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No News in the Newsfeed
Wondering what happened to all those cool people you once knew on Facebook? Can’t figure out why your newsfeed doesn’t tell you when your brother posted a photo album? My mom enlightened me to this little change available at the bottom of your newsfeed. Their algorithm makes sense if you want to keep bumping into the same people again and again, but if you’re using Facebook to find out about interesting thoughts and ideas, it’s not quite working.
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Holiday Music
I love this idea of a Valentine’s Day Playbutton from Opening Ceremony. What a fun way to give someone a mix for them to enjoy on their ride to work. The concept of Playbutton’s idea would also make a fun wedding favor or store giveaway, don’t you think?
Speaking of music, two recent mixes I’ve been enjoying:
K.I.D. Collective’s non-oozing Valentine’s Day mix. (you can download this one)
Dom‘s peppy, happy mix of rock-y songs. (you have to stream this one) (if you’re playing it for a group, watch out for the second to last song)
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Holiday Alcohol
The #1 question I get from my non-pregnant/male friends is: do you miss alcohol? For the first 20 weeks, I did not. These days, yes I do. It’s not really the day-to-day, it’s the alcohol associated with occasions. Bloody Marys on plane rides. Margaritas with Mexican. Dinner with friends with a new wine.
Joe and I don’t do gifts for Valentine’s Day. We usually make cards: his a meticulous transformation of what was once just paper. Mine: a wordy, prosy, metaphor-laden 4th grader’s handwriting exercise. Anyway, we usually spend the money on expensive champagne and maybe make scrambled eggs and salmon or something that involves not going into the slushy world outside. Do I plan on having a glass or two? yes.
But for the rest of the non-special times, when the guilt of impeding the development of a single brain cell stops my hand, I thought these drink ideas put together by Alyson at Unruly Little Things where just great. When it’s warmer, I’m looking forward to homemade lemonade being my drink of choice, perhaps embellished with a little rose water.
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Design for Paperless Post
I know I have some very talented graphic design readers, and I thought of you when I saw Paperless Post‘s open invitation to submit your work. Read more about it right here.
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Branding: Chocolate
Lately, in a most obnoxiously stereotypical fashion, chocolate has sounded like the best thing ever. If I think about chocolate, I like to think of two delicious brands: Taza or Vosges. Vosges has been on my mind recently because they started in Chicago (midwest, yes!) and we walked by their classy stand-shop in the Chicago airport a few weeks ago. It’s also fair to say that Vosges was the one who brought the idea of bacon & chocolate into public consciousness as a very normal thing to want to eat.
They’ve always had a rich purple as their signature color, and I think it is as effective as Tiffany’s blue for making their product look seductive and splurge worthy.
And just as Tiffany’s also knows very well, if one has decided to spend money on something totally unnecessary, one definitely wants it to come with a ribbon. And it better be glossy.
Not to be missed: their adorable library series of chocolate bars.
Good job guys! (actually, girl, namely Katrina)
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Neighborhoods Reviewed
This is a very good idea. What’s the most difficult part about moving (aside from the dreaded visit to U-Haul, what is the deal with that place)? Savvily picking a new neighborhood that will be just what you want for your new home. Craigslist, where “steps away” usually means a ten minute walk, obviously can’t be trusted on this count. No thank you.
NabWise has launched a well designed, user-content-contributed site for reviewing and rating neighborhoods. Right now, it is only in New York, San Francisco, Boston, Seattle, Chicago and Austin. I’ve been clicking around the Boston page and finding neighborhoods I’d never even heard of that sound great. Random people’s opinions can only take a site so far, and the reason I really like NabeWise is because of their handy integration of maps and graphics. Mapping the boundaries of a neighborhood alone, particularly when you’re clicking around Craigslist, is super helpful for newcomers to a city.
Here’s my review of Beacon Hill. I’d love to read your thoughts if you review a neighborhood as well!
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it’s a conspiracy
I fly Jetblue if I can, but they don’t seem to go where I’m going much. I’ve always wondered if it just seemed like everyone was charging the same price, or if they were actually all charging the same price. No deals here. Taken from HipMunk’s baggage fee infographic.
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Embroidered Creatures
I wish I was an embroiderista, like this girl clearly is. Maybe it’s time for a new hobby!
First seen over at Unruly Little Things, a lovely baby blog.
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Umbrellas
What a nice photo of a man’s bag-about-town, shared by Brian over at the blue hour.
With all the trashed umbrellas I see on the street, danglingly menacingly out of trash cans with wires askew, I’m starting to believe a high-quality umbrella investment could be a very environmentally friendly decision.
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Magazines, waiting for you
Alright, a quick review of your current options for free, ultra feminine, online-readable magazines, getting older as you go down the list.
Matchbook Magazine, A Field Guide to a Charmed Life. One issue old.
Rue Magazine, three issues old.
Lonny Magazine, nine issues old.
All three are appealing to markedly similar demographics. I’m not much of a home-decor girl, so that knocks out 60% of the content for me, but their photographs are usually fantastic, they feature a number of creative small business owners (always a fascinating topic), crisp graphics, and of course, are free and ready for your willing clicks.
Any favorites?
