Saturday, April 30, 2011

My Day as an Extra

(Read post below for the pre-story!)

My call time was 6am and I was told to be prepared for a 12-14 hour day, and to arrive with hair and makeup done for a formal event.  When I arrived, we were not on set but down the street a little.  There were tents and tables set up.  We were told to fill out a time form and then have breakfast before heading to the set.  Arriving at the set, there was a table with everyone's pictures laid out.  We had to find our picture to know what dress to change into, then head to the dressing room before heading to hair and make up.  (Apparently, I didn't need to wake up extra early to get ready as I did)  They had chosen my own dress for me to wear, which shocked me because I was so sure I'd be wearing the first one I had tried on in casting. It seemed a little less formal than the rest of the group but it was comfy so I went with it.

Next I went to makeup, quite humbly, with my chinzits.  I apologized..but also was grateful because I expected them to turn me away for being a chunky monkey with an acnified chin.  They spent quite a bit of time trying to cover those suckers up too.  Then it was sit and wait for a hair chair to open up, and while waiting another make up person grabbed me..I told her I already had been to make up to which she said "You did?!  Have you looked in a mirror?" 

Oh my, I thought, jumping up and into her chair, purposely avoiding the mirror.  I didn't even want to know what she was talking about.  Look, she tells me again.  Cautiously I peer into the mirror and see 2 big white splotches on my face.  Oh phew, I thought it was going to be something like a big clown nose..or maybe she had magnified the acnified chin instead of covered it up.  White splotches...no big thing.  It was just some moisturizer and powder that didn't blend in.  The second girl spent another half hour on the chin area though, and again I found myself amply apologizing for such a tragedy.

Next up was hair, and I thought they may fluff it up a little and send me on my way, but nope, they gave me a full on up-do.  Seriously in 15 minutes she put my hair back and up with a million bobby pins in a style it would have taken an hour to do at the salon. 

We were then greeted by the maestro of the extras and given instructions on pantomiming. (Pretending to talk without a sound coming out.  Even so much as a whisper could be heard by the sound guys and they'd have to retake the scene.)  I mean, not just the extras in the scene, but anywhere in the building or on the outside could not make a peep.  At one point someone was talking at a whisper and the director grumbled out "Haven't these people ever been on a set before!?" 

Ooh, I couldn't wait to get in there and pantomime!!

It came time to start picking people for the scene.  Hands went up all over the place - pick me! pick me!  And I wondered, seriously is this what it's like?  We have to beg to be put in?  And as I marveled on that thought, they picked everyone for the first scene before I could put my hand up.  But then the maestro said - aw heck, this whole side of the room (my side) come to the front

Since we were going to a ball, we'd need dates.  So, just like a jr. high school dance, the women were lined up on one side of the room and started to get paired up...until maestro got tired and said to the men...just pick a date and get out there.  I was towards the back since the people who raised their hands were up front.  I did not get picked.  Instead, youngen's not far out of high school in all their petiteness wearing their prom dresses from last year were the first picked.  And there I was left standing at the end, dateless and out of the scene.

For 8 hours I sat and waited.  My fancy up-do threatening to frizz, my chin threatening to shine.  Lunch came and went and then!  Finally, all who have not been in a scene yet - head in

I get to pantomime!!

As I headed into the ballroom, dateless, I was placed on a chair off to the side of the dance floor.  Then a couple was instructed to walk in and stand directly in front of me when they heard "action!"...so pretty sure I won't be seen in that scene.  Another time I was standing drinking champagne and laughing with a group..only that time there were also people standing in front of me.

What amazed me, a single scene of a couple leaving a dance floor, took at least a half hour to film.  And in between every scene, the hair and makeup people were scurrying about, fixing everybody up.  And, as quiet as everyone had to be, we still couldn't hear the dialog between the main characters.

Finally, 12 hours later I was sitting off to the side with 3 other women.  The scene was about to begin when one of the stage guys came up to us and said - You're walking! to us.  I felt a little thrill of excitement at getting to walk right through the scene.

The scene starts and he says - Ready? Walk and talk..go!  Just you two! To the ladies on my left.
After 30 seconds he says it again..get ready to walk!  The other girl I was standing with asks him, Both of us?

The man quickly glances at me, over my dress, and quickly says..Just you..to the other girl.  Leaving me the last one, and scene is over.  Did.I.ever.feel.the.chunky.monkey!  I mean..I really did.  Shortly after the day was over, and I left completely emotionally drained.  I felt bad in a way you shouldn't let a look cut you down but you are self conscious enough that it does.

But ~ I am on the weight loss track and it was a fun experience nonetheless...but it would have been so much more fun had I been skinny.  When that happens, I will jump on the chance to be an extra again.  All in all, it was over 10 hours of sitting there doing nothing at all, but it was a lot of fun too.  And, I got to cross something off my list of things to do before I die!




Crossing another thing off the ol' bucket list

Sometimes in life I get extremely down about having not accomplished much.  Several years ago, probably brought about by the Bucket List movie, I created a list of 100 things to do before I die.  I never made it to 100 but I figure I can add on later.  I've already done a couple things, like competing in a triathlon, getting married, buying a house...and this past week I scratched one more thing off the list.  Something I thought would be difficult to accomplish: being an extra, either in a film or tv show.  Here's the (pre)story!



Several months ago I saw on the news that a tv show filmed locally was looking for extras, and they gave a website to sign up.  I signed up and promptly forgot about it.  Then about a month ago I got an email, they were filming a ball scene and needed extras, would I be interested and available?  Well, yes I would, thankyouverymuch!  I responded immediately and the next step was to go to casting with any ball gowns I may already have.  I had none.  But also, a little self conscious about my size, went to Marshall's and picked one up just so I wouldn't have to tell them my size.  (Ok, a lot self conscious)

When the day came, I brought my dress in and noticed racks of other dresses.  They asked my name, dress size, and shoe size and wrote them on a dry erase board..I told them I was a size down from what I am.  Like I said, I was reeeaaally hoping not to have to say it.  Then my fib came tumbling down when she said "Great, pick a dressing room and I'm going to pull some more dresses for you to try on."  Crapola.

Luckily, formal dresses run small, so she grabbed a few that were my actual size.  But still, I probably could have even used a size up from that.  But...embarrassing.  The first dress I tried on fit me, thankfully, and I came out of the dressing room to their critical eyes looking ever so thoughtfully at the dress.  I was self conscious as hell!  Then they styled me up with matching shoes and jewelry, then took the dreaded dry erase board announcing my name and size and had me hold it up so they could take a picture of me in the dress.

The next dress I tried on didn't fit at all, and ultimately ended up trying on my own dress for them..it was the only other one that fit.  Same sequence, ending with me holding up the blasted board and having my picture taken.  They really seemed to like the first one better, but told me I wouldn't know which I'd be wearing and to bring everything the day of shooting.  Then I collected my dignity from the dressing room floor and went on my merry way.

The day before shooting I got an email telling me what time it would be and where to go.  In the week leading up to the big day...I was stressed.  Not just about this, but lots of life stresses.  And when life stresses...I break out.  Here I am the day before, praying my teenage pimples would magically disappear and doing everything I can to help the process along.  I mean, I even put on the toothpaste to try that old trick.  I really gave a serious thought to not going..how can I go possibly show my face on tv feeling chunky and with teenage skin???  But, then I remembered my list and I may never get this chance again, so I told myself....just do it.  I also ran out to the mall and picked up some spanx.

Finally, the big day arrived.  Pimples?  Loud and proud right there on my chin for all to see.  Anxiety level?  Surprisingly low.  I had more anxiety about doing the triathlon.  I mean, I knew being an extra was no big thang, "it's not about me" and all about the actors themselves.. Here goes nothing!

More about the big day in my next post!!



Saturday, April 23, 2011

I want....

Now that I'm serious about diet and exercise...

Including a workout by the all inspiring Tracy Anderson:



I am ready for the body of her famous clients:

Like Gwyneth.  (Love the yellow dress too!)

And while I'm putting in my order with the universe, can I also please have J Lo's legs?



Kim K's booty..maybe slightly smaller..

And Katie's skin:

That's not too much to ask is it? 

Ooh and if I got abs like any of these women I would be putting on a bikini for the first time in....??? years.  For some reason I am loving the stripes this year:




As I mentioned I am currently dieting.  I am following a plan from a hospital weight management center - it was time I got help.  I've been trying for too long and have not lost a single pound.  Or, I lose a few and then promptly gain it right back.  Now I'm looking for the big forever loss.  For the next several weeks my diet will consist of 2 shakes, 3 bars, and 1 meal consisting of 6oz protein and 1 cup cooked veggies per day.  Today is day 3 and already I have lost 3 pounds!  I have been tempted by lots of cakes and cookies and of course Easter tomorrow but so far...so good.

I'm still debating on a healthier Easter menu.  I'm thinking of slow cooker turkey..and maybe throwing a few potatoes in with the turkey so hubs can have some carbs.  Then 2 veggie dishes..grean beans and maybe broccoli.  Then I won't be cheating terribly bad.  The only cheat may come in portion size but I will try to keep that under control.  And woot!  I will survive a holiday dinner!

I hope you are enjoying your Easter weekend!



Friday, April 22, 2011

Where on Earth?

Happy Earth Day!



Randoms:

I always wondered why people apologized for not blogging in a while.  My thoughts: it's your blog, do what you want.  We don't sign a contract to blog saying we will blog every day or 3 times a week or however much.  But, that said, now I am the one feeling guilty and the need to apologize for not blogging as often lately.  I have been terribly uninspired.  And, I am quite grateful for you and don't want to let you down.  So, if you are still with me..Thank you!  And I am sorry!

I started an official diet.  It's through a hospital, not a name brand like weight watchers or anything.  I am excited about it...but, I won't be posting too many recipes for the next 15 weeks.  (The length of the program)  It will all be worth it in the end, when I get nice n skinny I will not regret not posting recipes for a while.  Then I'll have to find new healthy recipes to post so I can maintain.  In the meantime, I will have to find other tidbits to blog about.  So my second apology: if you are a fan of recipes, I apologize for the lack of in the coming months!

It's Earth Day!  I'm sorry to say that doesn't mean much to me, I haven't done anything special for the earth.  I did plant some flowers a couple days ago, that was earthly, no?  What else does one do on earth day?  I don't know.   I work 12 hours so I can even go outside and appreciate it.  Nevertheless, Happy Earth Day!!

I do hope for better inspiration soon.
Tomorrow I will tell you everything you never knew you wanted to know about my exciting new diet!





Monday, April 18, 2011

Honey Cashew Green Beans

Here is a very simple side I found on allrecipes.com that I am at this very moment ready to eat the whole thing!  Just as dinner was about to be ready, hubs had to run to finish his taxes..talk about last minute.  So here I sit, waiting on him and dinner, although, now that recipe is up on blog, I do think it's time to just eat it!  Sorry hubs.  Some of us got our taxes in on time!   I did have a bite as it was finished and it is definitely blog worthy, unlike some of the other mishaps I've had lately. 



Honey Cashew Green Beans
Recipe from allrecipes.com

1/2 pound fresh green beans, trimmed
2 Tbsp coarsely chopped cashews (or any nut you have on hand)
4 1/2 tsp butter
1 Tbsp honey

Place beans in a steamer basket and steam for 8-10 minutes or until crisp tender.  Meanwhile, in a small skillet, melt butter and saute cashews for about 2 minutes or until golden brown.  Stir in honey; heat through.  Transfer beans to the skillet and toss to coat.  Serve immediately.



Sunday, April 10, 2011

GTKY Sunday

Gosh is it Sunday already?  Time is just flying by these days.  I'm feeling short on words today, here is my Getting to Know You..head over to www.mannland5.com to link up!

1. do you watch/read the news?
Very sporadically.  I get breaking news from cnn sent to my email, that is usually my only source of news!  And I do enjoy the Sunday paper.  But let's be honest, news comes secondary to ads and coupons.


2. how would you describe your "look"?
Usually it's simple, classic, comfortable.  (I'm a Charlotte)  But right now my look is very yoga pants chic.



3. did you play sports in high school or college?
Yep, I was a swimmer.

4. would you rather give up lipstick/gloss or high heels?
Right now...the heels for sure!  When I get down to my goal weight, I'll lose the lipstick.  Just a little chapstick is all I wear anyway.

5. what's your favorite show to watch on tv?
It's a toss up between Wednesday and Friday nights.  I'll go with the Wednesday line up: Survivor, American Idol, Modern Family, and Top Chef.  Oh, happy night of tv for me!  And love to my dvr!

6. would you rather bake or cook?
I enjoy baking more, but let's face it, can't get to my goal weight with baking.  Cooking it is!

7. shorts or skirts?
Skirts!  Not a big fan of shorts.

8. what's your favorite scary movie?
Favorite and scary movies are 2 terms that just don't go together in my vocabulary.





Tuesday, April 5, 2011

Zucchini Bread

This past weekend I was doing a little spring cleaning and found stacks upon stacks of old food magazines.  That promptly ended said cleaning as I sat down with them piled around me.  I went through them all, ripping out the recipes I wanted to save so I could get rid of the magazines.  Today I did a little refrigerator cleaning and found so much wasted food, I realized I have to do better using up what I have instead of finding a recipe and ignoring what I have to go buy something else.

2 of the things to use up were zucchinis and buttermilk.  I remembered seeing this recipe for zucchini bread in a Food & Wine magazine, the original called for yogurt instead of buttermilk.  I almost started to run out for some yogurt before reminding myself to substitute.  I'm sure this bread is fantastic with yogurt, but I was quite pleased with how it turned out with the buttermilk.

I think this might be the best bread I've ever made.  The crust has a nice crunch to it, not too hard, just perfect.  And the inside is not too dense, just light and moist. 


Zucchini Bread
Recipe adapted from Food & Wine Magazine (Sept. 2009)



1 cup walnut halves
2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp buttermilk
1 cup coarsely grated zucchini

Preheat oven to 325.  Spray a loaf pan with Pam baking spray, or butter and flour.  Spread walnut halves on a skillet and toast for about 8 minutes, until they are fragrant.  Transfer the walnuts to a cutting board and coursely chop them.

In a large bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda and powder, and salt.  In a medium bowl, mix together the eggs, sugars, vegetable oil, and buttermilk.  Add the dry ingredients along with the grated zucchini and toasted walnuts and stir until the batter is evenly moistened.  Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 1 hour and 10 minutes, until the loaf is risen and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Let the loaf cool on a rack for 30 minutes before unmolding and serving.





Link Love: Breads

Lately the baking bug has been biting me repeatedly.  As much as I want to say no, then I think..well it won't hurt.  I'll just make it and give it, just get it out of my house and I'll be fine.  In theory that works quite well, unless you are lingering with those you give to, then eat a bit or twelve. 

I blame the baking bug on other people's blogs.  There have been some wonderful posts lately on breads.  Here's a few:

Quick Banana Bread by Yadi at Shop.Cook.Make:  ~ I just love her blog by the way, gorgeous photos and tempting recipes!




Ice Cream Bread by Leslie at The Hungry Housewife: ~Seriously, you need to see this recipe!



Peanut Butter Bread with Struesel Topping by Mary at One Perfect Bite:  Um, hello!  Peanut Butter AND struesel topping!?  Perfection indeed!








Cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Quick Bread by Jenny at Picky Palate:  I'm dying right now, dying ya hear?  I need this in my belly right now!


Noooooooooooooooooow you see why I currently have a loaf of zucchini bread in my oven?  If it turns out half as pretty as the photos above I will post it later tonight!

Sunday, April 3, 2011

GTKY Sunday!

Woohoo, Getting to Know You time!!  I'm not so sure about the questions this week.  I wanna go back to last week's since I missed them, but you know, maybe against the rules or something so here goes:

(First, a pretty picture)

1. do you weigh yourself?
Not so much.  When I lose my first 20 pounds I'll start to weigh regularly but at this weight it only ruins my day to see what I weigh.

2. what's the nastiest thing you've ever eaten?
I don't get too adventurous when it comes to food ~ Anthony Bourdain I am not.  One time I was in Puerto Rico and went out for Chinese food.  I ordered chicken, and I know the stereotype about that I try not to play into it.  But seriously, this was NOT chicken.  It grosses me out to think about what it really could have been. **shudder**

3. snail mail or email?
Snail mail is nice but who remembers to buy stamps anymore?  Email.

4. do you have any irrational fears...what are they?
Plenty of irrational fears.  My hubs would probably have a laugh at that understatement.  I can't read scary or heart thumping books or watch such movies because I will turn chicken little at night.  The latest was the movie The Fourth Kind.  I swear I will be woken by alien owls at 3:33am.  **shudder**

5. do you play an instrument?
I keep thinking I'd really like to learn the guitar but there are a million other things I'd like to do first.  No is the answer to this question!

6. would you rather be bitten by a snake or attacked by a bear?
Oh my.  Seriously?  **shudder** again.  Aw, man!  Aw...do I really have to pick one of those?  I guess the snake.

7. do you ever go braless in public?
Only if I have on a shelf bra tank and something else over that. 

8. today i am thankful for........................?
Oreo truffles, family and friends, a fun night out last night with hubs, Sunday morning motivation, and dunkin donuts coffee.
 
 
Thanks, Keely, for the Sunday morning **shudders**!!!
 
Head over to MannLand5 to link up!



Saturday, April 2, 2011

Oreo Truffles

I think this recipe has been around for a while now, and to be honest I don't know where it originated.  But lemme just say, it's uber easy to make, ridiculously easy! And I'm sure hoping they are still around for me to bring to the lovely ladies at work tomorrow.



All you do is take a package of oreos, remove about 8.  Eat 3, and put 5 in the food processor.  Set the crumbs aside.  Then process the rest of the package and put those in a separate bowl. 


Add 1 block of softened cream cheese to the oreo crumbs and mix well.  Form them into balls, dip them into melted chocolate, and then take the saved crumbs and sprinkle it over the chocolate.  Refrigerate them and Enjoy!


I used Godiva vanilla bean white chocolate...


And Lindt extra creamy milk chocolate.

The only question is...

Will they last for me to bring to work tomorrow?

Only time will tell. 
Only time will (munch munch) tell.