Hi everyone and welcome to this week’s link up! How was everyone’s week? Snowy? Sunny? Rainy? All of the above? Enough about the weather small talk, we’ve got a wonderful show for you today, so it’s time to press play on these binge-worthy links. *INSERT TITLE SEQUENCE*
Starting off with this week’s home tour as per usual. This week we’re taking you to an insanely beautiful home brought to us by none other than The Design Files. It’s the home of two artists who view their home as a creative experiment, or in their words “a warped maximalist colour feast; monster-bird dinner party; new gothic masquerade; baking disaster; totemic gunk pile; and cluster-bomb development laboratory!” If that explanation didn’t make you click, nothing will.
From Emily: Need a weekend family movie? I’VE GOT YOU. Lin Manuel Miranda is a true gift to the world (and our family). Encanto (in addition to Moana, In the Heights, and Hamilton) has once again blown us away with its incredible music and positive messaging (not to mention visuals). I have a theory that Moana didn’t win for best animated film because of its font (lost to Secret Lives of Pets – which was cute, fine, but NOTHING like Moana). This one HAS TO WIN. Our whole family (including Brian) LOVED IT, we now listen to the soundtrack all day every day and yes, I cry. I even started sprinting to “Surface Pressure“, not to mention “We don’t Talk about Bruno” – the music is INCREDIBLE. THANK YOU LIN, for giving your talents out in such a positive way that the whole family can enjoy.
From Ryann: Allow me to introduce you to the soup recipe that Rocky declared is the best thing I’ve ever made. It’s this Creamy White Chicken Chili by Half Baked Harvest but the consistency is more like a soup in my opinion (but you could definitely add more beans and less broth for a chili consistency). Anyway, it is so delicious and was so simple to make. I topped it off with avocado and tortilla strips and like I said Rocky loved it. He’s usually the cook in this house so it was great to finally bring something to the table (literally).
From Jess: Our EHD Budget Closet Org Challenge (that I technically forced onto the team…) has put me into turbo closet organizing mode. As I mentioned in the post, I actually have three closets in my apartment so there is not a single reason that I can’t be organized. I’m the only person that lives here! My most recent purchase was this hanging wrapping paper organizer. I am so on board/agree with Emily’s wrapping paper issues but the truth is I still have some materials and I was sick of trying to get to them, schmushed in the corner of my closet, sticking out of a backpack. So getting this well-reviewed $28 organizer has made me feel embarrassingly good. If you also have a relatively modest wrapping paper/ribbon/reusable bag collection and need an easy system like I did, I highly recommend this.
Also From Jess: If y’all are into it I’m thinking of starting a series on the linkup called DadTok where I link up the very “Dad Joke” TikToks Les Bunge sends me. Please enjoy this week’s offering.
From Mallory: Tired of misplacing things? Me too. I bought the 4 pack of tile trackers (they’re on a massive sale right now $40 for 4 – originally $70!) to put on our wallets & keys just in case we lose them or they get stolen or something. Now me and Chase will never have to wonder where our stuff is again (CRYING HAPPY TEARS).
From Caitlin: This week I was BLOWN AWAY by the story of the Villa Aurora in Rome. It has everything: a Texas-born woman who became an Italian princess! An inheritance battle! A nearly 500-year-old estate! A failed $534 million dollar auction attempt! The only ceiling fresco ever painted by Caravaggio! Ruins from Caesar’s villa where he courted Cleopatra! Letters discovered from Marie Antoinette, Louis XVI, and a bunch of popes! Statues on-site by Michelangelo! The NPR story is a great jumping-off point, but be sure to click around and read all the other linked pieces – it’s SO COOL.
Also from Caitlin: Significantly less cool, but just wanted to call out two things that have helped me manage my severe back pain: this acupressure mat, which I’ve used for over a year, and this knee pillow for side sleepers, which was a Christmas gift. I re-herniated a disc last month and have been in a ton of pain, but both of these things have been actual lifesavers (in addition to, you know, actual medication). If you also struggle with back pain of any kind, I can’t recommend either of these highly enough. Hope this helps someone out
Opening Image Credits: Design by Nabilah Nordin and Nick Modrzewski | Photo by Eve Wilson | Styled by Annie Portelli| via The Design Files
