My mom and I are in New York City together, and today is her birthday- so Happy Birthday to my mom! If you want to keep up on our adventures, head on over to Instagram- my stories in particular will have lots of snaps.

My Favourite Articles and Links This Week

This opinion piece in the New York Times about exercising in just a sports bra when you are not a professional trainer was spot on.  As someone who cherry picks her way through a variety of gyms and special exercise classes, I thought that I had to always wear a shirt because my stomach wasn’t ‘perfect’. And then I went to spin class, and honestly it was so hot and so dark and no one else was wearing a shirt I too became a gym bra girl. It was so freeing! Then when summer came, I totally wore a teensy bikini and I felt incredible. Because feeling great about your body has nothing to do with some external criteria of perfect and everything with how utterly fantastic you feel just as you are. Which makes me think of this:

Conserve the Sound is an online museum for vanishing and endangered sounds. Soooooo soothing and satisfying to listen to these – I wonder if it’s just nostalgia, or if there is science behind what makes a sound so satisfying? I’ll be googling that later….

Organizing your closet will make you spend less money. So true!

I had a story published in The Puritan literary magazine recently, and perhaps you’d like to give it a read? It’s a dark story about a fresh-out-of-high school girl getting a job as Ariel at Disney World. It sounds like it’s going to be lighthearted, but it definitely takes a turn. If you are someone who heeds trigger warnings- consider yourself warned (or intrigued? I hope it’s the second one).

My Favourite Pins This Week

This spinach and artichoke quinoa salad is a great work lunch and a fast weeknight meal- although if you have some cooked chicken or some chickpeas lying around, add them in for a hit of bonus protein! If you like spinach and artichoke dip, then this is the healthy version that you can turn into a whole meal. Not that dip can’t be a meal unto itself, but this is definitely way healthier. Pinterest link is here, and the original recipe can be found here.

You guys know how much I love cookie bars- because thicker cookies equals more delicousness. These oatmeal chocolate chip cookie bars are so comforting and delicious that I really don’t recommend you be alone in a room with the whole pan of them. They are that good! Pinterest link is here, and the recipe is right over here.

If you love the popular fade trend in knitting but prefer to crochet- and heck, even hold yarn double for a marled effect- then you are going to love this totally free, very pretty, perfect-for-stashbusting Crochet throw blanket pattern. Wow, that was a really long sentence. But really, this blanket is so pretty and great for stashbusting. Pinterest link is here, and the free pattern is right here.

Feel like giving speckled yarn dyeing a try? This beginner-friendly tutorial is perfect for those wanting to give it a try, and works for both kool-aid dyeing and jacquard acid dyes. Have fun! the kool-aid version is fun for kids, too- although make sure to wear an apron or some clothes that you don’t mind getting stained. Pinterest link is here, and the full tutorial can be found here.

If you are having a special party or gathering at home, think about this idea- a flower garland for your light fixture! This works best with a chandelier style that uses LED bulbs (meaning, they won’t get too hot), and you could do it with fresh or fake flowers. Not a flower person? No law saying you can’t do it with all sorts of great greenery instead! Pinterest link is here,  and the tutorial can be found here.

Have a gorgeous weekend! xo