Things I Loved This Week (And Last!)

Sneak peak: Next week's multigrain cocoa-cinnamon buns!

What I'm Reading

All Roads Lead to Home (Bellingwood Series): I started reading this book series, and I absolutely love the characters! But Diane Greenwood Muir doesn't let the plot suffer either. There is mystery and intrigue, and I am totally hooked! Here's a quick plot description to draw you in: "Polly Giller returns to small-town Iowa from Boston ready to start a new life. She is renovating an old school building and while getting to know new friends, two sets of bones fall out of the ceiling."

Around the Web

When I see the phrase "Amazon bestselling author," I assume your book hit #1 in some obscure category like Underwater Locked Room Mysteries.
— Chuck Wendig (@ChuckWendig) January 27, 2015

A backlit Belgian Trippel, follow me on Instagram for more!

#TheWriteParty: I joined my first Twitter chat this week and it was awesome! I met some fantastic writers, and learned some new points of view about the creative process. Are you a writer too? Join in Thursday at 7, hosted by TheWriteWoman

I write by pen and paper. Tedious, yes. Old school, yes. But, oh the catharsis. #TheWriteParty
— amber thomas (@mrthomasandme) January 30, 2015

This article from Business Insider uses Richard Feynman as an example to show that having more mental models can make unsolvable problems solvable: "If you only have one framework for thinking about the world, then you'll try to fit every problem you face into that framework."

An extremely interesting story by Zachary McDermott, where he discusses his mental illness from a first person perspective: "I could tell the people on the sidewalk were actors, but just barely. They resembled the normal East Village lot, but they were archetypes"

Awesome Instagrams

• This shelf office set-up is basically my dream. Loving the vertical space use!
• This hippo is so happy! I hope everyone has a day like this.
• Food52 regrammed this delectable looking salted hot chocolate. Yum!
• The hot air balloons just make these rock formations even more stunning.
• Beautiful watercolor and good advice all in one gram? Love it.
• Take me to New Orleans please! I can't resist the French Quarter arhcitecture.
• These gorgeous drinks are making me consider some day cocktails
• Canyonlands is definitely on my list. I need to get to traveling!
• Can everyday be National Peanut Butter Day if we get these cookies?

The whiskey is downstairs. I am upstairs. This is #thestruggle.
— Jessica Stapf (@jstapfinator) January 24, 2015

Things I Loved This Week

Around the Web

Four Disney background artists draw a tree in their own unique styles. The video is about 16 minutes long, but it's definitely worth the watch, especially if you are an artist or animator or someone who appreciates them.

An interesting psychological study by Arthur Aron about love involves asking increasingly personal questions and staring into each other's eyes. "Most of us think of love as something that happens to us .... [W]hat I like about this study is how it assumes that love is an action."

I've been following the two climbers trying to reach the summit of the Dawn Wall in Yosemite, and they finally made it to the top! This article by National Geographic is the best summary and explanation of what they did and why it's so awesome.

The Golden Globes this year were amazing for women! Levo League covers a few female success stories from the awards show.

Instagram Finds

My favorite Instagram photos from this week came from the following: 

• US Interior posted this gorgeous shot from Arches National Park in Utah
• Check out these trees shaped by snow and wind from Haarberg Photo
• I'm super excited for Lilly Pulitzer in Target, and these pillows are adorable!
• An incredible example of color in this beautiful castle picture from Disney.
• The Every Girl posted some brunch recipes and made my mouth water.
• The rug, the pedestal, the bruschetta! I want everything in this pic from Pottery Barn
• Love love love these crates as wall art - beautiful and practical, from HomePolish
• Find the camouflaged seahorse in this capture from National Geographic by Enric Sala
• I'm definitely inspired by West Elm's full wall map in this bedroom design

Not following me on Instagram yet? Check out my photos here. Let me know you followed, and I'll follow you back!