Weekend Links

Sunday, November 9, 2014


I hope you are all enjoying a lazy, low-key Sunday. It is a little dreary, but in the nicest sense, and the boys are still in bed (Mario probably playing games on his iPad). And so I took this (oh so rare) opportunity to enjoy a quiet morning spent at the kitchen island. Laptop open, coffee in hand. So far I've finished a homework assignment (and contemplated another), caught up on my blogroll, and tracked down a long lost Christmas ornament from my childhood on Ebay.

Almost every year for the past decade I have looked for a replacement, and this year I'm finally committed to finding one. Everyone has that ornament, right? The one you were most excited about unwrapping when you set up the tree every year; the ornament that stood out amongst all the others. This one was it for me. I have few mementos from my childhood, so occasionally I go about replacing those little things that defined my youth. Fingers crossed I have the winning bid.

In the meantime, here are some things that have caught my attention since my last Weekend Links post:

How to Overcome a Binge-Watching Addiction // As previously mentioned, I have been binge-watching Pretty Little Liars the last couple weeks. Productivity has been at an all-time low. I'm also terribly afraid of burning through all the seasons on Netflix and having nothing left. After googling the issue, I found one common tactic for limiting binges: don't watch the episode from beginning to end. Instead, watch until the halfway point, preventing the cliffhanger from reeling you into another episode. It works! (Sometimes!)

20 Stores That Refuse to Open on Thanksgiving // I just re-read my thoughts on the holidays written this time last year. I feel exactly the same. (I think it's one of my favorite posts to date.) I'm happy to see that retailers are putting their foot down. If only Target would get on board. That would make me really happy.

Against the Grain // This article satisfied both the scientific and cultural issues I grapple with when it comes to the gluten frenzy.

Make a Hoop Shelf in an Hour // I'm searching for wall space so I can DIY this bad boy.

Being a Stay-at-Home Parent Is a Luxury, for Your Spouse + With kids off at school, how I answer "So what do you do all day?" // I've chronicled my struggle with stay-at-home parenting on this blog over the years. The struggle to carve out my own identity. To be everything to everyone while trying to find personal fulfillment. These articles helped me see a new perspective. And while I may not be advancing my career goals at the moment, or contributing financially, I am making it easier for my husband to do so. He can focus on work without concerning himself with things like the critical state of our toilet paper stock or the dog's limp or Kiddo's never-ending math homework. And that's not nothing.

Rent or Buy? The Math Is Changing. // When we moved to the Pacific Northwest, we decided to rent indefinitely. After owning our last two houses, it certainly required an adjustment in the way we perceived home ownership. We are not sure where we'll be in five years, making it the smartest choice. And yet we have gotten flack for it. (Once, from a relative of a friend who had never met us nor knew our story.) And while I don't need confirmation that we did the right thing for our family, this article felt a little like a pat on the back for a decision well made.

Why Are We So Obsessed With 'Gilmore Girls'? // I am. I so am. Always have been. But it's interesting to hear why people think this show has such a cultural influence.

15 things that make an ordinary day happy // Taking a page from this book. Also, perhaps it's time to give journaling another go. (I've been working on a hybrid system that will allow me to scrapbook, memory keep and journal all in one. Though I'm still working to find the best supplies to accomplish this task, I have a good idea of what I'm going for and how it will look.)



1 comment :

  1. As usual, I loved this list. Very inspiring. I am now thinking of making a hoop shelf, journaling my little life, and since I never really followed Gilmore Girls, will be binge watching with my 12 year old. (I am purposely ignoring the "How to Overcome a Binge-Watching Addiction" link, hehehe....)

    Thanks Sarah!
    Natalie
    XXX

    ReplyDelete

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