Narcoleptic Squirrel

So, I came across more X-Files goodness, and of course I have to share. Did you realize that The X-Files began twenty years ago???? My mind was blown. The nineties are still only a decade past in my brain. This interview with Chris Carter is fantastic, and the possibility of his new projects is so exciting!

Speaking of the nineties, I was obsessed with Sassy magazine in my youth. It was the only magazine at the time that I felt like I could identify with. I suspect my old issues are long gone from my folks’ basement, but lucky for us a dedicated reader has kept many of hers and is scanning favorite tidbits for all of us fellow Sassy lovers! It’s like I was transported back to my teenage years. The good parts, at least.

So, it turns out that criminals in the 1920s didn’t look so criminal. In fact, they were rather dapper. At least, in Australia. I kind of want to meet all the folks in these mugshots, now.

I opened this piece with trepidation. From the title, I was quick to assume the marriage was dissolved. However, upon reading, that is not the case. This is a lovely, heartfelt piece on marriage and making it work.

It is so rare that I meet a kindred spirit in the realm of home-ownership. This guys lays it all out, and I agree 100% (if it is possible to agree more than that, I sure do). Check out his five things you should know about buying a house. I did change my mind about having the amount for the house and paying cash after reading. I still believe you should pay cash, but now I realize you really should have twice the amount, so you still have a safety net. See, even I learned something!

Thanks to Regretsy (RIP), I already knew of the hobo wedding (and am still flabbergasted they didn’t understand what was wrong), and the South African weddings have made the rounds. However, I didn’t realize how truly offensive some could make their weddings! Turns out, the napster guy’s wedding was downright tasteful!

Soylent Green is people!!! We all know. However, the new meal replacement, Soylent, sounds interesting. After reading about this two week trial, I kind of want to give it a try.

From the world of fabulousness, these 101 fashion tricks everyone should know are extremely useful! (The title declares it for every girl, but there are many that any and everyone could benefit from.)

Finally, someone won Craigslist Missed Connections. This is a must read!

Happy Monday, friends! I hope your week is swell!
xoxox

Things have been full on cray-cray around here, so not so much surfing time. I did manage to find a few gems for you though!

First, a look at the style of The X-Files. I kind of forgot the unfortunate early years. Style-wise, that is.

Refinery 29 checked out NYC’s City Hall, and snapped a few couples getting married. I adore the variety of couples and style, and how happy they are!!

Here are some celebrity fun facts that just might blow your mind!

Finally, some tales that might restore your faith in humanity.

Have a lovely week, friends!

xoxox

I figured I would get this one out the way first, since I think it’s the weirdest, and perhaps you might like a palate cleanser after. A little boy fell and hurt his knee which caused him to procure a new pet! You’ll have to read it to find out the details.

This probably won’t help with the palate cleansing. However, you have probably heard of the tradition of the bride and groom keep a chunk of their wedding cake (often the top tier of a tiered cake) and freezing it to enjoy on their first anniversary. Well, the cake found here was just a little older than that. Oy.

For all my fellow coffee lovers out there, Buzzfeed shared several lovely quotes about the delicious caffeinated beverage. The piece is made even more lovely by the inclusion of a quote from my dear friend, author Leanna Renee Hieber!

A friend shared this with me, nothing like a story about old-school taxidermy to warm the heart.

Now, I seem to have wound up with very many pieces relating to feminism. Something in the air, perhaps?

I’m going to lead with this troubling piece from The Guardian. I cannot understand why men would get angry and violent with seventeen-year-old-girls because they didn’t want to be ogled. They are not even adults. I think that a lot of the issues of violence against women, in particular, stem from this culture that has developed wherein no one wants to take responsibility for their actions. In this case, gross men against young women.

I found a couple of pieces over at Fit and Feminist that really resonated with me. The first is about the debate of women’s swimwear. It’s true that the debate of what a women wears (or doesn’t wear) to the beach is not really about what she’s wearing. It’s so much more.
Second, her piece on athletic gear really struck a cord with me. As I showed my pale thigh dimples off on my run, I had no idea I was the cause of all the problems in the world. Oh wait. I’m not. Why can’t we just be comfortable? She addresses this much better than I can.

Over at Brain Pickings, they reviewed Venus With Biceps. I love how it examines the relation of femininity and muscle tone. Also, I suspect my fascination with fitness and figure competitions stems from my circus heritage…as does everything with me, it seems.

Finally, The Alamo Drafthouse in Texas recently put together a series of PSAs. I think you will enjoy checking them out.

Have a lovely week! xoxox

Marriage equality was official on August 1! I was all ready to gush about it last week, but no internets. Boo. I was unable to make it to the festivities beginning at midnight, but fortunately there were some fantastic photographers that captured the magic of the day. Cadence & Eli were among them, and shared them on their blog.

After all that simple sweetness, we have the other end of the spectrum. Sean Parker (half of Napster), got married. Trust me, you want to see this, because you won’t believe it.

One of the (many) great things about Lollapalooza is the commitment to leaving a small footprint from the major event. All the vendors are vetted to meet their guidelines. While at the festival, you can find lots of great local food and shop in good conscience. I purchased a great dress from Greenola, a Chicago based company that helps women across the globe find employment to support their families.

Also at Lolla, we discovered SIR Case. Also based in Chicago, they make modern “boom-boxes” out of old suitcases. They are clever and cool, and we kind of want to get our hands on one.

Speaking of making sustainable purchases, thrifting is a great way to lessen you footprint. Did you know 80% of consumers are unwilling to purchase secondhand items? What? This great article highlights the benefits of buying secondhand, no matter your income level. I like the idea of spending on things that really matter, still looking fabulous, and saving items from the landfill.

I have to admit that I think I have a girl crush on Shaholly Ayers. She proves that you can still have a successful career and a full life, despite being born with a limb missing.

Happy Monday, friends!
xoxox

I kind of love Martha Stewart. Yeah, people think she’s a bitch or an overachiever or whatever. However, I like that she does things her way, and just asks that everyone around her do things the way she wants them done. Let’s just say, I can relate. This article examines her success with this method. I think I love her more now, and I am glad that someone notices and appreciates her climb to the top.

I am a sucker for anything that is old-timey, twisted, and well designed. If someone buys me this amazing Ouija board boozahol, you will be my bff.

On the subject of twisted, Joshua Hoffine creates some genius demented photography. He often uses his children as subjects, and plays with themes of terror. Beautiful and haunting. (Please note: His site has sound. If you are viewing in a quiet place, there is a mute, or use headphones.)

One more twisted thing! This might ruin some of your childhood favorites, but it’s amazing!

Another love of mine is transforming unusual spaces into living spaces. My dream is to one day turn a storefront or pub or church into my home. This woman took a public restroom and made it a stunning home!! Raising the bar, that one.

No matter how old I get, I still get terrible breakouts. I am bookmarking this bad boy in hopes to help my skin-picking self to leave one of these bad boys alone, and properly heal it!

This piece from The Oatmeal is a wonderful expression of why running is awesome. It’s not for everyone, but for me it works.

Finally, a weekly dose of ADORABLE! These fuzzy-wuzzy animals will surely warm your heart, and get you through the week ahead!

Happy Monday, Friends! Have an amazing week!!
xoxox

So, I grew up in the Detroit metro. While it isn’t the place for me to live, I still enjoy visiting family, and I get excited when people appreciate all the good it has going for it. This post on Apartment Therapy and the comments following highlight some must-sees for tourists, and perhaps those who live there and take the area for granted. (Also, I believe the D-town nickname is outdated. I hear the kids are calling it “The D” now. I just can’t keep up.)

On to my current locale, The Twin Cities. If you know anything about The Cities, you know Prince hails from these parts and is one of the points of pride around here. I’ve long adored him, so I just had to read about what is in his fridge. I don’t know what I expected, but it was full of surprises!

Also on the subject of The Cities, Travel and Leisure just talked about America’s snobbiest cities. Yup, we’re in there! Both Minneapolis and Saint Paul! Usually everyone forgets about Saint Paul, or just pretends it’s part of Minneapolis, so I’m really surprised they didn’t make Minneapolis number one, just for that fact. Needless to say, I agree with Minneapolis being snobby (or passive-aggressive, if you prefer), but Saint Paul is just too unassuming to be snobby!

I thought this list of ways to tell if you’re dating a designer was spot-on. Except for the iPad part. I will never own iAnything. I don’t care if that makes me a bad designer. (Bad as in naughty.) But seriously, once you notice bad kerning, it’s everywhere!!!

Along the lines of my design obsessions, I enjoy scrapbooking. Mostly because I like the archiving and papercrafting. I have an aversion to stickers, and paper doily explosions, however. This item on scrapbooking really represents what is good and hip about the pastime.

Also within my design obsession, these freshly painted houses get my all a-tingle with design happiness!

On a pop-culture note, Avril Lavigne and Chad Kroeger tied the knot. The sk8tr grl wore a black dress, of course. I just really hope some truly awful music comes out of this union. Otherwise, why did they do it???

Finally, I love that this teacher wore the same thing for 40 years worth of yearbook portraits. I’m impressed by his commitment, and that the clothing held up that long!

Happy Monday, Friends! I know many of you have a short week of work with the holiday ahead, but here are some links to get you through what is in between.

First up is this delightful girls’ soccer team. They were allowed to choose any name they wanted. I think Chris Kluwe would certainly approve!

It’s not much of a secret that I’ve long been a fan of Marilyn Manson’s. I stumbled upon this little piece on Gala Darling’s blog, and it brought a smile to my face. I suspect it will do the same for you, whether or not you’re a fan.

I’d always been told that if I was sitting in my car for a minute or less, to leave my car running. This infographic turned my world upside down!

I thought this prank makeover was hilarious. I appreciate caring enough about your friends to go through great lengths for a laugh.

I am kind of coveting these signature necklaces. I can think of so many possibilities!

I thought this article on buying happiness was refreshing. I am much more about experiences over possessions, and it’s kind of cool to know that might make my life more enriched.

Along those lines, I have been working on having less things. It’s encouraging to read about how having things doesn’t equal success or happiness. I posted about this guy’s killer convertible apartment in the past, and he continues to inspire!

On the other hand, I can’t help but think it would be incredible to own Coco Chanel’s home. Swoon.

I found this reflection, from a young man who dressed in women’s clothes for three days as part of a project, insightful and thought-provoking. A skirt or a dress should not cause such a commotion. I can’t understand why so many choose to be hostile over something that makes someone else happy.

Finally, we are in the middle of Mercury Retrograde. If you’ve been wondering why things seem a little wonky, there you go. Gala Darling offers some ways to survive and thrive.

First, it’s time to get your cute on. These liligers were born recently in Russia! Yes, liligers! I’m sure you’ve heard of the liger, made when a male Lion mates with a Female Tiger (Which makes me wonder why we don’t hear very much about the other way around, when Tigons are made). Liligers are a Liger and a lion, hence the extra “li.” They are adorable, and I kind of want one. (Only kind of. I know they would grow up and tear apart my apartment and then I would be on the hook for a very expensive repair list.)

Strangely, I love baby animals, but baby humans? Not so much. So, we look at my nightmare scenario: not knowing I was pregnant until the baby came. AAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUGH!

Back to something amazing: this apartment. Outside of the bed, I think I could live there.

On a funny note, these images of famous statues dressed as hipsters is pretty entertaining.

Also entertaining, this tumblr in which things are written and drawn on scenes from Mad Men. In fact, it’s more entertaining and hilarious than I thought possible.

Finally, over at Jezebel, Lindy West tries celebrity liquor so you don’t have to. I admit, I am fond of Crystal Head vodka. Mostly because of the crystal head. I learned some things from this video, including that apparently coconut vodka can be made from fine grapes. What? My favorite part of the video is the tracking down of the liquor.

So, last week there was no linked post because I was on vacation and the post would have been anemic to say the least. However, I was still on vacation over the last week and while I now have more links, it will still not be the beefiest linked post ever.*

I’m not the outdoorsy type, particularly when the sun is full strength and the heat is rising. However, I thought these summer hacks were cool, particularly for you summer-loving folks.

My folks are avid watchers of both Dragons’ Den and Shark Tank (In case I haven’t mentioned it, I do miss having access to all the Canadian shows). Since I spent my vacation with them, I got to see lots of both. There are some great ideas out there, and some tragic. I wasn’t fully into the hoodie pillow after seeing it on Shark Tank this week, but the more I read, the more I think I need one!

I often feel overwhelmed by the tasks looming over me each day. I’m guessing you can relate? I think I will start implementing these tips for simplifying my day.

I am so hooked on Game of Thrones! I was struggling to keep track of almost all the characters at first, but now that I’m reading the books I am faring a bit better. I do love that a kid quizzed his dad on the character names after this season’s finale, and posted the results.

On the subject of Game of Thrones, I know a lot of people were shocked after the Red Wedding episode. I read it first, so I was less shocked at the episode. During the book, I wasn’t all that surprised. I mean, those poor dumb Starks. Either way, I do think this Princess Bride/GoT mashup is pretty spot on. (Note:If you don’t know what the Red Wedding is-just don’t watch it. You know, spoilers.)

I think my favorite thing over the last couple of weeks, though, is this video of obscene gestures around the world. I know I will be using the gesture for “I am ignoring you” frequently.

*I have been feeling like I’ve been lazy for my Sunday Squirrel and Linked posts being my only completely regular posts so far. However, while on vacation I realized how much work they are to put together, so I feel less lazy. I am still working on getting posts up each day regularly!! I promise!