Merry & Bright, Happy & Healthy

Here here!

Friends! Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season, a Happy Channuka, a Merry Meri(!) Christmas and the start of your most joyful year yet. For this bookend'ed holiday week, Dr. H and I are taking our overdue Anniversary Adventure and this year a winter wonderland excursion of epic proportions is on tap.

Our adventure will include this:

exploring the Finnish Laplands by Husky

and this:

we will be riding in a Sven sleigh and visiting a Sven farm!

and hopefully a little of this:

Fingers & toes crossed for an Aurora Borealis siting!

We'll wrap things up by ringing in the New Year surrounded by this:

A very Copenhagen New Year!

shine bright!

So until next year, here's wishing each and every one of you a Merry & Bright, Happy & Healthy. If you're looking to do some blog reading, check out my Seek to Be Merry Year 3 Recap HERE and just in time for Christmas, there's an amazing reading of the Grinch Who Stole Christmas HERE. See you in 2015!! Xox - Meri

Hump Day Distractions

I find this extremely amusing.

Happy Channuka (Chanukah/Hannuka) my friends! I hope those of you celebrating the festival of lights kicked things off in style last night and that your latkes were extra tasty. Here to help us get one step closer to the weekend (a holiday we all celebrate!) are some goodies from the world wide web. Enjoy!

* For those of you who want to take your latke game up a notch, check these recipes out!

* Looking for the coolest menorah on the block? Some suggestions HERE.

* This super chill piglet yawning will calm your nerves and make you smile.

* So gorgeous. So cool.

* Simply adorable Christmas ornament/decoration DIY.

* Looks like Pixar has another "hysterical for kids and adults" (maybe even more so for adults!?) movie coming out way!

* Some pretty awesome Christmas movie "did you know?" factoids.

* Sparkle (New Year's Eve is coming. Where can one buy this dress!?)

Holiday Cheer!

Holiday Cheer & Charm.

Greetings friends!! This Monday feels particularly momentous because Channuka starts this week and Christmas (including the lovely vacation time that accompanies it) is officially NEXT WEEK! Talk about a reason for holiday cheer!! Here to help you prepare for the holidays are some seasonal eats, treats and crafts I've spotted around the web. Happy (almost) Holidays!

I love this simple and seasonal placeholder which even the less Martha Stewart inclined can definitely pull off! Pin it HERE, full instructions HERE (as well as some other unique place card holder ideas.) 

If Channuka is your holiday, fret not, I've got a simple and sweet centerpiece for you too! These white roses surrounded by golden gelt are the perfect decor idea for serving up your latkes in style. Pin it HERE, (super easy) full instructions HERE. 

What a festive and simple way to bring some snowman cheer to your Christmas tree decor!

As long as we're talking about snowmen... So easy, so cute. Now you just have to hope there aren't any serious Olaf lovers at your dessert table!! Pin it HERE, full instructions (and some other pre-school aged holiday crafts) HERE.

Pomegranate seeds are one of my favorite fall/winter seasonal treats and combining them with cheese clearly takes my love affair to the next level. Add some tasty honey and a cute serving dish and you'll have the holiday appetizer game in the bag. Pin it HERE, full recipe HERE.

Merry & Bright!

Sending Christmas Cheer from NYC!!

Wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas!

See ya in a bit!!

(I'll let you know what movie I see and how tasty my Chinese food was. xox, m)

Last Minute goodies!

awwww

Hello my friends and happy "we're almost there" day to my fellow stuck-at-work'ers (yes there are some of us at work today!) In an attempt to spread a little more Christmas cheer before the big day, here are some more (super easy to create at the last minute!) eats and treats (first edition HERE) to ensure that the gifts under your tree aren't the only thing making loved ones smile this holiday!

This easy to execute and adorable to deliver treat is perfect for your host and hostess or as a small gift for exchanges which stick to a lower price-point. Hot cocoa/chocolate milk powder with mini marshmallows inside and a Bailey's treat on the outside, plus, who doesn't love a good mason jar!? Pin it HERE.

Forget reindeer games, these sweet and salty treats are no joke! A glorious combination of pretzels, rolo and sixlets (which I've never heard of, but red m&ms would do just fine!) and you have an unmistakably awesome holiday treat perfect for dessert platter display! Pin it HERE (full instructions HERE).

Still stumped for table decor? This colorful idea requires just a few holiday items and will have guests complimenting your craftiness. Using mixed height candle sticks (painted in a favorite color at the bottom if you have time/don't mind the permanent paint job!) place small colorful ball ornaments (CVS has quite the selection still) and candles at the top. Store bought mini trees are an excellent compliment if you're able to track them down! Pin it HERE (more pictures and info HERE).

How freakin adorable are these tiny Santa snacks!? Perhaps the perfect thing to mix with pretzel/rolo reindeer, these santas are made of just 3 ingredients, marshmallows, strawberries and frosting. You can create your frosting beard with a piping bag if you're fancy or a plain old ziplock with the corner snipped off if you're an amateur like me. Santa's face goes on (pre-beard and berry!!) using edible marker. So simple, SO sweet to see (and eat!) Pin it HERE (full instructions HERE)

Seasonal Eats and Treats

Tis the season!

Brrrrr! Baby it's cooold outside!! A crisp 23 degrees here in NYC with a forecast of more snow for the weekend, winter has most certainly arrived! Since the weather outside is frightful, this is the perfect time to share some of the seasonal goodies I've been curating and collecting. Here's hoping these fun eats and treats help make the next two weeks extra merry and bright :)

What a ridiculously adorable way to add a bit of cheer to your holiday table!! This festive "snow globe" (but actually salt shaker) craft is sure to have your guests smiling while the season their food so click HERE to Pin it, click HERE for original post (via Country Living).

Santa Claus is coming to town and my oh my does he look tasty! Click HERE to Pin this tasty treat or click HERE for this cupcake and a few other Santa inspired sweet treats (via Kids Kubby)

Salty and sweet make the perfect seasonal treat!! Though finding circle shaped pretzels may be a bit tricky (or maybe that's just in the tiny grocery stores we have here in NYC!?) these treats are super easy to make and are sure to be a hit with your holiday party crew. Pin it HERE or click HERE for step by step instructions. (via Shugary Sweets)

Want your house to smell like Christmas cheer!? Keep this pot of fresh winter wonder boiling during your holiday get together as the perfect compliment to your holiday tunes and treats! Pin it HERE.

The perfect bite-sized holiday themed dessert! Easy to prepare and adorable to display, these Dipped Minty Marshmallow Pops are an awesome low maintenance sweet treat to put out after the big meal. Pin it HERE, full instructions HERE (via Liv Life)

Have yourself...

... a merry little Christmas.

From my home to yours, wishing you a holiday that's merry & bright. xox, m

Hear it, read it, make it, LOVE it

It's Friday! High fives for EVERYONE!!

The sun is shining, the air is crisp and wintery and it's Friday. Life is not too shabby:) To send you off into the weekend, here's the second installation of "Hear it, read it, make it, LOVE it" for your listening/reading/crafting/buying pleasure (first edition HERE). Have a good one!

Hear it

Proof that I was absolutely not kidding about the whole "Jew who loves Christmas" thing? I actually have a favorite Christmas album - Christmas Songs by Sinatra. Though there's no denying the fan-freakin-tabulousness of Mariah's "All I want for Christmas is You" or the Peanut's gang Christmas collection, there's something quintessentially Christmas about Frank's smooth voice belting out the classics. The perfect soundtrack for your holiday hosting.

Read it

Turns out Kelly Kapoor is just the tip of the iceberg folks! Reading "Is Everyone Hanging out Without Me (and other Concerns)" by the insanely talented Mindy Kaling is basically a laugh out loud 150 page conversation with Mindy, packed with stories from her real life and her thoughts on everything from best friends to boyfriendsand being an average bodied woman in Hollywood! If you're looking for some light, fun reading during the otherwise hectic holiday season, "hang out" (hehe) with Mindy.

Make it

Perfect for the little girl in your life (or in your heart:) these simple snowflake ballerinas are the perfect craft to work on while listening to the Nutcracker and sipping on hot chocolate. (Simple step by step tutorial including free printable template HERE).

LOVE it (/make it?)

When Dr. H said "wouldn't it be cool if you could like make a chalkboard out of this wall?" and I responded with "You can! Let's do it!" there were two very excited people in my apartment. He gets to doodle (sweet nothings!?) on the walls and I get to take on a sa-weet home DIY project. Chalkboard paint is available just about everywhere and perhaps a trip to Brooklyn Flea next weekend for a funky empty frame!?

Hump Day Distractions

Bigger is better?

Peeps. You must forgive me. I have a slew of awesome distractions bookmarked for you on a computer that I'm not close to today. F. Thankfully, I'm skilled in the art of internet procrastination, so here's what I can remember of those links and a few others to hold you over until I can deliver the mother load tomorrow. Happy Hump Day!

* Last week's new recipe experiment made for a delicious dinner. So easy, so tasty. 

* I've always wondered what a foldable Dr. H would look like (via CupofJo)

* These families are the cream of the holiday card crop.

* Oooooh Brookstone.

* What an awesome idea for Christmas time brides... (via Snippet&Ink)

* I aspire to take a road trip this awesome (who's with me?)

* I bet you Christmas at these people's houses is AWESOME. (I have no idea the proper grammar for that sentence.)

(A Jew) On Christmas.

George Washington get his tree

The decorations are up, the holiday music is playing and faster than you can say "Black Friday Insanity" Thanksgiving is in our rear view and the countdown to Christmas has begun. Christmas... beautiful, sparkly, cheery Christmas. Moment of honesty: I really wish I celebrated Christmas. Though I am proud of my Jewish heritage and I love my Chanukah traditions (Mom's latkah's are a once-per-year delicacy) nothing compares to a twinkling tree, mint hot chocolate and Mariah Carey belting out that all she wants for Christmas, is me. 

My parents tell a tale of little Meri coming home from preschool, confused about Santa. "If I'm good, he's supposed to come! Is he going to come!?" Stuck with the difficult task of explaining religious diversity to a 3-year old (and risking the reveal of some "Santa-related truths" to an entire preschool) my parents did what any parent of a blabber mouth would do: they told me to believe. And believe I did - cookies, carrots for the reindeer and a short note thanking Santa for stopping by. From that year on, the magic of Santa has been a tradition in my Jewish family (you should see my stocking) and an annual small gift from Mr. Claus reminds each of us of the holiday's joy (and a funny Meri story.) Because similar to Chanukah's 8 nights of gifts, Christmas has developed traditions quite distinct from the religious significance of the day. For me and so many others, twinkling lights, an excellent soundtrack, togetherness and giving are all non-religious Christmas magic (also the Nutcracker, It's a Wonderful Life, the smell of fresh pine and gingerbread). So while I may not get to put up a tree (tempted, so tempted)  I'm going to love on Christmas with the enthusiasm of a goy... it's like my parents said "all you have to do is believe" :)

Hump Day Distractions

Today’s Hump Day Distractions are super sized for a) those on vacation with lots of time to smile AND b) those stuck at work and in need of a smile. Enjoy!

* My favorite thing about the week between Christmas and New Years: countdowns and MASHUPS! This is a killer pop music mashup courtesy of my awesome sis. (Warning- there’s a (completely unnecessary) expletive at the very end of the video)

* Friendliest member of the animal kingdom (that's not animated) that I've ever seen

* “I left the remote on the other side of the room” and other truly hysterical first world problems

* Are you heading to the slopes this winter? Here are a few sure to be chic suggestions for my fellow ski bunnies (via Snippet&Ink) * An entire year's worth of New York minutes (via NY Times)

* My hoodie-loving Dr. H received one of these from yours truly this Channuka. The possibilities for use are endless.

* Did your Christmas involve anything this amazing?

* Hosting a soiree this New Year’s Eve? Here’s everything you need to know about wine etiquette (via CupofJo)

Merry & Bright

So, we’ve made it through our first two weeks seekingtobemerry. How are you feeling!? I’m enjoying all the writing and I think Dr. H is happy I have someone else to “talk” to! I’m eager to hear what you have to say though. What would you like to read more about? Is there something I can post on weekly which you think would be interesting? Are the posts too long? I aim to please so send your ideas my way!!

This weekend I am celebrating Christmas quite fabulously: an AMAZING italian dinner with my best friend and our families, sleeping in, chinese food, an “Oscar contender” movie and “day-after-the-holiday sale” shopping with my sister (you know I love a good deal!)

Wishing you all a merry and bright holiday... May your find whatever your personal  “Tiffany blue” is, waiting under the tree...

(Photo courtesy of an NYC bus shelter and my cellphone. LOVE.)