsey's isn't a "furry ball" accessory but rather a "charm" which is still in the family we're talking about here)

More Lyndsey on her blog! Go now!

Alright! So I've presented the evidence. What do we think?

My two cents? I'm in! I mean I'm not OVER THE TOP passionate about them but it's a trend - and trends are fun. Fashion is fun - that's the whole point, right? I wouldn't spend much money on a charm/ball, but the following ones are relatively inexpensive and would look cool on my Chanel bag when I'm all decked out in say, Vegas!!!!!!? (Julie and I are going to Vegas next month! First time ever for both of us!! GAHHH!)

Anyway. What do you think? Bag balls. YAY OR NAY?

-SHOP YOUR BAG BALLS PEOPLE!-

P.S.  Thanks to my friends Alex, Val, and Lyndsey for being my muses for this post. See you three tomorrow morning!! XO

- FOLLOWING MEGAN ON SOCIAL MEDIA WILL MAKE YOU SKINNIER, RICHER, + PRETTIER-

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Deep Thoughts: The West Wing & Islamic Extremists

Here's something you likely don't know about me despite having this deeply personal blog where I share TMI on the reg.  Some where around 9pm, almost every night, I crawl into bed, log-in to Netflix, and watch West Wing until I fall asleep. (Or until Macy occasionally gets out of bed and throws random shit from her room in protest of bedtime.) Which ever comes first.

I didn't watch West Wing while it was on in 1999-2006. I was much too busy doing things like THIS. But a few months ago I watched the pilot and was hooked. In addition to Rob Lowe being in his sexual prime and the show being entertaining on a surface level, the series, despite being over a decade old, is so timeless that it provides me context and insight into current issues, such as radical islam, to this very day. 

Just yesterday on the The Today Show the hunky Matt Lauer was going at it with "The Donald" about remarks he'd made about Muslims and radical islam. ISIS, Al Qaueda, Radical Islam - it's all scary shit, right? I've recently gotten a few instagram followers and their profiles are in arabic but all their pictures are of dead camels with blood, guns, and middle eastern landscapes. I have no idea what to make of it but I'm unsettled for sure. Probably unjustly. But dead camels? WTF.

Last week, I made it to the season three pilot of West Wing and this 1 minute scene was not only super powerful but provided a context so that I'm less fearful and more educated about radical islam moving forward. 

"Islamic extremism is to *Islam* as KKK is to Christianity."

Fuck the Klan. Fuck islamic extremists. They are both an embarrassment to their countries, cultures, and religions from which they claim their beliefs stem. 

Just another reason that Aaron Sorkin (the creator of the show) is my all-time favorite writer, favorite human, and the real person that should be running for president. Let's all write him in.

THE END

*Next up on this "Deep Thoughts" Series? A brief interview I'm conducting with my college friend (hi Jill!) who's an elementary school teacher who's taught multiple transgender students. How fascinating to talk to her about her experience!

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This post is the first in a series I'm starting called "Deep Thoughts." I love fashion, outfit posts, & internet round ups as much as the next person. But as I evolve as a person (and hopefully as a writer) I want Greetings from Texas to occasionally reflect the meatier, profound subjects I'm also interested in (social issues, spirituality, etc.) Basically I want to be Lisa Ling of This is Life with Lisa Ling. K, guys?

MAD MEG CLIENT HIGHLIGHT - THE POTTY ROCKER

WTF is the Potty Rocker you ask? 

In addition to being Mad Meg's newest client, The Potty Rocker is to Potty training what The Elf On The Shelf is to Christmas. 

Here are a few more details. Educate yourself.

While The Potty Rocker book, family play kit, and rainbow poop are their most popular products, you can shop their entire line of products here. (I like the Excremint bar soap!)

Quick update on Macy Moo's potty training status. She's good at peeing. I'd say she's 95% of the way there during the day. (Though we still do a diaper at night.) Number 2, however, let's just say, in the name of not over-sharing, there's room for improvement. (I could tell you stories though! Oh, how I could tell you stories.) 

I'm sure things are going to turn around in no time, however, as we've been "potty rocking" all week and Macy is obsessed with The Potty Rocker's rainbow poop. Allow her to demonstrate. 

A DAY IN THE LIFE WITH THE POTTY ROCKER

Headed to school, freshly tatted up in a potty rocker tattoo, and obviously a must-have item for every commute, rainbow poop.

Potty Rocker re-usable stickers.

Watching "Toilet Tube" during dinner.
My favorite Potty Rocker video is this RIDICULOUS one but Macy likes this one the best.

The inspirational message I wrote to Mace with the special marker that comes in the Family Play Kit.

Apparently The Potty Rocker can be used for teething too? 

*Here comes the call to action! Head over to The Potty Rocker's Kick Starter page now. Not only will you learn more about their products but you can help back them (we want to keep them an American made company!) and receive gifts for doing so. (Or, you can just shoppity shoppity on their normal site too.) It's your choice.

THE END

*P.S. - Are you a lifestyle or mommy blogger interested in reviewing The Potty Rocker with your own kiddos? Email me here. 

- FOLLOWING MEGAN ON SOCIAL MEDIA WILL MAKE YOU SKINNIER, RICHER, + PRETTIER-

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The Best of the World Wide Web - September Edition

THE BEST OF THE WORLD WIDE WEB - SEPTEMBER EDITION

Sports! This hilarious tee was designed by my friend Becky for girls like me that might go over to someone's house for "the game" but have no idea what that game is. (And don't care.) I'm usually it in for the snacks. It's only on sale for 11 more days and comes in tons of different colors! 

If you're a Ryan Adams or Taylor Swift fan, you'll like this cover.

I was on the radio last week with one of my Mad Meg client's. Pics and video from it are here on the Mad Meg blog.

How had I never seen this Jay Z clip? Cute and makes me love him that much more! (Thanks Alle for sharing with me!) 

Hooray Mail. Personalized subscription snail mail for kids. I think Mace is about a year away from LOVING this.

In an interview with New York Times, Kylie Jenner listed out her holy grail products which consist of Hypn?se Drama Waterproof Mascara ($27.50), Nars Orgasm Blush, ($30) and Charlotte Tilbury 'Light Wonder' Foundation ($45). You know these are legit if they're in KyKy's regimen.

I'm writing this post on Julie's couch and she's been raving about this "non attachment" theory lately. I'm excited to learn more about it.

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What's everyone doing this weekend? I've got nothing on the docket but catching up on sleep and work and I couldn't be more happy about it! Keep it real kids!

- FOLLOWING MEGAN ON SOCIAL MEDIA WILL MAKE YOU SKINNIER, RICHER, + PRETTIER-

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DANG IT FEELS GOOD TO BE A TEXAN

As I've mentioned before, my friend Brandi's shop, makes these t-shirts which Mace & I finally got our hands on this week.

I'll always miss my friends and fam in Chicago but it feels good to be a Texan, indeed.

Cue this.

*Get your own Dang it feels good to be a Texan tee here. Sizing wise I'm wearing a small and Mace has a 4.

///PHOTOS BY THE AMAZING ROCIO CARLON!!!!///


Have a good day everyone! Tomorrow is Friday!!! 
XO,Meg

- FOLLOWING MEGAN ON SOCIAL MEDIA WILL MAKE YOU SKINNIER, RICHER, + PRETTIER-

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Tonight's the Night!

Tonight's the night kids. As written about in Houstonia magazine, Tootsies, Houston's fanciest and classiest store, is throwing a soiree in honor of ovarian cancer. In no particular order, here are the 

                                           TOP 10 REASONS YOU SHOULD COME 

1. I'm gonna look saucy! Tootsies graciously lent me an outfit to wear for the affair. I felt like Pretty Woman yesterday when Fady, Tootsies Manager, was pulling options on my behalf. Just me, your everyday prostitute, getting outfitted in some serious designer duds. It was THE BEST!  

2. I'll introduce you to, Buck, who's not only supes cute, but the director of the Susan Poorman Blackie Foundation. The foundation is named for his mom, Susan, who passed from ovarian cancer last year. I never got to meet her but from what Buck has shared with me, I feel like I know her a little bit, and I want to make her proud with ovarian cancer advocacy, as though she was my mom too.

3. Anna, owner of Manoosh, will be there with her Susan Scarves. (The scarf I'm wearing in the pics below.) They're gorg and the proceeds go to ovarian cancer research. Anna is just 27, from Portland, a fellow #girlboss trying to make it in the world, and someone you should meet. I'll introduce you.

4. MY FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN HOUSTON is providing the vino and food. 

5. See previous reason. Vino!!!!

6. I'll be selling and signing my books! 

8. Rongrong will be there sketching away! Usually when she commissions a drawing it's around $300. Tonight they'll be free 99.

9. There will be a "build your own jewelry station" sponsored by Agate Ranch + Marfa Jewelry company.  What?!! Too good to be true!!!

10. It's for a good cause! The thing about ovarian cancer, and why its such a bitch, is that there is no screening for it. Breast cancer has mammograms. Ovarian cancer has nothing and that's why its so deadly. By the time we detect it, it's often too late. We need to come up with some sort of screening. So shoppity shoppity, cool?

Here's the official invite - it's from 5:30 - 7:30pm.

And, here are a few of the outtakes from the shoot we did last month for the Susan Scarf.

The photos are by Kendall Hannah . (Hi Kendall!)

See you soon! 

(And if you can't come tonight, or aren't local, but still want to support, you can buy the Susan scarf here!)

- FOLLOWING MEGAN ON SOCIAL MEDIA WILL MAKE YOU SKINNIER, RICHER, + PRETTIER-

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THE BEST APP EVER!

So here's the deal. Essentially Uber and Dry Bar had sexual intercourse and the genetic result was something called Pageboy! It's an app in which you can order in-home blow outs! I can't even!!!!! (They cost $65 - so that's almost twice as much as DryBar, but again, they come to your house! So if you're rich, lazy, or both - it's well worth it!)

Houstonians - you're going to want to download this bad boy now.

Everyone else, cross your fingers it will come to your city soon.

Look how happy I am. 

Dreams do come true people. 

And now I'm off to get Mindy Kaling's new book which came out today! So excited!

XOXO,
Gossip Girl

*This was a sponsored post. Cool?

- FOLLOWING MEGAN ON SOCIAL MEDIA WILL MAKE YOU SKINNIER, RICHER, + PRETTIER-

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CHUCKY CHEESE PLEASE

I could bore you with a dissertation on how special Saturday was; how proud I was, standing next to Danny, while Macy blew out her candles, how grateful I was to everyone that came, how much I love my daughter, and how Mr. Chucky Cheese LEGIT experienced some sort of medical trauma/passing out situation in front of all the kids (WTF!) but the pictures (by the pretty Ailee Petrovic) probably tell the story better than I ever could. Enjoy.

-MACY'S GUESTS-

#blessed

*Again, all these amazing pics are by Ailee Petrovic who I met at the Cuteheads shoot. Hire her now and always.

- FOLLOWING MEGAN ON SOCIAL MEDIA WILL MAKE YOU SKINNIER, RICHER, + PRETTIER-

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