Category: Weekend

Britain, Friday, Humor, Linkstorm, London, Weekend, Work, Writing May 23, 2014May 26, 2014

Friday Links (Summer Has Arrrived Edition)

“I’m leaving because the weather is too good. I hate London when it’s not raining.”
-Groucho Marx

This week has turned things around in a big way and much has been done, all of it . I had another cowork day with Alanna (who might soon be upping sticks on an adventure of her own), completed lots of freelance work, went to a book launch (more on that later) and had an impromptu date night with Jeff. All things considered, that’s a banner week. Here are your links, kittens – short and dirty this week, so do link anything else worth knowing in the comments. For the benefit of the minion coterie, you understand!

I’ve only got six (!) working days left at the Franklin House, so there’s been a lot of gearing up for the Next Big Thing here at Small Dog headquaters, which of course includes a new round of pitches to editors. Here’s my confession: pitching irrationally terrifies me. It’s not at all as scary as my brain builds it up to be, which I understand intellectually, and I’ve got some new recent and impressive clips now to help me out, but still. Scary. Which is why this kick-in-the-pants post from Linda Formichelli was quite timely!

Another timely read from Garance.

One dad has made some artwork based on the crazy things he has said because of his children, and some of them are pretty giggle worthy. Parents, weigh in. Accurate or not?

I’m a little bit in love with these animal pun illustrations for cards, etc.

My inner five year old is thrilled, a new gigantic dinosaur fossil has been unearthed in Argentina and to dates it’s the largest dinosaur ever discovered.

Pineapple earrings. Which might be necessary to my happiness, as my birthday is just over a week away…

As a person with a hard won and complex relationship with faith and spirituality, I found this short Buzzfeed piece written by a young woman who has lost hers interesting.

Janssen’s Summer 2014 Tell Me What To Read list has begun over at Everyday Reading. I love her reviews and she influences my own To Read list heavily, but her comment threads are also excellent places to pick up recommendations.

Freelance, Humor, Linkstorm, London, Weekend May 9, 2014May 8, 2014

Friday Links

“Friday’s a free day.”
― Neil Gaiman, American Gods

It’s Friday, ducklings, of the TGI variety. It’s been an up and down sort of week, but mostly ending on an up. I got some supremely nice emails after my post about self care as a freelancer, which was lovely, and have carved out some time for friends and museums this weekend. Like tea, both are tonic to the soul. Now if my Kindle and laptop could both stop acting as electronics possessed, all would be right with the world. Here are your links, share anything worth knowing in the comments, and tell me what you’re getting up to this weekend. As a gentle reminder to stateside minions, it’s Mother’s Day this Sunday – ring your mums!

If the internet has taught us nothing, it’s that cats are a balm. Here’s the Spitalfields City Farm feline resident to do pre-weekend duty.

If ever you need to turn down a marriage proposal like a bad ass, Charlotte Bronte is here to guide you. Also I want to read this book.

Friend and fellow Shakespeare-course-taught-by-a-man-actually-named-William-Shakespeare veteran Amanda gets a h/t for this share. Number 8 gets an enthusiastic clap from me.

All I’m saying is that there are some parallels…

This 16 year old’s school project is pretty nifty!

I leave this vital matter in your hands: which of these Victorian words and phrases will we reintroduce first? Cast your votes, minions, this is incredibly important.

My friend Katarina currently works for Colonial Williamsburg while I volunteer at the Franklin House, and a number of 18th century American History themed emails/texts pass between us. Most recently she sent me this magnificent thing which I’ll just leave right here.

The very idea of shopping for a place to live permanently someday terrifies me. This tumblr find of the week, doesn’t help.

Excellent public health news, h/t Annette.

MOAR cute animals, you demand? This gifset made me laugh.

I like the Wall Street Journal’s regular piece Work Wear, detailing what different offices’ work styles are. This week features NPR and it’s a bit odd to put fashion styles to people I mostly know through faceless voices.

Interesting tool! Both Katie and Adam, and Chris and Nikki (couple friends of ours) are moving to San Francisco, one of The Girls just moved to New York City, I moved to London…we’re a mobile bunch these days. But how do cities compare for COLA?

Freelance, Humor, Linkstorm, London, Weekend May 2, 2014May 2, 2014

Friday Links (Last Day At LOOK Edition)

“I like the spirit of this great London which I feel around me. Who but a coward would pass his whole life in hamlets; and for ever abandon his faculties to the eating rust of obscurity?”
-Charlotte Brontë

Alas, my (truly excellent) work experience ends today, but it’s been an incredible run. I’ve been very lucky in that it’s been a hectic week and the writers and editors I worked with gave me a lot of assignments and opportunities to help out. I’ve written lots of different kinds of copy and interviewed some really interesting people on some equally interesting pieces. Plus I asked the editor about pitching pieces for her in the future and she told me to go right ahead and stay in regular contact. I’ve been on a high all week.

Now, how can I turn this into a regular job somewhere? Any British weekly publications (which are fun to work on in a completely different way than monthlies, and I’ve found it slightly addictive) need a plucky junior features writer?

While I scheme along those lines, here’s an extra long list of links for you to enjoy this weekend. As always, minions are encouraged to weigh in in the comments and link to other worthy of notice and note. Have a good weekend, and let me know what you’re getting up to!

Playing this (admittedly charming) game for real.

I unabashedly adored the Little House books as a child, but yikes! I’ve known for years that they walk the blurred, heavily edited line of fiction and nonfiction, but some pretty serious stuff was ruthlessly cut by Wilder’s daughter, who was the driving force in getting the stories written. I confess, I’d love to read the unedited manuscripts and get another POV of pioneer and prairie life.

The science behind clickbait. More interesting than you’d think. (See what I did there?)

Answering the age old question, or at least the one much of the Western press has been asking since Prince George was taken on his first tour and his baby cheeks became a meme.

Worth reading and considering, is irony ruining our culture?

Great and interesting piece on the importance of storytelling and narrative!

I’ve worked on a crowd funding campaign for a freelance client that was a really great and interesting project with a lot of future work planned, but it’s opened my eyes a lot to what that sort of funding can do. This fashion line, for instance, is making some waves and I think it might be an interesting way to open it and other traditionally closed and hard to break into industries in new ways.

Truth.

It is a truth universally acknowledged that I know a lot of amazingly talented writers. I first met Ellie when our plays were being produced by Theatre Virginia as teenagers, she now works for Marvel comics and just released her second novel via ebook. Go check it out!

Leila, yet another awesome writer friend (of the sci-fi/fantasy variety) posted this useful guide the vernacularly fraught world of “yeah” and associates.

3D printing is a mesmerizing, weird, cool, intimidating (hi, guy who printed a gun), and totally innovative technology, but I think this 3D printing pen might be the most interesting design tool I’ve seen all month.

I’ve decided that being like Baroness Trumpington in my old age would be a worthy goal. I also want to read her new memoir.

The recent lawsuit surrounding AirBnB is sort of strange to me. Thoughts? Everybody I know sings its praises. Thoughts?

I found this art project interesting (and the link the rest of the artist’s work is well worth following).

Though I thought the now-famed Atlantic Piece, The Confidence Gap addressed some good points, I think this response, filled with suggestions, is pretty much spot on.

Emma Stone is my girlcrush of the week for this performance alone. (Confession, she is frequently my girlcrush for lots of reasons, not the least of which because she seems down right hilarious.)

Oh, Idaho. Having lived nearby I can totally see this happening.

Speaking of crushes, I’m personally and politically loving this initiative and PSA against sexual assault. Victim blaming, check. Speaking up when you see something wrong, check. Consent, check.

Britain, Friday, Friends, Humor, Linkstorm, Travel, Weekend April 25, 2014April 25, 2014

Friday Links (More Visitors, Edition)

“Stay is a charming word in a friend’s vocabulary.”
― Amos Bronson Alcott

Another big week wrap up, and best of all my friend Lauren is coming into town! Lauren and I met at a summer Young Global Leaders program when we were 15 and we’ve stayed in touch ever since. She’s currently conquering the world of media and is flying to London from Hong Kong for work because fabulous is her middle name. I’ve got lots of food and wandering planned for us. How are you guys spending the weekend? Let me know in the comments and add any links that you think the minion coterie has to know about.

Let’s get a new look at some of the world’s old favorites, shall we?

WARNING. Do not read if you’re caught up on Game of Thrones, there are spoilers and I cannot stress that enough. Seriously. Don’t click through if you don’t want secret knowledge you’ll be angry to have. ‘K? Alright. If the modern media reported on “that thing that happened” on GoT.

Gorgeous find. What else is hiding under plaster elsewhere, I wonder?

Twitter friend and entrepreneurial girl crush Bethany of Love Grows Design wrote a really good piece on the fundamentally edited nature of online writing and social media that’s really worth the read. Something to think about both creating and ingesting content.

Behold, the thing that made Jeff burst into the loudest, most hysterical laughter I’ve heard all week. Do make sure the sound is on.

Channeling love for the old Batman TV series, now for the low, low price of $2200.

Huh, does this guy do house calls? Across the Atlantic? I’m pretty chronically sleep deprived these days…

The British Museum recently opened one of the biggest new exhibition in years, Vikings. We haven’t seen it yet (and we’re BM members, the shame!) but I’m enjoying the heck out of the many campaigns and bonuses the museum is running. Here – Viking yourself! (I kid you not, I got “Cadence the Little.”)

Friend and Friend of the Blog Caitlin Kelly writes about her recent experience in Nicaragua, and the lessons learned while working with WaterAid for Rewire Me.

Humor, London, Theatre, Weekend April 24, 2014April 20, 2014

Sometimes You Go To Covent Garden And It’s the Olivier Awards

“All the world’s a stage.”
― William Shakespeare, As You Like It

The other weekend, after I emerged from a project based fog and Jeff finished up a major bout of studying, we were in need of a treat. We counted the coins in our spare change jar and to our delight it added up to two concretes from Shake Shake so off we went to Covent Garden. When we got there we noticed it was unusually crowded, even for a weekend, but it turns out that they were filming live events for the Olivier Awards and several West End actors and and troupes were putting on live performances which were being broadcast to the main stage and events elsewhere.

Not just any performances, mind you. Whole numbers and sections of shows you otherwise have to pay a decent amount of money to see. It was a wonderfully unexpected way to enjoy the evening!

The live stage was sent up in front of the famous St. Paul’s church, where Eliza Doolittle met professor Higgins in My Fair Lady and today is known as the Actor’s Church for its long history connected to the theatre world and community of the West End

Performers, puppet and human from the award winning Avenue Q.

No biggie, just Javert communing with the cosmos and swearing his unique brand of justice upon parole-breakers.

Do you hear the people sing? As it happens, yes!

Freelance, Friday, Humor, Linkstorm, London, Weekend, Writing April 18, 2014April 18, 2014

Friday Links (Feeling Pretty Alright, Edition)

“Freelancing…is an on-spec life and it is full of what can only be described as insane serendipity (or serendipitous insanity).”
― Richard Morgan

This week I put to bed phase one of a major freelance project, a separate project has seen some setbacks due to travel and family concerns (theirs, not mine) but still progress, and life at the museum has gotten crazy as the Easter holiday descends and tourist season begins in earnest. I’m still recovering from my hedonistic lost weekend with Caitlin, but I also got to have a gorgeous tea with a longtime online friend who happened to be in London, meet up with Andrea from This New View to talk freelance writing, and had another spectacularly productive coworking day with Alanna.

I don’t think I’ve ever been this consistently scheduled in my life as I’ve been since the start of 2014. Sure I’ve had busy work, and stressful periods at my old office, but there is a massive difference between being busy and getting things done, I’ve discovered. And in spite of occasional sleep deprivation, or periods of crunch time, I don’t think I’ve every been this professionally content either. Life is simply very good.

Also, you may have noticed, there’s been a few changes in the Small Dog vicinity. Once again, I’ve learned new skills and am practicing away (heck, I’m even learning about branded images up in here, thanks to Alanna!). Let me know what you think and please do give me your feedback.

Here are your links, tell me what you’re up to this weekend, ducklings.

A bit stretched, but vastly contented, kittens.

Privilege and perspective.

Interesting news in publishing summed up on the always brilliant brain pickings.

5 a day? Ha! Up your expectations and health plans accordingly.

Excellent! I am 100% done about people complaining about leggings (also known as the most comfy things ever invented that you will pull from my cold, dead hands, society). Oh! That would make an excellent Incendiary post! Quick minions, to the comments, and let’s have a vigorous debate on the merits of alternative types of leg wear!

I once was able to hear YA author Shannon Hale speak about rejection, she brought a scroll of every single one of her rejection letters, laminated together in a way that stretched across a conference room. Perspective.

You wanted to read an article about the art and history of tapestries, especially as relates to media culture, right? I knew it!

These bracelets are amazing, and I need them desperately to make these beauties in my postcode already!

As an accidental minimalist myself, I find these homes fascinating.

How charming are these photos! From a nature photographer with a touch for the miniature.

Henry VIII was a complete jerk, this is historically well established. His marital troubles reshaped Europe, led to the Civil War, heightened religious mania and persecution and resulted in an astonishing amount of historical fiction on the subject – some good, some bad. But how long was he actually married to each of the women in his life? Twitter to the rescue!

New project, visit and read in all of these spaces?

We’ve been trying to sort out what makes human beings substantially different from other animal species for centuries now, but one of the most interesting theories (debunked, by the way) was that it was primarily based on our capacity for language. Not only has that been disproved but some research is suggesting that not only do many animal species communicate, they do so with self-awareness. Some even seem to have names and the ability to identify and talk about themselves!

Presented without further commentary, the headline of the week: These Backpacks For Cows Collect Their Fart Gas And Store It For Energy.

As if we ever really needed an excuse to look at a retrospective of gorgeous ball gowns.

Britain, Friends, History, Humor, London, Weekend April 16, 2014April 16, 2014

Sunday In the Park With Katie Pt. 2

“London was so rich, and also so green, and somehow so detailed: full of stuff that had been made, and bought, and placed, and groomed, and shaped, and washed clean, and put on display as if the whole city was for sale.”
― John Lanchester, Capital

Regent’s Park is the brainchild of George the Prince Regent, later George IV, but the land on which it sits had been in royal hands since Henry VIII dissolved the monasteries and snapped up the property for himself. As he was wont to do.

George (who it must be said is being hilariously downplayed in the poster campaigns around the city as a number of exhibitions and events celebrate the 300th anniversary of the rise of the house of Hanover) was pretty useless as a regent and monarch. In fact he consistently ranks down among the worst king in British history in the sorts of polls that historians run. Corpulent, lazy, unimpressive, and obnoxious, we nevertheless still need to thank him since a number of his building projects helped create London as we know it today.

That’s not snow on the ground, it’s a natural carpet of daisies. I know, right?!

A flock of herons (which I’ve never seen associating in a group before) flirted with tourists and followed likely looking crumb droppers, looking for the world like a pack of spindly dinosaurs.

Gorgeous.

This garden was cordoned off. But I saw enough people meandering through it anyway that I hopped the barrier and joined them for a close up of a fountain of a frog spitting at a child. Which clearly is a lot more charming than it sounds on paper.

At some point you just get the feeling the park’s showing off.

So, thanks George IV! We’re still iffy enough about you 200 years down the road to awkwardly disregard you on signage, but frankly you helped make London gorgeous. For that, we thank you.

You were still a terrible king, a bad father, and a truly hideous husband.

Friends, Humor, London, Weekend April 15, 2014April 15, 2014

Sunday In the Park With Katie Pt. 1

“London is on the whole the most possible form of life.”
― Henry James, The Complete Notebooks of Henry James

Katie and Adam are about to jet off to the next stage of his business program in San Francisco, but luckily we get to keep them for a while longer now that they’re back from Paris. Since it had been a few weeks since our last gossip session, weekend Katie and I met up in Camden to explore the lock and markets.

Which turned into food introductions (Katie met bubble teas for the first time, they clearly hit it off).

Which turned into a wander along the canal.

Which turned into a quick hike up Primrose Hill, for one of the best views in London.

Which turned into a long ramble in Regent’s Park…which is going to get it’s own post because it was stunning.

Let me tell you, as far as weather goes, when London gets it right, London gets it right! Spring has officially arrived. Outdoor vendors are selling Pimms by the pitcher, the city denizens are hauling lawn chairs up and down slopes to replenish their Vitamin D stores, and puppies are everywhere.

Britain, Expat, Friends, Humor, Linkstorm, London, Travel, Weekend, Writing April 11, 2014April 11, 2014

Friday Links (Expat Buddy System)

“Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life.”
― Mark Twain

Just a quick batch this week kittens. My future bestselling YA author buddy Caitlin is in town – from China, by way of Paris. We’ve been swapping stories of the expat and writing life, taking tea, and going to the theatre. And if you’ll excuse me, we’re off this evening for more of the same (you can follow along on our adventures here until the official recap in a couple days)! Here are your links and tell me what you’re up to this weekend!

In honor of Caitlin, who for a time worked as Winnie-the-Pooh at Disney World, I’ll just leave this thing here. Oh bother!

Amanda Brooks is an author and former Barney’s fashion director who switched up her life and career plans to move to a farm in Britain with her family. She blogs about it here (and her instagram feed is beyond worth following), cataloging her rural life. I loved this recent post on the hunts she and her family participate in. Blood sport is controversial, and I’m not making an argument about it here, but I have to admit the tweedy, old fashioned, country elegance of the participants makes for some beautiful photography! Lady Mary, is that you?

Excellent advice for writers, #8 resonates with me particularly lately.

Remember, you have the same amount of hours each day as Beyonce. And Beethoven. And Balzac.

When we were in Paris we saw that a cottage industry had sprung up around “love locks,” but apparently they are quite literally putting some structures in danger.

Baby naming phenomenons are interesting to me. This time, let’s hear it for the boys. h/t Savvy.

Just saying.

Hilarious and awesome writer and friend of the blog Sunny from Sunny in London, put together a great post today on tips for aspiring bloggers and writers. I took notes.

NO. Not okay! Unbelievably not okay!

I often get slightly annoyed when I hear people rave about how much they “love a British accent,” because I want them to specify: which one? Because let me tell you know, not all regional dialects are equally sexy and what most people think of as a British accent is a clipped form of speech developed almost entirely in the upper class halls of learning to be used in the new medium of radio.

The internet is a strange place, the oddest things can be linked. Often weirdly successfully.

Game of Thrones is back!

Freelance, Humor, London, Weekend, Work April 4, 2014April 3, 2014

Friday Links

“There aren’t enough days in the weekend.”
~Rod Schmidt

Another big week. I’m working with a new client on a social entrepreneurial campaign which I’m finding fascinating and quite rewarding (as well as great fun), work at the Benjamin House goes swimmingly, and I had a couple of meetups with some fabulous women. Sleep deprivation continues as per usual, but so does contentment. I’m still trying to work out a better and more successful schedule, but I think that (like most things) I’m simply just going to have to knuckle down and accept that free time is a myth. At least until May.

Which is actually not that far off, come to think of it. The first quarter of this year flew by alarmingly fast.

Anyway, we’ve mustered a nice little roundup for you this week, the best and weirdest of the internet as always. Got anything that needs to be brought to the coterie’s attention? Self promotion encouraged, by the way, don’t forget to add your favorite blog posts for the minions to peruse. Share in the comments and have a great weekend!

I’ve fallen prey to the selfie-shock phenomenon since I’ve discovered Instagram. My family are not huge picture takers, but Jeff and I have made a serious effort to document our live abroad. Which means instead of the mirror reflection, which I’m used to, photos of me tend to look like an entirely different person in my mind! Anyone else experienced this or do I just have a massively lobsided face, apparently?

Speaking of, here’s a great short piece on how 21st century technology has rewired our brains. At technology changes how we interact and use resource as a species, but now (ironically) we have the technology to track what technology does to us. Meta!

There will never be enough Shakespearean insult material on the internet as far as I’m concerned.

Map distortion is a funny thing that interests me greatly. Remember that scene in the film version of The King and I when the royal children can’t accept that Siam is such a small country? The same sorts of things happen today, and maps are one of the reasons. It’s extraordinarily difficult to transpose at 3D world onto a 2D piece of paper to start, but other issues like bias and imperialism play a distinct role. The best example is cartographic portrayals of Africa.

So…this kid. I’m incredibly impressed. (And committing to learning more about design form and function this year.)

I found this post from UK writing and publishing blog Novelicious to be excellent advice for any and all who wish to do any kind of writing professionally. The first person who should take your aspirations, plans, and work seriously is yourself – think and act accordingly.

I’m just going to leave this here: “Sorting 19th Century British Novelists Into Hogwarts.”

And that leads quite nicely into this. I’m Cecil Warburton. Also, can we take a moment to appreciate the proscribed format here and the well of futility and annoyance it drills into the dark depths of my novelist aspirational soul? Three steps. First name, last name, write your novel – I WISH.

As gratified as I am to learn the science behind the strictest of childhood laws, can it just be a good enough reason that it’s gross, rude, and communally irresponsible? No? Science it is!

Okay, I think I’ve found my new retirement plan idea. (The official blog is a stunner as well!)

And here’s another site for you, this one belonging to the lead costumer on Game of Thrones Season 3. Her work, heavily featuring stunning embroidery, is really incredible, and she’s also been a part of other major film and television works so check her galleries. Also, can we tell I’m outrageous excited for the series to be back on?!

Well that’s…gruesome. h/t Jess

Speaking of news on the writing front, let me humble brag shamelessly that a piece I wrote for Levo League was also picked up and shared by Business Insider this week. And I’ve been contacted about it being shared elsewhere. I’m beyond pleased that my work is starting to get out there – here’s planning on more to come!

Finally, at a loss for words? Vintage Robin is here to help you find that perfect exclamation with all of his own memorable ones compiled for your benefit.

Small Dog Syndrome

Category: Weekend

Friday Links (Summer Has Arrrived Edition)

Friday Links

Friday Links (Last Day At LOOK Edition)

Friday Links (More Visitors, Edition)

Sometimes You Go To Covent Garden And It’s the Olivier Awards

Friday Links (Feeling Pretty Alright, Edition)

Sunday In the Park With Katie Pt. 2

That’s not snow on the ground, it’s a natural carpet of daisies. I know, right?!

A flock of herons (which I’ve never seen associating in a group before) flirted with tourists and followed likely looking crumb droppers, looking for the world like a pack of spindly dinosaurs.

Gorgeous.

This garden was cordoned off. But I saw enough people meandering through it anyway that I hopped the barrier and joined them for a close up of a fountain of a frog spitting at a child. Which clearly is a lot more charming than it sounds on paper.

Sunday In the Park With Katie Pt. 1

Friday Links (Expat Buddy System)

Friday Links

Humor. Opinions. Life in London.

That’s not snow on the ground, it’s a natural carpet of daisies. I know, right?!

A flock of herons (which I’ve never seen associating in a group before) flirted with tourists and followed likely looking crumb droppers, looking for the world like a pack of spindly dinosaurs.

Gorgeous.

This garden was cordoned off. But I saw enough people meandering through it anyway that I hopped the barrier and joined them for a close up of a fountain of a frog spitting at a child. Which clearly is a lot more charming than it sounds on paper.

Humor. Opinions. Life in London.

Find us on