A corner for the boops Aka our dog Sherlock

It took a little too much time and motivation to rally myself to put together this piece I got on Amazon. It admittedly wasn't the easiest piece I've ever assembled. . . BUT our dog liked it right away.

He immediately ate and drank out of it and he's one PICKY BEAGLE!

The problem we needed to solve was having a small space for our record player that didn't take up much of a footprint in our very open living room.

The moment we moved in I knew this little nook would be used somehow. I love that the drawer can be pushed in flush when not in use.

It's also lovely having pegs in case you did need to keep leashes or something there as well. The shelf is ok for treats or something too.

The best part is that the handle opens a large drawer that can hold all of Sherlock's food. This freed up room in our smallish pantry for human food.

How cute did this turn out?

Here's the link for the cabinet in case you need one too. . . https://amzn.to/3XsTfJo

And the record player https://amz n.to/3XwNM4v

Here's Sherlock using it right away!

*this post contains affiliate links I could earn a small commission for when ppl purchase from them

Flipped it and reversed it. The Living Room is a process

My husband Syd is a weird one. He really is gifted and energy sensitive like myself. What I have learned is that he is sooooo sensitive to vibes, that I've had to figure our some unorthodox solutions to his feeling uncomfortable everywhere we've lived.

In our Colonial style home near Atlanta, we had a home bought and sold by and to two sets of flippers before us. Like on a design show they took out walls to make this 80's house more 'open floor plan' and redid most of the bathrooms to modernize them. They did a good job.

It did however create a bit of an odd L shaped living room. The original idea was to have a sitting area and a pool table area. . . Over time we figured out that Syd was getting unhappy with our whole house because he was so uncomfortable in the living room. I get it. In feng shui sitting facing the fireplace puts your back to an entire room with no real support (from a wall, divider, etc.) This can make a person feel like anyone could sneak up on you. It doesn't put one in a 'position of power.'

I suggested flipping our main sitting area into the larger and longer part of the L shape, and doing a more formal sitting area on the fireplace side (TBD) . . . This put our back to the wall on a couch and there was a perfect large blank wall between windows for a mounted t.v. Men and their huge tvs. . . sheesh. But we are actors and entertainment is our life and our passion.

How to fix an L shaped or other odd shaped room? Zones. Create zones for how you want to spend your time in the room!

So we did it. We zoned it out. We put our reclining couch against the wall. I financed a pricier heavy tv stand in a French Country look. I got matching large silver poster frames that echoed the frame around our fireplace. This is the helpful people, target market, travel, and spiritual corner in feng shui So I got us vintage travel posters featuring some of our favorite places.

I chose posters with similar color palattes in them. They all have an Indigo sky, a little green or turquoise, warmer wood or taupe tones, white, grey and muted yellow. The overall Palatte of the room is Indigo, Light blue, Grey/silver, Wood, White, and Black is our accent color.

The room is naturally a little dark due to the large amount of trees here. (I love them). I'm adding light everywhere. Aside from the overhead lights, I added floor lamps, Art Lamps that are rechargable, and Under the shelf lighting. Not only did it make the room lighter on these rainy East Coast Days, it also gives the room a more upscale vibe. It vaguely reminds me of fancier lobbys of movie theatres so I love it!

My mom bought us a fake tree at Target that really brought the room together as a housewarming gift.

Next up we'll get a lovely ruggable that goes with our room. I've got my eye on one! It will be put in the formal seating area opposite the fireplace that leads to the sunroom. It really needs brightening.

My hack for making our odd 'zones' work in the room is to get two chairs that swivel that can be facing towards the fireplace when appropriate or swiveled towards the sofa for entertaining more people. I think small side tables, a low cocktail table and maybe a round class silver coffee table will be the way to go in order to keep the room light and open.

we are discussing painting our built in shelves white to brighten the room. My mom and Syd think maybe we should paint the fireplace white too, but I'm not sure because once the shelves are painted I think the accent color might make it pop.

I'm open to painting it the blue grey color that's in our kitchen too. We're pretty sure glass French doors are an option for sound and coziness too. Keep posted for updates!

I'm still learning integrations to make it easy to find products from my posts in case you want to know where to get things. Links to follow!

My Kibbe Journey (from hell) only sort of kidding. . . Finding my Kibbe body type

TW Talking about a little body dysmorphia etc. if you’re incredibly sensitive about this it might be difficult to read.

I stumbled across Kibbe the stylist and body type theorist made famous in the 80’s with his book ‘Metamorphosis.’ Thanks Pinterest. I was down the Kibbe rabbit hole and there seemed to be no going back! It was fun at first. I pinned outfits from style boards onto Pinterest. . . I took the quizzes. . . BUT

Anyone who has been on a ‘Kibbe journey’ that don’t fit perfectly into a neat little box, knows how frustrating it can be!

When I initially took the test, I got a mix between C and R with most of my answers in R. I have stronger shoulders although they slope slightly. I have daintier bones. My husband says I have “dinky hands.”

Basically I felt the lines that are best on me are Theatrical romantic. I was happy and loving the Pinterest mood boards. Pretty close to what I love the most in my wardrobe.

The Romantic group for the most part typed me as theatrical romantic (maybe R) and were really kind to me. I felt I clicked Best with this group.

Then I joined multiple kibbe groups. If I didn’t have body dysmorphia before I did now. Women called me ‘wide’ ‘fleshy’ and one said it was hard to tell with my ‘excess fat’ no really. A moderator jumped all over that one. Yes I know bi$&h. I’ve been trying to lose weight with hashimotos (thyroid issues) for years.

It messed with my mind. It made me feel crazy! It made me feel ugly, fat, and confused.

I then ran the gambit of body identities.

I quickly ruled out G (Gamine) and D (Dramatic) as they were the least likely.

Too D for me

A little too G (but I like it)

I went to the peanut gallery for back up aka the kibbe groups. I left a few too.

The meanest most pushy people in the groups insisted I was a Soft natural. Yeah I get it. I am curvy with strong shoulders and I look strong.

I resisted hard. My hips are pretty curved and wider than my shoulders. Then I tried to embrace it. The issue is these are my actual worst lines. I hate N lines on me. HATE. I was miserable. I tried to like it. I look like I’m wearing garbage bags. I look sloppy and bigger than I am. I do prefer the open necklines like the N family because I’m so busty. High necklines easily look really matronly on me. BUT I need waist emphasis at least soft emphasis. Simpler draped silhouettes looked horrible on me.

A slightly N look that I was able to leave the house in.

Aside from me not reaching for the N lines (without accommodations) someone in the groups asked questions about pants that were VERY helpful. Basically that cropped is my very best pants look. Wide legs make me look short and fat. He said that’s a big indicator I’m more likely R than N group. (Aside from the quiz saying I wasn’t N)

He also mentioned I have smallish wrists and ankles. So. . . R. I felt relieved.

Then I kept getting told I was too ‘wide’ for R (Kibbe width) although R has always been the majority vote. . . or that my curves were from ‘flesh’ not bones etc. it basically made me feel shitty. I was told I had double curve and that I didn’t have double curve. That I have Kibbe width and I don’t. I have a lot of tension in my shoulders, geez!

A lovely woman and Mod from a break off yin/yang group suggested I explore DC and it fit pretty darned well, but it felt too ‘stiff’ ‘straight’ ‘formal’ and not 100% me. It was pretty darned close though. Blazers are a problem thing for me, and I really need curve accommodation. I do like DC looks as a bright winter. Tons of options as a ‘dc bright winter’ I do like DC but I’m soooo curvy for a DC it was a runner up because that Yang undercurrent worked on me.

I would look sexy (not as posh) like a true classic would in riding breeches.

A somewhat DC look, but still with R in mind

Pure R can often be too frilly and lacking structure on me sometimes. I don’t like too much frou frou etc on me. Just a touch.

I then dove into the classics in general! SC is also a very popular theory for me. The classics thought I was a classic, then they didn’t. I am very balanced in the bust and hips with a moderate vertical line

. I’m curvy. SC would make sense, but it was pointed out that my curves are the first thing people see. That’s what takes me out of classic balance. SC gets too milk toast on me like I need to add something on. . .

Someone said DC makes sense but probably the lines wouldn’t do anything for me. I agreed. It's a little too stiff and formal on me a lot of the time.

The groups like classic lines on me. . . More if there are pops of red, or curly hair, or red nails. . .

After showing many of my best looks, the classics felt a true classic would look bogged down by the details I look best in and that look harmonious on me. That brought the group to the majority opinion that I’m most likely not a true classic. What I felt all along. They felt feminine glamour needs to be in the mix.

Side note: If you get sick of Kibbe play with esscence or color. Getting into esscences was great. Im Romantic, Classic, Ingenue with a teeny bit of E (ethereal). Much easier and more fun than kibbe in my experience. I believe Kitchner is the most famous for essence systems.

Ok back to Kibbe. . .

I realized I get compared to Christina Hendricks and Rachel Weisz as well as Ava Gardener they are all soft dramatics.

A Soft Dramatic look. Photo by Jeannie Quirus

I never thought I was tall enough to be D at 5’5.5” then I found out it isn’t only for the super tall. It has to do with the illusion of a ‘vertical line.’ This pic makes me look tall because of the camera angle. Very SD style here.

I liked the recommendations a lot! They fit well. I can pull off a big hat! I look good on chandelier earrings!

I never thought I was tall enough to be D at 5’5.5” then I found out it isn’t only for the super tall. It has to do with the illusion of a ‘vertical line.’ This pic makes me look tall because of the camera angle. Very SD style here.

I liked the recommendations a lot! They fit well. I can pull off a big hat! I look good on chandelier earrings!

A full blown R look

They are very similar to R lines. I asked the general Kibbe groups and several said it could fit! Most people though agreed my line was clearly moderate and that I was more of an hourglass than a T. Also I look much much more harmonious in midi dresses than maxi ones and cropped pants over floor length.

I thought what is an SD but with a moderate or petite vertical line? R.

Standing in front of Cicada club in Los Angeles with actually tall people

Add a little Yang . . . And you have TR. freaking TR!!!!

Am I a little tall for TR at 5’5.5” yes. Would hard core kibbe folk say it rules me out? Sure. I have long fingers and big feet. (Another automatic fail). Here’s the thing. . . For literally years my favorite styles and those I get the most compliments on are basically TR. Slightly Structured with curve. Sexy and sophisticated. Femme Fatale. Very Retro to true vintage. People think I’m smaller than I am. They say I remind them of old Hollywood actresses.

Round toed heel’s especially t straps have been my signature style for years to the point people call them ‘Megan Shoes.’ ballet flats are a favorite too.

My wedding had a soft nod to 1930s old Hollywood theme. I’ve pin up modeled. As an actress I often play 1930s-1950s.

My hair looks best with structure. My personal style is very feminine.

Thinner and younger it’s easier to see. Smallish, thin, narrow, curvy. . . Shoulders not as tense so you can see the slope in them.

With more weight I look closer to pure R, but my bone structure still looks the best with Yang in my silhouettes.

It might not even be ‘right’ but nothing has ever felt as right as TR and Kibbe himself says only he or the person can type themselves, so I don’t need anyone else’s ‘permission.’ Until I’m famous enough for Kibbe to say what I am I’m accepting and adopting TR as my kibbe body category.

I saw a video about fatter TR’s. They made the case for TR for Tess Holiday who is actually bigger than me. This was insanely helpful.

People get hung up on ‘size’ with Kibbe but it’s not about size it’s about bone structure and what lines look good on you due to that.

I’m not teeny! I have long arms and fingers. I have large feet. I have longish legs. . . All ‘automatic fails’ for TR probably as are my slightly strong shoulders. But when you don’t fit into any one box you have to look at everything and try on a gazillion types of clothes and lines to figure out your best ones. I like these lines best.

Theatrical Romantic

I’m so sick of it and the obsessing over it I nearly threw it out multiple times along my journey. If I get famous and Kibbe himself helps me out then cool. For now I’m sticking to Theatrical Romantic. (Or classic with so much romantic essence it pushed me into R) Or an SD with a meditate line? Ahhhhh Theatrical Romantic aren’t just my best lines but an accurate description of me as a person.

That’s my theory and I’m sticking to it! I’ll adopt it unless something that fits better comes along.

Over and out and good luck on your kibbe journey! (If you're on one)

UPDATE. . . A group says that I APPEAR to have vertical and have yin flesh over a yang frame. . . So now We are thinking SD . . . Still on the journey. ha ha!