Weekly recap time!

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Academy Awards starting soon.

A Michigan woman was selected as a finalist for a one-way trip to colonize Mars. I personally think the most interesting part of this is that, while the finalist does not have children, she has a husband, who is 100 percent supportive of her ambitions and dreams. Relationship gold standard in my opinion. A+++ for both of them.

Emma Watson is not dating Prince Harry.

Everyone in the world got engaged last weekend and now you’re a bridesmaid. Or something. Levo League has a piece on how to be a good bridesmaid despite being broke.

Refinery29 published an interesting piece profiling several women who had the same problem: Their husbands treated their careers like hobbies. Many of them ended up getting a divorce. Interesting perspective, especially for me, because whomever I end up marrying (should I ever marry) will have to understand he takes a back seat to my career and professional development.

OATMEAL NUTELLA MUG CAKE Thanks The Kitchn.

I’ve been trying to figure out forever what shape my face is, mainly so I know whether I can pull off a pair of Karen Walker Super Dupers. This Lifehacker guide should help.

Cosmo posted a survey on workplace sexual harassment. I worked as a waitress in a bar for years, so I’ve had my fair share of sexual harassment by customers and knew how prevalent it was, but I was astonished at the results regardless.

Dove and Twitter are partnering for #speakbeautiful. It’s so easy to troll online due to anonymity, so I love positive campaigns like these. One of my good friends is a teacher and goes by the “three positives to counteract a negative” rule an insists her students follow it. I think it works well outside the classroom too.

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Anddd me this week? Unfortunately it was like NEGATIVE EIGHTEEN outside this week before we even added in the windchill, so I wasn’t super productive. I…

• Participated in a glamour photoshoot with Daighna Photography.
• Got a visit from my favorite pug in the world, Chewbacca.
• Made this cute Press for Champagne craft.
• Got my new 50mm lens!
• Enjoyed some lemon Paczki with Elise for Fat Tuesday. (Is this really just a huge Michigan thing? I’m slowly starting to find out that not everyone shares my love for Paczki across the country.)
• Received some pretty treats from Le Bon Macaron from Seth as a belated Valentine’s Day gift.
• Did some more painting of old furniture (I promise I’ll share some updates on this stuff soon).
• Made some toasted coconut Trader Joe’s pancakes. Delicious, by the way.
• Was treated to two wonderful lunch dates by Seth – one at Panda Express and one at Killer Hibachi.
• Ventured outside my really warm and cozy apartment for once in order to go to my favorite downtown bar, The Bird.

You can keep up with this stuff as it happens if you follow me on Instagram.

I don’t really have too many plans this coming week aside from work, errands and tax filing. Really though, I’ll probably put the tax filing off for another week or three.

How was your week? Any plans this coming week? Let me know in the comments!

Lucky me, I have tomorrow off work, but I did work this past weekend and a lot of breaking news happened, so my work schedule is 50 shades of messed up right now. Regardless, it’s the end of the weekend for everyone else, soooo… weekly recap time!

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Link roundup:

This woman donated her kidney to a stranger and now they’re together and expecting a child. I bawl.

Iago (The bird from Lion King) read snippets of 50 Shades of Grey. My abs still hurt from laughing.

President Obama and Buzzfeed collaborated on a two-minute video and it’s adorable. Regardless of your political views, I think everyone can agree that Obama is definitely  down-to-earth people person with a great sense of humor.

Some huge Harry Potter fan compiled every Severus Snape scene into chronological order and I bawled.

Kathryn posted this recipe for vegan lemon mint tarts on her blog, Through the Thicket, and I think I’m going to have to try them.

We’re in the middle of #NYFW and no worries, Vogue has got you completely covered.

Cindy Crawford posted un-retouched lingerie photos, which is lovely because she’s still absolutely gorgeous.

Apartment Therapy has a post about modernizing antique furniture which is good, because I’m kind of on a furniture rehab spree lately.

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And me this week? I had one of the most productive weeks ever. I mentioned working this past weekend, and when my company schedules me for four hours on Saturday and the four hours on Sunday, I get a weekday off. Also, working a split weekend shift forces me to stay in town and #GSD. So, this week, I…

• Attempted to eat a massive ice cream brownie sundae at Pizza House and failed. Miserably. Even with Seth’s help.
• Had a dinner date at Killer Hibachi with my friend Tasha.
• Went to Target to get a pillow and ended up with like, $70 worth of home decor including this candle (in pink peony, peach prosecco and lemon trifle) and this gold serving tray.
• Went on a gold spray painting spree. Stay tuned for results.
• FINALLY painted my desk and dresser. I’d had my desk primed for six months but never got around to actually painting it until now. (Stay tuned for results on this project as well.)
• Made this delicious Valentine’s Day popcorn and then mailed it to Seth.
• Celebrated the actual Valentine’s Day by making raspberry lemonade red wine slushies and then going to see Fifty Shades of Grey with Elise.
• Had a lunch date at Max and Emily’s (the best sandwich shop in mid-Michigan anywhere) with my friend Erin.
• Ordered a new camera lens after I accidentally broke mine on assignment for work.
• Devoured more newsroom cupcakes. (You guys seemed to love those last time)
• Spent Friday in a flower shop learning about floral arrangements.
• Bought myself roses because why the hell not.
• Made my favorite root veggie and lentil stew.
• Still managed to put in a full work week + overtime at the paper.

You can see this stuff as it happens if you follow me on Instagram.

I have no idea how the heck I accomplished all of that (maybe it’s because I averaged five hours of sleep a night?) but hooray for productive weeks! Hopefully this week will be just as productive. I have a few fun things planned that I already can’t wait to share! What do you have planned for this coming week? Let me know in the comments!

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please read my disclosure policy.

Whoever decided that we need to work for five days and have fun for two, instead of the other way around, was kind of a jerk.

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Unless you’re living in a cave, you likely heard the story (and updates) about Detroiter James Robertson, who walks 21 miles to work day in and day out. Amazing. $300,000 has been raised to get him a new car.

This is an awesome post about what happened when an online author confronted her troll. As an online author that deals with her fair share of trolls, I really enjoyed reading it.

The trailer for Ryan Gosling’s Lost River was released and it looks amazing. PS: It was shot in Detroit which makes me love it that much more.

Aaaaand Magic Mike XXL’s trailer was released. To quote a friend: “much excite very muscles such yum.”

The Kitchn put together a list of healthy snack boxes. I’ve been debating getting on the snack box train because I love my snacks, so I might have to look into some of these.

Refinery29 posted a story about the struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder, which really hit home with me.

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And me this week? I…

• Heard an excerpt of The Marriage of Figaro as performed by CMU opera students.
• Stopped in Lansing on Monday morning and picked up some new items at Ann Taylor during the half-off clearance sale, like this 100 percent silk blouse and a new henley to lounge in.
• Checked out my local Habitat for Humanity ReStore and picked up an old sewing machine table that I’m planning on repurposing into a vanity this summer.
• Finally got around to watching The Interview. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t good.
• Started Fahrenheit 451.
• Had my B12 shot (screw you Seasonal Affective Disorder).
• Tried this face mask with Elise. It used honey, lemon and coconut oil and made my skin suuuuper soft.
• Saw Flint Eastwood perform at Hunter’s Ale House.
• Had a date night with Seth including bd’s Mongolian Grill and Cold Stone.

You can see all this stuff as it happens if you follow me on Instagram.

How was your week? Did you do anything fun? Let me know in the comments!

This post contains affiliate links. For more information, please read my disclosure policy.