Bubby and Bean ::: Living Creatively: A Heartfelt Thank You + Some Links I Love

First of all, I wanted to say huge thanks to everyone who read my posts about the loss of my best friend (and accompanying thoughts on being a blogger for a living during difficult times) last week, on my social accounts, and also here on the blog. The combined comments, emails, and DMs I received was close to a thousand. If I did not reply to you directly, please know that I did read your message, and I am deeply grateful for it. I love you guys. I really do.

Second, and on a much lighter note, if you haven't seen my post from yesterday with our laundry room remodel reveal, please check it out! I have genuinely never been more proud of a project. This was our first big DIY project in our first owned home, and because we literally did everything ourselves, we learned so much. I really, really love the way it turned out too. It's my favorite room in our house, by far. I hope you'll take a minute to read it (and look at the huge difference in the before and after photos!), and let me know your thoughts!

It's been a long time since I've done a Links I Love post, and they're usually reserved for Fridays. But I've had a lot of insomnia over the last week that has resulted in random internet wandering (which admittedly has been a helpful distraction from the hard stuff), and have come across some cool and interesting things that I'm sharing with you today. So here we go:

This article on the hunt for the world's rarest pasta was a fun distraction.

My mother in law has flown here to do Chicago's ALS Walk for Life the past several years (she just lost a close friend to ALS as well). I think I'll be putting together a team to walk in honor of my Goki as well.

I admittedly only listen to a handful of the same bands (I'm so not cool anymore), but this list of 7 new albums you have to hear now via NPR music has me intrigued. Stoked to see Cowboy Junkies on the list.

This tube style maxi dress (shown in top image) is making all my midsummer dreams come true. I really, really want it.

Guys, the time has come to reconcile with the honeydew wedge.

I'm normally not a sneaker person but I'm pretty sure I need a pair of these stat.

This little girl's dress I found on Etsy is so sweet. I may have to grab it for Essley.

According to this article, only 57 immigrant children under the age of 5 have been reunited with their parents after being separated at the border. Heartbreaking.

29 styles of pizza, YES PLEASE.

I am really feeling this moon and star barrette.

I grew up with two kids in our family, and I have two kids of my now (and we are done). So this piece on the extinction of the middle child was very interesting to me, having never experienced that in a family myself.

Thinking about replacing all my sofa cushion covers with these pretty jacquard pieces.

This piece with photos on mismatched and/or uncomfortable things made me laugh so hard. I am an incredibly disorganized person, but I still shuddered (and or cracked up) at some of the images.

Thank you again for your continued support and kindness. I appreciate every single one of you.