They say it's your birthday...

I love emojis!!

... well maybe not your birthday, but MINE! Yaya! I love birthdays and even at the unexciting and definitively adult-ish age of 31, I'm enjoy celebrating another year hear on earth, doin my thang.

30 was a freakin hell of a year for me. I made a ton of professional changes that at times nearly sent me off a cliff, but I came through feeling so much stronger, happier and confident about what I'm capable of accomplishing. 30 also proved, more than ever before, that I have the most incredible community of people around me, cheering for me, encouraging me, supporting me and lifting me up when I need a boost. To my amazing friends, my family and my beloved Dr. H, thank you. Thank you for making 30 so damn good. 

So here's to another year. Here's to the challenges I know I'll face and those that will come out of no where. Here's to laughing with my husband and hugging my best friends. To delicious food, family celebrations, growth, acceptance, love and fun. Cheers!

Belated but not forgotten...

On December 9th there was a milestone around here that came and went unacknowledged. I can't believe it, but I totally missed celebrating Seek to be Merry's 3rd birthday (whhhat!?!) That's right, it's been three whole years since this little hobby took off and that's quite an accomplishment if I don't say so myself! 2014 as a blogger was a bit all over the place, much like 2014 was for me as a human. There was a lot of snow and travel and big huge life decisions. I ate well and drank often. I let go of being a 5-day-per-week-without-fail blog post-er and I adopted the hashtag as a form of communication (#EmbraceIt). 2014 was so many things, that I forgot to stop and celebrate my own blog's birthday. Whoa. 

Maybe, like all things as they get older, each passing year becomes less of a "THING" and more of "just another thing". Maybe I'm totally distracted by work and juggling wonderful things going on with family and friends. Maybe I don't need my blog as much as I did in 2011 when I escaped to this corner of the internet with all of you. Who knows. Who cares!? HAPPY BIRTHDAY BLOG!!

To celebrate, here are some of my most favorite posts and a roundup of all the goodness we shared: 

Food Glorious Food!

* cozy winter eats (and again) * cocktails * strange snacks * for cheese lovers * pasta and potatoes MmHmm * damn good recipes * Sangria & dessert * football food * cozy fall-ish recipes * pull-apart breads

My beloved New York City

* deli and dessert * Adult show, Kid museum * The Smith * Potatopia * custom shirts and a charming italian spot * Street Meat * the Met Ball * horseback riding in Brooklyn and 3 amazing restaurants * cuban and fancy italian recs * Broadway

Career & Life

* Grown up stuff * taking the slow route (+ food) * sharing kind thoughts * A mom memory * juggling * enjoying joy * ways to chill out * life and death * inspiration * the uneasies * living in extremes * changing jobs * goodbye 20s * friendship * last names * Sis's engagement(!) * On change * working from home * Lack of peppermint bark at the "office"

Merry Meri Recommendations

* a charming short * Disney Princess 1/2 marathon * Waterlogue App * ask for what you want! * Costa Rica * combatting wrinkles * Chicago * Blue Apron * Big Kid birthday parties * A good movie * For the Kiddos (1, 2, 3) * road trips * Charleston and Maine * a show and a book * what's on my tv * Marcel is back * For lovers of ballet * Serial (seriously) * Swift and Poehler

Feeling Fashionable

* my favorite hair tool (ever) * paper dresses * VPL * Spring 2014 fashion * Zara hotness * jewels I love * Fall 2014 trends * Sweaters and Shoes * For Holiday Parties

General Ridiculousness

* loving pictures * lunch baggies * going purse-less * #OscartheFriendlyPup * hickey burn * the lightweight quilt * a poem for Dr. H * photobombing * stealing cilantro and other crazy things * Swimmin in the creek * Queen B * stop saying sorry! * getting hit on by a 10 year old * puns * dancing in the living room * the Doritos Locos Taco * Owning a bajillion iPhone cases * Nude photo scandals * For love of Dr. H * Using a bajillion bags * Burning myself on things I know are hot

On Becoming 30

Even SHE knows, 30 is fabulous

This post brought to you by the fabulous 

(parent)thetically speaking.

Tomorrow's the day. And you know what, I'm forcing myself to have feelings about it. Because, really, I don't. (I mean, I'm still excited, because cake. ice cream. presents. birthday.) But I decided I needed to get some feelings about it and that I should probably talk about them, because this could be one of those situations where you're eating cake and then all of a sudden you're crying and eating cake, and crying more and then eating more cake.

So here's what I think I think (thanks Peter King) I'm not turning 30 - I'm not going to be one person on Thursday and another person on Friday. Same girl, new decade! I'm becoming 30. It's just what's next (and frankly, I'll still do some things that keep me feeling like the 90's were 10 years ago...like doing the dance to Bye Bye Bye whenever and wherever I hear it). It's organic and natural - nothing is altered about who you are. We spent our 20's figuring out "who we are", now we get to BE!

This is a milestone year for many of us, how are you feeling about it? Those who have paved the way - how did you deal? Anyone else passive on the whole thing, like me? Oh, and I'm slightly appalled at the number of 'pins' for 30th birthday cakes that are a tombstone marking the death of youth. Ugh, please, youth is in the mind of the beholder!

I do love birthdays though (not just mine!), and am totally looking forward to the celebrations that such a milestone warrants (my little girl is just old enough to understand and participate, so we're going to bake together and I'm hopeful for a little beaming-with-pride-I-brought-mommy-breakfast-in-bed deal). How do you celebrate birthdays?

ps. Public Service Announcement! I can't be the only slacker who coveted the now-sold-out Zara soft checked scarf. Well, in my desperation, I went to eBay to find it. It's going for around $100. This is unacceptable, as it was $30 for full retail. My desperation goes further...because I found a knock-off and I bought it. It took a week and a half to get here from China, but hellllo gorgeous - got it today. If you are a coveting, desperate, slacker like me, here is the eBay listing. (be sure to select the "camel" color scarf.)

For previous posts from (parent)thetically speaking, click HERE

A merry day...

Hopping Hedgehogs Having a Happy (Birthday) Hootinanny

There are lots of reasons why I think that birthdays are wonderful: Birthdays are a chance to bring together people you love (no better way to get loved ones to clear their calendar than playin the birthday card!); Birthdays are a chance to indulge (I firmly believe in a little birthday treat!); and Birthdays are a chance to start a new year (and vow to make it your best one yet).

Cake and hearts, 2 of my favorite things!

Though many people dread their birthday, or the idea of a date which reminds us that we're getting older, I advocate for embracing the day!! On your next birthday, celebrate your you-ness and remember that older can also mean happier. 

Buds for life (like me & Dr. H!)

Pursue something new that you love or just celebrate with someone who makes you smile (also, eat some ice cream?!). 

throw a mad tea party?!

Wishing you all a very merry un-birthday (unless today is your special day too!? :)