Hump Day Distractions

Me neither!

Friends. It is day 3 and the cold rages on. This is both literal and figurative as NYC is enduring a frigid 20-something degree day while I personally am still enduring a stuffed nose, icky cough and voice that sounds like something straight off the sex chat hotline (so hot). Here to get us through the day and over the hump are some goodies of the internet variety. Go heat up some tea and get your click on:)

* A cool giveaway opportunity for the bike-loving little in your life!

* If you love food like I do, this game is going to be a lot of fun (also, gut wrenchingly difficult).

* If you buy me this room, I will prepare Thanksgiving dinner for the fam for life. Promise.

* Calling all ballers/Brooklyn Nets fans (is that a thing that actually exists?!), THIS is for you.

* Brilliant!

* Seasonally appropriate and perfect for soothing a sore throat. Time to get yo soup on!

* Breaking news. BREAKING F*CKING NEWS!!!! (emoji lovers rejoice... there will be a taco!)

Hump Day Distractions

Where!? Where do I find this!?

Do you guys ever wake up starving!?! Like stomach growling, how was dinner only 12 hours ago STARVING!? This morning's breakfast was like an appetizer and I'm literally counting the minutes until I can justifiably dig into my lunch. What's up with that? Annnnyways, here to distract you from the mid-week blues (or your hunger, as applicable) is a big ol pile of internet goodness. Happy Humping!

* THIS is amazingly creepy (via CupofJo)
* Fellow bike riders rejoice, GoogleMaps has got us covered!

* 22 habits that happy people have (most are easier said than done, but we gotta at least try!)

* Hey Dr. H... I've got our 48 hours in Paris all figured out:)

* A bitty ballerina attempts to master first position (collective awwwww!)

* Cheese, cheese and more cheese. Who's with me!?

* Bill Clinton does #THICKE

* I want.

* I also want.
* I have got to visit the real life "goodnight room"

* See, I told you guys that getting enough sleep was important to weight loss!

* If NYC kids could name the new little prince (apologies for the ANNOYING pre-roll commercial)

* What was he supposed to do, bring his own toilet paper!? (ps, eww)

Hump Day Distractions

Fact.

Today is one of those spring days so sunny, crisp and delicious that it's pretty much cruel and unusual punishment to be asked to work indoors. Plenty of wistful staring out the window going on right now... Since we're stuck inside, might as well have a little fun right? Hump the day with me here:

* I've got a lot of sliding to do in this lifetime..!

* I'm not usually one to wait in line for an art exhibit, but THIS might be too cool to ignore.

* My eagerness to see Leo in all his Gatsby glory is matched only by my excitement for the movie's soundtrack. Sneak peak some tracks HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.

* The adorable talkative twins are back, with another hil-aaarious conversation

* "Streaming on Netflix? I don't understand the question and I won't respond to it". (Dead dove do not eat)

* A thought provoking article on the way we react to shootings versus bombings.

* Charming decor, light and loveliness in Berlin.

* The most thoughtful bike thief ever. 

* Is taking a personal photographer on your family vacation too much of a good thing?

* Hold the new $100 bill up to a light and see a donkey and elephant making sweet, consensual love.

* Are you listening Dr. H!?!

* Some more "if at first you don't succeed" superstars.

* Kids are hysterical...

* ... and kinda drunk.

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

Do not surrender! We're halfway there!!

Welcome to Wednesday my merry friends! It's all kinds of toasty here in NYC so I suggest we turn up the AC and hump this week out together.

* Pluto hasn't been a planet in over five years (and other things that will make you feel OLD!)
* Obviously I taste as I go (who doesn't do that!?) but I'm making a ton of these common cooking mistakes... until now!

* Dog vs. Bubble

* A great read about the relationships we form with our Nannies (of the caregiver, not grandmother variety)

* "I think it's a book about a haunted theme park and it stars a magical magic guy and he's good and evil and he's trying to get rid of the ghosts" - a 6 year old's guess as to the plot of The Great Gatsby based on the cover art.

* Take me to the dollar store, I have dishes to make! (Has anyone ever tried this? Does it really work!?)

* Looking for fifteen friends to take a bike ride in Des Moines, Iowa with me. (via IowaGirlEats)

* When it's time to sleep, it's time to sleep (doggy style).

The Great Hill.

My bike was not this chic,  but it was a champion

Yesterday was a beautiful spring day in NYC. Dr. H announced that he wanted to go for a run in the park and I immediately decided to grab a bike and do some outdoor exercise as well. Though we once circled Central Park running together, it's been (only?!) eight weeks since my knee reconstruction and biking is all I'm "up to". Determined to enjoy the spring air, I took off on the 6 mile loop, including The Great Hill in the park's northwest corner. Initially nervous to leave the security of a timed ride on a stationary bike behind, I'm happy to report that I hauled my booty up that hill and have lived to tell the tale.

For me, yesterday was a mini-milestone. It's not that riding a bike up The Great Hill was particularly remarkable (just ask the people whisking past me!), but it was a small goal and a small victory and achieving it rocked. So, take a moment this week to find your own Great Hill and celebrate (with Tasti D-light?!) when you reach the top of it. It doesn't matter if anyone else thinks the milestone is a big deal, all that matters is how the accomplishment feels to you. Happy riding!