Hump Day Distractions

hehe.

I've been having a particularly distracting hump day, so much so that I got distracted from posting your links!! Better late than never right!? Have at it:

* These images are strangely beautiful...

* As someone who frequently makes up words/botches pronunciations, I bet I'm making some of these errors as well!

* I think I need this t-shirt.

* A super interesting post about J. Crew's shrinking size chart and the retail trend of "vanity sizing".

* "Let it Go" videos aren't done circulating the internet - enjoy THIS particularly adorable and enthusiastic rendition.

* Some iPhone myths and truths.

* One of my favorite Instagram accounts is getting some mayjah press. 

* These sorts of pictures/lists never fail to crack me up.

* 3 ingredient summer cocktails? Yes please.

* Shane, you are my hero.

Au Naturale.

Makeup free and still stunning

Yesterday I was naked all day. Not naked as in "get some clothes on woman!" but naked as in 100% makeup free. You see, I start every Wednesday with a workout (at least once per week, as promised!) and I shower and head straight to work afterwards. Occasionally,  I forget to pack all the essentials in my gym bag and yesterday it was my makeup (for the record, the time I forgot a bra was way worse!) 

Now, I have a far from comprehensive daily makeup routine. Some under eye concealer and brightener, followed by a quick swipe of bronzer, blush and eyeliner are pretty much it, but without those few products, I felt exposed and certainly less put together. Nevertheless, as the day wore on and my un-lined, grey circled eyes seemed even more noticeable, there was something kind of refreshing about going au naturale. My skin looked like my skin and I felt less oily and day-old-makeupy. Sure my "flaws" were hanging out for all to see (and I would have made an emergency trip to Sephora for a face of tester makeup if I'd had plans to go out after work!), but for "just another Wednesday" I think I sported "natural beauty" fairly well (I wonder what my co-workers thought!!) 

Next time you have a chance, consider giving your face a day off from painted on perfection - you may not have the flawless look you're accustomed to, but I'm guessing that fresh faced natural you is pretty beautiful too!

Wild & Colorful

Pretty in Pink

Lately I've been really drawn to beautiful images of nature and animals. Perhaps I'm developing a(nother!) case of wanderlust, but there's something magical about these colorful and exotic snapshots that just makes me say "WHOA".

Lil Umbrella man.

Hello ladies!!

Seashell lust

WHOA!! Real!?!

... because sometimes Tuesday just needs a little something wild, colorful and exotic. 

"Woooo Baby!"

Lining up to take in the scenery?

I'm walking down a crowded Manhattan sidewalk, my recently purchased lunch in hand, when suddenly I hear "wooo baby". I look up. A middle aged man, likely employed in the construction industry (or just dresses like it?) gives me a huge smile and says "you're so beautiful baby." I pause for just a second, ignoring the beads of sweat on my forehead and the uncomfortable way my dress is sticking to my legs (oooh summer in the city) and smile right back at him. "Thank you!" I say. As I continue down the street he tells me that the view is even better from behind and I can't help but give a little courtesy grin over my shoulder as I head back to the office. My day has been made.

                                So now I'm going to confess something... 

Girl's got ASSets!

I freakin love getting an unsolicited compliment  (a "cat call" as the more uncouth refer to them) on the street. While some ladies are put off by the crass nature of a man shouting at them in public, I can't think of anything more flattering than a random gentleman finding himself so struck by just the look of you that he has to exclaim out loud. Because Dr. H, for all his loveliness, is not prone to whistle at me on my way out the door in the morning and sometimes, an unexpected midday compliment is just the pick-me-up a lady needs to feel sassy and fly. So next time one of you girls garners a compliment from a passing gentleman on the street, grin right back and enjoy it... Is that man likely to be the one you bring home to meet mom and dad? Probably not, but he thinks you're sexy which I think makes him pretty brilliant! 

You go girl:)

Hump Day Distractions

Just keep swimming, just keep swimming...

...what do we do? We swim, swim, swim! All the way to Friday right!? Another weekly grind, another hearty serving of Hump Day Distractions for your clicking pleasure. PLUS, there's something new and totally freaking awesome coming to the blog tomorrow, so get excited and until then, distract yourself here: 

* THIS Mom totally rocks my socks off.

* 12 hours in ______. (everything you need to know)

* As if being an astronaut wasn't awesome enough, THIS dude is taking space travel to the next level of cool.

* Game on breakfast.

* For your favorite "Face Farmer" and his offspring (bookmarked for an eventual lil merry kiddo of course).

* Don't let your desk job drag your fitness routine down!

* If I ever have to leave NYC, at least I will know where to go.

* I am a size 7.5 and my birthday is in July. Who's buying?

* Thanks to Sis for sending this dance-tastic routine my way.

* Townhouse perfection.

* The world is such an incredibly beautiful place.

* This one has made the rounds, but just in case you missed it, these parents are my heroes.

* I'd like to think that Dr. H and I would handle THIS the exact same way (but we'd be singing Journey of course!)

Hump Day Distractions

HAHAHAHA!

A very merry Wednesday to all of you my friends! I'm feeling especially cheery today thanks to some exciting developments here in blog land. First, the infamous Ann Marie Slaughter of recent Why Women Still Can't Have it All fame "favorited" my tweet about THIS post the other night, which means she read it and even better, she liked it! Be still my aspiring writer heart:) And yesterday brought record breaking traffic to SeektobeMerry meaning more people than ever before stopped by the site!! I guess yous just needed to find a little joy. (Big thanks to my fabulous Sis-in-Law for the shout out!) And as if that wasn't enough, I have some very exciting new content news in the works for you... It's all just very merry stuff. Anyways... you're probably all "good for you Mer, get to the distractions," so, without further adieu - here's a whole bunch just for you! Happy Humping:)

* "Don't lick my arm, that's what weird kids do" and other brilliantly illustrated kid quotes from one hip Dad.

* What a brilliant way to test out a new NYC neighborhood before buying

* Bath time for baby sloths. Even more adorable than you're imagining.

* A cat/dog love story.

* Heaven is a salad that actually looks delicious.

* Maybe this time the odds will be ever in her favor!?! (Yaaaaaaaay!)

* And while we're watching trailers, the brilliant Christopher Guest has something for you.

* Another perspective on the women/work/home/balance debate. Why going back to the home kinda rocks...

* Why can't we see ourselves as beautifully as others do? (and THIS brilliant response to the ad)

* In case you are interested in how to create the most realistic T-Rex noises

* Cannot believe I left THIS awesome show off my "What we're watching" post! When a show is on your dvr and the soundtrack is on your iPod, the execs must be doing something right!

* Mmmm boozy summer bike rides (or ditch the food, bring just the vino) (via ExPress-o)

* If I had a dog, I would definitely dress him up.

* I'm very sorry that I pinched you in the nuts.

Hump Day Distractions

The smartest Smart Car I ever did see. I want.

Well hello Wednesday... we meet again. I'm getting back into the swing of things after some Portuguese adventures last week (more on those soon!) so I welcome this hump day as a signal that a new weekend is just around the bend. I can almost taste the beer on my lips..! Hump it with me here:

* Check out this brilliant way to jazz up those Ikea cube shelves that like 90% of us 20-somethings own.

* Is it too late to apply for early admission!? (brilliant!)

* It never occurred to me that you could get salsa from anywhere other than a jar:)

* Confusing and hysterical.

* Someone please find me a budget-friendly knockoff of THESE. I need.

* Click HERE for your daily dose of something beautiful

* You think you're so tough don't you?

Something beautiful.

Something beautiful and lonely.

Something beautiful and classic.

Sometimes, it's helpful to look at something beautiful.

Something beautiful and magic.

Beautiful things keep us merry, even when times are tough.

Something beautiful and merry.

Also, something adorable.