House & Bounty

February Link Ups

AI-Generated Images

My family is obsessed with AI-generated images like the ones above. The technology is fascinating, amazing, and hysterically bad at times. I generated these using the free website Craiyon. There are many other generators, all of which seem to vary in quality. While I get tremendous entertainment from these, it also brings up ethical questions that I’ve been trying to wrap my head around. It appears that the generator is taking parts of existing artwork/photos and mashing them together, and applying filters. I’m sure as this industry continues to grow and people begin applying them in commercial ways this will bring up interesting questions about ownership, creativity, and art in general.

Katie Kime really likes collars. Me too.

I am enjoying the Netflix show Ginny & Georgia. It has an early 2000’s WB vibe, which I find comforting.

May Link Up

Should I start a ceiling porn Instagram? If so, this may be the first image.

10 Stunning Greenhouse Conservatories Around the World. Get ready to drool.

I recently watched the Marilyn Monroe documentary on Netflix. Her life story is incredibly sad from start to finish. While the documentary provided a little peek into her life, I want to learn more. I’ll be searching for a good biography.

This rainbow frame makes me happy.

April Link Up

I just finished The Case Against Sugar. It is the most impactful book I’ve read in years. The book focuses on how the addition of large amounts of sugar to our diet has wreaked havoc on our bodies, but it also touches on the complicated relationship between science and industry. We like to think science operates only in cold hard facts. But, unfortunately, the reality seems a little different. I particularly liked the biochemistry of sugar metabolism (kudos to the author for making it easy to understand).

Want to re-establish trust after it’s been broken? This is how.

I binged several documentaries about fraud and con artists. The bottom line is that where there is money, there is fraud. I was shocked by the lengths people will go to accumulate large amounts of money and how quickly they spend it. It is bonkers. Here is a quick summary of the ones I watched: The Tinder Swindler, Bad Vegan, Made You Look.

My dream pool.

March Link Up

Dolly Parton did something great again – Dollywood employees will be eligible for free tuition.

It’s time to re-think pre-school. A recent study found poor long-term outcomes of low-income children that attended a public pre-school program. The results perplexed the researcher and challenged some of the traditional beliefs about PreK.

I’ll be making these Kids DIY Art Frames.

An odd but adorable little building.

February was a good month for television. I enjoyed Shonda Rhimes’ Netflix show Inventing Anna and HBO’s The Gilded Age.

September Link Up

When fall arrives, I think of bonfires, football games, and high school. What about you?

Julian Fellowes Presents Doctor Thorne: This Amazon Prime show is several years old (2016!) and was created by the person behind Downton Abbey. It’s set in England in the 1800s and shows how love, family, money, and class intersect. I’m halfway through the series and enjoying it immensely (I was very late to this party). You’ll definitely get some Bridgerton vibes.

A traditional home with a very fun exterior color: WOW! This is how you do a pink house.

Have you ever seen the short video Inner Workings?

June Link Up

It’s June, the official start of summer. I want to extend every day and make it last as long as possible. Any tips on how to accomplish this?

Dash Mini Waffle Maker: I am obsessed with this thing. Since it’s so easy to use and clean up, I’ve made waffles multiple times since purchasing it. We have a very nice standard-sized waffle maker, but it’s big and bulky. For some reason, it’s tough to clean, and the waffles take a while to cook. Waffles take a minute or less to cook in the Dash. Plus, they are so cute. Worth the $10.

America Is on a Road to a Better Recovery. But Better for Whom? An interesting discussion on the economy and what the future may hold.

Home Truths: How HGTV, Magnolia and Netflix are Building A Massive Space in the Stream: This Vanity Fair article is fine, but it sparked a much more interesting conversation on Kate Pearce’s Instagram. Kate posed the question, can individuality in design be marketable?

May Link Up

A bird built a nest on our deck this year. Every morning we check on her, and she is dutifully sitting on her eggs. My husband snapped this picture one afternoon when mom went to get something to eat. Two beautiful blue eggs!!

The Mitchells Vs. The Machines – This is the best movie I’ve seen in a very long time. It’s technically a kids movie, but it has something for everyone. It’ll make you laugh and warm your heart.

The 12 Week Year: Do you need motivation and new strategies to help you achieve your goals? Well, the 12 week year REALLY delivers. It’s a short book, but it gets right to the heart of the things that hold us back.

How Long Can We Live: A fascinating article in the New York Times Magazine talks about human longevity. Do we have a limit? What is the limit? An interesting read.

April Links

Make Life Beautiful with Paula Sutton: Reading this interview with Paula Sutton was a delight. She is so conversational, warm and friendly. I absolutely loved her advice to let your personality shine in your designs. Isn’t that what makes design so fun? Read about Paula’s adventures at her blog, Hill House Vintage.

Glitterbomb Trap Catches Phone Scammers: Ever wonder who’s behind all those scam calls? Check out this video. You’ll see how modern-day scammers are convincing people to send thousands of dollars to them and how their operations work. It’s fascinating AND disgusting at the same time. If anything, this video should be a public service announcement and is a good resource to share with vulnerable populations (and it’s very entertaining). Also, you get a little bit of satisfaction when some of those individuals are caught.

Tina (HBO Documentary): I’m embarrassed to admit I knew very little of Tina Turner’s history before this documentary. Her story has some highs and lows, but what caught my attention is Tina’s ability to keep going and preserving. The pinnacle of Tina’s career was in her mid 40’s, after a messy divorce where her husband retained basically all the rights (and money) to her original content. This documentary serves as her swan song and it’s a beautiful goodbye.