Looking Back at 2014

2014 was a great year for me, both personally and professionally. The summer was filled with adventures: a trip to DisneyLand, Slightly Stoopid concert, and an amazing vacation in the Florida Keys with my family & friends. After a couple of years at BCBG, my hard work and persistence proved its worth, and I grew in my career with a promotion to Associate Buyer. 

On the other hand, it was my slowest year of blogging to date, and I've been missing my little corner of creativity and inspiration. I am making my blog more of a priority again in the new year, so stay tuned for more regular posts in 2015! I can't wait to see what the next year will bring! 

See a few of my favorite memories from 2014 below...

{spinning in the teacups at DisneyLand}

{Slightly Stoopid concert}

{having fun in the FL Keys sun with my BFF since I was 4 years old}

{dolled up for my sorority sister Beth's wedding}

{official promotion to Associate Buyer for BCBG dresses}

{rooftop dinner & drinks at Perch LA to celebrate my parents' 30th wedding anniversary}

{holiday party with my love}

Currently Obsessed

{faux fur infinity scarf}

I spotted this faux fur scarf in Target and couldn't leave without it. I call it the "Target effect"...I go in for nail polish remover and come out $300 poorer with a million and one things I need.

Not only is this scarf on trend, but it feels like my kitty, Zoey, is wrapped around my neck keeping me warm & fuzzy all day. I love the luxurious look this scarf adds to the simplest jeans & tee outfit. 

Happy 5 Year Anniversary to my Love

Happy Anniversary to my love / my roomie / the father of my fur child / the man who makes me coffee every morning / my best friend / my biggest supporter.  I'm so grateful our paths crossed 5 years ago today. Thanks for the best year yet, and cheers to many more! I'm so excited to see what our future holds! I love you to the moon and back Greg! 

Must-Have: Mules

{Ivanka Trump Suede Mules}

Mules are a fashion must have for the the season! I scored these beauties from Nordstrom Rack a few weeks back and they are quickly becoming my fave fall shoes! I just love the classic pointey-toe and chic grey suede. They add a sophistication to every outfit I pair them with, from jeans & a tee to an LBD. 

MC-gram

I apologize for the slow posts lately, work has been super crazy since my promotion! 

Trying to get back on track, but until then, I just wanted to pop in & share a few photos of my recent fall outfits:

{leather skinnies & skull scarf}

{double denim with a pop of red}

{obsessed with this crop top & skirt combo I scored from BCBG}

{Halloween costume for work: deviled egg}

{tweed blazer, LBD, and mules for the Holiday floorset walk thru at Century City Mall}

Follow MC Squared on Instagram:

@meghanconard

Currently Obsessed

{Dove Dry Shampoo}

I finally found a dry shampoo that I love, thanks to my co-worker that turned me onto Dove Dry Shampoo. It has a light, fresh scent and absolutely none of that white powdery residue. It's perfect for refreshing my hair in between washes. See my full second-day hair routine here.

The Next Chapter: Associate Buyer at BCBGMAXAZRIA

I am so happy to finally announce my recent promotion to Associate Buyer for the BCBG Dresses Division! I have learned so much in the last two and a half years at BCBG and I am very excited for this opportunity to grow even more in my career!  See how I got my start at BCBG as an intern, and my first job out of college as an Assistant Buyer.  Thank you all for your continued support! Cheers!

Pancake Muffins

{Banana Chocolate and White Chocolate Pancake Muffins}

I saw this idea of baking pancake batter in muffin tins on Pinterest, and decided to try it out last weekend. They are so easy to make, I can't believe I never thought of it before! I used the below recipe for banana pancakes and then added chocolate and white chocolate chips as toppings. The pancake muffins turned out so fluffy & delicious! I don't think I'll ever make pancakes on a pan or griddle again!

Banana Pancake Muffins

Ingredients:

1 cup flour

1 tbsp white sugar

2 teaspoons baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 egg, beaten 

1 cup milk

2 tbsp vegetable oil

2 ripe bananas, mashed

Directions:

Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. In a separate bowl, mix together egg, milk, vegetable oil and bananas. Stir flour mixture into banana mixture. (Batter will be slightly lumpy.) Spoon batter into greased or lined muffin tins, filling 3/4 full. Top with assorted toppings: chocolate chips, blueberries, walnuts, etc. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes. Enjoy with butter & maple syrup!

Fall Fashion Finds

Even though it still feels like Summer in LA, I'm already stocking up on Fall classics. See my latest finds below.

{Quilted Leather Bag}

I love this bag! It's the perfect size to take from day to night. There are a lot of compartments & pockets to keep all of my things organized and easily accessible. The whipstitch and tassel details really sealed the deal for me.

{Mustard Cable Sweater}

I'm loving mustard for Fall this year. This lightweight sweater will be a great layer when the chilly months finally hit. 

{Ripped Black Jeggings}

These jeans go with everything. I wear them dressed them up with a boyfriend blazer and heels or on the weekend with a striped tee and moccasins to run errands.  

{Black Ankle Booties}

Ankle booties are so versatile. They look great with jeans, leggings, skirts & even dresses! 

These are really comfortable, and since they are vegan leather, they are a steal at $79!

Samoa Cheesecake

{Samoa Cheesecake with Coconut, Caramel & Chocolate}

We celebrated Greg's 28th birthday while we were vacationing in the Keys last month. His favorite dessert is cheesecake so when I came across a recipe with his favorite Samoa Girl Scout Cookie topping I knew I had found a winner for his birthday cake! I used this recipe I found on Pinterest. My mom and I had an issue melting the chocolate, which is why it didn't turn out as pretty as I would have liked but it still tasted absolutely delicious! (I suggest using a chocolate syrup bottle to drizzle the chocolate.) I will definitely be making this again soon, possibly as mini cheesecakes!

Keys Vacation 2014

My family has been vacationing in the Florida Keys for as long as I can remember. Although we've gone almost every year, this year was my favorite yet. My parents rented a beautiful 3-story house on the Gulf of Mexico in Marathon, just down the street from where my Aunt, Uncle, and cousin rented. It was my niece Alexa's first trip to the keys, and I had a great time making memories with her and my nephew Aiden. I saw a few of my oldest friends, from my sorority little sister, Liz, picking me up from the airport, to my friend Shannon staying with my family the first weekend, and my friend Emilee and her family staying in the Keys the same week. We had perfect weather for spending the day out on the boat lobstering, fishing, snorkeling, and wasting an afternoon at the sandbar. Our nights were filled with delicious home cooked meals, beautiful sunsets, drinks by the pool, hysterical games of Cards Against Humanity, and sitting on the porch watching the thunder and lightning storms roll in. 

We've already begun planning next year's trip, but first, take a look at my a few of my favorite memories from our Florida Keys vacation this year.

{My Phi Mu little sister, Liz, picked me up from the airport to grab dinner & drinks and catch up. We hadn't seen each other in 2 1/2 years so naturally we spun in a circle hugging and crying on the airport curb}

{So happy I was able to spend some time with Emilee, who I've known since we were both in strollers}

{Greg and I enjoying a beautiful day out on the water in the Gulf of Mexico}

{view of the sunset from our house in Marathon}

{my friend Shannon and I reminiscing on our days dressing up like the Spice Girls}

{We celebrated Aiden's 7th birthday with a festive iguana cake}

{Alexa (4) right before jumping in the ocean for the first time. She's a pro now!}

{Greg's Birthday dinner: steak & fresh-caught lobster}

{my parents with Aiden & Alexa}

{I loved waking up and not knowing what day of the week it was. Missing the Keys already}

OOTD/July

I am introducing a new segment on MC2 this month:

July's OOTDs (outfit of the day) in rewind with outfit details, where I wore it, 

and where to buy the look. Which outfit was your fave this month?

July 2

{my unofficial work uniform: ruffled shorts + barely-there strappy heels}

Nordstrom tank / Zara shorts / Zara heels

July 9

{crochet & lace crop top with ripped jeans for a day at the office}

Zara top /  Zara jeans / BCBG heels

July 19

{printed romper I scored for $5 at the BCBG sample sale, worn to the Slightly Stoopid concert}

BCBGenration romper

July 21

{all white, printed headscarf & orange lip for a Monday at the office}

Nordstrom tank / Zara jeans / Joie bag / MAC "vegas volt" lipstick

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{Zoey can't handle Mondays either}

{Greg and I at the Slightly Stoopid Concert}

{an old favorite: OPI bubble bath}

{wearing matching shirts on a lazy Sunday watching a Netflix marathon of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia"}

Follow MC Squared on Instagram

@meghanconard

Currently Obsessed

{BCBG Ombré Necklace}

I scored this beautiful ombré collar necklace at the BCBG corporate boutique earlier this month. 

I love the punch of color it adds to a basic white boxy crop top. It's the perfect summer statement necklace!

Peach Strawberry Orange White Sangria

{Peach Strawberry Orange White Sangria}

I made sangria for the first time last weekend. I scoured Pinterest for recipes but ended up creating my own based on what I had found. I'm not a big drinker so I made a pretty light version. Most of the recipes I saw called for several types of alcohol (vodka, rum, etc), but I just stuck to the wine. It was so easy and turned out delicious! Sangria will easily become my new go-to fruity afternoon drink for the summer!

Ingredients:

1 bottle of Barefoot Moscato

1 20 fl oz bottle of Sprite Zero

1 cup of V8 V-Fusion Peach Mango juice

1 peach

1 orange

10 strawberries

Directions:

In a large pitcher, mix together wine, Sprite Zero, V8. 

Cut up fruit and add to the pitcher. 

Chill 4 hours. Serve over ice. Enjoy!

Guide to Second-Day Hair

In an effort to make my hair healthier and preserve my color, I've been trying to only wash my hair every other day. When I first started this process I couldn't skip one day of shampooing without looking like a grease-ball, but I've mastered a fool-proof system to make my second-day hair look fresh.

1

The night before, I use dry shampoo on my roots to soak up any oil. By sleeping with the dry shampoo on my roots, any traces of that pesky white residue is absorbed and I wake up with tons of volume! I honestly haven't found a dry shampoo that I love yet so if you have any recommendations please leave it in the comments below!

2

In the morning I apply Garnier Fructis Sleek & Shine Smoothing Milk to the bottom half of my hair to banish any frizz and make my locks smooth and shiny.

3

I add a light wave to my hair by wrapping different size sections around the barrel of my curling iron (check out my tutorial of how to transform your curling iron into a wand here). I spray a medium hold hairspray all over and then comb through the curls with my fingers to loosen them up a bit. I don't like my hair to look too perfect, I prefer a tousled bed head look. 

{The End Result}

Currently Obsessed

{Green Smoothie}

I've been making a version of this smoothie for breakfast the last few weeks. It's packed with fruits, veggies, and protein to keep me feeling full and energized. I started adding avocado to my smoothie which makes it thick & creamy - highly recommended if you've never tried it! 

Ingredients:

1 cup baby spinach

1 avocado

1 banana

1/2 cup of blueberries

1 scoop vanilla protein powder

V8 V-Fusion Light Peach Mango (add to desired consistency)

Ice (add to desired consistency)

Directions:

Mix all ingredients in blender on high speed until well blended. Enjoy!

BCBGMAXAZRIA Runway Resort 2015

                                                   

   

      

{BCBG Max Azria Runway Resort 2015 Collection}

I am loving BCBG Max Azria's new Resort collection! Inspired by Max's home country of Tunisia, the collection is comprised of beautiful, elaborate embroidery, shades of ocean blues, and striped menswear shirting. I'm obsessed with the blue dress above. It's made from strips of terry fabric with braided edges - the details are amazing in person! Check out the entire collection on style.com by clicking the link above!

Day at Disneyland

Greg and I went to Disneyland last weekend for the first time. We've both been to Disney World in Orlando countless times so it was interesting to see the differences in the two theme parks! My coworker had 2 free park hopper tickets that were expiring soon so she sent them our way, and we could not have been more grateful! We had such a fun time acting like kids again at the "happiest place on Earth!" See my favorite memories of the day below.

{spinning around in the teacups}

{I loved these festive sparkly Minnie Mouse ears}

{Greg & I at California Adventure}

{in front of the castle with my prince charming}