F.I.T.S. of Merriment

Azay le Rideau

Merry Meri is on vacation this week so she's left you with something Funny, something Interesting, something Tasty and a Site she loves (F.I.T.S.!!) to hold you over until her triumphant return. Enjoy!

Funny: A smiley turtle. Yup.

Interesting: Touch it and you'll turn to stone. Whoa.

Tasty: So I guess we're all taking a trip to Chicago for THIS!?

SiteILove: Want to follow a super chic mama on her adventures with 2 kiddos in NYC? Marissa of Lady & Prince used to work for Oscar de la Renta, now she works for Ivanka Trump, and in the midst of all that awesome she has a beautiful family in Dumbo, Brooklyn. A little bit fashion, a little bit family and a whole lot of NYC, I'm studying and learning and loving reading about all of her adventures.

31 Days of Halloween: Ding dong the witch is dead!! Check out this be-witching front door decor which is easily executed with a pair of stuffed tights and old shoes tucked under your welcome mat.

Hump Day Distractions

I think that's fair.

Can I get a HUMP DAYYYY!!?? Man oh man am I excited to be hitting the halfway mark on this week. I'm like a freakin bulldozer right now - get outta my way Thursday and Friday, I'm comin for ya weekend! Here to make the middle a little more enjoyable are some delightful distractions for your buying, reading, eating, laughing pleasure. Enjoy!!

* What a fabulous idea for a lil kiddo's birthday gift or just a delightful surprise in the mail! (plus a coupon code!)

* I find these images hysterical (man I love creative people) (via CupofJo)

* "I want the strongest, happiest, smartest women in my corner, pushing me to negotiate for more money, telling me to drop men who make me feel bad about myself, and responding to my outfit selfies from a place of love and stylishness, not competition and body-snarking."

* (Buttered Spaghetti) x (Awesome) = YUM.

* Because everyone should know how to draw an adorable turtle.

* Did you mean:

* Pa-"jah"-mas or Pa-"jam"-as? Do you say merry/marry/mary differently? Depends on where you live.

* I cannot think of a more thoughtful, adorable, personalized, lovely gift for a lady in your life.

* The pen is mightier than the pigs. Fact.

* Pie charts that will make you smile. (via CupofJo)

I don't know...

Meet Sammy.

... who's going to be victorious in the big game this weekend, but seeing these photos of 49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick's pet tortoise definitely tell me that he's already a winner. Happy Weekend and Happy Superbowl-ing my friends!!

ps- Not sure if THIS is an official game commercial or not, but it's GENIUS (sports sponsorship lawyer geek out!) 

Pet Panic

Stella (left) and Ferdinand (right). January 2012.

In hindsight, the story I am about to tell you is extremely amusing. At the time however, it was no laughing matter...

Last night I lost my pet turtle Ferdinand. Lost as in, missing from the tank without a trace, no sign of the little bugger ANYWHERE. You see, on Sunday, Dr. H and I decided that baby Ferd was ready to live in the big fish tank with our older, and much bigger turtle, Stella. It was a nerve-wracking decision (we'd been warned by the "turtle experts" on Canal Street (Ferd and Stella's point of purchase) that Stella might attack tiny Ferd), but we felt he had grown big and strong enough since buying him in January to make the move. We placed Ferdinand in the 10 gallon tank and were pleased that our two pets seemed to get along "swimmingly" (hehe). Their first overnight was a success and I left for work yesterday morning fairly unconcerned... but then...

I came home and yelled "Hello babies!" (as I've been known to do) and rushed over to the tank. No Ferd. No Ferd wedged behind the filter or next to the rock or ANYWHERE. Panic sets in. "Stella what did you do to him!?!?!" I hastily plunge my arms elbow deep into the tank, checking the filter, searching for a hollow shell or any sign of my tiny turtle. I call Dr. H in a panic: "Where are you? When are you coming home!? Ferd is MISSING!!!!" I grab a flashlight and start crawling everywhere... "Ferd!! Where are you!? Ferrrrrddd" (yes I was actually calling his name). As I'm checking under the fridge and behind furniture, visions of a dried up little turtle carcass flood my mind. I am a terrible pet owner I think... How do you LOSE a turtle on the 22nd floor of a Manhattan apartment!? But then, behind the bags under the kitchen table, eyes closed, shell dry, was my tiny Ferd. I picked him up and his eyes opened before he sucked his limbs into his shell. Clutching my tiny (daredevil? suicidal?) reptile friend, I contemplated how on earth he got OUT of the tank, survived the fall and then wandered over to my kitchen table. Crazy little bastard.

Before I went to sleep, I went a little Macgyver on the tank to ensure Ferd could never pull a stunt like that again:

The perfect use for that hamper top
flap thingy that no one actually uses.

And I'm happy to report that Ferdinand seems to be recovering nicely and continuing to develop a close friendship with Stella.

I admit, I am VERY anxious to get home from work tonight.

Am I a crazy pet lady? Absolutely. Would anyone who has ever known the love of a pet been less freaked or upset than I was? Doubtful. Pet love is serious love.

Just another manic Monday.

Seriously.

Well this was bound to happen sooner or later. It's Sunday night and I'm staring at my computer screen all "uuuuuuhhh, what should I write about!?" Four months and eighty posts into my merry adventure, I am feeling a touch of writer's block (or maybe it's just my burning desire to watch SO MUCH tv? Frozen Planet, Mad Men, Family Guy, Shameless... my DVR is calling!)

I could remind you how much I love turtles and show you funny pictures I've found of them:

Like this.

And this.

Or I could tell you about this great new trick I play on myself to realize I'm not that busy and I do have time to get "undesirable" things done. (Instead of saying "I don't have time to _____." I say "It's not a priority to _____." and if that doesn't sit well, snap to action. I swear it works! I finally got my teeth cleaned!!) Read my full inspiration HERE.

Speaking of inspiration:

I've been thinking about this a lot lately.

Is this cheating? 

Something about this lunch is bugging me (hehe)

Probably, but thankfully the internet is here to distract and amuse you while I go watch tv :) Until tomorrow!

Turtles and Fishies.

Stella (below) & Ferdinand (up top) say "sup?"

Yesterday, when I arrived home from my weekend out of town, I walked into my apartment flipping on light switches and exclaimed (outloud) "hello babies, I'm home!!" I entered my living room and smiled in relief as two red slider turtles and one beta fish swam excitedly in their tanks at the site of their mama (because they definitely don't view me as just a potential food source... they know me... totally). I am un-embarassed to confess my unwavering love for my pets. 

And isn't it amazing just how much love you can feel for an animal that's never said a word to you!? Growing up, my family included (over many years) old english sheepdogs, a cockatiel, lovebirds, guinea pigs, aquatic frogs, newts and countless numbers of fish, and I loved every single one of them (even the borderline satanic lovebird and the often smelly guinea pig). Though pets are a completely unnecessary responsibility and expense (turtle ear surgery... that happened) there's something awesome about having a four-legged/flying/aquatic member of your family. They need you and love you and you just love them right back. So thank you Ferd, Stell and Del (Deleanor, the fish) for welcoming me home from my trip and for being the coolest pets a girl (who hasn't yet convinced her husband to get a dog) could hope for!