Recommended with the Hollow Knight soundtrack

Fun blog fact: this is the 65th "Recommended" post I've published!  For those of you who've been with me for a long time, for years, thank you for sticking with me through my shifts and changes.  It's an awkward question when someone asks "what do you blog about" because "well, it's just personal... about my life and things."  I've started writing more about deeper things in the last couple years, but it's still easy to dismiss my work.  Thank you for reading and being here with me.

Today I wanted to introduce you to some of my new favorite peaceful music.  Last fall, Caleb bought the game Hollow Knight for us, and we immediately fell in love.  The game is enchanting, bringing mystery and mission together for a thrilling ride.  The visual design of the beautiful settings is matched by the lovely music, and I have to share these two pieces with you.

"Greenpath" is the music for the most delightful area in the game filled with lush, green flora, plants with teeth, and adorable monsters who kill you.  "Reflection" plays in the rooms where you're able to rest away from monsters and adjust your weapon charms.  I have played these 2 songs on loop for probably over an hour by now, just because they're so beautiful and peaceful.  I hope you like them, too!

---

Nifty things

Have a 10x15' space, 5 minutes, and wifi?  That's all you need to run an on-demand book printing machine!  The Espresso Book Machine is a consumption and resource game changer!

Screen printed tees with empowering messages printed on thrifted pieces?  Yes.

Have you seen the most remote Airbnb on the planet? You could spend the night with a nomadic Dhukha family and herd reindeer with them in northern Mongolia!

Do you like meat charcuterie boards?  I like charcuterie boards forever and always.  Binging with Babish, one of Caleb's favorite youtube channels, put out a video with all the info you need to pull together a beautiful platter of meat, cheese, and more.  I'm drooling over here!

This is a Twitter thread of two litters of farm puppies meeting each other.  Enjoy.

Social issues 

Victoria Secret is losing its sheen, which I'm very happy about.  Check out The Hustle's report on its plummeting stock (which I can't help but be happy about).  "Reports show that women’s perception of the iconic lingerie brand has been declining since 2013, as more women have shifted toward female empowerment instead of hypersexualization.  You mean Kendall Jenner strutting the runway in an aqua lace corset doesn’t scream women’s empowerment and inclusion??"

And Scottish doctors are now prescribing new treatments for people with chronic health issues.  What do you think?

Two big things in women's issues!  US abortions are at their lowest since Roe v. Wade and one way the #MeToo movement is hurting women

Art and science

The very fancy Arabic script is called Tuluth.  I learned about it here.  Check out this wild 3D calligrafitti in Cairo that uses Tuluth.

You may know, but I've been in love with the minimalist design of Japanese and Scandinavian interiors.  For the last few years I've used those terms to describe my ideal aesthetic, home, and  holiday decorations.  Just last month, I've learned that there's an actual word for this combination!  Japandi!

DNA uncovers that a famous viking warrior was a lady!  Science is cool.

These guys danging.  I love it.

Recommended reads

Happy Friday, friends!  Here are a few things I've been digging lately.

golden cocoa via the kitchn

Golden cocoa (haldi doodh from India) :

I first heard about golden cocoa from Local Milk.  It sounded really strange, but I like trying new things and I've been dipping my toe into herbalism this year, so why not go for it?  (Turmeric's supposed to be an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent.)

I'm pretty flexible with my recipes at home, so I guessed at my measurementswhile adding the ingredients I had on hand.  After taking a peek at Wooden Spoon Herb's powder recipe, I decided to add some ginger and cinnamon to my cup, along with the cocoa, turmeric, butter, and milk (no ashwagandha).

My first attempt was best described as sludgy, but it wasn't bad.  Later I adjusted my ratio of powders to milk, and then at work I got to try it with almond milk (a mix of sweetened and unsweetened almond milk).  That's where I found my sweet spot.

It's not for everyone, but I enjoy the earthiness, the savory and calming heaviness of the drink, and the process of building the drink and whisking it with my matcha whisk.  Also, I absolutely love butter and pretty much anything that contains it, so I was already predisposed to like this thing.

Have you tried golden cocoa?  Do you think you will?  What warm things have you been gravitating toward since the weathers become colder?

And some extra reading for your weekend...

Just interesting

• K-Beauty's takeover of the West
• Did you know that you can buy pho soup base cubes?  They're like bouillon cubes, and my Vietnamese friend recommends these ones.  Look for them at your local Asian food store!  I've made the soup twice in the last 3 weeks and I'm craving it right now.
• Oysters on the half shell are saving New York's eroding coastline! 
• 100 websites that changed the internet

Social issues

• This Twitter thread on the real root behind abortion and how to solve it.  What do you think?
• Women are better leaders than we've been told!  This is so validating for me.  I've always wanted to lead, and I've rarely been told I can, let alone that I'm allowed to.  Here are some next steps advising leaders to embrace the feminine of leadership.
• Vintage ads showing a different kind of sexism.  (It's supposed to be offensive.)
• How should the church really respond to sexual abusers?  I really appreciate Samantha speaking into this space.

Design inspiration

• Regulating facial recognition because this stuff is creepy and I don't want to live in a Black Mirror episode.
• Preventing suicide through design
• I love these beautiful and delightful mini animations!

Recommended - Winter

I know I'm late to the party, but happy December, y'all!   I've had a lot of things needing my time and energy over the last month, but I wanted to check back in and bring you some happy wintry things.

The colder weather means it's time to check out Sarah Von Bargen's How to Hygge.  I also recommend downloading the small workbook, for some extra oomph to encourage you to take those steps enjoy the winter.

On the other hand, if you're already frustrated with the cold weather, watch this young polar bear flip out over his ice pool.  I'm pretty sure he won't mind if you live vicariously through him.

Jonna Jinton's Instagram makes winter look so magical.  All we need to do is pack up and move to northern Sweden!

How to make sure your winter clothes last well beyond the season (and an extra post about taking care of your winter sweaters)

Along with colder temperatures and less sunshine, winter can often bring seasonal affective disorder.  Here is a small piece of encouragement form Stephen Hawking and 13 things to remember when you love a person who has depression.  Let's hear it for self care!

If you have any minimalist folks in your life and don't know where to start in gift giving, check out this helpful starter guide.

How to get your kids to have the best photos with Santa from The Ugly Volvo

Look at these sugar doilies!  How delicate and pretty!

Gift ideas: Stocking stuffer inspiration from Terrain and these proposed wish lists from 1913

I couldn't pick just one, I wanted to share one, two, and tree pretty houses decorated for Christmas (I am so digging the Scandinavian look these days).  Speaking of Scandi style, IKEA has a winter coupon for $25 off $150.

If you're ready to move on from 2016, I highly recommend checking out this list of moving forward ideas for the new year from Yes and Yes.

Related: Denali National Park has a sled dog puppy cam!

Recommended for Election week

Hello again, friends.  We've made it to Friday.  We'll probably make it to next Friday, too.  It's going to be okay.

To be honest, this week threw me for much more of a loop than I expected.  I didn't think Trump would become America's next president, I didn't anticipate an uprising in hateful actions, and I didn't expect so much hurt and anger and sadness to be swirling around in the atmosphere here (you can read more of my thoughts here).  Chances are, you might be in need of some lighthearted, beautiful, and comforting things like I am.

Take care of yourself.  In fact, take extra care of yourself.  And let me know how you're doing.
xo



If you've been feeling stressed lately, check out this gif that can help with anxiety.

I've heard lots about the benefits of meditation, but it's not always easy to integrate the practice into my life (because, it is, after all, life).  Here's a simple idea for making meditation happen.

Why you should keep going

Thanks to Yes and Yes for a list of ways to stop caring about what other people thing and this awesome reminder:
"Know that people’s judgment is 95% about them and 5% about you."

 The happiest fox and hound friendship!

These moms in Seattle have figured out what I think is a huge lesson in motherhood: shared community is crucial to having the best support possible!  I wish this kind of environment would be the reality for all moms, and I hope I'll be able to be a part of something like this when it's my turn. 

These colored botanical tattoos are lovely (and inspiring...).

A beautiful Swedish chapel has been turned into a home

I am loving this pretty and simple Christmas ornament display.  I don't think Caleb and I will be able to have a tree this year (we'll be out of town for much of December, so it doesn't make much sense to have a tree), but maybe we could try something like this to decorate our home for the holidays.

Did you see these stunning photos on Portuguese Man O' Wars? My cousin told me National Geographic posted them on their Snapchat, and that's why I decided to give Snapchat another chance.

Recommended for a blitz weekend!

I'm heading up to Chattanooga this weekend for a quick trip to visit my sister and attend my first Running of the Chihuahuas.  I'm not really sure what to expect, but I'm excited!

I haven't gotten to spend much time on writing this week, but I wanted to send you off with a song I've recently added to my Misty Morning playlist.   The Atlanta weather brought us a cold snap this week, so I've been feeling very cuddly, and this song fits with my hot tea and blankets while still letting the chilly sunshine make sense, too.  I hope you enjoy!

I've mentioned a couple times that my parents moved to Norway last summer to be international missionaries.  Here's an update they wrote recently about surviving their first summer.

The future is here.  This 15-year-old kid just joined MIT after using their free curriculum for both middle and high school.

These brothers convinced their sister of the zombie apocalypse.  This made me laugh so much!

I just heard about The Bee Cause Project, which brings healthy bee hives to schools in Charleston and Savannah for some super hands-on education.  Awesome!

A deeply moving video encouraging what are called "leftover women" in China.  This is a concept I saw played out in Korea, too, and I think some of the pressure also lies in the West.  Check it out.  What do you think?

This song made me laugh.

Aha!  What a smart way to remove spiders from your home!  And without having to even get close!

Last but not least, a pop-up in London where beer is served by dogs?!

Recommended with Sukiyaki

I'll stop you right there.  No, this is not what authentic sukiyaki looks like.  Sukiyaki is a Japanese dish prepared similarly to a hot pot, and I'm 99% sure it isn't usually paired with rice.  It does, however, go well with rice, so that's how I built my dinner when making sukiyaki for the first time.  It was so delicious with rice, in fact, I'll probably always include rice in the meal!  So yeah, I know, this isn't the real deal, but the recipe I got for the sukiyaki meat and vegetables is legitimate, and I highly recommend it!

I will say, the first time I made sukiyaki, I made it by the book and followed all the ratios exactly (but I had run out of mirin, so I had to use my expensive sake instead 😭).  It came out quite salty and quite sweet, so my second time making the recipe, I toned down the soy sauce and sugar, and I enjoyed it better.  I'm still looking for the best blend to suit my tastes, but don't let that dissuade you.  The flavors are strong, but they are also good.

Sukiyaki is traditionally prepared over a portable stove at the table with everyone around the table dipping and adding to it and eating from the pot all together.  Thankfully, Chef Marc describes how you can still cook sukiyaki without a portable stove.  I made mine on the stovetop, and it turned out just fine.  I like using a round steak cut for the meat and for the vegetables, I use two different kinds of mushrooms (shimeji and enoki), white onions cut lengthwise, the whites of leeks cut crosswise, the whites of green onions cut into 2-inch sections, and canned bamboo shoots.

I have no problem with chopping veggies for 15 minutes or so, but slicing the pound of beef I use has given me serious trouble.  I've permanently delegated that task to Caleb, but before I did, I used my carving knife on the frozen beef and sliced off very thin slivers for forty minutes, which is why I won't be doing it again.  It might be worth it to ask if your butcher can slice the meat for you at the market.

Adding lots of vegetables help to bulk up the meal, and again I know it's not authentic, but everything goes so nicely with white sticky rice.  It mellows out the flavors so well.  Both times I've made this, it's produced a lot of food, and it ends up being pretty cheap per serving.  Yay for budget-friendly, yet exciting dinners!  Let me know if you try it!  (Here's the recipe to the link again.)

Recommended with sukiyaki...

Did you know that hearing and tasting what you see is a thing for some people???

How peacock feathers look under a microscope

I just discovered Atlas Obscura's website, and I think everyone should know about it!  Check out the hidden secrets of your area or the city you're visiting on your next vacation.  Turns out there's a hidden alternate universe here in Atlanta right underneath my favorite ice cream shop!

I ran with a small dream and submitted an application to Anthropologie earlier this month (and got a job offer!), which got me more curious about the company's inner workings.  Check out this detailing of the Anthro store aesthetic and these 18 facts.

I've never had it before, but I think this "New Orleans" coffee drink is worth getting super coffee snobby for.   I read about it on Cup of Jo, and it sounds like such a wonderful cup!  Have you tried it?  Is it worth it?

By the way, who knew there were so many different ways to prepare coffee?  Before seeing this list of brewing guides, I only knew about regular coffee pots (which aren't even mentioned in the list), the Chemex, French press, and pour over cups.  From what I can see, I think I would really like coffee made from a Hario Nel.

I met a very cool cat this month (I literally mean a cat), which makes me really wish my husband weren't allergic.  To satiate my new and unexpected cat love, I've found this new Adventure Cats website!

Have a great weekend!

Recommended with "Awake"

Happy Easter weekend!  Caleb and I just got back from helping friends move, and now I'm taking a short break from cooking David Chang's ramen 2.0 recipe from 2010 to get this post published!  What are you up to?

I want to share with you one of my best go-to songs.  I heard "Awake" by Tycho play just briefly between radio segments on NPR one morning and looked it up when I got into work because I loved the little bit that I'd heard.  

"Awake" is the song I go to when I need to calm down, when I need to get work done, or when I want a gentle morning.  It has an energy to it, but it's a steady energy, a peaceful one.  When I was in the middle of my last big event I was planning for work, on the very stressful Day Of, I took five minutes to sit by myself on a couch with this song playing in my headphones.  "Awake" is my reset song.  It's interesting looking back over the last year or so and seeing how much it's helped me through.  I hope it helps you, too!  Enjoy!

And now, recommended with "Awake," here are some links for your Saturday and Sunday!

I'm so excited for the warmer weather for many reasons, and I've just found another reason to add to the list.  Ripenear.me is a site built to help crowdsource and find local produce!  Brilliant!

Both I and my husband work in the tech field (never thought I'd say that about myself!), and I've been learning more and more over the years as to just how impactful technology and code are to the world.  Here's a short video explaining a bit about why programming is important, why it's everywhere, and why tech companies have silly things like scooters.

How to overcome worry and be a friendlier person and How we sabotage our own happiness  (#4 and 5 are high on my Learn How To Do List.)

In the same vein, What to do when you feel like sh*t.

What an awesome Disney Pixar short.

I've watched this short happy video 5 times in a row.  Make that 15 times in a row.

I just discovered this insane Atlanta mansion this week.  Presidential security, a huge maze garden, indoor theater and a closet as big as my bedroom!  I can't believe this is just 15 minutes up the road from me!  I am so curious about who it was built for!

Instagram Husbands.

Love this.  The warning labels that should come with Myers-Briggs personality results should come with.  I'm an INFJ, and Caleb is an INTJ, and the warnings are pretty spot on.

Where to shop besides IKEA.  I've been a fan of H&M and Urban Outfitters' home departments for a long time, but I had no idea about Muji!

What are you up to this weekend?

Recommended with Caribbean Salad

I had the usual good intentions of publishing this on Friday, but I ended up having a rough emotional day, and then to distract myself, I've fallen down the delightful hole of Ancestry.com!  I favor my father's side, because I still love my maiden name so much, but there's a lot more work that's been done on my mother's side.  I'm lucky to have an uncle who's done so much research!  Turns out I'm descended from kings, knights, witches, crusaders, and saints, all on my mom's side.  I hit a veign of gold when I found someone in my ancestry who matched up with a Wikipedia article.  Old time Western European aristocracy did a great job of tracking their lineage.  So, that's what my entire weekend's being spent on!

I do want to give you a recipe, though, the promised side salad I usually make with jerk chicken.  My mom made this for us a lot in Puerto Rico, and it was one of the few dishes she made that used cilantro.  Now, whenever I have cilantro, it takes me back to my childhood in Puerto Rico.

This dish is perfect for summertime, and it's very versatile.  Just deduct whatever ingredient you don't like.  I usually make two versions at home: one without jalapeños for me and one without beans for Caleb.  The salad tastes best when all the flavors are allowed to marry.  I like it best after about a day.

Caribbean Salad

(I'm not sure what else to call it.)

• 1 red bell pepper, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 1 japaeño pepper, diced small
• 3 green onions, chopped
• 10 oz. frozen corn, thawed
• 1 can black beans, drained
• 2 tbs cilantro, chopped (though I usually put in tons)
• 3 tbs fresh lime juice (though I've used lemon, and it's fine)
• 2 tbs olive oil
• 1/8 tsp salt

Just mix everything together, and you're done!  This recipe makes enough for probably at least 8 servings.  It makes a lot.

And links for the second half of your weekend!

I often work from home, which means Mako gets to play intern, but I would love to work at a place like this super dog friendly office.

I've always been interested in mythology and old superstitions.  I just learned about the Icelandic vegvísir symbol, which is supposed to keep travelers safe in dangerous weather.  I think it's fascinating to learn the meanings of ancient runes!  I really wish I could know the full story behind the butterknot, though, which was used "to ensure butter was procured through non-magical means."

My most recent bra purchases came from AdoreMe.  I find their sets flirty and within my usual price range.  But!  This list of 4 upcoming lingerie lines makes me curious about branching out.  This one, though, Edge O' Beyond, is crazy luxurious.  I signed up for their newsletter last year, but I know I'll probably never own any of their fancy lacy things.

This made me laugh.  If cities were your boyfriend.

Did you see Marvel's new contest for girls changing the world with science?

Check out how these iconic logos have changed since their creation.  Fascinating.

My friend Stephanie Whitacre sharing another bit of wisdom about encouraging your future self.

I don't know what it is, but I seem to have a hard time with shoes.  In the summer, I'm almost always in my clunky but comfy Chaco sandals, and all the other girls seem to look much cuter in their booties and espadrilles and even super new sneakers.  I think I've found a way to break into the cute shoes game, though, with these cross-strap flats.  And for under $30, too!

It's all advice you've heard before, but maybe you forget like I do.  How to have a better morning.

Favorite Free Printable Calendars for 2015

 I tend to go for the simple and minimal, and my calendars are usually no exception.  If there's space to right in special events and dates and a clean feel, I like it.  Sifting through the options for this year's cork board calendar, I've found so many beautiful and free options that I don't know which to pick!  Here's a roundup of my favorites.

Foxy Holiday Giving Inspiration

Just like with the star gazer collection last week, I've curated some foxy favorites for gift giving inspiration.  I tend to pin lots and lots of fox things, so this collection took me a long time to narrow down!

Holiday Shopping Inspiration: Gifts That Give Back

With Black Friday just around the corner and holiday shopping gearing up around the hemisphere, I wanted to share some causes I care about and great ways to support them while getting presents for family and friends!  

Inspiration for minimalist hanging planters

I love-love-love plants.  Inside plants and outside plants.  My parents' house is nestled in the perfect Southern wood with ferns everywhere, and it's one of my most precious places.  My parents will be moving next year, so I won't be able to visit my precious place anymore, but instead of being super sad about it, I've decided to try and bring some of the ferns from the woods into my apartment.  What I really want to do is make some hanging planters for them.  I think seeing my childhood ferns hanging from the ceiling would be so cool and pretty!  My ideal is something that looks simple and clean and that doesn't involve any macrame.  Lucky for me, lots of other people have the same idea!

Minimalist and modern hanging planter inspiration:

DIY Lace Project Inspiration

To be honest, lace isn't typically my style, but I've found some subtle ways to bring it into my life that I really like.  Take this cuff, for example.  I think it's beautiful, and I love how I can make my own and completely customize it.  Here's the tutorial at Verily Mag!

Tutorial at Verily Magazine

Looking through the tutorial gives me a lot of ideas.  What if I fixed two bands together?  What if I sewed on small beads or jewels?  What if I used thin lace or wide lace or fastened it with a button?  I've used lace trim before for a few projects (here and here, sorry for the poor photo quality), but I had never thought that fabric stiffener could open up so many possibilities.  Like this!

Here's some more subtle lace project inspiration...

Things I'm Loving Right Now

Happy Valentine's Week, my friends!
(I like how my guy works to make the day special, but everything else about Valentine's Day kind of sucks in my mind. )

I am so excited about what Caleb and I have planned!  We're going to a sushi making class!  We'll learn how to make sushi, we'll get to take a kit home with us, and we'll get to eat sushi and have some miso soup at the class!  How awesome is that?!  I'm so jealous of future me!

Caleb has Saturday planned, and I have Friday planned.  It will be much more mellow and cozier.  Blizzards from Dairy Queen (there's a new red velvet flavor I want to try), Amélie on Netflix (I've been trying to convince him to watch it with me), and bath with nice smelling salts (perfect for the nasty, cold weather we've been having).  I'm looking forward to a relaxing and chill evening!

Some other things I'm loving right now:

Two Videos to Blow Your Mind

One cool thing about being married is that we don't have to email all our cool links to each other, we can just show them to each other as we sit on the same couch on a Saturday afternoon.

I want to share with you what Caleb and I shared with each other today.

First, the new WildCat robot from Boston Dynamics:

.

What in the world, right?!  I got the heebie jeebies during the slow-mo parts.  The articles about this beast talk about how it's faster than Usain Bolt and how it could kills us all.  That last part is probably false, but it sure does look fierce.

Second, this beautifully done video about workers in the Well of Death via Colossal



I appreciate the clips of the carnival surrounding the well.  India isn't an easy place for me to imagine, though I've read about it and heard many stories about it.  This video's perspective into India is different than Slumdog Millionaire's, that's for sure.  I like it.  And, you know, the Well of Death, too.  That's so wild!  I wish I could understand the physics of it all better.


And those are the things that stopped Caleb and I in our internet tracks this weekend.  What do you think of them?

Women doing awesome things

In celebration of the beauty, grace, dignity, strength, and ferocity of the female body and soul, I wanted to share a collection of women doing epic and beautiful things.  I love these pictures!

Credits:
Girl drawing at the window  |  via Tujiko on Tumblr
Dancer Sofia Boutella  |  by Annie Leibovits via Nike Blog
French climber Catherine Sedtivelle  |  via WanderingPioneer.com
Beautiful breastfeeding doula  |  by Deck and Oar of Kim Guiley via Milk and Love
Woman writing  |  via Collections and Recollections
Female archer  |  via MCSG SYM
Girl kissing a cheetah  |  via Whole Lot of Lovely
Harry Potter gif  |  via James Francoco