My Favourite Articles and Links This Week

How to keep your brain young while you age.

This is a breathtaking reason to encourage seed and crop diversity. That is the most beautiful corn I’ve ever seen!

Tips on ditching regret, and getting over the past.

Yesterday was Poem in Your Pocket Day, a collaborative effort between two major  poetry organizations in the US and Canada. I have a poem in it! There is a free, downloadable pdf and all the poems are suitable for school-aged children, as well. If you are less jazzed about a free collection of poetry but interested in my poem, you can skip to it right here.

As a parent of young kids, I was very interested in reading this post on teaching kids about consent, and the comments were also illuminating on how we all have those struggles (do we insist the kids to hug family members?).

My Favourite Pins This Week

This utterly charming doughnut cake reminds me a bit of The Simpsons, but in the best possible way! Even if you are a bit challenge din the cake decorating department, I’m confident that this could be easily pulled off. I wonder if I could convince Lila that it would be suitable for Guy when his birthday rolls around in June? Hmm. Pinterest link is here, and the original recipe/guide is here.

These skillet meatballs in marinara sauce are a side-salad away from being a complete meal! While I admire that the recipe instructs you to make the meatballs yourself –and the recipe for that looks really easy– I’m more of a buy-a-bag-of-frozen-meatballs sort of person. Either way, you too could have this super delicious meal on the table pretty quickly, and trust me on that salad idea. Pinterest link is here, and the full recipe is here. P.S- have I told you guys I’m addicted to fresh marjoram? I think it’s the most underrated herb ever. It’s in the photo above as a garnish, but I put it in everything.

I am utterly swooning over this gorgeous sweater! I love the simple shaping but the dramatic single cable across the body. So amazing! Plus it’s a bulky weight design, so it will knit up quickly. It’s originally made in a cotton merino blend yarn (so very suitable for those in cool climates over the summer- I’m looking at you, west coast and UK!), and I am dying to knit this! Must. Finish. Other. Sweaters. First. (the struggle is real). Pinterest link is here, and the pattern can be found here.

I love this modern crochet deer afghan! The graphic qualities and bright palette make this a surprisingly modern looking crochet blanket. Pinterest link is here, and the original (free!) pattern and tutorial are here.

I love this tray makeover, which is so easy you can totally pull it off even if you can’t paint a straight line! And if you don’t have any trays at home that could use a makeover, I bet there are plenty in a local thrift or goodwill shop. Pinterest link is here, and the full DIY tutorial is here.