• Advice from Magnum photographer, Alec Soth.
  “…I’m always wary that the advice is like “you need to put together this promo package that you send out to these 100 people.” No, you need to do the work, and worry about that later.”

• For the hardcore gardener.

• A great house tour (and not just because there’s a pink couch).

• Portraits of a smart, strong young girl.

• The Frank Lloyd Wright Housewalk takes place here in Oak Park, tomorrow, with access to private homes. (I’m looking forward to it!)

• The new Moroccan-inspired collection for FLOR is so good! The vintage vibe rug is a smart take on the white criss-crossed berber we’ve been seeing all over the interwebs lately.

• Loving the new lighting from One Forty Three.

• Clever bookshelf!

• Have you seen the Conran Shop at JCP yet? I wish I had a good place for this console table.

• Get the look: a geometric headboard.

This week on MIL’s Facebook page, enter to win a $50 gift card from Gleeful Peacock. Good luck!

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• I’m feeling super-inspired by this kitchen makeover right now.
  [via A Cup of Jo]

• Chris Ware’s beautiful New Yorker cover. (I teared up when I saw it.)

• Oh boy, this was enjoyable.

• And this made me laugh way harder than it probably should have.

• Yay, cake!

• Too much success can be just as bad as not enough. Here’s why Warby Parker invited 20,000 customers to their apartment.

• Firepits can be nice, but they can by pretty ugly too. So I present to you: 10 of the best modern firepits.

• The iconic molded Eames chair gets an updated look in wood. What do you think?

• Cute backgammon sets.

• Afraid to commit to wallpaper? Here are a few super-cute temporary wallpapers to choose from!

• Are you in need of shelving that looks like a dollhouse for adults? (The answer is yes.)

This week on MIL’s Facebook page, enter to win a $299 design consultation from Dwell Candy. Good luck!

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• How to dress like a grown up.
  I like the distinction of style vs. fashion.

• I’ve been running again (I ran for twenty minutes straight a few days ago!), but Meg just finished a half-marathon. It was inspiring to see her go from start to finish.

• Nerd tip: Tell your crush to turn the axes off first.

• I like the way Brian Lam works.

• Get on your bikes and ride! (And look cute while doing it, too.)

• Pretty things inside.

• Get the look: Expedit chic.

• Clever posters and comics for bookish types.

• Modern basics to update your wardrobe staples.

• This was a triumph! I’m making a note here: huge success.

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• Things aren’t always as they seem. Sometimes housefronts hide open holes to the underground in major cities.

• Exploring the mysterious world of women’s fiction.
  Oh, you women. Gossiping about your little books.

• The idea of owning the music you listen to? Haha, so quaint.

• Enthusing over bands to seem cool? Haha, so hipster.

• Kim Gordon sounds off.
  (Also, haha. I think it’s funny to follow up that last link with this one.)

• I’m teaching my Growing Your Readership class again for Alt Summit on Tuesday. Sign up!

• Bobby pins. I have an urgent need for a print of bobby pins. I want all of these, actually.

• Clean up, clean up, everybody, everywhere…

• Adorable alphabet paper plates.
  It seems a shame to sully them with food and throw them away.

• The prettiest cup and saucer set, all done up in shades of pinks, purples, and corals, with gold detailing.

• Then again, Heath Ceramics always does it for me.

• Have you seen the new lighting collection at west elm? That copper detail is so good.

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• This is a brilliant ad campaign for a science museum.
  I’m good with clowns, but heights… not so much.

• Barbie without makeup.

• Chicago’s once-beautiful jail in the heart of the city.

• Saturday is record store day! Locals should check out Val’s Halla, here in Oak Park, and Old School Records over in Forest Park.

• Soap opera scores: so easy a cat could do it!

• It all comes down to Jenna Lyons.

• I’m in love with these tiles.

• This may well be the summer of the fairy garden around here. I’ve been wanting to make one with the kids, and there are so many good (teeny tiny) options out there!

• How to choose bathroom finishes. (I still need to choose a color though.)

• Mother’s Day is coming up soon. Get her one of these cards at the very least.

• Get the look: a bold entry. (A cute dog helps for this one.)

• Still on the wish list for a while: gorgeous tufted leather sofas.

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• Yes! Ask a Grown Man: Thom Yorke and Nigel Godrich.

• Rethinking population density.

• I loved Victoria’s post about the perception bloggers are presenting via social media.

• How far is it to Mars? (Far.)

• Professionals go hard early.

• I’ve been spending way too much time looking at Chicago real estate that I can’t afford, but this house is a pretty one (even though it’s huge, and new — two things I’m not normally drawn to).

• Rifle Paper Company went ahead and made the prettiest iPhone cases ever for all of us. Hooray!

• Pretty garden tools automatically guarantee a pretty garden, right? I’m pretty sure that’s how that works.

• Marimekko Converse Sneaks!

• A two-piece bathing suit for toddlers that I actually like. (I’m normally too prudish for them, you see.)

• Hey, act fast if you want something at Kate Spade or Saturday. It’s all 25% off right now.

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• Tilda Swinton is officially art.
  p.s. I just cut off all of my hair, though it’s more of a pixie than the full-on Swinton I was considering.

• Sometimes we look back at what we’ve done or written, and cringe a little. (Oh, hindsight.) Those earlier versions of ourselves are important though, too.

• The story of Nasty Gal, the shopping site with the awkward name and $100 million in annual sales.

• Is the line between church and state blurring when it comes to content and advertising?
  Yes, it’s shifting. Beyond the knee-jerk reaction, it can be a good thing.

• The sweetest thing I’ve seen in a long time.

• It’s time to clear away the winter crud and make our outdoor spaces nice again! Here are 20 modern (and affordable) outdoor furniture options.

• These are the cutest lunchboxes. I want one in each color.

• Get the look: Louis goes pink and green.

• 3 perfect picnics.

• Thinking about fresh laundry colors.

• Here’s why I like the white walls in my kitchen so much. (I can change things up with the addition of new accessories!)

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• I’m sorry, but I’m sick in bed today and can barely force myself to look at my computer, let alone work on it. Still, minimums and traffic goals and required promotion, oh my! Below are a few links to my posts on Babble.

• Have you seen all the new goodies at west elm? I think I’m going to pick up a few outdoor pillows for the front porch.

• Some gorgeous options for customized IKEA kitchen.

• The perfect pop of color in mint, turquoise, or coral.

• Deceptively simple modern desk accessories.

• A fun video from Nate Berkus, discussing everything from his cooking skills to design mistakes.

• Cute dog tags that give back to charity.

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• It was a good week for blogger home reveals. First up was Bri’s new living room, designed by Emily. Then we had Jordan’s apartment featured by Joanna.

  Also, you like how I refer to them all by first name because we’re all besties (obviously)? Blogging is weird.

• I had a dream once that I was doing parkour (really well!), and when I sleepily told Brandon about it that morning, I referred to it as “outsiding.” I have thought of it as such ever since, even though I know better. (Just like I know how to pronounce Penelope, but I always read it as rhyming with cantaloupe.)

  Anyway, this looks fun!

• I can’t even handle this right now.

• You know how sometimes you see a headline and you just have to click? “Miley Cyrus twerks in a unicorn onesie.” Yeah.

  (Also, I kinda want her short hair. Hers, or Tilda Swinton’s. Brandon doesn’t think I can pull it off, but I believe I can.)

• Wrapping paper as wallpaper? Brilliant.

• Hey, those Kate Spade pointy-toed sneakers I wrote about are available again!

• Need some teeny tiny felt ball garland for your dollhouse? How about miniscule crayons, or a little artist’s paint box? Duh, of course you do.

• Spring is here — huzzah! Time to dress your table for the season.

• How did my daughter turn out so girly, and my son so boyish?

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• Sign Painters looks fantastic. I wish I had that kind of mastery over letterforms and a paintbrush.

• Stay on the bus. [via Raincoast Cottage]

• Looking for a Google Reader alternative? I think I’m switching to Feedly. (Unless you have a better suggestion.)

• Instagram Polaroid!

• Recognize these floor plans? An interior designer drew them, and explains why they don’t actually work.

• Have you seen the new line from Jonathan Adler for JC Penney yet? Good stuff.

• I want to create a whole little village with miniature garden planters.

• How amazing would this modern playhouse be in the yard? (Answer: super-amazing.)

• Some ideas for the Easter basket.

• Books! Everywhere! (I don’t mind.)

• I’m teaching my class about Understanding Analytics again next Wednesday for Alt Summit.
  I don’t teach this one as often as my other (Growing Your Readership), so if you’re interested, you should sign up. I’ve gone through and updated a few things — it’s crazy how fast things have changed in the year since I first put the presentation together.

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