Hump Day Distractions (Beach Bum Ed.)

Use SPF. No doubt.

Well it's a good thing I'm blogging about sunshine this week because the real world is giving me nothing but rain! It's been a rather grey May here in NYC so my fingers are crossed for a bright and sunny June. In case your week-before-the-long-weekend is going as slowly as mine is, here are some distractions to get you over the hump!

* I am shore you are going to sea the humor in THIS.

* Send some seasonal wit and sarcasm to your best buddy's inbox.

* Hooray! A way to get your bod bikini ready without giving up brownies (Weight Watchers points plus value included!)

* Show off some awesome tats at the beach.

* Want to throw the chicest BBQ on the block? Chill the water with THIS (or THIS) and wow your guests pre-burgers and dogs with THIS and THIS.

* Because a pint just isn't big enough to share (and some roommates cannot be trusted!)

* A genius trick for your at-home experimentation with neon nail polish? 

* I don't go to the movies very often in the summer, but for a new Wes Anderson flick, I might have to make an exception (love me some Bill Murray!)

* BONUS Distraction: This one's for you Sis.

Lookin just beachy...

quintessential beach beauty

One of the best things about summer is how much less effort is required to face the day. There's no other season where I can get dressed in literally 2 minutes (sundress, sandals, done!) let my hair air dry (see you next fall straightener) and pack for a weekend getaway in an oversized purse (goodbye bulky sweaters and boots!) Though I'm far from a fashion expert, I am a pro at scouring blogs and magazines for hot styles and great deals, so here are a few ideas which will have you giving Marilyn a run for her money.

Neon. Neon. Neon.

Pink, orange, yellow, green... Much to Dr. H's dismay, for this summer neon is in and the brighter the better. Since fluorescent colors can be so, well, fluorescent, start with an accent like nail polish (I love Short Shorts by Esse), jewelry or a pair of sunnies, and work your way up.

she wore an itsy bitsy, teeny weenie...

Polka dots are the perfect print for summer. Classic on a bikini, crafty on your nails or flirty as a dress, put some polka in your closet and wear the timeless piece for years to come!

Anchor yourself with seaside accessories.

Anchors symbolize strength and stability which is the perfect yin to their summery fun yang. Shop etsy for awesome handcrafted options or J Crew to perfect your prep.

"brimming" with beach sexiness!

Beach hats are the best. It's a chance to bust out your glam side with a big brim, your indie side with a fedora or keep it simple with a hat supporting your favorite team. Adventure outside your headwear comfort zone shopping HERE or HERE or consider an NYC street vendor for awesome options at ridiculously good prices!

Ooooh that smell... can you smell that smell!?

There is nothing sexy about a sunburn, so start your day with something strong and waterproof and reapply like crazy! For those lucky enough to brown over burn, throw in a reapply or two with my favorite sunscreen and you'll be a bronze beauty in no time!

See ya later shower!!

Is there a product out there that "styles" your hair as beautifully as ocean salt and a beachy breeze!? Summer hair is messy, carefree and fun so abandon your attempts to secure every flyaway and enjoy the hairdryer hiatus!

I said I was gonna get a pair... and I did.
(Cheap via a Prince St. vendor or HERE for only a few $ more)

The quintessential summer accessory, leave your standard pair of sunnies at home and go crazy with neon wayfarers, oversize frames or just have a little heart:)

Summa summa summa tiiiime...

Beachy beauty

... time to sit back and unwind! Even though the summer solstice is still a few weeks away (I know these things, I took latin) anyone with a love of sand between their toes and white pants considers Memorial Day the official start of summer, and as I've mentioned before, I think summer is just the bees knees! You've got warmth, sunshine, beaches, sun dresses, flip flops, the smell of sunscreen... I could go on forever. To celebrate the pending arrival of my favorite season, this week on SeektobeMerry we're going to talk about all things summer - what the cool kids are wearing, what to pack for a day in the sun, where to escape to and of course, the tastiest things to eat. So queue up the Beach Boys on your iPod (or any of THESE quintessential summer jams) and get ready for a week of sunshine-y goodness!

Note: Lots 'o links in that paragraph - click the purple text to enjoy!

Feeling happy (hour).

Summa summa summa tiiime...

Well would you look at that..! The sun is shining, the temperature is climbing and it's FRIDAY! Woop woop!! As spring fades into summer (is Memorial Day really just 1 weekend away!?) I find myself longing to be outside at every possible moment, motivated by blue skies (and a potential suntan) to take all activities outdoors. While it's nice to escape the gym or picnic in the park, my absolute favorite migration involves cocktails, beer and the happiest of hours. Gone are the winter months in dark dive bars and window-less wine cellars, bring on the rooftops, gardens and sidewalk seating. Here for your enjoyment are a few of my favorite NYC outdoor spots or click HERE and HERE for suggestions from the "experts"!

The Standard Beer Garden is my go to for the perfect combination of outdoor casual and swanky cool. Situated under the High Line, you can find me at this meatpacking district hot spot clutching a giant beer stein (or two!) while Dr. H hits up the ping pong tables. 

Not many flowers in this garden, but plenty of beer.

There's something so quintessentially summer about waterfront boozing. NYC, comprised of several islands and a few rivers has a ton of great waterfront options including the truly unique Frying Pan. Located on the Hudson at 26th street, the Frying Pan is an actual boat (which was restored after sinking in the Chesapeake!) serving up buckets of beer and a solid "bar food" menu. 

Take me to the river.

Want to eat a ridiculously amazing burger while sippin' drinks and gazing at the Empire State Building? If yes, Rare View,  the Rare restaurant group's rooftop locations in Chelsea and "at Lexington" are for you. Start on the roof with cocktails and the DJ, and head downstairs for one of my favorite burgers  in all of Manhattan when your post-happy hour, "I serrrriously need to eat something" hunger kicks in!     

NYC from the top

What would you be willing to do...

...for a totally FABULOUS pair of shoes? I recently found myself waiting in line at 7am... in the rain... for three and a half hours(!) on a quest for Christian Louboutin shoes at sample sale prices. Sample sales range from “hot mess in vacant storefront” to “invitation-only female feeding frenzy”, boasting designer brands at dramatically discounted prices. I frequent sample sales as a way to satisfy my high fashion obsession on a slightly more modest budget. For louboutins, I stood with hundreds of women, unfazed by the weather, the wait time or the snooty chicks with clipboards, hoping for a chance to find red bottomed beauties in my price range.

Maybe your head over heels (hehe) love isn’t shoes, but everyone has their thing... fans who pitch tents to get tickets to that concert or game or the latest Apple gadget... When you find a way to get the object of your lust, I think the effort can make the reward even more fabulous.

Sadly, I never made it into the Louboutin sample sale. As VIP after VIP was escorted to the front of the line, the work day crept up on me and I surrendered in defeat (damn you maturity and a sense of obligation to my career!) Perhaps I will be lucky enough to be on “the Louboutin list” again someday and you better believe that next time, I’ll be there at 6am:) Image here.

Hump Day Distractions

What an adorable wiener!

Forgive me for I have sinned. I missed yesterday's post and didn't even attempt to distract you with a link or silly picture. Oopsies... I was off California dreamin and I left you hanging. My bad. Good news is that I'm BACK and I've got some extra distractions, funny stories and links coming at you for the rest of the week. So hump it out and come visit again tomorrow for your regularly scheduled merriment! 

* Get ready to say "why didn't I think of that?" about 10,000 times 

* I moustache when these will be back in stock so I can buy a complete set 

* Your grandma is surfing the web and she just discovered Kim Kardashian's x-rated claim to fame 

* So high in the sky... ladies and gentleman we are floating in space 

* watch out sky, I'm comin for ya... 

* Holy (malted milk) balls. 

* Example of questionable parenting decisions (I'm not lion hehe) 

* Texting is not the highest form of communication, but it is definitely the funniest. 

And in case you were wondering... Pedro the penguin made it to his new home in NYC without incident. He found the overhead compartment to be a bit snug, but generally pleasant:)

articles did not shift during flight.

Bigger is Better?

I'm feeling sleepy...

What size bed do you have? Dr. H and I are queen sleepers, but we've spent the past 5 nights in a hotel sleeping like kings (literally) and I must admit... it's been pretty great. Gone are the battles over tucked (me) vs. sloppy (him) covers and random bent elbows (his) and knees (mine) have not inflicted any pain. On the flip side however, the king bed has allowed me so much space every night that it's almost like I'm sleeping alone! There's no snuggling, no spooning, no contact of any kind!

Dr. H contends that king beds, though glamorous and very comfortable are bad for business because you're just too far apart from one another (note: he's not the one taking elbows to the eye) but I'm not convinced... bed-mate bliss might be well rested spouses snoozing in peace on their own side of the mattress! Do you think it's better to be cozy in a queen or living large in a king?

Stow aways from San Diego 

PS: Today at Sea World Dr. H won Pedro, a sa-weet penguin by tossing a softball into a milk pot (it was amazing). Wish us luck getting home!