What are you doing this week end? We have birthday parties and I also read Absolution and I love that. The writing is so vivid and clear that it almost feels like you’re watching television while reading it. I hope you have a good one, and here are some links from around the web…
The #1 gift on my wish list is this discovery box.
Manifesto to put online, or, really, do anything in life. “When in doubt about the right course of action, just ask yourself: What is the generous thing to do here? So do it and enjoy the warm glow that comes from working in alignment with your highest values.
Dating after divorcemade me laugh.
The 10 Best Appetizers at Trader Joe’s. “If you need me, I’ll be near the coconut shrimp and I’ll talk briefly about coconut shrimp.”
The House of Pandora Sykes is the house of my dreams!
LOVE the shape of these shoes.
Do you say “tennis shoes”, “athletic shoes” or “sneakers”? (Growing up in Michigan, we talked about tennis shoes, even though we never played tennis.)
Parental advice: anything plus broccoli.
For what this bride looks so angry? (NYTimes giveaway link)
NOW It’s a cheesecake.
If you could change one thing about your body. (Wait for the children to arrive.)
We also published our Big Salad gift guide, if you want to see. (Reading is free for everyone.)
Plus, three reader comments:
Said Emily on what coupons would your kids love: “My two-year-old would love to spend a day “picking out mommy’s clothes”! He was melting this morning at the thought of having to get dressed and being able to choose Mom’s shirt immediately calmed him down. Replies Katie: “I support that!” When my daughter was little, she loved coming into my closet when I was getting dressed, so one day I told her she could dress me from head to toe and we would go to our local cafe to treat ourselves . We called it “Fancy Friday” and it became one of our favorite activities. It’s not every January in Michigan that you get to wear a fascinator and faux fur wrist warmers to coffee.
Said Claire on nine reader comments about kindness: “When I was 32 weeks pregnant, I learned that my husband’s cancer meant he wouldn’t live to meet our son. My obstetrician ordered an additional ultrasound so the technician could take pictures of the baby’s face for my husband before he passed. When I got to the clinic, someone must have told them because everyone was so nice to me. The receptionist told me he had rearranged his schedule so one of his best techs could do my ultrasound. The tech spent way more time with me than necessary, taking photos of our baby from every possible angle. When I returned to the waiting room, the staff gave me flowers, a balloon and – the real tearjerker – a Father’s Day card for my husband. Looking back at these photos is one of the few vivid memories I have with my husband during the last weeks of his life. I will never forget all the kindnesses.
Said Kirby on nine reader comments about kindness: “My story is a little different, it’s about giving kindness. This year I made a career change from senior management to becoming a librarian at a small public library. I was pretty broken at the time and this job saved me. The first morning, my boss told me, “There is only one rule here: be nice.” » Every day, I receive a modest salary for smiling, putting stickers on children’s hands, reading or singing to them, and introducing them to the wonders of literacy. I chat with the elderly – I know their children, what parts of their bodies hurt and whether the local swimming pool is closed or not. I help reset passwords, print documents, and organize books. Yesterday an older man burst into the library. The world had failed him and he was out of breath. Nothing on the computer would work for him. I was able to say, “Come with me, we can work this out together.” » At the end of the hour, he was laughing, promising that if he saw me with my child, he would tell him that I’m actually a tech genius! For me, being kind anchors me in the world; it makes me feel stronger and better. Kindness works its magic both ways.
(Photo by Melanie DeFazio/Stocksy.)
