“The rapid nightfall of mid-December had quite beset the little village as they approached it on soft feet over a first thin fall of powdery snow.”
― Kenneth Grahame, The Wind in the Willows

Happy weekend, kittens! I don’t know about you but I’m feeling the pull of the approaching holidays–thing are starting to wind down in the business world (though I was very kindly invited to a few work holiday dos which were a blast) and a deep seated desire to hibernate is making its presence known.

But it’s not Christmas yet, ducklings, and so here’s a tasty batch of links for your enjoyment early in the weekend. Jeff’s got a shindig with friends today, I’m off on the hunt for a final present, and I have plans to scout out a poppin’ pancake joint for review on the site if the brunch gods are with us. Let me know your plans, and any other great links you’ve found this week in the comments.

I confess, this tumblr find gives me a small dose of malicious satisfaction. Because I am a bad person.

Girl is scary talented. Also, I really need to learn how to sew…

I legit have a behavior that I have dubbed “rage baking.”

Fake new is dangerous.

I’m a month late to this one, but this piece hit me hard given the current political climate.

Some end of year music therapy for us all.

And some book therapy too.

Deeply digging the Color of the Year for 2017.

Hope this doesn’t suck…

New style inspiration: teddy girls!

And finally, baby dinosaurs. My inner four year old is pretty excited.

“Life is what happens to us while we are making other plans.”
― Allen Saunders

Hi kittens, it’s been a busier than initially anticipated week–although a pretty good one all things considered. And yet I owe you a links post and so, behold. This weekend is about getting some holiday shopping sorted and cleaning. Grown up stuff. Pray for us.

Beyonce and Hamilton mix–SDS catnip!

More catnip, old maps found in amazing places.

This tweet made the political realm bearable for me for me this week. That micro expression of pain… Not to cause a comment war, kittens, but what are your thoughts on Governor Romney’s hat being in the ring for a Cabinet pick? Genuinely curious. I range from, “Mitt, back away! I didn’t like or vote for you, but for gods sake, keep your integrity!” to, “Thank goodness, an adult in the room…”

Resident journalist and Friend of the Blog Caitlin weighs in for some tips on how to avoid fake news and intelligently consume investigative and informative media. Facts, not opinions.

Noooo!

A little holiday travel fashion inspiration for you.

Coming to America.

Powerful read.

“Millennial pink” is a shade. And it’s powerful.

Preach.

“I would sooner be a foreigner in Spain than in most countries. How easy it is to make friends in Spain!”
-George Orwell

Darlings, as you may be aware, I’m currently in Spain–unless something has gone terribly wrong–and delaying winter’s inevitable approach with good company. The links are super short this week as a result, but brought you by pop culture and a heaping dose of internet love!  We’ll be back soon with updates on tapas and monasteries and All Hallows Eve celebrations from abroad. Meanwhile, add anything you found interesting this week worth sharing in the comments!

Everyone should have a resting presidential face. In related news, Samantha Bee is rapidly emerging as one of the most no-holds-barred political commentators I’ve seen in my adulthood; unabashedly feminist, low bullshit tolerance, emphatically embracing a point of view and claiming it. This segment is one of my favorite of the election season thus far.

And in case you missed it, this did not go the direction you might have initially assumed. Refreshingly.

Planet Earth II!

Gerald doesn’t have any hobbies…

This American Life wonders what President Obama might be thinking right now in the election cycle in song form.

“The history of men’s opposition to women’s emancipation is more interesting perhaps than the story of that emancipation itself.”
― Virginia Woolf, A Room of One’s Own

2016, the year that keeps on giving and won’t let us return or regift any of it, rolls on. I’m gearing up for a tough week before a respite with friends in Spain, and then it’s back to the hustle and grind. Meanwhile, have a dose of links, kittens!

It’s Madame President, if you’re super nasty.

And a moment of much needed levity and pop music.

Extremism is not something that “other people” living “other there” deal with.

Thank god, a trending political palate cleanser.

Fascinating.

I scored entirely too high on the quiz in this post at Man Repeller.

Racked speaks to my soul.

Long live the dandy. Fun fact, I stumbled into the filming of this episode while walking home from work and only realized what it was until I caught the episode on YouTube.

“Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower.”
― Albert Camus

Kittens, this is a week for rejoicing. First of all, in a month, the US election will be decided. Secondly, Jeff and I have managed to do most of the furnishing of our flat in record time…seriously, we thought it would take longer to source some of our pieces but we are (if you’ll forgive me) ace sales shoppers. A couple of big ticket items will be purchases for 2017–slight pearl clutch to think how close we are to a new year–but from tomorrow we will have both internet and a sofa actually within our apartment. #adulting

Finally, we are planning an upcoming trip to Spain with good friends and really looking forward to is.

And so, lo though a new Monday is nearly upon us, we are not in despair and we have links.

Super excited for this. PS, if you didn’t already subscribe to British Vogue’s Youtube channel, you really should. From mini series to interesting content and with influencers, it’s got an authenticity I really enjoy.

Because it’s not a “distraction” from the issues.

I think this should be SDS canonized, or whatever our equivalent action of reverence is.

I’ve long coveted a Moicun cluster ring, so you may imagine how much I loved this interview with the designer.

First Lady Michelle Obama gave an amazing speech in New Hampshire, the second half of which is a good but somewhat typical stump speech. The first half, however, was an emotional punch to the gut on the issue of Mr. Trump’s language about women. The FLOTUS has given the best speeches by far in this cycle, in my opinion.

Hm, and I’ve just realized our entryway decor consists of an Ikea bag (full of shoes) and a Fortnum and Mason basket that I claimed from company gifting leftovers last Christmas season. Time to plot that space out a bit more.

So not only is his sweater a meme, but Ken Bone seems to be a legitimately decent (and funny!) person on the internet. 2016 was not a total waste of humanity!

Speaking of good things, if you haven’t given Solange’s new album, A Seat at the Table, as listen to, rectify.

Secret apartments in libraries. Catnip to C..