Is another week over already? Wow! This year is just flying by. I don’t have a whole lot to say other than ask this simple question: Why don’t the older model iPods go down in price after the new ones come out? Why are new Mini iPods still so much? Shouldn’t they be like thirty bucks by now?

Anyways, I’m looking forward to the rain & cooler weather we’re supposed to get this weekend. I’ll be spending all day Sunday playing board games at an annual event known as CharlieCon, & just relaxing the rest of the week. That’s plan for right now at any rate!

» from WSJ: 10 money moves that will always pay off. Some of these are obvious, but I like the way they put a lot of this stuff. Very frank & honest. I only wish I had a vacation home to sell!

» I just discovered, yesterday, a self-improvement/simplicity blog called RowdyKittens. How can you not love something with a name like that?

» The Food Renegade talks about why she’s not afraid of salmonella. After all, she knows her farmer.

» On the flip side, Mark Sisson talks about why you shouldn’t feel too guilty if you decide to eat stuff out of season. Although I do eat a lot of stuff only when it’s in season, fruit especially, I agree with that notion. I refuse to feel guilty for eating bell peppers in January, ha!

» I love this song. Even if you don’t like country, you should give it a try. The lyrics are just so sweet & true!

» Are your basil plants doing well? Why not make some chopping board pesto!

» This takes a bit to get truly funny, but it’s absolutely worth a watch. It’s funny ’cause it’s true!

It was a short week for me! Sunday evening through Tuesday I was visiting my parents. They live in the country, where I escape to relax, & have no access to high-speed. Hence the lack of posting! But while I was there, I visited the county fair: ate the best turkey leg ever, petted all the animals, found the queen in the hive, wasted $2 playing skeeball, & stole pens from all the booths. Best way to spend an afternoon!

For me, fair week is the last week of summer, so bring on fall! The weather’s been just lovely – I had to sleep with TWO blankets last night! There are so many monarch butterflies flitting about the various gardens, & I’m happy to bid this summer adieu.

» The World’s Most Beautiful Lakes. If I could, I’d visit every single one of them.

» Oh my god this cat.

» Found a few new food blogs this week: The Nourished Kitchen, which has lots of yummy recipes using all sorts of natural ingredients (love the focus on Real Food™), & eat make read, with lots of fun recipes I must try. Yum! This weekend, I’m definitely making the coconut bread from Nourished Kitchen, & the carmelized peanuts from eat make read. Cannot wait.

» You’re my awesome.

» The incomparable Gala Darling writes this lovely article that pretty much every woman needs to read: Radical Self-Hate? Stop the Madness!

“To be nobody but yourself in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting.” e.e. cummings

» Gaiam is having their Annual Sale, if you need some yoga or other fun stuff from them.

» I’m planning to order some socks from them, but check out these silly animals from Maggie’s Organics & Fair Trade! I think one of those penguins may find a home with someone I know…

» Apparently I’m all about the cute this week. Simon’s Cat has a new video!

» I might have to make these meatballs soon…

» You’ve probably already seen it, but I was only just introduced to the Full-on Double Rainbow guy this week. It’s quite spectacular.

» Due to the fair, I’ve been nostalgic all week for 90s country, & re-discovered the beauty of this song by the Dixie Chicks…

So, how was your week? Anything particularly fantastic happen? Anything fantastic to share?

It’s been kind of a quiet week for me, doing lots of background-type things. The weather did finally cool off this week enough to turn the a/c off for three days in a row, which was just lovely. I love falling asleep to the sound of crickets & waking to the sound of happy morning birds!

» Is this not the cutest little maybe-octopus you’ve ever seen?

» Final combat troops leave Iraq – yahoo!!

» Heather talks about the perfect diet for everybody. (Hint: there isn’t one.)

» The Miss Universe National Costumes & commentary @ Project Rungay made my afternoon earlier this week. Part one, part two.

» In case you missed it, I made stuffed tomatoes. They were fabulous!

» 15 things you shouldn’t be paying for – I’ll add cable to the list, since you can watch pretty much everything on Hulu or Fast Pass TV!

» When I finally get an ice cream maker, I’m making this chocolate sorbet. Mmm!

» 365 days, 365 dresses, 365 dollars. Read an interview with the seamstress on Time!

» Fuck Me, Ray Bradbury: for all the book lovers and/or sci-fi fans. Not safe for work or to watch around youngsters, but damn this is hilarious!

How was your week? Anything FANTASTIC happen?

We have some serious rejoicing to do this week, folks. PROP EIGHT HAS BEEN OVERTURNED; yahoo!! I’m so terribly excited about this. One step closer, baby!

In other exciting but less headline-breaking life-changing news, Teen SRP 2010 is over & done with (prizes have been awarded; stats have been tallied), & Crayola is now making their markers out of recycled plastic! What can I say – I’m a simple girl.

» Blackberry cheesecake, anyone? Methinks I’ll be giving this a try sometime over the weekend…

» The New York Times talks vitamin d – are you lacking? Probably.

» Leo Babuato’s Guide to creating a minimalist home.

“In the hopes of reaching the moon men fail to see the flowers that blossom at their feet.” Albert Schweitzer

» Eee baby duck!

» Mmm Exploding Dog t-shirts. I really like this one…

» Say yes more than no.

» Why we should all eat avocado. Couldn’t agree more!

The weather, at least where I am, has finally broke! HALLELUJIAH. My apartment windows are open & I’m going to spend time outside the next few days to make up for all the hiding from the uber gross summer we’ve been having. Try to spend one day this weekend just having as much fun as you possibly can – it’s totally worth it!

» Tony Hawk is one of four people in the world who can do a 900. & he can still do it at age 42.

» Look at this crazy owl!

» Seven food trends on their way out. I do wish sliders were on that list. Aren’t you just tired of hearing about them? Although, for those of you who can still eat bread, Pioneer Woman’s mini meatball sandwiches are awfully cute…

» Motivational Posters. For the gaming & fantasy & general nerdiness inclined. I rather like this one.

» Speaking of the nerd ‘verse, this is what happens when you protest ComicCon. I just adore the guy with the “God Hates the Jedi” sign.

» Ree’s story about Daisy the cow has got to be one of the sweetest things ever.

» Chocolate brownies, anyone?

» How is it that I’ve never heard of Threadcakes? Being a fan of Cake Challenge on Food Network, you’d think I’d have know about it. Ah well – better late than never!

» Here’s a craft for your next super girly party – pink parasols!

It’s been a weird week for me, how about you? I had an absolutely amazing weekend, but then this week was just sort of… blah. Even though the weather was nice for a few days, even though I had a great time at Teen/Children’s book discussion, even though I got loads done – I just cannot get into the flow of things! Every morning I just wanted to sleep later & I watched the clock all day. That’s no way to live!

Somehow, despite the fact that I spent a good portion of my work week in front of a computer, I have no links for you. None! How crazy is that? Perhaps I missed the memo & didn’t take an Internet vacation, or perhaps I never really got around to web-surfing (& therefore link saving), but I’ve got nothing. Instead, have a post filled with gorgeous summer photos. Because hey, they are pretty fantastic, & I haven’t done a summer photo post yet. Enjoy!

What are YOUR favorite things about summer?