Every now and then I come across a great new event planning tool that I just have to share with you all. Recently this one found me: SquadUP. After browsing through the website and talking with one of the co-founders (hey Austen!) I can't believe that I haven't run across this site before. The idea behind this site is pretty simple (and amazing!)...

Everything about SquadUP is so easy to use. When you go to their site you simply click "create an event," enter your event information, customize your event page and you are ready to go! Whether you are hosting a charity fundraiser, bachelor/bachelorette weekend getaway, a Superbowl Party or a friend's birthday extravaganza, SquadUP is the perfect tool for the event host or hostess. You have to check it out!

Here are some great reasons why you should start using SquadUP today:

1. Connect with the TOP Social Networks
As a host, you are in charge of sending invitations, tracking RSVPs, disseminating event-specific details, and updating your friends when those details change. SquadUP solves each of these challenges by allowing you to reach friends, and friends of friends, via Facebook, email, and twitter, with beautifully designed custom invitations.

2. Easy Access Anytime
You create a custom webpage for your event where you're able to message guests and track RSVPs, all in real-time. If your time, location, description, or any event-specific details change, SquadUP’s allows you to notify your guests and help them plan accordingly.

3. Easy Payment Methods
Collecting money from guests one by one can be a nightmare. SquadUP streamlines the process of collecting the money for your event and provides you with the ability to track funding every step of the way. You determine the amount you want to collect, how you'd like to receive your funds, and by what date. You can set multiple ticket prices, collect donations, and give out promo codes.

4. It's too easy NOT to use! 
You don't just have to take my word for it...

So be sure to head on over to SquadUP to plan your next event today! You can also connect with them through any of their social media networks below...

Do you have an event planning tool that you love to use? Let me know in the comments section below! Thanks SquadUP!

xoxo
Megan

You might also like...

The tree might still be up for another day or two, but sadly this Christmas season is coming to an end. This past month has been jammed packed with holiday parties, birthday celebrations (yea me!), shopping, caroling, baking, tacky light tours, gift giving and of course spending time with family and friends. While the holiday season was a bit shorter this year that didn't stop anyone from enjoying Christmas to the fullest! Here are some of my favorite moments from this past Christmas season...

My birthday is just 2 weeks before Christmas, so it always gets lumped in there with all the annual holiday celebrations. Now what to wish for...

I was in charge of all the decorating for our office's annual holiday party. This year I got the wrapping bug...

Whats Christmas without a little crafting? I made my own set of "HO, HO, HO" blocks, created my annual Christmas card and created this adorable pink and green Lilly ornament for The Pink Palm's ornament contest (And guess what? I won!!)...

Before I headed home we celebrated one of my co-worker's last day at the office. Let's just say I still had the wrapping bug...

When I arrived home there was still a ton of decorating to do so I got to work and put up our JMU tree right away!

And it can't be the holidays without a bunch of family in town to celebrate with.

What was your favorite moment from this Christmas season?

xoxo
Megan

You might also like...

Every year, since I can remember, my grandmother has baked gingerbread houses for my sister, bother and I to decorate. Of course when we were all little it was more along the lines of how much candy can we put on the houses than actual decoration, but it was still something we loved doing! I think that first pictures is from around 2000 with some of our early houses. As you can tell between the two pictures our group has come a long way (as well as my brother's girlfriend has joined us in the decorating fun) with our decorating skills. 

This year I decided to do a little something different when it came to decorating my house. A few weeks ago I ran across this gorgeous Lilly themed gingerbread house on Pinterest and couldn't stop thinking about it. So as with most things I find on Pinterest, that Lilly house quickly became my creative inspiration for decorating this year's gingerbread house. And this is what I came up with...

I loved how great all of our houses turned out this year and cannot wait to decorate gingerbread houses next year! Do you have a Christmas tradition that you love doing each year?

xoxo
Megan

You might also like...

This is no better time of the year than Christmas when I get to start listening to Christmas music 24/7 and pull out all the Christmas decorations that I have had packed away in storage since last year. Last week I finally had time to pull out all of the decorations and turn my apartment into a winter wonderland (well as much as I could at least)! Now I am ready for any holiday guests that may come my way! 

To start, it can't be Christmas without a Christmas tree. I love my white tree and cannot wait to decorate it every year! I love getting home from work now just so I can go and plug in my tree.

And I haven't figured out how yet, but Google photos somehow got one of my pictures to snow which I am now obsessed with!

A few of us took a quick break from our work day last week to go over to an all-campus holiday celebration, this gingerbread house was a sight to see! I wish I could make something like this to display with my Christmas decor.

And to continue on with the holiday cheer I took a trip down to Richmond to attend the annual Bizarre Bazaar to stock up on some more Christmas goodies. This is by far one of my favorite holiday events to attend each year!

Today I added some final touches to my holiday decorations with these adorable wall prints and a friendly face to sit in my stocking.

Check back later this week as I will be sharing with you some of my Christmas crafts that I have been busy making this holiday season! Now, all I need to do is finish up those Christmas cards and get them in the mail! What is your favorite part when it comes to getting ready for the holidays?

xoxo
Megan

You might also like...

This past Thanksgiving holiday was one filled with family and friends galore! From freezing at the Turkey Trot race, family shenanigans and black Friday shopping there was just no slowing down! But not to worry I was still able to capture it all (well most of it) to create this photo diary to share with you all. Here are some of my favorite moments from this past Thanksgiving weekend...

As promised I pulled out my craft box and made these Thanksgiving pillow boxes (similar to the ones I shared with you in my Thanksgiving Party Crafts post) and filled them with delicious chocolate pecan toffee. YUM!

And without even knowing it my mom and sister made this cute Thanksgiving tree and wreath using similar felt stickers like I used on my pillow treat boxes!

After all the decorations were up we kicked off the Thanksgiving weekend by running in the annual Turkey Trot 10K race on Thanksgiving morning. Our race results were kind enough to let us know that it was only 32 degrees out when the race started. 

After we cleaned up (and warmed up) we headed down to the river for our family Thanksgiving celebration. Here is the table all set for dinner, 

What is Thanksgiving without a freshly carved (and personally caught by the carver himself) turkey?

A nice before and after shot of my Thanksgiving meal (well the first plate of it anyways), 

And then we let the Christmas festivities begin! My cousin and I headed out for a little Black Friday shopping Thursday evening and Friday morning without any major crowd issues. We were successful in my book! Number one thing on the Christmas shopping list? A tree of course!

And to end the holiday weekend my dad finished putting up all the Christmas lights!

The Christmas season really is upon us and we only have a few short weeks to enjoy it all this year! What was your favorite part about this past Thanksgiving day weekend?

xoxo
Megan

You might also like...

Another college football season has come and gone. Even though there is still one more game left in the season this past weekend was our last home game so I said goodbye to JMU's Bridgeforth Stadium until next year this past weekend. So with the close of another season I have put together a photo diary of all the gameday and tailgating fun I took part in this past season. 

From the first game to the last my tailgate BFF and I made it through together,

I always made sure to have one of my preppy glasses on hand for proper tailgating,

As well as a few of my favorite tailgating decorations,

Can you really have a tailgate without your football season garden knome?

Catching up with friends is always a perk of going to football games,

Seeing the family isn't too bad either, (Thanks Uncle Rusty for taking the picture!)

And I could not wait to see the Dukes enter Bridgeforth Stadium ready to play each weekend!

The only upside to the season ending is that now I have 9 months to find some great new tailgating crafts, recipes and outfits. What has been your favorite gameday experience from this past season?

xoxo
Megan

You might also like...

Happy Monday! It has been a while since I last shared my first Pinterest Recipe post with you. So I figured there is no time like the present to share with you what I have been cooking in the kitchen this fall. Since my apple picking adventure in September I have been browsing Pinterest for some great recipes that will use up the apples as well as other fall favorite recipes. Here are the recipes that I have tried out from Pinterest, deemed successes, and have already made their way into my recipe box! Enjoy!

Apple Cinnamon Muffins with Almond and Brown Sugar Topping recipe from ShopGirl
Ingredients

• 3 small apples (or 2 large ones)
  
• 1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
  
• 2 tsp baking powder
  
• 2 tsp ground cinnamon
  
• 2/3 cup plus 4 tsp packed light brown sugar
  
• 1/2 cup honey
  
• 1/4 plain yogurt 
  
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
  
• 2 eggs
  
• 1/4 sliced almonds
  

Directions
1. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder and 1 tsp ground cinnamon. Mix until all ingredients are combined.
2. Next, prepare your apples. Peel, core and dice them into small chunks (about 1/4 inch chunks). Set them aside and preheat your oven to 400F.
3. In a smaller bowl, combine the brown sugar, vegetable oil, honey, yogurt and the two eggs. Whisk until you have a brown-ish mixture, then fold it into the flour mixture and add the apples.
4. Now prepare your muffin topping in a small bowl. Mix 1/4 cup sliced almonds, 4 tsp brown sugar and 1 tsp ground cinnamon.
5. Line your muffin pan with paper cups, pour batter into each cup equally and then sprinkle with the topping. Bake for 20 minutes, until the tops of the muffins are golden brown!

Apple Salad
Ingredients

• 3 to 4 apples
  
• 3/4 cup raisins
  
• 2 to 3 Tbsp light mayo (enough to cover all apples)
  

Directions
1. Prepare your apples by removing the core and cutting them into small, bite-sized pieces (about 3/4-1 inch chunks).
2. In a large bowl, combine the apples, raisins and mayo and fold together with a spatula until combined.
3. Grab a fork and enjoy!

Mini Pumpkin Muffins
Ingredients

• 1 can of Libby's Pumpkin
  
• 1 box of Spice Cake Mix
  
• 1 bag of mini chocolate chips
  

Directions (and this really can't get any easier!)
1. Mix together all ingredients in a bowl.
2. Spoon mixture into a mini muffin pan.
3. Bake at 350F for 7-10 minutes (depending on the size of the muffins) until a toothpick comes out clean.
4. Make sure to enjoy one (or two) before you put them out for guests as these will be consumed by anyone you serve them to.

Crockpot Baked Apples recipe from The Harris Sisters
Ingredients

• 5 apples, peeled, cored, and sliced
  
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
  
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  
• 1/2 cup water
  
• 2 Tbsp cornstarch
  
• 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
  
• 1 Tbsp cinnamon
  
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
  
• 1 Tbsp butter, cubed
  

Directions
1. Peel, core, and slice the apples.
2. Add apples, sugars, water, cornstarch, nutmeg, cinnamon, and vanilla to crockpot, stirring to incorporate.
3. Place butter on top of apples
4. Cook on high for 1 1/2 hours or on low for 4-5 hours. Stir mixture halfway through cooking.

Paleo Crock Pot Pork Tenderloin with Apples and Honey 
recipe adapted from Our Full Plate
Ingredients

• 1 pork tenderloin (1 ½ lbs)
• 2 small apples or 1 large apple, peeled and chopped
• ¼ cup of chicken broth
• ¼ cup of honey
• ½ tsp of cinnamon (optional)
• salt to taste

Directions
1. Prepare your apples by coring them and cutting them into wedges. 
2. Add half of your cut apples to the bottom of the crockpot.
3. Prepare your pork tenderloin by cutting slits into the top of the meat and insert 1 apple wedge into each slice. 
4. Add the pork tenderloin and the rest of the apples to the crockpot.
5. Pour in the chicken broth and the sprinkle the spices and honey on top.
6. Set your crockpot on low and cook for 8-10 hours.
7. Serve over rice, pasta or potatoes for a delicious meal!

Creamy Crockpot Chicken and Broccoli recipe from Kaitlin in the Kitchen
Ingredients
3 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast
1 3/4 cup Chicken Broth
1 can Cream of Chicken Soup
1 can Cheddar Cheese Soup
1/2 tsp Salt
1/4 tsp Black Pepper
8 oz Sour Cream
1 cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese
6 cups Broccoli Florets, steamed (I used the steamer bag  which also gave me 8 cups of broccoli)
Cooked Rice or Pasta, to serve it over 

Directions
1. Wash & trim your chicken of any excess fat. 
2. Add your soups, chicken broth and seasonings to your crockpot and mix until everything is combined. 
3. Place the chicken in the mixture and cook on low for 6 hours or high for 3 hours. 
4. When the cooking time is over and the chicken is cooked through, take two forks and shred it into bite sized pieces. 
5. Stir in the broccoli and sour cream. 
6. Serve over rice or pasta and sprinkle with shredded cheese. 
**This recipe said it makes 4-6 servings but just to be forewarned they are very generous servings!

The reason for all the crockpot recipes is that I have recently stumbled upon how easy it is to fix a delicious meal using them. Now I don't have to wait after I get home from the gym, the meal is ready to go! (It only took 3 years before I discovered how amazing this kitchen appliance is!) 

Have you tried out a new recipe from Pinterest lately? Share your favorite Pinterest recipe in the comments section below!

xoxo
Megan

You might also like…

Happy Monday! I hope everyone had an amazing weekend! These first few weeks (or month!) of fall have been keeping me pretty busy. I participated in a marathon relay race, enjoyed some more great football tailgating, had fun with some friends at a Phil Vassar concert, had fun at a friend's house warming party and took a step onto the wild side and played paintball for the first time ever. And it doesn't look like I will be slowing down anytime soon with the holidays right around the corner. Though I can't complain as that just means there will be a ton of parties and holiday events to take part in. Before I get to caught up in the holiday event season here is a glimpse into what I have been up to this fall...

Celebrated our team's 2nd place division finish with our new Relay Marathon mugs...

Had fun at the Phil Vassar concert at JMU...

Brought out the infamous JMU sombrero for the annual JMU vs UR football game tailgate. I might need to make a new sign...

Attended a house warming party which is always a great excuse for some cookie decorating...

Never wanting football season to end, I ventured off to another game in Williamsburg with some of my favorite people...

And because I am always up for an adventure I signed up to play paintball with a group from the gym. I really had no idea what I had signed up for when I got there that morning!

What have you been up to so far this fall?

xoxo
Megan

You might also like...

This past week the girl's and I got together for our monthly theme dinner and had a great night of catching up, seeing our friend's new house and enjoying some amazing Chilean dishes. With the country stretching over 2,600 miles long, the country is known for a wide variety of foods. However, no matter where you are in the country you will find amazing seafood dishes as well as some great red wine. So we made sure to include those two in our girl's dinner menu. Here was our Chilean themed menu for the evening:

• Papas Duquesas (Chilean Potato Puffs)
  
• Fritos de Porotos Verdes (Green Bean Patties)
  
• Ostiones a la Parmesana (Scallops with Parmesan)
  
• Turron de Vino (Red Wine Mousse)

My only note on when I was making the papas duquesas is to make sure your oil does not get too hot. Somehow mine started to boil too much and the last batch of potato puffs I was cooking unfortunately had to be sacrificed to the trashcan. There is always some fun going on in the kitchen when we all get together. And of course I have some pictures of our delicious meal that we enjoyed to share with you as well.

Here we were cooking our potato puffs and green bean patties so we could serve them warm for dinner.

Our dishes cooked to perfection and ready to enjoy! Instead of cooking the scallops in one large dish Sam cooked them in small ramekins since there were only four of us.

Once dinner was over the red wine mousse was dished out and topped with sliced almonds and whipped cream. This was a very light dish and was perfect since we all were a little stuffed from the main dishes.

Next month...Egypt! Do you have any good suggestions for a dish I should make? Happy Monday!

xoxo
Megan

You might also like...

Sunday officially was the start of fall. So what better way to welcome in the fall season than by going apple picking! The day before I went I even started browsing through Pinterest for some more great apple recipes to try! Here are some great pictures that I took from my apple picking adventure!

The view from Carter Mountain Orchard was beyond beautiful!

First order of duty was to fuel up with a delicious apple cider donut from their bakery. YUM!

And then we were off! My dad thought it was a bright idea to climb up into the trees to get some apples. You can see him hiding up in the trees. 

Here I am with my tote filed with apples. I always forget how heavy they get!

I have already made my first batch of apple muffins! I even picked up an apple that kind of looks like a heart. 

What did you do to celebrate the first day of fall? Do you have a great apple recipe that I should try? 

xoxo
Megan

You might also like...