Hump Day Delay - Halloween Edition!

Candy Corn makes me DANCE (or is that just the sugar!?)

Friends, lovers, ghost, ghouls and goblins... Today is National Candy Corn Day! HEEELLLZ YES! My most favorite seasonal treat (seriously. No, SERIOUSLY) is celebrating its greatness on the eve of my favorite holiday so it's pretty much orange-colored sugar-fest over here today. (#GoodthingIhaveDentistsinmyfamily) Since I didn't manage to make a Merry Meri appearance yesterday, I thought I would combine my hump day collection with my carefully curated food and drink inspiration for Halloween. 

* Because you've always wanted THIRTY different candy corn related recipes. 

* Do you know who BatDad is? BatDad is the man. Check him out in action HERE.

* 13 incredibly cool recipes for Halloween HERE... and in case that endorsement doesn't get you clickin, check out visuals of a few of my favorite edible creations:

 

* How about 31 last-minute Halloween hacks from the always reliable Buzzfeed? (some of them are really good!)

* 25 Halloween inspired cocktails to make sure your night is plenty BOOzy.

* Pretty sure my favorite thing about having a little kid is going to be dressing them up for Halloween (also, THIS). 

* Because humans aren't the only ones who can get into the Halloween spirit:

Click HERE for more DIY animal costume amazingness.

I cannot even handle this little dude's cuteness (and I'm so glad he's ok!):

For the Kiddos

Hey kiddo!

After spending 4 days in Atlanta with my beyond delightful 3 year old niece and brand spankin new little nephew, I have developed a severe case of baby brain. Not to be confused with "want a baby" brain, my baby brain is just a constant state of kid-filled daydreams which get me super excited for the day when Dr. H and I decide to start a family (because from what I can tell, having a family is awesome:) To hold me over until that day, (and to share all the ideas and info I've been hoarding for it!) here's the latest installment of "For the Kiddos". Enjoy!

I'm absolutely in love with the adorable shirts and leggings available in the Spoon x Chogre Etsy shop! Made of organic cotton and covered in colorful, unique prints, I can't wait to have a tiny human to dress in these shirts!

Want a craft activity for your toddler that doubles as an adorable gift? How about you "send a hug"!? The perfect way to send love to far away relatives, this 3 ingredient craft (paper + scissors + markers/crayons) is sure to be a hit with your kiddo as well. (Original post HERE.)

Pretty much the coolest way to store your kids Legos. Ever. (Also, an excuse to eat Cheese Balls!)

Toddler proof your doors for the cost of 1 pool noodle. It's all about improvising people!!!

Breakfast is always better with (smiling) monsters! Turning morning oatmeal into an adorable treat using THIS simple step-by-step tutorial. You've probably already got everything you need except the edible marker (and I think every kitchen should probably have an edible marker:)

Parental Reading.
Here are a few kiddo-related books I've recently heard very good things about around the web:

* How to Have Your Second Child First: 100 Things That Are Good to Know... the First Time Around

* All Joy and No Fun: The Paradox of Modern Parenthood (not how parents effect kids, how kids effect parents)
* Real Food For Mother and Baby (a book about just giving your kids all the good stuff you're eating).

And here are a few interesting articles that got me thinking:

* Comparing American parenting techniques to those in other countries (REALLY fascinating)
* Why Finnish babies sleep in cardboard boxes.

* 7 Secrets to raising happy kids? Sure, why not!!?
* 10 common mistakes parents make - a REALLY interesting look at what parents do now and how it may impact the long term health and well being of their kids. 

Plus, a few things you just might need to buy:

* Must have baby items according to Cup of Jo.

* The perfect high chair solution for apartments dwellers and others without a ton of space.

* Got a little one waking you up before the sun!? Maybe this "ok to wake" clock is the solution?!

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

The rewrite.

I had to read that pic twice, but once I got it, I could not stop laughing. "Everything". Hehe. Annnnyways, how we doing friends? Are you managing to stay warm!? As if the first full work week post holidays wasn't torture enough, Mother Nature threw in a little polar vortex to keep things interesting. Lordy it is COLD!! Here to help you endure (the week and the temperatures) are some goodies from around the web. Enjoy!

* The cold has never looked so beautiful.

* Fellow cheese lovers, brace yourselves... Cheesepocalypse is near.

* 8 little tricks to help you beat the blues (via exPress-o)

* This week is apparently actually designated as one of the most depressing of the year (yikes!) so HERE are some silly somethings to lift your spirits. (that hedgehog! I die!)

* Dinner tomorrow. It's gonna be Quinoa-tastic!

* Because dragging yo ass outta bed to exercise before work is even more awful in the winter, here are some tips for making sure it actually happens.

* P&G is back to make sure you cry during the Olympics again.

* Poor ducky!!! (thanks sis!)

* Spotted on Pinterest (in case Dr. H asks you what I want for Valentine's Day :)

* THESE parents are insane (in the best possible way!)

* Do you watch SYTYCD? If so, you must watch THIS.

* I work in an office and this list is 100% accurate.

PS- according to my Mom (who is an expert in such things), today is National Bubble Bath Day! I suggest we all celebrate!! 

Have you heard about Dinovember?

Every so often, I stumble upon something so amazeballs on the internet that I decide it is worthy of its own post here on SeektobeMerry. Dinovember is just such an amazeballs discovery...

Dinovember is the brainchild of two amazing parents who worried that our technology-centric world would lead to a loss of their kids' sense of wonder and imagination. To keep the magic alive, at night after the kids go to bed, their dinosaurs "come to life" and create mischief throughout the house.

Or sometimes they hang out and have fun...

I just love imagining these two adults, sitting around after their kids go to bed, setting up these amazing scenes, essentially playing with the toys themselves (because isn't that kinda what they're doing!?) 

 And just when you thought it couldn't get any better, Dinovember is becoming something of a craze, with dinosaurs coming alive at night in homes across the country!! Click HERE to see more pictures and read the original story about Dinovember (the photo captions are really funny and the short blurb from the father/author is super sweet) then click HERE to check out the Facebook page they've created which is filled with more hysterical pictures from the founders of Dinovember as well as submissions from other dinosaur-filled homes! And if you want to get in on the action yourself... #dinovember is all you need to do!!!

Hump Day Distractions

I feel you bro.

Hellllo hump day! I can't remember the last time I was this happy to be heading over the hump. I'm still paying for the irresponsible (aka, amazing) decisions I made over the weekend meaning I'm completely exhausted, in girl friend withdrawal and complete dance party detox. It's brutal I tell you (#champagneproblems). Let's hump the day together...

* "A study... found that dispositionally happy people—those who have a general leaning toward the positive—are less skeptical than others. They tend to be uncritically open toward strangers and thus can be particularly gullible to lies and deceit." <-- That sounds about right! (Click HERE for a fascinating and very worthwhile read about what happy people do differently)

* Sleeping Beauty adorable-ness.

* Uncle Phil? It was you all along!? (mind blown)

* Strong possibility that THIS will be making its way into my home...

* This little dude is just cooler than cool.

* Tonight's dinner menu. I'll let you know if it lives up to my mighty high expectations!

* The perfect buffet spread.

* A kind of genius idea for parents looking to maintain their sanity.

* Look at all the stars who were almost on The Office.

* We've all been there buddy.

Hump Day Distractions

Eat a cookie.

This morning I woke up early (after a fitful night's sleep - anyone else in NYC get that blaring 3:51am Amber Alert on their iPhone!?) to workout. I had a great workout, then I showered and got dressed and discovered that I omitted 1 fairly essential, very "supportive" article of clothing in my gym bag... Oops. Here's to a bouncing good Wednesday:) 

* I think my parents' house by the sea might need one of THESE.

* If only we could all see the world (and enjoy Cheerios) the way these kids do (thanks Sis!)

* If any business on the planet was going to have the name "Meri Meri", I think it is fitting that it's a party supply company. (Enter for a chance to win some Meri Meri goodness HERE!)

* Well, I am generally a Happy Camper:)

* Check out THESE crazy cute shoes for kiddos to wear at the beach.

* I think somebody at Nike lost their job this week...

* My iPhone needs an ice pop. Anybody want to make one for me?!

* smörgåstårta = a Swedish sandwich cake with layers of bread separating creamy fillings = YUM.

* Lookout Cronut, there's a new dessert in town!

* It's the dog's expression in this photo that really makes it so great.

* What's that!? You want to see a ton of pictures of fluffy animals!?

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

"How will we survive another 2.5 days?" asked the adorable baby walrus....

Hallelujah! Hump Day is HERE!! Somehow I'm still suffering from an awesome weekend hangover (celebrating your niece's second birthday with her and your fabulous fam will do that to you) and my upcoming weekend plans (GWU alum returning to her stomping grounds for 2 nights only!) still seem a million years away. So along with basking in the warm winter sun (I will shake you if it kills me Winter Blahs!) here are a few distractions to make the day go just a little faster. Happy Humping!

* Legos are just so damn cool.
* In case you were wondering, THIS is the definition of fierce.
* Fashion meets function, of the winter warmth variety (gots to get me one!)

* This link contains words like "triple cream" "cheese" and "bacon". Click at your own risk.
* I'm still learning how to apply everyday makeup (great tips HERE) but it sounds like it's worth the effort.

* Beware, jumping gay walrus.

* Perfect for that "Spring has Sprung" cocktail party I've been thinking of hosting.

* These parents are my heroes. When I grow up, I want to be just like THEM.

Hump Day Distractions

Humpy the Camel. Tough name.

Hey-o it's Wednesday, can I get a whoop whooop!? No? Too soon? Well at least you've made it halfway and hopefully it's smooth sailing for the rest of the week. Here to distract you are some fabulous gift-guides which I've curated from around the web (why do it myself when others are already doing it so well!?) as well as a few other smile-worthy links. Have a good one!

* Short on inspiration!? Here are some fabulous gift guides of every kind: 

     For the ladies in your life, click HERE, HERE (under $25!), HERE, HERE, HERE, 

     For the gents (Dr. H, something in here has been purchased for you!), click HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE

     For coworkers, click HERE, HERE, HERE

     For those adorable kiddos, click HERE, HERE, HERE

* A great place to shop for anyone in your life with a sense of humor.

* I want to go to there.

* Top alternative songs of the 90s. Because we should never forget Spacehog, Collective Soul or Eve 6.

* Is it Friday yet?

* Thank you parents (and lemons) for THIS.

(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

Get your game face on, it's HUMP DAY!!

I'm feeling a bit spunky today folks! I have an awesome weekend in my rear view and another fabulous one planned for the days ahead so I'm all "let's DO THIS people!" Ahhhh summer. Anyways.... here are some distractions for your hump day enjoyment.
* These images made the Facebook rounds last week, but if you haven't seen them yet, they will warm your heart.
* I'm pretty sure this is one of the greatest gift ideas ever (especially for fans of The Office) 
* Kristen Bell's love of sloths reaches a level you have to see to believe 
* Being safe doesn't mean you have to sacrifice being stylish
* Took this recipe for a test drive with friends last night. Six thumbs up at my dinner table!
* Just ordered one of these beauties with my married name monogram because I just love being Ms. Dr. H:) (baller version here)
* Some parents just weren't cut out for Facebook...

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.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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!

Hump Day Distractions

What an adorable wiener!

Forgive me for I have sinned. I missed yesterday's post and didn't even attempt to distract you with a link or silly picture. Oopsies... I was off California dreamin and I left you hanging. My bad. Good news is that I'm BACK and I've got some extra distractions, funny stories and links coming at you for the rest of the week. So hump it out and come visit again tomorrow for your regularly scheduled merriment! 

* Get ready to say "why didn't I think of that?" about 10,000 times 

* I moustache when these will be back in stock so I can buy a complete set 

* Your grandma is surfing the web and she just discovered Kim Kardashian's x-rated claim to fame 

* So high in the sky... ladies and gentleman we are floating in space 

* watch out sky, I'm comin for ya... 

* Holy (malted milk) balls. 

* Example of questionable parenting decisions (I'm not lion hehe) 

* Texting is not the highest form of communication, but it is definitely the funniest. 

And in case you were wondering... Pedro the penguin made it to his new home in NYC without incident. He found the overhead compartment to be a bit snug, but generally pleasant:)

articles did not shift during flight.

First comes love, then comes marriage...

It seems that once a woman gets married, people immediately want to know when she’s going to start a family. I’m amazed by how many people have followed their marital congratulations with “when are you planning to have children?” The (extremely personal!) topic explodes in your face mere seconds after the volume on “what color are your bridesmaids dresses?” is turned down. Sometimes I just want to yell “WHOA there! One life milestone at a time please!!”

What’s really weird about my reaction to this question is that I actually think about having children all the time; but not in the “ohman I want one RIGHT NOW” sort of way (stay calm Dr. H), more like “someday when I do this baby makin’ thing it is totally gonna rock!” I love imagining what Dr. H and I will be like as parents: I love envisioning our little family adventuring in NYC and knowing I’ll have the perfect excuse to indulge in all the “little kid” activities I find so entertaining (arts and crafts, circuses, playgrounds!) I love the idea of being a mom. But I’m also well versed in known “lesser joys” of parenting - the exhaustion, deciding whether or not to leave the city I love and navigating how to be a career rock-star like my Dad AND a supermama like my stay-at-home Mom (can it be done!?) In the see-saw of my mind, couples getaways and date nights are still far more appealing than having any tiny 3rd parties join us. Is this normal? Is there a normal? I keep imagining some day I will wake up and magically “be ready”. Until then however, I will smile politely through the Baby Inquisition while mentally planning bicycling trips in France, boozy Tuesday nights and awesome Saturdays where I hide in bed with Dr. H until noon.

Image via Pinterest

10 reasons...

Sisterly love...

...why having a sister is the best:

1) Having a sister means you have someone to play with, at any age.  

2) Having a sister means you get to double your wardrobe. 

3) Having a sister means you always have someone to take road trips with.

4) Having a sister means you don't need your parents when one of you throws up in the middle of the night NEXT TO the garbage pail (because sisters take care of each other).

5) Having a sister means you always have someone to sit next to you on the roller coaster.

6) Having a sister means you have someone to tell you that those pants are too neon.

7) Having a sister means even though you couldn't be more different, something just makes you feel the same.

8) Having a sister means having someone to take a million "arm stretched out in front of you" self-portraits with. 

9) Having a sister means having secret noises and faces and snuggles.

10) Having a sister means having an unexplainable connection... you just need your sister in your life. Always.

Happy Birthday to my (funny, smart, wacky, beautiful) sister, who I need in my life. Always.