Hump Day Distractions

So true.

The hump is here!! Are you ready to distract yourself with a whole buttload of interesting, adorable, funny, tasty and pointless-yet-awesome links? Enjoy!!

* Brings new meaning to "rise and shine"!!!

* THIS is pretty much a checklist for my junior high school existence.

* Always wanted to take a crack at homemade tzatziki.

* Not so humble brag - Did you watch the Grammy's? Well remember this post about this Lumineers from May and this post about Mumford's new album Babel from November? Merry Meri, musical taste maker at your service :)

* No real purpose, but definitely adorable.

* As a chronic "run late-er" THIS was an interesting read.

* Taking "princess for a day" to the extreme (I love Disney and all, but THIS is... wow).

* As usual, turtles say it best.

Loving goodies.

Filled with love.

Even though Valentine's Day shouldn't be all about gifts, gifts sure are lovely aren't they!? And what better way to show someone you love how much you appreciate them than by sending a surprise goody their way!? Here are some great gift ideas for you and all the Valentines in your life. Happy (last minute!) shopping!

Love in Bloom.

Gentlemen, in my opinion you can do no wrong with flowers. Skip the 1-800-Flowers generic bouquets by searching Google for a local florist and I don't think there's anything wrong with having them arrive tomorrow to avoid the holiday markup and delivery crunch (they'll still be lovely on February 14th!) If you're in NYC, Sprout has a stunning collection of pre-designed bouquets at a very reasonable price point. Pre-order now!!

Dr. H and I received Pablo Neruda's collection of love poems as a wedding gift from a very thoughtful friend (who's also an English teacher!) and I think it would also make a beautiful Valentine's Day gift. Inscribe your own note in the front cover (maybe wrap with these adorable Anthropologie heart earrings!?) and let the woo'ing commence!

Dudes may not be into sentimental gifts the same way the ladies are, but that doesn't mean you can't have a little fun with them! If your guy won't enjoy more standard gifts like nice cuff links, a new golf club or sports team apparel, consider this awesome hot dog roller (with bun warmer!), a box 'o deliciousness from the infamous Peter Luger's or perhaps a set of these hysterical Jack Spade "Stop Talking" cards (Dr. H, would you like to put in a request!?) 

Plan a date night somewhere unexpected.

Never been kissed at the top of the Empire State Building? Always wanted to ride through Central Park in a horse drawn carriage? Dying to see the Knicks in action!? Whatever the activity, think of something you and your Valentine love and do it together. Silence your cell phones and enjoy a few hours of old fashioned quality time for two.

And if you need more inspiration, here are a few great gift lists from around the web:

* Via CupofJo

* Via Anthropologie

* Via Peppermintbliss

* And a few more ideas for the dudes via ThePostGame.

Will you be my valentine!?

Love-ly.

Hooray!! Valentine's Day is almost here!! As a girl obsessed with hearts, fresh flowers, date nights, special friends and my wonderful beyond imagination hubby, you know I'm ready to get down with cupid. Despite the overly commercial nature of Valentine's Day and Hallmark's emphasis on romance, I look at v-day as a chance to celebrate all the wonderful relationships in my life and to remind all the people I love, just how much they rock. To kick off our lovey week, here's a roundup of fabulous goodies for all the valentine's in  your life.

Heart Attack

If you put it in the mail first thing tomorrow, your "heart attack" should arrive just in time. Or maybe you need to leave it on your love's doorstep! Whoever the recipient, full inspiration for this adorable idea HERE.

Want to make a homemade card instead of spending forever in the greeting card aisle at CVS? How about "King of my Heart", "Queen of my Heart"? or maybe "Perfect Match"? More homemade holiday inspiration HERE.

A smashing good time!

There are lots of sweet treat ideas out there for Valentine's Day, but my favorite is this "smash cake" from You Are My Fave. Waayyyy easier to make than I would have guessed, this adorable dessert could be a perfect surprise for the chocolate lover in your life!

"You're the only fish in the sea for me!"

Holy cow cute! Whether you're sending your kiddie to school with Valentines for the class or want to make your co-workers think you're the craftiest colleague on the planet, these printables are for you! Available for purchase on Etsy HERE, you just purchase and print the template, then cut and package these fantastic fishies at home.

The weather man it saying...

Snowy night ahead!!

In honor of winter storm Nemo (we name winter storms now apparently?) here's a fabulous montage of winter weather insanity. So fire up the Netflix, stock up on booze and frozen pizzas and enjoy the beauty of a fresh blanket of sparkling snow. Stay warm my friends!

Getting Grown-Upy

"No one looks stupid when they're having fun" - Amy P.
(aka, my kinda grown up)

This morning I worked out before work. It's a new trend and one I'm not the biggest fan of, but it's necessary. The evenings just seem to get away from me more often than they used to and even on nights when I don't have plans or errands to run, often I'm just freakin tired!! Am I getting old!? Does the fact that I feel the need to vacuum weekly and wear more sensible shoes signal that the practicalities of adulthood have started to defeat the free-wheeling fun of adolescence? 

Apparently, your late 20s are a funky time. This isn't groundbreaking news, but when you're living it, you really understand it. I have friends with kids, friends that own homes, friends back/still in school and friends that party into the wee hours on weeknights (God bless 'em!) The lack of uniformity, for a control freak like me, is nuts. I'm all "but how am I supposed to be acting!?" Thankfully, it appears that there really are no rules anymore. If I want to rent in the city when many are buying in the suburbs, that's a choice I get to make. If I want to drink with friends past midnight on a Wednesday, that's a-ok too (though there's a 50% chance I'm going to hate myself Thursday morning!) When life requires you to start acting grown-upy, you must acknowledge new responsibilities (you mean I have to clean those dust bunnies off the moldings myself!?) but you also have the freedom to make your own rules (the dust bunnies will still be there next week!) And even though waking up before the sun to workout totally blows, at least on weekends I can still sleep until noon.

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.

Winter Blahs.

Spring, I'm packed, dressed & ready for your arrival.

Today I've got a serious case of the Winter Blahs. It's not quite the "ho hums", because I'm not feeling glum or hrumphy, but I'm completely uninspired, super unmotivated and mostly looking for an excuse to curl up in sweatpants and avoid mirrors which reflect my pasty-pale complexion. Winter Blahs for sure.

Since nothing soothes the soul like a sweet treat and a cocktail (and because it's already noon and I remain completely unprepared to share any of my writing, rants or musings!!) here are some of my latest favorite finds of the sweet and alcoholic variety.

Cookie monsters, literally!

These cookie treats look RIDICULOUS and so easy to make that they're a no brainer for your next "I'll bring dessert" moment (or maybe your kid's school birthday celebration?) Cookies on the outside, frosting covered with sprinkes in the middle and then two dabs on top plus m&ms for the eyes (and a nose if you feel so inclined)... Something tells me kiddies and grownups alike will be fans of these monsters.

YUM.

This sweet and savory treat is made of bread, brie, berries and chocolate. That's my kind of sandwich! Full recipe with a few simple details (pinch of salt!?) HERE. Stop reading, go to the grocery store... toaster... mouth... belly. YUM.

The Salty Chihuahua.

Low in calories, sweet and boozy, just how I like em. Try this combo of grapefruit juice, tequila, and orange liqueur for a refreshing Margarita alternative.

The Dirty Shirley

Another sweet one for the ladies! Combine cherry vodka, grenadine and diet sprite. I think this one will have my mind at the beach in no time.