Happy Friday! After having visitors in town the past two weekends, I'm looking forward to one of those weekends with no real plans. I'm going to barre with a friend on Saturday morning and then have a belated Galentine's Day potluck on Sunday afternoon, but other than that I'll be home reading and hopefully going on some long walks with Rob and Ender--we finally have a break in all the rain we've been getting in the Bay Area and I intend to make the most of it!

April, May, and some of June are going to be really busy for us, so I'm excited to take it slow in March...can you believe we're already coming up on the (beginning of the) end of the first quarter of 2017? I can't, actually. February has really flown by.

Before I sign off today, I wanted to share a list of links with you for your Friday reading/weekend browsing. Let me know if you've read/watched/listened to anything good online this week!

• In case you're having a rough day and need to smile: this little bird has no feathers but her fans send her hand-knitted sweaters, so it's all good.
• Big news: 7 Earth-Size Planets Orbit Dwarf Star. I'm very unsettled by the thought of ever actually going outer space but learning about stuff like this is just too cool and so exciting. The universe is just so huge and old and we're all a part of it! Scientific discoveries like this one definitely bring out my inner hippie.
• This dress looks perfect for a beach vacation, I just don't know if I could pull it off!
• San Francisco recently banned the sale of non-rescue dogs in pet stores and I think it's an amazing step toward eliminating puppy mills.
• Are overalls really back? This pair makes me think it might be possible.
• Every time I go to DryBar they use this iron and it always makes my hair look amazing. I might be splurging and getting one of my own soon. (I also need a sturdy shower cap and this one looks so cute.)
• My most recent favorite YouTube channel: Binging with Babish. Every week he makes a recipe from a television show or movie.
• Sponsored by Fabletics: Kate Hudson's line of athletic wear is really beautiful and super reasonably priced.  

--

That's all for now! What are your plans for the next few days? I hope you have a sunny weekend, wherever you are.

This post contains affiliate links.

Happy Friday from Las Vegas! Just wanted to pop in quickly before the weekend with some links I've been wanting to share:

• James Corden's Broadway Riff-Off with Neil Patrick Harris was so great. I love them both.
• These recaps of The Bachelor episodes are amazing. I went to college with Ashley and she is hilarious.
• Alright, I know almost $3K is a bit excessive, but how gorgeous is this classic black bag?
• I'm such a huge Adam Driver fan. I don't even care what he's talking about, I'll listen to him. Loved hearing him laugh with Stephen Colbert and talk about Carrie Fisher a bit.
• I just bought this highlighter and I'm obsessed with it--I seriously feel like a model when I wear it. (The shade I got is Devotion.)
• Reasons Not To Be An Organ Doner. Spoiler alert: there are none.
• Loving this sweater. A slouchy v-neck with long sleeves is basically my winter uniform, especially in black.
• I found this article super interesting: How MSG Got A Bad Rap: Flawed Science and Xenophobia. I love when food and cultural studies cross over.
• VERY EXCITING DISNEY THEORY. I love hearing little cross-overs between stories like this one.
• I wrote a blogging workbook for SkillPop and I hope you might find it helpful in starting your blog or maybe just brushing up on your skills! It's full of exercises and we go over all kinds of topics, including some branding and design, choosing a platform, and finding your personal voice.
• Sponsored: some of the best sports bras for great support.

I hope you have a great weekend!

This post contains affiliate links.

Happy Friday! This is my last work day at home before we head to Charlotte for Christmas, and my final Friday Favorites post of 2016--can you believe it? This year is rapidly coming to a close and I feel like I have so many things I want to get done before we tun the page to January.

To Read/Watch: 

• I absolutely loved reading about (and listening to) this Minneapolis couple's rendition of "Baby It's Cold Outside" with consent. But let's face it, it's not Christmas without the Glee version, either.
• George's Best Day! What an amazing dog for an amazing little girl.
• To Kill a Mockingbird removed from Virginia schools for racist language. Literature major/enthusiast soap box: This is a really complicated issue, but censorship hurts everyone. We can't erase the past or make it easier to swallow by removing books that cover ugly truths. I was sad to read this news out of eastern Virginia. EDIT: I just heard that the books were reinstated. Thanks, Laura Beth!
• The future! This video gave me passion eyes. I see these self-driving cars on the road in our neighborhood every day. It's so exciting to live in Silicon Valley where some really incredible things are being tested.
• I found these Chardonnay pairings to be very eye-opening and helpful.
• A lot of these made me cry, the rest made me laugh. 33 Pictures That Show 2016 Wasn't A Completely Terrible Year.

Wish List/Shopping: 

• I was super excited to see these sunglasses on sale last week, so I snagged them ASAP; but they're still on sale in black (which is what I got them in).
• Speaking of sales, this unique-looking swim suit is on sale and has me dreaming of my trip to Las Vegas next month. My college roommates and I rented a house with our husbands and it has a hot tub.
• This would be the perfect holiday dress if I had $1500 burning a hole in my pocket.
• I've always been a Converse girl but lately I've had my eye on these Nikes. What do you think?

Housekeeping: 

• If you haven't taken it yet, I'd love to hear your feedback in my 2016 Reader Survey! I've really appreciated hearing from those of you who have already submitted, and I wish I could give all you BRCA and far-from-home readers a huge hug. I value your criticism, as well, and I'm looking forward to working even harder in 2017.
• I'm teaching my favorite SkillPop class on Tuesday in Charlotte! If you're in the area and have any interest in the topic, we'd love to see you there.
• And finally, is there anyone on your Christmas list who might enjoy getting a copy of The Big 15 Paleo Cookbook? You can still get it in time if you order now! 

--

What are you up to this weekend? I'm finishing up some work and running a few errands, then packing for our long trip to the East Coast for the holidays! On Sunday we're having some of Rob's California family over for a pizza night, which should be really fun. Then on Monday we fly to Charlotte--I can't wait to see our North Carolina friends and family!

This post contains affiliate links.