“Who I am on stage is very, very different to who I am in real life.”
-Beyonce

A lovely weekend capped with a Beyonce concert. Kittens, I am content will the world and all her denizens and not even the Sunday night blues can get me down.

Meanwhile I’m being a good little blogger and uploading/editing photos from all our recent escapades so my long-standing blog hiatus (or, shameful kitten neglect, depending on your point of view) will soon be over. Here are your links, tell me what you got up to this weekend!

Dying.

Love them or hate them, they are good at marketing.

Who’s coming with me?!

No,YOU’RE crying.

The Toast has shut its doors (poor one out for the gal homies), but man did it go out with a bang.

And speaking of milestones, The Devil Wears Prada turned 10 this week. That’s all.

I loved this tribute to Bill Cunningham.

Preordering this…

An interesting piece on how the “brand” of Britain might be affectd by leaving the EU–the focus is on the fashion industry, but I think it has implications across multiple industries.

And finally, both Jeff and I have been doing some very conscious “investment” shopping for both our wardrobes of late and I found this post on the always reliably hilarious Man Repeller a useful way to think about the trade offs we all must make in allocating our spend. I too have been a member of the mental trickery club in the past; we all have.

“I would give the greatest sunset in the world for one sight of New York’s skyline.”
― Ayn Rand

Hi ducklings! Apologies for the lateness of the post but I’ve spent half a week in NYC on my first proper holiday of the year and only just got back. More updates to follow but in the meantime, jetlag!

At least once a year RadioWest does an entire radio hour dedicated to best in books (picked by SLC resident experts) and it’s one of my favorite shows. It’s also made my GoodReads list spiral out of control, but such is life! Here’s this year’s summer episode.

The higher hair…

Golly, it’s a minefield out here.

THIS IS NOT A DRILL.

An interesting personal piece on prayer for Ramadan.

A better investment than gold?

Anyone interested in a bit of nerd property shopping?

Or how about some medieval graffiti, always good for SDS clickbait!

I have a lot of thoughts on the Brexit vote, and am unsure whether or not to turn that into a blog post. In the meantime…

Almost plausible, and frightening as a result.

So saddened to hear about the passing of this man.

Since it was Pride in NYC this weekend, this celebration of one year of marriage equality is perfectly apt. Work still to be done, but much to take stock of.

“I can’t give you a sure-fire formula for success, but I can give you a formula for failure: try to please everybody all the time.”
― Herbert Bayard Swope

Another weekend, another batch of links for you, darlings, but I’m happy to report that distinct progress is being made in the relaxation department. Jeff and I went out for burgers before having a wander through Parsons Green (one of my favorite village-y areas of London) and spent time in the sun. Much needed. It was another busy week with a bit of hard work and heartache but ending on a high note, which makes up for a multitude of sins. Events were thrown in townhouses, penthouses were shown, really clever ways to preserve heritage buildings were debated. Naps are now required.

Everything about this story is bizarre.

Language and crude comments warning, as this is a link to The Oatmeal, but I think this take on creativity is pretty accurate and I can relate to the need to “breathe in.”

Go. Go listen now.

Food for thought.

The Great and Good Roxane Gay and I apparently shared a childhood literary crush! (PS, her recent NYT piece is pretty good good…)

Meanwhile, The Everygirl has some good ideas about things we should break up w

Dear home nation, please, please get it together and have some real political discourse about the challenge the country faces in this election season. People are quite literally dying…

“I’d be quite happy if I spent from Saturday night until Monday morning alone in my apartment. That’s how I refuel.” 
― Audrey Hepburn

I had high hopes for Saturday, kittens, but after some chores and basic housekeeping after a long week, I changed for the gym, sat down on the bed for a moment…and woke upa few hours later.

So, it’s been a tiring week. Here are your links, I’m planning on spending the rest of the weekend at an equally slow pace.

You’re going to want to apply ice to that burn…

A well written article about something I thought I’d never, ever find interesting in any way.

Instagram feed of the week.

Very into these changes.

In Mormon news, my pal Stephanie share a deeply personal speech she gave on how she inadvertently started a watershed moment in 21st century mormonism, and where she’s ended up.

A subject dear to my heart: lipstick.

I laughed, probably a little too much, at this since I haven’t been to the gym in oh-let’s-not-discuss-it-any-further. However, squats for cheese is something I can get behind.

A great post by the estimable Grace on apologetic language.

File under bad ass.

God made the country, and man made the town. 
~William Cowper, The Task

Happy weekend, kittens.

This week at work balance was semi-restored with the return of a boss from a week and a half of (well-deserved) holiday and the hiring of a permanent full-time PA. Never underestimate the power of good management and good help.

Meanwhile on the homefront, the weather has lurched decidedly into spring and though we didn’t achieve the heat of last weekend’s glamping adventure, the trees are now fully green and the sky is blue. Except for when it’s hailing, which actually happened only a week ago. The reason for the British stereotype of talking about the weather, my dears, is that there’s actually quite a bit to talk about. If you don’t like the current state of the thermometer, wait an hour.

We’re off to hunt for  a new barbecue joint and do some weekend market exploring before returning to the grind. Here are your links, and tell me what you’ve been up to in the comments!

What a great art series!

Clickbait for SDS minions.

An inspiring story of a deep, deep friendship.

Fantastic piece by Barrie Hardyman on the power of revealing the plot twist.

The history of Kinfolk magazine I never knew I wanted to read.

Many, many Brits have asked me my opinion on the American election, to which my go-to response has become, “I live here now.” It’s important to find humor in this kind of political climate.

Alle Connell (formerly of xoVain, now at Revelist) is one of my favourite young beauty writers out there–go check her out wherever her work appears. When she left xoVain, I was genuinely saddened. However this new piece on eye shadow blending  and how to actually do it by Kim Carpluk might result in the crowning of a C.’s-Fave-Vainer award.

Not. Cool.

Profile of the man who manages to do exactly what it says on the tin. Or at least the title.

NOPE.

“What potent blood hath modest May.”
–  Ralph W. Emerson

This Bank Holiday weekend completely snuck up on me, I actually blanked that it was happening until about Thursday. By which time it was, of course, too late to secure a last minute trip somewhere. Happily, it’s May and that means I’ve got another BH to scheme towards.

In related news, how the heck is it already May?! Where is this year going!

The BYU assault coverage continues, thank goodness for journalism.

Alas that I am allergic, I’d take a “Viking cat” in an instant.

Tulips forever.

Mother Nature trumps science via rodents.

I am loving the new Beyonce album, while being keenly aware that it was not made for me. It’s an album that specifically speaks to the black american female experience, personal and broad. So go read some incredibly smart writing about it from incredibly smart women.

It’s not just about the numbers.

Because we can always learn from smart ladies.

Style tips from the Queen of Quirk.

A memo on how French soliders were to treat American soldier of color in WWII. Ugh.

A fascinating question, “When precisely were these ‘good old days’ everyone keeps talking about?”

And finally, h/t to Grace over at Culture Life who dropped this link in response to my query about the term “work/life balance” last week. This seems a better way of thinking of it, but I’m still looking into the subject.

“If you care about what you do and work hard at it, there isn’t anything you can’t do if you want to.”
― Jim Henson, It’s Not Easy Being Green: And Other Things to Consider

Another weekend after another busy week, kittens. I ran an event on Wednesday that, while relatively small compared to others I’ve managed, still had the usual affect of events which is to banish all my other To Dos into the void and laugh at my feeble protests.

I am still finding the balance of work with the new role. Behind the scenes, which I don’t talk about much here but perhaps I shall do more of in the future, a lot of what I’m doing is helping my company build some new systems and procedures to either replace out of date ones, or fill some gaps. It’s expansive work, fantastic experience, and I enjoy it because I’m a stereotypical type A. But it’s also uphill almost every step of the way to build infrastructure on the go. Throw in multiple 15-hour days to prep for and execute an event and by Friday I am fried.

On the plus side, despite individual hectic weeks, an overall healthier work/life balance is being restored for both myself and Jeff. Which is a slightly more chipper way of saying he’s forcing my butt back to the gym and we’re both grudgingly recommitted to trying to eat less like slobs. There are downsides, you see.

Here are your links and tell me how your work/life balance is these days. Also, what are your opinions on the phrase “work/life balance,” as I actually dislike it but haven’t found a better term for it than “actual life?”

Science!

In recent Mormon news, there has been good and badly needed reporting on the Honor Code at Brigham Young University and how it can be and has been misapplied against victims of sexual crime. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5…

Shakespeare anniversaries and installation art. SDS catnip.

Speaking of Shakespeare, SDS nation road trip? The George is seriously about 15 minutes away from where I sit typing this…

Also SDS catnip, archaeology and forensic fashion–with a heaping topping of espionage no less!

Stephen Fry, the king of tech-loving nerds everywhere, posted a piece about people leaving platforms, spaces, and even the whole internet. Worth a read.

CPG Grey also posted a podcast about his own experience of “dialing down” his internet input. It expands on this blog post as well. Clearly I’ve got a topic on my mind.

The rise and fall (and rise, and fall…) of Sex and the City’s narrative: why it mattered, why it failed in the end.

Words I intend to live by after this week: “Sustained exhaustion is not a rite of passage. It’s a mark of stupidity.”

Another detox read after a carb and sugar heavy week (for me at least). Hi, my name is C. and at this moment I suffer from sugar face.

Full disclosure, I found this week’s notable Instagram feed thanks to the fine folks of Pop Culture Happy Hour. I’ve been mesmerized ever since.

Give this man a medal.

And finally, stand back and get in formation: the queen is walking.

“I like to reinvent myself — it’s part of my job.”
― Karl Lagerfeld

Hi piglets. You have not been ignored, unloved, and neglected. Well, two out of three (never unloved), and for that apologies but I had a good excuse: I got promoted two weeks ago and had to spend the majority of my first weekend on the new job working. As a result links and posts are behind the times, but I think you’ll forgive me, yes? The new job is largely an extension of my old but contains new responsibilities and powers which are equal parts exciting and scary. I’m still learning the ins and out of it but I’m really enjoying the progress. Of course, it’s also brought some new challenges, some of them big, that I now have a part in trying to solve–no pressure.

However, like so many aspects of life in the last year and a half, my work has kind of taken over most of my other projects and priorities so on Friday Jeff and I both took a holiday (our first of the new year, yikes) and just spent the day together wandering, talking, and just generally hanging out. Yesterday he golfed while I shopped and caught up with X., my New York based best friend who we are staying with when we go visit (in a matter of weeks!). She has just launched the new Charlie Rose website–go check it out immediately, she did an amazing job–and so we had a lot of career and life talk to catch up on.

The rest of the weekend will be spent in much the same way, with city wandering and Skype dates. The weather is, for now at least, cooperating. Tell me what you’re getting up to this weekend and enjoy your links!

Need a phone case upgrade?

The biggest picture ever taken.

A fascinating read on the complex issues surrounding mental health, priesthood celibacy, and vocation.

Such a strange…is this a scandal?

Outlander is back and the costumes look incredible, and incredibly fun to have made.

Anyone job hunting?

Looking forward to this film tremendously!

Great read on adulthood over at The Atlantic.

History and hygiene. You can still see old bathhouses or signs for them scattered throughout London for much of the same period of history. In fact, huge sections of London didn’t have toilet facilities until well into the 20th century, and then in many places it was communal and shared by several houses, flats, or families. Eek.

Oh yes, I am going to this exhibit.

“I believe that everyone else my age is an adult whereas I am merely in disguise.”
― Margaret Atwood

We had an almost uniformly lovely weekend. I did some vintage shopping, Jeff reaped the bounty of patient eBay stalking and took his “new” golf clubs out to the driving range he’s discovered right alongside the Thames, and we both did some general house tidying and food prep which resulted in a pleasantly smug, put together feeling. All in all a great success.

Here are your links, enjoy the rest of the weekend!

Investigating the hard topics.

The physics of one of the hardest moves in ballet.

Still interested in this story.

A journalist pens a thoughtful mea culpa.

FiveThirtyEight on women and the election (containing the line which made me fistpump quietly to myself, “This has been a pet peeve of mine in how the media talks about women, as if they’re simply another demographic group, like Latino voters or retirees. Women are a majority of voters, making up a roughly equal share of the electorate in every state.”).

Jenna Lyons on How To Spend It. It’s as if this piece were created just for us, kittens.

Bill Watterson and life wisdom.

And speaking of Bill Watterson, an excellent April Fool’s gift!

Hugely disappointed this exceeds my price point!

Nothing is new.