My Favourite Articles and Links This Week

How to write a gratitude letter, and why you should.

This was a very interesting read – “I tracked down the girls who bullied me as a kid, and this is what they had to say”.

Ooh a movie club! This sounds like a great idea.

“I forgot how to hang out.” Socializing post-covid might be a little rocky at first.

This was a fascinating read for me, but I also have more questions- can one parent like this when everyone else around you isn’t? “There’s a Better Way to Parent – Less Yelling, Less Praise”. 

My Favourite Pins This Week

Whenever I’m sick of my usual dishes, I reach for shrimp. This gorgeous shrimp, kale and caulifower dish is pefect for this time of year- comforting but healthy, and of course delicious. Shrimp is one of my favourites, but I tend not to buy it often because it’s origins always seem so murky (is it sustainably caught? Is it farmed? If anyone knows how to buy ethical shrimp, please tell me), but when I do get it I appreciate it SO MUCH. Just so delicious. Pinterest link is here, and the full recipe is here.

I love blondies, they are basically a thick and chewy chocolate chip cookie and that make my heart happy. But you know what really makes them amazing? Cadbury mini eggs thrown in! If you would like to make a happy little dessert that feels ideal for spring and is really a great treat, I highly recommend this. Pinterest link is here, and the full recipe can be found right over here.

Want to give needlefelting a try? These are some great tutorials on how to make a small cat, bunny, or dog, and I especially like that it includes a general guide to how long it will take – I wish more craft tutorials had an estimated activity time! And they look so cute! Pinterest link is here, and the full tutorials can be found here.

I think you should make these gigantic wall display tissue paper flowers. You should, because it’s a fun and irreverent activity to do one day, and then you could take some selfies in front of them, or just hold up a book you like in front of them and take a photo of that, or use it as your new zoom background (definitely a conversation starter right there). And doesn’t it feel great to do something fun and pretty and big? Heck yes it does. Pinterest link is here, and the full tutorial is over here.

If you feel like your space could use a refresh (and the tissue paper flowers are not the sort of crafternoon solution you are looking for) what about using removable wallpaper in small, strategic ways? I loved this inspiring roundup of ideas to refresh your space with removable wallpaper, for a no-commitment way to try something new in your space. Definitely worth checking out! Pinterest link is here, and the full roundup can be found here.

And just like that, it’s March. Yesterday was the first warm day here in Toronto that felt like there was a hint of spring on the horizon, and it was glorious! Then today it was freezing cold and felt like winter. Ah, early March. It loves to mess with us. Stay cozy, friends. And I hope you have a lovely weekend, possibly reading a new book?

xo Julie