Goldilocks and the 4th of July Weekend

Aren't we all in search of "just right!?"

Dr. H and I have no idea what we're doing for July 4th weekend. As a friend kindly pointed out this morning, yes we know that it is 48(ish) hours away, but alas, we have no plans. We had plans, but unfortunately they unexpectedly fell apart, so now we are back to square one, a location we have not accepted lightly.

Last night, Dr. H and I spent over 4 hours scouring the internet and exploring the globe for a 4th of July destination.  Like Ms. Goldilocks, we are willing to try just about anything, but unfortunately everything is "not quite right". Coastal Europe? Too expensive. Vieques, Puerto Rico? Too much travel to get there. Mt. Rushmore, South Dakota? Not enough time to properly plan. Everywhere on the US eastern seaboard? Booked. Solid.

So here we are, about 36 hours from our first scheduled vacation day and still in search of the vacation that will be "just right". Maybe it'll be day trips to hike/beach capped off with evenings in an empty city dining at all the hot spots normally packed with New Yorkers. Maybe it will be the waterpark capital of the world. Maybe it'll be Mexico. Who knows? Whatever we ultimately select, with Dr. H by my side, I'm sure it will be juuuuust right (awww:).

Wanderlust Part I. - Kakslauttanen, Finland

This is real life (in the Finnish Laplands).

I don't think there could be a more perfect day for sharing these vacation photos than today, a snow day here in NYC. (For the record, snow days are decidedly less awesome when you work from home..!) Since I am a photography-monster (I took nearly 1,000 pictures!) and our trip included 2 distinct parts, I'm going to break this up into 2 posts and hopefully share some wanderlusty images combined with helpful tips. Here goes!!

So to answer your (likely) first question, Dr. H and I decided to travel to northern Finland, in search of the Northern Lights, because of a picture I saw on Pinterest. I sh*t you not. I've always wanted to see the Northern Lights so when I saw THIS picture and was like "I want to go to there" Dr. H said "looks cool" and off I went to plan a trip of winter adventures and magical sky seeking! We settled on the Finnish Laplands, and Kakslauttanen Arctic Resort because of the great accommodations and activities options. The hotel arranged everything we did for us (which was clutch since we were doing our own planning). Our flights were through Helsinki (southern Finland) to Ivalo and then the hotel transferred us to their arctic wonderland about 30 minutes further north. We were there for 3 full days and nights... Ok enough talking... picture time!

There is never a guarantee that you'll see them, but we did,
on night one right outside the main lodge of our hotel!

We stayed in the Traditional House, an almost century old structure. We built
our own fires each day and everything. It was pretty badass.

I cannot describe to you how magical seeing the Aurora is. It reminds me of that
scene in Sleeping Beauty when the 3 fairies are fighting "pink! blue!" and flashes
of colorful light are filling the sky. They move and "dance" They are magic.

For our day 1 activity we did a Husky Safari. It was INSANELY awesome!
Dr. H and I had our own sled and took turns driving these beautiful beasts.

Daylight lasts only a few hours this far north this time of year. We took a
walk around 2pm and that's when I snapped this picture. 

Another mid-afternoon sunset shot, because OMG gorgeous right!?

Night time snowmobiling anyone!? Notice how bundled we all are...
it was about -25 degrees outside (pre-windchill!!!) 

During the day you can see how the heavy snow transforms the trees into
"snow monsters" which bend in all sorts of funky directions

That time we went for a "1 km walk" which ended up being about 3 km, all uphill

The week after Christmas, we put the reindeer back to work.

Into the woods...

This photo was taken after about 5 minutes of stunning Northern Lights views.
My camera wouldn't cooperate and I gave up on getting a picture and just soaked
in the beauty. And then I decided to try one more time to get a snap...

REALLY glad that I did.

Back on the snowmobiles by day which was really freakin amazing.
(check out the GoPro placement on the front of Dr. H's helmet)

I cannot even handle this. This is REAL!

The reindeer farm was unexpectedly awesome. 

Sup?

It is so cold here that the snowflakes fall to earth in perfect fractal form.

A few important things worth sharing:

- There are lots places in the world where you can go to see the Northern Lights. For a list of top locations, click HERE.

- The best time to try to see the Northern Lights in most regions is between late Sept and late March

- Plan in advance (duh): While we did stay at the resort that inspired our trip, the igloos were sold out by the time we made our inquiry (barely 60 days in advance, so I can't be too upset). Since the Northern Lights have a "season", the hotels with optimal viewing book up early. Plan accordingly!
- Pack right: We did not mess around when packing for this trip. We took the forecasted temperatures to heart and purchased new boots, gloves and plenty of "base layer" clothing (We wore Uniqlo HeatTech, cheaper than the EMS-ish/sports brands and SO SO good.) I left the cute clothes and high heels at home. I was packed perfectly and though it was FREEZING, I rarely felt cold.

- Dare to be adventurous: I was pretty nervous about snowmobiling until I tried it. Dr. H doesn't love dogs, except, as it turns out, when they're huskies pulling him in a sled. A trip like this is wild through and through, so once you get there, be brave. 

- Expect the worst (hope for the best): For weeks leading up to the trip, we reminded ourselves that we might not see the Northern Lights and became determined not to let this ruin our trip. Just like any trip that centers around an activity/weather you can't guarantee, go into it prepared to make do without. That way when the sky lights up green on your very first night, your joy and amazement will be immeasurable. 

Tuning back in.

Time to tune in!

I am proud (probably too proud) to share that while on vacation, Dr. H and I watched television a grand total of 1 time. That's right, the television addicts who brought you posts like THIS and THIS went 7 of 8 days without their beloved boob tube. Now there are a few explanations beyond our lack of interest that I should disclose: 

#1- for the first 3 nights of our trip, we stayed somewhere without a single tv on the premises. Not in the room or the lobby or anywhere. It was kinda awesome.

#2- We don't speak Finnish or Danish (which limits your tv options in Finland and Denmark). 

#3- Dr. H and I are "tv show watchers" not "tv watchers" meaning we rarely turn on the tv as background noise or to mindlessly flip through the channels. We're either watching a program we love (see #2) or not turning the thing on.

Given all that, we certainly should have watched less tv, but I'm really pleased with just how little we actually did. We turned on a tv just once, when we were back in the room after a night out and fell asleep to Tom Hanks being adorable in The Terminal (#Random).

But ENOUGH of THAT!! Now we're back in NYC where the evenings are long and cold and the winter hiatus of shows is nearly over. Thank goodness. I mean, Sunday night's premiere of Downton Abbey was pretty much the only thing that kept me from spiraling into a deep end-of-vacation depression. Click HERE for a full list, by day, of all the winter premiers, from Mindy, to Modern Family, Parenthood, Girls, Shameless, Parks and Rec and The Americans... By the end of January, my DVR will be overflowing with options and our vacation induced tv-hiatus will be a distant memory. 

And now back to your regularly scheduled programming...

Indeed.

Whoa. Monday. Monday January 5th, two thousands and FIFTEEN!! We're back!! Happy New Year my friends! I hope that you all had joyful, restful and wonderful holidays and that you aren't crashing too hard against today's return to the grind. I don't even know where to start today, as I'm an overwhelming mix of refreshed, energized, wanderlusty and nervously excited to tackle the massive workload that lies ahead. Also, I'm jetlagged, definitely, seriously jetlagged.

But first thing's first, my vacation was crazy amazeballs. Winter adventures in northern Finland combined with urban adventures in Copenhagen made for a trip so perfect I cannot WAIT to share pictures and stories... to hold you over until I can upload, edit and organize, here are some snaps from my (amazing, beloved) iPhone:

Taken about 48 hours ago from atop the Round Tour in Copenhagen. Now I'm blogging in bed in NYC. Whoa.

I feel so blessed to have been able to take this trip and I'm not a person who uses the word "blessed" very often. I think there's a post on that topic in your future. There's also a post on confidence (as much on the inside as outside), exercise (never enough), starting a family (where's the baby crazy?), resolutions (still makin (and breakin) em!) and lighter topics such as sharing a bathroom with your spouse, being super over winter and old ass mattresses. 2015 is gonna be big people. Here's to tackling the light, heavy and everything in between together!

Merry & Bright, Happy & Healthy

Here here!

Friends! Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season, a Happy Channuka, a Merry Meri(!) Christmas and the start of your most joyful year yet. For this bookend'ed holiday week, Dr. H and I are taking our overdue Anniversary Adventure and this year a winter wonderland excursion of epic proportions is on tap.

Our adventure will include this:

exploring the Finnish Laplands by Husky

and this:

we will be riding in a Sven sleigh and visiting a Sven farm!

and hopefully a little of this:

Fingers & toes crossed for an Aurora Borealis siting!

We'll wrap things up by ringing in the New Year surrounded by this:

A very Copenhagen New Year!

shine bright!

So until next year, here's wishing each and every one of you a Merry & Bright, Happy & Healthy. If you're looking to do some blog reading, check out my Seek to Be Merry Year 3 Recap HERE and just in time for Christmas, there's an amazing reading of the Grinch Who Stole Christmas HERE. See you in 2015!! Xox - Meri

Hump Day Distractions

Autumn in New York...!

Heeeeey Wednesday how we doin!? Today I've got a bit of a spring in my step because Dr. H and I finally booked a belated anniversary/holiday-time vacation last night (more on that soon), I am getting all prettied up later today for a fancy work event tonight and THAT photo above is the view when I step out on my terrace. That view. J'adore. Also, directly below my apartment (and for several blocks around it) film crews are setting up to shoot Law and Order SVU. If I have an Olivia Benson siting that would be epic. Just EPIC!! (I told you I'm in a good mood today:) Here to spread some Wednesday cheer are links from around the web. Enjoy!

* If you're like me, ass in a desk chair more waking hours than not, these stretches are for you.

* Dinner in 20. And looks tasty too!

* In my next life, I want to come back as one of (parent)thetically speaking's kids.

* Hey Dr. H!! I told you so. (get ready for a cuteness EXPLOSION!)

* Cool and unique shelving at an affordable price. Always a good find.

* And while we're talking cool and unique, I really dig these light fixtures.

* How long you need to exercise to burn off some of your favorite eats (30 minute bike ride for 1 slice of pepperoni pizza... that doesn't actually seem so bad, sign me up for a 90 minute ride please!)

* The most wildly fun commercial ever (man I wish I could have seen this in person!)

Travels and Headline News

Wanderlust 4 Eva

Hello hello and welcome back to the merriest corner of the internet! After a little hiatus from blogging for some friend-filled travel and celebrations last week, I'm back to tell you where I've been lately and why you need to go there too.

First, Charleston, SC. Have you been? I visited Charleston over Labor Day weekend, staying at a rented house on Isle of Palms (one of the beach communities just outside downtown Charleston) and had an absolute blast. Charleston has beautiful homes, lovely beaches and a down south chill vibe that made it an excellent vacation destination (including for our family's little kiddos). I highly recommend renting a house near the beach (with a pool, it gets HOT!) and letting your days be a relaxing mix of beach, golf, swimming and the occasional trip into town for shopping (Charleston has awesome shopping of the boutique and designer variety) and eating (we went to Hominy Grill one night and loved everything from the shrimp and grits to the pie for dessert). There was a ton of history and exploring we didn't get to do this trip, but I guess that just means I need to go back!! A short flight from NYC, consider Charleston for your next family vacation, romantic getaway or even a bachelorette or girls trip destination!

View from Munjoy Hill, where our rental house was.

Second, Maine... Like the whole state, but this time around, specifically Portland. I have now vacationed in Maine twice (Bar Harbor last time) and I think it might be my exact-opposite-of-NYC-can-I-have-a-home-here-too favorite destination. Portland is another short trip from NYC (just a 50 minute flight) and the crisp air, gorgeous ocean/bay views and out of this world seafood make it the most refreshing place on the planet to visit. Again we rented a house (sensing a theme here!?) and I fell in love with everything from our multi-story old house, to paddleboarding on the bay, outrageously good lobster mac HERE and the general adorableness of a small city meant for exploring and enjoying on foot. I've already got plans to be back in Maine next summer and  I think this is a tradition I could get used to!!

And finally, HAVE YOU HEARD THE NEWS!? Thanks to an "I-just-opened-my-eyes-and-saw-your-email" from my beloved (parent)thetically speaking, I learned this morning that the royals are expecting another bundle of joy. While I wish first and foremost for Kate and Will a healthy bitty baby, I wish secondly for myself and the world for a little princess because after closely following George's adorable clothing swagger, I'd love to see what a royal lady baby would do. Congrats to the parents-to-be!!

Roadtrippin'

Hit the road!

Have you ever taken a road trip? For several years Sis and I were devoted to week-long adventures on the road and Dr. H and I never hesitate to turn a drive into an adventure. Something about the time spent in comfy clothes chatting, listening to great tunes and throwing your hands out the window to feel the wind blowing past is just a whole lot of fun. Here to help you hit the road are some Merry Meri tips and tricks for road trippin'!

* Take the Scenic Route (literally).

When taking a road trip, getting from A to B should not be your only objective. Consider taking scenic routes and avoiding highways and leave time each day for detours. Some of my favorite road trip memories were the result of unexpected pit stops prompted by the "Attractions at this Exit" sign (like caverns in West Virginia... Sis and I always stop for caverns:)

* Plan ahead (but maybe not too much).

My road trips always have a route selected and highlights along it to serve as a guide, but I don't always make hotel reservations in advance or book things that require the trip to function on a strict schedule. Allow yourself flexibility so that you don't feel rushed and be open to the idea of settling in for the night wherever you find yourself when you get tired. Want to take the adventure up a notch? This list of camper and airstream rentals looks pretty awesome.

* Make a circle.
Don't travel the same way twice because what's the fun in that!? When setting your itinerary, try to make a loop that will allow you to visit different places and view different sites while driving. If you belong to AAA (which I highly recommend!) they are an AMAZING resource for road trip planning because they can create a customized "TripTik" of your route with suggested stops along the way. Yup, it's pretty sweet.

* Pick ridiculous destinations (say yes to the penguin encounter).
Always wanted to go to the roller coaster capital of the world? Need to stop for a kayak on a lake? How about a taste of fried chicken from the pub near Thomas Jefferson's house? In my opinion, the hokier the better when it comes to road trips. So go to the ballpark just to eat the "famous" chili cheese dog or discover that there's an aquarium in Kentucky just across a bridge from your stop in Cincinnati (and say yes to the live penguin encounter!)

* Bring the essentials. 

Things you definitely need: An excellent playlist, snacks, a GPS/phone and car charger, a camera (and you better bust it out in the car AND at each destination) and 1 outfit for every sort of activity (aka, 1 workout outfit, 1 comfy outfit, 1 "somewhere nice" outfit, a bathing suit and a sweatshirt). I also highly recommend bringing along a few stamps (because people love getting postcards:)

Costa Rica is for Adventurers

Annnnd we're back! Dr. H and I have returned from our whirlwind trip to Costa Rica which included hiking in the rainforest, zip-lining through the canopy, spotting toucanettes, snakes and tarantulas, experiencing our first noteworthy earthquake, strolling on a beautiful Pacific ocean beach and most importantly, spending some quality time with a most favorite friend, Q. Costa Rica my friends, is divine. Though I haven't uploaded my camera pics yet, it was such a great trip that I thought I'd share a bit about our adventures and iPhone images today, with more to come whenever I get my act together and edit all my "real" photos.

For the first 3 nights of our trip, we stayed at the Hotel Belmar located in Monteverde, which is a small town in the north-west-middle-ish part of Costa Rica, home to several "cloud forest reserves". These cloud forests are incredible rainforests in the mountains, overflowing with plant life and animals, many of which are found more densely in Monteverde than most other places in the world. The weather changes literally every minute in Monteverde, varying from bright sunshine, to mist, to pouring rain depending on what cloud is briefly floating overhead. It's incredible.

Hiking, day and night is what you go to Monteverde for, but they also have lots of "eco-tourism" activities for adventurers like zip-lining, hanging bridges and horseback riding. Also lots of places to see butterflies, reptiles, amphibians and hummingbirds up close.

If you're visiting Monteverde, I cannot recommend Hotel Belmar, where my buddy Q is working, highly enough. The rooms and facilities are beautiful, the food in their restaurant is knock-your-socks off delicious and the staff is incredibly friendly and accommodating. Like everyone in Monteverde, they are proud of where they live and eager to make sure you love it as much as they do. 

We spent the last 18 hours(ish) of our trip in Playa Hermosa, a small beach town located about 20 minutes from Liberia International airport. If black sand beaches, gorgeous sunsets and insanely cheap fresh ceviche/massages/shaved ice on the beach are your thing... go here.

I had to beg Dr. H to stand up & take this photo...
I'm really glad I did.

As usual, I spent the last few hours of my vacation wondering why on earth I live in a crowded city, spend the majority of my days sitting at a desk and relegate activities like hiking, exploring and strolling on the beach to just a fraction of my time... but I guess that's what makes travelling and vacations so magical. And sure, I could pack up and move to the jungle or settle into a life somewhere exotic by the sea (I've certainly considered it!), but I know eventually I would miss my "real life" - my amazing family and friends, my meaningful work and even the sparkling skyscrapers and bustling pace of New York City. So I guess I'll just make sure I keep getting away, as often as possible, to amazing pockets of the earth like Costa Rica. I hope you do too:)

Our Tour de France

As you may remember, last month Dr. H and I celebrated our 2nd wedding anniversary by treating ourselves to a vacation in France (I'm a very lucky girl). Our trip was beyond wonderful and admittedly a bit unique, so I thought I'd share some pics, tips and inspiration for your own adventure in the Loire!

I first got the idea to go bike riding in France from an article I read (somewhere, I've had no luck re-finding that first inspiration!) and given our shared love of the outdoors, biking and wine, Dr. H was on board immediately. The Loire is also home to some of the worlds most gorgeous chateaux (castles) so this fairy tale loving lady was ready to go!

From my mystery article, I knew that there are tour companies which specialize in travel-by-bicycle itineraries.  I found Inntravel, a UK based company, through Google (how did we live without Google?!) and LOVED all of their location options, highly organized itineraries and price points (though not inexpensive, the pricing is, in my opinion, very fair for the level of services, accommodations and meals). After doing lots of research, reading a ton of reviews and being impressed by their email responsiveness, Dr. H and I took the plunge on Inntravel's "Chateaux of the Loire" 6-night holiday which we felt was the perfect length of time, distance traveled and site-seeing trip for us. And it was:

Azay-le-Rideau

Villandry

Usse

Saumur

Fromage (mmm fromage)

Somewhere between Montsoreau & Fontevraud

               

This forest....

Chinon

Just outside Azay

I could go on for days about the rich history and culture of each location that we visited, the deliciousness of the fresh cheeses and breads and the friendliness of the local people, but to be brief, I cannot recommend highly enough a visit this area of the world. It is the definition of charming, quaint, relaxing, rich and beautiful. And if you're brave enough, I cannot think of a better way to see it than by bicycle. 

Merry Meri & Dr. H adventure abroad tips:

* Don't be afraid to be different. 

Though we didn't know anyone who had taken a trip like this before, the online reviews were excellent and we really felt that the idea suited us. Don't be afraid to try something totally new!

* Know what you're looking for.

Dr. H and I love foreign cultures, being outdoors, eating well, and a combination of adventuring and relaxing. We hate crowded or overly toursity areas. This trip allowed us to be completely on our own, but with plenty of the frills (bag transports, detailed directions, pre-arranged accommodations) that made us comfortable and confident.

* Be realistic about what you can plan; if needed, work with a vendor you trust.

It was a leap to use InnTravel based purely on internet research, but we could not have executed our itinerary without professional experience and assistance. We didn't know the area intimately enough and even my OCD planning skills would have fallen short. Find an agent or company that makes you feel confident that no matter what, everything will be ok. (ps- we LOVED Inntravel and plan to use them again for other bike adventures in the future!)

* Just relax and enjoy.

We got lost. We missed meal times and had to improvise... our vacation was far from "perfect" but that's what made it PERFECT. Whatever trip you plan, roll with it and make the best of each day, even if it doesn't go exactly as planned.