Things I Love Thursday

Happy almost-Friday! How’s your week been? Around here, it’s been kind of quiet and rainy, which has been the perfect vibe for reading, making soup, and taking long, super-steamy baths. Nope, not for running! Haha. Some of you can run in the rain. I respect that. I’d like to run in a tropical rain. But San Francisco rain is cold and bitter! Nah, I’ll stick it out with yoga, the elliptical, and swimming until things clear up again.

Well, as always, there were some good finds around the web this week. Here you go ~ enjoy!

1. Scientists prove the color pink doesn’t exist, via Time:

Say whaaaaa???

Pink is just wishful thinking has GOT to be my favorite quote of the year so far.

I’ve always had a theory that pink is subversive and now I know why. What an interesting argument!

2. Boing Boing brings us the case for dolphin rights:

In their words… whether or not certain cetaceans—primarily whales and dolphins—deserve to have legal rights under the law, the same as people have. 

Yowza! I’m telling you. We must prepare. They WILL become our overlords… once again.

3. Need a crash course in Mad Men Season 4 before Sunday’s Season 5 premiere?

Click the link above for a comprehensive, 4-minute video that reviews all the good parts.

Trés Sugar helped us out here. Thanks, Trés!

4. Via Copyranter, this fantastic 1960s anti-war Lego ad. Try not to cry.

5. Rawmazing had some deee-lish-looking Strawberry Thumbprint Cookies!

Oh. Em. Gee.

No, I haven’t tried these yet, but I’m gonna! AND I want to try them with cashews instead of almonds. HOW great would that be? Super-great.

6. An excellent essay on Clean Foods, Clean Living via Crazy Sexy Life:

Guest blogger Amie Valpone dishes on clean eating as a clean-living lifestyle, not just a dietary choice. Yes, it takes dedication and planning, but it’s your life. Do you really want to fill your life with processed crap that makes you feel like junk? I don’t

She says:

It’s not about the gluten-free pizzas or the vegan cookies or the dairy-free ice creams. Yes, I’m sure they all taste great. But if these companies are taking out the gluten, dairy, fat or sodium, well … what exactly are they putting in? Kind of scary to think about, isn’t it? Just take a look at the ingredient list, and I’m sure you’ll be blown away (or unable to pronounce) what’s inside.

Let’s start by taking a step back and eating the basics: fresh produce, lean proteins and healthy fats. Challenge yourself to forego the food store for local farmers markets … I bet you’ll be surprised how creative you can get. And the best part? Your taste buds will transform, and you’ll soon realize you don’t need that fake sweetener or that sugary iced tea or those cookies.

Go, Amie!

Plus, she includes a few delicious recipes for Vegan Falafel Balls and Kale Cashew Pesto. Yum!

7. Aromatic Lifestyle dished on why DIY beauty is the way to go:

Save money, customize, reduce waste, and know exactly what your skin is absorbing ~ yes! Excellent reasons.

Check out her post for some thoughts that will get you on the DIY train in no time!

8. A short essay on “need” via The Minimalists:

It’s true. We don’t need much for a meaningful life. We really, really don’t.

9. Hey, romance writers! Read RT Review’s 10 places now accepting manuscripts!

Got a finished ms? Send it out! Set it free! Good luck!

(Entangled Publishing is getting big, big, big methinks.)

10. Finally, Mashable shared a new HowAboutWe, this time for couples.

Been with your honey for a while and need some fresh ideas for dates and quality time? This sounds like a good, cute idea.

Whelp, that’s all for now, friends! Have a wonderful weekend!

What are some great things you’ve seen this week?

Got any fun plans for the weekend?

Things I Love Thursday

Happy Thursday! I don’t know about you, but I’ve had a fabulous week so far. But! I’m still very much looking forward to the weekend I’ve got a couple of nice, long runs planned, some good food to make and eat, and some quality time with my honey. What more could I ask for?

Lots to love around the webs these days. Here are some of my faves. Enjoy!

1. Smithsonian.com brought us the Best Science Visualizations of the Year:

(Image by Bryan William Jones, PhD via Smithsonian.com)

The images range from illustrations to stunning photography, like this extreme close-up of a mouse’s retina! Mind-blowing stuff. Click the link above to view them all!

2. The Grindstone reminded us why right-brained women shouldn’t shy away from working in tech.

They say:

Tech has a reputation as a left-brain field, but in reality it’s the perfect sector for creative, right-brain problem-solvers — including many women who would never think of themselves as tech-y.

Agreed! I consider myself definitely skewed right, but I’ve worked in tech on and off for ten years and I love it! Not only do my creative abilities allow me to often see various sides of an issue that straight-up left-brainers might not see, it’s been useful for me to learn to balance my own hemispheres.

3. Wondering what’s up with chemicals and cosmetics? (If you’re following my 52 Tips, I bet you are ) This infographic spells it out!

It’s a self-regulated industry that has some serious lack of qualms about using nasty ingredients. Be cautious, my friends, be cautious.

4. A $1.99 toy store gun transformed into this stunning steampunk beauty! From Elsa of Ahem, via CRAFT.

It is ALL about the Rub’n'Buff, baby!

5. Hee hee. This visual pangram makes me giggle. Via Copyranter.

A quick brown fox jumping over a lazy dog. Ha!

6. From Wired UK, via Boing Boing: a tongue piercing that steers a wheelchair!

They explain:

The output signals from the sensors are wirelessly transmitted to an iPod Touch or iPhone. Software installed on the Apple device works out the relative position of the magnet with respect to the array of sensors in real time and interprets the user’s commands. This information is then used to control the movements of a cursor on the computer screen or to substitute for the joystick function in a powered wheelchair.

Seriously amazing technology!

7. I’m in love with this room. Via Apartment Therapy.

That chandelier plus the cozy couch plus the table and layered rugs… oh, and the butter-yellow walls. Lurve it.

8. Taste and Tell had this awesome piña colada salad!

I’m dreaming of a Hawaiian vacay…………

9. LA in Bloom shared some faves from the Hadley Holliday exhibit at the Taylor de Cordoba gallery:

Gorgeous, eyeball-twisting work! Very inspiring.

10. Finally, for the parents, 6 tips for better Facebook parenting, via Mashable.

When shooting your child’s laptop isn’t an option! Just kidding. These are good tips for socially networking with your kiddos.

That’s all for now! Have a wonderful weekend!

What are some great things you’ve seen this week?

Got any fun plans for the weekend?

Things I Love Thursday

If you’re in the US, you might be gearing up for a long weekend ~ if so, I hope you’ll be doing something fun. Around here, we’re just hoping the weather stays beautiful so we can get outside for some biking or hiking. Nothing too crazy, just some peaceful good times.

Happy Thursday! Enjoy this week’s picks from around the web!

1. From GalleyCat, 10 Pinterest boards for book lovers

A personal fave pinner to follow is the ever-creative (and San Fran local) Chronicle Books.

2. More.com brought us outfit tips for those who work from home.

The article is geared toward home-based entrepreneurs, who might see clients during the day or have last-minute lunches. However, some of the advice applies to those like me (and some of you!) who currently write, edit, design, program, etc. for a living and could feasibly not even leave bed all day. Ahem.

I definitely believe in a look good, feel good philosophy and make sure to dress for work every day, even if I don’t even need to leave the house. Being dressed, blow-dried, and with (very) simple makeup, I feel professional and sharp ~ which I believe translates in my ultimate ability to work well throughout the day.

3. Modern Mexican home design, via Houzz.

eclectic kitchen design by dallas interior designer Astleford Interiors, Inc.

I have a deep and abiding love of Mexican designs, colors, and homes like this. I love all of it, but particularly this colorful, rustic kitchen!

4. From the Wall St. Journal: Anatomy of a Tearjerker

By analyzing Adele’s “Someone Like You,” this article presents a fascinating analysis of what makes a song give you the chills and make you cry. Media clips and song samples included. So interesting!

5. A crash course, via Wordplay: A Writer’s Guide to Punctuation

Including the oft-quoted reminder from F. Scott Fitzgerald:

An exclamation mark is like laughing at your own jokes.

But my own jokes are funny! Seriously!!!

6. Crazy Sexy Life reminds us that financial freedom is sexy.

Guest blogger Karie Hill, a financial coach for women, says that getting rid of “money noise” can improve ALL areas of your life. She also says:

When you heal your relationship with money, you live in a place of financial peace. Your relationships will improve, you’ll have more sex, dress better, eat healthier and look sexier.

Click through for the rest. Good info!

7. The Write Practice told us about the three movements in every love story.

Is Pride and Prejudice (with or without zombies) the best love story ever? Perhaps. Yes, indeed, it just might be.

Excellent tips here for anyone who writes ~ or who wants to write ~ love stories.

8. Did you read my post about juicing? FitSugar had some great tips on what to do with leftover juice pulp.

I love the idea of making fruit leather! I wonder what kale/chard/celery/cucumber/apple leather would taste like?

9. Make your own fairies in a jar, via Peace of Cake (via BoingBoing):

I can’t wait for summertime and barbeques and fairy jars.

10. Finally, Apartment Therapy had some supercute ideas for DIY bird feeders.

Remember: birds eat even when it’s snowing and raining outside!

That’s all for now! Exclamation marks galore! Have a fantastic weekend, everyone!

What are some great things you’ve seen this week?

Got any fun plans for the weekend??

Things I Love Thursday: Special Valentine’s Edition

I’ll admit ~ I can be a fool for love. I’m also a fool for anything red or pink ~ or chocolate ~ and let’s not forget that I write (and read) romantic fiction! And while I can’t say doilies and red-cheeked Cupids are exactly my style, I do think it’s hard to go wrong with a day entirely devoted to LOVE in all shapes and forms.

So, in honor of next week’s V-Day, here are some supercute ~ or superdelicious ~ neat-o, maybe non-traditional, Valentine’s Day things I love from around the webs. Enjoy!

1. Raspberry White-Chocolate Cheesecake Bars via MyRecipes:

For the non-chocolate-eating loved ones in your life.

2. From GeekSugar: 50 Geeky Valentine’s Day Dates

Including: Make a pot of Earl Grey tea and watch a Star Trek marathon ~ which sounds like a normal day around here! Hahaha. It’s true. Especially now that you can Netflix all of the old Star Treks! All of ‘em! Oh, geeks. Yes, we are.

3. Super-great bike-themed Valentine e-cards from the San Francisco Bike Coalition:

4. Easy Melted Crayon Hearts from Martha Stewart Living:

Especially good if you have extra crayon nubs that you just know you can do something crafty with.

5. How to have a romantic Valentine’s Day alone, via The Frisky:

I personally would ditch the socks and do a pedicure instead, but to each her (or his, I suppose) own.

6. Awesome e-cards from someecards, always telling it like it is:

7. How to Make a Realistic Duct Tape Rose, via Instructables:

I think my honey might end up with black and silver roses. So Goth!

8. Via various craft blogs & Pinterest: Make a Deck of Cards Love Book

(from http://transcraftinental.blogspot.com)

(from http://papervinenz.blogspot.com/)

Beyond Valentine’s Day, I feel like this “book made with a deck of cards” has so many possibilities!

9. And don’t forget Rover and Fluffy! Valentine’s Day treats for your pets, via Etsy:

Not sure about Goldie and Tweetster, though…

10. Finally, I think this necklace says it all. Via Etsy (of course!):

I lurve youuuuuu! Have a fab-o weekend, y’all! <3

Are you a lover of love? A dreamer of dreams? Or a more practical, common-sense type?

Do you have any special Valentine’s Day plans?

Things I Love Thursday

Happy almost-Friday! It’s a big weekend around here ~ NO, not because of the Super Bowl. Our beloved 49ers did not make the cut. Big because on Sunday, I’ll be running my very first half marathon! I’m excited and only a little bit nervous, and I promise to post a post-race update

On other notes, I feel like there were some amazing blog posts, images, and news in the past week or so. Do you feel the same way? It was tough to pick just ten this week! Without further ado, here are the ones that made the cut. Enjoy!

1. From Smithsonian Magazine, gorgeous pictures from the Orchid Olympics:

2. The Beauty Department passed along some great tips for Blow-Drying Heavy Bangs.

One thing I always forget is their very first tip:

Always blow out your bangs while your hair is super wet.

D’oh! So that’s why my bangs frizz in weird ways some days. Click through the post for more excellent advice.

3. Via Dollar Store Crafts: Two-Ingredient Strawberry Fudge.

Seriously. It’s only two ingredients! And it’s pink! So easy and cute!

Did someone say Valentine’s Day??

4. Dolphins have learned to speak whale!

Via Boing Boing but posted all over the place. Okay, this is like a mermaid dream come true.

5. The Zhush displayed some beautiful ideas for decorating with stars.

6. The Subversive Copy Editor had some excellent tips for Responding to Electronic Editing.

Including what I personally think is a huge, vital, very valuable tip:

It’s best never to click Accept All Changes in Document, because that would render invisible your own new insertions and deletions, which your editor needs to see.

Click through for the rest. Writers AND editors, check it out!

7. Smitten Kitchen shared Buttermilk Roast Chicken.

Whoa. All-day chicken? Sounds like a Super Bowl party dream come true!

8. Confused by women’s clothing sizes? Slate explained why they will never make any sense.

What kills me is when I buy vintage clothes that are, like, ten full sizes larger than what I normally wear. Or how I can wear a full THREE SIZE DIFFERENCE between Old Navy and Ann Taylor. It’s so crazy!

9. Apartment Therapy showed off this stunning indoor swimming pool:

I am literally swooning with envy.

10. Finally, Real Simple had a quiz that might surprise you: What’s More Eco-Friendly?

Boo hoo! I did not do nearly as well as I thought I would. How good did YOU do?

Aaaaannnnd…. I’m out! Have a fantastic weekend, everyone!

What are some great things you’ve seen this week?

Got any fun plans for the weekend??