You Might Also Like ...
A few years ago I started sharing this periodic list only with my newsletter subscribers. I thought I'd experiment with sharing it here on the blog for a few months. These are random items that I've been enjoying (or thinking about) recently:
- Amazon Returns
I found this piece by NPR's Linda Holmes absolutely fascinating (and a little gross, to be honest!): "The (not-so) secret second life of your Amazon returns." - The Baby-Sitters Club (TV Show)
If you read this book series as a middle grader, you'll probably enjoy this Netflix show as much as I do. While I'm obviously not the target audience, I'm still enjoying the excellent writing and seeing familiar actors in the adult roles. I admire how they've updated the show for modern times (for example, the girls all have cell phones and the town feels more diverse), but kept the heart of the original books. - Bee Bricks
I did not know that these bee bricks existed, but now I'm wondering if I want one in my backyard? - Brussels Sprouts
Somehow after avoiding this vegetable for decades, I managed to have them roasted twice in one week. And while they're still not my favorite, they didn't taste as bad as I expected. I did a little digging and found that the Brussels sprouts that are sold now were bred to be less bitter. See "It's Not Your Imagination, Brussels Sprouts Really Do Taste Better Now." - Faux Glass Polymer Clay Beads Tutorial
I love things that look like other things: paintings that are actually photographs, tin cans that are actually ceramics, bowls of popcorn that are actually cake. So of course I clicked right over to see the photos for this tutorial. I can't believe these beads aren't made with glass! - Habitat for Humanity's First 3D-Printed Home
This 3D home is completely amazing! Not only was the home made this way, but the new homeowner got her own 3D printer so she can print out anything she may need to replace in the future such as cabinet knobs. This is the kind of story that makes me feel like I'm seeing a little of that Jetsons future that I was promised as a child. - Hooked by Sutton Foster
This memoir was written by the actress in Bunheads, a ballerina drama that I enjoyed a few years ago. (Alas, it only lasted one season!) While our life experiences are quite different (no Broadway roles for me!), I could relate to how she associated specific craft projects with specific events in her life. I only wish she had included photos of some of her artwork in the book, although you can see some of it on her website and Instagram account. - Nachos
Nachos (simple shredded cheese and hot sauce on tortilla ships) was one of the earliest "recipes" I made following a recipe in a kid's cookbook. It amuses me now to think I actually measured out precise amounts of cheese and sauce for each chip! This long essay "The snacks that comforts me" talks about making nachos in the microwave during times of stress and parenting during a pandemic. - New Year's Resolutions
Did you make any resolutions or one-word themes this year? I've noticed a drop in the chatter I normally hear about this, which is not surprising. It's hard to make a plan when it seems like so much of daily life is out of your control. I thought this piece "How to Make New Year's Resolutions in Uncertain Times" had some good advice about looking at shorter periods of time like 30-day challenges instead. - Pandemic Necessities
This article turned up late last year on one of those "best of 2021" lists and I'm glad it did, as I missed it the first time around. The "15 Things Folks Can't Live Without in a Pandemic, From Ants to Holy Water" made me think about what might be on my list. - The Sofa That Refused to Leave
Some people have a gift for finding humor in the hardest of situations. This news story covers a family that lost everything--well, almost everything--in the recent Marshall Fire in Colorado. - Wordle
Have you played this yet? It's a daily word game--only one puzzle per day--that has caught the attention of thousands (millions?) of people. I've played a couple of times. The last one I played, my score was 2/6, so I'm tempted to quit while I'm ahead, but probably won't be able to resist trying again. - Yellow Cake
I enjoyed this article "Why Yellow Cake is So Important to Black Celebrations." I had no idea of its history, but yellow cake with chocolate frosting has always felt like classic birthday cake to me. (Who are these people who think that yellow cake is not a flavor?)