Hump Day Distractions

hehe.

Hello and welcome to the hump my merry friends! I'm ready to hustle right through to the other side of this week so check out these goodies from around the web and then let's get to it! 

* One of my favorite week night desserts is some Fat Free Cool Whip and fresh strawberries with sprinkles (for a little crunch!). THIS recipe is like the grown up, not healthy version of that!

* Or ya know maybe it's ok to occasionally miss a call or text?! THIS just seems a bit much to me.

* Jim Carrey nails it.

* Once upon a time, they were babes...

* Ready to tear up watching a commercial aimed at Dads?

* And while we're talking about Dads, this one is the man!

* These pots crack me up, think I just might have to make em.

* Get ready to have your Disney Princess loving mind BLOWN.

* This guy is Dr. H's idol. I think he's mine too. Way to go guy.

Up a creek... literally (a story).

Once upon a time, long long ago, Merry Meri and her family resided on the awesomely named street of Captains Walk. After over two decades at number 1 Captains Walk, the family decided to relocate to a house along the water and it was agreed that a small memento of their previous address would fit in perfectly at their new waterfront abode... 

[Imagine what you will, but let's just say cilantro isn't the only thing my family has "helped itself to"]

Fast forward to this weekend, when Merry Meri and Dad decided to tackle the final phase of project "Captains Walk Memento": hanging said memento on the dock by the creek in the backyard ("Captains Walk" is the dock where you park your boat!? How witty!!) The project was moving along swimmingly (foreshadowing) when Meri noticed a little creature making its way up the creek, a muskrat lovingly named by the family "Muskrat Sally" (our wit knows no ends!) "Look Dad there's Muskrat Sally!"... followed moments later by a splash as distracted Dad dropped our sign into the creek. Sh*t.

Meri and Dad immediately reached for the fishing net and dangled themselves off the edge of the dock and boat attempting to recover the sign now undoubtedly sunk into the murky, muddy bottom of the creek. Eventually Mom, noting that "too long had gone by for this little project" made her way down to the dock only to find both of her determined DIY'ers hanging upside down pulling various items out of the creek (including the step stool which was knocked overboard in the chaos and a large wood plank which was discovered during the search and rescue mission).

"I have to get in!" Meri exclaimed bravely, "we cannot abandon that sign!!!" and as Mom and Dad looked (and laughed) on, armed with a pool float and boogie board, Merry Meri entered the (never willingly swam-in) creek. Squealing in equal parts over the cold temperature and the feel of the brown, goopy creek bottom, Merry Meri located the sign and used all her foot strength to begin pulling it out of the mud... Undeterred by being ankle deep in slimy creek muck and a momentary confusion of the boogie board strap for an approaching muskrat (actual screaming may have occurred), Meri pulled the sign above the surface. Once their hysterical laughter had subsided, Mom and Dad shared in the victory celebration and Dad confessed to being proud and impressed "I wouldn't have gone in there without a full wet suit!"

After several years, one questionable "relocation of town property" and a swim in the creek later, operation Captains Walk Memento is now complete. Way to go Fam :)

Hump Day Distractions

Awww hehe.

This morning, halfway down the stairs to exit my apartment building for my scheduled weekly workout, a little voice in my head said "Meri, you forgot to pack a bra..." And I said "really little voice? How do you know that?" But with no time to waste, just to be sure, I ran back up and straight to my dresser. Sure enough, my black bra was in there, not in my gym bag. I thought to myself "Thanks little voice! Today is going to be a good day". Here to ensure that good day are some delightful distractions from around the web.

* Some super tasty looking 2 ingredient sandwiches. Yum. (via CupofJo)
* Tina on women's body image. God I love her! 

* It always strikes me as funny that actors campaign for awards, but they do. And these Emmy campaign posters from the cast of Mad Men are pretty freakin good.

* Do you work from home? Dr. H used to and based on his experience, all these tips sound like a great idea.

* Good for you Natalie! All beautiful bodies are created equal!!

* "I think if we met I would find you insufferable" and other missed connections of the hysterical variety. 

* If you love Billy Crystal or Mindy Kaling, or both, read this (super cool behind the scenes When Harry Met Sally info enclosed!!) 

* Have you heard of oil pulling? I am kinda skeptical, gonna have to consult Sis (20 minutes!?)

* Behind the scenes of the Photoshop treatment for all those food pics that make us salivate!

* I think I've shared pics of this duo before... but who cares? Here's more!! (thanks Sis!)

geeking out.

Being a geek means......

This post brought to you by the fabulous 

(parent)thetically speaking.

so guys, I think I’m a geek. Nay, I KNOW I’m a geek, but I just kinda wanted to put some stuff out there, and see if maybe we all have a little inner geek? I remember it well, when I realized and embraced my geek-ness. It was middle school, and I was the brunt of some teasing, etc (your classic middle school stuff) because I, like, voluntarily raised my hand to answer the questions the teachers were asking. And I voluntarily stayed home on the weekends to watch Nash Bridges with my dad and go thrifting with my mom and read John Grisham books. So there you had it, I was a geek, I identified it and looked forward to a lifetime of discovering the ways my inner geek would become an outer geek. So I thought I would share with you, through the magic of internet links, the ways in which I tend to geek out. Anyone else relate to this stuff…anyone? Bueller?

Basically the greatest shirt ever.

*My (mandatory) but entirely too enthusiastic participation in History Day  and my completely optional participation in Odyssey of the Mind...or maybe it was my pride in making it to states for both…word.

*my excitement for 7pm when Jeopardy would come on (to this day…though it’s on at 7:30 here, kind of life-altering) 

*My obsession with the notion that our universe has a shape – I just think it’s one of the coolest things to think about! Here’s a quick write-up, but I feel as though I could’ve taken an entire college course on the subject

*I would like to go to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter for my 5^th wedding anniversary, and would like to make it a requirement that my husband read all the books before we go (he’s only seen the movies, ugh, don’t get me started). And I want my own wand. I really really do.

*Aaron Sorkin is a writing genius , and I quote parts of his dialogue daily. (full disclosure, I spent at least a half hour reading quotes before picking one to share)

from The West Wing…

CJ: Duchamp was the father of Dadaism.

Toby: I know.

CJ: The dada of Dada.

Toby: It’s like there’s nothing you can do about this joke. It’s coming and you just have to stand there.

*One of my besties (who totally gets me) got something like this for my son for his first birthday…why, yes, it is indeed a toy lightsaber

So there you have it. And this handy Buzzfeed chart lets me know that I am an offshoot of Geekus Prime. Please tell me you’re on here somewhere too?! 

Pack MY lunch!

The creative parents of the world have won my heart once again. Like Dinovember before it, today's post is dedicated to David LaFerrier, the awesome Dad who in 2008 began packaging his sons' lunches in the most adorably creative way.

Now David has somewhat of an unfair advantage over other parents/lunch packers in that his graphic design background clearly translates to some serious creative and artistic talent, but it's his dedication to seeing magic in the ordinary that really blows me away....

David says “The sandwich bags are something that my boys and I share together, but the comments people leave about a parent doing something similar really touches me, because there are other parents that love their kids just as much. And they love them enough to leave a little note, a little whatever it may be… that’s just something that brightens their day when they get to their lunch.” How amazing is this guy!?

David's work has been featured on Sharpie's website and he receives messages from other parents who are inspired by his work on a regular basis. Click HERE for more about his awesome bag-drawing endeavors or HERE to visit his Flickr.

Hump Day Distractions

Poor Abe.

I spent most of this morning in a full fledged U.S. Supreme Court geek-out sesh, so I'm just gonna get right to the distractions (so you can get right to your humping:) Happy Wednesday my friends!!

* Hey Mike! When can I move in!?

* A yummy looking pasta salad for your next BBQ

* And for dessert...

* When smart people sneakily outsmart the rest of us...

* A thought provoking piece on new motherhood for all you Moms and Mommies-to-be.

* Move over Kate, there's another lovely lady absolutely NAILING this royal wedding thing (via exPress-o)

* Creative advertising makes me smile.

* An inside look at something you probably never thought much about, but will be amazed by.

* Few things more fabulous than an outdoor movie in NYC.

* Don't be hatin on comic sans people.

* Does THIS product actually work? Because I have a real problem with spilling chocolate syrup on my sneakers...

* And in honor of today's historic SCOTUS decision, THIS Dad's letter will warm your heart.

Hump Day Distractions

Rubber Ducky, you're the (big) one!

This morning the skies opened up in NYC and dumped enough rain on me to soak nearly every ounce of clothing I was wearing (despite my raincoat and umbrella!) ...and did I mention it was before 8am and I was going to WORK OUT!?! Universe, you're a real b*tch sometimes, ya know that!!? Anyway, here to help us hump the hell outta this day are a ton of delightful distractions. Enjoy!

* What an awesome way to preserve your kid's artwork without having to save every single piece (though I strongly recommend keeping more than a few originals anyway:)

* More information than you ever needed (but kind of wanted) to know about the Doritos Locos Taco.

* Anyone have a spare $695 to buy me these quirky beauties? (via Honestly WTF)

* And while we're on the topic of expensive beyond belief... Looks like a sort of unintentional sequel to "The September Issue" (which I adored).

* Spice up your dinner party table decor for just $9.99 (via Justina Blakeney)

* Warren Buffet wants us to remember the ladies..!

* Pasta salad deliciousness.

* Whole lotta awesome hair tutorials.

* Amazing people in amazing combinations.

* Craft those cheapy votive candle holders into a little something special.

* THIS dog just blew my mind.

* A Dad with an excellent sense of humor (I hope his wife has one too!)

* I think her joke is hysterical and his animation is perfection.

Hump Day Distractions

FINALLY!!! Isn't this just the spring-licious week we've all been desperate for!? NYC has been almost hot these past few days and the warm sunshine seems to be putting smiles on everyone's faces. It's glorious... Almost as glorious as knowing that we just need to survive another 2.5 days until the weekend. Hop on over the hump with these distractions and I'll see you on the other side :)

* A touching and amusing story about parental love from Dax Sheppard (including a heartwarming photo of his sexy baby mama Kristen Bell)
* Like something out of an Alfred Hitchcock movie... It's gonna be so GROSS.
* Hope in bloom (via NYC Taught Me)
* Spinach and Goat Cheese Hash Brown Nests. I pinned it and it's been re-pinned a buttload. I guess peeps just love their goat cheese and fried potatoes! (full recipe HERE)
* I'm torn between thinking THIS is absolutely hysterical and completely cruel. Good luck when he's a teenager Dad.
* So true.
* If you watch Mad Men, you must read this review (warning: complete spoiler of Sunday's episode)
* There's something incredibly beautiful about THIS.
* The only problem is deciding which one to order first... AMAZEBALLS. (via YAMF)
* The plan is to marry him, divorce him, take the house. Don't really see any other way to make THIS mine.
* Incredibly creepy in a completely hysterical way (who does this stuff!?)
* Photobomb legends.

Daddy's Girl (always).

Do something quintessentially "Dad & me" - time together is an awesome gift.

Dudes and dudettes, Father's Day is THIS SUNDAY!! It feels like we were just standing in the greeting card aisle lamenting the awful selection of Mother's Day cards doesn't it? And for me, there's something about Father's Day that's much more difficult to nail than Mother's Day. Maybe it's because I'm a daughter, or because Dads so often just buy themselves the things they need/want, but to quote one of my girlfriends, "how many polo shirts can I buy him!?" So in preparation for this Father's Day, I thought I would help you think outside the box - find a way to tell your Dad he rocks without falling victim to the Hallmark-i-ness of the holiday. Because if your Dad is anything like my Dad, he is awesome. Luv you D ;)

What could be better than cheese delivered to Dad's doorstep?
Cheese delivered to Dad's doorstep EVERY MONTH!!!

Last year Sis and I got my Dad a cheese-of-the-month club membership and he LOVED it. "Of-the-month" clubs are an awesome way to gift a favorite item (wine, beer, hot sauce, jerky, PIZZA!) and introduce your Dad to a variety you might not have otherwise been brave enough to purchase. I've had great experiences with www.amazingclubs.com and love their fun variety (maybe your Dad needs a "Sirloin of the Month"!?)

Buy your Dad the car of his dreams!

Just because he's a Dad, doesn't mean he won't love a good toy. Most Dad's flip for gadgets, electronics, planes, trains and automobiles, so consider that remote controlled car you know he'll have a blast crashing around the driveway or maybe a classy dart board? The less practical, the better.

Get tickets to the game and wrap them thematically to take
the presentation up a notch from "hey Dad, here's an envelope"!

There's something so "Dad" about going to a game together. Even my Dad who isn't a huge sports fan, seems to love sitting in the stadium with his girls, enjoying hot dogs and a few hours of conversation. Pick an event you know your Dad loves and grab some tickets. Time together and live sports? It's a home run (hehe).

When in doubt, turn to music

What band did your Dad love as a teenager? Who is on that ratty concert t-shirt that he refuses to throw away? Check out who is touring this summer (Jones Beach has an awesome lineup) for a musical take on the gift above, or maybe buy a vinyl? If he doesn't have a record player, that might be a funky gift or consider professionally framing the album cover, turning it into a keepsake/piece of art.

Take me home.

Come here guys, I need a hug!

As you may have noticed, last week was a bit... off. A bit less merry... filled with more of life's tough stuff than anyone prefers. And you know what I wanted more than anything as the week wore on? To go home to my Mom and Dad's. Now this isn't the house I grew up in- there's no childhood bed or memories there, but it's where my parents are and I wanted to lay on their couch and listen to their voices and let them feed me delicious meals. I'm a married, professional woman and when life got tough, what I wanted was my Mom and Dad.

As I grow up and become an "adult" (used in quotations because I'm still not positive when exactly I'm old enough to fit into that category) I'm amazed by how much I still need my Mom and Dad. And it's not just because my Dad knows how to hang a light fixture and my Mom knows how to make a yellow-ed bathing suit white again... it's because their presence can calm me in some unspoken way. Traveling home with Dr. H for a day with my Mom and Dad took the weight of a very heavy week off my very tired shoulders. I guess even if we grow up and grow older, we never stop being our parents' kid. Awesome.

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P to the S: Seektobemerry is now not just a blogspot, but also a .com! Typing www.seektobemerry.com into your browser will bring you the same bloggy goodness as www.seektobemerry.blogspot.com AND I'm way more google search-able! Check it out, tell your friends!