Name: Megan “Meg” Magdaleno
Age: 29 …? 29. Even though I don’t look it, it’s true. I double-checked the math.
Title: Mrs. – Mrs. Meg Mag
Married/Single: Married to my junior high school boyfriend
Kids: Not for 5 more years! (I hope).
City you live in: Good ol’ Gilbert
A typical day in my life includes…
conducting therapy sessions with kids, and/or with adults. We laugh, we cry. We reflect on the past, celebrate the present, and plan on making progress for the future. Somewhere in there, I check emails, text friends in different parts of the country, paint, stop for coffee, read the news, and then read sarcastic novels that make me forget about the news. Before my husband and I give up and order take-out, I’m researching home décor trends and products that help me provide affordable interior decorating plans for young professionals, and families. On any given night, I’m drafting a blog post on anything from “How to Really Say “I’m Sorry”’ to “Curating a Wardrobe that Keeps you from Crying in the Fitting Room” for thehouseofmag.com.
I was born…
as the firecrackers were going off above my mom. I arrived at 12 midnight on the 5th of July!
My favorite thing about Arizona…
the sunshine and fresh air when you’re driving through the mountains with the windows rolled down. And Dutch Bros., of course!
I’m listening to…
EDM, always – even if my husband’s ears bleed. Sia. Kiiara. + Modern Love, the podcast. It’s personal essays on stories of love, loss, and redemption. My favorite part of the podcast is listening to each essayist give an update on their past experience. Funny stories filled with real life pain and wisdom.
My family…
makes the best tamales, and make me nervous we will, one day, get kicked out of somewhere for being way too loud.
If I could have dinner with anyone, it would be…
Ellen Degeneres, because it would inevitably turn into a dance party where we’d hand out free puppies as party favors!
One thing I cannot live without…
mascara. I’m basically a whole other person without it. Ha.
When I was younger, I wanted to be…
a news anchor, a nun, and a professional ballerina… I think I’ve pretty much accomplished all of those on some level – sharing people’s stories, trying to do some good in the world, and bring a little beauty and art in it. Yeah.
I’m inspired by…
people who rebel against cynicism through a positive attitude, zero self-pity, and the ability to laugh at their clumsy, stupid, or otherwise embarrassing mistakes.
The one person who motivates me is…
dare I say, Mr. Rogers. He reminds me you don’t have to be big and flashy to make a meaningful life, but instead, just be genuine.
If I could change anything in the world, it would be…
to teach every child, in every nation how to read. For real. Just think of how that would influence poverty, technology, medicine, and each kid’s self-esteem.
The perfect day would be…
a stack of pancakes and hot coffee to greet me in bed, a hot yoga class that made me werk(!), a nap (because again, I’m 29, not 25), hanging out with people who make me laugh, all while traveling together in a new city collecting bad selfies, good Instagram pics, and perfect souvenirs like, French perfumes, fancy chocolate, and designer shoes.
My first job was…
a roller-skating, karaoke singer for my neighborhood block. I even built my own stage at age 11, and charged a 50-cent fee. My “Genie in a Bottle” performance was a sold-out show!
My favorite escape…
snorkeling in Cancun. There’s no better place to have sand in your underwear.
My life…
is one episode after another of locking my keys in the car right after getting out of the car… with my seat belt still on.
I’m currently working on…
setting up my at-home art studio so I can print my illustrations and abstract art onto things like large-scale canvases and pillows, and package n’ ship them myself!
Always…
be true to your beliefs. Integrity is a virtue often underrated, but it’s the one thing I’ve seen in people that cultivates a deeper and more impenetrable sense of joy the longer you maintain it. And wear your seat belt. Always.
Never…
wear leggings as pants, unless there is some kind of over-sized top action happening.
Favorite Quote…
“If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit.”
Biggest Dream…
pay off my student loans by 2019 through sharing my art and interior design skills! Live in another country (preferably one that enjoys lots of carbs, like pasta or croissants) with Bae for a year after that to celebrate! Travel enough to fill up my passport book a few times over, and die having published funny, children’s books, while having paid for all my kids’ college + some.
My Pet Peeve(s)…
in no particular order:
- Public bathrooms with only air dryers (ugh, this germophobe needs a paper towel to open the door!).
- Cashiers who throw your food across the conveyor belt (that WAS the perfect pear, dangit).
- People that text during a movie (we can still see the blue light, you know).
