My faith in gummies has been renewed

I don't actually remember loving gummy candy as a kid.  I've always had a major sweet tooth, but I hated sour patch kids and the flavor of a gummy worm was never satisfying enough to tolerate its sinewy texture.  Well this week a sweet-sweet package arrived at my door from an old friend in Indiana, which is apparently home to the Albanese Confectionery, which makes the "World's Best Gummies."  As my three-year-old was shoving them in her mouth, I tasted one and then grabbed the bag from her sticky hands.  These gummies are amazing.  Sweet, soft, wonderful flavors.  I'm so glad they can be ordered online.  Perfect for birthday parties and special occasions (like my secret candy stash in the high cupboard.)  Thanks, Libby!

List of artists whose live shows make us nervous.

Interview with pastry chef Dominique Ansel about his work and quirks (and love of gummies).

Story behind what was initially thought to be just another song by just another duo.  (Spoiler alert: it was eventually ranked as having had more radio and television play in the United States than any song of the 20th century.)

Unique coffee gadgets to improve your brew and the look of your kitchen counters.

The Portland Press

Have a happy weekend

The birds are singing, the sky is bright, the sun is shining, and I'm feeling alright (Pete the Cat).  It's a sunny summer Friday and we've reached the end of a hectic and emotional week.  Thousands came out to honor fallen local police officer Scott Patrick as he was eulogized and laid to rest on Wednesday.  The tributes and outpouring of support for Scott Patrick and his family, as well as appreciation for all local law enforcement officers, have been inspiring and remind us how fortunate we are to have such very good people in our communities.

Have a great weekend, and have some fun -- we intend to!  Here are some lighthearted posts from around the web:

Underwater wedding at the Mall of America.

Beautiful Cortona and an Italian outlet mall.

Grab a pack of breath mints and then head to the garlic festival in Hutchinson.  Garlic ice cream!

The man behind the Pharrell hat.   And why clogs will change your life.

Design ideas for small bathrooms.

Worldwide compilation of "Happy" by Pharrell Williams:

Table lamp

Face mugs

Happy Shirts tees

Hot town, summer in the city

I know the soaring temps and humidity this week can be tough for some to handle.  But really, THIS is what I've been waiting for.  Be careful, especially with the heat-vulnerable ones in our lives, but do try to embrace the thick hot sticky air -- and remember how we'll be longing for this weather in just a few short months.

Tricks for styling hair in the heat, without heat.

The BEST ponytails of all time.

What vacation looks like before and after kids.

First listen: Jenny Lewis' new album, 'Voyager.'  I DIG it.  (Fact: my daughter Riloh is named after Jenny Lewis' former band, Rilo Kiley, which was the first band my husband and I saw together when we started dating.)

This bench is beautiful.  And, hmm, maybe this for the back patio?

Popsicle recipes (and a few with alcohol).

Check out Minneapolis-based Coolibar, stylish sun protective clothing for adults and kiddos.

Waaaaay too awesome not to share.  Cool cat looking for a kitty, Gonna look in every corner of the city...

Infinite seashell wall sculpture

Cucumber Honeydew Margarita Popsicles

Creativity

Hanging light bulb vases at Etsy

There's an interesting article in The Atlantic today about creativity and various theories about how one becomes creative.  Are we born creative, or is creativity is learned?  Can we become more creative with practice or by being open to new experiences, or are we all hard-wired to be as creative as we're ever going to be?

I think creativity is a fundamental trait of human beings.  We're problem-solvers and survivors, which requires tremendous creativity daily.  Of course we all have different creative strengths in millions of different areas.  I love to write song lyrics, but put me in front of a canvas with a paintbrush and I go totally blank.

I love to be inspired by others' creativity.  Music is often my biggest inspiration.  And photography.  And my kids.  And, oh you get the point.  What are your creative inspirations?

How to be creative.  A 2009 study found that subjects solved twice as many insight puzzles when surrounded by the color blue, since it leads to more relaxed and associative thinking. Red, on other hand, makes people more alert and aware, so it is a better backdrop for solving analytic problems.

A terrific book about being creative, by one of my favorite artists.

Test your creativity.

Amazing travel photography.  And an interesting perspective about the art of mindful photography.

A favorite songwriter performing a favorite song at a favorite show:


We passed the time with crosswords that she thought to bring inside
What five letters spell "apocalypse" she asked me
I won her over singing "W.W.I.I.I."
Oh, she smiled and we both knew that she'd misjudged me
© 2007 Josh Ritter

Bitten by the bug

My three and a half year old is crazy about bugs and worms and anything from a related species.  Me, not so much, but I've come to appreciate her deep fascination and awe with discovering critters of various shapes, sizes and motivations.  Our very wet spring provided a robust insect breeding environment this year -- some of those buggers are huge!

Here's an awesome tip for relieving bug bites, direct from our pediatrician: Use Adolph's meat tenderizer on mosquito bites, bee stings, all of the critter bites.  Add a few drops of water to make paste, apply directly to the bite area, leave on for a few minutes, then brush it off.  I cover the area with a band-aid or sterile gauze pad if the kiddos are squirmy.  It really reduces the swelling.  The papain in the tenderizer breaks down the protein toxins in the bites.  Who knew??  Well now we all do.  I found Adolph's in the spice aisle at Target for $2.50. 

Just For Fun: 

Because who can resist a great list of Bug Fun Facts?  And this list might give you nightmares (especially the fact about the mosquitoes.)

This is one photogenic beetle.  And pretty terrific photography (by a human).

If you haven't been to the Minnesota Zoo Big Bugs! exhibit, go.  It's fun.

So beautiful -- Genetically unusual butterflies.

This song is a perfect "earworm" for your day -- Enjoy!

Riloh discovered this baby hopper on the side of our garage.  It was less than 1/4 inch long!

Sweet Tune

I promise to feature other artists here besides Paul Simon.  This song is just so fitting for the holiday weekend.  Enjoy!

America
“Kathy,” I said, as we boarded a Greyhound in Pittsburgh
“Michigan seems like a dream to me now
It took me four days to hitch-hike from Saginaw
I’ve come to look for America”
© 1968 Words and Music by Paul Simon

Homeward Bound

I’m sittin in the railway station/ Got a ticket for my destination
On a tour of one-night stands/ My suitcase and guitar in hand
And every stop is neatly planned/ For a poet and a one-man band
Homeward bound
© 1966 Words and Music by Paul Simon

Have a wonderful holiday weekend

I am very proud that my grandfathers, my father, several of my uncles, and now my cousin have all served in our nation's military.  On this Memorial Day weekend, please remember to keep the families who have lost loved ones while serving our country in your thoughts.

Enjoy the long weekend!

Patio season in Minnesota!  Here's where you can find a table.

A lovely read about springtime in Paris, ahhhhhh.

20 pairs of seriously wearable summer sunglasses.

Coming in September: Target's latest designer collaborator is Joseph Altuzarra.

Well, I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder with this one.

This week's top 10 Minnesota music videos.

Five iconic toys born in Minnesota.

Hooray, It's May!

All Minnesotans know: it's been a long brutal winter here.  That's all I'll say on the topic because I'm over talking/thinking/writing about the gross weather.  So on a happier note: Hooray, we made it to May!

Minnesotans aren't the only ones to sorta lose their minds this time of year as we await the warm fresh air in our noses... Paul Simon and Edie Brickell rather famously made the news last week for a spat.  Well now they have released a sweet little duet called "Like To Get To Know You" about loving each other after 12 years of marriage.  It's a clever bridge over troubled water, ahem (and a genius PR move!)



You might also be interested in: Free admission at museums this month and here's how you can buy Bob Dylan's "Like A Rolling Stone" lyrics with all the money you saved from not paying for museum tickets.

Lip Service

One of my favorite springtime rituals is to freshen up my makeup bag.  There's something about a great new lipstick that just pulls a whole look together.  Check out the 50 Best Cult and Classic Lip Shades of All Time for some ideas.  And in case you were wondering, We Still Hate Lip Gloss.

P.S.  The best of the best at the party for the best and another Beatles domination anniversary.

Simon Says: Keep It Simple

"Something simple and true, that has a lot of possibilities, is a nice way to begin." 
- Paul Simon

I love that quote.  It's my go-to quote when I'm stuck and can't organize my thoughts enough to begin.  I also love Paul Simon.  And music and travel and creating and my family and baking and making things look cool and expressing my opinions.  Hello World, I'm a blogger now.

I often need to remind myself to simplify.  I tend to get paralyzed sometimes with too many ideas and plans and to-do lists.  Pick one great idea.  Stick to what you know.  Get really good at the thing you love the most.  Or the ten things you love the most, ha.

Rather than risk losing the simplicity of this inaugural blog entry, I'm going to stop there.  By the way, Paul Simon's Something So Right is a pretty darn great song.