mere words of love

shoes shoes shoes.

2012-01-31T07:55:00.000-06:00

i have never been a shoe-shopper. i just get overwhelmed on what to buy. i wonder if it will match my clothes. and i'm always on the hunt to find shoes that magically make my feet smaller.

but lately i've found a particular interest in shoes. there are just so many unique pairs out there.

like these.

(1) (2) (3) (4)

on the hunt.

2012-01-30T07:38:00.000-06:00

i'm looking for a this...

...and a this

can you help me?

(1) (2)

learning.

2012-01-28T08:05:00.004-06:00

since i'll be traveling across ISRAEL soon, i've been doing quite the studying on photography. i've even been reading my camera manuel - as much of a bore as it is, it's got some useful tips in there (guess where i found that tip -- pinterest! who would've thought?).

and i've been picking up tidbits from these travel blogs. breathtaking, i know.

mr. and mrs. globetrot // hearblack // everyday musings

i could look at pretty pictures all. day. long.

cheers to learning new skills!

haircut blues.

2012-01-23T08:00:00.000-06:00

i think i made a mistake. i was swayed by the cute and bouncy-haired asian girl at the hair salon. my hair got one big c h o p. it's short, y'all. and i'm in a wedding in 3 weeks. darn it.

oh well, i'm embracing the shortness and just going with it! it does save time in the morning. cropped hair blow dries in like 2.5 seconds (not really).

happy monday!

i've got the travel bug.

2012-01-22T17:38:00.000-06:00

back again!

i have some news. this march i'll be taking some time off work and heading over to israel (or the promised land as i keep calling it). my church is taking a trip, so i signed up and convinced my parents to join.

i can't even wait to see the places Jesus walked, taught, healed, and prayed.

i can't stop thinking about it. TRAVELING ROCKS!

oh and if anyone has any suggestions for cute and comfy walking shoe ideas...i'm all ears. i'm on the hunt for stylish yet practical shoes for the trip.

pinned it.

hello again.

2012-01-19T20:47:00.000-06:00

and i'm back by popular demand! hah, not really.

what have i been doing since i last blogged?

well i've been adjusting to my new job (love it!), trying to transform my arms into rocks (it's about to be wedding season), reading my new camera manual (yes, it's true), snuggling up with a good book and hot tea, watching entirely too much tv on hulu, and just re-lax-ing.

did anyone ever tell you a first job is exhausting? well, i'm here to tell you it is!

so here's a couple of things you missed.

i participated in the great food blogger cookie swap, where i mailed and received some yummy cookies to and from great bloggers across the country.

and i planned, prepared, cooked, and decorated for a sweet friend's bachelorette party.

that's all. i'll see ya next time.

christmas

2011-12-26T19:30:00.003-06:00

merry after-christmas.

family celebrations are the best.

we give each other funny gifts,
tell inappropriate potty stories (sorry),
stuff our bellies full with yummy food,
and dance ourselves silly.

music:
the christmas waltz by she & him
why can't it be christmastime all year by rosie thomas

for the very first time...

2011-12-20T19:52:00.001-06:00

...i'm a guest blogger. how fun is that?

this morning i had the privilege of blogging over here on nincy's blog (wouldn't we all like to have a cool name like nincy?)

nincy and i went to baylor together, so i was thrilled when she asked me to write on post-grad life, and any challenges that have come with it. boy have the challenges come a flowin' (hence my lack of blogging). although i haven't had much free time to sit and think, it was nice to reflect on my time since graduation. i've learned a lot...maybe most importantly, how much i have to learn in the future.

enjoy.

christmas wishes

2011-12-20T00:04:00.001-06:00

what are you wishing for this christmas?

i'd like a night under the stars to watch a heart-warming movie.

or a break from the city and a bit of fresh air.

or a hearty meal with good friends, lots of laughter, and the sweet smell of fresh cut grass.

really, i'd just settle for this.

pinterest 1, 2, & 3

happiest turkey day

2011-11-27T19:40:00.001-06:00

hello bellies-filled-to-the-brim-with-turkey-and-pumpkin-pie friends. i hope you've all recovered from lots of family and food time. i'm not sure i have (which is why i'm about to turn out the lights at...wait for it...8:30 woop whoop!)

i. love. my. family.

we're funny.

we have all different personality types.

we all love different things.

we all like to laugh.

we frequently have a dance party after big family events (christmas, thanksgiving)

we're all single (except one).

we all live in dallas.

and we all love each other. a whole lot.

every thanksgiving the "kids" of the fam wake up at the crack of dawn and go for a pre-thanksgiving feast fun run called the turkey trot.

every year we say we will dress up.

every year we get lazy and just wear stretchy pants and warm jackets.

next year it will be different.

i hope.

(excuse the inaprobs bottom in the picture.)

hello non usa-ers!

2011-11-18T08:00:00.000-06:00

if you have some type of website, i'll bet you a penny you use something to check your stats. it's always fun to see who is stalking you...right?? oh yes.

lately a lot of peeps from outside the u s of a have been stopping by. so i'm just popping in to say one big HELLO to all you non-usa-ers! i'm sure you are sitting at a cafe with a scenic view eating a little pastry and drinking a small cup of espresso. and there's a cathedral off in the distance. wish i could join you on this fine friday.

no way jose, peanuts!

2011-11-16T18:23:00.000-06:00

i LOVE getting packages in the mail. i mean, who doesn't??

you know what i don't love? the little packing peanuts that keep your package of happiness comfy cozy and safe. the only thing i like about peanuts is the name. it's just so fun to say. peanuts. ok and i like to squish them. but THAT'S IT!

you see, those little bubbles of styrofoam are not so great for the environment. plus those little devils somehow get everywhere in your house. i'll find them hiding under the bed, in the closet, and in any other nook.

soooo etsy came up with some ideas for more eco-friendly packing materials. you can use things that biodegrade easily like popcorn, nut shells, and old newspapers. i'll choose popcorn thank you very much. wish it would last so you could eat it when you open your package!!

p.s. today was my first day of work! i'm so blessed to have this job...i think it's going to be a good one :)

workie work

2011-11-15T08:37:00.000-06:00

instead of mere words of love, i think i should change my blog title to "omg i work at neiman marcus, what in the world do i wear to work!"

life's tough when you have to find a different outfit every day.
not really. i'm so happy to have a job. and i've been shopping like a mad woman on black friday lately. it's kinda invigorating finding work clothes on a teeny tiny budget.

is the above photo myspacey? most definitely. to answer everyone's question of..."what in the world do you wear to work?" ill post some outfits. here you go curious george's.

you spotted it. that little red tag. yes i did purchase this little skirt from the one and only targette. keepin' it classy my friends.

p.s. everyone make your way over to itunes and buy jillian edward's brand spankin new cd -- headfirst. it came out TODAY! trust me, you won't regret the $6.93 you have to spend on it.

weekend

2011-11-14T07:52:00.001-06:00

have you ever been to a drive-in movie? it feels like you've been transported back to 1950s. i've never been to the 50s. but it would be fun right? one time my friends and i were going around saying what era's we were all from. and they said i'd be a pleasant housewife from the 50s. cool.

my friend emily and i saw the movie footloose. while it was cooler than cool seeing it on a ginormous screen under the stars, we got there late (life happens) and therefore missed lots of crucial parts of the movie and didn't have time to set up a very picturesque outdoor movie watching scene. and we didn't like the movie too much. dancing is fun, but not when it's inapprobs or while wearing little bitty clothing.

saturday we went to a wedding. weddings are always fun. seeing people in love makes my heart melt and my eyes water. gets me every time.

this is my cousin emily and my best friend. since i'm in the wedding mood, if i got married tomorrow and had a maid of honor...it would be YOU. as susan (my mamma) says, "she's the sister meredith never had."

hair troubles

2011-11-12T09:10:00.001-06:00

guys i have a story for y'all. it's kinda gross and a little embarrassing, but life's too short to take yourself seriously. can i get an amen!!

i tried this new shampoo from whole foods. i was inspired by this video and a very gay man who gave me a cheap-o pedicure the other day. he knew all about hair, so i trusted him.

fact: the less suddsey and lathery your shampoo is, the better. apparently the bubbles "strip" your hair. wish i could tell you what it strips, but i forgot. all i know is that i don't want my hair "stripped."

yesterday after washing my hair with this stuff i had to run a quick errand to target. so i was walking around target minding my own business when i felt the back of my hair. and it felt wet. i thought "what the...i already blew dry my hair." and then it hit me...it was greasey!!!!! the non-suddsey shampoo left the back of my hair one big greaseball! sick, right? (kylie, the mysterious greasy hair is solved!! did you use it when you stayed at my house?)

so i apologize to all you target-goers that had to stare at the back of my greaseball hair yesterday. i'm really a clean person, i promise!

whole foods shampoo, we're dunzo. i'm chunking you!

that's all. happy weekend homies!

teevee schmeevee

2011-11-10T23:20:00.001-06:00

lately i've fallen into a bad habit of watching a tv show before bed.
maybe it's because i have a freebie huluplus for one month.
maybe it's because i'm slowly becoming a tvhead.
who knows!

anyways, there are several shows that i absolutely love. some are complete cheeseballs and some violate all the morals i live by. and then some leave me wondering...why the heck do i keep watching this? but i can't help it. those tv producers really know how to suck a person into their meaningless tv programs.

these are the shows i can't give up. do you have any shows you absolutely love? or maybe some you wish you wouldn't watch, but can't stop watching? i'd love to hear.

1. modern family: when i first saw this show i thought, "man that latino chick is a tramp." and now i've convinced my entire family to watch it.

2. new girl: zoey is so. dang. cute. if she was real and not just a made up i'm on tv type of person, i think we'd be friends. we'd have lots of fun times singing at the top of our lungs, watching silly movies, and letting inappropriate comments slip out of our mouths.

3. terra nova: this show? it's like jurassic park on steroids. yes, yes it does give me the heebie jeebies. i think i see someone get blasted or eaten alive in every stinkin' episode. but i keep coming back.

4. once upon a time: guys, it's all about a fairy tale. so disney children's movie-esk, but so good.

5. revenge: csi + gossip girl = oh so great tv drama. i like to pretend i'm living in the hamptons when i'm watching. and i'd be living right next to ina. and we'd make delicious chocolate + pb cupcakes.

yup. i'm a tvhead.

foodie fad: coconut water

2011-11-10T08:17:00.002-06:00

mmmhmm i love coconut water.
zico's chocolate coconut water tastes just like creamy chocolate milk.
except it's healthier.
and it contains more potassium than a banana...what what!
it may be a foodie fad, but i love it.

seriously, go buy some today.

change for the better

2011-11-09T14:10:00.001-06:00

now that i have a real job, several things in my life will be changing.

like...
i can clear out all the dead weight in my inbox by unsubscribing to my million and one job search emails.
i finally have a far more interesting answer to "so what do you do?" (it's a real mood killer saying "oh i'm still looking for a job. this recession kills.")
i don't have to rely on babysitting to fund my love of eating out.
my winter wardrobe will have to mature by about 7 years. no more college t-shirts and leggings. can anyone say...shopping spree!!
i get to start packing lunches again. pb+j's with ants on a log, here i come!

eek, can't wait!!

p.s. i'll be stealing all my work clothes idea from here. right where i snagged the picture up top.

sissy's day of fun

2011-11-09T08:14:00.000-06:00

don't you just love family? my mom, two aunts, and cousin had a girls day out in the antiquey town of grapevine. man oh man, those girls can shop it up in antique stores.

want to know something funny? they all call each other sissy. isn't that endearing?

since it's a family of girls, my cousin and i both have their maiden name as our middle name - browning. i have to admit, i loved it as a kid because, well...i love brownies.

we had fun tasting olive oil, ooing and awwing over christmas decorations, and talking about how we all inherited that bad browning hair.

happy news

2011-11-08T09:20:00.000-06:00

i'm so happy to announce that after 1 year and 2 months of searching, I FOUND A JOB!
that's right, i will be a real working corporate woman starting next wednesday.

i get all jittery when i start to think about it!
i'll be an assistant marketing manager for the last call brand of neiman marcus.
when i told my mom, she did a happy dance. i joined along. we've got some good moves.

several times when i've told people about it, i've choked up (which, as you may know, happens rarely to me!)

i do have to say, i wouldn't be where i am today without the loving support of my friends and family.
i could sit here all day telling story after story of how close friends and complete strangers have taken time to help me in this search.

people are wonderful.

and i'm confident Lord has brought specific individuals in my life that gave me awesome advice, encouragement, and love.

i had countless days where i just felt swamped with sadness.
i've felt confused, dumb, nervous, and hopeless.
it is because of His faithfulness that i pushed through.

thank you Jesus
thank you friends
and thank you family.
where would i be without you?

pinch me. is this real life?

happy monday

2011-11-07T09:44:00.001-06:00

happy monday everyone!
i've got my warm cup of coffee in hand and i'm ready to conquer this week.

i love the feeling of a busy schedule ahead of me...i've got a long running to do list, and there's nothing better than the satisfaction from checking off my to do's.

this past weekend, i lost count of how many times i said "gosh i miss college."
it was baylor homecoming and it was a jolly old time with friends (i think i've been listening to too much christmas music already).

my weekend was jam packed with seeing old friends, walking the campus, loving the baylor parade, seeing my favorite pi phi's bouncing around on stage at pigskin, and rooting for the bears at the football game.

don't you just love that happy monday morning feeling after you had a perfect weekend?

oh sweet denver

2011-11-03T10:05:00.001-05:00

hey-o. last weekend i made my first official trip to visit college friends (roomies to be exact). they sure do have the life over there in colorado. not only do they have actual seasons with crisp weather and trees that turn magnificent shades of red, yellow, and orange, but they have the best scenery. you can stand anywhere in the city and have the best view of snow-capped mountains.

although the altitude made me feel like i got punched in the stomach, i still loved my time with the be sties.

and as always, you can see more pics of my colorado vacation here!

cookie swap

2011-11-02T15:45:00.002-05:00

(hershey kiss cookie recipe found here)

see that little badge to the left? the one with the yummy looking cookie and the words "cookie swap" slapped across it?

i just signed up to be apart of a huge cookie swap for bloggers. (i always like a good excuse to whip up a batch of made-from-scratch cookies.) on november 21, i'm going to get a little email with the names of 3 fellow cookie-loving bloggers. then i'll crank up the christmas music and get to baking so that i can mail those bloggers a batch of cookies! and then guess what happens? i wait patiently for 3 other bloggers to send me their cookies in the mail. oooh baby my mouth is watering just thinking about it!

want to join? click the badge and it will take you right over to where you can sign up. happy baking, my dear bloggers!

p.s. when i used to go to cookie swaps as a wee child, i'd always have my mom make those peanut butter cookies with the hershey kiss stamped on top.

state fair of texas

2011-11-01T14:54:00.004-05:00

hello there. i've taken quite the hiatus from my blog because my laptop has been in repair. it was one of those no-good, terrible, horrible bad days when i spilled my extra large glass of sparkling water all over my computer. yuck! but the nice folks at apple fixed it for free!

anyways, i have lots of fun goodies to fill you in on. can you believe it's november? i sure can't!

this year i managed to make two trips to the state fair of texas. as much as i wanted to try some high-fat, crunchy fried food, i couldn't do it. i would always get grossed out by the people stuffing it into in their large bellies.

here are some pictures. enjoy. (for even more pictures of corny dog eating, big tex waving, crazy mouse riding, and animal petting, click here!)

weekend in austin

2011-10-16T21:38:00.001-05:00

simple thoughts on this weekend.

staying in friends' houses is way better than hotels.
sparkly nails and lilly pulitzer iphone cases rock.
austin is freakin awesome.
i BARELY missed grace bonney in anthro.
full days make me sleepy.
monument cafe always makes for the yummiest stop on the way from austin to dallas.

blog love: sprouted kitchen

2011-10-13T12:29:00.001-05:00

this morning i have been drooling over sprouted kitchen, a heavenly foodie blog. it's one that makes me want to hop in my car and speed over to the closest farmers market to snatch up some fresh fruits and veggies.

feast your eyes.

new internship!

2011-10-12T15:36:00.002-05:00

have you ever wanted to move to a new city but was at a loss of exactly where you would live? taking a big leap into another city is both an exciting and terrifying experience. a while back i was positive i was moving to san diego. i remember looking for places to live and had no earthly idea of what neighborhood to choose!

anyways, there is this new(er) website called nabewise.com. it is a super-fabulous idea because the site offers a peak inside the neighborhoods in major cities in the us (and soon around the world!). you can search neighborhoods (or nabes), flip through pictures and videos, read and write reviews, and get a quick preview of the area. almost like a yelp, but for neighborhoods.

i'm pumped about this website because i am now an editorial intern for the dallas region. that means i get to be behind-the-scenes building content and overseeing the dallas area. cool huh?

i would be so happy if you made your way to nabewise and checked it out. maybe write some reviews, upload a pic, or just join the site. you would be doing something great for your beloved city! then let me know what you think!

dreamy colors

2011-10-10T08:46:00.001-05:00

do you ever find a blog that you just can't stop scrolling through? i've found another one.

color collective takes photos of lovely outfits and creates a fabulously useful color palette. this site takes the cake as one of my new favorites. i could swim in the happy color combinations.

hop on over here to enter my free giveaway. it's the last day! tomorrow i will select one lucky winner.

bulbous bouffant

2011-10-07T13:47:00.001-05:00

this video gets me every time. it's so darn funny! i can just picture me and my friends sitting around doing this because...well..that's the kinda people we are.

you know what words i like to say? buttercup and beans. they're just fun.

enjoy the vid. and have a comical weekend.

and don't forget, enter my free giveaway!

dreams of traveling

2011-10-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

where would you like to travel?

i'm dying to go to austria so i can frolic on top of rolling hills, sing at the top of my lungs, and pretend like i am julie andrews in the sound of music.

or prance around ireland and marvel at their cute accents (think p.s. i love you!)

or maybe stay in a breathtakingly beautiful bungalow on a remote island to relax without the distractions of cell phones, internet, or tv.

or what about any one of these places. don't they just make your jaw drop?

(all found on my sweet friend's interest)

hey guess what? you can still enter my free giveaway here!

become a follower, post a comment. piece of cake.

embrace fun

2011-10-06T08:21:00.003-05:00

(happy girl found here)

how fun does this chick look? i like to soak up the sweet and cheerful moments of life. isn't it way better being goofy and spontaneous?

i spent my 23rd birthday party at a skating rink.

i like to dress up.

i think taking ridiculous pictures are way more fun than serious ones.

i think i'll be kickin' it at 80 and still acting as if i were 12.

p.s. you can still enter the free giveaway here!

just become a follower of my blog and comment on that post.

free giveaway

2011-10-04T13:38:00.000-05:00

hello there. it's always fun to connect with other bloggers and people from all over the world. let's do something fun, ok? what about a FREE GIVEAWAY!

a while back i blogged about this cute and fuzzy mug sleeve. it's simply the perfect accessory for mugs filled with steaming hot coffee, cocoa, or tea. so, what better item to giveaway than this?

one lucky winner will receive a free mug sleeve. you get to even pick the color by checking out the etsy shop right here.

to enter: (easy peasy)

become a follower of my blog
leave a comment with your preferred color for the mug sleeve.
then wait for me to pick a winner.

this contest is up for one week. then next tuesday i'll pick a winner and announce it here. ok now go!

update: congrats Allie on winning the giveaway. :)

short story series: the no good, very bad hair day

2011-10-03T21:30:00.001-05:00

woohoo another short story! hope you get lots of kicks and giggles with this one. preface: i never have been and never will be good at hair. yes, all girls are supposed to be masters of curling, straightening, and generally styling their hair. i cannot say i am one of them. hence my every day "messy bun" look.

it all started in the fourth grade. inspired by some teeny-bopper on tv, i decided to make a "big girl" haircut. big girl, meaning one that has layers. not just a crop chop. i probably brought in a picture of my favorite celeb, just so that they could get an idea. (why anyone does that, i'll never know. my hair is always different from celebs. and i don't have a fancy pantsy person blowdrying, styling, and perfecting my daily 'do.)

i watched that hair stylist like a hawk. she did that magical thing - that every hair stylist can do. she would roll my hair in those giant round brushes while blowdrying, so that it looked perfectly frizz free (which is rare in texas humidity). and oh my, i was looking CUTE that day! i had bouncy, smooth, layered brown hair.
after washing my new look, i was determined to style it in the exact way as the day before. i even insisted that my mom buy a new round hairbrush. i took that first chunk of wet hair and rolled it around the round brush. but instead of smoothly sliding off the hairbrush, it stuck. and i mean stuck - every single hair. first i thought: it's ok. no big deal. i can detangle this like i do every time a rubber band gets stuck in my hair.
nope. plan a didn't work. so i decided it was time to move on to plan b: call in the mom. being the efficient and click-along person that she is, she didn't waste too much time before forcing me to resort to plan c: call in the dad.
after about an hour of dad (bless him) trying to carefully detach my strands of hair from the brush and hysterical crying on my part, my dad moved on to plan d: operation get-meredith's-hair-free from the big round brush. so he did what every other sensible man would do and chopped that tangled hair right off. just to give you a visual picture of how much hair was cut - i had rolled my wet hair all the way up to my scalp. it was a considerable amount of hair.
with puffy eyes and streaming tears i went into hysteria and proceeded to take it to the next level: hyperventilation. have you ever done that before? i suggest not trying.
then susan (mom) jumps back into action. someone from somewhere told her the only way to stop a person mid-hyperventilation was by breathing in a brown bag. i guess she skipped that detail, because she plopped that paper bag right over my head. so not only did i have a large chunk of my newly styled hair cut off, but i had a large brown bag over my head. i don't think that helped.
i'm not sure when i was able to pull it together. but i remember being so mortified at my hair. it was pathetic. how can a middle schooler go to school with a lump of hair sticking straight out of her pony tail. i tried everything - bows, headbands, and even cute clippies to solve my hair disaster.
i guess you could call that time in my life a "confidence builder." i did learn one important lesson that day. never ever try to imitate the hair stylist. it's just not worth it.
so there you have it. now all i have to say is...

(pic sold at this etsy shop)

green = good

2011-10-02T20:58:00.000-05:00

birthday week was a blast. last night my friends and i had a sweet dinner at one of my favorite restaurants. then we made a trip back to my house for a swicharoo into funky costumes to skate our hearts out at white rock skating rink (pics to come). could you ask for a better birthday celebration? no way jose.

next: check out our teeny tiny garden in a box. my dad has slaved over this little project to give us fresh (and organic!) lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, potatoes, bell peppers, and carrots. yum yum.

picture perfect

2011-09-28T19:49:00.001-05:00

you know that blissful feeling you would get as a tiny tot on christmas day when you got to play with all your brand spankin' new toys?

that's

how

feel

as you can see from yesterday's little vid, i got a new camera! so here are some pictures. let the fun begin!

p.s. see more here! (especially the pics of those cute horsey noses!)

p.p.s. today is the last day of my 22-year-old self. see ya laters 22!

watch this!

2011-09-27T11:47:00.002-05:00

new camera! from Meredith Lockhart on Vimeo.

i like this song.

i made this video.

i love my new camera.
i can't stop reading this how-to book.

soon to come: new pictures!

happy friday

2011-09-23T13:30:00.001-05:00

happy friday! there's something spectacular about the weekend. especially when the weather outside is simply b-e-a-utiful.

have you ever eaten at a food truck? this past spring break my friends and i drove all around san diego in search of one. we found the spot, walked right up to the truck, but got too nervous and walked away! (i envisioned a very painful night of food poisoning) so ever since that incident, i have been trying to muster up the courage to jump on this fad and try a tasty bite.

(pic found here)

tomorrow i'm so excited about something that's happening right in my neighborhood. there's this fab little gas station-turned-eco-friendly convenience store called green spot. they serve a plethora of organic and local treats. every saturday they have a mini farmer's market selling lots of local goodies. this saturday, three food trucks will plant themselves in the parking lot from 8am - 1pm. AND there will be animal adoption selling cute little furry animals. puppies and good food...what more could a girl ask for?

flickr pics

2011-09-21T22:06:00.000-05:00

love these flickr faves. found through the (sometimes) super cool urban outfitters picture pool.

urban acres

2011-09-21T13:00:00.000-05:00

hey dallas, have you heard of urban acres?

it's an organic food co-op in the heart of the bishop arts district. they are committed to providing local and organic food to dallas. almost like a mini farmers market. i'm just waiting for some free time to make a little visit to their shop!

p.s. they've got a rockin' blog packed with info, recipes, and articles on healthy eating.

yellow = yum!

2011-09-20T10:30:00.000-05:00

for the longest time i've been a big believer in skipping out on the yolk when ordering and cooking anything with eggs. the yolk is the bad part, right? wrong! i've been missing out on extra protein and nutrition.

check out what the lovely ladies at healthy eats think about that yellow center. eat up, egg lovers!

new fave

2011-09-19T08:00:00.000-05:00

can't get this out of my head...waste by foster the people

ever since the song pumped up kicks skyrocketed, i've fallen in love with their whole album (thank you grooveshark). the guys from foster the people wanted to promote awareness to teen violence through their music. so not only are these guys awesome because of their rad mission, but they are also cutie-patooties! seriously, check out their vid.

short story series: the left behind pet

2011-09-16T08:00:00.000-05:00

a childhood friend of mine recently reminded me via facebook about a toy that i absolutely loved as a kid. we're talking, obsessed. here's another short story, with a peek into the childhood of meredith lockhart.

the toy was one of those "fad" buys that every kid from the 90's had to have. wanna guess what it was? no, not a furby. nope, not one of those beanie babies. nooo, not the tickle me elmo. ok i'll give you a hint: they were smaller than a credit card, began life as an egg then grew up and pooped a whole lot, and could be clipped to your jansport backpack for easy transportation. you guessed it...the tamagotchi! remember those little electronic pets? talk about blast from the past!

being an animal-obsessed kid, i loved that thing. i treated it as my own child. i have vivid memories of setting my alarm to wake up at midnight so that i could feed it, because they couldn't last a whole night without food. and i remember i would take it to school, hide it in my backpack, and escape to the bathroom so i could yet again feed the little thing.

after going through several rounds of tamagotchi's (dropped one in the toilet during a feeding session. sadly, it didn't make it out alive), i upgraded to the talking tamagotchi. that was a big deal back then. really high tech.

so one day the fam and i went to see black beauty in the movie theater. not wanting to leave my pet behind, i clipped that talking tamagotchi to my jean overalls to take with me. somehow i became so captivated by black beauty, that i forgot all about my tamagotchi (again, i was an animal lover!).

the movie ended up being great. and i left a happy girl, dreaming of someday owning my own horse. but i didn't take my little digital friend with me. it wasn't until hours later that i realized my tamagotchi was left, no abandoned at the movie theater.

i was crushed. i left my precious toy at the theater, and there was no turning back. after much condolence by my parents (i'm sure they were relieved to get rid of it), i just had to let go and move on. lesson learned. i should have kept my tamagotchi clipped to my jean overalls.

jackie kennedy

2011-09-14T09:51:00.000-05:00

last night i watched an absolutely captivating abc special on jacqueline kennedy. it was a celebration of the poise and elegance jackie exhibited. the series of recorded conversations offer an intimate picture into her honest opinions about marriage with jack, life in the spotlight, raising two children in the white house, and all the wining and dining that came with being first lady.

let's be real, what girl doesn't want to emulate jackie's style?

hipster humor

2011-09-13T08:00:00.000-05:00

i laughed out loud when i saw this. i love me some hipsters.

short story series: the throat-slitting eggbeater

2011-09-12T09:06:00.002-05:00

sucked in by today's title? this short story is a classic meredith story. one that i tell quite often. and one that always gets a good laugh. so enjoy!

the throat-slitting eggbeater

back in high school, the only sport i participated in was cross country. why? because it's the only one you didn't have to try out for. all you had to do was run...anyone can do that, right?

with that being said, cross country practice wasn't exactly my favorite time of the day. in fact, i dreaded it. i dreaded waking up at 5:23 in the morning to get to practice by 6. i dreaded then having to shower in the locker rooms before school (and sweat all the way through first period). i dreaded the days where i would forget to pack a shirt and have to fearfully wear a sweatshirt, hoping i wouldn't forget and take it off when it got too toasty. i dreaded the saturday meets when you would have to travel to some far out city for a run that would take about 15 minutes. needless to say, i did not love it.

during one morning practice, we had to run the food trail. the food trail was a path that ran through nearby apartments. we were all convinced that it was a camp for overly obese people because the trail was filled with inspirational quotes about eating healthy, and there were pictures of healthy foods along the side of the trail. flat out weird.

on that very dark morning, while i was slowly trailing behind everyone, a woman stepped out from one of the apartments to start talking to me. normally at that early hour, we were the only human beings up and moving. so it was out of the blue that some woman showed up. she asked me if i had seen a man with a half bald head and a wife-beater. she then went on to inform me that this crazy half bald man slit her son's throat at her apartment the night before.

2 things...

being my little innocent self, i had no idea what a wife-beater was. so my mind replaced it with "eggbeater."
immediately i pictured a crazy man throwing his head back and giving the evil laughter, all while revving up his throat-slitting eggbeater.

i began running as fast as my little legs would take me. the crazy lady kept telling me about that grotesque story as i booked it back to the rest of the team. yeah right like i was going to keep on listening.

so i got back to the team huffing and puffing and began telling the whole team about this crazy man with a half bald head who was slitting peoples throats with an eggbeater. an eggbeater people, not a wife-beater.

thank goodness my teammates were a wee bit more cultured than me. someone finally volunteered to ask if the man had a wife-beater instead than an eggbeater. after being informed that a wife-beater is another name for "guys undershirt," i realized my naive mistake. did everyone else know what a wife beater was? i sure didn't!
although the crazy lady's story seemed right out of a horror movie (i don't want to be chased by an evil half bald man revving up his eggbeater), my slip of the tongue made the situation a bit lighter. turns out there was a man who slit another guys throat the night before. i'm not sure if we were allowed back on the food trail. knowing my coach, i highly doubt we ran that route after the big scare. but it did create a legendary story that has been told in many a cross country practices.

business cards

2011-09-08T08:00:00.000-05:00

with a humble heart and a continued reliance on the Lord's plan for my life, i must say that i am still searching for a job. if i state that it's been a whirlwind, that might be describing it lightly. (anyone out there hiring a recent marketing grad? no seriously.)

how great are these homemade business cards? i'm thinking about creating my own to pass out at networking events. hopefully they would be a hit!

sweet smell of fall

2011-09-07T08:00:00.000-05:00

monday i smelled it. that wonderful, blissful smell of fall. it's a breath of fresh air because you have a glimmer of hope that texas will feel cool, despite the deathly heat of summer. with that smell i just crave all things fall. especially starbuck's pumpkin spice latte, scarves, my mom's pumpkin and cream cheese icing cake, tall leather boots, fluffy blankets, and warming your buns by campfires.

p.s. i'm in love with this etsy shop, where i found these happy fall pictures.

what's in a name?

2011-09-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

do you use nicknames? i always feel like a friendship gets a little bit deeper when you start calling each other nicknames. i've gone by mimi, meresy, meresypoo, merry, merlock, sister, and mere. i love each and every one of them. and each one represents a different person or friend group that created that nickname.

some of my college friends and i had a peculiar nickname for each other. ready for it? beans. one of the most ridiculous words. one where you can't help but laugh while saying it. go ahead, say it outloud. just try not to snicker.

somehow this nickname evolved and just stuck. so rather than calling one person beans, we all called each other beans. it added a little extra something in conversations when you would say something like "what's up beans!" or "hey beansie, let's go grab froyo" or "beans, i miss you!"

so i give you...the beans.

beans,

and more beans.

how to: have the perfect labor day

2011-09-05T14:41:00.000-05:00

i love holidays. they are nice little breaks from the busyness of life. they are celebrations of all good things - family, friendships, and food. along with my short story series, i will be popping in now and then with random how-to's. so i begin with...how to have the perfect labor day

put your jorts on. i think labor day calls for some easy livin' in those all-american jean shorts.

then add a touch of white. every southern girl knows it is the last day we can wear our white.

plant yourself next to some big body of water. today, this weather in texas is lovely. it's a sway back and forth in a hammock right next to the lake kinda day.

pick from the finest fruits and veggies at the local farmers market. then pack it all in a to go picnic basket, or grill out your favorite holiday recipes.

and relax with some nice tunes. (oh the mumford & sons pandora station speaks to my heart.)

holidays are the best. happy labor day all!

2011-09-05T06:00:00.000-05:00

happy labor day!

how will you be spending your time off? last week i made these KILLER brownies that i found on a this blog. i must say, they are rich. one brownie, and i've got my chocolate fix for a long time.

“do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. i am the LORD."

leviticus 19:18

short story series: the great flood

2011-09-03T06:00:00.000-05:00

it's labor day weekend and i am looking forward to a relaxing time spent with friends and family. i'll kick it off with another short story. enjoy!

the great flood

{background: one summer i had theprivilege of serving as one of pine cove camp’s slaves. ok not really a slave, but my job, along with the group of girls i served with (aka baby ruths), was to do all the behind-the-scenes grunt work. you name it, we did it – cleaning out toilets (even plunging the yuck-o ones),picking up dead fish on the shores of the lake, dumpster diving (ahem…cleaningout the dumpsters), serving the meals, washing windows, and picking up all theleftover scraps of trash. sound fun? it actually was one of the mostinfluential and memorable five weeks of my life. i learned more about myself,my relationship with Christ, and my attitude as a christian during that sweettime.}

moooving on. that particularsummer, pine cove suffered from colossal amounts of rain (i’m not sure i even knowwhat that is after this dry-as-a-bone summer in texas!). so much so, that theplumbing was having some serious issues. the sewage was particularly fond of coming up out of the drains in the bathrooms. disgusting? quite.

one night after quite the longevening of deep cleaning the kitchen, the baby ruths and i were showering before bed. while i was lathering up my hair with shampoo, i hear someone yell “everyone evacuate the bathroom….QUICK!!!” remember the sewage issues? yep,nasty foul-smelling, brown water started gurgling out of the drains at a veryrapid pace. in that state of emergency, i didn’t even think about rinsing myhair. Instead, i jumped out of the shower, threw on some clothes, and pretendedlike i was in a kung-fu samuri movie as i dashed around the brown puddles,hoisting my junk off the ground and onto my bunkbed.

the flood was getting so bad, itwas time to evacuate the cabins and find a new place to sleep. at about 1:30am,our sleepy and disgusted selves had to creep through camp balancing ourmattresses on our heads. it almost felt like we were evacuees on a march to anew home, leaving our old ones to desolation and destruction. it wasn’t that bad, but it was a pretty sad walk.

at about 1:45am, when we safetlyarrived to our new sleeping area (the nurses office), i realized my hair felt abit stiffer than its usual soft and smoothe self. it also had an unnaturallystrong herbal essence scent to it. it was then that i realized my shampoo haddried to a crisp in my hair. too sleepy to care, i laid my head on my mattressand fell asleep, dreaming of brown, foul-smelling waterfalls washing away my clothes. at least my hair was extra clean, right?

free (people) calendar

2011-09-02T08:09:00.000-05:00

happy september! it's my favorite month because it also happens to be my birthday month! the sweet people over at free people have created a blissful calendar for this month. you can download it to your computer for free on their flickr page. that's how i'll be staying organized this over the next 29 days!

"we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love all of you have for one another is increasing."

2 thessalonians 1:3

pretty packages

2011-09-01T08:03:00.003-05:00

i love getting packages. such a happy feeling to find something with your name and address on it waiting at your doorstep.

check out this package. how wonderful are these fabric petals that serve as a bow? i'd for sure want to open something like that.

"if you pay attention to these laws and are careful to follow them, then the LORD your God will keep his covenant of love with you, as he swore to your ancestors."

deuteronomy 7:12

pump up routine

2011-09-01T07:56:00.000-05:00

(found here)

i've been through ups and downs this summer (eek it's not summer anymore!) in looking for a job. i can't help but feel nervous before them.

i'd like to know, how do you pump yourselves up for situations that just make you squeamish? normally i give myself a big pep talk, say a quick prayer, and listen to some high energy song. but i think it's time to change my routine to something that calms the nerves, not accelerates the adrenaline.

in college i spent countless hours studying with the pride and prejudice soundtrack as background music. it's so warm and peaceful - almost gives you the feeling you get from snuggling up next to a fire with a cup of hot cocoa. just lovely.

so pride and prejudice soundtrack, may you help me rock those interviews!

the start of something new

2011-08-27T08:06:00.015-05:00

i have found i have quite a humorous and unpredictable life. or maybe just a comical view of the happenings in my life. i'm going to start sharing those stories right here on my blog. why keep them to myself when i can offer up a few laughs? you never know when i might pop in for a story of my past or something that happened that morning (maybe one day i'll even title this segment). i can't wait to share these stories with you. i'll start off with one memory of my middle school days.

lice be gone

remember in middle school when lice would literally wipe out about 75% of the kids? that's right, those little tiny bugs that make your stomach want to hurl the last thing you ate and your head oh-so-itchy. one year my middle school (providence) suffered an extreme case of lice. so my mamma (susan) heard some old trick of washing your hair with vinegar to drive away those little bugs. the key to this theory is washing. apparently she missed that little detail.

so one morning before school, susan took that bottle of vinegar and emptied it right on my hair. without washing, she tied that hair in a pony tail, patted me on the back, and sent me off to school with the hopes that i wouldn't come home carrying new little buggy friends.

you know that potent smell of vinegar? i don't know about you, but i have yet to find a candle or air freshener entitled "sweet vinegar." so as you can imagine, i wasn't the most popular girl at school that day.

somehow i made it the whole day of school without being sent to the nurse for my unnatural odor. eventually my p.e. teacher got a good whiff of my hair and kindly informed me that i needed to shower because my hair had a funny smell. i simply explained that hair smelled like vinegar because i was trying to drive away the lice. it was then that my mother's mistake was finally realized. i had a good laugh, probably turned a little pink, and washed out that hair.

i do have to say, no lice for me!

"but i am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; i trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.

psalm 52:8

think cool thoughts...

2011-08-26T08:55:00.006-05:00

(found here)

...it's the only way to beat this raging texas heat.

"saul and jonathan, beloved and lovely! in life and in death they were not divided; they were swifter than eagles; they were stronger than lions."

2 samuel 1:23

the brothers

2011-08-23T07:30:00.000-05:00

it's quiet. tooooo quiet. my bro-skies have finally moved away for different schools, so i am now an only child in the lockhart household.

growing up with my brothers has been one big adventure in boyland. the house will now be free from talk of guns, muscles, and girls. there will also be a lot less of gross boy noises and smells. and we can finally clear the kitchen of venison, protein powder, white bread, chips, and candy bars.

it's been half a day, and it's a much different life around my house. this whole "growing up" thing has its changes that i will just have to get used to. miss ya brothers!

"about benjamin he said: 'let the beloved of the LORD rest secure in him, for he shields him all day long, and the one the LORD loves rests between his shoulders.'”

deuteronomy 33:12

my macbook

2011-08-20T12:28:00.007-05:00

a couple of weeks ago i purchased a new macbook pro. it was a much needed investment as my old one was dying a slow and sorrowful death.

as i've been shopping around for the perfect sleeve, i have come across some absolutely beautiful ones. how wonderful are these sleeves from etsy?

(found here)

"by day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life."

psalm 42:8

family time

2011-08-15T16:51:00.003-05:00

you know those moments when you just think life can't get any better?

last night my family had a homemade ice cream, burgers, sweet tea, and swim party as one last hurrah before all the kids go off their separate ways. we had brothers, sisters, aunts, uncles, and cousins all together at our house.

after devouring delicious homemade vanilla and orange sherbet ice cream, we told ghost stories while we cooled off in the pool. even though they were supposed to be spooky, we couldn't help but die laughing after each one. i'm so blessed to be a part of a family that treasures all things southern, laughter, good food, dancing, story-telling and each other.

"go and proclaim in the hearing of jerusalem: this is what the LORD says: 'i remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness, through a land not sown.'"

jeremiah 2:2

a bit of chocolate

2011-08-10T10:21:00.005-05:00

sometimes i just want some chocolate. ok not sometimes, ALWAYS!

there's just something magical about unwrapping your favorite bar. always makes me feel like i am in willy wonka and the chocolate factory.

these two brothers have mastered the art of creating chocolate. and i'm absolutely enamored by their elegant wrappers. i'm so tempted to order some, but my goodness you pay a pretty price (10 bars for $80)! maybe i'll just have to someday make a stop to their shop in brooklyn.

while you're at their website, check out the beautiful video about their craft.

"for the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed."

john 5:20

little lamps

2011-08-08T20:28:00.005-05:00

it's day 38 of above 100 degree weather in texas. picture the scene from wizard of oz with the wicked witch melting...that's what i feel like.

one way i try to keep cool is by closing all my windows and relying on simple lamps in my room for light. (note: i would much rather sit in a semi-dark room with natural light than having to bear the fake-yellowish tint from lamps...anyone else feel me on that one? one of my college roommates thought i had a weird thing for dark rooms.)

one of my favorite lamps in my room is a blue vintage teacup lamp. it has added it's little charm to the 3 different houses i occupied in college.

just look at this anthro teacup lamp. it's sublime.

one blogger created her own rendition of the lamp. (plus a DIY "how-to").

"i will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; i will counsel you with my loving eye on you."

psalm 32:8

friday music

2011-07-30T20:00:00.004-05:00

i have a peculiar fondness to tunes with whistling. maybe it's because i can't seem to muster up one whistling note.

enjoy this song. it is frequently on repeat in my head. and the band has between 10-12 members. enormous!

(i also love their tiny desk concert)

"finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. and the God of love and peace will be with you."

2 corinthians 13:11

morning treats

2011-07-26T07:15:00.004-05:00

i love breakfast. take that back, i love food in general. sometimes i'm excited for bed at night because i know that breakfast is right around the corner. feel the same way?

i could eat waffles, pancakes, granola, cereal, and toast all day long (note the all-carbness of those foods). but every morning i try to start it off right with a creamy bowl of oatmeal and steaming cup of coffee.

here's a blog dedicated solely to breakfast. awesome, right?

“'so may all your enemies perish, LORD! but may all who love you be like the sun when it rises in its strength.' then the land had peace forty years."

judges 5:31

new biz

2011-07-24T22:03:00.012-05:00

ahem

now introducing my new side business...designing blog headers! i've always loved dabbling in graphic design for fun. for a while, i thought about skipping out on the business world and going straight to art school (when i saw the price, my dream wilted like a flower in the hot texas sun!)

so, i would like to present my first piece of work for a dear friend of mine, caroline. she was one of those super cool girls who jumped on the blogger bandwagon a long time ago (way back in 2008!). her blog is witty, genuine, and filled with the wise words of a talented writer. i suggest hopping on over to her site here!

oh and if you would like your blog header personally designed, shoot me a little email at mlockhart88@gmail.com.

"righteousness and justice are the foundation of your throne; love and faithfulness go before you."

psalm 89:14

arty party

2011-07-21T11:03:00.004-05:00

my mom was the mother of all crafty birthday parties. they were always at my house and always had wild themes that were carried out into the cake, craft, game, and party favors. and oh boy, because i am a twin, they were even more creative! think raggedy ann & andy, cowboys & indians...the possibilities were endless. my favorites were a critter party (everyone had to bring their own "critter" for critter races) and an art party.

remember how i blogged about kinfolk mag? take a look at one bloggers pictures from a little gathering she had for some friends. they nibbled on fine cheeses and got messy with with charcoal. how fun would that be?

(dying with envy of that nail polish color...want it!)

"sow righteousness for yourselves, reap the fruit of unfailing love, and break up your unplowed ground; for it is time to seek the LORD, until he comes and showers his righteousness on you."

hosea 10:12

brown paper packages

2011-07-20T13:27:00.004-05:00

one of the best surprises in the world is finding a package on your doorstep. this morning i mailed one, and this week i am anxiously awaiting the arrival of two.

one of those is the first issue of kinfolk magazine. have you heard of this? a dreamy mix of bloggers, designers, artists, and creative individuals combined their talents to create a simple guide for small gatherings. how sweet is that? although it is offered online for free, i am vowing to not take one peek until i have it in my hands.

"follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the spirit, especially prophecy."

1 corinthians 14:1

texas wedding

2011-07-01T11:40:00.004-05:00

i've been away from the blog lately. the last month has been a whirlwind of busyness as i almost landed my dream job. but no, God seems to think i need to learn some more lessons on endurance and patience. so it's back to the job hunt for me. and a daily reminder of the promises in romans 5:3-5.

i stumbled across this texas ranch wedding on oncewed. the reception was held at one of my favorite restaurants, which is about 5 minutes away from our ranch on possum kingdom lake. it seemed like a dream wedding with twinkle lights, drinks in mason jars, and cowboy boots.

Ben and Libby Smith 8mm Wedding from Stickman Productions on Vimeo.

click here to see more of this perfect texas wedding.

"not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us."

romans 5:3-5

summer nails

2011-06-13T09:39:00.004-05:00

these are my ultimate summer nail polish colors. they remind me of sun-kissed skin, homemade ice cream, sleeping in, tank tops, flip flops, swimming pools, popsicles, picnics, outdoor concerts, and everything else summery. don't you agree?

(opi holy pink pagoda)

(essie turquoies & caicos)

(essie tangerine)

"for i have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you brother."

philemon 1:7

taste + see

2011-06-03T08:36:00.009-05:00

weekend's here. mine's packed full of celebrations - i have a cousin who is graduating and a bridal shower for a sweet friend of mine (one of the members of the pool club).

what does your weekend look like? today i am making thumbprint cookies for the shower, catching up with college friends over lunch at dream cafe, and attempting to walk all 9 miles around white rock lake.

but enough about my weekend plans, here is this weeks taste + see.

since june 4 is national trails day (seems like every day is some holiday, right?), aaaaand this event has a fab name, this weekends event is turtlepalooza. i couldn't resist that name.

i must confess: i was quite the animal lover when i was a wee one. and turtles i had a plenty. every summer when i was younger we had a mega-huge family reunion in mississippi. one summer i happened to find two turtle lovers while walking in a graveyard (creepy, huh?). it was love at first sight. so i packed them up in a box and brought them all the way home to dallas, tx, where i named one goldie and fed them strawberries and cantalope. i loved them so much my mom devoted one of my birthday parties to the lovely turtles and called it a "critter party," where we had critter races, did a critter craft, and displayed all our critters for everyone to see. great life huh?

cost: free

date & time: saturday, june 4 from 10am to 2pm

location: trinity river audubon center

details: why is it called the turtlepalooza? because this is an event with turtles, turtles, and more turtles. you can see live turtles, chat with turtle experts, learn about texas turtle history, and take a hike to see turtles in their element. if turtles aren't your thing, you can still also enjoy the 120 acres of natural beauty the center offers.

"he has shown you, o mortal, what is good. and what does the LORD require of you? to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."

micah 6:8

p.s. if you're really not into turtles, critters, or animals, you can also visit the bishop arts district market that occurs on the first saturday of every month. if i wasn't so busy on saturday, i would totally stop by to see the free music, food, and street celebration.

popsicle picnic

2011-06-02T09:21:00.005-05:00

it's h o t. and it's only june. brace yourselves texans, we are starting the too-hot-to-do-anything-but-take-a-dip-in-the-pool weather.

nowadays my day-dreamy self can only fixate on things that make me cooler (i break out in a sweat even when i blowdry my hair!!). when i was younger, we used to make homemade popsicles with whatever fruit juice on hand. oh they were so delish, and always managed to give us a little break from the heat.

but how lovely would it be to have a popsicle picnic? the ladies at design*sponge created this cool and colorful picnic with popsicles, izzes, and big blow up paper cranes. i may or may not be copying this with my own friends sometime soon.

"now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. for the LORD is your life"

deuteronomy 30:19b-20

it's back...

2011-05-27T09:57:00.003-05:00

remember this? last summer i started posting a friday special on things to do/ places to see / restaurants to try in the dallas area for a weekend adventure. so i'm happy to spice up your summertime and introduce this week's taste + see.

the cityarts festival is an annual festival for just that...the arts of dallas. this three day event includes everything from free concerts, displays of dallas' most talented artists, free food samplings and demonstrations, free museum visits, and even a firework show. i can't wait to spend my memorial day weekend tasting some local treats, visiting with an eclectic artist, browsing through fair park, and maybe even purchasing a little work of art for my future apartment. see you there!

cost: free admission, but fair park parking will cost you $10. (i personally will be attempting to hop on the dart rail to get there)

location: fair park

date & time: may 27 - 29 (friday 6-10pm, saturday 11am - 10pm, & sunday noon - 6pm)

"i will plant her for myself in the land; i will show my love to the one i called 'not my loved one.’ i will say to those called ‘not my people, ’ ‘you are my people’; and they will say, ‘you are my God.’”

hosea 2:23

a colorful map

2011-05-26T09:10:00.004-05:00

isn't this pretty? i'd love to have this hanging in my room.

"so jacob served seven years to get rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her."

genesis 29:20

p.s. like the new blog design? i would love to design your blog header if you need some sprucing up. just email me at mlockhart88@gmail.com. happy thursday!

farewell baylor

2011-05-14T13:08:00.007-05:00

ahem. cue vitamin c's infamous song - "graduation."

last saturday was a big day in the life of meredith lockhart. i'm moving on from school, tests, homework and projects, and about to enter the "real world."

they say college is the best time of your life...aaaaand it's now officially over.

forever gone are the days of visiting the library to "study"

eating puppy chow for breakfast and cereal for dinner

driving to austin with my friends just for dinner...because we can

never feeling like i have enough time because of projects & tests looming over my head

running the infamous "bear trail" around baylor's campus

living in an area consisting primarily of people my own age

coffee dates, froyo dates, bt dates, lunch dates, dinner dates

dreaming and talking about the unknown "life after college"

$5 student movie tickets

and memories with the best friends a college kid can ask for

here's to four of the best years of my life. i can't wait to see what the future holds in life after college.

"but those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness."

proverbs 14:22b

pretty cakes

2011-05-06T19:31:00.003-05:00

easter weekend my cousin emily and i had the privilege of attending a cupcake testing in dallas. cupcake masters from all over the area brought in their most prized little cakes for one big cupcakey party. i saw every flavor from sweet potato to green tea to chocolate chip cookie dough. boy oh boy was it delish! emily and i had the best time perusing over the flavors and pretending to be cupcake connoisseurs (we did manage to trick two young ladies into thinking we owned our own bakery!)

and what made it even sweeter? the whole event benefitted a medical missions group.

"do not withhold your mercy from me, LORD; may your love and faithfulness always protect me."

psalm 40:11

free at last

2011-05-05T21:31:00.003-05:00

(via this fab flickr source)

just about 5 minutes ago i turned in my last paper, my last assignment, my last project. ever. this is a weird feeling. is it true? am i growing up? am i finished with school forever? it can't be, because i don't feel a thing.

lately my friends at baylor have been feeling rather down about graduation. but honestly, i have felt nothing. at times i have wondered if i have no heart. but i think it is because it just hasn't quite set in yet. who knows when reality will kick my booty. but as of now, i like living in denial. i get to make the most of my last weeks as a college kid without any sadness.

one reality that has hit me hard...i have no job. i cannot even begin to explain how hard i have worked to not be at this point...1 week away from graduation, without a job. not even an offer. it's been so frustrating, but i only hope that through this perseverance, the reward of being hired will be even sweeter.

"blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him."

james 1:12

like mother like daughter

2011-04-30T09:11:00.004-05:00

hello there. royal wedding again. i'm convinced i should have been raised in england after all this.

from talking with my mom yesterday, i found out an interesting fact. turns out, on july 29, 1981, my mom woke up very early in the morning to watch the royal wedding of princess diana and prince charles.

sound familiar...right? and she even added a little lady di flare to her wedding several years later. both the bridesmaids and my mom wore enormous puffy sleeves on their gowns. who knows? maybe i'll add a little kate lace to my wedding gown in the future.

"one who loves a pure heart and who speaks with grace will have the king for a friend."

proverbs 22:11

royal wedding

2011-04-29T10:03:00.004-05:00

who else has been obsessed with the royal wedding? i can't seem to get enough of it.

i woke up with very sleepy eyes and a puffy face at 3:00am this morning to catch every minute of the dreamy ceremony. and oh my goodness, everything was as beautiful and perfect as a fairytale. who doesn't want to marry prince harry after that??

my favorite moments of the royal wedding were every time william would catch little glimpses at kate. the joy on his face made my heart swoon.

how about you? what were your favorite moments of the royal wedding?

"love is patient, love is kind. it does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. it does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs."

1 corinthians 3:4-5

send it sistah!

2011-04-08T07:21:00.002-05:00

so ever since i started my triathlon training, i have been on the lookout for inspiration...videos, pictures, cool triathlony gear, ANYTHING that will motivate me to train (it's been 2 weeks and i'm already burned out of waking up and training!!)

so here's a super cool vid of two very daring french women who get a kick out of highlining. never would i ever climb up a tall mountain to do something like this, but it's cool to watch eh? (and hear their sweet french accents)

Send it sistah ! from sébastien montaz-rosset on Vimeo.

"we remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."

1 thessalonians 1:3

ranch extravaganza 3

2011-04-05T09:33:00.003-05:00

ever since sophomore year, my friends and i have taken a little trip to my ranch (so texan, i know!!). it really is one of my favorite weekends of the year because i can catch up with friends, eat good food, soak up that texas sun, watch old movies, lay under the stars, and pretend to be cowgirls. it's these moments that i will surely miss when i graduate from college in a mere 2 months.

"to love him with all your heart, with all your understanding and with all your strength, and to love your neighbor as yourself is more important than all burnt offerings and sacrifices.”

mark 12:33

i have an announcement...

2011-03-29T09:01:00.003-05:00

this weekend a friend and i traveled to dallas to cheer on one of my friends, caroline, for her very first half-marathon. i absolutely love those events because you are surrounded by so many dedicated people who have put so much sweat and hard work into training to run 13.1 miles. she did fabulous, and i was so excited to be the mom, photographer, cheerleader, and chauffeur of the day.

so, ahem, now to the announcement...

since we were all so inspired by the half-marathoners, we decided to train and compete in a triathlon. yes. me, the girl who hated cross country and elementary school swim team. i, meredith lockhart, will be running, swimming, and biking for the next month in order to finish this thing. but that's what friends are for...right? a group of about 5 (and counting) of us have made a pack and are determined to do this. here we go!

this morning at 7:00am was day one of training. being little newbies, we made our way to baylor's indoor pool and swam our little hearts out. who knew swimming was so exhausting? can't wait to keep you updated on my training!

"let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the LORD."

psalm 107:43

san diego

2011-03-26T11:02:00.004-05:00

first things first. my current location is the library...blogging. gotta work on getting my priorities straight!

second. i'm finally posting pictures slash memories from my spring break to california. brace yourselves people, it will be a long one.

here's what we did in sunny san diego:

pretended to be hipsters and biked along pacific beach

visited with the super great and nice kashi people (and got some free food!)

went to the san diego zoo, found a dog and a cheetah that were best buds

then saw a pregnant giraffe

visited the island of coronado and tried to layout, pretending we couldn't feel the cold breeze

met one of the rad workers at nika water, got some free sunglasses

hiked torrey pines and gasped at the incredible view

visited almost every small beach town on the coast

ate some great treats

snuck in the worlds largest natural products expo and met tenley molzahn

realized this is where i want need to be. this is where i want to someday call home.

"do not those who plot evil go astray? but those who plan what is good find love and faithfulness."

proverbs 14:22

just eat organic!

2011-03-23T09:33:00.000-05:00

this video sums it up. need i say more?

"i have been crucified with Christ and i no longer live, but Christ lives in me. the life i now live in the body, i live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."

galatians 2:20

rainbow hair

2011-03-22T08:23:00.001-05:00

what if we lived in a world where everyone had rainbow hair instead of black, brown, and blonde? i'd be happy.

"therefore, i tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. but whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”

luke 7:47

a line a day

2011-03-19T15:02:00.000-05:00

i've never been able to keep a journal for over 2 weeks. i have many attempts sitting in my closet at home, but none that are completely full with memories. but what about this? i think i could jot down a line a day in this lovely notepad.

"let the one who is wise heed these things and ponder the loving deeds of the LORD."

psalm 107:43

goodies

2011-03-18T23:56:00.005-05:00

whoops. guess i didn't realize how long it had been since i blogged. i'll get back to it...you know, with all the time i have between finding a job, working on projects, trying to soak up senior year, studying for tests, the list could go on. and i need to do a post on my trip to cali. can't wait to tell you all about it!

aaaaanyways, here's something i found while surfing other bloggie pages. i rushed to grab my debit card as soon as i saw it, because i absolutely loved it!!

check out these hand-dyed hair ties (or "goodies," as my friend meagan calls them). this college girl makes over in california and sells them on etsy. i can't wait until i get my little package in the mail, so i can wear them in my hair or on my arms!

"he is my loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield, in whom itake refuge, who subdues peoples under me."

psalm 144:2

one in eight million

2011-03-03T19:56:00.007-06:00

there is this restaurant in the mega mall in dallas where i love to sit back and people watch. it's so fascinating to observe all the types of people who pass by.

the mom and daughter duo in search of a prom dress,

the hipster teen couple wearing the same pair of skinny jeans,

the guy trying to appear as manly as possible while he shops for himself,

and the richie rich dallasites trying to impress their fellow shoppers with runway worthy clothing and neimans, saks, and louis vuitton bags.

what i love the most about this little routine is that every person has their own story. their own personal failures and successes, hardships and celebrations. yet you have no idea such stories exist as you pass them by.

the new york times has this project called one in 8 million that captures the stories of individuals through stunning b&w photographs. the chosen people tell their stories in a two minute bit while the pictures offer you a window into their lives.

oh my goodness. my friend stephanie gets to do a project for her photography class based on this website. how fun would that be?

"but i pray to you, LORD, in the time of your favor; in your great love, o God, answer me with your sure salvation."

psalm 69:13

2011-03-01T23:38:00.003-06:00

i have a special treat to show you. for dad's day with my sorority, courtney king and i decided we would share our love for our dads through a music video inspired by justin beiber. what better way to say "i love you" than this.

(it was a huge hit...we may be the new youtube stars)

Number One Dad from Keith Lindley on Vimeo.

"by day the LORD directs his love, at night his song is with me— a prayer to the God of my life."

psalm 42:8

computer decor

2011-02-22T07:56:00.005-06:00

it's just a busy season of life right now.

if you have seen my computer, you know how much i love my wallpapers. between flickr and interfacelift, i will always have a picture that makes you want to stop and stare.

"but the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere."

james 3:17

inside ben's imagination

2011-02-10T07:40:00.004-06:00

oh my goodness. these photographs are captivating. it's as if we are diving inside the imagination of ben heines with his pencil and camera pieces. how clever!

"this is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands."

1 john 5:2

nika

2011-02-09T00:18:00.004-06:00

so this past summer was a wake up call for me in that i realized i have to find a job where i can 100% stand behind whatever the business is doing. i want to use the skills God blessed me with to change the world in some way. that could be through promoting healthy eating, sustainable living, or helping those in need. whatever it is, it needs to have purpose.

so y'all, check out this company. i think they are just the greatest. nika water (which means "to give") is a company that sells water bottles and donates 100% of their profits to support clean water projects in underdeveloped countries. they are doing something right over there! oh and when i am spring breakin' it up in cali, i get to meet with one of their reps. how awesome is that??

so, when you have some spare time, watch this video, like them on facebook, follow their tweets, and check out their sweet website to see how they are making a difference in this world.

"but the eyes of the LORD are on those who fear him, on those whose hope is in his unfailing love"

psalm 33:19

woven chains

2011-02-03T10:12:00.005-06:00

you know what's the best news to hear in the entire world? when classes are canceled. yes, texas has been experiencing an arctic freeze. and that is not an understatement. we texans just don't know how to cope with any temperature that falls below freezing.

but with that big freeze has brought freedom from several classes, lots of cups of hot cocoa, and sleepovers with friends who lost all power. and it's also really fun to shout how cold it is at the top of your lungs whenever you have to go outside.

when i saw this bracelet, it made my day a little warmer. i am in l o v e with that picture. i wish i could reach in that picture, snag them, and wear them all the time. and guess what, you can make the woven one all by yourself with these instructions. now go.

“but i will sing of your strength, in the morning i will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble.”

psalm 59:16

i'm a grown up

2011-02-02T01:01:00.004-06:00

(found here)

i feel like such an adult now.

yesterday, with the simple click of a button and an offering of a card, i planned a trip for me and three of my closest friends at baylor. i booked a flight, hotel, and rental car. who am i, an old woman? with all that, i am happy to announce my spring break will be spent in none other than...san diego!

i have felt like skipping all day long with pure joy. california is my absolute favorite place. the people, the food, the mountains and beaches, and the oh-so-chill culture - i love everything about it.

my goal until march 7th is to find one special thing to do while i am there. so my friends, have any suggestions? have you ever traveled to san diego? i would love to hear your tips and tidbits of your travels to california.

"hear my voice in accordance with your love; preserve my life, LORD, according to your laws."

psalm 119:149

i was made for sunny days

2011-01-29T08:20:00.003-06:00

yesterday was the perfect weather. the drive around for no reason with the windows down, wind blowing your hair, and listening to the weepies kinda day. a couple of friends and i took advantage of the sunny day (in january, i have to add!) and explored the twisted trails in cameron park. i love that place because you feel like you are somewhere outside waco. especially with the rand-o patches of bamboo.

"see what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! and that is what we are! the reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him."

1 john 3:1

dancing around the globe

2011-01-24T23:38:00.005-06:00

i am in love with my classes this semester. in my international marketing class (which only meets once a week...ONCE A WEEK!), we watched this video today. this guy matt quit his job and danced his way around the entire world. how fun of a job is that??

"but let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you."

psalm 5:11

spring break on my mind

2011-01-23T22:08:00.004-06:00

don't you wish money would just grow on trees so that you could have the freedom to visit all the cool places in the world?

spring break is coming up, so the talk of the town is everyone's plans for that blessed week. my dream vacation is currently cape town, south africa. it's b e a u t i f u l. take a look at these pics and just try to convince yourself that it isn't better than gulf shores!

(and really, i don't need lots of moolah for this trip. i'd be happy as a bee just sleeping under the stars in a hammock. i don't need no fancy pants hotel)

"keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life."

jude 1:21

what can i say...i'm a senior

2011-01-19T15:29:00.003-06:00

(via this lovely photostream)

so i've been busy being a college senior. what have i been filling my time with lately? well here's the wrap...

i've been baking this for friends

snacking on these for a sweet fix

laughing my socks off watching this with the roomie

using my free month of netflix to watch these movies

attempting to make a connection with someone in the organic food industry through this

and practicing with the pi phis for this

all while trying to do everything and be everywhere so as to not miss a single minute of my last semester of college.

"greet one another with a kiss of love. peace to all of you who are in Christ."

1 peter 5:14

faces

2011-01-13T08:24:00.005-06:00

do you ever think about how much the face is probably looked at? it's proper to look someone in the eye when talking to them, when a picture is taken, don't we all zoom into look at our face, and women (and men) spend thousands in plastic surgery perfecting the look of their face.

this photographer captures every little wrinkle, curve, and line of the face with such beauty. each photo draws you in and makes you wonder the story behind the photo. if you have a chance, check out his flickr site, it's captivating.

"but since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you —see that you also excel in this grace of giving."

2 corinthians 8:7

bobbles

2011-01-11T18:31:00.003-06:00

have you seen these? i have seen these all over the baylor campus in the first two days of school. they are reusable water bottles with filters built into them. genius!

"may your unfailing love be with us, LORD, even as we put our hope in you."

psalm 33:22

through his lens

2011-01-08T09:12:00.005-06:00

3 years ago today i became a new little pi phi angel. it's crazy to think that time has flown by so quickly and we will be getting a new pledge class today! lots of time and effort goes into rush and i'm happy to say i am finished. forever.

i can't stop watching this video on the sartorlialist. the sartorialist travels across the world to photograph the unique and stunning street styles of an array of different people. this video is a beautiful inside into this creative's mind.

"let love and faithfulness never leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart."

proverbs 3:3

resolutions

2011-01-01T10:57:00.008-06:00

i love resolutions. eh, i might break them and i might make them. but it's fun to plan and dream! this is the year of of lots of change for me. and i can hardly wait for it to begin!

so here's the list...

graduate college and never have to take a test again {hopefully!}
land a rock your socks off job
spend less and live simpler
eat less cookies {far less}
do more yoga
read more classic novels
cook more meals {and buy local produce}
spend more time with Jesus
keep up with old friends
take more pictures
spend less time on facebook {do i really need to know what everyone else is doing??}
recycle more, use less
give more {money, time, and energy}
get off my bum and get outdoors
l o v e more

"surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and i will dwell in the house of the LORD forever."

psalm 23:6

p.s. that funky print is from this little estyer.