seriouslymere

dreams for 2012

2012-01-20T14:40:00.000-08:00

MLK had one. a band was named after one. and i believe susan boyle sang about dreaming about one. which could honestly get a little inception-esque confusing if you think about it.

do you have a dream?

photo credit

countless times as children, we're asked what do you want to be when you grow up? what do you want to do? what do you dream of becoming? and so on and so forth.

and i think so often my dreams merely revolve around a vocation or a paycheck, that i tend to forget about the things in life i'd simply love to do or accomplish...or just try and fail miserably at...but at least say i tried.

my roomie and i have a chalkboard in our kitchen area that we like to keep in the following format: 1/4 - "need" or "to-do" list. and 3/4 - decoration and/or inspiration. during the holiday season, we prompted ourselves and our guests with what are you thankful for? we had a range of serious to silly things, like friends, family, avocados, male models (i'll give you one guess to which friend wrote that on the board). we even added both the chase bank fraud prevention center and the schoolsfirst fraud prevention center when the roomdawg and i both had our bank accounts hacked into by punks. it was the first time for her and the fourth time for me. i have no idea HOW when i am the craziest person at making sure no one has access to that stuff. whatever. but we're thankful for them. and the money that was placed back into our accounts.

based off a recent message given at my church here in LA, i was inspired to make the new posting on the board be a platform for friends, as well as my roomie & me, to share our dreams for this year. whether they be what we in our minds would consider big dreams or little dreams, serious dreams or just fun ones to think about...on the board they could go! <--that just made me think of oh, the places you'll go!

here's some of mine that have found their way onto the board so far:

1. finish hardwood floor in apartment
2. love more
3. learn to surf
4. sister trip '12 - GREECE
5. be a light in LA
6. receive flowers from a guy just because (and it can't be Dad)
7. meet: Zooey Deschanel, Zachary Levi, Blake Griffin

probably the same reaction i'd have to meeting her

working on his smolder

from men's health mag

8. see World of Color at disneyland before i turn 28 (we've got just over a month)
9. finish funding and visit the well in Ghana with Generosity Water

WHAT ARE YOUR DREAMS FOR 2012? share them below!

my best dressed list from 2012 people's choice awards

2012-01-12T09:34:00.000-08:00

(or what i actually got to see of the awards show - all site credits to photos are linked in the captions. cause you have to know i didn't take these photos myself. had i been this close to these stars, i would've forgotten my name, what year it was, and the fact that i had a camera in my hand or how to work one if i did remember.)

IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN: EMMA STONE

this might have been the first outfit i saw and thought YES. I WANT THIS. oh how i would rock that verde Gucci blazer.

PRETTY IN PINK: GINNIFER GOODWIN

once upon a time, i dreamed i could pull off this much pink in public...you win, goodwin. you always do.

FASHIONABLY AGE APPROPRIATE: CHLOË GRACE MORETZ

youthful hemline, yet still elegant. smart moves for a 14 year old. AND she beat out 4 harry potter cast members for her award. NBD.

~~HONORABLE MENTION~~ FORGET IT, SHE MAKES THE CUT: COBIE SMULDERS

oh, canada! loving this cobalt on cobie.

ON THE FRINGE OF FASHION GLORY: LEA MICHELLE

this marchesa number looks great on her, but i would never try it. i'll save the fringe for flappers and turkish bath towels

holding it down for the XY side of fashion...

MAD ABOUT PLAID: ZACHARY LEVI

this man just oozes scrumdiddlyumptious. and yes, that IS my favorite wonka bar.

please, like i remember any of the other guys there once i saw him. NPH looked great as usual (tie clip). liam hemsworth was very put together with an aussie cool factor going on (is that a henley under that well-fitted jacket, Li?).

notes from the show: green. cobalt. tie clips.

there you have it, folks. the people's choice awards' fashion summed up in three items.

remember me?

2012-01-11T17:35:00.000-08:00

sorry for the lack of posting in the past month here on seriouslymere. for those who don't know, i ended up taking on two gigs for the holidays - which means that i had a busy schedule and during my downtime probably couldn't even process an idea for a blog post.

i would love to get back into the swing on things on here in this new year, so don't hesitate to let me know things you'd like to discuss but don't have a blog to (or just don't care to take the time to write, but you'd be willing to read about on here).

some random updates

job update: one of my holiday gigs is about to end...but the one that's not is über fun - at ANTHROPOLOGIE. wuddup inspiration every day! geez, if i could live in the store i would. i think i could, if they'd let me. i'd just have to figure out the whole showering part, but everything else would be covered. our store has a bed, sofa, fridge, computer, closet (ok, fine, i don't really have access to that freely)...but it would be awesome.

generosity water well update: with a donation that i'm hand-delivering to the fellas at generosity water in two days, we are at a total of $2806! HOLY FRIJOLES! that's only $194 away from reaching the goal!!! it's been an amazing journey of trust in the Lord's provision and placement of people in my life to see how He is bringing the funds together. i'm so thankful to all who have donated and/or shared the vision at any capacity toward the well!

DIY updates: about to take on a little DIY project by stripping the paint off and upholstering a coffee table i snagged at a garage sale for $10. if you know of great ideas/links, send them my way! would love to complete this project by early Feb.

holidays update: for the first time in 27 years on this earth, i was not with my family for both thanksgiving and christmas. it was definitely tough to not be with them and be working here, but i had to make an adult decision and make sure i was being financially wise...and i honestly could't afford to spend money on plane tickets at the time when there were bills that needed to be paid. i was able to spend both holidays with other holiday orphans here in LA, so i was not alone. i even had the opportunity to Skype with my fam on christmas day, and they watched me open the gifts they mailed me. it was awkward. absolutely. but fun to try and stick to traditions though distance kept us apart. my big christmas gift was an annual pass to DISNEYLAND (insert magical sounds of wonder and awe here). i've already been to DL 3 times since moving here in july and have another trip planned this month with friends from church. so that means, i've basically already made the purchase worth it. woohoo! on NYE, my roomie rented a yacht (no, i didn't stutter), which held 100+ of our closest friends. we sailed around the marina dressed to the nines and had a blast. such a fun time to spend NYE celebrating with such great people.

general life update: i love LA. seriously. yeah, it was tough and challenging being unemployed (wah wah) for longer than i ever have. but 'tis so sweet to trust in Jesus. just to take Him at His word - that never will He leave me and never will He forsake me. just to know that He was walking alongside me the entire time as i wrestled through that season of life. and i'd like to think i'm better for it. i've been so blessed to find a phenomenal community through my church (MOSAIC) - seriously, come join us for a gathering sometime! the people there are what makes it worth having to pay for parking/expensive gas/higher rent/more expensive meals/etc.

television update: i can't NOT talk about television on here (duh). i'm still without cable. and i still like to complain about it publicly. but, really, i'm ok without it for now. it's not ideal to watch all shows on my computer or only be able to host people at my apartment to watch movies cause i can't DVR anything. i'm saving money that is needed elsewhere for the time being, and that's good with me. besides, my friend P gave me HIMYM season 6 on DVD for christmas, so i've been rewatching that during the holiday hiatus...AND most shows are available online, so i'm pretty well caught up! new shows i'm watching: NEW GIRL (love it!), ONCE UPON A TIME (the only show i've successfully gotten my roomie to watch with me on my computer while sharing a loveseat...quite cozy when having to watch under those conditions), and MAD MEN - P got MM on DVD so i'm three episodes in, but quite intrigued. i know i could never have been a woman at that time because i sure as heck would not have allowed a lot of what they do to go on in the workplace...but then it makes me wonder if i had been alive at that time, would i have thought anything of it as i do now? yikes. as for NEW GIRL, the dynamic of the characters cracks me up, and i can't help but see myself as the character of Jess in all her awkwardness. since the show has aired, i am told by more and more people - whether i know them or not - that i remind them of Zooey Deschanel or of her character on NEW GIRL. i try to filter that by thinking they mean all the endearing parts about the character, so i consider it a compliment. but most times, people follow it up with how much they love her or love the show or think it's hilarious, so i don't stress over there being a hidden diss in there ~~much~~ at all. PS - ZD is hosting SNL on 2/11 with Karmine as the musical guest (if you watched ELLEN last year, you would have seen Karmine perform the "Look At Me Now (I'm Gettin' Paper)" track by Chris Brown and Busta Rhymes on the show. I think the girl is awesome and crazy talented. in HIMYM news, the creators behind the show (carter & bays) have said they know where the show is headed, they don't see them unveiling the mom anytime soon, they don't see the show ending anytime soon (cause they still have lots of ideas to add to the storyline), and they're trying to figure out whether to cast mom as a big name actress or an unknown - i hope it's an unknown actress and she is me. tweeted about it today, and a guy responded saying i'm in. soooo even though he doesn't work directly for the show, i'm hoping that twitter buzz will have gotten me the exposure i needed at the CBS offices. obviously the mom has to be brunette. there's no way a blonde mom and ted mosby, architect, could have had such dark hair/dark eyed kids. that's what they get for casting that girl and david henrie from disney channel.

i wanted to keep these updates brief, and of course the tv one got me carried away! hope everyone is already beginning 2012 with fresh perspective and big dreams for the year and on!

you've forced my hand...

2011-12-07T13:49:00.001-08:00

since today is a wednesday, it's a water well update day!

and since the last time I actually posted an update (my bad), there's been some progression...but I still need your help!

ballerinas in sarasota, florida got together and donated...people from my parents' sunday school class watched the christmas campaign video and felt moved to give...but you know who's missing on that list?

YOU!

and with that...like i titled this post...you've forced my hand. i hoped it wouldn't come to this. i hoped that this well would be funded one day after i told you about it because how could you NOT want to be a part of bringing clean water to someone who hasn't experienced it before?

i know the best campaigns are the ones that show sad and depressing pictures of dogs and cats...or crying babies...or play sarah mclachlan songs...or show elderly people...so here it is. my forced hand. a combo of them all. (please play youtube video below while staring at the photo above it)

photo credits: not my dog, definitely not my child, and seriously not my cat...but that's my grandmother and my collage creation.

if that doesn't compel you to give, then you might simply be heartless. or broke. or both.

i hope that you can find it feasible to give out of a spirit of generosity this holiday season. we've already come so far to get this many donations, but please don't let it stop there. and please know that even a $5 donation is $5 closer to bringing clean water to the people of Ghana.

please join me in giving sacrificially and expectantly that we will fund this well by Christmas.

donate online here or mail a check with my name in the memo line to: Generosity Water, c/o Michael Muniz, 12800 Riverside Drive, Suite 200, Valley Village, CA, 91607

oh and seriously, we're at $825 out of $3000 (the total on the website doesn't include the recurring payments until they've been deducted each month from the donor's account)...and that means we still have a lot we need to raise! how will you make a difference?

you guys are awesome!

i will remember you.

FLIRTING: Where's the Rosetta Stone for that?!

2011-12-01T08:30:00.000-08:00

I have to be honest upfront with this post - I am absolutely nervous to write on such a topic. Why?

BECAUSE I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA WHAT I'M DOING.

in my mind, it's just that...a foreign language I so desperately want to learn but would need a translation program to really learn what the heck to do.

I remember being in Jr High...or what I like to refer to as "my playa days" (hey there public school) when I would confidently approach "the prey" and make my move. Nothing too over the top. Totally casual. And when I was bored with that guy, I'd move on to the next object of my 8th grade affection. Maybe it was merely a single conversation, maybe it turned into sitting next to one another during lunch (but only if he was in my class or we had somehow rigged it where I was at the end of my class line and he was at the beginning of his. SMOOTH!), maybe it was he would cheer me on at my basketball games and I would cheer him on when I wasn't looking to see who just sent 143 to my friend's see-through blue pager. No matter what the situation, one thing was the same...I knew what I was doing.

At one time.

So what happened since Jr High? Did I lose that loving feeling? Does this Stella need to get her groove back? Somehow over the years, I've dwindled. And mama needs it back in her bag of tricks ASAP (that sounds weird. I apologize). If not for myself, then for the poor souls I attempt to flirt with...because, Lord help them all, I can make it awkward.

To help me out, I enlisted some of my friends via the Interweb to send me their thoughts, advice, methods, and funny stories of flirtation. Some may call that weird and creepy. I call it research.

Therefore, the following is broken down into some of their thoughts in various categories...I hope you learn as much as I am.

TIPS
The most common tips I received were as follows: Be yourself. Be charming. Be funny.

Lucky for me, myself = charming and funny. At least my grandma tells me so. Which means it must be truth.

BE YOURSELF. Everyone who wrote in made sure to make it clear that being yourself is key when in flirt mode. Makes sense, because if your approach is totally different than who you are normally, then he/she is in for a great awakening (book reference!) when you jekyll & hyde (another!) your way to your alter ego. And if not being yourself is what attracts them to you, then how much does that suck (not a book reference) when you do get comfortable & act like yourself and you have nothing in common now. WAH WAH. So save yourself the time and trouble for the future by being yourself NOW.

BE CHARMING. I'll be honest. Charm comes naturally to me. Blame it on my Southern upbringing or being the youngest of seven grandchildren. When I look up the word "charming" in my online dictionary (in my corners feature on my MacBookPro), it doesn't say BROWN-NOSER or SCHMOOZE...it says things like polite, friendly, likable. Those are easy traits to perfect. Can you smile? Can you say "please" and "thank-you"...and all of these without faking it? PERFECT! YOU'RE ON YOUR WAY TO BEING CHARMING. No princely crown necessary.

Another simple way to be charming is to show a genuine interest in the other person. You never know what you might learn about that person or what common ground you might share. And believe me, I can totally tell when a guy is talking to me because he genuinely wants to or because he's waiting for a better opportunity to come along (or to stop flirting with his friend. BOOM.). Priscilla's advice: "ASK QUESTIONS! Girl or guy, shy or loud, regardless of background or your relation to them wants to talk about themselves in some shape or form. We all want to be needed and known." She continues with making sure to ask open-ended questions so that you walk away with more 411 on him, and he feels known. Fellas, don't be the only one talking when that gal is on the prowl, or her stiletto will kick you to the curb. I've seen it in action. The stiletto and her prowl. Ok, not really on that last one...but the stiletto - absolutely.

So ask questions, and actually give a crap about what they're saying. Worst case scenario: you've learned new things about a great person. That wasn't so bad now, was it?

BE FUNNY. I've posted before that the way to my heart is through my funny bone. And I make no retraction of that statement. You want in mi corazon? You bring a sincere sense of humor, and you're on your way...it's not a guarantee, but it's at least a start. When it comes to thinking that flirting well goes hand in hand with being funny, I, like many other people, I would assume, have the beginnings of heart palpitations and/or panic attacks. Vulnerable time: I pride myself on being funny. I guess if enough people tell you something (whether it's true or not), you begin to believe it for yourself. So, if my life has been a web of lies, then I blame it on everyone else. But, since I believe it enough (in a humble way, of course), that I actually do have a decent sense of humor (since guys have complimented me on it. Sorry ladies...I believe it from them more.), then this is probably the area that causes me the most hang ups in the process of flirting. Since I believe that I'm funny, I expect too much of myself when flirting...and that pressure to be in the zone the whole time with my wit and humor causes me to simply NOT say things when I want to. I recently told my roommate of a conversation I was in with an attractive guy and how I seriously experienced one of those "expectation vs. reality" moments like in 500 days of summer. He said something to me, passing not only the conversation ball also the opportunity to be funny in my court. And though in my head I had the perfect comeback, also featuring an easy-going bit of humorous body language (geez, my description seems ridiculous because I'm really being careful so as to not give myself away at this moment), and what did I do? GIGGLE. LIKE A FREAKING LITTLE SCHOOL GIRL. No funny comeback. And no what else of? Oh, that's right...him flirting back. BOOOOO. So, here's what I'm learning from my tip-giving friends: don't put so much pressure on yourself to be Def Comedy Jam-funny. He knows you're not a comedian. So why try to be one for conversation purposes? No need.

So be yourself. And as Priscilla noted: "If he's supposed to be in your world, he's gonna love all the quirks that make you, you!" I'm trying to figure out if she's directing this to me or just to the general public..."If he can't keep up, then he's not worth it." Gents, same goes for the lady folk!

TECHNIQUES
Can I just get something off my chest? Don't tell me that flirting is like riding a bike. Don't tell me it's like interviewing for jobs. I mean, I get what the heart of your message is, but all I'm hearing is I need flirting training wheels until I'm ready to cruise the lanes of love on my own...and considering I just got hired at my first part-time holiday job, I hope I'm not only available for part-time holiday flirting then back to square one spending months looking for the next opportunity to call me back.

Phew! With that said, you folks cracked me up with your techniques and tricks of the trade! I also want you all to know that I asked each person if they would like to remain anonymous to keep their mystery and be able to use these methods of game still in the future. All were perfectly fine with me sharing, so away we go:

RAP/WRAP ARTIST. Rey mentioned a few techniques that he's found success with in the past. Beyond setting yourself up to perform a karaoke duet with them a la A WHOLE NEW WORLD and/or SUMMER NIGHTS (no, Rey was not the guy from speed dating who loved that song...see explanation of THAT night here, though), he likes to show the ladies the softer side of Rey with a little shopping adventure. He may approach a gal in need of help shopping for a gift for a female family member. Gal now thinks she has an expert opinion, so he's not only boosted her confidence by choosing her for this...but he's also allowed her the opportunity to see that he's thoughtful and values family. Hook, line, and sinker...conversation has been started and she's wrapped about his finger. Or she's just wrapped his gift for his mom. Either way...wrapping is involved.

UNFINISHED BIZ-NASS. Louie, though quite thoughtful in his own way (you're welcome, Louie!), takes a different approach. Rather than simply starting the conversation, he likes to end the conversation early. Wait, what? Yep, you read that right. When conversation is flowing, he finds a way to leave the conversation before he and the object of his affection are truly done with that topic. I gotta say, when I read this tip, I thought GENIUS. Even Louie knew that no girl likes unfinished conversational business (that's why we get like an extra 50,000 words a day or something like that), so he cuts the tête-à-tête short with something like, "We are gonna have to finish this convo another time, okay?" Or if they have been teasing one another back and forth, then he'll respond with, "I gotta go, so you win this round...but I'll come up with a rebuttal for next time." Props to you, Louie, Louie. I know that this would totally work on me because from that moment on, I would be preparing my rebuttal to his next rebuttal and trying to think like 5 steps ahead. Or figuring out how I could get into another conversation with him so I could be the one with truly the last word. Wow, that's good. Wait...have you used this on me before?!

YOU GOTTA KNOW WHEN TO HOLD 'EM. For the ladies, the technique suggested may not be as verbal...but it's technique nonetheless. And...confession moment - this is a technique that a few of my friends here in LA have challenged me to get better at...wait, no, they've challenged me to actually do this. Priscilla explains that she makes "a conscious effort to laugh and then do a little, short arm graze." Haha...I just read that again and it sounds like she grazes short arms...aww T-Rex arms! No, she makes sure to keep her #1 language of physical touch apparent when getting her flirt on. Right here is where the challenge begins for MOI. You see, my love languages to receive are quality time and words of affirmation...and to give: words of affirmation and gifts. Soooo...you can see how the conscious laugh/arm graze combo is not really on my mind. Mainly because I just don't think about it. Sorry, bros...but at least now you understand me a bit more. P definitely cautions readers to make sure and not be a lingering creeper with any of this (ok, so her way of saying it sounded more eloquent. But for those of us who aren't physical touch as our #1, lingerers are awkward). Her polite way of encouraging this subtle physical contact "reaffirms I'm interested in our conversation without...a tackle of full-on body wrap." Hahaha she'll probably hate I included that part in there, but whatever. : )

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT. I've actually made a conscious effort to try this technique that Priscilla describes. And I usually come back to my apartment and tell my roommate how I was literally freaking out in my mind the entire time I'm trying to do this. It's terrifying. Ok, well on the outside, I appear smooth. But in my mind...dying. My first attempt at this was a couple month's ago (yeah, I wish I had a more recent attempt to share) when a group of my friends got together here in LA. Without informing anyone else of my research, I practiced this on a couple of my good guy friends...and I had to try not to laugh so many times. I made sure it was casual and not forced. And I must say...not that it worked in a romantic way (wasn't really going for that...just needed to practice on people I felt comfortable with haha), but it actually worked. Hilarious to me, knowing what was going on, too. Maybe you should try this sometime - then report back to me on your research. : )

I'm realizing this as I read the techniques from the hombres y mujeres...each gender's flirting technique spoke into what would probably interest the opposite sex. So, for Louie & Rey, they made sure to make it about affirming via conversation or time spent together...and for Priscilla, her physical affirmation lets the beau know she's interested.

TELLTALE SIGNS
One of my biggest hang ups when it comes to flirting is I am absolutely afraid that I am too obvious. I've watched train wrecks in the form of flirting happen right before my eyes, and I'm pretty sure the Jane Austen character of Elizabeth Bennet accuses her immature younger sister of being a determined flirt (Pride & Prejudice reference!)...and it's not a good thing. So when it comes to letting my flirt flag fly, I fear that I will look a fool...and especially if it's not reciprocated. Yikes. Vulnerable moment #2,000,000.

HELLOGIGGLES. Louie even calls out the lady-folk for being pretty obvious when it comes to the matter, putting the gals on blast for getting "super laughy...everything the guy says is super fascinating or funny." So, thinking back to my giggly response instead of my witty remark...CRAP.

Although calling us out, Louie doesn't say it's a bad thing. So, perhaps even if Jane Austen were to base a novel off our attempts, whether successful or not, at least we can say it was fun...and we laughed. A lot.

And I guess if a guy's lasting impression of me is that I like to laugh, I wouldn't hate it.

TERRIBLE ATTEMPTS

You know I couldn't write a whole blog on the art of flirting and not have someone send me a failed attempt/great story! Since I've used a similar method like this before (but not to flirt with a guy), I knew I had to include it on here.

LYRICAL LOVE. Lauren, like me, loves a good song lyric. So, once in the 8th grade (curse you Jr High wisdom!!), "in an effort to win the affections of my longtime crush, Bryant, I wrote out the words to K-Ci and Jo-Jo's song 'All My Life' and proceeded to pass it to him in class. Much to my dismay, the teacher discovered the note on it's journey to the left side of the room and snatched it right out my classmate's hand...then proceeded to read my note aloud to the class. #flirtingfail"

First off, I'd like to thank Lauren for using a classic song like that for the moment. I'm sure had Bryant received the aforementioned note, he would have truly believed that all her life she'd prayed for someone like him.

Next, I'd like to thank the 8th grade for memories of my life that will always keep me humble. Poorly cut bangs, braces, and awkward slow songs at after school dances. Nice.

Other than my earlier #fail, I've had plenty of opportunities to learn from flirting mistakes. Sometimes my mouth doesn't filter things, and I say something that comes out totally wrong from what I really meant...sometimes I ramble because I think that if I stop talking, I won't say anything else for fear that what I'm currently rambling about is totally boring him to tears...sometimes I don't say anything at all, which you can see isn't beneficial when you're trying to get to know someone...and sometimes the most flirtatiousness I can muster up is simply to be in the same room as an attractive guy.

TAKEAWAY
FLIRTING 101. What I've learned from this research is that there really is no official protocol or handbook on how to flirt. If you think someone does it well, it's probably because they've found what works for them and are simply confident in that. And I'd like to think we can all agree that confidence is attractive.

So, be yourself and let YOU shine through. AND GOOD LUCK OUT THERE!

Alright, men of LA...embrace my awkwardness. Embrace my humor. Embrace my laugh. But be careful trying to embrace me cause if you linger, I'll be creeped out.

Learn anything new? Got something else you'd like to add to the list? Send me an email at seriouslymere(at)gmail(dot)com and let me know!

And don't forget to LIKE or share this with your friends (see below) : )

**Special thanks to Priscilla, Louie, Rey, and Lauren for sending me thoughts/stories...may your game be blessed for helping me out**

BE THANKFUL

2011-11-24T15:44:00.001-08:00

from the esty store of: thenotsoblankcanvas - hey there conway, arkansas!

i can't believe that's it's already thanksgiving! this year has seriously flown by - which i guess by default means it must've been fun...or then that saying is absolutely absurd.

take a break between stuffing your turkey and stuffing your face today and think about all the things in life you are thankful for. and challenge yourself to reflect and give thanks for these things every day. and not only on days you have a little tryptophan in your system. : )

here's a few things i'm thankful for this year:

1. my family
2. my friends - old and new
3. peace at the decision to move to california with no job/no apt
4. the opportunities i've had to meet people/network/attend conferences/freelance/volunteer - though i don't have a FT job yet, i doubt i would have done any of those things if i already had a job
5. financial provision at moments i needed it
6. free movie screenings in LA so i can attend movies and not pay for them
7. my church in LA
8. the hope i have in Christ - without which a transition like this would be tough
9. networks broadcasting tv shows on their websites
10. websites that allow me to stream the shows of the networks that don't
11. people stepping up to sacrificially give toward the clean water well in Ghana i'm hoping to fund by Christmas - you can still give, too! go here for info : )
12. the following candle scents: capri blue - in the pink jar (from anthropologie) and glade apple cinnamon (from the holiday collection) for making my apartment smell great and feel all "homey"
13. people who actually read this blog
14. the opportunity to live another day because that means He's not through with the work He has for me here on earth

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR?

let me know! comment below or email me at seriouslymere(at)gmail(dot)com

IN NEED OF "LIKES"

2011-11-22T11:27:00.001-08:00

PEEPS! I need your help! No, I'm not needing some more BACHELOR help (yet...haven't given up on that idea).

My fashionably awesome friend, Priscilla, is literally my stylist in life. Well, when I can't tread the waters of fashion on my own (but I like to think I handle my own alright)...she is the one I always text pictures of myself in all my options to get the YESSS! or the OOOH YOU LOOK GOOD! verdict.

And now, she is strutting her stuff in the Rent The Runway Style Awards for this week and could use help receiving votes so she can win!

If you're not familiar with RTR, here's the skinny (no fashion puns intended): With a tagline of "Love. Wear. Return." the RTR website is seriously amazingness where you can literally RENT designer pieces to wear in your everyday life. I know...AH-MAH-ZING, right?! Love that Temperley London dress? Good, cause you can rent it. Want to know what a normal sized body can look like in Halston Heritage? Awesome, cause you have the power!

Pris recently used RTR for an event and rocked it in the following emerald Badgley Mischka gown.

This dress alone costs $650 but she was able to rent it for the fabulous occasion for like $100. I can totally see FLO from the Progressive commercials screaming DISCOUNT right about now...

She looks great, right?! So, here's where we need your help (I say "we" because I tend to call myself her assistant from time to time. She wears heels, I wear flats. I hold her umbrella for her in the rain while I get drenched...it's fine.). Go to this Facebook link here, "LIKE" the photo and tell your friends to do the same!

What's in it for you, you ask? Well, 1) let's lose that selfishness REAL QUICK (c'mon, it's the holidays!) and 2) what's in it for you is the satisfaction of knowing you helped make one of Priscilla's fashion dreams come true. That's reason enough right there.

my top 10 "you-better-call-me-if-you-see-and/or-work-with-these-men" list!

2011-11-19T09:30:00.000-08:00

recently i had a friend apologize to me.

me: for what?

him: i didn't know you were a jonas fan.

thinking he was mocking my love of the jo-bros and knowing this feeling all too well, i began to dismiss his statement...till he added the following:

him: yeah, i worked with joe this week. sorry, if i had known, i would've called you to come meet him.

me: (internal monologue) WHAT THE WHAT?!

as i did my best to hold back a single tear from my eyes (which, if i had truly been crying that single tear, i'm sure it would've probably been in the disney-esque shape of a mickey mouse head)...i told my friend that from here on out, he needs to CALL A SISTA when things like that happen. and that's when he said it...my inspiration for today's blog post.

make me a list of the 10 celeb men you want me to call you about if i ever get the chance to work with them.

just 10? curses.

so, my mission today: list out 10 celeb men (maybe in a particular order, but we'll find out after i list them) i would love to meet. here goes nothing...or maybe here goes my journal entry from last week...kidding. i've never written that in my journal...yet.

the process: i began by listing out the names of celeb men i'd just like to meet, hoping that i could find then...and soon realizing that i would need to figure out a way to narrow it down to ONLY ten.

types of men i will rule out for the sake of the list:

a) engaged and/or married men. i'm not a homewrecker. nor do i ever want a man's significant other to ever get that impression. so there goes ~~Colin Firth~~, ~~Channing Tatum~~, ~~Joel McHale~~, ~~Matthew McConaughey~~, and ~~Neil Patrick Harris~~ (although I think for certain circumstances, I should be able to keep NPH in the list...).
b) men under the age of 21. sorry, it just feels wrong to keep you in my top 10...although i might say it's a top 11 and keep ~~Justin Bieber~~ on this list.
c) any guy who reminds me of of miley cyrus, vanessa hudgens, and/or megan fox: ~~Shia LeBeouf~~, ~~Liam Hemsworth~~, ~~Zac Efron~~.
d) royalty because the likelihood of me really meeting them lessens with them being across the pond: bye bye ~~Prince Harry~~.
e) male celebrities who haven't really done anything lately worth noting: sorry ~~Andrew Keegan~~. i only put you on the list for old time's sake. does BOP magazine still exist?
f) the following because i either CAN or feel like i can link them to taylor swift and would rather stay on Team TayTay than ever become lyrics in her songs: ~~Jake Gyllenhaal~~ and ~~Chace Crawford~~ (he's the one i don't think ever has, but it wouldn't surprise me).
g) CRAP. just realized i have to include ~~Cory Monteith~~ in that Taylor Swift nonsense. All because of that one date...girl, leave some of the men for the rest of us mere mortals.

GOOD NEWS IS: THAT NARROWED MY LIST DOWN TO 10!!

AND NOW...MAY I PRESENT TO YOU...MEREDITH'S TOP 10 LIST OF CELEBRITY MEN THAT SHE EXPECTS HER FRIENDS TO CALL HER AND INVITE HER TO JOIN THEM ANYTIME THEY ARE WORKING WITH THESE INDIVIDUALS...

OR, FOR A SHORTENED EXPLANATION...

MEREDITH'S TOP 10 LIST*

1. ZACHARY LEVI

2. JASON KENNEDY

3. CHRIS EVANS

4. JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE

5. JASON SEGEL

6. RYAN REYNOLDS

7. ROBERT PATTINSON

8. RYAN GOSLING

9. BRADLEY COOPER

10. DARREN CRISS

I could get into all the commentary of why they made the cut (besides simply passing the elimination rounds from before), but I'll save it and simply leave you with THE LIST.

Enjoy. : )

Who would make your top 10 list? let me know at seriouslymere(at)gmail(dot)com or leave your comment below.

like the list? tweet it. like it on FB. give me props on google+. and thanks for reading : )

*and yes, in a particular order.

hillsong united: take heart

2011-11-18T12:35:00.001-08:00

ever since i first heard this song, it's been a powerful one for me.

i encourage you to block out all other noise and distractions and take a listen to the following song by hillsong united called "take heart."

Take heart, my friends. He has overcome.

"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." - John 16:33 (NIV)

like what you see/read here on seriouslymere? let a sista know...give a little shout out via google+, twitter, or like me on FB (see below...)

i fought the law and...i'll tell you in 10-14 days whether or not the law won

2011-11-17T20:39:00.001-08:00

some might call me a rule-follower. i like to say "obedient" but whatever.

a little while back, i was off to downtown LA to attend a little gathering at my church at our super hip downtown arts space that i don't feel cool enough to walk into sometimes. if you know anything about downtown LA, it's that parking sucks. oh wait...if you know anything about LA in general, it's that parking sucks.

so, my roomdawg and i make the trek to go downtown because we hear the lights are much brighter there...and we can forget all our troubles...and forget all our cares and go...

ok you get it.

and if not...here.

we figured we would stop for a little cup-o-joe at a nearby coffee shop before we arrived, so we made a quick stop but soon realized that after finding parking to make our quick stop, walking to the coffee shop, waiting in line, and returning to the car to head to the event...we were late.

which now means that we'll be even later by the time we drive to where the event really is, park, and walk from that far far away parking space to the hipster building with minimalistic signage. so we do all the the aforementioned steps and arrive at the event.

the event was great, but that's not the point of this post.

after everything was over, a gentleman proved to the roomie and i that chivalry, my friends, is not dead, and walked us to the place in the next zip code where my car was parked. upon arrival, one of them (it's all a blur, so i don't know who said what) says: "UH OH, YOU GOT A TICKET."

what? ticket? how? why? what? ticket?

befuddled, i grab the small piece of paper, assuming that someone is playing a joke on me and/or ashton kutcher and the PUNK'D cameras are going to storm the scene from their hiding spots to say GOT YA! WELCOME TO LA! but that's not the case. nope, that's my car make and model on there. yep, that's my license plate number on there. but wait...

that is NOT the address of where my car is parked.

and that is NOT the time when i was parked here.

you see, somehow in the midst of real criminal activity happening in the streets of downtown LA (umm has anyone seen DRIVE?! yikes.), an officer decided that my car would be the perfect target to ticket.

why? is it because i'm parked illegally? nope. is the meter expired? nope, no meter. are there signs that say i can't park there? nope, no signs...and no tickets on the rest of the row of cars parked beside me.

and let's add to that this fun fact...remember how i said roomdawg and i were late to the event? well, the event started at 7:30. we were late. which, really in my mind when it comes to church events (especially at hipster church) means that we are AT LEAST 10 minutes past the time i was told the event began. but more like 15 minutes. i wouldn't be upset at my trendy place of worship if i were arriving at 7:35 to something that started at 7:30. please. everyone in flannel and skinny jeans would still be mingling outside drinking their soy lattes. i wish i could say i remember the exact time we arrived...but just know my thoughts to understand that when i read that the ticket was for 7:36PM, i wanted to laugh while ripping the ticket up in the officer's face. but i don't really buck authority figures, so no...i probably wouldn't do that.

bring into the pot-o-fun with that 6 min tardy warning from the officer the fact that he also wrote the address of the "offence." <--weird spelling on tickets, but i swear that's how they spell it. and the address of the offence (there i go again) was for an intersection a few blocks away. 4/10 of a mile if you really want to get specific...or print out a google map of it like i may or may not have for evidence.

so here i was...an innocent victim of a hate crime by an officer of the law. i returned home, slightly ticked to be receiving such cruel and unusual punishment at this moment. but vowed to seek justice.

come to find out, if you want to appeal a ticket, you have to do a lot of crap. which probably means that most people don't end up doing a lot of crap and the city of los angeles gets paid. yay america.

but i'm not most people.

i began by finding out every step i must take to appeal the offence. i have to mail in a request for an appeal, sending in any and all evidence i have, and they will notify me by mail the verdict.

so i did just that. i drafted correspondence to this fair city of hopes and dreams, and stated in full detail 3 reasons why this OFFENCE (i made sure to use their spelling) by (and here's where i call out the officer who wrote the ticket to me by name...and IN CAPS. BOOM. JUSTICE IS SERVED IN A TYPE FONT THAT SEEMS LIKE SCREAMING. what up now?!). i also print out the photos i snapped at the scene of the crime from the night before, along with the google map i referred to earlier...just to show where my car was truly parked and where the officer thought it was parked.

i waited for days, then received a letter stating that because i didn't include a copy of my citation or the original citation in with my evidence, i could not be granted the appeal at that time...but if i would like, i could request a hearing by mail or in person.

one guess what i did.

to receive a hearing, one must pay the ticket and then they will mail you your hearing time/location. you better believe i said i wanted to do the dang thang in person because i knew if i requested it by mail, they would say something idiotic like i didn't include my car in that sealed envelope for evidential purposes or some legal crap. about a week later, i received two letters: one, that said they received my payment for my ticket. $60. wah wah. and two, my request for an in-person hearing was granted. for one month from that date. if i chose to go through with the hearing, i was to arrive at that time. if i chose not to, i could simply not go or notify them that i would not show up (i mean, they already had my money, so what does it really hurt them?).

one guess what i did.

YOU MUST BE CRAZY if you thought i was going to drop it at that. NOOOOOOOO. i was watching lawyer shows and movies, practicing my legal verbage and learning how to say YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH in at least 3 languages. ok, that's a little much...but i did contemplate wearing a power suit a la hillary rodham clinton to show them i meant business.

but since i don't own a power suit, i went with a dark wash pair of jeans, flats, and a button-up/blazer combo that says COULD MY MIDDLE NAME BE JUSTICE? MAYBE SO.

Taking care of business...

i arrived with my witness (the roomie. she was there at the parking of my car and the receiving of the offence, so she was a credible source.) and we waited in the lobby for them to call my name.

did i mention that i printed out everything again and even went to CVS to print out more legit-looking photos for my evidence file? and i put it all in a manilla file folder because i couldn't find a brief case on the fly. must've slipped my mind to tell you that... : )

an officer called my name and escorted me back...then had to tell my roomie that she had to wait in the lobby until she was called to give her testimony. it was there that i had a TSA screening and asked to follow a lady to her office so that she could record my testimony and receive the evidence i brought.

i'll be honest, peeps...even though i knew i was not in the wrong for all of this and my testimony could be backed up with all my manilla folder evidence, my hands were still shaking SO MUCH. i hope she didn't record that in her captain's log when i left the room (Captain's Log: either this girl is terrified of the legal system or someone needs to get her blood sugar stabilized ASAP. somebody's got the shakes.).

she then tells me that she will review my testimony, as well as the testimony of my witness (who i had to go send in once i left the room), and they will notify me by mail (of course. a phone call would save so much more paper than they've been using throughout this whole process.) in 10-14 days what the verdict will be.

i leave and head to the lobby, to which my roomie is called back for a shorter - and i'm sure less brutal/shaky hand time of giving her testimony. what felt like 10 seconds later, she pops back into the lobby and says we're free to go. what?! that's all they're keeping you back there for? the screening wand was covering my body longer than you were back there?!

instead of causing a scene and possibly hurting my chances of getting my $60 back, the roomie and i casually left the lobby to head home.

and here i sit, still within that 10-14 day range...awaiting my fate by mail.

here's to hoping that i fought the law and...I WON.

don't worry, i'll let you know the verdict.

thoughts from last night's HIMYM episode

2011-11-15T11:31:00.001-08:00

(DISCLAIMER: If you are not caught up with CBS' HIMYM...as in, did not see the new episode that aired on Monday, Nov. 14, then do not read this blog post. But bookmark it, watch the episode on CBS.COM and come back to read it. Thank you.)

THE FOLLOWING BLOG POST WAS INSPIRED BY MY PREVIOUS ROOMMATE, WHO TOLD ME TO EMAIL HER WITH MY THOUGHTS ON THIS WEEK'S EPISODE OF HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER.THESE ARE SOLELY MY OPINIONS. AND THIS IS TRULY MY RESPONSE TO HER VIA EMAIL.

Ok, so I ended up getting to watch HIMYM earlier than I planned! And on a television that has DVR nonetheless! WOOHOO!

It's the little things...

Ok, well...I'm surprised we hadn't already chatted about where the storyline was headed (or seemed to be heading) after Barney & Robin kissed in the taxi last week. Sorry we didn't chat about that. BUT, now that's been forgiven (I think), let's discuss last night.

1) I'm over Nora. Been over Nora. Not sure if I was ever really a fan of that...I mean, she's British...yay, let's bring in some fans from across the pond and all, but COME ON. She won't end up with Barnacle.

2) Not a fan of Kevin either. I know, I know. He's Indian! And a dot at that! My fav television kind! Still...don't feel there's enough depth to his character (or promise of him hanging around too long).

3) Though I will say "Robey" (That's Robin + Barney) is a fun match on the show...I think they have to keep that as a storyline that's up in the air because if Ted's the only one we're looking for love with, then the show's not going to stay around past this season. Sorry, Ted Mosby, Architect...but though the whole show's premise revolves around your quest for the one...we can all agree that it's Barney's quest for love that really keeps people watching each week. And Marshall just being Marshall.

4) I kind of like how they made Barney confess what happened, but Robin didn't. It would have been too obvious the other way around for her to 'fess and him to hide the secret...but it adds more to the dynamic of how the group will interact now that the two of them know that he was willing, but she wasn't ready (Alan Jackson's "Chattahoochee," anyone??).

5) I'll be honest. I didn't like how Kevin was all "don't tell me," because that's what I've learned from being a therapist. I don't really think that's what keeps therapists around. They're around because PEOPLE TELL THEM THINGS. But I'll run that theory by my roomie tonight when she gets home from work to double check.

6) Even though I though Kevin's "I didn't ask, so please don't tell" idea was lame...I semi-enjoyed his answer on why he likes her. Parts of it. I remember saying aloud: "oh...ok, well that was good" and then following with a "well, that was stupid." So, I guess it cancelled his answer out in my mind. Good response - lame response = nothing. So, it's like he never said anything to her, and yet she still stayed with him.

7) With Kevin's answer being non-existent (see what I'm doing here?), I was hoping that Barney's answer would be a heart-wrenching one that everyone watching live or as close to live as they possibly can (depending on if they have cable or not) would be on the edges of their couch cushions...or cushioned ottomans. I was somewhat lodged between a chair-and-a-half and the ottoman that goes with it...so I don't know what that says about me being on the edge of my seat...more like I was between the edges of two seats (callmefatonemoretime!).

8) I lost track of what #7 was really about, so here's my new attempt at discussing Barney's answer. I wish it had been better. Yeah, yeah I get it. She's a mess, he's a mess. Together they're a hot mess. But, I also know my tax dollars pay those CBS writers to bring me a little more than that. Fine, I know my tax dollars don't go toward that. I wish they did. That's where I'd like to put my government money to work - primetime television. Man, I will do great things...

9) How can I have a show re-cap without mentioning Marshall (my love)?! Lily was pretty much a background actor in this ep, so we'll overlook her biggest scene with the guy who recently played Todd on "Community" in their terrarium episode...he's the one the group had to vote who had to be partners with him cause they have an odd number of people, and he found a turtle and has a newborn baby and was kind of a lame character on that show, too. But I guess he's memorable cause I recognized him even with that nasty goatee for GROOVAPALOOZA, the concert that was meant to take place in HIMYM's location of NYC but really looked like the STAPLES Center with a GROOVAPALOOZA sign covering the STAPLES sign...Hollywood magic. All smoke and mirrors.

10) MARI-nated sandwiches. Laced with other meats. Hilarious.

Alright, those are my thoughts...maybe more so observations masked as lows and highs (literally) from last night. So here's my thought on the Robey sitch...I know you love it. I know you want them to be together so badly it hurts (maybe. I don't know your pain threshold for primetime television characters who have become more like friends). But I think they will continue to let that relationship teeter because it's good drama for a half-hour sitcom to have. I feel, though, that somehow this secret will come out and that's when Kevin's departure will take place. I don't see them keeping Kal Penn around all season long. Maybe I'm wrong. I also didn't forsee Harold & Kumar having more than one movie being made.

But I guess there's a lot of people who like to smoke sandwiches in this world.

never have i ever: gone speed dating.

2011-11-10T09:00:00.000-08:00

a mere 48 hours ago, i would have used that phrase right there to kick some tail in a game of never-have-i-ever...i mean, if twentysomethings were to sit around in LA and play games like never-have-i-ever. ok fine, i wouldn't put it past us (is this why i'm single? and so are my friends?).

but, alas, i can no more. someone will always have an advantage over me in the aforementioned tween game. and i will always have a story to share following their discovery of the fact that i went speed dating.

good gosh, saying that phrase is almost like saying the word M-O-I-S-T...a cause for me to have to hold back the sudden urge to upchuck the most recent meal i've had (which, to my disadvantage...yet again...was scrambled eggs with salsa and guac. i like breakfast for dinner, ok?!).

alright, alright...it's not that bad. but i'll be honest...it took a lot of convincing to get this one to go.

let me set the scene. the real, honest, vulnerable scene.

girl moves to LA. girl is told by gal pals already living in LA that her love life will sky rocket once she's in LA by merely "drinking the water." what's in the LA water, you ask? great question. girl still doesn't know. girl is the same with every co-ed she meets, not changing her personality and character simply because she changed zip codes. girl has no "progress" from drinking the water. girl even literally ups her intake of water just to see if it's seriously in the water. girl has proven it's not. but girl pees more frequently.

girl receives email from a groupon-esque company* and ignores it...for the main fact it says "speed date" in the subject line. girl probably deletes it, but girl can't quite remember at this moment. girl has a friend who forwards her the same email, along with attaching 3 other single girls (who all drink this LA water and have had no progress, too), and jokingly says they should go as a group. once again, girl ignores this email and prays no one else forwards her this nonsense. girl receives a "reply-all" from one of the carbon-copied girls. she shows excitement for the possibility and turns the joking suggestion into one that is taken more seriously by 4 out of the 5 girls.

guess which girl is not excited?

THIS ONE.

ok i'm tired of talking in third...i now hate the word "girl" for having used it far too many times.

so like i said, the other girls were all "yeah! let's do this!" and "omg it'll be ah-mah-zing" and "how hilarious will this be?!" and such. i, on the other hand, was more "i'd rather have a root canal" and "water torture might be more pleasant" and "i don't want to become a lifetime movie character."

even as the girls, one by one, began to reply-all again with "just signed up!" or "bought my ticket," i was still not convinced.

don't get me wrong. i'm sure some happy, mentally-stable couples found one another in this unconventional way of meeting the opposite sex. i am happy for them. THEM. much like my hesitation with online dating, dating at speed is right up there. it freaks me out, and i don't want to feel forced into talking with a creepster. and i would. because i'm too nice to say "sorry, but you remind me of terry o'quinn's character in the original version of THE STEPFATHER." ok, probably not THAT bad...but still...

and though i know that going through a process like speed dating doesn't really count as a date...there's still the word involved. and to be honest, i've been going through a dry season in the dating realm.

fine, more like a drought.

ok seriously...it's a famine.

you see, i haven't been asked out on a date in...hold on, let me grab my TI-83 for this equation...8 years. yep. EIGHT. YEARS.

i know some of that time i was to blame...i either didn't want to be asked out, or i didn't truly make myself appear available to the XY chromosomes. but good gosh almighty...EIGHT YEARS?!

so to make matters worse, i was freaking out because of the mere fact that the word "dating" was used in this process. i don't want my first at-bat after eight years to go down like this! it's just not right! it's not fair! i'm doing a disservice to someone in this world, and i'd like to think it's myself!

i was finally convinced to join in with the other girls when 1) all 4 of them had signed up and i was the only who hadn't. and 2) i received a LAST CHANCE TO SIGN UP email from the company...followed by what felt like death threat text messages from the girls yelling at me to sign up. but really, the thing that made me sign up was that 3) if i was the only one who didn't participate, chances were they would have hilarious stories from their experience and i wouldn't have been there.

fear of not having an epic story.

i'm sure there's a therapy group for that.

i swallowed my pride and ordered my pass. over the next few days, we selected the venue we'd like to go to - trying to pick places in LA we've always wanted to try out or that P has read about celebrities going to...hey, if things don't work out with me and the 15 fellas, maybe ryan reynolds will just so happen to be sitting in a corner booth. i don't hate it.

the company we used was run by british folks, and they prided themselves on their brit-style hospitality when it comes to speed dating. no bells, no yelling, all class. that's the basic idea i picked up from their site. truthfully, i assumed that they had actors hired to be british people and facilitate the evening's activities. still don't know if my assumption is true or not, but that's neither here nor there.

when we selected our date/venue, we had about a month of waiting. talk about KILLING ME, SMALLS! i was dying. i was nervous. i was hating life. but more so i was hating that i had to wait another month until i could get all this out in a blog post.

had scheduling worked out for it to happen, a couple of us were going to just go as patrons to one of the earlier scheduled events to scope out the scene and how potentially awkward it might be. maybe it was good it didn't work out, cause i might not have shown my face at the real day.

finally our day arrived and we received an email that the venue had changed from the one we selected to another. i read every email i received in my head with a british accent. it made me less annoyed when they shifted the plans.

we all met to carpool together to 1) be green, 2) have an opportunity to get out any nerves/frustrations on the way and 3) make fun of people on the way home. together. that's really what the HOV lane is all about. group mockery.

Real Singles of Los Angeles

we could have received a complimentary makeup session, but we're too wise to let any one we don't know touch our faces just before we have to meet new people. good thing, cause i don't believe i would have liked my makeup by this lady. nothing wrong with her...or her makeup style...just not my style.

we were greeted by either a brit or a faux-brit, given an explanation and run-down of the evening's event, and handed a scorecard. as each gentleman approaches your area, you are to write down his name and order number on the card. while he rotates to the next lady in waiting, you both mark down your score of one another based on the following scale (high to low)

DEFINITELY FANCY A GO (ahhh brits)
ONE MORE DRINK, MAYBE
NOT REALLY MY CUP OF TEA (once again...brit humor. somebody call bridget jones!)
OH DEAR, NEVERMIND
NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS

i'll let you take a wild guess which column i X'd through most of the night...

then based off your scores, if you have any matches - i'm guessing in only 2 good columns of the scorecard - they email you the following day with your matches. huzzah!

the process was pretty easy, and all in all, it wasn't as close to death as i planned for it to be. i figure, hey, i'll have some conversations with new people tonight. and that's it. and that's what happened.

i met guys who were insecure. i met guys who were too secure. i met a guy who leaned away as he talked with people. i met a guy who leaned in more than i cared for as he talked. i chatted with older guys. i chatted with younger guys. i was sweet with most guys. and i was sassy with a few. but it's not my fault...the ones who received sass deserved it. but i'm charming enough to disguise my sass where they probably thought i was being flirty...nope, son...i am making fun of you. and your love of karaoke. and the fact that you just told me that your go-to song is "summer lovin'" from GREASE.

(let's not nitpick on the fact it's really called "Summer Nights" - this dude LOVES THIS SONG. oh. my. gosh.)

one fella was particularly charming (not) and lost points when he spent most of our 5 minutes talking about himself. like, i wasn't even asking questions. he just talked. and talked. and talked. so much so that when i asked him "so, what do you do?" he responded with "let's not talk occupations...let's talk adventures." umm...what. does. that. even. mean!? and since i didn't know, i let him talk adventures. like that really crazy one at that mcdonald's in salt lake city when some mormons came in and sang B-I-N-G-O like a flash mob but with singing. what an adventure! it was probably just that group from last season's THE SING OFF...but he was probably too busy having an adventure to notice that.

when he could tell i wasn't amused, he leaned in and touched my knee. which i'm surprised he could even find, considering i was wearing a knee-length skirt (don't worry, it was cute. not sister wife-ish. see the photo above.). i believe i somehow weaseled an opportunity to ask a question in there so i could slyly shift the way i was seated while moving the hemline of my skirt OVER my knee. dang i wish someone could have witnessed that moment. it was funny.

another guy shared that he worked in the area i live. i followed up with asking him where's a place or two he loves in the area and thinks i should check out. you'd think that's sweet of me, but really i just wanted to know the places he goes so i wouldn't. dang. how could i be so heartless. or so genius!

when rounding up at the end with the gals, we were all pretty much on the same page with the guys we were given. i waited until the end to even mark my scorecard because i didn't want any guys seeing all the X's in the "never in a million years" column. every one of them received that score except one guy who seemed actually normal. we had a few things in common...he knew and understood louisiana...so i figured, hey, i wouldn't hate eating crawfish with him. as a friend. so i took that as a "one more drink, maybe" even though i really meant "would eat cajun food with in a group setting"...but whatever. in the notes section of my scorecard, i was sure to simply jot down that i just didn't see any matches for me in there.

we thanked the brits (or faux-brits) and gave them some feedback on some of the guys per their request. they informed us that there typically are better girls than guys at these things (wow, must've missed that in the event description) and encouraged us to come back and try it again.

umm probably not.

our group rallied together, said awkward goodbyes to some of the guys as we passed them at valet, and headed off to get real food and have a conversation that's neither forced/awkward/or less than 5 minutes.

i'm not upset i didn't find the man of my dreams in that dimly lit room. and though i was upset at first that i got talked into going speed dating, i will say that i'm not upset at the fact that i get to blog about it now.

but don't be surprised when i shoot a glaring look your way next time we play never-have-i-ever...i'll know you know...

photo credit: Grease pic

*for the sake of not hindering business with the company, i'm not mentioning the real name. i've purchased other deals through them, so nothing but love for those folks! and the british people they gave a deal through*

well update: 11/9/11

2011-11-09T13:18:00.000-08:00

as i type this week's well update, i'm jamming out to the biebs' christmas album "under the mistletoe" on spotify to get me in the christmas spirit for this post. why? because we've got an incredible gift we can share with the people of Ghana! we can give the gift of clean water. and isn't that something worth giving this holiday season?

i'll just go ahead and answer that question for you...YES. : )

i've had the opportunity of volunteering in the generosity water offices last week and will be headed over there again tomorrow...and i can't even describe to you how awesome it is to enter data of people who have given sacrificially and the number of how many people are benefiting from their financial sacrifice. i was seriously smiling as i would type in numbers of beneficiaries like "250," "750," "1400."

let's be honest though...if it could benefit the life of even one individual, it would be worth it. but COME ON, PEEPS! your financial gift could go toward helping 250 people...750 people...1400 people! that. is. awesome.

so after a few conversations and emails sent, here's the "friends of seriouslymere" well update for 11/9/11:

GOAL: $3,000

DONATIONS GIVEN: 3

AMOUNT GIVEN: $340

PLEDGES TO GIVE: 4

there we have it. $340 collected (or in the mail) out of a total goal of $3,000. i've got some folks who are speaking with their small groups or students or friends about raising money as well...so great! i'm even bartering with others for donations (a donation in trade for time spent working for them).

all of it = worth it.

would you like to help join the effort? email me and get involved! got a creative idea on how i can reach others? let me know! can't give but can commit to sharing the vision with at least 2 other people you know? i'd be so thankful!

if you are able to give financially, you can give a 3x recurring payment of $40 (or more! you overachiever!) on the official donation page OR if you are unable to give that amount but still want to give, you can mail in a one time gift via check to the following address:

Generosity Water
c/o Michael Muniz
12800 Riverside Drive, Ste. 200
Valley Village, CA 91607

just be sure to mention my name (meredith) or this specific fundraiser (friends of seriouslymere) in the memo line for it to go toward our $3,000 goal.

believing big,
meredith

**the campaign donations need to be done before 11/25, so let's not waste any time with giving and asking others to give! i totally believe we can fund this well!**

WILLING TO GIVE OVER YOUR PROFILE PICTURE FOR THE CAMPAIGN? EMAIL ME, AND I'LL GET YOU THE PICTURE FROM ABOVE SO YOU CAN PROMOTE THE CAUSE, TOO!

better late than never!

2011-10-27T14:37:00.000-07:00

i'd like to start this blog post off with an apology...i'm sorry.

welp, now that's out of the way...kidding! i'm sorry i slightly went MIA after posting my heart out with my most recent post about GENEROSITY WATER - if you didn't see that post, get thee to the menu on the righthand side of this screen and find it under my October posts!

i'm not sorry with what i've been doing since that post - i went to dallas for a reunion with some of the best friends a gal can ask for (or not ask for...the Lord just flooded the mess out of my friendship cup with those folks in my life!), attended the bosque bottoms national bbq festival, saw a 2-headed turtle that a woman swore could go for $1500 on ebay (prove it.), bought a $5 funnel cake and didn't think twice, ate quail and butternut squash risotto made by my most culinarily-experienced friend, hung out in a hot tub 3 times in 2 days and never thought about the jersey shore, began reading "the hunger games" and totally stressed myself out in my exit row seat on my flight back to LAX (sorry to the guys i sat between...i couldn't keep still cause katniss & peeta were making me nervous!), applied for a job with a magical place here in california, didn't judge myself too much on the headshot i had to send in for that job, listened to the new bieber christmas single of "the christmas song (chestnuts roasting on an open fire)," went to target and costco 2x, bought a television, cleaned my apartment, finally hung up pictures in my apartment (i'll show pics of the development later), prepped for a dinner party to be held at the apt, hosted a dinner party filled with great Southern cooking and even better people, and now i'm recovering from the food coma i got from all that fried food.

so with that apology and the i'm sure unnecessary explanation of what i'm not sorry for, here's what i really want to say - each wednesday, i'd like to had a "WELL UPDATE" on the status of the well i'm hoping you'll partner with me to fund. i'll probably just title the post WELL UPDATE: (insert date here)...then you'll know exactly what it is! also, i'm going to be totally honest in what's happening financially with it. it's a goal to raise $3,000 by christmas, so i think the best way to help you understand what's happening is by just being authentic with if we're close or far from that goal marker.

so since wednesday was yesterday (my bad), here's the WELL UPDATE for 10/26/11

$0.

BUT GOOD NEWS!

TODAY'S WELL UPDATE (if today was a wednesday) would say:

$40 (which will become $120 by the end of the fundraiser)

I put this first donation in for my grandmother, who recently sent all of her grandchildren a check with the instructions to pass funds on to those who could use it. I used half of it for a previous donation and had the blessing of sharing with my grandmother the moment I knew the Lord used those finances. So, I wanted her to be the first donor on the list because I feel like she has been the biggest inspiration in my life on what it truly means to show generosity.

so yes, better late than never...and expect to see more well updates every wednesday right here on seriouslymere.

want to take part in funding the well? know others who might want to join too? send all donations here and questions about it all here.

generosity water christmas campaign

2011-10-18T18:27:00.000-07:00

wow, that's a lot of multiple-syllabic words. is that even the proper way to describe that? i don't know.

ok, folks, here's the deal for today's post - i'm unofficially pronouncing today MAKE A DIFFERENCE DAY on seriouslymere. before i moved out to LA, i found out about an ah-mah-zing (say it phonetically like that, too) organization called GENEROSITY WATER that's based here in LA and doing some even more ah-mah-zing things throughout the world by bringing clean water to people without it. i began following the company prior to becoming a SaMoan (haha what are people from Santa Monica called? Santa Monicans?) and have been retweeting the junk out of anything they post on twitter. not to mention, i've had the opportunity of meeting a few of the fellas who work there (one goes to my church), hearing one speak on a panel during social media week about the use and impact of social media for event fundraising, and even see footage of a recent trip that they took to wells in villages in uganda and ghana that people provided the funds to build! let's just say i'm a fan of what they do and am passionate about getting not only myself but also giving YOU ALL the opportunity to get involved with me!

you might be asking yourself, "self, how can i get involved?" so glad you asked!

today begins the christmas campaign! how perfect!

(video courtesy of generosity water)

if there are 24 of you out there who would be willing to link arms with me by giving up $10/week (or $40/month...however you want to look at it) for the next 3 months, we can raise the funds to build a well.

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! THAT'S AMAZING! OR SHOULD I SAY AH-MAH-ZING! : )

i kid you not, dear seriouslymere reader. and i would love to use this platform that i have to pique the interest of your listening ear (or in this case...reading eyes) to make a difference in the lives of those without access to clean water.

how often do we take for granted that access? how often do i let the shower or sink run without really considering how much water has just gone down the drain? how often do i dream in such small ways that i never even consider how there could be 24 other people interested in doing this who simply need someone to ask them?

so here i am. humbly and hopefully asking you now:

WILL YOU JOIN ME?

WILL YOU HELP ME BY GIVING UP $10/WEEK SO THAT OTHERS MIGHT HAVE CLEAN WATER?

think about it - $10. one time out to eat at a restaurant. 2 times of overpriced coffee. i can sacrifice that each week.

WILL YOU?

if you are interested in joining me, please email me at seriouslymere@gmail.com and i'll get you all the info you need to know! OR...i have started a fundraiser page on the organization's website that you can simply donate to by clicking here. feel free to forward a link to this to any family or friends you believe might be interested in joining us!

perhaps you can't give $10/week, but you can give $5/week. will you commit to finding a friend who can match your commitment and together the two of you will make that $10/week commitment?

let's be a part of something bigger than ourselves. let's make a difference in the lives of others. and let's begin that TODAY.

so very humbled that you allow me to be a part of your life, simply by your reading of my thoughts/words each day. i hope to use this blog not only as a place to entertain you with stories of my life, challenge you with ideas/thoughts i'm wrestling with (and you might be, too), but also to inspire you to think outside yourself (and me outside myself) and bring hope to the lives of others.

may this be an ah-mah-zing opportunity for us all. merry early christmas! : )

under the mistletoe with THE BIEBS.

2011-10-17T16:34:00.000-07:00

it's not as illegal as it sounds. ok...proceed.

i'm not one to listen to christmas music early in the year. i have friends who are so obsessed with christmas music that they begin blasting jolly 'ol jams as early as...well, they've probably already started. i've seen some tweet about it.

i have nothing against christmas music. i absolutely love it. not a day goes by during the holiday season that i'm not at least thinking about "all i want for christmas is you" by mariah carey. and sometimes even bringing into the equation my choreography from 7th grade when we performed to this song wearing santa hats at a pep rally in middle school for danceline. yep, i was on danceline. i was captain. boom.

i will say, though, that even with my love of christmas music...i believe there is a time and place to begin playing it.

AFTER THANKSGIVING.

don't start calling me scrooge just yet. i think people should appreciate thanksgiving more and not get so caught up in what society tends to make christmas all about.

but even with this stance on merry music, i just can't go without making a plug for THE BIEBS any and every chance i can get. and this little juvenile pop wonder has already released the first single from his christmas album, UNDER THE MISTLETOE. gutsy move, biebs. IT'S OCTOBER. didn't fall JUST START?! but then again, you're THE BIEBS. you could've released it in march and i would listen to it. and so would all the BELIEBERS around the world. those folks get crazy! and all their twitter bios say stuff about him and how they've been trying since 2009 to get justin to follow them or retweet what they have to say. well, i mean, i've been trying since '08, but that doesn't mean my bio will say it. haha kidding. but seriously, i wouldn't hate it if the biebs ever responded. his team should hire me to be the buffer between all the crazed tween girls and him. they've got bodyguards to physically hold the crazies off, but who is there to talk these girls through their emotions and help them check back into a realistic perspective. they need wise counsel. and i'd gladly be the "Wise Counsel to the Stage 5 Clingers" for TEAM BIEBS.

so, though it's out of my true nature to feature any christmas music just yet...i'm gonna go ahead and break one of my own rules and put "mistletoe" by JB up here for your listening enjoyment.

favorite lyrics: "imma be under the mistletoe (shawty with you)"

halloween costume poll

2011-10-15T14:03:00.000-07:00

for the first time in i honestly don't know how long, i will be attending a halloween costume party with people more remotely similar to my own age than ever before. good news is: all my previous costume experience via working for summer camps and as a youth minister has prepped me the confidence to not take myself too seriously so that the costume may be more fully enjoyed! that being said, peeps...i'm trying to figure out what to be! so let me hear your thoughts - which one do you like most? which one do you think i could do? any other ideas i should consider? i want to hear from YOU!

option 1: RACHEL BERRY via FOX's hit musical comedy GLEE

(photo courtesy of Rachel Berry's FB page - gold stars for anyone following her!)

flats. sweaters. skirt. pack of gold stars to hand out to all the good little ghouls and boys at the party. what more could i need? oh right, her voice. since i'm sans that, i'll bring an extra pack of gold stars. or allow someone to slushie me.

option 2: DC Comics heroine WONDER WOMAN

(photo courtesy of Google shopping images)

Lasso of Truth (as opposed to my belt of Truth that i cur(rently wear...eh oh, bible jokes!), illusion of legs for days, and a vision of patriotism...a perfect complement (though from a different comic book line for captain america, wouldn't you say???

(i love america. oh. so. much. photo courtesy of superheroespictures.com )

crap, do you think that valet can park my invisible plane??

ok let me know what you think, folks! submit thoughts below in the comment section or email me at seriouslymere@gmail.com

that one time i almost met zachary levi

2011-10-14T09:30:00.000-07:00

have i ever told you about my über crush on zachary levi? if not, pay attention!

so i've got this school girl-esque crush on zac. on his personality. his character. and ok, fine...his looks can round out that list.

may i present before the jury...EXHIBIT A.

(EXHIBIT A *sigh*)

good gosh, God must have spent a little more time on him. i mean, ARE YOU SEEING THOSE BEAUTIFUL BROWN EYES?! so kind.

ok before i get off track...agh, i can't stop looking at the picture! that's what i get for inserting an image of zac while i write a blog about him. i shouldn't. ok i'm seriously looking away. lies. i looked again. ok for real now...

so, for anyone who follows me on twitter (@mereg), you would have recently seen me RT'ing the junk out of the fact that zac was going to be at the new chick-fil-a in hollywood (finally we got a CFA closer to where i live! now all i need is sonic to GET THE MEMO and bring it on down. over. here. anywhere. at least closer than at least 45 miles away). zac was going to be working the drive thru window for 2 hours with 20% of sales during that time frame going to his charity of choice, OPERATION SMILE (check out how you can transform a child's life and join zac in the effort to bring more smiles to this world...great organization!!!). seriously, though - get involved! i'm getting chills as i type this and post links to their site.

seeing as i have some free time on my hands these days, i knew that this could be my moment. my time. my chance to finally meet my ultimate celeb crush! people, if we aren't seeing the magnitude of this opportunity, then i question your heart. ok kidding. but seriously now...i could meet him!

i didn't want to be an eager beaver and show up RIGHT as he began his shift in the drive thru...i mean, come on, people...i'm not THAT desperate. with that in mind, i planned to leave my apartment and arrive at CFA around 5pm, right in the middle of the shift. crap, i keep typing shirt every time i mean to type shift. which now leads to me to this next confession: i keep looking back at that picture. that plaid shirt. awww so precious. goodness, i need to keep typing more so that the picture will no longer be seen in my eye line on my computer screen!

ok, so 5:00 ETA would be the goal, and that i accomplished. i pulled up to the line that extended out into the street. this is normal for CFA here, so i knew that it wasn't crazy busy just because he was here. good, all the stalkers have jobs! muwahaha!

the moment i was in the line, i glanced over to the window. is he even really here? i can't see him...oh wait! HOLY STINKING NUGGET PLATTER! THERE HE IS! i immediately grabbed my cell phone and began to text P (don't worry, i wasn't driving. i was sitting in CFA traffic). agh! my hands are shaking! i can't even text to say my hands are shaking! WHY IS HE SO HANDSOME?! even in a chickfila shirt?!

during my time in the line, i was able to see that he wasn't taking orders on the video screen ordering system (we're so high-tech here in LA), so i knew that my time to shine (and take a twitpic) would be during our 1-on-1 time at the drive thru window. i had a big lunch that day with my roomie and a friend for this DineLA stuff, so i wasn't even hungry...so now i had to figure out what i could even order that wouldn't go to waste! perfect! P needs a sandwich! and i just want an ice dream. an ice dream handed to me by a dreamboat. so meta. what does that even mean?! no clue.

as the line progressed, my heart began racing more and more. get it together, meredith. he's a normal guy. yeah, a normal guy who just so happens to be a television star. what do i say to him? ask him how his day is? say something witty? keep asking for extra sauce packets? return an unnecessary sauce packet with my digits slipped in with it? smooth, meredith. let him remember you as the girl who snuck your number in on an unwanted POLYNESIAN SAUCE!! no!

i figured the best thing for my mental state was to 1) chill out. and 2) let whatever happens in the moment happen. this could be risky, but it usually tends to be endearingly awkward at worst. or at best i get nervous when laughing and snort. and then i've got him: hook, line, sinker. boom!

by the time i was ready to be up on deck, drive thru style, a guy with a walkie-talkie and clearly a mission, stopped the car in front of me. some folks with expensive-looking cameras needed to snap a few pics and some quick video footage of zac hanging out the window and speaking about operation smile. once he finished, he quickly retreated back into the box, better known as chick-fil-a, and the car before me proceeded to the window. walkie-talkie guy cuts back across the lane in front of my car to the parking lot and then...whoa what the heck?! what's zac doing coming out of the "employee only" door?!

as my mind began screaming NO!NO!NO! at the top of my "mind lungs," i paused, both on a personal level and automotive level, to allow ZACHARY LEVI to cross in front of my car. don't want to hit a celebrity with my car in this moment of panic. he turned to spot me in the driver's seat (my panic didn't show on my face), smiled (i smiled back), waved (i waved back), and mouthed the words "THANK YOU!" to me as he crossed the drive thru lane and into the parking lot to the black escalade with tinted windows. i didn't move forward for a few reasons: 1) i was somewhat in shock. zac and i just had an inaudible moment. one that i'm sure only dogs and angels can hear. 2) i had a decent angle to see him from where my car was in case he turned back around so i could snap a pic and/or quickly roll down my window and have him stop by for a chat. and 3) i hoped that i would have enough time to slowly roll up to the window in a stall-like fashion, giving zac ample time to return and hand me my ice dream.

while i waited, i went ahead and snapped a pic. curses. turn around so people will believe me that it's even you!

(forgot to zoom! if you look closely, you'll see he's wearing his Chucks...*sigh*)

(i promise you, it's him. in the chick-fil-a polo shirt he was wearing.)

nope. no turning around. no returning to the window. no need to stall for more time. zachary was gone. and with that, my day took a turn i didn't see coming...at 5:37pm, i arrived at the chick-fil-a drive thru window, zac-less. hopeless. and pitiful.

i don't even want this stupid ice dream.

i tried to not let the sweet gals from chick-fil-a and operation smile at the window (who were NOT zac) see my frustration. or my hurt. i was bummed. but the point of the day was to raise money for kids. i thanked them. they "my pleasured" me (that sounded weird. my bad.)...and onward i went to the exit. as i prepared to exit, one of the managers approached my window to say thanks for stopping by and handed me a coupon for a free breakfast entree. i love chick'n minis. but they pale in comparison to zachary levi. and he's available after 10:30am. and on sundays. don't let her see you cry. don't. stop.

somehow the sweet manager knew something was up. i couldn't exit the parking lot because of traffic in the street so we had time to chit-chat...because that's what i obviously wanted to do right after my recent experience at her delicious chicken establishment. but my beef was not with her. nor with operation smile. and clearly not with zac (duh). my beef was with...well, i don't really know who with. and it's weird to think i have beef with someone when i'm at a chicken restaurant.

she mentioned something to me about everything going on at the establishment today and i, using my best "feel sorry for me and do something about it" eyes said i was bummed because i came to see zac and he left before i got to the window. yep, that did it. i touched a heartstring on that manager and could totally tell. we briefly chatted about how he is my favorite, she turned and mentioned my sob story to another employee standing by passing out coupons, then said she wished she could've done something about it. i understood she couldn't and let her know it was fine. then she reached down into her mary poppins bag of tricks and pulled out an extra coupon, saying, "i know this won't really make up for it, but here you go. i am SO SORRY. i wish he would've stayed. awww i am SO SORRY." thank you, sweet manager. i'll receive your peace offering of a free chicken sandwich and hope i can use it the next time zachary levi returns to work the drive thru window.

a break in traffic appeared. i said goodbye to my new friend/therapist disguised as a chick-fil-a manager and pulled away. i called my sister to whine. when i had enough of her referring to me as a "stalker," and i knew i wouldn't receive the empathy i needed in that moment from her, i called my roomie...who is a licensed therapist. then told her to be ready cause i might need therapy after what just happened. ok, i admit. i was being a bit melodramatic. i gave her the brief run-down of the past 37 minutes of my life and how i'm still not sure why he left early. she assured me that if he's playing hard to get with me, then i can totally play that game. i laughed. a much-needed laugh. and decided THAT'S RIGHT!

if zac wants to go this route, well, then CHALLENGE ACCEPTED. i'm suiting up, mr. levi, and it's going to be legen....wait for it...dary!

welp, that's the story of that one time i almost met zachary levi. i hope that someday in the future i'll actually get to meet him. and i'll be able to tell him (in a more brief version) what happened the first time i tried to meet him. good news is: at least i won't need to figure out what to say. and hopefully we can chat it out over an ice dream. cause they really are delicious.

hair today, gone tomorrow

2011-10-13T10:33:00.000-07:00

besides small dogs in purses (blech!), hair might be one of a woman's greatest and most versatile accessories. i mean, think of all the different ways a woman can wear her hair: up, down, half-up (or half-down, depending on if you're a glass half-full kind of person or not), straight, wavy, short, long, shoulder-length, in a pixie cut, with side-swept bangs, with blunt-cut bangs, with feathered bangs, without bangs, permed, relaxed, parted down the middle, parted on the side, braided, fish-tailed, in a ponytail, in pigtails, in a rat tail (kidding), blow-dried, air-dried, highlighted, low-lighted, dyed, with extensions (or feathers or colored pieces attached), razor-cut, with long layers, with shorts layers (risky!), or just plain buzzed (VERY FEW CAN PULL THAT OFF. aka only GI Jane). with a list like that, the possibility for your tresses can be endless! well, not if you go with the buzzed look. then the only possibility is: hat investment.

i've been known to sport a variety of looks in my 27 years on this earth. i will say that i'm glad to be past the days of old, when my dad was in charge of taking my sister and i to the salon to get our hair done. seriously, mom?! what the crap were you thinking sending dad to get our hair cut?! she wasn't. i understand that now. and the early years' pictures prove that a man was definitely responsible for that vision (or lack thereof).

over the years i've had some negative thoughts in regards to my mane (i say "mane" because it's, on occasion, known to take an extremely "lion-like" look). for so long i hated the fact that my hair was curly because everyone else had straight hair. i hated that my hair was thick because everyone had thin hair. i hated that when everyone else was using shampoo "for fine hair," i was stuck with buying "for coarse hair." i'm sorry, did you say for horse hair? cause that's what it feels like sometimes.

ok, fine, my hair's not THAT bad. although, a jr high kid last year told me i had wavy, fluffy, and puffy hair. to which i responded: "thank you?" yeah, i still have no idea if she was giving me a compliment or a hint to fix something.

i will say that all the things i used to hate about my hair...those were all the things my friends wanted for their hair. even elderly women would tell me that one day i'd be thankful i had all that hair. i hope they're elderly woman wisdom is right.

so rather than fight what my hair wanted to naturally do, i just had to learn to embrace what the good Lord gave me (much like my endearing awkward moments. embrace them, people.)...my hair has a mind of it's own sometimes, and i just have to let it do the thinking from time to time. since moving to LA, i've actually not used my straightener on my hair but let it go au naturel doing it's wavy thang. and i've got to be honest...the more it goes without the straightener, the better it waves. curls. whatever.

well, it's been fun sporting this look (which i have decided to declare my Spring/Summer look - natural/beachy/wavy), but now it's time for a change. a much-needed change for my weave to receive some TLC that only a living social deal can deliver! now, don't get all panicky and freak out on me. i've been thinking about this change for months now. that's how long it takes me to mentally prep for stuff like this. ok, not really...but the thought has crossed my mind from time to time. i wish i could say, i was going extremely bold with a short, pixie-ish look like this:

dang you, ginnifer goodwin, and your confidence to wear this look!

but, nope. not this time. i've been talking myself into that look for years now. and just have no idea if it'll make my face look big. wah wah.

friday i will be heading over to get my hair cut like i had it this past winter - with bangs inspired by none other than zooey deschanel! oooh OOOH! am i nervous? sure. but i've done it before, so it's not too crazy. i'm just really excited for some hair change. it's time. i haven't had a hair cut since march! so get ready, world...cause come friday afternoon, my hair will be bangin'! what?! ok lame attempt at a hair joke, i know.

things to shut your mouth about kindly not say when you see me after the hair cut:
1. i liked your hair the other way better. well, i don't like your hair at all, so how you like them apples?! ok kidding...that was way harsh, Tai. but you get the picture.
2. i don't know how i feel about it. good news for you, it doesn't really matter how you feel about it! as long as i like it, that's all that matters. : )
3. do you like it? here's an easy answer for you. yes. cause if not, i wouldn't be in public.

things to say:
1. i like it!
2. i love it!
3. you look like zooey deschanel!
4. with hair like that, you won't stay single for long!
5. if you can rock this look, you can totally rock that short cut you've been wanting to do! (ok that's a stretch...but if you know a stylist along the lines of sally hershberger or jonathan antin, then get me a groupon to see them and i'd let them help me decide if i could go that short.)

seriously, you don't have to say anything and i'll be just fine. for what it's worth - it's hair. just remember that it's mine. : )

Rachel Bilson with the ombre coloring I did in March

Alexa Chung (have you seen her collection for Madewell yet?!) with the ombre color treatment

Katie Holmes with one of her previous cuts/styles I used somewhat as inspiration back in '08 for this:

Mandy Moore is always in the rotation for hair inspiration - and for previously dating many of the celeb men I loved! Glad she finally settled down with Ryan Adams...I was tired of being jealous of her : )

And last but not least - my hair ultimate! Zooey Deschanel. I actually think these are two of the 10 pictures of her I took to the stylist last time I got bangs cut. I'm either a stylist's dream or worst nightmare.

just another look for Zooey's bangs that inspired this:

At a friend's NYE wedding and with my little cousin over Christmas break

who is your hair inspiration? what is the style you've always wanted to try but just haven't worked up the confidence to go for just yet? sound off in the comment section below or email me at seriouslymere@gmail.com

FALL TV: the big bang theory

2011-10-11T10:00:00.000-07:00

one of the reasons i'm excited that this whole netflix/qwikster mess has been all worked out (basically back to what it was in the first place) is for the following reason:

watching cbs' the big bang theory from the first season on dvd.

bbt title card courtesy of bbt wikipedia site

now i know simply saying the phrase "big bang" can cause a ruckus in a few social circles, so please know that i am in no way even about to discuss that topic on my blog. i'll save that for people smarter than me. or for a conversation that doesn't take place on my blog. let's just keep this to butterflies and rainbows and attractive people on television shows. sounds delightful!

i truly began watching "bbt" last season when i had at&t u-verse (please pause for a moment of silence for the account i had to end because i moved. thank you.), mainly because i could have 4 shows recording at once. seriously, shouldn't all digital cable/dvr providers be offering that kind of goodness?! i think so. and at an extremely low, low price. : ) i didn't really think i would take a true liking to the show...probably assuming that it would be all geeky science talk and such. though my grades never showed it, science was definitely the subject i struggled with the most (pardon my #humblebrag). i just paid enough attention in class to learn what i needed to and be done with it. what, like science is really even needed nowadays?! : )

funny thing is, one of the things i love about it is the geeky science talk! i have no idea if the things they talk about are factual...but i'm willing enough to watch and believe the research team has done their job and knows what the crap their talking about when it comes to science.

and because of that research, the writers are able to crank out week after week of quality material for actors like emmy award winner jim parsons and one of my many tv indian guy crushes, kunal nayyar (see adorable fella below), to deliver in such entertaining ways.

photo of kunal courtesy of backseatcuddler

if you haven't checked this show out, it's hilarious. my roommate can probably attest to how many times i will giggle as i watch this show on my computer (once cbs.com has released the new episodes up on their site). love it!

and major props to the "bbt" writers for developing the character amy farrah fowler (played by mayim bialik...also known as BLOSSOM to my generation...WHOA!)...she has easily become my favorite female character on the show now (sorry, kaley) with her additions to the dialogue. so stinking funny.

catch BIG BANG THEORY on CBS every Thursday at 8/7PM C (8PM for my fellow west coasters!) and follow them on twitter: @BigBang_CBS

got a favorite show you're watching on the Fall TV line up? let me know! comment below or email me at seriouslymere@gmail.com

an apple a day...

2011-10-10T15:00:00.000-07:00

as i continue to progress more and more into this phase of life i'd like to call adulthood...ok, fine, a lot of people call it that...i've tried to challenge myself more with learning new recipes for great entrees, side dishes, desserts, etc. (see my previous blog post entitled "baking redemption" about my redemption over cakeballs for more insight on why i like to learn them) to make at home, bring to parties or gatherings, and what have you.

recently, i was going to my friend's apartment for dinner and some discussion/hang time, and i was in charge of bringing a dessert. the week prior i simply went to a cupcake shop in brentwood called susiecakes (check it out - yum!) and picked up one red velvet cupcake and one of their seasonal salted caramel apple cupcakes. PTL that it's only seasonal because my hips can't take that as a year-round temptation. the cupcakes were awesome (why is it that cupcakes taste better to me than cake?! weirdest thing.), but for round 2 of dessert duty, i wanted to tap into my susie homemaker roots and whip up something from my own kitchen to bring to the table. literally.

i planned to have a dessert based around fruit and decided that apples and dip would be the route i would go. i read a couple recipes online, saw how people thinking they're all julia child and stuff tweaked the original recipes (ok, whatever. i do the same thing with recipes. gotta go with what fits your tastebuds), and finally stumbled upon a recipe via "mouse potato" on Yahoo! answers that must've been sent down from heaven. i think i was already halfway out the door headed to the grocery store before i even finished reading all the ingredients!

i packed a reusable grocery bag (i'm so LA.) with the following items and headed over to the gal's apt. the dip was a hit, and even a couple fellas who stopped by to say hello agreed all the more. i guess it was somewhat obvious when we ran out of apples to dip, and the guys just ate it with spoons. classy.

that night we ate it with granny smith apples (i wanted to contrast the sweetness of the dip with a more tart apple), but a couple days later i put a few spoons-full of it in a bowl and sliced up a banana with it...and it was so good. i will say that i preferred the apples over the banana, but hey...now you've got options!

since i know most of you probably won't click on a link to the original source of this recipe if i were to put it, let's say...like right HERE...i'll go ahead and include the recipe below. but know that this delightful treat was not an original idea (i wish), and i will gladly share it with the world because it's just that good.

i apologize to anyone on a low-sugar diet because this will ruin it.

APPLE TOFFEE DIP

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. packed light or dark brown sugar
1/4 c. granulated sugar
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 c. marshmallow fluff*
1 (7 1/2 oz.) pkg. English toffee bits

Soften cream cheese in the microwave 10-20 seconds if necessary. Beat together all ingredients EXCEPT toffee bits until thoroughly blended. Fold in the English toffee bits. Serve with crisp apple slices. Refrigerate leftovers. Can be made ahead of time and refrigerated. Yield: approx. 3 cups.

*

photo: amazon

got a favorite recipe you think i should try? let me know! it could be featured on here with my attempts at succeeding with making...or baking...one of the things you love to make!

send me ideas at seriouslymere(at)gmail(dot)com

PS - it's been a week since i made the dip, and it's still good right now. i'm seriously eating it with an apple as i type. yum.

social media week

2011-09-21T07:00:00.000-07:00

facebook. twitter. blogger. google+. foursquare. klout. yelp. tumblr.

chances are you've either heard of most of those social media sites or you use most of them. it's crazy to think how much our world has changed and evolved with the growing rise of this media.

this week i've had the opportunity of attending social media week here in LA. there are hubs all over the world streaming lectures and panel discussions over various topics revolving around social media, and you can attend them in person FOR FREE. jackpot.

i've used this week to be a sponge-like student and soak up all the knowledge and wisdom i can from folks who are kicking tail in the social media world. they've been so great to share advice, best practices, and much more with the listening ears and ready-to-tweet-whatever-they-say-audience.

so i want to hear from you? how has social media changed/shaped your world today? how many social media outlets do you use? which network is your primary source for information? communication? do you separate personal and professional? which ones do you just not get the purpose of? which ones do you wish had better features? are you using social media while also using other media (tweeting on iphone while watching tv at home, etc)? how can you use social media for social good?

let me know your thoughts!

photo credit: technorati

PS - if you're really feeling generous, you can vote for my about.me page for a chance for my face to be THE FACE for an about.me campaign in Times Square. can you imagine...seriouslymere in times square! sounds so much like a mary kate and ashley olsen-esque movie in the making...

countdown to THE RECKONING!

2011-09-15T13:55:00.000-07:00

i don't have you tell you that south carolina band NEEDTOBREATHE is one of my favorites. you know this. for fact. and if you don't, then you clearly don't listen when i'm speaking. or you pretend to read my blog. shame on you!

that being said...and you being forgiven... we are in the final days until the highly-anticipated release of their next, i'm sure, amazing album THE RECKONING. these fellas recently had the opportunity to tour with miss taylor swift (nothing but love for tay-tay!), which i hope gained them oodles of new fans to snag a copy of the album on tues 9/20 when it drops...from the heavens...like lyrical manna to nourish my musical appetite.

de-lish.

maybe you've had a chance to listen to the one of the singles, "slumber" from the record - so good! and if you have an app on your phone where you can set a specific song as your alarm clock, that's a great song to wake up to...just saying.

so be sure to buy the album when it comes out and support one of my favorite bands!

photo credit: needtobreathe.net

in need of a #hashtag

2011-09-13T08:30:00.000-07:00

**URGENT: I'VE BEEN NOTIFIED AS WELL AS HAVE READ ONLINE ABOUT SPECULATION THAT FILMING HAS ALREADY BEGUN FOR BEN'S SEASON BECAUSE HE HASN'T TWEETED IN AWHILE. AND WITH THEIR CONTRACTS, THEY CAN'T PARTICIPATE IN SOCIAL MEDIA DURING THEIR REIGN AS BACHELOR OR BACHELORETTE. I'LL BE HONEST...I WILL BE SO STINKIN' SAD IF THAT'S TRUE...BUT IN CASE IT'S NOT, THIS IS WHY I NEED YOUR HELP ASAP!!!**

as i mentioned in yesterday's post...which, you should 1) check out and 2) respond to if you haven't already. seriously people...have you no heart for the matters of my heart?!

well, as i mentioned...i'm in need of a twitter #hashtag for this whole social networking campaign to catch the eyes of the American Broadcasting Company. i had a friend begin one yesterday on twitter that others actually took to using as well.

#getheronthebachelor

so, i'm great with sticking with that...or if you have a better idea, feel free to comment it below or tweet it/FB it to me!

and if you know someone who cuts the hair of an ABC producer...or you nanny for them...or you are one of them...help a girl out! SERIOUSLY!

UNITED WE STAND & get me on the bachelor!

2011-09-12T16:27:00.000-07:00

ok peeps, so i'm still sticking with my commitment to apply for our beloved reality show, the bachelor. but i need your help again (how about you just get used to reading that phrase from me...and maybe check back on seriouslymere from time to time to make sure). i'm meeting with my friend who is shooting my audition video tomorrow - still in hopes of winning the heart of that dreamy winemaker from sonoma (PS - hope you catch him on bachelor pad tonight and send some good energy and prayers my way the whole time he's on screen...and pray that i haven't missed any deadlines that i still can't find listed anywhere!).

one of the things i'm wanting to show the producers is that i would have people from all over the US willing to watch and root for me to find love. so i've printed out a blank map of the US, courtesy of our dear search engine GOOGLE, like this ------>

in my video i'd like to literally SHOW them the states that would be represented in my bachelor following. that way, if i can't appeal to the entertainment-minded producers of why i should be chosen, then perhaps i can find favor with the business-minded ones. you know, the ones who get phone updates from Neilson ratings or something. side note: i have no idea if neilson ratings can be sent to your phone, but i assume that if they can these producer types WOULD have that done.

so here's where you come in...send me the name of the STATE where you're located. i'm not getting all specific with cities, streets, apartment numbers...let's leave the stalking to a minimum and that to be on Facebook when i can't sleep. what? kidding. maybe. so comment on this post with your STATE. you don't have to leave any other info - you can leave anonymous comments with no obligation to register with blogger or begin blogging yourself. save that for the professionals. if you'd rather try your hand at leaving the name of your STATE in 140 characters or less, send me a message on twitter here. or shoot on over to the book of faces and show that social network who's boss...and me what STATE you're in.

that being said, i'm also trying to think of an über-hip #hashtag for twitter for anytime we mention this stuff. so expect that to be your next mission. on tomorrow's blog. till then...

#thanksforhelpingmewiththisstuffandihopethaticanmakeitontheshowsothatyoucanbeapartofhistoryorwhatiwilljustconsiderapartofhistorysinceican

don't forget those twitter handles - try to put them in any tweets you say mentioning me and our future hashtag. but go ahead and post until i figure out the hashtag.

@mereg
@TheBachelorTV
@BenFlajnik - ok i'm adding him just cause ; )

and if you're feeling really ambitious, feel free to nominate me online here, say why you think i'd be good and know that i have no issue with you telling them that i'm already in LA so i can literally walk to the bachelor mansion or villa or wherever we'd be housed. i'd probably take a car, but i could walk if i wanted. i'm that close!

US map photo

(don't worry, i'll be sure to make it bigger for the video. maybe even ask marshall from HIMYM to help me with some charts and graphs...if you've seen that episode you'll know what i mean. and you'll be ready for an intervention soon)

risky business: bucket list item

2011-09-07T09:00:00.000-07:00

nope, no scenes of 'ol tommy sliding past the door posts in his tighty whities. PTL.

as i think i've blogged about before, i've wanted to make a bucket list for myself...just a ~~few~~ lot of things i'd like to challenge myself to do or accomplish before i kick the bucket.

some of those items include:
1) travel to India, Greece, Ireland, and Australia (and those don't all have to be in one trip. or one year. or one decade. but preferably in one lifetime. good.).
2) go skydiving (but first make sure insurance premiums won't go up because of this. ugh.)
3) attend a movie premiere (should be easier considering i live in LA now).
4) fall in love.
5) adopt a child (whether the hubs and i adopt internationally or not will be a later discussion/decision...but we'll just keep it general for now).
6) go paddleboarding (i know...weaksauce item on the list...but i just moved to LA so it's on there!)
7) write a book (tough one. i have no clue what i'd write about, unless just random stories from my life...but that's kind of what this blog is and i need no publisher...).
8) speak Spanish fluently. which probably leads me to...
9) buy Rosetta Stone for Spanish.
10) meet Zachary Levi.
11) write better in cursive.
12) take surfing lessons (and don't think about SoulSurfer one time during the lesson).
13) attend a taping of ELLEN.
14) run a half-marathon.

seems reasonable, right? of course!

well, i recently felt compelled to get it together and add a risk to the list. one that required a glass of pinot grigio as some liquid courage to begin.

15) apply to be a contestant on the bachelor.

i've joked about this in the past...probably since season 1 of the show...or when trista met ryan and i hoped that i could be on the show and find a fireman from vail, colorado to write me poetry...but, honestly, underneath the joking, i always thought well, why not? why not was typically answered with things like i'm not desperate and/or crazy and/or someone with daddy issues and/or good drama for tv ratings. but the truth to the why not hidden beneath the easy answers was simply:

i'm scared.

scared of what? scared the producers at abc might say you are too stable mentally to be on the show? scared they might say the bachelor is looking for someone with a waif-ish figure who doesn't eat? scared they might say i have to wear a two-piece in the hot tub, so leave my summer camp one-piece at home (or burn it)? hardly. i was honestly scared that i could get picked. that i could be someone they wanted to give a shot at love and i'd be thrown into this house with all these women vying for the attention and affection of one man, hoping to somehow stand out from the rest and do so with class and integrity. not that i think so highly of myself, but i think if you ever plan on applying for something like this, you have to have it in your mind that you could have a shot at making it on there. cause if you don't, then you're wasting your time even filling out the application.

thankfully for me, i'm a sucker for commitment, so it was easy for me to make excuses to not apply due to work or other things. but in the most recent season of the bachelorette, i found myself thinking oh crap, i don't have that excuse anymore! i was finishing my job in tulsa. and moving to LA. i knew i was taking some time off following my previous job for some personal rest. or what i liked to call my sabbatical. : )

but what was following that time period of rest...i had no clue. still have no clue. but the thought was there. and i had no excuse to combat it. i didn't really mention it to anyone for quite some time...probably in fear again...and so, i went on with life, not giving much more thought to the matter. i moved to LA without a tv and without the weekly reminder within each episode that you can apply to be on it (thanks, chris harrison for your consistency to offer it each week). i still made jokes about applying, but this time more to test the water of those around me. uh oh...no one's combating me. they're actually encouraging it.

so on a whim one day, i sent an email to a few people who i knew would be an integral part in the prep work if i were seriously going to do this. and once again, all cheers and well-wishes for success.

if i really wanted to do this, i had support and help from others to make it happen.

the next few weeks, i was all talk and no action on doing anything about it. i was nervous. anxious. wondering if filling out the application would cause me to find some deeply rooted angst or anger or hurt from my past that would cause me to ~~need therapy~~ rethink my decision. thankfully, my roomie couldn't find the one cable we needed to make our computer printer work, so i had some time to stall. from the few people i mentioned my plan to, a couple of them would check in on my application progress. woops. didn't think i'd have accountability for this.

well, the time came when my roommate found the cable and i had time on my hands. i pretended like i had better or more important things to do (which i do...like job hunting...so that was a good distraction) and set out to check some job postings. then i received a text message from a friend about ABC officially announcing the new bachelor. none other than the one i had a crush on the entire season of the bachelorette...Ben F.

that was it. the final push i needed. i said he was the bachelor i would want to have on there if i were applying. and he was picked. and i had 2 options: forget about my bucket list goal...forget about the people i spoke with who offered to help me plan out my video, etc...forget about making a commitment to doing this...OR...i could apply. i could put on my big girl pants, fill out the application, make the video, and just send it in. cause then it's out of my hands. and if they like it, awesome. and if they don't, i can't get upset at myself for NOT trying. worst case - nothing happens and i go about life just as before...but then i at least have a funny story to tell in the future.

so today, i, meredith, printed out the application. i filled out the application. i picked out 5-15 photos to have printed to submit with my application. i emailed 2 people who offered to help me to figure out when to get this video filmed in the next week. and i'm writing this blog. why? mainly to have more people to help hold me accountable to completing this task.

the application wasn't too tough to be honest...mainly asking where i live, what's my occupation, hobbies, relationship history & why those relationships ended (considering i've only had 2 relationships...it didn't take long to describe them), etc. but i did have to take some time to think on how to answer "why haven't you found the man of your dreams?" dang ABC. getting right to the core. definitely a needed reflective moment answering that one.

so the first steps are done. now i'm on to the next step of getting the video together.

and in the meantime, i'd like to enlist you...friends of seriouslymere...to help me out. i have no idea what stage of the interview/application process they are in already for this season (i did read that the episodes should begin airing in January, so there could be some time left still to apply...hopefully so!!!), but i would love to ask for your support in getting the attention of ABC. i can easily see messages just from me getting lost in a sea of tweets, but if we joined together then maybe it'll catch their eye. let them know if and why you think i should be on the show (if you don't, then let's follow the whole "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all" idea...but i can't think of a reason why anyone would oppose me doing this). send them tweets, Facebook posts, emails, care packages with homebaked goods...i don't know! here's a few key twitter accounts:

@chrisharrison - host of all things related to the bachelor...fan of oklahomans and texans
@theyearofelan - producer for the show
@cassielambert - producer for the show AND co-founder of dropinthebucket, providing clean water and sanitation to Africa - i'd honestly rather you help her cause more than help mine
@lincee - writer of my favorite bachelor episode re-cap blog, "i hate green beans"...she's a southern girl and would probably want one of her readers to make it to the big leagues...just a thought.
@TheBachelorTV - the official twitter for all things bachelor/bachelorette/bachelor pad

feel free to RT any messages i tweet to them or about this whole thing and encourage your followers to do the same. if you want, you can leave comments here on seriouslymere and i will publish them - maybe even in a separate blog post if that helps (you can make them anonymous if you'd like...it doesn't matter to me). so here's to getting me on the bachelor and hopefully winning the heart of Mr. Ben F!

thanks in advance for any help you can give...i wouldn't want to do this without the support of all of you!

looking for love in reality places,
meredith : )

**EDIT: i guess you should also know my twitter handle for purposes of getting this grassroots campaign (as my roomie just referred to it) going. it's @mereg - let's do this, people!**

photo credit: gossipdivaz

FALL TV: new girl

2011-08-31T15:59:00.001-07:00

what is not to love about zooey deschanel?! not only has she been my hair inspiration for past styles, but she's also absolutely adorable, seriously funny, and endearingly awkward. pretty much the way in which i hope any and everyone will describe me one day.

i don't even care who the supporting cast members are (although i know). i'll give this show a chance until FOX takes it off the lineup or it surpasses the simpsons in seasons. one can only hope for the latter!!

zooey plays jess, a girl getting over a breakup who moves in with three dudes...and this is where the hilarity ensues. although i'm sad that damon wayans jr. won't be in the show, i'm glad that his show, happy endings, on ABC (which i'm sure to mention in a future post) was picked up for another season. it was hilarious.

catch NEW GIRL on FOX beginning 9/20 at 9/8c. then don't talk about the episode until after i've watched it online the following day or until i get a job and can get cable again, ok? thanks.

and if anyone knows of jobs where i can seriously just write and promote things like zooey or television shows or anything...you let me know. i do this for free...why not get paid for it!

side note: thinking about cutting my bangs again for the fall...yes? no? thoughts?

(Dec. 2010 at a NYE wedding in Nashvegas)

(i feel like i fit the "simply adorkable" theme as well. it's fine, i embrace it.)

photo credits:

"New Girl" promo courtesy of the TV informant

baking redemption

2011-08-27T17:14:00.007-07:00

read my profile over there on the right and you'll find within mere seconds of starting my bio that i'm quite competitive. i wish i could say that it's a competitive nature that only surfaces during things that matter in life...like catchphrase or pop culture trivia...but i'd be lying through my teeth worn from 27 years of clenching in fierce competition.

i recently found a new arena of competition in my life: baking. ugh, call me susie homemaker one more time! maybe it's the fact that i'm still job hunting here in LA so i feel like a freaking housewife, tending to my daily to-do's and chores. i mean, throw a kid or two in my car (buckled of course) and i'll blend in with all the other soccer moms and nannies out here in cali. note to self: buy yoga pants and mat to blend in more.

i've always loved to bake. i like to think that people usually exist in one of two culinary categories: cookers or bakers. i'm sure every top chef out there reading this is rolling his/her eyes right now since i said "cookers," but get over it. i would say chef, but i think chef could mean one who bakes or one who cooks. so, here we are back at cookers and bakers.

a cooker, in my mind, is one who finds success in the kitchen via the entrees and sides of a meal. cookers know the difference between things like kosher salt and table salt (still trying to figure that one out. i read the kosher salt label and know what kosher means. but i'm trying to figure out why the other salt can't be kosher, too. agh, it always comes down to an "A Team/B Team" issue!). they know how to cook pasta to al dente perfection and they scoff at those who char anything without the phrase char-grilled in it. cookers are the ones i wish to be more like. the julia childs of this world who master french cuisine and can pick out flavors and textures of meals in a blind taste test. now, i've been known to pick out hints of citrus or certain peppers from time to time...but julia child i am not.

a baker, on the other hand, is one who always has items like eggs, flour, vanilla, sugar(s), and chocolate chips in stock at any given time. the baker knows when a cake is ready before the buzzer sounds and can sense the moment the chocolate chip cookies are finished to perfection (not too hard, not too soft). bakers dream of kitchen aid mixers, whisks and spatulas...and probably have more of them than necessary for one's kitchen. they're the first ones to sign up on bringing treats to an event because they can't wait to try out their own take on something they saw on CUPCAKE WARS. they have high aspirations of owning their own bakery and always have "love" as a secret ingredient to everything they make. except for owning that kitchen aid mixer (which i might ask for this christmas!), i am a baker through and through.

because of this title i've given myself, i find that i get more frustrated when something i bake doesn't turn out the way i planned as opposed to something i cooked.

for instance: senior year of college. i had just purchased a RACHAEL RAY 30 MINUTE MEAL cookbook and was stoked to try it out. i thought, i love EVOO. i've got 30 minutes to spare. let's make a meal! i probably should've started out with something like fancy grilled cheese, but i took on a crusted chicken recipe that looked delicious. too bad the college i went to was in a small town, so my grocery options were limited. as was the items on the list. whatever nut i was supposed to use for the crust wasn't available, so i had to improvise with what WALMART had in stock. cashews? that'll do! i also didn't do great planning ahead with the whole defrosting issue for the chicken breasts i was using...so i hit up my general electric microwave and sought to defrost those things quickly so that i may stick with the whole 30 minute meal time parameter. as the chicken defrosted, i took to prepping my other ingredients, preheating the oven, and preparing the skillet i was going to have to use to do a quick pan-fry of the chicken with the cashew breading before i put it in the oven...all under 30 minutes. i really wish i could remember if it was supposed to be cashews or not. if it was, then i used something else. if it wasn't, then i used cashews. whatever it was, i used what it was not. got it? good. to this day i am SO GLAD that i didn't invite anyone over for dinner that night. my defrosting turned into almost cooking the outer part of the chicken via microwave, my cashew coating wasn't so much "coating" the way that rachael's picture seemed to show it would, and when i removed the chicken from the oven to carve into the bird and dine in sheer amazement...i found that the inside was disgustingly still pink. way pink. like eat-this-and-you-WILL-get-e.coli-or-salmonella-or-whatever-bacteria-you-get-from-undercooked-chicken. with quickfire challenge thinking, i popped the chicken back in the oven, hoping the slice down the middle might increase the surface area and cook it all the way through. i continued to check on it from time to time, only to find the inside wasn't getting better...and the outside was getting worse. curses. i'm sure i repeated this step for a few more cycles till i checked my 30-minute meal stopwatch (aka my watch) and saw my prep/cooking time had now passed the hour mark. 60 minutes of undercooked cashew-crusted chicken that rachael ray could have made TWICE by now. without bacterial hazards. i failed a 30-minute meal.

but instead of getting down on myself, i called my dad and retold my ridiculous cooking story as i drove to pick up the order of chinese takeout i had called in the moment i saw that chicken come out of the oven. my combination fried rice was superb.

baking, however, is a different issue. i don't know why or when this began...maybe it's an OCD tendency that people haven't done much research on but should...but i will get so stinkin' frustrated with myself when something i bake isn't up to par. cookies out of the oven 1 minute behind my internal cookie clock? FAIL. toothpick has a little bit of gooeyness on it when you stick it in the cake you thought was ready? EPIC FAIL. you're using foil cookie sheets right now? COLOSSAL FAIL. ok that last one was a stretch. i AM using foil ones right now cause i keep forgetting to buy one at the store. ugh.

for those who follow me on facebook and/or twitter, you may have recently seen that i took on a first-ever baking adventure the other day: cakeballs. i had two events in one week i was asked/signed up to bring treats for (see aforementioned description of "baker"), and the only things on my mind were spherical rounds of cake and frosting. YUM. i set out to the grocery in hopes to make red velvet ones, which cream cheese frosting and a white chocolate coating. too bad that santa monica must consider red velvet a seasonal cake mix because it was the ONLY flavor i did not see on the shelf. what the flour?! thank goodness i found worthy back-up plans in the form of: 1) yellow butter cake mix with a milk chocolate chip frosting and 2) german chocolate cake mix with the corresponding coconut-esque frosting...i planned on coating them in chocolate almond bark, but this store also didn't carry that. i'm surprised they're even still in business, but whatever.

priscilla came over that evening to share in the dining masterpiece i cooked in the form of a PFChangs freezer meal for two - ginger chicken and broccoli (really good. but not as good as the beef with broccoli.) - and to watch CARS. she had never seen it before, so it was a good choice to not wallow in the sorrows of the fact that two fabulous single girls were watching a children's movie and eating freezer meals for dinner in their workout clothes cause who did they need to dress up for...what? ok that's a whole 'notha blog post!

P (not as in PF) asked if i wanted to go ahead and begin making my cakeballs...i courteously declined and said i would after we were done...it shouldn't take long to prep everything that night for me to run to another grocery store in the morning and buy almond bark, bring it back, coat them and head out the door to the event. according to my mind, i was doing great and had plenty of time!

when P left i cleaned up the laptop theater i had created for us (still no tv. wah wah) and rinsed out dishes in order to prepare a clean space to begin the cakeballs. as i dumped the mix into a bowl, i grabbed the frosting jar and that's when it hit me. crapola, meredith, you forgot to actually MAKE a cake! there i was, frosting jar in hand, about to unload a heaping spoon of coconut goo onto a dry cake mix. curses.

i looked at the clock. way past midnight. curses. curses. curses. i already have my alarm set to 7 to wake up and go buy the almond bark. and there is NO WAY i am waking up in the 6's on my clock on a saturday morning. the cake has to be baked now. i slam around some bowls and ingredients and bake a freakin' cake sometime between 1 and 2AM, which i'm sure now qualifies me in a whole different category of weird for anyone walking past my apartment at this time. while the stupid cake bakes i get ready for bed so that all i need to do is retrieve it from the oven and let it cool overnight. easy as pie. i mean, cake. i was encouraged to remove the cake a little earlier than directed to help with the mixing process of cakeballing...and i don't know if my oven went nuts or the germans just make their chocolate harder to bake, but the few minutes early thing might not have been a wise idea for me in this moment. danke, germans. danke shehr. however, i did it anyway and set the cake out to cool. then i realized that my alloted time period in the morning would still not give me enough time to let them set as cakeballs in the freezer, so i had to go on to the next steps: crumbling the freshly cooled cake, mixing in the frosting, rolling into spheres and placing them in the freezer overnight on cookie sheets covered in wax paper. by the time this all finished, it was about 3AM. perfect. grrr.

the next morning i joyfully (not) woke up at 7 to head to the grocery, pick up the almond bark, and return for some melting and coating. i didn't own a microwave just yet, so i had to macguyver my way in the kitchen with a small sauce pan with boiling water beneath a large glass bowl for me to melt the almond bark in...you would think this would be flippin' genius (i did), but the almond bark didn't melt fast enough...then it somehow melted too fast. so i ended up with a heap of unusable chocolate and no chocolate-coated cakeballs. by this time, my roommate had joined me in the kitchen and found me in a state of frustration and panic. i'll be honest, it's not my favorite state. kinda along the same lines as kansas. or at least the part you drive through on the way to colorado that is absolutely boring. roomie offers help, but has never worked with almond bark before...so i'm forced to scrap that into a heap in the sink, take the scalding hot bowl and rinse it out/dry it off so that no moisture is on it to taint our next step, then we pour chocolate chips and some vegetable oil in the bowl over the bowling water-filled sauce pan so that we may start anew. the chocolate chips melt with ease. yes. the oil adds to this meltiness to create a texture of smooth perfection. hallelujer. i then drop the first cakeball into the melted mixture to begin the coating process, only to find out that the large bowl i previously mentioned is really large. kind of in the way large. and now i feel like i'm getting a freakin' facial of steam and chocolate, which might actually be really nice and great for the pores, but no so fun when trying to cover cakeballs. i'm rushing, i'm blinking incessantly (that means without pause or interruption. you're welcome.), and i'm not helping the cakeball cause whatsoever. a few hastily-covered cakeballs later, and i find myself turning off the stovetop, dumping the bowl into the sink, and tainting the melted goodness with water so that no one has the opportunity to fix what i have failed. i'm pretty sure i slammed some things around, thought some words (or said them under my breath that i wish i hadn't and wouldn't be proud to admit to my grandmother...although i've heard her mutter them, too...usually for shock value not baking failure), and packed up my things to head out the door to the event...without cakeballs in tow. i was ticked. nay, i was pissed. sorry, for the PG-rating of vocab here, folks, but i'm just getting vulnerable.

i took my frustrated self straight to panera and ordered the half-dozen bagel box with cream cheeses. it wouldn't make up for my morning mess, but it would do until i returned to my kitchen.

i called my previous roommate while driving (i've told her that i will call her in the car when i'm in traffic so as to have "traffic time with ginger" while i'm driving around LA. no, her name's not ginger. but she's a redhead, so close enough.) and explained the situation. she encouraged me and said it would have probably turned out better had i not been rushing through everything. i decided it was because i didn't use her kitchenaid mixer to make the cake. we agreed on both items, and i went to the event (which was a lot of fun - a clothing swap with great gals...i got lots of fun new things that didn't cost a thing!) were i only let on to P of my mishap of cakeball proportions. she, too, flowed of encouragement and you'll-get-'em-next-timeness, and i drowned my baking sorrows in the other baked goods people brought. especially the donuts.

later that afternoon, i got back to my apartment and started to pick up my mess around the kitchen. somewhere in the midst of cleaning, i caught myself prepping to try again. prepping for a chance at redemption. i had placed the bowl back on the saucepan. with chocolate chips and vegetable oil in hand, i poured out the perfect ratios to create what some might say was a velvety chocolate texture to coat the cakeballs like none other. i didn't seek out to prove it to anyone but myself that i can do this. I CAN DO THIS! in mere moments, i looked at the wax paper, where i had placed 5-6 coated cakeballs on there...ready to be consumed by the masses. i'll be honest...not perfection. but in keeping with this honesty theme, one step closer.

only my roommate and i were recipients of the first batch of cakeballs. and by the phrase "first batch" that already gives away (spoiler alert!) that i, indeed, had a second batch of redemption. giving myself ample time to not rush, i prepared the next batch that week. i used the yellow butter cake mix (um yum. paula dean would be so proud...one whole stick of butter, y'all!), mixed it with the chocolate chip frosting, and then popped the cakeballs in the freezer overnight. i had scheduled an appointment with my roommate for the following day (seriously, i put it in my calendar under "dip cakeballs in chocolate.") to meet in our kitchen and coat the new batch using techniques she has mastered over the years as i learn in sous-chef amazement. i also purchased a microwave at costco, so i wouldn't have to deal with the whole ghetto-rigged double boiler...and because we didn't own one. and with a little patience, a few colored sprinkles, and a whole lotta love, we were rocking and rolling those things in the chocolatelyness.

(fresh out of the freezer, and quickly dipped in chocolate)

(dipped, sprinkled, and back in the freezer until i left for the event that evening)

the finished product was great. just how i had hoped my first attempt had been, but it's fine. when you fail in baking, i guess you just gotta dust the flour off your shoulders and get back in the game. my failed attempt at cakeballing became a success a couple days later...yet i've still never tried that 30-minute meal, after 5 years of that on my cooking conscience. that right there lets me know which category i fit in.

so with the assistance of friends and the help of extra time on my hands, i, seriouslymere, have achieved BAKING REDEMPTION.

victory is oh so sweet.

*update: found my rachael ray cookbook. it was a hazlenut crusted chicken recipe. and i had to go with cashews. and i wasn't even trying the gorgonzola sauce with it. awesome. i wasn't even planning to do the whole 30-minute meal recipe and yet i still didn't do it right. hahaha*

terrariums: the epitome of fun.

2011-08-16T23:55:00.009-07:00

i'm not one for stocking my home with plants. if you've ever seen my parent's house (which about 97% of you have NOT), you would know that mi madre loves plants. indoor plants. outdoor plants. real plants. fake plants. tall plants. short plants. and the list goes on.

i've expressed my concern...ok more like dislike...of all of these plants overtaking our living quarters. and all you tree huggers out there can back off me with your "well, if you think about it...it's more like WE are overtaking THEIR living quarters"...blah blah i get it. i'm one for keeping mother earth impressive. after all, the Lord did give man authority over it...but i think just as with any part of God's creation, i think we are to nurture it, too. wow...who's the tree hugger now?

side note: who even uses "tree hugger" as a phrase anymore. i would exchange it with something like "whole foods customer" or "solar panel/tankless water heater consumer" but for the sake of the fact that i shop at whole foods (or as some of us lovingly refer to it: whole paycheck) and i wouldn't be opposed to using solar panels or tankless water heaters some day, then i shall avoid changing the phrase.

so picture me: the advocate of only fresh flowers in my house and nothing more becoming roommates with someone who is absolutely obsessed with having touches of green everywhere. good thing is, our aesthetic is at least the same with it all...so all of her greenery (whether real or not) doesn't wig me out...but i think the ratio of my plant life:her plant life is about 1:5,000,000 - and i counted the fake floral arrangement i packed when i moved here as mine. yep, that's about all i have. and i might get rid of it. i've also held myself to a strict rule of "no buying fresh flowers till you're receiving an even fresher paycheck" for the time being...so anytime we've had flowers in our kitchen it's been stuff the roomdawg has brought back from the farmer's market or events or weddings. currently we have a beautiful floral arrangement from a wedding she went to and it's giving me a nice little floral fix till i can buy them again.

please note that i have nothing wrong with my roomie's love or plethora of plants, herbs, and flowers...it's actually become quite the joke around our apartment because they're slightly taking over her living quarters...and there it goes again...

one of the plant loves she has is for terrariums. when i first heard about terrariums, all i could picture was a tomato plant in like a glass jar which didn't sound so appealing or pretty to have decorating my bachelorette pad. but upon further inspection...and many anthropologie and pottery barn catalogs later...i realized they weren't tomato plants. they could be cute. and i like cute. therefore, i began to like terrariums.

well, i never had a need and/or desire to go out and make one...nor did anyone in my friend circles for years...so it never came about until being here in california when that was one of the top 10 conversation topics that my roommate would bring up each day (the others being in the realms of food and relationships. typical chat topics around our apt). i gave her crap about it mostly because it was funny and entertaining for me to call her out every time she talked about them or saw them in stores, literally coveting these terrariums. ok, fine...coveting is a strong and more sinful version of what she was doing. she just really wanted a terrarium.

she already had one, but the poor thing had passed on to become i guess future nutrients for future soil for a future terrarium if we want to get into the whole circle of life thing...i think that's right. science wasn't my strong subject. i was too busy playing "drug war" on my TI-83. lucky for me i have a knack at being able to pay attention & have considerable retention while doing things that might make it look like i'm NOT paying attention. some might have considered those "focus issues." but i call it multi-tasking. and that kind multi-tasking got me a valedictorian speech in high school, so TAKE THAT science classes!!

roomie's terrarium was dead, so she was jonesin' for a new one. and was highly encouraging me to join in on the fun. i was all for it, but just not as gung ho (sp?) as she was/still is. she chatted it over with some folks and plans came about for us to have a small TERRARIUM PARTY to make our own.

an email chain had begun and we planned out what the evening would look like. each of us brought our own container (glass bowl, terra cotta pot, metal container, mason jar, etc.)...we shared different plants, succulents, mosses, sand, and soil...and we joined up for some terrarium fun!

me, being the perfectionist that i am, had to start over after i began my first terrarium attempt. i didn't like what i was creating (one more reason why i'm glad i'm not God), so i started over in hopes trial #2 would be a keeper. it was, and i'm actually pleased with what turned out. i tried to get different levels, textures, and colors all throughout my terrarium...hoping to have a MAH-JOR moment terrarium style that TeamZoe might litcherally go BA-NA-NAS for. ok lies, Rachel Zoe never once crossed my mind during that night. wait, i take that back. one of the gals was wondering who she was when fashion stylists came up in conversation, so of course i let that be my opportunity to word vomit on all things Zoe-related. it's fine.

it wound up being a lot of fun, hanging out & chatting with girls while bringing life into the world. plant life. not baby life. that whole "bringing life into the world" part just made me second-guess my phrasing. obviously didn't make me use my DELETE button though! oh well : )

here's some pics from the night of the process, as well as the finished products. so fun to see the difference in everyone's terrarium and how it is a personal reflection of each one of us and our creativity. gosh, maybe i should take this whole terrarium thing to terra nova...

Container options for your terrarium: glass, terra cotta, metal (be sure to line with a plastic bag if using metal)...even Corningware is a hit! : )

i loved the bright green color of the moss to have a POP of color in my terrarium

what started out as an example/inspiration terrarium turned into simply salvaged plants/parts to put in our own...can't pass up those little yellow things or that great succulent!

roomie chipped in by purchasing some small succulents for everyone to share

Once you're ready to begin, line the bottom of your container with pebbles - this will help with drainage during the few times you have to water it

Next, cover the pebbles with sand...

you're now ready to begin placing your plants and helping them set by putting potting soil around them

when you're plants are set, then cover the soil with another layer of sand...

and Voilà! you now have a completed terrarium. wash your hands and pat yourself on the back for a job well done! or pose with your terrarium as your friend who would never be caught dead making a terrarium would (cough cough...priscilla)

one of my favorite things was seeing how different everyone's turned out! no two are alike, and each one has a bit of the personality of the one who made it (there's a church sermon in there i know it...that'll preach)

you can cluster a bunch together...

or even skip out on all the sand and go for a more woodsy vibe using pebbles, soil, moss, rocks, & wood pieces

the terrarium party! from L to R: me (terrarium newbie but not one to shy away from a good craft challenge), therese (roomie/who kept the energy level up with her enthusiasm for terrariums), katie (our hostess with the mostest!/chef of the delicious veggie ziti dinner), kristina (who had the most professionally-styled terrarium), & alisha (who rocked out to the beat of her own mason jar drum by going for the forest terrarium!)

i may change my mind on this plant stuff...yeah probably not. but a terrarium is at least one step in the right direction. it only requires watering once every 3-6 months. yep, i may only have to water this plant 2x this year. BEST. PLANT. EVER.

have you ever made a terrarium? have one that you've seen in a magazine or online somewhere you'd love to recreate or give your own flair? i want to know! send me pics/ideas at seriouslymere@gmail.com - if i haven't told you before (i think i have), this is an email account specifically for this blog so that i can hear/read in more detail your thoughts, suggestions, comments, concerns. so send away!

i'm a video girl

2011-08-08T19:31:00.007-07:00

maybe i've told you this before. maybe i haven't. or maybe you've assumed this about me. which could be weird, but i'll let it slide this time.

i am quite the "fanilow."

for those under the age of 25, you probably have no clue what this means unless your parents or older relatives have used this term in your presence. or you do because you're an insanely savvy music buff (and i really want to know you because of this).

to be a "fanilow," one must have high regard for the music, lyrics, showmanship...nay...the LEGACY of THE MR. BARRY MANILOW. and i am one of those.

i have no idea what brought about my love for barry manilow's music. perhaps it was that sassy tap routine i performed in 2nd grade with vicki's school of dance to "bandstand boogie," prancing around on stage in a white leotard adorned with black puffy sleeves with white polka dots (insert napoleon dynamite quote: "i like your sleeves. they're real big." here). i'd be lying if i said i didn't remember some of the choreography from that routine. shuffle ball change. shuffle ball change. shampoo. shampoo. shimmy. yep, still got it.

i don't think i ever really realized how much i liked barry manilow until a couple of things happened in my life:

1) the movie "can't hardly wait" was released and featured barry's song "mandy" as the inspiration for a sweet, puppy-eyed high school boy to chase after his crush, amanda. mandy. amanda. close enough. needless to say, i don't doubt that i wished for my name to be mandy at least once. or for barry to write a song called "meredith." still waiting on both of those wishes.

2) in college i recorded a 5-min broadcast that aired during the OBU football games called "this week at ouachita." it was my time to shine on the airwaves and let the folks of the metropolis of arkadelphia (who weren't skipping the OBU games to attend razorback games instead) know what was indeed happening for that week on campus and in the community. on my first day at the station to record my segment, i was introduced to a DJ who was spinning the golden oldies hits and i happened to walk into his booth as he was playing a barry song. i wish i could remember which one it was. alas, i don't. (i'm sorry, barry.) as the DJ stretched out his hand for cordial introductions, i somehow missed this social cue and immediately began our conversation (and interesting first impression) with "Barry Manilow?! I'm such a Fanilow!" DJ: "you like barry manilow?" me: "for sure! him and neil diamond. i had an appreciation week once on my xanga page for neil. and yep, you didn't care to know about that." we continued our conversation, with me discussing my love of old school music and him pretending like he was impressed or entertained. thankful for that DJ not making it too obvious in the moment that i was probably annoying.

3) i spent my own hard-earned cash (or took an extra $20 bill from my dad when he was giving me money on the weekend or something) to purchase the "barry manilow: 2 nights live!" 2-disc album which i frequently listen to on my ipod, especially on road trips.

4) from time to time i will find myself singing lyrics out in normal dialogue-filled moments with other people, saying things such as "sweet heaven i'm in love again!" (which is false. i'm not in love again. i've never been in love. so once again...sorry, barry.) but you get the picture...lyrics = used in my conversations.

if it weren't potentially harmful to my relationship with my father, i probably would've dreamed of changing my name to Lola and becoming a showgirl. but only so that "copacabana" would be about me...but i guess it's fine to not be the subject of a superstar's song and still make it in this world...

upon my arrival to los angeles i found myself reading a tweet from a very talented friend of mine named tim, where he mentioned he was working on the pre-production for the new barry manilow video. the following is our twitter conversation:

me: fun fact: i'm a "Fanilow."

tim: you just got cast to be an extra.

me: you're not allowed to make jokes when it comes to Barry...I could be in a vulnerable state right now!

(note: Barry is worthy of receiving capitals in tweets. no question.)

tim: we're shooting monday in LA. i'll put you on the call sheet. #notjoking #bringapartydress

i believe my immediate reaction was to take screen shots of these tweets on my cell phone and text them to priscilla. it's a typical response when i see things 1) i can't believe, 2) i think are hilarious or 3) i like to pretend are "her boyfriend" (which usually is pictures of random guys in goofy outfits. or asian pop stars. there's a plethora to choose from in LA).

I. JUST. GOT. CAST. IN. A. BARRY. MANILOW. VIDEO.

next reaction: call my dad. he's the only other person in my life i think would be equally as excited about this news. and he was. we had a good chat. a good laugh. and high hopes for me to meet barry at the shoot.

i enlisted priscilla as my stylist for the video and made sure to run my wardrobe & accessories by her fashionably judgmental eyes. considering she gave me her accessories (or bling, i should say) to wear, i didn't expect her to say any negative comments about the pieces. when monday rolled around i made sure to get plenty of rest and keep myself hydrated...all the while not eating salty foods so as to not appear "bloaty" in my first (of i hope many) barry manilow vids.

we were encouraged to wear muted dark colors in outfits we'd wear to our boss' house for cocktails. considering i've never been to a boss' house for cocktails, i just went with something more "club" and less "church" - all the while still upholding my morals via fashion choices. : ) i also couldn't stop singing the GRITS song "video girl" in my head all day, and since my music video debut wasn't going to be on BET i needed to make sure my outfit didn't fit me into that "video girl" category...so i prepared the ensemble for the evening and texted a few initial pics to priscilla:

dark muted colors so as to not upstage barry. i'd never! dress: target. accessories: wherever priscilla buys bling...either forever 21 or somewhere in TX near the mexico border.

nowhere near "gams" but more leg than i've shown in my ministry days...so mama was feeling AWKWARD. (not my mama. yeah right like i showed her this pic!). shoes: H&M.

when discussing makeup for a music video, i knew from previous on-camera experience in broadcasting for college stuff that i would need to wear more makeup than i normally would for camera purposes. priscilla & i agreed i should "play up" my eyes for the occasion. and of course, i sent approval pictures via text to P to make sure barry would, too, approve of them. the first two pics of myself i took were ridiculous, so i decided to just own the awkwardness of taking a self-portrait and sent her the pic.

eyes: mine. makeup: ulta, target, walmart.

i made sure to leave earlier than i needed to, just in case traffic on my way from santa monica to downtown LA got crazy. good thing. because 1) it did. and 2) i had to maneuver my way through, around, and all over downtown without ever really having been downtown on my own. perrrrrrrfect. in preparation for the drive time, i chose to wear some cutoffs and my flipflops until the moment of truth arrived and the heels came on and the lower half of my dress needed to come back down. wow, that sounds weird. reminder: morals = never compromised.

sitting in traffic comfortably thanks to my GAP cutoffs and rainbow flipflops. who's ready to meet barry?!?!

remember how i mentioned i was hydrating all day? well you better believe that didn't stop just cause i was headed to the video shoot! i packed my nalgene and a delicious and nutritious snack for the commute. who knows if they feed people at these things.

ignore the chipotle cup. that wasn't from this day. : )

i arrived at the shoot location to find myself at a sweet loft in downtown. tim met me and gave me a brief tour of the place, making sure i was good to go and got all the right paperwork signed so that i wouldn't sue barry or his people if i broke an ankle wearing heels for the first time in a long time. i don't think i ever could sue barry for monetary things. maybe just for a guarantee to be in the rest of his music videos. or for him to write a song called "meredith."

a lot of our time as extras when not shooting scenes was simply spent hanging out on couches and waiting for the production team to set up the next scene. it was nice to have the breaks between stuff to rest our feet from standing/dancing the whole time. as we waited for all the extras to arrive we were even given permission to hit up the food table. SCORE! models/actors/extras DO eat. PRAISE. THE. LORD. a moment worth documenting...

hoping the whole "bloaty" thing still holds off, even with choosing the healthier sun chips option over my favorite chips: nacho cheese doritos. no one wants to meet barry manilow with dorito breath. unless barry offers you the nacho cheese dorito himself. then you take. you eat. and you enjoy.

one filming began i really tried to respect the crew by staying focused, listening, and not being on my cell phone. well, when you get to take breaks from time to time, you tend to check the cell and tweet things about the fact that you're in a barry manilow video right now. so i did that. i texted people, informing them of the status of barry throughout the night: "not here yet." "still not here." "ugh just found out he's not coming at all." it's fine. still nothing but love for barry.

we filmed different scenes throughout the night of us all at this party (funny, i thought i was at my boss' house for cocktails. i would have TOTALLY picked a different dress for a party!)...things like us in conversations with people (you know, people we either just met or didn't know at all but were asked by the director to have funny inside jokes with, etc.), us dancing with those same people we just met, us toasting one another with our "party beverages," dancing with the DJ in his booth (yep, look for me, former miss alaska, and another girl in that scene), and many more things.

if being in a "club" dress and wearing heels wasn't already crazy enough for me, i laughed every time we were instructed to dance around to the music the DJ was playing. he was really playing music. and thankfully so, because it at least gave us a beat to work with. however, sometimes the songs were tough to dance to, so my body sometimes didn't work with that beat (unfortunate). one time, we all didn't think the cameras were rolling so we were kind of goofing around with our dancing, taking the opportunity to work on our latin-inspired moves to accompany the latin-inspired music the DJ chose to play at the time...well, i guess i had had enough of practice dancing and wanted to save my energy for the real camera shots. so i just stopped dancing. in the middle of the dance floor. a few moments later i feel the director's hands on my hips with him saying "hey, can you move your hips a little more? we're rolling." oh crap. cameras were rolling. and i was just standing there. i hope that's edited before barry ever sees it.

the scene i'd like to say was a highlight for me was when the guy who they had cast as "young barry" was to move through the crowd of dancing peeps looking for a certain gal pal...during that scene, we extras are just dancing around like we've been instructed...then YB (young barry) comes pushing through the crowd. during at least one of the takes, YB has to push his way past me, so i'd like to think that was just like BMH (Barry Manilow himself) pushing his way past me. sooo basically what i'm trying to say here is that BMH touched my arm. truth.

five hours of shooting and we wrapped after midnight. it was a lot of fun and an experience i'm so thankful to have been a part of in my life! no, BMH never showed at the shoot. but that's ok. i'm sure he's seen playback of all the footage and decided that the awkward girl just standing in the middle of the dance floor is going to be his new muse for all future albums. i'm sure of it.

lights. camera. action! BTS at the Barry vid. picture: mine, courtesy of my iphone.

looks like we've made it.

meredith, a forever Fanilow.

*i'd like to say a special thanks to target, H&M, GAP, rainbow flipflops, walmart, ulta, and spanxx for getting me through this evening.*

seriouslyYOU&mere

2011-08-05T00:45:00.002-07:00

listen up, folks. i've been doing some thinking. that my cause alarm to some, but you need not worry...this time...

i've been thinking that though i'm sure you sit by your computer whether at home or the office (or the home office?) hitting the refresh button time and time again just to see if i've updated this blog (ha probably haven't. dang it, i need to be more consistent on blogging daily!). well, in case you do...or in case you would like to start...i've decided to give some of you the opportunity to let your voice be heard - or read for that matter - here on seriouslymere.

i'm not trying to take responsibility of this blog away from myself and put it on others. no way! i mean, ever since the days of my xanga page or my myspace account (note to self: delete myspace account. i don't care how much of the company justin timberlake owns now.), i've owned the responsibility as the author of the site(s).

my goal of seriouslymere is to provide a fun and entertaining (i hope) glimpse into my world. my perspective. literally an opportunity to get inside my head and figure out (i hope) what the hay (hey?) is going on in there. there's a lot of things happening in mi cabeza...and you're getting just a mere portion. ha..."mere" portion. sorry, that was lame. i shouldn't have called that out and pretended like it was even funny (<--see, right there. IN. MY. HEAD. you're welcome for me not deleting that section).

but i also know that sometimes it gets boring to just read what someone else has to say...i mean, isn't that why it takes me FOREVER to finish some books sometimes? i just want to have the author beside me sometimes, grab their face so they know i mean business, look them in the eyes and say GET. TO. SOMETHING. GOOD. ALREADY. geez, there's only so much i can take of lollygagging throughout a storyline without something interesting and/or exciting and/or significant actually taking place. and i'm sure no one has ever felt that way when they've read this blog. or heard me tell a story.

my bad.

i just like to provide LOTS of detail so that you, as the listener/audience to my storytelling, feel like you were actually a part of the experience. is that too much to hope for? if so, i'd say find another blog on the information superhighway to read. if not, thank you for loving me...buckle up and continue reading.

so for those who need me to reach a point soon, here's what i'd like to do: i'd like to allow YOU the opportunity to submit your thoughts, questions, comments, concerns, opinions, judgments against me (maybe. still praying about that one.), favorite music/shows/films, etc. on here...let's just call this here blog a "conversation" and we'll just dialogue for a bit now.

as much as i'd love to have you all submit this stuff via the comment section, for some reason crazies leave spammish (not the canned meat) comments on here...thus the reason i have them moderated by me so that i can delete the spam ones before they can be published. i enjoy your comments & feedback, so please leave it! but here's where you can submit your ideas and such for future blogs: send an email to (yep, i created an email account JUST for this blog!): seriouslymere@gmail.com - be sure to include your name (you can go with first/last or just first if you prefer) and home state. i won't go into detail with cities and/or age because i want to help keep you protected on the interweb.

so once again: seriouslymere@gmail.com - submit anything you'd like to see on here (whether it's questions for me to answer, suggestions for a future blog, or a little something you'd love to have published but don't want to take the time to start your own blog).

here's to hoping you enjoy getting more involved and that it pushes me to be a more consistent blogger.

cheers.