PonchoMeg: The Modern Bohemian is Getting Read Around the World!

Visitor Demographics for 

PonchoMeg: The Modern Bohemian...     

United States 78.0%

United Kingdom 9.0%

Romania 3.0%

Denmark 2.8%

Russia 2.0%

Canada 1.5%

Brazil 1.1%

Australia 1.0%

South Korea 0.5%

France 0.1%

Apparently, PonchoMeg: The Modern Bohemian is read in all sorts of places around the world.   This cheers me up a little, knowing that I really can reach the world... little by little. I will say, I am surprised at how low Canada is on this list.  Where all my Canadians at?   You all live right next door! haha Just playin' Canada. But seriously, let's see if we can spread this Modern Bohemian love a little further.   I'd like to see a few more countries on this list. :) Like Germany... where's Germany!?!?! Ich liebe dich, Deutschland! Kommen Sie zu meinem blog! Bitte!   What about Italy? Visita il mio blog! Per favore. :) (I hope I said all that right! haha) Keep it coming world. And I will keep sharing with you.  And together we can spread peace and love and understanding and show that all people,  from all walks of life, from all over the world, CAN come together as a community; in peace. Peace and Love, Meagan P.S. - Here are some helpful resources if you want to be a world traveler... or at least feel like one. :)   And/or for if you just want to connect with other people around the world, like I am apparently doing with  my little blog here! haha  Enjoy: World Travel and Tourism Council Journeys of a Lifetime: 500 of the World's Greatest Trips New Concise World Atlas Rick Steves' French, Italian and German Phrase Book Google Translate Top 5 English Words and Phrases to Learn in French Top 5 English Words and Phrases to Learn in Spanish Top 5 English Words and Phrases to Learn in German Top 5 English Words and Phrases to Learn in Italian The World's Best Eco-Lodges: Earth-Friendly Hotels PonchoMeg's Guide to Everything Michigan The Essential Gluten-Free Restaurant Guide

Today is the Modern Bohemian's Birthday!

Yes, I was born on June 2.  (I like to put my fingers up when I say it because my birthdate looks like a peace sign, which is pretty sweet)
The other members of my immediate family have b-days in November, December, and January.  Then there's mine in June.  (I'm just always bein' different)  But I like having a June birthday because the weather is warm (and I am constantly cold), some people are out of school, and it seems like people are less stressed after summer begins to sneak up on them.  So yeah...
Mom and Dad, you may not have handpicked the date, but thanks for bringing me into the world on June 2, 1984.  I appreciate it very much.
Peace and Love to ALL, on your birthdays and everyday. :)
Meagan

Gluten-Free: Not Just an Annoying Dietary Demand

So I have been almost 100% gluten-free since the end of 2009 due to health problems and gluten intolerance, and now that I am in 2010, I am trying hard to avoid all contamination and be gluten-free, healthy, and happy.  In addition, I have been wanting to be more active, lose weight, and tone up before my sister's wedding in November.  Luckily, these two things have gone hand in hand.  Since being gluten-free and becoming more active, I have lost 29 lbs!!! Yes!  Amazing!

The most important thing I feel like I have gotten out of all of this though, is the true appreciation for healthy eating.  Basically, eating things that make your body feel good as well as look good.  I have always loved organic food, veggies, fruit, things like that, but now I am coming up with so many more uses for my favorites, as well as introducing new foods I hadn't really eaten before (Quinoa, polenta) and loving it.
Another added bonus: just cooking gluten-free, healthy meals for me and my house family and friends.  I love to cook, and I am an experimental cook anyway (meaning, I rarely make the same thing twice because  I never really follow recipes and I just go with what feels cool) so it has been exciting to make up new dishes and new methods for cooking certain dishes.

Some of my favorite things to do:

Southwest casserole (Rice based)
Steak and veggie kabobs (peppers, squash, onions, etc.)
Summer Salad (Fresh greens, veggies, and a light olive oil dressing... with asiago cheese)
Drizzle Dream (a yummy dessert)
Soup/Chili (Easy, fun, and experimental. haha)
Oven baked lemon/butter/garlic Tilapia
Green beans in garlic and olive oil
Tacos
Beans and Rice

And so much more.  It's just fun.

And a little less work now that I am 29 lbs lighter... :) haha

If anyone out there wants any more information on gluten intolerance, celiac disease, gluten-free living, or going gluten-free as a method of weight loss, please let me know.  Leave a comment or send an e-mail to ponchomeg@yahoo.com and I will tell you more about my personal experience and direct you to some fantastic resources.  Just put "Gluten-Free Questions" in the subject line.

Peace and Love,
Meagan

Philosophies

So my cousin N. said to me something about how he gets by in life by focusing on his philosophies. He thought it would help me, because I have been a little... well, down in the dumps about the fact that our world is so fueled by money. I jokingly stated that my philosophies are solid but would probably only do me good in a commune, as a housewife to a wealthy (yet still Bohemian) man, or as a globe trotting celebrity who spent lots of time doing charity work. :) Okay, so this isn't entirely true. I can still have freedom, creativity, peace, love, fun, and inner serenity and have a "real" job... but it's trickier for sure.

I think what I need to do is follow my own advice. I wrote an article relating to people who need money, but aren't really made for the "daily grind" (and I'm not talking coffee. Mmmm... coffee.)

The title: "How to Make Money When You Aren't a 9-5 Kind of Person"

I talk about working part time, making money with your hobbies and passions, and basically... just making it happen. Which is what I need to do: Make it Happen! (Or as Tim Gunn says, "Make it work!")

So, here is the list of things I need to do:

1. Get at least 1 part time "real job."

2. Get some students and teach lessons

3. Sell some more of my jewelry

4. Get some gigs as a singer

5. Write more ehow articles

6. Get more followers for this little blog of mine

7. Sell some stuff out of my sweet online store

8. Spend more time being my creative self and eventually, it may help with the money issue (Basically... finish and publish my amazing book and sell millions of copies. hehe)

So yeah... I've got some work to do.

But I have realized something in these last few weeks of (self-created) torment... I can't give up the freedom I have found. I am me. I love me. And there are so many things about my life and my view on life that I cannot allow to be diluted or polluted by this modern world and this obsession so many have with money and power.

Jimi Hendrix said it right when he said "When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace."

So I will continue to trust in the power of love. Love for others, love for life, love for the natural beauty in the world, and love for myself.

And everything will be alright...

The Modern Bohemian in Pictures

Who is PonchoMeg: the Modern Bohemian? Her name is Meagan. She is a Hippie, Bohemian, Free-Spirit. She believes in peace and love above all things; she sees beauty everywhere; music, poetry, and art help her to thrive, and she tries hard to love all living things. She is a teacher, an artist, a writer, a singer, an actress, a songwriter, a poet, a daughter, a sister, a friend, a lover, a believer, an idealist, a dreamer, and a person of the Earth. She is many things, but above all, she is Meagan. I am Meagan. And I love me.

This picture shows a few things about me. One: I love tie-dye. Two: I enjoy craft shows a lot. Three: I love to hang out with my friends. And four: Crazy Richard is by far one of the coolest people on the face of the Earth. He is a way good entertainer, a fun hippie, and all around groovy dude.

I'm seemingly never happy with my hair. I always seem to want to chop it off, color it, or style it differently. I think it's because I am a creative, artistic type. I'm not sure. But in this picture, I was growing out one of my many haircuts and I literally just wanted to see if by posing differently for pictures my hair would in turn look different too! haha It was an interesting experiment. Did it work? A little...

I love to do things for causes I believe in! In the picture above, I am at the 2009 March for Babies which raises money for the March of Dimes. I do the event every year with my sister and my cousin (also in the photo) and we always have such a wonderful time, all while helping a great organization.

I enjoy photo shoots. I may not be the best model, and we may not have the best equipment, but photo shoots are a blasty blast and a half! The photo above is from a photo shoot I did with my sister.

There's more... but I can't give everything away so soon. ;)

Poem, brought on by too much time to think

Sitting, thinking, wishing, hoping

Life of carefree days is gone

Now I don't know where I'm going

I just wonder why and hum a song

A song of wandering, finding my place

Journey here and journey there

Trying to fit with the other rats in the race

All the while knowing they don't care

All they see is the life they know

Where life of carefree days is gone

so I'm sitting, thinking, wishing, hoping

that I find me; even if I never belong.

Astrology.com Fun!

Having fun at Astrology.com

Because why not?

PonchoMeg: The Modern Bohemian is a Gemini

My 2009 Horoscope:

As a Gemini, you possess an amazing ability to see dualities -- the pros and cons of situations as change approaches -- and to quickly and efficiently think them through before making any decisions. In 2009, you dare to look deeply into your desires, regenerate self-awareness and recognize psychological ambiguities. This will bring balance into your home and family life. Pay attention to the details as you bring your inner and outer life into harmony. And be sure to enjoy the changes occurring within you!

As you come to terms with yourself, you are able to see a more fulfilling purpose in life, and your field of experience broadens. Focus on matters that affect you most deeply and, like magic, your life will become easier and things will seem to take care of themselves. You have all the necessary resources and motivation to make tangible changes and achieve results this year.

Toward the end of the year, you'll have time to enjoy yourself, and to bask in a great sense of accomplishment. With the expansive and idealistic energy flowing throughout 2009, Gemini is very comfortable in this age of new awareness and high-mindedness.

My Daily Tarot for June 24, 2009:

The Nine of Pentacles card suggests that my power today lies in gratification. The fruits of my labor already exist in my values. My garden of purpose is perennial and forever in need of tending but I am surrounded by the results I have intended to create. I am empowered by the splendor that is m life and my asset is personal validation.

Nine of Pentacles

Selections from my Personal Astrology Profile:

How You Approach Life and How You Appear To Others

Ferociously proud and somewhat vain, you like to be impressive and to be seen as Somebody Special. You are not timid, meek, or self-effacing, and are rarely content being in the background or in the subordinate position. You are a natural leader, and do not take orders from others very well. You must have something of your own, something creative - be it a business, a project, a home or whatever - that you can develop and manage according to your own will and vision. Whatever you do, you do it in a unique, dramatic, individual way. You like to put your own personal stamp on it.

The Inner You: Your Real Motivation

You are, in many ways, an eternal child. Your mind is bright, alert, curious, flexible, playful, and always eager for new experiences - and your attention span is often quite brief. You grasp ideas quickly and once your initial curiosity has been satisfied, you want to go on to something else. You crave frequent change, variety, meeting new situations and people.

Daily Catscope for Ava:

(In case you didn't know, Ava, like me, is a Gemini. As is Will. We have 3 Geminis under one roof... look out!)

You're feeling a bit more rigid in your needs and beliefs, and if your human pals are trying to get you to try new things, you are unusually resistant. See if you can just maintain the routine for one day.

Daily Overview for June 24, 2009:

Your big brain makes today better than you expected -- others are in tune with your big ideas, and at least a few people are willing to sit down and brainstorm some new hot ideas for future use.

I always have big ideas. Always.

Well, I hope you had fun like I did. 

What is a Modern Bohemian?

I am a modern bohemian. If you are too, you already know it. Or you at least suspect it...

Friday, June 5, 2009

So a few days ago (on June 2nd) it was my 25th birthday. Crazy. A few days before that, my cousin Nicole had her first baby! Exciting stuff! I have more friends' b-days coming up as well, and then of course there is Will's birthday (on June 8th). Today we are going to his parents' house to celebrate (even though it's not for a few more days). I love going to his parents' house. It is almost like walking into a museum. It's exciting, interesting, and educational but not as stuffy or unapproachable. It is a comfortable place to be, but when I'm there, I am always so interested in everything around me.

Will's parents may just have some Bohemian in them.

Their house is filled with artwork, sculptures, and artifacts from around the world. The color schemes are that of an upscale, artsy, hotel, and often wallpaper patterns, rugs, and accessories do not match, but in some ecclectic way... it all looks perfect.

But I like it there for other reasons of course. His parents are lovely people and they raised a fantastic son, so I like to see them, talk to them, and just relax in their company.

After their house, I don't know what the plans are. My life is so open right now. I could do just about anything...

My Style

I have an emotional connection with my clothes. They are comfortable, they appeal to my sense of beauty and art, they flatter my body, and they allow me to express myself in ways that I wouldn't be able to otherwise.

In case you haven't seen a whole lot of pictures of me yet, I'll let you in on a little secret... I dress like a Hippie, Bohemian, Free-Spirit. I wear clothes and accessories I've made, I shop second hand and thrift, I turn things into clothing that are not originally clothing items, I wear head scarves and hats and sometimes necklaces, I love peace signs, and hemp, and pleather, I wear jeans until they rip to pieces and then I wear them some more, I adore leggings, dresses, boots, moccasins, and old sweaters, I love to mix and match patterns and colors, and I never limit myself.
Fashion is fun, and it is an artistic form of personal expression that I am very grateful for.

Faults, Truths, and Whatnot: Information Revealed

I am a modern day Hippie, Bohemian, Free-Spirit
I am super naive, easily manipulated, and overly trusting. So bottom line: I get hurt a lot. Also... I do not like April Fool's Day, Practical Jokes, or Pranks because of this.
I am a person who gets too high of expectations about EVERYTHING which means that when I get crushed, I am crushed into the ground. Also, I occasionally cry a lot.
But sometimes, when I should, I don't cry at all.
I have changed a lot in the last ten years.
I don't like to shave my legs. Ever. Yet I do it when I feel it is needed... not because smooth legs necessarily mean a lot to me. They don't.
I have the occasional melt-down.
Sometimes I literally wonder if I am f'd up and insane. Then I stop wondering and realize the answer is yes.
Sometimes I get really full of myself.
People who act friendly to people's faces and then talk trash about them upset me. I tell people what I feel to their face. ALL except the BACKSTABBERS! Why don't I tell them that I think that their backstabbing is wrong? Because I don't want to judge, I guess. But I am judging. I'm just not speaking up. Damn.
I unapologetically love childish activities like coloring, playing board games, swinging on swings, singing along to songs like "Fifty, Nifty United States" and "How Much is that Doggie in the Window?," eating candy like it's the only food I've had in a year, reading books like The Boxcar Children, playing truth or dare, dancing around to music (badly), and hugging my mom and calling her mommy.
When depressed, I can, and will, consume an entire box of fudge rounds. This is why I do not buy them.
I love my friends, but sometimes I just don't want to talk to anyone.
I don't like to eat alone. It bothers me, a lot. To the point where it's almost ridiculous. (the fudge rounds are an obvious exception)
I feel like people don't understand me. At all. Like I would literally help ANYONE if I was able, even if we weren't friends.

I am honest.
I don't like spiders. But I cry if I kill one. I don't believe in pointless killing. I suppose if I ate the spider, I would feel better, but I could never touch a spider on purpose. AHHH!
I constantly feel like I am searching for something. I am a sad poet, a romantic, a bohemian, hippie, crazy person and that's just the way it is.
I got a speeding ticket once, and I deserved it.
I have medical problems, and I don't tell people all about it because I don't want to make excuses.
I've hurt many people, and been hurt by many people, intentionally and unintentionally.
I am almost always cold. I wear long underwear under almost everything I wear in the winter.
I feel like an outsider a lot. Sometimes I care, sometimes I don't.
I like talking dirty, telling dirty jokes, and making sexual innuendo.
I swear a lot. Probably more than I should...
I like to try new things.
I want to do so much more with my life than what I am doing now.

I believe in peace and love.
I am me.
And that makes me pretty damn happy.
Even if I am a mess.