this was a good week
This was an awesome week. Here's why:
• Good Lord, man, you guys are amazing. Thank you so much for all the birthday love -- the tweets, the Facebook messages, and the comments were absolutely overwhelming. I've been feeling well-loved this week. Thank you. Thank you.
• Speaking of birthdays, Marcus had been hounding me to tell him what I wanted for my birthday for weeks, and finally, two days before the actual day, I asked for a point-and-shoot. The thing is, for quick overnight trips (I have a few coming up), lugging my Nikon can be a bit wearying, but I've been a little frustrated with the way my iPad takes photographs. "I don't need anything fancy," I said. "The only thing I'd really like is a way to get my point-and-shoot photos onto Instagram easily."
Well, Marcus loves a high-tech toy, and so "nothing fancy" is not something that computes for him. And in this case, I'm glad he went full gadget guy on me: for my birthday, he bought me the Sony Cybershot DSC-RX100 MIII, and dear heavens, what a beautiful little camera. I'm planning on doing a long review of this baby next week, but suffice to say two things: (1) the image above was taken with it, and can you believe the detail? and (2) this thing is a game-changer. I'm seriously blown away.
More on this very soon, friends. Game. Changer.
• I am generally skeptical about these drones that are popping up everywhere, but after seeing these photographs, I kinda want one.
• And check out these photographs of motherhood from 50 years ago. Not much has changed, man.
• There's a reason they say the eyes are the windows to the soul.
• I so love funny and clever graffiti.
• I love this map that details what different countries lead the world in. For example, Marcus is from the country that leads the world in fascist movements. But nowadays, we live in the country that leads in Nobel Laureates and lawnmower deaths, so there's that. (More detail about where the data came from here.)
• I didn't watch any of the World Cup (I know, I know), but thanks to this really awesome flip book, I sort of wish I did.
• My sweet friend Christine Koh invited me to do a marathon. When I told her that she might have gotten the wrong person, she assured me it was something I could handle, especially since I have 27 days to do it, and it's for a good cause. Since doing a mile a day is doable even for me (because, I'll be honest, there's a cupcake store about a mile away from me -- so I have a destination, baby), I'm proud be serving as a lead blogger for the Miracle Marathon to benefit Texas Children's Hospital right here in Houston. Want to join me? Join Team Chookooloonks and register to support Texas Children's -- or you can even register to support another Children's Miracle Network Hospital. The best part is you do it on your own time, in your own neighbourhood (to your own cupcake house, if that's your style). And if you do register, you can use the special code of MiracleKarenW to get 10% off of your registration fee. Let's do this.
• Don't forget, Alex and I are flying to San Francisco next week for a party. And we'd love for you to join us, if you're in town!
• And finally, in honour of our upcoming trip, my favourite San Francisco-based band, Pomplamoose, performing a mashup of Lorde, 2Pac and Beck (what?!). Click here or the image below to watch.
Have a fantastic weekend, friends. See you next week.