This interview Gala did with a woman who works for a non-profit during the day and is a stripper by night is fascinating.

Nubby shares some advice for a teen who aspires to be a designer and blogger. I think her pointers are great for anyone wanting to get into those fields, regardless of age.

Sasha wrote a fantastic piece over at Hello Giggles regarding Chris Brown’s appearance at the Grammy awards and why she’s not ok with it.

Here’s a post of nice things over at Miss Moss. I am obsessed with Diana’s blog, she has some of the most well-curated spaces on the internet. I totally have a girl-crush on her and would like to have beer, cheese fondue and bread while discussing art and stylish things.

Valentines made by children are adorable, and these food-themed ones are killing me.

Five tips on how to grow your blog, over at After Nine to Five. Love this post!

Have a great weekend! xo

Kyla’s goal keeping post is about creating experience-based goals. I think this concept is awesome and likely to increase the chances of goals being viable long-term. Love.

The Bloggess goes head-to-head with her husband over a giant chicken sculpture. This is an older post from last year, & I’m probably the last to know about it, but it’s super-amusing & worth a read/re-read anyway! I love how Jenny writes about disagreements with her guy: relationships are not always peachy and “Oh, yes, my love, I would simply love to do that/remove this/etc for you/us/myself”. Sometimes it’s more like “Oh my God, would you just shut up and accept my purchase of a giant metal chicken?! IT IS FUNNY. Also, you are being a dick.”

The wedding of Bluebird Vintage’s James and her love, Aubrey, is a feast for the eyes. I’m not a big wedding person. Most of them I find them annoying and falsely personal/individual (they often seem to fit into some ideal of what a wedding is/should be). This one, however, was a truly stunning, personal, intimate and basically perfect celebration of love. The feature over at 100 Layer Cake is in two parts: one & two. James has also shared photos over at the Bleubird blog, here and here. Seriously, I just about cried – in a cafe – at the emotional photos of the ceremony. My eyes misted and I had to switch tabs in my browser and compose myself.

And now I shall will myself to stop doing Other Things and download past exam papers in order to prepare for my exam on Monday. Oh gee, can’t wait…

Sam, xo

After my last post and experiencing lots of thoughts and feelings on what I want to do with my life, the following reads have been helpful for gaining a bit of much-needed perspective.

• This article by author Justine Musk on developing a creative practice is fantastic. I like her explanation of how repeated actions become easier for neurons to transmit and how these habits can be used for the better in our creative work.
• After finding the above article I browsed Justine’s blog some more and found this article on embracing some of our flaws because they can actually be used positively. Just because someone may think something we do is weird/bad/wrong/too much, doesn’t mean that thing is always negative! Embrace your ‘too muchness’ and use it to your advantage.
• I found this website yesterday about living minimally and I found it pretty interesting. I admit I am materialistic in that I am very much affected by my surroundings and have always preferred to surround myself with aesthetically pleasing things (I’ve also discovered since having my own flat that I am neat/clean freak and mess drives me insane). As I’ve grown, I also like those things to have a function, but, generally, whatever it is is not always a necessity. I would like to simplify my living spaces and life a bit.
• Food for thought: “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” – Anais Nin

To end, this isn’t so much as a read as a Do. This recipe sounds pretty amazing!

• Coconut & Lime Rice Pudding

This week I’ve enjoyed a number of awesome articles from around the web and wanted to share them with you. You’re welcome.

• Gala wrote a great article on how couples can bring some spark back to their relationship. I reckon this is great for long-term couples of any duration; it’s easy to get into a routine and forget to mix it up sometimes.
• I found Danielle’s Hello Giggles column on making girlfriends as an adult particularly helpful; I lack in the close female friend department and as I get older I find myself desiring such relationships more and more. I think a close group of girlfriends is an amazing thing to have.
• I’ve never been to a desert. New Zealand doesn’t have any and while we have a stretch of road called the Desert Road, it is not at all desert-like. It’s disappointing, quite frankly, especially as a child. Anyway, the lovely Nubby was in Arizona last month and has shared some seriously gorgeous desert photos over on her blog here and here. It makes me want to move there immediately.
• Design*Sponge featured a house that I fell in love with. Such a great space and so many awesome storage ideas.
• And finally, just for your viewing pleasure, a really cool Lady Gaga cover by Ithacacapella a cappella group and P22 Chorus. Love it when kids sing!
  

‘kay, now go and have a brilliant weekend!