lundi links

image via society6

Not sure if that's true. I really love cupcakes, you guys. But the sentiment is sweet.

♦ Want to do what you love, but don't know where to start? Leo at Zenhabits made you a helpful how-to.

♦ During a slightly heated conversation between my mother and sister regarding the latter's upcoming nuptials and lack of get-up-and-go she is exhibiting in getting things arranged, I jokingly told my mom I would elope for her mental health. I was kidding, but these city hall weddings are so cute I'm starting to think that maybe an adorable little quickie ceremony might have something to it...

♦ I am sadly apartment-bound and can't paint my walls, but sometimes I see a color combo and just WANT. But...said color combo is a photo of a tropical bird, not a paint swatch. Never fear! LetsChipIt is a site that lets you upload photos and find the exact Sherwin-Williams paint colors to correspond. So...go paint your inspirations. And show me pictures so I can live vicariously through you.

♦ Are you a freelancer? If so, have you--God forbid--been screwed over by a client? Then check this out: the world's largest invoice, a website in which you can post how much you were stiffed and add to the massive amount shown. This website will then be submitted to lawmakers in order to try and pass a law that will help protect freelancers from this kind of fate.

♦ Laser-cut nori. Pretty? Yes. Necessary? No....except yes.

♦ Shauna wrote an excellent things to learn when you're 25-ish.

♦ I'm not one to not take credit for something impressive I've done. I'm not a braggart, and I don't go out of the way to say "LOOK WHAT I DID," but hey, I'm proud when I achieve something. If I've lost twenty pounds and you say "You look great," I'm not going to oh-p'shaw it. I'm going to tell you I just ate nothing but rabbit food and Jillian Michaels'd it until I passed out every night. Luckily, me and Sarah are on the same page.

♦ Kyla wrote this super-helpful guide to dealing with taxes when you're a self-employed freelancer.

♦ One of my dreams has always been to migrate to New York to become a writer. For now, I'll live vicariously through all of my sisters who have done it before.

♦ Blogger's Block? Joy's got an app for that.

♦ My parents have been visiting Vegas semi-annually for as long as I can remember. I'm not a big gambler, so I've always been lukewarm to the idea of visiting. Naturally, Gala Darling managed to make me want to go pretty hard.

♦ Katie always has the cutest ideas. Anonymous Easter egg hunt? So doing this next year. ^_^

♦ Rainbow parade. Yes.

♦ Random Wants: Dapper Gent Ring. Harley Quinn Leggings. A magic wand to make this coat grown-up-size.

top ten tuesday: things i learned from pinterest

I've decided to start a new weekly tradition: Top Ten Tuesday! Every week I'll have a top ten list of some kind, presented in list, picture, or video form! And yes, I'll take suggestions for lists to make. ^_^

As I've mentioned in the past, I'm pretty obsessed with Pinterest, to the point that if you told me you didn't like it, I'd just stare at you in blank shock. And then maybe push you over. Because that's just weird. I've come to notice a few trends on this addictive little site, so I thought I'd share them with you.

Ten Things I've Learned From Pinterest

1. Pallets and mason jars can become anything.

Seriously. At least 75% of the DIY projects on Pinterest start with mason jars or those wooden pallets you can yoink from your local grocery. Got a jar? Make a lamp, a wine glass, an organizer, a potted plant. Pallet? Couch, garden, house, y'know, whatever.

2. The rising gas prices are Barack Obama's fault.

Yup. The price of a commodity in our country was decided on by the president. It has nothing to do with us using the shit out of a non-renewable resource. When was the last time you took a bike instead of driving a few blocks? Then yeah, you don't get to complain, because you're part of the problem, Mr. Hummer.

3. Your religion makes you stupid, or your lack of one makes you immoral.

One of the big issues that pops up a lot on Pinterest is religion. Mostly because many people, religious or not, can't mind their own business and have to stick their big, fat, close-minded noses in other people's affairs. Now, I myself am a Christian, but I am very open-minded, and have friends and loved ones of all religions and creeds. Do I think my atheist, pagan, Wiccan, etc friends are going to Hell? Well, no, but that's not really my place to say. But apparently, that's not the case for many Christians on Pinterest, who love to comment on things such as gay pride-related images to tell people that homosexuality is an abomination, but then have a board full of tattoos on their profile (which, according to Leviticus, is an abomination along with homosexuality). Likewise, you see a perfectly lovely Bible quote that's about love and forgiveness, and an atheist will undoubtedly jump in and tell everyone how uneducated and stupid they are being for believing in a high power. I just...there's not winning. There really isn't.

4. Women are not very nice to each other.

One of the main things that I witness on Pinterest as a recurring theme is that women can be catty bitches. Honestly, it appears to be most women's favorite hobby to go around criticizing other women. This is a big issue in the concept of weight and health, and I've begun to notice that the main lashing is at women who are thinner than the national average. If you told a larger woman to get on a treadmill, you'd surely be attacked, but how many times do you hear someone tell a thin girl to eat a cheeseburger, or something to that effect? And the idea of a "real" woman being a woman who is on the curvier side....how do you think that makes those without curves who ARE ALSO REAL WOMEN feel? Pinterest actually has a rule along the lines of "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all," but no one listens. Anyone who says that men and the media are the reason that women are insecure are absolutely incorrect; it is other women that cause the issue.

5. No boys allowed.

Also, Pinterest is sexist. Well, not Pinterest itself, but some of its users. I feel like every time that a man makes a comment on a pin, a woman comes in and says something to the effect of men not belonging on Pinterest. Who the fuck says?

Also, ladies, if you have a board filled with nothing but male eye candy, you're no longer allowed to judge men for ogling women. For cereal.

6. Disney created unrealistic expectations of everything ever.

The most common pins of this nature are that it gave us unrealistic expectations of men and hair. But let's not act like it didn't make men expect us to be perfect, gorgeous, petite and proper little princesses, either. Oh, and if you're expecting reality to be like a cartoon, you're clearly a bit touched, anyway.

7. Cupcakes and kittens make everything better.

Pretty sure this isn't just a Pinterestism, but scientific fact.

8. Never throw anything away.

Anything can be made into anything else. See #1.

9. No fiancé(e) does not equal no wedding.

100% of pinners have a board focused on a future wedding.

1% of pinners are engaged and planning an actual wedding.

My name is Emerie, and I am the 99%.

10. Citations and credit are unimportant.

"You have enemies? Good. That means that you've stood up for something, sometime in your life."

The source? Winston Churchill. The source according to Pinterest? Eminem. Whatevs.

things i love thursday

image via c-victoria

Remember how Things I Love Thursday was supposed to happen every Thursday?

The last one here on VLG was in January.

NAILED IT.

♥ the food at family get-togethers, omg 4000 calories GET IN MY MOUTH ♥ my rogue hair XD ♥ an easter basket from my roommate full of woodchuck cider and a comic book ♥ my cat leaving a mouse in my roommate's toilet and roommate's subsequent reaction ♥ c2e2 tomorrow!!! ♥ going back to school to become a paralegal (real career? you don't say!) ♥ new pens ♥ impromptu wig parties ♥ zak bagans ♥ plastic tiaras ♥ my cheesy biscuits being a TOTAL success at easter dinner ♥ my transgender cousin having a "boob voyage" party to celebrate his breast removal surgery (so sad i can't attend, but i'll be playing with fanboys in chicago) ♥ dance parties with my sister (videos coming soon!) ♥ this sneak peek at lime crime's upcoming palette! i liked the chinadoll one, but this one takes the cake! pun entirely intended ♥ lewd prank calls at work that are less offensive and more giggle-/blush-inducing ♥ having my rogue costume finally coming together ♥ my polyester blend gloves taking the fabric dye like a champ ♥ my mommy ♥ jared ♥ andrew ♥ waking up next to a snuggly, purring kitty

i want

image via huhahohi

I want to start over.

I want to feel like I do more than work and sleep.

I want to feel challenged.

I want to feel like I'm worth something and valued.

I want to wake up without an anxiety attack and go to sleep without tears.

I want to love my job.

I want to be appreciated.

I want to be healthy and beautiful.

I want to fall madly in love and be madly loved in return.

I want to have everything that was promised to me when I was a little girl.

I want to run away, put gas in my car, drive until it dies, and stay there.

I want to know that I'm still meant to be here.

I want to know that there's something out there for me.

I want to be her.

my family is awesome

Just wanted to share how amazing my sister and her fiancé are. Points to whoever spots the Key of Awesome reference. ♥

lundi links

image via daily dose of happy

So, big things happening over here, ya'll! I'm job-hunting, apartment-hunting, applying to go back to school, and starting a new ridiculous workout that'll undoubtedly kick my ass. But I'm certainly not too busy to waste time on the internet, and I'm here to make sure you do the same. ^_^

♦ If you go here and leave a comment with one thing you love about your body, the Huffington Pot Media Group will donate a dollar to Girls Inc, an organization that promotes strength and self-esteem to young girls. How awesome is that?

♦ Orange isn't really my favorite shade, but I can't get over how absolutely stunning this woman looks in her orange wedding dress! I'm all for breaking the mold at weddings, and this must have been show-stopping!

♦ This article about Steve Martin really gets me thinking...it's never too late to start something new!

♦ Sometimes it's hard to truly measure success. Many people consider you successful when you have a lot of money, but Dawn discusses what she feels makes one successful.

♦ A collection of vintage stewardess uniforms. Love!

♦ Tired of your same old soul-sucking job? Thinking about just quitting without much idea of what's ahead? Here's six tips to make the transition easier.

♦ Time Magazine has released their list of the 100 Greatest Fashion Icons Of All Time. LOVE LOVE LOVE I WANT YOUR LOVE.

lundi links

image via koukei

Happy Monday! They exist, I promise! While I don't like going back to work after a weekend, Mondays are my favorite day of the week because all of my friends come over for boneless wings, cheap wine, and RuPaul's Drag Race! Serving up some lazy night realness!

♦ I can't remember the last time I received flowers (ALL THE SINGLE LADIES, ALL THE SINGLE LADIES), but I know my parents have a cupboard full of old vases. Apartment Therapy has made a list of ways to use those vases for something other than...well...being vases.

♦ The Swatchaholic is having a HUGE makeup sale. BUY ALL THE THINGS.

♦ There's nothing worse than the shock you experience when you went to the male to buy ONE THING and then...buy pretty much the entire mall. Here's a way to keep costs down and avoid traps while shopping.

♦ More gold from Apartment Therapy (hands down my favorite interior decorating blog): how to de-stress your bedroom. I need to do this once I'm in my new apartment...I'll be living on my own (for the first time ever!) so I'll be able to keep my office and bedroom separate.

♦ Geekery-based kitchen stuff makes me happy.

♦ I don't know how well this would work, but I'm pretty sure I need this citrus spritzer.

♦ I sometimes worry that my personal style is a bit too "young" or "funky" for a woman in her late twenties. But this article by Sal about age and fashion makes me just think "BRING ON THE SEQUINS, GODDAMMIT."

♦ Oh. Oh, this. Do want.

♦ For those who are looking to spice up their résumés but don't have much (or any!) experience with design, Loft Résumés will take your existing résumé and spruce it up with any of their pre-made templates. Lovely!