Thursday: Things that Rock

1. Pugly Pixel's photoshop tutorials never cease to make me smack my forehead and exclaim, "Duh! How brilliant!"

2. So badly needed in this crazy, chaotic month: 55 gentle ways to take care of yourself.

3. I thought I'd nailed down a decent description of myself with General Overachiever, but Alex's Tell Us Who You Are worksheet is a godsend for us multi-titled mavericks.

4. This lit magazine includes poetry, profanity and a recipe for cheddar beer soup.

5. Hands down, Drinkify > Spotify.

Thursday: Things that Rock

1. This brand new track by The Decemberists.

2. And this one by The Black Keys.

3. A cake I would kill for.

4. Sabrina's kickass reminder to stop whining and just work harder.

5. And holy crap, I am terrible at staying focused when I'm overwhelmed.

PS -- I'm 22 today!

Thursday: Things That Rock

1. The CMJ Music Marathon.

I'll be there all weekend.

Music? Yes.
Drinks? Yes.
Sleep? Hell to the no.

Be back on Monday, friends.

Thursday: Things That Rock

1. 34 Photoshop Tutorials that Will Leave You Looking Like a Pro.

2. A brain-itching discussion on women and double standards.

3. Because one can never have too many banana bread recipes.

4. Bookstairs. Why have I never seen anything like this before?!

5. Getting out of the house and waltzing through the color-changing scenery.

Monster Monday & Sponsor Shoutout

Pretty sure Monster is going through rabbit puberty. He runs frantically around the house like a crazed teenager and acts just as angsty as one whenever it’s time to go to the pen. 

Lies. Look how zen I am.

I’d never planned on raising something resembling a child so soon. 

If you haven’t noticed from the rain, chill in the air or sudden barrage of pumpkin flavored beverages on every coffeehouse menu (fucking yum), we’ve reached October—my faaaave month of the year. And to go along with what are arguably the coolest four weeks on the calendar (apple picking. Killer boots. Cozy sweaters. That mysterious smoky scent in the air. HALLOWEEN FESTIVITIES) is a quick shoutout to the new month’s sponsors. 

You may recognize a handful of familiar buttons over on the side bar, but a few new ones have joined the ranks as well. Please pop on over to see Annika & Nick at A Sweet Release or read up on the latest issue of Cannoli Pie Magazine (co-edited by unRonic and yours truly). 

The other members of the lineup, if you haven’t paid them a visit, are also full of inspiration on travel,  photography and getting through the tough stuff. Check ‘em out.

Thursday: Things that Rock

This week's link roundup is centered on a theme: minimalism. It's an attitude and lifestyle that I find both fascinating and freeing, so I'm doing my best to incorporate some of its principles into my own daily habits. Check it out:

1. Colin Wright, who runs Exile Lifestyle, owns only 72 things.

2. Living without the internet: it's actually possible?

3. Two friends' 21 Day Journey into Minimalism.

And in the spirit of said theme, I'll leave the list of links at these humble three. Enjoy your weekend, friends.

Thursday: Things that Rock

1. Katie's recipe for banana butter (read: I bought bananas solely for this experience).

2. Sabrina and Halley: two world travelers, one guest post on doing what you want. A much-needed shove off of the insecurity couch.

3. Life lists: do you have one? Why or why not?

4. This street sign tattoo poses a question: what are your thoughts on meaning behind tattoos? Is a deep meaning necessary? Or is art for the sake of art (or boredom) a sufficient reason to pay for all that ink?

5. The CMJ Music Fest: it's almost here. And I'm dying to go for this reason.

Aah, to be at a music festival again. Cold War Kids at SXSW, March 2011

Thursday: Things that Rock

1. Coming home to a snail mail avalanche. This is the result of my homemade postcard resolution, and a certain Milwaukee correspondent totally kicks ass.

2. Thanks to The Oatmeal, I will never get anything done again. Check out their comic strip on what we should have been taught senior year. 

3. A great discussion on Comic Sans: to hate or not to hate?

4. Beginning each week with clear intentions.

5. An upcoming dinner with a normally-long-distance friend. Won't you join Halley and I for a Cheap Dumpling Binge on the evening of the 16th if you're in the area?

Thursday: Things That Rock

1. Homemade soda bread. Baking it. And then eating it all.

Hello, beloved carbohydrates.

2. This article on America's crazy Wedding Industrial Complex.

3. I love Nailah's conviction on the power of decision making. "Flip-floppers rarely make history. Indecisive folks are not memorable."

4. The Buying Flow Chart from And Then She Saved convinced me to skip a silly purchase and hold on to my hard-earned 50 bucks. Sweet!

5. Two words: peach butter. I am drooling all over this keyboard.

Monster Monday & Sponsor Shoutout

With the arrival of September come rediscovered sweaters, revamped comfort food recipes and, best of all, new sponsor swaps! 

I’m thrilled to introduce three very talented bloggers this month: Halley from Life of Something New, Rachell from No Mark at All and Tara from Deer in a Bottle. A frequenter of all three blogs myself, I couldn’t help but share snippets of a few past posts that I found especially worthwhile. Feel free to show some love and pay these ladies a visit--click each image to see the full post!

Halley, on secrets to true happiness:

Rachell, from her "I Wish I'd Shot You" series:

Tara, from her "Typography Tuesday" series:

Oh, and PS—is any Monday post complete without a shot of these furry feet?

Thursday: Things That Rock

1. Angeliki's reminder to let go of the banana.

2. Denise de la Cerda's incredible tattoo artistry. When the time comes for my own inking, I know where to go.

3. Benteng Chittorgarh, India. It's officially made the list of places to visit during a certain upcoming adventure.

4. Wild-Child Philanthropy: it's a real phrase, thanks to Alexandra Franzen.

5. Returning to the coast. The salt air soothes.

Photo credit to unRonic.

Thursday: Things That Rock

1. Cravings decoded: I'll have to use this next time I'm dying for chocolate.

2. Speaking of food, there's no one like Popeye to sneak spinach into unexpected recipes.

3. Forming a Married Master Mind. Yes. This is what I want. Eventually.

4. Advice I wish someone had given to 18 year old me.

5. Oklahoma City's ever-expanding arts scene. I recently visited The Womb, a gallery owned and opened by Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne, who says the space was named as such because "We wanted it to feel as though you are part of this thing that is growing, that is becoming all the time." I originally thought the term sprang from the painting on the front doors, but apparently name came before decor. Click to enlarge and you'll see what I mean.

The woman in the foreground is my grandma: arts advocate and total badass.

Thursday: Things That Rock

1. Catching up with a soul sister over sushi, drinks and specialty hot dogs. Yes, hot dogs. A restaurant in Wichita called And The Weiner Is serves over 40 variations of them (veggie dogs available, too)!

My S'Mores dog in the foreground, Blake's breakfast burrito dog in the background.

2. Just in case you were curious about how the back of a website looks.

3. Superstar Halley's Help A Blogger Out forum is up and running. I'm in!

4. A kickass friend from home will be spending the semester instilling joy, health and confidence in pre-teen girls, and having a blast while she's at it. 

5. This video + full screen + lights off = Graphics Nerd tears of joy.

Thursday: Things That Rock

1. This dissertation on affection provides a much-needed smack of reality every time I read it. Complete with humor and fried chicken.

2. Doesn't golden beet and ginger soup sound like some magical concoction from a children's storybook?

3. Speaking of storybooks, these monsters are, quite surprisingly, for sale. Make that reason No. 5 to move to Colorado.

4. No summer treat quites beat good ol' ice cream. And Meghan at Design Morsels has spotted the quirkiest cartons.

5. Sometimes the best and only gift you can give is a gigantic, totally enveloping, I'm-here-for-you hug.

Not to rain on the link parade, but there are some stormy skies on the home front these days. Any positive thoughts you could direct to Wichita, Kansas would be appreciated to the nth degree, dear friends. A very beautiful mother/sister/friend is waiting for them in a hospital room. I send eternal thanks your way.

Thursday: Things That Rock

1. Wichita Brewing Company. If you are confused by this logo, please immediately Google "John Brown" and do a little reading.

2. If Ben Folds, Nick Hornby and Pomplamoose don't make you smile, I don't know what will.

3. Three words: animals being dicks. Three more words: peeing my pants.

4. Easily the coolest and quirkiest t-shirts available on the internet.

Currently in Colorado, friends. I am most likely hiking, hanging out in a hot tub or chasing my nephew around. Be back soon!

Thursday: Things That Rock

1. Finally being home. And reading a poem about it.

2. Saving the world by painting rooftops white.

3. I get teased frequently about often I eat lentils. So what? They're super healthy, mega-cheap and can be tucked into pretty much everything. Including shampoo.

4. Andie's enchiladas: did someone say fiesta?

5. Kanrocksas. This state knows how to party.

6. Intriguing and beautiful cross between still photography and animation.

7. A tribute to all socks that have lost a buddy. I definitely have a few to contribute.

8. Thanks, Artist Mother Teacher, for the encouragement. These words are so reassuring.

Thursday: Things That Rock

1. The color pink. I've never been a "pink" girl, because the color usually invokes mental images of Barbie and highlighters and sticky sweetness. Gross. Earthy hues are where it's at.

But lately, muted and pale baby shades have been beckoning. In the form of scarves, tulle skirts and...maybe even hair dye?

Photoshopped image. Just a test run.
Still blonde in real life.

2. Tara at Deer in a Bottle created some really cool "State" of the Art pieces this week.

3. Creative mojo running low? Check out these 29 ways to refuel.

4. More eco-friendly yet elegant decor. As if you needed another reason to recycle.

5. I was so disappointed to learn on Tuesday afternoon that the Pinch Food Design tasting had been cancelled (sob). To cheer myself up, I made this roasted tomato soup and gobbled it down with some warm tortillas. Dee-lish and practically effortless.

6. Angeliki's very detailed list of How to Trick People into Thinking You're Cool. The "tricking" part is what really makes me smile.

7. Amy LaVere sports a face-paint villain's mask on the cover of her new album. Badass status achieved.

Thursday: Things That Rock

1. Visiting a new consignment shop (oxymoron?) and discovering that the latest issue of your magazine shares its name with an elementary school textbook from the nineties. Did you plan this, unRonic?

2. The Indie ABC's playlist. I'm currently on M and have enjoyed 13 songs' worth of total bliss.

3. 30 Days of Lists. Don't know about you, but this chronic list-maker is pumped. Artwork through organization, people.

4. Why yes, these will be hanging all over my next apartment, thank you for asking.

5. Yesterday, I took inspiration from Julien Smith and wrote about being Fucking Awesome. But he probably said it better.


A fun-filled weekend approaches, friends! There will most likely be little to no time for sleep. What's on your plate for the next few days?

Thursday: Things That Rock

1. Donuts. From a little place called The Donut Whole. Despite extensive searching, I have yet to find any other donuts as tasty as the ones served here. They look like this and can only be found in Wichita, Kansas:

Nothing like a classic Homer J.

2. Incognito coffee mugs. They claim that this is exactly what a photo geek wants for her "birthday/wedding/bat mitzvah/graduation present." And they're so right.

3. Musicians who write albums geared specifically toward kids. Beats out Barney's sing-alongs ten times over.

4. Fridgehenge. It's high up on my list of American sights to see. As is Carhenge.

5. Forming healthy, long-lasting habits. I, for one, would like to create a morning routine and stick to it. This guy has some really cool insight.

Thursday: Things That Rock

1. Camping on Cape Cod. I can still hear the waves.

2. We Heart It: interesting site in general, but this photo in particular captured my attention.

3. I'd personally go for real watermelon, but a Rice Krispy imitation is quite applause-worthy.

4. For all you glossophiliacs out there.

5. Strawberries. That are on FIRE.

6. I've already sworn off buying postcards; now I can do the same with envelopes!

7. Guerilla advertising. Gets me every time.

8. This outlook on balance is both down-to-earth and beautiful. Perfect.

9. This week, the Oxford Comma was deemed no longer necessary by Oxford itself. Please note, listening to the famous Vampire Weekend song that addresses this subject is necessary while reading up on the development.

10. A little bit sweet, a little bit sad. Dear Photograph is the definition of "poignant."

What awesomeness have you come across this week?