Sometimes I feel like a really good planner, with my little editorial calendar and notebook filled to the brim with ideas and paragraphs from essays I want to write, and then sometimes I look at the calendar and realize it's November 8th and I haven't shared my Instagram recap for October, which I know some of you don't care for but I really like. So today I'm wrapping Life Lately According to Instagram into a Friday Favorites post--two series that I don't pay regular enough attention to, but love too much to do away with. I hope you enjoy.

1-4. My mom came to visit and then my cousin and her mom came to visit at the same time.

5. Rob's brother Dan came the following weekend and we toured breweries in the cities.

6. I showed you favorites from all three locations of our engagement shoot: One | Two | Three

7. Discovered one of our new favorite restaurants, which I'll show you more of next week.

8. Spent more time than usual in St. Paul. This cathedral is my favorite.

9. Went to a petting zoo at an apple orchard and met the sweetest donkey.

10. Addressed and sent out our Save-the-Dates! Six months til the wedding!

11. Spent an afternoon with Winona Grey Photography.

12. Been loving our little living room setup lately.

Life Lately According to Instagram is a once-monthly feature in which I showcase my favorite Instagram shots. You can follow along with me in real-time if you'd like--I'm @megan_flynn.

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And now for some links!

Culture and Inspiration
Sleeping Stranger Subway Picture On Q Train Defines Empathy And Is A Lesson In Being Good.
This piece on writing for a living was motivating to me: Slaves of the Internet, Unite!
Loved this sweet baby with passion eyes so much.
Artist Puts Disney Princess Filter On 10 Real Life Female Role Models. This whole thing is good, but I wanted to quote a section here because it really spoke to me: "Fiction is the lens through which young children first perceive role models, so we have a responsibility to provide them with a diverse and eclectic selection of female archetypes. Now, I'm not even saying that girls shouldn't have princesses in their lives...but there should be more options to choose from. So that was my intent, to demonstrate how ridiculous it is to paint an entire gender of heroes with one superficial brush."

Food and Some Reading
I can't get over how awesome these Epic Bars seem. I need to get some and try them out!
An interesting read: Broccoli's Extreme Makeover.
This looks like a really interesting read--I'm putting it on my list!
A new blog to check out: The Happy Type

Other Stuff
I want this pumpkin chai candle!
Sponsored: I'm working with Bing's Smart Search this month. Do you use it?
I thought this was so interesting: Swedish cinemas take aim at gender bias with Bechdel test rating.
Anyone have any ideas for Tara?
Edward Cullen is the worst boyfriend ever--but I think we already knew that. Here are 19 reasons why.
I can't wait to meet up with Eliza and do some collaborating with her photography business a bit when I'm home for Thanksgiving.

Quote of the Week
Those who make compassion an essential part of their lives find the joy of life. Kindness deepens the spirit and produces rewards that cannot be completely explained in words. It is an experience more powerful than words. To become acquainted with kindness one must be prepared to learn new things and feel new feelings. Kindness is more than a philosophy of the mind. It is a philosophy of the spirit. --Robert J. Furey

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What's everyone up to this weekend? 

We have nothing planned and I think it's going to be great.

Happy Friday!

Happy Friday! I hope you all have had a wonderful week. Rob and I are home all weekend with no visitors and plans to walk through an apple orchard on Saturday morning. I encountered a new favorite coffee shop in Minneapolis that serves almond milk, so we might be stopping there first for a latte. But until then, here are some links!

Life
Five Truths That Will Make Running Your Biz (And Your Life) Infinitely Easier. I especially liked number five. I'm definitely trying to learn how to do something positive with fear and doubt.
Six Pieces of Advice You Need To Follow If You Actually Want Your Long Distance Relationship To Work. I'm glad this doesn't apply to me anymore, but I thought it was a decent list.

Food and Health
A Doctor and a Chef Talk About Meat
A little self-promotion: Cave Girl Consulting is taking new clients, so if you need any Paleo coaching, I'm your girl!

Books and Music
I was really unexpectedly moved by this letter from Ernest Hemingway to F. Scott Fitzgerald. Even in his everyday writing, Hemingway was beautifully gifted. On enjoying letter-writing, he says "It's such a swell way to keep from working and yet feel you've done something."
Idina and Kristen, back together to shoot some Wicked-themed photos for the musical's tenth anniversary. Swoon.
This gave me a good laugh--High School Freshman Thinks ‘Romeo And Juliet’ Might Just Be Her Favorite Play. I had a fantastic Medieval Literature professor in college who pretty much ruined that play for me in the best way possible, so the snob in me always loves hearing anyone go on and on about how romantic it is.
This Pentatonix cover of Lourde's Royals blew my mind. I can't get enough a capella, ever.

Culture and Current Events
Hearing Malala Yousafzai speak to Jon Stewart felt like an honor, and I loved both her strength and Stewart's reaction to her words. However, this article made a couple arguments I hadn't thought about yet. What do you think?
Slate Forgot That the One Common Factor in Rapes Are Rapists. When are we going to stop blaming victims?

Cute Stuff
Have you guys met Tara? She has an awesome shop called Starletta Designs that you should check out this weekend!
I lost a pair of boots that looked almost exactly like these and I miss them every fall day of my life! Where could they be? Maybe I should replace them already.
This rose gold and snake-embossed watch is kind of different from my usual style, but I'm seriously loving it.
I would be warmer and a lot cuter if only I had this faux fur infinity scarf.

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What have you been reading/listening to/adding to your wishlist lately? What's on your agenda this weekend?

An engagement photo sneak peek! Full post to come on Wednesday.

Happy Friday, friends! I've had a bit of a weird week, getting back into the swing of things after our time out of town and doing what feels like a pile of never-ending laundry. I am the worst ever unpack-er, and I'm a little embarrased to admit that my suitcase from Virginia is still mostly full. But we're having friends over for dinner for the first time in this apartment tonight, and tomorrow Rob and I are headed to Chicago for the rest of the weekend!

I have a lot of fun posts lined up for next week, and on Wednesday my mom will arrive in Minneapolis and we're spending the week together before her sister and my cousin join us from Montana. But until then, here are some links I've been saving to share with you all:

Culture
New Guinness Ad Breaks The Industry Stereotype. Beautiful.
This book seems gross on so many levels! And sad, too.
Pope Francis keeping it real: Church can't "interfere" with gays. Baby steps, I guess.
I've recently gotten involved with Speak Now, a non-profit that works to empower young women. Check them out, and send me an email if you'd like to get involved!

Music, Movies, and TV
I can't even tell you how excited I am about this movie. David Sedaris is my favorite. I also love Corey Stoll.
This Actually Happened. Once again, Sam just nails it. And so eloquently, too. (More here.)
Well, this commercial gave me passion eyes if I've ever had them.
So, I had no idea the show Orange is the New Black was based on a memoir. I need to read it!

Food and Fitness
I'm kind of obsessed with Inspiralized. Ali is so awesome! And now I need a spiralizer.
I really hurt myself the other day at CrossFit, so this article really spoke to me. Be careful, you guys!
18 Extremely Disappointing Facts About "Healthy" Foods.

Other Stuff
I've been enjoying Amanda's blog so much recently. She's also fantastic on Instagram.
This email chain is too much. I had a good laugh with my girlfriends about it.
Is it Christmas?
My friend Melissa sent me this video of sea turtles hatching and she's right, it's magical.
Can't get enough of Laura and John's style--they're so cool!
Some new blogs to check out this weekend: Royal Proclaims, The Hunt Life, and What You Make It.

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What have you been reading and looking forward to lately? Any Chicagoans have a restaurant recommendation? Wishing you all a fun, safe, and cozy fall weekend!