Have you heard about (aka, what I'm currently obsessed with...)

Listen up people!!

My level of absolute obsession with the two (completely unrelated) things I'm about to share deserved more than just a plain old "Have You Heard About". If you've been anywhere near me in the past month or two you've probably heard me talking about these obsessions (sorry, not sorry!) and that's because they're just straight up awesome. So what are these Merry Meri wonders you ask? Well, have you heard about...

* Adult Coloring Books

A masterpiece from my beloved Secret Garden coloring book.

In June, I walked into Barnes and Noble and was immediately drawn to a display table covered in complex, ethereal, beautifully illustrated coloring books. I simply had to have one and ever since I can't put the thing down! Armed with a fresh 50-color box of Crayola colored pencils, I'm a coloring machine, spending hours at a time lost in the tiny details of each beautiful page. I find the activity soothing and rewarding, requiring deep focus, but somehow not at all the kind of focus that feels like work.  And turns out I'm not alone, adult coloring books are currently 6 of the top 20 selling books on Amazon.com!! “I think it probably speaks to people’s enjoyment in doing this kind of relaxing hobby or distraction from everyday life,” Sarah Deaver, president of the American Art Therapy Association, says “It creates an object of focus, and it creates something that’s beautiful and that’s satisfying.” Amen to that!!! So get yourself an adult coloring book today and don't worry about staying inside the lines, the best thing about being an adult is that you get to make your own rules:)

* ClassPass

Gym memberships can be pricey in NYC and for me, committing to that cost would have meant cutting out favorite workouts like SoulCyle, YogaVida and small group training sessions in the park. Enter ClassPass. ClassPass allows you to pay 1 monthly fee (in NYC it's currently $100 but going up to $125 this fall) and membership includes access to literally 100s of fitness classes (including open gym time!) throughout any ClassPass city! You can take as many classes as you want, with up to 3 per month at the same studio and sign up is as easy as opening the app and seeing what's near you that's about to begin! Through ClassPass I've discovered a love for high intensity interval training at Kore, adventures in indoor "surfing" at SurfSet (super unique and cool) and fallen in love one stroke at a time with Row House. As someone who needs variety to stick with exercise, ClassPass has been PERFECT and there's never a time when I can't find something interesting to try. (The downside? My beloved SoulCycle is not a member of ClassPass. Thankfully Cyc has proven a worthy substitute). Considering what I was paying in individual studio fees before, I'm coming out way ahead with ClassPass and working out all the time. So what are you waiting for!? Sign up!!

Have you heard about..?

Last night, somewhere between avoiding unpacking suitcases and pretending I was "totally fine" after 18 hours of flying and a 15 hour time change followed by a full work day, I went on a jet lag-fueled Netflix binge of the new show Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. I watched 6 consecutive episodes which I think definitely qualifies me to say "have you heard about the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt because you really should be watching!!"

Kimmy is Tina Fey's first post-30 Rock endeavor and it is the comedy I've been needing since Alec, Tina and Tracy said goodbye. The show, starring Ellie Kemper (of The Office and Bridesmaids fame), is about a woman who is rescued from a doomsday cult bunker after years of imprisonment who then starts life over as a nanny for a socialite (Jane Krakowski, 30 Rock) in NYC. Though the premise seems dark, the show is jam packed with laugh out loud humor, almost offensively offensive zingers and generally outstanding comedic writing. 

As for casting, I'm thorough impressed with Ellie... never my favorite character on The Office and kind of a lightweight amongst the Bridesmaids, Ellie has tremendous comedic timing and her "only through 8-grade" lack of education comes across as cheerful naivety rather than eye-roll inducing stupidity. Jane's character, an oblivious snob, is a bit of a reprise from her 30 Rock days, but there may be a little more depth this time around and I already like her more than Jenna Maroney. The rest of the characters, a black-gay-failed-actor from Mississippi roommate, a zaney old landlady, an immigrant GPD classmate and 2 spoiled rich kid nanny-ies, all have a lot to offer and will hopefully settle into a generally excellent ensemble cast.

If you loved 30 Rock, if you like offbeat comedy, if ya just freakin want to laugh, clear your calendar and schedule an Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt binge for this weekend (besides, you probably need to lighten up from all that House of Cards anyway!)

Have you heard about... Blue Apron.

It's been a while since I've done a "Have you Heard About" post, and never before have I dedicated an entire post to 1 "you-must-know-about-this" item, but guys, this one is that good! So... have you heard about Blue Apron!?

I first read about Blue Apron HERE and then it started popping up on other blogs and in my social media feeds. My curiosity was piqued so when I saw a deal on Gilt City I decided to go for it. Here's the scoop:

- Blue Apron is a delivered-once-a-week subscription service for meals. The delivery you receive includes all the ingredients you need to make 3 meals, already divvied up into the right proportions (e.g., 6 oz salmon, 3 tsp paprika, 1/2 cup rice, etc) plus a colorful, step-by-step recipe card.

- You can order your 3 meals for 2, 4 or 6 people

- The cost of a 2-person Blue Apron delivery is $59.99 per week (aka, $10 per person, per meal)

- There is no additional delivery charge and you set your exact delivery day/time on the BA website (delivery map HERE). The box is insulated/contains ice packs so you have wiggle room before you need to get it into your fridge

- There is no commitment. The service sets you up to receive a box each week, but you can cancel any time before the weekly cut off and you can skip as many weeks in a row as you need.

My first delivery arrived promptly as scheduled and I was amazed at how neat and well labeled everything was:

Life does not come more self-explanatory than this

I cooked on Mon, Tues and Sunday last week. Here are the final results in all their "hellz yeah I made that!" glory:

Beef & Bulger-Stuffed Squash w Caesar Salad

Pan-Seared Salmon over Whole Wheat Israeli Couscous
with Fava Bean-Olive Relish

Chicken Thighs with Caramelized Fennel and Onions
& Roasted Cherry Tomatoes

They even guide you on how to plate everything to make it look extra purdy!! 

So ok, Blue Apron final thoughts:

* Pros

- SO.FREAKIN.CONVENIENT.

- Delicious! All 3 of our meals were awesome and far more fancy and inventive than anything I typically prepare. 

- The recipes are incredibly easy to follow, plus you get to start a collection of these laminated cards for future re-use.

- Diversity. In 1 week we ate beef, chicken and salmon. Niiiice.

- Everything was fresh and tasted it!

- The portion sizes were perfect. Fills you, but not stuffed, definitely not skimpy

* Cons

- BA definitely cuts down on food waste, but not packaging waste. All the little zip lock baggies and containers had me feeling more than a little bad for the environment.

- You can't select exactly which 3 meals you want from the weekly "On the Menu" page. BA selects 3 and if there's something you don't like, you go to your preferences and say "No fish", then they auto-select a different 3, cutting out the fish. Unfortunately this means you may lose the chance to try another recipe that you did like because BA decides which 3 create the best compliment to one another. My fingers are crossed they change this policy soon.

- It is SUPER easy to follow these recipes, but they are definitely more complex than my usual weeknight meals (more ingredients, more prep, more things to clean after). That said, the food is way tastier/more inventive than my usual fare and I don't think it's more than 20 extra minutes spent (plus Dr. H has been helping more which is fun!)

This is the PERFECT subscription for people who like to cook, but need to make the process as streamlined as possible. From a cost perspective, I would have a hard time doing better at the grocery store buying all these ingredients and from a final product standpoint, I couldn't have been more pleased with myself for preparing 3 delicious meals last week. PLUS, Blue Apron makes an awesome wedding gift (nothing says newlywed like cooking together) or maybe use it when you're planning to host a dinner party? The possibilities are endless, so I highly suggest you get your Blue Apron on today!

Reader's Note: This is not a sponsored post, I just loved me some Blue Apron THAT MUCH!

Have you Heard About..?

What's the buzz about!?

I thought it was high time that we predicted the future of cool again so here for your "always ahead of the curve" pleasure is a quick installment of "Have You Heard About?" (For evidence of my past predictive powers, click HERE).

* Humans of New York

Have you heard about the sensation that is "Humans of New York"?! It earned a brief mention (in a Hump Day Distractions post) over the summer when I first ordered the hardcover book, but since the book has arrived - and jumped to the top of the NY Times Bestsellers List - my enthusiasm for the project has gone through the roof. Originally a blog and then a Facebook page, Humans of New York started as a "photo census" of NYC and quickly evolved into a beautiful collection of photos and quotations (captured by the insanely creative and talented Brandon Stanton) from residents of my most favorite city. Captivating, interesting, addictive and now trendy, Stanton captures the essence of people in his images and I promise you won't be able to look away. Click HERE to follow the daily posts on Facebook or HERE to order your own copy of the book (and get the hardcover! These images were meant to come alive on real paper I promise!) PS- new life goal: get photographed for HONY

*Elbow Patches

patch it.

Move over grandpa, there's a new elbow patch wear'er in town and it's everyone!!! Whether it's DIY, heart shaped, or on your man elbow patches are the trendy, easy and fun look to wear this fall and winter. Have a little fun with sequin or leather options like these, or keep it classic paired with tweed.  

* The Book Thief

Another book suggestion, but also a movie... and you know how I feel about books that get made into movies (thanks Mom!). One of my favorite ladies who works in the publishing industry is taking me to a screening of The Book Thief tonight and based on everything I've read online 1) if you haven't read this book yet, read it now; 2) the movie is going to be awesome. Originally slated for a January 2014 release, the movie is now coming out in November so as to be eligible for the 2013-14 awards season. I'll let you know what I think so you can say "you knew it" first!

Have you Heard About..?

Sharing secrets.

It has been a WHILE since I last gave you tips for being "in with the in crowd", but I think I've finally got the scoop on enough goodies to deliver the next installment of "have you heard about?" So without further adieu (and at the risk, as always, of waving an "I'm totally behind the times and completely clueless about it" flag!) here are some tid bits on what's hot with the cool kids. (See previous personal prediction home runs HERE, HERE and HERE).

*Cronuts

Introducing, the Cronut!

Move over cupcakes, there's a new pastry sensation in town! It's called a "cronut" and NYC'ers have been lining up as early as 5:30am to score 1 (maximum 2) of Chef Dominique Ansel's half donut, half croissant pastry hybrids. The final masterpiece of a reported 2 months and 10 plus different recipes, the cronut debuted on May 10, 2013 and has been the king of sweet treats ever since. Online "scalping" and delivery services have reportedly resold the $5 pastries for as much as $100 while mere mortals must wait in line hours before Ansel's Bakery opens (8am Mon-Sat, 9am Sun) to score a cronut which took 3 days to prepare and should be eaten immediately "as they have a short shelf life". Imitations and DIY attempts abound, but in order to really taste the sensation, get in line!

*Biking Around Town

Hello Citibike!

Remember when riding your bike around the neighborhood was the most awesome way to get around? Well bikes are back baby and they're taking American cities by storm. Recent bike share programs like CitiBike in NYC, Hubway in Boston, Capital BikeShare in DC and countless others are popping up across the country, seemingly determined to get more American cities on THIS list, which highlights that North America could learn a thing or two from the rest of the world about getting around on 2 wheels! Dr. H and I are newly minted CitiBike members and we couldn't be more thrilled with the program. For $98 a year we have access to any bike, at any rack in the city, any time of day or night. The handy app tells us where the nearest bike rack is (and how many bikes are available at that moment) and we have 45 minutes to ride and return the bike to any other rack in NYC. Want longer than 45 minutes? No problem, just "check-in" at a rack by parking your bike and then re-rent and continue on your way! Though the program hasn't figured out how to handle helmet safety (Dr. H and I always wear our own) biking is an awesome way to enjoy fresh air, workout a bit and get from A to B.

* Sassy Nails

Show your sparkle

As one of those women who is rarely spotted without nail polish, I'm thrilled to observe that sassy nails are so hot right now. While a classic single color mani/pedi will never go out of style, intricate designs, multiple colors, glitter and "party nails" (aka making just one finger pop with a different color or funky design than the rest of your mani) are everywhere and on every type of lady. No longer reserved for those crazy checkout line ladies sporting acrylics and rhinestones, tasteful, but fun nail art appears to have gone mainstream (inspiration on Pinterest HERE, HERE and HERE) so girlies, I say have a little fun with your fingernails this summer!

*Cards Against Humanity

Game on!

This isn't the newest news, but if you haven't played Cards Against Humanity yet, move it to the very top of the "to do" list at your next get together with friends. The self-proclaimed "party game for horrible people" is like the twisted, raunchy, offensive drunk uncle of Apples to Apples. When 1 player flips over a black card with an unfinished phrase or question (e.g., "what are my parents hiding from me?") the other players must create a word association  which they think will be the 1 player's favorite (e.g., "Grandma"; "Harry Potter Erotica"; "72 virgins" <-- some of the only examples I could find appropriate for this blog's family friendly environment!!) Guaranteed to offend everyone in the room and create a rowdy good time in the process, bring Cards Against Humanity (available for purchase HERE) to your next big kid play date. 

Have you heard about...

Let me tell you a something...

Hey-o my fellow merry readers. Here for your Tuesday reading pleasure is the latest and greatest installment of "Have you Heard About?". I've been known to nail it with past "have you heard" posts (Fifty Shades of Grey back in March... The Lumineers before they were heating up the Summerstage in Central Park!) so seize this chance to be cooler than the cool kids and get out ahead of the latest trends! 

* The Happiness Project 

Read it!

A title perfectly suited for a blog that hopes to inspire merriment! Though asking if you've heard about a book which is already on the NY Times Bestseller list might be a bit behind the times (hehe), I finally started reading The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin and I'm totally hooked. Rubin, a lawyer-turned writer (woah) writes about her one-year journey towards greater happiness, endeavoring to focus not on a total do-over of her life, but on improving her life as it was. Written in a conversational tone that reads more like a chat with your girlfriend than a self-help book, I am already inspired to start my own happiness project asap! 

* The Hair Donut

A delicious "treat" for your lovely locks

I mentioned this little gem in a Hump Day Distractions a couple of weeks back, but based on feedback from peeps out here in the real world, this brilliant hair-tool needs to be pushed out into the spotlight. First brought to my attention by the always-ahead-of-the-curve Joanna Goddard, the hair donut is the "sock bun" (remember that diy experiment!?) perfected. You simply pull your hair into a ponytail (no twisty needed) and holding the pony above your head, roll the donut from the tip of your hair down, folding the hair into the donut as you go (and an even easier application with bobby pins HERE). Just like that, you get the fullness of a Hepburn-esque professional 'do with none of the fuss. I bought my donut from ASOS but a quick google search reveals that these guys are available all ova the place. Snatch one up and prepare for a day of delightful compliments. 

* Prints, Patterns and Bold Colors 

Not sure how we common folk are
going to pull off this trend...

With the season of neon nearly in our rearview, it looks like all things printed and patterned are going to be big for the fall. Based on highly scientific research (aka window-shopping and fashion magazine combing) I think we're in for a mish-mash of polka dots, stripes, florals and elaborate graphic-esque designs which look a bit like an explosion in a thrift-store back room. I often struggle to "edit" when it comes to composing an outfit, so if this prediction is accurate, Dr. H is going to be hearing a whole lot of "is this too much?" in the coming months! 

* Hedgehogs

Hey there little buddy. Are you the next big thing!?

I think hedgehogs are the new owl. What I mean by that is the indie/hipster/crafting/diy crowd loves to pick obscure and uniquely adorable animals for incorporation into decor and accessories and hedgehogs are toootally the next big thing. Move over owls, it's time to give a hoot about Sonic and his adorable little buds. (PS- my Mom got to hold a hedgehog at the Central Park Zoo last week (my Mom is a guide/volunteer at the zoo because she's awesome like that) and I'm super jealous!)

Have you heard about...

Oh darling, you must tell me more..!

Hello there my merry friends! I hope your weekend was fabulous and that your case of the Mondays is not too severe. To kick the new week off right, I think it's time to deliver a second installment of "Have you heard about". So here are a few things that seem to be getting quite a bit of buzz lately. Check em out and be in the know:)

Who's that girl..?

Are you watching New Girl Tuesday nights on Fox? You really should be. New Girl was initially plugged as a show about an "adorkable" young girl (eye roll) moving in with three random male roommates, but 20+ episodes later, it's left cheesy stereotypes behind for  legit hysterical episodes every week. Zooey Deschanel is great, but what really makes the show work is the ensemble. Every character (especially Schmidt, played by Max Greefield) is pause the dvr, rewind and watch that again funny. The season finale is this week, but I think this show is well worth your Netflix/On Demand/re-runs time!

Showering just got SO much easier

Have you heard about dry shampoo? Far from a new product, dry shampoo has left the confines of hospitals and nursing homes to become a staple every woman should have in her hair care arsenal. Dry shampoo allows me to skip washing and styling for 2 or 3 days at a time which not only is a huge time saver, but my hair is healthier and shinier thanks to less hot water and time under the blow drier. My personal favorite is Oscar Blandi but there are tons of products out there to try... so stop over-washing and get yourself a shower in a can!

Words With Friends is soooo 5 minutes ago...

As if we needed ANOTHER reason to be addicted to our cell phones, Scramble with Friends is the new game all the cool kids seem to be playing. Over three timed rounds you challenge a buddy (or a stranger, no I am not embarrassed to confess my appetite for this game is so intense I've played against strangers!) to see who can find more words within the scramble of letters arranged on the screen. Far less drawn out than scrabble's Words With Friends, Scramble is the perfect App for keeping your face in your phone even more than you already do. Go download it!

They take Instagram-y pictures, obvi they're cool

Have you heard about The Lumineers? Brought to my attention by the music loving Rachel of Black Eiffel (her Music Mondays are a personal favorite!) I'm digging their Mumford-esque easy listening sound. This group is no doubt on the rise and I'm already looking forward to picnicking on the grass outside their Central Park show on a gorgeous summer evening. (PS- just discoved they're going to be on Conan TONIGHT!? How ahead of the curve are WE!?) 

Have you heard about..?

"Ohmygod! That's sooooo hot right now!" 

I'm always amazed how things suddenly become popular or as some might say "so hot right now". Mason jars. Pinterest. The Hunger Games. You've never heard of it, then all the sudden its buzzing and you're either in the know or all "whhhat, owls are cool now!?" WELL... just like I've started doing restaurant reviews, recipe posts and travel ideas, every so often I'm going to throw a "Have you heard about" your way. Sometimes I imagine you'll be all "geez Meri, you're sooo behind the times," but maybe I'll steer you towards something on the cusp of awesome and we can all be hailed as trendsetters together!! So without further a due...

* Have you heard about Downton Abbey?

Image via Pinterest

Downton Abbey is a tv series, (on PBS of all places!) which I just started watching on Netflix. I'd heard some chatter about the show, but it wasn't until a feature in Us Weekly that I decided to jump on the bandwagon. Set on a Yorkshire estate, the show is a "period piece" which follows the lives of an aristocratic family and their servants during the reign of King George V. Think Mad Men of the 1910s. It's surprisingly riveting (even if I can't always understand the heavy cockney accents!) Check it out.

* Have you heard about Fifty Shades of Grey?

One of my girls told me that Twitter is buzzing about this book. She's reading it, her mom is reading it, "everyone" is reading it. Naturally, now I am reading it and though I'm only 70 pages in, I'm intrigued. Far from a literary masterpiece (the prose has a Candace Bushnell feel and it's sexual when it doesn't need to be) there's something about the story that grabbed me from the start. Apparently things are going to get VERY steamy (you've been warned) so we'll see if part 1 of this trilogy is onto something.

* Have you heard about friendship bracelets?

Image via Pinterest

Remember those bracelets you spent hours making at summer camp!? Well brake out your plastic string boxes ladies, apparently friendship bracelets are cool again. I personally love piling on the bracelets and though they've been modernized to include beads, charms and rhinestones, there's still something nostalgic and instantly fun about adorning your wrists with this trend. I've been admiring THESE for a while now (time to make a purchase?!) and if you're feeling crafty, here's a tutorial to make your own!