tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-42123339850948707202024-03-13T16:48:27.931-04:00* Seek To Be Merry *Joyful.Cheerful.Happy.Merry.Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.comBlogger857125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-7755652112630521262017-09-25T14:03:00.000-04:002017-09-25T14:03:52.795-04:00What Happened.<div style="text-align: justify;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bSGYoYx3WJs/WclETGvR65I/AAAAAAAALV8/m4F2Vce51TQUoNqvMkYBqQwHAJIc1L7xACLcBGAs/s1600/b.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="564" height="318" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bSGYoYx3WJs/WclETGvR65I/AAAAAAAALV8/m4F2Vce51TQUoNqvMkYBqQwHAJIc1L7xACLcBGAs/s320/b.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">you, me, anyone with the <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/307159637070009489/" target="_blank">American</a> dream.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">We don't usually chat about politics here, but I think it would be leaving a gapping hole in this cozy corner of the internet if I didn't write something about the current state of our country. Maybe selfishly I just need to write-it-out to try to feel better. Whatever the reason, I need to talk about What Happened.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Last November, I marched a 36 weeks pregnant, "Love Trumps Hate" clad belly into my local polling place and voted for a vision of our future which made me feel so buoyant and bright that when it did not come to fruition, in the wee hours of the following morning, I sat on the couch and cried. I cried for the little girl who dreamed of becoming the first woman president (yup), for the senate intern who ardently supported and admired candidate Clinton (MmHmm) and for the future mom who was going to bring a baby into a very different world than she'd envisioned. I felt crushed and baffled and scared, not only because my candidate had lost, but because America wasn't who I thought it was. My liberal, northeastern corner of the country had blinded me to a level of sexism, racism, chauvinism, anger and hatred that made my heart hurt. Who were these millions of people that believed in such a different vision for the future than me?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the 11 months since Election Day, I've come to realize that being a woman, </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">being Jewish,</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;"> being a friend of minorities and immigrants and homosexuals and in favor of health care for all and the integrity of democracy mean something different than they did this time last year. I've watched free speech come under attack and nuclear war start to feel like a real possibility. It has taken over everything from the news to the football field, it's marching through the streets and across my social media feeds. It feels relentless. It's exhausting and scary.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I don't have any solutions, I don't know what we're supposed to do, but I know what I believe. I know that moments like this in history have called for action and activism not silence and sadness. So I will speak up. donate. stay educated. make phone calls. sign petitions. act in defense of my ideals. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">campaign. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">VOTE. </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">This is where we are, but it is not where we will always be. I am ready for the fight. </span></div>
Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-12079148087270714222017-09-15T15:22:00.001-04:002017-09-15T15:24:14.106-04:00Take your stretchy pants to work day (hooray!)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YievAGRCkmU/Wbwm75xYl8I/AAAAAAAALVE/bxyqa2TfZb86ecPM559RurIrYCTPWw6RgCLcBGAs/s1600/a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1600" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YievAGRCkmU/Wbwm75xYl8I/AAAAAAAALVE/bxyqa2TfZb86ecPM559RurIrYCTPWw6RgCLcBGAs/s320/a.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not this kinda <a href="https://images.businessoffashion.com/site/uploads/2016/01/Naked.jpg" target="_blank">pant</a>, not this kinda work, but cool pose right?</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Guys. Lululemon is making chic work pants and they're the splurge you didn't know you needed to make, because trust me, these pants are the real deal. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Anyone who knows Dr. H knows that after me and Miss Awesome, the thing he loves most in this world are his "Lulu Man Pants" aka, the slim fit chino-esque pants made of stretchy material by yoga-world dominator Lululemon. He owns the <a href="https://shop.lululemon.com/p/men-pants/ABC-Pant-Regular/_/prod3470051?rcnt=2&N=88b&cnt=14&color=LM5335S_0001" target="_blank">ABC pant </a>in like 4 colors and loves them for both their insanely comfortable fit and dress up or down ability (plus, <a href="https://shop.lululemon.com/p/men-pants/ABC-Pant-Regular/_/prod3470051?rcnt=2&N=88b&cnt=14&color=LM5335S_0001" target="_blank">look up what ABC stands for</a>). Well ladies, it's our turn to take our Lulus to work and these two pants are it:</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qqzqPr_WPbk/WbwmaoHiuVI/AAAAAAAALU4/aTcnyD7Ef78pLDnFPDu7uP-Oulf0o8JHQCLcBGAs/s1600/a.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="420" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qqzqPr_WPbk/WbwmaoHiuVI/AAAAAAAALU4/aTcnyD7Ef78pLDnFPDu7uP-Oulf0o8JHQCLcBGAs/s320/a.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xzhLzhJu4xY/Wbwmah9FKwI/AAAAAAAALU8/u0P_NCMn_zwZhCMiRTawyKbOH_3uW_QFACLcBGAs/s1600/b.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="504" data-original-width="420" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xzhLzhJu4xY/Wbwmah9FKwI/AAAAAAAALU8/u0P_NCMn_zwZhCMiRTawyKbOH_3uW_QFACLcBGAs/s320/b.jpeg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Noir Pant (</span><a href="https://shop.lululemon.com/p/women-pants/Noir-Pant/_/prod4030273?rcnt=19&N=7yh&cnt=44&color=LW5E18S_0001" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;" target="_blank">HERE</a>)<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> and On the Fly Pant (</span><a href="https://shop.lululemon.com/p/women-pants/On-The-Fly-Pant-Woven/_/prod8431165?rcnt=21&N=7yh&cnt=44&color=LW5AHOS_028694" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;" target="_blank">HERE</a>) <span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">fit like butta over my booty and hug my hips and thighs in all the right places. They breath in the heat and are just heavy enough for when it's cold. They do NOT wrinkle and though they're pictured here with sneakers, I pair mine with booties or even strappy heals and it's a whole other work-date night situation (with enough stretchiness for dessert!). </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now listen, I am not someone to casually spend $118 on a pair of pants. That's a decision I think about VERY carefully, but if you do the "what's the cost per usage?" calculation on a timelessly styled black dress pant (that just so happens to feel like a yoga pant) you're sure to realize your investment <i>and then some</i>. As I shift my closet to "less stuff, higher utility" (#adulting) these pants are definitely on the path to wardrobe dominance. Check em out!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">ps- Lulu does free alterations so shorties like me, rejoice!!</span></div>
Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-43124382936868711042017-09-11T14:54:00.002-04:002017-09-11T14:54:35.507-04:00Netflix to the Rescue!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6jZKmbrwaQg/WbbaZmTL2rI/AAAAAAAALUM/591RKBT28F0DDKrCRv34aflbzUnG-sLYgCLcBGAs/s1600/c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="500" height="213" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6jZKmbrwaQg/WbbaZmTL2rI/AAAAAAAALUM/591RKBT28F0DDKrCRv34aflbzUnG-sLYgCLcBGAs/s320/c.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This time of year is always a bit of a struggle for <a href="http://fierceandnerdy.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/TVAddiction.jpg" target="_blank">TV Land addicts</a> like Dr. H and I because we're hanging in that awkward limbo of "summer shows are over" (I miss you Game of Thrones!) and "fall shows aren't back" (we're waiting This is Us!) meaning we sit on the couch at night like zombies flipping between reruns of Family Guy and gems like American Ninja Warrior (don't judge, it's intense!!) Thankfully, there is now a plethora of Netflix original programming to get on board with and we're riding that binge-watching train all the way to "Are you still watching?" (yes of course we are stop asking!) station. Setting aside the most talked about series like House of Cards (still addicted) and Orange is the New Black (gave it up last season) here are the top 3 Merry Meri Netflix selections of the moment. What are you watching!?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">Glow</u> - Trailer <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80114988" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z1Xqi1PN19g/WbbaCMY-NnI/AAAAAAAALUA/daWI7KczPKILcAwFxmfVGmSS9yBkYfZsQCLcBGAs/s1600/c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="180" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-z1Xqi1PN19g/WbbaCMY-NnI/AAAAAAAALUA/daWI7KczPKILcAwFxmfVGmSS9yBkYfZsQCLcBGAs/s320/c.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This series came recommended by a fellow 80s baby who I assume grew up with a penchant for pro wrestling like Dr. H (or he's just an Alison Brie fan, could be either!) and after just 1 episode I was completely hooked. The witty writing, awesome cast and of course </span><i style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">lady wrestling</i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> makes for an extremely watchable series which mixes comedy with life's more serious issues in a poignant and highly entertaining way. Props to Alison Brie for absolutely crushing it in her lead role as Ruth (no more standing in Pete Campbell's shadow!) but also to the full ensemble of women who all have relatable, hysterical and emotional moments of their own.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">Master of None</u> - Trailer <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80049714" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hYf8u9z-nkI/WbbaFth-pfI/AAAAAAAALUE/PcOcbiPbRuMxXv__Ze0ejRuY-jsoPvozgCLcBGAs/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hYf8u9z-nkI/WbbaFth-pfI/AAAAAAAALUE/PcOcbiPbRuMxXv__Ze0ejRuY-jsoPvozgCLcBGAs/s320/b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">This show is so damn well written!!!!! I've loved Aziz Ansari since he first rose to prominence on Parks and Rec, but this show brings my admiration to a whole new level. Aziz's character clearly strikes some personal resemblance and his ability to touch on everything from modern romance to racism and fame are fantastic. Props to Eric Werheim (as Arnold, Dev's hysterical, huge and heartbroken buddy) and Lena Waithe (as Denise, Dev's blunt, black, lesbian, childhood bestie) for playing complex yet relatable characters as well. The show, also a New York City foodie's paradise (seriously, </span><a href="https://ny.eater.com/maps/master-of-nones-season-two-restaurants-and-bars-map" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;" target="_blank">I want to eat at alllll the places</a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">) has two seasons available for viewing so get to work.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b><u>The Crown</u></b> - Trailer <a href="https://www.netflix.com/title/80025678" target="_blank">HERE</a></span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-25UcdOjasq0/WbbaJvj9faI/AAAAAAAALUI/o-WYgoNrijQ2JfdTbjTEvTSDQ985lAc7wCLcBGAs/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-25UcdOjasq0/WbbaJvj9faI/AAAAAAAALUI/o-WYgoNrijQ2JfdTbjTEvTSDQ985lAc7wCLcBGAs/s320/a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">If you are a sucker for the royal family like I am, this is the show for you. In this story of the modern British Crown, beginning with Queen Elizabeth's childhood, expect a beautifully shot, complex narrative about the weight of duty and the complications of politics and the royal family. Brilliantly acted by Claire Foy and Matt Smith, expect to learn a ton of history and spend a lot of time googling for more info during end credits! Hurry and catch up on this series before Season 2 comes out (</span><a href="http://www.townandcountrymag.com/leisure/arts-and-culture/news/a9360/the-crown-season-2/" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;" target="_blank">December 8</a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">) and you start to feel too far behind.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Click <a href="https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/best-netflix-tv-shows-original-series" target="_blank">HERE</a> for Thrillist's list of the best Netflix original series', then throw on some sweatpants and CHILL (literally, not in the "Netflix and Chill" sense. TV binging is serious business and thanks to this list, I've got work to do too!)</span></div>
Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-42866915659849238542017-09-08T10:39:00.001-04:002017-09-08T10:39:32.392-04:00Poor Derry...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/BbxEaxUM9SE/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/BbxEaxUM9SE?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Have you guys seen this hysterical video of the Irish family frantically trying to catch a bat in their kitchen!? It's a must watch, volume up, in a place where them cursing and your maniacal giggles are acceptable. Even the dog gets in on the action... The family, the <a href="http://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-thursday-edition-1.4278891/meet-the-flemings-the-internet-famous-irish-family-who-freaked-out-over-a-bat-1.4279323" target="_blank">Flemings</a>, are very much enjoying their 15 minutes of fame, as evidenced by their appearance on Jimmy Kimmel this week: </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; text-align: justify;">Wishing you all hysterical, bat-<i>free </i>weekends!</span></div>
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Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-16203833428857763722017-09-06T17:55:00.000-04:002017-09-06T17:55:20.930-04:00Introducing Miss Awesome.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2gWMwSeEeY8/WbBrMv3adlI/AAAAAAAALTY/uL-v8B4qw3EgIbvDn1QCa_-eMHcDLPWbgCLcBGAs/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="562" data-original-width="422" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2gWMwSeEeY8/WbBrMv3adlI/AAAAAAAALTY/uL-v8B4qw3EgIbvDn1QCa_-eMHcDLPWbgCLcBGAs/s320/b.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">All good <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/40250990402959069/" target="_blank">indeed</a>!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I know today is Wednesday, but it's <span id="goog_1867415407"></span>kinda not Hump Day<span id="goog_1867415408"></span> because of Labor Day and I haven't posted since </span><i style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">last</i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Hump Day, so how about I share a little something special today and tomorrow I'll give you some fun links to break up the week?! Cool? Cool.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So... Introducing Merry Meri's <i>newest</i> project, Miss Awesome*:</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2N1Y7jVMjjI/WbBnp7ThHAI/AAAAAAAALTI/5IH6tadu-Xo0q4QvKB0ojiuhMXkMY-ZGgCLcBGAs/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1203" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2N1Y7jVMjjI/WbBnp7ThHAI/AAAAAAAALTI/5IH6tadu-Xo0q4QvKB0ojiuhMXkMY-ZGgCLcBGAs/s320/a.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Affectionately dubbed Awesomesauce by Dr. H and I throughout my pregnancy, lil A entered the world on November 28, 2016 and has been living up to her awesome moniker ever since. I could write forever about the infinite joy that becoming a mom has brought me and the beautiful soul that is my daughter... Being a mom ROCKS and having Miss Awesome as my newest co-adventurer has been (1) so much fun and (2) great for Dr. H, who no longer has to accompany me to every museum, amusement park, hiking trail and food truck I seek to enjoy (when they're tiny they're so portable!) Awesome loves to travel, eat, smile and observe and I try to fill her universe with interesting, exciting, engaging and beautiful experiences. In short, we make an excellent team.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ir6WXnWx4UM/WbBn6fFYWdI/AAAAAAAALTM/D1OXJq-inKsqp-OYYf9KaAO4hX815jr6ACLcBGAs/s1600/c.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="1450" height="250" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ir6WXnWx4UM/WbBn6fFYWdI/AAAAAAAALTM/D1OXJq-inKsqp-OYYf9KaAO4hX815jr6ACLcBGAs/s320/c.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I have a long mental list of future posts about motherhood, from my experiences with birth, breastfeeding and being a workforce mom (all moms are <i>working</i> moms!) to thoughts on dressing a little girl and what to do when your kid sh*ts in the tub (laugh, you have to laugh) but this is not and will not be a mommy-blog. I'll try to keep the topics diverse and sprinkle adventures in parenting throughout because hey, ya gotta write what you know. So that's the new big news, now back to our regularly scheduled Merry Meri (also Mommy) programming.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">* I made a decision back in 2011 (<a href="http://seektobemerry.blogspot.com/2011/12/sharing-is-caring.html" target="_blank">sooo long ago!</a>) not to share pictures of Dr. H's or my faces on this blog and I feel pretty strongly about sticking to that policy for Miss Awesome (at least for now). Her punim is very adorable though, I promise :)</span></div>
Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-11508572509706335092017-08-30T13:28:00.000-04:002017-08-30T13:28:04.049-04:00Hump Day Distractions<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bZlK1bZQOOg/Wab1WjlQ27I/AAAAAAAALSU/fVGYcvdHZY8wpKhj-l3vIyVQgVrE2M50wCLcBGAs/s1600/Starting-Over.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-bZlK1bZQOOg/Wab1WjlQ27I/AAAAAAAALSU/fVGYcvdHZY8wpKhj-l3vIyVQgVrE2M50wCLcBGAs/s320/Starting-Over.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hump <a href="http://www.dogster.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/why-do-boy-dogs-hump-other-boy-dogs-03-600x600.jpg" target="_blank">Daaaaay</a>!</td></tr>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Guys. Today is my baby boy Dugans' 2nd birthday!!!! Remember yesterday when I mentioned that I might be </span><i style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">too</i><span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> obsessed with my dog!? Well, first of all, NO SUCH THING and second, how could you <i>not</i> be obsessed with this face:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!!!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Dugans may not have come home to Dr. H and I until Nov. of 2015, but he was born on this day 2 short, but somehow seems like forever, years ago. I can remember getting the email from the breeder that there was 1 little dude puppy in the litter (I've only ever had male dogs </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">and figured I'd stick with what I know) and that he was nearly completely white (only thing we'd said was "NYC is dirty, we don't want a white dog"). After a lengthy debate which seems truly insane now, we decided that this pup was for us and the rest is history!!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">In honor of Mister Dugs (pronounced Doogs) birthday, here's a doggy style (hehe) serving of hump day distractions. Enjoy!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">* Here are some of the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/instagram-dogs_us_58d052bbe4b0be71dcf75a69" target="_blank">best dog instagram accounts</a>. Personal favorites of mine are <a href="https://www.instagram.com/toastmeetsworld/" target="_blank">Toast</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/muppetsrevenge/" target="_blank">Muppet</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thedogist/" target="_blank">The Dogist</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/samsonthedood/" target="_blank">Samson</a> and of course <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dugansherd/" target="_blank">DUGANS</a>!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">* Do you know <a href="http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2017/04/23/524514526/dogs-are-doggos-an-internet-language-built-around-love-for-the-puppers" target="_blank">DoggoLingo</a>?!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">* Adorable puppers grow up into <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/ishabassi/tbh-i-cried-a-little-while-writing-this-post-because-dogs?utm_term=.jb533AL2Px#.tt2vv8Pjq1" target="_blank">adorable doggos</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">* I could go on for hours about the love affair blossoming between baby and puppy in my house (and I probably will at some point), but for now, <a href="https://www.thedodo.com/dogs-meeting-the-new-baby-1009193227.html" target="_blank">THIS</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">* <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/16/pet-halloween-costumes_n_4102437.html" target="_blank">Halloween is coming</a> and obviously in my house it's going to be a family affair!!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">* Dog <a href="https://www.buzzfeed.com/allisonwild/the-goodest-good-boys?utm_term=.qge66kz0OG#.dovWWpDw36" target="_blank">memes are funny</a></span></div>
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Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-69043705119460085122017-08-29T15:09:00.000-04:002017-08-29T15:09:55.698-04:00dusting off the keyboard...<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jK3Da8X1HBM/WaW7DHA-pDI/AAAAAAAALRU/yX-gR64JwQM3HfGPsuxPGDvirJZZrYrjgCLcBGAs/s1600/Starting-Over.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="500" height="238" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jK3Da8X1HBM/WaW7DHA-pDI/AAAAAAAALRU/yX-gR64JwQM3HfGPsuxPGDvirJZZrYrjgCLcBGAs/s320/Starting-Over.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gotta (re)start <a href="http://lifebeyondthesea.com/wp-content/uploads/Starting-Over.jpeg" target="_blank">somewhere</a>.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hello? </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyone want to chat!?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's been 551 days since my last post here. 551 days of Brooklyn living, Dr. H loving, mommy-becoming, adventures. That's a lot of days and a lot of stuff huh? For a little while I didn't have time to write or maybe it was that I didn't have the energy... or the interest. I'm not really sure. The ideas flowed as often as ever, but even the effort of jotting them down felt like too much. Then over the weekend I thought "Hmmm, maybe I'll write a blog post this week" and just like that, here I am.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I've missed blogging. I've missed having a place to share my random daydreams and late night musings, to crack some jokes, share some tips and just write. I really do love to write. Additionally, someone needs to know how passionately I feel about Google Photos, what I loved about Ireland and that there is such a thing as a Vanilla Churro Milkshake (it exists and it is even more glorious than you can imagine!) I want to talk to you about the overwhelming joy of motherhood, my latest career adventures, how I know I care more than I should about my weight and that I'm fairly certain I'm <i>too</i> attached to my dog.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't know how often I'll be able to post or how many of you will even tune in, but I am excited to turn the lights back on around here and see what it feels like to put the words on paper ("paper" ha!) I still seek to be merry and I hope you do too.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let's see how this goes...</span></div>
Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-68227360912578391642016-02-25T18:27:00.007-05:002016-02-25T18:31:46.691-05:00bloom with me (on a budget!)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uc9kShJAnng/Vs-OZ4J-DEI/AAAAAAAAKSg/o5OvIljCKSY/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="264" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Uc9kShJAnng/Vs-OZ4J-DEI/AAAAAAAAKSg/o5OvIljCKSY/s320/a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here in NYC, despite a mean streak of rainy days, the temperatures have been unseasonably warm and the air is filled with a faint but lovely smell of spring. Though I don't trust Mother Nature not to hurl another blizzard our way (it is only February 25th!), it's been nice to shed some layers and consider the possibility that the dark and cold winter is ending.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">These spring vibes go perfectly with the arrival of spring blooms at all the bodegas and sidewalk flower shops (a favorite NYC-ism of mine!) and even my beloved <a href="http://seektobemerry.blogspot.com/2012/06/im-in-love-with-joe.html" target="_blank">Trader Joe's</a> is looking spring-ified! Since we all know that <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sally-augustin/health-benefits-flowers_b_2992014.html" target="_blank">fresh flowers improve your mood</a>, I thought I'd share some of my tips and tricks for always having beautiful blooms on a budget!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>* Keep it healthy</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Since the reason grocery store and bodega flowers are usually cheaper presumably has something to do with their freshness and quality, you've got to put in a little extra effort to make them last. This isn't foolproof, but some of my best tips are:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">- always cut each stem after you buy it and before you place it in a vase</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">- change the water frequently or at least don't forget to add fresh water every day or two</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">- put a penny in it! Seriously, if you want your tulips to stay standing for longer and bloom more boldly, <a href="http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/gardening/gardening-flowers/keep-cut-flowers-fresh/penny" target="_blank">put a penny in the bottom of the vase</a>. I don't know why, but it works!</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ptiZkwL95xw/Vs-LKRNP8ZI/AAAAAAAAKSU/rs8GXisEKvQ/s1600/b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="297" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ptiZkwL95xw/Vs-LKRNP8ZI/AAAAAAAAKSU/rs8GXisEKvQ/s320/b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>* Arrange it!</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's tempting to purchase prearranged bouquets, but I find that you often see a decrease in the quality of bloom (because they may not all be equally fresh) or you end up with something that isn't quite what you were hoping for. Often you can create your own arrangement for less than the pre-made ones and they come out even more lovely. <a href="https://laurenconrad.com/blog/2014/02/odds-ends-my-best-flower-arranging-trick/" target="_blank">HERE</a>, <a href="http://www.bhg.com/decorating/home-accessories/flower-arranging/flower-arranging-tips/" target="_blank">HERE</a> and <a href="http://cupofjo.com/2013/02/3-ways-to-arrange-supermarket-flowers/" target="_blank">HERE</a> are some great tips for making your own arrangements, but some of my biggest suggestions:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">- think about a variety of size, color and texture, even if you're only buying 2 blooms to combine. If you're buying different flowers, mix big and bold with something small and soft. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">- cut them at different lengths; this allows the arrangement to look more dynamic</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">- remove the leaves; I learned this one online and it works like a charm... when you strip off most of the greenery on each stem the arrangement instantly looks more professional</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">- consider an unusual vessel. It doesn't always have to be a vase, maybe it's a cool jar or 2 or 3 small vessels placed next to one another in an "arrangement of arrangements". </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>* Think long term</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Though it's tempting to purchase a bundle of flowers that's in full bloom, unless you are in need of a pretty display immediately, resist the urge. Buying flowers that are mostly unbloomed means they are fresher and if well cared for will literally blossom before your eyes. Not only is it fun to watch the flowers "perform" but it means they'll stay lovely on your table for a few days longer than if they were already in full bloom when you bought them.</span></div>
Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-4596347148225714232016-02-23T12:45:00.000-05:002016-02-23T12:45:21.100-05:00Want to make your next road trip WAY more awesome?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9aOSq32aQcw/VsyaY3VycnI/AAAAAAAAKRg/QKf9qbzg9Uo/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9aOSq32aQcw/VsyaY3VycnI/AAAAAAAAKRg/QKf9qbzg9Uo/s320/a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Relax <a href="https://c1.staticflickr.com/3/2131/4515134880_23d7e55a01_z.jpg" target="_blank">Morgan</a>, this time you can sit in the passenger seat!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">How about you <a href="http://www.ew.com/article/2016/02/22/morgan-freeman-gps" target="_blank">bring Morgan Freeman along</a> for the ride!? The dream of having your ultimate co-pilot guide you through traffic and all the twists and turns of your journey can finally be a reality thanks to the <a href="http://time.com/4232933/morgan-freeman-gps-voice-waze/?xid=tcoshare" target="_blank">newest Waze app voice feature</a>.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NXK9g78wfYw/VsyZ3iqyUCI/AAAAAAAAKRY/51NycZJ9oZI/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="156" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NXK9g78wfYw/VsyZ3iqyUCI/AAAAAAAAKRY/51NycZJ9oZI/s320/a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That's right, you can now set your <a href="https://www.waze.com/" target="_blank">Waze</a> GPS to "Morgan Freeman mode". This brilliant integration into <a href="https://www.waze.com/" target="_blank">Google owned navigation app</a> (which in my opinion is the best out there, including the most up to the minute route guidance, warnings about speed traps and cops and great "what's near you now" info) is a promotion of Freeman's new movie so he actually navigates to you as if you're the President of the United States (#dreamsdocometrue).</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zCqUKLzdkCs/VsyZoHLJhfI/AAAAAAAAKRU/V23pysNrC48/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zCqUKLzdkCs/VsyZoHLJhfI/AAAAAAAAKRU/V23pysNrC48/s320/a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 23.7999992370605px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/742115/morgan-freeman-s-voice-will-guide-you-on-google-s-waze" target="_blank">To have Freeman dictate</a> your driving directions all you have to do is is open up Waze and click Settings>Sound>Voice Language>Morgan Freeman! Best of luck my happy travelers, tell Morgan I sent you :) </span></span></div>
Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-70094033250435489322016-02-17T12:32:00.000-05:002016-02-17T12:32:06.050-05:00Hump Day Distractions<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-viulaGcwMlc/VsSuPcLhGeI/AAAAAAAAKQ4/Wl68fPTMoDc/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-viulaGcwMlc/VsSuPcLhGeI/AAAAAAAAKQ4/Wl68fPTMoDc/s320/a.jpg" width="194" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I know we cruised right through my beloved President's Day and didn't even give mention to the always lovely (hehe) Valentine's Day, but here we are at hump day and I've got some goodies to share so I'm sharing them!! Enjoy!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">* Shut the F up Cadbury, <a href="http://www.barstoolsports.com/newyork/they-are-opening-up-a-cadbury-egg-cafe-in-london-with-a-ball-pit-inside-which-im-pretty-sure-makes-it-heaven/" target="_blank">this is insane</a>!!! Who's coming with me to London!?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">* I'm taking <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FOX5NY/photos/a.107956651319.116657.39442131319/10154047432771320/?type=3&theater" target="_blank">this quote</a> from the always wise T. Swift to heart...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">* When you live in NYC, having your kids share a room is pretty common. Some think of it as a negative to city living, but if <a href="http://cupofjo.com/2016/01/shared-kids-rooms/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FbboSV+%28A+CUP+OF+JO%29" target="_blank">this is what it could look like</a>, I'm all for it!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">* This is a really thought provoking article on the importance of in-person "<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/06/opinion/sunday/frank-bruni-the-myth-of-quality-time.html?action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=opinion-c-col-left-region&region=opinion-c-col-left-region&WT.nav=opinion-c-col-left-region&_r=1" target="_blank">quality time</a>" with friends and family.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">* Infatuation is the outstanding <a href="https://www.theinfatuation.com/new-york" target="_blank">restaurant reviewer and locator website/app</a> you've been waiting for (available for NYC, LA, San Fran and Chicago last I checked!) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">* <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/daves4/puns-4-days?utm_term=.ecw15zyYp&sub=4088647_7459243" target="_blank">I love puns</a> so much it's ridiculous.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">* This is the most <a href="http://mashable.com/2016/01/21/male-boudoir-photo-shoot/?utm_cid=mash-com-fb-main-link#0_dQpFHtkaqt" target="_blank">horrifyingly hysterical</a> thing you will see all week.</span></div>
Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-80857896451494065262016-02-08T20:12:00.002-05:002016-02-08T20:12:42.406-05:00All Hail Queen B (again)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aA2kg4bqJoY/Vrk8UDQR7WI/AAAAAAAAKQM/gon2CTkTLmQ/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aA2kg4bqJoY/Vrk8UDQR7WI/AAAAAAAAKQM/gon2CTkTLmQ/s320/a.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://cdn.tegna-tv.com/-mm-/999b9287bb4d4630a3199bbd0074df12c5ba76f8/c=0-0-397-529&r=537&c=0-0-534-712/local/-/media/2016/02/07/WUSA/WUSA/635904777648623391-508986484.jpg" target="_blank">Werk</a>.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm not sure that I've ever (intentionally) blogged about <a href="http://seektobemerry.blogspot.com/search?q=beyonce" target="_blank">the same topic twice, but when Beyonce is concerned</a>, it is apparently warranted. Because honestly, we need to talk about how insanely fierce this woman is... again.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Beyonce dropped a surprise single and music video on Saturday (bam!) and then played that single, essentially debuting it (since many missed the "breaking news" on Saturday) a<a href="http://www.vox.com/2016/2/7/10934378/super-bowl-50-halftime-show-2016-beyonce" target="_blank">t the Super Bowl on Sunday</a> followed immediately by a commercial announcing a world tour (BAM!BAM!!) Aside from the fact that literally no other artist has the chops to rock millions of people with a song they've never heard before, Beyonce outperformed the other halftime show musicians by a landslide while not-so-subtly serving up a hot slice of political pie. That's because Beyonce's new song, Formation, is a racially-charged anthem which evokes the long forgotten era when outstanding music was also a voice for expressing outrage over social and political issues.</span></div>
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<iframe width="320" height="266" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LrCHz1gwzTo/0.jpg" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LrCHz1gwzTo?feature=player_embedded" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The video for Formation has already been viewed over 12.9 million times on YouTube as of my writing this. As always, Beyonce looks damn sexy, her lyrics are ridiculously witty, the choreography off the hook and most impressively, she is conveying a <i>serious</i> message. Beyonce is declaring the importance of her heritage and her race... she is challenging us to think hard about the state of these things in our country through music and imagery.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 26.363597869873px; text-align: start;"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As </span></span><a href="http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2016/02/06/beyonce-s-formation-a-fiery-black-power-anthem-and-call-to-arms.html" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; background-color: white; border: 0px; box-sizing: border-box; color: #4774cc; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 17px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 26.363597869873px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: start; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">The Daily Beast noted</a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">, Beyoncé and husband Jay-Z have paid to bail out protesters in Baltimore and Ferguson. Tidal, a music service Jay-Z started that Beyoncé partly owns, announced a <a href="http://mic.com/articles/134443/jay-z-s-tidal-to-donate-1-5-million-to-black-lives-matter-other-social-justice-groups#.2E9hcgAat">$1.5 million</a> donation to the Black Lives Matter movement and other social justice groups. Beyonce is a babe, but she is also an activist and she tricked us all into listening by shouting it out at the <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/07/entertainment/lady-gaga-national-anthem-super-bowl-feat/" target="_blank">Super Bowl </a>while dancing like the sexiest woman on earth (<a href="http://www.theguardian.com/music/2016/feb/08/beyonce-black-panthers-homage-black-lives-matter-super-bowl-50" target="_blank">black panther salute and all</a>).</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_9DGaX7JYBY/Vrk7lPHN8DI/AAAAAAAAKQI/fWk3EWkL50U/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="179" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_9DGaX7JYBY/Vrk7lPHN8DI/AAAAAAAAKQI/fWk3EWkL50U/s320/a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So all hail Queen B for somehow taking our worship to <i>another</i> level. Just when we thought she couldn't get any more more sexy, any more empowering, any more popular, she showed us all her <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrCHz1gwzTo" target="_blank">Formation</a>.*<br /><br />* Read more about the stir created by Formation <a href="http://www.npr.org/2016/02/07/465934070/with-formation-beyonc-lights-up-the-internet-heres-what-people-are-saying" target="_blank">HERE</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">* PS, Gaga had her Whitney moment with <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/07/entertainment/lady-gaga-national-anthem-super-bowl-feat/" target="_blank">that anthem</a>. Slay it girl!</span></div>
Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-43951989590128303642016-01-26T18:03:00.000-05:002016-01-26T18:05:56.649-05:00A groundbreaking scientific discovery!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-elqrkU2nHLY/Vqf63XNqbkI/AAAAAAAAKPU/iuh7qhk25Ro/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-elqrkU2nHLY/Vqf63XNqbkI/AAAAAAAAKPU/iuh7qhk25Ro/s320/a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Are you ready for it!? <a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/537476536750112410/" target="_blank">Big butts</a> are good for your health! That's right people... if you have big butts then I cannot lie - that booty is probably making you a healthier, smarter woman. #CanIGetaWoopWoop!?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I'm just finding this out now, but apparently back in 2013 scientists from the University of Oxford <a href="http://elitedaily.com/news/world/big-butt-healthy-butt-study-says-women-big-butts-healthier/" target="_blank">released results from a study</a> that said</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: #444444;"> that women with larger than average butts are not only increasingly intelligent, but also very resistant to chronic illnesses. And </span><a href="http://abcnews.go.com/Health/WellnessNews/butt-thigh-fat-make-healthier/story?id=9534982" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; box-sizing: border-box; line-height: inherit; outline: none; text-align: start; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank"><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">according to ABC News,</span></a><span style="color: #444444;"> results from the 16,000 woman study found that women with bigger backsides tend to have lower cholesterol and are more likely to produce hormones to metabolize sugar. So what does this mean for my fellow bootylicious ladies? Feast your eyes on these findings:</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* Having a big butt requires an excess of Omega 3 fats, which have been proven to catalyze brain development.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">* Children born to women with wider hips are intellectually superior to the children of slimmer, less curvy mothers. (#HellzYesFutureMerryMeriOffspring!)</span></div>
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* One researcher also cites similar studies conducted by universities inCalifornia andPittsburgh not too long ago that discovered that women with bigger butts, wide hips and smaller waists may even live longer as well. (#bigbootyforthewin!)</div>
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So to all my fellow fat bottomed girls, cheers to us... may we live long, healthy, bootylicious lives.</div>
</span>Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-88514400695958276542016-01-22T17:13:00.001-05:002016-01-22T17:13:57.390-05:00There's a blizzard coming, let's talk about ice cream...<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aq6ujo5Fi7o/VqKpTNfl3YI/AAAAAAAAKOk/XS8NMZEmkZ8/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Aq6ujo5Fi7o/VqKpTNfl3YI/AAAAAAAAKOk/XS8NMZEmkZ8/s320/a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fact: It is <a href="http://taylortakesataste.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/02/UNION_ICECREAM0081.jpg" target="_blank">never too cold</a> for ice cream.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It may be barely 30 degrees outside with snow pummeling parts of the country and headed NYC's way, but that hasn't stopped my ice cream love affair from blossoming. That's right folks, even in the dead of winter with the snow flakes falling, I spend my evenings snuggled up on the couch with a bowl of <a href="http://www.haagendazs.us/Products/Product/2865" target="_blank">Haagen Dazs Limited Edition Peppermint Bark ice cream</a>.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mdV5AJ9iuQg/VqKizj5LMhI/AAAAAAAAKOM/7mFRua-_Ejs/s1600/ice%2Bcream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Times; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mdV5AJ9iuQg/VqKizj5LMhI/AAAAAAAAKOM/7mFRua-_Ejs/s320/ice%2Bcream.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's LIMITED EDITION!!! Hurry people. HURRY!!!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Forever a fan of peppermint bark (<a href="http://seektobemerry.blogspot.com/2014/12/classifieds-lonely-work-from-homer.html" target="_blank">yup</a>), I discovered this seasonal delight back in November when I was visiting the neighborhood Haagen Dazs to purchase an ice cream cake (two important take aways there: I live 2 blocks from a Haagen Dazs <i>and</i> they make PHENOMENAL ice cream cakes). When I spotted the peppermint bark signage, like a moth to the flame I had a sample in my mouth and then a quart in my hand. Fast forward 2 months to when I realized that the "season" was ending and this is what my freezer currently looks like:</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dPdnadszKSg/VqKoLQsL6LI/AAAAAAAAKOc/GYHxyExAR-8/s1600/IMG_5394.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dPdnadszKSg/VqKoLQsL6LI/AAAAAAAAKOc/GYHxyExAR-8/s320/IMG_5394.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I would have bought more, but I felt a little embarrassed to take my bulk purchase further than two. With diligent rationing, I think this stash should last me through March and then it will be just 6 months until the flavor is back!! #AdvancePlanningfortheWin </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Even though <a href="http://www.haagendazs.us/Products/Product/2865" target="_blank">production is limited to Oct-Dec,</a> my local scoopers told me that supplies actually last until what they have in their freezer is gone. So <b>do not delay!</b> Go get your limited edition peppermint bark ice cream today (and uh, good luck with the blizzard and stuff:)</span></div>
Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-65762172905842649722016-01-20T17:11:00.003-05:002016-01-20T17:11:31.191-05:00Hump Day Distractions<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lo4qrBi40Q4/VqAF8s-ELEI/AAAAAAAAKN4/bKacheX9tjE/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lo4qrBi40Q4/VqAF8s-ELEI/AAAAAAAAKN4/bKacheX9tjE/s320/a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hey Humpy, <a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/736x/b9/25/f9/b925f9858681c59e5714821cfed3b860.jpg" target="_blank">what day <i>is</i> it!</a>?</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is one of those fabulous weeks that arrives at Hump Day sooner than expected because Monday was part of a 3-day holiday weekend #ThankYouMLK. With just 2 days left until the blizzard... errr weekend, here are some delightful distractions from around the web to pass the time. Enjoy!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">* This imagining of the <a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/disney-princesses-wearing-designer-shoes-griz-and-norm/" target="_blank">Disney princesses' designer shoes</a> is adorable and pretty spot on!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">* Even though I love an inventive salad, I rarely mix it up when making them at home. Hopefully this <a href="http://diana212m.blogspot.com/2016/01/winter-salads-to-eat-on-repeat.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Express-o+%28exPress-o%29" target="_blank">list of winter salad recipes</a> will inspire me to change that!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">* I could never be so brave, but if you are, here are some <a href="http://www.racked.com/2016/1/14/10757030/cut-own-hair-at-home-haircut" target="_blank">tips for cutting your own hair</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">* "<a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/reasons-my-wife-is-crying_us_56535f46e4b0d4093a5895c1?section=good+news" target="_blank">reasons my wife is crying</a>" sounds cruel but is actually hysterical.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">* A <a href="http://ohhappyday.com/2016/01/heart-day-playlist/" target="_blank">Heart Day playlist</a> for those with an indie music inclination.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">* How to <a href="http://cupofjo.com/2016/01/how-to-crack-an-egg-without-shell-with-one-hand/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FbboSV+%28A+CUP+OF+JO%29" target="_blank">perfectly crack an egg</a> - so simple.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">* Turns out <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/alexfinnis/drunk-you-is-an-actual-genius" target="_blank">drunk you</a> is very kind and very smart!!</span></div>
Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-22841110970888576202016-01-15T18:17:00.003-05:002016-01-15T18:17:23.513-05:00Are you ready to fall in love..?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nzpfr15VNd8/Vpl6p7gFTdI/AAAAAAAAKMM/UDzpElUKLHc/s1600/IMG_4680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nzpfr15VNd8/Vpl6p7gFTdI/AAAAAAAAKMM/UDzpElUKLHc/s320/IMG_4680.JPG" width="269" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">...because I think it's high time y'all met the one and only Dugans!!! (Pronunciation="Dooogans") #DuganstheDoggie made Dr. H and I a family of three on November 3, 2015 (born on August 30th) and he's been melting our hearts with his cuteness ever since.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3o_ustx0MjM/Vpl6oWp993I/AAAAAAAAKLs/VOP1K9nStVE/s1600/IMG_2913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3o_ustx0MjM/Vpl6oWp993I/AAAAAAAAKLs/VOP1K9nStVE/s320/IMG_2913.JPG" width="256" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M3yN_mZuYQU/Vpl6nrvI7PI/AAAAAAAAKLM/RpnP6y4FUXs/s1600/FullSizeRender_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M3yN_mZuYQU/Vpl6nrvI7PI/AAAAAAAAKLM/RpnP6y4FUXs/s320/FullSizeRender_2.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Welcome to Brooklyn Dugans!</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Being a puppy is exhausting</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Long time blog readers may recall <a href="http://seektobemerry.blogspot.com/2012/04/puppy-love-or-lack-thereof.html" target="_blank">THIS</a> post (from early 2012!) where I lamented Dr. H's resistance to getting a dog... those who know me IRL know that this four-legged addition has been 10 years of begging my man in the making. Well all's well that ends well because I ended up with the most perfect pup at the most perfect time and place in my life (while working from home and living in a 1st floor apartment!)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">He lives in NYC, of course he rides the subway!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And the funny thing is, I was never really a dog obsessed person until Mr. Doogie arrived, but the other night when I was taking a bath (<a href="http://seektobemerry.blogspot.com/2014/04/chill-out.html" target="_blank">as you know I love to do</a>) and Dugans leaned his adorable one-brown ear'ed head over the edge of the tub and maniacally licked my hair and face (at which point I actually debated letting him climb in with me (I did not, but I thought about it!)), I realized I have gone full force over the crazy dog lady cliff (a realization which maybe should have happened when I toted him with me to the hairdresser.... or on an airplane to Atlanta?!)</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who <i>wouldn't</i> want company in the bathroom?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Come fly with me...</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px;">You didn't take your dog to meet Santa? How rude!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyways, Dugans is the bestest and the most fantastic company when I work long hours home alone or when I need a snuggle or an excuse to drag my booty out of the house for a walk (though preferably not in the middle of the night, hoping those days are behind us!) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Follow Dugans' adventures <a href="https://www.instagram.com/dugansherd/" target="_blank">HERE</a> and doggonit have a great weekend!! </span></div>
Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-27246860007480943542016-01-13T15:34:00.004-05:002016-01-13T15:34:46.387-05:00Hump Day Distractions<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/47991552256870482/" target="_blank">Chugging along</a>... Friday I see you!</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">With my return to blogging comes a return to your weekly dose of Hump Day Distractions!!! Even though I don't spend as much time perusing the internet as I used to, I still manage to scrounge up plenty of great content from my browsing adventures (which allows me to classify my internet addiction as productive right!?) Happy Hump day my friends, may you find these distractions delightful.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">* If you're watching Making a Murderer on Netflix (hint: you should be), check out these <a href="http://cupofjo.com/2016/01/making-a-murderer-steven-avery/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FbboSV+%28A+CUP+OF+JO%29" target="_blank">lesser known facts</a> about the documentary (the 1st 5 of which are not spoilers!) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">* SmallThingsBlog has the <i>best</i> hair tutorial videos, <a href="http://www.thesmallthingsblog.com/2016/01/the-messy-bun/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FGqCLV+%28The+Small+Things+Blog%29" target="_blank">including this one</a> for the always sexy (and dirty hair day lifesaving) messy bun!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">* I <i>love</i> <a href="http://www.sudara.org/collections/all-women/products/sara-full" target="_blank">these punjammies</a> and the entire Sudara collection made by women working to stay out of the sex trade and poverty in India (cute clothing + social justice = win for all)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">* Dr. H has a strange obsession with deer. He'd probably love to <a href="http://diana212m.blogspot.com/2016/01/lilly-deer.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Express-o+%28exPress-o%29" target="_blank">join this family</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">* Winner of the most spirited and funny interview after a fire devastates your apartment complex right <a href="https://www.facebook.com/AnnieChangNewsOn6/videos/429305640527352/?theater" target="_blank">HERE</a> (ps- she has received tons of donations and support as a result of this video going viral!)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">* Why you should <a href="http://greatist.com/live/power-being-ok-with-body" target="_blank">be more ok with your body</a> (like actual sciencey reasons!)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">* And finally, for your daily dose of awww, here are a ton of <a href="http://www.boredpanda.com/animals-sleeping-anywhere/" target="_blank">animals sleeping</a> in hysterical locations and positions.</span></div>
Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-15115997834093735062016-01-12T16:52:00.002-05:002016-01-12T19:00:33.450-05:00"Diets That Work"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As has become tradition, my early January Us Weekly magazines have been touting tight celebrity bodies alongside diet tricks and workout tips that are going to give me "new body confidence" through "speedy workouts" just like my favorite celebs. I always eye roll at these stories because celebs have insurmountable unfair advantages when it comes to their appearance... setting aside wealth, their job description pretty much includes looking good in pictures meaning they can reasonably dedicate a LOT of time to working out and call it part of their day job (just like me and you right!?) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As I was sitting on "the throne" reading my latest issue (is there any other place people read Us Weekly!?) I found the latest article suggesting that I try some of the stars' stay slim tricks particularly laughable and I had to share.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Celeb: </b>Taraji P Henson</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Diet Secret:</b> "En route to daily workouts with pro trainer... the 2- hour jogging and core-focused sessions, along with a clean diet..." </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Merry Meri takeaway: </b>Excellent. I've always wondered how to look hot like her and turns out all it will take is clearing out 14 hours of my week to exercise with a private trainer. Why did I never think of that!?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Celeb:</b> Kate Hudson</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Diet Secret:</b> "...bounces between hot yoga, cycling, dance classes and Pilates.. while her diet remains steady: no meat, dairy or gluten."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Merry Meri takeaway:</b> Eliminate 80% of what you eat and try every fitness trend out there and you'll look like Kate in no time. Piece of cake (errr, celery, that's gluten free right!?)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Celeb:</b> Demi Lovato</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Diet Secret:</b> "on her 2015 tour Demi brought along a SoulCycle instructor, a stationary bike and another fitness pro. She did SoulCycle classes twice a day and worked out with the trainer... she followed a high-protein, low carb diet... Her hard work paid off, she tells <i>Us: </i>I feel more confident than ever."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Merry Meri takeaway: </b>Want to feel more confident than ever? Bring the workout you can barely afford with you everywhere and spend several hours, 7 days per week, doing it. Thank goodness they published this secret so we can all get confident like Demi!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Celeb:</b> Khloe Kardashian</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Diet Secret:</b> "'I don't eat dairy'... also endures hourlong squat-heavy sessions with [trainer] 5 times per week. Gluten is also banned."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Merry Meri takeaway:</b> Another celeb finally sharing weightloss's best kept secret - cut out a ton of what you eat and spend several days a week with a personal trainer. How ever did they figure out these secrets to looking fit and trim!?</span></div>
Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-24258674256749187682016-01-08T17:07:00.001-05:002016-01-08T17:09:57.116-05:00And the award for most awesome celeb couple goes to...<h1 class="yt watch-title-container" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); border: 0px; display: table-cell; font-weight: normal; margin: 0px 0px 13px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify; vertical-align: top; width: 610px; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="watch-title " dir="ltr" id="eow-title" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; border-image-outset: initial; border-image-repeat: initial; border-image-slice: initial; border-image-source: initial; border-image-width: initial; border: 0px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" title="Channing Tatum & Beyonce's "Run The World (Girls)" vs. Jenna Dewan-Tatum's "Pony" | Lip Sync Battle"><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Channing Tatum & Jenna Dewan-Tatum. I mean, they were pretty high on my list with the whole "so hot, so supportive, met making a Step Up movie" thing, but this pretty much seals the deal don't you think!?</span></span></span></h1>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That is all. Happy Friday friends!</span></div>
Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-24528360272735250292016-01-07T18:00:00.000-05:002016-01-07T18:00:00.420-05:00Things I've learned... (I'm back b*tches)<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.pinterest.com/pin/40250990393043424/" target="_blank">Truth</a>.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Friends, lovers and blog enthusiasts, I have returned. Last night, after an extended one-sided (but very adorable) conversation with my dog (that's right folks I GOT A DOG while I was gone!!!) I realized that this little bloggy space was a very necessary outlet in my life and that it was high time I return to it. But before I dive right in, allow me to explain how we got here...</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The sense that I might need to get back to blogging started about a week ago when I was walking down the street and had a desperate need to rant to someone about the absurdity of the "season of dead trees" (aka the 2 weeks after Christmas in NYC when everyone literally kicks their tree to the curb. Oh the humanity!) Then as I was basically making love to the seasonal ice cream I discovered at my neighborhood Haagen Daz (I have a neighborhood Haagen Daz!) I realized "I need to tell people about this sh*t!!" (big reveal coming soon). And then there is <a href="http://instagram.com/dugansherd" target="_blank">Dugans</a>. Dugans, the 4 month old cavapoo puppy that has stolen my heart and made a mush of the man formerly know as "<a href="http://seektobemerry.blogspot.com/2012/04/puppy-love-or-lack-thereof.html" target="_blank">No Dogs Dr. H</a>". I've got so much to tell you about Dugans... So basically, the creative voices in my brain that had grown quiet and lazy were ready to get typing again and now, here I am.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">And why I disappeared in the first place is not all that difficult to explain, but it was hard for me to understand while it was happening. You see, turns out things being awesome is often synonymous with things being really hard. And maybe you're wiser than me, but I was under the illusion that when people said "I'm great, things are awesome, my life is wonderful right now" that they were coasting through their days all easy breezy wonder girl. But no. Turns out, really awesome is often still really hard and for me, between moving and "building" a new home, growing my business and welcoming a puppy, I just didn't have the energy leftover to blog about restaurants, pinterest finds or the importance of peppermint bark (<a href="http://seektobemerry.blogspot.com/2012/10/another-tribute.html" target="_blank">#IHaveaThingforSeasonalSweets</a>). The good news is that the (happy) haze seems to have lifted and I think I've got some blogger mojo built up and ready. We'll see. Because lord knows I have plenty to say and hopefully some of you are still listening :) It's good to be back. xox, m </span></div>
Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-39337373095141011252015-10-27T15:59:00.002-04:002015-10-27T15:59:26.857-04:00You can find me at Target.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4RQqH9EaMyg/Vi_XedPJhjI/AAAAAAAAKFM/MJx77Jr3Jv0/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4RQqH9EaMyg/Vi_XedPJhjI/AAAAAAAAKFM/MJx77Jr3Jv0/s400/a.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://weirdgirlswag.files.wordpress.com/2015/07/target-marketing-to-women.jpg" target="_blank">Ladies</a>, I know I'm not the only one.</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Arguably the very best thing about my new Brooklyn home base is that we now live walking distance from Target. Be still my crafting, cooking, seasonal decor-whore, deal-loving, shop-a-holic heart. Target is such a glorious place, last night I found myself just wandering the aisles throwing things into my cart that I hadn't even remembered I needed (there you are floor basket for my spare couch pillows!! I see you pleasant to look at box of tissues!!!) That's why <a href="https://youtu.be/C8JV5aNBh1E" target="_blank">this video</a> cracked me up:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Cheers to the red and white. </span></div>
Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-54959541694043309822015-10-20T12:38:00.001-04:002015-10-20T12:38:52.582-04:00An object in motion...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fnKeHJ0aGhE/ViZt8rEyRzI/AAAAAAAAKEk/8JlfugGp950/s1600/aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fnKeHJ0aGhE/ViZt8rEyRzI/AAAAAAAAKEk/8JlfugGp950/s320/aa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"An object in motion continues in motion with the same speed and in the same direction unless acted upon by an unbalanced force. This law is often called "the law of inertia"."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Just call me Ms. Inertia! Ladies and gentleman I'm back after being gone for quite some time and that's just the facts. Over the past two weeks I have been moving and working, decorating, hosting, Ikea-building, commuting, adventuring (always), eating (<i>always</i> always) and just being. I didn't stress about not blogging (that's new) because even though I had so much to share, I just didn't have the motivation to sit down and share it... there's the half written post about changing NYC boroughs, the list about the many joys of watching your best friend become a mother, the 10,000 mindless internet links and so much more. It's not that I don't have things to say (surprise!) it's just that sometimes you have to not do all the things you like to do. #ThatsAFact</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In an attempt to catch you up on some of the most important things from the brain of Merry Meri and finally make my 1st post from the new Brooklyn Merry HQ, here's a quick recap from lately. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>I. Go see <a href="http://www.hamiltonbroadway.com/" target="_blank">Hamilton</a> (and listen to the soundtrack)</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--pWDCNvdIp8/ViZhFnSxz4I/AAAAAAAAKDo/bQf3ra3SVq4/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--pWDCNvdIp8/ViZhFnSxz4I/AAAAAAAAKDo/bQf3ra3SVq4/s320/a.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dDx2h8Xz3-k/ViZhIYtM4EI/AAAAAAAAKDw/GSKIcUWXZ74/s1600/aa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dDx2h8Xz3-k/ViZhIYtM4EI/AAAAAAAAKDw/GSKIcUWXZ74/s320/aa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Seriously <a href="http://www.hamiltonbroadway.com/" target="_blank">this show</a> blew me away. Hype met and <i>far</i> exceeded. Even if you don't share my obsession with American history and musical theater, you must see this revolutionary (no pun intended) show. I cannot stop listening to the infectious soundtrack by the insanely talented cast and the unique staging and style of storytelling is sure to sweep the Tony's this year. Spend the <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=hundred+dollar+bill&espv=2&biw=1296&bih=667&site=webhp&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CBwQsARqFQoTCNupmoGw0cgCFQGmHgodWFIMOg" target="_blank">Benjamins</a> (you won't be sorry) and be in the room where it happens :) </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>II. <a href="https://sticky9.com/" target="_blank">Sticky 9</a> is my latest obsession </b></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IZ76D299GE8/ViZjUvs_qaI/AAAAAAAAKD8/fLSGDGSEqys/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IZ76D299GE8/ViZjUvs_qaI/AAAAAAAAKD8/fLSGDGSEqys/s200/a.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">When you're obsessed with photos/Instagram like I am, it can be hard to select which pics to print and display, not to mention how expensive framing can be. Enter <a href="https://sticky9.com/" target="_blank">Sticky 9</a> which makes lots of products, but it's their <a href="https://sticky9.com/magnets" target="_blank">Insta magnets</a> I'm </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">currently smitten with</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. These 5 cm x 5 cm little guys have made me happier than anyone should be looking at the outside of their fridge. Check em out (and if you do, be a pal and use my referral code FRIEND1347N)</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-glWZP_UrLY0/ViZk5SC9vWI/AAAAAAAAKEM/NcL6nHvuskc/s1600/IMG_1657.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-glWZP_UrLY0/ViZk5SC9vWI/AAAAAAAAKEM/NcL6nHvuskc/s400/IMG_1657.JPG" width="300" /></a><b style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">III. The best manicure I've gotten in ages</b></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Simple, chic and just a little bit funky, my nail salon had the rolls of thin gold tape and laid it across the nail between the color and clear top coat, setting it under the gel light. I got compliments galore, you will too :)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>IV. I swear I'm not a hoarder</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">... even though I found all of these under my bed when packing to move. I was just really worried about Britney you guys!!</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QgqXvBsnOGc/ViZk5of4etI/AAAAAAAAKEQ/H_uXl-bGJO0/s1600/FullSizeRender.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QgqXvBsnOGc/ViZk5of4etI/AAAAAAAAKEQ/H_uXl-bGJO0/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><b>V. And finally, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/themafiabossgame/photos/a.411133840755.190522.134523435755/10153354269845756/?type=3" target="_blank">THIS</a>:</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">MIND BLOWN.</span></div>
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Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-29009713566413516392015-10-07T16:12:00.000-04:002015-10-07T16:12:07.522-04:00If you see one thing on the internet today...<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oEnPphJ-dcI/VhV8Qj643-I/AAAAAAAAKCY/FsHroMXvb4A/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oEnPphJ-dcI/VhV8Qj643-I/AAAAAAAAKCY/FsHroMXvb4A/s400/a.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">... it should be these <a href="http://imgur.com/gallery/eDFip" target="_blank">hot dogs, reimagined as Disney Princesses</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-align: center;">You're welcome.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oAZJ9Hb-bX4/VhV8Qo0lT5I/AAAAAAAAKCU/78SPea-EqVc/s1600/aaa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oAZJ9Hb-bX4/VhV8Qo0lT5I/AAAAAAAAKCU/78SPea-EqVc/s400/aaa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-96dcPNx6THI/VhV8RI4p--I/AAAAAAAAKCg/bbhq9z_6xug/s1600/aaaa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="327" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-96dcPNx6THI/VhV8RI4p--I/AAAAAAAAKCg/bbhq9z_6xug/s400/aaaa.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I just wish there were more of them..!</span></div>
Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-55001594661416950002015-10-05T15:24:00.002-04:002015-10-05T15:24:48.277-04:00Read, Seen & Consumed<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kblBOIqI4js/VhLNKHOoLbI/AAAAAAAAKB8/d34erAVUpWE/s1600/IMG_2088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kblBOIqI4js/VhLNKHOoLbI/AAAAAAAAKB8/d34erAVUpWE/s320/IMG_2088.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Santa Barbara, CA. What a difference 72 hours makes...</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hello friends and happy Monday! I am finally back in NYC after an outstanding 9 days on the west coast, having worked in LA and attended a stunning wedding in Santa Barbara since I last checked in. Things are a bit of a grind here with my move to Brooklyn just 4 days away (EEK!!!!) but I have some very share-worthy items from my travels so here goes!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(1) <b>Read</b></span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yb0DYVrn9wI/VhLL4riynSI/AAAAAAAAKBs/tzFkQ322U28/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yb0DYVrn9wI/VhLL4riynSI/AAAAAAAAKBs/tzFkQ322U28/s320/a.jpg" width="211" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While I was traveling, I read Mindy Kaling's newest book <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Why-Not-Me-Mindy-Kaling-ebook/dp/B00N6PEMZK/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1444072893&sr=1-1&keywords=why+not+me+mindy+kaling" target="_blank">Why Not Me?</a> and I lurved it. I am a huge Mindy fan and this follow up to her first collection of short stories, Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me, was even more touching, personal, honest and funny. Mindy is not just a tv superstar (producer, writer, actress... not just the dark skinned chick from the Office!) but she's also truly a role model for anyone (but especially women) who want to work hard and achieve great things. Mindy tackles everything from her body image and confidence to dating and Hollywood with no fear and it's simply a great read.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(2) <b>Seen</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I watched three airplane movies during my travels and I would recommend them all highly. In order of viewing:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2170593/" target="_blank">St. Vincent</a> is a touching film starring the always amazing Bill Murray, an impressively dynamic Molly McCarthy, the funnier-than-expected Naomi Watts and superb child acting by Jaeden Lieberher. The story was at times very sad, but generally uplifting and it made me shed a few happy tears at the end. <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Hp8ojwB6KI/VhLM5wBYn5I/AAAAAAAAKB0/ZOY9_U2DHOk/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7Hp8ojwB6KI/VhLM5wBYn5I/AAAAAAAAKB0/ZOY9_U2DHOk/s320/a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">the greatest <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=mindy+kaling&espv=2&biw=1258&bih=694&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAcQ_AUoAmoVChMIiJyu_4OsyAIVAzo-Ch3K1wPg#tbm=isch&tbs=rimg%3ACUq6uVHXptBgIjg6uaR5RphhNkXuansq-C6gcXaRtfitpbLqvKwcsPBgBj9vnGoy-2QE3so7PmeqDqMxadIpzanR2CoSCTq5pHlGmGE2EZf4rhnFxUlNKhIJRe5qeyr4LqAR4uc_1GfznitwqEglxdpG1-K2lshGxyTQWvwYYTCoSCeq8rByw8GAGEWiR-TC8SodlKhIJP2-cajL7ZAQRxK-l8Ynb87oqEgneyjs-Z6oOoxHguicY4sMtXioSCTFp0inNqdHYEaFzF0Tif4Hv&q=delta%20in%20air%20entertainment%20screen&imgdii=OrmkeUaYYTa4bM%3A%3BOrmkeUaYYTa4bM%3A%3BSrq5Udem0GD1LM%3A&imgrc=OrmkeUaYYTa4bM%3A" target="_blank">invention</a> since airplanes themselves?</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">II. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbJErcBKLCM" target="_blank">Magic Mike XXL</a> requires no description other than "HOT". It's incredibly cheesy but very worth seeing. MMXXL will make you want to fist pump and scream "hell yeah women are sexual creatures too!" and then it will make you want to do something that I don't need to get into on this blog... hehe. See it. Trust me. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">III. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qfmAllbYC8" target="_blank">Me Earl and the Dying Girl</a> was a critically acclaimed indie movie I had wanted to see over the summer (because its cast included Tammy Taylor and Ron Swanson) but any film involving a teenager with cancer isn't always at the top of my date night movie list. Nevertheless, this was a seriously charming and at times deeply sad film which led to some unembarrassed public waterworks by yours truly. A commentary on friendship, human nature, illness and adolescence, I highly recommend you grab a box of tissues and tune in.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">(3) <b>Consumed</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I ate with the tenacity of 500 lb man deserving of my own reality show </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">during my travels,</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">but 2 culinary experiences stole my heart during this past week in California: a trip to <a href="http://www.malibu-farm.com/" target="_blank">Malibu Farm on the Malibu Pier</a> and the <a href="http://avofest.com/" target="_blank">29th Annual California Avocado Festival</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.malibu-farm.com/" target="_blank">Malibu Farm</a> is such a gorgeous spot that they could have fed me rocks and I'd probably have been happy, but thankfully the stunning view and gorgeous decor are matched by totally tasty farm fresh fare, prepared with lots of flavor, but a "light" vibe well suited for the beach. Everything from the cauliflower pizza appetizer to the burger and salmon sandwich pleased the pallets</span><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> of our entire group and the cocktails were pretty darn tasty too!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is a real thing that exists and for 2 avocado lovers like Dr. H and I, it was nearly heaven on earth. Avocado everything to eat (did you know there's a type of avocado with a soft skin meant to be eaten!? There is, and we brought 5 of them home!) avocado paraphernalia and more. We just might have to <a href="http://avofest.com/" target="_blank">return to Santa Barbara</a> next year for another fix :)</span></div>
Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-83231533184998678402015-09-29T15:05:00.000-04:002015-09-29T15:05:10.189-04:00Pleasure, Work, Pleasure (plus donuts)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Hello friends and greetings from some massive altitude above
the western side of the USA! I’m en route from Portland, OR to Los Angeles, CA
almost at the midway point of my pleasure-work-pleasure west coast travels. Since
I suck at sleeping on airplanes (you’d think the 5am wakeup would have been
sufficient to knock me out!) I thought I’d take this time to tell you all about
why Portland is an awesome place to visit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>1) Portland is awesome because OMG the food.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Recently I’ve noticed Portland popping up all over as an
“it” restaurant city. This is not a lie. The food in Portland was so tasty and
I consumed so much that I worried Delta was going to slap a “HEAVY” sticker on
me as I boarded this morning’s flight to LA (where I assume I’ll eat nothing
for the week, as most LA women do). Where did we eat you ask?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.clydecommon.com/" target="_blank">Clyde Common at theAce Hotel</a></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Locally sourced/farm to table is kinda the vibe of all of
Portland, and this restaurant did it really well. Dimly lit with an open kitchen
and industrial chic vibe, Clyde Common served up an impeccable charcuterie board
and several unique share plates of the octopus, lamb, pork belly and pasta variety. I
also discovered that “share plate” meals are way more affordable when you’re
not in NYC. NICE.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://avagenes.com/" target="_blank">Ava Genes</a></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I selected this spot in Portland’s Division neighborhood
because Joanna of CupofJo fame called it <a href="http://cupofjo.com/2015/09/portland-oregon-family-vacation-manzanita/" target="_blank">one of the best meals of her life</a>.
High expectations officially met. This meal was DELICIOUS (and not just because
we were starving and drunk off 2 tasting flights from <a href="http://www.deschutesbrewery.com/" target="_blank">Deschutes Brewery</a>.) We ate
SO much at this meal and one item was better than the next from the fresh
salads and small plate appetizers (Dr. H declared the chicken liver toast one
of the “top 7 foods I’ve ever eaten in my life”) to the fresh pasta in shapes
and sauces too tasty for me to coherently remember. If you go to Portland, go to
Ava Genes.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://www.pinestatebiscuits.com/" target="_blank">Pine State Biscuits</a></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The fried chicken with gravy biscuit sandwich (with egg!) to the right was so good
it almost made me forget that calories are I thing I care about. Almost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><a href="http://lardosandwiches.com/" target="_blank">Lardo</a></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This place started as a food truck and became a brick and
mortar restaurant likely because the sandwiches are just that damn good. Dr. H
and I worked yesterday from a picnic table outside using Lardo’s free wifi
while enjoying amazing fresh tuna melt and pork shoulder sandwiches. The bread
was crispy and perfect, the insides were flavorful and unique. Gotta love a
good sandwich AmIRight!?<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>2) Portland is awesome because DONUTS (and coffee)</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T2CwoMfW_ls/VgqsYb5mMnI/AAAAAAAAJ_U/XQuR5L6xbZA/s1600/IMG_1778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-T2CwoMfW_ls/VgqsYb5mMnI/AAAAAAAAJ_U/XQuR5L6xbZA/s320/IMG_1778.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Turns out this city has a thing for donuts and that’s a thing
that’s a-ok with me. We started our adventure with “<a href="http://voodoodoughnut.com/" target="_blank">Voodoo Doughnuts</a>” and ended
it with “<a href="http://www.bluestardonuts.com/" target="_blank">Blue Star Donuts</a>” which are for two distinctly different types of
donut lovers (and I’m not just referring to the spelling). Voodoo is
ridiculous… decadent, silly, excessive are just a few words that came to mind over
the 3 days it took Dr. H and I to polish off our box of 4 insane doughnuts. As
opposed to Blue Star which was simply the tastiest glazed donut I’ve ever eaten
(in one sitting. While Dr. H watched. Because he has respect for his body and I
do not.)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Also, the original <a href="https://www.stumptowncoffee.com/" target="_blank">Stumptown Roasters</a> is located in Portland and is just one of the many many small(ish) coffee shops in town (peace out Starbucks!) Stumptown has a serious "to go" selection which included chocolate milk chilled coffee. Be still my heart.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>3) Portland is awesome because NATURE!</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TCMKUbgmHC8/Vgrby9NvJ6I/AAAAAAAAJ_s/aLUMS0nw_aM/s1600/IMG_1858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-TCMKUbgmHC8/Vgrby9NvJ6I/AAAAAAAAJ_s/aLUMS0nw_aM/s320/IMG_1858.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This place knows a thing or two about keeping it clean,
green and beautiful. Not only is Portland itself a generally clean place with a
river in the middle and lovely, simple architecture, but just outside the city
limits are some amazing hikes, mountains, forests and waterfalls. Dr. H and I
spent Sunday driving around the scenic byway, hiking Multnomah Falls (we went
all the way to the top and I have the quad/ass-ache to prove it!) and generally
appreciating how beautiful the Pacific Northwest is. I only wish we’d had more
time there (possibly during summer weather) so we could have done more hiking,
river floating and site seeing<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>4) Portland is awesome because SPORTS!</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">One of the unusual things Dr. H and I have done for 4 years
running is visit a random college with a great football team and attend one of
their games. It’s probably some sort of subconscious way of making up for the fact
that our college (GDUB!) didn’t even have a football team. This year we drove
about 90 minutes from Portland to Eugene to watch the Oregon Ducks take on the
Utah Utes (it's a Native American tribe). <a href="http://www.si.com/college-football/2015/09/27/utah-utes-beat-oregon-ducks" target="_blank">This game did not pan out well for the Ducks</a>, but I’ll take
any excuse to drink beer, watch football in the mountains and be represented by
a mascot that’s essentially <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=oregon+donald+duck+shirt&espv=2&biw=1225&bih=707&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ved=0CD8QsARqFQoTCLbQuq73nMgCFY6aiAodnfQHNg" target="_blank">Donald Duck’s football loving brother</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>5) Portland is awesome because it’s a little WEIRD</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-52mZ8A4It3k/Vgrbx3gb_9I/AAAAAAAAJ_4/IfHqV3rkmgQ/s1600/IMG_1774.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="251" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-52mZ8A4It3k/Vgrbx3gb_9I/AAAAAAAAJ_4/IfHqV3rkmgQ/s320/IMG_1774.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The slogan is “keep Portland Weird” and the show Portlandia
pokes fun of its weirdness with pride… I would agree – Portland is a little
weird. Portland has funky food truck communes, a great weekend market (check
out the “<a href="http://www.portlandsaturdaymarket.com/" target="_blank">Saturday Market</a>” and Saturday <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">or</i>
Sunday!), super friendly people and a bizarre lack of bustle even on weekdays.
The stores all sell the unique sorts of home goods you want but don’t need and
people drink beer with every meal, even on Mondays. Portland is great and you
should definitely visit.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now off to LaLa Land!!!</span><o:p></o:p></div>
Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4212333985094870720.post-78002760097136840212015-09-21T12:21:00.000-04:002015-09-21T12:21:10.197-04:00My husband is awesome (but sucks at grocery shopping)<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AhsmivrTBEY/VgAtnXfh5xI/AAAAAAAAJ-g/ebeQv9yJYBg/s1600/Humble-Confidence-at-Grocery-Store.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-AhsmivrTBEY/VgAtnXfh5xI/AAAAAAAAJ-g/ebeQv9yJYBg/s320/Humble-Confidence-at-Grocery-Store.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8000001907349px; text-align: center;">There's a surprisingly awesome quantity of stock-photo<br />images to be found when you google "<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=man+grocery+shopping&espv=2&biw=1247&bih=707&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMIn6L6zMKIyAIVins-Ch3yNQLH#imgrc=70u_Oq7speNafM%3A" target="_blank">man grocery shopping</a>"</td></tr>
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">This post is for all my homegirls who have awesome husbands who chip in at home, but who for the life of them, cannot manage a successful trip to the grocery store. For those of you who make painstakingly detailed lists which include package coloring and shelf location but </span><i style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">still</i><span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> end up with a phone call from a confused hubby in aisle 3, this rant is for YOU!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dr. H is awesome about sharing the burden of "home work", but one task I always hesitate to pass off is going to the grocery store. No matter how hard I try, it is as though a blind man consumes products in our home and then he becomes a bewildered little boy when trying to locate anything resembling the items on his list inside the store. Somehow a pre-dinner shopping list which includes "1 lb chicken breasts" turns into 1 lb of my favorite chipotle chicken breast deli meat and the store being sold out of shallots (which later morphs into a confession of "I don't really know what shallots look like"). </span><br />
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<span style="color: #444444; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I don't know what in our genetic code makes women so much more capable of grocery shopping than men, but my scientific research (aka, complaining to girlfriends over alcohol) yields a conclusive result that the majority of men simply cannot grocery shop. </span></div>
Merry Merihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10147251465743327603noreply@blogger.com0