Happy Thursday!

How’s your week been?

Feeling good?

Eating your veggies and getting enough sleep?

Feeling like you just want to skip the small talk and head right into link love? Sometimes, it’s just the right thing to do.

With no further ado…….

1. From Retrospace, a fun gallery of Parties I Wasn’t At:

Back in the days of film cameras (do you know what those are? ;-)), a real treat was finding an undeveloped roll of film and discovering someone else’s photos. That happened to us in Mexico once, and the pics we developed included some pretty funny (but not very sexy) bathing suit pin-up shots of what looked like someone’s mom or grandma. “Funny” not because we were laughing at her ~ heck, I think whatever it takes to keep things spicy at any age, go for it! ~ but because she was so awkwardly posed, contorted between boulders and balancing on the balcony, that I wonder how much Mexican tequila had fueled the photo shoot! Ah… those were the days.

2. The Mommypotamus shared 18 Ways to Help a New Mom:

Whether or not you’re a mom yourself, you probably know at least one woman who’s pregnant or new to motherhood… and if you’re young and bright-eyed, just wait! There will come a time when it seems like everyone you know is having babies and you’ll want to know what you can do to help.

Mommypotamus lays out some excellent advice for ways you can help out those friends who are in the early stages of mothering. Around here, my friends and I usually use Care Calendar, which helps the friends and the new mom/parents to know who’s coming by, when, and with what (casserole, salad, paper towels, etc.).

But other tips, like straightening up the house, running errands, and not overstaying your welcome are fantastic advice!

3. How to Design Your Life ~ an interview with web designer & author Mike Monteiro, via Gizmodo:

San Francisco guy Monteiro is one of those designers who is not only brilliant with concept and execution but in putting it all into words. In this Q&A, he talks about his book, Design is a Job, by explaining that:

[I]f you’re going to earn a living practicing your craft you have to get comfortable with the business side of things, and this is terribly underserved in design programs… the book isn’t about any particular method or system, it’s about getting you comfortable in your own skin. There’s a lot about being confident and honest and communicating directly, which is obviously good to do in all aspects of your life.

He’s also one of those guys that calls bullshit on the starving artist stereotype by reminding us that if we want anyone to take our work seriously, we need to start by taking it seriously ourselves… and that includes NOT working for free!

He talks about “design,” but his concepts and philosophy are translatable to any art: writing, music, whatever. I agree with everything he says and recommend checking him out for some inspiration and a kick in the pants!

4. The Children Medieval Band cover Rammstein (via Boing Boing):

Yes!

Those kids are rad 😀

5. Salon reviewed the new book, “Swim: Why We Love the Water”:

Written by “20/20” correspondent Lynn Sherr, this book explores our fascination with pools, the ocean, and swimming as well as with our evolutionary connection to being immersed.

As someone who believes she was a mermaid in a past life and uses that as an excuse for taking salt baths 4 times a week, I’m curious to hear a more scientific explanation 🙂 I haven’t read the book yet, but it’s in my TBR pile! If you’ve read it already, I’d love to hear your thoughts.

6. Seven Common Problems Solved by Owning Less, via Becoming Minimalist:

How often to we fill emotional space with “things” that aren’t nearly as fulfilling as experiences?

How clear-headed and relaxed do you feel after spring cleaning, de-cluttering, giving away possessions, or visiting the beach/mountains/forest in their simplicity?

You need less than you think you do. Owning less has been a lifestyle change of mine and my partner’s for the last five or so years. The less we strive to “have,” the more we experience a depth and richness with what we do have. Less junk, more quality. Fewer things, more time, energy, health. Less “stuffed,” more full.

7. The Fit Cookie shared Grain-Free Chocolate Chip Cookies:

Yum! What a good lookin’ cookie!

I want to try these but I don’t have all the ingredients and am staying away from sugar… may have to trial-and-error some substitutions… cacao nibs in place of chocolate chips, perhaps? 😉

8. You Are Not So Smart schooled us on ego depletion and decision fatigue:

It’s a very long post but hugely interesting!

Ever wondered why your willpower weakens over time? Ever wondered why sometimes you just feel zapped and don’t care about the results of the decisions you make?

Good tips include: Take breaks. Make sure you’re properly fueled. Plan ahead to stave off poor decisions.

But there’s more to it than that. Bookmark the article if you need to come back, but check this one out. It’s worth your time!

9. Make these laced high heels, via Craft:

HAWT!

Got my eyes open now for some thrift store heels I can lace up…

10. Finally, Sharing a Coke, via Logo Design Love:

By Ogilvy & Mather China, seen in Shanghai.

Now that, my friends, is good design.

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?